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American Morning
Homes Swallowed by the Flood; NYC Terror Arrests; Gas Prices Up To $3.98; Big Oil Vs. Congress; Romney's Road To GOP Nomination; A Boost Before 2012
Aired May 12, 2011 - 07:58 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Developing right now. A potential terrorist plot in New York City, foiled.
I'm Ali Velshi.
Two men under arrest charged with planning attack on a unspecified target.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kiran Chetry.
In the words of bin Laden, his private journal revealing the al Qaeda leader was still in control of the terror network and still determined to strike the United States.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Christine Romans.
Disaster downstream. Hundreds of homes underwater in Mississippi. One community afraid it may never rebuild on this AMERICAN MORNING.
VELSHI: Good morning. It is Thursday, May the 12th here on AMERICAN MORNING.
CHETRY: Well, two men are under arrest in New York this morning. It's an alleged terror plot. We're getting new details on it as we speak. Police say that the suspects were trying to buy weapons and made what they described as threatening statements. Authorities say they suspect that that they may have been looking to attack synagogues in New York City. One law enforcement official described the threat as quote, "home grown."
VELSHI: And new details are emerging about bin Laden's private journal. It reveals that he was still in control of al Qaeda and consumed with finding new ways to attack the United States. Bin Laden's writings were part of intel that was seized by Navy SEALs from the compound in Pakistan. The journal entries included the Importance of Attacking the United States, Guidance for how to Attack the United States, and mentioned important dates like July 4th, Christmas and the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
CHETRY: Meantime, select members of Congress had a chance to check out those bin Laden death photos. Oklahoma Republican Senator, James Inhofe is one of them and he talked about it. He said the images of bin Laden's corpse are pretty gruesome. He also goes on to say that there is no doubt it was him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAMES INHOFE (R), OKLAHOMA: No question about it. A lot of people out there say, I want to see the pictures. I've already seen them. That was him. He is gone. He's history. Now, I still believe they should release these pictures -- some of the pictures to the public, at least the ones during the cleanup period on the USS Vincent. That's just a personal opinion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Inhofe thinks it is safe to release the photos of bin Laden's body as it was being prepared for burial at sea.
ROMANS: In Japan, officials say there is a very good possibility the fuel rods may have melted in the reactor number one at the Daiichi nuclear power plant. Tokyo Electric is blaming a faulty gauge that monitors the water level at the reactors. Officials say they just discovered those levels were a lot lower than the gauge was indicating, as much as three feet lower than the fuel rods, causing them to overheat and melt down. Officials suspect the water levels are dropping because of some kind of leak in the reactor.
That situation -- there is never a day of improvement in that situation.
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: And what they said they thought they may have a handle on it by the end of the year. That's how they described it.
ROMANS: Terrifying.
VELSHI: Thirteen people have been killed at least in the latest round of anti-government protests in Yemen.
(VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: Witnesses tell CNN government security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Sanaa and Tayez while they were chanting for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. More than 160 people were reportedly injured in this latest round of violence.
CHETRY: Meanwhile to Libya where NATO forces launched another series of missile attacks on the capital city of Tripoli -- four rockets hitting Moammar Gadhafi's compound. Two were killed, 27 others taken to a hospital according to Libyan government officials. In the meantime, Gadhafi has resurfaced. It's a video from Libyan state-run television showing the video of the dictator reportedly meeting with tribal elders. It is the first time in two weeks that Gadhafi has been seen in public.
ROMANS: A 30-year legal battle has ended. A Nazi guard known as Ivan the Terrible sentenced to five years in a German prison. Just in the last hour, 91-year-old John Demjanjuk guilty of helping in the murders of nearly 30,000 Jews at a Nazi concentration camp. He was a member of the Soviet Red Army during World War II and signed up to work at a death camp in occupied Poland after he was captured by the Germans. He has fought these charges over three countries and three decades now.
VELSHI: Sure. In the United States, deported to Israel, back to the United States, deported again to Germany, and finally convicted.
A major disaster declared in 14 Mississippi counties as historic floodwater surge south this morning.
CHETRY: Yes. Right now, the town of Tunica is dealing with the worst of it. All 600 people in one community there were told to pack up and get out. The area now swallowed by the flood.
ROMANS: Rob Marciano live at a center set for the victims in Tunica. What are you seeing? What are they telling you, Rob?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, it's heartbreaking stuff when you see the fear and sadness in their eyes. It really hits home as to what these folks are going through.
And it's a little bit different than a lot of other disaster that we cover that may happen quickly. This one, there was a build- up. Now, the long wait is going to be the main stressful thing I think over the next couple of weeks.
Yesterday, we spent some time here. We talked to a lot of folks and heard their stories, heard their worries. Even though the river took quite some time to begin to build and in this particular community, it seemed the water rose really quickly. And for most of them, they didn't have a lot of time to get out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We got about probably three hours of packing at my house. I had to leave everything -- beds, dressers, couch, everything. I got a few things out. By the time I got out, the water was up to the door in my van and we had to go. I didn't have a choice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I left most of my toys and I had this big stuffed animal that I have had for a couple of years and I had to leave that.
MARCIANO: Did you love that one?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I loved that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: Sweet Kaila told me that she cried the day that they left the house from the flood and she hasn't cried since. So, a strong sense of community here. Those folks are actually probably going to move to Kansas. And a lot of people we talk are not sure whether they are going to be able to move back to the cut-off.
One thing, now, that this shelter begins to come to life at 7:00 a.m. local time is that there's a strong sense of community here. The folks who live in that area, they are like family. They are sleeping in an open dormitory here. A lot of shelters like this might have partitions for men, women, and children. But that's not the case here.
And they are certainly trying to get through this disaster for their area together. And that's one positive note stemming from it this historic flooding event -- guys.
VELSHI: All right. Rob, thanks very much. Rob Marciano in Tunica.
CHETRY: Right now, in Louisiana, officials are debating whether or not to open the Morganza Spillway. It's a rare and risky move.
ROMANS: It's a relief valve for the Mississippi. But opening it means other places then take the hit. If you open the relief valve, the pressure has got to go somewhere.
VELSHI: Yes. We've seen this happening further north of the Mississippi.
Ed Lavandera has more on the town behind the floodgates.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gerald Gaudet will fight off the rising water with a little Louisiana bayou ingenuity, his own homemade levee wall.
(on camera): Do you think this wall will be enough?
GERALD GAUDET, STEPHENVILLE, LA RESIDENT: I am hoping so. If it gets any higher, it ain't going to be much of the neighborhood for sure.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Disaster is flowing downstream and residents in towns like Stephenville and Morgan City are at the end of the line.
GAUDET: (INAUDIBLE) right now. And more closer it gets, still to get worried about it.
LAVANDERA: Worried because the Morganza Spillway will likely be opened in the coming days, that will redirect Mississippi River water away from Baton Rouge to New Orleans west to the Atchafalaya River basin.
Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Ed Fleming will decide when to open the flood gates.
COL. ED FLEMING, ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: So, what these structures are designed for is to take excess water beyond the design capacity for the levee system off the top of the river.
LAVANDERA (on camera): This is one of the flood gates of the Morganza flood structure. On the other side, the pressure from the floodwaters is already starting to rise. This structure is almost 5,000 feet long and it has 125 gates. In the coming days, some of those gates will be opened up and when that does, a massive wall of water will continue to flow out this way drowning out this area and flowing towards the Gulf of Mexico.
(voice-over): These flood gates have only been opened once back in 1973, bringing the kind of images people around here have never forgotten. Now, a 22-foot wall protects historic downtown Morgan City.
(on camera): You are confident about these walls holding up?
MAYOR TIM MATTE, MORGAN CITY, LOUISIANA: I have to be, yes. I have to be.
LAVANDERA: If for whatever reason they fail --
MATTE: Total catastrophe. This entire city would flood.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): National Guard soldiers are building up levees around town. It seems like everyone in these neighborhoods has a boat in the driveway ready to go.
Gerald Gaudet will stay on the back porch.
(on camera): So, you'll just sit back here and watch the water start creeping up here in the few days.
GAUDET: I will pull my chairs over here and swinging. We'll sit here and watch, maybe catch some fish.
LAVANDERA: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
LAVANDERA: Ed Lavandera, CNN, Morgan City, Louisiana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: All right. So, we've seen firsthand all this devastation. Country music is trying to help out. And stars keep lining up. They are having a bill tornado relief benefit that's now also going to go to help some of the victims of the flooding as well.
Coming up, we're going to be speaking to country star Trace Adkins about his role in it.
ROMANS: Meantime, you think there's a lot of anger in this country and questions about Pakistan and its role -- Pakistani intelligence. Well, guess what? In Pakistan, they are pretty ticked off at the United States, the supposed ally, why are we questioning them.
Up next, Aryn Baker, the Middle East bureau chief of "TIME" magazine.
VELSHI: And Mitt Romney has not formally announced that he's running for president. But he's delivering a health care speech that could determine the fate of his expected campaign. We'll tell you about that when we come back.
It is eight minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Developing story out of New York this morning. Two men are under arrest in connection with an alleged terror plot.
CHETRY: And now, we're finding out new details about this. Police say the suspects were trying to buy weapons and that they also may have been looking to attack synagogues in New York City.
Our Susan Candiotti joins us on the phone with new details this morning.
Hi, Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Hi, Kiran.
Yes, it does appear that a New York City synagogue was apparently going to be the target of an alleged plot being hatched by these two men who are now under arrest, which synagogue is unclear, because according to law enforcement source, the two men under arrest did not decide which synagogue they wanted to attack and never named one in particular.
A source says that the men bought three or four guns and a hand grenade in this sting operation and that's when the arrests were made. This was an undercover sting that went down on Wednesday night on the streets of Manhattan. And the two men are expected to appear in court.
Details will be released later today by the district attorney's office and then New York City Police Department.
I want to stress that the FBI is not involved in the case, and they turned down being involved in it. And instead, this is being handled by state officials.
CHETRY: Interesting that the FBI turned down involvement. Do we know anything more about where they were from? They were some reporting that they were perhaps -- this was a homegrown attack or attempted attack?
CANDIOTTI: Well, my sources tell me that the two men are of North African descent. At least one of them is a U.S. citizen. Both have some local rap sheets, one more extensive than the other. But the spark with this came long before the death of Osama bin Laden and, in fact, stemmed from another ongoing investigation and that's how this whole thing developed to begin with.
So, we are still learning more details about this. But for now, we know that they were intending to blow up a synagogue, as yet unnamed. But police learned about it and set up this sting operation and busted it up before it had time to really get hatched.
ROMANS: And you pointed out that the FBI is not involved. We know the NYPD has a very extensive terror investigation unit of its own that's pretty world class. So, you say they have been tracking them for a while.
CANDIOTTI: Absolutely. And so, that terror squad involved in this operation certainly with the NYPD. And they felt strongly enough about it to break it up before it had a chance to really gel.
VELSHI: Susan, thanks for covering this for us. We'll -- as we get more detail, let us know and we'll get you back on here with updates on this story of these two men arrested in a potential New York City terror plot.
ROMANS: All right. Ever since bin Laden was found hiding in plain sight, question has been raised about Pakistan. Is Pakistan friend or foe?
"TME" magazine's new cover story takes a close look at the U.S.-Pakistan relationship. Aryn Baker, "TIME's" Middle East bureau chief, wrote the piece and joins us now from Islamabad, Pakistan.
Welcome to the program.
You know, first up, I think so many people in this country are asking, you know, very pointed important questions about what kind of friend is Pakistan to us. But there, there are very some serious questions about what kind of ally American is to Pakistan, too.
ARYN BAKER, "TIME" MIDDLE EAST BUREAU CHIEF: Absolutely, Christine. It's quite a bit of questioning going on, fan in part by a leadership that has been caught off guard. They don't -- they don't know exactly what happened. And they are trying to deflect some of the attention from their own failings on to sort of a rising anti- Americanism that's being pushed through talk shows, through the media.
So, we are seeing a lot of this going on right now.
ROMANS: As we listen to the evening prayers behind you, tell me, how -- how bad is this relationship between these two allies? I mean, it's always been a complicated relationship, but it's clearly very strained now.
BAKER: This has got to be one of the most complicated diplomatic relationships the United States has, and that was before bin Laden. Now, we are now looking at a situation where in the short term, we don't seem to have that many interests in common.
In the long-term, we do. So, how we get from the short-term interests, which is combating terrorism on behalf of the Americans and for Pakistanis, keeping their interest protected these of the Afghanistan and India, and in the long-term which is stability in the region which the short-term interests for both countries aren't necessarily leading to the long-term interests for the region.
ROMANS: And what diplomats are very fearful of, really, privately and have been for years, is some sort of a China/Pakistan versus U.S./India kind of balance of power or conflict even in the region. I mean, that's something -- that's why the U.S. has been so careful and involved in its relationships with Pakistan and because Pakistan is a nuclear power.
BAKER: Absolutely. Not only is Pakistan a nuclear power, but it's a very fragile one. We have an unstable civilian government. We have a situation where the military has taken control, hop scotched in power with the civilian government, and leads to a lack of institutions, any kind of the elements that we need to build a stable country in the future.
So, with the risk of that, with the risk of a potential terrorist attacks in the cities, themselves, rising extremism throughout the country, the fact that Pakistan has nuclear weapons has very many people worried.
ROMANS: And people within Pakistan are concerned that the U.S. military can just come walking in and get Bin Laden. What does that mean about, I guess, the sovereignty of the nuclear program there? What are people saying? What are the conspiracy theoriess?
BAKER: Well, the conspiracy theories, we could have a whole show on that one. But, one of the biggest fears is that this is an attempt or a trial run by the Americans to be able to jump in and snatch away the nuclear weapons at a future moment. The reason why Pakistanis are so afraid is, "A," Americans always bring up the issue of nuclear weapons, but "B," one young Pakistani told me that because they are so afraid of India next door, India is three times as big in population if not more.
They're better armed. They have more money. The only thing that gives those two countries parity (ph) is Pakistan's nuclear weapons. The minute those weapons are at risk, according to the Pakistani psyche, they do are at risk. And they're terrified of that. So, that's what's really driving the conspiracy theories is just pure fear.
ROMANS: All right. Aryn Baker, Middle East bureau chief TIME magazine. Thank you so much. The piece is really excellent. Thanks, Aryn. Interesting. I mean, the whole idea of how they feel about the 100 nuclear bombs or whatever.
VELSHI: It really is relevant for us to understand how they're feeling because (INAUDIBLE) to think that we are mad that they're mad -- that they're not doing stuff. They're mad, too.
ROMANS: Everything is viewed in Pakistan/U.S. relationships through the prism of India.
VELSHI: That's exactly --
ROMANS: India.
CHETRY: And now China too.
ROMANS: That's right.
VELSHI: That's right. So, it's complicated and nuanced.
Speaking of complicated and nuanced, oil subsidies, subsidies in the oil companies, tax breaks, the CEOs of major oil companies going to Capitol Hill today for grilling by Senate Democrats, senators, in general. We're going to have a lot of feedback from all of you. We're going to talk more about that and tell you what some people are telling us about what they think about oil subsidies.
CHETRY: Also, this poor guy in Connecticut. He wanted to think of a romantic way to ask this girl he really liked to prom. So, he did it by putting that sign up on a school. Well, now, he's been banned from prom as punishment, and he's got quite a ground as well as support coming from Facebook. Nineteen minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: It's 22 minutes after the hour. We are "Minding Your Business" this morning. Dow futures pointing lower after a bruising session yesterday on Wall Street. The Dow gave up 172 points. The Nasdaq gave up 38 as energy stocks got crushed by a sharp sell-off in oil and gasoline futures.
Flooding along the Mississippi River, however, driving gas prices higher. AAA reports a gallon of unleaded went up 2.2 cents overnight. That's a big jump, averaging $3.98 a gallon now over fears of flooding in the south could disrupt the supply chain. There are refineries along the Mississippi River.
In about 40 minutes, executives from five major oil companies will be grilled by members of the Senate Finance Committee. With profits and gas prices soaring, many Democrats want to end the billions of dollars in federal tax breaks and subsidies now being enjoyed by the big oil companies.
We want to know what you think about that. Will cutting subsidies to big oil lower the price of gas? E-mail us at CNN.com/AM. Give us a tweet at CNNAM or tell us on Facebook, facebook.com/americanmorning. We'll read some of them later in the show.
Bernie Madoff's booze collection will be auctioned off next week. The convicted con-artist collected mini-bar bottles. The auction is going to feature a selection of 2 ounce bottle of Smirnoff, vodka, Bombay Gin, and Grand Marnier. They're expected to fed about $15,000.
And the hottest game of all time on cell phones and tablets is now on the web. Angry Bird's online. It's free for now. There are some all new levels. Right now, it's available exclusively on Google's new chrome web store.
AMERICAN MORNING back after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: It's partly cloudy in the nation's capital. But, hey, later this afternoon, it should be 75. That will be the high, so beautiful day on the mall.
CHETRY: It is. I'm so used to saying the mall now. This is the mall. OK. Newt Gingrich is officially in and Mitt Romney, one of the projected GOP front-runner seems to be gearing up as well for quite a long and grueling campaign ahead.
VELSHI: And it will be grueling for Romney, who is perceived by some as the front-runner. He's got something that he accomplished as governor of Massachusetts, which is biting him in the ankle a little bit. Could Romneycare sink his chances in 2012?
ROMANS: Jim Acosta is following that. He's live in Washington. Romneycare, Massachusetts.
CHETRY: Yes. Somebody was joking. They were calling -- I mean, they weren't joking. They accidentally called it Obamnicare.
VELSHI: Wow.
CHETRY: You know?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It is more than biting him in the ankle, I'll tell you that much this morning. Good morning, guys. You know, later today, Mitt Romney is giving what may be a defining speech for a campaign that really hasn't officially launched. And when he was governor, health care reform was widely considered one of Mitt Romney's biggest achievements. Now, it's perhaps his biggest liability.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MITT ROMNEY, FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: I was hoping I'd get that question.
Thank you, thank you. It's about time.
ACOSTA (voice-over): For Mitt Romney, it's not just a question, more like a campaign illness he'd like to cure once and for all. Does he regret the health care plan he signed into law as governor of Massachusetts, the same law many Republicans see as a prototype of what they call Obamacare?
ROMNEY: Ours is an experiment. Some parts didn't work.
ACOSTA: What many Tea Party conservatives don't like about Romneycare is the plans individual mandate that requires people in Massachusetts to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. A similar mandate in the president's law is being challenged in the courts. Is Romneycare a deal breaker for a lot of Tea Party folks or your organization?
TIM PHILLIPS, AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY: I think the individual mandate is a deal breaker. People do not want to see government dictating that they purchase what is a private product, and we think that's a disaster.
ROMNEY: I think there are a number of features in the Massachusetts plan that could inform Washington on ways to improve health care for all Americans.
ACOSTA: But back in 2009 when we asked the former governor about that mandate, he defended it.
But it is a mandate?
ROMNEY: It's a kind of mandate. It's a requirement. In order to get a tax exemption that you'd normally get, you got to have health insurance because we want everybody in the system, no more free- riders.
ACOSTA: Democrats already have clips like that cued up for 2012.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I agree with Mitt Romney who recently said he's proud of what he accomplished on health care in Massachusetts.
ACOSTA: Romney's response?
ROMNEY: Mr. President, why didn't you call me and ask how it worked?
ACOSTA: Back in 2009, Romney acknowledged the plan had problems saying it delivered near universal coverage but failed to control costs.
ROMNEY: We should learn from what's working and not working in Massachusetts.
ACOSTA: But those who'd like to see an apology don't bet on it from a man whose book is called "No Apology."
LARRY SABATO, UVA CENTER FOR POLITICS: Somehow, he's got to convince the Tea Party people that he's learned from his mistake without admitting he made a mistake. Good luck.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: Now, in his speech, Romney's staff says there will be no apology. His new health care plan would repeal and replace the plan that Republicans call Obamacare and let states come up with their own solution, something Romney says he was simply trying to do it for the folks in Massachusetts.
And guys, all you have to do to get a taste of some of the nastiness about Romneycare is look at the "Wall Street Journal" this morning, a very scathing editorial from that conservative newspaper's board saying that Romney might as well run as President Obama's running mate in 2012 if he doesn't repudiate that individual mandate. It is toxic stuff.
VELSHI: Jim, thanks.
ROMANS: Top stories now. Two men now under arrest in New York City suspected of planning a terrorist attack. Details still emerging this morning, but authorities say the men intended to blow up synagogues in New York. No specific targets are known. Our Susan Candiotti says the plot was hatched before the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden and these two were looking for targets.
Details from bin Laden's private journal suggest he was still firmly in control of Al Qaeda and active in every recent terror plot. Bin Laden was also interested in attacking smaller cities in the U.S. and wanted Al Qaeda operatives to take note of prominent American holidays.
Breaking news from Libya, a spokesman for the rebel forces says they have liberated the port city of Misrata after a bloody three- month battle with government troops. Rebel troops reportedly advancing to the west to Misrata toward the strategic oil town of Brega.
CHETRY: Sara Sidner is joining us live from Benghazi, another rebel strong hold. What is the latest on this claim they have liberated Misrata?
SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They said it almost in passing a spokesman from the national council, the group they have formed to try to come up with legislation to help run the country. They did say they were able to clear a 40-45 kilometer around the city of Misrata to push the Gadhafi forces out.
The problem has been that the forces have been shelling into the city, into neighborhoods, according to the rebels. They also say that they have been able to take over the airport. They told us that yesterday after fierce fighting with Gadhafi forces. This now have control of the airport.
That's significant, because that will then allow them to get humanitarian aid into Misrata where there are still hundreds of residents that are having to deal with what has been fighting for weeks. The port was destroyed. It's very difficult for humanitarian aid to get in through the port. They say this is significant development. They are hoping to be able to push into Tripoli.
VELSHI: There has been a lot of criticism of the west not achieving its goals and NATO not achieving their goals and not allowing the rebels to take hold of places like this. What's changed?
SIDNER: Well, they are feeling very hardened to see that NATO has done another air strike in Tripoli. Every time they hear the protests in the capital in Tripoli where it is really Gadhafi's stronghold, they become heartened, more excited, more expected that they are going to go ahead and win this.
They all believe that they will win this fight. It is a matter of how long. They are still complaining that they do not have the weapons to do this quickly. They need weapons. They are hoping that NATO will give weapons. NATO has been pretty clear that is not their mission, but to keep the residents of Libya safe.
You still have a bit of a tug of war. They are moving forward. There was a meeting today with Prime Minister Cameron in the U.K. in London between him and the head of the transitional council. They are asking for things like funds. They want to get some of the funds that have been frozen from Gadhafi in overseas accounts, hoping to get those funds to use it for the revolution and the people. There is a transitional government that seems to be more and more congealed as the days go by.
VELSHI: Sara Sidner in Benghazi. Thanks very much, Sara.
Also developing right now, a major disaster declared in 14 Mississippi counties as the historic floodwaters surge south.
CHETRY: Those are just some of the shots of the destruction. Louisiana is already bracing. It may make the decision, the engineers there to open up a floodway they vice president used since 1973. That move would relieve pressure in one area but could wash out millions of acres of land.
ROMANS: It is all a series of engineering tradeoffs. Reynolds Wolf is in the extreme weather center. Hi, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, guys. They are doing the best they can to manage this river, Mississippi and Louisiana, as you have mentioned. Everything you see, the flood warnings and watches. Of course.
And you have these numbers, Vicksburg back to the Red River landing, into New Orleans. You are going to see widespread into every place where New Orleans could be 2.5 feet above flood stage. Records may be set on May 21st in Baton Rouge, 12.5, water falling from the skies above, heavy storms possible from parts of the central plains back to south Texas.
In Texas, we have a couple of severe thunderstorm watches and also a tornado warning to the east of Del Rio. No visual confirmation, just possibly that they may form. As we make our way into the afternoon hours, it will be the potential of more activity south of the great lakes, east of the Ohio valley.
Meanwhile, rough weather in the northern plains, scattered showers in low-lying areas. The highest areas, you might see some snow or snowfall in Colorado. That's the latest of the forecast.
Back to you in New York.
ROMANS: We have a treat coming up. VELSHI: It is a treat because of all this bad stuff we have been reporting, the tornadoes in the south and now this flooding. Traced Adkins is here because there is this country music concert to raise awareness and funds for all of these people effected in the south.
CHETRY: We are going to get a chance to speak to Trace Adkins joining us in just a minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: It's 40 minutes past the hour. Nashville, Tennessee, a shot this morning, 49 degrees. I am trying to pretend that didn't happen. That was nightmare on my street. Let's pretend that didn't happen.
VELSHI: We are talking about Will Smith. We are concerned about the flooding there in Nashville. We have been talking about the tornadoes that hit the south earlier. There is a big country music benefit lined up for tonight, some of the biggest stars for country music for CMT's concert called music builds.
ROMANS: This will help raise awareness of what is going to help the victims of the devastating floods. This is going to air from the Grand Ole Opry. This is how you help people.
CHETRY: Ironically, the Grand Ole Opry was flooded out.
VELSHI: One of the headliners of the big names that will be there is Trace Adkins. Trace, welcome to the show. Thank you for being with us. You guys had this in motion before the flooding. When you started this, it was because of the devastating tornadoes. We were reporting them every day here. It just got to where it was almost unbearable to watch.
TRACE ADKINS, MUSICIAN: First of all, thank you for having me this morning. We appreciate it. It started, of course, with the terrible tornado destruction. Now, this flooding thing is an ongoing thing. People are just beginning to kind of get number. It is just one thing after another.
We just want to make sure this story stays on the front page above the fold, if you will. It is being kind of overshadowed by some other seismic news events. And this is an ongoing disaster. This is happening right now. This is not close to being over.
CHETRY: You're right. That's the most horrifying part is watching it unfold in slow motion. Some areas aren't expected to see the river crest until the end of this month. We have our Rob Marciano in Tunica, Mississippi, where some people say they are not even going to be able to go back to where they were from. How are you hoping to help with this money that you'll raise?
ADKINS: All of the money we are going to raise is going to go to the American Red Cross disaster relief. That's the best place, we think, to send all these funds. They know how to use them. The American Red Cross, everybody knows what a wonderful organization that is. So all the funds we raise tonight will go to the American Red Cross.
ROMANS: Tell us about your friends that will be with you as well. Country music fans, who are they going to see and what kind of message or image of solidarity are you hoping to project on this?
ADKINS: Well, you know, this is of course going to be on CMT and CMT's initiative is called CMT One Country. We want to portray that message that when something like this happens, we all come together as one country and we help each other out. That's what we are about. Tonight, it is going to be Hank Williams Jr., Keith McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town. I apologize to whoever I am leaving out.
VELSHI: Your point is it is going to be the biggest and biggest names. Our own Rob Mead is going to be co-hosting with Ron White and Aaron Andrews. People are still getting the warnings. They have to go back to the homes. You know from the whole Grand Ole Opry situation, it takes money, a lot of care and a lot of patience.
ADKINS: Yes. And it also takes awareness, people being aware of the situation and of the need. That's our part tonight. That's what we are trying to do, make sure that people are aware that these folks are in desperate need of help. And the Red Cross is there to help. We are trying to do our part and I hear that you guys are going to make sure that Will Smith shows up. We appreciate that.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: It is a cameo appearance. He is not usually in that genre.
ROMANS: What is the message for your fans? Some of your fans might not be able to watch this concert because they are trying to protect their homes and get situated? What is your message of your fans effective?
ADKINS: Well, you know, our hearts are with them. I'm a Louisiana native myself. Louisiana is bracing for what's coming. They know what's coming. But they are some of the strongest, most resilient people on this planet. I can say that with great pride. But, at the same time, they are going to need some help. That's what we are trying to do tonight.
CHETRY: Absolutely. Well, I'm sure your support as well as the support of all of those country stars certainly is a little bit of salve on this very, very difficult situation.
Trace Atkins, great to talk to you. Good luck. And we'll be watching.
ATKINS: Thank you.
VELSHI: And you could support those affected by the storms by visiting the American Red Cross Web site and by calling 1-800-Red- Cross. If you would like to make a $10 donation, just text the word Red Cross to 90999.
ROMANS: That voice -- that voice is so deep and so --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: He's got a great voice.
ROMANS: -- that voice.
VELSHI: We're going to hear a lot of it tonight.
CHETRY: Yes, 45 minutes past the hour. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Forty-seven minutes past the hour right now. A lot going on this morning. Here's a look at your headlines.
Developing right now, two men under arrested in New York City suspected of planning a terror attack. Authorities say the men intended to blow up synagogues in New York. But they did not name specific targets. But our Susan Candiotti says the plot was hatched before the U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Meantime, new details from bin Laden's private journal may indicate he was still in control of al Qaeda and active in every recent terror plot. Bin Laden was also interested in hitting smaller cities in the U.S. and for attacks to coincide with major American holidays.
Breaking news from Libya now: a rebel spokesman says that opposition forces have liberated the port city of Mesrata after a bloody three-month battle with government troops. They say they're now reportedly advancing to the west from Mesrata towards the strategic oil town of Brega.
You're caught up on the day's headline. AMERICAN MORNING is back after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Do you watch "The Office"?
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: Yes, they love it.
ROMANS: I like the --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: But you know, will "The Office" be the same without Steve Carell.
ROMANS: Well, they're trying to make it as exciting as possible and there are people who are also fans of "The Office" who are lining up to try to be a part of this picture.
The Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffet may be replacing Michael Scott as manager of the Dunder Mifflin (INAUDIBLE) office in Scranton. And this -- I still say Dunder Mifflin, the merger has not really settled in with me yet as a bureau.
NBC says the billionaire investor will guest star on "The Office" the season finale as a possible replacement for Steve Carell's character. The episode airs May 19 --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: Do you really think that might happen or would you say that he's being --
CHETRY: I think he's doing that one shot cameo.
VELSHI: Right. He's not likely --
CHETRY: But there are other people like Will Smith who -- I mean -- I have Will Smith on the brain -- Will Ferrell.
VELSHI: We'll have Will Smith on the show today.
CHETRY: Will Ferrell and also Jim Carey are doing a little guest spot as well.
ROMANS: Yes. We don't know who it will possibly be. We do know that Warren Buffet has a pretty good sense of humor.
VELSHI: What's the Will Smith news by the way? This guy --
CHETRY: That he parked an enormous trailer --
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Actually two trailers, one at the gym and one that's two-story tall --
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: Right and now it's got to go. It's got to go somewhere, ok.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: They've got to stay in shape for "Men in Black 3".
VELSHI: I hear you.
All right, Andy Warhol's iconic portrait of the late actress Elizabeth Taylor expected to fetch between $20 million and $30 billion when it goes up for auction in New York today. Warhol painted the famous picture titled "Liz No. 5" back in 1963.
I will tell you though, everybody in the art world, the photography world, it's all being reported that for whatever reasons, these auctions are garnering a lot more money and attention than they have been in recent years. So almost every expected price is fetching more. I don't know why that's the case. But --
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Maybe that means that the upper --
VELSHI: It means the top of the market.
ROMANS: -- or it could mean, that -- that you know that income gap.
VELSHI: The rich have a lot, they got money.
ROMANS: The richer have a lot more money to go.
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: All right, well, it's the hat that turned heads or actually it was the fascinator that turned heads, I think you could say. That's Princess Beatrice auctioning off the Philip Treacy fascinator that she wore to the royal wedding. She wants to auction it off for charity.
Treacy's hats can cost around $3,000. A hat -- this one in particular has its own Facebook page. Can we just --
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: It hasn't ruined everything.
VELSHI: Can we just state the obvious? It looks ridiculous. Well, I mean, I like this fascinator, I love the one you wore when you were in London. I think they are kind of neat. That looks absolutely ridiculous.
ROMANS: Yes, I am going to be with you. I -- I --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: You know what it is, this is what it is. It's the same thing, if you take a high heel and then people make it 17 inches and they take the heel off and you walk on the toe like lady Gaga. And people love that stuff.
VELSHI: Yes.
CHETRY: I mean -- so, I guess it's just how much more crazy in that way.
VELSHI: You know what I -- I'm just --
ROMANS: It was $3,000 spent that likely garnered more press than $10,000 worth of a public relations executives.
VELSHI: I'm just jealous. My therapist says I need to stop worrying about other people and their hair.
ROMANS: All right.
All right, look, this guy got his date. But now, he can't go, a high school senior from Connecticut is banned from going to this prom.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: It's so sweet the way he did it.
ROMANS: Because of the way he asked his girl.
VELSHI: Look at that. Look at that, he asked her by taping these cardboard letters to the outside of the school spelling out his proposal?
CHETRY: That must have taken forever. But he got suspended and he got banned from prom as punishment. So now, there is a "Let James go to prom", you know some of them (INAUDIBLE) graduates. Only this one --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: It is 10,000 like or tens of thousands have liked on Facebook.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's not he's a bad kid. Like he's a good kid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is a straight "A" kid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What he did was really cute. And I would love if someone did that for me too.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: The school hasn't caved in yet. Maybe they'll get a heart.
CHETRY: No, they say you need to get to a million likes on Facebook page.
ROMANS: I have to speak up for the school. They probably have rules against posting things at school.
CHETRY: I know. But there was no malice. The kids say he's an honor student. I mean come on.
VELSHI: Love has no rules.
ROMANS: Yes, exactly.
VELSHI: Apparently, nor does the hair things.
CHETRY: Fascinators. Your mad just because there'd be no place to attach it to.
(CROSSTALK)
VELSHI: If you can find a hat, you know, like those Disney things they have like that clippie.
CHETRY: Yes. That's called a head band.
VELSHI: Ok.
ROMANS: All right. That's our question of the day folks. Oil company execs are on Capitol Hill today to face grilling over tax breaks. We ask you: will cutting subsidies to big oil lower the price of your gas?
VELSHI: Great --
ROMANS: Here are some of your responses.
VELSHI: Great responses we're getting.
John Carnival says on Facebook, "The question itself is wrong. Oil companies getting subsidies will not lower prices. The fact that oil companies make billions a quarter means they do not need them. Myself, I don't like paying as much for gas but it seems that it needs to be this high for people to start talking seriously about other sources of energy."
ROMANS: Matt Feldman (ph) -- we found this on Facebook. He said, "The best way of cutting spending is to abolish the most ridiculous form of welfare -- oil subsidies. Especially when drilling on taxpayer lands, leased by the government. Let all things be equal since the industry's alternative sources are slow coming, if not at all."
CHETRY: And Randy Huff writes, "No, it will not affect the price at the pumps. Hello. It's all about supply and demand, if you have not noticed. I don't see America drilling too many places. Do you? If we start drilling again, prices will drop. If we stop depending on overseas oil, America's price at the pump would not be affected every time there's a threat of war overseas. That's a fact."
ROMANS: They just got really fired up about this.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: A lot of Twitter people were saying it is a terrible precedent to pick five companies and change the tax rules just for them. That shouldn't be allowed in a free country.
VELSHI: Well, go to money.com. We have a great article on it. And the hearings are today, those five oil company CEOs are going to face questions from senators.
ROMANS: All right. 54 minutes aft hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: The 2012 Democratic national convention is heading to Charlotte, North Carolina.
CHETRY: Yes. They fought long and hard for the honor. And it is already paying off.
VELSHI: Tom Foreman is in Charlotte with the CNN Express on today's "Building up America" -- Tom.
ROMANS: Hi, Tom.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, all. Listen, there are a lot of people here: Democrats, Republicans and independents who are thrilled the convention is coming here, because for them, it is not about politics, it is about dollars and cents.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN (voice-over): The hockey team is in the playoffs but the sign overhead says what everyone knows, the hottest game in this arena is the coming Democratic convention. All over town, new places are opening. Old ones are polishing up and from his office high above it all --
MAYOR ANTHONY FOXX (D), CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA: This is a stage unlike any other one.
FOREMAN: Mayor Anthony Foxx hears opportunity knocking.
FOXX: It is a pretty aggressive move to go after a convention in the middle of a recession. I mean that doesn't happen --
FOREMAN (on camera): You think that sends a signal to all sorts of businesses?
FOXX: Yes. They are saying Charlotte is growing. Charlotte's progressing. Charlotte's getting ready to even be bigger and better than it already is.
FOREMAN (voice-over): They say the convention will draw 35,000 visitors who will spend up to $200 million on restaurants, hotels and attractions. But local leaders believe the real value goes far beyond that, beyond politics.
DR. DAN MURREY, EXEC. DIRECTOR, HOST COMMITTEE: Part of what we are going to be able to show is not only how well we do in the hospitality aspect but also how well we function as a community.
FOREMAN: So the city is touting improvements to transit, education, the business climate and quality of life. And it is already working. Some old, stalled, projected have started up again. And new ones are appearing.
The energy giant, Siemens, for example, is expanding its huge turbine plant here by 1,000 jobs. MARK PRINGLE, SIEMENS: Oh, I would say, a vast majority of them. I would 80 percent of the people we hire will be from the local community.
FOXX: I just think there is a ripple effect that this is going to go on for decades.
FOREMAN: Building up this town long after the conventioneers go home.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: Of course, there were some doubters here. There have been doubters in other cities who say, boy, a recession coming out of a recession, bad time to make this kind of investment. They believe the exact opposite here. They're saying now is the time to place your bets on a brighter future. And come next September and afterward, we will find out if they are right or wrong.
VELSHI: All right. Tom, great to see you. Great to see the CNN express. Have a good time in Charlotte. It's a fun city.
ROMANS: Sure is.
All right. That's going to wrap it up for us again today. So many stories we have been following including the latest on these New York terror arrests but don't look like -- the FBI is not involved but still following all that with Susan Candiotti this morning..
CHETRY: That's right. And so all of the news continues right now with our own Carol Costello in the NEWSROOM. Hey Carol.
