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Bush Visits Iraq, Discusses Progress; Senator Larry Craig Resigns from Office; Americans Work Harder than Other Wealthy Nations; Joint Chiefs Chairman Addresses Marines in Iraq

Aired September 03, 2007 - 13:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CO-HOST: Well, it's back to Iraq for President Bush.
DON LEMON, CO-HOST: He's speaking right now. Let's take a listen.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... depends on the national government's support from bottom up. They know what I know, that when you have bottom-up reconciliation like you're seeing here in Anbar, it will begin to translate into central government action.

The national government is sharing oil revenues with this province. That's a positive development. The challenges are great. And I understand the pace of progress is frustrating. It's frustrating for the American people. It's frustrating for the Iraqi people.

These people are working under difficult circumstances after having lived under the thumb of a brutal tyrant.

Iraq's local and national leaders are working to ensure that the military's success in places like Anbar is quickly backed up by real improvements in the lives of ordinary Iraqis. That's what we discussed today. Secretary Gates, Secretary Rice and I discussed with the Iraqi leaders that there has been some security success. Now it's important for government to follow up.

Our troops and diplomats and civilian experts will support the Iraqis in these efforts as they follow up.

General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker gave us an update on how things are looking. They gave us an update on the way forward. And I was pleased with what I heard.

The strategy we put to place earlier this year was designed to help the Iraqis improve their security so that political and economic progress could follow. And that is exactly the effect that it's having in places like Anbar. We can't take this progress for granted.

Here in Anbar and across Iraq, al Qaeda and other enemies of freedom will continue to try to kill the innocent in order to impose their dark ideology. But General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker tell me, if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces.

These two fine Americans will report to Congress next week. And I urge members of both parties in Congress to listen to what they have to say. Congress shouldn't jump to conclusions until the general and the ambassador report.

When you stand on the ground here in Anbar and hear from the people who live here, you can see what the future of Iraq can look like. That's why members of Congress from both parties who have visited Iraq have come back encouraged by what they have seen.

For all the differences over the war, we can agree on what's working. And we can agree that continuing this progress is vital to making the strategic interests -- vital in meeting the strategic interests of our nation. It's vital to bring in -- it's vital that we work to bring America together, behind a common vision for a more stable and more peaceful Middle East.

Thank you all very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Taped comments from the President Bush of the United States side by side with the secretary of defense and secretary of state. We're actually going to hear from him live any minute now, and we will take that when it happens.

But he did address hundreds of U.S. means -- or Marines, rather, that are based there in al Anbar province. Why al Anbar? Why did he fly into that area and not Baghdad? It's because there's the one area that commanding officers have literally bragged about, that they've been able to work with tribal sheikhs to start beating the insurgency in that area and sheikhs that used to fight against U.S. troops now working together to fight al Qaeda.

So, the president speaking to Marines there. He will speak live. We will take it.

Meanwhile, let's get straight to Baghdad. CNN's Aneesh Raman. He, of course, is following the president's trip.

It was a surprise trip, third trip to Iraq, but perfect timing if you want to correlate it with General Petraeus' report due out in less than two weeks, Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Kyra. As you pointed out, and you've just been here, this is a big success story that the administration has, in essence, bragged about for some time. The ability to separate in Anbar the population there against the al Qaeda troops -- insurgents that were in that area.

We have seen that mimicked, as well, elsewhere. I just returned from an embed south of Baghdad, where they're doing this as well. And in the past six weeks have been able to separate the population, develop what they're calling concerned citizens that are working with the Americans against al Qaeda. Here's the thing, though. General Lynch, who I was with on this embed, said for this success really to continue, for it to have traction, the level of troops needs to stay at this surge level into next year, into spring next year. So that forces the question back home, of course, is the American public or is Washington going to allow that in order to see this success really go into -- into some next level.

The broader issue, of course, is this: military commanders say all of this is a military means to a political end. It's about giving breathing room to the Iraqi government, to find consensus on what are still huge outstanding issues: de-Ba'athfication, oil revenue, provincial elections.

The parliament has been off all last month. They're set to reconvene tomorrow. But Kyra, no sign that any political significant progress is in the offing.

So what is most interesting is what Mr. Bush says after his meeting with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, how he characterizes those talks and if he's put any added pressure on the prime minister to find consensus among Iraq's varying political factions -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So as we wait to hear from the president to speak live, bottom line, what you're saying from the chance you had to embed, Aneesh, with General Lynch, is that he's telling you if he loses troops he will not be able to keep up the success that he's making like what they've seen in al Anbar province.

Because you and I -- as you and I well know, to this point, al Anbar has been the one area U.S. troops have been able to brag about. But as we know, there are dozens of other regions.

RAMAN: Yes, the issue is numbers. Because of the surge in troops, General Lynch says, they were able to get into areas previously they did not patrol, keep the insurgents, keep al Qaeda on the run there.

And in doing so, show a presence, set up bases in areas that convinced the local population that American troops are there to help them, there to stay, and in doing so, bridge that divide with a population previously that did not trust U.S. forces.

The success they're seeing there has just been in the past six weeks. And, really, in order to build momentum on it, as the general says, these numbers have to continue into next spring. Otherwise it could all vanish.

Otherwise, the people who are caught in between, who aren't necessarily allegiant to al Qaeda but are fearful of who's going to come if al Qaeda isn't there, and who's in their backyard, they might turn back. They might turn quiet. They might stop giving tips.

And, again, the broader issue still is that if the Iraqi government can't get itself together, all of this in the end could be to no avail, Kyra. PHILLIPS: All right. Our Aneesh Raman there live from Baghdad. Appreciate it, Aneesh.

We're still waiting for the president's comments live. We will take them as soon as he steps up to the mic.

LEMON: We certainly will. And the president's away, but you can bet White House staffers are not at play. They're gearing up for a major progress report on the war.

Let's go straight to the White House and Kathleen Koch. And you heard the president say that Congress should listen to General Petraeus and also Ambassador Crocker when they talk about the progress on the war in the upcoming week -- Kathleen.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly. And the president has been very forceful on that point, urging members of Congress -- Congress, of both parties, not, indeed, to prejudge what General Petraeus, what Ambassador Crocker is going -- are going to say when they come and speak next week.

But, again, the president himself saying, "I've gotten a briefing, and here's my take on what they say." And so some might say, well, there he is prejudging them himself. He was saying that, at least from what he's heard from the general, from the ambassador, that if the security conditions continue to improve that, yes, indeed, perhaps some U.S. troops could be brought home soon.

Now, the president didn't say when. He didn't say how many.

And the president, as you heard, sent a very clear signal to -- to Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq, saying, there have been some security successes. But it's important for the government to follow-up.

So, I think as Aneesh said, it will be very interesting to see what he has to say now in these remarks that follow. Because as we know, there's been this great pressure from Congress saying Maliki ought to be voted out of office and the president coming out last week forcefully saying, "He's a good man. He has my support. If the Iraqi leaders want to change leaders, that's up to them." But you know, the White House is sticking with him.

But again, the snub, flying into al-Anbar province instead of Baghdad as the president always has in the past. Many say that is certainly an expression of the White House displeasure with the pace of progress, political progress in Iraq.

LEMON: And let's talk about progress as we await the president's live comments. Let's get a live picture now from al Assad Air Base there where he flew into al Anbar province, Kathleen.

He said that real progress will be measured in normal Iraqis' lives, how secure they are, how much they get back to normalcy there. How -- and he also said that both parties -- after people visit from Congress, both parties come back encouraged by what they see. How much truth in that statement?

KOCH: Well, I think certainly the president is, as the president does do in situations like this, putting the best spin on this situation. There are members of Congress who have clearly come back from Iraq, and many of them Democrats who have not been encouraged by what they've seen, who have not been pleased and who have expressed their -- their viewpoint that it is time to begin pulling out troops sooner -- U.S. troops sooner versus later.

But, again, the president is -- is -- he's -- he's putting out the spin, obviously, that the White House wants to right now. And they realize this is a very important time, with the White House due by September 15th to report to Congress on the progress of the war.

And, again, obviously Petraeus and Crocker coming up one week from today, the White House doing its best to frame this argument in the best terms possible.

LEMON: All right, Kathleen Koch, thank you so much.

And, again, we're going to have live coverage as the president makes his speech at al Assad Air Base in Anbar province. It's expected to happen soon. We'll have it for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, straight ahead, potentially catastrophic Felix roars straight towards Central America. The latest on the season's second Cat 5 storm, straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM.

LEMON: And a deadly accident in an abandoned Arizona mine shaft. It's not the first time, and it may not be the last time. Coming up, details on tens of thousands of other unmarked mines lurking across the state. We'll be back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Live pictures now from Iraq, specifically al Anbar province and al Assad Air Base there. The president speaking just moments ago to troops, saying that it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces if the so-called -- what the administration calls surge, continues to work, as the president said.

He's expected to speak live, and we'll carry that for you right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.

PHILLIPS: Well, still no word out of Idaho on a replacement for Senator Larry Craig, who's resigning following his arrest in a police sex sting.

With the latest on the story from Boise, CNN congressional correspondent, Dana Bash.

Dana, what's the latest?

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest is something that's coming out of Washington that probably could go in the "better late than never" category, Kyra.

You know, one thing that made it easier for Republicans in Washington, Senator Craig's fellow Republicans in the Senate, to push him out, was that there was no support, public support, for him, actually saying in the Senate.

Well, that has changed now that Senator Craig has already announced his intention to resign. Republican Senator Arlen Specter is now saying that he actually thinks that Senator Craig does have a chance at winning his legal battle, a legal battle to try to overturn a guilty plea he signed, admitting to misconduct in a men's room.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R), PENNSYLVANIA: He's got his life on the line and 27 years in the House and Senate. And I'd like to see him fight the case, because I think he could be vindicated.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Senator Craig may be listening to that and wondering where Senator Specter was last week, when he was getting such intense pressure from the leadership in Washington, both in the Senate and in the national party, even lack of support at the White House. That was all -- all of the reason, the main reason, why Senator Craig did decide to go ahead and resign after 27 years in Congress.

And, you know, the Republicans seemed to be pretty happy with -- with the results of their drama that they had last week, breathing a sigh of relief. In fact, the Republican senator who is in charge of electing Senate Republicans, who was involved in trying to push Senator Craig out, he is actually boasting about the way they did it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN ENSIGN (R), NEVADA: One of the things that I am proudest about our leadership is the swift action, not only calling for an immediate Senate investigation, ethics investigation, removing him from his committees, but also sending the signal to him that it was probably best that he resign.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now, here in Idaho, this news and the drama of the past week is sort of digesting. And there certainly is anger and disappointment about what Senator Craig did, his actions.

But that is sort of shifting into a growing resentment, Kyra, among Republicans here in Idaho towards their national party, towards Republicans in Washington, for pushing him out so fast, so swiftly, knowing full well that, if they did, that they would still keep the Republican seat, because this is such a reliably red Republican state here in Idaho -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Dana Bash, live from Boise. We'll follow it. Thanks. LEMON: A family outing in Arizona goes horribly wrong. A 13- year-old girl is dead. Her 10-year-old sister is in critical condition.

They were riding an all-terrain vehicle on Saturday and tumbled down a deep, unmarked mine shaft. Both girls were following their dad, who was on a dirt bike, leading them across the Arizona back country in the town of chloride. Rescuers found them yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPTAIN GREG SMITH: We rescued the 10-year-old girl, and she had significant injuries. We were able to send paramedics down to her, put her on a litter and basically rope her out of that mine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Mine safety officials say there are thousands of abandoned and unmarked mines across Arizona.

PHILLIPS: Live pictures once again from al Assad Air Base there in Anbar province, waiting for the president of the -- president of the United States, rather, to speak live to about 600 U.S. Marines.

This is his third visit to Iraq. Of course, this was a surprise.

He's been getting an earful from Marines, good and bad. We'll tell you about it, straight ahead from the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Live pictures once again from al Anbar province there at al Assad Air Base, waiting for the president to step up to the mic and talk to 600 U.S. Marines who have been getting an earful, talking about the security situation.

Also Marines having a hard time with those short sleeves home during long deployments. They say it's really tough on training and their family lives.

So the president hearing some real personal insight from Marines on his third visit to Iraq. We'll take it live when he steps up to the mic.

LEMON: It may be a holiday but...

(COMMERCIAL BREAK))

LEMON: When it comes to getting the job done, Americans are still No. 1. Susan Lisovicz, at the New York Stock Exchange with all the details. The markets are closed. We're still doing business.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm not at the New York Stock Exchange. It's closed.

LEMON: Oh, that's right, you're in New York. LISOVICZ: That actually underscores the point, Don.

LEMON: Yes.

LISOVICZ: The market is closed. You're supposed to be enjoying the holiday. But it's Labor Day, no less.

LEMON: Yes.

LISOVICZ: And a new report on this Labor Day holiday says Americans do, indeed, labor. They stay longer at the office, at the factory or on the farm than their counterparts in Europe and most other wealthy nations and, as a result, they produce more per person.

They also get more done per hour than everyone but the Norwegians, all this according to a U.N. report released today that says the U.S. leads the world in labor productivity. The average U.S. worker producers just under $64,000 of wealth per year, more than all other counterparts in all of the countries.

Ireland comes in second, then Luxembourg, Belgium and France.

By the way, we'll get the government's latest read on worker productivity in the second quarter this Thursday. And of course, we'll be very productive on that day as well, Don.

LEMON: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, all right. Since we're both here on Labor Day working. Not that I mind. I'm just happy to have a job. I'm sure you are, too.

LISOVICZ: Absolutely.

LEMON: It would be nice to be home at a barbecue. But you know -- I bet it's something to do with the hours Americans work, though. There's a -- we work a lot of hours.

LISOVICZ: Yes, we -- we work longer than Europeans for instance, by and large, and we take fewer vacations, as well. Americans typically put in 1,800 of hours of work each year, based on figures from '06. By comparison, the French put in about 1,500, Norwegians 1,400.

And Asian countries like South Korea, Bangladesh and China, workers put in more: 2,200 hours per year. But they aren't nearly as productive, because among other things, they just don't have the tech infrastructure that we take for granted.

And while you and I are on the job, Wall Street is taking the day off. We'll kick off trading for September tomorrow. And even though it was a roller-coaster ride, August actually turned out all right. The Dow and S&P 500 each up more than 1 percent for the month. And the NASDAQ gained 2.25 percent.

We got a few gray hairs in the process, though, I would have to say. Coming up, well, we'll have the numbers for the -- not only for August, but the outlook for September. We'll see you then, in September -- Don and Kyra.

LEMON: All right, thank you, Susan.

LISOVICZ: You got it.

PHILLIPS: Straight to Iraq now as we wait for the president of the United States to speak live. General Peter Pace actually taking questions from U.S. Marines there at the al Assad Air Base. Let's listen in.

GEN. PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS: Any time I spend right now, thinking about what happens next is time I'm taking away from you, and I'm not going to do that. I'm going to run through the finish line, and then I'm going to worry about it.

Other questions? Right here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: General, what's the percentage of traumatic brain injury that occur?

PACE: I'm sorry, what was that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What percentage of traumatic brain injuries can you protect through our medical facilities?

PACE: I'm not going to make up an answer to that question. The question is what percent -- can we turn the -- whatever that thing. Absolutely. Thanks.

The question is what percent of traumatic brain injuries do I think we're capturing. And the answer is, I do not know. I do know that we're paying enormous amount of attention to it now and that our medical profession knows a whole lot more about it now than they did just a couple years ago.

I encourage you to watch your buddies and watch after them. Most of us believe we are bulletproof. And, therefore, believe that we cannot possibly have any kind of an injury like traumatic brain injury or like post-traumatic stress disorder. Those are every much as -- they are every bit as much battle injuries as is a bullet or shrapnel. It is OK, it is OK, to seek help for those kinds of war wounds.

And I ask you all to help your buddies understand what you see in them. And I also want to make sure that as part of our welcome home for you, that we've given information to your families so that collectively we can pay attention to this.

I do not know the answer. But I do know that we are much smarter about this now than we were just a little while ago. And if, collectively, we can watch after our battle buddies on our left and our right, we're going to take care of the people who need to be taken care of.

Did that answer your question?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir.

PACE: What else? Yell it out, somebody. I can't see hands here. I got a lot of lights in my eyes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here, sir.

PACE: Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir. As far as the new cougars and buffaloes, the new IED vehicles we got, we were supposed to get about a thousand in this year. Are we going to see those things in Iraq, sir? Or are we going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

PACE: The question is when will we be receiving the MRAPS, Buffaloes, Cougars, et cetera.

I will -- I'm going to give you a very straight answer, which is that this has been an evolutionary -- an evolutionary process. I'm going to answer your question, but I want to tell you how we got to where we are.

We started in 2001 with an inventory worldwide of about 200 up- armored Humvees, 200 up-armored Humvees. Since that time, we've gone through an evolution where we have about 40,000 up-armored vehicles here in country.

Each iteration of our industry has brought on better protection, lighter weight. So, as we -- as we move forward, we've gone through about five iterations of various kinds of protection for up-armored Humvees.

While industry was working on that -- oh, by the way, we've got not only the best armed forces in the world, we've got the best defense industry in the world. And they keep working. Is there a profit motive? Of course there is. Are they dedicated to those of us in uniform? You bet they are. So they keep seeking better ways.

So the MRAP is the latest iteration of vehicle. And it is very, very good. It is so good that we went to Congress and asked for an out-of-cycle money.

Five minutes. Thank you. I'll do it in four.

Out-of-cycle money to be able to start buying these things and ramping up -- three minutes. And ramping up -- two and a half. Ramping up so that we could build from 40 a month up to 1,000 a month, and 1,000 a month is going to being produced in about the January time frame.

As fast as we can get these things built, Congress has given us the money. We have four or five companies working on building them, and they're going to get over here as fast as we possibly can.

No doubt in my mind as soon as we get that line built, and is producing those things as fast as they can, that the next evolution of better, stronger, lighter, quicker vehicles will come along. And we'll keep fielding those things.

So it will not be -- everybody gets one of a kind. It will be we'll keep building and keep working with industry to make sure you've got state-of-the-art whenever it's available.

I got to go, because I'm not the main act. Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Quite an animated act, though. I think that's probably the most personality we have seen from General Peter Pace. Usually you see him in his uniform, very serious, speaking from the podium at the Pentagon.

Now a very informal, relaxed Peter Pace there at al Anbar province, the al Assad Air Base. About 600 Marines in the room there. He was taking Q and A, just random Q and A from the marines, and talking very candidly about post traumatic stress, something that we've seen a lot and covered here on our end at CNN. Interviewing soldiers coming back, talking about the suicide rate. Talking about the fact that a number of men and women have not been treated properly for post traumatic stress. And the general coming forward and saying, they're learning a lot about that. It is a newer phenomenon that they have had to tackle. He said look out for your buddies on the battlefield. Look to your right, look to your left. That is something we have to pay attention to. And we need to take care of our own he said.

The president of the United States getting ready to step up to that mike. Why is he there in the Anbar Province? Because this is the one area that really has been a major success for the U.S. military with regard to fighting al Qaeda and fighting insurgents. U.S. troops have been able to develop relationships with tribal sheikhs in that area. And actually fight al Qaeda whereas the tribal sheikhs were fighting U.S. troops. So a successful area. They're trying to work on that in other parts of Iraq. The president once again, talking about the details of that. As soon as he steps to the mike, we'll take it live.

LEMON: Yeah, and clearly, Kyra, Peter Pace knows his audience. As you've said, I have not seen him that animated ever. Also talking about those new MRAP vehicles which are going to be really important to the military. He says they're going to try to get those out as soon as possible. 1,000 in production he hopes by January. He said they are so good that they want to get them into production as soon as possible. They asked congress for extra money to get those vehicles. The president, of course, will speak live. But just moments ago he addressed an audience there in al Anbar Province along with the secretary of defense and the secretary of state, flanked at his side. Let's take a listen to what the president said just moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker tell me, if the kind of success we are now seeing continues, it will be possible to maintain the same level of security with fewer American forces. (END OF VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, the president moments ago saying that they will hopefully be able to maintain the same degree, if not better security, with fewer American troops, which is -- it's easy to say everybody's wish in all of this when it comes to Iraq. But, again, as we look at those live pictures, the president expected to speak there at Al Assad Air Base just moments from now, Kyra. And, again, looking at Peter Pace, he clearly knows his audience and had a very warm reception from the folks there.

PHILLIPS: And we're expecting the president to step up any moment now. We'll take it live. So stay with us, you're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We're told in less than five minutes the president of the United States will step up to the mike. You can actually see the formality beginning there. U.S. marines there in al Anbar Province at al Assad Air Base. The president did speak earlier today on his surprise visit there to the area, but we are waiting for him to address the troops. Once again, we'll take it live as soon as it happens.

LEMON: We'll continue to monitor those live pictures for you.

We want to talk now about a furious hurricane named Felix. It's churning straight for Central America. Right now its winds are at 160 miles an hour, with gusts nearing, get this, 200 miles an hour. It seemed to come out of no where Jacqui Jeras. And you know the routine. If the president comes out, we'll have to cut you short.

(WEATHER REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Right now, the introductions under way for the president of the United States, about to step up to the podium in al Anbar Province. This is al Assad Air Base, about 600 marines in the room. They've been able to talk to the president throughout the day. This is actually the commanding officer of the men and women there, getting ready to introduce the president. Marines have actually had a chance to tell the president they haven't been happy about the long deployments with short trips home. It's hard on training. It's hard on their families.

Also General Peter Pace, chairman of the joint chiefs, stepped up to the mike and took Q and A from the marines, talking candidly about post traumatic stress and that they've been dealing with that. Learning more about that, and recognizing that as a problem, because of the time spent serving in Iraq. The longer deployments and just how this war has been unprecedented with regard to fighting an enemy that is so hard to understand. We're told that General David Petraeus just stepped into the room. You also see there -- actually, you can see the back of their heads there as the president's getting ready to walk in. Also admiral -- Bill Fallon there, head of Centcom there in the group. General Peter Pace coming back in. And we are waiting for the president to step up to the mike. He's there, of course, in al Anbar Province because this is an area that the U.S. military has been very proud of with regard to fighting al Qaeda, fighting the insurgency. This was an area where tribal sheikhs were fighting against U.S. troops. And the U.S. military has been able to forge relationships with them. So they turn around -- they have in turn turned around and started fighting al Qaeda and taking over their areas and running al Anbar Province. You see the secretary of state walking in, Condoleezza Rice, also secretary of defense Robert Gates walking in. Condoleezza Rice, a popular --

LEMON: Getting applause.

PHILLIPS: Yes, very popular among the troops there in Iraq.

LEMON: Yeah. This is 120 miles west of Baghdad. Obviously, Kyra, you've been there. The meaning behind this not going into Baghdad, but going into al Anbar Province. Talk to us about that. First we'll listen in, then we'll talk about that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, how about soldiers? Huh? Where are the airmen? That's me guy. That's me.

This is an exciting night. This is a historic night. It was President Ronald Reagan that said, some people spend a whole lifetime wondering if they'd make a difference. Marines don't have that problem. But here tonight, as 2nd expeditionary force forward and multi forces west, we are and have done a remarkable job. All branches of service, and we're making a substantial and positive impact on the freedom and the democracy in Iraq and here in al Anbar. And you are all a part of that. There's been no shortcuts. Experience and capabilities cannot be bought. They must be earned, lived, and practiced. The work you are doing does make a difference. Our labors do bear fruit. And our labors are ensuring that the hard work and the sacrifice that you are doing will help the Iraqi army, will help the Iraqi police, and the local Iraqi government gain capacity and the capability to have this province as a part of their nation in the manner for which they can live in peace and prosperity.

So, we are living history. We are helping write chapters not only in the history books of America, but in the history books of Iraq. So on this historic evening, and at this particular time, it gives me great honor to introduce to you commander in chief, our commander in chief, the president of the United States. Mr. President, welcome to Anbar, sir.

BUSH: Thank you, all. General, thank you very much. It's an honor to be with you.

As you know, today is Labor Day back home. So I thought I'd come by to thank you for all your hard work. Every day, every day, you show bravery under incredibly difficult circumstances. Every day you're doing work on the sands of Anbar that is making it safer in the streets of America. And every day the United States of America is grateful for what you're doing. I want you to tell your families the commander in chief stopped by to say hello, and he said, I'm incredibly proud to be the commander in chief of such a great group of men and women.

I'm keeping pretty good company, as you can see. I brought out the "A" team so they could be with the folks who are making a significant difference in this war against these radicals and extremists.

In Anbar you're seeing firsthand the dramatic differences that can come when the Iraqis are more secure. In other words, you're seeing success. You see, Sunnis who once fought side by side with al Qaeda against coalition troops now fighting side by side with coalition troops against al Qaeda.

Anbar's a huge province. It was once written off as lost. It is now one of the safest places in Iraq. Because of your hard work, because of your bravery and sacrifice, you are denying al Qaeda a safe haven from which to plot and plan and carry out attacks against the United States of America. What you're doing here is making this country safer and I thank you for your hard work.

The surge of operations that began in June is improving security throughout Iraq. The military successes are paving the way for the political reconciliation and economic progress the Iraqis need to transform their country. When Iraqis feel safe in their own homes and neighborhoods, they can focus their efforts on building a stable, civil society. With functioning government structures at the local and provincial and national levels. And that's important, because a free Iraq, an Iraq that's an ally against these extremists and murderers will be a major defeat for the terrorists.

Earlier today I met with some of the tribal sheikhs here in Anbar. It was a really interesting meeting. At the table were the leaders of the central government as well. They told me that the kind of bottom up progress that your efforts are bringing to Anbar is vital to the success and stability of a free Iraq. The Iraqis need this stability to build a more peaceful future. Americans need this stability to prevent the chaos that allows the terrorists to set up bases from which they can plot and plan attacks on our homeland. The very people that you've helped the Iraqis defeat in Anbar swore allegiance to the man that ordered the attack on the United States of America.

What happens here in Anbar matters to the security of the United States. And so I thank you for your sacrifice. I thank you for volunteering in the face of danger. I thank you for your courage and your bravery. Every day you are successful here in Iraq draws nearer to the day when America can begin calling you and your fellow service men and women home.

But I want to tell you about the decision -- about my decision about troop levels. Those decisions will be based on a calm assessment by our military commanders on the conditions on the ground, not a nervous reaction by Washington politicians to poll results in the media. In other words, when we begin to draw down troops from Iraq, it will be from a position of strength and success, not from the position of fear and failure. To do otherwise would embolden our enemies and make it more likely that they would attack us at home. If we let our enemies back us out of Iraq, we will more likely face them in America. We don't want to hear their footsteps back home. We have to keep them on their heels over here. And that's exactly what you're doing, and America's safer for it.

In Anbar, you're doing this hard work every day. We've all come to say thank you. We've come to tell you the American people are standing with you. They're grateful for your sacrifice. As commander in chief, I'm proud to be in your presence on this Labor Day. I ask for God's blessings on you and your family. And may God continue to bless America. Thank you.

LEMON: President, of course, getting a rousing applause there from the marines at al Assad Air Base in al Anbar Province. You can see him there flanked -- well, until we lost that, flanked by those marines. The president there talking about the decision to add more troops. He said that's going to be based on leaders on the ground. Information from leaders on the ground, and not from anyone else, including the folks in congress, who are nervous as he called it and also by the media. He said that Labor Day is a day that back home, today, and he wanted to drop by, on this surprise visit, and tell the folks there how proud he was of their hard work. Again, a round of applause for the president there. The person who introduced him, that general, do you know who that is, Kyra Phillips?

PHILLIPS: The commanding general of the marines there? I do not know his name. But he was very charismatic, that's for sure.

LEMON: And he is related to someone here, who works for us. Tony Harris' cousin, yeah, no, not at all? Ok, I thought he was.

Anyway, so here we go. The president there speaking to troops. The president making a surprise visit, of course, and then he will head to Australia for a meeting there.

PHILLIPS: All right. Also straight ahead, we're talking about, you want to read to your kids, right? But is this how you want them to get the message? Some BET viewers are throwing the book at "Read a Book."

LEMON: When doctors had nothing to offer their son, they decided to buy their own cure. You'll hear what they did.

PHILLIPS: And getting close to a potential killer. A hurricane hunter's point of view on Felix, all ahead on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

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PHILLIPS: Imagine a genetic disease so rare that doctors can't even treat it let alone cure it. When doctors told the Dant family that their little boy might not live past 10, they didn't give up. But they did have to go at it alone. Medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins us now with more on his story and his condition.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This child's story is so incredible, because what this family said is, OK, our child has a rare disease. There's not much we can do about it. There hasn't been much research on it, but they didn't take that lying down.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COHEN (voice-over): By all accounts, Ryan Dant shouldn't be here today. When he was 3 years old, doctors told Ryan's parents he had a rare genetic disorder called MPS-1. The disease was devastating his body. There was no treatment. And doctors said Ryan would lose his hearing, his sight, and would be in a wheelchair. They said Ryan wouldn't live past his 10th birthday.

MARK DANT, RYAN'S FATHER: Carry him to his little bed and put him to sleep and watch him sleep and wonder is tonight the night that he will not wake up.

COHEN: But incredibly, Ryan lived to see his high school graduation this past spring.

M. DANT: We had a lot of golf tournaments. Actually golf tournaments is what I believe saved Ryan's life.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: How did the golf tournaments help save his life?

COHEN: Well the Dants decided look, no one is spending any money to get a cure for our son because the disease is so rare that no one would make much money off of a cure. They said we're going to have golf tournaments and bake sales and raise the money by ourselves. And that's exactly what they did. They raised $3 million and they gave to it a researcher of their choosing. And if you watch my piece tonight at 8:00, you can find out what happened to the Dant family and to Ryan.

PHILLIPS: We will watch. Now other families, are they facing the same types of challenges?

COHEN: Other families are. When we started to look into this, it was amazing the number of patients we found who said you know what, I was diagnosed with a rare disease and we're going to do something about it. Here you see a group of parents in Needham, Massachusetts, their children all have the same kind of brain tumor and what they found was that there was so little research going on to help their children. So, we sat down and they told me what they did. This little girl, her name is Lucy Catcher, she's 3 years old. She has a brain tumor behind her eye. These families raised $5 million. When I said to them, that's incredible, $5 million. They said, do not underestimate the power of a parent with a sick child.

PHILLIPS: That is so true. You look at it in a totally different way.

COHEN: Right, exactly. They -- and these people weren't professional fundraisers. They just went ahead and did it. PHILLIPS: That's awesome. All right, we look forward to the piece. Elizabeth Cohen, thanks so much. If you want to see of course Elizabeth's whole piece, you can see it on "OUT IN THE OPEN" tonight, "SAVING RYAN", 8:00 p.m. eastern time only right here on CNN.

LEMON: Boy, what would it be like today to have a name like Bunky? Because he bags a big payday. He said he's one of the winners of a $330 million jackpot.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm standing there and she starts calling off the numbers. I'm like, yes, yes, yes! Yeah. Oh, my God!

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: The new millionaire and his big plans when we come back.

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