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Pentagon Investigates Deaths of Americans in Libya; The Bond Between the U.S. and Egypt; More Stimulus on the Way; Cast Member Regrets Anti-Muslim Movie; Vote Tomorrow On Chicago Teachers' Strike; U.S. Moves Warships To Libyan Coast; Final Farewell To Neil Armstrong

Aired September 13, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Suzanne. Thank you very much.

I'm Don Lemon. In just a few minutes, the chairman of the Federal Reserve will step to the podium and explain his decision to inject another round of stimulus into the U.S. economy. Ali Velshi is standing by to explain it all and what it means for you.

But first, from North Africa to as far east as India, protesters are demonstrating at U.S. embassies over not what Americans have done but for what one reported American has created. A film that mocks Islam's prophet Muhammad. Muslim demonstrators in Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, Israel, Gaza, India and elsewhere are enraged over that film.

That played the part in the death of four Americans. The U.S. ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens. This veteran State Department official, Sean Smith, a father of two. And two security officers, one over them a Navy SEAL. In the last hour, the president spoke about the deaths.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are going to bring those who killed our fellow Americans to justice.

(APPLAUSE AND CHEERING)

OBAMA: I want people around the world to hear me. To all those who would do us harm, no act of terror will go unpunished.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well, the Pentagon says it's still unclear if Americans killed Tuesday were targeted by a specific terrorist group or just victims of circumstance. But what is clear, the anti-American outrage is growing. In Iran, demonstrators chanting "death to America."

(VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: To Yemen now, several thousand people demonstrated. Some of them breached a wall of the U.S. embassy. And in Egypt, state television reports 224 people were hurt in anti-U.S. protests in Cairo. That's the very latest. Now let's go to the ground and join Ben Wedeman. CNN's Ben Wedeman, he's live for us. Ben, 224 reported injured. How did so many people get hurt?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, really, because you have a very aggressive crowd outside the American embassy, and the Egyptian security forces are using lots and lots of teargas to keep them away. Many of those injuries are simply people who fainted from teargas inhalation. We did see one young man who seemed to have been hit perhaps by a rubber bullet.

At the moment, the Egyptian police -- I can see them right here -- have set up barriers around the American embassy. But the protesters have moved closer to the embassy, but at the moment they're just chanting and it doesn't appear that any teargas is being fired.

There was an attempt just less than an hour ago by the protesters to sort of turn the protest more peaceful, but the response of the Egyptian security forces was simply to fire more teargas. But at the moment, it's calm down there. They're chanting.

But it's worth stressing, Don, that while this is going on in a very small area around the American embassy, much of Cairo is actually quite normal. It's a Thursday evening, which is the beginning of the weekend here in Egypt. And many people are simply going around their normal business.

In fact, this hotel which is just one block from the American embassy is hosting two very large weddings. And many of the people you speak to away from the protests say they condemn this anti-Islamic film, but they're not happy at all about the violence that has racked this part of Cairo. Don?

LEMON: And Ben, as you're talking, I want to tell our viewers, these are live pictures of the demonstrators now. Let's focus on the protesters a little bit more, Ben. Are they fringe members of a Muslim faith? Who are they?

WEDEMAN: Well, in fact, not all of them are even Muslims. I spoke to one Christian man who says he was very upset about the film because of the tensions that have been caused by it here. Many of them are just young men and some women who have always come out when there were demonstrations and it becomes almost -- I don't want to call it a game, but sort of a game of cat-and-mouse between the police and the protesters. They don't seem to represent any specific political party.

In fact, the Muslim Brotherhood, which of course the president of Egypt, Mohammed Morsi, is affiliated - tomorrow is organizing a very large demonstration in Tahrir Square. But they have stressed that it will be a peaceful --

LEMON: Ben, Ben, I'm sorry to cut you off. We need to get to the Pentagon now. The Pentagon holding a briefing on the arrest made. Let's listen in now.

(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE OF SPEECH - JOINED IN PROGRESS)

GEORGE LITTLE, PENTAGON SPOKESPERSON: -- colleagues to the United States. Over the past 48 hours leadership of this department including the secretary and the chairman have worked closely with combat and commanders to review our force posture in the region and to ensure that we had the flexibility to respond to request for assistance or orders as directed by the president of the United States. This department also continues to work closely with the State Department and our partners throughout the region including Yemen, Egypt and Afghanistan to ensure all missions have any necessary resources of this department given the potential for further demonstrations in the coming days.

Let me shift gears at this point. This weekend, Secretary Panetta will depart Washington for his third visit to Asia in 11 months as secretary of defense. The trip will take him to Japan, China --

(END LIVE COVERAGE OF SPEECH - JOINED IN PROGRESS)

LEMON: Okay. That is a representative, a spokesperson for the Pentagon, George Little speaking. But as I said, there's new information about arrests made.

There's breaking news now on CNN. We're getting word of arrests in the attack against Americans in Libya. You saw the press briefing there at the Pentagon. These arrests, which include just for the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to the country. Again, word that there have been arrests. We'll get more information on that and bring it to you.

In the meantime, joining me now from Washington, Hala Gorani, CNN International. Hala, this is indeed a big development in the case. If you know something, tell me about it.

But - but I want to talk about the hundreds of injured protesters and people injured in Egypt today, as well. You've got protests spreading from Yemen, Iran, Kashmir. Tomorrow, they'll have the situation with Friday prayers. When they let out and the Muslim faith -- people of Muslim faith pour in to the streets. How dangerous is this now, the reaction to this film produced in the United States?

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, it is going to be a question of what happens, as you mentioned, Friday. It's the day of prayer in the Muslim world. Whether it has legs, quote/unquote so to speak. Whether or not this will eventually die down.

I think what people need to understand, Don, this is more than just about a film. You know? This is a reflection of the groups that have sort of attached themselves to protests against the movie. In some cases perhaps Islamists and some cases football hooligans. In some cases, as Ben Wedeman was saying, just ordinary people in the street taking part.

The big challenge for America and the United States now is its relationship with Egypt. It's much more important than a relationship with other Arab countries. It is the most populace Arab country, and it has a new president. This is a brand-new experiment for the United States and Western countries with an elected Islamist president.

And Don, you will remember people were a little bit surprised/disappointed that President Morsi of Egypt didn't condemn the violence against the embassy. And when he finally did issue a statement, it was to condemn the film itself. And the readout of the phone call between President Obama and President Morsi was just chilly. I mean, especially compared to the phone call he had with the president, the newly-elected president of Libya.

So, this is a new relationship. Even President Obama's calling it a work in progress and it is a crucial strategic one for America.

LEMON: Overseas, Hala, what message is the so-called Arab Street looking for? Is there anything the Obama administration can say or do to try to calm things down there?

Reporter: Well, I think you have still very much a situation in the Arab world where the United States is unpopular. If you look at what President Morsi of Egypt did, it is a political calculation. He initially first of all didn't react for 24 hours or more. And then when he finally did, as I said, condemned the film rather than the violence against American targets.

The U.S. is still very unpopular. First because of the Iraq war, but even under the Obama administration with very unpopular drone strikes and policies that Arabs and Muslims in some parts of the world consider to be offensive to them.

So, what the U.S. needs to do, you know, is in order to win a PR war, perhaps one of the moments where the world had the most sympathy of America was in the tragic death of ambassador Chris Stevens in Libya two days ago. There was a real outpouring on Twitter and also on the streets of Tripoli where you saw some counter protests of Libyans holding up signs saying we are sorry, this does not represent Islam. It's still a very complicated situation for America in this Arab Spring environment.

LEMON: Yes. I want you to take a listen, Hala, to Senator John McCain. He spoke this morning with Brooke Baldwin about the strategic importance of Egypt and also how the Egyptian government could have done better in its response to the attacks against the U.S. embassy there. Here's Senator McCain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: They have a pretty big army, and they have could have protected our embassy. And it's understandable why colleagues and friends of mine and Americans are very upset. But I would like to point out again that Egypt is critical, and we have to be very careful and measured in our response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Very careful and measured. Could you explain to us again why Egypt is so important to the U.S., especially to the tune of $2 billion in foreign aid per year? GORANI: Well, it's interesting that Barack Obama, the president, would say, you know, our relationship with Mohammed Morsi's administration is a work in progress. But also, Egypt is not an ally. It's not an enemy but it's an ally. So, if you're between being an enemy and ally and you're still getting two billion U.S. dollars in military and other aid, it's an extremely still important relationship. Because geo-strategically in the region you have Israel. Of course, you have what's going on in Syria. You have the relationship between Iran and Syria, as well.

And Egypt is going to be, in that context, extremely important. Egypt shares a border, of course, with Israel and Gaza. And the peace accords that were signed several decades ago that the Muslim Brotherhood president is pledging to honor, you know, are very important in that part of the world.

So you have all of that, and it is extremely important for the United States to maintain stability in that part of the world. Otherwise it's goes against the interests of -- of the U.S. and Washington.

LEMON: Hala, thank you very much. We appreciate it. And want to tell you a little bit more about the breaking news. A lot going on here. There was a Pentagon briefing happening at the time. CNN also learning and this is according to Reuters that some people had been arrested and are under investigation in conjunction with Tuesday's attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi. According to Sharef, according to Wanis Sharef (sic), the Libyan deputy interior ministry says we are gathering evidence at this point. But we're hearing word of arrests being made in that bombing.

Much more on this unfolding story. Plus, a lot more developing this hour, so roll it.

Any minute, Ben Bernanke steps to the microphone and tells investors what they've been waiting to hear.

Plus, the two men begging for your vote hit the campaign trail as violence erupts across the Middle East. You'll hear what they're saying.

And, he did what no other man did.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEIL ARMSTRONG, ASTRONAUT: That's one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: From legend to recluse. Today, America remembers Neil Armstrong.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: More stimulus money on the way. Just hours ago, the Federal Reserve announced new plans to try to energize the economy. The Fed will spend $40 billion a month on mortgage-backed securities.

Let's bring in CNN's chief business correspondent Mr. Ali Velshi. He is in New York and the vest thing going. All right, Ali. The Fed's new plan focused on mortgage-backed securities. How could this affect the housing market?

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Okay. So think about it this way. The Federal Reserve is buying bonds from banks. They're just a different kind of bond. These are the mortgages packaged up and resold to people. The Fed buys these from the banks. The bank had the bonds not like cash and can't do as much. Give them to the fed and they get $40 billion a month.

In theory, they figure, hey, what do they do with money? They should lend it out to businesses and individuals. These individuals and businesses have more money on hand because lending standards are loosened up a little bit an they'll do the things that they should do to enhance the economy. Generally speaking, let's say you're a business. You want to expand, build a factory, a plant or open more stores. There should be more money available for you to do so. If businesses and people spend the money you create demand and the economy grows. Unemployment goes down and everybody's happy.

LEMON: That's the way it should work. We shall see. Stand by, Ali. Let's listen to Ben Bernanke speaking.

(BEGIN LIVE COVERAGE OF SPEECH - JOINED IN PROGRESS)

BEN BERNANKE, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: -- it's a policy accommodation in recent years. With the main policy interest rate near the effective lower bound we have been using two complimentary tools to carry out monetary policy. Balance sheet actions and forward guidance regarding how long we anticipate maintaining exceptional levels of policy accommodation.

Well, providing the support we have been prudent carefully weighing the potential benefits and costs of each new policy action and recognizing that monetary policy, particularly in the current circumstances, cannot cure all economic ills. The FOC has taken several actions this year. In January, it extended its forward guidance, stating that it anticipated the federal funds rate to remain near current levels until late 2014.

In June, the committee decided to continue through the end of the year the previously established program to extend the average maturity of the securities it holds by buying longer-term securities and selling an equivalent amount of shorter term securities. However, incoming data confirmed that the modest pace of growth continues to be inadequate to generate much progress on unemployment. With inflation anticipated to run at or below our 2 percent objective, the committee is convinced that further policy accommodation is warranted to strengthen the economy and support the gains we've begun to see in housing and other sectors.

(END LIVE FEED) LEMON: All right. You hear the Fed chair there specifically mentioning housing and other sectors there. He is speaking. So I'll continue my conversation now with Ali Velshi.

So, a lot of business talk, a lot of talk about these are the things we want to put in place. You said the goals, the goals are really to get the banks to lend more, people to spend more.

VELSHI: Yep.

LEMON: Do you think that these techniques are working? As I said before, well, that's how it's supposed to work. They have before and not sure if it will again.

VELSHI: Lots of things don't work the way they should work these days. In a perfect world Washington wouldn't have us near a fiscal cliff and certainty of taxes and make the right political decisions to get the economy going and then the fed would be a backstop. They would help us in a time of crisis if you really need to goose the economy but what do you do with lowering interest rates when the rates are so low? Low in the middle of 2015 and said they'll keep them low to middle of 2014. It is having an effect. Lower housing prices are causing people to buy the homes you are seeing activity. It's not gangbusters. Made the market go up today. Very good for stock investors and things are good for stock investors. We're not sure how quickly to result in the businesses, borrowing run to open factories, stores, hiring people to create demand fen more jobs. That's the issue. It's not fast. Probably not the wrong thing to do. Particularly expensive. They're printing money, that debases the value of the currency and a lot to go wrong and would be better if Washington took its responsibility and dealt with the issues opposed to the fed.

LEMON: Let's talk about the street. It's taking off. The Dow is at 186 right now. So positive reaction to this?

VELSHI: Yes. In fact, if you look at where that's coming from, looking at a couple of key stocks, Bank of America up 4.5 percent. Citigroup up almost 4 percent. The banks love this. They got word they're going to be able to trade in the bonds and get cash for it which they can then loan out to people and make money on. This is always good for the market. Christine Romans describes this as handing the stock market another box of donuts on a sugar high. This stock market right now, the Dow at a five-year high is not reflective of the greater economy. You know that, right?

LEMON: Right.

VELSHI: We're struggling with unemployment, great bifurcation. This is excellent news for the market and not terrible because many of us have money to retire on. Right now, the major issue and creating jobs, this will have some effect in the long term. Very little in the short term.

LEMON: Hey, Ali, I have to run. The market's up. 194 now. So looks like a good close. Thank you. Appreciate it. More breaking news. More on the breaking news. Word of arrest in the attack that killed a U.S. ambassador to Libya.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: And the breaking news on CNN right now, word of arrests in the attack against Americans in Libya, which includes the death of the U.S. ambassador to the country. Straight now to Tripoli and Jomana Karadsheh. What are you hearing in anything about this?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): This is coming from the Reuters news agency. The deputy interior ministry for the eastern part of the country saying that they have four men in custody and they're interrogating them because they're suspected of helping instigate the offense. It is not clear who the men are and also heard in the past couple of hours Libya's prime minister speaking to the French news agency, AFP, and saying they have made big progress in the investigation and that a number of arrests have already taken place and now we'll have to see if these, indeed, are arrests of people who are involved in these attacks. This will be a major step forward, Don, as the Libyan government who's really not taken serious action against these suspected Islamist groups that are operating in the eastern part of the country.

LEMON: According to Reuters, Libyan deputy interior ministry saying some people are arrested and under investigation and then goes on to say we're gathering evidence. Jomana, but that's about as much as we know. They're not really tipping their hand much, are they?

KARADSHEH: Not yet. We're hoping to find out soon. The Libyan government is really tight-lipped in releasing information about what happened at the consulate, the attacks, want their investigation is concluded and heard that yesterday from the former prime minister. Once that's concluded they'll come out and explain what happened and what they have found out.

LEMON: Thank you, Joman Karadsheh. We appreciate it.

Word of arrests in that attack in Libya. Interesting new turn, as well, in the mystery behind the people who made the film that's enraging many Muslims. CNN just learned what appears to be the producer's real name and religious background. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Distortions and deception are not just on camera in the film that is now at the center of Muslim outrage. They've used multiple names and we first reported that his name was Sam Bacile but CNN cannot locate anyone with that name. A production staff member says the producer's name is Nakoula Bassely and this staffer believes that Bassely is a Coptic Christian not Jewish as initially stated.

The lies don't end there. An actress in the film says she was duped and now regrets her part in the movie that may have led to the death of four Americans.

CNN's Miguel Marquez spoke with her exclusively.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She responded to a generic casting call for what was billed as an action adventure film set 2000 years ago. We'll, low budget fair called at that time, "desert warrior."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (on camera): You find yourself in the middle of an international nightmare. That's what I find myself in the middle of -- of a world that I've prayed for -- for God to help. Killing is never right.

MARQUEZ (voice-over): In her portion of the script, the Prophet Muhammad character was called George who was referred to during filming as either Master George or Father Master, never Muhammad.

She was paid $500 for a few days' work, but she says the writer/producer, Sam Bacile lied about the film's content.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's very unfair and I'm very sorry for his -- that man, his family and everybody else that was hurt.

MARQUEZ: She even phoned Bacile whom she says remains defiant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said tell the media that I'm tired of the Muslims killing innocent people.

MARQUEZ: Steve Klein consulted on the film.

STEVE KLEIN, FILM CONSULTANT: The motivation was to spark some change within Islam? Only of these few fractions, you know, a fraction of the fraction of the very dangerous men if we could somehow open up the eyes.

MARQUEZ: The actress doesn't want her name used because her family is fearful, but she isn't.

(on camera): What is your overriding emotion right now? Is it fear? Is it anger?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anger and hurt. I'm not afraid. My husband is afraid for me, but I'm not. I'm pretty pissed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: This actress apologized to Muslims for what was portrayed in the film and said if she knew what was in it before it was made, she never would have done it. Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

LEMON: All right, Miguel, thank you very much. Very busy news day, we have breaking news on Libya. Now developing story happening out of Chicago, more than 350,000 students out of school because teachers are striking. We're getting word there's an announcement that could come soon after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, the breaking news now is here in the United States. Chicago Teachers Unions, their representative, Stephanie Gadlin has confirmed that a meeting of union delegates with a power to end the strike has been called for tomorrow.

Ted Rowlands is in Chicago with the very latest. This is hopefully some good news here and what time is that meeting?

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tomorrow at 2:00, Don and here's why it's significant. To ratify a deal and to end the strike, they have to get the approval of the union delegates, 800 of them. Those delegates have been notified to show up 2:00 local tomorrow and I just talked to one of those delegates.

The anticipation is at that time there will be a deal that has been tentatively agreed upon between the negotiators on both sides and at that point it is expected that unless something goes wrong, but at that point expected that a vote will be taken.

And the strike could end, which would mean that the kids would be back in school on Monday morning which, of course, is wonderful news for 350,000 families here in the Chicago area who have had to endure now four days and likely five days of striking teachers and no children in the classroom.

LEMON: We shall see. Fingers crossed. Thank you very much, Ted Rowlands.

In this week's "Human Factor," our Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces us to Glenn Keller who drives 3,000 miles a week in his tractor trailer and doesn't leave a lot of time for health and fitness.

But he's just three days away from competing in his first triathlon alongside Dr. Sanjay Gupta and six other CNN viewers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just nine months ago, long haul truck driver, Glenn Keller, pulled in to the parking lot of a Wal-Mart. He ate his last bucket of fried chicken and then he bought a webcam and sent us this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm at least 100 pounds overweight.

GUPTA: Keller, who also runs a call-in ministry from his truck weighed 315. Could only sleep with the help of a machine to treat the sleep apnea and knew that if he didn't change something fast, he was headed for a disaster.

(on camera): We are delighted to invite you to be a member of the "Six Pack" next year.

(voice-over): We selected Glenn as part of CNN's "Fit Nation Triathlon Challenge" the day after he sent in that video. Since that moment, his life has changed dramatically. At our first meeting in Atlanta, his spirit was more than willing, but it would take time for his body to follow. A few months later, we met up again in Hawaii.

He was down almost 50 pounds, biked close to 20 miles, learned to swim in the ocean and walked his way through a 1-mile run. Just two months after that, Glenn picked me up in his truck as he came to Atlanta.

(on camera): You just drove 800 miles, is that right?

GLENN KELLER, FIT NATION PARTICIPANT: Yes, sir.

GUPTA: Just fitting in time to exercise must be challenging.

KELLER: It's really challenging. It's kind of a thing where I really can't wait to find time. I have to make time.

GUPTA: A lot of people might not know this, but you were displaced after Katrina.

KELLER: Yes, sir.

GUPTA: You made and made your life there after that.

KELLER: I did, yes, sir.

GUPTA: There's a church lower 9th Ward that asked you to come back and be their pastor.

KELLER: Yes, sir. They have.

GUPTA: I heard that today. That's really flattering and I mean, quite an honor.

KELLER: And I feel really honored. It's been quite an experience.

GUPTA (voice-over): Keller says without the energy, confidence and good health this triathlon experience has given him, he would never have been able to take on this new congregation.

Now Keller has just one big challenge left, the Nautica Malibu triathlon on September 16th, a half mile swim, 18-mile bike ride and a four-mile run. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right, good luck to everyone. You can learn more about Glenn and all of the lucky seven by watching "Sanjay Gupta M.D." live from Malibu, California, Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

As we get word of arrests, an arrest have been made in the Libya attack, the attack that killed a U.S. ambassador, we're told that an American battleship is being moved. Marines are being deployed.

You're about to hear from someone who knows how these decisions are made behind closed doors. General Wesley Clark joins me in studio at the magic wall, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Welcome back, everyone. I want to remind you about the breaking news that we're hearing coming out of Libya and the attack of a couple of days ago where four Americans died. We are hearing that arrests have been made. We are getting more information on that and will continue to follow.

But as we have been reporting here, the United States is sending two U.S. Navy destroyers to the water off Libya. It is a response, of course, to the attack there against the United States consulate and the killing of a U.S. ambassador.

So joining me now, General Wesley Clark, U.S. Army retired and a former NATO supreme commander. So look at this, the U.S. sending two destroyers, moving then into position and going in to Libya off the coast there. It is like returning to a crime scene and saying, everybody here, freeze. Is that --

GENERAL WESLEY CLARK, U.S. ARMY RETIRED: I think this underscores the United States' determination that justice be done and that no more such attacks be committed.

And the investigation's continuing, obviously, as to who was behind it, how well organized it was, was it spontaneous? Was it fomented?

That's all a work behind the scene but the ships arriving in the area underscore U.S. concern and also probably have response capacities to either directly help the embassies or put people ashore who can.

LEMON: We'll talk more about the ships in a second. Is this a suggestion in any way that they want to discourage obviously what's going on further in Libya and perhaps Egypt, is this posturing or are we serious here?

CLARK: I think the administration's very, very serious about this. We -- this is -- these attacks were totally unjustified. They have been strongly condemned. We have demanded that the governments in place secure U.S. territory, which is our embassies and consulates there. They're responsible for that, but just to be sure there's no repeat it doesn't hurt to have assets closer.

LEMON: Let's talk about the fire power, lots of fire power, these two particular ships here, General. Why these ships in particular, the Laboon and the "USS McFaul."

CLARK: Well, I'm sure it's because they're the most available, I'm sure, but there's other assets to be deployed on the ships while en route from other places.

Special operations forces, there's helicopters. There's various air to ground assets to be brought to bear so this is just the visible platform if you will.

LEMON: The question is, how do we get in there and find all of the people behind the attack on the consulate and the people who killed not only the ambassador, but three other people. How do we get in there and do that?

CLARK: Well, we get if there through the FBI, counter terrorism teams, intelligence liaison teams, all of the liaison with the Libyan intelligence and security personnel. But these destroyers are indicators we're prepared to take action.

LEMON: OK, let's move on now. I want to talk to you about this as we see the region there, a different subject. We now have the two aircraft carriers there near the Persian Gulf.

We have the Eisenhower, the Enterprise. So should President Barack Obama give the order to strike Iranian nuclear targets, these assets are there and can be quickly moved.

CLARK: They could. And I mean, they don't have to be moved very far.

LEMON: Right.

CLARK: Because these assets have a tremendous reach, but in addition. There are lots of other assets in other places that can quickly come in, reinforce, use land based areas and continue the fight.

We have a reach from the continental United States with certain fast assets nonnuclear that will reach from platforms like Diego Garcia with long-range aviation and used in Afghanistan and lots of things to come in from lots of directions on Iran.

LEMON: The people at home watching and I for one, what is this, a ramp-up to what leading up to what? Do we even know at this point?

CLARK: Well, what we do know is there's a sense that although sanctions are definitely tightening their grip on the economy of Iran, that there are rising concerns because the Iranian nuclear activities are continuing.

And people are recognizing this and so maybe there are some red lines there that would be breached and, you know, if I were the Iranian leadership I would be very nervous about President Barack Obama because he's the man who can take decisive action. He has shown it in the past. He puts his head in to the problem. He reads it and he makes decisions.

LEMON: You are a campaign surrogate for the Obama campaign. Let's look at pictures, General, from Cairo near the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. There are fires being set now. We see people out demonstrating.

Again, these are live pictures happening now. When we look at and just a report of who was there said this is what you're seeing here in this particular spot but most of Egypt, most of the places pretty much business as usual. What's the concern when looking at these pictures?

CLARK: Well, the concern is who's in there stirring up the trouble and how did it break out that the security forces didn't know it and protect our embassy? You know, the vast majority of the people of Egypt don't do this and certainly the people in the modernized sector, business and commerce, every day fluent in English and working with the west and cutting business deals and generate jobs and keep the economy of Egypt moving or get it moving again, these people have nothing to do with this.

This is a very, very small minority. And we shouldn't read anything about it as far as the government or people of Egypt are concerned. But what we should do is be working with the Egyptians.

They've been a long-time U.S. ally to be able to put down the problem, additional intelligence assets they need and take from them information they may have gathered to help us and others in Yemen and Libya or someplace else.

LEMON: Yes, all those warships, thank you, General.

CLARK: Thank you, Don.

LEMON: Appreciate it. We'll be back with more breaking news happening overseas as well as here in the United States with the Chicago teachers strike right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Check your look. Get your walk ready. It's fashion week in New York right now. But today, we are stepping away from the runway for a moment to take an exclusive look, an exclusive tour of Tommy Hilfiger's iconic homes inside one of the most famous buildings in the world. Here's Alina Cho.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can anybody cash this in?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some call Tommy Hilfiger the king of fashion, but here at this his home in New York -- wow, wow, wow. He lives like a prince, the prince of the Plaza Hotel.

(on camera): Why the Plaza?

TOMMY HILFIGER, DESIGNER: Well, location is number one, but I also like the fact that it's an iconic building.

CHO (voice-over): One of the most famous buildings in the world, overlooking Central Park on New York's famed 5th Avenue, a two-story 6,000 square foot apartment that took three years to complete.

HILFIGER: We really wanted to go back to the way that the plaza was in the beginning when Truman Capote had the Black and White Ball -- red carpets on the stairs.

CHO: With a modern twist. There's contemporary art everywhere. Dozens and dozens of famous Warhols -- icons.

HILFIGER: Yes. I like American icons. CHO: Liz Taylor, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, part of the allure is that Hilfiger knew Warhol, a man of few words.

HILFIGER: One time I asked Andy why do you do what you do? He said, because I like it. That was it.

CHO: On our tour, we got a peek inside his private office.

HILFIGER: Actually, this is from the original New York Times building.

CHO: You are kidding me. There's this.

HILFIGER: This is the Eloise Room. It is really the tower in the plaza.

CHO: You know Eloise, she's the fictional storybook character that wreaked havoc at the plaza. The book's illustrator was commissioned to paint the mural in this room.

HILFIGER: She was here for a reason. Great room service.

CHO: Speaking of rooms, this feels like the plaza to me.

HILFIGER: It's like a hotel suite.

CHO: With his and her closets.

HILFIGER: My own clothing store even though I wear the same thing every day.

CHO: That's not all. They shuttle between three homes. In addition to New York, he and his wife, Dee, own homes in Greenwich, Connecticut, and this called Palm Beach on an island.

HILFIGER: I have always wanted to acquire trophy real estate.

CHO: Why?

HILFIGER: Because location, location, location is very important and I think that as an investment you can't do better than that.

CHO: His advice for living the good life on the budget?

HILFIGER: Buy what you like. You can go to flea markets. You can go to rummage sales. You can go to antique places and find really, really great pieces for not a lot of money. And I think that if you surround yourself with things you love then it makes for a great home design.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: And you can catch that entire segment there, "Fashion: Backstage Pass" Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Eastern. It's a special here on CNN. Coming up, as the Middle East braces for more violence tomorrow, we'll speak live with Fahreed Zakaria about what should be the next step for the U.S.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Didn't much care for the spotlight in life, but today hundreds remembered Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon. The astronaut died last month, but his national memorial service played out in Washington, D.C.

I want to give you some of the sights and sounds to the final goodbye to Armstrong.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neil considered that he was just the tip of the arrow, always giving way to some 400,000 equally committed and dedicated Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Neil Armstrong, Commander Apollo XI.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was courage, grace and humility he displayed throughout his life that lifted him above the stars.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy but because they are hard.