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Rick's List
Manhunt Continues For Escaped Prisoners; Fidel Castro's Nuclear Talk
Aired August 09, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Let me show you something else, by the way.
I want to show you what's going on in another part of the world. There is an unbelievable situation taking place in Greenland. There is also a remarkable situation that is developing right now in another part of the world. There's the part of Greenland that I wanted to bring to your attention.
And wait until you see the millions -- no, not thousands -- millions of dead fish in Bolivia. Stay right there. That's what's starting our next hour.
Here is what else we have on our LIST.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ (voice-over): Here's what's making the LIST today.
JACK WASHBURN, STEPFATHER OF PRISON ESCAPEE: Charles McCluskey, if you're watching this, give yourself up.
SANCHEZ: Two escaped prisoners allegedly kill vacationers and then hide out in God's country, hiding in Yellowstone, big developments here.
The Taliban do this to women. They just killed a pregnant widow. And they killed 10 aide workers. Hype or necessity? And what happens when we leave, General Petraeus?
Fidel Castro says the U.S. is stoking nuclear tensions. I will tell you why he should know. Calling him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Those poor guys were slow-cooked.
SANCHEZ: A man apparently cooks to death in a sauna, and it's a contest. A contest?
President Obama ventures into Bush country.
The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's landed on the list you don't want to be on? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list.
Pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: All right. We told you just a little while ago about what's going on in Moscow.
As difficult as that is to look at, I want to show you some other pictures now. These are pictures that are coming in from Greenland. This is an ice island, some 100 square miles. That's four times the size of Manhattan. It has -- look at that -- see it right there? It's broken off of the Arctic ice cap. So, it's an island made of ice, what, floating around?
It was part of Greenland's two main glaciers. As it drifts south, the ice island may go into the Nares Strait between Canada and Greenland, which is also already hazardous to shipping. So, it becomes a navigation issue as well. Or it could break up into smaller islands as it moves toward the Atlantic Ocean over the next couple of years.
So, we have got this situation. We have got the situation going on as well in -- in Russia, in Moscow.
I want to bring in Chad Myers. I trust him when he looks at stuff like this.
What's your take?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, you have to understand that 10 percent of an iceberg is above land, above water, above the surface. Ninety percent is below. So...
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: ... there's an awful lot of ice down below it that you can't see. It's like the oil that we can't find.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: You know, there's more below than -- than on top.
SANCHEZ: If it's floating, that...
MYERS: Sure.
SANCHEZ: ... means all that stuff is eventually going to melt.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: Wouldn't it be great to...
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: ... drag that where they need it in Russia?
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: Hook that up to a big old ship and drop it right off in Moscow, and then they could put all those fires out. SANCHEZ: Well, what do you make of the situation in Moscow? I mean, 700 people a day dying, that's serious. That's much worse...
MYERS: You have...
SANCHEZ: ... the stuff that we have experienced here.
You have asthma. You have people with respiratory problems. And they are -- they are literally passing away in the heat and in the smoke. One hundred and four was the high temperature in Moscow last week.
SANCHEZ: All right.
MYERS: They don't have air conditioning. Like the guy said, this is like, you know, going up to Yellowknife, up into Canada. There's no such thing as air conditioning up there. You don't need it.
SANCHEZ: All right. let me ask you the $60,000 question that people always ask when they look at situations like this. And I know, you know, if you listen to the right, they will tell you, as soon as they see a big snowfall in the winter, see, Al Gore, you're wrong. There is no such thing as global warming.
MYERS: Right.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: Whenever he tries to have a global warming conference, it -- you get snow...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: It snows. And then they say, see, you're wrong...
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: Yes. Yes. Yes. I know.
SANCHEZ: ... which is as irresponsible as -- and I -- and these are my words, not yours, but...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: ... it would seem it's as irresponsible as every time there's a lot of hot weather to go out and say, see, there is global warming.
The fact of the matter is, these things happen. And you usually don't want to draw immediate conclusions from any of it. But there are people who will be out there, and they will say, well, you got 700 people dying in Moscow. You got a heat wave in the United States. And now Rick Sanchez is showing me this -- this thing floating out there off the coast of Antarctica.
MYERS: Sure.
SANCHEZ: Is there any reason they should make any kind of tie?
MYERS: I don't think there is any question that this is one of the hottest summers on record for many people...
SANCHEZ: So?
MYERS: ... for millions and millions of people.
SANCHEZ: So?
MYERS: So, it's the coldest winter on record in Bolivia. OK. Well, so, does that -- does that counteract? Probably not. They -- they're having -- they're having millions of fish killed because they're freezing to death, literally...
SANCHEZ: Right.
MYERS: ... in Bolivia.
SANCHEZ: I guess what I'm getting you at...
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: ... one side of the world.
SANCHEZ: ... and I'm putting pressure -- I'm putting pressure on you.
MYERS: No, no, no, bring it on. Bring it on.
SANCHEZ: Bring it on? OK.
Is there anything, from your perspective -- and I know you are one of many scientist experts out there -- that would lead you to believe that because these three things are happening right now, we're more apt to be able to prove or somebody out there is able to prove that there is a consequential global warming and that it's caused by man? That's the big part of this question.
MYERS: Is it caused by man? Yes. Is it 100 percent caused by man? No. There are other things involved.
We are now in the sunspot cycle. We are now in a very hot sun cycle.
SANCHEZ: Mm-hmm.
MYERS: We are -- we are -- many other things going on. But, yes, a -- a significant portion of this is caused by greenhouse gases keeping heat on the shore, on the land, in the atmosphere that...
SANCHEZ: Well...
MYERS: ... could have escaped without those greenhouse gases. So, yes, it's warmer.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you one final question, then, since you say that. Is it possible that these things could have happened independent of all of that and just been a natural phenomenon that happens on Earth from time to time, these three?
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: It does happen from time to time.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
MYERS: The problem is, yes, we have video of this island. OK, 50 years ago, do we have video of an ice island off Greenland?
SANCHEZ: No.
MYERS: No.
SANCHEZ: But the guys who were on the Titanic wish they had.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: I'm sure they wish they had some kind of radar.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: Yes, exactly.
And Moscow? There are more people living in Moscow now, but those fires are amazing. Those are literally devastating fires.
SANCHEZ: OK. That's a good point. That's interesting, the way you're putting that in perspective. The -- the difference is the media attention on the things at the time.
MYERS: Mm-hmm.
SANCHEZ: And that doesn't mean it isn't in effect, but that doesn't mean it is the only conclusive effect either.
MYERS: No, absolutely not. No, there is definitely something going on.
Whether it's like -- and, you know, it can't be everything all the time.
SANCHEZ: Right.
MYERS: You just can't say, oh -- you know, it's like being a cafeteria meteorologist. I want to pick that today. I will pick that today.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: I'm going to have the Jell-O. I'm going to have the -- I'm going to have the fudgesicle...
SANCHEZ: Right.
MYERS: ... whatever it might be. There is absolutely something going on here for this summer being the hottest and some of the water that we have in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico being the hottest ever on record, which could cause a pretty significant -- significant hurricane season still to come.
SANCHEZ: That's a good, smart conversation. And I thank you for having it with our viewers.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: All right. Listen to this.
Also on the LIST: stories with faster twists and turns and more twists in family relationships than a Hollywood movie.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Pardon me for smiling, but some of the revelations that have come out in this story today are shocking.
The manhunt that started with a prison break in Arizona, this story is complicated. I mean, look -- look -- look at -- look at this map, right? The characters are right out of central casting as well, as you will soon learn.
But I want to walk you through this. If you guys are ready, put on your thinking caps, as my -- Ms. McAlvane (ph) used to tell me in first grade, right from the beginning. Listen closely while I trace this path for you.
It starts 10 days ago with a woman. She tossed wire-cutters over a fence at a privately run prison outside of Kingman, Arizona. A trio of inmates cuts their way out and runs off with this woman, who happens to be the fiance of this guy she broke out of -- oh, by the way, she's also his first cousin. That's right. The girlfriend is also his first cousin.
There in the middle -- all right, John McCluskey is who we're talking about in this case.
OK, Roger, back to the map. I don't know if we ever saw McCluskey.
Police say the convicts kidnapped two truckers, hijacked their big rig, and headed east. They let the truckers go in Flagstaff and then headed to Phoenix, where they got a car. One of the inmates left the group and headed to Colorado.
All right. Now we got some of the pictures up there. See them? These are the bad guys.
One of them was just captured after -- after showing -- shooting at police and taking them on a high-speed chase.
All right. Go back to the map now, Roger.
The rest of the crew went east to New Mexico. They met a couple at a gas station or convenience store along the way, a vacationing couple from Oklahoma, whose charred remains were found in their burned-up camper near Santa Rosa, New Mexico, last Wednesday. The couple's car was later found in Albuquerque, 100 miles back to the west.
OK. So, you following me so far? All right, back to the map. So, they break out of prison. They take off. One of them is caught. Then the two remaining apparently kill these two people who just happened to be vacationing.
And now we move on. From there, the two inmates and their companion head to Wyoming, touching off a manhunt now in Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming is where Tracy Province left the group. Someone thought they spotted him in Casper, Wyoming. Agents flocked to Yellowstone to search for John McCluskey and his fiance cousin, Cass Welch.
Those two think that they're Bonnie and Clyde. No, I'm not kidding. They think they're Bonnie and Clyde. Listen now. This is -- this is family, right? This is kin talking about them. Listen to McCluskey's stepfather here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WASHBURN: Charles McCluskey, if you're watching this, give yourself up. It's a matter of time. You will never realize what you have done to me and your mother.
You think you're Bonnie and Clyde. You're not -- no comparison.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes. That's the stepdad. He is really upset about this whole thing. His wife was arrested over the weekend for allegedly -- allegedly helping the escapees. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WASHBURN: I haven't got that long to live. But if I could ever see you, what you did, I will shoot you in front of them and serve my time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That brings us to today and a big break for the feds. They caught one of the escapees this morning outside a church in a small town in northwestern Wyoming.
They are still searching for the would-be Bonnie and Clyde.
David Gonzales is the U.S. Marshal for Arizona, and he joins us now by phone.
Mr. Gonzales, thank you, sir, for taking time to talk to us.
You think these guys, McCluskey and his girlfriend/first cousin, are really delusional? DAVID GONZALES, U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE: Yes, I think that's the indication we're getting. I think they have nothing to lose. He -- you know, McCluskey was in prison for attempted homicide. He has obviously -- he has been linked, through forensics, to the murder of the -- the -- Mr. and Mrs. Haas.
SANCHEZ: Those are the tourists that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time while they were vacationing. Apparently, they made friends with them, and then they -- they offed them. They killed them, huh?
GONZALES: Exactly.
And as you -- as you were discussing there, this case is -- is something else. It changes by the minute. But we are convinced that John McCluskey and Casslyn Welch are not going to go down lightly.
SANCHEZ: Well, let me ask you then the real, real obvious question. If I were vacationing right now in Yellowstone National Park or anywhere near there, or, worse, if I had loved ones who were vacationing there, like my kids or something, my teenage sons or something, boy, I -- would I have reason to be worried?
GONZALES: Well, there's always concerns. But we believe that McCluskey and Welch are out of the park area and are probably more centrally located in the Wyoming area and might be moving a little bit east. So...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Well, what are you doing to tell people just how dangerous these folks are who might accidentally come, you know, across them?
GONZALES: Well, we...
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: I mean, they have already killed two people.
GONZALES: Absolutely. And, believe me, we are very aware of that. And -- we have -- we are putting out information. We're talking to the media. We're working with our state and local partners in every area that -- that we're tracking them to.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
GONZALES: We have put out all the stops nationally on these -- on these individuals. And we're going to work around the clock until we throw them in jail where they belong.
SANCHEZ: I know there's BOLOs out on them as we speak. Where was the last place you think you know they were?
GONZALES: In -- you know, in the central Wyoming -- Wyoming area. We -- we knew obviously -- we had put out that they were in the national park area. And that's where -- right outside where -- where Province was arrested. And it was based on media reports that -- like -- like what you guys put out.
SANCHEZ: Hmm. Yes.
GONZALES: A person recognized them, which we -- we really appreciate it.
But we are tracking these individuals through a variety of ways. And -- and we just hope that we can get...
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
GONZALES: ... them as quickly as possible before anything else happens.
SANCHEZ: Take -- take a good look, folks. If you guys are at home -- Roger, put them up once again -- if you are watching this newscast right now, and you see that man on the left, that John McCluskey, or his girlfriend/cousin -- now, keep in mind, they're not going to look like that. He is probably trying to grow facial hair. Who knows what he's trying to do to disguise himself. And so is she.
What do you want these folks to do, Mr. Gonzales? What do you want these folks to do if they see them? Give -- tell -- tell -- tell Americans what they should do.
GONZALES: Two things. If you do see them, call 911 immediately. If you have information about them that is not an emergency-type nature, call our 24-hour task force office that's been set up specifically for this case at 602-542-1212.
SANCHEZ: David Gonzales is a U.S. Marshal. He needs your help. And he's been good enough to join us here live to take us through this story.
Mr. Marshal, you're very kind -- pardon me -- Mr. Gonzales, you're very kind to take the time to talk to us. Let us know and we will be happy to do whatever we can to help you with this investigation.
GONZALES: Well -- no, thank you. The media has been great and was directly responsible for the arrest of Province.
SANCHEZ: All right. My thanks to you as well.
GONZALES: Thank you.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Take a look at this, folks. Yes. This is video we have just been getting in. It's a parade in the heart of New York, but it gets very violent. A 16-year-old pregnant teenager was stabbed in the back of the head right in the middle of Times Square. This is dramatic video -- and why a gang may be to blame, that's just ahead.
Also, hundreds are dead, more than 1,000 are still missing in China after massive mudslides buried people alive. We are going to tell you about the urgent search for some survivors, as thousands rush in to help.
This is your national conversation, RICK'S LIST, and we are going to be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
We do lists, and this is the one we call the roundup list.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is trimming the fat at the Pentagon. Today, he announced massive cuts to the Defense Department's budget, including eliminating the U.S. Joint Forces Command. That command trains troops from different services so that they can fight side by side.
The downsizing would consolidate some military and nonmilitary areas of the Defense Department and is expected to save billions of dollars.
Here is number two. The death toll from massive mudslides in northwestern China is climbing. At least 337 people are now confirmed dead. That number is expected to rise. And nearly 1,200 people are still unaccounted for, dozens of others injured, more than 45,000 have been evacuated. The Chinese military is using explosives and heavy equipment to blast through the blockages and the mud to try and find victims.
Here is number three. The flooding in Pakistan is still horrific to most who have seen or arrived on the scene. More than 1,200 people are dead. More than 1,300 are hurt. More than 278,000 have been rescued. And nearly 14 million people have been affected by the torrential rains, more rain hindering recovery efforts. Even the warehouses where relief supplies were stored are underwater. And more rain -- yes, more rain -- is in the forecast.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tom Little stood right here four Sundays ago, and he told us about this trip. He and Libby were here. And he said, please pray. There is dangers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Tom Little. Who is Tom Little? Well, he is one of the six American aid workers who's been killed in Afghanistan. And the Taliban is claiming responsibility for this. What else are they claiming responsibility for?
We are going to tell you about these brand-new fears for the safety of American volunteers in the war zone. That's ahead.
Also, speaking of the Taliban, the group is accused of lashing a pregnant woman 200 times, then executing her in public. And today we're asking, just how bad will things get once the U.S. leaves Afghanistan? By the way, how dangerous is the Taliban in comparison to other parts of the world where atrocities like this happen? This is an important question, because we're going to work on that.
That's next on the LIST. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. This is an important discussion. We want to use this to top our terrorism watch list.
Have you seen what's going on with the Taliban? I want to show you something. These are the faces of charity in Afghanistan, Cheryl Beckett, Glen Lapp, Dr. Thomas Grams, Tom Little, who I told you about just moments ago, Dan Terry, Brian Carderelli. They are all killed by the Taliban in Northeastern Afghanistan, these six Americans.
They weren't soldiers. They were there on a mission of mercy to provide medical care for the poor in Afghanistan. They and four others were marched into a forest at gunpoint, robbed, and then shot execution-style. The Taliban is saying about this incident, yes, yes, we did it.
The Taliban is saying that.
Listen to what Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We are heartbroken by the loss of these heroic, generous people, and we condemn in the strongest possible terms these vicious murders.
We also condemn the Taliban's transparent attempt to justify the unjustifiable by making false accusations about these aid workers' activities in Afghanistan.
Terror has no religion. And these acts are rejected by people all over the world, including by countless Muslims here in our country, in Afghanistan, and everywhere else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Now listen to this story. In Taliban custom -- and, trust me, this is a bit of a stretch -- a woman who once married should not have relations with another man, even if that first man, her husband, is dead.
That is why a widow was executed by the Taliban. And get this. She was pregnant when they shot and killed her, after lashing her 200 times.
And you're asking yourself, I'm sure, what kind of animals would do that to another human being?
Then there's this. I got to tell you, this next picture is tough to look at, but it's yet another example of what we're talking about, the horrific treatment of women by the Taliban -- women in particular.
This is, again, 18-year-old Aisha. She makes the cover of "TIME" magazine, after her nose and ears are cut off by the -- by -- in Afghanistan by the Taliban. She says that her abusive husband did it with Taliban approval after she tried to run away from him and her in- laws.
Aisha is now in the United States to undergo reconstructive surgery on her face. The article asks the question, by the way, what happens, then, if we leave Afghanistan?
We want to pose that question to two of our guests. This is a very important discussion that Americans need to have with themselves.
Michael Hirsh is the senior editor of "Newsweek" magazine. He's good enough to talk with us about this. He's joining us from Washington. And Zainab Salbi is the president and CEO of Women for Women International. She joins us live by phone from Kabul. And she is good enough to talk to us as well.
Zainab, let me start with you.
Would you tell Michael and I and tell our viewers if these incidents that I just shared with our viewers are common or they're the kinds of things that we can always pick out? And you can find atrocities in just about every country in the world, including, from time to time, even our own. Why is -- why is Afghanistan different?
ZAINAB SALBI, PRESIDENT & CEO, WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL: Well, they are actually not only common in here, but they -- the Taliban are seen -- are becoming -- becoming much more aggressive than their past tactics.
They are attacking women, as you declared. They are attacking women's organizations, aid workers. Even their own elders are being attacked and any civilian family members of government are being attacked. So, it's very much -- there's a big -- big fear in Afghanistan.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: Why -- why -- let me stop you, because you're making some news here. You're on the air here on CNN saying, not only they doing it a lot. Lately, they are doing it more.
Why are they doing it more lately?
SALBI: Well, they are absolutely doing it much more lately.
In the last seven months, for example, there's been 1,325 civilian casualties. The Taliban are accused of killing 67.5 percent of them. They are doing -- the reason for why, as it's analyzed in Afghanistan, is two reasons.
One is definitely the negotiations with them. And women is one of the lists on the negotiations tactics between the Afghan government or the international community and the Taliban. And there is definitely a feeling that women are going to be sacrificed. And with that, there is a reflection of much more aggression by the Taliban against women.
(CROSSTALK)
SALBI: The second part is the Pakistan support of the Taliban and the lack of the accountability of Pakistan for their support of Taliban, their arming them, their funding them, being a country that is actually funded most by America and supported by America. So, there's two reasons.
SANCHEZ: Well, wait. Wait. Listen to what you just said. Listen to what you just said. You are saying they're -- they're -- they're feeling a little more onerous because they're getting the support of Pakistan, which is a country which, by the way, has the support of the United States.
This is exactly where we want to bring in Michael Hirsh.
Michael, I'm telling you, Americans have got to be sitting there scratching their heads, trying to figure this one out.
MICHAEL HIRSH, SENIOR EDITOR, "NEWSWEEK": Well, look, I mean, first of all, I don't dispute that they have gotten more aggressive, particularly as it seemed that the U.S. offensive there in Marjah and elsewhere, the U.S. military presence, has faltered.
There is also no doubt that elements of the Pakistani intelligence and defense apparatus are helping or encouraging the -- the Afghan Taliban.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
HIRSH: But it's not quite the same thing as saying that, you know, Pakistan, which we're supporting, is directly supporting the Taliban. It's a much -- it's a much more complicated picture than that.
But there is no question that they are becoming more aggressive, even while we have to understand that, look, this has always been a brutal movement. I mean, this is -- I can recall, in late 2001, after they fell, four of our journalistic colleagues were taken off of a road and shot on the road from Kabul to Jalalabad, which was terrible thing at the time.
So, these tactics, in some respects, haven't changed very much.
SANCHEZ: Can you -- can you -- you know, let me ask you the same question that I asked Zainab. Is this quantifiable? Would you say to Americans who are going to have to make a decision or may be polled on this, do we stay in Afghanistan, yes, these guys, the Taliban, are so bad that they're probably some of the worst in the world?
I mean, do they compare to the Khmer Rouge? Do they compare to some of the purges that Stalin did? Do they -- I mean, I'm -- I'm just thinking here off the top of my head, by the way, of some of the horrible things, atrocities that have happened in this country.
Where do we put them? HIRSH: Well, I mean, in -- in certain -- you know, in terms of inhuman behavior, I don't think you can rank much lower.
In terms of what's quantifiable, no. I mean, obviously, Stalin killed millions during his purges.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
HIRSH: You're not seeing it happen -- see it happening in those quantities.
But the -- you know, it's a legitimate question, because the U.S. is preparing for at least a partial drawdown in a summer from now, in 2011.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
HIRSH: Now, the Obama administration has backed off of that a little bit, and I think will continue to do so.
But these are questions that are -- are kind of hanging out there. But, at the same time, I think you have to say, look, as horrific as that picture in "TIME" magazine was, that's not the reason the U.S. is in Afghanistan. The reason the U.S. is in Afghanistan is to prevent an al Qaeda-type attack from occurring again using that country as a base.
We're not there to transform the mores of the country.
SANCHEZ: But there's only, like, 50 al Qaeda guys left in Afghanistan, so then again we scratch our head and we say, well, are we there to police and keep guys from doing horrible things to women, or to keep ourselves from being attacked?
Let me bring Zainab back into this argument.
What's the best argument that you would make to Americans who are watching this newscast now for why we should continue to send billions and billions, if not a trillion dollars, to Afghanistan for the next decade or two decades to stay there?
SALBI: Well, there are a few reasons. There is one, the moral argument. And I actually disagree with Dr. Hirsh. I think women were actually claimed and used, as being seen as one of the reasons why America went to Afghanistan, although there are many other reasons, including stopping al Qaeda. This was declared in many statements.
We cannot abandon women, and we are seen as in the process of abandoning women when in negotiations with the Taliban. And there's a very --
SANCHEZ: Would you say Americans should stay there if, for no other reason, so that more of these atrocities don't happen? Would you say that categorically?
SALBI: I think America needs to prolong its stay in Afghanistan not only for the protection of women and human rights there, but also for its own national security.
SANCHEZ: OK. We'll leave it at that.
SALBI: For the regional stabilization of Indian and Pakistan, and for many other reasons beyond women's rights, although women's rights is a very important element as well.
SANCHEZ: We certainly get that.
Michael Hirsh, Zainab Salbi, my thanks to both of you for joining us in this conversation as America struggles with this perplexing situation.
Meanwhile, a parade attack is caught on tape. The victim, a pregnant teenager. A pregnant -- and no, this is not some faraway country. This is New York City. Times Square, no less.
Have you seen this video? You will in just a moment.
This is RICK'S LIST. Your national conversation continues after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. So glad that you're here.
I want you to watch this next piece of video with me because, well, this video came from one of you. This is from one of our viewers, an iReporter.
Let me set the scene for you, the 28th annual New York City Dominican Parade. Watch.
Let me take you through this as you're watching the pictures.
The crowd is standing enjoying the parade. Then they take off toward a commotion. What you can't see is what they're running toward.
Police say that a pregnant 16-year-old had just been stabbed in the back of the head. There is a lot of screaming going on at this point.
She gets caught in the middle of a scuffle between her boyfriend and some other guys at the parade. Scary to think of being in the middle of Times Square when a crowd suddenly breaks out in a run. And that's when police arrived on the scene.
We're going to be taking you through this story at length and giving you more detail as to what happened. And certainly there's a conversation taking place today in the Northeast.
Now, did you hear what Fidel Castro has been saying over the weekend? He apparently believes the world is coming to an end and that the U.S. will be responsible for it. And he is talking specifically about nukes.
But this is the last guy in the world who should be talking about nukes. He may not think you remember, but I remember and I'll tell you about it.
Also, speaking of the apocalypse, did you see Tim Tebow's new haircut? Hello, Friar Tuck. The rookie quarterback's teammates are up to something. Or is it him?
What's going on with Tim Tebow? You'll find out in just a little bit.
I'm Rick Sanchez. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: When I played college football, our team had all sorts of hazing rituals. We put the new guys on the team through them. But I don't -- well, I just don't ever remember seeing anything like what we're about to show you.
Time for "Fotos."
Football's not about fashion, but this Friar Tuck hairdo Tim Tebow is sporting lately is almost bad enough to warrant a 15-yard penalty. Proof that no rookie is too good to be spared a little hazing.
But then the Broncos welcomed the first-round draft choice from Florida to the locker room with a special haircut. I'm sure Tebow is excited to wear his new Broncos helmet as often as possible.
What in the world?
A shocking video from a storm chaser who watches this tornado that tears through Wilkin County. This is in western Minnesota over the weekend. The twister touched down near the North Dakota state line, ripping through an open field before swallowing a house and spitting out debris.
Wow. Why did they get so close? The home, empty at the time.
And somebody warn Snooki! This shark came ashore in New Jersey. No!
Luckily, it was just a little guy, a young blue shark who swam onto the beach briefly before returning to sea. Experts say that's abnormal behavior for that species, but I think he is just a big fan of the show. You know, "Jersey Shore." Wanted to see if he could get himself his own plasma. Maybe he'd be a cast member.
That's "Fotos." And you can catch them all whenever you want on my blog, which is CNN.com/ricksanchez.
Tiger Woods is a troubled man these days, to say the very least. He is literally falling apart on the golf course.
Why? Well, you probably know why he's stinking up the joint. And we're going to take you through that in just a little bit.
In fact, here she is.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to take you through that.
SANCHEZ: It's the trending story. Everyone is talking about, what in the world is wrong with Tiger? Well, it's not that tough to figure out, is it?
BALDWIN: I'm still talking about Tim Tebow's --
SANCHEZ: Haircut?
BALDWIN: What is up with that?
SANCHEZ: How would that look on me?
BALDWIN: Not good.
SANCHEZ: You?
BALDWIN: Not good.
SANCHEZ: We'll be right back.
BALDWIN: Not good.
(LAUGHTER)
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SANCHEZ: Hey, let me bring something to your attention that was just brought to my attention. We tell a lot of stories here about former Vice P Dick Cheney and his health, and there's new information to add to this.
You know that he had gone into the hospital for surgery again last week. This is heart surgery. He's been recovering in the Virginia hospital.
We just got another statement. Let me just check and make sure.
Yes, Cheney's spokesperson Peter Long (ph) is now confirming that former Vice President Cheney has been released from the hospital. Again, former Vice President Cheney has just been released from the hospital.
Obviously, we'll make some more phone calls on this, make sure everything's OK. And we certainly wish him well.
Brooke Baldwin's joining us now to talk about the trending -- and I understand you are soliciting help, because it's not enough that you have, like, 32 people producing your segment.
BALDWIN: Rick Sanchez, do not go there.
SANCHEZ: Now you've got to, like, ask for help from the viewers.
BALDWIN: This is because you get to tweet with your peeps, right?
SANCHEZ: Yes, I do. And I do during commercials and --
BALDWIN: So I want to be able to ask my own tweets. I do have a few, if we can spin around and take a look really quickly.
I just wanted to ask, look, you know, I know you all are very engaged and very knowledgeable when it comes to the news. And so, since we do a little show at 8:00 as well, send me a tweet. Tell me what you think is trending, the big stories you're talking about over dinner, with your colleagues at work, because we're always looking to hear from you.
That said --
SANCHEZ: So you're asking people to do your work for you?
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: That was mean. I really do apologize.
BALDWIN: I'm not feeling the love today. I'm just saying.
SANCHEZ: No, no. I'm crazy about you. Everybody knows that.
So, Tiger?
BALDWIN: Well, let's talk about Tiger momentarily.
Let's talk though about that awful story out of Afghanistan, because we just want to learn a little more about the six Americans who were killed.
You briefly went over it in your segment.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Part of a trend, really.
BALDWIN: Unfortunately, it is.
Six Americans, you know the story. They were dragged into the Afghanistan forest. They were robbed and then they were shot execution-style.
I want to run down just some of who these people are because it's important we remember them.
Dr. Thomas Grams, he was a dentist from Durango, Colorado. Apparently, he had hiked halfway up Mount Everest to deliver dental care to Buddhist monks. Can you believe? He had been to Afghanistan a couple times with the Global Dental Relief Charity. In fact, the co-founder of that group says the children in Afghanistan absolutely adored him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LORI MATTHEWS, CO-FOUNDER, GLOBAL DENTAL RELIEF: They would be peering around the corner waiting their turn in line, and all pointing to Tom. And my favorite story, I watched it over and over. Tom, with each child, would pull down the dental mask and give them a big smile, and those children would walk all the way across the room with their mouth already open.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That is Dr. Grams. We'll run through a couple of these other people.
Cheryl Beckett from Ohio, she served as an aid worker in Afghanistan since '05 with a focus on mother/child health. Glen Lapp, 40, from Pennsylvania, an ICU nurse. Brought mobile eye camps to remote areas of Afghanistan.
"Mr. Tom," as he was know, Dr. Tom Little, 61, from New York, was the inspiration apparently for the whole team coming together, going to Afghanistan. He was an optometrist.
Dan Terry, 63, from Wisconsin, came to Afghanistan way back in '71. And he was really big and focused on these local communities in the rural parts of Afghanistan.
Brian Carderelli, 25, from Pennsylvania, a videographer. Fell in love apparently with the Afghan people, planned to stay another year.
One woman, Dr. Karen Wu (ph) from the U.K., she was a general surgeon who came on the Nuristan Eye Camp to be the team doctor and to bring maternal health care to the communities in Nuristan.
Also, a German, two Afghans killed.
We've heard from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She said that this group had been in the Nuristan province treating people with eye conditions. The next stop was dental care.
And just a final note on this whole story. They were unarmed. They were volunteers. And they traveled to this part of the world because they simply wanted to help others.
SANCHEZ: That is so sad.
BALDWIN: Just important to go through all of them.
SANCHEZ: It's important to have these conversations like the one we had just the previous segment ago about what Americans need to consider in either staying or getting out of Afghanistan.
BALDWIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: You know what else everyone has been talking about? Is this whole Tiger Woods thing. And, you know, you cheat on your wife many, many, many times, it's in every newspaper in the country.
BALDWIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: She is threatening to walk out. You're going to lose your house. You don't get to see your kids. You're in some kind of rehab. And then you try and go back and play golf, and you find that it's almost impossible to do so.
And this weekend it became even more impossible for Tiger Woods.
BALDWIN: "Ah, How the Mighty Have Fallen" has been a headline I have seen many a place.
Talking about Tiger Woods, talking about his performance over the weekend.
Want you to check out just one of his less-than-stellar shots. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely amazing. You know, he understands golf.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Splash. Right into the drink.
There were many more like it. He finished 18 over par at the Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio over the weekend. According to his own Web site -- I jumped on trying to hear from Tiger -- this is his worst four-round finish ever as a pro golfer, tied for 78 in a field of 80.
Folks, we're talking Tiger Woods.
At a press conference after the tourney yesterday, Tiger said, "It has been a long year."
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: That's the understatement of the year.
BALDWIN: Simple statement. "It's been a long year," given everything you mentioned, Mr. Sanchez.
Of course now he is looking ahead to this week's PGA Tournament.
SANCHEZ: He is kind of paying for his mistakes, isn't he?
BALDWIN: Even Tiger.
SANCHEZ: He reminds me of Jim McKay (sic) when he was once asked after a football game, after the Tampa Bay team went 0-16, and they said, "Well, what do you think of your team?" And he said, "You know we can't tackle, we can't pass, we can't catch, and we can't run. But other than that, we're a hell of a football team."
BALDWIN: Yes, doing awesome.
SANCHEZ: It's kind of like Tiger. He can't chip, he can't putt, he can't drive. But other than that, he ain't really a very good golfer right now. BALDWIN: Not a good golfer.
SANCHEZ: You feel bad for him.
BALDWIN: I almost do, even as a female. Just a teeny-weeny bit.
SANCHEZ: Even as -- was it John McKay? Thanks.
BALDWIN: Jim McKay.
SANCHEZ: Jim McKay was the ABC sports announcer for many years.
BALDWIN: We've got good people.
SANCHEZ: "Wide World of Sports."
Thank you Andreas (ph).
All right. Listen to this.
Fidel Castro says that the United States and Iran will cause a nuclear Holocaust, and that it could soon happen. But the former Cuban leader doesn't know that I remember what he once said about starting a nuclear Holocaust.
Oh, yes I do, Mr. Castro. And I'm going to tell our viewers when we come right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back.
Predicting the end of the world is nothing new. Religions do it. Scientists do it. Even Hollywood likes to get in on the fun several times a year. But there's an outrageous new prediction from a very familiar name, a guy that I've covered my entire life.
Here now, is "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On."
Wow. Fidel Castro makes my list today.
He addressed Cuban lawmakers for the first time since getting sick four years ago. And guess what? Well, he's making some sense.
Here's what the former Cuban president said: "The new U.N. sanctions against Iran and its nuclear program could trigger a nuclear Holocaust." How soon, you ask? September, he says, when the U.N. resolution calls for the U.S. to inspect Iranian ships.
Mr. Castro called on world leaders to pressure President Obama and said the fate of the entire planet rests in the hands of our commander-in-chief.
OK. We get it.
First of all, he hates the United States. Always has. And we know that. But he's right, world leaders probably should check each other on this issue because it affects the entire planet. Right?
Castro is the ultimate outsider, so the fact that he is warning the world about nukes isn't all bad. Here's what is.
You, Mr. Castro, are the last person in the world to be talking about using nukes irresponsibly, because if it were up to you, we'd already be on our third nuclear Holocaust by now.
Let me tell you something that he's hoping you have forgotten. Well, guess what? I haven't forgotten.
During the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, Fidel Castro told Nikita Krushchev and the Soviets to launch a nuclear attack against the United States. That's right.
The guy now warning us about using nukes was whispering like the Great Gazoo did in Fred Flintstone's ear at the time, except he was saying to Nikita in his ear, "Nuke them. Nuke them."
Wait. There's more.
According to a Pentagon report, Castro asked again in the 1980s for the Soviets to use the bomb against us, the United States. Nuke them. Nuke them.
So Castro's message is not a bad one. The problem here is the messenger.
And that's why Fidel Castro makes the list today, "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On."
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SANCHEZ: People who like RICK'S LIST get a chance to come here and visit with us in person.
Look at all these people. A round of applause from the peanut gallery over there.
(APPLAUSE)
SANCHEZ: All right, guys. How you doing? You good?
It's a pretty good deal. I get a quarter on everybody I get to show up for my show.
Wolf Blitzer is standing by now to bring us up to date on what he's going to have for us.
Hey, Wolf. Always good to see you on a Monday.
What you got coming?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: It looks like your studio audience -- correct me if I'm wrong, Rick -- seems to be getting bigger. It used to be three, four people. Now you've got a whole bunch more people over there.
SANCHEZ: Pretty soon we'll just do it live. You know? Do it live.
BLITZER: A big studio audience. Do it. Go ahead and enjoy.
David Axelrod, the president's senior adviser, he's going to be here in "THE SITUATION ROOM." We've got a lot to talk about.
You know, you're in Georgia. Roy Barnes, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, he doesn't show up when the president comes to Georgia the other day to start campaigning. In Texas, Bill White, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former mayor of Houston -- the president is in Texas today -- he doesn't show up for the president when he comes to campaign.
It's very interesting what's going on. And why do some of these Democrats want to stay away from the president when they're up in tough elections? We're going to get into that with Axelrod a little bit.
SANCHEZ: And it's interesting, because the president today went to Texas, and the Republican governor there not only came to see him, but hand-delivered a letter, I understand.
Are you getting to that a little bit?
BLITZER: Yes, we do. Rick Perry comes to the airport to personally receive the president, gives him a letter in the process, which was very nice. The governor shows up when the president of the United States comes, but it's surprising.
You know, a year after the president was so popular, some of these Democratic candidates in states like Georgia and Texas are shying way from the president of the United States when he comes to their home states. They're running for statewide office, and they don't necessarily want to be seen with the president directly because they think it won't help them get elected.
So we'll discuss that, a little politics. We've got some other issues as well.
SANCHEZ: Wow.
How about a round of applause for Wolf Blitzer, huh?
(APPLAUSE)
SANCHEZ: There you go.
See, Wolf?
BLITZER: Nice people.
SANCHEZ: We've got you taken care of, huh?
BLITZER: Nice people in Georgia. SANCHEZ: Look forward to seeing you in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
BLITZER: All right.
SANCHEZ: We're going to be right back. And we'll give you the latest on what's going on not just in the news, but affecting you as well on your national conversation.
Wait until you see this tweet we got from Ryan Seacrest. Ryan Seacrest.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Recap a couple of stories for you before we go.
First of all, we told you a little while ago that former Vice President Dick Cheney has in fact been released from the Virginia hospital where he had been since last week recuperating from that heart operation. We'll keep tabs on that for you.
Also, the very latest on -- did you know there are a couple things that you have to know about today that are special?
First of all, today is the fifth anniversary of Wolf Blitzer's "SITUATION ROOM."
That's pretty cool, right? You guys like that?
(APPLAUSE)
SANCHEZ: All right. There you go. Round of applause for Wolf Blitzer.
But wait. Look at this tweet we just got from Ryan Seacrest. This is pretty cool. You've got to think hard here to figure it out, because it's numbers. I'm not usually very good with numbers.
Follow along with me here if you would. You ready?
Today, just after 5:00, it will be 05:06:07. In other words, it'll be -- that's the time, right? See it over there -- 05:06:07, 08/09/10.
So, when you put it all together it's 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.
This won't happen again until 3010. How's that?
Give me applause on that one. All right?
(APPLAUSE)
SANCHEZ: By the way, it ain't mine. That's Ryan Seacrest's handiwork.
Here now, to my buddy Wolf Blitzer in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
