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CNN Live At Daybreak

Final Mourners Waiting to pay Respects to Pope; Vatican Security; Covering the Pope

Aired April 07, 2005 - 5:00   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 funeral for Pope John Paul II is 23 hours away and security is tight as a drum. We'll take you live to Vatican City.
Plus, a tale of prison escape. A hostage and intrigue in Texas. It all comes unraveled with a knock on a door.

And a balmy life (ph) in Miami. But this isn't South Beach. We'll show you who won.

It is Thursday, April 7th. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

"Now in the News," right now the long line of mourners for Pope John Paul II moves like a river into St. Peter's Basilica. But the Vatican has stopped any more people from joining the line. Some private viewing by dignitaries will be allowed, but Vatican officials say they need time to prepare the Basilica for tomorrow's funeral.

The AP, quoting U.S. military officials, says 13 of 16 people killed in the crash of a helicopter in Afghanistan are American troops. Three others are U.S. government contractors. The chopper went down in bad weather.

An historic bus trip between Indian-controlled Kashmir and the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir. It's the first crossing of the disputed line separating the region in nearly 60 years. Earlier, Indian officials stopped a militant Muslim attack on one bus.

And a line of severe storms and tornadoes has raked Mississippi. No deaths, but at least seven people were injured, several homes damaged, and power was knocked out in several areas.

Oh, that was nasty, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Louisiana, too. Thirty tornadoes yesterday officially. So wow.

Carol, you were supposed to be on vacation today.

COSTELLO: And I came in just for you.

MYERS: Well, thank you so much. I missed you so much last week. You were working for Soledad. I never got to see you. Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Sounds great again. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: I want to give you the latest now on Pope John Paul II from the Vatican. John Paul II was, after all, their pope. The Polish delegation to Friday's funeral arrives in Rome this morning. They are bringing with them soil from Poland that they hope to bury with the pope.

We expect to learn what is in the pope's last will and testament this morning. It's being released by the Vatican just about an hour from now.

Arriving in Rome today, two several trains from Poland carrying some 5,000 mourners. And tonight, St. Peter's Basilica and the square will be closed for security sweeps.

The U.S. delegation to the funeral has paid its respects in St. Peter's. President Bush, his wife, Laura, former presidents Bush and Clinton, along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, knelt in front of the body for about three minutes. You see them there.

We now want to take you live to Vatican City for the view right now. Our Jennifer Eccleston is in St. Peter's Square, where thousands have been waiting hours to view the pope's body.

Jennifer, will they be able to get in?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol. These pilgrims behind me actually consider themselves to be part of a fortunate group because they will actually get to go in and pay their last respects to the body of Pope John Paul II.

They actually made it before the 10:00 p.m. cutoff last night. That's when the city of Rome decided that no more people will be allowed to join the line because they will not be able to get into it for another 12 to 15 hours. And they need to make the preparations for the funeral, which will begin at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

But these ones behind me, they will be able to get in. And despite the fact that they've had no sleep and they haven't had a good meal, their spirits are still pretty high.

And the city of Rome has said that there will be some two -- there have been already two million people that have filed through to see the body of Pope John Paul II. They're now expecting that some four million people will be here in Rome tomorrow for the funeral mass. And that is one of the largest gatherings of people in this city's modern history.

Now, let's just take a pan over and see some of the crowds here. Everyone very, very silent, very solemn. Some prayers are being read.

You'll see a lot of -- a lot of flags from Poland. And as you mentioned, there are several busloads and trainloads of Polish pilgrims that are heading into Rome. Unfortunately, those that made it here after 10:00 p.m. last night will not be able to see the body of Pope John Paul II. But they will be able to watch the mass tomorrow on large screens that have been positioned all over the city of Rome.

The city of Rome is asking people, if you're not already in the square, please do not come, because it is actually a logistics nightmare right now. This city in good days is horrible when it comes to traffic. So they're asking people, please, stay where you are, go to the allocated areas throughout Rome, where they'll have these big television sets, and watch the proceedings from there.

And as you mentioned, there are some 200 kings, queens, heads of government and other dignitaries that are streaming into Rome this day. Last night we saw U.S. President George Bush pay his respects. He was his with his wife Laura. Also, he was with former President George H. W. Bush, and also President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Now, with all those dignitaries heading into town, Carol, you can imagine it is a security nightmare. And the Roman authorities are doing their utmost to make sure that not only the pilgrims, but the visiting dignitaries will be safe -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Jennifer Eccleston live from Rome this morning. Thank you.

And Jennifer mentioned security. Well, security around the Vatican closely resembles the preparations for last year's Olympics in Athens. And with hundreds of world leaders in town for the pope's funeral, security officials are on high alert.

CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The largest security challenge so far has been controlling a growing crowd trying to reach St. Peter's Square. Italian officials say they had a plan for the pope's death, but they had no idea millions would show up to pay their last respects to John Paul II. Because, they say, up to five million people could be involved by the time the funeral ends on Friday, they only had a matter of days to adapt their security plan.

Despite the long wait to see the pope's body, officials say the crowd has not been hostile towards security forces. But they're not taking any chances.

"I have no sign that could be in any way worrying," he says. "No sign. It is obvious that nobody is going to underestimate anything and, above all, security." The defense shield will reach its peak on Friday, when close to 200 heads of state in government, including the current and two past U.S. presidents will sit in St. Peter's Square attending the pope's funeral.

DEPUTY MAYOR LUCA ODEVAINE, ROME: Once they're in the Vatican, they're of course quite -- quite -- the security (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of course. But then we have to handle the people coming into the square.

Everybody will be controlled by metal detectors, so we have to get the whole place empty the night before, and then control everybody and put them back in the square. So that's going to be a very, very hard task. But we're ready to do that.

VINCI: Most dignitaries will have a security detail. But officials here say the deployment of security forces will reach close to 15,000 men and women, including hundreds from the military.

It already seems as if every street corner and piazza around the Vatican and beyond is being carefully watched. Key areas are being monitored with cameras linked to police headquarters. The River Tiber is patrolled 24 hours a day. If someone tries to reach the Vatican from here, these two officers tell me, he has no chance.

(on camera): This is just one of many security measures being employed to protect Vatican City. As you can see, the basilica is very close to the river. However, the first line of defense is high away from here. High above Rome, NATO planes circle to protect the skies, and antiaircraft missile defense systems have been deployed just outside the city center.

(voice-over): The airspace over Rome in a range of 60 kilometers has been shut to private aircraft. And commercial air traffic will be reduced drastically by Thursday night. And on Friday, the entire city of Rome has been declared a no driving zone.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And be sure to tune into CNN for complete coverage of the pope's funeral. CNN's Anderson Cooper, Christiane Amanpour and Bill Hemmer will anchor our coverage that begins at 3:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow.

Another important step for Iraq this morning. Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani will be sworn in as president of Iraq two hours from now. His two top deputies will also take the oath. A prime minister could be named today.

Talabani was elected Wednesday by Iraq's Transitional Assembly. The vote was a formality, and his role is pretty much ceremonial. But the selection of a Kurdish president is a powerful symbol. For much of the Saddam Hussein era, Kurds had been persecuted and treated like second-class citizens. Jane Fonda, she's making the rounds, promoting both the new book about her life and her first movie in more than 20 years. But many remember Jane Fonda as a controversial and outspoken antiwar activist during the Vietnam War.

Fonda says she made her infamous trip to North Vietnam in 1972 to expose the lies being told by the U.S. government about the war. But she says part of her visit she will always regret.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE FONDA, ACTRESS: I'm sorry that I was photographed sitting on an antiaircraft gun, me. That image made soldiers think that I was against American soldiers. I think it hurt a lot of people, and I'm very, very sorry. And I will go to my grave regretting that lapse of judgment. It was terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And you know, Chad, a lot of people still remember her nickname from that era.

MYERS: Sure.

COSTELLO: "Hanoi Jane."

MYERS: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: And a lot of the younger people on staff at CNN don't even remember the controversy.

MYERS: Don't remember the Vietnam War conflict.

COSTELLO: Exactly. But for those of you who don't know, she actually took a picture and went over to the North Vietnamese, which was the other side.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: The United States was fighting for the other side.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: It would be like -- let me think of an example. It would be like a movie star today sitting with the insurgents in Iraq, taking a picture of them.

MYERS: Not only sitting with the insurgents, Carol, but sitting on one of their weapons that could potentially kill an American soldier, or soldiers, or airmen. You know? It was the aircraft gunner that she was sitting on, you know, and saying, hey, look...

COSTELLO: And smiling. She says she really regrets that photo.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: She doesn't regret her antiwar stance, but she regrets that photo.

MYERS: Exactly.

COSTELLO: Actually, that brings us to our DAYBREAK email question of the morning. Hanoi Jane, does Jane Fonda's past antiwar activism matter to you now? Are you planning to boycott her new movie or book? We want to know what you think.

DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Ever hear of EWTN? Well, it's with the Vatican -- I mean, it's at the Vatican right now. We go behind the scenes to see how a little Catholic television network covers a huge news story. That's at 14 minutes past.

Then at 49 minutes past the hour, a true crime story that proves that truth is really stranger than fiction.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

More than two million mourners have already passed by the body of Pope John Paul II. The public viewing will end later today so preparations can be finalized for tomorrow's funeral.

A judge may decide today whether to release a report to the fatal shooting of a judge in an Atlanta courtroom. The report looks at security lapses in the case of Brian Nichols, who's accused of shooting and killing the judge and three others last month.

In money news, Fed chairman Alan Greenspan is asking Congress to keep mortgage giants Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac in check. He told the Senate Banking Committee that any failure in their billion-dollar portfolios could have profound effects on the economy.

In culture, British actor Daniel Craig has been tabbed as the next James Bond. You say, "Who?" Well, you may have seen the 37- year-old Craig in such movies as "Sylvia," with Gwyneth Paltrow, and "Lara Croft Tombraider" with Angelina Jolie. Both movies I'm sure you flocked to.

In sports, the first round of the Masters Championship is set to tee off in less than three hours. Defending champ Phil Mickelson is hoping to become the fourth player ever to win back the Masters titles.

Of course, Chad, the whole thing could be washed out, right?

MYERS: Take a look at this, Carol. I just popped up the radar as soon as you started this story.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.

Of course we are not the only network covering events at the Vatican this weekend. EWTN is the Eternal World Television Network. It's a Catholic organization that usually broadcasts from a small town in Alabama. But this week much of its programming is coming from Rome.

Joining us now to talk about what it's like is its news director, Raymond Arroyo.

Good morning to you.

RAYMOND ARROYO, NEWS DIRECTOR, EWTN: Good morning. How are you?

COSTELLO: I'm fine. So tell us about your network, because maybe many people in our viewing audience haven't seen it.

ARROYO: Yes. EWTN was founded a year after Ted Turner founded this network.

It was founded by Mother Angelica, a Franciscan nun. And believe it or not, it broadcasts out of Birmingham, Alabama.

We're in 100 million homes around the globe. And, you know, it's become this amazing thing from a little Hamlet, you know, in Birmingham. So here we are.

COSTELLO: You know, I had watched -- I had watched Mother Angelica. And I must say, what she says resonates.

ARROYO: Oh, yes. She's quite a, you know, two-fisted kind of gal. And she's never at a loss for words and has kept the network going for I think 25 years. We're going into our 25th year this year.

And it's really an amazing story, and so much of it tied and liked to this pontificate that, you know, we celebrate. And that ends tomorrow.

COSTELLO: So what has this been like, covering this story? What has this been like for you?

ARROYO: Well, you know, for many of us it's the end -- it's saying goodbye to a father. It's a family gathering, if you will. And much of our programming has been a lot of documentaries, a lot of -- you know, naturally talking heads, dissecting the pontificate, looking at all the many, many 104 papal visits of this great pope.

But also projecting forward, what is the legacy, doing much of the work you all have been doing. And I might say, doing a good job over the last few days as we follow this.

COSTELLO: Oh, we appreciate that. I wanted to ask you this question. So many have turned out to see the pope's body, to pay their last respects.

ARROYO: Yes.

COSTELLO: And we know in the United States that Catholicism has lost a lot of its members. Do you see this as a sign of a possible resurgence for the Catholic faith?

ARROYO: You know what I think we're seeing -- and it shows this is the gambit of John Paul II writ large. John Paul, when he came to the pontificate, he realized there was this whole generation of middle-aged folks that he wasn't sure that he could convince of the fullness of truth, bring them around on certain key doctrines.

So he made -- played a gambit. He went to the young. He went to their children. He went to their children. And he though, if I took this message to the young, perhaps they are not so far down the road that they can't be reached any longer.

And in the doing -- and I think that's what we're seeing now, four million people crowding these streets. Most of them are under 30. You know, 40 and under, certainly. But a lot of young kids.

And they've trekked from all over Europe, from the United States, from Africa, from Asia. I mean, and you've been talking to them, I've been talking to them. It's an amazing thing we're seeing. They're sleeping in the streets.

I think we're beginning to see -- this is the legacy of John Paul II. It's the thread of faith he's woven into the lives of these young people. He's the only pope they know, and I think we're going to see that legacy blossom as time goes forward.

COSTELLO: We'll see. Raymond Arroyo, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

ARROYO: It's a great pleasure. Thank you.

COSTELLO: We appreciate it.

After vanishing 11 years ago, some question if Bobbi Parker was held against her will. It's a bizarre story. And believe me, it has many twists and turns.

Plus, a wrestling match between man and beast. Oh, man. We'll tell you who won.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, April 7th.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers."

Residents of one Miami neighborhood got a show with their dinner. Take a look at this. They were witness to a wrestling match between a seasoned gator catcher and his six-foot-long opponent. It took some quick thinking and strong arms to haul in this thrashing gator, but man did win. Then he took the gator out of there to a place where he couldn't hurt anyone.

The other day we showed you a 65-foot catfish caught by some kids in Texas. Well, now they've found one that's even bigger. This catfish weighs in at a whopping 85 pounds.

A Tennessee man found the fish in his pond after it ate his other fish. Now he's released it into the wild. So I'm sure we'll show someone catching it next week.

Beckingham Palace will be torn down after all. David Beckham and his wife Victoria had a small-scale replica of a medieval castle built for their kids on the grounds of their north London mansion. You think these kids are spoiled?

Well, the area planning commission had threatened to condemn the playhouse, but instead gave post-dated approval for its construction. So the kids will have their castle after all.

What a happy ending to that story.

MYERS: I guess.

COSTELLO: We've been soliciting emails on Jane Fonda this morning, and they're coming in fast and furious, Chad.

MYERS: They are?

COSTELLO: Hanoi Jane, does it matter to you now? And the reason we're doing this is because she's going on a publicity tour. She has a book out, she has a new movie out, and she does say she's sorry for that picture she took with the North Vietnamese by some weaponry. She was smiling, but she's not sorry she was an antiwar activist.

So take it away, Chad.

MYERS: I got one from Linda in Minnesota. "That was 40 years ago. Some people don't even have a clue about what she was doing back then. Jane is fine, she was fine, she was living her life then. She regrets it, but now is now and then was then."

But a lot of other guys are not so, let's say, forgiving. "Forget Hanoi Jane? Never, never, never." That's from William in Minnesota. "A vast majority of Americans will take the memory of Hanoi Jane to their graves" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: This is from Kevin. He says, "If it were up to me, I would park her in Guantanamo Bay as a permanent resident. Her only regret is that her actions cost her movies and ultimately money. She's a traitor and should be treated as such."

And this one from Joey from San Francisco... "I think the cavalier attitude and negative connotation you are giving Jane Fonda is abominable. She has explained it was a terrible lapse of judgment and apologized to soldiers ad infinitum. Give the woman a break. She does so much good work. Shame on you."

And in fairness, she does do a lot of good work.

MYERS: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: She's devoted her life to helping pregnant teens in Atlanta. You know, she still lives in Atlanta on kind of the bad side of town. And she does a lot of work with pregnant teenagers in need.

MYERS: Right. And she was on "LARRY KING" yesterday. That's kind of where all this came from as well.

Jane Fonda -- this is from David in South Dakota -- "Oh, please. The Vietnam War is over. Let's stop fighting it. She's an American and has the right to free speech. And that is the most important right we have. If you've never made a mistake in your life, then you can criticize her."

COSTELLO: Enough said. We'll read more later on in the coming minutes on DAYBREAK.

Here's what's all new in the next half-hour.

The challenges facing Iraq now that the new government seems to be taking shape. We'll go live to Iraq and CNN's Aneesh Raman.

Plus, the inmate and the warden's life. Not what you might think. But then again, maybe it is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 7, 2005 - 5:00   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 funeral for Pope John Paul II is 23 hours away and security is tight as a drum. We'll take you live to Vatican City.
Plus, a tale of prison escape. A hostage and intrigue in Texas. It all comes unraveled with a knock on a door.

And a balmy life (ph) in Miami. But this isn't South Beach. We'll show you who won.

It is Thursday, April 7th. This is DAYBREAK.

And good morning to you. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

"Now in the News," right now the long line of mourners for Pope John Paul II moves like a river into St. Peter's Basilica. But the Vatican has stopped any more people from joining the line. Some private viewing by dignitaries will be allowed, but Vatican officials say they need time to prepare the Basilica for tomorrow's funeral.

The AP, quoting U.S. military officials, says 13 of 16 people killed in the crash of a helicopter in Afghanistan are American troops. Three others are U.S. government contractors. The chopper went down in bad weather.

An historic bus trip between Indian-controlled Kashmir and the Pakistani-controlled part of Kashmir. It's the first crossing of the disputed line separating the region in nearly 60 years. Earlier, Indian officials stopped a militant Muslim attack on one bus.

And a line of severe storms and tornadoes has raked Mississippi. No deaths, but at least seven people were injured, several homes damaged, and power was knocked out in several areas.

Oh, that was nasty, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Louisiana, too. Thirty tornadoes yesterday officially. So wow.

Carol, you were supposed to be on vacation today.

COSTELLO: And I came in just for you.

MYERS: Well, thank you so much. I missed you so much last week. You were working for Soledad. I never got to see you. Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Sounds great again. Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: I want to give you the latest now on Pope John Paul II from the Vatican. John Paul II was, after all, their pope. The Polish delegation to Friday's funeral arrives in Rome this morning. They are bringing with them soil from Poland that they hope to bury with the pope.

We expect to learn what is in the pope's last will and testament this morning. It's being released by the Vatican just about an hour from now.

Arriving in Rome today, two several trains from Poland carrying some 5,000 mourners. And tonight, St. Peter's Basilica and the square will be closed for security sweeps.

The U.S. delegation to the funeral has paid its respects in St. Peter's. President Bush, his wife, Laura, former presidents Bush and Clinton, along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, knelt in front of the body for about three minutes. You see them there.

We now want to take you live to Vatican City for the view right now. Our Jennifer Eccleston is in St. Peter's Square, where thousands have been waiting hours to view the pope's body.

Jennifer, will they be able to get in?

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol. These pilgrims behind me actually consider themselves to be part of a fortunate group because they will actually get to go in and pay their last respects to the body of Pope John Paul II.

They actually made it before the 10:00 p.m. cutoff last night. That's when the city of Rome decided that no more people will be allowed to join the line because they will not be able to get into it for another 12 to 15 hours. And they need to make the preparations for the funeral, which will begin at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.

But these ones behind me, they will be able to get in. And despite the fact that they've had no sleep and they haven't had a good meal, their spirits are still pretty high.

And the city of Rome has said that there will be some two -- there have been already two million people that have filed through to see the body of Pope John Paul II. They're now expecting that some four million people will be here in Rome tomorrow for the funeral mass. And that is one of the largest gatherings of people in this city's modern history.

Now, let's just take a pan over and see some of the crowds here. Everyone very, very silent, very solemn. Some prayers are being read.

You'll see a lot of -- a lot of flags from Poland. And as you mentioned, there are several busloads and trainloads of Polish pilgrims that are heading into Rome. Unfortunately, those that made it here after 10:00 p.m. last night will not be able to see the body of Pope John Paul II. But they will be able to watch the mass tomorrow on large screens that have been positioned all over the city of Rome.

The city of Rome is asking people, if you're not already in the square, please do not come, because it is actually a logistics nightmare right now. This city in good days is horrible when it comes to traffic. So they're asking people, please, stay where you are, go to the allocated areas throughout Rome, where they'll have these big television sets, and watch the proceedings from there.

And as you mentioned, there are some 200 kings, queens, heads of government and other dignitaries that are streaming into Rome this day. Last night we saw U.S. President George Bush pay his respects. He was his with his wife Laura. Also, he was with former President George H. W. Bush, and also President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Now, with all those dignitaries heading into town, Carol, you can imagine it is a security nightmare. And the Roman authorities are doing their utmost to make sure that not only the pilgrims, but the visiting dignitaries will be safe -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Jennifer Eccleston live from Rome this morning. Thank you.

And Jennifer mentioned security. Well, security around the Vatican closely resembles the preparations for last year's Olympics in Athens. And with hundreds of world leaders in town for the pope's funeral, security officials are on high alert.

CNN's Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): The largest security challenge so far has been controlling a growing crowd trying to reach St. Peter's Square. Italian officials say they had a plan for the pope's death, but they had no idea millions would show up to pay their last respects to John Paul II. Because, they say, up to five million people could be involved by the time the funeral ends on Friday, they only had a matter of days to adapt their security plan.

Despite the long wait to see the pope's body, officials say the crowd has not been hostile towards security forces. But they're not taking any chances.

"I have no sign that could be in any way worrying," he says. "No sign. It is obvious that nobody is going to underestimate anything and, above all, security." The defense shield will reach its peak on Friday, when close to 200 heads of state in government, including the current and two past U.S. presidents will sit in St. Peter's Square attending the pope's funeral.

DEPUTY MAYOR LUCA ODEVAINE, ROME: Once they're in the Vatican, they're of course quite -- quite -- the security (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of course. But then we have to handle the people coming into the square.

Everybody will be controlled by metal detectors, so we have to get the whole place empty the night before, and then control everybody and put them back in the square. So that's going to be a very, very hard task. But we're ready to do that.

VINCI: Most dignitaries will have a security detail. But officials here say the deployment of security forces will reach close to 15,000 men and women, including hundreds from the military.

It already seems as if every street corner and piazza around the Vatican and beyond is being carefully watched. Key areas are being monitored with cameras linked to police headquarters. The River Tiber is patrolled 24 hours a day. If someone tries to reach the Vatican from here, these two officers tell me, he has no chance.

(on camera): This is just one of many security measures being employed to protect Vatican City. As you can see, the basilica is very close to the river. However, the first line of defense is high away from here. High above Rome, NATO planes circle to protect the skies, and antiaircraft missile defense systems have been deployed just outside the city center.

(voice-over): The airspace over Rome in a range of 60 kilometers has been shut to private aircraft. And commercial air traffic will be reduced drastically by Thursday night. And on Friday, the entire city of Rome has been declared a no driving zone.

Alessio Vinci, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And be sure to tune into CNN for complete coverage of the pope's funeral. CNN's Anderson Cooper, Christiane Amanpour and Bill Hemmer will anchor our coverage that begins at 3:00 a.m. Eastern tomorrow.

Another important step for Iraq this morning. Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani will be sworn in as president of Iraq two hours from now. His two top deputies will also take the oath. A prime minister could be named today.

Talabani was elected Wednesday by Iraq's Transitional Assembly. The vote was a formality, and his role is pretty much ceremonial. But the selection of a Kurdish president is a powerful symbol. For much of the Saddam Hussein era, Kurds had been persecuted and treated like second-class citizens. Jane Fonda, she's making the rounds, promoting both the new book about her life and her first movie in more than 20 years. But many remember Jane Fonda as a controversial and outspoken antiwar activist during the Vietnam War.

Fonda says she made her infamous trip to North Vietnam in 1972 to expose the lies being told by the U.S. government about the war. But she says part of her visit she will always regret.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANE FONDA, ACTRESS: I'm sorry that I was photographed sitting on an antiaircraft gun, me. That image made soldiers think that I was against American soldiers. I think it hurt a lot of people, and I'm very, very sorry. And I will go to my grave regretting that lapse of judgment. It was terrible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And you know, Chad, a lot of people still remember her nickname from that era.

MYERS: Sure.

COSTELLO: "Hanoi Jane."

MYERS: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: And a lot of the younger people on staff at CNN don't even remember the controversy.

MYERS: Don't remember the Vietnam War conflict.

COSTELLO: Exactly. But for those of you who don't know, she actually took a picture and went over to the North Vietnamese, which was the other side.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: The United States was fighting for the other side.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: It would be like -- let me think of an example. It would be like a movie star today sitting with the insurgents in Iraq, taking a picture of them.

MYERS: Not only sitting with the insurgents, Carol, but sitting on one of their weapons that could potentially kill an American soldier, or soldiers, or airmen. You know? It was the aircraft gunner that she was sitting on, you know, and saying, hey, look...

COSTELLO: And smiling. She says she really regrets that photo.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: She doesn't regret her antiwar stance, but she regrets that photo.

MYERS: Exactly.

COSTELLO: Actually, that brings us to our DAYBREAK email question of the morning. Hanoi Jane, does Jane Fonda's past antiwar activism matter to you now? Are you planning to boycott her new movie or book? We want to know what you think.

DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Ever hear of EWTN? Well, it's with the Vatican -- I mean, it's at the Vatican right now. We go behind the scenes to see how a little Catholic television network covers a huge news story. That's at 14 minutes past.

Then at 49 minutes past the hour, a true crime story that proves that truth is really stranger than fiction.

But first, 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 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

More than two million mourners have already passed by the body of Pope John Paul II. The public viewing will end later today so preparations can be finalized for tomorrow's funeral.

A judge may decide today whether to release a report to the fatal shooting of a judge in an Atlanta courtroom. The report looks at security lapses in the case of Brian Nichols, who's accused of shooting and killing the judge and three others last month.

In money news, Fed chairman Alan Greenspan is asking Congress to keep mortgage giants Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac in check. He told the Senate Banking Committee that any failure in their billion-dollar portfolios could have profound effects on the economy.

In culture, British actor Daniel Craig has been tabbed as the next James Bond. You say, "Who?" Well, you may have seen the 37- year-old Craig in such movies as "Sylvia," with Gwyneth Paltrow, and "Lara Croft Tombraider" with Angelina Jolie. Both movies I'm sure you flocked to.

In sports, the first round of the Masters Championship is set to tee off in less than three hours. Defending champ Phil Mickelson is hoping to become the fourth player ever to win back the Masters titles.

Of course, Chad, the whole thing could be washed out, right?

MYERS: Take a look at this, Carol. I just popped up the radar as soon as you started this story.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.

Of course we are not the only network covering events at the Vatican this weekend. EWTN is the Eternal World Television Network. It's a Catholic organization that usually broadcasts from a small town in Alabama. But this week much of its programming is coming from Rome.

Joining us now to talk about what it's like is its news director, Raymond Arroyo.

Good morning to you.

RAYMOND ARROYO, NEWS DIRECTOR, EWTN: Good morning. How are you?

COSTELLO: I'm fine. So tell us about your network, because maybe many people in our viewing audience haven't seen it.

ARROYO: Yes. EWTN was founded a year after Ted Turner founded this network.

It was founded by Mother Angelica, a Franciscan nun. And believe it or not, it broadcasts out of Birmingham, Alabama.

We're in 100 million homes around the globe. And, you know, it's become this amazing thing from a little Hamlet, you know, in Birmingham. So here we are.

COSTELLO: You know, I had watched -- I had watched Mother Angelica. And I must say, what she says resonates.

ARROYO: Oh, yes. She's quite a, you know, two-fisted kind of gal. And she's never at a loss for words and has kept the network going for I think 25 years. We're going into our 25th year this year.

And it's really an amazing story, and so much of it tied and liked to this pontificate that, you know, we celebrate. And that ends tomorrow.

COSTELLO: So what has this been like, covering this story? What has this been like for you?

ARROYO: Well, you know, for many of us it's the end -- it's saying goodbye to a father. It's a family gathering, if you will. And much of our programming has been a lot of documentaries, a lot of -- you know, naturally talking heads, dissecting the pontificate, looking at all the many, many 104 papal visits of this great pope.

But also projecting forward, what is the legacy, doing much of the work you all have been doing. And I might say, doing a good job over the last few days as we follow this.

COSTELLO: Oh, we appreciate that. I wanted to ask you this question. So many have turned out to see the pope's body, to pay their last respects.

ARROYO: Yes.

COSTELLO: And we know in the United States that Catholicism has lost a lot of its members. Do you see this as a sign of a possible resurgence for the Catholic faith?

ARROYO: You know what I think we're seeing -- and it shows this is the gambit of John Paul II writ large. John Paul, when he came to the pontificate, he realized there was this whole generation of middle-aged folks that he wasn't sure that he could convince of the fullness of truth, bring them around on certain key doctrines.

So he made -- played a gambit. He went to the young. He went to their children. He went to their children. And he though, if I took this message to the young, perhaps they are not so far down the road that they can't be reached any longer.

And in the doing -- and I think that's what we're seeing now, four million people crowding these streets. Most of them are under 30. You know, 40 and under, certainly. But a lot of young kids.

And they've trekked from all over Europe, from the United States, from Africa, from Asia. I mean, and you've been talking to them, I've been talking to them. It's an amazing thing we're seeing. They're sleeping in the streets.

I think we're beginning to see -- this is the legacy of John Paul II. It's the thread of faith he's woven into the lives of these young people. He's the only pope they know, and I think we're going to see that legacy blossom as time goes forward.

COSTELLO: We'll see. Raymond Arroyo, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

ARROYO: It's a great pleasure. Thank you.

COSTELLO: We appreciate it.

After vanishing 11 years ago, some question if Bobbi Parker was held against her will. It's a bizarre story. And believe me, it has many twists and turns.

Plus, a wrestling match between man and beast. Oh, man. We'll tell you who won.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, April 7th.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers."

Residents of one Miami neighborhood got a show with their dinner. Take a look at this. They were witness to a wrestling match between a seasoned gator catcher and his six-foot-long opponent. It took some quick thinking and strong arms to haul in this thrashing gator, but man did win. Then he took the gator out of there to a place where he couldn't hurt anyone.

The other day we showed you a 65-foot catfish caught by some kids in Texas. Well, now they've found one that's even bigger. This catfish weighs in at a whopping 85 pounds.

A Tennessee man found the fish in his pond after it ate his other fish. Now he's released it into the wild. So I'm sure we'll show someone catching it next week.

Beckingham Palace will be torn down after all. David Beckham and his wife Victoria had a small-scale replica of a medieval castle built for their kids on the grounds of their north London mansion. You think these kids are spoiled?

Well, the area planning commission had threatened to condemn the playhouse, but instead gave post-dated approval for its construction. So the kids will have their castle after all.

What a happy ending to that story.

MYERS: I guess.

COSTELLO: We've been soliciting emails on Jane Fonda this morning, and they're coming in fast and furious, Chad.

MYERS: They are?

COSTELLO: Hanoi Jane, does it matter to you now? And the reason we're doing this is because she's going on a publicity tour. She has a book out, she has a new movie out, and she does say she's sorry for that picture she took with the North Vietnamese by some weaponry. She was smiling, but she's not sorry she was an antiwar activist.

So take it away, Chad.

MYERS: I got one from Linda in Minnesota. "That was 40 years ago. Some people don't even have a clue about what she was doing back then. Jane is fine, she was fine, she was living her life then. She regrets it, but now is now and then was then."

But a lot of other guys are not so, let's say, forgiving. "Forget Hanoi Jane? Never, never, never." That's from William in Minnesota. "A vast majority of Americans will take the memory of Hanoi Jane to their graves" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: This is from Kevin. He says, "If it were up to me, I would park her in Guantanamo Bay as a permanent resident. Her only regret is that her actions cost her movies and ultimately money. She's a traitor and should be treated as such."

And this one from Joey from San Francisco... "I think the cavalier attitude and negative connotation you are giving Jane Fonda is abominable. She has explained it was a terrible lapse of judgment and apologized to soldiers ad infinitum. Give the woman a break. She does so much good work. Shame on you."

And in fairness, she does do a lot of good work.

MYERS: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: She's devoted her life to helping pregnant teens in Atlanta. You know, she still lives in Atlanta on kind of the bad side of town. And she does a lot of work with pregnant teenagers in need.

MYERS: Right. And she was on "LARRY KING" yesterday. That's kind of where all this came from as well.

Jane Fonda -- this is from David in South Dakota -- "Oh, please. The Vietnam War is over. Let's stop fighting it. She's an American and has the right to free speech. And that is the most important right we have. If you've never made a mistake in your life, then you can criticize her."

COSTELLO: Enough said. We'll read more later on in the coming minutes on DAYBREAK.

Here's what's all new in the next half-hour.

The challenges facing Iraq now that the new government seems to be taking shape. We'll go live to Iraq and CNN's Aneesh Raman.

Plus, the inmate and the warden's life. Not what you might think. But then again, maybe it is.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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