What's Different This Time?; Chrysler in Bankruptcy
BLITZER: Fredricka Whitfield is monitoring some other important stories incoming into THE SITUATION ROOM right now -- Fred, what's going on?</s>FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello again, Wolf. The Iraq War has officially ended for British troops. In a ceremony today, the U.K. formally handed over control of the Basra region to U.S. commanders. British leaders say they're preparing to withdraw their remaining 4,000 troops. British forces have been America's main battlefield ally. At the height of the war, Britain had 46,000 troops in Iraq. And newly deployed American forces are now moving into an especially dangerous in Afghanistan's area south of Kabul. Military leaders say firefighters and roadside bombs are coming there and Afghans in the area side with insurgents. But the region is key to restoring security and commerce. Commanders say new deployments over the summer will be an important test of troop surges in reversing violence. And thousands trying to escape Sri Lanka's war zone are filling up refugee camps. Sri Lanka has been locked in a battle with rebels for decades. But authorities estimate that 120,000 people have flooded the camps in the last 10 days. Authorities say another 50,000 people are trapped by the fighting and living in desperate conditions. British and French leaders are calling for a cease-fire. And a political fight in Kenya is moving into the nation's bedroom. Kenyan women are banding together and refusing to have sex for one week. Activists say they're protesting Kenya's coalition government. They say tense relationships between government leaders are getting in the way of addressing issues important to Kenya's people. Even the prime minister's wife says she supports the no sex campaign to raise awareness -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Fred, thanks very much. It was something that the nation's number three automaker tried desperately to avoid, but today Chrysler was forced to file for bankruptcy protection. CNN's Allan Chernoff is in Warren, Michigan. He's got some more details on what's going on -- Allan?</s>ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this Chrysler factory here is virtually empty right now, at a time when the second shift would normally be busy. But Chrysler has stopped manufacturing immediately for at least a month. The company is hoping by going into bankruptcy and partnering with Fiat, it will be able to keep this factory and many, many others open for decades.</s>CHERNOFF (voice-over): The deal that was supposed to save jobs has put Chrysler hourly workers out of a job for at least the next month.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was hoping that we'd be able to get through this unscathed, but, obviously, that's not happening.</s>CHERNOFF: It's the latest hit to autoworkers who, this week, voted to give up bonuses, break time and put the future of their health benefits into Chrysler's stock -- an employee benefits program will own 55 percent of Chrysler.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I am angry. But there's two things I will not do. I will not give up on Chrysler. And I will not turn my back on the</s>UAW. CHERNOFF: Fiat, the U.S. and Canadian governments will split the remaining ownership of Chrysler. With billions of new financing from the federal government, technology from Fiat and the leverage Chrysler gains under bankruptcy law, the company hopes to emerge stronger and healthier. Chrysler will gain the ability to chop dealerships and cut relations with some suppliers, meaning more pain ahead for companies that depend on Chrysler.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of the suppliers are going to have a time -- a little tough time struggling through that because of just the way business is financed, through receivables. If those buyers can't ship anything, they can't send an invoice.</s>CHERNOFF: But some Chrysler employees are remaining optimistic.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we'll just ride the train until it crashes.</s>CHERNOFF: And, of course, Chrysler is hoping not to crash and to ensure that the U.S. government is putting in another $8 billion in investments and loans -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: What a day. Allan, thanks very much for that. When the last swine flu outbreak occurred 33 years ago, the government's response received some harsh criticism. The former public health official at the center of that controversy talks about the lessons learned. Vice President Joe Biden offers some advice about avoiding the current flu outbreak. But did his comments do more harm than good? And five people die after an attack against the Dutch royal family.