Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Issues a Challenge for Egypt; Operation Spear Advances Through Iraq

Aired June 20, 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: It is Monday, June 20.
A call for fair and transparent elections. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice issues a challenge for Egypt in the hopes of spreading democracy. She should hit the stage any minute now.

Operation Spear advances through Iraq another day, weeding out insurgents near the Syrian border.

And it's more deadly than hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes. What could save your life when an electrical storm strikes?

ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.

COSTELLO: And good morning to you.

We'll have more on Lightning Awareness Week in just a moment.

Also ahead, two familiar faces consider a run for the top spot in 2008. We'll talk about that.

Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM CRUISE, ACTOR: You're a jerk. You're a jerk, you know what?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Whoo! Tom Cruise gets upset. We'll tell you what happened.

But first, now in the news, Condoleezza Rice is set to begin what's billed as a major foreign policy speech in Cairo any moment now.

We're monitoring it. We'll dip in live as news warrants.

Rice is in Egypt pushing for democratic reforms.

The John Bolton battle heads toward a big vote this afternoon. The Senate has scheduled a 6:00 Eastern vote on closing debate over his controversial nomination at U.N. ambassador.

A judge in Aruba was questioned by investigators for the second straight day about the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager has been missing three weeks now. The judge's son is one of the four men being detained in that investigation.

And starting today, you can view more CNN reports online. Just visit cnn.com and click on "watch" to check out the most popular stories in a range of categories, like politics, sports and entertainment.

To the Forecast Center now and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: To the fight for Iraq now and Operation Spear. It is the latest U.S. and Iraqi military assault to root out insurgents.

Jane Arraf embedded with the 2nd U.S. Marine Division on the front lines.

She joins us live from Karabila and Iraq's border with Syria -- hello, Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

The Marines have dropped bombs on what they say was a car bomb factory here in the city of Karabila, about five miles from the Syrian border. And they started off by firing tank rounds into it and then demolished the building.

This is a city that appears to have been riddled with car bombs. So far, they say they've destroyed almost nine of them, including some that we've seen burning as we've gone through these streets.

And as they've cleared the houses -- we're with Marine units clearing these houses -- they've found things like sniper rifles with armor piercing bullets, all sorts of explosives, which they continue to detonate and, of course, a house where hostages were held and tortured. They were found over the weekend and released and they're now getting medical treatment -- Carol.

COSTELLO: As for insurgents themselves, have they taken any more into custody -- Jane?

ARRAF: They've taken a few into custody, but this is a knock down, drag out fight, Carol, and most of them they've killed. This is not the kind of fight where they are going in trying to get people to surrender. It's much too far gone for that.

This is a part of the country where there's no police, there's virtually no Iraqi Army. And this is a city where, the Marines say, the hostages -- sorry, the insurgents and foreign fighters have essentially taken the city hostage. And what we're find as we go through these streets with the Marines is that they're fighting. They're not giving up and surrendering. They are fighting to the death. Many of them appear to be foreign fighters. Impossible to say exactly how many. But one of the things they've found are passports from other Arab countries and other places -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Jane Arraf reporting live this morning.

Elsewhere in Iraq, there have been more attacks targets Iraqi police officers. A suicide car bomb in the northern Iraqi city of Erbil killed at least 10 people. The bomb explode inside of a police compound. Fifty people wounded in that blast.

A separate explosion in Baghdad killed five Iraqi police and security forces officers. That car bomb detonated when police responded to a gun battle between insurgents and U.S. Marines.

These latest attacks come a day after a bloody suicide attack on a street cafe in Baghdad. Twenty-three people killed in that attack, seven of them police officers. A suicide bomber in an explosive vest blamed for those deaths.

And we have exclusive pictures of U.S. Marines rescuing four Iraqi hostages near the Syrian border over the weekend. The Marines discovered the hostages while fighting insurgents holed up in a bunker complex. The rescue was part of Operation Spear. You just heard Jane Arraf telling us about that.

Rescued Australian hostage Douglas Wood is back in his home country. Wood was found last week in a Baghdad house by Iraqi troops. He was held by insurgents for almost seven weeks. Woods said his captors told him his family had turned against him, but he says he didn't buy it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUGLAS WOOD, FORMER HOSTAGE: I love my family and I knew that they would be doing as much as they could to get me out anyway.

QUESTION: Mr. Wood, the first...

WOOD: I'm overwhelmed, having come out understanding the support I have of the family and be of the federal people here, and you all, it's very humbling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Wood is an engineer from Alamo, California. He described his ordeal as traumatic. Of course, his home country is Australia.

We've been telling you all morning that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is about to speak in Cairo, Egypt to deliver a major foreign policy address. She's doing that now.

Let's listen.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We should all look to a future when every government respects the will of its citizens because the ideal of democracy is universal. For 60 years, my country, the United States, pursued stability at the expense of democracy in this region, here in the Middle East. And we achieved neither.

Now, we are taking a different course. We are supporting the democratic aspirations of all people. As President Bush said in his second inaugural address, "America will not impose our style of government on the unwilling. Our goal, instead, is to help others find their own voice, to attain their own freedom and to make their own way."

We know these advances will not come easily or all at once. We know that different societies will find forms of democracy that work for them. When we talk about democracy, though, we are referring to governments that protect certain basic rights for all their citizens. Among these, the right to speak freely, the right to associate, the right to worship as you wish, the freedom to educate your children, boys and girls, and freedom from the midnight knock of the secret police.

Securing these rights is the hope of every citizen and the duty of every government.

In my own country, the progress of democracy has been long and difficult. And given our history, the United States has no cause for false pride and we have every reason for humility. After all, America was founded by individuals who knew that all human beings and the governments they create are inherently imperfect and the United States was born half free and half slave. And it was only in my lifetime that my government guaranteed the right to vote for all of its people. Nevertheless, the principles enshrined in our constitution enable citizens of conviction to move America closer every day to the ideal of democracy.

Here in the Middle East, that same long, hopeful process of democratic change is now beginning to unfold. Millions of people are demanding freedom for themselves and democracy for their countries. To these courageous men and women I say today, all free nations will stand with you as you secure the blessings of your own liberty.

I have just come from Jordan, where I met with the king and queen, two leaders who have embraced reform for many years. And Jordan's educational reforms are an example for the entire region. That government is moving toward political reforms that will decentralize power and give Jordanians a greater stake in their future.

In Iraq, millions of citizens are refusing to surrender to terror the dream of freedom and democracy. When Baghdad was first designed over 1,200 years ago, it was conceived as the round city, a city in which no citizen would be closer to the center of justice than any other.

Today, after decades of murder and tyranny and injustice, the citizens of Iraq are again reaching for the ideals of the round city. Despite the attacks of violent and evil men, ordinary Iraqis are displaying great personal courage and remarkable resolve. And every step of the way, from regaining their sovereignty to holding elections to now writing a constitution, the people of Iraq are exceeding all expectations.

COSTELLO: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaking at the American University in Cairo right now. She is calling on Egyptians to lead and define a democratic future in the Middle East.

We'll go back to her speech as events warrant.

In other "News Across America" now, the search in Utah for a missing Boy Scout is expected to resume in the next hour. Eleven- year-old Brennan Hawkins was last seen with his Scout group on Friday. Rescue crews have been joined by helicopters and search dogs. He's lost in the very same area where a 12-year-old disappeared last year. That boy was never found.

Closing arguments expected today in the trial of Edgar Ray Killen. The 80-year-old former Klansman is accused of orchestrating the murders of three civil rights workers in Mississippi in 1964. Jurors could get the case tomorrow, which also happens to be the 41st anniversary of those murders.

Protesters in Washington State met the arrival of Vietnam's prime minister, who was beginning his week long visit to the United States. It's the first visit by a Vietnamese prime minister in 30 years. On Tuesday, he'll be in Washington, D.C. to meet with President Bush.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, some 40 million Visa and MasterCard numbers may have been compromised after a security breach at a credit card processing company. We'll have the latest for you at 20 minutes past the hour.

The CIA director says we're hot on the trail of Osama bin Laden. We'll talk with "Time" magazine's Viveca Novak on what Porter Goss told "Time."

And after the break, a wet insult for Tom Cruise at the London premier of his new movie.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In Aruba, police have questioned a judge in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The judge is the father of one of four men in custody. Paul van der Sloot was questioned twice over the weekend. Police declined to give any details, though.

Seventeen-year-old Joran van der Sloot is one of the people last seen with Holloway the night she disappeared. He and two brothers will remain in custody at least one more week. The fourth man detained in the case was to appear before a judge today. Investigators refuse to say whether they believe Holloway is dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE "JUG" TWITTY, NATALEE HOLLOWAY'S STEPDAD: I feel that the United States is really starting to put some pressure on the people here to try to get an answer, because the answer -- I can't say the total answer is with all the guys there. There may be more people involved. But they're -- they definitely know more than they're saying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Natalee Holloway has now been missing in Aruba a full three weeks.

Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:16 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice takes her case for democracy to Egypt. Rice is calling on Egypt to have free and fair elections this fall.

In money news, crude oil prices hit a new record high this morning in Asia. And you have to wonder, can gas prices be far behind? Crude oil futures topped $59 a barrel.

In culture, actor Tom Cruise was ticked off by a prankster at the London premier of his movie "War of the Worlds." A phony TV reporter squired water in Cruise's face. Cruise told him off, calling him a jerk.

In sports, Michael Campbell held off a late charge by Tiger Woods to capture his first U.S. Open championship. He pocketed $1.7 million for the win. Campbell is the first New Zealander to win a major in 42 years -- Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

More weather news now, actually, Chad.

You know, it's that time of year when we have a lot of thunderstorms and lightning bolts. And it is Lightning Awareness Week, Chad.

MYERS: It is. And, in fact, Carol, I'm looking at my Titan radar right now. Three hundred and two lightning strikes in the past hour in South Florida and the Keys alone. So no matter what time of day it is, there's always lightning going on somewhere. So someone is always in danger.

COSTELLO: So you have a few tips for us, right?

MYERS: Well, you know, there are big -- there are places to be and places not to be, like on the golf course. That really wouldn't... COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: ... that wouldn't be a good one. But a hard, substantial building with a good roof or a hard topped metal vehicle -- not a convertible -- and keep those windows closed. If you're in that metal vehicle, the lightning goes around it and also down even into the ground through the tires.

If you can't get inside, make yourself as small of a target as possible. You're not supposed to lay on the ground anymore, or even really sit on the ground. Stay on your feet and squat down to the ground. Try to get away from those high trees. Put your head between your knees if you can and cover your ears with your hands in case there's a lot of lightning that's close.

These are all really relative things. It's the same kind of thing as we say, get into a ditch if there's a tornado. Well, if you can find a ditch, right?

Lightning heats the air up to 50,000 degrees. That is hotter than the surface of the sun, Carol.

COSTELLO: Wow!

MYERS: And a lot of folks actually die not because they're burned, but because their heart stops momentarily...

COSTELLO: So, wait a minute. Explain this...

MYERS: ... and you can...

COSTELLO: I'm sorry. I just don't understand. Lightning heats the air to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: That means right around the strike, way up in the air, on the ground?

MYERS: All the way down to the ground and right around the strike. And that's what causes the thunder, that expansion of air as it tries to get away from that lightning strike.

COSTELLO: That's amazing.

Well, thank you for the tips.

We appreciate it.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, the CIA's top guy says we're hot on the trail of Osama bin Laden. He says he has an excellent idea of where he is. We'll have a closer look after the break.

And later, two congressional insiders consider the race for the nation's top job in 2008.

But first, we want to say good morning, Boston, Massachusetts, as we look at a beautiful shot of Faneuil Hall.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The latest theft of personal data is also the largest so far. Did you hear about this? Forty million credit cards possibly compromised.

Carrie Lee has more on what you should do if you were among those.

Forty million!

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is huge, Carol. Can you believe we're starting off the week this way, with another security breach?

Well, for people who haven't heard the details, let's catch them up.

Information was stolen from the database of credit card processor Card Systems Solutions. Most of the compromised accounts were MasterCard or Visa cards.

Now, MasterCard says only about 68,000 of its customers are at higher levels of risk. But, still, Carol, 40 million total, as you said. No Social Security numbers were stolen, meaning it's unlikely the information could be used for identity theft.

But, still, what should you do if you're worried?

Well, although these companies will contact you if your card was compromised, you can be proactive. You can call your credit card company; also, of course, check your statements regularly to monitor for unusual activity. Unfortunately, no hard and fast rule to have this -- to avoid this from happening altogether.

Federal laws do say customers are responsible for only $50 of fraudulent charges. MasterCard and Visa say they will waive that $50. And while I.D. theft isn't a likely worry in this case, if you are concerned, you can place a fraud alert on your credit report.

COSTELLO: OK, let me ask you this. Is...

LEE: This is what we tell people every time.

COSTELLO: I know, but is anybody held liable for these security breaches?

LEE: Well, if they find out who did it. Now, as far as we know, over the weekend, a MasterCard spokeswoman said that due to the ongoing investigation, they can't comment on whether the breach was done by an outside hacker or whether it was a Card System employee. So you have to find out who does it before you can prosecute. But that's the latest we know.

COSTELLO: Which is a difficult thing to find out, right?

LEE: It can be a difficult thing. Hopefully, you know, they're going to make some headway on this. Hopefully they're going to avoid this from happening in the first place, put some more security measures in place. As I said, for...

COSTELLO: Well, that would be the ticket.

LEE: That's the problem, though. You increase the technology, you improve the technology and then hackers just step it up, as well. So it's kind of this ongoing battle.

COSTELLO: Because supposedly the secondary company, which was, I don't know what they were doing with the private information from the credit card company...

LEE: Right. Right.

COSTELLO: ... they were doing something they weren't supposed to.

LEE: Something happened, a leak somewhere, and it's ongoing at this point to find out exactly what happened. So, unfortunately, as I said, no hard and fast rule for people to avoid this from happening. You just have to be -- try to be as proactive as you can.

COSTELLO: A quick look at the futures?

LEE: Yes, futures looking a little bit lower. We're keeping an eye on drug company Wyeth. Big changes going on. They're going to cut about 30 percent of their sales force, try to shore up the bottom line. So that could be a stock to watch.

But the Dow has been up for seven days in a row, so maybe take a breather this Monday.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Carrie Lee.

LEE: Sure.

COSTELLO: The FBI apparently is not doing what it promised Congress it would do. And Congress is taking note. The Associated Press obtained testimony from a lawsuit against the FBI. It provides sharp insight on how the bureau picks agents to run its war on terrorism.

FBI Director Robert Mueller pledged to Congress a year after 9/11 that he would build a bureau shifted toward terrorism prevention. But two top managers admitted they have no significant anti-terrorism experience or knowledge of Middle Eastern culture and history.

On the subject of the CIA, the new man at the top says he has an excellent idea of where Osama bin Laden is. Porter Goss makes that assertion just in "Time" this week.

So let's head live to Washington and "Time" magazine's Viveca Novak.

Good morning, Viveca.

VIVECA NOVAK, "TIME" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Let's start with that intriguing statement, where Porter Goss says, "I have an excellent idea of where Osama bin Laden is."

The obvious question, then, why not go get him?

NOVAK: Yes, kind of surprising, isn't it?

The reason that we apparently can't just go pluck him out, you know, Porter Goss elliptically kind of refers to sanctions in sovereign nations and there being weak links in the chain in the war on terror, implying, I guess, that wherever Osama bin Laden is -- and he's widely suspected to be in the, somewhere along the Pakistani- Afghani border -- that we can't just roll him up because of considerations about Pakistan's sovereignty, perhaps.

COSTELLO: Well, but the United States is close to Pakistan.

I mean, might it also mean that bin Laden is hiding in like Syria or Iran?

NOVAK: Well, it is possible. This was certainly a cryptic reference. But, you know, all indications are that he's been in this region between Pakistan and Afghanistan and it's unclear what the real problem is. Pakistan has been helpful, but Pakistan has its own considerations, internal political considerations, as well.

COSTELLO: I guess you have to wonder why Porter Goss is even saying this.

I mean if he can't go get him, why tell people that, you know, we know where he is?

NOVAK: Well, it is interesting and I think that Porter Goss has his own challenges here at home, his own sort of political challenges now that John Negroponte has been put in as director of intelligence, national intelligence, somewhat reducing Porter Goss' face time with the president and his, perhaps, direct influence.

So, perhaps he is trying to make himself appear as relevant as possible and to make people remember that the CIA is important, too.

COSTELLO: OK.

Well, another question posed by "Time" to Porter Goss, "Time" asked, "Could al Qaeda hit us again?"

The answer, "Yes, it could. Certainly the intent is very high and we are trying to stay ahead of their capability. And so far, I think we've done pretty well carrying the war to them, as it were. I think that's mattered."

Carrying the war to them? Is he talking about Iraq? What's he talking about here?

NOVAK: Well, another cryptic reference. Carrying the war to them, I mean we have been, you know, attacking them overseas, rolling them up overseas. They have not been attacking us on our soil, as with 9/11. And, again, I think that, you know, this is something where -- Goss also talked about how they are now, you know, recruiting agents differently, training them differently and presumably deepening the human intelligence aspect of what the CIA does, you know, infiltrating and acquiring sources who are already part of al Qaeda, perhaps.

COSTELLO: If you want to know more, the article is in "Time" magazine this week.

Viveca Novak live in Washington.

Thank you.

NOVAK: Good to be with you.

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, Congress considers whether to bankroll another $45 billion in war efforts.

And later, you've just go to hear this one, how the smell of grapefruit can alter a man's perception of a woman.

Stick around for more, after this.

(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