Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Sunday Morning
Flooding in the South Continues; Afghan Energy Minister Targeted
Aired September 27, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is "CNN Sunday Morning," September 27th. Good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes. It's 8:00 a.m. in Atlanta, Georgia, where we sit drying out a little bit here.
NGUYEN: Thankfully.
HOLMES: Thankfully, yes. It's 7:00 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri and 5 a.m out and 10 a.m. in Pittsburgh, California. Thank you for starting your day right here with us.
NGUYEN: All right. So, we talked about all the heavy rains here in the southeast, especially Atlanta. Take a look at this. That road was supposed to be closed. Oh, wait, hold on, someone fell into a sink hole before it was closed, unfortunately. We are told that those little cones around it weren't there at a time. Can you imagine driving down the street and bam you're stuck in that? We'll give you more information as to exactly what happened and what is happening in and around the Atlanta area with all these flash floods.
HOLMES: Also, it's an anniversary that some in the Clinton Administration would rather forget. The 15-year anniversary of the Clinton health care reform just falling flat. But what about his plan then versus some of the plans we're seeing from Obama now? We'll have a health care conversation with some of those who were right there in the middle of that fight some 15 years ago.
NGUYEN: Yes, that had crafted at the time. So, a lot coming up. People getting ready as well for a run in New York City. We'll bring you the latest on that. In the meantime, though, just how far will Iran push the international community this weekend? Well, today it reportedly tested two types of short-range missiles and a launching system. Iran's military freely admitted that it was showing off its defensive capabilities and it plans to keep up the missile exercises for 10 or 11 more days.
In other news, the show of force does come just days after word that Iran is building a second uranium enrichment plant. These satellite images supposedly show the location by the city of Qom. The u.s. and its allies quickly condemned this project. Tehran says it's just a civilian nuclear energy program, but u.s. officials believe it is a cover for developing nuclear weapons. The Iranians say they will allow international inspectors into the plant.
HOLMES: This has been a deadly weekend for U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. NATO officials say two Americans are among six international service members killed there in separate incidents. CNN's Atia Abawi joins us now from Kabul. Atia, hello to you and tell us what happened.
ATIA ABAWI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., these were separate incidents and we have to remember that four out of those six casualties from the ISAF forces together were actually noncombat incidents. The ISAF forces is not commenting yet exactly how they may have died, but the two u.s. forces were killed in Southern Afghanistan, one by an improvised explosive device and another through an insurgent attack, engagement with the insurgents. Those two had died from wounds suffered from both attacks. At the same time, T.J., we should also let our audience know there was another suicide bombing here in Western Afghanistan actually. A suicide bomber targeting the energy minister. His name is Ismael Khan (ph). This man is a very popular man because prior to being an energy minister, he was the governor of that area. But prior to that, he was known as a war lord. But he was a different kind of war lord, you could say. He was one of the few war lords that were in Afghanistan that were actually helping the Afghan people. So why most people in the last eight years have said that Afghanistan has been drowning through corruption, he was actually bringing progress to Western Afghanistan as the governor, but today, obviously, the target of an attack and actually holding a press conference in a half hour, because many afghans believe he's dead, but he wants to prove that he's obviously alive. T.J.
HOLMES: Well, a lot of strange dealings going on there right now. And I just want to confirm with you again, the u.s. Service Members were killed by an IED but those other NATO service members were killed in a non-combat incident, but we don't know what. I wanted to make sure I had that right.
ABAWI: One u.s. Service Member was killed by an IED, a roadside bomb, obviously a very successful tactic by the Taliban lately. The other was killed by wounds suffered while he was engaging the insurgency in Southern Afghanistan. We just have to wait for more details exactly what province they were at and what exactly happened. T.J.
HOLMES: Atia Abawi for us, as always we appreciate it, thank you so much and our Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, is a guest on CNN'S "State of the Union" with John King this morning. That is coming up in about an hour and later this hour, we'll be talking to John about exactly what the defense secretary was saying about what is happening in Afghanistan. He is going to give us a preview of his conversation with the defense secretary.
NGUYEN: President Obama thanked the New York police yesterday for their security efforts at last week's United Nations General Assembly and for helping disrupt a possible terrorist plot. The White House says the president also called FBI Director Robert Mueller, and quoting here, underscored the need to maintain vigilance in protecting the country from terrorist attacks. Well, the FBI has been involved in terror-related arrests in Texas, Colorado, and Illinois this week. Meanwhile, though, President Obama says his administration is doing all that it can to restore the Nation's Economic Health and he insists some of the criticisms of his economic policies is unwarranted.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
BARRACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So we are by no means the first generation of Americans to be tested, but tested we have been. Most recently, we've been tested by an economic crisis unlike any that we've seen since the great depression. Now, I have to say that some folks seem to have forgotten just how bad things were when I took office. They seem to be exercising some selective memory.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, he and the first lady were guests last night at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's annual dinner in Washington.
So it looks like a lighter week ahead for President Obama. Tomorrow, he has a few meetings scheduled at the white house. On Tuesday, he welcomes NATO'S Secretary General to the White House for a meeting and then on Thursday, the president will be at a fund-raiser for the Democratic Governors' Association.
HOLMES: This week, a terror suspect arrested in the U.S. will be in court. The name, Najibullah Zazi, he'll be arraigned in New York on Tuesday, charged with conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction. Zazi is an Afghan national who's been living in the Denver area. Federal authorities suggest he may have planned to attack New York subways on September 11th of this year.
Well, heavy rain once again in Georgia. The roads are taking such a beating. Wait to you see though, this sink hole that actually swallowed a car. All right. This is the beginning of the road there, someone's driving down it and boom. Hey, honey. I just fell into a sink hole. Can you imagine calling 911 on that? Where are you, sir? I don't really know. I'm under the ground somewhere in a sink hole.
HOLMES: That is a good point and the report was that these cones were up, but somebody had moved the cones. That's the report we're getting but either way, obviously, you would stop if you saw the cones up, but they weren't up at the time.
NGUYEN: And if it was dark and you were driving down the street, you may not see that until you're already in it.
HOLMES: But, that's what happens to the roads a lot of times, they get saturated with all this water and big holes like that open up. Unfortunately this happens. The person, we're told, just had minor injuries, so that is certainly a good thing. It's been wet here for the past week or so. Supposed to have a bit of a clearing, a break today. NGUYEN: Yes, but you know, will more rain come? That's the big question, because a lot of people still trying to clean up and clear out from all the flooding, Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, rain is in the forecast in the Atlanta area. The good part is, the rain is not expected here until, let's say next Friday, and only then about a 20% possibility. I'll tell you, the rain has moved off to the east and to the northeast. In fact, you take a look at this graphic right here. You'll notice some of the showers moving up towards Boston, New York. Some of that will be fairly heavy at times. But the looks of the roughest weather will going to occur back in the Central and Western parts of the great lakes, all due to this frontal boundary interacting with the moisture over the lakes and also the gulf moisture coming some parts of the southeast and the Ohio Valley.
Meanwhile, further back in the northern plains, entirely different weather scenario you'll be dealing with. Not necessarily wet weather, but breezy weather, windy weather. Some gusting top 50 to 60 miles per hour. We're talking tropical storm force winds and then back in the desert southwest, it seems like summer is never going to end. I know summer is over, fall is officially begun, but take a look at these temperatures and tell me otherwise, 102 in Vegas, 107 in Phoenix, 87 degrees in Los Angeles. A warm day for you in San Francisco, all things to consider 81 degrees there. And we can expect those scattered showers to stick around in Boston through a good part of the day. That is a look at your forecast. Let's send it back to you guys at the news desk.
NGUYEN: All right. We appreciate it.
Well, it's an incredible gift. A student receives a kidney from his teacher.
I asked everyone, would you really give something up with no chance of payback?
We'll have the story straight ahead. But we wanted to know from you, would you donate an organ to a co-worker, someone who wasn't directly related to you, you know not a friend, anything like that. Would you give that to someone in need? Want to hear your feedback.
HOLMES: By all means, you know where to hit us up. Face book, twitter, weekends@cnn.com and we have a blog, cnn.com/newsroom.
NGUYEN: This morning as well, Josh Levs with a little pyrotechnic action. I'm a little afraid because we are indoors.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that right, we're going to fixed it over here. So, what do you think, why did people cheer when they saw this?
We will explain what this has to do with Tom Cruise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Alicia keys, you know she is best known for her music, but this 12-time Grammy Winner also lends her voice to a battle being fought around the world.
HOLMES: Yes, we don't want to talk about music this week. Caught up with her actually the end of last week in New York. She's determined to help folks out there who were suffering with HIV, especially children. Caught up with her in New York, just a couple days ago. There with the other CGI, Clinton's global initiative. Her organization is affiliated with that. She was very eager to talk about her work with this charitable group. It's called Keep a Child Alive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALICIA KEYS, SINGER: I feel very, very inspired by being able to be involved in it. Because I know that people do listen to what I say and that's one of the greatest gifts about being able to have a voice in the world. So, I like to consider myself a voice of the voiceless.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And she talked about that. We will see a lot of celebrities promote a lot of things, but there she didn't mind acknowledging, there is a benefit to that. And this is something she has had her heart in for several years.
NGUYEN: Made several trips over to Africa.
HOLMES: Yes, Africa. Now she wants to expand her organization to India. She's trying to get the money together. She went there and looked all those big wigs in the face at the global initiative and said, I need $12 million.
NGUYEN: Anyone, anyone?
HOLMES: And she is going to have some takers, no doubt, but that campaign is going right now. But the full conversation with her, we'll have certainly looked for it online. Also during the week on CNN and certainly we'll have it here next week.
NGUYEN: It's such an important cause. Really looking forward to that, t.j.
All right. I want you to picture this. You wake up early on a Saturday, Sunday morning to the sound of a blast, okay, a blast. You look outside and you can see a ring of fire rising from the ground. Not how you really want to wake up, right?
HOLMES: Not really. It turns out you don't need to worry about it. That's one of the stories Josh Levs is following for us this morning. Good morning again, Josh.
LEVS: Hey, guys. Good morning to you. And yes, I've been following these affiliate stories. I'll tell you this one came to us from WCVB yesterday after something that happened Saturday morning and it is pretty amazing. Let's take a look and I'll tell you what it's all about.
So you can hear people are cheering for that. And I think we can be able to watch it again in a little bit slow motion, but basically what happened here is they simulated a plane crash in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Not everyone knew what was happening, but there were a bunch who did. It's for a movie starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. There are some action shots I can show you here on the screen. Again courtesy of WCVB, come back over here. We can show you that the plane they set up in that area, in this field.
There is no longer one that is being used and they ultimately set the area on fire, made it look like that plane had crashed and there you go, that are how you get to the fire. And we are told that there are people who stayed up through the night to be there for the taping of this movie. And those who did know about it were really excited, but those who didn't know about it were really confused but heard the morning news, no panic going on there. Another story I'm following for you this morning. I found so interesting. This is from another one of our affiliate WIVB. They talked about prescription drug recycling. I have learned from this piece about some of the dangers of flushing down these prescription pills. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED: This is the second year that St. Mary's hospital has played host to this prescription drug drop-off.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Like before, in the past, I would just dissolve them in water and dump them down the drain, but I don't know if that's the proper way we are going to dispose of it.
UNIDENTIFIED: She's right. It's not how you should suppose to get rid of unwanted drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: We really have to look out for future generations.
UNIDENTIFIED: County Legislator John Serrado (ph) says they can cause damage to already fragile water systems.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: They're working their ways into the water ways and it's going to cause a problem.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: They were actually finding that there were only female fish in some of the streams because of high-levels of estrogens in the water.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS: So interesting, this can affect that the flashing down this prescription post can have. So, this is one example of a town that's trying to take some action about this, encouraging people to bring them in. They're called recycling. What's actually happening is experts are then taking them to the way they're supposed to be destroyed. You can get a lot more details about this and I love more great stories from all our affiliates in one place so you don't have to memorize all the call letters I just gave you. cnn.com/us right here in a given day. We update it all the time. Some of the latest best stories from our affiliate. So, Betty, T.J., a couple of interesting ones there. Nothing to worry about in that big explosion there and don't flush down your prescription pills.
NGUYEN: Yes, good advice. Thanks Josh.
LEVS: Bye guys.
NGUYEN: Well, Oscar-winning Director Roman Polanski is under arrest this morning.
HOLMES: This has to do with rape charges that he has been facing and dealing with really, since the 70's. We'll be telling you about the new details this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Top stories right now. Days after revealing a secret nuclear site, Iran is drawing more international criticism for test firing two types of short-range missiles. It says these missile tests will go on at least for ten days and just on Friday, Iran admitted it is building a new uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom. Now, Tehran says it will allow UN Nuclear inspectors to tour the site.
Germans, they have less than four hours left to cast ballots in parliamentary elections. Chancellor Angela Merkel is hoping to secure a second four-year term. Pre-election surveys suggest voters are prepared to support Merkel and her conservative party. Germans have been urged to go to the polls despite threats as recent as Friday from Islamic militants.
New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney's husband died during a mountain climbing trip in the Himalayas. A family spokesman tells CNN that 71-year-old Clifton Maloney died while resting a day after successfully climbing the world's sixth highest peak. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat has served in Congress since 1993 and she recently dropped out of New York U.S. Senate race.
HOLMES: A secret nuclear site, test firing short range missiles. We've been telling you all morning about the latest developments in Iran.
Plus, the decision whether or not to seasoned more troops into the war zone in Afghanistan and the battle raging right here over health care reform. It's been a busy week in politics. And here is the man to walk us through all of it. What is to come? Our chief national correspondent John King joins us now from Washington. First of all, let's talk about Iran and that second nuclear facility, the fact that their test firing missiles. What is going on here, John?
JOHN KING, CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Betty and T.J., good morning. A very high state diplomatic show down now, a nuclear confrontation for the Obama Administration. As you noted, big decisions about Afghanistan, big fights here at home about the economy and health care, but this are front and center now for the President of the United States. On Thursday, the United States, for the first time in 30 years, will sit across the bargaining table from Iran. Obviously, access to these nuclear sites is issue number one at the moment. And there are many who are saying this is more belligerents. That Iran was hiding this underground facility. Why was it hiding it from the world? What was it up to there? On "State of the Union," we have the Defense Secretary Robert Gates. And I put that question to him. Sure, they will give diplomacies in time of this short-term, but what if diplomacy doesn't work?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KING: I just want you to help an American out there who says, we can't trust back Ahmadinejad. This has been going on for years. We don't think sanctions will work. Why don't we do something about it? Explain to that person out there, whether they work in the United States Congress or whether he's just an average American. When you look at the contingencies that you have available to you and the president has available to him, are there any good military options when it comes to these deep underground facilities?
ROBERT GATES, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, without getting into any specifics, I would say we obviously don't take any options off the table. My view has been that there has been an opportunity through the use of diplomacy and economic sanctions to persuade the Iranians to change their approach to nuclear weapons. The reality is there is no military option that does anything more than buy time. The estimates are one to three years or so. And the only way you end up not having a nuclear-capable Iran is for the Iranian government to decide that their security is diminished by having those weapons as opposed to strengthening them. And so I think, as I say, why you don't take options off the table, I think there's still room left for diplomacy. The P5+1 will be meeting the Iran shortly. The Iranians are in a very bad spot now because of this deception in terms of all of the great powers. And there obviously is the opportunity for severe additional sanctions. And I think we have the time to make that work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: You hear the Defense Secretary there. Much more of our conversation on "State of the Union". Betty and T.J., we will also have for you some brand-new satellite images just into CNN showing you what we're talking about. We'll show you that site the world is now focused on. We'll show you what it looked like three or four years ago and we'll show you some dramatic new images that underscore the construction at that on the ground facility.
HOLMES: Why do you make us wait John? I want to let just let him have a car show right now. Why do you have to tease us? So, we have to push forward to yourself?
NGUYEN: And that is all about, right?
HOLMES: I'm teasing, John.
The president, of course, we talk so much about politics, domestic politics here in the u.s., but with Iran now, he has to deal with a sense of international politics in a way as well, in that this present an opportunity for this president, maybe a major one, to show that he can lead on a major issue on an international stage, a security issue, even. Will the white house, when they see this, of course, you would rather not deal and hope that Iran will cooperate, but as an opportunity here to showcase this president's leadership.
KING: In some ways, they do. Obviously there are a lot of risks in this confrontation but the president said he would have a new tone in foreign policy. That after the bad feelings of the Iraq war where he was going to show cooperation, pretty strong image the other day. The President of the United States with the President of France and the Prime Minister of Great Britain saying that they would stand united against Iran. The question is can they get Russia and China on board if they have to go on the sanction through? One of the toughest sanctions against Iran would be cutting off its petroleum imports and other imports. Well, a big source of those imports is where? China. And china on the Security Council would have this support this. So, the president has a pretty united front with the European leaders right now. Russia is a question mark, the biggest question mark is China, but you're dead right. Here is an opportunity, this president said it would be different if he could rally the world that had become frayed. World unity that become frayed because of the bad feelings of the Iraq work. Here's one big test.
NGUYEN: Yes, no doubt. OK John, we are looking forward to the show. A lot coming up. Thank you for that. And just want to remind our viewers that Defense Secretary Robert Gates will be on "CNN's State of the Union with John King" in less than an hour. But for that just after our show at 9:00 Eastern.
HOLMES: Looking forward to those satellite images he wouldn't show us.
NGUYEN: We had some earlier today, I wonder if they're similar. A showdown between us.
All right, at sundown, the Jewish Community observes one of its most holy rituals.
HOLMES: Yes but this year, it could be different from others. You'll find out why from one of the community's best-known leaders and hear how he's trying to make a difference.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, insurgents tried to kill Afghanistan's energy minister this morning, he made it out OK but four Afghan civilians did not.
HOLMES: And also in Afghanistan, two U.S. service members killed this weekend in separate attacks, reinforcing the grim statistic that this is the deadliest year yet of that eight-year war.
NGUYEN: Yes and all of this as Iran tested two short-range missiles this morning. Plenty to talk about and who better to talk about it with? CNN's chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, who joins us by phone.
Christiane, we are seeing some movement by Iran with these missiles and learning as of late last week that there is a second nuclear facility. What is the mission or what is Iran trying to convey here?
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, today the Iranian television quoting the air force chief from the Revolutionary Guards has said that they tested a missile launching system and two types of short-range missiles.
They say that those are part of military exercises that will continue for the next several days. They also said that they had, in May, as we know, tested a surface-to-surface missile.
But the other thing is of course, this nuclear situation, whereby the Iranians apparently on Monday told the IAEA that they had a second nuclear site near Qom at a facility which is a military facility run by the Revolutionary Guards.
So now the situation is the U.S., according to published reports, is demanding that this facility be inspected by the IAEA, quote, "within weeks." Iran's Atomic Energy Chief has said on Iranian state television that it plans to allow this site to be inspected, continues to maintain that it is for peaceful purposes, has not explained why.
It was not notified earlier or it did not notify the IAEA earlier. And in response to questions as to why it's located in a military base, the Revolutionary Guard base saying -- again, according to the Iranian media reports -- the Iranian Atomic Energy Chief saying that this was particularly put there in order to prevent it from being attacked.
Again, putting the blame on the U.S. and other western countries, saying that they continue to threaten our installations and therefore that's where we put them.
But, of course, the U.S., the IAEA and Iran, including the western European allies in an argument over the precise timing of when the IAEA should be alerted and informed of any nuclear site construction.
NGUYEN: All right Christiane, your audio is breaking up on us. We would love to discuss several other topics with you this morning, but we're going to let you go for right now.
But we want to remind our viewers that Christiane's new program reporting stories from around has its premiere this afternoon, 2:00 p.m. Eastern, 11:00 a.m. Pacific time. Don't miss it.
HOLMES: Well, tonight at sundown, the Jewish community observes one of its most holy rituals, Yom Kippur. It's a time for atonement. This year some of the most widely known leaders in the Jewish community say they're embarrassed a bit by some of the things that are going on out there in the news.
Well, let's turn to Yeshiva University President Richard Joel, who joins us now from New York.
Sir we are so glad you could be here with us. People hear year after year of Yom Kippur. Explain to us here real quickly exactly what the day means for those who maybe just hear it and don't really understand what the day is about.
RICHARD JOEL, PRESIDENT, YESHIVA UNIVERSITY: Sure. Good morning, T.J. Yom Kippur marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and it's a day of prayer, fasting and reflection where the Jewish people think about who they're supposed to be and how we return to the core values that make us matter in life.
HOLMES: Now, I know there are three steps of repentance.
JOEL: Very good.
HOLMES: Yes. We're going to put them up for folks. Recognize, acknowledge and resolve. Now these sound like things and do you believe these are things that no matter what religion you're in, if you're religious or not are there lessons that should be paid to -- paid attention to by all of society on this day?
JOEL: But of course. Civility and humanity and ethics and purpose is not limited to the Jewish people. If we think we have a role, it's to join with other people of goodwill to do that. And it's time to remember what we are about as humans.
HOLMES: And it's a day to think about the harm, not necessarily just asking God for forgiveness, but also a day to really remember how you have done harm to your fellow man.
JOEL: It's a day to reflect on what we've been and how we resolve to be better? It's also a day to look at society. Look for us right now, we look at the fact that we've really gone through a great recession of the spirit, where in our American society, we've kind of wandered into a culture of greed and narcissism.
This is a time to really determine that there are other things that drive us.
HOLMES: Well, that greed and narcissism you mentioned there, nobody -- I mean, there are people out there hurting right now, but can these times, these tough times in your opinion, serve to get us in a lot of ways back on track and away from being a society of greed and narcissism?
JOEL: Well, of course, it's up to us, but the American story and the American tradition and the Jewish story are ones of believing in the nobility of the human being.
I run a great university where we think that the education is not about the downloading information, but about having students feel noble, ennobled and enabled to make a difference in the world. HOLMES: And some members of the Jewish community, in particular, of course, everybody knows Bernie Madoff, he was very involved in the Jewish community. There was also a case out of the northeast about the Rabbis who were involved in some money laundering, an issue that made a lot of press.
What was the Jewish community, and your -- in particular, your take when you saw these cases. There was a lot of embarrassment in the Jewish community and thought this looked bad on the community as a whole.
JOEL: Look, these are times when there's a lot to be improved upon across America and across the world. We're all embarrassed when people do bad things and it's a reflection on those people. The real challenge is, how is the reflection on the Jewish community and on the American community to see how we are noble, special and make a difference in life and how we teach that to our children.
HOLMES: Well, how are we supposed -- it sounds like such a big here, but how do we -- we stop then remember -- sure -- but how do we get back on track, sir? Besides maybe being just slapped in the face with a dose of reality and then when the good times roll back around, maybe we go right back to being greedy and narcissistic.
How do we get back on track?
JOEL: A couple of steps. First of all, realize that we're not just the animals on top of the food chain, but we're noble creatures created in the image of God. It's probably time to remember that we believe in something called the Ten Commandments and not the ten suggestions.
And it's also time to look at each other and say, we have an opportunity to be special. There's enough that can pull us down in the world if we rely on each other, if we hold hands instead of raising fists. There's a tremendous amount we can do and if we realize that we do our part that we're in partnership with God.
HOLMES: Well sir, I've got to let you go, but one last thing here. And you brought this up because of Joe Wilson and his behavior in yelling out "you lie" and he had to apologize for it to the president. But you said that not treating another person with dignity diminished us.
And so he really made himself and nobody else look bad in that situation.
JOEL: Well, I think that's right, but I think it's a good reminder for to us care about each other and to relate to issues of dignity and civility and caring and compassion.
HOLMES: All right. Well sir, this is a great conversation. I'm glad a lot of -- I hope a lot of people are listening to it this morning. But again, Richard Joel, sir, we appreciate you taking the time with us.
JOEL: My great pleasure.
HOLMES: And maybe we should have you on more often and not just when it is around time for Yom Kippur to give people some of these reminders.
JOEL: It's always Yom Kippur, T.J.
HOLMES: Always Yom Kippur. All right, sir thank you so much for this morning.
And Betty like he said, Ten Commandments, they are not ten suggestions.
NGUYEN: They are commandments indeed.
HOLMES: They are commandments and not suggestions, a great line.
NGUYEN: That is.
Well this morning, we've been talking about this important news. Iran test fires missiles and raises more eyebrows. The flexing of military muscle comes amid some international tension.
On Friday, the U.S. and its allies condemned Tehran for a newly revealed underground nuclear facility that was being constructed secretly. Tehran says it will allow international inspectors into that facility.
The Obama administration officials say that they'll most likely miss the January deadline to shut down the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay. Two senior administration officials blame it on legal complications. President Obama signed an executive order after he took office, setting a deadline to close that facility.
And two weeks after her body was found stuffed inside a wall, Yale University grad student Annie Le is laid to rest. About 600 people attended her funeral near Sacramento, California. A lab technician who worked with her is charged with her murder.
HOLMES: Well, certainly the U.N. meeting and the G-20 summit, big topics this week, both here and in the U.S. and abroad.
NGUYEN: Ok, so but how can you make important international events like these relevant to students? Well, we're going to talk about that just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: You know, these students, sometimes, they're late for class.
NGUYEN: Right.
HOLMES: It happens every now and then.
NGUYEN: Sometimes they're sleeping in class. HOLMES: Sleeping in class, they're not ready, they're not prepared. Neither is our guy this morning.
NGUYEN: Carl Azuz.
HOLMES: Carl Azuz.
NGUYEN: He's not getting any "Extra Credit" today...
CARL AZUZ, CNNSTUDENTNEWS.COM: For once, it wasn't my fault. The microphone was not where it should have been. The dog ate it.
So that's what happened.
HOLMES: Sure it did.
Good morning to you. It's good to see you.
AZUZ: How you all doing?
NGUYEN: We're doing pretty good.
AZUZ: I'm sorry I wasn't ready for class.
HOLMES: It's quite all right.
AZUZ: I didn't bring my pencil either.
NGUYEN: But you're ready now, right?
AZUZ: I am, I am ready to talk about the U.N.
HOLMES: Ok, now a lot of you and even some grown folks...
NGUYEN: When you hear that, their eyes glaze over.
AZUZ: Yes.
NGUYEN: So how do you get students interested in what went on this past weeks?
AZUZ: Well, we showed them a lot of the sound bites. We've talked about Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi speaking at the U.N. General Assembly. And what we wanted to do to students was help them differentiate between what the Security Council is and what the general assembly is.
And this is how we did that at CNN student news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: They have the same goal, to work toward peace and international cooperation, but if the general assembly is like a student body with all 192 members, the Security Council is like the student council with 15 U.N. members. And it's that council that has the main responsibility for maintaining world peace. That might include anything from sending peacekeeping troops into troubled areas, to punishing member countries that break United Nations rules, to helping negotiate an end to international disputes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AZUZ: Ok, so that's one thing we really did to help students, look, this is the difference between these things you're seeing all over the news.
And of course, we have discussions and questions at CNNStudentNews.com to help teachers and you parents out there to talk about the news with your student.
HOLMES: Now, are the kids really engaged? And you're trying to get them, but do they seem from the feedback you're getting that they really are engaged and they get a little curious, maybe even if they weren't?
AZUZ: They absolutely are. I mean, one thing that surprised us this year is the response we've gotten on our Facebook page. At Facebook.com/CNNStudentNews, we've gotten so many responses to our stories on everything from Washington, everything that's going on there to schools -- local schools. We cover some stories like one about a football team that recently was leading a game 46 to nothing.
And the coach of the losing team approached -- you can see the play here. The coach of the losing team approached the team that was winning and said, will you let a 15-year-old student with Down syndrome realize his dream of scoring a touchdown? So in essence, the winning coach had to give up the shutout to allow this to happen.
And we asked our students on Facebook, on our blog, you can see he did score, he did realize his dream...
NGUYEN: Yes, goal.
AZUZ: ...and we wanted to know from them, what did you think of all this? How do you respond to this?
The first comment that we have from Facebook.com says, "This is what sports should be about. All kids should understand, this is why sports can be bigger than life." That came to us from a student named Sean (ph).
And we had a second comment at CNNstudentnews.com from a student named Andrew. He says, "If I was in that situation, I would have even given-up the win for that boy."
So you can see that -- students, at an age in middle and high school, where people are so critical, there's no shortage of compassion.
NGUYEN: I love it. I love it, ok, what's coming up next week? What have you got?
AZUZ: Everything you guys are covering.
You know, a lot of the big stories, anything that comes down the pike. I know that that we're working on Hispanic heritage month materials and we'll have all the pre-discussion questions and teaching materials at CNNstudentnews.com.
HOLMES: Ok, are you going to remember what time class starts here?
AZUZ: I'll remember. I can't promise I'll be prepared. But it won't be the first time I'm in detention.
NGUYEN: Well, we'll have to determine then if you get any "Extra Credit."
AZUZ: All right, I appreciate it. I'm at your mercy.
NGUYEN: Ok, see you as always.
HOLMES: Azuz, we're going to see you as always.
We're going to turn back to a story that has been breaking this morning, actually, about that man: Roman Polanski, arrested by Swiss authorities this morning.
NGUYEN: Yes, now what happens? We'll talk about that next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, in New York, a teacher delivers a lesson on life and a lesson on giving. It all started with a question from a student.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN O'BRIEN, ORGAN RECIPIENT: I asked everyone, would you really give something up with no chance of pay back?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Well, his teacher said yes and actually Kevin O'Brien remembered that answer, so when he actually needed a kidney, he came calling and the teacher said, "All right, I'll do it." Both of them are doing just fine, in fact.
And the teacher received the state's highest honor in New York, which is the Liberty Award. Three weeks after the surgery, both teacher and student are doing phenomenally, considering all that has occurred in the past few years.
But we wanted to get your feedback on this story and we're getting a lot of people who would say, "Yes, heck, yes, I would do it." Let me go to my Twitter page real quick.
Keanna S (ph) says, "You only need one kidney. I would totally give a kidney to someone if they needed it." And then Laura604 says, "There are so many people who are in need of an organ and dying on the waiting list. Yes, I would if it means saving a life."
HOLMES: We appreciate a lot of the comments. And a lot of people, I guess that was kind of the question. Yes, a good friend, a family member, yes. Somebody just walking down the hall, maybe, I don't know.
NGUYEN: And we've had some people say that. Look, if it's someone I know, absolutely. But for a perfect stranger, I don't know if I would do that. And that's a perfectly honest answer.
HOLMES: And we appreciate those honest answers. We appreciate you, as always, chiming in and participating in our show here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING.
NGUYEN: I want to tell you about this news that we got just a short time ago. Three decades ago, director, Roman Polanski fled the U.S. to avoid jail time for rape. This weekend, the old warrant finally caught up with him in Switzerland.
Senior legal analyst for us here at CNN, Jeffrey Toobin joins us on now the phone to talk about this case.
Jeffrey, the thing I want to know, why now -- why was he arrested in Zurich and why now?
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST: Boy, Betty, I wish I knew. It is a very odd circumstance. Because here's a guy who has traveled in Europe more or less -- more or less freely for decades and he's continued to work. He won the Academy award for best director in 2003. He has not returned to the United States.
But my understanding and I believe his understanding was that he more or less had carte blanche to travel in Europe. The case is more complicated than just simply a guy who fled. There are real questions about the fairness of the trial; the accuser in the case has asked that the matter be dropped at this point.
NGUYEN: Exactly. I wanted to ask you about that. I mean, she has asked for this case to be dismissed. And been very adamant about it, saying that the more it comes up, the more we continue on with this and the publicity behind it, it's just adding more to the pain that she's experienced. That being the case, why have authorities continued with it?
TOOBIN: Well, the way criminal law works in general is that it's not up to the victim to decide whether a case proceeds; it's up to the state. Crimes are crimes against a whole community; they're not just crimes against one individual. So it's ultimately the state which decides whether a case is dropped or not.
However, usually, the views of the victim are kept in mind. And particularly, you would think, in a case so personal and so old -- you know, this woman, who's been interviewed and identified for quite some time, she's a middle-aged woman at this point. She's not 13 years old anymore. She wants this behind her.
She has pointed out, which is kind of interesting, and hadn't occurred to me, that if they had resolved it years ago, it would have been easier on her. You know, she has been pursued by this case because it's still outstanding. So it is very hard for me to understand why this was brought up in Switzerland, of all places, right now.
NGUYEN: Yes. And a lot of questions still to come on this; but Jeffrey Toobin, as always, we appreciate your insight. Thank you.
TOOBIN: Bye.
HOLMES: All right, and we have some -- Jeffrey. I love Jeffrey.
We have some pictures we're going to be sharing with you here in just a minute. Some really...
NGUYEN: Look at that.
HOLMES: ... I mean, a lot of you might think that was Atlanta given what we've seen in the southeast, but this is some flooding happening not in our backyard. This is over in the Philippines, we've been watching for the past day or so.
NGUYEN: A tropical storm has been just pummeling the region. It's the heaviest rainfall there in some 40 years. Residents trying desperately to escape the waters and you're seeing it coming very fast and furious.
There's much more right here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, let the race begin. This is kind of some icky weather. This is in New York right now. They're trying to get this charity race started. I believe it's supposed to start at 9:00. Do I have that right, Betty? I think 9:00 but...
NGUYEN: 9:30.
HOLMES: 9:30 this morning, but it's the Tunnel to Towers race. This is done for firefighters, police officers, EMS workers, but done in honor of a man by the name of Steven Siller.
He was a firefighter who on 9/11, he was off-duty, he got stopped at this Brooklyn Battery Tunnel; couldn't go any further because of traffic. He hopped out and ran to the towers to help. He tried to catch up with his unit, had been dispatched there. His entire unit, also Steven, died on 9/11.
But this race, Tunnel to Tower run is done in his honor. They're going to get it going this morning. I think, despite the weather, they will get it started; some video of them trying to get started this morning. But raises money for burn victims across the country. NGUYEN: Yes, such a good cause and just a tragic story but to see friends and family and just people who are interested in helping come out for that.
Reynolds, do you think they're going to get a little bit of break in the weather for them to get this race off the ground?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. But I'll tell you -- I mean, if it was raining fire, those people would still be out there. When they're dedicated, they're going to go out there, they know it's for a great cause. They're going to be out there regardless of the weather.
But the weather is going to get a little better for them. Right now, we see a few scattered showers in downtown New York, in Manhattan from Fort Lee (ph) back over to Long Island. The heaviest rainfall now beginning to move offshore and believe it or not, that's part of the same system that gave us the rough weather that we dealt with yesterday afternoon and last night.
All part of this area of low pressure you see here and this frontal boundary that's all beginning to push out to sea. Right behind it, though, they will get a little bit of a break in New England and even in New York. But then if you go back to the Great Lakes, we have a chance of some severe weather, especially into the afternoon for Chicago, for Milwaukee, even Detroit could be in the mix.
We're talking about the potential o of some severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, small hail, maybe even an isolated tornado. You want to talk about some strong winds, you'll find some back over in the Central Plains. It's not just going to be bad weather; we're looking at sunshine mixed in too, but some strong wind gusts, some topping 40, 50, even 60 miles per hour up in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Meanwhile for the (INAUDIBLE) in the south west, we take the next 15 seconds, the heat is going to be intense for you in Phoenix and Las Vegas; triple digits in both spots. 81 for San Francisco, 81 degrees also in Memphis up on Mud Island (ph), 80 in Atlanta, and look for 89 degrees in Tampa, southward of Miami. Some upper 80s, but Miami, come one, let's be honest, 88 degrees, high humidity. It's going to feel like it's very, very muggy, very warm. It's going to feel like it's into the 90s.
Let's send it back to you guys.
HOLMES: Reynolds, what's got you chuckling over there midway through the weathercast?
WOLF: All kinds of stuff.
HOLMES: Yes.
WOLF: Things going through my head.
HOLMES: Anything you want to share? WOLF: No, I'll just let this just go off. This is just, it's going to be a mystery for the folks across America.
NGUYEN: All right, all right. Well, it is a PG show, so yes, we'll just let that one ride.
WOLF: You got it.
HOLMES: Thanks Reynolds.
NGUYEN: We'll have a check on today's top stories in just moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Well, coming up on the "STATE OF THE UNION" with John King, there's a lot more there, including speaking with the defense secretary.
First though, here's a look at your top stories.
HOLMES: This morning, Iran test fires missiles and raises some eyebrows. Flexing of the military muscle comes amid international tension. On Friday, the U.S. and its allies condemned Tehran for a newly discovered underground facility that was being constructed secretly. Iran says it will allow international inspectors into that facility, but still, they'll know exactly when those inspectors will be allowed to go in.
Just one of many stories we're keeping an eye on this morning.
Right now, it's time for us to hand it over to John King and "STATE OF THE UNION".
