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CNN Live At Daybreak

Why Would Anyone Volunteer to Work in Iraq?; Israeli Police Storm Disputed Jerusalem Holy Site

Aired April 02, 2004 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A dangerous job and yet many are eager to do it. Why would anyone volunteer to work in Iraq?
Good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for April 2.

I'm Carol Costello.

We'll have more on the violence in Iraq in just a minute.

But first, the latest headlines for you.

NATO welcomes its newest members. Just a few hours ago, the flags of seven Eastern European nations were raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the first time.

There was a pretrial hearing in Michael Jackson's child molestation case out in California today. He will not be there, though. The pop star remains in Washington, where he was honored for helping to fight AIDS in Africa.

This was the scene in Hong Kong this morning. Police clashed with demonstrators against plans to give China more control over the territory.

And Israeli police storm a disputed Jerusalem holy site today after Palestinians threw stones at them.

We'll get to Chad in just a minute.

We want to go live now out to Chris Burns, who is in Jerusalem.

Can we do that right now?

This is breaking news.

Chris, tell us what's happening out there.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Carol.

There's been some stone throwing by some Palestinian youths on the disputed Temple Mount, or Haram esh-Sharif. Both are holy -- both -- it's a holy site for both religions, as a matter of fact. And today, Friday, is prayer day on the noble sanctuary for Muslims. And that is where some 200 Palestinian youths have taken into the al-Aksa mosque there on the Haram esh-Sharif.

And Israeli police say that they have gone into that grounds and fired stun grenades as well as rubber pellets to try to subdue the protesters who, at last, were continuing to throw rocks over the wall and down into the Jewish people who are -- Jewish people who are observing the Western Wall, worshipping at the Western Wall, which is just below that Temple Mount.

So, a rather tense situation. That, in part, believed to be because of the Israeli assassination of Sheikh Yassin, the Hamas leader in Gaza, about 10 days ago.

Also some action going on in Gaza itself. Israeli troops have gone into the Raffah area, going after tunnels they say are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza by the militants. At last word, there was one Palestinian civilian killed, according to Palestinian sources.

Also, there's some talk from Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, in some interviews published today and coming on Monday where he is quoted as saying that Yasser Arafat should not try to get an insurance policy. If he tries, if he is behind any killings of Jews, that Israel could go after him, as well as the head of the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. So another warning from the Israeli government to the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

There were talks yesterday among U.S. officials here, talking to Palestinians as well as the Israelis about this disengagement plan, this pullout plan that Mr. Sharon wants to do. There seems to be progress on that. There will be a summit between Mr. Sharon and President Bush in Washington on April 14 -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Chris Burns bringing us up to date on some developing news out of Israel, out of Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Now let's go to the forecast center and check in with Chad -- sorry about that, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: More violence in Iraq this morning, this time in Ba'qubah, north of Baghdad. Attackers ambushed an Iraqi police convoy, killing two officers and wounding five others. In the meantime, U.S. officials are vowing to hunt down those who killed Americans in Fallujah, dragging their bodies through the streets and hanging them from a bridge.

Our correspondent Walter Rodgers is live in Baghdad this morning to bring us up to date.

I know you can't get into Fallujah, Walter, but what do you think the mood is there right now?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If I were an Iraqi living in Fallujah, I would be more than a little concerned. The U.S. military has sent out a strict edict, if you will, a mandate representing the cold fury that the Americans feel about the killing of those four civilian contractors in Fallujah on Wednesday.

The Americans are saying we will come back in, we will take control of this town, it will be pacified, as other Iraqis cities, like Tikrit, were pacified in previous months. And it's very clear that the United States is fed up with the violence it sees there. The Marines will be going back in and General Mark Kimmitt said those responsible for the killing of those four contractors will be hunted down.

It's going to be a deliberate assault by the Marines. And, again, you wouldn't want to be living in Fallujah until the Marines have done their job, because they may even lock that place down -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Two other points I want to cover this morning, Walter.

First of all, military officials are going over videotapes to find out who desecrated those American bodies so that perhaps they can make some arrests. And secondly, they want Iraqis to help track down these killers.

Tell us about both of those points more this morning.

RODGERS: Well, what they're doing, as you pointed out, is they are looking at videotapes of those in the crowd, those crazed celebrants who jumped up and down and who were rejoicing at the deaths of the American contractors. What's important to remember, however, is that those are not the ones who actually perpetrated the crime. Those who actually attacked those two SUVs were hooded and masked gunmen. They came in, rolled hand grenades in and then sprayed the car with -- sprayed those cars with automatic weapons fire. Those are the ones that the Americans really want to hunt down.

So what they'll do is find some of the young people in that crowd jumping up and down. They'll track them down and then literally squeeze them, persuade them to talk about who did it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Coming up in the next half hour of DAYBREAK, more on the fallout from those Fallujah images. The U.S. promises to hunt down those responsible, the president's stance on Iraq now and the other powerful images that come to mind when we see life in a war zone played out on television.

We can help, but we're still voting to cut back oil production. That in a nutshell describes Saudi Arabia's offer to help keep gas prices down in the United States. As you know, OPEC voted to cut back oil production by a million barrels a day, and that may force gas prices here even higher. Saudi Arabia is one of OPEC's most influential members. The ambassador met with Condoleezza Rice, and that's when he offered to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What specifically we will do, you will see in the next few days weeks. But we are monitoring the market. And what is important for the audience to understand is that our policy is to keep it between $22 to $28. And we will not allow shortage of the market -- of oil in the market to increase the prices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: On the subject of Condoleezza Rice, next Thursday she will testify before the 9/11 Commission. Now we have word that on the day of the terror attacks, Rice had planned to deliver a national security speech that made absolutely no mention of the threats posed by Osama bin Laden or al Qaeda. But, the administration says what's important is what was being done to fight terrorism, not what was in a single speech. Democrats want the full text of that speech released.

The funeral of a ballad singer tops our look at Stories Across America this morning.

Thousands gathered last night at a church in suburban Los Angeles to pay final respects to Adan Sanchez. The 19-year-old ballad singer was killed in a car crash last week in Mexico. Sanchez had recorded nine CDs and was very popular in Mexico and in the United States. He was the son of singer Marcelino Chalino Sanchez.

Fire season getting an early start in Colorado. Families fleeing the foothills near Fort Collins. A 3,500 acre blaze there has destroyed a home and is now threatening 23 other structures.

Spring flooding in Massachusetts, where it has been raining for days. Flood warnings now posted for most of the state. A slow moving storm already has dumped three inches of rain on some areas. More expected today.

Oh, but Washington is in bloom. Of course it is. The 92nd Annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival. Yes, it's cherry blossom time.

Bill Prasad joins us live from the tidal basin, where it is absolutely beautiful.

BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is gorgeous.

Good morning, Carol.

I may not be dressed for spring, it may not feel exactly like spring. But based on all the colors that I see around me, it is definitely April in Washington, D.C.

About 3,500 trees are in full bloom, marking a long lasting tradition.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRASAD (voice-over): Almost a century of history renewed each spring in an explosion of life and color that frames the tidal basin in clusters of pink and white. It marks the beginning of spring in one of the most landscaped cities in Western world, attracting several hundred thousand visitors a year.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I like their whiteness and that they're so pretty.

PRASAD: In 1912, this gift from Japan symbolized friendship. But the fragrant canopy got off to a less than spectacular start.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first 3,000 trees they sent over were actually diseased. They had to be burned.

PRASAD: Healthy trees replaced the sick. Now a team of about 10 workers care for the national treasures all year. Exactly when the buds will open each spring is almost as hard to predict as a Senate race.

Robert Defeo is more than a budding prognosticator. Since 1941, he's been forecasting bloom periods.

ROBERT DEFEO, CHIEF HORTICULTURALIST: The care of the trees, we entrust that to the tree workers. And they do an excellent job.

PRASAD: It's one of this country's most cherished rites of spring -- joining two countries and a season with history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PRASAD: The trees will be in full bloom for about five more days. The average life span of the trees is about 60 years, so they're constantly replanting new ones, trying to keep a long lasting legacy alive.

So, Carol, at this point, you usually ask me a question. I have a question for you, considering that you used to live in this area.

COSTELLO: Oh, no.

PRASAD: What would happen if I reached behind me, what would happen if I reached behind me and broke off a branch?

MYERS: Don't.

COSTELLO: You would get arrested by the Park Police.

PRASAD: You know, that could happen. Also a fine of about $150. And I'd be forced to tell them that you were part of the conspiracy, so you would have to pick up part of the tab.

COSTELLO: That's just wrong, Bill. But fun.

Bill Prasad reporting live from the tidal basin out in Washington, D.C., right in front of the Jefferson Memorial.

MYERS: Do not touch them.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: Do not take a cutting for your home.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: No. You will not enjoy the rest of your day if you do.

Time to give away the mug today, Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, I'm excited.

MYERS: The mugs are gone. So we...

COSTELLO: No, someone stole our mugs again. What is it? You guys out there at CNN can't afford a $5 cup? OK...

MYERS: Go ahead. No, continue, please.

COSTELLO: The mug...

MYERS: Whatever you need.

All right, here's the question. On "Frontline," we had a documentary yesterday about the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. How many were actually killed in that state-sponsored massacre? Eight hundred thousand was the number. And Kelli Arena had the report on the terrorist screening center. How many now new terrorists on the watch list? Fifty five thousand is the answer.

And the winner goes to Claudia Graham of Raleigh, North Carolina. From Raleighwood goes one of the mugs. We'll have to go buy more, but we know where we got them.

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: Claudia, have a great day.

COSTELLO: Congratulations, Claudia.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: And, of course, the next contest questions come up at 6:50 Eastern time.

MYERS: Yes, pay attention.

COSTELLO: You know, we're very excited this morning to have a special guest. She'll be joining us for our Eight Weeks To A Better Body series this morning. None other than fitness guru Denise Austin.

Good morning, Denise.

DENISE AUSTIN: Good morning!

MYERS: Oh, she's awake! AUSTIN: I'm going to show you some easy exercises that you can do to relax your neck and shoulders. This area is filled with tension when you're sitting there at the office. So I want to show you some easy ways to relax your neck. And all it is is an easy stretch that everyone can do. A muscle will stay in a state of tension unless there is a change of activity. So move your shoulders every day at the office to really reduce some of that pent up tension in your neck and shoulders.

And good posture is very important. It's the key to a flat tummy, as well as relaxed shoulders. Also, bring your chin to your chest, sitting up nice and tall. Come on you guys. Come on, Carol.

COSTELLO: OK.

AUSTIN: Stretch the back of your neck, where a lot of tension builds. And then relax. See, that way you feel good. And take three deep breaths to get that oxygen flowing.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Denise.

You're going to be joining us with more and I never want hear again...

AUSTIN: Yes, tummy tips.

COSTELLO: Tummy tips. We like that.

MYERS: Oh.

COSTELLO: I never want to hear again that I'm perky, because she takes the perky award.

MYERS: She is. She's awake.

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: Decaf. Decaf, please.

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK...

AUSTIN: Come on, guys.

COSTELLO: We'll get back to Denise in a minute.

Also ahead...

MYERS: She makes me tired looking at her.

COSTELLO: I know.

Also ahead on DAYBREAK, honored for a humanitarian award, but he's also a defendant. The case against Michael Jackson. More on today's grand jury proceedings coming up in Coffey Talk.

Also, countdown to a championship. We'll take a look at who's playing in the final four. Who do you think will win?

MYERS: Duke.

COSTELLO: And when pigs fly, right? Well, it turns out this one can.

This is DAYBREAK for April 2.

MYERS: Here piggy, piggy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 6:17 Eastern.

Here's what's new this morning.

Israeli police use stun guns to stop Palestinian protesters from throwing stones at them. The disturbance happened outside an Islamic holy site in Jerusalem.

Seven East European nations join NATO in a flag raising ceremony at the alliance headquarters in Brussels. The nations were in the old Soviet Bloc.

New figures show the extent of child abuse in the United States. The Health and Human Services Department says nearly 900,000 children were neglected or abused in 2002. Fourteen hundred died.

In money news, you won't be getting those cow spotted boxes at Gateway stores anymore. The money losing computer maker will close all 188 of its stores next week and eliminate 2,500 jobs.

In sports, college basketball fans are psyched for tomorrow's final four in San Antonio. Duke takes on the University of Connecticut, while Georgia Tech faces Oklahoma State.

In culture, Homer, Marge and Moe have been skipping work in a pay dispute with Fox. The actors who voiced "The Simpsons" now get $125,000 per episode. They want $360,000 per episode.

MYERS: That would be nice.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: And those are the latest headlines.

Michael Jackson is certainly making himself known in Washington. He's visited members of Congress, at least those who would agree to see him. And now he has an award. He was honored for his work in raising awareness and funds to fight AIDS in Africa. The ceremony took place at the Ethiopian embassy.

And while Jackson tours Washington, a grand jury out in California continues to determine whether there is enough evidence to try Jackson on child molestation charges. Bizarre, or is it?

Time for some Coffey Talk.

Our legal analyst Kendall Coffey on the phone with us this morning -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, some of the video that was shot in Washington of Michael Jackson's tour is just rather strange. He inappropriately blows kisses to the audience. He claps at inappropriate times.

What is up with him?

COFFEY: Well, he's incredibly strange and, of course, stranger than this is the fact that he's admitted on national television a couple of times that he thinks it's way OK for an adult to be basically putting under aged children in his own private bedroom.

What the defense strategy is going to be is to somehow take the strangeness, not make it part of, obviously, the prosecution's profile of a sexual predator, but find some way to portray him as a generous kind of maybe kind of crazy philanthropic guy whose eccentricities are consistent with the thesis of innocence and not the profile of a child molester.

COSTELLO: Well, I can understand that strategy, Kendall. But some of his behavior was frankly quite bizarre. I mean I know that when you're facing trial for something like this, or you may face trial for something like this, it has to take a heavy emotional toll on you.

COFFEY: Well, and you see that sometimes with criminal defendants whose actions are under a microscope. They are responding not to what their lawyers or even their press agents say. They are going through an incredible amount of stress, deserved or not, and that can also, just their own emotional reactions to the ordeal can also account for some of the bizarre behavior you're going to see.

COSTELLO: So, if his behavior continues to get ever more bizarre, I mean what about the insanity defense?

COFFEY: It is so difficult, Carol. Even people that are mentally ill, even people that are mentally abnormal almost never can make a successful insanity defense, because it's defined so limited in its terms. You've got to basically be unable to distinguish right from wrong in California, or unable to know the nature, quality of what you're doing. It is so uphill that maybe one percent of cases ever turn into a successful insanity defense.

I don't think that's where he's going in this instance.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

Food for thought this morning. Kendall Coffey live on the phone.

Thank you for joining DAYBREAK.

COFFEY: Hey, thanks.

COSTELLO: We'll be back with much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.

You know, we get a lot of interesting e-mails from our viewers, who are very funny and very smart. And we had to read one because it made us laugh.

MYERS: Some are funnier than others. Yes, from Paul in Wexford, Pennsylvania. We talked about yesterday about how these, that Joey Tribbiani and the lovely actress from "The Sopranos" are going to get together and make a new sitcom. But you guys, a new sitcom built by this guy, by Paul, surrounded by whacky neighbors, like Carville and Carlson, the two college buddies divorced, kind of like "The Odd Couple," I'm assuming, because they're forced to move in because they need to save money. And then that guy named Uncle Wolf, he lives with us, too, or at least maybe upstairs. How about that? In a different apartment. He gives us both unsolicited advice on careers.

And, of course, we have to have our landlord, Lou Dobbs. Also, a mysterious Anderson Cooper lives below you.

COSTELLO: But we would be the stars of it.

MYERS: For more on that...

COSTELLO: We would be the stars of the sitcom, Carol and Chad and -- we hope it sells.

MYERS: I'd love to do a sitcom. I really would. I think it would be a blast.

COSTELLO: Yes.

Hey, let's talk to Denise Austin again, because she is joining us on DAYBREAK as part of our Eight Weeks To A Better Body series.

MYERS: I have been doing my thumb exercises all day.

COSTELLO: Not good enough, is it, Denise?

MYERS: Denise...

AUSTIN: I've got some great tummy tips. Here's a great one. It's an isometric exercise. When you're sitting at the office, tone and tighten up your tummy for five seconds and that's equivalent to a sit-up. What you do is you pull your tummy in and then you tighten up the abs, contract the abdominals, hold that for five seconds and then relax. And there you've done a sit-up just like this.

And here's another great one you can do right at the office. Pull your knees in and down. This is a great one for the lower tummy, to work around that belly button, right where we need that extra help.

So do a couple of these and you'll feel the difference. Also, it helps to relax your back, too. A strong abdominals, a good core helps to support the spine.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Denise.

We'll get back with more tips and I'll force Chad to...

AUSTIN: Keep it up. Come on. Keep going.

COSTELLO: Is it working, Chad?

MYERS: It is.

COSTELLO: Oh, good.

OK, thank you, Denise.

MYERS: It's going good.

AUSTIN: Suck it in.

COSTELLO: We'll get back to you.

AUSTIN: OK.

COSTELLO: As I said, Denise will join us with more workout advice in longer form in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

And final four frenzy -- if you haven't been following the big dance, here's your chance to learn all about the teams duking it out for a shot at the championship.

And a surprise ending. A group of nuns watch "The Passion" with a special guest.

MYERS: Wow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 2, 2004 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A dangerous job and yet many are eager to do it. Why would anyone volunteer to work in Iraq?
Good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for April 2.

I'm Carol Costello.

We'll have more on the violence in Iraq in just a minute.

But first, the latest headlines for you.

NATO welcomes its newest members. Just a few hours ago, the flags of seven Eastern European nations were raised at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the first time.

There was a pretrial hearing in Michael Jackson's child molestation case out in California today. He will not be there, though. The pop star remains in Washington, where he was honored for helping to fight AIDS in Africa.

This was the scene in Hong Kong this morning. Police clashed with demonstrators against plans to give China more control over the territory.

And Israeli police storm a disputed Jerusalem holy site today after Palestinians threw stones at them.

We'll get to Chad in just a minute.

We want to go live now out to Chris Burns, who is in Jerusalem.

Can we do that right now?

This is breaking news.

Chris, tell us what's happening out there.

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello, Carol.

There's been some stone throwing by some Palestinian youths on the disputed Temple Mount, or Haram esh-Sharif. Both are holy -- both -- it's a holy site for both religions, as a matter of fact. And today, Friday, is prayer day on the noble sanctuary for Muslims. And that is where some 200 Palestinian youths have taken into the al-Aksa mosque there on the Haram esh-Sharif.

And Israeli police say that they have gone into that grounds and fired stun grenades as well as rubber pellets to try to subdue the protesters who, at last, were continuing to throw rocks over the wall and down into the Jewish people who are -- Jewish people who are observing the Western Wall, worshipping at the Western Wall, which is just below that Temple Mount.

So, a rather tense situation. That, in part, believed to be because of the Israeli assassination of Sheikh Yassin, the Hamas leader in Gaza, about 10 days ago.

Also some action going on in Gaza itself. Israeli troops have gone into the Raffah area, going after tunnels they say are used to smuggle weapons into Gaza by the militants. At last word, there was one Palestinian civilian killed, according to Palestinian sources.

Also, there's some talk from Ariel Sharon, the Israeli prime minister, in some interviews published today and coming on Monday where he is quoted as saying that Yasser Arafat should not try to get an insurance policy. If he tries, if he is behind any killings of Jews, that Israel could go after him, as well as the head of the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. So another warning from the Israeli government to the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat.

There were talks yesterday among U.S. officials here, talking to Palestinians as well as the Israelis about this disengagement plan, this pullout plan that Mr. Sharon wants to do. There seems to be progress on that. There will be a summit between Mr. Sharon and President Bush in Washington on April 14 -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, Chris Burns bringing us up to date on some developing news out of Israel, out of Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Now let's go to the forecast center and check in with Chad -- sorry about that, Chad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: More violence in Iraq this morning, this time in Ba'qubah, north of Baghdad. Attackers ambushed an Iraqi police convoy, killing two officers and wounding five others. In the meantime, U.S. officials are vowing to hunt down those who killed Americans in Fallujah, dragging their bodies through the streets and hanging them from a bridge.

Our correspondent Walter Rodgers is live in Baghdad this morning to bring us up to date.

I know you can't get into Fallujah, Walter, but what do you think the mood is there right now?

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If I were an Iraqi living in Fallujah, I would be more than a little concerned. The U.S. military has sent out a strict edict, if you will, a mandate representing the cold fury that the Americans feel about the killing of those four civilian contractors in Fallujah on Wednesday.

The Americans are saying we will come back in, we will take control of this town, it will be pacified, as other Iraqis cities, like Tikrit, were pacified in previous months. And it's very clear that the United States is fed up with the violence it sees there. The Marines will be going back in and General Mark Kimmitt said those responsible for the killing of those four contractors will be hunted down.

It's going to be a deliberate assault by the Marines. And, again, you wouldn't want to be living in Fallujah until the Marines have done their job, because they may even lock that place down -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Two other points I want to cover this morning, Walter.

First of all, military officials are going over videotapes to find out who desecrated those American bodies so that perhaps they can make some arrests. And secondly, they want Iraqis to help track down these killers.

Tell us about both of those points more this morning.

RODGERS: Well, what they're doing, as you pointed out, is they are looking at videotapes of those in the crowd, those crazed celebrants who jumped up and down and who were rejoicing at the deaths of the American contractors. What's important to remember, however, is that those are not the ones who actually perpetrated the crime. Those who actually attacked those two SUVs were hooded and masked gunmen. They came in, rolled hand grenades in and then sprayed the car with -- sprayed those cars with automatic weapons fire. Those are the ones that the Americans really want to hunt down.

So what they'll do is find some of the young people in that crowd jumping up and down. They'll track them down and then literally squeeze them, persuade them to talk about who did it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Walter Rodgers reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Coming up in the next half hour of DAYBREAK, more on the fallout from those Fallujah images. The U.S. promises to hunt down those responsible, the president's stance on Iraq now and the other powerful images that come to mind when we see life in a war zone played out on television.

We can help, but we're still voting to cut back oil production. That in a nutshell describes Saudi Arabia's offer to help keep gas prices down in the United States. As you know, OPEC voted to cut back oil production by a million barrels a day, and that may force gas prices here even higher. Saudi Arabia is one of OPEC's most influential members. The ambassador met with Condoleezza Rice, and that's when he offered to help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What specifically we will do, you will see in the next few days weeks. But we are monitoring the market. And what is important for the audience to understand is that our policy is to keep it between $22 to $28. And we will not allow shortage of the market -- of oil in the market to increase the prices.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: On the subject of Condoleezza Rice, next Thursday she will testify before the 9/11 Commission. Now we have word that on the day of the terror attacks, Rice had planned to deliver a national security speech that made absolutely no mention of the threats posed by Osama bin Laden or al Qaeda. But, the administration says what's important is what was being done to fight terrorism, not what was in a single speech. Democrats want the full text of that speech released.

The funeral of a ballad singer tops our look at Stories Across America this morning.

Thousands gathered last night at a church in suburban Los Angeles to pay final respects to Adan Sanchez. The 19-year-old ballad singer was killed in a car crash last week in Mexico. Sanchez had recorded nine CDs and was very popular in Mexico and in the United States. He was the son of singer Marcelino Chalino Sanchez.

Fire season getting an early start in Colorado. Families fleeing the foothills near Fort Collins. A 3,500 acre blaze there has destroyed a home and is now threatening 23 other structures.

Spring flooding in Massachusetts, where it has been raining for days. Flood warnings now posted for most of the state. A slow moving storm already has dumped three inches of rain on some areas. More expected today.

Oh, but Washington is in bloom. Of course it is. The 92nd Annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival. Yes, it's cherry blossom time.

Bill Prasad joins us live from the tidal basin, where it is absolutely beautiful.

BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is gorgeous.

Good morning, Carol.

I may not be dressed for spring, it may not feel exactly like spring. But based on all the colors that I see around me, it is definitely April in Washington, D.C.

About 3,500 trees are in full bloom, marking a long lasting tradition.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRASAD (voice-over): Almost a century of history renewed each spring in an explosion of life and color that frames the tidal basin in clusters of pink and white. It marks the beginning of spring in one of the most landscaped cities in Western world, attracting several hundred thousand visitors a year.

UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: I like their whiteness and that they're so pretty.

PRASAD: In 1912, this gift from Japan symbolized friendship. But the fragrant canopy got off to a less than spectacular start.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first 3,000 trees they sent over were actually diseased. They had to be burned.

PRASAD: Healthy trees replaced the sick. Now a team of about 10 workers care for the national treasures all year. Exactly when the buds will open each spring is almost as hard to predict as a Senate race.

Robert Defeo is more than a budding prognosticator. Since 1941, he's been forecasting bloom periods.

ROBERT DEFEO, CHIEF HORTICULTURALIST: The care of the trees, we entrust that to the tree workers. And they do an excellent job.

PRASAD: It's one of this country's most cherished rites of spring -- joining two countries and a season with history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PRASAD: The trees will be in full bloom for about five more days. The average life span of the trees is about 60 years, so they're constantly replanting new ones, trying to keep a long lasting legacy alive.

So, Carol, at this point, you usually ask me a question. I have a question for you, considering that you used to live in this area.

COSTELLO: Oh, no.

PRASAD: What would happen if I reached behind me, what would happen if I reached behind me and broke off a branch?

MYERS: Don't.

COSTELLO: You would get arrested by the Park Police.

PRASAD: You know, that could happen. Also a fine of about $150. And I'd be forced to tell them that you were part of the conspiracy, so you would have to pick up part of the tab.

COSTELLO: That's just wrong, Bill. But fun.

Bill Prasad reporting live from the tidal basin out in Washington, D.C., right in front of the Jefferson Memorial.

MYERS: Do not touch them.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: Do not take a cutting for your home.

COSTELLO: No.

MYERS: No. You will not enjoy the rest of your day if you do.

Time to give away the mug today, Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, I'm excited.

MYERS: The mugs are gone. So we...

COSTELLO: No, someone stole our mugs again. What is it? You guys out there at CNN can't afford a $5 cup? OK...

MYERS: Go ahead. No, continue, please.

COSTELLO: The mug...

MYERS: Whatever you need.

All right, here's the question. On "Frontline," we had a documentary yesterday about the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide. How many were actually killed in that state-sponsored massacre? Eight hundred thousand was the number. And Kelli Arena had the report on the terrorist screening center. How many now new terrorists on the watch list? Fifty five thousand is the answer.

And the winner goes to Claudia Graham of Raleigh, North Carolina. From Raleighwood goes one of the mugs. We'll have to go buy more, but we know where we got them.

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: Claudia, have a great day.

COSTELLO: Congratulations, Claudia.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: And, of course, the next contest questions come up at 6:50 Eastern time.

MYERS: Yes, pay attention.

COSTELLO: You know, we're very excited this morning to have a special guest. She'll be joining us for our Eight Weeks To A Better Body series this morning. None other than fitness guru Denise Austin.

Good morning, Denise.

DENISE AUSTIN: Good morning!

MYERS: Oh, she's awake! AUSTIN: I'm going to show you some easy exercises that you can do to relax your neck and shoulders. This area is filled with tension when you're sitting there at the office. So I want to show you some easy ways to relax your neck. And all it is is an easy stretch that everyone can do. A muscle will stay in a state of tension unless there is a change of activity. So move your shoulders every day at the office to really reduce some of that pent up tension in your neck and shoulders.

And good posture is very important. It's the key to a flat tummy, as well as relaxed shoulders. Also, bring your chin to your chest, sitting up nice and tall. Come on you guys. Come on, Carol.

COSTELLO: OK.

AUSTIN: Stretch the back of your neck, where a lot of tension builds. And then relax. See, that way you feel good. And take three deep breaths to get that oxygen flowing.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Denise.

You're going to be joining us with more and I never want hear again...

AUSTIN: Yes, tummy tips.

COSTELLO: Tummy tips. We like that.

MYERS: Oh.

COSTELLO: I never want to hear again that I'm perky, because she takes the perky award.

MYERS: She is. She's awake.

COSTELLO: That's right.

MYERS: Decaf. Decaf, please.

COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK...

AUSTIN: Come on, guys.

COSTELLO: We'll get back to Denise in a minute.

Also ahead...

MYERS: She makes me tired looking at her.

COSTELLO: I know.

Also ahead on DAYBREAK, honored for a humanitarian award, but he's also a defendant. The case against Michael Jackson. More on today's grand jury proceedings coming up in Coffey Talk.

Also, countdown to a championship. We'll take a look at who's playing in the final four. Who do you think will win?

MYERS: Duke.

COSTELLO: And when pigs fly, right? Well, it turns out this one can.

This is DAYBREAK for April 2.

MYERS: Here piggy, piggy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 6:17 Eastern.

Here's what's new this morning.

Israeli police use stun guns to stop Palestinian protesters from throwing stones at them. The disturbance happened outside an Islamic holy site in Jerusalem.

Seven East European nations join NATO in a flag raising ceremony at the alliance headquarters in Brussels. The nations were in the old Soviet Bloc.

New figures show the extent of child abuse in the United States. The Health and Human Services Department says nearly 900,000 children were neglected or abused in 2002. Fourteen hundred died.

In money news, you won't be getting those cow spotted boxes at Gateway stores anymore. The money losing computer maker will close all 188 of its stores next week and eliminate 2,500 jobs.

In sports, college basketball fans are psyched for tomorrow's final four in San Antonio. Duke takes on the University of Connecticut, while Georgia Tech faces Oklahoma State.

In culture, Homer, Marge and Moe have been skipping work in a pay dispute with Fox. The actors who voiced "The Simpsons" now get $125,000 per episode. They want $360,000 per episode.

MYERS: That would be nice.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: And those are the latest headlines.

Michael Jackson is certainly making himself known in Washington. He's visited members of Congress, at least those who would agree to see him. And now he has an award. He was honored for his work in raising awareness and funds to fight AIDS in Africa. The ceremony took place at the Ethiopian embassy.

And while Jackson tours Washington, a grand jury out in California continues to determine whether there is enough evidence to try Jackson on child molestation charges. Bizarre, or is it?

Time for some Coffey Talk.

Our legal analyst Kendall Coffey on the phone with us this morning -- good morning, Kendall.

KENDALL COFFEY, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Hey, good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: You know, some of the video that was shot in Washington of Michael Jackson's tour is just rather strange. He inappropriately blows kisses to the audience. He claps at inappropriate times.

What is up with him?

COFFEY: Well, he's incredibly strange and, of course, stranger than this is the fact that he's admitted on national television a couple of times that he thinks it's way OK for an adult to be basically putting under aged children in his own private bedroom.

What the defense strategy is going to be is to somehow take the strangeness, not make it part of, obviously, the prosecution's profile of a sexual predator, but find some way to portray him as a generous kind of maybe kind of crazy philanthropic guy whose eccentricities are consistent with the thesis of innocence and not the profile of a child molester.

COSTELLO: Well, I can understand that strategy, Kendall. But some of his behavior was frankly quite bizarre. I mean I know that when you're facing trial for something like this, or you may face trial for something like this, it has to take a heavy emotional toll on you.

COFFEY: Well, and you see that sometimes with criminal defendants whose actions are under a microscope. They are responding not to what their lawyers or even their press agents say. They are going through an incredible amount of stress, deserved or not, and that can also, just their own emotional reactions to the ordeal can also account for some of the bizarre behavior you're going to see.

COSTELLO: So, if his behavior continues to get ever more bizarre, I mean what about the insanity defense?

COFFEY: It is so difficult, Carol. Even people that are mentally ill, even people that are mentally abnormal almost never can make a successful insanity defense, because it's defined so limited in its terms. You've got to basically be unable to distinguish right from wrong in California, or unable to know the nature, quality of what you're doing. It is so uphill that maybe one percent of cases ever turn into a successful insanity defense.

I don't think that's where he's going in this instance.

COSTELLO: Interesting.

Food for thought this morning. Kendall Coffey live on the phone.

Thank you for joining DAYBREAK.

COFFEY: Hey, thanks.

COSTELLO: We'll be back with much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.

You know, we get a lot of interesting e-mails from our viewers, who are very funny and very smart. And we had to read one because it made us laugh.

MYERS: Some are funnier than others. Yes, from Paul in Wexford, Pennsylvania. We talked about yesterday about how these, that Joey Tribbiani and the lovely actress from "The Sopranos" are going to get together and make a new sitcom. But you guys, a new sitcom built by this guy, by Paul, surrounded by whacky neighbors, like Carville and Carlson, the two college buddies divorced, kind of like "The Odd Couple," I'm assuming, because they're forced to move in because they need to save money. And then that guy named Uncle Wolf, he lives with us, too, or at least maybe upstairs. How about that? In a different apartment. He gives us both unsolicited advice on careers.

And, of course, we have to have our landlord, Lou Dobbs. Also, a mysterious Anderson Cooper lives below you.

COSTELLO: But we would be the stars of it.

MYERS: For more on that...

COSTELLO: We would be the stars of the sitcom, Carol and Chad and -- we hope it sells.

MYERS: I'd love to do a sitcom. I really would. I think it would be a blast.

COSTELLO: Yes.

Hey, let's talk to Denise Austin again, because she is joining us on DAYBREAK as part of our Eight Weeks To A Better Body series.

MYERS: I have been doing my thumb exercises all day.

COSTELLO: Not good enough, is it, Denise?

MYERS: Denise...

AUSTIN: I've got some great tummy tips. Here's a great one. It's an isometric exercise. When you're sitting at the office, tone and tighten up your tummy for five seconds and that's equivalent to a sit-up. What you do is you pull your tummy in and then you tighten up the abs, contract the abdominals, hold that for five seconds and then relax. And there you've done a sit-up just like this.

And here's another great one you can do right at the office. Pull your knees in and down. This is a great one for the lower tummy, to work around that belly button, right where we need that extra help.

So do a couple of these and you'll feel the difference. Also, it helps to relax your back, too. A strong abdominals, a good core helps to support the spine.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Denise.

We'll get back with more tips and I'll force Chad to...

AUSTIN: Keep it up. Come on. Keep going.

COSTELLO: Is it working, Chad?

MYERS: It is.

COSTELLO: Oh, good.

OK, thank you, Denise.

MYERS: It's going good.

AUSTIN: Suck it in.

COSTELLO: We'll get back to you.

AUSTIN: OK.

COSTELLO: As I said, Denise will join us with more workout advice in longer form in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

And final four frenzy -- if you haven't been following the big dance, here's your chance to learn all about the teams duking it out for a shot at the championship.

And a surprise ending. A group of nuns watch "The Passion" with a special guest.

MYERS: Wow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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