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CNN Live At Daybreak

Eye on the World; Al Qaeda Strategy; World War II Memorial; Brutal Slaying; Charming Chase; Smoking Gun

Aired May 28, 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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in today for Carol Costello.
Here are the headlines at this hour.

U.S. investigators seeking the extradition of a hard line British Muslim cleric accuse him of plotting to build a terrorist training camp in Oregon. Police in London arrested Abu Hamza al-Masri yesterday. British officials say they won't extradite him to the U.S. unless the death penalty is ruled out.

A horrifying scene in Baltimore, a mother returns home and finds her three children decapitated. Police are questioning a man described only as a person of interest.

In money, thanks to some heavy discounting and incentives, auto sales are climbing this month, despite record high gas prices. Analysts say even the big SUVs and trucks are still selling.

Sports, Lightning strikes back. The Tampa Bay Lightning have tied the Stanley Cup finals at a game apiece. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames four to one. Game three is Saturday at Calgary.

In culture, a Utah attorney loses a lawsuit over this year's Super Bowl half time show. He sued CBS owner Viacom for $5,000 claiming false advertising. He said he expected a family-oriented, patriotic celebration. Instead, he complained, he was subjected to watch Janet Jackson's bare breasts.

And with that, we want to get the bare facts on this weather outside. Here is Chad Myers.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Yesterday, Betty, 21 reports of tornadoes and there was a lot of damage with some of those.

NGUYEN: It is that time of the year, though, isn't it?

MYERS: Sure. Sure, absolutely. You've got the cold air still in place trying to come back down. Mother Nature says wait I don't want to give up my warm -- my cold air yet. And the warm air comes up and says that you have to because it's spring. And where that clash is, where that boundary is that's...

NGUYEN: Spells trouble.

MYERS: ... where the severe weather pops up. Yes.

NGUYEN: All right. Chad Myers, thank you, staying on top of it.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: Time now for today's 'Situation Report' on Iraq.

In the holy city of Najaf, U.S. forces waiting for insurgents to disband have come under fire. It's just one day after a peace deal was supposedly reached with the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Near Baghdad, sweet freedom. The U.S. military releases several hundred more Iraqi prisoners from the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison. Several buses filled with newly freed Iraqis left the prison earlier today. This is the third mass release since the abuse scandal broke last month. Three to 4,000 prisoners are still being held there.

South of Baghdad, two Japanese journalists are feared dead after being attacked by gunmen. An official at the Japanese Embassy says two severely burned bodies were taken to a hospital. Officials have yet to identify those bodies.

Now for a look at developments in Iraq, we want to turn to our international editor Eli Flournoy.

Good morning to you.

ELI FLOURNOY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Good morning, Betty.

We've got the situation in Najaf. What is going on in Najaf?

NGUYEN: I have no idea. I mean we thought they were coming under an agreement, and then all of a sudden you see this fighting.

FLOURNOY: Exactly. Exactly. It's like both sides are waiting for the other side to pull back.

Yesterday we were reporting all day and on the ground we were seeing that the leaders of the militia were saying that they had received orders from Muqtada al-Sadr to pull back. And then they later on in the day they said they were holding off waiting for the U.S. forces to pull back, and that was part of the agreement.

So the U.S. forces are monitoring, waiting for the militia to pull back. The militia is waiting for the U.S. forces to pull back, and meanwhile, more fighting this morning. So we're going to be in there all day today. Guy Raz is heading back into Najaf later today, so he's going to be doing some reporting later on as we see just exactly what is happening on the ground. NGUYEN: Yes, the big question is what does this mean for that agreement?

FLOURNOY: Exactly. Is there -- is there an agreement?

NGUYEN: Right.

FLOURNOY: Is this going to lead to a truce? Is this going to be an end to the standoff or is there going to be more fighting? This morning we're seeing more fighting, so we're just going to have to see how the day plays out.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about those NBC hostages.

FLOURNOY: Yes, we got some good news this morning. NBC had three of its employees, including correspondent Ned Colt, who were released from Fallujah. They had been taken on Tuesday hostage, and then we have just found out this morning that they were released.

Unfortunately, as we reported earlier, two Japanese journalists are believed to be dead. Their two bodies were found and they haven't been 100 percent identified, but hospital officials say they do believe that they are the Japanese journalists. So it just points out that the situation in Iraq is very, very dangerous. And journalists of CNN and other journalists who are operating there, it's a very, very tricky situation for them.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And you really can't read it, because the American journalists were released, you know, unharmed, but the Japanese journalists are feared dead.

FLOURNOY: Right. The Japanese journalists were in kind of a convoy situation where they were driving. They came under attack. Not much is known more about the situation, except that in the case of the NBC journalists, they were -- they were moving together with local people in Fallujah. They were taken hostage. NBC says that once they were -- it was identified that they were journalists and not military or some other people that then they were -- they were released. So fortunately negotiation was able to work out in the case of NBC.

In the case of the Japanese journalists, it appears that there was some sort of spontaneous or possibly random attack on them. There was no opportunity for negotiation or anything. So it's just very, very unpredictable in Iraq.

NGUYEN: A dangerous situation.

FLOURNOY: Very dangerous.

NGUYEN: All right, Eli Flournoy, thank you.

FLOURNOY: Thanks.

NGUYEN: Intelligence officials say al Qaeda may strike the U.S. in an effort to influence the presidential elections in November.

Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on that angle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terror experts say it's not about who wins the U.S. election, it's about impact.

M.J. GOHEL, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: If, for instance, say, George Bush was in the lead in the opinion polls right now and an attack took place and that changes the equation as it did, for instance in Spain, then al Qaeda would feel that it has scored a major success.

ARENA: Al Qaeda affiliates attacked Spain just before its elections in March. Some suggests that cemented an overwhelming win for the socialist party.

ASHCROFT: We believe, for example, the attack in Spain is one that is viewed by al Qaeda as particularly effective in advancing al Qaeda objectives.

ARENA: The attack did result in Spain pulling its troops out of Iraq. Experts say the less Western influence in Iraq, the better for al Qaeda.

GOHEL: Iraq is a key battleground for the terrorists. The terrorists want to turn Iraq into another Taliban Afghanistan. They would like to see the premature withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces.

ARENA: Neither John Kerry nor the president has said troops pulled out of Iraq any time soon. But there is some speculation that al Qaeda believes it has a better chance of winning in Iraq if John Kerry is in the White House.

BEN VENZKE, INTELCENTER: Al Qaeda feels that Bush is, even despite casualties, right or wrong for staying there is going to stay much longer than possibly what they might hope a Democratic administration would.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Thousands of World War II vets are in the nation's capital for tomorrow's dedication of the national World War II Memorial. And as you might imagine, security will be tight. Law enforcement and security officials from more than 30 local state and federal agencies will be on duty at the National Mall where the dedication takes place. Metal detectors will screen the more than 117,000 ticket holders. Surveillance cameras around The Mall will be monitored by D.C. police all weekend long.

The dedication comes more than 60 years after the fighting ended for World War II veterans. Many say the dedication is long overdue. Nonetheless, the soldiers, sailors and Marines just want to be there to witness what no doubt will be an emotional day.

Jim Boyd of our affiliate station WCVB in Boston reports.

JIM BOYD, WCVB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Today, four veterans stroll leisurely along King's Beach in Lynn (ph). They are all in their 80s and are miles and decades away from their days and experiences in World War II.

Warren Clayton was a sailor, Radioman 1st Class. He served on the USS Ingersoll. He was on deck in Tokyo Harbor and watched history unfold as the Japanese gave up.

WARREN CLAYTON, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: And the Ingersoll was anchored I'd say less than a hundred yards from where the Missouri was it (ph). From the binoculars, I could see the whole ceremony there when they surrendered.

BOYD: Edmund Carlton Brown was a sergeant in the Army. He says timing could not have been worse when he got his papers to report for duty.

EDMUND CARLTON BROWN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: We got married, my wife and I, and the day after I shipped overseas. So I had to go away for three years.

BOYD: But Pearson was from a military family. His father, Harry, served in the Canadian Army in World War I and volunteered to serve again for Canada in the Second World War. Bud served in the U.S. Army. His brother, Harry Jr., was a sailor. Bud was one of the infantry units that stormed Normandy Beach. He was wounded twice during the war but says...

BUD PEARSON, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I was fortunate compared to what I witnessed as far as horrible, horrible, horrible wounds and it's just unspeakable.

BOYD: These men will be among three busloads of Word War II veterans from the Lynn area making the trip to Washington this weekend for the dedication of the World War II Memorial. A trip organized and sponsored by David Solimine's business and a local travel agency.

DAVID SOLIMINE, ADOPT A WORLD WAR II VETERAN: This is just a little bit of a way that we can recognize them and say thank you and just participate and listen to their stories.

BOYD: Paul Coughlin says he expects an emotional experience.

PAUL COUGHLIN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I'll be all shook up tomorrow once we get there.

BOYD: These men say it will be a trip of a lifetime, one that will bring back many memories.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that was Jim Boyd of our Boston affiliate station WCVB.

CNN will have live coverage of the World War II Memorial dedication tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 Eastern. It's hosted by CNN's Paula Zahn.

Coming up next hour, we'll talk with Lillian Keil, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. She is among the most decorated women in U.S. military history.

And if you thought your dog was talented, wait until you see what this one can fetch.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Baltimore is coming to grips with the horrific slaying of three young children. The bodies of two 9-year-old girls and a 10- year-old boy were found by their money -- their mother, that is, their heads decapitated. So far authorities say there are no suspects, but there is a man being questioned who they are calling a person of interest.

Sherrie Johnson of our Baltimore affiliate WMAR joins us live with the latest on this situation.

Good morning to you.

SHERRIE JOHNSON, WMAR-TV REPORTER: Good morning to you.

That's right, this morning police are talking to someone that they call a person of interest after three children were found yesterday decapitated. Officers that responded to the call, well they are saying this is the most horrible crime that they have ever seen in their careers. A mother returned home from work yesterday to find her two children and their friend decapitated. It happened in the 7,000 block of Park Heights Avenue. The two girls were 9 years old and the boy was 10. Police found weapons near the front door and they are also questioning someone at this time.

Now police say the family had some sort of disagreement with the individual that they are talking to. And right now folks in this community, well they are still trying to come to terms with the shock of this horrible crime. So far police have not released the names of the victims or the families involved.

Back to you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. We thank you for that report. That's Sherrie Johnson of our Baltimore affiliate WMAR.

Your news, money, weather and sports, that's coming up. The time right now is 5:45. Here is what's all new this morning.

A shaky truce in Iraq lasts less than a day. Insurgents fired on U.S. forces in Najaf today. The military base just outside the city was hit with at least nine mortars.

The weather forecast is anything but favorable for flood devastated Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Hundreds are dead or missing, homes are washed away or under water and three more inches of rain is predicted.

In money, Yahoo! debuts its anti-spy software. A toolbar feature helps you keep your Web surfing private. Yahoo!'s software helps you purge your computer of so-called spyware. Spyware monitors Web sites visited and is downloaded to personal computers without an owner's knowledge.

In sports, a veritable slugfest in Baltimore. Check it out, eight runs in one inning and six in another and the Yankees take the Oriels 18 to 5. A-Rod's contribution, a two-run homer.

In culture, Abercrombie & Fitch calls its new summer catalog a photo essay. The black and white photos aren't quite as racy following the backlash over suggestive ads in past A&F quarterlies.

Now for a check of the weather with Chad Myers.

Will we be needing some shorts or umbrellas today -- Chad?

MYERS: Maybe both, depends on where you are, Betty.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: All right, rain is all over the map. Chad, thank you.

It is Friday and that means time to talk about all the new movies you may want to check out this weekend.

Kate Hudson stars in "Raising Helen," so does "Sex and the City" star John Corbett. The movie is described as a cute comedy. Hudson plays a beautiful young career woman who is left to raise three troubled young children.

Then there is "Saved," shrewd and darkly funny. Starring Mandy Moore, Jena Malone and Macauly Caulkin. Moore plays the queen bee at a Christian high school and Malone plays one of her best friends who gets pregnant while trying to straighten out her gay boyfriend.

Then there is "Soul Plane," yes, and the title pretty much says it all. A send up of "Airplane" with a predominately African-American cast featuring Snoop Doggie Dogg and Tom Arnold. The plane itself is metallic purple with spinning rims, spinners as they call it, and a hydraulic system to make it bounce before take off. Now that's quite a ride.

You don't want to go anywhere, we'll chat more about these flicks in the next hour. I'll be joined by Tom O'Neill, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly," for some expert movie advice.

Well the New York Yankees have a farm club that may be minor league but with a major difference, a cute golden four-legged bat-dog. That's right, bat-dog.

Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Down, bat boy, down. Here comes the bat dog. Batting averages aside, there's nothing average about having a dog pick up bats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty cool.

MOOS: This is the second full season that Chase...

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Chase, Chase, Chase!

MOOS: Has served as bat dog for the Trenton Thunder, the Yankees AA farm team.

Trying to impress George Steinbrenner, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, even Derek Jeter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good boy.

MOOS: Doesn't get his own pool at the stadium to cool off between innings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go get the bat. Go get it.

MOOS: You don't have to worry about bike marks on the bats?

RICK BRENNER, GEN. MANAGER, TRENTON THUNDER: Golden retrievers are a very soft-mouthed dog. As a breed, they're used for hunting and retrieving birds. You don't want puncture marks in the birds.

MOOS: Chase lives with general manager Rick Brenner, though a professional dog trainer trained him.

STUMP MERRILL, TRENTON THUNDER MANAGER: We enjoy him in the clubhouse. How he's almost one of us.

MOOS: Just like the bat boy, Chase brings water in a basket to the umpires. He only fetches bats in the first inning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's pretty good at it.

MOOS: Is he?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MOOS: Better than you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. We'll see to that.

MOOS: Chase committed no errors though he sometimes moves his mouth to avoid the pine tar players use to grip the bat. He also catches frisbees.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That a boy!

MOOS: And even caters to the press, fetching microphones on cue. The club sells his image on bats and T-shirts. Chase is already a stuffed animal. And they're making a bobblehead of him. What dog wouldn't want to hear...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Play ball!

MOOS: And though he doesn't bite the bats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little slobber, maybe.

MOOS: In this game, slobber is a plus. Jeanne Moos, CNN, Trenton, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Now that's pretty cute.

Well if you are a smoker, listen up, it's not just your lungs you're hurting. We'll have new information on the damage you're doing to your body. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Keep puffing away and you can see your health go up in smoke. That's the latest from a new report by the Surgeon General, which only offers smokers more bad news.

CNN's medical correspondent Christy Feig has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Smoking has been known to cause heart disease and some cancers, like lung. Now the U.S. Surgeon General says there is new evidence to show it causes disease in nearly every organ in the body.

DR. RICHARD CARMONA, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataracts, periodontal disease, pneumonia, cancers of the cervix, kidney, pancreas and stomach.

FEIG: Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemical agents, according to the National Cancer Institute, including more than 60 substances that are known to cause cancer in humans.

CARMONA: The toxins in cigarette smoke go everywhere that the blood flows.

FEIG: The Tobacco Industry says we agree with the medical and scientific evidence that cigarette smoking causes serious diseases and that there is no safe cigarette. In the long run, we will be working to try to find ways to reduce the harmful compounds in cigarette smoke.

(on camera): The Surgeon General says since the first report came out in 1964, 12 million Americans have died from smoking related illnesses, often 13 or 14 years before they would have died if they didn't smoke.

CARMONA: Nearly 25 million Americans alive today are destined to die prematurely unless they quit smoking cigarettes.

FEIG (voice-over): And studies show it's never too late to stop smoking. Even quitting at the age of 65 or older can cut your risk of dying from a smoking related disease in half.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

In Florida, an attack against the high protein, low carb diet craze. A businessman is suing the Atkins empire, its creator and all those promoting it. Jody Gorran blames the diet for his clogged arteries. Atkins nutritionists are questioning his motives, though. Gorran is backed by an advocacy group of physicians that advocates a Vegan diet.

Health experts are advising the government to alter its food pyramid by adding more fish and reducing refined grain, such as white bread. The advisors are trying to get Americans to a healthier and thinner place. They are recommending eating fish, like salmon and tuna, at least twice a week.

And women, be ware, the culmination of having lots of work pressure and high authority could be bad for your heart. A new study finds that women in those places were three times more likely to develop heart disease than women who work but did not have the same level of power. So much for the corporate ladder chain, huh.

Well for more on this and any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

New in the next hour of DAYBREAK, more violence in Iraq. Is the U.S. deal with Muqtada al-Sadr falling apart? We'll go live to Baghdad for an update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: If there is a truce in Najaf then why are U.S. soldiers still being shot at?

It's Friday, May 28, and this is DAYBREAK.

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Aired May 28, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in today for Carol Costello.
Here are the headlines at this hour.

U.S. investigators seeking the extradition of a hard line British Muslim cleric accuse him of plotting to build a terrorist training camp in Oregon. Police in London arrested Abu Hamza al-Masri yesterday. British officials say they won't extradite him to the U.S. unless the death penalty is ruled out.

A horrifying scene in Baltimore, a mother returns home and finds her three children decapitated. Police are questioning a man described only as a person of interest.

In money, thanks to some heavy discounting and incentives, auto sales are climbing this month, despite record high gas prices. Analysts say even the big SUVs and trucks are still selling.

Sports, Lightning strikes back. The Tampa Bay Lightning have tied the Stanley Cup finals at a game apiece. The Lightning beat the Calgary Flames four to one. Game three is Saturday at Calgary.

In culture, a Utah attorney loses a lawsuit over this year's Super Bowl half time show. He sued CBS owner Viacom for $5,000 claiming false advertising. He said he expected a family-oriented, patriotic celebration. Instead, he complained, he was subjected to watch Janet Jackson's bare breasts.

And with that, we want to get the bare facts on this weather outside. Here is Chad Myers.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Yesterday, Betty, 21 reports of tornadoes and there was a lot of damage with some of those.

NGUYEN: It is that time of the year, though, isn't it?

MYERS: Sure. Sure, absolutely. You've got the cold air still in place trying to come back down. Mother Nature says wait I don't want to give up my warm -- my cold air yet. And the warm air comes up and says that you have to because it's spring. And where that clash is, where that boundary is that's...

NGUYEN: Spells trouble.

MYERS: ... where the severe weather pops up. Yes.

NGUYEN: All right. Chad Myers, thank you, staying on top of it.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: Time now for today's 'Situation Report' on Iraq.

In the holy city of Najaf, U.S. forces waiting for insurgents to disband have come under fire. It's just one day after a peace deal was supposedly reached with the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Near Baghdad, sweet freedom. The U.S. military releases several hundred more Iraqi prisoners from the notorious Abu Ghraib Prison. Several buses filled with newly freed Iraqis left the prison earlier today. This is the third mass release since the abuse scandal broke last month. Three to 4,000 prisoners are still being held there.

South of Baghdad, two Japanese journalists are feared dead after being attacked by gunmen. An official at the Japanese Embassy says two severely burned bodies were taken to a hospital. Officials have yet to identify those bodies.

Now for a look at developments in Iraq, we want to turn to our international editor Eli Flournoy.

Good morning to you.

ELI FLOURNOY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Good morning, Betty.

We've got the situation in Najaf. What is going on in Najaf?

NGUYEN: I have no idea. I mean we thought they were coming under an agreement, and then all of a sudden you see this fighting.

FLOURNOY: Exactly. Exactly. It's like both sides are waiting for the other side to pull back.

Yesterday we were reporting all day and on the ground we were seeing that the leaders of the militia were saying that they had received orders from Muqtada al-Sadr to pull back. And then they later on in the day they said they were holding off waiting for the U.S. forces to pull back, and that was part of the agreement.

So the U.S. forces are monitoring, waiting for the militia to pull back. The militia is waiting for the U.S. forces to pull back, and meanwhile, more fighting this morning. So we're going to be in there all day today. Guy Raz is heading back into Najaf later today, so he's going to be doing some reporting later on as we see just exactly what is happening on the ground. NGUYEN: Yes, the big question is what does this mean for that agreement?

FLOURNOY: Exactly. Is there -- is there an agreement?

NGUYEN: Right.

FLOURNOY: Is this going to lead to a truce? Is this going to be an end to the standoff or is there going to be more fighting? This morning we're seeing more fighting, so we're just going to have to see how the day plays out.

NGUYEN: Let's talk about those NBC hostages.

FLOURNOY: Yes, we got some good news this morning. NBC had three of its employees, including correspondent Ned Colt, who were released from Fallujah. They had been taken on Tuesday hostage, and then we have just found out this morning that they were released.

Unfortunately, as we reported earlier, two Japanese journalists are believed to be dead. Their two bodies were found and they haven't been 100 percent identified, but hospital officials say they do believe that they are the Japanese journalists. So it just points out that the situation in Iraq is very, very dangerous. And journalists of CNN and other journalists who are operating there, it's a very, very tricky situation for them.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And you really can't read it, because the American journalists were released, you know, unharmed, but the Japanese journalists are feared dead.

FLOURNOY: Right. The Japanese journalists were in kind of a convoy situation where they were driving. They came under attack. Not much is known more about the situation, except that in the case of the NBC journalists, they were -- they were moving together with local people in Fallujah. They were taken hostage. NBC says that once they were -- it was identified that they were journalists and not military or some other people that then they were -- they were released. So fortunately negotiation was able to work out in the case of NBC.

In the case of the Japanese journalists, it appears that there was some sort of spontaneous or possibly random attack on them. There was no opportunity for negotiation or anything. So it's just very, very unpredictable in Iraq.

NGUYEN: A dangerous situation.

FLOURNOY: Very dangerous.

NGUYEN: All right, Eli Flournoy, thank you.

FLOURNOY: Thanks.

NGUYEN: Intelligence officials say al Qaeda may strike the U.S. in an effort to influence the presidential elections in November.

Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more on that angle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terror experts say it's not about who wins the U.S. election, it's about impact.

M.J. GOHEL, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: If, for instance, say, George Bush was in the lead in the opinion polls right now and an attack took place and that changes the equation as it did, for instance in Spain, then al Qaeda would feel that it has scored a major success.

ARENA: Al Qaeda affiliates attacked Spain just before its elections in March. Some suggests that cemented an overwhelming win for the socialist party.

ASHCROFT: We believe, for example, the attack in Spain is one that is viewed by al Qaeda as particularly effective in advancing al Qaeda objectives.

ARENA: The attack did result in Spain pulling its troops out of Iraq. Experts say the less Western influence in Iraq, the better for al Qaeda.

GOHEL: Iraq is a key battleground for the terrorists. The terrorists want to turn Iraq into another Taliban Afghanistan. They would like to see the premature withdrawal of the U.S.-led coalition forces.

ARENA: Neither John Kerry nor the president has said troops pulled out of Iraq any time soon. But there is some speculation that al Qaeda believes it has a better chance of winning in Iraq if John Kerry is in the White House.

BEN VENZKE, INTELCENTER: Al Qaeda feels that Bush is, even despite casualties, right or wrong for staying there is going to stay much longer than possibly what they might hope a Democratic administration would.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Thousands of World War II vets are in the nation's capital for tomorrow's dedication of the national World War II Memorial. And as you might imagine, security will be tight. Law enforcement and security officials from more than 30 local state and federal agencies will be on duty at the National Mall where the dedication takes place. Metal detectors will screen the more than 117,000 ticket holders. Surveillance cameras around The Mall will be monitored by D.C. police all weekend long.

The dedication comes more than 60 years after the fighting ended for World War II veterans. Many say the dedication is long overdue. Nonetheless, the soldiers, sailors and Marines just want to be there to witness what no doubt will be an emotional day.

Jim Boyd of our affiliate station WCVB in Boston reports.

JIM BOYD, WCVB-TV REPORTER (voice-over): Today, four veterans stroll leisurely along King's Beach in Lynn (ph). They are all in their 80s and are miles and decades away from their days and experiences in World War II.

Warren Clayton was a sailor, Radioman 1st Class. He served on the USS Ingersoll. He was on deck in Tokyo Harbor and watched history unfold as the Japanese gave up.

WARREN CLAYTON, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: And the Ingersoll was anchored I'd say less than a hundred yards from where the Missouri was it (ph). From the binoculars, I could see the whole ceremony there when they surrendered.

BOYD: Edmund Carlton Brown was a sergeant in the Army. He says timing could not have been worse when he got his papers to report for duty.

EDMUND CARLTON BROWN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: We got married, my wife and I, and the day after I shipped overseas. So I had to go away for three years.

BOYD: But Pearson was from a military family. His father, Harry, served in the Canadian Army in World War I and volunteered to serve again for Canada in the Second World War. Bud served in the U.S. Army. His brother, Harry Jr., was a sailor. Bud was one of the infantry units that stormed Normandy Beach. He was wounded twice during the war but says...

BUD PEARSON, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I was fortunate compared to what I witnessed as far as horrible, horrible, horrible wounds and it's just unspeakable.

BOYD: These men will be among three busloads of Word War II veterans from the Lynn area making the trip to Washington this weekend for the dedication of the World War II Memorial. A trip organized and sponsored by David Solimine's business and a local travel agency.

DAVID SOLIMINE, ADOPT A WORLD WAR II VETERAN: This is just a little bit of a way that we can recognize them and say thank you and just participate and listen to their stories.

BOYD: Paul Coughlin says he expects an emotional experience.

PAUL COUGHLIN, WORLD WAR II VETERAN: I'll be all shook up tomorrow once we get there.

BOYD: These men say it will be a trip of a lifetime, one that will bring back many memories.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that was Jim Boyd of our Boston affiliate station WCVB.

CNN will have live coverage of the World War II Memorial dedication tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 Eastern. It's hosted by CNN's Paula Zahn.

Coming up next hour, we'll talk with Lillian Keil, a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. She is among the most decorated women in U.S. military history.

And if you thought your dog was talented, wait until you see what this one can fetch.

This is DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Baltimore is coming to grips with the horrific slaying of three young children. The bodies of two 9-year-old girls and a 10- year-old boy were found by their money -- their mother, that is, their heads decapitated. So far authorities say there are no suspects, but there is a man being questioned who they are calling a person of interest.

Sherrie Johnson of our Baltimore affiliate WMAR joins us live with the latest on this situation.

Good morning to you.

SHERRIE JOHNSON, WMAR-TV REPORTER: Good morning to you.

That's right, this morning police are talking to someone that they call a person of interest after three children were found yesterday decapitated. Officers that responded to the call, well they are saying this is the most horrible crime that they have ever seen in their careers. A mother returned home from work yesterday to find her two children and their friend decapitated. It happened in the 7,000 block of Park Heights Avenue. The two girls were 9 years old and the boy was 10. Police found weapons near the front door and they are also questioning someone at this time.

Now police say the family had some sort of disagreement with the individual that they are talking to. And right now folks in this community, well they are still trying to come to terms with the shock of this horrible crime. So far police have not released the names of the victims or the families involved.

Back to you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. We thank you for that report. That's Sherrie Johnson of our Baltimore affiliate WMAR.

Your news, money, weather and sports, that's coming up. The time right now is 5:45. Here is what's all new this morning.

A shaky truce in Iraq lasts less than a day. Insurgents fired on U.S. forces in Najaf today. The military base just outside the city was hit with at least nine mortars.

The weather forecast is anything but favorable for flood devastated Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Hundreds are dead or missing, homes are washed away or under water and three more inches of rain is predicted.

In money, Yahoo! debuts its anti-spy software. A toolbar feature helps you keep your Web surfing private. Yahoo!'s software helps you purge your computer of so-called spyware. Spyware monitors Web sites visited and is downloaded to personal computers without an owner's knowledge.

In sports, a veritable slugfest in Baltimore. Check it out, eight runs in one inning and six in another and the Yankees take the Oriels 18 to 5. A-Rod's contribution, a two-run homer.

In culture, Abercrombie & Fitch calls its new summer catalog a photo essay. The black and white photos aren't quite as racy following the backlash over suggestive ads in past A&F quarterlies.

Now for a check of the weather with Chad Myers.

Will we be needing some shorts or umbrellas today -- Chad?

MYERS: Maybe both, depends on where you are, Betty.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: All right, rain is all over the map. Chad, thank you.

It is Friday and that means time to talk about all the new movies you may want to check out this weekend.

Kate Hudson stars in "Raising Helen," so does "Sex and the City" star John Corbett. The movie is described as a cute comedy. Hudson plays a beautiful young career woman who is left to raise three troubled young children.

Then there is "Saved," shrewd and darkly funny. Starring Mandy Moore, Jena Malone and Macauly Caulkin. Moore plays the queen bee at a Christian high school and Malone plays one of her best friends who gets pregnant while trying to straighten out her gay boyfriend.

Then there is "Soul Plane," yes, and the title pretty much says it all. A send up of "Airplane" with a predominately African-American cast featuring Snoop Doggie Dogg and Tom Arnold. The plane itself is metallic purple with spinning rims, spinners as they call it, and a hydraulic system to make it bounce before take off. Now that's quite a ride.

You don't want to go anywhere, we'll chat more about these flicks in the next hour. I'll be joined by Tom O'Neill, senior editor of "In Touch Weekly," for some expert movie advice.

Well the New York Yankees have a farm club that may be minor league but with a major difference, a cute golden four-legged bat-dog. That's right, bat-dog.

Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Down, bat boy, down. Here comes the bat dog. Batting averages aside, there's nothing average about having a dog pick up bats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty cool.

MOOS: This is the second full season that Chase...

UNIDENTIFIED CHILDREN: Chase, Chase, Chase!

MOOS: Has served as bat dog for the Trenton Thunder, the Yankees AA farm team.

Trying to impress George Steinbrenner, huh?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, even Derek Jeter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good boy.

MOOS: Doesn't get his own pool at the stadium to cool off between innings.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go get the bat. Go get it.

MOOS: You don't have to worry about bike marks on the bats?

RICK BRENNER, GEN. MANAGER, TRENTON THUNDER: Golden retrievers are a very soft-mouthed dog. As a breed, they're used for hunting and retrieving birds. You don't want puncture marks in the birds.

MOOS: Chase lives with general manager Rick Brenner, though a professional dog trainer trained him.

STUMP MERRILL, TRENTON THUNDER MANAGER: We enjoy him in the clubhouse. How he's almost one of us.

MOOS: Just like the bat boy, Chase brings water in a basket to the umpires. He only fetches bats in the first inning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's pretty good at it.

MOOS: Is he?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

MOOS: Better than you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know. We'll see to that.

MOOS: Chase committed no errors though he sometimes moves his mouth to avoid the pine tar players use to grip the bat. He also catches frisbees.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That a boy!

MOOS: And even caters to the press, fetching microphones on cue. The club sells his image on bats and T-shirts. Chase is already a stuffed animal. And they're making a bobblehead of him. What dog wouldn't want to hear...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Play ball!

MOOS: And though he doesn't bite the bats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A little slobber, maybe.

MOOS: In this game, slobber is a plus. Jeanne Moos, CNN, Trenton, New Jersey.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Now that's pretty cute.

Well if you are a smoker, listen up, it's not just your lungs you're hurting. We'll have new information on the damage you're doing to your body. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Keep puffing away and you can see your health go up in smoke. That's the latest from a new report by the Surgeon General, which only offers smokers more bad news.

CNN's medical correspondent Christy Feig has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Smoking has been known to cause heart disease and some cancers, like lung. Now the U.S. Surgeon General says there is new evidence to show it causes disease in nearly every organ in the body.

DR. RICHARD CARMONA, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataracts, periodontal disease, pneumonia, cancers of the cervix, kidney, pancreas and stomach.

FEIG: Cigarettes contain more than 4,000 chemical agents, according to the National Cancer Institute, including more than 60 substances that are known to cause cancer in humans.

CARMONA: The toxins in cigarette smoke go everywhere that the blood flows.

FEIG: The Tobacco Industry says we agree with the medical and scientific evidence that cigarette smoking causes serious diseases and that there is no safe cigarette. In the long run, we will be working to try to find ways to reduce the harmful compounds in cigarette smoke.

(on camera): The Surgeon General says since the first report came out in 1964, 12 million Americans have died from smoking related illnesses, often 13 or 14 years before they would have died if they didn't smoke.

CARMONA: Nearly 25 million Americans alive today are destined to die prematurely unless they quit smoking cigarettes.

FEIG (voice-over): And studies show it's never too late to stop smoking. Even quitting at the age of 65 or older can cut your risk of dying from a smoking related disease in half.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.

In Florida, an attack against the high protein, low carb diet craze. A businessman is suing the Atkins empire, its creator and all those promoting it. Jody Gorran blames the diet for his clogged arteries. Atkins nutritionists are questioning his motives, though. Gorran is backed by an advocacy group of physicians that advocates a Vegan diet.

Health experts are advising the government to alter its food pyramid by adding more fish and reducing refined grain, such as white bread. The advisors are trying to get Americans to a healthier and thinner place. They are recommending eating fish, like salmon and tuna, at least twice a week.

And women, be ware, the culmination of having lots of work pressure and high authority could be bad for your heart. A new study finds that women in those places were three times more likely to develop heart disease than women who work but did not have the same level of power. So much for the corporate ladder chain, huh.

Well for more on this and any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

New in the next hour of DAYBREAK, more violence in Iraq. Is the U.S. deal with Muqtada al-Sadr falling apart? We'll go live to Baghdad for an update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: If there is a truce in Najaf then why are U.S. soldiers still being shot at?

It's Friday, May 28, and this is DAYBREAK.

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