Manning Considered Suicide; Damascus Airport Closed for Second Day; Michael Jackson's "Thriller" Turns 30
JOHNS: It's been two and a half years since Private Bradley Manning was arrested for his alleged involvement with Wikileaks. Since then we've heard virtually nothing from the man accused of betraying his country until yesterday at a hearing in Maryland. Today, military prosecutors are grilling him. CNN's Chris Lawrence is keeping an eye on the proceedings from the Pentagon -- Chris.</s>CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Joe. Bradley Manning just wrapped up his time on the stand. And he spent the entire day being cross examined by prosecutors who have been poking holes in the idea that his mistreatment was so bad that he contemplated suicide multiple times when locked up. They basically went back to a key incident in what happened to him while he was at Quantico where he had to stand at parade rest naked. Prosecutors went back and went back to this incident. And Bradley Manning had to admit that he had made a statement, something to the effect of, you know, hanging himself with his underwear. That was the reason they took off his clothes. But then further more he had a blanket over him and that he thought from what the guard said he had to drop that blanket and stand there naked. But he admitted that the guards never actually gave him an order to drop the blanket and that in subsequent days, they brought his clothes with his meal tray and gave him adequate time to get dressed before standing before attention like he was called to do. So all of this, Joe, is really playing out under a bigger picture, which is Bradley Manning's team trying to show that his mistreatment is grounds for getting credit -- extra credit for the time that he's already been locked up. There was a precedent about 12 years ago in which an airman got three days credit for every day he was locked up because he was mistreated. Bradley Manning's team is attempting to get about ten days credit for everyone. That could work out to up to seven years off his sentence if he's found guilty or if he cops a plea -- Joe.</s>JOHNS: So that's huge. That would be a huge difference in the possible sentence he might end up serving, right?</s>LAWRENCE: Exact -- well, it depends, Joe, if you're talking about a life sentence, seven years off life is not a big deal. But if you're talking about the plea deal that's been put forth or been talked about so far, which is about 16 years, up to six or seven years off that is pretty significant.</s>JOHNS: That's for sure. Thanks so much, Chris Lawrence at the Pentagon. Heavy fighting is reported in Syria's capital. As much of that country remains cut off from the outside world. Lisa Sylvester's monitoring that and some of the other top stories in THE SITUATION ROOM right now -- Lisa.</s>LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Joe. Well, the opposition says fierce clashes forced Damascus International Airport to close for a second straight day and that internet access to more than 90 percent of the country remains shut off. These claims follow reports of Syrian government forces trying to seize control of rebel dominated areas of the capital city raising questions about whether the regime is losing control there. And what so many New Yorkers still suffering after Superstorm Sandy, the mayor is on the hot seat for buying hotel rooms intended for storm victims but sit vacant, more than 100 in fact. Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the rooms were booked as a precaution but haven't been needed so far. Some displaced victims say they didn't know these rooms were available. OK, and you know you love them. The hit songs from Michael Jackson's "Thriller," well, that album remains the bestselling of all time when the king of pop released it 30 years ago today. Hits such as "Beat It" and "Belly Jean" change the way we look at music videos and influenced a whole generation of artists. Jackson as we all know he died back in 2009 at the age of 50. Imagine that? That album is 30 years old now.</s>JOHNS: It doesn't even seem possible that's still the bestselling album of all times after all these years.</s>SYLVESTER: Three decades later so what was your favorite song from there?</s>JOHNS: "Thriller" I think or "Billy Jean" was on that too.</s>SYLVESTER: I know. There are a lot. You're like I love "Thriller" and realize there are so many other good ones too. Good stuff.</s>JOHNS: Thanks, Lisa. Doctors have found a good use for an otherwise illegal drug. Details next.