Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Huge Storm Hitting Northeast; "Smart Rifle" Turns Novice Into Marksman; Iraq Seeks U.S. Help Against Terrorists; Book: Obama/Clinton Ticket Considered For 2012; Apple's Fifth Generation iPad Tablet Goes On Sale Today In 42 Countries; Drug Tunnel Links U.S. Mexico Warehouses; Delta Allows Use Of Electronic Gadgets During Takeoff, Landing

Aired November 01, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I was scared, but I really -- my friends -- I tried to put them first to get them out of the watt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This could have ended up a lot worse than it did. It could have washed on down and been trapped and taken longer for rescue to get to.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Strong winds tore through Ohio and caused a tree to come crashing down in Worthington near Columbia, Ohio.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE LOADMAN, STORM VICTIM: We heard a loud crash and the boys looked up and turned around and high-tailed it that way. After that, all of these branches that you see came tumbling down right where they were standing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: CNN's Indra Petersons is in New York City this morning to tell us where the storm is heading now. Good morning.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. That storm is now really starting to impact the northeast. I wanted to show you the path of the storm has already taken. See all of these dots that are really concentrated here. These are all reports of storm damage. We're talking about 173 reports of damage from wind and even five tornado reports in Louisiana and also in through Illinois. That's how powerful the storm was.

Now it's making its way into the northeast and into Philadelphia. We have severe thunderstorm watches, winds as high as 70 miles per hour. Look how, spans sift this is. Anywhere from New England all the way down through the mid Atlantic, winds as high as 50 and 60 miles per hour. Right now, already thanks to just the winds, three hour delays out toward LaGuardia. And even now in Newark, delays just under two hours. So that's the impact that's having huge impact across the country. Think about if your plane is coming from one of these locations, you're going to be impacted somewhere else. Currently Buffalo gusting to 47, Philly gusting about 36 today. We're definitely talking about the strong winds out there.

And notice the system it's the only thing on the map. It's bringing the warm air right into the northeast. It feels like spring time temperatures today. It's going to make its way offshore and behind it there's dry air and milder conditions. Here is the big change.

Three cold fronts expected to go through the northeast here as we go through the weekend. Temperatures today, it's nice, all the warm air coming out of the south, 70s today when averages should be in the 50s. Boston looking for 71, New York 71, even Atlanta looking for 71 degrees.

As the cold fronts goes through, it's going to drop significantly so by Sunday morning, we're going to be talking about many places waking up into the north east just into the 40s as their highs so definitely a big change. First is the spring type storm then you talk about strong winds and rain and then it's just plain old cold.

COSTELLO: Yes, Indra Petersons, thanks so much.

Millions of Americans have smartphones and smart cars are just around the corner. So a smart rifle may not comes a shock. It has the brains of a fighter jet to turn anyone into a sharp shooter and for many that is grave concern. Here are the details from reporter, Marissa Vadra and WFAA.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARISSA VADRA, WFAA REPORTER (voice-over): It's billed as one of the baddest weapons to date. Meet the world's first smart rifle.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Send it.

VADRA: Manufactured by a Texas company, it makes promises unlike any other firearm in the market. Ones we had to see to believe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is our network tracking scope.

VADRA: On a hill over an hour from the Metroplex, we met Gary Smith, sales director with Tracking Point.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is revolutionary. When it first boots up --

VADRA: He's part of the Austin-based startup, who founder, a hunter, dreamed of making aiming easier when it comes to long range shooting.

GARY SMITH, TRACKINGPOINT SMART RIFLE: And the system we have today is three years of product development and about $40 million.

VADRA: It went on sell this January. Featuring the smart rifle's brains in this high tech scope, rotation of the earth, spin drift, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, uphill or downhill angles and a moving target up to 10 miles per hour, almost every variable all calculated by a computer.

SMITH: The only thing that the shooter has to do is make a wind call.

VADRA: From there, it's displayed on an iPad through Wi-Fi. The rifle comes with both. Using a fighter jet's target locking system, you set your tag, match up the cross hairs, and fire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's good, accepted it. Hit.

VADRA: Experienced marksman, forget the math. Amateurs, the learning curve just got shorter.

SMITH: This system really allows the shooter who doesn't have a tremendous amount of time in their schedule to get out and be proficient right away at shooting at long distances.

VADRA (on camera): I have not fired a rifle ever, much less held one. I'm going to try to hit a target that's 850 yards away.

SMITH: Put your hand right here and lean into the gun a little bit.

VADRA: I see it. OK.

SMITH: Pull that trigger to the rear and hold it back. Keep it held back and align the cross hair with the tag. You hit it.

VADRA: Wow. OK.

SMITH: All right.

VADRA: I hit the target.

SMITH: You did.

VADRA (voice-over): That was 250 yards.

(on camera): I'm ready to tag.

(voice-over): Next I went for 575.

SMITH: Hit.

VADRA (on camera): Hit it?

SMITH: Yes.

VADRA (voice-over): And finally, 850 yards away.

SMITH: Hit it. That's good.

VADRA (on camera): Three for three.

(voice-over): So if I can do it, anyone can. And for some, that is a problem.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's no really words to describe how insane this is.

VADRA: Elliot Fineman is with the National Gun Victim's Action Council. He calls the weapon a disaster waiting to happen.

ELLIOT FINEMAN, NATIONAL GUN VICTIMS ACTION COUNCIL: If I can hit a target from ten football fields away, no one is going to catch me and there's nothing you can do to defend against it.

VADRA: Trackingpoints response is that any tool can be dangerous in the wrong hands. And as a luxury brand, there are hurdles beyond that ground check.

SMITH: I would venture to guess that someone who is going to use it for something they shouldn't, they're not going to select a gun of this size and weight and cost.

VADRA: That cost starts, base model at $22,500. Still those aren't smart rifles only credit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the purest thing.

VADRA: There is push back from hunters themselves including Cody Chamberlin, a firearms instructor in Fort Worth.

CODY CHAMBERLIN, HUNTER AGAINST SMART RIFLE: If you just go out and use electronic devices, you're not actually doing the real thing, you are cheating.

VADRA: But there are hundreds in Texas who disagree.

SMITH: Depending on which model you order, you're probably looking at a January delivery.

VADRA: That's not too long, especially if you have the money, but not the time.

SMITH: I think this is the future of firearms.

VADRA: Marissa Vadra, Channel 8 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And that was Marissa Vadra reporting. The company says the technology is being made available for rifles with shorter range and smaller price tags.

Remember this? The last U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq, well, today there a new calls for America to once again help secure Iraq and a request is coming from Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, the leader who publicly endorsed the exit of American forces. Today, Al-Maliki meets with President Obama and he's expected to ask for U.S. help in cracking down on surging terrorism and violence in Iraq. Consider a bumper sticker that never was both for Obama-Clinton for 2012. It could have happened according to a new book that said the Obama campaign actually considered bumping Joe Biden from the ticket and replacing him with Hillary Clinton. The research reportedly included focused groups and polling. Today, both Obama's former chief of staff and its current spokesman say that option was never seriously considered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL DALEY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: There was research done on all sorts of issues and people and whether or not this or that. And that's a legitimate thing that campaigns do all the time. But it was not done with the intent that this ought to be done and there was need to do it. But in 2011, as you remember, it was a very difficult political year. So my sense was we had to look at everything. It was a very difficult period politically. But not for a moment, as far as I know, did any of the senior people, including myself, thought that that was a good idea.

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: I know for a fact that President Obama never considered this, never thought about it and never entertained it. The vice president has been a partner of his from the 2008 campaign on. He's been an excellent governing partner and campaign partner. And campaigns test everything, but as the book itself says, this was never considered by the president.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Obama's former senior advisor, David Plouffe, also denies any serious intent. Plouffe tweeted was there ever any, any consideration a vice president Hillary Rodham Clinton switch.

If you're one of those people who needs the latest thing in tech, it's time to get in line, Apple's fifth generation tablet, the iPad Air goes on sale today in the United States and in 41 other countries. CNN's chief business correspondent, Christine Romans is in New York to tell us more about it. Good morning.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. It's thin, Carol, about 7.5 millimeters, very thin and it's light, about a pound with a 9.7 inch retina display. This thing is light. It is thin and they are hoping to see a lot of these things. It's silver and space gray are the two colors you can get. You can see it there on your screen. Pricing starts at $499.

But if you get the best models, you can pay up to $1,000 for this thing. It's pretty interesting. This is the fifth generation and this product has really changed a lot. This is light. It is very light. It is very thin, which is why they call it the air I guess -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I guess that does make sense. We never wait too long between new Apple releases. Still I'm wondering, what's the next big thing? ROMANS: They have to keep us addicted and give us something to talk about and then we get used it and then move on. And they upgrade or they invent something new. The iPad mini is probably the next thing around the corner. We're expecting that could be sometime this month so you'll be seeing a smaller iPad probably coming out. So that's a next thing to be looking at.

We're always talking about, you know, the Apple TV and iWatch and all of these other things. Lots of big expectations for this company, but we don't know really what's going to be around the corner until they actually announce it. So there you go.

One thing we do know is that profit margins have been falling. That means Apple is making less profit on each of things that Apple is making. We tend to gravitate that to that cheaper older model of things. So Apple has to work hard to keep us enticed with the new products and want us to get the next greatest thing. My iPad for the record is still an iPad 1.

COSTELLO: You're too thrifty, Christine. I tell you that all the time. Thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, drug agents find a sophisticated tunnel underneath San Diego. Where it leads and what they found stashed underground.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A sophisticated super tunnel is discovered snaking between San Diego and Tijuana, Mexico. It has lighting, ventilation, even an electric rail system. Investigators also found drugs valid at nearly $12 million. Now authorities have a new warning for the drug cartels. Miguel Marquez is outside of the tunnels' entrances -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, this is the door that agents busted down here. It's always a nondescript warehouse. It's 600 yards south of where we are standing is Mexico and there's another warehouse on that side where the tunnel began. Inside they found the drugs. There have been three arrests so far, but they're described as small fish in all of this. As diggers in the tunnel and transport folks, law enforcement officials say there will be more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I would offer this to the drug cartels, we are by no means finished here. And don't say we didn't warn you. You go underground, you're going down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Law enforcement underscoring that the investigation on this has just begun and they're talking tough because they want to send the signal to drug dealers that whether they try to go under the border or over it or in ultra light planes like they have been doing or in speed boats, they are getting bigger and more powerful and going farther up the coast in California, that they will have surveillance and they will bust them.

It is concerning to them, though, that cocaine was found in this tunnel. That indicates to them that as they say right now, that the drug cartels, that they are more desperate than they have been in the past. And the problem here in Southern California is that the amount of hard drugs, cocaine and heroin and others have been coming in, in greater, greater amounts, and the price for drugs across the country and the world have been going down. So they really want to get on top of this and make the most of these sorts of bust -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Miguel Marquez reporting for us this morning, thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, new rules for using electronic gadgets onboard an airplane, one airline, Delta, is making the change today. What do passengers think? That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Delta flight attendants will have one last thing to remind you about before the plane takes off.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your mobile phones and other electronic devices should be turned off. Once airborne, we'll let you know when you can use approved electronic devices, but note that some items, such as phones, may not be used in flight at any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You still have to turn your phones off, but you can use your other electronic devices. Delta is the very first airline to allow you to use things like iPods and your Kindle during takeoffs and landings. Nick Valencia is outside Atlanta's airport. Good morning, Nick.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. A lot of passengers we've spoken to say that this is a long time coming. And quite frankly, Delta tells us that it's been safe for some years to use your personal electronic devices during takeoff and landing. This is really about the FAA catching up with passenger demand.

And the point being, you know, Carol, I know I do it. I'm sure so many of our viewers do it. We keep our personal electronic devices on during takeoff and landing any way. And quite frankly, flight attendants are quite tired of bossing the passengers around and the passengers that we spoke to said they're tired of getting the rules enforced on them. Take a listen to what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We travel by plane so seldom. It is not a big deal for us.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's going to be more convenient to work stuff, be more efficient for my workday. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think eventually it should go further. Right now is it's a good step in the right direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: So passengers will now be able to watch movies, read their books, and listen to the music, but the real issue is going to be chargers. The longer we keep our phones on, the longer we keep our personal electronic devices on, the more battery gets drained and they don't have outlets for chargers. So that's going to be an issue that these airlines are going to having to deal with going forward.

COSTELLO: Poor, poor passengers, it's so sad for them. It's like -- it's funny. Because when you really think about it, you turn your device off for, what, 10 minutes during takeoff and ten minutes during the landing. It's not like it's a huge hardship or anything.

VALENCIA: No, and it's really about getting the attention of the passenger as well. I spoke to a husband of a flight attendant yesterday and he was telling me it's about having the attention of the passenger during the safety instructions. It's not so much about interference with the cockpit although that was an issue in the past. It's not anymore. The passenger we speak to say it's really no different than being engrossed in a book. It's a long time coming for the rules to change.

COSTELLO: Nick Valencia reporting live from Atlanta Hartsfield Airport. Thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, for the first time lawmakers will get to question the secretive U.S. operatives on the ground as that attack unfolded.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks for joining me. Behind closed doors. CNN has learned that Congress is rambling up its investigation into the terror attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya. As you recalled four Americans including the U.S. ambassador to Libya died in that ferocious attack.

And Republicans critical of the White House response on that night of September 11th have demanded access to witnesses, well, now they will get that chance in just a couple of weeks. We've learned that CIA operatives who were on the ground that night will share new details of the siege, the failed attempt to rescue those trapped Americans.

Drew Griffin of the CNN investigations unit broke the story and he joins with more. Good morning.

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. What these congressmen want especially on the House Intel Committee is unfiltered information from the people who were actually there. They don't trust the administration to tell them the story. Now they're going to get the story, they believe, straight from, as we say, the horse's mouth. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN (voice-over): CNN has learned a House intelligence subcommittee is scheduled to hear from CIA security officers in Benghazi who are expected to tell a much more detailed story on what went on the night Ambassador Chris Stevens and three others were killed in a terrorist attack. The men described by sources to CNN as former Navy SEALs and former Army Special Forces and former Marines were under contract to guard CIA agents on the ground.

The security officers were among those who responded when Ambassador Steven's compound was attacked on the night of September 11th. Sources tell CNN they will appear behind closed doors in a classified congressional hearing the week of November 11th. Members of Congress have been trying to get access to them and other actual CIA agents.

But as CNN has been reporting, those attempts, at least to date, have failed. Sources tell us that only one CIA operative who was in Benghazi during the attacks have gone before the committee. They have been unsatisfied with the investigation so far conducted by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Republican Mike Rogers.

But Roger's staff defends the work of the committee, previously telling CNN that the exhaustive review has included nine hearings, round table discussions with some administration officials and interim report vow that the investigation continues.