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CNN Live At Daybreak

Act of Terror; Eye on World; Coffey Talk: Prison Abuse Scandal

Aired May 12, 2004 - 06:30   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: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Here are the latest headlines for you now.
The body of the American beheaded in Iraq may be returned to the United States as early as today. The group that executed him issued a statement saying the worst is yet to come.

His executioners say they killed Nicholas Berg in retaliation for abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Well, today U.S. senators will look at new photos and videos of that abuse.

Pictures just in this morning shows fighting in Karbala, Iraq. Coalition forces say they've killed at least 20 militia members loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Seven coalition troops were wounded.

Will Athens be ready for the Olympics about three months from now? A member of the International Olympic Committee is holding a news conference right now to discuss construction and security issues.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Grief and anxiety in Westchester, Pennsylvania today. The family and friends of American Nicholas Berg are awaiting the return of his body from the Middle East. Neighbors and friends held a candlelight vigil last night outside the home of his parents. Berg was beheaded by his Iraqi captors.

Pennsylvania's governor had this reaction to the news of Berg's death:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ED RENDELL, PENNSYLVANIA: Our deepest sympathies to the Berg family, and it just seems so senseless that an American who went over there to try to help this country rebuild its telecommunications infrastructure could wind up with a fate like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Nicholas Berg owned a company that built, maintained and inspected communications towers.

The widow of another American beheaded in the Middle East is speaking out this morning. Mariane Pearl's husband, reporter Daniel Pearl, was killed in Pakistan in 2002. His murder was also on tape. Well, now the widow is reacting to this new act of terror. Deanna Durante of CNN affiliate WITI in Milwaukee has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEANNA DURANTE, CNN AFFILIATE WITI REPORTER (voice-over): His hands were chained by terrorists. The images went out into cyberspace after his January 2002 capture.

MARIANE PEARL, WIDOW OF DANIEL PEARL: This cycle of violence will not be ended by terrorists, and they are likely to become more gruesome.

DURANTE: Mariane Pearl knows what it's like when the hands of terrorists reach out and steal. Her husband, Daniel, was on assignment in Pakistan for "The Wall Street Journal." He was kidnapped. His days in captivity photographed and sent on the Internet. Terrorists slit his throat. The murder: videotaped and delivered to government officials.

PEARL: You know that since Danny died, many journalists have died and many other people have lost their loved ones to terrorism.

DURANTE: In Milwaukee as part of a lecture series Mrs. Pearl was set to talk about her life, her struggle and her loss. Tonight, she talked about another loss.

PEARL: I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the families, the relatives, the friends and all those who loved Nicholas Berg. It's a horrendous murder similar to the one Danny went through. And to me, it's also the proof that violence only leads to more violence, like a sad cycle of revenge.

DURANTE: Revenge, she says, is understandable, but that's not what Mrs. Pearl is asking for. Instead, she hopes we continue to fight for peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We want to talk more about who is responsible for Berg's murder. Our senior international editor, David Clinch, is here. We're going to talk about that and also reaction from the Arab world...

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right.

COSTELLO: ... about this gruesome videotape.

CLINCH: Yes, we've talked already about the difficulty we face in interpreting exactly who is responsible for the killing. The video is horrific. I've watched it.

We are being told by our Arab experts that despite the claim and the flaunting on the video and by people speaking in the video in Arabic that Zarqawi, this man that the U.S. says is behind much of the violence in Iraq, is responsible or even the man killing Nick Berg. Our experts are telling us that nobody in the video has a Jordanian accent. He is Jordanian. So, we're putting that aside for the time being and trying to find out more about who this group might be.

We're also following the reaction in Iraq itself, mixed reactions. Almost everybody we're speaking to in Iraq are horrified by the video, but, of course, it's coming to Iraqis through the prism of this prison abuse story and the presence of the U.S. military in Iraq. So, some mixed reaction in Iraq itself.

COSTELLO: Are they able to see that video in Iraq?

CLINCH: It has been running, not all of it. And we need to make this clear: No Iraqis that I know of, no Iraqi media, no Arab media that I know of, no full-scale Arab media that is on the Web has aired the full execution video. And we need to make that clear. But what we are airing, basically leading up the killing, is being seen by Iraqis and Arab leaders.

COSTELLO: And no word yet, no expressions of regret from any Arab leader.

CLINCH: Well, we're watching for that. I mean, it's early in the day. It missed many of the newspapers in the Middle East. And it's also, in the Middle East, competing with what's going on in Gaza -- I mean, Israeli soldiers being torn to bits in Gaza and other stories there are competing.

But we are watching for that. And that's a good question: Where is the outrage that we saw about the prisoner abuse story from Arab leaders and other leaders?

COSTELLO: Well, I only say that because such a big deal was made about America apologizing for what happened in the Abu Ghraib prison.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: So, many Americans want to hear the same thing.

CLINCH: I agree. And we are watching for that. The day is early. There may very well be. We have obviously friends of the United States -- Prime Minister Blair, who we'll see in an hour or so speaking on this subject, has already issued a statement calling it barbaric. But we are, as you say, looking for Arab reaction. And beyond some differing reactions already of the street level, we've looking for the leadership reaction as well.

COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks to you.

Just ahead on DAYBREAK, the Sony Corporation is making it more affordable for kids and adults to play. We'll tell you how.

And later, if you love sugar but don't want the calories, our nutritionist breaks down the safety of sugar substitutes. This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: It's time for a little business buzz right now. Just in time for your summer vacation, Sony cuts the price of Playstation, too.

Carrie Lee has more live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Why are they doing this?

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Well, basically they're trying to spur sales, Carol. Microsoft did it recently, and the sales have really soared there. So, what Sony is doing is cutting the price of its market-leading Playstation 2 videogame console to $149 from $179, putting the price in line with its closest competitor, which is the Microsoft Xbox.

Now, Xbox went to $149 at the end of March. Sales have really soared following that move, and Sony could use a sales boost as well, because late in April Sony said that the PS2 sales for the year ending in March 2005 could fall by as much as 30 percent.

So, this could help Sony on the sales front. It's kind of interesting, Carol, because some of these games themselves can cost up to 50 bucks, $40 or $50 for a new game. So, while the console price coming down is a good thing, people still have to shell out big bucks sometimes for these games themselves.

So, that's the latest here -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding. All right, Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

It's time for some "Coffey Talk" right now. Washington and the military are moving on the prison abuse scandal with lightning speed. The first court-martial proceeding begins one week from today.

Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, joins us by phone from Philadelphia on what we can expect.

Good morning -- Kendall.

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

COSTELLO: Let's start with Michael Sivits. He's going to be court-martialed in Iraq, and he supposedly took pictures of the abuse. But why is he going to be court-martialed in Iraq, where Lynndie England, a soldier in one of the pictures, is in Fort Bragg, North Carolina?

COFFEY: It's not unusual at all for soldiers to face charges in the theater of their operations. The intriguing thing with respect to Sivits is he's facing what is a special court-martial, which is generally if you were try to equate it to something in the civilian court would be misdemeanor criminal charges as opposed to more serious equivalent felony charges that one would face in a general court- martial. That's fueled speculation that he may, in effect, be cooperating with the authorities, and that on May 19 he may be providing specific testimony about some of the obviously disgraceful and illegal activities that were going on.

COSTELLO: So, what I'm wondering, though, is will the court- martial proceedings be less severe or different than court-martial proceedings being held here in the United States?

COFFEY: No, there won't be any difference in terms of the location. The key thing is the level of offense and, of course, the level of the court-martial. A general court-martial, which could be what some of the other accused soldiers are facing, has, in effect, felony-type sanctions. That requires, though, before you get there a proceeding that's somewhat like a grand jury proceeding in the civilian courts.

But in a military system the grand jury equivalent, Carol, allows the defense lawyers to actively cross-examine. So, it's a full-blown preliminary hearing, and that's what you get to before you get to a general court-martial with the more serious charges.

COSTELLO: So, in a general court-martial, is that pretty much the same thing as a trial with a jury and such?

COFFEY: Very similar. It requires two-thirds to convict as opposed to the unanimous verdict that we know a civilian jury requires. The rules of evidence are very similar. There will be counsel present. And in many ways, the military justice system is considered to be as fair or, in some regards, even more fair with respect to the rights of the accused than the United States justice system with its constitutional safeguards.

COSTELLO: A little "Coffey Talk" this morning. Kendall Coffey live from Philadelphia this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:44 Eastern Time. Here's what's all new this morning.

Disturbing video from an Islamic Web site shows the beheading of American hostage Nicholas Berg in Iraq. The masked men in the video say the killing is in part retaliation for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

All 100 U.S. senators will get a chance to see new photos and videos of prison abuse in Iraq. The Pentagon will make the pictures available to the senators for three hours this afternoon, but they will not be allowed to make copies.

In money news, the Senate has passed a tax bill that rewards American companies for manufacturing goods at home. The plan calls for $170 billion in cuts over the next decade.

And in sports, the Calgary Flames scored just 20 seconds in the game on the way to a 4-1 win over San Jose in the Western Conference finals. The Flames lead the Sharks two games to none in the series. In culture, it's time to take a trip to Southfork. Coming soon, the first and second seasons of the primetime soap "Dallas" will be available on DVD.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. Coming up next on DAYBREAK, just how safe is the Equal or Nutrasweet in your morning coffee? Nutritionist Lisa Drayer breaks down the safety in sugar substitutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK. (AUDIO GAP) this morning where we have been for quite some time, but now they're going to be the highest in U.S. history.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Forty bucks a barrel yesterday and $2.03 is the estimate.

COSTELLO: For an average price of regular.

MYERS: Regular gas.

COSTELLO: Unbelievable!

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: You know, you were telling us a couple of days ago about how to save gas, and you had some good tips.

MYERS: Well, you certainly can just with vehicle maintenance itself. You can make sure that the tires are fully inflated. Inside the door or inside the gas door you will find what your tire recommendation is for front and back. A lot of times they're different. So, get those pumped up to that level.

If you're at 29 pounds and you should be 35 pounds, you're going to lose two miles per gallon because of the extra drag on your car.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: Also, your air filter. It could be really dirty. It could be completely -- you know what the pollen looked like this year. It was ugly in some spots. If your air filter is clogged with pollen, you're going to lose another one to two miles per gallon.

COSTELLO: So, get that thing changed.

MYERS: You know, and then if you're losing four miles per gallon, compared to maybe 25 you're getting 21, if you can get that back -- and it's not expensive to get it back. An air filter is about six bucks for a normal car.

COSTELLO: Of course, the best tip is to buy a bike.

MYERS: That's a 21-mile ride for me to work.

COSTELLO: Think of the weight you'd lose.

MYERS: I'll start right now.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Just how much do you know about sugar substitutes? You know, Sweet 'N Low, Nutrasweet, saccharin, the sugar substitutes in soft drinks. Well, some studies suggest they are not good for you. So, who do you listen to?

Joining us from New York to sort out what's good and what's not is our nutritionist, Lisa Drayer.

Good morning, Lisa.

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: Good morning, Carol.

And what's raised some controversy, Carol -- I'm not sure, actually, you probably are very aware, as we all are -- is saccharin. That is saccharin has raised controversy because there has been some research that the Center for Science in the Public Interest has revealed that it does cause cancer.

So, they point to a National Cancer Institute study which has revealed that saccharin is associated with a slightly increased risk of bladder cancer in humans in heavy saccharin users. Heavy meaning six or more servings of a sugar substitute consumed daily or two eight-ounce servings of a diet beverage consumed daily.

Now, the National Cancer Institute, however, says saccharin is safe for human consumption. And because of this, Congress removed a warning label on saccharin in December of 2000.

So, the bottom line is it looks like saccharin is safe, and other experts that I spoke to also say that it's safe. For example, Dr. Sam Cohen (ph), his laboratory revealed research on saccharin causing bladder cancer in rats. And he says saccharin is safe.

The FDA also says that it would take about 1,000 cans of diet soda or 7,000 packets of Sweet 'N Low to give the same amount of cancer that caused that cancer in rats.

COSTELLO: And you'd have to be mighty thirsty to drink all of that.

DRAYER: Exactly.

COSTELLO: You know, the thing that I've been seeing out of coffee shops and the like is Splenda. That's become really popular. What about that?

DRAYER: Yes. Splenda, Carol, is the most recently-approved sweetener by the FDA, also known as sucralose. It's a chemically- altered version of table sugar, but it's altered in such a way that it doesn't get metabolized in the same way in the body. Therefore, it does not contribute calories.

The nice thing about sucralose is that it does not raise blood sugar levels, so it's a really good option for diabetics. Also, it's very heat-stable; that is, it can retain its sweetness at very high temperatures. So, it's often used in cooking and baking. And you can actually find some cookbooks out now that use Splenda as an ingredient in different foods and deserts.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes you can. Aspartame.

DRAYER: Yes, that's right. The FDA says that aspartame, also known as Equal or Nutrasweet, is safe. They've conducted a lot of lifetime studies on aspartame. Also, the Center for Science in the Public Interest says there's no basis to the claims on the Internet that say that aspartame caused everything from Alzheimer's to multiple sclerosis.

However, if you do have headaches -- some people report headaches from consuming aspartame -- the Center for Science in the Public Interest says it's probably a good idea to avoid aspartame.

And also any food containing aspartame must contain a warning that aspartame contains an amino acid known as phenylalanine. Some people have a genetic disorder known as PKU, or phenylketonuria, and they can't metabolize this amino acid found in aspartame. So, that's why you'll see that warning on the label.

COSTELLO: OK.

DRAYER: So, if you have this condition, you'll see that.

COSTELLO: Well, thanks for sorting it out for us, Lisa Drayer, live in New York this morning.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: It's quiz time.

MYERS: And be very careful eating sugar alcohol. A lot of the candy bars, the fake candy bars have sugar alcohol in them. Just don't eat too much. It's OK, but let me tell you, if you eat too much, you'll be running to the bathroom an awful lot.

COSTELLO: Would you stop and get to the winner?

MYERS: Just trying to be accurate here.

Hey, it's time to give away the coffee mug from yesterday. What is the estimated cost of the FBI's computer upgrade to prevent terrorist attacks? The answer was $600 million. It's clearly not going well either.

And the average U.S. tax refund rose by what percent? Five percent.

The winner from Florida is John Howes from Saint Petersburg. Good morning, Tampa-Saint Petersburg in the Old Bay area.

Now today's questions. Sony has reduced the price of the Playstation. What is the new price?

And what major event was taking place in D.C. the last time the cicadas came in 1987?

COSTELLO: Oh! I love that. Of course, we'll name the winner tomorrow. And Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Kim Fields, Tuttie (ph). Her name was Tuttie (ph).

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: It is time for our "Lightning Round." I'm glad you're down here for this "Lightning Round."

MYERS: I try every day.

COSTELLO: Although we just had the sound effects but no pictures. But who cares?

MYERS: Because the lightning is not on my computer right now.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Well, let's get going. Most 11-month-olds enjoy a splash in the kiddie pool, and that goes for baby elephants. Isn't that cute? Zookeepers in Vienna came up with this wet solution when the warm weather came early to Austria this year. Why do we like animal video so much?

MYERS: They're just having a good time in there.

COSTELLO: Yes, with that little beach ball.

Could baseball be older than we think? This 1791 bylaw from Pittsfield, Massachusetts prohibits the game from being played within 80 yards of the town's meeting hall to protect the building's windows. And, of course, as you know, legend has it that baseball was not invented...

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: ... until 1839 by?

MYERS: Abner Doubleday (ph).

COSTELLO: It might be older than we think. Interesting.

Worship on the Web -- listen to this. A Christian Web site in Britain has come up with a way for you to get a sermon at home. Once you log in as a member of the congregation, you're represented as an animated character in a pew. A cartoon preacher delivers a real sermon. The Web program even passes an animated collection plate. And, of course, you can use you cell phone to...

MYERS: I'm sure you can probably put your credit card right into the Web site as well. Isn't that funny?

COSTELLO: Sure.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

MYERS: Enjoy your Wednesday.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.


Aired May 12, 2004 - 06:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Here are the latest headlines for you now.
The body of the American beheaded in Iraq may be returned to the United States as early as today. The group that executed him issued a statement saying the worst is yet to come.

His executioners say they killed Nicholas Berg in retaliation for abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Well, today U.S. senators will look at new photos and videos of that abuse.

Pictures just in this morning shows fighting in Karbala, Iraq. Coalition forces say they've killed at least 20 militia members loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Seven coalition troops were wounded.

Will Athens be ready for the Olympics about three months from now? A member of the International Olympic Committee is holding a news conference right now to discuss construction and security issues.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Grief and anxiety in Westchester, Pennsylvania today. The family and friends of American Nicholas Berg are awaiting the return of his body from the Middle East. Neighbors and friends held a candlelight vigil last night outside the home of his parents. Berg was beheaded by his Iraqi captors.

Pennsylvania's governor had this reaction to the news of Berg's death:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. ED RENDELL, PENNSYLVANIA: Our deepest sympathies to the Berg family, and it just seems so senseless that an American who went over there to try to help this country rebuild its telecommunications infrastructure could wind up with a fate like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Nicholas Berg owned a company that built, maintained and inspected communications towers.

The widow of another American beheaded in the Middle East is speaking out this morning. Mariane Pearl's husband, reporter Daniel Pearl, was killed in Pakistan in 2002. His murder was also on tape. Well, now the widow is reacting to this new act of terror. Deanna Durante of CNN affiliate WITI in Milwaukee has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEANNA DURANTE, CNN AFFILIATE WITI REPORTER (voice-over): His hands were chained by terrorists. The images went out into cyberspace after his January 2002 capture.

MARIANE PEARL, WIDOW OF DANIEL PEARL: This cycle of violence will not be ended by terrorists, and they are likely to become more gruesome.

DURANTE: Mariane Pearl knows what it's like when the hands of terrorists reach out and steal. Her husband, Daniel, was on assignment in Pakistan for "The Wall Street Journal." He was kidnapped. His days in captivity photographed and sent on the Internet. Terrorists slit his throat. The murder: videotaped and delivered to government officials.

PEARL: You know that since Danny died, many journalists have died and many other people have lost their loved ones to terrorism.

DURANTE: In Milwaukee as part of a lecture series Mrs. Pearl was set to talk about her life, her struggle and her loss. Tonight, she talked about another loss.

PEARL: I want to offer my heartfelt condolences to the families, the relatives, the friends and all those who loved Nicholas Berg. It's a horrendous murder similar to the one Danny went through. And to me, it's also the proof that violence only leads to more violence, like a sad cycle of revenge.

DURANTE: Revenge, she says, is understandable, but that's not what Mrs. Pearl is asking for. Instead, she hopes we continue to fight for peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We want to talk more about who is responsible for Berg's murder. Our senior international editor, David Clinch, is here. We're going to talk about that and also reaction from the Arab world...

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Right.

COSTELLO: ... about this gruesome videotape.

CLINCH: Yes, we've talked already about the difficulty we face in interpreting exactly who is responsible for the killing. The video is horrific. I've watched it.

We are being told by our Arab experts that despite the claim and the flaunting on the video and by people speaking in the video in Arabic that Zarqawi, this man that the U.S. says is behind much of the violence in Iraq, is responsible or even the man killing Nick Berg. Our experts are telling us that nobody in the video has a Jordanian accent. He is Jordanian. So, we're putting that aside for the time being and trying to find out more about who this group might be.

We're also following the reaction in Iraq itself, mixed reactions. Almost everybody we're speaking to in Iraq are horrified by the video, but, of course, it's coming to Iraqis through the prism of this prison abuse story and the presence of the U.S. military in Iraq. So, some mixed reaction in Iraq itself.

COSTELLO: Are they able to see that video in Iraq?

CLINCH: It has been running, not all of it. And we need to make this clear: No Iraqis that I know of, no Iraqi media, no Arab media that I know of, no full-scale Arab media that is on the Web has aired the full execution video. And we need to make that clear. But what we are airing, basically leading up the killing, is being seen by Iraqis and Arab leaders.

COSTELLO: And no word yet, no expressions of regret from any Arab leader.

CLINCH: Well, we're watching for that. I mean, it's early in the day. It missed many of the newspapers in the Middle East. And it's also, in the Middle East, competing with what's going on in Gaza -- I mean, Israeli soldiers being torn to bits in Gaza and other stories there are competing.

But we are watching for that. And that's a good question: Where is the outrage that we saw about the prisoner abuse story from Arab leaders and other leaders?

COSTELLO: Well, I only say that because such a big deal was made about America apologizing for what happened in the Abu Ghraib prison.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: So, many Americans want to hear the same thing.

CLINCH: I agree. And we are watching for that. The day is early. There may very well be. We have obviously friends of the United States -- Prime Minister Blair, who we'll see in an hour or so speaking on this subject, has already issued a statement calling it barbaric. But we are, as you say, looking for Arab reaction. And beyond some differing reactions already of the street level, we've looking for the leadership reaction as well.

COSTELLO: David Clinch, many thanks to you.

Just ahead on DAYBREAK, the Sony Corporation is making it more affordable for kids and adults to play. We'll tell you how.

And later, if you love sugar but don't want the calories, our nutritionist breaks down the safety of sugar substitutes. This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: It's time for a little business buzz right now. Just in time for your summer vacation, Sony cuts the price of Playstation, too.

Carrie Lee has more live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Why are they doing this?

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Well, basically they're trying to spur sales, Carol. Microsoft did it recently, and the sales have really soared there. So, what Sony is doing is cutting the price of its market-leading Playstation 2 videogame console to $149 from $179, putting the price in line with its closest competitor, which is the Microsoft Xbox.

Now, Xbox went to $149 at the end of March. Sales have really soared following that move, and Sony could use a sales boost as well, because late in April Sony said that the PS2 sales for the year ending in March 2005 could fall by as much as 30 percent.

So, this could help Sony on the sales front. It's kind of interesting, Carol, because some of these games themselves can cost up to 50 bucks, $40 or $50 for a new game. So, while the console price coming down is a good thing, people still have to shell out big bucks sometimes for these games themselves.

So, that's the latest here -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Boy, you're not kidding. All right, Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

It's time for some "Coffey Talk" right now. Washington and the military are moving on the prison abuse scandal with lightning speed. The first court-martial proceeding begins one week from today.

Our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey, joins us by phone from Philadelphia on what we can expect.

Good morning -- Kendall.

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

COSTELLO: Let's start with Michael Sivits. He's going to be court-martialed in Iraq, and he supposedly took pictures of the abuse. But why is he going to be court-martialed in Iraq, where Lynndie England, a soldier in one of the pictures, is in Fort Bragg, North Carolina?

COFFEY: It's not unusual at all for soldiers to face charges in the theater of their operations. The intriguing thing with respect to Sivits is he's facing what is a special court-martial, which is generally if you were try to equate it to something in the civilian court would be misdemeanor criminal charges as opposed to more serious equivalent felony charges that one would face in a general court- martial. That's fueled speculation that he may, in effect, be cooperating with the authorities, and that on May 19 he may be providing specific testimony about some of the obviously disgraceful and illegal activities that were going on.

COSTELLO: So, what I'm wondering, though, is will the court- martial proceedings be less severe or different than court-martial proceedings being held here in the United States?

COFFEY: No, there won't be any difference in terms of the location. The key thing is the level of offense and, of course, the level of the court-martial. A general court-martial, which could be what some of the other accused soldiers are facing, has, in effect, felony-type sanctions. That requires, though, before you get there a proceeding that's somewhat like a grand jury proceeding in the civilian courts.

But in a military system the grand jury equivalent, Carol, allows the defense lawyers to actively cross-examine. So, it's a full-blown preliminary hearing, and that's what you get to before you get to a general court-martial with the more serious charges.

COSTELLO: So, in a general court-martial, is that pretty much the same thing as a trial with a jury and such?

COFFEY: Very similar. It requires two-thirds to convict as opposed to the unanimous verdict that we know a civilian jury requires. The rules of evidence are very similar. There will be counsel present. And in many ways, the military justice system is considered to be as fair or, in some regards, even more fair with respect to the rights of the accused than the United States justice system with its constitutional safeguards.

COSTELLO: A little "Coffey Talk" this morning. Kendall Coffey live from Philadelphia this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:44 Eastern Time. Here's what's all new this morning.

Disturbing video from an Islamic Web site shows the beheading of American hostage Nicholas Berg in Iraq. The masked men in the video say the killing is in part retaliation for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

All 100 U.S. senators will get a chance to see new photos and videos of prison abuse in Iraq. The Pentagon will make the pictures available to the senators for three hours this afternoon, but they will not be allowed to make copies.

In money news, the Senate has passed a tax bill that rewards American companies for manufacturing goods at home. The plan calls for $170 billion in cuts over the next decade.

And in sports, the Calgary Flames scored just 20 seconds in the game on the way to a 4-1 win over San Jose in the Western Conference finals. The Flames lead the Sharks two games to none in the series. In culture, it's time to take a trip to Southfork. Coming soon, the first and second seasons of the primetime soap "Dallas" will be available on DVD.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. Coming up next on DAYBREAK, just how safe is the Equal or Nutrasweet in your morning coffee? Nutritionist Lisa Drayer breaks down the safety in sugar substitutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK. (AUDIO GAP) this morning where we have been for quite some time, but now they're going to be the highest in U.S. history.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Forty bucks a barrel yesterday and $2.03 is the estimate.

COSTELLO: For an average price of regular.

MYERS: Regular gas.

COSTELLO: Unbelievable!

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: You know, you were telling us a couple of days ago about how to save gas, and you had some good tips.

MYERS: Well, you certainly can just with vehicle maintenance itself. You can make sure that the tires are fully inflated. Inside the door or inside the gas door you will find what your tire recommendation is for front and back. A lot of times they're different. So, get those pumped up to that level.

If you're at 29 pounds and you should be 35 pounds, you're going to lose two miles per gallon because of the extra drag on your car.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: Also, your air filter. It could be really dirty. It could be completely -- you know what the pollen looked like this year. It was ugly in some spots. If your air filter is clogged with pollen, you're going to lose another one to two miles per gallon.

COSTELLO: So, get that thing changed.

MYERS: You know, and then if you're losing four miles per gallon, compared to maybe 25 you're getting 21, if you can get that back -- and it's not expensive to get it back. An air filter is about six bucks for a normal car.

COSTELLO: Of course, the best tip is to buy a bike.

MYERS: That's a 21-mile ride for me to work.

COSTELLO: Think of the weight you'd lose.

MYERS: I'll start right now.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Just how much do you know about sugar substitutes? You know, Sweet 'N Low, Nutrasweet, saccharin, the sugar substitutes in soft drinks. Well, some studies suggest they are not good for you. So, who do you listen to?

Joining us from New York to sort out what's good and what's not is our nutritionist, Lisa Drayer.

Good morning, Lisa.

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: Good morning, Carol.

And what's raised some controversy, Carol -- I'm not sure, actually, you probably are very aware, as we all are -- is saccharin. That is saccharin has raised controversy because there has been some research that the Center for Science in the Public Interest has revealed that it does cause cancer.

So, they point to a National Cancer Institute study which has revealed that saccharin is associated with a slightly increased risk of bladder cancer in humans in heavy saccharin users. Heavy meaning six or more servings of a sugar substitute consumed daily or two eight-ounce servings of a diet beverage consumed daily.

Now, the National Cancer Institute, however, says saccharin is safe for human consumption. And because of this, Congress removed a warning label on saccharin in December of 2000.

So, the bottom line is it looks like saccharin is safe, and other experts that I spoke to also say that it's safe. For example, Dr. Sam Cohen (ph), his laboratory revealed research on saccharin causing bladder cancer in rats. And he says saccharin is safe.

The FDA also says that it would take about 1,000 cans of diet soda or 7,000 packets of Sweet 'N Low to give the same amount of cancer that caused that cancer in rats.

COSTELLO: And you'd have to be mighty thirsty to drink all of that.

DRAYER: Exactly.

COSTELLO: You know, the thing that I've been seeing out of coffee shops and the like is Splenda. That's become really popular. What about that?

DRAYER: Yes. Splenda, Carol, is the most recently-approved sweetener by the FDA, also known as sucralose. It's a chemically- altered version of table sugar, but it's altered in such a way that it doesn't get metabolized in the same way in the body. Therefore, it does not contribute calories.

The nice thing about sucralose is that it does not raise blood sugar levels, so it's a really good option for diabetics. Also, it's very heat-stable; that is, it can retain its sweetness at very high temperatures. So, it's often used in cooking and baking. And you can actually find some cookbooks out now that use Splenda as an ingredient in different foods and deserts.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes you can. Aspartame.

DRAYER: Yes, that's right. The FDA says that aspartame, also known as Equal or Nutrasweet, is safe. They've conducted a lot of lifetime studies on aspartame. Also, the Center for Science in the Public Interest says there's no basis to the claims on the Internet that say that aspartame caused everything from Alzheimer's to multiple sclerosis.

However, if you do have headaches -- some people report headaches from consuming aspartame -- the Center for Science in the Public Interest says it's probably a good idea to avoid aspartame.

And also any food containing aspartame must contain a warning that aspartame contains an amino acid known as phenylalanine. Some people have a genetic disorder known as PKU, or phenylketonuria, and they can't metabolize this amino acid found in aspartame. So, that's why you'll see that warning on the label.

COSTELLO: OK.

DRAYER: So, if you have this condition, you'll see that.

COSTELLO: Well, thanks for sorting it out for us, Lisa Drayer, live in New York this morning.

DRAYER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: It's quiz time.

MYERS: And be very careful eating sugar alcohol. A lot of the candy bars, the fake candy bars have sugar alcohol in them. Just don't eat too much. It's OK, but let me tell you, if you eat too much, you'll be running to the bathroom an awful lot.

COSTELLO: Would you stop and get to the winner?

MYERS: Just trying to be accurate here.

Hey, it's time to give away the coffee mug from yesterday. What is the estimated cost of the FBI's computer upgrade to prevent terrorist attacks? The answer was $600 million. It's clearly not going well either.

And the average U.S. tax refund rose by what percent? Five percent.

The winner from Florida is John Howes from Saint Petersburg. Good morning, Tampa-Saint Petersburg in the Old Bay area.

Now today's questions. Sony has reduced the price of the Playstation. What is the new price?

And what major event was taking place in D.C. the last time the cicadas came in 1987?

COSTELLO: Oh! I love that. Of course, we'll name the winner tomorrow. And Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.

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COSTELLO: Kim Fields, Tuttie (ph). Her name was Tuttie (ph).

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: It is time for our "Lightning Round." I'm glad you're down here for this "Lightning Round."

MYERS: I try every day.

COSTELLO: Although we just had the sound effects but no pictures. But who cares?

MYERS: Because the lightning is not on my computer right now.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Well, let's get going. Most 11-month-olds enjoy a splash in the kiddie pool, and that goes for baby elephants. Isn't that cute? Zookeepers in Vienna came up with this wet solution when the warm weather came early to Austria this year. Why do we like animal video so much?

MYERS: They're just having a good time in there.

COSTELLO: Yes, with that little beach ball.

Could baseball be older than we think? This 1791 bylaw from Pittsfield, Massachusetts prohibits the game from being played within 80 yards of the town's meeting hall to protect the building's windows. And, of course, as you know, legend has it that baseball was not invented...

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: ... until 1839 by?

MYERS: Abner Doubleday (ph).

COSTELLO: It might be older than we think. Interesting.

Worship on the Web -- listen to this. A Christian Web site in Britain has come up with a way for you to get a sermon at home. Once you log in as a member of the congregation, you're represented as an animated character in a pew. A cartoon preacher delivers a real sermon. The Web program even passes an animated collection plate. And, of course, you can use you cell phone to...

MYERS: I'm sure you can probably put your credit card right into the Web site as well. Isn't that funny?

COSTELLO: Sure.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

MYERS: Enjoy your Wednesday.

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