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CNN Live At Daybreak
First Major Storm of the Winter; More Than 40 Americans Being Treated in Germany for Wounds Suffered in Tuesday's Mess Hall Attack
Aired December 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the first major storm of the winter has the nation's mid-section blanketed in the white stuff. Holiday travelers, check your plans twice.
Plus, working as a civilian contractor may net big bucks, but it also carries big risks.
And if you can't make it home for the holidays, how can you make sure elderly relatives are taken care of? We've got some ideas.
It is Thursday, December 23.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers.
We're live from the Time Warner Center in New York.
Now in the news, Iraqi police arrested five Iraqis and an Asian man for the recent attacks in Karbala. The attacks include Sunday's deadly bus station bombing, which killed 16 people and wounded 37 others.
It doesn't get any closer than this. A hand recount shows the Democrat in Washington State's governor's race ahead by 10 votes. But Christine Gregoire is not declaring victory just yet and the Republicans are vowing to fight the results.
The woman charged with strangling a pregnant woman and cutting the baby from her womb will be back in court this morning. Lisa Montgomery has a hearing on transferring her case from Kansas to Missouri.
And just in time for the holiday, the first major storm this winter batters states, from the Plains through the Midwest. Six people have been killed in weather-related traffic accidents and more snow is on the way.
But let's talk to the man who really knows -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Tom Raper, R.V. country.
MYERS: Remember that? Sure, man.
COSTELLO: Oh, that cracks me up.
MYERS: He was the biggest R.V. dealer in the country.
COSTELLO: I do remember that. If you're from the Midwest, you know what we're talking about.
MYERS: Well, this here is an R.V.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you, Chad. I needed to laugh this morning.
One of the areas hardest hit by that winter storm is, of course, Ohio. Three deaths are being blamed on the weather and police there say there have been hundreds of fender benders. But not everyone is letting the snow slow them down this holiday season.
We get more from Sheree Paolello of CNN affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
Sheree Paolello, WLWT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't easy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were fishtailing a little bit, spinning.
PAOLELLO: In fact, it got pretty ugly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The roads are absolutely terrible and this is going to be forever. I'm that guy that's totally unprepared. I don't even have a coat.
PAOLELLO: But when it comes down to facing Mother Nature or your family? Well, you guessed it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We haven't gotten our mom a gift yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Girlfriend, mom and five brothers and sisters.
PAOLELLO: Of course, there were the usual suspects who tried to downplay the panic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do my best shopping at the last minute.
PAOLELLO (on camera): Oh, sure you do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.
PAOLELLO: That's what they all say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I save money that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I figured with all the snow the crowds would be down and I could get in and get out.
PAOLELLO: Oh, so you've got a strategy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Absolutely. I was praying for snow. That's the reason it's snowing.
PAOLELLO (voice-over): But the truth is Mother Nature's winter fury is costly, especially for businesses, who at times had more staff than customers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Overall, it's been a little down in the mall in general. A lot of Internet shopping has kind of hurt us. But, you know, we still...
PAOLELLO (on camera): And this doesn't help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, this doesn't help.
PAOLELLO (voice-over): But a break in the weather would, both for retailers and procrastinators.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was Sheree Paolello of CNN affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati.
The highway patrol in Ohio is warning drivers to stay off the roads as much as possible because conditions are going to get worse as the temperatures drop.
You can keep up with the weather wherever you plan to be with updates from our Web site. It's easy. Just log on to cnn.com.
We're just getting word of more U.S. casualties in Iraq. One American soldier has been killed, two others wounded in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad. That raises the total U.S. troop death toll in Iraq to 1,320.
More than 40 Americans are being treated in Germany for wounds suffered in Tuesday's mess hall attack at a U.S. military base in Iraq. Twenty-two people killed in what's now tentatively blamed on a suicide bomber.
CNN's Matthew Chance is at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany -- hello, Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, as well, Carol.
Well, 42 U.S. personnel were evacuated here to the Landstuhl regional medical facility in southern Germany last night from the devastation of Mosul. Thirty-five of that number U.S. troops. Another seven civilian contractors who were caught up in the blast. They spent their first night under the close medical attention of the specialist teams that have been assembled here at Landstuhl to deal with the various kinds of injuries that the 42 had as a result of that blast in the mess tent. There has been no media access to the injured so far, but we have been told, Carol, that at least eight are in critical condition. But when they came off the plane last night in the driving snow, in the bitter cold of southern Germany, only 13 of the 42 could walk unassisted. Some of the injuries as a result of that blast very grave, indeed. We're talking about broken bones, shrapnel wounds, some extremely serious head injuries, as well.
The challenge for the medical team now, according to the commanding officers on the ground -- and we'll be hearing from them within the next few hours to give us an update on the condition of those troops -- the challenge is to get them back on their feet so that they're strong enough to make that final journey back home to the U.S. That could take just a few days for some, but it may take a lot longer for some of the more seriously injured -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And Matthew, let's talk about that news conference that's supposed to take place at 6:00 Eastern time.
What more are you hearing about that?
CHANCE: Well, it's going to be a news conference with one of the senior medical officers at the Landstuhl regional medical facility. We're waiting to get into the base right now. We assume they're going to give us some detail on the kind of injuries that were incurred by these 42 individuals, the 35 troops, the seven civilian contractors, and also an update on any kind of progress that has been made in treating them. We're hoping to sort of hear, as well, whether any of the families of those injured will be making their way to Landstuhl. There are facilities laid on here at the regional medical facility in southern Germany for families to come and be by the side of their loved ones to help in the recovery process.
So in a sense we'll just have a lot more detail, hopefully, on the condition of these U.S. personnel.
COSTELLO: We hope so.
Matthew Chance reporting live from Landstuhl, Germany this morning.
One of those killed in Tuesday's attack has not been identified and there's some speculation he was the suicide bomber. The Iraqi militant group Ansar al-Sunna claims responsibility and says it was a suicide attack carried out by just one person.
Our correspondent Karl Penhaul reports from Baghdad on Ansar al- Sunna.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are purported members of one of Ansar al-Sunna's suicide brigades with what seems to be explosives strapped to their chests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I have chosen to carry out this mission to find my way to god and to show the Muslims that the infidels are far worse than they think.
PENHAUL: That propaganda video was distributed earlier this year and those pictured are almost certainly now dead. But on its Web site, Ansar al-Sunna claims another of its bombers launched Tuesday's martyrdom operation, their expression for a suicide attack.
Ansar al-Sunna announced its formation in September, 2003. It claimed to be a coalition of Islamic fundamentalist splinter factions, including former Ansar al-Islam fighters, al Qaeda loyalists and Sunni Arabs from Iraq and abroad.
Since then, they've claimed responsibility for a series of bloody strikes -- the car bombing at the Turkish embassy in Baghdad in October last year, simultaneous twin suicide attacks at Kurdish political party offices in Erbil that killed more than 100 people. And this video from September, in which Ansar al-Sunna fighters threatened to execute 12 Nepalese hostages, a threat they carried out days later.
The attack on Camp Marez is a hugely embarrassing security breach. Investigators will focus on who the bomber was, whether he was one of the trusted Iraqi contractors or even an Iraqi soldier based there. But it wasn't the first attack of this type on a heavily fortified U.S. compound. In mid-October, two suicide bombers used backpacks to carry explosives into Baghdad's green zone, center of the U.S. and Iraqi administrations and one of the most heavily defended sites in Iraq. Ten died in that blast, including four Americans.
And it won't be the last such attack, if you listen to this Ansar al-Sunna fighter on the recruitment video.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I say to the infidels, you have chosen your path and now I must act in the name of god.
PENHAUL (on camera): And there could be plenty more like him, ready to sacrifice themselves for what they see as a holy war against American occupation.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Donald Rumsfeld says he feels deeply the loss of service men and women in Iraq. Rumsfeld has been under fire recently for actions that range from sending soldiers into battle with unarmored vehicles to using a machine to sign condolence letters to their families.
Let's go beyond the sound bite now as we listen to what the defense secretary had to say at his news conference yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I am truly saddened by the thought that anyone could have the impression that I or others here are doing anything other than working urgently to see that the lives of the fighting men and women are protected and are cared for in every way humanly possible. And I hope and pray that every family member of those who have died so bravely knows how deeply I feel their loss.
When I meet with the wounded, with their families, or with the families of those who have been lost, their grief is something I feel to my core. And I should add, and the American people need to know, that the strength of our military and of their families is amazing. It is truly extraordinary to see it and to feel it. It never fails to give me strength, to give me encouragement and to give me inspiration for the tasks ahead.
I, and I know others, stay awake at night with concern for those at risk, with hope for their lives, for their success and I want those who matter most, the men and women in uniform and their families, to know that. And I want them to know that we consider them -- the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen and the Marines -- to be America's true treasure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Donald Rumsfeld talking there. He also says he's seeing signs of progress throughout Iraq.
Actually, the defense secretary brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. With all of the controversy surrounding Donald Rumsfeld these days, should he resign? Is it time? We've asked you this question before. We want to know what you think today. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
The cost of doing business in Iraq is high, but when that price includes losing lives, how much is too much? At 17 minutes past the hour, we'll look at the dangers civilian workers are facing in Iraq.
Also, the TSA says it will keep its hands off when it comes to extensive body searches. We'll tell you what's banned, ladies. That's at 40 minutes past.
And a banned prom dress has a Kentucky teenager taking her case to a judge. We'll tell you why at 56 minutes past. Bet you can figure it out for yourself.
Here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:16 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Military doctors this morning are expected to update us soon on the condition of soldiers wounded in the mess hall attack in Mosul. We'll have live coverage of the news conference from Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. It's set to begin in just about 45 minutes.
The person accused of killing a pregnant woman and stealing her baby will be back in the federal court today. Lisa Montgomery is charged with kidnapping resulting in death. Today's hearing deals with moving the case to Missouri, where the crime took place.
In money news, Blockbuster is cutting the fee for its online DVD delivery service. The company is hoping the $2.50 drop will help draw business away from industry leader Netflix.
In culture, Britney Spears is the top star of 2004. That's according to the TV show "Access Hollywood." Oh. Their rankings are based on a number of news stories they did about the star. Oh, come on. This is bogus. Spears was featured 119 times this year alone. Beyonce was number two, with 102 mentions.
In sports, as expected, Todd Bertuzzi plead guilty to assault for his hit on Steve Moore last March. Under the plea agreement, Bertuzzi will serve no jail time and will not have a criminal record.
To the forecast center and Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The civilian contractors who do reconstruction work and repair work in Iraq have no guarantee that they will be safe on the job.
CNN's Chris Huntington reports nearly 60 contractors have been killed since the war began.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The blast that ripped through the mess tent at the U.S. military base in Mosul killed four employees of Halliburton's subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root and wounded 16 others who also worked for the company. In a statement, Halliburton called the Mosul attack "the worst for KBR and our subcontractors in almost two years of the war in Iraq. Halliburton and KBR, which have been under constant fire for their contracts in Iraq, have also been literally in the line of fire. The company says that 59 employees have been killed in Iraq, more than any other single contractor.
For now, Halliburton says it has no plans to pull out of Iraq. But the cost of security for contractors there, in lives and in dollars, continues to rise.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: We've been hearing for months about how much money has to be spent on security and these companies are still losing people again, just this week, in Mosul. So I think a number of firms could reconsider whether they want to be in Iraq. HUNTINGTON: One firm already has reconsidered. Contrack International of Arlington, Virginia says the Defense Department has agreed to release it from a project to repair roads and bridges, a job potentially worth $325 million. In a statement, the company said: "The work that was envisioned could not be executed in a cost- effective manner under the present circumstances." Contrack's president told CNN that: "Security had nothing to do with it," that it was a "mutually agreed upon business decision with the Defense Department to replace expat American engineers with local Iraqis to fill potholes."
A spokesman for the Defense Department's project contracting office in Baghdad, however, told CNN that Contrack's business model was too expensive and that security costs were a component. But he added no U.S. companies were pulling out of projects solely for security concerns.
John Sullivan, who recently surveyed businesses in Iraq, found security was still the major issue.
JOHN SULLIVAN, CENTER FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT: The security is the primary obstacle, there's no question about that.
HUNTINGTON: The U.S. government does not keep official statistics of contract workers killed in Iraq. But the Web site icasualty.org posts what it calls an incomplete list of 192 contract workers killed there, 66 of them American, most of them working as security agents.
Chris Huntington, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: 'Tis the season for giving. Up next, how one generous couple is giving the entire town the gift of lights.
Stick around, we'll explain.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Openers."
How's this for a Christmas gift? A cattle rancher from Anthon, Iowa is picking up the tab for the city's electric bill. Richard and Donna Hamann will spend around $30,000 on the electric bills for all residences, schools and businesses. Six hundred fifty people live in Anthon.
Housing requests are up in Rochester, Minnesota -- gingerbread houses, that is. A local baker says he's getting more orders for the edible domiciles than ever before. But he's having trouble making money because he keeps giving...
MYERS: You know why, Carol? COSTELLO: Why, Chad?
MYERS: Because he's giving them away. That's not a business model.
COSTELLO: No. What is he thinking? He should be a grinch.
MYERS: That's right.
COSTELLO: Two California brothers are vying for a somewhat dubious title. They're both in the running to become the sexiest plumber.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: How's this for a story, Chad?
MYERS: Well, I know, but they have overalls on so you can't tell what they really look like.
COSTELLO: Oh, I don't know. Sometimes overalls can be quite sexy.
MYERS: Well, I know but...
COSTELLO: Guess who's...
MYERS: ... but the glory of a plumber is to have pants that don't go quite up far enough.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's right. I forgot about that aspect of plumbing.
MYERS: See.
COSTELLO: Plumbing attire.
Anyway, guess who this contest is sponsored by?
MYERS: By the toilet maker American Standard.
COSTELLO: You know it all this morning.
MYERS: I read it. It's online.
COSTELLO: There are just a few days left. You can vote online for your favorite. Go to the American toilet Web site, whatever that may be.
MYERS: American Standard.
You've never put in a toilet, I can see.
COSTELLO: And I never will.
MYERS: OK. COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Some airport pat downs are on pause. We'll tell you what you need to know when an airport screener attempts to touch your torso.
And a reminder -- our E-Mail Question of the Morning, should Donald Rumsfeld resign? We want to hear from you this morning. Our address, daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, six men, five Iraqis and one described only as an East Asian, have been arrested in Karbala. They're suspects in the last three insurgent attacks in the city, including the bus station bombing last Sunday that killed 16 people. The East Asian suspect claims to be a member of al Qaeda.
One American soldier was killed, two others wounded this morning when a roadside bomb explodes in western Baghdad. The death brings the U.S. toll in Iraq to 1,320.
The first major storm of the winter has snowed in or iced down a huge section of the nation, from New Mexico through Ohio. Six deaths are reported so far.
And the U.S. Postal Service predicts most cards and packages will reach their destinations by Christmas. But Express Mail is not cheap. One man leaving a post office says the postage cost him more than the gifts. Oh, his poor family.
MYERS: Yes. I can see -- I got a package the other day and the postage was $12.86.
COSTELLO: Wow!
MYERS: I'm thinking just keep it until you see me. That's dinner, for crying out loud.
Anyway, good morning, Carol.
(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 December 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the first major storm of the winter has the nation's mid-section blanketed in the white stuff. Holiday travelers, check your plans twice.
Plus, working as a civilian contractor may net big bucks, but it also carries big risks.
And if you can't make it home for the holidays, how can you make sure elderly relatives are taken care of? We've got some ideas.
It is Thursday, December 23.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
I'm Carol Costello along with Chad Myers.
We're live from the Time Warner Center in New York.
Now in the news, Iraqi police arrested five Iraqis and an Asian man for the recent attacks in Karbala. The attacks include Sunday's deadly bus station bombing, which killed 16 people and wounded 37 others.
It doesn't get any closer than this. A hand recount shows the Democrat in Washington State's governor's race ahead by 10 votes. But Christine Gregoire is not declaring victory just yet and the Republicans are vowing to fight the results.
The woman charged with strangling a pregnant woman and cutting the baby from her womb will be back in court this morning. Lisa Montgomery has a hearing on transferring her case from Kansas to Missouri.
And just in time for the holiday, the first major storm this winter batters states, from the Plains through the Midwest. Six people have been killed in weather-related traffic accidents and more snow is on the way.
But let's talk to the man who really knows -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Tom Raper, R.V. country.
MYERS: Remember that? Sure, man.
COSTELLO: Oh, that cracks me up.
MYERS: He was the biggest R.V. dealer in the country.
COSTELLO: I do remember that. If you're from the Midwest, you know what we're talking about.
MYERS: Well, this here is an R.V.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you, Chad. I needed to laugh this morning.
One of the areas hardest hit by that winter storm is, of course, Ohio. Three deaths are being blamed on the weather and police there say there have been hundreds of fender benders. But not everyone is letting the snow slow them down this holiday season.
We get more from Sheree Paolello of CNN affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
Sheree Paolello, WLWT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It wasn't easy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We were fishtailing a little bit, spinning.
PAOLELLO: In fact, it got pretty ugly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The roads are absolutely terrible and this is going to be forever. I'm that guy that's totally unprepared. I don't even have a coat.
PAOLELLO: But when it comes down to facing Mother Nature or your family? Well, you guessed it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We haven't gotten our mom a gift yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Girlfriend, mom and five brothers and sisters.
PAOLELLO: Of course, there were the usual suspects who tried to downplay the panic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do my best shopping at the last minute.
PAOLELLO (on camera): Oh, sure you do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I do.
PAOLELLO: That's what they all say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I save money that way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I figured with all the snow the crowds would be down and I could get in and get out.
PAOLELLO: Oh, so you've got a strategy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Absolutely. I was praying for snow. That's the reason it's snowing.
PAOLELLO (voice-over): But the truth is Mother Nature's winter fury is costly, especially for businesses, who at times had more staff than customers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Overall, it's been a little down in the mall in general. A lot of Internet shopping has kind of hurt us. But, you know, we still...
PAOLELLO (on camera): And this doesn't help.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, this doesn't help.
PAOLELLO (voice-over): But a break in the weather would, both for retailers and procrastinators.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was Sheree Paolello of CNN affiliate WLWT in Cincinnati.
The highway patrol in Ohio is warning drivers to stay off the roads as much as possible because conditions are going to get worse as the temperatures drop.
You can keep up with the weather wherever you plan to be with updates from our Web site. It's easy. Just log on to cnn.com.
We're just getting word of more U.S. casualties in Iraq. One American soldier has been killed, two others wounded in a roadside bombing in western Baghdad. That raises the total U.S. troop death toll in Iraq to 1,320.
More than 40 Americans are being treated in Germany for wounds suffered in Tuesday's mess hall attack at a U.S. military base in Iraq. Twenty-two people killed in what's now tentatively blamed on a suicide bomber.
CNN's Matthew Chance is at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany -- hello, Matthew.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, as well, Carol.
Well, 42 U.S. personnel were evacuated here to the Landstuhl regional medical facility in southern Germany last night from the devastation of Mosul. Thirty-five of that number U.S. troops. Another seven civilian contractors who were caught up in the blast. They spent their first night under the close medical attention of the specialist teams that have been assembled here at Landstuhl to deal with the various kinds of injuries that the 42 had as a result of that blast in the mess tent. There has been no media access to the injured so far, but we have been told, Carol, that at least eight are in critical condition. But when they came off the plane last night in the driving snow, in the bitter cold of southern Germany, only 13 of the 42 could walk unassisted. Some of the injuries as a result of that blast very grave, indeed. We're talking about broken bones, shrapnel wounds, some extremely serious head injuries, as well.
The challenge for the medical team now, according to the commanding officers on the ground -- and we'll be hearing from them within the next few hours to give us an update on the condition of those troops -- the challenge is to get them back on their feet so that they're strong enough to make that final journey back home to the U.S. That could take just a few days for some, but it may take a lot longer for some of the more seriously injured -- Carol.
COSTELLO: And Matthew, let's talk about that news conference that's supposed to take place at 6:00 Eastern time.
What more are you hearing about that?
CHANCE: Well, it's going to be a news conference with one of the senior medical officers at the Landstuhl regional medical facility. We're waiting to get into the base right now. We assume they're going to give us some detail on the kind of injuries that were incurred by these 42 individuals, the 35 troops, the seven civilian contractors, and also an update on any kind of progress that has been made in treating them. We're hoping to sort of hear, as well, whether any of the families of those injured will be making their way to Landstuhl. There are facilities laid on here at the regional medical facility in southern Germany for families to come and be by the side of their loved ones to help in the recovery process.
So in a sense we'll just have a lot more detail, hopefully, on the condition of these U.S. personnel.
COSTELLO: We hope so.
Matthew Chance reporting live from Landstuhl, Germany this morning.
One of those killed in Tuesday's attack has not been identified and there's some speculation he was the suicide bomber. The Iraqi militant group Ansar al-Sunna claims responsibility and says it was a suicide attack carried out by just one person.
Our correspondent Karl Penhaul reports from Baghdad on Ansar al- Sunna.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are purported members of one of Ansar al-Sunna's suicide brigades with what seems to be explosives strapped to their chests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I have chosen to carry out this mission to find my way to god and to show the Muslims that the infidels are far worse than they think.
PENHAUL: That propaganda video was distributed earlier this year and those pictured are almost certainly now dead. But on its Web site, Ansar al-Sunna claims another of its bombers launched Tuesday's martyrdom operation, their expression for a suicide attack.
Ansar al-Sunna announced its formation in September, 2003. It claimed to be a coalition of Islamic fundamentalist splinter factions, including former Ansar al-Islam fighters, al Qaeda loyalists and Sunni Arabs from Iraq and abroad.
Since then, they've claimed responsibility for a series of bloody strikes -- the car bombing at the Turkish embassy in Baghdad in October last year, simultaneous twin suicide attacks at Kurdish political party offices in Erbil that killed more than 100 people. And this video from September, in which Ansar al-Sunna fighters threatened to execute 12 Nepalese hostages, a threat they carried out days later.
The attack on Camp Marez is a hugely embarrassing security breach. Investigators will focus on who the bomber was, whether he was one of the trusted Iraqi contractors or even an Iraqi soldier based there. But it wasn't the first attack of this type on a heavily fortified U.S. compound. In mid-October, two suicide bombers used backpacks to carry explosives into Baghdad's green zone, center of the U.S. and Iraqi administrations and one of the most heavily defended sites in Iraq. Ten died in that blast, including four Americans.
And it won't be the last such attack, if you listen to this Ansar al-Sunna fighter on the recruitment video.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I say to the infidels, you have chosen your path and now I must act in the name of god.
PENHAUL (on camera): And there could be plenty more like him, ready to sacrifice themselves for what they see as a holy war against American occupation.
Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Donald Rumsfeld says he feels deeply the loss of service men and women in Iraq. Rumsfeld has been under fire recently for actions that range from sending soldiers into battle with unarmored vehicles to using a machine to sign condolence letters to their families.
Let's go beyond the sound bite now as we listen to what the defense secretary had to say at his news conference yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I am truly saddened by the thought that anyone could have the impression that I or others here are doing anything other than working urgently to see that the lives of the fighting men and women are protected and are cared for in every way humanly possible. And I hope and pray that every family member of those who have died so bravely knows how deeply I feel their loss.
When I meet with the wounded, with their families, or with the families of those who have been lost, their grief is something I feel to my core. And I should add, and the American people need to know, that the strength of our military and of their families is amazing. It is truly extraordinary to see it and to feel it. It never fails to give me strength, to give me encouragement and to give me inspiration for the tasks ahead.
I, and I know others, stay awake at night with concern for those at risk, with hope for their lives, for their success and I want those who matter most, the men and women in uniform and their families, to know that. And I want them to know that we consider them -- the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen and the Marines -- to be America's true treasure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Donald Rumsfeld talking there. He also says he's seeing signs of progress throughout Iraq.
Actually, the defense secretary brings us to our DAYBREAK E-Mail Question of the Day. With all of the controversy surrounding Donald Rumsfeld these days, should he resign? Is it time? We've asked you this question before. We want to know what you think today. Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
The cost of doing business in Iraq is high, but when that price includes losing lives, how much is too much? At 17 minutes past the hour, we'll look at the dangers civilian workers are facing in Iraq.
Also, the TSA says it will keep its hands off when it comes to extensive body searches. We'll tell you what's banned, ladies. That's at 40 minutes past.
And a banned prom dress has a Kentucky teenager taking her case to a judge. We'll tell you why at 56 minutes past. Bet you can figure it out for yourself.
Here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
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COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:16 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Military doctors this morning are expected to update us soon on the condition of soldiers wounded in the mess hall attack in Mosul. We'll have live coverage of the news conference from Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. It's set to begin in just about 45 minutes.
The person accused of killing a pregnant woman and stealing her baby will be back in the federal court today. Lisa Montgomery is charged with kidnapping resulting in death. Today's hearing deals with moving the case to Missouri, where the crime took place.
In money news, Blockbuster is cutting the fee for its online DVD delivery service. The company is hoping the $2.50 drop will help draw business away from industry leader Netflix.
In culture, Britney Spears is the top star of 2004. That's according to the TV show "Access Hollywood." Oh. Their rankings are based on a number of news stories they did about the star. Oh, come on. This is bogus. Spears was featured 119 times this year alone. Beyonce was number two, with 102 mentions.
In sports, as expected, Todd Bertuzzi plead guilty to assault for his hit on Steve Moore last March. Under the plea agreement, Bertuzzi will serve no jail time and will not have a criminal record.
To the forecast center and Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
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COSTELLO: The civilian contractors who do reconstruction work and repair work in Iraq have no guarantee that they will be safe on the job.
CNN's Chris Huntington reports nearly 60 contractors have been killed since the war began.
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CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The blast that ripped through the mess tent at the U.S. military base in Mosul killed four employees of Halliburton's subsidiary Kellogg, Brown & Root and wounded 16 others who also worked for the company. In a statement, Halliburton called the Mosul attack "the worst for KBR and our subcontractors in almost two years of the war in Iraq. Halliburton and KBR, which have been under constant fire for their contracts in Iraq, have also been literally in the line of fire. The company says that 59 employees have been killed in Iraq, more than any other single contractor.
For now, Halliburton says it has no plans to pull out of Iraq. But the cost of security for contractors there, in lives and in dollars, continues to rise.
MICHAEL O'HANLON, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: We've been hearing for months about how much money has to be spent on security and these companies are still losing people again, just this week, in Mosul. So I think a number of firms could reconsider whether they want to be in Iraq. HUNTINGTON: One firm already has reconsidered. Contrack International of Arlington, Virginia says the Defense Department has agreed to release it from a project to repair roads and bridges, a job potentially worth $325 million. In a statement, the company said: "The work that was envisioned could not be executed in a cost- effective manner under the present circumstances." Contrack's president told CNN that: "Security had nothing to do with it," that it was a "mutually agreed upon business decision with the Defense Department to replace expat American engineers with local Iraqis to fill potholes."
A spokesman for the Defense Department's project contracting office in Baghdad, however, told CNN that Contrack's business model was too expensive and that security costs were a component. But he added no U.S. companies were pulling out of projects solely for security concerns.
John Sullivan, who recently surveyed businesses in Iraq, found security was still the major issue.
JOHN SULLIVAN, CENTER FOR PRIVATE INVESTMENT: The security is the primary obstacle, there's no question about that.
HUNTINGTON: The U.S. government does not keep official statistics of contract workers killed in Iraq. But the Web site icasualty.org posts what it calls an incomplete list of 192 contract workers killed there, 66 of them American, most of them working as security agents.
Chris Huntington, CNN, New York.
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COSTELLO: 'Tis the season for giving. Up next, how one generous couple is giving the entire town the gift of lights.
Stick around, we'll explain.
You are watching DAYBREAK for a Thursday.
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COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Openers."
How's this for a Christmas gift? A cattle rancher from Anthon, Iowa is picking up the tab for the city's electric bill. Richard and Donna Hamann will spend around $30,000 on the electric bills for all residences, schools and businesses. Six hundred fifty people live in Anthon.
Housing requests are up in Rochester, Minnesota -- gingerbread houses, that is. A local baker says he's getting more orders for the edible domiciles than ever before. But he's having trouble making money because he keeps giving...
MYERS: You know why, Carol? COSTELLO: Why, Chad?
MYERS: Because he's giving them away. That's not a business model.
COSTELLO: No. What is he thinking? He should be a grinch.
MYERS: That's right.
COSTELLO: Two California brothers are vying for a somewhat dubious title. They're both in the running to become the sexiest plumber.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: How's this for a story, Chad?
MYERS: Well, I know, but they have overalls on so you can't tell what they really look like.
COSTELLO: Oh, I don't know. Sometimes overalls can be quite sexy.
MYERS: Well, I know but...
COSTELLO: Guess who's...
MYERS: ... but the glory of a plumber is to have pants that don't go quite up far enough.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's right. I forgot about that aspect of plumbing.
MYERS: See.
COSTELLO: Plumbing attire.
Anyway, guess who this contest is sponsored by?
MYERS: By the toilet maker American Standard.
COSTELLO: You know it all this morning.
MYERS: I read it. It's online.
COSTELLO: There are just a few days left. You can vote online for your favorite. Go to the American toilet Web site, whatever that may be.
MYERS: American Standard.
You've never put in a toilet, I can see.
COSTELLO: And I never will.
MYERS: OK. COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Some airport pat downs are on pause. We'll tell you what you need to know when an airport screener attempts to touch your torso.
And a reminder -- our E-Mail Question of the Morning, should Donald Rumsfeld resign? We want to hear from you this morning. Our address, daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
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COSTELLO: And good morning to you.
Welcome to the second half hour of DAYBREAK.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, six men, five Iraqis and one described only as an East Asian, have been arrested in Karbala. They're suspects in the last three insurgent attacks in the city, including the bus station bombing last Sunday that killed 16 people. The East Asian suspect claims to be a member of al Qaeda.
One American soldier was killed, two others wounded this morning when a roadside bomb explodes in western Baghdad. The death brings the U.S. toll in Iraq to 1,320.
The first major storm of the winter has snowed in or iced down a huge section of the nation, from New Mexico through Ohio. Six deaths are reported so far.
And the U.S. Postal Service predicts most cards and packages will reach their destinations by Christmas. But Express Mail is not cheap. One man leaving a post office says the postage cost him more than the gifts. Oh, his poor family.
MYERS: Yes. I can see -- I got a package the other day and the postage was $12.86.
COSTELLO: Wow!
MYERS: I'm thinking just keep it until you see me. That's dinner, for crying out loud.
Anyway, good morning, Carol.
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