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Your World Today
U.S. Military Identifies New Terror Leader; Basra Hospital Battles to Cope; 10 Dead, 15 Wounded in Kandahar Bombing
Aired June 15, 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: The new face of al Qaeda in Iraq. The U.S. military says this man has succeeded Abu Musab al- Zarqawi.
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: He calls it god's will. An Islamic cleric speaks about the 2002 Bali bombings after serving time for his role in those attacks.
CLANCY: And England fans waiting for what they hope is going to be a bruising defeat. But Trinidad and Tobago say see you on the pitch.
It is 8:00 p.m. in Baghdad right now, 11:00 at night in Jakarta.
I'm Jim Clancy.
GORANI: I'm Hala Gorani.
Welcome to our viewers throughout the United States and the world.
And this is YOUR WORLD TODAY.
CLANCY: The new face of Iraq's most wanted fugitive. U.S. military officials have identified the man they say is the new head of Iraq -- al Qaeda in Iraq.
Meanwhile, a treasure trove of data recovered after the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leading coalition forces to more al Qaeda operatives and arms caches.
John Vause joins us from Baghdad.
Perhaps the most important point here is where that data is taking coalition forces. What are you hearing?
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Jim.
Well, first off, there seems to be uncertainty about just precisely where this information came from. The U.S. military saying it was recovered before that airstrike on Zarqawi's house. The Iraqi national security adviser adamant it was found either before or during or after that strike on Zarqawi's house.
Nonetheless, we have heard from the Iraqi security adviser, essentially saying that this is vital information, going into great detail from al Qaeda of Iraq, painting the picture here as bleak. And he believes that this information now means that al Qaeda in Iraq is close to breaking point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOWAFFAQ AL-RUBAIE, IRAQI NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We believe that this is the beginning of the end of the al Qaeda in Iraq. We believe al Qaeda in Iraq was taken by surprise. They did not anticipate how powerful the Iraqi security forces are and how the government is on the attack now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Now, the reason for that optimism, according to these documents, which CNN cannot independently verify, it must be said, but according to the documents, a great deal of information about al Qaeda's current predicament, describing it as a crisis, in their words. And the best way out of this crisis, according to al Qaeda, open up another front, either draw in more Shiite Iraqis into the current conflict, or try and encourage a war between the United States and the Iranians.
It goes into great lengths as to how they plan to do that, releasing messages from Iranian Shiites, carrying out attacks, staging evidence to make it look like that Iran was responsible. Leaking information that Iran had weapons of mass destruction, and that Iran was attempting to carry out some kind of terrorist attack within the United States and also on Western targets.
The bleak scenario painted by al Qaeda in Iraq, according to these documents, comes about for a number of reasons: the steady increase in Iraqi security forces, providing a shield for U.S. troops on the ground, the massive arrest of operations, tightening of the finances for al Qaeda in Iraq, also the confiscation of ammunition and weapons, difficulty in trying to find recruitments, and finally a media campaign run by the coalition, which has been painting the resistance, in their words, as harmful rather than beneficial.
And the Iraqi national security adviser says this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a lot more to come.
CLANCY: John, if the Islamic Web sites and Western intelligence are correct, there's a new man in al Qaeda that has to try to bring that organization together. Who is he? What do we know about him?
VAUSE: Well, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Egyptian, Egyptian-born, trained in Afghanistan, he's been in Iraq around the Baghdad area since either 2002, 2003. He established the first al Qaeda cell in Baghdad, according to the U.S. military.
He is an expert in making car bombs which have claimed thousands of lives here over the last three years. But there seems to be -- it seems to be unclear whether or not this is the man according to U.S. military.
They seem to think it's unclear whether or not there is still some kind of power struggle under way within al Qaeda in Iraq for the top job. How many will accept al-Masri is unclear.
Now, you may remember the name put out on those Islamic Web sites just a few days after Zarqawi's death. They believe that was, in fact, a -- basically an alias. Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, an alias basically for al-Masri -- Jim.
CLANCY: John Vause reporting to us there live from Baghdad.
But we are not done with our examination of events in Iraq just yet -- Hala.
GORANI: No, because we're taking you to the south of the country and perhaps a less covered part of this conflict. The city of Basra was once relatively stable, but bombings and sectarian shootings are now taking a growing toll. Hospitals are battling, simply battling to cope with the casualties.
Bill Neely takes a look at conditions at the city's main hospital. And we should warn, some viewers could find some of these scenes disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL NEELY, REPORTER, ITV NEWS (voice over): It's not a sound that should be heard in a mosque, the horror of a mother discovering her child dead in a holy place. This is Basra. And it's not quiet here anymore.
It's had its deadliest weeks since the invasion. This car bombing killed 31. The mosque massacre followed. There is a state of emergency. And at the center of the horror is a hospital that can't cope.
The survivors of the car bomb struggle for breath, but there aren't enough machines to help them breathe. The doctors say they have fewer drugs now than the height of sanctions under Saddam.
DR. HASANEEN MUHAMED AL ALI, AL SADER TEACHING HOSPITAL: Here we suffer from many problems. The first problem is availability of the drugs. At least half of the drugs we prescribe for patients are not available in the hospitals.
NEELY: This man lost an eye in the bombing. His face is fractured. But from anesthetics to x-rays, the whole hospital is fractured in its darkest hour.
DR. MOAED JUMMA, HOSPITAL MANAGER: In the last bomb we received a lot of casualties, ranging about 30 in half an hour.
NEELY: Surgeons amputate more often because they haven't the drugs or equipment to save limbs. Even basic tubes and bandages are in short supply. In other hospitals, this man might have lived. He didn't here.
In Basra, the slaughter has turned sectarian. The mosque victims were Sunni Muslims killed by Shia police. Britain has prime responsibility for security here. At the start of the war, British troops protected the hospital, killing looters there. Now it's the doctors who are being murdered. Three this year.
But the rising toll from the violence is only the half of it. They've had no cancer drugs here for three years. More of Basra's children die from diarrhea now than under Saddam. And ironically, in a city of such blood-letting, this hospital is always short of blood.
These are the victims of a massive failure of government, of rebuilding, of security. Three years on, and the worst horrors have returned to this chaotic city.
Bill Neely, ITV News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: A new death toll in Iraq. A toll of American servicemen and women.
The Pentagon reports 2,500 U.S. troops have now been killed in the country since the start of the Iraq war in March of 2003. One hundred thirteen British soldiers have also lost their lives.
This death toll for troops from all over nations now stands at 112. Figures for Iraqi civilians and soldiers much harder to come by. One Web site run by academics and peace activists puts the civilian toll at a staggering 38,000 to 42,700.
GORANI: All right. We're going to change angles a bit now.
And it's an election year this year in the United States. And no lawmaker in America wants to be seen as soft on terrorism. So a debate today in the House of Representatives is especially politically charged.
It is focused on the U.S. effort in Iraq, but the bill under consideration is on the global war on terrorism. Now, Democrats accuse Republicans of playing political games, saying any vote against an indefinite U.S. troop commitment in Iraq would be seen as a vote against the war on terrorism. Republicans say the Iraq conflict is key to winning the broader terror war.
CLANCY: Turning now to the subcontinent where Sri Lankan government troops launched airstrikes on areas being held by the Tamil Tiger rebels in retaliation for the bombing of a bus that killed at least 64 people, including a dozen children. Forty-five people were wounded in the attack. All of them were on that crowded bus when it struck a landmine.
The government blames the rebels, but the Tiger rebels deny any responsibility -- Hala.
GORANI: Now attack and counterattack. Suspected Taliban fighters planted an explosive aboard a minibus that killed 10 people and wounded 15. It happened near the southern city of Kandahar along a hotbed of the Islamists who ruled Afghanistan before U.S. forces toppled their regime.
Brent Sadler is in southern Afghanistan, where U.S., coalition and Afghan troops have mounted a major offensive to deny the Taliban the ability to mount new attacks.
Brent Sadler reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Canadian combat troops prepare for battle in southern Afghanistan, the sharp end of U.S.-led Operation Mountain Thrust in Kandahar province. Afghan police are not so well-equipped, but they're getting better at killing the Taliban, say the Canadians, learning from each firefight. This combined battle group claims the Taliban is being forced into a corner.
COL. IAN HOPE, COMMANDER, TASK FORCE ORION: I know they're tired. I know they're overwhelmed in this particular area. They still can mount attacks.
SADLER: Afghan police captain Ahmed Masood says villagers are fed up with the insurgent violence and are helping the offensive to succeed by feeding information.
(on camera): Captain, how close are we to the Taliban here?
CAPT. AHMED MASOOD, AFGHAN POLICE: One kilometer. And two kilometers in some places.
SADLER (voice over): But the Taliban know the lay of the land.
MASOOD: Even we have powerful (INAUDIBLE), even we have strong (INAUDIBLE) and airplanes, but they know the area better than us.
SADLER: An advantage, but not one that's going to have much tactical effect on these hunters in pursuit of prey.
(on camera): Operation Mountain Thrust has been hitting the Taliban hard from the air and on the ground. It is a multinational effort. These Canadian troops have been out here for the past few days, sweeping this area of Taliban insurgents.
(voice over): The offensive is now shifting into high gear, calling on some 11,000 American, Canadian, British and Afghan forces.
HOPE: It is a multi-national effort, where we'll have pressure on Taliban forces throughout the entirety of the southern region of Afghanistan. Simultaneous activity, which is all focused at disrupting them.
SADLER: Charlie Company Task Force Orion completes four days of fighting that determine Taliban at close quarters.
MAJ. BILL FLETCHER, COMMANDER, CHARLIE COMPANY: At which point two of our personnel were wounded. At that point in time, we had already had artillery. And as a cut-off, we brought in a 1,000-pound bomb to destroy the target and then finish the sweep-through.
SADLER: A tough mission all around.
PVT. NATHAN COVENEY, CHARLIE COMPANY: Yes, I'm glad to be back, but time kind of goes slow here. And I like being out there. We're doing the business.
SADLER: The deadly business of defeating their Taliban enemy.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Kandahar Province, southern Afghanistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: Now, just as an update to Brent's report there, British Defense Ministry sources telling CNN now that they're going to be sending 130 more troops to the Kandahar airfield, which is the major staging base there for this operation.
GORANI: All right. How significant is 130, then?
CLANCY: Well, it's significant. It depends on what jobs that they are doing, but it's an indication that they plan to ramp up this offensive, maybe because they're meeting success or simply they see they need more troops on the ground.
All right. We're going to take a short break. When we come back, a little bit lighter look.
World Cup action again, Hala.
GORANI: Right. As the fans are at fever pitch. And you know what? It's not just an expression today. Trinidad and Tobago take on England in Nuremberg, David versus Goliath.
Can you guess which one David is?
CLANCY: That's the question. Which one is which?
GORANI: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: You are with YOUR WORLD TODAY. And you are very welcome.
In World Cup action, the game between England and the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago has gotten under way. Can Trinidad score an upset?
Mark McKay joins us now from Berlin with the very latest.
First, has anyone scored, Mark?
MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: No, they haven't, Hala. Although England has had some good chances early in this match. But Shaka Hislop, the Trinidad and Tobago keeper, certainly holding his own early on.
England supporters, they're gathered in Nuremberg and they know that this club has to put on a better show than they did in the opener. You may remember England slipped by Paraguay. That was only because Paraguay gave up the goal. So the English need a dominating performance to still be among one of the favorites here at the World Cup.
Of course, England hasn't won the World Cup in 40 years, and they only won it once before. So very nervous supporters in Nuremberg as they watch the opening half play out.
As I mentioned, it's nil-nil at the moment. For those wondering -- and many people are wondering -- striker Wayne Rooney given the all-clear medically by the doctors, but he did not start in the match. Sven-Goran Eriksson, Hala, the England coach, doesn't want to risk playing Rooney. But if they don't get anything going against T and T, don't be surprised if you see him early in the second half.
GORANI: All right.
Now a question on the game that was played earlier. One Latin American team going through for sure, and then the game that we're expecting a bit later in a few hours.
Tell us about those.
MCKAY: Yes, the South American nation Ecuador, Hala, they made their World Cup finals debut four years ago. They didn't get past the first round. So what they did today here in Germany is Ecuadorian World Cup history.
They were able to beat Costa Rica. What a great show this was by the Ecuadorian side. A goal-scoring effort.
Carlos Tenorio (ph) and Augustine Delgado (ph) became the 7th and 8th players respectively to score two goals, a monumental victory for Ecuador, who do secure berth in the second round for the first time. And the result was also beneficial to the host nation, Germany, as they, too, earn a pass into the knockout phase.
Hala, we do have one more match on tap that happens here in Berlin at Olympic Stadium as Sweden and Paraguay go at it. Both of these teams certainly needing to put at least three points on the board.
GORANI: And one quick -- OK, for Brazil fans, perhaps not very good news. Tell us about Renaldo.
MCKAY: No, you may remember, Hala, eight years ago that Brazilian striker Renaldo took ill just before Brazil played the final against host nation France. He didn't play well and Brazil went on to lose that.
Well, yesterday, Wednesday, here in Germany, Renaldo went to a clinic. Apparently he felt dizzy. He got some medical attention. They didn't find anything wrong with him. So the striker went back to training on Thursday.
He says he feels fine. The 29-year-old will be back on the pitch this weekend against Australia.
Hala, that may explain why he was pretty ineffective as they opened up -- the World Cup holders opened up against Croatia and just slipped by them by a single goal.
GORANI: All right. We will look forward to following that aspect of the Brazil game and many others, Mark McKay. Thank you, as always, live from Germany.
CLANCY: Well, as Mark was pointing out there, this -- this game with Trinidad, Tobago and England really commanding a lot of attention. Football fans around the U.K. not at work. They're watching the game between the two sides. That's for sure.
GORANI: Now, we have some live shots from around the country. Check this out.
Where are we here? Well, we're clearly at a pub. I spent enough years, and so did you, Jim, in London to recognize a pub in no time at all.
CLANCY: And there you see, of course, there's the flag up on little pieces of paper all around the top there hanging from the ceiling.
GORANI: You know these people are going to be jumping up and down once England -- or if England scores, in fact, against Trinidad.
CLANCY: Extraordinary day in London, obviously. I mean, it's hot enough that they're actually using fans. But that may be the fan that are hot.
GORANI: Yes. It might be also that they haven't opened a window and it's not inside the pub.
CLANCY: Oh, here's another picture.
GORANI: Here we go. Tower Bridge London, we're told.
CLANCY: They must be looking - there must be a jumbotron (ph) out there, because we saw all of the -- all of the gazes are fixed skywards.
GORANI: OK. We'll be getting back to the reaction, to that game, and we'll bringing you updates on the score, as well, of course.
CLANCY: Nobody's excited about it in England, are they? Well, maybe some of those folks are going to be sending us their pictures of what it's like right down there on the ground.
GORANI: We want to remind you to keep sending us your photos and videos, and we'll do our best to get some of them on the air.
Send them to worldcup@CNN.com.
CLANCY: And we want to know what you think. We've heard all -- we're talking all about the World Cup, and I know a lot of you in the United States, World Cup isn't high on your agenda. But you know what we're finding, Hala? Is that a lot of people do care in the United States, watching closely.
We have a question for you today.
GORANI: OK. Now that each team -- you had an opportunity to see each team play its first match at this year's World Cup. Which one has impressed you the most?
E-mail us your thoughts and comments, YWT@CNN.com. Which team was most impressive and why?
CLANCY: We'll be right back. Stay with us.
(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, let's check on stories making headlines here in the U.S.
Captured on camera. Now U.S. forces hope to capture this man in Iraq, or wherever he may be.
The military identifies him as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, and officials say they believe he's the new leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, the successor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, MILITARY SPOKESMAN: What we know about Ayyub al-Masri is that he is a senior al Qaeda in Iraq operative and direct associate of Zarqawi. We know he was responsible for facilitating the movement of foreign fighters from Syria through the southern Baghdad belt into Baghdad itself. We know al-Masri has been a terrorist since about 1982, beginning with his involvement in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad which was led by Zawahiri.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Also in Iraq, officials say they've uncovered a treasure trove of information about al Qaeda there. The military says the documents were found weeks before the terrorist group's leader was killed in a U.S. airstrike.
War and politics. A debate playing out today on Capitol Hill.
In the Senate, Democrats are searching for a consensus. They're divided over whether to set a timetable for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq -- as we look at a live picture there of the Senate. To the House now. Republicans there are pushing for a resolution that rejects a timetable. It's a move that could put Democrats in a difficult position.
And a moment of silence taking place right now on the floor of the U.S. Senate. This to honor the more than -- actually, it's the House -- more than 2,500 troops who have been killed in the war in Iraq.
More on that from Capitol Hill later.
Meanwhile, the sole survivor of a deadly mining tragedy, Randy McCloy, Jr., attending the signing ceremony for tougher mine safety laws. President Bush signed the measure last hour. Among other things, it requires mine operators to put more oxygen supplies under ground. Rescue teams must also be moved closer to the mines. The president says the new law should get help to accident sites more quickly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The new legislation will require mine operators to report any life-threatening accident no later than 15 minutes after they know that one has occurred. And to ensure compliance with the law, the Miner Act will increase the penalty for flagrant violations of mine safety regulations nearly fourfold.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: The legislation was prompted by accidents in West Virginia and Kentucky. McCloy survived that Sago disaster that killed 12 other miners.
Steeler fans, you can take heart. Big Ben is out of the hospital.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger checked out of a Pittsburgh-area hospital last night, two days after his bloody motorcycle crash. He suffered a concussion, broken jaw and nose.
Teammates who visited him say they're sure he will return to the field without any problems. The Steelers have a 27-4 record with Roethlisberger, and, of course, they are the defending Super Bowl champions.
They felt the earth move under their feet in northern California this morning. A magnitude 4.7 earthquake rattled the southern area of San Francisco Bay.
Officials say no one was injured and no damage has been reported. The epicenter was eight miles northeast of Gilroy. Garlic country, that is. But it could be felt in San Francisco, about 70 miles to the north. The U.S. Geological Survey classifies this one as a light earthquake.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wow.
KAGAN: Yes.
WOLF: Gilroy. You know, you mentioned garlic.
KAGAN: Yes.
WOLF: That's where they have the garlic festival.
KAGAN: Right.
WOLF: They have garlic ice cream that they serve there.
KAGAN: They have garlic everything. You just even drive up 101 through Gilroy and you can just smell the garlic. Good stuff.
WOLF: Good times.
KAGAN: Yes.
WOLF: Good times.
KAGAN: Shaky times today, but good times in general.
WOLF: No question about it.
KAGAN: Hi, Reynolds.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Well, you know that security fee you pay every time you fly? It turns out it may not always end up where it's supposed to. The Homeland Security Department's inspector general reports that airlines are keeping about $14.5 million every year from that fee.
The money is supposed to go to the Transportation Security Administration. The fee was tacked on to airline tickets to pay for security after 9/11. The TSA says it plans to audit the airlines to make sure they pay what they owe.
Remembering 9/11. Today the Pentagon prepares to honor the lives lost on that day. CNN "LIVE FROM" will take you live to the claiming of the ground ceremony for the memorial. Our coverage begins at the top of the hour with Kyra Phillips.
Meanwhile, YOUR WORLD TODAY continues after a quick break.
I'm Daryn Kagan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back to YOUR WORLD TODAY. I'm Hala Gorani.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy, and these are some of the stories that we're following right now. The United States' military announcing the name and showing a picture of the man now believed to be in charge of al Qaeda in Iraq. He is Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known as Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajer. The Egyptian-born man believed to have replaced Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who the U.S. killed last week in an airstrike.
GORANI: Also in the headlines, in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, an explosion on a minibus has skilled ten people and wounded 15. It's thought the blast was caused by explosives that were planted on the vehicle, carrying workers to a U.S. base. The incident follows an upsurge in attacks by Taliban fighters who have regrouped in the southern region. Afghan and coalition forces are countering that with a major combat offensive, Operation Mountain Thrust.
CLANCY: And to Sri Lanka. Attacks in retaliation for the bombing of a bus that killed at least 64 people, including a dozen children. The government launching airstrikes on areas held by the Tamil Tiger rebels. Forty-five people reported wounded. The government blames the rebels, but the Tigers are denying any responsibility.
GORANI: More now on Iraq as it faces a crucial phase in its turbulent history. A new cabinet is in place, and the prime minister has launched a widespread security operation in Baghdad.
The U.S. national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, had an up- close view of the situation as he accompanied President Bush on a surprise trip a few days ago. I spoke to him earlier and began by asking him about the security situation in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN HADLEY, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: What the president and the prime minister agreed was that the new minister of defense will sit down with General Casey and Ambassador Khalilzad and talk about the issue of what are the objectives of -- the Iraqi government has for enhancing its own capacity and better dealing with the security situation? And how can we support that effort?
They've made it very clear that, over time, they want to be taking increasing responsibility for security, and we want them to do, as well. But it is going to take some time. And in the interim, what we need to be doing is focusing on how we can support their efforts so that our efforts can succeed. As those efforts succeed, as the president has said, they will step forward, we will step back. The role, composition and numbers of our forces will change.
But the immediate objective is to look at the new security plan for this government, see how we can support it, so that it has some success that they can demonstrate to the Iraqi people. And give some confidence to the Iraqi community -- people -- that this new government can handle security.
GORANI: Let's talk a little bit about Guantanamo Bay. There were these three suicides at that detention facility. The president himself says he'd like to see that detention facility closed. When will that happen?
HADLEY: The president's made clear he would like to close Guantanamo, too. But two things have to happen before we can do that. One, we need some clarification as to whether people held there can go through the military commissioned process. That awaits a decision by the Supreme Court here, hopefully in the next few months.
And secondly, there are large numbers of people in Guantanamo that really should go back to their home country if adequate arrangements can be made to ensure that they will return to terror and that they will be treated in a way that does not involve torture.
Those negotiations are ongoing. We are trying to accelerate that process. But that's what needs to be done to get the population in Guantanamo down to the point where we can talk about where we go as a next step on that facility.
GORANI: All right. The president himself also said that he understands that Guantanamo Bay is something that might, in essence, hurt the public relations image of the United States, that the U.S. is a country founded on civil rights and on constitutional rights, and that some around the world might not see Guantanamo Bay as the best example of that. Is that something that is of concern at the White House?
HADLEY: The president has talked about the concerns of some of the things like Abu Ghraib and some of the early stories out of Guantanamo and the impact that had on peoples' assessment of how we were conducting ourselves in the war on terror.
It's very interesting, though -- a lot of journalists, a lot of others, have been to Guantanamo. Major efforts have made to improve the operation of the facility. We think it is -- it is a very good operation now. Also, to the extent abuses have been identified, whether at Guantanamo or in connection of Abu Ghraib, of course, there have been investigations and people held responsible.
This is -- you know, this is the formula for our country. If we see a problem, we try to fix it and improve it. And at the same time, if people have violated the law or violated their orders, then to investigate it, hold them responsible. And we hope that the international community will focus on that aspect. And it is evidence that this is a country of principle and a country of laws, and we're willing to enforce our laws.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, the view from the White House there, with the U.S. national security adviser, Stephen Hadley.
CLANCY: Well, a check now on the World Cup action in Nuremberg. So far, it's still nil, all between England and Trinidad and Tobago. England are the heavy favorites -- well, unless you talk to the Trinidad and Tobago fans. Trinidad and Tobago surprised many observers by holding Sweden to a nil all draw in their first match. So a lot of hope on their side. Some of Britain's Caribbean community are watching the action at a London pub. No doubt it's a case of divided loyalties for some.
Adrian Finighan is there with the fans, and he joins us now.
All right, Adrian, I know you're going to have trouble hearing me, so I'm going to speak a loudly. But you're at a Caribbean bar, correct? So we have fans of Trinidad and Tobago with you?
ADRIAN FINIGHAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hala, I've got no idea what you asked me, though, because I can't hear a thing! It is so noisy. I tell you, I've never had so much fun watching a soccer game before. This is just the most welcome to the Trinidad bar. It's (INAUDIBLE). The Battersea Bar, I should say, in Battersea, which is the suburb just south of the river here in London. Very popular with London Trinidadians, who are having a great time here, watching the boys from Trinidad, who are holding their own, it needs to said, against England right now.
Let me introduce you to someone who, I think you'll agree looks just fabulous.
This is Mara Joseph (ph). Hi, Mara.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, nice to meet you.
FINIGHAN: How are the boys doing?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're doing pretty well. They're representing Trinidad absolutely amazingly. We're very, very proud of them, yes.
FINIGHAN: A great atmosphere in here, isn't it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, it's like this every Sunday, but today especially because of the match and, you know.
FINIGHAN: Tell me about the outfit you are wearing. You look fabulous.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, this is absolutely an Arawak (ph) outfit. It's made Trinidad and Tobago, where carnival is originated. It was actually brought over to the U.K., and we take part in the (INAUDIBLE) carnival. This is actually what Trinidians are best at, having a great time, you know, being happy, carnivalling it, just being happy, just you know...
FINIGHAN: Seems to me from the atmosphere here tonight that although we're rooting for the Trinidad and Tobago boys and they're doing all right, it really doesn't matter if they lose.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You know it really doesn't matter if we lose, because as Trinidadians, as Trinis, you know, we are up for having a good time no matter what. If it turns out bad, we'll just having an amazing party and everybody will just go home, pleased and, you know, just great that our boys did their best. FINIGHAN: How long will the party go on tonight?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This party is going to until 2:00 in the morning, I think. Yes, 2:00 in the morning.
FINIGHAN: OK, we're just we're just coming up on a half time here. We've got another couple of minutes to go in the game between England Trinidad and Tobago.
Hala and Jim, back to you.
CLANCY: She looked like she was having an absolutely fabulous time. And you know, I actually think Adrian was having a better time watching her have a good time.
GORANI: We were literally a thread away from getting into trouble here. Just a thread.
All right, we're going to switch gears completely. We're going take a short break here on YOUR WORLD TODAY, get back to serious news. He is unrepentant after serving several years behind bars.
CLANCY: And his words reopening some painful wounds. What an Indonesian cleric is saying about the 2002 bombings and what some of the survivors are saying about him.
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GORANI: You're with YOUR WORLD TODAY.
In Indonesia, freed militant cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir calls the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings God's will. He says the Indonesian terrorists were holy warriors and called on U.S. President Bush and Australia Prime Minister John Howard to convert to Islam in order to save their souls.
Dan Rivers has this report from Java.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The controversial cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir has now resumed his teaching post at this Islamic school in Central Java, Indonesia. He's faced the press, answering criticism from the Australian government and from families of the Bali bombing victims.
ABU BAKAR BA'ASYIR, FREED CLERIC (through translator): If the families of the Bali bombing victims are non-Muslims, my advice to then is to convert to Islam so the may be comforted by Allah. If they stay non-Muslim, they must recognize their destiny with come from Allah. It was not the bombers that killed their loved ones, Allah used the bombers as instruments.
RIVERS: He also praised the recently killed Iraqi insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a man who's been responsible for numerous beheadings and bombings. BA'ASYIR (through Translator): I didn't know Zarqawi personally, but I have heard he was a great leader.
QUESTION: What's your opinion of George W. Bush?
BA'ASYIR (through translator): George Bush is a non-Muslim. My advice to him is to convert to Islam to find salvation. It's a pity that George Bush has made Islam his enemy. Thank God now the American people realize what he is doing. I feel sorry for the American people if he carries on this way.
RIVERS: The Australian government is calling on the Indonesian authorities to keep Abu Bakar Ba'asyir under round the clock surveillance. But right now, there's no sign that the army or police have any intention of doing that.
Dan Rivers, CNN, Noruki (ph), Indonesia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: Peter Hughes was an Australian tourist that day, a man who's burned and bloodied face shown on television around the world came to represent the victims. That day he told the rescue workers to leave him and tend to the more seriously wounded. But in the weeks that followed, he would slip in and out of a coma while he was on life support, literally technically being dead three times. He is the author of "Back From the Dead." Earlier he gave his reaction to the release of Abu Bakar Ba'asyir.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER HUGHES, BALI BOMBING SURVIVOR: He's a huge influence on a lot of people that are quite radical, and I think it's pretty obvious. He doesn't necessarily have to do it. He's just -- he's more of a preacher sort of come radical type influence on people that, you know, have a message on their own, and it's not something we're used to, I guess.
CLANCY: What are you recollections of this tragedy?
HUGHES: Just shock, horror, warlike. You know, you -- a lot of soldiers go to war, and we went on holiday. And it was that image. You know, you just -- you're walking through, you know, bodies of people and movie-like stuff, and a lot of dull images of lack of hearing, and obviously the pain. The pain coming from everywhere, and you weren't quite sure what it was.
CLANCY: Do you feel that there is something that you can do?
HUGHES: Oh no. I know we're definitely not powerless. I think I guess that's why the reason I'm here. I'm sitting here basically telling the world that we're not going to put up with it. I'm not going to put up with it. I'm not going to put up with the fact this guy is sort of out and sort of laughing at me, basically saying that I need to do what he wants me to do, and it's got nothing to do with him. It's about us standing up. It's about me standing up, and paying some respect to the people that didn't come home, you know.
And I think that's the message. It's been three-and-a-half years now basically and a bit more, and we've been sitting back here pretty quiet. And I guess you've got stand up and stand up for yourself and you need to, you need to fight against people that want to kill and murder people. And that's not the way I say we live life. I say we should live in peace, and it's not about having radical people trying to change my life. And you've got to stand up. And I'm not going to accept whatever this guy wants to do, or whatever his point of view might be or what he thinks that -- you know, killing people is a good thing to do, because it's not.
CLANCY: Peter, you're standing up here raising your voice. There's a lot of other people that didn't have your experience, but what can people do? Would you return to Bali to go on vacation again or no? And why?
HUGHES: I've been back to Bali 11 times. I just went back recently with my son, Lee, and for a holiday for a week. I just think that it's like falling off a horse -- you've just got to get back on and continue life. I think if you stop going -- if I stopped going to Bali, it just means that a guy like this cleric, he wins, you know?
You know, I think that we have just got to keep doing what we normally want to do. Why can't we go and travel? If I don't go to Bali, it just means that maybe this guy's going to have something over me and I don't want that to happen and I think, you know, criminals like this or murderers like this, that's what they want you to do.
They want you to go nowhere. They want you to stay in your house. They want you to not do the things so they can come out on the top of you. I think it is important not only for me to stand up, but for a lot of people just to stand up because my belief is the fact that people power is a lot stronger than these murderers.
Because the more we stand up, I guess one step we take forward is one step they take back, and I think the more people that stand up against people not only like this but I think the, you know, terrorism itself, I think that we might get somewhere eventually.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CLANCY: Peter Hughes, an amazing guy, very interesting, you know, person, still has this attitude and says to everybody, stand up to terrorism. Had a lot of praise ...
(CROSSTALK)
GORANI: And eleven times -- I thought that was very impressive, as well, back to Bali, the scene of the carnage.
CLANCY: And he's a huge fan of the World Cup right now. I mean, he's one of those people -- well, one of many that are rooting for Australia, along with our colleague, Michael Holmes.
GORANI: Absolutely. And Australia has been doing well, and we've been asking you, our viewers, as well, to send us your opinions on the team that has impressed you the most.
CLANCY: Now, we are going to be reading out some of your responses on the air to this question right after the break, so get them in.
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GORANI: A check now of World Cup action from Nuremberg. At half time, the score is 0-0 between England and Trinidad and Tobago. English are the heavy favorites. Let me tell you this: It is unbelievable so far that Trinidad and Tobago is holding its own against England after it drew against Sweden, 0-0, a draw in its first match. We'll be following that for you, of course and bring you up- to-date on the score. It's half time, though.
CLANCY: Meantime, let's find out what they have to say, Hala. We'll open up our "Inbox."
GORANI: Our question today, now that each team has played its first match at this year's World Cup, which one has impressed you the most?
Lucky in Nigeria: "The team that has impressed me the most is Spain. They played as a team and they got the highest winning margin so far."
CLANCY: Roger from Trinidad and Tobago is probably on the edge of his seat about now. Not surprisingly, he's supporting the home side. "Trinidad and Tobago impress me the most. To hold Sweden to a draw with their team reduced to 10 men was most impressive. I think they shocked the world."
GORANI: Frank from Germany: "So far it's the Ivory Coast that has really impressed me. They are a very entertaining side," even though they lost their first match.
CLANCY: And here's one from Asia, Malaysia to be exact. Jeffrey writes, "South Korea, a team to watch."
Thanks for keeping it short there.
GORANI: I'll tell you what, Ecuador, majority opinion so far, though, as far as our viewers are concerned, the most impressive team, and we want to hear more about what you think. E-mail your thoughts to YWT@CNN.com.
CLANCY: All right. Staying with the action in Nuremberg, we have more of your World Cup moments from our "Fan Zone."
GORANI: It's been two days since South Korea played its first game, but we're still getting e-mails into the CNN "Fan Zone" from the enthusiastic fans.
CLANCY: South Korea's squad getting the nickname the "Red Devils" when they did so well in the last World Cup. Now it seems everybody wearing those incandescent horns. GORANI: Well the mania isn't just homegrown. Popoy Braza, the Filipino graduate student caught up in the excitement while studying in South Korea, there he is. He's one of those two guys, at least.
CLANCY: And, of course, it's not just South Koreans. Here's a couple of nautical engineers during a Caribbean cruise. I'm sure I hardly need to tell you that they're Croatian.
GORANI: They'll regret having sent in that photo one day. I'm Hala Gorani.
CLANCY: I'm Jim Clancy. That's our report. Stay with CNN.
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