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Saddam Appears in Iraqi Court; Danforth to be Sworn in as U.N. Ambassador
Aired July 01, 2004 - 14:30 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
Here is what is all new this half hour. They've seen their former president answering charges, but are Iraqis confident that justice will be served?
WHITFIELD: Fact clashes with fiction. A controversial new novel featuring a plot to kill President Bush is raising some eyebrows and some ethical questions, but first, here are the top stories.
PHILLIPS: An historic movement. The world watching as Saddam Hussein facing the judicial music in Iraq. The former dictator heard seven prelim charges against him, including accusations of mass murder of fellow Iraqis, the invasion of Kuwait and a 30-year campaign of eliminating political enemies. Other high-profile members of his regime also facing court charges today, including former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, and the man infamously known as "Chemical Ali." Much more on courtroom events coming up in about a minute.
WHITFIELD: Boosting the bounty. The State Department has now put $25 million on the table for the capture or conviction of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, more than doubling the $10 million previously offered. The al Qaeda-linked Zarqawi is blamed for dozens of attacks on coalition forces and Iraqi civilians, including the brutal decapitation murder of American contractor Nick Berg.
PHILLIPS: And about to begin, swearing in ceremonies for former Missouri Senator John Danforth. Danforth is replacing John Negroponte as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. In his new capacity, Danforth says he'll work to improve relations with the international community, strained as a result of the war in Iraq.
WHITFIELD: And now new tape just in. Arraignments of 11 of Saddam Hussein's top aides are just starting to trickle in. You're looking at the pictures right now of Ali Hassan Al Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali," for his role in the attacks against Kurds. And, of course, when we get translations, we'll be ale to bring that to you.
Well strong and outspoken Saddam Hussein called himself the president of Iraq and questioned the court's jurisdiction.
Here's some of what he had to say at today's hearing. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Those animals don't attack. This is a legal session. I am -- I know what I'm talking about. Anything that's outside the norms of the legal session will not be accepted then -- please allow me.
The seventh charge against Saddam Hussein was against the president of Iraq, as the commander of chief of the army. The army went to Kuwait, OK? Then it was an official matter.
So how come a charge will be levied against somebody, an official who's carrying out their duties? How can you punish that person while that person, given his title, has guarantees against being sued?
These are rights guaranteed by constitution. This is the crux of the matter.
You levy charges for acts that happened under a system whose president was Saddam Hussein, but without guarantees of the presidency. How can that happen from a legal standpoint?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then you answer those charges. These are only charges. You have the right to answer them. Officially just go ahead and answer. Tell us your story. Tell us your side. Answer them. We need to enter that into the minutes of this session.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then please allow me, allow me not to sign until I get -- until the lawyers are present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): But these minutes have to be signed. I speak for myself, the guarantees need to be signed. This needs to be signed. But this is part of the process.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, this is not part of the process.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, this is part of the process.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): But anyway, you are going to summon me again before you and then the papers will be reviewed in the presence of lawyers. So why should we act hastily and then make a mistake, then...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, there is no hasty decision making here. You have the right to sign. You do have to sign. These are the minutes of the session.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, I will sign only when the lawyers are present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then you can leave, dismissed.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Finished?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: What a change in fortunes for Saddam Hussein.
Joining me now to talk about today's arraignment, Ken Pollack is a CNN analyst and the director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Good to see you, Ken.
All right, words like combative, defiant, angry, in control, these are the words being used to describe Saddam Hussein.
What were your impressions?
KEN POLLACK, CNN ANALYST: Well, they are words that have been used to describe Saddam Hussein for 35 years. Honestly, this was a very typical performance by Saddam. It was quintessentially Saddam.
You saw a bunch of different things there. First, this is a man who is deeply ignorant of the outside world. He knows certain things. He knows certain points of law. He studied law himself, but he has no understanding of the international legal system.
And these claims that -- "Well, I was the president of Iraq and therefore somehow I'm immune," they get to this ignorance of the man Saddam Hussein.
He also is someone who kind of lived in a somewhat unreal world, because he did surround himself with sycophants. And you see that continued defiance, the sense that Iraqi people actually love him. It seems pretty clear that he came to believe his own rhetoric by the end.
WHITFIELD: Well, the statute of the Iraqi tribunal was drawn up months ago with the cooperation of the U.S. coalition.
So your sense in studying that country and the people there, do you feel like the Iraqi people will feel like this is a judicial system that they can, indeed, trust? In fact, just on the right of our screen right there we are seeing former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. He is one of the 11 top aides of Saddam Hussein.
These are new pictures just now coming in of his arraignment. These pictures being provided by Al-Jazeera.
And as we continue to talk, Ken, about Saddam Hussein and the perception that Iraqis might have, do you feel that the Iraqis will feel confident about this judicial system?
POLLACK: I think it's very unclear at this point in time. And honestly, it has very little to do with the actual regulations under which the tribunal is going to operate. Everything in this kind of a situation is political. And a lot of Iraqis are very, very uncertain about what it is that the United States intends. They are going to need to be convinced that this is a fair trial and just publishing the regulations is not going to do it because, of course, in that part of the world and in particular in Iraq, these are people who have seen those kind of regulations subverted again and again.
WHITFIELD: Well, might convincing them be rather difficult especially now that we saw this arraignment take place with Saddam Hussein without any legal representation?
POLLACK: Absolutely, Fredricka.
It is going to be a difficult process. It's going to take a while.
I think what is going to be required is a lengthy process of demonstrating that Saddam Hussein is getting fair representation, that what he is being asked to do is fair and upstanding, that the crimes that are being presented as crimes that he committed, are, in fact, what the Iraqi people believe. It's going to be a very long process.
WHITFIELD: Well, based on your studies and based on an established lack of trust in the system by the Iraqi people, do you feel that perhaps the consensus would be that folks would be much more trusting if perhaps he were tried at the Hague, for example?
POLLACK: I'm not convinced of that either, unfortunately.
The problem is that there are a lot of Iraqis who don't trust the international system either.
First, remember that this is a country that suffered under 12 years of international sanctions. And many Iraqis have the perspective that the international community either doesn't like Iraq and did this to them on purpose or can be manipulated by the United States or by other countries.
So even that isn't a perfect solution. I think for the Iraqis it's going to be the process that convinces them that it is a fair one.
WHITFIELD: Ken Pollack of the Brookings Institution, thank you very much -- Kyra.
POLLACK: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: He was one of the most feared among Saddam Hussein's regime, believed responsible for the gassing deaths of thousands of Kurds. But the man known as "Chemical Ali" is now on the other end of power in the new Iraq. He also made an appearance at the former presidential palace that has now become a makeshift courtroom.
Pool reporter John Burns was there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BURNS, POOL REPORTER: He comes in with a stick. He looks nothing like the "Chemical Ali" that you and I know. He looked in his case fuller faced. He had close cropped, mostly gray hair. And he walked with a stick, with a little crook on the top, a sort of shepherd's crook.
He's a diabetic, apparently. And you know late stage diabetes affects the lower limbs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE)
BURN: Yes. No, no, no, mustached. I beg your pardon. Mustached not bearded.
Again he gives his positions. His -- the utmost, the lead -- top position, Revolution Command Council, Ba'athist high command, minister of defense, minister of the interior, ministry of governance or something like that. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we all knew what he was up to.
He says, "Where do you live?" "I was living in Baghdad. I'm so poor I don't own any houses in Iraq."
I just mention this. You may recall that some of us went to his house after he allegedly been killed in a bombing in Basra and the house was filled with expensive toys like jet skis...
PHILLIPS: Live to the White House now. The president of the United States just now about to swear in former Missouri Senator John Danforth. As you know, Danforth is replacing John Negroponte as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Let's listen in.
(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)
PHILLIPS: Former Missouri Senator John Danforth, officially now the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Announced and presented by the president of the United States. "St. Jack" is what the president calls the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Anyone who has fought in a war will tell you the real cost isn't measured in financial terms. In fact a study shows U.S. forces face more exposure to combat stress in Iraq than those in Afghanistan. Senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at the mental cost of war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There is a cost of sending young men and women to war. Sometimes, they pay with their lives. But for many who do survive, there can be troubling emotional and mental changes. SGT. DANNY FACTO, U.S. ARMY, PT30 PATIENT: His squad and my squad were working together on the 29th of September when he went down. Yes, I was there on the day that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) got shot.
GUPTA: Sergeant Danny Facto is just 24 years old and has already learned a lesson.
FACTO: And you're just always intense. You're always super serious. And, you know, you lose your temper over little things and, you know, you're definitely different. You're not the same person that deployed.
GUPTA: Collectively, many doctors call this post-traumatic stress order or PTSD. It is common among those who see combat. About one in 10 will suffer from it. But what is not common is getting treatment. Danny is one of the few to do so.
COL. CHARLES HOGE, U.S. ARMY: Soldiers and Marines who have mental health concerns frequently don't seek treatment and the reason for that is because they perceive that they'll be stigmatized if they do.
GUPTA: Now Dr. Charles Hoge is the author of a new study in "The New England Journal of Medicine" that acknowledges the psychiatric cost of war and the changes in diagnosis and treatment.
HOGE: The military is a culture of individuals who are probably not likely to seek help for mental health concerns.
GUPTA: For the first time, military personnel are being examined for the physical and mental impact of combat while the fighting continues. And the Department of Defense is requiring that every soldier be briefed on mental health before, during, and after deployment. There are also an unprecedented number of treatment programs available. Still, programs alone can't be the answer.
STEVE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GULF WAR RESOURCE CENTER: You can't just say, I got 100 programs; therefore, I've done my job. And this study indicates that the sickest veterans who need the most help won't go to those studies, so what good are they?
GUPTA: The legitimate concerns about stigmatization and loss of career advancement remain. And it's a great price to pay, especially for career military offers.
Danny's father, a former Marine, agrees.
PARKER: Like a live grenade. They throw you out in civilian life. You always wonder yourself, even if they're not saying it to you, are they looking at me different if I was to go get counseling?
GUPTA: But even that is starting to change, slowly, but surely.
MAJ. PAUL MORRISSEY, CHIEF OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FORT DRUM: Soldiers are concerned that coming to see us might harm their careers. I can say to them sincerely, honestly, that not coming to get some assistance will harm their careers.
GUPTA: In Danny's case, that positive attitude towards treatment displayed by his commanding officers, family and fellow troops helped him overcome any stigma and get into the group therapy he needed.
FACTO: When I go to group and I talk with guys that are just like me, it helps a lot because I can, you know, discuss with guys that have been in combat, guys that have been shot at, guys that have lost their friends in combat, you know, guys that have killed other people.
GUPTA: Danny says that therapy has made him a better father, soldier and husband.
FACTO: When I came back, I was me, but I was different because of my experiences. And mental health and, you know, therapy really helps to understand everything that I've been through.
GUPTA: A difficult lesson, but one all soldiers should take home with them.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bitter ends and success for the Cassini Space Probe. After a seven year, 2 billion-mile journey the craft is now cruising Saturn's orbit beaming back these pretty amazing pictures. Cassini will spend the next four years gathering information on Saturn and its 31 moons.
(MARKET UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Big news today. Saddam Hussein's first court appearance. Next we're going to talk to an American judge who was just in Iraq helping rebuild the Iraqi court system.
WHITFIELD: Saddam Hussein wasn't the only one in court today. We'll have that for you as well.
And limiting the number of mistakes that happen in O.R. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain the new rules in the operating room.
(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 July 1, 2004 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
Here is what is all new this half hour. They've seen their former president answering charges, but are Iraqis confident that justice will be served?
WHITFIELD: Fact clashes with fiction. A controversial new novel featuring a plot to kill President Bush is raising some eyebrows and some ethical questions, but first, here are the top stories.
PHILLIPS: An historic movement. The world watching as Saddam Hussein facing the judicial music in Iraq. The former dictator heard seven prelim charges against him, including accusations of mass murder of fellow Iraqis, the invasion of Kuwait and a 30-year campaign of eliminating political enemies. Other high-profile members of his regime also facing court charges today, including former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, and the man infamously known as "Chemical Ali." Much more on courtroom events coming up in about a minute.
WHITFIELD: Boosting the bounty. The State Department has now put $25 million on the table for the capture or conviction of Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, more than doubling the $10 million previously offered. The al Qaeda-linked Zarqawi is blamed for dozens of attacks on coalition forces and Iraqi civilians, including the brutal decapitation murder of American contractor Nick Berg.
PHILLIPS: And about to begin, swearing in ceremonies for former Missouri Senator John Danforth. Danforth is replacing John Negroponte as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. In his new capacity, Danforth says he'll work to improve relations with the international community, strained as a result of the war in Iraq.
WHITFIELD: And now new tape just in. Arraignments of 11 of Saddam Hussein's top aides are just starting to trickle in. You're looking at the pictures right now of Ali Hassan Al Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali," for his role in the attacks against Kurds. And, of course, when we get translations, we'll be ale to bring that to you.
Well strong and outspoken Saddam Hussein called himself the president of Iraq and questioned the court's jurisdiction.
Here's some of what he had to say at today's hearing. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Those animals don't attack. This is a legal session. I am -- I know what I'm talking about. Anything that's outside the norms of the legal session will not be accepted then -- please allow me.
The seventh charge against Saddam Hussein was against the president of Iraq, as the commander of chief of the army. The army went to Kuwait, OK? Then it was an official matter.
So how come a charge will be levied against somebody, an official who's carrying out their duties? How can you punish that person while that person, given his title, has guarantees against being sued?
These are rights guaranteed by constitution. This is the crux of the matter.
You levy charges for acts that happened under a system whose president was Saddam Hussein, but without guarantees of the presidency. How can that happen from a legal standpoint?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then you answer those charges. These are only charges. You have the right to answer them. Officially just go ahead and answer. Tell us your story. Tell us your side. Answer them. We need to enter that into the minutes of this session.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then please allow me, allow me not to sign until I get -- until the lawyers are present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): But these minutes have to be signed. I speak for myself, the guarantees need to be signed. This needs to be signed. But this is part of the process.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, this is not part of the process.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, this is part of the process.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): But anyway, you are going to summon me again before you and then the papers will be reviewed in the presence of lawyers. So why should we act hastily and then make a mistake, then...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, there is no hasty decision making here. You have the right to sign. You do have to sign. These are the minutes of the session.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): No, I will sign only when the lawyers are present.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Then you can leave, dismissed.
HUSSEIN (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Finished?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: What a change in fortunes for Saddam Hussein.
Joining me now to talk about today's arraignment, Ken Pollack is a CNN analyst and the director of research at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.
Good to see you, Ken.
All right, words like combative, defiant, angry, in control, these are the words being used to describe Saddam Hussein.
What were your impressions?
KEN POLLACK, CNN ANALYST: Well, they are words that have been used to describe Saddam Hussein for 35 years. Honestly, this was a very typical performance by Saddam. It was quintessentially Saddam.
You saw a bunch of different things there. First, this is a man who is deeply ignorant of the outside world. He knows certain things. He knows certain points of law. He studied law himself, but he has no understanding of the international legal system.
And these claims that -- "Well, I was the president of Iraq and therefore somehow I'm immune," they get to this ignorance of the man Saddam Hussein.
He also is someone who kind of lived in a somewhat unreal world, because he did surround himself with sycophants. And you see that continued defiance, the sense that Iraqi people actually love him. It seems pretty clear that he came to believe his own rhetoric by the end.
WHITFIELD: Well, the statute of the Iraqi tribunal was drawn up months ago with the cooperation of the U.S. coalition.
So your sense in studying that country and the people there, do you feel like the Iraqi people will feel like this is a judicial system that they can, indeed, trust? In fact, just on the right of our screen right there we are seeing former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz. He is one of the 11 top aides of Saddam Hussein.
These are new pictures just now coming in of his arraignment. These pictures being provided by Al-Jazeera.
And as we continue to talk, Ken, about Saddam Hussein and the perception that Iraqis might have, do you feel that the Iraqis will feel confident about this judicial system?
POLLACK: I think it's very unclear at this point in time. And honestly, it has very little to do with the actual regulations under which the tribunal is going to operate. Everything in this kind of a situation is political. And a lot of Iraqis are very, very uncertain about what it is that the United States intends. They are going to need to be convinced that this is a fair trial and just publishing the regulations is not going to do it because, of course, in that part of the world and in particular in Iraq, these are people who have seen those kind of regulations subverted again and again.
WHITFIELD: Well, might convincing them be rather difficult especially now that we saw this arraignment take place with Saddam Hussein without any legal representation?
POLLACK: Absolutely, Fredricka.
It is going to be a difficult process. It's going to take a while.
I think what is going to be required is a lengthy process of demonstrating that Saddam Hussein is getting fair representation, that what he is being asked to do is fair and upstanding, that the crimes that are being presented as crimes that he committed, are, in fact, what the Iraqi people believe. It's going to be a very long process.
WHITFIELD: Well, based on your studies and based on an established lack of trust in the system by the Iraqi people, do you feel that perhaps the consensus would be that folks would be much more trusting if perhaps he were tried at the Hague, for example?
POLLACK: I'm not convinced of that either, unfortunately.
The problem is that there are a lot of Iraqis who don't trust the international system either.
First, remember that this is a country that suffered under 12 years of international sanctions. And many Iraqis have the perspective that the international community either doesn't like Iraq and did this to them on purpose or can be manipulated by the United States or by other countries.
So even that isn't a perfect solution. I think for the Iraqis it's going to be the process that convinces them that it is a fair one.
WHITFIELD: Ken Pollack of the Brookings Institution, thank you very much -- Kyra.
POLLACK: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: He was one of the most feared among Saddam Hussein's regime, believed responsible for the gassing deaths of thousands of Kurds. But the man known as "Chemical Ali" is now on the other end of power in the new Iraq. He also made an appearance at the former presidential palace that has now become a makeshift courtroom.
Pool reporter John Burns was there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BURNS, POOL REPORTER: He comes in with a stick. He looks nothing like the "Chemical Ali" that you and I know. He looked in his case fuller faced. He had close cropped, mostly gray hair. And he walked with a stick, with a little crook on the top, a sort of shepherd's crook.
He's a diabetic, apparently. And you know late stage diabetes affects the lower limbs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (OFF-MIKE)
BURN: Yes. No, no, no, mustached. I beg your pardon. Mustached not bearded.
Again he gives his positions. His -- the utmost, the lead -- top position, Revolution Command Council, Ba'athist high command, minister of defense, minister of the interior, ministry of governance or something like that. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we all knew what he was up to.
He says, "Where do you live?" "I was living in Baghdad. I'm so poor I don't own any houses in Iraq."
I just mention this. You may recall that some of us went to his house after he allegedly been killed in a bombing in Basra and the house was filled with expensive toys like jet skis...
PHILLIPS: Live to the White House now. The president of the United States just now about to swear in former Missouri Senator John Danforth. As you know, Danforth is replacing John Negroponte as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Let's listen in.
(INTERRUPTED BY LIVE EVENT)
PHILLIPS: Former Missouri Senator John Danforth, officially now the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Announced and presented by the president of the United States. "St. Jack" is what the president calls the new U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Anyone who has fought in a war will tell you the real cost isn't measured in financial terms. In fact a study shows U.S. forces face more exposure to combat stress in Iraq than those in Afghanistan. Senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta looks at the mental cost of war.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There is a cost of sending young men and women to war. Sometimes, they pay with their lives. But for many who do survive, there can be troubling emotional and mental changes. SGT. DANNY FACTO, U.S. ARMY, PT30 PATIENT: His squad and my squad were working together on the 29th of September when he went down. Yes, I was there on the day that (UNINTELLIGIBLE) got shot.
GUPTA: Sergeant Danny Facto is just 24 years old and has already learned a lesson.
FACTO: And you're just always intense. You're always super serious. And, you know, you lose your temper over little things and, you know, you're definitely different. You're not the same person that deployed.
GUPTA: Collectively, many doctors call this post-traumatic stress order or PTSD. It is common among those who see combat. About one in 10 will suffer from it. But what is not common is getting treatment. Danny is one of the few to do so.
COL. CHARLES HOGE, U.S. ARMY: Soldiers and Marines who have mental health concerns frequently don't seek treatment and the reason for that is because they perceive that they'll be stigmatized if they do.
GUPTA: Now Dr. Charles Hoge is the author of a new study in "The New England Journal of Medicine" that acknowledges the psychiatric cost of war and the changes in diagnosis and treatment.
HOGE: The military is a culture of individuals who are probably not likely to seek help for mental health concerns.
GUPTA: For the first time, military personnel are being examined for the physical and mental impact of combat while the fighting continues. And the Department of Defense is requiring that every soldier be briefed on mental health before, during, and after deployment. There are also an unprecedented number of treatment programs available. Still, programs alone can't be the answer.
STEVE ROBINSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL GULF WAR RESOURCE CENTER: You can't just say, I got 100 programs; therefore, I've done my job. And this study indicates that the sickest veterans who need the most help won't go to those studies, so what good are they?
GUPTA: The legitimate concerns about stigmatization and loss of career advancement remain. And it's a great price to pay, especially for career military offers.
Danny's father, a former Marine, agrees.
PARKER: Like a live grenade. They throw you out in civilian life. You always wonder yourself, even if they're not saying it to you, are they looking at me different if I was to go get counseling?
GUPTA: But even that is starting to change, slowly, but surely.
MAJ. PAUL MORRISSEY, CHIEF OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FORT DRUM: Soldiers are concerned that coming to see us might harm their careers. I can say to them sincerely, honestly, that not coming to get some assistance will harm their careers.
GUPTA: In Danny's case, that positive attitude towards treatment displayed by his commanding officers, family and fellow troops helped him overcome any stigma and get into the group therapy he needed.
FACTO: When I go to group and I talk with guys that are just like me, it helps a lot because I can, you know, discuss with guys that have been in combat, guys that have been shot at, guys that have lost their friends in combat, you know, guys that have killed other people.
GUPTA: Danny says that therapy has made him a better father, soldier and husband.
FACTO: When I came back, I was me, but I was different because of my experiences. And mental health and, you know, therapy really helps to understand everything that I've been through.
GUPTA: A difficult lesson, but one all soldiers should take home with them.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) bitter ends and success for the Cassini Space Probe. After a seven year, 2 billion-mile journey the craft is now cruising Saturn's orbit beaming back these pretty amazing pictures. Cassini will spend the next four years gathering information on Saturn and its 31 moons.
(MARKET UPDATE)
PHILLIPS: Big news today. Saddam Hussein's first court appearance. Next we're going to talk to an American judge who was just in Iraq helping rebuild the Iraqi court system.
WHITFIELD: Saddam Hussein wasn't the only one in court today. We'll have that for you as well.
And limiting the number of mistakes that happen in O.R. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta explain the new rules in the operating room.
(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
