[Soledad O'brien, Cnn Anchor:] President Bush may come face to face with one of his biggest critics today, the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq. And despite increasing American casualties, the president insists the U.S. must stay the course.
[Carol Costello, Cnn Anchor:] I'm Carol Costello, in for Miles. An abortion rights group pulls a controversial ad criticizing Supreme Court nominee John Roberts, but the fallout continues. And the record high price of oil now more than $66 a barrel and still climbing, on this AMERICAN MORNING. Good morning. Welcome, everybody. Friday, Friday, Friday.
[Costello:] I'm so happy it's Friday.
[O'brien:] Do we seem excited? it's Friday. Miles, though, last day of his vacation. He's off today. Carol has been filling in.
[Costello:] I don't think he's going to be back Monday.
[O'brien:] Just not coming back. I think he'll come back.
[Costello:] I don't know.
[O'brien:] We'll see.
[Costello:] Good morning. I'm Carol, in for Miles today. President Bush says don't count on U.S. troops pulling out of Iraq any time soon. And in fact, it's our top story this morning. Even in the face of growing opposition here at home and optimism by some of his own generals that troops could start leaving Iraq next spring, President Bush is not setting a timetable for withdrawal. We have coverage from Suzanne Malveaux. She's at the White House this morning. And Aneesh Raman. He's in Baghdad this morning. Let's begin at the White House. Suzanne, despite negative news out of Iraq, the president still sounds optimistic.
[Suzanne Malveaux, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Soledad, that's absolutely right. President Bush insists that the U.S. troops are successfully training these Iraqis. He believes the Iraqis are going to meet that Monday deadline for a draft of the constitution. But he's also trying to reassure Americans, anti-war protesters, that he understands their concerns, but also making it very clear that he does not believe now is the time to bring U.S. troops back home. Now it was just yesterday he had a meeting with his foreign policy and defense team at the Crawford Ranch. The president was questioned directly about one of those protesters who has really put a human face on this debate. That, of course, is the mother, Cindy Sheehan. She lost her son Casey in the Iraq war last year. She has been camped out of President Bush's ranch since Saturday. She says she's not going anywhere until she talks to the president. The president yesterday saying he sympathizes with her, but he strongly disagrees with her position.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] I've thought long and hard about her position, and I've heard her position from others, which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country and the ability to lay the foundations for peace in the long run if we were to do so.
[Malveaux:] Now, Soledad, Sheehan responded by saying the best way for the president to show compassion to her as well as the other families is to meet with her. The president actually did meet with her last June, along with some other families, and there may be a strange opportunity, perhaps even an awkward opportunity, where the two of them may come face to face. That is when his motorcade passes the protest. She, as well as about several dozen others who have been camped outside the ranch, when he heads to a barbecue, a fund-raiser for the GOP Soledad.
[O'brien:] A lot of people watching for that, I bet, Suzanne. Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for us. Thanks. Let's continue on this topic with Aneesh Raman. He's in Baghdad. Aneesh, good morning to you. The president keeps saying American troops will withdraw when the Iraqi troops can do the job. So how long is it going to be before Iraqi troops can actually stand alone?
[Aneesh Raman, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Soledad, we're told there are over 170,000 trained and equipped Iraqi security forces right now, but only a fraction of them are currently doing independent combat operations. The military says this process is moving as quickly as it can. They do not want to rush to failure, and they are dealing with a very difficult reality on the ground. Huge hurdles still remain. Institutions, training facilities, that are up to par throughout the country. Also, they want Iraqis to train Iraqis. So this is self- sustaining. And couple into all of that a raging insurgency. Today another U.S. soldier killed north of the capital near the town of Tikrit from a road roadside bomb. That brings to 45 the number of U.S. military personnel killed since the start of August. So if the situation remains as it is, then any notion we've heard from the military of troop reductions comes with incessant caveats. If the situation remains as it is, it's hard to imagine Iraqi security forces getting a grapple on security any time soon Soledad.
[O'brien:] Aneesh, the president keeps saying he thinks the draft constitution is going to meet the deadline on Monday.
[Raman:] Yes, and we've had that working assumption among Iraqi leaders here as well. They are dealing with enormous issues, though. Marathon meetings continue with Iraq's President Jilal Talibani. And now with just three days left until that deadline, we've yet to hear any incident of a compromise on any or all of these major issues federalism, Islam, the role of women in Iraq's constitution. Nothing has come out into the public arena. So that is raising some eyebrows, and it makes the possibility they will sideline these controversial issues until the next parliament comes in even more likely Soledad.
[O'brien:] We will see. Aneesh Raman for us this morning. Aneesh, thanks Carol.
[Costello:] Overnight, oil prices pushed past record highs for the fifth consecutive day. The price per barrel of crude oil cruised up to $66 in trading in Singapore. That's almost 50 percent higher than a year ago. CNN's Carrie lee has been watching the trading overnight. Carrie, good morning. What keeps pushing these prices ever higher?
[Carrie Lee, Cnn Correspondent:] Hi, Carol. Well, you know, for gasoline, for oil, it's basically a matter of strong demand and weak supply. Now in terms of gasoline, we saw a report earlier this week, another drop in gas inventory so that's pushing prices higher. And there are some production worries after several outages at big U.S. refineries. So along with oil, retail gas prices are hit a new record. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of self-serve regular this morning, just over $2.41 a gallon. And just to put this in perspective, you can see here we're up 10 cents from a month ago. Up nearly $1 from 10 years ago. Now in terms of states, California has the highest price at $2.70 on average. In some spots, like San Francisco, prices have topped $3. You can take a look at the shot here. Also, South Carolina is the cheapest state at $2.23. So all of this pushing oil, gas to a new record, Carol. A lot of people feeling this in their wallet this week.
[Costello:] I think they're going to feel it for some time to come. I mean, is there any end in sight to these rising prices?
[Lee:] You know, it's a good question. With oil at record $66 a barrel, that oil comprises half the cost for gasoline, takes a few weeks, takes a few months to work through the system. But with oil at a record, that means we could see gas prices even higher going forward. One bright spot perhaps, the summer driving season might be over by then, so demand may subside a bit. We'll see.
[Costello:] But then the heating season comes in.
[Lee:] Yes, that's true. That's true, always something, right?
[Costello:] It's true. Thank you, Carrie.
[O'brien:] To Israel now. Israel, on the eve of one of the greatest changes in its young history, as it ends its occupation of the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. Under its disengagement plan, 9,000 Jewish settlers must leave their homes before the land is turned over to Palestinian control. The disengagement officially begins on Monday. And by Wednesday, troops will forcibly remove resisters. Ben Wedeman is live for us in Gaza City this morning. Ben, what's the mood?
[Ben Wedeman, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, Soledad, the mood is really one of great anticipation, on the Israeli side, as well as on the Palestinian side. Now opinion polls have consistently showed that a majority of Israelis do support this pullout, but those who are in opposition are passionate about it. Last night we saw around 150,000 Israelis packing the main square of Tel Aviv, voicing their opposition, saying that this is a huge mistake. Now, we also know, for instance, that 5,000 Israelis have also infiltrated the Gaza Strip, the Jewish settlements, normally non- residents here, hoping to disrupt the pullout. Now the Israeli army, hoping to cut off that possibility, is deploying more than 50,000 troops in the Jewish settlements, in the Gaza Strip. Among them, more than 417 man squads specializing in forcible evacuations of the Jewish homes here. Now we understand that more than 60 percent of the Jewish residents of the Gaza Strip have agreed to the compensation package offered by the Israeli government. That's between $200,000 and $300,000 per family. But 40 percent approximately have not, and that's where the trouble could come from Soledad.
[O'brien:] And how about the Palestinian reaction, Ben?
[Wedeman:] Well, the Palestinians are relieved at the prospect of Israel pulling out of the Gaza Strip. Of course, Israeli forces have been here since the 1967 War. What's interesting is, is that there's a lot of competition among the various Palestinian factions to claim credit for the Israeli pullout, or retreat, as they call it. This evening, for instance, here in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority is going to host a huge celebration along the seafront, marking, they say, the liberation of the Gaza Strip. But last night, for instance, we saw Hamas, the militant Islamic faction, holding a similar armed celebration in one of the Palestinian refugee camps. So a lot of joy about the coming Israeli pullout, but a lot of competition for the credit Soledad.
[O'brien:] Ben Wedeman in Gaza City this morning. Ben, thanks Carol.
[Costello:] A chaotic scene in London this morning. At least 20,000 travelers are still left stranded because of a British Airways strike at Heathrow International Airport. The airline has canceled all of its flights in and out of Heathrow, and travelers will have to sit out until at least tonight. Richard Quest live at Heathrow. And, Richard, with you there, I don't think anyone could be bored.
[Richard Quest, Cnn Correspondent:] Well, I think they need something to keep them entertained, because, you're right, thousands of passengers are stranded, and thousands more will be joining the lines in the hours ahead because, of course, airports go in waves. The passengers arrive in one sort of set of times, and then the next lot arrive. Now, Anthony is one of the passengers who's been trying where are you trying to get to?
[Unidentified Male:] Miami, Florida.
[Quest:] And what have they been telling you, Anthony? Not much, actually. But they I waited three hours in line, and no information came until I got to the desk to find out I can't get home possibly until tomorrow on standby. So you're basically stuck here.
[Unidentified Male:] I'm stuck here, yes. At least for another night, until they resolve it.
[Quest:] And when were you supposed to leave?
[Unidentified Male: 9:] 45 this morning.
[Quest:] So where are you going to stay tonight? Because at the moment, the marquee at Heathrow Airport does not look a terribly attractive hotel option.
[Unidentified Male:] We're going to take a 50-pound cab back into the city and stay at the hotel where we were, which was over 200 pounds a night. So it's costing a pretty penny to stay. Plus, I'll be missing work.
[Quest:] And what do you make of it? You're angry?
[Unidentified Male:] I'm annoyed that they don't have better information, especially through the world partner American Airlines. There's no information for British Airways trying to rebook.
[Quest:] Thank you very much.
[Unidentified Male:] Thank you.
[Quest:] The story that we're hearing there from Anthony is pretty much the same story that we are hearing many fold, thousands of times, again and again. It is passengers who either can't make their flight, can't be told when to rebook, and, Carol, most crucially, have no idea when they will be able to leave Britain.
[Costello:] That must be so frustrating, Richard. Plus, the situation has escalated. It was a small dispute, right, and it evolved into something that's affecting all of these people.
[Quest:] Yes, just remember about airlines, as I've said once before, they are like Swiss watches where you pour treacle into them when something goes wrong. A watch should work perfectly, tick tock, tick tock, suddenly goes haywire. And it happens every time, whether it's bad weather in the Midwest of the U.S., hurricanes, or strikes in Britain. When an airline goes wrong, it goes wrong big time.
[Costello:] Just like the domino theory. Thank you, Richard Quest, live in London this morning. Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, Hurricane Charley, one year later, a family that's using its big loss to teach an important lesson.
[O'brien:] Also, CNN's interview with former President Bill Clinton and what he has to say about his wife Hillary's possible presidential bid.
[Costello:] He was dancing. It's a great interview.
[O'brien:] He's a politician.
[Costello:] He was good. He can dance on the head of a pin. That's what Candy Crowley said. And a controversial ad against Supreme Court nominee John Roberts is pulled. How much will it help Roberts' supporters? That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.