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Last U.S. Combat Brigade Leaves Iraq; The Future of Iraq; Many Egg Brands Recalled Due to Salmonella Outbreak. Last US Combat Troops Leave Iraq. Mexican Blog Highlights Increasing Violence in Mexico's Drug War. Stocks Gained Yesterday But Jobs Report Causes Economists to Worry; Zooper Tango Double Stroller Recalled; Iraq Combat Mission: From the Start; Candidate Goes on Hunger Strike; Third Tour of Duty in Afghanistan

Aired August 19, 2010 - 09:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: OK, that was really loud.

(LAUGHTER)

KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR, "AMERICAN MORNING": Would you like a chip, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Extremely annoying. I'm awake now. Save me some chips. See you, guys.

All right, good morning, everybody. Our big story today, Iraq. U.S. combat troops coming home and they are already talking about how Iraq has changed their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. TERRY WETZEL, U.S. ARMY: The moment I'll never forget will be just, you know, first -- one of the first firefights you've ever been. First time to get shot at. It's just -- I mean it's -- it wakes you up. I mean you think that before you come here, that you know, you're an adult, you're a grown man, but this place will change you.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: We're also taking you back seven years to the very moment combat started and the first bombs fell on Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Little shock and awe.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, today marks a new beginning in Iraq. The last U.S. combat brigade has pulled out of the country and American troops begin their official transition to assist and advise Iraqi forces.

Right now there are 56,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq. That number will be drawn down to 50,000 by the end of the month. The U.S. combat mission will officially end on September 1st. That's when the support mission "Operation New Dawn" will officially begin.

Many U.S. troops leave Iraq with bittersweet emotions. Some lost comrades, many have witnessed the horrors of war, and almost all say they are changed forever.

CNN's Arwa Damon spoke to them as they packed up and moved out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WETZEL: This should be it. Just make sure you've got your I.D. cards on hand, too.

ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are 24-year-old Sergeant Terry Wetzel's final hours in Iraq. Last minute check. And laughter. Relief at having survived and finally going home.

Wetzel is part of the last U.S. combat brigade to convoy out of Iraq. As America dials back the war to an advise-and-assist mission with 50,000 troops.

After two tours in Iraq, Wetzel says he feels like he's aged a decade.

WETZEL: The moments I'll never forget will be just, you know, first -- one of the first firefights you've ever been. First time to get shot at. It's just -- I mean it's -- it wakes you up. I mean you think that before you come here, that you know, you're an adult, you're a grown man, but this place will change you.

I have seen some friends die. And, you know, been right there and had to carry the bodies. So I mean a lot -- this place will change you.

Four more days.

DAMON: On that very same night we spoke with Wetzel, in another part of the country, this patrol rolled out under cover of darkness.

(On camera): It's 10:00 p.m. at night and we're out with the U.S. military on a mission that is intended to disrupt roadside bomb and placement cells. They run these fairly regularly.

The areas that they choose are based on insurgent activity. They specifically target areas where there have been three or more roadside bombs in a 90-day period. There's a lot that's going to be going on tonight that we will not able to show you or talk about because of operational security.

LT. BRIAN KOSSLER, U.S. ARMY: We're in a direct partnership with the Iraqi security forces of this area. They man the checkpoints on the route. We provide overwatch from the shadows off the route. This provides security for logistic patrols that move nightly facilitating the reduction of forces in Iraq.

DAMON (voice-over): While Kossler and others keep a close eye on the roads, those on their way out are keeping a close eye on their watches.

SPC. DON LANPHER, U.S. ARMY: I mean we put our blood, sweat and tears, you know, since we've been here for 12 months. And, you know, we know we did our job. We know it's not going to be in vain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's such a hard decision.

LANPHER: There's a lot of excitement right now, of course.

DAMON: Still, Lanpher says Iraq will always be on his mind.

Through the most part the soldiers do feel they have accomplished their mission. And they hope that this is final goodbye to a war zone for which they have sacrificed so much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Arwa joining us now from Baghdad. You know, you said that the soldiers really felt that they accomplished their mission. What do you think the biggest fear is that they have right now for the region once they're gone?

DAMON: Well, you know, Kyra, we've actually them that question. And a lot of them say that their biggest concern as they're going home is that one day they're going to have to come back.

There is the reality here that the political situation is still very unstable. Politics and violence remain highly intertwined. And so the Iraq that they're leaving behind is neither stable nor secure.

Their other big concern is how they're going to reintegrate into, quote-unquote, normal society. A lot of these troops have spent more time deployed than they have at home. So they talk about how they're going to have to get to know their families once again.

Then of course there is the concern of the psychological impact with the war and how they're going to react to that, how that is going to manifest itself. So even though they are leaving one war zone that does not mean that the challenges for these troops is over the minute they get home safely.

PHILLIPS: I think we all realize that reality for sure. Arwa, thanks.

And it may take years to measure the success of the U.S. mission in Iraq. That's according to a former U.S. ambassador to the country. Last night on "AC 360," Ryan Crocker cautioned that this transition is just a small step in the growth of a democracy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN CROCKER, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR: Iraq is still at the beginning of the story. This evolution since 2003. As tired of it as many Americans may be, this process is still just at its beginning.

You need only look at our own history as a republic to get some sense of how hard these things are. It took us 13 years to get a Constitution and -- after the declaration of independence, that's tapered over some pretty substantial divides that nearly ripped the country apart eight decades later.

So the process of state and society building is going to be a long one. The Iraqis are facing many of the issues we faced. In some respects I think they're tracking pretty well. But this is going to be a process that takes years and years.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So let's take a closer look at the future of that country. Something that is going to take years and years. Both the challenges and the goals.

Nir Rosen is a journalist who has spent extensive time in Iraq. He is also a fellow at the New York University Center on Law and Security. He's joining me live from Baghdad.

And I think, Nir, we have pointed this out and we've emphasized that in no way, shape or form is this war over, is the mission complete or that this is the end of combat.

NIR ROSEN, FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR: Well, the war certainly isn't over for Iraqis that remain behind. I don't know what the mission was. If the mission was to remove Saddam Hussein it was accomplished obviously a long time ago.

Now your previous speaker referred to Iraq as if -- compared it to post-revolutionary war America. Iraq is not a new country. Iraq has existed for nearly a century as a modern state. There's no state formation or society building.

These people have been around longer than the United States has been around in one form or another.

Now I think today's event is not an event. You do not have a withdrawal of America combat troops. You have withdrawal of some American combat troops and a rebranding of the remaining 56,000 or so combat troops who are still going to be wielding the same weapons that their colleagues wielded who just departed.

Not fly swatters and mace. So you still have a large number of Americans here. And for Iraqis on the street, nothing has changed today. We had explosions in different parts of the city and the country. They didn't see Americans yesterday. Normally -- they won't see them today probably either.

They will remain living in fear. After I finish this interview I'm going to a friend's house, his brother was killed in an explosion two days ago. He said this is what we had come to expect when we live in Iraq. We expect to hear bad news.

PHILLIPS: And --

ROSEN: Nothing has changed for Iraqi. PHILLIPS: You know, you make a really good point in that the fact that you are headed to this funeral by a friend that was killed by a suicide bomber. And that is one of the biggest fears is that yes, as Americans, it's great to see our men and women coming home.

And you know the last thing we want to see is that number of 4,000 military deaths increase. But you point out the Iraqis are going to have a tremendous struggle here. There is a fledgling government. There are still lots of corruption.

These are people that are watching their backs every time they try to go to mosques or to work or just take their kids to school.

And do you think that that is what we will be covering more of in the next few years? Not necessarily what our troops are going through but now what the Iraqis will be going through even more so since men and women are leaving that country in the military.

ROSEN: Well, unfortunately I don't think we'll be covering more of that because I think as the Americans depart there's less interest in the fate of the Iraqi people. But you're right, life remains very difficult and scary and -- dirty and hot for most Iraqis.

But many of them are still quite happy that the Americans are leaving. I spoke to an Iraqi police lieutenant colonel this morning just north of Baghdad who said he's optimistic about the American departure. He said there would less IEDs once the Americans leave.

Last Friday I went to Friday prayers in Sadr City. It's not just the largest single bloc in parliament, still one of the most important movements in the country and they began their sermon with no to America, out, out, occupier.

I mean to them the occupation remains. And everybody is glad to see the Americans leave. And I think many Iraqis are. Despite how terrible things are in Iraq with violence as constant we don't hear about it most of the time, silence pistols, little magnetic IEDs.

Violence is terrible indeed. But I do believe despite that, the Iraqi police and Iraqi army actually capable of maintaining the general stability in the country. That the government, whichever one will come to exist, cannot be overthrown. You no longer have the same potential (ph) you had in 2004 where things in some way felt the same that an insurgent group can take over a village or a checkpoint or a town.

Now all they can really muster are the suicide car bombs and assassinations, occasional IED. They don't threaten the new order. Whatever that is in Iraq. And it's not threatened by these -- the increase in attacks which is at least some piece of good news.

PHILLIPS: Well, and Nir, what you said about the fact that Iraqis want to see a -- larger of Iraqis want to see the U.S. troops leave, it will be interesting to see that as that does happen, if indeed the Iraqi police and military can handle the terrorist threat and if the terrorist threat does become less severe, more severe, that will be definitely an interesting story to cover as the days --

ROSEN: We've had a test for the last two years. We have seen -- in the last two years, you don't really see American troops on the ground. Iraqi police, Iraqi soldiers, and many villages quite remote operating by themselves. No longer perceived as much as sectarian death squads.

Their presence is not more reassuring to many Iraqis. And the Iraqi security force is feeling quite confident about their own capabilities of being -- at least maintain a general stability, target militias and al Qaeda.

So things are terrible -- the security forces are quite brutal, torture is routine, corruption is routine. But at least we already have the last two years of test that proves much of the country they're able to handle security more or less.

PHILLIPS: Nir Rosen, appreciate your time.

We've been at war in Iraq for seven years and five months now. And as the combat mission there draws to a close, we can't forget the heroes who have lost their lives. As of Wednesday, 4,406 U.S. troops have died in the Iraq war. Each one of them a face, a name, a family, and a story.

And we're committed to telling that story of every U.S. service member who died in Iraq and Afghanistan. This week, for example, we honored Lance Corporal Abe Howard and Specialist Alex Gonzalez.

Our project is called "Home and Away" and we're working together with CNN.com. Every day in the 10:00 Eastern hour we lift up our fallen heroes who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

We also tell you how you can join us in this project by honoring your loved one.

And this war has impacted lives all across the country and across the globe. We want to hear your thoughts on this milestone especially if you served in one of these wars. Just head to CNN.com/Kyra. Let us know what you think. We'll read your comments throughout the next hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Check the brand of your eggs before you cook them this morning. An Iowa company has recalled 380 million eggs because of a possible link to salmonella. Senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining with us the details. Do we know how many people may have purchased these eggs or gotten sick or been affected or -- what do we know?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We don't have an exact number of how many people got sick. But here's what we do know. The Centers for Disease Control says that usually about 50 people a week -- there are reports of 50 people a week getting sick from salmonella. And since May, they've been getting reports of 200 a week. So that's four times as many, and they think that eggs are the culprit in many of these cases.

So in 17 states, there are recalls -- or 17 states are affected by these recalls. And that's -- in any place you are, you need to be careful. Always cook eggs thoroughly.

PHILLIPS: What brands are we talking about?

COHEN: It's a lot of brands. I'm going to put up on the screen now that there are a bunch of brands that were recalled recently, about ten different brands. However, more brands were recalled earlier this year. So you really have to go to cnn.com to get the full list. But this is the list of the recent brands. It's a lot.

PHILLIPS: Wow. So what can people do to reduce the risk right now?

COHEN: If you do have eggs that come from any of the brands that you see here, or the bigger list that's on our website, you need to get rid of them. Just don't eat them. And any times you're eating eggs, they should be fully cooked. You can't tell if an egg has salmonella in it or not. And the salmonella could be inside, it could be on the outside. So you need to cook eggs thoroughly.

PHILLIPS: Got it. OK, good advice. It's like, I -- we were talking about how we all use eggs in one shape or another. Cooking, and -- not just breakfast, but we include it in so many different things.

COHEN: We do. And when you go out, there's also Hollandaise sauce, or a Caesar salad sauce.

PHILLIPS: Right, you don't think about those things.

COHEN: You don't think about that, that's right. And hopefully restaurants are using pasteurized eggs, but they don't always.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Thanks, Elizabeth.

A blogger goes where mainstream media will not. Directly into the heart of the Mexican drug war. The blog does more than show violent images. It gives police tips on the cartels.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now. The number of homeless in the Pakistan floods has doubled to four million people. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will announce more US aid to its ally today. Senator John Kerry says $150 million will go toward the terror war.

Admiral Thad Allen says the ruptured BP well is now expected to be permanently plugged the week after labor day. Meanwhile, in Washington, a House hearing will take up the issue of Gulf seafood safety.

And the last US brigade combat team in Iraq left this country this morning. 6,000 more troops have to leave by September 1st to reach President Obama's goal of 50,000 US troops in an advise and assist role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: Good-bye, Saddam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: This really is the most astonishing --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE SPEAKER: There he goes! There he goes!

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: The mayor of Mexican tourist town has become the latest high-profile casualty in the country's drug war. The handcuffed, blindfolded of body of Edelmiro Cavazos was found yesterday on a rural road. He had been kidnapped from his Santiago home early Monday. Speaking to the "Los Angeles Times," the governor of the state of Nuevo Leon believes that the mayor was targeted because he was trying to rid the local police of cartel ties.

Now the BBC is reporting that 200 California National Guard troops have been deployed to the state's border with Mexico They are the first of 1,200 National Guard troops that will support border agents in four states. President Obama issued the call-up to increase border security.

And a blogger is breaking news about Mexico's drug war by going into the heart of the battle where mainstream journalists just don't go. CNN's Rafael Romo has this story. We want to warn you, too, that you may find some of this video disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (voice- over): It was the video that allowed authorities to crack a prison corruption case open. A police officer kidnapped and interrogated by alleged drug traffickers, accused prison officials in Durango, Mexico of being complicit with the rival drug cartel.

After the video went viral in Mexico, authorities launched an investigation and arrested four prison officials. What was significant about this case was that the evidence was not obtained by police or news organizations, but a blog.

El Blog del Narco, or the Narco Blog, has recently gained notoriety in Mexico and abroad for posting shockingly violent videos and pictures. From shoot-outs to savage beatings, from drugs and weapons seizures, to bodies of drug trafficking victims, it's all there at the click of a mouse. This is the beginning of a video that later shows a beheading. The blog chronicles daily the drug war that has claimed more than 28,000 lives in the last four years in Mexico.

ROMO (on camera): The blog was launched six months ago, and it has become increasingly popular as violence in Mexico gets worse and worse. Its creator says it gets about 3 million hits a week. The videos and pictures are all sent anonymously.

ROMO (voice-over): But who's behind the blog, and what are his intentions? We requested an interview with the site's creator, but he would only answer by e-mail. He describes himself as a 20-something- year-old college student from northern Mexico who majors in computer science.

"The media and the government would like to make it look as if nothing is happening," he says, referring to the war on drug cartels. "The media keeps silent because they are threatened and the government has apparently been bought."

A national TV news show went dark for a night last month after two of its journalists were apparently kidnapped by drug traffickers.

Anchor Denise Maerker said that to air a show under the circumstances was a great risk for all involved. The show airs on Televisa, Latin America's largest media conglomerate.

El Blog del Narco is increasingly filling the void left by self- censorship, also posting on social media websites, like Twitter and Facebook. It goes beyond posting violent pictures and videos, it also alerts people about drug cartels' movements, areas to avoid, and it gives tips to police as well.

The blog has been criticized for being, in essence, a medium that allows cartels to send messages to each other. "Our main goal," the blog's creator says, "is to inform people in Mexico so that they take steps to improve security." Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: American Airlines has added a new fee. Now it'll cost you more to sit up front in coach.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: On Wall Street, stocks finally managed to post back- to-back gains. But today, news out of the labor market is taking center stage, and it's not good news. Patricia Wu at the New York Stock Exchange with details. Hey, Patricia.

PATRICIA WU, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Kyra. Not good news, you can say that again. We were expecting a higher open, but then that weak jobs report came out, and those gains went poof.

The jobless claims surged to 500,000. That's the third increase in a row, and highest level since November '09. Now, economists were expecting a slightly -- and there goes the bell. The excitement you hear there, not for the numbers, but Sylvester Stallone is ringing the opening bell today. So that's where the excitement is coming from.

As I said, the economists were expecting a slight decrease in the jobless claims. And they say that without -- with the jobless claims surging, that is a worrisome sign, because without any significant hiring, you cannot have a strong recovery.

So, let's take a look at the numbers right now. The Dow is at 10,394, down about 20, and the NASDAQ is down about 10. So, once again, analysts say that unless those claims drop below 400,000 to signify hiring, we are not going to see a strong push in the market. Kyra, back to you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Patricia, thanks.

And if you fly coach but want to sit up front on American Airlines, it's going to cost you. You'll have to pay an extra $19 to $39 per flight. Express seat option will also allow you to board the plane early along with first class and elite frequent flyers.

Consumer Product Safety Commission is voluntarily recalling the Zooper Tango Double Stroller. It says that the stroller's frame latch can actually come undone and causing the stroller to unexpectedly collapse. The recall involves 2007 and 2008 models, and so far, CPSC has fielded 185 complaints. There have been reports of kids receiving minor scrapes and bruises. Parents should contact the company for a free repair kit.

The last U.S. combat brigade has pulled out of Iraq. An iconic image in American history. 4,000 troops rolling across the border into Kuwait. The Fourth Stryker Brigade 2nd Infantry Division otherwise known as the 402 is now expected back in America by mid- September. 56,000 troops are still in Iraq. That number will dip to 50,000 by the end of the month. We're staying behind to execute the next phase. Operation new dawn in which U.S. forces switch to an advice and assist role.

But seven years before operation new dawn, there were several nights of shock and awe. March 2003, the U.S. and its allies launched a massive aerial assault. Tremendous explosions rocked targets in Baghdad and across the country. And I happened to be there as that war started. Here's one eye view of the start of the campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep the gees (ph) on the jet. Keep your air speed.

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Here on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, it's the night they've been training and preparing for for months.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Permission objectives, we heard that. Hit the target.

PHILLIPS: VF-31, the F-14 Tomcat or squadron is about to take part in a massive aerial bombardment against Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein and his regime.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of lights. A lot of explosion. Don't get mesmerized by that. Focus on what you need to do.

PHILLIPS: Lt. Steve Hury (ph) doesn't know it now, but he will take on a very crucial role.

PHILLIPS (on-camera): The Tomcat (INAUDIBLE) more than 100 coalition aircraft, but they are expected to exceed more than 15,000 bombs and missiles in the next couple of days surging (ph) on Iraq in the campaigns that seems (INAUDIBLE).

PHILLIPS (voice-over): Armed with satellite and laser-guided bombs and numerous types of missiles, these F-14 and F-18 strike fighters are about to make history. Back in the Tomcater's (ph) ready room, fellow pilots wait and watch the news. They know what's about to happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little shock and awe.

PHILLIPS: Military sites. Saddam's republican palace and offices of the foreign ministry, all hit. The initial strike takes only seven minutes. Life changes quickly. Not only for Iraq but Lieutenant Steve Hury (ph). A chain of events puts him in the lead position of his F-14 division, to and from Iraq. The end of the night debrief is emotional.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Looked like something right out of "Star Wars." Very tense. A lot of adrenaline, and it's pretty much when you're flying in there and you see all this -- there are so many moving parts to obviously what all happened tonight, and you're trying to absorb it all and it -- kind of feels like you're -- almost coming out of your skin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All that -- you know, feelings and emotions started coming back after we were already headed home in the threat areas. It's kind of wow. You feel the -- the weight of what you just did and everything then it hits you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever we're doing out there makes it's easier for the ground troops that have forced (ph) in and actually have -- you know, we're lucky because we get to go in there, do our 20, 30 minutes, and get out and come back here. Those guys have to be on the ground the whole time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was the first time I've ever been shot at with missiles that looked like they were guiding on us. It was nice that the training and tactics and stuff that we practiced actually worked. And we're able to defeat those shots and get into the target and get our bombs off. They all found their way to the appropriate target and brought everybody back.

PHILLIPS: Now, the question is, how much longer will these pilots be in the fight?

(END VIDEOTAPE) PHILLIPS (on-camera): And the man who commanded that air war joins me live next right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: As you saw just before the break, we took you back to that air campaign known as shock and awe. A retired navy admiral, Timothy Keating, was at the Pentagon on 9/11, and he remembers how those terrorists attacked us. But his military career was about to take on something that he never expected. Operation Iraqi freedom. He commanded the shock and awe air campaign, the first bombs to fall on Baghdad

And I spent a lot of time with him on the carrier and out on the battlefield. This video is from March 19th, the day that campaign started. Now, he's joining me live by phone from Chicago. Admiral, before we go back and reflect, tell me how you feel as you watch this last combat brigade actually come home.

VOICE OF TIMOTHY KEATING (retired): It is great that the men and women are able to return home, those that are coming home safely. They should feel significant pride and accomplishments that they returned (ph) in Iraq. Directly people the right of self-governance. We have to remember (ph) 4,000 of our comrades and colleagues here, wish to keep them and their families in our prayers.

PHILLIPS: You know, in going back to the beginning of that war, we're looking at video right now of you on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, and I'll never forget that speech that was the, "are you ready" speech, "we're ready" speech, and it was you and Tommy Franks, and General Earl Halston (ph), U.S. marine corps, you were the key leaders of operation Iraqi freedom.

Before we talk about this moment where you came on to the carrier, as you reflect over the number of years and then see the guys coming home now, is there one thing, maybe one significant moment that stands out to you as you reflect on that war?

KEATING: Yes. Fairly shortly after the campaign start, Kyra, while you were out there with about a month, five weeks later, we went to Baghdad, and we were able to go to Baghdad much earlier than we anticipated because of the work done by the men and women in the airplanes and the men and women on the ground. And we gathered one of Saddam's former palaces and then with Tommy Franks. We walked into the room and a couple of the guys you mention Earl Halston, Buzz Moseley, (INAUDIBLE) and I were there.

And he walked in and he embraced us with a bear hug with tears in the down street (ph). Nobody in the room said a word. It was a very powerful moment as we realized that the initial phase of operation Iraq freedom had been conducted with relative success.

PHILLIPS: It's interesting because I was actually going back to my journal, and you know, I've never kept a journal before, but for some reason, I felt that I should during that war. And I -- I'm going to leave some of the names out here, but Admiral, this is what I wrote, actually the day that you came aboard. I said, "last night, I had a briefing with commander so-and-so. He shared with me off the record for now the battle plan for from the air."

Twenty-two strikers and three prowlers will launch from the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln on the first night of strikes. Add in the two other carriers, "U.S.S. Constellation" and "U.S.S Kitty Hawk," and there will be more than 100 aircraft. Tomahawk missiles will launch from destroyers and cruisers and the air force will fly over Baghdad with B-52 bombers. The operation will be called "Operation Iraqi Freedom."

And then I went on to say "Admiral Keating came aboard today. He made his rounds to all the carriers to inspire the troops. He really amazed me with regard to how he is in front of those sailors. He is so good with them. He told all the men and women to call home and tell their families that they are about to be a part of history." And then I went on and said, "President Bush gave Saddam Hussein 48 hours to leave the country or face war. That time runs out tomorrow. Will we go to war tomorrow? All of us have our gas masks on our side."

That was a powerful speech that you made that day. And I know you'll never forget it. Do you remember the reaction from those sailors? Because you knew what was about to happen. You know, the U.S. was about to go to war.

KEATING: I remember it very clearly, Kyra. And the picture you gave me helps capture that moment because I told you that I had to pass and spot my office and I go past it many times as a reminder. I was nervous, little apprehensive, but very, very confident that these kids, well trained and well equipped as any -- you know, they represent the most powerful best fighting force in the history of our world.

They were doing what they were learned (ph). They were trained for what they're going to do, and they're willing to make the sacrifice for all the right reasons. I'm very proud of them.

PHILLIPS: And the -- probably one of the toughest parts that you had to deal, and I got to ask you that question or this question is the criticism about that war. It started out as a very patriotic moment for this country. And then we started seeing how these terrorists played so unfairly and we saw so many lives being lost, and it became a very controversial war. How did you deal with that? And have you found peace with that as you had to take on a lot of criticism during the war?

KEATING: I have found peace with it, Kyra. It's a great question, and it's a fair question. One we need to ask ourselves time and again. As I mentioned, we were in the Baghdad and we're pulling down -- basic criticism. I mean, the marines were pulling down the statue. You all captured it. We thought a lot about and studied carefully lessons learned following the initial success. We did make mistakes as a country and as a department. We need to think more carefully about not just peacemaking but peacekeeping.

We were unprepared for some of the virtualities of the world. We learned the lessons, being applied by some of the same men and women that went into Iraq. So, long answer. We had some lessons to learn. We didn't think through careful enough. What would -- what has unfolded. The fact that the kids are coming out today, I think, is a testament to the initial smart decision that will enable our country's leaders.

PHILLIPS: Admiral Timothy Keating, such an honor and a pleasure to talk to you once again. Really appreciate you joining me today.

KEATING: Thanks, Kyra. Appreciate the opportunity.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

And before we head to break, significant moments in the war in Iraq. Remember December 13th, the day Saddam Hussein was captured? Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

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PHILLIPS: A Democratic candidate for Congress in southern California is so eager to debate his opponent, he stopped eating. Ray Lutz hasn't had a meal in a week. If he eats three times per day to begin with, that means he's missed 19 meals so far.

He's lost about 14 pounds. And this hunger strike has made him so tired he is napping during the day. He's even given up exercise, too. The libertarian candidate joined the hunger strike five days after he plans to -- and he plans to end that fast tomorrow.

But he would eat breakfast right now if his opponent, incumbent Republican Duncan Hunter, would agree to debate him this month. We're going to talk with Mr. Lutz about this. He is joining us now from San Diego.

So Duncan Hunter says he'll debate you in October. So why is it so important to you to have a debate this month?

RAY LUTZ (D), CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: Well, that's -- that's -- something that we've only heard through the media.

You know, this is a common ploy. It happened to me last time I ran for the assembly. And the -- the incumbents always say, well, yes, I'll debate you sometime late in October and then, you know what happens is -- happened to me, they say well, I'm sorry, but my schedule just doesn't permit it. And so I'm not going to be able to make it. And then they cancel the debate. Now, this guy -- is a guy who basically inherited the seat from his father. He's got the same name, Duncan Hunter is Duncan Hunter -- Lee Hunter versus Duncan Dwayne Hunter.

And so the people in the district don't even know who this guy is. And in fact some of the reports we saw in the last few days, use of the father's picture on the reports about the current Congressman who is sitting.

So he inherited the seat, he doesn't want to be seen by the people to know who he is. And so he's going to try to sneak out of it. And you know what --

PHILLIPS: Now he's -- he's heavily -- he's heavily favored in your district right now, though and not only because his father served in that area. Yes, he's got the family name, but he -- he has -- he has maintained a certain reputation on his own, as you know. He's been controversial a number of times as well and made news on this show.

So, what do you say to someone who might say, oh come on, Mr. Lutz, this is just a big publicity stunt.

LUTZ: Hey, well, look, I'm running for office, and if you think office is a publicity stunt, I think you should go to another country. We are supposed to be competing for this office fairly in a democracy. And for the media to come in and say well, you have no chance, so why we should talk to you.

And anything that you say is a publicity stunt, that's pretty absurd. We need to have these people come to the table and debate and reasonable debate all across the country in every district, there shouldn't be any exceptions.

And just because the guy has name recognition, happens to have been on your show before or happens to have said a few things, that doesn't mean anything. I'm still somebody here who I think has a lot to say. I'm somebody who is against the war in Iraq when it was first talked about, and guess what? I was right. I was against what the thing the Bush administration did, and guess what? I was right.

We have a guy in here who represents the worst of the Bush administration, and he's just going to continue this -- this terrible legacy. So I'm here to say to the voters, look, vote RayLutz.com, that the place to go, donate to me and let's take this guy out who doesn't deserve the seat, is unqualified. And frankly, if he has been on the show, I've watched him, I think he is somewhat embarrassing to watch on the show.

PHILLIPS: So let me ask you.

LUTZ: So -- and that's my position.

PHILLIPS: Some -- some would say, ok, come on, a hunger strike? Is that the way to go in the way to campaign? And did your campaign team or other Dems in your district say, hey, that's a great idea, do it?

LUTZ: Actually, it was a former Congressman that suggested it, and I thought it was a little bit too much at first, but, you know what? I had a few pounds to lose, and I'm going to be a better man after this. It hasn't been as bad so far as I thought it would be, although, I have to admit, I do like to eat meals. So -- and that first day was really hard. PHILLIPS: So -- so I'm thinking -- I'm thinking if you're on your death bed, that you're going to start eating so you can make it to that October debate. That's a hunch.

LUTZ: Well, we're going to be having some debates ahead of time. October debate is too late because 60 percent of the voters vote by absentee or vote-by-mail ballots. And those will be going out in early October.

And so this whole thing about having a debate in late October, first of all, would never have happened. I never would have gotten even one debate from this guy and they've never even talked to us about this debate. This whole thing about we're having a debate in October, is just a rumor.

They say, yes they've talked to us; it never has happened, we've never received one communication from the Hunter campaign, never. So if they want to say they'd set up a debate in October, I'll believe it and believe it when I see it. And I'll believe it when it happens. And if it takes hunger strikes to do it, it's a very sad commentary about our democracy when we don't get to have debates for the voters unless somebody goes on a hunger strike. It's a very sad commentary.

PHILLIPS: Ray Lutz --

LUTZ: And I -- thank you, vote Ray at RayLutz.com. Please come and donate.

PHILLIPS: We'll see what happens. We'll see if that debate happens, and we'll see how skinny you are, if, indeed, it approaches that point. Ray, thanks.

LUTZ: I'm not going to die for this. Let me tell you that.

PHILLIPS: I'm glad you made that clear live on CNN. Thanks, Ray.

All right. Time for a check of what we're working on in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Josh Levs, what do you have?

Are you eating, Josh. I'm curious? I have some crackers over here.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, anyone who looks behind you sometimes where we can see where I sit in the NEWSROOM here knows I eat just about every hour. I'm shoving food in my mouth all day long.

Getting back on the news track, the last U.S. Combat brigade, as you know, leaving Iraq now; so what we want to do is take a look at just what life is like throughout the country. We're going to tell you about the state of poverty, the electricity, the food and the oil. Where things stand in Iraq, I have that for you at the top of the hour.

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PHILLIPS: Well, we focus a lot this hour on our military moving out of Iraq but we also want to remember the sacrifices that are taking place daily in Afghanistan. 1,219 U.S. deaths since Operation Enduring Freedom began.

Look at this commitment. 3,462 U.S. troops have returned to duty in Afghanistan. Our Jason Carroll actually visited with one soldier who is going back there for a third tour of duty -- Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Third tour of duty. I know you know what that's like, Kyra. We'll be heading back with him as he embarks on that.

You know, the clock is ticking to stabilize Afghanistan so U.S. troops can meet the President's goal of beginning to withdraw some time next July. The success of units like the one Sgt. First Class Randy Shorter belongs to will be key. They are part of the final surge, and Kyra, they are ready to go.

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CARROLL (voice-over): These are moments Randy Shorter cherishes; relaxing at home with his wife Cheryl, daughters Melanie and Arianna and Diego.

RANDY SHORTER, VETERAN SOLDIER: At 5:00 I am Randy. I come home. I just have to get in that mindset that now I'm a family man.

CARROLL: A family man who married his high school sweetheart soon after graduation, around the same time he joined the army. Filipino-American, Shorter came to the United States when he was just five, growing up in Long Beach, California; his commitment to family and country inspiring him to join the army.

Fourteen years later, Sergeant First Class Shorter is days away from his third combat tour in Afghanistan.

(on camera): This is your third time going. It does beg the question, do you, both of you, ever wonder --

SHERYLL SHORTER, SGT. SHORTER'S WIFE: Are we pushing it?

SHORTER: Yes. I feel it every day. Sometimes I feel like I push it too much, but this is the life I chose.

S. SHORTER: I don't want to be that spouse that has that knock at the door. Nobody ever wants that but I know his skills as a soldier, you know, pushes me every day.

CARROLL (voice-over): Skills put to the test two years ago when a vehicle in his convoy hit a roadside bomb. Insurgents opened fire, Shorter rescued the wounded while returning fire, receiving the silver star for bravery.

(on camera): What would you say is the most important lesson that you learned based on these previous tours of deployment?

R. SHORTER: Well, for me, don't take what I experience and have seen in war and combat home with me.

CARROLL: But, how do you not do that?

R. SHORTER: Well, I'll always live with it but I will not -- how I look at it is what happened in combat, happened in combat. It's happened, it's done. Done and over with. I'll have to live it and relive it every day.

S. SHORTER: I've learned forcing what he's done, forcing him to talk.

R. SHORTER: One important lesson is to talk.

CARROLL: See, that's interesting because you're saying I've learned not to bring it back, and you're saying that I've learned he's got to talk about it in some ways.

SHERYL SHORTER: I mean, the first deployment, I never heard nothing about what he did. The second deployment, I heard way too much, and, you know, and this time around, it's going to be equal.

CARROLL (voice-over): Shorter is heading to a region nicknamed "hell on earth" by those who have served there. Paktika province in southeast Afghanistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Men, rotate the selector switch (INAUDIBLE) the semi. Fire when ready.

CARROLL: His unit, of the 101st Airborne deployed there two years ago. The mission now, go back to finish the job, fighting insurgents while helping the Afghan people police and govern themselves.

That mission starts here at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, Shorter's home base, where on this day, they're saying good-bye with a symbolic ceremony.

(on camera): Does a ceremony like this make it even more real for you?

SHORTER: Yes, it does. It actually brings reality back in.

CARROLL (voice-over): The reality of another dangerous year-long deployment and having to explain that to his children.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see the pain in their eyes. I still don't want to you go.

S. SHORTER: But they always ask, why can't somebody else do it?

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CARROLL: That, Kyra, as you know, is one of the toughest parts, trying to explain to the children. Sergeant Shorter and the other soldiers in his unit will be leaving within the next 48 hours. We'll be there for the good-byes, their journey over, and of course, Kyra, we will be there on the ground in Afghanistan to get a first-hand look at what life is like for them when they first arrive and get there. Kyra.

PHILLIPS: What's it been like for you, Jason? You've been doing a number of these pieces and getting to know - I mean, from these young boys who haven't done so well in school and growing up to be such remarkable young men? I mean, you followed so many young guys as they have gone through this process.

CARROLL: Well, you know, Kyra, you and I have talked about this. And for me, the goal was to always take the discussion down a level. I feel like whenever I, at least, saw much of the coverage, I felt like a lot of it was not focused enough on the soldiers. And I know it's very difficult to get to the soldiers and to get their input but these wars have gone on for such a long period of time, my goal was always to sort of follow these soldiers along and chronicle their experiences.

So that's what I was hoping to accomplish with this. I know we still have a long way to go, but, really, whenever I think about this, I just think of all of those who have opened themselves to us, to allow us to do this. Very grateful.

PHILLIPS: Yes, we sure appreciate the reporting. Jason, thanks.