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CNN Live At Daybreak

Former Marine Hostage Returning to U.S.; Britain's Prewar Intelligence Report to be Released Today

Aired July 14, 2004 - 06:31   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello this morning.
Our top story. Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, who went missing in Iraq, is heading back to the U.S. today from a U.S. hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

Our Chris Burns is on the phone with us now with the latest update.

And is it wheels up -- Chris?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it should be in the next couple of hours, they say. He has just left Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. That's the U.S. military hospital, where he's been here for about five days since he came from Lebanon, his native Lebanon, where he turned up after three weeks of disappearance from his base in Iraq.

And the medical center has just released this statement, where he says, Corporal Hassoun says, "I am excited to be going home. All thanks and praises are due to God for my safety. I'm also very thankful for all those kind wishes, support and the prayers for me and my family, for my fellow Marines, all the people in the U.S., Lebanon and around the world. I am in good health and spirits. I look forward to my return home to friends and family. Semper Fidelis." That is the slogan of the Marines. "Simper Fi," meaning in Latin, "always faithful."

And this has been somewhat in question. Some had questioned whether he really was abducted, whether that videotape that we saw with a sword over his head by his alleged captors was true, whether -- of course,, there was that Web site that said he's been beheaded and then later that was denied.

There are a lot of questions about his whereabouts, how he left his base in Iraq, and those questions have yet to be answered in public. And we hope to hear some more about that when he gets back to the states. He'll be boarding a C-58 transport plane headed for Dover Air Base, and then on to the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, today -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Chris, I understand in private apparently reportedly he has not even revealed many details about the circumstances of his disappearance to military officials. Mostly during this repatriation period he mostly got medical attention. Is that what you're hearing?

BURNS: Well, medical attention was pretty quick, because he's in good shape there. The psychological picking his brain went on for four or five days.

And the people that we've talked to -- we've talked to the psychologist, we've talked to the Muslim chaplain, who were both in there in the consultations with him over the last five days -- they at least gave character references. They believe that he is speaking the truth, at least those are their indications. The psychologist says he has a good head on his shoulders. The Marine -- the chaplain says that he is a fine Marine and served with honor. And another source close to the questioning and consultation here says that they believe that he has a valid story.

So, all of this is seeming to indicate that perhaps he is being believed by those who have talked to him now.

But now, again, the actual investigation by the Navy criminal investigative team does not happen until he gets back to the states, and that is crunch time.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns reporting from Landstuhl, Germany. Thanks very much for that report over the telephone.

So, Wassef Ali Hassoun is almost bound for the U.S. now. Wheels up momentarily, and he'll be heading to Quantico, Virginia, to the Marine base there.

Other news now.

About five hours ago, a suicide car bomber strikes in central Baghdad, killing at least eight Iraqis. At least 40 people are wounded. Three of the deaths are Iraqi National Guard members. The blast occurred near the heavily-fortified area housing Iraq's interim government.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge travels to Boston today. He'll review security plans for the Democratic Convention. This comes one week after he warned of credible threats to disrupt the U.S. election process.

A report is expected to be released later today, outlining options to save the Hubble Telescope. All repair missions have been scrapped for the satellite since the Columbia disaster 16 months ago. Without repairs, the Hubble was expected to break down completely in the next few years.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to hold hearings today on efforts to keep mad cow disease from getting into the food supply. Part of the hearing is expected to focus on a government audit that found major flaws in the updated screening process.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(WEATHER BREAK) WHITFIELD: Well, in Britain, the latest report on the investigation into prewar intelligence-gathering is due out in about an hour. Prime Minister Tony Blair has already had a chance to look at it. The big question, however, is: Will he get blamed for an intelligence failure?

Live to London now with our Diana Muriel.

And this comes, Diana, just about five days after the U.S. Senate Intelligence report released its scathing remarks.

DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. And we're likely to see similar criticisms made in the Butler Report.

As you say, that's going to be issued in an hour's time, although selected journalists are taking their first look at the report, as I speak. And Tony Blair, who is here at 10 Downing Street, will be leaving to go to prime minister's question time in the House of Commons, where they will not discuss this as the report doesn't officially come out until half an hour after he starts speaking at prime minister's question time. But he will address the House of Commons at 1:30 this afternoon on the findings of the Butler Report.

The Butler Report, of course, was set up to look into how intelligence was gathered and evaluated and used in the run-up to the Iraq war.

And although Tony Blair has made it plain that he doesn't want to see anyone made a scapegoat in the findings of this report, the indications are that Lord Butler may well single out individuals for criticism. And they could include Sir John Scott, who was the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which evaluates the information recovered from the various intelligence agencies, and indeed the military. And he was sort of responsible and signed off indeed on that September -- the infamous September 2002 dossier, which mentioned that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.

The others that could also be singled out for criticism include Sir John Dearlove. He'll be replaced by Sir John Scott at the end of this month. He's already been promoted by Tony Blair, who hasn't waited for the findings of this report. And indeed Lord Goldsmith, who is the attorney general -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Diana Muriel from London, thanks very much. We are waiting for Britain's prewar intelligence report to be published and released in about an hour from now.

Well, it's not just the little guy that Enron has left hanging in the wind. We'll look at what it's doing to one large utility company.

Plus, how the food you eat could be healthy or hurting your eyesight. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Well, what to do with Enron? That's what a bankruptcy judge will decide as early as tomorrow. Enron owes its creditors around $74 billion, and some of those owed want the company liquidated. But Enron still has some life left, and has filed several lawsuits in an effort to recoup past profits.

CNN's Allan Chernoff takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The utility that lights up the Vegas Strip is trying to avert a financial blackout, fighting a company that's suing it for breach of contract. And that company is Enron.

WALTER HIGGINS, NEVADA POWER: It's a big serious cut at the company if we had to pay another $336 million to an entity that manipulated the market and now wants to reap the benefits of that. It's like they robbed the bank and now they're back demanding that they be able to withdraw their own money from it.

CHERNOFF: Three hundred thirty-six million dollars is the approximate value of contracts Nevada Power signed with Enron more than three years ago to buy electricity from California to keep Las Vegas lit. What Nevada Power didn't know at the time was that Enron energy traders, according to federal investigators, were working to rig the electricity market.

The utility has obtained tapes from the Colorado River Commission, manager of hydroelectric power for Nevada, that it says provide evidence of an Enron trader plotting a power grid imbalance to profit at the utility's expense.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Nevada Power thinks they're so smug. We screwed them $100!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what I want to see is your load is like 150 megawatts. I want to see you take an imbalance of 200 megawatts on this system. You can talk about that over lunch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. No, I don't think so. The less they understand, the better it's going to be.

CHERNOFF: Enron had no comment on the report.

Nevada Power's parent company, Sierra Pacific Resources, suffered a credit downgrade two years ago when regulators denied the utility permission to pass along to consumers the sky-high prices it had to pay Enron and other energy dealers for power. Enron, already in bankruptcy, seized on Nevada Power's troubles by triggering a clause to end its agreements to deliver electricity to the utility, and then sued Nevada Power to get payment on the contracts.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: The Enron folks have a one-up on organized crime. I mean, if this isn't a conspiracy to set prices, fixed prices, I've never seen one. The organized crime folks could learn a lot from Enron.

CHERNOFF: This internal Enron memo instructed energy traders to drag money in by pressuring customers to settle contracts so Enron could pay off creditors. One threat: the bankruptcy trustee can assign the contract "to the worst (EXPLETIVE DELETED) counterparty we can find if you don't settle now."

Enron declined to speak on camera, but issued this statement: "Enron is working to maximize value for our creditors, and that effort includes pursuing contracts that were defaulted on by counterparties and then validly terminated. We will argue our case in the courts, not the press."

(on camera): And so far, Enron has been successful. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has sided with Enron, ruling its contracts -- quote -- "were not contrary to the public interest." The bankruptcy court has said the issue is beyond its jurisdiction. Nevada Power is appealing both rulings.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, it's about 16 minutes before the hour, and that means we're 16 minutes away from "AMERICAN MORNING." And Heidi Collins and Anderson Cooper are in this morning. The drum roll please.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Can you feel the excitement, Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Yes. We're pumped up for you.

COOPER: Good morning. Some of the headlines this morning, a suicide bombing in Baghdad we're following. More deaths. And what effect did Philippine negotiations have with terrorists? We'll have a live report on that from Baghdad.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Also, an al Qaeda suspect has turned himself in. He's said to be close to Osama bin Laden. So, what secrets might he have? Like maybe he can tell us where Osama is. We're going to be talking to a national security expert about that.

COOPER: And the truth about lying, part three of our weeklong series. Military interrogators, how do they know if they're actually getting the truth? That and more all ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING" -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. We'll be watching. Thanks a lot.

Well, your news, money and weather and sports. And it's now about 15 minutes before the hour. Here's what's all new this morning.

A suicide car bomber strikes again in Baghdad. At least eight Iraqis are dead, dozens are wounded. You are looking at pictures just in a short time ago from the scene.

In money, credit card companies are socking it to you with rising fees. "USA Today" reports the industry took in $43 billion last year in fees alone. Charges for late payments, balance transfers, cash advances and over-the-limit fees are all significantly higher.

In culture, the son of blue grass music pioneer Bill Monroe is trying to sell his father's famous mandolin to the museum. But a legal battle is preventing that sale from happening.

In sports, Lance Armstrong begins today's mountain stage of the Tour de France in sixth place. He's 9 minutes, 35 seconds behind France's Voeckler.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(WEATHER BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, coming up, your parents told you that your eyes would get better if you ate your carrots. But there are other things that you can eat, and there are things that you need to ward off as well to avoid some vision problems.

Then, take a deep breath and pedal. It's quite possibly the messiest extreme sport.

WHITFIELD: We're always keeping a close eye on health news for you. And today is no different. The right diet may be able to protect your eyesight.

Registered dietitian Lisa Drayer is here to give us a closer look. And we know about food for thought, and now there is food for vision as well.

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Exactly, Fredricka, that's right. According to two recent studies, consuming enough fruit and eating certain fats may help protect against age-related eye disease in some individuals.

Let's take a look at these two studies now. The first one looked at several dietary components and their relationship to age-related macular degeneration. This is the leading cost of vision -- the leading cause of vision loss among individuals ages 65 and older. And researchers from Brigham and Women's found that among the 70,000-plus women and 40,000-plus men whose diets were studied, those who ate more than three or more servings of fruit each day had a 36 percent reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration compared to those who consumed less than one and a half fruits per day.

And in terms of specific fruits, oranges and bananas have the most significant correlation in terms of reduced risk.

The second study, also from Brigham and Women's and involving the same study population, looked at fat intake and glaucoma, which is another leading cause of blindness. And this study found that among those with a low intake of omega-3 fats, these are the fats found in fish oil, also flaxseed oil, among these individuals, those whose intake of omega-6 fats found in vegetable oils like corn, sunflower and safflower oil, these individuals have protection against glaucoma. In fact, their risk was decreased by 57 percent compared to those whose intake of both of these fats were very low.

Now, one important point I want to mention about these studies, it's really important to be aware that these are epidemiological studies that look at associations. And it's important to avoid confounding variables.

For example, I spoke with Dr. Mark Werner (ph). He's an ophthalmologist here in New York City. He says, for example, in the fruit study, those who are consuming more than three fruits a day may actually be engaging in other healthy behaviors that are reducing their risk for eye disease.

For example, like smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for macular degeneration. And while researchers looked at smoking in the research, they admit that it would be impossible to avoid this confounding variable entirely.

WHITFIELD: So, I wonder, Lisa, are there certain types of vegetables or certain kinds of fruits that are going to help with your vision more so than others?

DRAYER: Right. Well, in the study it was found that oranges and bananas were most significantly associated with reduced risks, although we do need to see some more research looking specifically at the fruits and what is it about these particular fruits that is linked to decreased risk.

But in the meantime, do aim for about three fruits per day. That's certainly a beneficial thing to do. It can help protect against other diseases as well. And, Fredricka, one serving of fruit is one medium fruit or a half a cup of fresh fruit.

Also, you want to include orange and green leafy vegetables. For example, spinach and kale, these vegetables have been shown to be protective against eye diseases in the past. And also orange vegetables like carrots and even sweet potatoes, these contain beta carotene, which is important for healthy vision, including night vision.

Also, fatty fish, fish like salmon and mackerel, these contain omega-3 fatty acids. These are actually found in eye tissue. I know we've talked about their protective effects on the heart. They're found in eye tissue and may be important for maintaining healthy vision with age.

Also, limit your calorie intake. This reduces risk of diseases like diabetes and hypertension, and those are two risk factors for glaucoma. So another reason to keep your weight in check.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lisa Drayer helping us see better and feel better. Thanks a lot.

DRAYER: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chad, so eat your vegetables and fruits, three servings.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: So, I guess the beer diet doesn't really count anymore, does it?

WHITFIELD: It's not going to work.

MYERS: No, I guess not.

Anyway, time to give away the DAYBREAK mug.

WHITFIELD: That does something else to your vision.

MYERS: Yes, it just makes it blurry.

Anyway, back to the question here. How many -- women in Iraq make up what percentage of the population? That was yesterday's question. And the number is 60. Sixty percent of women compared to 40 percent of men.

In the weekend Gallup poll for voters in North Carolina, what presidential candidate leads the race? And that's President Bush, about 15 points, even in North Carolina.

And the winner, John Mueller from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

WHITFIELD: Go, John! Go, John! Go, John! That's your backup.

MYERS: Keep going.

WHITFIELD: A little (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sound is OK.

MYERS: And now some pretty easy questions for today, if you were paying any attention to Lisa Drayer at all. What item is being sold in support of President Bush's campaign? That's No. 1. And how many servings of fruit did Lisa Drayer just say you should consume each day to cut your risk of macular degeneration by a third, by one-third, by 33 percent?

So send them in, need both questions, at Daybreak@CNN.com.

WHITFIELD: All right, you can get that mug. Thanks a lot, Chad.

All right, except you're not going anywhere. You're going to stick around, because you're going to join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up. But first, here are the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: I'd say it's time for a little "Lightning Round." What do you think?

MYERS: Let's do it. Three good ones.

WHITFIELD: All right, here we go.

If mountain biking doesn't get you dirty enough and snorkeling is a little too serene, how about this? It's mountain bike, bog snorkeling. And it's the yearly event in Wales, of all places. Competitors have to finish two lengths of the bog without inhaling too much goo. Oh, gosh!

MYERS: It's gooey, too.

WHITFIELD: And the British aren't done combining obscure things to make a good race. In the pedal car grand prix, teens build their own cars and then pedal for two hours. The winning team made it 70 laps.

MYERS: I have a pedal car when I was a kid.

WHITFIELD: That looks like fun, though, doesn't it?

MYERS: I thought that was just the greatest thing of all time.

WHITFIELD: I like that.

MYERS: I was a little -- I was the cop, and I would drive around. I was an only child. Drive around by myself and give other people speeding tickets, imaginary friends.

WHITFIELD: Did you have a little bell like that, a little ringer?

MYERS: No, I didn't have a bell.

WHITFIELD: Oh, darn.

MYERS: Go ahead.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, it was a convertible, you can scream.

All right, move over, Jack and the Beanstalk. Check out these awesome flowers.

MYERS: Wow!

WHITFIELD: Yes. Really tall. That's a guy way down there. They're between 13 and 15 feet high. The Ramadini (ph) family just planted these seeds when? This year in April.

MYERS: Wow!

WHITFIELD: Amazing. Well, now they have to stretch a tape measure from the ground to the roof to take the measurements.

MYERS: It was, yes, 15 feet high.

WHITFIELD: That's a lot of fun.

MYERS: I grew some the other year -- last year.

WHITFIELD: Really?

MYERS: It was probably 10 feet high, but certainly not that size. Look at the size of the flower on top as well.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh!

MYERS: It's just really...

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, the all-important bloom.

MYERS: And what they do with them, the wife has him cut these down, and then he just puts them on the fence, and then the birds come and eat all of the seeds out of it. So...

WHITFIELD: Oh, neat!

MYERS: Yes, so...

WHITFIELD: That's a lot of fun.

MYERS: Yes, it really is pretty good.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, it's nice to watch nature grow. All right.

Well, from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, for Chad Myers, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "AMERICAN MORNING" begins 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 July 14, 2004 - 06:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello this morning.
Our top story. Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, who went missing in Iraq, is heading back to the U.S. today from a U.S. hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.

Our Chris Burns is on the phone with us now with the latest update.

And is it wheels up -- Chris?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, it should be in the next couple of hours, they say. He has just left Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. That's the U.S. military hospital, where he's been here for about five days since he came from Lebanon, his native Lebanon, where he turned up after three weeks of disappearance from his base in Iraq.

And the medical center has just released this statement, where he says, Corporal Hassoun says, "I am excited to be going home. All thanks and praises are due to God for my safety. I'm also very thankful for all those kind wishes, support and the prayers for me and my family, for my fellow Marines, all the people in the U.S., Lebanon and around the world. I am in good health and spirits. I look forward to my return home to friends and family. Semper Fidelis." That is the slogan of the Marines. "Simper Fi," meaning in Latin, "always faithful."

And this has been somewhat in question. Some had questioned whether he really was abducted, whether that videotape that we saw with a sword over his head by his alleged captors was true, whether -- of course,, there was that Web site that said he's been beheaded and then later that was denied.

There are a lot of questions about his whereabouts, how he left his base in Iraq, and those questions have yet to be answered in public. And we hope to hear some more about that when he gets back to the states. He'll be boarding a C-58 transport plane headed for Dover Air Base, and then on to the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia, today -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And, Chris, I understand in private apparently reportedly he has not even revealed many details about the circumstances of his disappearance to military officials. Mostly during this repatriation period he mostly got medical attention. Is that what you're hearing?

BURNS: Well, medical attention was pretty quick, because he's in good shape there. The psychological picking his brain went on for four or five days.

And the people that we've talked to -- we've talked to the psychologist, we've talked to the Muslim chaplain, who were both in there in the consultations with him over the last five days -- they at least gave character references. They believe that he is speaking the truth, at least those are their indications. The psychologist says he has a good head on his shoulders. The Marine -- the chaplain says that he is a fine Marine and served with honor. And another source close to the questioning and consultation here says that they believe that he has a valid story.

So, all of this is seeming to indicate that perhaps he is being believed by those who have talked to him now.

But now, again, the actual investigation by the Navy criminal investigative team does not happen until he gets back to the states, and that is crunch time.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chris Burns reporting from Landstuhl, Germany. Thanks very much for that report over the telephone.

So, Wassef Ali Hassoun is almost bound for the U.S. now. Wheels up momentarily, and he'll be heading to Quantico, Virginia, to the Marine base there.

Other news now.

About five hours ago, a suicide car bomber strikes in central Baghdad, killing at least eight Iraqis. At least 40 people are wounded. Three of the deaths are Iraqi National Guard members. The blast occurred near the heavily-fortified area housing Iraq's interim government.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge travels to Boston today. He'll review security plans for the Democratic Convention. This comes one week after he warned of credible threats to disrupt the U.S. election process.

A report is expected to be released later today, outlining options to save the Hubble Telescope. All repair missions have been scrapped for the satellite since the Columbia disaster 16 months ago. Without repairs, the Hubble was expected to break down completely in the next few years.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to hold hearings today on efforts to keep mad cow disease from getting into the food supply. Part of the hearing is expected to focus on a government audit that found major flaws in the updated screening process.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(WEATHER BREAK) WHITFIELD: Well, in Britain, the latest report on the investigation into prewar intelligence-gathering is due out in about an hour. Prime Minister Tony Blair has already had a chance to look at it. The big question, however, is: Will he get blamed for an intelligence failure?

Live to London now with our Diana Muriel.

And this comes, Diana, just about five days after the U.S. Senate Intelligence report released its scathing remarks.

DIANA MURIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Fredricka. And we're likely to see similar criticisms made in the Butler Report.

As you say, that's going to be issued in an hour's time, although selected journalists are taking their first look at the report, as I speak. And Tony Blair, who is here at 10 Downing Street, will be leaving to go to prime minister's question time in the House of Commons, where they will not discuss this as the report doesn't officially come out until half an hour after he starts speaking at prime minister's question time. But he will address the House of Commons at 1:30 this afternoon on the findings of the Butler Report.

The Butler Report, of course, was set up to look into how intelligence was gathered and evaluated and used in the run-up to the Iraq war.

And although Tony Blair has made it plain that he doesn't want to see anyone made a scapegoat in the findings of this report, the indications are that Lord Butler may well single out individuals for criticism. And they could include Sir John Scott, who was the head of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which evaluates the information recovered from the various intelligence agencies, and indeed the military. And he was sort of responsible and signed off indeed on that September -- the infamous September 2002 dossier, which mentioned that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.

The others that could also be singled out for criticism include Sir John Dearlove. He'll be replaced by Sir John Scott at the end of this month. He's already been promoted by Tony Blair, who hasn't waited for the findings of this report. And indeed Lord Goldsmith, who is the attorney general -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Diana Muriel from London, thanks very much. We are waiting for Britain's prewar intelligence report to be published and released in about an hour from now.

Well, it's not just the little guy that Enron has left hanging in the wind. We'll look at what it's doing to one large utility company.

Plus, how the food you eat could be healthy or hurting your eyesight. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WHITFIELD: Well, what to do with Enron? That's what a bankruptcy judge will decide as early as tomorrow. Enron owes its creditors around $74 billion, and some of those owed want the company liquidated. But Enron still has some life left, and has filed several lawsuits in an effort to recoup past profits.

CNN's Allan Chernoff takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The utility that lights up the Vegas Strip is trying to avert a financial blackout, fighting a company that's suing it for breach of contract. And that company is Enron.

WALTER HIGGINS, NEVADA POWER: It's a big serious cut at the company if we had to pay another $336 million to an entity that manipulated the market and now wants to reap the benefits of that. It's like they robbed the bank and now they're back demanding that they be able to withdraw their own money from it.

CHERNOFF: Three hundred thirty-six million dollars is the approximate value of contracts Nevada Power signed with Enron more than three years ago to buy electricity from California to keep Las Vegas lit. What Nevada Power didn't know at the time was that Enron energy traders, according to federal investigators, were working to rig the electricity market.

The utility has obtained tapes from the Colorado River Commission, manager of hydroelectric power for Nevada, that it says provide evidence of an Enron trader plotting a power grid imbalance to profit at the utility's expense.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Nevada Power thinks they're so smug. We screwed them $100!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what I want to see is your load is like 150 megawatts. I want to see you take an imbalance of 200 megawatts on this system. You can talk about that over lunch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. No, I don't think so. The less they understand, the better it's going to be.

CHERNOFF: Enron had no comment on the report.

Nevada Power's parent company, Sierra Pacific Resources, suffered a credit downgrade two years ago when regulators denied the utility permission to pass along to consumers the sky-high prices it had to pay Enron and other energy dealers for power. Enron, already in bankruptcy, seized on Nevada Power's troubles by triggering a clause to end its agreements to deliver electricity to the utility, and then sued Nevada Power to get payment on the contracts.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), NEVADA: The Enron folks have a one-up on organized crime. I mean, if this isn't a conspiracy to set prices, fixed prices, I've never seen one. The organized crime folks could learn a lot from Enron.

CHERNOFF: This internal Enron memo instructed energy traders to drag money in by pressuring customers to settle contracts so Enron could pay off creditors. One threat: the bankruptcy trustee can assign the contract "to the worst (EXPLETIVE DELETED) counterparty we can find if you don't settle now."

Enron declined to speak on camera, but issued this statement: "Enron is working to maximize value for our creditors, and that effort includes pursuing contracts that were defaulted on by counterparties and then validly terminated. We will argue our case in the courts, not the press."

(on camera): And so far, Enron has been successful. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has sided with Enron, ruling its contracts -- quote -- "were not contrary to the public interest." The bankruptcy court has said the issue is beyond its jurisdiction. Nevada Power is appealing both rulings.

Allan Chernoff, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Well, it's about 16 minutes before the hour, and that means we're 16 minutes away from "AMERICAN MORNING." And Heidi Collins and Anderson Cooper are in this morning. The drum roll please.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Can you feel the excitement, Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Yes. We're pumped up for you.

COOPER: Good morning. Some of the headlines this morning, a suicide bombing in Baghdad we're following. More deaths. And what effect did Philippine negotiations have with terrorists? We'll have a live report on that from Baghdad.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Also, an al Qaeda suspect has turned himself in. He's said to be close to Osama bin Laden. So, what secrets might he have? Like maybe he can tell us where Osama is. We're going to be talking to a national security expert about that.

COOPER: And the truth about lying, part three of our weeklong series. Military interrogators, how do they know if they're actually getting the truth? That and more all ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING" -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. We'll be watching. Thanks a lot.

Well, your news, money and weather and sports. And it's now about 15 minutes before the hour. Here's what's all new this morning.

A suicide car bomber strikes again in Baghdad. At least eight Iraqis are dead, dozens are wounded. You are looking at pictures just in a short time ago from the scene.

In money, credit card companies are socking it to you with rising fees. "USA Today" reports the industry took in $43 billion last year in fees alone. Charges for late payments, balance transfers, cash advances and over-the-limit fees are all significantly higher.

In culture, the son of blue grass music pioneer Bill Monroe is trying to sell his father's famous mandolin to the museum. But a legal battle is preventing that sale from happening.

In sports, Lance Armstrong begins today's mountain stage of the Tour de France in sixth place. He's 9 minutes, 35 seconds behind France's Voeckler.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(WEATHER BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Well, coming up, your parents told you that your eyes would get better if you ate your carrots. But there are other things that you can eat, and there are things that you need to ward off as well to avoid some vision problems.

Then, take a deep breath and pedal. It's quite possibly the messiest extreme sport.

WHITFIELD: We're always keeping a close eye on health news for you. And today is no different. The right diet may be able to protect your eyesight.

Registered dietitian Lisa Drayer is here to give us a closer look. And we know about food for thought, and now there is food for vision as well.

LISA DRAYER, REGISTERED DIETITIAN: Exactly, Fredricka, that's right. According to two recent studies, consuming enough fruit and eating certain fats may help protect against age-related eye disease in some individuals.

Let's take a look at these two studies now. The first one looked at several dietary components and their relationship to age-related macular degeneration. This is the leading cost of vision -- the leading cause of vision loss among individuals ages 65 and older. And researchers from Brigham and Women's found that among the 70,000-plus women and 40,000-plus men whose diets were studied, those who ate more than three or more servings of fruit each day had a 36 percent reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration compared to those who consumed less than one and a half fruits per day.

And in terms of specific fruits, oranges and bananas have the most significant correlation in terms of reduced risk.

The second study, also from Brigham and Women's and involving the same study population, looked at fat intake and glaucoma, which is another leading cause of blindness. And this study found that among those with a low intake of omega-3 fats, these are the fats found in fish oil, also flaxseed oil, among these individuals, those whose intake of omega-6 fats found in vegetable oils like corn, sunflower and safflower oil, these individuals have protection against glaucoma. In fact, their risk was decreased by 57 percent compared to those whose intake of both of these fats were very low.

Now, one important point I want to mention about these studies, it's really important to be aware that these are epidemiological studies that look at associations. And it's important to avoid confounding variables.

For example, I spoke with Dr. Mark Werner (ph). He's an ophthalmologist here in New York City. He says, for example, in the fruit study, those who are consuming more than three fruits a day may actually be engaging in other healthy behaviors that are reducing their risk for eye disease.

For example, like smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for macular degeneration. And while researchers looked at smoking in the research, they admit that it would be impossible to avoid this confounding variable entirely.

WHITFIELD: So, I wonder, Lisa, are there certain types of vegetables or certain kinds of fruits that are going to help with your vision more so than others?

DRAYER: Right. Well, in the study it was found that oranges and bananas were most significantly associated with reduced risks, although we do need to see some more research looking specifically at the fruits and what is it about these particular fruits that is linked to decreased risk.

But in the meantime, do aim for about three fruits per day. That's certainly a beneficial thing to do. It can help protect against other diseases as well. And, Fredricka, one serving of fruit is one medium fruit or a half a cup of fresh fruit.

Also, you want to include orange and green leafy vegetables. For example, spinach and kale, these vegetables have been shown to be protective against eye diseases in the past. And also orange vegetables like carrots and even sweet potatoes, these contain beta carotene, which is important for healthy vision, including night vision.

Also, fatty fish, fish like salmon and mackerel, these contain omega-3 fatty acids. These are actually found in eye tissue. I know we've talked about their protective effects on the heart. They're found in eye tissue and may be important for maintaining healthy vision with age.

Also, limit your calorie intake. This reduces risk of diseases like diabetes and hypertension, and those are two risk factors for glaucoma. So another reason to keep your weight in check.

WHITFIELD: All right, Lisa Drayer helping us see better and feel better. Thanks a lot.

DRAYER: Thanks.

WHITFIELD: All right, Chad, so eat your vegetables and fruits, three servings.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: So, I guess the beer diet doesn't really count anymore, does it?

WHITFIELD: It's not going to work.

MYERS: No, I guess not.

Anyway, time to give away the DAYBREAK mug.

WHITFIELD: That does something else to your vision.

MYERS: Yes, it just makes it blurry.

Anyway, back to the question here. How many -- women in Iraq make up what percentage of the population? That was yesterday's question. And the number is 60. Sixty percent of women compared to 40 percent of men.

In the weekend Gallup poll for voters in North Carolina, what presidential candidate leads the race? And that's President Bush, about 15 points, even in North Carolina.

And the winner, John Mueller from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

WHITFIELD: Go, John! Go, John! Go, John! That's your backup.

MYERS: Keep going.

WHITFIELD: A little (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sound is OK.

MYERS: And now some pretty easy questions for today, if you were paying any attention to Lisa Drayer at all. What item is being sold in support of President Bush's campaign? That's No. 1. And how many servings of fruit did Lisa Drayer just say you should consume each day to cut your risk of macular degeneration by a third, by one-third, by 33 percent?

So send them in, need both questions, at Daybreak@CNN.com.

WHITFIELD: All right, you can get that mug. Thanks a lot, Chad.

All right, except you're not going anywhere. You're going to stick around, because you're going to join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up. But first, here are the headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: I'd say it's time for a little "Lightning Round." What do you think?

MYERS: Let's do it. Three good ones.

WHITFIELD: All right, here we go.

If mountain biking doesn't get you dirty enough and snorkeling is a little too serene, how about this? It's mountain bike, bog snorkeling. And it's the yearly event in Wales, of all places. Competitors have to finish two lengths of the bog without inhaling too much goo. Oh, gosh!

MYERS: It's gooey, too.

WHITFIELD: And the British aren't done combining obscure things to make a good race. In the pedal car grand prix, teens build their own cars and then pedal for two hours. The winning team made it 70 laps.

MYERS: I have a pedal car when I was a kid.

WHITFIELD: That looks like fun, though, doesn't it?

MYERS: I thought that was just the greatest thing of all time.

WHITFIELD: I like that.

MYERS: I was a little -- I was the cop, and I would drive around. I was an only child. Drive around by myself and give other people speeding tickets, imaginary friends.

WHITFIELD: Did you have a little bell like that, a little ringer?

MYERS: No, I didn't have a bell.

WHITFIELD: Oh, darn.

MYERS: Go ahead.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, it was a convertible, you can scream.

All right, move over, Jack and the Beanstalk. Check out these awesome flowers.

MYERS: Wow!

WHITFIELD: Yes. Really tall. That's a guy way down there. They're between 13 and 15 feet high. The Ramadini (ph) family just planted these seeds when? This year in April.

MYERS: Wow!

WHITFIELD: Amazing. Well, now they have to stretch a tape measure from the ground to the roof to take the measurements.

MYERS: It was, yes, 15 feet high.

WHITFIELD: That's a lot of fun.

MYERS: I grew some the other year -- last year.

WHITFIELD: Really?

MYERS: It was probably 10 feet high, but certainly not that size. Look at the size of the flower on top as well.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh!

MYERS: It's just really...

WHITFIELD: Oh, yes, the all-important bloom.

MYERS: And what they do with them, the wife has him cut these down, and then he just puts them on the fence, and then the birds come and eat all of the seeds out of it. So...

WHITFIELD: Oh, neat!

MYERS: Yes, so...

WHITFIELD: That's a lot of fun.

MYERS: Yes, it really is pretty good.

WHITFIELD: All right, well, it's nice to watch nature grow. All right.

Well, from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, for Chad Myers, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. "AMERICAN MORNING" begins right now.

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