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Iraqi Forces to Take Over Security in Muthana; Two American Soldiers Missing in Iraq; Islamic Militia Cementing Gains in Somalia; Survey Finds U.S. Doing Poorly in War on Terror

Aired June 19, 2006 - 12:00   ET

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

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Iraqi forces in charge. Soldiers are poised to take control of a southern province for the first time since the war began.
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Giant technology tie-up. Two of Europe's biggest telecom companies, Nokia and Siemens agree to merge the bulk of their business.

HOLMES: And win or lose, it's attitude that matters at this World Cup. Some fans love to make a spectacle of themselves on the world stage.

GORANI: It's 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad, 7:00 p.m. in Helsinki, Finland, where the Nokia-Siemens company will be headquartered.

I'm Hala Gorani.

HOLMES: And I'm Michael Holmes.

Welcome to our viewers right throughout the world, including the United States, to YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: We begin this hour with major developments in Iraq as the country struggles to overpower a crippling insurgency.

HOLMES: Iraqi forces preparing to take over security in one province for the first time since the war began.

GORANI: And U.S. and Iraqi troops are closing in on one of Iraq's most violent cities.

HOLMES: Indeed. All of this happening as the search continues for two missing U.S. solders.

Let's begin, however, with the announcement that Iraqi forces will soon take over U.S. security in one key southern province. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says Muthana will be the first area to come under Iraqi control next month. Britain now commands multinational forces there including Japanese and Australian troops. They are expected to stay on in a support role, at least for a while.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NURI AL-MALIKI, PRIME MINISTER OF Iraq (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): The Muthana province is, with its national security forces, its military and police, ready to take control of its security file (ph). Therefore, Muthana will be the first Iraqi province first to have control over its security file. It will be transferred from multinational forces to Iraqi forces. Other province will follow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, Britain's defense minister says a new security plan is in the works for Basra, a southern city that's grown increasingly violent. Des Browne says a security clampdown will soon go into effect similar to the operation that began last week in Baghdad. Browne made an unannounced trick to Iraq on Monday to talk about the plan and how it could pave the way for Iraqi forces to take over from the British.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DES BROWNE, BRITISH DEFENSE MINISTER: (INAUDIBLE) stands ready to help with that objective. And we will stay here as long as there is a job to be done and as long as there are active people in the Iraqi government that want us to continue to support them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: All right. Now, more than 8,000 U.S. and Iraqi soldiers are sweeping through villages south of Baghdad, intensifying their search for two American soldiers that have been missing in Iraq. Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us now live with the latest.

Hi, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Hala.

Well, the search is still desperately on for these two soldiers who went missing Friday night when their position came under attack. Another soldier, a third soldier, was killed. The hunt is around Yusefiya and the surrounding area south of Baghdad.

The two missing soldiers have now been identified by the U.S. military. Private First Class Kristian Menchaca of Houston, Texas, and Private First Class Thomas Tucker, of Oregon. Both young soldiers, members of the Army's 101st Airborne Division.

Now, of course, as the hunt goes on, the U.S. military says it is using all available resources, everything they have, to try and find these two soldiers. Earlier today, Major General Bill Caldwell, the spokesman in Baghdad, spoke about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAJ. GEN. BILL CALDWELL, U.S. ARMY: We are using all available assets, coalition and Iraqi, to find our soldiers. And we'll not stop looking until we find them.

(END VIDEO CLIP) STARR: Hala, the indications the military tells us now, they don't know exactly what did happen, but they tell us that Iraqi farmers in the area Friday night reported to them that they saw the two soldiers taken away alive by eight to nine insurgents. That's a report that the military's evaluating from Iraqi farmers in the area.

It is also the case that they believe from interviews with other troops that were in the immediate vicinity that there was a diversionary tactic, that some soldiers were drawn away from this site by some sort of diversionary gunfire, leaving these three soldiers potentially vulnerable. All of this, our sources telling us, leading to indications that they believe in the military this was a well- planned and coordinated attack -- Hala?

GORANI: Barbara, a couple of things. First, that you had this Web site making a claim that they're holding those two U.S. solders? And secondly, what kind of area are U.S. officials saying they're searching for these soldiers in?

STARR: Pentagon officials and military officials in Iraq, Hala, are very aware of this Web site claim by a group affiliated with Al Qaeda in Iraq. They simply cannot evaluate it one way or the other at this point. They tell us as to its veracity there has been no specific indication of these men being held by any one group. No proof of life on any part. No showing that they are alive.

So they continue to be listed as duty status unknown. The area where they apparently were taken, Yusefiya, is known by the U.S. troops as the Triangle of Death. It is an area very heavy insurgent activity -- Hala?

GORANI: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon -- Michael?

HOLMES: All right, Hala. Further north near Baghdad, U.S. and Iraqi troops are sealing off the insurgent stronghold of Ramadi. They're surrounding the city, manning checkpoints and setting up outposts in what they call an isolation tactic. Our Nic Robertson is embedded with U.S. troops there. He brings this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's dark and about to get very, very dangerous. Captain Peer (ph) says he is taking us on a special mission into the volatile town of Ramadi.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This area right here (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I'll be honest with you, at any second we could blow up.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any second?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely.

ROBERTSON: He's been hit six times and lost two soldiers to IEDs, roadside bombs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before you step out, just always look down and look around. (INAUDIBLE).

ROBERTSON: On this mission, there were so many roadside bombs, commanders called in a gun ship to help clear the road described as a minefield. The captain sent his mission to search for security outposts deeper than ever into insurgent territory. Just two miles from the base they've already discovered 10 IEDs, rendered harmless in controlled detonations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To my left, this is all going to be a combat outpost. This will be a logistical area, in and out. (INAUDIBLE).

ROBERTSON: More controlled detonations?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: More controlled detonations.

ROBERTSON: By putting in these combat outposts just one night after other new combat outposts went in, what the Army hopes to do is keep the insurgents off their guard and use that to their advantage.

With improving light, the push to press home that advantage, troops searched areas previously hard to access, discovering bomb- making equipment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Playstations, cell phones, explosives, rice bags (ph), a combination thereof. It would equal about 15 IEDs, just enough to fill in the hole that we found already tonight.

ROBERTSON: Later, they would find more. But with daylight, the emphasis switches to building the new bases.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's getting ready to launch an RPG. That's what he's thinking right now.

ROBERTSON: And securing them in the very hostile environment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the outposts are being built, this is what the soldiers are going to be doing, looking, watching, waiting, ready in case a suicide bomber comes down the road to try and target the new observation points.

ROBERTSON: Although U.S. troops were most of the muscle behind the operation, it is the Iraqi army who will ultimately run these outposts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The real success is going to be the Iraqi army and the constant presence of the Iraqi army right here in this area.

ROBERTSON: But high hopes are tempered with reality. The Iraqi army is already based in some less volatile parts of Ramadi, and even there, they are yet to bring stability and an end to the roadside bombs. And that means for the foreseeable future at least, many more dangerous missions for Captain Senti (ph) and his men in Ramadi. Nick Robertson, CNN, Ramadi, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, Iraqi prosecutors say Saddam Hussein showed no mercy to his victims, so he deserves none himself. They wrapped up their case against the deposed president by asking a judge to sentence him to death along with two of his co-defendants.

Hussein and seven others are charged with crimes against humanity in connection with the 1982 kills of 148 Shiites in the town of Dujail. The trial is now adjourned until July 10th, when the defense is scheduled to make its closing arguments.

HOLMES: Well, U.S. President George W. Bush is sending to message to Tehran; accept an offer to resolve the nuclear dispute or he will push for sanctions. The president's comments come as the U.S. and other nations are worried about a possible missile test in North Korea. Kathleen Koch joins us now live from the White House.

Let's start with Tehran, Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Michael, the president made some very tough comments on this, the eve of his two-day trip to the European Union. He blasted Tehran's leaders, accusing them of sponsoring terrorism, denying liberty and human rights to their people, and threatening the existence of Israel.

And the president, in his speech, he laid out in no uncertain terms the consequences if Iran turns down the recent U.S. offer to join allies in talks with Iran once that country suspends its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran's leaders have a clear choice. We hope they will accept our offer and voluntarily suspend these activities so we can work out an agreement that will bring Iran real benefits.

If Iran's leaders reject our offer, it will result in action before the security council, further isolation from the world, and progressively stronger political and economic sanctions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Now, so far, Tehran has refused to stop enriching uranium. It insists that its program is solely for peaceful purposes. Of course, the United States and its allies believe that instead, Iran really wants to develop a nuclear weapon -- Michael? .

HOLMES: All right, Kathleen. Let's move on now. North Korea. They say they've filled a long range missile with fuel. What's the latest?

KOCH: Well, indeed, the White House is watching very carefully these images, satellite images, that have come in over the last week that seem to indicate, yes, indeed, that North Korea has fueled a long range missile, a missile that could be capable of reaching Alaska, parts of Asia, and Russia.

And the U.S. continues to insist that North Korea needs to stand by its 1999 moratorium on missile testing. White House Press Secretary Tony Snow says that the president has talked to several world leaders about the situation.

The U.S. ambassador to Japan has said that economic sanctions would have to be considered if North Korea goes ahead with this test, but Snow this weekend said that the U.S. really wants to focus on drawing North Korea, quote, "back into the international community," rather than to take provocative actions -- Michael?

HOLMES: All right, we'll leave it there. Thanks, Kathleen. Kathleen Koch there at the White House.

GORANI: All right, there might be some people in the world who still don't know this, but World Cup action is under way.

HOLMES: What's that? I've never heard of it.

GORANI: A live update from Berlin is next.

HOLMES: Also ahead, do Americans think the U.S. is winning the war on terror? Something of a surprising report card coming up.

GORANI: And a merger of two technology giants. We'll tell you why the trend is becoming more common. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY. Germany 2006, it's the end of the road for one World Cup team. Let's get the latest action from Germany. Mark McKay joins us now live from Berlin. Togo- Switzerland, I can guess which one is out.

MARK MCKAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that would be Togo, Hala. But you know what? That African team certainly had an interesting stay here at Germany 2006. First, their coach, you may remember, walked out before the team's very first match only to return. And then the Togo players themselves were threatening to boycott their second match over a pay dispute.

Fortunately, that affair with Switzerland moved forward, but it was the Swiss that found victory 2-0. The first goal came from Alexander Frei. His teammate, Barnetta scoring the second. So 2-0, the Swiss win in Dortund. That means Switzerland's bid to reach the second round of this tournament lives, Hala.

GORANI: Yes, it lives. So does Frances, but by a thread, right?

All right. Let's move on to one of the most important players of this World Cup on the pitch right now. MCKAY: Yes. It won't be long, Hala, before Andriy Shevchenko toils at his club trade in England. But before he makes what he hopes will be a mark on Chelsea, he first has to pull his team, the Ukraine, out of the fire here at the World Cup.

Ukraine fans know how they started, with a 4-0 loss to Spain. They're 15 minutes into their second match, and they have their first goal of the tournament. Another Andriy has scored for the Ukraine, but this time it's Andriy Rusol, putting Ukraine out in front just four minutes in against Saudi Arabia. Ukraine made no fewer than four changes to the starting lineup as they looked to bounce back in a big way. Hala, so far, so good for the Ukraine at the moment.

GORANI: All right, let's talk about this match-up that we're expecting this afternoon now. Spain literally flattened Ukraine when it played against it, 4-0. It's meeting Tunisia. Are we expecting the same kind of mismatch?

MCKAY: It'll be interesting, Hala, to see. In fact, many of the favorites here at the World Cup are perhaps curious to see just how Spain comes out in their second match. Will they be considered one of the favorites? They've been known as one of the great underachievers of the world.

You would think, Hala, after winning 4-0 in their opening match things would be going swimmingly for Coach Luis Aragones. But not really. His worries centers on Tunisia, their opponents later this Monday in Stuttgart. Aragones says that he's concerned because, in his opinion, Tunisia didn't play well in their first game and fears they might take it out on his squad. The Spanish coach called Tunisia a well-organized and a well-coached outfit.

That will be the final match of the evening at Stuttgart, but we've got a busy day to follow, and we will continue to do that throughout the day here on CNN.

Hala, back to you.

GORANI: All right. Thank you very much. Mark McKay, live from Berlin.

(CROSSTALK)

GORANI: Tough assignment. Well, that brings us to our question of the day, today.

HOLMES: Indeed. We are asking you this. What do you think of the officiating at the 2006 World Cup? The Aussies azys were a bit unimpressed after their going with Brazil. Email us your thoughts, ywt@CNN.com.

GORANI: Some might call it refereeing. We'll read some of your comments a bit later in the program. Include your name and where you are writing from.

HOLMES: We'll try and read some a little later in the hour. GORANI: We will.

All right, don't forget that you can get all the latest World Cup action on our Web site. That's also where you will find our fanzone features, including "A Cup of Joe," as we've been calling it. The daily column by world sports supervising producer, Joe McCurdy gives you a behind-the-scenes look at covering the tournament and, of course, Joe's take on the daily action. It's all at CNN.com/worldcup.

HOLMES: All right. One of the world's best-known paintings is changing hands, and it's doing so for a record price. It's a portrait of this Adele Bloch-Bauer by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, painted in 1907. There it is, there.

A New York museum has bought the painting from the niece of the woman who was in the portrait. According to the "New York Times" newspaper, the purchase was for a record $135 million. The family says the Nazis had seized the painting in the 1930s. They got it back this year after a legal wrangle with the Austrian government.

GORANI: All right, $135 million.

(MARKET REPORT)

HOLMES: Still to come, dial "M" for merger.

GORANI: Nokia and Siemens announce a deal to take on their biggest competitor. Does it have the right ring tone? We'll tell you after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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, let's check on stories making headlines here in the U.S.

Emergency help is on its way to Houston, Texas, now. Flood waters quickly engulfed many neighborhoods this morning. This is the scene after heavy rain pounded Houston and other parts of Texas overnight and this morning. Some areas got nearly a foot of rain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUSTY CORNELIUS, HARRIS COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Any time we have rain like this, our terrain is very flat. So we have localized street flooding, and that's essentially what we're receiving right now over a very wide area of the county. It's localized street flooding. We do have three of our bios, which is a local term for our river, that have either reached capacity or have, in fact, come out of their banks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Texas Governor Rick Perry is sending National Guard trucks and crews, helicopters and swift water rescue units to the Houston area, as we look at live pictures. Good to have a rubber raft in Houston, today. Thank you to KTRK and Jacqui Jeras.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Daryn.

KAGAN: Hi, Jacqui.

Rain coming to an end now in the Houston area, at least temporarily. We are expecting more thunderstorms to be moving in late this evening and overnight. And that could certainly aggravate the situation. We're very concerned about that happening.

There you can see the Houston metro area. Most of the rain now down to the south. Still seeing some light sprinkles, particularly on the west side of town, but it was right around the south loop area right in here into south Houston extending towards Pasadena where some of the worst flooding has been.

Some heavy showers and thunderstorms moving in towards League City and also down towards the Galveston area, expecting to pick up maybe an additional inch on top of what you already have in this region.

Now, the backside of this storm right here you can see is bringing in heavy rain towards Port Arthur, also over towards Lake Charles. So they may have some flooding problems, as well. It's when this backside moves back in over the Houston area late tonight when we anticipate more of the flooding trouble to occur.

We also have other weather going on across the country, today. Severe thunderstorm watch posted for parts of upstate New York extending into parts of Bermont. Heavy rain will push in this with along with a lot of lightning, maybe some damaging wind, and isolated hail. And then the northeast too, Daryn, by the way, very hot temperatures. We have code red across many cities in the northeast.

KAGAN: Thanks so much, Jacqui.

To the east, now. A bloody weekend in New Orleans has the city's mayor calling for help, today. Mayor Ray Nagin wants National Guard troops to patrol city streets. This request coming after the shooting deaths of five teenagers on Saturday and a fatal stabbing on Sunday. Our Sean Callebs joining us from New Orleans with more on this request -- Sean?

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning.

A very, very bloody weekend here. In fact, those five killings of those teenagers the worst one-day slaughter in this city in more than a decade. Certainly, the city doing everything it can, trying to say all the right things at this hour.

City council holding a special meeting this morning, just terrified. The crime is getting out of control in this city. It's no secret that people aren't flowing back into this area, but the crime rate has been going up somewhat exponentially over the past several weeks. There have been 53 murders in the city since Katrina. Over the first several months, not that many. But many gangs have been coming back into this area. The police say they believe that the killings of the teenagers was either drug-related or revenge-related. The other stabbing was apparently over a beer.

So the city wants to bring people back. They want to lure business here. They are concerned about how this is playing out not only in the city, but across the nation. So Daryn, they want to get not only the National Guard here, but at least 60 state troopers in here to do what they can to patrol the streets, to try to bring this problem under control.

KAGAN: Sean Callebs live in New Orleans. Sean, thank you.

By land, air, and sea, coalition forces are stepping up their search for two missing soldiers in Iraq, today. The military says the soldiers went missing after an attack at a checkpoint on Friday.

They have been identified as Private First Class Kristian Menchaca of Texas and Private First Class Thomas Tucker of Oregon. The military says about 8,000 coalition forces are searching for the soldiers. A terrorist group claimed to have captured the two. We cannot at this time verify that claim.

And that will wrap it up for me. I'm Daryn Kagan. More world news after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Hala Gorani.

HOLMES: Cheers, I'm Michael Holmes. Here are the top stories we're following for you today.

Iraqi troops preparing to take over security in one province for the first time since the war began. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki says the southern region of Muthana should come under Iraqi control next month. Britain now commands multinational forces there, including Japanese and Australian troops. They are expected to stay on, for a while at least, in a support role.

GORANI: Also in Iraq, prosecutors say Saddam Hussein showed no mercy to his victims, so he deserves none himself. They wrapped up their case against the deposed president by asking a judge to sentence him to death, along with two of his co-defendants. The trial is now adjourned until July 10, when the defense is scheduled to make its closing arguments.

HOLMES: U.S. President George W. Bush is urging Iran to accept an offer to resolve the nuclear dispute or he's going to be pushing for sanctions. Mr. Bush said Tehran needs to abandon any ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons and come into compliance with international obligations. Tehran, of course, has always said in the past that its nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes and there are no weapons plans. GORANI: An Islamic militia is cementing its gains in Somalia, including the capital Mogadishu. This after weeks of fighting, and that has prompted calls for a regional peacekeeping force. Last week the country's interim government invited the African Union to put together such a force, and the union says it's looking at options.

Richard Roth took a look at the issues stoking Somalia's unrest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a country that has foundered without a central government for 15 years.

JAN EGELAND, U.N. HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR: It is now a place where people do not go to school, but where they become soldiers and terrorists at a scale which is just too scary.

ROTH: Welcome to the latest diplomatic effort on Somalia: the so-called International Contact Group, a group of nations led by the U.S. and Norway.

JENDAYI FRAZER, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE: Our immediate and most important message today is that there should be no fighting in Somalia. It has to end.

ROTH: The diplomats threw their support behind the weak interim government, one of three groups that want to control Somalia. They also called for discussions with the latest victors in Somalia, the militia of the Union of the Islamic Court.

The recent victory of the Islamic groups over U.S.-backed warlords spurred the United States to support a new diplomatic initiative. Although never admitting it, Washington had backed warlords in Somalia, hoping they'd track down al Qaeda terrorists. That policy seemed to backfire.

ELMI AHMED DUALEH, SOMALI AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Psychologically, people saw this as an invasion or support to the warlords to suppress Islam.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: I would not have supported warlords.

JOHN PRENDERGAST, INTERNATIONAL CRISIS GROUP: We've actually empowered, through our assistance, the militant wing of this Islamic Courts Union, and thus absolutely undermining all of our both counterterrorism and security and stability objectives in Somalia.

ROTH: The leader of the Islamic Courts Militia says his group won't harbor terrorists, but experts warn of splits between moderates and hardliners.

PRENDERGAST: It's an attempt to whitewash the record. And it's good that they're trying to put a conciliatory tone out to the world, but we just need to be aware that what lurks behind the scenes, behind the words of some of their leaders. ROTH: So what next for Somalia? Supporters of the Islamic groups demonstrated in the capital, Mogadishu, against regional peacekeepers, a proposal by neighboring countries and the interim Somali government.

SHARIF SHEIKH AHMED, CHMN., ISLAMIC COURTS MILITIA (through translator): At the moment, we are not accepting any foreign troops in our country. The Somali problem can only be solved by Somalis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROTH: There are two concerns right now for United Nations countries and officials here. A humanitarian disaster with thousands of refugees, if the fighting increases, and also, what's happening with the Islamic Courts militias? Where are they exactly moving to gain control of Somalia?

A U.N. official, the senior -- the special representative for Somalia is currently briefing journalists, and Lonseny Fall has just said, quote, "If things are not done yet, this conflict could have regional implications." This is because the Islamic militias are moving towards Bidoa (ph), where the transition government is still based, and also to the Ethiopian border, where there have been reports of the troops coming across -- Hala.

GORANI: All right. A quick question before you go, Richard, on the U.N., hoping to turn a page today with its new Human Rights Council. Tell us about that.

ROTH: Sort of like the first day of school. Opening day for the new Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The 47-nation body opening up after years of efforts to try to get a new human rights group formed. Secretary General Kofi Annan has been in the forefront following criticism, very harsh criticism, over the years, that human rights violators, countries who have disgraced themselves and how they treated their own country's citizens, got on the human rights commission.

Now, this new streamlined body, which will have the ability to monitor itself and kick off offenders, they opened up in Geneva. And Secretary-General Annan had an opening lecture of sorts for the countries, telling them that the eyes of the world will be on you -- Hala.

GORANI: Richard Roth, live at the United Nations. Thanks very much.

Well, as she's coping with big changes at home and at the same time trying to make a difference in the world, the special U.N. ambassador and movie superstar Angelina Jolie sat down exclusively with CNN's Anderson Cooper to talk about her new baby and her refugee work.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: I've read that you give a third of your income to refugees and other causes. Is that true?

ANGELINA JOLIE, ACTRESS/U.N. AMBASSADOR: Yes.

COOPER: That's incredible.

JOLIE: Well, I have a stupid income for what I do, to be fair.

COOPER: Well, hey, look, there are a lot of people who have that income and more and don't do that.

JOLIE: I was sure everything would -- at the last minute I became the mother, I was sure everything was going to go wrong. And she's healthy and it was amazing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, Angelina Jolie talks with Anderson Cooper Wednesday at 0200 GMT on June 20th. That's World Refugee Day.

HOLMES: It is indeed. Don't go away. Still to come on YOUR WORLD TODAY, poison gas on the subway?

GORANI: A new book outlines a nightmare scenario with a plot to target New York's subway system.

And must do better. The verdict of the American public over the U.S. war on terrorism. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back to our viewers right around the world. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

Well, long before the battle over gay priests, there was the battle over how far a woman could rise in the ranks of the Anglican Church. That issue is now back at the fore, with the election of Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori as the head of the U.S. Episcopal Church. She is the first woman to serve as the leader of the Anglican community.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BISHOP KATHARINE SCHORI, EPISCOPAL CHURCH: I believe that God welcomes all to his table. People who agree and people who disagree -- and the Episcopal Church has always been a strong voice for including a variety of theologies, a variety of opinions, and insisting that all of the marginalized are most especially welcomed to the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Jefferts Schori's election comes at a time when there are already rifts in the church over the ordination of gays.

GORANI: There's a new book coming out in the United States about an alleged plot to release poison gas into New York City's subway system. Officials confirmed some details with CNN, while disputing others.

As Fredricka Whitfield reports, the attack was planned, allegedly, in 2003.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In his upcoming book, "The One Percent Doctrine," Pulitzer Price winning reporter Ron Suskind writes about alleged plans for a 2003 terror attack on a New York subway.

"Time" magazine, owned by the same company as CNN, released excerpts. According to Suskind, informants warned U.S. officials that al Qaeda planned to use small, easily concealed devices to release deadly hydrogen cyanide gas on subway trains.

He says, quote, "There would be several placed in subway cars and other strategic locations and activated remotely. This was well past conception and early planning. The group was operational. They were 45 days from zero hour," un quote.

In Washington, the FBI declined comment. But a New York police spokesman confirms the department was informed of the threat in 2003 and, quote, "took appropriate precautions," unquote.

Somewhere around 4.8 million people ride New York's subway on an average weekday. On Sunday, New York Senator Charles Schumer expressed concern.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: I take the subways, my kids take the subways, so I think New Yorkers should feel everything is being done. But in a post 9/11 world, you can't be too careful.

WHITFIELD: In 1995, 12 Tokyo subway riders died after a nerve gas attack blamed on a doomsday cult. Just last year, terrorists bombed three London subway trains and a London bus, killing 52 people. Suskind says the planned attack in New York was apparently called off by Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Their reason, Suskind says, remains unclear.

Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Well, how is the U.S. doing in the war on terror? Pretty poorly, according to a high-powered survey. William J. Dobson joins us now. He is the managing editor for "Foreign Policy" magazine, which features an article called "The Terrorism Index."

Now, this article makes some pretty depressing reading, really, surveying a very powerful group of people, finding a national security apparatus in disrepair. And also, a government not protecting its public from the next attack.

WILLIAM J. DOBSON, "FOREIGN POLICY" MAGAZINE: That's right. In fact, foreign policy magazine teamed up with the Center for American Progress to produce this index, which is the first major attempt to survey America's top foreign policy experts to find out how the United States is doing.

And as you say, they responded with a resoundingly negative answer. Eighty-four percent say the United States is losing the war on terror. And 86 percent said that, in fact, the world is becoming less safe for Americans.

HOLMES: Now, this is a pretty bipartisan group, too. Though after 9/11, there was a massive public rallying around the Bush government. George Bush practically given carte blanche to do what he wanted. There was a 94 percent approval rating initially on how he was handling things. How and why did that all change?

DOBSON: Well, that's an interesting question. I mean, in large part, we now -- it's understandable that early on after an attack that Americans would rally around the flag. But five years on, it seems as though -- at least America's foreign policy experts believe -- that the United States has set unrealistic goals for what it can accomplish through military force alone. And in many respects, the results of "Foreign Policy"'s index is a call for the United States to use other facets of its national strength to win this war.

HOLMES: One of the things that's tough, though -- in all fairness, this is a tough enemy. There's no front line, there's no uniforms, there's plenty of soft targets from Bali to Madrid. How, then, are the experts saying it should be fought? They're essentially saying that the symptoms are being treated and not the cause?

DOBSON: That's exactly right. And this produced another very surprising and, in fact, resounding answer from our experts. And that was that about 87 percent said that the State Department deserves more funding. They seem to believe that it's critical that the United States win the war over ideas, as much as any battle that is fought through the military or in the streets.

Eighty percent believe that rejection of radical ideologies around the world is a critical element. At the same time, they believe that the American public diplomacy has been one of the -- has been the worst policy initiative that the Bush administration has pursued in the last five years.

HOLMES: In what way? By threatening basically military action at every turn? Or is it a lack of understanding of the Arab world, the Arab culture?

DOBSON: Well, look, the United States can project power in the world in many ways. We have diplomatic influence, we have economic power. There is even cultural influence that can attract and repel people around the world. What the experts seem to be saying is that we're not using any of these other facets at our disposal. Throughout American history, we've often taken a multi-pronged approach to trying to solve these problems. And that -- the last five years has shown more desire or a knee-jerk reaction to use the Pentagon when the State Department should be used, too, and other agencies. HOLMES: You know, one thing that I find curious in this -- when we look at the war on terror -- realistically, the war on terror, per se, is just beginning. And yet this is sort of showing that Americans are already tired of it. What does that mean going forward policy- wise? Because governments tend to worry about re-election.

DOBSON: Well, that's true. And that's a problem that any democracy is going to face. And it was very clear that -- though the results that we have from the survey suggest that this may be a bit of a disconnect between American experts and the American public at large. That experts are concerned that whoever is in office, that they do the utmost to explain to the public that this is a long-term fight. But that also means we need long-term solutions and that's, again, why you should focus as much maybe on ideas as you are focusing on your strategic alternatives in a military sense.

HOLMES: You know, the other thing I found curious was that -- and this is not an unusual sentiment in Europe -- but that the U.S. is not really treating its allies all that well, either, when it comes to inclusiveness and policy direction?

DOBSON: That's true. I mean, in fact, you can find -- throughout the survey -- a number of these tensions playing out. Another one that was prominent and we focus on is looking at the tensions we have with our own allies in the Muslim world. In fact, the experts believe that Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan have produced the most terrorists. The very people that the United States is involved in trying to hunt down. Yet, these are also -- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan -- everyone will realize this is our key allies for the United States. So again, another very important tight rope that the United States has to walk.

HOLMES: Yes, fascinating reading, by the way. A very high- powered groups, some very senior people, fairly bipartisan, too. Want to thank you. William J. Dobson, managing editor, "Foreign Policy" magazine. Thanks so much.

DOBSON: Thank you.

GORANI: We're going to take a short break here on YOUR WORLD TODAY. When we come back, a check on your world cup action -- your world cup action -- coming up.

HOLMES: If you say so.

And as usual, our fan zone inbox. It is brimming with all sorts of wacky photos and videos. We'll take a closer look at how the game of football is inspiring the fans. That's coming up next. Do not go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Let's turn now to the latest from the World Cup because we like to keep you updated with the scores. Don't we?

HOLMES: Too much football is not enough. GORANI: Not enough. Ukraine has scored its first goal in a World Cup.

HOLMES: Yes, they did. The first goal happened in the first three minutes of the match against Saudi Arabia. Let's update you -- and to top that off, they scored again. The score at halftime, Ukraine 2, Saudi Arabia nil. Ukraine looking to revive their campaign after a thrashing by Spain.

Time now to enter, with not a little trepidation, our "Fan Zone." As we've seen over the past week, some World Cup enthusiasts, like Hala here, will do practically anything to get noticed.

GORANI: And in Berlin, the game of football seems to be inspiring artists and fans to reach new heights. Chris Burns has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a twist of the old saying, it doesn't matter if you win or lose the game, it's how you win your fame, and how you lose your shame -- if you ever had any. For wannabe royalty, human and canine, it's a way to make a spectacle of yourself on the World Cup stage.

(on camera): What does he think?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What do you think, Jo-Jo (ph)? Italy, huh?

BURNS (voice-over): In Berlin's funky Kreuzberg district, one London-based gallery is hawking football works of art, though not exactly in praise of the game.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They all made special statements to the world championships, what they think about football in general, because most of them are football haters.

BURNS: Also on display, with greater respect for football legends, the three teeth that French defender Patrick Batiston lost in a collision with German goalkeeper Halle (ph) Schumacher in 1982. Here, an old athletic bandage of German football great Franz Beckenbauer, who is now heading this year's World Cup organizing committee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Concerning the old football times or old world championships, they have been -- they created heroes. Real heroes.

BURNS: At a Berlin bar, a shrine of candles and spirit-charged objects to honor a recent German hero, the coach who took the team to the last World Cup final against Brazil. There is only one Rudi Voller, they sing.

The spirit of the game, carried in procession or on your head, whatever it takes. Or not. For some, the spirit just lives inside.

Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Speaking of attention seekers, your contributions -- we've been asking you -- we do appreciate them. We've been asking you to send us your pictures, videos and comments.

HOLMES: There are some wacky ones. These are just some of the celebration videos sent into CNN's "Fan Zone." Brace yourself.

(SEGMENTS OF VIDEO PLAYED)

HOLMES: Just wish I had bought shares in beer before the World Cup happened.

GORANI: It looks like there was some of that going on there. That's it for this hour.

HOLMES: What's up? "LIVE FROM" is up next for our viewers in the United States.

GORANI: Now, for viewers elsewhere, another half-hour of YOUR WORLD TODAY is next. I'm Hala Gorani.

HOLMES: And I'm Michael Holmes. See you tomorrow.

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