text:
LOS ANGELES (CNN) -- Since he opened his first restaurant in the heart of Beverly Hills in the early eighties, Wolfgang Puck has gone on to become a household name in the U.S.

Puck says L.A. has perfect weather, "fabulous light and very little rain"

His chain of airport restaurants stretch across the states while his brand adorns everything from pizzas to non-stick pans. He lives in Los Angeles with his second wife and their two young children.

CNN: What first drew you to L.A.?

Wolfgang Puck: I came to the U.S. when I was 24. I spent a month in New York and a year in Indianapolis but I always dreamt about the beaches in California. I had a blue 1967 Cadillac. In 1974 I packed my suitcases, put them in a trailer and drove straight to L.A. It took me five days to drive from Indianapolis.  Watch Wolfgang Puck take CNN on a tour of L.A. Â»

CNN: What has kept you here all these years?

Wolfgang Puck: In L.A. you live in a big city, but you feel like you're in the countryside. For example, I can be at home in the swimming pool and be five minutes from everything. It has the perfect weather -- the movie industry started here because of the fabulous light and very little rain. See pictures of Wolfgang Puck's Los Angeles

CNN: Does everyone in L.A. want to be an actor?

Wolfgang Puck: It's a city of dreams. It's nice to dream but a lot of people forget it's very difficult. They think you become Cate Blanchett or Jack Nicholson just like that, but these people paid their dues. They forget how much time it took them to get there and how good they really are.

CNN: You are the official caterer to the Oscars. It must an exciting event to be part of.

Wolfgang Puck: When we cater the Governor's Ball, we have 300 people in the kitchen and 600 in the dining room. It goes very fast and it's done the right way. I remember Michael Caine came to Spago (Puck's flagship Beverly Hills eaterie) the Monday after the awards with his family and said could he get the same dish that he ate at the awards, which means we really nailed it.

CNN: How has the city inspired your cooking?

Wolfgang Puck: For me, cooking is an expression of the land where you are and the culture of that place. L.A. is a melting pot of many different cultures and we have fabulous ingredients here. If you go to San Diego, San Francisco you can get the best vegetables, the best fruits, sea food -- all these wonderful ingredients.

CNN: How does L.A. compare with New York?

Wolfgang Puck: New Yorkers think they have everything, all the best art and music. But really L.A. is a better place. Some of the most famous artists in the world work right here.

CNN: You're a big fan of modern art. How did that start?

Wolfgang Puck: I got interested in contemporary art because I worked in a restaurant right across the street from a gallery where they made prints for people like David Hockney. The artists came for lunch at the restaurant so I used to talk to them. Hockney made the first cover of my cook book; I had Andy Warhol do the label for our wine. I feel that painting is in some way like cooking -- if you add a little more blue, a little less blue it doesn't matter.

The same thing with cooking: a little of this, a little bit more of that. As long as the end result is beautiful, that's what counts.

CNN: If L.A. was personified, what would they be like?

Wolfgang Puck: A person who enjoys themselves. They do a great job at work but also can have a good time. To me that's what life is all about.

text: LOS

text: ANGELES

text: CNN

text: Since

text: he

text: opened

text: his

text: first

text: restaurant

text: in

text: the

text: heart

text: of

text: Beverly

text: Hills

text: in

text: the

text: early

text: eighties

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: has

text: gone

text: on

text: to

text: become

text: a

text: household

text: name

text: in

text: the

text: U.S.

text: Puck

text: says

text: L.A.

text: has

text: perfect

text: weather

text: fabulous

text: light

text: and

text: very

text: little

text: rain

text: His

text: chain

text: of

text: airport

text: restaurants

text: stretch

text: across

text: the

text: states

text: while

text: his

text: brand

text: adorns

text: everything

text: from

text: pizzas

text: to

text: non

text: stick

text: pans

text: He

text: lives

text: in

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: with

text: his

text: second

text: wife

text: and

text: their

text: two

text: young

text: children

text: CNN

text: What

text: first

text: drew

text: you

text: to

text: L.A.

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: I

text: came

text: to

text: the

text: U.S.

text: when

text: I

text: was

text: I

text: spent

text: a

text: month

text: in

text: New

text: York

text: and

text: a

text: year

text: in

text: Indianapolis

text: but

text: I

text: always

text: dreamt

text: about

text: the

text: beaches

text: in

text: California

text: I

text: had

text: a

text: blue

text: Cadillac

text: In

text: I

text: packed

text: my

text: suitcases

text: put

text: them

text: in

text: a

text: trailer

text: and

text: drove

text: straight

text: to

text: L.A.

text: It

text: took

text: me

text: five

text: days

text: to

text: drive

text: from

text: Indianapolis

text: Watch

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: take

text: CNN

text: on

text: a

text: tour

text: of

text: L.A.

text: Â

text: CNN

text: What

text: has

text: kept

text: you

text: here

text: all

text: these

text: years

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: In

text: L.A.

text: you

text: live

text: in

text: a

text: big

text: city

text: but

text: you

text: feel

text: like

text: you

text: 're

text: in

text: the

text: countryside

text: For

text: example

text: I

text: can

text: be

text: at

text: home

text: in

text: the

text: swimming

text: pool

text: and

text: be

text: five

text: minutes

text: from

text: everything

text: It

text: has

text: the

text: perfect

text: weather

text: the

text: movie

text: industry

text: started

text: here

text: because

text: of

text: the

text: fabulous

text: light

text: and

text: very

text: little

text: rain

text: See

text: pictures

text: of

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: 's

text: Los

text: Angeles

text: CNN

text: Does

text: everyone

text: in

text: L.A.

text: want

text: to

text: be

text: an

text: actor

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: It

text: 's

text: a

text: city

text: of

text: dreams

text: It

text: 's

text: nice

text: to

text: dream

text: but

text: a

text: lot

text: of

text: people

text: forget

text: it

text: 's

text: very

text: difficult

text: They

text: think

text: you

text: become

text: Cate

text: Blanchett

text: or

text: Jack

text: Nicholson

text: just

text: like

text: that

text: but

text: these

text: people

text: paid

text: their

text: dues

text: They

text: forget

text: how

text: much

text: time

text: it

text: took

text: them

text: to

text: get

text: there

text: and

text: how

text: good

text: they

text: really

text: are

text: CNN

text: You

text: are

text: the

text: official

text: caterer

text: to

text: the

text: Oscars

text: It

text: must

text: an

text: exciting

text: event

text: to

text: be

text: part

text: of

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: When

text: we

text: cater

text: the

text: Governor

text: 's

text: Ball

text: we

text: have

text: people

text: in

text: the

text: kitchen

text: and

text: in

text: the

text: dining

text: room

text: It

text: goes

text: very

text: fast

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: done

text: the

text: right

text: way

text: I

text: remember

text: Michael

text: Caine

text: came

text: to

text: Spago

text: Puck

text: 's

text: flagship

text: Beverly

text: Hills

text: eaterie

text: the

text: Monday

text: after

text: the

text: awards

text: with

text: his

text: family

text: and

text: said

text: could

text: he

text: get

text: the

text: same

text: dish

text: that

text: he

text: ate

text: at

text: the

text: awards

text: which

text: means

text: we

text: really

text: nailed

text: it

text: CNN

text: How

text: has

text: the

text: city

text: inspired

text: your

text: cooking

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: For

text: me

text: cooking

text: is

text: an

text: expression

text: of

text: the

text: land

text: where

text: you

text: are

text: and

text: the

text: culture

text: of

text: that

text: place

text: L.A.

text: is

text: a

text: melting

text: pot

text: of

text: many

text: different

text: cultures

text: and

text: we

text: have

text: fabulous

text: ingredients

text: here

text: If

text: you

text: go

text: to

text: San

text: Diego

text: San

text: Francisco

text: you

text: can

text: get

text: the

text: best

text: vegetables

text: the

text: best

text: fruits

text: sea

text: food

text: all

text: these

text: wonderful

text: ingredients

text: CNN

text: How

text: does

text: L.A.

text: compare

text: with

text: New

text: York

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: New

text: Yorkers

text: think

text: they

text: have

text: everything

text: all

text: the

text: best

text: art

text: and

text: music

text: But

text: really

text: L.A.

text: is

text: a

text: better

text: place

text: Some

text: of

text: the

text: most

text: famous

text: artists

text: in

text: the

text: world

text: work

text: right

text: here

text: CNN

text: You

text: 're

text: a

text: big

text: fan

text: of

text: modern

text: art

text: How

text: did

text: that

text: start

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: I

text: got

text: interested

text: in

text: contemporary

text: art

text: because

text: I

text: worked

text: in

text: a

text: restaurant

text: right

text: across

text: the

text: street

text: from

text: a

text: gallery

text: where

text: they

text: made

text: prints

text: for

text: people

text: like

text: David

text: Hockney

text: The

text: artists

text: came

text: for

text: lunch

text: at

text: the

text: restaurant

text: so

text: I

text: used

text: to

text: talk

text: to

text: them

text: Hockney

text: made

text: the

text: first

text: cover

text: of

text: my

text: cook

text: book

text: I

text: had

text: Andy

text: Warhol

text: do

text: the

text: label

text: for

text: our

text: wine

text: I

text: feel

text: that

text: painting

text: is

text: in

text: some

text: way

text: like

text: cooking

text: if

text: you

text: add

text: a

text: little

text: more

text: blue

text: a

text: little

text: less

text: blue

text: it

text: does

text: n't

text: matter

text: The

text: same

text: thing

text: with

text: cooking

text: a

text: little

text: of

text: this

text: a

text: little

text: bit

text: more

text: of

text: that

text: As

text: long

text: as

text: the

text: end

text: result

text: is

text: beautiful

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: counts

text: CNN

text: If

text: L.A.

text: was

text: personified

text: what

text: would

text: they

text: be

text: like

text: Wolfgang

text: Puck

text: A

text: person

text: who

text: enjoys

text: themselves

text: They

text: do

text: a

text: great

text: job

text: at

text: work

text: but

text: also

text: can

text: have

text: a

text: good

text: time

text: To

text: me

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: life

text: is

text: all

text: about

question: What car did Puck drive

answer: blue 1967 Cadillac.

text: blue 1967 Cadillac.

question: What did Puck arrive in L.A. in?

answer: 1967 Cadillac.

text: 1967 Cadillac.

question: What has helped inspire his cuisine?

answer: L.A. is a melting pot of many different cultures and we have fabulous ingredients here. If you go to San Diego, San Francisco you can get the best vegetables, the best fruits, sea food

text: L.A. is a melting pot of many different cultures and we have fabulous ingredients here. If you go to San Diego, San Francisco you can get the best vegetables, the best fruits, sea food

question: What year Puck came to Los Angeles?

answer: 1974


text:
(CNN) -- A day after three Connecticut asset managers claimed the largest Powerball jackpot in the state's history, a public relations executive acting on their behalf issued a statement denying there was a fourth participant who wanted to remain anonymous.

Throughout the day Monday there had been published reports that the three men who appeared with the winning check were only collecting on behalf of a client of their investment firm.

"While there has been much speculation and quite a bit of misinformation over the last 24 hours, this Trust, with its three trustees, has been established to manage the winnings in the most practical and expedient way possible so that we can achieve our strategic goal of helping those who can best benefit from these funds," said public relations executive Gary Lewi. "And to be clear, there are a total of three trustees and there is no anonymous fourth participant."

The statement goes on to say that the financial advisers will set up a trust that will have as its focus -- among other things -- care for U.S. veterans and those returning home from deployment.

Within 10 days the trust will distribute $1 million to selected veterans relief organizations within the tri-state region, Lewi said.

Co-workers Tim Davidson, Brandon Lacoff and Greg Skidmore claimed the prize from the November 2 drawing, which netted them more than $100 million, at a presentation by the Connecticut Lottery Corp.

Ranjit Singh, the manager of the Stamford BP gas station where the winning ticket was purchased, told CNN's Mary Snow that he is sure it was Tim Davidson who purchased the ticket. "I do recognize him, I cannot forget the face." Singh also said he remembers that he pushed Davidson to buy a ticket.

The jackpot was $254 million, had the winners taken a multiyear payout. They opted instead for a one-time cash payout that totaled $103.6 million after taxes, according to Connecticut Lottery spokeswoman Linda Tarnowski.

It was the 12th-largest jackpot in Powerball history, according to Anne Noble, president of the Connecticut Lottery.

"Everybody is extremely excited -- these numbers are huge," said the trio's attorney, Jason Kurland. "This is going to benefit many people."

Kurland spoke on behalf of three winners, all asset managers at start-up firm Belpointe Asset Management in Greenwich, Connecticut. He said that the men will donate "a significant amount" of the winnings to charities in the state.

Davidson bought the $1 ticket at a gas station in Stamford, Kurland said.

After realizing they had a winning ticket the following morning, the three co-workers formed the Putnam Avenue Family Trust, each becoming a trustee.

"They have become their dream client," Kurland said.

Skidmore was the only one of the three winners to speak at Monday's press conference.

"It feels good," he said.

CNN's Mary Snow and Leigh Remizowski contributed to this report.

text: CNN

text: A

text: day

text: after

text: three

text: Connecticut

text: asset

text: managers

text: claimed

text: the

text: largest

text: Powerball

text: jackpot

text: in

text: the

text: state

text: 's

text: history

text: a

text: public

text: relations

text: executive

text: acting

text: on

text: their

text: behalf

text: issued

text: a

text: statement

text: denying

text: there

text: was

text: a

text: fourth

text: participant

text: who

text: wanted

text: to

text: remain

text: anonymous

text: Throughout

text: the

text: day

text: Monday

text: there

text: had

text: been

text: published

text: reports

text: that

text: the

text: three

text: men

text: who

text: appeared

text: with

text: the

text: winning

text: check

text: were

text: only

text: collecting

text: on

text: behalf

text: of

text: a

text: client

text: of

text: their

text: investment

text: firm

text: While

text: there

text: has

text: been

text: much

text: speculation

text: and

text: quite

text: a

text: bit

text: of

text: misinformation

text: over

text: the

text: last

text: hours

text: this

text: Trust

text: with

text: its

text: three

text: trustees

text: has

text: been

text: established

text: to

text: manage

text: the

text: winnings

text: in

text: the

text: most

text: practical

text: and

text: expedient

text: way

text: possible

text: so

text: that

text: we

text: can

text: achieve

text: our

text: strategic

text: goal

text: of

text: helping

text: those

text: who

text: can

text: best

text: benefit

text: from

text: these

text: funds

text: said

text: public

text: relations

text: executive

text: Gary

text: Lewi

text: And

text: to

text: be

text: clear

text: there

text: are

text: a

text: total

text: of

text: three

text: trustees

text: and

text: there

text: is

text: no

text: anonymous

text: fourth

text: participant

text: The

text: statement

text: goes

text: on

text: to

text: say

text: that

text: the

text: financial

text: advisers

text: will

text: set

text: up

text: a

text: trust

text: that

text: will

text: have

text: as

text: its

text: focus

text: among

text: other

text: things

text: care

text: for

text: U.S.

text: veterans

text: and

text: those

text: returning

text: home

text: from

text: deployment

text: Within

text: days

text: the

text: trust

text: will

text: distribute

text: million

text: to

text: selected

text: veterans

text: relief

text: organizations

text: within

text: the

text: tri

text: state

text: region

text: Lewi

text: said

text: Co

text: workers

text: Tim

text: Davidson

text: Brandon

text: Lacoff

text: and

text: Greg

text: Skidmore

text: claimed

text: the

text: prize

text: from

text: the

text: November

text: drawing

text: which

text: netted

text: them

text: more

text: than

text: million

text: at

text: a

text: presentation

text: by

text: the

text: Connecticut

text: Lottery

text: Corp.

text: Ranjit

text: Singh

text: the

text: manager

text: of

text: the

text: Stamford

text: BP

text: gas

text: station

text: where

text: the

text: winning

text: ticket

text: was

text: purchased

text: told

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Mary

text: Snow

text: that

text: he

text: is

text: sure

text: it

text: was

text: Tim

text: Davidson

text: who

text: purchased

text: the

text: ticket

text: I

text: do

text: recognize

text: him

text: I

text: can

text: not

text: forget

text: the

text: face

text: Singh

text: also

text: said

text: he

text: remembers

text: that

text: he

text: pushed

text: Davidson

text: to

text: buy

text: a

text: ticket

text: The

text: jackpot

text: was

text: million

text: had

text: the

text: winners

text: taken

text: a

text: multiyear

text: payout

text: They

text: opted

text: instead

text: for

text: a

text: one

text: time

text: cash

text: payout

text: that

text: totaled

text: million

text: after

text: taxes

text: according

text: to

text: Connecticut

text: Lottery

text: spokeswoman

text: Linda

text: Tarnowski

text: It

text: was

text: the

text: largest

text: jackpot

text: in

text: Powerball

text: history

text: according

text: to

text: Anne

text: Noble

text: president

text: of

text: the

text: Connecticut

text: Lottery

text: Everybody

text: is

text: extremely

text: excited

text: these

text: numbers

text: are

text: huge

text: said

text: the

text: trio

text: 's

text: attorney

text: Jason

text: Kurland

text: This

text: is

text: going

text: to

text: benefit

text: many

text: people

text: Kurland

text: spoke

text: on

text: behalf

text: of

text: three

text: winners

text: all

text: asset

text: managers

text: at

text: start

text: up

text: firm

text: Belpointe

text: Asset

text: Management

text: in

text: Greenwich

text: Connecticut

text: He

text: said

text: that

text: the

text: men

text: will

text: donate

text: a

text: significant

text: amount

text: of

text: the

text: winnings

text: to

text: charities

text: in

text: the

text: state

text: Davidson

text: bought

text: the

text: ticket

text: at

text: a

text: gas

text: station

text: in

text: Stamford

text: Kurland

text: said

text: After

text: realizing

text: they

text: had

text: a

text: winning

text: ticket

text: the

text: following

text: morning

text: the

text: three

text: co

text: workers

text: formed

text: the

text: Putnam

text: Avenue

text: Family

text: Trust

text: each

text: becoming

text: a

text: trustee

text: They

text: have

text: become

text: their

text: dream

text: client

text: Kurland

text: said

text: Skidmore

text: was

text: the

text: only

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: three

text: winners

text: to

text: speak

text: at

text: Monday

text: 's

text: press

text: conference

text: It

text: feels

text: good

text: he

text: said

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Mary

text: Snow

text: and

text: Leigh

text: Remizowski

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who did the trust fund benefit?

answer: veterans relief organizations

text: veterans relief organizations

question: What will the trust fund benefit?

answer: care for U.S. veterans and those returning home from deployment.

text: care for U.S. veterans and those returning home from deployment.

question: How many winners were there?

answer: three

text: three

question: how much was the jackpot?

answer: $254 million,

text: $254 million,

question: How much will be distributed to selected groups?

answer: $1 million

text: $1 million

question: How much money will be distributed?

answer: $1 million

text: $1 million

question: How much was the Powerball jackpot?

answer: $254 million,

text: $254 million,


text:
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Marine commander on Wednesday warned of a "growing" insurgent threat in Afghanistan, but he said forces would have to be cut in Iraq to send more Marines to Afghanistan.

Marines could be pulled from Iraq's Anbar province, Gen. James Conway said Wednesday.

"To do more in Afghanistan, our Marines have got to see relief elsewhere," said Gen. James Conway in a briefing for Pentagon reporters.

Conway said the Corps' two regimental combat teams -- about 10,000 Marines -- in Iraq's Anbar province could be removed as there are only two or three insurgent attacks a day in what was once the hotbed of the Iraqi insurgency.

The U.S.-led coalition is scheduled to hand over security control in Anbar to Iraqi troops next week.

Despite the progress, Conway said, he doesn't expect any decisions on troop withdrawals until Gen. David Petraeus -- the head of the U.S. military in Iraq -- makes his recommendations on troop deployment in Iraq to President Bush and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

There are more than 3,000 Marines in Afghanistan, and Conway said that the Marine Corps would be willing to help bolster the fight against the Taliban in that country.

"I think that a battalion of Marines in Afghanistan count for more than a battalion of Marines in Iraq, if you will, just in terms of the impact that they can have," he said.

text: WASHINGTON

text: CNN

text: The

text: U.S.

text: Marine

text: commander

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: warned

text: of

text: a

text: growing

text: insurgent

text: threat

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: but

text: he

text: said

text: forces

text: would

text: have

text: to

text: be

text: cut

text: in

text: Iraq

text: to

text: send

text: more

text: Marines

text: to

text: Afghanistan

text: Marines

text: could

text: be

text: pulled

text: from

text: Iraq

text: 's

text: Anbar

text: province

text: Gen.

text: James

text: Conway

text: said

text: Wednesday

text: To

text: do

text: more

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: our

text: Marines

text: have

text: got

text: to

text: see

text: relief

text: elsewhere

text: said

text: Gen.

text: James

text: Conway

text: in

text: a

text: briefing

text: for

text: Pentagon

text: reporters

text: Conway

text: said

text: the

text: Corps

text: two

text: regimental

text: combat

text: teams

text: about

text: Marines

text: in

text: Iraq

text: 's

text: Anbar

text: province

text: could

text: be

text: removed

text: as

text: there

text: are

text: only

text: two

text: or

text: three

text: insurgent

text: attacks

text: a

text: day

text: in

text: what

text: was

text: once

text: the

text: hotbed

text: of

text: the

text: Iraqi

text: insurgency

text: The

text: U.S

text: led

text: coalition

text: is

text: scheduled

text: to

text: hand

text: over

text: security

text: control

text: in

text: Anbar

text: to

text: Iraqi

text: troops

text: next

text: week

text: Despite

text: the

text: progress

text: Conway

text: said

text: he

text: does

text: n't

text: expect

text: any

text: decisions

text: on

text: troop

text: withdrawals

text: until

text: Gen.

text: David

text: Petraeus

text: the

text: head

text: of

text: the

text: U.S.

text: military

text: in

text: Iraq

text: makes

text: his

text: recommendations

text: on

text: troop

text: deployment

text: in

text: Iraq

text: to

text: President

text: Bush

text: and

text: Defense

text: Secretary

text: Robert

text: Gates

text: There

text: are

text: more

text: than

text: Marines

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: and

text: Conway

text: said

text: that

text: the

text: Marine

text: Corps

text: would

text: be

text: willing

text: to

text: help

text: bolster

text: the

text: fight

text: against

text: the

text: Taliban

text: in

text: that

text: country

text: I

text: think

text: that

text: a

text: battalion

text: of

text: Marines

text: in

text: Afghanistan

text: count

text: for

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: battalion

text: of

text: Marines

text: in

text: Iraq

text: if

text: you

text: will

text: just

text: in

text: terms

text: of

text: the

text: impact

text: that

text: they

text: can

text: have

text: he

text: said

question: Where is Anbar Province?

answer: Iraq's

text: Iraq's

question: What did the General say?

answer: "To do more in Afghanistan, our Marines have got to see relief elsewhere,"

text: "To do more in Afghanistan, our Marines have got to see relief elsewhere,"

question: Where could the Marines have a greater effect?

answer: Afghanistan,

text: Afghanistan,

question: What area did Conway claim should be focused on?

answer: Afghanistan,

text: Afghanistan,

question: Where could the Marines leave?

answer: Iraq's Anbar province,

text: Iraq's Anbar province,

question: What type of ground troops are mentioned here?

answer: Marines

text: Marines

question: How many attacks a day are there in Anbar?

answer: two or three

text: two or three

question: What is James Conway's rank?

answer: Gen.

text: Gen.

question: How many attacks are taking place in Anbar?

answer: two or three

text: two or three

question: What did Gen. James Conway say about attacks?

answer: forces would have to be cut in Iraq to send more Marines to Afghanistan.

text: forces would have to be cut in Iraq to send more Marines to Afghanistan.

question: Who would have a greater effect in Afghanistan?

answer: a battalion of Marines

text: a battalion of Marines


text:
Baghdad (CNN) -- A car bomber who penetrated Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone this week was targeting the Iraqi prime minister, authorities said Saturday.

The attack Monday left two people dead and seven others injured in the Green Zone, which houses the nation's government offices as well as U.S. and other embassies.

Police said the blast occurred at an outdoor parking lot that belongs to the Iraqi parliament.

No more details were available immediately on whether lawmakers were among the casualties.

Initial inquiries revealed an attempt to kill Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, according to Major Gen. Qassim Atta, the Baghdad security operations manager.

The black car was loaded with explosives and had three ways to detonate: manual, electric and by cell phone, he said.

"The intelligence information we have indicates that the vehicle was supposed to enter the building and park there until the arrival of the prime minister," Atta said.

Terrorists confessed that the car bomb was targeting the prime minister when he visits parliament in an upcoming session, according to Atta, who did not name the group behind the attacks.

The prime minister was not there at the time of the attack, he said.

The attacker was in a black Dodge with 20 kg (44 lb) of explosives, and was driving toward parliament when security forces stopped him because he did not have a proper badge.

The driver parked at the parliament compound, where the car exploded.

The attack comes amid a U.S. military withdrawal from the Middle Eastern country.

All American troops are scheduled to be out by the end of the year. Iraqi security forces, including army and police officers, are to assume full responsibility after the withdrawal.

CNN's Hamdi Alkhshali contributed to this report

text: Baghdad

text: CNN

text: A

text: car

text: bomber

text: who

text: penetrated

text: Baghdad

text: 's

text: heavily

text: fortified

text: Green

text: Zone

text: this

text: week

text: was

text: targeting

text: the

text: Iraqi

text: prime

text: minister

text: authorities

text: said

text: Saturday

text: The

text: attack

text: Monday

text: left

text: two

text: people

text: dead

text: and

text: seven

text: others

text: injured

text: in

text: the

text: Green

text: Zone

text: which

text: houses

text: the

text: nation

text: 's

text: government

text: offices

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: U.S.

text: and

text: other

text: embassies

text: Police

text: said

text: the

text: blast

text: occurred

text: at

text: an

text: outdoor

text: parking

text: lot

text: that

text: belongs

text: to

text: the

text: Iraqi

text: parliament

text: No

text: more

text: details

text: were

text: available

text: immediately

text: on

text: whether

text: lawmakers

text: were

text: among

text: the

text: casualties

text: Initial

text: inquiries

text: revealed

text: an

text: attempt

text: to

text: kill

text: Prime

text: Minister

text: Nuri

text: al

text: Maliki

text: according

text: to

text: Major

text: Gen.

text: Qassim

text: Atta

text: the

text: Baghdad

text: security

text: operations

text: manager

text: The

text: black

text: car

text: was

text: loaded

text: with

text: explosives

text: and

text: had

text: three

text: ways

text: to

text: detonate

text: manual

text: electric

text: and

text: by

text: cell

text: phone

text: he

text: said

text: The

text: intelligence

text: information

text: we

text: have

text: indicates

text: that

text: the

text: vehicle

text: was

text: supposed

text: to

text: enter

text: the

text: building

text: and

text: park

text: there

text: until

text: the

text: arrival

text: of

text: the

text: prime

text: minister

text: Atta

text: said

text: Terrorists

text: confessed

text: that

text: the

text: car

text: bomb

text: was

text: targeting

text: the

text: prime

text: minister

text: when

text: he

text: visits

text: parliament

text: in

text: an

text: upcoming

text: session

text: according

text: to

text: Atta

text: who

text: did

text: not

text: name

text: the

text: group

text: behind

text: the

text: attacks

text: The

text: prime

text: minister

text: was

text: not

text: there

text: at

text: the

text: time

text: of

text: the

text: attack

text: he

text: said

text: The

text: attacker

text: was

text: in

text: a

text: black

text: Dodge

text: with

text: kg

text: lb

text: of

text: explosives

text: and

text: was

text: driving

text: toward

text: parliament

text: when

text: security

text: forces

text: stopped

text: him

text: because

text: he

text: did

text: not

text: have

text: a

text: proper

text: badge

text: The

text: driver

text: parked

text: at

text: the

text: parliament

text: compound

text: where

text: the

text: car

text: exploded

text: The

text: attack

text: comes

text: amid

text: a

text: U.S.

text: military

text: withdrawal

text: from

text: the

text: Middle

text: Eastern

text: country

text: All

text: American

text: troops

text: are

text: scheduled

text: to

text: be

text: out

text: by

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: year

text: Iraqi

text: security

text: forces

text: including

text: army

text: and

text: police

text: officers

text: are

text: to

text: assume

text: full

text: responsibility

text: after

text: the

text: withdrawal

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Hamdi

text: Alkhshali

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: who was the car bomb targeting

answer: Iraqi prime minister,

text: Iraqi prime minister,

question: when did this occur

answer: Monday

text: Monday

question: where did the blast occur

answer: at an outdoor parking lot

text: at an outdoor parking lot


text:
GAINESVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- When 19-year-old Reid Overton wants to smoke a cigarette on his college campus, he has to walk to a distant parking lot and get into his car, but he doesn't seem to mind. "Even as a smoker, I don't like to walk past a cloud of smoke," he says.

Reid Overton, a freshman at Gainesville State College in Georgia, heads to his car when he wants a smoke.

Overton is one of 5,300 students at Gainesville State College, an hour north of Atlanta, Georgia. A 4-year-old ban prohibits anyone from using tobacco products on campus, including students, faculty and visitors.

A smoke-free campus was the brainchild of longtime college president Martha Nesbitt, herself a former smoker. "It's just a healthier place to be," says Nesbitt, "because as you go in a building, you're not going to have to go through smoke. When you walk out, you don't see cigarette butts littered around. It's just a cleaner, healthier campus."

Nesbitt reports there haven't been any problems enforcing the ban. Signs are posted around campus, and the policy is prominently displayed on everything from the school Web site to admissions applications.

The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation reports nearly 60 college campuses around the United States have smoke-free policies that affect the entire campus.

Other schools have limited restrictions, banning smoking indoors in residential housing and student facilities. Nesbitt believes her college is one of the first to fully prohibit the use of tobacco products. Watch more on efforts to curb smoking on campus Â»

The American Cancer Society says the movement is catching on. "The trend toward a smoke-free country is going on everywhere," says Daniel Smith, president of the American Cancer Society Action Network. "I think college campuses are simply reflecting the same trend we're seeing in society."

With the 30th anniversary this week of the nationwide Great American Smokeout, the cancer society is pushing a smoke-free college campus initiative. It encourages campus coordinators to hold competitions and distribute survival kits that include gum and support information.

The group is trying to convince students that if they can quit for a day, they can quit for good. According to the cancer society, the prevalence of smoking in the United States is highest among college-age students, ages 18 to 24. While other age groups are decreasing their tobacco use, the cancer society says college students are smoking at a greater rate.

Those statistics worry Smith. "We know that 30 percent of all cancers are caused by smoking," he says. He blames the addiction rates among young adults on heavy marketing efforts on college campuses by tobacco companies.

"Many people might initially think it's cool. But when they're educated about the health effects, by that time, they are addicted, and it's very hard to quit."

Overton isn't all that worried about cutting back on his pack-a-day smoking habit, but he says that long walk to his car has provided some added benefits. "It doesn't encourage me to quit, but it does encourage me to cut back some."

That's welcome news for some of his nonsmoking classmates. "I'm not forced to be around all of the smokers," says freshman Matthew Bradford, 19. "I'm not breathing it in all of the time, and it's nice to get some fresh air when you get out of class." E-mail to a friend

Judy Fortin is a correspondent with CNN Medical News.

text: GAINESVILLE

text: Georgia

text: CNN

text: When

text: old

text: Reid

text: Overton

text: wants

text: to

text: smoke

text: a

text: cigarette

text: on

text: his

text: college

text: campus

text: he

text: has

text: to

text: walk

text: to

text: a

text: distant

text: parking

text: lot

text: and

text: get

text: into

text: his

text: car

text: but

text: he

text: does

text: n't

text: seem

text: to

text: mind

text: Even

text: as

text: a

text: smoker

text: I

text: do

text: n't

text: like

text: to

text: walk

text: past

text: a

text: cloud

text: of

text: smoke

text: he

text: says

text: Reid

text: Overton

text: a

text: freshman

text: at

text: Gainesville

text: State

text: College

text: in

text: Georgia

text: heads

text: to

text: his

text: car

text: when

text: he

text: wants

text: a

text: smoke

text: Overton

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: students

text: at

text: Gainesville

text: State

text: College

text: an

text: hour

text: north

text: of

text: Atlanta

text: Georgia

text: A

text: old

text: ban

text: prohibits

text: anyone

text: from

text: using

text: tobacco

text: products

text: on

text: campus

text: including

text: students

text: faculty

text: and

text: visitors

text: A

text: smoke

text: free

text: campus

text: was

text: the

text: brainchild

text: of

text: longtime

text: college

text: president

text: Martha

text: Nesbitt

text: herself

text: a

text: former

text: smoker

text: It

text: 's

text: just

text: a

text: healthier

text: place

text: to

text: be

text: says

text: Nesbitt

text: because

text: as

text: you

text: go

text: in

text: a

text: building

text: you

text: 're

text: not

text: going

text: to

text: have

text: to

text: go

text: through

text: smoke

text: When

text: you

text: walk

text: out

text: you

text: do

text: n't

text: see

text: cigarette

text: butts

text: littered

text: around

text: It

text: 's

text: just

text: a

text: cleaner

text: healthier

text: campus

text: Nesbitt

text: reports

text: there

text: have

text: n't

text: been

text: any

text: problems

text: enforcing

text: the

text: ban

text: Signs

text: are

text: posted

text: around

text: campus

text: and

text: the

text: policy

text: is

text: prominently

text: displayed

text: on

text: everything

text: from

text: the

text: school

text: Web

text: site

text: to

text: admissions

text: applications

text: The

text: American

text: Nonsmokers

text: Rights

text: Foundation

text: reports

text: nearly

text: college

text: campuses

text: around

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: have

text: smoke

text: free

text: policies

text: that

text: affect

text: the

text: entire

text: campus

text: Other

text: schools

text: have

text: limited

text: restrictions

text: banning

text: smoking

text: indoors

text: in

text: residential

text: housing

text: and

text: student

text: facilities

text: Nesbitt

text: believes

text: her

text: college

text: is

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: first

text: to

text: fully

text: prohibit

text: the

text: use

text: of

text: tobacco

text: products

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text: more

text: on

text: efforts

text: to

text: curb

text: smoking

text: on

text: campus

text: Â

text: The

text: American

text: Cancer

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text: movement

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text: smoke

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text: president

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text: the

text: American

text: Cancer

text: Society

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text: I

text: think

text: college

text: campuses

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text: simply

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text: the

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text: trend

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text: 're

text: seeing

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text: society

text: With

text: the

text: anniversary

text: this

text: week

text: of

text: the

text: nationwide

text: Great

text: American

text: Smokeout

text: the

text: cancer

text: society

text: is

text: pushing

text: a

text: smoke

text: free

text: college

text: campus

text: initiative

text: It

text: encourages

text: campus

text: coordinators

text: to

text: hold

text: competitions

text: and

text: distribute

text: survival

text: kits

text: that

text: include

text: gum

text: and

text: support

text: information

text: The

text: group

text: is

text: trying

text: to

text: convince

text: students

text: that

text: if

text: they

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text: quit

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text: a

text: day

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text: for

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text: According

text: to

text: the

text: cancer

text: society

text: the

text: prevalence

text: of

text: smoking

text: in

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: is

text: highest

text: among

text: college

text: age

text: students

text: ages

text: to

text: While

text: other

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text: are

text: decreasing

text: their

text: tobacco

text: use

text: the

text: cancer

text: society

text: says

text: college

text: students

text: are

text: smoking

text: at

text: a

text: greater

text: rate

text: Those

text: statistics

text: worry

text: Smith

text: We

text: know

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text: percent

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text: all

text: cancers

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text: caused

text: by

text: smoking

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text: He

text: blames

text: the

text: addiction

text: rates

text: among

text: young

text: adults

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text: heavy

text: marketing

text: efforts

text: on

text: college

text: campuses

text: by

text: tobacco

text: companies

text: Many

text: people

text: might

text: initially

text: think

text: it

text: 's

text: cool

text: But

text: when

text: they

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text: the

text: health

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text: they

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text: addicted

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text: it

text: 's

text: very

text: hard

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text: quit

text: Overton

text: is

text: n't

text: all

text: that

text: worried

text: about

text: cutting

text: back

text: on

text: his

text: pack

text: a

text: day

text: smoking

text: habit

text: but

text: he

text: says

text: that

text: long

text: walk

text: to

text: his

text: car

text: has

text: provided

text: some

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text: benefits

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text: does

text: n't

text: encourage

text: me

text: to

text: quit

text: but

text: it

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text: me

text: to

text: cut

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text: That

text: 's

text: welcome

text: news

text: for

text: some

text: of

text: his

text: nonsmoking

text: classmates

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: forced

text: to

text: be

text: around

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: smokers

text: says

text: freshman

text: Matthew

text: Bradford

text: I

text: 'm

text: not

text: breathing

text: it

text: in

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: time

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: nice

text: to

text: get

text: some

text: fresh

text: air

text: when

text: you

text: get

text: out

text: of

text: class

text: E

text: mail

text: to

text: a

text: friend

text: Judy

text: Fortin

text: is

text: a

text: correspondent

text: with

text: CNN

text: Medical

text: News

question: what did the American Cancer Society announce

answer: says the movement is catching on. "The trend toward a smoke-free country is going on everywhere," says Daniel Smith, president of the

text: says the movement is catching on. "The trend toward a smoke-free country is going on everywhere," says Daniel Smith, president of the

question: What number of colleges do it?

answer: 60

question: Which age group is smoking prevalence highest among?

answer: 18 to 24.

text: 18 to 24.

question: What trend is growing?

answer: a smoke-free country

text: a smoke-free country

question: how many US colleges are smoke free

answer: nearly 60

text: nearly 60

question: What groups smokes the most?

answer: college students

text: college students


text:
(CNN)  -- President-elect Barack Obama, President Bush and all of the surviving past presidents got together Wednesday for a historic meeting at the White House.

Barack Obama meets with President Bush and past presidents in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

"One message that I have, and I think we all share, is that we want you to succeed. Whether we're Democrat or Republican, we care deeply about this country," Bush told Obama before lunch with the former presidents.

Bush and Obama were joined by Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Obama thanked the president for hosting them and said he was grateful for the opportunity to get "advice, good counsel and fellowship" from the group.  Watch what Obama says about the meeting Â»

Obama's press secretary said the presidents had a "very constructive conversation" and Obama appreciated "the spirit of bipartisanship they showed" in wishing him success.

"The president and the former presidents had helpful advice on managing the office, as well as thoughts on the critical issues facing the country right now. The president-elect is anxious to stay in touch with all of them in the coming years,"  Robert Gibbs said.

Presidential historian Doug Brinkley said it's "very smart politics for Obama to keep a channel open" with the former presidents.

"If he has a policy initiative that he wants to lead the country behind ... if he could get the signatures, the green light from all of the ex-presidents to say, 'Not only am I for this, but I have all of the ex-presidents backing me' -- that's powerful," he said.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said the last time all of the living presidents got together at the White House was in 1981, and she called Wednesday's meeting a "historic moment."

She said the president was "delighted" to host the luncheon.

"Each of them expressed their desire for President-elect Obama to have a very successful presidency. During the lunch, they had a wide-ranging discussion on many different issues facing the United States, and they all look forward to remaining in contact in the future,"  Perino said.

The meeting marked the second time Bush has hosted Obama since the election. Obama suggested the meeting with all of the former presidents when he and Bush first met in November.

Perino said earlier she didn't know what they would talk about, but she said she'd love to be able to hear it.

"I'm sure all of us would love to be flies on the wall and listening to that conversation," Perino said during Tuesday's daily news briefing.

Perino speculated that they would discuss what it's like to raise children in the White House and how to protect them.

Brinkley predicted that first and foremost, the presidents would recall what it was like to be president.

"All of them will have little anecdotes. They'll see something in the White House that will bring back a memory. They'll try to bring some levity to this -- make it a very special and engaging and actually a fun afternoon for Barack Obama," he said.

Secondly, Brinkley said, the conversation would probably turn to what's going on in the Middle East.

Brinkley said that all of the men will be on their "best behavior," but, given the personalities at the luncheon, there could be some tension.

"The friction, if there is any, is between Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, who are known to not like each other at all," he said, pointing out that the Clinton team did not like Carter "parachuting for peace into Bosnia, North Korea and Haiti" during Clinton's administration.

"That's the relationship that is not warm, it's not good, and if you are a body language expert, you might home in on that," he said.

President Bush may find himself the odd man out at the meeting, at least in terms of popularity.

Bush registered only a 27 percent approval rating in a December CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey.

In contrast, Obama had an 82 percent approval rating.

A new poll out Wednesday indicates that 69 percent of adult Americans approved of how Clinton handled his job as president, while 64 percent of adult Americans gave a thumbs up to Carter and 60 percent approved of George H.W. Bush.

CNN's Lauren Kornreich contributed to this report

text: CNN

text: President

text: elect

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: President

text: Bush

text: and

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: surviving

text: past

text: presidents

text: got

text: together

text: Wednesday

text: for

text: a

text: historic

text: meeting

text: at

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: meets

text: with

text: President

text: Bush

text: and

text: past

text: presidents

text: in

text: the

text: Oval

text: Office

text: on

text: Wednesday

text: One

text: message

text: that

text: I

text: have

text: and

text: I

text: think

text: we

text: all

text: share

text: is

text: that

text: we

text: want

text: you

text: to

text: succeed

text: Whether

text: we

text: 're

text: Democrat

text: or

text: Republican

text: we

text: care

text: deeply

text: about

text: this

text: country

text: Bush

text: told

text: Obama

text: before

text: lunch

text: with

text: the

text: former

text: presidents

text: Bush

text: and

text: Obama

text: were

text: joined

text: by

text: Jimmy

text: Carter

text: George

text: H.W.

text: Bush

text: and

text: Bill

text: Clinton

text: Obama

text: thanked

text: the

text: president

text: for

text: hosting

text: them

text: and

text: said

text: he

text: was

text: grateful

text: for

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: get

text: advice

text: good

text: counsel

text: and

text: fellowship

text: from

text: the

text: group

text: Watch

text: what

text: Obama

text: says

text: about

text: the

text: meeting

text: Â

text: Obama

text: 's

text: press

text: secretary

text: said

text: the

text: presidents

text: had

text: a

text: very

text: constructive

text: conversation

text: and

text: Obama

text: appreciated

text: the

text: spirit

text: of

text: bipartisanship

text: they

text: showed

text: in

text: wishing

text: him

text: success

text: The

text: president

text: and

text: the

text: former

text: presidents

text: had

text: helpful

text: advice

text: on

text: managing

text: the

text: office

text: as

text: well

text: as

text: thoughts

text: on

text: the

text: critical

text: issues

text: facing

text: the

text: country

text: right

text: now

text: The

text: president

text: elect

text: is

text: anxious

text: to

text: stay

text: in

text: touch

text: with

text: all

text: of

text: them

text: in

text: the

text: coming

text: years

text: Robert

text: Gibbs

text: said

text: Presidential

text: historian

text: Doug

text: Brinkley

text: said

text: it

text: 's

text: very

text: smart

text: politics

text: for

text: Obama

text: to

text: keep

text: a

text: channel

text: open

text: with

text: the

text: former

text: presidents

text: If

text: he

text: has

text: a

text: policy

text: initiative

text: that

text: he

text: wants

text: to

text: lead

text: the

text: country

text: behind

text: if

text: he

text: could

text: get

text: the

text: signatures

text: the

text: green

text: light

text: from

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: ex

text: presidents

text: to

text: say

text: Not

text: only

text: am

text: I

text: for

text: this

text: but

text: I

text: have

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: ex

text: presidents

text: backing

text: me

text: that

text: 's

text: powerful

text: he

text: said

text: White

text: House

text: spokeswoman

text: Dana

text: Perino

text: said

text: the

text: last

text: time

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: living

text: presidents

text: got

text: together

text: at

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: was

text: in

text: and

text: she

text: called

text: Wednesday

text: 's

text: meeting

text: a

text: historic

text: moment

text: She

text: said

text: the

text: president

text: was

text: delighted

text: to

text: host

text: the

text: luncheon

text: Each

text: of

text: them

text: expressed

text: their

text: desire

text: for

text: President

text: elect

text: Obama

text: to

text: have

text: a

text: very

text: successful

text: presidency

text: During

text: the

text: lunch

text: they

text: had

text: a

text: wide

text: ranging

text: discussion

text: on

text: many

text: different

text: issues

text: facing

text: the

text: United

text: States

text: and

text: they

text: all

text: look

text: forward

text: to

text: remaining

text: in

text: contact

text: in

text: the

text: future

text: Perino

text: said

text: The

text: meeting

text: marked

text: the

text: second

text: time

text: Bush

text: has

text: hosted

text: Obama

text: since

text: the

text: election

text: Obama

text: suggested

text: the

text: meeting

text: with

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: former

text: presidents

text: when

text: he

text: and

text: Bush

text: first

text: met

text: in

text: November

text: Perino

text: said

text: earlier

text: she

text: did

text: n't

text: know

text: what

text: they

text: would

text: talk

text: about

text: but

text: she

text: said

text: she

text: 'd

text: love

text: to

text: be

text: able

text: to

text: hear

text: it

text: I

text: 'm

text: sure

text: all

text: of

text: us

text: would

text: love

text: to

text: be

text: flies

text: on

text: the

text: wall

text: and

text: listening

text: to

text: that

text: conversation

text: Perino

text: said

text: during

text: Tuesday

text: 's

text: daily

text: news

text: briefing

text: Perino

text: speculated

text: that

text: they

text: would

text: discuss

text: what

text: it

text: 's

text: like

text: to

text: raise

text: children

text: in

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: and

text: how

text: to

text: protect

text: them

text: Brinkley

text: predicted

text: that

text: first

text: and

text: foremost

text: the

text: presidents

text: would

text: recall

text: what

text: it

text: was

text: like

text: to

text: be

text: president

text: All

text: of

text: them

text: will

text: have

text: little

text: anecdotes

text: They

text: 'll

text: see

text: something

text: in

text: the

text: White

text: House

text: that

text: will

text: bring

text: back

text: a

text: memory

text: They

text: 'll

text: try

text: to

text: bring

text: some

text: levity

text: to

text: this

text: make

text: it

text: a

text: very

text: special

text: and

text: engaging

text: and

text: actually

text: a

text: fun

text: afternoon

text: for

text: Barack

text: Obama

text: he

text: said

text: Secondly

text: Brinkley

text: said

text: the

text: conversation

text: would

text: probably

text: turn

text: to

text: what

text: 's

text: going

text: on

text: in

text: the

text: Middle

text: East

text: Brinkley

text: said

text: that

text: all

text: of

text: the

text: men

text: will

text: be

text: on

text: their

text: best

text: behavior

text: but

text: given

text: the

text: personalities

text: at

text: the

text: luncheon

text: there

text: could

text: be

text: some

text: tension

text: The

text: friction

text: if

text: there

text: is

text: any

text: is

text: between

text: Bill

text: Clinton

text: and

text: Jimmy

text: Carter

text: who

text: are

text: known

text: to

text: not

text: like

text: each

text: other

text: at

text: all

text: he

text: said

text: pointing

text: out

text: that

text: the

text: Clinton

text: team

text: did

text: not

text: like

text: Carter

text: parachuting

text: for

text: peace

text: into

text: Bosnia

text: North

text: Korea

text: and

text: Haiti

text: during

text: Clinton

text: 's

text: administration

text: That

text: 's

text: the

text: relationship

text: that

text: is

text: not

text: warm

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: good

text: and

text: if

text: you

text: are

text: a

text: body

text: language

text: expert

text: you

text: might

text: home

text: in

text: on

text: that

text: he

text: said

text: President

text: Bush

text: may

text: find

text: himself

text: the

text: odd

text: man

text: out

text: at

text: the

text: meeting

text: at

text: least

text: in

text: terms

text: of

text: popularity

text: Bush

text: registered

text: only

text: a

text: percent

text: approval

text: rating

text: in

text: a

text: December

text: CNN

text: Opinion

text: Research

text: Corp.

text: survey

text: In

text: contrast

text: Obama

text: had

text: an

text: percent

text: approval

text: rating

text: A

text: new

text: poll

text: out

text: Wednesday

text: indicates

text: that

text: percent

text: of

text: adult

text: Americans

text: approved

text: of

text: how

text: Clinton

text: handled

text: his

text: job

text: as

text: president

text: while

text: percent

text: of

text: adult

text: Americans

text: gave

text: a

text: thumbs

text: up

text: to

text: Carter

text: and

text: percent

text: approved

text: of

text: George

text: H.W.

text: Bush

text: CNN

text: 's

text: Lauren

text: Kornreich

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who did Obama and Bush meet with?

answer: Bill Clinton.

text: Bill Clinton.

question: when was the Last time all the living presidents met at White House?

answer: 1981,

question: Who calls a meeting "smart politics"?

answer: Presidential historian Doug Brinkley

text: Presidential historian Doug Brinkley

question: When was the last time all living presidents meet?

answer: in 1981,

text: in 1981,

question: When was the last time all living presidents met at the White House?

answer: 1981,

question: What is Obama grateful for?

answer: the opportunity to get "advice, good counsel and fellowship" from the group.

text: the opportunity to get "advice, good counsel and fellowship" from the group.

question: Who is grateful for the chance?

answer: Barack Obama

text: Barack Obama

question: What did Obama say he was grateful for?

answer: the opportunity to get "advice, good counsel and fellowship" from the group.

text: the opportunity to get "advice, good counsel and fellowship" from the group.


text:
Editor's note: Fawaz A. Gerges holds the Christian A. Johnson Chair in Middle Eastern Studies and International Affairs at Sarah Lawrence College. His most recent book is "The Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global."

Fawaz Gerges says the elite running Iran has lost the support of two key groups -- women and young voters.

(CNN) -- With an apparent political coup in Iran by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his supporters over the weekend, the ruling mullahs have dispensed with all democratic pretense and joined the ranks of traditional dictators in the Middle East.

The hardliners in Tehran, led by the Revolutionary Guards and ultraconservatives, have won the first round against reformist conservatives but at an extravagant cost: loss of public support.

Widespread accusations of fraud and manipulation are calling into question the very legitimacy and authority of the mullahs' Islamic-based regime. The electoral crisis has exposed a deepening divide between female and young voters, who represent about 70 percent of the population, and a radical conservative ruling elite out of touch with the hopes, fears and aspirations of young Iranians.

The consensus in Iran, particularly among young voters, is that the election was stolen from reformist candidate, Mir Hossein Moussavi, and that the outcome did not reflect the electorate's genuine will.

After the Interior Ministry announced the final election results showing a nearly 2-to-1 landslide for Ahmadinejad (62.63 to 33.75 percent), thousands of young protesters took to the streets and clashed with police and set trash bins and tires ablaze. Shock and disbelief turned to anger and rage.

What poured gasoline on a simmering fire among the youth was a belief of widespread fraud. "It's like taking 10 million votes away from Moussavi and giving them to Ahmadinejad," said Tehran-based analyst Saeed Leilaz. That is equivalent to more than 30 million votes in the American electorate.

"Death to the dictatorship" and "down with the dictator" shouted the demonstrators while being clubbed by police and anti-riot squads. For the first time, young Iranians showed defiance against their tormentors and overcame their fear. Many young men reportedly roamed Tehran streets looking for a fight with the police.

The ruling mullahs face an unprecedentedly serious crisis at home. While it does not threaten their existence, the crisis risks undermining their ability to govern effectively and pursue a successful foreign policy.

In his first response to the results of the election, Moussavi nailed it on the head. "I won't surrender to this manipulation," he wrote on his Web site. "The result of such performance by some officials will jeopardize the pillars of the Islamic Republic and will establish tyranny."

Moussavi's warning to the mullahs that stealing the election would weaken the very foundation of their regime and ultimately bring about its collapse carries weight because he has been part of the political inner circle of the Islamic Republic, not an outsider.

Moussavi is a former prime minister admired for the way he managed the country's economy during the prolonged and bloody Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, a conflict which cost Iran over $500 billion.

He worked closely with Ali Khamenei, then Iran's president and today supreme leader, and clashed with him over political authority and powers. Moussavi is a member of Iran's Expediency Council, which mediates between the parliament and the non-elected Guardian Council led by Ayatollah Khamenei.

Initially, many reformists were skeptical about Moussavi's reform credentials and feared that he was too conservative for their taste.

Throughout the presidential campaign, Moussavi labored hard to portray his proposals on social policy and foreign affairs as an extension of the Islamic system in order to disarm conservative critics, even denying that he is a mainstream reformist candidate in the hope of winning the support of reformers and moderate conservatives.

Indeed, as the presidential campaign progressed, Moussavi won the backing not only of an important conservative segment of the electorate but also the formidable youth constituency. His charismatic wife, Zahra Rahnavard, electrified the female vote and won the hearts and minds of women voters who flooded their campaign rallies.

In the past two weeks, Moussavi's campaign gained momentum. There was increasing evidence that the tide was turning and that women and young voters would tip the balance of power his way, if they turned out to vote in large numbers.

Some important facts: There are 46 million eligible voters in Iran, half of whom are women. In 1997, more than 60 percent of the votes that brought moderate Mohammad Khatami to power were cast by women, and in 2000, women voters were instrumental in giving reformists a sweeping majority in the Parliament. Promising greater individual freedoms to youths was instrumental in the two landslide victories by Khatami in 1997 and 2001.

Surely, if the turnout was 85 percent as the Interior Ministry said, Moussavi should have done much better than the mere 33.8 percent he supposedly received. According to many independent media reports from all over Iran, women and young voters turned out in record numbers, especially in cities where Moussavi is very popular. That should have given Moussavi a comfortable lead over the incumbent.

Multiple irregularities were reported, including the fact that Moussavi supposedly lost the vote in his home province. There is an alarming discrepancy between the final results and the voting patterns of the Iranian electorate over more than a decade. Lack of transparency in the vote count has reinforced Iranians' suspicion. The weight of evidence is at odds with the final outcome given by the Interior Ministry.

Before Moussavi formally appealed the election result, supreme leader Khamenei closed the door for any possible compromise. In a message on state TV, he urged the nation to unite behind Ahmadinejad, calling the result a "divine assessment." Yet the Guardian Council, not Khamenei, is the authority that either ratifies or annuls the results.

It is refreshing that Khamenei has finally ordered an investigation into allegations of ballot fraud. It is a good start. A more reassuring intiative would be for the Guardian Council to order a full recount with the presence of independent observers. That would go a long way to putting to rest Iranians' concerns.

In the meantime, trying to divert attention from the mess at home, Khamenei and Ahmadinejad have blamed external "enemies" and "foreign media" for instigating a "full-fledged fight against our people." The truth is that the crisis is internal and has nothing to do with foreign media or the West.

The Obama administration has done the right thing by keeping a low profile and not actively interfering in Iran's unfolding domestic crisis. Unlike his predecessor, Obama has defused the minefield of relations between Washington and Tehran, shifting the focus of Iranians to their own society.

But the disputed result shows that the ultraconservative mullahs are not only out of touch with a plurality of their citizens but also with reality. Their conduct reflects a deeper crisis of self-confidence and fear of the future.

Has the Islamic revolution run out of ideological steam?

If the mullahs fear Moussavi, a loyalist, they must be scared of their shadows and uncertain about their authority and power. That speaks volumes about where the Islamic Republic is and where it is heading.

The mullahs are swimming against the dominant current of Iranian society. In the next four years, Iran will likely be engulfed in social and political turmoil unless the electoral crisis is resolved in a transparent manner.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Fawaz Gerges.

text: Editor

text: 's

text: note

text: Fawaz

text: A.

text: Gerges

text: holds

text: the

text: Christian

text: A.

text: Johnson

text: Chair

text: in

text: Middle

text: Eastern

text: Studies

text: and

text: International

text: Affairs

text: at

text: Sarah

text: Lawrence

text: College

text: His

text: most

text: recent

text: book

text: is

text: The

text: Far

text: Enemy

text: Why

text: Jihad

text: Went

text: Global

text: Fawaz

text: Gerges

text: says

text: the

text: elite

text: running

text: Iran

text: has

text: lost

text: the

text: support

text: of

text: two

text: key

text: groups

text: women

text: and

text: young

text: voters

text: CNN

text: With

text: an

text: apparent

text: political

text: coup

text: in

text: Iran

text: by

text: President

text: Mahmoud

text: Ahmadinejad

text: and

text: his

text: supporters

text: over

text: the

text: weekend

text: the

text: ruling

text: mullahs

text: have

text: dispensed

text: with

text: all

text: democratic

text: pretense

text: and

text: joined

text: the

text: ranks

text: of

text: traditional

text: dictators

text: in

text: the

text: Middle

text: East

text: The

text: hardliners

text: in

text: Tehran

text: led

text: by

text: the

text: Revolutionary

text: Guards

text: and

text: ultraconservatives

text: have

text: won

text: the

text: first

text: round

text: against

text: reformist

text: conservatives

text: but

text: at

text: an

text: extravagant

text: cost

text: loss

text: of

text: public

text: support

text: Widespread

text: accusations

text: of

text: fraud

text: and

text: manipulation

text: are

text: calling

text: into

text: question

text: the

text: very

text: legitimacy

text: and

text: authority

text: of

text: the

text: mullahs

text: Islamic

text: based

text: regime

text: The

text: electoral

text: crisis

text: has

text: exposed

text: a

text: deepening

text: divide

text: between

text: female

text: and

text: young

text: voters

text: who

text: represent

text: about

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: population

text: and

text: a

text: radical

text: conservative

text: ruling

text: elite

text: out

text: of

text: touch

text: with

text: the

text: hopes

text: fears

text: and

text: aspirations

text: of

text: young

text: Iranians

text: The

text: consensus

text: in

text: Iran

text: particularly

text: among

text: young

text: voters

text: is

text: that

text: the

text: election

text: was

text: stolen

text: from

text: reformist

text: candidate

text: Mir

text: Hossein

text: Moussavi

text: and

text: that

text: the

text: outcome

text: did

text: not

text: reflect

text: the

text: electorate

text: 's

text: genuine

text: will

text: After

text: the

text: Interior

text: Ministry

text: announced

text: the

text: final

text: election

text: results

text: showing

text: a

text: nearly

text: landslide

text: for

text: Ahmadinejad

text: to

text: percent

text: thousands

text: of

text: young

text: protesters

text: took

text: to

text: the

text: streets

text: and

text: clashed

text: with

text: police

text: and

text: set

text: trash

text: bins

text: and

text: tires

text: ablaze

text: Shock

text: and

text: disbelief

text: turned

text: to

text: anger

text: and

text: rage

text: What

text: poured

text: gasoline

text: on

text: a

text: simmering

text: fire

text: among

text: the

text: youth

text: was

text: a

text: belief

text: of

text: widespread

text: fraud

text: It

text: 's

text: like

text: taking

text: million

text: votes

text: away

text: from

text: Moussavi

text: and

text: giving

text: them

text: to

text: Ahmadinejad

text: said

text: Tehran

text: based

text: analyst

text: Saeed

text: Leilaz

text: That

text: is

text: equivalent

text: to

text: more

text: than

text: million

text: votes

text: in

text: the

text: American

text: electorate

text: Death

text: to

text: the

text: dictatorship

text: and

text: down

text: with

text: the

text: dictator

text: shouted

text: the

text: demonstrators

text: while

text: being

text: clubbed

text: by

text: police

text: and

text: anti

text: riot

text: squads

text: For

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: young

text: Iranians

text: showed

text: defiance

text: against

text: their

text: tormentors

text: and

text: overcame

text: their

text: fear

text: Many

text: young

text: men

text: reportedly

text: roamed

text: Tehran

text: streets

text: looking

text: for

text: a

text: fight

text: with

text: the

text: police

text: The

text: ruling

text: mullahs

text: face

text: an

text: unprecedentedly

text: serious

text: crisis

text: at

text: home

text: While

text: it

text: does

text: not

text: threaten

text: their

text: existence

text: the

text: crisis

text: risks

text: undermining

text: their

text: ability

text: to

text: govern

text: effectively

text: and

text: pursue

text: a

text: successful

text: foreign

text: policy

text: In

text: his

text: first

text: response

text: to

text: the

text: results

text: of

text: the

text: election

text: Moussavi

text: nailed

text: it

text: on

text: the

text: head

text: I

text: wo

text: n't

text: surrender

text: to

text: this

text: manipulation

text: he

text: wrote

text: on

text: his

text: Web

text: site

text: The

text: result

text: of

text: such

text: performance

text: by

text: some

text: officials

text: will

text: jeopardize

text: the

text: pillars

text: of

text: the

text: Islamic

text: Republic

text: and

text: will

text: establish

text: tyranny

text: Moussavi

text: 's

text: warning

text: to

text: the

text: mullahs

text: that

text: stealing

text: the

text: election

text: would

text: weaken

text: the

text: very

text: foundation

text: of

text: their

text: regime

text: and

text: ultimately

text: bring

text: about

text: its

text: collapse

text: carries

text: weight

text: because

text: he

text: has

text: been

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: political

text: inner

text: circle

text: of

text: the

text: Islamic

text: Republic

text: not

text: an

text: outsider

text: Moussavi

text: is

text: a

text: former

text: prime

text: minister

text: admired

text: for

text: the

text: way

text: he

text: managed

text: the

text: country

text: 's

text: economy

text: during

text: the

text: prolonged

text: and

text: bloody

text: Iran

text: Iraq

text: war

text: in

text: the

text: a

text: conflict

text: which

text: cost

text: Iran

text: over

text: billion

text: He

text: worked

text: closely

text: with

text: Ali

text: Khamenei

text: then

text: Iran

text: 's

text: president

text: and

text: today

text: supreme

text: leader

text: and

text: clashed

text: with

text: him

text: over

text: political

text: authority

text: and

text: powers

text: Moussavi

text: is

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: Iran

text: 's

text: Expediency

text: Council

text: which

text: mediates

text: between

text: the

text: parliament

text: and

text: the

text: non

text: elected

text: Guardian

text: Council

text: led

text: by

text: Ayatollah

text: Khamenei

text: Initially

text: many

text: reformists

text: were

text: skeptical

text: about

text: Moussavi

text: 's

text: reform

text: credentials

text: and

text: feared

text: that

text: he

text: was

text: too

text: conservative

text: for

text: their

text: taste

text: Throughout

text: the

text: presidential

text: campaign

text: Moussavi

text: labored

text: hard

text: to

text: portray

text: his

text: proposals

text: on

text: social

text: policy

text: and

text: foreign

text: affairs

text: as

text: an

text: extension

text: of

text: the

text: Islamic

text: system

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: disarm

text: conservative

text: critics

text: even

text: denying

text: that

text: he

text: is

text: a

text: mainstream

text: reformist

text: candidate

text: in

text: the

text: hope

text: of

text: winning

text: the

text: support

text: of

text: reformers

text: and

text: moderate

text: conservatives

text: Indeed

text: as

text: the

text: presidential

text: campaign

text: progressed

text: Moussavi

text: won

text: the

text: backing

text: not

text: only

text: of

text: an

text: important

text: conservative

text: segment

text: of

text: the

text: electorate

text: but

text: also

text: the

text: formidable

text: youth

text: constituency

text: His

text: charismatic

text: wife

text: Zahra

text: Rahnavard

text: electrified

text: the

text: female

text: vote

text: and

text: won

text: the

text: hearts

text: and

text: minds

text: of

text: women

text: voters

text: who

text: flooded

text: their

text: campaign

text: rallies

text: In

text: the

text: past

text: two

text: weeks

text: Moussavi

text: 's

text: campaign

text: gained

text: momentum

text: There

text: was

text: increasing

text: evidence

text: that

text: the

text: tide

text: was

text: turning

text: and

text: that

text: women

text: and

text: young

text: voters

text: would

text: tip

text: the

text: balance

text: of

text: power

text: his

text: way

text: if

text: they

text: turned

text: out

text: to

text: vote

text: in

text: large

text: numbers

text: Some

text: important

text: facts

text: There

text: are

text: million

text: eligible

text: voters

text: in

text: Iran

text: half

text: of

text: whom

text: are

text: women

text: In

text: more

text: than

text: percent

text: of

text: the

text: votes

text: that

text: brought

text: moderate

text: Mohammad

text: Khatami

text: to

text: power

text: were

text: cast

text: by

text: women

text: and

text: in

text: women

text: voters

text: were

text: instrumental

text: in

text: giving

text: reformists

text: a

text: sweeping

text: majority

text: in

text: the

text: Parliament

text: Promising

text: greater

text: individual

text: freedoms

text: to

text: youths

text: was

text: instrumental

text: in

text: the

text: two

text: landslide

text: victories

text: by

text: Khatami

text: in

text: and

text: Surely

text: if

text: the

text: turnout

text: was

text: percent

text: as

text: the

text: Interior

text: Ministry

text: said

text: Moussavi

text: should

text: have

text: done

text: much

text: better

text: than

text: the

text: mere

text: percent

text: he

text: supposedly

text: received

text: According

text: to

text: many

text: independent

text: media

text: reports

text: from

text: all

text: over

text: Iran

text: women

text: and

text: young

text: voters

text: turned

text: out

text: in

text: record

text: numbers

text: especially

text: in

text: cities

text: where

text: Moussavi

text: is

text: very

text: popular

text: That

text: should

text: have

text: given

text: Moussavi

text: a

text: comfortable

text: lead

text: over

text: the

text: incumbent

text: Multiple

text: irregularities

text: were

text: reported

text: including

text: the

text: fact

text: that

text: Moussavi

text: supposedly

text: lost

text: the

text: vote

text: in

text: his

text: home

text: province

text: There

text: is

text: an

text: alarming

text: discrepancy

text: between

text: the

text: final

text: results

text: and

text: the

text: voting

text: patterns

text: of

text: the

text: Iranian

text: electorate

text: over

text: more

text: than

text: a

text: decade

text: Lack

text: of

text: transparency

text: in

text: the

text: vote

text: count

text: has

text: reinforced

text: Iranians

text: suspicion

text: The

text: weight

text: of

text: evidence

text: is

text: at

text: odds

text: with

text: the

text: final

text: outcome

text: given

text: by

text: the

text: Interior

text: Ministry

text: Before

text: Moussavi

text: formally

text: appealed

text: the

text: election

text: result

text: supreme

text: leader

text: Khamenei

text: closed

text: the

text: door

text: for

text: any

text: possible

text: compromise

text: In

text: a

text: message

text: on

text: state

text: TV

text: he

text: urged

text: the

text: nation

text: to

text: unite

text: behind

text: Ahmadinejad

text: calling

text: the

text: result

text: a

text: divine

text: assessment

text: Yet

text: the

text: Guardian

text: Council

text: not

text: Khamenei

text: is

text: the

text: authority

text: that

text: either

text: ratifies

text: or

text: annuls

text: the

text: results

text: It

text: is

text: refreshing

text: that

text: Khamenei

text: has

text: finally

text: ordered

text: an

text: investigation

text: into

text: allegations

text: of

text: ballot

text: fraud

text: It

text: is

text: a

text: good

text: start

text: A

text: more

text: reassuring

text: intiative

text: would

text: be

text: for

text: the

text: Guardian

text: Council

text: to

text: order

text: a

text: full

text: recount

text: with

text: the

text: presence

text: of

text: independent

text: observers

text: That

text: would

text: go

text: a

text: long

text: way

text: to

text: putting

text: to

text: rest

text: Iranians

text: concerns

text: In

text: the

text: meantime

text: trying

text: to

text: divert

text: attention

text: from

text: the

text: mess

text: at

text: home

text: Khamenei

text: and

text: Ahmadinejad

text: have

text: blamed

text: external

text: enemies

text: and

text: foreign

text: media

text: for

text: instigating

text: a

text: full

text: fledged

text: fight

text: against

text: our

text: people

text: The

text: truth

text: is

text: that

text: the

text: crisis

text: is

text: internal

text: and

text: has

text: nothing

text: to

text: do

text: with

text: foreign

text: media

text: or

text: the

text: West

text: The

text: Obama

text: administration

text: has

text: done

text: the

text: right

text: thing

text: by

text: keeping

text: a

text: low

text: profile

text: and

text: not

text: actively

text: interfering

text: in

text: Iran

text: 's

text: unfolding

text: domestic

text: crisis

text: Unlike

text: his

text: predecessor

text: Obama

text: has

text: defused

text: the

text: minefield

text: of

text: relations

text: between

text: Washington

text: and

text: Tehran

text: shifting

text: the

text: focus

text: of

text: Iranians

text: to

text: their

text: own

text: society

text: But

text: the

text: disputed

text: result

text: shows

text: that

text: the

text: ultraconservative

text: mullahs

text: are

text: not

text: only

text: out

text: of

text: touch

text: with

text: a

text: plurality

text: of

text: their

text: citizens

text: but

text: also

text: with

text: reality

text: Their

text: conduct

text: reflects

text: a

text: deeper

text: crisis

text: of

text: self

text: confidence

text: and

text: fear

text: of

text: the

text: future

text: Has

text: the

text: Islamic

text: revolution

text: run

text: out

text: of

text: ideological

text: steam

text: If

text: the

text: mullahs

text: fear

text: Moussavi

text: a

text: loyalist

text: they

text: must

text: be

text: scared

text: of

text: their

text: shadows

text: and

text: uncertain

text: about

text: their

text: authority

text: and

text: power

text: That

text: speaks

text: volumes

text: about

text: where

text: the

text: Islamic

text: Republic

text: is

text: and

text: where

text: it

text: is

text: heading

text: The

text: mullahs

text: are

text: swimming

text: against

text: the

text: dominant

text: current

text: of

text: Iranian

text: society

text: In

text: the

text: next

text: four

text: years

text: Iran

text: will

text: likely

text: be

text: engulfed

text: in

text: social

text: and

text: political

text: turmoil

text: unless

text: the

text: electoral

text: crisis

text: is

text: resolved

text: in

text: a

text: transparent

text: manner

text: The

text: opinions

text: expressed

text: in

text: this

text: commentary

text: are

text: solely

text: those

text: of

text: Fawaz

text: Gerges

question: What country is Gerges referring to in his commentary?

answer: Iran

text: Iran

question: Where do the mullahs rule?

answer: Iran

text: Iran

question: What was the result of the election?

answer: nearly 2-to-1 landslide for Ahmadinejad

text: nearly 2-to-1 landslide for Ahmadinejad

question: The mullahs are out of step with what?

answer: the hopes, fears and aspirations of young Iranians.

text: the hopes, fears and aspirations of young Iranians.

question: What group is swimming against the current of Iranian society?

answer: The mullahs

text: The mullahs

question: Who are swimming against the current of society?

answer: The mullahs

text: The mullahs

question: Do the ruling mullahs have public support?

answer: loss of

text: loss of

question: What groups are the ruling mullahs out of step with?

answer: women and young voters.

text: women and young voters.


text:
New York (CNN) -- Staring down a smoking homemade bomb and dismantling it is dangerous enough. Doing it with news cameras rolling on a busy Saturday night in the middle of Times Square is something Det. Patrick LaScala of the New York Police Department swears never entered his mind.

Until the following day.

"You're home the next day, and you're really thinking about it. Then, you start to put the pieces together and you think, 'Wow,' " LaScala said in an exclusive interview.

LaScala was manipulating the police robot that laid the groundwork for one of his partners, Det. Raymond Clair.

"This was the first time that I went down on a vehicle, and I saw clocks and wires and gas and propane. I identified it as a bomb, and I had to look twice," Clair said.

After 13 years as a bomb tech, that night was the one Clair says he'll remember the most.

Clair and LaScala are part of New York's elite bomb squad, a unit whose size is a closely guarded secret.

CNN was given special access to the unit in order to find out what a more typical day can be like.

During one recent 16-hour shift, I watched the same five-man team who worked the bungled bomb plot in Times Square check their equipment, catch up on paperwork and make sure Dan-O, their explosives-sniffing dog, was raring to go. The K-9 is named for a member of the squad who died in the 9/11 attacks when one of the twin towers collapsed.

On a busy side street outside their Manhattan offices, neighbors watched them go through their paces with the robot.

"We think they're great," one man said.

Another passerby snapped a picture of the robot with her cell phone.

"Is that the robot that checks out bombs?" she asked. It was.

But robots, as sophisticated as they are, can only do so much. They're capable of blowing out windows, blasting a suspicious package to bits, photographing an object from several angles and sending those images to investigators. The squad doesn't want to publicize more specific details. Still, a human touch often can't be avoided.

With help, bomb techs first crawl into an 85-pound protective suit that covers their bodies from head to toe.

The feet nearly look like those of a platypus, the material is stiff and hot, and the chest plate is heavy. A helmet is cinched on around the neck, and an air hose keeps outside air flowing into the mask. Put on gloves, and it's hard to imagine that anyone in such bulky gear could maneuver and dismantle possible bomb components. But that's what they're trained to do.

"The more you do, and the more you get involved, the better you'll get when it's the real thing," Clair said.

Det. Greg Abbate also was there for the "real thing" in Times Square. He said his training kicked in.

"There's a strong bond between us. We go to a job, there's very little talk. Everyone knows what they have to do," he said.

Despite the immense dangers associated with the work, whenever the unit checks out a suspicious package, bomb technicians jockey for the opportunity to suit up.

"We actually have arguments over who's taking the job," added Abbate.

When CNN traveled with them on a call, it was Abbate's turn to wear the gear.

The bomb squad was called to check out a backpack found in a park near a police headquarters checkpoint.

The team sped to the scene with sirens screaming. Other units ringed the perimeter. X-rays were taken. Abbate moved in. This time, he determined that this time, there was nothing to it.

Sgt. John Ryan said it's necessary to assume the worst until the team moves in.

"Everything is a bomb until we say it's not a bomb, " said Ryan.

The days are long, but the men say they feel "blessed" to be part of the bomb squad. They laugh when people suggest they must be a little crazy to do such a dangerous job.

"It's an honor," LaScala said.

And it never gets old.

"At the end of the day, it's just one day down and a lot more to go," said Det. Mike Garcia.

CNN producers Julian Cummings and Ross Levitt contributed to this report.

text: New

text: York

text: CNN

text: Staring

text: down

text: a

text: smoking

text: homemade

text: bomb

text: and

text: dismantling

text: it

text: is

text: dangerous

text: enough

text: Doing

text: it

text: with

text: news

text: cameras

text: rolling

text: on

text: a

text: busy

text: Saturday

text: night

text: in

text: the

text: middle

text: of

text: Times

text: Square

text: is

text: something

text: Det

text: Patrick

text: LaScala

text: of

text: the

text: New

text: York

text: Police

text: Department

text: swears

text: never

text: entered

text: his

text: mind

text: Until

text: the

text: following

text: day

text: You

text: 're

text: home

text: the

text: next

text: day

text: and

text: you

text: 're

text: really

text: thinking

text: about

text: it

text: Then

text: you

text: start

text: to

text: put

text: the

text: pieces

text: together

text: and

text: you

text: think

text: Wow

text: LaScala

text: said

text: in

text: an

text: exclusive

text: interview

text: LaScala

text: was

text: manipulating

text: the

text: police

text: robot

text: that

text: laid

text: the

text: groundwork

text: for

text: one

text: of

text: his

text: partners

text: Det

text: Raymond

text: Clair

text: This

text: was

text: the

text: first

text: time

text: that

text: I

text: went

text: down

text: on

text: a

text: vehicle

text: and

text: I

text: saw

text: clocks

text: and

text: wires

text: and

text: gas

text: and

text: propane

text: I

text: identified

text: it

text: as

text: a

text: bomb

text: and

text: I

text: had

text: to

text: look

text: twice

text: Clair

text: said

text: After

text: years

text: as

text: a

text: bomb

text: tech

text: that

text: night

text: was

text: the

text: one

text: Clair

text: says

text: he

text: 'll

text: remember

text: the

text: most

text: Clair

text: and

text: LaScala

text: are

text: part

text: of

text: New

text: York

text: 's

text: elite

text: bomb

text: squad

text: a

text: unit

text: whose

text: size

text: is

text: a

text: closely

text: guarded

text: secret

text: CNN

text: was

text: given

text: special

text: access

text: to

text: the

text: unit

text: in

text: order

text: to

text: find

text: out

text: what

text: a

text: more

text: typical

text: day

text: can

text: be

text: like

text: During

text: one

text: recent

text: shift

text: I

text: watched

text: the

text: same

text: five

text: man

text: team

text: who

text: worked

text: the

text: bungled

text: bomb

text: plot

text: in

text: Times

text: Square

text: check

text: their

text: equipment

text: catch

text: up

text: on

text: paperwork

text: and

text: make

text: sure

text: Dan

text: O

text: their

text: explosives

text: sniffing

text: dog

text: was

text: raring

text: to

text: go

text: The

text: is

text: named

text: for

text: a

text: member

text: of

text: the

text: squad

text: who

text: died

text: in

text: the

text: attacks

text: when

text: one

text: of

text: the

text: twin

text: towers

text: collapsed

text: On

text: a

text: busy

text: side

text: street

text: outside

text: their

text: Manhattan

text: offices

text: neighbors

text: watched

text: them

text: go

text: through

text: their

text: paces

text: with

text: the

text: robot

text: We

text: think

text: they

text: 're

text: great

text: one

text: man

text: said

text: Another

text: passerby

text: snapped

text: a

text: picture

text: of

text: the

text: robot

text: with

text: her

text: cell

text: phone

text: Is

text: that

text: the

text: robot

text: that

text: checks

text: out

text: bombs

text: she

text: asked

text: It

text: was

text: But

text: robots

text: as

text: sophisticated

text: as

text: they

text: are

text: can

text: only

text: do

text: so

text: much

text: They

text: 're

text: capable

text: of

text: blowing

text: out

text: windows

text: blasting

text: a

text: suspicious

text: package

text: to

text: bits

text: photographing

text: an

text: object

text: from

text: several

text: angles

text: and

text: sending

text: those

text: images

text: to

text: investigators

text: The

text: squad

text: does

text: n't

text: want

text: to

text: publicize

text: more

text: specific

text: details

text: Still

text: a

text: human

text: touch

text: often

text: ca

text: n't

text: be

text: avoided

text: With

text: help

text: bomb

text: techs

text: first

text: crawl

text: into

text: an

text: protective

text: suit

text: that

text: covers

text: their

text: bodies

text: from

text: head

text: to

text: toe

text: The

text: feet

text: nearly

text: look

text: like

text: those

text: of

text: a

text: platypus

text: the

text: material

text: is

text: stiff

text: and

text: hot

text: and

text: the

text: chest

text: plate

text: is

text: heavy

text: A

text: helmet

text: is

text: cinched

text: on

text: around

text: the

text: neck

text: and

text: an

text: air

text: hose

text: keeps

text: outside

text: air

text: flowing

text: into

text: the

text: mask

text: Put

text: on

text: gloves

text: and

text: it

text: 's

text: hard

text: to

text: imagine

text: that

text: anyone

text: in

text: such

text: bulky

text: gear

text: could

text: maneuver

text: and

text: dismantle

text: possible

text: bomb

text: components

text: But

text: that

text: 's

text: what

text: they

text: 're

text: trained

text: to

text: do

text: The

text: more

text: you

text: do

text: and

text: the

text: more

text: you

text: get

text: involved

text: the

text: better

text: you

text: 'll

text: get

text: when

text: it

text: 's

text: the

text: real

text: thing

text: Clair

text: said

text: Det

text: Greg

text: Abbate

text: also

text: was

text: there

text: for

text: the

text: real

text: thing

text: in

text: Times

text: Square

text: He

text: said

text: his

text: training

text: kicked

text: in

text: There

text: 's

text: a

text: strong

text: bond

text: between

text: us

text: We

text: go

text: to

text: a

text: job

text: there

text: 's

text: very

text: little

text: talk

text: Everyone

text: knows

text: what

text: they

text: have

text: to

text: do

text: he

text: said

text: Despite

text: the

text: immense

text: dangers

text: associated

text: with

text: the

text: work

text: whenever

text: the

text: unit

text: checks

text: out

text: a

text: suspicious

text: package

text: bomb

text: technicians

text: jockey

text: for

text: the

text: opportunity

text: to

text: suit

text: up

text: We

text: actually

text: have

text: arguments

text: over

text: who

text: 's

text: taking

text: the

text: job

text: added

text: Abbate

text: When

text: CNN

text: traveled

text: with

text: them

text: on

text: a

text: call

text: it

text: was

text: Abbate

text: 's

text: turn

text: to

text: wear

text: the

text: gear

text: The

text: bomb

text: squad

text: was

text: called

text: to

text: check

text: out

text: a

text: backpack

text: found

text: in

text: a

text: park

text: near

text: a

text: police

text: headquarters

text: checkpoint

text: The

text: team

text: sped

text: to

text: the

text: scene

text: with

text: sirens

text: screaming

text: Other

text: units

text: ringed

text: the

text: perimeter

text: X

text: rays

text: were

text: taken

text: Abbate

text: moved

text: in

text: This

text: time

text: he

text: determined

text: that

text: this

text: time

text: there

text: was

text: nothing

text: to

text: it

text: Sgt

text: John

text: Ryan

text: said

text: it

text: 's

text: necessary

text: to

text: assume

text: the

text: worst

text: until

text: the

text: team

text: moves

text: in

text: Everything

text: is

text: a

text: bomb

text: until

text: we

text: say

text: it

text: 's

text: not

text: a

text: bomb

text: said

text: Ryan

text: The

text: days

text: are

text: long

text: but

text: the

text: men

text: say

text: they

text: feel

text: blessed

text: to

text: be

text: part

text: of

text: the

text: bomb

text: squad

text: They

text: laugh

text: when

text: people

text: suggest

text: they

text: must

text: be

text: a

text: little

text: crazy

text: to

text: do

text: such

text: a

text: dangerous

text: job

text: It

text: 's

text: an

text: honor

text: LaScala

text: said

text: And

text: it

text: never

text: gets

text: old

text: At

text: the

text: end

text: of

text: the

text: day

text: it

text: 's

text: just

text: one

text: day

text: down

text: and

text: a

text: lot

text: more

text: to

text: go

text: said

text: Det

text: Mike

text: Garcia

text: CNN

text: producers

text: Julian

text: Cummings

text: and

text: Ross

text: Levitt

text: contributed

text: to

text: this

text: report

question: Who is to visit the bomb squad?

answer: CNN

text: CNN

question: What did Det. Greg Abbate say?

answer: they have to do,"

text: they have to do,"

question: Where did CNN visit?

answer: New York

text: New York

question: Who did CNN visit?

answer: New York's elite bomb squad,

text: New York's elite bomb squad,

question: Who said there's a very strong bond between us?

answer: Det. Greg Abbate

text: Det. Greg Abbate

question: What did Det. Abbate say about the bond?

answer: "There's a strong

text: "There's a strong

question: What is Abbate's first name?

answer: Greg

text: Greg

question: Who is eager to be the one to suit up?

answer: bomb technicians

text: bomb technicians