[Kyra Phillips, Cnn Anchor:] Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. Bombshell in Baghdad. Showing his support for U.S. troops and Iraq's new leaders, President Bush pays an announced visit. Off the hook. The architect in Mr. Bush's political career is breathing a little easier this afternoon. And we're tracking Alberto. Not so much wind, but heavy rain and a chance of tornadoes as the storm moves ashore. The second hour of LIVE FROM starts right now. Secrecy and security. Both were extreme as President Bush flew into Baghdad today. And the latter got even more so once the former was gone. President Bush addressed U.S. troops and met Iraq's new prime minister, who was given five minutes notice that he'd be hosting a presidential visit.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] I've come today to personally show our nation's commitment to a free Iraq. My message to the Iraqi people is this: seize the moment. Seize this opportunity to development a government of and by and for the people. And I also have a message to the Iraqi people, that when America gives a commitment, America will keep its commitment.
[Phillips:] Now, the trip included a teleconference with the Iraqi cabinet and members of the president's team he left behind at Camp David.
[Kyra Phillips, Cnn Anchor:] The real estate around Baghdad is rightfully considered some of the most dangerous ground on earth. So why go? And even if you want to, how do you get the president, his advisers, his security and the media pool there in secret, and safely? We're lucky to have someone who spent a lot of time in Baghdad visiting with us today. In Atlanta, our own Aneesh Raman. You've made this trip a number of times.
[Aneesh Raman, Cnn Correspondent:] Yes.
[Phillips:] I guess we'll get, I guess, to the security issues in a second, but what's your take? Why now?
[Raman:] Well, I think, you know, the last time we saw President Bush go it was November 2003. That was about really increasing morale among the troops. It was Thanksgiving. This, I think, is about rallying behind what could be the last chance that the Bush administration and the Iraqi government has to build momentum. With Zarqawi's death, with the formulation of this government, you aren't going to have a landmark day like that perhaps ever. Not since January 2005, with the first elections, has the government had that. So, it clearly pushes that momentum. I think he wanted to make the point explicitly, as well, that Americans are here to stand by you, but it's now up to the Iraqis to go forward. What that means in terms of practical impact, in terms of troop numbers, we'll have to wait and see. But it was clearly a message that was an image for all the security reasons you raised, that image right there, for Bush to be seen on the ground. And we've had any number of people who have come since he went there last the vice president, the attorney general, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense. So, Bush, I think, wanted to and needed to be there and have that image be shown.
[Phillips:] And we've been talking about Maliki. He was the sort of accidental prime minister.
[Raman:] He was. I mean, there were lengthy negotiations that led to him getting the job. And it essentially was because Jaafari, who was the prime minister before, couldn't get the consensus. And he decided that "my party," the Dawah Party, is going to have this spot. So Maliki got the job. So Jaafari is still very much, I think, involved in the background of Iraqi politics, but Maliki is trying to stand firm and do everything that Jaafari couldn't, which is seem tough on security, to declare you know, in Basra, to go down there and declare a state of emergency, to look like they are doing something. And Zarqawi was the first effect that they had, a result they could point to that wasn't about the government simply forming, but was about the government doing something. Despite the fact that there's a passive role that Iraqi troops played, it was something they could point to.
[Phillips:] You get in there and you've talked with the Iraqis, you've spent so much time in those neighborhoods. I mean, these individuals want to see more than a photo-op, they want to see more than a surprise visit.
[Raman:] Right.
[Phillips:] They want to see change in their daily life.
[Raman:] It is as simple as it is basic as it is important to reiterate constantly. Iraqis just want their life to improve. This is all pageantry to see the Iraqi prime minister and the U.S. president. That doesn't increase any sense of morale, really, on the streets of Baghdad. What they want is a sense that all that they are seeing happen will impact their lives. They want jobs. They want electricity. You see there, they try and go about life as best they can. And they are innumerable the number of issues that the government has to contend to. Before it even gets to employment and basic services in Baghdad, it's got security to deal with. It's got huge issues left to resolve about the central government versus a regional autonomy of the Kurdish north, the Shia south. What happens to the oil revenue? What happens to the city of Kirkuk that the Kurds want and that the rest of the country might want as part of the central government? So all of those issues are yet to be resolved. The toughest days may still be ahead, especially within the governance.
[Phillips:] Well, you're talking about making that trip in, you're talking about the president of the United States getting into Baghdad airport. All right, it's hairy, but it's that hop, that helicopter hop from the airport into the Green Zone, isn't it?
[Raman:] Yes, that is where he is essentially most exposed. And you're seeing here I think that's the airport first that he comes into. No one knew he was coming. And so that would have been exceptional security, but somewhat of a surprise. But once he's there, of course word is on the ground that he has arrived. This hop that you see there he makes by helicopter. And that is where he is exposed to anything that could come from the ground. That is undoubtedly what his security advisers would have been most concerned about. When you fly in, you come in at an altitude that you are essentially out of reach of anything that could come from the ground. And once you're in a safe area, you come down to the airport. But that second hop to where you see him having ended up at the embassy compound would have been the more dangerous part of the trip.
[Phillips:] All right. Now, on to another note, you're headed to Iran? Is that right? We're going to see more reports from Iran?
[Raman:] We're hoping to, yes. It was a fascinating experience. I spent a month there, it ended up being, and it's difficult to get in. The government, you know, you get on a visa that's specific to a conference that we covered, and they extend the visa sort of every seven days. But it was a fascinating experience to see the community there and the people there. And I've realized, you know, we have a very sort of distinct impression of Iran as repressive, which in a lot of ways, in terms of human rights, it has issues to contend with. But we traveled at will. We had no minder with us. We could talk to anyone we wanted. It was tough getting them to open up. But in terms of regime change, as we have heard U.S. officials say they are looking for there, you have a government, in my view, that knows resolutions could happen. It's born of one. So it's clearly not intent on suffocating the moderate majority and frustrating them to the point they go on the streets. You also have a people that are aware that revolutions can bring about a government they don't necessarily like, because that is what has happened. So there there is not as huge a force, I think, on the ground for immediate change, for people to go out there and say overnight, let's have a different government. Because they've been there, they've done that, and they're still reeling with the effects.
[Phillips:] And life is much different there as it is in Iraq when you think of quality of life, yes.
[Raman:] Oh, yes.
[Phillips:] Yes.
[Raman:] And, you know, within Tehran is a city. And it's a moderate city. You know, you go to the north, there's very there's a lot of affluence and people have got the designer sunglasses and they're worried about what they're wearing. And you go down south, and at times it can be just jarring to see what you see there, because you have perceptions before you go in. But it's a very friendly people. Iranians have fierce pride, which is why I think they have support for this program. And they're in it for the long haul. And whether that can weather the storm that could come with sanctions or with anything else, we'll have to see.
[Phillips:] Well, we look forward to more reports from there. We're keeping our eye on that country, too. Thanks, Aneesh.
[Raman:] Thanks.
[Phillips:] Well, the president's top adviser is no longer waiting to exhale. After five visits to a federal grand jury, Karl Rove learns that he will not be charged in the CIA leak case. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us with more on the good news for the Bush administration from the White House. Hi, Elaine.
[Elaine Quijano, Cnn White House Correspondent:] Hi there, Kyra. That's right, the cloud that had, in fact, been hanging over this White House about whether or not Karl Rove, the president's top political adviser, would, in fact, be indicted, that cloud has now lifted. Rove's attorney, Bob Luskin, said today that the special counsel in the case, Patrick Fitzgerald, formally advised Rove's legal team yesterday that he does not anticipate seeking charges against Karl Rove. Now, here at the White House, Rove appeared upbeat. And though he didn't say anything to reporters, he did give a playful wave to camera crews as he walked around the campus here. Rove also last night did not make any mention of this development when he spoke to state Republicans at a fund-raiser in New Hampshire. But this development is particularly timely, certainly for this White House and the GOP in general, who have been looking for some good news, particularly with the midterm elections right around the corner. President Bush, meantime, for his part, said that he is pleased this process is over. Counselor Dan Bartlett, who is traveling with the president in Iraq, saying, "We are obviously pleased that what can only be described as a very fair investigation is completed. What is remarkable is how Karl kept his focus, his energy and his great attitude during this entire period." At the same time, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer saying that he thinks the special counsel in this case, Patrick Fitzgerald, must still work to find out who did, in fact, leak CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity to the media. However, Chuck Schumer also saying that he accepts the decision by Patrick Fitzgerald. But bottom line, Kyra, from the White House's perspective, a huge sigh of relief here, with Dan Bartlett saying that having finality is a good thing Kyra.
[Phillips:] Elaine Quijano from the White House. Thank you. Tropical Storm Alberto has already left some places under water. Reporter Jonathan Petramala of CNN affiliate Bay News 9 is in Crystal River.
[Jonathan Petramala, Reporter, Bay News 9:] I'm right here in the middle of Crystal River, just to the west of Highway 19 in Kings Bay. Now, where I'm standing right now it doesn't look like the weather is doing much, but right against my legs, against the boots, you can really feel the storm surge really pushing against me. Now, what that storm surge has done this morning since high tide this morning, it has brought in about five to seven feet of storm surge. Now, if my photographer can pan over to my right, you'll be able to see this apartment building, this two-story home. Now, that water is about under five feet of water. Coming up next, basically, what we have going on later this afternoon is another high tide. Now, that's what has gotten emergency operations officials here in Citrus County worried. The reason is the storm surge is already up five to seven feet. Well, that's just going to kick it up another two feet. That's why there are still mandatory evacuations here in Citrus County for everybody to the west of Highway 19, as well as people who live to the east of Highway 19, about a mile and a half. The water isn't expected to leave this area until 11:00 tonight. I'm Jonathan Petramala. Back to you.
[Phillips:] And we'll go out to the coast and talk with Dan Lothian and Rob Marciano coming up on LIVE FROM. Also, Guantanamo prison. A man held there for two years as a suspected terrorists said it almost drove him crazy.
[Unidentified Male:] Our families are being threatened, our own lives are being threatened. And we didn't know where for the first two weeks I didn't know I was in Cuba. And all this
[Phillips:] To Gitmo and back. A former detainee tells me about torture, confessions and why he's shocked that three detainees succeeded in suicide. That's later on LIVE FROM.