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Gen. John Abizaid: More Troops to Iraq; "Promises, Promises": Jobs; Schwarzenegger Vetoes Illegal Immigrant Driver's Licenses Bill; "Crowded House": Multiples on the Rise

Aired September 23, 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.


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM. I'm Drew Griffin.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's what's all new this half hour.

When the candidates talk about jobs, is it worth a listen? Our fact check series "Promises, Promises" tackles one of your top issues this election year.

GRIFFIN: And if you haven't seen it yet today, we'll give you another look: Elton John getting testy in Taiwan.

First, here's what's happening now in the news.

PHILLIPS: Redeploying troops: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other Pentagon top brass appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on plans to reposition American forces. Live pictures right now as they enter the room. We're going to have live coverage of Rumsfeld's remarks coming up.

And a busy day for Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi in Washington after addressing a joint meeting of Congress. He joined the president in the Rose Garden for a joint news conference. Both Allawi and President Bush painted an upbeat picture of conditions in Iraq, saying elections will go ahead as planned in January.

Florida Supreme Court rejects Terri's Law, which keeps Terri Schiavo alive, although she is comatose. The court ruled that the law is unconstitutional. The measure was hurriedly passed in the Florida legislature at the urging of Governor Jeb Bush. It was specifically written to save the life of the brain-damaged woman. The governor says he's now considering an appeal.

Frances, Charley, Ivan -- not enough for storm-weary Floridians, well Hurricane Jeanne is now heading for the Sunshine State. Forecasts show that Jeanne is making landfall on the east coast of Florida late Sunday, early Monday, possibly as a Category 3 storm.

We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

GRIFFIN: It's a touchy political subject, but a top U.S. general now talking about beefing up troop levels in Iraq. General John Abizaid says more troops, not necessarily American, may be needed in the run-up to next January's elections in Iraq. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon with this -- Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Drew, this comes, of course, as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and other key military leaders are on Capitol Hill this afternoon here in Washington to discuss a number of issues about military forces around the world.

We will see if they get asked about the troop situation in Iraq, but with the insurgency continuing in Iraq and elections coming just down the road in January in that country, the question now: Will there be enough security troops in Iraq for those elections to proceed?

The strategy is to have enough Iraqi security forces on hand to handle the bulk of the situation. But General John Abizaid yesterday on Capitol Hill spoke about the entire situation, not closing the door on any option.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GENERAL JOHN ABIZAID, HEAD OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I think we will need more troops than we currently have to secure the elections process in Iraq; that will probably take place in the end of January. But it is our belief that those troops will be Iraqi troops. And there may be additional international troops that arrive to help out, as well, as part of the United Nations mission.

And so, I don't foresee a need for more American troops, but we can't discount it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Now, the U.S. is also hoping, as General Abizaid referred to there, the United Nations monitoring of the Iraqi elections. The U.S. is hoping other countries will contribute security forces to help protect the United Nations people there in Iraq -- the election monitors, other U.N. staff that will be moving throughout the country -- as those January elections approach.

But Pentagon officials say so far they don't see any countries beating down the door to try and offer those troops to help protect the U.N. A lot of sensitivity to that question here in Washington.

Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says he doesn't really want additional troops in his country. It is the hope, again, that they can get enough trained Iraqi forces on the ground to really begin to exert local control through the majority of Iraq. But with the violence and the insurgency continuing, and by all accounts still continuing to grow, that could be a problem come January -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: And Barbara, reminder to all of our viewers that Donald Rumsfeld expected to be talking on Capitol Hill. We'll take that as soon as that happens. It could be really any minute -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Well, for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, every day there can be a life or death decision, and they must always be on guard. But in the city of Tikrit, a new relative calm is providing soldiers a chance to meet and talk with the people.

Jane Arraf is embedded with them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SGT. DAVID PARKER, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: How are you doing?

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a different view at ground level. American soldiers actually fighting the war in Iraq aren't paying much attention to the debate raging over it.

PARKER: We came here to do a job, and like I said, the job we're doing is pretty much good.

ARRAF: Sergeant Parker's job is a lot more than getting shot at or shooting people.

PARKER: I got to take a picture of the...

ARRAF: Most aren't paying much attention to politics either.

SPC. JEREMY RICE, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: It's a good neighborhood?

ARRAF: Specialist Jeremy Rice from Ohio is turning 21 this week. It's the first time he'll be able to vote, but he doesn't plan to.

RICE: That's a tough choice right there. I haven't really been able to follow the news at all, so I don't know which way to go.

ARRAF: As for the news from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, on most days, there's either none filtering to the outside world or, like today, bad news, that a U.S. soldier has been killed near Tikrit.

But just a few miles away, it's as if it never happened. Soldiers say the streets they're patrolling are safer and more prosperous than they've been.

Here in Saddam Hussein's hometown, the first infantry division spends a lot of time getting to know the people whose city they're living in.

First Battalion 18th Infantry Company Commander Aaron Coombs stops to talk to a carpet dealer to get his view on life here. He tells the captain that what they need are jobs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have money so people can work and get money. Life can be better.

ARRAF: It's still dangerous.

CAPT. AARON COOMBS, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: It's not a daily gun fight here in Tikrit anyway, but it does happen. It's still a very lethal place. ARRAF: Two weeks ago, the company medic was killed near here. But with so much else going on, the steady drip of death doesn't seem to overshadow the progress they believe they've helped make.

COOMBS: I think if you talk to a lot of people, even here in Tikrit, somebody who is honest with himself will tell you that things are better now, all their problems that were a year ago.

ARRAF: Most of these soldiers say that makes it worth it.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Tikrit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Once again, we want to remind you, too, we are monitoring Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of defense, getting ready to speak before the Senate Armed Services Committee. As soon as that happens, we will take it live.

Meanwhile, jobs -- or rather, the lack of them -- is shaping up to be one of the key issues this election. And with most election issues, there are some facts and a lot of hype.

Kelly Wallace has been separating the two as part of her campaign series, "Promises, Promises".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One candidate talks of jobs lost...

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The first president in 72 years to actually lose jobs on his watch.

WALLACE: ... the other about jobs created.

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We increased jobs over the last two months by over 200,000 jobs.

WALLACE: Could both be right? Well, yes -- 1.7 million jobs have been created since last September. But if you start counting when President Bush first took office, a total of 966,000 jobs have been lost.

Senator Kerry thinks that's an opening.

KERRY: Are you ready to put America back to work?

WALLACE: Kerry's promise: create 10 million jobs in four years. He would reward companies that stay in the U.S. by cutting the corporate tax rate by five percent and providing $22 billion in new tax credits for businesses making new hires. And he would remove incentives for outsourcing by eliminating tax breaks for businesses that send jobs overseas.

But can these proposals actually provide the jobs boom that Kerry promises? Sorry, we don't have a crystal ball.

BUSH: In order to keep jobs here in America, America must be the best place in the world to do business.

WALLACE: The president doesn't promise how many jobs he'll create. He does promise to spend $250 million for job training at community colleges and $10 billion over 10 years to encourage business investment in needy communities.

But just as with the senator's proposals, will the president actually create jobs? Again, no crystal ball here.

Both men agree on this: Another way to create job growth, cut costs on small businesses so they can hire more workers. Kerry would try to slash healthcare premiums by 10 percent, but that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

The president promises to make his tax cuts permanent, but that could drive up the deficit.

And then there's this question: Does a president really create jobs? Some economists say a president has a role, but that job growth has more to do with larger global forces in the economy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): And advisors to both sides say they agree with that, but they also say a president can play a key role in setting up the conditions to try and build a strong economy and then, ultimately, Kyra, to try and create some jobs.

PHILLIPS: Can we talk about what kind of jobs? Has either candidate gotten specific, Kelly, on exactly what type?

WALLACE: Well, they are focusing a lot, Kyra, as you know, on small businesses. Small businesses, I believe, responsible for about two-thirds of job creation in this country. So, they're both they're providing some tax credits and trying to sort of focus on beefing up small businesses.

They're also targeting a little bit of manufacturing with some job training. And again, Kyra, to try and get people to have higher skills. And that's what this is all about, to get them to have the skills they need so they can take on higher skilled and higher paying jobs.

There's a big debate right now. The Kerry campaign would say that some of the new jobs that are being created are paying about $9,000 less than jobs in the past. The Bush teams says that's not true. But again, both sides trying to increase the skills and then increase wages, as well.

PHILLIPS: So, what seem to be the biggest obstacles when they start talking about this, both candidates?

WALLACE: Well, you know, the deficit, which we talked about in an earlier part of the series -- $422 billion deficit; whichever candidate wins in November will have to deal with that.

Also, the Congress: if you have a Republican-controlled Congress, there might be some objections to John Kerry's proposals, if he wins. The president also wanting to make permanent his tax cuts. Some objections on Capitol Hill to that.

And then, Kyra, these other realities: what's going on in the world; other terrorist attacks. Fears in the country could keep businesses from hiring more workers. So, lots of other factors that neither man can control.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly. What do you have for us tomorrow?

WALLACE: Tomorrow, such a big problem, Kyra, as we know: healthcare costs. Premiums up 60 percent in four years; 45 million Americans uninsured.

We'll look at what both candidates say they'll do about the problem and, again, whether they can turn those promises into reality, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Kelly Wallace. Once again, catch her series, "Promises, Promises," on "AMERICAN MORNING" and, of course, once again with us on LIVE FROM. Our Kelly Wallace.

GRIFFIN: Terminated again, but the fight to get illegal immigrant driver's licenses apparently won't end with a veto in California. A battle being fought on those California roads.

PHILLIPS: Also, you won't want to miss: Sir Elton's I guess a bit of a mood change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: ... to you guys (expletive deleted).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Find out what -- or more accurately, who -- might have prompted that tirade.

GRIFFIN: Good grief.

A true labor of love: What some women go through trying to get pregnant.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News around the world now -- six people dead after a shoot out in Gaza. A gun battle erupted after a group of Palestinian militants broke into a Jewish settlement. Three Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were killed. Big jump landed one man in a Panamanian jail. Check this out. This daredevil, he was arrested after he leaped from a bridge that connects North and South America. The bridge is more than 300 feet tall.

And the Rocket Man nearly blew a gasket in Taiwan. Elton John had a profanity-laced tirade after paparazzi surrounded him. Now, the part that we can repeat, well, the singer called the reporters "rude, vile pigs."

GRIFFIN: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have given driver's licenses to as many as two million illegal immigrants. But just because the measure failed four times doesn't mean it's dead.

CNN's Miguel Marquez looks at the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Berta's (ph) 40- years-old, has lived in California for 16 years, and has three kids. She is also an illegal immigrant driving without a license or insurance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I am afraid to get stopped by the police.

MARQUEZ: Berta (ph) says a driver's license would help her get a little piece, such as it is, of the American dream.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I feel a little sad and discriminated against because everyone has the right to opportunity.

MARQUEZ: Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, once allowed in California, stopped in 1994. During last year's recall, then- Governor Gray Davis signed a bill allowing illegal immigrants to once again get driver's licenses, but it was repealed after voters retaliated.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: We can make this, again, the greatest state of the greatest country in the world.

I want them to have driver's license. I want to have people be able to drive legally, but...

MARQUEZ: But Schwarzenegger says he wants to legalize driving for illegals with a license that could not also be used for identification.

MARGITA THOMPSON, SCHWARZENEGGER PRESS SECRETARY: Once they come here and they have a document like a driver's license, it becomes a breeder document, upon which further identification and further documents are able to be procured.

MARQUEZ: The governor says it's all about protecting national security. One political analyst isn't so sure.

TONY QUINN, POLITICAL ANALYST: This is not about driver's licenses. It's really about the role of immigrants in the state.

MARQUEZ: Quinn says Schwarzenegger finds himself in the position of vetoing the driver's license bill to hold off a drive to deny all services to illegal immigrants.

QUINN: Were he to sign this bill, it would seem to me he would cause himself a lot more political problems, and he would probably give something of a push to those who want to go beyond this.

MARQUEZ: Some California hardcore conservatives agree, saying Schwarzenegger is Republican, they have to watch.

MIKE SPENCE, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY: There are issues where we don't exactly know where the governor comes from, or sometimes, you know, he's in the middle.

MARQUEZ (on camera): But the governor's veto doesn't altogether kill the idea of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. Both sides say they want a compromise, but for California drivers, it's just another day of gridlock.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We recognize that freeway, don't we?

GRIFFIN: 101 gridlock -- right there behind Miguel.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know how a new baby can turn your life upside down? Well, now imagine bringing home two, three, maybe even four? Can you handle it?

GRIFFIN: Short answer: no.

And how deep are your pockets? Next hour on "INSIDE POLITICS," the piles of cash candidates spend in the final weeks of the campaign.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the birth of twins, triplets, quads and more is on the rise in the U.S. And as we follow up on our own Soledad O'Brien and her babies, we're beginning a five-week series on multiple births called "Crowded House."

Here's our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta with part one.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Say hi, little brother.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA (voice-over): For Soledad, it's only the beginning of her trek into the world of multiples. Most come the old fashioned way like Soledad's babies, but about a third, according to the Society for Reproductive Medicine, come from in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

With IVF, eggs are fertilized and implanted in the uterus. The hope: that one of them will eventually become a healthy baby. Thirty-one-year-old Amy DiPasquale got two healthy babies, but only after years and years of fertility drugs and treatments.

AMY DIPASQUALE, MOTHER OF TWINS: It was very difficult and physically painful. The shots hurt. I'm still sore where I got a lot of the shots done.

GUPTA: Four years later and after several courses of IVF, she was pregnant with Mason and Matthew. The path for Amy and her husband was difficult, painful and the cost crippling. Each course of IVF is around $12,000, and there's no guarantee that it'll even work.

If it does work, there is a 30 to 40 percent chance of a multiple pregnancy, since usually more than one egg is implanted. Years ago, implanting three to four eggs was routine, resulting in a rash of multiple births. Now, the movement is toward implanting just two eggs to avoid that scenario.

DR. ZEV ROSENWAKS, NY PRESBYTERIAN CORNELL MEDICAL CTR.: The higher the order (ph) the multiple pregnancy, also the bigger the problem for the mother in terms of medical complications.

GUPTA: Complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes and serious uterine stretching, which could cause early contractions or, in extreme cases, uterine rupture. And extra pounds make it difficult to move.

DR. THOMAS PINCKERT, GRTR. WASH. MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE: When mothers have triplets or quadruplets, we're looking at somewhere between a 40- to 80-pound weight gain.

GUPTA: And multiples often arrive early, which could cause...

ROSENWAKS: Prematurity of the lungs. You could have neurological issues, bowel issues, many, many problems for the babies.

GUPTA: And despite of all of that, families like the DiPasquales keep trying, hoping for one baby and being happy with even more.

DIPASQUALE: It's so worth it, the pain and the stress while you're going through it, because the end result is priceless.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: CNN's "Crowded House" series continues next week. We're going to discuss handling multiples. You'll see what it's like in one household dealing with quads plus two older children.

Time for a quick check on the stock market.

GRIFFIN: Rhonda Schaffler joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with the latest market action -- Rhonda?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Rhonda, thanks.

That'll wrap it up for LIVE FROM right now.

PHILLIPS: Time for "INSIDE POLITICS" and Judy Woodruff. Hi, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Kyra. Thank you, and thank Drew.

Today on "INSIDE POLITICS," we're live from the campaign trail as both candidates continue to focus on Iraq.

Plus, the candidates presenting two very different pictures of Iraq: one of hope; one of disaster. Our Bill Schneider takes a look at the two realities of one of the most important issues of the campaign.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin -- checking stories now in the news.

Moving the troops: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in on Capitol Hill this hour. He's outlining his plan to reposition military outposts overseas before the Senate Armed Services Committee. There's a live picture of that committee hearing. The plan would close many Cold War-era bases and establish more better positioned suites for fighting terrorism.

President Bush says America's security will be worse off if the United States pulls out of Iraq. Today, Mr. Bush greeted Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, promising the U.S. will not abandon the Iraqi people. More in a live report from the White House just ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Florida bracing for a quadruple whammy. Jeanne could become the fourth hurricane to hit the state since mid-August. After killing more than 1,000 people in Haiti, the storm is moving toward the Bahamas. The current track has it making landfall in eastern Florida on Sunday.

Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."

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 September 23, 2004 - 14:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. From the CNN Center here in Atlanta, this is LIVE FROM. I'm Drew Griffin.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips. Here's what's all new this half hour.

When the candidates talk about jobs, is it worth a listen? Our fact check series "Promises, Promises" tackles one of your top issues this election year.

GRIFFIN: And if you haven't seen it yet today, we'll give you another look: Elton John getting testy in Taiwan.

First, here's what's happening now in the news.

PHILLIPS: Redeploying troops: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other Pentagon top brass appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee on plans to reposition American forces. Live pictures right now as they enter the room. We're going to have live coverage of Rumsfeld's remarks coming up.

And a busy day for Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi in Washington after addressing a joint meeting of Congress. He joined the president in the Rose Garden for a joint news conference. Both Allawi and President Bush painted an upbeat picture of conditions in Iraq, saying elections will go ahead as planned in January.

Florida Supreme Court rejects Terri's Law, which keeps Terri Schiavo alive, although she is comatose. The court ruled that the law is unconstitutional. The measure was hurriedly passed in the Florida legislature at the urging of Governor Jeb Bush. It was specifically written to save the life of the brain-damaged woman. The governor says he's now considering an appeal.

Frances, Charley, Ivan -- not enough for storm-weary Floridians, well Hurricane Jeanne is now heading for the Sunshine State. Forecasts show that Jeanne is making landfall on the east coast of Florida late Sunday, early Monday, possibly as a Category 3 storm.

We're keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

GRIFFIN: It's a touchy political subject, but a top U.S. general now talking about beefing up troop levels in Iraq. General John Abizaid says more troops, not necessarily American, may be needed in the run-up to next January's elections in Iraq. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon with this -- Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Drew, this comes, of course, as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld and other key military leaders are on Capitol Hill this afternoon here in Washington to discuss a number of issues about military forces around the world.

We will see if they get asked about the troop situation in Iraq, but with the insurgency continuing in Iraq and elections coming just down the road in January in that country, the question now: Will there be enough security troops in Iraq for those elections to proceed?

The strategy is to have enough Iraqi security forces on hand to handle the bulk of the situation. But General John Abizaid yesterday on Capitol Hill spoke about the entire situation, not closing the door on any option.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GENERAL JOHN ABIZAID, HEAD OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I think we will need more troops than we currently have to secure the elections process in Iraq; that will probably take place in the end of January. But it is our belief that those troops will be Iraqi troops. And there may be additional international troops that arrive to help out, as well, as part of the United Nations mission.

And so, I don't foresee a need for more American troops, but we can't discount it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STARR: Now, the U.S. is also hoping, as General Abizaid referred to there, the United Nations monitoring of the Iraqi elections. The U.S. is hoping other countries will contribute security forces to help protect the United Nations people there in Iraq -- the election monitors, other U.N. staff that will be moving throughout the country -- as those January elections approach.

But Pentagon officials say so far they don't see any countries beating down the door to try and offer those troops to help protect the U.N. A lot of sensitivity to that question here in Washington.

Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi says he doesn't really want additional troops in his country. It is the hope, again, that they can get enough trained Iraqi forces on the ground to really begin to exert local control through the majority of Iraq. But with the violence and the insurgency continuing, and by all accounts still continuing to grow, that could be a problem come January -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: And Barbara, reminder to all of our viewers that Donald Rumsfeld expected to be talking on Capitol Hill. We'll take that as soon as that happens. It could be really any minute -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Well, for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, every day there can be a life or death decision, and they must always be on guard. But in the city of Tikrit, a new relative calm is providing soldiers a chance to meet and talk with the people.

Jane Arraf is embedded with them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SGT. DAVID PARKER, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: How are you doing?

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a different view at ground level. American soldiers actually fighting the war in Iraq aren't paying much attention to the debate raging over it.

PARKER: We came here to do a job, and like I said, the job we're doing is pretty much good.

ARRAF: Sergeant Parker's job is a lot more than getting shot at or shooting people.

PARKER: I got to take a picture of the...

ARRAF: Most aren't paying much attention to politics either.

SPC. JEREMY RICE, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: It's a good neighborhood?

ARRAF: Specialist Jeremy Rice from Ohio is turning 21 this week. It's the first time he'll be able to vote, but he doesn't plan to.

RICE: That's a tough choice right there. I haven't really been able to follow the news at all, so I don't know which way to go.

ARRAF: As for the news from Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, on most days, there's either none filtering to the outside world or, like today, bad news, that a U.S. soldier has been killed near Tikrit.

But just a few miles away, it's as if it never happened. Soldiers say the streets they're patrolling are safer and more prosperous than they've been.

Here in Saddam Hussein's hometown, the first infantry division spends a lot of time getting to know the people whose city they're living in.

First Battalion 18th Infantry Company Commander Aaron Coombs stops to talk to a carpet dealer to get his view on life here. He tells the captain that what they need are jobs.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have money so people can work and get money. Life can be better.

ARRAF: It's still dangerous.

CAPT. AARON COOMBS, U.S. ARMY 1ST INFANTRY DIV.: It's not a daily gun fight here in Tikrit anyway, but it does happen. It's still a very lethal place. ARRAF: Two weeks ago, the company medic was killed near here. But with so much else going on, the steady drip of death doesn't seem to overshadow the progress they believe they've helped make.

COOMBS: I think if you talk to a lot of people, even here in Tikrit, somebody who is honest with himself will tell you that things are better now, all their problems that were a year ago.

ARRAF: Most of these soldiers say that makes it worth it.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Tikrit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Once again, we want to remind you, too, we are monitoring Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of defense, getting ready to speak before the Senate Armed Services Committee. As soon as that happens, we will take it live.

Meanwhile, jobs -- or rather, the lack of them -- is shaping up to be one of the key issues this election. And with most election issues, there are some facts and a lot of hype.

Kelly Wallace has been separating the two as part of her campaign series, "Promises, Promises".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): One candidate talks of jobs lost...

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The first president in 72 years to actually lose jobs on his watch.

WALLACE: ... the other about jobs created.

GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We increased jobs over the last two months by over 200,000 jobs.

WALLACE: Could both be right? Well, yes -- 1.7 million jobs have been created since last September. But if you start counting when President Bush first took office, a total of 966,000 jobs have been lost.

Senator Kerry thinks that's an opening.

KERRY: Are you ready to put America back to work?

WALLACE: Kerry's promise: create 10 million jobs in four years. He would reward companies that stay in the U.S. by cutting the corporate tax rate by five percent and providing $22 billion in new tax credits for businesses making new hires. And he would remove incentives for outsourcing by eliminating tax breaks for businesses that send jobs overseas.

But can these proposals actually provide the jobs boom that Kerry promises? Sorry, we don't have a crystal ball.

BUSH: In order to keep jobs here in America, America must be the best place in the world to do business.

WALLACE: The president doesn't promise how many jobs he'll create. He does promise to spend $250 million for job training at community colleges and $10 billion over 10 years to encourage business investment in needy communities.

But just as with the senator's proposals, will the president actually create jobs? Again, no crystal ball here.

Both men agree on this: Another way to create job growth, cut costs on small businesses so they can hire more workers. Kerry would try to slash healthcare premiums by 10 percent, but that could cost hundreds of billions of dollars.

The president promises to make his tax cuts permanent, but that could drive up the deficit.

And then there's this question: Does a president really create jobs? Some economists say a president has a role, but that job growth has more to do with larger global forces in the economy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(on camera): And advisors to both sides say they agree with that, but they also say a president can play a key role in setting up the conditions to try and build a strong economy and then, ultimately, Kyra, to try and create some jobs.

PHILLIPS: Can we talk about what kind of jobs? Has either candidate gotten specific, Kelly, on exactly what type?

WALLACE: Well, they are focusing a lot, Kyra, as you know, on small businesses. Small businesses, I believe, responsible for about two-thirds of job creation in this country. So, they're both they're providing some tax credits and trying to sort of focus on beefing up small businesses.

They're also targeting a little bit of manufacturing with some job training. And again, Kyra, to try and get people to have higher skills. And that's what this is all about, to get them to have the skills they need so they can take on higher skilled and higher paying jobs.

There's a big debate right now. The Kerry campaign would say that some of the new jobs that are being created are paying about $9,000 less than jobs in the past. The Bush teams says that's not true. But again, both sides trying to increase the skills and then increase wages, as well.

PHILLIPS: So, what seem to be the biggest obstacles when they start talking about this, both candidates?

WALLACE: Well, you know, the deficit, which we talked about in an earlier part of the series -- $422 billion deficit; whichever candidate wins in November will have to deal with that.

Also, the Congress: if you have a Republican-controlled Congress, there might be some objections to John Kerry's proposals, if he wins. The president also wanting to make permanent his tax cuts. Some objections on Capitol Hill to that.

And then, Kyra, these other realities: what's going on in the world; other terrorist attacks. Fears in the country could keep businesses from hiring more workers. So, lots of other factors that neither man can control.

PHILLIPS: All right, Kelly. What do you have for us tomorrow?

WALLACE: Tomorrow, such a big problem, Kyra, as we know: healthcare costs. Premiums up 60 percent in four years; 45 million Americans uninsured.

We'll look at what both candidates say they'll do about the problem and, again, whether they can turn those promises into reality, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, our Kelly Wallace. Once again, catch her series, "Promises, Promises," on "AMERICAN MORNING" and, of course, once again with us on LIVE FROM. Our Kelly Wallace.

GRIFFIN: Terminated again, but the fight to get illegal immigrant driver's licenses apparently won't end with a veto in California. A battle being fought on those California roads.

PHILLIPS: Also, you won't want to miss: Sir Elton's I guess a bit of a mood change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN: ... to you guys (expletive deleted).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Find out what -- or more accurately, who -- might have prompted that tirade.

GRIFFIN: Good grief.

A true labor of love: What some women go through trying to get pregnant.

ANNOUNCER: You're watching LIVE FROM on CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: News around the world now -- six people dead after a shoot out in Gaza. A gun battle erupted after a group of Palestinian militants broke into a Jewish settlement. Three Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers were killed. Big jump landed one man in a Panamanian jail. Check this out. This daredevil, he was arrested after he leaped from a bridge that connects North and South America. The bridge is more than 300 feet tall.

And the Rocket Man nearly blew a gasket in Taiwan. Elton John had a profanity-laced tirade after paparazzi surrounded him. Now, the part that we can repeat, well, the singer called the reporters "rude, vile pigs."

GRIFFIN: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a bill that would have given driver's licenses to as many as two million illegal immigrants. But just because the measure failed four times doesn't mean it's dead.

CNN's Miguel Marquez looks at the issue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Berta's (ph) 40- years-old, has lived in California for 16 years, and has three kids. She is also an illegal immigrant driving without a license or insurance.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I am afraid to get stopped by the police.

MARQUEZ: Berta (ph) says a driver's license would help her get a little piece, such as it is, of the American dream.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I feel a little sad and discriminated against because everyone has the right to opportunity.

MARQUEZ: Driver's licenses for illegal immigrants, once allowed in California, stopped in 1994. During last year's recall, then- Governor Gray Davis signed a bill allowing illegal immigrants to once again get driver's licenses, but it was repealed after voters retaliated.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: We can make this, again, the greatest state of the greatest country in the world.

I want them to have driver's license. I want to have people be able to drive legally, but...

MARQUEZ: But Schwarzenegger says he wants to legalize driving for illegals with a license that could not also be used for identification.

MARGITA THOMPSON, SCHWARZENEGGER PRESS SECRETARY: Once they come here and they have a document like a driver's license, it becomes a breeder document, upon which further identification and further documents are able to be procured.

MARQUEZ: The governor says it's all about protecting national security. One political analyst isn't so sure.

TONY QUINN, POLITICAL ANALYST: This is not about driver's licenses. It's really about the role of immigrants in the state.

MARQUEZ: Quinn says Schwarzenegger finds himself in the position of vetoing the driver's license bill to hold off a drive to deny all services to illegal immigrants.

QUINN: Were he to sign this bill, it would seem to me he would cause himself a lot more political problems, and he would probably give something of a push to those who want to go beyond this.

MARQUEZ: Some California hardcore conservatives agree, saying Schwarzenegger is Republican, they have to watch.

MIKE SPENCE, CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY: There are issues where we don't exactly know where the governor comes from, or sometimes, you know, he's in the middle.

MARQUEZ (on camera): But the governor's veto doesn't altogether kill the idea of driver's licenses for illegal immigrants. Both sides say they want a compromise, but for California drivers, it's just another day of gridlock.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: We recognize that freeway, don't we?

GRIFFIN: 101 gridlock -- right there behind Miguel.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know how a new baby can turn your life upside down? Well, now imagine bringing home two, three, maybe even four? Can you handle it?

GRIFFIN: Short answer: no.

And how deep are your pockets? Next hour on "INSIDE POLITICS," the piles of cash candidates spend in the final weeks of the campaign.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, the birth of twins, triplets, quads and more is on the rise in the U.S. And as we follow up on our own Soledad O'Brien and her babies, we're beginning a five-week series on multiple births called "Crowded House."

Here's our senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta with part one.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Say hi, little brother.

DR. SANJAY GUPTA (voice-over): For Soledad, it's only the beginning of her trek into the world of multiples. Most come the old fashioned way like Soledad's babies, but about a third, according to the Society for Reproductive Medicine, come from in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

With IVF, eggs are fertilized and implanted in the uterus. The hope: that one of them will eventually become a healthy baby. Thirty-one-year-old Amy DiPasquale got two healthy babies, but only after years and years of fertility drugs and treatments.

AMY DIPASQUALE, MOTHER OF TWINS: It was very difficult and physically painful. The shots hurt. I'm still sore where I got a lot of the shots done.

GUPTA: Four years later and after several courses of IVF, she was pregnant with Mason and Matthew. The path for Amy and her husband was difficult, painful and the cost crippling. Each course of IVF is around $12,000, and there's no guarantee that it'll even work.

If it does work, there is a 30 to 40 percent chance of a multiple pregnancy, since usually more than one egg is implanted. Years ago, implanting three to four eggs was routine, resulting in a rash of multiple births. Now, the movement is toward implanting just two eggs to avoid that scenario.

DR. ZEV ROSENWAKS, NY PRESBYTERIAN CORNELL MEDICAL CTR.: The higher the order (ph) the multiple pregnancy, also the bigger the problem for the mother in terms of medical complications.

GUPTA: Complications like high blood pressure or gestational diabetes and serious uterine stretching, which could cause early contractions or, in extreme cases, uterine rupture. And extra pounds make it difficult to move.

DR. THOMAS PINCKERT, GRTR. WASH. MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE: When mothers have triplets or quadruplets, we're looking at somewhere between a 40- to 80-pound weight gain.

GUPTA: And multiples often arrive early, which could cause...

ROSENWAKS: Prematurity of the lungs. You could have neurological issues, bowel issues, many, many problems for the babies.

GUPTA: And despite of all of that, families like the DiPasquales keep trying, hoping for one baby and being happy with even more.

DIPASQUALE: It's so worth it, the pain and the stress while you're going through it, because the end result is priceless.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: CNN's "Crowded House" series continues next week. We're going to discuss handling multiples. You'll see what it's like in one household dealing with quads plus two older children.

Time for a quick check on the stock market.

GRIFFIN: Rhonda Schaffler joins us live from the New York Stock Exchange with the latest market action -- Rhonda?

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Rhonda, thanks.

That'll wrap it up for LIVE FROM right now.

PHILLIPS: Time for "INSIDE POLITICS" and Judy Woodruff. Hi, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF, HOST, "INSIDE POLITICS": Hi there, Kyra. Thank you, and thank Drew.

Today on "INSIDE POLITICS," we're live from the campaign trail as both candidates continue to focus on Iraq.

Plus, the candidates presenting two very different pictures of Iraq: one of hope; one of disaster. Our Bill Schneider takes a look at the two realities of one of the most important issues of the campaign.

"INSIDE POLITICS" begins in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: I'm Drew Griffin -- checking stories now in the news.

Moving the troops: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in on Capitol Hill this hour. He's outlining his plan to reposition military outposts overseas before the Senate Armed Services Committee. There's a live picture of that committee hearing. The plan would close many Cold War-era bases and establish more better positioned suites for fighting terrorism.

President Bush says America's security will be worse off if the United States pulls out of Iraq. Today, Mr. Bush greeted Iraqi Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, promising the U.S. will not abandon the Iraqi people. More in a live report from the White House just ahead on "INSIDE POLITICS."

Florida bracing for a quadruple whammy. Jeanne could become the fourth hurricane to hit the state since mid-August. After killing more than 1,000 people in Haiti, the storm is moving toward the Bahamas. The current track has it making landfall in eastern Florida on Sunday.

Now, "JUDY WOODRUFF'S INSIDE POLITICS."

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