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CNN Live At Daybreak

Baghdad Blast; Beheadings; America Votes; Gay Marriage; Soggy Bottoms

Aired May 17, 2004 - 05:30   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: Striking at the center of Iraq, shaky civilian government, the president of the Iraqi Governing Council is killed this morning in a suicide car bombing.
It is Monday, May 17. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Here is what's happening right now. A suicide car bomb explosion in central Baghdad has killed Izzedine Salim. He is the president of the Iraqi Governing Council. At least three other Iraqis were killed in the blast at a coalition checkpoint.

They started at midnight in some Massachusetts cities issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

In money news, NBC will spend $40 million on a promotional campaign for its coverage of the Athens Olympic Games. The Peacock Network is shooting for younger viewers, ages 18 to 34.

In sports, Roy Jones Jr. got knocked on his backside. Did you see this? The man known as the "best pound for pound fighter" got pounded himself by Antonio Tarver. It is just the second loss in 14 years for Jones.

In culture, record producer Quincy Jones scored another hit, this time with his "We Are the Future" concert in Rome. The star-studded affair was set up as a benefit for children living in war zones.

In weather, a blazing fire in Arizona. Let's bring in our own Rob Marciano in for Chad this morning.

Good morning -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you very much, Rob.

Let's talk more about that suicide car bombing in Baghdad right now, the one that killed the president of the Iraqi Governing Council.

David Clinch, our senior international editor, joins us with more.

This was an amazing explosion. Amazing is probably not the word.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes.

COSTELLO: But this explosion left a crater five feet across and three feet deep.

CLINCH: I know. We could see the smoke from miles away. From our camera position in the middle of the night last night our time we saw this huge explosion in the -- in the distance. It took quite some time for us to work out exactly what it was. We were then, shortly after that, told it was a car bomb. It took, again, some time after that for us to confirm what we were hearing on the ground that the current president of the Iraqi Governing Council Izzedine Salim was in this -- at this checkpoint and was killed in the attack.

COSTELLO: Let's go through exactly how this happened. They're at this checkpoint. There is a convoy of five white Nissan vehicles. The president of the Iraqi Governing Council is in one of those vehicles.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: This happened near The Green Zone where the coalition headquarters are.

CLINCH: Right. By the reports that we're getting from Iraqi officials, this has not been confirmed by the U.S. military at this point, at least Salim and his guards and his people were in a convoy heading into The Green Zone for a scheduled Governing Council meeting today.

There are some reports separately that other Governing Council members were also in the area in the convoy. We have not confirmed that. We do know that none others -- no others were injured or killed. But as we were saying earlier, if that is confirmed, it certainly could have been worse.

But it also brings up the question, again, of whether it was targeting. And we simply don't know at this point.

COSTELLO: Well let's go on with that, because all of a sudden this red car comes up to the checkpoint and explodes.

CLINCH: Right, and there are indications, from what General Kimmitt told us on the scene, that the red car, which we are told was the suicide bomber, headed directly to those cars that were in a convoy formation coming up to the checkpoint. Again, a lot of details to be checked out for no other reason than almost every car in the convoy was destroyed. So it's going to take some time for them to sort out exactly what happened.

But on the political side, obviously, a massive hit to the U.S. and its efforts to lead up to this June 30 handover. The Governing Council is at the center of that. Moderates like him, and especially as -- with him, Salim playing this president role at the moment, creates a big problem for them.

COSTELLO: And we'll explore that issue more in a moment.

CLINCH: Yes, we'll hear from the Governing Council in a press conference within the next couple of hours.

COSTELLO: OK, we look forward to that. David, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: OK.

COSTELLO: Colin Powell says the Arab world should be showing a higher level of outrage at the beheading of American civilian Nicholas Berg in Iraq. Says Powell, there is no excuse for silence on this kind of murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: What we saw with this horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible murder of Mr. Berg should be deplored throughout the world. It is an outrage. And the terrible thing about it is these individuals are yet to be brought to justice. They have no concept of justice, they have no concept of right, what a horrible thing for them to have done. But as the president said, we will do everything we can to bring all of these people to justice so they can pay for this horrendous crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell adds the killing should be deplored throughout the Arab world.

Nicholas Berg was the second American to be beheaded on camera by terrorists. The first was "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl.

Our Manila bureau chief Maria Ressa says this method of killing is not tactical, but strategic, a bid for publicity and extreme reaction.

Tell us more -- Maria.

MARIA RESSA, CNN MANILA BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, we started our investigation precisely on what you pointed out, the similarities, eerie similarities between the beheadings of Daniel Pearl and that of Nick Berg. Then we went behind the scenes to take a look at the people involved in it.

In the case of Daniel Pearl, the man who was convicted of his killing has been linked to the first instance that beheading was used internationally. In 1995, a Norwegian tourist was beheaded in Kashmir. Three years later, in 1998, four severed heads of Westerners were discovered in Chechnya. Authorities later said that was the work of al Qaeda and that money had been funneled through a Jordanian who was a good friend of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man who was allegedly behind the beheading of Nick Berg. What terrorism experts tell us is that perhaps unbeknownst to the agencies and law enforcement agencies around the world, al Qaeda and its associate groups has long -- have long been using beheading as a terror tactic. And these terrorism experts also warn that the success of this tactic, if you will, the international attention that's been generated by the deaths of Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg could mean that there may be more gruesome deaths ahead -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But, Maria, might this sort of extreme tactic backfire as well?

RESSA: Certainly. But at this point, what al Qaeda is pushing is a tactic that they want their associate groups, their forces to carry out against infidels. If you take a look at the -- at all of the information that has come out, at the writings of al Qaeda and its associate groups, they look at anyone who is a non-Muslim, this is an ideology of hatred. Anyone who is a non-Muslim is an infidel. And this, according to al Qaeda, is the way you treat infidels who are trying to kill you, slit their throats. It's something that defines the hatred, the ideology of hatred that al Qaeda is pushing worldwide.

COSTELLO: Maria Ressa reporting live from the Philippines this morning.

Was the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison part of a secret program approved by Donald Rumsfeld? That is the claim being made in the latest edition of "The New Yorker" magazine. Journalist Seymour Hersh says a special unit was established to use any means necessary to get information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEYMOUR HERSH, "THE NEW YORKER": The question should -- that should be asked is was there a covert operation set up after the Afghanistan war and were people in this secret unit diverted, at the request of the Secretary of Defense and the -- his undersecretary for intelligence, Mr. Cambone, was it diverted to Baghdad? And when it was, were they instructed to really get tough with the prisoners there in an effort to get information on the growing insurgency there? This is last fall. And did part of those instructions call for not only physical abuse but also sexual abuse?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Pentagon denies the claims made in Hersh's article. They call the report outlandish and filled with errors.

The poll numbers have switched in the 2004 presidential race. Neither side admits there is any cause for concern, though. But our senior political analyst Bill Schneider suggests maybe one of them should be concerned.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): If President Bush is in so much trouble, shouldn't John Kerry have a big lead over him?

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Listen, man, I don't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) polls, but we're in good shape.

SCHNEIDER: Is he?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No president, incumbent president who has been as low as the president is today has won reelection.

SCHNEIDER: Let's look at the approval ratings for three incumbent presidents who went on to win reelection: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. In May of their reelection year, Nixon's job approval was 62 percent. Reagan's was 54 and Clinton's was 55. All well above 50.

Now look at the approval ratings of three incumbents who didn't win a second term: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush, all below 50 in May of election year. Where is President Bush right now? Forty-six percent. That doesn't look good for him.

But approval ratings aren't everything. So what if President Bush has problems, Republicans say. We're going to turn this election into a referendum on John Kerry.

MATTHEW DOWD, SENIOR STRATEGIST, BUSH-CHENEY 2004: The comparisons between the two candidates are going to matter a great deal.

SCHNEIDER: At this point in 1972, 1984 and 1996, when incumbents got reelected, presidents had double-digit leads over their challengers. Nixon was almost 20 points ahead of George McGovern. Reagan was 10 points ahead of Walter Mondale. Clinton was leading Bob Dole by 15.

Now look in years when incumbents lost. In May 1976, Ford was trailing Carter by 13 points. But in May 1980, Carter was ahead of Reagan. And in May 1992, Bush was leading Clinton. In fact, so was Ross Perot.

So even doomed incumbents were in the lead at this point, except in 1976. But Ford, of course, had not been elected in the first place.

So what about this year? The latest poll shows Kerry five points ahead of Bush. The challenger is leading. That's rare this early. It's also a good sign for Kerry.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we are almost ready to announce your choice for John Kerry's running mate. The Veepstakes on CNN.com is down to the final two contestants. Thanks to your votes, John Edwards and Wesley Clark beat out 30 other hopefuls. This was just a fun kind of thing we decided to do and we had a great response. The winner, by the way, will be announced tomorrow.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a major milestone for gay couples in Massachusetts what happened this morning.

This is DAYBREAK for Monday, May 17.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 46 minutes past the hour. Here is what's all new this morning.

A suicide car bomber in Baghdad has killed the leader of the Iraqi Governing Council. These pictures just in to us this morning. These are pictures of the attack there in Baghdad. U.S. troops say the blast killed at least four other people.

It's legal, gays in Massachusetts are getting marriage licenses this morning. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex unions.

In money news, the Hummer is being hammered. Sales for the biggest and badest sports utility vehicle have fallen for eight straight months and now dealers are offering their first Hummer rebates.

In sports, track star Marion Jones is vowing to sue if she is barred from this summer's Olympic Games. It's possible because of a federal investigation into steroid sales by a lab linked to the Olympic gold medal winner.

In culture, a museum chronicling the short life of actor James Dean has opened just outside of Dean's hometown of Fairmont, Indiana.

And in weather -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Hey, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

At the stroke of midnight in Massachusetts, thousands of gay and lesbian couples broke into cheers and city clerks were open for business handing out marriage licenses.

Sonya Pfeiffer of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston talked to the first couple in line.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SONYA PFEIFFER, WCVB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): The rain doesn't stand a chance of dampening this campout. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most of our lives we have never ever imagined that this would happen. In fact, we never imagined this would happen.

PFEIFFER: Well before the drizzle, Susan Shepherd (ph) and Marsha Hamms (ph) took their places in front of Cambridge City Hall, the first in line to file for a same-sex marriage license.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To have the highest court in the state affirm your right to be a family was wonderful and it just gave you courage.

PFEIFFER: By mid-afternoon, Susan and Marsha had company, more eager couples, champagne bubbles and bouquets of flowers, stems stuck inside pockets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me it's like Christmas.

PFEIFFER: Anita Savo (ph) and Emily Kay (ph) have been together nearly 30 years. Their excitement over legalizing their commit is not tarnished by the possibility of Massachusetts' voters amending a ban to gay marriage in 2006.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I firmly believe that two-and-a-half years after all of us are married, it's going to be a non-issue, and the world will not come to an end and the word marriage will persist.

PFEIFFER: Cambridge city worker Jeff Walker (ph) expects 200 to 300 couples will line up.

JEFF WALKER, CAMBRIDGE CITY WORKER: Personally and professionally, it absolutely is the right thing for us to be doing. And to connect with these people and talk to them and hear their stories, hear all the different kinds of plans that people are making, it's really exciting to share that with them.

PFEIFFER: It's a sharing that many here thought would never happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Again, that report from Sonya Pfeiffer of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston.

You'll find additional details of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts on our Web site. That's of course at CNN.com.

Television commercials, they're getting increasingly creative and some of them are even funny and not so annoying. Just ahead, find out how out-of-the-box thinkers are awarded for getting your attention.

And it really takes some creativity to come up with an annual race, such as this one, taking place on a New York pond. Jeanne Moos will explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: You awake -- Rob?

MARCIANO: I'm getting there.

COSTELLO: Well, you keep on working on it. I'm going to read some 'Health Headlines' right now. So here are some 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

A new report out today shows that spending on psychiatric drugs for children has soared. A study finds a 77 percent hike in spending on drugs to treat conditions ranging from hyperactivity to depression. Spending for hyperactivity drugs nearly quadrupled in children age 4 and younger. Spending on antidepressants grew 25 percent.

A significant change in U.S. AIDS drug policy is afoot. The FDA is said to announce faster approval of AIDS drugs combinations. That could mean a lower cost treatment in Africa and the Caribbean. The new system is open to generic drug makers from other countries.

And our lifestyles might be compromising our health. Busy consumers say they want fast food and easy food. And a survey found 67 percent of consumers say drive-thru convenience is critical. So fast food is here to stay, but try to stay away from those fries in the super sizes.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/Health.

Well let's talk about something healthy to do. There was a big race in San Francisco over the weekend. It drew 80,000 runners.

MARCIANO: That's a lot of folks to get through those narrow streets.

COSTELLO: And up those big hills.

MARCIANO: Yes, they are -- what's it called, Bay to Breakers?

COSTELLO: It is called...

MARCIANO: Bay to the Breakers.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MARCIANO: Which means, I guess they start at the bay and then they make their way to the Pacific Ocean.

COSTELLO: And they go over the Golden Gate Bridge, and how beautiful would that run be. It's a seven-and-a-half mile run. And as you can see, lots of entertainment along the way. Some people dress. I don't even know what -- there's an eyeball. That would get you going.

MARCIANO: It would. There's some runners. So there's actually folks who are running. But it does climb a pretty hilly area and I think it goes up over 200 feet and then down through Golden Gate Park and to the Pacific Ocean, so beautiful.

COSTELLO: Apparently there was a giant taco on the Golden Gate Bridge just to help people along.

MARCIANO: If they got hungry or to cheer them along?

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly. To cheer them -- no, it was a person dressed as a taco.

MARCIANO: OK. OK. Good stuff in San Francisco. They're very original out there.

COSTELLO: Yes. Well there are foot races, car races and of course horse races. In fact, you can race in or on just about anything. Case in point, a pond in New York and some college students with too much time on their hands.

CNN's Jeanne Moos shows you what I mean.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Queen Mary they are not. They range in shape from submarine, to Santa's sleigh to riverboat. And although this is a race, what the crowd loves is a sinking ship. The Regatta is a Stony Brook University tradition. Where else can a cardboard bottle of beer end up in the drink.

(on camera): Now is the boat made from like this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we thought about it, but we didn't drink last night, so.

MOOS: Too flimsy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

MOOS (voice-over): Not too flimsy for their heads. All vessels must be constructed from the simplest materials, mainly cardboard and duct tape.

A boxing ring didn't just float, it was a knockout.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it looks like they are trying to ram them.

MOOS: Boat builders were limited to seven materials. Among them, rope, clothes for sails only and Elmer's glue. But where there is smoke, there is fire. We stumbled on suspicious Styrofoam in this boat Sabreeze (ph).

(on camera): Hold it. Come on, this is illegal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's not. No, it's cardboard.

MOOS: You're cheating and you lost.

Is there an educational point here or is this is just fun?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely none. This is about hope triumphing over common sense.

MOOS (voice-over): Hope may triumph, but the Bud Light didn't. It became a sodden mass of cardboard and duct tape.

(on camera): It's not really such a Bud Light, is it?

(voice-over): And even the winner wound up in a dumpster. To what did the makers of this sleek cardboard kayak attribute their success?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of math.

MOOS: Same goes for the Bud Light.

(on camera): This is not like a 12 ouncer, this is a...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A 40 ouncer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, this is -- this is a 40 ouncer.

MOOS: A 40 ouncer.

(voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, Stony Brook, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: I like the headline on the bottom, Soggy Bottoms, that's good. Whoever came up with that was brilliant this morning.

What a year for Smarty Jones, a win at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and now just gallops away from a Triple Crown. We'll have more on that story in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired May 17, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Striking at the center of Iraq, shaky civilian government, the president of the Iraqi Governing Council is killed this morning in a suicide car bombing.
It is Monday, May 17. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us.

Here is what's happening right now. A suicide car bomb explosion in central Baghdad has killed Izzedine Salim. He is the president of the Iraqi Governing Council. At least three other Iraqis were killed in the blast at a coalition checkpoint.

They started at midnight in some Massachusetts cities issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex marriage.

In money news, NBC will spend $40 million on a promotional campaign for its coverage of the Athens Olympic Games. The Peacock Network is shooting for younger viewers, ages 18 to 34.

In sports, Roy Jones Jr. got knocked on his backside. Did you see this? The man known as the "best pound for pound fighter" got pounded himself by Antonio Tarver. It is just the second loss in 14 years for Jones.

In culture, record producer Quincy Jones scored another hit, this time with his "We Are the Future" concert in Rome. The star-studded affair was set up as a benefit for children living in war zones.

In weather, a blazing fire in Arizona. Let's bring in our own Rob Marciano in for Chad this morning.

Good morning -- Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you very much, Rob.

Let's talk more about that suicide car bombing in Baghdad right now, the one that killed the president of the Iraqi Governing Council.

David Clinch, our senior international editor, joins us with more.

This was an amazing explosion. Amazing is probably not the word.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes.

COSTELLO: But this explosion left a crater five feet across and three feet deep.

CLINCH: I know. We could see the smoke from miles away. From our camera position in the middle of the night last night our time we saw this huge explosion in the -- in the distance. It took quite some time for us to work out exactly what it was. We were then, shortly after that, told it was a car bomb. It took, again, some time after that for us to confirm what we were hearing on the ground that the current president of the Iraqi Governing Council Izzedine Salim was in this -- at this checkpoint and was killed in the attack.

COSTELLO: Let's go through exactly how this happened. They're at this checkpoint. There is a convoy of five white Nissan vehicles. The president of the Iraqi Governing Council is in one of those vehicles.

CLINCH: Right.

COSTELLO: This happened near The Green Zone where the coalition headquarters are.

CLINCH: Right. By the reports that we're getting from Iraqi officials, this has not been confirmed by the U.S. military at this point, at least Salim and his guards and his people were in a convoy heading into The Green Zone for a scheduled Governing Council meeting today.

There are some reports separately that other Governing Council members were also in the area in the convoy. We have not confirmed that. We do know that none others -- no others were injured or killed. But as we were saying earlier, if that is confirmed, it certainly could have been worse.

But it also brings up the question, again, of whether it was targeting. And we simply don't know at this point.

COSTELLO: Well let's go on with that, because all of a sudden this red car comes up to the checkpoint and explodes.

CLINCH: Right, and there are indications, from what General Kimmitt told us on the scene, that the red car, which we are told was the suicide bomber, headed directly to those cars that were in a convoy formation coming up to the checkpoint. Again, a lot of details to be checked out for no other reason than almost every car in the convoy was destroyed. So it's going to take some time for them to sort out exactly what happened.

But on the political side, obviously, a massive hit to the U.S. and its efforts to lead up to this June 30 handover. The Governing Council is at the center of that. Moderates like him, and especially as -- with him, Salim playing this president role at the moment, creates a big problem for them.

COSTELLO: And we'll explore that issue more in a moment.

CLINCH: Yes, we'll hear from the Governing Council in a press conference within the next couple of hours.

COSTELLO: OK, we look forward to that. David, many thanks to you.

CLINCH: OK.

COSTELLO: Colin Powell says the Arab world should be showing a higher level of outrage at the beheading of American civilian Nicholas Berg in Iraq. Says Powell, there is no excuse for silence on this kind of murder.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: What we saw with this horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible murder of Mr. Berg should be deplored throughout the world. It is an outrage. And the terrible thing about it is these individuals are yet to be brought to justice. They have no concept of justice, they have no concept of right, what a horrible thing for them to have done. But as the president said, we will do everything we can to bring all of these people to justice so they can pay for this horrendous crime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Powell adds the killing should be deplored throughout the Arab world.

Nicholas Berg was the second American to be beheaded on camera by terrorists. The first was "Wall Street Journal" reporter Daniel Pearl.

Our Manila bureau chief Maria Ressa says this method of killing is not tactical, but strategic, a bid for publicity and extreme reaction.

Tell us more -- Maria.

MARIA RESSA, CNN MANILA BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Carol, we started our investigation precisely on what you pointed out, the similarities, eerie similarities between the beheadings of Daniel Pearl and that of Nick Berg. Then we went behind the scenes to take a look at the people involved in it.

In the case of Daniel Pearl, the man who was convicted of his killing has been linked to the first instance that beheading was used internationally. In 1995, a Norwegian tourist was beheaded in Kashmir. Three years later, in 1998, four severed heads of Westerners were discovered in Chechnya. Authorities later said that was the work of al Qaeda and that money had been funneled through a Jordanian who was a good friend of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the man who was allegedly behind the beheading of Nick Berg. What terrorism experts tell us is that perhaps unbeknownst to the agencies and law enforcement agencies around the world, al Qaeda and its associate groups has long -- have long been using beheading as a terror tactic. And these terrorism experts also warn that the success of this tactic, if you will, the international attention that's been generated by the deaths of Daniel Pearl and Nick Berg could mean that there may be more gruesome deaths ahead -- Carol.

COSTELLO: But, Maria, might this sort of extreme tactic backfire as well?

RESSA: Certainly. But at this point, what al Qaeda is pushing is a tactic that they want their associate groups, their forces to carry out against infidels. If you take a look at the -- at all of the information that has come out, at the writings of al Qaeda and its associate groups, they look at anyone who is a non-Muslim, this is an ideology of hatred. Anyone who is a non-Muslim is an infidel. And this, according to al Qaeda, is the way you treat infidels who are trying to kill you, slit their throats. It's something that defines the hatred, the ideology of hatred that al Qaeda is pushing worldwide.

COSTELLO: Maria Ressa reporting live from the Philippines this morning.

Was the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison part of a secret program approved by Donald Rumsfeld? That is the claim being made in the latest edition of "The New Yorker" magazine. Journalist Seymour Hersh says a special unit was established to use any means necessary to get information.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEYMOUR HERSH, "THE NEW YORKER": The question should -- that should be asked is was there a covert operation set up after the Afghanistan war and were people in this secret unit diverted, at the request of the Secretary of Defense and the -- his undersecretary for intelligence, Mr. Cambone, was it diverted to Baghdad? And when it was, were they instructed to really get tough with the prisoners there in an effort to get information on the growing insurgency there? This is last fall. And did part of those instructions call for not only physical abuse but also sexual abuse?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Pentagon denies the claims made in Hersh's article. They call the report outlandish and filled with errors.

The poll numbers have switched in the 2004 presidential race. Neither side admits there is any cause for concern, though. But our senior political analyst Bill Schneider suggests maybe one of them should be concerned.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): If President Bush is in so much trouble, shouldn't John Kerry have a big lead over him?

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Listen, man, I don't (UNINTELLIGIBLE) polls, but we're in good shape.

SCHNEIDER: Is he?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No president, incumbent president who has been as low as the president is today has won reelection.

SCHNEIDER: Let's look at the approval ratings for three incumbent presidents who went on to win reelection: Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. In May of their reelection year, Nixon's job approval was 62 percent. Reagan's was 54 and Clinton's was 55. All well above 50.

Now look at the approval ratings of three incumbents who didn't win a second term: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and the first President Bush, all below 50 in May of election year. Where is President Bush right now? Forty-six percent. That doesn't look good for him.

But approval ratings aren't everything. So what if President Bush has problems, Republicans say. We're going to turn this election into a referendum on John Kerry.

MATTHEW DOWD, SENIOR STRATEGIST, BUSH-CHENEY 2004: The comparisons between the two candidates are going to matter a great deal.

SCHNEIDER: At this point in 1972, 1984 and 1996, when incumbents got reelected, presidents had double-digit leads over their challengers. Nixon was almost 20 points ahead of George McGovern. Reagan was 10 points ahead of Walter Mondale. Clinton was leading Bob Dole by 15.

Now look in years when incumbents lost. In May 1976, Ford was trailing Carter by 13 points. But in May 1980, Carter was ahead of Reagan. And in May 1992, Bush was leading Clinton. In fact, so was Ross Perot.

So even doomed incumbents were in the lead at this point, except in 1976. But Ford, of course, had not been elected in the first place.

So what about this year? The latest poll shows Kerry five points ahead of Bush. The challenger is leading. That's rare this early. It's also a good sign for Kerry.

Bill Schneider, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we are almost ready to announce your choice for John Kerry's running mate. The Veepstakes on CNN.com is down to the final two contestants. Thanks to your votes, John Edwards and Wesley Clark beat out 30 other hopefuls. This was just a fun kind of thing we decided to do and we had a great response. The winner, by the way, will be announced tomorrow.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a major milestone for gay couples in Massachusetts what happened this morning.

This is DAYBREAK for Monday, May 17.

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COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 46 minutes past the hour. Here is what's all new this morning.

A suicide car bomber in Baghdad has killed the leader of the Iraqi Governing Council. These pictures just in to us this morning. These are pictures of the attack there in Baghdad. U.S. troops say the blast killed at least four other people.

It's legal, gays in Massachusetts are getting marriage licenses this morning. Massachusetts is the first state in the nation to legalize same-sex unions.

In money news, the Hummer is being hammered. Sales for the biggest and badest sports utility vehicle have fallen for eight straight months and now dealers are offering their first Hummer rebates.

In sports, track star Marion Jones is vowing to sue if she is barred from this summer's Olympic Games. It's possible because of a federal investigation into steroid sales by a lab linked to the Olympic gold medal winner.

In culture, a museum chronicling the short life of actor James Dean has opened just outside of Dean's hometown of Fairmont, Indiana.

And in weather -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Hey, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MARCIANO: Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

At the stroke of midnight in Massachusetts, thousands of gay and lesbian couples broke into cheers and city clerks were open for business handing out marriage licenses.

Sonya Pfeiffer of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston talked to the first couple in line.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SONYA PFEIFFER, WCVB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): The rain doesn't stand a chance of dampening this campout. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most of our lives we have never ever imagined that this would happen. In fact, we never imagined this would happen.

PFEIFFER: Well before the drizzle, Susan Shepherd (ph) and Marsha Hamms (ph) took their places in front of Cambridge City Hall, the first in line to file for a same-sex marriage license.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To have the highest court in the state affirm your right to be a family was wonderful and it just gave you courage.

PFEIFFER: By mid-afternoon, Susan and Marsha had company, more eager couples, champagne bubbles and bouquets of flowers, stems stuck inside pockets.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To me it's like Christmas.

PFEIFFER: Anita Savo (ph) and Emily Kay (ph) have been together nearly 30 years. Their excitement over legalizing their commit is not tarnished by the possibility of Massachusetts' voters amending a ban to gay marriage in 2006.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I firmly believe that two-and-a-half years after all of us are married, it's going to be a non-issue, and the world will not come to an end and the word marriage will persist.

PFEIFFER: Cambridge city worker Jeff Walker (ph) expects 200 to 300 couples will line up.

JEFF WALKER, CAMBRIDGE CITY WORKER: Personally and professionally, it absolutely is the right thing for us to be doing. And to connect with these people and talk to them and hear their stories, hear all the different kinds of plans that people are making, it's really exciting to share that with them.

PFEIFFER: It's a sharing that many here thought would never happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Again, that report from Sonya Pfeiffer of CNN affiliate WCVB in Boston.

You'll find additional details of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts on our Web site. That's of course at CNN.com.

Television commercials, they're getting increasingly creative and some of them are even funny and not so annoying. Just ahead, find out how out-of-the-box thinkers are awarded for getting your attention.

And it really takes some creativity to come up with an annual race, such as this one, taking place on a New York pond. Jeanne Moos will explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: You awake -- Rob?

MARCIANO: I'm getting there.

COSTELLO: Well, you keep on working on it. I'm going to read some 'Health Headlines' right now. So here are some 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

A new report out today shows that spending on psychiatric drugs for children has soared. A study finds a 77 percent hike in spending on drugs to treat conditions ranging from hyperactivity to depression. Spending for hyperactivity drugs nearly quadrupled in children age 4 and younger. Spending on antidepressants grew 25 percent.

A significant change in U.S. AIDS drug policy is afoot. The FDA is said to announce faster approval of AIDS drugs combinations. That could mean a lower cost treatment in Africa and the Caribbean. The new system is open to generic drug makers from other countries.

And our lifestyles might be compromising our health. Busy consumers say they want fast food and easy food. And a survey found 67 percent of consumers say drive-thru convenience is critical. So fast food is here to stay, but try to stay away from those fries in the super sizes.

For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/Health.

Well let's talk about something healthy to do. There was a big race in San Francisco over the weekend. It drew 80,000 runners.

MARCIANO: That's a lot of folks to get through those narrow streets.

COSTELLO: And up those big hills.

MARCIANO: Yes, they are -- what's it called, Bay to Breakers?

COSTELLO: It is called...

MARCIANO: Bay to the Breakers.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MARCIANO: Which means, I guess they start at the bay and then they make their way to the Pacific Ocean.

COSTELLO: And they go over the Golden Gate Bridge, and how beautiful would that run be. It's a seven-and-a-half mile run. And as you can see, lots of entertainment along the way. Some people dress. I don't even know what -- there's an eyeball. That would get you going.

MARCIANO: It would. There's some runners. So there's actually folks who are running. But it does climb a pretty hilly area and I think it goes up over 200 feet and then down through Golden Gate Park and to the Pacific Ocean, so beautiful.

COSTELLO: Apparently there was a giant taco on the Golden Gate Bridge just to help people along.

MARCIANO: If they got hungry or to cheer them along?

COSTELLO: Yes, exactly. To cheer them -- no, it was a person dressed as a taco.

MARCIANO: OK. OK. Good stuff in San Francisco. They're very original out there.

COSTELLO: Yes. Well there are foot races, car races and of course horse races. In fact, you can race in or on just about anything. Case in point, a pond in New York and some college students with too much time on their hands.

CNN's Jeanne Moos shows you what I mean.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Queen Mary they are not. They range in shape from submarine, to Santa's sleigh to riverboat. And although this is a race, what the crowd loves is a sinking ship. The Regatta is a Stony Brook University tradition. Where else can a cardboard bottle of beer end up in the drink.

(on camera): Now is the boat made from like this?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, we thought about it, but we didn't drink last night, so.

MOOS: Too flimsy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.

MOOS (voice-over): Not too flimsy for their heads. All vessels must be constructed from the simplest materials, mainly cardboard and duct tape.

A boxing ring didn't just float, it was a knockout.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it looks like they are trying to ram them.

MOOS: Boat builders were limited to seven materials. Among them, rope, clothes for sails only and Elmer's glue. But where there is smoke, there is fire. We stumbled on suspicious Styrofoam in this boat Sabreeze (ph).

(on camera): Hold it. Come on, this is illegal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, it's not. No, it's cardboard.

MOOS: You're cheating and you lost.

Is there an educational point here or is this is just fun?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely none. This is about hope triumphing over common sense.

MOOS (voice-over): Hope may triumph, but the Bud Light didn't. It became a sodden mass of cardboard and duct tape.

(on camera): It's not really such a Bud Light, is it?

(voice-over): And even the winner wound up in a dumpster. To what did the makers of this sleek cardboard kayak attribute their success?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of math.

MOOS: Same goes for the Bud Light.

(on camera): This is not like a 12 ouncer, this is a...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A 40 ouncer.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, this is -- this is a 40 ouncer.

MOOS: A 40 ouncer.

(voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, Stony Brook, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: I like the headline on the bottom, Soggy Bottoms, that's good. Whoever came up with that was brilliant this morning.

What a year for Smarty Jones, a win at the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and now just gallops away from a Triple Crown. We'll have more on that story in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

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