Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

Afghan President Visits Washington, Requests More NATO Troops; Public Opinion Split on Iraq War

Aired June 15, 2004 - 11:00   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, ANCHOR: It is exactly 11 a.m. on the East Coast and 8 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, the war on terror and the future of Afghanistan. Those are the two top issues as Afghan President Hamid Karzai visits Washington. He'll hold a news conference with President Bush this hour. You'll see that live here on CNN.

In anticipation of that, let's go to our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, who begins our coverage from Capitol Hill.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

President Karzai has been the target of several assassination attempts. So security was extremely tight here on Capitol Hill. That's a stark reminder that the situation in Afghanistan is still very volatile.

While Iraq dominates the headlines, obviously, these days, President Karzai was here to remind Congress and the president, leaders in both parties, about the fact that Afghanistan is a key ally in the war on terror as you mentioned.

Also that his nation is critical in the search to try to find Osama bin Laden and also the fact that U.S. troops are still 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. And during his address to a joint meeting of Congress, President Karzai thanked the American people for that sacrifice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: I thank you and the people of this great country for your generosity and commitment to our people. You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership in the world community and most importantly, with the precious lives of your soldiers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, Daryn, President Karzai is also trying to re-assure leaders that he is planning to move ahead with elections in his country in September. The world is watching to make sure that that moves forward. But President Karzai is also on a personal mission here. He wants to convince leaders and sort of fight back against charges of corruption that have come up against President Karzai in recent weeks.

Also charges that he's a puppet of the Bush administration, and charges that he's been cutting backroom deals with warlords and that he may be forming kind of a coalition government that will undermine the push for democracy.

President Karzai is insisting that all that is untrue, that he is committed to pushing forward on a stable, secure and democratic Afghanistan -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and in light of all that, it looks like President Karzai still did receive a warm welcome from this joint meeting of Congress, Ed?

HENRY: That's right. Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle told CNN that he is very concerned about the challenges ahead in Afghanistan.

But the bottom line that he mentioned and that I think is the sentiment expressed in both parties, is that President Karzai is the best hope that the United States has for some leader to emerge in Afghanistan. If he is not the person to emerge the situation could become even more volatile, even less secure.

And that senator Daschle was telling CNN is that President Karzai is the best hope for democracy in Afghanistan despite those challenges, Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill.

Let's talk more about the reality in Afghanistan. Security there is a growing concern leading up to the national elections in September. The U.S. still has about 20,000 troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

Let's go now to our Ryan Chilcote. He joins us from Kabul with an update on the situation there.

Ryan, hello.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, the president of Afghanistan may have told the members of the U.S. Congress everything they wanted to hear, but there won't be much reaction to it in Afghanistan, if for no other reason than as the president himself said in his speech, only six percent of the people here have electricity. Even fewer have televisions.

The reality on the ground in Afghanistan is one of persisting security problems, and they both -- they come in two different areas.

First, the insurgency in the east and these southeast of the country, some 20,000 U.S. Service men and servicewomen continue to battle insurgents in almost daily gun fights and rock eight tacks.

Also in the rest of the country, which up until now, there are more security problems in the areas that the warlords are controlling.

So make no mistake, President Karzai yesterday, when he met with Secretary Rumsfeld made it very clear that Afghanistan needs more peacekeepers. He asked for more NATO peacekeepers. He'd like to see at least a few thousand and he's like to see them on the ground before Afghanistan goes ahead and holds their first election ever -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ryan Chilcote, coming to us live from Kabul, Afghanistan.

We will have live coverage of this hour's news conference by President Bush and Afghan President Karzai. It begins in just about 20 minutes right here on CNN. You'll see it live.

Meanwhile, we check in on Iraq. It is 15 days and counting until the transfer of power there. And the status of Saddam Hussein is the focus of ongoing discussion.

The coalition spokesmen says the goal is to get Saddam into Iraqi hands as soon as possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: I wouldn't call them negotiations. I would call them discussions. And we -- both sides have an interest in handing Saddam Hussein over to the Iraqis. And the only matter is when is the appropriate time. And that is something we are discussing with the prime minister right now. It's not a negotiation. It is a discussion. We both have the same goal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Iraq's interim prime minister says that details are being worked out for the handover of all the Iraqi detainees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, INTERIM IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: I guess this needs to be worked out within the U.S. administration. We Iraqis want to get control of the criminals who committed the crimes against the Iraqi people. CPA, we are in constant negotiations and discussions over this issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Allawi says that the talks with the U.S. are progressing well.

A private interrogator who worked at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prisoner, is providing more details of alleged abuse.

He says that Army guards kept some prisoners awake for as long as 20 hours a day. And he said that private contractors and soldiers from military intelligence instructed guards to use sleep deprivation tactics.

That conflicts with the accounts by some top generals. The allegations are in a statement to investigators, by the employee of one of the contractors.

It is worth noting that the employee has questionable credibility in the eyes of the investigators.

The general who was in charge at Abu Ghraib prison says that she is being made a scapegoat in the scandal. Brigadier General Janis Karpinski tells the BBC she wasn't aware of the abuse. And she says her successor at Abu Ghraib once told her that prisoners are, quote, "like dogs."

He could not be immediately reached for comment. Karpinski was suspended from the command of the 800th Military Police Brigade last night.

The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia says the Saudi government is doing all that it can to find an American who has apparently been kidnapped by Islamic militants.

Lockheed Martin employee Paul Johnson has been missing since Saturday, the same day that American Kenneth Scroggs was killed in Riyadh, the group calling itself the al-Fallujah Squadron has taken responsibility and posted what appears to be Johnson's passport photo and other personal documents on an al Qaeda linked air sight.

Lockheed Martin says that Johnson is a field engineer working on Apache aircraft.

The kidnapping has raised new questions about the safety of thousands of Americans working in Saudi Arabia.

Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, joins us now with a closer look at that part of the story.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn.

After a series of very well publicized attacks against American contractors working in Iraq, now Americans living and working in Saudi Arabia are trying to determine if that country is safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): A message for Paul Johnson Jr. and his family on Lockheed Martin's web site.

In April, the State Department told corporate America to pull its contractors, like Johnson, out of Saudi Arabia as the terrorist threat grew. But so far, it appears most of the 35,000 Americans working in the country are staying put. RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We need to give them our best advice on how to handle any particular situation overseas. We've done that here. We've been forthright and up front about that, and urging Americans to depart.

STARR: Americans support Saudi military programs such as the Apache helicopter, the contract Johnson worked on.

Thousands also are employed in the oil and finance sector. Saudi and American business want the world to see the kingdom as a secure place.

WYCHE FOWLER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA: The corporate leadership as well as the political leadership in the embassy have a very sophisticated communications network. They talk to each other all the time. They warn each other all the time. They watch each other's backs.

STARR: Terrorists with al Qaeda affiliations kidnapped Johnson as part of a campaign to drive out foreigners and destabilize the royal family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very much attacking the economic lifeblood, not just of the west, but of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

STARR: The death toll is rising. Among those killed, Saturday June 12, the same day Johnson is abducted, Kenneth Scruggs, a defense contractor. Tuesday, June 8, Robert Jacobs an employee of a defense firm Vinell (ph).

Last month, more than 20 are killed when authorities try to rescue them from gunmen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And the U.S. is most disturbed, it says, the State Department says it now believes that the most recent victims were under surveillance by terrorists inside Saudi Arabia before they were attacked -- Daryn.

KAGAN: A very difficult time especially for their families.

Barbara, in anticipation of this news conference that's set to start in about 15 minutes, let's focus on Afghanistan. This is a place that's not getting as much publicity in terms of the military effort that Iraq has. And yet in the last year, the number of U.S. troops has doubled there.

STARR: Well, actually, Daryn, it's doubled to about -- nearly doubled to about 20,000. Just actually in the last four months or so, through most of the winter it would range from 10,000 to 12,000. The weather was bad, of course. U.S. troops can't move through the mountains as easily as they can at other times of the year.

Now the weather is warm, the snows are melting, all but from the highest elevations. The U.S. has about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan, clearly beefing up its conventional capability, especially in southeastern Afghanistan, where they are continuing to encounter remnants of the Taliban on the al Qaeda.

Now, Afghan President Hamid Karzai would like to see even more troops. He especially would like to see NATO troops in Afghanistan.

NATO has been asked; NATO is looking at it. Whether they are going to be able to send significant additional numbers remains problematic. They're also being asked to participate in Iraq. What NATO has mainly been doing is some of the reconstruction work, helping out those reconstruction teams around the country, providing security in those areas and then basically hopefully in their context, establishing secure areas. That's going to be the continuing focus. They are going to see if they can get more NATO troops, but it's going to be very problematic -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you. Again, that news conference set to start in about 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, a check of financial markets is up next.

Then preparing for the worst. Why some Gulf Coast residents are keeping a close eye on what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico.

And still to come...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, it's war. Period, the end. You know, get over it. That's what's going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Voters voice their opinions about the prison abuse scandal, terrorism and the president's decision to go to war in Iraq, with our Carlos Watson. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Louisiana, it is not high winds but high water that is causing the problems. A flood watch is in effect for today through Northeast Louisiana, which could get several more inches in.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: President Bush welcomes Afghanistan's leader to the White House. We'll hear from the two leaders live. They're holding a news conference within the next ten minutes or so.

And up next, Carlos Watson goes in search of America's political pulse. We'll tell you what he's hearing from the voters in Las Vegas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Did the U.S. take an unnecessary gamble in going to war with Iraq? Our political analyst, Carlos Watson, went to a casino in Las Vegas to listen to opinions about the war.

He has been traveling around the country doing just that, getting different political opinions. Here now is Carlos Watson's report from Las Vegas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: What could President Bush do to win your vote?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He could figure out the debacle he put us into in Iraq, is what he could do. When you go to war, you've got a plan. And it's not a plan for a year. It's not a plan for two years. It's a ten-year plan.

And right now in ten years, I think we're in a terrible situation.

RICHARD LUM, REPUBLICAN: Right or wrong when he went into Iraq, at least he made a decision and did it. He did something. And I believe that because we're still in a conflict with Iraq that I don't think we should change horses in the middle of a stream.

WATSON: You think that would be a mistake?

LUM: I think it would be a mistake.

MELISSA DREZNER, INDEPENDENT: One of the biggest mistakes that this administration made, and the invasion of Iraq, was that they went into it without the full support of the full committee. And now, in light of everything that's happened with the different militia groups over there spring up, it's become a cesspool and a country up for grabs.

KATIE CLARKE, REPUBLICAN: It's very scary what happened to this country 2 1/2 years ago. And I pray to God that never happens again. We do need to have our homeland security. We need to, you know, show the world that we are a strong country.

It's scary to think what's going on with all these innocent people that are over there, whether they be civilians or soldiers, losing their lives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look what happened over here. I didn't see anybody apologizing for slamming a plane into a bulling.

CLARKE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now all of a sudden, we're expecting them to apologize for soldiers, you know, abusing soldiers. I'm not saying they should have done it. But enough of these, you know, people going out there and publicly apologizing and saying, "We're wrong" and court-martialing soldiers.

Hey, it's war, period, the end. You know, get over it. That's what's going to happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, you can tune in for more of "America's Pulse" with Carlos. He will be on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." That's 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 Pacific later.

Well, you know, sometimes you just don't have to wait for something to happen. Carlos Watson joining us now from New York City.

Carlos, you can run, but we will track you down.

WATSON: Hey -- Hey, Daryn, how are you doing?

KAGAN: Good. Did you have a chance to see your own piece there about the voters you were talking to from Las Vegas?

WATSON: I did. I think it's very timely. As you remember, Nevada used to be a state that was clearly very Republican. With Ronald Reagan's passing, we remember that that was one of his strongest states over the years.

But now it's a tossup state, in part because lots of people have moved from outside. Close to a third of the voting population moved, probably this year, will be transplants.

And I think that one of the big decision pieces is the war, which now again is re-entering the political conversation.

KAGAN: OK. When you come on our show on Tuesday morning, we're like the hors d'oeuvre, and then the main course happens on Paula's show at 8 p.m. So what more will we hear tonight?

WATSON: Well, first of all, you're the best hors d'oeuvres around.

KAGAN: Thank you.

WATSON: Let's not forget that.

KAGAN: We're not talking ourselves down. We're just setting the table.

WATSON: So we're going to be on Paula's show tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific. And we're going to talk about the economy. You'll hear them weigh in on health care. And interestingly enough, you'll hear them talk about what they say as the one or two key things that will ultimately decide their vote this fall.

KAGAN: Very good. Looking forward to that. Carlos Watson from New York City. Appreciate it.

WATSON: Good to see you. KAGAN: First there was an unverified report of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Now the government finds itself back -- well, it's backtracking from a report on the war against terrorism. We'll tell you what Colin Powell is doing about this latest situation.

And still to come, changing the way doctors help Americans fight obesity. Why some critics say that physicians are falling short and what they are doing about it.

We are also standing by waiting for this news conference to begin any moment before Washington, D.C., from the White House. President Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. That's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired June 15, 2004 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: It is exactly 11 a.m. on the East Coast and 8 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first on CNN, the war on terror and the future of Afghanistan. Those are the two top issues as Afghan President Hamid Karzai visits Washington. He'll hold a news conference with President Bush this hour. You'll see that live here on CNN.

In anticipation of that, let's go to our congressional correspondent, Ed Henry, who begins our coverage from Capitol Hill.

Ed, good morning.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

President Karzai has been the target of several assassination attempts. So security was extremely tight here on Capitol Hill. That's a stark reminder that the situation in Afghanistan is still very volatile.

While Iraq dominates the headlines, obviously, these days, President Karzai was here to remind Congress and the president, leaders in both parties, about the fact that Afghanistan is a key ally in the war on terror as you mentioned.

Also that his nation is critical in the search to try to find Osama bin Laden and also the fact that U.S. troops are still 20,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. And during his address to a joint meeting of Congress, President Karzai thanked the American people for that sacrifice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT OF AFGHANISTAN: I thank you and the people of this great country for your generosity and commitment to our people. You have supported us with your resources, with your leadership in the world community and most importantly, with the precious lives of your soldiers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Now, Daryn, President Karzai is also trying to re-assure leaders that he is planning to move ahead with elections in his country in September. The world is watching to make sure that that moves forward. But President Karzai is also on a personal mission here. He wants to convince leaders and sort of fight back against charges of corruption that have come up against President Karzai in recent weeks.

Also charges that he's a puppet of the Bush administration, and charges that he's been cutting backroom deals with warlords and that he may be forming kind of a coalition government that will undermine the push for democracy.

President Karzai is insisting that all that is untrue, that he is committed to pushing forward on a stable, secure and democratic Afghanistan -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and in light of all that, it looks like President Karzai still did receive a warm welcome from this joint meeting of Congress, Ed?

HENRY: That's right. Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle told CNN that he is very concerned about the challenges ahead in Afghanistan.

But the bottom line that he mentioned and that I think is the sentiment expressed in both parties, is that President Karzai is the best hope that the United States has for some leader to emerge in Afghanistan. If he is not the person to emerge the situation could become even more volatile, even less secure.

And that senator Daschle was telling CNN is that President Karzai is the best hope for democracy in Afghanistan despite those challenges, Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill.

Let's talk more about the reality in Afghanistan. Security there is a growing concern leading up to the national elections in September. The U.S. still has about 20,000 troops on the ground in Afghanistan.

Let's go now to our Ryan Chilcote. He joins us from Kabul with an update on the situation there.

Ryan, hello.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Well, the president of Afghanistan may have told the members of the U.S. Congress everything they wanted to hear, but there won't be much reaction to it in Afghanistan, if for no other reason than as the president himself said in his speech, only six percent of the people here have electricity. Even fewer have televisions.

The reality on the ground in Afghanistan is one of persisting security problems, and they both -- they come in two different areas.

First, the insurgency in the east and these southeast of the country, some 20,000 U.S. Service men and servicewomen continue to battle insurgents in almost daily gun fights and rock eight tacks.

Also in the rest of the country, which up until now, there are more security problems in the areas that the warlords are controlling.

So make no mistake, President Karzai yesterday, when he met with Secretary Rumsfeld made it very clear that Afghanistan needs more peacekeepers. He asked for more NATO peacekeepers. He'd like to see at least a few thousand and he's like to see them on the ground before Afghanistan goes ahead and holds their first election ever -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ryan Chilcote, coming to us live from Kabul, Afghanistan.

We will have live coverage of this hour's news conference by President Bush and Afghan President Karzai. It begins in just about 20 minutes right here on CNN. You'll see it live.

Meanwhile, we check in on Iraq. It is 15 days and counting until the transfer of power there. And the status of Saddam Hussein is the focus of ongoing discussion.

The coalition spokesmen says the goal is to get Saddam into Iraqi hands as soon as possible.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN SENOR, COALITION SPOKESMAN: I wouldn't call them negotiations. I would call them discussions. And we -- both sides have an interest in handing Saddam Hussein over to the Iraqis. And the only matter is when is the appropriate time. And that is something we are discussing with the prime minister right now. It's not a negotiation. It is a discussion. We both have the same goal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Iraq's interim prime minister says that details are being worked out for the handover of all the Iraqi detainees.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYAD ALLAWI, INTERIM IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: I guess this needs to be worked out within the U.S. administration. We Iraqis want to get control of the criminals who committed the crimes against the Iraqi people. CPA, we are in constant negotiations and discussions over this issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Allawi says that the talks with the U.S. are progressing well.

A private interrogator who worked at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prisoner, is providing more details of alleged abuse.

He says that Army guards kept some prisoners awake for as long as 20 hours a day. And he said that private contractors and soldiers from military intelligence instructed guards to use sleep deprivation tactics.

That conflicts with the accounts by some top generals. The allegations are in a statement to investigators, by the employee of one of the contractors.

It is worth noting that the employee has questionable credibility in the eyes of the investigators.

The general who was in charge at Abu Ghraib prison says that she is being made a scapegoat in the scandal. Brigadier General Janis Karpinski tells the BBC she wasn't aware of the abuse. And she says her successor at Abu Ghraib once told her that prisoners are, quote, "like dogs."

He could not be immediately reached for comment. Karpinski was suspended from the command of the 800th Military Police Brigade last night.

The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia says the Saudi government is doing all that it can to find an American who has apparently been kidnapped by Islamic militants.

Lockheed Martin employee Paul Johnson has been missing since Saturday, the same day that American Kenneth Scroggs was killed in Riyadh, the group calling itself the al-Fallujah Squadron has taken responsibility and posted what appears to be Johnson's passport photo and other personal documents on an al Qaeda linked air sight.

Lockheed Martin says that Johnson is a field engineer working on Apache aircraft.

The kidnapping has raised new questions about the safety of thousands of Americans working in Saudi Arabia.

Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, joins us now with a closer look at that part of the story.

Barbara, good morning.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you Daryn.

After a series of very well publicized attacks against American contractors working in Iraq, now Americans living and working in Saudi Arabia are trying to determine if that country is safe.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STARR (voice-over): A message for Paul Johnson Jr. and his family on Lockheed Martin's web site.

In April, the State Department told corporate America to pull its contractors, like Johnson, out of Saudi Arabia as the terrorist threat grew. But so far, it appears most of the 35,000 Americans working in the country are staying put. RICHARD BOUCHER, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: We need to give them our best advice on how to handle any particular situation overseas. We've done that here. We've been forthright and up front about that, and urging Americans to depart.

STARR: Americans support Saudi military programs such as the Apache helicopter, the contract Johnson worked on.

Thousands also are employed in the oil and finance sector. Saudi and American business want the world to see the kingdom as a secure place.

WYCHE FOWLER, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SAUDI ARABIA: The corporate leadership as well as the political leadership in the embassy have a very sophisticated communications network. They talk to each other all the time. They warn each other all the time. They watch each other's backs.

STARR: Terrorists with al Qaeda affiliations kidnapped Johnson as part of a campaign to drive out foreigners and destabilize the royal family.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very much attacking the economic lifeblood, not just of the west, but of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

STARR: The death toll is rising. Among those killed, Saturday June 12, the same day Johnson is abducted, Kenneth Scruggs, a defense contractor. Tuesday, June 8, Robert Jacobs an employee of a defense firm Vinell (ph).

Last month, more than 20 are killed when authorities try to rescue them from gunmen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And the U.S. is most disturbed, it says, the State Department says it now believes that the most recent victims were under surveillance by terrorists inside Saudi Arabia before they were attacked -- Daryn.

KAGAN: A very difficult time especially for their families.

Barbara, in anticipation of this news conference that's set to start in about 15 minutes, let's focus on Afghanistan. This is a place that's not getting as much publicity in terms of the military effort that Iraq has. And yet in the last year, the number of U.S. troops has doubled there.

STARR: Well, actually, Daryn, it's doubled to about -- nearly doubled to about 20,000. Just actually in the last four months or so, through most of the winter it would range from 10,000 to 12,000. The weather was bad, of course. U.S. troops can't move through the mountains as easily as they can at other times of the year.

Now the weather is warm, the snows are melting, all but from the highest elevations. The U.S. has about 20,000 troops in Afghanistan, clearly beefing up its conventional capability, especially in southeastern Afghanistan, where they are continuing to encounter remnants of the Taliban on the al Qaeda.

Now, Afghan President Hamid Karzai would like to see even more troops. He especially would like to see NATO troops in Afghanistan.

NATO has been asked; NATO is looking at it. Whether they are going to be able to send significant additional numbers remains problematic. They're also being asked to participate in Iraq. What NATO has mainly been doing is some of the reconstruction work, helping out those reconstruction teams around the country, providing security in those areas and then basically hopefully in their context, establishing secure areas. That's going to be the continuing focus. They are going to see if they can get more NATO troops, but it's going to be very problematic -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you. Again, that news conference set to start in about 10 to 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, a check of financial markets is up next.

Then preparing for the worst. Why some Gulf Coast residents are keeping a close eye on what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico.

And still to come...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, it's war. Period, the end. You know, get over it. That's what's going to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Voters voice their opinions about the prison abuse scandal, terrorism and the president's decision to go to war in Iraq, with our Carlos Watson. That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: In Louisiana, it is not high winds but high water that is causing the problems. A flood watch is in effect for today through Northeast Louisiana, which could get several more inches in.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: President Bush welcomes Afghanistan's leader to the White House. We'll hear from the two leaders live. They're holding a news conference within the next ten minutes or so.

And up next, Carlos Watson goes in search of America's political pulse. We'll tell you what he's hearing from the voters in Las Vegas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Did the U.S. take an unnecessary gamble in going to war with Iraq? Our political analyst, Carlos Watson, went to a casino in Las Vegas to listen to opinions about the war.

He has been traveling around the country doing just that, getting different political opinions. Here now is Carlos Watson's report from Las Vegas.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: What could President Bush do to win your vote?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He could figure out the debacle he put us into in Iraq, is what he could do. When you go to war, you've got a plan. And it's not a plan for a year. It's not a plan for two years. It's a ten-year plan.

And right now in ten years, I think we're in a terrible situation.

RICHARD LUM, REPUBLICAN: Right or wrong when he went into Iraq, at least he made a decision and did it. He did something. And I believe that because we're still in a conflict with Iraq that I don't think we should change horses in the middle of a stream.

WATSON: You think that would be a mistake?

LUM: I think it would be a mistake.

MELISSA DREZNER, INDEPENDENT: One of the biggest mistakes that this administration made, and the invasion of Iraq, was that they went into it without the full support of the full committee. And now, in light of everything that's happened with the different militia groups over there spring up, it's become a cesspool and a country up for grabs.

KATIE CLARKE, REPUBLICAN: It's very scary what happened to this country 2 1/2 years ago. And I pray to God that never happens again. We do need to have our homeland security. We need to, you know, show the world that we are a strong country.

It's scary to think what's going on with all these innocent people that are over there, whether they be civilians or soldiers, losing their lives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look what happened over here. I didn't see anybody apologizing for slamming a plane into a bulling.

CLARKE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now all of a sudden, we're expecting them to apologize for soldiers, you know, abusing soldiers. I'm not saying they should have done it. But enough of these, you know, people going out there and publicly apologizing and saying, "We're wrong" and court-martialing soldiers.

Hey, it's war, period, the end. You know, get over it. That's what's going to happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Well, you can tune in for more of "America's Pulse" with Carlos. He will be on "PAULA ZAHN NOW." That's 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 Pacific later.

Well, you know, sometimes you just don't have to wait for something to happen. Carlos Watson joining us now from New York City.

Carlos, you can run, but we will track you down.

WATSON: Hey -- Hey, Daryn, how are you doing?

KAGAN: Good. Did you have a chance to see your own piece there about the voters you were talking to from Las Vegas?

WATSON: I did. I think it's very timely. As you remember, Nevada used to be a state that was clearly very Republican. With Ronald Reagan's passing, we remember that that was one of his strongest states over the years.

But now it's a tossup state, in part because lots of people have moved from outside. Close to a third of the voting population moved, probably this year, will be transplants.

And I think that one of the big decision pieces is the war, which now again is re-entering the political conversation.

KAGAN: OK. When you come on our show on Tuesday morning, we're like the hors d'oeuvre, and then the main course happens on Paula's show at 8 p.m. So what more will we hear tonight?

WATSON: Well, first of all, you're the best hors d'oeuvres around.

KAGAN: Thank you.

WATSON: Let's not forget that.

KAGAN: We're not talking ourselves down. We're just setting the table.

WATSON: So we're going to be on Paula's show tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific. And we're going to talk about the economy. You'll hear them weigh in on health care. And interestingly enough, you'll hear them talk about what they say as the one or two key things that will ultimately decide their vote this fall.

KAGAN: Very good. Looking forward to that. Carlos Watson from New York City. Appreciate it.

WATSON: Good to see you. KAGAN: First there was an unverified report of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Now the government finds itself back -- well, it's backtracking from a report on the war against terrorism. We'll tell you what Colin Powell is doing about this latest situation.

And still to come, changing the way doctors help Americans fight obesity. Why some critics say that physicians are falling short and what they are doing about it.

We are also standing by waiting for this news conference to begin any moment before Washington, D.C., from the White House. President Bush and Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai. That's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com