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Connect the World
Wael Ghonim Speaks Out; Mexico Scandal; Christians Find Refuge in Paris
Aired February 09, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WAEL GHONIM, GOOGLE EXECUTIVE, EGYPTIAN ACTIVIST: They decided to negotiate with us at night with rubber bullets, with police -- police sticks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: A CNN exclusive with the man who has become the face of an Egyptian uprising that just won't give up. But the government warns protesters stop or face the prospect of a military coup.
And later this hour, why Italian prosecutors want this familiar face in the docks now.
And he's back, but is he the same old Tiger?
One-on-one with golf's living legend.
With the stories connecting the world, I'm Becky Anderson.
Well, a live report from Cairo for you in a moment.
And we've got Egypt's finance minister standing by.
First, though, even as the government delivers new warnings, protesters are opening a second front in their bid to unseat President Hosni Mubarak. Hundreds who broke away from Tahrir Square are now blocking the entrance to the nearby parliament building. They've set up tents, vowing to continue their demonstrations until the legislature is dissolved.
Well, huge crowds are massing once again in Tahrir Square itself, ignoring warnings from the government that it's losing patience. Egypt's vice president suggests there could be a coup if protesters don't end the talks on a transfer of power.
While the foreign minister warns the army will intervene if chaos breaks out.
Well, one of the most prominent faces of this uprising says that he is willing die to bring change to Egypt. Google executive Wael Ghonim went from anonymous protest organizer to reluctant hero of the revolution after serving 12 days in state detention.
he spoke today with Ivan Watson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wael Ghonim was one of a group of activists who helped organize, largely through the Internet, the first protest on January 25th here in Cairo, which has kicked off the unprecedented expense -- events that we've seen over the last more than two weeks now.
And he was detained by the Egyptian government. He says he was taken off the streets late at night, January 28th, by four plainclothed police and held blindfolded for more than a week-and-a-half in solitary detention, being interrogated repeatedly.
He was released Monday evening and has made a very emotional interview on Egyptian television that struck a chord deep in Egyptian society.
When he spoke with us, he said that now was no longer the time to negotiate with the Egyptian government because too much blood has been spilled, citing the statistics from Human Rights Watch that more than 300 people have been killed since these protests started more than two-and-a- half weeks ago.
let's take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WAEL: I just posted it on Twitter yesterday. This is no longer the time to negotiate, unfortunately. We -- we went on the streets on the 25th and we wanted to negotiate. We wanted to talk to our government. We were, you know, knocking on the door.
They decided to negotiate with us at night with rubber bullets, with police -- police sticks, with -- with, you know, water hoses, with tear gas tanks and with arresting about 500 people of us. Thanks. You know, we got the message. Now, when we escalated this and it became really big, they started listening to us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Ghonim insists that this movement was started by youth activists who are online using Twitter, using Facebook. He denies charges that the Muslim Brotherhood was organizing this, saying that they refused to even participate in the first -- in the first January 25th gathering that took place here.
He is calling this a youth revolution, an Internet revolution, or, as he put it, Revolution 2.0.
He also says he is ready to die for this cause, trying to improve Egypt. And he even pulled out a recently notarized power of attorney that he had just had signed this morning, signing all of his assets over to his wife, who is in Dubai with two children, as evidence -- back to you.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. Ivan reporting for you from Cairo.
Well, let's get reaction now to this story from the Egyptian government.
We're joined by finance minister Samir Hadwan.
And he said just last week -- and I know that -- "The president, vice president and prime ministers have gone as far as possible to respond to the demands of these young people."
Well, Samir Hadwan is on the phone now from Cairo.
Given what we've just heard from Wael, he says he's prepared to die for this.
I mean do you stick by what you've said, sir, that there is no talking to be had and that Mubarak simply won't go?
SAMIR HADWAN, EGYPTIAN FINANCE MINISTER: Listen, I mean I have watched Wael. I watched the program. I was like many Egyptians, very, very upset about what he -- he felt. I actually tried to join him on the program, but by that time, it was -- it was too late.
But you see, I -- I think the movement of this -- of these young people has done a great service to Egypt. I think that it's a wakeup call. And what we are trying to do now is to bring a smooth and peaceful transition and in the meantime, protect Egypt from descending into the chaos scenario.
ANDERSON: Hmmm.
HADWAN: This is the worst scenario possible, that we go the way of Iraq or Somalia or whatever. This is -- this is Egypt as different. And it's important to have some stability here.
ANDERSON: All right. I hear what you're saying. He says the time, though, for negotiation, is over.
Your thoughts?
HADWAN: No. I -- I think -- I think that that would be a shame, because I, for one, would like to see -- of course, there are other political factions who are involved in negotiations with the vice president. And I would love to see youth as part of that negotiation. In my ministry, the Ministry of Finance, I have established a youth forum to discuss the budget. Just like the parliament discusses the budget, the youth forum will be discussing the budget.
So I think negotiations and discussions and dialogue is the only way out of this impasse.
ANDERSON: All right. Some veiled threats, let me call them that, from the -- from the government today about the possibility of a military coup, or the army, at least, stepping in.
At what point could the army step in?
And would you expect international support for what would effectively be a military coup?
HADWAN: Well, I hope not. That is exactly the scenario we would like to avoid. We would like to avoid a coup. We would like to avoid chaos. Both scenarios we would like very much to -- to avoid because neither of these scenarios are in the favor of Egypt. Neither in the favor of the -- of the whole region...
ANDERSON: All right...
HADWAN: -- as they say.
ANDERSON: How...
HADWAN: There is a lot at stake. And -- and so that's why I think I'm putting quite a lot on dialogue. And I hope very, very soon we find a result of this dialogue.
ANDERSON: Just for our viewers' sake, what is the risk of the military stepping in at this point?
At what point could that or would that happen?
HADWAN: I -- I think if things go totally out of hand. I'm very glad to see that the military has been absolutely restrained. In fact, it has been very -- very protective of the demonstrators, very friendly toward the -- the protesters. After all, these are our -- these are our kids. And I'm glad the army has so far played that role.
ANDERSON: I want to...
HADWAN: And after the...
ANDERSON: I want to...
HADWAN: -- the...
ANDERSON: Sorry. I wonder if the president feels the same way. And fill us in, if you will.
Have you spoken to him in the past couple of days?
Certainly he spoke to an American network last week and said he's -- he's, frankly, fed up and wishes he could go, but he's worried about the chaos.
What's he saying now?
HADWAN: I -- I think he would say the same thing, that he would like to avoid -- to avoid the chaos -- the chaos scenario. And you see, there are -- let -- let's look at the situation. There are many things now under question. There is the vice president. There is the prime minister and the -- and the cabinet. There are people in this cabinet who would like to see a peaceful transition of power. There is the dialogue that started with different shades of political opinion, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
So I think it -- things are radically different from the 25th of January.
ANDERSON: The problem is, of course, is that the makeup of this administration at present is the old guard.
HADWAN: Not really. Look at the party. Let's start -- let's take -- let's take stock. The party is not the same. And I can assure you, in the coming few days, you will see a very important purge of the -- of the -- of the party. There is no doubt about it. That's number one.
Number two, the cabinet. The cabinet has many new faces who are reformers. There is no -- they are very well known to be reformers. And - - and, you know...
ANDERSON: All right...
HADWAN: -- they -- they are doing their best.
ANDERSON: Yes, OK. We've still got the...
HADWAN: And...
ANDERSON: -- we've got -- you've got the vice president, who was the head of intelligence, of course. You've got the defense minister in there. And so it goes on.
But I -- I hear what you say.
Listen, you're the finance minister. I want to give you an opportunity to talk about what sort of impact this has all had on the economy.
Do you have facts and figures at this point?
Do you have any sense of just what sort of harm has been done?
HADWAN: Well, certainly. I am calculating this by the minute, to tell you frankly. I mean the stock exchange, we have lost $70 billion to $80 billion pounds. We hope to reopen some day and we are doing whatever we could to have a smooth sailing, as smooth as we could.
But then you have a loss of 1.2 million tourists who were here and left. And they are not -- they have not been replaced. Other occupations in Upper Egypt and the Red Sea, which are the main tourist destinations, is down to 2 percent at the -- at the moment. Remittances from Egyptians working abroad are down. There is the destruction -- I have created a fund of five billion pounds to compensate for. These are mostly small businesses that have been destroyed...
ANDERSON: Yes.
HADWAN: -- during the events. And, of course, there will be the almost stoppage of -- of export (INAUDIBLE).
ANDERSON: I...
HADWAN: So all this, I think will add up to quite a (INAUDIBLE)...
ANDERSON: And I guess the crucial question is what that billion and a half odd dollars in military aid will be forthcoming any time soon, given what's going on in the administration at the moment.
HADWAN: Yes.
ANDERSON: One last question and one which is important. Experts have been concerned, certainly, across the markets -- and I've heard this talked about in the oil markets -- of the possibility, the risk that the Suez Canal could close at some point. That is an incredibly important transport hub so far as oil is concerned, the potential for reaching $200 on the barrel is just disastrous for the world economy.
Can you put that to bed?
Is there a risk of closure for Suez at this point?
HADWAN: Egypt will do its utmost best that this important artery of - - of transport is open, functioning and, thank heavens, until now, there is not a single hitch. All precautions are taken to prevent any sabotage from outside to the Suez Canal. The Suez Canal is safe and the Egyptian Army -- I don't talk on their behalf, but I can assure you will do whatever is in its power to keep that open.
ANDERSON: All right. And with that, we're going to leave it there, sir.
We do appreciate your time here on CNN International tonight.
The finance minister of Egypt speaking to you live.
Well, we've been focusing a lot of our coverage on Cairo's Tahrir Square, of course, the heart of this uprising. But Arwa Damon has been traveling around other parts of the country in the past couple of weeks, as well, to get the mood in remote provinces.
This is an important story.
Joining us now live that she's back in Cairo -- Arwa, I don't know if you heard the finance minister talking there sort of on behalf of the government and saying effectively that whether protesters like it or not, the time for negotiation is on and things will continue in this orderly fashion, effectively.
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, that most certainly is not going to be what people, at least outside of Cairo, are going to want to hear. They are all desperate for some sort of a resolution.
This stand-off, these demonstrations have really had a countrywide impact, generating all sorts of different and conflicting emotions.
When we headed out into the countryside, we found that the atmosphere even there was quite tense and the emotions themselves very intense, as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: (voice-over): We travel an hour outside Cairo to the farmlands of the Nile Delta, to see how life in rural Egypt is being impacted. People in this village are very wary of journalists. We leave our cameraman, Christian, in the car, when we initially approach a group of men. After a bit of convincing, they let us film, though suspicion remains.
"Work here is fine. The country is peaceful. There are no problems," Mohammed declares.
"That's not exactly the case. There were demonstrations and people were on the streets fending for their livelihood," Amgad, off to the side, tells us.
As the crowd gathers, we start speaking to Hadid (ph).
"My real opinion? Whether Hosni stays or Hosni goes, what's important is that the youth get jobs," she states.
This mother of three works at a doctor's office, making less than $30 a month -- not even enough to cover the electricity bill. In typical Egyptian hospitality, she grabs me by the hand and invites us back to her home. Her husband, a day laborer, is out looking for work, which he hasn't been able to find since the demonstrations began.
(on camera): Oh, these are her daughters.
(voice-over): Ages six to 11, as you can see, their childhood is not easy.
Skyrocketing prices have made making ends meet nearly impossible for most of the population in these parts of e. Where life is more of a monotonous but desperate struggle to survive, though few dare say that out loud.
Hadid invites us inside and away from prying eyes.
(on camera): So we're here to cover and film the bedroom. It's where she, her husband and their three daughters all sleep.
She wants us to see how they don't have any closet space, so the clothes basically are stored in these cardboard boxes.
(voice-over): In the privacy of her home, Hadid breaks down. "The situation is horrible. To be honest, I don't know. I don't know how to cope," she sobs. "You can see for yourself. Everything is horrible. I can hardly feed my children. I am uneducated, illiterate," she continues. "I don't know if the government should stay or go. All I know is that people like us need to be able to live."
She calls her children inside, pointing to them, saying, "Look at how dirty they are, their stained clothes. I can't bear them having to live like this. Please, please, we just need help. We just need jobs," she begs, hoping that by risking speaking out to us, the world will listen.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
DAMON: And, Becky, the economic reforms -- much needed reforms, the lack of jobs, the skyrocketing prices, that has been one of the main rallying points for the demonstrators in Tahrir Square. And what we realized speaking to people like Hadid and other villagers out there, that these types of reforms really can't come soon enough.
ANDERSON: Arwa, thank you very much, indeed, for that review from outside Tahrir Square.
Well, still ahead here on the show -- this is CONNECT THE WORLD, of course.
I'm Becky Anderson in London.
And violence against Christians in Indonesia -- we're going to look at the latest rounds of religious conflict.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We move on. We move forward. And it's about getting my life in a -- in a balance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Tiger Woods opens up about life on and off the green.
And a new generation of wildlife worriers. French conservationist Philippe Cousteau is tonight's Connector of the Day.
That's all coming up on this hour.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, thousands of miles from home, these Iraqi Christians can finally worship and pray in safety. Coming up, what life is like when your faith forces you to flee.
I'm Becky Anderson in London.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
Here's a look at the other stories that we are following for you this hour.
Things keep getting worse for Silvio Berlusconi. The Italian prime minister is facing allegations of abuse of power and paying for sex with a nightclub dancer. And now prosecutors want to haul him before the court.
CNN's Dan Rivers explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just when things seemed they couldn't get any worse for the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, the prosecutors in this case involving an underage prostitute have come forward and presented an argument to the judge asking the judge to basically fast track the case. They think the evidence is so overwhelming, there's no need for a preliminary hearing. So they've asked this judge to basically get this case moving immediately.
The judge now has five days to consider that before she must make a decision. She may decide to fast track the case. She may decide it needs to go along the -- the more routine direction of having a preliminary hearing. She may equally decide that it's not within her jurisdiction, that it should go to a -- a different court.
But certainly this has dominated the media in Italy for months now, the lurid allegations of sex parties, of bribes involving now dozens of different prostitutes and show girls who Silvio Berlusconi, it's alleged by his enemies, had various different relationships with, all of which he has come out furiously denying. Again today, he -- he put out another statement saying the accusations are groundless, their only aim is media defamation. He said in the case of the accusation that he abused his power by telephoning a police station where this young Moroccan girl had been detained on suspicion of theft, he says he intervened as prime minister because he was concerned there could be an international diplomatic incident because he thought this young woman was the niece of the Egyptian president, Hosni Mubarak.
Dan Rivers, CNN, London.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, a scandal has broken out in Mexico after a journalist was fired, apparently for calling on President Felipe Calderon to respond to accusations that he is an alcoholic.
Well, senior Latin American affairs editor joins me with the latest on the scandal.
That's Rafael Romo -- Rafael, the journalist making a public statement today.
What did she say?
RAFAEL ROMO, SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: That's right. This is the first time that Carmen Aristegui appears in public since she was fired over the weekend. And she read from prepared remarks. The 47- year-old journalist called her termination "an unfortunate decision and a presidential tantrum."
She suggested that her employer, a media company known as MVS, was pressured by the Mexican president's office for fire her.
A spokes -- a spokeswoman with the president's office told CNN that Calderon did not press MVS to fire Aristegui. Aristegui one of the most recognizable TV and radio journalists in Mexico, said MVS executives asked her to read an apology letter on the air. And when she refused, she was let go.
The incident originated Thursday when a group of Mexican opposition legislators displayed a banner inside the Mexican Congressional building. The banner said, "Would you let a drunk man drive your car? No, right. Then why do you let him run the country?" that's what the banner said.
The next day, Aristegui called on the president's office to respond -- to respond to the allegations. Again, we contacted the Mexican president's office. They declined to respond to the alcoholism accusations, but emphatically -- emphatically denied any involvement in Aristegui's termination.
We should also mention, Becky, that Carmen Aristegui anchors a daily interview show on CNN en Espanol. She never touched the topic on our air and her relationship with CNN remains unchanged -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. And Rafael, thank you for that.
Ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, in fear of their lives -- they were forced out of their homeland. A story of a group of Christian Iraqis now living and praying thousands of miles away.
Also coming up for you on the show, can Tiger find his raw (ph) again?
We're going to talk to a sports psychologist for some insight there.
That coming up.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tensions are growing in the world's most populous Muslim country after a wave of religious hate crimes. A Catholic school and two churches were seriously damaged after Muslim hard-liners set the buildings on fire in a town in Central Java in Indonesia. And in this shot, police and soldiers are left to clean up the debris. Standing guard outside the Christian churches in the town, the police are on high alert, while in a separate attack on Sunday, Muslim mobs brutally murdered three followers of an Islamic sect in front of the police. This is what's left of the house belonging to the sect's leader.
Well, human rights organizations have criticized the president for failing to deal with the recent violence. One of the most dangerous places for Christian is Iraq. They've frequently been the target of violence. In November of last year, 56 people, you may remember, sadly, were killed at a church in Baghdad. Scores were injured and the bloody massacre sparked a new Christian exodus from the Iraqi capital.
One group has found refuge in Paris.
Jim Bittermann has their story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At Sunday mass, thousands of miles from home, a handful of Iraqis follow a Catholic ritual that cuts across the language barriers. They are refugees forced out of their homeland by the threat of death. But for most of the 50 or so who are here, it was more than just a threat. They are the widows, brothers, sisters and parents of victims of a bloody massacre of Baghdad Catholics.
Father Rafael Katami (ph) remembers every detail of that attack last October. He had just finished reading a gospel lesson and was about to start his sermon when the shooting began.
It continued for four hours before Iraqi special forces were able to bring the situation under control. Two auxiliary priests were killed, along with 56 others. More than 70 people were injured, including Father Rafael, who was struck by grenade fragments.
Just days later, the first of those who had been targeted began arriving in France. Fifty-seven were granted immediate refuge and they may be joined by hundreds more family members. But they're only a small part of the Iraqi Christian community which is being forced to leave.
(on camera): Over the past three years, about 800 Iraqi Christians have found refuge in France. But since last October's attack, the number on the waiting list to come here has exploded to more than 4,000. Slowly, the Iraqi Christian community is disappearing.
(voice-over): An Anglican bishop helping to bring religious refugees to safety says there are now only a third as many Christians in Iraq as there were before the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.
BISHOP PIERRE WHALON, EUROPEAN ANGLICAN COMMUNION: There have been Christians assassinated every single day since 2003, at least one. You -- I mean the news reports, you just get tired of it, because what's new?
Another Christian or two or 10 murdered today here in Mosul, here in Baghdad, here in Kirkuk or elsewhere.
BITTERMANN: Bishop Whalon says no one wants to see such an ancient community disappear, least of all the refugees themselves. But they have little choice. That's certainly the feeling of Elias, who wants to keep his real name a secret because he's still trying to bring his family out of Iraq.
The former government bureaucrat was wounded in church attack and says he heard the gunmen say they want to drive Christian infidels out of the country.
The last thing he wanted to do, he says, was to leave his homeland.
"ELIAS," IRAQI CHRISTIAN REFUGEE: I'm now in France, not my country. I have no job here.
Now we will camp and we will come here for what?
We must go outside. And because of that, you see us here.
BITTERMANN: It is, says Elias, lonely and confusing to be in a strange land with a different language and he really does not want to stay. But he also knows he has little choice but to try to start a new life here.
"ELIAS": I am not young, so I have memories. I have lots of feeling in Iraq, exactly in Baghdad. So when I remember some of them, I start to be sad. Sometimes I cry.
But what can we do?
It's our destiny.
BITTERMANN: A destiny that must now be fulfilled thousands of miles from home.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON: A community under siege in various parts of the world.
Well, the Muslim Brotherhood says it wants to participate, not dominate, Egypt's political scene. Brotherhood leaders spoke out in Cairo today, trying to put fears to rest that they are waiting in the wings to take power. We'll speak with one of the group's spokesmen right after this.
That and your headlines coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A very warm welcome back at just after half past nine in London. I'm Becky Anderson, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. Coming up, as protesters in Egypt re-energize, I'm going to talk to a spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood and ask about their plans.
Plus, when your personal life gets in the way of your career. Can Tiger Woods put the past behind him? A sports psychologist is going to tell us what he thinks after we see an interview with the man himself.
And a man of the ocean is carrying is family's legacy on. Connector of the Day, yours today, is Philippe Cousteau, answering your questions.
That's ahead. Let's, though, first get you a very quick check of the headlines this hour.
Well, the massive protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square has now spilled into a nearby compound that houses state buildings. That forced the government to move parliament to another site. Egypt's vice president suggests there could be a coup if protesters don't enter negotiations.
An Italian judge has five days to decide if Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will face charges that he paid for sex and abused his power. Prosecutors filed a formal request for a trial Wednesday. The prime minister denies the accusations.
FARC rebels in Colombia have released a hostage they held for a year and a half. Councilman Marcos Baquero was set free on Wednesday. Four more hostages are expected to be freed by Sunday.
Talks between North and South Korea have fallen apart after the sides failed to set the agenda for higher level meetings. The discussion was meant to ease tension between the two countries after last year's military action on Yeonpyeong Island.
And have a look at this. Eight straight days of gains in New York. The Dow has closed up to a near 32-month high. Great news if you hope that stocks are going higher.
There's no end in sight to the ferocious winter storms pummeling the United States. The Southeast is particularly hard-hit right now, 30 centimeters -- well, that's a third of a meter, isn't it? -- of snow fell on parts of Oklahoma. Officials there urging drivers to stay off the road, a warning many motorists are heeding. Our Ed Lavandera is right in the middle of the winter storm, and he filed this report in Oklahoma City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More snow and frigid temperatures. The plains and parts of the mid-South are bracing for a powerful weather system that is forecast for eight states and could bring several feet of snow to the mountain West and up to twelve inches in parts of Oklahoma, where they're still digging out from last week's storm.
DARRELL KEELING, LAKE AREA PROPANE: I've had enough snow for a while.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): People are stocking up on groceries so they have everything they need for another round of winter weather.
JOYCE JACKSON, RESIDENT, OOLOGAH, OKLAHOMA: It's my first time out, and I'm buying for other families, also.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): For those brave enough to venture out in the snow, Oklahoma's first responders have a new weapon. Humvees.
JOHN WHETSEL, SHERIFF, OKLAHOMA COUNTY: We kind of learned our lesson in 2009. We had vehicles that were stuck, we couldn't respond to calls. Made a huge difference. We responded to every call for service that we had. We had no one that got stuck in the weather.
LAVANDERA (voice-over): Parts of central Texas could see two to four inches of snow and sleet. They system is also expected to bring rain and snow to the deep south later in the week before delivering a wintry mix along parts of the East Coast on Thursday.
KEELING: We're just hoping and praying that this next one won't be as bad.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Across the region, we have many, many schools closing, airports closed. But the good news is is that forecasters say that this snow will start letting up by mid-morning, and hopefully the temperatures will get above freezing and start to melt this snow away. However, right now, the temperatures are in the single digits, and the wind-chill factor is at minus15 degrees below zero. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Oklahoma City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Doesn't look good, does it? Well, he may have lost his top spot in the golfing world, but Tiger Woods says it's his kids that matter most.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: Whatever they want to do, we do. Obviously, when I don't have them, that's when I can practice a little more. But when I'm around them, it's all about them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Up next, the world's number one tells CNN how he is getting his life back on track. That exclusive interview with Tiger Woods when we return in about 90 seconds. Don't go way.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, a big question marking Egypt's uprising is who will step in when President Hosni Mubarak eventually steps down. There are those in Western nations who worry that the Muslim Brotherhood is just waiting for the opportunity to grab power. But Egypt's biggest and most powerful opposition group says not true.
Brotherhood leaders held a news conference in Cairo earlier, saying they won't even field a presidential candidate in upcoming elections. Essam al-Ariam was at the news conference. The Muslim Brotherhood spokesman joins us now, live. Why no candidate for president?
ESSAM AL-ARIAM, SPOKESMAN, MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: We have no candidate in now for presidency, but we are not going to nominate any candidate for president from our group. But we are seeking to look for the other candidates and their -- observe their programs, study, then we decide, who can we support.
ANDERSON: So, who are you likely to back?
ARIAM: What?
ANDERSON: Who are you likely to support.
ARIAM: We are -- can back -- we can back anyone who can achieve the democracy transformation of Egypt towards democracy, because we are -- for 60 years are looking for democracy and stability. Build on solid bases.
ANDERSON: Yes. So, who is likely to be? Can you give me some names at this point?
ARIAM: No, we have now no names. We have -- some are -- speak about themselves as ElBaradei, Amr Moussa, maybe Omar Suleiman, Ahmed Zewail, Ayman Nour -- there are a lot of names, but now we are going -- we believe here, as Muslim Brotherhood, to go to parliamentary election before the presidential election. Because we need amendments by constitution done by electable parliament, not by a rigged parliament.
ANDERSON: Let me ask you this question, because it's one that's being asked a lot outside of Egypt, and possibly inside of Egypt, as well, amongst certain communities. Concerns that people have that if -- whether you put up a presidential candidate or not, that you as an organization will be pushing for an Islamic state. Concerns go so far as to suggest that you'd be pushing for a theocracy at this point. Can you put those to rest?
ARIAM: We are -- we are looking for a civil state. Civil state, democratic, but an interior system, rotation of power. The difference is, for example, is Islamic reference, because the majority are Muslims, but Islam has many interpretations in the Muslim world. The interpretation of Egypt is a moderate one, and it can give as a model other than others in the region.
We are not Iran. We are not Turkey. We are not Saudi Arabia. We are Egypt.
ANDERSON: So, it's unclear at this point, sir, how the Muslim Brotherhood would be represented in presidential elections going forward, but you will certainly, at this stage, throw your support behind other candidates, as I understand it. Will you throw your support behind a candidate, for example, who wants to continue the peace treaty with Israel?
ARIAM: Look, all questions of the future are delayed after building a new democratic system in Egypt. The decision must be taken by the people themselves and after discussions in the parliament.
I think our main intention now is for transition of power, the step down of Mr. Mubarak after the dissolution of the parliament and lifting the marital status, then we can rebuild the country for parliamentary elections and then, the parliament, new parliament, can make amendments in the constitution to allow everybody to run for presidential election.
Then it will be a big burden, because corruption destroyed our country. Domestic affairs, internal affairs are most important to build a new country before we are going to the foreign affairs.
ANDERSON: And with that, we'll leave it there, sir. We do appreciate you joining us here on the show tonight. Essam al-Ariam of the Muslim Brotherhood speaking to you live, there, from Cairo with the very latest --
ARIAM: Thank you.
ANDERSON: From that opposition organization. Thank you, sir.
Well, let's move on to another story that we have promised to bring you. Our exclusive interview with golfer Tiger Woods. It began with a car crash, of course, and ended with an apology, which sealed the fall from grace of one of the most successful golfers, if not the most successful golfer of all time.
After weeks of lurid revelations, Tiger Woods was forced to admit a string of affairs last February, which would end his marriage and leave his reputation in tatters.
But if Tiger thought the damage would be limited to his private life, well, he was very much mistaken. For the first time in 14 seasons, the golfer failed to win a single title in 2010. And to top off what was a miserable year, he was forced to relinquish his number one status to England's Lee Westwood after a record-breaking 281 weeks at the top. I can honestly say I don't think anybody thought that that would happen.
Well, Tiger Woods is now in Dubai, preparing for the Desert Classic, which tees off tomorrow. "Living Golf's" Shane O'Donoghue caught up with him to see whether he's hopeful that his luck is about to change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHANE O'DONOGHUE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): In our exclusive interview with Tiger, we discussed a variety of topics, predominantly of a golfing nature, and I began by asking him how his game is at the moment.
WOODS: Obviously, making changes so -- still in the process. I'm sort of learning, and trying to refine it.
O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): Tiger Woods revealed to me that his game is nearly back to where he wants it to be, so I wondered whether his goal now is to win back that world number one spot.
WOODS: My goal is to just win golf tournaments, and that'll take care of itself. Winning golf tournaments, winning major championships, that'll all take care of itself.
ANNOUCNER: Tiger Woods.
(CROWD CLAPS)
O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): Woods goes into this week's Dubai Desert Classic not having won since he returned to the game last April at the Masters. So I asked him how much it had taken for him to come back in the way that he did.
WOODS: Yes, that was hard. That was very hard, because I wasn't as prepared physically or mentally for the event. But, as I said, I came back to a golf course that I'd had success on, and I knew how to play it.
O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): Of course, after that reemergence to tournament play, Tiger and his wife, Elin, divorced, and they have joint custody of their two young children. So, how does he balance playing golf with looking after his son and daughter?
WOODS: It's all about them. So, if they want to -- Whatever they want to do, we do. Obviously, when I don't have them, that's when I can practice a little more. But when I'm around them, it's all about them.
O'DONOGHUE (on camera): You have stated that to be a great father is much more important than winning major titles. Is that -- ?
WOODS: Absolutely. Being present for your kids is far more valuable than anything you do. And to be around them, to be with them, and help them grow, to share these experiences with them is something so special.
O'DONOGHUE (voice-over): Given everything that he's gone through, I just wondered how his state of mind is as he begins this new season of golf.
WOODS: Well, we've moved on. We've moved forward. And it's about getting my life in a balance, and that's been good. It feels good.
O'DONOGHUE (on camera): And you're feeling much better than, say, 12 months ago when you were just about to get back into playing a bit of golf?
WOODS: Absolutely. Absolutely. My life is certainly a lot more balanced and where it needs to be now than it was then.
O'DONOGHUE: The message that clearly comes across from Tiger Woods is that it's all about the future, and that he dearly wants to put the traumatic events of his personal life well and truly behind him. Shane O'Donoghue, CNN, at the Emirates Golf Club, Dubai.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Can Tiger put his past behind him to regain his crown? Let's put that to top sports psychologist Gregg Steinberg, joining us tonight from New Orleans. He's the author of the book "Mental Rules for Golf."
Sir, I'm assuming you play a fine round yourself. Where does he start at this point?
GREGG STEINBERG, SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST: Well, like he said, he's not physically prepared, he's not mentally prepared. I would say he's not emotionally prepared. And until he becomes emotionally prepared for playing top level golf again, he's not going to play his best.
ANDERSON: People talked about his winning skill, as it were, or his winning ticket being his unemotional edge. Has he lost that?
STEINBERG: Yes, I think he has lost that. I think he had an emotional, traumatic experience with the social humiliation, his divorce, and that trauma has really created havoc in his emotional toughness. And until he finds what I call his prime emotional state, until he finds out that emotions that make him play great and discover that again, he is not going to play at his best.
ANDERSON: Gregg, I want our viewers just to get a sense of what people like you look for in this game. I know the four C's are generally considered the main mental qualities for a successful sport star. They are, and let me just go through them sir. Concentration, confidence, control, and commitment. But with many athletes deal with each of these very, very differently. Let's just give you a sense, here.
Take concentration, for example. One person who can put anyone off their game is the Australian cricketer Merv Hughes. I don't know if you remember him, he was known as the master of sledging, a practice where players attempt to distract the opposing batsmen through insults or intimidation.
Well, confidence is something that Andy Murray needs plenty of, right now. Despite being ranked fifth in the world, the British tennis player has never managed to win a Grand Slam tournament.
Control seems to elude many sportsman, particularly football's French striker, you'll remember this. Zinedine Zidane went from a hero to zero in the 26 -- or 2006 World Cup final when he was sent off after head-butting the Italian Marco Materazzi.
And how's this for commitment, the fourth of the C's? At the age of 43, American swimmer Dara Torres is still going strong, having won three silver medals at the 2008 Olympics. The mother of one is now betting her sights -- or setting her sights, even, on London 2012.
Talk us, then, through these four C's. Does he have any of them? Does he have some of them? Is he lacking in any of them?
STEINBERG: Well, I think you're right on the first one with concentration. Emotions greatly affect our concentration, and when our emotions out of whack, like Tiger's are right now, it's really hard to focus.
When we talk about confidence, he's got to find those emotions when he was at his best. And when he discovers those emotions that made him play at the top of his game and rediscovers that and make it emotional habit, make it his emotional habit time and time again, now, he will play at his best.
ANDERSON: Control and commitment. He certainly had control in the past and, my goodness, he looks committed at this point.
STEINBERG: I think he is committed. He's committed to his game again. Control, again, we'll talk about the emotional control. I think he's trying to get it back, but it's going to take a lot of time to gain that emotional control back. I think he's going to get his physical game back and his mental game back before he gets his emotional game back.
ANDERSON: Gregg, if there was one thing that you could whisper in his ear as he walks out onto that first tee box at the Dubai Classic, what would it be?
STEINBERG: Remember when you were at your best. You're one of the greatest players of all time. Recall those great emotions and bring those up every time you play the game.
ANDERSON: Oh, please listen. We simply don't want him to whack that ball out with the right hand side of the 17th or whatever it is in Dubai. I'm sure that's not going to happen. Look forward to watching him, and it's been an absolute pleasure, sir, to talk to you.
Your sports psychologist talking about a man who's actually, let me tell you, number three in the world these days. I got that wrong earlier on, well, I thought I got it wrong anyway. I got it wrong. He's number three, not number one anymore, but he probably will be number one at some point soon again.
Up next, our Connector of the Day, or your Connector of the Day. His grandfather immortalized by John Denver in the song "Calypso," now environmentalist Philippe Cousteau is also doing his bit to carry on a family legacy that spans the globe. So, is he optimistic or disheartened about the future of our oceans? Not the first time you've seen him on this show, and it certainly won't be the last. Find out from Philippe, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the name is synonymous with the oceans. Three generations of Cousteaus have dedicated their lives to protecting the world's marine life. And tonight, we're connecting you with Philippe, a young man who has made his grandfather's legacy his own.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Born into an environmental dynasty, Philippe Cousteau has become one of the world's most renowned experts on our oceans. But it's a prominence that the 31-year-old grandson of the late Jacques Yves Cousteau has earned in his own right.
He's continuing the work of his famous family through Earth Echo International, a not-for-profit organization that he founded with his sister Alexandra and mother Jan. The agency's mission is clear, to protect our water. It's a vast challenge, but as a documentarian and regular contributor to international programs, including CNN, Philippe has a global spotlight.
PHILIPPE COUSTEAU, EXPLORER AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATE: This oil has been here longer than I've been alive. And it still has that noxious asphalt smell, the same way that if you're in a car when they're laying down new road in front of you or next to you as you're driving along the highway, you can smell that coming through.
ANDERSON (voice-over): He brought particular attention to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last year, SCUBA diving in the area to reveal the extent of the damage. "An absolute nightmare," is how he described it, that would have horrified his grandfather.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. To carry on the family fight to protect the oceans, Philippe Cousteau is your Connector of the Day, and he joins me now from Atlanta. Let's kick off with the Mexico -- the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. It's been almost a year, Philippe. Are we seeing any visible recovery, at this point?
COUSTEAU: Well, the news is mixed, Becky. Unfortunately, the Gulf of Mexico has not recovered since the oil spill as, I think, many of us predicted it would not.
The video clip that you saw earlier, where we were holding oil in our hands was actually from a trip that we did to Veracruz and Campeche off the coast of Mexico just a few months ago talking about oil from another oil spill that happened 31 years ago that can still be found along the reefs and mangroves of that part of the coast of Mexico in the Gulf.
ANDERSON: Do --
COUSTEAU: So, this is certainly a crisis that's going to be with us for a very long time to come.
ANDERSON: There are scientists who argue that we don't have enough facts to measure the recovery at this point, that there needs to be a better assessment of the marine population affected in the spill. Do you buy that?
COUSTEAU: I would agree with that, absolutely. This is a vast area, hundreds of miles that have been affected by the oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico and, of course, this oil spill, we have to remember, spilled over almost 200 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico at a depth of a mile.
That kind of a spill has never happened anywhere in the history of oil offshore drilling anywhere in the world. And so, the effects of it are completely unknown at this point, and we have to continue to invest as much money into research and conservation as we can.
ANDERSON: And that's a question that Keira asks. She says, "Are the right steps being taken by governments and big oil at this point?
COUSTEAU: Well, I think the -- I think that there's never too much. All of us are in the difficult economic times that we find ourselves globally, certainly here in the United States as well. There's a struggle for dollars. And we continue to lobby and fight hard for the federal government to not neglect what's happened in the Gulf oil spill that falls off some of the headlines.
We continue -- we have to continue to focus on it and invest in the science that needs to happen over the long run, over the next few decades.
ANDERSON: Yes, all right. "New York Times," an article yesterday describing the beginning of a drilling boom, quoting figures that since November after the spill, companies are actually preparing to construct another 18 deep water rigs. It's quite remarkable.
We're also, of course, Philippe, seeing a greater push for deep sea mining of gold and silver, zinc and other minerals. Is all this, possibly -- and the race for those minerals -- the next big threat to our oceans, do you think?
COUSTEAU: Well, I think it is. And certainly one of the legacies of the Gulf oil spill from this summer is a realization that the technology that exists to drill for oil or to mine resources in the deep ocean is advancing very rapidly. Unfortunately, there has not been the investment in the technology that can mitigate a disaster, that can clean up an oil spill or clean up toxic waste from mining activities.
I will say the -- good news that came out just a few weeks ago is that they're -- Shell has decided not to conduct exploratory drilling in the Arctic. So, in some cases, there is, I think, lessons learned from the Gulf oil spill. There is a sense of urgency about investing in technology to be able to clean up a spill, maybe pulling back in places that are really unreasonable to drill in and unsafe to drill in.
But there -- there will continue to be oil spill -- offshore drilling for decades to come. That's not going to change anytime soon. And I think it's incumbent on people to understand that we have to invest, not only the technology to drill, but in the technology to clean it up. And we have not done enough of that in the last few decades.
ANDERSON: Forty seconds, we're kicking up against the back of the show. Jadira from the Dutch West Indies says, "What's your opinion on the state of the oceans now compared to 20 years ago?" Let's take you back somewhat.
COUSTEAU: Well, unfortunately, compared to 20 years ago, the oceans are in even worse trouble in many cases than ever before. We've seen the effects of climate change, ocean acidification, continued dumping of plastics into the ocean and pollution and overfishing.
So, the oceans in many cases are headed in a worrisome direction. But there is more attention that's being paid to it, and I think that's a good sign.
ANDERSON: Good stuff. And with that, we'll leave it there. But we look forward to speaking to you again. A regular on this show these days - -
COUSTEAU: Thanks, Becky.
ANDERSON: Philippe Cousteau, your Connector of the Day. Always an absolute pleasure.
Well, tomorrow night, we're going to connect you with a rock legend that millions consider the best front man the world has ever seen. He is the star child, KISS lead singer Paul Stanley, answering your questions.
Is a reunion with the original KISS members in the pipeline? Will the band tour again, and what about those rumors of a breakup? Find out when Paul Stanley joins us tomorrow night here on this show. For more on that, head to the website, cnn.com/connect.
I am Becky Anderson, that is your world connected. Thank you for watching. The world news headlines and "BackStory" will follow this short break.
END
