Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Saturday
NATO Agrees To Help Rrebuild Iraq; Turkish Foreign Ministry Works To Release Hostages
Aired June 26, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Coming up on CNN LIVE SATURDAY: flooding in the U.S. Orelon Sidney tells us who might be affected. And this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you hear what happened with...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off.
MOOS: See, now I'll have to bleep you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Jeanne Moos asks New Yorkers about profanity and politics.
And in 30 minutes, "Dollar Signs," today's topic: can you still find an affordable vacation for your family? Call us at 1-800-807- 2620, or e-mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com. That's 30 minutes from now, but first, here are the headlines.
Militants in Iraq are reportedly threatening to behead 3 Turkish hostages. Al Jazeera TV aired a videotape apparently showing the kidnappers and their victims today. The report came just as President Bush arrived in Ankara, Turkey for a NATO summit that begins on Monday.
Earlier reports to the coalition military in Iraq say a suspected car bomb killed 17 people and wounded 40 others this evening in the southern city of Hillah. The explosion was near a building formally known as the Saddam Mosque near the site of the ancient Babylon.
Three people are dead from attacks by insurgents in Northern Iraq today. A car bomb exploded in Erbil as A kurdish government convoy pass passed by, killing one person. The blast occurred 2 hours after attackers in Baqubah gunned down 2 guards outside a political pary headquarters.
Friends and family gathered in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey for a memorial service honoring Paul Johnson, the aircraft engineer, beheaded by terrorists in Saudi Arabia. Johnson's body has not been recovered. We begin in Iraq, where it has happened again, al Jazeera is showing chilling images of hostages being held by militants who threaten to behead them if demands are not met. The same militant group kidnapped and killed American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sung Il. Let's go to straight to Baghdad right now with your chief Jane Arraf in Iraq -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Fredricka, according to the video, the hostage takers have place a 72-hour deadline on Turkey to withdraw, to force to withdraw contractors and other companies supporting the coalition, or it will behead these men.
These men, holding up what appear to be Turkish passports. And according to the video, saying their names in Turkish. They have been taking hostage. It's not clear when, it's not clear where, and it's still trying to -- still trying to confirm who exactly they are.
The Turkish Embassy here in Baghdad says it is trying to gather information as well. But it appears that perhaps the targets of these kidnappings are widening. These men, according to diplomats and other sources, most likely either construction workers or truck drivers and almost certainly Muslim from a country in which 99 percent of the population is Muslim.
And in other developments this evening Fredricka, a car bomb, as you mentioned, a suspected car bomb in a city 60 miles south of Baghdad in Hillah. So far, preliminary estimates say at least 17 people are dead and 40 wounded when that explosion took place near a mosque in the city -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane, I know it's very late there right now, but do you get a sense from the Iraqi citizens there whether they are at all apprehensive of what may be to come with now just four days away from handover?
ARRAF: They are definitely apprehensive. They're now cowerering in fear in their homes by any means, but they have been told for a long time that this could get worse. And they are, indeed, expecting things will get worse in the next few days, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thanks very much.
Well, the tape was released as President Bush was traveling to Turkey for the NATO summit. He arrived there just a short time ago. And CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us from Ankara with a closer look on the preparations for the president's visit and the beginning of the NATO summit Monday. Alphonso?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. First I want to bring you some new information we're getting from foreign ministry, Turkish foreign ministry officials here. They're saying their making calls, their trying to get the word out to find out more about the status of those 3 Turkish hostages captured in Iraq.
Turkish officials say they're getting involved, because this isn't the first time turks have been kidnapped in Iraq. They say at least 10 have been kidnapped in the last month and a half, but because of the foreign ministry intervention, the Turks were released safely and unharmed.
Now this news, as you said, comes as the U.S. president arrives in Ankara, for talks with Turkish leaders. Topping that agenda will be Iraq again. We understand that Americans will ask for an expanded role, a U.S. military role in this country. There are military -- there's a military base here, and their looking for more U.S. troops to be able to come here as it regard to their activities in Iraq.
Now at the same time, Turkey says it wants answers. It wants to know what the Americans plan to do in the northern part of Iraq. They fear that there Kurds may be trying to establish an independent state. President Bush is answering some of those questions already, saying that he is pledging to help Turkey fight what the United States and Turkey call terrorist, a group called the PKK, believed to be operating in the eastern part of this country, as well as holding bases in Northern Iraq.
Now, U.S. President Bush's trip isn't being warmly welcome by everyone here. Earlier here in the capital, Ankara, protests, some 6,000 people hitting the streets saying that Mr. Bush's policies aren't fair, they're not right, they do not support the war in Iraq. And of that group, at least 100 broke away and tried to break through police barriers here. Turkish police and security forces were having none of it. They answered with tear gas. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Alphonso Van Marsh, thank you very much, from Ankara.
Well earlier today, President Bush wrapped up the U.S. European Union summit in Ireland before making his way to Turkey. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux reports now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets of Shannon in Dublin, protests over U.S. Iraq policy. But from the grounds of an insolated 16th Century castle, a show of support.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some people didn't agree with the decision I made and others made as well, but we all agree that a Democratic Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, an Iraq which is -- has its territorial integrity intact is in the benefit of the -- is in all our benefit.
MALVEAUX: But the European Union leaders also expressed concern over the Abu Ghraib Prison scandal.
BERTIE AHERN, PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND: How prisoners have been dealt with in some of the -- in one of the prisons. What has happened in some of the -- from Afghanistan, that's been an issue. The president has answered it though.
MALVEAUX: The EU gathered in Shannon, Ireland, to discuss mutual interests, producing agreements to bringing peace to Sudan, sharing GPS satellite systems and reforming the Middle East. But the consensus over how to support Iraq is far from certain. While the EU members pledged their backing for free elections, debt forgiveness and aid in training Iraqi security forces, Mr. Bush is hoping for a stronger commitment from his NATO allies.
BUSH: The NATO mission in Afghanistan is helping the people of that country establish democracy after years of tyranny. And NATO has the capability, and I believe the responsibility, to help the Iraqi people defeat the terrorist threat that's facing their country.
MALVEAUX: After Iraqi take control June 30, more than 130,000 U.S. troop will remain there as part of a multinational force.
(on camera): President Bush is under growing pressure to get the international community to take on a greater share in the burden of securing Iraq's stability. The president goes on to Turkey for the NATO summit with modest expectations, that NATO members commit to helping train Iraqi troops. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Ireland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And checking the latest developments in Iraq now. A day after another U.S. air strike targeted the suspected hideout of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the coalition is urging Iraqis to help capture the terrorists. A spokesman reminded them there's a $10 million bounty on his head. The coalition has targeted suspected safe houses in Fallujah three times in the last week. A senior Defense Department official says Zarqawi was at the site of yesterday's strike, but was able to escape.
In the north, a car bomb exploded today in Ergil. It happened as a convoy carrying a Kurdish government official passed by, he suffered minor injuries. One person was killed, 20 others wounded.
Meanwhile a U.S. Army convoy came under fire in Najaf. It happened after it took a wrong turn in the direction of holy shrines. The convoy retreated and there were no casualties reported.
And attackers targeted two political offices in Baqubah. Two guards killed outside the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution Party and grenades were thrown into the offices of the Iraqi National Accord, affiliated with Iraqi interim prime minister Iyad Allawi. There were no casualties in that incident.
Well here at home, threatening weather. Showers and thunderstorms are pounding much of the Gulf coast. Heavy rain in Louisiana and parts of Texas this week have left both states vulnerable to flash flooding. Is there any relief in sight? Let's check in with meteorologist Orelon Sidney -- Orelon.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, thanks a lot. It doesn't look like there will be relief, at least in the near term. We've got an upper air pattern that's really going to keep this into play, probably through Tuesday.
Take a look at what's going on now. We've got rainfall across the southeast. But we've got this in the upper atmosphere, what's called an omega block. It's a high-pressure ridge with two lows on either side. And it's an extremely stable pattern. What that means is, whatever weather you get with it you're going to stick with it for a while. And that's at least, we think, until Tuesday.
An upper level disturbance also now is enhancing moisture coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, the instability as well, and we're getting thunderstorms now. The heaviest activity, I've seen some around Houston, especially inside the loop about an inch, inch and three quarters. We do continue, also, to see some very heavy rainfall eastward into Louisiana, Alabama and even Mississippi.
So, you put this all together with some very heavy rains from the previous five days and the risk for flooding is certainly on the rise, especially tonight. We'll have a little bit of a break on Sunday morning, and then right back into it with the daytime heating on Sunday.
So here's your forecast, you can see as much as two inches of rain across Northern Alabama and Mississippi, parts of Northeastern Texas, and then down across Southeast Texas along the coast. Flash flood and flood watches are numerous from the hill country, all the way out into part of the Southeast. We'll keep an eye on this, certainly, throughout the evening and throughout the weekend -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot Orelon.
Well, Christiane Amanpour has looked at Iraqi troop readiness. When we come back, we'll look at her report.
And a conversation with Major General Don Shepperd. How will coalition forces being affected by the handover?
And don't forget "Dollar Signs" in about 15 minutes from now. We're talking about family vacations that are still a good bargain this summer. Just e-mail youre questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Iraqis and U.S. forces see no reason to believe relentless deadly rebel attacks will let up after Iraqis regain sovereignty over their country 4 days from now. Chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour looks at progress in preparing Iraqi security forces to combat the terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi forces have just received an emergency delivery from the United States: 56,000 sets of body armor, with another 12,000 to follow next week, 60,000 Kevlar helmets, more than 600 radios and 1,000 vehicles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go! AMANPOUR: Plus, heavy machine guns, RPGs and ammunition. Welcome news at training bases like this one, run by a unit of the Arkansas National Guard.
LT. MICHAEL SCOTT, ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD: We've secured the freedom -- the freedom of Iraq, but it's these people, these soldiers, that we're training now that are going to have to fight to keep it. And that's what we're trying to prepare them for.
AMANPOUR: Meantime, more Iraqi police and army checkpoints are going up around Baghdad, with U.S. military support. It's a fire wall against insurgents, the U.S. admits are a serious threat.
Up north in Mosul, U.S. commanders say they're pleased that it was Iraqi forces who responded first to the suicide bombings that killed more than 60 people on Thursday. Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, how will the handover of sovereignty in Iraq work? And what will be its affect on U.S. troops there? Let's ask retired Air Force Major General Don Shepperd. He's CNN military analyst. He joins us from Tucson, Arizona. Good to see you.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Hello, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Before we talk about what can happen 4 days from now involving U.S. troops, let's talk about Turkey right now. And talk about Turkey as being a Muslim NATO nation. Whether, in fact, do you think that because 3 Turks have been taken hostage, might this, in anyway, change the minds of the -- you know, of Turkey's involvement in helping to be part of the troops to help rebuild Iraq?
SHEPPERD: I don't think so, Fredricka. This is a terrible situation, a tense situation and all of us hope for the best. We suspect the worst after what we've seen. We see now very clearly, these insurgants killing Muslims, killing Iraqis before that.
Again, we're hoping for the best here. But I think Turkey has been very tough and very resolute and I would be very surprised if they let this affect their forces and end up pulling them out.
WHITFIELD: Well the European Union, along with the U.S., agree that NATO would be involved in helping to rebuild. So what does that mean? What do you envision?
SHEPPERD: The European Union is basically coming on board if you will, certainly to help train, if not help with more troops. Nato, it's very unlikely that more than the 16 members that are now providing troops are going to provide any more. But it's also very clear that they can help with financing, they can help with training the troops. And you may see some movement on NATO. We'll know after the summit is concluded later this week, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Well surely, Iraqi police and troops and coalition troops are defenseless when it comes down to these car bombings that seem to be, you know, multiplying as we near the handover date. Given that, then, do you see this handover, militarilywise or securitywise as, you know, glass half full or half empty?
SHEPPERD: It's a mixed bag. Clearly, some things have to be worked out. But this handover will take place and the Iraqis will assume sovereignty over their nation. Now, what that does change for us is a couple things. First of all, we're able to defend ourselves wherever we are. Whatever takes place, we can always defend ours. But if we want to conduct offensive operations, we have to coordinate this with the new Iraqi government who are, indeed the sovereign. Just like we would have to do in any other country.
Shalim al Kazai, the new defense minister, will make the call on whether or not he want us to conduct offensive operations. We're essentially are going to have to get permission to do that. So, there's going to be a status of forces agreement worked out, put down on paper. There will be some rough spots no question. But I think everybody will be better off when sovereignty is handed over to the Iraqis. They will be able to do some of the tough stuff and make some of the tough calls that we can't.
WHITFIELD: But you also see how maybe Iraqi citizens are having a hard time being that hopeful, looking ahead, seeing if the insurgency is going to pick up, if the foreign fighters' influence is going to pick up, and if they represent the minority, then how long before, you know, the majority ends up representing those who would back the insurgency as opposed to the coalition forces?
SHEPPERD: That's key question. And if I were an Iraqi citizen, I'd be very terribly torn. My question would be, do I want security, and just buy my security by saying, hey, let's kick the Americans out and let's do it on our own and hope for the best? Or do I want to drive these foreign fighter out?
As we drive the foreign fighters out that has to be done, particularly in places like Fallujah, that's become a foreign fighter readout. This has to be done. You have to be very careful not to kick off a civil war between the Sunnis and Shias and not to resurrect the al Sadr movement.
So, everybody's walking a fine line. But the Iraqis are going to have to decide whether they will take control of their country, provide a better future, or not. It's a tough, difficult job.
WHITFIELD: Might Iraqis, or even members of the Arab community as a whole feel like the U.S. is dropping its responsibility with this handover, that it is backing off you know, its purpose of trying to offer security, given that the Iraqi police, Iraqi forces, will be the ones who will really be in charge?
SHEPPERD: Well, I don't think that they're going to see us as cutting and running. In fact, I think most Iraqis would like to see us gone. Most thinking Iraqis realize that they're not ready to take over yet and they're going to need a lot of help.
As we plan offensive operation, particularly areas like Fallujah some of the other cities like Baqubah or Northeast Baghdad the Iraqi police can be in the vanguard of planning it, where they want to go in providing the lnls, but they're going to require help. So, I think they want us around. You may even see more forces sent over there, another 25,000, would bring the total coalition forces up to 180,000. And even prolonged occupation, which I don't think anybody wants.
WHITFIELD: Major General Don Shepperd, thank you for joining us, from Arizona, Tucson.
The vice president this week said a word that isn't usually included in polite society, or is it? Jeanne Moos asks New Yorkers to match the politician with the right curse word.
And coming up at 4:30 Eastern, 1:30 Pacific, "Dollar Signs." Today, we're talking about family vacations. Do you still have time to make arrangements? And can you afford it? E-mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: "Dollar Signs" is about to start. Don't forget to e- mail your questions at dollarsigns@CNN.com or call us at 1-800-807- 2620.
No regrets: Vice President Dick Cheney is standing by his use of the f-word earlier this week during an encounter with a Democratic Senator. It's not the first time a Washington insider has been caught using salty language. Jeanne Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Swearing in is one thing. Swearing is another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... major league (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Remember when candidate George Bush referred to a reporter as an opening as a posterior anatomy, to which Dick Cheney replied, "Big-time!"
Well, now it's Mr. Cheney who's gone big time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He dropped the "F" bomb.
MOOS (on camera): He said the "F" word. He said "F" you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
MOOS: Did you hear what happened with...?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) off.
MOOS: See, now I have to bleep you!
(voice-over) Actually, the vice president only told off one person, Senator Patrick Leahy.
CAVUTO: Do you have any regrets?
CHENEY: No. I said it.
MOOS: Doesn't everybody curse these days?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's actually swearing at someone and demeaning another human being.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Depends on the word. I mean, that would offend me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick, just apologize!
MOOS: In an interview with "Rolling Stone" the "F" word rolled off Kerry's tongue: "Did I expect George Bush to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
And after a snowboarding spill, Kerry was quoted as saying, "I don't fall down. That is son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) ran into me.
George Bush, the elder debated Geraldine Ferraro, then bragged, "We kicked a little (EXPLETIVE DELETED))."
And Barbara Bush once said of Geraldine Ferraro, "I'm not going to say it, but it rhymes with witch."
(on camera) Now, if you don't mind, this is Match the Politician to the Profanity Quiz.
"Major league a-hole." Who said that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was John Kerry.
MOOS: That was not John Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Barbara Bush?
MOOS: No, it wasn't Barbara Bush.
"F" Saddam, we're taking him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's George Bush!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They always believe taking people out.
MOOS: Remember this one, "major league a-hole?" You don't remember that one? You're failing the quiz!
(voice-over) Funny that just when Dick Cheney gets caught cursing, Madonna is cleaning up her act by charging those working for her five bucks every time they swear.
Politicians must envy Bulworth, the fictional Senator who, thinking he's going to die, liberated his language.
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED). That's the real obscenity black folks living with everyday is trying to believe a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) word Democrats and Republicans say.
MOOS: But how do you say the unsayable? "The Washington Post" wrote out the entire "F" word uttered by Vice President Cheney, but referred to Mr. Bush's earlier discretion as "expletive."
While "The New York Times" never even got as the "F," opting for "an obscene phrase to describe what he thought Mr. Leahy should do."
And all of those hyphens and missing letters? Think of it as the Morse code of cursing. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, it's that time again, "Dollar Signs" coming up next. Today, we're talking about affordable family vacations. Send your questions to us at dollarsigns@CNN.com or you call us at 1-800- 807-2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 26, 2004 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Coming up on CNN LIVE SATURDAY: flooding in the U.S. Orelon Sidney tells us who might be affected. And this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Did you hear what happened with...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) off.
MOOS: See, now I'll have to bleep you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Jeanne Moos asks New Yorkers about profanity and politics.
And in 30 minutes, "Dollar Signs," today's topic: can you still find an affordable vacation for your family? Call us at 1-800-807- 2620, or e-mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com. That's 30 minutes from now, but first, here are the headlines.
Militants in Iraq are reportedly threatening to behead 3 Turkish hostages. Al Jazeera TV aired a videotape apparently showing the kidnappers and their victims today. The report came just as President Bush arrived in Ankara, Turkey for a NATO summit that begins on Monday.
Earlier reports to the coalition military in Iraq say a suspected car bomb killed 17 people and wounded 40 others this evening in the southern city of Hillah. The explosion was near a building formally known as the Saddam Mosque near the site of the ancient Babylon.
Three people are dead from attacks by insurgents in Northern Iraq today. A car bomb exploded in Erbil as A kurdish government convoy pass passed by, killing one person. The blast occurred 2 hours after attackers in Baqubah gunned down 2 guards outside a political pary headquarters.
Friends and family gathered in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey for a memorial service honoring Paul Johnson, the aircraft engineer, beheaded by terrorists in Saudi Arabia. Johnson's body has not been recovered. We begin in Iraq, where it has happened again, al Jazeera is showing chilling images of hostages being held by militants who threaten to behead them if demands are not met. The same militant group kidnapped and killed American Nicholas Berg and South Korean Kim Sung Il. Let's go to straight to Baghdad right now with your chief Jane Arraf in Iraq -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Fredricka, according to the video, the hostage takers have place a 72-hour deadline on Turkey to withdraw, to force to withdraw contractors and other companies supporting the coalition, or it will behead these men.
These men, holding up what appear to be Turkish passports. And according to the video, saying their names in Turkish. They have been taking hostage. It's not clear when, it's not clear where, and it's still trying to -- still trying to confirm who exactly they are.
The Turkish Embassy here in Baghdad says it is trying to gather information as well. But it appears that perhaps the targets of these kidnappings are widening. These men, according to diplomats and other sources, most likely either construction workers or truck drivers and almost certainly Muslim from a country in which 99 percent of the population is Muslim.
And in other developments this evening Fredricka, a car bomb, as you mentioned, a suspected car bomb in a city 60 miles south of Baghdad in Hillah. So far, preliminary estimates say at least 17 people are dead and 40 wounded when that explosion took place near a mosque in the city -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane, I know it's very late there right now, but do you get a sense from the Iraqi citizens there whether they are at all apprehensive of what may be to come with now just four days away from handover?
ARRAF: They are definitely apprehensive. They're now cowerering in fear in their homes by any means, but they have been told for a long time that this could get worse. And they are, indeed, expecting things will get worse in the next few days, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Jane Arraf in Baghdad, thanks very much.
Well, the tape was released as President Bush was traveling to Turkey for the NATO summit. He arrived there just a short time ago. And CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us from Ankara with a closer look on the preparations for the president's visit and the beginning of the NATO summit Monday. Alphonso?
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. First I want to bring you some new information we're getting from foreign ministry, Turkish foreign ministry officials here. They're saying their making calls, their trying to get the word out to find out more about the status of those 3 Turkish hostages captured in Iraq.
Turkish officials say they're getting involved, because this isn't the first time turks have been kidnapped in Iraq. They say at least 10 have been kidnapped in the last month and a half, but because of the foreign ministry intervention, the Turks were released safely and unharmed.
Now this news, as you said, comes as the U.S. president arrives in Ankara, for talks with Turkish leaders. Topping that agenda will be Iraq again. We understand that Americans will ask for an expanded role, a U.S. military role in this country. There are military -- there's a military base here, and their looking for more U.S. troops to be able to come here as it regard to their activities in Iraq.
Now at the same time, Turkey says it wants answers. It wants to know what the Americans plan to do in the northern part of Iraq. They fear that there Kurds may be trying to establish an independent state. President Bush is answering some of those questions already, saying that he is pledging to help Turkey fight what the United States and Turkey call terrorist, a group called the PKK, believed to be operating in the eastern part of this country, as well as holding bases in Northern Iraq.
Now, U.S. President Bush's trip isn't being warmly welcome by everyone here. Earlier here in the capital, Ankara, protests, some 6,000 people hitting the streets saying that Mr. Bush's policies aren't fair, they're not right, they do not support the war in Iraq. And of that group, at least 100 broke away and tried to break through police barriers here. Turkish police and security forces were having none of it. They answered with tear gas. Back to you.
WHITFIELD: Alphonso Van Marsh, thank you very much, from Ankara.
Well earlier today, President Bush wrapped up the U.S. European Union summit in Ireland before making his way to Turkey. CNN White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux reports now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets of Shannon in Dublin, protests over U.S. Iraq policy. But from the grounds of an insolated 16th Century castle, a show of support.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Some people didn't agree with the decision I made and others made as well, but we all agree that a Democratic Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, an Iraq which is -- has its territorial integrity intact is in the benefit of the -- is in all our benefit.
MALVEAUX: But the European Union leaders also expressed concern over the Abu Ghraib Prison scandal.
BERTIE AHERN, PRIME MINISTER OF IRELAND: How prisoners have been dealt with in some of the -- in one of the prisons. What has happened in some of the -- from Afghanistan, that's been an issue. The president has answered it though.
MALVEAUX: The EU gathered in Shannon, Ireland, to discuss mutual interests, producing agreements to bringing peace to Sudan, sharing GPS satellite systems and reforming the Middle East. But the consensus over how to support Iraq is far from certain. While the EU members pledged their backing for free elections, debt forgiveness and aid in training Iraqi security forces, Mr. Bush is hoping for a stronger commitment from his NATO allies.
BUSH: The NATO mission in Afghanistan is helping the people of that country establish democracy after years of tyranny. And NATO has the capability, and I believe the responsibility, to help the Iraqi people defeat the terrorist threat that's facing their country.
MALVEAUX: After Iraqi take control June 30, more than 130,000 U.S. troop will remain there as part of a multinational force.
(on camera): President Bush is under growing pressure to get the international community to take on a greater share in the burden of securing Iraq's stability. The president goes on to Turkey for the NATO summit with modest expectations, that NATO members commit to helping train Iraqi troops. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Ireland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And checking the latest developments in Iraq now. A day after another U.S. air strike targeted the suspected hideout of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the coalition is urging Iraqis to help capture the terrorists. A spokesman reminded them there's a $10 million bounty on his head. The coalition has targeted suspected safe houses in Fallujah three times in the last week. A senior Defense Department official says Zarqawi was at the site of yesterday's strike, but was able to escape.
In the north, a car bomb exploded today in Ergil. It happened as a convoy carrying a Kurdish government official passed by, he suffered minor injuries. One person was killed, 20 others wounded.
Meanwhile a U.S. Army convoy came under fire in Najaf. It happened after it took a wrong turn in the direction of holy shrines. The convoy retreated and there were no casualties reported.
And attackers targeted two political offices in Baqubah. Two guards killed outside the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution Party and grenades were thrown into the offices of the Iraqi National Accord, affiliated with Iraqi interim prime minister Iyad Allawi. There were no casualties in that incident.
Well here at home, threatening weather. Showers and thunderstorms are pounding much of the Gulf coast. Heavy rain in Louisiana and parts of Texas this week have left both states vulnerable to flash flooding. Is there any relief in sight? Let's check in with meteorologist Orelon Sidney -- Orelon.
ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Fredricka, thanks a lot. It doesn't look like there will be relief, at least in the near term. We've got an upper air pattern that's really going to keep this into play, probably through Tuesday.
Take a look at what's going on now. We've got rainfall across the southeast. But we've got this in the upper atmosphere, what's called an omega block. It's a high-pressure ridge with two lows on either side. And it's an extremely stable pattern. What that means is, whatever weather you get with it you're going to stick with it for a while. And that's at least, we think, until Tuesday.
An upper level disturbance also now is enhancing moisture coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, the instability as well, and we're getting thunderstorms now. The heaviest activity, I've seen some around Houston, especially inside the loop about an inch, inch and three quarters. We do continue, also, to see some very heavy rainfall eastward into Louisiana, Alabama and even Mississippi.
So, you put this all together with some very heavy rains from the previous five days and the risk for flooding is certainly on the rise, especially tonight. We'll have a little bit of a break on Sunday morning, and then right back into it with the daytime heating on Sunday.
So here's your forecast, you can see as much as two inches of rain across Northern Alabama and Mississippi, parts of Northeastern Texas, and then down across Southeast Texas along the coast. Flash flood and flood watches are numerous from the hill country, all the way out into part of the Southeast. We'll keep an eye on this, certainly, throughout the evening and throughout the weekend -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot Orelon.
Well, Christiane Amanpour has looked at Iraqi troop readiness. When we come back, we'll look at her report.
And a conversation with Major General Don Shepperd. How will coalition forces being affected by the handover?
And don't forget "Dollar Signs" in about 15 minutes from now. We're talking about family vacations that are still a good bargain this summer. Just e-mail youre questions to dollarsigns@CNN.com or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Iraqis and U.S. forces see no reason to believe relentless deadly rebel attacks will let up after Iraqis regain sovereignty over their country 4 days from now. Chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour looks at progress in preparing Iraqi security forces to combat the terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iraqi forces have just received an emergency delivery from the United States: 56,000 sets of body armor, with another 12,000 to follow next week, 60,000 Kevlar helmets, more than 600 radios and 1,000 vehicles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go, go, go! AMANPOUR: Plus, heavy machine guns, RPGs and ammunition. Welcome news at training bases like this one, run by a unit of the Arkansas National Guard.
LT. MICHAEL SCOTT, ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD: We've secured the freedom -- the freedom of Iraq, but it's these people, these soldiers, that we're training now that are going to have to fight to keep it. And that's what we're trying to prepare them for.
AMANPOUR: Meantime, more Iraqi police and army checkpoints are going up around Baghdad, with U.S. military support. It's a fire wall against insurgents, the U.S. admits are a serious threat.
Up north in Mosul, U.S. commanders say they're pleased that it was Iraqi forces who responded first to the suicide bombings that killed more than 60 people on Thursday. Christiane Amanpour, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, how will the handover of sovereignty in Iraq work? And what will be its affect on U.S. troops there? Let's ask retired Air Force Major General Don Shepperd. He's CNN military analyst. He joins us from Tucson, Arizona. Good to see you.
MAJ. GEN. DON SHEPPERD (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Hello, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Before we talk about what can happen 4 days from now involving U.S. troops, let's talk about Turkey right now. And talk about Turkey as being a Muslim NATO nation. Whether, in fact, do you think that because 3 Turks have been taken hostage, might this, in anyway, change the minds of the -- you know, of Turkey's involvement in helping to be part of the troops to help rebuild Iraq?
SHEPPERD: I don't think so, Fredricka. This is a terrible situation, a tense situation and all of us hope for the best. We suspect the worst after what we've seen. We see now very clearly, these insurgants killing Muslims, killing Iraqis before that.
Again, we're hoping for the best here. But I think Turkey has been very tough and very resolute and I would be very surprised if they let this affect their forces and end up pulling them out.
WHITFIELD: Well the European Union, along with the U.S., agree that NATO would be involved in helping to rebuild. So what does that mean? What do you envision?
SHEPPERD: The European Union is basically coming on board if you will, certainly to help train, if not help with more troops. Nato, it's very unlikely that more than the 16 members that are now providing troops are going to provide any more. But it's also very clear that they can help with financing, they can help with training the troops. And you may see some movement on NATO. We'll know after the summit is concluded later this week, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Well surely, Iraqi police and troops and coalition troops are defenseless when it comes down to these car bombings that seem to be, you know, multiplying as we near the handover date. Given that, then, do you see this handover, militarilywise or securitywise as, you know, glass half full or half empty?
SHEPPERD: It's a mixed bag. Clearly, some things have to be worked out. But this handover will take place and the Iraqis will assume sovereignty over their nation. Now, what that does change for us is a couple things. First of all, we're able to defend ourselves wherever we are. Whatever takes place, we can always defend ours. But if we want to conduct offensive operations, we have to coordinate this with the new Iraqi government who are, indeed the sovereign. Just like we would have to do in any other country.
Shalim al Kazai, the new defense minister, will make the call on whether or not he want us to conduct offensive operations. We're essentially are going to have to get permission to do that. So, there's going to be a status of forces agreement worked out, put down on paper. There will be some rough spots no question. But I think everybody will be better off when sovereignty is handed over to the Iraqis. They will be able to do some of the tough stuff and make some of the tough calls that we can't.
WHITFIELD: But you also see how maybe Iraqi citizens are having a hard time being that hopeful, looking ahead, seeing if the insurgency is going to pick up, if the foreign fighters' influence is going to pick up, and if they represent the minority, then how long before, you know, the majority ends up representing those who would back the insurgency as opposed to the coalition forces?
SHEPPERD: That's key question. And if I were an Iraqi citizen, I'd be very terribly torn. My question would be, do I want security, and just buy my security by saying, hey, let's kick the Americans out and let's do it on our own and hope for the best? Or do I want to drive these foreign fighter out?
As we drive the foreign fighters out that has to be done, particularly in places like Fallujah, that's become a foreign fighter readout. This has to be done. You have to be very careful not to kick off a civil war between the Sunnis and Shias and not to resurrect the al Sadr movement.
So, everybody's walking a fine line. But the Iraqis are going to have to decide whether they will take control of their country, provide a better future, or not. It's a tough, difficult job.
WHITFIELD: Might Iraqis, or even members of the Arab community as a whole feel like the U.S. is dropping its responsibility with this handover, that it is backing off you know, its purpose of trying to offer security, given that the Iraqi police, Iraqi forces, will be the ones who will really be in charge?
SHEPPERD: Well, I don't think that they're going to see us as cutting and running. In fact, I think most Iraqis would like to see us gone. Most thinking Iraqis realize that they're not ready to take over yet and they're going to need a lot of help.
As we plan offensive operation, particularly areas like Fallujah some of the other cities like Baqubah or Northeast Baghdad the Iraqi police can be in the vanguard of planning it, where they want to go in providing the lnls, but they're going to require help. So, I think they want us around. You may even see more forces sent over there, another 25,000, would bring the total coalition forces up to 180,000. And even prolonged occupation, which I don't think anybody wants.
WHITFIELD: Major General Don Shepperd, thank you for joining us, from Arizona, Tucson.
The vice president this week said a word that isn't usually included in polite society, or is it? Jeanne Moos asks New Yorkers to match the politician with the right curse word.
And coming up at 4:30 Eastern, 1:30 Pacific, "Dollar Signs." Today, we're talking about family vacations. Do you still have time to make arrangements? And can you afford it? E-mail your questions to dollarsigns@CNN or call us at 1-800-807-2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: "Dollar Signs" is about to start. Don't forget to e- mail your questions at dollarsigns@CNN.com or call us at 1-800-807- 2620.
No regrets: Vice President Dick Cheney is standing by his use of the f-word earlier this week during an encounter with a Democratic Senator. It's not the first time a Washington insider has been caught using salty language. Jeanne Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Swearing in is one thing. Swearing is another.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ... major league (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Remember when candidate George Bush referred to a reporter as an opening as a posterior anatomy, to which Dick Cheney replied, "Big-time!"
Well, now it's Mr. Cheney who's gone big time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He dropped the "F" bomb.
MOOS (on camera): He said the "F" word. He said "F" you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really?
MOOS: Did you hear what happened with...?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard Dick Cheney telling everybody to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) off.
MOOS: See, now I have to bleep you!
(voice-over) Actually, the vice president only told off one person, Senator Patrick Leahy.
CAVUTO: Do you have any regrets?
CHENEY: No. I said it.
MOOS: Doesn't everybody curse these days?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's actually swearing at someone and demeaning another human being.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Depends on the word. I mean, that would offend me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dick, just apologize!
MOOS: In an interview with "Rolling Stone" the "F" word rolled off Kerry's tongue: "Did I expect George Bush to (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) it up as badly as he did? I don't think anybody did."
And after a snowboarding spill, Kerry was quoted as saying, "I don't fall down. That is son of a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) ran into me.
George Bush, the elder debated Geraldine Ferraro, then bragged, "We kicked a little (EXPLETIVE DELETED))."
And Barbara Bush once said of Geraldine Ferraro, "I'm not going to say it, but it rhymes with witch."
(on camera) Now, if you don't mind, this is Match the Politician to the Profanity Quiz.
"Major league a-hole." Who said that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was John Kerry.
MOOS: That was not John Kerry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was Barbara Bush?
MOOS: No, it wasn't Barbara Bush.
"F" Saddam, we're taking him out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's George Bush!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They always believe taking people out.
MOOS: Remember this one, "major league a-hole?" You don't remember that one? You're failing the quiz!
(voice-over) Funny that just when Dick Cheney gets caught cursing, Madonna is cleaning up her act by charging those working for her five bucks every time they swear.
Politicians must envy Bulworth, the fictional Senator who, thinking he's going to die, liberated his language.
WARREN BEATTY, ACTOR: Oh, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED) (EXPLETIVE DELETED). That's the real obscenity black folks living with everyday is trying to believe a (EXPLETIVE DELETED)) word Democrats and Republicans say.
MOOS: But how do you say the unsayable? "The Washington Post" wrote out the entire "F" word uttered by Vice President Cheney, but referred to Mr. Bush's earlier discretion as "expletive."
While "The New York Times" never even got as the "F," opting for "an obscene phrase to describe what he thought Mr. Leahy should do."
And all of those hyphens and missing letters? Think of it as the Morse code of cursing. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Well, it's that time again, "Dollar Signs" coming up next. Today, we're talking about affordable family vacations. Send your questions to us at dollarsigns@CNN.com or you call us at 1-800- 807-2620. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
