American Morning
Global implications for the foiled Iranian terror plot
U.S. agents disrupted an Iranian "murder-for-hire" scheme targeting Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. on Tuesday. Attorney General Eric Holder said the alleged plan was directed by elements of the Iranian government, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is saying this "is a fabrication." Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, and Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are accused of a conspiracy to murder a foreign official, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, the FBI said Tuesday.
The Saudi ambassador was not the only intended target, U.S. officials said. The suspects also discussed attacking Israeli and Saudi embassies in Washington and possibly Buenos Aires, Argentina, a senior U.S. official said. It is unclear why the Saudi ambassador was targeted, the official said, or how widespread knowledge or approval of the plot was within Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.
CNN Natl. Security Contributor Fran Townsend assesses the threat level for Americans working oversees – and here at home.
Former CIA official on the viability of an Iranian terror plot
U.S. agents disrupted an Iranian "murder-for-hire" scheme targeting Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the U.S. on Tuesday. Attorney General Eric Holder said the alleged plan was directed by elements of the Iranian government, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is saying this "is a fabrication." Manssor Arbabsiar, a 56-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, and Ali Gholam Shakuri, an Iran-based member of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, are accused of a conspiracy to murder a foreign official, conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy to commit an act of terrorism, the FBI said Tuesday.
The Saudi ambassador was not the only intended target, U.S. officials said. The suspects also discussed attacking Israeli and Saudi embassies in Washington and possibly Buenos Aires, Argentina, a senior U.S. official said. It is unclear why the Saudi ambassador was targeted, the official said, or how widespread knowledge or approval of the plot was within Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.
This mornign on American Morning, Ali Velshi talks with Chad Sweet, a former CIA official, who explained the significance of this intelligence feat – and why the United States might not be so lucky in the future.
AM Minding Your Business for Oct. 12, 2011
Today on American Morning, Christine Romans reports on the morning business news headlines.
Today we're watching:
* Right now, U.S. stock futures are trading sharply higher ahead of the opening bell. European markets are up too after some stronger than expected manufacturing data.
* Pepsi just reported it missed third quarter earnings expectations, but revenues were up for the quarter.
* We've been hearing rumors for weeks and now someone is saying it. The New York State comp-troller's office predicts that Wall Street will cut 10,000 jobs by the end of next year.
* Hundreds of "Occupy Wall Street" protestors are taking their case right to the doorsteps of prominent Manhattan millionaires. One group visited Rupert Murdoch's Fifth Avenue residence and the Park Avenue homes of oil tycoon David Koch, Emigrant Bank Chairman Howard Milstein, hedge fund manager John Paulson and JP Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon.
* If you've always had that nagging feeling that groceries are more expensive at the drug-store, you could not be more right.
A new study shows that the average drug-store charges a full 50% more than the least expensive supermarket for groceries.
* The Japanese government is trying to boost tourism, which has lagged since the tsunami, by offering 10,000 free flights to the country. You can get one of those if you post about your experiences on your trip, on social media sites like Facebook or a personal blog.
Tune in to American Morning at 6am Eastern every day for the latest in business news.
Talk Back: Does Romney's Changing Position on Healthcare Matter to You?
From CNN's Carol Costello:
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The biggest thorn in Mitt Romney's side is what his opponents call "Romneycare" – a derogatory nickname for the health care plan that Romney created in Massachusetts while he was governor.
As it turns out, the Obama administration was entranced with Romney's plan. Obama officials reportedly even met with Romney's advisers to create Obamacare, NBC News reports. And yes, both plans are similar in that they include a requirement to buy health insurance. But Romney is eager to make a clarification.
"The truth is, our plan is different, and the people of Massachusetts if they don't like it, they get rid of it," Mitt Romney said in last night's GOP debate. "Right now they favor it three to one. But I'm not running for Governor of Massachusetts, I'm running for President of the United States, and as President I will repeal Obamacare, I will grant a waiver on day 1 to get that started and I will make sure that we return to the states what we had when I was Governor the right to care for our poor and the way we thought best for our respective states."
But Romney sounded a very different tone when he signed the Massachusetts law. In an interview with Fox News back in April 12, 2006 – the day he signed his health care law – Romney said: "When I set out to find a way to get everybody health insurance, I couldn't have cared less and I don't care less about how it works politically. In my view it's the right thing to do."
In other words, Mitt Romney was for the individual mandate before he was against it – at least on a national level. And he says, as president, he would repeal the very health care law that he inspired.
Talk Back: Does Romney's Changing Position on Healthcare Matter to You?
Let us know what you think. Your answer may be read on this morning's broadcast.
VH1's 'Pop-Up Video' is back!
It was a hit in the 90's and now VH1 is bringing back one of its most popular shows.
After a nearly decade-long hiatus, "Pop-Up Video" is making its re-debut, taking on today's music with the same snarky bubbles of trivia about their artists.
CNN's Christine Romans reports on the return of the beloved show.
Co-editor of the "We Are the 99 Percent" blog discusses the Occupy Wall Street protests
In honor of the start of the Occupy Wall Street protests in September, the founder of the Tumblr site "We Are the 99 Percent" decided that creating the blog would be a good way to promote the event. He invited those who visited the site to submit their picture with a sign explaining how the financial times have been affected them and asked them to identify themselves at the "99 percent."
On the first day that submissions began to be published, there were five posts on the site. Less than a month later, the blog publishes nearly 100 posts a day from a range of Americans who have been struggling in this economy.
Today on American Morning, Ali Velshi speaks with Priscilla Grim, co-editor of the "We Are the 99 Percent" Tumblr and an occupier at the Occupy Wall Street protest. Grim discusses what type of submissions the blog has received and explains the message behind the movement.
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