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Afghan Police Shot and Killed Four American Troops Inside the Base; Royal Family Will Sue the French Publications
Aired September 16, 2012 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN HOST: Hello again, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredrick Whitfield.
Afghan police turning their guns on the Americans who are training them, it's called a green on blue attack. And the latest one happened today in southern Afghanistan. NATO officials say Afghan police shot and killed four American troops and that wasn't the only insider attack this weekend.
CNN's Anna Coren has more from Kabul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been a deadly weekend here in Afghanistan. Two more green on blue attacks have been Afghan soldiers turning on the coalition forces that are training them.
Early Sunday morning, four American soldiers were killed after an Afghan police officer turned his weapon on them. This follows an attack on two British soldiers who were killed on Saturday. No now, this is an alarming trend for coalition forces who have already lost 51 soldiers this year as a result of green on blue attacks compared to 35 last year.
In other tragic news, NATO has claims responsibility for a deadly air strike has killed eight Afghan women wounding seven others. Anger brought out in the streets seeing response to this attack. It's believed these women were only picking up firewood at the time of the strike. ISAF has sent its deepest regrets and sympathy to the lost of innocent life.
These tragic events only add to the complexities of the 11-year war, creating more problems for coalition forces who are steadfast in exiting Afghanistan by 2014.
Anna Coren, CNN, Kabul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The father of a U.S. marine killed in a green on blue attack opens up about the disturbing circumstances surrounding his son's death and the scar it's left on the family. That emotional interview coming up this hour.
The protests over an anti-Muslim Internet video have flared up in Pakistan. The demonstration today outside U.S. consulate in Karachi turned violent as hundreds of people marched to the consulate and threw rocks. Groups fired in the air and used water cannons and batons to push the crowd back. Some officers reportedly threw rocks to protesters. Reuters reports one person was killed when people in the crowd opened fire.
Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging the U.S. to take step to stop Iran's race for nuclear weapons and he tells our Candy Crowley that Iran's motives are not legitimate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: What we know is of course that Iran is allowed under international agreements to do what it's doing because there are legitimate peaceful purposes for enriching this uranium.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: You think so? You think so, Candy? It's not legitimate. This country that talks about, denies the holocaust, promises to wipe out Israel, is engage in terror throughout the world and it's like Timothy McVeigh walking into the shop in Oklahoma city and say, I'd like to turn my garden, I'd like to buy some fertilizer. How much do you want? I don't know, 20,000 pounds.
Come on. We know they're working towards weapons, we know that. It's not something we can surmise. We have absolutely certainty about that and they're advancing towards a nuclear program.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Netanyahu says if Iran is not stopped, it could be ready to produce a nuclear bomb in six months.
Two other international stories we're following right now in CNN, growing rage in China over Japan's claim to a disputed island chain. Protesters held rallies in several cities today. Yesterday, a mob tried to storm Japan's embassy in Beijing.
Arriving in Tokyo, U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta warning that quote, "provocative behavior," unquote, could lead to war.
And in Lebanon, Pope Benedict wrapped up a three-day visit by celebrating mass. Some 350,000 people witnessed the ceremony on Beirut's waterfront. The pontiff said Lebanon diverse religions should live in harmony despite difficult times. He also calls for peace in Syria, saying both sides should lay down their arms.
Republican vice presidential nominee congressman Paul Ryan said printing money is not the way to boost the economy. In a Florida speech, he blasted Democrats and the Federal Reserve's latest efforts to stimulate the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When they undermine the value of our dollar, it wipes out our standard of living. One of the most insidious things the government can do to its people is to divisive currency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Ryan's claim comes after the fed announced another round of buying billions of dollars worth of debt held in mortgage-backed securities hoping to increase the money supply. Critics say it will cause inflation.
Meanwhile, House minority leader Nancy Pelosi says the Romney/Ryan team may ensure Democrats retake the House of Representatives. On CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" today, she said when Romney picked Ryan as his choice, it changed everything in the democrat's favor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: For one year and a half since the Republicans passed their budget, which the Romney Ryan Republican budget which serves the Medicare guarantees. We had been saying the three important issues in this campaign and in alphabetical order. They are Medicare, Medicare, Medicare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The house has 435 members they controlled, 218 is needed. Right now, Democrats hold just under 200 seats.
More revealing pictures of Britain's duchess of Cambridge about to be released, but Katherine and her husband, Prince William, are fighting back in court.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The royal family is bracing for another round of topless photos of Prince William's wife, Katherine. And they are to be published Monday in a magazine in Italy. But the couple's also going on the offense. They're going to file a criminal complaint against the photographer and they are filing that in Paris, France.
CNN's Ralitsa Vassileva is here with me now. Ok. So, what exactly is this legal action all about?
RALITSA VASSILEVA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the royal family is sending its lawyers in a French court and what they are going to do they are going to file a criminal complaint against the photographer for an invasion of privacy. They are also going to be seeking damages and they are going to try to stop the publication of more topless photos.
WHITFIELD: In France.
VASSILEVA: In France. So, it's up to the French judicial system, French court to decide if they will pursue this, if they will investigate it. They could inflict some heavy fines on the magazine, the French magazine if they decide or they could ask for heavy fines. They could also take it off the stands. These are the options. The main options they have. But it's all up to the French.
WHITFIELD: So, that we know that the Italian publication in an Italian publication owned by former prime minister Berlusconi, would be printing something, distributing it this week. Do we know whether the royal family will be pursuing similar junctions in Italy or other countries? Right now, they are just focusing on France.
VASSILEVA: Right now, they're just focusing on France, but the Italian publication that says it will be publishing 26 pages of more topless photos, it's the same company owned by the same company as the French publication which published them, The closer is the French publication which published in the first place and they are facing these possibility of those charges.
WHITFIELD: My goodness. OK. So now, the royal couple so far, while the palace is handling it this way with their attorneys, they're going about their business. They're in the Far East on their tour of duty. Does it seem as though that they are fairly un-rattled?
VASSILEVA: Well, if we look at the pictures they have their smiles, they have a brave frontal, you see them there. But we are hearing that they're very, very upset and very saddened by all this. In fact, just to give you an idea of how outraged, they've used the word outraged, the royal family is, here's a statement, part of the statement they published.
The incident is reminiscent of one of the worst excesses of the press paparazzi during the life of Diana, Princess of Wales, and all more upsetting to the duke and duchess for being so."
The duke and duchess of Cambridge Will and Kate, and the royal family is particularly incensed about this and saddened because it brings back the painful memories 15 years ago, losing Diana. William lost her mother, again, in France, in Paris.
WHITFIELD: Sort of common denominator there.
VASSILEVA: Pursued by paparazzi, trying to run away from the paparazzi, so this has been very, very painful for William, also saddened Kate. She's very upset by this.
(CROSSTALK)
VASSILEVA: They're on this official tour, representing the queen on her diamond jubilee in Southeast Asian countries. The people there have been very warm in accepting them. Things have gone well. But we know for sure that it is really, really saddened and upset the royal family.
WHITFIELD: And we don't know what kind of gravity, how quickly does it take for this court to entertain this motion, this suit in France? I mean, is it a matter of days or a long-term haul that the royal attorneys are willing to engage in?
VASSILEVA: We don't know that. We will wait for the charges to be filed tomorrow in this court and then it's up to the French prosecutors to decide in the first place if they want to pursue this.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. All right. Well, it's very complicated and freakily and clearly extremely uncomfortable for the royal family as they live this.
VASSILEVA: While those magazines and newspapers that published that say, we're doing our job. They say that Kate is no different from another celebrity and they defend their actions. But obviously, they took those pictures while the couple --
WHITFIELD: With super duper lens.
VASSILEVA: Super duper lens, seven and one-third football fields.
WHITFIELD: Incredible.
VASSILEVA: That far away. You can imagine. And they were in a private residence. Those that the uncle of Prince William invited them in southern France for vacation. They thought they had privacy. They were on vacation in a private home.
WHITFIELD: Wow. I know this is just the tip of the iceberg, just the beginning. This is going to go on for a bit.
All right, Ralitsa Vassileva. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.
VASSILEVA: My pleasure.
All right, back to this country now. The teachers strike in Chicago, it could end today. We will go live to the teachers' union meeting to see where it stands.
And if you have to go out today, just a reminder, you can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone. You can also watch CNN live from your laptop. Just go to CNN.com/TV.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The week old teachers strike in Chicago could come to an end today. Right now, the teachers bargaining team is giving its members details of the agreement it has with the city.
CNN's Kyung Lah is at the meeting, outside that meeting in Chicago. You heard from the union a short time ago. What are they saying?
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the union is saying this is not something where you just file a bunch of membership in and they vote whether or not to end the strike. This is going to be a complicated meeting. From what one of the reps was telling us is that this is a document. That's hundreds of pages long. They want to make sure everyone, these delegates, understand it. It is meeting of about 800 of them. And we spoke to some of the delegates as they were coming in as well, and they say they have a lot of questions about this. So this is not something that's going to be a hurry up, thumbs up or down on whether or not the strike is actually over. There is another outcome as well. We may not know at the end of the day whether or not the strike is over because they could also decide to wait 24 hours before making that determination.
So, a couple of things up in the air, Fredricka, but I can tell you that both sides are very, very serious about this. They want to make sure that they can get kids back in their classroom as soon as possible for the union to say, that they are not just go ahead and sign anything. They want to make sure they understand it.
WHITFIELD: And if there isn't an agreement?
LAH: If there isn't a decision, there is an agreement. We want to make absolutely clear that there is an agreement. But what may not be known right away is whether or not the strike is actually lifted. That's what they are going to decide today or in the next 24 hours, whether or not the strike will continue, whether or not kids are going to go back in the classroom on Monday. Certainly, very frustrating to the people, those cities for those 350 school kids who have not been able to get to school this past weekend. Parents are wondering well, do I pack a lunch box? Do I send my kid off to school on Monday? Right now, we don't have an answer for that.
WHITFIELD: All right, Kyung Lah. Keep us posted. Thanks so much in Chicago.
The boy scouts of America faces some very serious allegations of a cover up. We'll tell you what that's all about.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The Boy Scouts of America is accused of covering up alleged child abuse cases. The Los Angeles times is reviewing hundreds of documents from the 1970s to the 1990s. The paper says scout officials quietly asked volunteers suspected of abuse to resign and then reportedly covering up the track.
Our Nick Valencia is following the story. So, give us an idea of just how widespread "the L.A. Times" is alleging this is?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. These documents, the daily ten scout their hands on, this is not just isolated cases. This is spread throughout the United States from places like Los Angeles to even Providence, Rhode Island. And it's really a culture of corruption it seems that even the executive leadership, they knew about this. They didn't report it and kept the people on the boy scouts from tell the parents about it. So, they knew about these cases, Fred. They just didn't say anything about.
WHITFIELD: So, that's revealed in the documentation? How -- was that discovered that, you know, or how is it even alleged that officials knew about it then failed to report it?
VALENCIA: Some of these documents the "L.A. Times" got their hands on we asked the Boy Scouts of America how they got their hands on them. They didn't want to talk about that. In fact, they didn't know how the "L.A. Times" got their hands on this quote/unquote "perversion file." These are people blacklisted from volunteering with the boy scouts.
And in the correspondence back and forth between the scout leadership and people that were, you know, allegedly abusing these children, it showed that they knew about these cases, covered them up and went so far as to hide the cases from the parents and from law enforcement. They didn't report these cases. Eighty percent of these cases, Fred, were not reported to law enforcement.
WHITFIELD: So, a cover up also leads one to think that potentially, those who are accused of participating in this kind of behavior, they have also been kept within the system. They were able to continue doing the jobs that they were doing?
VALENCIA: Yes.
WHITFIELD: While they abused kids?
VALENCIA: In some of these cases, these alleged abusers moved from one state and continued on with this life-long pattern of abuse in different cases. In fact, we reached out, Fred, to the Boy Scouts of America and got their take on what they had to say about these allegations brought forward by the "Los Angeles Times" and they said to us, we have always cooperated fully with law enforcement and now require our members to report even suspicion of abuse directly to law enforcement. Recent media reports, they are talking about this "L.A. Times" reports, looked at the subset of the Boy Scouts of America's ineligible volunteer files from approximately 40 years ago when the Boy Scouts of America served about 25 million young people.
So their take on this, Fred, is that it's completely different. It is completely different culture now in the Boy Scouts of America and this sort of thing. If it happened, there's barriers in place and obstacles in place. We call it youth protection services to keep these things from happening as widespread of these allegations are being brought forward by "L.A. Times."
WHITFIELD: So, part of this "L.A. Times" reporting also highlights a father Ed Micarelli, what do we know about this father Ed Micarelli and his alleged involvement in all this?
VALENCIA: Well, Ed Micarelli, he was a parish priest and one of the counselors for the Boy Scouts of America. He was on their executive leadership. And we have mentioned earlier about this culture of corruption. These documents allege that the father recommended that the boy scouts not tell the parents. So, he was covering up for other child molesters within the boy scouts of America only for he himself later to be pinned by two boy scouts saying he raped them back in the early 1970s.
WHITFIELD: So, are charges expected to come from these investigations or where is this, you know, reporting investigation going?
VALENCIA: That's a good question. We asked the Boy Scouts of America, they just didn't feel comfortable answering that question. They wouldn't go On the Record about if they fear the charges will be brought forward because of this reporting.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Valencia. Thanks so much for bringing that to us. Appreciate it.
VALENCIA: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, it has been especially deadly for U.S. troops in Afghanistan this weekend insiders attack.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, checking today's top story.
Four American troops were killed in southern Afghanistan today in what NATO officials are calling an inside attack. Officials say Afghan police turned their guns on Americans and in just a few minutes, we'll hear from the father of a marine who was killed by the Afghan officer. The team was training last month.
Hundreds of Afghans demonstrated in the streets again today protesting an online movie that insult to Islam religion. Demonstrations were held in Kabul and in the western city of Karat. In Karachi, Pakistan, protests turned violent. Hundreds of people marked the U.S. council affairs to rock. Police used water cannons and batons to push them back. Reuters says one person was killed when people in the crowd opened fire.
The unrest that started in the Middle East has spread now across 21 nations. Violent demonstrations have taken place in 11 of those countries that you see there. All of this has sparked new debates about foreign policy in the 2012 presidential race.
Earlier, I spoke about this with Brian Katulis from the center for American progress and I asked him if the controversial anti-Islamic video that went viral on the Internet sparked so much unrest or were extremist groups, just taking advantage of the opportunity.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN KATULIS, SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Extremist groups in countries like Libya and other places still in the middle of the transition that's likely to take years to come to fruition are looking to assert themselves in ways that aren't really in line with the mainstream in those countries.
So, what I think we've seen over the last four or five days are the fringe voices reacting to fringe voice here in our country. Because remember, the people who did this film or whatever it is, most of us have not really seen it, are on the fringes as well and they're trying to enflame emotions. And I think what we see is a moderate consensus in most of these countries saying look, we need law and order. We need to continue this transition and the images that we see in our TV are really a small number of these people in these countries.
WHITFIELD: Even Susan Rise was saying this morning that, you know, it was her belief that many Libyans have come out and expressed, you know, their sympathies for the death of ambassador Stevens. And that in her view and others, it really was extremists who were in Libya who took advantage of the opportunity and caused the burning and led to the deaths of the four Americans.
OK. So, let's talk about, you know, how this is taking center stage now in the race for the White House. All that's erupted, you know, starting with Cairo, Benghazi and now, beyond. You wrote an op-ed in "The New York Times" about all of this saying the Republicans are in disarray. They're divided about national security and foreign policy.
So, did Mr. Romney's handling of, you know, his comments following the unrest in Egypt further kind of underscore a real girth of understanding if not confusion?
KATULIS: Yes, it's a little bit of both. And I think if you see Mitt Romney hours after our top diplomat and three other Americans who were serving in your country and were murdered in Libya, he was trying to use this as a political case and then, the reaction to Romney within his own party. Many Republicans shaking their heads and criticizing and saying this is not the moment. Some even noting that when Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush ran for president in 1980 and we had servicemen killed trying to rescue hostages in Iran, Reagan didn't politicize that moment, neither did Bush. So, it seems that the Republican Party has lost its way.
As I mentioned in that "New York Times" article, there are so many splits inside of the party about spending and how do we actually predict power in the world that many Republicans really don't know what they stand for on foreign policy and Mitt Romney, I think as a result has been heavy on rhetoric that has been critical of President Obama, but really doesn't offer any clear details of what he would do differently on most of the key issues that America faces in the world.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks to Brian Katulis there.
In Afghanistan, there's been an alarming increase in the number of so- called green on blue attacks, when Afghan police turn their guns on American troops who were training them. A father of the U.S. Marine killed in one of those attacks opens up about the incident in an emotional interview with CNN's David Ariosto.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ARIOSTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the game Greg Buckley Junior was supposed to see back home on leave from Afghanistan where he had trained Afghan forces. The 21-year-old marine had only two days left before heading home to see his brother play varsity high school football for the first time.
But before getting word that he was to go home early, he phoned his dad.
GREG BUCKLEY SENIOR, GREG BUCKLEY'S FATHER: He told me that I have to stay here until November. He says I'm not going to come home. And I was like, well, I don't understand. He goes you've got to be able to tell mom and Justin and Shane. You know, that I'm going to be killed over here. I said, out in the field, you know, he goes, no, in our base.
ARIOSTO: Then it happened. Greg was gunned down August 10th by the very forces he was training. Like he said, it happened inside the base. And by his phone calls and letters, he knew it was coming. And on one particular night on guard duty, he had a run-in with the trainee.
BUCKLEY: A guy turned around and said to Greg, you know we don't need you here. We don't need you here. And Greg, what are you saying. He said it again. And Greg turned around said to him, you know, why would you say that? You know, I'm here giving my life for you guys to help you, to make better for yourselves. The guy just started tormenting him all night.
ARIOSTO: His dad said Greg spent the rest of the night with the trainee.
BUCKLEY: Pitch-black out. And all he kept on saying it over and over again. We don't want you, we don't need you.
ARIOSTO: Building up national security is considered the lynch pin of naval strategy for withdraw, but attacks by trainees have become disturbingly more frequent. Families like the Buckley say, it is a sign America's longish war has gone on long enough.
BUCKLEY: I basically collapsed and his mother collapse and we were both on the r floor, balling.
ARIOSTO: But Greg's two brothers refused to cry, at least during the day.
BUCKLEY: One night I went into Shane's room and he was on the end of the bed and his head was hanging over the end of the bed. I thought he dropped water on the floor. He was balling. Heart broke for him.
And later on that night, I heard noise from Justin's room and I went inside and he had a pillow over his face, 4:30 in the morning, screaming at the top of his lungs, heart wrenching. And I explained to Justin, why don't you guys cry during the day, and they both turnaround and say, we can't -- we have to take care of you and mom.
ARIOSTO: With the community behind him, the Buckley family is now coping the best they can. And Justin, ocean side's star running back, wearing cammo with his team to honor Greg, makes sure to salute his fallen brother each time he scores.
Greg was supposed to be home for this game. What would you tell him right now?
JUSTIN BUCKLEY, GREG'S BROTHER: Tell him I love him and miss him. That's about it.
ARIOSTO: David Ariosto, CNN, Ocean side, Long Islands New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: New York police are bracing for the first anniversary of the occupy Wall Street movement Monday. Police made several arrests on Saturday for disorderly conduct and resisting officers. Well today, they are keeping a close watch on Succoth Park, police that is. This was the epicenter of the protest that eventually spread across the United States. Supporters of the occupy movement say tomorrow is about quote "flexing people's power in the streets" end quote.
Investors also had their say this week on Wall Street and there are three things that will help paint a picture on the entire housing market.
Todd Schoenberger joins me now. He is the managing principle at the Black Bay Group in New York.
All right, good to see you.
TODD SCHOENBERGER, MARKET ANALYST: Likewise.
WHITFIELD: All right, so, the first thing Tuesday with the housing market index, it's the homebuilder's association rating of how optimistic their members are about new construction. What should we expect?
SCHOENBERGER: Well, we should see another increase and we have been in seeing increases, not just on that index, but also from the housing sector as a whole. So, there are several breakthroughs that are taking place right now and it really is showing that we may actually be in a housing recovery, which is wonderful news for homeowners, but also for would be homeowners.
WHITFIELD: OK. And then Wednesday, the mortgage index, the Federal Reserve trying to loosen the tax on mortgage lending, is this new hope for people who have been trying to get a mortgage?
SCHOENBERGER: Well, it absolutely is because we're looking at mortgage rates that are going to remain low, not just for the short- term, but for the foreseeable future. This is great news if you're thinking about obtaining a mortgage and you can go to your bank. If you're worried about interest rates rising, clearly, you don't have to worry about that. You can still access a mortgage in a very, very low rate and it is obvious that those numbers are going to stay there for a while.
So, this number on Wednesday's going to be interesting because like you said, Fredricka, with the federal reserve coming out with that report last week, with their action, remains to be seen. But interest rates are going to remain low for some time.
WHITFIELD: All right. Also on Wednesday, existing home sales numbers. W are talking about, you know, all those properties that are out there, available for the taking, not new construction. How much is -- will this I guess be a measure of the demand out there?
SCHOENBERGER: This is a big number because Wall Street's expecting to see an increase of two percent in August. And August is not a big month for home sales. I mean, you figure kids are already back to school or about to go back to school, so families are already rooted where they are. So you don't see a lot of movement with single family homes, but we are expecting a two percent increase in August. This will push the annual rate to 4.5 million, which actually is pretty high. And then, when you look at last week's foreclosure numbers that came out, we actually saw a decrease year over year of 13 percent. So, people as rapidly as we have seen in the years past. And obviously, we are seeing some movement in housing sector. So this is great for everyone across the board.
WHITFIELD: OK. Now, let's talk about the price of oil whenever there are tensions in the Middle East and as we've been seeing it rising in the past week, there's the concern about whether the oil industries will be impacted in --
SCHOENBERGER: Well, you're right about that. It is quite sad, everything that's taken place, but right now, gas prices are already at historical high levels for this time of year and then when you start adding in the political unrest an turmoil that's taking place in the Middle East, you can only assume gas prices are going higher and unfortunately, they probably are. Oil priced out at $99 a barrel on Friday. It's expected to move higher that week because of the geopolitical concerns we're seeing over there, so I think everybody has to be prepared for paying more at the pump in the next couple of weeks.
WHITFIELD: All right, Todd Schoenberger. Always good to see you. Thanks so much. Have a good rest of the weekend, what hours are left.
SCHOENBERGER: Take care.
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
All right, he's got one of the most distinctive voices in the music industry. I don't have to say his name, do I? He's got a new album out and he's teaming up with some other familiar faces and voices. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Musician Aaron Neville has tackled many genres of music from New Orleans jazz, the punks, R&Bs to gospel. Now, he is taking on one of his childhood inspirations, Doo-wop on his new album. He is partnering with music producer, (INAUDIBLE) and the roll rolling stones Keith Richards.
CNN's producer Jessica Dunn sat down with Neville to talk about the album called "My True Story."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON NEVILLE, MUSICIAN: It was like a labor of love for everybody. And like he said it was harder musician, act like a bunch of kids. You know, it was like to me was like in a candy store, you know, because we went in with 12 songs on the list. Wound up doing 23 or something like that. Being in the studio with all of these guys, Don was, when everything was good, he'd snap his fingers, you know. That's the one. I'd see Keith sitting there, a smile, wow, man, this is heavy.
JESSICA DUNN, CNN PRODUCER: What do you want people to get from the album?
NEVILLE: Always talking about the American songs, but this is definitely part of American songs. But, you know, it was my innocence. Because those songs and most of it like you can sit in the same room with your grandmother and your granddaughter and nobody was offended, you know. It's all about the love and, you know, bubble gum and ice cream.
Well, I think Doo-wop had the most songs, my brother, Art, had a Doo- wop. We would sit down in the club, and said. And we lived in the (INAUDIBLE) project and be harmonizing. Basically, used to run me a way for a long time (INAUDIBLE). The clothing, clothing, one of my favorite groups, as a matter of fact, I did I did one of their songs on a CD called "ting-a-ling."
DUNN: Tell me what that was like the first time that you really heard a doo-wop song. What did it do for you?
NEVILLE: It was magic to me. It was like Medicine.
Me and my friends used to walk up and down the street harmonizing and singing just you know. And every time I heard a song, I could picture where I was and you know. One time I remember the first time I went to a party or something like that, you know, started dancing. It brings back memories.
DUNN: And do you hope, kind of, that your music does that to people, too?
I sure do. No doubt. I want it to be Medicine for them like it was Medicine to me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Ah, "my true story," his new album will be released in January.
Thanks to our producer, Jessica Dunn for bringing that to us.
From one Louisiana native to another, Don Lemon, how you doing?
DON LEMON, CNN HOST NEWSROOM: I'm doing great. You're right, you are talking about one sounds like him. He has a unique voice, very unique.
WHITFIELD: Beautiful. Timeless. LEMON: Brings me back. So Fred, we have a very interesting story. I don't know if you ever done this, you know, the computer system we have here where you can top-line someone.
WHITFIELD: Sure.
LEMON: I don't know if you ever top-lined the wrong person you were talking about.
WHITFIELD: That's why it's always nice to be polite.
LEMON: Even someone within the catholic church, the catholic church has committed to social sin and now they're being sued for it. It all centers around this, a million-dollar mansion that an archdiocese in Massachusetts was trying to sell in and a gay couple wanted to buy. The church walked away from the offer then, the e-mail surfaced. And of course, it was an e-mail that the couple was never supposed to see. E-mail mentioned why the diocese decided to back out on the negotiation. One half of the couple is going to join me in a half hour for this discussion, and he said the church refused to sell them the house because they're gay. We are going to show what the e-mail said and you can decide for yourself.
WHITFIELD: That's why you should never say anything you wouldn't say to your mom. You know, don't write e-mail or tweet or do anything that you would not want your mom or someone close to you to read or see.
LEMON: Yes. Yes. But I still think --
WHITFIELD: That's the rule.
LEMON: Since the top line thing, people say, oh, my God, he's such a jerk, and I'm like, did you mean to send this to me? And they would be like, what I was saying was -- I know what you were saying. I like being back on the couch with you.
WHITFIELD: I do, too. OK. Do you have a few more minutes?
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: Yes. I'm surprised nobody has said to move along yet.
WHITFIELD: Yes. We could have nice smoothies or something here. That would be nice.
LEMON: Yes. That's right, you can't do adult beverages.
WHITFIELD: No. A smoothie is still adult, isn't it?
LEMON: I'll spike it.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks, Don. We'll see in you a couple minutes. Thanks so much.
All right, one top comedian has a new gig, and you could say he owes it to Barack Obama.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The dangers of a potential nuclear Iran, the horrifying attack on the U.S. embassy in Libya and the president's foreign policy. All of that being discussed in the Sunday morning talk shows. Here are some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: Can you tell me what you would like that red line to be in the best of all possible worlds for you and for Israel? What would you like the U.S. to commit to in terms of a red line?
NETANYAHU: In six months or so, they will be 90 percent of the way there. I think it's important to place a red line before Iran, and I think that actually reduces the chance of a military conflict. Because if they know there is a point stage in the enrichment of other nuclear activities, they can't cross it because they'll face consequences.
SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS: We're not at that stage yet. They do not have a nuclear weapon. There is considerable time and space before they will have a nuclear weapon should they make the decision to go for that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Was this a long planned attack, as far as you know?
MOHAMED YOUSEL EL-MAGARIAF, LIBYAN PRESIDENT: The way these perpetrators acted and moved, I think we had -- this leaves us with no doubt that this was pre-planned -- predetermined.
RICE: Our current assessment is that what happened in Benghazi was, in fact, initially a spontaneous reaction to what transpired years before in Cairo. What we think that transpired in Benghazi is that opportunistic extremist elements came to the consulate as this was unfolding.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: How spontaneous is a demonstration when people bring rocket-propelled grenades and heavy weapons and handle a very tactically successful military operation. But there is so many things that we need to cover, but the fact is that the United States is weakened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Congress, as a Republican here, supporter of Governor Romney, is this American weakness that brought this on?
REP. PETER KING (R), HOMELAND SECURITY CHAIRMAN: In my view, it was the lost component of it as of president's policy. President Obama's policy has been confusing, it's been apologetic, and it's been misguided. What he's doing is telling our allies they can't trust us.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE REPORTER: Critics say that this out pouring of outrage against the U.S. is has everything to do with the U.S. policies. That we are disengaging from that part of the world? RICE: Well Chris, that's just false. And let's be plain. Our partners and allies have responded effectively and promptly when we have asked them to protect our facilities.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, and from the Sunday talk shows to "Saturday night live." NBC revealed a new star, so to speak. Last night Snl debuted comedian Jay Farrell portraying the president. He replaced (INAUDIBLE). Here's Jay's first night on the job.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY CARNEY FARRELL, COMEDIAN: Election Day is near. And things aren't great. The economy is in the tank. The job market is horrible. And now even my foreign policy is under attack! But there is something I want you all to know. I'm not worried. Not in the least, should be. Seems like I would be, but I'm not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right. Well, a taste of Snl last night. That's going to do it for me. Thanks for hanging out with me for the day in the NEWSROOM. Now, you can hang out with Don Lemon.
LEMON: My favorite was, Sasha and Malia, go to bed. I said that because I have --- you know, I have two small kids, and he said three beautiful sons. That's pretty funny.
Have a great weekend.
WHITFIELD: All right, maybe you can be next.
LEMON: Yes. I hope so. I would take it.
WHITFIELD: OK.
LEMON: Thank you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. Have fun.
LEMON: Have a great couple of days off.
WHITFIELD: Yes. Have a good week.
LEMON: All right. Bye.
