New Threat Facing Soldiers in Iraq; Barack Obama Getting More Heat ...
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AMERICAN MORNING
New Threat Facing Soldiers in Iraq; Barack Obama Getting More HeatFrom His Own Supporters on FISA Bill; Crude Prices Shoot Back Upand Hit An All-Time High
Aired July 11, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORMAND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And breaking news this morning. Theremains of two American soldiers kidnapped last year in Iraq havereportedly been found. No confirmation yet from the Pentagon, butrelatives of Army Sergeant Alex Jimenez and Private Byron Fouty saythat they have been notified.
And there was a new threat facing our soldiers in Iraq. Insurgentsare using so-called IRAMS or Improvised Rocket Assisted Munitions.The weapon is a mortar shell or a tank round attached to the frontof a rocket allowing the shell to be launched over walls andbuildings.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is taking a closer look atthese homemade rockets.
Are these -- I guess, you could call them flying IEDS, Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, John,that is, in fact, what some people are calling them. And while alot of folks talk about how things are getting better in Iraq,there is now this new threat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): A massive explosion here in Baghdad's(INAUDIBLE) neighborhood left 18 civilians dead and 29 wounded. Butthis time, it wasn't an improvised explosive device, it was a newpotentially more deadly version Improvised Rocket Assisted Mortars.
MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL OATES, U.S. ARMY: This is an improviseammunition, locally fabricated, not done by a person without skilland it's largely confined to the Baghdad area. It does concern us.
STARR: Called IRAMS, they have the potential for killing largenumbers of American troops and Iraqis. The U.S. believes insurgentsbacked by Iran are lining the backs of trucks with launch tubes,then Iranian-made rocket charges propel explosives like mortar andtank shells, sometimes over walls more than 20 feet high. The typesurrounding U.S. bases.
OATES: It is a homemade multiple launch rocket system and it isvery dangerous. And we attempt to -- we'll attempt to eliminatethis threat.
STARR: This type of technology has been used before. A similarweapon may have been used by the IRA in a 1991 attack on No.10Downing Street.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So who is behind all of this? Well, U.S. officials say theybelieve it's those so-called special groups in Iraq. The militantsbacked by Iran. Already three U.S. troops have been killed by theseweapons, John. But it is once again Iraqi civilians largelyunprotected on the streets who appear to be suffering from thesethe most.
John?
ROBERTS: So Barbara, just to be clear on how this is new.Insurgents have had plenty of access to mortar shells and tankshells or artillery shells before, but they tend to wire themtogether and put them in a vehicle or bury them at the side of theroad because they didn't have launch capabilities. Now this givesthem those capabilities?
STARR: That appears to be what's going on. The keyword once againis improvise, just like the improvised explosive devices. Officialstell us in many of the cases what they find is they're usingpropane gas as a propellant to launch it over to those 20-feetwalls. And it's, again, insurgents using their skills to try andcome up with new ideas to go after U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians.
ROBERTS: Wow. No shortage of innovation to what use to kill peopleover there. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks.
STARR: Sure.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: New York Congressman Charles Rangelfacing some tough questions about a reported sweetheart deal onfour luxury apartments in New York City.
According to the "New York Times," Rangel is paying less than$4,000 a month for the rent-stabilized apartment's total. Andthat's less than half their market value. The congressman declinedto comment when called by the "New York Times" saying his housingis a private matter and does not affect his representation of hisconstituents.
Well, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama getting more heatfrom his own supporters for dropping his opposition to the newsurveillance bill. Some of his backers are taking out theirfrustrations on Barack Obama's own Web site. Deborah Feyerick ishere with a sample of what they're saying.
You know, we are looking at it a little bit. It's the My Barackblog.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, barackobama.com.
CHETRY: That's right. And you certainly wouldn't think this was apro-Web site or just Web sites supporting him. Some -- a lot ofanger.
FEYERICK: Absolutely. And a lot of people saying will Obama showingleadership by doing this. But, really, you'll remember during theprimaries, Barack Obama harnessed the power of the Internet,organizing an unprecedented grassroots movement, bringing inmillions in campaign donations.
But now, that same tool is being used against him by some of hissame supporters who feel that he's really moving away from hisliberal positions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK (voice-over): On Barack Obama's own networking Web site,here under this section, supporters staged an uprising, rebellingagainst Obama and his vote this week protecting telecom companiesused by the United States to snoop on Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motion is agreed to.
FEYERICK: This title "Upset and Disillusion Here BeyondDisappointment."
There's also "You Lied." "My Support is Wavering." And one man evenasked for his donation back. Unprecedented dialogues as NYUprofessor Charleton McIlwain.
CHARLETON MCILWAIN, MEDIA & CULTURE, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: And so assome of Obama's message is changing, I'm being altered a bit to fitthe political circumstances, I think they are a bit disappointedand saying -- hey, what is this? And who is this person all of asudden?
FEYERICK: Some 20,000 people protested online. Activist Jon Pincuswas one of them.
JON PINCUS, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: If we can't disagree amongstourselves, then it's mindless following. And really the wholemessage, a lot of the message of the Obama campaign is that we cando things differently.
FEYERICK: But the online outcry from shock and disappointment tooutright betrayal sparked Senator Obama to respond to themdirectly. Quote, "I think it is worth pointing out that ouragreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs thedifferences we may have," he said.
The Republican team quickly jumped on the fan descent, invoking the2004 flip-flop slogan that helped scuttle the Democrats last timearound.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not the first changein position.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you, sir?
FEYERICK: Obama denies he's moving to the middle. Politicalinsiders say between his latest switch and his switch turning downpublic financing, it could damage the image Obama is trying tocreate.
JOHN MERCURIOO, EDITOR, THE HOTLINE: And that is exactly the sortof criticism that his campaign waged against Hillary Clinton duringthe primary. So I think it's sort of lifts the veil off of a lot ofObama's rhetoric about creating this new politics, creating thisnew era.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: But even as the online uprising continues, politicalinsiders say it's unlikely that Obama supporters, even those whoare most angry at him will actually change their votes.
CHETRY: You know, getting out their anger on the blogs, but they'restill going to vote for him.
FEYERICK: Exactly.
CHETRY: Deb, thanks so much. You know, we're going to talk aboutthis a little bit more on AMERICAN MORNING, coming up at 24 pastthe hour. We're going to be speaking with New Mexico governor andObama supporter, Bill Richardson. We're going to get his take onthe supporters' anger, as well as some other issues.
John?
ROBERTS: Breaking news. Crude prices shoot back up and hit anall-time high. Political tensions in another all-important oilproducing region are pushing oil prices up here at home. We'll takeyou to the hot spot that's hitting you right in the middle of yourpocketbook.
Also ahead, research chimpanzees who spent their whole lives incages finally set free. The retirement home that gives them a newlease on life.
From fighting in Iraq to battle in California's wildfires, hundredsof National Guard troops going from the front lines into the fire.
And he has danced his way through seven continents and 49countries, saving the best for last. The dancing fool right here inour studios.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes after the hour or so. We thought we had somegood news earlier in the week when the price of oil went down.
CHETRY: Yes. We thought that might have been a trend.
ROBERTS: Not so much, anymore. No, no, hardly a trend. The trend,unfortunately, the other way. And Ali Velshi over at the massivewall there to tell us why.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, I hadpeople talking to me saying what a big deal oil had dropped almost$9 on last Thursday, it hit a record. Friday, didn't trade. Andthen, it dropped in the beginning of the week. Well, back up today.And we had another record this morning --$145.98. That's the mostwe've ever paid.
That screen that you were looking at, that was where it settledyesterday, $141.65. That was up $5.60 which is the second biggestjump we've ever had in oil. The biggest one was about a month ago.Well, now, we're up even further than that. Why? Take a look.
Iran, we talked about that yesterday. Now, we're going to talkabout Nigeria. These are the two things troubling oil right now. Ifyou look at Nigeria, get a little closer -- you take a look at thesouthern coast of Nigeria and down here, you'll see that river thatgoes down right through the R. That's the Niger River.
The Niger Delta at the southern part of Nigeria is the oil-richarea. There are many international oil companies with installationsthere. And Nigeria used to be -- used to put out about 2-1/2million barrels of oil a day. It is the fourth biggest supplier ofoil to the United States. But there have been attacks in the NigerDelta and those attacks have cut production by about 25 percent.
The reason oil is up today in part is because those attacks areexpected to resume any time after the next few hours. The rebelswho have had a cease fire have said that they will start to attackagain or they are going to be -- consider themselves free to attackagain starting at midnight on Saturday, their time, which is just afew hours away.
And the impact of this is that we are seeing oil prices go upbecause there are concerns about supply. There are concerns that wemay just not have enough oil. At 2-1/2 million barrels of oil aday, that's an important source of supply for the world.
ROBERTS: So hang on. Nothing has happened yet?
VELSHI: Nothing has happened.
ROBERTS: But?
VELSHI: But the rebels have said that as of midnight tonight, thatcease fire is over. And when the cease fire is over, they areparticularly effective those rebels. They're able to take on apipeline.
ROBERTS: So oil traders, though, are just making sure they get theprice up there before anything --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Speculation.
VELSHI: But these are real speculators, because these are peoplespeculating who need the supply. So they're buying it up becausethey say we need to get it. There are other people who arespeculating because the price of oil goes up. So this is theproblem. It's one little piece of the equation.
CHETRY: Hand it over.
VELSHI: What? The iPhone?
CHETRY: The iPhone?
VELSHI: My producer has got it.
CHETRY: You don't have it. Sorry. All right, well --
VELSHI: It's in the house, though.
CHETRY: All right, because the other big news, today, in thebusiness world. Can you even get your hands on one, by the way, thenew iPhone?
VELSHI: They have them available. They may run out in the next fewdays, that's what we're hearing.
CHETRY: Yes. They have the new one out and it's brand new. It'scheaper than it was before. Lower price. It's actually between $199and $299. It hits stores today. And it's supposedly faster than theoriginal, as well, when it comes to surfing the Web and sending oute-mails. But as Ali said, they are expected to sell out quickly.
You're going to get one, John?
ROBERTS: No. I don't need one. I have two phones already. I do notneed a third.
CHETRY: That will come in a nice shiny case, though.
Well, a busy week for Barack Obama. First Jesse Jackson's open mikemishap. And now, Obama is hearing from angry supporters aftervoting for the FISA bill electronic surveillance.
Coming up, we're going to get Bill Richardson. The formergovernor's take on the controversies and what he thinks aboutObama's energy in Iraq plans. We're going to talk with BillRichardson just ahead.
ROBERTS: And Hurricane Bertha weaker now, but still posing a threatto people in Bermuda. For those of you watching this morning inBermuda, stay with us, because Rob Marciano is tracking the extremeweather for us. He joins us in just a second.
CHETRY: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- the private paradisethat's giving new life to chimps who spend their lives locked up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't rehabilitate chimps, we open thedoors.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHETRY: John Zarrella takes us to their island'splayground. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Hurricane Bertha still heading toward Bermuda, butthankfully losing strength. Bertha is back to a category one stormwith winds of 85 miles an hour. Now, some 350 miles from Bermuda.
CHETRY: You know, we've been telling them just watch the track. Andthat's what our Rob Marciano is doing for us. He's tracking extremeweather today.
Hi, there, Rob. So it dropped back down to a category one, but theystill need to be on the lookout.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: For decades, chimpanzees once used by NASA and for otherresearch were left to live out their lives in cramp cages in aplace known as the Dungeon. But now, thanks to one facility, thesechimps are free and living life on an island.
Here's CNN's John Zarrella.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Kiran, meet some of thechimps. For 40 years they were poked and prodded and tested. Now,they are getting a taste of freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): When the cage door opened Gabriela and herson, Gab, just sat for a moment. Mom not quite sure what to make ofall this. For the first time in her life, Gabriella will no longerbe living in a box.
CAROLE NOON, SAVE THE CHIMPS FOUNDER: I mean, cement boxes, monkeychow twice a day of the same diet day after day. Excruciatingboredom.
ZARRELLA: Thanks to Carole Noon.
NOON: Welcome to Florida.
ZARRELLA: Nearly 300 chimpanzees who spent decades in cages arespending the rest of their lives literally enjoying island living-- chilling in a hammock, playing kid games, chatting with friends.Noon is founder and director of the Save The Chimps facility nearFort Pierce, Florida. The 200 acres with 12 private islands are runsolely on donations.
NOON: We don't do anything particularly magical here. We don'trescue chimps. We don't rehabilitate chimps. We open the doors.
ZARRELLA: A handful of the chimps are descendants of NASA's spacechimps. But most were used in HIV and Hepatitis research in thislab in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Some for as long as 40 years. Sixyears ago the lab facing bankruptcy was sold to Noon, one of theworld's experts on primates.
NOON: These are the bottom of the barrel chimps. This was the worstlab left in the country. 54 living alone in a building we calledthe Dungeon because it rolled off your tongue because that's whatit was.
ZARRELLA: Today, ten chimps arrive.
NOON: One, we're going to open the door now.
ZARRELLA: There 145 here now. A few come at a time.
NOON: It's your turn! You guys are next.
ZARRELLA: Before making the trip from New Mexico, weeks are spentputting the group together. Making sure they all get along afterliving in five by five by seven cages.
NOON: Imagine how the dynamic changes when all of a sudden theyaren't living in a small, one bedroom apartment.
ZARRELLA: When they first arrive they stay in a transition buildinggetting used to new faces. From now on, human contact is minimal.Soon they will begin coming and going as they please. Why all thisfor the chimps? It's simple, Noon says -- because they deserve it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA: It will take about a month for some of the new arrivalsto get acclimated to their surroundings. And then like these guysback here, they'll be allowed to roam free on the islands that theyall call home.
John?
Kiran?
CHETRY: Wow. Well, they came home from fighting in Iraq to faceanother enemy at home head on. It's the new battle that hundreds ofNational Guard troops are now dealing with.
ROBERTS: Plus, the CNN exclusive. The emotional first interview ofthe three Americans held hostage by Colombian rebels in the jungle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This lock with five meters of chain, thick, oneinch links, went to his neck. So this was locked around my necklike this. The other was lock around Mark's neck. We slept likethat. Tom had exact same thing. He slept with a Colombian captainthe same way.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: We're going to hear much more of theiremotional interview, just ahead.
CHETRY: Plus, Obama backlash. Some supporters lashing out at him onhis own Web site.
ROBERTS: Coming up, Caribbean connection. The growing drum beat.How the islands are rising up in support of Barack Obama. You'rewatching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": With gas priceapproaching $5 a gallon here in California, a lot of people startusing bicycles (INAUDIBLE). Have you noticed that? Have you noticedmore people on bicycles?
AUDIENCE: Yes.
LENO: In fact, coming in today and I saw Jesse Jackson backpedalling all the way in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, that was "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" with histake on the Obama-Jackson controversy.
And just days after hearing Jackson's comment and apology, BarackObama is now hearing anger from many, many supporters on his veryown Web site. Is this the new politics in action? Or the start of agrassroots revolt?
I'm joined now by Obama supporter and New Mexico Governor BillRichardson live for us in Santa Fe this morning.
Governor, great to see you.
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, BARACK OBAMA SUPPORTER: Thank you. Thanks forhaving me.
CHETRY: You know, when you're looking at the blog that's on hisvery own Web site, there is a lot of anger over the fact thatSenator Obama voted yes to the new FISA bill, specifically allowingimmunity for the telecom companies that wiretapped people's phoneconversations without getting a court order for that. Is this goingto hurt him?
RICHARDSON: No, it's not going to hurt him. But, you know, there'sgoing to be controversy right now. Both candidates with their ownbases, because what you have here is Senator Obama making arealistic decision.
The bill that came in on the FISA issue, not perfect. But it didhave sufficient judicial oversight. The big controversy is do thetelecoms get immunity? You know, I personally think they shouldn'thave. But you have to look at the overall bill.
The president doesn't have the powers to eavesdrop on his owncitizens. There's judicial oversight. There's Justice Departmentoversight. So on the whole -- you know, many times I've been inCongress, you have to cast these votes. And sometimes they don'tindicate to perfection that supporters want.
CHETRY: Right. This was a big issue, though, for those on the left.There was a lot of anger over this situation. And it's somethingthat Barack Obama previously had said he would filibuster. So, whatchanged?
RICHARDSON: Well, what changed was that the bill got better. Moreacceptable to Senator Obama. The judicial oversight. The fact thatthe president can't unilaterally say that he's going to eavesdropon citizens. There are a lot of safeguards in the bill that weren'tthere before.
Now, again, the telecoms, I personally think they shouldn't haveimmunity. But, you know, Senator Obama had to make that decision.We do have to protect ourselves against terrorists. But Iunderstand there's some in the base that are concerned. And, youknow, I shared their view but --
CHETRY: Right. You, yourself, were against this back in Octoberwhen you were asked about it. You called the FISA bill anunprecedented assault on American laws and values, cloaked falselyand irresponsibly in the guides of national security. You also saidthis bill must not pass.
So you believe that there was enough that changed in it now forBarack Obama to...
RICHARDSON: Yes, I --
CHETRY: ...To give it the OK?
RICHARDSON: Yes, I believe there was enough. What still bothers meis the telecom ability to not be -- not be held responsible. Thatbothers me. But, again, I think a majority of Democrats supportedit. There are enough safeguards in the bill and Senator Obama saidhe'll review the bill again. See how it's working when he'spresident.
So these are some of the political realities you face when you'rerunning for president, when you're also in the Senate, you have tomake a judgment on a bill.
CHETRY: All right. You know, you guys were talking energy today, aswell. Senator Barack Obama will be in Ohio. A crucial swing state.Now earlier, there was a campaign ad that was attacking McCainabout his energy plan. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On gas prices, John McCain's part of theproblem. McCain and Bush supported drilling plan that won't producea drop of oil for seven years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: One of the things you guys were hitting him about was thatthere weren't short-term solutions. When we look at Barack Obama'sWeb site, many of his solutions also some of these would not takeplace until the earliest 2025, 2050. Does he have short-termsolutions and what are they?
RICHARDSON: Well, look, Senator Obama has said we need long-termsolutions. You can't have an instant gratification. What he hassaid is immediate help for middle class, a middle class tax cut of1000 bucks for every family. Tax rebates on energy prices.
But he says we have to face the problem long range. We can't drillourselves out of the problem. There has to be more drilling, but ithas to be done responsibly. There has to be more conservation.There has to be more fuel efficiency in vehicles. You know, JohnMcCain has not supported fuel efficiency for vehicles.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: When you say there has to be more drilling now -- what. Thead says it wouldn't produce a drop of oil for seven years,criticizing McCain for not having a short-term solution. But you'resaying that some drilling should happen?
RICHARDSON: Well, yes. Absolutely. There is ability the oilcompanies to have responsible drilling. There's new technology. Doit in the continental United States.
Have America's oil companies drill more in America, morerefineries, more investments in renewable energy instead ofinvesting overseas and drilling overseas. But do it in thecontinental United States, not in pristine areas like Anwar andAlaska where their ecosystems not offshore in California andFlorida. Do it in the gulf of Mexico. Do it in the continentalUnited States.
The oil companies have a lot of acres where they're not drilling.Why is that? They should do that. But do it responsibly. But ouraddiction is to fossil fuel. So let's move to fuel efficiency tosolar, wind, and biomass and biofuels and biodiesel and plug-inhybrid vehicles and mass transit. That's what we need to do. AndObama is saying we need a long range comprehensive strategy. And Itotally agree with him as a former energy secretary.
CHETRY: Governor Bill Richardson, always great to talk to you.Thanks for being with us this morning.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Breaking news, the price of oil going where it's nevergone before. But at least the direction is familiar. $145.98 abarrel now, gaining $9 in just the past two days. The markets arereacting to growing tensions with Iran and news that a cease firein Nigeria is expected to end at midnight local time between rebelsand Nigeria's government.
South Korea is investigating the death of a woman shot dead by aNorth Korean soldier in a popular mountain resort in the communistnation. Officials say they believe the woman went walking andcrossed into a restricted area. Right now tourists in North Koreahave been suspended.
And the United Nations agreeing to create an internationalcommission to investigate the killing of former Pakistani PrimeMinister Benazir Bhutto. According to the United Nations, so far,five people have been arrested in connection with her murder but noone has been convicted.
A wildfire in Washington state forcing more than 200 people toevacuate a suburb of Spokane. The fire has burned some 1,200 acresin the heavily-wooded area. At least six homes have been destroyedand dozens of others are threatened. The state's governor saythey're doing everything they can to protect people and property.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE (D), WASHINGTON: The mayor and the countyhave both said verbally to me that we need an emergencydeclaration. I've done a verbal emergency declaration so that wecan have all resources ready if necessary. I have fire trained theNational Guard this spring, which is pretty unique in the country.But I did fire train our National Guard so if necessary they can bedispatched.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: No injuries have been reported so far and speaking ofNational Guard, from the front lines in Iraq to the fire lines inCalifornia, many of the National Guard troops being deployed tofight the wildfires are veterans of war. And CNN's Kara Finnstromhas their story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The fire ravaged woods ofnorthern California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get those tools sharper tomorrow.
FINNSTROM: National Guards men Mike Baldivia and Robert Rosbia arenow deployed near the front line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your dye in -
FINNSTROM: They're half a world away and on a far differentassignment from their dangerous duty in Iraq.
In Iraq, you know we're getting shot at and people are losing theirlives.
FINNSTROM: Rosbia operated a 50-caliber machine gun in Iraq. Heserved there for 15 months.
Here we're protecting lives and this time I'm doing it with a cloudinstead of 50-caliber machine gun. A semi rake/scraping tool.
FINNSTROM: Rosbia, a truck driver is also a husband and a father.And his wife couldn't be happier to have him serving near home.He's one of the first California guard troops to fight on the firelines in more than three decades.
ROSBIA: She knows that there isn't somebody shooting at me andgetting ready to cause me bodily harm, possibly take my life fromme.
FINNSTROM: California needs help desperately. More than 1,700 fireshave torched the state this month, exhausting firefighters. Thesefresh guard troops have learned to hack through brush and createopen spaces where fully train firefighters can make a stand.
Sergeant Baldivia is a natural when it comes to cutting fire lines.The married father of three just happens to be a tree trimmer. He'salso a veteran of enduring brutal heat.
SGT. MIKE BALDIVIA, NATIONAL GUARD: The heat is actually kind ofsimilar to the body. It start kicking up a lot of heat underneaththe collar. So overseas we had temperatures of 117 plus.
FINNSTROM: But no complaints from these sergeants. They say thisvery different mission, back home in California, just feels good.
BALDIVIA: We've been driving back and forth. We get a lot of waves.We also get just people on the side we don't even know justhonking.
FINNSTROM: Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Meanwhile, Alina Cho joins us now with some other storiesnew this morning. And you have some new video just in.
ALINA CHO, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Yes, some breaking news of a firerescue. Guys. good morning. Good morning, everybody. That new videojust in to CNN. Take a look at these dramatic pictures as thefamily is rescued from a fast-moving apartment fire. That firebroke out about two hours ago at a multiple apartment complex inPennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh. Firefighters battled theblaze for more than 30 minutes. Emergency crews were seen carryinghoses over their backs, up a steep hill to get up to the building.We are watching that story very closely.
Other stories were watching this morning, three American hostagesfreed from their rebel captors. They're talking exclusively to CNNabout their 5 1/2 year ordeal in Colombia. There they are - ThomasHowes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves. They sat down with"Headline News" anchor Robin Lee. Gonsalves showed here make shiftgame board that he says helped him survive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARC GONSALVES, FREED HOSTAGE: This is the chess board and here arethe pieces that -
ROBIN MEADE, ANCHOR, "HEADLINE NEWS": How did you make the pieces?
GONSALVES: I was able to carve with a broken piece of a machete.
MEADE: You carved chess pieces with a broken piece of a machete?
KEITH STANSELL, FREED HOSTAGE: He just woke up one day and did it.He said, guys I'm going to make a chess set. He just started. Hesaid I'm making a chess set. I'm tired of this.
MEADE: And your captors allowed you to do it? Or did you hide it?
GONSALVES: No, they allowed me to do some of the lower rankingguards actually took interest to see if I was going to be able tofinish it.
MEADE: They wanted you to carve?
GONSALVES: And later they wanted me to carve some for them.
MEADE: So how often did this keep your mind sharp and pass the day?
GONSALVES: That's the point that I wanted to make was that thischess set here must have gotten, would you say, hundreds of hoursof use between all the hostages, it was a way for us to stopthinking about the cruel situation we were in and to think aboutsomething else and exercise our minds.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Fellow hostage Keith Stansell talked about being locked awayin the jungle. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH STANSELL, RESCUED AMERICAN HOSTAGE: One thing about TigerWoods, a blip at the Masters, a guard came over with the radio andhe's got a short wave on and he tuned it to English. I don't knowif it was just to play with us or if it was just out of curiosity.And I just caught Tiger Woods at the Masters and I looked at Marcand they saw I keyed up on it and he turned away. And we were likewhat about Tiger Woods. So we talked about Tiger Woods for abouttwo or three days. But you were immersed in information here on adaily basis as Americans, there we're stuck in a box. As Tom calledearly on, he said guys, we just may be in a black hole. We didn'trealize at that point how big of a hole because you can'tconceptualize it in your mind what's about to go on. So, wedisappeared. I mean, it is tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHO: Incredible stories and incredibly, doctorssay the three men appear to be in good health. Those are thestories making headlines at this hour. Back to you guys.
ROBERTS: Alina, thanks so much. What an incredible story.
CHETRY: Thanks.
ROBERTS: The dancing sensation. What made this guy danced his wayall across the globe? He's been in 46 countries. And now he's righthere in our studios.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met him on the block. I feel like I'm theirage.
CHETRY: She's beating kids half her age while raising one of herown. How does she do it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't really matter how old you are.
CHETRY: Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how Olympic champion swimmer DaraTorres stays fit. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: The Olympic torch is in northeast China this morning,wrapping up the latest leg of its trip. Some of the 208 torchbearers performed dances and did tai chi exercises. The country'stop figure skating pair also carried the flame as thousands cheeredand waved flags. The torch heads back to Beijing August 6th, twodays before the opening ceremonies.
And taking part in this year's Olympics, a 41-year-old mom who beatkids half her age to make it to the game. Last weekend, swimmerDara Torres won her races. She also set a new American record.Adding to the three that she's already set. As part of our weekly"Fit Nation" series, Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a closer look at howshe does it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over):Nine-time Olympic medalist, world record holder, mother of atwo-year- old. And perhaps most astonishing of all, Dara Torres isset to become the oldest female Olympic swimmer ever.
JOEL STAGER, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: She's a 41-year-old female that'sright now the best in the United States.
DARA TORRES, OLYMPIAN: It doesn't really matter how old you are. IfI'm the fastest, and I'm faster than the younger kids, then Ishould go. GUPTA: In a sport where the average age of nationalchampionship competitors is just 20 years old, Torres is shatteringthe odds.
TORRES: I kind of forget that sometimes I'm so much older thanthem. But the minute I'm on the blocks, I feel like I'm their age.
GUPTA: And she's taking regular blood and urine tests to answer anysuspicions of doping. So far, she's clean. Her Olympic career began24 years ago. Over the years she's battled bulimia, knee surgeriesand bone spurs. So, how is she still dominating? Her height, longarms, big hands, exercise physiologist says she has the perfectswimmers genes.
STAGER: Genetics does play a role. We're talking about one percentor less of the population that has that genotype.
GUPTA: But good genetics aren't enough. Her training regimen iscustom tailored for her age.
TORRES: My body is a 41-year-old body. And I just can't get in thepool nine times a week. The biggest obstacle I have is recovery.It's about allowing my body to recover so I can come back the nextday and perform at a high level.
GUPTA: She swims five times a week, often with her daughter lookingon. Her team includes coaches, a chiropractor, masseurs, stretcherswho use their feet and hands to knead her limbs. She callsresistance stretching her secret weapon. Muscles are contracted andstretched at the same time to increase flexibility and power.
STAGER: Dara is definitely working smarter. A sprinter has to besmart.
GUPTA: Which is why the 50-meter free style, a race that can be asquick as 25 seconds may be best suited for somebody in their 40s.Longer races may be tougher with age as endurance tends todecrease.
TORRES: I'm proving that you can be 41 and you can follow yourdreams and that age is just a number.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta. CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Good for her. We'll be rooting for her for sure. Well, formore "Fit Nation" reports, tune into Dr. Sanjay Gupta on "HouseCall," Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
ROBERTS: She was saying a couple of Olympics ago when somebody cameup to her, a reporter came up to her after she won a medal andsaid, you think you'll be doing this when you're 40 years old andshe laughed and walked away and said that's the stupidest questionI've ever heard and here she is.
CHETRY: And here she is. ROBERTS: 45 minutes after the hour. Thehairless prophet of doom is sitting beside us, which is got to meanthat oil has hit yet another record -
ALI VELSHI, CNN, SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Because Ishouldn't be here at this hour. That's what it is, oil is nearly$147 now. $146.90. We're now up over $10 in two days, for a barrelof oil. There are two major concerns and they both actually havesomething to do with supply. One is tensions with Iran, which we'vebeen reporting on for the last couple of days, testing conventionalmissiles that could reach Israel. Iran has said that if anybodyreacts to them, they'll close off the Strait of Hormuz.
The other problem is Nigeria. We're tracking that one right now.That's where the immediate concern is. Nigeria is the fourthlargest supplier of oil to the United States, supplying typically 21/2 million barrels of oil a day, but much of that has been cut offbecause of rebel activity that have attacked oil facilities. Thereis word now that at midnight local time in Nigeria, which should beabout 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, those attacks could start again as acease fire ends.
We're tracking the price of oil, $146.90. Hoping not to see youagain before the end of this show.
ROBERTS: You are like that little black cloud on the horizon, on abeautifully sunny day.
VELSHI: Right. If that one would just move away, everything wouldbe OK. Trust me, I'd like to see this move away too. I'm hoping toleave this set and not see you for a while.
CHETRY: You won't see us until Monday. That's pretty muchguaranteed.
VELSHI: Let's hope. We have 15 minutes left in the show. Let's hopeI don't come back.
ROBERTS: Ali, thanks very much for that.
Well, some good news for you here. Uplifting news - one man, onedance, and millions of people are watching. It is a huge hit on theweb globe trotting all the while dancing this goofy dance in frontof the camera. So, what is Matt Harding up to now? We're going totalk with him live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA RUIZ, CHAMPIONING CHILDREN; I was born asked raised in ElPaso. El Paso, near Mexico, they are known as the twin cities butyou cross over the border, you notice a difference. In 1996, I cameto the outskirts of Juarez, when I saw the poverty level that theywere living in with no water, no electricity, my world changedcompletely.
I'm Maria Ruiz and I crossed the border to help people in Juarez. Idecided to start the food program. I cooked and I cooked every dayand then I brought it over here. I fed approximately 1,200 kids ona daily basis for 3 1/2 years.
Now, we collect the donations, take furniture, food, toys, almostabout anything. Crossing the border involves a lot of work andtime. I've crossed, oh, 1,000 times. We give out whatever we have.It's like a distribution center. All of the work we do is part of afamily's ministry. It's a team effort but regardless of whetherthey're Christian, it's equal for everybody.
The kids are the ones that keep me going, but I don't considermyself a hero. I know can I do much more.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: July's the last month to nominatesomeone you know as a CNN Hero for 2008. Go to CNN.com/heroes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 51 minutes after the hour, his bio describes him as a31-year-old dead beat from Connecticut with life goal of making andplaying video games.
But in the last couple of years, Matt Harding has become aninternet sensation for dancing, literally, around the world. Notballet, jazz, or even break dancing, but some quirky little movethat somehow seemed to inspire people to join in. And so far thisviral video has 10 million hits on YouTube and climbing fast. MattHarding, the man behind the phenomenon joins me now.
You know, I saw this on the internet. The link was sent to me. AndI thought, oh, OK, here's a goofy guy that's doing this littledance in a lot of places. And it keeps going, the Netherlands, youknow, Tonga, United States, Kuwait City, places like that and I'mthinking this is weirdly inspirational. And you've done threetrips. How did you get this idea?
MARK HARDING, VIRAL VIDEO STAR: You know, it was just a goof. I wastraveling around the world with a friend. And he said, why don'tyou stand over there and do your dance? He switched to the videomode. And it was funny and so I just kept doing it.
ROBERTS: And the first time you went out on your own dime, right?
HARDING: Yes, I've saved up for a few years in my job, and then Iquit my job, did this six month trip, put that up on the internetat the end. Just to show friends and family. I didn't know it wouldbe inspiring to people or anything.
ROBERTS: And then a gum company, Stride Gum, came in and say hey wereally like this, we want to sponsor you to go around the world yetagain and then you just did another trip that you got back fromwhat, about a month ago?
HARDING: Yes, Stride Gum found the video and they said how'd youlike to keep on doing it? That was three years ago.
ROBERTS: Some people are wondering is this viral marketing? Are youactually doing a commercial for Stride Gum here?
HARDING: You know, I suppose it's open to interpretation. But they,as far as I'm concerned, my relationship, they just said, you know,we'd like to sponsor you to do this. And at the end of the video Isaid, thanks, Stride for sending me on this trip. As simple asthat.
ROBERTS: You didn't do it to try to sell gum or anything like that?
HARDING: For me, it was an opportunity to travel around the world.You know.
ROBERTS: So how many months was it? And how many countries?
HARDING: This last video, the 2007-2008 video was 14 months and Iwent to 46 countries.
ROBERTS: Unbelievable. Let me - I just want to roll a little bitmore of this video. Because you're coming to this area here wherewe're fast cutting video. And it shows all of the places you'vebeen. Let's take a quick look.
So, there you are, you started off in Cape town, you're also amongthe lemurs in Madagascar, California, Taiwan. What was it liketraveling to all of these places? What was your favorite?
HARDING: Oh, boy, there were some really interesting places. I likegoing to the exotic places, the sort of remote ends of the earth.Bhutan was one, that I knew very little about. It's this smallcountry tucked away in the Himalayas. And such a fascinating placethat sort of come up with its own way of existing outside of whatwe know and expect from -
ROBERTS: Yes. There's a photo of you there. And the way you goteverybody to come into the video and dance. Did they just sort ofshow up or did you have to arrange that?
HARDING: It was the power of the internet. We used e-mail. I gottens of thousands from people who saw the last view and they say,hey, you've got to come to Poland, you got to come to South Korea.So my girlfriend, Melissa, she helped me organize this. She'de-mail all the people in each place and I'd say I'm going to be atthis place at this time, and they'd show up to dance.
ROBERTS: It's amazing. You know, there's certainly more things we'dlove to talk about. There's a picture of you dancing, it's in oneof the monitors here of a rock a thousand feet up in Norway.
HARDING: Yes.
ROBERTS: Some of the great stuff that you did. Matt Harding, it'sreally an interesting, interesting video and it shows a whole newside of what the internet is capable of. Thanks for being with usthis morning. Good to see you.
HARDING: Thanks so much, John.
ROBERTS: Kiran.
CHETRY: Barack Obama's island appeal Calypso and reggae musicianssinging about the democratic nominee in waiting. We're going tohear why Obama has struck a cord with them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Meanwhile, Barack Obama making a connection with islandmusicians in the Caribbean.
ROBERTS: CNN's Kareen Wynter looks at the power of Calypso andreggae in the presidential campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Kiran.Some political observers say Barack Obama has become quite theinternational phenomenon, whose political appeal has broken throughborders.
WYNTER (voice-over): From celebrities to virtual unknowns.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've got a crush on Obama.
WYNTER: The supporters of Barack Obama are using music to pushtheir presidential hopeful. But Obama has also struck a cord withanother audience. Caribbean crooners. Some artists in places likeJamaica and Trinidad are using island-inspired music as a politicalstatement. Jamaican musician Cocoa Tea sings about painting theWhite House black in his song entitled "Barack Obama".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your eye on the prize, Obama.
WYNTER: Cocoa Tea who is currently performing in Europe and aboutto begin a "Reggae for Obama" world tour, told us by phone hispolitical motivation.
COCOA TEA, MUSICIAN: And people really are crying out. They need tosee a change in Washington. Whatever happens in Washington have animpact on the whole wide world.
WYNTER: Another artist named Mighty Sparrow, a Calypso legendphotographed here with Obama sings about the war, congressionalscandals, and Obama's vision.
Politico.com reporter Daniel Reilly says these island artists havea powerful influence way beyond their own borders.
DANIEL REILLY, WRITER, POLITICO.COM: The Mighty Sparrow, you know,he's sort of an Elvis-like figure down in Trinidad. He's widelypopular. And for him to make a song about Barack Obama, it reallyshows that he's on the minds of a lot of people.
WYNTER: With songs like these generating heavy traffic on YouTube,political observers say they can only help increase interests andexcitement among a new generation of voters.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: Another Obama theme song is in the works. This one is froma Calypso artist from Florida who's lyrics could help grab theattention of voters in the Caribbean rich, swing states -- John,Kiran.
ROBERTS: All sorts of music is dancing this morning. Our thanks toMatt Harding for being with us today. Thanks very much for joiningus. We'll see you again on Monday.
CHETRY: Matt's danced everywhere around the world and now he cansay that he's danced here on AMERICAN MORNING, as well.
You have rhythm you know? Much more in person, than I thought.We're not even going to go there, are we?
Thanks so much for being with us. "NEWSROOM" starts now with TonyHarris and Fredricka Whitfield.
Return to Transcripts main page
AMERICAN MORNING
New Threat Facing Soldiers in Iraq; Barack Obama Getting More HeatFrom His Own Supporters on FISA Bill; Crude Prices Shoot Back Upand Hit An All-Time High
Aired July 11, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORMAND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: And breaking news this morning. Theremains of two American soldiers kidnapped last year in Iraq havereportedly been found. No confirmation yet from the Pentagon, butrelatives of Army Sergeant Alex Jimenez and Private Byron Fouty saythat they have been notified.
And there was a new threat facing our soldiers in Iraq. Insurgentsare using so-called IRAMS or Improvised Rocket Assisted Munitions.The weapon is a mortar shell or a tank round attached to the frontof a rocket allowing the shell to be launched over walls andbuildings.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is taking a closer look atthese homemade rockets.
Are these -- I guess, you could call them flying IEDS, Barbara?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, John,that is, in fact, what some people are calling them. And while alot of folks talk about how things are getting better in Iraq,there is now this new threat.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice-over): A massive explosion here in Baghdad's(INAUDIBLE) neighborhood left 18 civilians dead and 29 wounded. Butthis time, it wasn't an improvised explosive device, it was a newpotentially more deadly version Improvised Rocket Assisted Mortars.
MAJ. GEN. MICHAEL OATES, U.S. ARMY: This is an improviseammunition, locally fabricated, not done by a person without skilland it's largely confined to the Baghdad area. It does concern us.
STARR: Called IRAMS, they have the potential for killing largenumbers of American troops and Iraqis. The U.S. believes insurgentsbacked by Iran are lining the backs of trucks with launch tubes,then Iranian-made rocket charges propel explosives like mortar andtank shells, sometimes over walls more than 20 feet high. The typesurrounding U.S. bases.
OATES: It is a homemade multiple launch rocket system and it isvery dangerous. And we attempt to -- we'll attempt to eliminatethis threat.
STARR: This type of technology has been used before. A similarweapon may have been used by the IRA in a 1991 attack on No.10Downing Street.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: So who is behind all of this? Well, U.S. officials say theybelieve it's those so-called special groups in Iraq. The militantsbacked by Iran. Already three U.S. troops have been killed by theseweapons, John. But it is once again Iraqi civilians largelyunprotected on the streets who appear to be suffering from thesethe most.
John?
ROBERTS: So Barbara, just to be clear on how this is new.Insurgents have had plenty of access to mortar shells and tankshells or artillery shells before, but they tend to wire themtogether and put them in a vehicle or bury them at the side of theroad because they didn't have launch capabilities. Now this givesthem those capabilities?
STARR: That appears to be what's going on. The keyword once againis improvise, just like the improvised explosive devices. Officialstell us in many of the cases what they find is they're usingpropane gas as a propellant to launch it over to those 20-feetwalls. And it's, again, insurgents using their skills to try andcome up with new ideas to go after U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians.
ROBERTS: Wow. No shortage of innovation to what use to kill peopleover there. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, thanks.
STARR: Sure.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: New York Congressman Charles Rangelfacing some tough questions about a reported sweetheart deal onfour luxury apartments in New York City.
According to the "New York Times," Rangel is paying less than$4,000 a month for the rent-stabilized apartment's total. Andthat's less than half their market value. The congressman declinedto comment when called by the "New York Times" saying his housingis a private matter and does not affect his representation of hisconstituents.
Well, presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama getting more heatfrom his own supporters for dropping his opposition to the newsurveillance bill. Some of his backers are taking out theirfrustrations on Barack Obama's own Web site. Deborah Feyerick ishere with a sample of what they're saying.
You know, we are looking at it a little bit. It's the My Barackblog.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, barackobama.com.
CHETRY: That's right. And you certainly wouldn't think this was apro-Web site or just Web sites supporting him. Some -- a lot ofanger.
FEYERICK: Absolutely. And a lot of people saying will Obama showingleadership by doing this. But, really, you'll remember during theprimaries, Barack Obama harnessed the power of the Internet,organizing an unprecedented grassroots movement, bringing inmillions in campaign donations.
But now, that same tool is being used against him by some of hissame supporters who feel that he's really moving away from hisliberal positions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK (voice-over): On Barack Obama's own networking Web site,here under this section, supporters staged an uprising, rebellingagainst Obama and his vote this week protecting telecom companiesused by the United States to snoop on Americans.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The motion is agreed to.
FEYERICK: This title "Upset and Disillusion Here BeyondDisappointment."
There's also "You Lied." "My Support is Wavering." And one man evenasked for his donation back. Unprecedented dialogues as NYUprofessor Charleton McIlwain.
CHARLETON MCILWAIN, MEDIA & CULTURE, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: And so assome of Obama's message is changing, I'm being altered a bit to fitthe political circumstances, I think they are a bit disappointedand saying -- hey, what is this? And who is this person all of asudden?
FEYERICK: Some 20,000 people protested online. Activist Jon Pincuswas one of them.
JON PINCUS, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: If we can't disagree amongstourselves, then it's mindless following. And really the wholemessage, a lot of the message of the Obama campaign is that we cando things differently.
FEYERICK: But the online outcry from shock and disappointment tooutright betrayal sparked Senator Obama to respond to themdirectly. Quote, "I think it is worth pointing out that ouragreement on the vast majority of issues that matter outweighs thedifferences we may have," he said.
The Republican team quickly jumped on the fan descent, invoking the2004 flip-flop slogan that helped scuttle the Democrats last timearound.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not the first changein position.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How are you, sir?
FEYERICK: Obama denies he's moving to the middle. Politicalinsiders say between his latest switch and his switch turning downpublic financing, it could damage the image Obama is trying tocreate.
JOHN MERCURIOO, EDITOR, THE HOTLINE: And that is exactly the sortof criticism that his campaign waged against Hillary Clinton duringthe primary. So I think it's sort of lifts the veil off of a lot ofObama's rhetoric about creating this new politics, creating thisnew era.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FEYERICK: But even as the online uprising continues, politicalinsiders say it's unlikely that Obama supporters, even those whoare most angry at him will actually change their votes.
CHETRY: You know, getting out their anger on the blogs, but they'restill going to vote for him.
FEYERICK: Exactly.
CHETRY: Deb, thanks so much. You know, we're going to talk aboutthis a little bit more on AMERICAN MORNING, coming up at 24 pastthe hour. We're going to be speaking with New Mexico governor andObama supporter, Bill Richardson. We're going to get his take onthe supporters' anger, as well as some other issues.
John?
ROBERTS: Breaking news. Crude prices shoot back up and hit anall-time high. Political tensions in another all-important oilproducing region are pushing oil prices up here at home. We'll takeyou to the hot spot that's hitting you right in the middle of yourpocketbook.
Also ahead, research chimpanzees who spent their whole lives incages finally set free. The retirement home that gives them a newlease on life.
From fighting in Iraq to battle in California's wildfires, hundredsof National Guard troops going from the front lines into the fire.
And he has danced his way through seven continents and 49countries, saving the best for last. The dancing fool right here inour studios.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Ten minutes after the hour or so. We thought we had somegood news earlier in the week when the price of oil went down.
CHETRY: Yes. We thought that might have been a trend.
ROBERTS: Not so much, anymore. No, no, hardly a trend. The trend,unfortunately, the other way. And Ali Velshi over at the massivewall there to tell us why.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know, I hadpeople talking to me saying what a big deal oil had dropped almost$9 on last Thursday, it hit a record. Friday, didn't trade. Andthen, it dropped in the beginning of the week. Well, back up today.And we had another record this morning --$145.98. That's the mostwe've ever paid.
That screen that you were looking at, that was where it settledyesterday, $141.65. That was up $5.60 which is the second biggestjump we've ever had in oil. The biggest one was about a month ago.Well, now, we're up even further than that. Why? Take a look.
Iran, we talked about that yesterday. Now, we're going to talkabout Nigeria. These are the two things troubling oil right now. Ifyou look at Nigeria, get a little closer -- you take a look at thesouthern coast of Nigeria and down here, you'll see that river thatgoes down right through the R. That's the Niger River.
The Niger Delta at the southern part of Nigeria is the oil-richarea. There are many international oil companies with installationsthere. And Nigeria used to be -- used to put out about 2-1/2million barrels of oil a day. It is the fourth biggest supplier ofoil to the United States. But there have been attacks in the NigerDelta and those attacks have cut production by about 25 percent.
The reason oil is up today in part is because those attacks areexpected to resume any time after the next few hours. The rebelswho have had a cease fire have said that they will start to attackagain or they are going to be -- consider themselves free to attackagain starting at midnight on Saturday, their time, which is just afew hours away.
And the impact of this is that we are seeing oil prices go upbecause there are concerns about supply. There are concerns that wemay just not have enough oil. At 2-1/2 million barrels of oil aday, that's an important source of supply for the world.
ROBERTS: So hang on. Nothing has happened yet?
VELSHI: Nothing has happened.
ROBERTS: But?
VELSHI: But the rebels have said that as of midnight tonight, thatcease fire is over. And when the cease fire is over, they areparticularly effective those rebels. They're able to take on apipeline.
ROBERTS: So oil traders, though, are just making sure they get theprice up there before anything --
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Speculation.
VELSHI: But these are real speculators, because these are peoplespeculating who need the supply. So they're buying it up becausethey say we need to get it. There are other people who arespeculating because the price of oil goes up. So this is theproblem. It's one little piece of the equation.
CHETRY: Hand it over.
VELSHI: What? The iPhone?
CHETRY: The iPhone?
VELSHI: My producer has got it.
CHETRY: You don't have it. Sorry. All right, well --
VELSHI: It's in the house, though.
CHETRY: All right, because the other big news, today, in thebusiness world. Can you even get your hands on one, by the way, thenew iPhone?
VELSHI: They have them available. They may run out in the next fewdays, that's what we're hearing.
CHETRY: Yes. They have the new one out and it's brand new. It'scheaper than it was before. Lower price. It's actually between $199and $299. It hits stores today. And it's supposedly faster than theoriginal, as well, when it comes to surfing the Web and sending oute-mails. But as Ali said, they are expected to sell out quickly.
You're going to get one, John?
ROBERTS: No. I don't need one. I have two phones already. I do notneed a third.
CHETRY: That will come in a nice shiny case, though.
Well, a busy week for Barack Obama. First Jesse Jackson's open mikemishap. And now, Obama is hearing from angry supporters aftervoting for the FISA bill electronic surveillance.
Coming up, we're going to get Bill Richardson. The formergovernor's take on the controversies and what he thinks aboutObama's energy in Iraq plans. We're going to talk with BillRichardson just ahead.
ROBERTS: And Hurricane Bertha weaker now, but still posing a threatto people in Bermuda. For those of you watching this morning inBermuda, stay with us, because Rob Marciano is tracking the extremeweather for us. He joins us in just a second.
CHETRY: Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING -- the private paradisethat's giving new life to chimps who spend their lives locked up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We don't rehabilitate chimps, we open thedoors.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHETRY: John Zarrella takes us to their island'splayground. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Hurricane Bertha still heading toward Bermuda, butthankfully losing strength. Bertha is back to a category one stormwith winds of 85 miles an hour. Now, some 350 miles from Bermuda.
CHETRY: You know, we've been telling them just watch the track. Andthat's what our Rob Marciano is doing for us. He's tracking extremeweather today.
Hi, there, Rob. So it dropped back down to a category one, but theystill need to be on the lookout.
(WEATHER REPORT)
ROBERTS: For decades, chimpanzees once used by NASA and for otherresearch were left to live out their lives in cramp cages in aplace known as the Dungeon. But now, thanks to one facility, thesechimps are free and living life on an island.
Here's CNN's John Zarrella.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Kiran, meet some of thechimps. For 40 years they were poked and prodded and tested. Now,they are getting a taste of freedom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice-over): When the cage door opened Gabriela and herson, Gab, just sat for a moment. Mom not quite sure what to make ofall this. For the first time in her life, Gabriella will no longerbe living in a box.
CAROLE NOON, SAVE THE CHIMPS FOUNDER: I mean, cement boxes, monkeychow twice a day of the same diet day after day. Excruciatingboredom.
ZARRELLA: Thanks to Carole Noon.
NOON: Welcome to Florida.
ZARRELLA: Nearly 300 chimpanzees who spent decades in cages arespending the rest of their lives literally enjoying island living-- chilling in a hammock, playing kid games, chatting with friends.Noon is founder and director of the Save The Chimps facility nearFort Pierce, Florida. The 200 acres with 12 private islands are runsolely on donations.
NOON: We don't do anything particularly magical here. We don'trescue chimps. We don't rehabilitate chimps. We open the doors.
ZARRELLA: A handful of the chimps are descendants of NASA's spacechimps. But most were used in HIV and Hepatitis research in thislab in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Some for as long as 40 years. Sixyears ago the lab facing bankruptcy was sold to Noon, one of theworld's experts on primates.
NOON: These are the bottom of the barrel chimps. This was the worstlab left in the country. 54 living alone in a building we calledthe Dungeon because it rolled off your tongue because that's whatit was.
ZARRELLA: Today, ten chimps arrive.
NOON: One, we're going to open the door now.
ZARRELLA: There 145 here now. A few come at a time.
NOON: It's your turn! You guys are next.
ZARRELLA: Before making the trip from New Mexico, weeks are spentputting the group together. Making sure they all get along afterliving in five by five by seven cages.
NOON: Imagine how the dynamic changes when all of a sudden theyaren't living in a small, one bedroom apartment.
ZARRELLA: When they first arrive they stay in a transition buildinggetting used to new faces. From now on, human contact is minimal.Soon they will begin coming and going as they please. Why all thisfor the chimps? It's simple, Noon says -- because they deserve it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA: It will take about a month for some of the new arrivalsto get acclimated to their surroundings. And then like these guysback here, they'll be allowed to roam free on the islands that theyall call home.
John?
Kiran?
CHETRY: Wow. Well, they came home from fighting in Iraq to faceanother enemy at home head on. It's the new battle that hundreds ofNational Guard troops are now dealing with.
ROBERTS: Plus, the CNN exclusive. The emotional first interview ofthe three Americans held hostage by Colombian rebels in the jungle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This lock with five meters of chain, thick, oneinch links, went to his neck. So this was locked around my necklike this. The other was lock around Mark's neck. We slept likethat. Tom had exact same thing. He slept with a Colombian captainthe same way.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: We're going to hear much more of theiremotional interview, just ahead.
CHETRY: Plus, Obama backlash. Some supporters lashing out at him onhis own Web site.
ROBERTS: Coming up, Caribbean connection. The growing drum beat.How the islands are rising up in support of Barack Obama. You'rewatching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": With gas priceapproaching $5 a gallon here in California, a lot of people startusing bicycles (INAUDIBLE). Have you noticed that? Have you noticedmore people on bicycles?
AUDIENCE: Yes.
LENO: In fact, coming in today and I saw Jesse Jackson backpedalling all the way in.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, that was "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" with histake on the Obama-Jackson controversy.
And just days after hearing Jackson's comment and apology, BarackObama is now hearing anger from many, many supporters on his veryown Web site. Is this the new politics in action? Or the start of agrassroots revolt?
I'm joined now by Obama supporter and New Mexico Governor BillRichardson live for us in Santa Fe this morning.
Governor, great to see you.
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, BARACK OBAMA SUPPORTER: Thank you. Thanks forhaving me.
CHETRY: You know, when you're looking at the blog that's on hisvery own Web site, there is a lot of anger over the fact thatSenator Obama voted yes to the new FISA bill, specifically allowingimmunity for the telecom companies that wiretapped people's phoneconversations without getting a court order for that. Is this goingto hurt him?
RICHARDSON: No, it's not going to hurt him. But, you know, there'sgoing to be controversy right now. Both candidates with their ownbases, because what you have here is Senator Obama making arealistic decision.
The bill that came in on the FISA issue, not perfect. But it didhave sufficient judicial oversight. The big controversy is do thetelecoms get immunity? You know, I personally think they shouldn'thave. But you have to look at the overall bill.
The president doesn't have the powers to eavesdrop on his owncitizens. There's judicial oversight. There's Justice Departmentoversight. So on the whole -- you know, many times I've been inCongress, you have to cast these votes. And sometimes they don'tindicate to perfection that supporters want.
CHETRY: Right. This was a big issue, though, for those on the left.There was a lot of anger over this situation. And it's somethingthat Barack Obama previously had said he would filibuster. So, whatchanged?
RICHARDSON: Well, what changed was that the bill got better. Moreacceptable to Senator Obama. The judicial oversight. The fact thatthe president can't unilaterally say that he's going to eavesdropon citizens. There are a lot of safeguards in the bill that weren'tthere before.
Now, again, the telecoms, I personally think they shouldn't haveimmunity. But, you know, Senator Obama had to make that decision.We do have to protect ourselves against terrorists. But Iunderstand there's some in the base that are concerned. And, youknow, I shared their view but --
CHETRY: Right. You, yourself, were against this back in Octoberwhen you were asked about it. You called the FISA bill anunprecedented assault on American laws and values, cloaked falselyand irresponsibly in the guides of national security. You also saidthis bill must not pass.
So you believe that there was enough that changed in it now forBarack Obama to...
RICHARDSON: Yes, I --
CHETRY: ...To give it the OK?
RICHARDSON: Yes, I believe there was enough. What still bothers meis the telecom ability to not be -- not be held responsible. Thatbothers me. But, again, I think a majority of Democrats supportedit. There are enough safeguards in the bill and Senator Obama saidhe'll review the bill again. See how it's working when he'spresident.
So these are some of the political realities you face when you'rerunning for president, when you're also in the Senate, you have tomake a judgment on a bill.
CHETRY: All right. You know, you guys were talking energy today, aswell. Senator Barack Obama will be in Ohio. A crucial swing state.Now earlier, there was a campaign ad that was attacking McCainabout his energy plan. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On gas prices, John McCain's part of theproblem. McCain and Bush supported drilling plan that won't producea drop of oil for seven years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: One of the things you guys were hitting him about was thatthere weren't short-term solutions. When we look at Barack Obama'sWeb site, many of his solutions also some of these would not takeplace until the earliest 2025, 2050. Does he have short-termsolutions and what are they?
RICHARDSON: Well, look, Senator Obama has said we need long-termsolutions. You can't have an instant gratification. What he hassaid is immediate help for middle class, a middle class tax cut of1000 bucks for every family. Tax rebates on energy prices.
But he says we have to face the problem long range. We can't drillourselves out of the problem. There has to be more drilling, but ithas to be done responsibly. There has to be more conservation.There has to be more fuel efficiency in vehicles. You know, JohnMcCain has not supported fuel efficiency for vehicles.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: When you say there has to be more drilling now -- what. Thead says it wouldn't produce a drop of oil for seven years,criticizing McCain for not having a short-term solution. But you'resaying that some drilling should happen?
RICHARDSON: Well, yes. Absolutely. There is ability the oilcompanies to have responsible drilling. There's new technology. Doit in the continental United States.
Have America's oil companies drill more in America, morerefineries, more investments in renewable energy instead ofinvesting overseas and drilling overseas. But do it in thecontinental United States, not in pristine areas like Anwar andAlaska where their ecosystems not offshore in California andFlorida. Do it in the gulf of Mexico. Do it in the continentalUnited States.
The oil companies have a lot of acres where they're not drilling.Why is that? They should do that. But do it responsibly. But ouraddiction is to fossil fuel. So let's move to fuel efficiency tosolar, wind, and biomass and biofuels and biodiesel and plug-inhybrid vehicles and mass transit. That's what we need to do. AndObama is saying we need a long range comprehensive strategy. And Itotally agree with him as a former energy secretary.
CHETRY: Governor Bill Richardson, always great to talk to you.Thanks for being with us this morning.
RICHARDSON: Thank you.
ROBERTS: Breaking news, the price of oil going where it's nevergone before. But at least the direction is familiar. $145.98 abarrel now, gaining $9 in just the past two days. The markets arereacting to growing tensions with Iran and news that a cease firein Nigeria is expected to end at midnight local time between rebelsand Nigeria's government.
South Korea is investigating the death of a woman shot dead by aNorth Korean soldier in a popular mountain resort in the communistnation. Officials say they believe the woman went walking andcrossed into a restricted area. Right now tourists in North Koreahave been suspended.
And the United Nations agreeing to create an internationalcommission to investigate the killing of former Pakistani PrimeMinister Benazir Bhutto. According to the United Nations, so far,five people have been arrested in connection with her murder but noone has been convicted.
A wildfire in Washington state forcing more than 200 people toevacuate a suburb of Spokane. The fire has burned some 1,200 acresin the heavily-wooded area. At least six homes have been destroyedand dozens of others are threatened. The state's governor saythey're doing everything they can to protect people and property.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRISTINE GREGOIRE (D), WASHINGTON: The mayor and the countyhave both said verbally to me that we need an emergencydeclaration. I've done a verbal emergency declaration so that wecan have all resources ready if necessary. I have fire trained theNational Guard this spring, which is pretty unique in the country.But I did fire train our National Guard so if necessary they can bedispatched.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: No injuries have been reported so far and speaking ofNational Guard, from the front lines in Iraq to the fire lines inCalifornia, many of the National Guard troops being deployed tofight the wildfires are veterans of war. And CNN's Kara Finnstromhas their story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARA FINNSTROM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The fire ravaged woods ofnorthern California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get those tools sharper tomorrow.
FINNSTROM: National Guards men Mike Baldivia and Robert Rosbia arenow deployed near the front line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your dye in -
FINNSTROM: They're half a world away and on a far differentassignment from their dangerous duty in Iraq.
In Iraq, you know we're getting shot at and people are losing theirlives.
FINNSTROM: Rosbia operated a 50-caliber machine gun in Iraq. Heserved there for 15 months.
Here we're protecting lives and this time I'm doing it with a cloudinstead of 50-caliber machine gun. A semi rake/scraping tool.
FINNSTROM: Rosbia, a truck driver is also a husband and a father.And his wife couldn't be happier to have him serving near home.He's one of the first California guard troops to fight on the firelines in more than three decades.
ROSBIA: She knows that there isn't somebody shooting at me andgetting ready to cause me bodily harm, possibly take my life fromme.
FINNSTROM: California needs help desperately. More than 1,700 fireshave torched the state this month, exhausting firefighters. Thesefresh guard troops have learned to hack through brush and createopen spaces where fully train firefighters can make a stand.
Sergeant Baldivia is a natural when it comes to cutting fire lines.The married father of three just happens to be a tree trimmer. He'salso a veteran of enduring brutal heat.
SGT. MIKE BALDIVIA, NATIONAL GUARD: The heat is actually kind ofsimilar to the body. It start kicking up a lot of heat underneaththe collar. So overseas we had temperatures of 117 plus.
FINNSTROM: But no complaints from these sergeants. They say thisvery different mission, back home in California, just feels good.
BALDIVIA: We've been driving back and forth. We get a lot of waves.We also get just people on the side we don't even know justhonking.
FINNSTROM: Kara Finnstrom for CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Meanwhile, Alina Cho joins us now with some other storiesnew this morning. And you have some new video just in.
ALINA CHO, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Yes, some breaking news of a firerescue. Guys. good morning. Good morning, everybody. That new videojust in to CNN. Take a look at these dramatic pictures as thefamily is rescued from a fast-moving apartment fire. That firebroke out about two hours ago at a multiple apartment complex inPennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh. Firefighters battled theblaze for more than 30 minutes. Emergency crews were seen carryinghoses over their backs, up a steep hill to get up to the building.We are watching that story very closely.
Other stories were watching this morning, three American hostagesfreed from their rebel captors. They're talking exclusively to CNNabout their 5 1/2 year ordeal in Colombia. There they are - ThomasHowes, Keith Stansell, and Marc Gonsalves. They sat down with"Headline News" anchor Robin Lee. Gonsalves showed here make shiftgame board that he says helped him survive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARC GONSALVES, FREED HOSTAGE: This is the chess board and here arethe pieces that -
ROBIN MEADE, ANCHOR, "HEADLINE NEWS": How did you make the pieces?
GONSALVES: I was able to carve with a broken piece of a machete.
MEADE: You carved chess pieces with a broken piece of a machete?
KEITH STANSELL, FREED HOSTAGE: He just woke up one day and did it.He said, guys I'm going to make a chess set. He just started. Hesaid I'm making a chess set. I'm tired of this.
MEADE: And your captors allowed you to do it? Or did you hide it?
GONSALVES: No, they allowed me to do some of the lower rankingguards actually took interest to see if I was going to be able tofinish it.
MEADE: They wanted you to carve?
GONSALVES: And later they wanted me to carve some for them.
MEADE: So how often did this keep your mind sharp and pass the day?
GONSALVES: That's the point that I wanted to make was that thischess set here must have gotten, would you say, hundreds of hoursof use between all the hostages, it was a way for us to stopthinking about the cruel situation we were in and to think aboutsomething else and exercise our minds.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: Fellow hostage Keith Stansell talked about being locked awayin the jungle. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEITH STANSELL, RESCUED AMERICAN HOSTAGE: One thing about TigerWoods, a blip at the Masters, a guard came over with the radio andhe's got a short wave on and he tuned it to English. I don't knowif it was just to play with us or if it was just out of curiosity.And I just caught Tiger Woods at the Masters and I looked at Marcand they saw I keyed up on it and he turned away. And we were likewhat about Tiger Woods. So we talked about Tiger Woods for abouttwo or three days. But you were immersed in information here on adaily basis as Americans, there we're stuck in a box. As Tom calledearly on, he said guys, we just may be in a black hole. We didn'trealize at that point how big of a hole because you can'tconceptualize it in your mind what's about to go on. So, wedisappeared. I mean, it is tough.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHO: Incredible stories and incredibly, doctorssay the three men appear to be in good health. Those are thestories making headlines at this hour. Back to you guys.
ROBERTS: Alina, thanks so much. What an incredible story.
CHETRY: Thanks.
ROBERTS: The dancing sensation. What made this guy danced his wayall across the globe? He's been in 46 countries. And now he's righthere in our studios.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice-over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met him on the block. I feel like I'm theirage.
CHETRY: She's beating kids half her age while raising one of herown. How does she do it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It doesn't really matter how old you are.
CHETRY: Dr. Sanjay Gupta shows us how Olympic champion swimmer DaraTorres stays fit. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: The Olympic torch is in northeast China this morning,wrapping up the latest leg of its trip. Some of the 208 torchbearers performed dances and did tai chi exercises. The country'stop figure skating pair also carried the flame as thousands cheeredand waved flags. The torch heads back to Beijing August 6th, twodays before the opening ceremonies.
And taking part in this year's Olympics, a 41-year-old mom who beatkids half her age to make it to the game. Last weekend, swimmerDara Torres won her races. She also set a new American record.Adding to the three that she's already set. As part of our weekly"Fit Nation" series, Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a closer look at howshe does it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over):Nine-time Olympic medalist, world record holder, mother of atwo-year- old. And perhaps most astonishing of all, Dara Torres isset to become the oldest female Olympic swimmer ever.
JOEL STAGER, INDIANA UNIVERSITY: She's a 41-year-old female that'sright now the best in the United States.
DARA TORRES, OLYMPIAN: It doesn't really matter how old you are. IfI'm the fastest, and I'm faster than the younger kids, then Ishould go. GUPTA: In a sport where the average age of nationalchampionship competitors is just 20 years old, Torres is shatteringthe odds.
TORRES: I kind of forget that sometimes I'm so much older thanthem. But the minute I'm on the blocks, I feel like I'm their age.
GUPTA: And she's taking regular blood and urine tests to answer anysuspicions of doping. So far, she's clean. Her Olympic career began24 years ago. Over the years she's battled bulimia, knee surgeriesand bone spurs. So, how is she still dominating? Her height, longarms, big hands, exercise physiologist says she has the perfectswimmers genes.
STAGER: Genetics does play a role. We're talking about one percentor less of the population that has that genotype.
GUPTA: But good genetics aren't enough. Her training regimen iscustom tailored for her age.
TORRES: My body is a 41-year-old body. And I just can't get in thepool nine times a week. The biggest obstacle I have is recovery.It's about allowing my body to recover so I can come back the nextday and perform at a high level.
GUPTA: She swims five times a week, often with her daughter lookingon. Her team includes coaches, a chiropractor, masseurs, stretcherswho use their feet and hands to knead her limbs. She callsresistance stretching her secret weapon. Muscles are contracted andstretched at the same time to increase flexibility and power.
STAGER: Dara is definitely working smarter. A sprinter has to besmart.
GUPTA: Which is why the 50-meter free style, a race that can be asquick as 25 seconds may be best suited for somebody in their 40s.Longer races may be tougher with age as endurance tends todecrease.
TORRES: I'm proving that you can be 41 and you can follow yourdreams and that age is just a number.
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta. CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Good for her. We'll be rooting for her for sure. Well, formore "Fit Nation" reports, tune into Dr. Sanjay Gupta on "HouseCall," Saturdays and Sundays, 8:30 a.m. Eastern.
ROBERTS: She was saying a couple of Olympics ago when somebody cameup to her, a reporter came up to her after she won a medal andsaid, you think you'll be doing this when you're 40 years old andshe laughed and walked away and said that's the stupidest questionI've ever heard and here she is.
CHETRY: And here she is. ROBERTS: 45 minutes after the hour. Thehairless prophet of doom is sitting beside us, which is got to meanthat oil has hit yet another record -
ALI VELSHI, CNN, SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Because Ishouldn't be here at this hour. That's what it is, oil is nearly$147 now. $146.90. We're now up over $10 in two days, for a barrelof oil. There are two major concerns and they both actually havesomething to do with supply. One is tensions with Iran, which we'vebeen reporting on for the last couple of days, testing conventionalmissiles that could reach Israel. Iran has said that if anybodyreacts to them, they'll close off the Strait of Hormuz.
The other problem is Nigeria. We're tracking that one right now.That's where the immediate concern is. Nigeria is the fourthlargest supplier of oil to the United States, supplying typically 21/2 million barrels of oil a day, but much of that has been cut offbecause of rebel activity that have attacked oil facilities. Thereis word now that at midnight local time in Nigeria, which should beabout 7:00 p.m. Eastern time, those attacks could start again as acease fire ends.
We're tracking the price of oil, $146.90. Hoping not to see youagain before the end of this show.
ROBERTS: You are like that little black cloud on the horizon, on abeautifully sunny day.
VELSHI: Right. If that one would just move away, everything wouldbe OK. Trust me, I'd like to see this move away too. I'm hoping toleave this set and not see you for a while.
CHETRY: You won't see us until Monday. That's pretty muchguaranteed.
VELSHI: Let's hope. We have 15 minutes left in the show. Let's hopeI don't come back.
ROBERTS: Ali, thanks very much for that.
Well, some good news for you here. Uplifting news - one man, onedance, and millions of people are watching. It is a huge hit on theweb globe trotting all the while dancing this goofy dance in frontof the camera. So, what is Matt Harding up to now? We're going totalk with him live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA RUIZ, CHAMPIONING CHILDREN; I was born asked raised in ElPaso. El Paso, near Mexico, they are known as the twin cities butyou cross over the border, you notice a difference. In 1996, I cameto the outskirts of Juarez, when I saw the poverty level that theywere living in with no water, no electricity, my world changedcompletely.
I'm Maria Ruiz and I crossed the border to help people in Juarez. Idecided to start the food program. I cooked and I cooked every dayand then I brought it over here. I fed approximately 1,200 kids ona daily basis for 3 1/2 years.
Now, we collect the donations, take furniture, food, toys, almostabout anything. Crossing the border involves a lot of work andtime. I've crossed, oh, 1,000 times. We give out whatever we have.It's like a distribution center. All of the work we do is part of afamily's ministry. It's a team effort but regardless of whetherthey're Christian, it's equal for everybody.
The kids are the ones that keep me going, but I don't considermyself a hero. I know can I do much more.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: July's the last month to nominatesomeone you know as a CNN Hero for 2008. Go to CNN.com/heroes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 51 minutes after the hour, his bio describes him as a31-year-old dead beat from Connecticut with life goal of making andplaying video games.
But in the last couple of years, Matt Harding has become aninternet sensation for dancing, literally, around the world. Notballet, jazz, or even break dancing, but some quirky little movethat somehow seemed to inspire people to join in. And so far thisviral video has 10 million hits on YouTube and climbing fast. MattHarding, the man behind the phenomenon joins me now.
You know, I saw this on the internet. The link was sent to me. AndI thought, oh, OK, here's a goofy guy that's doing this littledance in a lot of places. And it keeps going, the Netherlands, youknow, Tonga, United States, Kuwait City, places like that and I'mthinking this is weirdly inspirational. And you've done threetrips. How did you get this idea?
MARK HARDING, VIRAL VIDEO STAR: You know, it was just a goof. I wastraveling around the world with a friend. And he said, why don'tyou stand over there and do your dance? He switched to the videomode. And it was funny and so I just kept doing it.
ROBERTS: And the first time you went out on your own dime, right?
HARDING: Yes, I've saved up for a few years in my job, and then Iquit my job, did this six month trip, put that up on the internetat the end. Just to show friends and family. I didn't know it wouldbe inspiring to people or anything.
ROBERTS: And then a gum company, Stride Gum, came in and say hey wereally like this, we want to sponsor you to go around the world yetagain and then you just did another trip that you got back fromwhat, about a month ago?
HARDING: Yes, Stride Gum found the video and they said how'd youlike to keep on doing it? That was three years ago.
ROBERTS: Some people are wondering is this viral marketing? Are youactually doing a commercial for Stride Gum here?
HARDING: You know, I suppose it's open to interpretation. But they,as far as I'm concerned, my relationship, they just said, you know,we'd like to sponsor you to do this. And at the end of the video Isaid, thanks, Stride for sending me on this trip. As simple asthat.
ROBERTS: You didn't do it to try to sell gum or anything like that?
HARDING: For me, it was an opportunity to travel around the world.You know.
ROBERTS: So how many months was it? And how many countries?
HARDING: This last video, the 2007-2008 video was 14 months and Iwent to 46 countries.
ROBERTS: Unbelievable. Let me - I just want to roll a little bitmore of this video. Because you're coming to this area here wherewe're fast cutting video. And it shows all of the places you'vebeen. Let's take a quick look.
So, there you are, you started off in Cape town, you're also amongthe lemurs in Madagascar, California, Taiwan. What was it liketraveling to all of these places? What was your favorite?
HARDING: Oh, boy, there were some really interesting places. I likegoing to the exotic places, the sort of remote ends of the earth.Bhutan was one, that I knew very little about. It's this smallcountry tucked away in the Himalayas. And such a fascinating placethat sort of come up with its own way of existing outside of whatwe know and expect from -
ROBERTS: Yes. There's a photo of you there. And the way you goteverybody to come into the video and dance. Did they just sort ofshow up or did you have to arrange that?
HARDING: It was the power of the internet. We used e-mail. I gottens of thousands from people who saw the last view and they say,hey, you've got to come to Poland, you got to come to South Korea.So my girlfriend, Melissa, she helped me organize this. She'de-mail all the people in each place and I'd say I'm going to be atthis place at this time, and they'd show up to dance.
ROBERTS: It's amazing. You know, there's certainly more things we'dlove to talk about. There's a picture of you dancing, it's in oneof the monitors here of a rock a thousand feet up in Norway.
HARDING: Yes.
ROBERTS: Some of the great stuff that you did. Matt Harding, it'sreally an interesting, interesting video and it shows a whole newside of what the internet is capable of. Thanks for being with usthis morning. Good to see you.
HARDING: Thanks so much, John.
ROBERTS: Kiran.
CHETRY: Barack Obama's island appeal Calypso and reggae musicianssinging about the democratic nominee in waiting. We're going tohear why Obama has struck a cord with them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Meanwhile, Barack Obama making a connection with islandmusicians in the Caribbean.
ROBERTS: CNN's Kareen Wynter looks at the power of Calypso andreggae in the presidential campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Kiran.Some political observers say Barack Obama has become quite theinternational phenomenon, whose political appeal has broken throughborders.
WYNTER (voice-over): From celebrities to virtual unknowns.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've got a crush on Obama.
WYNTER: The supporters of Barack Obama are using music to pushtheir presidential hopeful. But Obama has also struck a cord withanother audience. Caribbean crooners. Some artists in places likeJamaica and Trinidad are using island-inspired music as a politicalstatement. Jamaican musician Cocoa Tea sings about painting theWhite House black in his song entitled "Barack Obama".
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your eye on the prize, Obama.
WYNTER: Cocoa Tea who is currently performing in Europe and aboutto begin a "Reggae for Obama" world tour, told us by phone hispolitical motivation.
COCOA TEA, MUSICIAN: And people really are crying out. They need tosee a change in Washington. Whatever happens in Washington have animpact on the whole wide world.
WYNTER: Another artist named Mighty Sparrow, a Calypso legendphotographed here with Obama sings about the war, congressionalscandals, and Obama's vision.
Politico.com reporter Daniel Reilly says these island artists havea powerful influence way beyond their own borders.
DANIEL REILLY, WRITER, POLITICO.COM: The Mighty Sparrow, you know,he's sort of an Elvis-like figure down in Trinidad. He's widelypopular. And for him to make a song about Barack Obama, it reallyshows that he's on the minds of a lot of people.
WYNTER: With songs like these generating heavy traffic on YouTube,political observers say they can only help increase interests andexcitement among a new generation of voters.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WYNTER: Another Obama theme song is in the works. This one is froma Calypso artist from Florida who's lyrics could help grab theattention of voters in the Caribbean rich, swing states -- John,Kiran.
ROBERTS: All sorts of music is dancing this morning. Our thanks toMatt Harding for being with us today. Thanks very much for joiningus. We'll see you again on Monday.
CHETRY: Matt's danced everywhere around the world and now he cansay that he's danced here on AMERICAN MORNING, as well.
You have rhythm you know? Much more in person, than I thought.We're not even going to go there, are we?
Thanks so much for being with us. "NEWSROOM" starts now with TonyHarris and Fredricka Whitfield.
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