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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iraq Conference Drafts Reaffirmation of Principles; More Troops in Iraq Leading into Elections?; Brits Claim London Terror Attack Foiled
Aired November 23, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New this morning, word of a foiled terror attack in London as Tony Blair prepares to run on what some call the politics of fear. Sound familiar? We're live in London in two minutes.
Plus, American troops in Iraq. Word this morning that more might be needed, and soon. We're working on that story from the Pentagon.
And then this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It keeps you up for days, takes away all inhibitions and is as addictive, if not more so, than heroin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Crystal, ice, Tina, whatever you call it. We'll look at a dangerous drug that's rising in popularity across the United States.
It is Tuesday, November 23.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
Thank you for waking up with us.
I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Let's check the headlines right now.
Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted a major raid early today in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. They detained 38 people and they've confiscated several weapons, including night vision equipment, police radios and I.D. cards.
In Afghanistan, three United Nations workers abducted nearly a month ago are free. A Taliban splinter group took the three in October and demanded the release of Afghan and non-Afghan prisoners.
A report out of Britain says an al Qaeda plot has been foiled. ITV News says al Qaeda planned to fly planes into Heathrow Airport and into Canary Wharf, the city's financial heart.
Flooding problems across Texas and parts of the Southwest. One woman caught by rising waters in Sedona clung to some trees for about an hour before she was finally rescued.
To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
That's the same storm we showed making the rain into parts of Las Vegas, into Phoenix yesterday morning, and now it's finally moving in a little bit farther to the east.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Going on right now at an Egyptian Red Sea resort, an international conference on Iraq and its January elections. Diplomats have gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh.
CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour is there.
Bring us up to date -- Christiane.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this has been going on for the last couple of hours and it's due to break shortly. They are going to publicly announce a communique that they've already basically discussed and agreed to. It has 14 points, according to the draft we've seen, and it essentially reaffirms the commitment of neighboring countries and also lots of Arab countries, Eastern countries, the United States and the Asian countries to supporting the United Nations in leading the political process, and most importantly in trying to set up the groundwork and prepare for the elections, which are scheduled for January 30.
It calls to condemn terrorism. It calls on neighboring states to prevent any flow of arms or terrorists or finances to Iraq and to condemn the kidnapping and assassination of civilians and others that we've seen in Iraq over the last several months.
So this is really the first time that there has been this kind of conference with so many different participants, including many of them who disagreed with the U.S. war in Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Christiane, do the people at the conference feel that the January 30 elections in Iraq will get off?
AMANPOUR: You know, it's hard to tell. They're obviously giving, certainly, full lip service to it. It was part of the whole U.N. resolution that there should be these elections by the end of January 2005. But as you raised, the prospect of potential delay because of so much violence still, and because of threats of boycott by the major Sunni parties. And this is something that many say will lead to a contested election if it ends up just being a partial election.
There was also a mention of reconstruction efforts, as well, Carol.
COSTELLO: And tell us about that. Will there be aid for Iraq to reconstruct?
AMANPOUR: Well, no new funds have been pledged. And as you know, there has been very little able to be accomplished in the field of vast reconstruction. Not only has places like Falluja been the target of a lot of destruction because of the assault there in search of the insurgents and the terrorists, but much of Iraq's infrastructure really has been devastated over the last couple of decades. And because of the violence, it simply hasn't been possible to do proper major infrastructure reconstruction. And that, in turn, leads to the propagation of violence, as well.
There has not been any new sums pledged to that. However, this conference does call for donor nations to make good on pledges, pledges they made last year.
COSTELLO: Christiane Amanpour live from Egypt this morning.
Thank you.
The Pentagon is thinking about adding more troops to provide security for those January elections. But the Pentagon brass says no decision has been made. But that has led to some second guessing.
Our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With victory in Falluja comes the reality that thousands of U.S. soldiers and Marines will likely be tied down there for weeks or even months making sure insurgents don't come back.
LT. GEN. JOHN SATTLER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We will not move out too early. We will stay in proximity as close as necessary.
MCINTYRE: Despite the claims of some U.S. commanders and Iraq's interim prime minister, Pentagon officials concede the U.S. has not yet broken the back of the insurgency. And with Iraqi elections just over two months away the Pentagon has contingency plans to temporarily boost the number of U.S. troops in Iraq without breaking its pledge to limit U.S. combat tours to one year.
LT. GEN. LANCE SMITH, DEPUTY U.S. CENTRAL COMMANDER: That would not be our intent, but I would not say categorically that that would be precluded.
MCINTYRE: There are some 138,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq. No decision has been made, but an option to extend some tours from 10 months to 12 would boost force levels to 141,000 by January. That number could swell to 145,000 under a new option that would call on several thousand soldiers from the 82nd Airborne on standby in the U.S. or fresh troops held in reserve in Kuwait. The Pentagon argues victory over the insurgents will come only when Iraqi troops are doing the bulk of the fighting and worries that more Falluja-style victories could produce a backlash.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: There are other reasons to do additional troop numbers. For example, you might want to do more patrolling, which is not necessarily going on the offensive. It's simply trying to restore security in some of these Iraqi cities and towns that are not presently very secure at all.
MCINTYRE: But some critics argue for a much bigger infusion of American reinforcements now. A "New York Times" editorial headlined "Costly Troop Deficit in Iraq" calls for 20,000 to 40,000 more troops and concludes: "The Bush administration has still not learned the lesson of Iraq. Securing the peace takes more, not fewer, soldiers than winning battles."
(on camera): The Pentagon insists that U.S. troop levels in Iraq are set by commanders on the ground. But because the Pentagon strategy is based on having as few American troops in Iraq as possible, some critics wonder if the generals are hesitant to ask for what they really need.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: A disturbing report out of London this morning. The Independent Television Network quoting unidentified sources says British security services have foiled a 9/11-style attack.
The network's Nic Robinson filed this report late last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
NIC ROBINSON, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the capital's most famous landmarks. It's the financial heart of London's docklands. People who work here know it's a potential target. Hundreds have been trained how to respond in what the police call Operation Grip It.
These pictures are a horrific reminder of the terrible consequences, previously unthinkable, of flying a plane into a building. A reminder, too, of how easy it proved. A passenger who trained as a pilot strolled through airport security, his heart set on suicide and mass murder. I'm told that the plan for an attack on Canary Wharf also involved terrorists who trained as pilots. I've not been told how or when it was uncovered, or how close they came.
But this was not the only target. The terrorists were also plotting, it's claimed, to crash planes into Heathrow Airport. This revelation comes just days after the home secretary, David Blunkett, warned that Al Qaeda are ..".on our doorstep and threatening our lives..." The threat, he said, ..".will be demonstrated through the courts in the months to come." The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, claimed last week that we've thwarted a number of attacks, we've disrupted them. And MI5's head, Eliza Manningham-Buller, recently told an employers' conference that their buildings should prepare for terrorist attacks.
The authorities have always been reluctant to reveal the warnings they have given. But a year and a half ago, they had no choice. The army surrounded Heathrow. The government were accused of scaremongering. But they and their advisers insisted then, and do today, that they had a real warning of shoulder-launched missiles being used to down a plane.
In recent months, MI5's budget has been doubled. New recruits soared and a unit created to filter all intelligence received. Security at airports has been stepped up here, in the United States and in much of Europe, although intelligence experts are now focusing on what they believe to be weaker security systems in Eastern Europe.
Tonight, ministers arrived in Downing Street on the eve of the queen's speech, which will unveil a series of measures designed, we'll be told, to make Britain more secure.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: We'll have more on the queen's speech later.
And that was Nic Robinson of ITN, reporting from London.
Court side chaos and the fallout that's followed. At 20 minutes after the hour, the consequences for fans and players. Are prosecutors ready to bring any charges?
In Wisconsin, a sixth deer hunter dies. We'll tell you about the suspect in that shooting rampage at 43 after.
And a young Broadway actor puts a story about crystal meth and HIV-AIDS on stage. That's at 50 minutes past.
Right now, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A sixth deer hunter has died following a shooting rampage in a wooded area of Wisconsin last weekend. The 36-year-old man remains in custody but police have yet to file formal charges against him. The penalty phase for Scott Peterson will begin next week. The judge has delayed the beginning until November 30 to settle issues between the attorneys. He also denied a defense request to choose another jury.
In money news, there is a new Mayor McCheese at McDonald's. Vice Chairman Jim Skinner steps up to the plate to assume the CEO duties. Outgoing CEO Charlie Bell was diagnosed with cancer and he decided to step down to focus on his health.
In culture, more and more Americans are surfing the Net, and faster. A government report says that 20 percent of American households are hooked up to high speed Internet services. That's double what it was back in 2001.
In sports, welcome the Washington Nationals. Major league baseball renamed the former Expos franchise after its move to D.C. from Montreal. But the team still doesn't have an independent owner or financing for a new stadium.
Oh, Chad, details, details.
MYERS: Yes, they couldn't use the Senators, I think, because Montreal still owned that name. I thought they should be the Congressmen, you know? But oh, anyway.
COSTELLO: Well, in this climate, with what's happening with the 9/11 bill, I don't think that's a good idea.
MYERS: Maybe not. Exactly.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Guess what, Chad?
MYERS: What's that?
COSTELLO: They found the guy who threw the beer.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: At least they think so.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, you know what I'm talking about.
MYERS: Which one was it? I don't know which one it was, though, right.
COSTELLO: The one in the white hat. But listen to this. Prosecutors in Michigan, they're still reviewing the tapes of Friday's basketball brawl. But Pistons officials have already banned one season ticket holder. Police have identified him as the man who tossed the first cup at Pacers' forward Ron Artest.
CNN's Jonathan Freed picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): So big was the scope of unleashed tempers and flying fists last Friday night that authorities in Michigan still haven't concluded who did what to who did what to whom and how they might be charged.
But there is this pledge.
DAVID GORCYCA, OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Everyone involved in this altercation will be held accountable regardless of their status as a player or a fan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Artest is in the stands!
FREED: Indeed, one player and one fan are getting most of the attention, even though the NBA suspended nine players in all, five from the Indiana Pacers and four from the Detroit Pistons.
Near the end of the game, the fan in question threw a plastic cup at Pacers' star Ron Artest, who was lying down after a foul was called against him. Artest charged into the stands. The courtside chaos that followed evoked this in the NBA commissioner.
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: Shock and revulsion, and fear.
FREED: Artest is out for the rest of the season, 73 games, and it could cost him just under $5 million in lost salary, with the combined cost to all the players involved more than $10 million. The Pacers' Reggie Miller received a small fine and a one day suspension just for leaving the bench during the trouble. The team is now grappling with the loss of major talent.
REGGIE MILLER, PACERS PLAYER: It is what it is and, you know, it's time for us as a team to band together and move on.
FREED: Pacers' president and basketball legend Larry Bird stood behind Artest and the others, and reached out to fans.
LARRY BIRD, PACERS PRESIDENT: We need you now as much as we ever needed you. We need support. We need you behind us.
FREED: Meanwhile, the suspected cup throwing fan, who the prosecution identified as John Green, tried to chase reporters away from his suburban Detroit home on Monday with his dog.
JOHN GREEN: No comment right now. I'm not going anywhere. The police know where I live. I've talked to them already.
FREED: Investigators are studying videotape of the fight and they still haven't interviewed Artest. They say since injuries were minor, any charges would likely be limited to assault and battery, a misdemeanor. Jonathan Freed, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Oh, it's interesting, isn't it?
Now to another sports brawl. Both Clemson University and the University of South Carolina say they will not accept any invitations to play in a possession bowl. Both schools say the actions of their players in Saturday night's fight were completely unacceptable. The loss of bowl game revenue could cost each school more than $1 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOU HOLTZ, RETIRING SOUTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH: What happened last week completely disappointed me. But also when you look at it, nobody's right and nobody's wrong in a situation like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now get this. Poor Lou Holtz. He's retiring this year and, oh, that had to happen. But get this. An article in "USA Today" says that Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is suggesting that repeated viewings of that NBA fight on TV might have been a factor in their brawl. In other words, the college kids watching TV saw those basketball players fighting and it fired them up and they fought, too.
Where's the FCC? We just thought we'd throw that in for fun.
We want to know what you think. Does violence on TV really influence a person's behavior? We want to know. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
Still to come this morning, say cheese or better yet say rolling in the dough. We'll tell you how much that Virgin Mary sandwich went for on eBay.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, it's my favorite time of the morning. Chad is going to make us laugh.
MYERS: "Late Night Laughs," Carol.
Did you hear Jay Leno last night?
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: He's the only guy, he's the only guy that could actually get the brawl in Detroit compared to Falluja.
Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
JAY LENO, HOST: U.S. forces have taken Falluja. You hear that? That's good news. Yes, yes. But experts say it's going to be hard to keep Iraq's insurgents from going after people in other cities. And it will be hard. We can't even keep the Indiana Pacers from going after people in other cities. This is probably the first sporting event in history where the nose bleed seats were right in the front.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: That was the best line of the night. Oh my god.
COSTELLO: It's true, those seats cost about $200, to sit in the front row.
MYERS: And the one guy got kicked out, now. The one guy can't use his seats anymore. They booted him, right? The guy in the hat?
COSTELLO: That was the man in the white hat that threw the cup of beer at Ron Artest.
MYERS: Not the guy that Artest hit.
COSTELLO: No. He hit the wrong guy.
MYERS: He hit the wrong guy.
COSTELLO: But it turns out the guy in the white hat has a criminal record for assault, believe it or not.
MYERS: Yes? Really?
COSTELLO: Yes. And he's just waiting for the police to come and question him. But you can bet that charges probably will be filed against him, although prosecutors haven't made a decision yet.
MYERS: Throwing a cup or causing a disturbance?
COSTELLO: I don't know. A good question.
MYERS: Yes. Yes, I know.
COSTELLO: We'll see.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener" now.
Remember that Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich we told you about the other day? Well, the winning bid on eBay was, get this, $28,000. You can see the Virgin Mary there, can't you? Come on, admit it. The "Miami Herald" reports that the winning bid was made by the owners of the Goldenpalace.com betting Web site. I don't know what they're going to do with the sandwich. But since it's 10 years old, eating it is probably not an option.
New York City can be a lonely place. But one cabby is hoping to change that. Ahmed Ibrahim (ph) is taking down names, numbers and video interviews in an effort to pair up possible couples. He passes on the numbers when he thinks he's found a suitable companion for his passengers. So far, at least one match has been made by this cupid cabby.
To mark yesterday's anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination, a British company released a video game called JFK Reloaded. The downloadable game allows the player to fire the fatal shots from the sixth floor of the book depository building. Game designers call it a docugame. But Senator Ted Kennedy, JFK's brother, calls is despicable.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
U2 strikes a chord and thousands show up for an impromptu concert. We'll tell you where it happened.
Plus, Queen Elizabeth gets ready to set the stage for Britain's upcoming national election.
From New York and Atlanta, you are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
There's a lot going on right now, so let's get right to the headlines.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth addresses parliament today. She is expected to lay out the country's legislative agenda for the next year. Crime and security will take center stage. A strong domestic agenda is expected to be key as Prime Minister Tony Blair's government seeks to win a third term. By the way, you're taking a live look at London right now as we wait for the celebration to begin.
The international conference on Iraq held at an Egyptian resort wraps up today. World leaders drafted a statement giving strong support to Iraq's interim government and its fight against insurgents.
Rescue workers are trying to reach about 10 campers socked in by a snowstorm on southern California's Santa Rosa peak. At least two feet of snow fell over the weekend, making the road up the mountain impassable. It just seems to be too early for that, even in the mountains -- Chad.
MYERS: Carol, it's almost Thanksgiving.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
(WEATHER REPORT)
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 November 23, 2004 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: New this morning, word of a foiled terror attack in London as Tony Blair prepares to run on what some call the politics of fear. Sound familiar? We're live in London in two minutes.
Plus, American troops in Iraq. Word this morning that more might be needed, and soon. We're working on that story from the Pentagon.
And then this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It keeps you up for days, takes away all inhibitions and is as addictive, if not more so, than heroin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Crystal, ice, Tina, whatever you call it. We'll look at a dangerous drug that's rising in popularity across the United States.
It is Tuesday, November 23.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
Thank you for waking up with us.
I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Let's check the headlines right now.
Iraqi and U.S. forces conducted a major raid early today in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk. They detained 38 people and they've confiscated several weapons, including night vision equipment, police radios and I.D. cards.
In Afghanistan, three United Nations workers abducted nearly a month ago are free. A Taliban splinter group took the three in October and demanded the release of Afghan and non-Afghan prisoners.
A report out of Britain says an al Qaeda plot has been foiled. ITV News says al Qaeda planned to fly planes into Heathrow Airport and into Canary Wharf, the city's financial heart.
Flooding problems across Texas and parts of the Southwest. One woman caught by rising waters in Sedona clung to some trees for about an hour before she was finally rescued.
To the forecast center and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
That's the same storm we showed making the rain into parts of Las Vegas, into Phoenix yesterday morning, and now it's finally moving in a little bit farther to the east.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Going on right now at an Egyptian Red Sea resort, an international conference on Iraq and its January elections. Diplomats have gathered in Sharm el-Sheikh.
CNN chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour is there.
Bring us up to date -- Christiane.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this has been going on for the last couple of hours and it's due to break shortly. They are going to publicly announce a communique that they've already basically discussed and agreed to. It has 14 points, according to the draft we've seen, and it essentially reaffirms the commitment of neighboring countries and also lots of Arab countries, Eastern countries, the United States and the Asian countries to supporting the United Nations in leading the political process, and most importantly in trying to set up the groundwork and prepare for the elections, which are scheduled for January 30.
It calls to condemn terrorism. It calls on neighboring states to prevent any flow of arms or terrorists or finances to Iraq and to condemn the kidnapping and assassination of civilians and others that we've seen in Iraq over the last several months.
So this is really the first time that there has been this kind of conference with so many different participants, including many of them who disagreed with the U.S. war in Iraq -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Christiane, do the people at the conference feel that the January 30 elections in Iraq will get off?
AMANPOUR: You know, it's hard to tell. They're obviously giving, certainly, full lip service to it. It was part of the whole U.N. resolution that there should be these elections by the end of January 2005. But as you raised, the prospect of potential delay because of so much violence still, and because of threats of boycott by the major Sunni parties. And this is something that many say will lead to a contested election if it ends up just being a partial election.
There was also a mention of reconstruction efforts, as well, Carol.
COSTELLO: And tell us about that. Will there be aid for Iraq to reconstruct?
AMANPOUR: Well, no new funds have been pledged. And as you know, there has been very little able to be accomplished in the field of vast reconstruction. Not only has places like Falluja been the target of a lot of destruction because of the assault there in search of the insurgents and the terrorists, but much of Iraq's infrastructure really has been devastated over the last couple of decades. And because of the violence, it simply hasn't been possible to do proper major infrastructure reconstruction. And that, in turn, leads to the propagation of violence, as well.
There has not been any new sums pledged to that. However, this conference does call for donor nations to make good on pledges, pledges they made last year.
COSTELLO: Christiane Amanpour live from Egypt this morning.
Thank you.
The Pentagon is thinking about adding more troops to provide security for those January elections. But the Pentagon brass says no decision has been made. But that has led to some second guessing.
Our senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With victory in Falluja comes the reality that thousands of U.S. soldiers and Marines will likely be tied down there for weeks or even months making sure insurgents don't come back.
LT. GEN. JOHN SATTLER, U.S. MARINE CORPS: We will not move out too early. We will stay in proximity as close as necessary.
MCINTYRE: Despite the claims of some U.S. commanders and Iraq's interim prime minister, Pentagon officials concede the U.S. has not yet broken the back of the insurgency. And with Iraqi elections just over two months away the Pentagon has contingency plans to temporarily boost the number of U.S. troops in Iraq without breaking its pledge to limit U.S. combat tours to one year.
LT. GEN. LANCE SMITH, DEPUTY U.S. CENTRAL COMMANDER: That would not be our intent, but I would not say categorically that that would be precluded.
MCINTYRE: There are some 138,000 U.S. troops now in Iraq. No decision has been made, but an option to extend some tours from 10 months to 12 would boost force levels to 141,000 by January. That number could swell to 145,000 under a new option that would call on several thousand soldiers from the 82nd Airborne on standby in the U.S. or fresh troops held in reserve in Kuwait. The Pentagon argues victory over the insurgents will come only when Iraqi troops are doing the bulk of the fighting and worries that more Falluja-style victories could produce a backlash.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: There are other reasons to do additional troop numbers. For example, you might want to do more patrolling, which is not necessarily going on the offensive. It's simply trying to restore security in some of these Iraqi cities and towns that are not presently very secure at all.
MCINTYRE: But some critics argue for a much bigger infusion of American reinforcements now. A "New York Times" editorial headlined "Costly Troop Deficit in Iraq" calls for 20,000 to 40,000 more troops and concludes: "The Bush administration has still not learned the lesson of Iraq. Securing the peace takes more, not fewer, soldiers than winning battles."
(on camera): The Pentagon insists that U.S. troop levels in Iraq are set by commanders on the ground. But because the Pentagon strategy is based on having as few American troops in Iraq as possible, some critics wonder if the generals are hesitant to ask for what they really need.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: A disturbing report out of London this morning. The Independent Television Network quoting unidentified sources says British security services have foiled a 9/11-style attack.
The network's Nic Robinson filed this report late last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
NIC ROBINSON, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of the capital's most famous landmarks. It's the financial heart of London's docklands. People who work here know it's a potential target. Hundreds have been trained how to respond in what the police call Operation Grip It.
These pictures are a horrific reminder of the terrible consequences, previously unthinkable, of flying a plane into a building. A reminder, too, of how easy it proved. A passenger who trained as a pilot strolled through airport security, his heart set on suicide and mass murder. I'm told that the plan for an attack on Canary Wharf also involved terrorists who trained as pilots. I've not been told how or when it was uncovered, or how close they came.
But this was not the only target. The terrorists were also plotting, it's claimed, to crash planes into Heathrow Airport. This revelation comes just days after the home secretary, David Blunkett, warned that Al Qaeda are ..".on our doorstep and threatening our lives..." The threat, he said, ..".will be demonstrated through the courts in the months to come." The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir John Stevens, claimed last week that we've thwarted a number of attacks, we've disrupted them. And MI5's head, Eliza Manningham-Buller, recently told an employers' conference that their buildings should prepare for terrorist attacks.
The authorities have always been reluctant to reveal the warnings they have given. But a year and a half ago, they had no choice. The army surrounded Heathrow. The government were accused of scaremongering. But they and their advisers insisted then, and do today, that they had a real warning of shoulder-launched missiles being used to down a plane.
In recent months, MI5's budget has been doubled. New recruits soared and a unit created to filter all intelligence received. Security at airports has been stepped up here, in the United States and in much of Europe, although intelligence experts are now focusing on what they believe to be weaker security systems in Eastern Europe.
Tonight, ministers arrived in Downing Street on the eve of the queen's speech, which will unveil a series of measures designed, we'll be told, to make Britain more secure.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: We'll have more on the queen's speech later.
And that was Nic Robinson of ITN, reporting from London.
Court side chaos and the fallout that's followed. At 20 minutes after the hour, the consequences for fans and players. Are prosecutors ready to bring any charges?
In Wisconsin, a sixth deer hunter dies. We'll tell you about the suspect in that shooting rampage at 43 after.
And a young Broadway actor puts a story about crystal meth and HIV-AIDS on stage. That's at 50 minutes past.
Right now, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A sixth deer hunter has died following a shooting rampage in a wooded area of Wisconsin last weekend. The 36-year-old man remains in custody but police have yet to file formal charges against him. The penalty phase for Scott Peterson will begin next week. The judge has delayed the beginning until November 30 to settle issues between the attorneys. He also denied a defense request to choose another jury.
In money news, there is a new Mayor McCheese at McDonald's. Vice Chairman Jim Skinner steps up to the plate to assume the CEO duties. Outgoing CEO Charlie Bell was diagnosed with cancer and he decided to step down to focus on his health.
In culture, more and more Americans are surfing the Net, and faster. A government report says that 20 percent of American households are hooked up to high speed Internet services. That's double what it was back in 2001.
In sports, welcome the Washington Nationals. Major league baseball renamed the former Expos franchise after its move to D.C. from Montreal. But the team still doesn't have an independent owner or financing for a new stadium.
Oh, Chad, details, details.
MYERS: Yes, they couldn't use the Senators, I think, because Montreal still owned that name. I thought they should be the Congressmen, you know? But oh, anyway.
COSTELLO: Well, in this climate, with what's happening with the 9/11 bill, I don't think that's a good idea.
MYERS: Maybe not. Exactly.
Good morning.
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COSTELLO: Guess what, Chad?
MYERS: What's that?
COSTELLO: They found the guy who threw the beer.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: At least they think so.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, you know what I'm talking about.
MYERS: Which one was it? I don't know which one it was, though, right.
COSTELLO: The one in the white hat. But listen to this. Prosecutors in Michigan, they're still reviewing the tapes of Friday's basketball brawl. But Pistons officials have already banned one season ticket holder. Police have identified him as the man who tossed the first cup at Pacers' forward Ron Artest.
CNN's Jonathan Freed picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): So big was the scope of unleashed tempers and flying fists last Friday night that authorities in Michigan still haven't concluded who did what to who did what to whom and how they might be charged.
But there is this pledge.
DAVID GORCYCA, OAKLAND COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Everyone involved in this altercation will be held accountable regardless of their status as a player or a fan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Artest is in the stands!
FREED: Indeed, one player and one fan are getting most of the attention, even though the NBA suspended nine players in all, five from the Indiana Pacers and four from the Detroit Pistons.
Near the end of the game, the fan in question threw a plastic cup at Pacers' star Ron Artest, who was lying down after a foul was called against him. Artest charged into the stands. The courtside chaos that followed evoked this in the NBA commissioner.
DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: Shock and revulsion, and fear.
FREED: Artest is out for the rest of the season, 73 games, and it could cost him just under $5 million in lost salary, with the combined cost to all the players involved more than $10 million. The Pacers' Reggie Miller received a small fine and a one day suspension just for leaving the bench during the trouble. The team is now grappling with the loss of major talent.
REGGIE MILLER, PACERS PLAYER: It is what it is and, you know, it's time for us as a team to band together and move on.
FREED: Pacers' president and basketball legend Larry Bird stood behind Artest and the others, and reached out to fans.
LARRY BIRD, PACERS PRESIDENT: We need you now as much as we ever needed you. We need support. We need you behind us.
FREED: Meanwhile, the suspected cup throwing fan, who the prosecution identified as John Green, tried to chase reporters away from his suburban Detroit home on Monday with his dog.
JOHN GREEN: No comment right now. I'm not going anywhere. The police know where I live. I've talked to them already.
FREED: Investigators are studying videotape of the fight and they still haven't interviewed Artest. They say since injuries were minor, any charges would likely be limited to assault and battery, a misdemeanor. Jonathan Freed, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Oh, it's interesting, isn't it?
Now to another sports brawl. Both Clemson University and the University of South Carolina say they will not accept any invitations to play in a possession bowl. Both schools say the actions of their players in Saturday night's fight were completely unacceptable. The loss of bowl game revenue could cost each school more than $1 million.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOU HOLTZ, RETIRING SOUTH CAROLINA HEAD COACH: What happened last week completely disappointed me. But also when you look at it, nobody's right and nobody's wrong in a situation like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Now get this. Poor Lou Holtz. He's retiring this year and, oh, that had to happen. But get this. An article in "USA Today" says that Clemson coach Tommy Bowden is suggesting that repeated viewings of that NBA fight on TV might have been a factor in their brawl. In other words, the college kids watching TV saw those basketball players fighting and it fired them up and they fought, too.
Where's the FCC? We just thought we'd throw that in for fun.
We want to know what you think. Does violence on TV really influence a person's behavior? We want to know. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
Still to come this morning, say cheese or better yet say rolling in the dough. We'll tell you how much that Virgin Mary sandwich went for on eBay.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.
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COSTELLO: Oh, it's my favorite time of the morning. Chad is going to make us laugh.
MYERS: "Late Night Laughs," Carol.
Did you hear Jay Leno last night?
COSTELLO: No.
MYERS: He's the only guy, he's the only guy that could actually get the brawl in Detroit compared to Falluja.
Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
JAY LENO, HOST: U.S. forces have taken Falluja. You hear that? That's good news. Yes, yes. But experts say it's going to be hard to keep Iraq's insurgents from going after people in other cities. And it will be hard. We can't even keep the Indiana Pacers from going after people in other cities. This is probably the first sporting event in history where the nose bleed seats were right in the front.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: That was the best line of the night. Oh my god.
COSTELLO: It's true, those seats cost about $200, to sit in the front row.
MYERS: And the one guy got kicked out, now. The one guy can't use his seats anymore. They booted him, right? The guy in the hat?
COSTELLO: That was the man in the white hat that threw the cup of beer at Ron Artest.
MYERS: Not the guy that Artest hit.
COSTELLO: No. He hit the wrong guy.
MYERS: He hit the wrong guy.
COSTELLO: But it turns out the guy in the white hat has a criminal record for assault, believe it or not.
MYERS: Yes? Really?
COSTELLO: Yes. And he's just waiting for the police to come and question him. But you can bet that charges probably will be filed against him, although prosecutors haven't made a decision yet.
MYERS: Throwing a cup or causing a disturbance?
COSTELLO: I don't know. A good question.
MYERS: Yes. Yes, I know.
COSTELLO: We'll see.
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener" now.
Remember that Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich we told you about the other day? Well, the winning bid on eBay was, get this, $28,000. You can see the Virgin Mary there, can't you? Come on, admit it. The "Miami Herald" reports that the winning bid was made by the owners of the Goldenpalace.com betting Web site. I don't know what they're going to do with the sandwich. But since it's 10 years old, eating it is probably not an option.
New York City can be a lonely place. But one cabby is hoping to change that. Ahmed Ibrahim (ph) is taking down names, numbers and video interviews in an effort to pair up possible couples. He passes on the numbers when he thinks he's found a suitable companion for his passengers. So far, at least one match has been made by this cupid cabby.
To mark yesterday's anniversary of President Kennedy's assassination, a British company released a video game called JFK Reloaded. The downloadable game allows the player to fire the fatal shots from the sixth floor of the book depository building. Game designers call it a docugame. But Senator Ted Kennedy, JFK's brother, calls is despicable.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
U2 strikes a chord and thousands show up for an impromptu concert. We'll tell you where it happened.
Plus, Queen Elizabeth gets ready to set the stage for Britain's upcoming national election.
From New York and Atlanta, you are watching DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning.
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COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
There's a lot going on right now, so let's get right to the headlines.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth addresses parliament today. She is expected to lay out the country's legislative agenda for the next year. Crime and security will take center stage. A strong domestic agenda is expected to be key as Prime Minister Tony Blair's government seeks to win a third term. By the way, you're taking a live look at London right now as we wait for the celebration to begin.
The international conference on Iraq held at an Egyptian resort wraps up today. World leaders drafted a statement giving strong support to Iraq's interim government and its fight against insurgents.
Rescue workers are trying to reach about 10 campers socked in by a snowstorm on southern California's Santa Rosa peak. At least two feet of snow fell over the weekend, making the road up the mountain impassable. It just seems to be too early for that, even in the mountains -- Chad.
MYERS: Carol, it's almost Thanksgiving.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
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