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CNN Saturday Morning News

Nevada Caucus Today; 'Massacre' Being Reported in Syria; Egyptian Protestors Clash With Police; Iran Counters Israeli Warning With Their Own: Attack and Retaliation Will Be Swift; Madonna Nervous About Performing Going Into Super Bowl Weekend

Aired February 04, 2012 - 09:00   ET

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

SUSAN HENDRICKS, CNN ANCHOR: It is 9:00 a.m. Eastern time; time to check your top stories this morning.

First in Nevada, the polls are set to open shortly before the first presidential contest out west this election season. Here are some of the latest polls out of Nevada. You can see Mitt Romney holds a double-digit lead over Newt Gingrich.

The "New York Times" is reporting that actor Ben Gazzara has passed away from pancreatic cancer. In his 60-year Hollywood career, he appeared in more than 100 films and TV movies including "Car on a Hot Tin Roof" and "Opening Night." In his later years, he worked with the Cohen Brothers in "The Big Lebowski." He's survived by his wife of 30 years and also a daughter. He will be missed by many.

Demonstrators for and against Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin have filled the streets of Moscow. They're braving bitter cold temperatures to voice support and opposition to the man who hopes to be elected Russia's president once again.

A massacre in Syria, that is the charge right now by anti-government activists in Syria who say women and children are being killed by Syria's military. Here is what we know right now. Those activists say as many as 260 people have been killed in the past day alone. They claim the military is randomly bombing neighborhoods, kids, women included. But the claims are being disputed on state-run TV in Syria where they say the massacre never happened. CNN cannot independently confirm either of those claims.

Meanwhile, the U.N. is set to meet in just about an hour to consider ordering Syria's government to stop that crackdown.

So what are the options for the U.N.? Joining me now is CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth.

And, Richard, when you see that video and you hear accounts from people who say they are there and what they are witnessing, you wonder what is taking the U.N. so long. What's on the table here?

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: Well, in October, Russia and China vetoed a U.N. security council resolution on Syria. Now within an hour or so, the council is finally ready, it appeared, to adopt a resolution, though one that is watered down after months of deadlock.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH (voice-over): The U.N. security council chamber, a sense of thought and purpose in the air. Yet on Syria, where is the resolution?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The council has been silent too long. It has to step up to its responsibilities.

ROTH (on camera): There were smiles and handshakes last week when diplomatic dignitaries flew in to debate what to do about Syria.

HILLARY CLINTON, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: This will be hard. The results are far from certain.

ROTH: Very true. And despite the human rights abuses committed in Syria, the security council here remains at an impasse. And it's an old story. Big power differences. Russia, which has veto power, thinks the United Nations was never set up to diplomatically intervene when a U.N. member country explodes.

VITALY CHURKIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N. (through translator): The council cannot impose the parameters for an internal political settlement. It simply doesn't have the mandate to do so.

ROTH: And so western countries have to rewrite the language on these resolutions so they can woo Russia and other countries who are fearful of military intervention.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not the permanent members of the security council seeking to impose their view.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: Now, here in the U.N., the resolution deleted a segment whereby Syrian president Assad was called on to delegate authority. That has been wiped away in an attempt to get Russia on board. There is no call for sanctions or an arms embargo. It does say it fully supports the Arab League proposal which wants a Syrian-led transition of power.

It doesn't seem that the Syrian government, Susan, will immediately leap into action if this resolution is passed. It appears that Russia might abstain and let the resolution go forth, but there will always can be some surprises.

HENDRICKS: Yes, it certainly is. It seems as though Syria needs help and very quickly. Richard Roth, thank you.

Meanwhile, people are showing support for the Syrian activists at embassies around the world. From Washington to London to Cairo, Egypt, there were several arrests at some of those demonstrations. Some are complaining that the international community is just standing by and letting the massacre happen in Syria. That is the complaint.

Meanwhile, anger at police has erupted and more violence in Egypt. Demonstrators are clashing with police in several cities. Twelve people have been killed in the recent violence there. The people are angry at the perceived lack of action by police at a soccer riot this week. Nearly 80 people were killed in those soccer riots. People say the police just stood by and did nothing and watched it all happen. Police say protesters have been pelting officers with bird shots and Molotov cocktails.

Thousands of demonstrators have gathered again in Moscow today to rally against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin despite bitter cold weather there. They're demanding changes in the wake of disputed elections that took place in December. There is also a pro-Putin rally going on in Moscow, as well. These demonstrations are seen as a test for Putin with just about a month to go until he runs for president.

In Washington, free speech is being celebrated by some Occupy protesters. Police moved in a short time ago, dressed in full riot gear, but they say they're not evicting anyone, not yet. They're just enforcing the city's no camping rules.

To beat the rules though, Occupy D.C. protesters get pretty creative, they have been staging what they cow a no-sleep slumber party. Police finally ordered the removal of a big tent that covered a statue in the park. It's called the "Tent of Dreams." Protesters did take it down but laid it in the street instead.

I want to get to politics now. Nevada Republican caucuses get underway in just a few hours from now. There are 28 delegates up for grabs in the first contest west of the Mississippi.

CNN's Joe Johns has more on the final rush for support. Joe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Susan, as the race for the Nevada Caucuses entered the homestretch, the Mitt Romney campaign was hoping their candidate was well positioned to score a victory here just like he did four years ago.

It was a bizarre week in politics, though, with Donald Trump stirring up a publicity firestorm before finally publicly endorsing Romney for president.

Romney did not help his own case with his comments on CNN that he was not concerned about the poor because there's a safety net for them. He later said he misspoke.

Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the House, tried to capitalize on the Romney misstep, promoting his own plan to create jobs and improve the economy.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul was also attracting large crowds in the state of Nevada with his anti-war, smaller government message. He actually placed second here four years ago behind Romney.

Former Senator Rick Santorum was not about to be counted out, having already demonstrated his prowess in the caucus environment, if you will, by his big win in the state of Iowa.

But for now it is up to the caucus-goers in Nevada to try to determine which among the Republican presidential contenders they believe should be their standard-bearer as we move toward the general election this November.

I'm Joe Johns in Las Vegas. Back to you, Susan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: Joe, thank you.

Here are some facts now about the Nevada Caucus. There are 28 delegates at stake, unlike Florida which was winner take all. This one is proportional. People will gather at 125 caucus sites. Most of the action will be in Las Vegas where around 70 percent of the electorate lives. This is a close primary, too, which means that only registered Republicans can take part in it. We will not see the first results until around 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

And CNN coverage of the Nevada Caucuses begins at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Don't miss it. A special edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer, that is followed by CNN's complete live coverage at 7:00. Join Wolf, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Candy Crowley and John King as the results come in (INAUDIBLE).

The group of hackers known as Anonymous at it again. This time they secretly recorded a phone call between the FBI and Scotland Yard discussing the investigation into hacking attacks. A law enforcement source tells CNN that this is basically vandalism. The FBI is now investigating.

Israel warns time is running out for Iran to abandon its nuclear program. Iran is now issuing its own warning, as well. It says, "Any military strike will spark swift retaliation and damage U.S. interests ten times over" -- quoting there.

But can the U.S. talk Israel into giving sanctions more time? We'll tell you next.

And a powerful snowstorm iced the plains after pounding Colorado. Reynolds is here tracking this one for us. Overnight, it snowed about two feet and now it's heading east?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely. It left a foot of snowfall in parts of the Rockies, central plains but it left a lot in Colorado. Speaking of rocky, some places near Boulder had around 20 inches of snowfall. Now it's going to leave anywhere from eight to 12 across the central plains. (INAUDIBLE) in the Ohio Valley, all the way down to the gulf coast, we could see some sleet, we can see possibly some strong thunderstorms, maybe even a few tornadoes and flash flooding. We're going to keep an eye on this big weather mess as it drives eastward.

Thank you, Susan.

HENDRICKS: Reynolds, thank you. Stay with us. More after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: Good morning. It's a little after 9:00 a.m. here in Atlanta. I want to tell you about some news if you're just waking up that may be off your radar.

The do-not-fly list doubled over the past year. The list went from about 10,000 people to 21,000. One of the main reasons, remember the Christmas day underwear bomber in 2009? Well, it turns out the teen's father had gone to the U.S. embassy to raise concerns about his son. But that didn't get his name on the no-fly list. So the U.S. can now put people on the no-fly list from a single source if the source is considered credible.

In Yellow Springs, Ohio, a college is waiving tuition fees for all students who enroll in the next three years. In 2008, Antioch College had to temporarily shut operations for various reasons. But recently, the school received a surge of donations from its alumni that added up to $51.7 million. Now the school is up and running and working to attract students by offering full tuition scholarships, each is worth about $106,000 per student.

And you're looking at the first pictures of the far side of the moon. These are from NASA's grail mission, which shot back these images from the moon's south pole. The reason it's called the far side of the moon is because of the way the moon rotates on its axis in relation to its orbit around earth. One side is always facing away from earth, hence the far side of the moon.

There is a growing chance that Israel could attack Iran over a suspected nuclear weapons program. That conclusion comes from the U.S. Defense secretary as Israel continues to put pressure on the U.S. to take more action against Iran.

CNN's Chris Lawrence reports.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Susan, defense officials tell us that the U.S. is navigating a very fine line, trying to convince Iran that military action is real and is something to be feared. But at the same time, trying to convince Israel not to attack until tougher sanctions have time to take effect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE (voice-over): Thousands shouted their support for Iran's leader Friday as he issued a direct threat to America.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They say all options are on the table, including war. The war itself will be 10 times detrimental to the U.S..

LAWRENCE: On Friday, defense secretary Leon Panetta stood firm saying again the U.S. is, "prepared to respond if Iran doesn't abandon its nuclear program." But Israel says time is running out. EHUD BARAK, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER (through translator): Dealing with a nuclear Iran will be more complicated, dangerous and expensive in blood and money than stopping it. Whoever says later may find that later is too late.

LAWRENCE: Even some former diplomats says Iran is full of hard liners who may not back down from sanctions.

JAMES RUBIN, FORMER ASST. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: And so I am worried that the overall strategy of ratcheting up the pressure in the hopes that Iran will somehow say uncle is not based on a good reading of the Iranian government.

LAWRENCE: A senior congressional official says the relationship with Israel right now is the strangest he's seen. And he's convinced the Israelis aren't going to tell us if they strike Iran. Former Defense secretary Bob Gates told CNN's John King, the U.S. and Israel disagree on what happens after any attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.

ROBERT GATES, FORMER U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think most American senior officials believe Iranians will, in fact, retaliate and not just narrowly, but potentially across the entire region.

LAWRENCE: The chairman of the joint chiefs just traveled to Tel Aviv, the latest high ranking official to try and convince Israel to give sanctions more time. But a source says when the head of Mossad visited Washington this week, it was primarily to gauge what the U.S. would do if Israel struck Iran. Just this month, Iran started enriching uranium to 20 percent at its facility at (INAUDIBLE).

If they enrich enough of it, a U.S. official says it would cross the Israeli's red line because it's an easy jump from there to 90 percent weapons grade.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAWRENCE: U.S. officials are taking Iran's threats very seriously. One told me Iran has been improving its capabilities just for this moment. So it would be able to mine shipping lanes, and raid oil tankers, destabilize Iraq and go after American embassies and soft targets all over the world. Susan.

HENDRICKS: Certainly a frightening thought. Chris, thank you.

You know, the Republican race for the White House is heading west. The Nevada Caucuses get underway just a few hours from now. Voting has yet to begin. But we will tell you who is ahead on the latest polls.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: Twenty one minutes past the hour. Time to check our top stories.

We want to take you to Nevada. The polls are set to open shortly for the first presidential contest out west this election season. Here is one of the latest polls out of Nevada. AS you can see Mitt Romney, he's ahead by a lot. Double digit lead over Newt Gingrich.

Also, in Syria, big story, anti-government activists say the military is randomly bombing residential neighborhoods in Homs. Homs has been the epicenter of the government uprising there in Syria. Activists say as many as 260 people, including children and women have been killed in the past day alone. CNN has not independently confirmed those accounts.

The Kiplinger drops McKenna College in California from its list of top liberal arts schools. The school's president revealed this week that an admissions officer have been inflating college entrance exam scores for incoming freshmen since 2005. Kiplinger's say Clairmont McKenna unfairly earned its 18th place ranking top colleges.

WOLF: Easy for you to say.

HENDRICKS: No (longer on the list? I'm in shock.

We are keeping our eyes open on a big winter storm. It has dumped two feet of snow in parts of Colorado. Now the central plains are in the bulls eye and other parts of the country as well. But as I look behind you, Reynolds, I see the Statue of Liberty looking pretty nice in New York, right?

WOLF: It really does. I mean, it is a beautiful day in New York. Sunny side up, so to speak. Hey, speaking of sunny side up, who in the world just actually goes out and buys deviled eggs? You were saying during the commercial break, you don't make your own deviled eggs, you actually buy them?

HENDRICKS: No, we were talking about Super Bowl foods. Maybe you might have a deviled egg tomorrow. Who knows? You can buy them, believe it or not.

WOLF: You can buy them. Who knew?

HENDRICKS: You learn something new, right?

WOLF: Absolutely. We're going to be learning today is that thankfully the Super Bowl is going to be heard inside of a dome today, nice controlled environment. You're not going to worry about showers, you're not going to worry about storms.

(INAUDIBLE) about snow. The snow that they were dealing with in parts of the Rockies and now they're dealing with (INAUDIBLE) of course, Nebraska and we've got the video to prove it.

Let's go ahead and show you some of that video. Slow moving. Take a look at that. You know, Susan, you're from New Jersey, you can get some rough weather during the wintertime. And it always seems whenever you have that first big snowstorm, you have to learn how to drive in the winter weather all over again.

That's the case for people in Nebraska there. A few fender benders here and there. You got to take it easy. This is one of the first big snowstorms they've had really in the season. A lot of people are slowing down. You see some guys there inspecting tires. Big cleanup, no question about it.

Let's move right back to the weather maps as we do. Let's take them full and you can see this storm system that stretches from the central plains almost like a (INAUDIBLE) back over to parts of the deep south. It is not going to remain locked in place. In fact, as we take a look at this computer model, we are going to Saturday at 9:00 a.m. here it goes, 15 a bit more to the east and southeast, by Sunday at 3:00 in the morning, the rain moving through Atlanta into the Carolinas.

And as we fast forward into Sunday midday, afternoon into Monday, much of the frontal boundary that storm system moves out with some residual showers still in parts of the southeast. And a touch of snowfall farther out to the west in (INAUDIBLE) mountains.

Now in terms of snow today, eight to 12 inches of snow is expected for parts of Kansas, into Nebraska, even back into parts of Iowa. Eight to 12 inches with wind gusts at 15 to 30, which may hamper visibility and speaking of hampering visibility, that's going to be the story for parts of Minnesota into the northern plains. Even Wyoming or even parts of, say, Montana, excuse me, very low visibility. So please take it easy, especially if you're driving out on to parts of 90.

Meanwhile, the flooding still continues into parts of Texas and into Louisiana. Two to inches of rainfall expected. The (INAUDIBLE) in Mississippi might have some issues for this Saturday. Your flood warnings and watches particularly dangerous in areas where we have poor drainage and low-lying areas.

A big rainmaker is going to be moving to the east and right behind it here comes the cold air. Today's high in Kansas city only 44 degrees, 59 in Dallas, 49 in Albuquerque, 42 in Salt Lake City, 56 in Portland, 45 in New York, 43 in Chicago. Tampa with 83 degrees. New Orleans with 77 and Boston 40 degrees out by the frog pond. It should be a great day in parts of the northeast but that rain is going to be moving in tomorrow, Susan.

HENDRICKS: All right. Reynolds, thank you.

WOLF: You bet.

HENDRICKS: You know, anyone with a sweet tooth, watch out, of course. There is sugar in candy bars. But something else to worry about? Guess what other foods are full of sugar. Find out right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, next hour.

WOLF: Deviled eggs.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HENDRICKS: Happening later at CNN this morning, at 10:00 this morning, the U.N. security council could vote on a draft resolution pressuring Syria's government o stop the violent crackdowns on protesters.

Then at 10:30 a.m., the Reverend Al Sharpton and his National Action Network will hold a tribute in New York honoring "Soul Train's" Don Cornelius.

And at 8:00 tonight, Nevada's GOP caucus results are expected to start coming in. You can watch all the results right here on CNN.

There are three parts to the Super Bowl extravaganza, right? The game, the commercials, also halftime. We have seen wardrobe malfunctions, bad lip syncing. So now it's Madonna's turn to try to get us to stay tuned. Is she nervous? I don't think so.

She spoke about it with Anderson Cooper.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Are you nervous about being in the Super Bowl?

MADONNA, SINGER: Oh, my god. I am so nervous. You have no idea. I am.

COOPER: Really?

MADONNA: Yes. I mean, first of all, it's the Super Bowl. I mean the Super Bowl is kind of like the holy of holies in America, right? So, like, here I am, I'm going to come in like halfway between the church experience and I'm going to have to deliver a sermon that's going to have to be very impactful, right? I have to put on the greatest show on earth in the middle of the greatest show on earth. I have eight minutes to set it up and seven minutes to take it down and 12 minutes to put on the greatest show on earth. OK. That's a lot of pressure.

COOPER: Do you have any hints on what you're going to be doing?

MADONNA: I'll be singing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENDRICKS: Who knew she could be nervous? Eleven million people are expected to watch.

"YOUR BOTTOM LINE" starts right now.