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'Manhunt' author Peter Bergen says Bin Laden document release could damage Al Qaeda
UPDATED 10:11am ET: Since the airing of this segment, the documents have been posted online here.
From earlier this morning:
In just a few hours from now, the proverbial curtain is going to be lifted off of some of Osama Bin Laden's plans for future of al Qaeda and also the way he was living before he died.
It is a huge haul of documents: Hard drives, flash drives, all sorts of documents seized during the raid on the terror leader's hideout in Pakistan nearly a year ago. Much of it will be made public online.
Some of the information, including Bin Laden's orders to his followers, but also his mind-set in the final isolated years and it certainly paints a picture of a man who was not only paranoid, but a micromanager, often dictating his follower's every move.
Peter Bergen, CNN's national security analyst and the author of the brand new book "Manhunt", talks with Ashleigh this morning about the documents. He's one of the few people outside of the government who's already seen some of these documents, been inside that compound and one of the only people who has had a chance to interview Bin Laden himself. He tells Ashleigh the document dump could further damage the Al Qaeda network.
#trending: Sharks with 'frickin lasers'
A marine biologist and shark handler Luke Tipple has found a way to attach a low-level green laser to a lemon shark.
New rare home video of 1986 Challenger disaster found – Huffington Post editor and woman who found it explain
On January 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger disaster devastated the nation. Just 73 seconds after launch, it exploded and all seven astronauts on board died.
The Huffington Post has now obtained new exclusive amateur video from that historic date. The video may be hard to watch, but it shows a unique look at the event and is what some at CNN call the best video of the event they've seen.
Tricia Hunt found the video when she was looking for wedding videos in her aunt and uncle's home, and happened to find the video. She explains on "Early Start" how she found it, and her aunt and uncle's passion for the space program, along with the Huffington Post's Tim Stenovec.
'One Million Moms' vs. JCPenney...again: Group accuses retailer of taking sides in gay marriage issue
JCPenney's May catalog is attracting controversy from a group the company has tousled with before.
In the ad, you can see a smiling lesbian couple with both women wearing wedding bands and the caption says it's "Wendi and her partner Maggi."
The conservative group "One Million Moms," which is considered by some to be anti-gay, is accusing the retailer of "taking sides" and is calling for a boycott.
This isn't the first time "One Million Moms" has gone after JCPenny. They crticized the store back in February for naming openly gay talk show host Ellen Degeneres as its spokesperson.
Branding strategist Peter Shankman talks with Ashleigh Banfield this morning on "Early Start" to talk about how this will affect JCPenney.
What's trending for May 3rd, 2012: British teen takes 'Ms. Too Beautiful' down a peg, and tanning mom pleads not guilty
Teen brings "Ms. Too Beautiful" back to Earth on YouTube, and tanning mom pleads not guilty.
MYB: $100 for carry-on bags on Spirit
Christine Romans looks at Spirit Airlines's decision to raise carry-on bag fees to $100 per bag by November.
Should Afghan deal be multilateral? Fmr. CIA field commander Gary Berntsen says yes
Fmr. CIA field commander Gary Berntsen says U.S. 'breaking the bank' by not involving other nations in Afghan deal.
What's trending for Wednesday, May 2nd – Twitter revolt over Duran Duran and a pitcher beans a bird!
A jumbo jet 'crash test,' a Twitter revolt over Duran Duran's Olympic gig and a pitcher beans a bird.
MYB: Facebook IPO May 18th?
Christine Romans looks at a report that Facebook is planning an IPO for May 18th.
Exotic pets to return home after owner committed suicide last year – Columbus Zoo's Tom Stalf on safety concerns
(CNN) - The widow of a man who set free 56 exotic animals he owned before apparently committing suicide last year will get back the five animals that survived, Ohio agriculture officials said Monday.
Zoo officials, who have looked after the surviving leopards, bears and primates since the tragedy, are “deeply concerned” for the animals’ safety, Tom Salf of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium tells Early Start’s Ashleigh Banfied this morning.
A state review board concluded that the animals, which have been kept at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, are free of "dangerously infectious or contagious diseases." The finding required them to lift a quarantine imposed in a move last October to delay their return.
State officials said they were concerned that the widow, Marian Thompson, has said she would put the two spotted leopards, two macaque monkeys and a large brown bear back into the same cages they previously inhabited on her Zanesville, Ohio, farm.
Salf, who visited Thompson’s farm during the October search for the animals, describes the conditions of the cages and holding areas as having “no standards of care at all.”
Ashleigh asks him about the state’s regulations, how residents in the area can ensure their safety and how animals can be protected.
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