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CNN Saturday Morning News

Security Scandals and the London Olympics; Mental State of Aurora Shooting Suspect; Israeli Concern Over Olympic Terrorism; Chicago Official Versus Chick-Fil-A; Robotic Feeding Arm; Under Siege in Aleppo; Emily Giffin Talks about New Book; Why the Drought Affects Everyone

Aired July 28, 2012 - 08:00   ET

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

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks for starting your morning with us. We have got much more ahead here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

An embarrassing scandal for the London games, how the firm tasked with protecting the Olympics failed and what new dangers may be lurking. This morning we put Olympic security in focus.

And later, new details on the Aurora shooting suspect. We'll tell you what CNN has learned about his mental state before the shooting.

As Chick-Fil-A tries to spread its wings, some cities want to clip them. We'll talk to one politician who says, not in my town.

Good morning, everyone. I am Randi Kaye, 8:00 on the East Coast, 5:00 on the West. Thanks for waking up with us.

Just hours after the opening ceremony a Chinese woman has won the first gold medal in the London Olympics. She competed in the 10 meter air rifle competition. And just to recap some of the highlights from last night, Queen Elizabeth officially opened the 2012 games with an epic journey through the United Kingdom's history. Oscar-winner Danny Boyle was the creative mind behind the $42 million show. But what got everyone talking is this skit.

Boyle used his movie magic to show the queen parachuting into the Olympic stadium with actor Daniel Craig who plays Britain's most famous spy in the James Bond franchise but stunt doubles were actually used for the jumping scene. Don't worry, the queen was not parachuting in herself.

Now onto perhaps the biggest competition at the Olympics today, Michael Phelps hoping to be the first male swimmer to win the same individual event at three consecutive Olympics. He is competing tonight against another member of Team USA, Ryan Lochte. They're both going for the gold in the 400 individual medley.

CNN's Piers Morgan spoke with Phelps last month about representing the USA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMER: I think to be for me to be an American is one of the greatest things in the world. For me, just because I have been able to grow up with everything, the freedom, (INAUDIBLE) the greatest country in the world and throughout my career, I have been able to travel overseas and to represent my country the best way that I could.

And being able to wear the stars and stripes when you step up on the blocks, you know, when you step off of an airplane or hear the national anthem play, it is one of the greatest feelings in the world because you know that there are people at home who are supporting you and watching you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Let's take you over to London's Olympic Park where Amanda Davies is joining us live this morning.

Amanda, Michael Phelps barely pulling it off this morning, barely winning his heat.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: We couldn't have predicted it at all Randi, could we? It really was an incredible scene at the aquatics center just behind me. The photos of Michael Phelps that have been taken at the end of his race, I posted one of them on my Twitter site. His face is one just of complete incredulity. He just couldn't comprehend what had happened.

He didn't go to the opening ceremony last night. He decided to rest up, but maybe he actually should have gone along because he was in one of the slower heats for the 400 meters individual medley which meant, although he won the heat, he scraped through to this evening's final by just .07 seconds. He is the eighth qualifier out of eight for the final.

So it will be interesting in terms of the lane selection. He will be on the outside, so not next to his big rival for this gold medal Ryan Lochte. As you said, his teammate, Lochte cruised through his heat, so he will feel he has the advantage.

This is a rivalry that we have been talking about for kind of eight years now, isn't it? It has all come down to this, the London Olympic games because Phelps has said that it will be his final competition. He is going to retire. He's obviously looking to break that all time medal record, 14 goals to his name so far. He was beaten of course by Lochte in the USA trials, but said that was the kick up, his back side that he needed to really motivate him to this games.

People have been suggesting that he has been picking his races to peak here in London. But it didn't quite go to plan first thing. The final is about six and a half hours away, though, so he's got a little bit of time to prepare himself for that one.

KAYE: We'll see. Let me ask you about this new video we're just getting in, the queen touring Olympic Park this morning. Is she actually going to attend some of the competition?

DAVIES: Yes. We think the queen will be attending. She was at the opening ceremony yesterday. She is having a tour of the Olympic Park today. We were thinking maybe she got a little bit inspired by her role in the opening ceremony, maybe discovered a bit of a love for the high life because she has gone up the tallest structure in Britain today, up the Orbit, which is the kind of helter skelter construction that is here with a fantastic viewing gallery of course, the Olympic Park.

She was given a tour by the London mayor Boris Johnson and it is actually a really fabulous day today because it is the first day of full activity here at the Olympic Park. So as I can look across the park, there is people milling around everywhere, not just us media who are allowed in today. It really is the first day of the games in earnest and people are embracing it.

KAYE: Amanda Davies, thank you very much. I can feel the excitement here.

It is a heated battle over same sex marriage and it's playing out at a fast food chain. We'll tell you why some cities want to give this restaurant the boot.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: We now know the Aurora, Colorado shooting suspect sent a package to his psychiatrist. We're hearing a lot of conflicting reports about when that package actually arrived and what exactly was inside it. It was sent to this woman, Dr. Lynn Fenton. A CBS report says the package contained details about how he planned on killing people. CNN cannot confirm that information.

Now there is a legal battle over that package and whatever was inside it. Jim Spellman is outside the jail in Centennial, Colorado this morning.

Jim, what is this assertion of privilege that the lawyers are now talking about?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The defense team says this was communication between Holmes and his psychiatrist and therefore there is this doctor/patient privilege and so it should not become evidence and should just come to them and not become part of this investigation.

What's going on in this sort of back story here is that there is a gag order, so no law enforcement people from the university are supposed to talk to media. But as you noted, there have been all of these media reports about what is supposedly in this notebook.

The defense has said, look, there is all these leaks. We need this stuff right away. The DA's office has come back and said look, these leaks are inaccurate. There may not even be any sources leaking this stuff. Therefore, your certification that the leaks should give you the privilege of having this don't stand. The judge said come talk about it Monday. We'll have a hearing along with all the other stuff we have to do Monday. Randi, it is definitely getting heated here between these two sides but we are able to learn a little more about the case because of these filings that have gone on this week. I think there's going to be a lot more of this in the coming weeks Randi.

KAYE: And Monday is going to be a busy day too in court, right. The charges will be filed as well.

SPELLMAN: Yes. We have to keep in mind they haven't even charged him with anything yet. In these documents they say they're going to go for 12 counts of first degree murder, not surprising, many more of attempted first degree murder and other charges.

We'll also hear, of course, about like I just mentioned, about whether the defense will get this notebook and media people, media organizations including CNN will argue that they should stop sealing all the documents in this case, that they should open up more information about the case.

It's going to be a busy day Monday.

KAYE: Jim Spellman with the latest for us. Jim, thank you very much.

Despite the tragedy that's left many wondering why, we are reminded about the strength of the human spirit reflected so poignantly in the miracles that have emerged out of Aurora. There are some that caught my attention while I was covering this shooting in Colorado.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE (voice-over): In a community draped in sadness, there are tiny miracles being borne every day, like baby Hugo born to Katie and Caleb Medley just after 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Katie and Caleb are high school sweethearts. They knew Katie was expected to deliver the baby this week, so as a treat decided to take in the midnight showing of the "Dark Night Rises." Katie and the baby inside her weren't hurt when the gunfire exploded but Caleb was shot in the face. He lost his right eye, has some brain damage and is in critical condition.

His friend broke down speaking with CBS.

MICHAEL WEST, CALEB MEDLEY'S FRIEND: We talked about him because we know he can hear us and we tell him that he needs to get better because he needs to be a dad.

KAYE: Doctors here at the hospital have Caleb in a medically induced coma. His brother says Caleb seems to understand what happened. What's unclear is whether or not he is aware he has a new baby boy. The miracle of friendship may have saved the life of Allie Young who was inside theater nine with her best friend Stephanie Davies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is smoke. There's explosions. There's blood. There's death. There's guns being fired.

ALLIE YOUNG, COLORADO SHOOTING VICTIM: I just remember opening my eyes. I am on the ground, blood everywhere. KAYE: Allie was struck in the neck, refusing to let her friend die. Stephanie did something, something so selfless. She stayed with her friend and applied pressure on the hole in her neck. Even President Obama shared their story after visiting them in the hospital here in Aurora.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Allie told Stephanie she needed to run. Stephanie refused to go, instead actually with her other hand called 911 on her cell phone.

KAYE: After the shooting finally stopped, Stephanie carried her friend across two parking lots to an ambulance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She saved my life which that's always going to be a little emotional for me.

KAYE: It is no small miracle that Petra Anderson is alive. The 22- year-old was hit four times when the suspected shooter opened fire in the movie theater. Three shotgun bullets hit her arm, another sailed through her nose, up the back of her cranium hitting her skull. Her pastor Brad Straight (ph) wrote on his blog quote, her injuries were severe and her condition was critical. The doctors prior to surgery were concerned because so much of the brain has been traversed by the bullet.

Doctors haven't shared exactly what happened. But the young woman was probably saved by something she didn't even know she had, a small channel of fluid running through her skull that can only be picked up with a cat scan. That channel of fluid likely maneuvered the bullet in the least harmful direction.

In a stroke of luck her pastor blogs, the shotgun buck shot enters her brain from the exact point of the channel, like a marble through a small tube. It channels the bullet from Petra's nose through her brain. It turns slightly several times. In the process, the bullet misses all the vital areas of the brain. According to her pastor, if the bullet had entered just a millimeter in any direction her brain likely would have been destroyed. Petra has already started to speak and walk again and is expected to make a full recovery.

Randi Kaye, CNN, Aurora, Colorado.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: In Indiana, police say a gunman who got into a shootout with them has been found dead. Officers say they were met with immediate and overwhelming gun fire when they confronted 59-year-old Jim Bailey Thursday night. They believe he was out to confront his estranged wife. When it all was over, an innocent by-stander was dead and two police were injured. Bailey escaped but police believe he later shot himself to death.

Securing the games, one country says they're on high alert for attacks, afraid their athletes will be targets on the anniversary of another tragedy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Sixteen minutes past the hour. Glad you're with us. Olympic games history is filled with iconic events and athlete from Michael Phelps' gold medal records to Nadia Comaneci's perfect 10 and Tommy Smith and John Carlos thrusting their fists into the air on the medal stand. One of the most enduring memories is a tragic one, 1972 in Munich, 40 years ago, when Palestinian terrorists invaded the Olympic village. In all, they killed 11 Israeli athletes and their coaches.

And remember this?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"MUNICH," UNIVERSAL PICTURES: They have 11 (INAUDIBLE) names. Each had a plan in planning Munich. They're going to kill them, one by one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: That is from Steven Spielberg's movie "Munich." The movie was about retribution for the Olympic attack. Now Israel's leaders say that they're on high alert for the Olympic games in London.

CNN's Sara Sidner joins me now from Jerusalem. Sara, good morning.

In 1992, at the Barcelona games, Israel's famous Mossad was in charge of the Israeli security for the 20th anniversary of Munich. Are there any types of special arrangements being made for the 38 Israeli athletes in London this time around?

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There certainly are. They would not divulge exactly what they are. But we do understand that Israel is among a handful of countries that is being given extra added security.

I was able to speak with Ephraim Zinger, the secretary general of the Israeli Olympic committee who was traveling along with the Israel delegation and he talked about the fact that British security forces have been doing close collaboration security work with Israeli intelligence.

So that gives you some idea of the collaboration happening to make sure that in particular, Israeli athletes are in a secure environment.

He talked about the delegation and what it was like to be inside the Olympic village, for example, saying that the delegation felt quite safe and secure with all of the apparatus that is up to secure the teams there.

They've talked about the electronic security that they could see, the personnel on the ground they could see, but they know there are a lot of measures that they cannot see and they felt quite good inside, especially the Olympic area there where all the athletes gather and wait for their particular events to happen.

One of the reasons for all of this as you know is something that happened recently in Bulgaria where you had an attack on an Israeli tour bus that killed five Israelis and injured dozens more. The Israelis believe that that attack was really one that could potentially be a precursor to an attack on the Olympics.

They certainly stated that and were concerned about that, but at this point in time in speaking with the delegation, the delegation really feels that things have been done properly in London at this point in time and that it is secure but it is also coming on the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre, that being another reason that Israel is getting added security.

And everyone remembers those iconic pictures as this Palestinian terrorist organization known as Black September where you could see them peering out of the windows. This went on for quite some time where they captured 10 of the Israeli delegation, both coaches and athletes and in the end, 11 of the Israeli Olympic team were killed. And that, of course, no one ever wants to see happen again and the London Olympics and certainly the committees has tried to make sure that there is proper security in place.

KAYE: Sara Sidner, thank you very much for that.

What's it like behind the scenes of the biggest security headache in the world? Coming up in our 10:00 Eastern hour, the former head of security for the Atlanta games. We'll ask him about the challenges then and now. So be sure to stay with us for that.

Mitt Romney got to see an Olympics men's swimming event in London today. In just a few hours he heads to Israel for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The Republican presidential candidate met yesterday with Ireland's prime minister and British leaders, but it is the headlines in British newspapers that he might want to forget about. They blasted Romney after he appeared to question London's readiness for the games.

Guilty as charged. Three words spoken by Chick-Fil-A's president that led some to protest this fast food chain. The response came in an interview earlier this month when Dan Cathy was asked about his company's support of traditional marriage.

But it is not just Cathy's support for what he calls the biblical definition of family that has gotten under the collective skin. It is also his very public condemnation of same sex marriage. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN CATHY, CHIC-FIL-A PRES & COO: : I think we're inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: In a church in North Carolina last month Cathy said, quote, "If we look at society today, we see all the twisted up kind of stuff that's going on -- Washington trying to redefine the definition of marriage." He went on, "We are suffering the consequences of a society and culture who has not acknowledged God or not thanked God. He has left us to a deprived mind. It is tragic and we live in a culture of that today."

Cathy's fiery rhetoric has sparked protests across the country not just from the LGBT community, but from several cities. Official from Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago have all told Chick- Fil-A in no uncertain terms the southern chain is not welcome in their city.

Chicago Alderman Joe Moreno is one of those officials. He says that he will block Chick-Fil-A from opening a new store in the ward that he represents.

Mr. Moreno, good morning to you.

JOE MORENO, CHICAGO ALDERMAN: Good morning, Randi.

KAYE: To those who say Chick-Fil-A's president has a right to his opinion, that his personal views shouldn't matter, just let it go, what do you want to say to them?

MORENO: I agree. Personal views and personal statements or beliefs, I am not in any business or I have no interest in controlling that. My interest is if those personal views translate into a discriminatory policy towards our friends in the lesbian and gay community and that's my concern.

That's the issue, Randi, not a free speech or free belief issue. Of course we believe in that. But if those beliefs again in those statements transfer to a policy that discriminates, then I've got a big problem with it and my community has a big problem with it.

KAYE: I know that you have actually been working with Chick-Fil-A for several months regarding concerns that you had about their policies and their practices or lack thereof. What did they tell you exactly if anything that they would change before coming to your ward?

MORENO: Well Randi, I respect the reporting that you have had. For eight or nine months, you're correct. We have been working with Chick- Fil-A. I had concerns back then and I've been working privately, not publicly. They made some good steps, some small steps in terms of clarifying the company's position and clarifying how they would move forward in operating their restaurant.

We need to do more and I think one big step that happened perhaps about a week ago is when they put a statement out on Facebook about their position. If they would like to make that statement policy, put it in their employee handbook, have a mission statement that reflects they're not going to discriminate in hiring or serving, I think we have made a lot of big step towards what we want to see in our ward which is openness and inclusion to all.

KAYE: As I mentioned, other city officials have also voiced opposition to the company. We have a couple that we can show you comments. San Francisco May Edwin Lee tweeting this week, quote, closest Chick-Fil-A to San Francisco is 40 miles away and I strongly recommend they not try to come any closer and this from Philadelphia City Councilman James Kenny, telling Cathy in a letter, please take a hike and take your intolerance with you.

Here is what's different Mr. Moreno about what they're saying versus what you're saying. They're just urging or recommending the company not to set up shop in their cities. You're actually saying that you're going to block the company's efforts to build another restaurant. First, what do you say to those who say that what you're doing is unconstitutional and second, how do you plan to block Chick-Fil-A's request?

MORENO: First, if I were trying to block because of free speech or beliefs, I would agree. What we're doing is we have responsibility, I have a responsibility to have responsible business owners open up in the ward and I would say and I would submit and hopefully most would agree if not all that if you're discriminating against a certain population that's protected in our community in Chicago and in Illinois, that you're not a responsible business owner. So that is the issue, not a free speech or a belief issue, but a discrimination issue.

So I have a legislation that I need to support over this particular Chick-Fil-A and I hope to support that and I hope that they will support the community that's been quite frankly insulted by comments that the CEO made. That's OK to be insulted.

What I don't want to have happen and what the community doesn't want to have happen is if those comments translate into a discriminatory policy. If they want my support on that legislation, I think they do. I think they're going to work with us and we'll move forward together.

KAYE: All right.

MORENO: If not, then we're going to probably not have a Chick-Fil-A in the first ward.

KAYE: All right. We will see to be continued. Joe Moreno, thank you very much. I do want to share just very quickly with our viewers at home Chick-Fil-A didn't respond to our request for comments but they did issue a statement. Let me share that with you. The Chick-Fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender. That's from Chick-Fil-A.

So is it even legal for a city official like the alderman to block a company from opening a store in its city just because of the company's personal views? We'll get some answers from our legal expert Paul Cowen coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Let's continue our conversation now about the Chick-Fil-A controversy. Can a city official like Mr. Moreno, who we just spoke with before the break, legally block a company from setting up shop just because of the president's personal views?

Joining me now for some answers, CNN legal analyst Paul Callan -- Paul good morning and thanks for being here to talk about this. So the big question is --

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.

KAYE: I guess, is it legal? You heard that the Alderman is trying to block Chick-Fil-A from coming to his ward.

CALLAN: Well, you know, he was being very careful about what he said. I was kind of impressed about how he was expressing what I think is an understanding of the law and that is that Chick-Fil-A's president can say pretty much whatever he wants about whatever subject he wants under the first amendment to the Constitution, free speech. The government cannot regulate his free speech nor can they prevent his company from expressing political views.

However, they can regulate whether the company discriminates against either employees or customers in certain settings. And I think that's where you have to make the distinction. If there is proof that they actually discriminate against gay people because of the president's belief, there would be a legal action against them available and maybe you could deny licensing to them.

But you really have to prove that it's what they do that is wrong as opposed to what they say.

KAYE: And how about this? Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel he shares Mr. Moreno's sentiments. He told the "Chicago Tribune" this, quote, "Cathy's views are discriminatory against people who our neighbors and our residents; those aren't our values."

Now Alderman Moreno says that he's protecting civil rights in the case. That he doesn't want Chick-Fil-A to discriminate against LGBT employees or customers in his ward who might be visiting the restaurant. I mean, does he have any legal ground there?

CALLAN: I don't think that he does. I think this is one of these situations that in certain places this is great politics to denounce this company. It's a big company, by the way, Randi a $4 billion in annual sales, thousands of restaurants across the United States.

But if you're catering to a particular group of people and I guess in Chicago they are -- you know it's gay people and by the way the Mayor of San Francisco made similar statements. The Mayor of Boston made similar statements and although Mayor Bloomberg came out on the opposite end of it and he said basically you know the government can't regulate the views of businesses. They can't -- the government can regulate what a business does.

So I think it's good politics but I think it's bad business and I think frankly if you tried to shut down a Chick-Fil-A based on what the president of the company said you would be looking at a lawsuit and probably the city of Chicago would lose that lawsuit.

KAYE: It's such an interesting case with so many twists and turns. We're going to have to see where it all goes. Paul Callan, thank you very much.

CALLAN: Nice being with you as always, Randi.

KAYE: Thank you.

But first, many people -- many times people suffering from severe disabilities rely on others to help with everyday tasks that most of us take for granted. But a group of students have developed a device that could provide a new sense of independence for some. Gary Tuchman has more in today's "Start Small, Think Big."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jim Como has cerebral palsy. Today he is doing something for the first time in his life, feeding himself, thanks to an eye-controlled robotic device called Eye Craft. It's the work of a group of students from Northeastern University who are looking to turn their final design project into something that could assist people with disabilities.

The user simply looks at a screen and the camera tracks the eyes' movement to control a robotic arm. The Eye Craft would give patients some independence, choosing what to eat, when to eat it and when to drink.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wanted something that a nurse can set it up, calibrate it, and move away and then come back later so the person can eat at their own pace.

TUCHMAN: Team member Mohamed Kante volunteers at this nursing home. He sees firsthand how helpful his group's work can be.

MOHAMED KANTE, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: I know what it feels like to actually help feed them and it could be frustrating to either us as you know employees or the patient that we are feeding as well. So I figure at some point it's something that is for all of them.

TUCHMAN: While the device isn't ready for real world use yet, the team believes it's a good start.

RYAN LAVOIE, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY: We'd really hope that with what we've given and what we've created, the foundation is there and people can take this and build on it and expand and really the options are limitless.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Syria's largest city is bracing for an all out offensive. Opposition activists say government helicopters have been firing onto the streets of Aleppo almost non-stop. Rebels are firing back with what weapons they have. The city is or was home to two and a half million people, many have now fled. Others are hiding inside terrified and activists say regime troops have cut off food and fuel. I am joined now by Andrew Tabler, he is the author of "In the Lion's Den: An Eyewitness Account of Washington's Battle with Syria." Andrew, good morning, some are calling the battle for Aleppo --

ANDREW TABLER, AUTHOR, "IN THE LION'S DEN: AN EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF WASHINGTON WITH SYRIA": Good morning.

KAYE: -- the mother of all battles. Why is the fighting for that city ramping up now?

TABLER: The opposition has -- has decided that Aleppo is one of the regime's vulnerabilities and certainly it is. It's the largest city in the country. It's one that as overwhelmingly Sunni, it's one that actually has remained relatively quiet during the uprising thus far.

So for the regime to have to devote a lot of sources to -- to keeping Aleppo under control allows other areas of the country to become liberated. And that's what we've seen in eastern Syria, in the Kurdish regions. And it's another step in this -- in this slow motion revolution as it moves towards Damascus, the capital.

KAYE: And let's talk about Washington's reaction. I mean, because really, what has it been? I mean it seems as though with the U.N. really unable to do anything with Russia and China vetoing sanctions and resolutions, I mean what's left to be done?

TABLER: Well, it's kind of a creeping policy in that our support for the opposition on the ground has increased. But it's still non-lethal. It's still mostly communications equipment. There are some sharing of intelligence. There's going to be some other measures but the Obama administration has been very constrained in its support for the opposition.

Now instead we've seen Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey step in to help the armed opposition and -- and with -- in terms of weapons, logistics and so on. And with that we've seen the growth over time not only of weapons into Syria but also some radical elements which have been entering the country over the last few weeks. And that set off some alarm bells.

KAYE: And what about the danger of chemical weapons? I mean we've talked about this before. There is some concern about their potential use in Syria even some talk of them being moved. Should the international community and the West be worried about this?

TABLER: Absolutely. Syria has about 45 or so chemical weapon sites, a lot of it is weaponized and now it's -- it's a problem. It's a dilemma for Washington. If the regime moves it, it puts it at the disposal of this regime that is contracting and it could be used for the purposes of the Alawite minority that dominates Syria as they are on their way out of power. That increases the likelihood of atrocities in Syria against the opposition.

On the other hand, if those weapons fall into the hands of the opposition and if in some of those areas it's chaotic and they fall into the hands of extremists those chemical weapons can end up somewhere else outside of Syria and they could be targeting those in the international community including Americans.

KAYE: And what about after the election, the U.S. election? I mean is it likely do you think that we're going to see more U.S. involvement once they get the election out of the way?

TABLER: Yes it's a good question. I think the Obama administration would like to keep a political cap on this for the moment. But this conflict is being driven as it has been from the beginning by the ground and trying to spend more time at the U.N. or to deal with it diplomatically has not worked.

So I think, you know, it is very likely that this conflict could get much, much worse even before the election and President Obama is going to be in a tight spot. He's going to have to make a decision about who he backs and how he backs them.

KAYE: We appreciate your time. Thank you so much.

TABLER: My pleasure.

KAYE: They're calling her a modern day Jane Austen and her new book is blowing up the best seller list. I'll ask her all about it live next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: She has been dubbed a modern day Jane Austen and with five "New York Times" best-selling books and a blockbuster movie under her belt there has been a lot of anticipation for author Emily Giffin's next novel. Well, wait no more. Her newest book "Where We Belong" released this week, the gripping story about the reunion of a high school senior and the woman who put her up for adoption 18 years earlier. And Emily Giffin is here with me now in studio.

Thanks so much for being here.

EMILY GIFFIN, AUTHOR: Thanks for having me.

KAYE: I'm about 140 pages into the book. I have cried. It is a great read so far. I can't wait to see where it's going to go.

GIFFIN: Well, thank you. Thank you.

KAYE: I am curious about the inspiration for it.

GIFFIN: Sure. I think at the beginning I really wanted to talk about the impact that a big secret can have on someone's life. What happens when -- what does that do to our relationships? And what does that do to us?

And in this story, of course, she kept the secret of the baby -- Marion, who's 36 and kept a secret of the baby that she gave away for adoption for her entire adult life. I think adoption is very intriguing too because there are so many rich emotional terrain to explore with it.

KAYE: Definitely. It's really -- you can almost feel sort of the tension and the pain that's going on with the two. Having your main character --

GIFFIN: And telling the father of the baby that you had a baby.

KAYE: Right. Right. That's the part I just got to. That's good. Yes, yes, yes. That's very good.

But you went to law school and you used to work for a large firm in New York.

GIFFIN: I did. I did.

KAYE: And then you made the turn to writing.

GIFFIN: Right. Right. Yes, I practiced law for five years. I don't really know why I went to law school. I think a lot of people do that.

KAYE: What else do you do after college?

GIFFIN: What else do you do, you know? It's safer to just stay in school. But, you know, it -- eventually I got back to my true passion which is writing.

KAYE: Yes. As we mentioned "Vanity Fair" has dubbed you a modern day Jane Austen. Your very first book, "Something Borrowed" turned into a movie starring Kate Hudson among others. Does that add a lot of pressure to you now as you have more books come out to sit down and write something new as well? I mean --

(CROSSTALK)

GIFFIN: You know, I think that the Hollywood stuff, the films, five of my books have been optioned, and it is just sort of the cherry on top. I enjoy that. But my bread and butter, the thing that I will always love and focus on is my writing. So whatever happens out there is great.

KAYE: Do you ever get writer's block? I am just curious. I do when I'm just writing a story for CNN, not a novel.

GIFFIN: Yes, everyday. But I think writer's block is really just like the same phenomenon when you don't want to go to the gym in the morning.

KAYE: Yes.

GIFFIN: You know really, it's just sort of you don't feel like working.

KAYE: So what's your trick?

GIFFIN: You just get up and go to the gym most of the time.

KAYE: Right.

GIFFIN: Not lately.

KAYE: So you just get past it.

GIFFIN: Yes, you just have to keep -- I think you just write your way through it, you know. And just realize that it is not going to be perfect. You just have to keep writing.

KAYE: What about you because you have some kids, right?

GIFFIN: I do.

KAYE: How do you find the time to do all of this?

GIFFIN: Well, you know, I think it's just a question -- you have to at this point approach writing like a full time career. I mean it is my career. It is sort of like how does a doctor find time to practice medicine? How do you find time to work for CNN? But I think it is just everything is a question of balance and, you know, being a working mother is a challenge.

KAYE: So any news to report on any of the other books hitting the big screen?

GIFFIN: Yes. I mean I think the next one probably to go is "Love the One You're With" which is really exciting because it will probably happen in Atlanta. It is really nice.

KAYE: Oh, that's good.

GIFFIN: And then I think "Something Blue", the sequel, will happen, too.

KAYE: So now, would you want to be on set for that? You know, make sure they get it right if it's done in Atlanta?

GIFFIN: Oh, right. It is so much fun. In my cameo the director is like you are on the news all the time talking about your books. Why do you like stare into the camera? Where is the camera? He just said you are not cracked up for this. Don't become an actress.

KAYE: You see that red light and you're just glued to it.

GIFFIN: Yes. Just looking right in there.

KAYE: Well, that's great. As I said, the book now that I am reading "Where We Belong" is really fantastic.

GIFFIN: Thank you. I hope you like it.

KAYE: I look forward to finishing it this weekend.

GIFFIN: Thank you.

KAYE: Emily Giffin, thank you.

GIFFIN: Thank you so much for having me.

KAYE: The ongoing drought has been called a disaster of epic proportions and it could raise food prices for years to come and even meat and poultry. We'll explain.

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KAYE: Welcome back.

An epic drought is hitting everyone in the country whether you live in an affected area or not. As Emily Schmidt tells us severe weather hitting farmers this summer may force us all to start paying a lot more for our favorite foods.

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EMILY SCHMIDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a rural corner of Maryland it is the right place, the wrong time to live off the land.

TOMMY BOWLES, MARYLAND FARMER: Sunnyside road. Yes, it has been Sunnyside too much this year.

SCHMIDT: Too much sun, too little rain for too long. Tommy Bowles' crops are the worst he has had in more than 40 years of farming.

(on camera): Have you seen anything worse than this?

BOWLES: I have never seen anything -- I heard my father talk about it in, I think, 1948 or something like that.

SCHMIDT (voice-over): His corn is dry, shrivelled and hurting.

BOWLES: They should be about a foot long -- something like that. Usually it's 42, 44 grains long. This one is eight grains long.

SCHMIDT: The damage stretches across the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates two-thirds of all crops are now affected by at least moderate drought.

(on camera): When did it start looking bad?

BOWLES: We started here about -- I say by the third week of June.

SCHMIDT (voice-over): Bowles has federal crop insurance but at best he will break even. So he won't hire the six extra workers he usually gets at harvest and they won't be the only ones paying the price.

RICKY VOLPE, USDA ECONOMIST: Corn prices are fed all the way up to the supermarket.

SCHMIDT: USDA economist Ricky Volpe says the drought shouldn't causes historic levels of food inflation but shoppers will see a price increase this year.

VOLPE: We expect to see poultry 3.5 percent to 4 percent. Beef prices, we're looking at another 3.5 percent to 4 percent. Pork prices, we're looking at probably 2 percent to 3 percent.

SCHMIDT: In 2013 higher prices are expected to add another $3 to $4 to a $100 grocery bill. That's two years impact from what Tommy Bowles is seeing today.

BOWLES: Should be beans in this area here. We don't see anything -- nothing but dry dirt.

SCHMIDT: Bowles says if there is no rain in two weeks his beans will be worthless -- with the next crop one year away.

BOWLES: It is in your blood. You like what you do, and you can't wait to get up every morning and do it. But it just -- it hurts right now. It hurts.

SCHMIDT (on camera): If he had to guess, he would estimate an 80 percent crop loss this year. In fact his only certainty is that of 6,300 acre that is he farms, these are the only 13 acres that are green. He irrigates them for a corn maze in the fall and as of now they are the only guaranteed crop he will have.

Emily Schmidt, CNN, Loveville, Maryland.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: While food prices are expected to rise here in the U.S., they're not stopping Elise Labott in Jerusalem. In today's "Travel Insider", our foreign affairs correspondent takes a break from reporting to check out the tasty side of Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELISE LABOTT, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Jerusalem's old city is famous for its history and culture, but I love to come to the Mahane Yehuda Market on Jaffa Street. This is where you're going to find the real tastes and smells of Israel.

Outside the market you have the freshest fruits and vegetables. The produce in this country is really incredible. And inside the market they have all of these breads and sweets and dried fruits and nuts and all these great nibbling things that they call (inaudible) here. There is also a whole alley of different restaurants where people can come and eat lunch.

But the thing that I like the most about this market is you can find Israelis and Palestinians from all walks of life here. No matter what the divisions are in this country, everyone can agree on one thing, good food.

Elise Labott, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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