[Kyra Phillips, Cnn Anchor:] Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. Wheels up President Bush on his way back to the U.S., after a surprise visit to Baghdad. Will that trip help bolster support for the war right here at home? Also, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld goes to Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on Iraq. There are new calls for his resignation. And this scene on a Gaza beach has played around the world, a young girl screaming after the death of her family. But what killed him and six other family members? The third 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. Mr. Bush addressed U.S. troops and met Iraq's new prime minister, who was given five-minutes notice that he would be hosting a presidential visit.
[George W. Bush, President Of The United States:] I have 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 to develop 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:] Well, the trip included a teleconference with the Iraqi cabinet and members of the president's team he left behind at Camp David. From Camp David, the secretary of state and defense secretary headed straight to Capitol Hill today, where Democratic opposition to the Bush team's handling of the war and to Donald Rumsfeld in particular is as strong as ever.
[Rep. Nancy Pelosi , Minority Leader:] He is the architect behind the failed policy in Iraq. Rumsfeld must go.
[Pelosi:] But we should never forget, in calling for his resignation, that this is George Bush's war.
[Phillips:] CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jaime McIntyre joins me now with the follow-up. How much of a morale boost do you think this trip was?
[Jamie Mcintyre, Cnn Senior Pentagon Correspondent:] Well, I think you could tell from the troops, any time the commander in chief shows up on the scene, it's a huge shot in the arm for the troops. You know, one thing you find when when you go and talk to troops in Iraq is, they believe in what they are doing. And you might say they really had no other choice. If you are going to put your life on the line every day, it better be for something that you believe in. And, so, the troops there are very committed to the objective. They are focused on the the task that they have to conduct at hand. And when the when the president comes, the commander in chief comes, he always gets a warm warm reception. And I think you have to say, it's it's a genuine feeling on the parts of the troops. They are genuinely excited to see him and to receive his thanks for the hard work they are doing Kyra.
[Phillips:] Well, Jamie, what is Rumsfeld telling members of Congress today?
[Mcintyre:] Not exactly sure, probably the same old thing that they have been saying for a while, which is basically, have patience. Rumsfeld, Condoleezza Rice, John Negroponte, the director of national security, up on the Hill, briefing members of Congress, again, urging the Congress to stick with the plan, trying to dampen expectations that there will be a withdrawal of U.S. in the short term, but to provide some hope that, perhaps by the end of the year, you will see a significant reduction in troops, but, again, stressing that it's all based on the conditions on the ground, the capability of the Iraqi forces which the Pentagon claims is increasing all the time. And I think, significantly, also, this idea that there will be a major show of force in Baghdad tomorrow, with about over 70,000, mostly Iraqis, some American troops on the streets, to show that they are trying to essentially take back the city from the insurgents Kyra.
[Phillips:] All right, Jaime McIntyre live from the Pentagon Jamie, thanks so much. Well, after five visits to a federal grand jury, the president's top political adviser learned that he will not be charged in the CIA leak investigation. CNN's Elaine Quijano joins me with that Elaine.
[Elaine Quijano, Cnn Correspondent:] And, Kyra, the cloud that had been hanging over this White House about whether or not Karl Rove would be indicted, well, that cloud has now lifted. Karl Rove's attorney, Bob Luskin, said today that the special counsel in this 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, the president's top political adviser appeared upbeat. And though he didn't say anything to reporters, he did give a playful wave to the cameras. Last night, Rove also did not make mention of the news when he spoke to New Hampshire state Republicans at a fund-raiser. But, certainly, this development is particularly timely for this White House and the GOP, who have been looking for some good news, support heading into the midterm elections. President Bush is said to be pleased that this process is over. And counselor Dan Bartlett, who is traveling with the president, said quote "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." Now, as for the Democrats, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer says that he accepts this decision, but he also says that the special counsel in this case must find out who did, in fact, leak Valerie Plame's identity to the media, she, of course, a CIA operative whose identity was made public. The bottom line, though, Kyra, from the White House's perspective, they are certainly breathing a huge sigh of relief, a top Bush aid saying that quote "Having finality is a good thing" Kyra.
[Phillips:] All right, Elaine Quijano, thanks so much. If anything, Karl Rove is a fighter and survivor. Here's a look at a career path that led to the White House.
[Unidentified Correspondent:] Depending on who you talk to, Karl Rove is a political genius, the architect of President Bush's White House victories, or a savage political strategist, always willing to engage in dirty tricks. Rove was born in Denver, Colorado, in 1950. He attended several colleges, but never graduated. It was during those years that he apparently discovered his passion for politics and winning. While at the University of Utah in the late "60s, Rove joined the College Republicans. From there, you could say the rest is history. Rove's ties to the Bush family go way back. Bush's father hired him to guide his unsuccessful run for the White House in 1980. Afterward, Rove settled in Austin, Texas, and founded his own political consulting firm. From that platform, he helped George W. Bush win the Texas gubernatorial election in 1994. Since then, Rove is often just a couple of steps behind the president. Despite his involvement in the CIA leak case, Rove appears to be the archetypical optimist. A wide grin always seems to be a fixture of his round face. He has never been known to talk much about his personal life, although he did tell "The New Yorker" magazine this, that his parents" marriage ended on his 19th birthday. And, 12 years later, his mother committed suicide.
[Phillips:] Patrick Kennedy has put his legal ordeal behind him. The Democratic congressman from Rhode Island pleaded guilty a short time ago to driving under the influence of prescription drugs. In return, charges of reckless driving and failure to exhibit a driving permit were dismissed. Kennedy was sentenced to drug treatment and a year of probation, all this more than a month after Kennedy crashed his car near the Capitol in the wee hours of the morning. He spent the next few weeks in rehab, after admitting that he was addicted to prescription drugs. Kennedy denies drinking before that accident. Alberto comes ashore with more of a whimper than a roar. You are looking at a live broadband picture from Steinhatchee, Florida. It's quite the rainmaker, though, across Florida, into George and the Carolinas. And we still could see a storm surge of up to nine feet. Florida remains under a state of emergency. And more than 20,000 people are out of their homes. About 450 National Guard troops are on standby. Well, the storm came ashore near Adams Beach, about 40 miles from where our Dan Lothian is still braving the winds. He joins us now from the village of Steinhatchee. Dan, has it changed much since we last chatted?
[Dan Lothian, Cnn Boston Bureau Chief:] Oh, my goodness. Yes. As you can see, the rain is now coming down. That is something that we haven't had for about the last couple of hours or so. We didn't get that hurricane here, but it has been quite messy, having spots of heavy rain and high winds. And then it calms down again. We are in that period of time now when that rain has really picked up. Now, one of the good things is that the the storm surge that was expected, at least emergency management officials expected around 8:00 this morning there was concern in the low-lying areas, where some 2,000 residents live that storm surge did not materialize. What they are watching now, though, is the second high tide of the day, which is expected to happen in about oh, about five to 10 minutes from now. And the concern is that there could be additional flooding, as the wind is pushing that water through the river. You can see the whitecaps there. There, you can see the palm trees, the direction that the wind is blowing. They're concerned that some of that water will flow onto the streets and perhaps into some of the homes back to you, Kyra.
[Phillips:] All right, Dan Lothian, thanks so much. Tony Harris, it looks like your girl...
[Tony Harris, Cnn Correspondent:] A Daryl Hannah update for you.
[Phillips:] Your girl Daryl Hannah is coming out of the tree.
[Harris:] She doesn't call me anymore. OK. And I guess I understand why in this case. This is a picture from no, it's a live picture right now. Daryl Hannah, she has been up that walnut tree for the last hour or so well, actually, longer than that. We saw, just a few moments ago,that the firefighters moved in with this this ladder and cherry-picker to get her down. They had to take a saw to it as well, because she had tied herself to the tree, along with environmental activist John Quigley live pictures right now of Daryl Hannah being removed of the tree and, ultimately, here being lowered to the ground. It has taken, Kyra, quite a while to execute this eviction. This all stems from an eviction order legally obtained by the owner of this property to move people from this urban garden, considered by some to be the largest urban garden in the United States, in South Central Los Angeles; 350 or so farmers work that 14-acre site. And the order was given that they it was time for them all to go. This is something that has been building over the last month or so, but the fight has been going on much longer than that. It's just really picked up intensity over the last month. This has become kind of a cause celebre for a lot of personalities in Los Angeles. We are talking about Willie Nelson, Danny Glover, Joan Baez, and others, Daryl Hannah here, who have championed the cause of these farmers. It for them, it is a a case about jobs, certainly some kind of a statement about eminent domain. And, right now, Daryl Hannah, who has been in a walnut tree most of the day, as protesters have been out in front of this 14-acre site, trying to hold off sheriff's deputies and L.A. Police from executing this eviction notice, here she is, touching down, in just a couple of moments, on terra firma, again, Daryl Hannah standing up for farmers in South Central Los Angeles. There you go.
[Phillips:] The next Cesar Chavez right there.
[Harris:] There you go.
[Phillips:] Daryl Hannah. Forget the movie business. All right.
[Harris:] That's it.
[Phillips:] We will stay on top of... We will see what happens. We will see if, you know, what she did makes a difference.
[Harris:] Maybe save it or something, sure.
[Phillips:] Right. Absolutely. All right, Tony...
[Harris:] OK, Kyra.
[Phillips:] ... thanks so much. Dramatic video of that family that was attacked on the beach now this story takes a twist, as we hear who may be responsible. Stay with us. You are watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.