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CNN Live At Daybreak

New 9/11 Video; Real Estate Boom; Saving the Sudanese; Slowing Alzheimer's

Aired July 22, 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.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Deep institutional failings within our government. The long awaited report about the 2001 terrorist attacks is moving out this morning at 11:30.
It's Thursday, July 22, and this is DAYBREAK.

Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Lin. Carol Costello is off today.

Now 'In the News,' the 9/11 Commission releases its report six hours from now. It does not place blame on the Clinton or Bush administrations, but it cites intelligence failures and missed opportunities to derail the suicide-hijacking plot. The final report runs to 575 pages and has 1,500 footnotes.

The House convenes four hours from now to deal with the issue of gay marriage. House members vote today on legislation to bar federal courts from hearing challenges to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

And the judge has suspended the trial of three Americans charged with torturing prisoners at a private jail in Afghanistan. The judge says the men need more time to prepare their defense.

Angelo de la Cruz returned home to the Philippines four hours ago. He was a hostage in Iraq for two weeks before his captors released him.

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

Chad, it must be good to be home after two weeks in captivity. The poor guy is asking for some privacy.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wow! Yes, well you know you've got to absolutely expect that. And maybe you know a couple of weeks he'll be ready to come back out and say some things. That's fine.

LIN: Yes.

MYERS: Hey, good morning, Carol. Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, back to you.

LIN: Wow! All right, thanks -- Chad. MYERS: You're welcome.

LIN: Well it's out today and it's expected to be a highly sought after government document. The 9/11 Commission report says neither the Clinton, nor the Bush administrations are to blame for the failure to stop the 2001 terrorist attacks. Instead, White House officials, who have seen it, say the report blames -- and I'm quoting here once again -- "deep institutional failings within our government."

The report is being made public this morning. A news conference is scheduled for 11:30 Eastern. Copies will also be available on the Internet.

And President Bush signed legislation creating the investigative commission on November 27, 2002. The panel held its first public hearing March 31 and continued it the next day. The two-day focus was to reveal the commission goals and to hear from some of the victims of the attacks and others impacted by them. The commission is made up of 10 people and worked with a $15 million budget.

CNN, of course, will have live coverage of that 11:30 Eastern news conference later this morning. And later this afternoon, our Judy Woodruff and Wolf Blitzer interview members of the panel.

Also, a new report -- a new airport, rather, surveillance video of some of the 9/11 hijackers has surfaced. It comes from Dulles Airport, and it shows the five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77.

Our Aaron Brown tells us all about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Knowing what we know now the videotape is both stark and chilling. Taken the morning of September 11th, 2001, the tape shows five hijackers passing through the metal screening detectors at Dulles Airport outside of Washington.

The detail is difficult to discern but you can clearly see an airport security officer passing his wand over one of the hijackers. They are all dressed conservatively. They don't stand out. They appear to be composed.

Four of the five hijackers, bound for the American Airlines flight that would crash into the Pentagon a few hours later, were pulled aside for additional screening this after apparently setting off the metal detectors.

The only hijacker who did not require additional screening was the man believed to have been the pilot after Flight 77 was hijacked Hani Hanjour. The Associated Press says it obtained the tape from a law firm which represents survivor families, families suing both the airlines and security firms.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And now here are some stories making news 'Across America.'

A disturbing day in the Scott Peterson trial, prosecutors showed the jury graphic autopsy photos of Laci Peterson's body. A criminalist testified about the items found with the body, including a long piece of duct tape. Testimony was also given about DNA tests that identified Laci and her unborn child.

A fiery collision between a pair of military jets killed two Marine Reservists, but one other Reservist escaped without a scratch after bailing out. Debris from that crash rained down around local fisherman along the Columbia River. The military is investigating how two F-18s collided during a training mission.

In Nashville, investigators are trying to determine why an SUV exploded in the parking lot of an Opryland hotel. One person was killed in the blast. Police suspect the explosion was caused by a homemade bomb, but they are not sure if the blast was intentional or simply an accident.

And Army officials say they are troubled by a drop in the number of recruits. Recruitment levels are at their lowest in three years. And those who do sign up are being forced immediately into duty instead of being allowed to defer enrollment.

Now this year, the number of soldiers in the delayed entry program is down 23 percent. The Army's top personnel officer says bonuses, educational benefits and choice base assignments will help meet recruiting goals.

U.S. troops have hit hard at insurgents in Iraq. The military confirms its forces have killed 25 insurgents, wounded about the same number of others and detained another 25. It happened during a daylong firefight in the city of Ramadi.

Right now you are looking at pictures just in this morning from that scene. The military says 14 U.S. troops were wounded in the gun battle. None of the injures, though, is life threatening, though you're seeing a lot of blood there. All but four of the injured Americans are already back on duty.

And now Iraq can actually begin buying weapons again. President Bush has authorized the resumption of arms sales to Baghdad. It reverses the ban in place during much of Saddam Hussein's regime. The president says it will actually add to the United States' security and make the world a more peaceful place.

Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards is critical of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, no surprise there, that's why Edwards says he voted against the $87 billion war supplement. And he talked about that with our Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I voted the way I did because it was clear to me by the time we got to that vote that the president was not doing what we believe we needed to do. The things that all of us had said in the very beginning, John Kerry and I both said, you've got to build coalitions, you've got to have a clear plan to win the peace.

He had neither of those things. I thought it was important for us to say -- we had a "yes" up or down vote -- that this policy and the way you're operating is not working. You have to be willing to change course. So I voted "no," and I stand by that vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: John Edwards says U.S. allies believe a new president is needed for them to have a fresh start with America.

Now despite the dangers in Baghdad, there is one aspect of life there that has a ring to it, that is if you live in southern California. Of all things, there is a real estate boom in the Iraqi capital, but anyone planning to buy a home there had better bring plenty of cash.

Our Michael Holmes has that report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mr. Abdul Rasoul al Shideedi is having a very good year.

(on camera): Business is good?

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES (voice-over): There's your answer. Abdul is a Baghdad real estate agent. On his books, this, well, rather modest house, $1.5 million.

It's true that much of the country remains a renovator's delight or a fixer upper. But in much of Baghdad, real estate is booming, so to speak. There are even Webs sites for online buyers. Here, an encouraging line -- currently, phone and electricity are restored in the area. Note the word "currently." And this built-in, reinforced armored concrete -- an attractive feature in a country without homeowner's insurance. And the always-handy big basement designed also as antiaircraft bunker.

ABDUL RASOUL AL-SHIDEEDI, REAL ESTATE AGENT (through translator): It's all about investment, especially in this location.

HOLMES: Abdul's client list isn't overflowing with your ordinary Baghdad residents, however. This is a boom fueled mostly by outside cash -- foreigners based here for the reconstruction and Iraqi expats returning home after successful careers overseas. And they need bulging wallets as well.

Iraq is a country where, traditionally, people save and then sell everything they own in order to afford a house. No mortgages here -- cold, hard cash is what gets the deal done. All of which leaves the locals with not all that much to choose from if they want to be in a safe area.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): For the people with $200,000, maybe they can buy a house. But for the youth, I don't think they can.

HOLMES: For those with cash, half of the Iraqi love affair with real estate is that there's been so little else to invest in of late -- that and tradition.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): For Iraqis, every wall of the house is like a part of his body, his blood, and his soul.

HOLMES: It's not just a resell boom either. This, a huge mansion under construction for a local businessman, and rentals as well -- this place going for $25,000 a month. Abdul doesn't see business slackening off anytime soon.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): I am very optimistic about the future of Iraq. I want to tell the good people, not the bad, that Iraq is open for you.

HOLMES: And he says he'll get that $1.25 million for that house.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: The Sudan crisis, still to come on DAYBREAK. The U.N. and U.S. prepare to meet today about a situation many are calling ethnic cleansing. What's next for the Sudan cry for help?

This is DAYBREAK for July 22.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's now 45 past the hour, and here's what's all new this morning.

The final report of the commission investigating 9/11 comes out today. That report, while deeply critical of the nation's intelligence gathering, does not blame President Bush or former President Bill Clinton.

Eleven workers at a chicken processing plant in West Virginia have lost their jobs the day after an animal rights group released video of workers stomping on the chickens and throwing them against the wall. The company says its investigation is ongoing.

In money, President Bush has rejected a congressional compromise to extend his tax cuts for two more years. The president wanted Republican leaders to approve a five-year extension before Congress takes its summer break. Now talks are on and they're actually tabled until September. In culture, Grammy Award winner Wyclef Jean is planning a massive charity concert at his home, that's home nation of Haiti. Jean says he is going to hope to draw two million people to the December show. Proceeds will go to help stabilize Haiti.

And in sports, running back Eddie George was granted his wish and is now a free agent. The Tennessee Titans let George go after the two sides could not agree on a new lower price contract.

And, Chad, when we say lower, we mean by millions of dollars.

MYERS: Yes, wow! Well somebody is going to...

LIN: Yes, that's a message from the boss.

MYERS: Somebody is going to pick up an outstanding running back, I'll tell you that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: All right, thanks, Chad.

All right, we're going to talk about the world's worst humanitarian disaster and why the Sudanese government is doing little to stop it. Now Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to go to the United Nations to try to force some action.

Our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Secretary of State Colin Powell is coming here to the U.N. to meet with Secretary-General Kofi Annan about Sudan. Both men met each other briefly in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and met with government officials.

But despite an agreement worked out with Sudan by the U.N., there are still reports of violence against refugees in Darfur in the Sudan. The secretary-general's special representative Jan Pronk briefed the Security Council about the violence against IDPs, internally displaced persons. There are a million of them.

JAN PRONK, U.N. SPECIAL REP. FOR SUDAN: There is no progress whatsoever as far as the security of the people themselves is concerns, in particular, the situation with Khartoum, Janjaweed, the security of the IDPs and also the question of the relocation of IDPs, no progress.

ROTH: Annan said the Janjaweed militia continued to commit serious crimes against the people in Darfur and he challenged governments of the world to do something.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Is that the international community must insist and hold the government accountable and hold it responsible for the commitments that it made and insist they must perform.

ROTH: But should measures include sanctions? The Security Council remains deadlocked on that issue. The council has been unable to agree on measures even against the Janjaweed militia. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Danforth says more work on a resolution will continue this week. And he blamed the Sudanese government for failing to stop the violence.

JOHN DANFORTH, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It's a true humanitarian disaster and it's the responsibility of the government of Sudan. They created this monster. They have said that they are going to correct the situation. They have not done so. And the attention of the world has to be focused on the government of Sudan.

ROTH: U.N. officials have labeled it ethnic cleansing and the violence has gone on for more than a year, yet the council has not acted.

HERALDO MUNOZ, CHILEAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: The Security Council could lose credibility and moreover, more people could die on the ground.

EMYR JONES PARRY, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I'm not persuaded that this stage that sanctions are the answer. I think the whole question of whether or not an arms embargo is appropriate to at least stop the arms going in there. That may be one thing that we should look at.

ROTH: Secretary-General Annan says it's a judgement call whether sanctions should be imposed immediately. He said there is urgency, though, and the Sudanese government doesn't have a lot of time.

Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: We've got a videotape that is really going to make you angry. Ahead in the next hour of DAYBREAK, you are going to see most of this videotape where the 9/11 hijackers are making it through airport security armed with box cutters. How did this happen?

But first, straight ahead, the steps being made to slow the effect of Alzheimer's.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: When Ronald Reagan contracted Alzheimer's disease, it brought attention to the disease. And now another high profile person has Alzheimer's, a legendary coach, Eddie Robinson. He spent 57 years coaching at Louisiana's Grambling State University. He has the second best winning record in college football history. His wife says Robinson, who is now 85, is getting worse each day.

So at what point does a person cross the line from mere forgetfulness to the onset of Alzheimer's disease? And what if you could catch those patients and treat them before they cross that line? CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer introduces us to a man who is trying to do just that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At what point does a person cross the line from mere forgetfulness to the onset of Alzheimer's? And what if you could catch those patients and treat them before they cross that line?

That's the mystery that this man, Dr. Ronald Peterson, is trying to solve. Dr. Peterson is the man who diagnosed and treated President Ronald Reagan.

DR. RONALD PETERSON, TREATED FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN: When people start to forget important pieces of information, information they're trying to remember -- appointments with their doctors, luncheon engagements, things of that nature -- this might mean the earliest signs of what might become mild cognitive impairment, leading on to Alzheimer's Disease.

FIRFER: According to Doctor Peterson, 80 percent of patients who suffer from mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, will go on to develop Alzheimer's.

PETERSON: Follow my finger with your eyes.

FIRFER: So he decided to study the use of certain therapies to see if they could delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. For three years, Doctor Peterson gave patients with MCI either the Alzheimer's drug donepezil, also known as Aricept, or 2000 ICUs of Vitamin E daily or a placebo.

And what did he discover?

PETERSON: The Vitamin E had no effect over the course of the three years. The donepezil group actually had a reduced rate of developing Alzheimer's Disease for the first 18 months of the study.

FIRFER: A major development.

Three years ago at the age of 84, Father Ellsworth Neil enrolled in Dr. Peterson's study when he showed early signs of MCI.

FATHER ELSWORTH NEIL, STUDY PARTICIPANT: I suddenly discovered that I could not, for the life of me, 40 minutes by this fake Rolex watch, recall the name of the American food institution which has as its logo two crossed arches. And that's pretty disturbing.

FIRFER: Although he doesn't know which therapy he took, he's made peace with the uncertainty of his future.

NEIL: I think I'm assimilated the fact that we are mortal, human, fragile, vulnerable. And I can live with that.

FIRFER: Doctor Peterson concedes there's no way to know if Father Neil will go on to develop Alzheimer's but believes by treating people like him 'at this stage of MCI, they have a far better chance of delaying the onset of the disease.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Touch the large white circle with the small green circle.

PETERSON: Ultimately, of course, we'd like to move the threshold even further back, meaning we'd like to go to normal people, people who may be asymptomatic, doing quite fine in society, but they're at risk for developing the disease.

FIRFER: Father Neil looks at it this way.

NEIL: I believe that I'm a part of a much larger plan and I've seen the evidence of it, I think. You never know, though. And I don't know what that plan holds. So I'm, in a sense -- I'll go along for the ride.

FIRFER: Holly Firfer, CNN, Rochester, Minnesota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Killing images on tape. 9/11 hijackers pass through airport security just hours before they stage the deadliest attack on American soil.

It's Thursday, July 22.

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 22, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Deep institutional failings within our government. The long awaited report about the 2001 terrorist attacks is moving out this morning at 11:30.
It's Thursday, July 22, and this is DAYBREAK.

Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Lin. Carol Costello is off today.

Now 'In the News,' the 9/11 Commission releases its report six hours from now. It does not place blame on the Clinton or Bush administrations, but it cites intelligence failures and missed opportunities to derail the suicide-hijacking plot. The final report runs to 575 pages and has 1,500 footnotes.

The House convenes four hours from now to deal with the issue of gay marriage. House members vote today on legislation to bar federal courts from hearing challenges to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act.

And the judge has suspended the trial of three Americans charged with torturing prisoners at a private jail in Afghanistan. The judge says the men need more time to prepare their defense.

Angelo de la Cruz returned home to the Philippines four hours ago. He was a hostage in Iraq for two weeks before his captors released him.

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

Chad, it must be good to be home after two weeks in captivity. The poor guy is asking for some privacy.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Wow! Yes, well you know you've got to absolutely expect that. And maybe you know a couple of weeks he'll be ready to come back out and say some things. That's fine.

LIN: Yes.

MYERS: Hey, good morning, Carol. Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Carol, back to you.

LIN: Wow! All right, thanks -- Chad. MYERS: You're welcome.

LIN: Well it's out today and it's expected to be a highly sought after government document. The 9/11 Commission report says neither the Clinton, nor the Bush administrations are to blame for the failure to stop the 2001 terrorist attacks. Instead, White House officials, who have seen it, say the report blames -- and I'm quoting here once again -- "deep institutional failings within our government."

The report is being made public this morning. A news conference is scheduled for 11:30 Eastern. Copies will also be available on the Internet.

And President Bush signed legislation creating the investigative commission on November 27, 2002. The panel held its first public hearing March 31 and continued it the next day. The two-day focus was to reveal the commission goals and to hear from some of the victims of the attacks and others impacted by them. The commission is made up of 10 people and worked with a $15 million budget.

CNN, of course, will have live coverage of that 11:30 Eastern news conference later this morning. And later this afternoon, our Judy Woodruff and Wolf Blitzer interview members of the panel.

Also, a new report -- a new airport, rather, surveillance video of some of the 9/11 hijackers has surfaced. It comes from Dulles Airport, and it shows the five hijackers of American Airlines Flight 77.

Our Aaron Brown tells us all about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Knowing what we know now the videotape is both stark and chilling. Taken the morning of September 11th, 2001, the tape shows five hijackers passing through the metal screening detectors at Dulles Airport outside of Washington.

The detail is difficult to discern but you can clearly see an airport security officer passing his wand over one of the hijackers. They are all dressed conservatively. They don't stand out. They appear to be composed.

Four of the five hijackers, bound for the American Airlines flight that would crash into the Pentagon a few hours later, were pulled aside for additional screening this after apparently setting off the metal detectors.

The only hijacker who did not require additional screening was the man believed to have been the pilot after Flight 77 was hijacked Hani Hanjour. The Associated Press says it obtained the tape from a law firm which represents survivor families, families suing both the airlines and security firms.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And now here are some stories making news 'Across America.'

A disturbing day in the Scott Peterson trial, prosecutors showed the jury graphic autopsy photos of Laci Peterson's body. A criminalist testified about the items found with the body, including a long piece of duct tape. Testimony was also given about DNA tests that identified Laci and her unborn child.

A fiery collision between a pair of military jets killed two Marine Reservists, but one other Reservist escaped without a scratch after bailing out. Debris from that crash rained down around local fisherman along the Columbia River. The military is investigating how two F-18s collided during a training mission.

In Nashville, investigators are trying to determine why an SUV exploded in the parking lot of an Opryland hotel. One person was killed in the blast. Police suspect the explosion was caused by a homemade bomb, but they are not sure if the blast was intentional or simply an accident.

And Army officials say they are troubled by a drop in the number of recruits. Recruitment levels are at their lowest in three years. And those who do sign up are being forced immediately into duty instead of being allowed to defer enrollment.

Now this year, the number of soldiers in the delayed entry program is down 23 percent. The Army's top personnel officer says bonuses, educational benefits and choice base assignments will help meet recruiting goals.

U.S. troops have hit hard at insurgents in Iraq. The military confirms its forces have killed 25 insurgents, wounded about the same number of others and detained another 25. It happened during a daylong firefight in the city of Ramadi.

Right now you are looking at pictures just in this morning from that scene. The military says 14 U.S. troops were wounded in the gun battle. None of the injures, though, is life threatening, though you're seeing a lot of blood there. All but four of the injured Americans are already back on duty.

And now Iraq can actually begin buying weapons again. President Bush has authorized the resumption of arms sales to Baghdad. It reverses the ban in place during much of Saddam Hussein's regime. The president says it will actually add to the United States' security and make the world a more peaceful place.

Democratic Vice Presidential Candidate John Edwards is critical of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, no surprise there, that's why Edwards says he voted against the $87 billion war supplement. And he talked about that with our Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I voted the way I did because it was clear to me by the time we got to that vote that the president was not doing what we believe we needed to do. The things that all of us had said in the very beginning, John Kerry and I both said, you've got to build coalitions, you've got to have a clear plan to win the peace.

He had neither of those things. I thought it was important for us to say -- we had a "yes" up or down vote -- that this policy and the way you're operating is not working. You have to be willing to change course. So I voted "no," and I stand by that vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: John Edwards says U.S. allies believe a new president is needed for them to have a fresh start with America.

Now despite the dangers in Baghdad, there is one aspect of life there that has a ring to it, that is if you live in southern California. Of all things, there is a real estate boom in the Iraqi capital, but anyone planning to buy a home there had better bring plenty of cash.

Our Michael Holmes has that report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Mr. Abdul Rasoul al Shideedi is having a very good year.

(on camera): Business is good?

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES (voice-over): There's your answer. Abdul is a Baghdad real estate agent. On his books, this, well, rather modest house, $1.5 million.

It's true that much of the country remains a renovator's delight or a fixer upper. But in much of Baghdad, real estate is booming, so to speak. There are even Webs sites for online buyers. Here, an encouraging line -- currently, phone and electricity are restored in the area. Note the word "currently." And this built-in, reinforced armored concrete -- an attractive feature in a country without homeowner's insurance. And the always-handy big basement designed also as antiaircraft bunker.

ABDUL RASOUL AL-SHIDEEDI, REAL ESTATE AGENT (through translator): It's all about investment, especially in this location.

HOLMES: Abdul's client list isn't overflowing with your ordinary Baghdad residents, however. This is a boom fueled mostly by outside cash -- foreigners based here for the reconstruction and Iraqi expats returning home after successful careers overseas. And they need bulging wallets as well.

Iraq is a country where, traditionally, people save and then sell everything they own in order to afford a house. No mortgages here -- cold, hard cash is what gets the deal done. All of which leaves the locals with not all that much to choose from if they want to be in a safe area.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): For the people with $200,000, maybe they can buy a house. But for the youth, I don't think they can.

HOLMES: For those with cash, half of the Iraqi love affair with real estate is that there's been so little else to invest in of late -- that and tradition.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): For Iraqis, every wall of the house is like a part of his body, his blood, and his soul.

HOLMES: It's not just a resell boom either. This, a huge mansion under construction for a local businessman, and rentals as well -- this place going for $25,000 a month. Abdul doesn't see business slackening off anytime soon.

AL-SHIDEEDI (through translator): I am very optimistic about the future of Iraq. I want to tell the good people, not the bad, that Iraq is open for you.

HOLMES: And he says he'll get that $1.25 million for that house.

Michael Holmes, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: The Sudan crisis, still to come on DAYBREAK. The U.N. and U.S. prepare to meet today about a situation many are calling ethnic cleansing. What's next for the Sudan cry for help?

This is DAYBREAK for July 22.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's now 45 past the hour, and here's what's all new this morning.

The final report of the commission investigating 9/11 comes out today. That report, while deeply critical of the nation's intelligence gathering, does not blame President Bush or former President Bill Clinton.

Eleven workers at a chicken processing plant in West Virginia have lost their jobs the day after an animal rights group released video of workers stomping on the chickens and throwing them against the wall. The company says its investigation is ongoing.

In money, President Bush has rejected a congressional compromise to extend his tax cuts for two more years. The president wanted Republican leaders to approve a five-year extension before Congress takes its summer break. Now talks are on and they're actually tabled until September. In culture, Grammy Award winner Wyclef Jean is planning a massive charity concert at his home, that's home nation of Haiti. Jean says he is going to hope to draw two million people to the December show. Proceeds will go to help stabilize Haiti.

And in sports, running back Eddie George was granted his wish and is now a free agent. The Tennessee Titans let George go after the two sides could not agree on a new lower price contract.

And, Chad, when we say lower, we mean by millions of dollars.

MYERS: Yes, wow! Well somebody is going to...

LIN: Yes, that's a message from the boss.

MYERS: Somebody is going to pick up an outstanding running back, I'll tell you that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: All right, thanks, Chad.

All right, we're going to talk about the world's worst humanitarian disaster and why the Sudanese government is doing little to stop it. Now Secretary of State Colin Powell is going to go to the United Nations to try to force some action.

Our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Secretary of State Colin Powell is coming here to the U.N. to meet with Secretary-General Kofi Annan about Sudan. Both men met each other briefly in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, and met with government officials.

But despite an agreement worked out with Sudan by the U.N., there are still reports of violence against refugees in Darfur in the Sudan. The secretary-general's special representative Jan Pronk briefed the Security Council about the violence against IDPs, internally displaced persons. There are a million of them.

JAN PRONK, U.N. SPECIAL REP. FOR SUDAN: There is no progress whatsoever as far as the security of the people themselves is concerns, in particular, the situation with Khartoum, Janjaweed, the security of the IDPs and also the question of the relocation of IDPs, no progress.

ROTH: Annan said the Janjaweed militia continued to commit serious crimes against the people in Darfur and he challenged governments of the world to do something.

KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: Is that the international community must insist and hold the government accountable and hold it responsible for the commitments that it made and insist they must perform.

ROTH: But should measures include sanctions? The Security Council remains deadlocked on that issue. The council has been unable to agree on measures even against the Janjaweed militia. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Danforth says more work on a resolution will continue this week. And he blamed the Sudanese government for failing to stop the violence.

JOHN DANFORTH, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: It's a true humanitarian disaster and it's the responsibility of the government of Sudan. They created this monster. They have said that they are going to correct the situation. They have not done so. And the attention of the world has to be focused on the government of Sudan.

ROTH: U.N. officials have labeled it ethnic cleansing and the violence has gone on for more than a year, yet the council has not acted.

HERALDO MUNOZ, CHILEAN AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: The Security Council could lose credibility and moreover, more people could die on the ground.

EMYR JONES PARRY, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: I'm not persuaded that this stage that sanctions are the answer. I think the whole question of whether or not an arms embargo is appropriate to at least stop the arms going in there. That may be one thing that we should look at.

ROTH: Secretary-General Annan says it's a judgement call whether sanctions should be imposed immediately. He said there is urgency, though, and the Sudanese government doesn't have a lot of time.

Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: We've got a videotape that is really going to make you angry. Ahead in the next hour of DAYBREAK, you are going to see most of this videotape where the 9/11 hijackers are making it through airport security armed with box cutters. How did this happen?

But first, straight ahead, the steps being made to slow the effect of Alzheimer's.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: When Ronald Reagan contracted Alzheimer's disease, it brought attention to the disease. And now another high profile person has Alzheimer's, a legendary coach, Eddie Robinson. He spent 57 years coaching at Louisiana's Grambling State University. He has the second best winning record in college football history. His wife says Robinson, who is now 85, is getting worse each day.

So at what point does a person cross the line from mere forgetfulness to the onset of Alzheimer's disease? And what if you could catch those patients and treat them before they cross that line? CNN medical correspondent Holly Firfer introduces us to a man who is trying to do just that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At what point does a person cross the line from mere forgetfulness to the onset of Alzheimer's? And what if you could catch those patients and treat them before they cross that line?

That's the mystery that this man, Dr. Ronald Peterson, is trying to solve. Dr. Peterson is the man who diagnosed and treated President Ronald Reagan.

DR. RONALD PETERSON, TREATED FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN: When people start to forget important pieces of information, information they're trying to remember -- appointments with their doctors, luncheon engagements, things of that nature -- this might mean the earliest signs of what might become mild cognitive impairment, leading on to Alzheimer's Disease.

FIRFER: According to Doctor Peterson, 80 percent of patients who suffer from mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, will go on to develop Alzheimer's.

PETERSON: Follow my finger with your eyes.

FIRFER: So he decided to study the use of certain therapies to see if they could delay the onset of Alzheimer's Disease. For three years, Doctor Peterson gave patients with MCI either the Alzheimer's drug donepezil, also known as Aricept, or 2000 ICUs of Vitamin E daily or a placebo.

And what did he discover?

PETERSON: The Vitamin E had no effect over the course of the three years. The donepezil group actually had a reduced rate of developing Alzheimer's Disease for the first 18 months of the study.

FIRFER: A major development.

Three years ago at the age of 84, Father Ellsworth Neil enrolled in Dr. Peterson's study when he showed early signs of MCI.

FATHER ELSWORTH NEIL, STUDY PARTICIPANT: I suddenly discovered that I could not, for the life of me, 40 minutes by this fake Rolex watch, recall the name of the American food institution which has as its logo two crossed arches. And that's pretty disturbing.

FIRFER: Although he doesn't know which therapy he took, he's made peace with the uncertainty of his future.

NEIL: I think I'm assimilated the fact that we are mortal, human, fragile, vulnerable. And I can live with that.

FIRFER: Doctor Peterson concedes there's no way to know if Father Neil will go on to develop Alzheimer's but believes by treating people like him 'at this stage of MCI, they have a far better chance of delaying the onset of the disease.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Touch the large white circle with the small green circle.

PETERSON: Ultimately, of course, we'd like to move the threshold even further back, meaning we'd like to go to normal people, people who may be asymptomatic, doing quite fine in society, but they're at risk for developing the disease.

FIRFER: Father Neil looks at it this way.

NEIL: I believe that I'm a part of a much larger plan and I've seen the evidence of it, I think. You never know, though. And I don't know what that plan holds. So I'm, in a sense -- I'll go along for the ride.

FIRFER: Holly Firfer, CNN, Rochester, Minnesota.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Killing images on tape. 9/11 hijackers pass through airport security just hours before they stage the deadliest attack on American soil.

It's Thursday, July 22.

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