“This Week with Christiane Amanpour” debuted this morning on ABC with the veteran foreign correspondent telling viewers, “After 20 years covering the world, the story in this country is turning into one of the most fascinating.”

The headline from Amanpour’s two headliner guests, Secy. Robert Gates and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, both pre-taped on Friday to accommodate their schedules, was their disagreement on the pace of U.S. troops leaving Afghanistan.

While the host was new, the round-table consisted of three familiar names: George Will, Donna Brazile and Paul Krugman and a new face who fit with Amanpour’s goal of giving the show a more outside-the-beltway feel: from Madrid, Amanpour welcomed Ahmed Rashid, who was billed as “the world authority on the Taliban.” The opening voice-over also featured a new tagline featuring the global focus: “From all across our world to the heart of our nation’s capitol.”

There was new music from trumpeter Chris Botti and a new show open and set backdrop, changing out the blue “This Week” logo with a map of the world in red. The Sunday funnies remained.

Following this morning’s show Amanpour told TVNewser, “It’s great to finally be underway, and I’m so pleased to have had two great first guests and a wonderful round table. I’m excited about having this platform to explore the issues that affect Americans. I want to open the window on the world to help with the understanding of all of the global challenges out there.” Amanpour’s opening welcome after the jump…

Did you watch? If so, what did you think?

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Amanpour, as mentioned here before, will be commuting from new York to Washington for the program. With a husband (Jamie Rubin) who teaches at Columbia University and a 10-year old son at home, “they’re not planning to scout out D.C. real estate anytime soon.”

A rough routine? She’s joked to colleagues that it’s not such a big deal: When she first met Rubin, the Clinton-era State Department spokesman, she had to commute to Washington from Bosnia.

Also revealed: “This Week” is getting new theme music courtesy of trumpeter Chris Botti… who just happens to be the ex-boyfriend of “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric.

Amanpour discussed the program on the ABC/Washington Post web series “Top Line.”

Video of her appearance is after the jump.

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