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President Says Welcome Home To Troops; AAU Says They Did The Right Thing; Florida Investigates FAMU; Body Found And Mystery Deepens; Distracted Driving; Unpaid Bills Land Some In Jail; Ron Paul Increasing in Polls, Possible Win in Iowa? Crackdown on Protests Continue in Syria; Did Hezbollah Out 10 CIA Agents?

Aired December 14, 2011 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Randi is off today, I'm Don Lemon.

Let's get right to the news. Fighting and dying, bleeding and building, live here on CNN, President Barack Obama saluted the work and sacrifice of U.S. troops who are winding down an almost nine year war in Iraq. He spoke at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home of airborne and special ops forces who fought the Iraq War from day one. He said they made history and what's happening now is profound.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're building a new partisanship between our nations. And we are ending a war not with a final battle but with a final March toward home. This is an extraordinary achievement, nearly nine years in the making. And today we remember everything you did to make it possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Almost 150,000 U.S. troops have left Iraq since 2008, the last remaining few will be gone by year's end.

In other news ahead, the Amateur Athletic Union says his group acted quickly and correctly when it first learned a former head of the association was being accused of sexually abusing children. Current president, Louis Stout, is holding a news conference this hour in Orlando, but he sat down yesterday exclusively with CNN. At issue, claims that former AAU president, Bobby Dodd, molested at least two boys in the 1980s when he was a basketball coach at the Memphis YMCA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEWIS STOUT, PRESIDENT, AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION: Unlike Penn State and unlike Syracuse and the Citadel, we acted immediately. We didn't wait six months to find out if this was a protected thing that we were -- because of an executive director, we acted immediately. We formed our own internal investigative process. And then, once we found out who the accusers were, we immediately went to the police department. We didn't sit on this. No one has acted any properly than the Amateur Athletic Union regarding these accusations.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Two things to note here. This is not the Bobby Dodd who coached Georgia Tech football and is now deceased and Memphis police say no one has come forward to file a complaint.

We've just learned, though, that the state of Florida has launched a fraud investigation into Florida A&M University's response to a band member, the unexplained death almost a month ago. Robert Champion died on a band bus of mysterious circumstances believed to be related to hazing. Now, the band's director is now on administrative leave and the University's president has been reprimanded.

In the meantime, another band member is giving up a four-year scholarship after allegedly being viciously beaten for skipping a meeting. Three band members face criminal hazing charges, but the alleged victim's lawyer says the school bears responsibility as well and may face a lawsuit. She's going to join me live in our "Facetime" segment just moments from now in this broadcast.

Investigators on New York's Long Island expect to know soon what they already suspect, that the bones they found yesterday belong to a prostitute who vanished 19 months ago, who's disappearance uncovered the work of a possible serial killer. Police don't think Shannon Gilbert was murdered, but while searching the marshes and beaches where she was last seen, they've uncovered other human remains. Ten victims so far, including eight women, a man in woman's clothing, and a toddler. It is now believed that all were likely killed by the same person. Autopsy results and a positive I.D. on Shannon Gilbert are pending.

It was a scene that we have watched play out over and over again. Actress Lindsay Lohan in court yet again. But this time, it's not all bad. Today's hearing will be a check-up on the star's progress on her community service and therapy sessions stemming from a probation violation on a necklace theft conviction.

The judge says if Lohan stays on track, her probation would be eased in March of next year. Cell phones texting and driving just don't mix.

The NTSB is calling for a full nationwide ban on cell phones while behind the wheel. And it applies to hands-free devices, too. Hands- free also applies, that's new. The recommendation came after several investigations found texting to be the cause of several deadly accidents. Presidential hopefuls are already opposing such a ban including Ron Paul, that it shouldn't push too far into people's lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP . RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I was thinking about that because it was in the news today. So, I went to the Constitution, I looked at Article 1, section 8, there's nothing in there about telephones. It isn't just talking on a telephone, they're text messaging. I don't think that's -- I don't think that's good judgment at all, but there's a lot of things you do in a car that's bad judgment, too. What about eating? (END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Keep in mind, this is only a recommendation by the NTSB, it would be up to lawmakers to mandate an official nationwide ban.

Alec Baldwin was told to put his phone away on a plane, but apparently, the FAA is giving the green light to iPads in the cockpit. According to ZDNet, American Airlines has the approval of the Federal Aviation Administration to use the iPad during all phases of flight. Beginning Friday, the airline will use the device on its B777 aircraft followed by implementation among the rest of its fleet. Pilots will have access to electronic charts replacing paper ones. So far, no comment from Mr. Baldwin.

I want you to meet "Time" magazine's person of the year. The person of the year is the protester. Well, speaking of earlier on American Morning, Bobby Ghosh, Deputy International Editor of the magazine says, while the Arab spring protests stood out, the protests around the world in Russia, Syria, and even downtown New York made headlines collectively throughout the year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY GHOSH, DEPUTY INTERNATIONAL EDITOR, "TIME": We decided in the end rather than pick on any one individual or even any one small group, we would go for --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, runners up include Congresswoman Ron Paul -- Paul Ryan, I should say, and Kate Middleton.

There is no denying injuries, a broken femur, blood clots in the legs, but is the alleged violence at FAMU an isolated incident or an entire culture? One of the accuser's attorneys joins us live, next.

But first, I want you to meet today's "Rock Stars." These New York sanitation workers, look at them, they jumped into action after seeing a mother and four kids trying to escape a house fire. The workers immediately called 911 after seeing the flames and told the kids on the roof to jump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE MANNEGIO: : Yes, we yelled at them, we were screaming, jump, jump, jump into my arms. I grabbed the feet and he caught the bodies as they were coming down. And we -- you know, once the first one came down, they came down one after the other.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, the two guys consider their heroics, quote, "all part of life."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Before the break, we talked about the growing repercussions of the hazing scandal at Florida A&M University. It centers on the school's almost legendary marching band, the Marching 100. Less than a month after the shocking and still unexplained death of band member Robert Champion. Another student says she was beaten so badly by fellow band members, she is leaving the school. And for Bria Hunter, that's no small decision. She is giving up a four year scholarship and is said to be considering a lawsuit against the university.

Now, Hunter's lawyer is B.J. Bernstein who joins me now by phone. B.J., thanks for joining us. How's your client holding up?

B.J. BERNSTEIN, ATTORNEY (via telephone): She is a little fragile right now. The national exposure, obviously, is a little intimidating for her, and she's being well taken care of by her parents right now and has exited the school. She finished her last exam yesterday.

LEMON: Why not just leave the band? Why exit the school all together? I mean, she's giving up a full ride scholarship, I think it's, like, what, $82,000 for four years?

BERNSTEIN: An $82,000 scholarship because it's not been easy for her. I mean, she reported this in November. Went to the hospital. Nothing happened at the school. Nothing changed for her -- you know, it was -- the students were still around her. Then she has to go through -- she knew Robert Champion. She was friends with him. He dies while she's at the school.

LEMON: Didn't he try to warn her, B.J.? You said there were friends -- and my question is, did a they know, did she know about this so-called culture of hazing when it comes to the band, because we know, that's many of the students' lives. Their parents went there, and -- I mean, it's quite an honor in the community and among students and especially legacy's families to be part of the Marching 100. Didn't they know about this hazing?

BERNSTEIN: She didn't know about the hazing and the attacks essentially, the beat-down that occurred. And that's the problem with all of this. And I've heard a lot of commentators say, well, you know, it's the young people. (INAUDIBLE.) These are kids going to college. She's a freshman. This university has known since 1998 they have conduct going on by members of the band that have killed one child previously in 1998, and now killed another one.

And, like, for instance with this -- with Bria, it happened off- campus, so when she reported it, and actually she reported it to the band director, he called the campus police. The campus police said, well, it's not on our property. We punted to Tallahassee, and then everybody doesn't do anything -- versus -- you know, I practice law here in Atlanta.

I have plenty of students who have issues at universities in this area. And off-campus conduct can suspend you from school, can expel you from school and does all the time. And yet, this university wasn't doing that. They're complicit in this, and they are -- the adults are to blame.

LEMON: Yes. We'll get you back on CNN to talk more about this, B.J, but I have to ask you, is she going to sue? She's hired you as an attorney --

BERNSTEIN: Certainly. We're going to file a lawsuit against the school for this, allowing this to happen. And they're already facing a lawsuit with the Champion matter and obviously, I'm hearing the most recent news about the investigation. I can tell you this, we are thrilled that people are taking this seriously. These are the good kids. These are kids who want go to college. These are kids who are accomplished musicians, and to be victimized in this way by the very university they're looking forward to getting a degree from is appalling and has to end.

LEMON: B.J. Bernstein, thank you very much. And one final note for you here, as B.J. mentioned, state investigators are looking into Florida A&M'S investigation of the death of Robert Champion. Authorities say they've identified possible fraud and misconduct by school employees and others. We'll, of course, keep you posted on this.

If you have, listen very closely, an unpaid debt, you could wind up in jail, believe it or not. How collection agencies are taking extreme measures to force people to pay up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: You always say this story can literally happen to anyone. It really can. So, pay attention. I have a question for you. Do you have debts? Most of us do. Now, what if I told you your unpaid bills could land you in jail? You'd probably say that's illegal.

Well, debtors prisons are a thing of the past, right? Well, what we're about to tell you will certainly surprise you. And it's today's "Under Covered" story. According to several reports, collection agencies are increasingly using a troubling strategy that essentially forces people to pay up.

Here's what's happening in some cases. Right on your screen. Now, once a company sells its debt to a collection agency or a creditor, that creditor files a lawsuit against you, the debtor, that requires you to appear in court. And the debtor is supposed to get a notice for that court appearance, but if they don't show up, a warrant is issued for their arrest.

But some debtors say they never even know -- never even knew that they were being sued and never got the notice to appear in court. That is, until they got pulled over for something unrelated and then suddenly they're in jail as a result of their debt.

That's exactly what happened to Robin Sanders, who is on the phone with us now. And we also have our legal expert, Paul Callan, joining us now live from New York, about what this means for all of us.

Robin, I want to start with you. Tell our viewers what happened to you?

ROBIN SANDERS, LANDED IN JAIL DUE TO DEBT (via telephone): Well, I got pulled over when I got off work. My car had a loud muffler on it. I -- they ran my license and they come back and put me in handcuffs.

They said I had a warrant for my arrest. And I was very confused at that point because I had, you know, it was like, what could I have a warrant out for? They took me to jail and it was in Warren County. And I had to spend the night in that county. They transferred me to the next county the next morning. And I was in there for failure to appear. It was from the Copan (ph) Country Credit Bureau had put out a warrant for me and I didn't even know I had a court date.

LEMON: This is what stood out to me. You said that part of your bail money was then turned over to the collection agency to pay off part of your debt.

SANDERS: Right. My bail money was -- it cost me $530 to get out. I had to wait until the first of the month when my dad got his pension check. He paid it for me. $500 of it went to the bill and the $30 went to the processing fee.

LEMON: OK, Paul, is this legal?

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, shockingly, I think to most ordinary American citizens, and frankly even to a lot of lawyers, yes, it is legal in a third of the American states. And, you know, Robin's in good company. Two signers of the Declaration of Independence were thrown in debtor's prison.

And, you know, there's a lot of hostility to this idea among the founding fathers. And in 1833, the federal government banned it on a federal level and most American states banned it. But one-third of the states still, in theory, allow debtors to be jailed for not paying their debts. And I think it's -- it's a stunning and shocking thing that these laws, these old laws permitting people to be jailed for this still exist. And Illinois is one of the places.

LEMON: Listen, I want to tell you about -- this is a study, it's by "The Wall Street Journal," and it found that while debtor's prisons are legal across the country, more than a third -- more than a third of all U.S. states allow borrowers who can't or won't pay to be jailed. And, in fact, here, "The Wall Street Journal" reports that a number of judges, and I'm reading, I'm quoting here, "have seen a surge in debt related arrest, warrants and borrowers being threatened with arrests in court." So is this a sign that debtors, even judges, they don't know the rights when it comes to debtors?

CALLAN: Well, I think that there's a lot of ignorance in this area. But, you know, I've been looking at some of these cases, including Robin's case. A lot of them involve not so much jailing somebody because they owe a debt, but what happens is, in connection with the lawsuit relating to the debt, the person being sued doesn't show up for a deposition, they don't show up because they're supposed to reveal their bank accounts. And then somebody goes into court, the person who's suing them, and they get an order of contempt from the judge, or an order requiring the person to be hauled into court. Much as you would with a parking ticket. You know sometimes, Don, you get pulled over and you forgot you got that ticket in New York City and all of a sudden you're in front of the judge and you've got to pay that ticket and leave. That's a process thing and that's part of it. A lot of people are being jailed for that sort of thing.

LEMON: Robin, did you know about these rights?

SANDERS: I didn't know anything about these rights.

LEMON: And how are you doing?

CALLAN: And, you know -- you know --

LEMON: You sound a little -- are you a little -- how are you holding up after this? Because this would be really trying to anyone, you end up in jail never expecting to be there.

SANDERS: That was awful. You know, and then trying to explain to the people what happened. I'm like, nobody does that. And it does. And, you know, I never thought I'd be saying I was in jail. And I never got a notice about the court thing.

CALLAN: Well, you know, Don, Robin also might have been the subject of what lawyers called sewer service, you know. The person trying to collect the debt tells the judge that the other person was served and they really weren't. It was just thrown away. Robin may have never been served and thrown into jail as a result of that. It's a terrible injustice if that's what happened. But she can sue. She can collect.

LEMON: Yes, we're going to have to leave it at that. We certainly hope it gets better and we --

SANDERS: Well, can I share one thing.

LEMON: Yes, go ahead, Robin.

SANDERS: The woman that owns the credit bureau, when I had to go back, you know, and talk to them again, you know, about trying to make payments, even though I had no money, they wanted -- she told me point blank that sometimes that's the only way they can get their money. And I was just kind of appalled that, you know, she admitted that to me.

LEMON: Yes.

CALLAN: Well, you find a lawyer in Illinois who will sue for abuse of process. That's what it's called. And it sounds like that's what you were subjected to. You can collect damages back.

LEMON: All right. There is a solution there. Thank you, Robin Sanders. And thank you, Paul Callan. We appreciate it. It we're out of time, OK. Good luck to you, Robin.

CALLAN: Nice being with you.

SANDERS: Thank you very much.

LEMON: Thank you.

The NTSB says no to cell phones behind the wheel. Is the government going too far or are cell phones a real distraction? We test it out right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Texting and driving simply do not mix. In fact, according to the National Transpiration Safety Board, more than 3,000 roadway fatalities last year involved distracted drivers. Currently, 35 states ban texting while driving, 10 states have completely outlawed hand- held cell phones while driving. But now the NTSB wants a nationwide ban on hand-held cell phones. Its most far-reaching recommendation so far. In 2009, Virginia Tech released a study on driver distractions and just how impaired motorists may be. CNN's Tom Foreman demonstrated those distractions on Anderson Cooper's "360" the day the report was released.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let's get to the study by Virginia Tech. this is some of their actual road test video where they were checking people who were texting and this sort of thing. And I talked to them earlier today. And they gave us a sense of just how badly texting distracts from driving, more than virtually anything else commonly done out on the road. So we went out to a parking lot in Maryland to test out their findings.

First, let's take a look at this. A relatively low impact activity, loading a CD. The researchers found that people doing this normally look away from the road for about a second and half. So I drove this SUV right here up to about 25 miles an hour and right here I spent about a second and a half quickly loading a CD, then I looked up and put on the brakes as quickly as I could and this is where I wound up stopping. So, now we have a point of reference. This is a second and a half up until this point, Anderson, to be able to stop that vehicle from loading a CD. Not too bad, Anderson.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: All right. So then what about a more intense activity like dialing a cell phone or something?

FOREMAN: Yes, that's where it does get a little more tricky. So we do the same experiment. The Virginia Tech researchers found in actual driving circumstances, and they've been measuring real drivers in real traffic for years, dialing a cell phone can make you glance away from the road for about three seconds at time. You may do it several times in a row, but only about three seconds at a time.

So, same test. Once again, here we go, 25 miles an hour away. I hit here. I pick up my cell phone. I start dialing. We do it for about three seconds. Then I look up and I step on the brake. I want you to notice what happened here. When I stopped here, this was the mark where I stopped previously.

COOPER: Right.

FOREMAN: And look how I kept going. That's just the difference in loading a CD and a cell phone. So you can see, I'm covering a fair amount of turf now before I managed to get stopped, Anderson. About twice as far.

COOPER: All right. So what about texting?

FOREMAN: And texting. This is where it really becomes a mess. And it's because of the number 6, Anderson. Researchers have found that the six seconds before an accident is a critical time in which you might be able to avoid it, but texting requires so much thought and action, it takes up almost all of that time. That's why this is a problem. Researchers say people who are texting routinely take their eyes off of the road for nearly five seconds. And that's not to complete it, that's just at a time.

So watch what happens. Once again, here we go, 25 miles an hour. Right here I start texting. I do it for 4.6 seconds. And by the time I get on the break, look where I wind up.

COOPER: Yikes.

FOREMAN: And I effectively drove this entire way blind, Anderson. Look at this. There's the mark from where I was talking on the cell phone, trying to dial the cell phone. Back here is where I parked -- passed the one -- this is where we started. And then right along in here is where I passed the one for loading a CD. So you get a sense of just how terribly far you can go with this. And that's traveling at 25 miles an hour.

COOPER: Yes, I mean that is the interesting thing, you're only driving 25 miles an hour. Obviously on the highway you'd be going much faster.

FOREMAN: Oh, yes, at highway speeds, in five seconds, if you take your eyes off the road -- I want you to look at this because it's just mind blowing. If you take your eyes off of the road at highway speeds because you are texting, look, here I'm waving (ph) down at the end down here. And you keep going. In the five seconds that you're not looking at the road, you could drive the entire length of a football field and both end zones and again you are essentially driving blind the entire time. Think of how much can happen in that space.

COOPER: Five seconds. That's incredible.

FOREMAN: Yes, it is unbelievable. And that's why these researchers at Virginia Tech are making some very strong recommendations, which we have right in the window of our truck here. They think that there should be a ban on all texting at all times for all drivers. More than a dozen states have already started to do this. And they believe cell phone use should be banned for all newly licensed teens. And I'll tell you this, Anderson, this was a simple test, but it really made a believer out of me because I thought before I could get away with flicking my eyes up. COOPER: Yes.

FOREMAN: They said everyone believes that but the statistics prove that we all think we're better at it than we really are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Our thanks to Tom Foreman.

And the NTSB's recommendation is just that, a recommendation. It would be up to lawmakers to decide if such a ban should be put in place.

The fight for Iowa. Can the GOP underdog shake things up for the leaders of the pack. Plus, Ron Paul goes after Gingrich. Could this strategy help him pull ahead in the polls? That's "Fair Game" next.

But first, our political junkie question of the day. Every major candidate for president is currently married. So can you name the only -- the only unmarried president? The answer is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The fight for Iowa. Can the GOP underdog shake things up for the leader of the pack?

Plus, Ron Paul goes after Gingrich. Could this strategy help him pull ahead in the polls? That's "Fair Game," next.

But first, out "Political Junkie" question of the day. Every major candidate for president is currently married. Can you name the only, the only unmarried president? The answer is just ahead.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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LEMON: That music is amazing, right?

Before the break, we ask you who the only unmarried president was. Here's the answer. James Buchanan. He had a fiance, but she broke off the engagement and died soon after. Afterwards, he vowed never to marry. We will be talking about marriage a little bit later, too.

Let's go "Globe Trekking."

We start in Syria now where businesses are closed in several cities amid deadly violence and the government's continuing crackdown on protests. This video reportedly shows a tank blocking a dusty road in the town of Idlib (ph), and firing its massive machine gun into a residential area. Syria cannot independently confirm the authenticity of these pictures because the government restricts the actions of foreign journalists.

Ivan Watson following the development in Syria from Istanbul, Turkey.

Ivan, I understand international pressure is mounting on Syria to end the crackdown. Will Syria comply?

IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It does not look like the Syrian government is in any mood to cooperate or negotiate. In the meantime, we're seeing a disturbing transformation of the Syrian opposition movement that started out last March, marching peacefully, calling for change, and turning increasingly into an armed movement.

Look at this incredible video from the city of Homs (Ph). We believe was shot within the last couple of days. Look in your lower, right-hand corner. There's a man sweeping up debris on a largely empty street. This has been a hotbed of opposition. There's an armed personnel carrier up the road. The man steps off camera, walks back in the shot carrying a rocket propelled grenade launcher, and -- boom -- fires it with incredible accuracy at that armor personnel carrier, showing some degree of training, real sophistication there.

We're seeing in other cities across Syria, particularly in the northwest, other armed groups of rebels, many defectors from the Syrian military, who have taken up arms and they're now engaged in clashes with the Syrian civilian forces, something we did not see five, six months ago towards the beginning of this uprising.

It's been a bloody day in Syria. At least 31 people killed according to one of the main opposition groups -- Don?

LEMON: I know, Ivan, we can't independently verify that. Does it appear at all that this is simmering down or not at all because of the uprising there?

WATSON: Not at all. In fact, what we seem to be seeing is the opposition is increasingly reaching out for weapons. This, especially after the United Nations came out with a statement this week that the death toll since March is approaching 5,000.

LEMON: Wow.

WATSON: Take a listen to Ban Ki-Moon, the secretary-general of the United Nation, what he had to say about Syria today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAN KI-MOON, SECRETARY-GENERAL, UNITED NATIONS: In Syria, more than 5,000 people are dead. This cannot go on. In the name of humanity, it is time for the international community to act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: A call for action. It's important to note the Syrian president, Don, Bashar al-Assad, in an interview last week, he said the United Nations is not a credible institution -- Don?

LEMON: Ivan Watson, we appreciate your reporting. We go now to Afghanistan. A woman who was in prison for adultery after being raped by a relative is free. Our Nick Paton Walsh spoke to the woman identified only as Gulnaz. She had been sentenced to 12 years in prison after she reported that her cousin's husband raped her two years ago. Her case drew international outrage, prompting Afghan President Hamid Karzai to order her release.

Finally, in Belgium, authorities say a man, who killed five people in a grenade and gun attack in the city of Liege, gave no explanation before his deadly rampage. The 33-year-old shooting then turned the gun on himself. Among those killed was a 23-month-old baby who died in a hospital hours after that deadly attack. At least 130 people were hurt in the attack.

More CNN right after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Almost nine years ago, this image, the symbolic and literal fall of Saddam Hussein, marked the start of the war in Iraq. But today, a much different scene is playing out to mark its end. As the last U.S. troops leave Iraq, the president and the first lady addressed some of the returning troops at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, less than an hour ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm proud to finally say these two words, and I know your families agree -- welcome home.

(CHEERING)

OBAMA: We knew this day would come. We've known it for some time. But still, there is something profound about the end of a war that has lasted so long.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Our David Mattingly is there and he joins us now live.

David, it was interesting, an interesting strategy because the first lady spoke first and she spoke for a lot of the time, and he referenced her. That's an interesting strategy when it comes to the exit from Iraq.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Plus, the first lady, we have to remember, has been a tireless advocate for the needs of the families of these troops who have been over there fighting this war. It was probably appropriate that she gave the first words since she probably had the most personal contact with families that have been involved in this conflict. And the president himself pointing out the families have had to bear a large burden of this conflict, along with the soldiers who have been there on the ground.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: And I know that while your children and your spouses and your parents and siblings might not wear uniforms, they serve right alongside you.

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: That was just one of the many big rounds of applause and cheers that came up today as the president and the first lady not only recognized everyone for their sacrifices and achievement but also pledged to stand beside them the way they stood up, they say, for America -- Don?

LEMON: David, tell us about the mood there. We heard the president and the first lady really got a warm -- were received very warmly during this speech. What's the mood there now?

MATTINGLY: Let me put it this way. Any time you have troops home for the holidays, you will have a lot of very happy people. Today, we saw a lot of smiles on a lot of soldiers as they walked away from today's event.

There were generally two questions everyone had on their minds that I spoke to before the event. One was, will they be properly recognized for the dangers they faced and the job they had to do. That question seemed to be answered as the president went into a great detail about all the dangers they had to face and the lives lost and the blood spilled.

The second question was, what will happen to us now, now that we're not engaged in the active conflict in Iraq. Are you still going to stand by us and help us with our needs as our lives go forward from here? The president was clear about that. You stood up for America, now America will stand up for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WESLEY DODD, IRAQ VETERAN: Don't be afraid to ask for help and admit there are problems and you have issues, whether small or large. You should be willing to talk to especially loved ones, people that understand, people that know about it, people that have been good through it. Finding a good group, like a good group counseling is always great. Be willing to get help and don't be afraid of your chain of command.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Those words, from Wesley Dodd, a vet from Iraq. He came back in 2008. He still has terrible PTSD problems, post traumatic distress disorder, and he also has injuries to his knees so he's in constant pain. He came back and actually developed an addiction to painkillers. He's now on methadone. He got in trouble with the law after he got out on a medical retirement out of the military. and he believes now that the conflict is over, he's afraid he will see a lot more soldiers coming out in pain and in trouble the way he is today -- Don?

LEMON: David Mattingly, thank you very much. We appreciate your reporting.

And I want to say this, that David is going to take a closer look at the transition for veterans and how they'll be cared for now that the war is over. You can better believe we will continue to follow this story, as our men and women in uniform come home from Iraq. That's tonight in "The Situation Room."

The fight for Iowa. Can the GOP underdog shake things up for the leader of the pack?

Plus, Ron Paul goes after Gingrich. Could this strategy help him in the polls? "Fair Game" is next.

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LEMON: I want to check some stories now making headlines at "Street Level."

First to Cincinnati. No criminal charges will be filed after that on-court brawl between Cincinnati University and Xavier basketball players. Investigators reviewed this past Saturday's fight on the hardwood and talked with both head coaches. After the review, and some player apologies, prosecutors felt the teams are dealing with it just fine and it doesn't need the attention of a criminal justice system.

Now, we want go to Orlando, where the Amateur Athletic Union is responding to sexual abuse allegations against its former head, Bobby Dodd. Two men told ESPN that Dodd abused them during the 1980s while he was a YMCA coach in Memphis. In an exclusive interview with CNN, AAU Louis Stout, president, says they acted the moment they learned about the accusations last month.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS STOUT, PRESIDENT, AMATEUR ATHLETIC UNION: Once we found out who the accusers were, we immediately went to the police department. We didn't sit on this. No one has acted any properly than the Athletic Amateur Union regarding this allegations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The AAU just held a news conference this afternoon to address the allegations.

Manhattan restaurant owner, Mark Epstein, says he will never Occupy Wall Street or New York ever again. Police responding to Occupy Wall Street protests put barricades on the street. After 12 straight weeks of this, business has dried up at the F.C. (ph) Milk Street Cafe. It closes for good tomorrow. Can you believe? More than 90 employees, they're out of a job. The owner says he will never open a restaurant in New York again. Now, we want to go to Port Washington. Will Chinese consumers one day lament that all these shoes are made in Wisconsin? People say everything is made in China. All these shoes are made in Wisconsin. Probably not. The Allen Edmond Shoe Company just signed a major deal. Next year, they'll sell their high-end men's shoes at the very first Allen Edmond store headquartered in Shanghai. Headquartered in Port Washington, Wisconsin, their shoes will soon hit the streets in China, Hong Kong and Macaw (ph). And says this will create more jobs and expect it to double in size over the next decade.

To the city of Campbellsburg, Kentucky, the country's (ph) animal services director said it is the worst case he has ever seen. Hundreds of animals rescued and covered in mud and excrement and without proper food, water and shelter. Investigators say it is a puppy mill and a case of extreme animal hoarding. Hundreds of dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. An anonymous tip led to the discovery. And the crooks responsible are on the run now.

Marriage is so last century ago. At least that's what one new nationwide survey is saying. Barely half of the adults in a Pew research study said they were married. That's down 20 percent from the '60s when it was 72 percent. More couples are now putting off marriage for a while and just living together. Others said they have to save up because married life is expensive. And while some see marriage as completely obsolete, researchers say this is a reflection of the changing attitudes about the role of marriage in society.

And the fight for Iowa now. Can the GOP underdog shake things up for the leaders of the pack? We're going to talk about Ron Paul and Gingrich. Their strategies straight ahead, and how they are doing in the polls. Some politics in just moments.

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LEMON: Can you believe we are now less than three weeks away from the Iowa caucus? And a couple of candidates are trying to jump- start their campaigns in that state.

Paul Steinhauser joins me from the political desk in Washington with some details.

Paul, what do you have for us? What's going on there?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, Don, let's start with Rick Perry, the Texas governor. You remember when he jumped into the race for the White House back in August, he zoomed right up to the top? He was the frontrunner. He stumbled in the debates and the poll numbers went right back down.

Today, in Iowa, a few minutes from now, he kicks off a 42-stop tour across the state. Of course, we're less than three weeks away from the start of the caucuses on January 3rd. So for Rick Perry, whose polls numbers, Don, are starting to rise in Iowa, they're starting to jump up there. He's getting traction. And he's been on the air nonstop in Iowa with a lot of commercials, especially some controversial ones that maybe are attracting social conservative voters. Keep your eye on Rick Perry.

The other person I want to talk about, Michele Bachmann. Michele Bachmann starts a tour starts on Friday. She's going to visit all 99 counties. She had a good debate performance most people say last Saturday night in Iowa. Like Perry, her poll numbers are kind of low. She's hoping to catch a little magic.

Everything could change on January 3rd -- Don?

LEMON: Paul Steinhauser, appreciate it. We'll be looking forward to that.

We'll go on to some international news. In the latest round of America's escalating spy war with the terrorist organization Hezbollah, they claim to have blown the cover of 10 CIA officers. Is this true? And how big of a setback is this for the war on terror?

CNN's Brian Todd reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With polished graphics, silhouetted images and ominous music, Hezbollah ratchets up its covert war with the U.S.

(MUSIC)

TODD: On a broadcast on the Lebanese network, al-Manar, Hezbollah reveals the names of 10 people who they say were 10 CIA officers working at the U.S. embassy in Beirut in recent years. It includes the name and date of birth of someone it says is the CIA station chief.

CNN is not airing that name. The CIA would not confirm or deny if the video is accurate. A spokeswoman said, "The agency does not, as a rule, address spurious claims from terrorist groups. I think it's worth remembering that Hezbollah is a dangerous organization with al Manar as its propaganda arm. That fact alone should cast some doubt on the credibility of the group's claims."

Bob Bayer is a former CIA officer who served in Beirut, was involved in operations targeting Hezbollah. I asked him if he found the claims credible.

BOB BAYER, FORMER CIA OFFICER SERVING IN BEIRUT: I assume it's correct. I think I understand how Hezbollah compromised the CIA there. They used telephone link analysis. So once you tie one phone in to another phone, you can pretty well identify a station.

TODD: In the video, Hezbollah even produces animations, recreating meetings it claims occurred at places like McDonalds and Pizza Hut between CIA agents and their recruits.

(on camera): None of that can be identified. But Bayer says Hezbollah has eyes and ears all over Beirut, from the area near the U.S. embassy to the airport, the defense ministry, and to parliament where the group holds seats.

(voice-over): These new claims come after Hezbollah partially unraveled the CIA's operations in Lebanon, capturing some informants. Hezbollah has been a bitter enemy of the CIA since the 1980s, blamed for bombing the U.S. embassy and the kidnap and murder of CIA officer, William Buckley.

U.S. officials say the group gets weapons, training, and money from Iran.

Reuel Gerecht is a former CIA officer who tracked Iran's operations in Europe and Middle East.

(on camera): Who do you think has the upper hand between the U.S. and Iran?

REUEL GERECHT, FORMER CIA OFFICER & FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Well, I think Iranians really always have the upper hand in any type of covert engagement because they do it all the time. The Iranians have a very active covert paramilitary program. The Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guard Corp really does go around the world and kill people.

TODD (voice-over): On Hezbollah, one U.S. official who didn't deny Hezbollah's claims to have identified American intelligence officers said, quote, "Repeating Hezbollah's claims does nothing but serve that group's interests, making things harder for Americans in Beirut."

This official said, no one is giving up against Hezbollah, pointing out that group has killed more Americans than any other terrorist group except al Qaeda.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Brian, thank you very much.

Talk a little politics now. Ron Paul has used his financial war chest to attack Newt Gingrich over the Iowa airwaves. In this television spot titled, "Serial Hypocrisy," the Paul camp says that they wanted to debunk the myth that Gingrich is a conservative touting himself to be. The attacks may be working. Recent polling has Paul closing the gap with Gingrich in Iowa. Gingrich is at 22 percent and Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are tied at 17 percent.

So the question to ask is this, could Ron Paul win the Iowa caucuses? It's "Fair Game," for my guests, Democratic strategist, Robert Zimmerman; and CNN contributor, Will Cain.

Will, can Ron Paul win Iowa?

WILL CAIN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST & CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Not if you listen to most strategists out there, Don. No matter the question asked, no matter the polling, no matter how many gains Paul makes, they say he can't win the nomination, he can't win Iowa even at that. We have something in politics called the bandwagon effect. You get a little momentum in the polls, you win Iowa. You win a couple of states, you can win the nomination. Why? Because casual viewers, not junkies like us, begin to think that you're legitimate. I'm saying he will win, Don. I'm not saying that he can. But it's absurd to say that he can't.

LEMON: Go ahead, Robert.

ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Here's the reality. Iowans are famous for making up their mind at the last minute. In 2008, 40 percent made up their mind within the last week. Ron Paul has an extraordinary organization led by young people on the ground in Iowa. Sure, he can win the Iowa caucus. Many strategists that I've spoken to see that happening. Does it mean that he's going to be the nominee? No, he's not. But can he slow Newt Gingrich's momentum? Without question. That's what early contests are about, creating momentum, building for March.

LEMON: I just have a short time here. Is winning Iowa even important for Republicans right now?

First to you, Robert.

ZIMMERMAN: Iowa has a historic history of not -- of Iowa caucus winners not winning the nomination. Ronald Reagan lost Iowa. George Herbert Walker Bush lost Iowa. John McCain bypassed Iowa and finished fifth in that contest. Iowa is not an indicator of the Republican nominee. And if Ron Paul wins, it could make Iowa irrelevant to serious contenders.

LEMON: Will, does it matter anymore? I just have five seconds here?

CAIN: Yes, it matter. Does it mean you win the nomination? No. But it's always good to win.

LEMON: Will Cain, Robert Zimmerman, thank you. We're out of time. Thank you for joining us.

Now I'll turn it over to my colleague, Brooke Baldwin, right now for the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hey, Brooke.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Don. Thank you so much.