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CNN Sunday Morning

Petraeus Assumes Command in Afghanistan; Biden Arrives in Iraq for July Fourth; Vacancies Plague Gulf Shores on Critical Holiday Weekend

Aired July 04, 2010 - 06:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello there, everybody. Well, isn't that awfully patriotic of us?

Hello to you. This is CNN SUNDAY MORNING on this Fourth of July. Happy Fourth to you all. Good morning to you all as well. I'm T.J. Holmes.

I want to say a special hello to our men and women serving around the world and watching us right now on the American Forces Network. Happy Fourth to you all. Thank you all for what you do.

And on this Fourth of July, you know, America's Independence Day, this country is still fighting, in particular in Iraq and, of course, Afghanistan. In particular, General David Petraeus in Afghanistan. He is now formally assumed command there. He is now officially in charge after a ceremony that took place just a few hours ago. We'll be telling you more about that and his mission there, and as well what troops are doing in Afghanistan and Iraq today.

Also, during this time of year, every single year, a lot of people enjoying those fireworks displays, and some people having a little fireworks displays of their own at home. There are dangers involved, and we are being reminded of that as a man has severed his own in a fireworks accident. We'll tell you more details about that, including as well the dangers and just how many of these types of accidents we see every single year.

But first, let me give you a look at some of the stories that are making headlines.

Ecuadorian authorities working with U.S. DEA agents what they say is a fully functional submarine built for smuggling cocaine. You see this thing? They also arrested a man.

The sub is being held near the border of Ecuador and Colombia. Investigators trying to find the group responsible for putting this thing together.

Also, the EPA administrator in the Gulf there to monitor the agency's response to oil disaster. Lisa Jackson spent Saturday in Pensacola checking out the situation there, also listening to local officials and raised a few eyebrows when she said that she wouldn't go into that water because the beach is oily. Also, RNC Chairman Michael Steele spending the holiday weekend working the phone. He's trying to rally some support for himself. Some high-profile Republicans called for his resignation after Steele said the war in Afghanistan was - quote - "a war of Obama's choosing" - end quote. Also suggested America can't win it. He made the comments at a fundraiser in Connecticut. They were then posted on YouTube.

An RNC spokesman tells CNN Steele is winning back some support.

Well, as we said, it is our Independence Day in the U.S. In Afghanistan, though, this Fourth of July takes on an added significance. David Petraeus now officially in charge after a ceremony there a few hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: David Petraeus now assumes command of United States forces in Afghanistan, effect 4 July, 2010.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, Petraeus - again, we know he got there at the end of last week. We know that the Senate approved him last week as well. But today makes it official; he has formally assumed command of international forces in Afghanistan.

Petraeus replaces, of course, General Stanley McChrystal, who resigned late last month after controversial comments he made in "Rolling Stone" magazine. Petraeus says he supports the president's plan to begin withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan by July of next year, but insists that decision still should be based on conditions on the ground.

The conditions, for now, Afghanistan, and Kabul in particular, patriotic. It's the Fourth of July. They're celebrating there as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Now, General Petraeus, taking in Independence Day celebrations held by the U.S. troops there. This was at the American Embassy in Kabul. Petraeus was joined y U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry, as well as U.S. Brigadier General Anne Macdonald.

Well, this is the type of Fourth of July celebration you like to see. Look at that. This is stateside here, folks. A hundred fifty American airmen and their families are together today. These are members of the 21st Air Lift Squadron. These are the Bee Liners. This is out of California's Travis Air Force Base. They got a personalized welcome home yesterday from friends and family after a four-month long deployment in Southeast Asian.

These are all logistics experts. They were charged with moving troops, supplies and equipment throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Right now, they're glad to be home.

Switch from that to tell you about another young man, Specialist Ryan J. Grady, who will not get the happy homecoming that his family certainly hoped for. The Vermont National Guard confirms he died yesterday in a roadside bomb attack near Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The young man was 25 years old. He was a veteran combat engineer for Company A, Special Troops Battalion that was stationed out of Radford, Vermont.

He had actually earned a Purple Heart for the injuries he suffered in Operation Iraq Freeman (ph) - Freedom. He had put in already, before going to Afghanistan, a year in Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and one daughter, Alexis (ph).

Well, we will turn back to Iraq now, where we saw the vice president, Joe Biden, and his wife. We saw them arrive yesterday. They're spending the holiday with the troops.

CNN's Arwa Damon joins us now live from Baghdad.

And I know they're going to be taking in the Fourth of July holiday. But still, a lot of other things on their agenda.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Most certainly, T.J. It is going to be a mix of both celebration and then attending to some very urgent and pressing affairs.

We did see Vice President Biden and his wife, Jill Biden. The fact that she's here quite the surprise as well, attending a naturalization ceremony earlier this morning. That ceremony taking place at a palace that was once owned by Saddam Hussein.

The vice president did not the irony in all of that. He also congratulated the troops on a job well done, and he noted the progress, or what he was calling progress, that had been made, saying that he has seen traffic jams, and that that was a wonderful thing.

We do need to point out though that many Iraqis actually view these traffic jams as being quite a headache and a hindrance. They are, if you remember, caused by the numerous, countless checkpoints that are scattered throughout the entire city, where cars and movement comes to a virtual gridlock because of the checkpoints, but also because of the blast walls that still continue to divide Baghdad because the situation does remain very precarious.

And on that note, one of the main factors that the vice president will be addressing as he does meet with senior Iraqi government officials and with the political leadership is the issue of this political vacuum, the political deadlock that we have taking place here.

The U.S. would like to see a government seated, especially as it does to continue draw down to that White House deadline of having the troop levels be down to 50,000 by the end of August. However, unless something catastrophic takes place, we are hearing from senior U.S. civilian and military officials that America will be sticking to that timeline no matter what. And that is causing some concern amongst the Iraqis who feel that America basically just wants to wash its hands of this war and walk away as quickly as possible - T.J.

HOLMES: And on something we talked about yesterday, something we haven't seen before, the wife of a U.S. official arriving with him on a trip.

And what have we seen of her schedule, as she's been there?

DAMON: Well, T.J., this is fairly significant, because it is the first time, as far as anyone is aware and anyone can remember, that such a visit would take place with the vice president and coming along. And perhaps it's an indication of how the U.S. is viewing this war now.

She is here. She is attending these Fourth of July events. She is also expected with civilian Embassy officials.

And here's something else that is going to be happening that is going to be fairly interesting: She's going to be conducting a roundtable with Iraqi women who teach English. She is, of course, an educator herself.

And this is perhaps an indication of how the U.S. is trying to shift this goal here from being one that focuses on military combat to one that is focusing on things like education, politics, on helping bolster Iraq's economy. Remember, America really does want to end this military relationship it has with his country and move towards one that has nothing to do with military or with war.

But we do have to underscore the fact that this does still remain a very precarious situation here, with the Iraqis we're talking to saying that they don't share the same kind of optimism that we have been hearing from U.S. officials. So that disconnect between what America is saying and seeing does continue growing, especially when it comes to talking to the Iraqis who are out there every day, still suffering things like security, even though it has improved, and electricity. It is sweltering out here, and power is spotty at best - T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Arwa Damon for us live in Baghdad. Arwa, thank you, as always.

We turn now to Day 76 of this oil disaster. Now into the third month since the ruptured well began gushing oil out in the Gulf. The EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, she's keeping an eye on things there, including the EPA's response.

She visited Pensacola Beach on Saturday. This is her first trip to Florida and her sixth to the Gulf region since the spill. She admitted yesterday that even she wouldn't go into that water on that day. But she agreed, still, it's up to local officials whether or not to keep the beaches open today. A lot of beaches are still open but give people warnings about going into the water.

Also, this could be a big deal, if we ever get this thing up and running. Engineers are now testing what they call the largest skimming vessel in the world. The tests prove conclusive this massive ship could soon be dispatched to play a key role in the cleanup efforts.

Now, what can it do? It can actually scoop up - it can skim about 21 million gallons a day. Now, if that's the case, then it could do more one day than all the skimming ships that are out there have done since the spill started. So this is significant.

It's called "A Whale." But they're trying to get this thing up and running and they approve - and get it approved to start working.

Also, one other note from the Gulf: Reverend Al Sharpton, at a church in Louisiana, listening to concerns over this disaster. The congregation he talked to there, talking about their concerns long term about what's going to happen with jobs in the area. Reverend Sharpton advised the community to be vocal and active with BP and other agencies who are handling this disaster.

Well, hotels and resorts along the Gulf may not be filled to capacity this Independence Day. Still, people are heading to the beach despite the disaster.

Our Reynolds Wolf live for us in the Gulf.

Reynolds, good morning to you once again. You got to see the day yesterday, a full day there in the Gulf. So what did the beaches look like?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: The beaches looked spectacular. They really, really looked great.

And the weather could not have been better. We had a mix of sunshine and clouds and - and there were reports of a few stray showers in the area. But in terms of just the weather and the way the beach itself looked, it was very, very nice.

But the issue is, not really what was on the beach, but what was actually coming on shore in some places. And of course, the water itself.

It is still a double red-flag day out there. It was yesterday. It will be today, possibly it will be into Monday. Red flags - the double red flags mean there's no getting in the water, and the - the reason why, obviously, is twofold.

For one, you've got the issue with the oil. But secondly, you also have the issue with some rough surf. So in that aspect, it was kind of frustrating to have things look really pristine in so many ways, and then, of course, you've got the great water, but you just can't get in it.

And, you know, T.J., when it comes to a place like Gulf Shores, you've got so many people that come back year after year. They migrate to these pristine shores, 32 miles of beautiful beaches. And for many people who make this trip, this year is especially frustrating.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ARLENE REESE, BEACHGOER: Last year, we came, we stayed in a condo with the family, the in-laws. And we had a wonderful time with the beach, staying at the condo, the pool. It was fun.

WOLF: This year's a little different, isn't it?

REESE: This year's a little different. We didn't make reservations for the condo. We stayed at the in-laws in Mobile, and we decided to drive out today to see what it looked like. We were curious just to see what it looks like.

WOLF: What do you think?

REESE: It's kind of disappointing. It's sad to see this. Yes. Very disappointing.

WOLF: No easy solution, is it?

REESE: No easy solutions. Yes. We're too afraid to let the kids get in the water. We don't know what's out there, what kind of problems it'll cause in the future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: You know, what's kind of interesting is that the adults certainly have wrapped the minds about it, but the ones who are having a tougher time with it are the - the little ones. I mean, more than once yesterday, we saw some kids walking out, getting in the water, and the adults, 'Get your butt over here' - we saw that kind of thing.

So it's kind of - kind of bad in that aspect.

But I will tell you, there are some great things that are going on, T.J. They did - you can't now fish. It's a catch-and-release kind of basis. But you go way down to the city pier, you are now allowed to fish there. You can also fish some three miles off the coast. But again, as I mentioned, everything is on a catch-and-release basis.

Fireworks tonight at 9:00, should be a great show. Back to you, T.J.

HOLMES: All right. One more thing - it's - I'm going to ask you more now since we got that little audio glitch fixed. We can - we can hear you just fine now, Reynolds.

But we were talking to the guys yesterday who said these months, June, July, August, account for so much of the money they make during the year. And in that June, July, August, this Fourth of July is huge for them.

So we saw some of the video you had there, the beaches didn't look packed necessarily. What did you see during the day?

WOLF: You know, that's - that's really the case. I mean, for example, you can't see it now, obviously, because it's pitch dark. But for one side of the beach, it was kind of sporadic, and then in other places, it was like a parking lot. I mean, just completely empty - an empty parking lot. Nothing, you know, in terms of people. Just - just empty. Just a - a giant vacuous spot.

And it's really frustrating. Because, I mean, normally this time of year, you - you would have just everything - just people all over the place. And keep in mind that it used to be into places like Gulf Shores, that when you get into the late months of, say, December and then you get into January and February, a lot of these places used to be boarded up; they wouldn't be open year-round. That's why it's so crucial for them at this time of the year to really bring in those bucks.

Again, it's a $1.1 billion industry here. So when you have times like this, it hurts everyone. And there's - there's always that this fear that this could be it for some people. I certainly it doesn't reach that, but this is a make-or-break year. We've got a bad economy; unemployment's going up. And then you've got this oil spill. It's all coming together, and it's - it's a tough time for these people.

HOLMES: All right. Reynolds Wolf for us in Gulf Shores. Reynolds, we appreciate you. We're going to talk to you again plenty throughout the morning. Thanks so much.

Well, a lot of traditions around the Fourth of July. You know, the barbecues, the beer, the fireworks, going to the lake, things like that.

But we've got one of the strangest Fourth of July traditions you've probably ever heard of. How far can you spit? That's coming up in just a moment.

It's 15 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. DAVID CLARK, U.S. AIR FORCE: Hi, this is Staff Sgt. Clark, Camp Parina (ph) Afghanistan. I just wish to wish my family back in San Antonio, Texas, a happy Fourth of July. Cappie (ph), I love you. I miss you. Boys, I can't wait to see you again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEPC. JACOB NELSON, U.S. ARMY: Hi, my name is Jacob Nelson. I am stationed here at Camp Phoenix Afghanistan with the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

I would like to wish a happy Fourth of July to my family back in Kokado (ph), Minnesota. I love you all and I will see you soon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. ANTHONY DYKES, U.S. ARMY: Hi, my name is Staff Sergeant Dykes. I'm stationed in Balad, Iraq. I just want to say 'hi' to all my family and friends back home in Lebanon, Missouri, and Springfield, Missouri. Hope you guys are having a good holidays, enjoying the lake, and we'll see you before too long. Love you guys.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Always good to see those greetings on this Fourth of July, any time throughout the year.

Seventeen minutes the hour here on this Fourth of July, this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

And a Fourth of July tradition to tell you about. This one's been going on for quite some time, and you've probably still never seen anything like it. How far can you spit a cherry pit?

This 37th annual International Cherry-Pit-Spitting Championship. Is there anything else to do in Eau Claire, in Michigan? Maybe not. But you see this - people have their technique. Many people take this quite seriously.

But, you know - what was it? - Bill Russell, Chad, he won 11 championships. Michael Jordan's got six.

But the guy who won this year has won 16 times. They call him Rick "Pellet Gun" Krause. This is his 16th championship now that he has won.

But check this out: His wife won as well. I don't have her name in front of me, but her nickname is "Machine Gun."

Can you imagine these two at the house, arguing with each other?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It could make for a good Thanksgiving.

(LAUGHTER)

MYERS: Hey, Honey, you burned the turkey.

HOLMES: He spit this thing, apparently, 51 feet down the way. And that was good enough for a championship.

They say he has a - a flair for the dramatic. He rode in on a - on a motorcycle, dropped down and did the whole presentation. Yes, so it takes it pretty seriously.

MYERS: Fifty-one feet.

HOLMES: Fifty-one feet. That's pretty - that's pretty good.

MYERS: I guess.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: Here's another interesting one for you: A man in Long Island still may be a little lucky.

Now, at first we heard this story and we thought it was an actual shark attack. Because a man was, in fact, bitten by a shark. But the issue here is that the guy had gone fishing and he caught the thing. And then he was trying to take a hook out or something, and then he was bitten by the shark. So that's a little different.

Here you see video of him being taken to the hospital. Bit off part of his right bicep. Not being identified right now, but he was on a recreational fishing trip for sharks. There you go. Close call.

Took him ashore; medics were waiting. Again, not so bad. But the Coast Guard reminding people to use common sense when you're out there in the water. But the Coast Guard also - not long ago, I believe it was just Friday, put out an alert to people, an advisory, up in the Northeast to look out for sharks, especially kayakers and people using small boats, because there had been a couple of sightings of sharks. So just giving a heads-up.

But again, that's one thing, if you're in the water, looking out for a shark. It's another thing to catch a shark and then be surprised when it bites you.

Well, stay with us here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. You know, it was last week that President Obama approved new sanctions on Iran. Yesterday, he got a rather defiant response from that guy.

It's 22 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad responds to new economic sanctions imposed by the U.S. Iran's state-run Press TV reports that Ahmadinejad said in a speech that Iran has "mastered the art of overcoming obstacles."

It was last week that President Obama signed new sanctions into law over the country's nuclear program. Those sanctions target companies that sell refined petroleum projects to Iran and international banks that do business with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Four years ago, you sanctioned Iran and our industrial export was $6 billion. How much is it now? Eighteen billion dollars.

I have faith in your capabilities. I want to tell them again: Do you want to sanction Iran again? I promise that this $18 billion will be $60 billion by the hands of people sitting here, and it will be a slap in their face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, Tehran claimed its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. But the U.S. fears Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

Well, something you may not have thought of. When you see birds heading south right now, they could be in the way of danger. Yet another fallout to tell you about from the Gulf oil disaster.

It's time for us to say good morning to Josh Levs this morning as well.

Hello there, Josh.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, yes. Good morning to you.

You know, a lot of fireworks displays around the country have been canceled for two major reasons. We're going to tell you what's going on where you live.

Plus, the nation's best fireworks coming right up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. ANTHONY MURPH, U.S. ARMY: This is Captain Anthony Murph. I'm stationed with Task Force (INAUDIBLE) 82nd Airborne Division in Arad (ph), Afghanistan.

I'd like to wish my beautiful wife, Ruby Garza (ph), and the Garza-Lockay (ph) family in San Antonio, Texas, a happy Independence Day. I love you and miss you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. KYLE GUSTAFSON, U.S. MARINES: Hey, everyone, I'm Corporal Kyle Gustafson, Greeley (ph), Minnesota, here in Marja, Afghanistan, 3rd Tracks (ph), Alpha (ph) Company.

I just want to wish everybody a Happy Fourth of July, all my friends and family back home. I hope you all are doing really good. It's safe out here, and I'm just hoping to come back. I love you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ST. TY PRANTL, U.S. ARMY: Hello, I'm Sergeant Ty Prantl, with Attachment 1-1107 (ph) (INAUDIBLE), in Joint Base Balad. I want to wish a happy Fourth of July to all my friends and family back in West Points (ph), Missouri. I love you guys, and I'll see you soon. (END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Well, we certainly hope friends and family are able to see those this morning.

And on this morning, we're coming up on the bottom of the hour here on the Fourth of July.

You know, a very big tradition on the Fourth of July, the fireworks displays. Well, for a couple of reasons, some people aren't going to be able to see them. A couple of things have come together here, Josh Levs, including the Gulf Coast oil disaster and this economic crisis now that's actually taking a toll on fireworks displays here.

LEVS: Yes, all over the country. And it is too bad to see that. Fortunately, you know, some people will still be able to drive a little farther and see some displays.

But yes, some really important ones out there to certain people in certain communities are disappearing. Let me talk to you about some examples here.

Our folks here have been talking to officials along the Gulf Coast, and here are a couple that have been canceled.

The fireworks displays in Dauphin Island and at Grand Isle, over in Louisiana. Now, a couple of reasons for that, officials are telling us, first of all, there are fewer people there to see it, and less economic intentions (ph) to do it.

But also, we have talked to some officials who they're concerned about the idea of sparks landing on the water and what that happens to the oil that's on the surface or even along the beach. Sparks land there, what happens? Also, there are some places in which they haven't been sure. Last we talked to them, they created alternative locations, Destin, Florida, also over in Gulf shores and Alabama. They say they weren't planned to go ahead with their fireworks, but they are planning alternate locations to the usual ones. Now -- so, that's not unfortunate enough for these people. Take a look at what's happening all over the country. This is a breakdown we have at CNN.com of some cities that have canceled due to the economic crisis.

Let me give you a few examples here. Akron, Ohio expects to save $106,000 by cancelling their annual fireworks display. We'll zoom in on these pictures. Jersey City, New Jersey, they're hoping to save $183,000 by not having their annual fireworks display. Here's a shot from last year. I'll give you one more example here. Colorado Springs, Colorado saves $75,000 by not having their annual one this year. So, people around the country are feeling this hit. Now, I don't want to be all depressing, though. It's July 4th. There's a lot to feel happy about. I also want to tell you about some of the best fireworks displays in the country.

We have a really good breakdown of that at CNN.com from Travel and Leisure, a partner of ours. Of course, Boston pops. And of course, we have video for you right here at the National Mall every year. They have some of the best firework in the world, and you'll be able to see those on TV as well. And you know what, before I go here, I was going to mention one more -- I always love these. I'll be watching these on TV, hopefully. At least, taping and watching them later. Another thing that will make you happy this morning. Really cool thing on CNN.com from our partners at Fortune.

A 100 great things about America, and they list 100 of their favorite things about the United States. From the internet, to the constitution, to Mount Rushmore to food in New Orleans. So, have some fun with that and happy 4th to all of you. Throughout the show this morning, I'm interacting with you. Here's how you can reach me, you got Facebook and Twitter, Josh Levs CNN. Talking to you about your July 4th celebrations. What's happening, what's not happening, are you disappointed, and what are you thinking and feeling on this Independence Day?

So, short version here, T.J., is that a lot of these people who don't have the fireworks will be able to drive a lot farther and see a display if they choose to. Unfortunately, a lot of people won't be able to do that. So, they'll be stuck watching them on TV and not being able to see the real thing.

HOLMES: That's something. But yes, everyone likes that tradition, fireworks on Fourth of July. Appreciate you, Josh, but there is the down side, unfortunately, to fireworks sometimes. Not the displays you usually see out there and go watch, but a lot of people have their fireworks displays at home. They do it other their own, and every single year it seems like -- It doesn't seem. This is a fact. Every single year, people hurt themselves. They injure themselves in some way with fireworks, and now we have another cautionary tale.

This one this year out of Long Island, a man completely severed his left arm yesterday. His friends had to wrap the severed arm in ice and took him to the hospital. He's listed in serious condition right now. Doctors are going to try to reattach that arm, but apparently, he was using some serious fireworks, had some kind of a mortar that's described, trying to set it off and it back and hit him and took his arm off. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, last year, there were some 9,000 people who had to go to the emergency room because they were injured by fireworks.

6,000 of those took place right around the Fourth of July holiday, and also, two people were killed by fireworks. So, it could be fun, no doubt, but some serious stuff you need to be careful out there.

Stay with us here. Thirty-three minutes past the hour. Bob Dole, you remember him, of course. He's a war hero and former presidential candidate, and he is sharing some time with warriors injured in the Afghanistan war. Our interview with him coming up. Stay here with us on the CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: I just want to give you a look at some of the stories making headlines on this Sunday morning.

New details in that oil tanker explosion yesterday in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 230 people killed; however, the government spokesman says the largest number of those victims were not, in fact, scavenging for oil that spilled in the toppled tanker, rather, they were people sitting at a nearby bar who were watching the World Cup at the time Ghana was playing Uruguay. (INAUDIBLE) a lit cigarette may have sparked that explosion.

Also, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is halfway through her five-day diplomatic swing through Europe, but her thoughts are much closer to home. She's speaking to Polish media today, and the secretary of state says planning for her daughter, Chelsea's wedding is the most important thing going on in her life right now.

Also, a city-wide rally. Look at this. Trying to keep LeBron in Cleveland. He is the biggest free agency name out there right now, and he is shopping his talents around the market. He's been in Cleveland, New Jersey, New York, Chicago, and a few others, we're told. Fans of Cleveland, though, made their show of support yesterday hoping LeBron will stay with his hometown team. Just a few of the headlines there for you.

So, it's now down to the final four in the World Cup. We're going to be taking you live to Johannesburg.

Plus, you're not going to believe what a family found buried in their backyard. It's important enough to put a halt on all construction on that property. Stay here with us. It's 38 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back. Forty-one minutes past the hour. You're in the CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

Even if you can't really keep up and understand soccer and World Cup and everything going on, this is certainly something we can understand. It's down to the final four, and kind of surprising, the four that ended up in this final four. Let's bring in Alex Thomas. He joins us now live from Johannesburg. Alex, this was looking like a South American tournament, but all of a sudden now, it looks like Europe is the team or the continent to beat in this whole World Cup.

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You're absolutely right, T.J. Here we are, sitting outside Soccer City Stadium. We're not going to see any more soccer action at this venue until exactly a week's time when two countries will contest the final of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We went into the quarterfinals with a record high of four South American countries, a record low of three European nations, and just one African team, and now will left with all three Europeans still in it and just one country flying the flag for South America. No more African representatives. And we'll show you the latest action from Saturday's two quarterfinal matches.

Starting with Spain, the Euro 2008 champions up against Paraguay who never got to a World Cup quarterfinal before. They had a penalty kick, though, in the second half, you know. And Oscar Cardozo was fouled by Gerard Pique, but those of themselves stepped up to take the foul, and it was saved by Iker Casillas, the Spanish goalkeeper. A moments later, at the other end, a foul by (INAUDIBLE) on David Villa, Spain's top scorer at this World Cup meant Spain had a penalty. Gabby Alonzo (ph) scored with a first effort with the Referee Nathan (ph) take it again to Spain's players where in coaching in the area.

And for the second try, Alonzo had his penalty kick saved. It didn't matter, though, because Spain, minutes from the end of the match, broke the deadlock, anyway, and it was David Villa who scored the goal making Spain the winners. Villa, the top scorer at this World Cup, the first Spanish to score in four successive World Cup matches. And if we take you, T.J. to the action in the early game between Germany and Argentina, a real blockbuster, they won five world cups between them, you know. Expected to be a tight affair. The Germany went into the lead as early as the third minute when Thomas Miller got a slight, slight touch on a free kick from Basti and (INAUDIBLE) the goals just piled up in the second half with Germany.

It was near enough (ph) closing scores that it was on a three brick (ph) close second late from the game. So close announce pans, 14 world cup goals. It's one behind the old time record, and he's not a superstar name like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drgoba. So, you're right, T.J., lots of surprises. And we now stand with Holland versus Uruguay in the first semi final in Cape Town on Tuesday. A day later in Durbin, I'll be watching Spain take on Germany. What a crack that will be, T.J.

HOLMES: Yes. Well, hopefully, they will be a lot more interesting than yesterday. Certainly, the game yesterday that the one tied game, the Spain game, but still mandate (ph) to see Germany just dismantle. We admittedly will say we were watching the game during the newscast yesterday, OK? During the commercial breaks, I should say. And every time, Germany kept piling up, seemed like every commercial break they scored another goal. Some surprises there. Alex, you enjoy yourself. We appreciate you hanging out here with us as always, and you enjoy South Africa. We'll talk to you again soon.

THOMAS: Thanks, T.J.

HOLMES: There'll probably be some surprise if you decided to dig up something in your backyard. Just start digging around back there. No telling what you might find, but can you imagine you discover dinosaur bones? That's what happened to a family near Memphis. Jamel Major has the story from us from our affiliate, WMC.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAMEL MAJOR, WMC REPORTER (voice-over): It's a strange and unusual object that caught Jim Leyden and his wife by surprise.

JIM LEYDEN, FOUND DINOSAUR BONES: My wife called me and said, you're not going to believe it. They can't do anything with the pool. I'm thinking, all right, what happened? MAJOR: This is no mistake. Take a look at these rare bones recently discovered in the Leyden's backyard while contractors were digging to install a new pool.

LEYDEN: I was thinking get the pool in. It's finally summer. All the heat. Let's get going. And then she said, no, they found a dinosaur. I'm thinking, yes, OK. She said, no, really, they found a dinosaur.

MAJOR: Excavators believe the two-foot-long jaw bone may have belonged to a close relative of the mastodon called a trilophodon, an animal which resembles an elephant or a mammal. An animal that has never been found in the mid south. David Mason with the portable pool contractors found the fossil while putting in a drain line for the Leyden's new pool.

DAVID MASON. AFFORDABLE POOL CONTRACTORS: I dig into the dirt and something cracked. And a little piece of tooth fell out. Of course, I didn't know that at time, but it just kind of pulled white look to it.

MAJOR (on-camera): This is a piece of the actual tooth that was found about eight to nine feet underground. Now, by the looks of this, you can see that it's pretty well preserved and quite a rare discovery.

MAJOR (voice-over): They say they now plan to donate this piece of history to the Pink Palace.

LEYDEN: That's our plan is to let the Pink Palace have it right now, you know. What am I going to do with it? Keep it around, my wife might throw it at me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Yes. You hear that the Pink Palace actually grew up in the Memphis area, so the Pink Palace, that's a museum that's there. So, they checked it out. They think it's legit, but what's the strangest thing you've found in your backyard? Anything, we need -- we don't need to know.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I was hoping to find Elvis or something. I don't know. Maybe, he was still there playing. I don't know. He plays every Friday.

HOLMES: Yes, he does. He plays a gig every weekend in Memphis. Chad, today, we've talked about some storms around the Texas area still left over from the storm. It's still there?

MYERS: Yes. Still there, especially south and east of Lubbock. The radar estimate now, over 12 inches of rain in 24 hours. I don't care where you are. I don't care if you're in the ocean, it's going to flood. So, you have to be careful. Sun is just coming up in Texas now. It's one of those turn around don't drowned. You think the bridge is there, you see the water going over it, you have no idea whether that bridge is really still there and is structurally sound or not. So, don't drive through this.

HOLMES: But you know, we'll have video tomorrow of somebody trying to drive through.

MYERS: Yes, it's the (INAUDIBLE) get it again. You know, it's always here. But New York City, you're going to be hot today. Look at this. 95 and even D.C. all the way to 98 degrees this afternoon. So, it's going to be hot just about everywhere. We'll take you to this area that we've been talking about, which is really West Texas where the rain has just not stopped all night long. It's been in the same spot. Very heavy rainfall. If you're going to be out to drive into the west of Dallas, even some of the interstates are kind of getting a little bit tricky on the flooded side, so watch that.

Showers all the way up to Omaha and down back in toward Minneapolis. The east coast, all you notice is this one big smiley face sunshine over here because it is just going to be a bright, hot day, 98, D.C. You know, I know all of these places that you're trying to take things down to and enjoy the fireworks, you need to understand that some places will or not let you bring water down. Not let you bring coolers down. Make sure that you don't just spend $30 on water and ice and get it all the way down to the park and they say, no, you can't bring it. Know the rules before you go, T.J.

HOLMES: Very good information because you would be upset --

MYERS: I did it at the nation's capital a couple of times. I had lugged it on the metro and almost didn't get down there, and they say, no, got to buy it.

HOLMES: All right. Thank you, as always, buddy. Thanks so much. >

Well, Bob Dole, he was injured himself in World War II.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These modern medical miracles. You see them every day here, and they're -- if they're wound on one day, they could be at Walter Reed on the third day.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Living in a great country and just one chapter ends and another chapter starts, and keep on going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: The former presidential candidate, he is now battling back from double knee surgery and sharing time with the injured from the Afghanistan war. It's about 10 until the top of the hour. Stay with us here on the CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SFC. JOSHUA PINSON, U.S. ARMY: I'm Sergeant First Class Pinson from Texas (ph). I would like to wish my family a Happy Fourth of July. SFC. ALTIS ROBERTS, U.S. ARMY: How are you doing? This is Sergeant First Class Roberts from Kansas City, Missouri. I'd like to wish my family Happy Fourth of July.

2ND LT. CATHERINE WARREN, U.S. AIR FORCE: Hello. I'm Lt. Catherine Warren here (INAUDIBLE). I want to say a quick hi to all my friends and family in Chicago and a big Happy Fourth of July. Thank you so much for all your support. We couldn't do it without our friends and family at home. I hope you have a great holiday.

And on this Independence Day, fitting to remember those who lost their lives in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The final salute for the fallen on the battlefield. A military tomb we've all heard, but wish we would never have to again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You hear the phrase sometimes, politics make strange bedfellows, but, maybe a hospital can as well. CNN's Ed Henry reports it's a little bit of both at the Walter Reed Medical Center where injured troops are recuperating with former senate majority leader, Bob Dole.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED HENRY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When air force Sergeant Christopher Curtis arrived at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, he was in desperate shape after his CV-22 Osprey crashed in Afghanistan.

SGT. CHRISTOPHER CURTIS, U.S. ARMY: From a coma state to getting into the rehab was really a long road, but one that definitely, you know, kept my spirits up.

HENRY: That determination was sparked in part by another patient at Walter Reed who almost didn't make it off the battlefield himself during World War II.

CURTIS: From where he was back then to being, you know, possible president of the United States at one point, in fact, gives me a --.

HENRY: You voted for him?

CURTIS: I did. Absolutely.

HENRY: An 86-year-old Bob Dole is at Walter Reed for physical therapy connected to double knee replacement surgery, but a bout with pneumonia lengthened the stay for the former senate majority leader. He passes the time listening to Sinatra, watching cable news, and just like the old days, wisecracking with new friends like Curtis.

BOB DOLE, FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: First thing out of his mouth is I voted for you in 1996. Real smart fellow.

HENRY: Did you also told him there are not a lot of those around? DOLE: I had to look.

HENRY: The pictures of Curtis now and Dole back then are striking.

Does that remind you of what happened to you 65 years ago?

DOLE: A little bit. I couldn't move. I was in a body cast. That's all behind me, but it does give you pause. (INAUDIBLE).

HENRY: Army Sergeant Lee Langley, 26, was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan and marvels at Dole's determination.

SGT. LEE LANGLEY, U.S. ARMY: He got hurt a long time ago, and now he is fighting another battle, you know, and he's at an older age, and a lot of people would have gave up, but he didn't.

HENRY: Army specialist Levi Crawford, 23, was badly wounded in Afghanistan and has now bonded with Dole, whose own right arm was paralyzed so long ago.

SPC. LEVI CRAWFORD, U.S. ARMY: Same thing with mine then. I'm trying to keep moving them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're doing the right thing.

CRAWFORD: It's hard.

HENRY: Dole co-chaired a 2007 presidential commission that investigated shoddy conditions at Walter Reed, but he has nothing but praise for the medical care.

DOLE: It took me nine hours to get on the battlefield and it took me weeks to get home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Here he goes.

DOLE: These modern medical miracles, you see them every day, and if they're wounded on one day, they could be at Walter Reed on the third day.

HENRY: He's eager to get back to work at the law and lobbying firm, Alston & Bird. His failed bid pot White House, a distant memory.

DOLE: You got to move on, you know? Life is short. Keep pushing and realize we have a great country, and, you know, we have just -- one chapter ends and another chapter starts and keep on going.

HENRY: Good advice, now being passed on to a whole new generation of heroes.

DOLE: This is what America is all about right here.

HENRY: Ed Henry, CNN Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)