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Your World Today

Spain Struggles With Influx of Immigrants From Africa; Fight Against Terror; Former Peruvian President Alan Garcia Regains Office in Runoff

Aired June 05, 2006 - 12:00   ET

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

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Illegal immigration. In Europe and in the United States, governments taking measures to try to clamp down, but will it stem the tide of desperate people seeking new lives?
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The comeback kid. Former Peruvian president Alan Garcia appears to have won the presidential runoff. What are the factors at play?

CLANCY: Plus, World Cup fever. How much are you willing to pay to get into one of the most anticipated events in all of sports?

GORANI: You could pay a lot.

It's 11:00 a.m. in Lima, Peru; noon in Washington, D.C.

I'm Hala Gorani.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy.

Welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world.

This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

And we're going to begin our report with that growing concern worldwide over illegal immigration and the tactics being employed to fight it.

GORANI: Now, in the United States, the first group of National Guard troops sent by President George Bush are reporting for duty on the Mexican border.

CLANCY: Meantime, overseas, one European country threatening to send its illegal immigrants to other European capitals.

GORANI: Well, it's a dangerous, desperate journey across unforgiving waters for some, yet many Africans are risking their lives for the chance of a better life in Spain. They are part of the rising tide of illegal immigrants hoping to make their way to Europe. But even those who succeed often find that they are not welcome.

Paula Newton reports from the Canary Islands.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It's a daily ritual now...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're seeing in some cases up to four or five a day.

NEWTON: ... that has the Red Cross on the move...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to be ready. Should have this field hospital up in about 10 minutes or so.

NEWTON: ... day and night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of the time they're absolutely soaking wet. A change of clothes, basically it's a track suit. And then a change of underwear, a couple of T-shirts and socks.

NEWTON: In less than half an hour, this pier on the Canary Islands has a new purpose, getting the basics of life to those who have been at sea for weeks. The rescue boat rolls in and 63 illegal immigrants from Africa roll off.

We're told they barely made it. Their boat was close to collapse in the waters of the Atlantic after a bleak 10-day journey from Senegal. Some are so young and so scared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You just have to look at their eyes and you see the desperation. They arrive here, and they're pretty afraid. It must be a huge culture shock.

NEWTON: The Spanish government estimates that more than 9,000 Africans have already come to Spain via the Canaries so far this year. That's twice as many as all of last year.

They are warmly welcomed and clothed. They are fed, checked out medically, but likely they won't be getting what they really want, a new home.

(on camera): After some terrifying days at sea, these people think they're home free now, they've made it. What they don't know is that the Spanish government is already negotiating to send them back.

(voice over): And this regional official warns if Europe doesn't follow through with promises to help Spain, Africans will be shipped to other European cities.

MIGUEL BECERRA, POLICY ADVISER, CANARIES GOVERNMENT (through translator): The only solution if they don't help us, we will take them to Brussels, we will take them to Paris, we will take them to Madrid, because they can't stay in the Canaries.

NEWTON: These Spanish islands off the coast of Morocco are a magnet for tourists and illegal immigrants. For many it has become their gateway to Europe and a new life. Until now.

The Senegalese government accused Spain of mistreating the would- be immigrants, handcuffing them and lying to them to get them on a plane back home. The Spanish government denies the immigrants were ever mistreated.

(on camera): Were they handcuffed?

BECERRA (through translator): You have to understand, there are 100 people in one airplane. You have to have security measures. They're not prisoners.

NEWTON (voice over): The police keep us from talking to them. They escort them to a detention center until they are deported or in some cases set free after 40 days to roam Europe illegally.

It all so angers Moussa Ndiaye, a Senegalese who came here five years ago to support his wife and children. He says he doesn't support illegal immigration, but he says Spain is panicking and Europe is being racist, welcoming white immigrants but not people like him.

He says, "These people come here, leaving everything behind, knowing they can lose their lives any minute, any hour, any day. They know they can die." "Why?" he says.

Why? They tell aid workers again and again, like a chorus, better to die at sea than live in Africa. It is a chilling message that is brought home to Europe every day now.

Paula Newton, CNN, Spain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CLANCY: And every day along the U.S.-Mexico border there is the continuing problem of illegal aliens coming across that border seeking the same goals, a better life. This time in the United States. Well, this day, at least 50 National guard troops have arrived. They're the first that will be to deploy along the border.

We're going to get a live report a little bit later this hour from Arizona right at the border. We'll be joined by Kareen Wynter for that. All the details about why these troops are there, what they hope to accomplish.

GORANI: For now, though, we turn our attention to this, the man with a mission. European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is on his way to Iran, hoping carrots will be more effective than sticks. Solana has with him a package of incentives this time. The aim, to persuade Tehran to abandon it's plan to make nuclear fuel. He's expected to present his proposals on Tuesday when he meets with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani.

CLANCY: Now, authorities are taking steps against perceived terrorist threats on both sides of the Atlantic today, and they're dealing with questions about how they're operated.

GORANI: In Canada, 17 people are in custody in what authorities say was a plot involving a huge amount of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer that can be converted to an explosive.

CLANCY: Meantime, across the Atlantic, in Britain, police dealing with the fallout from another terrorist raid.

GORANI: Well, in Canada, details now on the charges against the men and boys arrested will likely be made public at a hearing on Tuesday. A lawyer for two of the suspects says the charges are vague, but many are wondering why the young men, all citizens or residents of Canada, could even consider an attack on their own homeland?

Rosemary Thompson reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSEMARY THOMPSON, REPORTER, CTV (voice over): It's alleged the homegrown terror cell trained in Canada became radicalized in Canada, and that the Internet played a critical role.

STOCKWELL DAY, CANADIAN PUBLIC SECURITY MINISTER: This is a phenomenon that's worldwide, the ability for people to go on the Internet and pick up certain types of information.

THOMPSON: Like the London bombers, it's alleged the Canadian suspects were disenfranchised youth.

DAY: And 99.99 percent of young Canadians do buy into Canadian ideals. And here we have a tiny handful that have not, but that is a cause for concern. And that's why we have security forces with increased resources to deal with it.

THOMPSON: But the Internet and sites that promote hatred have many young Muslims worried.

HALIMA MAUTBUR, CAIR-CANADA: Whether it's the terrorists who or talking about hate -- and perhaps it's important for our policymakers to re-examine that situation, how to stop that kind of hate from spreading.

THOMPSON: Police aren't being specific about the motive, only saying that it was political. Many people in the Muslim community believe Canada's role in America's war on terror may be a factor.

Tarek Fatah Spoke to CTV's "Question Period."

TAREK FATAH, MUSLIM CANADIAN CONGRESS: After five years of this war on terrorism, instead of terrorism going down it has accentuated. It has increased.

THOMPSON: On Saturday, after congratulating 200 new recruits to Canada's expanding military, the prime minister offered this motive.

STEPHEN HARPER, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: We are a target because of who we are and how we live -- our society, our diversity, and our values. Values such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

THOMPSON: Comments that disturbed at least one prominent member of Toronto's Muslim community.

ZAFAR BANGASH, DIRECTOR, ICIT: He should refrain from making statements like that when the case is before the courts. I think he should respect the courts of law as well. He's not above the law.

THOMPSON (on camera): All of this may spark a debate in Ottawa about why some young people born in Canada, educated in Canadian schools, could become so disillusioned to take part in such a plot and how to combat the material on the Internet that allegedly inspired them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GORANI: Well, that was rosemary Thompson of CTV reporting -- Jim.

CLANCY: All right. Continuing the focus on terror, looking back after a six-month investigation, a new report now on the July 7th London bombings is out. It cites acts of heroism but documents communication failures in trying to respond to the bombings. Fifty- two people were killed, 700 others wounded in last year's attacks on Britain's transit system.

The assessment says procedures established by the Civil Contingencies Act were not followed, and emergency services failed to put the needs of people above the process itself. But the issue that concerned the panel the most is the breakdown in communication systems that complicated all of the response efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD BARNES, LONDON ASSEMBLY MEMBER: The rollout of airwave digital radio systems across all services is essential, and delays are unconscionable. It is 18 years since a fellow report on the (INAUDIBLE), and still we do not have communications for emergency services underground. And it will not in place, we are told, until 2007.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CLANCY: Now, the committee chairman you just saw there, Richard Barnes, says his team is going to be monitoring the implementation of the new communications system -- Hala.

GORANI: Meanwhile, in another anti-terrorism effort, police have so far come up empty handed after Friday's raid in London. You will remember they were reportedly looking for chemical weapons. Two brothers at the time were arrested. One of them was shot during the raid.

Lawyers for both men say they deny involvement in terrorist activities. A British judge has given police authority to hold the men for questioning until Wednesday, a couple more days. Authorities declined to comment on reports they acted on faulty intelligence.

CLANCY: His last shot, as it ended with economic crisis, but a former president of Peru apparently getting now a second chance -- Hala.

GORANI: Yes. When YOUR WORLD TODAY returns, we will look at the political comeback of Alan Garcia and see why voters chose to send an ally of Hugo Chavez packing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Welcome back to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world.

What do you do if you're newly unemployed and widely considered to be a failure at your last job? Well, if you're Alan Garcia, you wait about 16 years and try to get your old job back. That's exactly what he did on Sunday.

Unofficial results now show Peru's voters are sending the former president back to the top spot he held from 1985 to 1990. Garcia defeats a former army officer endorsed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, that new left sweep going on in Latin America.

The once and future president, though, cast the result as a blow against Mr. Chavez's regional ambitions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALAN GARCIA, PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (through translator): Today the majority of the country has delivered a message in favor of national independence, of national sovereignty, and they have defeated the efforts of Mr. Hugo Chavez to integrate us into his militaristic and backward expansion project that he intends to impose over South America. Today Peru said no.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, the election result bucks a leftward trend in Latin American politics that has been symbolized by the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez. Garcia's victory will be received positively in Washington, where Mr. Chavez has long been a thorn.

Joining us now with more on the election results, as well as U.S. reaction, we're joined by our colleague from CNN En Espanol, Juan Carlos Lopez.

Juan Carlos, why would Peruvians elect a man whose first term between '85 and 1990 was widely seen as an economic disaster?

JUAN CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: Well, initial analysis of that election, Hala, is seen as people voting for the lesser of two evils. That was the interpretation that was given.

It was seen as this fight between Alan Garcia, who had gone into a confrontation with President Chavez publicly that involved President Alexandro Toledo on alleged intervention of the Venezuela president in the Peruvian electoral process. And the election results seen -- tend to show that people in the north were more favorable to vote for President-Elect Garcia, until results aren't confirmed, and people in the poorer regions were voting for Ollanta Humala, who had received the support of President Chavez and who had publicly tried to distance himself from Chavez because it seems that that whole controversy had an effect in the election. GORANI: So, Juan Carlos, Peruvians are saying that the candidate who was supported by Hugo Chavez is not their choice for president. How does this impact regional politics?

LOPEZ: It's very interesting. There's -- the official statement from the State Department in Washington congratulates Peruvians on the electoral process. It congratulations Alan Garcia on his apparent victory, and President Toledo. And it's obviously seen as a positive development in the region.

It was seen as an attempt by President Chavez to have a wider influence in the region. And now Alan Garcia has been very outspoken, saying he won't have that influence. So it tends to shift the balance right now and this whole sweep to the left that has been talked about. It's going to be interesting to see what happens now because President Chavez has threatened to break diplomatic relations with Peru if Alan Garcia was elected. He seems to have been elected, and everybody is going to be looking at Venezuela's next step.

GORANI: All right.

Juan Carlos Lopez joining us live from Washington.

Thank you.

CLANCY: Very interesting developments there in Latin America.

We have got more news ahead after a break.

GORANI: And that's coming up, as well as the U.S. Senate beginning debate over a proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage. A political divide or a division based on convictions?

More ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Daryn Kagan at CNN Center in Atlanta. More of YOUR WORLD TODAY in just a few minutes. First, though, a check of stories making headlines here in the U.S.

A ban on same-sex marriage, should it be part of the U.S. Constitution? Senators are now debating that issue, and President Bush is weighing in once again with his support for a ban. The issue is stirring plenty of emotions as the midterm elections draw closer.

To the White House now and our Ed Henry.

Ed, hello.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Daryn.

In fact, White House spokesman Tony Snow today trying to downplay the president's remarks coming about 1:45 Eastern Time today. Snow claiming the media's over-hyping this story a bit, but some of the president's fellow conservatives say some of this hype was sparked by the president himself.

He hit this issue hard in the 2004 election. It helped him get reelected. Conservative leaders say that raised their expectations that he would act on this, but instead the president has been relatively quiet.

That's why conservatives are now happy that he's stepping forward and going to be speaking out today, while liberals charge that this conservative glee just shows why it's all about the president whipping up support for the midterm elections.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY PERKINS, PRESIDENT, FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL: Well, there has been some concern that this was an issue that was important enough to campaign on in the 2004 election cycle by Republicans in general, but it's not been important enough to act upon yet. So there has been some concern, but there's encouragement that the president is stepping up his support of the amendment publicly, beginning with his radio address over the weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT HARDIES, OPPOSES GAY MARRIAGE BAN: For the president of the United States to write discrimination into the Constitution in order to boost his poll numbers is shameful and a violation of his stewardship of the Constitution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: As you can see there, we're certainly in for a passionate debate, but this constitutional amendment is definitely going to fail in the Senate. It's going to fall far short of needing the super majority of 67 votes to pass -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ed Henry at the White House.

Ed, thank you.

And you will hear President Bush's remarks on the proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Live coverage coming up in about an hour and a half, 1:45 p.m. Eastern.

To Texas now. She is only five days only, and for her family the last hours have been agonizing. She's missing, and she is sick.

Texas has issued an Amber Alert for the newborn believed to have been snatched by a woman posing as a nurse. Just last hour, police officials in Lubbock updated this developing story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. ROY BASSETT, LUBBOCK, TEXAS, POLICE: Investigators have been working through the night following up leads. We have had a significant number of calls related to the Amber Alert that was put out.

One of the things that came out somewhat late last night and I've had some calls on this morning, there was a subject of interest who was stopped and subsequently arrested at a local heart hospital. Everything that we have right now indicates that this lady was not involved in this incident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Lieutenant Bassett also said there's nothing to suggest that the suspect had any connection to the hospital whatsoever.

He is out of drug rehab and ready for work. Representative Patrick Kennedy made his first public appearance today since leaving the Mayo Clinic. The Rhode Island congressman checked in nearly one month ago for addiction treatment. Kennedy crashed his car near the U.S. Capitol building on May 5th. He described the accident as a wake-up call and said he was grateful nobody was hurt.

Race, diversity and public schools? Affirmative action is again in front of the Supreme Court. The justices will decide if race can be used as a leg up for children to get into certain public schools.

Three years ago, the high court agreed that racial quotas in colleges are unconstitutional. Now it will look at the role that affirmative action plays in grades one through 12.

Jacqui Jeras is here with a look at today's weather.

Jacqui, hello.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hey, Daryn.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Jacqui, thank you.

It could be love underwater. Well, they're just kind of cruising right now, but they might hook up.

Two female whale sharks have moved into the Georgia Aquarium. They have been joined -- they are joining two males that have been in the swim there for months now. Aquarium workers are hoping the pairs -- well, you know, they might mate, but it's going to take some time. The females need to grow several more feet before they can reproduce.

And on that note, today on "LIVE FROM," the politics of marriage. Among Kyra Phillips' guests will be political activist Chrissy Gephardt, the openly gay daughter of Congressman Dick Gephardt.

YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a quick break.

I'm Daryn Kagan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CLANCY: Welcome back, everyone. This is YOUR WORLD TODAY.

I'm Jim Clancy.

GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani. Here are some of the top stories we're following for you.

Authorities in Canada have arrested 17 people suspected of plotting to bomb major buildings in the Toronto area. A lawyer for two of the suspects says the charges are vague. Meanwhile, a Canadian newspaper reports that police nabbed the suspects in a sting operation.

CLANCY: A report on the response to last July's London bombing cites heroism, as well as some failures of communications. Fifty-two people were killed in the attacks on the transit system, 700 more wounded. This assessment says procedures established by the Civil Contingencies Act simply were not followed.

GORANI: The face is the same, but Peruvians have to hope for a better performance this time around. This after former president Alan Garcia recaptured the top job in a runoff election on Sunday. Garcia defeated a former army official being championed by the Venezuelan president, Hugo Chavez.

CLANCY: Well, now to the U.S.-Mexican border. Let's go to Arizona, where more than 50 National Guard troops have arrived there to begin a new mission. They'll be the first troops to deploy under President Bush's plan to try to stem the flow of illegal immigration.

Kareen Wynter join us now from San Luis, Arizona.

Kareen, what is the mission? How -- if you can explain it to our international audience, how will these soldiers make a difference?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They make a difference in alleviating the load that border patrol agents in this stretch of the Arizona sector have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, Jim. We're talking everything from electrical issues, or trying to repair the fence if it's damaged. All of that, President Bush really wanted to emphasize and his purpose for sending the National Guard, here, that it's going to be on the shoulder of the troops that are coming in.

On Saturday, 55 members from Utah came here and they're going to be helping on that end, in terms of the fieldwork. Behind me you can see some of what is going on right now, Jim. We're standing on sand, and it's very difficult, rugged terrain for agents to maneuver every day. For example, if they spot someone trying to cross the border illegally, it's difficult sometimes catching up with them because of that.

So, what they're doing is trying to level off the pavement, clear away this ground, but not just that, about half a mile down the road, they are also working on, continuing on building the existing fence here. They will be implementing new light structures to help with the visibility. So, we have a whole array of tasks here that border patrol agents will push to the side temporarily, for a year. That's how long this deployment will be. This specific unit will be here for about two weeks.

But, in terms of the project, right now we have with us, Major McIntire with the Utah National Guard. Tell us more on what we're seeing behind us and what the goal here is.

MAJOR MCINTIRE, UTAH NATIONAL GUARD: The goal here is to, as you mentioned, to continue to support the border patrol efforts, to make it easier for them to do their jobs. We're here to provide some infrastructure support, construction support, to make it so that they can focus of what their mission is, to secure and control the border.

WYNTER: No law enforcement issues, however. It's only an administrative process in terms of helping here?

MCINTIRE: Yes, we are here in a supporting role, and we support the border patrol and what they're doing as far as providing them with the tools and the abilities to do so with the infrastructure, but their job is the law enforcement and we are going to be here supporting them.

WYNTER: Very hot right now, it can get up into the triple digits. It's in the 90's today, but even this can be quite brutal.

MCINTIRE: Yes, it's a very hot, dusty environment and so we want to make sure the soldiers hydrate properly and we have our medics on site to monitor them as well, and we're focused on the mission. Some challenges, obstacles with the environment but we're here to do the job.

WYNTER: And your men are here for two weeks, before the second wave of troops come in to pick up, to take over. How much work can you accomplish in that time?

MCINTIRE: We expect to be able to do quite a bit. We expect that we'll be able to do about a mile's stretch of the road here, maybe 1,000 meters of fence, and in place several dozen lights along the border crossing. So, we'll accomplish a great deal while we're here.

WYNTER: Major Hank McIntire, thank you so much for your time. We'll throw it back to you. Jim?

CLANCY: All right, Kareen Wynter reporting to us there from San Luis in Arizona, on a hot, dusty, sandy border. Thank you.

GORANI: The 2006 World Cup is imminent, but despite best efforts, there may be no way of avoiding soccer becoming a political football. Kicking off the controversy is Iran's president. As Tim Lister explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIM LISTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In between speeches on Iran's nuclear program and oil supplies, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad found time to greet Iran's national football squad, before it left for Germany. As he received his own shirt, bearing number 24, the president said he'd try to travel to Germany, if the team makes it to the second round. Before leaving the players kissed the Koran.

A few hours later they were arriving in a very wet Friedrichshafen to a boisterous welcome from some of the Iranians living in Germany. After some good performances in their run-up to the cup. The Iranians are optimistic they can qualify from their group, which includes Portugal, Mexico, and Angola.

Asked about politics, striker Vahid Hashemian told reporters, we're here to think about football, not politics. But politics may be hard to avoid. A far right party in Germany plans to demonstrate it's support for President Akhmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

No such demonstrations will follow the team from Trinidad and Tobago, though a carnival may. The town of Rottenburg has been looking forward to their arrival and had a steel bad and plenty of Trinidadian flags to greet them. It's Trinidad and Tobago's first World Cup appearance.

DWIGHT YORKE, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CAPTAIN: It's a very historical moment for our people, for our team, for our country. We're here to enjoy every minute of it.

LISTER: The soccer warriors, as they're known, are not just here to make up the numbers.

SHAKA HISLOP, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO GOALKEEPER: I expect that we're going to surprise somebody in our group. We've got at least one surprise up our sleeves, you know, but we're realistic.

LISTER: Still, they've already won over one town in Germany.

And the Mexican squad is winning over another. Nearly 15,000 people turned out in Goettingen to see them play a local team. Mexico ran in three goals but no one seemed to be counting. Maybe they were still recovering from the boystrous welcoming ceremony the night before. Mexico's first game is against Iran, next Saturday.

Tim lister, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GORANI: Well, despite the Iranian's president vow, he may not be able to go to Germany to see his country's team in action. A group of European parliament members wants to stop him. 75 lawmakers from a variety of political groups in the EU have signed a petition urging that course. It's gone to the EU president, Austria, and football's governing body, FIFA.

They say a visit by Mr. Ahmadinejad would send the wrong signal, in light of his comments, questioning whether the Holocaust occurred and saying Israel should be wiped off the map.

CLANCY: And that brings us to the question of the day.

GORANI: Alright, should Iran's president be allowed to travel to Germany for the world cup?

CLANCY: Here is a controversial one. You can e-mail us at ywt@CNN.com. As always, we welcome your comments and we're going to be reading some of them out here on the air, just a little bit later in the program.

GORANI: Coming up on the Palestinian power struggle, spilling into a television station.

CLANCY: When we come back, we're going to tell you the story of how armed militants left a television studio in shambles, beat a couple of the people inside. They were protesting the authority of Mahmoud Abbas. Just one sign of the very troubled times for the Palestinian leadership. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GORANI: Welcome back.

CLANCY: This is YOUR WORLD TODAY, and this is CNN International.

GORANI: Let's take you to Iraq now, a country desperate for law and order, but still rudderless in key security posts.

CLANCY: Today saw a mass kidnapping in the very heart of Baghdad. That underscores the reach of the insurgency and the desperation and urgency of the crisis. The Interior Ministry saying gunmen that were wearing police uniforms abducted 50 people at bus stations and transportation companies on Monday.

GORANI: Over the weekend, north of Baghdad, police say gunmen dragged 24 people from vehicles, mostly teenage students. Sunnis were separated from Shiites and then released. The 20 Shiites were shot dead.

CLANCY: Despite the pressing need for security, parliament still cannot agree on who should be running the Army, the Defense Ministry, and who should have the Police, the Interior Ministry. Posts have been vacant now since last month.

GORANI: Amid all this, the trial of Saddam Hussein resuming in Baghdad but adjourned after less than three hours. The judge accused the defense of delaying tactics by not presenting witnesses quickly enough.

CLANCY: Now for a critical look at the situation in Iraq, how did it go so bad, Washington's role in trying to help stabilize the country, how successful, we are joined by retired U.S. marine colonel Thomas Hammes. He is the author of "The Sling and the Stone." He joins us from London.

Thank you for being with us. As you look at the situation in Iraq, it's been noted that the last month, the month of May, 2006, the worst ever in this conflict. Why are things going from bad to worse?

THOMAS HAMMES, RETIRED U.S. MARINE COLONEL: Well, I think it's been a long-term developing problem in that we have failed to provide security. The very first thing you have to do in a counterinsurgency is provide security. We have failed to do that, as obvious from the death figures in a number of the provinces and the disturbances in Baghdad and Basra.

And then on top of that the administration keeps giving signs to the Iraqi people that we're getting ready to pull out. They have cut funding for reconstruction. They cut funding for democratization. The new budget proposes a cut in the in-strength in the marine corps and the army. The result is the Iraqis are losing faith that we'll stay. If we're going to leave, then they have to turn to someone else for security. And that's where you get the growth of the militias, the criminal gangs, the various ethnic and religious groups that are trying to provide protection for people and also gain power.

CLANCY: I think that there's a lot of people -- whether they agreed with the U.S. invasion of Iraq or not -- there's a lot of people that say the U.S., one way or another, has to stay the course in Iraq. Or better yet, change course, make it work. Do you see a way to do that?

HAMMES: It's going to be very difficult at this point. The very first thing we have to do is get some coherent leadership from the administration. The president will go out and say we're going to stay the course, so that's what we're saying, but what we're doing is cutting budget. We're failing to provide sufficient equipment to the Iraqi armed forces who are trying to stand up. We're failing to provide sufficient numbers of advisers. We're failing to provide security.

Those things all are very different than what we're saying. Until we can align what we're saying with what we're doing, I don't think we can pull out of this. To do that, we would need a coherent strategy, which we have -- clear, hold, build -- fund it properly, explain to the American people it's going to be a long-term project and it's going to cost a good deal of money, and then apply the necessary resources.

CLANCY: Well, it already has cost the American taxpayers a good deal of money. More -- I don't know how many billions of dollars were poured into health care and clinics for hospitals and then at the end of the day, what a dozen of them were put up and another 50 or so nowhere near completion or half built. People are really frustrated that their money has been thrown away on this mission.

HAMMES: They should be. And, in fact, we should be pushing hard for an investigation, not just into Iraqi corruption, but into U.S. corruption. There's been a lot of information coming out now as the inspector general has gone over the records, and that has to be followed and pursued. We owe that to the American people.

CLANCY: All right. General Hammes, I want to thank you very much. Thomas Hammes there, who now teaches at Oxford, came down to London to be with us today. I wish we could talk more, but we're going to have to leave it there.

HAMMES: Thank you.

GORANI: Now moving on, a struggle for power, a breakdown of law and order, a crippling cash crisis. All are major problems now facing the Palestinian leadership.

As Fionnuala Sweeney reports, tensions are running high from the halls of government to the city streets.

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FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Grief and mourning morning in Gaza for the killing of a pregnant woman. The deadly outcome of increasing tensions between rival factions of Fatah and Hamas.

She was not the only death mourned in Gaza Monday. In all, five Palestinians were being buried, all victims of the internal struggle for power which has plagued Gaza in recent week. Hamas gunmen briefly stormed Palestinian TV in Gaza, destroying broadcasting equipment and accusing the network of being biased in favor of its rival Fatah.

HANAN ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN LEGISLATOR: I think Palestinian society is devolving rather than evolving.

SWEENEY: The international boycott of Hamas for its refusal to recognize Israel means 165,000 civil service workers have gone unpaid for three months. In recent days, Palestinian banks agreed to open their coffers to 40,000 of the lowest paid workers, paying them their monthly salary of around $350. No one knows when they will be paid again.

In the West Bank, a meeting between the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas and European Union envoy Javier Solana. The E.U. is choosing to deliver support and money through Abbas.

JAVIER SOLANA, E.U. FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF: We will continue to support as much as we can. As I said, the amount of money which is going to be (INAUDIBLE) for the Palestinian people in the year 2006 will be more than the quantity we spent in 2005.

SWEENEY: Tension in the meeting halls of Ramala and Gaza run in tandem with violence in the street.

ASHRAWI: Things are moving in a very dangerous way, in a very critical and destabilized way. We could see the unraveling not only of internal Palestinian realities, in terms of conflicts and so on.

SWEENEY: Most people here say Abbas will shortly announce a referendum to be held in the next 40 days on the proposal drawn up by Fatah and Hamas inmates in Israeli jails.

(on camera): Polls show overwhelming support for it. But Hamas, defiant in the space of its own overwhelming victory at the polls in January is in no mood to negotiate on a referendum it views as an attempt by Fatah to undermine its authority. Palestinians may be heading into an unknown phase of violence and turmoil.

Fionnuala Sweeney, CNN, Jerusalem.

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GORANI: A lot more ahead on YOUR WORLD TODAY.

CLANCY: They're called scalpers and for a reason. And the World Cup has them out in force right now. More on the ticket touts that feed off the beautiful game coming up.

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CLANCY: All right, remember our inbox question, asking you today should President Ahmadinejad of Iran be allowed to go to Europe, to Germany, for the World Cup there? His team arrived.

GORANI: Write ywt@cnn.com. We'll be reading some of your responses from around the world and the U.S. a bit later. But for now...

CLANCY: Economic theory tells us that more hands -- the more hands a commodity passes through, the higher that price is going to be to the final consumer.

GORANI: OK, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the secondary market for sports and concert tickets.

CLANCY: They call them scalpers or touts, and they routinely run the price for big events into the stratosphere.

GORANI: And there might not be a bigger event in the world than the World Cup. ITN's Chris Choi has more.

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CHRIS CHOI, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You can't escape World Cup fever, but escaping anti-touting laws is a doddle. We found they left an open goal for touts, even those with the most inflated of prices.

(on camera): England fans about to leave, but at World Cup, 100,000 are expected in Germany, yet only 30,000 have tickets. And that is a big, fat target for the touts, who we discovered are profiteeering to the tune of almost 3,000 percent.

(voice-over): This Internet firm with registered offices in Suffolk is not authorized to sell the tickets and certainly not above the face value, but that didn't stop them.

But as players prepare, unnamed tickets are not supposed to be allowed. It's an anti-hooligan measure, but unnamed tickets allocated to commercial sponsors are fueling the black market. Fans heading for Germany are furious.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a disgrace. FIFA have contributed to that situation by vastly reducing the number of tickets available for real fans and putting so many ticket, half a million tickets, in the hands of sponsors alone.

CHOI: A chance to stop touts was missed when new legislation in April left a loophole for Internet traders, even ones like this, who also deal on the phone and have registered offices in the U.K. Chris Choi, ITV News.

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CLANCY: Global companies are gearing up to rake in millions upon millions of dollars this summer as The World Cup gets underway. Chris Burns reports a host of companies will be looking to cash in on the event's popularity.

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CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The World Cup is big business, really big business. Corporations like Gillette, McDonalds, and Coca-Cola hand over an estimated $30 to $50 million just for the privilege of being an official sponsor with the global exposure that brings. But...

OLIVER BUTLER, SPORTUNDMARKT: That's only half of the spending they have to do is make the sponsorship work.

BURNS: Companies also have to spend a lot on TV spots. This year Adidas features two young boys picking their dream teams. It's a huge investment. Then there are promotional events and contests.

It's a huge investment but a very lucrative one for the international soccer federation, FIFA, which will make $650 million from official partners and sponsors craving a worldwide audience. Coca-Cola has been a Word Cup sponsor for 30 years and signed on for another 16. This is an ad for its Latin markets.

PETER RAETTIG, COCA-COLA: Especially brand Coca-Cola, but other brands as well. And it pays back over time.

BURNS: Another U.S. company with a long-standing link to the World Cup is brewer Anheuser Busch, maker of Budweiser, which has Germany's 1200 beer makers, most of them smaller companies, frothing at the mouth. They don't have the resources of Anheuser Busch.

(on camera): That's just one reason this year's World Cup has no official German beer, cars, or food inside the stadium grounds. Instead, it's Budweiser, Hyundai, and McDonald's.

Sponsors that signed long before Germany was even picked for the cup.

(voice-over): Germans brewers want a compromise with FIFA, allowing Bitberger, who make Germany's number one draft beer, at least some access to the stadiums.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're not really happy, but we try to learn to live with it with the fact because we live in a globalized world.

BURNS: And being a sponsor doesn't protect you from what is called guerrilla advertising by nonsponsors keen to steal some of the World Cup limelight. FIFA's legal eagles have gone after hundreds of ads they say violate sponsor's exclusivity, but companies like Nike are veterans at ambushing rivals.

BUTLER: Nike have done in the past and what other companies have done in trying to ambush the World Cup is quite inventive.

BURNS: During the 2002 World Cup, Nike showed some fast footwork with a commercial featuring famous footballers and an Elvis song and scored against rival Adidas. Expect more this time around in a global battle for hearts and minds. Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

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CLANCY: CNN wants to hear from you, the fans, throughout the World Cup.

GORANI: If you are going to the World Cup, e-mail your photos, video clips, comments to the CNN Fan Zone at Worldcup@cnn.com before kickoff. You can also play a part in our coverage by letting us know your thoughts on the greatest World Cup line-up of all time.

CLANCY: That doesn't have to be a real team. When you send us that videotape don't send us video of the games themselves.

We can all go to jail for that. Send us a compilation of the best players that you've ever seen gracing the finals. Same country, different countries, your dream team. Put them together. Tell us about them. Log on to our Web site at CNN.com and put that forward slash there with World Cup. And there you'll be able to enter your selection.

GORANI: I want to see a video of you, whoever you are, cheering your team when they put a goal in the net there. All right. It's time to open our Inbox. We have been asking you for your thoughts and how it's related to the World Cup. The Iranian president attending the competition.

CLANCY: That's right. Our question was this, should Iran's president be allowed to travel to Germany for the World Cup. Here is what some of you had to say.

GORANI: From Nigeria Zach writes, "Mr. Ahmadenijad should be arrested and tried for calling for the destruction of Israel. His hatred should not be allowed to circulate the world."

CLANCY: Travis from China had this to say. "He should be allowed to go because it is a human right, not a presidential right. We should show more tolerance for diversity."

GORANI: Irene Hoe from Singapore. "If Ahmadenijad is going as a fan he should be given a visa. It would be wonderful if sports could be free of politics. Is it possible." CLANCY: Is it? Finally Ambrose from Switzerland disagrees with that take. He says, "I beg the Europeans not to allow that evil man to touch European soil. Sport has a lot to do with politics."

And we got some other responses. Andrew from Michigan said the World Cup is a time to celebrate international football culture and embrace friendly international competition. It's not a time to prevent a world leader from supporting his team's accomplishments in order for us to make a political statement.

GORANI: All right. And keep them coming. You have another one?

CLANCY: I have a good one from Windsor, Ontario. It says open the doors, welcome him to see what's going on in the West. How can you expect to change his mind if you don't even talk with him?

GORANI: Now it's sports and it's taking place near Germany.

CLANCY: It's a far cry from a World Cup, Hala.

GORANI: It's the Bavarian Finger Wrestling Championships in the Austrian alpine city of Earle.

CLANCY: Strange as it looks to outsiders, locals treating the contest as a deadly serious test of masculine honor. We're going to leave it right there as they're pulling each others fingers. That's YOUR WORLD TODAY.

GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani.

CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. Thanks for being with us.

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