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Your World Today

Colombian Jet Crashes; Gaza Pullout

Aired August 16, 2005 - 12:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center, this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The deadliest plane crash in Venezuela's history kills everyone on board.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Tempers flare as the deadline for Jewish settlers to leave Gaza is just hours away.

CLANCY: And the earth moves as a strong quake rattles the east coast of Japan.

VERJEE: It's 12:00 noon in Caracas and 7:00 p.m. in Gaza. I'm Zain Verjee.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. Welcome to our viewers around the world. This is CNN International and YOUR WORLD TODAY.

A holiday in Panama coming to an end of tragic proportions for more than 150 passengers who were aboard a plane as it crashed in Venezuela. No survivors have yet been found at the site in a remote area near the city of Machices (ph).

Karl Penhaul following this story. He joins us on the line from Bogota -- Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I have just come off the phone from the Venezuelan Aviation Authority, and they say 150 rescue workers are now at the crash site west of Venezuela. That includes national guards, firefighters and police. And the spokeswoman for the Venezuelan Aviation Authority says there are definitely no survivors.

That spokeswoman said that there were 152 passengers on board and eight crew members. Of the passengers, one of those was a babe in arms.

Now, the spokeswoman said that most of those on the plane on the passenger list had French surnames, indicating that the majorities were, in fact, (INAUDIBLE) Martinique. They were returning on this charter flight run by West Caribbean Airways. It was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82. It was covering a route from Panama to (INAUDIBLE) in Martinique, Jim, when it crashed.

CLANCY: Karl Penhaul reporting to us there live from Bogota. We'll get back to Karl a little bit later this hour -- Zain.

VERJEE: Jim, Spanish authorities are investigating a helicopter crash that killed 17 troops in Afghanistan. The helicopter went down near the western city of Herat. Spain's defense minister says authorities have not ruled out that the crash was the result of hostile fire. The troops were serving under NATO command as part of a Spanish contingent of about 800 peacekeeping troops there.

The helicopter was one of two Spanish choppers flying near Heart. The other made an emergency landing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJOR ANDY ELMES, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE FORCE: A rescue operation was launched immediately and is ongoing, moving wounded to the ISAF military hospital in Herat, securing the site, and allowing us to begin investigation into the cause. ISAF believes that this is the result of an accident, but it will not prejudge the results of the investigation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: These are the first Spanish troops to die in Afghanistan.

CLANCY: Well, meantime, a team of French investigators is analyzing the flight data recorder from that downed Cypriot airliner, the one that crashed near Athens on Sunday, killing all 121 people on board. The cockpit voice recorder remains missing. It separated from its protective case on impact.

This remains a bit of a mystery crash. Police raiding the airline's offices to collect information on the plane that went down, including its maintenance records.

VERJEE: In less than five hours, Israeli troops are to begin evacuating those Jewish settlements in Gaza where residents have refused to leave. Brigadier General Eval Giladi (ph), the man behind Ariel Sharon's pullout plan, just spoke about how the withdrawal is progressing.

Well, he said that close to 50 percent of the Jewish settlers living in Gaza have left voluntarily, but in some areas, emotions are running high.

Guy Raz is in the settlement of Neveh Dekalim, where protesters have been clashing with police.

Guy, what's been happening?

GUY RAZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Zain, tension is certainly palpable here in Neveh Dekalim, and really throughout all of the Gaza settlements, with just five hours ago before the formal period of evacuation is set to begin.

Now, throughout the day, demonstrators clashed with police here in this settlement. A preview, perhaps, of what we can expect to see in the coming days.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RAZ (voice over): At first light, the gate came crashing down. Police moved into Neveh Dekalim settlement to take control.

POLICE COMMANDER ELI LEVY, NEVEH DEKALIM, GAZA: They're going to do the mission. We can't fail. We must do the mission.

RAZ: Several dozen protesters gathered at the settlement's gate, praying for redemption from an evacuation they call a catastrophe. But prayer, at least on this day, is no match for police.

(on camera): The moving vehicles are now starting to come through. Any attempts to obstruct them are being easily dealt with by police. By the end of this day, the army estimates some 60 percent of the residents of this settlement will be gone.

(voice over): Senior army officers are now inside this settlement, conferring with police, making final preparations. Brigadier General Gershon Ha-Cohen says the process won't take very long.

BRIG. GEN. GERSHON HA-COHEN, NEVEH DEKALIM, GAZA: From this midnight we will begin. We still didn't decide which settlement first. We'll make our (INAUDIBLE) situation according to the result of these two days.

RAZ: The first to be removed likely these young demonstrators. A few of them residents of these settlements, many are waging psychological war on police.

"Here in this country, your country," this woman shouts at police, "are you proud? Will you be produced in the future?"

Elsewhere in this settlement, things are strangely normal: kids swimming, people wandering the streets like any other day. Resident Yael Fogel just watches life pass by from her porch.

YAEL FOGEL, NEVEH DEKALIM RESIDENT: We're not packing. We are not leaving. We believe in staying here.

RAZ: But the Israeli government has other plans.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RAZ: Zain, elsewhere in the Gaza settlements, at least three settlements have been completely evacuated. And many others are beginning to thin out. On the West Bank, two settlements have been completely shut down.

Now, the formal period of evacuation, as we say -- as we've said, begins at midnight tonight. But we don't expect to see Israeli soldiers beginning the process of forcibly evicting the remaining settlers until some time tomorrow morning -- Zain.

VERJEE: Guy, what happens to the homes left behind?

RAZ: Well, essentially, after the process of evacuation is complete, the Israeli army will take over all of the Gaza settlements and they'll begin to demolish all of the remaining homes in the settlements. Now, ultimately, this was an agreement that was brokered by the World Bank, an agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The Palestinian Authority will be taking over the bulk of this land. And the authority essentially saying the houses here in the Gush Katif settlements are impractical for the large number of Palestinians. So, ultimately, they hope to construct high-rise buildings along the Mediterranean Sea coast to house many Palestinians who are expected to be moved into this area once the evacuation is completed -- Zain.

VERJEE: And Guy, how many non-residents are there in Neveh Dekalim that are in support of the settlers?

RAZ: Well, it's impossible of course to estimate, but police and army estimates put the number at about 5,000 to 6,000 people who have managed to infiltrate into these settlements. And many of them are young people.

In a sense, it's kind of a religious nationalist rite of passage. You can go to the town square here in Neveh Dekalim, which in some ways has become the capital of the settlement movement, and you can see many young people hanging out throughout the night. But the army says it's prepared for any eventualities. For every individual who chooses to remain in the settlements, four soldiers will be sent in to evacuate that single person -- Zain.

VERJEE: CNN's Guy Raz reporting.

Thanks, Guy -- Jim.

CLANCY: Well, meantime, armed Palestinian militants rallied near the settlement there where Guy was reporting from. They were celebrating this pullout. Hamas and other militant groups view the withdrawal as a victory for their violent resistance.

Ben Wedeman is in nearby Khan Yunis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Palestinians are watching very closely as the evacuation of Jewish settlers in Gaza precedes this morning in Khan Yunis. We saw hundreds of militants from the armed Palestinian Islamic faction of Hamas. They had AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades, and were boasting that the Israelis are leaving because of what they called their armed resistance.

Meanwhile, also today, the Palestinian prime minister, Ahmed Qurei, announced that the Jewish settlements, once they revert to Palestinian control, will be renamed with Palestinian names. Also, a 10-man committee has been formed to include all Palestinian factions, including the Palestinian Authority, to oversee how the lands that will soon be belonging to the Palestinians will be divided up, will be used. Many Palestinians are afraid that individuals and groups who in the past have proven to be rather corrupt will use those lands not for the public good, but for private profit.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Khan Yunis in Gaza.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: Iraqi leaders say they are confident they'll overcome differences over key issues and finish the new constitution by next week. The country's National Assembly voted on Monday to give negotiators until August the 22nd to iron out unresolved differences on key parts of the charter. They're wrangling over distribution of oil wells, federalism, the role of Islam in Iraqi law, and women's rights.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq is downplaying the delay. Zalmay Khalilzad says it's a disappointment but not a significant setback.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: Iraq needs a constitution that all sides can agree upon, that all Iraqis support, and that bridges differences for the good of the Iraqi nation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERJEE: Once the agreement and a constitution is reached, Iraqis will vote in October to either accept or reject the charter.

CLANCY: Well, coming up after a short break, we're going to check on some of the news from the U.S.

VERJEE: And then, more on Israel's pullout in Gaza. We're going to hear from a spokesman at the U.S. State Department to get the American perspective.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VERJEE: Welcome back. You're watching an hour of world news here on CNN International.

With just hours to go, hundreds of Jewish settler families have voluntarily left Gaza. But some settlers are vowing to stay until the bitter end. The Bush administration supports the withdrawal process and says it will reenergize the roadmap for peace.

A little more on that perspective. We're joined now from Washington by Adam Ereli, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department.

Thanks for being with us.

ADAM ERELI, SPOKESMAN, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: Thank you.

VERJEE: Is the U.S. counting on the Gaza withdrawal to kick- start negotiations?

ERELI: This -- this move, this courageous move by the Israelis, coordinated closely with the Palestinian Authority, really is an important step forward in realizing President Bush's vision of two states, Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace and security, because what it provides is for the Palestinian Authority to take control over territory and show itself to be a responsible governing authority. And that really is something that we've needed, we've waited to see. And the time is now.

So we're really looking forward to this. We really think it's going to -- it's going to be a critical step forward in achieving a two-state solution.

VERJEE: A "New York Times" editorial commenting on the withdrawal said this: "The belief appears that by giving President Bush Gaza, Israel will have bought itself at least a lack of American pressure so that it can remain in the West Bank."

Has the U.S. made it clear to Ariel Sharon that it expects this to be Gaza first, not Gaza last?

ERELI: Well, this is a process that the Israelis and Palestinians are working on together. And as I said in answer to the first question, we all have the same goal, which is two states, side by side, in peace and security.

And let's not forget, the roadmap is still there. It still serves as the basis for dealing with the very difficult but very necessary final status issues.

So the way we see it, and I think the way we're working it with the Israelis and Palestinians is, let's build on this step. Let's build on the Gaza withdrawal. Let's get the Palestinian Authority in there, acting like a -- like a -- like a real responsible government...

VERJEE: Right.

ERELI: ... and then use that to move ahead to the larger issues that define the roadmap, which both sides have committed to, by the way, and which remains -- which remains the basis for moving forward.

VERJEE: OK. Israel is asking for an extra $2 billion from the United States to help pay for the withdrawal. Is the U.S. going to give it?

ERELI: The U.S. has obviously discussed with Israel its needs. Quartet special envoy James Wolfensohn has been out to the region, has looked at the needs in the Palestinian -- in the Palestinian areas. It was a subject that was discussed at the G8 summit in Gleneagles.

Obviously, there are going to be implications, economic, financial, assistance implications of this move...

VERJEE: OK. ERELI: ... and we're going to look at it. And I think base our assessments after this step, this first step is accomplished.

VERJEE: OK. Are you also going to base your assessments on whether settlements continue to be built in the West Bank by Israel? That's not part of the roadmap.

ERELI: Well, settlements -- the issue of settlements is something that has been discussed between Israel and the United States. It's part of the -- it's part of the commitments that both sides have spoken to. And those commitments, in our view, remain -- remain valid, remain enforced.

VERJEE: Hamas is on a list of terror groups in the U.S., but it appears that the group is quite well positioned to do strongly in legislative elections that are coming up. Does that worry the State Department?

ERELI: The State Department and I think the United States government, obviously, is concerned that there be any group that advocates violence as a solution to political problems. And the point that we make to all the parties, and particularly to the Palestinian Authority, is, if you want to help the Palestinian people, then you have to foreswear violence, that terror is not a solution, and that anybody who advocates terror, any group, any individual, needs to be dealt with, and needs to be dealt with clearly and severely.

VERJEE: From Washington, Adam Ereli, the deputy spokesman for the U.S. State Department.

Thank you so much for joining us.

ERELI: Thank you.

CLANCY: All right. Interesting views coming in there from the State Department on the pullout now under way. But for a moment, let's check some of the stories that are making news in the U.S.

Emotions over the U.S. role in Iraq have been running high in Crawford, Texas. Late on Monday, somebody with a pickup truck tore down rows and rows of white crosses that had been set up along the road near President Bush's ranch.

The crosses have the names of fallen U.S. soldiers on them. They were planted by supporters of Cindy Sheehan.

Sheehan, of course, lost her son in Iraq. She's been outside the Bush ranch for 10 days. She's demanding a meeting with the president.

A federal judge in the U.S. state of North Carolina has ruled that a wrongful death suit involving the killing of four contract workers in Iraq should be heard. The killings in Falluja in March of 2004 captured worldwide attention. The contractors' bodies were dragged through the streets. Two of the bodies then hung from a bridge outside Falluja. The suit is being brought against Blackwater Security Consulting. The charges, the workers were sent to Falluja without the proper equipment.

VERJEE: Well, our report from the business world is coming up next.

CLANCY: We're going to have the latest from the markets, and the story of a big buyout in the British telecom industry. We'll tell you about that billion-dollar deal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VERJEE: Time to check on what's moving the markets in the U.S. For that, over to New York and to Valerie Morris.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

CLANCY: Well, we're going to have a roundup of the main stories coming up in just a moment.

VERJEE: And also, we'll bring you a live report on a plane crash in Venezuela that killed 160 people.

CLANCY: Plus, we'll be talking with the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations about the pullout from Gaza.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VERJEE: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International. I'm Zain Verjee.

CLANCY: And I'm Jim Clancy.

Zain, let's check some of the top stories that we're following this hour.

A Colombian jetliner with 160 people on board crashed in a remote area of Venezuela Tuesday morning. The West Caribbean Airlines charter flight was traveling from Panama to Martinique. Aviation officials say -- in Venezuela say the pilot reported having engine trouble shortly before the plane went down. Officials fear there are no survivors.

VERJEE: The Spanish government is investigating a helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed 17 Spanish troops. The helicopter went down near the Spanish military base at Herat. Spanish authorities say they're not ruling out any cause, including hostile action.

CLANCY: With a midnight evacuation deadline now just hours away, Israeli police clashed with protesters at hard-line Jewish settlements in Gaza. Settlers who refused to leave will be evicted by Israeli troops. That's the warning.

The Israeli military says that the settlement of Dugit in northern Gaza has been fully evacuated. Some 70 people lived in that settlement, but most of them were secular Jews.

CLANCY: ... in northern Gaza has been fully evacuated. Some 70 people lived in that settlement, but most of them were secular Jews. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations says he hopes the Gaza pullout is going to change the way that the world views his country.

Dan Gillerman says the United Nations should acknowledge the dramatic and historic steps and stop, what he calls, Israel bashing.

Ambassador Gillerman joins us now from the United Nations.

Is that a little bit too much to hope for down in the neighborhood where you live and work?

DAN GILLERMAN, ISRAEL AMB. TO U.N.: Well, you know, the only way you can survive in the very tough neighborhood where I come from, and the one I work at at the moment, is to be optimistic and even a bit romantic. So I am cautiously optimistic, and I do think it is time for the United Nations and the international community to acknowledge the very brave and historic steps Israel are taking -- is taking, and to show its support not only in words, but in deeds, and this stop this litany of Israeli bashing, and anti-Israeli resolutions, and outdated mechanisms at the U.N., and have the U.N., for a change, reflect the changes, the very dramatic changes, in the world we live in.

CLANCY: Hasn't the war on terror, hasn't the situation since 9/11 changed quite a bit, though, with people more realistically looking at, yes, there's a threat, yes, there needs to be justice in the Middle East, or at least a settlement in the Middle East, but at the same time understanding that terror is now affecting just about everybody around the globe?

GILLERMAN: Well, I think that's a very valid point, Jim, and thank you for raising it. I think, indeed, that since 9/11, which was a watershed moment in world history, and even after the war in Iraq, the world is much more resolute in its determination to fight terrorism, and has made the distinction between those who fight terror and those who are terrorists.

In fact, I think we no longer live in a world of rich and poor or south and north, but rather in a world which is either against terror or for it. In that equation, Israel has always been on the right side, has been at the forefront of fighting terrorism. And I think that the United Nations, too, has acknowledged that. And we do see a change, especially in style and atmosphere, which I hope will be translated also into substance.

CLANCY: I had a chance to talk to Dennis Ross, the former lead negotiator on Oslo. Not all Israelis support that by any stretch of the imagination. But Dennis Ross pointed out that in this pullout from Gaza, perhaps the real test is going to come next week, next month, when we see whether or not the Palestinians can govern themselves; will there be chaos, or will there be law and order? Do you agree?

GILLERMAN: Well, I have to agree with Dennis. He's a good friend and a very wise man, and probably one of the greatest experts in our region, very experienced, and I do; I totally agree. I think the onus is now on the Palestinians. Israel has taken, under the very brave and courageous leadership of Prime Minister Sharon, a decision and an initiative, of historic proportions, painful, heart wrenching, risking tearing our nations apart, but proving what a great democracy we are, and how we observe and carry out the rule of law.

Now it is up to the Palestinians to prove that they are indeed a partner, that they relinquish terror, not only in words. Some of the right words have been said by Mahmoud Abbas. They've actually talked the talk. It is now time for them to walk the walk. They have to arrest the terrorists, confiscate the weapons, dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism, and seriously embark on a process series of negotiations, which I believe following this very historic step taking by Israel would enable both sides to negotiate in good faith and to reach a settlement based on the road map, which I hope will be restarted and reinvigorated following this very bold step by our government.

CLANCY: Mr. Ambassador, all of that sounds great. And you know, if things go well, hopefully you'll get to that end. At the same time, you've got the words of the prime minister's own top adviser, Dov Weisglass, saying all of this pullout is designed as a unilateral step to take negotiations off the table, to dictate to Palestinians what they will get, and there's a lot of concern that it's Gaza last, not Gaza first.

GILLERMAN: Well, I have a lot of respect for Mr. Weisglass, but I do believe he said that a long time ago. I think everybody today realizes that Israel has taken this step unilaterally only for one reason, and that is because it had no partner and it had no choice. If the Palestinians prove to be worthy partners, I assure you they will find that Prime Minister Sharon and his government, who already are taking very bold steps, a very willing partner to go with them, side by side, and go a very long way and make very painful concessions in order to reach real peace. I believe that everybody in Israel supports the two-state solution as outlined in President Bush's historic speech on the 24th of June 2002, and if the Palestinians indeed prove to be worthy partners, if they don't miss this opportunity.

You know, one of the things that the Palestinians have been doing over time is never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. This is a now-or-never opportunity, and I hope that both sides seize the moment and create a situation where we can live in peace, security and prosperity in that very tough neighborhood of ours.

CLANCY: All right. Ambassador Dan Gillerman from Israel, there at the United Nations, I want to thank you very much for joining us here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GILLERMAN: Thank you very much, Jim. Thank you very much.

CLANCY: Zain?

VERJEE: Jim, returning now to our top story, the deadliest plane crash in Venezuela's history. All 160 people onboard the Colombian jet are said to have been killed.

Karl Penhaul is following developments from Bogota, and he joins us now.

Karl, what are you hearing about what's happening on the ground at the crash site?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Venezuelan aviation officials have told me in the last few moments, there are now in excess of 150 people, including police, Venezuelan National Guards and Venezuelan firefighters on the ground there, searching the wreckage site of the area where this McDonnell Douglas MD-82 aircraft went down about 3:00 a.m. local time.

Now the crash site is a difficult location, It's rugged terrain, about 20 miles across the border, inside Venezuela, across the border from Colombia, mountainous forested terrain, all at the same time, so that has been causing some difficulties. As far as the circumstances of the crash, Venezuelan aviation officials have told me, Zain, is that the pilot reported to a control tower in Karkas (ph) at about 3:00 a.m. that one of the aircraft's engines had failed, and it had developed problems with the second engine. Moments after that, all radio contact was lost, and at that point, the aircraft the plummeted to the ground from an altitude of about 33,000 feet -- Zain.

VERJEE: Karl, how large an area is the wreckage strewn over?

PENHAUL: From what we understand from rescuers, it is strewn over about one square kilometer at least. That judging by both the speed and the altitude that the aircraft came from. So it is a large crash site. That's to say in difficult terrain, so it could take some time.

But what Venezuelan authorities are saying right now is that there is definitely no survivors. As you say, according to the airline itself, West Caribbean Airways, there were 152 passengers onboard and eight crew member -- Zain.

VERJEE: And the aircraft itself, Karl, what can you tell us about its safety record?

PENHAUL: Well, it's a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 craft that West Caribbean Airways operations, McDonnell Douglas'. This particular flight was a charter flight, running between Panama and Martinique, taking home tourists back to the island of Martinique. What the airline has told us, though, is that back in July, the aircraft was grounded for four days. That on the orders of the manufacturer, so that an anti-noise device could be fitted to the aircraft. But the spokeswoman for the airlines says that was not related to any other engine problems or technical problems with the mechanics of the aircraft -- Zain.

VERJEE: Thanks, Karl.

CLANCY: Still to come here on YOUR WORLD TODAY, Americans steaming over a lot of different issues. We're going to tell you what is upsetting them?

VERJEE: And then also ahead, Japan's reeling after being jolted by a powerful earthquake. We'll bring you a report from Tokyo.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Welcome back, everyone.

You're watching YOUR WORLD TODAY. that's an hour of world news here on CNN International.

Well, new Gallup polls show there's a greater degree of frustration among the American public. What are they upset about? Let's find out and go to a survey that was done by the Gallup Poll editor-in-chief.

Frank Newport joins us now.

So what's got everybody hot under the collar?

FRANK NEWPORT, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, GALLUP POLL: Well, it's a variety of things, Jim.

Although, I think our analysis of the data suggests that there is Iraq, foreign policy issues, and on the other hand, the domestic U.S. economy.

Let's look at the results.

This question is one Gallup has been asking since, believe it or not, World War II off and on: What's the most important problem facing the nation today?

And here is what Americans told us just a few days ago. Twenty seven percent said it is the situation in Iraq. Number one problem. Below that, the economy, terrorism, more economic mentions down here, unemployment and jobs, and then of course, energy prices. Price of gasoline in the United States now at $2.50 and continuing to go up.

All of that, as you say, Jim, resulting in a situation where Americans just aren't that happy with the way things are going in the U.S.

Are you satisfied or not?

The bottom line is the percent who are satisfied. Not a lot of change most recent poll. Only 37 percent satisfied. That means six out of 10 Americans at this point, Jim, dissatisfied with the way things are going.

CLANCY: Well, let's focus for a moment on Iraq, that number one issue.

The protests outside President Bush's ranch in Texas seemed to have struck a nerve with a lot of people. You go on the Internet and read the blogs, you'll see it.

Should the administration be worried about a growing resentment here?

NEWPORT: Well, of course, I'm sure the administration is concerned about domestic public opinion on Iraq.

We now have a situation where over half -- 54 percent of Americans say it was a mistake to have been involved in Iraq. That's not new. We had about that same number last summer. So it's no tremendous upsurge, but it is high.

Politically speaking, however, you ask about the president -- Republicans are staying fairly loyal. Seventy six percent not a mistake. In the middle, independents break even. And then Democrats, of course, on the other hand overwhelmingly say it was a mistake.

This is part of the reaction we get to something like the mother who was down there at Crawford, Texas, near the Bush ranch.

Democrats strongly opposed to the war. Republicans at this point staying firmly behind the administration.

CLANCY: All right.

Now, we're still seeing signs of positive economic growth except when it comes to consumer sentiment. Are people just not ready to believe the official economic numbers or do they believe the numbers they see at gas pumps these days?

NEWPORT: Well, I think the latter is a big part of it.

Americans can hear all they want about manufacturing numbers going up, Jim, or the GNP, the gross national product being up.

But when you pay all that money at the pump, as I showed you a few moments ago, it sticks in people's minds.

This question says, Are economic conditions getting better or worse in the U.S.?

Americans continue to say that things are getting worse, not better. Now, it's down a little -- you see on the right there.

But still, over half of Americans say the economy is getting worse. All of this is related to satisfaction. Americans who are satisfied with the way things are going very likely to say the economy is booming. On the right hand side, those are Americans who are dissatisfied, very negative on the economy all in all -- Jim? CLANCY: It's a matter of how you look at it.

Frank Newport giving us a closer look.

Thank you, Frank.

VERJEE: Let's take a look now at some of the other stories making news in the United States.

A U.S. Army reservist accused of mistreating two prisoners in Afghanistan who later died is on trial. Lawyers for Willie Brown (ph) said he wasn't prepared to handle detainees and was simply following the direction of senior soldiers, but Army prosecutors dispute that claim. Brown is being tried on charges that he repeatedly struck two prisoners at the detention center in Bagram in December of 2002.

A Muslim cleric has been ordered to leave the country after his arrest on immigration charges. Shabbir Ahmed, the head of a mosque in Lodi, California, was arrested in June for overstaying his visa. An FBI agent testified last week that Ahmed was working as an agent for Osama bin Laden. Ahmed denied any connection to terrorism at a hearing on Monday. He agreed to be deported to his home country, Pakistan.

Some airlines are keeping babies off planes. Their names match those or are similar to possible terrorists on a government no-fly list. Two Washington area couples say they weren't allowed to board with their children. One of the infants was one, the other was 11 months.

The Transportation Security Administration says it tells airlines not to deny boarding children under 12, but it appears some do it anyway.

Well, clean-up efforts are under way in Japan after a powerful earthquake rocked the country Tuesday morning.

Atika Shubert is there. She reports the quake shook skyscrapers as far away as the capital.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even for an earthquake-prone country like Japan, this was a big one -- a 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the northeastern coast of Honshu Island.

Still, damage was minimal. Most of the injured were at this sports complex in Sendai, the city closest to the epicenter. A ceiling collapsed over an indoor swimming pool, injuring at least 20 people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): It was a very big quake. Many women shouted and ran away from the swimming pool, and there were many people following them. SHUBERT: More than 100 homes reported minor damages, but only one wooden house outside of Tokyo also collapsed during the earthquake.

The tremor cut off electricity to thousands of homes. Japan's high-speed bullet train system was temporarily halted as a precaution. A nuclear power plant also automatically shut down as part of its emergency measures, resuming operations once it had been checked for damages.

This earthquake had the same magnitude as the massive Kobe earthquake that killed thousands a decade ago. This time it seems the country escaped relatively unharmed.

Atika Shubert, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

VERJEE: What's one of the top jobs a chef can have? Well, that would be a gig at the White House, cooking for leaders from around the world. At 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, there's a new chef in charge, and she's the first woman to head up that esteemed kitchen.

Bruce Morton has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (voice-over): When Laura Bush said of her husband, I would really like for him to name another woman, she was talking about the Supreme Court vacancy and he didn't. He nominated John Roberts.

But when she got to make the choice, she did. The new chef is the first woman, Cristeta Comerford and the first ethnic minority, a naturalized citizen who came here from the Philippines. She'll be in charge of this place, five employees, up to maybe 25 for big state dinners and such.

These pictures show them getting ready for the egg roll, no pun intended. But one of the Filipino national dishes she may want to try on the Bushes is lumpias, a kind of Asian egg roll, shrimp or chicken with vegetables in a wrap, sometimes served with sweet potatoes.

Well, maybe not. She'll show off at big state dinners, but she'll also cook supper for the first folks. Mrs. Bush, they say, likes Mexican food; enchiladas, maybe a mole. The president's favorite, White House staffers say, is cheeseburgers. No problem cooking those for the family, but if the president ever decides that's he wants that at the big state dinner, well, she may have a problem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: As many as 2,000 guests are fed at the White House each other. CLANCY: Wow, there you go. She's got quite a job ahead of her.

We've got more ahead of us.

Must see television in Argentina.

VERJEE: In supports, some legends make the move from the football field to the TV studio. We'll tell you about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Welcome back, everyone. Before we go, we want to share this story with you. Some stars of the football field have been teaming up in a new arena.

VERJEE: Something they're not entirely used to, but what they're doing is they're getting together on television in Argentina.

CLANCY: And our Carolina Cayazzo tells us about the new spotlight that's shining on sports legends there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CAROLINA CAYAZZO, CNN BUENOS AIRES BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): This time, the stage was a television studio, not a soccer field. Nonetheless, Diego Maradona was the star. The first episode of his program Maradona together with another legend, Pele.

FERNANDO FERNANDEZ, TV RECORD FROM BRAZIL (through translator): This is a historical event. It was not possible to have them together in a soccer. And now, in a game of haida (ph), everybody wants to know what they, Maradona and Pele, will say to each other.

CAYAZZO: It's fantastic, says Fernandez.

They talked about life, soccer, and drugs, that for many years dominated Maradona's life and now are touched Pele's. His son was detained for trafficking. Also on the show, soccer player Gabriel Batistuta and former tennis player Gabriela Sabatini.

And the end of this edition, Maradona was a happy man.

DIEGO MARADONA, FORMER SOCCER PLAYER (through translator): We will try to do all of the programs with a lot of rhythm and try to give the people what they want to see. I would like to interview President Kirchner...

CAYAZZO: ... says Maradona. 250 local and foreign reporters watched the program in a tent outside the studio.

EMILLIANO GUANELLA, SWITZERLAND TV: Maradona is not -- today's not only our football (INAUDIBLE), really showman. And this is a show for Maradona, because they are one (INAUDIBLE) -- we look Maradona and Pele together.

CAYAZZO (on camera): Maradona shined for many years on the soccer field. He's now betting that his program, "The Night of the Ten," will be a star for the Argentinian television for the next thirteen Mondays. He also wants to prove to his fans and himself that no matter what, he always comes back.

Carolina Cayazzo, CNN, Buenos Aires.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VERJEE: This is YOUR WORLD TODAY on CNN International. I'm Zain Verjee.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. Thanks for spending a part of your day with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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