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CNN Live At Daybreak

Action Plan; Real I.D.; Bloody Iraq; Iran's Nuclear Power

Aired May 12, 2005 - 05:30   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: Good morning, 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."

First a theater, then a mosque in Baghdad are the latest scenes of carnage in Iraq. Car bombs exploded at two sites this morning, and we hear there are numerous casualties.

Your overall retirement security will be the focus of a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today. Lawmakers want to look at improving chronic and long-term care, in addition to the Social Security overhaul President Bush is pushing.

John Bolton's controversial nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations goes to a vote today. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says he expects the panel to send Bolton's nomination to the full Senate.

Flooding is a problem for areas of southwest Nebraska, but that's not all the region's problems. Some residents report tornadoes, plus hail the size of softballs. That could cause some damage.

Good morning, Rob. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers this morning.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back over to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Now for a CNN "Security Watch."

The post September 11 response system got its first real terror alert test during the security scare in the nation's capital. Authorities have a strict procedure to follow when an unauthorized plane flies into prohibited airspace.

CNN's Kathleen Koch walks us through it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An FAA specialist at Potomac Tricon (ph), an outlying radar center, monitors all traffic approaching Washington, D.C. He notices a plane entering the restricted airspace that has left its flight, isn't squawking the correct transponder code, or isn't talking to air traffic controllers.

The specialist alerts the National Capital Regional Coordination Center. Everyone, Pentagon, Homeland Security, FBI and other law enforcement, are immediately cued to the violator and a call is made.

RICHARD FALKENRATH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: It's called a Noble Eagle conference call. It's a special conference call that the Department of Defense sets up. And then everyone involved in the air defense of the national capital region will get on that call, the White House situation room, the Secret Service, Customs, who owns the Blackhawks, NORAD, FAA. Lots of different agencies are on that call so that people can figure out what's going on, and both systems will try to intercept the errant aircraft.

KOCH: A coordinated response is decided. NORAD scrambles fighter jets. The Department of Homeland Security launches Blackhawk helicopters. Capitol Hill police are put on alert. The senior duty officer at the Secret Service Command Center moves the White House alert level to yellow. Top officials are moved to safe location.

The FAA continues to try to communicate with the errant plane on an emergency frequency. If there's no response, the White House alert level goes to orange. Workers and the media are ordered to evacuate. Capitol Hill goes on high alert. Lawmakers are rushed to secure locations. If the plane continues, the White House hits high alert, red.

FALKENRATH: That means a terrorist attack is imminent in the judgment of the duty officer. And he needs to make those calls very, very quickly. You know time is working against the system here, because if you are three miles out and you are flying at 150 miles an hour, you're going to be there in 60 seconds. So he has to make that decision.

KOCH: Meanwhile, the U.S. Capitol is empty. Fighter jets intercept the violator, wiggling wings, dropping flares to get its attention. A Customs service Blackhawk tries to direct and escort the plane to the nearest airport. If the plane diverts, it is followed to the ground, the pilot held, questioned, perhaps fined or punished with a loss or suspension of license. On the ground, alerts drop to normal.

But, if the plane continues, then comes the shoot down decision, with ground-based missiles or by the fighter jets, an as-yet untested scenario.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: Interestingly, federal officials were reportedly considering lifting a ban on small planes flying in and out of Reagan National Airport possibly by the end of the year. But "The Washington Post" reports that scare at the White House has officials reconsidering. "The Post" reports incursions occur at a rate of about three a day.

The F-16 pilot who flew the intercept on that Cessna that was heading towards the White House spoke with our Kyra Phillips. He's highly trained for what's known as the air war against terrorists. Kyra will be live in the next hour of DAYBREAK with an amazing report on what went down behind the scenes. She actually talked to that pilot, and she will tell us what he had to say.

As always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

President Bush signs a Real I.D. Act into law as soon as it reached his desk. It makes it much harder for illegal aliens to obtain U.S. driver's licenses, but it also makes it harder for legal residents for that reason.

As CNN's Bill Tucker reports, some states are resisting Real I.D.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The privilege of driving is one granted and controlled by a state. And the initial reaction to the Real I.D. Act is an old-fashioned one.

MICHAEL BALBONI (R), NEW YORK STATE SENATE: The driver's license is the most basic interface between a citizen and its government, and it should reflect the different systems throughout the state. And it's a state issue, so the states should have been able to work it out.

TUCKER: The states have been working on developing standards for the issuance of driver's licenses and were three months away from a federally-directed deadline under the Intelligence Reform Bill. They now have three years, because that's the new deadline under Real I.D.

Forty states currently require some proof of legal status before granting a license. Ten states offer driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Utah and Tennessee provide illegal aliens driver's certificates, which cannot be used as identification, which brings up a simple point.

PAUL ROSENZWEIG, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: The states are free, actually, to opt out of this law altogether. The only problem is, is that their citizens will be affected by not being able to use driver's licenses to, say, enter federal buildings or travel on airplanes. They'll have to bring with them some other federally approved form of identification, like a passport.

TUCKER: A number of problems do need to be resolved, such as standards for document verification and developing a secure national network to allow states to check on the status of a license from another state.

Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We will dig deeper into the pros and cons of the Real I.D. Act and how it could affect your personal privacy. That's in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

In other news "Across America" this morning, if you drive in Chicago, you better have a hands-free device for talking on your cell phone. The Chicago City Council is banning drivers from using hand- held cell phones starting this summer. Similar bans are in place in New York, New Jersey and Washington.

In Santa Rosa, California, officials have decided to allow birth control pills and condoms to be prescribed and given to students at one high school. The policy is in response to high birth rates among teens in southwest Santa Rosa.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, a legally blind couple have been approved to operate a day care facility. A judge ordered the state to grant the license to Christine and Thomas Hutchinson. He says not granting them the license would violate their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, another violent day in Iraq. We'll take you live to Baghdad for the latest.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's a sad irony of war for embedded journalists, one day you're interviewing a Marine, the next you're watching his friends mourn his death. It happened to Ellen Knickmeyer of "The Washington Post" who is covering Operation Matador. That's a Marine offensive on the Iraqi-Syrian border. We've been telling you that's been going on the past several days.

Well earlier this week, this "Washington Post" reporter was part of the Marines' 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, a reserve unit based in Columbus, Ohio. The platoon was in a firefight earlier in the week, two Marines were killed, five others wounded.

Today she reports 2 Marines from that same platoon were killed and 14 others wounded by an explosive device. The Marines say every member of that particular squad has either been killed or wounded.

So let's get more on today's bombing in Baghdad and that Marine offensive in western Iraq. Let's head live to Baghdad now and Ryan Chilcote.

Ryan, bring us up to date.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol.

Well, following some fast changing stories here. Some more bombing attacks, two of them so far already today in Baghdad.

The first took place earlier this morning in eastern Baghdad in the Al Jadida neighborhood. What we understand, at this point, according to the Iraqi police, is that a suicide bomber, driving a car, blew himself up in a very busy intersection in that part of the city. Right around this intersection, we understand, there was a movie theater, there was a mosque, there was a post office and there was a very busy marketplace.

Not clear who this suicide bomber was targeting, whether they were just going after Iraqi citizen bystanders in that area or that they had a specific target in mind or a specific motive in mind when they carried out that attack. In any case, the Iraqi police are telling us that 12 Iraqis were killed in that attack. Another 56 wounded.

And then we just learned of another car bombing all the way on the other side of the city, this one in western Baghdad. The Iraqi police telling us they don't know how many casualties there are there yet, although they are saying there are some. They are also saying that, in that case, it was another suicide bomber, who apparently, they believe, was trying to target a U.S. military patrol.

This all coming after three weeks, a three-week long spike in the violence here in Iraq, and after another bloody day just yesterday when nearly 60 Iraqis were killed, another 100 wounded -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote, live in Baghdad this morning, thank you.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes today on John Bolton's nomination as U.N. Ambassador. The vote was delayed several weeks over allegations that Bolton mistreated subordinates and abused his authority.

In money news, the U.S. Postal Service plans to launch a new premium mail forwarding service in August. It's for people who will be away from home for two weeks or longer.

In culture, actress Sharon Stone has a brand new role, single mom. Stone adopted a baby boy. She already has a son, though. Named Blair (ph), this one, he joins the son Stone has with ex-husband Phil Bronstein.

In sports, the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 92-83 to even up their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece. And get this, a young woman, laid off from her job earlier Wednesday, was identified as the Pistons' one millionth fan. She got a jersey, two seats for next season's opener and passes to a VIP area.

To the Forecast Center and -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Carol, here's a look at your forecast weather map for today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

I'm just going through some e-mails that we've received this morning. And we've received a lot, and we thank you for that. It's time to read some of those e-mails.

The question this morning, should a shoot down order have been given in Washington? That small plane came within three miles of the White House. They had to evacuate the White House. You know the story by now. So we're asking you that question.

This is from Hans (ph). He says I'm certainly not into the destruction of innocent lives. However, if, in fact, the light plane posed a serious threat, where would we be now? Perhaps mourning the death of countless leaders due to political correctness and sensitivity. All pilots, including student pilots, need to understand that flying into a restricted area is commiserate with suicide and action will be taken.

This is from Julian (ph) from New York, Westfield, to be exact, Westfield, New York. Not having been shot down, we have the boy who cried wolf. If we had shot the plane down, we would be too careful in the future. I don't think we can be fair critics after the fact.

This is from Brian (ph). He says, no, they shouldn't have ordered the plane shot down. Can you imagine the possible deaths on the ground if they had? They could intercept the aircraft sooner and evaluate then.

This is from John (ph). As a resident of D.C., who, along with others, were witness to this and previous scares, the general feeling is that if an aircraft does not respond and comply it should be shot down. It's a tough decision.

We're going to talk with Kyra Phillips. She talked to one of the pilots of those F-16s that were flying around that plane trying to divert it. We'll hear what he has to say about the situation. That comes your way in our 6:00 hour.

Also still to come, is North Korea serious this time about moving forward with nuclear weapons or is it just more posturing? Just ahead, we'll tell you what they're threatening to do next and what Washington thinks about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In an effort to put more pressure on the Bush administration, North Korea says it's getting closer to developing nuclear weapons. In a statement, the North Koreans say they finished extracting 8,000 spent fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor. The move would allow the North Koreans to reprocess the spent fuel into weapons grade plutonium. U.S. officials say the announcement is identical to one issued two years ago.

Nuclear threats and counter threats are also flying fast and furious around Iran. Iran says it's ready to get moving again on its nuclear program. European leaders say they're ready to walk away from two years of negotiations if that happens.

CNN's Matthew Chance joins us live from London with more.

Good morning.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you as well.

This has been a big question mark hanging over the negotiations to decide the future of Iran's nuclear program. Just a few days ago, the Iranian authority saying that they would lift a suspension they voluntarily imposed on themselves to suspend all nuclear activities related to the enrichment of uranium. They said they suspended those activities to make way for these negotiations last November. They said because of the lack of progress in the negotiations, they were prepared to resume those nuclear activities.

That produced a flurry of activity in the European capitals of Britain, France and Germany, who have been leading the negotiated effort to try and get Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment. They apparently issued a letter to Iran, saying that if such activities were resumed, then they would walk away from negotiations, leaving the door open for Iran to be referred to the United Nations Security Council.

It seems to have worked in that, you know, Iran appears to have blinked on this occasion, saying that it does now appear that it will be delaying its decision to resume those nuclear activities. So, for the moment, the negotiations are still on, but there is still a great deal for both of these sides, both the Iranians and the Europeans, to talk about to try and get the kind of deal that they are looking for -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew Chance, live in London this morning, thank you.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, rehab in South Africa. That's where some say Dave Chappelle is. We'll bring you details.

And in the next hour, Kyra Phillips tells us about her conversation with the F-16 pilot who intercepted that Cessna. You will not want to miss this.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: In "Entertainment Headlines" for you this morning, comedian Dave Chappelle has checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa. That's the word from "Entertainment Weekly Magazine." Comedy Central announced last week that the May 31 launch of Chappelle's third show has hit -- third season, rather, has been canceled.

Actress Mena Suvari is calling it quits. "US Weekly" says she's filed for divorce from her husband of five years. Suvari is married to cinematographer Robert Brinkmann who is 43 years old. The couple eloped just after the actress turned 21. Suvari cited irreconcilable differences in the petition.

Britney Spears is facing a copyright lawsuit. An Indiana man says he wrote the song "Sometimes" 15 years ago. His proof, he says in 1990 he put the lyrics in a sealed envelope and mailed it to himself. He says he then shopped the lyrics around. The song appeared on Spears' 1999 debut album and last year's "Greatest Hits" album. Her attorneys deny the claim.

You can get more entertainment news every night on "ShowBiz Tonight." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Headline News.

And the next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.

Back on the ground after causing quit a stir in the skies, the pilot who got lost and wound up in restricted airspace just three miles from the White House.

The battle over John Bolton, a key vote today on the controversial nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

And what's the real deal about the Real I.D. Act? Will it make us safer or will it target immigrants unfairly?

It is Thursday, May 12. 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."

Two car bombs in a Baghdad marketplace have caused an unknown number of casualties this morning. Authorities say one suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside of a movie theater. The other went off near a mosque.

North Korea says it has completed a step that could enable the country to create weapons grade plutonium for nuclear weapons. The government announced the removal of 8,000 fuel rods from a reactor at its main nuclear complex.

And look, folks, look at what people found in one part of Colorado. That would be hail. It fell in parts of northeastern Colorado. But that's nothing. Nearly two feet of snow reported in the mountains of northern Wyoming. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers this morning.

Good morning -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You believe that, I mean two feet of snow in parts of Wyoming. I know Wyoming is typically a cold place, but we're in the middle of May now. So that's unbelievable.

(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 May 12, 2005 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, 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."

First a theater, then a mosque in Baghdad are the latest scenes of carnage in Iraq. Car bombs exploded at two sites this morning, and we hear there are numerous casualties.

Your overall retirement security will be the focus of a House Ways and Means Committee hearing today. Lawmakers want to look at improving chronic and long-term care, in addition to the Social Security overhaul President Bush is pushing.

John Bolton's controversial nomination to be Ambassador to the United Nations goes to a vote today. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee says he expects the panel to send Bolton's nomination to the full Senate.

Flooding is a problem for areas of southwest Nebraska, but that's not all the region's problems. Some residents report tornadoes, plus hail the size of softballs. That could cause some damage.

Good morning, Rob. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers this morning.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back over to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Now for a CNN "Security Watch."

The post September 11 response system got its first real terror alert test during the security scare in the nation's capital. Authorities have a strict procedure to follow when an unauthorized plane flies into prohibited airspace.

CNN's Kathleen Koch walks us through it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): An FAA specialist at Potomac Tricon (ph), an outlying radar center, monitors all traffic approaching Washington, D.C. He notices a plane entering the restricted airspace that has left its flight, isn't squawking the correct transponder code, or isn't talking to air traffic controllers.

The specialist alerts the National Capital Regional Coordination Center. Everyone, Pentagon, Homeland Security, FBI and other law enforcement, are immediately cued to the violator and a call is made.

RICHARD FALKENRATH, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: It's called a Noble Eagle conference call. It's a special conference call that the Department of Defense sets up. And then everyone involved in the air defense of the national capital region will get on that call, the White House situation room, the Secret Service, Customs, who owns the Blackhawks, NORAD, FAA. Lots of different agencies are on that call so that people can figure out what's going on, and both systems will try to intercept the errant aircraft.

KOCH: A coordinated response is decided. NORAD scrambles fighter jets. The Department of Homeland Security launches Blackhawk helicopters. Capitol Hill police are put on alert. The senior duty officer at the Secret Service Command Center moves the White House alert level to yellow. Top officials are moved to safe location.

The FAA continues to try to communicate with the errant plane on an emergency frequency. If there's no response, the White House alert level goes to orange. Workers and the media are ordered to evacuate. Capitol Hill goes on high alert. Lawmakers are rushed to secure locations. If the plane continues, the White House hits high alert, red.

FALKENRATH: That means a terrorist attack is imminent in the judgment of the duty officer. And he needs to make those calls very, very quickly. You know time is working against the system here, because if you are three miles out and you are flying at 150 miles an hour, you're going to be there in 60 seconds. So he has to make that decision.

KOCH: Meanwhile, the U.S. Capitol is empty. Fighter jets intercept the violator, wiggling wings, dropping flares to get its attention. A Customs service Blackhawk tries to direct and escort the plane to the nearest airport. If the plane diverts, it is followed to the ground, the pilot held, questioned, perhaps fined or punished with a loss or suspension of license. On the ground, alerts drop to normal.

But, if the plane continues, then comes the shoot down decision, with ground-based missiles or by the fighter jets, an as-yet untested scenario.

Kathleen Koch, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: Interestingly, federal officials were reportedly considering lifting a ban on small planes flying in and out of Reagan National Airport possibly by the end of the year. But "The Washington Post" reports that scare at the White House has officials reconsidering. "The Post" reports incursions occur at a rate of about three a day.

The F-16 pilot who flew the intercept on that Cessna that was heading towards the White House spoke with our Kyra Phillips. He's highly trained for what's known as the air war against terrorists. Kyra will be live in the next hour of DAYBREAK with an amazing report on what went down behind the scenes. She actually talked to that pilot, and she will tell us what he had to say.

As always, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

President Bush signs a Real I.D. Act into law as soon as it reached his desk. It makes it much harder for illegal aliens to obtain U.S. driver's licenses, but it also makes it harder for legal residents for that reason.

As CNN's Bill Tucker reports, some states are resisting Real I.D.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The privilege of driving is one granted and controlled by a state. And the initial reaction to the Real I.D. Act is an old-fashioned one.

MICHAEL BALBONI (R), NEW YORK STATE SENATE: The driver's license is the most basic interface between a citizen and its government, and it should reflect the different systems throughout the state. And it's a state issue, so the states should have been able to work it out.

TUCKER: The states have been working on developing standards for the issuance of driver's licenses and were three months away from a federally-directed deadline under the Intelligence Reform Bill. They now have three years, because that's the new deadline under Real I.D.

Forty states currently require some proof of legal status before granting a license. Ten states offer driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Utah and Tennessee provide illegal aliens driver's certificates, which cannot be used as identification, which brings up a simple point.

PAUL ROSENZWEIG, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: The states are free, actually, to opt out of this law altogether. The only problem is, is that their citizens will be affected by not being able to use driver's licenses to, say, enter federal buildings or travel on airplanes. They'll have to bring with them some other federally approved form of identification, like a passport.

TUCKER: A number of problems do need to be resolved, such as standards for document verification and developing a secure national network to allow states to check on the status of a license from another state.

Bill Tucker, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: We will dig deeper into the pros and cons of the Real I.D. Act and how it could affect your personal privacy. That's in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

In other news "Across America" this morning, if you drive in Chicago, you better have a hands-free device for talking on your cell phone. The Chicago City Council is banning drivers from using hand- held cell phones starting this summer. Similar bans are in place in New York, New Jersey and Washington.

In Santa Rosa, California, officials have decided to allow birth control pills and condoms to be prescribed and given to students at one high school. The policy is in response to high birth rates among teens in southwest Santa Rosa.

In Grand Junction, Colorado, a legally blind couple have been approved to operate a day care facility. A judge ordered the state to grant the license to Christine and Thomas Hutchinson. He says not granting them the license would violate their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, another violent day in Iraq. We'll take you live to Baghdad for the latest.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It's a sad irony of war for embedded journalists, one day you're interviewing a Marine, the next you're watching his friends mourn his death. It happened to Ellen Knickmeyer of "The Washington Post" who is covering Operation Matador. That's a Marine offensive on the Iraqi-Syrian border. We've been telling you that's been going on the past several days.

Well earlier this week, this "Washington Post" reporter was part of the Marines' 1st Platoon, Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, a reserve unit based in Columbus, Ohio. The platoon was in a firefight earlier in the week, two Marines were killed, five others wounded.

Today she reports 2 Marines from that same platoon were killed and 14 others wounded by an explosive device. The Marines say every member of that particular squad has either been killed or wounded.

So let's get more on today's bombing in Baghdad and that Marine offensive in western Iraq. Let's head live to Baghdad now and Ryan Chilcote.

Ryan, bring us up to date.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Carol.

Well, following some fast changing stories here. Some more bombing attacks, two of them so far already today in Baghdad.

The first took place earlier this morning in eastern Baghdad in the Al Jadida neighborhood. What we understand, at this point, according to the Iraqi police, is that a suicide bomber, driving a car, blew himself up in a very busy intersection in that part of the city. Right around this intersection, we understand, there was a movie theater, there was a mosque, there was a post office and there was a very busy marketplace.

Not clear who this suicide bomber was targeting, whether they were just going after Iraqi citizen bystanders in that area or that they had a specific target in mind or a specific motive in mind when they carried out that attack. In any case, the Iraqi police are telling us that 12 Iraqis were killed in that attack. Another 56 wounded.

And then we just learned of another car bombing all the way on the other side of the city, this one in western Baghdad. The Iraqi police telling us they don't know how many casualties there are there yet, although they are saying there are some. They are also saying that, in that case, it was another suicide bomber, who apparently, they believe, was trying to target a U.S. military patrol.

This all coming after three weeks, a three-week long spike in the violence here in Iraq, and after another bloody day just yesterday when nearly 60 Iraqis were killed, another 100 wounded -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote, live in Baghdad this morning, thank you.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee votes today on John Bolton's nomination as U.N. Ambassador. The vote was delayed several weeks over allegations that Bolton mistreated subordinates and abused his authority.

In money news, the U.S. Postal Service plans to launch a new premium mail forwarding service in August. It's for people who will be away from home for two weeks or longer.

In culture, actress Sharon Stone has a brand new role, single mom. Stone adopted a baby boy. She already has a son, though. Named Blair (ph), this one, he joins the son Stone has with ex-husband Phil Bronstein.

In sports, the Indiana Pacers beat the Detroit Pistons 92-83 to even up their Eastern Conference semifinal series at one game apiece. And get this, a young woman, laid off from her job earlier Wednesday, was identified as the Pistons' one millionth fan. She got a jersey, two seats for next season's opener and passes to a VIP area.

To the Forecast Center and -- Rob.

MARCIANO: Carol, here's a look at your forecast weather map for today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Rob.

I'm just going through some e-mails that we've received this morning. And we've received a lot, and we thank you for that. It's time to read some of those e-mails.

The question this morning, should a shoot down order have been given in Washington? That small plane came within three miles of the White House. They had to evacuate the White House. You know the story by now. So we're asking you that question.

This is from Hans (ph). He says I'm certainly not into the destruction of innocent lives. However, if, in fact, the light plane posed a serious threat, where would we be now? Perhaps mourning the death of countless leaders due to political correctness and sensitivity. All pilots, including student pilots, need to understand that flying into a restricted area is commiserate with suicide and action will be taken.

This is from Julian (ph) from New York, Westfield, to be exact, Westfield, New York. Not having been shot down, we have the boy who cried wolf. If we had shot the plane down, we would be too careful in the future. I don't think we can be fair critics after the fact.

This is from Brian (ph). He says, no, they shouldn't have ordered the plane shot down. Can you imagine the possible deaths on the ground if they had? They could intercept the aircraft sooner and evaluate then.

This is from John (ph). As a resident of D.C., who, along with others, were witness to this and previous scares, the general feeling is that if an aircraft does not respond and comply it should be shot down. It's a tough decision.

We're going to talk with Kyra Phillips. She talked to one of the pilots of those F-16s that were flying around that plane trying to divert it. We'll hear what he has to say about the situation. That comes your way in our 6:00 hour.

Also still to come, is North Korea serious this time about moving forward with nuclear weapons or is it just more posturing? Just ahead, we'll tell you what they're threatening to do next and what Washington thinks about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In an effort to put more pressure on the Bush administration, North Korea says it's getting closer to developing nuclear weapons. In a statement, the North Koreans say they finished extracting 8,000 spent fuel rods at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor. The move would allow the North Koreans to reprocess the spent fuel into weapons grade plutonium. U.S. officials say the announcement is identical to one issued two years ago.

Nuclear threats and counter threats are also flying fast and furious around Iran. Iran says it's ready to get moving again on its nuclear program. European leaders say they're ready to walk away from two years of negotiations if that happens.

CNN's Matthew Chance joins us live from London with more.

Good morning.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning to you as well.

This has been a big question mark hanging over the negotiations to decide the future of Iran's nuclear program. Just a few days ago, the Iranian authority saying that they would lift a suspension they voluntarily imposed on themselves to suspend all nuclear activities related to the enrichment of uranium. They said they suspended those activities to make way for these negotiations last November. They said because of the lack of progress in the negotiations, they were prepared to resume those nuclear activities.

That produced a flurry of activity in the European capitals of Britain, France and Germany, who have been leading the negotiated effort to try and get Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment. They apparently issued a letter to Iran, saying that if such activities were resumed, then they would walk away from negotiations, leaving the door open for Iran to be referred to the United Nations Security Council.

It seems to have worked in that, you know, Iran appears to have blinked on this occasion, saying that it does now appear that it will be delaying its decision to resume those nuclear activities. So, for the moment, the negotiations are still on, but there is still a great deal for both of these sides, both the Iranians and the Europeans, to talk about to try and get the kind of deal that they are looking for -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Matthew Chance, live in London this morning, thank you.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, rehab in South Africa. That's where some say Dave Chappelle is. We'll bring you details.

And in the next hour, Kyra Phillips tells us about her conversation with the F-16 pilot who intercepted that Cessna. You will not want to miss this.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: In "Entertainment Headlines" for you this morning, comedian Dave Chappelle has checked himself into a mental health facility in South Africa. That's the word from "Entertainment Weekly Magazine." Comedy Central announced last week that the May 31 launch of Chappelle's third show has hit -- third season, rather, has been canceled.

Actress Mena Suvari is calling it quits. "US Weekly" says she's filed for divorce from her husband of five years. Suvari is married to cinematographer Robert Brinkmann who is 43 years old. The couple eloped just after the actress turned 21. Suvari cited irreconcilable differences in the petition.

Britney Spears is facing a copyright lawsuit. An Indiana man says he wrote the song "Sometimes" 15 years ago. His proof, he says in 1990 he put the lyrics in a sealed envelope and mailed it to himself. He says he then shopped the lyrics around. The song appeared on Spears' 1999 debut album and last year's "Greatest Hits" album. Her attorneys deny the claim.

You can get more entertainment news every night on "ShowBiz Tonight." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Headline News.

And the next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.

Back on the ground after causing quit a stir in the skies, the pilot who got lost and wound up in restricted airspace just three miles from the White House.

The battle over John Bolton, a key vote today on the controversial nominee to be U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.

And what's the real deal about the Real I.D. Act? Will it make us safer or will it target immigrants unfairly?

It is Thursday, May 12. 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."

Two car bombs in a Baghdad marketplace have caused an unknown number of casualties this morning. Authorities say one suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside of a movie theater. The other went off near a mosque.

North Korea says it has completed a step that could enable the country to create weapons grade plutonium for nuclear weapons. The government announced the removal of 8,000 fuel rods from a reactor at its main nuclear complex.

And look, folks, look at what people found in one part of Colorado. That would be hail. It fell in parts of northeastern Colorado. But that's nothing. Nearly two feet of snow reported in the mountains of northern Wyoming. Rob Marciano in for Chad Myers this morning.

Good morning -- Rob.

MARCIANO: You believe that, I mean two feet of snow in parts of Wyoming. I know Wyoming is typically a cold place, but we're in the middle of May now. So that's unbelievable.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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