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CNN Live At Daybreak

Recapping Yesterday's Developments at the G-8 Summit; Attorney General John Ashcroft Grilled on Whether Administration Memos Condoned Torture of Prisoners

Aired June 09, 2004 - 06:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And you're looking at a solemn dress rehearsal for the first state funeral of a president in three decades.
It is Wednesday, June 9.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.

Let me bring you up to date now.

More than 106,000 people filed past Ronald Reagan's coffin in California. His body will now be flown to the nation's capital. It will then lie in state beneath the Capitol Rotunda, where thousands more are expected to pay their respects.

At the United Nations, hands up -- the Security Council unanimously has endorsed a resolution turning over power to Iraqis. The measure calls for a new government in seven months.

In money news, are you tired of paying taxes? Well, then move to Cheyenne, Wyoming. A "Kiplinger" magazine study finds Cheyenne has the lowest taxes of any city in the nation. The highest? Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In sports, Kobe Bryant absolutely terrific last night. The L.A. Lakers' star hit a three pointer with about two seconds left in regulation to the Detroit Pistons. L.A. 99, Detroit 91 in overtime. Bryant had an amazing 33 points.

In culture, the passion of money -- Mel Gibson's film distribution company is suing Regal Entertainment Group for $40 million. Gibson's company says Regal shortchanged it on money earned from "The Passion of the Christ" -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It is time to get down to business. The world's most powerful leaders are getting ready to start their Group of Eight summit on the coast of Georgia this morning. The two day meeting formally begins today, but there was plenty of politicking going on yesterday.

CNN's Eric Philips joins us live from near Sea Island to tell us about it -- good morning.

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.

Though the U.N. resolution concerning Iraq was not part of the official G8 agenda, its passage has helped set a positive tone for the beginning of the summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIPS (voice-over): The unanimous approval of the U.N. resolution regarding the shift of power in Iraq was a victory for the White House.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These nations understand that a free Iraq will serve as a catalyst for change in the broader Middle East, which is an important part of winning the war on terror.

PHILIPS: Several nations that are part of the G8 and also members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, but some, like Germany, have not committed troops to the multinational forces in Iraq, as the plan dictates.

GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We think that this resolution will be a good basis, a good foundation for enhancing civility, for also improving the chances for the Iraqi people and also to enhance the ability all around in that region.

PHILIPS: The president will now likely focus less on Iraq during the summit and more on democracy throughout the Middle East region. He's revised his Mideast initiative several times and hopes the G8 will endorse it.

Still, many Arab leaders say it feels like the U.S. forcing its will on the Mideast. Some, like the leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, declined an invitation to go to Sea Island and have lunch with Mr. Bush and the G8 leaders today. The interim president of Iraq, Ghazi al-Yawer, is expected to attend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIPS: Meanwhile, the number of protesters expected here at the G8, or the ones that actually showed up, I should say, have been few and far between (AUDIO GAP) protest organizers were anticipating more than 5,000 demonstrators on Tuesday. But only about 250 showed up to hoist signs and banners -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Eric Philips live off the coast of Georgia this morning.

Ronald Reagan returns to Washington one last time today and the capital city is putting everything aside to get ready for a beloved American president's final journey. The body won't be there for at least another 11 hours and yet people are already standing in line to pay their last respects.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live from Washington with the very first person in line.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, police, first of all, are estimating that some 150,000 people will make their way down here to the Capitol in order to view President Reagan's casket. And as you said, we already have the first person who has staked out her place in line.

Carol Williams is joining me now.

Carol, thanks for being here.

You said that you actually arrived in Washington at 3:00 a.m. this morning because you wanted to be here.

Why did you feel that it was so important to come out so early and be in line?

CAROL WILLIAMS, FIRST IN LINE TO PAY RESPECTS IN CAPITOL: You know, I spent five hours in line in 1984 voting for President Reagan. I will stand for hours just to be able to say good-bye.

QUIJANO: What was it about President Reagan that affected you so deeply?

WILLIAMS: I think like our current, George W. Bush, I find that President Reagan was somebody that restored dignity to the White House.

QUIJANO: And you said you were actually surprised to find that you were the very first one in line this morning.

WILLIAMS: Yes, I would have expected a whole lot of other people in line by now, but I've been told that by about 10 o'clock there is going to be developing quite a bit of traffic here.

QUIJANO: Now, you brought along your daughter and your niece today. And you were talking to me about how this is a really important history lesson for them.

Tell me about that.

WILLIAMS: You know, not many kids have an opportunity to live history and know they're living history while it's happening. And this is one of those moments that, as sad as it is, you know, they'll be able to look at their grandchildren and their children and be able when they're looking at the history books and give them a firsthand account, not a revisionist history account, just an "I was there and this is what it was like" and the opportunity to honor a great president in American history.

QUIJANO: The last question, then. We're still about 14 and a half, 15 hours away from the time that the public will actually be allowed in.

Why is it worth, to you, the way -- you've talked about that a little bit before -- talk to us about what you're feeling personally.

WILLIAMS: You know, when it was announced that President Reagan had passed away, there was no doubt in my mind that I would come here. There was no doubt I would leave work on Tuesday night after I taught and make my way here. Because when there are great people in history and you have an opportunity to honor them and say good-bye and show somehow your gratefulness for what they did for our nation at such an interesting time in history, where we were floundering, what more can somebody do to say good-bye than at least give them a little bit of their time. They gave us so much of theirs.

QUIJANO: Carol Williams, thank you so much for joining us.

And Carol traveled here, by the way, from Chesterfield, Virginia, about two and a half hours away, just to ensure that she would secure a place in line here. Just one of the stories that we will hear about later on, as this day progresses -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Elaine, is Carol the only one in line or are there more people waiting already?

QUIJANO: Well, there are actually, just in the last few minutes, a second person -- besides Carol's group. Obviously her niece and her daughter are here, as well. A second person has come and I suspect people will be arriving. The police, who have been on site here, said that they anticipate things will pick up here as the morning goes through. But it is going to be a long wait and temperatures here are going to be in the 90s today. But people here say it is well worth it in order to pay their last respects -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Elaine, thank you, and thank Carol Williams for us, as well.

Elaine Quijano live from D.C.

Former President Gerald Ford is among those applauding former President Reagan for his leadership.

He had this to say on CNN's "Larry King Live."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")

GERALD FORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The country was going through a very difficult period. Ronald Reagan came in. He revised our -- and uplifted our spirits at a time that was so, so very essential for the future of America. I applaud it. I congratulate President Reagan. He did a heck of a good job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Tonight, the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and former First Lady Barbara Bush will share their memories of President Reagan. That's at 9:00 Eastern on "Larry King Live." And we'll bring you special live coverage of Ronald Reagan's final journey to Washington this morning. That begins at 11:00 Eastern.

Iraq has a new government in its future this morning. Here is the latest for you. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the resolution on the transfer of power. It calls for elections no later than January 31, 2005.

A published report out today says new Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi headed an exile group for the CIA in the '90s. The "New York Times" says Allawi's group planted bombs in Baghdad in an attempt to sabotage Saddam Hussein's government.

Three Italians and a Pole have been rescued in a coalition military operation. The Italians, seized on April 12, are seen returning to Italy. They just got back this morning.

Gunmen who had taken two Turks and their driver have been released. All three work for a Turkish construction company.

Who's responsible? That was the underlying question during the Senate's questioning of Attorney General John Ashcroft on the instances of torture in Iraq.

Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports on the sometimes contentious hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senators demanded to know if the Justice Department told the president it was legally OK to torture al Qaeda terrorists and whether the president, based on that advice, issued an order on interrogations that led to the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: We know when we have these kinds of orders what happens. We get the stress test. We get the use of dogs. We get the forced nakedness that we've all seen.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: First of all, let me completely reject the notion that anything that this president has done or the Justice Department has done has directly resulted in the kinds of atrocities which were cited. That is false.

ARENA: Justice Department lawyers did contribute to a March, 2003 report obtained by CNN which suggests interrogators have broad latitude to use pressure when questioning detainees.

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: Did your department issue a memorandum in which it suggested torture is allowed under certain circumstances as the press has reported?

ASHCROFT: The president has not directed or ordered any conduct that would violate the Constitution of the United States.

ARENA: But Ashcroft refused repeated Democratic demands to turn over memos or to tell Senators what legal advice he gave the president and the sparring got personal. SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: See and there's a reason why we sign these treaties to protect my son in the military. That's why we have these treaties so when Americans are captured they are not tortured. That's the reason in case anybody forgets it. That's the reason. I yield the floor.

ASHCROFT: Well, as a person whose son is in the military now on active duty and has been in the Gulf within the last several months, I am aware of those considerations and I care about your son.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Some interesting results from a survey of Saudi Arabians. A poll taken last year showed that nearly half of the Saudis questioned had a favorable view of Osama bin Laden's message. But, less than five percent thought he should have a leadership position in the region. Forty-one percent also said they favored close relations with the United States.

And here are some stories making news across America this Wednesday.

A New Jersey man has been charged in a grizzly double murder after he called police to report his alleged crime. Police say Rosario Miraglia decapitated his 87-year-old grandmother and 31-year- old ex-girlfriend. He was on the front lawn covered in blood when the police arrived at the house to investigate.

Laci Peterson's stepfather says that at first he didn't think Scott Peterson killed his wife and unborn son. But Ron Grantski says the family's suspicions crystallized after they saw a picture of Peterson with his mistress. The second week of the trial under way now in California.

A camera man for a local news station in East Texas has been killed while covering a gas explosion. The station says 23-year-old Matt Moore was apparently electrocuted when the mast from the news van came into contact with high voltage electrical wires. Oh, we've heard about this so many times, haven't we -- Chad? Eight people injured in that gas explosion, as well.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, will history be kind to Ronald Reagan? He had his critics while in office. We'll talk to a presidential historian to see if that really matters.

And she's been around politics all of her life. Now one high profile daughter tries to step into the spotlight herself.

And then Ronald McDonald and the gang have a message for your kids. Will parents buy it?

This is DAYBREAK for June 9.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:16 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

President Reagan makes his final trip to Washington later today. His casket due to arrive in D.C. late this afternoon. A formal funeral procession will then head to the Capitol Building, where the president will lie in state.

An Oklahoma jury could start deliberating today on whether Terry Nichols should live or die. Two people who lost loved ones in the Oklahoma City bombings testified on Nichols' behalf.

In money news, interest rates may be on the rise. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan says low rates are no longer needed to boost the economy. Interest rates haven't gone up in four years.

In sports, the Chicago White Sox belted six home runs off the Philadelphia Phillies. That's one shy of a team record, but still four shy of the major league record set by the Blue Jays in 1997.

In culture, is there something wrong with TV ratings? The Nielsen Company has appointed an independent committee to monitor the monitors. Nielsen is facing controversy over its new system for measuring TV audiences. There are concerns minorities are being undercounted -- Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Time for a little business buzz.

Get this, Ronald McDonald will star in his own live action series. Ronald McDonald in a live action series.

MYERS: Nice.

COSTELLO: I can just see him like whipping off his clown suit and becoming a man.

But Carrie Lee has the real story live from the NASDAQ market site.

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who knew he could move, right, Carol?

COSTELLO: I know.

LEE: Well...

COSTELLO: With those big shoes.

LEE: Exactly. And the wig and the costume and everything. Well, that's the idea behind new McDonald's' videos. They're going to start selling these in the spring of 2005. There's a look at him getting out of the car pretty quickly.

The idea here to promote active lifestyles for children.

MYERS: It's a Hamburglar.

COSTELLO: Why isn't he arresting the Hamburglar?

LEE: They're going to start wrestling, dancing around. But, seriously, the idea here to promote an active lifestyle for children, encourage them to interactively participate in activities and adventures. A paradox, certainly, because they're trying encourage kids to do things to offset problems that eating McDonald's' foods can cause. Obviously McDonald's has come under a lot of criticism lately. Fast food companies have in general for contributing to our nation's obesity problem. Some say this is a defensive move, of course, in the wake of films like "Super Size Me." And we'll see if they're successful.

We're not going...

COSTELLO: Carrie, I apologize -- I'm laughing because Chad just suggested well, instead of a drive-thru, why don't they have a walk through and force people to park their cars?

LEE: There you go, a jog through. A jog through. I like that idea. Maybe have a little track in the kids' playground in the McDonald's' locations, as well.

Well, they're not going to sell these videos in the McDonald's stores. You'll buy them at traditional video outlets. Anyway, this is their new idea. Take it for what it's worth, guys.

COSTELLO: We will. We're having a lot of fun with it this morning, that's for sure.

LEE: Yes, it's a fun story.

COSTELLO: A look at the futures?

LEE: Things looking a little bit weak this morning. We could see a little selling at 9:30. It's been a pretty nice couple of days, though, for the bulls. The NASDAQ up over three percent. The Dow, the S&P up over two percent over the last few days.

Here's where the major market indices finished yesterday. H&R Block out with profits after the close tonight. Wall Street looking for $3.16 a share for profits. We'll see how they did in the first quarter; obviously their most important one with the April 15 deadline.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie. We enjoyed it this morning.

LEE: OK.

COSTELLO: Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.

A new reality TV show will hit the air waves in just a few months. it's Showtime's "American Candidate." Twelve contestants were picked to take part in the show and run a fictional presidential campaign. One of them can draw on firsthand experience from her own father and former Democratic candidate Dick Gephardt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISSY GEPHARDT, "AMERICAN CANDIDATE": My name is Chrissy Gephardt and I am going to be your American candidate.

I am running for president because I want to bring honor and dignity back to America. I want to gain respect of my fellow Americans and to restore the international community -- the international community's faith in our great country.

REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: This Gephardt candidacy is going to do better than the last Gephardt candidacy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: I've seen it all.

The winner of this new reality show will be based on popular votes, polling samples and program judges.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, candy is probably not in your diet if you're trying to trim down for the summer. But getting rid of some simple sugars could help you reach your goals and you can still eat candy.

And our DAYBREAK Photo of the Day. What is it?

We'll tell you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Taking a hazy look at the city of Washington, D.C. this morning, where Ronald Reagan's casket will be, oh, about 11 hours from now.

Let's head live to D.C. now because our Elaine Quijano has gotten a hold of Capitol Hill Police Chief Terrance Gainer to talk about security and more -- hello, Elaine.

QUIJANO: Good morning, Carol.

Well, as you said, Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer is joining me now to talk about security.

You're here to survey the situation. Not too many folks in line right now. In fact, we see just two groups of people. But you are anticipating tens of thousands.

Talk to me about what precautions they're going to have to take here to accommodate all the people.

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, CAPITOL HILL POLICE: Sure. Under a joint security network with the United States Park Police, the Secret Service, us, the Metropolitan Police Department, we'll be cuing people up along the Capitol reflecting pool and over into the park area of the other side of Third Street. And we're going to give them a lot of advice about what not to bring in. When they ultimately get to about this point, it's one of our initial checkpoints where we'll tell them they can't bring the cameras and the coolers and the water and try to give them some sense, as they walk up Maryland Avenue towards the south drive of the west portion of the Capitol, where this will be taking place, that they're ultimately going to go through very strict scrutiny with our magnetometers, very similar that you'd go through at the airport.

QUIJANO: So people who are coming here should plan accordingly?

GAINER: They should. And they should also plan on how warm it's going to be today. We already have had heat advisories and we're working with the medical community to have plenty of doctors and water on hand here. We've put up some Porta-Potties to try to make it more comfortable for people. But what we saw in California, sometimes the hours, it took about six hours to get in. So people need to be prepared for that.

We're trying to put up some tents and keep people under the shades of the park service area to make it more comfortable.

QUIJANO: Now, talk to me about what exactly will happen once they're inside. You said you're concerned, you want to make sure that people are given the time to pay their respects, but at the same time allow others to do so, as well.

GAINER: Right. Again, watching what went on at the Johnson funeral, when we looked at the tapes of that, and then what's gone on in California, some people pause and say a silent prayer or salute. And that will really be a disservice to the others coming here. We can clear, from a security perspective, about 5,000 people an hour. But we think it's going to take much longer if people dwell at the -- up in the Rotunda, at the casket.

So we're asking them silent memories, silent prayers and to move respectfully and slowly, to give all tens of thousands of people a chance to move through here.

QUIJANO: Any idea how many people total you might see through the Capitol Rotunda before the end of the week?

GAINER: Well, our initial estimate was probably somewhere under 100,000. But, again, given the California experience on this, we may be approaching 150,000 or 200,000. It's really hard to tell yet. The fact that the federal government is going to liberal leave here, a lot of businesses are closing and that Friday is a holiday for the federal employees here may add to that number.

QUIJANO: And a logistical security challenge. Thousands of officers, obviously, are going to be involved in this effort. If you could, elaborate on that a little bit.

GAINER: Well, our department, the Metropolitan Police Department all canceled our days off so that we have a combined force of about 5,000. You join with the Park Police, the FBI, the Secret Service, ATF, you could have well over 3,000 or 4,000 officers on duty to try to make this a very, very secure event.

I should point out that there is no specific intelligence that this is targeted. But we're clearly -- the nation is worried about what terrorists may try to do during the summer. And obviously this is pretty attractive. For this arrival ceremony at six o'clock, this people's house will be filled with Congress, the Supreme Court, diplomats, former presidents. So it's a pretty attractive group.

But we're well rehearsed. We finished last night about 1:30 in the morning. So we think we're ready for anything.

QUIJANO: Chief Gainer, thank you so much for joining us.

GAINER: Thank you .

QUIJANO: We appreciate it.

So you heard it from Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer. They are expecting -- they initially were expecting something like 100,000 people. But now it could be anywhere up to 150,000, perhaps even 200,000 people before the end of the week. As you might imagine, that presents a number of security challenges. But Chief Gainer is saying they believe that they are ready -- Carol.

COSTELLO: It sounds like they have it under control.

Elaine Quijano live from D.C.

Let's talk about the weather just a bit, Chad, in D.C.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Because no water allowed.

MYERS: That's what I just heard. And no cameras, no water. You know, I'm telling you, maybe they'll allow people to have water in line when they get into the Capitol...

COSTELLO: To a certain point.

MYERS: ... to a certain point. They're going to say throw everything away, there's the garbage can, fine.

COSTELLO: Well, they're going to have tents to provide some shade.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: But it's going to be well into the 90s. MYERS: Ninety-one easily, with a heat index around 99 there. So that's going to be pretty hot. You know, you have the heat and the humidity. Your body can't sweat to cool itself down. That's what the heat and humidity is all about. One point five people per second; 5,000 people per hour for 40 hours gets 200,000 people through there.

COSTELLO: That's how they want to move 'em through.

MYERS: Wow.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: This is going to be a job.

COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about something a little more fun.

MYERS: Did you figure out what the photo was? Can you figure it out? Can you figure out the zero one? It's a waterfall out there in Kansas, out there in Eureka, Kansas, in fact. Two lovebirds maybe...

COSTELLO: You know, that's what they need at the end of the line in Washington. They need a nice cool pool or some sort of like...

MYERS: Well, there is...

COSTELLO: You know those cooling walls they have?

MYERS: There is a wading pool there, but that's got...

COSTELLO: ... the tidal things -- right.

MYERS: You shouldn't get in there. Things are floating around in there you don't want to know.

COSTELLO: Well, they drained it so it's kind of clean now, when they built the World War 2 Memorial.

MYERS: Oh, yes?

COSTELLO: So it's not quite so bad. But I'm sure it will get bad soon.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 9, 2004 - 06:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And you're looking at a solemn dress rehearsal for the first state funeral of a president in three decades.
It is Wednesday, June 9.

This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you.

From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.

Let me bring you up to date now.

More than 106,000 people filed past Ronald Reagan's coffin in California. His body will now be flown to the nation's capital. It will then lie in state beneath the Capitol Rotunda, where thousands more are expected to pay their respects.

At the United Nations, hands up -- the Security Council unanimously has endorsed a resolution turning over power to Iraqis. The measure calls for a new government in seven months.

In money news, are you tired of paying taxes? Well, then move to Cheyenne, Wyoming. A "Kiplinger" magazine study finds Cheyenne has the lowest taxes of any city in the nation. The highest? Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In sports, Kobe Bryant absolutely terrific last night. The L.A. Lakers' star hit a three pointer with about two seconds left in regulation to the Detroit Pistons. L.A. 99, Detroit 91 in overtime. Bryant had an amazing 33 points.

In culture, the passion of money -- Mel Gibson's film distribution company is suing Regal Entertainment Group for $40 million. Gibson's company says Regal shortchanged it on money earned from "The Passion of the Christ" -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: It is time to get down to business. The world's most powerful leaders are getting ready to start their Group of Eight summit on the coast of Georgia this morning. The two day meeting formally begins today, but there was plenty of politicking going on yesterday.

CNN's Eric Philips joins us live from near Sea Island to tell us about it -- good morning.

ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you.

Though the U.N. resolution concerning Iraq was not part of the official G8 agenda, its passage has helped set a positive tone for the beginning of the summit.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIPS (voice-over): The unanimous approval of the U.N. resolution regarding the shift of power in Iraq was a victory for the White House.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These nations understand that a free Iraq will serve as a catalyst for change in the broader Middle East, which is an important part of winning the war on terror.

PHILIPS: Several nations that are part of the G8 and also members of the Security Council voted in favor of the resolution, but some, like Germany, have not committed troops to the multinational forces in Iraq, as the plan dictates.

GERHARD SCHROEDER, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We think that this resolution will be a good basis, a good foundation for enhancing civility, for also improving the chances for the Iraqi people and also to enhance the ability all around in that region.

PHILIPS: The president will now likely focus less on Iraq during the summit and more on democracy throughout the Middle East region. He's revised his Mideast initiative several times and hopes the G8 will endorse it.

Still, many Arab leaders say it feels like the U.S. forcing its will on the Mideast. Some, like the leaders of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, declined an invitation to go to Sea Island and have lunch with Mr. Bush and the G8 leaders today. The interim president of Iraq, Ghazi al-Yawer, is expected to attend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILIPS: Meanwhile, the number of protesters expected here at the G8, or the ones that actually showed up, I should say, have been few and far between (AUDIO GAP) protest organizers were anticipating more than 5,000 demonstrators on Tuesday. But only about 250 showed up to hoist signs and banners -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Eric Philips live off the coast of Georgia this morning.

Ronald Reagan returns to Washington one last time today and the capital city is putting everything aside to get ready for a beloved American president's final journey. The body won't be there for at least another 11 hours and yet people are already standing in line to pay their last respects.

CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live from Washington with the very first person in line.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, police, first of all, are estimating that some 150,000 people will make their way down here to the Capitol in order to view President Reagan's casket. And as you said, we already have the first person who has staked out her place in line.

Carol Williams is joining me now.

Carol, thanks for being here.

You said that you actually arrived in Washington at 3:00 a.m. this morning because you wanted to be here.

Why did you feel that it was so important to come out so early and be in line?

CAROL WILLIAMS, FIRST IN LINE TO PAY RESPECTS IN CAPITOL: You know, I spent five hours in line in 1984 voting for President Reagan. I will stand for hours just to be able to say good-bye.

QUIJANO: What was it about President Reagan that affected you so deeply?

WILLIAMS: I think like our current, George W. Bush, I find that President Reagan was somebody that restored dignity to the White House.

QUIJANO: And you said you were actually surprised to find that you were the very first one in line this morning.

WILLIAMS: Yes, I would have expected a whole lot of other people in line by now, but I've been told that by about 10 o'clock there is going to be developing quite a bit of traffic here.

QUIJANO: Now, you brought along your daughter and your niece today. And you were talking to me about how this is a really important history lesson for them.

Tell me about that.

WILLIAMS: You know, not many kids have an opportunity to live history and know they're living history while it's happening. And this is one of those moments that, as sad as it is, you know, they'll be able to look at their grandchildren and their children and be able when they're looking at the history books and give them a firsthand account, not a revisionist history account, just an "I was there and this is what it was like" and the opportunity to honor a great president in American history.

QUIJANO: The last question, then. We're still about 14 and a half, 15 hours away from the time that the public will actually be allowed in.

Why is it worth, to you, the way -- you've talked about that a little bit before -- talk to us about what you're feeling personally.

WILLIAMS: You know, when it was announced that President Reagan had passed away, there was no doubt in my mind that I would come here. There was no doubt I would leave work on Tuesday night after I taught and make my way here. Because when there are great people in history and you have an opportunity to honor them and say good-bye and show somehow your gratefulness for what they did for our nation at such an interesting time in history, where we were floundering, what more can somebody do to say good-bye than at least give them a little bit of their time. They gave us so much of theirs.

QUIJANO: Carol Williams, thank you so much for joining us.

And Carol traveled here, by the way, from Chesterfield, Virginia, about two and a half hours away, just to ensure that she would secure a place in line here. Just one of the stories that we will hear about later on, as this day progresses -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And, Elaine, is Carol the only one in line or are there more people waiting already?

QUIJANO: Well, there are actually, just in the last few minutes, a second person -- besides Carol's group. Obviously her niece and her daughter are here, as well. A second person has come and I suspect people will be arriving. The police, who have been on site here, said that they anticipate things will pick up here as the morning goes through. But it is going to be a long wait and temperatures here are going to be in the 90s today. But people here say it is well worth it in order to pay their last respects -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Elaine, thank you, and thank Carol Williams for us, as well.

Elaine Quijano live from D.C.

Former President Gerald Ford is among those applauding former President Reagan for his leadership.

He had this to say on CNN's "Larry King Live."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM CNN'S "LARRY KING LIVE")

GERALD FORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The country was going through a very difficult period. Ronald Reagan came in. He revised our -- and uplifted our spirits at a time that was so, so very essential for the future of America. I applaud it. I congratulate President Reagan. He did a heck of a good job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Tonight, the 41st president, George H.W. Bush, and former First Lady Barbara Bush will share their memories of President Reagan. That's at 9:00 Eastern on "Larry King Live." And we'll bring you special live coverage of Ronald Reagan's final journey to Washington this morning. That begins at 11:00 Eastern.

Iraq has a new government in its future this morning. Here is the latest for you. The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved the resolution on the transfer of power. It calls for elections no later than January 31, 2005.

A published report out today says new Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi headed an exile group for the CIA in the '90s. The "New York Times" says Allawi's group planted bombs in Baghdad in an attempt to sabotage Saddam Hussein's government.

Three Italians and a Pole have been rescued in a coalition military operation. The Italians, seized on April 12, are seen returning to Italy. They just got back this morning.

Gunmen who had taken two Turks and their driver have been released. All three work for a Turkish construction company.

Who's responsible? That was the underlying question during the Senate's questioning of Attorney General John Ashcroft on the instances of torture in Iraq.

Our justice correspondent Kelli Arena reports on the sometimes contentious hearing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senators demanded to know if the Justice Department told the president it was legally OK to torture al Qaeda terrorists and whether the president, based on that advice, issued an order on interrogations that led to the abuse at Abu Ghraib Prison.

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: We know when we have these kinds of orders what happens. We get the stress test. We get the use of dogs. We get the forced nakedness that we've all seen.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: First of all, let me completely reject the notion that anything that this president has done or the Justice Department has done has directly resulted in the kinds of atrocities which were cited. That is false.

ARENA: Justice Department lawyers did contribute to a March, 2003 report obtained by CNN which suggests interrogators have broad latitude to use pressure when questioning detainees.

SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: Did your department issue a memorandum in which it suggested torture is allowed under certain circumstances as the press has reported?

ASHCROFT: The president has not directed or ordered any conduct that would violate the Constitution of the United States.

ARENA: But Ashcroft refused repeated Democratic demands to turn over memos or to tell Senators what legal advice he gave the president and the sparring got personal. SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: See and there's a reason why we sign these treaties to protect my son in the military. That's why we have these treaties so when Americans are captured they are not tortured. That's the reason in case anybody forgets it. That's the reason. I yield the floor.

ASHCROFT: Well, as a person whose son is in the military now on active duty and has been in the Gulf within the last several months, I am aware of those considerations and I care about your son.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Some interesting results from a survey of Saudi Arabians. A poll taken last year showed that nearly half of the Saudis questioned had a favorable view of Osama bin Laden's message. But, less than five percent thought he should have a leadership position in the region. Forty-one percent also said they favored close relations with the United States.

And here are some stories making news across America this Wednesday.

A New Jersey man has been charged in a grizzly double murder after he called police to report his alleged crime. Police say Rosario Miraglia decapitated his 87-year-old grandmother and 31-year- old ex-girlfriend. He was on the front lawn covered in blood when the police arrived at the house to investigate.

Laci Peterson's stepfather says that at first he didn't think Scott Peterson killed his wife and unborn son. But Ron Grantski says the family's suspicions crystallized after they saw a picture of Peterson with his mistress. The second week of the trial under way now in California.

A camera man for a local news station in East Texas has been killed while covering a gas explosion. The station says 23-year-old Matt Moore was apparently electrocuted when the mast from the news van came into contact with high voltage electrical wires. Oh, we've heard about this so many times, haven't we -- Chad? Eight people injured in that gas explosion, as well.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, will history be kind to Ronald Reagan? He had his critics while in office. We'll talk to a presidential historian to see if that really matters.

And she's been around politics all of her life. Now one high profile daughter tries to step into the spotlight herself.

And then Ronald McDonald and the gang have a message for your kids. Will parents buy it?

This is DAYBREAK for June 9.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:16 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

President Reagan makes his final trip to Washington later today. His casket due to arrive in D.C. late this afternoon. A formal funeral procession will then head to the Capitol Building, where the president will lie in state.

An Oklahoma jury could start deliberating today on whether Terry Nichols should live or die. Two people who lost loved ones in the Oklahoma City bombings testified on Nichols' behalf.

In money news, interest rates may be on the rise. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan says low rates are no longer needed to boost the economy. Interest rates haven't gone up in four years.

In sports, the Chicago White Sox belted six home runs off the Philadelphia Phillies. That's one shy of a team record, but still four shy of the major league record set by the Blue Jays in 1997.

In culture, is there something wrong with TV ratings? The Nielsen Company has appointed an independent committee to monitor the monitors. Nielsen is facing controversy over its new system for measuring TV audiences. There are concerns minorities are being undercounted -- Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Time for a little business buzz.

Get this, Ronald McDonald will star in his own live action series. Ronald McDonald in a live action series.

MYERS: Nice.

COSTELLO: I can just see him like whipping off his clown suit and becoming a man.

But Carrie Lee has the real story live from the NASDAQ market site.

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Who knew he could move, right, Carol?

COSTELLO: I know.

LEE: Well...

COSTELLO: With those big shoes.

LEE: Exactly. And the wig and the costume and everything. Well, that's the idea behind new McDonald's' videos. They're going to start selling these in the spring of 2005. There's a look at him getting out of the car pretty quickly.

The idea here to promote active lifestyles for children.

MYERS: It's a Hamburglar.

COSTELLO: Why isn't he arresting the Hamburglar?

LEE: They're going to start wrestling, dancing around. But, seriously, the idea here to promote an active lifestyle for children, encourage them to interactively participate in activities and adventures. A paradox, certainly, because they're trying encourage kids to do things to offset problems that eating McDonald's' foods can cause. Obviously McDonald's has come under a lot of criticism lately. Fast food companies have in general for contributing to our nation's obesity problem. Some say this is a defensive move, of course, in the wake of films like "Super Size Me." And we'll see if they're successful.

We're not going...

COSTELLO: Carrie, I apologize -- I'm laughing because Chad just suggested well, instead of a drive-thru, why don't they have a walk through and force people to park their cars?

LEE: There you go, a jog through. A jog through. I like that idea. Maybe have a little track in the kids' playground in the McDonald's' locations, as well.

Well, they're not going to sell these videos in the McDonald's stores. You'll buy them at traditional video outlets. Anyway, this is their new idea. Take it for what it's worth, guys.

COSTELLO: We will. We're having a lot of fun with it this morning, that's for sure.

LEE: Yes, it's a fun story.

COSTELLO: A look at the futures?

LEE: Things looking a little bit weak this morning. We could see a little selling at 9:30. It's been a pretty nice couple of days, though, for the bulls. The NASDAQ up over three percent. The Dow, the S&P up over two percent over the last few days.

Here's where the major market indices finished yesterday. H&R Block out with profits after the close tonight. Wall Street looking for $3.16 a share for profits. We'll see how they did in the first quarter; obviously their most important one with the April 15 deadline.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie. We enjoyed it this morning.

LEE: OK.

COSTELLO: Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.

A new reality TV show will hit the air waves in just a few months. it's Showtime's "American Candidate." Twelve contestants were picked to take part in the show and run a fictional presidential campaign. One of them can draw on firsthand experience from her own father and former Democratic candidate Dick Gephardt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISSY GEPHARDT, "AMERICAN CANDIDATE": My name is Chrissy Gephardt and I am going to be your American candidate.

I am running for president because I want to bring honor and dignity back to America. I want to gain respect of my fellow Americans and to restore the international community -- the international community's faith in our great country.

REP. DICK GEPHARDT (D-MO), MINORITY LEADER: This Gephardt candidacy is going to do better than the last Gephardt candidacy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: I've seen it all.

The winner of this new reality show will be based on popular votes, polling samples and program judges.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, candy is probably not in your diet if you're trying to trim down for the summer. But getting rid of some simple sugars could help you reach your goals and you can still eat candy.

And our DAYBREAK Photo of the Day. What is it?

We'll tell you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Taking a hazy look at the city of Washington, D.C. this morning, where Ronald Reagan's casket will be, oh, about 11 hours from now.

Let's head live to D.C. now because our Elaine Quijano has gotten a hold of Capitol Hill Police Chief Terrance Gainer to talk about security and more -- hello, Elaine.

QUIJANO: Good morning, Carol.

Well, as you said, Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer is joining me now to talk about security.

You're here to survey the situation. Not too many folks in line right now. In fact, we see just two groups of people. But you are anticipating tens of thousands.

Talk to me about what precautions they're going to have to take here to accommodate all the people.

CHIEF TERRANCE GAINER, CAPITOL HILL POLICE: Sure. Under a joint security network with the United States Park Police, the Secret Service, us, the Metropolitan Police Department, we'll be cuing people up along the Capitol reflecting pool and over into the park area of the other side of Third Street. And we're going to give them a lot of advice about what not to bring in. When they ultimately get to about this point, it's one of our initial checkpoints where we'll tell them they can't bring the cameras and the coolers and the water and try to give them some sense, as they walk up Maryland Avenue towards the south drive of the west portion of the Capitol, where this will be taking place, that they're ultimately going to go through very strict scrutiny with our magnetometers, very similar that you'd go through at the airport.

QUIJANO: So people who are coming here should plan accordingly?

GAINER: They should. And they should also plan on how warm it's going to be today. We already have had heat advisories and we're working with the medical community to have plenty of doctors and water on hand here. We've put up some Porta-Potties to try to make it more comfortable for people. But what we saw in California, sometimes the hours, it took about six hours to get in. So people need to be prepared for that.

We're trying to put up some tents and keep people under the shades of the park service area to make it more comfortable.

QUIJANO: Now, talk to me about what exactly will happen once they're inside. You said you're concerned, you want to make sure that people are given the time to pay their respects, but at the same time allow others to do so, as well.

GAINER: Right. Again, watching what went on at the Johnson funeral, when we looked at the tapes of that, and then what's gone on in California, some people pause and say a silent prayer or salute. And that will really be a disservice to the others coming here. We can clear, from a security perspective, about 5,000 people an hour. But we think it's going to take much longer if people dwell at the -- up in the Rotunda, at the casket.

So we're asking them silent memories, silent prayers and to move respectfully and slowly, to give all tens of thousands of people a chance to move through here.

QUIJANO: Any idea how many people total you might see through the Capitol Rotunda before the end of the week?

GAINER: Well, our initial estimate was probably somewhere under 100,000. But, again, given the California experience on this, we may be approaching 150,000 or 200,000. It's really hard to tell yet. The fact that the federal government is going to liberal leave here, a lot of businesses are closing and that Friday is a holiday for the federal employees here may add to that number.

QUIJANO: And a logistical security challenge. Thousands of officers, obviously, are going to be involved in this effort. If you could, elaborate on that a little bit.

GAINER: Well, our department, the Metropolitan Police Department all canceled our days off so that we have a combined force of about 5,000. You join with the Park Police, the FBI, the Secret Service, ATF, you could have well over 3,000 or 4,000 officers on duty to try to make this a very, very secure event.

I should point out that there is no specific intelligence that this is targeted. But we're clearly -- the nation is worried about what terrorists may try to do during the summer. And obviously this is pretty attractive. For this arrival ceremony at six o'clock, this people's house will be filled with Congress, the Supreme Court, diplomats, former presidents. So it's a pretty attractive group.

But we're well rehearsed. We finished last night about 1:30 in the morning. So we think we're ready for anything.

QUIJANO: Chief Gainer, thank you so much for joining us.

GAINER: Thank you .

QUIJANO: We appreciate it.

So you heard it from Capitol Police Chief Terrance Gainer. They are expecting -- they initially were expecting something like 100,000 people. But now it could be anywhere up to 150,000, perhaps even 200,000 people before the end of the week. As you might imagine, that presents a number of security challenges. But Chief Gainer is saying they believe that they are ready -- Carol.

COSTELLO: It sounds like they have it under control.

Elaine Quijano live from D.C.

Let's talk about the weather just a bit, Chad, in D.C.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Because no water allowed.

MYERS: That's what I just heard. And no cameras, no water. You know, I'm telling you, maybe they'll allow people to have water in line when they get into the Capitol...

COSTELLO: To a certain point.

MYERS: ... to a certain point. They're going to say throw everything away, there's the garbage can, fine.

COSTELLO: Well, they're going to have tents to provide some shade.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: But it's going to be well into the 90s. MYERS: Ninety-one easily, with a heat index around 99 there. So that's going to be pretty hot. You know, you have the heat and the humidity. Your body can't sweat to cool itself down. That's what the heat and humidity is all about. One point five people per second; 5,000 people per hour for 40 hours gets 200,000 people through there.

COSTELLO: That's how they want to move 'em through.

MYERS: Wow.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: This is going to be a job.

COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about something a little more fun.

MYERS: Did you figure out what the photo was? Can you figure it out? Can you figure out the zero one? It's a waterfall out there in Kansas, out there in Eureka, Kansas, in fact. Two lovebirds maybe...

COSTELLO: You know, that's what they need at the end of the line in Washington. They need a nice cool pool or some sort of like...

MYERS: Well, there is...

COSTELLO: You know those cooling walls they have?

MYERS: There is a wading pool there, but that's got...

COSTELLO: ... the tidal things -- right.

MYERS: You shouldn't get in there. Things are floating around in there you don't want to know.

COSTELLO: Well, they drained it so it's kind of clean now, when they built the World War 2 Memorial.

MYERS: Oh, yes?

COSTELLO: So it's not quite so bad. But I'm sure it will get bad soon.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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