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President Obama Considers Troop Levels; Massacre at Fort Hood; Interview with General Robert Cone

Aired November 11, 2009 - 09:00   ET

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

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, good morning, guys. That's right. Thanks so much, John and Kiran. In fact, here's what we're working on.

This first. The case of a girl raped at her high school.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was by herself. She was naked and like I tried to help her.

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COLLINS: Chilling details from two men who say they saw the young victim that night.

And four options for Afghanistan. President Obama is back in the war room today as he nears a decision on troop levels.

And a flight of honor.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very fortunate to be able to be here. Many that didn't make it.

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COLLINS: World War II vets get a trip of their lives to mark the service of their lives.

Good morning, everybody. It is November 11th, Veterans Day. I'm Heidi Collins and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

On this Veterans Day President Obama has his thoughts on those who fought and those serving now, specifically whether to call up more troops for the Afghan war. If so, how many? The president has his eighth meeting with his national security team on this very subject.

And CNN's Jill Dougherty is with us now from the White House this morning.

So, Jill, there are quite a few people out there getting a little frustrated. They are concerned with the length of time the president is taking to make this decision. Could today be the day? JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Dubious, I would say today, Heidi. This is a long process and it's probably going to continue for a while. But it is an important meeting, because, after all, it is, as you mentioned, the eighth major meeting with all of his national security staff, and the cast is pretty long.

You have people -- you know, the vice president and of course, Secretary Clinton from the State Department, the defense secretary, Robert Gates, General Petraeus, and many others who are going to be involved in this very important meeting.

Essentially, we are told he is looking at four different options. And the focus has really been on troop numbers so let's just quickly look at that. There are four different scenarios. But one of them has been fleshed out pretty well, that appears to be 34,000 troops that would include troops, you know, Army soldiers, Marines, and support troops.

And they would be dispatched to the south and the southeast of Afghanistan where a lot of the fighting is going on. But the number of troops isn't the only thing that the president is looking at. There are really at least four other areas, you'd have to say, number one troops of course.

Number two, what kind of cooperation can the U.S. expect from the government of Hamid Karzai? Also U.S. civilian support. That's the daily wick of the State Department. What could they provide. And then finally, support from other countries.

Those are all crucial pieces of this puzzle that the president is looking at because you cannot just break one off and decide that that is what will fix the problem.

And then again, Heidi, reminder from Robert Gibbs yesterday, the press secretary, who is telling reporters that anyone who says that they know what the president has decided or that he has decided doesn't know what they're talking about.

COLLINS: Ha. Well, so what is the president going to do specifically today to mark this Veterans Day?

DOUGHERTY: He will be -- he has breakfast here at the White House that no cameras at that, that is a Veterans Day breakfast. And then he goes, as presidents for many years have done, over to Arlington National Cemetery. He will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns, and then he will also be delivering a speech.

It is all traditional and as I said, it's been done for many years. But there's special significance, I think, you'd have to say because this president is facing an imminent decision to send more people into harm's way, and he must be reflecting on people who have paid the price for previous decisions by previous presidents -- Heidi?

COLLINS: He must. All right, Jill Dougherty, out in front of the White House this morning. Thank you, Jill. A majority of Americans oppose sending more troops to Afghanistan. The latest CNN Opinion Research Corporation Poll shows 42 percent in favor of sending more U.S. troops and 56 percent against. But, at the same time, a lot of people doubt there will ever be a stable Afghan government without help from U.S. troops. Thirty- two percent said there will be a stable government, 64 percent said now -- said no, pardon me.

Turning now to the shooting rampage at Fort Hood. While 15 soldiers continue their recovery in the hospital this morning, we take a moment to look at the suspect's involvement with a radical Islamist.

Why do military investigators know -- what did they know and when did they know it? Those are some of the big questions right now as some people wonder if critical warning signs may have been ignored.

CNN's David Mattingly has the very latest now from Fort Hood.

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DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): We know Major Hasan's activities caught the attention of a joint task force investigating possible terrorism activity. But the question is, how far up the chain of command did that information go?

(Voice-over): At a somber memorial service surrounded by families of the fallen soldiers the president had strong words for alleged gunman Nidal Hasan.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: For what he has done we know that the killer will be met with justice, in this world and the next.

MATTINGLY: As the families grieve, the FBI was going through the trash outside Hasan's mosque in Killeen, Texas. And in Washington, growing questions about possible missed opportunities with the Pentagon saying it was never told of a terror investigation that uncovered Hasan's relationship with a radical cleric.

Senior investigative officials tell CNN Hasan communicated at least 20 times with Anwar al-Awlaki who had close relationships with two 9/11 hijackers. Investigators reviewed those communications, determined they didn't appear threatening and were consistent with Hasan's research as a psychiatrist.

Former Bush White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend says it's often difficult to put the pieces of different investigations together.

FRANCES TOWNSEND, NATIONAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: It's very difficult for investigators to get all of that information in one place, especially when he's not the overall target of the investigation.

MATTINGLY: Hasan himself is saying nothing to investigators. He's under guard in the intensive care unit of this Army medical facility in San Antonio.

COL. JOHN GALLIGAN (RET.), MAJ. HASAN'S ATTORNEY: Let's ensure that the process is followed, that the investigation is complete, and that we proceed with the same kind of impartiality that we would want in any case involving anyone including ourselves.

MATTINGLY (on camera): Hasan's defense attorney says he has received no notice of any pending charges from the Army and he says he will seek to have his client physically and mentally examined to make sure that he is capable of participating in his defense.

David Mattingly, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.

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COLLINS: And then there's this. A Florida man has caught the eye of federal investigators after trying to send flowers to the accused gunman. Sixty-one-year-old Dan Roth calls Major Nidal Hasan, quote, "a hero." When Ross tried to order roses the florist refused and contacted the FBI. Ross, who says he is a former Vietnam war soldier and Christian, says this is what he told the agents.

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DAN ROSS, TRIED TO SEND FLOWERS TO HASAN: The FBI were the ones that actually killed those 13 people because they were well informed that this guy was against the United States of America. And that's part of Christianity, is you're supposed to love your enemies and do good to them.

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COLLINS: Ross says he bears no illwills toward the U.S. military. In fact he says his son is a Navy officer and his daughter is a member of the Army ROTC.

So this morning, as we said, 15 victims of the shooting spree are still in the hospital, three are in intensive care. And in Wisconsin, a grim homecoming for one of those killed in the Fort Hood shooting rampage.

In Kiel, Wisconsin, people lined the streets to welcome home the body of Army Staff Sergeant Amy Kruger. The 29-year-old was remembered as a standout athlete in high school and a hometown girl with many life long friends. She joined the military shortly after the September 11th attacks.

It is Veterans Day, a time for Americans to honor the service and sacrifice of the nation's military personnel. We want to give you a live picture of the Vietnam Memorial, of course considered one of the most poignant landmarks in the nation's capital.

Americans also paying tribute to the so-called greatest generation at the World War II memorial. It honors the 16 million men and women who served in the armed forces and the more than 400,000 who died. Want to give you a quick look at the president's schedule today on this Veterans Day. This hour the president and the first lady are hosting a Veterans Day breakfast at the White House. That event is happening behind closed doors.

In a couple of hours, though, President Obama will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. He then delivers remarks honoring the nation's veterans and their sacrifices.

This afternoon the president meets with his national security team, as we mentioned. The eighth meeting on the strategy for the war in Afghanistan. At issue, whether to send more U.S. troops as his commander there has requested.

In Great Britain now, remembering what was once called the war to end all wars this morning.

England's Queen Elizabeth took the second part of this memorial service, the focus to call attention to the passing of the World War I generation in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, was held following this year's deaths of Britain's final three veterans of that war.

At Fort Hood, Texas an especially somber Veterans Day. The post commander is calling on soldiers to dedicate themselves to the memory of 13 people killed there last week. General Robert Cone is about to join us, you see him there live from Fort Hood, in just a moment.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm Rob Marciano at the CNN Severe Weather Center. Ida -- what's left of it -- moving to the east and could very well become a stronger storm than it was when it made landfall north of the gulf. We'll talk about when the forecast comes up. Something in about 15 minutes. We'll see you then.

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PAUL REICKHOFF, EXEC. DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER, IAVA: Hey, everybody. It's Paul Reickhoff. I'm the executive director and founder of IAVA, the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. I want to thank you for your support. Over two million veterans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and this Veterans Day is a fantastic time to honor their service.

No matter where you're from, no matter who you voted for, no matter where you stand on the war, as Americans we've got to all honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women who served.

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COLLINS: At yesterday's Fort Hood memorial service the post commanding general, Lieutenant Robert Cone, talked about why last week's shootings were so very hard to accept.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LT. GEN. ROBERT CONE, FORT HOOD COMMANDER: We will never be accustomed to losing one of our own but we can more easily accept it when it happens on foreign soil against a known enemy. Fort Hood has lost 545 from its formations in Iraq and Afghanistan. But never did we expect to pay such a high price at home. A place where soldiers feel secure. Even so, soldiers do what soldiers do best. They take care of each other in time of need.

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COLLINS: And General Cone is joining us now live from Fort Hood this morning.

General, the whole country watched that memorial service yesterday and I want you to know the support and concern for our troops at Fort Hood is definitely there. Unyielding, in fact. No one ever expected them to have to sacrifice in this way. And I'm certain that you did not either.

What did that memorial mean to you yesterday?

CONE: It was absolutely overwhelming. I've had the opportunity to get out in the community and talk to people about what the symbolism of having the president of the United States and so many leaders from our nation here. And then the opportunity to bring in -- we had actually about 240 family members representing the 13 fallen comrades, as well as many of the wounded soldiers.

And it was therapeutic in so many ways to be able to bring these people together. They can share experiences and understand what they have in common. Nothing will ever put this right, but the fact of the matter is it's a really good first step.

COLLINS: Yes. Very good first step. And there will be many, many more steps to go, obviously, as you point out. As you stood in front of all of those families, and I know that you have had many, many meetings with the victims' family members and the wounded soldiers who are still being cared for in the hospital this morning, what do you, as a person, as a commanding general, think about when you talk with them?

CONE: I'm just so impressed. It's hard to really express how it feels when you're talking to the mother or the wife of a soldier that has passed. And realizing the grief that they feel. But I can tell you that it is truly uplifting in so many ways. Most of these people, just like their fallen sons and husbands -- and daughters, are really focused on other people and helping, and I found the whole experience to be really the recognition of what a privilege it is to lead America's sons and daughters.

COLLINS: If you were -- to be able to give a message to your soldiers, I know quite a bit about the Army family, and I know that it's a tight one. What would you say?

CONE: I think it's important that we take a good look to our left and our right and take a careful look at how we're dealing with this and how each other are affected by this. In some ways we have a tendency to sort of step up and get right back into the fight. That's our...

COLLINS: Sure.

CONE: That's the way we do business. Today there's a huge unit coming back on to Fort Hood from Iraq. We're already focused on the mission. But it's appropriate, we really don't know what the consequences of this event are. And we need to look at people, the civilians that were working in the area where this happened. Many of the families, many of the children who were in lockdown at school.

It's going to take us some time to make a complete assessment of the effects of this and not too quickly make the assumption that everything is OK.

COLLINS: Yes. Probably a much slower process than the military and soldiers like yourself are used to. It's a very good point.

Are there any permanent changes that will be made at Fort Hood as a result of what happened?

CONE: I think that the biggest piece will be right now the assessments that we're making of the security structures that are in place, and then I think the other piece is really, were there any red flags that were missed. We're taking a very hard look at ourselves to make sure that across this formation that we're looking hard at people and their behavioral and mental health.

COLLINS: Good. And I know that you're getting a lot of help from Fisher House, as well. A lot of those that were wounded are getting support and some of them staying and their family members staying at the Fisher Houses'.

CONE: Yes. It's really unbelievable. And again, the support we've had from across the nation, but in particular here in the Central Texas area and people stepping up to volunteer, to assist us in any way. Of course, memorial fund has been established, and donations are coming in.

But what we want to do is, basically, do the right thing by these soldiers and families and victims and take care of them. As I say, the Fisher House is a great example. We had many facilities in place. I would talk about our resiliency center.

COLLINS: Yes.

CONE: Our survivor outreach programs that were already in place and what we're using this incident, we're using those existing structures and energizing them to deal with this particular incident.

COLLINS: Before we let you go, General Cone, what are your thoughts as a man today on this Veterans Day? I know it's a different Veterans Day than it probably ever has before for you personally.

CONE: Well, it's a very large community of veterans that we have in the local area here. In about 175 counties surrounding Fort Hood there are nearly 200,000 veterans that are here. So my focus today is really reaching out to them and linking them and because of their sacrifice and their service, and making sure they are aware of what's gone on here at Fort Hood and going out and honoring them for their sacrifices.

And as I say it's a pretty extensive effort. I'll be headed down toward Austin later today in a number of different events that we'll have in the central Texas area. But I think in some ways that can help us with healing. These are people who have walked in our shoes, who know what it's like to be a soldier, in many cases, know what it's like to experience this kind of grief.

And I think there's a value in reaching out to them at this point in time and sharing with them what we're going through.

COLLINS: Well, our hearts are with your soldiers and are with you and for a commanding general who has been in the position for a very short amount of time, your work has been incredibly impressive. And I know your soldiers have needed you and you've been there for them.

So, again, on this Veterans Day, thank you so much for your service, Lieutenant General Robert Cone.

CONE: Thank you.

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COLLINS: Across the Southeast, the problem is rain. Too much of it all at once. That's for sure.

Rob Marciano is back from his encounter with the storm called Ida. Nice to see you, Rob.

MARCIANO: Nice to see you, Heidi. Yes, and Ida, what's left of it, has actually going to kind of reorganize, tap energy from other parts of the atmosphere, and likely be a stronger storm than it ever was when it made landfall yesterday -- early yesterday morning around the Gulf of Mexico.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: All right. Take a look at this, tree-huggers. You may not want to look at this. It's a 76-foot Norway Spruce from Connecticut on a schoolteacher's property, weighing approximately 10 tons, they tell me. And they are about to chop that down, Heidi, and wheel it into Rockefeller Center for the annual tradition of lighting up that part of midtown New York.

COLLINS: Well, I mean...

MARCIANO: It's a beautiful tree.

COLLINS: That's going to be beautiful. That's very ceremonial.

MARCIANO: It does serve a purpose of sort. To spread goodwill and cheer.

COLLINS: Yes.

MARCIANO: Throughout the holiday season.

COLLINS: Boy, I'm glad you're not the guy doing that.

MARCIANO: Yes. Just kind of make me sad. Good looking tree. And...

COLLINS: OK.

MARCIANO: Good luck in the after life.

COLLINS: All right, Rob. We'll check back with you later. Maybe lunch. Just kidding, Rob. Thank you.

Burned by a roadside bomb four years ago, he's been through more than 50 surgeries since then. A retired Marine tells us his story.

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BENJ GERSHMAN, O.A.R.: Hi, I'm Benj Gershman.

JERRY DEPIZZO, O.A.R.: And I'm Jerry Depizzo.

GERSHMAN: And we're from the band O.A.R. and we are here on Veterans Day to thank you for your service. We want you to come home safe, take care of yourselves over there. We all love you and you have our support. Thank you for doing what you're doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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