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CNN Live At Daybreak
Multiple Attacks Rock Iraqi Cities
Aired June 24, 2004 - 05:00 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: In Iraq, multiple attacks, multiple cities, many deaths.
It is Thursday, June 24. 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, because there is a lot happening this morning.
Insurgents have launched a series of coordinated attacks against targets in several Iraqi cities. This has been going on for several hours now. More than 20 people are dead, including three American soldiers.
An explosion at a hotel in Ankara, Turkey. A small bomb went off near the hotel, which is the likely stopping point for President Bush's trip to Turkey this weekend. One police officer was wounded.
Eight British troops who were being held in Iran are now in the custody of British officials. The six Marines and two sailors had been detained since crossing into Iranian waters on Monday.
In money news, spammer or slammer? Two men, including one AOL employee, were arrested for allegedly stealing and selling AOL screen names - 92 million screen names. The list was sold to e-mail spammers.
In culture, President Bush honored 13 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the recipients, Arnold Palmer, Rita Moreno and Pope John Paul II.
In sports, the annual NBA draft takes place tonight. The Orlando Magic has the first pick and is expected to choose either high school phenom Dwight Howard or University of Connecticut star Emeka Okafor - Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
Some rain here in Houston. An awful lot of it in some spots. KPRC our affiliate out there in Houston. Some spots picking up about three inches. But the problem is, in the past seven days, Houston and vicinity has picked up between seven and 10 inches of rain. It just keeps raining almost everyday. And in fact, if we go to the maps, you can see the flood watches and the flood warnings from Houston right on down through Freeport, even to Galveston Island. All the green still flood watches this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Breaking news to tell you about this morning. Insurgents are on the attack in several Iraqi cities. U.S. troops are fighting back, and the death toll is rising.
We're told three U.S. soldiers are dead and an unknown number of Iraqis have been killed.
Brent Sadler has the latest for you from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Insurgents have launched a series of attacks against major cities to then north, west and northeast of the capital, Baghdad.
In Mosul, to the north, series of explosions targeted the police station in that city. One U.S. soldier was killed in one of the blasts. Eyewitness reports say in one instance, a series of four simultaneous explosions went off.
To the northeast of the capital, Baghdad, in Baqubah, that's seen some of the heaviest fighting, involving U.S. forces and Iraqi security forces. Again, it was the police station in Baqubah that was targeted. Fierce clashes between the two sides, and the police station and vehicles badly damaged.
In Ramadi, to the west of Baghdad, again, similar attacks against the police station. Insurgents, well armed, attacking the security forces just a week before the handover of sovereignty to a new, transitional Iraqi government.
Now what does this mean? As far U.S. military officials are concerned, it means that the insurgents have, on this day, been able to put together a somewhat sophisticated and - quote - "coordinated level of attack on multi-fronts."
Now, at the same time, in parallel to those attacks on the police stations, there's been further hostilities in the hotbed city of Fallujah. Now in Fallujah, the U.S. military deployed an airstrike, an F-16, dropped three 500-pound precision-guided bombs, aimed at a pocket of what's said to be well-armed insurgents close to the soccer stadium in Fallujah. U.S. forces involved in clashes with insurgents. Again, the police also involved.
Now what this points to is a sustained attempt to seriously shake the run-up to the restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqis themselves. It is the police that bore the brunt of many of the attacks over recent months. But this is the first time we've seen this level of attack on so many fronts, more or less in the same window of opportunity. And again, once again, it is Iraqi civilians and Iraqi security services who have suffered the most of the casualties, who have lost the most blood on this deadly day.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And, of course, this just six days until the transfer of power in Iraq. We want to talk more about that, and try to get the death toll straight, because the numbers have been changing all morning long.
To help us do that, our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us.
So first of all, let's - let's go through the numbers.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, well, they are not yet entirely clear. We have confirmed the death of three U.S. soldiers. Brent was reporting that. Two in Baqubah, and one elsewhere. We're getting the details of all of those on the American side.
On the Iraqi side, far from clear. It is dozens. We've got reports in Mosul alone now that go up as high as 50 dead in Mosul. We've had multiple explosions in that city.
Now the scary thing, if you're talking about a day in which three U.S. soldiers have been killed and a day in which 50 or more Iraqis have been killed, there's nothing unprecedented about that. We can't see unprecedented about anything that happens in Iraq. We've seen this before. But as you say, in the lead-up to the handover, it is an added significance, with only six days to go.
Of course, you know that feeling of you know something bad is going to happen. It doesn't make it any easier when it does happen. We've been told by the U.S. military, by the U.S. government, that these attacks will get worse, and they are getting worse. The things that are lying there, underneath the surface of the violence, are exactly what Brent was talking about: coordination. We are being told by the U.S. in Iraq today that they perceive in today's attacks so far that there is a degree of coordination going on.
COSTELLO: And that is because there were three car bombings in three different cities and they went off basically at the same time.
CLINCH: Correct, and attacks on police stations in multiple cities.
Another thing that is frightening for the U.S. forces at this point is that in certain parts of Iraq at the moment, in these towns, Ramadi, Baqubah and Fallujah, it is the insurgents that are in charge of those cities right now, or at least sections of them.
Now, U.S. military, of course, will say that they have patrols out, that they are in control of the parts of the city where they are. That is true. But what we are hearing today and what our people on the ground are seeing, is that at least in sections of those cities, people are staying at home and the only people in the street are insurgents.
COSTELLO: We have a short comment from General Mark Kimmit. He says, "These latest attacks are coordinated." But he says, "the coalition forces feel confident with the situation." But he does admit, "the level of attacks is unusual, possibly signaling a push to torpedo next week's transfer of power."
And I want to talk about that a little bit because it's kind of murky right now as to who will be totally in charge of security after that transfer of power.
CLINCH: Right.
It boils down to a very simple fact - the U.S. military has acknowledged this - the Iraqi security forces are not yet ready to take over the security of Iraq. Not even to anything more than they are doing right now, a very small role that the play controlling certain parts of the city.
But if we look again at this fact: Fallujah, a deal was done. The U.S. Marines pulled out, Iraqi forces - quote - "took over security." At the moment, the version of events that we're being told by the U.S. military themselves is that large sections of that city are in the control of insurgents and - quote - "Taliban-like" police forces.
So...
COSTELLO: Well, and you've got to wonder too about this martial- law idea.
CLINCH: Right.
COSTELLO: Because you've heard the - the interim prime minister say that, Hey, we might have to impose martial law. And maybe it's time.
CLINCH: It could be. I mean, this is something that nobody really wants to talk about. After all of this time, and the build-up to the handover to be reduced to the idea of martial law.
But let's be clear: the U.S. military is absolutely certain that it can contain this. We've seen them contain it in Fallujah. We saw them contain it in Najaf. But containment and somehow winning the battle militarily are two different things, and there's the acknowledgment that they cannot. So the long-term goal, of course, is to get Iraqis controlling their own security. And, as you said, the most important point right now is that after this handover, it will be the U.S. military on the ground and in the air that is the final stop for security in Iraq for the time being.
COSTELLO: David, we'll let you gather more information for us. Thank you very much.
Just two days before President Bush's trip to Turkey, a bomb explodes in front of a Hilton hotel in Ankara. That's where the president had been expected to say. This happened - what - what, David? The explosion in Turkey? Just about...
CLINCH: Within the last two hours.
COSTELLO: Within the last two hours.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us from Ankara, on the phone. He has the latest details for us.
How did this happen, Alphonso? These hotels are supposed to be really secure weeks before somebody like President Bush comes to the country.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's true. Turkish officials have been very keen to let the world know that they have been working really, really hard to make this country secure ahead of the NATO summit next week.
Forty-six world leaders are expected to come here. And as you mentioned, it's expected that U.S. President George W. Bush will stay at this Hilton hotel. Less than 100 meters, just a couple of hundred feet away from the hotel, about an hour, hour and a half ago, an explosion. We haven't heard any official word yet, but police officers on the ground - I'm just meters away from the hotel right now - they tell me that the injured - that there were two injured, one police officer may have actually lost some of his leg, and a second person that was nearby may have been injured.
I'm looking right now at windows that have been shattered. I see police tape. There are investigators in white jumpsuits taking a look at the scene. It seems that what police officers are telling us on the ground is that there was a suspicious package just a couple of hundred feet from the hotel. Police were called in. They approached it, may have touched it, and that's when it went off.
COSTELLO: Well, Alphonso, do we know if any special kind of security measures were in place?
VAN MARSH: Turkish officials have been kind of tight-lipped about specific security measures. But over the last two or three weeks, they have been assuring the public, assuring journalists that have been coming in for this NATO summit, that they have done everything they possibly can. They've been working with NATO; they've been working with other security services from other nations to secure the country ahead of the NATO summit.
So this comes as a major surprise, and I would say a major embarrassment to Turkey, because they have done so much to try to prepare, to keep this area safe. And here we are just a few hundred meters from where U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to stay, a bomb blast goes off.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: In just two days, Alphonso. So what can the Turkish government tell these NATO leaders coming into their country about how safe they will be?
VAN MARSH: Well, that's a good question. I actually sat down with Istanbul's mayor just a few days ago and asked him about, you know - we've seen over the past couple of weeks a series of small and, until now, relatively harmless explosions. For example, just two days ago there was an anti-NATO banner hanging, and attached to that was a small plastic bag in Istanbul. Bomb experts were called in, and the bomb expert actually pulled at the bag until it blew up.
Now, fortunately, he was only slightly injured. But some are wondering at just how prepared is Turkey to host this major summit? Like you said, just 48 hours before the U.S. president is coming here, an explosion literally a stone's throw from the hotel window.
COSTELLO: We'll get back to you in the hours to come. Alphonso Van Marsh reporting live by phone from Ankara, Turkey.
Not a major comment really, just a slip of the tongue. But it is enough to get Juror No. 5 bounced from the Scott Peterson murder trial.
After a brief snag, it's freedom day for some British troops detained in Iran. Matthew Chance will have more on that live for you from London.
And the U.S. offers a plan for North Korea to halt its nuclear activities. But it won't come cheap. Mike Chinoy will be live from the multi-national talks in Beijing.
And every year, millions of women get a pap test even though they don't need it. Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen will have more for you on that.
This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday (sic).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Does this sound familiar? Several investigations have been launched into the videotaped beating of a suspect by Los Angeles police. On the tape, the suspect appears to surrender after being chased down by police. You see one of the officers jumping on the suspect. Now that chase began after the suspect allegedly stole a car. The incident comes just one week after the LAPD insisted that reforms had been in place after a critical civil rights review.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: I want the kind of investigation that leaves no stone unturned, does not pull any punches, but gets to the bottom of this and ensures the community and assures the community that LAPD will not tolerate unlawful use of force in any situation here in the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Difficult to see there, but supposedly the police officer was hitting the suspect with a flashlight, hit him as many as 11 times. The FBI has also launched its own investigation into the incident. The LAPD will hold a news conference later today to address the actions by officers.
Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson trial says he feels Peterson is innocent and that the prosecution is doing a poor job on the case. But his opinions don't carry much weight because he's been bumped from the jury.
CNN's Ted Rowlands tells us what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Justin Falconer says while he doesn't think he did anything wrong, he understands why the judge removed him as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson double- murder trial.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: He regretted having to let me go, but because of the attention that I was getting, he didn't - he felt like it was too much of a distraction.
ROWLANDS: Much of the attention was centered around this exchange between Falconer and Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, as they entered the courthouse last week.
FALCONER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ROWLANDS: Falconer, a 28-year-old security guard and airport screener, says he believes that media reports on what happened between he and Rocha led to his dismissal. Others think there's more to it.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: It's much more than that, because that was past. That was gone. This trial would have moved on had something else not have happened.
ROWLANDS: As for the case against Scott Peterson, Falconer says he has a lot of respect for the defense attorney, but had trouble following the prosecution.
FALCONER: It was difficult for me to follow what was - you know, what did he want us to think here? What did he want us to think there?
ROWLANDS (on camera): Following Falconer's dismissal as a juror, Scott Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for a mistrial. That request was denied, and alternate No. 1 took over as Juror No. 5. He is a middle-aged male with a degree in both law and medicine.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:18 Eastern. Here's what's all-new this morning.
Near-simultaneous insurgent attacks in several Iraqi cities, Baghdad, Baqubah, Mosul and Ramadi among them. Three U.S. soldiers have been killed. Heavy fighting is reported between U.S. troops and insurgents in Fallujah.
Day two of the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program. The U.S. is offering the North Koreans a package of energy help and security guarantees if it will end its nuclear weapons program.
In money news, AT&T, the biggest U.S. long-distance carriers says it will stop seeking new local and long-distance customers in seven states. The firm cites a recent ruling by a federal appeals court.
In culture, six rabbis in California have sent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter. They're objecting to a proposal to put special identifiers on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
In sports, the Tampa Bay Devil Ray's winning streak stopped at an even dozen last night when Toronto beat them 2 to 1. It was Tampa Bay's first loss since June 8. But boy, they had a good run - Chad.
MYERS: They did, and they only - they only gave up 2 runs. They just couldn't get any offense going.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.
Coming up next on DAYBREAK, thousands will proudly represent their country in the Summer Olympic Games. But surprisingly, American athletes are heading to Athens with uniforms not made in the USA. What's up with that? We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The Summer Olympic Games begin in Athens in less than two months. But listen to this: U.S. athletes will be wearing uniforms that were not made in the USA.
CNN's Peter Viles tells you why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It doesn't get much more patriotic than this -- the flag, the anthem, American athletes at the Olympic village wearing those Canadian uniforms made in China.
What? Well, that's right. At the opening ceremonies in Athens, our Olympic athletes will wear a Canadian brand, Roots, clothing made in China. And on the medal stand, if they win, a German brand, Adidas, which makes apparel in Malaysia and Vietnam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From a patriotic standpoint, I don't think that's too cool. It's like the U.S. Air Force or the Army saying, yes, let's buy, you know, Chinese-made products and put our troops in that versus having American people make them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I totally see stuff wrong for that. I think that American products should be made right here in America, especially when you're representing us worldwide.
VILES: The United States Olympic Committee says it prefers American brands, and, in competition, many U.S. athletes will wear American brands. But the committee also looks for merchandise that will sell, to raise money to fund Olympic training.
And, right now, Canada-based Roots is a hot brand. Its berets were the toast of Salt Lake City two years ago, and it has new berets designed for Athens.
JIM GRICE, U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Given that we have a preference for U.S. Olympic companies, we also need to consider that our athletes have a huge impact on what we do, and, simply put, they love the Roots product.
VILES: American companies have made Olympic uniforms in the past -- notably, Reebok, Levi's and Champion. But licensing contracts are risky. The apparel company typically guarantees a certain dollar amount of royalties to the Olympic Committee and then is on its own to sell enough Olympic gear to cover that.
Peter Viles, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Coming up in the next half hour, chaos across Iraq this morning. A series of attack rock the Sunni Triangle this morning, and coalition forces clash with insurgents. The death toll keeps going up.
Also this morning, a dramatic three-day stand-off is over, as British troops detained in Iran finally get their freedom. We'll take you live to London for the latest.
This DAYBREAK for Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Coordinated attacks in several Iraqi cities leave a toll of death and destruction that's keeps getting worse this morning.
It is Thursday, June 24. 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 right now.
Insurgents have launched coordinated attacks in five Iraqi cities: Fallujah, Ramadi, Baqubah, Mosul and Baghdad. Fighting with U.S. troops is intense this morning. Three American soldiers are dead, and there are dozens of Iraqi casualties. We're going to have a live report for you out of Baghdad in just about two minutes.
Also been an attack in Turkey this morning. A small bomb explodes near a hotel in Ankara where President Bush is expected to stay this weekend when he goes there for the NATO summit. One police officer lost his leg in that blast.
It's deja vu all over again in Los Angeles. Police officers are videotaped allegedly beating a suspect after it looked like he was surrendering. L.A. police, the FBI and the district attorney's office all investigating.
In money news, an accounting firm is calling on U.S. drugmakers to stop charging so much for medications. Ernst & Young says federal price controls may be the only way to stop spiraling drug costs.
In culture, Mickey Mouse is celebrating his 75th birthday with some new Disney-themed postage stamps. Four hundred stamps honoring friendship feature Bambi and Thumper, "The Lion King," Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket, and of course, Mickey and the rest of his gang.
In sports, tennis players at Wimbledon are hoping to hit the lawn today after getting washed out again by heavy rains. Organizers in London are scrambling to get matches back on schedule after three days of constant rain - Chad.
MYERS: Is that - is that the London wave?
COSTELLO: Yes. That's the Wimbledon version.
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Aired June 24, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Iraq, multiple attacks, multiple cities, many deaths.
It is Thursday, June 24. 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, because there is a lot happening this morning.
Insurgents have launched a series of coordinated attacks against targets in several Iraqi cities. This has been going on for several hours now. More than 20 people are dead, including three American soldiers.
An explosion at a hotel in Ankara, Turkey. A small bomb went off near the hotel, which is the likely stopping point for President Bush's trip to Turkey this weekend. One police officer was wounded.
Eight British troops who were being held in Iran are now in the custody of British officials. The six Marines and two sailors had been detained since crossing into Iranian waters on Monday.
In money news, spammer or slammer? Two men, including one AOL employee, were arrested for allegedly stealing and selling AOL screen names - 92 million screen names. The list was sold to e-mail spammers.
In culture, President Bush honored 13 individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among the recipients, Arnold Palmer, Rita Moreno and Pope John Paul II.
In sports, the annual NBA draft takes place tonight. The Orlando Magic has the first pick and is expected to choose either high school phenom Dwight Howard or University of Connecticut star Emeka Okafor - Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
Some rain here in Houston. An awful lot of it in some spots. KPRC our affiliate out there in Houston. Some spots picking up about three inches. But the problem is, in the past seven days, Houston and vicinity has picked up between seven and 10 inches of rain. It just keeps raining almost everyday. And in fact, if we go to the maps, you can see the flood watches and the flood warnings from Houston right on down through Freeport, even to Galveston Island. All the green still flood watches this morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Breaking news to tell you about this morning. Insurgents are on the attack in several Iraqi cities. U.S. troops are fighting back, and the death toll is rising.
We're told three U.S. soldiers are dead and an unknown number of Iraqis have been killed.
Brent Sadler has the latest for you from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Insurgents have launched a series of attacks against major cities to then north, west and northeast of the capital, Baghdad.
In Mosul, to the north, series of explosions targeted the police station in that city. One U.S. soldier was killed in one of the blasts. Eyewitness reports say in one instance, a series of four simultaneous explosions went off.
To the northeast of the capital, Baghdad, in Baqubah, that's seen some of the heaviest fighting, involving U.S. forces and Iraqi security forces. Again, it was the police station in Baqubah that was targeted. Fierce clashes between the two sides, and the police station and vehicles badly damaged.
In Ramadi, to the west of Baghdad, again, similar attacks against the police station. Insurgents, well armed, attacking the security forces just a week before the handover of sovereignty to a new, transitional Iraqi government.
Now what does this mean? As far U.S. military officials are concerned, it means that the insurgents have, on this day, been able to put together a somewhat sophisticated and - quote - "coordinated level of attack on multi-fronts."
Now, at the same time, in parallel to those attacks on the police stations, there's been further hostilities in the hotbed city of Fallujah. Now in Fallujah, the U.S. military deployed an airstrike, an F-16, dropped three 500-pound precision-guided bombs, aimed at a pocket of what's said to be well-armed insurgents close to the soccer stadium in Fallujah. U.S. forces involved in clashes with insurgents. Again, the police also involved.
Now what this points to is a sustained attempt to seriously shake the run-up to the restoration of sovereignty to the Iraqis themselves. It is the police that bore the brunt of many of the attacks over recent months. But this is the first time we've seen this level of attack on so many fronts, more or less in the same window of opportunity. And again, once again, it is Iraqi civilians and Iraqi security services who have suffered the most of the casualties, who have lost the most blood on this deadly day.
Brent Sadler, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And, of course, this just six days until the transfer of power in Iraq. We want to talk more about that, and try to get the death toll straight, because the numbers have been changing all morning long.
To help us do that, our senior international editor, David Clinch, joins us.
So first of all, let's - let's go through the numbers.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes, well, they are not yet entirely clear. We have confirmed the death of three U.S. soldiers. Brent was reporting that. Two in Baqubah, and one elsewhere. We're getting the details of all of those on the American side.
On the Iraqi side, far from clear. It is dozens. We've got reports in Mosul alone now that go up as high as 50 dead in Mosul. We've had multiple explosions in that city.
Now the scary thing, if you're talking about a day in which three U.S. soldiers have been killed and a day in which 50 or more Iraqis have been killed, there's nothing unprecedented about that. We can't see unprecedented about anything that happens in Iraq. We've seen this before. But as you say, in the lead-up to the handover, it is an added significance, with only six days to go.
Of course, you know that feeling of you know something bad is going to happen. It doesn't make it any easier when it does happen. We've been told by the U.S. military, by the U.S. government, that these attacks will get worse, and they are getting worse. The things that are lying there, underneath the surface of the violence, are exactly what Brent was talking about: coordination. We are being told by the U.S. in Iraq today that they perceive in today's attacks so far that there is a degree of coordination going on.
COSTELLO: And that is because there were three car bombings in three different cities and they went off basically at the same time.
CLINCH: Correct, and attacks on police stations in multiple cities.
Another thing that is frightening for the U.S. forces at this point is that in certain parts of Iraq at the moment, in these towns, Ramadi, Baqubah and Fallujah, it is the insurgents that are in charge of those cities right now, or at least sections of them.
Now, U.S. military, of course, will say that they have patrols out, that they are in control of the parts of the city where they are. That is true. But what we are hearing today and what our people on the ground are seeing, is that at least in sections of those cities, people are staying at home and the only people in the street are insurgents.
COSTELLO: We have a short comment from General Mark Kimmit. He says, "These latest attacks are coordinated." But he says, "the coalition forces feel confident with the situation." But he does admit, "the level of attacks is unusual, possibly signaling a push to torpedo next week's transfer of power."
And I want to talk about that a little bit because it's kind of murky right now as to who will be totally in charge of security after that transfer of power.
CLINCH: Right.
It boils down to a very simple fact - the U.S. military has acknowledged this - the Iraqi security forces are not yet ready to take over the security of Iraq. Not even to anything more than they are doing right now, a very small role that the play controlling certain parts of the city.
But if we look again at this fact: Fallujah, a deal was done. The U.S. Marines pulled out, Iraqi forces - quote - "took over security." At the moment, the version of events that we're being told by the U.S. military themselves is that large sections of that city are in the control of insurgents and - quote - "Taliban-like" police forces.
So...
COSTELLO: Well, and you've got to wonder too about this martial- law idea.
CLINCH: Right.
COSTELLO: Because you've heard the - the interim prime minister say that, Hey, we might have to impose martial law. And maybe it's time.
CLINCH: It could be. I mean, this is something that nobody really wants to talk about. After all of this time, and the build-up to the handover to be reduced to the idea of martial law.
But let's be clear: the U.S. military is absolutely certain that it can contain this. We've seen them contain it in Fallujah. We saw them contain it in Najaf. But containment and somehow winning the battle militarily are two different things, and there's the acknowledgment that they cannot. So the long-term goal, of course, is to get Iraqis controlling their own security. And, as you said, the most important point right now is that after this handover, it will be the U.S. military on the ground and in the air that is the final stop for security in Iraq for the time being.
COSTELLO: David, we'll let you gather more information for us. Thank you very much.
Just two days before President Bush's trip to Turkey, a bomb explodes in front of a Hilton hotel in Ankara. That's where the president had been expected to say. This happened - what - what, David? The explosion in Turkey? Just about...
CLINCH: Within the last two hours.
COSTELLO: Within the last two hours.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh joins us from Ankara, on the phone. He has the latest details for us.
How did this happen, Alphonso? These hotels are supposed to be really secure weeks before somebody like President Bush comes to the country.
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's true. Turkish officials have been very keen to let the world know that they have been working really, really hard to make this country secure ahead of the NATO summit next week.
Forty-six world leaders are expected to come here. And as you mentioned, it's expected that U.S. President George W. Bush will stay at this Hilton hotel. Less than 100 meters, just a couple of hundred feet away from the hotel, about an hour, hour and a half ago, an explosion. We haven't heard any official word yet, but police officers on the ground - I'm just meters away from the hotel right now - they tell me that the injured - that there were two injured, one police officer may have actually lost some of his leg, and a second person that was nearby may have been injured.
I'm looking right now at windows that have been shattered. I see police tape. There are investigators in white jumpsuits taking a look at the scene. It seems that what police officers are telling us on the ground is that there was a suspicious package just a couple of hundred feet from the hotel. Police were called in. They approached it, may have touched it, and that's when it went off.
COSTELLO: Well, Alphonso, do we know if any special kind of security measures were in place?
VAN MARSH: Turkish officials have been kind of tight-lipped about specific security measures. But over the last two or three weeks, they have been assuring the public, assuring journalists that have been coming in for this NATO summit, that they have done everything they possibly can. They've been working with NATO; they've been working with other security services from other nations to secure the country ahead of the NATO summit.
So this comes as a major surprise, and I would say a major embarrassment to Turkey, because they have done so much to try to prepare, to keep this area safe. And here we are just a few hundred meters from where U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to stay, a bomb blast goes off.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: In just two days, Alphonso. So what can the Turkish government tell these NATO leaders coming into their country about how safe they will be?
VAN MARSH: Well, that's a good question. I actually sat down with Istanbul's mayor just a few days ago and asked him about, you know - we've seen over the past couple of weeks a series of small and, until now, relatively harmless explosions. For example, just two days ago there was an anti-NATO banner hanging, and attached to that was a small plastic bag in Istanbul. Bomb experts were called in, and the bomb expert actually pulled at the bag until it blew up.
Now, fortunately, he was only slightly injured. But some are wondering at just how prepared is Turkey to host this major summit? Like you said, just 48 hours before the U.S. president is coming here, an explosion literally a stone's throw from the hotel window.
COSTELLO: We'll get back to you in the hours to come. Alphonso Van Marsh reporting live by phone from Ankara, Turkey.
Not a major comment really, just a slip of the tongue. But it is enough to get Juror No. 5 bounced from the Scott Peterson murder trial.
After a brief snag, it's freedom day for some British troops detained in Iran. Matthew Chance will have more on that live for you from London.
And the U.S. offers a plan for North Korea to halt its nuclear activities. But it won't come cheap. Mike Chinoy will be live from the multi-national talks in Beijing.
And every year, millions of women get a pap test even though they don't need it. Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen will have more for you on that.
This is DAYBREAK for a Wednesday (sic).
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Does this sound familiar? Several investigations have been launched into the videotaped beating of a suspect by Los Angeles police. On the tape, the suspect appears to surrender after being chased down by police. You see one of the officers jumping on the suspect. Now that chase began after the suspect allegedly stole a car. The incident comes just one week after the LAPD insisted that reforms had been in place after a critical civil rights review.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR JAMES HAHN, LOS ANGELES: I want the kind of investigation that leaves no stone unturned, does not pull any punches, but gets to the bottom of this and ensures the community and assures the community that LAPD will not tolerate unlawful use of force in any situation here in the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Difficult to see there, but supposedly the police officer was hitting the suspect with a flashlight, hit him as many as 11 times. The FBI has also launched its own investigation into the incident. The LAPD will hold a news conference later today to address the actions by officers.
Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson trial says he feels Peterson is innocent and that the prosecution is doing a poor job on the case. But his opinions don't carry much weight because he's been bumped from the jury.
CNN's Ted Rowlands tells us what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Justin Falconer says while he doesn't think he did anything wrong, he understands why the judge removed him as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson double- murder trial.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: He regretted having to let me go, but because of the attention that I was getting, he didn't - he felt like it was too much of a distraction.
ROWLANDS: Much of the attention was centered around this exchange between Falconer and Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, as they entered the courthouse last week.
FALCONER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ROWLANDS: Falconer, a 28-year-old security guard and airport screener, says he believes that media reports on what happened between he and Rocha led to his dismissal. Others think there's more to it.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: It's much more than that, because that was past. That was gone. This trial would have moved on had something else not have happened.
ROWLANDS: As for the case against Scott Peterson, Falconer says he has a lot of respect for the defense attorney, but had trouble following the prosecution.
FALCONER: It was difficult for me to follow what was - you know, what did he want us to think here? What did he want us to think there?
ROWLANDS (on camera): Following Falconer's dismissal as a juror, Scott Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for a mistrial. That request was denied, and alternate No. 1 took over as Juror No. 5. He is a middle-aged male with a degree in both law and medicine.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:18 Eastern. Here's what's all-new this morning.
Near-simultaneous insurgent attacks in several Iraqi cities, Baghdad, Baqubah, Mosul and Ramadi among them. Three U.S. soldiers have been killed. Heavy fighting is reported between U.S. troops and insurgents in Fallujah.
Day two of the six-nation talks on North Korea's nuclear program. The U.S. is offering the North Koreans a package of energy help and security guarantees if it will end its nuclear weapons program.
In money news, AT&T, the biggest U.S. long-distance carriers says it will stop seeking new local and long-distance customers in seven states. The firm cites a recent ruling by a federal appeals court.
In culture, six rabbis in California have sent Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter. They're objecting to a proposal to put special identifiers on driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.
In sports, the Tampa Bay Devil Ray's winning streak stopped at an even dozen last night when Toronto beat them 2 to 1. It was Tampa Bay's first loss since June 8. But boy, they had a good run - Chad.
MYERS: They did, and they only - they only gave up 2 runs. They just couldn't get any offense going.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.
Coming up next on DAYBREAK, thousands will proudly represent their country in the Summer Olympic Games. But surprisingly, American athletes are heading to Athens with uniforms not made in the USA. What's up with that? We'll explain.
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COSTELLO: The Summer Olympic Games begin in Athens in less than two months. But listen to this: U.S. athletes will be wearing uniforms that were not made in the USA.
CNN's Peter Viles tells you why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It doesn't get much more patriotic than this -- the flag, the anthem, American athletes at the Olympic village wearing those Canadian uniforms made in China.
What? Well, that's right. At the opening ceremonies in Athens, our Olympic athletes will wear a Canadian brand, Roots, clothing made in China. And on the medal stand, if they win, a German brand, Adidas, which makes apparel in Malaysia and Vietnam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From a patriotic standpoint, I don't think that's too cool. It's like the U.S. Air Force or the Army saying, yes, let's buy, you know, Chinese-made products and put our troops in that versus having American people make them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I totally see stuff wrong for that. I think that American products should be made right here in America, especially when you're representing us worldwide.
VILES: The United States Olympic Committee says it prefers American brands, and, in competition, many U.S. athletes will wear American brands. But the committee also looks for merchandise that will sell, to raise money to fund Olympic training.
And, right now, Canada-based Roots is a hot brand. Its berets were the toast of Salt Lake City two years ago, and it has new berets designed for Athens.
JIM GRICE, U.S. OLYMPIC COMMITTEE: Given that we have a preference for U.S. Olympic companies, we also need to consider that our athletes have a huge impact on what we do, and, simply put, they love the Roots product.
VILES: American companies have made Olympic uniforms in the past -- notably, Reebok, Levi's and Champion. But licensing contracts are risky. The apparel company typically guarantees a certain dollar amount of royalties to the Olympic Committee and then is on its own to sell enough Olympic gear to cover that.
Peter Viles, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Coming up in the next half hour, chaos across Iraq this morning. A series of attack rock the Sunni Triangle this morning, and coalition forces clash with insurgents. The death toll keeps going up.
Also this morning, a dramatic three-day stand-off is over, as British troops detained in Iran finally get their freedom. We'll take you live to London for the latest.
This DAYBREAK for Thursday.
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COSTELLO: Coordinated attacks in several Iraqi cities leave a toll of death and destruction that's keeps getting worse this morning.
It is Thursday, June 24. 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 right now.
Insurgents have launched coordinated attacks in five Iraqi cities: Fallujah, Ramadi, Baqubah, Mosul and Baghdad. Fighting with U.S. troops is intense this morning. Three American soldiers are dead, and there are dozens of Iraqi casualties. We're going to have a live report for you out of Baghdad in just about two minutes.
Also been an attack in Turkey this morning. A small bomb explodes near a hotel in Ankara where President Bush is expected to stay this weekend when he goes there for the NATO summit. One police officer lost his leg in that blast.
It's deja vu all over again in Los Angeles. Police officers are videotaped allegedly beating a suspect after it looked like he was surrendering. L.A. police, the FBI and the district attorney's office all investigating.
In money news, an accounting firm is calling on U.S. drugmakers to stop charging so much for medications. Ernst & Young says federal price controls may be the only way to stop spiraling drug costs.
In culture, Mickey Mouse is celebrating his 75th birthday with some new Disney-themed postage stamps. Four hundred stamps honoring friendship feature Bambi and Thumper, "The Lion King," Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket, and of course, Mickey and the rest of his gang.
In sports, tennis players at Wimbledon are hoping to hit the lawn today after getting washed out again by heavy rains. Organizers in London are scrambling to get matches back on schedule after three days of constant rain - Chad.
MYERS: Is that - is that the London wave?
COSTELLO: Yes. That's the Wimbledon version.
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