CCS: CCS setting wrong somewhere as it constantly gives wrong number

Tool/software: Code Composer Studio

I have the following:

#include <msp430.h>
#include <string.h>
#include "test.h"


volatile uint rxCount = 0;
volatile char RXData[20], *rxMssg;
volatile uint timerb1_ISR_cntr = 0;

int main(void)
{
    char *mssg;
    unsigned int ATest;

    mssg = "ER_CMD#W?";
    rxMssg = &RXData[0];
    ATest = strlen(mssg);
    if (ATest == 19)
        LPM0;
    LPM3;
    WDTCTL = WDTPW | WDTHOLD;   // stop watchdog timer
    P2SEL1 |= (BIT6 | BIT7); P2SEL0 &= ~(BIT6 | BIT7); //LFXT
    PM5CTL0 &= ~LOCKLPM5;
    initClockTo16MHz();
    P1OUT = 0; P1DIR |= BIT0;

.....

If I remove the if (ATest ..... condition my Expressions window shows ATest = 0.  If I remove both if (ATest.... and LPM3 my Expressions window shows "identifier not found: ATest".  If I leave both in as seen I get the correct length ATest = 9.  I've changed my Compiler Optimizations as suggested to 0.  Can someone please tell me what is going on here?

Thanks