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CNN Live At Daybreak
President Bush's Primetime News Conference; Update from Baghdad
Aired April 14, 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: New pictures just into us out of Fallujah. We're going to explain what you're looking at in just a moment.
It is Wednesday, April 14.
This is DAYBREAK.
Ooh, that looks chilling.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are the latest headlines right now.
The nation's intelligence chiefs will face the 9/11 Commission today. You can watch testimony from CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller right here live on CNN.
One day after Russian hostages were freed in Iraq, Russia is finalizing plans to pull its contract workers out of the country due to the escalating violence and hostage taking.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will make his case to President Bush today. Sharon wants U.S. approval for his plan to give up parts of Palestinian land and keep other parts.
And Dick Cheney is arriving in Shanghai this morning. The vice president spent much of his day meeting with Chinese leaders in Beijing discussing North Korea's nuclear program.
To the forecast center now and Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: As I told you, we have new images coming out of Fallujah this morning.
Our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us now to explain what we saw just a moment ago.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, good morning.
Well, first of all, this is our pool feed from Fallujah. And, again, this comes directly to us, bypassing our reporters in Baghdad. What we saw at the beginning of this pooled feed today, Fallujah yesterday, U.S. jets, we believe F-16s, flying in very aggressive patterns over the city.
Now, this is a city where we are talking, of course, about the idea, the theory of a cease-fire. But all of the time that cease-fire has been happening, fighting has been happening in one form or another.
There were reports of U.S. tanks right in the middle of Fallujah yesterday. The idea -- and obviously you can see this...
COSTELLO: Let me stop you for a moment...
CLINCH: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... because I think your mike fell off your tie. So you put your microphone back on as we continue to watch this f16 flying over Fallujah.
CLINCH: Yes, I beg your pardon. So, obviously, F-16s, as we're seeing there, flying in very aggressive patterns over the city of Fallujah. The idea, of course, from the start here has been to find and eliminate the insurgents who killed those Americans in Fallujah. That hasn't happened yet. The insurgency is still going full-fledged in the city. There are negotiations going on to try and get an end to the solution, to the fighting in the city, but they haven't come to any fruition yet.
COSTELLO: Well, can you explain that picture we saw earlier of the Marines digging?
CLINCH: Yes, well, actually, that's very interesting. What this is, we're told, is the Marines doing some very necessary work filling bunker bags, filling them with dirt to surround the areas where the Marines are being housed. This is a real necessary thing for them to do, as illustrated by what we reported yesterday. At least one location in Fallujah hit by a mortar and two Marines killed. Either others badly injured. So they are protecting themselves here.
This is not idle work. They are building bunker bags to protect the areas where they are living and operating in Fallujah. And obviously those jets flying in very aggressive patterns.
That was yesterday. We'll wait to see what else happens there during the day today.
COSTELLO: All right, well, much more news out of Iraq a little later in our show.
CLINCH: Yes.
COSTELLO: Thank you, David.
CLINCH: OK. COSTELLO: So, did you see it? I'm talking about President Bush's prime time news conference last night. He made the case for staying the course in Iraq, saying that failure there would be "unthinkable."
Our Skip Loescher has more for you now.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For weeks now as the violence in Iraq and the number of casualties there has grown, critics questioned the president's policies. Tuesday night here in Washington, he defended them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was only the president's third prime time news conference. The first two were to announce the start of wars, one in Afghanistan, the other in Iraq. He used this one to explain once again why all the losses in Iraq have been worth it.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Above all, the defeat of violence and terror in Iraq is vital to the defeat of violence and terror elsewhere; and vital, therefore, to the safety of the American people.
LOESCHER: Mr. Bush says U.S. troops will not back down and he hopes the American people won't, either.
BUSH: The consequences of failure in Iraq would be unthinkable. Every friend of America in Iraq would be betrayed to prison and murder as a new tyranny arose.
LOESCHER: Also on the president's mind, the controversy over whether his administration did enough to stop the 9/11 attacks before they happened and whether they've done enough to make sure similar attacks won't happen in the future.
BUSH: The lessons of 9/11 that I -- one lesson was that we must deal with gathering threats, and that's part of the reason I dealt with Iraq the way I did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: Once sovereignty is turned over to the Iraqis on June 30th, the president says the U.S. will open an embassy in Baghdad. The first ambassador, according to sources, will be John Negroponte, who currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
In Washington, I'm Skip Loescher -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Skip.
In the meantime, Senator John Kerry says it's time to set a new course in Iraq. In a written response issued just after the president's speech, Kerry said, and I quote: "The president may refuse to acknowledge a single mistake in the course of his presidency, but with deaths mounting and American sacrifice increasing, it's time he offered a specific plan that secures real international involvement, gets the target off the backs of our troops and starts to share the burden in Iraq."
All right, we said we'd have more from Baghdad.
Let's head there live now and check in with Karl Penhaul -- Karl, were Iraqis able to listen to the president's message last night?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it was certainly a prime time speech stateside. But here in Iraq at that time -- it was 4:30 a.m. this morning -- not many Iraqis, from what we can ascertain, staying up and watching the president's speech, even on their satellite TV channels.
The other issue, of course, though, is the whole issue of security here on the ground. With the situation of late and with this rash of international hostage taking, it has been very difficult for all international personnel here to operate, including the news media. And that makes it very difficult for us to go out onto the streets, as we have been doing in the past, just to kind of take the pulse and find out what the ordinary Iraqis are feeling about things like President Bush's speech.
I think, though, that the one or two that are aware of the contents of the speech have said to me this morning that they don't believe that there's anything particularly new there in terms of fundamentals. But they do notice a certain tone there, specifically with regard to the two militias that the U.S. and coalition forces are facing, both in Fallujah, but also in the southern city of Najaf, the so-called Mahdi Army.
In both cases, President Bush and the Coalition Authorities are trying to tie those two uprisings, two areas of possible confrontation, with extremist elements. In the case of Fallujah, they've been talking about al Qaeda affiliates operating there. And in the south, we've been talking -- we've been hearing about how the Shiites may have been making public declarations of support for Hamas and Hezbollah -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live from Baghdad this morning.
Military families, U.S. military families have mixed responses to the president's message.
Listen to some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He talks about just keeping them safe. I just, that's the only part I just have such a hard time with, you know? They've been there too long.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I voted for this man and I support him. I just don't support how they're treating our soldiers right at the moment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to tell him bring the 94th Company home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's what I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear June 30th and how firm he is on that deadline. That comforts me a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, what did you think of the president's speech? We want to know, so send us your e-mails, daybreak@cnn.com. We'll read some more of them on the air later this hour.
The real life cost of the war in Iraq has come home to a Wisconsin family. Family and friends of Specialist Michelle Witmer will gather tonight for a memorial service. Actually, her friends and family will gather for a memorial service. The 20-year-old Wisconsin National Guard soldier died last Friday when her convoy was attacked in Baghdad. Now her two sisters, who are also serving in Iraq, face a very difficult decision. Will they ask for an exemption from the military so they won't have to go back or will they return to military service in Iraq? We'll keep you posted.
The CIA tops the agenda for today's testimony at the 9/11 Commission. CIA Director George Tenet is scheduled to make his second public appearance in front of the Commission. His testimony should begin at around 9:30 this morning. That's Eastern time. He'll be followed in the afternoon by FBI Director Robert Mueller.
And you can review all of Tuesday's testimony by logging onto our cnn.com Web site. As for today's testimony, be sure to stay right here. We will have live coverage of the hearings beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
And we'll hear from presidential attorney Ted Olsen on "American Morning." That will happen in the next hour.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Time to give away the mug, Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. Here it is.
MYERS: Ooh, a different color today.
COSTELLO: It's orange today.
MYERS: It is. It's a little bit...
COSTELLO: It's coral, actually.
MYERS: It's little old rose. A little coral. Good answer.
The questions yesterday, the price of a gallon of milk is expected to increase how much this week and next week? The answer was $0.50. And which military unit expected to stay in Iraq for another 90 days? The 1st Armored Division.
And the winner -- drum roll please -- from L.A. -- what are you doing up? Good night, Karin. Karin Dicker from Los Angeles, California, the correct winner yesterday.
COSTELLO: Yes, congratulations, Karin.
The new DAYBREAK questions and your new opportunity to win a mug comes at 6:50 Eastern time, as usual.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, a star sticks up for his dad when Hollywood and politics meet.
Plus, new allegations against Michael Jackson. Hear what his legal team has to say about those claims.
And a visitor has arrived on a mission to the nation's capital. Find out why Ariel Sharon's trip is so important to the peace plan.
Then, reasons to make seafood a part of your diet, but with some warnings from our nutrition expert.
This is DAYBREAK for April 14.
(COMMERCIAL)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The directors of the CIA and FBI are scheduled to testify in front of the 9/11 Commission today. Be sure to stay tuned for CNN's live coverage, which gets under way at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
Sources tell CNN the Pentagon is ready to approve a request to keep some 20,000 soldiers in Iraq for an extra three months. Most of the troops that will remain are from the 1st Armored Division, now on the ground near Kut.
In money news, not much time left to finish doing your taxes. The end of tomorrow is the filing deadline. Many post offices, of course, will stay open late to accommodate all of you procrastinators.
In sports, how sweet it is. Barry Bonds at bat and it is out of here. The San Francisco Giant hit his 661st home run. That gives him sole possession of third place on baseball's all time career home run list.
In culture, a stamp commemorating famous composer Henry Mancini will be available at the post office starting today. Mancini penned such classics as "Peter Gunn," "Moon River," as well as the theme from "The Pink Panther."
MYERS: That'll be going through my head all day.
Hey, good morning, everybody.
(WEATHER REPORT) COSTELLO: Actor George Clooney is defending his politician dad, saying judge him on his merits. Nick Clooney, George's dad, is running for Congress from Kentucky. George Clooney says his dad's opponent is going after him based on his son's liberal views.
So, Clooney, the son, went on the offensive in an op-ed piece for the "Cincinnati Inquirer." It reads, in part: "Politically, my father and I certainly disagree on some issues. But what we don't disagree on is this -- we should be judged as a country by how we take care of those who cannot take care of themselves -- senior citizens, veterans, the poor, the uninsured. This list goes on."
There's a new allegation this morning against Michael Jackson. The Los Angeles Police Department investigating an accusation of child abuse from the late 1980s. A lawyer for Jackson predicts the new claim will be proved false. In January, Jackson pleaded not guilty to a child molestation case currently being heard by a grand jury.
In the Laci Peterson murder case, a controversial juror has now been dismissed. The defense claims she lied to get on the jury and had told her friends that Scott Peterson was "guilty as hell." She denied the allegation. Opening statements in the case take place about a month from now.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, we want to hear from you. What did you think of the president's prime time question and answer session with the White House press corps?
Then, our DAYBREAK Photo of the Day. What is it? We'll tell you, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: We'll stay the course. We'll complete the job. My message to our troops is we will stay the course and complete the job and you'll have what you need. And my message to the loved ones who are worried about their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, is you're loved one is performing a noble service for the cause of freedom and peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Part of the president's speech last night. We've been soliciting your thoughts on the president's speech and we got this. This is from Alfie (ph). I don't know where they're from. Alfie, woman or man, do you think?
MYERS: Man.
COSTELLO: Man. Alfie says: "Why did we invade Iraq? 9/11 was not organized by them. Now look at the mess that we face. There are young troops dying, and for what? Saddam is a monster, yes. But we have not gotten to the root of the problem. Meanwhile, bin Laden is out there and ready to strike again. And, by the way, where are those weapons of mass destruction?"
And allow me to read just one more, Chad, before you get to yours.
MYERS: Sure. Go ahead.
COSTELLO: This is from William from Midland. He says: "First you note the number of negative e-mails concerning Bush's speech" -- and we did that in the last 15 minutes.
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: "Your show has a very biased presentation of the news leftward. I suspect the majority of your viewers like this and tune in, e-mail, etc., because of this."
So, we have some positive e-mails for you, William.
MYERS: Well, no one here in this building ever wakes up and decides to slant something one way or the other.
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: I will absolutely say that, whether it's weather, news, sports or the other.
Anyway, I've got a couple here. "George Bush must be doing something right. I'm amazed we haven't had another terrorist attack since 9/11."
From Darrell (ph): "I cannot believe -- I cannot begin to fathom the amount of pressure that was on the president's shoulders last night. I have one thing to say -- run for president."
And then kind of a funny one from Jerry Noland (ph) in California: "I have really been trying to come up with something positive to say about the president's speech and it finally hit me. It's true, anyone in this country can run for president."
COSTELLO: And truly, we've gotten, what, 350 e-mails?
MYERS: Oh, it's got to be more than that because they just won't stop.
COSTELLO: I know.
MYERS: You're all up this morning and you're all full of something and vinegar, as my mom and dad would say.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
One more from Dee in Tampa. She said: "My husband and I watched the entire press conference and we both thought Mr. Bush came off as inarticulate, arrogant and defensive. His entire performance can be summed up in one word -- embarrassing." And they were disturbed because he -- they say that he did not answer the questions that they wanted to hear the answers to.
All right, let's go to our Photo of the Day to see if our viewers out there could guess what it is.
MYERS: You know, I didn't even...
COSTELLO: It kind of looks like a fabric.
MYERS: I know what it is and I still can't figure this out. But if you zoom out and get rid of the pixelation, you will see a little birdie there way on the bottom.
COSTELLO: Covered up by the banner.
MYERS: Covered by the word...
COSTELLO: Oh, there's the birdie.
MYERS: And there's a yellow-breasted robin with -- that's snow on those little flowers, as well, into parts of Tennessee.
COSTELLO: That's a dogwood tree.
MYERS: Is it a dogwood?
COSTELLO: Umm-hmm.
MYERS: Very nice.
COSTELLO: Yes, a dogwood, in Tennessee.
MYERS: With snow on it yesterday.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Two not happy dogwoods.
COSTELLO: No, very sad dogwoods.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
The 9/11 Commission focuses on the FBI and the CIA and the apparent wall between crime fighting and intelligence gathering.
Plus, the media and the president -- a rare face to face meeting. What did that prime time news conference accomplish?
And on the heels of a big night, a big day for the president. Israel's leader visits Washington looking for a sign of approval.
(COMMERCIAL)
COSTELLO: The president takes on the press corps in prime time. What was the result?
It is Wednesday, April 14. This is DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
More on the president's news conference, press conference, if you will, in just a minute.
But first, the latest headlines right now.
Today, the 9/11 Commission looks at ways to prevent terror attacks in the United States. One controversial possibility, establishing a domestic intelligence agency.
Administration sources tell CNN that President Bush has picked John Negroponte as U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He will take that position once the United States transfers power to the new Iraqi government. Negroponte is currently U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will make his case to President Bush today. Sharon wants U.S. approval for his plan to give up parts of Palestinian land and keep other parts.
In South Africa, millions of voters are going to the polls in the country's third election since the end of apartheid. The African National Congress is expected to return to power in a landslide victory.
And out in California, a 5-year-old girl is found unhurt 10 days after the car she was in plunged down an embankment. The crash killed her mother.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The 9/11 Commission hearings resume today with appearances by the directors of the FBI and CIA. Their testimony comes a day after Commission members leveled sharp criticism against both agencies.
CNN's Bill Prasad joins us live from D.C. with more on the sometimes contentious proceedings -- good morning, Bill.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Blame, anger and accusations all being leveled at the FBI and CIA. And with testimony set to begin in just a few hours, this is not over yet.
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Aired April 14, 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: New pictures just into us out of Fallujah. We're going to explain what you're looking at in just a moment.
It is Wednesday, April 14.
This is DAYBREAK.
Ooh, that looks chilling.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are the latest headlines right now.
The nation's intelligence chiefs will face the 9/11 Commission today. You can watch testimony from CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller right here live on CNN.
One day after Russian hostages were freed in Iraq, Russia is finalizing plans to pull its contract workers out of the country due to the escalating violence and hostage taking.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will make his case to President Bush today. Sharon wants U.S. approval for his plan to give up parts of Palestinian land and keep other parts.
And Dick Cheney is arriving in Shanghai this morning. The vice president spent much of his day meeting with Chinese leaders in Beijing discussing North Korea's nuclear program.
To the forecast center now and Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: As I told you, we have new images coming out of Fallujah this morning.
Our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us now to explain what we saw just a moment ago.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, good morning.
Well, first of all, this is our pool feed from Fallujah. And, again, this comes directly to us, bypassing our reporters in Baghdad. What we saw at the beginning of this pooled feed today, Fallujah yesterday, U.S. jets, we believe F-16s, flying in very aggressive patterns over the city.
Now, this is a city where we are talking, of course, about the idea, the theory of a cease-fire. But all of the time that cease-fire has been happening, fighting has been happening in one form or another.
There were reports of U.S. tanks right in the middle of Fallujah yesterday. The idea -- and obviously you can see this...
COSTELLO: Let me stop you for a moment...
CLINCH: Yes?
COSTELLO: ... because I think your mike fell off your tie. So you put your microphone back on as we continue to watch this f16 flying over Fallujah.
CLINCH: Yes, I beg your pardon. So, obviously, F-16s, as we're seeing there, flying in very aggressive patterns over the city of Fallujah. The idea, of course, from the start here has been to find and eliminate the insurgents who killed those Americans in Fallujah. That hasn't happened yet. The insurgency is still going full-fledged in the city. There are negotiations going on to try and get an end to the solution, to the fighting in the city, but they haven't come to any fruition yet.
COSTELLO: Well, can you explain that picture we saw earlier of the Marines digging?
CLINCH: Yes, well, actually, that's very interesting. What this is, we're told, is the Marines doing some very necessary work filling bunker bags, filling them with dirt to surround the areas where the Marines are being housed. This is a real necessary thing for them to do, as illustrated by what we reported yesterday. At least one location in Fallujah hit by a mortar and two Marines killed. Either others badly injured. So they are protecting themselves here.
This is not idle work. They are building bunker bags to protect the areas where they are living and operating in Fallujah. And obviously those jets flying in very aggressive patterns.
That was yesterday. We'll wait to see what else happens there during the day today.
COSTELLO: All right, well, much more news out of Iraq a little later in our show.
CLINCH: Yes.
COSTELLO: Thank you, David.
CLINCH: OK. COSTELLO: So, did you see it? I'm talking about President Bush's prime time news conference last night. He made the case for staying the course in Iraq, saying that failure there would be "unthinkable."
Our Skip Loescher has more for you now.
SKIP LOESCHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For weeks now as the violence in Iraq and the number of casualties there has grown, critics questioned the president's policies. Tuesday night here in Washington, he defended them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER (voice-over): It was only the president's third prime time news conference. The first two were to announce the start of wars, one in Afghanistan, the other in Iraq. He used this one to explain once again why all the losses in Iraq have been worth it.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Above all, the defeat of violence and terror in Iraq is vital to the defeat of violence and terror elsewhere; and vital, therefore, to the safety of the American people.
LOESCHER: Mr. Bush says U.S. troops will not back down and he hopes the American people won't, either.
BUSH: The consequences of failure in Iraq would be unthinkable. Every friend of America in Iraq would be betrayed to prison and murder as a new tyranny arose.
LOESCHER: Also on the president's mind, the controversy over whether his administration did enough to stop the 9/11 attacks before they happened and whether they've done enough to make sure similar attacks won't happen in the future.
BUSH: The lessons of 9/11 that I -- one lesson was that we must deal with gathering threats, and that's part of the reason I dealt with Iraq the way I did.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LOESCHER: Once sovereignty is turned over to the Iraqis on June 30th, the president says the U.S. will open an embassy in Baghdad. The first ambassador, according to sources, will be John Negroponte, who currently serves as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
In Washington, I'm Skip Loescher -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Skip.
In the meantime, Senator John Kerry says it's time to set a new course in Iraq. In a written response issued just after the president's speech, Kerry said, and I quote: "The president may refuse to acknowledge a single mistake in the course of his presidency, but with deaths mounting and American sacrifice increasing, it's time he offered a specific plan that secures real international involvement, gets the target off the backs of our troops and starts to share the burden in Iraq."
All right, we said we'd have more from Baghdad.
Let's head there live now and check in with Karl Penhaul -- Karl, were Iraqis able to listen to the president's message last night?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, it was certainly a prime time speech stateside. But here in Iraq at that time -- it was 4:30 a.m. this morning -- not many Iraqis, from what we can ascertain, staying up and watching the president's speech, even on their satellite TV channels.
The other issue, of course, though, is the whole issue of security here on the ground. With the situation of late and with this rash of international hostage taking, it has been very difficult for all international personnel here to operate, including the news media. And that makes it very difficult for us to go out onto the streets, as we have been doing in the past, just to kind of take the pulse and find out what the ordinary Iraqis are feeling about things like President Bush's speech.
I think, though, that the one or two that are aware of the contents of the speech have said to me this morning that they don't believe that there's anything particularly new there in terms of fundamentals. But they do notice a certain tone there, specifically with regard to the two militias that the U.S. and coalition forces are facing, both in Fallujah, but also in the southern city of Najaf, the so-called Mahdi Army.
In both cases, President Bush and the Coalition Authorities are trying to tie those two uprisings, two areas of possible confrontation, with extremist elements. In the case of Fallujah, they've been talking about al Qaeda affiliates operating there. And in the south, we've been talking -- we've been hearing about how the Shiites may have been making public declarations of support for Hamas and Hezbollah -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Karl Penhaul live from Baghdad this morning.
Military families, U.S. military families have mixed responses to the president's message.
Listen to some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He talks about just keeping them safe. I just, that's the only part I just have such a hard time with, you know? They've been there too long.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I voted for this man and I support him. I just don't support how they're treating our soldiers right at the moment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd like to tell him bring the 94th Company home.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's what I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear June 30th and how firm he is on that deadline. That comforts me a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, what did you think of the president's speech? We want to know, so send us your e-mails, daybreak@cnn.com. We'll read some more of them on the air later this hour.
The real life cost of the war in Iraq has come home to a Wisconsin family. Family and friends of Specialist Michelle Witmer will gather tonight for a memorial service. Actually, her friends and family will gather for a memorial service. The 20-year-old Wisconsin National Guard soldier died last Friday when her convoy was attacked in Baghdad. Now her two sisters, who are also serving in Iraq, face a very difficult decision. Will they ask for an exemption from the military so they won't have to go back or will they return to military service in Iraq? We'll keep you posted.
The CIA tops the agenda for today's testimony at the 9/11 Commission. CIA Director George Tenet is scheduled to make his second public appearance in front of the Commission. His testimony should begin at around 9:30 this morning. That's Eastern time. He'll be followed in the afternoon by FBI Director Robert Mueller.
And you can review all of Tuesday's testimony by logging onto our cnn.com Web site. As for today's testimony, be sure to stay right here. We will have live coverage of the hearings beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
And we'll hear from presidential attorney Ted Olsen on "American Morning." That will happen in the next hour.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Time to give away the mug, Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. Here it is.
MYERS: Ooh, a different color today.
COSTELLO: It's orange today.
MYERS: It is. It's a little bit...
COSTELLO: It's coral, actually.
MYERS: It's little old rose. A little coral. Good answer.
The questions yesterday, the price of a gallon of milk is expected to increase how much this week and next week? The answer was $0.50. And which military unit expected to stay in Iraq for another 90 days? The 1st Armored Division.
And the winner -- drum roll please -- from L.A. -- what are you doing up? Good night, Karin. Karin Dicker from Los Angeles, California, the correct winner yesterday.
COSTELLO: Yes, congratulations, Karin.
The new DAYBREAK questions and your new opportunity to win a mug comes at 6:50 Eastern time, as usual.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, a star sticks up for his dad when Hollywood and politics meet.
Plus, new allegations against Michael Jackson. Hear what his legal team has to say about those claims.
And a visitor has arrived on a mission to the nation's capital. Find out why Ariel Sharon's trip is so important to the peace plan.
Then, reasons to make seafood a part of your diet, but with some warnings from our nutrition expert.
This is DAYBREAK for April 14.
(COMMERCIAL)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The directors of the CIA and FBI are scheduled to testify in front of the 9/11 Commission today. Be sure to stay tuned for CNN's live coverage, which gets under way at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.
Sources tell CNN the Pentagon is ready to approve a request to keep some 20,000 soldiers in Iraq for an extra three months. Most of the troops that will remain are from the 1st Armored Division, now on the ground near Kut.
In money news, not much time left to finish doing your taxes. The end of tomorrow is the filing deadline. Many post offices, of course, will stay open late to accommodate all of you procrastinators.
In sports, how sweet it is. Barry Bonds at bat and it is out of here. The San Francisco Giant hit his 661st home run. That gives him sole possession of third place on baseball's all time career home run list.
In culture, a stamp commemorating famous composer Henry Mancini will be available at the post office starting today. Mancini penned such classics as "Peter Gunn," "Moon River," as well as the theme from "The Pink Panther."
MYERS: That'll be going through my head all day.
Hey, good morning, everybody.
(WEATHER REPORT) COSTELLO: Actor George Clooney is defending his politician dad, saying judge him on his merits. Nick Clooney, George's dad, is running for Congress from Kentucky. George Clooney says his dad's opponent is going after him based on his son's liberal views.
So, Clooney, the son, went on the offensive in an op-ed piece for the "Cincinnati Inquirer." It reads, in part: "Politically, my father and I certainly disagree on some issues. But what we don't disagree on is this -- we should be judged as a country by how we take care of those who cannot take care of themselves -- senior citizens, veterans, the poor, the uninsured. This list goes on."
There's a new allegation this morning against Michael Jackson. The Los Angeles Police Department investigating an accusation of child abuse from the late 1980s. A lawyer for Jackson predicts the new claim will be proved false. In January, Jackson pleaded not guilty to a child molestation case currently being heard by a grand jury.
In the Laci Peterson murder case, a controversial juror has now been dismissed. The defense claims she lied to get on the jury and had told her friends that Scott Peterson was "guilty as hell." She denied the allegation. Opening statements in the case take place about a month from now.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, we want to hear from you. What did you think of the president's prime time question and answer session with the White House press corps?
Then, our DAYBREAK Photo of the Day. What is it? We'll tell you, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: We'll stay the course. We'll complete the job. My message to our troops is we will stay the course and complete the job and you'll have what you need. And my message to the loved ones who are worried about their sons, daughters, husbands, wives, is you're loved one is performing a noble service for the cause of freedom and peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Part of the president's speech last night. We've been soliciting your thoughts on the president's speech and we got this. This is from Alfie (ph). I don't know where they're from. Alfie, woman or man, do you think?
MYERS: Man.
COSTELLO: Man. Alfie says: "Why did we invade Iraq? 9/11 was not organized by them. Now look at the mess that we face. There are young troops dying, and for what? Saddam is a monster, yes. But we have not gotten to the root of the problem. Meanwhile, bin Laden is out there and ready to strike again. And, by the way, where are those weapons of mass destruction?"
And allow me to read just one more, Chad, before you get to yours.
MYERS: Sure. Go ahead.
COSTELLO: This is from William from Midland. He says: "First you note the number of negative e-mails concerning Bush's speech" -- and we did that in the last 15 minutes.
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: "Your show has a very biased presentation of the news leftward. I suspect the majority of your viewers like this and tune in, e-mail, etc., because of this."
So, we have some positive e-mails for you, William.
MYERS: Well, no one here in this building ever wakes up and decides to slant something one way or the other.
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: I will absolutely say that, whether it's weather, news, sports or the other.
Anyway, I've got a couple here. "George Bush must be doing something right. I'm amazed we haven't had another terrorist attack since 9/11."
From Darrell (ph): "I cannot believe -- I cannot begin to fathom the amount of pressure that was on the president's shoulders last night. I have one thing to say -- run for president."
And then kind of a funny one from Jerry Noland (ph) in California: "I have really been trying to come up with something positive to say about the president's speech and it finally hit me. It's true, anyone in this country can run for president."
COSTELLO: And truly, we've gotten, what, 350 e-mails?
MYERS: Oh, it's got to be more than that because they just won't stop.
COSTELLO: I know.
MYERS: You're all up this morning and you're all full of something and vinegar, as my mom and dad would say.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
One more from Dee in Tampa. She said: "My husband and I watched the entire press conference and we both thought Mr. Bush came off as inarticulate, arrogant and defensive. His entire performance can be summed up in one word -- embarrassing." And they were disturbed because he -- they say that he did not answer the questions that they wanted to hear the answers to.
All right, let's go to our Photo of the Day to see if our viewers out there could guess what it is.
MYERS: You know, I didn't even...
COSTELLO: It kind of looks like a fabric.
MYERS: I know what it is and I still can't figure this out. But if you zoom out and get rid of the pixelation, you will see a little birdie there way on the bottom.
COSTELLO: Covered up by the banner.
MYERS: Covered by the word...
COSTELLO: Oh, there's the birdie.
MYERS: And there's a yellow-breasted robin with -- that's snow on those little flowers, as well, into parts of Tennessee.
COSTELLO: That's a dogwood tree.
MYERS: Is it a dogwood?
COSTELLO: Umm-hmm.
MYERS: Very nice.
COSTELLO: Yes, a dogwood, in Tennessee.
MYERS: With snow on it yesterday.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Two not happy dogwoods.
COSTELLO: No, very sad dogwoods.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
The 9/11 Commission focuses on the FBI and the CIA and the apparent wall between crime fighting and intelligence gathering.
Plus, the media and the president -- a rare face to face meeting. What did that prime time news conference accomplish?
And on the heels of a big night, a big day for the president. Israel's leader visits Washington looking for a sign of approval.
(COMMERCIAL)
COSTELLO: The president takes on the press corps in prime time. What was the result?
It is Wednesday, April 14. This is DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
More on the president's news conference, press conference, if you will, in just a minute.
But first, the latest headlines right now.
Today, the 9/11 Commission looks at ways to prevent terror attacks in the United States. One controversial possibility, establishing a domestic intelligence agency.
Administration sources tell CNN that President Bush has picked John Negroponte as U.S. ambassador to Iraq. He will take that position once the United States transfers power to the new Iraqi government. Negroponte is currently U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will make his case to President Bush today. Sharon wants U.S. approval for his plan to give up parts of Palestinian land and keep other parts.
In South Africa, millions of voters are going to the polls in the country's third election since the end of apartheid. The African National Congress is expected to return to power in a landslide victory.
And out in California, a 5-year-old girl is found unhurt 10 days after the car she was in plunged down an embankment. The crash killed her mother.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The 9/11 Commission hearings resume today with appearances by the directors of the FBI and CIA. Their testimony comes a day after Commission members leveled sharp criticism against both agencies.
CNN's Bill Prasad joins us live from D.C. with more on the sometimes contentious proceedings -- good morning, Bill.
BILL PRASAD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Blame, anger and accusations all being leveled at the FBI and CIA. And with testimony set to begin in just a few hours, this is not over yet.
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