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Walter Reed Probe

Aired March 06, 2007 - 10:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And hello to you all, I'm T.J. Holmes, sitting in today for Tony Harris. You're about to spend a second hour in the NEWSROOM this morning and stay informed. Here is what we have on the rundown.

A presidential commission will look into poor conditions at Walter Reed Army Hospital. President Bush expected to announce the panel's co-chairs this hour. His remarks will be live right here in the NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: And dozen dead or wounded in south Asia today. Another big earthquake and aftershock Indonesia's Sumatra island.

HOLMES: And a pair of Senate Yankees sounding off in the deep south for presidential votes. Draw with a paw. It's Tuesday, March 7th, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

COLLINS: A new development unfolding this hour in the scandal at Walter Reed Medical Center. CNN has learned President Bush will appoint two Washington veterans to lead a probe of the military's medical system. That announcement due this hour. CNN's Kathleen Koch at the White House now with the very latest.

Kathleen, the president expected, of course, to talk about the Walter Reed situation when he addresses the American Legion in just a few minutes.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And the official announcement of this decision was made actually by Spokesperson Dana Perino just about half an hour ago, a White House spokesperson, saying that it will be former Senate majority leader, Republican Bob Dole, and a former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who will head this bipartisan presidential commission looking into whether or not these problems that existed without patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, whether or not they exist at other military and veterans hospitals around the country. So they really are going to cast a very wide net.

Now, certainly, no one can really argue with the selection of these two. Senator Bob Dole, impeccable credentials. Obviously a former presidential candidate, Senate majority leader, wounded World War II veteran, hit my Nazi machine gunfire in Hills Valley (ph) back in 1945, permanently disabling his arm. He's got two purple hearts, a bronze star. Donna Shalala was Health and Human Services secretary for eight years under Bill Clinton, making her the longest-serving HHS secretary. And the president, Perino said, will be naming the other members of this nine-member commission possibly by the end of the week. And he expects to hear back from them relatively quickly, by June 30th.

But Perino also announced that the president today is asking the head of the Veterans Administration to form an interagency task force. Now the point of that is to get some immediate changes. This task force will see what can be done right away. If these problems are existing, not only at Walter Reed, but at other places, other hospitals in the country, the president wants to fix that immediately. So that is going to be the point of the interagency task force.

Perino said the task force will meet at the White House tomorrow. Also the president will meet tomorrow with both Dole and Shalala to speak to them about their roles.

Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Kathleen Koch on top of this story for us as well. We will continue to watch that and bring it to our viewers when it happens live.

Kathleen, thank you.

KOCH: You bet.

HOLMES: Also coming this hour, the Senate Armed Services Committee focusing on that same sandal. You can expect to hear more angry charges about the failure of the military's medical system and the care given to those wounded in war. CNN's Barbara Starr joins us now from the Pentagon.

And, Barbara, we see the hearings there underway. Are we hearing much out of them just yet?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, T.J., this hearing now is the second, as you say, in a series of congressional hearings about the unfolding scandal, about military healthcare at Walter Reed. This is the Senate Armed Services Committee. And the rhetoric already is very critical of the military and the Army. Just have a listen to one of the opening statements by Committee Chairman Senator Carl Levin of Michigan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CARL LEVIN, (D) ARMED SERVICES CHAIRMAN: Today's hearing is about another example of the lack of planning for a war that was premised on the assumption that combat operations would be swift, casualties would be minimal, and that we would be welcomed as liberators, instead of being attacked by the people we liberated.

(END VIDEO CLIP) STARR: T.J., Army officials and DOD officials are just beginning their testimony. Again, apologizing for what has happened at Walter Reed, but still expect several hours of very critical questioning from the senators today about how this could have happened without anybody in the Army apparently noticing.

T.J.

HOLMES: And, Barbara, as well, we were talking a little earlier, it's always, you've got to sprinkle a little politics into everything up there on Capitol Hill. But as well, you've got a couple on this committee who are seeking the White House. So you expect pretty strong questioning from them as well today?

STARR: Well, I think that's right. Of course, Senator Hillary Clinton from New York, a presidential contender already, and Senator John McCain of Arizona. But Senator McCain will carry considerable weight, of course, on this matter as he was badly injured as a POW held by the North Vietnamese for many years, has been a user, of course, of the military healthcare system. And he, like Senator Dole, of course, is a reminder that service members who are so badly injured in war often need medical care for the rest of their lives.

And that is really one of the things that is unfolding in this entire matter, so many of the hundreds of badly-wounded young troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are people that are going to need healthcare for the next 50 or 60 years, for the rest of their lives. This will only begin to unfold. This will be a burden not just on the military healthcare system but also on the Veterans Administration. This is going to be a burden that they are just going to have to meet, according to the experts.

T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Barbara Starr, of course, from the Pentagon.

Barbara, thank you so much.

And again, I should say, we're keeping an eye on the president about to make his remarks.

COLLINS: New developments out of Iraq this morning. Police say two suicide bombers detonated themselves among a crowd of Shiite pilgrims today in central Hilla. We're told 47 people were killed, nearly 120 more wounded. It's the latest in a string of attacks on pilgrims who are on their way to the holy city of Karbala for a weekend religious holiday.

And this. American troops targeted in deadly attacks. Nine soldiers reported killed in two separate bombings north of Baghdad. The military says six of those troops were killed in a blast during a combat operation. In Salah ad Din province. In Diyala province, three more soldiers killed by a roadside bomb. Both incidents happened yesterday.

But happening now, President Bush addressing the American Legion. Let's go ahead and listen in.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I appreciate Beverly, his wife, and JoAnn Cronin, who happens to be the president of the American Legion Auxiliary. She gets her hair done at the same place my mother does. Like if you're listening, mom, that's a compliment.

I appreciate so very much Secretary Jim Nicholson, who's in my cabinet, Department of Veteran Affairs secretary.

I want to thank the members of the Congress who have joined us, starting with Senator Jim Bunning, Senator Orrin Hatch and Senator Lindsey Graham. I'm honored you three men are here. Thanks for your time. And I thank you for your articulate defense for the support of our troops.

I appreciate so very much Congressman Jim Sacks from New Jersey, Mike Pence from Indiana and Joe Wilson from South Carolina. Welcome and thank you for coming.

Since it's founding in the aftermath of World War I, the American Legion has assumed a sacred obligation to preserve the traditions of our great democracy and to watch over those charged with its defense. In every war and in every era, our country's veterans have kept faith with the American people. And it's the obligation of the government to keep faith with our veterans.

The support of our veterans has been a high priority in my administration. This year I've asked Congress for more than $86 billion for veterans services. And if Congress approves my request, this would amount to a 77 percent increase of the budgets since I took office. It would be the highest level of support for our veterans in American history.

We share with your concern about making sure our vets have good healthcare. I've talked to your commanders, past. I suspect I'll be talking to your commanders, future, about making sure that our veterans have got good, decent, quality healthcare. Since 2001, we've helped over one million more veterans. We've added a million veterans take advantage of the VA healthcare system.

The 2008 budget proposal will increase the VA healthcare budget by 83 percent since I took office. The Department of Defense's healthcare budget has grown from $19 billion to $38 billion. And that's an important commitment. And I look forward to working with Congress to say to our veterans, we care about you.

Money is one thing, delivery of services is another. I know I share -- [ applause ] Listen, I'm as concerned as you are about the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My decisions have put our kids in harm's way. And I'm concerned about the fact that when they come back they don't get the full treatment they deserve.

Many people working at Walter Reed are fine people. If you've been out there you know what I'm talking about. They're dedicated, honorable healers who care deeply about our soldiers. Fine doctors, nurses and therapists work day and night to help the wounded. Yet some of our troops at Walter Reed have experienced bureaucratic delays and living conditions that are less than they deserve. It's unacceptable to me, it's unacceptable to you, it's unacceptable to our country and it's not going to continue.

I recently asked Secretary of Defense Bob Gates to assess the situation at Walter Reed firsthand and report back to me. He confirmed that there are problems. Real problems. He's taking action to address those problems and hold people to account, including relieving the general in charge of the facility and accepting the resignation of the secretary of the Army.

As we work to improve conditions at Walter Reed, we're also taking steps to find out whether similar problems exist at other military and veterans hospitals. The best way to do so in a constructive way, in a way that will bring forth the truth is to create a bipartisan presidential commission. I've asked two distinguished public servants to lead the commission and they have accepted. Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.

The commission will conduct a comprehensive review of the care America is providing our wounded servicemen and women returning from the battlefield. This review will examine their treatment from the time they leave the battlefield through their return to civilian life as veterans. So we can assure that we're meeting the physical and mental health needs of all.

As this commission begins its work and considers its recommendations, I've also directed the secretary of Veterans Affairs to lead a task force composed of seven members of my cabinet to focus and respond to immediate needs. We have an obligation. We have a moral obligation to provide the best possible care and treatment to the men and women who served our country. They deserve it and they're going to get it.

My administration appreciates your strong support of the flag. The flag is emblazoned on the uniforms of brave men and women who serve our country. It is draped on the coffins of those who fall on the field of battle. It is a symbol of a noble nation and of a higher calling. I join with you and the elected legislatures of all 50 states in urging Congress to provide the flag with the constitutional protection it deserves.

My administration also shares your determination to keep faith with our prisoners of war and those missing in action. We cannot rest and must not rest until we've accounted for every member of our armed forces from every war and every corner of the globe.

American Legion halls have been mainstays of our communities and neighborhoods for generations. You've taught millions of young people the importance of good citizenship and the values of God and country. And I appreciate these valuable lessons in America. I saw them firsthand when I was the governor of Texas. After all, you sponsored boys state and girls state. They're great programs. I found it very interesting how the executive director describes the programs. He says, "these programs" -- he said "the programs don't" -- the programs, quote -- the program, "does not" -- he has a little trouble with the English. And so do I. Describes this as an initiative that, "does not emphasize classroom and textbook learning." That's my kind of program.

Your example of service offers invaluable lessons for future generations. In times of peace, you counsel vigilance. In times of war, you counsel resolve.

More than five years have passed since the attacks of September the 11, 2001. And we find ourselves debating the causes of this conflict and the course we have followed. Yet even among our differences, there are few questions that surely have been settled.

One is that September the 11th was not only a crime but an act of war. A war waged by fanatics who believe it is their duty to kill Americans and impose their hateful ideology as far as they can spread it.

Since 9/11, they have continued to try to attack us here at home. They're relentless and they're determined. We stopped an al Qaeda plot to fly a hijacked airplane into the tallest building on the West Coast. We stopped a southeast Asian terror cell grooming operatives for attacks inside the United States. We stopped an al Qaeda cell developing anthrax to be used in attacks against America. For each life saved, we owe a debt of gratitude to our military and intelligence and law enforcement personnel who devote their lives to finding the terrorists and stopping them and protecting the American people.

Our most solemn duty is to protect you. The most solemn duty of this government is to protect the American people from further harm. And the best way to do so is to stay on the offense. So we pursue the enemy aggressively around the world, degrading their ability to organize and coordinate new attacks here at home.

In the wake of 9/11, Americans made a choice. Instead of waiting for the enemy to strike on their terms, we would fight the enemy on our terms.

We fight this war on many fronts. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we removed two of the world's most brutal regimes and now we're undertaking the complex work of helping the people of these two countries establish functioning democracies that can protect their own people and be allies in this global war on terror.

Sometimes we lose sight of the importance of this work in the midst of heated debates. And this is especially true when it comes to Iraq. The fight in Iraq is more than a conflict in one country. It is part of a larger struggle against extremism that is unfolding across the broader Middle East. The extremists are fighting to take control of Iraq so they can establish it as a base from which to overthrow moderate governments in the region and plan new attacks on the American people. If we fail in Iraq, the enemy will follow us home. Their success in Iraq would bring danger to America and that is why America must prevail in Iraq.

I appreciate your strong support for those who have volunteered to wear our uniform. Thousands of courageous men and women have stepped forward to protect us. And they're not alone. Since this war began, nearly 120,000 Iraqis have volunteered to serve in their army. More than 8,000 Iraqis in uniform have died in the defense of their new nation. Recently in Anbar province, where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered, 1,000 Sunnis volunteered for the police force in a period of two weeks.

Last month in Hilla, an Iraqi police officer threw himself on to a suicide bomber. A final heroic act that saved an untold number of Iraqis gathered outside a local mosque.

Every month Iraqis risk reprisals from the terrorists and extremists to provide thousands of tips to coalition and Iraqi authorities. One recent tip from an Iraqi led to the discovery of a factory where insurgents developed sophisticated roadside bombs to kill our troops. With these acts of bravery, the Iraqis are standing up for the democratic future that 12 million of them voted for.

The vast majority of Iraq's citizens want to live in peace. And they're showing their courage every day. And the United States of America will not abandon them in their hour of need.

To reach our goals and to prevail, we must recognize that the nature of the war in Iraq has changed. In 2005, the terrorists tried and failed to stop the Iraqi people as they held three national elections, they chose a transitional government, as they adopted the most progressive democratic constitution in the Arab world, and then they elected a government under that constitution. So a thinking enemy adjusted their tactics. And in 2006, they struck.

Last February, al Qaeda and other Sunni extremists blew up the Golden Mosque of Samarra. This atrocity was designed to provoke retaliation from the Iraqi Shia. And it succeeded. Radical Shia limits (ph), some of whom receive support from Iran, formed death squads and the result was a tragic escalation of sectarian rage and reprisal.

This changed the nature of the conflict in Iraq. We still face the threat from al Qaeda, but the sectarian violence was getting out of hand and threatened to destroy this young democracy before it had a chance to succeed. So last fall I ordered my national security team to conduct a comprehensive review of our strategy in Iraq.

We devised an approach that is markedly different from previous efforts. This approach demands more from Iraq's elected government, makes bringing security to Baghdad our top priority, and gives our troops the reinforcements they need to carry out their missions. And to carry out their strategy, I put in place a highly-regarded commander, an expert on counter insurgency, General David Petraeus. General Petraeus' mission is to help Iraq's leaders implement the plan that they developed to secure Baghdad. Today they can't do this on their own, so I've ordered reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional combat soldiers and Marines to Iraq. The majority will go to Baghdad where they will help Iraqi forces to clear and secure neighborhoods and where they will partner with Iraqi units. With the Iraqis in the lead, our forces will help secure the city by chasing down the terrorists and insurgents and murders and roaming death squads.

We're fixing one of the major problems with our previous approach in Baghdad. In the past, our forces would help Iraqis clear out neighborhoods during the day and then go back to their bases at night and often the enemy returned as soon as the American forces left.

This time we will hold the neighborhoods we've cleared by establishing over 30 joint security stations throughout Baghdad. These will be neighborhood outposts where Iraqi forces with U.S. help will be deployed 24 hours a day to secure the population, provide emergency aid to the communities and gather information to route out extremist networks throughout the capital. And at the same time, our force will continue to train Iraqi army and police so that we can help ensure that the Iraqi forces left behind are capable of providing security that Baghdad needs.

It's too early to judge the success of this operation. General Petraeus recently arrived in the Iraqi capital. The plan he's executing is in its early stages. This strategy is going to take time and we can expect al Qaeda and other extremists to try to derail the strategy by launching spectacular attacks.

And even at this early hour, there are some encouraging signs. The Iraqi government has completed the deployment of three additional Iraqi army brigades to the capital. They said they're going to deploy three brigades and they did. Iraq's leaders have lifted restrictions on Iraqi and coalition forces that prevented them from going into certain areas. Already about half of the joint security stations have been established in neighborhoods across Baghdad.

Iraqi and U.S. forces have rounded up more than 700 people affiliated with Shia extremists. They've recovered large weapons caches, including mortar weapons systems and rocket propelled grenades. Iraqi and American forces have also launched successful operations against the Sunni extremists. U.S. and Iraqi forces recently killed al Qaeda terrorist in Baghdad who are responsible for some of those bomb attacks that you're seeing on your TV screens.

And in the past two weeks, U.S. and Iraqi forces have also uncovered large stockpiles of explosively-formed projectiles, or EFPs, which are used by extremist groups to attack our troops. Iraqi and U.S. forces are making gradual but important progress almost every day. And we will remain steadfast until our objectives are achieved.

In addition to the steps they're taking to secure their capital, Iraq's leaders are also taking steps to achieve political reconciliation. Reconciliation that is necessary after years of brutal tyranny. They've committed themselves to a series of benchmarks to advance this reconciliation, to share all revenues amongst all Iraq's citizens, to put the wealth of Iraq into rebuilding of Iraq, to allow more Iraqis to reenter their nation's civic life, to hold local elections and to take responsibility for security in every Iraqi province.

The Iraqis have already begun to deliver on some of these promises. For example, Iraq's council of ministers recently agreed on legislation they will submit to their parliament on the development of Iraq's oil resources and the sharing of revenues. Last month, the Iraqi government approved a budget that includes $10 billion for reconstruction and capital investment.

These are encouraging signs and now Iraq's leaders must meet the other pledges they have made. To succeed, Iraq's leaders also need the help of the international community. So the United States supports the Iraq government as it pursues an international initiative to build diplomatic, economic and security support for its young democracy. Last week the Iraqis announced that they will hold a conference in Baghdad that will include officials from Iraq's neighboring countries, as well as the permanent members of the UN Security Council, the Arab League and the organization of Islamic conference.

This is going to be followed next month by a second conference that includes Secretary Rice and her counterparts from around the world. These meetings will be an important test. It will be a test of whether Iran and Syria are truly interested in being constructive forces in Iraq. It will be a test for the international community to express its support for this young democracy, to support a nation that will be at peace with its neighbors.

Diplomacy is going to play an important part on securing Iraq's future, yet diplomacy will fail without a robust military strategy. The goal of the enemies in Iraq is power and they're willing to kill themselves and innocent men, women and children to achieve that goal. People like these can't be satisfied by negotiations or diplomatic concessions. Our strategy recognizes the hard truth. So we're going to continue to pursue our enemies in Iraq relentlessly and at the same time we'll work with moderate forces to achieve reconciliation between sectarian factions.

Here in Washington, we have important decisions on Iraq ahead of us. And the most pivotal question is whether the United States Congress will stand behind General Petraeus and our troops as they work to secure Baghdad. General Petraeus has my confidence. He also has the confidence of the United States Senate. In fact, he was recently confirmed to his post without one single vote against him. Yet almost immediately, the House passed a resolution that disapproved of his strategy for success in Iraq.

I know you find that puzzling. You're not the only one. This may be the first time in the history of the United States Congress that voted to send a new commander into battle and then voted to oppose the plan he said was critical in winning that battle. Members of Congress have every right to express their opinion. They have every right. They also have a responsibility to fund our war fighters.

Some in Congress have called for cutting off funds for our troops only to find opposition from their colleagues on Capitol Hill. Now others in Congress are planning to use an emergency war spending bill that will provide funds for the war on terror as an opportunity to add on billions of dollars for unrelated domestic programs. Tacking extra domestic spending to emergency war spending bill only will complicate Congress' ability to provide the support that our troops urgently need. I ask the Congress to approve the funds we requested and our troops are counting on without strings and without delay.

Equally important to funding our troops is giving our commanders the flexibility to carry out their missions, without undue interference from politicians in Washington. Some members of Congress say that we can succeed in Iraq without providing the re-enforcements that our forces have been promised and are expecting. I disagree. More importantly, our commanders disagree. Other members of Congress seem to believe that we can have it all, that we can fight al Qaeda, pursue national reconciliation, initiate aggressive diplomacy and deter Iran's ambitions in Iraq, all the while withdrawing from Baghdad and reducing our force levels.

That sounds good in theory, but doing so at this moment would undermine everything our troops have worked for. There is no shortcuts in Iraq. There are no shortcuts in Iraq. Our intelligence and military experts agree that given the current situation, Iraq will not be a stable nation until its capital is more secure. Political reconciliation is difficult when a country's seat of government is under constant siege.

Economic improvements cannot take root when Baghdad's neighborhoods are the scene of daily sectarian violence and reprisals. And you cannot effectively battle al Qaeda by ignoring the sectarian violence they are inciting, especially in the capital. If American forces were to step back from Baghdad now, before it is more secure, the scale and scope of attacks would increase and the intensity would increase. Contagion of violence could spill out across the entire country and in time the entire region.

The enemy would emerge from the chaos emboldened with new safe havens and new recruits and new resources and an even greater determination to harm America. For our country, this is a nightmare scenario. For the enemy, it's their plan. They're not debating whether the war in Iraq is worth it. Hear the words of bin Laden in a message to the American people just last year. He says of Iraq, the war is for you or for us to win. If we win it, it means your defeat and disgrace forever.

In the face of such a determined enemy, the idea of pulling back from the fight and hoping for the best is not a reasonable position. America did not drive al Qaeda out of their safe haven in Afghanistan only to let them set up a shop in a free Iraq. Now that the battle for Baghdad is under way, our country is best served by standing behind our troops and doing everything we can to aid in their success. The outcome of this conflict involves more than the fortunes of any one president or any political party. Our mission is America's mission and our failure would be America's failure. Our country is fortunate that our mission is in the hands of America's finest citizens, the men and women who wear our uniform. They've been on the battlefield. They have seen this war up close. They know the consequences of failure and they appreciate something larger, the consequences of success.

We know what a free Iraq can mean for the region in the world because we know how your sacrifices half a century ago helped create a free Germany that transformed Europe and a free Japan that sparked a wave of democracy and prosperity throughout much of Asia. We know that a free Iraq has the potential to spark a similar transformation in the Middle East and bring us closer to today when moms and dads in the Arab world see a future of hope for their children. And we know that the sacrifices that our troops are making in Iraq today will lay the foundation of peace for generations of Americans to come.

Last year I received a letter from a Navy CB (ph) named Andy Clements (ph). He was serving in Iraq. He says, he worked alongside Iraqis on a daily basis and that they appreciate what America is doing for their country. He told me this story. I was at Baghdad international airport several weeks ago and had a small Iraqi boy near the same age as my own son, run up to me and salute. He kept repeating thank you in broken English and wanted to shake my hand. I will remember that chance meeting forever. And that to me is what being -- is what being done here is all about.

In the brief history of our nation, we have seen freedom remake the world many times. And yet we always seem surprised by the quiet power of our ideals. It's in our power to show those who hunger for liberty the path away from tyranny and terror. Throughout our history we have gone through tough moments and we have come out stronger on the other side. We've been guided by our belief that freedom is not an American privilege, but a value that belongs to all mankind.

Struggle in Iraq may be hard, but this should not be a time for despair. We can have confidence in the final outcome of this struggle because we have men on our side like Tommy Tartiff, 25-year-old Marine was in Iraqi town when a squad came under heavy fire. He was engaged in combat so intense that Marine Corps commandant, General Mike Hagey (ph) described it as a hand grenade throwing contest. In that combat Sergeant Tartiff was seriously wounded by grenade fragments, yet he refused medical attention until the battle had been won. Later when he was evacuated, he called his wife from the transit hospital in Germany and he said this. Honey, I can come home right now but I feel I have responsibilities and I'm going back to Iraq.

He borrowed a uniform. He convinced his doctor to let him out of the hospital and the man returned to his squad. A lot of you can tell stories like this. Each of you knows a fellow patriot whose name is carried in your heart or sits proudly behind you in this hall today. I want to thank you for the sacrifices you have made. I thank you for the example you have set and I thank you for the steadfast support of the men and women who wear our uniform. You know that America can overcome any challenge or any difficulty. You know America's brightest days are still ahead and you know that nothing we say here, no speech or vote or resolution in the United States Congress, means more to the future than the men and women who wake up every morning and put on the uniform of our country and defend the United States of America. I thank you for your time. God bless.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: President Bush addressing the America Legion today, certainly ending that speech by thanking troops for their service and saying that America's best days are still ahead, also talking about the fact that there are no shortcuts in Iraq. Baghdad must be secure. On that note I want to take a moment to bring in CNN's Kathleen Koch standing out in front of the White House. Kathleen, he spoke quite a bit about the successes or early successes, I should say, with the increased troop level.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He did, indeed. And the White House has been driving that point home over the last several weeks. As the plan has drawn criticism from Democrats and a few Republicans on Capitol Hill, saying give this plan, give this troop increase a chance to work. And the president maintained that it is, indeed, beginning to work, that the Iraqis are contributing the number of forces that they had said that they would, that these outposts, these joint American-Iraqi outposts are being set up throughout Baghdad. The president really fired some shots at Congress, saying that there were no shortcuts in Iraq, criticizing anyone for talking about in any way trying to limit his ability to conduct the war in Iraq. A very forceful speech. Heidi?

COLLINS: Yes and also he began the whole speech, of course, on point with the Walter Reed investigations that will be taking place, announcing Bob Dole, Donna Shalala to be in charge of a new commission that he is implementing, reviewing the treatment, I thought interesting, of these veterans after they have been wounded all the way back into their transition to civilian life.

KOCH: Yes and very important announcement, much anticipated because the president believes that this commission is critical in really casting a broad net looking around the country at veterans and military hospitals and seeing if this problem is pervasive. But you've heard the president describing how he takes this very personally, how he said my decisions have put our kids in harm's way and I'm concerned about the fact that they don't get the full treatment that they deserve. Let's hear more of what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Fine doctors, nurses and therapists work day and night to help the wounded. Yet some of our troops at Walter Reed have experienced bureaucratic delays and living conditions that are less than they deserve. It's unacceptable to me. It's unacceptable to you. It's unacceptable to our country and it's not going to continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: So former Senate majority leader, Republican Bob Dole, wounded war veteran from World War II and Donna Shalala, former head of Health and Human Services under the Bill Clinton administration for some eight years. They'll be heading this nine-member commission. The president will be appointing the other members by the end of the week and it is set to return to the president its recommendations by June 30th Heidi.

COLLINS: Quickly, just a clarification Kathleen. He also mentioned asking the VA secretary to compile this task force. Is that separate from this commission then?

KOCH: It is separate and it is part of a long list of different commissions and investigations that are going on into this very serious matter. And what the president said and also Dana Perino (ph), the spokesperson at the White House today is that this interagency task force will right away get to the business of trying to fix any immediate problems that they can find, to try to get help to these wounded veterans right away so that they don't languish and suffer any longer, as these commissions look at the broader solutions down the road in the big picture.

COLLINS: Certainly, because that seems to always be the criticism, when you set up the investigative commissions, it takes a long time to get to the bottom of it. What's being done right now so very good. All right, Kathleen Koch out in front of the White House for, thanks Kathleen.

TJ HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: President Bush there talking no doubt about Iraq and some strides being made, at least some small strides being made. Our Jennifer Eccleston is there in Baghdad for us. Jennifer, the White House is talking about small but encouraging signs that maybe some of that troop build-up is working but I know there in Iraq we're seeing I guess big and discouraging signs that insurgents can still strike and do a heavy blow and a heavy death toll there in Iraq.

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, that's right, some of those positive signs, TJ, marred by ongoing violence. And Shia pilgrims from all over Iraq are making their way to Karbala to mark the 40th day of mourning for the end of the Ashoura (ph) festival and we've learned that two suicide bombers detonated explosive belts among large crowds of pilgrims in Hilla, which is about 60 miles south of Baghdad, as they were making their way to that holy city of Karbala.

Now initial estimates say from the Iraqi police that 93 have been confirmed dead, 147 wounded. Now, this follows earlier attacks here in the capital city of Baghdad. Over two dozen pilgrims were killed when gunmen opened fire, when car bombs exploded and when roadside bombs were detonated near the procession of pilgrims. The Ashoura festival remembers the death of Ayman Hussein who is revered by Shia Muslims. It is an event that is observed every day and it has been in the past a popular target for insurgent attacks. TJ.

HOLMES: All right, Jennifer Eccleston in Baghdad, thank you so much, Jennifer.

Meanwhile, we'll tell you about Vice Presidential Cheney's left leg. A dangerous blood clot possibly on his leg cause some disturbance and issues and things of concern (ph). We'll update you on his condition.

COLLINS: Also, desperate panic, south Asians trying to out run an earthquake, hospitals overwhelmed. We'll go live to Indonesia in the NEWSROOM.

And changing the voice of politicians. Adopting accents in order to capture the crowd? I just thought that was (INAUDIBLE) We'll take a look and a listen, of course, as only our Jeanne Moos can. It's coming up in the NEWSROOM.

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COLLINS: A big scare for Vice President Dick Cheney. Doctors on Monday discovered a blood clot in his lower left leg. But it has not kept him from an immediate return to work. A spokesman for George Washington Hospital says the vice president will be on blood thinners for several months. Cheney has a history of heart ailments including four heart attacks dating back to 1978. The clot in Cheney's leg is called deep vein thrombosis. It strikes an estimated two million Americans every year. The clots can break off and cause pulmonary embolisms. An estimated 60,000 Americans die from that every year. This month, we should let you know, also is deep vein thrombosis month. Blood thinners and bed rest among the treatments. Symptoms you need to look out for include swelling and tenderness of the calf or thigh and red or discolored skin. Not all patients though experience those symptoms.

HOLMES: A push for power in Afghanistan, literally, power, electricity. A crucial part of NATO's new offensive in Haman (ph) province is helping stabilize the region so this power plant can be finished. Operation Achilles is NATO's largest initiative in Afghanistan so far, about 5500 troops are involved. NATO officials describe it as their own spring offensive. They're trying to get ahead of an expected Taliban assault on multi-national forces across the country.

COLLINS: Dozens of deaths, wide spread property damage, Indonesia dealing with another natural disaster this hour. A powerful earthquake strike the island of Sumatra, flattened homes and businesses. The magnitude 6.3 quake was followed by a powerful aftershock. When the ground started shaking it sparked panic, sending terrified residents into the streets. Right now, the death toll at least 70, but authorities say they expect that number to rise.

HOLMES: We'll be going here this is certainly no chump change here. The mega millions lottery is living up to its name. Your long shot is in the NEWSROOM.

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COLLINS: Well, it's one of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history. An estimated $355 million is in the kitty for tonight's mega millions drawing. That's the good news. The bad news, your odds of winning only one in 176 million. But if you do win, here are some more numbers for you to consider. You can choose the lump sum payout option. That gives a lone winner, which never happens, but anyway, more than $117 million after taxes.

HOLMES: I'll take it.

COLLINS: Or you can be paid annually more than $9 million a year for 26 years. Can you imagine? It's just fun to think about for a second.

And so what happens if you die before receiving all the annual payments? This is what would happen to me. Not to worry. Your estate or your beneficiary certainly pockets that change.

HOLMES: Playing to the crowd. The message may be the same, but for some politicians, well is that their accent? Well it's just ever changing. CNN's Jeanne Moos takes a listen.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): What seemed to overcome both Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama was a more down home drawl of an accent.

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Don't tell I'm not coming home when I come to Selma, Alabama.

MOOS: Here's Obama in front of a mostly white crowd in New Hampshire.

OBAMA: There's nothing we can't do.

MOOS: And here he was at a black church in Selma, Alabama.

OBAMA: We got too many daddies not acting like daddies.

MOOS: And here's Hillary speaking at a different black church.

SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That pulse that you found so faint, you have brought back to life.

MOOS: Her delivery led the Drudge Report to dub her Kentucky fried Hillary, though the example everyone's been citing was actually Senator Clinton quoting James Cleveland's freedom hymn. It doesn't seem quite fair to portray a soulfully delivered quote as an acquired accent.

CLINTON: I come too far from where I started from.

MOOS: Still, Hillary's modified her delivery before in front of a black audience.

CLINTON: It has been run like a plantation and you know what I'm talking about.

MOOS: Someone asked John Edwards the other day how he would win a couple of southern states.

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well it helps to talk like this.

MOOS: Even presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich was inspired at a Jesse Jackson to sing that old spiritual.

DENNIS KUCINICH: Sixteen tons and what do you get another day older and deeper in debt.

MOOS: Dialect instructor Sam Twa (ph) coached Robert de Niro in "Cape Fear."

ROBERT DeNIRO: Big, friendly, shaggy.

MOOS: He says politicians make a strategic choice to adapt so the audience feels he or she is one of us, even if Barack Obama is already black on his father's side.

OBAMA: Get some of that Oprah money.

MOOS: The dialect coach we spoke with said Oprah for instance, has three accents: one for whites, one for blacks and one for the Academy Awards. And critics malign Madonna

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