How to exploit ISIS' biggest fear

• Oubai Shahbandar and Michael Pregent: To beat ISIS, U.S. must work with groups it fears


• Effectiveness of air campaign hinges on exploiting local vulnerabilities, writers say


• U.S. should accelerate transfer of excess military equipment to anti-ISIS forces, they argue

Editor's note: Oubai Shahbandar is a former Pentagon analyst and an adviser to the Syrian Opposition Coalition. Michael Pregent is an adjunct lecturer at National Defense University. The views expressed are their own.

(CNN) -- The U.S. and Arab allies' campaign of airstrikes against al Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria is a necessary step, but airpower on its own won't be enough to ensure a military victory. To beat ISIS and extremist affiliates, the United States and its allies must work more closely with the groups that these terrorists most fear: the Free Syrian Army and Sunni Arab tribes.

The effectiveness of the air campaign will hinge on how well the United States can exploit the local vulnerabilities of the asymmetric threat it faces in ISIS. With this in mind, it makes sense to coordinate with Free Syrian Army commanders, who have on-the-ground experience identifying ISIS' weak points and can ensure that airstrikes hit the right targets. Indeed, unless the U.S.-led coalition moves fast to better integrate the Free Syrian Army into military operations, it will simply be hacking at ISIS' branches rather than getting down to its roots.

ISIS presses on despite of airstrikes

Young Muslims: ISIS doesn't represent us

An American fighting ISIS on the ground?

ISIS' concern was evident in a sleek, hourlong documentary the group produced, called "Flames of War." After touting a series of victories in Syria and Iraq, ISIS lamented its "temporary withdrawal" from large swaths of northern Syria, which was forced by the Free Syrian Army (which ISIS derisively describes as the "awakening forces"). The setback referred to was the surprise counterattack launched by the Free Syrian Army in January against ISIS positions in three provinces in northern and eastern Syria. At the height of the fighting, ISIS was forced to defend its headquarters in heavy street fighting in the eastern city of Raqqa.

The extremists were taken by surprise, and the Free Syrian Army and tribal backers' assault offers a useful primer on how to beat al Qaeda and its offspring.

For a start, a joint operations center should be established to serve as a clearinghouse for targeting data and intelligence sharing with Syrian opposition and tribal forces fighting ISIS. Jordanian and United Arab Emirates special forces, both of whom have worked with U.S. special forces in other theaters of war, could be deployed in very limited numbers to provide forward air support to guide pinpoint airstrikes. Meanwhile, American Joint Tactical Air Controllers, who have played a key role in supporting Kurdish security forces in Iraq against ISIS, should be deployed to the border regions so that they can support Free Syrian Army ground operations.

View my Flipboard Magazine.

In addition, the United States should deploy a special operations team in neighboring Iraq focused on developing a relationship with Sunni Arab anti-ISIS guerrilla forces and tribal leaders that continue to resist ISIS along the Syria-Iraq border. This team could be empowered to establish a special fund (of which Gulf allies can serve as the main contributors) for recruiting and empowering tribal elements in eastern Syria like the Shammar confederation that have already begun to rise up against ISIS. American investment on this front would enable airstrikes to truly tip the balance of the conflict.

Finally, the transfer of excess U.S. military equipment to anti-ISIS forces in the field should be accelerated to ensure that the Free Syrian Army and the tribes not only have enough ammunition to sustain a defensive posture against ISIS, but also enough for a multipronged assault into ISIS' core territory.

If airstrikes are to have a lasting impact, they must cut off ISIS' land bridge between Syria and Iraq and ultimately decapitate its command structure. Doing so will mean the United States will have to work with, and through, a fast moving and relatively lightly armed counterforce, the groundwork for which may already have been laid with the announcement of U.S. plans to train an initial force of 5,000 Syrian fighters.

ISIS appears to be gambling that by concentrating its forces in the relatively exposed terrain of the northern Raqqa steppe that it can overrun positions in the city of Ayn al-Arab and in the northern Aleppo countryside before the airstrikes can have a real impact. But it can also be expected to prioritize the targeting of capable Sunni Arab commanders and tribal leaders who it views as its principal threat, particularly because of their experience engaging ISIS on the ground.

The fact is that ISIS has made it abundantly obvious that it sees its Achilles heel in both Iraq and Syria as the local populace. As airstrikes intensify, U.S. and regional military planners should take note.

The year's most incredible hotel?

Spanning 18,075 square meters, the new Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing is covered by more than 10,000 glass panels. At night, it's lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.

The panels on the Sunrise Kempinski are angled so that the building reflects the sky, nearby Yanshan Mountain and Yanqi Lake.

The Sunrise Kempinski's presidential suite. The 21-floor building has 306 guestrooms and suites.

The Sunrise Kempinski's all-day restaurant, Elements. Interiors of the hotel were designed by U.S.-based DiLeonardo Design.

The brand's largest property in China, the Sunrise Kempinski complex sits on 14 square kilometers of land next to Yanqi Lake, 60 kilometers from Beijing's city center.

• New eye-catching Sunrise Kempinski Hotel stands nearly 100 meters high


• Designed to look like a rising sun, hotel exterior is covered in more than 10,000 glass panels


• Kempinski says it took 24 months to build with help from more than 9,300 construction workers

(CNN) -- China's string of amazing hotel openings continues next month with the completion of the Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing.

Due to open in mid-November, the eye-catching 97-meter-high luxury hotel has 21 floors filled with 306 guestrooms and suites.

It's designed by Shanghai Huadu Architect Design Co. and sits on the shore of Yanqi Lake, about 60 kilometers from Beijing's city center.

Behind the design

Though "traditional" is the last word that comes to mind when looking at the orb-like structure, there are a number of classic Chinese elements at play.

For one, it was designed to look like a rising sun, which designers say is symbolic of China's fast-growing economy.

The entrance to the Sunrise Kempinski is shaped like the mouth of a fish, symbolizing prosperity.

From a side angle, the hotel takes on the appearance of a scallop, which represents fortune in Chinese culture.

Spanning 18,075 square meters, the exterior glass surface is covered by more than 10,000 glass panels.

The panels are angled so that the top portion of the building reflects the color of the sky, the middle reflects nearby Yanshan Mountain and the bottom section reflects the lake.

Glass panels on the Kempinski Sunrise Hotel reflect the nearby mountains, sky and lake.

At night, the hotel is lit up by hydroelectric-powered LED lights.

"We had an international team (of designers) because we needed a critical view from people outside of China to give their opinion on modern contemporary Chinese architectural design and to enable us to broaden our ideas on how we can use our design to showcase the Chinese culture to the world," said chief designer Zhang Hai Ao in a statement.

Interiors were designed by U.S.-based DiLeonardo Design.

The entire complex in which Sunrise Kempinski sits takes up 14 square kilometers -- it's the brand's largest property in China.

Aside from the main hotel there are an additional 111 rooms at the Yanqi Hotel and another 178 spread across 12 boutique hotels on a nearby private island.

The complex has 14 restaurants and bars, two spas, a private marina, pagoda, recreational and fitness facilities and a kids club.

The company says it took 24 months to build with help from more than 9,300 construction workers.

China now renowned for amazing hotel architecture

The Sunrise Kempinski is just the latest in a long line of incredible hotels to open in China in recent years.

Arguably the most notable of the lot is the horseshoe-shaped Sheraton Huzhou Hot Spring Resort, which attracted global attention when it opened in August 2013.

Just more than 100 meters high and 116 meters wide, it covers an area of 75 acres with a total floor area of 95,000 square meters.

Designed by Beijing-based architect Ma Yansong of MAD architects, it's made up of "layers" of floors to create a ring that rises from the south bank of Huzhou's Taihu Lake.

Sunrise Kempinski Hotel, Beijing18, Jia, Yanshui Road, Yanqi Lake, Huairou District, Beijing; +86 10696 18888; special opening rate from CNY 1,138 ($185) per night

MORE: Gallery: China's crop of outrageous new hotel designs

The planes that saved the world

• Only about a dozen WW II-era B-17 bombers still fly


• Nearly 13,000 "Flying Fortresses" were made, starting in 1935


• The Commemorative Air Force restores and flies B-17s and other classics


• The CAF plans a $40-million, world-class aviation museum in Dallas

Atlanta (CNN) -- A winged piece of history sits parked at a small airport.

It's 70 years old, and in a few minutes, I'll know firsthand if this old warbird can still fly.

In all, nearly 13,000 B-17 Flying Fortresses rolled off the assembly lines. Now, only about a dozen flying B-17s remain -- in the entire world.

These are the famous bombers that helped the Allies win World War II. Every year planes like these are retired to aviation junkyards, destined for a rusty demise.

But there's a group out there working to preserve the precious legacy of these planes by keeping them flying.

OK, that's all nice and everything -- but it's not really at the top of my mind.

Right now, I'm just trying to fit inside this thing, along with seven other passengers.

Getting aboard involves stepping up a short ladder and ducking through a small hatch in the back of the plane.

Seat cushions? Surely you jest. Instead, the B-17 offers webbed, canvas seats bolted to the side walls of the cabin. They make seating on a small regional jet comfortable by comparison.

Seat belt: check.

Camera: yep.

Ready for an unforgettable flight? You bet.

I need to pay attention. Bill, our host, is announcing something important. "Whatever you do," Bill tells us, "don't touch the overhead cables."

Cabins inside World War II-era B-17 bombers were spartan with few comforts.

There they are -- just a couple of feet above me. The wire cables directly connect cockpit controls in the front of the plane to the tail rudder and "elevators" in the back. Basically, they help steer the plane. So yeah, we kind of need those to work. Note to self: Don't touch the cables.

Tip No. 2: Stay away from the bomb bay doors. They can probably hold no more than 110 pounds. Any heavier than that, Bill says, you'll be doing some unplanned skydiving without a parachute. By the way, there ARE parachutes on this ancient plane, right?

Nope, says Bill.

@thompatterson A great sound and smell!

— Stephen L Avery (@stephenlavery3) September 28, 2014

As the plane's four propeller engines sputter to life, I'm tweeting (with misspelled words) about how LOUD they are and how they're spewing the smell of oil. "A great sound and smell," Stephen L Avery tweets back.

Inches from my head sits a replica machine gun. Near that, a side window with a view of the plane's whirling propellers.

Before I know it, the pilot is gunning the engines and we're accelerating down the runway. It's bumpy, deafening -- and we're airborne!

Bill indicates it's safe to stand up and walk around -- although there isn't much to grab on to. This waist gunner station -- because gunners stand up in the middle of the aircraft -- was the most dangerous job on the aircraft because they were so easily targeted.

Images of faceless military crew members who've flown aboard this plane cross my mind and -- WHOA! -- the plane takes a surprise left bank 1,600 feet above Atlanta! Hold on!

The ground -- about 2,000 feet below this airborne B-17 -- is visible through the gap between the gun turret and the deck.

Keep in mind no one is shooting at us. Combat conditions here were uncomfortable at best: no temperature-controlled, pressurized cabins. Imagine trying to fight off enemy planes amid the overwhelming roar and the freezing cold seeping in from outside.

I'm not the only aviation geek who's awestruck. I look around to see other passengers who clearly get it: Flying aboard this plane puts them a little closer to history -- and a lot closer than they'd feel in a dimly lit aviation museum.

They're trading smartphones and taking photos of each other, to treasure the moment. "I can't wait to tell my dad about this," one avgeek tells me.

At one point I step carefully across a gun ball turret embedded into the floor, where a small gunner would fire on enemy planes. A stiff wind whips into my face through a quarter-inch-wide gap between the turret and the plane's body. Waaaaay down below I can see the trees and homes of Atlanta rushing by at about 160 mph.

That's solid ground down there!

Despite the windy gaps, the B-17 was named the Flying Fortress for a reason. Its resilient design gained a reputation for taking a beating and still bringing its crew home alive.

As for this crew, the pilot starts lining up with the runway and we're told to buckle up. We touch down on the runway. The old-fashioned tires give a weird little yelp. Our 20-minute adventure is over.

For me, the stories I'd read in history books had come to life. The experience was nothing short of thrilling.

These refurbished warbirds are as close as most of us will ever come to understanding the horror and stress of aerial combat during WW II.

Amazingly, some are still able to fly across the nation, visiting air shows from coast to coast.

Last weekend, "Sentimental Journey" -- the plane I flew on -- traveled from its home base in Arizona to Atlanta's DeKalb Peachtree Airport. The planes are operated by the Commemorative Air Force, a national group which has been working to restore and maintain flying warbirds since 1957.

Events like these offer younger generations a living, breathing, real-world lesson about these planes' contribution to history. "Unlike static museums, you can go out and see them in their natural state," says Steve Brown, CAF president. "You get the oil, the smoke, the smell. You can ride inside them and imagine."

World War II fighter pilot Robert "Punchy" Powell destroyed six enemy aircraft in his P-51 Mustang.

During battle, P-51 Mustangs often escorted B-17s for protection -- engaging in dogfights with enemy fighters, if need be. They were among the fastest and most nimble fighter planes of the era. Less than a few hundred are still flying today.

"You don't really have time for emotions" during dogfights, says ex-Mustang pilot Robert "Punchy" Powell. Powell escorted B-17s during the 1944 D-Day Allied invasion of France. "You're not thinking too much about what you have to do. You do it because you've been trained to do it, and your experience makes you do what you're supposed to do."

Now 93, Powell destroyed six enemy planes between September 1943 and August of '44 as part of the U.S. Army Air Force's 352nd Fighter Group "Bluenosed Bastards of Bodney," out of Bodney, England.

Mustangs were made for two things: shooting and speed. They bristled with guns and boasted a top speed of about 300 mph. "It wasn't hard to fly," Powell says. "It was a very stable, easy airplane."

UPCOMING U.S. AIR SHOWS

October 3-5

-MCAS Miramar "AirShow," San Diego, California

October 11-12

-Commemorative Air Force "AIRSHO," Midland International Airport, Texas

November 1-2

-Wings Over Houston, Ellington Airport; Houston, Texas

On D-Day, Powell took off from England toward France during a night mission to escort B-17s.

Later that day, Powell's squadron was among more than 1,000 fighters in the air shooting up "convoys, tanks and trains and buses and motorcycles -- whatever moved toward the beaches."

When he first sat down inside a Mustang cockpit, Powell was only 21 years old.

"All of us can reflect on what were doing at age 19, 20," says the CAF's Brown, a former Army aviator. "Now put yourself in these complex airplanes, flying thousands of miles over water, away from home to drop bombs while you're being attacked. It's pretty amazing to think about."

Related story: D-Day paratrooper jumps again, 70 years later

The CAF operates 162 restored warplanes from WWII and beyond and shows them at air shows and airports across the U.S. "to educate Americans about what these aircraft did -- and what role they played in our freedom," says Brown. The air shows help fund its $24 million yearly budget, along with membership fees and donations. Its members number about 12,000.

By next year, the CAF plans to move its headquarters from Midland, Texas, to a small executive airport southwest of downtown Dallas. There, the group plans to build a $40-million, world-class aviation museum.

"We expect to attract a quarter million visitors a year or more," Brown says. "And we'll have aircraft on display in a unique venue."

Powell, 93, was among more than 1,000 fighter pilots attacking German forces in the 1944 D-Day invasion.

Powell says "the glamour days are over." He knows dogfighting is all but obsolete as more aircraft attack by using precise, long-range guided missiles.

"In the future, most of the air combat will be what they're beginning to do today: long-distance firing and drones," Powell says. "Recently, I heard a general say that the last fighter pilot has already been born. It takes about 20 years to raise and train a fighter pilot. Imagine what the technology will be in 20 years. In the future, there won't be any dogfighting."

As the "greatest generation" passes on, Brown says America's youngest generation has no understanding of WWII and what it was like to defend the nation during those dark times. With that in mind, the CAF sees itself as much more than a group of warplane enthusiasts.

"We're here to inspire," Brown says. "We can use the inspiration of what they accomplished then to inspire us accomplish great things in the future."

Marriott fined blocking Wi-Fi

The FCC says Marriott blocked guests' Wi-Fi networks last year during an event at a hotel and conference center in Nashville.

• Marriott fined for blocking guests' personal Wi-Fi during a conference


• FCC announces $600,000 fine against hotel chain


• FCC: Marriott must cease "unlawful use of Wi-Fi blocking technology"


• Hotel chain says it was acting to protect guests "from rogue wireless hot spots"

(CNN) -- Think hotels are deliberately blocking your personal Wi-Fi networks so you'll buy theirs?

No, it's not just a conspiracy theory. It turns out the federal government is concerned about it, too.

Marriott has agreed to pay a $600,000 fine after the Federal Communications Commission found the company blocked consumer Wi-Fi networks last year during an event at a hotel and conference center in Nashville.

At the same time, Marriott was charging exhibitors and others as much as $1,000 per device to access the hotel's wireless network, the FCC announced Friday.

"Consumers who purchase cellular data plans should be able to use them without fear that their personal Internet connection will be blocked by their hotel or conference center," FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief Travis LeBlanc said in a statement.

Federal law prohibits people from using a device that interferes with cellular, GPS or wireless networks.

It's the first time the FCC has investigated a hotel property for blocking its guests' Wi-Fi, according to a senior FCC official with knowledge of the investigation. The unlawful blocking isn't "jamming" in the traditional sense, where someone uses a jammer device to block wireless signals. Instead, Marriott employees were using the hotel's own Wi-Fi system to block other people's hot spots, the FCC official said.

The order doesn't just affect one Marriott property.

Under the FCC consent decree, Marriott must not block guests' Wi-Fi at all of the properties it owns and manages. The company must also file compliance plans with the FCC every three months for three years.

A federal investigation of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville found that Marriott employees had used "containment features of a Wi-Fi monitoring system" at the hotel to prevent people from accessing their own personal Wi-Fi networks.

"It is unacceptable for any hotel to intentionally disable personal hot spots while also charging consumers and small businesses high fees to use the hotel's own Wi-Fi network," LeBlanc said. "This practice puts consumers in the untenable position of either paying twice for the same service or forgoing Internet access altogether."

The Boogie Down Bronx

Marriott issued the following statement Friday afternoon defending its actions:

"Marriott has a strong interest in ensuring that when our guests use our Wi-Fi service, they will be protected from rogue wireless hot spots that can cause degraded service, insidious cyber-attacks and identity theft," the statement said. "Like many other institutions and companies in a wide variety of industries, including hospitals and universities, the Gaylord Opryland protected its Wi-Fi network by using FCC-authorized equipment provided by well-known, reputable manufacturers.

"We believe that the Opryland's actions were lawful. We will continue to encourage the FCC to pursue a rulemaking in order to eliminate the ongoing confusion resulting from today's action and to assess the merits of its underlying policy."

In March 2013, the FCC received a complaint from someone who had attended an event at the Gaylord Opryland and claimed the hotel was "jamming mobile hot spots so that you can't use them in the convention space," the FCC statement said.

Saving a Flying Fortress

Blocking a traveler's personal Wi-Fi will only serve to aggravate hotel guests further, said Benet Wilson, who blogs about travel at AviationQueen.com.

"Travelers are already annoyed that higher-end hotels continue to charge for subpar Wi-Fi, which is why they bring their own," Wilson told CNN.

"So it's really galling when you hear of a company like Marriott, which has a good reputation that does something that causes a major inconvenience to its customers. And the fact that they profited off of their customers in such a blatant way also doesn't help."

Marriott and its brands operate more than 3,000 hotels in the United States, according to the company's website.

Can you catch Ebola on a plane?

• Ebola-infected air traveler raises concerns for fliers


• Thomas Eric Duncan is the first reported U.S. case


• The deadly disease is spread through the transmission of fluids


• CDC official: It's unlikely the virus would spread on an airplane

(CNN) -- You're settling into your tiny coach seat on your next business trip, and the person next to you starts coughing.

In the past, you might have grumbled about him flying with a cold. But now travelers may want to know: Does your seatmate have Ebola?

Probably not. But given the news of the past week, it's hard not to worry.

Affected passengers may not show symptoms for up to 21 days, said CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Sanjay Gupta.

Case in point: Thomas Eric Duncan, the first Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S., was screened for the virus before departing Liberia for the United States on September 19, but he didn't show symptoms until he had been in Dallas for a few days. People who came into contact with him in the United States are being tracked down for monitoring.

How can air travelers stay calm?

Travel blogger Johnny "Jet" DiScala, reached on Thursday at 35,000 feet flying from Toronto to Honolulu via Los Angeles, takes a few additional steps to keep calm.

DiScala, who visits 20 countries and flies about 150,000 miles annually, knows how Ebola is transmitted and isn't concerned about catching it. But he refuses to read stories about the disease to avoid panicking.

DiScala also carries surgical masks, which he will wear and offer to travelers "coughing and sneezing on me."

Should U.S. ban flights from W Africa?

Several airlines report they are following all U.S. Centers for Disease Controls protocols for keeping people with contagious diseases off their aircrafts. But a handful declined to give specifics about whether they're now doing anything differently on U.S. domestic flights.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta answers: #EbolaQandA

Ebola victim's half-brother speaks

Airplanes are given light cleanings between flights, a much heavier daily cleaning and even more on down time, experts tell CNN. This is done to prevent transmission of common diseases, like the flu, via surfaces such as armrests. And it is much tougher to catch Ebola than the flu.

How Ebola spreads

In one CDC study, the Ebola virus lived in a perfectly controlled environment for up to six days. But the environment at an airport, for example, is not perfectly suited to support viruses.

It's unlikely the virus would spread on an airplane unless a passenger were to come into contact with a sick person's bodily fluids, said Dr. Marty Cetron, director of CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine.

"This is not an airborne transmission," Cetron told CNN. "There needs to be direct contact frequently with body fluids or blood."

Your Ebola questions answered

Guidance for travelers

It's no surprise that the U.S. government recommends that travelers avoid areas experiencing outbreaks and avoid contact with Ebola patients.

Most people who have become infected with Ebola lived with or cared for an ill patient, said Stephen Monroe, deputy director of CDC's National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases.

"It's very unlikely that they would be able to spread the disease to fellow passengers," he said.

Ebola symptoms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat; followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and at advanced stage, both internal and external bleeding, according to the World Health Organization.

"It is highly unlikely that someone suffering such symptoms would feel well enough to travel," the International Air Transport Association said in a statement.

Duncan flew on United Airlines for two legs of his journey, and passengers on those flights are not in danger, said a United spokesperson, noting the CDC advice on symptoms.

"The ill person did not exhibit symptoms of Ebola during the flights from West Africa and CDC does not recommend that people on the same commercial airline flights undergo monitoring, as Ebola is contagious only if the person is experiencing active symptoms," advised the CDC, in a statement.

The CDC is advising people to avoid all non-essential travel to Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. In addition, everyone leaving those three countries has their temperature checked before they're allowed to board a plane.

Complete coverage on Ebola

CNN's Aaron Cooper and Mike M. Ahlers contributed to this story.

Phelps 'to attend a program'

Swimmer Michael Phelps, the most-decorated Olympian of all time, tweeted Sunday, October 5, that he is taking a break from the sport "to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself." The announcement came after Phelps was charged on September 30, 2014, with driving under the influence of alcohol and other traffic offenses in Baltimore, Maryland.

Alisan Porter, the actress best known as the star of 1991's "Curly Sue," opened up about her struggle with alcoholism in a blog post in September 2014. In the personal account, called "The Obligatory Child Star Gets Sober Mom Blog," Porter talks about what led her to seek treatment for alcoholism and that she's been sober since 2007.

Elizabeth Vargas admitted having a problem with alcohol and entered a treatment program in November 2013. She returned to rehab in August 2014.

Actress and model Amber Valletta had her "coming out" as an addict during a recent speech for Mind Body Green. Valletta admitted that she started trying to get high at the age of 8 and said, "My hope is that someone, somewhere in this room, out of this room, will hear something that will help them and perhaps get them out of the shadows and the darkness of addiction and bring them into the light."

Columbus Short admitted a "real truth" during a wide-ranging interview with "Access Hollywood" on July 7. "I struggle with medicating with alcohol, I think," the 31-year-old said. "If I want to be truthfully honest, I think dealing with the stress of the situations that I've been going through, medicating with anything, I think, is dangerous because it becomes a crutch."

Shia LaBeouf's recent bizarre behavior culminated in his being arrested in New York and charged with harassment, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass at the Broadway show "Cabaret." The actor's rep said July 1, "Contrary to previous erroneous reports, Shia LaBeouf has not checked into a rehabilitation facility but he is voluntarily receiving treatment for alcohol addiction. He understands that these recent actions are a symptom of a larger health problem and he has taken the first of many necessary steps towards recovery."

Musician Deryck Whibley has blogged about his problems with alcohol. The Sum 41 group member and former husband of Avril Lavigne said he had been off the scene for a while because he had been hospitalized after "drinking hard every day."

Zac Efron completed a rehab program in 2013 without the media being any wiser about his problems, but the actor's now speaking out about his difficulties with drugs and alcohol. "It's a never-ending struggle," the 26-year-old told The Hollywood Reporter in its May 9 issue.

"Growing Pains" star Jeremy Miller recently revealed to "Entertainment Tonight" that he's struggled with alcohol abuse. Looking back, Miller says, he's grateful he didn't own a gun at the time: "I hated myself so thoroughly that I would have done something very stupid."

Former "Partridge Family" star David Cassidy was ordered to three months of rehab on March 24 after pleading no contest to a DUI charge from January. It was his second DUI arrest in six months and third since 2011.

The death of Philip Seymour Hoffman and his problems with substance abuse are a reminder that such struggles are not unusual in the movie business.

"Desperate Housewives" actor Shawn Pyfrom wrote about his own struggle with drugs after Hoffman's death. The young actor says in an online letter that he "wasted the time of valuable people, who worked so hard to pull my career to a higher place, by allowing my addictions to tug me out of their grip."

Justin Bieber was booked into a Miami jail after failing a sobriety test January 23. According to Miami Beach Police Chief Raymond Martinez, during his arrest, Bieber "made some statements that he had consumed some alcohol, and that he had been smoking marijuana and consumed some prescription medication" before getting behind the wheel of a yellow Lamborghini.

Country singer Trace Adkins suffered "a setback in his battle with alcoholism" and has entered a rehab facility for help, his representative said January 16.

In a December interview with "Access Hollywood," Demi Lovato went into detail about her dependence on drugs and alcohol. There was a time when Lovato "couldn't go 30 minutes to an hour without cocaine, and I would bring it on airplanes," she said. "I would smuggle it, basically, and just wait until everyone in first class would go to sleep, and I would do it right there." According to Lovato, her rock bottom came at 19, when she filled a soda bottle with vodka to drink at 9 a.m. "I had a moment where I was like, 'Oh, my God ... that is alcoholic behavior," she said.

Lady Gaga revealed on the Elvis Duran radio show in November 2013 that she's been quietly dealing with an addiction to marijuana. "I had to stop (smoking pot)," the Mother Monster said. "I was addicted to it. ... Although I think it's the best drug to choose from when you're playing around and experimenting, I just want young kids to know that you actually can become addicted to it, and it's ultimately ... a form of self-medication. I was smoking 15 to 20 marijuana cigarettes a day with no tobacco."

Jada Pinkett-Smith reflected on her Facebook page in September 2013 that addictions plagued her in her younger years. "I had many addictions, of several kinds, to deal with my life issues," she said.

Country star Tim McGraw said in an interview in 2013 that he replaced drinking whiskey with working out to clean his life up.

"Glee" star Cory Monteith was found dead at a hotel in Vancouver on July 13, 2013. Officials gave the cause as "mixed drug toxicity, involving intravenous heroin use combined with the ingestion of alcohol." Monteith had been public about his struggle with addiction and checked into a rehab facility in late March. He told Parade magazine that he started using drugs at 13 and had entered rehab by 19.

Matthew Perry has struggled with an addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol and landed on the cover of People magazine to discuss his road to sobriety. While he was on "Friends," he said, "it would seem like I had it all. It was actually a very lonely time for me, because I was suffering from alcoholism."

"Sex and the City" actress Kristin Davis told Health magazine in 2008 that unlike her cocktail-loving character Charlotte York, she is a recovering alcoholic. The 48-year-old admitted that she was drinking so much, she didn't think she'd live past 30.

Ben Affleck surprised friends when he checked into rehab for alcohol abuse in 2001, People magazine reported.

Jamie Lee Curtis has reportedly said she was once so addicted to prescription pain medicine that she stole some from a relative to help feed the addiction.

Jodie Sweetin, who played innocent Stephanie Tanner on "Full House," documented her drug problems in her memoir "unSweetined." A low point, she said, was using cocaine, meth and ecstasy while on tour to discuss her sobriety.

There have been questions as to whether Bob Dylan was telling the truth when he reportedly told a journalist in 1966 that he had kicked a $25-a-day heroin habit, but, according to Rolling Stone, he had a period during his 1966 tour where he used "huge amounts" of amphetamines.

In 2012, Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie told Oprah that her drug use proceeded from ecstasy to crystal meth. She became so paranoid she thought the FBI and SWAT teams were following her before she sought treatment.

She was known for her wholesome role as Laura Ingalls on the television series "Little House on the Prairie," but at her worst Melissa Gilbert was covering up feelings of sadness by drinking up to more than two bottles of wine a night, the actress told More magazine.

"Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe told GQ magazine that he had his last drink in 2010. "There were a few years there when I was just so enamored with the idea of living some sort of famous person's lifestyle that really isn't suited to me."

Kristen Johnston talked about her addiction to drugs and alcohol in her 2012 memoir "Guts" and admitted she was depressed during her time on "3rd Rock From the Sun." "And you're not supposed to be," she said. "You can't tell anybody, 'I'm so bummed you gave me an Emmy.' You can't be sad when you're being celebrated. So it was a big conflict and there's no shrink that can understand it."

Samuel L. Jackson was reportedly able to portray crack addict Gator in "Jungle Fever" so authentically because of his own struggles with drugs and alcohol. He landed the breakout role two weeks after leaving rehab.

Actress Kelly Preston, right, has said she gave up drugs and alcohol to be a better mother to her kids and better wife to John Travolta. "I don't drink anymore. I don't smoke anymore. I don't do drugs anymore. All of those come with an 'anymore.' I used to do everything and a lot of everything," she said.

Jane Lynch wrote about her addictions to alcohol and cough syrup in her memoir "Happy Accidents." She told Access Hollywood in 2013 that she has been sober for 21 years.

Sir Elton John told USA Today that he swore off drugs and alcohol in 1990. He said, "If I ever find myself in a situation where there are drugs, I can smell the cocaine. I can feel it in the back of my throat, that horrible feeling of taking the first hit of cocaine. And I leave."

For those who may not remember because she has so completely turned herself around, Drew Barrymore entered rehab at the tender age of 13. Most fans were unaware that the then beloved child star partied so hard. She chronicled her early struggles in her memoir "Little Girl Lost."

It was years after Meredith Baxter portrayed one of America's favorite moms, Elyse Keaton on "Family Ties," that she revealed that she is a recovering alcoholic.

Backstreet Boys member A.J. McLean last checked into rehab in 2011. He had previously been treated for depression, anxiety and excessive alcohol consumption.

Country star and "American Idol" judge Keith Urban told Oprah in 2010 that his wife Nicole Kidman and several close friends staged an intervention to help him overcome his addiction to cocaine and alcohol.

In 2004, a then 19-year-old Kelly Osbourne reportedly entered rehab for an addiction to painkillers. "The amount of pills that was found in her bag was astounding," her father, Ozzy, said.

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• Phelps tweets that he will get "the help I need to better understand myself"


• He was arrested early Tuesday, accused of driving with a blood-alcohol level of .14


• Olympic medalist returned to competitive swimming in April

(CNN) -- Swimmer Michael Phelps, the most-decorated Olympian of all time, tweeted Sunday that he is taking a break from the sport "to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself."

According to his official Twitter account, "Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual."

The decision comes after he was charged last week with driving under the influence of alcohol, excessive speed and crossing double lines on Interstate 95 in Baltimore.

The 22-time Olympic medalist, 29, was arrested Tuesday about 1:40 a.m. and later released, police said. According to media reports, police said his blood-alcohol content was .14.

The past few days have been extremely difficult.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

I recognize that this is not my first lapse in judgment, and I am extremely disappointed with myself.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

Last week's arrest is not Phelps' first run-in with the law

In 2004, he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence in Salisbury, Maryland. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 18 months probation. He also issued an apology after that incident.

IRVINE, CA - AUGUST 06: Michael Phelps on deck for his race in the Men's 100 Meter Freestyle Final during the 2014 Phillips 66 National Championships at the Woollett Aquatic Center on August 6, 2014 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Five years later, a photograph of him smoking marijuana at a party surfaced.

"I'll make a million mistakes in my life, but as long as I never make the same mistake again, then I've been able to learn and grow," Phelps said in 2012. He also said that the incident made him realize who his real friends were.

I'm going to take some time away to attend a program that will provide the help I need to better understand myself.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

Swimming is a major part of my life, but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual,

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future.

— Michael Phelps (@MichaelPhelps) October 5, 2014

Of Phelps' record-smashing 22 Olympic medals, 18 are gold, including the eight he won in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.

Phelps returned to competitive swimming in April and raced for the United States in August at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, his first international meet since the Olympics (and two years before the next Games in Brazil).