Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

A Deadly Militant Attack at the International Airport at Karachi, Pakistan; Exclusive Interview with John Kerry; New Details About Bowe Bergdahl's Life with the Taliban; California Chrome Limped to Fourth Place at the Belmont Stakes; Comedian Tracy Morgan Remains in Critical Condition; Rishikesh, a Holy City in India

Aired June 08, 2014 - 17:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: All right. Thanks so much to Poppy Harlow.

Next hour of CNN NEWSROOM begins right now with Poppy Harlow in New York.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN HOST: Hi there, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Breaking news. Let's begin with this. I'm Poppy Harlow in for Don Lemon.

We are learning new details directly from the Taliban about Bowe Bergdahl's time in captivity. Our Nic Robertson joins us live from Qatar with new information in just a few moments.

But first, this.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

HARLOW: Breaking news, a deadly attack on the international airport in Karachi, Pakistan. We only know a few details at this point. Information, of course, is still coming in to CNN from various sources telling us that at least four military personnel have been killed. At least one of the attackers apparently dead. Our Sanjay Gupta in Karachi right now. He is not far from the airport.

Sanjay, give us a sense. I know this is still unfolding so we want to qualifying it with that. But What do you know at this hour?

DOCTOR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It is very much an ongoing situation, Poppy. And some extraordinary details really coming out of this. Sounds like a very coordinated attack. These militants trying to enter the airport from three separate areas. All primarily in the cargo and VIP areas try to cut through barbed wire in one particular situation and that prompted a gun fight, the one that you were just referencing where four of these airport security forces killed. These commandos whose charge to guard the airport. They got involved with the gunfight.

We know that the gunfight happened and we know grenades have been used. We know at least one airplane sounds like an international cargo airplane is on fire so there's significant damage. Now again, Poppy, important to stress an ongoing situation and also this was primarily in the cargo and VIP area, the commercial passengers sound like they have been in a lounge cordoned off. They're trying to exercise a rescue operation to escort those people out of the airport. We don't know how that's going right now. We don't know the details.

We do know, obviously, all flights coming into Karachi airport have been diverted. No planes are taking off. The airport is on high alert here in Karachi. But also other airports around the country and Islamabad and Lahor, for example, also on high alert. The airport not too far from here. We have heard sirens in the distance. You see smoke billowing. You may see some of those images yourself, Poppy. But it is a two and a half hours now. You have this ongoing attack.

HARLOW: And Sanjay, in terms of anyone claiming responsibility, has anyone claimed any responsibility at this point in time? I know you said militants. But do we know any more than that? Who they may be? Where they may be from?

GUPTA: You know, there's been some local reporting that we're working to confirm. Poppy. I'm reluctant to put it out there right now because we haven't confirm any claims of responsibility. But obviously, a lot of people are looking into that.

HARLOW: And Sanjay, I mean, this is an airport that you know. You have the perspective of having been there and I certainly haven't many and many of the viewers haven't. What can you tell us about this airport and its security? I know it is by far the largest airport, both internationally and domestically in Pakistan. But what can you tell me about just security at this airport in general on an average day?

GUPTA: Well, you know, this is an airport that -- where they worry about these sorts of things. They worry about this Karachi as a whole. But as you mentioned, this is the busiest airport in Pakistan. They had commandos. They have airport security forces. They were there. It was 11:30 at night here when it started and something that they, you know, they try to prepare for to anticipate but this type of coordinated attack, you had four commandos. As soon as they recognized what was happening in these gunfight, start at four commandos were killed. These were people who were guarding the airport. And one or two militants, these armed gunmen killed, as well.

But it is a -- just flew into this airport yesterday. I mean, I'm familiar with this airport. But again, this particular area, it sounds like maybe a kilometer or so away from where the commercial passengers travel. This is a 24-hour airport. There are commercial passengers there. There were people taking off planes, put back into the main lounge area.

Again, they are trying to figure out how to rescue those people, get them out of the airport right now. You had a huge military and paramilitary surge into the airport for that very purpose. To try to seal the airport and make sure no more damage is done. But we don't know at this time whether some of these militants are in the airport, what exactly the status is.

HARLOW: Yes. There's so much more to find out as it is still unfolds.

Again our viewers, Sanjay, as they listening to the reporting, are looking at shots of local media there. You did say there's some reports of a plane, some sort of possibility cargo plane on fire. We are seeing something illuminated in the background. But it is hard to tell. It is hard to tell exactly what that is so we'll let you go. Continue reporting and get back to you later in the show when you have more.

Appreciate it, Sanjay, for us live for us there in Karachi.

All right, we now know why the controversial prisoner swap with the Taliban for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl was done so quickly. U.S. officials feared that Bergdahl, they say, may be killed. But senior official telling CNN after the deal was reached with the Taliban, new intelligence emerged that, quote, "other Taliban elements might kill him." talking about Bergdahl.

We also have emotional new details on Bergdahl's recovery after nearly five years of captivity. That he wants to be called private first class, not sergeant. The standard promotion he was given while he was being held as a prisoner of war.

In a CNN exclusive interview, secretary of state John Kerry is defending the Obama administration's move, this prisoner swap. Five high profile Taliban figures were released as you know from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and sent to Qatar in exchange for Bergdahl.

Now, Kerry says the U.S. can and will eliminate those ex-detainees if they return to the violent ways. He spoke exclusive with our foreign affairs reporter, Elisa Labott. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS REPORTER: We're told that these five can roam around the country, pretty vague on what those restrictions and monitoring are. I mean, tell me about that and on a scale of one to ten, ten being the most confident, how confident are you that the Qataris are able to keep a close eye on these guys?

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: They're not the only ones keeping an eye on them.

LABOTT: U.S. is going to be monitoring them?

KERRY: I'm just telling you they're not the only ones keeping an eye on those and we have confidence in the requirements and if they're violated then we have ability to be able to do things. I'm not --

LABOTT: What kind of things?

KERRY: I am not, Elise, I'm not telling you that they don't have some ability some point to go back and get involved. But they also have an ability to be killed doing that. And I don't think anybody should doubt the capacity of the United States of America to protect Americans.

LABOTT: You mean, you could kill them?

KERRY: No one should doubt the capacity of American to protect Americans. And the president has always said he will do whatever is necessary in order to protect the United States of America. So these guys pick a fight with us in the future or now or any time, at enormous risk and we have proven what we're capable of doing with Al Qaeda, let me just finish, with Al Qaeda, the core Al Qaeda in west Pakistan, Afghanistan.

LABOTT: Some people say Bowe Bergdahl is being swift boated. Do you agree with that? Did he serve with honor and distinction as --

KERRY: There's plenty of time, Elise, there's plenty of time for people to sort through what happened, what didn't happen. I don't know about facts.

LABOTT: Sounds like you're not sure he served with --

KERRY: Not what I'm saying, Elise. What I'm saying is there's plenty of time for people to sort through that. What I know today is what the president of the United States knows. That it would have been offensive and incomprehensible to consciously leave an American behind, no matter what. To leave an American behind in the hands of people who had torture him, cut off his head, do any number of things and we would consciously choose to do that? That's the other side of this equation.

I don't think anybody thinks that's the appropriate thing to do. And you know, it seems to me we have an ability, we know we have the ability to be able to deal with people to want to threaten Americans or threat the United States. And if that's what they go back on their word to do or if the Qataris don't enforce what they have done, we have any number of avenues available to us to do that.

LABOTT: Now one of the members of the Taliban, these detainees from Guantanamo, has already vowed to return to Afghanistan, return to the fight and kill Americans. And the head of the Haqqani network who was holding him said, look, we have a pretty good idea here now. Let's kidnap more Americans. I mean, what do you say to the families of American soldiers that perhaps these guys could go back and kill Americans again?

KERRY: Well, first of all, propaganda is propaganda and they will say whatever they want to stir the waters. So people should not be lured in by their propaganda, number one.

Number two, we are ending our combat role. Our combat role in Afghanistan is over. We're going to have very few, you know, people in that kind of position on occasion where -- but I honestly -- I just think that's a lot of bologna to be truthful with you and whatever degree it's true they wind up putting themselves at the mercy of those people who are very effective, who are there, who will deal with those matters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: And absolutely fascinating interview with secretary of state Kerry from Elise Labott there.

But you know, Kerry's defense is getting a lot of backlash even from some fellow Democrats.

I want to go straight to Erin McPike. She is at the White House.

I mean, let's talk about Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat. This morning on CBS' "Face the Nation," her reaction surprising?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, no. She chairs the Senate intelligence committee so she has access to all kinds of classified information. But as you will see here, she's skeptical about this one.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: I heard John Kerry this morning say, you know, don't worry about them in Doha. You can't help but worry about them in Doha. And we have no information on how the United States is actually going to see that they remain in Doha, that they make no comments, that they do no agitation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: The running theme here is that lawmakers are skeptical about what the administration has done. They're demanding more information and they think that the administration has been a little too cavalier about dealing with Congress and acting in a democratic fashion.

HARLOW: You know, it's also interesting, she also went on to, you know, voice her frustration that we have heard from lawmakers on both sides about not being notified with that 30-day notice as law requires. That this is going to happen, this prisoner swap.

But also, Erin, Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss, taking another shot at the Obama administration, handling of the Bergdahl deal. What is he upset about? What is the sticking point there for him?

MCPIKE: Poppy, it's much the same as what Dianne Feinstein was upset about because he's the ranking member, the Republican who leads the intelligence committee. And he said much the same thing. But his comments, you will see here, are quite troubling for the administration.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: This administration's acted very strangely about this, Bob. And it is kind of puzzling as to why they did not let us know in advance that this was going to happen. Now, they come back and because he is in decent health, considering where he's been, they have changed their story. They said, well, we suspected his life may be in danger.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: Now, let me point out that Saxby Chambliss is retiring at the end of the year. So, his comments there are purely in his capacity as the ranking member of the intelligence committee.

But also, you have some Republicans who are looking for attention, who may be running for president, who are making much different claims. But the administration is getting it from really all sides.

One Republican I'd point is Senator Rand Paul who may very well run for president in 2016. And let me read to you what he tweeted earlier.

He said, Mr. President, let's set up a new trade. Instead of five Taliban, let's trade five Democrats.

The point here is that this is a big political firestorm, going to continue and maybe a flash point for the midterms.

HARLOW: Yes. So interesting, Erin. You know, the point this is now on both sides. This has -- those in the president's own party really upset, especially with the protocol, feeling like they were not included. I mean, Dianne Feinstein saying this morning, you know, quote, "there are no leak. We can keep secrets here." Do you get a sense that this is becoming a lot more than just partisan?

MCPIKE: Absolutely. I mean, Dianne Feinstein is quite measured in what she says all the time. And she has been a big supporter of the administration. So for her to make the comments of this morning, that is no small thing. But also, Poppy, I would point out that the administration is going to brief the house tomorrow. And I'm sure we'll hear a lot more from Democrats who are going to be facing some tough races this fall about what they have heard and we may hear some more problems come out of the Democratic ranks tomorrow afternoon.

HARLOW: Yes, absolutely. Erin, appreciate the report for us today. Thank you.

Coming up next here in the NEWSROOM, our Nic Robertson has new details about Bowe Bergdahl's life with the Taliban straight from the source straight ahead.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Poppy, the details include how he was able to celebrate Christmas and Easter and what he did during those five years of captivity, more when we come back after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: We are hearing more directly from the Taliban about Bowe Bergdahl's time in captivity than we are hearing from the U.S. officials. A Taliban source told CNN that over those five years, Bergdahl learned the local language. He was allowed to celebrate Christmas, even sometimes played soccer his captors. That information, those new details given directly to our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson. Nic joins me now live from Doha, Qatar.

Nic, tell me about this. I mean, this just came within the last few hours. It obviously come from a very good reliable source of yours. And what are they telling you?

ROBERTSON: Yes, this is a source who trusted over many years who's had information previously about other detail knees held in the same area by the same people. Information that's proven accurate over time.

What he says and he is familiar with some of Bowe Bergdahl's capture is that initially, Bergdahl was held in a house that wasn't very secure. It was controlled by what he described as an old man. Bergdahl escaped from there. He was on the run for three days. But that whole area was under Taliban control. He had no way to escape there. They rounded him up. Then they put him in another location that was very, very secure.

According to this source, Bergdahl at that point recognized that wasn't going to be able to escape from there, began to learn some of the local language, asked for books, was given books, given some Islamic books. But during all that time he's stuck to his religion, Christianity.

The Taliban say that they gave him permission to celebrate Christmas and Easter during that time. That it's one point Bergdahl complained about his food. He said he was given too much lamb day after day after day and he didn't like. Lamb is one of the sort of meals you get a lot in that region of Pakistan. He asked for fruit and vegetables. Taliban said they gave him fruits and vegetables and he got lamb once a week. That was he wanted. That was his request. He was able to get exercise. He certainly wasn't free to go and do what he wanted to do but he was given the opportunity on an occasion to play soccer with the Taliban so that's the -- that's the picture that they're painting of his captivity.

HARLOW: Sure.

ROBERTSON: That they gave him the food that he requested and he stuck to his religion and stuck to his beliefs -- Poppy.

HARLOW: And of course, it is fascinating and it is sort of the first color we are getting, really, about the time those nearly five years he spent in captivity, this coming from this side. Of course, we are still waiting to hear so much from U.S. officials and most importantly from Bowe Bergdahl himself.

Appreciate the update and staying up late for us there in Doha, Nic. Thank you.

Well, my next guest said the Bergdahl deal is very bad even ugly. Aaron David Miller writes at CNN.com op-ed. And I want to quote some of it from him. He writes, "the United States undercut almost every principle we claim

to adhere to on negotiating with terrorists and let out some very bad guys who are almost certain to attack Americans and weaken U.S. efforts in Afghanistan." However, he goes on to write, quote, "however, distasteful the deal, it was both a moral and a necessary one."

Former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller joins me now.

Sir, thank you for being here. We appreciate it.

AARON DAVID MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT, WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Pleasure, Poppy.

HARLOW: You are a distinguished scholar, vice president of the Woodrow Wilson International. You have also written a host of books including "the end of greatness, why America can't have and doesn't want another great president."

Let's talk about that. I was fascinated reading your op-ed this weekend and you know, you spend a first bit of it saying how bad of a deal this was and say we had to do it. So, you are in line here with the president, with secretary Kerry. Why do you think this was the right move right now?

MILLER: Look. Let's set the frame of reference here. There are no good deals in Iraq and Afghanistan. These are the two longest wars in America where the standard of victory was never could we win, but when could we leave.

6,800-plus American dead, thousands wounded, trillions of dollars expended and much of our credibility. So look, if we want good deals, you go to Walmart, you go to Costco. You don't go to Iraq and Afghanistan. What you got was a deal that I believe morally defensible and necessary.

A guy falls off an aircraft carrier. His shipmates don't spend a lot of time trying to determine why he fell off, you basically try to find him. And the reality is this is a moral commitment, not just by the military but by the commander in chief. And it is one that dates at least as far back as the civil war where the federal government took on tremendous responsibility and fundamentally changed the relationship between the state, the citizen and the soldier.

We made it possible for this guy to go. I don't care what kind of soldier he was. Want to court-martial him? Put him in prison? Don't want to court marshal? Don't want to put him in prison? Bring him back. We have redeemed him. And then there will be consequences or not. So the actual act of retrieving this guy was -- it seems to me not only necessary. It was from our point of view consistent with our values, certainly consistent with the values. It was a moral imperative.

HARLOW: It was very interesting part of your op-ed talking about how it harkens back to the civil war and that change in the dynamic. And when you do make the point that it doesn't matter at this point whether Bergdahl deserted the post or not. But when you look at geopolitics and you look at this much more broadly in terms of the U.S. influence and position within the Middle East, do you think that this makes it more difficult for the United States in terms of our relationship with those in the region? Do you think that this helps, hurts, doesn't matter in the broad sense in terms of that?

MILLER: I mean, I think most of the damage to American credibility, lives expended and those who suffered injuries from which they'll never recover. And look, I'm not trying to trivialize for a minute the sacrifice of those Americans, men and women, who died and were grievously wounded in the wars, but the reality is they're winding down. The damage to our credibility has already occurred. The question now is can we repair it? Can we retrieve it?

HARLOW: Right.

MILLER: And it seems to me being consistent with what we regard as our moral principles, how many times do you really think -- I was trying to figure this out, does the United States act in foreign policy for purely moral and humanitarian reasons? Not many.

This was an occasion when we were put in a position to expend a great deal of energy and determination to bring an American soldier back. I don't see with all the downsides, president's violation of the law, the political price the president will pay in large part I suspect for the way it was rolled out and much better probably of Chuck Hagel or chairman of the joint chiefs receive the family, rather than turn this into a celebration in the Rose Garden. I think that opened up the president to a lot of criticism.

HARLOW: Quickly here, we have to get to a break, politics aside here, what we're hearing from Senator John McCain and others, was the price too high? These are dangerous, bad guys. Was the price too high? Could more American lives be at risk as a result?

MILLER: I'm not taking anything to the bank on this one. I mean, maybe they got a reason who watch the guys. Maybe they won't. Maybe they too old to return to the battlefield. Maybe they won't.

I suspect that on this one, no. Our interests have been damaged. There's no question about it. But a higher and superior interest was getting this kid back and we did it.

HARLOW: Aaron, stick around. Stay with me through the breaks. I want to get your thoughts on a very unique, fascinating meeting that happened today at the Vatican. Israeli and Palestinian authority leaders praying together for peace in the Middle East. We'll have that straight ahead.

Also coming up, the latest on the deadly highway crash that left actor/comedian Tracy Morgan and two others in critical condition and also a friend of his dead. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: It's a fragile balancing act of faith and politics today at the Vatican and Pope Francis is certainly taking center stage. For the first time ever at the Vatican, the catholic leader is hosting Israeli president Shimon Perez and also his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas for a joint meeting and prayer for peace. Pope Francis made hat unlikely invitation during his recent trip to the Middle East.

So let's bring back in former Middle East negotiator Aaron David Miller.

What do you think about this meeting? Does it hold weight or anything to progress into something happening or is this just for show?

MILLER: You know, having worked on this problem for 20 years, without much success, I can tell you that we should actually accept help from wherever we can get it. And here you have an extraordinary intersession by a man whose very humility in communist may well make him, the Pope that is, a great leader. And had led a certain amount of moral authority and spirituality to a conflict that, clearly, doesn't have a whole lot most of the time.

That said, in the end, the critical actor who's missing from this photo was Benjamin Netanyahu. Shimon Perez, president of Israel, departs next month. Mahmoud Abbas is much constrained leader. Did guy to make the decisions is Benjamin Netanyahu and he wasn't there.

But look. On balance, it is like chicken soup. I mean, it's not going to hurt. And the fact is, if this meeting leads to a situation which the respective faiths can create some foundation of amity and comedy with one another and this meeting has legs, not just a one off, who knows? Situation couldn't get any worse, Poppy. Let's leave at that.

HARLOW: Yes. You know, that's very good point. Since we have you here, I want to switch gears quickly talk about secretary of state John Kerry saying, you know, the U.S. is sending more aid to Syrian rebels. He talked about this in her interview with our foreign affairs reporter, Elise Labott, in France this week. I want to take a listen and then get your reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: President Obama has already made it clear, he's raising what we are doing with respect to Syria. He's increasing the aid to the opposition. There's now a much more coordinated effort with the opposition.

LABOTT: Clearly you and the president have been talking about stepping it up. Susan Rice tell us that said you're providing lethal aid to the opposition. Are you arming them?

KERRY: I'm surprised. I don't know what Susan --

LABOTT: She said lethal and nonlethal aid.

KERRY: Well, I'm not going to assess what -- we are giving them assistance. Obviously, we have told people that. We made it very clear. There is a proposal in the Congress of the United States to openly do that. And I think she may have been suggesting -- we're supportive of that.

LABOTT: Sounds like you're supportive of arming the rebels now.

KERRY: I'm supportive of the proposal that came out and the president I believe is of the proposal that passed the Foreign Relations Committee which is to --

LABOTT: Which is to arm the rebels.

KERRY: Which is to do that. That's correct.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: All right. Cut through the political speak for us, is the U.S. arming the Syrian rebels right now? What do you make of that exchange?

MILLER: The answer is yes. And I think would probably little ramp up our support. There's no question about it. But you got a president who, frankly, willfully avoided militarized the American role in Syria. He cares much more about the middle class than he does about the Middle East. And he is not likely to intercede in a way that would, in fact, alter the battlefield balance and either get rid of Assad or bring him to the negotiating table so sadly I suspect even despite the ramp up assistance, this conflict is likely to continue.

HARLOW: Yes. Appreciate the expertise on all of these topics. Thanks so much for coming in. Fascinating discussion, Aaron. Thank you.

MILLER: Thank you, Poppy.

HARLOW: All right, California Chrome's image, that horse's image may be tarnished, but not because of the disappointing fourth place finish yesterday, but because of his owner's critical words afterwards about the other horses in the race. You are going to hear what he said straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Details on our breaking news now.

A deadly militant attack at the international airport at Karachi, Pakistan. Witnesses tell CNN that men with guns and grenades entered the cargo and the VIP section of that airport. Our latest information is that four Pakistani military members assigned to the airport are dead along with at least one of the attackers. This is a very fluid, continuing situation. We are, of course, working our sources on the ground in Karachi right now. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta is there. He is not far from the airport. He is reporting, getting more information and we are going to bringing you to him live shortly as soon as we have more. So stay with us for the latest on the deadly attack in Pakistan. Meantime, California Chrome limped away in fourth place at the Belmont

Stakes yesterday killing his triple crown hopes and one of his owners blaming the sport itself.

Richard Roth, joining us now in Almont, New York. And sports contributor Terrence Moore is live for us in Atlanta.

Richard, I want to start with you. You go to all the races. You are our horse expert. You were there. And talk to me about the controversial comments because, frankly, they're getting more attention than the winner.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. A little quieter here than the 100,000 people I was with on Saturday. That's right. And some people are upset Tonalist, the winner, has no attention for his starring finish.

Yes, because of California Chrome's co-owner's comments, these criticism of horses and their owners who skipped the Preakness and Kentucky Derby, they feel that the so-called shooters took it easy and took advantage of California Chrome who was less rested.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE COBURN, CO-OWNER, CALIFORNIA CHROME: It's not fair to these horses that have been in the game since day one. I look at it this way. If you make enough points for the Kentucky derby, you can't run in the other two races. It's all for nothing. It's all or nothing. Because this is not fair to these horses that have been running the guts out for these people and for the people that believe in them. Perhaps, somebody to come up like -- this is a coward's way out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Is it fair, Richard?

ROTH: I don't think so. Because you're not forced to run in all three. You have to learn enough points for the Kentucky derby. And some horses develop physically little bit later so the trainers enter them in the races in the spring and summer. And others, you know, just feel like they had injuries and they don't want to run them in Kentucky. So, it is not fair, I believe.

HARLOW: To you, Terrance. I mean, this is the way that the sport is outlined now. These are the rules of the game. Do you think that it is fair? And also, what is your take on these comments, bad sportsmanship?

TERRENCE MOORE, CNN.COM SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Well, I mean, let's start with this. Right now, the happiest person in America is Donald Sterling and that's because the more that Steve Coburn talks, the better that Donald Sterling looks, less crazy he sounds. Donald sterling. Just a little bit.

HARLOW: I don't know if it -- they're comparable. But, all right. OK. MOORE: I want to put it in perspective here, OK, Steve Coburn. Steve

Coburn is from Nevada. OK? And there, he runs a small business that make it is magnetic strips, very thing from credit cards to hotel door keys. He and his wife just bought a race horse for the first time a few years ago. Basically a tax write-off. I'm not all that sure this is the attempt at 15 minutes of fame to extend it a few more milliseconds. I just add to something that Richard just said about whether this is fair or not.

Let's put this in perspective this way, too. You look at the last three triple crown winners. All three of them were in a very similar situation as California Chrome in that when they got to the third and final leg of the triple crown which is Belmont, they were facing a lot of fresh horses. OK?

So even if you take this guy seriously, which I don't totally take seriously, a lot of this is for publicity, even if you take Steve Coburn seriously, to put in horse racing lingo, I think he's -- he doesn't have a gimpy leg to stand on.

HARLOW: That's your important point to look back at history and look at other triple crown winners who have faced similar circumstances. To you, I know that California Chrome literally limped away after the race, a hook injury. Is that what was going on? How is he doing?

ROTH: That's right. There was some bleeding. They called it superficial. He will be out of racing for six to eight weeks. They're going to rest him anyway. That's what traditionally happens after the hard grind of the triple crown season.

But if he is looking for fame, Terrence, I mean, he's saying some -- making some peculiar comments saying that comparing the way the horses took advantage of California Chrome. He said that's like him playing in a basketball game against people in wheelchairs. So, I mean, there is a limit. He was angry even before the Belmont days ago. I said, New Yorkers are the ones supposed to be cranky, why are you so upset. He was upset with the regulations to get in to the Belmont. He said no, we're glad to be here. But he was mouthing off big time. And he also did the stock market. At the stock exchange opening and got his 15 minutes of fame I think this past week.

MOORE: An that is what I'm pointing out. And even if you go back further, you know, We are taking about this five-week stretch between the Kentucky derby, the Preakness and Belmont, even at the Kentucky derby, Richard, which you recall, he was complaining about of Churchill downs talking about how inhospitable they were and about complaining about there was a blanket that was given to California Chrome for the saddle that had California misspelled and he starts this massive conspiracy that if you listen to him closely, went back to the Kennedy assassination and then all the nasal strip type controversy. This is a guy who's a co-owner. He has not been an owner very long. He is just crying for attention out there.

ROTH: Well, one racing analyst told me the racing establishment here, they don't think he should come back and they don't expect him to have another triple crown horse. HARLOW: We have to get him on the program to defend himself here.

Talk up. Since you guys not exactly going to be having dinner with him any time soon, but I appreciate the expertise.

Terrence Moore, also Richard Roth here in New York with us. Thank you both.

Coming up next here in the NEWSROOM, new developments in that deadly highway crash that left actor/comedian Tracy Morgan and two others critically injured and one of their friend's dead. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Well, criminal investigation is under way into a crash that killed one man and critically injured comedian Tracy Morgan along with two others. We are now learning that Morgan, according to his representative, has suffered a broken leg, a broken femur, a broken nose, several broken ribs. He apparently underwent surgery on his leg earlier today. But we are also told that he's being more responsive.

Meanwhile, police say a Walmart truck driver has turned himself in relation to the crash and released on bail.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TRACY MORGAN, COMEDIAN: I'm Tracy Morgan.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you have anything on your person that say that is?

MORGAN: How about my face? That's on my person.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Actor comedian Tracy Morgan and two others in critical condition. His friend James McNair the comedian known as Jimmy Mc killed after their Mercedes sprinter limo bus flips over on a New jersey turnpike.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Devastated. We're devastated. James, I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great comedian, great writer. But very giving.

FIELD: A Walmart truck driver faces serious charges for causing the six-vehicle wreck. One count of death by auto, four counts of assault by auto. New Jersey' state police s say Kevin Roper, a 35-year-old from Georgia failed to see traffic slow down and the last minute he tried to veer but slammed into the limo bus around 1:00 Saturday morning.

SGT. GREGORY WILLIAMS, NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE: Two tractor-trailers involved. Comedian actor Tracy Morgan was involved. He is in intensive care.

FIELD: The national transportation safety board is also investigating the accident. Their focus on commercial limousine and commercial trucking safety. Walmart president Bill Simon says the company is profoundly sorry in a statement that continues, quote, "if it's determined that our truck caused the accident, Walmart will take full responsibility. We will do what's right for the family of the victim and the survivors in the days and weeks ahead."

Morgan came to fame on "Saturday Night Live" later starring with Tina Fey hit show in "30 Rock." Here he is before the accident Saturday night performing at a casino in Dover, Delaware. The pictures of Morgan and the packed house posted on facebook by fellow comedian Ardie Fuqua, his opening act. A final picture shows their limo bus just before both men board it.

Alexandra Field, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: All right, thanks Alexandra for that.

Meantime, coming up next here, a trip to a place that many call a spiritual Disneyland. The Beatles went there and they left with the white album.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: It's the spiritual path once taken by John, Paul, George, and Ringo. And now people across the globe are flocking to this holy site in India, seeking the same solace as the Fab four.

CNN's Jessica Ravitz takes you to a pretty enlightening journey through India's holy city of Rishikesh.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JESSICA RAVITZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I'm in Rishikesh, a magical little city in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. The star of the place is the sacred Ganga or Ganges river which flows towards the plains. Some come here for adventure, but others come for spiritual tourism.

The place has always been important to Hindus, but westerners started coming after the Beatles did in 1968. The ashram where John, Paul, George and Ringo staid, and most of the white album, is closed, a sad overgrown shell of what it once was.

You can meet with gurus, half different kinds of readings, you can dabble in ancient healing therapies, present offering at shrines and temples.

Admire the sacred cows who always have the right of way. You can stumble upon people chanting outside caves. And you can explore yoga and meditation in a place with no judgment. My first yoga teacher was this guy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mind will be happy, your body will be happy.

RAVITZ: But the one who stuck with me most was this man. He's 105- years-old and still doing this. Ready to get your meditation on? This week's swami introduced me to

dynamic meditation. It involves screaming, dancing, laughing and sounds a bit crazy. But by the time I left, I was totally bliss. Every night along the Ganga, there are ceremonies to honor the river.

One must-see spot for this ceremony called the Ganga aarti is at (INAUDIBLE), the biggest ashram in town. The head of the ashram lead the nightly crowd in chanting, prayers and song. That woman near him, she's a disciple two grew up Jewish in Los Angeles. For more than 17 years this has been her home.

Some gurus don't live here full time. One of them is this Brazilian man, Prem Baba. His devotees, all westerners, the hall each day to hear words, offer devotional songs, bow and dance in his presence.

Nearby, there is another holy city for Hindus called (INAUDIBLE) where crowds go into the Ganga to cleanse their sins. It's also a site for funerals. Families gather around to release the souls of their loved ones and offer them peace.

After leaving Rishikesh for good and before boarding my plane back to New Delhi, I found a temple where people can pray for their heart's desires. I prayed to hold on to what I'd learned.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: What a story. That was beautiful. You can share Jessica's journey and pictures. Just go to CNN.com/rishikesh, and you can see a lot more right there.

Also ahead, coming up 7:00 p.m. eastern hour, this --

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

HARLOW: That's right, music, the crowds, the dancing, this looks like a rock concert, right? Wrong. This is church. We're going to have the story behind the success of Hillsong NYC at 7:00 p.m.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Well, this week marks 70 years since allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, leading to the defeat of Germany in World War II, the heroic men who were there, are some of them still around to tell their story in this week's American journey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNARD GLASSMAN, D-DAY VETERAN: : We got on the craft on June 2nd. We received a partial payment French money. So we knew didn't (INAUDIBLE) where we didn't find out until we were on the channel (ph).

PAUL BURKE, D-DAY VETERAN: We cross the channel and I know we are going to face the enemy. It was on my mind and I was just well, you are the (INAUDIBLE) or I don't. ROCCO MORETTO, D-DAY VETERAN: The front went down a week jumped into

the water. The water was up to our necks. We weren't the first troops. Infantry was first. We were to follow the infantry, and the bodies were all over the place.

BURKE: First thing I had in my mind was death. I was in the back, there was a lot of guys all around me, they were floating in the water.

GLASSMAN: We fought on until 3:00 that morning. We took a rest for -- I think it was two hours. As soon as it started getting daylight, we took off again.

BURKE: And we defeated the Germans. I mean, undermanned, we had to do what we had to do and that's what we did. And I'll tell you one thing, the American guys did a good job.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

END