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Marines/Iraqi Guardsmen Prepare Najaf Assault; Bush And Kerry Continue Campaigns; Homeowners' Insurance

Aired August 11, 2004 - 10:00   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll get started with two hours. Good morning from CNN Headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan, taking a look right now at what is going on now in the news.
Bombing in Najaf precedes a major attack. U.S. Marine soldiers and Iraqi National Guardsmen are preparing to launch an assault on the Mehdi Army in militia -- excuse me, Mehdi army militia. The offensive comes after Najaf's governor approved the military operations around a sacred Shiite site.

In the Middle East, a suspected suicide bomber set off an explosion near an Israeli military checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah. One Palestinian was killed. Eight other Palestinians and seven Israelis were wounded. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility.

Iranian officials say they've tested the latest version of their medium range missile. The ballistic missile is believed to have the range to reach Israel or the U.S. bases in the Gulf. Iran says the missile program is for defense. And it denies it is trying to develop nuclear warheads.

And double trouble. Tropical Storm Bonnie and Charley are stirring up the waters. Bonnie is in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to be upgraded to a hurricane shortly and make landfall tomorrow. But forecasters say Charley, now in the Caribbean, could be more powerful.

We are going to begin this hour in the Iraqi city of Najaf. That is where tensions are building and battle lines are hardening. Thousands of U.S. Marines, Iraqi forces and Shiite militia have massed around an ancient cemetery and a holy shrine. And U.S. forces are said to be preparing for a major assault.

Our Matthew Chance is in Najaf. He's covering this developing story and he joins us on the phone -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, thank you. Indeed, the tension extremely high in Najaf where forces, we've learned from military officials, a major offense is planned to perhaps bring to an end or to battle against these Mehdi army fighters loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

For the past seven days, there have been fierce clashes between U.S. troops and his Mehdi army militia. Much of that violence focused around the central area of Najaf, near the Imam Ali Shrine and the cemetery next door; both these sites are two of the holiest sites of Shiia Islam.

And that's the reason that this battle is so politically sensitive. The militants are hiding up -- holding up inside the mosque itself, firing RPGs; rocket propelled grenades, and mortars, as well as automatic machine gunfire at the U.S. forces around the perimeter that they've secured there.

Now, the logical military step would be to go into the mosque and to rout out those militants. But the U.S. military here is saying they are very sensitive to the fact that any action by the U.S. military against this sacred place may create a serious backlash amongst Iraq's majority Shiite.

So, they have been struggling with ways of how to get this matter put to an end. There have been political advances made to Muqtada al- Sadr by the Iraqi interim government, trying to get him to disarm his own militia and to come into the political process. That failed so far. They are looking for other options now, possibly using an Iraqi force to move into the mosque compound to bring this matter to a complete end -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Matthew Chance is on the ground there in Najaf. We have with us, it turns out right in the studio, Jane Arraf our Baghdad bureau chief. Who lucky for us happens to be in town and can tell us a little bit more.

Give us some more background on exactly where this battle is taking place. Welcome. Thanks for being here.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Thanks.

KAGAN: Let's first talk about the significance of this shrine and just how important it is in the Shiite world.

ARRAF: It's hugely important. It's the burial place of the Imam Ali, who essentially his followers led to the birth of Shiia Islam. So, for some Shiias it's more important than even Mecca. Hugely important religiously, hugely important because it's the center of Shiia Islamic learning, it's where the major clerics are.

But at the same time, you have got this huge battle going on. The city essentially held hostage. And when I was there embedded with the U.S. Army, it was as explosive, as it seems now. But now the difference they are talking about this being a final showdown.

KAGAN: And why? Why has it come to that?

ARRAF: It's come to that essentially because Muqtada al-Sadr, this Shiia cleric, young guy, quite charismatic, doesn't have a lot of support but the support he does have is really fervent among angry young men. Essentially said that he would lay down his arms. And the thought was that he would be a political force.

KAGAN: That he actually would be included in the elections come January?

ARRAF: Exactly.

KAGAN: That doesn't really seem like an option today.

ARRAF: It doesn't seem like an option anymore. He chose that other road. He saw an opportunity and he took it. And what we've seen is an uprising, not just in Najaf but in other places in the south, but seems to be the biggest test to the Iraqi government so far.

KAGAN: And so, as you have this going on, you also have a huge Shiite community in Sadr City, part of Baghdad. That's a separate different problem but connected.

ARRAF: It's essentially linked because his supporters are also in Sadr City. Sadr City is named after his father, his grandfather, a long line of religious clerics there. And it's something that if this is not solved, it's really something that could threaten the whole of Iraqi society.

KAGAN: And then big picture as we look at Iraq. If you have Baghdad in the middle, and then to the north you have Fallujah, and that Sunni problem there. And then south of Baghdad, you are going to have the Shiite problem centered in Najaf. When you see this going on all at the same time, the idea that you could get any kind of stability in this country seems practically impossible.

ARRAF: It is very tall order. It is essentially what happened in April when the Mehdi army rose up. And almost simultaneous there was a huge problem in Fallujah, which is contained but hasn't really gone away. For anyone who thought that this would be an easy road to go on, obviously that's been proven wrong. But perhaps more dangerous than many people thought it could be.

KAGAN: Well, and speaking of danger, I just want to ask you on a personal standpoint here. You are our Baghdad bureau chief. You take danger as just a daily part of your job. The difference though, if you could explain in the challenges in reporting within Baghdad, which has its own problems and challenges, and then heading south into some place like Najaf. Just how dangerous is that assignment? And how do you get around that in order to bring the story to the viewers around the world?

ARRAF: Oh, reporting from Baghdad you almost have the danger of the element of unforeseen violence. I mean you could be going down the street and you could hit a car bomb. Anything could happen. The danger when you're in somewhere like Najaf, where I spent more than a month embedded with the U.S. Army, is much more predictable and much more focused.

It's not the danger of a paper bag exploding into a homemade bomb. It's the danger of going out with the military and being shot at, but really bluntly, which they were really every day.

It's a prelude of what we're seeing now, but essentially the same battleground. The same rules of engagement, the same fighters hiding in the same places, and using the same unconventional, very effective tactics.

KAGAN: Very interesting. Jane Arraf, thank. So good to have you here on safe ground.

ARRAF: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: For a few days, at least.

ARRAF: Thanks very much.

KAGAN: Thank you for being here with us.

ARRAF: Thank you.

KAGAN: Well, other news today. We're going to turn now to Afghanistan and what is taking place there. Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived there. And look at these pictures; it was an unannounced visit.

He's there to assess the war on terror and review preparations for the presidential election. That is set to come up in about two months. It will be Afghanistan's first national vote since the U.S.- led war ousted the Taliban three years ago. Less than two hours ago, Rumsfeld held a joint news conference with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Attacks were made on the United States of America that were planned from this country by al Qaeda being harbored by the Taliban. And some 3,000 innocent men, women and children from many, many countries of all faiths were killed in the United States. The people of Afghanistan know the nature of the enemy that we confront in the struggle against extremism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld is also assessing the efforts to rebuild Afghanistan and the country's drug fighting campaign.

Let's focus right here in the U.S. Live this morning on Capitol Hill, the House Intelligence Committee opens up hearings on the report from the 9/11 Commission. Live pictures there from Capitol Hill. The panel's chairman and vice chairman will testify, along with top officials from the Bush and Clinton administrations. Also in attendance, Porter Goss, the man just nominated by President Bush to head the CIA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR NOMINEE: The text of the letter that I sent to Mr. Hastert is as follows:

"Dear Mr. Speaker, as a result of the honor bestowed upon me by the president today nominating me for the position of director of Central Intelligence, I believe it's appropriate to relinquish my position as chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence during the pendency of the confirmation process of that nomination effective immediately.

"Therefore, I would ask that you appoint a member to take the chairmanship of the committee on a temporary basis effective immediately until the Senate makes a final determination on the president's nomination. I believe it continues to be appropriate for me to remain a member of the committee, however.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: For all the latest on the story and the day's other top stories you can visit our Web site. The address is cnn.com.

Big story happening heading toward Florida. Not one, but two storms.

Testimony about a blind date day care, as well in the trial of Scott Peterson. His former mistress Amber Frey is back on the stand today. Hear how that is playing out.

The beginning of a new court battle and the effect it may have on another in charges against Kobe Bryant.

And later...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS T.J. THOMAS LOPEZ, RESCUER: When I came over here he was choking and he was like - and his eyes were all watery.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: An everyday hero steps up to the plate in Arizona. The full story coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: President Bush has Senator John McCain as an opening act for the second day in a row. The two will be stumping in McCain's home state of Arizona and New Mexico. The president hosted McCain at his Texas ranch overnight, after the two took a bus tour through the Florida Panhandle.

John Kerry is in Nevada today, hoping to gain support from seniors. Kerry will be talking about the cost for prescription drugs. He wants to change to Medicare drug benefits so that the government can negotiate bulk discounts. Kerry says seniors should be able to buy less expensive drugs from Canada.

Four Western states may not be rich in electoral votes but they are still very valuable in this close race for the White House.

Our John King explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Las Vegas, the senator with homes on Beacon Hill and Nantucket makes the case he's a better bet for the West, than the president who favors cowboy boots and his Texas ranch.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And if I'm president of the United States, Nevada is not going to have a broken promise.

KING: It is gospel for both campaigns that this close election will ultimately be settled in the industrial Midwest. Yet Nevada and other pockets of the West are critical Electoral College subplots.

KERRY: I am so happy to be here. Thank you.

KING: Nevada, Arizona and Colorado went Republican for president in 2000. New Mexico voted Democratic but by just 366 votes. The four states combined offer just 29 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. But in a close race anyone could prove decisive, especially to Democrats looking to offset a bleak outlook across the Deep South.

FRANK GREER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Changes the whole nature of what is required in the Electoral College. If you CAN pick up several of those states that in the past have voted Republicans.

KING: Part of the Bush/Cheney strategy so to emphasize Western roots. A vice president from Wyoming, a president from Texas, who recently invited the Outdoor Life Network to the Crawford ranch for a little fishing.

KEN KHACHIGIAN, REAGAN ADVISOR: You have with Bush, who has the advantage of both being a Southerner and a Westerner, in many respects there's a lot of identity with the -- with him and Cheney of the rugged individualism of the West.

KING: So, Senator Kerry takes time when here to share a little personal history.

KERRY: You know, I'm a gun owner and a hunter. I've been a hunter since I was 12 years old.

KING: A major issue in Nevada is what Democrats call a broken Bush promise to carefully review the science before supporting a nuclear waste repository in the state.

KERRY: Yucca Mountain is a symbol of the recklessness and arrogance with which they are willing to proceed with respect to the safety issues and concerns of the American people.

KING: Democrats also find hope in the regions dramatic demographic change, especially its growing Latino population. Hispanics account for 15 percent of Colorado's population, 17 percent of Nevada's, 25 percent in Arizona and 41 percent in New Mexico.

KERRY (in Spanish): I need your help. KING (on camera): That fierce competition for Hispanic vote is also playing out on the airwaves. There are just five states in which the Kerry and Bush campaigns are airing Spanish language ads. One is Florida, the others: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and here in Nevada.

John King, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And this programming reminder for you. The president and first lady sit down with Larry King this week for an exclusive interview. That is Thursday night, tomorrow 9:00 Eastern on "LARRY KING LIVE."

Concerns about terror in the south; a Pakistani with possible terror ties is picked up in North Carolina with a stash of suspicious videotapes. We'll have a live report. And you pay your premiums every year, but will your homeowners' insurance policy be there when you need it? Gerri Willis knows some pitfalls. And she is here to tell us.

Hey, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Not only are people having to live with increases in their charges for their home insurance every year, but now some people can't even get coverage. We'll tell you what to do after CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. Home insurance policy booklets. It might not be on your Top 5 summer reading list but it is for our Gerri Willis. And she explains why it is a good idea to check it out closely -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Yes I am Miss Excitement today.

KAGAN: Woo! Woo!

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Hey tip No. 1 if you're out there shopping for a house, you're going to have to have some homeowner's insurance or you won't get a mortgage. You want to look at a Home Disclosure Report to make sure that the house you are buying hasn't had a ton of problems before you're buying it, making it impossible to get home insurance.

Another thing to check out, choicetrust.com, you can also get some background on the house there to find out if a number of claims have been made on insurance policies against it -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Next tip has to do with the good credit or bad credit. That doesn't just affect your mortgage. It affects what you pay for homeowner's insurance. WILLIS: You bet. You know, a lot of people say this is unfair. But insurance companies look at your credit report as a gauge of how many claims you are going to place. So, you want a good credit report. A clean one and a high ranking. So, go to experian.com, Equifax, TransUnion. We talk about this a lot to find out what the credit report says and if it is accurate.

KAGAN: And before you sign up with a particular company do your homework.

WILLIS: Right. Well, you know, pick a winner. I mean the easiest thing to do here, "Consumer Reports" has a report out this month, talking about the insurance companies that consumers themselves are the best. Look at this: Amica, Auto-Owners, Cincinnati Insurance, Chubb, USAA. They surveyed 14,000 homeowners and they said these are the best companies.

KAGAN: I think this might be your most important tip. You buy the insurance but you're really not supposed to use it unless it's a big thing.

WILLIS: Isn't that pathetic?

KAGAN: I hate that part. But it's true.

WILLIS: Yes. It's absolutely true if you make a lot of small claims on the your policy, you are going find yourself paying more. So, rule of thumb here is if your claim is for 200 -- even $200 over what you would pay, go ahead, do it yourself, pay for it yourself, because at the end of the day, you are going to pay less for your insurance policy.

KAGAN: Hate that.

I have been told to get a clue. I just didn't know how to do it looking at my homeowners' insurance.

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: Well, the clue is an interesting report. The insurance companies put together. It's actually a database that will tell you, let's say you've owned your home for a number of years and you want to find out how insurers are regarding you.

You go to the database, choicetrust.com, take a look at it. And it will tell you if you have a ton of claims. You can look for errors on your report. Make sure they haven't gotten something wrong.

Another thing to think about very quickly. Insurers need to know if you've made a ton of improvements to your house because you may not be ensuring your home for enough.

So, keep that in the back of your mind, as you are thinking about your home insurance. And hopefully you will have no problem getting it.

KAGAN: As I'm living in reconstruction interesting times. One more thing to do, call the home insurance company.

WILLIS: There you go.

KAGAN: Gerri, thank you for that. We will see you later in the week.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Other terrorism news out there to tell you about. There are concerns about potential terrorist targets in the south. Investigators have arrested a man with several videotapes. They say he may have been casing several cities. We have a live report.

Kobe Bryant's accuser makes a move in court. But will it cripple the criminal case against the NBA star? We'll ask a legal expert coming up on CNN's LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's check the headlines now in the news.

A major joint military operation between U.S. and Iraqi forces appears imminent in the city of Najaf. Najaf's governor gave the OK to put an end to armed resistance of followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. They have been battling the coalition off and on over the past week. Going after the militants is politically risky because they are dug in around an important mosque.

Economists are keeping close tabs on oil prices. Oil futures today remain near record levels. Yesterday, the price rose briefly above the $45 mark. A major factor is the uncertain fate of Russia's Yukos Oil Company. There are fears the embattled company may be forced to halt production and that OPEC will not be able to cover the difference.

In Florida, residents have two tropical storms to keep track of. Bonnie is now a well-defined storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and about 24 hours away from the Florida Panhandle.

And maybe just a warm up act for Tropical Storm Charley, which is at or near hurricane strength as it approaches Jamaica. Charley will likely hit the Florida Keys early Friday. The latest on both storms is about 25 minutes away.

In the war on terror, different interpretations about this amateur video of Las Vegas casino and other landmarks. The video was discovered in Detroit and believed by some agents to be a terrorist surveillance tape.

But law enforcement sources tells CNN the FBI had shown the tape to Las Vegas city officials and casino personnel, who concluded it was a tourist video and did not merit a security alert.

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Aired August 11, 2004 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We'll get started with two hours. Good morning from CNN Headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan, taking a look right now at what is going on now in the news.
Bombing in Najaf precedes a major attack. U.S. Marine soldiers and Iraqi National Guardsmen are preparing to launch an assault on the Mehdi Army in militia -- excuse me, Mehdi army militia. The offensive comes after Najaf's governor approved the military operations around a sacred Shiite site.

In the Middle East, a suspected suicide bomber set off an explosion near an Israeli military checkpoint between Jerusalem and Ramallah. One Palestinian was killed. Eight other Palestinians and seven Israelis were wounded. Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement claimed responsibility.

Iranian officials say they've tested the latest version of their medium range missile. The ballistic missile is believed to have the range to reach Israel or the U.S. bases in the Gulf. Iran says the missile program is for defense. And it denies it is trying to develop nuclear warheads.

And double trouble. Tropical Storm Bonnie and Charley are stirring up the waters. Bonnie is in the Gulf of Mexico, expected to be upgraded to a hurricane shortly and make landfall tomorrow. But forecasters say Charley, now in the Caribbean, could be more powerful.

We are going to begin this hour in the Iraqi city of Najaf. That is where tensions are building and battle lines are hardening. Thousands of U.S. Marines, Iraqi forces and Shiite militia have massed around an ancient cemetery and a holy shrine. And U.S. forces are said to be preparing for a major assault.

Our Matthew Chance is in Najaf. He's covering this developing story and he joins us on the phone -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, thank you. Indeed, the tension extremely high in Najaf where forces, we've learned from military officials, a major offense is planned to perhaps bring to an end or to battle against these Mehdi army fighters loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

For the past seven days, there have been fierce clashes between U.S. troops and his Mehdi army militia. Much of that violence focused around the central area of Najaf, near the Imam Ali Shrine and the cemetery next door; both these sites are two of the holiest sites of Shiia Islam.

And that's the reason that this battle is so politically sensitive. The militants are hiding up -- holding up inside the mosque itself, firing RPGs; rocket propelled grenades, and mortars, as well as automatic machine gunfire at the U.S. forces around the perimeter that they've secured there.

Now, the logical military step would be to go into the mosque and to rout out those militants. But the U.S. military here is saying they are very sensitive to the fact that any action by the U.S. military against this sacred place may create a serious backlash amongst Iraq's majority Shiite.

So, they have been struggling with ways of how to get this matter put to an end. There have been political advances made to Muqtada al- Sadr by the Iraqi interim government, trying to get him to disarm his own militia and to come into the political process. That failed so far. They are looking for other options now, possibly using an Iraqi force to move into the mosque compound to bring this matter to a complete end -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Matthew Chance is on the ground there in Najaf. We have with us, it turns out right in the studio, Jane Arraf our Baghdad bureau chief. Who lucky for us happens to be in town and can tell us a little bit more.

Give us some more background on exactly where this battle is taking place. Welcome. Thanks for being here.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Thanks.

KAGAN: Let's first talk about the significance of this shrine and just how important it is in the Shiite world.

ARRAF: It's hugely important. It's the burial place of the Imam Ali, who essentially his followers led to the birth of Shiia Islam. So, for some Shiias it's more important than even Mecca. Hugely important religiously, hugely important because it's the center of Shiia Islamic learning, it's where the major clerics are.

But at the same time, you have got this huge battle going on. The city essentially held hostage. And when I was there embedded with the U.S. Army, it was as explosive, as it seems now. But now the difference they are talking about this being a final showdown.

KAGAN: And why? Why has it come to that?

ARRAF: It's come to that essentially because Muqtada al-Sadr, this Shiia cleric, young guy, quite charismatic, doesn't have a lot of support but the support he does have is really fervent among angry young men. Essentially said that he would lay down his arms. And the thought was that he would be a political force.

KAGAN: That he actually would be included in the elections come January?

ARRAF: Exactly.

KAGAN: That doesn't really seem like an option today.

ARRAF: It doesn't seem like an option anymore. He chose that other road. He saw an opportunity and he took it. And what we've seen is an uprising, not just in Najaf but in other places in the south, but seems to be the biggest test to the Iraqi government so far.

KAGAN: And so, as you have this going on, you also have a huge Shiite community in Sadr City, part of Baghdad. That's a separate different problem but connected.

ARRAF: It's essentially linked because his supporters are also in Sadr City. Sadr City is named after his father, his grandfather, a long line of religious clerics there. And it's something that if this is not solved, it's really something that could threaten the whole of Iraqi society.

KAGAN: And then big picture as we look at Iraq. If you have Baghdad in the middle, and then to the north you have Fallujah, and that Sunni problem there. And then south of Baghdad, you are going to have the Shiite problem centered in Najaf. When you see this going on all at the same time, the idea that you could get any kind of stability in this country seems practically impossible.

ARRAF: It is very tall order. It is essentially what happened in April when the Mehdi army rose up. And almost simultaneous there was a huge problem in Fallujah, which is contained but hasn't really gone away. For anyone who thought that this would be an easy road to go on, obviously that's been proven wrong. But perhaps more dangerous than many people thought it could be.

KAGAN: Well, and speaking of danger, I just want to ask you on a personal standpoint here. You are our Baghdad bureau chief. You take danger as just a daily part of your job. The difference though, if you could explain in the challenges in reporting within Baghdad, which has its own problems and challenges, and then heading south into some place like Najaf. Just how dangerous is that assignment? And how do you get around that in order to bring the story to the viewers around the world?

ARRAF: Oh, reporting from Baghdad you almost have the danger of the element of unforeseen violence. I mean you could be going down the street and you could hit a car bomb. Anything could happen. The danger when you're in somewhere like Najaf, where I spent more than a month embedded with the U.S. Army, is much more predictable and much more focused.

It's not the danger of a paper bag exploding into a homemade bomb. It's the danger of going out with the military and being shot at, but really bluntly, which they were really every day.

It's a prelude of what we're seeing now, but essentially the same battleground. The same rules of engagement, the same fighters hiding in the same places, and using the same unconventional, very effective tactics.

KAGAN: Very interesting. Jane Arraf, thank. So good to have you here on safe ground.

ARRAF: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: For a few days, at least.

ARRAF: Thanks very much.

KAGAN: Thank you for being here with us.

ARRAF: Thank you.

KAGAN: Well, other news today. We're going to turn now to Afghanistan and what is taking place there. Defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived there. And look at these pictures; it was an unannounced visit.

He's there to assess the war on terror and review preparations for the presidential election. That is set to come up in about two months. It will be Afghanistan's first national vote since the U.S.- led war ousted the Taliban three years ago. Less than two hours ago, Rumsfeld held a joint news conference with the Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD RUMSFELD, DEFENSE SECRETARY: Attacks were made on the United States of America that were planned from this country by al Qaeda being harbored by the Taliban. And some 3,000 innocent men, women and children from many, many countries of all faiths were killed in the United States. The people of Afghanistan know the nature of the enemy that we confront in the struggle against extremism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Secretary Rumsfeld is also assessing the efforts to rebuild Afghanistan and the country's drug fighting campaign.

Let's focus right here in the U.S. Live this morning on Capitol Hill, the House Intelligence Committee opens up hearings on the report from the 9/11 Commission. Live pictures there from Capitol Hill. The panel's chairman and vice chairman will testify, along with top officials from the Bush and Clinton administrations. Also in attendance, Porter Goss, the man just nominated by President Bush to head the CIA.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PORTER GOSS, CIA DIRECTOR NOMINEE: The text of the letter that I sent to Mr. Hastert is as follows:

"Dear Mr. Speaker, as a result of the honor bestowed upon me by the president today nominating me for the position of director of Central Intelligence, I believe it's appropriate to relinquish my position as chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence during the pendency of the confirmation process of that nomination effective immediately.

"Therefore, I would ask that you appoint a member to take the chairmanship of the committee on a temporary basis effective immediately until the Senate makes a final determination on the president's nomination. I believe it continues to be appropriate for me to remain a member of the committee, however.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: For all the latest on the story and the day's other top stories you can visit our Web site. The address is cnn.com.

Big story happening heading toward Florida. Not one, but two storms.

Testimony about a blind date day care, as well in the trial of Scott Peterson. His former mistress Amber Frey is back on the stand today. Hear how that is playing out.

The beginning of a new court battle and the effect it may have on another in charges against Kobe Bryant.

And later...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS T.J. THOMAS LOPEZ, RESCUER: When I came over here he was choking and he was like - and his eyes were all watery.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: An everyday hero steps up to the plate in Arizona. The full story coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: President Bush has Senator John McCain as an opening act for the second day in a row. The two will be stumping in McCain's home state of Arizona and New Mexico. The president hosted McCain at his Texas ranch overnight, after the two took a bus tour through the Florida Panhandle.

John Kerry is in Nevada today, hoping to gain support from seniors. Kerry will be talking about the cost for prescription drugs. He wants to change to Medicare drug benefits so that the government can negotiate bulk discounts. Kerry says seniors should be able to buy less expensive drugs from Canada.

Four Western states may not be rich in electoral votes but they are still very valuable in this close race for the White House.

Our John King explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Las Vegas, the senator with homes on Beacon Hill and Nantucket makes the case he's a better bet for the West, than the president who favors cowboy boots and his Texas ranch.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And if I'm president of the United States, Nevada is not going to have a broken promise.

KING: It is gospel for both campaigns that this close election will ultimately be settled in the industrial Midwest. Yet Nevada and other pockets of the West are critical Electoral College subplots.

KERRY: I am so happy to be here. Thank you.

KING: Nevada, Arizona and Colorado went Republican for president in 2000. New Mexico voted Democratic but by just 366 votes. The four states combined offer just 29 of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. But in a close race anyone could prove decisive, especially to Democrats looking to offset a bleak outlook across the Deep South.

FRANK GREER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Changes the whole nature of what is required in the Electoral College. If you CAN pick up several of those states that in the past have voted Republicans.

KING: Part of the Bush/Cheney strategy so to emphasize Western roots. A vice president from Wyoming, a president from Texas, who recently invited the Outdoor Life Network to the Crawford ranch for a little fishing.

KEN KHACHIGIAN, REAGAN ADVISOR: You have with Bush, who has the advantage of both being a Southerner and a Westerner, in many respects there's a lot of identity with the -- with him and Cheney of the rugged individualism of the West.

KING: So, Senator Kerry takes time when here to share a little personal history.

KERRY: You know, I'm a gun owner and a hunter. I've been a hunter since I was 12 years old.

KING: A major issue in Nevada is what Democrats call a broken Bush promise to carefully review the science before supporting a nuclear waste repository in the state.

KERRY: Yucca Mountain is a symbol of the recklessness and arrogance with which they are willing to proceed with respect to the safety issues and concerns of the American people.

KING: Democrats also find hope in the regions dramatic demographic change, especially its growing Latino population. Hispanics account for 15 percent of Colorado's population, 17 percent of Nevada's, 25 percent in Arizona and 41 percent in New Mexico.

KERRY (in Spanish): I need your help. KING (on camera): That fierce competition for Hispanic vote is also playing out on the airwaves. There are just five states in which the Kerry and Bush campaigns are airing Spanish language ads. One is Florida, the others: Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and here in Nevada.

John King, CNN, Las Vegas.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And this programming reminder for you. The president and first lady sit down with Larry King this week for an exclusive interview. That is Thursday night, tomorrow 9:00 Eastern on "LARRY KING LIVE."

Concerns about terror in the south; a Pakistani with possible terror ties is picked up in North Carolina with a stash of suspicious videotapes. We'll have a live report. And you pay your premiums every year, but will your homeowners' insurance policy be there when you need it? Gerri Willis knows some pitfalls. And she is here to tell us.

Hey, Ger.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Not only are people having to live with increases in their charges for their home insurance every year, but now some people can't even get coverage. We'll tell you what to do after CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: All right. Home insurance policy booklets. It might not be on your Top 5 summer reading list but it is for our Gerri Willis. And she explains why it is a good idea to check it out closely -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Yes I am Miss Excitement today.

KAGAN: Woo! Woo!

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Hey tip No. 1 if you're out there shopping for a house, you're going to have to have some homeowner's insurance or you won't get a mortgage. You want to look at a Home Disclosure Report to make sure that the house you are buying hasn't had a ton of problems before you're buying it, making it impossible to get home insurance.

Another thing to check out, choicetrust.com, you can also get some background on the house there to find out if a number of claims have been made on insurance policies against it -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Next tip has to do with the good credit or bad credit. That doesn't just affect your mortgage. It affects what you pay for homeowner's insurance. WILLIS: You bet. You know, a lot of people say this is unfair. But insurance companies look at your credit report as a gauge of how many claims you are going to place. So, you want a good credit report. A clean one and a high ranking. So, go to experian.com, Equifax, TransUnion. We talk about this a lot to find out what the credit report says and if it is accurate.

KAGAN: And before you sign up with a particular company do your homework.

WILLIS: Right. Well, you know, pick a winner. I mean the easiest thing to do here, "Consumer Reports" has a report out this month, talking about the insurance companies that consumers themselves are the best. Look at this: Amica, Auto-Owners, Cincinnati Insurance, Chubb, USAA. They surveyed 14,000 homeowners and they said these are the best companies.

KAGAN: I think this might be your most important tip. You buy the insurance but you're really not supposed to use it unless it's a big thing.

WILLIS: Isn't that pathetic?

KAGAN: I hate that part. But it's true.

WILLIS: Yes. It's absolutely true if you make a lot of small claims on the your policy, you are going find yourself paying more. So, rule of thumb here is if your claim is for 200 -- even $200 over what you would pay, go ahead, do it yourself, pay for it yourself, because at the end of the day, you are going to pay less for your insurance policy.

KAGAN: Hate that.

I have been told to get a clue. I just didn't know how to do it looking at my homeowners' insurance.

(LAUGHTER)

WILLIS: Well, the clue is an interesting report. The insurance companies put together. It's actually a database that will tell you, let's say you've owned your home for a number of years and you want to find out how insurers are regarding you.

You go to the database, choicetrust.com, take a look at it. And it will tell you if you have a ton of claims. You can look for errors on your report. Make sure they haven't gotten something wrong.

Another thing to think about very quickly. Insurers need to know if you've made a ton of improvements to your house because you may not be ensuring your home for enough.

So, keep that in the back of your mind, as you are thinking about your home insurance. And hopefully you will have no problem getting it.

KAGAN: As I'm living in reconstruction interesting times. One more thing to do, call the home insurance company.

WILLIS: There you go.

KAGAN: Gerri, thank you for that. We will see you later in the week.

WILLIS: You're welcome.

KAGAN: Other terrorism news out there to tell you about. There are concerns about potential terrorist targets in the south. Investigators have arrested a man with several videotapes. They say he may have been casing several cities. We have a live report.

Kobe Bryant's accuser makes a move in court. But will it cripple the criminal case against the NBA star? We'll ask a legal expert coming up on CNN's LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's check the headlines now in the news.

A major joint military operation between U.S. and Iraqi forces appears imminent in the city of Najaf. Najaf's governor gave the OK to put an end to armed resistance of followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. They have been battling the coalition off and on over the past week. Going after the militants is politically risky because they are dug in around an important mosque.

Economists are keeping close tabs on oil prices. Oil futures today remain near record levels. Yesterday, the price rose briefly above the $45 mark. A major factor is the uncertain fate of Russia's Yukos Oil Company. There are fears the embattled company may be forced to halt production and that OPEC will not be able to cover the difference.

In Florida, residents have two tropical storms to keep track of. Bonnie is now a well-defined storm in the Gulf of Mexico, and about 24 hours away from the Florida Panhandle.

And maybe just a warm up act for Tropical Storm Charley, which is at or near hurricane strength as it approaches Jamaica. Charley will likely hit the Florida Keys early Friday. The latest on both storms is about 25 minutes away.

In the war on terror, different interpretations about this amateur video of Las Vegas casino and other landmarks. The video was discovered in Detroit and believed by some agents to be a terrorist surveillance tape.

But law enforcement sources tells CNN the FBI had shown the tape to Las Vegas city officials and casino personnel, who concluded it was a tourist video and did not merit a security alert.

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