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Families of Terrorist Suspects Held at Guantanamo Bay Want Nation's Highest Court to Get Involved; Woodward's New Book on Run Up to Iraq War
Aired April 20, 2004 - 05:00 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: In legal limbo at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- do U.S. courts have jurisdiction? That question before the U.S. Supreme Court today.
It is Tuesday, April 20.
This is DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are the latest headlines for you now.
No lawyers, no rights -- today attorneys for some of the Guantanamo Bay detainees' families ask the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved. The White House says their detention is essential in fighting terrorism.
The Senate wants to add its two cents worth to the transition to democracy in Iraq. The Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing this morning on U.S. plans to return sovereignty to Iraq on June 30.
In Sweden, police have arrested four people suspected of being linked to Islamic extremists. A Swedish newspaper says they were arrested on suspicion of supporting attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.
A memorial is set tonight to remember the victims of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado. Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and a teacher five years ago today.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Are some of the Bush administration's anti-terror tactics legal? The U.S. Supreme Court considers that issue today. The families of several terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba want the nation's highest court to get involved.
Here's more now from our Bob Franken.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base, but it's on Cuban soil. At issue -- does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?
EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.
FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside what critics say is a black hole called Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control.
The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.
FRANKEN (on camera): This is one of three cases where the Bush administration argues the war on terror gives the president power over enemy combatants without court limits.
(voice-over): But in this first one, the justices will decide mainly whether Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is off limits to them.
Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And for more now on the international argument against the detentions on Guantanamo, let's head live to London.
Our senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar has investigated the story.
What have you found?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, one of the briefs the will be on the bench in front of the Supreme Court justices today is one signed by 175 British M.P.s. And they are going to argue in that brief an argument that will be repeated in front of the court today that it's not possible for the Bush administration to remove its actions from judicial review, that it is a fundamental violation, if you will, in the words of the British M.P.s, of the rule of law. And that really is the contention, whether or not the Bush administration can, as it has proposed, submit these 600 plus prisoners, men, teenage boys, to indefinite detention without trial and without judicial review of their cases.
That is the first case that will, perhaps, lay down some ground rules for the Bush administration in the way in which it chooses to pursue its war on terror -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila, I know that some British citizens had been released from Guantanamo.
How many more at are Guantanamo now?
MACVICAR: There's at least four more who are there and two of those British citizens are part of the 14 who make up the case going before the Supreme Court today. Two of them are known to be held in solitary confinement, according to their lawyer. And they are said to be held in difficult conditions.
One reason why there is such grave concern here in the U.K. is that following the release of five U.K. nationals who had been in detention at Guantanamo and held there for two years without trial or access to lawyers, they were returned to the U.K. last month. And it transpired and became more publicly known at that time that through the course of their interrogations over those two years, some of these men had signed false confessions. They had made statements that their lawyers say were made under pressure and they say how can you know what people might have done or might not have done if you don't have the protection of law and access to lawyers in order to ensure that what interrogators are being told is, in fact, correct -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I don't know a great deal of background about these British citizens who were released and that you're speaking of. But have they been released into the general population now?
MACVICAR: One of the conditions for their release was that they would be questioned on their return by anti-terrorism or counter- terrorism authorities here in the country. They were all released within hours of their return to the U.K. and they are all back in their communities now. One man, in fact, wasn't even questioned by counter-terrorism authorities. Of course, these men have been questioned in detention by British security services, who had flown to Guantanamo for that purpose. So their questioning here in the U.K. was, if you will, rather more pro forma. They were released. They face no further investigation and no charges in this country -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila MacVicar live from London this morning.
White House officials are generally pleased with Bob Woodward's new book on the run up to the Iraq war. In fact, it's on the suggested reading list of the Bush campaign Web site.
But at least some of the president's men take issue with key points made by the Watergate journalist.
CNN's John King has reaction to "Plan of Attack."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A new ambassador for post-war Iraq, and new question about the administration's secret planning that led to war in the first place. John Negroponte, currently the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is the president's choice to be the White House point man in Baghdad when a new Iraqi government assumes power June 30th.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No doubt in my mind he'll do a very good job and there is no doubt in my mind that Iraq will be free and democratic and peaceful.
KING: The announcement came as the administration faced questions about journalist Bob Woodward's new book, including a charge the White House secretly diverted $700 million in funds appropriated for the war against al Qaeda to plan for war in Iraq.
Some Democrats in Congress want an accounting. The White House says it did nothing wrong and that it kept key members of Congress informed.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: We followed the law. We followed the custom in how we brief, particularly on sensitive national security measures and those measures were followed.
KING: The book also says Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States was briefed on the final war plan before Secretary of State Powell. Not so, says Powell.
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I was briefed (ph) with the plan and aware that Prince Bandar was being briefed on the plan.
KING: Another controversial book nugget: A suggestion the Saudi ambassador promised his country would pump more oil and drive down gas prices before the November election.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people.
KING: The White House says there were talks with the Saudis about the war's likely impact on oil prices but no secret deals.
BARTLETT: There was no promise or quid pro quo any sort about oil prices for the election.
KING: And the Saudi government issued a statement from Riyadh that said: "The allegation that the Kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis in fact."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And Bob Woodward was on CNN's "Larry King Live" to talk about "Plan of Attack." Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar, called into the show and took exception to Woodward's claim he was told the decision had been made to go to war. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: What he said is accurate. However, there was one sentence that was left out.
LARRY KING, HOST: And that is?
BANDAR: Both Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld told me before the briefing that the president has not made a decision yet, but here is the plan and then the rest is accurate.
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": Then why would they say you can take this to the bank, it's going to happen and then, as I understand it, the vice president said when this starts, Saddam is toast? Is that correct?
BANDAR: That is absolutely correct, but underline when, because my response was the last time we tried this, we left Saddam in place. And I don't think anybody in the Middle East would like to try this again if Saddam would stay in place. And that's the rest of the story. So what Bob said was accurate...
KING: So, do we have semantics here?
BANDAR: ... except that I was informed that the president has not made the decision yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: After Bandar hung up, Woodward spoke of the prince's denial in the context of his reporting all the way back to the Nixon White House and said, "That goes in the hall of fame of dodges and fishy explanations. I think it should get an Academy Award."
We want your take on Bob Woodward's account of Iraq war planning. Actually, we want your take on the oil price thing, the alleged deal. Bob Woodward said it wasn't a deal, but just a conversation between the president and the prince about how Saudi Arabia might make oil prices go down and right before the election. Do you think that's true? Do you think it has legs? Do you think Bob Kerrey will use it effectively in the campaign?
E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. We will read some of your opinions later on DAYBREAK.
It has been five years since the Columbine massacre. Has the Colorado high school recovered from the horrors of that day? We'll take you there.
Plus, you're on notice -- upcoming high profile events might be a target for terror. Find out what homeland security is doing about it and is it enough?
Also ahead, how the hip-hop generation hopes to change the tune of this election season.
And eat less, live longer -- a new study may make you change your dinner plans for life.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, April 20.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:14 Eastern time.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Supreme Court hears arguments today over whether it has the authority over the military's control of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Republican officials say the White House will revise a proposed overtime regulation. They say the proposal will preserve eligibility for most white collar workers making up to $100,000 a year.
In money news, investors will be listening when Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan appears on Capitol Hill this afternoon. There is speculation the Fed could soon raise interest rates.
And in sports, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has been ruled ineligible for this weekend's NFL draft. A federal appeals court turned down his attempt to bypass NFL draft rules.
In culture, want to see Darth Vader's new look? You can. There's a sneak preview of the next chapter in the Star Wars series in the DVD trilogy. That will be released tomorrow.
Did you see his new look in there? I didn't.
MYERS: Luke, I'm not your father.
Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: That's bad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Time now for a check of the financial markets overseas.
For that, of course, we head to London and Jim Boulden, who's checking the numbers for us -- good morning.
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi.
Good morning, Carol.
Yes, we're two hours into the trading day here and I want to show you what's going on before people head out to their meetings or to the office. London and all the major markets in Europe have opened up quite strongly. We've had pretty much of a down day last -- on Monday, but we are up today. London, in fact, is near a 21 month high, so investors are very keen on the London market, indeed, though it's come down a little bit.
A quick look at currencies. Now, we've had a lot of currency movement in the last hour and that's because the British government has said that the CPI here, the Consumer Price Index, has only risen 1.1 percent this year. They look at it as, that's looked at as an inflation target, of course. But 1.1 percent means that the Bank of England here probably will not raise interest rates any time soon.
Of course, everyone's very keen to see what Alan Greenspan will do with interest rates. But it looks like here the U.K. won't. So the dollar has been gaining strength here. The dollar is also gaining strength against the euro because the German government has come out again and said -- or a German group has come out and said that the market there is weaker than expected, as well. So the European Central Bank probably won't raise interest rates either.
So the dollar gaining very well in European trading today -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Jim Boulden live from London this morning.
There will be no classes today at Columbine High School. Instead, people will gather for memorials and vigils. It is the fifth anniversary of the nation's worst school shooting.
CNN's Adrian Baschuk has more for you from Littleton, Colorado.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADRIAN BASCHUK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new "We Are Columbine" sign. The school's cheer hangs prominently in this high school's once bullet ridden and shrapnel torn entryway.
FRANK DEANGELIS, PRINCIPAL, COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL: I truly believe that if we closed Columbine High School, that Klebold and Harris would have won.
BASCHUK: The school has come a long way since April 20, 1999.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were all black clothing. They had shotguns.
BASCHUK (on camera): Within minutes of the first shots being fired, local news crews arrived, some as misinformed as police, which at one point, police transcripts detail thought there were as many as 12 shooters inside. The live pictures of a school under siege gripped the nation.
(voice-over): Finally, at day's end, we learned Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were the sole shooters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Entry/exit.
BASCHUK: A five year investigation of the shootings made public in February revealed two teens with access to an arsenal of weapons. And a police reports described, a volatile history of being bullied and violent behavior, including death threats Eric Harris made to one time friend Brooks Brown.
BROOKS BROWN, CLASSMATE: We all knew someone who died and it was just a horrific day.
BASCHUK: Today, this is Columbine -- a new $3.5 million library, refurbished lockers and a renovated cafeteria stand where students once hid under lunch tables and ran for their lives.
DEANGELIS: I think it would have been very difficult for students and staff members to return to a place where so much carnage was. I think our resolve has just been outstanding.
BASCHUK: So outstanding that despite the killings, they are still proud to say "We Are Columbine."
Adrian Baschuk, CNN, Littleton, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And coming up in our next hour, we'll talk with a security expert about the lessons learned from Columbine and what changes to school security are still in place today.
Also coming up later here on CNN, Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis will join Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien on "American Morning." That comes your way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
Alarm bells in the homeland -- officials warn that high profile events may become targets. We'll show you the new tactic for fighting terror.
And, hey, have you read it yet? We are talking about Bob Woodward's new book, "Plan of Attack." We're taking your comments. Tell us what you think. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": We're going to have to go to war. And then he tells Rove the same thing and then he tells Rumsfeld and then he finally tells Powell. You know, is this a decision? Sure, it's a decision. You can't decide to go to war in 24 hours. You have to plan, you have to get ready, you have to tell people that this is coming. But Andy Card's right, it's not irrevocable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And Bob Woodward was on CNN's "Larry King" last night.
MYERS: He was.
COSTELLO: Still talking about what led up to the war in Iraq from the White House perspective. And, of course, he didn't really call it a deal. But he called it a conversation between President Bush and the Saudi prince to drop oil prices before the election, something the White House is flatly denying. Prince Bandar called in and flatly denied it, too. But it's out there.
MYERS: Is there really anything that Woodward has said that the president or that the administration has not denied? I mean is there anything really? I mean it's just -- this is just so one-sided or the other.
COSTELLO: Actually, in fairness to the White House, they've put the book on its preferred reading list. So it's...
MYERS: Oh, really?
COSTELLO: ... overall happy with the book.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: So maybe people should go out and read the book and decide for themselves.
But we're asking specifically for viewer e-mails about the oil thing and we got a few in.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: And we'd like to read some right now.
MYERS: Go ahead.
COSTELLO: You have one yourself. I'll read this one first.
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: This is from Jane from Santa Barbara, California. She says: "Prince Bandar's assurance that Saudi Arabia would drop oil prices just before the election sounds like a pattern seen before when the Reagan/Bush team tried to manipulate the Iran hostage crisis before Reagan's election, with this year's October surprise a politically convenient drop in oil prices to help Bush, Jr. get reelected.
MYERS: And from Robert in Albuquerque -- this is kind of funny: "I think they should keep their mouths shut on gas prices because I'm a consumer and I want lower prices at the pumps." Well, all right...
COSTELLO: See, he's just thinking of his own bottom line.
MYERS: Exactly.
COSTELLO: That's right.
And this comes from Bill from Duluth, Georgia. He says: "Regarding your question this morning, I find it funny how you want to try to make news out of the gas price manipulation question arising out of Woodward's book when the prince said last night on "Larry King" that having low oil prices is absolutely in the interests of the world, not just the United States. There was no attempt at manipulation," he says. And, of course, Prince Bandar did, indeed, said that.
All right...
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com if you want to weigh in with your own opinion.
Homeland security chief Tom Ridge says there are no specific threats, but terrorists are opportunists, so the United States must be prepared. He has announced steps to ratchet up security for some upcoming high profile events.
Our Jeanne Meserve has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The terrorist bombing of trains in Madrid just before the Spanish elections may have influenced the results, and has certainly influenced the thinking of U.S. intelligence analysts.
According to an administration official, this summer's political conventions, the election, the inaugural, as well as the G8 Summit in Georgia, which will bring together world leaders, are now of more concern to security officials than other large symbolic events like the Fourth of July Celebration on the National Mall.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says that U.S. elections cycle might prove too tempting a target for terrorists to pass up.
TOM RIDGE, DIRECTOR, HOMELAND SECURITY: But this time, obviously, we do not have specific threat information around any of these events. But, ladies and gentlemen, we do have our common sense. And we don't need a change in the threat level to make us safer and more secure.
MESERVE: To improve the nation's preparation for all the high- profile events on the calendar, Ridge announced a new interagency working group to include his own department, the Departments of Justice, Energy, Transportation and others.
It will pay particular attention to critical infrastructures such as chemical plants and the electrical grid. Increasing coordination with state and local governments and the private sector. Some are asking why this wasn't done sooner.
REP. CAROL MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: My question is what has he been doing all this time. His job is to protect the American people. I don't see how what he's proposing is any different from what he's been charged with from day one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
He was considered an Israeli traitor by some and a hometown hero by others. Now, after 18 years behind bars, why a nuclear weapons whistleblower is being silenced.
John Kerry is fired up and speaking out amidst explosive allegations of oil price fixing. Did a Saudi prince strike a deal with the president?
Plus, targeting Generation Next -- how hip-hop and politics are getting into the mix.
Don't miss a beat.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired April 20, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In legal limbo at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba -- do U.S. courts have jurisdiction? That question before the U.S. Supreme Court today.
It is Tuesday, April 20.
This is DAYBREAK.
Good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Here are the latest headlines for you now.
No lawyers, no rights -- today attorneys for some of the Guantanamo Bay detainees' families ask the U.S. Supreme Court to get involved. The White House says their detention is essential in fighting terrorism.
The Senate wants to add its two cents worth to the transition to democracy in Iraq. The Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing this morning on U.S. plans to return sovereignty to Iraq on June 30.
In Sweden, police have arrested four people suspected of being linked to Islamic extremists. A Swedish newspaper says they were arrested on suspicion of supporting attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq.
A memorial is set tonight to remember the victims of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado. Students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and a teacher five years ago today.
To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Are some of the Bush administration's anti-terror tactics legal? The U.S. Supreme Court considers that issue today. The families of several terrorist suspects held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba want the nation's highest court to get involved.
Here's more now from our Bob Franken.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guantanamo Bay is a U.S. naval base, but it's on Cuban soil. At issue -- does the United States Supreme Court have any authority over the military's control of foreign detainees held in a foreign country?
EUGENE FIDELL, MILITARY LAW ATTORNEY: The core legal issue is one of jurisdiction in the federal courts.
FRANKEN: And not charges that the United States is mistreating more than 600 prisoners inside what critics say is a black hole called Camp Delta. While 130 have been released, most have been held indefinitely without charges or access to lawyers. The administration denies mistreatment. Detainees still held there want a chance to be heard in a U.S. court, saying Guantanamo is effectively under U.S. control.
The justices will hear arguments in two cases brought by families of 16 Australian, British and Kuwaiti citizens being held in Guantanamo. Military officials have insisted for more than two years imprisoning them is important for interrogation purposes and safety.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: The detainees include dangerous terrorists who committed brutal acts and are sworn to go back to do it again.
FRANKEN (on camera): This is one of three cases where the Bush administration argues the war on terror gives the president power over enemy combatants without court limits.
(voice-over): But in this first one, the justices will decide mainly whether Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is off limits to them.
Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And for more now on the international argument against the detentions on Guantanamo, let's head live to London.
Our senior international correspondent Sheila MacVicar has investigated the story.
What have you found?
SHEILA MACVICAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, one of the briefs the will be on the bench in front of the Supreme Court justices today is one signed by 175 British M.P.s. And they are going to argue in that brief an argument that will be repeated in front of the court today that it's not possible for the Bush administration to remove its actions from judicial review, that it is a fundamental violation, if you will, in the words of the British M.P.s, of the rule of law. And that really is the contention, whether or not the Bush administration can, as it has proposed, submit these 600 plus prisoners, men, teenage boys, to indefinite detention without trial and without judicial review of their cases.
That is the first case that will, perhaps, lay down some ground rules for the Bush administration in the way in which it chooses to pursue its war on terror -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila, I know that some British citizens had been released from Guantanamo.
How many more at are Guantanamo now?
MACVICAR: There's at least four more who are there and two of those British citizens are part of the 14 who make up the case going before the Supreme Court today. Two of them are known to be held in solitary confinement, according to their lawyer. And they are said to be held in difficult conditions.
One reason why there is such grave concern here in the U.K. is that following the release of five U.K. nationals who had been in detention at Guantanamo and held there for two years without trial or access to lawyers, they were returned to the U.K. last month. And it transpired and became more publicly known at that time that through the course of their interrogations over those two years, some of these men had signed false confessions. They had made statements that their lawyers say were made under pressure and they say how can you know what people might have done or might not have done if you don't have the protection of law and access to lawyers in order to ensure that what interrogators are being told is, in fact, correct -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I don't know a great deal of background about these British citizens who were released and that you're speaking of. But have they been released into the general population now?
MACVICAR: One of the conditions for their release was that they would be questioned on their return by anti-terrorism or counter- terrorism authorities here in the country. They were all released within hours of their return to the U.K. and they are all back in their communities now. One man, in fact, wasn't even questioned by counter-terrorism authorities. Of course, these men have been questioned in detention by British security services, who had flown to Guantanamo for that purpose. So their questioning here in the U.K. was, if you will, rather more pro forma. They were released. They face no further investigation and no charges in this country -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Sheila MacVicar live from London this morning.
White House officials are generally pleased with Bob Woodward's new book on the run up to the Iraq war. In fact, it's on the suggested reading list of the Bush campaign Web site.
But at least some of the president's men take issue with key points made by the Watergate journalist.
CNN's John King has reaction to "Plan of Attack."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A new ambassador for post-war Iraq, and new question about the administration's secret planning that led to war in the first place. John Negroponte, currently the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is the president's choice to be the White House point man in Baghdad when a new Iraqi government assumes power June 30th.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No doubt in my mind he'll do a very good job and there is no doubt in my mind that Iraq will be free and democratic and peaceful.
KING: The announcement came as the administration faced questions about journalist Bob Woodward's new book, including a charge the White House secretly diverted $700 million in funds appropriated for the war against al Qaeda to plan for war in Iraq.
Some Democrats in Congress want an accounting. The White House says it did nothing wrong and that it kept key members of Congress informed.
DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: We followed the law. We followed the custom in how we brief, particularly on sensitive national security measures and those measures were followed.
KING: The book also says Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United States was briefed on the final war plan before Secretary of State Powell. Not so, says Powell.
COLIN POWELL, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I was briefed (ph) with the plan and aware that Prince Bandar was being briefed on the plan.
KING: Another controversial book nugget: A suggestion the Saudi ambassador promised his country would pump more oil and drive down gas prices before the November election.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A secret White House deal, that is outrageous and unacceptable to the American people.
KING: The White House says there were talks with the Saudis about the war's likely impact on oil prices but no secret deals.
BARTLETT: There was no promise or quid pro quo any sort about oil prices for the election.
KING: And the Saudi government issued a statement from Riyadh that said: "The allegation that the Kingdom is manipulating the price of oil for political purposes or to affect elections is erroneous and has no basis in fact."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And Bob Woodward was on CNN's "Larry King Live" to talk about "Plan of Attack." Saudi ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar, called into the show and took exception to Woodward's claim he was told the decision had been made to go to war. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
PRINCE BANDAR, SAUDI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: What he said is accurate. However, there was one sentence that was left out.
LARRY KING, HOST: And that is?
BANDAR: Both Vice President Cheney and Secretary Rumsfeld told me before the briefing that the president has not made a decision yet, but here is the plan and then the rest is accurate.
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": Then why would they say you can take this to the bank, it's going to happen and then, as I understand it, the vice president said when this starts, Saddam is toast? Is that correct?
BANDAR: That is absolutely correct, but underline when, because my response was the last time we tried this, we left Saddam in place. And I don't think anybody in the Middle East would like to try this again if Saddam would stay in place. And that's the rest of the story. So what Bob said was accurate...
KING: So, do we have semantics here?
BANDAR: ... except that I was informed that the president has not made the decision yet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: After Bandar hung up, Woodward spoke of the prince's denial in the context of his reporting all the way back to the Nixon White House and said, "That goes in the hall of fame of dodges and fishy explanations. I think it should get an Academy Award."
We want your take on Bob Woodward's account of Iraq war planning. Actually, we want your take on the oil price thing, the alleged deal. Bob Woodward said it wasn't a deal, but just a conversation between the president and the prince about how Saudi Arabia might make oil prices go down and right before the election. Do you think that's true? Do you think it has legs? Do you think Bob Kerrey will use it effectively in the campaign?
E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. We will read some of your opinions later on DAYBREAK.
It has been five years since the Columbine massacre. Has the Colorado high school recovered from the horrors of that day? We'll take you there.
Plus, you're on notice -- upcoming high profile events might be a target for terror. Find out what homeland security is doing about it and is it enough?
Also ahead, how the hip-hop generation hopes to change the tune of this election season.
And eat less, live longer -- a new study may make you change your dinner plans for life.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, April 20.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 5:14 Eastern time.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The Supreme Court hears arguments today over whether it has the authority over the military's control of detainees held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Republican officials say the White House will revise a proposed overtime regulation. They say the proposal will preserve eligibility for most white collar workers making up to $100,000 a year.
In money news, investors will be listening when Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan appears on Capitol Hill this afternoon. There is speculation the Fed could soon raise interest rates.
And in sports, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett has been ruled ineligible for this weekend's NFL draft. A federal appeals court turned down his attempt to bypass NFL draft rules.
In culture, want to see Darth Vader's new look? You can. There's a sneak preview of the next chapter in the Star Wars series in the DVD trilogy. That will be released tomorrow.
Did you see his new look in there? I didn't.
MYERS: Luke, I'm not your father.
Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: That's bad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Time now for a check of the financial markets overseas.
For that, of course, we head to London and Jim Boulden, who's checking the numbers for us -- good morning.
JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi.
Good morning, Carol.
Yes, we're two hours into the trading day here and I want to show you what's going on before people head out to their meetings or to the office. London and all the major markets in Europe have opened up quite strongly. We've had pretty much of a down day last -- on Monday, but we are up today. London, in fact, is near a 21 month high, so investors are very keen on the London market, indeed, though it's come down a little bit.
A quick look at currencies. Now, we've had a lot of currency movement in the last hour and that's because the British government has said that the CPI here, the Consumer Price Index, has only risen 1.1 percent this year. They look at it as, that's looked at as an inflation target, of course. But 1.1 percent means that the Bank of England here probably will not raise interest rates any time soon.
Of course, everyone's very keen to see what Alan Greenspan will do with interest rates. But it looks like here the U.K. won't. So the dollar has been gaining strength here. The dollar is also gaining strength against the euro because the German government has come out again and said -- or a German group has come out and said that the market there is weaker than expected, as well. So the European Central Bank probably won't raise interest rates either.
So the dollar gaining very well in European trading today -- Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Jim Boulden live from London this morning.
There will be no classes today at Columbine High School. Instead, people will gather for memorials and vigils. It is the fifth anniversary of the nation's worst school shooting.
CNN's Adrian Baschuk has more for you from Littleton, Colorado.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADRIAN BASCHUK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A new "We Are Columbine" sign. The school's cheer hangs prominently in this high school's once bullet ridden and shrapnel torn entryway.
FRANK DEANGELIS, PRINCIPAL, COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL: I truly believe that if we closed Columbine High School, that Klebold and Harris would have won.
BASCHUK: The school has come a long way since April 20, 1999.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were all black clothing. They had shotguns.
BASCHUK (on camera): Within minutes of the first shots being fired, local news crews arrived, some as misinformed as police, which at one point, police transcripts detail thought there were as many as 12 shooters inside. The live pictures of a school under siege gripped the nation.
(voice-over): Finally, at day's end, we learned Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were the sole shooters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Entry/exit.
BASCHUK: A five year investigation of the shootings made public in February revealed two teens with access to an arsenal of weapons. And a police reports described, a volatile history of being bullied and violent behavior, including death threats Eric Harris made to one time friend Brooks Brown.
BROOKS BROWN, CLASSMATE: We all knew someone who died and it was just a horrific day.
BASCHUK: Today, this is Columbine -- a new $3.5 million library, refurbished lockers and a renovated cafeteria stand where students once hid under lunch tables and ran for their lives.
DEANGELIS: I think it would have been very difficult for students and staff members to return to a place where so much carnage was. I think our resolve has just been outstanding.
BASCHUK: So outstanding that despite the killings, they are still proud to say "We Are Columbine."
Adrian Baschuk, CNN, Littleton, Colorado.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And coming up in our next hour, we'll talk with a security expert about the lessons learned from Columbine and what changes to school security are still in place today.
Also coming up later here on CNN, Columbine Principal Frank DeAngelis will join Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien on "American Morning." That comes your way at 7:00 a.m. Eastern.
Alarm bells in the homeland -- officials warn that high profile events may become targets. We'll show you the new tactic for fighting terror.
And, hey, have you read it yet? We are talking about Bob Woodward's new book, "Plan of Attack." We're taking your comments. Tell us what you think. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")
BOB WOODWARD, "WASHINGTON POST": We're going to have to go to war. And then he tells Rove the same thing and then he tells Rumsfeld and then he finally tells Powell. You know, is this a decision? Sure, it's a decision. You can't decide to go to war in 24 hours. You have to plan, you have to get ready, you have to tell people that this is coming. But Andy Card's right, it's not irrevocable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And Bob Woodward was on CNN's "Larry King" last night.
MYERS: He was.
COSTELLO: Still talking about what led up to the war in Iraq from the White House perspective. And, of course, he didn't really call it a deal. But he called it a conversation between President Bush and the Saudi prince to drop oil prices before the election, something the White House is flatly denying. Prince Bandar called in and flatly denied it, too. But it's out there.
MYERS: Is there really anything that Woodward has said that the president or that the administration has not denied? I mean is there anything really? I mean it's just -- this is just so one-sided or the other.
COSTELLO: Actually, in fairness to the White House, they've put the book on its preferred reading list. So it's...
MYERS: Oh, really?
COSTELLO: ... overall happy with the book.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: So maybe people should go out and read the book and decide for themselves.
But we're asking specifically for viewer e-mails about the oil thing and we got a few in.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: And we'd like to read some right now.
MYERS: Go ahead.
COSTELLO: You have one yourself. I'll read this one first.
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: This is from Jane from Santa Barbara, California. She says: "Prince Bandar's assurance that Saudi Arabia would drop oil prices just before the election sounds like a pattern seen before when the Reagan/Bush team tried to manipulate the Iran hostage crisis before Reagan's election, with this year's October surprise a politically convenient drop in oil prices to help Bush, Jr. get reelected.
MYERS: And from Robert in Albuquerque -- this is kind of funny: "I think they should keep their mouths shut on gas prices because I'm a consumer and I want lower prices at the pumps." Well, all right...
COSTELLO: See, he's just thinking of his own bottom line.
MYERS: Exactly.
COSTELLO: That's right.
And this comes from Bill from Duluth, Georgia. He says: "Regarding your question this morning, I find it funny how you want to try to make news out of the gas price manipulation question arising out of Woodward's book when the prince said last night on "Larry King" that having low oil prices is absolutely in the interests of the world, not just the United States. There was no attempt at manipulation," he says. And, of course, Prince Bandar did, indeed, said that.
All right...
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com if you want to weigh in with your own opinion.
Homeland security chief Tom Ridge says there are no specific threats, but terrorists are opportunists, so the United States must be prepared. He has announced steps to ratchet up security for some upcoming high profile events.
Our Jeanne Meserve has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The terrorist bombing of trains in Madrid just before the Spanish elections may have influenced the results, and has certainly influenced the thinking of U.S. intelligence analysts.
According to an administration official, this summer's political conventions, the election, the inaugural, as well as the G8 Summit in Georgia, which will bring together world leaders, are now of more concern to security officials than other large symbolic events like the Fourth of July Celebration on the National Mall.
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says that U.S. elections cycle might prove too tempting a target for terrorists to pass up.
TOM RIDGE, DIRECTOR, HOMELAND SECURITY: But this time, obviously, we do not have specific threat information around any of these events. But, ladies and gentlemen, we do have our common sense. And we don't need a change in the threat level to make us safer and more secure.
MESERVE: To improve the nation's preparation for all the high- profile events on the calendar, Ridge announced a new interagency working group to include his own department, the Departments of Justice, Energy, Transportation and others.
It will pay particular attention to critical infrastructures such as chemical plants and the electrical grid. Increasing coordination with state and local governments and the private sector. Some are asking why this wasn't done sooner.
REP. CAROL MALONEY (D), NEW YORK: My question is what has he been doing all this time. His job is to protect the American people. I don't see how what he's proposing is any different from what he's been charged with from day one.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
He was considered an Israeli traitor by some and a hometown hero by others. Now, after 18 years behind bars, why a nuclear weapons whistleblower is being silenced.
John Kerry is fired up and speaking out amidst explosive allegations of oil price fixing. Did a Saudi prince strike a deal with the president?
Plus, targeting Generation Next -- how hip-hop and politics are getting into the mix.
Don't miss a beat.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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