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CNN Live At Daybreak
Are American Troops Spread Too Thin?; Remarkable Recovery of a New York Firefighter
Aired May 04, 2005 - 06:00 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, Iraq and Afghanistan have American troops spread thin. But is it too thin?
Plus, a New York firefighter wakes up after nearly 10 years of living in a fog.
And General Motors has some trouble cranking up the engine.
It's Wednesday, April 4.
You are watching 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, a man strapped with explosives detonates himself in the midst of police recruits in northern Iraq. At least 47 are killed, 100 wounded. We'll have a live report for you in 30 minutes.
New pleas for the release of an Austrian hostage in Iraq. Australia's foreign minister is urging militants to let Douglas Woods go, saying the 63-year-old contractor has heart problems. A videotape shows Woods with a rifle to his head.
Will British Prime Minister Tony Blair get a third term? British various go to the polls tomorrow. They're expected to return Blair to power despite widespread protests over the Iraq war.
And prosecutors are close to resting their case in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. They're calling their last scheduled witness this morning. A source familiar with the case says actor McCauley Culkin will be among the first defense witnesses.
To the Forecast Center and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Is the U.S. military stretched too thin in Iraq and Afghanistan? President Bush and his top general, General Richard Myers, appear to disagree about the readiness of the military to fight new wars. Just last week, the president confidential stated the military has enough troops and equipment. But in his required annual report to Congress, Myers says: "Armed conflicts would last longer and produce higher casualties." He also says the U.S. still has the ability to win another war, but buildup will not be as swift. And the stressed areas he points to are weapons, equipment and manpower.
Still, Myers remains confident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: We have very high standards in our -- in how we measure ourselves against our current plans. And so that's what we're measuring. And we're measuring against the time lines that are already in plans, that have been established several years ago, a year ago. And so we measure ourselves against that.
And what we've said is we will be successful. We will prevail. The time lines may have to be extended. We may have to use additional resources, but it doesn't matter, because we're going to be successful in the end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's the general's assessment.
Now here's what you have to say. A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll asked if it was worth going to war in Iraq. Forty-one percent say yes. Fifty-seven percent say no. Back in February, 48 percent of those asked said yes, the war in Iraq was worth it, and half of the residents said no. When asked how things appear to be going in Iraq, 42 percent say well; 56 percent say badly. Back in March, more than half of those polled felt things were going well and 45 percent said badly.
The so-called ringleader of the abuses at Abu Ghraib Prison is expected in court today. Specialist Charles Graner, you remember him. He'll be called to testify in the sentencing phase of his one time girlfriend, Private Lynndie England. England could face between two and 11 years in prison after pleading guilty.
CNN's Susan Candiotti takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The American flag dots porches and storefronts where Lynndie England grew up, in Fort Ashby, West Virginia, a one stoplight town where friends do not forget their own.
DONALD DAYTON, FORT ASHBY RESIDENT: I think the girl was trained to do what she was doing. If she stepped over the traces a little bit, that could be expected. It's fine.
CANDIOTTI: In early childhood, a psychology expert says, Lynndie England was placed in a learning disabilities program. Her lawyer.
RICK HERNANDEZ, DEFENSE LAWYER: It shows that she's clearly in a different mental capacity and different learning disabilities and neurological issues than any of the other accused.
CANDIOTTI: Even so, the expert testified, England rebounded to finish high school with a B average.
Next on the defense witness list, Guard Charles Graner, already sent to prison for 10 years. Lynndie England says Graner, her boyfriend at Abu Ghraib, asked her to pose in all those photos with naked detainees.
Leaving for the day, Graner handed out a written statement, saying he finds England's guilty plea "upsetting" but hopes it will bring her an easier sentence.
Lynndie England may be the last witness in her own defense, but offering only an unsworn statement, which means she cannot be cross- examined.
(on camera): The jury, four enlisted men and two officers, with a woman heading the panel, could begin deliberating on Lynndie England's sentence Thursday.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: The U.S. military is being accused of withholding information about the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman until after his memorial service. Tillman was killed by friendly fire while serving with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan. That's him on the pro- football field, obviously.
The Army originally said Tillman was killed by enemy fire. But the "Washington Post" is reporting this morning, it says the Army and his fellow soldiers knew right away that he had been killed by friendly forces. The paper also says investigators destroyed critical evidence in the case.
In other "News Across America" now, a Philadelphia police officer has been taken off the street after he appareled to beat a burglary suspect following a chase. The incident was caught on tape by a local news helicopter. Police have now launched an internal investigation.
Police in four states are searching for a missing college student. The family of 22-year-old Patrick Welsh last heard from him April 15 after he arrived here in New York City. Welsh had taken a train from New York University, from York University, rather, in Pennsylvania. Police say his cell phone was used three days after his arrival by a homeless man who called his relatives in New Jersey.
Coretta Scott King is said to be doing fine a week after being hospitalized due to a heart condition. Her son, Martin Luther King III, said his 78-year-old mother had a procedure done during her brief hospital stay. A friend of the family says King is maintaining her normal schedule of traveling and making speeches.
His family is stopping short of calling it a miracle. But after nearly 10 years of silence, a severely injured firefighter certainly is surprising everyone.
CNN's Mary Snow has more on what appears to be an amazing recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SIMON MANKA, FIREFIGHTER'S UNCLE: It's amazing. It was amazing when he started recognizing people after nine-and-a-half years. You can only imagine.
SNOW: But it's hard to imagine that firefighter Donald Herbert broke his silence nearly a decade after suffering brain damage while fighting a fire. His family says that is just what happened Saturday, when he spontaneously began speaking. And with so much to catch up on, he spoke to them for 14 hours.
Simon Manka is Herbert's uncle.
MANKA: The conversations and the memories were basically talking to the family, wondering how his boys were, how they were doing, where they were at, things of that nature.
SNOW: And his four sons were at a very different place from when he last remembered them. His youngest boy, Nicholas, was only three when Herbert was injured in December of 1995. That injury came while fighting a fire in Buffalo. A roof collapsed. He was trapped and deprived of oxygen for several minutes. His family says he was in a coma for nearly three months, awoke from it, but was left brain damaged.
LINDA HERBERT: Miracles occur every day.
SNOW: That was back in 1996, when Linda Herbert publicly hoped for her husband's recovery. Fund-raisers were held, with fellow firefighters rallying to the family's side. Years later some of those same firemen were by his side, visiting him over the past few days.
LT. ANTHONY LIBERATORE, BUFFALO FIRE DEPARTMENT: He recognized me when I walked in the room and told him who I was. He stayed up until early morning talking to his boys and catching up on what they've been doing all the last several years.
SNOW: But family and friends are stopping short of calling this a miracle. Rather, they're waiting to hear what doctors have to say. One thing they will say is that this case is unusual.
DR. JOSEPH FINS, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: Some patients do lapse back into unconsciousness. Other patients continue to improve. But there's a very small number of patients from which to talk about. SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, it would even make Simon Cowell blush. An upcoming expose says you won't believe what goes on behind-the-scenes of "American Idol." We have new information.
Plus, think a cheap novel is the only way to pass the time on a trip? Think again. We'll show you some travel gadgets that'll have you flying high.
And some big stalls for G.M. Can the auto giant jump start its business?
Now here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A suicide bomber targets a large crowd of police recruits in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. The attack has killed at least 47 people and wounded more than 100.
In money news, Toyota may be starting down a new road. "USA Today" reports the car maker may start building a gas electric version of its popular Camry sedan in Kentucky. It would be Toyota's first U.S.-made hybrid.
In culture, a new book looks behind-the-scenes of the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz." "Memories of A Munchkin" was written by Meinhardt Raabe. He's the one who announced the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.
In sports, the Detroit Pistons moved one step closer to defending their NBA title by beating the 76ers in overtime. 97-92 was the win. It moves the Pistons to the next round, where they will meet the winner of the Pacers-Celtics series.
To the Forecast Center now and Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now some dish. ABC is set to air that expose on Fox's "American Idol." Ugly accusations are flying and so are the lawsuits. But the ABC promo for "Fallen Idol" is out.
Listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM ABC PROMO FOR "FALLEN IDOL")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wednesday, stunning claims. A former "American Idol" contestant says Paula Abdul coached him, gave him tips on how to win.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she offer to help you on "American Idol?"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he claims they had a secret sexual affair.
A "Prime Time Live" special, Wednesday at 10:00, 9:00 Central, on ABC.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Whoo!
Tom O'Neil from "In Touch Weekly" is here to tell us what more we'll see.
Boy, poor...
TOM O'NEIL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Can't wait. Tonight, finally.
COSTELLO: I'm telling u.
O'NEIL: This is going to be fun.
COSTELLO: Poor Paula Abdul.
O'NEIL: Why?
COSTELLO: Well, you know, she's so likable.
O'NEIL: She is. And you know what? You're right there.
COSTELLO: I mean you don't want to believe any of this.
O'NEIL: I know. I know. But the charges are very serious, not just an affair. They're claiming that she had her assistant approach this guy Corey with a note saying I'll help you -- and the note, she initiated this whole thing. And then when she was caught and he was shopping a book around later, she left this embarrassing phone message on his cell phone that we're going to hear tonight.
COSTELLO: Yes, they're going to play the phone message.
You know, the creepy thing about this is Corey Clark, which is the contestant she allegedly had the...
O'NEIL: Very creepy.
COSTELLO: Very creepy. He gets to sing part of his new song on this ABC expose. That's creepy. O'NEIL: It's not just creepy, it's corrupt. And that's the irony of this show tonight, Carol, is that this show purports to expose the corruptness of "American Idol" when it's being just as corrupt, because it made this bargain. Really. They don't seem to care.
The question is, is this special tonight going to go after the issue of fairness? Anybody who watches this show knows how rigged it is. It's terrible. And if they can prove it, and I think if they really investigated the case of Rubin versus Clay two years ago, it is provable that they actually slanted that result, then I think we have the big $64,000 scandal on our hands, bringing down the number one show.
But if they're just going to slap Paula around, that's different. And Paula needs some slapping, that's for sure.
COSTELLO: Well, that's what they say. But she has filed a lawsuit -- or she's threatened to file a lawsuit.
Has the lawsuit actually been filed as of yet?
O'NEIL: No. She's merely saying that she doesn't want to dignify these claims with a comment. Well, they're a lot more than claims, Paula. She's going to have to answer up to these phone calls tonight.
COSTELLO: So if it's really that bad in this expose, will "American Idol" get rid of Paula Abdul?
O'NEIL: They're going to have to get rid of her, sure, because you're not allowed to have the judges coaching one of the contestants.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Well, it's on tonight.
We'll all be watching.
O'NEIL: And if Savol wins again tonight, I'm boycotting it.
COSTELLO: I know. That's just freaky.
Thank you, Tom O'Neil.
It was fun, as always.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, everyone makes mistakes, but usually they don't move financial markets. We'll tell you what happened when the Fed left out a line in its statement on interest rates.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Don't you just want to jump on that cruise ship and go away?
Oh, but it's time now for a little "Business Buzz." So stick around for this.
The Federal Reserve Board did raise interest rates as expected. But, there was some intrigue to the Fed's statement.
Carrie Lee has the scoop.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was an exciting session. The Fed raised rates by a 1/4 point.
COSTELLO: As exciting as Alan Greenspan can get.
LEE: That's right. That's right. Hey, something unusual here.
Well, they did raise rates by a 1/4 point. That was widely expected. So now putting interest rates at the highest level since the September 11 attacks. Still, historically low, though.
The Fed did say it would keep raising rates at a measured pace. This is the same language we've heard before, likely meaning more rate hikes are coming, a 1/4 point at a time. So the Fed does continue to be worried about inflation.
The markets started to sell off after this statement, which came at 2:15 yesterday. But then, just before the close of trading, Alan Greenspan corrected his earlier words unexpectedly. He added this line: "Longer-term inflation expectations remain well contained."
OK, so maybe some of the people are thinking, well, longer-term inflation isn't such an issue. And relieved, the Dow actually rallied a bit. It closed with a 5-point gain.
The bottom line is prices are still rising and interest rates, Carol, will likely do the same. But a little bit of intrigue yesterday afternoon.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
A quick look at the futures?
LEE: The futures are looking up a bit this morning, looking higher.
Time Warner, our parent company, out with profits and sales. Both rising a bit from the year ago period. Sales coming in at just above $10 billion. We'll see what the stock does today.
COSTELLO: Wow!
I want a raise.
Thank you, Carrie Lee.
LEE: Take it to the boss.
COSTELLO: Yes, and he'll like turn me away at the door. Still to come on DAYBREAK, fed up with some of the hassles while traveling? Help is on the way, from a very smart cell phone to a neck warmer that resembles an otter. A look at all you need for a more comfortable journey.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Attention travelers -- airlines are cracking down on your luggage. In a story in today's "USA Today," airline officials say they['re paying closure attention to luggage limits, both by the piece and by weight. So you may have to pay extra for that big old suitcase, or if you have extra bags, you'll have to pay extra, too.
Travelers with policy questions should check their airline's Web site before heading to the airport.
So, while you're busy taking things out of your suitcase to bring the weight down to 30 pounds, we have some lighter items to add.
Joining us now, Lesley Savage, editor of "Sync" magazine, and she has some cool travel gadgets to show us.
Welcome, Lesley.
LESLEY SAVAGE, EDITOR, "SYNC" MAGAZINE: Thank you very much, Carol.
COSTELLO: We're so glad to have you here.
SAVAGE: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Because a lot of travelers watch us.
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Because we're on at the airport.
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: So everyone is glued to the set now, kind of irritated that their plane is late.
SAVAGE: Yes. Well, we've got some gadgets we're hoping will make it a little easier for them.
COSTELLO: I think we do.
Let's start with the PalmOne Tree 650 Smart Phone.
SAVAGE: Great. This is the gadget that all travelers have to have. Basically it's like if you never left the office. It's not only a great phone, you have access to e-mail, you have access to the Web. You have -- it works as a digital camera and it works as an MP3 player. It's everything all, and it fits in the palm of your hand. It's great.
COSTELLO: And you can actually use it constantly on the plane. There are no...
SAVAGE: You can use it constantly. It links up to your desktop. So I mean it's like you never left the office.
COSTELLO: Oh, great.
SAVAGE: You can basically run any company from this little Palm.
COSTELLO: Great. I don't know if that's good or bad.
Let's talk about the noise canceling headphones, because I have some of these and these are fantastic.
SAVAGE: They are great. They are the frequent travelers like best item. You put them on and it blocks out any sound. You can block out babies screaming, the man snoring next to you. It has an adapter so you can actually plug it into the seats of the plane or you can put it into your MP3 player or your Palm and listen to your own music. But, so you can really use it any way you want.
COSTELLO: But you can still hear the flight attendant?
SAVAGE: You can still -- if it's plugged in, you can still hear the flight attendant.
COSTELLO: Because that would be bad if you couldn't hear the flight attendant.
SAVAGE: Yes. No, this doesn't work that way.
COSTELLO: How much are those puppies?
SAVAGE: These are $40, which is actually a really nice price for...
COSTELLO: What? $40?
SAVAGE: Yes. Yes. It's great.
COSTELLO: Ooh, I have some more expensive ones.
SAVAGE: It's actually got a...
COSTELLO: But it was a gift from Chad Myers, actually, and Sally, for my wedding.
SAVAGE: It's a great value.
COSTELLO: It's a great gift.
OK, the Sharper Image Relief Band.
SAVAGE: This is for people who suffer from motion sickness. It's actually quite interesting, it's the only FDA approved electronic device that prevents nausea, motion sickness. If you're on a plane or a train or a cruise and you tend to get nauseous, you can put that on without any of the side effects of Dramamine, which makes you nauseous.
COSTELLO: And it's just like a watch. I'll hold it here so we can get a shot of it.
So what does it do? Does it emit electronic signals through your...
SAVAGE: Little electronic pulses that manage the nausea.
COSTELLO: Really?
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it works?
SAVAGE: And it works, yes.
COSTELLO: Just like Dramamine.
SAVAGE: And you don't have to keep buying boxes of Dramamine. And no hangover or no tiredness afterwards.
COSTELLO: That's cool.
OK, and my favorite item. It's the Warm Whiskers Neck Warmer.
SAVAGE: This fuzzy guy -- this is actually a kid's version. We thought it would be a little more fun. You put it on your neck. It adds a little comfort to flying, which is obviously mostly uncomfortable. You can lean on it, fall asleep to it. It's actually aromatherapy. It's got some lavender, which is very relaxing. You can smell it.
COSTELLO: It doesn't smell like an otter.
SAVAGE: So if you're nervous flying, the aromatherapy will help you get through it. And it's just a comfortable fuzzy little animal.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
SAVAGE: But they do have adult versions, as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, good. So you don't...
SAVAGE: There's a little -- there's some tinier versions out there.
COSTELLO: Because, you know, if a PETA person is on the plane, you could be in danger by wearing this.
SAVAGE: I know it. Yes, you don't want to be yelled at.
COSTELLO: Lesley, thank you.
It was a lot of fun.
SAVAGE: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We appreciate it.
SAVAGE: I appreciate it.
COSTELLO: I hope you come back.
SAVAGE: Appreciate it.
Will do.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, the prosecution expects to rest its case against Michael Jackson today. We'll look back at their successes and the failures.
Plus, the amazing story of a group of Massachusetts students and how they saved a classmate trapped beneath a school bus. They picked that thing up.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired May 4, 2005 - 06:00 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, Iraq and Afghanistan have American troops spread thin. But is it too thin?
Plus, a New York firefighter wakes up after nearly 10 years of living in a fog.
And General Motors has some trouble cranking up the engine.
It's Wednesday, April 4.
You are watching 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, a man strapped with explosives detonates himself in the midst of police recruits in northern Iraq. At least 47 are killed, 100 wounded. We'll have a live report for you in 30 minutes.
New pleas for the release of an Austrian hostage in Iraq. Australia's foreign minister is urging militants to let Douglas Woods go, saying the 63-year-old contractor has heart problems. A videotape shows Woods with a rifle to his head.
Will British Prime Minister Tony Blair get a third term? British various go to the polls tomorrow. They're expected to return Blair to power despite widespread protests over the Iraq war.
And prosecutors are close to resting their case in Michael Jackson's child molestation trial. They're calling their last scheduled witness this morning. A source familiar with the case says actor McCauley Culkin will be among the first defense witnesses.
To the Forecast Center and Chad -- good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Is the U.S. military stretched too thin in Iraq and Afghanistan? President Bush and his top general, General Richard Myers, appear to disagree about the readiness of the military to fight new wars. Just last week, the president confidential stated the military has enough troops and equipment. But in his required annual report to Congress, Myers says: "Armed conflicts would last longer and produce higher casualties." He also says the U.S. still has the ability to win another war, but buildup will not be as swift. And the stressed areas he points to are weapons, equipment and manpower.
Still, Myers remains confident.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: We have very high standards in our -- in how we measure ourselves against our current plans. And so that's what we're measuring. And we're measuring against the time lines that are already in plans, that have been established several years ago, a year ago. And so we measure ourselves against that.
And what we've said is we will be successful. We will prevail. The time lines may have to be extended. We may have to use additional resources, but it doesn't matter, because we're going to be successful in the end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That's the general's assessment.
Now here's what you have to say. A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll asked if it was worth going to war in Iraq. Forty-one percent say yes. Fifty-seven percent say no. Back in February, 48 percent of those asked said yes, the war in Iraq was worth it, and half of the residents said no. When asked how things appear to be going in Iraq, 42 percent say well; 56 percent say badly. Back in March, more than half of those polled felt things were going well and 45 percent said badly.
The so-called ringleader of the abuses at Abu Ghraib Prison is expected in court today. Specialist Charles Graner, you remember him. He'll be called to testify in the sentencing phase of his one time girlfriend, Private Lynndie England. England could face between two and 11 years in prison after pleading guilty.
CNN's Susan Candiotti takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The American flag dots porches and storefronts where Lynndie England grew up, in Fort Ashby, West Virginia, a one stoplight town where friends do not forget their own.
DONALD DAYTON, FORT ASHBY RESIDENT: I think the girl was trained to do what she was doing. If she stepped over the traces a little bit, that could be expected. It's fine.
CANDIOTTI: In early childhood, a psychology expert says, Lynndie England was placed in a learning disabilities program. Her lawyer.
RICK HERNANDEZ, DEFENSE LAWYER: It shows that she's clearly in a different mental capacity and different learning disabilities and neurological issues than any of the other accused.
CANDIOTTI: Even so, the expert testified, England rebounded to finish high school with a B average.
Next on the defense witness list, Guard Charles Graner, already sent to prison for 10 years. Lynndie England says Graner, her boyfriend at Abu Ghraib, asked her to pose in all those photos with naked detainees.
Leaving for the day, Graner handed out a written statement, saying he finds England's guilty plea "upsetting" but hopes it will bring her an easier sentence.
Lynndie England may be the last witness in her own defense, but offering only an unsworn statement, which means she cannot be cross- examined.
(on camera): The jury, four enlisted men and two officers, with a woman heading the panel, could begin deliberating on Lynndie England's sentence Thursday.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Fort Hood, Texas.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: The U.S. military is being accused of withholding information about the death of former NFL player Pat Tillman until after his memorial service. Tillman was killed by friendly fire while serving with the Army Rangers in Afghanistan. That's him on the pro- football field, obviously.
The Army originally said Tillman was killed by enemy fire. But the "Washington Post" is reporting this morning, it says the Army and his fellow soldiers knew right away that he had been killed by friendly forces. The paper also says investigators destroyed critical evidence in the case.
In other "News Across America" now, a Philadelphia police officer has been taken off the street after he appareled to beat a burglary suspect following a chase. The incident was caught on tape by a local news helicopter. Police have now launched an internal investigation.
Police in four states are searching for a missing college student. The family of 22-year-old Patrick Welsh last heard from him April 15 after he arrived here in New York City. Welsh had taken a train from New York University, from York University, rather, in Pennsylvania. Police say his cell phone was used three days after his arrival by a homeless man who called his relatives in New Jersey.
Coretta Scott King is said to be doing fine a week after being hospitalized due to a heart condition. Her son, Martin Luther King III, said his 78-year-old mother had a procedure done during her brief hospital stay. A friend of the family says King is maintaining her normal schedule of traveling and making speeches.
His family is stopping short of calling it a miracle. But after nearly 10 years of silence, a severely injured firefighter certainly is surprising everyone.
CNN's Mary Snow has more on what appears to be an amazing recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SIMON MANKA, FIREFIGHTER'S UNCLE: It's amazing. It was amazing when he started recognizing people after nine-and-a-half years. You can only imagine.
SNOW: But it's hard to imagine that firefighter Donald Herbert broke his silence nearly a decade after suffering brain damage while fighting a fire. His family says that is just what happened Saturday, when he spontaneously began speaking. And with so much to catch up on, he spoke to them for 14 hours.
Simon Manka is Herbert's uncle.
MANKA: The conversations and the memories were basically talking to the family, wondering how his boys were, how they were doing, where they were at, things of that nature.
SNOW: And his four sons were at a very different place from when he last remembered them. His youngest boy, Nicholas, was only three when Herbert was injured in December of 1995. That injury came while fighting a fire in Buffalo. A roof collapsed. He was trapped and deprived of oxygen for several minutes. His family says he was in a coma for nearly three months, awoke from it, but was left brain damaged.
LINDA HERBERT: Miracles occur every day.
SNOW: That was back in 1996, when Linda Herbert publicly hoped for her husband's recovery. Fund-raisers were held, with fellow firefighters rallying to the family's side. Years later some of those same firemen were by his side, visiting him over the past few days.
LT. ANTHONY LIBERATORE, BUFFALO FIRE DEPARTMENT: He recognized me when I walked in the room and told him who I was. He stayed up until early morning talking to his boys and catching up on what they've been doing all the last several years.
SNOW: But family and friends are stopping short of calling this a miracle. Rather, they're waiting to hear what doctors have to say. One thing they will say is that this case is unusual.
DR. JOSEPH FINS, NEW YORK PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: Some patients do lapse back into unconsciousness. Other patients continue to improve. But there's a very small number of patients from which to talk about. SNOW: Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, it would even make Simon Cowell blush. An upcoming expose says you won't believe what goes on behind-the-scenes of "American Idol." We have new information.
Plus, think a cheap novel is the only way to pass the time on a trip? Think again. We'll show you some travel gadgets that'll have you flying high.
And some big stalls for G.M. Can the auto giant jump start its business?
Now here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A suicide bomber targets a large crowd of police recruits in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil. The attack has killed at least 47 people and wounded more than 100.
In money news, Toyota may be starting down a new road. "USA Today" reports the car maker may start building a gas electric version of its popular Camry sedan in Kentucky. It would be Toyota's first U.S.-made hybrid.
In culture, a new book looks behind-the-scenes of the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz." "Memories of A Munchkin" was written by Meinhardt Raabe. He's the one who announced the death of the Wicked Witch of the East.
In sports, the Detroit Pistons moved one step closer to defending their NBA title by beating the 76ers in overtime. 97-92 was the win. It moves the Pistons to the next round, where they will meet the winner of the Pacers-Celtics series.
To the Forecast Center now and Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now some dish. ABC is set to air that expose on Fox's "American Idol." Ugly accusations are flying and so are the lawsuits. But the ABC promo for "Fallen Idol" is out.
Listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM ABC PROMO FOR "FALLEN IDOL")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wednesday, stunning claims. A former "American Idol" contestant says Paula Abdul coached him, gave him tips on how to win.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did she offer to help you on "American Idol?"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he claims they had a secret sexual affair.
A "Prime Time Live" special, Wednesday at 10:00, 9:00 Central, on ABC.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Whoo!
Tom O'Neil from "In Touch Weekly" is here to tell us what more we'll see.
Boy, poor...
TOM O'NEIL, "IN TOUCH WEEKLY": Can't wait. Tonight, finally.
COSTELLO: I'm telling u.
O'NEIL: This is going to be fun.
COSTELLO: Poor Paula Abdul.
O'NEIL: Why?
COSTELLO: Well, you know, she's so likable.
O'NEIL: She is. And you know what? You're right there.
COSTELLO: I mean you don't want to believe any of this.
O'NEIL: I know. I know. But the charges are very serious, not just an affair. They're claiming that she had her assistant approach this guy Corey with a note saying I'll help you -- and the note, she initiated this whole thing. And then when she was caught and he was shopping a book around later, she left this embarrassing phone message on his cell phone that we're going to hear tonight.
COSTELLO: Yes, they're going to play the phone message.
You know, the creepy thing about this is Corey Clark, which is the contestant she allegedly had the...
O'NEIL: Very creepy.
COSTELLO: Very creepy. He gets to sing part of his new song on this ABC expose. That's creepy. O'NEIL: It's not just creepy, it's corrupt. And that's the irony of this show tonight, Carol, is that this show purports to expose the corruptness of "American Idol" when it's being just as corrupt, because it made this bargain. Really. They don't seem to care.
The question is, is this special tonight going to go after the issue of fairness? Anybody who watches this show knows how rigged it is. It's terrible. And if they can prove it, and I think if they really investigated the case of Rubin versus Clay two years ago, it is provable that they actually slanted that result, then I think we have the big $64,000 scandal on our hands, bringing down the number one show.
But if they're just going to slap Paula around, that's different. And Paula needs some slapping, that's for sure.
COSTELLO: Well, that's what they say. But she has filed a lawsuit -- or she's threatened to file a lawsuit.
Has the lawsuit actually been filed as of yet?
O'NEIL: No. She's merely saying that she doesn't want to dignify these claims with a comment. Well, they're a lot more than claims, Paula. She's going to have to answer up to these phone calls tonight.
COSTELLO: So if it's really that bad in this expose, will "American Idol" get rid of Paula Abdul?
O'NEIL: They're going to have to get rid of her, sure, because you're not allowed to have the judges coaching one of the contestants.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Well, it's on tonight.
We'll all be watching.
O'NEIL: And if Savol wins again tonight, I'm boycotting it.
COSTELLO: I know. That's just freaky.
Thank you, Tom O'Neil.
It was fun, as always.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, everyone makes mistakes, but usually they don't move financial markets. We'll tell you what happened when the Fed left out a line in its statement on interest rates.
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COSTELLO: Don't you just want to jump on that cruise ship and go away?
Oh, but it's time now for a little "Business Buzz." So stick around for this.
The Federal Reserve Board did raise interest rates as expected. But, there was some intrigue to the Fed's statement.
Carrie Lee has the scoop.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was an exciting session. The Fed raised rates by a 1/4 point.
COSTELLO: As exciting as Alan Greenspan can get.
LEE: That's right. That's right. Hey, something unusual here.
Well, they did raise rates by a 1/4 point. That was widely expected. So now putting interest rates at the highest level since the September 11 attacks. Still, historically low, though.
The Fed did say it would keep raising rates at a measured pace. This is the same language we've heard before, likely meaning more rate hikes are coming, a 1/4 point at a time. So the Fed does continue to be worried about inflation.
The markets started to sell off after this statement, which came at 2:15 yesterday. But then, just before the close of trading, Alan Greenspan corrected his earlier words unexpectedly. He added this line: "Longer-term inflation expectations remain well contained."
OK, so maybe some of the people are thinking, well, longer-term inflation isn't such an issue. And relieved, the Dow actually rallied a bit. It closed with a 5-point gain.
The bottom line is prices are still rising and interest rates, Carol, will likely do the same. But a little bit of intrigue yesterday afternoon.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
A quick look at the futures?
LEE: The futures are looking up a bit this morning, looking higher.
Time Warner, our parent company, out with profits and sales. Both rising a bit from the year ago period. Sales coming in at just above $10 billion. We'll see what the stock does today.
COSTELLO: Wow!
I want a raise.
Thank you, Carrie Lee.
LEE: Take it to the boss.
COSTELLO: Yes, and he'll like turn me away at the door. Still to come on DAYBREAK, fed up with some of the hassles while traveling? Help is on the way, from a very smart cell phone to a neck warmer that resembles an otter. A look at all you need for a more comfortable journey.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Attention travelers -- airlines are cracking down on your luggage. In a story in today's "USA Today," airline officials say they['re paying closure attention to luggage limits, both by the piece and by weight. So you may have to pay extra for that big old suitcase, or if you have extra bags, you'll have to pay extra, too.
Travelers with policy questions should check their airline's Web site before heading to the airport.
So, while you're busy taking things out of your suitcase to bring the weight down to 30 pounds, we have some lighter items to add.
Joining us now, Lesley Savage, editor of "Sync" magazine, and she has some cool travel gadgets to show us.
Welcome, Lesley.
LESLEY SAVAGE, EDITOR, "SYNC" MAGAZINE: Thank you very much, Carol.
COSTELLO: We're so glad to have you here.
SAVAGE: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Because a lot of travelers watch us.
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Because we're on at the airport.
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: So everyone is glued to the set now, kind of irritated that their plane is late.
SAVAGE: Yes. Well, we've got some gadgets we're hoping will make it a little easier for them.
COSTELLO: I think we do.
Let's start with the PalmOne Tree 650 Smart Phone.
SAVAGE: Great. This is the gadget that all travelers have to have. Basically it's like if you never left the office. It's not only a great phone, you have access to e-mail, you have access to the Web. You have -- it works as a digital camera and it works as an MP3 player. It's everything all, and it fits in the palm of your hand. It's great.
COSTELLO: And you can actually use it constantly on the plane. There are no...
SAVAGE: You can use it constantly. It links up to your desktop. So I mean it's like you never left the office.
COSTELLO: Oh, great.
SAVAGE: You can basically run any company from this little Palm.
COSTELLO: Great. I don't know if that's good or bad.
Let's talk about the noise canceling headphones, because I have some of these and these are fantastic.
SAVAGE: They are great. They are the frequent travelers like best item. You put them on and it blocks out any sound. You can block out babies screaming, the man snoring next to you. It has an adapter so you can actually plug it into the seats of the plane or you can put it into your MP3 player or your Palm and listen to your own music. But, so you can really use it any way you want.
COSTELLO: But you can still hear the flight attendant?
SAVAGE: You can still -- if it's plugged in, you can still hear the flight attendant.
COSTELLO: Because that would be bad if you couldn't hear the flight attendant.
SAVAGE: Yes. No, this doesn't work that way.
COSTELLO: How much are those puppies?
SAVAGE: These are $40, which is actually a really nice price for...
COSTELLO: What? $40?
SAVAGE: Yes. Yes. It's great.
COSTELLO: Ooh, I have some more expensive ones.
SAVAGE: It's actually got a...
COSTELLO: But it was a gift from Chad Myers, actually, and Sally, for my wedding.
SAVAGE: It's a great value.
COSTELLO: It's a great gift.
OK, the Sharper Image Relief Band.
SAVAGE: This is for people who suffer from motion sickness. It's actually quite interesting, it's the only FDA approved electronic device that prevents nausea, motion sickness. If you're on a plane or a train or a cruise and you tend to get nauseous, you can put that on without any of the side effects of Dramamine, which makes you nauseous.
COSTELLO: And it's just like a watch. I'll hold it here so we can get a shot of it.
So what does it do? Does it emit electronic signals through your...
SAVAGE: Little electronic pulses that manage the nausea.
COSTELLO: Really?
SAVAGE: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it works?
SAVAGE: And it works, yes.
COSTELLO: Just like Dramamine.
SAVAGE: And you don't have to keep buying boxes of Dramamine. And no hangover or no tiredness afterwards.
COSTELLO: That's cool.
OK, and my favorite item. It's the Warm Whiskers Neck Warmer.
SAVAGE: This fuzzy guy -- this is actually a kid's version. We thought it would be a little more fun. You put it on your neck. It adds a little comfort to flying, which is obviously mostly uncomfortable. You can lean on it, fall asleep to it. It's actually aromatherapy. It's got some lavender, which is very relaxing. You can smell it.
COSTELLO: It doesn't smell like an otter.
SAVAGE: So if you're nervous flying, the aromatherapy will help you get through it. And it's just a comfortable fuzzy little animal.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
SAVAGE: But they do have adult versions, as well.
COSTELLO: Oh, good. So you don't...
SAVAGE: There's a little -- there's some tinier versions out there.
COSTELLO: Because, you know, if a PETA person is on the plane, you could be in danger by wearing this.
SAVAGE: I know it. Yes, you don't want to be yelled at.
COSTELLO: Lesley, thank you.
It was a lot of fun.
SAVAGE: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We appreciate it.
SAVAGE: I appreciate it.
COSTELLO: I hope you come back.
SAVAGE: Appreciate it.
Will do.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, the prosecution expects to rest its case against Michael Jackson today. We'll look back at their successes and the failures.
Plus, the amazing story of a group of Massachusetts students and how they saved a classmate trapped beneath a school bus. They picked that thing up.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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