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CNN Live At Daybreak

Eye on the World; Terrorism Prosecutions; Scott Peterson Trial; Religion & Politics; Underage Drinking

Aired June 16, 2004 - 05:30   ET

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

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq's important oil industry now the target of insurgents.

It is Wednesday, June 16. This is DAYBREAK.

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

Let me bring you up to date now.

The FBI and CIA on the hot seat again today at the 9/11 Commission hearing. The panel is trying to figure out how clues about the plot were missed and how the next major terror attack can be stopped. The panel's report is due out next month.

Militants threaten to kill an American man kidnapped in Saudi Arabia unless Saudi authorities release al Qaeda prisoners by Friday. The demands are made on a videotape posted on an Islamic Web site.

In money news, OPEC's president says he will go outside the oil cartel and ask other producers to increase their output. Earlier this month, OPEC agreed to boost production, an effort to cool oil prices that had hit 21-year highs.

In culture, "Rock the Vote," the drive to register young voters, hits the road today. The bus tour begins in Los Angeles and stops in 50 cities. Performers include Hoobastank, the Black Eyed Peas and The Dixie Chicks.

And in sports, the Detroit Pistons motored over the L.A. Lakers again. The 187th victory gives the Pistons their first NBA championship in 14 years -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And they could have beat them by even more than that, Carol, but they put in the entire bench.

(WEATHER REPORT)

More coming up -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Chad.

Want to talk more about the oil pipeline in Iraq. There have been three attacks over the last two days. The latest happened early this morning. It has stopped oil exports out of Iraq.

Our senior international editor David Clinch is here to tell us more about that.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, good morning.

This is a huge story in Iraq. We have heard of pipelines being attacked in the south and the north for months and months now, but this is sort of the perfect storm of a terrorist attack. Terrorist attacks in the south have completely shut down the main export of oil from the south, and simultaneously, attacks in the north, of course there is no way to know how coordinated they are, but simultaneously in the north, attacks on pipelines there.

Now as opposed to previous small scale attacks that take a day or two to repair, we're being told that these attacks in the south will halt Iraqi oil exports for a week or more. Oil was being exported at 1.6 million barrels a day. The losses over a week at $60 million a day over a week is a huge amount of money.

And as opposed to the vague questions of whether or not this affects the price of oil over a period of time on the oil markets, what this does do, every single penny, every single dollar that's lost, both in the export and pouring money into the repairs, which of course have to be done urgently, has to come from somewhere. All of this money being used, of course, for the reconstruction of Iraq. If oil isn't there, isn't flowing and that revenue isn't there, the money has to come from somewhere else.

COSTELLO: And it comes from the American taxpayer I'll bet.

CLINCH: From the American tax dollar, for the most part, this money. This has happened in the past when the oil flow has slowed down or not reached the level that they want it to be at, money has to be taken from elsewhere.

COSTELLO: Do you want me to ask you the impossible question, can you protect the oil pipelines?

CLINCH: Well the U.S. has made it absolutely clear that not only with the pipelines but also with the officials, we saw a security official in northern Iraq today was killed. The CPA, the U.S. coalition in Baghdad making it clear that every pipeline and every official cannot be protected. So of course the terrorists, as we say again and again, only have to get it right once. And they apparently have got it right in the southern part of Iraq today, totally shut down the export of Iraqi oil for a week.

COSTELLO: All right, David Clinch, thank you.

CLINCH: All right.

COSTELLO: A Somali citizen suspected of plotting to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio faces a detention hearing today. Nuradin Abdi was charged last week with two counts of providing material support for al Qaeda. He is pleading not guilty. He's been in federal custody on immigration violations since last November. Government lawyers want to keep him there until he can be tried.

The charges against Abdi are just the latest in the Justice Department's targeting of terror suspects. On Tuesday, three men accused of training for holy war against the United States got harsh sentences, one of them got life. But critics say some of these cases are short on evidence and long on public relations value.

Here's our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hammad Abdur-Raheem and two others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in a Virginia court, the last three members of an alleged Virginia jihadist group, the Justice Department winning convictions or guilty pleas against nine out of 11 men. They were found guilty of providing material support to Lashkar e-Taiba, the Pakistani-based terror group.

Prosecutors have been very successful in prosecuting individuals using the material support for terrorism statute. In Portland, Oregon, the government won six guilty pleas against an alleged terror cell. In Lackawanna, near Buffalo, New York, six men who trained at terror camps pled guilty. And in Detroit, two terror-related convictions.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The most tangible measure of our success is found in a fact for which we are grateful to God and citizens of this country and law enforcement officials. We have not experienced a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

ARENA: But the government's successes are often met with skepticism.

NEAL KATAYAL, GEORGETOWN LAW CENTER: This administration, at least sometimes, has overclaimed its successes. And there's a deep question given the excessive secrecy of this administration, whether the successes that we do know about are really true successes or not.

ARENA: Take for example the allegations against Jose Padilla, designated an enemy combatant and currently in military custody. When he was arrested, Attorney General John Ashcroft definitively said that he was involved in a plot to set off a dirty bomb in the United States. Now prosecutors say he may have been here to blow up apartment buildings.

The Justice Department's newest terror case, just a day old, against an Ohio man allegedly involved in a plot to blow up a shopping mall is already being scrutinized for what critics call a lack of hard evidence. But government supporters argue law enforcement has a mandate to prevent terrorist acts before they happen, which often will not result in the same kind of evidence that's available after the fact.

VIET DINH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: You don't have to wait until the brink of death and destruction in order to establish the evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Nor do we -- need we wait until after lives have been lost for us to pick up the pieces and prosecute for terrorism.

ARENA (on camera): Still, even some on the bench are having trouble adjusting. In the Virginia jihadist case, the judge called the mandatory sentences she imposed Draconian, and went on to say at times the law and justice need to be in tune.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: In news "Across America" this Wednesday, a moderate earthquake shook the fish about 40 miles off the coast of San Diego. The quake caused only minor damage but did force the protective evacuation of Sea World in San Diego. A smaller, but still strong, aftershock hit just two hours later.

Trouble in the art world, the owner and manager of a Manhattan art gallery made millions by allegedly selling fakes. The counterfeit masterpieces included works by Renoir and Chagall (ph). Prosecutors say the masters' works were copied and then sold at high-end auction houses.

We're learning a lot more about how much Michael Jackson paid to settle the 1993 child molestation suit against him. Listen to this, Court TV says he paid more than $20 million -- 20. More than $15 million went to the 13-year-old boy, more than a million to each of his parents and $5 million to the boy's lawyer. Even so, Jackson never admitted to any wrongdoing. We've tried unsuccessfully to confirm the story with Jackson's people. It's possible that the now 24-year-old accuser might have to testify in Jackson's upcoming trial.

And testimony today in the Scott Peterson trial is expected to center on the search for Laci Peterson. So far, police testimony has focused on Peterson's fishing trip alibi.

CNN's Ted Rowlands reports from Redwood City, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Day nine in the double murder trial against Scott Peterson centered on testimony from Jon Evers, the first Modesto police officer to talk to Peterson the night his pregnant wife Laci, who he's accused of killing, was reported missing.

Evers was the third officer to tell the jury that Peterson, when they talked to him at his home, seemed cooperative but had trouble answering specific questions from police concerning his fishing trip that day. Peterson, according to police testimony, hesitated and mumbled when asked what he was fishing for. He also, according to police, had trouble answering a question about what type of bait he used.

Under cross-examination from Defense Attorney Mark Geragos, Evers admitted that Peterson was cooperative, and seemed very upset that night, which, supporters say, explains his trouble with answering questions about his fishing trip.

JACKIE PETERSON, MOTHER OF SCOTT PETERSON: I'm surprised he could speak at all. I wouldn't have been able to.

ROWLANDS: Also on cross-examination, the defense was able to use Evers and other officers to deflect some of the suspicion surrounding the idea of a Christmas Eve fishing trip. Geragos asked the officers if they were aware that Laci Peterson's stepfather, Ron Grantski, was out fishing in another area that day, and the same time as Scott Peterson says he was in the San Francisco Bay.

(on camera): Late Tuesday, four employees of the OB/GYN that saw Laci Peterson briefly testified that there was nothing abnormal about her pregnancy. It is expected that there will be more police testimony when court resumes.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And coming up on DAYBREAK, controversy in the Catholic Church. If you support abortion rights, should you be denied Holy Communion?

This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Oil exports in Iraq are completely shut down after another attack on a major pipeline. Two key southern oil pipelines have now been bombed. Officials say it will take at least a week to repair the damage.

Iran says it will not accept any international moves to limit its nuclear program. Its Foreign Minister says the world must recognize Iran as a nuclear nation. And Iran insists its nuclear program is only for generating power not for making a bomb.

In money news, a big buyout. MGM Mirage is making a bid to buy Mandalay Resort Group for nearly $5 billion. It will create the gambling industry's biggest casino operation. Mandalay still must approve the deal.

In pop culture, Britney Spears cancels her 36-city Onyx Hotel Tour. Darn it! You can blame it on her bad left knee. She hurt it during a music video and has to rest up after arthroscopic surgery.

In sports, Cincinnati ends a seven-game losing streak beating Texas five to four. But alas, Ken Griffey Jr. remains stuck on 499 home runs. And the Rangers and Kenny Rogers failed to become the major's first 10 game winner. So wouldn't that be a shame if Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't hit another home run the rest of the season? I shouldn't even say that, should I?

MYERS: That will happen.

COSTELLO: It will happen.

MYERS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COSTELLO: Go Ken Griffey Jr.

MYERS: You know it was just like the Rocket when he just couldn't get over the number, just couldn't get -- just couldn't get it. Then all of a sudden boom, and then you get a bunch more.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

President Bush is spending the morning in Florida. He is talking with troops at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa. A little less than five hours from now, his speech will be broadcast live to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He'll also get a briefing on the war on terrorism.

John Kerry is having breakfast this morning with supporters in Ohio. It's his seventh visit to that key battleground state. Also on the menu, a key endorsement from the "Philadelphia Daily News." Later this afternoon, Kerry travels to Washington for some private meetings.

Of course you know you shouldn't ever talk about religion and politics. Well, we're going to talk about both this morning. This year's presidential campaign is wading into religion and politics, big time. It's a mess. Abortion, the right to receive communion, the list goes on.

CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The new poll by Time magazine finds that 59 percent of those who consider themselves very religious want George Bush re-elected. No wonder, speaking to the Southern Baptist convention today, he opposed what he referred to as partial- birth abortions and gay marriage, while praising the faithful.

BUSH: I understand as you do, that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world.

FOREMAN: But religion can be dangerous political ground. The president is being criticized by John Kerry for asking the Vatican to more openly support conservative issues.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's entirely and extraordinarily inappropriate. And I think it speaks for itself. FOREMAN: While Kerry, a Catholic is under fire for supporting abortion rights, which his church opposes.

At the U.S. conference of bishops meeting in Denver, one of the topics is the relationship of Catholic politicians to their faith. Sixteen bishops have suggested elected Catholic leaders who do not oppose abortion should not take communion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Simply because you are an elected official, you do not have a pass on the fundamental obligation that you have to protect innocent human life.

FOREMAN: Notre Dame theologian Father Richard McBrien disapproves of such tactics, saying they are a misuse of church doctrine. But he sees the political advantage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Having Kerry on the ticket this year is a -- it's an answer to a prayer for the most militant in the pro-life movement. Because it puts the abortion issue back on the political radar screen.

FOREMAN (on camera): Religion could still play an important role in getting John Kerry elected. Specifically, the "Time" poll found 69 percent of nonreligious voters prefer the Democrat contender.

(voice-over): It is not at all clear how this will ultimately affect the election. But many voters appear to be giving both church and state a hard look.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Teenagers and alcohol, some see it as a rite of passage, but new statistics show that this particular drug of choice could become addictive fast. We'll tell you why.

And in the next hour of DAYBREAK, vitamins can be a bitter pill to swallow, so how about soaking up your daily dose while enjoying the summer sun? Curious? We'll explain.

This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.

Some "Health Headlines" for you this morning.

A new study says that treating acne with a laser is not a miracle cure. University of Michigan researchers studied 40 acne patients age 13 or older and they found two treatments with a laser did not make much difference.

States where drivers have to renew their license in person have a 17 percent lower crash fatality rate among drivers 85 years and older. That's the finding of a University of Alabama study. Researchers say in person renewals offer a chance for examiners to refer older drivers for medical evaluations they may need but have not gotten.

And most teenagers eat fast food but not all of them are overweight. A study in this week's "Journal of the American Medical Association" finds lean teens stay that way. How come? Well after pigging out, they stop eating for a while. They did a study on that.

OK, we know what teenagers are eating, but what are they drinking? According to government statistics, they are abusing alcohol in record numbers, more so than any other drug. And new research indicates the younger they are when they start, the greater the risk they could become alcoholics.

CNN's Christy Feig has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a month and a half, Justin, who asked that we not use his last name, turns 21 and can legally drink. But he says he is already an alcoholic. He took his first drink at 16, late he says for teens these days, but caught up fast.

JUSTIN, TEENAGE ALCOHOLIC: It was on average about six nights a week, 30, 35 beers a night.

FEIG: Drinking more than five drinks in one setting is considered binge drinking and government statistics show it's the preference of 70 percent of teens who drink. But experts warn binge drinking before age 21 greatly increases your risk of being an alcoholic as an adult. Seven million Americans over the age of 21 are already addicted to alcohol.

CHARLES CURRY, DEPT. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: And about one third of them began drinking before the age of 14, 80 percent began drinking before the age of 18 and 96 percent began drinking before the age of 21.

FEIG: Evidence is mounting that suggests it's something about exposing a developing brain to alcohol that triggers the addiction.

CURRY: Because the placidity of the -- of the brain of youth, those chemicals are obviously having a major effect upon individuals of that age than when they are adults.

FEIG: Justin has been through rehab and it's been one year since he has had a drink and he is about to start his junior year at college. And while he still sometimes craves a drink at parties, he says no amount of good times are worth going back.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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

Well this isn't exactly a health-related story, but we're going to...

MYERS: Almost.

COSTELLO: Almost. We're going to talk about sweat, because a researcher named Tim Long (ph) actually did a study on the sweatiest cities in America.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: And he has come up with a list of five.

MYERS: For the Old Spice Company, put it this way, he didn't pay for this himself.

The sweatiest city, according to Tim, El Paso, Texas.

COSTELLO: That is the sweatiest city in America.

MYERS: It's a desert.

COSTELLO: Well this is what Tim -- Tim Long calculated heat indexes and relative humidity levels to come up with his top 100 sweatiest cities. In just four hours, El Paso's residents produce enough sweat to fill an Olympic swimming pool.

MYERS: Yes, but it all evaporates and cools those people down. Now,...

COSTELLO: Chad is angry about this study.

MYERS: I am angry about this because Belgrade, Florida; New Orleans, Greenville, you all should be on top of that thing. Tupelo, Mississippi, anywhere down across the South where temperatures do get to around 90.

COSTELLO: I have Tim Long's number. You call him later.

MYERS: And your relative humidity is 90 is sweatier than El Paso. Anyway, congratulations El Paso. I guess that's an honor, anyway.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: They get a year's -- the mayor gets a year's supply of Old Spice antiperspirant.

With just six weeks to go, the symbol of the Olympic spirit heads to the City of Angels. We'll update you on the Torch Tour just ahead.

This is DAYBREAK.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A day after they were attacked, Iraq's oil pipelines are hit again.

It is Wednesday, June 16. This is DAYBREAK.

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 16, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq's important oil industry now the target of insurgents.

It is Wednesday, June 16. This is DAYBREAK.

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

Let me bring you up to date now.

The FBI and CIA on the hot seat again today at the 9/11 Commission hearing. The panel is trying to figure out how clues about the plot were missed and how the next major terror attack can be stopped. The panel's report is due out next month.

Militants threaten to kill an American man kidnapped in Saudi Arabia unless Saudi authorities release al Qaeda prisoners by Friday. The demands are made on a videotape posted on an Islamic Web site.

In money news, OPEC's president says he will go outside the oil cartel and ask other producers to increase their output. Earlier this month, OPEC agreed to boost production, an effort to cool oil prices that had hit 21-year highs.

In culture, "Rock the Vote," the drive to register young voters, hits the road today. The bus tour begins in Los Angeles and stops in 50 cities. Performers include Hoobastank, the Black Eyed Peas and The Dixie Chicks.

And in sports, the Detroit Pistons motored over the L.A. Lakers again. The 187th victory gives the Pistons their first NBA championship in 14 years -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And they could have beat them by even more than that, Carol, but they put in the entire bench.

(WEATHER REPORT)

More coming up -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Chad.

Want to talk more about the oil pipeline in Iraq. There have been three attacks over the last two days. The latest happened early this morning. It has stopped oil exports out of Iraq.

Our senior international editor David Clinch is here to tell us more about that.

DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, Carol, good morning.

This is a huge story in Iraq. We have heard of pipelines being attacked in the south and the north for months and months now, but this is sort of the perfect storm of a terrorist attack. Terrorist attacks in the south have completely shut down the main export of oil from the south, and simultaneously, attacks in the north, of course there is no way to know how coordinated they are, but simultaneously in the north, attacks on pipelines there.

Now as opposed to previous small scale attacks that take a day or two to repair, we're being told that these attacks in the south will halt Iraqi oil exports for a week or more. Oil was being exported at 1.6 million barrels a day. The losses over a week at $60 million a day over a week is a huge amount of money.

And as opposed to the vague questions of whether or not this affects the price of oil over a period of time on the oil markets, what this does do, every single penny, every single dollar that's lost, both in the export and pouring money into the repairs, which of course have to be done urgently, has to come from somewhere. All of this money being used, of course, for the reconstruction of Iraq. If oil isn't there, isn't flowing and that revenue isn't there, the money has to come from somewhere else.

COSTELLO: And it comes from the American taxpayer I'll bet.

CLINCH: From the American tax dollar, for the most part, this money. This has happened in the past when the oil flow has slowed down or not reached the level that they want it to be at, money has to be taken from elsewhere.

COSTELLO: Do you want me to ask you the impossible question, can you protect the oil pipelines?

CLINCH: Well the U.S. has made it absolutely clear that not only with the pipelines but also with the officials, we saw a security official in northern Iraq today was killed. The CPA, the U.S. coalition in Baghdad making it clear that every pipeline and every official cannot be protected. So of course the terrorists, as we say again and again, only have to get it right once. And they apparently have got it right in the southern part of Iraq today, totally shut down the export of Iraqi oil for a week.

COSTELLO: All right, David Clinch, thank you.

CLINCH: All right.

COSTELLO: A Somali citizen suspected of plotting to blow up a shopping mall in Columbus, Ohio faces a detention hearing today. Nuradin Abdi was charged last week with two counts of providing material support for al Qaeda. He is pleading not guilty. He's been in federal custody on immigration violations since last November. Government lawyers want to keep him there until he can be tried.

The charges against Abdi are just the latest in the Justice Department's targeting of terror suspects. On Tuesday, three men accused of training for holy war against the United States got harsh sentences, one of them got life. But critics say some of these cases are short on evidence and long on public relations value.

Here's our Justice correspondent Kelli Arena.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hammad Abdur-Raheem and two others were sentenced to lengthy prison terms in a Virginia court, the last three members of an alleged Virginia jihadist group, the Justice Department winning convictions or guilty pleas against nine out of 11 men. They were found guilty of providing material support to Lashkar e-Taiba, the Pakistani-based terror group.

Prosecutors have been very successful in prosecuting individuals using the material support for terrorism statute. In Portland, Oregon, the government won six guilty pleas against an alleged terror cell. In Lackawanna, near Buffalo, New York, six men who trained at terror camps pled guilty. And in Detroit, two terror-related convictions.

JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: The most tangible measure of our success is found in a fact for which we are grateful to God and citizens of this country and law enforcement officials. We have not experienced a major terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

ARENA: But the government's successes are often met with skepticism.

NEAL KATAYAL, GEORGETOWN LAW CENTER: This administration, at least sometimes, has overclaimed its successes. And there's a deep question given the excessive secrecy of this administration, whether the successes that we do know about are really true successes or not.

ARENA: Take for example the allegations against Jose Padilla, designated an enemy combatant and currently in military custody. When he was arrested, Attorney General John Ashcroft definitively said that he was involved in a plot to set off a dirty bomb in the United States. Now prosecutors say he may have been here to blow up apartment buildings.

The Justice Department's newest terror case, just a day old, against an Ohio man allegedly involved in a plot to blow up a shopping mall is already being scrutinized for what critics call a lack of hard evidence. But government supporters argue law enforcement has a mandate to prevent terrorist acts before they happen, which often will not result in the same kind of evidence that's available after the fact.

VIET DINH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: You don't have to wait until the brink of death and destruction in order to establish the evidence of criminal wrongdoing. Nor do we -- need we wait until after lives have been lost for us to pick up the pieces and prosecute for terrorism.

ARENA (on camera): Still, even some on the bench are having trouble adjusting. In the Virginia jihadist case, the judge called the mandatory sentences she imposed Draconian, and went on to say at times the law and justice need to be in tune.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: In news "Across America" this Wednesday, a moderate earthquake shook the fish about 40 miles off the coast of San Diego. The quake caused only minor damage but did force the protective evacuation of Sea World in San Diego. A smaller, but still strong, aftershock hit just two hours later.

Trouble in the art world, the owner and manager of a Manhattan art gallery made millions by allegedly selling fakes. The counterfeit masterpieces included works by Renoir and Chagall (ph). Prosecutors say the masters' works were copied and then sold at high-end auction houses.

We're learning a lot more about how much Michael Jackson paid to settle the 1993 child molestation suit against him. Listen to this, Court TV says he paid more than $20 million -- 20. More than $15 million went to the 13-year-old boy, more than a million to each of his parents and $5 million to the boy's lawyer. Even so, Jackson never admitted to any wrongdoing. We've tried unsuccessfully to confirm the story with Jackson's people. It's possible that the now 24-year-old accuser might have to testify in Jackson's upcoming trial.

And testimony today in the Scott Peterson trial is expected to center on the search for Laci Peterson. So far, police testimony has focused on Peterson's fishing trip alibi.

CNN's Ted Rowlands reports from Redwood City, California.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Day nine in the double murder trial against Scott Peterson centered on testimony from Jon Evers, the first Modesto police officer to talk to Peterson the night his pregnant wife Laci, who he's accused of killing, was reported missing.

Evers was the third officer to tell the jury that Peterson, when they talked to him at his home, seemed cooperative but had trouble answering specific questions from police concerning his fishing trip that day. Peterson, according to police testimony, hesitated and mumbled when asked what he was fishing for. He also, according to police, had trouble answering a question about what type of bait he used.

Under cross-examination from Defense Attorney Mark Geragos, Evers admitted that Peterson was cooperative, and seemed very upset that night, which, supporters say, explains his trouble with answering questions about his fishing trip.

JACKIE PETERSON, MOTHER OF SCOTT PETERSON: I'm surprised he could speak at all. I wouldn't have been able to.

ROWLANDS: Also on cross-examination, the defense was able to use Evers and other officers to deflect some of the suspicion surrounding the idea of a Christmas Eve fishing trip. Geragos asked the officers if they were aware that Laci Peterson's stepfather, Ron Grantski, was out fishing in another area that day, and the same time as Scott Peterson says he was in the San Francisco Bay.

(on camera): Late Tuesday, four employees of the OB/GYN that saw Laci Peterson briefly testified that there was nothing abnormal about her pregnancy. It is expected that there will be more police testimony when court resumes.

Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And coming up on DAYBREAK, controversy in the Catholic Church. If you support abortion rights, should you be denied Holy Communion?

This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:44 Eastern. Here is what's all new this morning.

Oil exports in Iraq are completely shut down after another attack on a major pipeline. Two key southern oil pipelines have now been bombed. Officials say it will take at least a week to repair the damage.

Iran says it will not accept any international moves to limit its nuclear program. Its Foreign Minister says the world must recognize Iran as a nuclear nation. And Iran insists its nuclear program is only for generating power not for making a bomb.

In money news, a big buyout. MGM Mirage is making a bid to buy Mandalay Resort Group for nearly $5 billion. It will create the gambling industry's biggest casino operation. Mandalay still must approve the deal.

In pop culture, Britney Spears cancels her 36-city Onyx Hotel Tour. Darn it! You can blame it on her bad left knee. She hurt it during a music video and has to rest up after arthroscopic surgery.

In sports, Cincinnati ends a seven-game losing streak beating Texas five to four. But alas, Ken Griffey Jr. remains stuck on 499 home runs. And the Rangers and Kenny Rogers failed to become the major's first 10 game winner. So wouldn't that be a shame if Ken Griffey Jr. doesn't hit another home run the rest of the season? I shouldn't even say that, should I?

MYERS: That will happen.

COSTELLO: It will happen.

MYERS: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

COSTELLO: Go Ken Griffey Jr.

MYERS: You know it was just like the Rocket when he just couldn't get over the number, just couldn't get -- just couldn't get it. Then all of a sudden boom, and then you get a bunch more.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

Those are the latest headlines for you.

President Bush is spending the morning in Florida. He is talking with troops at MacDill Air Force Base near Tampa. A little less than five hours from now, his speech will be broadcast live to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. He'll also get a briefing on the war on terrorism.

John Kerry is having breakfast this morning with supporters in Ohio. It's his seventh visit to that key battleground state. Also on the menu, a key endorsement from the "Philadelphia Daily News." Later this afternoon, Kerry travels to Washington for some private meetings.

Of course you know you shouldn't ever talk about religion and politics. Well, we're going to talk about both this morning. This year's presidential campaign is wading into religion and politics, big time. It's a mess. Abortion, the right to receive communion, the list goes on.

CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look for you.

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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The new poll by Time magazine finds that 59 percent of those who consider themselves very religious want George Bush re-elected. No wonder, speaking to the Southern Baptist convention today, he opposed what he referred to as partial- birth abortions and gay marriage, while praising the faithful.

BUSH: I understand as you do, that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world.

FOREMAN: But religion can be dangerous political ground. The president is being criticized by John Kerry for asking the Vatican to more openly support conservative issues.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: That's entirely and extraordinarily inappropriate. And I think it speaks for itself. FOREMAN: While Kerry, a Catholic is under fire for supporting abortion rights, which his church opposes.

At the U.S. conference of bishops meeting in Denver, one of the topics is the relationship of Catholic politicians to their faith. Sixteen bishops have suggested elected Catholic leaders who do not oppose abortion should not take communion.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Simply because you are an elected official, you do not have a pass on the fundamental obligation that you have to protect innocent human life.

FOREMAN: Notre Dame theologian Father Richard McBrien disapproves of such tactics, saying they are a misuse of church doctrine. But he sees the political advantage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Having Kerry on the ticket this year is a -- it's an answer to a prayer for the most militant in the pro-life movement. Because it puts the abortion issue back on the political radar screen.

FOREMAN (on camera): Religion could still play an important role in getting John Kerry elected. Specifically, the "Time" poll found 69 percent of nonreligious voters prefer the Democrat contender.

(voice-over): It is not at all clear how this will ultimately affect the election. But many voters appear to be giving both church and state a hard look.

Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

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COSTELLO: Teenagers and alcohol, some see it as a rite of passage, but new statistics show that this particular drug of choice could become addictive fast. We'll tell you why.

And in the next hour of DAYBREAK, vitamins can be a bitter pill to swallow, so how about soaking up your daily dose while enjoying the summer sun? Curious? We'll explain.

This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.

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COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.

Some "Health Headlines" for you this morning.

A new study says that treating acne with a laser is not a miracle cure. University of Michigan researchers studied 40 acne patients age 13 or older and they found two treatments with a laser did not make much difference.

States where drivers have to renew their license in person have a 17 percent lower crash fatality rate among drivers 85 years and older. That's the finding of a University of Alabama study. Researchers say in person renewals offer a chance for examiners to refer older drivers for medical evaluations they may need but have not gotten.

And most teenagers eat fast food but not all of them are overweight. A study in this week's "Journal of the American Medical Association" finds lean teens stay that way. How come? Well after pigging out, they stop eating for a while. They did a study on that.

OK, we know what teenagers are eating, but what are they drinking? According to government statistics, they are abusing alcohol in record numbers, more so than any other drug. And new research indicates the younger they are when they start, the greater the risk they could become alcoholics.

CNN's Christy Feig has more for you.

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CHRISTY FEIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a month and a half, Justin, who asked that we not use his last name, turns 21 and can legally drink. But he says he is already an alcoholic. He took his first drink at 16, late he says for teens these days, but caught up fast.

JUSTIN, TEENAGE ALCOHOLIC: It was on average about six nights a week, 30, 35 beers a night.

FEIG: Drinking more than five drinks in one setting is considered binge drinking and government statistics show it's the preference of 70 percent of teens who drink. But experts warn binge drinking before age 21 greatly increases your risk of being an alcoholic as an adult. Seven million Americans over the age of 21 are already addicted to alcohol.

CHARLES CURRY, DEPT. OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: And about one third of them began drinking before the age of 14, 80 percent began drinking before the age of 18 and 96 percent began drinking before the age of 21.

FEIG: Evidence is mounting that suggests it's something about exposing a developing brain to alcohol that triggers the addiction.

CURRY: Because the placidity of the -- of the brain of youth, those chemicals are obviously having a major effect upon individuals of that age than when they are adults.

FEIG: Justin has been through rehab and it's been one year since he has had a drink and he is about to start his junior year at college. And while he still sometimes craves a drink at parties, he says no amount of good times are worth going back.

Christy Feig, CNN, Washington.

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

Well this isn't exactly a health-related story, but we're going to...

MYERS: Almost.

COSTELLO: Almost. We're going to talk about sweat, because a researcher named Tim Long (ph) actually did a study on the sweatiest cities in America.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: And he has come up with a list of five.

MYERS: For the Old Spice Company, put it this way, he didn't pay for this himself.

The sweatiest city, according to Tim, El Paso, Texas.

COSTELLO: That is the sweatiest city in America.

MYERS: It's a desert.

COSTELLO: Well this is what Tim -- Tim Long calculated heat indexes and relative humidity levels to come up with his top 100 sweatiest cities. In just four hours, El Paso's residents produce enough sweat to fill an Olympic swimming pool.

MYERS: Yes, but it all evaporates and cools those people down. Now,...

COSTELLO: Chad is angry about this study.

MYERS: I am angry about this because Belgrade, Florida; New Orleans, Greenville, you all should be on top of that thing. Tupelo, Mississippi, anywhere down across the South where temperatures do get to around 90.

COSTELLO: I have Tim Long's number. You call him later.

MYERS: And your relative humidity is 90 is sweatier than El Paso. Anyway, congratulations El Paso. I guess that's an honor, anyway.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: They get a year's -- the mayor gets a year's supply of Old Spice antiperspirant.

With just six weeks to go, the symbol of the Olympic spirit heads to the City of Angels. We'll update you on the Torch Tour just ahead.

This is DAYBREAK.

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COSTELLO: A day after they were attacked, Iraq's oil pipelines are hit again.

It is Wednesday, June 16. This is DAYBREAK.

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