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Libyans Make Attack Arrests; Ambassador Died In Land He Loved; Violent Protests At Germany Embassy; Tracking Anti-Islamic Film; History of Coptic Christians; Libya Arrests Four Suspects; Paul Ryan Blasts President Obama; Chicago Teacher's Strike Could End Today; American Bodies Being Brought Home

Aired September 14, 2012 - 13:00   ET

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

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Here are some of the photos that stood out from the protests today.

This protester started break dancing, yes, in Cairo, Egypt to mock riot police. Officers were trying to control the crowd of demonstrators. And in Pakistan, protesters attempted to cross barbed wire to reach the U.S. embassy there. They're calling for the expulsion of the Ambassador and other U.S. diplomats. Men burned U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration in Gaza city. We've been telling you these protests were triggered by a low budget movie ridiculing the prophet, Muhammad.

I'm Suzanne Malveaux, this hour in the CNN NEWSROOM, we are watching several countries where active anti-American and anti-western protests are raging. Some of the them out of control.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

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MALVEAUX: This is Sudan that you are watching ,embassy row in the capital, Khartoum. Furious protesters got into the compound of the German embassy. They set fires and tried to smash windows. Police managed to break up the riot with tear gas.

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MALE: (INAUDIBLE.)

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MALVEAUX: Cairo today saw the fourth straight day of angry mobs fighting against riot police near the American embassy, and in the city's center Tahrir Square. In all these countries, anything American, government buildings, businesses are the target of anger and attacks today. You are about to find out why and where else. Let's get straight to it.

We're going to go straight to Tunisia, it is in northern Africa. Protesters now have breached the U.S. embassy in the capital of Tunis. They pulled down the U.S. flag, replaced it with a black flag, and you might remember Tunisia, that is where the Arab Spring protests first began. I want to bring in our journalist, Ezria -- mhirsi, rather, he joins us on the phone from Tunis. Zied, explain to us what's going on there. Have the police been able to stop the protesters?

ZIED MHIRSI, JOURNALIST (via telephone): Yes. Definitely, it's at the end of the day now in Tunis, and the police managed to take control of the situation after a fierce battle between protesters and for security forces with (INAUDIBLE), they've got tear gas and other shoot -- live ammunition. It has been used in order to calm down the situation. Although, we don't know if there are (INAUDIBLE) or deaths. The damage -- the physical damage around the embassy is (INAUDIBLE.) I'm counting now more than 50 cars burned at the embassy parking lot. There are also (INAUDIBLE) damages that happened to the building. We could see outside the embassy also riot police cars and all sorts of -- all sorts of things that have been damaged by the protesters.

MALVEAUX: And was there anybody inside the embassy at the time all this was going on? Has anybody been hurt or taken to the hospital?

MHIRSI: Yes, actually, the whole -- the embassy staff was inside the embassy. This is pretty much sure now, but although we don't have a final confirmation. But at the end of the day we (INAUDIBLE) the anti-terror squad which is the most trained group of the (INAUDIBLE) to the embassy which was interpreters eyes the evacuation of the U.S. -- the -- from the embassy. But none of this is confirmed, but I think what we think is that from our own eyes, we could see Marines on the roof of (INAUDIBLE) observing the situation, but not intervene.

MALVEAUX: The last time you and I spoke, you said that they were hunkered down inside of the embassy, now you are saying that there was a group of Marines that were at least watching the situation and perhaps an evacuation force. Do we know if they're still hunkered down inside the embassy or were they taken out to safety?

MHIRSI: Excuse me, can you repeat the question?

MALVEAUX: Sure. Do we know if they're still hunkered down inside the U.S. Embassy or have they been taken -- have they left the building and taken to safety?

MHIRSI: (INAUDIBLE) there were at least a minimal staff that is inside the embassy, and that was inside the embassy. The whole (INAUDIBLE) that all the battle happened outside the embassy. The main building of the embassy is untouched. The protesters (INAUDIBLE) and the cars in the parking lot of the embassy but they did not (INAUDIBLE) main offices and buildings which did not put a threat of (INAUDIBLE) U.S. staff members at any danger.

MALVEAUX: All right, ZIED, we're having a little bit of difficulty hearing you. We're going to let you go there. If you get more information, we'll come right back to you. We really appreciate it.

I want to go on to Libya where police have arrested four people in connection with a violent death of the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans. For now, in custody in Benghazi. They're being indirectly linked to Tuesday's rocket attack on the U.S. consulate. I want to talk to Jomana Karadsheh, she is in Tripoli, the Libyan capital west of Benghazi. Jomana, first of all, what do we know about those arrested?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very little, Suzanne, so far. What we understand from Libyan officials is that at least one of those arrested is (INAUDIBLE) national. They were detained in Benghazi yesterday. We know that they are being interrogated to see what role they had in the attack, but according to one senior Libyan official today, they may not have been directly linked to the attack. They may have ties to the extremist organization that carried out the attack. They have not been charged yet. They are detained and being interrogated, according to Libyan officials, so we should be knowing about this as information as soon as new information is released by the Libyan government.

MALVEAUX: So, Jomana, do we believe that these people are really responsible for what took place, or does this look like this is more kind of a show?

KARADSHEH: Well, quite frankly, Suzanne, the Libyan government here is under a lot of pressure to deliver when it comes to this investigation, not only from the United States, but also from its own people. Now, whether these people who are detained are really involved in the attack or have links to this extremist group is something we will have to see and we'll have to see what kind of reaction we see from the extremists, too.

MALVEAUX: Do we have any idea if they're related or affiliated action with Al Qaeda? There was a lot of talk about that yesterday, the possibility that that was the organization.

KARADSHEH: Well, not much has been revealed by the government about this group. But what we do know, Suzanne, is this is not an isolated incident. Over the past few months, we have seen an up-tick in similar attacks targeting western interests. The U.S. consulate itself was targeted in an attack back in June when a bomb detonated outside the embassy. Now, those attacks taken place in Benghazi over the recent months were claimed by an extremist group, a group called the (INAUDIBLE) brigades. This is a true Al Qaeda group. And we also do know that there are groups with links -- direct links to Al Qaeda that operate in the eastern part of the country.

MALVEAUX: What is the security situation like on the ground today? Have you noticed any changes, anything different?

KARADSHEH: Well, Suzanne, definitely following the attack yesterday, we saw on the streets of Tripoli a real increase in security here in the capital. A lot of gun trucks around some key installations, government buildings in addition to diplomatic missions. Definitely here the government is on high alert. They are concerned about what attacks might happen next, what these extremist groups could do, but also here on the ground, Suzanne, a lot of condemnation today here, Friday. We're seeing protests by Libyans who have taken out to the streets against what happened saying they're against terrorism and that this -- the attack was not representative of the sentiments of the Libyan people as a whole to the United States.

MALVEAUX: All right. Jomana, thank you very much, really appreciate it.

Bodies of the four Americans killed in Benghazi this week, they're going to arrive back here in the United States within the hour. President Obama, secretary of state Hillary Clinton, they're going to be at Andrews Air Force base where the remains of U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens and two others are transferred. Ambassador Stevens died in the country that he served, in a part of the world, his family says, he fell in love with. Here's Anderson Cooper.

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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chris Stevens was first sent to Tripoli by the state department in 2007. Then last year, he was tasked a formidable and dangerous assignment. America's point man with rebel forces fighting Gadhafi.

HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: In the early days of the Libyan revolution, I asked Chris to be our envoy to the rebel opposition. He arrived on a cargo ship in the port of Benghazi and began building our relationships with Libya's revolutionaries.

COOPER: When the fighting stopped and Gadhafi was gone, Stevens was officially named ambassador to Libya. One of the first things he did was create this video with Arabic subtitles to reach out to Libyans.

CHRIS STEVENS, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA (video clip): I look forward to exploring those possibilities with you as we work together to build a free Democratic prosperous Libya.

COOPER: The deaths of Stevens and his three colleagues have sent shock waves through the halls of power across the nation and the world.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITES: I have no doubt that their legacy will live on through the work that they did far from our shores and in the hearts of those who love them back home.

COOPER: The president has ordered flags be flown at half staff to honor the fallen. For Stevens, Libya was the latest in a lifetime of service. After graduating from Berkeley, he Served in the Peace Corps in Morocco teaching English. Friends say he fell in love with the Middle East.

FRAN TOWNSEND, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: He had this extraordinary love of culture, of the food, of the people. He was regarded as something of a hero. I mean, I think he loved them, and he was as loved in return because it -- I think people in the region believed that he really was there with them and fighting with them. COOPER: He was fluent in Arabic and French and served the U.S. in Damascus, Cairo, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Stevens made friends everywhere he went.

ALI SULEIMAN AUJALI, LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: He was welcomed by the people. He visited the Libyans. He eat with them. He sit with them. And he is very enthusiastic about this relation.

COOPER: In an e-mail to friends two months ago obtained by the "New York Times," Stevens sounded optimistic about the future of Libya. The whole atmosphere has changed for the better, he wrote. People smile more and are much more open with foreigners. Americans, French, and British are enjoying unusual popularity. Let's hope it lasts. Anderson Cooper, CNN.

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MALVEAUX: Here's what we're working on for this hour.

Thousands stormed the German embassy in Sudan and set it on fire. We have a live report from Khartoum. We are learning the man behind the anti-Islam film has sparked many of these protests may be a Coptic Christian from Egypt. We're going to take a look at Koptan Christians' conflict with Muslims.

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MALVEAUX: One of the many hotspots today is Sudan. Muslims who feel the profit, Mohammad, has been ridiculed, have taken to streets of Khartoum by the thousands. Protester have been focusing the rage on the German embassy, even setting fires there. I want to bring in our journalist, Ismail Kushkush, who's joining us by phone from Khartoum. Ismail, talk a little about how the situation is unfolding there, first of all in the German embassy.

ISMAIL, KUSHKUSH, JOURNALIST: Well, protesters left the grand mosque in central Khartoum after Friday prayers in the thousands and marched towards the German embassy which is in downtown and right next to it is the British embassy. They were met by police. Police, at one point, fired tear gas. The protesters pulled back but came in larger numbers. It seemed the police may have been overwhelmed. One protester got in and pulled down the American -- the German flag, and stormed into the embassy in larger numbers.

It seems the police may have been overwhelmed. One protester got in, pulled down the American -- the German flag and stormed into the embassy. We saw fire, smoke coming out of the embassy. And in addition to that, rocks being thrown at the nearby British embassy.

MALVEAUX: Has anybody been hurt or taken to the hospital? Do we know of any injuries?

KUSHKUSH: According to our information, no one from the German embassy staff or the British embassy staff has been injured or hurt. Today is Friday. It's, you know, it's a weekend. So it wasn't really -- there weren't really many staff inside the embassy to begin with. MALVEAUX: Why are the Sudanese protesters -- why are they angry with the Germans? Why did they target them?

KUSHKUSH: Well, according to the Imam of the Grand Mosque in central Khartoum, that a German organization had reprinted the Danish cartoon, the infamous Danish cartoons, and stapled, you know, the -- you know, copies of the cartoon at mosques in Berlin. Muslim organizations, according to this imam, had complained to authorities in Berlin and not got the answer that they wanted to hear. So this is why the protesters here were angry at the German embassy.

After protests at the German and British embassies, protesters marched further out, in the outskirts to Khartoum, to the U.S. embassy. Though in lesser number. I would say there were about 1,000 protesters in front of the U.S. embassy. We heard that a few tried to jump into the embassy, but were met (INAUDIBLE) and were unsuccessful in that. The -- in the end, the police blocked the road leading into the U.S. embassy.

Protesters had burnt tires on the main roads nearby, had blocked the street, but were really unsuccessful in getting into the embassy. We hear that two or three protesters may have been killed, run over by Sudanese police. I'm still waiting to confirm this. Sudan police is to have a statement out shortly, we're told.

MALVEAUX: All right. When you get that statement, we'll come right back to you. That's obviously an important development if anybody has died. You say that two of the protesters might have been killed by the Sudanese police. And you've also said that at least -- it seems as if the U.S. embassy from -- according to your reports, that the situation is rather stable at the U.S. embassy, that no one was hurt there. We're going to get back to Ismail in a little bit.

Dozens of U.S. Marines are now headed to Yemen. That is where anti- U.S. protests started. We're going to tell you what message their presence is going to send the countries with U.S. embassies around the world.

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MALVEAUX: In city after city across the Muslim world, protesters are venting anti-American furor over a crude anti-Islamic film. Well, this was made in the United States and initial reports depicted this film as being financed by a group of Jewish donors. Well, obviously, Jewish groups, they are upset about this, especially now we are learning that the film might have been rooted in a long simmering religious conflict inside of Egypt. Brian Todd has the story.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Genesis of all this violence, a poorly made film called "Innocence of Muslims," a movie depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a violent buffoon. A movie which may also reflect growing tensions between Islam and the Coptic church, the largest Christian church in the Middle East. U.S. federal officials believe the man who made the film is Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who was convicted three years ago for bank fraud. The production staffer who worked on the movie says the filmmaker also went by the name Abenob Nakoula Bassely and said he believed was a Coptic Christian. The staffer says the filmmaker told him he'd been in Alexandria, Egypt, where the Coptic church is based, raising money for the film. The suggestion that Copts were involved in the movie inflamed Egyptian media.

ERIC TRAGER, WASHINGTON INST. FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: Islamists use of this idea that Copts were behind it was apparently effective in drumming up support for those attacks.

TODD: Analysts Eric Trager, and a Coptic church official, tell us there's no connection between the Coptic church itself and the movie, but the film was promoted by a man who identifies himself as a Coptic Christian, Egyptian born anti-Islam activist Morris Sadek. In an interview with the Middle East Media Research Institute last year, Sadek said this --

MORRIS SADEK (through translator): Every Muslim knows that he is one of Egypt's occupiers.

TODD: CNN has tried repeatedly and unsuccessfully to reach Morris Sadek.

TODD (on camera): An official with the Coptic church here in the U.S. told us the church strongly condemn this film. The church issued a statement calling the movie "abusive" and part of a malicious campaign to divide people. As for Morris Sadek, the Coptic official said the church has no connection to him and certainly doesn't sanction what he says.

TODD (voice-over): Egypt's Coptic church is roughly 2,000 years old. Coptic Christians make up almost 10 percent of Egypt's population and there's a long history of animosity between them and radical Muslim groups. The bombing of a Christian church in Alexandria last year killed at least 21 people. Another two dozen Coptic Christians and their supporters were killed last fall in clashes with the Egyptian army.

TODD (on camera): How far back does this tension go, and what's the reason for it?

TRAGER: The reason for the tension is I think really due to the violence that Copts have experienced, both under the previous regime and since that regime collapsed. And I think that that has really fueled mistrust.

TODD (voice-over): Trager says it's estimated about 100,000 Copts have tried to leave Egypt since the revolution last year.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

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MALVEAUX: Eric Marrapodi, CNN's BELIEF BLOG co-editor, joins us from Washington. So, Eric, tell us a little bit about what this means here. Put this into context for us, the fact that now we believe the filmmaker is a Coptic Christian. Does that have any real weight here?

ERIC MARRAPODI, CNN BELIEF BLOG CO-EDITOR: Yes. Suzanne, a lot of Coptic Christians here in the United States have immigrated from Egypt, where, as we heard in Brian's package there just a minute ago, is really the origin and the scene of the church. It goes back all the way to 43 A.D., where they believe the Apostle Mark brought Christianity to Egypt.

There's a long history there for Christians in Egypt. Of course, the flight of the holy family shortly after Jesus' birth. They fled to Egypt when Herod put out an execution order for all Jewish boys under the age of two. So there's some real strong ties to Egypt there in Alexandria.

Of course, Copts have had this long tension between Muslims. Long and bitter really. And especially since the Arab Spring, after we saw a church bombing in Alexandria. And, of course, during clashes with Egyptian security forces last year about 21 people, Copts and their supporters were killed.

MALVEAUX: And, Eric, how large is the community here in the United States?

MARRAPODI: Here in the United States, it's relatively small, but extremely close knit. You've got about 90,000 to 95,000 Coptic Christians here in the United States. It's a branch of the Orthodox church in that big broad community of Christians. You've got Orthodox, Protestants and Catholics. But, still, the Coptic group within that Orthodox branch, extremely small, but very, very close knit. Oftentimes you'll see Coptic families staying at church all day on Sunday for a long service that includes an extensive liturgy and a very ornate worship space and then joining together for family time and communal meals as well.

MALVEAUX: And, Eric, clearly, you know, the Jewish community very upset that they were initially blamed for this film, for this offensive film.

MARRAPODI: Yes.

MALVEAUX: How is the Coptic church reacting today?

MARRAPODI: Yes, we heard last night the ADL, the Anti-Defamation League, put out some real strong statements reminding folks that they were not -- Jewish folks were not involved with this film. Likewise, we saw the holy synod of the Coptic Orthodox church put out an extremely strongly worded statement on Wednesday, pushing back from the film, saying that it was wrong on every level, including financing it, and distancing themselves from it about as far as you could go. And they said anyone who was a part of this film, who belonged to their church, should be severely punished within church rules because this was so outside of what they believe in the mainstream in terms of going after and targeting another religion in a derogatory way, like we saw with this film.

MALVEAUX: All right, Eric, thank you. Really appreciate it.

Dozens of U.S. Marines, they're now headed to Yemen, where anti-U.S. protests have started. We're going to tell you what message their presence sends to countries with U.S. embassies around the world.

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MALVEAUX: The bodies of four U.S. diplomats killed in Libya are coming home in the next hour. President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, they're going to be at Joint Base Andrews to receive the remains. The U.S. is determined to find out whether a militant group planned this deadly attack at the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya, and also they're determined to bring these killers to justice. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr, she is joining us.

Barbara, first of all, we do know that there have been arrests made. At least four people who are being detained. Do we know anything about them? And how is the United States, the Pentagon and the military involved in this investigation?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, a full-blown investigation underway now, Suzanne. As for those arrested in Libya, even the Libyans are saying they may not have been directly involved in the attack, perhaps they know something about it, so the U.S. is going to want to find out everything those people have to say. But the investigation underway also here across the U.S. government agencies. CIA Director David Petraeus on Capitol Hill this morning briefing Congress about some of the latest developments.

Nobody speaking officially about it, but afterwards Senator John McCain came out and offered some riveting detail.

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SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R), ARIZONA: I know very well there were demonstrations, that there was a group of either al Qaeda or some radical Islamists who, about 15 of them, armed with RPG's and other lethal weapons, sees this opportunity to attack our consulate. And it was an act of terror. It wasn't an act of a mob getting out of control. We should understand that. This was a calculated act of terror on the part of a small group of jihadists, not a mob that somehow attacked and sacked our embassy.

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STARR: A "calculated attack by terrorists" according to Senator McCain. Suzanne, that's one of the key questions right now, how pre- planned was this? Had it already been in the works? Could it really have been spontaneous from a demonstration outside the consulate with so many people involved that appeared to be so well armed and able to carry out this very complex attack? It does seem that there might be growing evidence that this was something planned and that there were militant groups responsible for it -- Suzanne? MALVEAUX: Barbara, we know that obviously one of the jobs ahead is to investigate, but we also know, too, that there are four people who have lost their lives in that attack and there is an appropriate time to recognize that. Can you tell us a little bit about the ceremony that is going to take place this afternoon in bringing them home?

STARR: Well, it will be something very much with the families in mind, Suzanne. It is our understanding that what we will all see is a ceremony inside a hangar at Joint Base Andrews here in the Washington D.C. area. The president will be there, the vice president. The families will be there. But there will be no photography of the families who are obviously very much grieving for their loved ones. Their privacy will be respected completely.

We will hear the president. We will hear the secretary of state and perhaps others offer their thoughts at this time. This, if you will, is family business. Whether it's the military or diplomats, when there are fallen, the families come together, along with the State Department and the Pentagon, and that is what we will see.

MALVEAUX: All right. Barbara Starr, thank you very much. Really appreciate it.

New polls show President Obama gaining ground on Mitt Romney in three states now.

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MALVEAUX: Republican vice presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, went on the offensive today, delivering a scathing critique of President Obama's foreign policy. He was speaking at a conservative Values Voter Summit in Washington. Here's what he said.

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REP. PAUL RYAN, (R), WISCONSIN & VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Look across that region today, and what do we see? The slaughter of brave dissidents in Syria, mobs storming American embassies and consulates, Iran four years closer to gaining a nuclear weapon. Israel, our best ally in the region, treated with indifference bordering on contempt by the Obama administration. Amid all these threats and dangers, what we do not see is steady, consistent American leadership. In the days ahead and in the years ahead, American foreign policy needs moral clarity and firmness of purpose.

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MALVEAUX: Paul Steinhauser is joining from Washington.

Paul, we know that the Romney campaign received a lot of criticism, not just from Democrats, but within their own party. Even Peggy Noonan weighing in on this, saying Romney's response to these attacks and these pretests across the Middle East, it was pretty clumsy. Why are they still sticking with foreign policy here? What's the strategy behind this? PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, and you heard Paul Ryan just say that at that speech at the Values Voter Summit. You heard Mitt Romney saying similar comments this morning at a fundraiser in New York and a surrogate for the Romney campaign on our own air this morning on "Starting Points." Suzanne, what are they trying to do? Maybe they're trying to change the narrative a little away from what we've seen, and that narrative over the last week coming out of the Democratic convention seems to favor the Democrats and President Obama. So, maybe this is a way to capitalize on a major international event.

I mean, this economy -- this race is all about the economy. But, listen, the campaign does not live in a vacuum. Campaigns, we all react to the news, and the news right now is foreign policy and overseas events. So maybe this is one of the reasons why the Romney campaign is doing that.

And it also, Suzanne, fits into their narrative. And we've heard this from Mitt Romney way before this incident that he believes that the president is, when it comes to foreign policy, not a strong leader, and that the president apologizes for U.S. actions. So again, that's what they're emphasizing. Of course, the president and his campaign disagree.

MALVEAUX: How are the voters responding to this? How are they weighing in on this? Are there new polls?

STEINHAUSER: Yes, we have new polls out, but, unfortunately, the polls were conducted pretty much before this started. We can talk about the polls, but we can't measure what they think about this policy? We'll see that in polls next week.

But as for the polls, take a look at this. I'm glad you asked. Take a look at this from NBC/Marist and the "Wall Street Journal." These are state polls. The battle for the White House is a battle for the states and their electoral votes. These numbers out last night seem to favor the president. Seven-point lead for the president in the battleground state of Ohio and five-point advantages for the president in two other important battleground states, Florida and Virginia. I'll say other polling in Florida and Ohio shows it closer. These NBC/ Marist polls do not.

And take a look at one other thing here. This is Michigan. I want you to see Michigan as well. Epic MRA coming out yesterday showing a 10-point lead for the president in a state where Mitt Romney grew up, and maybe the auto bailouts, which you saw -- you were there in charlotte with me. They were really emphasizing the auto bailouts. Maybe that's having an affect in Michigan -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: It could really resonate. And, of course, we saw the former governor, Jennifer Granholm, deliver that speech as well on the convention floor.

STEINHAUSER: Oh, yes.

(LAUGHTER) MALVEAUX: No one could forget that.

Tell us about the preparation. We know that Mitt Romney was asked about his preparation for the debate with President Obama. And here's how he described what he is doing.

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MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The challenge that I'll have in the debate is that the president tends to -- how shall I say it -- say things that aren't true and in attacking his opponents. I've looked at prior debates and, in that kind of case, it's difficult to say, well, am I going to spend my time correcting things that aren't quite accurate, or am I going to spend my time talking about the things I want to talk about?

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MALVEAUX: We know that Rob Portman is the one portraying President Obama in these debate practices. What do we expect to hear from the Romney campaign? More of the same in terms of what is he talking about?

STEINHAUSER: Yes. It sounds like we have a debate over the debates already. We're less than three weeks away, but you're seeing Mitt Romney trying to lay the ground work right now with those kinds of comments.

I reached out to the Obama campaign and they're not biting on those comments, it seems.

But, you know, Suzanne, the debates are the next big thing, the next thing that could move the dial on these polls. The conventions were one big thing. The debates are next. As you mentioned, both sides really prepping, ramping up their debate prep. And I think we're going to hear more of this kind of talk between now and October 30th. That's when the first debate is.

And let's give a plug to our Candy Crowley. She's going to be moderating the second debate.

MALVEAUX: All right. Big props to Candy.

Thank you, Paul. Have a good weekend.

Chicago's teacher strike could end today. The school board president says there is progress in getting the 350,000 students back in class. We're going to have an update on the negotiations.

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POPPY HARLOW, CNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, everyone. Well, today on the "Help Desk" we're going to talk about what you need to know if you are thinking about buying a new home.

Joining me this hour, Donna Rosata and Ryan Mack. Donna, take a listen to this question.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What percentage of the house value does a down payment have to be?

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HARLOW: And he was talking about on an apartment, so, I mean, it's sure a lot more today than it was in 2006.

DONNA ROSATA, SENIOR WRITER, MONEY: That's right. Lenders are boosting -- making the requirements stricter for everyone. and, well, it's not written in stone exactly what you need, but if you put more down, say 20 percent, you're going to get a lower interest rate, which is important. And you're also more likely to qualify because you're going to have a bigger down payment to put down. And if he is buying an apartment, it's typically a condo. And when I was talking with some real estate agents about what is the best rate you can get for buying a condo, they said it was really 20 percent to 25 percent. That's because it's not just about your own credit history, but the health of the condo association, which has to be reviewed as well.

HARLOW: Right.

RYAN MACK, PRESIDENT, OPTIMUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: It's a very important thing for individuals to say if you are renting right now, act as if you own that home. I think "CNN Money" has a great calculator of how much home you can afford.

HARLOW: Yes.

MACK: Take that, figure out the mortgage payment that you would be paying. If your rent is $800 and your mortgage is $1,200, then take that $400 and start saving and act like you are paying that in mortgage.

HARLOW: What I've seen that's so interesting, in a lot of markets today, even with lower home prices and historically low interest rates, people are still renting for higher rents because they're scared to hold to something. They don't know what's ahead, so.

ROSATA: People are scared. As Ryan said, if you are one of those waiting, the more you can save while you're waiting, the better off you are and the better terms you'll get, and you'll save longer term.

HARLOW: Sacrifice now for the long-term.

ROSATA: That's right. Yes.

HARLOW: Thank you very much.

If you have a question you want our experts to tackle, you can upload a 30 second video with your question to ireport.com.

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MALVEAUX: No school for the fifth straight day in a row for 50,000 Chicago students. Teachers on strike in a dispute over pay and teacher evaluations. Both sides now say that perhaps a deal is close.

We want to bring in Chris Welch, who is in Chicago.

What's the update, Chris? How soon are kids going to get back in class?

CHRIS WELCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, officials and folks, parents, teachers on both sides of this issue, hoping they can make that first day back in school Monday. Whether that will happen or not, though, remains to be seen. Though I have to say, you know, the first few days of negotiations here were pretty tense. You know, folks, at the end of the day, saying, we don't have a deal yet, we're not close. It was more on the union side saying we're not close to a deal.

Yesterday, though, things changed. That tone changed, and today they're still saying we're close to a deal.

Now, if they can come to some type of agreement this morning, Suzanne, they will meet here at the union hall behind me. And the members, the delegates of the teachers union will ratify some type of deal, putting kids back in school Monday.

Now, the tone today, much more optimistic. I want to give you a listen to what Barbara Byrd Bennett, she's with the school district here, here's what she said going into negotiations this morning.

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BARBARA BYRD BENNETT, CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS: We believe, I think, concur with CTU that it was a beneficial night. I think we moved closer. Everyone was incredibly tired, but we are so close that I do believe on this sunshiny day that it's very possible that we will have an agreement.

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WELCH: And president of the union side of things, Karen Lewis, saying things similar to that. "We're tired. They've been at this." They were out until about 1:00 a.m. in negotiations last night. They started back up again today -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: And, Chris, what's the sticking point, real quick?

WELCH: Well, they've been -- the issues that they've been focusing on for the last few days really are teacher evaluations. The pay issue is more or less resolved. We think, at this point. They've been dealing with teacher issues and the ability -- the teachers union wants the ability to rehire teachers that have been laid off. Those are two key issues for this debate. MALVEAUX: All right, Chris. Thanks. We'll probably see you on Monday. See how this all turns out. Appreciate it.

New York City banned large cups of soda in theaters and restaurants, but the mayor insists the city is not limiting options for New Yorkers. He's up next

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MALVEAUX: New York City has its ban on super-sized sodas. The city's Board of Health voted to limit selling sugary drinks in containers larger than 16 ounces at movie theaters and restaurants.

Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta sat down for an exclusive interview with the mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and asked about the latest health initiative.

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DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: How do you think about this in your mind? Is this more about educating people or is this more about regulating people?

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (I), MAYOR OF NEW YORK: No, this is totally education. We're not limiting you to do anything you want. We are simply limiting the restaurants and movie theaters, the size cup that they can use. We are limiting how much you can take in a container, but nobody is saying you can't have multiple containers, in the same sense that nobody is saying you can't go and buy a pack of cigarettes.

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MALVEAUX: You can catch the whole exclusive interview this weekend on "Sanjay Gupta, M.D." That is tomorrow at 4:30 eastern

Ben Bernanke announced a third round of stimulus yesterday. That bumped up stocks to levels we haven't seen since 2007. But the bond buying program has been tried twice before. What are the chances it is going to work this time around?

Maribel Aber is joining us from New York.

Stock markets jumped on this announcement. But the question is about the jobs. Will it really help with jobs?

MARIBEL ABER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Suzanne. That's the big question there. You said it earlier, the Fed tried this twice before and unemployment has still been above 8 percent for 43 months in a row.

Supporters will argue, imagine where we would be if the Fed hadn't stepped in previously. But the central bank's own projections are for unemployment to remain around 8 percent for the rest of the year and not fall below 6 percent for another four years.

Bernanke himself acknowledged yesterday that this new dose of stimulus can help, but it isn't a panacea.

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BEN BERNANKE, CHAIRMAN, FEDERAL RESERVE: I want to be clear that while I think we can make a meaningful and significant contribution to this problem, to reducing this problem, we can't solve it. We don't have tools that are strong enough to solve the unemployment problem.

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ABER: And why not? Because unemployment is too high. It is too big of a problem. and, you know what, the Fed can't fix it alone -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: The Fed says it can't do it alone. What kind of pressure is Bernanke putting on Congress?

ABER: He's definitely trying to hold lawmakers accountable. Yesterday, Bernanke reiterated his concern about the fiscal cliff. That's the huge tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect after January 1st. And the Congressional Budget Office has said going over the cliff could cost two billion jobs and also push the economy into recession. Bernanke says if lawmakers don't find a solution, the Fed's tools aren't strong enough to offset that fiscal shock the economy would experience. But as you know, Suzanne, it is an election year, and the chances of a deal between Congress and the president before that November 6th are very slim.

MALVEAUX: Not likely.

(LAUGHTER)

All right. Maribel, thank you.

I have an update on a story we brought you earlier. The campus of North Dakota State University has now been given the all clear. This campus, in Fargo, was evacuated this morning because of a bomb threat. Authorities have swept the campus, didn't find anything. So classes are going to resume this afternoon.

President Obama, he is going to be there when the bodies of the four Americans killed in Libya come home. We're going to bring that event to you live in the next hour.

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MALVEAUX: The bodies of the four Americans killed this week in that rocket attack in Libya returned today to the United States. President Obama and secretary of state Hillary Clinton will oversee the transfer of their remains at Joint Base Andrews in just a few moments.

In addition to U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, three other men were killed in that attack on the American consulate in Benghazi. One of them is a retired Navy SEAL, Tyrone Woods. He handled security for diplomats. He served more than 20 years as a SEAL, with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. After retiring, he worked as a nurse in his wife's dental practice. Sean Smith was a computer expert, an Air Force veteran and was with Support and Service for 10 years. He was married with two children. Also killed was former Navy SEAL Glen Doherty, from Massachusetts, a private security contractor. He was in Libya searching for shoulder-launch anti-aircraft missiles, a high U.S. government priority after the fall of Moammar Gadhafi.

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DAVID COMMANDAY, STEP-BROTHER OF CHRIS STEVENS: It's so deeply saddening. It also makes us aware, though, of the kind of role that people like Chris and -- over the years are playing, unsung, but the critical role that they play.

KATE QUIGLEY, SISTER OF GLEN DOHERTY: Glen lived his life to the fullest. He was my brother, but if you asked his friends, he was their brother as well.

CHERYL CROFT BENNETT, MOTHER OF TYRONE WOODS: I'm sure my son went down fighting. I don't know the ins and outs of it. I haven't been told. But I'm sure he went down fighting. I'm sure he did. And I just hope his last moments weren't painful.

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MALVEAUX: They are now coming home. The transfer-of-remains ceremony, scheduled to begin in a few minutes. That at the Joint Base Andrews. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will all be there.

Special coverage begins right now with Don Lemon.

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

That is where we're going to begin. At this moment, that ceremony is beginning to take place. At this moment, an arrival that all Americans would rather not have to happen, the bodies of four of our own coming home right now. The Americans killed in an attack on the U.S. consulate in Libya now at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The Libyan government now says it believes the Americans were targets of a plot to divide Libya from the United States. And now America mourns for these men.

Christopher Stevens, the first ambassador killed in the line of duty in 33 years. He helped to liberate Libya last year. Tyrone Woods, a father of three, who spent more than 20 years as a Navy SEAL. Glen Doherty, a former Navy SEAL who was active in a group fighting to keep religious tolerance inside the military.