cnn's own martin savidge traveled with the troops.ive us a sense of the atmosphere as you rode with that convoy. >> well, you know, joe, it was clear that it was a very special night. extraordinary security measures had been taken, straight to the point that even journalists were not allowed to report anything until after the last convoy, the last week and the last american had made it into kuwait. this was the concern they had, that perhaps those convoys could be targeted. it was 100 vehicles, it was 500 soldiers, and that's what it came down to last night when we were taking off. 500 soldiers out of what had been at one point 170,000 u.s. troops. we then got into these vehicles, mra mraps, mostly, those big bar ga gargantuan 20-ton vehicles that rolled down the highway. there were no roadside bombs or any incidents of gunfire or anything like that. everyone arrived safe and sound right about the time the sun was coming up at the kuwaiti border. so it was actually a normal trip but of course it wasn't a normal trip. for everybody who

i want to go live to baghdad to martin savidge. artin in just a moment. we'll talk about the sense from a number of the military men and women will their feelings as they are leaving iraq. >>> we'll move on to some pretty terrifying news about china. a new study suggests that country may have thousands of secret nuclear warheads, and what is even more interesting is where they're being hidden. also, are you wearing your red today? it is world aids day. president obama has pledged an additional $50 million to help fight the aids virus. we're going to show you exactly how that chunk of money will be used. those stories and more next. [ male announcer ] this is lara. her morning begins with arthritis pain. that's a coffee and two pills. the afternoon tour begins with more pain and more pills. the evening guests arrive. back to sore knees. back to more pills. the day is done but hang on... her doctor recommended aleve. just 2 pills can keep arthritis pain away all day with fewer pills than tylenol. this is lara who chose 2 aleve and few

a lot of them are going to be heading to kuwait, and that's where we find martin savidge. martin, give us an idea of the logistical operation here and the weight that iraq is playing? >> zain, hello to you, it's been a huge logistics issue for the u.s. military. it goes back to 2008. they knew at that time in the agreements signed with the iraqi government that there would be an eventual withdrawal of u.s. forces. it was speeded up somewhat by the president's announcement that it would come at the end of this year. but the planning was basically there. they describe it as the biggest logistics move that the u.s. military has been involved with since at least the vietnam war. they describe hundreds of thousands of vehicles, millions of pieces of equipment and then on top of that, tens of thousands of troops that all had to be drawn down responsibly. it isn't like you tell everyone, all right, just go home wherever you feel like it. there is a plan, you want to make sure you shut down the laundry at the right time. but you don't get rid of the security before you shut down th

cnn's martin savidge joins us now from baghdad. martin, hello to you. these ceremonies like today? must have been a heck of a moment. >> reporter: it was a heck of a moment actually, t.j. you are absolutely right. this really shows that this withdrawal of u.s. forces now out of iraq is moving an moving quickly. and today was a huge point in that drawdown. there wasn't a single camera there and there wasn't a reporter allowed to see it. it was extremely low key which was really remarkable given, as you just pointed out, that this was the largest u.s. base during the entire iraqi war. it was actually known as vbc, victory base complex. it was a series of bases located out by the iraqi airport, had a perimeter of some 27 miles at one point it had 40,000 people that were there, u.s. soldiers, there were 20,000 contractors on top of that. so amazing, major facility but it was closed down with little or no fanfare. it was about noon. a couple of soldiers for the u.s. climbed into their vehicles and documents were signed with the iraqis and that was it. they l

martin savidge, cnn, sullivan city, texas. >> wow.ascinating to look at the threat of corruption on the border. >>> coming up, rick perry on the campaign trail. once again, he is caught on camera trying to jog his memory. what got him tripped up this time? we'll show that you ahead. >>> and the jury is back with their recommend that is horrible, horrible horrific connecticut home invasion trial. the reaction from the sole survivor of the attack when we continue. >>> i hope you join me this sunday night. i'm going to be hosting a tribute to cnn heroes. you can learn all about the top ten heroes. they're really extraordinary group of people and making a huge difference in other people's lives. we're going to have a closer look at top ten hero diane latiker through the lens of photographer chris ann johnson. >> i was sent to photograph the chicago neighborhood of roseland. >> we're losing a generation to violence. >> diane expanded a nonprofit she has set up this program for those caught in the middle of this violence and for those who w

at camp virginia with martin savidge where troops are getting ready to head hole. market? >> reporter: for those troops coming out of iraq, camp virginia is their first stop and the first step to get home in time for many of them to the holidays. they don't forget this is an important time and they are witnesses to history here. whether it is their first deployment or their fifth or sixth as it has been in some cases. they all know that being here at the end of this conflict is a moment that they will remember and a moment that historians will write about. also a moment that each soldier feels personally as they come across the border from iraq into kuwait. we had a conversation with a chaplain who has been up there and witness that had moment. and here's how he described it. >> i think it is awesome. the fact that we're bringing something to the close. as the chaplain, i get to go out and we go to watch the guys cross the border and say hey, welcome to kuwait. you're on the way home. you see guys jumping out of the vehicleser giving hugs. and just saying, hey, we made it.

martin savidge, cnn, sullivan city, texas. >> wow.to look at the threat of corruption on the border. >>> coming up, rick perry on the campaign trail. once again, he is caught on camera trying to jog his memory. what got him tripped up this time? we'll show that you ahead. >>> and the jury is back with their recommend that is horrible, horrible horrific connecticut home invasion trial. the reaction from the sole survivor of the attack when we continue. sh you could guaranteee they won't be beat. oh, actually... then i'd be like, you rule! and my kids would be like, you rule! oh, load up the sleigh; this is going to be a great christmas. [ male announcer ] more christmas for your money, guaranteed. with two children and no way to support them. people told me i wasn't going to do anything. and i just decided i have more to offer than that. i put myself through nursing school, and then i decided to go get a doctorate degree. university of phoenix gave me the knowledge to make a difference in people's lives. my name is dr. kimberly horton.

cnn's martin savidge live in baghdad. we were hoping you could attend that ceremony but you could not. >> reporter: good morning to you, carol. you are right. we were told about 12 hours before that ceremony was to begin that members of the media were not allowed to attend. even though the buildup a week and a half we were told absolutely we would be there. the explanation that was given was security. does not appear we were the primary security threat but the concern was that they honl limited space. this is going to be held indoors for security reasons at a palace out there at camp victory because they needed to get the soldiers in and needed goat the dignitaries in and iraqi media in, there wasn't enough room for the western media. that's why we weren't there. that ceremony is wrapping up now. you had prime minister al maliki, vice president joe biden there. a little bit of a discrepancy what this was about. iraqis says this commemorates the end of the u.s. involvement or the withdrawal of u.s. forces from iraq. they a

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our martin savidge rode along. >> reporter: still riding in the convoy the one that left iraq at 2:30g, now in friendly territory of kuwait on their way to camp virginia. it was a five-hour drive through the darkness. i'm riding with the protection of this mrap, this very large armored vehicle we're inside but also with the help of some military police out of ft. hood. they were the ones that provided the security for this final convoy and that's no small measure of course because there were very, very strong security concerns. that's why all the secrecy to make sure the last convoy out of iraq wasn't going to leave on december 3 s1st as set by president obama, but some weeks earlier. the idea there making sure anybody planning some sort of attack wouldn't really know when the last americans would leave. seems to have worked well. no reports of any attacks or ieds. there was a lot of cover overhead. aircraft and still traveling in convoy can be a little difficult so we are slowing down here. but for the most part, it's been a problem-free run all the way from iraq into history. martin

cnn's martin savidge is live in baghdad. did you attend the ceremony? >> reporter: you know -- good morning, carol, by the way. no, we didn't. in fact, western media was barred from attending this ceremony put on by the iraqi government, and there's some real dispute here as to exactly what this ceremony was all about. the iraqis say this was a ceremony to commemorate the departure, the withdrawal of u.s. forces from iraq. talk to the u.s. military, and they say, oh, no, this is not what this ceremony is about, this ceremony is about dedicating or commemorating the sacrifice that has been made by both u.s. forces and iraqi forces bringing this country to where it is today. so, a big difference here. the iraqis saying, hey, this is the marking of the end, whereas the americans are saying, no, it is nothing like that of the kind. and in fact, u.s. forces will remain in control of camp victory, where this is taking place, at least for the foreseeable future. so, that's one of the great debates. the other thing we should point out is that it is going on now

christine. >> martin savidge. thank you, martin. >>> president obama marked an end to the iraq war in fort bragg p. the troops are leaving with their heads health hype. america still has an obligation to the returning heroes. many of whom are suffering from the invisible wounds of war. david mattingly live at fort bragg for us this morning. david, the troops are coming home to an uncertain bad economy. let's put it in stark terms like that. they will be looking for work. do they think about that? >> reporter: for the last nine years, so many soldiers here at fort bragg has been departing from iraq over and over again. now that they are back home, when the president was speaking here yesterday, there was one big question on their mind -- and that was what is going to happen to us now in the years to come? >> welcome home. [ applause ] welcome home. >> reporter: soldiers out of iraq and home for the holidays. that alone is worth celebrating. but troops at fort bragg are looking for more. assurances from the president

embassy in iraq, it is the largest in the world, you think it would be easy to find but martin savidgese as possible to this new heavily guarded complex. >> reporter: here's the premise, we want to get you a view of the american embassy in baghdad. it's the biggest diplomatic mission in the world. not one building a campus, 17,000 people located right in there, the green zone, the international zone, the most protected part of baghdad. we asked for permission and film and show it to you, it was denied. so we tried to look from here. the problem is even from here, you can't see it. we'll try somewhere else. this is an area where we thought we could give you a ground view of the green zone the international zone right behind us. but you can't see the embassy. so in our attempt to come down here and even try to show this scene, we've drawn the attention of the iraqi military and they don't seem too keen we're here. we try something else, the web. we pulled up one of these websites where you can look down on baghdad from up in space. we focused on the area where the embassy is right in her

martin savidge, cnn, baghdad. >>> cnn newsroom continues right

martin savidge, cnn, baghdad. >>> in "the situation room" happening now, newt gingrich trumps romney,. with gingrich up, romney down, cain out. >>> plus, is one of america's most secret and effective weapons now in the hands of iran? we're taking a closer look into iran's claim that it shot down a u.s. drone like this one. >>> and if kwu crack this code within the next week, you may be a high-tech spy. we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. breaking news, political headlines and jeanne moos straight ahead. i'm wolf blitzer, and you're in the situation room. >>> the red-hot spite light on newt gingrich is bigger today because he shared it with a publicity magnet. we are talking about donald trump. the latest presidential front-runner is looking for the support of the would-be campaign maker. their meeting, a few weeks before trump moderates a debate in iowa that's boycotted by some of newt newt gingrich's rivals. >> of course i want his endorsement. not yet. he has to do this debate. >> there is speculation that cain might endorse gingrich now that he

. >> martin savidge here. this story out of tucson, arizona.n tucson as accused gunman, jared lee loughner goes on a shooting rampage, killing six and wunounding 13, includin gabriel give pords. egypt's tahrir square, protesters demand hosni mubarak give up power. >> free egypt, that's what they are celebrating here tonight. >> gadhafi, the son of moammar gadhafi on libyan state television basically warning the people of libya, saying this is not tunisia, this is not egypt. things will go in a much different direction. >> february 16th, all eyes on libya as anti-gadhafi protesters take to the streets. it would take months before gadhafi was captured and killed. >> oh, my god. the building's going to fall. >> a massive wall of water. a devastating tsunami swept ashore japan's northeastern coast sweeping away cars, boats, homes, almost anything in its power. >> march 11th, scenes of utter devastation, as an earthquake spawns a tsunami off japan's coast. the walls of water heavily damage a nearby nuclear reactor and for weeks people fear the worse

here is our martin savidge. >> reporter: like many service members in iraq, these soldiers are readyy armor, they head toward a building in kirkuk and cnn was there as the soldiers went after the man suspected of killing one of their open. 25-year-old first lieutenant dustin vincent of mesquite, texas, always wanted to be a soldier, a dream that tore at his mother's heart. >> so i told my son, i don't agree with it but i'm here to support you. >> reporter: arook was vincent's first tour of duty but a sniper's bullet ended the mission in early november. and shattered the life of his high school sweetheart who vincent married just two days before he deployed. insurgents posted this video online showing the attack set to music and recorded over a long distance, it shows a military convoy stopped on the street. there's a gunshot and a soldier drops from view. there's no way to know if this video is the actual killing of lou sent vincent. meanwhile, word has reached the men of vincent's squad that the alleged gunman has been captured. they come to the courthouse in kirkuk not for revenge

our martin savidge is live in kuwait and embedded with those existing troops. how is the withdrawal going, marty? >> hey, kyra. let me just show you a picture here. we were here at camp virginia a couple weeks ago at thanksgiving and at that time this place was absolutely packed. the troops and equipment coming out of iraq. take a look at it now. it is very quiet. in fact, that's the busiest spot you'll find in camp right now, the basketball court. otherwise you start moving in this direction and you begin to see that this place is looking very, very quiet. not deserted. several thousand soldiers here, but nothing like it was when we were here a couple weeks ago. take a look at that. they added a couple decorations here. in this part of the world, you don't get a sense of christmas until you get on to a u.s. military base. the christmas tree is up and a couple live trees set up out there, as well, so the soldiers can get a feel of the season they're all heading back to. number one, their mission in iraq ended quicker than they thought it would be. two, they're

. >> i want to bring in martin savidge. there he is.be a christmas tree over your shoulder in kuwait where the final troops are crossing out of iraq on on the way home. you've been talking to the troop on. this day, how do they feel about it all? >> reporter: well, it's quite a remarkable day, brooke. no doubt about it. it is certainly a day that goes down in history. so i think for the troops, when you talk to them and say, what do you think about being here, they give you three answers. first of all, they're thrilled because they know they're on their way home. two, they're thrilled because they know their deployment was cut short as a result of the president saying everybody out by december 31st. the third thing is they know they'll make it home for christmas. that is what is very foremost in their minds. then you start talking to them about the significance of today. the significance, eight and a half years later, where we are, the end of a war and they are here to witness it and it sinks in. they really get it. that's when they say

martin savidge is in baghdad. how long did it take them to clear out and what is the next step in the full draw down? >> the draw down has been going on for six weeks. as far as what happened today, that took only a matter of hours. they got into their vehicles and documents were signed. closing on a house, essentially, according to one officer and they left. as to what comes next, still about 11,000 u.s. forces that are in iraq, not to mention thousands of tons of gear. all continues to flow south, well ahead of schedule. aire a erin? >> all right, martin. >>> keeping tabs on silvio berlusconi. jim, who did prosecutors put on the stand today? >> erin, today a detective testified that three of the women at one of silvio berlusconi's parties were, indeed, prostitutes. accused for paying for sex with one of them and then 17-year-old exhaustic dancer. buerlusconi said he would appea at some of the trial and today he was a no-show. erin? >>> two weeks after 33-year-old michelle parker disappeared in orlando, florida,

cnn's martin savidge reports from camp virginia in kuwait. regard camp virginia is one of the primary staging areas for troops that have been coming out of iraq. here is where they drop their equipment, it is also where they board the planes and head back to the united states. in between they get a little r and r. right now, on the stage you have the cheer leaders for the washington redskins. two days ago it was the cheer leaders from the philadelphia eagles. they had rock bands. it is a chance for those soldiers coming out of iraq to sort of decompress a bit before they go home. there also isn't a lot to do while they wait for their flights. they have been able to speed up the process. a couple of weeks ago this process was slammed. and you might wait five to eight days if you were a soldier hoping to fly back to the states. the crew that i came in on the convoy last night with said they expect it to be state side at least within the next two days. as they told me, they plan to be the biggest holiday gift their family has ever had. and that'

cnn's martin savidge has been with the troops on the long and dangerous road out of the country.he end of the war, isn't it, martin? >> it is. you know, there's something about, well, naturally you want to see the end of the war, not like you want to see the beginning of them and we've seen both in this particular story. camp virginia, we were here a couple weeks ago and at this point it is extremely quiet. but that is a good thing because it means that the troops, which are continuing to come out of iraq, are now transitting that much quicker to get back to the united states. we got a bit of a game going on back here and just in case their moms are watching, i promised we'd name them. ken tarpley and robert allen all recently, just a couple days ago, out of iraq. here now at camp virginia and in a couple days they'll head back to the united states. the only other changes we've seen on the base, they put up a christmas tree and a couple other decorations most of which these soldiers have not seen in this part of the world because that's the way it is. they will soon be immersed i

martin savidge hitch ad ride on a u.s. military convoy. >>> occupy wall street versus chris christie? think the shouting chased the new jersey governor off stage? think again. this one is really good. we will show it to you. 13 minutes after the hour. progresso. it fits! fantastic! [ man ] pro-gresso they fit! okay-y... okay??? i've been eating progresso and now my favorite old jeans...fit. okay is there a woman i can talk to? [ male announcer ] progresso. 40 soups 100 calories or less. [♪...] >> announcer: now get a $250 airfare credit, plus save up to 65%. call 1-800-sandals. certain restrictions apply. >>> 16 minutes past the hour. welcome back. a significant development in the case of a missing sex worker in what could be a serial kill other the loose near new york city. >> police are searching on long island's south shore. they say they found items belonging to the missing womans who disappearance prompted a certain much that turned up those ten bodies. chris mills was on long island and joins us with the latest. what

. >> martin savidge, we're following breaking news, a story out of tucson.anuary 8th, tragedy in tucson as loughner goes on a rampage killing six and wounding 13, including congresswoman gabby giffords. >> police in egypt are clashing with protests. >> january 25th, egypt's tahrir square becomes the staging grounds for demonstrations and they demand hosni mubarak give up power. >> they are celebrating here tonight. >> gadhafi, the son of moammar gadhafi on libyan state television there basically warning the people of libya, saying this is not tunisia and things will go in a much different direction. >> february 16th, all eyes on libya as anti-gadhafi protesters take to the streets in benghazi. a bloody crackdown followed. it would take months before gadhafi was capture and killed. >> oh, my god, the building is going to fall. >> a massive wall of water swept ashore along japan's northeastern coast surging well inland sweeping away cars and boats and homes, almost anything in its path. >> march 11th, scenes of utter devastation as an earthquake measuring 9.0

cnn's martin savidge is there as some of the troops left iraq. >> reporter: 2:30 a.m.ife in the dark bitter cold. despite the time and temperature, these soldiers of the 82nd airborne are in a good mood. this trip will mean their war is almost over. the trip has taken six weeks to prepare, mainly because of security. convoys are tempting targets especially for ieds. to counter them the u.s. military began using mine assisted ambush vehicles, weighing several tons. looking like snowplows, trucks with massive rollers designed to detonate mines lead the way. >> reporter: the convoy is divided into various sections and it makes it easier to travel. so this group will run ahead of the group that we're with. all told though, once on the highway the soldiers are now the most vulnerable they've been during their entire deployment. how you feeling? >> i'm pretty excited to get home but careful not to get too excited because anything can happen. >> reporter: helicopters providing cover from the air check in. if there's going to be trouble, convoy leaders believe it will be in an