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CNN Saturday Morning News

Two Americans Killed in Kabul; Nelson Mandela Hospitalized; Newest Environmental Trend: The Dumpster Diet

Aired February 25, 2012 - 09:00   ET

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

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: We're following breaking news out of Afghanistan where two American troops were killed today. It happened at the Afghan interior ministry in Kabul. Let's go straight to Nick Paton Walsh who is in Kabul. Nick, what can you tell us? Why did this continue to escalate?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We don't know much about why this incident happened right now. We know from a senior Afghan police official that the two dead were Americans. The suggestion by the same official is this attack occurred on a separate part of the interior ministry where a small number of westerners work.

Now, I should bring you some other breaking news. We have just had in an email statement from the Taliban's (INAUDIBLE) a claim of responsibility from the Taliban. They named the gunman and they say this attack occurred inside the interior ministry and it was a response to the burning of the Koran that happened on a U.S. air base about a week ago now.

I should point out that this very early stage and there are reports swirling around the capital that greatly contradict each other about the identity of the gun man, about why this happened. I think all we can really (INAUDIBLE) say at the moment, we're pretty much at this point two Americans were killed on the interior ministry, shot dead, and it's not clear exactly who the gunman was or where he is at this point.

FEYERICK: And Nick, you mentioned that the Taliban is claiming responsibility for this. Are they using this unintentional Koran burning, are they using that as a lightning rod to really just get public anger and focus it on U.S. troops that still remain there? Are they the ones who are fermenting all of this?

WALSH: There is that concern. The Taliban very early on demanded that the Afghan people rise up against foreigners because of this Koran burning. They have in the past fairly frequently tried to claim responsibility for attacks in which Afghans attack Americans. Instances like this, they come up with the name of the attacker early on in a bid to show as evidence that they are right and that their explanation is correct.

This is still very early days here, but yes, certainly this will suggest the man they refer to as one of their brave Mujahedeen, as always hard to work out exactly how much involvement the Taliban and how these things while they were being prepared that this man is in fact responsible, Deb.

FEYERICK: And, of course, Nick, we know it's murky and we know it's difficult to get information, but (INAUDIBLE) province has been one of the areas where there has been a lot of violence. Is that considered a Taliban stronghold particularly? Are you seeing these sort of eruptions in the areas that are known to be controlled by Taliban?

WALSH: Well, to be clear, this incident with the two dead Americans occurred in Kabul in the interior ministry. One you would think one of the safest places where American advisers could work in Afghanistan. That will spark a huge concern, I think, amongst normal ISAF officers. Where do they feel safe? We don't know exactly why this incident occurred, but I'm sure that's going through the minds of many Americans at this particular point. Separately, yes, you referred to (INAUDIBLE) where we saw much of the violence yesterday. The attack, well certainly violent protests around the U.S. continent. Heart (ph) is not a dangerous place really. It's not supposed to be. There are numbers of Taliban or warlord controlled communities on its outskirts. But Herat (ph) itself is supposed to be quiet. It's near Iran, it's not conventionally a Taliban stronghold at all. And I think the concerns about the Herat (ph) protests were this reflected perhaps broadly felt anger simply among Afghans, not something really the insurgency was playing into, Deb.

FEYERICK: OK. Nick Paton Walsh with breaking news there out of Kabul. Thank you so much. We'll check in with you a little later. Thanks for giving your insights and your guidance. Appreciate it.

Well our other developing story this morning. Nelson Mandela is in the hospital. We now know that the 93-year-old former South African president had a hernia operation. Officials have said it was an abdominal problem. The family tells CNN that Mr. Mandela is doing well and could be out of the hospital as early as Monday.

And our very own Nadia Bilchik joins me now for more on Mandela. First of all, Nadia, you're from South Africa?

NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: I am from South Africa --

FEYERICK: You have connections with family members there. You have introduced him at event -- explain why this is so crucial. He is beloved in South Africa.

BILCHIK: He is (INAUDIBLE) around world and for good reason. Let's take a look at this man who gets imprisoned in 1964 till 1990. He spent 27 years in prison and emerges as a conciliator. He says to Bill Clinton, when Clinton says to him "Aren't you bitter? Aren't you angry at George Ayales (ph)? He said, "No, if I'm angry at them, they still have power over me."

We look at a man who managed to take South Africa from apartheid to a peaceful democracy, to one of the most democratic countries in the world. When he became president in 1994, the world changed how they treated South Africa. And particularly when we look at what's happening around the world, the Arab Springs, I think we realized even more how extraordinary Mandela has been in taking a country through the most peaceful transition.

At no point was he bitter or angry or said let's get rid of the whites. When you looked at what happened in Zimbabwe, Mugabi or it was just about a rainbow nation. He spoke about (INAUDIBLE) togetherness. If you think about the World Cup --

FEYERICK: Of course.

BILCHIK: That would never have happened without Mandela. And just the way he treated people, continues to treat people, just extraordinary. So we hope his makes his July 18th, 94th birthday.

FEYERICK: And it's fascinating because you see him almost like a Gandhi figure, a spiritual guide of South Africans, but also a significant political leader. And is it fair to say that his death would on some levels the equivalent of the deaths of George Washington, somebody who redefined what a country was supposed to be?

BILCHIK: (INAUDIBLE) on so many levels. So let's hope we're not talking about that for years to come, but when the time comes, he is 93 years, the country will be in mourning. But I think more than that, the world will be in mourning for a global leader and just somebody who managed politically, culturally, socially --

FEYERICK: Right.

BILCHIK: -- to do what very few people have ever done. The way I look at Mandela, is he managed to turn a nightmare into a vision, a vision into a dream and a dream into a reality.

FEYERICK: Absolutely. All right. Well, certainly a hero to so many people. Even South Africans have used the word panic that he's in the hospital, really shows you just how much they love him. Nadia Bilchik.

BILCHIK: And I spoke to the children this morning, the grandchildren, they said he's stable, he seems fine, and I think nobody wants to even think of him being ill.

FEYERICK: Of course. Of course.

BILCHIK: Let's hope he is very well and has many more birthday celebrations.

FEYERICK: Nadia Bilchik, thank you so much for bringing personal insights. I really appreciate that.

Well, Syria's military is now pounding anti-government forces again today.. As many as 17 people were killed in Homs already. The Red Cross was trying to get into one neighborhood in Homs, trying to get the wounded to safety, but the constant shelling has kept their ambulances away. Syria's president, Al Assad, he is ignoring new calls for him to step down and to allow humanitarian aid into places like Homs.

And the race for Michigan is getting a little nasty. Front-runners in the Republican race are there today. Hear what word Rick Santorum is now calling Mitt Romney, that's coming up next.

Plus, meteorologist Alexandra Steele is standing by with your weekend forecast. Alexandra.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Oh, hi, well you know, wind is certainly the biggest factor. We'll talk about where the strong winds will be and how much snow is left in the season around the country? We'll deal with that, as well. It's all coming up right after three.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, we're just three days away from the next contest in the Republican presidential race. Michigan and Arizona hold their primaries Tuesday. Michigan is where the action is today with both Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum battling it out for frontrunner status.

CNN political editor Paul Steinhauser joins me now from Washington. Paul, what are the candidates saying in the Michigan race? Especially because a lot of the folks there are pretty grateful to the Democrats for the help they got.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Yes, if you're talking about those auto bailouts exactly back in 2008 and 2009. It was started by President Bush, followed up though by President Obama. Live pictures right now. This is Sinclair Shores, Michigan and Rick Santorum campaigning this morning, signing autographs, shaking hands right now at a Tea Party rally. His first event of the day in the state.

Deb, you remember our debate back on Wednesday in Arizona. Mitt Romney kind of put Rick Santorum on a defense a little bit forcing them to explain and back up his positions and things he voted on in the Senate. Well, Santorum now taking a hard line against Mitt Romney. Take a listen to what he said at this event just in the last hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have one candidate that opposed government run health care, one candidate that opposed the hopes and politicalization of a science and we have another candidate who bought in, not only bought in, but did things when he was governor of Massachusetts. It's laughable for Governor Romney to suggest that I am not a conservative. It is absolutely laughable to have a liberal governor of Massachusetts suggest that I am not the conservative in this race.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Those are fighting words there from Rick Santorum. He has got one more event in Michigan today before moving out to Tennessee. It's one of the states that votes in about a week and a half, on super Tuesday.

As for Romney, well, you know, he's been talking less about Santorum and the other two candidates, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich over the last few days. He's been kind of concentrating his firepower on President Barack Obama. Take a listen to what he said last night in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm convinced that if we have a president that will tell the truth and will live with integrity, who knows how to lead because he's led before and who actually goes to the American people and asks them to sacrifice -- by the way, you don't need a leader if all you want to hear is what your free stuff is going to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: He's talking about President Obama there. I think the White House would disagree with that. Romney spends the day in Michigan. And let's be honest, Deb, this is a very important state for him to win. The polls indicate it's very close there. Romney -- he was born in Michigan. His father was governor there. It's a proportional state, which means that 30 delegates are up for grabs or proportional but it's an important state for Mitt Romney. Deb.

FEYERICK: All right. Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much. Interesting also that Mitt Romney, turning his attention on Obama, almost as if as well == these guys -- let's just forget about them. It will be interesting to see this race, really. The nuances are remarkable. Paul Steinhauser, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

And now we are going to check a little bit of the weather that's out there. Holding firm, huh?

STEELE: Yes. It's going to be cold in Michigan for a few reasons, right? Myriad reasons -- there will be a chill in the air. One being the weather but Chicago, the upper Midwest, it has the first big snow of the season from Thursday into Friday. But how much of the winter is left snow wise? Not much. So if you like it, not a lot less. If you don't like it, there's not a lot left. Twenty five percent of the snow season remains. Now Chicago had their biggest storm of the entire season, between about nine and 11 inches predominantly just north of the city, Thursday night into Friday.

But before that, there were only 10 days this winter with an inch of snow on the ground and that's it. In New York City, how much of the winter is left, a little bit more about 27 percent of the snow winter is left in New York. But only about 7.5 inches thus far this year. That's 40 percent of average and this time last year, we were over 57 inches, four feet of snow more last year than we had this year.

So but none really on every scope. So winter season, really, in terms of the snow season, is pretty much almost a fait accompli. All right. Let's look at those stories. No snow story. There are some snow around but it's not really going to become much in terms of accumulation, maybe an inch or two, maybe two to three, places like Buffalo. Wind is the story from Albany to Buffalo, Boston down to Washington, D.C. wind advisories. Gusting 50, 60 miles per hour, perhaps. And to give you a little perspective, 40 mile per winds can knock down trees and power lines. So some very windy conditions certainly will be the biggest player. Right now, gusting to 35 miles per hour, we're in Erie, 33 in Scranton, 36 northwesterly winds in Syracuse. So this is just the beginning. We're going to see it all day today and into tonight, as well. Big picture, there's that light snow falling, more just kind of beautiful than accumulation. Southeast, temperatures are cooler than they've been in days, about 20 degrees cooler with these strong, gusty winds will make it feel like 20s and 30s. Beautiful in the southwest, sunny skies, comfortable around Los Angeles and Phoenix. There's the snow. A one-two punch in the northwest. We had a snowstorm a couple of days ago. Second storm coming in now, snow elevations a little bit lower than they were then.

FEYERICK: All right. Alexandra, thanks so much. Listen, I like snow.

STEELE: Me too.

FEYERICK: So let it snow, let it snow just for a little longer. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.

Well, up next, how spoiled milk and moldy bread could help keep $600 in your pocket. That's right, we're serious.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Good morning, Washington, D.C., you're looking at Capitol Hill, looking like a beautiful day there. It is now 20 minutes past the hour. Welcome back to "CNN Saturday Morning." So glad you could be here with us.

Well, when you see that moldy bread in your pantry or the sour milk in the refrigerator and, come on, we've all been there. The last thing you probably want to do is eat it, let alone save it. But my next guest, environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo says doing this could save you up to $600 a year. And, Danny, you call this the dumpster dive. Explain.

DANNY SEO, ENVIRONMENTAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: We're not eating out of the trash can. (INAUDIBLE) but we throw about $600 away and that could be used towards gas, it could be used for a vacation.

FEYERICK: Easily.

SEO: That's money that you take something and you're like, why did I buy this and throw it away? The very first thing you want to do, I know a lot of people are extreme couponing. You're tempted to go to the Sunday circulars and get things. If you're buying things even if it's on sale and not eating it or you don't want it, you're just wasting money. So that's first and foremost. You want to smartly use coupons. This is my secret (INAUDIBLE). Companies like, you know, (INAUDIBLE) I use a free website called recyclebank.com. I downloaded it this morning. It's a $2 off coupon for (INAUDIBLE) cereal.

FEYERICK: OK.

SEO: If I only get this because I love this cereal, I'll eat those. So that's a smart way of using coupons instead of actually buying things like 50 pallets of energy drinks that you're never going to drink.

FEYERICK: Which I'm always surprised, when I see the extreme couponers, there's more food that you can possibly -- it's like an extreme sport almost, couponing. But let's say I've got wilty or moldy food in my refrigerator, how do I make the edible. Look, I see the celery here. I love celery. I have this fantasy that I'll eat celery all the time and it just ends up to waste in my refrigerator.

SEO: If the celery sort of feels bendy, like it's not crispy anymore, a secret tip, get a large glass or vase, fill it with cold water, a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar and then you take the celery and then you stick it inside. Let it soak up the water and it crisps right back up. So you have another three to four days you actually can use the celery.

FEYERICK: Does it taste like vinegar then?

SEO: No. A little drop. That's the key thing, don't use the whole jar of white vinegar.

FEYERICK: Because I would be calling you telling you my celery tastes vinegary.

SEO: Pickled celery then. Other things for example -- a lot of us would take our bananas, our peaches, our avocadoes and put them together in a bowl. Look at this. It's actually ethylene gas that they're all emitting. It's causing them to ripen up. Look at this thing, I've had this next to the avocado and this nectarine here, these bananas, in two days, they ripen this quickly.

FEYERICK: OK.

SEO: If you keep them separate from each other in separate brown bags, you'll get a longer shelf life for all your fruits and vegetables.

FEYERICK: You would never think that they actually effect each other ==

SEO: Mother nature didn't grow them this way, so keep them separate from each other.

FEYERICK: OK. Great. So how do you -- and, for example, you got cheese here and also the bread. Explain.

SEO: OK. So bread, if it tastes like it's gone stale and you want to crisp it up again, all you have to do is get a spray bottle with water. Spray it with water, put it back in the oven to crisp it up and you've got a brand new loaf of bread.

FEYERICK: So really, what you're doing is you are extending the life of this food. How do you know you're not going to get sick, for example?

SEO: OK. So it's called intuition. So a lot of things -- like a lot of cheeses might have mold on it, for example. If it's a hard cheese or a salami, you can cut about an inch away from the mold and you'll still have perfectly good food. But if it's a soft cheese or something that doesn't normally actually have any kind of a mold --

FEYERICK: Like a Brie --

SEO: Yes --

FEYERICK: You sometimes kind of see that white fuzz growing on the outside?

SEO: You want to throw it away. And like a lot of people think if you freeze things, it's actually going to like kill the bacteria. It actually just preserves it. So what you want to -- when you want to freeze berries, let's say they're in reason and really peaked, you freeze it because once you thaw them the second time around, you can't refreeze it.

For the first time, it's great. All summer long, all fall long you have something for smoothies or for recipes. It's (INAUDIBLE) fresh produce if it's (INAUDIBLE) throw it away.

FEYERICK: Does organic food have a longer shelf life?

SEO: It doesn't. You know, but it is healthier for you. My big tip is if people want to buy organic but they think it's too expensive, look for generic brands like store brands. And so anything in cans, it's USDA certified organic. So it's pesticide free, chemical free, but it's a lot cheaper than the national brands.

FEYERICK: It's also a way of sort of the way of changing the way you're thinking about food because I do think we tend to buy -- thinking we're going to use and then when it reaches sort of the endpoint, we say, I'm going to just go throw it away by trash.

SEO: Right. And you really should actually take note of things that you're throwing away. You know, there's even fragile things or common things that we buy all the time, like milk and eggs. My big trick, is like when you go to the store, get the milk in the back of the refrigerator and get the eggs in the bottom of the stack because they've been coldest the longest and you actually get another week's worth of use of them that you never have to throw them away.

FEYERICK: That's very interesting. Because in New York where I'm from we often see on the date it says, will expire like a week earlier if you get it in New York which is always interesting to me. So where you buy it, also.

SEO: And also where you store it. Because a lot of us, if you have the odor refrigerator -- those egg trays on the inside --

FEYERICK: Right.

SEO: But actually when you open the fridge all the time, that's the place that gets warmer the quickest. That's the worst place to put eggs and milk. You actually want to put them in the back of the refrigerator. That's the coldest spot to do it.

FEYERICK: Fascinating. Well, saving food, using it a little bit longer, I think that's great because nobody wants to throw away food especially -- I've become my mother. There are people who are starving. You have to save that foot food. And these are great tips.

SEO: $600.

FEYERICK:: Danny Seo, thank you so much. Really appreciate it. Really, really useful.

SEO: Thank you.

FEYERICK: Thanks so much for coming by.

Well, it is the story we've been following all morning. Former South African president Nelson Mandela hospitalized. Next, his family updating us on his condition. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: A breaking story out of Afghanistan where the Taliban is claiming responsibility for an attack that has killed two U.S. servicemen.

Barbara Starr is joining us right now on the phone. Barbara, what do you know?

OK. We have lost Barbara Starr but we are going to be coming back with that story and much more.

Nelson Mandela also, we'll have an update for you on that. A family member tells CNN the 93-year-old former South African leader had a hernia operation and is likely to be released over the next couple of days. Officials are telling CNN that this was planned, that it was not an emergency.

We're going to be back with you at the top of the hour, but right now we're going to go to my colleague, Christine Romans, with "YOUR BOTTOM LINE."

That out of New York. We look forward to seeing you, 10:00.