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CNN Live At Daybreak

Palestinian Crisis; In the Green Zone; Bobo's House Burns; Olympic Security; Beer Brouhaha

Aired July 20, 2004 - 05:30   ET

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


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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: ... in Washington for the day.
A Filipino truck driver being held hostage in Iraq is now waiting to come home. An official with the Arab -- United Arab Emirates Embassy in Baghdad says Angelo de la Cruz is in their care. The release comes one day after the Philippine government pulled its last troops out of Iraq.

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

And we want to turn now to Chad Myers for a look at the forecast.

Lots of rain across the country.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, especially in the afternoon, Betty, things really just fire up, the showers pop up and then they just keep on going. But that's so typical of a -- of a summertime pattern, you get humidity in the air and so on and so on and so on.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Betty, back to you.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: A Philippine hostage held for two weeks in Iraq is now free. Right now, Angelo de la Cruz is at the embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Baghdad. He will next be released to the Philippine Embassy there before heading home. The 46-year-old truck driver has been the center of days of international negotiations.

And the Philippine government has come under enormous criticism from the international community for bowing to the hostage taker's demands. The last of the Philippine troops left Baghdad yesterday.

Samuel Berger, the national security adviser in the Clinton administration, is in trouble this morning. It's the result of preparations he made for an appearance in March before the commission investigating the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Berger is under a federal criminal investigation for allegedly taking classified documents and handwritten notes from a national Archive screening room.

Berger released a statement saying he -- quote -- "inadvertently took a few documents." He goes on -- quoting here -- "I also took my notes on the documents reviewed. When I was informed by the Archives there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had, except for a few documents that apparently I had accidentally discarded."

We will have more on this from our national correspondent Bob Franken in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

The Palestinian cabinet is meeting in emergency session right now. They have been at it for about an hour. The crisis surrounds Yasser Arafat's leadership, the prime minister and the Palestinian security services.

Joining us now from Jerusalem to sort it all out is our Alessio Vinci.

Good morning, Alessio, lots going on these past few hours.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot going on, Betty. That cabinet session, the third -- the third meeting in as many days, an emergency session right now. This time, however, they are meeting at a muqada (ph), the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Authority, over there. He is meeting with both the prime minister, as well as some of his cabinet ministers. On the agenda, of course, the resignations of Prime Minister Qorei, as well as the ongoing -- of the chaos in Gaza over the last couple of days.

The prime minister still says that he wants to step down, that he wants to resign. And he is still waiting for a written response by Chairman Arafat, who has, at this point, very few options, either reject those demands to resign in a written form or accept them and perhaps by offering a cabinet reshuffle.

And that is what analysts believe may be the solution to -- may be the key to this solution, because the prime minister and the cabinet are asking Arafat to cede some of his powers over the security forces. And asking, by the way, for an empowered interior minister who could directly deal with the security situation in Gaza this time.

You may imagine that in the last few days of chaos, we have not even heard from the existing, the sitting current interior minister. That's an indication about how little powers he has at this -- at this point.

Now meanwhile, overnight in Gaza, there has been an attack in the refugee camp of Shati (ph). According to Palestinian security sources, they are telling us that Israeli helicopters fired at a house of a known militant in the refugee camp there in what appeared to be an operation aimed at killing a suspected militant leader.

The target was the head of a militant umbrella group called the Palestinian Popular Resistance. His name is Abu Yousef Al-Cooka (ph). It was the second such attack of his -- on his house in less than one day. Palestinian sources telling us that during the first attack, three people were wounded. During the second attack, two people were wounded, but it is unclear whether Cooka himself was wounded in that attack. Back to you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Alessio, let's talk a little bit about this internal struggle. If the young guards eventually get the upper hand, would that make the situation better for negotiations there?

VINCI: Well most of the militants who have taken to the streets in the last few days are believed to be loyal to a man called Muhamed Delan (ph), who was a former interior minister in the first cabinet of Abu Mazen. The -- he is believed to be the man whom both the Americans, as well as the Israelis, see as a possible potential negotiating partner in the -- in the -- in the ongoing Israeli- Palestinian strife.

So should eventually these militant groups take the upper hand or come ahead and this man indeed become a prime -- become an interior minister or, again, a man in power, certainly that would help the current stall, if you want, peace process that is -- that is basically going nowhere for the last two-and-a-half years -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Very interesting. Alessio Vinci in Jerusalem, thank you for that.

What do these overall developments mean to the stranded Palestinian-Israeli situation? We'll talk about this Palestinian crisis in the first half of DAYBREAK's next hour with Jon Alterman, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Well a month after disappearing under mysterious circumstances in Iraq, a Marine corporal offers his first public explanation of what happened. The military is investigating whether Wassef Ali Hassoun's reported kidnapping was a hoax and whether he deserted his unit. Hassoun says he wants to set the record straight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. WASSEF ALI HASSOUN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I did not desert my post. I was captured and held against my will by anti-coalition forces for 19 days. This was a very difficult and challenging time for me. Since my release, I have been fully participating in the repatriation process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Investigators have yet to question Hassoun who has not been charged with any wrongdoing. He'll soon return to his unit's home base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The Army National Guard could be showing signs of battle fatigue. According to "USA Today," it's having a tough time recruiting new soldiers and trouble signs are pretty obvious. The newspaper reports the Guard is 6,000 shy of its target strength of 350,000 soldiers. At the end of May, it was more than 5,400 recruits short. And it's had to activate more than 5,600 soldiers of its Individual Ready Reserve in order to fill those gaps. Recruiters were expecting many reservists to extend their service with the Guard this year, but they are worried repeated call-ups might change all of that.

Now to Baghdad, the Green Zone is a place of relative safety. Security there is extremely high.

And our Brian Todd spoke with "TIME" magazine photographer Karen Ballard about her experiences documenting history-making events there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside a dangerous, violent metropolis, a government must function. Amid mortar rounds, car bombs, gunfire, a nation must be built. In Baghdad, this mission, first of the coalition provisional authority and now of the international Iraqi government, is carried out in an extraordinary place, a place where photographer Karen Ballard spends more than a month on assignment for "TIME" magazine.

KAREN BALLARD, PHOTOGRAPHER, "TIME": There's tons and tons and tons of security there. A lot of it is hidden. A lot of it, you can't see it. There's high walls.

TODD: Ballard lives in the Green Zone during the days leading up to and immediately after the June 28 handover. She brings back images of bravery, dedication, sacrifice, soldiers, administrators from so many nations working inside what often seems to be a fortified trailer park.

One unforgettable day, she's there as the world's most famous prisoner is led to one of his former palaces to face justice, appearing, she says, disheveled confused.

BALLARD: He probably had no idea what was getting ready to happen to him. And so he was just checking it out minute by minute. What's next? Who's this? Where are they taking me?

TODD: One top U.S. commander later tells CNN, Saddam Hussein first thought he was being brought there to be shot. Apparently realizing he won't, he smiles and exchanges words with his escorts. And in a haunting moment for Ballard, the man who sometimes needed just a look to inflict unspeakable harm stares her down.

BALLARD: Definitely just stopped and looked at me dead on, like, who are you and how did you get in this room and why are you taking my picture? I definitely felt a really serious vibe from him at that point.

TODD: She captures Saddam's courtroom theatrics, clicks away as he's escorted out, then turns her lens towards some other very fearsome men, Saddam's former aides as they line up for a perp walk.

Winning access of a more sublime nature, Karen Ballard also is side by side with former U.S. administrator Paul Bremer during his final week in Iraq. Typically for Bremer, he's constantly on the move, meeting with Iraqis of various alliances, including a feast with the cousin of renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. She describes a man who's focused, better liked by Iraqis than public impression might indicate, with one characteristic that stays in Ballard's mind.

BALLARD: His ability to not be afraid, to take risks, to go out into Baghdad. He did it every day, unless he was on the road.

TODD: Handover day, events moving unexpectedly fast. Bremer and his team gather. With what appears to be lightening speed, Iraq becomes sovereign. Bremer gestures, it's yours now, as he's shuttled out in an armada security, one last reflective look at what he's leaving behind.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And you can learn more about the challenges of rebuilding Iraq by going to our Web site. Our coverage gives you the depth of a newspaper, coupled with the immediacy of television. Our address, CNN.com.

The saga continues for Steve Sipek, the man whose pet tiger, Bobo, was killed by police. This time, police stood at the ready just in case another big cat escaped while Sipek's house burned.

We get the story now from Sean Kelly of CNN affiliate WPBF in south Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN KELLY, WPBF-TV REPORTER (voice-over): To drivers creeping along bumper to bumper on the west end of Okeechobee Boulevard, it felt like the ultimate deja vu. C Road blocked by sheriff's deputies, flashing lights and nothing visible to explain what happened. Flashback exactly one week to a sunny but fearful day in exactly the same spot when Steve Sipek's tiger escaped. This time, a row of firefighters surrounded Sipek's home.

(on camera): Well what did you think when you first heard that it was Mr. Sipek's house on fire?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just that the immediate concern was for the animals, thinking that the animals, knowing that he kept them at the house.

KELLY (voice-over): A newly installed air conditioning unit caught fire. Emergency workers couldn't get to the flames immediately because of electrical fencing, tall iron gates and of course, Sipek's big cats.

Dave Hitzig, from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, arrived when the fire started. He helped Sipek get his tiger, two lions, a cougar and a leopard secure.

DAVE HITZIG, BUSCH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: At that point in time, it was just making sure that all the animals were accounted for. There are five cats here. All five cats have been accounted for.

KELLY: Deputies stood ready at the front entrance in case any of the animals escaped.

HITZIG: Obviously this last week has been a whirlwind. And Steve's comment to me was, he says, you know what else can happen? He says you know maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

KELLY: First his favorite tiger got loose. After a 26-hour search, a Wildlife Commission officer killed it. This weekend, he buried Bobo and planned on recreating his intense privacy. Fire and smoke ruined most of his home. He says he won't let that take him away from caring for his big cats.

STEVE SIPEK, OWNER: And I'm a survivor, OK. I found out people are not the one that's going to make me happy, you know. I volunteer tranquility among animals and happiness, you know, and I don't want to change it, ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that report from Sean Kelly of CNN affiliate WPBF.

In response to last week's incident with Bobo, officials were scheduled to inspect Sipek's animal compound today. That, of course, will likely be put on hold for the time being.

Well is Athens ready for The Games? Ahead, Olympic security concerns. An update in just a few minutes from Greece on just how prepared the country is for the upcoming Olympics.

And forget the bratwurst, BMWs and German beer, the 2006 World Cup in Germany won't have any of that. Why Germans are upset about the situation and what American companies have to do with it, that's at 10 minutes before the hour.

This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, July 20.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In Athens, Greece today, full scale Olympic security measures are set to go into effect. It's the last phase of a readiness plan that includes about 70,000 security forces deployed in various strategic locations around the city. The Games begin on August 13. Is Athens ready?

Well to help answer that question, we check in by phone with freelance journalist Elinda Labropoulou.

Good morning to you.

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: Hi, Betty.

As you say, yes, security here is extremely tight and it's getting tighter every day. Today alone, the Port of Piraeus was closed for a few hours. The port is about 10 kilometers out of Athens, just to allow for the installation of some seabed sensors for security. This is tremendously important because the port is a place where a lot of the Olympic dignitaries will be staying on cruise ships, which will be used as floating hotels during The Games. So, as you can see, these are very last-minute details being put together.

NGUYEN: And speaking of those...

LABROPOULOU: Apart from that, yes, there is a lot more police on the streets. You can see -- you can see different installations of surveillance cameras and various other things taking place at the moment. Just basically you can see a city that's just getting very, very close to the final touches.

NGUYEN: Elinda, getting close, but we understand several venues are still under construction. Will they be ready in time? We're talking August 13.

LABROPOULOU: Yes, that's very true, and we are only a few weeks away. Well, I can tell you what the Greek authorities here say, they say that everything will be ready. I believe they will be ready. And the reason I am saying this is because being here on a day-to-day basis, you see tremendous progress from one day to the next.

NGUYEN: We're looking at some video right now of the new transit system, which they rolled out yesterday. What's being done to make sure folks don't -- these possible terrorists don't bring explosive devices on to these transit systems?

LABROPOULOU: Well I mean that is a very good question. But at the moment, the security system, the surveillance cameras are operating very, very well, we've been told. We've been told that all mass transport systems have very good security controls. People here don't seem to worry about it at all.

As you may have seen, being the first day of the new tram line yesterday, there were a lot of people who showed up just to show their support for the new system and to get on those trams and say well look, we're not scared, this is not a problem. And, at the moment, there is about 70 percent support from the Greeks, from Athenians for The Games saying there is not going to be any problems with security.

There is no general fear in the same way that is perceived abroad. People here seem to think that The Games will go on without any problems. Of course nobody can guarantee this, but at least the general perception here is a lot tamer, probably because we can see these operations on the streets and we can understand...

NGUYEN: And seeing is believing sometimes. All right, Elinda, we are out of time. Elinda Labropoulou, thank you for that report out of Greece this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. That's coming up. It is 5:49 Eastern Time, and here is what's all new this morning.

A human rights watch group says a paper trail ties the Sudanese government to ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region. One group says Arab militants carried out mass rape and kidnappings of young girls as young as 8 and women as old as 80. Sudan denies the charges.

Thirty-five years ago today, Neil Armstrong spoke those immortal words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." On July 20, 1969 Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first astronauts to walk on the moon.

In money, you are paying more for gas again. Energy officials say prices are climbing back up for a second week in a row. The national average is around $1.93 a gallon.

In culture, singer Linda Ronstadt gets fired for dedicating a song to filmmaker Michael Moore at a concert in Las Vegas. That outraged the audience. Security even threw Ronstadt off the property after the concert.

In sports, Eddie George, all-time leading rusher for the Tennessee Titans, has rejected the team's latest contract offer. George is asking the Titans to release him quickly so he can find a new job. No comment from the Titans just yet.

Want to talk about some weather now and for that we go to Chad Myers.

What do you think about that -- Chad?

MYERS: I used to -- I used to watch him play at Ohio State in the -- in the Horseshoe, and man could he play. So yes, I hope he lands at a good team.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Thank you, Chad.

Budweiser calls itself the King of Beers. And following a huge sponsorship deal, they may start calling themselves that kaiser as well.

CNN's Chris Burns has more from Berlin on the battle over beer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's almost enough to make some here cry in their beer. What's a 2006 World Cup in Germany without the country's strong beer, greasy sausage or fast cars?

There are enough Berlin beers, she says. It's not nice. It's also not good for the German economy.

In the stadiums, America's Anheuser-Busch will supply the only brew on tap, Budweiser.

(on camera): So you're not going to drink it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would drink it if I don't have to pay for it, but...

(voice-over): That's if they want to wash down their McDonald's Big Macs. And the official cars will be South Korean Hyundais. Like Anheuser-Busch, company sponsors of the games.

Outraged, no, he says, but I think German culture, like beer and sausage, should be shown more to the world public.

The international Soccer Federation, FIFA, argues the sponsors pay big money for World Cup rights.

GERD GRAUS, FIFA: FIFA has 15 global partners, years ago, even before Germany would get the right to host the World Cup.

BURNS (on camera): So rules is rules?

GRAUS: Rules is rules.

BURNS: How does that feel?

HERBERT FRANKENHAUSER, BAVARIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Horrible. It feels horrible.

BURNS (voice-over): Herbert Frankenhauser, a Bavarian member of parliament, heads Germany's beer Purity Association, defending century's old brewing rules.

FRANKENHAUSER: We hope that the most visitors don't drink anything in the stadium and do it after the game.

BURNS: Not the thing FIFA wants to hear. Sponsors are paying over $650 million for the 2006 events. Some are homegrown, like Deutsche Telekom and Adidas. Some beer drinkers say they understand.

You have to think internationally, not so nationally, he says.

But for others, it's not an idea they are exactly gulping down.

Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to DAYBREAK. Here are some stories making news 'Across America' this Tuesday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back home in North Carolina. Earnhardt was released from the hospital after suffering second degree burns on his face and legs during a racing wreck in California. Earnhardt's NASCAR team says he'll be back behind the wheel of the No. 8 starting this weekend.

Kobe Bryant back in court. Both sides argued over whether to admit his accuser's past sexual history into evidence. The judge in the case is also considering whether to ban online postings of court events because the accuser's name might accidentally be released. The accuser's attorney says that's already happened to the woman several times, which has caused her to consider pulling out of the case.

Police will resume their search for 16-year-old New Jersey teen Brittney Gregory today. She was last seen nine days ago. Thirty- eight-year-old Jack Fuller appeared in court after being charged in the girl's murder, but he didn't enter a plea. And prosecutors won't say why they filed charges against him. Fuller is being held on a million dollar's bail.

In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a developing story out of Baghdad, after days of being held hostage, a Filipino man is free. We have a live report just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Free from his captors, the Philippine government met their demand to pull out troops. This morning this man is free.

It's Tuesday, July 20, and this is DAYBREAK.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired July 20, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: ... in Washington for the day.
A Filipino truck driver being held hostage in Iraq is now waiting to come home. An official with the Arab -- United Arab Emirates Embassy in Baghdad says Angelo de la Cruz is in their care. The release comes one day after the Philippine government pulled its last troops out of Iraq.

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

And we want to turn now to Chad Myers for a look at the forecast.

Lots of rain across the country.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, especially in the afternoon, Betty, things really just fire up, the showers pop up and then they just keep on going. But that's so typical of a -- of a summertime pattern, you get humidity in the air and so on and so on and so on.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Betty, back to you.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: A Philippine hostage held for two weeks in Iraq is now free. Right now, Angelo de la Cruz is at the embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Baghdad. He will next be released to the Philippine Embassy there before heading home. The 46-year-old truck driver has been the center of days of international negotiations.

And the Philippine government has come under enormous criticism from the international community for bowing to the hostage taker's demands. The last of the Philippine troops left Baghdad yesterday.

Samuel Berger, the national security adviser in the Clinton administration, is in trouble this morning. It's the result of preparations he made for an appearance in March before the commission investigating the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Berger is under a federal criminal investigation for allegedly taking classified documents and handwritten notes from a national Archive screening room.

Berger released a statement saying he -- quote -- "inadvertently took a few documents." He goes on -- quoting here -- "I also took my notes on the documents reviewed. When I was informed by the Archives there were documents missing, I immediately returned everything I had, except for a few documents that apparently I had accidentally discarded."

We will have more on this from our national correspondent Bob Franken in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

The Palestinian cabinet is meeting in emergency session right now. They have been at it for about an hour. The crisis surrounds Yasser Arafat's leadership, the prime minister and the Palestinian security services.

Joining us now from Jerusalem to sort it all out is our Alessio Vinci.

Good morning, Alessio, lots going on these past few hours.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot going on, Betty. That cabinet session, the third -- the third meeting in as many days, an emergency session right now. This time, however, they are meeting at a muqada (ph), the headquarters of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Palestinian Authority, over there. He is meeting with both the prime minister, as well as some of his cabinet ministers. On the agenda, of course, the resignations of Prime Minister Qorei, as well as the ongoing -- of the chaos in Gaza over the last couple of days.

The prime minister still says that he wants to step down, that he wants to resign. And he is still waiting for a written response by Chairman Arafat, who has, at this point, very few options, either reject those demands to resign in a written form or accept them and perhaps by offering a cabinet reshuffle.

And that is what analysts believe may be the solution to -- may be the key to this solution, because the prime minister and the cabinet are asking Arafat to cede some of his powers over the security forces. And asking, by the way, for an empowered interior minister who could directly deal with the security situation in Gaza this time.

You may imagine that in the last few days of chaos, we have not even heard from the existing, the sitting current interior minister. That's an indication about how little powers he has at this -- at this point.

Now meanwhile, overnight in Gaza, there has been an attack in the refugee camp of Shati (ph). According to Palestinian security sources, they are telling us that Israeli helicopters fired at a house of a known militant in the refugee camp there in what appeared to be an operation aimed at killing a suspected militant leader.

The target was the head of a militant umbrella group called the Palestinian Popular Resistance. His name is Abu Yousef Al-Cooka (ph). It was the second such attack of his -- on his house in less than one day. Palestinian sources telling us that during the first attack, three people were wounded. During the second attack, two people were wounded, but it is unclear whether Cooka himself was wounded in that attack. Back to you -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Alessio, let's talk a little bit about this internal struggle. If the young guards eventually get the upper hand, would that make the situation better for negotiations there?

VINCI: Well most of the militants who have taken to the streets in the last few days are believed to be loyal to a man called Muhamed Delan (ph), who was a former interior minister in the first cabinet of Abu Mazen. The -- he is believed to be the man whom both the Americans, as well as the Israelis, see as a possible potential negotiating partner in the -- in the -- in the ongoing Israeli- Palestinian strife.

So should eventually these militant groups take the upper hand or come ahead and this man indeed become a prime -- become an interior minister or, again, a man in power, certainly that would help the current stall, if you want, peace process that is -- that is basically going nowhere for the last two-and-a-half years -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Very interesting. Alessio Vinci in Jerusalem, thank you for that.

What do these overall developments mean to the stranded Palestinian-Israeli situation? We'll talk about this Palestinian crisis in the first half of DAYBREAK's next hour with Jon Alterman, a Middle East expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Well a month after disappearing under mysterious circumstances in Iraq, a Marine corporal offers his first public explanation of what happened. The military is investigating whether Wassef Ali Hassoun's reported kidnapping was a hoax and whether he deserted his unit. Hassoun says he wants to set the record straight.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CPL. WASSEF ALI HASSOUN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I did not desert my post. I was captured and held against my will by anti-coalition forces for 19 days. This was a very difficult and challenging time for me. Since my release, I have been fully participating in the repatriation process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Investigators have yet to question Hassoun who has not been charged with any wrongdoing. He'll soon return to his unit's home base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The Army National Guard could be showing signs of battle fatigue. According to "USA Today," it's having a tough time recruiting new soldiers and trouble signs are pretty obvious. The newspaper reports the Guard is 6,000 shy of its target strength of 350,000 soldiers. At the end of May, it was more than 5,400 recruits short. And it's had to activate more than 5,600 soldiers of its Individual Ready Reserve in order to fill those gaps. Recruiters were expecting many reservists to extend their service with the Guard this year, but they are worried repeated call-ups might change all of that.

Now to Baghdad, the Green Zone is a place of relative safety. Security there is extremely high.

And our Brian Todd spoke with "TIME" magazine photographer Karen Ballard about her experiences documenting history-making events there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Inside a dangerous, violent metropolis, a government must function. Amid mortar rounds, car bombs, gunfire, a nation must be built. In Baghdad, this mission, first of the coalition provisional authority and now of the international Iraqi government, is carried out in an extraordinary place, a place where photographer Karen Ballard spends more than a month on assignment for "TIME" magazine.

KAREN BALLARD, PHOTOGRAPHER, "TIME": There's tons and tons and tons of security there. A lot of it is hidden. A lot of it, you can't see it. There's high walls.

TODD: Ballard lives in the Green Zone during the days leading up to and immediately after the June 28 handover. She brings back images of bravery, dedication, sacrifice, soldiers, administrators from so many nations working inside what often seems to be a fortified trailer park.

One unforgettable day, she's there as the world's most famous prisoner is led to one of his former palaces to face justice, appearing, she says, disheveled confused.

BALLARD: He probably had no idea what was getting ready to happen to him. And so he was just checking it out minute by minute. What's next? Who's this? Where are they taking me?

TODD: One top U.S. commander later tells CNN, Saddam Hussein first thought he was being brought there to be shot. Apparently realizing he won't, he smiles and exchanges words with his escorts. And in a haunting moment for Ballard, the man who sometimes needed just a look to inflict unspeakable harm stares her down.

BALLARD: Definitely just stopped and looked at me dead on, like, who are you and how did you get in this room and why are you taking my picture? I definitely felt a really serious vibe from him at that point.

TODD: She captures Saddam's courtroom theatrics, clicks away as he's escorted out, then turns her lens towards some other very fearsome men, Saddam's former aides as they line up for a perp walk.

Winning access of a more sublime nature, Karen Ballard also is side by side with former U.S. administrator Paul Bremer during his final week in Iraq. Typically for Bremer, he's constantly on the move, meeting with Iraqis of various alliances, including a feast with the cousin of renegade cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. She describes a man who's focused, better liked by Iraqis than public impression might indicate, with one characteristic that stays in Ballard's mind.

BALLARD: His ability to not be afraid, to take risks, to go out into Baghdad. He did it every day, unless he was on the road.

TODD: Handover day, events moving unexpectedly fast. Bremer and his team gather. With what appears to be lightening speed, Iraq becomes sovereign. Bremer gestures, it's yours now, as he's shuttled out in an armada security, one last reflective look at what he's leaving behind.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And you can learn more about the challenges of rebuilding Iraq by going to our Web site. Our coverage gives you the depth of a newspaper, coupled with the immediacy of television. Our address, CNN.com.

The saga continues for Steve Sipek, the man whose pet tiger, Bobo, was killed by police. This time, police stood at the ready just in case another big cat escaped while Sipek's house burned.

We get the story now from Sean Kelly of CNN affiliate WPBF in south Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEAN KELLY, WPBF-TV REPORTER (voice-over): To drivers creeping along bumper to bumper on the west end of Okeechobee Boulevard, it felt like the ultimate deja vu. C Road blocked by sheriff's deputies, flashing lights and nothing visible to explain what happened. Flashback exactly one week to a sunny but fearful day in exactly the same spot when Steve Sipek's tiger escaped. This time, a row of firefighters surrounded Sipek's home.

(on camera): Well what did you think when you first heard that it was Mr. Sipek's house on fire?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just that the immediate concern was for the animals, thinking that the animals, knowing that he kept them at the house.

KELLY (voice-over): A newly installed air conditioning unit caught fire. Emergency workers couldn't get to the flames immediately because of electrical fencing, tall iron gates and of course, Sipek's big cats.

Dave Hitzig, from Busch Wildlife Sanctuary, arrived when the fire started. He helped Sipek get his tiger, two lions, a cougar and a leopard secure.

DAVE HITZIG, BUSCH WILDLIFE SANCTUARY: At that point in time, it was just making sure that all the animals were accounted for. There are five cats here. All five cats have been accounted for.

KELLY: Deputies stood ready at the front entrance in case any of the animals escaped.

HITZIG: Obviously this last week has been a whirlwind. And Steve's comment to me was, he says, you know what else can happen? He says you know maybe someone is trying to tell me something.

KELLY: First his favorite tiger got loose. After a 26-hour search, a Wildlife Commission officer killed it. This weekend, he buried Bobo and planned on recreating his intense privacy. Fire and smoke ruined most of his home. He says he won't let that take him away from caring for his big cats.

STEVE SIPEK, OWNER: And I'm a survivor, OK. I found out people are not the one that's going to make me happy, you know. I volunteer tranquility among animals and happiness, you know, and I don't want to change it, ever.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And that report from Sean Kelly of CNN affiliate WPBF.

In response to last week's incident with Bobo, officials were scheduled to inspect Sipek's animal compound today. That, of course, will likely be put on hold for the time being.

Well is Athens ready for The Games? Ahead, Olympic security concerns. An update in just a few minutes from Greece on just how prepared the country is for the upcoming Olympics.

And forget the bratwurst, BMWs and German beer, the 2006 World Cup in Germany won't have any of that. Why Germans are upset about the situation and what American companies have to do with it, that's at 10 minutes before the hour.

This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, July 20.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: In Athens, Greece today, full scale Olympic security measures are set to go into effect. It's the last phase of a readiness plan that includes about 70,000 security forces deployed in various strategic locations around the city. The Games begin on August 13. Is Athens ready?

Well to help answer that question, we check in by phone with freelance journalist Elinda Labropoulou.

Good morning to you.

ELINDA LABROPOULOU, FREELANCE JOURNALIST: Hi, Betty.

As you say, yes, security here is extremely tight and it's getting tighter every day. Today alone, the Port of Piraeus was closed for a few hours. The port is about 10 kilometers out of Athens, just to allow for the installation of some seabed sensors for security. This is tremendously important because the port is a place where a lot of the Olympic dignitaries will be staying on cruise ships, which will be used as floating hotels during The Games. So, as you can see, these are very last-minute details being put together.

NGUYEN: And speaking of those...

LABROPOULOU: Apart from that, yes, there is a lot more police on the streets. You can see -- you can see different installations of surveillance cameras and various other things taking place at the moment. Just basically you can see a city that's just getting very, very close to the final touches.

NGUYEN: Elinda, getting close, but we understand several venues are still under construction. Will they be ready in time? We're talking August 13.

LABROPOULOU: Yes, that's very true, and we are only a few weeks away. Well, I can tell you what the Greek authorities here say, they say that everything will be ready. I believe they will be ready. And the reason I am saying this is because being here on a day-to-day basis, you see tremendous progress from one day to the next.

NGUYEN: We're looking at some video right now of the new transit system, which they rolled out yesterday. What's being done to make sure folks don't -- these possible terrorists don't bring explosive devices on to these transit systems?

LABROPOULOU: Well I mean that is a very good question. But at the moment, the security system, the surveillance cameras are operating very, very well, we've been told. We've been told that all mass transport systems have very good security controls. People here don't seem to worry about it at all.

As you may have seen, being the first day of the new tram line yesterday, there were a lot of people who showed up just to show their support for the new system and to get on those trams and say well look, we're not scared, this is not a problem. And, at the moment, there is about 70 percent support from the Greeks, from Athenians for The Games saying there is not going to be any problems with security.

There is no general fear in the same way that is perceived abroad. People here seem to think that The Games will go on without any problems. Of course nobody can guarantee this, but at least the general perception here is a lot tamer, probably because we can see these operations on the streets and we can understand...

NGUYEN: And seeing is believing sometimes. All right, Elinda, we are out of time. Elinda Labropoulou, thank you for that report out of Greece this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. That's coming up. It is 5:49 Eastern Time, and here is what's all new this morning.

A human rights watch group says a paper trail ties the Sudanese government to ethnic cleansing in the Darfur region. One group says Arab militants carried out mass rape and kidnappings of young girls as young as 8 and women as old as 80. Sudan denies the charges.

Thirty-five years ago today, Neil Armstrong spoke those immortal words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." On July 20, 1969 Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first astronauts to walk on the moon.

In money, you are paying more for gas again. Energy officials say prices are climbing back up for a second week in a row. The national average is around $1.93 a gallon.

In culture, singer Linda Ronstadt gets fired for dedicating a song to filmmaker Michael Moore at a concert in Las Vegas. That outraged the audience. Security even threw Ronstadt off the property after the concert.

In sports, Eddie George, all-time leading rusher for the Tennessee Titans, has rejected the team's latest contract offer. George is asking the Titans to release him quickly so he can find a new job. No comment from the Titans just yet.

Want to talk about some weather now and for that we go to Chad Myers.

What do you think about that -- Chad?

MYERS: I used to -- I used to watch him play at Ohio State in the -- in the Horseshoe, and man could he play. So yes, I hope he lands at a good team.

NGUYEN: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Thank you, Chad.

Budweiser calls itself the King of Beers. And following a huge sponsorship deal, they may start calling themselves that kaiser as well.

CNN's Chris Burns has more from Berlin on the battle over beer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's almost enough to make some here cry in their beer. What's a 2006 World Cup in Germany without the country's strong beer, greasy sausage or fast cars?

There are enough Berlin beers, she says. It's not nice. It's also not good for the German economy.

In the stadiums, America's Anheuser-Busch will supply the only brew on tap, Budweiser.

(on camera): So you're not going to drink it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would drink it if I don't have to pay for it, but...

(voice-over): That's if they want to wash down their McDonald's Big Macs. And the official cars will be South Korean Hyundais. Like Anheuser-Busch, company sponsors of the games.

Outraged, no, he says, but I think German culture, like beer and sausage, should be shown more to the world public.

The international Soccer Federation, FIFA, argues the sponsors pay big money for World Cup rights.

GERD GRAUS, FIFA: FIFA has 15 global partners, years ago, even before Germany would get the right to host the World Cup.

BURNS (on camera): So rules is rules?

GRAUS: Rules is rules.

BURNS: How does that feel?

HERBERT FRANKENHAUSER, BAVARIAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT: Horrible. It feels horrible.

BURNS (voice-over): Herbert Frankenhauser, a Bavarian member of parliament, heads Germany's beer Purity Association, defending century's old brewing rules.

FRANKENHAUSER: We hope that the most visitors don't drink anything in the stadium and do it after the game.

BURNS: Not the thing FIFA wants to hear. Sponsors are paying over $650 million for the 2006 events. Some are homegrown, like Deutsche Telekom and Adidas. Some beer drinkers say they understand.

You have to think internationally, not so nationally, he says.

But for others, it's not an idea they are exactly gulping down.

Chris Burns, CNN, Berlin.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to DAYBREAK. Here are some stories making news 'Across America' this Tuesday.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is back home in North Carolina. Earnhardt was released from the hospital after suffering second degree burns on his face and legs during a racing wreck in California. Earnhardt's NASCAR team says he'll be back behind the wheel of the No. 8 starting this weekend.

Kobe Bryant back in court. Both sides argued over whether to admit his accuser's past sexual history into evidence. The judge in the case is also considering whether to ban online postings of court events because the accuser's name might accidentally be released. The accuser's attorney says that's already happened to the woman several times, which has caused her to consider pulling out of the case.

Police will resume their search for 16-year-old New Jersey teen Brittney Gregory today. She was last seen nine days ago. Thirty- eight-year-old Jack Fuller appeared in court after being charged in the girl's murder, but he didn't enter a plea. And prosecutors won't say why they filed charges against him. Fuller is being held on a million dollar's bail.

In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a developing story out of Baghdad, after days of being held hostage, a Filipino man is free. We have a live report just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Free from his captors, the Philippine government met their demand to pull out troops. This morning this man is free.

It's Tuesday, July 20, and this is DAYBREAK.

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