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President Obama Speaks at Camp Lejeune; Georgia Tech Students Discuss Racism Among Today's Youth; Financial Advice on Employment Opportunities and Debt Management

Aired February 27, 2009 - 12:00   ET

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

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And hello, again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Here are the headlines from CNN for this Friday, February 27th.

President Obama set to formally announce his plan to bring combat troops home from Iraq.

And the next generation on race in America. Class is in session this hour, in the NEWSROOM.

The president's Iraq war end game. Following today's developments, our White House Correspondent Dan Lothian, live at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where the commander in chief is set to talk to troops any moment now. Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr covering the logistics of the plan to pull out from Iraq. And later, we will go live to Baghdad. CNN's Arwa Damon bringing us the view from the war zone.

But first, let's focus on the president's announcement. The combat mission in Iraq ends August 31st, 2010.

Our Dan Lothian is on the phone with us from Camp Lejeune.

And Dan, maybe that is the headline, the ringing headline from the speech today.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It really is, Tony. And the president, according to senior administration officials, will say in very plain terms, "Let me say this as plainly as I can. By August 31, 2010, combat missions in Iraq will end." And this will come almost six years after the war in Iraq first began.

Now, there will be some troops remaining on the ground, between 35,000 to 50,000 U.S. troops, but what the administration says is they will take on an advisory role, training Iraqi forces, also supporting civilian operations. They will also be taking part in what they are calling targeted counterterrorism missions, which is kind of confusing because, in a way, it seems like that could be considered combat operations. But the Pentagon and White House officials are saying that the difference is that there won't be sort of this overall combat operation.

There will be times when these ground troops who are there for this advisory role will have to go into an area where violence might flare up and take part in some of this counterterrorism mission, but it won't be the overall mission there. So that's the distinction that they are making, Tony.

Currently on the ground in Iraq, there are 142,000 troops, U.S. troops. And I was asking a military official a short time ago when we could see those numbers begin to draw down. We have the out date, but will we see them in the spring? Will it happen later on in the summer?

They don't have a timetable yet. That's what they are trying to work on right now, Tony.

So we are waiting for the president to come out. He's here at Camp Lejeune. The reason he's here is because this is kind of the next phase in what the president says is the war on terror, focusing on Afghanistan. Eight thousand Marines from Camp Lejeune here in North Carolina will be heading over to Afghanistan in the spring. So the president will thank them for the service to country and also sort of a salute to them as they head to Afghanistan -- Tony.

HARRIS: Our White House Correspondent Dan Lothian.

You know, let's take you to Camp Lejeune now and listen in to the rest of this event.

(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much. Please be seated.

To General Hejlik, for the outstanding work that he is doing, thank you so much.

Good morning, Marines.

Good morning, Camp Lejeune.

Good morning, Jacksonville.

Thank you so much for the extraordinarily warm welcome. Just a few additional people I want to note are here.

Governor Bev Perdue of North Carolina, where is Governor Perdue? Stand up, please.

(APPLAUSE)

We have the new United States senator from North Carolina, Kay Hagan.

(APPLAUSE)

Members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who are here today, please stand and wave.

(APPLAUSE) And thank you, Staff Sergeant Mink (ph), for the outstanding rendition of our national anthem.

(APPLAUSE)

I also want to acknowledge all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And that includes the Camp Lejeune Marines now serving with, or soon joining, the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq, those with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force in Afghanistan, and those among the 8,000 Marines who are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan.

We have you in our prayers. We pay tribute to your service. We thank you and your families for all that you do for America. And I want you all to know that there is no higher honor or greater responsibility than serving as your commander-in-chief. Thanks to all of you.

(APPLAUSE)

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge Ryan Crocker, who recently completed his service as our ambassador to Iraq. This is one of the unsung heroes of this multiyear effort.

Throughout his career, Ryan has always taken on the toughest assignments. He is an example of the very best that this nation has to offer, and we owe him a great debt of gratitude. He carried on his work with an extraordinary degree of cooperation with two of our finest generals -- General David Petraeus and General Ray Odierno -- who will be critical in carrying forward the strategy that I will outline today.

Now, next month will mark the sixth anniversary of the war in Iraq. By any measure, this has already been a long war. For the men and women of America's Armed Forces -- and for your families -- the war has been one of the most extraordinary chapters of service in the history of our nation.

Many of you have endured tour after tour after tour of duty. You've known the dangers of combat and the lonely distance from loved ones. You have fought against tyranny and disorder. You have bled for your best friends and for unknown Iraqis.

And you have borne an enormous burden for your fellow citizens, while extending a precious opportunity to the people of Iraq. Under tough circumstances, the men and women of the United States military have served with honor and succeeded beyond any expectation.

Today, I've come to speak to you about how the war in Iraq will end.

To understand where we need to go in Iraq, it's important for the American people to understand where we now stand. Thanks in great measure to your service and sacrifice and your family's sacrifices, the situation in Iraq has improved. Violence has been reduced substantially from the horrific sectarian killing of 2006 and 2007. Al Qaida in Iraq has been dealt a serious blow by our troops and Iraq's security forces and through our partnership with Sunni Arabs. The capacity of Iraq's security forces has improved, and Iraq's leaders have taken steps towards political accommodation.

The relative peace and strong participation in January's provincial elections sent a powerful message to the world about how far Iraqis have come in pursuing their aspirations through a peaceful political process.

But let there be no doubt: Iraq is not yet secure, and there will be difficult days ahead. Violence will continue to be a part of life in Iraq.

Too many fundamental political questions about Iraq's future remain unresolved. Too many Iraqis are still displaced or destitute. Declining oil revenues will put an added strain on a government that has difficulty delivering basic services.

Not all of Iraq's neighbors are contributing to its security. Some are working at times to undermine it. And even as Iraq's government is on a surer footing, it is not yet a full partner, politically and economically, in the region or with the international community.

In short, today, there is a renewed cause for hope in Iraq, but that hope is resting on an emerging foundation.

On my first full day in office, I directed my national security team to undertake a comprehensive review of our strategy in Iraq to determine the best way to strengthen that foundation, while strengthening American national security.

I have listened to my secretary of defense, Robert Gates. I've listened to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, led by Admiral Mullen, as well as the commanders on the ground.

We have acted with careful consideration of events on the ground, with respect for the security agreements between the United States and Iraq, and with a critical recognition that the long-term solution in Iraq must be political, not military, because the most important decisions that have to be made about Iraq's future must now be made by Iraqis.

We've also taken into account the simple reality that America can no longer afford to see Iraq in isolation from other priorities. We face the challenge of refocusing on Afghanistan and Pakistan, of relieving the burden of our military and military families, of rebuilding our struggling economy. These are challenges that we must meet and will meet.

Today, I can announce that our review is complete and that the United States will pursue a new strategy to end the war in Iraq through a transition to full Iraqi responsibility.

This strategy is grounded in a clear and achievable goal shared by the Iraqi people and the American people: an Iraq that is sovereign, stable, and self-reliant.

To achieve that goal, we will work to promote an Iraqi government that is just, representative, and accountable, and that provides neither support nor safe haven to terrorists.

We will help Iraq build new ties of trade and commerce with the world, and we will forge a partnership with the people and government of Iraq that contributes to the peace and security of the region.

But understand this. We -- here's what we will not do. We will not let the pursuit of the perfect stand in the way of achievable goals.

We cannot rid Iraq of every single individual who opposes America or sympathizes with our adversaries. We cannot police Iraq's streets indefinitely until they are completely safe, nor can we stay until Iraq's union is perfect.

We cannot sustain indefinitely a commitment that has put a strain on our military and will cost the American people nearly a trillion dollars. America's men and women in uniform, so many of you, have fought, block by block, province by province, year after year, to give the Iraqis this chance to choose a better future. Now we must ask the Iraqi people to seize it.

The first part of this strategy is, therefore, the responsible removal of our combat brigades from Iraq.

As a candidate for president, I made clear my support for a timeline of 16 months to carry out this drawdown, while pledging to consult closely with our military commanders upon taking office to ensure that we preserve the gains we've made and to protect our troops. These consultations are now complete, and I have chosen a timeline that will remove our combat brigades over the next 18 months.

So let me say this as plainly as I can: By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end. As we...

(APPLAUSE)

As we carry out this drawdown, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq. So we will proceed carefully, and I will consult closely with my military commanders on the ground and with the Iraqi government.

There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments, but our enemies should be left with no doubt: This plan gives our military the forces and flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners and to succeed.

After we remove our combat brigades, our mission will change from combat to supporting the Iraqi government and its security forces as they take the absolute lead in securing their country.

As I have long said, we will retain a transitional force to carry out three distinct functions: training, equipping, and advising Iraqi security forces, as long as they remain non-sectarian; conducting targeted counterterrorism missions; and protecting our ongoing civilian and military efforts within Iraq.

Initially, this force will likely be made up of 35,000 to 50,000 U.S. troops. Through this period of transition, we will carry out further redeployments. And under the status-of-forces agreement with the Iraqi government, I intend to remove all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.

(APPLAUSE)

So we will complete this transition to Iraqi responsibility, and we will bring our troops home with the honor that they have earned.

As we remove our combat brigades, we will pursue the second part of our strategy: sustained diplomacy on behalf of a more peaceful and prosperous Iraq.

The drawdown of our military should send a clear signal that Iraq's future is now its own responsibility. The long-term success of the Iraqi nation will depend on decisions made by Iraq's leaders and the fortitude of the Iraqi people.

Iraq is a sovereign country with legitimate institutions; America cannot and should not take their place. However, a strong political, diplomatic and civilian effort on our part can advance progress and help lay a foundation for lasting peace and security.

This effort will be led by our new ambassador to Iraq, Chris Hill. From his time in the Peace Corps to his work in Kosovo and Korea, Ambassador Hill has been tested, and he has shown the pragmatism and skill that we need right now. And he will be supported by the courageous and capable work of so many American diplomats and aid workers who are now serving in Iraq.

Going forward, we can make a difference on several fronts. We will work with the United Nations to support national elections, while helping Iraqis improve local government. We can serve as an honest broker in pursuit of fair and durable agreements on issues that have divided Iraq's leaders.

And just as we will support Iraq's security forces, we will help Iraq's institutions strengthen their capacity to protect the rule of law, confront corruption, and deliver basic services.

Diplomacy and assistance is also required to help millions of displaced Iraqis. These men, women and children are living -- are a living consequence of this war and a challenge to stability in the region, and they must be a part of Iraq's reconciliation and recovery.

America has a strategic interest and a moral responsibility to act. And in the coming months, my administration will provide more assistance and take steps to increase international support for countries already hosting refugees. We'll cooperate with others to resettle Iraqis facing great personal risk, and we will work with the Iraqi government over time to resettle refugees and displaced Iraqis within Iraq, because there are few more powerful indicators of lasting peace than when displaced citizens return home.

Now, before I go any further, I want to take a moment to speak directly to the people of Iraq.

You are a great nation, rooted in the cradle of civilization. You are joined together by enduring accomplishments and a history that connects you as surely as the two rivers carved into your land.

In years past, you've persevered through tyranny and terror, through personal insecurity and sectarian violence. And instead of giving in to the forces of disunion, you stepped back from a descent into civil war and showed a proud resilience that deserves our respect.

Our nations have known difficult times together, but ours is a bond forged by shared bloodshed and countless friendships among our people. We Americans have offered our most precious resource -- our young men and women -- to work with you to rebuild what was destroyed by despotism, to root out our common enemies, and to seek peace and prosperity for our children and grandchildren, and for yours.

There are those who will try to prevent that future for Iraq, who will insist that Iraq's differences cannot be reconciled without more killing. They represent the forces that destroy nations and lead only to despair, and they will test our will in the months and years to come.

America, too, has known these forces. We endured the pain of civil war and bitter divisions of region and race. But hostility and hatred are no match for justice, they offer no pathway to peace, and they must not stand between the people of Iraq and a future of reconciliation and hope.

So to the Iraqi people, let me be clear about America's intentions. The United States pursues no claim on your territory or your resources. We respect your sovereignty and the tremendous sacrifices you have made for your country.

We seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security of your country. And going forward, we can build a lasting relationship founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect, as Iraq takes its rightful place in the community of nations.

That leads me to the third part of our strategy: comprehensive American engagement across the region.

The future of Iraq is inseparable from the future of the broader Middle East, so we must work with our friends and partners to establish a new framework that advances Iraq's security and the region's. It's time for Iraq to be a full partner in a regional dialogue and for Iraq's neighbors to establish productive and normalized relations with Iraq.

And going forward, the United States will pursue principled and sustained engagement with all of the nations in the -- all the nations in the region, and that, by the way, will include Iran and Syria.

This reflects a fundamental truth: We can no longer deal with regional challenges in isolation. We need a smarter, more sustainable and comprehensive approach. That is why we are renewing our diplomacy while relieving the burden on our military.

That is why we are refocusing on Al Qaida in Afghanistan and Pakistan, developing a strategy to use all elements of American power to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and actively seeking a lasting peace between Israel and the Arab world.

And that is why we have named three of America's most accomplished diplomats -- George Mitchell, Dennis Ross, and Richard Holbrooke -- to support Secretary Hillary Clinton and myself as we carry forward this agenda.

Every nation and every group must know, whether you wish America good or ill, that the end of the war in Iraq will enable a new era of American leadership and engagement in the Middle East. This does not lessen our commitment. We are going to be enhancing that commitment to bring about a better day in that region, and that era has just begun.

Finally, I want to be very clear about my strategy -- that my strategy for ending the war in Iraq does not end with military plans or diplomatic agendas. It endures through our commitment to uphold the sacred trust with every man and woman who has served in Iraq.

You make up a fraction of the American population, but in an age when so many people and institutions have acted irresponsibly, so many of you did the opposite. You volunteered to bear the heaviest burden.

(APPLAUSE)

You volunteered to bear the heaviest burden. And for you and your families, the war does not end when you come home. It lives on in the memories of your fellow soldiers, and sailors, airmen and Marines who gave their lives. It endures in the wound that is slow to heal, the disability that isn't going away, the dream that wakes you up at night, the stiffening in your spine when a car backfires down the street.

You and your families have done your duty; now a grateful nation must do ours. That is why I'm...

(APPLAUSE)

That is why, as reflected in my new budget, I am increasing the number of soldiers and Marines so that we lessen the burden on those who are serving. That is why I've committed to expanding our system of veterans health care to serve more patients and to provide better care in more places.

(APPLAUSE)

We will continue building new wounded warrior facilities across America and invest in new ways of identifying and treating the signature wounds of this war: post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, as well as other combat injuries.

(APPLAUSE)

We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In her visits with military families across the country, my wife, Michelle, has learned firsthand about the unique burden that your families endure every day.

But I want you to know this: Military families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration.

(APPLAUSE)

We will raise military pay and continue providing...

(APPLAUSE)

I figured that'd be an applause line, Secretary Gates.

(LAUGHTER)

We're going to continue providing quality childcare, job-training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families that have known the separation and stress of war.

(APPLAUSE)

We will also heed the lesson of history, that those who fight in battle can form the backbone of our middle class, by implementing a 21st-century G.I. Bill to help our veterans live out their dreams.

(APPLAUSE)

And as a nation, we've had our share of debates about the war in Iraq. It has, at times, divided us as a people. To this very day, there are some Americans who want to stay in Iraq longer and some who want to leave faster. But there should be no disagreement on what the men and women of our military have achieved.

And so I want to be very clear: We sent our troops to Iraq to do away with Saddam Hussein's regime, and you got the job done.

(APPLAUSE)

We kept -- we kept our troops in Iraq to help establish a sovereign government, and you got the job done.

(APPLAUSE)

And we will leave the Iraqi people with a hard-earned opportunity to live a better life. That is your achievement; that is the prospect that you have made possible.

There are many lessons to be learned from what we've experienced. We have learned that America must go to war with clearly defined goals, which is why I've ordered a review of our policy in Afghanistan.

We have learned that we must always weigh the costs of action and communicate those costs candidly to the American people, which is why I've put Iraq and Afghanistan into my budget.

We have learned that the 21st -- in the 21st century, we have to use all elements of American power to achieve our objectives, which is why I'm committed to building our civilian national security capacity so that the burden is not continually pushed onto our military.

We have learned that our political leaders must pursue the broad and bipartisan support that our national security policies depend on, which is why I will consult with Congress in carrying out my plans.

And we have learned the importance of working closely with friends and allies, which is why we are launching a new era of engagement and diplomacy in the world.

The starting point for our policies must always be the safety and security of the American people. I know that you, the men and women of the finest fighting force in the history of the world, can meet any challenge and defeat any foe.

And as long as I am your commander-in-chief, I promise you that I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary and provide you with the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That is the most important lesson of all...

(APPLAUSE)

That is the most important lesson of all, for the consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable. You know, because you've seen those sacrifices. You've lived them. And we all honor you for them.

"Semper Fidelis," it means -- it means always being faithful to the Corps and to country and to the memory of fallen comrades, like Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter.

(APPLAUSE)

These young men -- these young men enlisted in a time of war, knowing they would face great danger. They came here to Camp Lejeune as they trained for their mission.

Last April, they were standing guard in Anbar. In an age when suicide is a weapon, they were suddenly faced with an oncoming truck filled with explosives. These two Marines stood their ground; these two Marines opened fire; these two Marines stopped that truck.

When the thousands of pounds of explosives detonated, they had saved fifty fellow Marines, they had saved Iraqi police who would have been in the truck's path, but Corporal Yale and Lance Corporal Haerter lost their own lives. Jonathan was 21, and Jordan was 19.

In the town where Jordan Haerter was from, a bridge was dedicated in his name. One Marine who traveled to the ceremony said, "We flew here from all over the country to pay tribute to our friend, Jordan, who risked his life to save us. We wouldn't be here without him."

America's time in Iraq is filled with stories of men and women like this. Their names are written into the bridges and town squares of this country, and they are etched into stone in Arlington and in quiet places of rest across our land. They are spoken in schools and on city blocks. They live on in the memories of those who wear your uniform, in the hearts of those they loved, and in the freedom of the nation they served.

Each American who has served in Iraq has their own story. Each of you has your own story. And that story is now a part of the history of the United States of America, a nation that exists only because free men and women have bled for it, from the beaches of Normandy to the deserts of Anbar, from the mountains of Korea to the streets of Kandahar.

You teach us that the price of freedom is great. Your sacrifice should challenge all of us, every single American, to ask what we can do to be better citizens.

There will be more danger in the months ahead. We will face new tests and unforeseen trials. But thanks to the sacrifices of those who have served, we have forged hard-earned progress, we are leaving Iraq to its people, and we have begun the work of ending this war.

Thank you. God bless you. God bless the United States of America. Semper Fi. Hooah.

HARRIS: The president's Iraq speech at Camp Lejeune and many may take note of the mostly, you would have to say, tepid response to at least the first half of the speech. The Marines responding with the most energy when the president talked about his commitment to provide better service -- better services to military personnel.

The loudest applaud, of course, came when the president announced his plan to raise military pay. The president thanking the military for its many sacrifices, speaking directly for a period of time there to Iraqis and, again, promising to engage the governments in the region to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

The key line in the speech, and we'll run it for you here in just a moment, the key line in the speech announcing the draw down of combat troops in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: So let me say this as plainly as I can. By August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end. As we -- as we carry out this draw down, my highest priority will be the safety and security of our troops and civilians in Iraq. So we will proceed carefully. And I will consult closely with my military commanders on the ground and with the Iraqi government.

There will surely be difficult periods and tactical adjustments. But our enemy should be left with no doubt, this plan gives our military the forces and flexibility they need to support our Iraqi partners and to succeed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: And let's talk about the speech with White House correspondent Dan Lothian at Camp Lejeune. At the Pentagon, of course, Barbara Starr is with us. And in Baghdad, our Arwa Damon.

Dan, the president saying that we can't stay in Iraq until Iraq is perfect, signaling it is time for Iraq to be turned over to Iraqis.

LOTHIAN: That's right. And, you know, but in part what the president is also saying is that American troops still need to remain on the ground. The bulk of the troops will be pulled out by 2010. But also you'll see that force that the president talked about of 35,000 to 50,000 troops remaining on the ground. Not in a (INAUDIBLE) to be sort of in an advisory role. To work along with the Iraqi military and also civilian groups there and to then take part in some counterterrorism missions, if there's any sort of violence that flares up in Iraq.

But, Tony, also in that speech, the president was looking forward to Afghanistan. And the reason why he's here at Camp Lejeune is because 8,000 troops from Camp Lejeune in the spring will be headed to Afghanistan. and as you know, that is what the president has talked about as being the next front in the war on terror -- Tony.

HARRIS: OK. Dan Lothian from Camp Lejeune.

Let's bring in our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr.

And, Barbara, let's talk about the logistics of this. How do you accomplish the draw down that the president has announced today?

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, the hard work to do that now begins. General Ray Odierno in Baghdad now working on the nitty gritty of how to make it happen. By all accounts, much of the equipment, the big pieces of hardware, will go out, if we take a look at a map, through the obvious land routes. They will be driven out over the coming months, trucked out through Jordan and through Kuwait. Troops may also exit that way. A lot of troops likely to be flown out.

This will be, however, what has been underway in the thinking for some time, a phased withdrawal. You know, the president talked about it. All troops -- all troops out by the end of 2011. That had already been put into place by the Bush administration.

HARRIS: That's right. That's right.

STARR: So a lot of work on this had already begun, Tony.

HARRIS: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us. Barbara, thank you.

Let's get to Arwa Damon in Baghdad.

And, Arwa, I'm just sort of curious, again, as Barbara just mentioned, a lot of the work had already been put in place on this. There's an agreement that you will talk about in just a moment, I'm sure, that laid the groundwork for this. How is this announcement likely to be received in Baghdad?

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Tony, if you look down to the details of it, Iraqis most certainly are going to welcome this announcement, this plan. It sounds ideal, assuming that it does, in fact, succeed. We're talking about all of America's combat troops out of this country in the next year and a half.

Yes, very much in line with the security agreement that was signed, that took effect back in the beginning of January that saw U.S. combat troops leaving Iraqi cities and towns by June 30th of this year and then all U.S. troops out of the country by the end of 2011.

There are a couple of interesting things that came up in that speech that were fairly new. And that is President Obama saying that the U.S. would be supporting a non-sectarian army. That has been one of the many mistakes that happened here that right now the U.S. military is fighting to try to rectify.

There was such a rush to throw together the Iraqi security forces that many of its members were not properly vetted. Many of them had shady alliances. Not necessarily an allegiance to the nation, but rather to Iraq's neighboring countries, outside forces, other political entities.

Another important thing to highlight too is that the president was saying that he was going to support a nonsectarian government. And that is something that this country, many will say, is still going to have to work towards, Tony.

HARRIS: Arwa, are Iraqis ready for this draw down?

DAMON: You know, I mean, that's the question that I really think only time is going to be able to figure out. If there is one thing that we have all learned here, and that is that this is a very unpredictable environment. I mean the U.S. plays such a central role in keeping this country together right now, in keeping the lid on the sectarian violence.

Baghdad is still a city that is divided by blast walls along sectarian lines. The U.S. military even, not just the diplomats that are here, play a very active role in Iraqi politics at every single level. They try to keep those political forces from solving their disputes at gunpoint and going down the democratic root.

Nobody really knows what Iraq is going to look like when Americans leave. Inevitably, there will be a void that they leave behind. And the big question is, whether or not it is going to be the Iraqi security forces and the government that step up to fill that void.

HARRIS: Yes. OK. Arwa Damon for us in Baghdad.

I want to get quickly back to Dan Lothian.

And, Dan, you've got some new information to share with everyone about the president, President Obama, reaching out and making at least a couple of phone calls before today's event.

LOTHIAN: That's right. Just a little color of what happened before the president arrived here as he was flying in on Air Force One. He did make a phone call to Nuri al Maliki, the prime minister of Iraq, to kind of brief him on the details of the plan before he made this speech. And then after landing here in North Carolina, Robert Gibbs, the press secretary, saying that the president also reached out to former President Bush. He called him as a courtesy, according to Gibbs, to tell him about the plan before making the speech -- Tony.

HARRIS: And our thanks to all of our correspondents, Dan Lothian, of course. Also, Arwa Damon in Baghdad and our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr.

So here's where you stand on the Iraq War issue. According to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 29 percent of Americans want President Obama to keep the current number of troops in Iraq. Sixty-nine percent say he should remove most troops. When it comes to Afghanistan, 63 percent of those polled say they favor the president's plan to send in mores troops. Thirty-six percent oppose it. And when asked if the U.S. is winning the war in Afghanistan, 31 percent of those polled say yes, 64 percent say no.

Is the next generation beating back racism? Class is in session. Hear the rest of my conversation with these future leaders.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: And very quickly we want to get to Chad Myers in the severe weather center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: You know, last hour you heard my frank conversation about racism with students at Georgia Tech. It ended with this difficult statement.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA STILTZ, SENIOR, APPLIED MATHEMATICS: My grandfather was a racist. There are plenty of things that we were not allow to see like with him because there were African-Americans in it.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HARRIS: I pushed her on that comment. Here's the rest of our conversation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes, yes. The light's a little intense. Welcome to my world.

How difficult is that for you to sort of say out loud in front of cameras and everything that your grandfather was a racist?

STILTZ: I mean, it's difficult, but it's the reality. I mean, it's something that I was able to -- growing up I never understood. Well, you know, why couldn't I watch "Cinderella" with Brandy in it? I wanted see the movie. I liked the movie. Why couldn't I? And he tried not to make it so, you know, I was like seven.

But, I mean, because it was reality, I have been able to overcome that and I've been able to learn from him and see, that's not right. And, you know, I want to be able to interact with him. I want to be able to be friends with Shelby. I, you know, that we are people. We shouldn't be defined by the color of our skin.

SHELBY BERNARD, SENIOR, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY & CULTURE (ph): I've had my fair share of racial incidents on campus, before campus and things like that. But I think that what we're coming to understand is that it's more of a personal hindrance if you continue to be closed- minded, you know, because you're -- it's not going to go back to separation. So I think that once we learn that, you know, it's beneficial to me to actually open my mind and then maybe through that we've been able to change.

SEBASTIAN GUERRERO, GRAD STUDENT, CIVIL ENGINEERING: And this is ultimately just a progressive country. And, you know, you're pursuing the American dream and it's the effort, you know, and the quality of your character, you know, that sets you apart. And I think ultimately we have seen that, you know, with racism and you're striving towards that goal of having, you know, quality of opportunity.

VERNELL WOODS, FRESHMAN, COMPUTER ENGINEERING: It's not to say that it doesn't exist, because for us to play this game that -- or to pretend like it doesn't exist, is not real. Because it does. But at the same token, we have to understand that it's going to happen. I've felt it. I've experienced it myself. It's going to happen. I've had some things said to me that shouldn't have been said.

STILTZ: And it still stings.

WOODS: And it hurts, when you have someone that -- that expects something different from you because of your sex, of the color of your skin. It hurts. But, for me -- and I think a lot of people in our generation -- we've come to understand that this is an old mentality. It's going to happen sometimes. But for us to make sure that this isn't like this for our kids, we've got to take a step forward. We've got to move forward and say, this isn't going to kill me and I'm not going to sit here and dislike you because of what someone ignorant said to me earlier.

HARRIS: The election of the first African-American president says, you know what, you guys have no excuses anymore. You don't have race as an excuse. You don't have gender as an excuse anymore. All excuses are off the table. Right or wrong?

WOODS: Right.

STILTZ: Right.

WOODS: I've heard so many times in neighborhoods and around family and friends that the white man -- I often heard the white man. I can't do this because of the white man. Because of --- we can't do this. But that's bull because it's been shown that you can. So the only reason that you're not is because you've got something in your head telling you that you can't. But there's nothing that's actually holding you back other than yourself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Boy, pretty revealing. An important conversation about race in America and it keeps coming. Class is back in session next Friday at noon. The young people talk national security in these insecure times.

You know, you've got questions about the economy and your money. We've got answers. Personal finance editor Gerri Willis and her team respond to concerns about the housing crisis, the credit crunch and the job market.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Time now to answer your e-mails with The Help Desk. Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is a personal finance author. Ryan Mack is the president of Optimum Capital Management. And Paul LaMonica is with CNN Money.

Let's get right down to business.

From Dallas, Texas, Abene asks, "I graduated from college in May 2008 and still have not found a job. It's impossible to find a good entry level job now. Can you please tell me who is hiring college graduates?"

LYNNETTE KHALFANI-COX, PERSONAL FINANCE EXPERT: It's tough right now for anybody looking for a job, certainly for college graduates and recent ones at that. The federal government is hiring. Pharmaceutical companies. Everybody in the health care industry. Not everybody, but a lot of employers in that industry. And also a lot in technology and IT. Those are the three biggest areas right now.

Do everything you can to keep that resume out there to be active. Don't give up. It's taking a lot longer than it had in the past to find that job.

WILLIS: All right. Well, let's move on to Paul's question. "How will the economic stimulus or banking bailout make it possible for people to get access to the credit they need to invest at terms that they can afford to reverse their financial issues."

What do you say, Paul?

PAUL LAMONICA, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, CNNMONEY.COM: Yes, unfortunately in the stimulus package, I don't think there's really anything concrete. But the hope with the bank bailout is that, as long as the government continues to support these struggling banks, they will eventually start lending again to consumers that are credit worthy. So if you have a good job and a good credit score, eventually banks are going to have to wake up and realize that they've got to start lending to these people again.

WILLIS: All right. Help is on the way but it could take a while.

Let's go to Ryan's question from Scott in Michigan. "We are foreclosing on our home and have to be out by May 21st. How will this package help us afford this home before we have to move?"

Ryan.

RYAN MACK, PRESIDENT, OPTIMUM CAPITAL MANAGEMENT: Well, we're not going to know the exact date of when it's going to go into place until March the 4th when the full details comes out. So he's cutting it kind of tight in terms of May 21st. But if the plan was in place now and your home value was $417,000 or less, then this would be able to assist you in trying to subsidizing your payments and hopefully would be able to assist you to keep you in your home.

WILLIS: Well, lots of help to lots of people. Thanks, guys.

The Help Desk is all about getting you answers. Send me an e- mail to gerri@cnn.com or log on to cnn.com/helpdesk to see more of our financial solutions. And The Help Desk is everywhere. Make sure to check out the latest issue of "Money" magazine, on newsstands now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So sex sells even during a deep recession. It's a $14 billion a year business in the United States and state lawmakers want a piece of the action.

For instance, Washington state is considering an 18 percent sales tax on adult movies, magazines and sex toys. In New York, well, they're looking into a tax on iPod downloads that would include, of course, any online porn purchases. And Texas is fighting to save its pole tax. It generates $5 a customer from strip clubs. Business owners are challenging the law in court.

And there's the rub, the sin taxes rarely succeed when challenged in court based on the First Amendment right to free speech.

And now you know.

CNN NEWSROOM continues with Kyra Phillips.