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CNN Live At Daybreak
Latest Developments in Search for Abducted American Paul Johnson; Conversion of U.S. Air into Low-Cost Carrier
Aired June 18, 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.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A desperate plea from the wife of a U.S. hostage as his possible execution deadline approaches.
It is Friday, June 18 and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.
Carol Costello will join us a little bit later in the hour.
But first, here's a look at headlines at this hour.
The search for American hostage Paul Johnson has intensified. Today is the deadline set by the militant kidnappers. They're demanding the release of al Qaeda prisoners in Saudi Arabia. We'll have much more on this story in just a minute.
The death of a prisoner in Afghanistan has led to the indictment of a CIA contractor. David Passaro was working for the CIA when he allegedly beat a prisoner to death one year ago.
In money, Alan Greenspan is still golden. The Senate approved another term for the Fed chairman. It'll be his fifth term. He was first nominated for the post by President Reagan back in 1987.
In culture, Mel Gibson is number one. "Forbes" magazine put him at the top of its annual list of the world's most powerful celebrities. Jennifer Anniston was last year's number one, but now she's fallen to number 17.
In sports, a tough day for Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open. Tiger opened with a two over par 72 and sits six shots behind the leaders after the first round. Rain caused problems on the course, with 57 players unable to finish their first round.
So, would the rain be a problem again today?
Let's go with Chad Myers and see what he has to say -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It could be a little bit, Betty, yes. There could be a couple of showers, especially this morning, again, and then tonight. But if that's the bad round for Tiger, 72, you know, I'll trade him my game for his any day.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, the deadline for American hostage Paul Johnson's execution is some time today. Saudi Arabia has marshaled thousands of police, who are conducting a citywide search of Riyadh in a race against the clock to find him.
Johnson's Thai wife appealed for her husband's release in an interview broadcast today on Saudi owned satellite television.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THANOM JOHNSON, JOHNSON'S WIFE: I see his picture. I hurt so bad. I find out all the time about it when I saw a picture in the TV.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: In a video posted on an Islamic Web site Tuesday, his captors threatened to kill Johnson within 72 hours unless the Saudi government releases al Qaeda prisoners. The kidnappers did not indicate what time the countdown began or exactly when the deadline is.
Vice President Dick Cheney says the U.S. is also involved in this investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're working closely with the Saudis on this matter. We're -- our officials have been in touch with the Johnson family, as it should be. We do not, as a general proposition, believe it makes any sense to negotiate with hostage takers. All you do when you do that is put a price on the head of every other American out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Johnson is a Lockheed Martin employee who has worked in Saudi Arabia for 10 years.
Caroline Faraj, editor for cnnarabic.com, is following the developments in Saudi Arabia.
She joins us by phone from Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Caroline, what is the latest on this search?
CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest, Betty, is we're just, you know, concluded a phone call with several people in Saudi Arabia, officials, as well as diplomats. They confirm that there is an intensive meetings taking place in Saudi Arabia between the American, as well as the Saudi, investigators. And they declined to give any more details about the outcome of this meeting.
However, we know that a lot of security people are spreading all over the kingdom, not only in Riyadh, where Mr. Johnson was kidnapped, and they're intensifying also their search and they're receiving so many phone calls and tips because they've invented a hot line that they receive information from people.
However, nothing is tangible yet; nothing is clear yet what will be the outcome of it. However, the deadline is not also clear, because it is known that it's the end of the day, but we can never tell when exactly is the end of the day -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Give us a little information about the chatter that we're seeing on the Islamic Web sites, because there are a lot of details being given there about how this is to be conducted.
FARAJ: Right. Well, indeed, just an hour and a half ago, several Web sites, Islamic Web sites that we usually monitor -- and we believe that they're linked to al Qaeda -- they published a so-called lesson, how to kidnap and what's kidnapping and who is the kidnappers and how to kidnap, etc., with all the details. It is part of a booklet that is -- that was printed and done earlier, about two months ago or a month ago -- last May, actually. And this lesson, they claim that it was written and prepared by al Qaeda coordinator in Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz al-Moqrin.
They give all the details and teachings for his followers how to follow these steps if they decided to do the kidnapping. Definitely, the timing is important because they only published it today, though it was prepared last May. So it might also indicate that, you know, this is something that is definitely related to the situation with Mr. Johnson -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Definitely disturbing, as the time is running out for Mr. Johnson.
All right, Caroline Faraj in Dubai this morning, thank you for your information.
For the first time, an American civilian is facing criminal charges related to the treatment of prisoners in the war on terror. David Passaro has been indicted on four federal charges. He is a former Army Ranger who was working for the CIA as an independent contractor in Afghanistan. The Justice Department says his interrogation of Afghan suspect Abdul Wali ended tragically.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: During these interrogations on June 19 and June 20, 2003, it is alleged that Passaro beat Wali repeatedly, using his hands and feet and a large flashlight. Wali died in a cell on Asadabad Base on June the 21st, 2003.
STEVE PASSARO, BROTHER: David, he had contacted me a few months ago and he said Steven, please, I need you to pray. I need you to pray. And I need you to pray like you've never prayed before, because there was something going on that was very big. And he said that there was something that was being hung on him, that he was innocent and that he was being prepared to take a fall for something that he had not done.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: An attorney for David Passaro says he's been in consultation with the government for months, but was stunned by yesterday's arrest.
Iraqi officials suspect insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is behind yesterday's bloody car bombing. That bombing left at least 35 people dead in Baghdad. Some 145 people outside an Iraqi Army recruitment center were also wounded in the attack. Most of the casualties were civilians on the street. No would be recruits were reportedly killed. A Pentagon official tells CNN Zarqawi may be hiding out in Fallujah. He says it's likely the militant leader is planning even more attacks as the June 30 transfer of power gets closer.
In Washington, the 9/11 Commission ends its public hearings, concluding that al Qaeda and Iraq did not cooperate in the 9/11 attacks. That conclusion ignites another dispute between the White House and the media.
Our Suzanne Malveaux has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 9/11 Commission says it has no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with the September 11 attacks. During a cabinet meeting, the president maintained that the administration never made that claim.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al Qaeda. We did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't disagree with that.
MALVEAUX: And while there is no disagreement regarding the September 11 terrorist attacks, the president and members of his administration continue to highlight what they call direct links between the group responsible for those attacks and Saddam Hussein.
BUSH: Well, the reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al Qaeda is because there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda.
MALVEAUX: In the lead up to the war with Iraq, President Bush and his top aides cited numerous links between the two.
BUSH: There are al Qaeda terrorists inside Iraq. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s.
CHENEY: Providing safe haven and support for such terrorist groups as Abu Nidal and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He had long established ties with al Qaeda.
MALVEAUX: Some on the 9/11 Commission continue to charge that the president and senior administration officials may have overstated the relationship between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda for political purposes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly some in the administration may have over played this to leave the implication that the intelligence services in Iraq participated or helped plan 9/11.
MALVEAUX: Bush critics and some political analysts go even further.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think the Bush administration could be convicted of lying in a court of law, but I think it deliberately politicked the issue to make its case for war in a way that was really not defensible based on the evidence.
MALVEAUX (on camera): Despite the evidence, a recent poll shows that close to 50 percent of Americans still believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with the 9/11 attacks.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Stories across America this Friday.
The police chief says it was a tragic day for Birmingham. Three police officers were shot to death yesterday when they went to a house in the Alabama city to arrest a man for a misdemeanor assault. Officers who later surrounded the house arrested that man and one other on suspicion of capital murder. A third person is also being questioned about those killings.
In Kansas, four people are dead following the crash of a small plane that was flying through a severe thunderstorm. Before the crash, the plane was seen flying about 40 feet above the ground. Winds reached 70 miles per hour during the storm.
Kobe Bryant's defense team has gained access to cell phone text messages sent by the alleged victim. Those messages were sent in the first few hours following her encounter with Bryant. The judge ruled the messages may be highly relevant in the trial.
Well, summer travelers still looking for a deal? Next, what one airline is doing to keep pace with the competition and how you can benefit. We have those details ahead.
And a little bit later, under investigation -- the latest move by Olympic track star Marion Jones to prove her innocence in the midst of a steroid scandal.
This is DAYBREAK for Friday, June 18.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Your news, money, weather and sports.
Right now the time is 6:14 and here's what's all new this morning.
The execution deadline is some time today for American hostage Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia. In a video aired on an Islamic Web site Tuesday, his captors said they would kill Johnson within 72 hours unless Saudi Arabia releases all al Qaeda prisoners.
In Washington State, a recovery operation on Mount Rainier. Rangers hope to get the body of a climber spotted at the 9,000 foot level. They also plan to search for another missing climber.
In money, Archer Daniels Midland will pay $400 million to settle a corn sweetener lawsuit. That suit claimed a company conspired to fix the price of high fructose corn syrup, which is used in a host of products, ranging from soft drinks to pasta sauces.
In culture, pop star Madonna is reinventing herself yet again. She's going from the material girl to Esther. That's right, Esther. Madonna says she has adopted the Hebrew name, in part, because she identifies with the biblical queen.
In sports, Florida Marlins backup question Matt Treanor was the hero with his game winning hit in the eleventh inning against the Chicago White Sox. He got a heroes' dessert as a reward.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Time now for a little business buzz.
Pressure from low cost rivals prompted U.S. Airways to cut fares just in time for summer travel.
Sasha Salama has the story from the NASDAQ market site in Times Square.
This is some good news.
SASHA SALAMA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Definitely, Betty, some good news if you're looking for some good travel deals this summer.
U.S. Airways is trying to stay competitive by basically transforming itself into a low cost carrier. Just a couple of days after the launch of an airline called Independence Air, out of Dulles in the D.C. area, U.S. Airways is saying it will now put a cap on one way flights and other flights out of Dulles International and Reagan National Airport.
So $499 is the most you would have to pay for a one way flight out of that area. That's down 63 percent from what you would have to pay before.
Now, the cheapest one way fare in the plan is $79 out of the D.C. area. That'll get you to Norfolk, the Carolinas, Florida and Missouri.
U.S. Airways is really the first big airline to try to transform itself into a low cost carrier and we will see what kind of luck it has. U.S. Air emerged from bankruptcy just over a year ago, so we'll see what kind of luck it has with this new plan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: I think it's about time for me to book a trip.
All right, Sasha, thank you very much.
SALAMA: Get out there.
NGUYEN: Oh, absolutely. I will, don't you worry.
Thank you.
Right now we want to go to Carol Costello live in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park for more on the journey of the torch -- hi there, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Can you believe this, Betty? We are so excited to be doing this right now.
We are live in Centennial Park in the heart of downtown Atlanta. And take a look. It looks beautiful out here. What a beautiful morning. Did you order this special, Chad?
MYERS: I did. I did, Carol.
COSTELLO: What a beautiful morning! The sun is coming up. We're going to be right back with much more, with our special Olympic coverage, right after this.
So you stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome back to DAYBREAK.
No, you are not seeing things. We are live in the heart of downtown Atlanta. We've moved across the street from our air conditioned digs to Centennial Olympic Park.
The Olympic Torch comes through Atlanta today. It is on a journey that started thousands of miles ago. The 2004 torch relay began June 4 in Sydney, Australia, the host city of the 2000 Summer Games. And today it heads here to Atlanta, the site of the 1996 Olympic Games.
Good morning to you.
I'm Carol Costello.
Chad Myers is out here in Centennial Park.
And what a gorgeous morning.
All week long we've been taking a closer look at the torch run through the world, because truly it's a global event. For the first time in Olympic history, it's drawn the world together. And I'm talking about the torch relay. And we're going to be talking much more about that with our special guest in a moment.
But first, I want to show you a map of where the torch has been.
On its way to Atlanta, the torch passed through Los Angeles and the gateway to the west, which would be, of course, St. Louis. It's all part of a four city tour of the United States.
St. Louis was the first U.S. city to host the modern era Olympics a century ago. St. Louis Mayor Frances Slay and his wife welcomed the flame back with a big party at the Gateway Arch. The torch run also ran past Washington University's Francis Field, site of the track and field events of the 1904 Games.
It will be here in Atlanta -- actually, the torch is still in St. Louis. It will land here in Atlanta at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on a special chartered plane.
With me now is Coca-Cola's David Brooks.
You've been sort of the keeper of the torch through all of this. And the torch will be on that plane and it is lit, right?
DAVID BROOKS, OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY DIRECTOR: That's correct. The plane is coming in at 10:00 this morning. The flame resides in a special lantern, specially developed by the Athens 2004 Committee, and sits, actually, in a special table in the first class compartment of the plane.
COSTELLO: Oh, it's in first class?
BROOKS: It is.
COSTELLO: That's nice, isn't it?
BROOKS: And it's the only passenger in first class today.
COSTELLO: So how do you keep a flame lit on an airplane?
BROOKS: Well, Carol, the Coca-Cola company, we're the sponsor of the torch relay. The organizers of Athens 2004 have a special lantern. It is similar to a miner's lantern, which is lit and tended at all times by a crew of security runners that have a special role as keepers of the flame. And they actually are up all the time watching the lantern, keeping it tended. And they're very strict about how they have managed the flame itself.
COSTELLO: Well, you told me before that only a certain -- only certain people can actually touch the torch.
BROOKS: That's right.
COSTELLO: Tell me about that.
BROOKS: Well, only representatives of Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, or the security runners that are appointed to have this role, are able to actually carry the lantern or use the special wicks that are used to light the torch at the beginning of the day. At the end of the day, when the cauldron at the celebration is extinguished, they take the flame again, put it back in the small lantern. That lantern goes back on the plane. But they're very, very strict about who can touch it. We're not allowed to touch it, of course.
COSTELLO: So you're not allowed to even touch the torch. You just have to watch it.
BROOKS: That's right. We just sponsor it and watch it. That's right.
COSTELLO: That is so crazy.
So when it's taken off the plane here in Atlanta, what happens?
BROOKS: It'll be brought this morning first from the plane down to a convoy of vehicles; convoyed to the Coca-Cola Company head office close to here. There's a special celebration planned and a special launch event. The Coca-Cola Company has 76 years of Olympic heritage and so we're going to be inviting a lot of our friends and customers to come down.
COSTELLO: You got Coca-Cola in there a lot, David. You're a Coca-Cola man.
BROOKS: A little bit, yes.
COSTELLO: I wanted to ask you, too, this is the first time that the torch has traveled around the globe.
Tell us why the people in Athens thought that was so very important this Olympics.
BROOKS: Sure. I think the return to Athens for the Olympic Games is the first time since 1896 that the Olympic Games have been back to Athens, Greece. Now, obviously Athens and Greece is the home of the Olympic Games, going back to 1500 B.C., 500 B.C., and it was very important for the Athens organizers to really remind the world of the origins of the Olympic Games, by taking the flame back to all of the cities of the modern Olympiad. So all of the cities that have hosted a modern Olympic Game, since 1896...
COSTELLO: Hence it's why it's in Atlanta, because Atlanta hosted the 1996 Games.
BROOKS: Hence Atlanta, yes.
COSTELLO: And this sort of was a way to draw the world together.
BROOKS: Yes.
COSTELLO: They really want -- you said a lot of people along the routes were the torch is being run, a lot of people are doing peace signs. They want world peace. And this is kind of part of that movement, as well.
BROOKS: That's right. I think the torch is one of the great unifying symbols of the world. It's a torch -- it's a symbol that doesn't have any political connotations. It's about the inspiration one has through sport, through performance, through unity, things that bring people together, the ideals of participation, fair play. And that, I think, resonates with everybody. I mean we've seen that in the streets of New Delhi. We've seen that in the townships of Capetown. We saw it on Copacabana Beach the other day in Rio de Janeiro. People have responded very positively to these relays.
COSTELLO: Oh, and I'm sure they'll respond positively here in Atlanta.
BROOKS: We think so.
COSTELLO: And, Chad, there couldn't be more perfect weather.
MYERS: Hey, look at this. Look what I've got for you.
COSTELLO: This is my -- part of my uniform.
MYERS: That is your uniform. There you go. And your little shorts. How nice.
COSTELLO: Beautiful.
MYERS: You get to run today. You get to run at 8:00 tonight, a little after 8:00 tonight.
COSTELLO: 8:41 p.m. I will carry my -- I will be part of the torch run here in Atlanta.
MYERS: Thanks for joining us.
BROOKS: Thank you much, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, David.
We appreciate it.
BROOKS: Good luck to you.
MYERS: Good thing we didn't bring Diet Pepsi down.
COSTELLO: I know. That would have been terrible.
MYERS: We both brought Diet Cokes down.
COSTELLO: I know.
MYERS: I think we did know.
Anyway, it's going to be a smoking hot one here today. I mean you can tell. You can tell this is the bead on our foreheads already.
COSTELLO: I know. My makeup is melting off.
MYERS: It is, really, the temperature today, this afternoon, when some folks are going to be running this thing, a heat index of around 99 degrees.
COSTELLO: Whoo!
MYERS: So, yes. So I was trying to stain my deck yesterday. I only got about half done. It has been to L.A., St. Louis, to Atlanta, then to New York and then to Montreal and then across the big pond to the other side. Atlanta today, though, isolated thunderstorms. Shouldn't have too many problems with thunderstorms until probably three, four or five o'clock. That's when they always pop up here in Atlanta. But the heat index is going to be the problem. It is going to be so very warm for those runners. It's a good thing, Carol, you only to run, what, a couple blocks?
COSTELLO: Yes, just a couple blocks. But I'm going to run it very slowly so I can hold the flame as long as I can.
MYERS: It's quite an honor. Such an awesome honor.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: We have a lot more to tell you about live from Centennial Park this morning. And, of course, live from around the world.
Did you ever hear of Michael Phelps? What about George Hinecape (ph)? They're rising stars in the Olympic world and we are going to introduce you to them.
Also ahead, you won't be the only one watching the Games this summer. What Athens is doing to stop terrorists before anything happens.
Live from Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for Friday, June 18.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: "Please bring him back to me." Those are words of desperation from the wife of an American being held hostage in Saudi Arabia.
It's Friday, June 18, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.
Carol Costello will join us just a little bit later. But here's a look at the headlines at this hour.
The search goes on in Saudi Arabia for American hostage Paul Johnson, Jr. His family pleads with Islamic militants for his release.
Johnson's kidnappers have threatened to execute him today.
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 18, 2004 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: A desperate plea from the wife of a U.S. hostage as his possible execution deadline approaches.
It is Friday, June 18 and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.
Carol Costello will join us a little bit later in the hour.
But first, here's a look at headlines at this hour.
The search for American hostage Paul Johnson has intensified. Today is the deadline set by the militant kidnappers. They're demanding the release of al Qaeda prisoners in Saudi Arabia. We'll have much more on this story in just a minute.
The death of a prisoner in Afghanistan has led to the indictment of a CIA contractor. David Passaro was working for the CIA when he allegedly beat a prisoner to death one year ago.
In money, Alan Greenspan is still golden. The Senate approved another term for the Fed chairman. It'll be his fifth term. He was first nominated for the post by President Reagan back in 1987.
In culture, Mel Gibson is number one. "Forbes" magazine put him at the top of its annual list of the world's most powerful celebrities. Jennifer Anniston was last year's number one, but now she's fallen to number 17.
In sports, a tough day for Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open. Tiger opened with a two over par 72 and sits six shots behind the leaders after the first round. Rain caused problems on the course, with 57 players unable to finish their first round.
So, would the rain be a problem again today?
Let's go with Chad Myers and see what he has to say -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It could be a little bit, Betty, yes. There could be a couple of showers, especially this morning, again, and then tonight. But if that's the bad round for Tiger, 72, you know, I'll trade him my game for his any day.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Well, the deadline for American hostage Paul Johnson's execution is some time today. Saudi Arabia has marshaled thousands of police, who are conducting a citywide search of Riyadh in a race against the clock to find him.
Johnson's Thai wife appealed for her husband's release in an interview broadcast today on Saudi owned satellite television.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THANOM JOHNSON, JOHNSON'S WIFE: I see his picture. I hurt so bad. I find out all the time about it when I saw a picture in the TV.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: In a video posted on an Islamic Web site Tuesday, his captors threatened to kill Johnson within 72 hours unless the Saudi government releases al Qaeda prisoners. The kidnappers did not indicate what time the countdown began or exactly when the deadline is.
Vice President Dick Cheney says the U.S. is also involved in this investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're working closely with the Saudis on this matter. We're -- our officials have been in touch with the Johnson family, as it should be. We do not, as a general proposition, believe it makes any sense to negotiate with hostage takers. All you do when you do that is put a price on the head of every other American out there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Johnson is a Lockheed Martin employee who has worked in Saudi Arabia for 10 years.
Caroline Faraj, editor for cnnarabic.com, is following the developments in Saudi Arabia.
She joins us by phone from Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Caroline, what is the latest on this search?
CAROLINE FARAJ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest, Betty, is we're just, you know, concluded a phone call with several people in Saudi Arabia, officials, as well as diplomats. They confirm that there is an intensive meetings taking place in Saudi Arabia between the American, as well as the Saudi, investigators. And they declined to give any more details about the outcome of this meeting.
However, we know that a lot of security people are spreading all over the kingdom, not only in Riyadh, where Mr. Johnson was kidnapped, and they're intensifying also their search and they're receiving so many phone calls and tips because they've invented a hot line that they receive information from people.
However, nothing is tangible yet; nothing is clear yet what will be the outcome of it. However, the deadline is not also clear, because it is known that it's the end of the day, but we can never tell when exactly is the end of the day -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Give us a little information about the chatter that we're seeing on the Islamic Web sites, because there are a lot of details being given there about how this is to be conducted.
FARAJ: Right. Well, indeed, just an hour and a half ago, several Web sites, Islamic Web sites that we usually monitor -- and we believe that they're linked to al Qaeda -- they published a so-called lesson, how to kidnap and what's kidnapping and who is the kidnappers and how to kidnap, etc., with all the details. It is part of a booklet that is -- that was printed and done earlier, about two months ago or a month ago -- last May, actually. And this lesson, they claim that it was written and prepared by al Qaeda coordinator in Saudi Arabia, Abdel Aziz al-Moqrin.
They give all the details and teachings for his followers how to follow these steps if they decided to do the kidnapping. Definitely, the timing is important because they only published it today, though it was prepared last May. So it might also indicate that, you know, this is something that is definitely related to the situation with Mr. Johnson -- Betty.
NGUYEN: Definitely disturbing, as the time is running out for Mr. Johnson.
All right, Caroline Faraj in Dubai this morning, thank you for your information.
For the first time, an American civilian is facing criminal charges related to the treatment of prisoners in the war on terror. David Passaro has been indicted on four federal charges. He is a former Army Ranger who was working for the CIA as an independent contractor in Afghanistan. The Justice Department says his interrogation of Afghan suspect Abdul Wali ended tragically.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ASHCROFT, ATTORNEY GENERAL: During these interrogations on June 19 and June 20, 2003, it is alleged that Passaro beat Wali repeatedly, using his hands and feet and a large flashlight. Wali died in a cell on Asadabad Base on June the 21st, 2003.
STEVE PASSARO, BROTHER: David, he had contacted me a few months ago and he said Steven, please, I need you to pray. I need you to pray. And I need you to pray like you've never prayed before, because there was something going on that was very big. And he said that there was something that was being hung on him, that he was innocent and that he was being prepared to take a fall for something that he had not done.
(END VIDEO CLIP) NGUYEN: An attorney for David Passaro says he's been in consultation with the government for months, but was stunned by yesterday's arrest.
Iraqi officials suspect insurgent leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is behind yesterday's bloody car bombing. That bombing left at least 35 people dead in Baghdad. Some 145 people outside an Iraqi Army recruitment center were also wounded in the attack. Most of the casualties were civilians on the street. No would be recruits were reportedly killed. A Pentagon official tells CNN Zarqawi may be hiding out in Fallujah. He says it's likely the militant leader is planning even more attacks as the June 30 transfer of power gets closer.
In Washington, the 9/11 Commission ends its public hearings, concluding that al Qaeda and Iraq did not cooperate in the 9/11 attacks. That conclusion ignites another dispute between the White House and the media.
Our Suzanne Malveaux has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 9/11 Commission says it has no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with the September 11 attacks. During a cabinet meeting, the president maintained that the administration never made that claim.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This administration never said that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated between Saddam and al Qaeda. We did say there were numerous contacts between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't disagree with that.
MALVEAUX: And while there is no disagreement regarding the September 11 terrorist attacks, the president and members of his administration continue to highlight what they call direct links between the group responsible for those attacks and Saddam Hussein.
BUSH: Well, the reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and Saddam and al Qaeda is because there was a relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda.
MALVEAUX: In the lead up to the war with Iraq, President Bush and his top aides cited numerous links between the two.
BUSH: There are al Qaeda terrorists inside Iraq. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and al Qaeda have met at least eight times since the early 1990s.
CHENEY: Providing safe haven and support for such terrorist groups as Abu Nidal and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He had long established ties with al Qaeda.
MALVEAUX: Some on the 9/11 Commission continue to charge that the president and senior administration officials may have overstated the relationship between Saddam Hussein and al Qaeda for political purposes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly some in the administration may have over played this to leave the implication that the intelligence services in Iraq participated or helped plan 9/11.
MALVEAUX: Bush critics and some political analysts go even further.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think the Bush administration could be convicted of lying in a court of law, but I think it deliberately politicked the issue to make its case for war in a way that was really not defensible based on the evidence.
MALVEAUX (on camera): Despite the evidence, a recent poll shows that close to 50 percent of Americans still believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with the 9/11 attacks.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Stories across America this Friday.
The police chief says it was a tragic day for Birmingham. Three police officers were shot to death yesterday when they went to a house in the Alabama city to arrest a man for a misdemeanor assault. Officers who later surrounded the house arrested that man and one other on suspicion of capital murder. A third person is also being questioned about those killings.
In Kansas, four people are dead following the crash of a small plane that was flying through a severe thunderstorm. Before the crash, the plane was seen flying about 40 feet above the ground. Winds reached 70 miles per hour during the storm.
Kobe Bryant's defense team has gained access to cell phone text messages sent by the alleged victim. Those messages were sent in the first few hours following her encounter with Bryant. The judge ruled the messages may be highly relevant in the trial.
Well, summer travelers still looking for a deal? Next, what one airline is doing to keep pace with the competition and how you can benefit. We have those details ahead.
And a little bit later, under investigation -- the latest move by Olympic track star Marion Jones to prove her innocence in the midst of a steroid scandal.
This is DAYBREAK for Friday, June 18.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: Your news, money, weather and sports.
Right now the time is 6:14 and here's what's all new this morning.
The execution deadline is some time today for American hostage Paul Johnson in Saudi Arabia. In a video aired on an Islamic Web site Tuesday, his captors said they would kill Johnson within 72 hours unless Saudi Arabia releases all al Qaeda prisoners.
In Washington State, a recovery operation on Mount Rainier. Rangers hope to get the body of a climber spotted at the 9,000 foot level. They also plan to search for another missing climber.
In money, Archer Daniels Midland will pay $400 million to settle a corn sweetener lawsuit. That suit claimed a company conspired to fix the price of high fructose corn syrup, which is used in a host of products, ranging from soft drinks to pasta sauces.
In culture, pop star Madonna is reinventing herself yet again. She's going from the material girl to Esther. That's right, Esther. Madonna says she has adopted the Hebrew name, in part, because she identifies with the biblical queen.
In sports, Florida Marlins backup question Matt Treanor was the hero with his game winning hit in the eleventh inning against the Chicago White Sox. He got a heroes' dessert as a reward.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Time now for a little business buzz.
Pressure from low cost rivals prompted U.S. Airways to cut fares just in time for summer travel.
Sasha Salama has the story from the NASDAQ market site in Times Square.
This is some good news.
SASHA SALAMA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Definitely, Betty, some good news if you're looking for some good travel deals this summer.
U.S. Airways is trying to stay competitive by basically transforming itself into a low cost carrier. Just a couple of days after the launch of an airline called Independence Air, out of Dulles in the D.C. area, U.S. Airways is saying it will now put a cap on one way flights and other flights out of Dulles International and Reagan National Airport.
So $499 is the most you would have to pay for a one way flight out of that area. That's down 63 percent from what you would have to pay before.
Now, the cheapest one way fare in the plan is $79 out of the D.C. area. That'll get you to Norfolk, the Carolinas, Florida and Missouri.
U.S. Airways is really the first big airline to try to transform itself into a low cost carrier and we will see what kind of luck it has. U.S. Air emerged from bankruptcy just over a year ago, so we'll see what kind of luck it has with this new plan -- Betty.
NGUYEN: I think it's about time for me to book a trip.
All right, Sasha, thank you very much.
SALAMA: Get out there.
NGUYEN: Oh, absolutely. I will, don't you worry.
Thank you.
Right now we want to go to Carol Costello live in Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park for more on the journey of the torch -- hi there, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Can you believe this, Betty? We are so excited to be doing this right now.
We are live in Centennial Park in the heart of downtown Atlanta. And take a look. It looks beautiful out here. What a beautiful morning. Did you order this special, Chad?
MYERS: I did. I did, Carol.
COSTELLO: What a beautiful morning! The sun is coming up. We're going to be right back with much more, with our special Olympic coverage, right after this.
So you stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome back to DAYBREAK.
No, you are not seeing things. We are live in the heart of downtown Atlanta. We've moved across the street from our air conditioned digs to Centennial Olympic Park.
The Olympic Torch comes through Atlanta today. It is on a journey that started thousands of miles ago. The 2004 torch relay began June 4 in Sydney, Australia, the host city of the 2000 Summer Games. And today it heads here to Atlanta, the site of the 1996 Olympic Games.
Good morning to you.
I'm Carol Costello.
Chad Myers is out here in Centennial Park.
And what a gorgeous morning.
All week long we've been taking a closer look at the torch run through the world, because truly it's a global event. For the first time in Olympic history, it's drawn the world together. And I'm talking about the torch relay. And we're going to be talking much more about that with our special guest in a moment.
But first, I want to show you a map of where the torch has been.
On its way to Atlanta, the torch passed through Los Angeles and the gateway to the west, which would be, of course, St. Louis. It's all part of a four city tour of the United States.
St. Louis was the first U.S. city to host the modern era Olympics a century ago. St. Louis Mayor Frances Slay and his wife welcomed the flame back with a big party at the Gateway Arch. The torch run also ran past Washington University's Francis Field, site of the track and field events of the 1904 Games.
It will be here in Atlanta -- actually, the torch is still in St. Louis. It will land here in Atlanta at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time on a special chartered plane.
With me now is Coca-Cola's David Brooks.
You've been sort of the keeper of the torch through all of this. And the torch will be on that plane and it is lit, right?
DAVID BROOKS, OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY DIRECTOR: That's correct. The plane is coming in at 10:00 this morning. The flame resides in a special lantern, specially developed by the Athens 2004 Committee, and sits, actually, in a special table in the first class compartment of the plane.
COSTELLO: Oh, it's in first class?
BROOKS: It is.
COSTELLO: That's nice, isn't it?
BROOKS: And it's the only passenger in first class today.
COSTELLO: So how do you keep a flame lit on an airplane?
BROOKS: Well, Carol, the Coca-Cola company, we're the sponsor of the torch relay. The organizers of Athens 2004 have a special lantern. It is similar to a miner's lantern, which is lit and tended at all times by a crew of security runners that have a special role as keepers of the flame. And they actually are up all the time watching the lantern, keeping it tended. And they're very strict about how they have managed the flame itself.
COSTELLO: Well, you told me before that only a certain -- only certain people can actually touch the torch.
BROOKS: That's right.
COSTELLO: Tell me about that.
BROOKS: Well, only representatives of Athens 2004 Organizing Committee, or the security runners that are appointed to have this role, are able to actually carry the lantern or use the special wicks that are used to light the torch at the beginning of the day. At the end of the day, when the cauldron at the celebration is extinguished, they take the flame again, put it back in the small lantern. That lantern goes back on the plane. But they're very, very strict about who can touch it. We're not allowed to touch it, of course.
COSTELLO: So you're not allowed to even touch the torch. You just have to watch it.
BROOKS: That's right. We just sponsor it and watch it. That's right.
COSTELLO: That is so crazy.
So when it's taken off the plane here in Atlanta, what happens?
BROOKS: It'll be brought this morning first from the plane down to a convoy of vehicles; convoyed to the Coca-Cola Company head office close to here. There's a special celebration planned and a special launch event. The Coca-Cola Company has 76 years of Olympic heritage and so we're going to be inviting a lot of our friends and customers to come down.
COSTELLO: You got Coca-Cola in there a lot, David. You're a Coca-Cola man.
BROOKS: A little bit, yes.
COSTELLO: I wanted to ask you, too, this is the first time that the torch has traveled around the globe.
Tell us why the people in Athens thought that was so very important this Olympics.
BROOKS: Sure. I think the return to Athens for the Olympic Games is the first time since 1896 that the Olympic Games have been back to Athens, Greece. Now, obviously Athens and Greece is the home of the Olympic Games, going back to 1500 B.C., 500 B.C., and it was very important for the Athens organizers to really remind the world of the origins of the Olympic Games, by taking the flame back to all of the cities of the modern Olympiad. So all of the cities that have hosted a modern Olympic Game, since 1896...
COSTELLO: Hence it's why it's in Atlanta, because Atlanta hosted the 1996 Games.
BROOKS: Hence Atlanta, yes.
COSTELLO: And this sort of was a way to draw the world together.
BROOKS: Yes.
COSTELLO: They really want -- you said a lot of people along the routes were the torch is being run, a lot of people are doing peace signs. They want world peace. And this is kind of part of that movement, as well.
BROOKS: That's right. I think the torch is one of the great unifying symbols of the world. It's a torch -- it's a symbol that doesn't have any political connotations. It's about the inspiration one has through sport, through performance, through unity, things that bring people together, the ideals of participation, fair play. And that, I think, resonates with everybody. I mean we've seen that in the streets of New Delhi. We've seen that in the townships of Capetown. We saw it on Copacabana Beach the other day in Rio de Janeiro. People have responded very positively to these relays.
COSTELLO: Oh, and I'm sure they'll respond positively here in Atlanta.
BROOKS: We think so.
COSTELLO: And, Chad, there couldn't be more perfect weather.
MYERS: Hey, look at this. Look what I've got for you.
COSTELLO: This is my -- part of my uniform.
MYERS: That is your uniform. There you go. And your little shorts. How nice.
COSTELLO: Beautiful.
MYERS: You get to run today. You get to run at 8:00 tonight, a little after 8:00 tonight.
COSTELLO: 8:41 p.m. I will carry my -- I will be part of the torch run here in Atlanta.
MYERS: Thanks for joining us.
BROOKS: Thank you much, Chad.
MYERS: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Thank you, David.
We appreciate it.
BROOKS: Good luck to you.
MYERS: Good thing we didn't bring Diet Pepsi down.
COSTELLO: I know. That would have been terrible.
MYERS: We both brought Diet Cokes down.
COSTELLO: I know.
MYERS: I think we did know.
Anyway, it's going to be a smoking hot one here today. I mean you can tell. You can tell this is the bead on our foreheads already.
COSTELLO: I know. My makeup is melting off.
MYERS: It is, really, the temperature today, this afternoon, when some folks are going to be running this thing, a heat index of around 99 degrees.
COSTELLO: Whoo!
MYERS: So, yes. So I was trying to stain my deck yesterday. I only got about half done. It has been to L.A., St. Louis, to Atlanta, then to New York and then to Montreal and then across the big pond to the other side. Atlanta today, though, isolated thunderstorms. Shouldn't have too many problems with thunderstorms until probably three, four or five o'clock. That's when they always pop up here in Atlanta. But the heat index is going to be the problem. It is going to be so very warm for those runners. It's a good thing, Carol, you only to run, what, a couple blocks?
COSTELLO: Yes, just a couple blocks. But I'm going to run it very slowly so I can hold the flame as long as I can.
MYERS: It's quite an honor. Such an awesome honor.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: We have a lot more to tell you about live from Centennial Park this morning. And, of course, live from around the world.
Did you ever hear of Michael Phelps? What about George Hinecape (ph)? They're rising stars in the Olympic world and we are going to introduce you to them.
Also ahead, you won't be the only one watching the Games this summer. What Athens is doing to stop terrorists before anything happens.
Live from Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for Friday, June 18.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: "Please bring him back to me." Those are words of desperation from the wife of an American being held hostage in Saudi Arabia.
It's Friday, June 18, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen.
Carol Costello will join us just a little bit later. But here's a look at the headlines at this hour.
The search goes on in Saudi Arabia for American hostage Paul Johnson, Jr. His family pleads with Islamic militants for his release.
Johnson's kidnappers have threatened to execute him today.
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