we have ben wedeman with more. ben, this is the last major holdout in iraq. how much significant progress is there? >> reporter: quite significant. this is the second largest city in iraq. for the iraqis to drive isis out of western mosul will be a final chapter in the war that has been going on for two and a half years. with secretary mattis, under scoring the role the united states plays in that fight. there were around 5,000 u.s. military personnel supporting iraqi forces in the battle in addition to the involvement of the u.s.-led coalition with aircraft bombing targets as well. before secretary mattis arrived in baghdad, he made an interesting statement. contradicting what we heard from president trump the day after inauguration at cia headquarters. where he said that we may have a chance in the future to seize iraqi oil. secretary mattis directly contradicted that before he arrived in baghdad. >> all of us in america generally paid for our gas and oil all along and i'm sure we will continue to do so in the future. we're not in iraq to seize anybody's oi

cnn's international correspondent ben wedeman is live. ben, good morning to you.e know this is going to be a brutal, brutal fight. this is a very fortified part of the city. do we know how many civilians are still there and if there's a plan to protect them? >> reporter: boris, we understand from the united nations that there are up to 800,000 civilians still inside western mosul. in terms of a plan, well, what we saw on the eastern side of the city, when the fighting was going on there was that the iraqi military did drop leaflets telling the residents that there are safe corridors. but it takes two to tango. and obviously, what we did learn from speaking to people who actually took advantage of those safe corridors, that as they were trying to flee, isis snipers were shooting at them. so, it's not a very good situation for the civilians no matter how you look at it. as far as the battle goes at this point, we understand from sources on the front lines that the iraqi army is in control of the village, which is overlooking the airport, and from there, the iraqi ar

we have senior correspondent ben wedeman with the latest. remaining isis strong hold in iraq. could this be the final stand for isis in that country? >> reporter: it could be. it could be one that lasts very long, boris. we saw the battle for eastern mosul which took over three months. the iraqi military took a lot of casualties in that battle. now, of course, they have begun yesterday morning, the second part of thecoalition. more than 5,000 u.s. military personnel on the ground. u.s.-led aircraft providing air support for the iraqi forces and arrival of secretary mattis is critical to reaffirm the commitment to the war against isis. secretary mattis is a man with many years of experience in iraq. he served in the first gulf war, the second gulf war and he knows the country well and he knows the sensitivities well. that, perhaps, is why before he arrived in baghdad, he stressed contrary to what we heard from president trump during the campaign and afterwards, the united states has no interest in seizing iraq's oil. this is what he said. >> a

cnn's international correspondent ben wedeman is live in erbil, iraq. be a fight. is there a plan to help civilians in the city? >> well, there's a plan in the sense that the iraqi government has said it's going to set up what it calls safe passages out of the city. but the problem is, as we saw when they were battling for the eastern part of mosul, is that not both sides respect these passages. so, when we were speaking with people who had taken advantage of those, they said that when they tried to leave eastern mosul, they came under fire from isis snipers. so, really, the problem is that, you know, the city, the west is under fire. intense artillery fire. frequent air strikes by the u.s.-led coalition. so, whether you say or you go, if you're a civilian in western mosul, you are putting yourself at risk. in addition to that, of course, there's a shortage of food, medicine, safe drinking water, electricity. and heating fuel as well. so it's a very difficult situation for the civilians themselves. as far as the battle goes, you mentioned that village c

ben wedeman, cnn, istanbul. >>> thanks to ben wedeman.hting back through social media how democrats are now trying to take one of the president's favorite tools and use it against him. you're live in the cnn newsroom and we'll be right back. guess i won't be seeing you for a while. why take medicines that only last 4 hours, when just one mucinex lasts 12 hours? let's end this. today, unlimited gets the netwverizon.eserves. (mic thuds) uh, sorry. it's unlimited without compromising reliability, on the largest, most advanced 4g lte network in america. (thud) uh... sorry, last thing. it's just $45 per line. forty... five. (cheering and applause) and that is all the microphones that i have. (vo) not just unlimited. verizon unlimited. and now we unleash it onwerful your taxes.pecies has created. hello my name is watson. yep. h&r block and ibm watson together. come see us and get your taxes won. >>> after devastating losses in the general election democrats are trying to strike back using cyber space. we take a look at the party's social media

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ben wedeman live in istanbul, thank you. >>> the u.s.-backed defensive to liberate western mosul announced days after president trump said he would not detail or tell isis when, where or how the united states was coming. just listen to the president. >> i'm not going to tell you anything about what response i do. i don't talk about military response. i don't say i'm going into mosul in four months. we are going to attack mosul in four months. then three months later, we're going to attack mosul in one month. next week we are going to attack mosul. >> barbara starr is live at the pentagon. he said that throughout the campaign. criticized his political opponents for talking about strategy when it comes to defeating isis. why is central command coming out with pretty detailed information? >> no surprise. i'm going to agree with my colleague ben wedeman, detailed information but not all that detailed and not that much of a surprise. the battle for mosul has been going on for months now. iraqi forces well known, well documented in east mosul,

ben wedeman in iraq. qatar airways has announced they plan to board all passengers with valid visas to the u.s. on flights after this blocking of this travel ban. so that also is certainly an indication that things are moving at least in the opposite direction that they were moving yesterday. so keeping an eye on all things there in baghdad and across the region, ben wedeman, thank you so much. >>> well, the trump white house is also setting a new tone for both domestic and world affairs. we'll discuss all of that ahead. >>> plus what renewed fighting in ukraine means for mr. trump's ties with russia. we'll go live to moscow when we come back. ce back like... ...it used to? neutrogena® hydro boost water gel. instantly quenches skin to keep it... ...supple and hydrated... ...day... ...after day. with hydrating hyaluronic acid, which retains up to 1000 times its weight... ...in water. this refreshing water gel... plumps skin cells with intense hydration and locks it in. for supple, hydrated skin that bounce

ben wedeman, cnn, baghdad. >> great piece there from ben.holders in the seven affected countries woke up to the news they could now go to the u.s. but they are being warned changes could come and soon. we're joined from istanbul in turkey with reaction. how many people have made use of this perhaps temporary window? has there been a rush to the airports, for example? >> well, robyn, there's still a lot of confusion and uncertainty. when the news first broke and people were waking up to it on saturday morning here, it took some time for the news to spread, for the airlines to be notified by the united states of this change in regulations. and it took us a few hours throughout the day to get confirmation from the various airlines operating in the region that they had received this change that would allow valid visa holders from these countries to board their flights. so we haven't really seen this mass rush to get to the airport to get on planes. people are a bit cautious when it comes to this. it is a very risky situation for them. you are lo

our ben wedeman is in iraq. about how they were retaliating with these sleeper cells they're activating and these surprise attacks. >> reporter: what's going on, poppy, is that in eastern mosul, which actually has been liberated, they left behind a lot of sleeper cells, which have set off a series of bombings, suicide bombings, car bombings that have really sort of spread terror in a population that was beginning to return to the city. now some of the residents of eastern mosul are leaving because of the uncertain security situation. we also understand these isis sleeper cells are distributing leaflets warning everybody that if they cooperate with the iraq authorities, they will be killed, poppy. >> ben, also we know that a man who carried out a suicide bombing on monday, we've learned, has been identified as a british former detainee of guantanamo bay. what have we learned? >> reporter: this is ronald fidlor, he was a 50-year-old british national from manchester. in 2001 he was picked up by u.s. forces in pakis

ben wedeman live in irbil. >>> still to come, an incredible story of a heartwarming reunion.r-old iraqi boy badly turned at a refugee camp finally back with his parents after doctors care for him in the united states. watch. >> thank god we're altogether again. it's hard to stay away from your child when they're healthy, let alone when he was burned. >>> no matter how you slice it, president trump's favorite food is -- meatloaf. and he's proven it once again. here's jeanne moos. >> reporter: no matter how you mash it. no matter how you shape it. it seems president trump has yet to meet a meatloaf he doesn't love. his meatloaf arm twisting has recurred. >> his favorite dish was meatloaf. >> reporter: this time the president invited his friend, real estate investor tom berrick, to dine at the white house. >> it was terrific. >> reporter: he made you eat the meatloaf? >> the meatloaf was incredible. >> reporter: and chris christie. >> he says, chris, you and i are going to have the meatloaf. >> reporter: but christie got dumped on. >> the meatloaf was a second course for christi

o ben wedeman live in us stan ball. looking back the fight for northern mosul took longer than expected. you've been on the ground. how might the fight for western mosul be different for these iraqi forces? >> reporter: for one thing the geography is different. in western mosul you have this old city. you have this market. the alleyways, the passages are much narrower than in the east. and, therefore, for instance, it's harder for tanks and armored personnel carriers to go through. we know that isis, for instance, has dug a network of tunnels and passageways and they're had lots of time to do that. they're also increasingly using a tactic we didn't see in the east. that is armed drones which they used to not only observe the iraqi forces but also attack them. the explosives charges they use are not very large, but they're enough to make it even more difficult as iraqi forces make their way through the city. so it will be more complicated. now, the number of civilians living in the west is somewhat less than in the east.

ben wedeman joins us from erbil, iraq with the very latest. >> reporter: the iraqi forces continue to push into west mosul itself. we understand at this point they have entered two neighborhoods which are just north of the airport which they liberated just a few days ago. as they push ahead, they're getting a little bit of help from some friends. >> we bring up and take it now and move up and try to mark that location. >> reporter: american soldiers who declined to share their names are setting coordinates for isis positions. just a little over a mile away from the extremists. they never fired their sniper rifle, but used to identify targets. nearbymble a dren. pent began officials say u.s. service personnel are operating ever closer to the action. is the bo the bombardment of western mosul is intense and steady temperature iraqis flying attack helicopters blasted isis targets inside the city. rapid response force major says resistance has been stiff because isis fighters realize they're cornered. they're surrounded he tells me, there is no sk

cnn senior international correspondent ben wedeman spent time with those american soldiers. oining us live from erbil, iraq. ben, what can you tell us about their state of mind and this mission? >> well, christi, it does appear that iraqi forces are now entering the southern edge of western mosul itself. and the fighting is very difficult. however, in this fight which could go on for quite some time, they're getting some help from their friends. >> smoke in the fortnight to take that down and mark that. >> reporter: american soldiers they decline to share their names are setting coordinates for isis positions. just a little over a mile away from the extremists. they never fired their sniper rifle, but used it to identify targets. nearby, they assemble a drone. the pentagon officials say u.s. service personnel are operating ever closer to the action. the bombardment of western mosul is intense and steady. iraqis flying russian-made mi-35 helicopters blasted isis targets inside the city. rapid response force major kaseem said resistance has been stiff because isis fighters real

ben wedeman in iraq. the latest news that the travel ban has opened up the way to get to the u.s. do you see it there? >> reporter: no, there's no activity, christine, in fact, most people only heard about the news when they woke up, it was probably too late to get on a flight. there are, of course, no direct flights from iraq to the united states anyway. thousands ever people did take to the streets of baghdad however, but it was for the annual baghdad marathon. now, some of the people we did speak to about this latest twist that this week-long saga regarding the travel ban. most people said they don't understand what's going on in the united states. they find the policy to do to use some of these adjectives, confusing, ambiguous. unclear. it's just not clear what the situation would be, even if you were to get on an airplane and fly in the direction of united states. one man says, what happens, i'll arrive there, they'll throw me in jail or put me back on a plane back to iraq. so people are waiting. keep

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and given the kind of firepower at their disposal, that's no small thing, poppy. >> ben wedeman live s in irbil, iraq, thank you, ben, for the reporting. >>> still to come, an unexpected phone call means a wish granted for an iraqi family whose son was in this country separated from his parents to undergo surgery. >> translator: thank god we're all together again. it's really hard to stay away from your child when they're healthy, let alone he was burned. this year, chevy received more j.d. power initial quality awards than any other car brand. i'm very, very impressed. did i mention they received more of them last year too? look at that. oh wow! and the year before that... more doors. oh my god! what?! and the year before that... oh man! it keeps going! in fact, chevy has received more j.d. power awards for initial quality than any other car company, four years in a row. i'm speechless! impressive! chevy, stepping up their game! hei don't want one that's haded a big wreck just say, show me cars with no accidents reported find the cars you want, avoid the ones you don't plus you get a

. >> ben wedeman is in istanbul following all this for us. do we expect the come out this visit by the defense secretary? >> reporter: probably the most important thing so far, wolf, is reassurance, just as mike pence, the vice president is in brussels reassuring the u.s.'s european allies, the presence, the visit of the secretary of defense to baghdad is reassuring iraqis for one thing that those threats so to speak by donald trump during the campaign and after the inauguration, that perhaps the u.s. might seize iraqi oil, shouldn't be taken too seriously. now, i was in baghdad two weeks ago. and another point of contention of course was iraq's inclusion in the list of seven countries in the travel ban. so there are some ruffled feathers that need to be smoothed there. and it does appear that general -- rather secretary mattis, who has a lot of experience in iraq has been doing exactly that. also importantly, it comes less than 48 hours after the beginning of the latest phase in the offensive in mosul to retake the western part of the city. a

here's ben wedeman. >> it starts with confusion, thick with dust. a man appears carrying something. it's a boy, bleeding stumps where his legs were just momenting before. someone cries for an ambulance. the boy sits up. pick me up, daddy, he cries. this was the aftermath of what syrian activists say were air raids by regime helicopters dropping barrel bombs on an around the town. the syrian government has yet to comment on the incident. later, video also posted by activists claims to show him in a hospital bed. how's your health, he's asked. he stares back. sile silent. the syrian regime urged on by russia, says it's hold tog a cease fire, but it's patchy at best. rebels are fighting government forces, fighting one another, fighting isis and other groups and al-qaeda. what started almost six years ago as a peaceful uprising has descended into madness. and the innocent children like abdul, like so many others, pay the price. elsewhere, turkish forces are backing factions of the free syrian army in their battle against isis. with while further east, u.s. backed kurdish and arab forces

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ben wedeman is following the developments. >> reporter: the latest and subsidize phase to drive isisq's second largest city began at the crack of dawn. before iraqi prime minister announced the beginning of operations on iraqi television, iraqi and coalition aircraft and artillery pummelled isis targets in the western part of the city. overnight iraqi airplanes dropped millions of leafleats o mosul calling isis fight toers put down their weapons and surrender and warning civilians to stay in their homes and cooperate with iraqi forces. since then those forces have moved from the south and southwest towards the center of the city. their first objective to take mosul airport. this fight is expected to be fierce. isis dug a complicated network of tunnels in the city and is already using armed drones and is expected they will as usual use many suicide car bombers. the most difficult or challenging part of this operation for government forces will be to minimize civilian casualties. there are as many as 650 to 800,000 civilians living in the western part of the city and isis has never hes

senior international correspondent ben wedeman joining us now from baghdad, iraq, of course one of the countries listed in the travel ban. ben, i know you've been gauging reaction to the initial executive order, and it wasn't good. what do you expect iraqis are going to feel about this court hearing, this court decision? >> reporter: well, first of all, apparently the situation at baghdad international airport is normal, and there are no direct flights from baghdad to the united states. so there's nothing to report from that end. now, obviously iraqis have been watching very closely the contortions when it comes to this executive order, first hearing that green card holders cannot go to the united states. then they can go to the united states. and this latest news regarding for the moment a federal judge overturning the entire executive order, i suspect people aren't going to be rushing to the airport. probably they'll be waiting until amateur hour is over and there's some sort of clear guidance from the united states because you have a variety of people here who do want to go to the u

joining us with the latest is ben wedeman live in iraq. good morning, ben. >> reporter: good morning, dave. this happened at about the crack of dawn. iraqi forces specifically the iraqi federal police launched dual attacks on the airport and military base in the southern part of the city. this onslaught brought on by air bombardment. we understand the counterterrorism forces of the iraqi military are pushing from the southwest into a variety of neighborho neighborhoods. this appears to be the first time since the offensive began that iraqi forces entering the city proper. another bit of interesting news we heard is isis is now going house to house in western mosul searching for cell phones, which are forbidden under their rule. they are worried mosul residents are providing the iraqi military with intelligence allowing them to strike targets. for instance, a series of air strikes by coalition forces on buildings that house foreign fighters. it appears the pressure is intense on isis this morning as the iraqi forces move forward. of course,

ben wedeman spent time with those soldiers and got incredible access and joins us from iraq. not far from mosul. so, ben, what more can you tell us about this mission and its vovlt with u.s. soldiers. >> we're getting news that isis is in the western part of the city, is rounding up families with the purpose of using them as human shields. we're also learning that isis fighters are sarting to consolidate in the old city. that's a part of moez el will they'll be able to take full advantage of their ability to fight in crowded spaces. yes, we did, just by chance, run into these american spotters and advisers. spotters, the guys who locate targets, then provide that information to aircraft overhead. this is not new. americans have been b doing it for quite some time. what is new within the last month, that americans are getting ever closer to the fighting. >> bring up the smoke, take it now and move up and try to mark that location. >> american sog, they declined to share their names, are setting coordinates for isis positions. just a little over a mile away from 2 extremists. th

let's go straight to ben wedeman for perspective. he joins us from istanbul. explain for us how significant this battle is. is it the final phase to drive isis out of iraq? >> we can say, lynda, it is one of the final phases. there is still a long way to go in terms of driving isis out of iraq and crushing isis. keep in mind, the threat isn't just their territorial control. there is a problem. we've seen it in baghdad. we have seen it in other parts of iraq of terrorism, which they excel at. the prime minister haider al-abadi, went on iraqi television announcing the beginning of that operation to retake western mosul. >> translator: we are announcing a new phase to liberate the right side of mosul city as we have other areas. we call on our brave troop toss liberate the rest of the city and to liberate people from the oppression and terrorism of daesh. >> the iraqi military says that at the moment they are approaching western mosul from four axes, basically from the south and the southwest. their immediate goal is to retake control of monsul and th military ba

ben wedeman in baghdad, appreciate it. >>> earlier a legal analyst explained the significance of the case and how the washington state ruling is different from other state rulings on this travel ban. >> there are 1200 sitting federal judges in the united states. and this is a ruling by one judge who is essentially overruling the president of the united states and has issued an order to bind every court in the united states. so usually you don't see that. usually they just sort of stay to their own federal district when they issue a ruling. so this is a very unusual ruling. >> and we have seen a number of courts issue a ruling on this executive order. how is is this one different? this is nationwide. >> yeah, this one is different. the other judges simply issued orders that pertained to their district. so for instance in new york, new york has one order, boston has a different order. but this seattle judge said you know something, the rules about getting into the united states affect the entire united states. so i find it's unconstitutional what the trump administration has done and f

let's go to ben wedeman following developments. explain how significant in battle is. is it the final phase to drive out isis from iraq. >> reporter: there are still a variety of phases to go. it is critical in retaking the a city isis took over in 2014. the pin ish tiff came frinitiat prime minister at 7:00 from baghdad. this is what he had to say. >> translator: we are announcing the start of a renews of recovering nineveh operations. to liberate the right side as we had liberated other areas. we call on our brave troops to start the push to liberate the rest of the city from the oppression and terrorism of daesh. >> reporter: it was clear this was coming. in western mosul as well as an intensification of artillery bombardment. overnight, the iraqi air force dropped millions of leaflets over the western part of the city calling on those duped by isis to lay down their arms and surrender and warning civilians to stay inside their homes as this operation progresses and to put white flags outside to indicate there are civilians inside. it is the civilian that is are a r

cnn international correspondent benefit weed ben wedeman joining us in iraq. eing able to board planes as of this hour? >> reporter: christie, we've shown to baghdad international airport, they say no one has shown up today traveling to the united states. keep in mind, there are no direct flights between iraq and the u.s. we did, however, go out on the streets. now, today, baghdad is holding its annual marathon. 4,000 people running through the streets of baghdad. we were able to speak to some people on the streets, and they described the u.s. policy on visas to that country as confused ambiguous, unclear. one man we spoke to said even if i had a visa, i wouldn't go at this point. i never know, i might arrive, they could detain me or send me back. of course, keep in mind, it's no easy feat to get an american visa. whether it's as a refugee or simply as a businessman or a tourist. it takes time. 2 takes money. and of course, it's expensive to buy a ticket as well. i think for the moment, people are holding off and waiting to see what happens next. because what w

cnn international correspondent ben wedeman is live in istanbul with more. what did secretary mattis say? >> reporter: this was before he actually arrived in bagdad, speaking to the pool reporters who are traveling with him. he said when it comes to iraq's oil, contrary to what we heard from president trump during the campaign and after the inauguration, the united states has no designs on iraqi oil. >> all of us in america have generally paid for our gas and oil all along, and i'm sure that we will continue to do so in the future. we're not in iraq to seize anybody's oil. >> reporter: so this is interesting to hear from secretary mattis. yesterday he said that the press is not the enemy of the people. now he contradicts the president again say we have no designs on iraqi oil. clearly he's in iraq to discuss this on going operation to drive isis out of western mosul. what we've seen so far, fairly good progress. the iraqi military has managed to clear isis out of about a dozen villages on the outskirts of mosul. now they're focusing their efforts on the airp

a cnn international correspondent ben wedeman is in baghdad with more. >> the entire process almost fromy beginning has been confusing when the executive order was signed by president trump on the 28th of january shortly afterwards u.s. administration officials said green card holders will not be allowed back in. many of them in fact were sent back to one of the seven countries. then they changed their position and sgaid come you can come. then they have this decision but they found it somewhat confusing. there is definitely beginning to develop something of a sense of distrust. l listen to what we heard on the streets of baghdad. >> translator: i'm afraid if i arrived at their airport trump might win an appeal. what happens to me? i might be thrown in jail. >> translator: i don't think trump will abied de by the cour decision. he's arrogant. >> we understand from the baghdad international airport that there was not a rush of people trying to get on flights to the u.s. first of all because there are no direct flights between iraq and the united states. but also because word simply hadn't

let's get to our international correspondent, ben wedeman. you think about the status of the fight and how many people might be trapped in that city for it? >> reporter: the fight to drive isis out of western mosul began early this morning, although the last few days have seen an intensification of iraqi coalition aircraft bombardment of isis targets as well as intense artillery bombardments as well by the iraqi military, by the french and by the americans. so it's really now kicking off. we understand the focus at the moment is to try and take mosul airport, which is in the southern part of the city as well as an adjacent army base that has been taken over by mosul, but as this fight goes forward, the real challenge for iraqi forces, for the coalition, is to avoid civilian casualties. the estimates are rather vague, but they are talking about somewhere between 650 and 800,000 civilians in the western part of this city. it's a very compact part of the city and densely populated. one of the real worries, of course, is according to save the chi

ben wedeman is in iraq this weekend. >> reporter: brianna, we're hearing from residents inside the cityilies to use them as human shields. we're also hearing from residents that isis fighters are starting to consolidate in west mosul's old city, perhaps to make a final stand. now, as iraqi forces are pushing into the city, they are getting critical assistance on the front lines from the americans. american soldiers are setting coordinates for isis positions. just a little over a mile away from the extremists. they never fired their sniper rifle but used it to identify targets. nearby they assembled a drone. the pentagon officials say u.s. service personnel are operating ever closer to the action. the bombardment of western mosul is intense and steady. the iraqis are fighting helicopters and blast isis targets inside the city. resistance has been stiff because isis fighters realize they are cornered. they are surrounded, he tells me, there's no escape. either they die fighting or they surrender. the airport on the southern edge of the city is in ruins. the runway strewn with concrete blo

prime minister haider al abadi, says he's studying his options as our ben wedeman joins us from baghdad to discuss because there's certainly been a backlash in parliament there. >> reporter: yes. and in fact, haider al abadi, the iraqi prime minister, said they won't take action yet. now, what makes it particularly galling for iraqis, this executive order, unlike syria and iran iraq is an ally of the united states in the war on terrorism, in the war on isis. there are more than 5,000 u.s. military personnel in the country and thousands of iraqis have died fighting isis over the last few years. and it's particularly galling, this executive order, for those iraqis who have put their lives on the line for the united states. >> michigan. >> reporter: bags packed, u.s. visas and passports, omar and his family are ready to go. but they're not going anywhere following president trump's temporary travel ban, which includes iraq. "it was a strong shock," he says. "we received visas after waiting three years. then this order comes." the iraqi branch of al qaeda planted a bomb in his car in 2009.

ben wedeman, thanks very much for all your good work. that's it is for me, thanks for watch, i will he be back 5:00 p.m. eastern in the situation room. in meantime, the news continues right now right other on cnn. >>> wolf, thank you, hi there i'm brooke baldwin. you are watching cnn. today of course is president's day, but for thousands of people, they are expected to observe the holiday by taking to the streets, in cities around the country, to protest the current president. these are dubbed these anti-trump rallies called not my president's day. they are planned for big cities, washington, d.c., los angeles, chicago, atlanta and new york, where 14,000 pem are expected. the organizers are protesting what they called, quote, un-american policies of the current white house. so we'll look into that. >>> meantime, president trump will leave mar-a-lago down in palm beach later today with two important items on his agenda. one, find a new national security adviser. he know he has been interviewing a couple of candidates over the weekend. two

we know our viewers are joining us from around the world right now and our ben wedeman is in baghdad. he heard from a man and i wrote it down here because it was pretty startling. he said, if i were to go to the u.s., they would just throw me in jail or put me on a flight back to iraq. why go. is there anything you can say to people who watch what happened last week, people who left the u.s. -- left their home country, were okay to enter and then mid-flight they were banned by the time they got on the ground, they were detained or sent back, that you can assuage those concerns or fears? >> i would hate to put my decision because the president seems to be going up as he goes along and advice to the agents at the airport seems to be changing. the one thing that i think is clear from this order and it's been consistent from all the judges, if you have legal status, if you've already been approved for a visa, legal permanent resident, what we've, and you have a right to travel into the united states, this executive order is not going to prevent that. this executive order is not going to r