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CNN Live At Daybreak

Coffey Talk: Dirty Bomb Suspect Accused of More Plots; Cyber Security

Aired June 02, 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: Padilla has been held without charges in a military jail for two years. This is how his attorney reacted to that Justice Department statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW PATEL, JOSE PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: We wish it was an indictment. An indictment would give us an opportunity to respond to these allegations in a court of law. Right now, Mr. Comey has had the opportunity to give an opening statement, but we have no forum to respond.

Additionally, anything that we've heard from our client, anything that he's told us, is classified. So, we're not even allowed to discuss it publicly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: With all of that government evidence, why not put Padilla on trial? Why not go for an indictment?

It's a good topic to discuss over coffee this morning. So live to Miami and our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.

Good morning - Kendall.

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

COSTELLO: So, why not declassify Padilla as an enemy combatant and present the evidence to a grand jury?

COFFEY: Well, I think the government is stating very forthrightly that they don't believe that they could convict him under existing rules for a civilian court. They couldn't use his alleged confession, because military interrogators don't provide Miranda warnings and don't provide right to counsel.

And I think the government does not want to bring the key witnesses who could allegedly incriminate Padilla, because they are key leaders of al Qaeda. The last thing they want to do with, for example, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11, is take him away from an incommunicado detention and put him before a U.S. court in the public to be cross-examined with all of the information and exposure that that could generate.

COSTELLO: Well, so what do you do? I know this issue is in the U.S. Supreme Court right now as for whether Padilla deserves a hearing on his status as an enemy combatant. But how long can you hold a guy without access to an attorney or without any kind of trial?

COFFEY: That is an unanswerable question, and that is why this case in many ways is perhaps the most dramatic collision between personal liberties and national security since World War II.

And while the Justice Department was emphatic that this was not a play to the U.S. Supreme Court, they are no doubt very forthrightly saying that they're trying to reach the court of public opinion. Because the biggest and most difficult question is if even mass murderers in this country get some sort of day in court, why not Jose Padilla? And that's the question that we're going to hear a decision on it in the coming weeks from the U.S. Supreme Court.

COSTELLO: Well, you're right. Some people are accusing the Justice Department of coming out publicly with this information to sort of sway the Supreme Court one way or another. Will that work?

COFFEY: I don't think it's going to influence it. I mean, really decisions like this tend to crystallize very close to the time the case is actually presented, which was in late April. But, Carol, consider this in terms of the timing: With all of the controversy over Iraqi war prisoners in the way military authorities are treating foreign prisoners on foreign land, it's all the more understandable that the U.S. wants to justify the way that we're treating one of our own citizens, who is being held within our own country.

COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey live on the phone from Miami this morning, many thanks to you.

Hurry up and wait. That may well be the mantra of anyone traveling through the country's busiest airport this summer if the Memorial Day weekend is any indication. Thousands of frustrated travelers stood in line for hours, waiting to pass through security at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Airport officials warn it will be this way all summer long if they don't get some help from the federal government. I was one of those people, and, yes, it was frustrating.

The Bush administration and Saudi Arabia are joining forces to try and shut down a Muslim charity. They're lobbying the U.S. Security Council to block that group's assets. They claim the Islamic Foundation bankrolls terrorist groups like al Qaeda. Saudi officials already ordered the charity to close all of its overseas branches, but it continues to operate in four countries.

The nation may have a keen interest in today's commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy. President Bush is set to deliver the speech, and his aides say it will include some fireworks. He's expected to talk in detail about terrorist groups like al Qaeda, and he'll compare his war on terror to World War II.

But Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush has ignored the threat of terrorism involving nuclear weapons. Kerry says if he's elected, he'll boost efforts to cut off the spread of nuclear materials. He adds since 9/11, the administration has not done enough to find radioactive material around the world that could be used to make a nuclear bomb.

So, since the campaign for president is heating up, politics is our hot talker of the morning. So, let's head live to D.C. and WTOP News Radio anchor Judlyne Lilly.

Good morning, Judlyne.

JUDLYNE LILLY, WTOP ANCHOR: Good morning, Carol. How are you?

COSTELLO: Shall we -- I'm fine. Shall we start with the big John Kerry concert? Did you see it in "The New York Times?"

LILLY: I didn't see it but heard about it. And, you know, it sounds like he plans to party like it's 1992.

COSTELLO: Well, let's explain to our viewers what we mean by that. This was in "The New York Times." There's going to be a concert thrown by John Bon Jovi, Whoopi Goldberg, John Mellencamp, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Robin Williams, and then it says, "With John Kerry and Teresa Heinz-Kerry, too." The tickets are quite expensive, aren't they?

LILLY: A thousand dollars!

COSTELLO: They're sold out!

LILLY: And they're all gone!

COSTELLO: Well, there are still tickets available for 500 bucks and $250 for the common man.

LILLY: You can get the 20 bucks and the 500 bucks, but where will you sit?

COSTELLO: Outside.

LILLY: It would be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seats?

COSTELLO: It's in Radio City Music Hall, by the way. But go on, Judlyne.

LILLY: Well, yes. It's at Radio City Music Hall. They have no (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seats there, too. But the thing is, is that this particular concert, it really does remind one of the Clinton campaign, not to say that he had these big concerts, but he certainly had -- and he got criticized for this by people in the other party -- that he had all of these Hollywood stars that were coming to his aid and things like that, and he was the Hollywood president.

And Kerry, once again, is going to Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockets perform by the way, with...

COSTELLO: Will Barbra Streisand be there?

LILLY: Nothing about Barbra Streisand, and, you know, she's been pretty quiet lately. So, we don't know what she's up to.

COSTELLO: Well, you can bet the other party will have something to say about this, and we'll just await their comments.

I wanted to talk about a little bit about the cicadas before you had to go.

LILLY: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: Because, I'm telling you, it's all over the Washington media. In fact, I was reading an article about the May sweeps and the Washington television market.

LILLY: Yes.

COSTELLO: And some of the newscasts developed much of their newscasts to reporting on the cicadas.

LILLY: Yes, because they're everywhere. They're everywhere. They are in your tree. They're in your house. You wake up to the sound, and it's not a sleeping-inducing sound. It does sound like something out of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," you know, the science fiction movie of 1951.

COSTELLO: So, how loud is it, Judlyne?

LILLY: Well, it's pretty loud. And the thing is, is that they do go to sleep, but they don't go to sleep when most other people go to sleep. So, it's very loud, not only that, but, you see, they only come out to mate, and then they die.

COSTELLO: Right.

LILLY: And then when they die, they smell, because their bodies are decomposing. So, people who have hundreds of them in their yards -- and this is not everyone, because in my own personal yard I've only seen like 12. You know, I hear them, but I don't see them. But in other people's yards, they are all over. You step on them. You -- in your car. And their bodies are decomposing, and they smell.

So, it's a problem. But we have to be happy that nature is working.

COSTELLO: That's right. And they're going to go away.

LILLY: And they're going to go away.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Well, Judlyne Lilly, many thanks for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

The former mayor of the District of Columbia, by the way, Marion Barry, you remember him. He may be planning a comeback. News channel 8 in Washington is reporting that Barry is expected to announce he will run for the Ward 8 seat on the D.C. council. Barry, who was once convicted of cocaine possession, served four terms as mayor, and he also spent some time behind bars. But he's going to make that comeback.

Cyber threats. What's being done today to protect your computer tomorrow? We'll have the details ahead.

Plus, fueling your workouts are energy drinks, those high-energy drinks. A safe way to go?

You're watching DAYBREAK on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Some food for thought this morning. Patching your computer can prevent most of those pesky worms and viruses from compromising computer networks. Well, later today the nation's cyber security chiefs will testify at a congressional hearing. Here's the title of the hearing: "Who Might be Lurking at your Cyber Front Door?" It's pretty clever, isn't it?

CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg is at our front door with more on that topic and other...

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: One of the doors here, yes. Good morning, Carol. That's right.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

SIEBERG: Yes, the other part of that title is: "Is Your System Really Secure?" And this is a question that we should all be asking ourselves every morning when you log on to your computer. You know, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of worms and viruses on the Internet right now, including the Sasser worm, which recently was spreading on the Internet, very serious threats that are out there. So, you certainly need to keep up-to-date.

What's going to be discussed today will be a number of different issues. The federal government will be there, Microsoft will be there, some private security companies, basically trying to figure out if they can work together better, communicate better, share information better, and patch their systems and be up-to-date with all of the security precautions that are out there. And this is not just home users, but governments and corporations as well.

COSTELLO: Can Congress force them to do that?

SIEBERG: Well, I don't know if it's so much about forcing them to do it. I mean, for now I think that private companies are hoping the government won't force them to do that, and even the government is wary of doing that sort of thing. But certainly the home user, there's a lot that people can do, and we've got some tips for people on what you can do to protect yourself, whether you're at home or at the office. And this is something you should really make part of your daily routine.

First of all, install a firewall program. This is the kind of thing that will help keep the bad stuff out, essentially. Many of them are even free. So, it's very easy to install. Routinely check for Microsoft Windows updates. You know, most people, more than 90 percent of people out there use a Microsoft operating system, and there is a Web site called www.MicrsoftUpdate.com or MicrosoftUpdate.windows -- or WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com. Basically either of them you can go there and get updates and patch your system. It's very essential, because...

COSTELLO: Is it quick, though?

SIEBERG: It's fairly quick and easy. They try to make it fairly straightforward. But the key is you have to do it.

COSTELLO: But that's really irritating, because it takes a long time.

SIEBERG: Right. It does take a little bit of your computer's power, so you have to sort of sit through it and do it.

And the other thing, of course, is to update all of your antivirus software, because there are countless programs that are out there. But if you don't update it, you're really not keeping up with all of the hackers that are out there, who are changing their programs and tweaking things a little bit to try and get around any defenses that you have in place.

So, it's really -- you know, it can be time-consuming and a bit laborious and tedious, admittedly.

COSTELLO: But so worth it.

SIEBERG: Exactly. It's just like maintenance on your car. If you have a leaky bolt, you're going to have to keep patching it all the time. And your computer is basically like the leaky bolt. Unfortunately, there are a lot of holes out there, and if you don't do this kind of thing, you know, you're going to run into trouble. So, it's sort of up to you.

COSTELLO: All right, advice taken.

SIEBERG: Yes.

COSTELLO: So, people, get busy out there.

SIEBERG: Right.

COSTELLO: Daniel Sieberg, many thanks to you.

SIEBERG: All right.

COSTELLO: Time for a little business buzz now. We're about three hours away from the opening bell on Wall Street. So, it's time for a preview.

Carrie Lee is live at the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Good morning.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Hi, Carol.

Well, futures right now are looking flat to slightly higher for today's session. Of course, all of the major market indices ended in slightly positive territory yesterday, even though oil prices continued to climb, hitting a new 21-year high. During the session, oil got as high here as $42.38 a barrel. It finished at 42.33. Overnight we were even a little higher than that. So, a lot of people are waiting to see what oil has in store for today.

Of course, OPEC is meeting tomorrow. Everyone is pretty much expecting them to raise production levels, but they're pretty much operating at capacity -- that is the oil-producing countries. So, not sure if that's going to have any softening effect on oil prices going forward.

Of course, we also have the big jobs report coming out on Friday. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 5.6 percent. All of this, of course, can possibly contribute to more inflation fears and the concern regarding higher interest rates, which we can see as early as later this month.

So, that's the economic story of the day.

I also want to give you kind of a consumer story here. Amazon and Getty Images yesterday launched an online store. They're selling about 30,000 prints, photographic prints -- a lot of them coming from the National Geographic Society. And the price points here are pretty reasonable: $15 to $60 each. You can find photos of everything from the Dalai Lama to Muhammad Ali. The most popular print from the National Geographic Society: a Japanese geisha framed in the shadows.

COSTELLO: Wow!

LEE: If you're looking to spruce up your home or office, Carol, there you go.

COSTELLO: It sounds nice. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Iran has admitted to the U.N. Atomic Monitoring Agency that it imported parts for equipment to enrich uranium. The Associated Press reports the admission is included in a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report also credits Iran with more openness about its nuclear program.

Just a short time ago, a car bombing rocked a busy neighborhood in northern Baghdad. Witnesses and Iraqi police say at least 22 people were wounded. A police official says the target of the blast is not clear.

In money news, Sony pulls the plug on a type of handheld computer. It says it's going to stop selling PDAs in the United States and focus instead on the cell phone market.

In sports, the Giants had a 10-game winning streak going, but it stopped there. The Arizona Diamondbacks handed San Francisco its first loss in 11 games with a 6-5 victory.

In culture, Michael Moore's latest documentary is going to make it into U.S. theaters after all. Harvey and Bob Weinstein (ph) are forming a special company to distribute "Fahrenheit 9/11." It debuts June 25.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Energy drinks. Are they a safe way to get the energy you need? Lisa Drayer is here to tell you all about Red Bull.

And, look at the puppy. The dog can really get her groove on. She made today's "Lightning Round," when DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: With names likes Red Bull, Monster Adrenaline Rush and Liquid Ice, energy drinks may not sound like your typical bottled beverage. But as part of a billion dollar market today, these energy drinks have made their way into the mainstream beverage culture.

So, what's all of the buzz about? Joining us with more is our nutritionist, our favorite nutritionist, Lisa Drayer, live in New York.

So, Lisa, what's in this stuff that energizes us?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: A lot of stuff is going on. And energy drinks, Carol, have now surpassed bottled water as the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry. One reason they've become so popular is that manufacturers are no longer targeting only 15 to 30-year-old males, which was the original demographics, but rather any consumer who might choose a drink for a sexy, sporty or even party-going image.

Another reason is that they're a good source of caffeine. In fact, according to a recent market research report by BevNET, as these drinks become more and more popular, they will inevitably assume the role of caffeine replacement.

COSTELLO: Really? So, how much more caffeine is in that stuff compared to, like coffee?

DRAYER: It's a good question. Let's take a look at Red Bull. Red Bull is the leader in the energy drink category. It has the highest amount of sales.

An 8.3 ounce can of Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine. Now, according to the National Coffee Association, your average 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 85 milligrams of caffeine. Now, that's roughly the same. However, the caffeine in coffee can range anywhere from 60 to 120 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. And some, like Starbucks, may be on the higher end of the range.

Additionally, that amount, Carol, is double the amount of caffeine you would find in a 1-ounce espresso and triple the amount you would find in an 8-ounce can of Coca-Cola Classic.

COSTELLO: Wow!

DRAYER: Yes.

Now, when we look at SoBe Adrenaline Rush, that's the No. 2 energy drink in terms of sales, the caffeine is 86 milligrams per 8.3- ounce can, slightly more than Red Bull, but Adrenaline Rush also contains guarana. This is an herb that contains high concentrations of caffeine. SoBe also has 140 calories per can and 37 grams of carbs. That's about what you'd find in two slices of bread, although the carbs in these drinks are mainly from the sugar.

Then we go to Invigor-8 Energy Boost. This is made by the Campbell Soup Company. It's the newest addition to the V-8 drink line. It's the only drink that has a 100-percent juice and no added sugar. However, there are still 22 grams of sugars from the sugar naturally present in the juice. The caffeine content is 80 milligrams per can, but this drink also contains guarana, again, an herb that is a source of caffeine.

COSTELLO: Oh, I'm going to have to get me some of that guarana, whatever you call it.

DRAYER: Guarana, from Brazil actually, yes.

COSTELLO: Guarana. Can you buy it in the store, in the herbal store?

DRAYER: Yes, you could see a lot of preparation is made. It's from Brazil. It's in a lot of Brazilian drinks as well.

COSTELLO: OK. Well, let's talk about the safety of these drinks.

DRAYER: Yes. Well, according to the FDA, it is the manufacturers' responsibility to assume -- to ensure, rather, that these drinks are safe before they come to the market. Now, that being said, some energy drinks including Red Bull are banned in some countries, including France, Canada, Denmark and Norway, due to some health concerns about the drinks, and there has been at least one death reported from Red Bull. It was an 18-year-old male that had actually shared four cans of Red Bull before playing in a basketball match, and then he collapsed shortly after. However, Red Bull says that their drink is safe, and they do plan to get the drink marketed in these countries.

COSTELLO: All right, Lisa Drayer, thanks for the information on those high-energy drinks. Thanks so much. Lisa Drayer live from New York. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It sounds like just brewing yourself a pot of coffee may be the way to go.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: Throw a little sugar in there. And you can drink your coffee in that coffee mug.

COSTELLO: Does that mean it's time for our DAYBREAK question of the day?

MYERS: It is time for the two questions of the day.

COSTELLO: Gotcha.

MYERS: Because you have to answer them both, of course.

The Olympic torch will travel this summer. It's going on. Carol will actually carry it. But how many cities will it go through?

And what former D.C. politician is seeking another run for local office? In that story about 20 minutes ago.

CNN DAYBREAK mug. There you go.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@CNN.com is the address to send your answers to. Daybreak@CNN.com.

You'll join me for "The Lightning Round?"

MYERS: I'll be right here.

COSTELLO: But first the latest headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: I love that actor, Dennis Haysbert.

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: Yes. He's on "24." He's the president on "24."

MYERS: Right, right.

COSTELLO: You know, he just has that dignified air about him that's really nice (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: He's very confident.

COSTELLO: Yes, very confident.

MYERS: Exactly.

COSTELLO: It is time for our "Lightning Round" right now. Hey, there goes the neighborhood. A South Florida neighborhood got a scare when an alligator chose to move in. Can you imagine that? MYERS: Oh, here goes the neighborhood. Here comes the alligator.

COSTELLO: Oh, there it goes. Anyway, the wildlife folks were called to the scene at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and they got that gator out of there. Don't know where he went.

MYERS: Back to the swamp.

COSTELLO: I hope so.

Forget happy feet. How about happy paws? This dog can dance the night away, baby. The owner, seen here, says the more she and the dog dance, the more in tune they are. Doesn't that look -- look, she has a little ballerina thing on.

MYERS: That's so nice.

COSTELLO: Isn't it?

She calls it dancing, but to us it looks like walking on nails. This artist performs an ancient Indian dance on a bed of 10,000 nails. She's trying to get in the record book, but officials in Malaysia refused to recognize her attempt, which I think is quite cruel.

MYERS: Nails?

COSTELLO: Those were 10,000 nails, buddy!

MYERS: Well, if they're really close together then, they don't really feel like nails.

COSTELLO: OK, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: Hey, right.

COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" is coming up next. I'm Carol Costello with Chad Myers. Have a great day.

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 June 2, 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: Padilla has been held without charges in a military jail for two years. This is how his attorney reacted to that Justice Department statement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW PATEL, JOSE PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: We wish it was an indictment. An indictment would give us an opportunity to respond to these allegations in a court of law. Right now, Mr. Comey has had the opportunity to give an opening statement, but we have no forum to respond.

Additionally, anything that we've heard from our client, anything that he's told us, is classified. So, we're not even allowed to discuss it publicly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: With all of that government evidence, why not put Padilla on trial? Why not go for an indictment?

It's a good topic to discuss over coffee this morning. So live to Miami and our legal analyst, Kendall Coffey.

Good morning - Kendall.

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

COSTELLO: So, why not declassify Padilla as an enemy combatant and present the evidence to a grand jury?

COFFEY: Well, I think the government is stating very forthrightly that they don't believe that they could convict him under existing rules for a civilian court. They couldn't use his alleged confession, because military interrogators don't provide Miranda warnings and don't provide right to counsel.

And I think the government does not want to bring the key witnesses who could allegedly incriminate Padilla, because they are key leaders of al Qaeda. The last thing they want to do with, for example, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of 9/11, is take him away from an incommunicado detention and put him before a U.S. court in the public to be cross-examined with all of the information and exposure that that could generate.

COSTELLO: Well, so what do you do? I know this issue is in the U.S. Supreme Court right now as for whether Padilla deserves a hearing on his status as an enemy combatant. But how long can you hold a guy without access to an attorney or without any kind of trial?

COFFEY: That is an unanswerable question, and that is why this case in many ways is perhaps the most dramatic collision between personal liberties and national security since World War II.

And while the Justice Department was emphatic that this was not a play to the U.S. Supreme Court, they are no doubt very forthrightly saying that they're trying to reach the court of public opinion. Because the biggest and most difficult question is if even mass murderers in this country get some sort of day in court, why not Jose Padilla? And that's the question that we're going to hear a decision on it in the coming weeks from the U.S. Supreme Court.

COSTELLO: Well, you're right. Some people are accusing the Justice Department of coming out publicly with this information to sort of sway the Supreme Court one way or another. Will that work?

COFFEY: I don't think it's going to influence it. I mean, really decisions like this tend to crystallize very close to the time the case is actually presented, which was in late April. But, Carol, consider this in terms of the timing: With all of the controversy over Iraqi war prisoners in the way military authorities are treating foreign prisoners on foreign land, it's all the more understandable that the U.S. wants to justify the way that we're treating one of our own citizens, who is being held within our own country.

COSTELLO: Kendall Coffey live on the phone from Miami this morning, many thanks to you.

Hurry up and wait. That may well be the mantra of anyone traveling through the country's busiest airport this summer if the Memorial Day weekend is any indication. Thousands of frustrated travelers stood in line for hours, waiting to pass through security at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Airport officials warn it will be this way all summer long if they don't get some help from the federal government. I was one of those people, and, yes, it was frustrating.

The Bush administration and Saudi Arabia are joining forces to try and shut down a Muslim charity. They're lobbying the U.S. Security Council to block that group's assets. They claim the Islamic Foundation bankrolls terrorist groups like al Qaeda. Saudi officials already ordered the charity to close all of its overseas branches, but it continues to operate in four countries.

The nation may have a keen interest in today's commencement address at the U.S. Air Force Academy. President Bush is set to deliver the speech, and his aides say it will include some fireworks. He's expected to talk in detail about terrorist groups like al Qaeda, and he'll compare his war on terror to World War II.

But Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry says President Bush has ignored the threat of terrorism involving nuclear weapons. Kerry says if he's elected, he'll boost efforts to cut off the spread of nuclear materials. He adds since 9/11, the administration has not done enough to find radioactive material around the world that could be used to make a nuclear bomb.

So, since the campaign for president is heating up, politics is our hot talker of the morning. So, let's head live to D.C. and WTOP News Radio anchor Judlyne Lilly.

Good morning, Judlyne.

JUDLYNE LILLY, WTOP ANCHOR: Good morning, Carol. How are you?

COSTELLO: Shall we -- I'm fine. Shall we start with the big John Kerry concert? Did you see it in "The New York Times?"

LILLY: I didn't see it but heard about it. And, you know, it sounds like he plans to party like it's 1992.

COSTELLO: Well, let's explain to our viewers what we mean by that. This was in "The New York Times." There's going to be a concert thrown by John Bon Jovi, Whoopi Goldberg, John Mellencamp, Bette Midler, James Taylor, Robin Williams, and then it says, "With John Kerry and Teresa Heinz-Kerry, too." The tickets are quite expensive, aren't they?

LILLY: A thousand dollars!

COSTELLO: They're sold out!

LILLY: And they're all gone!

COSTELLO: Well, there are still tickets available for 500 bucks and $250 for the common man.

LILLY: You can get the 20 bucks and the 500 bucks, but where will you sit?

COSTELLO: Outside.

LILLY: It would be (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seats?

COSTELLO: It's in Radio City Music Hall, by the way. But go on, Judlyne.

LILLY: Well, yes. It's at Radio City Music Hall. They have no (UNINTELLIGIBLE) seats there, too. But the thing is, is that this particular concert, it really does remind one of the Clinton campaign, not to say that he had these big concerts, but he certainly had -- and he got criticized for this by people in the other party -- that he had all of these Hollywood stars that were coming to his aid and things like that, and he was the Hollywood president.

And Kerry, once again, is going to Radio City Music Hall, where the Rockets perform by the way, with...

COSTELLO: Will Barbra Streisand be there?

LILLY: Nothing about Barbra Streisand, and, you know, she's been pretty quiet lately. So, we don't know what she's up to.

COSTELLO: Well, you can bet the other party will have something to say about this, and we'll just await their comments.

I wanted to talk about a little bit about the cicadas before you had to go.

LILLY: Oh, yes.

COSTELLO: Because, I'm telling you, it's all over the Washington media. In fact, I was reading an article about the May sweeps and the Washington television market.

LILLY: Yes.

COSTELLO: And some of the newscasts developed much of their newscasts to reporting on the cicadas.

LILLY: Yes, because they're everywhere. They're everywhere. They are in your tree. They're in your house. You wake up to the sound, and it's not a sleeping-inducing sound. It does sound like something out of "The Day the Earth Stood Still," you know, the science fiction movie of 1951.

COSTELLO: So, how loud is it, Judlyne?

LILLY: Well, it's pretty loud. And the thing is, is that they do go to sleep, but they don't go to sleep when most other people go to sleep. So, it's very loud, not only that, but, you see, they only come out to mate, and then they die.

COSTELLO: Right.

LILLY: And then when they die, they smell, because their bodies are decomposing. So, people who have hundreds of them in their yards -- and this is not everyone, because in my own personal yard I've only seen like 12. You know, I hear them, but I don't see them. But in other people's yards, they are all over. You step on them. You -- in your car. And their bodies are decomposing, and they smell.

So, it's a problem. But we have to be happy that nature is working.

COSTELLO: That's right. And they're going to go away.

LILLY: And they're going to go away.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Well, Judlyne Lilly, many thanks for joining us this morning. We appreciate it.

The former mayor of the District of Columbia, by the way, Marion Barry, you remember him. He may be planning a comeback. News channel 8 in Washington is reporting that Barry is expected to announce he will run for the Ward 8 seat on the D.C. council. Barry, who was once convicted of cocaine possession, served four terms as mayor, and he also spent some time behind bars. But he's going to make that comeback.

Cyber threats. What's being done today to protect your computer tomorrow? We'll have the details ahead.

Plus, fueling your workouts are energy drinks, those high-energy drinks. A safe way to go?

You're watching DAYBREAK on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Some food for thought this morning. Patching your computer can prevent most of those pesky worms and viruses from compromising computer networks. Well, later today the nation's cyber security chiefs will testify at a congressional hearing. Here's the title of the hearing: "Who Might be Lurking at your Cyber Front Door?" It's pretty clever, isn't it?

CNN technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg is at our front door with more on that topic and other...

DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT: One of the doors here, yes. Good morning, Carol. That's right.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

SIEBERG: Yes, the other part of that title is: "Is Your System Really Secure?" And this is a question that we should all be asking ourselves every morning when you log on to your computer. You know, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of worms and viruses on the Internet right now, including the Sasser worm, which recently was spreading on the Internet, very serious threats that are out there. So, you certainly need to keep up-to-date.

What's going to be discussed today will be a number of different issues. The federal government will be there, Microsoft will be there, some private security companies, basically trying to figure out if they can work together better, communicate better, share information better, and patch their systems and be up-to-date with all of the security precautions that are out there. And this is not just home users, but governments and corporations as well.

COSTELLO: Can Congress force them to do that?

SIEBERG: Well, I don't know if it's so much about forcing them to do it. I mean, for now I think that private companies are hoping the government won't force them to do that, and even the government is wary of doing that sort of thing. But certainly the home user, there's a lot that people can do, and we've got some tips for people on what you can do to protect yourself, whether you're at home or at the office. And this is something you should really make part of your daily routine.

First of all, install a firewall program. This is the kind of thing that will help keep the bad stuff out, essentially. Many of them are even free. So, it's very easy to install. Routinely check for Microsoft Windows updates. You know, most people, more than 90 percent of people out there use a Microsoft operating system, and there is a Web site called www.MicrsoftUpdate.com or MicrosoftUpdate.windows -- or WindowsUpdate.Microsoft.com. Basically either of them you can go there and get updates and patch your system. It's very essential, because...

COSTELLO: Is it quick, though?

SIEBERG: It's fairly quick and easy. They try to make it fairly straightforward. But the key is you have to do it.

COSTELLO: But that's really irritating, because it takes a long time.

SIEBERG: Right. It does take a little bit of your computer's power, so you have to sort of sit through it and do it.

And the other thing, of course, is to update all of your antivirus software, because there are countless programs that are out there. But if you don't update it, you're really not keeping up with all of the hackers that are out there, who are changing their programs and tweaking things a little bit to try and get around any defenses that you have in place.

So, it's really -- you know, it can be time-consuming and a bit laborious and tedious, admittedly.

COSTELLO: But so worth it.

SIEBERG: Exactly. It's just like maintenance on your car. If you have a leaky bolt, you're going to have to keep patching it all the time. And your computer is basically like the leaky bolt. Unfortunately, there are a lot of holes out there, and if you don't do this kind of thing, you know, you're going to run into trouble. So, it's sort of up to you.

COSTELLO: All right, advice taken.

SIEBERG: Yes.

COSTELLO: So, people, get busy out there.

SIEBERG: Right.

COSTELLO: Daniel Sieberg, many thanks to you.

SIEBERG: All right.

COSTELLO: Time for a little business buzz now. We're about three hours away from the opening bell on Wall Street. So, it's time for a preview.

Carrie Lee is live at the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Good morning.

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: Hi, Carol.

Well, futures right now are looking flat to slightly higher for today's session. Of course, all of the major market indices ended in slightly positive territory yesterday, even though oil prices continued to climb, hitting a new 21-year high. During the session, oil got as high here as $42.38 a barrel. It finished at 42.33. Overnight we were even a little higher than that. So, a lot of people are waiting to see what oil has in store for today.

Of course, OPEC is meeting tomorrow. Everyone is pretty much expecting them to raise production levels, but they're pretty much operating at capacity -- that is the oil-producing countries. So, not sure if that's going to have any softening effect on oil prices going forward.

Of course, we also have the big jobs report coming out on Friday. The unemployment rate is expected to hold steady at 5.6 percent. All of this, of course, can possibly contribute to more inflation fears and the concern regarding higher interest rates, which we can see as early as later this month.

So, that's the economic story of the day.

I also want to give you kind of a consumer story here. Amazon and Getty Images yesterday launched an online store. They're selling about 30,000 prints, photographic prints -- a lot of them coming from the National Geographic Society. And the price points here are pretty reasonable: $15 to $60 each. You can find photos of everything from the Dalai Lama to Muhammad Ali. The most popular print from the National Geographic Society: a Japanese geisha framed in the shadows.

COSTELLO: Wow!

LEE: If you're looking to spruce up your home or office, Carol, there you go.

COSTELLO: It sounds nice. Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Iran has admitted to the U.N. Atomic Monitoring Agency that it imported parts for equipment to enrich uranium. The Associated Press reports the admission is included in a confidential report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report also credits Iran with more openness about its nuclear program.

Just a short time ago, a car bombing rocked a busy neighborhood in northern Baghdad. Witnesses and Iraqi police say at least 22 people were wounded. A police official says the target of the blast is not clear.

In money news, Sony pulls the plug on a type of handheld computer. It says it's going to stop selling PDAs in the United States and focus instead on the cell phone market.

In sports, the Giants had a 10-game winning streak going, but it stopped there. The Arizona Diamondbacks handed San Francisco its first loss in 11 games with a 6-5 victory.

In culture, Michael Moore's latest documentary is going to make it into U.S. theaters after all. Harvey and Bob Weinstein (ph) are forming a special company to distribute "Fahrenheit 9/11." It debuts June 25.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Energy drinks. Are they a safe way to get the energy you need? Lisa Drayer is here to tell you all about Red Bull.

And, look at the puppy. The dog can really get her groove on. She made today's "Lightning Round," when DAYBREAK continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: With names likes Red Bull, Monster Adrenaline Rush and Liquid Ice, energy drinks may not sound like your typical bottled beverage. But as part of a billion dollar market today, these energy drinks have made their way into the mainstream beverage culture.

So, what's all of the buzz about? Joining us with more is our nutritionist, our favorite nutritionist, Lisa Drayer, live in New York.

So, Lisa, what's in this stuff that energizes us?

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETICIAN: A lot of stuff is going on. And energy drinks, Carol, have now surpassed bottled water as the fastest-growing segment of the beverage industry. One reason they've become so popular is that manufacturers are no longer targeting only 15 to 30-year-old males, which was the original demographics, but rather any consumer who might choose a drink for a sexy, sporty or even party-going image.

Another reason is that they're a good source of caffeine. In fact, according to a recent market research report by BevNET, as these drinks become more and more popular, they will inevitably assume the role of caffeine replacement.

COSTELLO: Really? So, how much more caffeine is in that stuff compared to, like coffee?

DRAYER: It's a good question. Let's take a look at Red Bull. Red Bull is the leader in the energy drink category. It has the highest amount of sales.

An 8.3 ounce can of Red Bull has 80 milligrams of caffeine. Now, according to the National Coffee Association, your average 8-ounce cup of brewed coffee contains 85 milligrams of caffeine. Now, that's roughly the same. However, the caffeine in coffee can range anywhere from 60 to 120 milligrams per 8-ounce cup. And some, like Starbucks, may be on the higher end of the range.

Additionally, that amount, Carol, is double the amount of caffeine you would find in a 1-ounce espresso and triple the amount you would find in an 8-ounce can of Coca-Cola Classic.

COSTELLO: Wow!

DRAYER: Yes.

Now, when we look at SoBe Adrenaline Rush, that's the No. 2 energy drink in terms of sales, the caffeine is 86 milligrams per 8.3- ounce can, slightly more than Red Bull, but Adrenaline Rush also contains guarana. This is an herb that contains high concentrations of caffeine. SoBe also has 140 calories per can and 37 grams of carbs. That's about what you'd find in two slices of bread, although the carbs in these drinks are mainly from the sugar.

Then we go to Invigor-8 Energy Boost. This is made by the Campbell Soup Company. It's the newest addition to the V-8 drink line. It's the only drink that has a 100-percent juice and no added sugar. However, there are still 22 grams of sugars from the sugar naturally present in the juice. The caffeine content is 80 milligrams per can, but this drink also contains guarana, again, an herb that is a source of caffeine.

COSTELLO: Oh, I'm going to have to get me some of that guarana, whatever you call it.

DRAYER: Guarana, from Brazil actually, yes.

COSTELLO: Guarana. Can you buy it in the store, in the herbal store?

DRAYER: Yes, you could see a lot of preparation is made. It's from Brazil. It's in a lot of Brazilian drinks as well.

COSTELLO: OK. Well, let's talk about the safety of these drinks.

DRAYER: Yes. Well, according to the FDA, it is the manufacturers' responsibility to assume -- to ensure, rather, that these drinks are safe before they come to the market. Now, that being said, some energy drinks including Red Bull are banned in some countries, including France, Canada, Denmark and Norway, due to some health concerns about the drinks, and there has been at least one death reported from Red Bull. It was an 18-year-old male that had actually shared four cans of Red Bull before playing in a basketball match, and then he collapsed shortly after. However, Red Bull says that their drink is safe, and they do plan to get the drink marketed in these countries.

COSTELLO: All right, Lisa Drayer, thanks for the information on those high-energy drinks. Thanks so much. Lisa Drayer live from New York. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It sounds like just brewing yourself a pot of coffee may be the way to go.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: Throw a little sugar in there. And you can drink your coffee in that coffee mug.

COSTELLO: Does that mean it's time for our DAYBREAK question of the day?

MYERS: It is time for the two questions of the day.

COSTELLO: Gotcha.

MYERS: Because you have to answer them both, of course.

The Olympic torch will travel this summer. It's going on. Carol will actually carry it. But how many cities will it go through?

And what former D.C. politician is seeking another run for local office? In that story about 20 minutes ago.

CNN DAYBREAK mug. There you go.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@CNN.com is the address to send your answers to. Daybreak@CNN.com.

You'll join me for "The Lightning Round?"

MYERS: I'll be right here.

COSTELLO: But first the latest headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: I love that actor, Dennis Haysbert.

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: Yes. He's on "24." He's the president on "24."

MYERS: Right, right.

COSTELLO: You know, he just has that dignified air about him that's really nice (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: He's very confident.

COSTELLO: Yes, very confident.

MYERS: Exactly.

COSTELLO: It is time for our "Lightning Round" right now. Hey, there goes the neighborhood. A South Florida neighborhood got a scare when an alligator chose to move in. Can you imagine that? MYERS: Oh, here goes the neighborhood. Here comes the alligator.

COSTELLO: Oh, there it goes. Anyway, the wildlife folks were called to the scene at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, and they got that gator out of there. Don't know where he went.

MYERS: Back to the swamp.

COSTELLO: I hope so.

Forget happy feet. How about happy paws? This dog can dance the night away, baby. The owner, seen here, says the more she and the dog dance, the more in tune they are. Doesn't that look -- look, she has a little ballerina thing on.

MYERS: That's so nice.

COSTELLO: Isn't it?

She calls it dancing, but to us it looks like walking on nails. This artist performs an ancient Indian dance on a bed of 10,000 nails. She's trying to get in the record book, but officials in Malaysia refused to recognize her attempt, which I think is quite cruel.

MYERS: Nails?

COSTELLO: Those were 10,000 nails, buddy!

MYERS: Well, if they're really close together then, they don't really feel like nails.

COSTELLO: OK, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: Hey, right.

COSTELLO: That does it for us. "AMERICAN MORNING" is coming up next. I'm Carol Costello with Chad Myers. Have a great day.

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