Change of Leadership in Cuba
NGUYEN: Iraqi dogs are getting a chance for a better life right here in the United States. U.S. troops in Iraq are finding though, when they help some of the country's most desperate animals, in many cases those animals are returning the favor.</s>NGUYEN (voice-over): She was found in the middle of Baghdad only able to take a few steps before falling over. Now, Liberty is walking tall on American soil. The unit that found her just lost three soldiers. The commanding officer was so concerned about their morale that he was looking for help then he noticed a change. The change was Liberty.</s>AMANDA LEHNEKE, WIFE OF U.S. ARMY LIEUTENANT: They work so hard and they work so many hours, that when they do get some down time, just a little bit. It's reminds them of home. It's the next best thing to being home.</s>NGUYEN: Charlie was found close to death walking the streets of Baghdad. In his blog, "Eighty Deuce on the Loose," Sergeant Ed Watson wrote that Charlie couldn't have been more than a couple weeks old and looked like he could have died any minute. He followed the soldiers from Charlie company and they gave him a name and fattened him up on their MREs, meals ready to eat. Charlie quickly became their unofficial mascot. The first to welcome them back from a mission. It's against army regulations to befriend animals but many have welcomed dogs to their camps.</s>TERRI CRISP, DIR., OPERATION BAGHDAD PUPS: This human-animal bond that formed between these soldiers and these animals. For many of them, this is what has gotten them through an incredibly tough time.</s>NGUYEN: Mark Feffer knows this well. While stationed outside Kandahar, he met Cinnamon wandering around his base.</s>MARK FEFFER, NAVY RESERVIST: It was like a taste of home. A moment of affection both for and from the dog is just priceless.</s>NGUYEN: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has launched "Operation: Baghdad Pups" to bring the animals that have meant so much to the troops back to U.S.. The SPCA thinks it's important when servicemen and women return home there are as many friendly faces as possible to welcome them back, especially the furry ones.</s>NGUYEN: Let's take a closer look at efforts to rescue some of the dogs from Iraq. Terri Crisp is with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and she has an international special escort with the SPCA. She has rescued animals from Iraq and disaster areas all around the world and she joins us live from New York. Thanks for being with us today. Good morning.</s>TERRI CRISP: Good morning. Good to be here.</s>NGUYEN: Well, this is such a wonderful program. And you know, it's one thing to see it on this end of it when the animals are here in the U.S. but how difficult is it to actually get those animals out of Iraq and transport them here?</s>CRISP: Well, it's not a real easy process but when you care as much about the outcome and you see the relationship that the soldiers have with these animals, it's obvious we're going to do anything we can to get them here. So, SPCA International has been working very hard to work with a number of resources. Our network is growing all the time to facilitate more of these dogs coming back to the states.</s>NGUYEN: Is it only dogs? Or are you also bringing in other types of animals?</s>CRISP: We are doing companion animals, so it's dogs and cats. We have gotten a growing number of requests. We now have 22 more dogs and cats that we're working on and as a part of this program. We feel that we're working just as hard to help animals as we are people.</s>NGUYEN: What do mean by you've gotten growing number of requests and how do people know the stories of these animals, just from talking with their loved ones over there serving in Iraq?</s>CRISP: Exactly. And through our website spca.com, we're receiving e-mails from soldiers and when you read these stories, they are so compelling that we just can't turn our back on them. So, that's why we're working so hard to bring these reunions about and to get these animals back here to the states to the life that they deserve.</s>NGUYEN: Let me ask you this though, on the other end of it though, is it hard for the troops serving there who really get close to these animals to let them go, to let them come to the states and become adopted with another family.</s>CRISP: Well, actually, it's the soldiers who are going to get the animals a home. At SPCA International, we have very strict criteria because really, we don't want to become the animal control agency for Baghdad. We're being very selective in the animals that come and the soldiers that request the help, they are the ones that will be giving these animals a home. They're not coming back here to the states and then we're going to try and see if we can find them a home.</s>NGUYEN: Right. But the animals obviously, you know, intermingling with some of the other people that are serving there. So, it's kind of hard too to see it go.</s>CRISP: It is hard and one thing though is we have to get these animals back before the soldiers return because the soldiers have to do the leg work on the ground over there. So, Charlie, which is our first dog that came back. Sergeant Watson is going to be returning home mid March, and we're really looking forward to reuniting him with the whole unit.</s>NGUYEN: Yes. It's such a great program. And Terri, we do thank you for what you do and for coming on the show today to share a little with us about the process in getting these animals to the state. Thank you.</s>CRISP: Well, we're very happy. Thanks.</s>NGUYEN: The next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, it begins right now.</s>HOLMES: A historic day in Cuba. For the first time in 49 years, a new president will be named. Who will replace Fidel Castro? We're live in Havana.</s>SEN. HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: So, shame on you, Barack Obama. It is time you run a campaign consistent with your messages in public.</s>NGUYEN: Anger on the campaign trail: Clinton says that Obama's campaign is using tactics from the Karl Rove playbook. Obama questions her sudden change in tone. We are going to get you caught up on all of this drama.</s>HOLMES: And some fighting words. Well, let's get some comic relief out there on the campaign trail, huh? "Saturday Night Live" is back, and no candidates or CNN anchor is safe. We will bring you some of those laughs from last night, folks.</s>NGUYEN: Its good stuff. Good morning, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta. It's Sunday, February 24th. I'm Betty Nguyen.</s>HOLMES: And I'm T.J. Holmes. Thank you so much for being with us this morning. We will start in Cuba, where Cuba is electing a new president today. But wait a minute, don't let that statement fool you here. Ordinary Cubans are not voting. Its 11 million people will have the decision made for them.</s>NGUYEN: And don't expect a major change. The new president likely will be Fidel Castro's younger brother, Raul. He's been running the country since 2006, now he's been on a low key, but very important figure in the 49 years since Fidel Castro came to power. Raul Castro is 76 and the architect of the Cuban military, which is a powerful institution that he's led for 50 years. Raul Castro was a key player in the Cuban revolution. And CNN Havana bureau chief, Morgan Neill, he joins us live with the latest on this historic day. Hi there, Morgan.</s>NEILL: Hi, Betty. Yes, just two hours from now, Cuba's national assembly will begin a session, a session in which they will name the successor to Fidel Castro, as you see, after nearly 50 years running this country. So, the session gets underway in about two hours. We're not expecting an announcement on the new president until some hours later. Now, Raul Castro is the odds on favorite here. He's been leading the country for the last year and a half. He's talked about the need for some structural changes, primarily economic changes, but so far, hasn't delivered on that kind of change. But both Raul Castro and Fidel Castro talked about the need for younger leaders to emerge. So, within the new council of state, we could see some younger leaders take on greater responsibility, perhaps someone like current vice president, Carlos Lage, 56 years old, or the current foreign minister, Felipe Perez Roque. We could see some of these people take on greater roles within the government today, Betty.</s>NGUYEN: Well, that could lead to change but in the interim, as this vote is being made today, what are the people in the streets saying? Do they feel like change could be on the horizon?</s>NEILL: Well, this has been a very interesting time to watch in Cuba while we see these headlines around the world about this remarkable decision by Fidel Castro to resign, here in Cuba the reaction has been very subdued. A lot of this is because Cubans have had a year and a half to get used to the idea that Fidel Castro is no longer leading the country. Today, people are watching, to see who's name, everyone, Cubans here expect to see Raul Castro become their next president. But what they really watching is signs for: will there be some changes? Will there be economic changes? Things that will make their life easier, something that could lead to greater salaries, make some of the basic goods here more affordable. Perhaps, more space for some small, private enterprise. These are the things that Cubans are watching for. Betty.</s>NGUYEN: It sounds like they are cautiously optimistic as they watch this unfold today. Havana Bureau Chief Morgan Neill, joining us live. Thank you, Morgan. And of course, we will have much more on today's historic change of leadership in Cuba. At 9:00 a.m. Eastern, Fidel Castro's only daughter, Alina Fernandez joins us from Miami to share her thoughts on what this day means both for Cubans and for Americans. Well, as soon as Fidel Castro announced that he was stepping down as president, the U.S. presidential candidates weighed in their thoughts on future relations between the U.S. and Cuba. Won't you take a listen to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama from last week's debate in Austin?</s>CLINTON: I would not meet with them until there is evidence that change was happening. Because I think it's important that they demonstrate clearly that they are committed to change the direction. Then I think, you know, something like diplomatic encounters and negotiations, over specifics could take place. But we've had this conversation before, Senator Obama and myself, and I believe that we should have full diplomatic engagement, where appropriate. But a presidential visit should not be offered and given without some evidence that it will demonstrate the kind of progress that is in our interest and in this case, in the interest of the Cuban people.</s>SEN. BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Liberty has not existed throughout the Castro regime, and we now have an opportunity to potentially change the relationship between the United States and Cuba after over half a century. I would meet without preconditions, although Senator Clinton is right that there has to be preparation. It is very important for us to make sure there was an agenda, and on that agenda was human rights: releasing of political prisoners, opening up the press. And that preparation might take some time. But I do think that it's important for the United States, not just to talk to its friends, but also to talk to its enemies.</s>NGUYEN: Well. That is a plan Senator John McCain is not ready for. Talking tough on Cuba he says, nothing has changed.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The time to aid Cuba, the time to sit down with the Cuban leadership, will only be after they have emptied their prisons, when the human rights organizations are functioning and they have held free elections. Raul, in many ways, has a worse record, than Fidel.</s>NGUYEN: McCain says lifting the U.S. trade embargo too soon could lead to another repressive regime.</s>HOLMES: Well, back to the campaign trail now and John McCain spoke last night to Republican governors at their annual dinner in Washington. He told them he needs their help to reunite the party. He also mentioned that he believes that Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney will have a big role in the future of the Republican Party. President Bush is scheduled to speak to the governor's group tomorrow. And to the Democratic race now. Some pretty tough talk, tough, angry talk, would you call it?</s>NGUYEN: Both.</s>HOLMES: Yes, and we're talking about an angry Hillary Clinton here, telling Barack Obama shame on you. She accuses Obama of sending out campaign fliers that misrepresent her positions on health care and trade.</s>CLINTON: Let's have a real campaign. Enough with the speeches and the big rallies and then, using tactics that are right out of Karl Rove's playbook. This is wrong and every Democrat should be outraged because this is the kind of attack that not only undermines core Democratic values but gives aid and comfort to the very special interests and their allies in the Republican Party who are against doing what we want to do for America. So, shame on you, Barack Obama. It is time you ran a campaign consistent with your messages in public. That's what I expect from you. Meet me in Ohio. Let's have a debate about your tactics and your behavior in this campaign.</s>OBAMA: Yes, I think that they need to take a look at what they have been doing. In terms of the two mailers that she specifically referred to here, these are mailers that, by the way, went out -- started going out several days ago, if not weeks ago. So, I'm puzzled by the sudden change in tone unless these were just brought to her attention. It makes me think that there's something tactical about her getting so exorcised this morning.</s>CLINTON: That is not the new politics.</s>HOLMES: Wow. Sounds like fighting words. She said, meet me in Ohio. That's kind of like meet me out back.</s>NGUYEN: Meet me at the schoolyard.</s>HOLMES: My goodness. Well, this verbal sparring came as the Democrat rivals campaigned across Ohio, one of two big states of course on the primaries we're going to see on March 4th. Obama insists these campaign mailings are accurate.</s>NGUYEN: Yes, he does.</s>HOLMES: Well, the dodging the campaign drama. Presidential candidates like Mike Huckabee. You know, he went to SNL, got some late night laughs. We're going to share of it with you.</s>NGUYEN: And it's an award that nobody wants to win. So, we're going to show you which stars actually walked away with a Razzie. And: Look at this. Grassfires are scorching parts of Texas this morning. We got details on the areas affected. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.