We've reached that point again when the horrors of war and the fears of full out confrontation are forcing ordinary people to flee, with what material possession they can carry on their backs. The vision of wide-eyed children in tents, barefoot in the mud, of parents lost and haggard, unsure when they will be able to return to their homes and terrified at what they will find when they get back.

It's the time when strategy and military tactics become one of many angles to a story. Now the Pakistani Prime Minister is asking international partners to help refugees who are fleeing anti-Taliban offensive. 45,000 are on the road and more may be forced to run for their lives.

Next door, in Afghanistan, airstrikes on suspected militant sites are leading to outrage and grief. Civilians have once again paid a high price for an apparent military mistake. There are still questions as to whether a U.S. strike was responsible but no questions as to who the victims were in this case.

Today, we are live in Islamabad and Kabul with Reza Sayah and Nic Robertson.

Also on the show, the health of banks. Today is the day the U.S. government releases its "stress test" for 19 of the nation's largest banks. The results have been leaking out all week so it's no surprise to hear that some banks (like Bank of America and Citigroup) need more money to become stable. But the good news is that the money may not have to come from taxpayers anymore. Seems like the bailout funds already approved will cover it.

Phew.

I'm happy I'll be chatting with my colleague Suzanne Simons on Blackwater's last day in Iraq today. Her book on the warzone security company and their controversial operations in hotspots like Iraq is coming out next month. She'll join me in the studio to talk about the significance of Blackwater's exit and explain how, in many ways, this doesn't mean the group is entirely leaving the country.

Plus, today is a special day (if you you mark dates American-style with the month first.) It is May 7, 2009 or 05-07-09. This is one of only 3 times this century that the date reads as 3 consecutive odd numbers.

In honor of the day, our pharaoh of fun facts producer Christian Du Chateau, wrote this hommage to Dr Seuss:

AS ODD AS THAT IS, THE DAY WILL BE FINE.
YOU SEE, IT'S THE NUMBERS FIVE... SEVEN AND NINE.

THREE ODDS IN A ROW TO TELL YOU THE DATE...
WE'VE ONLY THREE MORE, THEN A 90-YEAR WAIT.

See you on TV!

Hala

Posted by: CNN Anchor, Hala Gorani
Filed under: Today At The I-Desk