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Hammering Out Health Reform; Afghan Troop Deliberations; Florida Boy Remains in Critical Condition After Begin Set on Fire

Aired November 03, 2009 - 11:01   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. It is Tuesday, November 3rd, Election Day for many parts of the country.

And here are the top stories for you in the CNN NEWSROOM.

President Obama's decision on a U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan, is it any closer now that Afghanistan's presidential election is decided?

It is becoming a holiday season ritual -- you fly and the airlines trip you up with fatter fees.

Men and women in the workplace. The U.S. loses ground in the gender pay gap. We will show you the rankings.

Good morning, everyone.

I'm Tony Harris. And you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hammering out the details of the House health care reform bill. We could get the final language of the bill today. It is expected to address two very divisive issues: abortion and immigration. And there's still the issue of the public option.

Lisa Desjardins is Capitol Hill correspondent for CNN Radio, and she joins us with a look at what's going on today.

Lisa, good to see you.

LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Hey. Good morning, Tony.

HARRIS: Good to see you, Lisa.

Let's start with a bit of a definition of terms here. What is the manager's amendment, which is what we expect from House Democrats today?

DESJARDINS: Right. All these terms, it sounds like a special at a restaurant.

No, the manager's amendment is actually a critical piece of any major bill. This is when Democratic leaders will put in a big chunk of an amendment that will change the bill. And it often contains some hefty proposals. It may address some very controversial issues like abortion and immigration. We're going to get to those in a minute.

Tony, the best way to think about this manager's amendment that I could come up with on the fly, you know, if you think about a long train, you've got the engineer car, you've got the engine. Well, this is probably the car right behind it. It's a front car on this train. We don't know how important it is yet because we haven't seen it yet.

HARRIS: Oh, very good. Very visual.

OK. On to some specifics here.

On the public option, does the Speaker have the votes to pass reform on that issue, or could she lose some Democratic votes on this issue of the public option?

DESJARDINS: Oh, the public option. Right now they are counting votes very carefully in the Democratic Caucus, probably at this exact minute, even as they're sitting on the floor. But it does look like this version of the public option that House Speaker Pelosi has put in this plan probably has the Democratic votes as it stands right now.

She needs 218 votes. She has well more than that, almost 40 more votes than that in her caucus. And this is a moderate, kind of middle ground version of the public option with a little less government involvement. So, it looks like on that issue alone, she has the votes, but of course that's not the only issue.

HARRIS: Yes.

And let's move to another pretty contentious issue here, the abortion issue. Does the Speaker, again, have the votes to pass health care reform, or could she lose some Democratic votes on the abortion issue?

DESJARDINS: You put your finger on the issue of the day, perhaps, on Capitol Hill. We don't know.

We've put in a lot of calls. Our producer, Deirdre Walsh, on the Hill, is trying to track this. Right now nobody is sure.

We know that there are some 40 Democrats, conservative Democrats, who have said they don't like the abortion language as it stands in the bill right now. To cut to it, Tony, this is a matter of interpretation.

Right now, the House Democrats' bill says that no money can go directly to pay for an abortion, that if there's an abortion in one of these insurance plans, it would have to be separated out, walled out, and paid for by separate funds like a person's personal funds.

However, those other Democrats that don't like this language say, wait a minute, we're giving subsidies to people who could sign up for a big insurance plan that gives an abortion benefit, so aren't we thereby giving them subsidies to allow them to go get an abortion?

HARRIS: Sure. Sure.

DESJARDINS: Those conservative Democrats don't like that, and they're trying to find some way they can agree.

HARRIS: Let's do this. One more issue here -- the immigration issue. Does the Speaker -- same question -- have the votes, or could she lose some Democratic votes on the immigration issue?

DESJARDINS: This is another issue of the day. It's not clear yet.

We know there are two problems that we hear about immigration language. One, is there enough verification of whether people getting these health benefits are here legally in the United States? And then on the other end, some liberals say maybe there's too much verification, it's too onerous. Some progressives say there shouldn't be any verification in this bill.

The second issue, Tony, is one of residency. In the House bill right now, it requires that people be residents of the United States for five years before they can get the subsidies. And the House Hispanic Caucus has said they think that is too much, that's too high of a level. So, House Speaker Pelosi, on that issue, also, is damned if she does, damned if she doesn't, and she could lose some votes either way.

HARRIS: Yes.

OK. Lisa, keep us posted, if you would, along with our congressional correspondents, on how this shakes out over the next couple of days. I guess we're expecting this to go to the floor maybe by Friday.

DESJARDINS: Big week. Could be a weekend vote.

HARRIS: Big week, yes. OK.

Lisa Desjardins for CNN Radio for us today.

Lisa, appreciate it. Thank you.

Checking the wire now and the day's other big stories.

North Korea climbs it has weaponized enough plutonium to build another nuclear bomb. Experts believe the regime already has material for perhaps eight bombs. Analysts see today's announcement as a bargaining chip. North Korea is pressing the United States for one- on-one nuclear negotiations.

Today, in parts of Philadelphia, no buses, no trains, no trolleys. Workers from the city's largest transit union walked off the job overnight, leaving thousands of commuters stranded. They're striking over a pay raise and health care benefits.

Yes, here we go again -- health care. Newly reelected and promising to clean up his corrupt government, but at a news conference today, Afghan President Hamid Karzai offered no indication he would scrub shady officials from his administration. One western diplomat says Karzai should offer up a couple of high- profile heads on a platter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN PRESIDENT: Afghanistan has its difficulties. Afghanistan is emerging from 30 years of war, and stepping forward towards a more institutional legal order, one that is still struggling against terrorism and the menaces that affect us all.

We are aware of the difficulties of our governance and the environment in which we live. We'll keep trying our best to address the questions that we have facing Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: You know, even with the messy Afghan election out of the way President Obama's approach to a U.S. troop buildup in Afghanistan remains deliberative.

Here is CNN's Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Still no indication when President Obama plans to decide what to do about Afghanistan.

ROBERT GIBBS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I think the decision still will be made in the coming weeks.

STARR: But Republican pressure is mounting on the White House.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), MINORITY LEADER: I'm concerned about this delay. I would hope that the president would make a decision and make it soon.

STARR: Privately, many senior military officials are anxious to see a decision from the president. With winter snows on the way, it could still be months before new troops could be in place.

One argument against a hasty troop decision -- waiting puts pressure on Afghan President Hamid Karzai to clean up corruption in his government.

MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKING INSTITUTION: There's a certain argument for making our decision more patiently and keep leverage on the Afghans.

STARR: All this comes as the casualty rate is escalating. In the last three months, nearly 150 U.S. troops lost their lives. That's more than half of those killed so far this year. The number of wounded also on the rise. One-fourth of all the wounded since the war began have come in the last three months. Roadside bombs still the number one killer, more so as the number of troops have increased.

GEOFF MORRELL, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: Clearly, the IED threat has become worse over the -- in the six months since -- the six or seven months since the president made the decision to plus up in Afghanistan.

STARR: Some conditions have improved, U.S. officials say. Parts of the Helmand River Valley and some approaches to Kandahar City are back in coalition control, although not the city itself. Overall, however, the U.S. military estimates 30 percent of the country remains under strong Taliban influence.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: So, what if the president did decide to send more troops? Well, we've checked around a little bit.

The Army says that they have three brigades, two at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, one at Fort Drum, New York. That's about 10,000 troops that could be tapped next to go. They finished their year at home, and they could be next in line. But, still, they would need more training and it would be early next year before they could get to Afghanistan -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK.

Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us.

Barbara, thank you.

As we await the president's decision on send more troops to Afghanistan, we still want to hear from you.

Here's what some of you are saying.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, Tony. My name is Victor (ph).

I don't believe if we left today it's going to make any difference up in that part of the world. And if we stay for 20 years, I don't think it's going to make a difference. I think our belief system is completely different from theirs, and I just don't think its a winnable type of war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Eli (ph) from Tarzana, California.

The Afghanis will be there five years from now, 25 years from now. We should get out now while we're ahead. If we get involved, when do we call it quits and how do we quit? A hundred and fifty thousand troops is not going to make it.

Even 30,000 troops is not going to make it. We quit now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Mike Morgan (ph).

I believe Obama should listen to his generals that are on the ground fighting the war, not his senator-armchair-generals who think they know best. We need thousands of drones over their heads at all times to watch over our men and women to help protect them.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HARRIS: Look, we love hearing from you. You can still voice your comments. Just give us a call. Do it right now if you have a moment: 1-877-742-5760.

Let us know what you think the U.S. should do next in Afghanistan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: What do you say we get to some business news now?

Johnson & Johnson is cutting around 8,000 jobs from its global workforce. The company, which makes everything from shampoos to contact lenses, has 117,000 workers spread across 57 countries.

We will get new unemployment numbers for October on Friday. The jobless rate is expected to creep closer to 10 percent.

In the meantime, the Senate finally looks ready to vote late today or tomorrow on a bill to extend unemployment benefits for two million Americans. House action is expected to follow quickly.

Two iconic American brands are joining forces to create the country's largest toolmaker. Stanley will buy Black & Decker in a $4.5 billion stock deal. Both companies battered by the housing collapse.

And you know more and more businesses are filing for bankruptcy. Just yesterday, we told you about CIT Group's Chapter 11 filing, the fifth biggest in history. And today, a new study says it is a growing trend.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

HARRIS: And despite millions of job seekers desperate for work, many open positions are languishing, unfilled. The reason? Not enough candidates. Can you believe that?

Read all about it at CNNMoney.com.

He's on a ventilator and can't tell his side of the story. A Florida boy remains in critical condition after he was set on fire. What happens to the kids who did it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: All right. Let's get you caught up on our top stories now that we are watching for you this hour.

An Arizona woman allegedly run over by her father has died. Police say the father, an Iraqi immigrant, was upset because his daughter had become too westernized.

Today, students and teachers are expected to gather outside a Richmond, California, high school where police say a 15-year-old was gang-raped. They're holding a rally and candlelight vigil for the victim. Four suspects have been charged in that attack. That happened during a school dance.

In Florida, prosecutors have been granted a nine-day extension to file charges in the case of a 15-year-old who was set on fire. Five of his schoolmates are accused. Investigators are still waiting to interview the severely burned victim.

And Dr. Nicholas Namias has been treating Michael Brewer at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. And he joins us live.

And Doctor, we read this account this morning of Michael Brewer's condition in one of the local papers. It reads in part, "He lies in a bed on a balloon-type mattress to reduce pressure on his burned body. He is covered with bandages. A ventilator breathes for Michael Brewer because he can't do it for himself."

Would you share with us more on his condition? I'm curious, is he still heavily sedated? He was the last time we spoke. Is he able to communicate with you, with his family, at all at this time?

DR. NICHOLAS NAMIAS, DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI-JACKSON MEMORIAL BURN CENTER: All of the things you said are accurate.

In terms of communicating, I think you could call it communicating minimally in terms of he will respond to commands to move an arm, or squeeze a hand, or open an eye or close an eye sort of thing. But no meaningful communication. No discussions or anything like that.

HARRIS: Doctor, I've been trying to come up with a delicate way to ask this question. You know, someone better than me will have to do it. But is Michael going to make it? Is he going to survive?

NAMIAS: Our expectation is survival. Having said that, nobody who takes care of burns would be surprised if he didn't, but our expectation is survival.

Nothing we're dealing with at this time is insurmountable. There are several challenges, but they are all things that we have seen before.

We're seeing at the same time many other patients in the same unit, and there are things that we deal with every day. And we're just hoping to be able to get through this without any one of the unfortunate tragedies that happen from time to time. But we're optimistic, and everything is going the right way, and he's responding to treatments the way we would want him to.

HARRIS: What are the continuing challenges for Michael?

NAMIAS: The continuing challenges are the organ systems that don't work properly, as we would expect at this time in a burn. It's all totally expected that the lungs would still need assistance with breathing. It's all still expected that he couldn't possibly eat enough nutrition, and he can't eat on when he's on the ventilator anyway, so we're having to provide the nutrition with a feeding tube.

We expected infections, and we've got them. And we're treating them with antibiotics. We expected fever, and we've got it. And we continue to look for new infections that need to be treated. We expected ongoing wound care, and we're continuing to take care of the wounds, seeing some signs of healing in some areas that we're optimistic about that would minimize the need for further surgery.

These are the things that we deal with, and we monitor them very closely not only day to day, but minute to minute in ICU.

HARRIS: Doctor, yesterday, as you know, prosecutors handling this case asked for an extension to get Michael's account of the attack. I say you know this because I understand that you were in contact with the prosecutors handling this case.

My understanding is that there is a tube that may be removed later this week that would allow him to speak. Will that happen this week?

NAMIAS: Yes. Tony, I heard this from the news media, actually. I didn't -- I never made that statement.

And I would love for him to have the breathing tube out in the next nine days, but I would be very pleasantly surprised if we were able to do that. That's really not my expectation.

It would be wonderful if we could do it. We're continuously trying to do it. Every day we assess if this is the day or not in which some treatment can be stopped or changed. But we're not at the point of getting the breathing tube out right now.

HARRIS: Oh, boy.

Doctor, one last question. And I'm not asking to you make a statement that would jeopardize a jury pool here. But when you're with Michael, when you are treating him, do you think back on how this could have happened? Leaving out who police say is responsible, can you believe this actually happened the way it is described to this young man?

NAMIAS: Unfortunately, working in burns and trauma, things happen that you wouldn't believe that happen. But I can believe that this happened? Unfortunately, yes, I can believe that it happened. I wish I couldn't. HARRIS: Doctor, thanks for your time. Thank for the update. And if you don't mind, we'd like to check in with you again in the near future and get a further update on Michael's condition.

Thanks for your time.

NAMIAS: Thank you very much.

HARRIS: Voters in some parts of the country are going to the polls today, while others are attending rallies to make a change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to support the conservative movement. I mean, I feel like there's not enough people that are doing that, and that there's a lot of bias. And I want to be one of those people that stand out for our country. It will get people out to the polls and maybe make them understand that the way the government works is you've got make your voice known.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Election Day 2009. The polls are open, and the nation is focusing on a handful of off-year elections that could tell us something about the national political mood. Democrats have a lot at stake in governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia. We have the Best Political Team in Television covering the elections for you, starting with Jessica Yellin in Alexandria, Virginia.

Jessica, good to see you. Doesn't the recent history in Virginia suggest the president's party will actually lose the Virginia statehouse today?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know your political trivia, Tony. Yes, that's right. For the last three decades, the party in control of the White House has lost the Virginia governor's race. So that, historically at least, would bode well for the Republican in this race, Bob McDonnell.

It's also one of a number of local factors that you have to weigh when you try to decide to what extent this election is a referendum on President Obama and his policies. After all, this is his backyard. The White House is only about a 25-minute drive from here.

On the other hand, when you interview Democrats here, they'll insist that this is about local issues like jobs, like transportation. The folks we see going into this polling place who are Democrats say if their candidate loses -- and he is trailing -- it's because the Democrat did not run an effective campaign. But, Tony, the Republicans nationally are trying to make this very much a referendum on President Obama.

And we spoke to a number of people going in who agree that it really could be. Let's listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's a mixture. I do believe that voters in Virginia, as well as people throughout the country, are disappointed and frustrated at what is seen as an inability of the Obama administration to deliver on the lofty promises that they made during the campaign. I also think there are definitely local factors at work.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is one of several elections that will say something about the current administration. And again, it's about taxing and spending at a time when the government has been printing money, sending money out there, and it really hasn't produced results.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: Now, Tony, some other factors to consider. Will Democrats turn out in big numbers, or have they been burned out after working so hard for President Obama? Will Republicans turn out in big numbers showing that they're energized by their opposition to the administration? These are all things to watch today.

Finally, I'll point out one of the ads that's been running in the last weekend here in Virginia. A campaign ad for the Democrat features President Obama almost exclusively. When I first heard it on television, I thought we were back last year listening to President Obama's campaign because you didn't even hear the Democratic candidate speak until the very end. He is right now, the Democrat here, relying on President Obama to turn out as many votes as he can -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK, Jessica Yellin for us. Jessica, appreciate it. Thank you.

And the test for Democrats might be even more critical in New Jersey, where President Obama campaigned heavily for incumbent Jon Corzine. Mary Snow is covering that race.

And you know, Mary, everything I read suggests that this race is a real tossup.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, I'm having a little hard time hearing you, but, you know, the president raised the stakes here in New Jersey by coming here to campaign three times, the latest visit coming on Sunday. This is the state where Democrats have the best chance to win, but it's also the state that they absolutely don't want to win because it is a traditionally Democratic state. The president won here by 16 points last year.

He's come to the aid of Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine, who's been an unpopular governor, struggling in this race, which is really virtually a dead heat leading up to Election Day. He's been battling Republican candidate Christopher Christie, a former prosecutor, and a third-party independent candidate, Chris Daggett, has also been pivotal because as his support went up, that is when Jon Corzine also started leveling off, and he erased some of the lead that his Republican challenger had.

When you ask voters about what's at stake here, they will tell you that the number one issue they really see is property taxes. Here's a little bit of what they had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: What's the biggest issue for you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically, to get Jon Corzine out and hopefully Christie will win.

SNOW: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because he hasn't done anything but raise our property taxes, hasn't really supported small business owners, and I feel we need a change.

SNOW: Why are you voting for Corzine? What are the reasons?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stability. You know, you know what he's going to do. You know what he's tried to do, considering the, you know, economic conditions. And you can't blame him for what's happening. I mean, I think he's doing a decent job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: And is this a race with national implications? Is it a referendum on the Obama administration? Different answers depending on the voters you talk to. Democratic voters say they don't really see it that way. Republicans are saying yes, it certainly is -- Tony.

HARRIS: All right, CNN's Mary Snow for us. Mary, thank you.

Some interesting mayoral races we are watching today. Atlanta voters could elect the city's first white mayor since 1972, while an openly gay conservative candidate is up for the job of mayor in Houston, Texas.

CNN tonight starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, special primetime election coverage with the Best Political Team on Television. It is one year since Barack Obama was elected president. Promises kept, promises broken and what's next in the era of Obama. Plus, the highlights and latest numbers from all the political battles from across the nation. Don't miss primetime election coverage tonight starting at 8:00 only on CNN.

If you fly, you've noticed the changes -- fees to check bags, paying for peanuts. And that's not all. Personal finance editor Gerri Willis joins us next with tips on how to get a better fare when you really need one.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Quick look now at today's top stories. At least 12 people are dead, 19 others injured after a cargo train collided with a passenger train. It happened in Pakistan's commercial capital of Karachi. The accident is being blamed on a technical error.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses a joint meeting of Congress this morning. She is making the case for a deal on global warming.

And one is not enough. The Centers for Disease Control recommends children under the age of 9 get a second dose of the H1N1 vaccine.

How about this? A new poll shows President Obama's approval rating at 54 percent, even though most Americans disapprove of the way he's handling the major issues. Most don't agree with his policies, but they admire him personally.

In the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, most Americans say the president inspires confidence, is honest and trustworthy, cares about people and someone they admire. In fact, more than half of the respondents gave the president a thumbs-up on 11 of the 12 personality characteristics in the survey. The images of the president as a family man, a father, a husband may be a factor that could help explain the disparity between how Americans view the president personally and what they think about his policies.

So, what do you think? How do you think President Obama is doing one year later? Go to our blog, CNN.com/tony and leave us a comment, and we'll share some of them on the air. Let's get to that next hour in the CNN NEWSROOM.

You do the same job, work the same hours, but get paid less. Ladies, what's going on here?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Well, well, well, how about this? A little something extra for the holidays from the airlines. Most major carriers are jacking up their holiday ticket surcharge $40 round trip. Airlines are generating revenue with these higher fees and fewer perks. Bereavement fares, rest in peace.

Your personal finance editor Gerri Willis takes a look for us. Gerri, if you have a death in the family, are you stuck with paying full fare for a ticket?

GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Well, Tony, look, you can forget the bereavement fares. They've really gone away. Today, you're lucky to get what they call a compassion fare. It's a 5 percent, 10 percent maybe 20 percent discount on fares.

For example, at Continental, the higher the fare, the higher the discount, up to 20 percent if the fare is over a thousand bucks. United will give you a 10 percent discount across the board. They'll also waive the last-minute booking fees. American and Delta handle things on a case-by-case basis. The extent of the discount depends on where you're flying and when. The upside: American doesn't limit discounts to specific family members. In short, they'll take your word for it if you have an emergency. HARRIS: And so...

WILLIS: And some airlines, US Airways, Tony, JetBlue, they don't even offer these at all. And so many of these airlines saying, you know, look, overall, the general progress of airfares had been down since deregulation. But you know what's happened recently, Tony. I don't have to tell you.

HARRIS: Oh, absolutely. So, wait a minute, Gerri. So, what do I do if, God forbid, I have a death in the family, and I have to travel, say, a long distance unexpectedly?

WILLIS: Well, you know, we talked to the people at farecompare.com because they have some really good strategies for this. And these are really strategies you can use any time you're having to book an airfare at the last minute, whether it's an emergency or something you have to do, you know, very quickly.

First off, if you want to negotiate on price, negotiate with a manager, not just anybody who picks up the 800 number. They may be authorized to work with you, get you a decent fare, waive expensive last-minute fees. And you've got to speak the lingo, too, speak those magic words. You want them to waive the advance purchase rule so that you can get a fare that would be available a week or two weeks ahead of time.

Use frequent flyer points, Tony. This is the perfect time to use them, when you have an emergency like this. You'll be able to redeem, though typically, you've got to pay 50 bucks to do it. If you don't have enough airline miles, buy them directly from the airline to top off whatever amount do you have.

And finally, this is the time to look at the package Web sites if you're really looking for a cheap fare. Sometimes they negotiate really dirt-cheap airfares. Travelocity, Priceline, those are the places to go. Then, and if you have to, you can just dump the hotel reservation.

But if you are up against it and you've got to have airfare right away, this is one way to do it. Actually, it's about three ways to do it, but you know what I mean.

HARRIS: Yes, exactly. All right, Gerri, boy, see you tomorrow.

WILLIS: All right.

HARRIS: See you tomorrow in NYC.

WILLIS: Looking forward to it, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes, it will be fun.

As President Obama considers whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, we're listening to your comments about the war. Here is a bit of what you're saying.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

CALLER: This is Emad, E-m-a-d, from Los Angeles, California. I think the war in Afghanistan is a mistake. We either go in and put another 150,000 troops on the ground, then win strategically and tactically, or call it quits and just admit defeat and walk away.

CALLER: This is Iris (ph) from Maryland. I don't think we ought to be sending more troops. I think we should be really pulling out. We're fighting on turf that we're totally unfamiliar with, very similar to Vietnam, and I don't see us winning anything. This is turning into a civil war and Afghans are leaving and deserting instead of standing up and fighting. This should be their war, not ours.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HARRIS: OK. Still time, plenty of time, actually, for you to share your comments with us. Just Give us a call at 1-877-742-5760. Right now would be a great time if you have a moment. Let us know what you think the U.S. should do next in Afghanistan.

And here's what we're working on for the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Chris Lawrence is embedded with U.S. troops in Afghanistan as they wait for President Obama to decide whether to send more backup. Plus, a startling statistic. Listen to this. A new study says half of the nation's children will live on food stamps at some point before they turn 20. Our Josh Levs is breaking down the figure along economic and racial lines.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: The U.S. has about 200,000 contractors working in Iraq and Afghanistan, but a new report says agencies aren't keeping track of those contractors or how much they're costing us. Us, the taxpayer.

That story now from CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They provide critical support for American troops and diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the U.S. simply isn't keeping track of tens of thousands of contractors there, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office.

MICHAEL THIBAULT, CO-CHAIR, COMMISSION ON WARTIME CONTRACTING: That is amazing. How can contractors be properly managed if we aren't sure how many there are, where they are and what are they doing?

QUIJANO: Those questions were put directly to Defense Department officials and others by a bipartisan panel looking at wartime contracting.

CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, CO-CHAIR, COMMISSION ON WARTIME CONTRACTING: I kind of like want to scream, and I'm not sure why.

QUIJANO: Former Republican Congressman Chris Shays grilled defense officials on why some contractors don't comply with requirements to report on the number of workers they employ.

SHAYS: Who specifically has the authority to direct cooperation?

GARY MOTSEK, ASSISTANT DEPUTY UNDERSECRETARY OF DEFENSE: No one.

SHAYS: No one?

MOTSEK: No one.

SHAYS: Why?

MOTSEK: Because we're operating under a memorandum of understanding that was directed by Congress, and it's a good-faith effort. You're asking me, who is the single belly button to push to force compliance, and as I've...

SHAYS: Well let me ask you this...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... testified before, there isn't one.

SHAYS: ... if a contractor doesn't provide this information, why the hell should they get paid?

QUIJANO: The GAO report also cited glaring examples of waste, including an estimated $43 million each year in free meals for contractors who also receive a per diem, and problems keeping tabs on contractors, like a 2008 tally by the Army that found 26,000 contractors had never been accounted for.

Panelists warn the inaccurate counts could put U.S. personnel at greater risk from foreign nationals working with members of provincial reconstruction teams, or PRTs, in Afghanistan.

DOV ZAKHEIM, COMMISSION ON WARTIME CONTRACTING: If we don't know who these guys are, and they're a bunch of day laborers and they go into the PRTs, how do we know they're not going to blow up a PRT?

QUIJANO (on camera): To help you understand how complex this is, when the GAO was trying to crunch the numbers, it was given 48 separate databases which it analyzed to identify 85,000 contracts worth $39 billion.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: Equal pay for equal work? Not in the United States. And how are we doing compared to other countries? The results of a new study out.

Josh Levs is here to explain. What are you finding, Josh?

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, it's interesting because there's a lot of debate about this online that I've been seeing. And I want to get everyone first to the big statistic because this behind me is the study that came out from the World Economic Forum, The Global Gender Gap Report.

It looks at a lot of different issues involving gender -- politics, various other things. But one thing they isolate is equal pay for equal work. Let's go to a graphic.

This is where they're ranking the United States in the world, Tony -- 64th in terms of equal pay for equal work. I called them and I spoke with them, and I can actually show you -- we can just zoom in here for a second -- on where they're saying that equal work works out. Basically, they're saying that women are getting about 67 cents on the dollar to what men get for equal work. That's their take on this.

Now, there are a lot of figures that fly around about how much women are making compared to men. And I have a graphic for you here that has a statistic for you.

HARRIS: OK.

LEVS: Let's take a look at that. This from the census. It says women earn 77 cents for each dollar a man earns. And in that case, they're not talking about the same job. They're talking overall in the workforce, how much are men making, how much are women making. They're saying women are working -- or making less.

So, what you see when you look at these statistics ultimately is that there is still a gender disparity no matter how you slice it. There are lots of factors you could throw in there -- different job, different experience. So, it's not as simple necessarily as employers saying men get this, women get this. But that disparity continues. This report is the latest way of pointing that out, Tony.

HARRIS: Yes, but if you're on the bad side of that...

LEVS: Oh, it's really serious. I mean, that's why we look at these statistics so often because, clearly, you know, it's important that something be done.

HARRIS: Yes.

LEVS: And I'll just show you quickly before we go. President Obama, you know, the first act he signed, first bill he signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Act, was designed...

HARRIS: That's right.

LEVS: ... to be one step toward creating equal pay.

HARRIS: All right, Josh, appreciate it. See you next hour.

LEVS: You got it. Thanks.

HARRIS: So, how can women break down barriers and break into the boys' club? Accomplished women from finance, medicine, politics and professional poker shared their opinions on CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360" last night. Here's part of that conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": You say women need to be more aggressive in terms of stating what they want in the workplace.

SUZE ORMAN, FINANCIAL ADVISER: The reason why, in my opinion, that women do not get to where I think they are meant to be is they are simply afraid to really go for it. God forbid they should hurt somebody's feelings. They always say, "I'm fine."

Men will really go for it. Women tend to go, "Oh, it's all right. It's for you. It's not for me." I think we stand in our own way. I've always thought it. I will forever think it until we change it.

COOPER: And Maria, you see that around the poker table as well.

MARIA HO, PROFESSIONAL POKER PLAYER: I definitely agree with Suze. Aggression is a huge factor, especially at the poker table. And, you know, like she said, we're the only people standing in our way.

And at a poker table, you pony up that money. Nobody can tell you -- there's no, you know, office politics. Nobody can say, hey, you can't play because you're a woman. As long as you've got the money and you've got, you know, the confidence in your poker abilities, you can step up to the plate and challenge the best in the world at any time.

COOPER: Dee Dee, I mean, do you think it's that simple? You know, on average, women make 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. And the wage gap for female CEOs is worse than that. They make 58 cents on the dollar, according to the Corporate Library. I mean it's not as simple as just, you know, putting yourself out there more.

DEE DEE MYERS, FIRST FEMALE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, that's part of it. I mean, one of the reasons women don't make more money is that too often women don't ask. Studies show that men are substantially more likely to ask, starting at their first jobs right out of school.

And over time, the wage gap multiplies until you get to what we see among CEOs, which is women making 58 cents on the dollar.

So I agree with Suze and Maria we're saying, but I think we need to find strategies that are comfortable for women. I don't think women are necessarily going to want to do things the same way men do. We need to learn to take credit for our accomplishments. We need to learn to take credit for the good things that we do to put ourselves out there, and not to say, "Oh, my accomplishment wasn't so great. It was my team. It really wasn't me."

DR. KATRINA FIRLIK, NEUROSURGEON: I agree. And, you know, another related point is that you have to have a big ego in fields like surgery or other male-dominated fields. But what I've learned, it doesn't have to be a loud, aggressive ego. It could be a very quiet, confident ego. But you do need a strong ego, and I think that's acceptable no matter what kind of ego it is.

COOPER: Suze, you talk about that a lot, how people -- how women don't take credit for what they themselves have accomplished or helped others to accomplish.

ORMAN: Yes. I think they're afraid of how it might -- or they may appear.

So, God forbid you should say, "I'm a strong woman. I'm the best at what I do." It's not something that's considered an admirable type of quality when a woman does it.

So, I don't know, Anderson. If women were just willing to really go for it, not care what other people thought of them, just went with it with everything they had, oh, they could rule this world because they absolutely have the intelligence to do so.

MYERS: Well, I was just going to add to that that I think that that tendency to downplay our accomplishments starts early. You see it in junior high and high school where girls and boys achieve the same things or maybe even girls achieve more than boys. And the boys will go, I'm going to be an astronaut, and the girls say I don't think I'm smart enough.

So, that's something we have to start at a young age, encouraging girls to, again, take credit for what they do and what they accomplish.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Oh, that is good stuff, good discussion.