Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

President Obama Addresses United Nations; Stay In Or Leave Afghanistan?

Aired September 23, 2009 - 15:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: The president, embattled at home, but continues to wow the world.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Together, we must build new coalitions that bridge old divides.

SANCHEZ: It's his first U.N. speech. Look who else spoke.

MOAMMAR GADHAFI, LIBYAN LEADER (through translator): What happened? Sixty-five wars broke out.

SANCHEZ: Moammar Gadhafi, the tent-maker, getting blasted by New Yorkers.

Will President Obama do what LBJ, Nixon and W. couldn't, get us out of a military quagmire? Stay or go? You will hear from General David Petraeus.

The plot against John Travolta revealed, and we're on it during your national conversation for Tuesday, September 23, 2009.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. Glad to be back with the next generation of news, a conversation, not a speech, and certainly always your turn to get involved.

Watch this video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) is out there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold on. Hold on. (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: That's a firefight in Afghanistan.

Now, I want you to watch it and, as you do, I'm going to tell you more about a couple of it -- a couple of things that go on there in a few minutes. But, while I have got your attention, I need to tell you that we appear to be losing these battles and that means we as a nation are going to have to make a decision that involves my children and your children. Do we send in more troops? And why?

Is this about resources, like hydrocarbons, one lawmaker suggested today on the radio? Or is it about money? Or is it about a new version of the domino theory? These are important questions that should not go unanswered and decisions that should not be made without you.

General David Petraeus is going to address in just a couple of minutes. We're going to be waiting for his comments live. And when he starts to speak, we will share what he says with you.

Tonight, much of a major American city remains under water. Parts of greater Atlanta have been inundated, and along with it homes, cars, people, yes, people who have drowned because of this. And look at this. Now, this gives you a sense of just how high these waters have risen in some areas. Those are 18-wheelers that you're looking at there under water in Austell. It's just west of downtown Atlanta. The pictures of these 18-wheelers under water just about say it all.

All right, look at this. This is video shot a couple of hours ago. That is an amusement park called Six Flags Over Georgia. It's West of Atlanta. I'm sure you've probably heard of it. Look how much muddy water has filled the park, and it not draining. All the water is coming from the very many creeks that make Atlanta such a beautiful city, these creeks.

But those babbling brooks that stretch out from the normally lazy Chattahoochee River, they have become monsters of late. And that's what 20 inches of rain in three days looks like.

Now, now how about this. Your house is flooded, right? That's horrible enough. But now your house is also on fire. That's worse. In the middle of a flood? As we watch this house burn today, which originally came over as an explosion of some sort and still may have been, we notice that two people were on a boat. You might be able to see them there on the left. Keep watching just underneath that tree.

Now, we don't know if they're homeowners. It seems all they can do at this point is watch it burn.

All right, now the most dramatic and by far the most heartbreaking moment of all of this, all of this horrible flooding coverage that we have been sharing with you. I'm going to tell you right now, because I always like being real honest with you about stuff, this is disturbing. And you may want to turn away as you watch this. You may want to walk out of the room, which would be perfectly understandable.

This is the voice of a woman who's trapped in a car in this Atlanta disaster, these pictures that I have just been sharing you. She calls 911 as the water is rushing into her car. Let's watch and listen to the call together now.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

OPERATOR: Your car is wedged in some trees?

SEYDI BURCIAGA, FLOOD VICTIM: Way in some trees. They send me all the way to the back (INAUDIBLE) back of this house. But (INAUDIBLE) drowning. It's almost floating already. I'm in the back of the car. Please come help me, please. Now the (INAUDIBLE) is getting up and I'm going to drown.

OPERATOR: Listen to me, you're not going to drown. Roll down your windows. If you're able to, get out of your vehicle.

(CROSSTALK)

BURCIAGA: ... with the water. But I'm in the back of my car. I don't know if I could break it.

OPERATOR: Ma'am, if you can break it, break it. Do whatever you can to get out of your vehicle.

BURCIAGA: (INAUDIBLE) But my car is...

OPERATOR: OK. It doesn't matter about your car. What matters is your life. And we're going to save your life.

BURCIAGA: I'm (INAUDIBLE) The water, it's too fast.

(CROSSTALK)

OPERATOR: Ma'am, I'm right here. Ma'am, you got to calm down. Work with him.

BURCIAGA: It's take me down now.

OPERATOR: It's taking you down? Just stay on the phone with me. I'm right here. I'm going to stay with you.

BURCIAGA: Please, the door (INAUDIBLE) is going to drown.

OPERATOR: OK, listen, do not -- you're not going to drown. We're going to be there for you. Just stay with me, OK?

BURCIAGA: OK.

OPERATOR: Stay with me.

BURCIAGA: OK.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Seydi Burciaga was 39 years old, keyword, was. She's a mother of a boy and a little girl. She died in her minivan. Police say they got to her within just a few minutes, but it was too late.

Our prayers tonight, as you might imagine, are with her family. This happens much more than you would think in this country in places like my hometown, Miami, which is lined with canals next to roadways. Police try and teach people what to do to get out of a car as it starts to fill with water, as you heard that 911 operator try and teach her.

It is one of the scariest things that I have ever done in my entire life. I went out to tell a story of what it's like to be in a car that actually drives into a canal. I did it. And, to be honest with you, I wish I had not done it. I'm going to show it to you next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: From inside the vehicle, you can see how it looks when I leave the window rolled up. The water is now seeping in from elsewhere and quickly filling the cabin. I try to push on the door, but it seems jammed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: This is something all Americans need to come to grips with, because we're now fighting two wars in two separate countries.

And the question comes back to who we are as a nation and what we want for our nation, and, in this case, perhaps more concretely, for our children, who might have to fight these wars.

Is it a war of necessity? What do we need to get out of it? What is the clear mission? Look at some of the responses that we're getting already when I asked this moments ago. Go to our Twitter board, if you possibly can, Robert.

"In response to your question" -- again, this is about whether we should stay in Afghanistan -- "we should only stay if there is good intelligence saying we can find and kill bin Laden."

That's what one of our viewers says. So far, the most important commanding general in this war is talking as well. And the vice president has something to say about it. And I should tell you, we're going to be hearing from David Petraeus in just a moment. We're going to let you hear that live as soon as it starts.

In the meantime, as many as 10 people in Georgia and Alabama have already died in these floods that I have been showing you over the last couple of days. Many were swept away in their cars. Many of them drowned. Put any car in deep water and you've got a death trap waiting to happen.

So, I did something a couple of years ago. Watch this. That's me trying to escape from a car that's been plunged into deep water. Believe me, it's extremely scary and can be easily deadly. I learned how to survive and how to get out of that car.

If I had it to do over again, I have got to tell you, to be honest with you, I wouldn't do it.

Going to take a quick break here, and then I will teach you what I learned from that experience.

Also, Moammar Gadhafi, he tears into the world, the United States, the United Nations. I mean, the guy takes no prisoners in a classic moment of non-diplomacy and a few times lunacy. I'm going to show you what I'm talking about.

Stay with us. I will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Here's this piece I wanted to show you. I grew up in South Florida, a place that's filled, as you know, with lakes, oceans, canals just about everywhere, next to roadways, a place where oftentimes people confused or their car goes out of control end up in those canals.

There were several stories in South Florida like the one I just related to you moments ago here in Georgia. It was about a woman who was under a canal. She was on her cell phone . She was calling 911. She was trying to get help. She didn't know what to do, and she drowned.

So, I called some of the best police officers in the country who deal daily with issues having to do with people and water, who have trained divers, who teach these types of courses. And they have told me, this is the kind of story that needs to be told to many Americans, because it happens more often than we think.

So, I set out to personally find out what it's like to be in a car when it falls in the water and to try and get out. It's scary and tough to watch, even for me. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ (voice-over): What you're looking at is a view from inside a car that has just gone below the surface of a canal. It is a terrifying image that each year for hundreds of motorists, becomes their last.

911 OPERATOR: Miami-Dade County Police and Fire. Where is the emergency?

KARLA GUTIERREZ, DROWNED: Hi, I just got into an accident. I just went through the railing and I'm sinking in the water.

911 OPERATOR: Are you out of your vehicle?

GUTIERREZ: No, not yet.

SANCHEZ: The 911 call you are hearing was dialed by a woman from inside this car as it was sinking. She was driving on the Florida Turnpike. It was 2001.

GUTIERREZ: Oh, my God, my car is sinking.

911 OPERATOR: Can you get out of the vehicle? GUTIERREZ: No, I can't. If I do, all of the water is going to come in.

911 OPERATOR: OK, Well, ma'am, but can you open a window or a door to get out of the vehicle? What's the last exit?

GUTIERREZ: Water's going to come in.

SANCHEZ: The woman did not know it, and the operator did not seem to be able to convey it. But experts say opening the window is exactly what she should have done.

911 OPERATOR: OK, we're getting help out, OK? Just stay on the line with me, Karla.

GUTIERREZ: But my car is sinking.

911 OPERATOR: Karla, you can't open a window or get out?

GUTIERREZ: No, I can't. I can't. My car is sinking.

911 OPERATOR: OK, I'm transferring you...

SANCHEZ: Karla Gutierrez drowned. Her body was recovered the following morning. Tire tracks, visible only by the light of day, finally led police to her location.

At the time, 911 operators did not have specific instructions to tell motorists how to get out of a sinking car.

Today, in part because of Karla's story, Miami police and many other departments across the country do.

SGT. JOSE ACUNA, MIAMI POLICE DEPARTMENT: Officer Wiggins has the final call on whatever is going on.

SANCHEZ: It's a Saturday morning on the banks of one of the thousands of waterways that crisscross the state of Florida.

Miami Police, who now do extensive training on submerged vehicle safety, have agreed to demonstrate how to get out alive. It's a daunting lesson that I'm about to receive, but one these police officials are convinced can save lives.

ACUNA: Or if we need to extract Mr. Sanchez, we'll take him to fire rescue in the event he needs any medical attention.

SANCHEZ (on camera): This is one of those stories that really makes you fight your demons. My father always told me if you're scared, just say you're scared. Guess what, folks? I'm a little scared.

So the first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to get together with some of these dive masters and understand exactly what I'm supposed to do. Because once you're down there underwater, it's going to be a little too late. OFFICER JULIUS WIGGINS, DIVE MASTER: As soon as the car hits the water, you have the seat belt off. You want to get rid of that seat belt as soon as possible.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): To say that Miami Police Officer Julius Wiggins, who is also a dive master is passionate about teaching people how to get out of a sinking car would be an understatement. His goal, to reach as many people with what he calls the basics.

WIGGINS: The seat belt first.

SANCHEZ (on camera): OK.

WIGGINS: Then unlock the car door.

SANCHEZ: Right.

WIGGINS: Then roll down the window.

SANCHEZ: OK.

WIGGINS: And then start climbing out. Then what you're going to do, is you're going to work your way out here like this. Once you're sitting here, all you have to do is just push yourself off.

SANCHEZ (voice-over): And now, the real thing.

The car plunges into the canal headfirst, then bobs back, allowing enough time to put the basic plan into action.

(on camera): With me inside the car, Photographer Rich Brooks, who is a certified diver. From his pictures, you can see I'm working fast to take advantage of what is a perfect scenario. The car has leveled out, giving me time to open the window and get out before it sinks.

However, on my second attempt, the car turns slightly, forcing the water in faster, slowing my exit. With the seat belt off, the lock undone, the window rolled down, I take a final breath and climb out.

My third attempt takes a bit longer, but I'm realizing window exit seem most effective. Whether it's a roll down or electric, it doesn't matter as long as you don't remove the keys from the ignition. Remember, even under water your battery will continue to operate the windows.

What happens, though, if the window is stuck or for some reason simply isn't working?

This window is being shattered underwater using a tool called a power punch, that motorists are urged to buy and keep in their glove box.

Now, the last time, an attempt to get out through the door.

From inside the vehicle, you can see how it looks when I leave the window rolled up. The water is now seeping in from elsewhere and quickly filling the cabin. I try to push on the door, but it seems jammed. Outside the car, divers are also trying to unjam the door, to let me out, but are unable to do so.

Admittedly, it's a chilling moment. I grab for the emergency air supply left in the front seat, rush it to my mouth and wait nervously for the car to be hoisted out of the water with me still inside breathing, waiting and with a much better understanding now of how important it is to know the basics, how to act fast and how to get out alive.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: And, again, one of those moments you almost wish you hadn't done, but something I learned from and I hope you did as well. Thank you for some of your kind comments while we were taking you through that scenario.

Here's what else we're going to have for you in just a moment. This is what many of you have been talking about today and talking to us about. The commanding general says that we need more troops for the fight in Afghanistan, if we want to win. Win what? For what? Is it worth the life of your sons or mine? These are important questions now facing this administration. And General David Petraeus will address it in just a couple of moments, as I look at the clock to the side of me here.

Also, a child walking along a sidewalk, a car goes out of control, and, as they say, the rest is in God's hands. You will see how it plays out.

Also, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi agrees with neocons. The United Nations is ineffectual. He agrees. He went off today at the U.N. and a whole lot of other stuff -- that and more next.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back to the world headquarters of CNN. I'm Rick Sanchez.

A lot of interesting comments that are coming in from you. A lot of you guys appreciated that story. I'm glad I was able to bring it to you.

"Great reporting. This is a lesson needed to be taught. Unfortunately, panic sets in for most. Thank you for the great video."

The only way to beat panic is to be prepared.

And there's this sad comment: "My sister-in-law drowned in a new river in Fort Lauderdale eight years ago. If she had seen your video, she might be alive now."

Well, it's there, and we will make it available for anybody who wants it. Moammar Gadhafi at the United Nations, his first appearance there in 40 years. And the Libyan leader held nothing back in his speech. Watch this. Watch what he's doing. He's throwing -- in fact, he went on and on for well over an hour, throwing notes away and books away, as if trying to make a point.

And this man, which the Reagan administration once called the mad dog, used the time to stick it to the United Nations. We're going to get to more on that U.N. part in just a moment.

But there's also this. Let's talk about these protests that he got while trying to find a place for his tent. That's right, tent. Many Americans who lost loved ones in the Pan Am bombing are still furious at Libya and at Gadhafi. They're also upset the man convicted in that bombing was released and got a hero's welcome back in Libya.

The point Gadhafi seems to be trying to make with his tent is that he wants to live among wealthy capitalists like a humble desert bedouin. And how does Donald Trump factor into all of this? This is where this story really gets interesting.

After Gadhafi was told he couldn't have a tent in Central Park and Englewood, New Jersey, he settled in for a property in Bedford. That's near Westchester. The only this is, that property belongs to Donald Trump. And, understandably, people who live there also are livid. They raised such a firestorm over it, the town ordered all construction on the tent stopped.

As for Donald Trump, his company says -- quote -- "We have business partners and associates all over the world. The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partners who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Gadhafi." It goes on to say, "We are looking into the matter."

So, did Gadhafi spend the night in a bedouin tent? No. Is he achieving his goal of making a splash in New York? Yes, especially after the fiery speech he gave today. We're going to talk more about that in my "Rick & Roland" segment coming up in just a little bit.

Now, here's something else to consider. Is the vice president of the United States pushing to pull U.S. troops out of Afghanistan? Well, there's also an argument that the only way to get it done is by sending more troops. So, which is it, America? Is it more troops or take out some of the troops that are there? What are we fighting for? Is it worth sending your child, my child?

These are important questions that we all need to deal with. I'm going to be asking them when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Here's what one of you is saying right now on my Twitter account.

"Quitting is not cowardice." This is about the question of Afghanistan. "Quitting is not cowardice. It's practicality. Afghans should be left to build their country. If they needed us, they would have asked."

All right, let's get on this now. Today, I need to tell you, we are losing American troops in Afghanistan in record numbers now -- fact. And it's rekindling an important debate.

Before I plunge in, I want to have an idea -- or I want you to have an idea, I should say, of what our young men and our women are up against.

Let's watch this together.

This is one of the recent battles that we have been monitoring in Afghanistan. I want you to keep in mind, this is the war that Barack Obama, President Barack Obama pledged to win. The war he said we had to win. The war he accused George W. Bush of abandoning. And one of the first things he did in office was to send 17,000 more troops there. And he delivered this warning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, U.S. PRESIDENT: If the Afghan government falls to the Taliban or allows Al Qaeda to go unchallenged. That country will again be a base for terrorists who want to kill as many of our people as they possibly can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: What is the Taliban anyway? That was last March, now let's fast forward to August and the bomb shell drop by Joint Chief of Staff Chairman, General Mike Mullen. Afghanistan, he said, is deteriorating. Let's take another look at this fighting.

Keep in mind, that's the real scenes, real scenes from a real war. And as we watch this, let me read these sobering numbers for you. You ready? United States troop deaths in 2008, 155, this year, 212. And that's with three months still left this year. We're way over. In fact I'm going to break it down month by month for you. You'll see what Admiral Mullen means when he says the situation is deteriorating. You ready?

April, six American troops deaths, May 12, July 45. Last month all- time high, 51 Americans. June 25, July 45, August 51. You get the picture? We have reached a turning point. Today cnn has confirmed that in the next several days the President's hand picked commander in Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal will ask for tens of thousands more troops. And the question now becomes will the president send them? Will the president send them? Throughout his long career in politics, Vice President Joe Biden has been remarkably consistent on the following point, if the American people will not support a war, that war cannot be sustained. That's what he's always said that, guy.

Let's look now at his support for the war in Afghanistan, where is it? 39%. That's down from 42% in august, 50% in May, 53% in April. These are important numbers, folks. When a majority of Americans still backed the president, it was 53%. Look at it now, 39%. This is a staggering drop. It is perhaps with that in mind that Vice President Biden is widely reported now to be advising President Barack Obama to do what Linden Johnson didn't do in Vietnam, to do what George W. Bush didn't do in Iraq, find a way out. And, yes, there are signs Mr. Obama may be listening. His decision may define the Obama presidency. We're expecting to hear any moment now from General David Petraeus, who's being introduced as we speak. He's going to be the over General. Michael, he's in charge of all of these. He is going to be coming to us live in Washington.

Joining me now is Michael Hirsh, senior editor of Newsweek Magazine. Michael, thanks for being with us.

MICHAEL HIRSH, SENIOR EDITOR, NEWSWEEK: I'm happy to be here.

SANCHEZ: What's the Vice President, what's Joe Biden advocating?

HIRSH: Well, Biden has long -- had a focus on Pakistan. Nuclear armed nation, it's self besieged by Islamic elements both Pakistan and Taliban and Al Qaeda which is gone to roost there. This is the bigger problem, we limited resources. So it's not so much a total withdrawal from Afghanistan that he's advocating is a shift in focus to Pakistan. I think that's the alternative scenario that the president is considering.

SANCHEZ: Can we bring this down to brass tax, bring it down to your level and my level. I have two sons, one's fighting age, the other one's a teenager about to be fighting age. Why or how can we convince Americans like me that the lives of their sons are worth fighting or should I say losing in Afghanistan? Is there any manageable explanation for this?

HIRSH: Well, certainly not losing. But, I mean, one could make the case that this is the place it was always all about. Rick, which was this is where Al Qaeda was hiding when we were attacked on 9/11, this is the place that should have been focused on, but we were diverted from in Iraq and so to the extent that we had a national debate about Iraq and the surge in Iraq and whether that was necessary, one could make the argument that is even more necessary.

SANCHEZ: But what's a win? I mean, the British got their butts handed to them over there. The Russians got their butts handed to them over there. And now we think we're going to go in and do what? Define for me, as a potential father of a son who would fight there, what would my son be fighting for? Revenge that's it?

HIRSH: I think the realistic scenario that I have heard from military experts given set backs there is keeping the lid on, preventing the further takeover of the country by the Taliban, preventing it from again becoming a host nation from which we could be attacked as we were on 9/11.

SANCHEZ: And spreading to Pakistan, that sounds like a domino theory all over again, doesn't it?

HIRSH: Well, it does. And you know, unfortunately, I mean these analogies can be overblown, but one dose here, Vietnam does like analogies. This is the single biggest problem for the president right now, politically, because he seems to be losing the support not just of republicans but of democrats who are wondering about the strategy there and this is why right now he really has to solve this great mystery story about what his strategy for Afghanistan is.

SANCHEZ: I heard Eric Cantor this morning in the radio, he was being interviewed by Bill Bennett. And they had a wonderful controversy where seem to be if you might expect blasting the President of the United States for everything he is doing and now they're blasting him on this. And Eric Cantor said it one moment that this was strategically important for the United States to stay there and fight because of hydrocarbons, hydrocarbons. What is he talking about?

HIRSH: It's methane (ph).

SANCHEZ: I know enough about hydrocarbons, that mean natural gas and oil and all that stuff but...

HIRSH: That's not, I mean he maybe mixed up this country because Afghanistan is not strategically important for that reason. It's important because it is a place that's naturally given to guerrilla warfare. A hideout for extremists always has been and we let it ride for a long time. I mean now you have the situation, again terrific political payroll (ph) and you've got Republicans and even some Democrats saying let's get General McChrystal to testify on the hill. Let's get him to talk about the additional troops he needs, irony of irony for you know for Obama, a guy who campaigned last year on the issue of focusing on Afghanistan, now he seems to be trying to run away from the issue and that's why the political pressures are so terrific.

SANCHEZ: Yes, there's no question the President of the United States is in a bit of a hold on this. By the way, I think McChrystal's comments have been either overplayed or misunderstood, haven't they? As I understand it, he's saying, if we want to go in and do this right, we're going to need more troops. He's not saying we need more troops. Those are two different statements, aren't they?

HIRSH: Exactly. And it's an assessment based on additional troops, but we don't know the strategy. Again, there was a high expectation we were going to hear from General Petraeus by now. About the counter insurgency strategy, that he was supposedly going to adopt when last year he took over sent come and began to oversee Afghanistan, we aren't heard about that and we have this terrific lack of clarity here. What do they want to do? Do they want to consolidate, control of Kabul, prop up Karzai or whatever is president? Or do they want to actually win? We don't know.

SANCHEZ: By the way, I'm being told by my producers when we got the pictures there that General Petraeus is starting to speak right now. We're going to deep in to that in a moment. All he's doing right now is thanking people and making a couple of quick comments before he starts. If the republicans want to win this argument that this president would be weak to pull troops out and that George Bush was like they were saying on the Bill Bennett show this morning was a tough guy and he was resolute and he did it all right, and this president obviously showing that he's going to cut and run and all that. Can they do with this debate as well as they seem to have done with the health care debate and make Americans go back there, even if Americans seem to be now going in the other direction, saying we should just get the heck out of both places?

HIRSH: Well, yes, I suppose they can succeed, if they successfully get people to ignore the facts. I mean the fact is that you know the Bush administration was the one that decided not to move security beyond Kabul in 2002. That focused on Iraq in 2003. Diverted intelligence and defense operations from Afghanistan to Iraq. So to a certain extent, you know whatever Obama is doing, whatever you want to say about what he decides and you know the fact that he's hesitating, he is still cleaning up the mess that was left to him by the Bush administration but that doesn't take away from his responsibility now nine months into his administration to come up with a clear strategy and we just again, haven't heard it.

SANCHEZ: We don't know what it is, and we're hearing one from the vice president and another suggestion from General McChrystal maybe we might be hearing another, there's some news that might be made any moment now. Give me that shot if you can Roger. There is General Petraeus, he's just now started to speak. As you can see by the smile, he's still kind of thanking some of the folks there and making some comments that probably are not that heavy at this point. Let's do this. I'll sneak a break in, when we come back, Mr. Hirsch, you stay with us, you're going to take us through perhaps over the comments that are made by Petraeus as well. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back, I'm Rick Sanchez, some chilling tapes have been played in a federal courtroom in Virginia. They illustrate a classic case of how not to get rid of your wife. Calling in the act, a former real estate agent. His name is Patrick Shemory (ph) -- hired a hit man for $1200, a pile of weed, some coke and a place to live.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kill her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Kill her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at me in my eyes, do you want me to handle this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Handle it.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Unbelievable, the hit man quickly became witness one, he went to the FBI and wore a video camera when he told Shemory (ph) that his wife was dead.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I killed your wife.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You did what you had to do, man.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I did it. How are you going to swing this? When people start hounding you, and you go to talk to her.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know nothing.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: I don't know anything. Those tapes played yesterday as Shemory (ph) pleaded guilty in the murder for hire plot, 10 years in prison and a court million dollar fine when he sentenced in December. As for his Shemory's wife, she's fine, as a matter of fact, she's now living in New Orleans. By the way, we told you that we're going to be following the situation going on with General Petraeus, give me that shot once again. We're monitoring what General Petraeus is staying, right now he's going through a chart that he's explaining which pretty much just reveals where forces are now and explains where the different stations are around the world for the United States.

When he starts taking Q & A, questions and answers about Afghanistan, we will dip in and let you listen. Meantime, what kind of salutation to the youth when greeting the Dalai Lama? How does a fist bump sound? Photos ahead. You got to see this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm sitting here reading some of the stuff that you all are sending me right now. It's interesting because this - this is good. This is good. This whole thing about Afghanistan is a question we as Americans should resolve and not leave to businesses and contractors and politicians as we have in the past. So let the discussion begin.

Here's somebody who's writing to me who says, you know what? We shouldn't pull out. We should stay there. "You leave and what happens with all the people that laid down their lives to help?" he asks. "In their name, go on." And then we have this one that says, "This happened throughout history. CIA creates these monsters and we only hear about it when American interests are in danger."

Interesting points of view. My thanks to you for keeping them coming, and I'll keep sharing. Religion and politics are two areas of our lives that are steeped in protocol. My mother still covers her head when she's inside a church and, you know, genuflecting is something that, as a Catholic, I'd gotten pretty good at. These are traditions.

So what happens when a down-home politician comes across one of the world's most revered religious leaders? Here's "Fotos".

Mayor of Memphis, meet the Dalai Lama - and how did the mayor greet him? Mayor Myron Lowery said, "Hello Dalai!" because he says he's always wanted to say that. And then he proceeded to give the spiritual leader of millions and millions of people a fist bump. There's a slow mo version, or maybe that's just how fast the Dalai Lama moves. The Dalai Lama took it all in stride and smiled. As for Mayor Goober, let's hope he doesn't get a meeting at the Vatican next week.

You've seen Sydney, Australia, the famous Opera House, the beaches, pretty ocean scenery, but have you ever seen it like this? Look at that. They're saying it's the country's worst dust storm in 70 years. It's the day an orange glow invaded Australia, the movie to follow.

In the state of Washington, if you don't believe in guardian angels, then you might want to take a look at this video. It may change your mind. I want to point your attention to a six-year-old child that's walking along a sidewalk there. See her? Right there? Watch her try and get out of the way.

That's a car that's backing out. The car is out of control. The car hits a pole which lifts it up off the ground. It hits the side of the store. Watch it once again. Here's the amazing part - the girl was completely untouched. Why? Well, the key is that the back of the car was lifting up against the wall, creating a space for her body. Now do you believe in guardian angels?

Have I told you about movie star John Travolta? He's in the Bahamas today. He's testifying in an extortion case that involves emergency responders, $25 million and the death of his son. What a crazy case. That story is next. I'm going to bring it to you.

And then later Roland Martin talks Moammar Gadhafi, Afghanistan and more. We call it "R and R," but there isn't no rest and relaxation here. Roland is going to join me in just a little bit. Stay with us. I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.

No parent should ever have to bury a child, but imagine having to relive every single agonizing second of a child's death in a foreign courtroom, even worse, having to testify about it because some people were trying to capitalize off of your loss.

Who does that? Well, that's what John Travolta has been going through in the Bahamas this morning, recounting the January 2nd death of his son, Jett. He was there to testify against the people, a former Bahamian senator, by the way, and a paramedic. They're accused of trying to extort $25 million from him - from John Travolta.

Bahamian police say the two threatened to release private information that included a - a form that would have absolved responders of liability if the Travolta family refused an ambulance. A police officer says Travolta initially wanted his son taken to the airport instead of the local hospital and sign the release form. Still not clear why in the end Travolta's son was taken to the hospital instead of the airport or why the accused thought that he'd pay to keep that alleged document a secret or even if it really exists. But this extortion case is just getting started. Details are just now being released. During his testimony, Travolta said that he was awakened by a nanny at about 10:00 that morning and when he got downstairs he assisted a caretaker doing chest compressions on his son. Jett Travolta died later that day. Awful stuff.

Well, it's always lively when Roland Martin comes by to talk about some of the things in the news, and today it's Moammar Gadhafi. But Moammar Gadhafi is one of those guys that sometimes - you ever heard the expression "crazy enough to occasionally be right"? Let's talk about that with Roland when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCEHZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez, here in the beautiful World Headquarters of CNN in downtown and wet Atlanta.

Libya's Moammar Gadhafi let loose this afternoon in his first ever speech to the United Nations. He busted through the 15-minute limit, basically going on for like 96 minutes on everything from the Kennedys to the King assassinations to swine flu as a military tool. Some of it was crazy stuff, no question. It was Gadhafi.

But he also slammed the United Nations for failing to stop dozens of wars, called it ineffectual - much the way many neo-Cons have - and he called the UN Security Council a terror council that puts too much power in the hands of the United States, the Russians, the Chinese, France, and the United Kingdom.

The translation is a little difficult to follow, so listen closely as I take you through this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOAMMAR QADAFFI (through translator): Anyone who says that I'm higher than or above the General Assembly should leave the United Nations and be alone. Democracy is not for the rich or for the more - for the richer or for the - the one who terrorizes or for the one who is more powerful than us. They should have democracy, no. The higher world - or the upper world should be the all nations at equal footing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: Roland Martin is joining me now. My brother in rest and relaxation - not! How are you, Roland?

ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: All good, hanging out here in New Orleans for the National Black NBA Conference.

SANCHEZ: I hope things are going well for you there.

MARTIN: You know - of course. I always got - get a little gumbo when I'm here.

SANCEHZ: You look very good, by the way. You look very handsome, as usual. There's a little music for you. MARTIN: There you go. Set the mood in New Orleans, yes.

SANCHEZ: I'm thinking of - I'm thinking almost - and don't get mad at me for saying this, but you might - I'm almost thinking of Reverend Wright when I listen to Moammar Gadhafi. There's an element - there's an element to Reverend Wright when you listen to him where you go, "Uh-oh, that's scary stuff," and then there's elements of what Reverend Wright said that you can't help but think, you know, he does make a point here and there.

Does Moammar Gadhafi also - does Moammar Gadhafi also make a point here and there?

MARTIN: I - I don't think you can even compare the two. First of all, Reverend Wright, I mean, did - did you listen of any of his full sermons or just snippets?

SANCHEZ: You're talking about Reverend Wright or Moammar Gadhafi?

MARTIN: No, Reverend Wright. Did you listen to snippets or...

SANCHEZ: Yes, yes. No, I - I did.

MARTIN: ... full sermon?

SANCHEZ: I did. I listen to...

MARTIN: Right. So - so - so again, I mean, I don't even - there's no - no comparison frankly between Reverend Wright and Gadhafi. First of all, Gadhafi, world leader, you know, in terms of leading a country, Libya, but also he has been a critical player in trying to bring peace to a lot of the war-torn countries on the continent of Africa, and I think that's really how the United States should be looking as to how you deal with Gadhafi, because he has credibility in dealing with those countries, whether you're talking about Senegal, whether you're talking about Nigeria, Kenya, the Congo - so many different countries.

And so, sure, he's going - he's a character. He's going to go off making his comments and - and, you know, attacking the United States and making outlandish claims, but he has a role to play and we cannot deny the reality - and, look, under the Bush administration, we began to frankly thaw out the relationship because they - because they renounced, you know, their nuclear program and President Bush began to reach out to Ghadafi and Libya in his final years.

SANCHEZ: Let me stop you there. We are going to continue in just a moment. And I know there is a lot to talk about. Roland is going to join me on cnn.com.

Meanwhile, Wolf Blitzer is standing by in New York City.

Wolf, take it away.