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American Morning
New Airport Rules for Child Pat-Downs; Pilot Rant Caught on Tape; 33,000 "Surge" Troops Coming Home; After Harry Potter, Its Pottermore; Harry and Pippa: The Next Royal Couple? FDA Report: Breast Implants Safe, Need Replacement After 10 Years
Aired June 23, 2011 - 06:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: It's a CNN exclusive. A lawyer for Casey Anthony's parents say they don't think she's innocent. An admission that could rock their daughter's case on this AMERICAN MORNING.
Good morning, everyone. It's Thursday, June 23. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. I'm Christine Romans. Ali Velshi is off today.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us. We start with a stunning admission from the attorney of the parents of Casey Anthony. It's a CNN exclusive. Mark Lipman, the attorney for George and Cindy Anthony, told CNN's Gary Tuchman that the couple does not believe their daughter is innocent.
ROMANS: Casey Anthony is charged with killing her two-year-old daughter, Caylee. It's not clear how her parents' comments will affect the trial today. David Mattingly is live for us this morning outside the Orlando courthouse. Good morning, David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. What we're seeing in the courtroom every day from George and Cindy Anthony, they've walked into the courtroom. They sit in the same seats every day. They're in the back row. They're physically about as far away from their daughter as they can possibly be on that main floor of the courtroom.
We know that they have both testified for the prosecution in this case, and both have provided damaging testimony in the case against their daughter. Still, this admission from their attorney is somewhat surprising. This coming from Orlando attorney, Mark Lipman, yesterday who said they want to see the truth. They want to see justice. They do not think she's innocent. They love her. They are supporting her. They do not want her to get the death penalty."
Now this did not come out in the courtroom. The jury has not heard this. They are sequestered. It is not clear about what kind of effect this might have on this trial. But it paints a very clear picture of this couple who had been at the center of this tragedy since it began three years ago, that this pair of parents are looking at their daughter and thinking she's not innocent of the charges against her.
CHETRY: David Mattingly for us this morning. That really is a bombshell outside of the courtroom. We will continue following the trial.
ROMANS: Here to talk about George and Cindy Anthony's comments, what they might -- what impact this could have on the case, is Sunny Hostin, a former federal prosecutor and legal analyst for TruTV's "In Session." What would prompt them to make an admission like this? What's the legal strategy?
SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL ANALYST, "IN SESSION": You know, it seems to come in response to the fact that his alleged mistress may be called as a witness by the defense. Her name is Rivers Cruise, and apparently she says that they did have an affair, a physical sexual affair, and that he told her this was an accident, Caylee's death was an accident that spiraled out of control. And she also gave him about $5,000 and that they -- because he was hard up for money. And that they met while she was a volunteer for the Caylee Anthony search.
CHETRY: That's unbelievable.
HOSTIN: It is really odd timing that this --
CHETRY: It is odd timing. It is a gamble. Had you a chance to speak with George and Cindy Anthony's attorney.
HOSTIN: No, I did not.
CHETRY: He sort of said yes, all of this is -- yes, all of this is what they said. But this was not meant -- it has been highly sensationalized.
HOSTIN: And he is saying that George Anthony denies having this affair, denies receiving any money from Rivers Cruise.
ROMANS: So many people enthralled with this case, want to be part of this case. Are they going to try to discredit her that way?
HOSTIN: I think so. I think there's no question about it, that's what will happen. It is just fascinating, though, because when I was discussing this in the newsroom, the only thing that's missing is a mistress with this case. You can't make this stuff up. Now this allegation has come up. People really are questioning whether or not she's credible. She doesn't appear to be incredible but perhaps she's not credible. Who knows at this point?
CHETRY: It was also interesting, though, to hear those words "death penalty." To know that her parents are saying we don't believe she's innocent, but we don't want her to get the death penalty.
HOSTIN: Imagine how conflicted they are. We are all parents. You have to testify against your daughter, but you don't want her to get the death penalty. It is a capital case. It is a difficult position, I think, they find themselves in especially given the fact Casey Anthony has alleged that George Anthony sexually abused her from the time she was 8 years old.
ROMANS: I wonder how much of the jury will believe anything she says, if she even takes the stand. HOSTIN: I still think she will take the stand.
ROMANS: Will they believe a word that comes out of her mouth?
HOSTIN: I think she has to take the stand. Let's face it. The defense theory is that Caylee Anthony drowned in the pool and she was sexually abused and -- Casey was sexually abused. That's why for 31 days she acting the way no mother who lost her child would act. He's already put her on the witness stand. But are they going on believe her now that we know she slides so many times. It is fascinating.
CHETRY: Is Cindy Anthony on the stand today?
HOSTIN: I'm not sure. People are saying possible she will be on stand. They are saying it is possible the mistress, alleged mistress, may be on the stand. George Anthony is on the witness list and he may get on the witness stand. So the saga continues. I mean, who knows what is going to happen today?
ROMANS: All right, Sunny Hostin, thank you so much.
CHETRY: Also our question of the day, Sunny Hostin talking about Casey Anthony needing to take the stand. What do you think? Do you think Casey should take the stand? We will read your comments throughout the morning.
ROMANS: After 16 years, the FBI finally has its man. Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger was captured in southern California along with his longtime girlfriend. The 81-year-old faces charges from extortion to murder when he goes to court in a few hours.
Bulger was the inspiration for the Jack Nicholson character in the 2006 Oscar winning film "The Departed." He has been on the FBI's ten most wanted list for his alleged role in some 19 murders. Our Kara Finnstrom is following the story for us live in Los Angeles. A real publicity blitz recently that may have led to this case being, well, big arrest.
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. As you mentioned James "Whitey" Bulger is now 81 years old. He managed to elude federal authorities for more than a decade and a half. But last night in Santa Monica, California, the FBI finally tracking down, and in a way got him through his girlfriend. More on that in a minute.
But here's why this 81-year-old is notorious in the Boston area. The FBI had indicted him in 19 different murders. They say he led a crime syndicate and was known to have a violent temper and always carried a knife.
FBI officials say they acted on a tip when they arrested Bulger and his 60-year-old girlfriend, Catherine Elizabeth Grieg, at an apartment complex, and they say neither resisted. The FBI is crediting a publicity campaign for their capture. It centered on Bulger's longtime girlfriend Catherine Grieg, who allegedly fled with him and wanted for harboring a fugitive. The ads focused on her specific habits, including the fact she liked to have a dental cleaning once a month, and that she frequented beauty salons. This is a 30-second public service announcement. You are looking at it here. The FBI bought 350 TV spots that aired in 14 U.S. cities, including L.A. will was a $2 million reward offered for information leading to his arrest.
So what is next for James "Whitey" Bulger? He and his girlfriend are expected to appear in L.A. federal court today. Bulger faces a series of federal charges, including murder. He's expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit murder, narcotics distribution, extortion, and money laundering. That arrest overnight, big for the FBI. Bulger's picture, by the way, had been listed in their top ten right next to Osama bin Laden.
Reporting live in Los Angeles, Kara Finnstrom. Christine?
ROMANS: Thanks, Kara.
CHETRY: President Obama is hitting the road this morning to talk more about his plan to draw down American's longest war. He will be meeting with soldiers at Ft. Drum, New York. It is home to the tenth mountain division, one of the most frequently deployed divisions to Afghanistan. As we know last night the president formally announced the withdrawal from Afghanistan will begin as planned next month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home. Let us responsibly end these wars and reclaim the American dream that's at the center of our story. Let us go about the work of extending the promise of America for this generation and the next one. May god bless our troops, and may god bless the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: So Brianna Keilar is live at the White House. He will be, as we know, traveling, as we said to Ft. Drum. It's also interesting already the reaction coming out from some of the GOP presidential candidates saying they think this is the wrong move.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. There is reaction certainly coming from both directions. The president is getting criticism from both sides here in Washington, from Capitol Hill.
But, you know, I think what struck me what we heard the president say right there, the turn he was trying to get back to the economy and focus on Afghanistan. Certainly the administration feels that Afghanistan is something that does need to be focused on but everyone knows the economy is going to be the big issue going into the election in 2012.
And so while you have foreign policy issues like Afghanistan and also Libya which have taken up a lot of the oxygen in the room lately, there is a concerted effort. We keep seeing the president trying to make this turn back.
Looking at his schedule today and mentioned this, he's going to Ft. Drum, New York, the customer sell of his proposal the day after he makes it. But also take a look at his schedule to see where he is tomorrow. He will be in Pittsburgh. He will be at the National Robotics Engineering Center and talking about new technology in manufacturing jobs. This is where the White House wants this message. It has been certainly very difficult for them to turn and keep jobs as the focus. But that's certainly what they are trying to do.
CHETRY: Of course, as we said, he will be in New York. Not just talking to the troops but he's also going to be doing fundraising as well, the election on his mind.
KEILAR: That's right. He has done, I think, dozens of fund-raisers this year at this point. There's a couple tonight of particular import. One is going to be a gala with the LGBT community. The White House has said that his perspective on same-sex marriage may be evolving. Perhaps a sign he will change his mind. He just endorsed civil unions as a candidate before going into 2008.
But the one that really stands out to me tonight is a performance of "Sister Act, the musical." This is one of the fundraisers. Whoopi Goldberg was in the movie version. She's going to be hosting this performance and is a producer of the musical. So it is going to be pretty interesting, I think, fundraiser.
CHETRY: It sure will be. They are saying it will snarl up traffic on the west side of Manhattan for hours.
KEILAR: No doubt.
CHETRY: But, hey, the president is coming to town. What are you going to do? Brianna, thanks so much. Justin Bieber is performing, too.
ROMANS: The president and Justin Bieber. I don't know if we will have more fans of -- teenage girls of Justin Bieber.
In the president's speech last night there was no mention of his commander on the ground, a man who according to our sources opposed a faster withdrawal, General David Petraeus. Last night Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Wolf Blitzer that the plan ignored the general's needs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: Petraeus loses, Biden wins. And I respect the vice president, but I think that we have undercut a strategy that was working. I think the 10,000 troops leaving year is going to make this more difficult. Having all the surge forces leave by next summer is going to compromise next summer's fighting season.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: An editorial in the "New York Times" points out how the mission could shift in 2012, including turning more areas over to local Afghan control. American forces would then be shifted to focus on the border with Pakistan. Now some of those troops could be sent home instead.
At the bottom of the hour we will speak with our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr and also with Brett McGurk, former special assistant to President Bush for Iraq and Afghanistan. Are Afghan forces close to securing the country on their own? And could Al Qaeda make a comeback there?
CHETRY: This morning New Yorks is on the brink of becoming the sixth state to legalize same-sex marriage. In Albany crowds have already gathered both before and against the measure which right now still needs a single vote to pass. Now 29 out of 30 Democrats support the measure. Two Republicans have changed from no to yes. And at least one Republican are remains undecided.
The hang-up or sticking point is making sure religious groups that don't want to perform a same-sex marriage are protected. New York's governor Andrew Cuomo says he still remains hopeful the measure will pass.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO, (D) NEW YORK: I'm cautiously optimistic that there will be enough votes there. There will be a lot of discussion and speculation. But until a person stands up and the vote is counted you don't know. But I'm cautiously optimistic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Because the state Senate has been delaying a vote on same-sex marriage, they had time to vote on other measures like making sweet corn the state vegetable, along with allowing people with disabilities to hunt big game with crossbows, refining bingo rules.
ROMANS: I spoke to one opponent of this measure. He was concerned that less about making sure the churches were forced to perform them, but if churches or charities had adoption services, they wouldn't be -- couldn't be sued for not allowing same-sex couples to adopt. So it starts to get into thorny territory.
CHETRY: It's the fine print now that's holding this up. I thought you would say that they were -- opposition to the -- over the Niagara falls. Safety concerns there.
Well, up next, a hateful rant from a Southwest Airlines pilot who didn't know his microphone was on.
ROMANS: We have the tape. Wait until you hear what he said about the airline's flight attendants.
CHETRY: Also, 12,000 people told to leave as floodwaters threaten once North Dakota city.
ROMANS: Want to stay slim? We will tell you which foods researchers say you need to eat and which ones you need to avoid.
CHETRY: I wonder what they will say about French fries.
(LAUGHTER)
ROMANS: It's 13 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Some 12,000 people in the city of Minot, North Dakota, forced to evacuate, the whole city, because it's just too dangerous to stay in their homes.
The nearby river now flooding over the levees and some places, there are already a couple of inches on the ground. The city's mayor tells CNN the water is rising just too fast for them to try to stop.
CHETRY: And just to give you an idea of how bad they are expecting things to get, officials are predicting the river will rise five feet higher, five feet higher than any previous record. After Josh Duhamel who is from Minot offered his support while promoting his latest movie in Moscow, he tweeted, quote, "Please keep the folks of Minot, my hometown, in your prayers. My heart goes out to all the incredible people of Minot and surrounding areas."
ROMANS: All right. Seventeen minutes after the hour.
Reynolds Wolf is checking the weather for us.
Good morning, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys.
Heartbreaking to see what's been happening there. But it's just insane. This year seems as though it's been the year of the flood. We've had, of course, incredible fires out there. And we really haven't gotten to the full brunt of the hurricane season yet, it's already well under way, but just wait for the months ahead, it could get extremely active.
What's been active also in parts of the Ohio Valley, this thing altogether different now. Yesterday, 1:00 in the afternoon, not a big deal. But then take a look at what happened. You had one line that came right through and around 10:00 at night, you had some strong storms affecting places like Louisville.
I will show you some video that we have there. Just a couple of pieces of video. One showing a funnel cloud that drifted right through the area.
And, of course, that caused damage in a few places, few iconic spots, including Churchill Downs. We have video of that also. Churchill Downs, some of the area just in shambles.
No official confirmation as of yet. But local National Weather Service office as to whether or not this was a tornado. To me, all signs point to that indeed it was.
Back to the weather computer we go, and once we do, we're going to show that you that we might see more severe weather today in parts of the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, along the eastern seaboard, too, all due to this frontal boundary. We also could see some backup in parts of the Northern Plains. But because that frontal boundary has been moving to the Northeast, you can expect some delays in spots like New York City.
In fact, all your major metros, you might have delays up to an hour. In Philadelphia, it could be a 30-minute to full hour wait. San Francisco basically the same deal, but not due to thunderstorms but rather low clouds and fog.
And when you're planning on doing traveling by car, you're going to crank up the air conditioning full blast in spots like Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, highs in the 90s and 100s, 105 in El Paso, 93 in Memphis, 85 in Atlanta, 76 in New York, 66 in Boston. And to our friends in Los Angeles, 71 your expected high.
You're up to speed with your forecast. Let's pitch it back to you in New York.
ROMANS: All right. Reynolds Wolf -- thanks, Reynolds.
WOLF: You bet.
CHETRY: It was a hate-filled rant by a Southwest Airlines pilot. It was all caught on tape. We'll tell why you his comments and the airline's response have flight attendants furious.
ROMANS: Plus, the next royal couple, could Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton be getting too close for comfort? Oh, the rumors started right now. But now, we'll tell you what the latest.
CHETRY: Do you believe it?
ROMANS: No.
CHETRY: I don't think I do, either.
Our question of the day now, the attorney for Casey Anthony's parents, they say they don't believe their daughter is innocent. Should Casey Anthony take the stand in her own defense?
Send us an e-mail or a tweet or tell us on Facebook. We'll be reading your comments in just a couple of minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Minding your business this morning.
The Dow down about 80 points yesterday after the Federal Reserve cut the country's economic outlook. The Dow, NASDAQ, S&P 500 all lower on the day. Just in, Greek unions declaring another 48-hour strike starting next Tuesday. Demonstrations this week in Athens as the country's parliament votes on new austerity measures needed in order to secure a second bailout from the European Union.
The Federal Reserve says the economy and jobs growth are simply weaker than expected. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke attributes the weak recovery to temporary factors like the earthquake in Japan. But also says long-term problems may be holding back growth in this country.
Investors are looking to weekly jobless claims numbers out later today. They're expected to remain at a high 415,000. That t data comes out in an hour.
Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss commonly referred to as the Winklevi, dropping their appeals case against Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The twins accused Facebook of misrepresenting the company's stock value when they sign a $65 million settlement back in 2008.
A new survey shows Americans are working more on the weekends and spending less time relaxing. That's according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The finding is showing women are working more hours overall, especially on the weekends, compared to just a couple of years ago.
Don't forget -- for the very latest news about your money, check out the all-new CNNMoney.com.
AMERICAN MORNING will be back right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
After a series of embarrassing incidents at airport checkpoints, the federal government is changing its policies for patting down children. You might remember the outrage that this video triggered. This is a 6-year-old girl crying while getting searched in the New Orleans airport. This is back in April because she -- she moved during the electronic screening and the picture was blurred.
John Pistole, the head of the Transportation Security Administration was on Capitol Hill yesterday. He told lawmakers TSA agents are being instructed to make repeated attempts to screen kids without using pat- downs.
Listen to the reaction he got from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: But I think that I feel less safe because you're doing these invasive exams on the 6-year-old. It makes me think you're clueless, you know, that you think she's going to attack our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Last month, this picture of a baby being patted down at Kansas City International Airport triggered even more embarrassing media attention for the TSA. New pat-down rules for kids, applying to children 10 and under.
I drive.
CHETRY: I know.
ROMANS: I drive. Eight states I drive through so I can avoid that.
CHETRY: I'm driving today to avoid that.
ROMANS: All of my fellow passengers are so pleased that I'm doing that. I assure you.
CHETRY: I'll tell you what? I agree.
A Houston-based Southwest Airlines pilot is back on the job, three months after a hate-filled rant at about flight attendants was inadvertently captured on an open Arizona traffic control microphone.
ROMANS: You know, and this has the flight attendants union pretty furious.
CNN's Jeanne Meserve with the audiotape that everyone is talking about this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The pilot's tirade about flight attendants is peppered with obscenities, insults and slurs against homosexuals and women.
PILOT: Eleven (EXPLETIVE DELETED) over the top (EXPLETIVE DELETED) homosexuals and a granny. Eleven, I mean, think of the odds of that. I thought I was in Chicago, which was party land. After that, it was just a continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes.
MESERVE: Grandes, a reference to overweight people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't give a (inaudible). I hate 100 percent of their --
MESERVE: The pilot talks about exploits with some of them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So six months, I went to the bar three times. In six months, three times. Once with the granny and the (inaudible) and I wish I hadn't gone. At the very end with two girls, one of them was probably doable.
MESERVE: An air traffic controller tries to stop the pilot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoever is transmitting watch what you are saying.
MESERVE: But the rant goes on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I still wouldn't want anyone to know if I had (inaudible). It is all the (inaudible) old dudes and grannies and there are maybe a handful of cute chicks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, someone has a struck mic and telling us about all of their endeavors and we don't need to hear that.
MESERVE: Finally, the transmission ends. Pilots on other planes chime in quickly to say it wasn't me. One adds some commentary.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They wonder why airline pilots have a bad reputation.
MESERVE: The Federal Aviation Administration says that it expects a higher level of professionalism from flight crews. Southwest put out a video press release.
CHUCK MAGILL, SOUTHWEST AIRLINES: What he said was offensive. Inconsistent with the professional behavior and overall respect we require from all employees.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MESERVE: The pilot was reprimanded, suspended without pay, underwent diversity education. He is now back on the job. The pilot has apologized, Southwest says, to controllers, bosses, pilots, and, of course, flight attendants.
But the Flight Attendants Union is not happy. It says Southwest's response to the incident has added insult to injury and it is considering filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Jeanne Meserve, CNN, Washington.
CHETRY: Amazing. All right, well, back to our top story this morning. President Obama will meet with troops today after announcing withdrawal from Afghanistan starts next month.
The president saying it is time to turn to the battle for America's future.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Starting next month we will be able to remove 10,000 of our troops from Afghanistan by the end of this year.
We will bring home a total of 33,000 troops by next summer. Fully recovering the surge I announced at West Point. America, it is time to focus on nation building here at home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Joining us now, Brett McGurk, he's a former special assistant to President Bush and for Iraq and Afghanistan. Also CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. Welcome to both of you. What did you make, Bret, of the quote from the president nation building here at home?
BRETT MCGURK, FORMER SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: Yes. That's the bumper sticker quote. That was obviously directed at a domestic audience. It is important to the American people to hear that.
But the president has a lot of audiences in these speeches and tried to speak to the Pakistanis. He tried to speak to the Afghans to say that, you know, we are committed to a longer-term strategic relationship, which is really critical to hear.
Americans are hearing 30,000 troops are coming home by the end of next summer. That's a moderately risky strategy. A little bit more risk than I thought there might be. It is important for the Pakistanis and Afghans and the Taliban to hear that we are still going to have a lot of force, almost 70,000 troops after that time.
CHETRY: Right. Barbara, the president also went on to say that the tide of war is receding. He said, quote, "al Qaeda's on the path to defeat." That we are drawing down from a position of strength. Is that the same view from the Pentagon?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think it is to an extent. The question, of course, is risk, isn't it? You know, drawing down too fast, too much. Could you risk the security gains that have been made?
But what really struck me about what the president spoke about was it seemed to me he was almost announcing the end of the 9/11 era. No more automatically sending big armies into conflicts, going about fighting terrorism a different way, less the big combat operations, more the focus counterterrorism.
The kind of thing we saw when they went after Bin Laden's compound. What were already seen in places like Yemen and Somalia. It really seemed like he was beginning to close a chapter about how the war on terror is being fought and saying coming back home, spending that money here.
CHETRY: That is the interesting thing. I like to get both of you to weigh in starting with Brett. The president set the goal is to deny a safe haven to al Qaeda in Afghanistan and it was achievable.
But as Barbara pointed out and others pointed out, we need 70,000 troops to be on the ground to do that. If that's the goal when in other places, as Barbara said, like Yemen, and Pakistan, we are doing it with drones and no troops on the ground.
MCGURK: Well, one of the reasons and I think it's credit to everybody who served in this endeavor. We had to go with a larger force in Afghanistan and we had a completely failed state because we left this entire part of the world in 1989 after we kicked the Soviets out.
That was a catastrophic mistake. The next ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker knows this better than anyone, one of my former bosses, says, you know, Americans need patience. We need to stay engaged.
But you hit a key point. We can't stay engaged at a level that we can't sustain. That we can't sustain economically. We can't sustain politically or militarily. So 70,000 even is an awful lot.
But the president talked about 2014 as longer range transition point. We are going to be looking to get down to balance of maybe 20,000 or 30,000 beyond 2014. This is going to be a continual glide path.
One thing in war and diplomacy, you need to get into the minds of your adversary. Omar and the Taliban are watching the speech. I think they see next summer now as an opportunity for them to really launch some high-profile attacks to effect the course of our future in that region. It is going to be a real test next summer for how this goes.
CHETRY: You have been to Afghanistan, of course, and talked to many of the generals and you've talked to the people. They weren't just trying to deny al Qaeda safe haven.
Afghanistan, Barbara, you know, helping build schools and acting as, you know, mediators between tribal elders, the role there really -- it got -- as they called it mission creep. It got very diverse for these troops.
STARR: Right. They call it nation building as well. You know, somehow over the last 10 years, it really has grown to be that the U.S. and allies mainly U.S., though, would fund the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
I think the president addressed that point and said look, we are not going to make Afghanistan a perfect country. This is no longer about bringing democracy U.S. style to any country. It is about enough progress there so that the Afghans can stand on their own.
CHETRY: All right. Well, we are going to leave there. Brett McGurk as well as Barbara Starr, thanks so much for your input this morning, very interesting conversation.
ROMANS: All right, Sarah Palin slamming the media again, including her employers at Fox News for reporting on the apparent demise of her one nation bus tour.
In May, she made stops in nearly a dozen cities from Arlington, Virginia to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. But the wheels on the bus have stopped turning lately.
Triggering reports the one-nation tour is on hiatus prompting this response from Palin in the form of a tweet. The former Alaska governor writing, "Glad I have media to let me know my plans. They never cease to amaze me."
CHETRY: Up next on AMERICAN MORNING, get ready for more Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling unveiling her latest project that has aspiring wizards in a frenzy.
ROMANS: Plus, it is beach season. We all want to know what the secret is to staying slim. What's better, French fries or 100 percent fruit juice? You might be surprised. How about neither? It's 37 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: The final chapter of the Harry Potter season series rather may have been written, but fans can now look forward to a new adventure.
CHETRY: That's right. Harry Potter's author, J.K. Rowling, is launching a new wizard related web site to keep the Potter magic alive.
Our Zain Verjee is live in London. This is actually not that surprising given what a huge fan base worldwide there is for Harry Potter and everything Harry Potter.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes. I'm one of them. Read all the books. Love Griffin Dor. I don't like the slithering group. Anyway, so the announcement was made and this was a really big deal.
Basically she's announced an online reading experience and what she said in the web announcement was that she has all this new information and new material about the Harry Potter world. Things like the professor's love for a muggle.
And more information on Slitherin, Raven Claw and I do follow all of this. The background of Harry Potter so all of that is going to be out there. The interactivity thing comes where -- the audience can go online and they can pick themselves to be a certain character.
They are actually involved in the story itself. They get sorted into houses and choose wands and experience life at Hogwarts just like Harry. It's free until October.
ROMANS: It is free. Nice.
CHETRY: For now you are saying? They can start charging for it?
VERJEE: Yes. Well, right now there are only a special few that can use it for free. Then -- I think the idea is just to open it out to everyone. So there hasn't been any indication there will be any money to be made.
ROMANS: Even if you just keep the whole mystique going, that maybe you sell more DVDs, you sell more books.
CHETRY: World of Harry Potter in Orlando. They're open for a year, too.
ROMANS: I want to ask you about another potential fantasy in the works here. "Harry and Pippa," come on. I mean, it's too convenient if they could be the next royal couple. From the minute their siblings got married, are they next?
CHETRY: But look at them, they're picture perfect together in these shots.
ROMANS: She has a boyfriend, I thought.
VERJEE: The Rumor is that they are over. We cannot confirm that, but that's the gossip around these parts. She is beautiful.
ROMANS: Reporters going after every detail of this to chase after the London tabloids?
VERJEE: They are and this is what they have come up with. Basically there's all this speculation on the tabloids about the two of them. Our sources have said it is just not true.
But what the tabloids like this one is saying is things like you know, Pippa is calling Harry captain. That's her nickname for him. That's his military rank. He in turn calls her commando. Why?
Because of all the rumors that she wasn't wearing actually underwear when she was wearing this dress at the wedding so that's the nickname and they have been helping each other through their respective breakups.
And tabloids are reporting they meet up a lot and chat on the phone. Apparently, according to one report at the end of Harry's best man's speech at the wedding, he ended the speech by saying Pippa, call me.
So lots of speculation, who knows what will happen and how the tabloids are referring to Pippa Middleton though I quite liked. They are calling her P. Middy.
ROMANS: It's a story that's been I think the tabloids want to be true so badly because it's such a great story.
VERJEE: I want it to be so badly.
CHETRY: She was with Alex --
VERJEE: The banker guy, yes.
CHETRY: A financier.
VERJEE: Cute.
ROMANS: What's wrong that guy? He's not a friend.
VERJEE: Yes. No. He's -- he's handsome. He's very successful. But look, she's become the woman to date. Not just in this country, but around the world. There are a lot of guys after her.
One of them is him, but poor guy. I mean, right after the wedding, you know, the rumors started that he had been ditched. She was just spinning with all this attention.
CHETRY: Poor Chelsea Davy who is supposed to be Harry's longtime girlfriend, too.
VERJEE: I can't believe we all know these people. I can't believe I know them on a first name basis.
CHETRY: You can watch Zain every morning, 5:00 a.m. on "WORLD ONE" right here on CNN.
ROMANS: All right. We've been telling you this morning about a shocking admission from Casey Anthony's parents. They've told their attorney and he told CNN they don't believe their daughter is innocent but they don't want to see her get the death penalty.
So we're asking you, should Casey Anthony -- is it time for her to take the stand in her own defense? Send us an e-mail, a tweet, tell us on Facebook. We're going to read more of your comments a little bit later.
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CHETRY: Forty-seven minutes past the hour right now. Here's a look at your morning headlines.
A lawyer for Casey Anthony's parents saying that they don't believe that she's innocent but they do not want her to get the death penalty. Casey Anthony is accused of killing her two-year-old daughter Caylee in 2008.
Well after 16 years on the run, James Whitey Bulger, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, is caught. The notorious crime boss, the inspiration for Jack Nicholson's character in "The Departed" was wanted in connection with nearly two dozen murders. They found him along with his longtime girlfriend in California.
Twelve thousand people told it's too dangerous to stay in their homes as the water rises in city of Minot, North Dakota. The river now overflowing levees and overwhelming crews trying to help.
Republican Ron Paul and Democrat Barney Frank teaming up telling the government leave pot alone. They're introducing legislation that would leave it up to the states to make their own rules about marijuana.
And New York is on the verge of becoming the sixth and the biggest state to legalize same-sex marriage. A vote could happen today. Right now the state Senate appears one vote shy of passing that bill.
And Lindsay Lohan will be back in court this morning. She could find herself behind bars again. She reportedly failed an alcohol test violating her probation.
You're caught up on the day's headlines. AMERICAN MORNING is back in 60 seconds.
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ROMANS: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Forget the calorie counting, the fad diets and those weight loss gimmicks. If you want to lose weight a new study that looked at 20 years' worth of information found that it's what we eat that really counts. For instance, over four years, years for every additional serving of french fries, the average person gains more than three pounds.
CHETRY: And a regular serving of a 100 percent fruit juice added half a pound. Researchers also found that whole milk did not add weight gain.
So now if you want to lose weight, here's what people ate. Nuts -- people who ate nuts lost half a pound, on average, over four years. And that you can lose the same amount of weight over four years if you eat yogurt.
So they seem to be saying that a calorie is not a calorie -- is a calorie.
ROMANS: That's right.
CHETRY: There are certain foods that if you eat more of you tend to gain weight. Seems a little bit like common sense.
ROMANS: Yes.
CHETRY: I'm not giving up the french fries. Sorry.
ROMANS: Yes ,me either but maybe I don't have to eat them every day, right?
OK. This morning there's good news and bad news about silicone breast implants. A new FDA report says the implants are safe but will likely have to be removed within 10 years.
CHETRY: Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from Atlanta with details.
You know, people think you get breast implants and then that's it. It's a one and done.
ROMANS: Or two and done.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: But what is it about this whole procedure and everything that means you may have to go for another operation after a decade?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, that's exactly what they're saying. Back in the '80s that was the sort of mantra was that you had these implants now, have a nice life. That's what the plastic surgeons used to tell their patients.
This has been a subject of a lot of study as you know. At some time there was thought to be some connection between these breast implants and things like lupus or connective tissue disorders. That has subsequently found not to be true.
But what they're finding is that if you divide these women into two groups, a group of women who had these operations done for reconstructive purposes and also a group of women who had this done purely for augmentation, that in the reconstruction group as many as one in two will need to have their implants replaced within 10 years or have them removed altogether. About one in five of the women who have them done for augmentation will have to have the same thing.
So this is -- still a 10-year study is a relatively short study in the scheme of things because we're talking about something that was supposed to be a lifetime device as it is classified by the FDA. But now they're saying after 10 years this is what they are finding and even more studied need to be done, longer-term studies.
CHETRY: You know, this is the thing that -- I mean, we talk about a lot behind closed doors. I mean, look, if you're talking about needing reconstruction because you've gone through cancer, it's understandable. But there are a lot of people who don't take it that seriously, that, you know, I want to look a little bit better so I'm going to get a boob job --
ROMANS: And young women, too, who might not -- 18 -- saving a ton of money, so they've saved all of this money might not realize they're going to have to pay again or, you know, don't know the long, long term effects of it.
What kind of complications are we talking about?
GUPTA: Well, you know, along those lines, Christine, I mean, the one thing that the study seemed to intimate as well are the people who had these implants for longer are more likely to develop some of these complications. Whether the implant actually ruptures or deflates or it causes some contraction in the breast area, it causes this sort of dimpling effect, scarring which can become painful. These are some of the things we are talking about.
And again, if you had the implant younger in life and, obviously, plan on having it for a longer period of time, you're more likely to develop some of these complications. So, that's a good point.
But again, this is a 10-year study and, you know, these have been around since really the late '70s and early '80s. We're now, for the first time, getting some of this data back. On the one hand, like you said, it's good news because this whole concern about connective tissue disorders. This was huge news about 10, 15 years ago. That seems to be a dispelled with. But these other concerns seem to be pretty real.
CHETRY: Right. I just think -- I'm just wondering should doctors just be more cautious with -- I know it's a big money-making thing, but just of explaining to these young women that, you know, you may want to look a little bit better, but you may have a big price to pay for your health.
GUPTA: Yes, you know it's interesting. We talked to a few plastic surgeons yesterday about this. And, you know, it really depends on your prism from which you look at this.
I think on one hand the Plastic Surgery Society said, look, we think this is good news because we think that there's been this lingering concern about some of the complications of, you know, breast implants. There's also lingering concern about this relationship to cancer, for example, which they did find a small relationship between the implants and cancer, very small, about 60 cases only out of hundreds of thousands of women who have had this. But, you know, still there.
So I think the doctors are probably going to need to counsel the patients on those things at any age these women are having these.
ROMANS: All right. Sanjay Gupta.
CHETRY: Very interesting.
ROMANS: It really is. And I just think so many young women who see -- in newspapers and magazines and they see the ideal body, they want it. They save up their money to get it. You're going to have to pay again and maybe again and again and still have to look at the -- I mean, I don't know how many times in your lifetime would you have to have them replaced? All right.
CHETRY: Get yourself a good bra, girls.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: Time for the question of the day. In a CNN exclusive we've been telling you about a shocking admission from Casey Anthony's parents. They told their attorney and he told CNN that they don't think their daughter is innocent.
ROMANS: So we're asking you, should Casey Anthony take the stand?
Sean Harris on Facebook says, "Simple answer, yes. Why? Because if she really did it, then she would not be able to answer the questions. If she did not do it, she'd be fine up there."
CHETRY: Chris on Facebook writes, "I don't think there is any way she can take the stand, but she likely should. She comes across as a soulless human being just sitting there with her reactions to her testimony or lack thereof, more importantly."
ROMANS: And Christopher Hutton on Facebook says, "Could be a huge gambles but then again, gambles pay off on occasion. Having her get on the stand could be the difference between life and death."
CHETRY: And Sharon on the blog, "Honestly that would be the worst thing she could do. Her defense team has tried to create enough reasonable doubt, but having her on the stand would be like serving her to the wolves because the prosecution will tear her down."
Keep your comments coming. Send us an e-mail, a tweet, or tell us on Facebook. We'll be reading more of your comments in our 8:00 Eastern hour.
ROMANS: And next hour. A Spider-man caught in a gambling web. Toby McGuire sued for alleged winnings in a secret, high-stakes underground poker game for A-listers with very, very deep pockets. We're going to tell you about that, right after this quick break.
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