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Democrats & Iraq; Baghdad Bombing; Beirut Clashes; Bush Library Controversy; Iraq: War & Politics; Orders To Kill?
Aired January 26, 2007 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Heidi Collins today.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Tony Harris. Spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM this morning and stay informed. Here's what's on the rundown.
Attacks across Iraq. More than a dozen people lose their lives today. One bomber luring victims with birds at a pet market.
NGUYEN: Well, an old crime that's suddenly solved. Eight suspects linked to the Black Panthers. Arrests finally in the 1971 murder of a police officer.
HARRIS: How to rob a bank with a little unwitting help from the post office. Previewing this weekend's report from a CNN investigative unit. It is Friday, January 26th. You are in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Well, the new House majority leader is offering a plan from Democrat on Iraq. Congressional correspondent Dana Bash joins us live with that.
The first thing I want to get to is the fact that the Senate is voting on Petraeus right now. Tell us what you know.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty.
On the floor of the United States Senate, senators are voting to confirm the man who will be in charge of U.S. forces, multi-national forces actually, in Iraq, General David Petraeus. When he gets confirmed, and it is certainly expected he will get confirmed overwhelmingly, he will be boosted from lieutenant general to general and he will have a role that the Senate Armed Services chairman on the floor just now said, "will be the single most important command in the national defense establishment." He is somebody who is highly regarded for his education and also for things that he has done in recent years. For example, writing the Army and Marine Corps training manual for counterinsurgency.
But on another front, in addition to his importance in making the president's military strategy in Iraq work, particularly the new strategy that there's a lot of skepticism about here on Capitol Hill, many fellow Republicans, Betty, are relying a lot on him and their expectations are pretty high when it comes to General Petraeus. Why? Because many, even of the president's close allies, think that basically the American people have tuned the president out when it comes to Iraq. And they really hope that a man like General Petraeus, who again is well respected, well versed in this issue and quite articulate on it, will be a new and important spokesman for the president's strategy when it comes to Iraq.
Betty.
NGUYEN: And meanwhile, Dana, one House representative is offering a new plan for Iraq. What do you know about this?
BASH: Well, we expect a speech to start momentarily from the House majority leader, the number two Democrat over in the House, Steny Hoyer. And we're told that he is going to talk broadly about the war in Iraq and the Democrats plans for what they are going to do with their new power in the House.
What we understand from a top Hoyer aide is that he is going to make it clear that Congress, that the House of Representatives, will possibly, possibly want to vote to re-authorize the mission in Iraq. We've heard some discussion about this from many sources, Democrats and Republicans, about the fact that the mission has changed a lot since 2002 when Congress authorized the toppling of Saddam Hussein because of weapons of mass destruction.
So what he is going to say is that the Congress might actually, down the road, want to re-authorize the mission. And a lot of it depends, according to Hoyer's aides and other Democrats in the House and Senate, on how the president reacts to resolutions that we expect to be voted on, non-binding, symbolic resolutions, and that we expect to be voted on in the House and the Senate essentially opposing the president's plan to send more troops to Iraq. So we expect to hear more from him on that and also some other prescriptions for how Democrats could be more involved institutionally in what's going on in Iraq. For example, dealing with the supplemental, with the $100 billion or so request that they are going to get from the White House pretty soon. Maybe attach some strings to that. And also talk about the oversight hearings that they're having on both sides of the House and Senate. Many of them really on a daily basis.
NGUYEN: We'll be watching.
Thank you, Dana Bash.
Let's give you some more background now on Lieutenant General David Petraeus. Tapped to become the top general on the ground in Iraq. He was commissioned in the infantry after graduating West Point in 1974. He holds MPA and Ph.D. degrees in international relations from Princeton. He has held command position in both the 101st Airborne Division and the 82nd Airborne Division. He also served as chief of operations of the United Nations Force in Haiti. In 2005 he was recognized by "U.S. News and World Report" as one of America's 25 best leaders.
HARRIS: Cracking down on Iranian agents in Iraq. We're told the Bush administration is giving U.S. troops permission to kill or capture them. A national security official says the new policy targets Iranian operatives plotting attacks against U.S. coalition or Iraqi forces. Troops have authorization to kill or capture the Iranians if they have actionable intelligence.
Meanwhile, the president summoned to Pentagon brass to the White House this morning to discuss Iraq War strategy. Among those attending, the man chosen as the new commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General David Petraeus. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace also taking part in that meeting. We expect to hear from the president in the 11:00 a.m. Eastern hour in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Dozens dead and wounded in Iraq, victims of another market bombing. This time a pet market. Let's get straight to CNN's Michael Holmes in Baghdad.
And, Michael, good morning to you.
Let's first talk about this latest violence and then let's switch subjects and talk about the prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Tony, good morning to you.
Yes, we've heard that at least 15 people were killed, 39 others were wounded when this bomb went off in this pet market. It was in a box that's normally used for transporting pigeons. Somebody came, placed it, walked away. It blew up. This happened this morning local time.
This market's normally very crowded on Friday mornings. It's an extraordinary place. I remember visiting there just after the war. Birds, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, even monkeys and snakes can be bought there. This market's been hit three times in recent months. And this is also the latest attack targeting commercial areas in the capital.
There's been several attacks in the last few weeks, as you know, at marketplaces. There were several other bombs around Baghdad today too. I can tell you, one about 500 meters from where I stand now shook our building. Apparently it was targeting an Iraqi army patrol. Two people were killed and more than a dozen were wounded.
Tony.
HARRIS: Michael, Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had some tough words for insurgents. We've heard tough words from the prime minister before. Do we expect this language to translate into real action?
HOLMES: That's the question. And that's the question Iraqis want to know. It's a question that the U.S. administration wants answered, too. As you and I have talked about before, Tony, the al- Maliki government has been known very much for talking the talk and not walking the walk. However, he has made statements in parliament saying there will be no sanctuary for anyone who is a terrorist or member of the insurgency. He said even mosque, political offices are fair game. And he did say this in arabic. He said it in the parliament.
But the true test is going to come as this new operation gets underway in the coming days and weeks ahead, gets underway at full steam anyway, whether he actually steps up and does what he says. Now, again, as we've discussed before, he's part of a coalition that includes Muqtada al-Sadr's political block, which in itself has a military wing, the Mehdi army.
HARRIS: Michael Holmes for us in Baghdad.
Michael, appreciate it. Thank you.
Iraqis and Americans killed daily. A war with no end in sight. I will talk to Iraq's foreign minister live in just a few minutes here in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: But right now you want to be wear of the spring offensive. That is the warning from Washington. The concern, not Iraq but Afghanistan. NATO says an air strike has wiped out a Taliban command post in southern Afghanistan. The military alliance says a senior Taliban leader and his deputies may have been killed. Now NATO, by the way, is holding a meeting today on the resurgence of the Taliban.
Well, a curfew is lifted and uneasy calm, though, is over Beirut, Lebanon a day after this. You'll see here, streets near Beirut Arab University just erupted into violence. Students supporting the Lebanese government clashed with those backing the opposition, Hezbollah. Four people were killed and more than 150 others hurt. A dusk to dawn curfew was imposed after government troops and tanks moved in. The fighting came two days after a Hezbollah-led general strike to bring down the government.
HARRIS: For more on the situation in Lebanon, we're joined on the phone from Beirut by journalist Christopher Allbritton.
Christopher, thank you for your time this morning.
CHRISTOPHER ALLBRITTON, JOURNALIST: Thanks, Tony.
HARRIS: Christopher, where are we -- it's a broad question but I have to ask it, where are we headed in Lebanon? Political assassinations. A conflict with Israel over the summer. Hezbollah's apparent power grab here. Students dying. Sectarian stresses is playing out. Where are we headed in this country?
ALLBRITTON: It doesn't look good, does it, when you add up all those elements you mentioned. We could easily be heading into a new phase of conflict here in Lebanon. Just, you know, the civil war ended in 1990. The summer war, this past summer between Hezbollah and Israel. The political developments that have come up. It could easily slide into a new stage of civil conflict.
And I have to say, I'm not optimistic. I think that it probably will. How big that will be, how wide-spread it will be, I couldn't say. But I think we are in for more conflict. HARRIS: At whose agitation? Are we talking about Syria? Is this strictly a Hezbollah operation with support from Syria? At whose agitation?
ALLBRITTON: Well, you've got a number of players. You have Saudi Arabia that is supporting the (INAUDIBLE) movement, which is headed by Saad Hariri, who's the son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri who was killed in 2005. You've got Hezbollah, who's supported by both Syria and Iran. You've got the Siniora government, which includes members of the Hariri coalition, the March 14th Coalition as it's called, which is backed by the United States and France.
You've got a lot of different players in here who all have their fingers in. Lebanon is a laboratory for the region because of all the different minorities. It's a country of minorities. No one has a majority.
And because it's this laboratory, everyone feels they can play (INAUDIBLE) battles here. Right now we're seeing a number of conflicts, you know, within (INAUDIBLE) that really mirrors the larger conflicts within the region, Sunni/Shia, western/Iran, Saudi/Syrians. You know, all of these things are being played out here.
HARRIS: Let's talk about the interest of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah. What is it ultimately that he wants for his group with respect to leadership of that country?
ALLBRITTON: I don't think they want leadership of the country, because with leadership comes responsibility. They want to maintain their sense as a resistance movement. They don't want to be blamed for not fixing potholes, which is what happens when you take over the government.
HARRIS: But if that's the case, Christopher, you're always part of the problem and never part of the solution.
ALLBRITTON: Well, I think you're looking at it from a western perspective there. What Hezbollah wants is, they want freedom of movement in their sphere, which means in the south mainly. They want to be able to get the U.N. UNIFIL forces out. They want to have as much force within -- they want to have enough strength within the government to force any decision the be made on that, that will be decided in their favor. They want have veto power, but they don't want to run their place. They just want to be able to run their part of Lebanon.
HARRIS: Well, let me challenge that a bit. Let me challenge that a bit. Would Fuad Siniora, the prime minister of Lebanon, consider has Hassan Nasrallah part of the problem or part of the solution?
ALLBRITTON: I think Fuad Sinoria would definitely consider him part of the problem, yes.
HARRIS: OK. Well that . . . ALLBRITTON: But you also have a situation where Fuad Sinoria was trying to extend sovereignty over the whole of the country, where Hezbollah and Nasrallah are trying to stop him from doing that. I mean so, yes, he's part of the problem.
HARRIS: All right. So one final question. So what do you see playing out here? We obviously have a situation where tensions are rising again. What do you see playing out over the immediate days here? We understand the curfew took effect. That seemed to have helped in sort of settling the area, certainly in downtown Beirut. What do you see happening in the next few days?
ALLBRITTON: Well, I think what you saw yesterday and the past couple of days was a rehearsal for a new civil war. That's what it's going to look like, neighborhood against neighborhood, Sunni against Shia, Christian against Christian. What's going to happen in the next few days? We could easily see another flare-up. It might not be fought with just sticks and stones this time. It might be fought with more AK-47s, more heavier weapons. I don't know that that's going to happen in the next few days. It certainly (INAUDIBLE). Things are still very, very tense here despite the attempt to get back to normal.
HARRIS: Journalists Christopher Allbritton with us from Beirut.
Christopher, thanks for your time this morning.
ALLBRITTON: Thank you, Tony.
NGUYEN: And this just in. It is unanimous. The Senate has voted 81-0, making Lieutenant General Petraeus the new top commander of American forces in Iraq. This boosts him from lieutenant general to General Petraeus. But, you know, he wasn't watching this vote, per say, because he is at the White House this hour for a meeting with President Bush. Also there, Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace. The president will be making a statement after that meeting. And, of course, when it happens, we will bring it to you right here on CNN.
But again, a unanimous vote by the Senate to make General Petraeus the new top commander of American forces in Iraq.
HARRIS: Iraqis and Americans killed daily. A war with no end in sight. I will talk to Iraq's foreign minister live next in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Erasing the urge to smoke. That's right. A unique medical case sheds new light on the brain, nicotine cravings and smoking. All of that ahead right here in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: And the underground search for illegal immigrants.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see there's not a whole lot to hide behind.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's nothing to hid behind.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a whole lot.
TUCHMAN: Yes. So if you're claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, this ain't the job for you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, I guess not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: CNN's Gary Tuchman, straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Take a look at this video just in to CNN. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi right there with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. She is in Iraq with other representatives. Let me tell you who they are. They're Representatives Tom Lantos, Ike Skelton and John Murtha. They will be meeting with leaders there, including the prime minister of Iraq, speaking with him about the situation there on the ground. And, of course, we'll bring you the latest as soon as we get it into CNN.
HARRIS: Controversy on campus. Plans for President Bush's library are dividing a university in Texas. CNN's Ed Lavandera reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): For the last six years, SMU's push to win the George W. Bush's Presidential Library was moving along as smoothly as the university's finally manicured landscape.
WILLIAM MCELVANEY, SMU PROFESSOR EMERITUS: This is the ice breaker.
LAVANDERA: But then a retired anti-war professor wrote a little column in the student newspaper. William McElvaney argued the Bush library threatens SMU's academic integrity.
MCELVANEY: If we were to develop what turned into a -- I call it a bully pulpit for the neo-con (ph) philosophies and things, I think SMU would lose respect.
LAVANDERA: What critics are most concerned about is the plan to attach a conserve think tank to the library. Methodist minister and SMU graduate Andrew Weaver started an online protest. About 8,000 people have signed on.
REV. ANDREW WEAVER, SMU GRADUATE: We, as Methodists, do not want to be associated with a presidency that has breached the Geneva Conventions, that has held people in prisons without trial, has tortured people to death under the military authority he has given them. We do not want them to be a part of that.
LAVANDERA: Some critics are also being to fear that bringing the Bush library to this campus could create a terrorist target in an exclusive well-to-do Dallas neighborhood where 11,000 students go to school.
In a post 9/11 world, the university says security measures are a part of the planning progress. Despite the opposition, SMU officials say the library has overwhelming support and will bring history to its campus.
BRAD CHEVES, V.P. OF DEVELOPMENT, SMU: Being able to bring those resources to the fingertips of students, faculty, scholars, researchers and school children is a very important thing.
LAVANDERA: A priceless opportunity, SMU says, to study this controversial presidency for years to come.
Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Sectarian violence in Iraq. Sunnis versus Shia and both groups against U.S. troops. The casualty count climbing daily. Joining me live Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari. He is at the world economic forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr. Foreign Minister, thanks for your time. We appreciate it.
HOSHYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER: You're welcome.
HARRIS: Thank you. CNN has learned this morning that the Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives working inside of Iraq. Does your government support this aggressive an approach to cracking down on Iranian influence in your country?
ZEBARI: Well, this is a new policy. In fact, depends on those people or those agents and their role in Iraq. This, I'm sure, is not targeting innocent Iranians who are visiting the country for legitimate reason. Coming through the proper channels, let's say. I'm sure this policy is aimed at those who are responsible for killing Iraqis, for attacking coalition forces. But their identity, I think their status has to be established. It's not a blank order, I believe, you see.
HARRIS: It sounds like it. Doesn't it sound like it to you? Carte blanche?
ZEBARI: No, I don't think so. No, I don't think so because there are many legitimate Iranian visitors in Iraq like visiting the holy (INAUDIBLE), the holy shrines of the (INAUDIBLE). Also there are diplomats, there are officials, there are diplomatic relations between Iraq and Iran. So I'm sure those people would not be included. All those who are legitimate visitors, no.
HARRIS: Was your government consulted on this policy change? Were you consulted about this policy change? ZEBARI: Well, we were involved in the discussions and negotiation about earlier incidents that took place against their diplomats in Baghdad, raiding their office in the north in Ardez (ph). Yes, we were involved on those discussions and we tried to resolve them, you see, peacefully.
HARRIS: Let me see if I can pin you down a little further on this. Is it your view -- do you approve with this new U.S. strategy the president authorizing the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives in Iraq? What's your view? Where do you stand?
ZEBARI: Well, it depends on defining these operatives. I mean, are they doing legitimate things? Are they embarking on making bombs or killing the American soldiers and Iraqi citizens or security forces? Or are they legitimate visitors? This is the line that needs to be drawn. I don't think it's a blank order, you see. I think it's targeting those, whether foreign fighters, people who are doing disruptive actions.
HARRIS: OK. Your prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki, is calling for a new security operation in the country. Operation Imposing Law. I'm sure you're familiar with it. What does it entail and how might it be different from Operation Together Forward from the summer?
ZEBARI: Well, this is completely different. And we've all learned our lessons from past operations, both the Iraqi government, the multi-national forces. And I think this is a different operation. It targets the capital, Baghdad, to provide better security. It will be carried out in phases and stages. The Iraqi government has to meet its commitment and responsibilities to take the lead and these operations to put -- commit troop levels that is need to hold the areas that have been cleared and then to move -- and to provide basic services for the local population. And I think . . .
HARRIS: Why will this operation be more successful?
ZEBARI: Well, there has been more planning put in that and there is a clearer commitment on both sides. And also the Iraqi commanders actually, the Iraqi forces, would be in the lead and they would be supported by U.S. forces.
HARRIS: What has to -- what needs to -- to ask the question, what has been going on all this time that now you're saying that this operation, as opposed to the other operations, will be carried out with more planning?
ZEBARI: Well . . .
HARRIS: I'm just trying to understand it.
ZEBARI: Well, this is basically -- yes, this is basically an Iraqi operation. And previous operations really were carried out with little consultations with the Iraqi government. But this time I think we put our heads together, that we have a common goal, common objective to clear Baghdad, the capital.
HARRIS: So the U.S. military approach in the past has hindered your efforts to gain security in your country?
ZEBARI: Well, relations between the government and the multi- national forces over the issues of command and control and security responsibility, definition of the mission in part, were very bleared in the past operation. This time they are much, much clearer.
HARRIS: You have a congressional delegation in Iraq right now made up of Democrats who oppose the president's plan to send more U.S. troops into Iraq. They want to know, how will more troops help improve the political process in your country? What's likely to be said by the prime minister to Nancy Pelosi, for example?
ZEBARI: Well, recently we received Senator Hillary Clinton in Baghdad. She was also visiting Baghdad and she met all the Iraqi leaders, myself included. And we explained our position, that there is a need for more troops, more boots on the ground. Baghdad is a large city. It has a population of nearly 6 million people. And there is a lack of the number of troops committed to this. Both American and Iraqis. And that's why we need to mobilize our resources in order to achieve our goals.
I think this is a temporary redeployment. They would not be there forever or for a long time. Their mission or their task is limited. And they are needed. That is the view of my government.
HARRIS: Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari.
Mr. Zebari, thank you for your time.
NGUYEN: Well, from catch and release to orders to kill. We are told the Bush administration issues a tough, new policy against Iranian agents operating inside Iraq. Confirmation this morning from a international security official. So let's get right to it. White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is on the story.
Suzanne, how significant a change in policy does this represent?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really very significant here because it is a clear sign that the United States is very serious about getting tougher with Iran. That it is not just words, but now actions and policy to back this all up. A national security official is telling me this morning that the Bush administration is now authorizing the U.S. military to not only capture but kill Iranian agents inside of Iraq. That under certain conditions, of course. Whether or not there is actionable intelligence that these agents are plotting or planning to hurt or harm American forces, coalition forces, Iraqi forces.
But this is a very significant development. This is something that involves a discussion at the highest level. The president, State Department, Pentagon, intelligence, over the -- since the fall, since last fall. But it's just been over the last couple of months, I'm told, that the president signed off on this new policy essentially because things were so bad on the ground inside of Iraq.
Now I spoke with the National Security council spokesman, Gordon Johndroe. This is the way he describes it -- explains it. He says, "the president has made clear for some time we will take the steps necessary to protect Americans on the ground in Iraq and disrupt activity that could lead to their harm. Our forces have standing authority consistent with the mandate of the U.S. Security Council."
And who is he talking about here? He is primarily talking about "the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force," which he says "is a part of the Iranian state apparatus that supports and carries out these activities." Those activities, of course, being what they say are terror activities, plotting against Americans, as well as Iraqis. Take a listen here to what the president said just a couple of weeks ago concerning Iran and Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq. Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops. We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria. And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: And, Betty, a national security official told me that that statement that the president made just 16 days ago, in fact, was an acknowledgement, a recognition of this new policy, of this capture or kill policy, that this is very serious, that was a warning, a signal to Iranians and also meant to be reassurance to the allies in the region that the U.S. is very serious about cracking down and protecting the Iraqi people and protecting that government and that it would go after Iranians inside Iraq, capturing and killing, if necessary, to protect them -- Betty.
NGUYEN: And, Suzanne, of course we'll be talking to you at the top of the hour because, as you know, the president right now is meeting with his top military advisers, including General David Petraeus, who was just confirmed unanimously by the Senate to lead American forces in Iraq. So we'll talk to you then.
Thank you, Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.
MALVEAUX: Sure.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN, the most trusted name in news. Now back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Well, good morning. You're in the NEWSROOM. I'm Betty Nguyen in today for Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: Hey, Betty.
NGUYEN: Hi there.
HARRIS: Good to see you. NGUYEN: It's good to be here.
HARRIS: It's been a while.
NGUYEN: I know.
HARRIS: 10:30 in the morning Eastern time, 7:30 Pacific.
Good morning, everyone.
No credit, no problem. She couldn't get a credit card in her name, so someone else did. A preview of our Emmy Award-winning documentary, "How to Rob a Bank" straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Also, Tony, you know it is Friday, so we're going to be talking viewer e-mail and Gerri Willis is here to explain all about that.
What do people want to know, Gerri?
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, good morning.
Well, we're going to tell people how to lower your interest rate on your credit card and boost your credit score. We're taking questions next on "Top Tips".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breaking news, revealing developments. See for yourself in the CNN NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Let's say we go to the White House right now. Live picture there of President Bush meeting the morning with new Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the new lead commander in Iraq, David -- General David Petraeus.
NGUYEN: No longer Lieutenant General, he is now a general.
HARRIS: Picked up another star, four star. And Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace.
We're expecting the president to make a statement after that meeting shortly. And when he does, we will bring that to you live, of course, here in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: All right. Credit scores, credit reports and, of course, those passports. Just some of the topics tackled today -- say that three times -- by CNN personal finance editor Gerri Willis, who joins us from New York to answer some of these e-mail questions. And these are some good ones.
WILLIS: Hey.
NGUYEN: Hi there, Gerri.
WILLIS: Betty, it's good to see you. NGUYEN: Well, good to see you, too.
And I'm really interested in the answers to this, so let's get right to it, shall we, Gerri?
WILLIS: All right. Hit me with that first question.
NGUYEN: OK. Barb from Pennsylvania writes: "I read that changing utility companies frequently (cable, dish and DirectTV, etc.) can create an inquiry on your credit report and this will result in an increase in your insurance premium. Is that true?"
WILLIS: Well, Barb in Pennsylvania has it right. Switching your cable operators frequently can increase your insurance premiums.
NGUYEN: Why is that?
WILLIS: Well, cable companies and phone companies look at your credit history and that can hurt your score. And if you have more than two or three inquiries into your credit score per year, well, guess what, your insurance rates can go up. That's because 90 percent of insurers look at your score to determine your rate.
But remember, inquiries don't impact your score all that much. In most cases, your score would drop by less than five percent. So, she's got it right.
NGUYEN: All right, all right. Stick with the company that you came with. Dance with the one that brought you, right?
OK, Brandi in Indiana writes this -- this is something a lot of people can relate to -- "How do I negotiate a lower rate on my credit card? The card started at a lower rate" -- as they all do -- "and then all of the sudden shot up! Do you have any advice?"
WILLIS: Well, Brandi, everybody seems to experience that these days. But we've got good news. More competition gives consumers greater leverage to negotiate lower rates. So if you have been a good customer, chances are you may be able to shave some points off your interest rate. In fact, according to a recent study, over 75 percent of people who asked to pay less said they got their rates reduced. Remember, pick up the telephone and call. I've done it myself. It works. If you've missed a payment, which may cause your rate to skyrocket, make sure you call the company and ask for leniency. And, of course, you can simply switch to a lower rate card. Shop around at cardratings.com.
NGUYEN: I think that's good advice, because oftentimes, you won't get if you don't ask.
WILLIS: That's right.
NGUYEN: And Jim is asking -- here's what his question is: "Is it OK to have an expired passport when going to Canada? I won't have enough time to get a new one. We will be traveling by bus."
So that may be key.
WILLIS: Well, it is key. But, so for right now, Jim, you're in the clear. The new passport rules apply only to air travelers. But you still can't afford to dawdle. Replace that passport soon. Beginning next January, you'll need a passport if you're going to be taking a bus, driving a car or going on a cruise. For more information on how to renew that passport, go to the State Department's website and you'll find that at travel.state.gov.
And, Betty, I want to remind your viewers if you have a question, send it to us at toptips@CNN.com. We love to hear from you. We answer those questions right here every Friday. And they're always really, really smart ones.
NGUYEN: Yes, they are. And you always have great answers. So we're looking forward to that.
Gerri, as always, such a pleasure.
WILLIS: My pleasure. Thank you.
NGUYEN: See you later.
HARRIS: And my understanding is, Betty, that we are just moments away from the president's statement this morning after his meeting, throughout the morning, actually, with new Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the new lead commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, who you mentioned a moment ago, won confirmation by the full Senate.
NGUYEN: Unanimous.
HARRIS: Unanimous vote, picking up a fourth star in the process. General David Petraeus and the Joint Chiefs Chairman Peter Pace. The administration making a lot of new statements from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, urging the Iraqi parliament to leave militants in the country nowhere to hide.
Let's take you now to the White House and to President Bush.
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PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Just had a full briefing with General David Petraeus about the way forward in Iraq. I want to thank the secretary and General Pace, the national security adviser for joining this discussion.
Congratulations.
GENERAL DAVID PETRAEUS: Thank you, sir.
BUSH: The Senate confirmed this good man without a dissenting vote.
I appreciate the quick action of the United States Senate. I appreciate them giving General David Petraeus a fair hearing. And I appreciate the vote. My instructions to the general is get over to the zone as quickly as possible and implement a plan that we believe will yield our goals.
And I thank the general and his family.
I particularly want to thank your family for supporting you and supporting our nation.
One of the amazing things about our country is that we've got military folks who volunteer to go into a tough (ph) zone to protect the American people from future harm, and they've got families who stand by them.
And whether you be a general or a private in the military, there is a family member saying, "I love you and I'll support you."
So, General, I congratulate you, and I congratulate the volunteers and their families for making a hard decision, if necessary (ph), to protect their people from a grave danger.
And you're going into an important battle in this war on terror. And I give you my full support and wish you Godspeed.
PETRAEUS: Thank you, Mr. President.
I'd like to thank the Senate as well, thank my family, and above all thank those great soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and civilians who are out there on the front lines of the global war on terror.
BUSH: I'll answer a couple of questions.
QUESTION: The other night in your State of the Union address, you asked Congress to give your plan a chance. The lawmakers (inaudible) didn't really miss a step in starting to turn out resolutions against that plan. Why do you think it's OK to go ahead without their support?
BUSH: One of the things I've found in Congress is that most people recognize that failure would be a disaster for the United States. And, in that I'm the decision-maker, I had to come up with a way forward that precluded disaster.
Of course, I had to think about what's likely to work. And so I worked with our military and I worked with Secretary Gates to come up with a plan that is likely to succeed. And the implementer of that plan is going to be General Petraeus.
And my call to the Congress is is that I know there is skepticism and pessimism and that they are -- some are condemning the plan before its even had a chance to work. And they have a obligation and a serious responsibility, therefore, to put out their own plan as to what would work.
I've listened to lots of members of Congress. I've listened carefully to their suggestions. And I have picked the plan that I think is most likely to succeed. Because I understand, like many in Congress understand, success is very important for the security of the country.
QUESTION: This policy of going after Iranians inside Iraq, are you concerned that that could be a provocative act back in the region...
BUSH: Well, I made it very clear.
QUESTION: ... (INAUDIBLE) moving an aircraft carrier to the Gulf?
BUSH: Well, I made it very clear, as had the secretary, that our policy is going to be to protect our troops in Iraq.
It makes sense that if somebody's trying to harm our troops, or stop us from achieving our goal, or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them. It's an obligation we all have is to protect -- is to protect our folks and achieve our goal.
Now, some are trying to say that because we're enforcing -- helping ourselves in Iraq by stopping outside influences from killing our soldiers or hurting Iraqi people, that we want to expand this beyond the borders.
That's a presumption that simply is not accurate.
We believe that we can solve our problem with Iran diplomatically and are working to do that. As a matter of fact, we're making pretty good progress on that front.
As you know, the Iranians, for example, want to have -- think they want to have a nuclear weapon. And we've convinced other nations to join us to send a clear message through the United Nations that that's unacceptable behavior.
Yes, we're going to continue to protect ourselves in Iraq and at the same time work to solve their problems with Iran diplomatically, and I believe we can succeed.
The choice is the Iranian government's choice. And one of the things that the Iranian government is doing is they've begun to isolate their nation to the harm of the Iranian people.
And the Iranian people are proud people, and they've got a great history and a great tradition. Our struggle is not with the Iranian people. As a matter of fact, we want them to flourish and we want their economy to be strong, and we want their mothers to be able to raise their children in a hopeful society.
My problem is with the government that takes actions that end up isolating their people and ends up denying the Iranian people their true place in the world.
And so we're working diplomatically, and I believe we can solve our problems peacefully. Thank you all very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: There you have it, the president with the new commander of multinational forces in Iraq, General David Petraeus. The president anxious to get General Petraeus on the ground as quickly as possible. The general will lead the American forces in Iraq, including the 2,100 new troops being moved into Iraq now to secure Baghdad and Anbar province.
And in just a moment there, you heard, a moment ago, you heard the president confirming his administration's new change in policy, authorizing the U.S. military to kill or capture Iranian operatives inside Iraq, who the president mentioned may be targeting Iraqi forces, coalition forces and U.S. soldiers, and you heard the president again calling himself the decider. I am the decision-maker when it comes to sending more troops into Iraq. The president had some pretty strong words for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who criticized the idea of moving more troops into Iraq to secure Baghdad and Anbar province.
He challenged those lawmakers, as you heard there, to put up their own ideas. And more on the president's comments throughout the day here on the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: And speaking of Iraq, let's take you there, because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and three other congressional members are in Iraq meeting with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. You're seeing Pelosi there with the prime minister.
Let me tell you a little about this trip, because we have learned from a statement from al-Maliki's office that in this meeting that we're looking at from Iraqi Television here, that the prime minister emphasized the government's plan to confront terrorists, politically as well as military. Al-Maliki also discussed the readiness of Iraq's troops to take over security responsibilities, and he asked for an acceleration of the process of building up the troops, training them and equipping them.
Now on the flip side, Pelosi, she affirmed her support for the Democratic process in Iraq and the transfer of responsibilities to Iraqi troops, but she also added that she will not object to any efforts made by the U.S. administration to accelerate a complete handover to Iraqi forces.
So a meeting there in Iraq with the prime minister Nuri al-Maliki on the state of affairs on the ground in Iraq. I will tell you that this congressional delegation is scheduled to be back in Washington on Monday. So if there are new developments out of all of this, we'll bring it to you right here on CNN.
HARRIS: Still to come, blinding snow, treacherous roads lead to a massive mangled mess. Talk a look at it. That's outrageous, isn't it? Pileup in Pennsylvania, ahead in the NEWSROOM.
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NGUYEN: You've got to see this next story. A massive explosion just levels a house, but somehow it spares the homeowners. Look at this, a heap of burning rubble, all that's left of a home in Missouri City, Texas. The explosion was so powerful it damaged nearby homes and could be heard miles away.
In fact, as the debris rained down, it awakened neighbors and red a flood of calls to 9/11. Well, of course it would. Confused homeowners mistakenly reported break-ins or even gunshots. The homeowner somehow escaped without serious injury.
A gas leak, though, is suspected for doing all of that damage.
HARRIS: And, Betty, in Pennsylvania a ten mile stretch of Interstate 90 is open this morning after a tremendous pileup. Fifty vehicles slammed into each other in a deadly chain reaction accident. The highway shut for about 15 hours. It happened during a snowstorm, obviously. Twenty-trailers tractor trailers and ambulance carrying patients, part of the crumbled mix here. One driver was killed and several had bumps and scrapes. One official said he is surprised that anyone survived this mess.
And, Chad, you throw on, you know, the snow tires, the chains and everything else. But, you know, you get caught up in one of those things, you just can't -- you can't stop it stop it.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Coming up, words never spoken. What President Bush didn't say sparks outrage in New Orleans. We take a closer look coming up in the NEWSROOM.
SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. When NEWSROOM returns, I'll tell you why Bill Gates is turning to comedy.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LISOVICZ: I'm Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange. The world's biggest auto-maker says it's delaying its fourth quarter report and restating several years of results because of accounting issues. General Motors' report had been slated for release next Tuesday.
But there is good news. GM says it will post a quarterly profit, its first since the end of 2004. The company lost more than three billion dollars in the first three months of last year and more than ten and a half billion in 2005. This comes just a day after Ford reported a nearly $13 billion annual loss, the worst in its 103 year history.
Another big company we're focusing on today: Microsoft. The company's quarterly profits and revenue came in better than expected, thanks largely to brisk sales of its Xbox 360 video game console. But profits still fell from last year. That's because Microsoft has been offering buyers coupons to upgrade its new Windows Vista operating system for free.
And here's something you don't see everyday, Microsoft's chairman, Bill Gates, is scheduled to appear on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show With John Stewart" next Monday to promote Vista's Tuesday release. And believe it or not, it's actually not the first time Microsoft has made friends with a late night TV host. "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno appeared on stage with Gates for the Windows 95 launch event. Mr. Gates won't be giving up his day job any time soon.
(MARKET REPORT)
HARRIS: Another bombing in Baghdad. This time, animal lovers attacked.
Live to the Iraqi capital in the NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: Also, chaos in Beirut giving ways to a tense calm. Lebanon's violent day, that is ahead right here in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: Erasing the urge to smoke, a unique medical case sheds new light on the brain, nicotine cravings and smoking. That's ahead in the NEWSROOM.
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