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Bush Administration Putting Forth Strategy for Victory in Iraq; Saddam Hussein Trial

Aired December 07, 2005 - 11:17   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We've been listening to President Bush as he makes the second in a series of four speeches trying to build support here in the U.S. for the war in Iraq. And as we wrap up the speech, I want to welcome our viewers that are joining us not just across here in the U.S., but all around the world on CNN International.
President Bush focusing on three elements he says is the victory -- the strategy for victory: political, building Iraqi forces, and economic, and focusing more on the economic aspects in the speech, talking about rebuilding infrastructure and helping Iraqis rebuild their economy.

We do have reaction to the president's speech from here in the U.S. and from Iraq as well. White House Correspondent Dana Bash is live in Washington, along with our chief national correspondent, John King, and Capitol Hill correspondent, Ed Henry. Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson will join us from Baghdad.

Plus, we'll hear from the wives of two American servicemen who are on duty in Iraq. They are here with me in the studio in Atlanta.

Dana, first to you and what we heard from the president in the speech. Anything new that we haven't heard in previous speeches?

DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, what's new in this speech, just like the last speech, Daryn, were more details trying to back up the themes that we hear from the White House and we hear from the president over and over again. And the sort of broad crux of this speech, the reason why he gave it, can be summed up in a line that the president used. He said quiet, steady progress doesn't always make the headlines, but it is happening, he insisted, and it is very important.

And in terms of the details, we heard the president try to drill down on two major cities that the White House thinks, perhaps, that the American public might have heard about, certainly in terms of the violence that had been going in the cities of Najaf and Mosul. The president was pretty specific in talking about what went wrong, if you will, in terms of the insurgency there and the way the American military tried to change that, tried to overcome that, but didn't necessarily at first have the right infrastructure in place to immediately change things, , change the psyche of the Iraqi people to make sure that those cities stayed in Iraqi control.

So he talked in detail about those two cities, but he also did talk about the problems that still exist. Talked about the corruption that exists which he says happens in many new democracies and insisted that the American embassy is trying to make sure that that gets better.

But interesting, also, Daryn, that the president talked about the fact that there are issues that the Americans didn't necessarily think would be there. That many of the major things, infrastructure assets like oil, that the Americans that we heard many in this administration talk about before the war that would actually help to pay for the reconstruction itself with that American money, simply wasn't there.

He didn't get into too many details on that, but made pretty clear that some of the infrastructure like oil is dilapidated, and also said that the insurgency is making it very hard to continue the progress. So not the "M" word. We didn't hear the word "mistake," but certainly that was the suggestion that the White House hoped to get across, that the president understands that there had been some misperceptions about the way things would be and they tried to adjust and change the approach because of that.

KAGAN: I was going to say, perhaps the A word for "adjustment."

BASH: Yes.

KAGAN: Dana Bash at the White House.

Thank you.

We do expect to hear from key Democrats, certainly, very soon. They do not see eye-to-eye with President Bush on the situation in Iraq. Find out what their reaction is to the president's speech.

And from Capitol Hill, here is Congressional Correspondent Ed Henry -- Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

They don't see eye-to-eye with the president, and also a lot of noise being made about the fact that a lot of democrats do not see eye-to-eye with one another about what's next. Democrats insisting to us that, despite all these reports about a lack of unity, they are united, in their words, in their feeling that the president has mismanaged the war, but they do admit privately, of course, they are divided on what to do next.

And all eyes now turning to the Democrats a bit as they've been throwing stones. Now the question being raised by Republicans, what do they want to do next?

While the president was speaking, House Democrats were wrapping up a meeting, a closed-door meeting in the basement -- or rather in the Canon Office Building next to the Capitol, where they were trying to hash that very question out: what will they do next?

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi facing some criticism within her ranks for endorsing the resolution of John Murtha, the quick pullout within six months, getting U.S. troops out. We're going to hear from John Murtha publicly at about 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time to respond directly to the president. We're getting a readout about what he said in this closed-door meeting.

We understand that Murtha said to his colleagues -- he was very strong and loud in saying that he believes there are only two plans on the table, the Murtha plan, which Murtha defended amid some criticism from Democrats that it goes too far. He defended it and said he believes it will make America safer.

And he said the other plan is the Bush plan, which is just more of the same, in Murtha's words. He said that really it is no plan, because it is just state course.

After this meeting wrapped up, I asked Nancy Pelosi whether or not she regrets supporting the Murtha resolution. There were various reports out there saying that some of her fellow leaders think that it was a mistake, it could backfire on Democrats at the polls in the midterm elections.

She said -- she told me she has no regrets, and she gave a full- throated defense of the Murtha resolution. And she also went on the attack against the president.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEADER: More of the same in Iraq is not making us safer here at home. More of the same in Iraq is not strengthening our military to protect us at home or anywhere in the world where our interests are threatened. And more of the same in Iraq is not bringing stability to that region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: Democrats also point out it's not like there is unanimous unity on the Republican side. In recent months we've heard from Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, who, like Howard Dean, has suggested that maybe the United States is not winning the war in Iraq. We've also heard from John McCain, the Republican senator, who has suggested that there have not been enough troops in Iraq, and that has gone beyond what the president has said.

So the Democrats also pointing out, look, both sides are having a hard time sorting through this, but the bottom line is that Democrats are feeling very strong that they have changed the nature of this debate with the Murtha resolution and some other real pressure they have put on the White House -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed, one thing we heard in President Bush's speech today, and also from Vice President Dick Cheney earlier, their new best friend, Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democrat from Connecticut, they keep citing him as more evidence of what needs to be done in Iraq.

HENRY: And I can tell you, Democrats up here are gritting their teeth every time they hear that. Of course Joe Lieberman was the 2000 vice presidential nominee for the Democrats. He has been close to this administration, one of the biggest hawks here on the Hill in supporting the war in Iraq.

And Democrats gritting their teeth, because that is deepening the divide among Democrats up here. Every time the president and vice president joyfully cite the words, the op-ed pieces of Joe Lieberman, who just yesterday himself chided his fellow Democrats and said cool these attacks on the commander in chief, whether you like him or not, he's the president for three more years, and if we're going to win in Iraq, you need to get behind him, that's not exactly from the Democratic talking points -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry on Capitol Hill, Dana Bash at the White House.

Thank you.

Meanwhile, in Baghdad, the big news is Saddam Hussein's trial, and he was a no-show today.

With more on that, let's go to Baghdad live and Nic Robertson -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, Saddam Hussein last night threatened that he wouldn't show up in court today. He held good on that threat.

His lawyers met with the judges, the judges gave the lawyers something to work with. They went back to Saddam, and then the trial started without Saddam.

The judge said that Saddam Hussein would be able to be -- to be kept updated of the proceedings in the court. He didn't say exactly how if Saddam Hussein would be able to watch it on television. But there was an empty chair where Saddam Hussein should have been sitting.

Two witnesses, Witness F, Witness G, again giving testimony from behind a curtain so nobody can see them. Their voices were electronically altered. And we heard the same sort of testimony rounded up in their hometown, Dujail, transported to Baghdad, to an intelligence headquarters, where they had -- they were crowded into cells, given very little food. The water was hot, and they said that they were tortured every day.

Witness F then said that they were transported to another jail, Abu Ghraib, on the outside of Baghdad, and then ultimately to a detention facility in the desert.

Now, the judge has adjourned the trial until the 21st of December, a delay that may upset some here who want to see this trial speeded along, they want to see Saddam's execution, as they're calling for, hurried up. But likely, they will also feel pleased that the judge hasn't given into Saddam Hussein's effort to disrupt the trial and essentially try and bring it to a halt. The judge, on that power struggle, completely overruling the former president -- Daryn. KAGAN: Nic Robertson live from Baghdad.

Nic, thank you.

Let's go back to the topic of the president's speech which we just heard live here on CNN. And for that, I want to welcome in Chief National Correspondent John King, and Bill Schneider and Candy Crowley as well.

Welcome back.

John, first to you. Let's talk about the audience that the president spoke to today, the immediate audience, those that were with him in Washington, D.C., the Council on Foreign Relations. A very different reception than we've seen this president receive from the military audiences that he's been speaking to.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And we were talking about that. You asked Bill about that before the speech. Candy and I were talking about it during the speech. There were no boos, there was one -- I think just once some polite applause, not exactly a wave of applause through the room, but some polite applause.

The president is clearly more comfortable in those military settings. But many have told him, Republicans and even some Democrats, have said that's one of the president's problems, he needs to not just speak to the troops, but speak to other people.

Speaking to the establishment, as Bill rightly called them, obviously the president's main audience is the American people. But if he can change the discussion in Washington among the foreign policy elites to say maybe he did make mistakes but there is progress now, that, in and of itself, will be progress for this president.

It may not seem like much, but part of the drive and the political coverage in the emboldened Democrats is that because all of the talk in Washington has been that this policy is back on its heels that the policy is in peril. If the president can change the perception among the foreign policy elites that maybe finally they're getting it right, that will help him.

KAGAN: All right.

Bill, to you. The president trying to paint a picture of what would happen if U.S. troops were suddenly pulled out of Iraq. He said not only would that make for a more dangerous Iraq, but it would be more dangerous for the United States.

He's not had complete success in selling that picture here in the U.S. Why not?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, in part because Americans aren't convinced that we're making progress. They don't believe that the war in Iraq has made the United States safer. Poll after poll shows that. Now, that's an important issue here, because one difference, you know, you often hear analogies between Vietnam and Iraq. The president drew attention to that when he quoted a letter from one of the terrorist leaders saying that the United States ran from Vietnam, they'll run from Iraq. Well, one of the differences is that in the Vietnam War, Americans were never clear on exactly how the Vietnamese, the communists threatened the United States. But in Iraq, in the Middle East, I think the connection is easier to draw.

You know the president started his speech by talking about the terrorist attacks of 9/11, how many people were lost, it was larger in a short period of time than Pearl Harbor. And so to paint a picture that if Iraq becomes a nest of terrorists, they will plot and they will plan attacks on the United States, they will threaten the United States, that has an immediacy to a lot of Americans because of the searing memory of 9/11.

KAGAN: And Candy, to you, the president saying his next speech will focus on the political progress he believes the United States is making in Iraq. With elections right around the corner on December 15, what kind of picture does the president need to paint again to help his cause and the war cause here in the U.S.?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're seeing the same picture being painted, just sort of different colors to fill it in. And I think you'll see what we've seen for the last two speeches, which is, first of all, making that link that Bill just talked about between 9/11 and this war, and then saying, look, it's been rough, it's going to be rough ahead, but we are making progress.

But really, these upcoming elections in Iraq on December 15 are the president's ace in the hole. It's what he's -- this is part of -- it is part of the rollout, if you will, of the president's defense of this war.

They have a lot at stake in those December 15 elections in Iraq. And so all of it is sort of -- all of the series of speeches is rolling into that. And I think when you hear him talk about the politics of it, clearly he's going to talk about the elections they've already had, how many people have voted in those elections, and, you know, facing down a fear of terrorism, that sort of thing.

So I think you will hear pretty much the basic speech that is book-ended by 9/11 and by, yes, it's tough, but we have to keep going. And in the middle of it we will hear about the politics and how they are as well progressing on the political level, which will culminate in these December 15th elections.

KAGAN: Candy Crowley, Bill Schneider, John King, thank you.

Coming up, when the president speaks, you can bet they're listening, their husbands are serving in Iraq. I'll talk with two soldiers's wives about the war, the speech and the politics that effect their family's lives everyday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Few people have more vested in the Iraq conflict than the families of the U.S. troops, every casualty can make their heart skip a beat. Heather Lonkard and Sharise Spellmon have husbands on duty in Iraq, and they are here with me today in Atlanta.

Ladies, thank you for being with me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.

KAGAN: First, I want to know about your husbands the people.

OK, so, Sharise, let's start with you. Your husband is a battalion commander.

SHARISE SPELLMON, SOLDIER'S WIFE: He's a battalion commander in the 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Brigade.

KAGAN: Scott Spellmon.

SPELLMON: Scott Spellmon, yes.

KAGAN: You should tell us who he is.

SPELLMON: Yes. And he's working on many of the projects that President Bush spoke about.

KAGAN: He's working with schools?

SPELLMON: Schools. In fact I spoke to him this morning. When they started, they deployed him last January, and they started out with about 235 projects, his battalion, and now they're up to 700 projects, 110 schools that they've opened, 50 water-treatment plants, and they're hiring Iraqis, local Iraqis, engineers, to do many of the projects.

KAGAN: We should say he's been there almost a year, January, and was injured, came back and went back?

SPELLMON: Yes. Yes. He was wounded, an IED last April, and returned to duty, and he's doing great. He needed to get back and finish the mission.

KAGAN: How is that as his wife to send him back again?

SPELLMON: Well, I know that they are making a huge difference every single day. And I knew he need to get back to the soldiers to finish that mission, and they are making progress, and it's going to affect -- it's affecting a country, generation of children in Iraq, and in the long run, it will also affect our country as well.

KAGAN: Heather, I want to bring you in here. You're doing a different sacrifice. You're a newlywed?

HEATHER LONKARD, SOLDIER'S WIFE: Yes, got married in September of last year.

KAGAN: And your husband has been in Iraq for most of that time?

LONKARD: Yes, January 18th he left.

KAGAN: And tell us about what he's doing.

LONKARD: He's in 130 Bravo Company, and that's in 3rd Brigade as well, from Ft. Benning. And he's infantry. He's a Bradley driver. He's been in four years. He just reenlisted for another six.

KAGAN: So another challenge. There he is. Handsome guy.

Sharise, back to you. So when you hear the president talk about there's progress and helping to build Iraq and they're helping to make a better life for the Iraq people. This is something your husband talks about and is living.

SPELLMON: Yes, every single day. And a lot of those stories, like the president said, they're smaller, they don't make the headlines every day. My husband told me about in October, a school for 300 little girls that they opened. The faculty and children were so proud to give tours of the new school, they had flowers. And my husband called me and said he was so touched, soldiers were getting to leave in the courtyard, the little girls surrounded them and cheered and applauded them.

And they are making a difference every day. And as family members we see that, we hear about the stories, and we know they're making a difference in the lives of most children, and the people there are very happy to have them there. There is, of course, the insurgents, and there are people that don't want them there, but most people want to have a normal life; they want to live their lives, send their children to school and shop.

KAGAN: Beside your husbands, you are make the ultimate sacrifice in supporting what's happening there. Is it worth it to you and your families?

SPELLMON: It is.

LONKARD: I think so. I think so.

SPELLMON: It's part of the global war on terror. And I truly believe that. And we were attacked on September 11th and actually before that, and as a military spouse, we have -- you know, it's touched us especially with the military people who have been hurt and family members and we see that.

KAGAN: And, Heather, you feel the same way.

LONKARD: I do, 100 percent.

KAGAN: With the sacrifice that you're making.

LONKARD: It's worth it in the long run. He's over there for our family. He's over there fighting for us. He's over there fighting for all of us. KAGAN: And what do you say to the American people, about look at what President Bush is doing and the kind of decisions that he's making and saying they don't agree with how he's carrying on with the war?

SPELLMON: Well, our soldiers have a mission, and there's a big picture. And when you look at big picture of what it means to our country in the long run. Al Qaeda is not going away. I mean, we are there. They attacked us September 11th. So we saw that firsthand in the United States.

And, you know, we know that if we make a difference in Iraq and give those people freedom and a chance, they will see that it's a better life than joining the insurgents, and they want, like I said, their children to go to school, they want to shop and have a normal life, and that's a better life than having war, civil war among their own people.

KAGAN: Well, we thank your husbands for their service and we thank you for your service, too, because what you're doing at home is very, very important.

SPELLMON: Thank you for having us.

KAGAN: Thank you, Charise Spellmon and Heather Lonkard, thank you for making the drive up here from Ft. Benning. Appreciate your time.

We're going to keep it in Washington and bring in our chief national correspondent John King, who has an interview with the U.S. ambassador to Iraq -- John.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATL. CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, thank you. And joining us from Baghdad is the U.S. ambassador to Iraq, the president's point man on the ground, Zalmay Khalilzad.

Sir, thank you very much for joining us. Thank you for joining us live on CNN. I want to tell you as well that Daryn Kagan perhaps will jump in and help me with the questioning here.

We will get to the president's speech in a minute, Mr. Ambassador, but I want to ask you first about a quote in this week's Newsweek magazine. You were quoted as saying, "I've been authorized by the president to engage the Iranians as I engaged them in Afghanistan -- directly."

As you well know, we don't have diplomatic relations with Iran. We have not since the hostage crisis. But you have had some meetings with Iranian officials.

ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: Right.

KING: What are we talking about in the context of Iraq? Are we talking about minor meetings to deal with border issues? Or are we talking about major diplomacy?

Explain your role, sir.

KHALILZAD: Well, we have not had the conversation with them yet, but our intent is to engage them on what they are doing here in Iraq, telling them that while we do not seek a hostile relationship between Iran and Iraq, we also do not want the Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs.

We do not want arms to come across the Iranian borders to insurgents or to militias; that we do not want for the Iranians to train militia forces; that we do not want them to seek to dominate regions of Iraq or some institutions of the central government; that we want Iran to play a positive role in helping Iraq through this difficult transition that Iraq is going through.

KING: A diplomatic answer, and I want to ask Daryn to jump in after this answer if she wants to.

But, Mr. Ambassador, by saying you do not want them to send weapons across the border, you do not want them to train militias, you do not want them to interfere and to try to and exercise influence in Iraq -- I assume what you're saying is they're doing too much of that, all of those things, in your view right now and you want it to stop?

KHALILZAD: That is right. We think that Iran is following a two-track policy. On the one hand, it's engaging the government, supporting the government, developing economic relations, political relationships. But on the other hand, it's also working with some groups that are working against the new order in Iraq -- through the means that I described.

Also, the Iranian mass media describes our presence there -- which is under United Nations' authority -- as occupation. We want them to stop that. So there's a lot to talk to them about. But as I said before, we're not seeking to impose our overall differences with Iran on Iraqi relations with Iran, but we simply want Iran to stop the negative things that it's doing in relation to Iraq.

KAGAN: I'll jump in here Mr. Ambassador -- Daryn Kagan at CNN in Atlanta.

I know you come to your service in Iraq from acting as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan -- what you learned from service there and how it can be applied there in Iraq and the economic progress you are seeing or not seeing, sir?

KHALILZAD: Well, two things. One is that you've got to have an integrated strategy. Your military effort has to be integrated into the political and economic efforts -- and there has to be balance between the various instruments.

You shouldn't overemphasize the military instruments. And if that's the only instrument you have, it would be like having a hammer as the only instrument and soon everything looks like a nail.

So I bring with me, from my experience in Afghanistan, an emphasis on political engagement with various forces as well as decentralized economic development.

We had provincial reconstruction teams in Afghanistan that helped in the development of the provinces of Afghanistan. We are doing the same thing here. We already have three provincial reconstruction teams that have been established in three different provinces to help with the local government, to work with the local people.

And, as the president said in his speech, we're also doing more decentralized economic reconstruction effort, using more local companies, putting more Iraqi employees to work, and also consulting more with Iraqis and emphasizing projects that they think is important to them, with an emphasis on quick results, so the Iraqi people can see their situation improve.

KAGAN: And what -- go ahead, John.

KING: No, Daryn, please.

KAGAN: I was just going ask the ambassador, Mr. Ambassador, what will you be looking for on the December 15th elections?

KHALILZAD: Well one, of course, progress on the economic, security and political tracks are important for success in Iraq -- and progress in one can have a good effect on the other.

On the political track, we're looking at increased political participation -- particularly from those who did not participate in the elections, the Sunni Arabs. I anticipate that they will participate in greater numbers than they did during the previous election and during the constitutional referendum on October the 15th. And the next assembly, therefore, will be a representative assembly and that assembly will have a very important role because not only they will have the opportunity to amend the constitution, to make that constitution into a truly national compact which is necessary, but also pass more than 50 laws to implement the various key articles of the constitution.

And at the same time, that assembly will elect a permanent government for four years. And we hope and anticipate that that assembly will act quickly, select a government very quickly and select a strong and competent government.

KING: Mr. Ambassador, John King again. One of your many, many difficult challenges is dealing with one of the issues the president mentioned in his speech today -- and that is corruption.

Tell us, sir, in your view, how much U.S. taxpayer dollars have been wasted to corruption in Iraq -- and specifically, what are you doing to fix it?

KHALILZAD: Well, there's no doubt that with regard to our reconstruction effort, there were mistakes that were made. There is no doubt that some American taxpayers' money was spent inappropriately in the reconstruction projects.

There has been also a lot of Iraqi money that has gone into various programs, and some of that has been wasted and has gone to corruption.

And what we're doing is that we have helped Iraqis establish, in their ministries, investigative teams. We've got integrity offices, public integrity offices, audit offices to bring these negative practices, when they take place, to light. And to emphasize in the appointment of people -- their record in terms of public integrity has to be taken into account; and at the same time, to bring people to justice when there are allegations of fraud, mismanagement and corruption.

KING: A very difficult time for you, Mr. Ambassador.

KHALILZAD: It's a tough problem of course -- thank you.

KING: Thank you, sir.

KHALILZAD: It is a difficult time, but I think we're making progress.

KHALILZAD: We're sorry for the glitches with the satellite hookup. You say you're make progress; the American people are certainly watching. Even many Democrats critical of the president's policy give the ambassador in Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, high marks.

Mr. Ambassador, thank you for joining us today.

KHALILZAD: Well, thank you very much, John. I appreciate that.

KING: And, Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: We give him and you high marks for dealing with the satellite delay there. John, thank you, and thank you to the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. We've been asking you at home how you would define victory in Iraq, and we've received some very interesting e- mail from you.

Roger in Phoenix, Arizona says, "I would define victory in Iraq as getting our troops out. Alive. Period."

Moving on to the next e-mail. This would be, I believe from Vince in Roswell, "Defining victory 1) Record Election Turnout 2) Sunni's beginning to move positively to elected government 3) Iraq military controlling 80 percent of the secured towns 4) media reflecting above results 5) more Democrats moving to support war, aka Lieberman." That's from Vince in Roswell, Georgia.

Trish in Oregon, I believe Salem, Oregon, yes, Salem, Oregon -- say, "My definition of victory in Iraq would be for the Bush administration to admit that we never should have invaded in the first place and to begin bringing the troops home."

And finally Joel in Jacksonville, North Carolina says, "I would define true victory in Iraq by total annihilation or acceptance of and by the insurgents against the "American way" and democracy."

Thank you to all of you. Got a lot of good e-mail. Thanks for logging onto CNN.com and giving us your thoughts what victory in Iraq would mean to you.

We have a lot more news ahead. Right now quick break. We're back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This just into CNN. We're watching a situation at Fort Lonesome, Florida. This is very near Tampa, Florida. A construction accident. We're getting word that a construction worker was pinned between two construction vehicles. We do believe that rescuers have been able to get him out. In fact, it looks like he's on a stretcher. We're not sure about the condition of the man. But it looks like they're getting ready to move him to get him more intense medical attention. More on that as information becomes available from near Tampa, Florida.

The committee that's investigating the response to Hurricane Katrina is shifting its focus today to Mississippi. Among other things, lawmakers want to know why it took a week to get food and water into the state.

CNN's Kathleen Koch is following today's hearing from our Washington bureau. Kathleen, hello.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Daryn. This has been very different from the hearings we've seen on Louisiana that have been replete with in-fighting and accusations. The House committee investigating the response to Hurricane Katrina today has been praising state and local leaders in Mississippi for their preparedness and for working together.

Most seem to agree that the problem was the federal response that items, as you mentioned, like food, water and ice requested, before the storm didn't arrive until six days after Katrina struck -- infuriating to citizens to local leaders like Congressman Gene Taylor, whose home in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was reduced to rubble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. GENE TAYLOR (D), MISSISSIPPI: My home county was down to one satellite phone. We were down to issuing one MRE per person per day. My local elected officials were reduced to looting the Wal-Mart, the K-Mart, the Winn-Dixie, in order to keep people from starving to death. I think the world's greatest nation is capable of better than that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: Recovery is still moving very slowly right now. In Mississippi, less half of the debris left by Hurricane Katrina has been removed, and governor insists the state needs more federal help.

Well, we did have sound for...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... Congress has to act. As the "Hattiesburg American Newspaper" asked December 1st, where is the money for highways? The answer to that is it's stalled in Congress. The result is that our state department of transportation has had to stop rebuilding roads and bridges so the reopening of our transportation network's delayed. If people can't get to work or if they can't get to your store, the private sector can't rebuild our communities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: One committee member continues to be incensed that the White House is not providing the e-mails and other documents on the Katrina response that the committee has requested. He said at this morning's meeting that he plans to next week ask that that information be subpoenaed unless the White House begins to cooperate -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Kathleen Koch on our Washington bureau. Thank you.

KOCH: You bet.

KAGAN: Looking at New Orleans now, the question a lot of people are asking, why should we come back? That pointed question was asked by a hurricane evacuee at a town hall meeting last night. The people in charge of advising Mayor Ray Nagin on how to rebuild New Orleans are going from city to city, they're talking to evacuees.

Here in Atlanta, they heard a lot of confusion and frustration and they also heard some ideas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) but it's going to be a minute before the city get back on the map. I would like for -- just let us to come in here and rebuild the city. I hope they don't throw the red tape on us. They're not going to clean our city up. Our city got destroyed, we got destroyed. That everybody in the community pay us to clean it up.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The rebuilding effort is about to get a shot in the arm. Former presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton are in New Orleans today. The two have spearheaded a massive fundraising effort that's brought in at least $100 million. This afternoon they'll announce how that money is going to be spent. Some of it is expected to go to Xavier University and the University of New Orleans. The former presidents will be Larry King's guests tonight. That's 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

More news in a moment. And this is December 7th. On this day, 64 years ago, Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor, thrusting the United States into World War II. We're back after this.

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KAGAN: These pictures just into us here at CNN. Actually, they're live pictures from Miami, Florida. Firefighters on the scene of a mobile home fire. They're just in the midst of putting that out. No word on if anybody was home at the time. But one thing that the firefighters deal with earlier was the high winds -- made it very difficult for firefighters to do their job in Miami, Florida.

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KAGAN: Events are being held across the U.S. today to mark what was arguably the defining event of the 20th century. Sixty-four years ago, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other military bases on Oahu (ph) in Hawaii. The bombs fell for two hours. When it was over, more than 23,000 people, mostly servicemen, were dead. More than 1,100 were wounded and the nation was left in shock and anger.

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FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: December 7th, 1941, a date which will live in infamy.

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KAGAN: The next day, President Franklin Roosevelt asked for and received a declaration of war. America was now thrust into World War II, a conflict it had been reluctant to join.

I'm Daryn Kagan. International news is up next. Stay tuned for "YOUR WORLD TODAY" with Jim Clancy and Zain Verjee. After a quick break, we leave you with a look at Christmas in the White House with some of the first pets.

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GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Barney, I hear you've been hiding Beazley's gift all around the White House. Uh oh. What is it we have here? Now, Ms. Beazley, I understand you've been a media hound. Perhaps this is a case of sibling rivalry. Both of you are important part of our family and you have to remember the true meaning of the holiday season. Now, you two run on. I've got a lot of work to do.

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