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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bomb Deaths in Egypt; Indonesian Embassy Bombing in Paris; Fight for Iraq

Aired October 08, 2004 - 06:32   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: Good morning from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin in for Carol Costello this morning.
Right "Now in the News," bombs exploding at resorts in Egypt just across the Israeli border have killed at least 26 people, and many others are injured or missing. No claim of responsibility, but one Israeli official is blaming al Qaeda.

And 10 people were slightly injured this morning when a bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris. At least five of those hurt were embassy staff members.

And a local hospital official says the latest U.S. airstrike in Fallujah killed 14 people at a wedding. But the U.S. military says the target was a terrorist safe house.

U.S. presidential debate No. 2 is tonight in St. Louis with a town hall meeting format. The debate begins at 9:00, but CNN's live coverage begins at 7:00.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: In the meantime, at least two dozen people are known dead at bombings at Egyptian resorts near the Israeli border. But the death toll is expected to rise, because many people are still missing.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the hotel in Taba, Egypt.

Ben -- literally, in the hotel that was hit?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I'm actually sitting in what was once the lobby of the Taba Hilton, but now it's a scene of complete destruction. There are wires hanging from what was the ceiling. The ventilation system has just been ripped out.

There are lots of Israeli rescue workers and Egyptian rescue workers working together. They're actually at the moment in one corner, where they believe they've found a body. And that's what they've been doing all day long.

I spoke to the head of the Israeli rescue effort, who says that in the last seven hours they've pulled out seven bodies. And they expect more to come.

The Egyptian interior ministry is saying at this point that the death toll is at 22, but those figures are changing all the time, because some of the dead were taken to Egyptian hospitals, some to Israeli hospitals.

But, as I said, Carol, it's a scene of utter destruction here. I saw the car bomb that went off here. It was a Ford vehicle. According to one Israeli rescue worker here, he said it contained at least 100 kilograms of high explosives -- Carol.

LIN: Wow! All right, Ben Wedeman actually in the resort that was hit, what's left of the lobby of that hotel. Thank you very much.

In the meantime, a bomb left outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris exploded last night, slightly injuring 10 people there.

CNN's Jim Bittermann is on the telephone from the French capital.

Jim -- this happened very early in the morning there.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just after 5:00 a.m., Carol. And one of the first people to arrive on the scene was the French interior minister. He has now, just in the last few minutes here, issued a directive saying that, in fact, the security is going to be stepped up at diplomatic missions and sensitive sites around France after this attack this morning.

We understood there was one report out this morning that, in fact, there were no guards on duty in front of the Indonesian embassy when it was attacked this morning. Apparently, someone came along, dropped a bomb off at the front door right under the Indonesian flag. That bomb went off, and about 10 people were slightly injured by the blast. Most of those injured were injured by flying glass, so there was a lot of glass broken and windows of houses nearby.

And at that point, the interior minister said that he had no idea of any specific threat against the Indonesian missions here, but it appears that they are going to now take steps to basically provide better security at all of the diplomatic missions in France -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Jim Bittermann, thank you very much for that report.

Now we want to move on to Iraq. People are still searching for bodies after a deadly U.S. airstrike in Fallujah. And there are reports many civilians were killed.

CNN's Brent Sadler is in Baghdad with the latest.

Brent -- so was it a wedding, or was it a terrorist holdout?

BRENT SADLER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as always with these airstrikes that have been going on now for about a month targeting the terror network of suspected top terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, two versions of the story.

The U.S.-led multinational forces say a precision strike, about 1:15 a.m. local time, targeted a Zarqawi safe house and, in line with what they do with these operations, was targeting his terror network.

Now, on the other side, hospital sources, doctors in the casualty ward of Fallujah's hospital in that district say that a wedding party was hit, claims that the groom was killed as well as several other women and children attending a wedding celebration.

They are also saying that rescuers who were working to pull out survivors and the dead from the rubble are claiming that many children had also been killed. Total casualties, they claim, 14 dead and 16 wounded.

Multinational forces say that often these figures are exaggerated from the side of Fallujah, claiming that it's the insurgents, Zarqawi's terrorists that are putting people at risk in these attacks by using the local population as human shields -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Brent Sadler reporting from Baghdad on that situation.

Of course, we're reporting on all of these events throughout the day.

In the meantime, it's 25 days until Election Day, and the race for the White House is getting tighter and tighter. And it is a showdown in the Show-Me State tonight.

The presidential contenders will be in St. Louis for their second debate tonight. CNN's debate coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern.

And looking at some new numbers, if the election were held today, the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll picks the president to win by a whisker in Wisconsin. And you can see by these numbers, it is a statistical dead heat in Colorado.

No surprise here. Tonight's presidential debate is in the spotlight in today's "Political Hot Topics." CNN political editor John Mercurio joins us now by telephone from St. Louis, where he's going to be covering the debate.

John -- what are expectations for tonight with the unemployment figures coming out and the death toll rising in Iraq?

JOHN MERCURIO, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Boy, that's a very good question. I think that's sort of what everybody is waiting to watch.

President Bush, I think, faces two very distinct outcomes. First of all, you know, as we mentioned yesterday, we -- or earlier this week, we learned that Bush's rationale for going to war has been increasingly coming under attack, under questioning. He's going to have to defend that. He faces a Democratic challenger who is known to be a skilled debater and also a good closer. You know, he closes well in campaigns. He performed well in the last couple of weeks. So, you know, that's a possibly unfortunate outcome for the president.

On the other hand, President Bush is nothing if not somebody who likes to exceed expectations. The expectations, I think at this point, for him in tonight's debate are extremely low. So, it's -- you know, he could come out tonight in a sort of a folksy demeanor that I think a lot of Americans find appealing and perform well. This is a town hall format. He didn't want it, but it might actually, ironically, turn out to be the more sort of the better format for him.

LIN: Really? Because, I mean, how much do they know about the questions that are actually going to be thrown at them by these people?

MERCURIO: Well, nothing. I mean, they haven't been shared. They don't know anything about the questions. They didn't know anything about the questions last week either. And I think, you know, that's part of sort of -- one of the few parts of the debate aspect that are still unscripted. So, you can't prepare for what's going to come tonight, and that's why we all have to tune in.

LIN: Hey, John, what prevents a campaign ringer from getting inside and asking questions of the other candidate?

MERCURIO: A "campaign ringer," meaning somebody who is...

LIN: Yes, somebody, you know, from the Kerry campaign undercover giving a zinger to the Bush camp, you know, to President Bush?

MERCURIO: Well, you know, you'd have to talk to Frank Newport, the people over at Gallup and the Debate Commission about that. That will be something we'll all be watching for.

I mean -- look, I mean, these things are very tightly controlled by the Presidential Debate Commission, which held extensive negotiations with both campaigns. The Gallup organization has tightly sort of negotiated, interviewed and screened the audience for this evening. They are supposed to be uncommitted voters who may or may not lean towards Bush or Kerry.

LIN: See, that's what I love about the town hall format. You know, it's true. There are so few built-in -- you can't build in a surprise. It either is or isn't. So, I guess we'll see what happens tonight, John. Thanks so much.

MERCURIO: Thank you.

LIN: John Mercurio.

All right, up next, Beyonce and Destiny's Child have signed on for a new gig. That's up at 45 after.

And later, in West Texas, football is a lot more than a game. "In Touch Weekly's" Tom O'Neil reviews a movie that vividly shows this, and you're not going to believe who is actually starring in it. All right, don't look, don't look, don't look.

OK, first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LIN: Well, your news, money, weather and sports. It's now almost 45 past the hour. And here's what's all new this morning.

Israel says bombings at Egyptian resorts packed with Israeli tourists bear the hallmarks of al Qaeda. And at least 26 people were killed. Thirty others are missing. The bombs went off at the Taba Hilton and a nearby camping area.

And Martha Stewart's prison term is scheduled to begin just hours from now. She's due to report by 2:00 this afternoon, and she's going to spend the next five months at the women's prison in Alderson, West Virginia.

Now in money, more layoffs in store for AT&T workers. The long distance carrier says it's going to cut about 7,400 more jobs this year. The move was prompted by the company's plan to pull out of the traditional summer telephone business.

And in culture, a child shall lead them to McDonald's. Yes, the group Destiny's Child has been signed on to be the fast food giant's new ad campaign. And in turn, McDonald's will sponsor the group's world tour, which is aptly named "Fulfilled and Loving It."

Now in sports, the 10th-ranked University of Virginia rolled over Clemson to remain undefeated. The Cavaliers improved to 5-0 on the season with the 30-10 win. All right, but their toughest test may come next week against Florida State.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: In the meantime, you know, we've been talking a lot about Martha Stewart's first day in prison. She's supposed to check in to the prison called Camp Cupcake at Alderson, West Virginia, about 2:00 this afternoon. And a man who knows a lot about that town is George Gannon. He is a report for the "Charleston Daily Mail."

Good morning to you, George.

GEORGE GANNON, "CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL": Good morning. How are you?

LIN: I'm doing just fine. So, Camp Cupcake, is it really a Camp Cupcake, easy ride, no fence, play volleyball during their off hours?

GANNON: I wouldn't -- I mean, as far as federal prisons go, it's a minimum-security facility. I think the prisoners there have a lot more freedom, a lot more ability to move about the facility than they do at other places.

LIN: So, it's going to be easy time for her, huh?

GANNON: I don't know if any time in prison is easy time, especially when you're coming from a mansion in Danbury, Connecticut to, you know, a small town in West Virginia.

LIN: I guess all things are relative. So, there is a little small town right there, huh?

GANNON: Oh, yes. Alderson is a beautiful little town. It's a very nice little town

LIN: What do those folks think about having a prison in their own back yard?

GANNON: They -- it's strange. They love the prison down there.

LIN: They love the prison.

GANNON: The town and the prison are great neighbors. They really are.

LIN: What does the prison do for the town?

GANNON: Well, I mean, the prison -- I mean, first of all, it's probably the main source of jobs in the town, I would say.

Also, I mean, the prison, they just work well together. I mean, inmate crews come in the summer and help clean the town, and there is an inmate fire department that actually responds to fires outside of the compound in the town, in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties. The prisoners help with some upgrades to some public services facilities down there.

LIN: Do you expect Martha Stewart to be joining the fire brigade?

GANNON: I wouldn't think so. I wouldn't think so. Maybe if there's, like, a -- I don't know -- a shadro (ph) brigade, she could join that, or...

LIN: The pancake breakfast maybe.

GANNON: There you go. There you go.

LIN: What sorts of things do you expect that she'll be doing at the prison?

GANNON: Well, I mean, I think everybody has their detail. You know, there are firefighters obviously. There's a power plant there that, you know, kind of is sort of the main source of energy for the facility. You know, beautification projects. There is the dining hall. You know, lots of things, I would think.

LIN: Lots of ways to apply the skills of her life. All right, I guess they're pretty excited. They're going to be seeing a lot of satellite technology, a lot of satellite trucks out there in Alderson.

GANNON: Oh, it's a madhouse down there. I've been down there in the last few days. There are reporters and satellite trucks everywhere.

LIN: You bet. All right, Alderson has no idea, no idea of what it's in for today. Thanks very much... GANNON: Thank you.

LIN: ... George Gannon of the "Charleston Daily Mail."

Martha Stewart is going to prison this afternoon.

In the meantime, one Friday night tradition inspires another. A high school football story opens tonight at the movies, and Tom O'Neil is going to be joining me with a preview.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: It's Friday, and that means high school football. For thousands of fans, it's not just a game; it's a way of life. And nowhere is that more true than in West Texas, the setting for a new film, "Friday Night Lights."

Tom O'Neil from "In Touch Weekly" is here to talk about that film and other weekend movies.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM O'NEIL, EDITOR, "IN-TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning, Carol.

LIN: All right, Billy Bob Thornton...

O'NEIL: Billy Bob is fantastic.

LIN: ... as a football coach.

O'NEIL: I know. And as a put-upon, you know, crazed football coach, who is in charge of this obsession in this small Texas town. That's the theme of this movie, Carol. It's not about football so much as the pressure from this town on these kids to win and what it does to everybody, including Billy Bob.

This is a great date movie, by the way. I recommend all female viewers to say to their boyfriend, let's go see this. Because they'll love it as a sports film. It's actually filmed by NFL cameramen.

And all viewers will adore this movie because it's so well-made on every level. It's the best new movie release of the weekend.

LIN: Really? And Billy Bob, he has credibility here, because, you know, he's played such crazy, outlandish, wild characters in the last several roles that he's had. And here he is this heartfelt kind of normal guy.

O'NEIL: I know. Here, he's a sympathetic character instead of being a wacko weirdo. It works. He's a great surprise in this film...

LIN: OK.

O'NEIL: ... as is the ending, by the way. The last 30 minutes are riveting. LIN: OK. OK, stop there. In the meantime, Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon, a match made in heaven, in a movie called "Taxi," a cabdriver." What's up with that?

O'NEIL: Well, this was supposed to be Jimmy Fallon's big premier as a movie star since he left "Saturday Night Live." They said this can't fail. We'll take this French film that was a huge hit. We'll translate it to America. We'll put Queen Latifah as a cabdriver, a speed-crazed cabdriver, who gives Jimmy, who plays this cop who is the world's worst driver, his license was taken away, gives him a lift. And they chase criminals around.

This movie is so bad, so terrible, that a third of the theater managers who had it booked are refusing to show it.

LIN: Oh, my god! Oh, that's pretty bad.

O'NEIL: That's really bad. But nonetheless, it's probably going to be the top-earning new film of the weekend.

LIN: All things are relative. All right, what about "Raise Your Voice," Hilary Duff? It sounds like it's a serious role for her. Her brother dies. A small town teen spends a summer in Los Angeles studying at a performing arts school.

O'NEIL: Yes. Let me raise my voice and say don't go!

LIN: Thank you.

O'NEIL: I love the headline in "USA Today" today, which says, "Raise Your Voice," put a sock in it. This is a cheap rip-off, a bad remake of "Fame," the story of these kids that go to a performing arts school to become stars. But the problem is this movie has no energy. It has no talent. This is one more pathetic attempt of Hollywood to take these outstanding teen stars...

LIN: Right.

O'NEIL: ... like the Olsen twins, Mandy Moore, in this case Hilary Duff, and make bad movies just to try to sell their stardom.

LIN: Yes.

O'NEIL: The movies bomb, but they keep putting another one out.

LIN: Yes, she needs a new manager. Yes, better choices ahead for that young lady, I hope. Thanks very much, Tom. You have a great weekend.

O'NEIL: You, too. Thanks.

LIN: Tom O'Neil.

A quick programming note for us right here. Stay with CNN for complete coverage of tonight's debate. CNN is live in St. Louis as President Bush and Senator Kerry take questions from voters. And Wolf Blitzer and our election team lead the debate coverage, which starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

DAYBREAK is going to be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: And stay with CNN for in-depth coverage of tonight's presidential debate. Our primetime lineup begins at 7:00 Eastern with a special edition of "ANDERSON COOPER 360," followed by "PAULA ZAHN NOW" at 8:00. And Wolf Blitzer hosts our pre-debate special at 8:30. And the candidates get down to business at 9:00. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Lin. Chad Myers is here. Thanks so much for sharing the morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Have a great weekend.

LIN: "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now with Heidi Collins and Rick Sanchez.

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 October 8, 2004 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin in for Carol Costello this morning.
Right "Now in the News," bombs exploding at resorts in Egypt just across the Israeli border have killed at least 26 people, and many others are injured or missing. No claim of responsibility, but one Israeli official is blaming al Qaeda.

And 10 people were slightly injured this morning when a bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris. At least five of those hurt were embassy staff members.

And a local hospital official says the latest U.S. airstrike in Fallujah killed 14 people at a wedding. But the U.S. military says the target was a terrorist safe house.

U.S. presidential debate No. 2 is tonight in St. Louis with a town hall meeting format. The debate begins at 9:00, but CNN's live coverage begins at 7:00.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: In the meantime, at least two dozen people are known dead at bombings at Egyptian resorts near the Israeli border. But the death toll is expected to rise, because many people are still missing.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is in the hotel in Taba, Egypt.

Ben -- literally, in the hotel that was hit?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, I'm actually sitting in what was once the lobby of the Taba Hilton, but now it's a scene of complete destruction. There are wires hanging from what was the ceiling. The ventilation system has just been ripped out.

There are lots of Israeli rescue workers and Egyptian rescue workers working together. They're actually at the moment in one corner, where they believe they've found a body. And that's what they've been doing all day long.

I spoke to the head of the Israeli rescue effort, who says that in the last seven hours they've pulled out seven bodies. And they expect more to come.

The Egyptian interior ministry is saying at this point that the death toll is at 22, but those figures are changing all the time, because some of the dead were taken to Egyptian hospitals, some to Israeli hospitals.

But, as I said, Carol, it's a scene of utter destruction here. I saw the car bomb that went off here. It was a Ford vehicle. According to one Israeli rescue worker here, he said it contained at least 100 kilograms of high explosives -- Carol.

LIN: Wow! All right, Ben Wedeman actually in the resort that was hit, what's left of the lobby of that hotel. Thank you very much.

In the meantime, a bomb left outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris exploded last night, slightly injuring 10 people there.

CNN's Jim Bittermann is on the telephone from the French capital.

Jim -- this happened very early in the morning there.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just after 5:00 a.m., Carol. And one of the first people to arrive on the scene was the French interior minister. He has now, just in the last few minutes here, issued a directive saying that, in fact, the security is going to be stepped up at diplomatic missions and sensitive sites around France after this attack this morning.

We understood there was one report out this morning that, in fact, there were no guards on duty in front of the Indonesian embassy when it was attacked this morning. Apparently, someone came along, dropped a bomb off at the front door right under the Indonesian flag. That bomb went off, and about 10 people were slightly injured by the blast. Most of those injured were injured by flying glass, so there was a lot of glass broken and windows of houses nearby.

And at that point, the interior minister said that he had no idea of any specific threat against the Indonesian missions here, but it appears that they are going to now take steps to basically provide better security at all of the diplomatic missions in France -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Jim Bittermann, thank you very much for that report.

Now we want to move on to Iraq. People are still searching for bodies after a deadly U.S. airstrike in Fallujah. And there are reports many civilians were killed.

CNN's Brent Sadler is in Baghdad with the latest.

Brent -- so was it a wedding, or was it a terrorist holdout?

BRENT SADLER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, as always with these airstrikes that have been going on now for about a month targeting the terror network of suspected top terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, two versions of the story.

The U.S.-led multinational forces say a precision strike, about 1:15 a.m. local time, targeted a Zarqawi safe house and, in line with what they do with these operations, was targeting his terror network.

Now, on the other side, hospital sources, doctors in the casualty ward of Fallujah's hospital in that district say that a wedding party was hit, claims that the groom was killed as well as several other women and children attending a wedding celebration.

They are also saying that rescuers who were working to pull out survivors and the dead from the rubble are claiming that many children had also been killed. Total casualties, they claim, 14 dead and 16 wounded.

Multinational forces say that often these figures are exaggerated from the side of Fallujah, claiming that it's the insurgents, Zarqawi's terrorists that are putting people at risk in these attacks by using the local population as human shields -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Brent Sadler reporting from Baghdad on that situation.

Of course, we're reporting on all of these events throughout the day.

In the meantime, it's 25 days until Election Day, and the race for the White House is getting tighter and tighter. And it is a showdown in the Show-Me State tonight.

The presidential contenders will be in St. Louis for their second debate tonight. CNN's debate coverage begins at 7:00 Eastern.

And looking at some new numbers, if the election were held today, the latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll picks the president to win by a whisker in Wisconsin. And you can see by these numbers, it is a statistical dead heat in Colorado.

No surprise here. Tonight's presidential debate is in the spotlight in today's "Political Hot Topics." CNN political editor John Mercurio joins us now by telephone from St. Louis, where he's going to be covering the debate.

John -- what are expectations for tonight with the unemployment figures coming out and the death toll rising in Iraq?

JOHN MERCURIO, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Boy, that's a very good question. I think that's sort of what everybody is waiting to watch.

President Bush, I think, faces two very distinct outcomes. First of all, you know, as we mentioned yesterday, we -- or earlier this week, we learned that Bush's rationale for going to war has been increasingly coming under attack, under questioning. He's going to have to defend that. He faces a Democratic challenger who is known to be a skilled debater and also a good closer. You know, he closes well in campaigns. He performed well in the last couple of weeks. So, you know, that's a possibly unfortunate outcome for the president.

On the other hand, President Bush is nothing if not somebody who likes to exceed expectations. The expectations, I think at this point, for him in tonight's debate are extremely low. So, it's -- you know, he could come out tonight in a sort of a folksy demeanor that I think a lot of Americans find appealing and perform well. This is a town hall format. He didn't want it, but it might actually, ironically, turn out to be the more sort of the better format for him.

LIN: Really? Because, I mean, how much do they know about the questions that are actually going to be thrown at them by these people?

MERCURIO: Well, nothing. I mean, they haven't been shared. They don't know anything about the questions. They didn't know anything about the questions last week either. And I think, you know, that's part of sort of -- one of the few parts of the debate aspect that are still unscripted. So, you can't prepare for what's going to come tonight, and that's why we all have to tune in.

LIN: Hey, John, what prevents a campaign ringer from getting inside and asking questions of the other candidate?

MERCURIO: A "campaign ringer," meaning somebody who is...

LIN: Yes, somebody, you know, from the Kerry campaign undercover giving a zinger to the Bush camp, you know, to President Bush?

MERCURIO: Well, you know, you'd have to talk to Frank Newport, the people over at Gallup and the Debate Commission about that. That will be something we'll all be watching for.

I mean -- look, I mean, these things are very tightly controlled by the Presidential Debate Commission, which held extensive negotiations with both campaigns. The Gallup organization has tightly sort of negotiated, interviewed and screened the audience for this evening. They are supposed to be uncommitted voters who may or may not lean towards Bush or Kerry.

LIN: See, that's what I love about the town hall format. You know, it's true. There are so few built-in -- you can't build in a surprise. It either is or isn't. So, I guess we'll see what happens tonight, John. Thanks so much.

MERCURIO: Thank you.

LIN: John Mercurio.

All right, up next, Beyonce and Destiny's Child have signed on for a new gig. That's up at 45 after.

And later, in West Texas, football is a lot more than a game. "In Touch Weekly's" Tom O'Neil reviews a movie that vividly shows this, and you're not going to believe who is actually starring in it. All right, don't look, don't look, don't look.

OK, first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LIN: Well, your news, money, weather and sports. It's now almost 45 past the hour. And here's what's all new this morning.

Israel says bombings at Egyptian resorts packed with Israeli tourists bear the hallmarks of al Qaeda. And at least 26 people were killed. Thirty others are missing. The bombs went off at the Taba Hilton and a nearby camping area.

And Martha Stewart's prison term is scheduled to begin just hours from now. She's due to report by 2:00 this afternoon, and she's going to spend the next five months at the women's prison in Alderson, West Virginia.

Now in money, more layoffs in store for AT&T workers. The long distance carrier says it's going to cut about 7,400 more jobs this year. The move was prompted by the company's plan to pull out of the traditional summer telephone business.

And in culture, a child shall lead them to McDonald's. Yes, the group Destiny's Child has been signed on to be the fast food giant's new ad campaign. And in turn, McDonald's will sponsor the group's world tour, which is aptly named "Fulfilled and Loving It."

Now in sports, the 10th-ranked University of Virginia rolled over Clemson to remain undefeated. The Cavaliers improved to 5-0 on the season with the 30-10 win. All right, but their toughest test may come next week against Florida State.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LIN: In the meantime, you know, we've been talking a lot about Martha Stewart's first day in prison. She's supposed to check in to the prison called Camp Cupcake at Alderson, West Virginia, about 2:00 this afternoon. And a man who knows a lot about that town is George Gannon. He is a report for the "Charleston Daily Mail."

Good morning to you, George.

GEORGE GANNON, "CHARLESTON DAILY MAIL": Good morning. How are you?

LIN: I'm doing just fine. So, Camp Cupcake, is it really a Camp Cupcake, easy ride, no fence, play volleyball during their off hours?

GANNON: I wouldn't -- I mean, as far as federal prisons go, it's a minimum-security facility. I think the prisoners there have a lot more freedom, a lot more ability to move about the facility than they do at other places.

LIN: So, it's going to be easy time for her, huh?

GANNON: I don't know if any time in prison is easy time, especially when you're coming from a mansion in Danbury, Connecticut to, you know, a small town in West Virginia.

LIN: I guess all things are relative. So, there is a little small town right there, huh?

GANNON: Oh, yes. Alderson is a beautiful little town. It's a very nice little town

LIN: What do those folks think about having a prison in their own back yard?

GANNON: They -- it's strange. They love the prison down there.

LIN: They love the prison.

GANNON: The town and the prison are great neighbors. They really are.

LIN: What does the prison do for the town?

GANNON: Well, I mean, the prison -- I mean, first of all, it's probably the main source of jobs in the town, I would say.

Also, I mean, the prison, they just work well together. I mean, inmate crews come in the summer and help clean the town, and there is an inmate fire department that actually responds to fires outside of the compound in the town, in Greenbrier and Monroe Counties. The prisoners help with some upgrades to some public services facilities down there.

LIN: Do you expect Martha Stewart to be joining the fire brigade?

GANNON: I wouldn't think so. I wouldn't think so. Maybe if there's, like, a -- I don't know -- a shadro (ph) brigade, she could join that, or...

LIN: The pancake breakfast maybe.

GANNON: There you go. There you go.

LIN: What sorts of things do you expect that she'll be doing at the prison?

GANNON: Well, I mean, I think everybody has their detail. You know, there are firefighters obviously. There's a power plant there that, you know, kind of is sort of the main source of energy for the facility. You know, beautification projects. There is the dining hall. You know, lots of things, I would think.

LIN: Lots of ways to apply the skills of her life. All right, I guess they're pretty excited. They're going to be seeing a lot of satellite technology, a lot of satellite trucks out there in Alderson.

GANNON: Oh, it's a madhouse down there. I've been down there in the last few days. There are reporters and satellite trucks everywhere.

LIN: You bet. All right, Alderson has no idea, no idea of what it's in for today. Thanks very much... GANNON: Thank you.

LIN: ... George Gannon of the "Charleston Daily Mail."

Martha Stewart is going to prison this afternoon.

In the meantime, one Friday night tradition inspires another. A high school football story opens tonight at the movies, and Tom O'Neil is going to be joining me with a preview.

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LIN: It's Friday, and that means high school football. For thousands of fans, it's not just a game; it's a way of life. And nowhere is that more true than in West Texas, the setting for a new film, "Friday Night Lights."

Tom O'Neil from "In Touch Weekly" is here to talk about that film and other weekend movies.

Good morning, Tom.

TOM O'NEIL, EDITOR, "IN-TOUCH WEEKLY": Good morning, Carol.

LIN: All right, Billy Bob Thornton...

O'NEIL: Billy Bob is fantastic.

LIN: ... as a football coach.

O'NEIL: I know. And as a put-upon, you know, crazed football coach, who is in charge of this obsession in this small Texas town. That's the theme of this movie, Carol. It's not about football so much as the pressure from this town on these kids to win and what it does to everybody, including Billy Bob.

This is a great date movie, by the way. I recommend all female viewers to say to their boyfriend, let's go see this. Because they'll love it as a sports film. It's actually filmed by NFL cameramen.

And all viewers will adore this movie because it's so well-made on every level. It's the best new movie release of the weekend.

LIN: Really? And Billy Bob, he has credibility here, because, you know, he's played such crazy, outlandish, wild characters in the last several roles that he's had. And here he is this heartfelt kind of normal guy.

O'NEIL: I know. Here, he's a sympathetic character instead of being a wacko weirdo. It works. He's a great surprise in this film...

LIN: OK.

O'NEIL: ... as is the ending, by the way. The last 30 minutes are riveting. LIN: OK. OK, stop there. In the meantime, Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon, a match made in heaven, in a movie called "Taxi," a cabdriver." What's up with that?

O'NEIL: Well, this was supposed to be Jimmy Fallon's big premier as a movie star since he left "Saturday Night Live." They said this can't fail. We'll take this French film that was a huge hit. We'll translate it to America. We'll put Queen Latifah as a cabdriver, a speed-crazed cabdriver, who gives Jimmy, who plays this cop who is the world's worst driver, his license was taken away, gives him a lift. And they chase criminals around.

This movie is so bad, so terrible, that a third of the theater managers who had it booked are refusing to show it.

LIN: Oh, my god! Oh, that's pretty bad.

O'NEIL: That's really bad. But nonetheless, it's probably going to be the top-earning new film of the weekend.

LIN: All things are relative. All right, what about "Raise Your Voice," Hilary Duff? It sounds like it's a serious role for her. Her brother dies. A small town teen spends a summer in Los Angeles studying at a performing arts school.

O'NEIL: Yes. Let me raise my voice and say don't go!

LIN: Thank you.

O'NEIL: I love the headline in "USA Today" today, which says, "Raise Your Voice," put a sock in it. This is a cheap rip-off, a bad remake of "Fame," the story of these kids that go to a performing arts school to become stars. But the problem is this movie has no energy. It has no talent. This is one more pathetic attempt of Hollywood to take these outstanding teen stars...

LIN: Right.

O'NEIL: ... like the Olsen twins, Mandy Moore, in this case Hilary Duff, and make bad movies just to try to sell their stardom.

LIN: Yes.

O'NEIL: The movies bomb, but they keep putting another one out.

LIN: Yes, she needs a new manager. Yes, better choices ahead for that young lady, I hope. Thanks very much, Tom. You have a great weekend.

O'NEIL: You, too. Thanks.

LIN: Tom O'Neil.

A quick programming note for us right here. Stay with CNN for complete coverage of tonight's debate. CNN is live in St. Louis as President Bush and Senator Kerry take questions from voters. And Wolf Blitzer and our election team lead the debate coverage, which starts at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

DAYBREAK is going to be right back.

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LIN: And stay with CNN for in-depth coverage of tonight's presidential debate. Our primetime lineup begins at 7:00 Eastern with a special edition of "ANDERSON COOPER 360," followed by "PAULA ZAHN NOW" at 8:00. And Wolf Blitzer hosts our pre-debate special at 8:30. And the candidates get down to business at 9:00. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Lin. Chad Myers is here. Thanks so much for sharing the morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Have a great weekend.

LIN: "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now with Heidi Collins and Rick Sanchez.

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