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Your World Today
President Bush in Baghdad; Israel Unleashes Lethal Response to Barrage of Palestinian Rocket Attacks; World Cup 2006
Aired June 13, 2006 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The future of your country is in your hands.
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JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The president an unexpected visitor. President Bush talking up Iraq's efforts to take control during a surprise visit to Baghdad.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Bloodshed in Gaza. Israel unleashes a lethal response to a barrage of Palestinian rocket attacks.
CLANCY: And blame game in Britain. Two brothers accuse police of brutality in a botched raid.
GORANI: And bring on Brazil. Fans await the World Cup defending champs with bated breath.
CLANCY: It is 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad, 6:00 p.m. right now in Berlin, Germany.
I'm Jim Clancy.
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani.
Welcome to our viewers throughout the world and the United States.
This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
Well, we have a lot to get through this hour.
New efforts in Iraq to bring that country under control, starting with the president of the United States.
CLANCY: That's right. George W. Bush suddenly and surprisingly appeared in Baghdad a few hours ago to hold talks with the Iraqi prime minister.
GORANI: This as chaos grows nearby with fighting among Palestinians, as well as between Palestinians and Israelis.
CLANCY: Now, we're going to have full coverage on all of these developments for you, but we're going to begin with President Bush's surprise visit in Baghdad, as the city is gearing up for a massive security crackdown to try to put an end to the violence there.
Let's go straight to Baghdad and our own John Vause -- John.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jim, the president will be in the Iraqi capital for about an hour left before he leaves heading back to Washington. He's been here for just over four hours now.
He touched down at 4:08 local time at Baghdad International Airport. Air Force One landing on a runway far away from the main terminal at Baghdad International Airport.
The president was flown by military helicopter from the airport to the fortified Green Zone, a journey just over six minutes, for a surprise one-on-one meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, who was only told five minutes before that he would be meeting face to face with the U.S. president. During this meeting, George Bush told the Iraqi prime minister that when America gives its word, America keeps its word.
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BUSH: I have expressed our country's desire to work with you, but I appreciate you recognize the fact that the future of your country is in your hands. The decisions you and your cabinet make will be determined as to whether or not a country succeeds that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.
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VAUSE: Now, the prime minister told the U.S. president that his government is determined to succeed. He said, "We have to beat the terrorists. We have to defeat the hardships. We have to succeed. God willing, all the suffering will be over and the troops will be able to return home." He added, "With our gratitude."
And that is what this is primarily about, when will the U.S. troops be able to leave, when will this Iraqi government be able to take security back into its own hands? We're seeing some of that play out already. Heavy security around the Iraqi capital for the visit by the -- by the president here, but also to take back Baghdad.
We're told in about 10 hours from now 70,000 Iraqi troops, police commandos, as well as Iraqi soldiers, will be on the streets of the capital sweeping through the city, cracking down on the insurgents, as well as the militias. This will be the largest operation in Baghdad since the U.S. handed sovereignty back to the Iraqis two years ago -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. CNN's John Vause reporting to us there live from Baghdad.
Thanks, John -- Hala.
GORANI: Well, we have a rare treat. Our Aneesh Raman joins us now with has insight on the president's visit and the security crackdown in Baghdad.
Nice to see you in person, Aneesh.
The president there clearly capitalizing on a key week.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he was. If they planned this before, they couldn't have had better luck in terms of when this came. With the death of Zarqawi, the final formulation of the government, it is perhaps the last big chance for momentum that this government and the U.S. government will have to turn things around in Iraq.
You see that image there, and that speaks volumes. That is why President Bush went there, taking extraordinary risk in order to show not just that he's standing by the Iraqi government, but in some ways put a punctuation mark on all that has happened. Without those big landmarks, it's now up to the Iraqis.
GORANI: Because he says America keeps its word, we stand by you. But also, he told the Iraqi prime minister, "The future of your country is in your hands."
RAMAN: Which is a difficult thing to know how it will play out in terms of implications on the ground. Iraq's success is forever linked with the U.S. policy that brought about the change in governance, and President Bush is aware of that. But he's also aware of growing discontent in the U.S. for how long U.S. troops have been there, is aware of poll numbers, and is clearly trying to show that it really is up to the Iraqis now.
Whether the Iraqi government, the new government, with who was an accidental prime minister, Malaki, can capitalize on it, is what we'll have to see.
GORANI: Is this setting the stage for a gradual troop withdrawal? Is this the kind of thing that the U.S. president should do in order to appeal not only domestically to his constituency, but also to Iraqis? You spent a lot of time there.
RAMAN: Yes. I mean, Iraqis, when you speak to them, want nothing more than security. They, of course, want the Americans to be invisible. By and large, they don't want them there, but they know that, by and large, American troops are what is keeping things together.
So the difficulty going forward is to not withdraw troops too early. It could be catastrophic in certain areas of the country to do so too early and to lead to then instability that will be even more difficult to get under control.
And so while there is this core saying bring troops back, there will be an equally powerful chorus if you bring them back too early, saying it was too early.
GORANI: Quick last question. With regard to ordinary Iraqis, when there is a high-profile U.S. visit like this, how do they react to that? Does it help their leadership in the eyes of the Iraqis or does it hurt them?
RAMAN: If it had to be one or the other, at some level I think it hurts. It gives the sense that Maliki is still being propped up by a U.S. government, by President Bush, who arrives without telling Maliki until five minutes before that he will be meeting with the U.S. president.
It does, as well, though, I think, play to the Americans at home. Iraqis just want security. It can't be said more simply or more powerfully. What they want is a life.
The war that we follow, the process to democracy that we watch is their everyday life. The images of violence is what they live. And so what they want is whatever will get them to that spot, whether it's Maliki, or whether it's a visit from Bush. Whatever it takes, they want it now.
GORANI: That's the priority. And what happens next, happens next.
RAMAN: Yes.
GORANI: Aneesh Raman, thanks so much.
Meanwhile, it's the last day for the defense to present witnesses in Saddam Hussein's trial. The chief judge says it is up to attorneys to decide whether they want to fill the time with witnesses or just spend the session arguing with the court.
Hussein's half-brother is absent from the day's proceedings. The judge barred Barzan Hassan after he disrupted the trial on Monday. Hussein, Hassan and six other co-defendants are on trial for crimes against humanity -- Jim.
CLANCY: Well, now to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the most lethal Israeli attack in Gaza in years.
Fionnuala Sweeney has details from Jerusalem now. She joins us live -- Fionnuala.
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jim, some 11 people died when an Israeli missile struck a vehicle which Israel says was carrying Katyusha rockets. Now, of the 11 people who we know died, two, indeed, were members of Islamic Jihad, two were children, and some were ambulance workers who rushed to the scene, where eyewitnesses say there was a second explosion.
The Israeli army also reporting that Katyusha rockets were seen being taken out, or at least one was being seen taken out of the vehicle. But it was an extremely bloody day in Gaza, because not only were 11 people killed, but also some 32 injured. And the hospital at Shefa struggling to cope with the number of injuries.
Israel, of course, has been escalating, along with the Palestinians, the tit-for-tat barrage of rocket and artillery fire over the last number of weeks. Kassam rockets continuing to be fired from northern Gaza into southern Israel, and the Israeli military responding when and how they see fit if they believe that an attack is about to be launched -- Jim.
CLANCY: Let's go back now to the attack on Friday, the attack that wiped out a Gaza family on the beach. Israel coming out with a report in the coming hours, a report that will say this was a Palestinian landmine. Palestinians already rejecting it.
Who are we to believe?
SWEENEY: Well, I think that at the end of day, no matter who says what, some people will have their view and they will hold to it.
As you'll recall, Jim, what happened last Friday on a Gaza beach was that a shell exploded. Now, whether that shell was fired or was in the beach already is a matter of contention.
Seven members of one family were killed. And the video of that, of course, was shown around the world, relayed the emotions of 11- year-old Hula Gayla (ph) as she mourned the loss of her father on the beach while they were having a picnic.
Now, within the next hour it will be released by the Israeli military a report we're expecting which will say that the chances that an Israeli shell from a gun ship or anything else hit the beach and at that moment are "almost nil." But already this has been condemned by Hamas, who say that this is a war crime, and also Human Rights Watch, which about an hour ago held a news conference in Gaza saying that as far as they're concerned, their findings are consistent with the fact that they believe a 155-millimeter artillery shell was used and that is like the type used by the Israeli military.
Human Rights Watch are pretty much differing with the Israeli military account of what happened on almost every single point. So, what we do know is that they are differing on everything, but, of course, the consequences of what happened that was seven people died. Hamas called off its cease-fire -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. The reality of the situation there something we're very familiar with, the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. But today people also looking on with concern about growing (INAUDIBLE) warfare among Palestinian to Palestinian.
SWEENEY: Indeed. Last night we saw violence which we've seen on the streets of Gaza for a number of weeks now between Fatah and Hamas. Hamas, of course, being the government at the moment, the government of the day, having won an overwhelming victory in January. President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority is from the Fatah party. Fatah, which had often held the power here, had been the ruling party here for years, reluctant to give up power manifested particularly in the security forces in Gaza.
What we saw last night was two people were killed in the clashes, 15 wounded in the Gaza, while the political stalemate continues between both sides. And for the first time we saw a slight departure. There was violence in the West Bank. A parliament building was set on fire by Fatah supporters. One reported as saying whatever you do to us in Gaza we will do 10 times to you in the West Bank.
Ominous signs, indeed. A state of alert was declared by President Abbas. He said that any of his security forces were to apprehend on sight any Hamas militia that they might see on the streets. But I think the news today has been dominated by this report we're expecting to hear from the Israeli military about what happened in Gaza and, of course, also this strike in Gaza earlier today which killed 11 people -- Jim.
CLANCY: All right. Fionnuala Sweeney reporting to us there live from Jerusalem.
Thank you.
GORANI: In the United States, ending months of speculation in the corridors of power in Washington, one of President Bush's most trusted advisers has been told he will not face criminal charges over a leak in a case that has gripped Washington. White House senior adviser Karl Rove is reportedly elated and relieved that he will not be charged in the investigation into the case of Valerie Plame, a CIA operative whose name was leaked to reporters.
Her husband, former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, shown here, has strongly criticized the U.S. government over the war in Iraq. Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald is probing whether senior administration officials intentionally leaked Plame's identity in retaliation for his criticism.
CLANCY: All right. We're just getting started here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.
Just ahead, we're going to have World Cup action.
GORANI: South Koreans are celebrating. You can guess why, right? The team won a come-from-behind victory over Togo in their group, G, opener. A live update from Berlin in the match going on now and the highly-anticipated match later.
Stay with us.
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GORANI: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY.
World Cup action. It's an action-packed day in Germany. We're going to go straight to Mark McCay, who's standing by with a live report.
And already this morning, Mark McKay, there's been a matchup and a come-from-behind victory. Tell us about it.
MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, another come-from- behind victory. We like it. It certainly makes it exciting, Hala. Nice to see you again from Berlin.
Let's take you straight out to Frankfurt, where the first match of the day was played. It involved one of the newcomers, Togo, against South Korea.
You may remember South Korea co-hosted the tournament last time around. And four years ago the South Koreans went on and won. You see they win 2-1. Let me show you how the South Korean side was able to come back against Togo.
Togo came out and scored the first goal of the match. It came 31 minutes in.
Mohammed Kandar (ph), who plays his club football in the French second division, fires that powerful right-footer from inside the area off far post, and the African players are going to celebrate. It is a unique celebration, indeed. You have to celebrate if you've actually gone out there and scored your first goal.
The celebration, which you'll see a little later, was quite unique. But South Korea was able to come back, level the match, and then they went ahead for a good (INAUDIBLE), scoring the winner.
So, Hala, three points in South Korea's favor. They win 2-1. But a good showing by Togo since they had never been on the stage before.
GORANI: You know, I have tunnel vision, Mark McKay, right now. I'm sitting right here on the set -- and this is a live program -- but the team I support is playing, France against Switzerland. What are the odds for France here?
MCKAY: Yes, I don't think you're alone, Hala, in trying to work and have your attention diverted elsewhere. I think there are a lot of people doing the exact same thing around the world.
Yes, France opening up their campaign against Switzerland. Hala, you know all too well that France wants to forget about the last World Cup altogether.
GORANI: Oh, yes.
MCKAY: And they have a chance to do that this evening against Switzerland. Yes, they went out in the first round last go-round. They're hoping to not do the same this time.
This match currently underway in Stuttgart. And as you can see, 0-0 -- Hala.
GORANI: All right. Not only did they go out, they didn't score a single goal.
Finally, Brazil versus Croatia at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. Highly anticipated, Mark.
MCKAY: 3:00 p.m. Eastern, but here this morning in Berlin, Brazilian fans have been lining up, getting their place in the fan mile right behind me, right behind the Brandenburg Gate. That's where folks who do not have a ticket for tonight's match at Olympic Stadium will gather.
They will be along that mile packed in. It's blazing hot, but do you think the folks who are wearing yellow and green care? No, Hala. They have come here to cheer Brazil as the Brazilians try and begin their campaign for a sixth World Cup title.
How curious that they begin it against Croatia here in Berlin. This is where it all ends on July 9th.
Wouldn't it be interesting, Hala, if it all comes full circle? But as you can see in that picture, a lot of yellow and green, and, of course, a lot of red and white as well. Croatia showing their colors, as well here in Berlin.
GORANI: All right. Two of the great teams. I can't wait to watch that one.
Mark McKay live from Germany.
Thanks very much.
CLANCY: She can't wait to watch that one. She's trying to get the monitor here wired up so she can watch France. A little bit of inside information.
Well, while all of the teams are (INAUDIBLE) doing their best, fans around the world are pitching in with their support, fans like Hala.
GORANI: That's right. We've been asking you to e-mail us at worldcup@CNN.com to show us how you are doing your part. Here's some of the photos you've been sending us.
CLANCY: Now, proving that you can be a serious fan at even 5 years of age, two self-proclaimed die-hards of the Dutch team sent us this picture from the Netherlands. They say -- and this is a quote -- "Please get our father off our backs about the Netherlands Ivory Coast clash. We're Dutch fans, and nothing is going to change it."
Thanks, brothers Mussam (ph) and Mussan (ph) for that photo. Great.
GORANI: And -- are they twins? And from Nuremberg, Shaman (ph) sent us these photos taken after the Mexico versus Iran game on Sunday. That's the -- there you go.
And she writes, "Hello. We are studying abroad in Germany and this was our first-ever World Cup game."
CLANCY: There you are.
No hard feelings. Well, not yet, anyway. But these Croatian and Brazilian fans, well, they're getting in the mood for this upcoming match a little bit later today. They're sitting down alongside each other, and let's hope they keep smiling.
GORANI: There is the Brazil-Croatia.
CLANCY: Yes.
GORANI: It's all fun and games until someone puts one in the back of the net.
CLANCY: That's right.
GORANI: All right.
CLANCY: Well, Brazil is considered to be one of the favorite teams in the cup. No doubt about that. There are other good teams in this tournament, too, though.
GORANI: And that takes us to our inbox "Question of the Day."
What teams do you think have a chance against Brazil and why? E- mail us at YWT@CNN.com.
CLANCY: Now, keep your comments brief. We don't want a whole history of your team. Don't forget to tell us where you're writing from, either.
We'll read some of them out here live on the air a little bit later on YOUR WORLD TODAY.
GORANI: Well, still ahead on the program -- we're going to take a short break, and when we come back...
CLANCY: A legitimate response in a climate of terror, or an abuse of police power? Two young brothers dragged from their beds in a London terror raid tell their side of the story.
That's straight ahead.
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DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. First, though, stories making headlines here in the U.S.
It was a big surprise in Baghdad. President Bush drops in for a quick, unannounced visit after landing in Baghdad just a few hours ago. Mr. Bush met with the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, and members of his cabinet. After that meeting, praise from Mr. Bush for Iraq's new government.
The Iraqi prime minister was given only a five-minute notice of the president's visit. And a short time from now, Mr. Bush is scheduled to meet with American troops.
A key White House aide off the hook. The special prosecutor has told Karl Rove he will not face charges in the CIA leak case. We still don't know if a crime was committed when CIA operative Valerie Plame's name was leaked to the press.
Tropical Storm Alberto has weakened as it approaches landfall. Still, though, poses concerns for several states in its path.
Severe weather expert Chad Myers is in the weather office with the latest.
Chad, hello.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Daryn.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Well, one of the areas that's dealing with coastal flooding is Crystal River, Florida, an area known for its manatees. Today you could do some swimming in your yard. That's where we find reporter Jason Lanning, of our affiliate Bay 9.
Now, Jason, when we talked to Max Mayfield, the director of the hurricane center in Miami, he said you should not be standing in water like that, that there is a danger of electrocution. I'm just passing along that information.
JASON LANNING, REPORTER, BAY NEWS 9: Yes, thankfully no power lines out here right along the immediate area we're in. In fact, all we've got is some businesses and some apartments here.
We've been standing out in the water to illustrate a very good point about why evacuations in the immediate coastal areas are important. We were calling for around a five to seven-foot storm surge from Alberto, and that that is exactly what we saw.
I'm standing on a boat ramp that's normally about two feet out of the water. As you can see, the water comes up just about more than three feet. And if you look over to my right, you can see this two- story apartment building, or small home. That's getting about four to five feet of floodwater in it as we speak right now.
The flooding will get a little bit worse here along the Nature Coast, especially in the next two to three hours. That's when the next high tide will set in. Emergency management officials here...
KAGAN: Jason, I'm going to go ahead and jump in because we have breaking news from Miami. This is pictures of an American Airlines flight. It is a flight that was supposed to be going from San Juan to Orlando, but it's making -- it's making a landing where it's been diverted to, Miami.
We're hearing there's problems with the hydraulics. This is a full flight. It's Flight 478. It has 253 passengers, a full plane.
Fire rescue on hand as it makes what we hope and anticipate will be a safe landing. And we've got two back wheels down and the front wheels. Relief to the 253 people -- or actually, 253 passengers on board. That doesn't include the crew there. Again, this was American Airlines Flight 478, originally scheduled to go from San Juan to Orlando. But reports of a hydraulic problem, so it landed there safely in Miami.
MYERS: That sure was a handful, Daryn. I've been watching this up here for a while now.
That is a handful to land that plane with the full hydraulics out. So either he got a really good handle on it and he's got some really good conditions down there in Miami as well.
I'll check the observations for you here. And we only had winds out of the east there and southeast at about 11 miles per hour.
So I'm glad he wasn't trying to land somewhere up in Tallahassee, or, for that matter, Tampa, with winds gusting to 30 to 40.
KAGAN: We like to bring happy endings.
Chad, thank you.
MYERS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: Stay with CNN for the latest on President Bush's surprise visit to Iraq, his visit with the troops, and, of course, the latest on Tropical Storm Alberto.
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CLANCY: Welcome back. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Jim Clancy.
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani. Here are some of the top stories we're following for you.
In day five of World Cup action, South Korea has beaten Togo, winning its opening match 2-1. The other group, G Match, kicked off at the top of the hour, France taking on Switzerland in Stuttgart. And defending champions Brazil moved to the pitch for the first time in World Cup 2006. They will play Croatia in Berlin at 1900 GMT.
CLANCY: An Israeli air raid in Gaza killed 11 Palestinians, nine of them civilians. Israel says it targeted members of Islamic Jihad who were en route to launch rockets. Also, Israel claiming an explosion that killed civilians on a Gaza Beach was not caused by their artillery fire, but by a Palestinian landmine. Palestinians already denying that claim, insisting it was, indeed, the result of Israeli artillery.
GORANI: U.S. President George W. Bush is winding up a surprise visit to Baghdad to show support for Iraq's new government. The president told Prime Minister Nuri al-Malaki he's impressed with the cabinet he put together. The visit comes a day before Iraq embarks upon a big security operation in Baghdad involving 70,000 police and soldiers, most of them Iraqi. CLANCY: Now we're going to get two points of view, a U.S. view as well as an Iraqi view, on the president's surprise visit and the security crackdown in Baghdad. Joining us from Washington, Victoria Clarke, the former spokeswoman for the U.S. Defense Department, and Mina al Oraibi, joining us from London. She's an Iraqi journalist. Welcome to both of you.
VICTORIA CLARKE, FMR. SPOKESMAN, U.S. DEFENSE DEPT.: Thank you.
CLANCY: Mina, let me begin with you and ask you your impressions today. The government, obviously -- this government needs a show of support from the U.S. president. Did it really accomplish anything?
MINA AL ORAIBI, IRAQI JOURNALIST: Well, I think it was important to show that there is support for this government. And there is a feeling in the American administration and the Iraqi government and even the British government here in London that this could be a turning point after the killing of Zarqawi and the establishment of the new government.
How much the visit on its own will establish? Well, I mean, it's a P.R. stunt, so to speak, just to show that the U.S. is really behind Iraq. I think what will be more important is to see what tomorrow's security plan will be able to accomplish.
CLANCY: Victoria Clarke, it would be easy to say that the president has politics on his mind. I hear his message --some of it, at least -- issued from Baghdad this day, clearly aimed at the U.S. public. But in all fairness, that public support is needed if the president is to keep the pledge. He said if America makes a promise, it keeps it.
CLARKE: Right. I think the message actually is directed at the Iraqi people, as well as the American people. And I've got to tell you, in this day and age in which we all embrace satellite interviews and the Internet, you still can't replace the significance of a face- to-face meeting.
So I think it is wonderful that the president took the time and the effort to get to Iraq and communicate directly with the new government, with the Iraqi people, and say remember, we are going to stick it out as long as it takes to help you get this country up and running, but it is also important for the Iraqis to continue this progress in assuming more control for the national and economic security of their own country. So I think there is more significance than we're giving credit for the face-to-face meeting we're seeing here.
CLANCY: All right, Mina, the significance that you see, in terms of a critical security plan that this prime minister and his associates have put forward, really a make or break it, a first test for this government?
ORAIBI: Absolutely. The situation in Baghdad is the worst that it's gotten for the last three years. You know, kidnappings, killings, wide-scale suicide bombings. So this plan really is going prove whether we are witnessing a turning point after the three years or not. I think it was also important to see President Bush.
I don't think we should completely discredit it, but at the same time, there are reports that Prime Minister Malaki only found out five minutes before President Bush came there. So I think it's important for the American administration and the Iraqi government to realize that in front of the Iraqi people, you have to show that the Iraqis are running more of the show than we see on TV. And so I think it would be important for visits like this to see that the Iraqi government knows a little more about it and also to show that they are in the driving seat here, and this is what we hope the security plan will show.
CLANCY: All right. Looking at that security plan, obviously, the U.S. wants to show that the Iraqis can -- and we heard it from the president while he was in Baghdad there -- that the Iraqis can defend themselves. That's going to be a big part of this security plan. Victoria, when you look at what the U.S. does, what does it do? Does it go full in with all of its forces trying to support the Iraqis or does it stand back and let them do it?
CLARKE: Oh, it's not an either/or situation. And I don't mean to make it sound as simple as the anecdote I'm about to give, but it's like teaching somebody how to ride a bike. You hold them up on the bike, you run alongside of them with one hand on either side, then you hold up with one hand and then you're just holding on with your fingertips. And at a certain point, you let go and they're on their own. But the critical question is knowing when to let go.
But I think we do a disservice by talking -- putting labels on things and saying today is a turning point, or tomorrow will be a defining moment. In something as challenging as the situation in Iraq, it is going to take years to figure out and look back and say what were the true turning points?
CLANCY: Well...
CLARKE: What is important is -- no, I mean that very sincerely.
CLANCY: Yes, Victoria, yes, I mean it, too. I think that the security plan -- I think putting 40 to 70,000 troops on the streets and your security forces on the streets of Baghdad -- what Mina is telling us, this is the worst situation they've ever faced. This is the test of the government. You can't deny that.
CLARKE: I think it's an important test to the government. I'm sure there are other people who will also say, yes, the actual safety and well-being of the Iraqi people is the single greatest concern. I completely understand that. But you also have to focus on the civil side of things. You have to focus on the infrastructure. And I'm saying that because it's important for us to manage expectations of people out there and help them understand this is going to be a very long, very difficult process.
CLANCY: Well, Mina, the Iraqis well understand, by now at least, this is a long and difficult process. Do they see the U.S. at this point as really helping them? ORAIBI: Absolutely. I think it's right that it is a process and there have been other moments where people have spoken about turning points, from the elections, from the referendum and so forth. And I think you are correct in saying that there is going to be a need for the American and coalition troops to help the Iraqis with things like Arab power, logistics, intelligence and so forth. But I think what really needs to be proven is that there is a possibility to get a grip on the situation, that it isn't just simply spiraling out of control, which some people in Baghdad itself really feel is the situation at the moment.
CLANCY: All right. I'm going to ask each of you a final question here. Victoria, what can the Iraqis do? What's the one thing the Iraqis can do to help out the U.S.? And Mina, then we'll ask you what it is that the Americans can do...
ORAIBI: Sure.
CLANCY: ... to help out the Iraqis at this juncture.
CLARKE: Well, I think the Iraqis can continue to do more of what we've seen recently, which is assuming more control and more responsibility for both the civil and the military side of running that country. And I'll tell you something I would like to see more of, and I know they're very busy, but I'd like to see more of the Iraqi leadership in the United States going on CNN, going on other networks and in the newspapers, saying here's what our objectives are, here is how much we appreciate what the United States is doing.
CLANCY: All right, Mina?
ORAIBI: I think there's quite a bit that the Americans can continue to help doing with the Iraqis. I mean, they are doing a lot and it wouldn't be fair to belittle that. But I think the one thing that they really have to do is show that they are in partnership with the Iraqi government and with the Iraqi people, that this isn't being led by the Americans but being put on an equal part.
And, you know, things like protocol where the prime minister has to see President Bush in the American embassy is understandable, due to the security situation, but at the same time, it gives the sort of message where it's -- the prime minister has to go see the president in the embassy itself. So it would be good to just show that the Iraqi government is now a sovereign state and it is going to be pushing forward.
CLANCY: All right. I want to -- we have to leave it there with that thought. I want to thank Victoria Clarke, former spokeswoman for the U.S. Defense Department. And Mina al Oraibi, an Iraqi journalist, for joining us there from London. Both of you, thank you very much.
GORANI: All right. Great discussion.
A lot more ahead here on YOUR WORLD TODAY.
Crying foul. CLANCY: That's right. Two young brothers accusing British police now of victimizing them and brutalizing them in a terror raid that turned up nothing. Stay with us.
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GORANI: Two young brothers dragged from their beds in a London terror raid have been telling their version of events. The raid has police on the defensive and an entire community crying Islamophobia.
Paula Hancocks covered the raid and is following the fallout, and she joins us live now from London. So these two brothers, Paula, were arrested one of them was shot, but in the end they were released without charge.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Hala.
Yes, they had a press conference today, the first time they've spoken in public since they were released without charge last Friday following the predawn raid the Friday before.
Now it was a fairly emotional press conference, said they were reliving the moments at 4:00 in the morning when the police went into their house, and then Mohammed Abdul Kahar was reliving the moment as well that he was shot. He said that he walked out of his bedroom as he heard his brother screaming. He was about to walk down the stairs, and that is when he was shot in the chest. Now the police themselves can't comment on that particularly, because there is an independent inquiry ongoing into that.
But both brothers, we're talking about the trauma that the entire family went through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ABDUL KAHAR, FMR. DETAINEE: I heard them brining my mom out, because she was screaming and crying. I just thought they were going kill us. (INAUDIBLE). I had done nothing. I was worried about my brothers. At that time I thought I was going to die. I was just thinking of everything over the last minute.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: Kahar also said there was no warning from the police before they opened fire, and also, in fact, he didn't know that it was the police until he was brought outside of the house here that early that morning.
Now we have had reaction from the police just a few moments ago. Andy Hayman, the assistant commissioner, saying he apologized to all of those in the area for any inconvenience and disruption, and he also apologized to those who lived in this house, namely those two brothers as well for any hurt that the police operation has caused.
But once again, and this is what the police have been saying all along since this operation a week last Friday, they had specific intelligence and they had no choice, but to act on that particular intelligence. He said the terrorist attacks in the past naming Madrid and also the 77 attacks here in London which killed 52 in the London underground system, saying those sort of attacks means that it is necessary for any intelligence that comes forward now to be acted upon -- Hala.
GORANI: Paula, what has been the reaction in -- at large within the British public. Do they see this as a mistake that happened when the -- while the police were doing their job well, or do they see this as a sort of proof that perhaps the police are not -- are acting on intelligence too -- in a brash way, too quickly?
HANCOCKS: Well, Reporter: Well, the main question people are asking at the moment, is what exactly was this intelligence, and how could this intelligence have been so wrong? The police combed through this house behind me for about a week, a meticulous search, thinking that they could find a chemical device or materials to make a chemical device, and they found absolutely nothing, and then released two brothers without charge. So people in the local community and people across Britain and now wondering where the intelligence is coming from and how it could be -- could have been so wrong.
Of course, people understand that they have to act on intelligence in certain situations. Many people in the local community saying it's better to be safe than sorry, but there is anger, and there is increasing pressure on the head of the metropolitan, Sir Ian Blair, to resign of course because one man got shot as well.
GORANI: Absolutely. All right, Paula Hancocks live in London, the latest on the raid and the release those two brothers. We'll be following that story and the reaction in London.
Now, why is everything yellow and green these days in Brazil, Jim?
CLANCY: Well, that might be a naive question, and it does have something to do with the World Cup. That would be a good guess, anyway. Brazil's passion, straight ahead.
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GORANI: Updating you on the score at halftime, France, Switzerland nil so far in Group G. We're at halftime, 45 minutes have been played. Another 45 minute start, and we'll keep track of those scores for you, and don't forget also that Brazil will play Croatia at 1900 GMT.
CLANCY: Kind of a catchy tune. And if Hala doesn't hit me, this France fan sitting next to me, I will go ahead and say it, that most eyes are on the big game today between Brazil and Croatia.
You can tell that the mood is getting festive and always colorful, fans gathering in Berlin here. Brazil has plenty to be excited about. Of course, Brazil has a record five World Cup wins. Most recently in 2002 in Japan, that was the last World Cup. And it is the only country to have participated in all 17 World Cups.
Fans from Croatia, third in the 1998 World Cup, say anything can happen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The last game was 0-0, I think. So this is time to beat them, I think.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You really think you have a chance?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, we have chance. This is football. You never know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to play it, but we will win today.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We like to play against them because they really want to win, so it will be a nice match to see.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CLANCY: These are live pictures coming to us from Berlin. These are some of the fans that have gathered around those wide screen televisions, Hala. This has really changed a lot about the World Cup because you don't need a ticket to really get a good seat for the game now.
GORANI: You get the atmosphere. You watch the game on the big jumbotron, you come with your flags and paint your face and wear your t-shirts and you're almost there.
CLANCY: Or you bring your eight foot by six foot flag as some Brazil fans have done there. What a beautiful flag that is.
GORANI: Back home, the nation of 185 million people in Brazil grinding to a halt as businesses, banks, even the national parliament shut down ahead of the match.
CLANCY: They may as well, nobody's going to be there anyway. The cars, the streets and buildings all decorated with flags and green and yellow banners that proclaim "on our way to the sixth."
Don Riddell offers us the glimpse of the passion of Brazil.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil's heaving metropolis. Beneath the imposing Corcovado live almost six million people. The city streets and golden beaches have been the breeding ground for some of the best footballers on earth, many of whom will be gracing this year's World Cup.
Football really is a religion in these parts and it's learned from an early age. The superior skills of the Brazilians can be traced to their mastery of foot volley. Junior Nagau (ph) is the captain of the Brazilian foot volley team and he coaches many children from the slums.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, (through translator): Foot volley started in Brazil 40 years ago. People used to play football on the beach, but the police banned it because they thought it was disturbing the other people on the beach and then a net was set up and the players started playing this new game which today everyone watches and everyone enjoys.
RIDDELL: It's difficult to pass through Rio without seeing dozens of impromptu games. These two play keep ups every day of the year, stopping only when the light fades in the evening. Neighbors say that the ball rarely touches the ground.
With Brazilians this comfortable on the ball it's little wonder that Rio has been a production line for so many great player, but there's more to their success than just silky skills. What separates Brazil from the rest of the world is their attitude to the beautiful game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is not a secret. I think we developed a lot of things and have a hundred years in football history like the other nations, but I think the football arrived here in a different way. I think in Brazil the football didn't arrive like a game with eleven people with rules and referee. It arrived here with a jog (ph), a ball and then we can play everywhere how we want and to have the ball more time as possible. That's why it's a different concept.
RIDDELL: The other ingredient in Brazil's success is passion and you'll find that at the Metacanar. It's one of the world's biggest and most renowned football stadiums. In the past it's been known to hold 200,000 fans.
But it's much more than just a concrete structure. On match days the Metacanar comes to life as thousands of hysterical Brazilians follow the fortunes of their team.
European football can boast some pretty intense rivalry, but the clash between local rivals Flamenco and Vasco De Gamma is an entirely different experience altogether.
Financially, the Brazilian Domestic League cannot compete with countries like Spain and England. That's why most of their top stars are now playing in Europe, but the fans needn't despair. Brazil are still favorites for a sixth world title. It's really not hard to see why Brazilians think their beloved team is in safe hands in Germany. Don Riddell, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: Now it's time to hear from World Cup fans.
GORANI: We've been asking you to e-mail us at worldcup@CNN.com. Let's take a look at some of the photos you've been sending us.
CLANCY: First Australian Stephen Tarra (ph), they watched Monday's match between Australia and Japan at a local Japanese bar with no other foreigners anywhere around. They say, "We felt outnumbered and defeated for the entire game until well, of course, those last few minutes." They won 3-1.
GORANI: Now some undecided South Korean fans were waiting for today's match between their team and Togo. We can tell one is a David Beckham fan, thanks to Peter Guest (ph) for that picture.
GORANI: The other guy is from South Korea, I take it.
Finally, here's France's number one fan in Singapore. There you go, Hala. That's Belle the Chihuahua. She may be Mexican by breed, but she's French for today's match.
GORANI: Well, there's no doubt that Brazilians are behind their World Cup team and while they might be considered favorites, let's see who else you, our viewers, consider in the running, Jim?
CLANCY: That's right. We'll open up the inbox and get our e- mail out here. Our question of the day was this, what teams have a chance against Brazil and why? Here's what some of you had to say.
GORANI: OK, Thijza from the Netherlands said, "The Dutch have always made it difficult for the South Americans, if all goes well, this year's cup will be orange instead of gold."
CLANCY: Mick from Guatemala says, "Any team that qualifies could beat Brazil. This is the beauty of football. There have been plenty of occasions when the underdog beats the favorite."
GORANI: Dudu from Nigeria agrees. He says the Czech team has a better chance to win the World Cup because they're the underdog.
CLANCY: Brian from Venezuela said this: "It's a short tournament and any team can have a bad day. With that, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands all have a chance at that championship."
GORANI: That's the beauty of the game. They all have a chance. That's it for this hour.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy.
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani and you're watching CNN.
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