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U.S. Hikers to be Freed from Iran; U.S. Embassy Attacked in Kabul; NY to Phoenix Flight Diverted; Perry Comes Under Fire at Tea Party Debate; HPV Vaccine an Issue at GOP Debate; Wall Street Update; Hollywood's Highest Paid: Tyler Perry; Nancy Grace Spills "DWTS" Secrets; U.S. Hikers to Freed from Iran; HPV Vaccine An Issue at GOP Debate; Interview with Novak Djokovic
Aired September 13, 2011 - 09:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, we're following two breaking news stories for you right now. The American embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan coming under heavy rocket and machine gun fire. And word out of Iran that two American hikers convicted of spying could soon be set free.
Thanks for joining us everyone. It's the top of the hour. 10:00 Eastern Time.
Now the other breaking news. We're going to take you to Iran where a two-year international tug-of-war between Washington and Tehran appears to be ending. Two American hikers serving eight years in prison for espionage could be released. And it's coming at a price -- $1 million.
Let's go live to Max Foster now in London. Max, give us the details.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, the state department is saying that they've had these promises before and they haven't materials. So they're adding a caveat here, but they're trying to get more information on it.
If you listen to President Ahmadinejad speaking on NBC's "Today" show, he is being very, very clear and honest, it seems.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, PRESIDENT OF IRAN: These two persons will be released.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it going to be over?
AHMADINEJAD: We to do it, for example, in humanitarian gesture.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it going to solve the problems?
AHMADINEJAD: I hope so.
(END VIDEO CLIP) FOSTER: Well, if the president sticks to his word then Josh Fatale and Shane Bauer, Kyra, could be back in the U.S. by the end of the week, in a couple of days. But there is another hurdle.
The families of both have to somehow get together $1 million in bail. That's what the Iranians are asking for. So wait to see whether they can get the money together. They've only got a couple of days to do it if the president sticks to his word.
PHILLIPS: So, Max, what exactly does President Ahmadinejad mean when he say that he hopes this is going to solve, quote, "problems"?
FOSTER: Well, he's pointing -- of course, relations between U.S. and Iran, in a terrible state. There aren't diplomatic relations even between two countries of having to operate between the Swiss embassy, U.S. embassy, and Iranian so everything operating through the Swiss.
But what the president of Iran is suggesting is that there are many more Iranians under U.S. custody than there are Americans in Iranian custody. So he's suggesting that perhaps some Americans should release some Iranians.
We'll wait to see where that happens. Don't know if discussions have gone on behind the scenes in relation to that, but certainly the State Department are trying to work out the situation for themselves it seems right now.
PHILLIPS: All right, Max Foster out of London. We'll follow it. Max, thanks.
Now that bold attack on America's signature presence in a war-torn country rockets and machine gun fire aimed directly at the American embassy in Kabul coming from all around the compound.
That intense gunfire lasted for more than three hours this morning. A witness in the embassy told me over the phone just last hour how dangerous that situation became. I thought we were going to hear from the witness. Are we not -- all right, we'll bring that back to you.
Meanwhile, let's get straight to our Suzanne Malveaux near the embassy there in Kabul. She's joining us live. Suzanne, what exactly can you tell us?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, we just got back from the streets not far from where those explosions and sounds that you heard. We, actually, there was a rather large explosion that we heard outside the International Security Assistance Force.
It is a huge compound. It was near the roundabout, the circle where much of that gunfire was taking place. A lot of confusion, Kyra. A lot of people on the streets who were kind of nervous about what was taking place.
Afghan police and army trying to clear the streets, trying to get people to move, to push them back a little bit. We actually started walking with the crowd after that explosion, and we went to the local hospital. It was not far at all.
We saw one young boy who was brought in on a stretcher. He had a wound. He was bleeding from his stomach. He was immediately brought into the hospital. We spoke with hospital spokespersons there who said there are six people who were brought in who were injured.
There was one policemen and five civilians. We went along the same street. We turned. This was before a military hospital, and that is where we saw a young man who was in the back of a pickup truck. He had been killed. He was dead.
We talked to some of the military officials there. They said it was one of the insurgents, one of the suicide bombers who had been shooting from the building across from the U.S. embassy. There's still a lot that is taking place.
The very latest information, Kyra, what we understand is, that there were four insurgents that went into the building across the embassy and started lobbing those grenades, shooting their weapons. There was Afghan police, international military that were involved in a helicopter flight that went over that building.
Shot into the building, and killed two of those insurgents. We have been told minutes ago that there are still two insurgents left in the building. They're still resisting. There is some gunfire that is in the neighborhood that we have heard, still some explosions that are taking place.
As for the U.S. embassy personnel, we have heard from them. They are still in kind of a cover mode if you will, a lockdown mode, but they say through a spokesperson that no one there has been injured. We've also spoken to folks at the International Security Assistance Force.
That is a place, Kyra, that we spent a lot of time over the last couple of days, we've been learning about Afghan police and military and all of that. They say that, yes, this happened right outside their compound, their complex. No one was injured there.
The total number of injuries that we understand is at least six people right now, and Kyra, you should know that there were two other attacks in neighboring areas inside of Kabul. One a suicide attacker wearing a vest tried to enter a police compound. He was taken down. There were a couple people injured there.
And then another took place, this was at a local high school, near a high school. There were two people injured there. In total for the other attacks outside this main event, there were three police killed, two injured, and four civilians injured. All of this really underscores what is taking place here on the streets of Kabul.
That is -- it's not a problem. We understand there's a firework, and that's not gunshots. But the Taliban is trying to essentially in their strategy carry out high-profile, very high- profile attacks, not a lot of casualties.
But certainly at the heart, at the heart of the security system inside of Kabul to show the Afghan people that they can reach them. They can get inside and to instil fear in this community, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So Suzanne, before I let you go, let me ask you because I had a chance to talk with someone that I've known for a number of years that happens to be right there inside the embassy. He called in to tell me that it was a very intense attack.
He even had to grab a gun from an embassy guard to try and secure the area he was in with people around him, trying to protect his people. He told me at that time that the insurgents were never able to breach the entry points and get inside the embassy.
Have you -- is that what you're hearing, as well? If that's the case, it goes to show that --
MALVEAUX: Yes, yes.
PHILLIPS: OK.
MALVEAUX: That is true actually because if you look at a map and how it whole thing played out here, they commandeered an abandoned building, and it was a couple block away. And so they had to actually aim at the U.S. embassy, but they were aiming across a number of places.
The Afghan intelligence offices, which were immediately in front of that building, then the International Security Assistance Force, their headquarters, highly fortified, barbed wire, concrete fences around that and then the U.S. embassy, which was further down.
So all of the areas very close by, but the embassy was the furthest away from those who were actually shooting and lobbing grenades at it. There was a ton of security, Kyra, as you know. You have an international force here.
We were just at the U.S. embassy a couple of days ago for the 9/11 anniversary. It is a difficult place to get in. There are a lot of guards. It's an international force. Where we are, you're talking about NATO. You're talking about the U.S. embassy, the presidential palace, the airport.
There are a lot of people. There's a lot of security here. That's the whole point is that the Taliban was trying to show, look, we can get to the heart of the security apparatus here in Kabul.
If we can do this, think of what else we can do. That's what they're trying to demonstrate. But as we've talked to many military officials throughout the last five days or so, they know that. They're prepared --
PHILLIPS: Stay with me. I understand Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is talking about it right now. Suzanne, great work. Let's listen to the secretary of state. (JOINED IN PROGRESS)
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: There are civilians across the government there with the sole purpose of assisting the people of Afghanistan in a transition toward stability, security, and prosperity. The civilians who serve are dedicated, brave men and women committed to advancing our mission.
They will not be intimidated by this kind of cowardly attack. While they work hard every day along with their Afghan colleagues to help children go to school, to help save mothers' lives, childbirth, to build roads, to assist farmers, the opposition, violent extremists, the Taliban and their allies engage in a constant effort to threaten and to undermine the peace and progress of the Afghan people. So we will be vigilant, but we will be continuing with even greater commitment to doing all we can to give the Afghan people who have suffered so much a chance at a better future for themselves and their children.
Now as you know, the protection of religious freedom is a fundamental concern of the United States going back to the earliest days of our republic. It remains so today.
(END LIVE COVERAGE)
PHILLIPS: You just heard Secretary of State Hillary Clinton break away from her scheduled talk there. I believe that she -- is she at the State Department?
OK, she was speaking live from the State Department. But she took a moment to talk about the attacks on the embassy there in Kabul. Suzanne Malveaux, are you still with me, Suzanne? Are you still with me, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: I am, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK, great. You were able to hear the secretary of state, as well --
MALVEAUX: Can you hear me?
PHILLIPS: Yes. I've got you. You heard the secretary of state commenting on the Taliban taking responsibility for these attacks and, of course, making the point that in no way, shape, or form will the U.S. tolerate such brutal attacks.
MALVEAUX: That's right. And it's interesting because I was able to interview the president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai yesterday and I asked pointedly whether or not thing were getting worse here. When you think about it, you know, the deadliest month for U.S. forces last month since this war in Afghanistan 10 years ago.
And also the U.N. saying that, look, civilian casualties have gone up some 15 percent or so this year. Are we heading backwards? And he says, look, you know, this is a problem that is going to be a big problem for a long time.
These insurgents basically have safe haven in Pakistan, in other areas, and people just haven't taken it seriously enough, this mission here. The main thing that they're trying to do now, Kyra, because people want a little sense of hope and optimism here is that they're trying to train, trying to train these folks, the army, the police, the Air Force to get them up to speed here.
There's a lot of training to be done so that they can secure their own country. With that comes a lot of nervousness, a lot of confusion, a lot of anxiety from the folks that I talked about whether or not they can do that in time, in time for the U.S. troops and NATO combat troops to come home at the end of 2014.
That is why you see the spectacular -- these insurgent attacks that are happening here at the very highest level, inside of these very powerful positions, these buildings where it really is the seat, the heart of the security of the people.
PHILLIPS: Our Suzanne Malveaux live for us out of Kabul, Afghanistan. Suzanne, thanks so much.
We're getting more breaking news in to us at this moment. Right now, I can tell you it's about Flight 457 that was taking off from JFK heading to Phoenix, but it was diverted. We're being told to Lambert Airport due to undetermined security-related issue.
The plane apparently was met at the tarmac by airport police. Passengers immediately removed and are currently being handled by U.S. Airways' representatives.
Once again, Flight 457 from JFK to Phoenix diverted to Lambert Airport due to some security concerns. We're following that story for you.
All right, let turn to the CNN Tea Party debate. Once again this morning, Rick Perry waking up with a few new bumps and bruises. Consider it the cost of being the front-runner, I guess.
Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is with us this morning. So, Paul, what do you think? Were any of the other candidates able to capitalize on things that he had said previously and also last night specifically on Social Security?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, and right off the bat we saw that argument between Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor. Kyra, he was the front-runner in this race.
And Perry, the Texas governor, he now is the front-runner in this race. Round two for them last night on Social Security. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's time for us to get back to the constitution and a program that's been there 70 or 80 years. Obviously we're not going to take that program away. But for people to stand up and support what they did in the '30s or what they're doing in the 2010s is not appropriate for America.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The question is -- do you still believe that Social Security should be ended as a federal program as you did six months ago when your book came out and returned to the states?
PERRY: I think we ought to have a conversation --
ROMNEY: We're having that right now, Governor.
PERRY: Yes, sir, if you'll let me finish, I'll finish the conversation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: That was a little taste, Kyra, of the back and forth between Mitt Romney and Rick Perry over Social Security. So what do Americans think about the very popular program? Take a look at this.
Brand new this morning from CNN and ORC, right there, in the middle, 55 percent of Americans say, you know what, Social Security needs major reforms like what Republican candidates were talking about last night.
And 12 percent at the bottom right there say, you know what, we need a whole new system, Kyra. You're going to hear more about Social Security in this battle for the GOP nomination.
PHILLIPS: Well, so what do you think -- your thoughts with regard to Michele Bachmann? Did she do, I guess, what she needed to do to start getting back up there in the headlines and in the numbers?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, exactly. We were all talking about that yesterday. She was pretty feisty in this debate. Take a listen to this exchange between the congresswoman from Minnesota and Rick Perry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The drug company gave thousands of dollars in political donations to the governor. And this is just flat-out wrong. The question is, is it about life or was it about millions of dollars and potentially billions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Bachmann going after Perry there over that HPV vaccine that he tried to implement in Texas. So, yes, she was to a degree pretty successful last night getting back into the race it seems, Kyra.
And for Perry, it was two debates, I guess. He had a pretty strong first half. But in the back half, that HPV vaccine controversy and his stance on immigration, well, these could be troublesome issues for Rick Perry as we move ahead in the campaign.
Kyra, you see we're packing up the bus. We're closing up shop in Tampa. We've got a debate in Nevada next month. So we will continue on.
PHILLIPS: All right, Paul Steinhauser live from Tampa. Paul, thanks.
Michele Bachmann's response on the HPV issue continues to be very controversial. So in just about 20 minutes, senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is going to join us to talk about the vaccine and whether it really can cause side effects.
Let's look at the markets, shall we? We had a pretty brutal Friday, and didn't look so good yesterday. Concerns about the Greece default. But Dow Jones Industrials up 52 points this morning, that's good news after 45 minutes since the opening bell. We're watching the numbers for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Alison Kosik with the New York Stock Exchange with a look at the numbers. So far so good, Alison, at least we're in positive territory.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It is. It is a nice change of pace. Yes, the Dow up 43, the Nasdaq better by 22, but Europe still front and center. That lingering question -- is Greece going to default?
Still the market wants to see the euro zone work through their debt problems. You know, there's growing fears that it's going to spill outside that area right here to the U.S. that's why you've seen the market really jittery lately.
But now we are seeing green arrows led by financials right now, shares of Bank of America, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, all much higher today. The question is, though, will these gains stick until the closing bell today? I'll have my eye on it all day for you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, sounds good. Alison, thanks.
Well, Novak Djokovic is serious about being the number-one tennis player in the world. But did you know he's also a standup comic who knows what will happen when I interview him live coming up in just a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Tyler Perry makes some pretty big bucks and Nancy Grace dances around her big debut. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host A.J. Hammer has those two entertainment stories for us.
So let's start with Tyler Perry. "Forbes" naming him the top earning man in Hollywood? A.J. HAMMER, HOST, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": Yes, that's right. I think for a lot of people, Kyra, Tyler Perry is not the guy who would immediately come to mind when you think of Hollywood's biggest earners, but it really does make sense if you consider it.
"Forbes" just listed the top ten highest paid men in Hollywood. Most of them are making their money without even stepping in front of the camera. According to "Forbes," Perry earned $130 million.
That's from May, 2010 to May, 2011. That's from the five movies that he put out over the last two years and two television series. Now Leonardo Dicaprio is the only man on the list who made his money primarily in front of the camera, earning a reported $77 million from "Shutter Island" and "Inception" over the past year.
Also on the list, Steven Spielberg, Elton John, and Kyra, Simon Cowell on there raking in some big bucks too.
PHILLIPS: Of course, when you create "American Idol," I mean, what else is there? Well, "Dancing with the Stars" and our Nancy Grace, that's what else is there. And reality -- you actually had a chance to talk to our determined attorney and host on HLN. What do you think? Is she ready for this?
HAMMER: I think she is. I really get the impression she's ready to do this thing. We're going to get to see how determined she is on "Dancing with the Stars" when it premieres next week.
She gave me the full scoop on how training is going in an interview that I'm going to be airing on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" later on today. She told me the rehearsals are already taking a physical toll on her.
I asked her if there was any point where she thought, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. She said not one because the money she'll be making from doing the show is going to charity. But she made it clear to me, Kyra, I better vote for her or else.
PHILLIPS: Yes, you better do what Nancy says or you never know what can happen. A.J., we'll all be voting for her. Thanks.
Well, the winners and losers in last night's presidential debate. Our "Political Buzz" panel weighs in.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLISP: "Political Buzz," your rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock and playing today, Democratic National Committee member, Robert Zimmerman, Patricia Murphy, editor and founder of Citizen Jane Politics and CNN contributor Will Cain.
All right, guys, last night's GOP debate. Candidates spent more time attacking each other than President Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROMNEY: The question is, do you still believe that Social Security should be ended as a federal program as you did six months ago when your book came out?
PERRY: I think we ought to have a conversation --
ROMNEY: We're having that now, Governor.
PERRY: Yes, sir. If you'll let me finish, I'll finish this conversation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, who was the big winner and who fell short? Will?
WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Newt Gingrich, Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, those are the winners because Mitt Romney and Rick Perry spent the night beating each other up, which I think is healthy.
But not have them perform very well. Rick Perry, in fact, kind of looked like a boxer who was staggered in the ring. I don't think he responded well to all the attacks from Bachmann and Romney.
Surprisingly, if you're a casual viewer and you didn't know who the frontrunner is, you would have thought, wow, this Gingrich guy must be winning, right? The winners also -- we've written off, the lesson is, don't write anybody off yet.
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE MEMBER: Look, in the short term, Mitt Romney retained his status as the Tea Party favorite. So you can give him points for that. However, since the Tea Party's at 51 percent disapproval rating, Mitt Romney may have the advantage in the long term as a more viable candidate.
The big losers, moderate Republicans, you got to go to the Smithsonian to find them. I mean, when the only moderate in the panel advocates ending -- essentially ending Medicare as we know it, there is no room in the Republican Party for moderate voices anymore.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
PATRICIA MURPHY, EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: I think on this one Mitt Romney really did very, very well, and he did great in the last debate. This is the first time that we've seen him sort of wake up and come alive and have some actual, real opinions and have emotion and get in there and fight and just do something besides be governor good hair.
I think people who didn't do well, Jon Huntsman, he was a completion nothing-burger. Nobody was thinking about it before he went into it. Coming out of it, we didn't think much about him. I think somebody like Michele Bachmann also did extremely well. She needs to get in there as Jon Huntsman needs to get in there.
But in the way that Jon Huntsman did not land any punches, Michele Bachmann came alive, did really, really well.
PHILLIPS: Nothing-burger? I've never ordered one of those before.
MURPHY: Jon Huntsman.
PHILLIPS: OK, interesting. I'm taking note, Patricia.
MURPHY: You'll use it.
PHILLIPS: Yes. The loudest boos of the night as you know came when Ron Paul discussed 9/11. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Osama Bin Laden and al Qaeda have been explicit -- they have been explicit and said that we attacked -- we attacked America because you had bases on our holy land in Saudi Arabia. You do not give Palestinians a fair treatment, and you have been bombing -- I didn't say that. I'm trying to get you to understand what the motive was behind the bombing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So did he go too far? Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: Not if you're Michael Moore. But for rational, logical intellectuals or for people who care about the facts, of course he went too far. But then again, who on that panel didn't go too far?
It was an infomercial for anger management therapy. I mean, Governor Huntsman called one of his colleagues treasonous. Of course, Rick Perry calls Social Security poisonous, unconstitutional. You can go down the list.
Bottom line is, the only one who showed any presidential stature on that panel was Wolf Blitzer.
PHILLIPS: Oh, we have a new candidate, ladies and gentlemen.
ZIMMERMAN: Exactly.
PHILLIPS: All right. Will, weigh in.
CAIN: Kyra, forgive my nuanced answer on this because I'm not running for anything here. I might give you something I've thought about. And that is both these guys are actually right.
Santorum is right that these jihadists are religious zealots. They're insane. We've done nothing to invite their attacks, no more then Germany, or Indonesia, or all the other countries they attacked.
But Ron Paul's also right to the extent that the jihadists had influence with moderate Muslims, our occupation does not help. Dropping bombs in these countries does not help. So, both guys have valid points.
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: Well, I think Ron Paul definitely went too far for the group he was talking to and even to any moderate Republican voters just saying all -- saying that there was in any way a way the United States could have brought on the attack on 9/11. That is way too far for mainstream voters, even mainstream Republicans.
But it's not too far for the Ron Paul nation. This is why his supporters love him. He takes his libertarian beliefs to the most extreme degree. He's very consistent on it.
You have to give him credit that he believes what he believes even when it's not politically popular. And it was not popular last night.
PHILLIPS: All right. Your "Buzzer Beater," guys. Twenty seconds each on this one. Today's special election to replace disgraced Congress Anthony Weiner. The Democrats may lose this reliable Democratic seat as you know.
So, does it spell trouble for Obama in 2012? Will?
CAIN: Yes, I think it definitely does. Look, this election, the electorate in this district is strongly orthodox Jewish. The Israel card is being played strongly here on who will support that country the most. That being said, a Sienna poll among independents and Catholics has the Republican way out ahead for issues other than Israel.
So, those paint Obama in some trouble there.
(BUZZER)
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: This is somehow elections work, Kyra. If the party wins, they declare it a national trend. If they lose, they scapegoat the local candidates.
The only issue in this campaign is the Obama Democratic agenda. Clearly, the response, the fact it's even a close race spells trouble. The jobs act the president's put forward can be a game changer both going forward in this district and around the country.
(BUZZER)
PHILLIPS: Patricia?
MURPHY: This spells deep, deep trouble for President Obama. This seat has been in Democratic hands for the last 88 years. The fact that it's even close is a terrible, terrible sign for him.
But this race has actual economy down to a referendum on President Obama. The Democrat is trying to get away from the president as fast as he can. The Republican is handing out flyers that say "send a message to the president."
Ed Koch said, send a message to the president. Defeat this Democrat.
This is the canary in the coal mine for the Democrat. And the canary does not look good.
PHILLIPS: Well, I think the news we made this morning was Wolf Blitzer for president. Bob threw that out there. Thanks.
ZIMMERMAN: I'm organizing the fundraising committee.
PHILLIPS: There you go. Wolf for president. Thanks, guys.
MURPHY: Thanks, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, encouraging news this hour about two American hikers imprisoned in Iran after being convicted of spying. Iran's president says Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer could be released soon.
CNN's Allan Chernoff is joining me from New York.
Allan, what can you tell us?
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the Iranian president is describing this as a humanitarian gesture, although it will cost half a million dollars bail for each of the hikers.
The Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just a few minutes ago said she's encouraged. A spokesperson for the families said that they are hopeful. And their attorney in Tehran says this will happen once the bail is paid.
Now, these two hikers only last month were convicted in an Iranian court of spying against the Iranians. And they were sentenced to eight years in prison for illegal entry and also for espionage. They've already been in prison for more than two years.
Now, word came earlier this morning on the "Today" show on NBC when Ann Curry interviewed the president of Iran. He said that they will be released -- the hikers will be released in a couple of days. And he said he hopes this will improve relations with the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AHMADINEJAD (through translator): These two persons will be released. Is it going to be over? We do it, for example, in a humanitarian gesture. Is it going to solve the problems? I hope so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHERNOFF: The Iranian president said the prison where the two hikers are staying is like staying in a hotel -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Allan Chernoff, out of New York -- Allan, thanks.
And coming up, a medical issue gets political. We'll take a look at the controversy over the HPV vaccine and how it factored into last night's big Republican debate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, one of the testiest exchanges at last night's CNN Tea Party Express debate involved a medical issue.
Take a listen to Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann bicker about the HPV vaccine which Governor Perry has mandated, by the way, for Texas schoolgirls.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: At the end of the day, this was about trying to stop a cancer and giving the parental option to opt out of that. And at the end of the day, you may criticize me about the way that I went about it. But, at the end of the day, I am always going to err on the side of life.
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The drug company gave thousands of dollars in political donations to the governor. And this is just flat-out wrong. The question is, is it about life or it was about millions of dollars and potentially billions?
PERRY: The company was Merck, and it was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them. I raise about $30 million. And if you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended.
(APPLAUSE)
BACHMANN: Well, I'm offended for all the little girls and parents that didn't have a choice. That's what I'm offended for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is joining us now. We should point out the parents had a choice, though, right? It was a mandate that parents could opt out of the mandate.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. Exactly. That's the way he wrote it in Texas. And actually that even -- none of it really went into effect. It ended up guessing reversed anyway.
But the way that he wrote that mandate was, you have to do this but you don't have to if you don't want to.
PHILLIPS: Got it.
COHEN: Kind of a strange mandate.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, the vaccine itself definitely has a controversy surrounding it.
COHEN: Yes, it does. I mean, when you put sex and teenagers and politics together, not to mention --
PHILLIPS: Of course, it's going to be controversial.
COHEN: Of course, it's going to be controversial. So, yes. There is a lot of controversy. And there are a lot of myths that sort of come around for both sides on this. I mean, it's such a hot-button issue.
PHILLIPS: All right. So, let's take a listen to what Michele Bachmann said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BACHMANN: Last evening, there's a woman who came up to me after the debate, I didn't know her. And she was crying. And she told me that her daughter had taken this drug, this injection, and her daughter had suffered very serious consequences.\
And she was devastated by it. She wanted to talk to me more about it. So it isn't without peril.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: So, does this vaccine cause terrible side effects?
COHEN: All right. It sounds like what Michele Bachmann is talking about is apparently a girl got a shot, and then later got very sick. It doesn't mean that the shot caused that. It could have been a coincidence.
And that's the official line from the Centers for Disease Control. They say this shot has no serious side effects. All it's going to do is maybe make your arm sore for a day. If anything bad happens, it wasn't because of the shot. It's just a coincidence.
That's what the Centers for Disease Control and vaccine experts will tell you.
PHILLIPS: All right. You wrote the book how to be an empowered patient. So, if you're a parent, do you give your daughter the shot or not? At what age do you do it? How do you make the decision?
COHEN: The CDC recommends the shot for girls at ages 11 or 12. And the reason is that this shot vaccinates against a sexually transmitted disease.
PHILLIPS: An 11 or 12?
COHEN: Right.
PHILLIPS: As a parent, that's horrifying to hear --
COHEN: It is horrifying as the parent of girls like we are, that your girl might be having sex at 11 or 12. But t reality is that there are girls out there having sex that young.
Now, the way the parent -- empowered parent should make this choice is, think about the risks and the benefit. The CDC says there really basically are no risks. But we all know that medicines, you know, there is no such thing as a risk-free medicine. This shot hasn't been out there all that long.
Some ways, you can say who knows what's going to happen years down the line. There may be risks that we don't know about. The benefit is that your daughter's going to be protected against most types of cervical cancer down the road.
But if your daughter's not having sex, they don't need to worry about this. So, I know some moms who have thought about this and said, you know, I don't want to get this for my 11-year-old. I know she's not having sex. I'm going to wait until she's 14, 15, 16, when I think it's more likely that she could even get the disease.
PHILLIPS: Got it. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks.
COHEN: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: Well, Novak Djokovic may make his rivals cry, but he makes a lot of other people laugh. The joker joins me live to talk about his U.S. Open title and what it's like being a fan favorite.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: It's been nothing but a magical year for tennis superstar Novak Djokovic. This season, he's won 64 of 66 matches, and now he's the U.S. Open champ. And if you missed the match point yesterday, here you go.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
PHILLIPS: Typical force of the forehand return, seized that final point. But believe me, this tennis player is anything but typical.
Novak Djokovic joins me now live from New York.
Boy, Novak, your tennis career has taken off. It's a good thing you took all that gluten out of your diet.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC, TENNIS CHAMP: Not this morning actually. I enjoyed having croissant and fresh bagel.
PHILLIPS: Oh. I see that your life has become a lot more spectacular since you've started winning -- first class, croissants. This must be fun.
DJOKOVIC: Yes, it's definitely fun. I've enjoying every single moment, and I have to. I mean, life is too short not to enjoy it, you know? And I -- I always try to find the right balance between my private life and my career.
And, obviously, I am aware of the attention that I have with the success that is coming up, especially this year, which is tremendous. So, yes, I'm having fun. I have the right people around me who are giving their best for my career. I'm fortunate to have them.
PHILLIPS: Well, a lot of people wouldn't think of Serbia as a place that would raise a fantastic star. I mean, you know, I'm in the news business. You know how we've had to cover Serbia.
So, how did -- how did it even happen for you?
DJOKOVIC: Well, you know, I'm coming from a small country. Serbia has been through a lot of troubles in the past. And we've been through a couple of wars. I've been through, you know, some situations that I don't wish to anybody.
But, look, when I turn around now and I analyze my whole life, my early childhood, and dreaming of becoming a number-one player of the world, winning major events and lifting up this trophy, I appreciate the life much more. And I value things better, and just made me a better person, made me appreciate the things better.
And my people, as well, appreciate what I have done and the way I represent my country -- which is very important to me.
PHILLIPS: Well, obviously, you have a big heart. You're a good guy. And it's paying off now in the tennis world.
But, come on, you're also a standup comic. I understand you sing karaoke. What's your favorite tune on karaoke?
(LAUGHTER)
DJOKOVIC: The one that went public is "I Will Survive" song. With -- I was shirtless. It was terrible.
PHILLIPS: It was shirtless. You can keep your shirt on, but, you know, give me --
DJOKOVIC: I know, I know. Don't worry.
PHILLIPS: I might have you sing us to break, actually.
So, you are really fun with the fans, too. You cut up on the court. I saw the YouTube video of you and one of your favorite fans here, Cameron Hughes. He was teaching you a few dance moves. So -- you --
DJOKOVIC: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Dow do you play such serious tennis and at the same time, you know, cut it up like this on the court and with your fans?
DJOKOVIC: Well, for me, it's very important to interact with fans because I understand that they're coming to watch me play, to enjoy tennis, to enjoy my game. On the other hand, they want to have fun. They want to see a little entertainment. And I love it. You know, it's part of my personality.
So, here, you can see, he was teaching me some crazy moves, and I was trying to catch up, but I wasn't going the right way.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: All right. Obviously. Now we're going to put you on the spot as we head to break. We have a picture of your gorgeous girlfriend, Jelena. So, when are you going to pop the question? I'm going to put you on the spotlight right now on national TV.
DJOKOVIC: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't make me come up with excuses. But she's beautiful, definitely.
PHILLIPS: Yes, she is.
All right. We'll be looking for you to take the knee soon. Congratulations on your win, Novak. Great talking to you this morning.
DJOKOVIC: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, coming up, more and more men are finding a passion for fashion. Designer Tommy Hilfiger tells us why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, when it comes to fashion, menswear is growing at a faster pace than women's wear and it seems more men than ever are upping their fashion game. So, why the sudden spike in popularity?
Alina Cho talked with menswear mogul, Tommy Hilfiger.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.
With all the focus on women during fashion week, easy to forget that menswear is a huge business, too. It goes beyond jeans and t- shirts. Men are finally getting in the game, upping their game, and showing some style.
(voice-over): The catwalk. This may be what comes to mind.
But this is what's suddenly hot. Not just for the fashion set but for the every man.
Menswear -- it's a $53 billion business in the U.S. alone and growing fast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want two distinguish themselves. They want to look better than the other guy because it's a competition.
CHO: Few know that better than Tommy Hilfiger who says his menswear business is exploding.
TOMMY HILFIGER, DESIGNER: Years ago, it was maybe 80 percent women's and 20 percent men's for a lot of designers. Now, we're about 50/50.
CHO: So what's going on?
HILFIGER: I think the modern man is very aware of what's going on in the world around him. With the Internet, with media today, men will look at a photo in a magazine or on television and say, "I want that. I want to look like that."
CHO: "Mad Men," "Gossip Girl," Web sites like "The Sartorialist," images of stylish men are everywhere.
HILFIGER: He sees it all and he wants to be a part of the game.
CHO (on camera): Has it taken the fear out of shopping for men?
BILLY REID, DESIGNER: I think a little bit, it has.
CHO (voice-over): Designer Billy Reid is among the hottest menswear designers.
REID: We've take then little bitty fashion market of men's that now has gone from, you know, say here it's grown itself because more men care about it.
CHO: Reid has a women's line. But sales of his menswear make up 85 percent of his business. His approach -- bring them along slowly. Don't shock them because old habits still apply.
REID: A guy will come in, I want, I need -- I need six new shirts. They will pick out six next shirts, like it's almost like wardrobes. While women are more -- I've got to have that piece.
CHO: Hilfiger designs his shirts to go with all of his sweaters, making men's dressing dummy-proof.
(on camera): You still have to make it easy for the guys.
REID: Oh, yes, you make it very easy. Otherwise, we call it the no-brainer way of shopping.
CHO (voice-over): Then there's this.
HILFIGER: He has to be able to walk in very quickly, make a decision, get to the register and get out.
CHO (on camera): Women are a little different.
HILFIGER: Women take their time. And women go into the dressing room. Men hate fitting rooms.
And that's why we also standardize all of our sizes.
CHO (voice-over): Because if they get home and it doesn't fit, they won't come back.
(on camera): Men are at the end of the day more practical?
REID: A lot more practical, definitely more practical.
CHO: I don't know if I believe that.
(LAUGHTER)
REID: Some men.
CHO: Women's wear is still a bigger business, $107 billion in the U.S. alone, versus $53 billion for men's wear.
But important to note that women's wear sales are in decline and sales of menswear are picking up. Analysts say men are not only replenishing their wardrobe, they're dressing for success and buying items that will separate them from the competition at work -- Kyra.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And you get an exclusive look at runway shows, fashions and trends on "Fashion: Backstage Pass," a CNN special with Alina Cho, airs this Saturday, September 17, 2:30 Eastern Time.
In the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM: Gunfire erupting outside the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan. Our Suzanne Malveaux live on the ground with the latest.
Then, she sits down with Afghanistan's president, Hamid Karzai, in an interview you won't want to miss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: The corruption that is customary in societies like ours -- bribes, you know, favors for the exchange of services, that is there and we are working.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Republican Rick Perry knew he was wearing a bull's eye when he walked onstage at the CNN Tea Party debate. And that's simply the prize to being the front-runner. But as Peter Hamby shows up, well, he got it from all sides.
So, Peter, what do you think? Which candidate gained the most?
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL REPORTER: I think Michele Bachmann and Rick Santorum, two social conservatives who suffered since Rick Perry entered the race, really came out swinging last night and helped themselves. We'll see if they can get back up and top of the polls and really take out Rick Perry. That might be too much of a haul for them.
But the other winner, I think, last night, Kyra, might have been Mitt Romney because he doesn't have the conservative credentials, the kind of Tea Party appeal that kind of go after Rick Perry from the right. So, I'm sure he's happy to have the other folks on stage do the dirty work for him, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, we'll be covering this for many months to come. That's for sure.
Peter, live in Tampa. Thanks.
We'll have the next political update in just about an hour. And a reminder for the latest political news, you can always go to our Web site, CNNPolitics.com.
That does it for us. Our Suzanne Malveaux is still in Afghanistan. Boy, did she have a day today, Drew?
