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CNN Live At Daybreak
Operation Lightning Could Strike Soon in Baghdad; Twin Suicide Bombings South of Baghdad
Aired May 30, 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, Operation Lightning could strike soon in Baghdad. But insurgents are creating a storm of their own.
Also, thousands of graves, thousands of flags, one heartfelt tribute.
And neighboring homes side by side in grizzly tragedy.
It's Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
A lot ahead for you on this Memorial Day, including a reality check on the nation's roads. We'll look at what those potholes and patches are costing you.
But first, here's what's happening now in the news.
You are seeing the aftermath of twin suicide bombings south of Baghdad this morning. Two attackers blew themselves up in Hillah, killing 16 people, many of them police. One bomber targeted a police rally. The other attacked a nearby crowd of police recruits.
Two blasts this morning in Kabul, Afghanistan may have targeted international troops. One roadside blast wounded seven people. Another blast occurred near the NATO security force headquarters in the Afghan capital.
Houston, Texas is hoping to dry out from heavy thunderstorms that caused widespread street flooding, power outages and property damage. One building collapsed in the storm, injuring two people, and lightning is believed to have ignited an apartment fire. Hopefully, the worst is over.
Let's head to the forecast center.
Rob in for Chad today -- good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.
We are highlighting Texas right now, Carol, south Texas, deep south Texas. This is Cameron County, right at the tip there of the Rio. And we've got a tornado warning out for -- until 6:15 this morning. So we'll watch for that.
That's a radar indicated tornado, meaning that's what the radar thinks is happening. It sees a little bit of a twist in the atmosphere. And we had several watch boxes out, not only for southern Texas, but southeast Texas, including Houston, last night. That since has been dropped.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: There is no rest for U.S. and Iraqi troops on this Memorial Day. They're gearing up for a massive crackdown on insurgents, a response to a wave of attacks that's left hundreds dead.
Let's go straight to Baghdad now and CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
Has it begun -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has not begun officially quite yet. But the U.S. military is almost always very busy in the Iraqi capital. That's certainly been the case for the last week. The U.S. military here has been part of what was called Operation Squeeze Play that focused on one particular neighborhood called the Abu Ghraib neighborhood in the west of the Iraqi capital. That was a joint operation with Iraq's security forces. And the interior minister tells us that more than 600 insurgents have already been detained in that operation.
Now, some 10,000 U.S. troops are gearing up for what the Iraqi military is saying will be a much larger offensive throughout the entirety of the Iraqi capital. It's going to be called Operation Lightning. The U.S. troops will be backing up some 40,000 members of Iraq's security forces who will effectively fan out to all parts of the Iraqi capital, setting up more than 600 checkpoints.
The whole idea is to try to put a stop to the violence that the insurgents have caused here in the Iraqi capital and in Iraq's other major cities over the last month. And all of the indications we have at this point, Carol, are that the insurgents do not plan to get out of town. They don't look like they're getting out of the Iraqi capital. In fact, they look like they're about to put up a fight -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live in Baghdad this morning.
Top U.S. military brass say they still have no proof, but they do believe Internet accounts that the most wanted terrorist in Iraq is, indeed, wounded. Islamist Web sites have been reporting Abu Musab al- Zarqawi was wounded in battle. U.S. and Iraqi officials consider him al Qaeda's top man in Iraq. The mastermind of the insurgency.
In a television interview, Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers says al Qaeda will thrive even if al-Zarqawi doesn't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: What we've seen is postings on their Web site that, in fact, he's been injured, because we follow these Web sites. We tend to believe that that's probably true. We don't know more than that right now.
I think what people need to know is, though, as the leader, as the al Qaeda leader and the foreign fighter leader, the jihad leader, in Iraq, that he's an important target. But even getting him, the movement will continue. Al Qaeda has a way of continuing to put people in those leadership positions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: U.S. military officials say even if al-Zarqawi is hurt, it will not change their combat operations.
In our "Security Watch" this morning, one allegedly wanted to train terrorists, the other allegedly wanted to treat them. A Florida doctor -- you're going to see his picture shortly -- and a self- described martial arts expert from New York will be in federal court tomorrow. This is the doctor you're looking at. The two, both U.S. citizens, are accused of conspiring to provide support to al Qaeda.
Their arrests follow a two year FBI sting in which the doctor allegedly agreed to treat wounded terrorists in Saudi Arabia. The FBI says the other man wanted to teach them hand to hand combat. Both men's families deny the charges.
The Bush administration may be rethinking how it's fighting the war on terror. The "Washington Post" reports the administration has launched a review and is considering a new strategy that shifts from breaking the backs of al Qaeda toward defeating violent extremism. The "Post" says the change is meant to recognize that al Qaeda is broader than the organization that attacked the U.S. on September 11.
The U.S. is reported poised to test a high tech missile defense system aboard commercial airplanes. The system is designed to find and disable shoulder fired missiles. The "New York Times" reports the Boeing 767 is one of three planes that will be tested by the end of the year. The tests are being paid for by the Department of Homeland Security.
And this reminder, to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
A terrible story out of Ohio this morning. Police find six people dead and one critically wounded in what they believe is a murder-suicide.
More details are expected to be released at a news conference some time this morning.
Patrick Preston of CNN affiliate WBNS in Belfountain, Ohio tells us what we do know.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) PATRICK PRESTON, WBNS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six dead, one survivor, found alongside multiple firearms in two separate houses west of Belfountain. Both homes owned by the same family. In one, four bodies on two different floors. Two bodies in the other. The Logan County sheriff says the teenager survivor had the strength to get to the phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got a call via cellular phone from a sister or a friend of one of the victims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She received a phone call from the victim that is still alive saying that she needed help.
PRESTON: Just down the road from the crime scenes, neighbors Iris and Roy Angle know the family and can't believe what's happened.
IRIS ANGLE, NEIGHBOR: It's really a tragedy. I just can't explain it. Such a shock. Very nice people, nice neighbors. I just can't imagine what they're going through.
PRESTON: The Angles say this small community has been in the news before, but never for a reason as horrific as this.
I. ANGLE: We've seen some tragedies. We've seen an airplane land out in the road and hit a car and someone killed. And we've seen several accidents out here. But this is -- this shooting was really tragic.
PRESTON: The Angles will pray, the community will mourn and the sheriff's department will continue to piece together what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any time several victims die like this, it is a -- it's not (INAUDIBLE). It's very sad, is what it is.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That report was from Patrick Preston of CNN affiliate WBNS out of Columbus.
One of the victims was 18-year-old Scott Moody. His grandparents had taken out this ad to celebrate his high school graduation. Moody was killed just hours before he was scheduled to get that diploma.
In other stories making "News Across America" now, the pilot of a small plane is in critical condition this morning following his crash at an air race outside of Oklahoma City. The cause of the wreck under investigation. In a more tragic turn of events, a member of his ground crew was killed after falling off the back of a truck while following the ambulance to a hospital.
A 3-year-old boy in Missouri is back home safe following a long night of being lost. Police had issued an amber alert for the boy after he was reported missing from his great grandmother's house. But they later found the boy and his dog in a field just a few miles away from his home. Junior Allen has finally walked out of a North Carolina prison. He was paroled after serving 35 years for stealing a television set. Allen had been sentenced to life in prison for a $140 crime. But now that same crime carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail. Allen had applied for parole 26 times.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, on the heels of Koran abuse allegations at Guantanamo Bay, additional military documents are released. We'll find out what they reveal in 15 minutes.
Also, they're best known for honoring those laid to rest with military distinction. At the bottom of the hour, an inside look at the old guard.
And later, those who hit the road for Memorial Day Weekend may notice a rough ride. A look at the nation's declining roadways at 20 minutes until.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I was around when CNN first got started. We kind of, in many ways, grew up together. I was very pleased always to be asked to be on CNN. I was a "Soviet expert." I'd taught at Georgetown University and may name began with A, which meant that when CNN needed such an expert, I often got called. So I am very grateful to CNN.
I think that generally, CNN's coverage of events like the Gulf War -- I remember that as a very significant event. Very detailed, good descriptions of what was going on at that time and then every event, whether it was covering wars or in terms of explaining to people what was going on.
But it's kind of a constant reminder to the viewer about the importance of news in our lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A pair of suicide bombers in Iraq have killed at least 16 people. Many of the victims in Hillah were Iraqi police officers. Another 35 people were wounded in explosions.
In money news, FedEx says it would -- says its customers would rather just have packages left at the door without having to sign a waiver. So the delivery giant will start charging you $1.50 if you want to confirm deliveries with a signature.
In culture, Bob Geldof has chosen July 2 as the day for his next big benefit concert. His follow-up to 1985's Live AID will be called Live Eight, since it will coincide with the upcoming G8 summit. The show will be held in London and Philadelphia, just like the original.
In sports, the Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons again, to take a two games to one lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Dwayne Wade led The Heat with 36 points in the 113-104 win. Game four tomorrow night -- Rob.
MARCIANO: Carol, take a look at the forecast weather map for today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob.
That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.
And it is time to read some e-mail, because in our 5:00 a.m. Eastern hour, we were asking you to send the message to U.S. troops overseas and serving in this country. And we've gotten a lot of touching e-mails in this morning.
And, Rob?
MARCIANO: Yes?
COSTELLO: Come back to me, Rob.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: We're going to read some this morning.
I'd like to read this one from Specialist Keith R. Gallagher (ph). He says: "I just returned from Afghanistan, where I spent a year. I just want to thank all of the people that gave support to all of us in the hardest year of our lives. And remember, not only the American brothers that gave their lives, but also the brave men of the Afghan national army, who bled with us."
MARCIANO: We -- great. We think alike, Carol, because I pulled that one up, as well.
COSTELLO: Oh.
MARCIANO: I was touched by that one, also.
COSTELLO: I know. That one like brought a tear to your eye.
MARCIANO: This one from Wayne in Kentucky. This is, he says: "To my son and the rest of our beloved troops. Thanks so much for the freedom you provide with your immeasurable sacrifice." Wayne goes on to say: "You are asked to respect an enemy that has zero respect for anything and you performed wonderfully. God be with you. Words really can't express my gratitude to you."
COSTELLO: This one comes out of California. He says: "To my dear friend, Captain Jimmy McCrumb (ph). I talked to your mom today. She's doing well and is in good spirits. Please stay out of trouble, buddy. Please try not to hang out with Iraqi soldiers when you are not doing your job. They are walking targets. I hope they let you come home real soon, all of you. Your friend in Sunnyvale, California."
Thanks for sending in those e-mails. Really touching this morning.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, Amnesty International calls it a gulag. But U.S. officials say it's a model facility. What's really going on at Guantanamo Bay? We'll take about it when DAYBREAK continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You're looking at the bottle -- or at the bottom of the statue of those men holding the flags up at Iwo Jima, the Iwo Jima memorial in Washington, D.C. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue," it says.
Behind every fallen soldier are loved ones left behind and on this Memorial Day, they share their loss with us, in their own words.
Here's the story of one young man who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK ADAMOUSKI, JIMMY'S FATHER: Well, it'll take a while to talk about Jimmy because he was one of those ideal children. When he was young, he was the one who always went to bed on time and always took his bath before he went to bed. When he got into school, he always did his homework after he came home from school, before he went out to play.
Jimmy was also a planner. I once asked him when was it, Jim, that you decided you wanted to go to West Point? And he said, "Well, dad," he said, "I think I was in the fourth grade." He just did so many really neat things. When he was stationed in Germany, there were some avalanches in Austria and Switzerland. And he flew his helicopter in avalanche rescue down there. I'm so proud of him for that.
He just never seemed to do anything wrong. He was always right.
I get kind of emotional when I talk about him because he really was such a great kid. He could talk to the pope or he could talk to a bum in the street and be equally at ease. Jimmy was the type of individual that would have made a great politician, and his goal was to become a U.S. senator. And nobody in this family or anybody who knew him ever doubted that he would be able to do that.
In Jimmy's case, did he believe in what he was doing? Certainly. He was totally convinced that taking a suppressive regime out of the world order was the right thing to do.
I had two individuals call me on the telephone and say sir, you don't know me, but I knew your son in Germany. He inspired me to go back to college. And both of them said I'm graduating this month and I owe it to your son. And so there were things like that that went on that were so emotional, really, to find out that he made such a difference in the lives of so many people during a very short life of only 29 years. And I think he did more in his 29 years than a lot of people do in a hundred. And we love him for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers is defending U.S. treatments of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It follows an Amnesty International report that calls the U.S. prison "the gulag of our time." Myers says the report is absolutely irresponsible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: Here's the question that needs to be debated by everybody, and that is, how do you handle people who aren't part of a nation state effort that are picked up on the battlefield that if you release them or if you let them go back to their home countries, that would turn right around and try to slit our throats, our children's throats? And these are the people that took four airplanes and drove them into three buildings on September 11. They're the same folks with the same mentality.
And we struggle, of course, because this is a different kind of struggle, a different kind of war. We struggle with how to handle them. But we've always handled them humanely and with the dignity that they should be accorded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, what is going on at GITMO?
Just in time, there is a report outlining what correspondents have seen there with their own eyes.
Joining us now from Washington to talk more about it is "Time" magazine's Viveca Novak.
Good morning, Viveca.
VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol. How are you?
COSTELLO: I'm fine.
You know, you heard General Myers say that the people inside Guantanamo Bay are dangerous, they'd slit your throat if they would be released.
There have been some 234 people released from Guantanamo Bay.
Have any gone back to being terrorists? Is it proved they were terrorists in the first place?
NOVAK: Well, there are about a dozen that we know of that have taken up arms in some way against the United States, begun working against the U.S. Some of those may have originally also been working against the U.S. A few of them may have taken up arms for the first time. We're not sure.
But, again, and I think the critics of Guantanamo criticize the policy at Guantanamo, not the men and women who are swerving down there, and I think it's important to remember that today, men and women who are serving in an extremely difficult job and serving honorably.
But even members of the military off the record have said that many, many of the people who were sent to Guantanamo, the detainees, really were not fighting against us. They were either conscripts with the Taliban and had no choice but to pick up a weapon or they were turned over for bounties. They were completely innocent, turned over for bounties by the Northern Alliance.
COSTELLO: So, Viveca, who are these people at Guantanamo Bay?
NOVAK: Well, I guess about 750 people have been through there at this point. There's about 520 now. Many of them are Saudis, Afghans or Pakistanis or Yemenis. And they're people who were, you know, picked up not really on the battlefield -- some on the battlefield, but some as far away as Bosnia and some of them, you know, with ties that seem extremely tenuous, if they exist at all, to the Taliban and Northern Alliance.
My coauthor of a recent book, "Inside The Wire," my coauthor, former Army Sergeant Erik Saar, believes that only a few dozen of the people who he saw down there were really people who should have been there, really, you know, among the worst of the worst.
General Myers earlier was saying, you know, these are the very people who drove airplanes into the Twin Towers. But, well, those people are dead, as we know. And the masterminds behind it are not the people we're keeping down at Guantanamo.
COSTELLO: We've been hearing so much about the treatment of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and the treatment of the Koran inside of its gates.
Can you break that down for us and tell us what's true and what's not?
NOVAK: Well, it's very hard to tell what's true and what's not. And it's still being investigated. There was the "Newsweek" report a few weeks ago saying that an investigation had confirmed that a Koran had been flushed in a toilet. It's apparently not true that an investigation has confirmed that, although it's an incident that we still don't know, may have occurred.
But there have been many, many allegations of abuse of the Koran in one way or another by soldiers down there. Last week, the Army came out and said that they had confirmed five incidents where the Koran was desecrated in some way. About maybe three of those were apparently intentional, two were unintentional. There may have been many more incidents, but these are the ones that were investigated that we know about.
COSTELLO: Enough said.
Viveca Novak from "Time" magazine.
If you want to read more, the article is in "Time" magazine this week.
Thanks, Viveca.
NOVAK: It's good to be with you.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even just putting a flag on it is just a small honor. And that's one thing that I like to -- that's one thing I'm able to do for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll meet the man behind one of Memorial Day's most visible traditions.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 30, 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, Operation Lightning could strike soon in Baghdad. But insurgents are creating a storm of their own.
Also, thousands of graves, thousands of flags, one heartfelt tribute.
And neighboring homes side by side in grizzly tragedy.
It's Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
You're watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello.
A lot ahead for you on this Memorial Day, including a reality check on the nation's roads. We'll look at what those potholes and patches are costing you.
But first, here's what's happening now in the news.
You are seeing the aftermath of twin suicide bombings south of Baghdad this morning. Two attackers blew themselves up in Hillah, killing 16 people, many of them police. One bomber targeted a police rally. The other attacked a nearby crowd of police recruits.
Two blasts this morning in Kabul, Afghanistan may have targeted international troops. One roadside blast wounded seven people. Another blast occurred near the NATO security force headquarters in the Afghan capital.
Houston, Texas is hoping to dry out from heavy thunderstorms that caused widespread street flooding, power outages and property damage. One building collapsed in the storm, injuring two people, and lightning is believed to have ignited an apartment fire. Hopefully, the worst is over.
Let's head to the forecast center.
Rob in for Chad today -- good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.
We are highlighting Texas right now, Carol, south Texas, deep south Texas. This is Cameron County, right at the tip there of the Rio. And we've got a tornado warning out for -- until 6:15 this morning. So we'll watch for that.
That's a radar indicated tornado, meaning that's what the radar thinks is happening. It sees a little bit of a twist in the atmosphere. And we had several watch boxes out, not only for southern Texas, but southeast Texas, including Houston, last night. That since has been dropped.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: There is no rest for U.S. and Iraqi troops on this Memorial Day. They're gearing up for a massive crackdown on insurgents, a response to a wave of attacks that's left hundreds dead.
Let's go straight to Baghdad now and CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
Has it begun -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has not begun officially quite yet. But the U.S. military is almost always very busy in the Iraqi capital. That's certainly been the case for the last week. The U.S. military here has been part of what was called Operation Squeeze Play that focused on one particular neighborhood called the Abu Ghraib neighborhood in the west of the Iraqi capital. That was a joint operation with Iraq's security forces. And the interior minister tells us that more than 600 insurgents have already been detained in that operation.
Now, some 10,000 U.S. troops are gearing up for what the Iraqi military is saying will be a much larger offensive throughout the entirety of the Iraqi capital. It's going to be called Operation Lightning. The U.S. troops will be backing up some 40,000 members of Iraq's security forces who will effectively fan out to all parts of the Iraqi capital, setting up more than 600 checkpoints.
The whole idea is to try to put a stop to the violence that the insurgents have caused here in the Iraqi capital and in Iraq's other major cities over the last month. And all of the indications we have at this point, Carol, are that the insurgents do not plan to get out of town. They don't look like they're getting out of the Iraqi capital. In fact, they look like they're about to put up a fight -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live in Baghdad this morning.
Top U.S. military brass say they still have no proof, but they do believe Internet accounts that the most wanted terrorist in Iraq is, indeed, wounded. Islamist Web sites have been reporting Abu Musab al- Zarqawi was wounded in battle. U.S. and Iraqi officials consider him al Qaeda's top man in Iraq. The mastermind of the insurgency.
In a television interview, Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers says al Qaeda will thrive even if al-Zarqawi doesn't.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEN. RICHARD MYERS, JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN: What we've seen is postings on their Web site that, in fact, he's been injured, because we follow these Web sites. We tend to believe that that's probably true. We don't know more than that right now.
I think what people need to know is, though, as the leader, as the al Qaeda leader and the foreign fighter leader, the jihad leader, in Iraq, that he's an important target. But even getting him, the movement will continue. Al Qaeda has a way of continuing to put people in those leadership positions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: U.S. military officials say even if al-Zarqawi is hurt, it will not change their combat operations.
In our "Security Watch" this morning, one allegedly wanted to train terrorists, the other allegedly wanted to treat them. A Florida doctor -- you're going to see his picture shortly -- and a self- described martial arts expert from New York will be in federal court tomorrow. This is the doctor you're looking at. The two, both U.S. citizens, are accused of conspiring to provide support to al Qaeda.
Their arrests follow a two year FBI sting in which the doctor allegedly agreed to treat wounded terrorists in Saudi Arabia. The FBI says the other man wanted to teach them hand to hand combat. Both men's families deny the charges.
The Bush administration may be rethinking how it's fighting the war on terror. The "Washington Post" reports the administration has launched a review and is considering a new strategy that shifts from breaking the backs of al Qaeda toward defeating violent extremism. The "Post" says the change is meant to recognize that al Qaeda is broader than the organization that attacked the U.S. on September 11.
The U.S. is reported poised to test a high tech missile defense system aboard commercial airplanes. The system is designed to find and disable shoulder fired missiles. The "New York Times" reports the Boeing 767 is one of three planes that will be tested by the end of the year. The tests are being paid for by the Department of Homeland Security.
And this reminder, to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
A terrible story out of Ohio this morning. Police find six people dead and one critically wounded in what they believe is a murder-suicide.
More details are expected to be released at a news conference some time this morning.
Patrick Preston of CNN affiliate WBNS in Belfountain, Ohio tells us what we do know.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) PATRICK PRESTON, WBNS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six dead, one survivor, found alongside multiple firearms in two separate houses west of Belfountain. Both homes owned by the same family. In one, four bodies on two different floors. Two bodies in the other. The Logan County sheriff says the teenager survivor had the strength to get to the phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got a call via cellular phone from a sister or a friend of one of the victims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She received a phone call from the victim that is still alive saying that she needed help.
PRESTON: Just down the road from the crime scenes, neighbors Iris and Roy Angle know the family and can't believe what's happened.
IRIS ANGLE, NEIGHBOR: It's really a tragedy. I just can't explain it. Such a shock. Very nice people, nice neighbors. I just can't imagine what they're going through.
PRESTON: The Angles say this small community has been in the news before, but never for a reason as horrific as this.
I. ANGLE: We've seen some tragedies. We've seen an airplane land out in the road and hit a car and someone killed. And we've seen several accidents out here. But this is -- this shooting was really tragic.
PRESTON: The Angles will pray, the community will mourn and the sheriff's department will continue to piece together what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Any time several victims die like this, it is a -- it's not (INAUDIBLE). It's very sad, is what it is.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That report was from Patrick Preston of CNN affiliate WBNS out of Columbus.
One of the victims was 18-year-old Scott Moody. His grandparents had taken out this ad to celebrate his high school graduation. Moody was killed just hours before he was scheduled to get that diploma.
In other stories making "News Across America" now, the pilot of a small plane is in critical condition this morning following his crash at an air race outside of Oklahoma City. The cause of the wreck under investigation. In a more tragic turn of events, a member of his ground crew was killed after falling off the back of a truck while following the ambulance to a hospital.
A 3-year-old boy in Missouri is back home safe following a long night of being lost. Police had issued an amber alert for the boy after he was reported missing from his great grandmother's house. But they later found the boy and his dog in a field just a few miles away from his home. Junior Allen has finally walked out of a North Carolina prison. He was paroled after serving 35 years for stealing a television set. Allen had been sentenced to life in prison for a $140 crime. But now that same crime carries a maximum sentence of three years in jail. Allen had applied for parole 26 times.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, on the heels of Koran abuse allegations at Guantanamo Bay, additional military documents are released. We'll find out what they reveal in 15 minutes.
Also, they're best known for honoring those laid to rest with military distinction. At the bottom of the hour, an inside look at the old guard.
And later, those who hit the road for Memorial Day Weekend may notice a rough ride. A look at the nation's declining roadways at 20 minutes until.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I was around when CNN first got started. We kind of, in many ways, grew up together. I was very pleased always to be asked to be on CNN. I was a "Soviet expert." I'd taught at Georgetown University and may name began with A, which meant that when CNN needed such an expert, I often got called. So I am very grateful to CNN.
I think that generally, CNN's coverage of events like the Gulf War -- I remember that as a very significant event. Very detailed, good descriptions of what was going on at that time and then every event, whether it was covering wars or in terms of explaining to people what was going on.
But it's kind of a constant reminder to the viewer about the importance of news in our lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:14 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A pair of suicide bombers in Iraq have killed at least 16 people. Many of the victims in Hillah were Iraqi police officers. Another 35 people were wounded in explosions.
In money news, FedEx says it would -- says its customers would rather just have packages left at the door without having to sign a waiver. So the delivery giant will start charging you $1.50 if you want to confirm deliveries with a signature.
In culture, Bob Geldof has chosen July 2 as the day for his next big benefit concert. His follow-up to 1985's Live AID will be called Live Eight, since it will coincide with the upcoming G8 summit. The show will be held in London and Philadelphia, just like the original.
In sports, the Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons again, to take a two games to one lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Dwayne Wade led The Heat with 36 points in the 113-104 win. Game four tomorrow night -- Rob.
MARCIANO: Carol, take a look at the forecast weather map for today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Rob.
That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.
And it is time to read some e-mail, because in our 5:00 a.m. Eastern hour, we were asking you to send the message to U.S. troops overseas and serving in this country. And we've gotten a lot of touching e-mails in this morning.
And, Rob?
MARCIANO: Yes?
COSTELLO: Come back to me, Rob.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: We're going to read some this morning.
I'd like to read this one from Specialist Keith R. Gallagher (ph). He says: "I just returned from Afghanistan, where I spent a year. I just want to thank all of the people that gave support to all of us in the hardest year of our lives. And remember, not only the American brothers that gave their lives, but also the brave men of the Afghan national army, who bled with us."
MARCIANO: We -- great. We think alike, Carol, because I pulled that one up, as well.
COSTELLO: Oh.
MARCIANO: I was touched by that one, also.
COSTELLO: I know. That one like brought a tear to your eye.
MARCIANO: This one from Wayne in Kentucky. This is, he says: "To my son and the rest of our beloved troops. Thanks so much for the freedom you provide with your immeasurable sacrifice." Wayne goes on to say: "You are asked to respect an enemy that has zero respect for anything and you performed wonderfully. God be with you. Words really can't express my gratitude to you."
COSTELLO: This one comes out of California. He says: "To my dear friend, Captain Jimmy McCrumb (ph). I talked to your mom today. She's doing well and is in good spirits. Please stay out of trouble, buddy. Please try not to hang out with Iraqi soldiers when you are not doing your job. They are walking targets. I hope they let you come home real soon, all of you. Your friend in Sunnyvale, California."
Thanks for sending in those e-mails. Really touching this morning.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, Amnesty International calls it a gulag. But U.S. officials say it's a model facility. What's really going on at Guantanamo Bay? We'll take about it when DAYBREAK continues.
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COSTELLO: You're looking at the bottle -- or at the bottom of the statue of those men holding the flags up at Iwo Jima, the Iwo Jima memorial in Washington, D.C. "Uncommon valor was a common virtue," it says.
Behind every fallen soldier are loved ones left behind and on this Memorial Day, they share their loss with us, in their own words.
Here's the story of one young man who made the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK ADAMOUSKI, JIMMY'S FATHER: Well, it'll take a while to talk about Jimmy because he was one of those ideal children. When he was young, he was the one who always went to bed on time and always took his bath before he went to bed. When he got into school, he always did his homework after he came home from school, before he went out to play.
Jimmy was also a planner. I once asked him when was it, Jim, that you decided you wanted to go to West Point? And he said, "Well, dad," he said, "I think I was in the fourth grade." He just did so many really neat things. When he was stationed in Germany, there were some avalanches in Austria and Switzerland. And he flew his helicopter in avalanche rescue down there. I'm so proud of him for that.
He just never seemed to do anything wrong. He was always right.
I get kind of emotional when I talk about him because he really was such a great kid. He could talk to the pope or he could talk to a bum in the street and be equally at ease. Jimmy was the type of individual that would have made a great politician, and his goal was to become a U.S. senator. And nobody in this family or anybody who knew him ever doubted that he would be able to do that.
In Jimmy's case, did he believe in what he was doing? Certainly. He was totally convinced that taking a suppressive regime out of the world order was the right thing to do.
I had two individuals call me on the telephone and say sir, you don't know me, but I knew your son in Germany. He inspired me to go back to college. And both of them said I'm graduating this month and I owe it to your son. And so there were things like that that went on that were so emotional, really, to find out that he made such a difference in the lives of so many people during a very short life of only 29 years. And I think he did more in his 29 years than a lot of people do in a hundred. And we love him for that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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COSTELLO: Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers is defending U.S. treatments of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It follows an Amnesty International report that calls the U.S. prison "the gulag of our time." Myers says the report is absolutely irresponsible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MYERS: Here's the question that needs to be debated by everybody, and that is, how do you handle people who aren't part of a nation state effort that are picked up on the battlefield that if you release them or if you let them go back to their home countries, that would turn right around and try to slit our throats, our children's throats? And these are the people that took four airplanes and drove them into three buildings on September 11. They're the same folks with the same mentality.
And we struggle, of course, because this is a different kind of struggle, a different kind of war. We struggle with how to handle them. But we've always handled them humanely and with the dignity that they should be accorded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So, what is going on at GITMO?
Just in time, there is a report outlining what correspondents have seen there with their own eyes.
Joining us now from Washington to talk more about it is "Time" magazine's Viveca Novak.
Good morning, Viveca.
VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol. How are you?
COSTELLO: I'm fine.
You know, you heard General Myers say that the people inside Guantanamo Bay are dangerous, they'd slit your throat if they would be released.
There have been some 234 people released from Guantanamo Bay.
Have any gone back to being terrorists? Is it proved they were terrorists in the first place?
NOVAK: Well, there are about a dozen that we know of that have taken up arms in some way against the United States, begun working against the U.S. Some of those may have originally also been working against the U.S. A few of them may have taken up arms for the first time. We're not sure.
But, again, and I think the critics of Guantanamo criticize the policy at Guantanamo, not the men and women who are swerving down there, and I think it's important to remember that today, men and women who are serving in an extremely difficult job and serving honorably.
But even members of the military off the record have said that many, many of the people who were sent to Guantanamo, the detainees, really were not fighting against us. They were either conscripts with the Taliban and had no choice but to pick up a weapon or they were turned over for bounties. They were completely innocent, turned over for bounties by the Northern Alliance.
COSTELLO: So, Viveca, who are these people at Guantanamo Bay?
NOVAK: Well, I guess about 750 people have been through there at this point. There's about 520 now. Many of them are Saudis, Afghans or Pakistanis or Yemenis. And they're people who were, you know, picked up not really on the battlefield -- some on the battlefield, but some as far away as Bosnia and some of them, you know, with ties that seem extremely tenuous, if they exist at all, to the Taliban and Northern Alliance.
My coauthor of a recent book, "Inside The Wire," my coauthor, former Army Sergeant Erik Saar, believes that only a few dozen of the people who he saw down there were really people who should have been there, really, you know, among the worst of the worst.
General Myers earlier was saying, you know, these are the very people who drove airplanes into the Twin Towers. But, well, those people are dead, as we know. And the masterminds behind it are not the people we're keeping down at Guantanamo.
COSTELLO: We've been hearing so much about the treatment of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and the treatment of the Koran inside of its gates.
Can you break that down for us and tell us what's true and what's not?
NOVAK: Well, it's very hard to tell what's true and what's not. And it's still being investigated. There was the "Newsweek" report a few weeks ago saying that an investigation had confirmed that a Koran had been flushed in a toilet. It's apparently not true that an investigation has confirmed that, although it's an incident that we still don't know, may have occurred.
But there have been many, many allegations of abuse of the Koran in one way or another by soldiers down there. Last week, the Army came out and said that they had confirmed five incidents where the Koran was desecrated in some way. About maybe three of those were apparently intentional, two were unintentional. There may have been many more incidents, but these are the ones that were investigated that we know about.
COSTELLO: Enough said.
Viveca Novak from "Time" magazine.
If you want to read more, the article is in "Time" magazine this week.
Thanks, Viveca.
NOVAK: It's good to be with you.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Even just putting a flag on it is just a small honor. And that's one thing that I like to -- that's one thing I'm able to do for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We'll meet the man behind one of Memorial Day's most visible traditions.
Stay with us.
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