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Were US compound attacks in Libya & Egypt part of a bigger plot? Fmr. CIA officer Peter Brookes weighs in
Peter Brookes, fmr. Deputy Asst. Sec. of State and fmr. CIA officer, weighs in on the attacks on US compounds in Egypt and Libya and whether the attack against US Ambassador to Libya was part of a bigger plot.
U.S. ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens killed in Benghazi
An online film considered offensive to Islam has sparked mass protests in Egypt and Libya. On Monday, Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton confirmed that a state department officer at the U.S. consulate was United States ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens. Later reports to CNN say the officer killed was United States ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens. An eyewitness says it began with a radical Islamist group arriving to protest a web video that they call Anti-Muslim.
In Egypt, protesters tore down the U.S. embassy's flag after an all-day protest in Cairo. The fundamentalist protesters outside of the embassy walls under watch from Egyptian security forces are also saying the web video is their reason for protesting. CNN sources say it was unclear whether the two attacks were coordinated.
The film which has been featured on U.S. websites, including YouTube contain scenes where filmmakers depict Prophet Mohammed as a child molester, womanizer and ruthless killer. Egyptian groups and other communities in the Muslim world have flagged the movie whose filmmakers are still unknown.
Embassy officials in Egypt have issued a warning to Americans in their country to avoid the demonstrations while Sect. Clinton and U.S. Government forces are working to protect American citizens worldwide.
American-Egyptian Journalist Mona Eltahawy says, “What happened in Libya is absolutely outrageous and I’m hearing from many Libyans who are saddened by the death of the U.S. ambassador and the embassy staff. They’re saying this is not what our resolution is about.” Eltahawy adds, “In fact this is worse because it’s an insult to the revolution and an insult to the very prophet of Islam who people extensively are trying to defend here.”
MYB: German constitutional court’s decision could affect U.S. economy
CNN is delving into the economic issues facing the United States this week. Today, a big decision from a court in Germany could affect the U.S. economy. U.S. stock futures and European markets are already up due to the court ruling. Christine Romans is minding your business with more on the decision.
Romans says the German court has ruled that “the permanent bailout fund for the European Union is constitutional, but with a catch. Any increases in Germany’s financial exposure to the fund needs to first be approved by the German Parliament.”
Romans says it comes down to the ESM, the European Stability Mechanism. “It’s the $500 billion Euro permanent rescue fund for the European Union nations,” Roman explains. “If the German court had ruled this fund was unconstitutional, we’d see turmoil in the markets.” Romans adds that this ruling critical to the U.S. economy because that the European Union is America’s top trading partner, importing $400 billion of American goods every year. “We have more than a trillion dollars in direct investments in the E.U. And $2.7 in loans and other financial commitments to European government banks and companies.”
Casey Wian on Chicago teachers strike: 'there is good news for parents'
The Chicago teachers strike continues with a second day of negotiations between Chicago's school board and its public school teachers ending with neither side expressing an agreement was near.
The union, which represents nearly 30,000 teachers and support staff in the nation's third-largest school district, called the strike Sunday night over issues like teacher evaluations and benefits.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel said that educators had chosen to participate in an unnecessary strike, which is “the wrong choice” for the 350,000 children affected.
CNN’s Casey Wian says despite the fact the school district and union have not been able to come to terms, “there is good news for parents.” The school sites that were made available for temporary child care “will start being open for six hours beginning tomorrow.” Previously the facilities were open for only four hours. These sites will be able to hold roughly 150,000 students displaced by the strike.
Talks are set to start again Wednesday.
– Casey Wian reports.
Apple expected to unveil iPhone 5 today in San Francisco – CNN's Dan Simon reports
Wednesday, Apple is expected to announce the latest edition to their iPhone line at 1 p.m. ET. The invitation sent out for today's media event in San Francisco, displays a large number 12 for the date and in the shadow area, the number 5.
Apple has released a new version of the iPhone every year since 2007, resulting in frenzy from consumers. CNN’s Dan Simon says the new iPhone “is expected to be the biggest selling Smartphone of all time, shattering previous records set by Apple.”
– CNN’s Dan Simon reports.
'Early Start' Instant Poll: Apple's iPhone 5 announcement?
(Wired) - Six years since its debut, the iPhone shows no signs of slowing in popularity. It is a market force unto itself. A pocket colossus.
Consumers are clamoring for Apple's flagship handset more than ever. And that means tech blogs and message boards are slinging pixelated rumors by the retina-displayful to satisfy the curious maw of Apple's mob.
Will it have a 4-inch display? Will it be 4G LTE? What about a built-in panini maker? (just a geek's dream, sure...but they can still dream!)
This morning we want to know how excited (or not) you are for the Apple announcement. Take our instant poll below and share your thoughts in the comments.
Read more: What to expect from Apple's Wednesday event
NYPD's Ray Kelly on 9/11 anniversary: New York City safer than it has ever been, but not taking anything for granted
The NYPD is on alert today, prepared for potential threats on the anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is leading the security measures around the city. He joins Zoraida Sambolin on “Early Start” this morning from the World Trade Center memorial site with more details.
“There are no credible threats today,” Kelly says. “We have done an awful lot in this city to protect ourselves from another terrorist attack. We have invested a lot of effort, a lot of time, but there are no guarantees,” he says. Over 200 specially trained officers are standing ground at the memorial and the surrounding area. “I think we are safer now certainly than we have ever been, but, as I say, we’re certainly not taking anything for granted,” Kelly says.
Kelly says social media is integrated in this year’s tribute. The NYPD’s Facebook page and Twitter have memorials to officers whose lives were lost in 9/11. Kelly says 23 police officers were lost that day, and “an additional 52 members of the department, who have succumbed to illnesses that they contracted in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, either working at Ground Zero or at the landfill at Staten Island.” “We are tweeting each name and short statement about each officer and you can see the entire package on our Facebook page,” he says. “We thought it was another way to make certain that we certainly never forget their sacrifice.”
Kelly also remarks on federal health authorities adding 58 types of cancers covered by the Zadroga Act for people exposed to toxins at Ground Zero. “It’s certainly major move in the right direction,” he says. “Whether or not it’s enough, I think, remains to be seen.
Best Advice: Gov. Bev Perdue
North Carolina's Governor Bev Perdue gives us some best advice from the DNC.
WTC Health Program director on Zadroga Act cancer coverage: 'A historic decision' for first responders who showed 'a very American sense of altruism'
First responders celebrate a victory today on the commemoration of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Yesterday federal health authorities added 58 types of cancers to the list of covered illnesses by the Zadroga Act for people who worked at Ground Zero. Dr. Benjamin Luft, Director of the World Trade Center Health Program at Stony Brook, NY, comes to “Early Start” this morning to discuss the development. His center provides health services and treatment for First Responders.
“This is really a historic decision,” Dr. Luft says. He says people are continuing to develop cancers and it’s uncertain how many people this decision will ultimately help. “What this really establishes, that the environment wasn’t safe at Ground Zero and that there was a very significant toxic exposure to a variety of carcinogens” Dr. Luft says. As a result of all the equipment pulverized and burnt in the World Trade Center, “there was a tremendous number of organic toxins that were in the air and in the environment,” Dr. Luft explains.
Dr. Luft also reflects on the diversity of the First Responders who put themselves at risk. Firemen and policemen were joined by ordinary citizens. “They were construction workers, laborers, undocumented workers. All of these people came together to respond, and they did so without any thought as to what the long-term consequences were,” Dr. Luft says. “It was a real example of a very American sense of altruism.”
“I think it’s so important to understand that 11 years later,” he says, “as many as 20% continue to suffer from various psychiatric issues, psychological issues, like post-traumatic stress.” He stresses that 2,700 people died gruesome deaths on 9/11. “This is a tremendous insult to someone’s psyche and this is what they continue to recollect for so many years later,” Dr. Luft says.
He hopes that the program continues to be funded so that First Responders could be treated. “This program is only funded for about three more years,” he says. “And it requires Congress to set aside more funds for it to be able to go on.”
President Obama's convention bounce – Paul Steinhauser looks at the latest poll numbers
The 2012 election take a back seat today as both candidates observe a one-day silence on political ads in commemoration of the September 11th attacks. Meanwhile, President Obama has a post-convention bounce in his step according to a new CNN-ORC poll. He leads Mitt Romney by six points with 52% for Obama to 46% for Romney. The two were previously tied at 48% last week in the same poll.
CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser breaks down different numbers on “Early Start” this morning. He also gives a great explanation of registered and likely voters. “Registered voters is the wider pool of voters. That means you’re registered to vote,” he says. “The likely voter model is a tighter model, which means a person is more likely to vote, actually cast a ballot on Election Day or vote earlier.”
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