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CNN Live At Daybreak

Indonesia Votes; Verdict: Insanity; Political Pitches; Mission in Iraq

Aired April 05, 2004 - 05:33   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: Could Jakarta be the next Madrid? They are electing a new parliament today in Indonesia and security is tight at polling places across that sprawling nation. Police had warned that separatists or Islamic militants might try to dispute or disrupt the voting.
Let's head live to Jakarta now and Maria Ressa.

How are things going now -- Maria?

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are going quite (ph) well, as with two al Qaeda funded attacks here in San Mons (ph), there was a concern that al Qaeda linkage would try to disrupt the elections. They have gone peacefully so far. Nearly 300,000 police officers have been deployed across the world's largest architelevoted (ph) protecting polling booths.

Interestingly enough, while security is a concern, the war on terror was rarely mentioned by the political candidates, partly because they said they didn't want to be seen as a lackey of the United States. Still, if you ask people on the streets are they afraid of a terrorist attack, what they will tell you that they were far more afraid of the logistics of this very, very ambitious electoral exercise.

More than 147 million people voting today. This is the largest number to vote worldwide in a single day. In addition to (INAUDIBLE) it's the very first time Indonesians are voting directly for their candidate, in addition to political parties. If Indonesia can consolidate its democracy, it can prove, according to many analysts here, that democracy and Islam can go hand in hand.

Back to you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Maria Ressa live from Jakarta, Indonesia this morning.

History may have played a role in President Bush's decision to let National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice testify in public, under oath before the 9/11 panel. The commission chief faxed this picture you are looking at to the White House to show there is a historical precedent. The picture shows Admiral William Leahy, White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, appearing before a special congressional panel investigating the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Now after receiving this picture, the White House agreed to let Rice testify.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: I don't think it's a total coincidence that one followed so closely on the other. I don't think that the photograph alone would have been convincing for a White House.

I do think that the White House was getting its own reading of public opinion and of the political environment up on Capitol Hill where many, many Republicans were privately, as well as a few publicly, urging the White House to have Dr. Rice testify.

I think it may well be that the -- that the photograph is a kind of thing that you can waive around in a meeting and say this is what's going to happen to us. We're going to get blasted on this. This is graphic evidence of what can happen to us. It's only right around the corner. We've got to move. It's ammunition that can make a difference. I doubt -- I don't think it would be decisive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: In the meantime, Senator John Kerry is opening a new front in his fight for the White House.

By the way, Condoleezza Rice testifies on Thursday before the 9/11 Commission at 9:00 Eastern Time in the morning. And of course CNN will carry that live.

Let's go back to John Kerry now. He is focusing on the economy and the soaring federal deficit. Kerry's campaign will release a report accusing President Bush of running up a spending bill that will increase the budget deficit by $6 trillion over the next 10 years alone. A key Kerry aide says Bush is spending recklessly, "like a drunken sailor." That's a quote.

The Jayson Williams trial tops our look at stories making news 'Across America' this Monday. Defense attorneys may ask for an immediate acquittal at a hearing today. The hearing comes after the prosecution revealed evidence concerning the murder weapon that had not been turned over to the defense. Defense attorneys claim the omission damaged Williams' chance for a fair trial.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for today stemming from that brawl in the bullpen at Fenway Park last year. Of course that happened during the American League Championship series. Groundskeeper Paul Williams Jr. will appear in court today. He is being counter sued for assault by former Yankee's pitcher Jeff Nelson.

Jury selection expected to resume this morning in the Scott Peterson case. After the first six days of jury selection, only 15 potential jurors have made it through the initial questioning process. The judge is hoping to get as many as 80 perspective jurors before the final jury selection. That is scheduled for May 13.

A Texas woman could learn tomorrow if she will be committed to a mental institution and which one. Deanna Laney was found innocent by reason of insanity in the bludgeoning deaths of two of her sons. Reporter Rebecca Aguilar of CNN Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate KDFW visited the church Laney attended.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REV. GARY BELL, CHURCH PASTOR: As far as the church, we are poised and ready to move forward.

REBECCA AGUILAR, KDFW-TV REPORTER (voice-over): At the First Assembly of God church in Tyler, Pastor Gary Bell preached about standing tall with God's strength.

BELL: Our faith is unshaken in this.

AGUILAR: On his mind, possibly his own sister-in-law, Deanna Laney. A jury found her legally insane Saturday for stoning her two sons to death and injuring another son last Mother's Day weekend.

BELL: I have to have faith that it was the proper verdict that was passed down and probably the best verdict for all parties involved.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Find the defendant, Deanna Laney, not guilty by reason of insanity.

AGUILAR: Saturday, Laney cried as the verdict was read. Her husband, Keith, sat with his head down. A few jurors were seen crying. For some Tyler residents, the jury's decision was the wrong one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was sane. And the reason why I'm confident in saying it is because her testimony, some the things that she said, if she was insane, she wouldn't knew to do some of the things like she said hid the rock.

AGUILAR: Back at Laney's church, members say now is not the time to give up on the troubled mother.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are satisfied with how the outcome and we're just pleased with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's such a sad story. It's a little difficult, you know, but that's when you faith comes in.

AGUILAR (on camera): Laney will be back to the Smith County Courthouse on Tuesday, that's when she'll find out when she will be transferred from jail to a state mental hospital. State law allows Laney to be committed to a maximum-security state mental hospital where she can get psychiatric help.

(voice-over): Doctors are expected to evaluate Laney's current mental condition and decide if she will go to a state mental hospital. And if she is committed, doctors will also decide when she is well enough to go free.

Rebecca Aguilar, Fox 4 News. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Fighting in Fallujah and a presidential campaign by the numbers. Our morning guy and our good friend Jimmy Barrett is on the phone from WRVA News Radio in Richmond, Virginia.

Good morning -- Jimmy.

JIMMY BARRETT, 1140 WRVA RADIO MORNING SHOW: Hi -- Carol.

COSTELLO: How are you?

BARRETT: I'm fine. How was your weekend?

COSTELLO: My weekend was terrific. And yours?

BARRETT: I am suffering from Daylight Savings Time syndrome this morning.

COSTELLO: Did you arrive at work an hour early?

BARRETT: No, I did not, but my body is an hour behind what's going on, that's for sure.

COSTELLO: Isn't it strange how that happens?

BARRETT: It is bizarre, although I am a proponent, by the way, for the record, for Daylight Savings Time year round.

COSTELLO: I would like that, too, if I worked a different shift. But since you know I like it to get darker as early as possible so I can sleep.

BARRETT: So you can go to sleep, huh?

COSTELLO: Exactly.

Hey, wanted to talk about Fallujah because that's happening right now. Apparently Operation Vigilant Resolve has begun. Explosions have been heard within the city. What are your listener's reaction this morning to that?

BARRETT: Well I would think they would expect a big crack down after the violence that we have seen there. Certainly I don't see any other way but to do that. They are going to have to round up -- I'm assuming, also, that they have managed to gather some intelligence that tells them who it is exactly that they are looking for. But unless they can round up some of these insurgents, we are just in for day after day after day of bloody battles there.

COSTELLO: Well, you know, it seems like they can never catch the people responsible for even the roadside bombs that happen pretty much on a daily basis within Iraq.

BARRETT: Well the question is how many people are responsible? How many people are going to have to be rounded up? I'm assuming that we're going to have to round up a few of these clerics as well that have been, you know, big proponents of violence. We have already shut down some of the media outlets. As much of a free speech lover as I am, I don't know where we have any other choice but to do that.

COSTELLO: Well I know in Baghdad's Sadr City they have taken into custody the assistant to the Shiite cleric there and that spawned violent protests. And there are U.S. military helicopters flying over Baghdad's Sadr City at this time as well.

BARRETT: Well I think you've probably noticed as well that with some of this crack down we're already seeing some of those -- some of these clerics come back out and say well that's enough striking, that's enough protesting, let's back off from this. And I think that's probably exactly what the United States is looking for in this situation.

COSTELLO: I'm sure the United States is hoping for that.

Let's talk about politics for just a bit, because a lot came out on the Sunday morning talk shows, including words about the 9/11 Commission. Condoleezza Rice due to take the stand, so to speak, on Thursday.

BARRETT: Well hang on, why are you putting that in quotes? I saw -- I see you over there. I see you putting that in quotes.

COSTELLO: No -- I just couldn't think of a better word.

BARRETT: OK, I thought maybe you were being a smart aleck.

COSTELLO: No, no, no. Did you -- do you want us to go on a delay system? Did you say a nasty word?

BARRETT: No, I would never do that. First of all, I don't know any nasty words. And second of all, my mother might be listening to this broadcast.

COSTELLO: Exactly, so watch your wording.

Well let's go back to Condoleezza Rice. She's going to be before the 9/11 Commission on Thursday. How do you think it will go?

BARRETT: I think it will go just fine. I don't look for any great revelations from Condoleezza Rice. I don't expect her to say a whole lot more than what we have already heard. I think I just don't think this is going to be a huge deal.

Now I did note with interest over the weekend that the 9/11 Commission says its findings are going to be surprising and helpful. Well, have we really heard anything so far that we have found to be surprising or that would lead us to believe that the September the 11th Commission is going to come out with some sort of a surprising suggestion about what needs to be done other than to improve our intelligence capability?

COSTELLO: Well we'll see what she has to say before the 9/11 Commission on Thursday.

Jimmy Barrett from WRVA Radio, it's a pleasure, as always.

DAYBREAK will return in just a bit with much more. You stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We want to take you back to Iraq now for the latest on the new Operation Vigilant Resolve. That operation has begun in Fallujah.

Walter Rodgers is live in Baghdad this morning.

Walter, before you begin, I'm just getting word that a U.S. Marine has been killed in the fighting around Fallujah and this happened earlier this morning. This is according to the Coalition Press Information Center.

I know you probably don't know much about that right now, but you can tell us what's happening now around Fallujah.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Fallujah, at about 4:00 this morning Baghdad time, U.S. Marine elements were sent into the city. This is the promised American response to the ambush, murder and mutilation of four American civilian contractors in that city Fallujah last Wednesday.

Now, again, the Marines had long been tapped to try to retake control of that city. The attack began this morning about 4:00 a.m. Helicopters began rocketing selected targets. Later, Marine tanks rolled on to the streets. The city is locked down. The schools, the markets are closed, and of course the city is also sealed from anybody coming in or going out. A major east-west highway between Baghdad and Jordan is now completely closed.


Aired April 5, 2004 - 05:33   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Could Jakarta be the next Madrid? They are electing a new parliament today in Indonesia and security is tight at polling places across that sprawling nation. Police had warned that separatists or Islamic militants might try to dispute or disrupt the voting.
Let's head live to Jakarta now and Maria Ressa.

How are things going now -- Maria?

MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are going quite (ph) well, as with two al Qaeda funded attacks here in San Mons (ph), there was a concern that al Qaeda linkage would try to disrupt the elections. They have gone peacefully so far. Nearly 300,000 police officers have been deployed across the world's largest architelevoted (ph) protecting polling booths.

Interestingly enough, while security is a concern, the war on terror was rarely mentioned by the political candidates, partly because they said they didn't want to be seen as a lackey of the United States. Still, if you ask people on the streets are they afraid of a terrorist attack, what they will tell you that they were far more afraid of the logistics of this very, very ambitious electoral exercise.

More than 147 million people voting today. This is the largest number to vote worldwide in a single day. In addition to (INAUDIBLE) it's the very first time Indonesians are voting directly for their candidate, in addition to political parties. If Indonesia can consolidate its democracy, it can prove, according to many analysts here, that democracy and Islam can go hand in hand.

Back to you -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Maria Ressa live from Jakarta, Indonesia this morning.

History may have played a role in President Bush's decision to let National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice testify in public, under oath before the 9/11 panel. The commission chief faxed this picture you are looking at to the White House to show there is a historical precedent. The picture shows Admiral William Leahy, White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, appearing before a special congressional panel investigating the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Now after receiving this picture, the White House agreed to let Rice testify.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: I don't think it's a total coincidence that one followed so closely on the other. I don't think that the photograph alone would have been convincing for a White House.

I do think that the White House was getting its own reading of public opinion and of the political environment up on Capitol Hill where many, many Republicans were privately, as well as a few publicly, urging the White House to have Dr. Rice testify.

I think it may well be that the -- that the photograph is a kind of thing that you can waive around in a meeting and say this is what's going to happen to us. We're going to get blasted on this. This is graphic evidence of what can happen to us. It's only right around the corner. We've got to move. It's ammunition that can make a difference. I doubt -- I don't think it would be decisive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: In the meantime, Senator John Kerry is opening a new front in his fight for the White House.

By the way, Condoleezza Rice testifies on Thursday before the 9/11 Commission at 9:00 Eastern Time in the morning. And of course CNN will carry that live.

Let's go back to John Kerry now. He is focusing on the economy and the soaring federal deficit. Kerry's campaign will release a report accusing President Bush of running up a spending bill that will increase the budget deficit by $6 trillion over the next 10 years alone. A key Kerry aide says Bush is spending recklessly, "like a drunken sailor." That's a quote.

The Jayson Williams trial tops our look at stories making news 'Across America' this Monday. Defense attorneys may ask for an immediate acquittal at a hearing today. The hearing comes after the prosecution revealed evidence concerning the murder weapon that had not been turned over to the defense. Defense attorneys claim the omission damaged Williams' chance for a fair trial.

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for today stemming from that brawl in the bullpen at Fenway Park last year. Of course that happened during the American League Championship series. Groundskeeper Paul Williams Jr. will appear in court today. He is being counter sued for assault by former Yankee's pitcher Jeff Nelson.

Jury selection expected to resume this morning in the Scott Peterson case. After the first six days of jury selection, only 15 potential jurors have made it through the initial questioning process. The judge is hoping to get as many as 80 perspective jurors before the final jury selection. That is scheduled for May 13.

A Texas woman could learn tomorrow if she will be committed to a mental institution and which one. Deanna Laney was found innocent by reason of insanity in the bludgeoning deaths of two of her sons. Reporter Rebecca Aguilar of CNN Dallas-Fort Worth affiliate KDFW visited the church Laney attended.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REV. GARY BELL, CHURCH PASTOR: As far as the church, we are poised and ready to move forward.

REBECCA AGUILAR, KDFW-TV REPORTER (voice-over): At the First Assembly of God church in Tyler, Pastor Gary Bell preached about standing tall with God's strength.

BELL: Our faith is unshaken in this.

AGUILAR: On his mind, possibly his own sister-in-law, Deanna Laney. A jury found her legally insane Saturday for stoning her two sons to death and injuring another son last Mother's Day weekend.

BELL: I have to have faith that it was the proper verdict that was passed down and probably the best verdict for all parties involved.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Find the defendant, Deanna Laney, not guilty by reason of insanity.

AGUILAR: Saturday, Laney cried as the verdict was read. Her husband, Keith, sat with his head down. A few jurors were seen crying. For some Tyler residents, the jury's decision was the wrong one.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She was sane. And the reason why I'm confident in saying it is because her testimony, some the things that she said, if she was insane, she wouldn't knew to do some of the things like she said hid the rock.

AGUILAR: Back at Laney's church, members say now is not the time to give up on the troubled mother.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are satisfied with how the outcome and we're just pleased with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's such a sad story. It's a little difficult, you know, but that's when you faith comes in.

AGUILAR (on camera): Laney will be back to the Smith County Courthouse on Tuesday, that's when she'll find out when she will be transferred from jail to a state mental hospital. State law allows Laney to be committed to a maximum-security state mental hospital where she can get psychiatric help.

(voice-over): Doctors are expected to evaluate Laney's current mental condition and decide if she will go to a state mental hospital. And if she is committed, doctors will also decide when she is well enough to go free.

Rebecca Aguilar, Fox 4 News. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Fighting in Fallujah and a presidential campaign by the numbers. Our morning guy and our good friend Jimmy Barrett is on the phone from WRVA News Radio in Richmond, Virginia.

Good morning -- Jimmy.

JIMMY BARRETT, 1140 WRVA RADIO MORNING SHOW: Hi -- Carol.

COSTELLO: How are you?

BARRETT: I'm fine. How was your weekend?

COSTELLO: My weekend was terrific. And yours?

BARRETT: I am suffering from Daylight Savings Time syndrome this morning.

COSTELLO: Did you arrive at work an hour early?

BARRETT: No, I did not, but my body is an hour behind what's going on, that's for sure.

COSTELLO: Isn't it strange how that happens?

BARRETT: It is bizarre, although I am a proponent, by the way, for the record, for Daylight Savings Time year round.

COSTELLO: I would like that, too, if I worked a different shift. But since you know I like it to get darker as early as possible so I can sleep.

BARRETT: So you can go to sleep, huh?

COSTELLO: Exactly.

Hey, wanted to talk about Fallujah because that's happening right now. Apparently Operation Vigilant Resolve has begun. Explosions have been heard within the city. What are your listener's reaction this morning to that?

BARRETT: Well I would think they would expect a big crack down after the violence that we have seen there. Certainly I don't see any other way but to do that. They are going to have to round up -- I'm assuming, also, that they have managed to gather some intelligence that tells them who it is exactly that they are looking for. But unless they can round up some of these insurgents, we are just in for day after day after day of bloody battles there.

COSTELLO: Well, you know, it seems like they can never catch the people responsible for even the roadside bombs that happen pretty much on a daily basis within Iraq.

BARRETT: Well the question is how many people are responsible? How many people are going to have to be rounded up? I'm assuming that we're going to have to round up a few of these clerics as well that have been, you know, big proponents of violence. We have already shut down some of the media outlets. As much of a free speech lover as I am, I don't know where we have any other choice but to do that.

COSTELLO: Well I know in Baghdad's Sadr City they have taken into custody the assistant to the Shiite cleric there and that spawned violent protests. And there are U.S. military helicopters flying over Baghdad's Sadr City at this time as well.

BARRETT: Well I think you've probably noticed as well that with some of this crack down we're already seeing some of those -- some of these clerics come back out and say well that's enough striking, that's enough protesting, let's back off from this. And I think that's probably exactly what the United States is looking for in this situation.

COSTELLO: I'm sure the United States is hoping for that.

Let's talk about politics for just a bit, because a lot came out on the Sunday morning talk shows, including words about the 9/11 Commission. Condoleezza Rice due to take the stand, so to speak, on Thursday.

BARRETT: Well hang on, why are you putting that in quotes? I saw -- I see you over there. I see you putting that in quotes.

COSTELLO: No -- I just couldn't think of a better word.

BARRETT: OK, I thought maybe you were being a smart aleck.

COSTELLO: No, no, no. Did you -- do you want us to go on a delay system? Did you say a nasty word?

BARRETT: No, I would never do that. First of all, I don't know any nasty words. And second of all, my mother might be listening to this broadcast.

COSTELLO: Exactly, so watch your wording.

Well let's go back to Condoleezza Rice. She's going to be before the 9/11 Commission on Thursday. How do you think it will go?

BARRETT: I think it will go just fine. I don't look for any great revelations from Condoleezza Rice. I don't expect her to say a whole lot more than what we have already heard. I think I just don't think this is going to be a huge deal.

Now I did note with interest over the weekend that the 9/11 Commission says its findings are going to be surprising and helpful. Well, have we really heard anything so far that we have found to be surprising or that would lead us to believe that the September the 11th Commission is going to come out with some sort of a surprising suggestion about what needs to be done other than to improve our intelligence capability?

COSTELLO: Well we'll see what she has to say before the 9/11 Commission on Thursday.

Jimmy Barrett from WRVA Radio, it's a pleasure, as always.

DAYBREAK will return in just a bit with much more. You stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We want to take you back to Iraq now for the latest on the new Operation Vigilant Resolve. That operation has begun in Fallujah.

Walter Rodgers is live in Baghdad this morning.

Walter, before you begin, I'm just getting word that a U.S. Marine has been killed in the fighting around Fallujah and this happened earlier this morning. This is according to the Coalition Press Information Center.

I know you probably don't know much about that right now, but you can tell us what's happening now around Fallujah.

WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In Fallujah, at about 4:00 this morning Baghdad time, U.S. Marine elements were sent into the city. This is the promised American response to the ambush, murder and mutilation of four American civilian contractors in that city Fallujah last Wednesday.

Now, again, the Marines had long been tapped to try to retake control of that city. The attack began this morning about 4:00 a.m. Helicopters began rocketing selected targets. Later, Marine tanks rolled on to the streets. The city is locked down. The schools, the markets are closed, and of course the city is also sealed from anybody coming in or going out. A major east-west highway between Baghdad and Jordan is now completely closed.