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CNN Live At Daybreak

President Bush to Seek EU Support in Iraq; How Effective is Alzheimer's Drug?

Aired June 25, 2004 - 06:29   ET

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


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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us this morning. Here are the latest headlines for you.
President Bush leaves today on a trip to Ireland to attend a summit with Europe Union leaders. He'll try to drum up support for Iraq's new government. After Ireland, President Bush will fly to Turkey for a NATO summit.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry picks up an endorsement from former Chrysler chief Lee Iacocca. Iacocca was an avid Bush supporter in 2002, but he says the country needs a president who has a better understanding of the economy.

In money news, new home sales jumped to a record high. The Commerce Department says sales of single-family homes surged nearly 15 percent last month to a record annual rate of 1.37 million homes.

In culture, Eric Clapton's very favorite guitar fetched nearly $960,000 at a New York auction. Can you believe it? The legendary rock musician and others donated 88 items to raise money for a West Indies charity.

In sports, Texas will take on Cal. State Fullerton in the college world series finals this weekend. The Titans beat South Carolina 4-0 last night, and yes, Chad, in the beautiful city of Omaha.

Chad? Is Chad there? Is Chad's microphone on? Are the batteries in Chad's microphone working? We're having problems. We'll get back to Chad in just a bit.

On to the news now.

President Bush arrives in Ireland this afternoon for a European Union summit meeting, and he'll be looking for support from the Europeans for U.S. efforts in Iraq.

CNN's Chris Burns is in Dublin with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After generally warming ties during this month's D-Day ceremonies and G8 summit, the leaders of the United States and European Union will try to take it one step further at a summit in an Irish castle. But the jury is still out whether President Bush can secure concrete promises for Iraq this time. Some see pledges of money and training.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will there be anything filled in his hat when he leaves?

ECKHART STRATENSCHULTE, EUROPEAN ACADEMY: I think so, because also the Europeans are interested in not losing the United States as a partner.

BURNS: Other observers aren't so sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That I really don't think has been resolved in any way, and it won't be resolved during the summit.

BURNS: Any EU promises could portend what Mr. Bush can secure at the NATO summit in Istanbul that follows.

Anti-war protesters plan to march outside the ancient Dromoland Castle, though heavy security will ring the summit leaders.

The meeting is also expected to touch on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. and EU being part of the so-called quartet of mediators. The European Union, the Palestinians biggest donor, has been more critical than the U.S. of Israeli raids and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's limited pullout plan.

STRATENSCHULTE: It's more the European role, of course, to address the Arab side of this conflict, and only together we can come to a solution.

BURNS: The summit leaders could also apply more pressure on Iran to come clean on its nuclear program.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could argue that there is a good cap/bad cap cooperation; therefore, the United States plays the bad cop, and the Europeans play the good cop.

BURNS: The summit is the first since the EU expanded to 25 countries and a population 50 percent larger than the U.S. Despite the lack of a coherent defense and foreign policy, can a larger EU gain more respect from Washington?

STRATENSCHULTE: This is a partner for the United States with an enormous potential. And if President Bush is smart, he sees that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNS: Now, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, and that is why he is hosting this meeting starting tomorrow.

On the other hand, it's got some criticism here in Ireland. There is a member of parliament saying President Bush, it's not about Iraq, it's not about coming to Ireland, it's not about Ireland at all. He says, it's about the Irish-American voters, 30 million of them back in the states the president wants to woo in the next election -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, Chris, that's a cynical view, don't you think?

Let's talk about security, because earlier we saw pictures of a long line of tanks in Ireland heading to the place where President Bush will be staying. Security must be more than extremely tight.

BURNS: Well, you know, it's quite surreal, because this is a beautiful rolling Irish countryside. You can't get more picturesque than this. And it is in total lockdown. You've got about 6,000 police and troops. You've got armored personnel carriers, planes in the air. You've got naval ships off the coast. You've got helicopters.

You've got the prisons are getting ready for extra prisoners if there is a major protest here. They are expecting, organizers are saying, about 10,000 people to take to the streets. There are a lot of protests. People are also upset that Shannon Airport, where President Bush will be flying into, is being used as a gas station, a byway for troops on the way to Iraq and back from there.

So, there's a lot of bitter opposition here that will be taken to the streets, and we'll have to see how big it gets -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns reporting live for us by phone from Dublin, Ireland. Thank you, Chris.

New satellite photos show 56,000 houses have been destroyed and 400 villages. The destruction is in the Darfur region of western Sudan. It's blamed on raids by Arab militiamen, who killed the local African men and boys, raped the women and burned the villages.

A U.S. aid official on the scene says 350,000 people displaced by the raids could die of disease or malnutrition in the next nine months. Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Darfur next week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a catastrophe, and it's incumbent upon the international community to come together to solve it, to do everything we can to bring it to an end and to bring relief to these desperate people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Also heading for Sudan next week, U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

A tragic accident in southeastern Iran claimed the lives of as many as 90 people. Many of the dead are women and children. The deaths occurred when a tanker truck carrying gasoline slammed into six passenger buses that were stopped at a police checkpoint. The buses and the police building burst into flames. Another 114 people were injured in the crash. New government rules on health are coming under fire. Members of Congress are critical of a new rule that limits access between U.S. health experts and their counterparts in the worldwide community. There are also restrictions placed on the number of American scientists that can attend next month's global AIDS conference in Thailand.

Congressman Henry Waxman charges that the administration may use the rules to stall research on controversial topics. Waxman says, "Under the new policy, the administration will be able to refuse to provide any experts whenever it wishes to stall international progress on controversial topics."

And there are new findings out of England to fuel a debate about a popular drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, a condition affecting more than four and a half million Americans.

CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer joins us on DAYBREAK to explain.

Good morning.

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Yes, the British medical journal, "Lancet," published a study suggesting that one of the current drugs to treat Alzheimer's patients, known as Aricept, might not be worth the expense.

Now, these drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors, may lead to a small improvement in cognitive function, as well as reduce symptoms, but they do not slow down the progression of the disease.

So, these British researchers say Alzheimer's patients deteriorate at the same rate and end up in nursing homes about the same time. So, they suggest taking these medications may not improve one's health enough to merit the treatment.

Critics, however, of the study say, you're right, these drugs are not a cure for the disease, but they can keep Alzheimer's patients a bit more functional during that decline. So, if you have a loved one who suffers from this debilitating disease, some ask, wouldn't you want to do everything to help?

So, Carol, a very controversial issue. Should you take the drug? Should you not take the drug?

COSTELLO: Well, what should you do if you have a family member with Alzheimer's then?

FIRFER: It's a tough question. First off, what everybody says, is do not change your medication. Do not change therapy without talking to your doctor. This is such a difficult situation, because there are no cures or vaccines for this disease. And doctors say this is one of the best treatments they know of so far. And several doctors that we talked to really criticize this study, saying the results from this trial should not devalue all we've learned from the many trials in the past.

Everyone is in agreement, however, that there needs to be more done in developing new treatments, and there need to be more options. But it doesn't mean the current medications are not beneficial, we want to stress that.

But on a hopeful note, in a couple of weeks the Alzheimer's Association is having their annual meeting, where they're going to talk about some promising results and new treatments, and give us a preview of what's on the horizon. And we're going to cover that for you, and hopefully we'll have some promising news to tell you about.

COSTELLO: What are the drug companies saying about all of this?

FIRFER: Well, of course, you know they're going to jump on that.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

FIRFER: Pfizer sent us a statement right away, and I want to read that to you. They said -- quote: "There is published evidence which shows that persistent treatment with Donepezil," which is "the generic name for Aricept, may delay the mean time to the first dementia-related nursing home placement by approximately 21 months."

Critics say although these drugs may show improvement for a short period of time that these projections may not be accurate. So, they're saying, we really don't know how long it can keep you out of a nursing home. We know that it probably will help a little bit, but maybe not.

COSTELLO: So, the study was done in England.

FIRFER: It was done in England.

COSTELLO: I mean, it's relevant in the United States, too, then. I mean, is there...

FIRFER: Yes. It's a different medical system we have than they have in the U.S. In England, they have a nationalized health care system, so when they looked at the cost benefit in terms of the government paying for the treatment, they got different results than maybe here in the U.S. We have a much different system, so it would have to be studied in terms of the costs associated with private doctors and HMOs here in the U.S.

But the bottom line is, if you're taking this drug don't stop. Talk to your doctor before you do anything. It does have some benefits, but it's something interesting to look at. And we need to find a cure and a vaccine.

COSTELLO: Oh, wouldn't that be great?

FIRFER: That would be terrific.

COSTELLO: Holly Firfer, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning. FIRFER: Sure.

COSTELLO: Have plans for the Fourth already? If not, maybe we can help you decide where to spend the patriotic holiday with your whole family.

And, whether it's romance you seek or a good laugh with the Wayan brothers, you can find them this weekend. The DAYBREAK movie review coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Chad is down here, and his microphone is working.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: My mike is fixed.

COSTELLO: Your batteries were dead.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: You have to change those batteries.

MYERS: Every day.

COSTELLO: Every day, every hour.

MYERS: They die every day, actually.

COSTELLO: July Fourth is right around the corner.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Americans celebrate it in any number of ways from attending hometown parades to visiting national monuments. But there is so much more to do.

Joining us to talk about some of the holiday getaways is Tracy Gallagher of the Travel Channel.

Welcome, Tracy.

TRACY GALLAGHER, TRAVEL CHANNEL: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So, what's the first hot spot...

GALLAGHER: How much time do we have, Carol? There is so much going on around the country on the Fourth of July (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: As much as you need.

COSTELLO: Take it away, Tracy.

GALLAGHER: You guys are the best.

Well, let's start with Philadelphia, because even when it's not the Fourth of July, there is so much history there -- Independence Park with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was written and the Constitution was written. So much history to see, and they just had a $300 million renovation that opened last fall. And there's a parade there. There are fireworks. There is so much history to learn.

And then if you're not into history, the Phillies are playing the Orioles that weekend in the brand new ballpark, which is great. Get your baseball hats ready, an all-American sport.

And then also the first Friday of every month there are gallery walks, and that happens to be the first Friday of the month, and that's in the Old City, a great neighborhood in Philadelphia.

COSTELLO: That's terrific.

MYERS: A lot of things are going on in Boston, too. I mean, that's always a great place to spend the Fourth.

GALLAGHER: That is a great place to spend the Fourth, with Harbor Fest. Have you been?

MYERS: I have.

GALLAGHER: Oh, you have? Well, then you know there is lots to do for the kids. There is children's day. There's a chowder fest. Do you like chowder?

MYERS: Oh, absolutely.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

MYERS: In the bread bowl.

GALLAGHER: OK, I'll remember that. I'll remember that. But there are a lot of guided tours. And this is one of my favorite things. There's a parade on the Fourth of July that goes through a cemetery, where a lot of revolutionary patriots are buried. It ends at the Statehouse, where the Declaration of Independence was first read.

So, a lot of revolutionary history that really makes you appreciate the risk that our Founding Fathers took to gain independence from Britain. This all culminates on the banks of the Charles River...

COSTELLO: Oh!

GALLAGHER: ... where the Boston Pops Orchestra will play. And there are boats out on the river listening to the concert as well, and then, of course, a major fireworks show, like in a lot of major cities.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: I'm going right now. I'm leaving right now.

MYERS: How about the tea party? What happens...

COSTELLO: That was the Charles River, I was just going to say...

GALLAGHER: The tea party, that was a while ago, yes.

COSTELLO: There was a lot...

MYERS: OK, I missed it.

COSTELLO: Colonial Williamsburg, that's got to be a destination.

GALLAGHER: Yes, Colonial Williamsburg, part theme park, part living history. It's about 300 acres of historical re-enactments, restored 18th century buildings, costumed interpreters telling about the struggles that the people went though in that time. And this is really where the seeds of America were planted, where a colonist starting talking about what America could be.

So, you can learn a lot there and, once again, get a sense of patriotism. And it's history. If you need a break from history, there's always Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

MYERS: Oh, sure. That is a break. OK, so some of these really large fireworks displays, I mean, some people just really just want to see that. What are some of the big cities there?

GALLAGHER: Major cities, major fireworks are in San Francisco, Dallas, Baltimore, right here in Saint Louis there are fireworks under the wonderful Arch.

MYERS: Oh, yes.

GALLAGHER: Anywhere you go there are some major celebrations. You know, I want to talk also, the Presidential libraries and museums, some of them are -- well, most of them are open on the Fourth of July and a lot of them have their own Fourth of July celebrations with fireworks and special parties going on. And, of course, Ronald Reagan's library was in the news lately. That library is having a big celebration with fireworks. And it's a really interesting place to go to learn about presidential history as well as American history.

And then there are some regional fireworks celebrations and parties that are kind of fun, like in Hollister, California, there is a Harley riders' independence rally. And in Greeley, Colorado, there's an independence rodeo. But there is no shortage of fireworks in this country, I'll tell you that.

So, both of you have a happy Fourth of July.

COSTELLO: You, too. Tracy Gallagher with the Travel Channel joining DAYBREAK this morning. Come back anytime. Thank you.

GALLAGHER: Thank you.

MYERS: They have some special programming going on, on the Fourth, as well. COSTELLO: I bet they do.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

A day after major clashes across Iraq, fighting continues this morning. In the city of Fallujah, Marines fought into the night with insurgents. Two people were killed.

Here's a shocker. Telemarketers are still calling people on the national do-not-call list. The FTC has registered nearly half a million complaints from people who say they're on the list but they're still getting the calls.

In money news, Napster is getting some help in its new life as a fee-based music Web site. BestBuy, the nation's biggest electronics retailer, says it will push Napster as a key digital music service.

In culture, as the gay marriage debate grows, more American businesses are deciding whether to extend health benefits to same-sex spouses of employees. In a recent study, a third of employers say they would offer benefits, 40 percent said no.

In sports, don't look for basketball coach Bobby Knight to move back to the big 10 anytime soon. Knight says he's been told, despite recent rumors, that he is not being considered for a spot at his alma mater, Ohio State.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Let's head to New York City now and check in with Bill and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

I bet you're going to talk about that contentious interview on Irish television with President Bush.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely, we are, Carol. Of course, you're talking about President Bush's trip to Ireland, also Turkey he's heading to as well.

We've got dropping poll numbers, and maybe that has something to do with that testy interview with Irish television, where, as you well know, the president told the reporter, you wait till I'm done, and then you get to ask a follow up. Do not interrupt me in the middle of my question. We're going to talk more about that and why he was a little angry in that interview.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, in the Scott Peterson case, Mark Geragos gave a lot of people a lot to think about over the next three days. Court is not in session today, Carol, and one of the final questions yesterday left a lot of suspicion out there as to whether or not there was information left out on the prosecution's side. Whatever the case, whether it was grandstanding or whether it was legitimate, we'll talk about it this morning here.

O'BRIEN: And then we're going to talk about space. There was a risky spacewalk. It ran into some serious problems and actually got yanked just about 14 minutes into it. This morning, we talk with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe about exactly what happened, and also about the revamping, bureaucratically-speaking, of NASA. All of that and much, much more...

HEMMER: Yes, on a Friday.

O'BRIEN: ... much, much, much more.

COSTELLO: I know, I was waiting for even more. Thank you, Bill and...

O'BRIEN: We can keep going.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Bill and Soledad. We'll catch you in about 10 minutes.

O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: The highly-anticipated and very controversial "Fahrenheit 9/11" arrives this weekend at a theater near you. Are politics and the media the only things fueling the film? Or is it a documentary that's enjoyable to watch? We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: From cute animals to presidential politics, there's a lot of stuff to pick from this weekend at the movies. So let's get the full scoop on the best choices from Tom O'Neal with "In Touch" magazine.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM O'NEAL, "IN TOUCH" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Shall we start with the funny one, "White Chick?"

O'NEAL: OK. I'm not sure how funny it is to some people. This is a guy movie. Of course, guys love gross-out humor, and that's what this movie is full of. But it's really scary.

The boys who gave us "Scary Movie," the Wayan brothers, are giving us the concept of two black FBI agents, who go undercover as white chicks, literally, in hoity-toity Hamptons in order to thwart a kidnapping. The movie is full of toilet humor, farting jokes, all of that kind of stuff, but, of course, it's got their signature humor here.

It should scare up a lot of money this weekend. "Scary Movie" stirred up 42 million.

COSTELLO: You know, I keep wondering when those kinds of movies will, like, lose out in popularity. O'NEAL: I don't think they ever will, because this is the kind of movie for guys with very forgiving girlfriends.

COSTELLO: You're not kidding.

How about "The Notebook?" This is for, like -- go ahead. It's not a guy movie.

O'NEAL: This is for gals with very forgiving boyfriends.

COSTELLO: Exactly. That is what I was trying to say. Thank you.

O'NEAL: And it's a wonderful film. It is one of those great romantic films that goes over the top. It's not afraid to surrender to its great romantic spirit, like "Titanic" or "Cold Mountain." It's the story of two young people who are separated by World War II, and they meet up seven years later and then many, many years later in life after that.

Tom Cruise was supposed to play the lead in this. Spielberg was supposed to direct it. But instead we've got Ryan Gosling doing the lead here and opposite Rachel McAdams from "Mean Girls." And it's really a good movie.

COSTELLO: Really?

O'NEAL: I loved it. But I love weepies (ph). I'm a sucker for this kind of thing.

COSTELLO: Well, your girlfriend must be very happy.

"Two Brothers," you know, I love Guy Pearce, but he seems to pick really poor projects. So, hopefully this will be a good movie.

O'NEAL: This is not just a good movie, Carol, this is an outstanding film.

COSTELLO: Great.

O'NEAL: This is one of those movies where there's very little dialogue. The animals speak for themselves almost just by their situations. It's from the director of "The Bear." It's the story of two young tiger cubs separated at birth when their mother is killed. One is raised in the wild and one is raised at the zoo. And they come together later in life as adversaries.

This trailer for this film played with "The Passion of the Christ." That's how convinced the studio is that this is going to be a big family movie.

COSTELLO: Wow!

O'NEAL: And it's terrific. But "The Bear" took a while to build its audience before it became a hit, and I hope that doesn't hurt this movie, because they are so optimistic on what a hit it's going to be that they're opening it in 2,100 theaters. That may be too much.

COSTELLO: Wow! Well, we'll see.

OK, we saved "Fahrenheit 9/11" until last. We don't want to get into the politics or anything.

O'NEAL: Right.

COSTELLO: We just want your opinion on if this is a good, enjoyable film.

O'NEAL: Well, just for that answer, look to the audience reactions at theaters across America, where it's been opening here and there for the past two days in selected locations. It's getting rousing ovations, in some cases standing ovations.

And what if often unsaid about this movie is that underneath it all there is a deep patriotic spirit. When you meet a family who has lost their son in Iraq you can't help but be moved by the profound lover of their country that they have.

And whatever you think of Michael Moore, this guy is funny. And when he decides to take on congressmen for, what he believes, not reading the Patriot Act before passing it, he decides to read it to them. And he gets in an ice cream truck that tinkles through the streets of Washington, D.C., and he gets on a bullhorn and he reads it out loud. I mean, this guy is a rascal.

COSTELLO: Yes, he certainly is. Others might call him other things.

O'NEAL: Yes.

COSTELLO: Tom O'Neal joining us live from "In Touch" magazine. We appreciate it as always.

O'NEAL: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Stay with CNN for more on Moore -- Michael Moore, that is. The filmmaker will be live in our 10:00 a.m. Eastern hour with Daryn Kagan.

Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug is (AUDIO GAP) the all important coffee quiz questions. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: OK, it is time to give away that coffee -- well, not give it away, but give a chance for people to win it.

MYERS: Give the questions. Holly Firfer reported on a drug that's used for the treatment of Alzheimer's. What is the name of the drug? And the Travel Channel's Tracy Gallagher told us about a popular Fourth of July festival in Boston. Name the celebration in Boston?

COSTELLO: Oh, one really hard one and one easy one.

MYERS: Your answers to Daybreak@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@CNN.com.

MYERS: I got it right.

COSTELLO: Thank you for joining us this morning. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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 25, 2004 - 06:29   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining us this morning. Here are the latest headlines for you.
President Bush leaves today on a trip to Ireland to attend a summit with Europe Union leaders. He'll try to drum up support for Iraq's new government. After Ireland, President Bush will fly to Turkey for a NATO summit.

Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry picks up an endorsement from former Chrysler chief Lee Iacocca. Iacocca was an avid Bush supporter in 2002, but he says the country needs a president who has a better understanding of the economy.

In money news, new home sales jumped to a record high. The Commerce Department says sales of single-family homes surged nearly 15 percent last month to a record annual rate of 1.37 million homes.

In culture, Eric Clapton's very favorite guitar fetched nearly $960,000 at a New York auction. Can you believe it? The legendary rock musician and others donated 88 items to raise money for a West Indies charity.

In sports, Texas will take on Cal. State Fullerton in the college world series finals this weekend. The Titans beat South Carolina 4-0 last night, and yes, Chad, in the beautiful city of Omaha.

Chad? Is Chad there? Is Chad's microphone on? Are the batteries in Chad's microphone working? We're having problems. We'll get back to Chad in just a bit.

On to the news now.

President Bush arrives in Ireland this afternoon for a European Union summit meeting, and he'll be looking for support from the Europeans for U.S. efforts in Iraq.

CNN's Chris Burns is in Dublin with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): After generally warming ties during this month's D-Day ceremonies and G8 summit, the leaders of the United States and European Union will try to take it one step further at a summit in an Irish castle. But the jury is still out whether President Bush can secure concrete promises for Iraq this time. Some see pledges of money and training.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will there be anything filled in his hat when he leaves?

ECKHART STRATENSCHULTE, EUROPEAN ACADEMY: I think so, because also the Europeans are interested in not losing the United States as a partner.

BURNS: Other observers aren't so sure.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That I really don't think has been resolved in any way, and it won't be resolved during the summit.

BURNS: Any EU promises could portend what Mr. Bush can secure at the NATO summit in Istanbul that follows.

Anti-war protesters plan to march outside the ancient Dromoland Castle, though heavy security will ring the summit leaders.

The meeting is also expected to touch on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. and EU being part of the so-called quartet of mediators. The European Union, the Palestinians biggest donor, has been more critical than the U.S. of Israeli raids and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's limited pullout plan.

STRATENSCHULTE: It's more the European role, of course, to address the Arab side of this conflict, and only together we can come to a solution.

BURNS: The summit leaders could also apply more pressure on Iran to come clean on its nuclear program.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You could argue that there is a good cap/bad cap cooperation; therefore, the United States plays the bad cop, and the Europeans play the good cop.

BURNS: The summit is the first since the EU expanded to 25 countries and a population 50 percent larger than the U.S. Despite the lack of a coherent defense and foreign policy, can a larger EU gain more respect from Washington?

STRATENSCHULTE: This is a partner for the United States with an enormous potential. And if President Bush is smart, he sees that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BURNS: Now, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern of Ireland is holding the rotating presidency of the EU, and that is why he is hosting this meeting starting tomorrow.

On the other hand, it's got some criticism here in Ireland. There is a member of parliament saying President Bush, it's not about Iraq, it's not about coming to Ireland, it's not about Ireland at all. He says, it's about the Irish-American voters, 30 million of them back in the states the president wants to woo in the next election -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Oh, Chris, that's a cynical view, don't you think?

Let's talk about security, because earlier we saw pictures of a long line of tanks in Ireland heading to the place where President Bush will be staying. Security must be more than extremely tight.

BURNS: Well, you know, it's quite surreal, because this is a beautiful rolling Irish countryside. You can't get more picturesque than this. And it is in total lockdown. You've got about 6,000 police and troops. You've got armored personnel carriers, planes in the air. You've got naval ships off the coast. You've got helicopters.

You've got the prisons are getting ready for extra prisoners if there is a major protest here. They are expecting, organizers are saying, about 10,000 people to take to the streets. There are a lot of protests. People are also upset that Shannon Airport, where President Bush will be flying into, is being used as a gas station, a byway for troops on the way to Iraq and back from there.

So, there's a lot of bitter opposition here that will be taken to the streets, and we'll have to see how big it gets -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Chris Burns reporting live for us by phone from Dublin, Ireland. Thank you, Chris.

New satellite photos show 56,000 houses have been destroyed and 400 villages. The destruction is in the Darfur region of western Sudan. It's blamed on raids by Arab militiamen, who killed the local African men and boys, raped the women and burned the villages.

A U.S. aid official on the scene says 350,000 people displaced by the raids could die of disease or malnutrition in the next nine months. Secretary of State Colin Powell will visit Darfur next week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a catastrophe, and it's incumbent upon the international community to come together to solve it, to do everything we can to bring it to an end and to bring relief to these desperate people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Also heading for Sudan next week, U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

A tragic accident in southeastern Iran claimed the lives of as many as 90 people. Many of the dead are women and children. The deaths occurred when a tanker truck carrying gasoline slammed into six passenger buses that were stopped at a police checkpoint. The buses and the police building burst into flames. Another 114 people were injured in the crash. New government rules on health are coming under fire. Members of Congress are critical of a new rule that limits access between U.S. health experts and their counterparts in the worldwide community. There are also restrictions placed on the number of American scientists that can attend next month's global AIDS conference in Thailand.

Congressman Henry Waxman charges that the administration may use the rules to stall research on controversial topics. Waxman says, "Under the new policy, the administration will be able to refuse to provide any experts whenever it wishes to stall international progress on controversial topics."

And there are new findings out of England to fuel a debate about a popular drug used to treat Alzheimer's disease, a condition affecting more than four and a half million Americans.

CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer joins us on DAYBREAK to explain.

Good morning.

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Yes, the British medical journal, "Lancet," published a study suggesting that one of the current drugs to treat Alzheimer's patients, known as Aricept, might not be worth the expense.

Now, these drugs, called cholinesterase inhibitors, may lead to a small improvement in cognitive function, as well as reduce symptoms, but they do not slow down the progression of the disease.

So, these British researchers say Alzheimer's patients deteriorate at the same rate and end up in nursing homes about the same time. So, they suggest taking these medications may not improve one's health enough to merit the treatment.

Critics, however, of the study say, you're right, these drugs are not a cure for the disease, but they can keep Alzheimer's patients a bit more functional during that decline. So, if you have a loved one who suffers from this debilitating disease, some ask, wouldn't you want to do everything to help?

So, Carol, a very controversial issue. Should you take the drug? Should you not take the drug?

COSTELLO: Well, what should you do if you have a family member with Alzheimer's then?

FIRFER: It's a tough question. First off, what everybody says, is do not change your medication. Do not change therapy without talking to your doctor. This is such a difficult situation, because there are no cures or vaccines for this disease. And doctors say this is one of the best treatments they know of so far. And several doctors that we talked to really criticize this study, saying the results from this trial should not devalue all we've learned from the many trials in the past.

Everyone is in agreement, however, that there needs to be more done in developing new treatments, and there need to be more options. But it doesn't mean the current medications are not beneficial, we want to stress that.

But on a hopeful note, in a couple of weeks the Alzheimer's Association is having their annual meeting, where they're going to talk about some promising results and new treatments, and give us a preview of what's on the horizon. And we're going to cover that for you, and hopefully we'll have some promising news to tell you about.

COSTELLO: What are the drug companies saying about all of this?

FIRFER: Well, of course, you know they're going to jump on that.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

FIRFER: Pfizer sent us a statement right away, and I want to read that to you. They said -- quote: "There is published evidence which shows that persistent treatment with Donepezil," which is "the generic name for Aricept, may delay the mean time to the first dementia-related nursing home placement by approximately 21 months."

Critics say although these drugs may show improvement for a short period of time that these projections may not be accurate. So, they're saying, we really don't know how long it can keep you out of a nursing home. We know that it probably will help a little bit, but maybe not.

COSTELLO: So, the study was done in England.

FIRFER: It was done in England.

COSTELLO: I mean, it's relevant in the United States, too, then. I mean, is there...

FIRFER: Yes. It's a different medical system we have than they have in the U.S. In England, they have a nationalized health care system, so when they looked at the cost benefit in terms of the government paying for the treatment, they got different results than maybe here in the U.S. We have a much different system, so it would have to be studied in terms of the costs associated with private doctors and HMOs here in the U.S.

But the bottom line is, if you're taking this drug don't stop. Talk to your doctor before you do anything. It does have some benefits, but it's something interesting to look at. And we need to find a cure and a vaccine.

COSTELLO: Oh, wouldn't that be great?

FIRFER: That would be terrific.

COSTELLO: Holly Firfer, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning. FIRFER: Sure.

COSTELLO: Have plans for the Fourth already? If not, maybe we can help you decide where to spend the patriotic holiday with your whole family.

And, whether it's romance you seek or a good laugh with the Wayan brothers, you can find them this weekend. The DAYBREAK movie review coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Chad is down here, and his microphone is working.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: My mike is fixed.

COSTELLO: Your batteries were dead.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: You have to change those batteries.

MYERS: Every day.

COSTELLO: Every day, every hour.

MYERS: They die every day, actually.

COSTELLO: July Fourth is right around the corner.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Americans celebrate it in any number of ways from attending hometown parades to visiting national monuments. But there is so much more to do.

Joining us to talk about some of the holiday getaways is Tracy Gallagher of the Travel Channel.

Welcome, Tracy.

TRACY GALLAGHER, TRAVEL CHANNEL: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So, what's the first hot spot...

GALLAGHER: How much time do we have, Carol? There is so much going on around the country on the Fourth of July (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

MYERS: As much as you need.

COSTELLO: Take it away, Tracy.

GALLAGHER: You guys are the best.

Well, let's start with Philadelphia, because even when it's not the Fourth of July, there is so much history there -- Independence Park with the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was written and the Constitution was written. So much history to see, and they just had a $300 million renovation that opened last fall. And there's a parade there. There are fireworks. There is so much history to learn.

And then if you're not into history, the Phillies are playing the Orioles that weekend in the brand new ballpark, which is great. Get your baseball hats ready, an all-American sport.

And then also the first Friday of every month there are gallery walks, and that happens to be the first Friday of the month, and that's in the Old City, a great neighborhood in Philadelphia.

COSTELLO: That's terrific.

MYERS: A lot of things are going on in Boston, too. I mean, that's always a great place to spend the Fourth.

GALLAGHER: That is a great place to spend the Fourth, with Harbor Fest. Have you been?

MYERS: I have.

GALLAGHER: Oh, you have? Well, then you know there is lots to do for the kids. There is children's day. There's a chowder fest. Do you like chowder?

MYERS: Oh, absolutely.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

MYERS: In the bread bowl.

GALLAGHER: OK, I'll remember that. I'll remember that. But there are a lot of guided tours. And this is one of my favorite things. There's a parade on the Fourth of July that goes through a cemetery, where a lot of revolutionary patriots are buried. It ends at the Statehouse, where the Declaration of Independence was first read.

So, a lot of revolutionary history that really makes you appreciate the risk that our Founding Fathers took to gain independence from Britain. This all culminates on the banks of the Charles River...

COSTELLO: Oh!

GALLAGHER: ... where the Boston Pops Orchestra will play. And there are boats out on the river listening to the concert as well, and then, of course, a major fireworks show, like in a lot of major cities.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: I'm going right now. I'm leaving right now.

MYERS: How about the tea party? What happens...

COSTELLO: That was the Charles River, I was just going to say...

GALLAGHER: The tea party, that was a while ago, yes.

COSTELLO: There was a lot...

MYERS: OK, I missed it.

COSTELLO: Colonial Williamsburg, that's got to be a destination.

GALLAGHER: Yes, Colonial Williamsburg, part theme park, part living history. It's about 300 acres of historical re-enactments, restored 18th century buildings, costumed interpreters telling about the struggles that the people went though in that time. And this is really where the seeds of America were planted, where a colonist starting talking about what America could be.

So, you can learn a lot there and, once again, get a sense of patriotism. And it's history. If you need a break from history, there's always Busch Gardens in Williamsburg.

MYERS: Oh, sure. That is a break. OK, so some of these really large fireworks displays, I mean, some people just really just want to see that. What are some of the big cities there?

GALLAGHER: Major cities, major fireworks are in San Francisco, Dallas, Baltimore, right here in Saint Louis there are fireworks under the wonderful Arch.

MYERS: Oh, yes.

GALLAGHER: Anywhere you go there are some major celebrations. You know, I want to talk also, the Presidential libraries and museums, some of them are -- well, most of them are open on the Fourth of July and a lot of them have their own Fourth of July celebrations with fireworks and special parties going on. And, of course, Ronald Reagan's library was in the news lately. That library is having a big celebration with fireworks. And it's a really interesting place to go to learn about presidential history as well as American history.

And then there are some regional fireworks celebrations and parties that are kind of fun, like in Hollister, California, there is a Harley riders' independence rally. And in Greeley, Colorado, there's an independence rodeo. But there is no shortage of fireworks in this country, I'll tell you that.

So, both of you have a happy Fourth of July.

COSTELLO: You, too. Tracy Gallagher with the Travel Channel joining DAYBREAK this morning. Come back anytime. Thank you.

GALLAGHER: Thank you.

MYERS: They have some special programming going on, on the Fourth, as well. COSTELLO: I bet they do.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:46 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

A day after major clashes across Iraq, fighting continues this morning. In the city of Fallujah, Marines fought into the night with insurgents. Two people were killed.

Here's a shocker. Telemarketers are still calling people on the national do-not-call list. The FTC has registered nearly half a million complaints from people who say they're on the list but they're still getting the calls.

In money news, Napster is getting some help in its new life as a fee-based music Web site. BestBuy, the nation's biggest electronics retailer, says it will push Napster as a key digital music service.

In culture, as the gay marriage debate grows, more American businesses are deciding whether to extend health benefits to same-sex spouses of employees. In a recent study, a third of employers say they would offer benefits, 40 percent said no.

In sports, don't look for basketball coach Bobby Knight to move back to the big 10 anytime soon. Knight says he's been told, despite recent rumors, that he is not being considered for a spot at his alma mater, Ohio State.

(WEATHER BREAK)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you.

Let's head to New York City now and check in with Bill and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

I bet you're going to talk about that contentious interview on Irish television with President Bush.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely, we are, Carol. Of course, you're talking about President Bush's trip to Ireland, also Turkey he's heading to as well.

We've got dropping poll numbers, and maybe that has something to do with that testy interview with Irish television, where, as you well know, the president told the reporter, you wait till I'm done, and then you get to ask a follow up. Do not interrupt me in the middle of my question. We're going to talk more about that and why he was a little angry in that interview.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, in the Scott Peterson case, Mark Geragos gave a lot of people a lot to think about over the next three days. Court is not in session today, Carol, and one of the final questions yesterday left a lot of suspicion out there as to whether or not there was information left out on the prosecution's side. Whatever the case, whether it was grandstanding or whether it was legitimate, we'll talk about it this morning here.

O'BRIEN: And then we're going to talk about space. There was a risky spacewalk. It ran into some serious problems and actually got yanked just about 14 minutes into it. This morning, we talk with NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe about exactly what happened, and also about the revamping, bureaucratically-speaking, of NASA. All of that and much, much more...

HEMMER: Yes, on a Friday.

O'BRIEN: ... much, much, much more.

COSTELLO: I know, I was waiting for even more. Thank you, Bill and...

O'BRIEN: We can keep going.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Bill and Soledad. We'll catch you in about 10 minutes.

O'BRIEN: Thanks, Carol.

COSTELLO: The highly-anticipated and very controversial "Fahrenheit 9/11" arrives this weekend at a theater near you. Are politics and the media the only things fueling the film? Or is it a documentary that's enjoyable to watch? We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: From cute animals to presidential politics, there's a lot of stuff to pick from this weekend at the movies. So let's get the full scoop on the best choices from Tom O'Neal with "In Touch" magazine.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM O'NEAL, "IN TOUCH" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Shall we start with the funny one, "White Chick?"

O'NEAL: OK. I'm not sure how funny it is to some people. This is a guy movie. Of course, guys love gross-out humor, and that's what this movie is full of. But it's really scary.

The boys who gave us "Scary Movie," the Wayan brothers, are giving us the concept of two black FBI agents, who go undercover as white chicks, literally, in hoity-toity Hamptons in order to thwart a kidnapping. The movie is full of toilet humor, farting jokes, all of that kind of stuff, but, of course, it's got their signature humor here.

It should scare up a lot of money this weekend. "Scary Movie" stirred up 42 million.

COSTELLO: You know, I keep wondering when those kinds of movies will, like, lose out in popularity. O'NEAL: I don't think they ever will, because this is the kind of movie for guys with very forgiving girlfriends.

COSTELLO: You're not kidding.

How about "The Notebook?" This is for, like -- go ahead. It's not a guy movie.

O'NEAL: This is for gals with very forgiving boyfriends.

COSTELLO: Exactly. That is what I was trying to say. Thank you.

O'NEAL: And it's a wonderful film. It is one of those great romantic films that goes over the top. It's not afraid to surrender to its great romantic spirit, like "Titanic" or "Cold Mountain." It's the story of two young people who are separated by World War II, and they meet up seven years later and then many, many years later in life after that.

Tom Cruise was supposed to play the lead in this. Spielberg was supposed to direct it. But instead we've got Ryan Gosling doing the lead here and opposite Rachel McAdams from "Mean Girls." And it's really a good movie.

COSTELLO: Really?

O'NEAL: I loved it. But I love weepies (ph). I'm a sucker for this kind of thing.

COSTELLO: Well, your girlfriend must be very happy.

"Two Brothers," you know, I love Guy Pearce, but he seems to pick really poor projects. So, hopefully this will be a good movie.

O'NEAL: This is not just a good movie, Carol, this is an outstanding film.

COSTELLO: Great.

O'NEAL: This is one of those movies where there's very little dialogue. The animals speak for themselves almost just by their situations. It's from the director of "The Bear." It's the story of two young tiger cubs separated at birth when their mother is killed. One is raised in the wild and one is raised at the zoo. And they come together later in life as adversaries.

This trailer for this film played with "The Passion of the Christ." That's how convinced the studio is that this is going to be a big family movie.

COSTELLO: Wow!

O'NEAL: And it's terrific. But "The Bear" took a while to build its audience before it became a hit, and I hope that doesn't hurt this movie, because they are so optimistic on what a hit it's going to be that they're opening it in 2,100 theaters. That may be too much.

COSTELLO: Wow! Well, we'll see.

OK, we saved "Fahrenheit 9/11" until last. We don't want to get into the politics or anything.

O'NEAL: Right.

COSTELLO: We just want your opinion on if this is a good, enjoyable film.

O'NEAL: Well, just for that answer, look to the audience reactions at theaters across America, where it's been opening here and there for the past two days in selected locations. It's getting rousing ovations, in some cases standing ovations.

And what if often unsaid about this movie is that underneath it all there is a deep patriotic spirit. When you meet a family who has lost their son in Iraq you can't help but be moved by the profound lover of their country that they have.

And whatever you think of Michael Moore, this guy is funny. And when he decides to take on congressmen for, what he believes, not reading the Patriot Act before passing it, he decides to read it to them. And he gets in an ice cream truck that tinkles through the streets of Washington, D.C., and he gets on a bullhorn and he reads it out loud. I mean, this guy is a rascal.

COSTELLO: Yes, he certainly is. Others might call him other things.

O'NEAL: Yes.

COSTELLO: Tom O'Neal joining us live from "In Touch" magazine. We appreciate it as always.

O'NEAL: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Stay with CNN for more on Moore -- Michael Moore, that is. The filmmaker will be live in our 10:00 a.m. Eastern hour with Daryn Kagan.

Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug is (AUDIO GAP) the all important coffee quiz questions. We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: OK, it is time to give away that coffee -- well, not give it away, but give a chance for people to win it.

MYERS: Give the questions. Holly Firfer reported on a drug that's used for the treatment of Alzheimer's. What is the name of the drug? And the Travel Channel's Tracy Gallagher told us about a popular Fourth of July festival in Boston. Name the celebration in Boston?

COSTELLO: Oh, one really hard one and one easy one.

MYERS: Your answers to Daybreak@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@CNN.com.

MYERS: I got it right.

COSTELLO: Thank you for joining us this morning. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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