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CNN Live Today

A Volatile Situation in Iraq; Interview with Ruben Studdard

Aired April 07, 2004 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, HOST: Good morning. From CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. And we begin with a check of the headlines at this hour.
Some 40 people are dead after U.S. Marines fired rockets that hit a Fallujah mosque filled with people. That, from the Associated Press, which says the incident came during the battle for control of a Sunni Muslim stronghold.

In Fallujah, U.S. Marines are trying to restore civil order, after fierce fighting broke out across the city. A rocket-propelled grenade injured two Marines in one incident, and at least 10 Iraqis were killed in another. Meanwhile, U.S. forces in Ramadi say they're in firm control of that city. Large scale attacks by Iraqi insurgents in Ramadi yesterday left 12 Marines dead.

All the latest just ahead.

American commanders are pledging that they'll destroy the army of Muqtada al Sadr. He is the rebel Shiite cleric protected by his followers. He is holed up in mosque in Najaf. Earlier, al Sadr's fighters battled Iraqi forces and coalition soldiers in the Sunni Triangle. In a statement, al Sadr called Iraqis cooperating with the coalition, "enemies."

Right now in D.C., a Senate committee is meeting to discuss the state of the United Nations Oil for Food Program for Iraq. For years that program was intended to ease sanctions and help ordinary Iraqis, by selling Iraqi oil to buy food and medicines.

And a German court is set to release the only suspect ever convicted in the September 11 attacks. Munir al Motassadeq, he faces a re-trial in June. The 30 year old has been serving a 15-year sentence for providing logistical help to the Hamburg al Qaeda cell that included of the September 11 pilots. The German court has ordered him to remain in Hamburg.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Live in the news right now, lawyers for Rush Limbaugh are in a Florida courtroom. They are there to argue that prosecutors were wrong in the way they took the radio host's medical records. We'll keep an eye on the case and let you know what happens from there in south Florida.

We are, though, going to begin with a volatile situation in Iraq. At least a dozen U.S. Marines have died in a fierce gun battle in Ramadi. The Marines also have moved into the city of Fallujah. And the U.S. military today vowed to destroy the armed militia of a Muslim cleric, who is accused of violence against coalition forces.

Our Jim Clancy gets things started for us, keeping tabs on the rapidly changing events across Iraq. He is live in Baghdad -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you from Baghdad, Daryn. I think it's important for us to put into perspective. You know, for months, almost the last year we have been talking about roadside bombs and ambushes on coalition forces here in Iraq. What everybody is concerned about now, both inside and outside the country, is the complete change in events. Right now we're talking about entire cities being completely taken over in two completely separate ways. In two completely separate cases.

First to Fallujah, where U.S. Marines are trying to re-assert coalition control over a town that has been closed to the occupation from the very start. Heavy fighting reported throughout the day. The most recent reports we have, and we heard the warplanes over the city of Fallujah, as they fight their way in there. Apparently, a lot of fighters went inside a mosque, took up refuge there, they used a combat aircraft, a fighter jet to drop a bomb at a high angle there. A number of people reported killed. We cannot confirm those numbers right now.

Meantime, talk about taking over a city. A very unusual raid overnight in Ramadi; insurgents launched a full frontal assault on U.S. Marines in that city, trying to seize the governor's office and Marine positions. They were repulsed, but at a heavy price for the Marines, 12 dead and 20 wounded. The insurgents also paid a high price, as well.

Across southern Iraq, we have fighting reported in a number of cities. All of this linked to al Mehdi Army of the radical, young, Shiia Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr. His forces, his militia causing problems in Kut, in Karbala, in Najaf, in Nasiriya, in other cities across Iraq. These are attempts by his militia to assert their control over the cities. We understand in Najaf, they basically have control of the streets; coalition forces are on the outskirts of that holy city, a very difficult situation for the coalition.

We're coming up on a Muslim holiday -- a Shiia Muslim holiday at the weekend that is going to be celebrated by hundreds upon hundreds of thousands. That is going to complicate efforts to confront that al Mehdi Army by U.S. or coalition forces -- Daryn.

KAGAN: I want to ask you, Jim, about a statement by al Sadr saying that he was aligned with al Sistani, who has tended to be more moderate and actually called for calm from the Shiites across Iraq.

CLANCY: Well, he has put out the statement he interprets al Sistani's statement as being one of support. Al Sistani's statement though, clearly is calling for calm in this situation. And there are a lot of people who look at the situation and see that Muqtada al Sadr does not have strong support from those who support Ayatollah Ali al Sistani or from Sistani himself. After all, at one point he surrounded Sistani's office and ordered him to leave the country. So, there are -- is some tension that goes back a long way between these two men. And it's important to note that Muqtada al Sadr has much less support among Shiia Muslims, the majority here in Iraq, than does Sistani -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jim Clancy in Baghdad, we'll be back with you later in the morning.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says more troops will be deployed to Iraq if U.S. commanders want them.

Let's check in at the Pentagon with our correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTGON CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you. The word from here is that everything remains under control at the moment. No more U.S. troops needed just now.

Now, President Bush continues to be briefed by his military national security team, a major conference call late last night: President Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. The president, we are told, was updated on all the U.S. military offensive operations across Iraq. Another call scheduled for today.

We are told by senior officials that General Abizaid, so far, is not asking for more troops. But the calculation as the violence spreads across Iraq will become very difficult. One hundred and thirty-five thousand troops there right now, it's scheduled to go down to 115,000 troops by June. But if all of these flare ups continue, if the insurgency continues, will they be able to reduce the number of forces or will they have to leave some troops in place? Officials saying it's just too soon. They still believe they have it under control, despite the pictures coming in from across Iraq.

Now in Fallujah, of course, the U.S. military using some pretty significant fire power: helicopter gun ships, AC-130 aircraft, Abrams tanks. They are trying to make sure they don't cause collateral damage, if you will, the killing of civilians not affiliated with the insurgency. But by all accounts now, as Jim Clancy says, some difficulty with that apparently. A number of civilians killed in a mosque attack in Fallujah -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

A suspected al Qaeda operative claims to be behind a wave of insurgency attacks in Iraq. Abu Musaab al Zarqawi is believed to be the voice of on an audiotape posted on an Arabic web site. The tape includes death threats against U.S. civilian administrator Paul Bremer and General John Abizaid, who heads up U.S. forces in Iraq. The U.S. is offering a $10 million bounty for Zarqawi.

With us now to explain more about the unfolding military situation in Iraq is retired Air Force Major General and CNN's military analyst Don Shepperd, joining us from Tucson, Arizona. General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET), U.S. AIR FORCE: Morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's talk -- let's start with these newest reports and those are Associated Press reports about a missile apparently fired into a mosque in Iraq, killing as many as 40 people. A very difficult situation when you're dealing with religious symbols, General.

SHEPPERD: Yes, it really is, Daryn. We really go to great efforts to avoid collateral damage of any type, particularly to innocent civilians. But the idea of hitting a mosque is particularly sensitive throughout the Muslim world. It's also sensitive, at this time in Iraq, when you have so many of these things going on, particular with the al Sadr attacks in southern Iraq. This type of thing can set off unwanted consequences around there. So the details on this are still sketchy, these are early details. But if it happened, it's something that we go to extreme efforts to try to avoid it. Hopefully it's overstated.

KAGAN: And there are so many hotspots right now in Iraq; you definitely need a map and some graphics to keep up with it. I want to go with you place by place and talk about exactly what is happening, and the challenge that the U.S. military faces there. First to Fallujah, this is where it seems violence erupted over the last week, with the civilian contractors being killed, also the other soldiers being fired upon.

SHEPPERD: Yes, if you go straight west out of Baghdad the Highway 10 leads to the west. It goes through Fallujah, and then al Diwaniya, Ar Ramadi; that is the base of the triangle of the Sunni Triangle. It's the location, if you will, of the former regime loyalist. It's called the Sunni Triangle; probably the Baathist triangle is a more accurate description. It's the people we didn't fight in downtown Baghdad: the Republican Guard, the Fedayeen Saddam. This is the stronghold, if you will.

The incidents in Fallujah were set off by the attack on the two civilian vehicles that killed the Americans and then incited mob violence there. The attacks further to the west in Ar Ramadi are also the Marines trying to clear and maintain control of that particular city. The Marines are masters at this. They're master at civic action, it worked further south. They had hoped to come in on their rotation, take over from the 82 Airborne, and spread civic action, work with the local authorities. And now all these events have made that somewhat impossible. So you're seeing the military action where you're going in by force and house-to-house fighting. It's what you don't want to do -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and that house-to-house fighting and that urban combat, even if you go back more than a year leading up to the war in Iraq, this was the very type of situation that the U.S. military was hoping to avoid.

SHEPPERD: It was indeed. And sometimes you can avoid it. Sometimes you can't. The situation in the Sunni Triangle to the west is different than the al Sadr fighting going on in the east. As Jim Clancy just told us, basically that is about a struggle -- a factional struggle within the Shiia community.

And basically, although that is also troublesome and you have to watch that spinning out of control, it's much more -- it's much more dicey than the situation going on in the west, which is fairly straight forward. You're trying to exercise control over former regime loyalists, get your hands on the arms in the Sunni Triangle, and maintain control over that so that they cannot be a force in the future that creates civil war or attacks the coalition -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and let's talk about the challenge of taking on a private militia, as Muqtada al Sadr seems to be heading up where he is holed up in Najaf. If you look at the strict numbers here. General, it's no contest. The numbers I'm seeing about 3,000 in this militia and a private militia at that against the U.S. military. That would seem like no contest, but in terms of what it can ignite in terms of what can happen to Iraq, how careful does the U.S. military have to be?

SHEPPERD: They have to be very careful. Just like the mob violence that ensued after the incident in Fallujah, this can really spin out of control very quickly. There are several nightmare scenarios here. You have to deal with Muqtada al Sadr. He basically wants to establish an Iranian-style theocracy. He wants to make a power play and become the force within the Shiia community replace Sistani. You cannot let that happen.

It's true he only has a militia reportedly of about 3,000, but he has got a lot of sympathizers. His sympathizers are the poor people in what was formerly called Saddam City in the eastern part of Baghdad, now called al Sadr City in the eastern part of Baghdad. There's about 2 million people in there. So if those people united behind al Sadr and attacked the coalition, you would have another nightmare scenario on your hands. That's what we're trying to keep from taking place.

So your real fear is you don't want a civil war going on with the Shiia community. You want to take care of al Sadr so that doesn't happen. And you don't want an Iranian-style theocracy established after we leave.

KAGAN: Major General Don Shepperd, thank you for your insight and analysis this morning. Appreciate it, General.

Embedded with the military in Iraq, we will take you inside the fighting in Fallujah with one of the few journalists allowed into that volatile area.

And battling it out in court, Rush Limbaugh's fight over his medical records.

Did you watch "American Idol" last night? Were you nostalgic for the days when Ruben was lighting the place on fire? Well, he is with us here in the studio, right here in Atlanta. "American Idol" Ruben Studdard coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: As we told you at the top of the hour, Rush Limbaugh's attorney is facing off against prosecutors in West Palm Beach, Florida. A live picture there from the courtroom, you see attorney Roy Black there on the right of your screen. The outcome could determine whether Limbaugh faces criminal charges on prescription drug abuse.

Our Susan Candiotti has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: Medical records and privacy are at stake here.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rush Limbaugh says when the state seized his medical records last December to investigate whether he was doctor-shopping, charges he denies, his constitutional right to privacy was violated.

LIMBAUGH: They want to go on a fishing expedition to see if there is something in my medical records.

CANDIOTTI: Limbaugh's attorney Roy Black is leading a spirited defense. Black asks why Limbaugh is being criminally pursued when other admitted drug addict celebrities, including singer Whitney Houston apparently are not?

ROY BLACK, LIMBAUGH'S ATTORNEY: Why is it Rush Limbaugh they demand to plead guilty to a crime? That's because they want to embarrass him, and disgrace him and discredit him. That's the only reason why.

CANDIOTTI: Law enforcement sources deny political motives. They say they could not ignore serious allegations by Limbaugh's former housekeeper, who then sold her story to a tabloid. She claims she illegally sold Limbaugh thousands of prescription painkillers, a possible felony.

MICHAEL MCAULIFFE, FMR. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: The prosecutor's office is investigating a person for abuse of prescription drugs. Do you think that the prosecutor's office should get to take a look at that person's records of prescription drug use?

CANDIOTTI: All along prosecutors have insisted they've done everything by the book.

(on camera): An appeal's court is scheduled to hear arguments over whether Limbaugh's medical records were improperly seized. If prosecutors lose, they will not say how that could affect their high- profile investigation.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: He won the hearts and fans -- hearts of fans, you might say, on "American Idol." And now he is going to be with us live right here in Atlanta. Ruben Studdard is our guest to talk about his new album. And did you watch "American Idol" last night? We're going to get Ruben's take just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Showing you some scenes from last night's "American Idol." Nine hopefuls remain and one of them will be voted off tonight. One person who knows all about that pressure, Ruben Studdard, the man -- the big man with the velvety voice, he crooned his way to last year's "American Idol" title. And he is right here with us in Atlanta.

Good morning.

RUBEN STUDDARD, REIGNING "AMERICAN IDOL": Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: What a pleasure to get to meet you.

STUDDARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: I told you that we are huge "American Idol" fans here on this program. Did you watch last night, Ruben?

STUDDARD: I did. Last night was actually the first full episode I've watched.

KAGAN: Really? Are you that busy?

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. OK. Now, you watched last night and you have got to admit this field is not as strong as the people you had to compete against. Give up the truth, Ruben.

STUDDARD: I think it's going to be a good competition. Fantasia is really good. Latoya is great, Jennifer is great, George is really strong.

KAGAN: And George is...

STUDDARD: It's a girl's year this year, though. From watching the show, it's really a girl's year this year.

KAGAN: But when you watch, you got to sit back and think, oh, where were all those weak people when I was competing, the kind of people you had to go up against.

STUDDARD: I mean well, you know, last year was just a really strong competition every week. And you know especially between Clay, and I, Kimberly and Tranice (ph), Ricky. Everybody was just -- Kim Cartwell, it was very strong. .

KAGAN: When you appeared on the show a couple of weeks ago, even Simon said he'd pay you to come back and be part of the competition.

STUDDARD: That was actually one of the worst performances I've had in a long time.

KAGAN: Really? Is it a lot of pressure to go back?

STUDDARD: No, I was, you know, I think I was just tired. I mean, you know, just -- you know, and so excited to see everybody. It was just more so...

KAGAN: Little distracted?

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, tired with good reason. Tell us -- you're on the road.

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Huge tour?

STUDDARD: Not that huge. Not as huge...

KAGAN: Oh! Let's go back a year.

STUDDARD: I mean when you think about tours, like last summer's "American Idol" tour...

KAGAN: Right. Well, OK. That was big.

STUDDARD: That was...

KAGAN: But now you're out there on your own.

STUDDARD: I like it like this. It's really intimate. I like doing theaters. I like being up close and personal with the fans. It's really cool. Hey, that's me.

KAGAN: How about that? Is it everything you dreamed of? The best part of fame of making it, of the dream coming true.

STUDDARD: I think the best part for me is just being able to perform for people every week. I really love, you know, doing this job. I mean I've always wanted to do this. I never wanted to do anything else with my life. And to be able to do it, to be able to accomplish the goal you've always set for yourself is always a blessing.

KAGAN: And what's the down side of fame?

STUDDARD: Not being able to go to Wal-Mart is a downside. Unless it's like 4:00 in the morning when nobody's there.

KAGAN: Just too recognized, you just get mobbed by fans?

STUDDARD: Yes. But it's cool though. They love me. KAGAN: And with good reason. Look, there you are all over the place. With -- watching tonight, who do you think is going to get knocked off?

STUDDARD: I don't know. I don't know. You never know. I mean every time the person you think is going to get knocked off, it's never that person. So, we'll have to see. I hope Fantasia doesn't leave. I love Fantasia.

KAGAN: Have you -- did you meet her when you were out there this week?

STUDDARD: Yes. I talked to all of them. I didn't watch the show for a few weeks so I was kind of upset that my boy, Matt was gone. I like him because he's an ex-football player like me.

KAGAN: You like the big guys there.

STUDDARD: I like the big guys.

KAGAN: Yes, I was a fan of his too.

And then just tell us about Simon Cowell. Is he really -- is he a teddy bear underneath or what's the deal on him?

STUDDARD: Simon is cool. You know, it's different if you ever see him around his mom. He acts totally different.

KAGAN: Really! Simon Cowell is a mama's boy? Is that what you're telling us?

STUDDARD: Well, I think everybody is, though.

KAGAN: At the end of the day.

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: And finally, if you didn't win "American Idol," if that hadn't come along, what would you be doing?

STUDDARD: I would probably still be singing and probably going back to school right now. Because I gave myself -- I left school after the second semester of my junior year to pursue a career in music. and I gave myself five years to make it and I made it in three.

KAGAN: In three. So you still had a couple years to play with it.

STUDDARD: Yes, so...

KAGAN: Maybe go back one day anyway?

STUDDARD: I'm going back, as soon as I get a chance to get a break, I want to finish up.

KAGAN: Grab a breath. Well, good for you. Good luck on the tour.

STUDDARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: I know you're going all over the country, you're fans will be looking for you.

STUDDARD: That's right.

KAGAN: And good luck with the record.

STUDDARD: Thank you. Ruben Studdard, "American Idol."

STUDDARD: Nice talking to you.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

Well, of course, you can keep your eye on entertainment 24/7 by pointing your internet browser to cnn.com/entertainment. Among the highlights you'll find there, a profile of one of the pioneers of reality TV, Mark Burnett. As well, as the latest reviews of movies and books, that's cnn.com/entertainment.

KAGAN: Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, a view from the frontlines. We're going to take you inside the fighting in Fallujah with one of the few journalists that is there.

And it is one day before Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 Commission. We are live from the White House after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 7, 2004 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, HOST: Good morning. From CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. And we begin with a check of the headlines at this hour.
Some 40 people are dead after U.S. Marines fired rockets that hit a Fallujah mosque filled with people. That, from the Associated Press, which says the incident came during the battle for control of a Sunni Muslim stronghold.

In Fallujah, U.S. Marines are trying to restore civil order, after fierce fighting broke out across the city. A rocket-propelled grenade injured two Marines in one incident, and at least 10 Iraqis were killed in another. Meanwhile, U.S. forces in Ramadi say they're in firm control of that city. Large scale attacks by Iraqi insurgents in Ramadi yesterday left 12 Marines dead.

All the latest just ahead.

American commanders are pledging that they'll destroy the army of Muqtada al Sadr. He is the rebel Shiite cleric protected by his followers. He is holed up in mosque in Najaf. Earlier, al Sadr's fighters battled Iraqi forces and coalition soldiers in the Sunni Triangle. In a statement, al Sadr called Iraqis cooperating with the coalition, "enemies."

Right now in D.C., a Senate committee is meeting to discuss the state of the United Nations Oil for Food Program for Iraq. For years that program was intended to ease sanctions and help ordinary Iraqis, by selling Iraqi oil to buy food and medicines.

And a German court is set to release the only suspect ever convicted in the September 11 attacks. Munir al Motassadeq, he faces a re-trial in June. The 30 year old has been serving a 15-year sentence for providing logistical help to the Hamburg al Qaeda cell that included of the September 11 pilots. The German court has ordered him to remain in Hamburg.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Live in the news right now, lawyers for Rush Limbaugh are in a Florida courtroom. They are there to argue that prosecutors were wrong in the way they took the radio host's medical records. We'll keep an eye on the case and let you know what happens from there in south Florida.

We are, though, going to begin with a volatile situation in Iraq. At least a dozen U.S. Marines have died in a fierce gun battle in Ramadi. The Marines also have moved into the city of Fallujah. And the U.S. military today vowed to destroy the armed militia of a Muslim cleric, who is accused of violence against coalition forces.

Our Jim Clancy gets things started for us, keeping tabs on the rapidly changing events across Iraq. He is live in Baghdad -- Jim.

JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you from Baghdad, Daryn. I think it's important for us to put into perspective. You know, for months, almost the last year we have been talking about roadside bombs and ambushes on coalition forces here in Iraq. What everybody is concerned about now, both inside and outside the country, is the complete change in events. Right now we're talking about entire cities being completely taken over in two completely separate ways. In two completely separate cases.

First to Fallujah, where U.S. Marines are trying to re-assert coalition control over a town that has been closed to the occupation from the very start. Heavy fighting reported throughout the day. The most recent reports we have, and we heard the warplanes over the city of Fallujah, as they fight their way in there. Apparently, a lot of fighters went inside a mosque, took up refuge there, they used a combat aircraft, a fighter jet to drop a bomb at a high angle there. A number of people reported killed. We cannot confirm those numbers right now.

Meantime, talk about taking over a city. A very unusual raid overnight in Ramadi; insurgents launched a full frontal assault on U.S. Marines in that city, trying to seize the governor's office and Marine positions. They were repulsed, but at a heavy price for the Marines, 12 dead and 20 wounded. The insurgents also paid a high price, as well.

Across southern Iraq, we have fighting reported in a number of cities. All of this linked to al Mehdi Army of the radical, young, Shiia Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr. His forces, his militia causing problems in Kut, in Karbala, in Najaf, in Nasiriya, in other cities across Iraq. These are attempts by his militia to assert their control over the cities. We understand in Najaf, they basically have control of the streets; coalition forces are on the outskirts of that holy city, a very difficult situation for the coalition.

We're coming up on a Muslim holiday -- a Shiia Muslim holiday at the weekend that is going to be celebrated by hundreds upon hundreds of thousands. That is going to complicate efforts to confront that al Mehdi Army by U.S. or coalition forces -- Daryn.

KAGAN: I want to ask you, Jim, about a statement by al Sadr saying that he was aligned with al Sistani, who has tended to be more moderate and actually called for calm from the Shiites across Iraq.

CLANCY: Well, he has put out the statement he interprets al Sistani's statement as being one of support. Al Sistani's statement though, clearly is calling for calm in this situation. And there are a lot of people who look at the situation and see that Muqtada al Sadr does not have strong support from those who support Ayatollah Ali al Sistani or from Sistani himself. After all, at one point he surrounded Sistani's office and ordered him to leave the country. So, there are -- is some tension that goes back a long way between these two men. And it's important to note that Muqtada al Sadr has much less support among Shiia Muslims, the majority here in Iraq, than does Sistani -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Jim Clancy in Baghdad, we'll be back with you later in the morning.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says more troops will be deployed to Iraq if U.S. commanders want them.

Let's check in at the Pentagon with our correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTGON CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning to you. The word from here is that everything remains under control at the moment. No more U.S. troops needed just now.

Now, President Bush continues to be briefed by his military national security team, a major conference call late last night: President Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. The president, we are told, was updated on all the U.S. military offensive operations across Iraq. Another call scheduled for today.

We are told by senior officials that General Abizaid, so far, is not asking for more troops. But the calculation as the violence spreads across Iraq will become very difficult. One hundred and thirty-five thousand troops there right now, it's scheduled to go down to 115,000 troops by June. But if all of these flare ups continue, if the insurgency continues, will they be able to reduce the number of forces or will they have to leave some troops in place? Officials saying it's just too soon. They still believe they have it under control, despite the pictures coming in from across Iraq.

Now in Fallujah, of course, the U.S. military using some pretty significant fire power: helicopter gun ships, AC-130 aircraft, Abrams tanks. They are trying to make sure they don't cause collateral damage, if you will, the killing of civilians not affiliated with the insurgency. But by all accounts now, as Jim Clancy says, some difficulty with that apparently. A number of civilians killed in a mosque attack in Fallujah -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon.

A suspected al Qaeda operative claims to be behind a wave of insurgency attacks in Iraq. Abu Musaab al Zarqawi is believed to be the voice of on an audiotape posted on an Arabic web site. The tape includes death threats against U.S. civilian administrator Paul Bremer and General John Abizaid, who heads up U.S. forces in Iraq. The U.S. is offering a $10 million bounty for Zarqawi.

With us now to explain more about the unfolding military situation in Iraq is retired Air Force Major General and CNN's military analyst Don Shepperd, joining us from Tucson, Arizona. General, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET), U.S. AIR FORCE: Morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: Let's talk -- let's start with these newest reports and those are Associated Press reports about a missile apparently fired into a mosque in Iraq, killing as many as 40 people. A very difficult situation when you're dealing with religious symbols, General.

SHEPPERD: Yes, it really is, Daryn. We really go to great efforts to avoid collateral damage of any type, particularly to innocent civilians. But the idea of hitting a mosque is particularly sensitive throughout the Muslim world. It's also sensitive, at this time in Iraq, when you have so many of these things going on, particular with the al Sadr attacks in southern Iraq. This type of thing can set off unwanted consequences around there. So the details on this are still sketchy, these are early details. But if it happened, it's something that we go to extreme efforts to try to avoid it. Hopefully it's overstated.

KAGAN: And there are so many hotspots right now in Iraq; you definitely need a map and some graphics to keep up with it. I want to go with you place by place and talk about exactly what is happening, and the challenge that the U.S. military faces there. First to Fallujah, this is where it seems violence erupted over the last week, with the civilian contractors being killed, also the other soldiers being fired upon.

SHEPPERD: Yes, if you go straight west out of Baghdad the Highway 10 leads to the west. It goes through Fallujah, and then al Diwaniya, Ar Ramadi; that is the base of the triangle of the Sunni Triangle. It's the location, if you will, of the former regime loyalist. It's called the Sunni Triangle; probably the Baathist triangle is a more accurate description. It's the people we didn't fight in downtown Baghdad: the Republican Guard, the Fedayeen Saddam. This is the stronghold, if you will.

The incidents in Fallujah were set off by the attack on the two civilian vehicles that killed the Americans and then incited mob violence there. The attacks further to the west in Ar Ramadi are also the Marines trying to clear and maintain control of that particular city. The Marines are masters at this. They're master at civic action, it worked further south. They had hoped to come in on their rotation, take over from the 82 Airborne, and spread civic action, work with the local authorities. And now all these events have made that somewhat impossible. So you're seeing the military action where you're going in by force and house-to-house fighting. It's what you don't want to do -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and that house-to-house fighting and that urban combat, even if you go back more than a year leading up to the war in Iraq, this was the very type of situation that the U.S. military was hoping to avoid.

SHEPPERD: It was indeed. And sometimes you can avoid it. Sometimes you can't. The situation in the Sunni Triangle to the west is different than the al Sadr fighting going on in the east. As Jim Clancy just told us, basically that is about a struggle -- a factional struggle within the Shiia community.

And basically, although that is also troublesome and you have to watch that spinning out of control, it's much more -- it's much more dicey than the situation going on in the west, which is fairly straight forward. You're trying to exercise control over former regime loyalists, get your hands on the arms in the Sunni Triangle, and maintain control over that so that they cannot be a force in the future that creates civil war or attacks the coalition -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and let's talk about the challenge of taking on a private militia, as Muqtada al Sadr seems to be heading up where he is holed up in Najaf. If you look at the strict numbers here. General, it's no contest. The numbers I'm seeing about 3,000 in this militia and a private militia at that against the U.S. military. That would seem like no contest, but in terms of what it can ignite in terms of what can happen to Iraq, how careful does the U.S. military have to be?

SHEPPERD: They have to be very careful. Just like the mob violence that ensued after the incident in Fallujah, this can really spin out of control very quickly. There are several nightmare scenarios here. You have to deal with Muqtada al Sadr. He basically wants to establish an Iranian-style theocracy. He wants to make a power play and become the force within the Shiia community replace Sistani. You cannot let that happen.

It's true he only has a militia reportedly of about 3,000, but he has got a lot of sympathizers. His sympathizers are the poor people in what was formerly called Saddam City in the eastern part of Baghdad, now called al Sadr City in the eastern part of Baghdad. There's about 2 million people in there. So if those people united behind al Sadr and attacked the coalition, you would have another nightmare scenario on your hands. That's what we're trying to keep from taking place.

So your real fear is you don't want a civil war going on with the Shiia community. You want to take care of al Sadr so that doesn't happen. And you don't want an Iranian-style theocracy established after we leave.

KAGAN: Major General Don Shepperd, thank you for your insight and analysis this morning. Appreciate it, General.

Embedded with the military in Iraq, we will take you inside the fighting in Fallujah with one of the few journalists allowed into that volatile area.

And battling it out in court, Rush Limbaugh's fight over his medical records.

Did you watch "American Idol" last night? Were you nostalgic for the days when Ruben was lighting the place on fire? Well, he is with us here in the studio, right here in Atlanta. "American Idol" Ruben Studdard coming up. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: As we told you at the top of the hour, Rush Limbaugh's attorney is facing off against prosecutors in West Palm Beach, Florida. A live picture there from the courtroom, you see attorney Roy Black there on the right of your screen. The outcome could determine whether Limbaugh faces criminal charges on prescription drug abuse.

Our Susan Candiotti has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: Medical records and privacy are at stake here.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rush Limbaugh says when the state seized his medical records last December to investigate whether he was doctor-shopping, charges he denies, his constitutional right to privacy was violated.

LIMBAUGH: They want to go on a fishing expedition to see if there is something in my medical records.

CANDIOTTI: Limbaugh's attorney Roy Black is leading a spirited defense. Black asks why Limbaugh is being criminally pursued when other admitted drug addict celebrities, including singer Whitney Houston apparently are not?

ROY BLACK, LIMBAUGH'S ATTORNEY: Why is it Rush Limbaugh they demand to plead guilty to a crime? That's because they want to embarrass him, and disgrace him and discredit him. That's the only reason why.

CANDIOTTI: Law enforcement sources deny political motives. They say they could not ignore serious allegations by Limbaugh's former housekeeper, who then sold her story to a tabloid. She claims she illegally sold Limbaugh thousands of prescription painkillers, a possible felony.

MICHAEL MCAULIFFE, FMR. FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: The prosecutor's office is investigating a person for abuse of prescription drugs. Do you think that the prosecutor's office should get to take a look at that person's records of prescription drug use?

CANDIOTTI: All along prosecutors have insisted they've done everything by the book.

(on camera): An appeal's court is scheduled to hear arguments over whether Limbaugh's medical records were improperly seized. If prosecutors lose, they will not say how that could affect their high- profile investigation.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE) KAGAN: He won the hearts and fans -- hearts of fans, you might say, on "American Idol." And now he is going to be with us live right here in Atlanta. Ruben Studdard is our guest to talk about his new album. And did you watch "American Idol" last night? We're going to get Ruben's take just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Showing you some scenes from last night's "American Idol." Nine hopefuls remain and one of them will be voted off tonight. One person who knows all about that pressure, Ruben Studdard, the man -- the big man with the velvety voice, he crooned his way to last year's "American Idol" title. And he is right here with us in Atlanta.

Good morning.

RUBEN STUDDARD, REIGNING "AMERICAN IDOL": Good morning. How are you?

KAGAN: What a pleasure to get to meet you.

STUDDARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: I told you that we are huge "American Idol" fans here on this program. Did you watch last night, Ruben?

STUDDARD: I did. Last night was actually the first full episode I've watched.

KAGAN: Really? Are you that busy?

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. OK. Now, you watched last night and you have got to admit this field is not as strong as the people you had to compete against. Give up the truth, Ruben.

STUDDARD: I think it's going to be a good competition. Fantasia is really good. Latoya is great, Jennifer is great, George is really strong.

KAGAN: And George is...

STUDDARD: It's a girl's year this year, though. From watching the show, it's really a girl's year this year.

KAGAN: But when you watch, you got to sit back and think, oh, where were all those weak people when I was competing, the kind of people you had to go up against.

STUDDARD: I mean well, you know, last year was just a really strong competition every week. And you know especially between Clay, and I, Kimberly and Tranice (ph), Ricky. Everybody was just -- Kim Cartwell, it was very strong. .

KAGAN: When you appeared on the show a couple of weeks ago, even Simon said he'd pay you to come back and be part of the competition.

STUDDARD: That was actually one of the worst performances I've had in a long time.

KAGAN: Really? Is it a lot of pressure to go back?

STUDDARD: No, I was, you know, I think I was just tired. I mean, you know, just -- you know, and so excited to see everybody. It was just more so...

KAGAN: Little distracted?

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Well, tired with good reason. Tell us -- you're on the road.

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: Huge tour?

STUDDARD: Not that huge. Not as huge...

KAGAN: Oh! Let's go back a year.

STUDDARD: I mean when you think about tours, like last summer's "American Idol" tour...

KAGAN: Right. Well, OK. That was big.

STUDDARD: That was...

KAGAN: But now you're out there on your own.

STUDDARD: I like it like this. It's really intimate. I like doing theaters. I like being up close and personal with the fans. It's really cool. Hey, that's me.

KAGAN: How about that? Is it everything you dreamed of? The best part of fame of making it, of the dream coming true.

STUDDARD: I think the best part for me is just being able to perform for people every week. I really love, you know, doing this job. I mean I've always wanted to do this. I never wanted to do anything else with my life. And to be able to do it, to be able to accomplish the goal you've always set for yourself is always a blessing.

KAGAN: And what's the down side of fame?

STUDDARD: Not being able to go to Wal-Mart is a downside. Unless it's like 4:00 in the morning when nobody's there.

KAGAN: Just too recognized, you just get mobbed by fans?

STUDDARD: Yes. But it's cool though. They love me. KAGAN: And with good reason. Look, there you are all over the place. With -- watching tonight, who do you think is going to get knocked off?

STUDDARD: I don't know. I don't know. You never know. I mean every time the person you think is going to get knocked off, it's never that person. So, we'll have to see. I hope Fantasia doesn't leave. I love Fantasia.

KAGAN: Have you -- did you meet her when you were out there this week?

STUDDARD: Yes. I talked to all of them. I didn't watch the show for a few weeks so I was kind of upset that my boy, Matt was gone. I like him because he's an ex-football player like me.

KAGAN: You like the big guys there.

STUDDARD: I like the big guys.

KAGAN: Yes, I was a fan of his too.

And then just tell us about Simon Cowell. Is he really -- is he a teddy bear underneath or what's the deal on him?

STUDDARD: Simon is cool. You know, it's different if you ever see him around his mom. He acts totally different.

KAGAN: Really! Simon Cowell is a mama's boy? Is that what you're telling us?

STUDDARD: Well, I think everybody is, though.

KAGAN: At the end of the day.

STUDDARD: Yes.

KAGAN: And finally, if you didn't win "American Idol," if that hadn't come along, what would you be doing?

STUDDARD: I would probably still be singing and probably going back to school right now. Because I gave myself -- I left school after the second semester of my junior year to pursue a career in music. and I gave myself five years to make it and I made it in three.

KAGAN: In three. So you still had a couple years to play with it.

STUDDARD: Yes, so...

KAGAN: Maybe go back one day anyway?

STUDDARD: I'm going back, as soon as I get a chance to get a break, I want to finish up.

KAGAN: Grab a breath. Well, good for you. Good luck on the tour.

STUDDARD: Thank you.

KAGAN: I know you're going all over the country, you're fans will be looking for you.

STUDDARD: That's right.

KAGAN: And good luck with the record.

STUDDARD: Thank you. Ruben Studdard, "American Idol."

STUDDARD: Nice talking to you.

KAGAN: Appreciate it.

Well, of course, you can keep your eye on entertainment 24/7 by pointing your internet browser to cnn.com/entertainment. Among the highlights you'll find there, a profile of one of the pioneers of reality TV, Mark Burnett. As well, as the latest reviews of movies and books, that's cnn.com/entertainment.

KAGAN: Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, a view from the frontlines. We're going to take you inside the fighting in Fallujah with one of the few journalists that is there.

And it is one day before Condoleezza Rice testifies before the 9/11 Commission. We are live from the White House after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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