Opinion: Morsy miscalculating the rage

An anti-Mohamed Morsy protester shouts during a march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Thursday, December 6. Protesters are blocked from approaching the the presidential palace by the Egyptian army on December 6 in Cairo. Egyptian soldiers stand outside the presidential palace in Cairo after setting up barbed wire barricades on December 6. Supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy protesters outside the Egyptian presidential palace on Wednesday, December 5, in Cairo. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Morsy supporters destroy tents of anti-Morsy protesters outside the presidential palace on December 5. Morsy supporters carry an injured man to safety during clashes with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Members of the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of Morsy clash with anti-Morsy demonstrators on a road leading to the Egyptian presidential palace on December 5. Egyptian riot police stand behind barbwire as thousands of Egyptian demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo, Egypt, on Tuesday, December 4. Tens of thousands of demonstrators encircled the presidential palace in Cairo after riot police failed to keep them at bay with tear gas on December 4. An Egyptian woman waves a national flag as demonstrators march to the presidential palace in Cairo on December 4. A Morsy supporter waves a flag outside the Supreme Constitutional Court as hundreds of supporters of the president protest on Sunday, December 2, in Cairo, forcing judges to postpone a hearing on a constitutional panel at the heart of a deepening political crisis. Supporters of Morsy pray outside the Supreme Constitutional Court on December 2. A man kisses a portrait of Morsy during a gathering of thousands of Islamists in front of Cairo University on Saturday, December 1. Thousands pray during a rally in support of Morsy in front of Cairo University on December 1. An Egyptian man delivers a speech as protesters gather in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday, November 30. A man shouts as protesters gather in Tahrir Square on November 30. A man holds a copy of the Quran and a cross in Tahrir Square on November 30. Protesters run from Egyptian riot police during clashes near Cairo's Tahrir Square on Wednesday, November 28. A protester carries a rock during clashes with police on Wednesday. Egyptians carry a giant national flag as tens of thousands take part in a mass rally in Cairo on Tuesday, November 27, against a decree by President Mohamed Morsy granting himself broad powers. An Egyptian protester holds up a Quran and a figure of Christ on the cross during Tuesday's demonstration. Protesters continue to rally in Tahrir Square on Tuesday. An Egyptian protester attempts to throw back a tear gas canister on Tuesday during clashes with riot police in Omar Makram Street, off Tahrir Square. Activists in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, November 26, carry the coffin of Gaber Salah, an activist who died overnight after he was critically injured in clashes in Cairo. Salah, a member of the April 6 movement known by his nickname "Jika," was injured last week during confrontations between police and protesters on Cairo's Mohammed Mahmud street. Thousands of activists attend the funeral of Gaber Salah on Monday. Protesters clash with Egyptian police at Simon Bolivar Square on Sunday, November 25, in Cairo. Egypt's powerful Muslim Brotherhood called nationwide demonstrations in support of Islamist President Mohamed Morsy in his showdown with the judges over the path to a new constitution. Egyptian protesters hurl stones at police at Tahrir Square on Sunday. Protesters gather at sit-in tents in Tahrir Square on Sunday. Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy waves to supporters in front of the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday, November 23. Thousands of ecstatic supporters gathered outside the presidential palace to defend their leader against accusations from rival protesters that he has become a dictator. Morsy supporters gather outside the presidential palace in Cairo on Friday. Morsy insisted that Egypt was on the path to "freedom and democracy," as protesters held rival rallies over sweeping powers he assumed that further polarized the country's political forces. Protesters demonstrating against Morsy run from tear gas fired by Egyptian riot police during clashes in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday. Egyptian protesters throw rocks toward riot police on Friday Egyptian supporters and opponents of Morsy clash in the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. A man throws a rock during clashes in Alexandria on Friday. Thousands of demonstrators march through the streets of Cairo to protest against Morsy on Friday. Clashes rocked the coastal city of Alexandria on Friday. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Nancy Okail: In only a few months, Mohamed Morsy has provoked protests She says this recalls Hosni Mubarak as Morsy has upended constitutional process She says he has miscalculated his mandate; his actions have galvanized opposition Okail: He can still reverse course; Egyptians and world won't stand for authoritarianism Editor's note: Nancy Okail, director of Freedom House's Egypt program, is one of dozens of activists being prosecuted by the Egyptian authorities as part of a crackdown on independent civil society groups in the country. She has worked for the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and Egypt's Ministry of International Cooperation. Follow her on Twitter @NancyGEO (CNN) -- This week, in a scene not witnessed during the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian presidential palace was encircled with barbed wire as thousands of protesters opposing President Mohamed Morsy besieged it from all sides. The visual is shocking, considering that a few short months ago, Morsy stood without a shield to give a speech to thousands in Tahrir Square. Most experts would agree that Mubarak did not start out as the dictator he ultimately became. Indeed, the oppression, torture and crackdown on opposition his regime was known for grew gradually over the years before reaching the height of brutality in his last term. It also took at least 10 years of determined commitment by activists and opposition to make change. The opposition grew from a few people beaten by police while peacefully protesting on the stairs of the Supreme Court to more organized groups such as Kefaya and April 6, to the massive citizens uprising of January 25, 2011. But in just a few months, Morsy already has deployed all the ingredients of authoritarianism: intimidating media outlets, defaming opposition and casting doubt on their patriotism and intentions and using violence and detention against protesters. On November 22, Morsy finally crowned these atrocities with a constitutional declaration granting him complete power over the executive, legislative and judiciary authorities, with no accountability. When the act was denounced at home and abroad, Morsy claimed that these are temporary measures were required to protect the revolution and help the transition to democracy. What has followed have been the opposite of democratic. Explainer: What's driving Egypt's unrest? Become a fan of CNNOpinion Stay up to date on the latest opinion, analysis and conversations through social media. Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion and follow us @CNNOpinion on Twitter. We welcome your ideas and comments. Morsy quickly announced that there would be a December 15 referendum to vote on the new draft constitution that was rushed through by the Islamist-dominated constituent assembly. The majority of liberal and secular voices had already boycotted the committee over a lack of transparency in the drafting process. Despite protests, strikes and a declaration by federal judges that they will not monitor what they consider to be an illegitimate referendum, Morsy shows no sign of reversing course -- ignoring opposition in the fashion of Mubarak. But Mubarak was not democratically elected. Then why is Morsy moving so frantically to consolidate his power without even attempting to disguise it behind a democratic facade? The answer is, Morsy is not stupid. He is aware that he only won by a 1.7% margin. A substantial number of his voters favored him only to avoid another era of military rule at the hands of his opponent, Mubarak's ex-prime minister, Ahmed Shafik. In fact, the non-Islamist opposition arguably represents the majority, but only failed to mobilize for the election because it was deeply fragmented and disorganized. But Morsy's coup has done what some thought impossible: unite the liberal/moderate opposition. Outside observers applauded Morsy's early decisions -- such as dismissing the heads of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, releasing military prisoners and banning pornographic websites -- as surprising and bold. However, these decisions were either populist or designed to appease his constituency of Islamists. Morsy avoided making any painful, but essential, decisions, such as lifting subsidies, increasing prices of utilities and dealing with unemployment. Tensions in Egypt turn deadly Chaos in Cairo Rocks fly during clashes in Cairo But Morsy has made three major miscalculations. First, he made appeasing his own constituency a bigger priority than winning over the opposition. This helped them to unify against him. Second, he assumed that he would be immune from international criticism after his celebrated success in brokering a cease-fire between Hamas and Israeli earlier last months. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, he underestimated the Egyptian people. The massive protests on Tuesday, which included people of all ages, incomes and walks of life, showed that the Egyptian people no longer would accept dictatorship in any form. iReport: Bloody clashes around Egyptian Presidential palace The opposition has shaken Morsy's misconceptions: The protests have been unified and included all political forces. Meanwhile the international community is not so naive and realizes that the opposition is not simply a minority group that wants to restore the old regime, a scenario the Brotherhood spokesmen publicly propagate. All is not lost for Morsy if he is willing to change course. If he were to withdraw the declaration, call for a national dialogue and provide an opportunity for an inclusive space to redraft the current document of the constitution, there is hope for getting Egypt back on track in its transition. At a minimum, he should extend the time frame for the referendum to open the door for a real national debate. This would not only spare the divided nation from descending into violent chaos but would also save Morsy and his party. It is already evident that situation is only escalating, with more violent clashes Wednesday between supporters and opponents of Morsy in front of the presidential palace. There is no guarantee that even this will regain stability or restore Morsy's legitimacy, but what is certain is that the longer he delays his response to the angry masses, the more irreversible the situation will be. The political dynamics in Egypt have drastically changed since the revolution. Foreign governments, particularly the U.S., should factor this into its approach to engaging with Egypt. This does not mean siding with one regime or playing one group against the other, but rather siding with the principles of freedom and democracy against oppression and authoritarian rule. The Egyptians are still waiting for the Obama administration to match its fine words with actions. Follow @CNNOpinion on Twitter Join us at Facebook/CNNOpinion The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nancy Okail.

Marijuana's long, strange trip in the US

Jim Seida / NBC News Dustin, left and Paul, both from Pyuallup and neither of whom would give a last name, smoke marijuana beneath the Space Needle shortly after midnight on Dec. 6. By Gene Johnson, The Associated Press The grass is no greener. But, finally, it's legal — at least somewhere in America. It's been a long, strange trip for marijuana.  Washington state and Colorado voted to legalize and regulate its recreational use last month. But before that, the plant, renowned since ancient times for its strong fibers, medical use and mind-altering properties, was a staple crop of the colonies, an "assassin of youth," a counterculture emblem and a widely accepted — if often abused — medicine.  On the occasion of Thursday's "Legalization Day," when Washington's new law takes effect, here's a look back at the cultural and legal status of the "evil weed" in American history.  Cannabis in the colonies  George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew hemp and puzzled over the best ways to process it for clothing and rope. Indeed, cannabis has been grown in America since soon after the British arrived. In 1619 the Crown ordered the colonists at Jamestown to grow hemp to satisfy England's incessant demand for maritime ropes, Wayne State University professor Ernest Abel wrote in "Marihuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years."  Hemp became more important to the colonies as New England's own shipping industry developed, and homespun hemp helped clothe American soldiers during the Revolutionary War. Some colonies offered farmers "bounties" for growing it.  "We have manufactured within our families the most necessary articles of cloathing," Jefferson said in "Notes on the State of Virginia." "Those of wool, flax and hemp are very coarse, unsightly, and unpleasant."  Jefferson went on to invent a device for processing hemp in 1815.    Taste the hashish Books such as "The Arabian Nights" and Alexandre Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo," with its voluptuous descriptions of hashish highs in the exotic Orient, helped spark a cannabis fad among intellectuals in the mid-19th century.  "But what changes occur!" one of Dumas' characters tells an uninitiated acquaintance. "When you return to this mundane sphere from your visionary world, you would seem to leave a Neapolitan spring for a Lapland winter -- to quit paradise for earth -- heaven for hell! Taste the hashish, guest of mine -- taste the hashish."  Midnight party: Pot, gay marriage become legal in Washington state  PhotoBlog: Pot smokers gather under Seattle's Space Needle After the Civil War, with hospitals often overprescribing opiates for pain, many soldiers returned home hooked on harder drugs. Those addictions eventually became a public health concern. In 1906, Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, requiring labeling of ingredients, and states began regulating opiates and other medicines — including cannabis.    Mexican folklore and jazz clubs By the turn of the 20th century, cannabis smoking remained little known in the United States — but that was changing, thanks largely to The Associated Press, says Isaac Campos, a Latin American history professor at the University of Cincinnati.  In the 1890s, the first English-language newspaper opened in Mexico and, through the wire service, tales of marijuana-induced violence that were common in Mexican papers began to appear north of the border — helping to shape public perceptions that would later form the basis of pot prohibition, Campos says.  By 1910, when the Mexican Revolution pushed immigrants north, articles in the New York Sun, Boston Daily Globe and other papers decried the "evils of ganjah smoking" and suggested that some use it "to key themselves up to the point of killing."  Pot-smoking spread through the 1920s and became especially popular with jazz musicians. Louis Armstrong, a lifelong fan and defender of the drug he called "gage," was arrested in California in 1930 and given a six-month suspended sentence for pot possession.  "It relaxes you, makes you forget all the bad things that happen to a Negro," he once said. In the 1950s, he urged legalization in a letter to President Dwight Eisenhower.    Reefer madness, hemp for victory After the repeal of alcohol prohibition in 1933, Harry Anslinger, who headed the federal Bureau of Narcotics, turned his attention to pot. He told of sensational crimes reportedly committed by marijuana addicts. "No one knows, when he places a marijuana cigarette to his lips, whether he will become a philosopher, a joyous reveler in a musical heaven, a mad insensate, a calm philosopher, or a murderer," he wrote in a 1937 magazine article called "Marijuana: Assassin of Youth."  The hysteria was captured in the propaganda films of the time — most famously, "Reefer Madness," which depicted young adults descending into violence and insanity after smoking marijuana. The movie found little audience upon its release in 1936 but was rediscovered by pot fans in the 1970s.  Congress banned marijuana with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. Anslinger continued his campaign into the '40s and '50s, sometimes trying — without luck — to get jazz musicians to inform on each other. "Zoot suited hep cats, with their jive lingo and passion for swift, hot music, provide a fertile field for growth of the marijuana habit, narcotics agents have found here," began a 1943 Washington Post story about increasing pot use in the nation's capital.  The Department of Agriculture promoted a different message. After Japanese troops cut off access to Asian fiber supplies during World War II, it released "Hemp For Victory," a propaganda film urging farmers to grow hemp and extolling its use in parachutes and rope for the war effort.  Counterculture As the conformity of the postwar era took hold, getting high on marijuana and other drugs emerged as a symbol of the counterculture, with Jack Kerouac and the rest of the Beat Generation singing pot's praises. It also continued to be popular with actors and musicians. When actor Robert Mitchum was arrested on a marijuana charge in 1948, People magazine recounted, "The press nationwide branded him a dope fiend. Preachers railed against him from pulpits. Mothers warned their daughters to shun his films."  Congress responded to increasing drug use — especially heroin — with stiffer penalties in the '50s. Anslinger began to hype what we now call the "gateway drug" theory: that marijuana had to be controlled because it would eventually lead its users to heroin.  Then came Vietnam. The widespread, open use of marijuana by hippies and war protesters from San Francisco to Woodstock finally exposed the falsity of the claims so many had made about marijuana leading to violence, says University of Virginia professor Richard Bonnie, a scholar of pot's cultural status.  In 1972, Bonnie was the associate director of a commission appointed by President Richard Nixon to study marijuana. The commission said marijuana should be decriminalized and regulated. Nixon rejected that, but a dozen states in the '70s went on to eliminate jail time as a punishment for pot arrests.  'Just say no' The push to liberalize drug laws hit a wall by the late 1970s. Parents groups became concerned about data showing that more children were using drugs, and at a younger age. The religious right was emerging as a force in national politics. And the first "Cheech and Chong" movie, in 1978, didn't do much to burnish pot's image.  When she became first lady, Nancy Reagan quickly promoted the anti-drug cause. During a visit with schoolchildren in Oakland, Calif., as Reagan later recalled, "A little girl raised her hand and said, 'Mrs. Reagan, what do you do if somebody offers you drugs?' And I said, 'Well, you just say no.' And there it was born."  By 1988, more than 12,000 "Just Say No" clubs and school programs had been formed, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. Between 1978 and 1987, the percentage of high school seniors reporting daily use of marijuana fell from 10 percent to 3 percent.  And marijuana use was so politically toxic that when Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992, he said he "didn't inhale."  Meds of a different sort  Marijuana has been used as medicine since ancient times, as described in Chinese, Indian and Roman texts, but U.S. drug laws in the latter part of the 20th century made no room for it. In the 1970s, many states passed symbolic laws calling for studies of marijuana's efficacy as medicine, although virtually no studies ever took place because of the federal prohibition.  Nevertheless, doctors noted its ability to ease nausea and stimulate appetites of cancer and AIDS patients. And in 1996, California became the first state to allow the medical use of marijuana. Since then, 17 other states and the District of Columbia have followed.  In recent years, medical marijuana dispensaries — readily identifiable by the green crosses on their storefronts — have proliferated in many states, including Washington, Colorado and California. That's prompted a backlash from some who suggest they are fronts for illicit drug dealing and that most of the people they serve aren't really sick. The Justice Department has shut down some it deems the worst offenders.  Legal weed at last On Nov. 6, Washington and Colorado pleased aging hippies everywhere — and shocked straights of all ages — by voting to become the first states to legalize the fun use of marijuana. Voters handily approved measures to decriminalize the possession of up to an ounce by adults over 21. Colorado's measure also permits home-growing of up to six plants.  Both states are working to set up a regulatory scheme with licensed growers, processors and retail stores. Eventually, activists say, grown-ups will be able to walk into a store, buy some marijuana, and walk out with ganja in hand — but not before paying the taxman. The states expect to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for schools and other government functions.  But it's not so simple. The regulatory schemes conflict with the federal government's longstanding pot prohibition, according to many legal scholars. The Justice Department could sue to block those schemes from taking effect — but hasn't said whether it will do so.  The bizarre journey of cannabis in America continues.  AP researcher Julie Reed Bell contributed to this report from Charlotte, N.C. More content from NBCNews.com: In 911 call, Belcher's mom begs girlfriend not to die Bob Costas: We need to talk about America's gun culture Snow, cold missing across much of the US TSA screener accused of stealing iPads from passengers' bags at JFK Airport Conversion therapists: 'You can't say gay once, gay always' West Point cadet quits, cites 'criminal' behavior of officers Video: Photographer: 'No way' I could have saved subway victim Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Abortion mandate costs Planned Parenthood a few affiliates

By M. Alex Johnson, NBC News A Planned Parenthood affiliate in New York is leaving the organization rather than comply with a policy that all affiliates must offer on-site abortions, fueling hopes among anti-abortion activists of a split within the abortion-rights movement. But the move is an isolated one that has nothing to do with political battles, officials of the family planning organization say, and the policy appears likely to take effect in the new year with little disruption. M. Alex Johnson is a reporter for NBC News. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. The decision last week by Planned Parenthood of South Central New York to go independent comes as the Planned Parenthood Federation of America is fighting legislative attempts in several states to bar it from receiving state health funds because the organization provides abortions. Planned Parenthood oversees 74 regional affiliates that operate about 800 offices and clinics across the country. The affiliates don't provide a standard menu of services, however, leading Planned Parenthood in late 2010 to issue a directive requiring them to offer a roster of core services — including cancer screenings and HIV testing in addition to on-site abortions — in at least one of their locations by 2013. Matt Yonke, a spokesman for the Pro-Life Action League, an anti-abortion group, said the decision by the New York affiliate highlighted that some Planned Parenthood workers were "deeply uncomfortable with what goes on inside their workplace" and were being backed into a corner. "No matter what conglomeration of services your Planned Parenthood affiliate provides, it had better provide abortion, or you're out because that's what Planned Parenthood does," he wrote last week on the group's website. Calling the New York chapter "the latest affiliate to become independent because it won't comply with the rule," the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List said in a statement that the policy was being resisted by local affiliates and was "the ultimate evidence that Planned Parenthood's chief concern is making money off abortion — not the health of vulnerable women and girls." Interviews with affiliate officials, however, undermine the contention that Planned Parenthood is being torn apart from within. The New York chapter, which will become Family Planning of South Central New York on March 1, is only the third known to have "disaffiliated" itself from Planned Parenthood because of the new policy in the two years since it was approved, and it said its reasons were financial, not philosophical. Ingrid Husisian, a spokeswoman for the affiliate, which operates five clinics in the Binghamton and Oneonta region, said there were several providers of abortions in her operating area to whom the affiliate can refer clients, and "if we comply with the on-site mandate, we would be duplicating services already provided in the counties we serve." Watch US News videos on NBCNews.com That raised the prospect of "creating competition that may financially hurt our local doctors," Husisian said, adding that the local group would "absolutely" offer on-site abortions if those other providers weren't nearby. The two other affiliates known to have left specifically because of the policy also said their departures weren't political. Tri-Rivers Planned Parenthood, based in Rolla, Mo., became Tri-Rivers Family Planning last year because "it was just not financially possible" to meet all of the new policy's requirements, said Lisa Davis, the organization's education director. "We had no trouble with the list" Planned Parenthood mandated, Davis said. Planned Parenthood of the Coastal Bend, based in Corpus Christi, Texas, left the national organization immediately when the policy was approved two years ago, becoming Family Planning of the Coastal Bend. Officials didn't respond to requests for comment this week, but when the group left, it said it didn't see a need to duplicate services already obtainable in the area. Calling it old news, Planned Parenthood officials complained that the mandate had been "sensationalized" by anti-abortion activists spotlighting of the New York affiliate's announcement. Lost in the polarized discussion, they said, was that the abortion requirement was only one part of a broader initiative covering many reproductive health services at every Planned Parenthood affiliate — some of which cover large regions in rural states where family planning services are in short supply. Eric Ferrer, vice president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, acknowledged that one of those "core" services was on-site abortions, which about 10 percent of affiliates didn't previously offer. (Agency officials said nearly all of those affiliates, which currently refer clients to other local abortion providers, had already complied or were on track to do so.) The other services have little to do with abortion, officials said, noting that the list also includes "well-woman" exams, cancer screenings, HIV and STD testing for both sexes and vaccination against the human pappilomavirus. Ferrer said the list was intended to reassure clients that they could count on "a consistent set of services at all health centers." Davis, of Tri-Rivers Family Planning, stressed that her affiliate's move was a "business model decision; it wasn't a political thing. "We are still a pro-choice organization," she said. "We are totally aligned with Planned Parenthood." Family Planning of South Central New York also "continues to support the mission of Planned Parenthood," Husisian said, adding: "We're going to do what we do great and let (other local abortion providers) do what they do great." More content from NBCNews.com: Chilling details released in Alaska barista's killing Conversion therapists: 'You can't say gay once, gay always' West Point cadet quits, cites 'criminal' behavior of officers Disability-compensation claims for veterans lag as 'VA backlog' worsens Video: Friend goes to get beer, finds kittens in freezer Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

Rossen Reports: New device lets crooks crack many hotel locks

By Jeff Rossen and Josh Davis, NBC News Some insiders are calling it a security crisis at hotels nationwide: A breach, leaving you more vulnerable. When you lock your hotel door, you assume you're safe and your stuff is safe. Don't be so sure: Thieves have invented a small, simple device that can unlock hotel doors at some of the most popular chains. Some hotels have known about this security problem for months -- so why hasn't it been fixed? Have an idea for Rossen Reports? Email us by clicking here! Jim Stickley is a security expert who worked with us on this report. Using a homemade gadget to pop electronic doors, he was able to break into a hotel room in seconds -- no kicking the door, no fancy tools. We booked hotel rooms in New Jersey where he did it again and again -- at a Hyatt, a Ramada, a Doubletree Hilton. This security flaw is so alarming, even hotel managers are stunned. "That's absolutely insane," one said when we showed him. The device is so small, thieves can hide it in a magic marker.  And criminals are learning how to make it watching videos posted online. "Do you have to be a computer whiz to build one of these?" we asked Stickley. "No, you could be a village idiot," he said. "Just go online and you can find step-by-step instructions and be done in a half hour." All thieves have to do is plug it in, and it acts like a master key, even bypassing the deadbolt, giving criminals access while you sleep. These locks are some of the most common in hotels worldwide. Millions of rooms may be affected. Lakesha Barrow was ripped off at a Hyatt House in Houston. Her laptop, her jewelry, all stolen. "The moment I opened the door, I felt violated," she said. "My heart just dropped: Someone has been in my space, someone went through my stuff." Police say it was Matthew Cook, who used the same kind of gadget at several hotels. Now charged with felony theft, he's pled not guilty. So what's being done? The hotel industry and the company that makes the locks, Onity, have known about the problem since July. Onity says it has broadly communicated available solutions. But five months later, we found a Country Inn & Suites still in the dark. "Were you aware of this problem?" we asked the manager. "No." She said no one ever alerted her to the issue. "I want all my locks changed," she told us. Read more investigative journalism from Rossen Reports In a statement, Onity told us safety is the highest priority, that they've already fixed 1.4 million locks, and "all customer requests for these solutions have already been fulfilled or are in the process of being fulfilled." Onity has given some hotels a free plastic cap to cover the port. The industry says they work, but not our expert. "They're silly," Jim Stickley told us. "They're basically a temporary fix at best." "Can a criminal still get through that?" we asked. "Absolutely. It just takes a screwdriver and a minute." Onity is also offering to upgrade the locks -- for a price. But many hotels haven't done it yet. "Doesn't the buck ultimately stop with the hotels?" we asked Joe McInerny, president of the industry group representing hotels. "Yes it is," McInerney said. "We're trying to figure it out." "Bottom line, the hotel industry has known about this problem for five months, and while you and Onity work this out about who's going to pay for what and when it's going to happen, doesn't that leave hotel guests vulnerable?" we asked. "Not really, because we have extra security in a lot of the hotels," McInerny replied. "We're really looking at this as a number one priority." "But what about the hotels we visited?" we asked. "We were able to get in: Why not a criminal?" "A criminal might be able to get in. And we really believe it's important for people to realize that they are secure in a hotel." But are they? McInernry said they've hired an independent company to figure out the best solution -- and that takes time. "Months?" we asked. "Weeks?" "Can't tell you," McInerny said. "I don't have a crystal ball." But victims say that's not enough. "They need to fix these locks, because if not, someone's life could be in jeopardy," Lakesha Barrow said. We reached out to all the hotels in our story. Hyatt told us they've implemented security measures, but they wouldn't provide details. The other hotels either referred us to the industry group, or didn't respond. So how do you protect yourself? Experts say: Use the security chain on the door. And if you leave your room, keep your valuables in the safe, or take them with you. To read statements in response to this report, click here. More from Rossen Reports: Have an idea for Rossen Reports? Email us by clicking here! Read more investigative journalism from Rossen Reports Rossen Reports: Are online hotel prices fixed? Rossen Reports: Extreme identity thieves live as you

The 'skills gap' may be your fault, employers

9 hrs. John W. Schoen , NBC News With the economic recovery stuck in low gear, Tammy Krings has something of a happy problem for her growing, Columbus, Ohio-based global travel business, TS24. Some 17 years after starting with out three employees, Krings is wrapping up a barnburner year. The company booked so much new business in 2012, she's had to hire 60 new employees – up from a staff of 120 in January. Faced with that kind of rapid growth, Krings says she ran smack into one of the biggest hurdles cited by many employers today: the so-called "skills gap."  "My frustration is you keep hearing about these unemployment numbers, but we have a very, very difficult time finding qualified people," she said. Researchers and staffing consultants say Krings' frustration is widespread, the result of a host of powerful forces jarring the labor market – from the ongoing, rapid infusion of technology into the workplace to the decline of vocational training in the American education system and the ongoing, mass exodus of a generation of skilled baby boomers headed for retirement.     As a result, Krings learned what labor economists and staffing consultants say is the hard reality of finding skilled workers in a rapidly changing workplace.  If you can't find what you're looking for, try harder. And if that doesn't work, you may have to cough up the money to train the best new hires you can find. Rock Center: Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils plans to make Macs in the US "We've been able to find the types of people that we want as long we are willing to invest in them to bring them to the level of skill that we need," said Krings. But millions of small- and medium-sized employers, the businesses that create the bulk of new jobs, are apparently unwilling or unable to spend the money to bring new hires up to speed. "I don't think companies are confident enough right now to make big investments (in training)," said Melanie Holmes  who has tracked workplace issues in a 30-year career with Manpower, a global staffing company. "They want to hire someone who can be productive tomorrow." There's no debate about the increased demand for higher-skilled workers in an economy that relies more heavily every year on advances in technology to raise the productivity of each worker. That's why the jobs that employers said they had the hardest time filling in 2012 were skilled trades, engineers and IT Staff, according to a Manpower survey. "It used to be all you needed was a strong back and an alarm clock to get a really good, family-sustaining job in manufacturing," said Holmes. "Unfortunately for individuals – and fortunately for companies – technology has changed that. You need at least some post-secondary education." But a decades-long shift in emphasis on four-year, liberal arts college degrees has drained the supply of students entering job-based, vocational and technical schools. Employer- and union-sponsored training programs have also become artifacts of the last century, according to Peter Cappelli, a management professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School who heads the school's Center for Human Resources.  "Apprenticeship programs have collapsed," he said. "We've got, by far, the least apprenticeship training per capita than any other industrialized country." Related: Economic reality marries age-old idea -- apprenticeships -- with college That has shifted the burden of skills training to employers – a burden many say they're unwilling or unable to take on. The current dearth of company-sponsored training programs is also, in part, a hangover from the mass layoffs and hiring freezes that accompanied the Great Recession.    "Training was one of the first things that we cut during the downturn because we weren't hiring," said Krings. "If you're not hiring, you don't need to have anyone on board to train new hires." But with the economy now in its third year of a halting recovery, many companies continue to defer spending on training. "It comes down to an excuse of budget limitations," said David Smith, a human resources consultant at Accenture. "The biggest issue probably is return on investment. It's hard to measure the results. But it's a poor excuse. People just get hung up so quickly on that point and they're very, very short-sighted." Some companies simply don't get it. Many of the "skills gap" complaints are coming from small companies that have limited or no human resources expertise, according to Capelli. "If they don't have anybody in house who understands recruiting and training and development, then there's nobody to explain to management 'We're looking in the wrong places' or  'We can't pay this much and expect to get the people we want.' " Related story: The 'fiscal cliff' and other reasons companies aren't hiring more workers One simple solution would be to raise wages. The laws of economics suggest that if something is in short supply, prices should rise until demand is satisfied. If a computer programmer can earn $50 an hour working for a software company, she has little incentive to accept a $25 an hour job programming a manufacturing robot. But Krings says she just can't afford to pay the salaries that the best applicants are asking. "Our customers don't want to pay the rate they were paying three years ago," she said. "We're doing more for less today." Like Krings, most employers apparently are unwilling or unable to pay higher wages to compete for better skills. Manpower's survey found that only 11 percent had increased starting salaries in 2012 to help recruit talented workers. More than three times as many said they preferred to provide additional training to existing staff. Some hiring managers just give up looking and defer new hires, assuming they'll save money that will add to profits. But that strategy generates a false sense of economy because few employers account for just how much those unfilled jobs are costing them, said Capelli. "You can't account for lost opportunities, or the work that's not getting done, or the burnout of your employees -- who all want to get out of there now because they feel you're abusing them with overwork," he said. "You can't account for any of that stuff, so it looks like you're saving money." Though tight budgets and a weak economy may have crimped companies' spending on training and bigger paychecks, hiring managers bemoaning the "skills gap" may be in for a rude shock if the economy picks up speed next year. With increased demand for talent, the "skills gap" will only worsen as more companies have to draw from the same pool of workers, said Holmes. "I think it's going to worse before it gets better," she said. "If business does come back year next year, we're not going to have enough people."

EXCLUSIVE: Apple to manufacture Mac line in US

By Ronnie Polidoro Rock Center In an exclusive interview with Brian Williams airing tonight at 10pm/9c on NBC's "Rock Center," Apple CEO Tim Cook announced one of the existing Mac lines will be manufactured exclusively in the United States next year. Mac fans will have to wait to see which Mac line it will be because Apple, widely known for its secrecy, left it vague. Cook's announcement may or may not confirm recent rumors in the blogosphere sparked by iMacs inscribed in the back with "Assembled in USA." ROCK CENTER EXCLUSIVE "We've been working for years on doing more and more in the United States," Cook told Williams. It was Cook's first interview since taking over from his visionary former boss, Steve Jobs, who resigned due to health reasons in August 2011. Jobs died on October 5, 2011, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. The announcement could be good news for a country that has been struggling with an unemployment rate of around 8 percent for some time and has been bleeding good-paying factory jobs to lower-wage nations such as China. Cook, who joined Apple in 1998, said he believes it's important to bring more jobs to the United States. Apple would not reveal where exactly the Macs will be manufactured. "When you back up and look at Apple's effect on job creation in the United States, we estimate that we've created more than 600,000 jobs now," said Cook. Those jobs, not all Apple hires, vary from research and development jobs in California to retail store hires to third-party app developers.  Apple already has data centers in North Carolina, Nevada and Oregon and plans to build a new one in Texas.  Ronnie Polidoro / NBC News Apple has taken a lot of heat over the past couple of years after a rash of suicides at plants in China run by Foxconn drew attention to working conditions at the world's largest contract supplier. Apple and other manufacturers who have their gadgets produced by Foxconn were forced to defend production in China. Earlier this year, Apple hired the nonprofit Fair Labor Association to examine working conditions at Foxconn, which makes some of Apple's most popular products: iPhones, iPods and iPads. Given that, why doesn't Apple leave China entirely and manufacture everything in the U.S.? "It's not so much about price, it's about the skills," Cook told Williams. WATCH VIDEO: Apple CEO announces 'Made in America' plans Echoing a theme stated by many other companies, Cook said he believes the U.S. education system is failing to produce enough people with the skills needed for modern manufacturing processes. He added, however, that he hopes the new Mac project will help spur others to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. "The consumer electronics world was really never here," Cook said. "It's a matter of starting it here." Cook said he still misses Jobs, his friend and mentor, but that Jobs' advice to him before he died was to do the things he thinks are right and not try to guess "what Steve would do." "I loved Steve dearly, and miss him dearly," Cook told Williams. "And one of the things he did for me, that removed a gigantic burden that would have normally existed, is he told me, on a couple of occasions before he passed away, to never question what he would have done. Never ask the question, 'What Steve would do,' to just do what's right."  Apple today is worth about 40 percent more than when Cook took over. Under his leadership, Apple has released three new iMac models, two iPhones, two iPads, and the iPad mini. That's not to say there haven't been some speed bumps. Most notable was the release of "Apple Maps," which replaced the Google Maps app on the iPhone and was widely panned for misleading directions. Cook admits they screwed up. "On Maps, a few years ago, we decided that we wanted to provide customers features that we didn't have in the current edition of Maps," Cook said, "It [Maps] didn't meet our customers' expectation, and our expectations of ourselves are even higher than our customers'.  However, I can tell you, so we screwed up." The Maps debacle led to the defenestration of some company executives, including reportedly Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team. "We screwed up and we are putting the weight of the company behind correcting it," Cook told Williams. Customers still snapped up the iPhone 5, however. According to Apple, five million of them were sold in their first weekend after the device's launch in September. Speed bump No. 2 was the redesigned connector for the iPhone 5, which was widely criticized by many because it didn't fit many of the accessories Apple fans had already purchased for their earlier iPhone versions. It forced them to take the extra expense of buying an adapter, which some criticized as an inelegant solution. Others argue, however, that the new connector was worth it because it allowed Apple to make a smaller device. NBC News "It was one of those things where we couldn't make this product with that connector," Cook said, "But let me tell you, the product is so worth it." What's next for Apple? Did Cook leave us with a clue? "When I go into my living room and turn on the TV, I feel like I have gone backwards in time by 20 to 30 years," Cook told Williams. "It's an area of intense interest. I can't say more than that." Editor's Note: Brian Williams full interview with Apple CEO Tim Cook airs tonight, Dec. 6 at 10pm/9c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.

Texas businessman found with fake CIA credentials

View more videos at: http://nbcdfw.com. By Scott Gordon, NBCDFW.com The owner of a Texas dry cleaning business who was arrested in October had fraudulent CIA credentials, various weapons and camouflage items including raid gear, according to a federal search warrant obtained by NBCDFW.com. Until his Oct. 2 arrest, Azeez Al-Ghaziani, 30, owned a dry cleaner in the city of Hurst. Someone called Hurst police to report a damaged pickup parked behind his business. When officers arrived, they saw what appeared to be fraudulent military identification cards inside the vehicle, police said at the time. They also found several guns and ammunition. Police called in federal agents, and Al-Ghaziani's vehicle and business were searched later that day. He was arrested on a charge of tampering with a government document. Read more from NBCDFW.com An agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service offered new details about the case in an application for a search warrant of Al-Ghaziani's computer, which is now in FBI custody. The warrant was approved by a judge and executed last month. According to the warrant, authorities found a number of suspicious items in Al-Ghaziani's pickup and business, including: fraudulent CIA credentials; Department of Defense military credentials; assorted digital camouflage items; body armor carrier; raid jacket with duty belt; and half-gram of white powder which tested positive for methamphetamine. Al-Ghaziani's attorney, J. Warren St. John, declined to discuss why his client would have such things but did dispute the agent's information. "The majority of the allegations aren't true," St. John said. Read more security stories from NBC News The NCIS agent noted in the court document that he is assigned to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, but there are no allegations Al-Ghaziani was involved in any terrorist plot. Al-Ghaziani, a one-time soldier in the U.S. Army, is from Fort Worth, his attorney said.