Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
A Major Explosion in Baghdad Kills, Wounds Dozens; Latest Developments on American Kidnapped in Saudi Arabia
Aired June 14, 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: The target -- Westerners. And this morning, a huge blast rips through one of Baghdad's busiest streets.
It is Monday, June 14.
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 right now.
An American contractor is among six people killed in a car bombing today during Baghdad's rush hour. Fifty-seven injured, among them, five French citizens, a Nigerian and two from Sudan. Authorities suspect Westerners were the bombers' targets.
Ruling parties of the European Union take a hit at the polls. Voters across Europe hand opposition parties victory after victory. It's the first parliamentary vote since the E.U. expanded from 15 nations to 25.
In money news, who wouldn't love this? A national survey finds average gas prices in the United States have dropped -- yes, I said dropped -- more than $0.06 in the last three weeks.
In culture, the boy wizard is still casting a spell over moviegoers. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was number one at the box office again this weekend, taking in just over $35 million.
And in sports, can you believe it? The Detroit Pistons moved closer to a championship with an 88-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pistons now hold a three games to one edge in the best of seven series. Awesome.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Auburn Hills going crazy last night.
COSTELLO: I bet.
MYERS: Man, oh man. Good morning Detroit this morning.
And good morning, Kansas. Picking up the pieces from some severe weather over the weekend. This actually happened on Saturday. A big white tornado -- not the kind that'll clean your house, though. Maybe it'll knock your house down. You can even see some of the damage done by the storm. This was about, oh, I'd say 15 miles south of Wichita, kind of in a bedroom community of Wichita. Not really much of -- maybe an F1. Could have seen some F2 damage in there, but probably more like an F1. A hundred miles an hour or so, but clearly that's enough to do some damage to some houses down there. You can't really see them behind the trees there, but you get an idea when you can see stuff that's getting picked up.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: "A cowardly incident" -- that's what Iraq's prime minister calls a massive attack on a convoy this morning. An American contractor is among six people killed; 57 or more injured.
Let's head live to Baghdad to find out more.
CNN's Jane Arraf has that for us -- good morning, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Although most of the civilian casualties were Iraqi, it looks like the target was foreigners. And as you mentioned, Carol, one American contractor was killed, among several people who were killed in this. It looks like the death toll now is at about a dozen, with at least 60 more injured.
Now, of those who were killed, they include five foreign nationals, according to coalition officials, one of them an American contractor working on an electrical power plant. It's also been confirmed that two Britons and a French national have been killed, either contractors or security people working with them. And they were killed when a massive car bomb, a car packed with more than 1,000 pounds of explosives, went off early this morning just after 8:00 a.m. when their three convoy -- three vehicle convoy passed a very busy street in the morning rush hour.
Now, in the chaos around it, people were digging bodies out of the rubble as a building collapsed. Smoke was rising and people were being rushed to the hospital. A terrible scene in this morning's rush hour in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know. We're looking at the horrible pictures beside you.
We also heard there was some chanting, "Down With the U.S.!"
Is that right?
ARRAF: There does appear to have been chanting and also some gunshots fired, as well as reports that one of the disabled vehicles had been doused with kerosene and set aflame. Now, as is customary after these bombings, there's a lot of anger there -- anger by Iraqis that they just want to let out on anyone, anger at the coalition for what they blame -- they blame the coalition for not keeping the country secure. And coalition officials themselves say it will likely get worse before it gets better -- Carol. COSTELLO: Jane Arraf live from Baghdad.
Thank you.
There is more news from Iraq for you this morning, as the clock ticks toward the handover of power. Here's the latest in our situation report.
The country's interim president says the new government wants a multinational force to help secure the country. But Ghazi al-Yawer says the U.S. will have to get Iraqi approval for major operations.
In the meantime, the Senate Intelligence Committee's chairman says the CIA is dragging its feet, taking too long to review and release an unflattering report about prewar U.S. intelligence.
President Bush is being criticized by a group of former high level diplomatic and military officials, many of them appointed by Republican administrations. They plan to issue a statement Wednesday condemning the president's international policies. They claim the administration's policies are hurting national security.
They're still searching in Saudi Arabia. You've probably heard by now American Paul Johnson, Jr. has been kidnapped, supposedly by Islamic militants. In his hometown, the yellow ribbons have gone up.
Gary Tuchman has more for you from Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The yellow ribbons are on the trees behind us in this neighborhood in Port Saint John, Florida, about 15 minutes away from the Kennedy Space Center. A family in seclusion in this house. It's the home of Paul Johnson III. He's 28 years old. He does not know the fate of his father, who apparently has been kidnapped in Saudi Arabia.
His father is Paul Johnson Jr. He works for Lockheed Martin. A Web site affiliated with al Qaeda says it has kidnapped him, showed a passport style picture on its Web site, his driver's license and his business card.
The family here is doing their best to cope.
PAUL JOHNSON III, SON OF MISSING AMERICAN: I just say let him go, you know? He don't deserve this. He doesn't deserve, he don't deserve it. It's not his fault we're over there. It's not his fault he had to go there. It was his job.
TUCHMAN: Paul Johnson plans on leaving this house later this morning with his wife Jody to fly to New Jersey. That's where their father's brother and their father's mother live. They plan to be together to offer each other comfort. They take solace in the story of Thomas Hamill. He was the contractor from Halliburton who worked in Iraq who was kidnapped and escaped from his kidnappers and is now home free in Mississippi. We can tell you that Paul Johnson, Jr., the kidnap victim's wife, is currently in Saudi Arabia.
This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Brevard County, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Johnson's kidnapping is the latest in a string of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia that have left three people dead.
Caroline Faraj, an editor for cnnarabic.com, covering the story for us from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
She joins us live by telephone.
And Caroline, Mr. Johnson was targeted because of his company's work with Apache helicopters. These terrorists seem to be targeting specific Westerners.
How much know how goes into this?
CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, indeed, Carol, what we've gathered up to now from the Saudi officials, as well if we just take what they've published, the militants, they've published on their Web site, they said that they were targeting these people. They're targeting those who are working in companies, American companies. And they mentioned in specific that Mr. Johnson was one of four engineers who were basically experts in this field.
So they know. They did their homework very well and they know their target very well.
This proves, also, that with the other targets that they've managed to kill up to now, they know their way. They know when they're coming, the route that they're taking and at what time they will be going back home. So it is well planned -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mr. Johnson's son said this didn't have to happen, that he could have been protected by his company.
Do you find any evidence of that?
FARAJ: Well, according to the Saudis and the diplomats that we are talking -- and we are in direct contact all the time with them in Saudi Arabia -- they're saying that, you know, they're issuing, the embassy is issuing e-mails and issuing, you know, like words and telling them that you should watch your step, you should know exactly which route you are taking and you should be aware of every stranger nearby. So they're telling them how to handle the situation.
On the other hand, the Saudis are saying we cannot leave a police with every Westerner living in Saudi Arabia and we know that it is our responsibility and we want to protect everybody, expatriates, Westerners, as well as our locals, because if you recall, some of the attacks also targeted local Saudis, as well as Arab expatriates. So the militants are targeting everybody. But their main issue is to target Americans, Westerners and their main message, according to their messages published on their Web site all the time, that they need the Arab peninsula, meaning Saudi Arabia, to be free of all Westerners. And they call them "crusaders" -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And, Caroline, on that Islamic Web site, according to the "New York Times," there was an interesting statement. It refers to Johnson as a "Christian parasite." That's an Arabic word that was made popular by a former spokesman for Saddam Hussein's government.
Is this significant?
FARAJ: Well, they always call all Christians, they call them crusaders. They're using this term all the time. And this is used in several statements even made by bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda, as well a Zarqawi and other leaders. So they're using these terminologies all the time. And they say very clearly that we are totally against the crusaders and the Jews.
So this is their main target.
However, sometimes they just, you know, send several claims and they claim that anybody that they are capturing or killing or arresting or kidnapping, they are Christians or they are Jews. Sometimes they -- when in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) attacks, they arrested them and they basically got, you know, got captured, some of the Lebanese, and then after that they were released because a lot of people were saying that how come you're also taking hostage some of the Arabs? And though they were Christians, but they were released.
So sometimes they play it according to the religion and sometimes they play it according to the nationality.
However, most of their statements, and according to a lot of people who are doing analysis in Saudi Arabia, they confirm that their main target are Westerners, no matter what religion they are -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, that seems to be the case in -- that seems to be the point in this case.
Caroline Faraj reporting live for us from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this morning.
Here are some stories making news across America this Monday.
Police in Washington State are trying to figure out why a mother killed her two daughters. Charlene Dorcy led police to an abandoned rock pit, where she said she killed her children. Police did recover the bodies of two girls, ages four and two. Dorcy now in jail. Police waiting to talk to her husband before commenting on her mental state.
It's week three of the Scott Peterson trial. This week, police will take the stand to testify about their investigation into the murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn child. Scott Peterson faces the death penalty if convicted.
The official White House portraits of former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton will be unveiled today. Artist Simmie Knox is the first African-American to paint the presidential picture. The painting itself will be the first official portrait to include the American flag. The Clintons will be joined by the Bushes at the unveiling.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, a stunt worthy of James Bond. See why this mega mogul is traveling by land and sea this morning.
And then honoring the stars and stripes this Flag Day. Do you realize it's Flag Day?
Plus, we'll talk to a security expert on why the situation in Saudi Arabia has suddenly turned so dangerous for Americans.
This is DAYBREAK for June 14.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: More on Saudi Arabia now. The FBI joining the search in Riyadh for American worker Paul Johnson, who was apparently abducted by militants. The group also claims responsibility for gunning down another American in Riyadh the day before. It's a situation that Secretary of State Powell calls "troubling."
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has this comment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Well, the United States has, in fact, warned American citizens about the dangers in Saudi Arabia. There have been several warnings and there was a State Department warning. It is, like many places in the world right now, a place in which terrorists are trying to make their mark. We are doing everything that we can, with the Saudis, to try and protect those who are there. But it's obviously a dangerous place and people have to draw their own conclusions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And joining us from London now, Sajjan Gohel, director for international security at the Asia-Pacific Foundation.
Good morning.
SAJJAN GOHEL, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So, should all Americans leave Saudi Arabia? Is that the answer?
GOHEL: Well, I'm afraid Saudi Arabia has become very inhospitable. The terrorists are now no longer making any distinction in who they target, whether it's man, woman, child; television reporter. The country itself now has become a situation where any Westerner will be targeted and the situation is deteriorating every day.
COSTELLO: So what can Saudi Arabia do, or the United States do, to protect Americans or, as I said before, should all Americans and Westerners just leave Saudi Arabia?
GOHEL: Well, the ultimate aim for the terrorists is to, of course, drive out all the foreigners from the country, many of whom are key to the infrastructure and services industries inside the country. And if they are able to succeed in that, then that will have a global impact on the oil industry and that will have the devastating consequences.
The Saudi Arabian authorities are going to have to improve their security, which has been lacking significantly despite their assertions that they are dealing with the situation, which they're clearly not.
COSTELLO: Well, they're not really used to this. This is the first time that a kidnapping has taken place in Saudi Arabia like this, isn't it?
GOHEL: Well, I think this is just another disturbing development in the tactics of the terrorists. We've seen attacks on compounds. We've seen individuals being assassinated. And, yes, this is a new disturbing development where individuals are being kidnapped. And I fear for this man's safety. I think it is of grave concern and it is essential the Saudi security forces improve their intelligence and try and work out what has happened to him.
COSTELLO: We know what the Saudi royal family says about these kidnappings. They're horrified by it. But as Americans, we do worry about what the general population in Saudi Arabia thinks of this.
Ultimately, do many of them approve, disapprove? How do they feel?
GOHEL: The problem inside Saudi Arabia is that more and more individuals are becoming unemployed. The oil wealth that is tightly controlled by the House of Saud is not percolating down. Young individuals, educated individuals, are being indoctrinated by fundamentalist clerics to see the Westerners as targets and to attack them. And that is becoming a big problem.
The House of Saud is going to have to now deal with the recruiting of individuals inside their own country and to prevent the demonizing of Westerners as it is taking place.
COSTELLO: Sajjan Gohel, director for international security at the Asia-Pacific Foundation.
Thank you for joining us live from London this morning.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Westerners may have been the target of a massive car bomb attack in central Baghdad this morning. The death toll continues to rise. Twelve dead now, including one American. Sixty others injured in this blast.
Large crowds expected today for the reopening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The former president was entombed on the library grounds on Saturday. The library has been closed since his death on June 5th.
In money news, builders say the rising price of raw materials is driving up construction costs. The largest construction company in the Washington D.C. area says the cost of steel used in their projects has nearly doubled since last fall.
In culture, filmmaker Michael Moore says he was just kidding, just kidding when he said he'd make his next documentary on British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his role in the war in Iraq. Moore has won critical acclaim for a similar movie about President Bush.
In sports, another milestone home run for Barry Bonds. Bonds becomes just the third player to hit 500 home runs as a member of the Giants. And there it goes. His godfather, Willie Mays, also reached that goal.
MYERS: At Camden Yards out there.
COSTELLO: A beautiful stadium, isn't it?
MYERS: Yes, it sure is. I think it was -- we were talking about this the other day -- it was the beginning of the new classic stadium, you know? It was the blueprint for all of the new stadiums, including Detroit and Jacobs Field and all the great new ball parks out there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Time for a little business buzz now.
Part daredevil and part entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson takes to the seas, hoping to set a new world record. I love this story.
Carrie Lee has more of it, live from the NASDAQ market site.
This is crazy.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've got to love this story. You've got to love this guy's lifestyle, Carol. Of course, chief of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, here. He's attempting to set the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel on an amphibious vehicle. Now, this vehicle is called the Gibbs Aquada, straight out of James Bond here. It looks like a sports car, transforms into a speedboat at the touch of a button. The Aquada can reach speeds of 120 miles per hour on land, 30 miles per hour on water. No doors. The driver climbs over the side to get in. He's attempting this feat to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his airline, Virgin Atlantic. Guinness World Records is going to be on hand to verify the time and verify the event. He's hoping to cross in less than two hours, breaking the current record of six hours set by two Frenchmen.
So here's a look at the vehicle and there he goes on his way -- Carol.
COSTELLO: That is wild.
LEE: We'll see if he's successful. Totally wild. Totally wild.
MYERS: You know, where's the fishing rods?
COSTELLO: Yes, where's the fishing rods?
LEE: He's going to outpace pretty much any fish. Interesting, he talked to CNN in London. Now, we're not sure how serious he is about this, but said this could be a very cool way to jet Virgin passengers down the Thames to downtown London. So if that happens...
COSTELLO: Hey, why not?
LEE: ... that would be even cooler.
COSTELLO: It might be the solution to traffic jams. Instead of going over those bridges, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, you can just take your car right across the water.
LEE: There you go. But two hours across the English Channel. Pretty amazing. So we'll see if he's successful.
COSTELLO: Oh, thanks for showing us those pictures.
LEE: Sure.
COSTELLO: Those are fascinating.
Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.
Still to come, another adventure seeker who you're sure to recognize. Why did President Bush jump out of retirement?
And later, the controversy facing some Olympic athletes. Is it big enough to tarnish America's reputation at the Games?
This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener.
It's Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire. Events at the 81st Annual Motorcycle Celebration could draw as many as 350,000 cyclists. That's crazy. MYERS: That's a lot of noise.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
Highlights for today include fireworks, in addition to the motorcycle noise; a pool tournament and a vintage motorcycle Grand Prix at New Hampshire International Speedway.
The fast ferry was christened in Rochester, New York. The Spirit of Ontario begins service this week between Rochester and Toronto. The ferry can make the trip across Lake Ontario in just two and a half hours. Older ferries take about four hours. It's the second fastest ferry on the Great Lakes.
A high speed transport for Lake Michigan was launched last week.
Former President George Herbert Walker Bush once again celebrates his birthday by jumping out of a plane, and he had to do it twice. High winds forced him to make it a tandem jump with a member of the Army's elite Golden Knights parachute team. The elder President Bush turns 80 years old on Saturday -- actually, last Saturday, two days ago, that would be.
His last jump was five years ago on his 75th birthday and he says this should be a lesson to other octogenarians. Says Bush, "Realize that at 80 you've still got a life. Don't just sit around watching TV."
Later this morning, Golden Knights Staff Sergeant Brian Schnell will tell CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" all about his tandem jump with Mr. Bush. Of course, that comes your way in just about one half hour.
Let's talk about Flag Day. Because you know what...
MYERS: You know what day it is?
COSTELLO: I just said let's talk about Flag Day.
MYERS: Flag Day. But you know what? You know what the sad part is? We have to have Flag Day. We should be flying our flags all the time, especially now that we're at war. I mean, well, we're kind of still at war. But today is Flag Day. So get that flag and get it out.
COSTELLO: But the sadder fact is I don't think many people realize it is Flag Day. Do we even make a big deal of it anymore?
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: Do we really know the history of Flag Day, Chad?
MYERS: It seems like when I was in school we were still in school on Flag Day, because we didn't get out until like June 25. But now the kids are out of school, they don't even know about it, they don't hear about it. So maybe you should tell them.
COSTELLO: Well, actually, Flag Day was created in the school system in 1885.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: A teacher in Wisconsin encouraged his community to celebrate the anniversary of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes. And it grew from there.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: All the way to 1960, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing a Flag Day observance. Are you listening out there? I'm sure you are.
MYERS: I'm learning.
COSTELLO: In 1949, President Truman, President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. So now you're all caught up and there's no excuse any longer not to remember Flag Day.
MYERS: Get it out and fly it today.
COSTELLO: That's right.
We'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 14, 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: The target -- Westerners. And this morning, a huge blast rips through one of Baghdad's busiest streets.
It is Monday, June 14.
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 right now.
An American contractor is among six people killed in a car bombing today during Baghdad's rush hour. Fifty-seven injured, among them, five French citizens, a Nigerian and two from Sudan. Authorities suspect Westerners were the bombers' targets.
Ruling parties of the European Union take a hit at the polls. Voters across Europe hand opposition parties victory after victory. It's the first parliamentary vote since the E.U. expanded from 15 nations to 25.
In money news, who wouldn't love this? A national survey finds average gas prices in the United States have dropped -- yes, I said dropped -- more than $0.06 in the last three weeks.
In culture, the boy wizard is still casting a spell over moviegoers. "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" was number one at the box office again this weekend, taking in just over $35 million.
And in sports, can you believe it? The Detroit Pistons moved closer to a championship with an 88-80 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Pistons now hold a three games to one edge in the best of seven series. Awesome.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Auburn Hills going crazy last night.
COSTELLO: I bet.
MYERS: Man, oh man. Good morning Detroit this morning.
And good morning, Kansas. Picking up the pieces from some severe weather over the weekend. This actually happened on Saturday. A big white tornado -- not the kind that'll clean your house, though. Maybe it'll knock your house down. You can even see some of the damage done by the storm. This was about, oh, I'd say 15 miles south of Wichita, kind of in a bedroom community of Wichita. Not really much of -- maybe an F1. Could have seen some F2 damage in there, but probably more like an F1. A hundred miles an hour or so, but clearly that's enough to do some damage to some houses down there. You can't really see them behind the trees there, but you get an idea when you can see stuff that's getting picked up.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: "A cowardly incident" -- that's what Iraq's prime minister calls a massive attack on a convoy this morning. An American contractor is among six people killed; 57 or more injured.
Let's head live to Baghdad to find out more.
CNN's Jane Arraf has that for us -- good morning, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Although most of the civilian casualties were Iraqi, it looks like the target was foreigners. And as you mentioned, Carol, one American contractor was killed, among several people who were killed in this. It looks like the death toll now is at about a dozen, with at least 60 more injured.
Now, of those who were killed, they include five foreign nationals, according to coalition officials, one of them an American contractor working on an electrical power plant. It's also been confirmed that two Britons and a French national have been killed, either contractors or security people working with them. And they were killed when a massive car bomb, a car packed with more than 1,000 pounds of explosives, went off early this morning just after 8:00 a.m. when their three convoy -- three vehicle convoy passed a very busy street in the morning rush hour.
Now, in the chaos around it, people were digging bodies out of the rubble as a building collapsed. Smoke was rising and people were being rushed to the hospital. A terrible scene in this morning's rush hour in Baghdad -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I know. We're looking at the horrible pictures beside you.
We also heard there was some chanting, "Down With the U.S.!"
Is that right?
ARRAF: There does appear to have been chanting and also some gunshots fired, as well as reports that one of the disabled vehicles had been doused with kerosene and set aflame. Now, as is customary after these bombings, there's a lot of anger there -- anger by Iraqis that they just want to let out on anyone, anger at the coalition for what they blame -- they blame the coalition for not keeping the country secure. And coalition officials themselves say it will likely get worse before it gets better -- Carol. COSTELLO: Jane Arraf live from Baghdad.
Thank you.
There is more news from Iraq for you this morning, as the clock ticks toward the handover of power. Here's the latest in our situation report.
The country's interim president says the new government wants a multinational force to help secure the country. But Ghazi al-Yawer says the U.S. will have to get Iraqi approval for major operations.
In the meantime, the Senate Intelligence Committee's chairman says the CIA is dragging its feet, taking too long to review and release an unflattering report about prewar U.S. intelligence.
President Bush is being criticized by a group of former high level diplomatic and military officials, many of them appointed by Republican administrations. They plan to issue a statement Wednesday condemning the president's international policies. They claim the administration's policies are hurting national security.
They're still searching in Saudi Arabia. You've probably heard by now American Paul Johnson, Jr. has been kidnapped, supposedly by Islamic militants. In his hometown, the yellow ribbons have gone up.
Gary Tuchman has more for you from Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The yellow ribbons are on the trees behind us in this neighborhood in Port Saint John, Florida, about 15 minutes away from the Kennedy Space Center. A family in seclusion in this house. It's the home of Paul Johnson III. He's 28 years old. He does not know the fate of his father, who apparently has been kidnapped in Saudi Arabia.
His father is Paul Johnson Jr. He works for Lockheed Martin. A Web site affiliated with al Qaeda says it has kidnapped him, showed a passport style picture on its Web site, his driver's license and his business card.
The family here is doing their best to cope.
PAUL JOHNSON III, SON OF MISSING AMERICAN: I just say let him go, you know? He don't deserve this. He doesn't deserve, he don't deserve it. It's not his fault we're over there. It's not his fault he had to go there. It was his job.
TUCHMAN: Paul Johnson plans on leaving this house later this morning with his wife Jody to fly to New Jersey. That's where their father's brother and their father's mother live. They plan to be together to offer each other comfort. They take solace in the story of Thomas Hamill. He was the contractor from Halliburton who worked in Iraq who was kidnapped and escaped from his kidnappers and is now home free in Mississippi. We can tell you that Paul Johnson, Jr., the kidnap victim's wife, is currently in Saudi Arabia.
This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Brevard County, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Johnson's kidnapping is the latest in a string of attacks on Westerners in Saudi Arabia that have left three people dead.
Caroline Faraj, an editor for cnnarabic.com, covering the story for us from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
She joins us live by telephone.
And Caroline, Mr. Johnson was targeted because of his company's work with Apache helicopters. These terrorists seem to be targeting specific Westerners.
How much know how goes into this?
CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, indeed, Carol, what we've gathered up to now from the Saudi officials, as well if we just take what they've published, the militants, they've published on their Web site, they said that they were targeting these people. They're targeting those who are working in companies, American companies. And they mentioned in specific that Mr. Johnson was one of four engineers who were basically experts in this field.
So they know. They did their homework very well and they know their target very well.
This proves, also, that with the other targets that they've managed to kill up to now, they know their way. They know when they're coming, the route that they're taking and at what time they will be going back home. So it is well planned -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Mr. Johnson's son said this didn't have to happen, that he could have been protected by his company.
Do you find any evidence of that?
FARAJ: Well, according to the Saudis and the diplomats that we are talking -- and we are in direct contact all the time with them in Saudi Arabia -- they're saying that, you know, they're issuing, the embassy is issuing e-mails and issuing, you know, like words and telling them that you should watch your step, you should know exactly which route you are taking and you should be aware of every stranger nearby. So they're telling them how to handle the situation.
On the other hand, the Saudis are saying we cannot leave a police with every Westerner living in Saudi Arabia and we know that it is our responsibility and we want to protect everybody, expatriates, Westerners, as well as our locals, because if you recall, some of the attacks also targeted local Saudis, as well as Arab expatriates. So the militants are targeting everybody. But their main issue is to target Americans, Westerners and their main message, according to their messages published on their Web site all the time, that they need the Arab peninsula, meaning Saudi Arabia, to be free of all Westerners. And they call them "crusaders" -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And, Caroline, on that Islamic Web site, according to the "New York Times," there was an interesting statement. It refers to Johnson as a "Christian parasite." That's an Arabic word that was made popular by a former spokesman for Saddam Hussein's government.
Is this significant?
FARAJ: Well, they always call all Christians, they call them crusaders. They're using this term all the time. And this is used in several statements even made by bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda, as well a Zarqawi and other leaders. So they're using these terminologies all the time. And they say very clearly that we are totally against the crusaders and the Jews.
So this is their main target.
However, sometimes they just, you know, send several claims and they claim that anybody that they are capturing or killing or arresting or kidnapping, they are Christians or they are Jews. Sometimes they -- when in (UNINTELLIGIBLE) attacks, they arrested them and they basically got, you know, got captured, some of the Lebanese, and then after that they were released because a lot of people were saying that how come you're also taking hostage some of the Arabs? And though they were Christians, but they were released.
So sometimes they play it according to the religion and sometimes they play it according to the nationality.
However, most of their statements, and according to a lot of people who are doing analysis in Saudi Arabia, they confirm that their main target are Westerners, no matter what religion they are -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, that seems to be the case in -- that seems to be the point in this case.
Caroline Faraj reporting live for us from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this morning.
Here are some stories making news across America this Monday.
Police in Washington State are trying to figure out why a mother killed her two daughters. Charlene Dorcy led police to an abandoned rock pit, where she said she killed her children. Police did recover the bodies of two girls, ages four and two. Dorcy now in jail. Police waiting to talk to her husband before commenting on her mental state.
It's week three of the Scott Peterson trial. This week, police will take the stand to testify about their investigation into the murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn child. Scott Peterson faces the death penalty if convicted.
The official White House portraits of former President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton will be unveiled today. Artist Simmie Knox is the first African-American to paint the presidential picture. The painting itself will be the first official portrait to include the American flag. The Clintons will be joined by the Bushes at the unveiling.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, a stunt worthy of James Bond. See why this mega mogul is traveling by land and sea this morning.
And then honoring the stars and stripes this Flag Day. Do you realize it's Flag Day?
Plus, we'll talk to a security expert on why the situation in Saudi Arabia has suddenly turned so dangerous for Americans.
This is DAYBREAK for June 14.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: More on Saudi Arabia now. The FBI joining the search in Riyadh for American worker Paul Johnson, who was apparently abducted by militants. The group also claims responsibility for gunning down another American in Riyadh the day before. It's a situation that Secretary of State Powell calls "troubling."
National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has this comment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Well, the United States has, in fact, warned American citizens about the dangers in Saudi Arabia. There have been several warnings and there was a State Department warning. It is, like many places in the world right now, a place in which terrorists are trying to make their mark. We are doing everything that we can, with the Saudis, to try and protect those who are there. But it's obviously a dangerous place and people have to draw their own conclusions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And joining us from London now, Sajjan Gohel, director for international security at the Asia-Pacific Foundation.
Good morning.
SAJJAN GOHEL, ASIA-PACIFIC FOUNDATION: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So, should all Americans leave Saudi Arabia? Is that the answer?
GOHEL: Well, I'm afraid Saudi Arabia has become very inhospitable. The terrorists are now no longer making any distinction in who they target, whether it's man, woman, child; television reporter. The country itself now has become a situation where any Westerner will be targeted and the situation is deteriorating every day.
COSTELLO: So what can Saudi Arabia do, or the United States do, to protect Americans or, as I said before, should all Americans and Westerners just leave Saudi Arabia?
GOHEL: Well, the ultimate aim for the terrorists is to, of course, drive out all the foreigners from the country, many of whom are key to the infrastructure and services industries inside the country. And if they are able to succeed in that, then that will have a global impact on the oil industry and that will have the devastating consequences.
The Saudi Arabian authorities are going to have to improve their security, which has been lacking significantly despite their assertions that they are dealing with the situation, which they're clearly not.
COSTELLO: Well, they're not really used to this. This is the first time that a kidnapping has taken place in Saudi Arabia like this, isn't it?
GOHEL: Well, I think this is just another disturbing development in the tactics of the terrorists. We've seen attacks on compounds. We've seen individuals being assassinated. And, yes, this is a new disturbing development where individuals are being kidnapped. And I fear for this man's safety. I think it is of grave concern and it is essential the Saudi security forces improve their intelligence and try and work out what has happened to him.
COSTELLO: We know what the Saudi royal family says about these kidnappings. They're horrified by it. But as Americans, we do worry about what the general population in Saudi Arabia thinks of this.
Ultimately, do many of them approve, disapprove? How do they feel?
GOHEL: The problem inside Saudi Arabia is that more and more individuals are becoming unemployed. The oil wealth that is tightly controlled by the House of Saud is not percolating down. Young individuals, educated individuals, are being indoctrinated by fundamentalist clerics to see the Westerners as targets and to attack them. And that is becoming a big problem.
The House of Saud is going to have to now deal with the recruiting of individuals inside their own country and to prevent the demonizing of Westerners as it is taking place.
COSTELLO: Sajjan Gohel, director for international security at the Asia-Pacific Foundation.
Thank you for joining us live from London this morning.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Westerners may have been the target of a massive car bomb attack in central Baghdad this morning. The death toll continues to rise. Twelve dead now, including one American. Sixty others injured in this blast.
Large crowds expected today for the reopening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The former president was entombed on the library grounds on Saturday. The library has been closed since his death on June 5th.
In money news, builders say the rising price of raw materials is driving up construction costs. The largest construction company in the Washington D.C. area says the cost of steel used in their projects has nearly doubled since last fall.
In culture, filmmaker Michael Moore says he was just kidding, just kidding when he said he'd make his next documentary on British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his role in the war in Iraq. Moore has won critical acclaim for a similar movie about President Bush.
In sports, another milestone home run for Barry Bonds. Bonds becomes just the third player to hit 500 home runs as a member of the Giants. And there it goes. His godfather, Willie Mays, also reached that goal.
MYERS: At Camden Yards out there.
COSTELLO: A beautiful stadium, isn't it?
MYERS: Yes, it sure is. I think it was -- we were talking about this the other day -- it was the beginning of the new classic stadium, you know? It was the blueprint for all of the new stadiums, including Detroit and Jacobs Field and all the great new ball parks out there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Time for a little business buzz now.
Part daredevil and part entrepreneur, Sir Richard Branson takes to the seas, hoping to set a new world record. I love this story.
Carrie Lee has more of it, live from the NASDAQ market site.
This is crazy.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You've got to love this story. You've got to love this guy's lifestyle, Carol. Of course, chief of Virgin Group, Richard Branson, here. He's attempting to set the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel on an amphibious vehicle. Now, this vehicle is called the Gibbs Aquada, straight out of James Bond here. It looks like a sports car, transforms into a speedboat at the touch of a button. The Aquada can reach speeds of 120 miles per hour on land, 30 miles per hour on water. No doors. The driver climbs over the side to get in. He's attempting this feat to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his airline, Virgin Atlantic. Guinness World Records is going to be on hand to verify the time and verify the event. He's hoping to cross in less than two hours, breaking the current record of six hours set by two Frenchmen.
So here's a look at the vehicle and there he goes on his way -- Carol.
COSTELLO: That is wild.
LEE: We'll see if he's successful. Totally wild. Totally wild.
MYERS: You know, where's the fishing rods?
COSTELLO: Yes, where's the fishing rods?
LEE: He's going to outpace pretty much any fish. Interesting, he talked to CNN in London. Now, we're not sure how serious he is about this, but said this could be a very cool way to jet Virgin passengers down the Thames to downtown London. So if that happens...
COSTELLO: Hey, why not?
LEE: ... that would be even cooler.
COSTELLO: It might be the solution to traffic jams. Instead of going over those bridges, especially in the Washington, D.C. area, you can just take your car right across the water.
LEE: There you go. But two hours across the English Channel. Pretty amazing. So we'll see if he's successful.
COSTELLO: Oh, thanks for showing us those pictures.
LEE: Sure.
COSTELLO: Those are fascinating.
Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.
Still to come, another adventure seeker who you're sure to recognize. Why did President Bush jump out of retirement?
And later, the controversy facing some Olympic athletes. Is it big enough to tarnish America's reputation at the Games?
This is DAYBREAK for a Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is time for our DAYBREAK Eye-Opener.
It's Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire. Events at the 81st Annual Motorcycle Celebration could draw as many as 350,000 cyclists. That's crazy. MYERS: That's a lot of noise.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
Highlights for today include fireworks, in addition to the motorcycle noise; a pool tournament and a vintage motorcycle Grand Prix at New Hampshire International Speedway.
The fast ferry was christened in Rochester, New York. The Spirit of Ontario begins service this week between Rochester and Toronto. The ferry can make the trip across Lake Ontario in just two and a half hours. Older ferries take about four hours. It's the second fastest ferry on the Great Lakes.
A high speed transport for Lake Michigan was launched last week.
Former President George Herbert Walker Bush once again celebrates his birthday by jumping out of a plane, and he had to do it twice. High winds forced him to make it a tandem jump with a member of the Army's elite Golden Knights parachute team. The elder President Bush turns 80 years old on Saturday -- actually, last Saturday, two days ago, that would be.
His last jump was five years ago on his 75th birthday and he says this should be a lesson to other octogenarians. Says Bush, "Realize that at 80 you've still got a life. Don't just sit around watching TV."
Later this morning, Golden Knights Staff Sergeant Brian Schnell will tell CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" all about his tandem jump with Mr. Bush. Of course, that comes your way in just about one half hour.
Let's talk about Flag Day. Because you know what...
MYERS: You know what day it is?
COSTELLO: I just said let's talk about Flag Day.
MYERS: Flag Day. But you know what? You know what the sad part is? We have to have Flag Day. We should be flying our flags all the time, especially now that we're at war. I mean, well, we're kind of still at war. But today is Flag Day. So get that flag and get it out.
COSTELLO: But the sadder fact is I don't think many people realize it is Flag Day. Do we even make a big deal of it anymore?
MYERS: No.
COSTELLO: Do we really know the history of Flag Day, Chad?
MYERS: It seems like when I was in school we were still in school on Flag Day, because we didn't get out until like June 25. But now the kids are out of school, they don't even know about it, they don't hear about it. So maybe you should tell them.
COSTELLO: Well, actually, Flag Day was created in the school system in 1885.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: A teacher in Wisconsin encouraged his community to celebrate the anniversary of the official adoption of the Stars and Stripes. And it grew from there.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: All the way to 1960, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation establishing a Flag Day observance. Are you listening out there? I'm sure you are.
MYERS: I'm learning.
COSTELLO: In 1949, President Truman, President Truman signed an Act of Congress designating June 14th of each year as National Flag Day. So now you're all caught up and there's no excuse any longer not to remember Flag Day.
MYERS: Get it out and fly it today.
COSTELLO: That's right.
We'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
