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Al Qaeda Crackdown in Saudi Arabia; Fires Char Over 60,000 Acres in South Georgia; Baghdad Blogs

Aired April 27, 2007 - 10:59   ET

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


TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone. You're with CNN. You're informed.
I'm Tony Harris.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen, in for Heidi Collins today.

Well, there are developments that keep you in the NEWSROOM on this Friday, April 27th. And here's what we have coming up.

President Bush is speaking today. He's been huddling with Japan's leader about North Korea's nuclear program. The president's remarks live on CNN.

HARRIS: Word of an alleged terror plot foiled. The target said to be Saudi oilfields, guns, money, and 172 people taken in.

NGUYEN: And the mayor who's made the fight against crime a personal crusade, well, he clears his name in court.

That's in the NEWSROOM.

Let's talk about this, al Qaeda crackdown. Weapons, money, 172 suspects all rounded up in a massive antiterror sweep in Saudi Arabia. Saudi officials say the suspects were planning major attacks in and outside the kingdom. Details of their alleged plot, well, they are simply chilling.

So joining me now with more is CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson.

I guess the big question is, what were these guys up to?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're part of the al Qaeda that's been in Saudi Arabia for some time. And what's really interesting about these arrests, they've been taking place over the last nine months.

Last year, al Qaeda changed its tactics in Saudi Arabia, and instead of capturing and kidnapping westerners and cutting off their heads, they started targeting Saudi's oil infrastructure. The Saudis foiled the attack, a month later they arrested some of the people involved, and it's from those arrests they developed all the information and intelligence, they round up -- these are 172 people, 20 million Saudi riyals, about $6 million, all the weapons that we've seen.

So, this has been a long, slow process for the Saudis, but it takes a big chunk of al Qaeda off the streets of the country right now.

NGUYEN: Well, let me ask you this, though. I mean, 172 people, that's a lot of folks, there is a lot of money, a lot of weapons here. But we hear about these arrests periodically. So how significant is this one?

ROBERTSON: What we've heard in the past, Saudis typically, when they've arrested al Qaeda, they find a cell, maybe a gas station -- shootouts at gas stations. But they'll find a cell, there will be a big shootout. When we've been in Riyadh, we've been to some of these, we rush up there, the police have just finished the shootout, people are dead, and that's the end of the story.

What the Saudis are doing now, it seems to be a much more intelligent -- intelligence game, if you will, following these people, tracking them, finding these weapons. A lot of these weapons have been out there, have been buried in the desert. These pictures we see of the weapons being dug up, they're carefully wrapped, they've been dug up by the Saudis in the desert. So, they've carefully followed and tracked the 172 people.

It is a very, very big operation. But it indicates how big the problem is in Saudi Arabia.

One of the concerns about these potential attackers, not only attacking Saudi oil infrastructure, but attacking security installations. We've seen them before attack police stations. This time talking about attacking Saudi officials. That's very serious for Saudis.

NGUYEN: Right.

ROBERTSON: Al Qaeda there wants to overthrow the monarchy. Also now also talking about attacking facilities outside of Saudi Arabia. We're trying to find out what some of those locations might be, but that's a -- that's a threat.

NGUYEN: Well, this could be key, though. With so many people rounded up, perhaps it will lead to bigger arrests, more arrests?

ROBERTSON: That's been the trajectory so far.

I think what the Saudis have done here -- the intelligence officials that I'm speaking to haven't said this per se, but clearly they've followed this group of people. And I think they feel that they kind of -- of all these people talking together, of all the terrorists talking together, they've kind of waited and tried to net the maximum number.

So the next, that might be a harder step. But we've seen that they'll take these people in, investigate them, and generate information to leak to these other arrests. Flight manuals -- some of these guys have been reading flight manuals...

NGUYEN: Right.

ROBERTSON: ... to perpetrate these attacks. We're told they weren't really flight-ready. A lot of the guys, we're told, are young. A lot of them, we're told, are non-Saudi Arabs. A lot of them, we're told -- or some of them were from Africa, African Muslims gone to Saudi Arabia to join this fight.

This is very, very personal for the Saudis. Al Qaeda there wants to overthrow the monarchy.

NGUYEN: Good information, Nic. Glad to have you stateside. We appreciate that. We'll be talking to you throughout the day.

Thank you.

HARRIS: And we want to update this story for you, a wildfire on the move. Frightened residents on the run, sometimes just minutes ahead of the flames.

In south Georgia, wildfires near Waycross have charred nearly 100 square miles, homes have been destroyed, hundreds evacuated. And the worst may lie ahead.

Let's get the very latest from reporter Leslie Coursey. She is with CNN affiliate WAWS in nearby Jacksonville, Florida.

Leslie, we understand that the conditions on the ground could make this a difficult day for firefighters. Describe those conditions and what the firefighters think they can get accomplished today with these conditions.

LESLIE COURSEY, REPORTER, WAWS: Conditions are not favorable today. It's windy, it is a little cloudy. So maybe that will help a little bit. Firefighters are a little weary.

I just got the latest numbers from Georgia fire officials. They tell me this fire has grown to 61,000 acres, and right now it is only 50 percent contained.

The latest town to be threatened by flames is a small town of Astoria. In the past 24 hours, this place has become a ghost town. Heavy smoke blankets the area. Evacuations have been ordered.

Roads are closed. Public school has been canceled as flames creep dangerously close to homes.

Firefighters have been battling this blaze for 11 days now, with little to no help from Mother Nature. Dry and windy conditions are just fuelling the flames.

Now, I'm here at the National Guard Armory. And this is kind of serving as a rest area for firefighters. They can come here, take a nap, get something to eat, take a shower before heading back out to the fire line. No doubt they have a long day ahead of them.

In Waycross, Georgia, I'm Leslie Coursey.

Back to you.

HARRIS: Hey, Leslie, one more quick question. How are in the people in that area dealing with this? I understand some of them have been evacuated multiple times now.

COURSEY: Right. This fire has been very unpredictable. Just when firefighters think they're getting the upper hand, the wind picks up again, and so do the flames. People have been evacuated more than once, but the people I've spoken to today, they're in good spirits overall.

HARRIS: OK. Leslie, appreciate your time.

Leslie Coursey with our affiliate there from Jacksonville, Florida.

NGUYEN: Well, what folks really need is some rain down there.

HARRIS: A lot of it.

NGUYEN: And a lot of it.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: What, 18 homes destroyed so far, 100 people evacuated, 96 square miles of land just charred.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Well, blogging from Baghdad. Life in the war zone posted on the Internet by Iraqi students.

ITN reporter Paul Davies takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAUL DAVIES, REPORTER, ITN (voice over): A group of intelligent young Iraqis with access to digital cameras and the Internet have given us an insight into their world. They call it "Hometown Baghdad".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was going to meet my friend and colleague and to prepare for the exams, but I couldn't get out today. And I think the reason is -- why don't you just hear for yourself.

DAVIES: Hours later, Adel (ph) was still trapped in his room.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just been (INAUDIBLE). I awakened to the symphony of bullets.

DAVIES: This student took his camera to Baghdad's Engineering College, one of many places of education to be attacked by extremists. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The dean was assassinated. And my friend lost a kidney. Another one lost a leg.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one is a graduation certificate for a deceased student.

DAVIES: On his Web site, Adel (ph) describes being woken up by his little brother and cousin's nightmares and discovering the boys had witnessed murder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING ARABIC).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING ARABIC).

DAVIES: In their blogs, the young Iraqis show an existence where electricity is off more often than it is on, where the simplest journey means risking your life. Anyone who can is leaving the country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to leave all my friends, all my family to go to a safe place where I can live safely without these dangerous things.

DAVIES: For those left behind, the nightly gun battles.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The sound goes all night long.

DAVIES: Armed men outside are blogger-ready just in case they've come for his family tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm ready for anything. I got this -- this gun. Actually, it's a pistol, and I'm hoping to defend, you know, my family and myself.

DAVIES: Desperate measures in a desperate city. But even these young Internet broadcasters know a camera must sometimes take second place to a gun.

Paul Davies, ITN News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: And let's take you to Camp David now. President Bush and Japan's prime minister, Shinzu Abe, meeting with reporters.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our talks were very relaxed, but they were strategic. We think about the interests of our country and we think about the interest of maintaining peace in the world.

The alliance between Japan and the United States has never been stronger.

And the prime minister and I will work hard to keep it that way. It's in the interests of our peoples that we work closely. I told Shinzo one way to do so, of course, is to visit. I hope he comes to my ranch soon. I look forward to welcoming him here to Camp David, but I also look forward to taking him down there where one might call it a little slice of heaven.

We talked about the fact that our alliance -- and it is a global alliance -- is rooted in common values, especially our commitment to freedom and democracy.

We discussed ways we can continue to partner together. There is no more important partnership than that through the six-party talks.

We spent a lot of time talking about North Korea and our mutual desire for North Korea to meet its obligations.

Our partners in the six-party talks are patient, but our patience is not unlimited. We expect North Korea to meet all its commitments under the February 13th agreement. And we will continue working closely with our partners.

In Iran -- we speak with one voice to the regime in Iran. Our nations have fully implemented the sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council in response to Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Further defiance by Iran will only lead to additional sanctions and to further isolation from the international community.

Japan is the second-largest donor to the people of Iraq and the third-largest donor nation to the people of Afghanistan. And I thank you, Shinzo, and I thank the people of Japan for helping these young democracies survive in a troubled world.

I firmly believe that we're helping lay a foundation for peace for generations to come.

Over lunch, the prime minister and I will discuss his upcoming trip to the Middle East. I will remind him he'll be traveling into an important region, where extremists and radicals are trying to prevent the hopes of moderate people and stop the peaceful societies from emerging.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your trip before you leave, and I'm looking forward to hearing from you after you've been there.

Shinzo and I have talked about trade and the Doha round. We have a lot of bilateral trade between our two nations. Last year, it totalled more than $270 billion, and that's positive for the American people and the people of Japan.

Any time you have a lot of trade, there's always complicated trade issues. One such issue, of course, I brought up to the prime minister is I'm absolutely convinced the Japanese people will be better off when they eat American beef. It's good beef. It's healthy beef. As a matter of fact, I'm going to feed the prime minister and his delegation a good hamburger today for lunch.

(LAUGHTER)

But we also talked about the World Trade Organization and the Doha round, and how Japan wants to be constructive in getting this round completed; not only to enhance the prosperity in our own countries, but to help the developing world, help lift millions of people out of poverty.

We talked about the environment and energy. I appreciated very much Shinzo's vision of using technologies to help our energy security, our economic security and at the same time be responsible stewards of the environment.

There's a lot of work that Japan and the United States can do together, particularly in fields like emission-free nuclear energy -- nuclear power. I mean the truth of the matter is, if people really want to solve the issue of greenhouse gases, civilian nuclear power, powering our energy grids by nuclear power, is the best alternative available.

We can work on new technologies through our Joint Nuclear Energy Action Plan and through the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership to bring technologies on the market as quickly as possible to assure people that we can deal with the waste, for example, in a responsible way.

Over lunch I'm going to also remind Shinzo about my deep desire to have our folks driving automobiles powered by ethanol and biodiesel. I'm going to share with him our strategy about reducing gasoline consumption in the United States by 20 percent over the next 10 years as a result of ethanol, as well as our cellulosic ethanol technologies that are hopefully coming to market quickly.

All in all, we've had a very constructive, strong dialogue, and I am really pleased you came.

Mr. Prime Minister?

PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN SHINZO ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Last night, we were invited by George and Laura, and I, myself, and my wife were able to enjoy very wonderful time together.

And today we had one-on-one meeting, and also had a meeting -- a larger meeting, and we had very substantive discussions.

The greatest -- the biggest objective of this visit this time was to reaffirm the irreplaceable Japan-U.S. alliance and to make -- grow this stronger, as an unshakable alliance.

I'd like to thank the president and the American people for their very warm welcome yesterday.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I visited Bethesda Navy Hospital and the Arlington Cemetery and prayed for the repose of the souls of those who died for the cause of stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan and prayed for early recovery of those injured.

And I'd like to pay respect and express gratitude for the noble sacrifice the United States is making.

And in our meeting, the president expressed his strong determination to carry through for the task of Iraq's reconstruction. And I told the president that Japan understands and supports U.S. efforts for the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq and Japan will carry on its own efforts to the same end.

I also told him that Japan will be with the United States at all times and that we feel proud as an ally of the United States.

Through this meeting, I've renewed my determination to work with the United States on various challenges facing the international community on the basis of our common values.

We were able to speak our minds with regard to our respective political convictions in the midst of this very open and free atmosphere at Camp David and I -- and deepen our mutual trust.

I explained to the president that as the mission of my administration, I'll strive to move Japan beyond the post-war regime. And as part of this endeavor, I explained to the president that I launched, on the eve of this trip, a blue ribbon panel for the purpose of reshaping the legal foundation for national security in a way that will befit the times, now that the security environment surrounding Japan is undergoing major change.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): With regard to the economy, I told the president that I'm determined to carry through structural reforms in Japan because Japan's growth is important for the growth of the United States, as well as the entire world.

And I received strong words of support from the president for this direction that Japan is seeking.

Now, we agree that we need to build our response to the North Korean nuclear issue and the numerous challenges in East Asia on the Japan-U.S. alliance.

And we agreed to step up cooperation in security, economic and cultural exchanges, and many other areas, to further strengthen this irreplaceable alliance between Japan and the United States.

And I welcomed the conclusion of documents that provide for the strengthening of concrete cooperation in such areas as the economy, cultural exchange and nuclear energy.

We did take a lot of time to discuss North Korea nuclear issues. We agreed to work together to realize a more peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula, by making North Korea completely give up its nuclear weapons and programs through the six-party talks.

With regard to the abduction issue, President Bush once again expressed his unvarying commitment to support the government of Japan, saying that, to this day, the strong impressions he got when he met Mrs. Yokota around this time last year still remains. And I told the president that, before my departure this time, Mrs. Yokota told me, ever since she lost her daughter Megumi, that the most moving moment was her meeting with the president.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): So the president expressed his, as I said, unveering commitment to support of the government of Japan on this abduction issue.

We agree that the current state of the six-party talks, as well as North Korea's attitude toward the abduction issue, are regrettable. And we'll work for closer coordination between our two countries to achieve progress.

Let me also point out, as the president mentioned earlier, that an important progress has been made on the climate change issue. And I finalized with the president a joint statement on the subject matter.

It is gratifying that we agreed -- Japan and the United States agreed at the leaders' level to study conjointly and intensify dialogue on ways and means to make progress toward the ultimate objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. To resolve the environmental issues and to resolve the greenhouse gas issue, I believe this represents an important progress.

It is essential that the world community act on the climate change issue in concert. And Japan and the United States agreed to work together on this front.

Thank you.

BUSH: Two questions a side.

QUESTION: Some people are concerned that you're going soft on North Korea. You said you had...

BUSH: What'd you just say? There's an echo in here.

QUESTION: Some people say you're going soft on North Korea.

You said you had unlimited patience with the regime. They've missed their deadline on shutting down their nuclear reactor.

BUSH: No, I said our patience is not unlimited.

QUESTION: Not unlimited.

My question, sir, is how long are you willing to wait to have them shut this down? Are we talking days, weeks, months?

BUSH: No. No, I appreciate that very much.

You want to ask the prime minister something, too?

It's an old U.S. trick here.

QUESTION: And, Prime Minister Abe...

BUSH: Keep plowing through.

(LAUGHTER)

QUESTION: ... are you worried that America is softening its stance on Kim Jong Il?

BUSH: I have always believed that the best way to solve these difficult problems is through diplomacy. That's the first choice of the United States, to solve difficult problems diplomatically.

I also believe that the best way for -- and the difficult problem, of course, was the convincing the leader of North Korea to give up his nuclear weapons program.

I also felt the best way forward was not for the United States to carry this diplomatic mission alone, and therefore worked very hard and closely with our Japanese allies to convince others to come to the table beside the United States.

And now we have what we call the six-party talks, which is the United States, Japan and China and South Korea and Russia all saying the same message to North Korea, that, "We expect you to honor agreements you made," which include not only stopping their -- you know, locking down their plant, but also dismantling their programs, and all programs, giving up weapons programs and weapons. That's what they've said they would do.

We recently had a bump in the road to getting them to honor their agreement. And that is, there's a financial arrangement that we're now trying to clarify for the North Koreans, so that that will enable them to have no excuse for moving forward.

And that's where we are right now.

The interesting thing about our position is that if it looks like the North Korean leader is not going to honor his agreement, if it looks like that there are reasons other than the financial arrangements that will cause him to say, "Well, I really don't mean what I said," we now have a structure in place to continue to provide a strong message to the North Koreans. We have the capability of more sanctions. We have the capability of convincing other nations to send a clear message.

So I like our position in terms of achieving this issue in a diplomatic way.

And I want to thank the prime minister for being a strong advocate of sending a clear message to the North Korean leader, there's a better way forward than to defy the world.

So on all issues, there's a -- whether it's this issue or any other issue is that we will work with our partners to determine how long. But, as I said, our patience is not unlimited. And that's the operative word for the leader of North Korea to understand. We hope he moves forward soon, obviously.

It's just like, somebody asked me the other day, how long in Darfur? Well, the leaders will find out the definition of how long when we make it clear we're moving in a different direction.

There's still time for the North Korean leader to make the right choice.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, today, on this issue, we had a very candid exchange of views.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And our understanding of the issue and the direction we are pursuing, we completely see eye-to-eye on this matter. And with that completely the same attitude, we'll continue to deal with the North Korean issue.

Well, we have to make the North Koreans understand that unless they keep up their promise, the difficult conditions they find themselves under -- the food situation and economic situation -- they'll not be able to resolve those difficulties. In fact, the situation will only worsen.

So they need to respond properly on these issues. Otherwise, we will have to take a tougher response on our side.

In agreement with the procedures set down by the six-party talks, we'll have to continue to watch whether the North Koreans will actually act. In our negotiations with North Koreans, we now have learned full well their negotiating ploys. And between Japan and the United States, we'll maintain close coordination for the resolution of this issue.

QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Once again, allow me to ask questions related to North Korea.

In Japan, the interpretation is that the United States have become softer on the BDA -- Banco Delta Asia -- issue. And some people are concerned.

Now, Mr. Abe, in your meeting today, did you ask President Bush to step up American pressures on North Korea?

And a question for Mr. President: I understand the United States has agreed with North Korea to start negotiations on lifting the terrorist state designation.

QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And is it right to consider that a precondition for lifting what would be the abduction issue resolution?

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, to resolve the North Korean issues, of course, dialogue is needed.

But in resolving those issues and in negotiating with North Koreans, there is a need for pressure. And on that score, we -- George and I --fully agree, and we reaffirmed that point today.

Should the North Koreans fail to keep their promise, we will step up our pressures on North Korea. And on that point again I believe we see eye-to-eye.

As for the importance of the abduction issue, as George and our American friends, I'm sure, are fully aware, and they understand our thinking and they support our position.

In resolving that abduction issue as well, Japan and the United States will cooperate with each other -- or need to cooperate with each other. And I believe the president thinks the same way.

BUSH: We have shown the North Korean leader that obstinance on this issue -- that there's a price to pay.

We've come together as a group of nations, all aiming to achieve the same objective. And that is for the leader of North Korea to verifiably give up the weapons programs that he has, just like he said he would do.

And we have proven that we can work in a collaboration to deny certain benefits to the North Korean government and people. That's what we've shown so far.

I think it's wise to show the North Korean leader as well that there's a better way forward. I wouldn't call that soft.

I'd call that wise diplomacy.

It's his choice to make ultimately, not our choice, as to whether he honors the agreement he agreed to. Our objective is to hold him to account.

But he's got different ways forward. And we have made that avenue available for his choice.

And so the meeting today, of course, is to hope for the best and plan for the worst. We're hoping that the North Korea leader continues to make the right choice for his country. But if he should choose not to, we've got a strategy to make sure that the pressure we've initially applied is even greater. That's our plan.

And so he ought to know that if he makes right choices there is a way for him to be able to deal with a listing that our government has placed on him.

In other words, there's a way forward. And this is what you're referring to as the beginning of a process, it's the beginning of an opportunity for him to be in a different position vis-a-vis the United States government on a variety of fronts.

Any discussion about ways forward, however, shouldn't -- should not obscure my strong sentiment about the abductee issue.

The prime minister mentioned how Mrs. Yokota was affected by her visit to the Oval Office.

Well, I was affected by her visit to the Oval Office. It broke my heart to be in the presence of a Japanese mother whose love for her daughter has not diminished over time, and her grief is sincere and real.

I remember her bringing the picture of the child as she remembers her, right there where I go to work every day, and sitting it on the couch next to her.

So I'm deeply affected by her.

She needs to understand that her visit added a human dimension to an issue which is obviously very important to the Japanese people.

And I will never forget her visit. And I will work with my friend and the Japanese government to get this issue resolved in a way that touches the human heart, in a way that has got more than just a, kind of, a diplomatic ring to it, as far as I'm concerned. It's a human issue now, to me. It's a tangible, emotional issue.

And thank you for bringing the question up.

QUESTION: Mr. President, the Democrats have voted for a withdrawal timetable from Iraq, which you have said that you will veto.

What ideas do you have for breaking this logjam going forward? And would you be willing to veto a second bill?

BUSH: Well, first of all, I haven't vetoed the first bill yet. But I'm going to.

And the reason why I'm going to is because the members of Congress have made military decisions on behalf of the military. They're telling our generals what to do. They're withdrawing before we've even finished reinforcing our troops in Baghdad. They're sending, in my judgment, a bad message to the Iraqis and to an enemy and, most importantly, to our military folks.

And so I made it clear I'd veto -- and, by the way, they're adding spending that shouldn't belong in the bill in the first place. Maybe they're important issues, but they ought to be -- these spending bills ought to be -- or spending issues ought to be debated in the normal course of business.

So, I've said this all along; my position has been consistent.

I'm sorry it's come to this. In other words, I'm sorry that we've had this -- you know, the issue evolved the way it has. But nevertheless, it is what it is, and it will be vetoed. And my veto will be sustained.

And then the question is the way forward. And my suggestion is that -- and I invite the leaders of the House and the Senate, both parties to come down, you know, soon after my veto so that we can discuss a way forward.

And if the Congress wants to test my will as to whether or not I'll accept the timetable for withdrawal, I won't accept one. I just don't think it's in the interest of our troops.

I think it -- I'm just envisioning what it would be like to be a young soldier in the middle of Iraq and realizing that politicians have all of a sudden made military determinations. And in my judgment, that would put a kid in harm's way; more so than he or she already is.

I really think it's a mistake for Congress to try to tell generals or military experts how to conduct a war.

And furthermore, the idea of putting, you know, all kinds of extraneous spending on a bill, the bill -- the purpose of which is to fund our troops, is -- I just don't accept that.

So if they want to try again that which I have said was unacceptable, then of course I'll veto it.

But I hope it doesn't come to that. I believe we can work a way forward. And I think we can come to our senses and make sure that we get the money to the troops in a timely fashion.

You know, it's important to have a political debate, but, as I've consistently said, we don't want our troops in between the debate. And Congress needs to get this money to the Pentagon so the Pentagon can get the money to the troops so our readiness will be up to par and people -- training missions will go forward.

You know, I know Congress, no matter what their position is on the war, doesn't want to affect readiness and they don't want to affect the military families. I understand that. But they're going to if they keep, you know, trying to pass legislation that is -- that just doesn't -- that withdraws troops or micromanages the war.

So I'm optimistic we can get a bill, a good bill, and a bill that satisfies all our objectives, and that's to get the money to the troops as quickly as possible.

QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, a question on the wartime comfort women issue.

Mr. Prime Minister, on this issue, did you explain your thoughts to President Bush on this matter? Did you talk about further factual investigations on the matter and any intent to apologize on the issue?

Also a question for Mr. President on the comfort women issue.

From the perspective of human rights and Asian history perceptions, I wonder if you could express your thoughts or views.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Well, in my meeting with the congressional representatives yesterday I explained my thoughts, and that is I do have deep-hearted sympathies that the people who had to serve as comfort women were placed in extreme hardships and had to suffer that sacrifice, and that I, as prime minister of Japan, express my apologies, and also express my apologies for the fact that they were placed in that sort of circumstance.

Now, the 20th century was a century that human rights were violated in many parts of the world, so we have to make the 21st century a century -- a wonderful century in which no human rights are violated.

ABE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): And I, myself, and Japan, wish to make significant contributions to that end. And so I explained these thoughts to the president.

BUSH: On the comfort women issue, it's a regrettable chapter in the history of the world. And I accept the prime minister's apology.

I thought it was a very -- thought his statements, the Kono statement, as well as the statements here in the United States, were very straightforward and from his heart.

And I'm looking forward to working with this man to lead our nations forward. And that's what we spent time discussing today. We had a personal visit on the issue. And he gave his -- he told me what was on his heart about the issue. And I appreciated his candor.

And our jobs are to, obviously, learn lessons from the past -- all of us need to learn lessons from the past -- and lead our nations forward. And that's what the prime minister is doing, in a very capable way.

Listen, we thank you all for coming. Appreciate your time. Have a nice weekend.

Mr. Prime Minister, thank you.

HARRIS: There you have it, President Bush and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Camp David. The president saying right off the top that the alliance between Japan and the United States has never been stronger. There was a question as you heard, much discussion about North Korea. There was the question, is the U.S. government going soft on North Korea and its nuclear program.

The president saying that he expects North Korea to live up to the terms of the most recent agreement and that if North Korea doesn't, the president feels that the United States is in a better position to respond because the deal was negotiated through six-party talks.

It is now on to lunch for the two men -- on the menu, Betty? Cheeseburgers, onion rings, fruited slaw, and apple pie.

NGUYEN: That's good! And some Bluebell ice cream from Texas.

HARRIS: So, there you have it. The president and Japan's prime minister at Camp David. NGUYEN: Well, the White House beat an insider's view. We're going to talk with Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux about covering the president. A reporter's notebook on the Bush administration. That is in the NEWSROOM.

HARRIS: And remember this beat-down? A Chicago police officer charged and word today that he could be slapped with more charges. That story coming up in the NEWSROOM.

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NGUYEN: We want to take you now to the Pentagon and Jamie McIntyre who is sitting down with General Petraeus for a one-on-one interview. Looking forward to this one, Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Betty, thank you very much.

Joining us is General David Patraeus, who is the man in the hot seat in Iraq, the commander of U.S. forces there. And General, you've only been there a short time, but some people are already wondering why there isn't more progress faster given the new strategy that you put in place.

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, CMDR., MULTINATL. FORCES IRAQ: Well, Jamie, first of all, good to be with you. It is an exceedingly complex and challenging environment. We have only been at the new plan a couple of months. We won't have all of our additional surge forces on the ground until -- and in their operational areas until about mid-June.

There have been areas of progress. Certainly the reduction in the -- in a very important category, sectarian murders and executions in Baghdad, they have been cut by about two-thirds, in fact, since December and January. So again, some progress.

On the other hand, clearly there have been setbacks in the form of the efforts of al Qaeda to try to reignite sectarian violence and even ethnic violence by horrific suicide and car bomb attacks and by almost indiscriminate attacks really. In fact, Secretary Gates said when he was in Baghdad last week, correctly, that al Qaeda has declared war on all Iraqis.

MCINTYRE: Now, I don't ask you that to be flip, but a lot of expectations have been put on you. Every time you're introduced by somebody on Capitol Hill they mention, here's the man who wrote the book on counterinsurgency. People seem to be pinning a lot of hopes on your ability to turn things around. Is that unrealistic?

PETRAEUS: Well, I would just point out this is not about one person. It is not even about just Americans. It is about an entire coalition and it is very much about our Iraqi partners. We're fortunate right now to have leaders and troopers on the ground in Iraq from the U.S. military, from our coalition military partners and certainly from the Iraqi security forces who have learned an extraordinary amount about what it is that we're doing over there. It is, as I said yesterday, a very, very complex -- the most complex endeavor I've ever seen and the most challenging situation I've ever seen.

MCINTYRE: As I said, you actually helped write the counterinsurgency manual, so you know that counterinsurgencies can run years, not months, but yet you seem to be up against a September deadline to see whether this new strategy is working.

PETRAEUS: Well, the assessment that we have pledged to provide in September that Ambassador Crocker and I will provide is really to do an analysis of where we are at that time and to forthrightly provide to our bosses our sense of how we're doing, how the Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi leaders are doing at that time.

MCINTYRE: To what extent is this still a test of wills, a tet of U.S. resolve? And if it is, what effect does it have when political leaders in the United States say things like the surge is not working, the war is lost? Does that become a self-fulfilling prophecy?

PETRAEUS: Well, certainly any endeavor like this is a test of wills. And frankly, the most important demonstration of our will is on the ground. And what we're doing on the ground right now is reinforcing our forestructure very substantially. Adding five army combat brigades, two marine battalions and marine expeditionary unit, and a number of different enablers as they are called.

MCINTYRE: When people say the cause is lost, is that kind of defeatist talk end up leading to defeat?

PETRAEUS: Jamie, I've spent the entire week here in Washington trying to avoid blundering into political mine fields. I'm not about to stumble on to this one if I can avoid it.

Let me just again talk about the fact that we're always concerned about what's the reaction of four different groups to what it is that we're doing. It is what we're doing in a whole realm of ways. It is what's the enemy think, what do our partners think, our Iraqi partners, what do our own troopers think, and, oh, by the way, what do our families think. And so, but let me just leave that there, if I could.

MCINTYRE: OK, well speaking of political, everyone has said you've acknowledged this can't be won militarily, that it has to be a political reconciliation in Iraq. But I listened to your briefing yesterday, and the government that you describe as you said, Nuri al Maliki's no Tony Blair, he doesn't have a parliamentary majority. It sounds dysfunctional.

And now they're talking about taking the summer off. How is the political peace going to come together?

PETRAEUS: Well, it will come together by Iraqi political leaders recognizing the need for some degree of compromise for making some concessions from their political parties, sectarian or ethnic groups' positions. That's hugely important. That's what this is about. How do you solve this kind of situation? You do it politically.

We've seen what happened in Anbar province for example, which has gone from six months ago, being assessed by the intelligence officer of the division that is responsible for that area, assessed as lost, and the reason it has changed is because of Iraqi leaders deciding to change and to take on al Qaeda instead of either standing by or perhaps even tacitly accepting --

MCINTYRE: We can leave that for the moment but, wuick question. If in September you think the surge strategy is not working, are you going to be able to tell that to the president and presumably the Congress?

PETRAEUS: Not only will I be able to, Ambassador Crocker and I will do that. We have an obligation to the young men and women who are out there giving their all to do just that.

MCINTYRE: General Petraeus and I are going to continue our conversation here in the briefing room. Maybe we'll bring you some parts of that later. But at this point, back to you, Betty and Tony.

NGUYEN: Well, we look forward to it, thank you, Jamie.

HARRIS: And still to come in the NEWSROOM, high-tech, cheating, iPods with more than music on them, banned from the classroom. That story just ahead for you in the NEWSROOM.

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HARRIS: A court appearance today for a Chicago police officer accused of beating a female bar tender half his size. Remember this? Authorities say that's Officer Anthony Abbate, caught on tape punching and kicking the bartender back in February. He was charged with aggravated battery in March.

Now, Chicago media report more charges could come this morning. A 15-count indictment in connection with the beating. The bartender said the attack started after she refused to serve the officer more drinks because he was drunk.

NGUYEN: Yes. Well, a new high-tech take on cheating. Check this out. Students are now using iPods and MP3 players to cheat on their tests. And in some cases, kids download the answers, then play them back in class while pretending to listen to music. Schools across the country are taking action, banning the devices from classrooms.

Now, the problem isn't limited to the U.S. Cheating via MP3 is reported in schools from Canada all the way to Australia.

HARRIS: Did not know.

NGUYEN: Now you do. CNN NEWSROOM continues one hour from now.

HARRIS: "YOUR WORLD TODAY" is next with news happening across the globe and here at home. I'm Tony Harris.

NGUYEN: And I'm Betty Nguyen.

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