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CNN Live At Daybreak

International Conference on Iraq Held in Brussels; Brennan Hawkins Found

Aired June 22, 2005 - 5:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Wednesday, June 22. Iraq needs help rebuilding, but will the world ante up? Iraq and the United States standing shoulder to shoulder. A nation in turmoil seeks debt relief and more We'll take you live to the conference in two minutes.
And part of that turmoil is the need for water. It's like peace. You don't realize how much you need it until someone takes it away.

Plus, the tired and thirsty 11-year-old Utah boy who survived four days in the rugged mountains of Utah is home today, safe.

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

COSTELLO: And good morning, everyone. We'll have more on the Iraq meeting in just a moment.

Also ahead, weeks and weeks of searching and still no major breakthroughs. We'll take you to Aruba for the latest on the search for Natalee Holloway.

And later, what the flock is this? No, it's not a scene from "The Birds." It's real foul. And it's real annoying for some western residents. We'll tell you all about it.

But first, "Now in the News."

An international conference on Iraq has opened in Brussels. The European Union Commission and Washington tell Iraq's interim leaders minority Sunni Arabs must have a role in the future of Iraq.

North Korea says blame it on the Americans. North Korean officials are involved in high-level reconciliation talks with their South Korean counterparts. North Korea's delegation says it would not need nuclear weapons if Washington treated it better.

In Colorado Springs, what the hail? Oh, it's hail. Up to a foot fell on the city's southeast side today.

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

And as you can see, Chad, moving video. CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. The same video of him getting squirted again.

COSTELLO: Because you can't see that enough.

MYERS: You love that.

COSTELLO: Hi, Chad.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol. Welcome back.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

MYERS: Don't leave me.

COSTELLO: I'm sorry.

MYERS: OK. Just so you know.

COSTELLO: I had something to do.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: But I'm back now.

MYERS: Well, you were on 7:00. You weren't so busy that you couldn't be on "AMERICAN MORNING."

COSTELLO: It's a long story.

MYERS: Anyway -- tell me later.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Our top story this morning, your future and the reform of the Social Security program. President Bush is giving his blessing to propose legislation aimed at getting Democratic support for reforming the nation's retirement system. The measure, to be introduced by Republican Senator Robert Bennett of Utah, will not include personal investment accounts for younger Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT BENNETT (R), UTAH: The Democrats have made it clear they will not back personal accounts. And in response to the president's position that, let's try to get something done, I will be proposing a bill that does not include personal accounts. And the president's aware of that.

He indicated that I should go forward and do that. And I'm grateful to have him do that, even though his own preference would be to have personal accounts included. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Despite Bennett's plans, the White House is making it clear the president's support does not indicate he is backing off from the personal accounts issue. The most recent poll on this issue finds almost six in 10 of you disapprove of how the president is going about this.

About a third of the respondents to a CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll approve, 62 percent worry that Republicans will go too far in changing Social Security, 36 percent are not worried about that. And asked if you favor allowing workers to invest Social Security taxes in the stock market, more than half oppose that, while 44 percent are in favor of it.

Turning to Iraq now and that international conference going on in Brussels. Iraqi officials say this gathering is critical. Live now to the Belgium capital and our European political editor, Robin Oakley.

Hello, Robin.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hello, Carol.

In fact, I'm in London. But this is a vital conference. And when we look back a couple of years to the kind if state of relations that there was between the United States and many European nations over the Iraq war, this is a conference of great symbolic importance.

It is the U.S. and the European Union getting together. Basically, as Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxembourg prime minister whose country currently holds the EU presidency was saying, to show that they are all on the side of the ordinary Iraqis.

We're not getting too much by way of practicalities. This is political symbolism. This is the foreign ministers of 70-odd countries coming together, together with organizations like the United Nations and NATO, to demonstrate their willingness to do everything they can to help build a stable Iraq.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Iraqi prime minister, has already spoken to the conference and asked people all to live up to the pledges of help that they'd already made. Those, of course, including debt relief and financial aid. But there's going to be a separate donor conference in Jordan next month.

This really is all about political assistance, offers of expertise and help of a practical kind in terms of building the rule of law, enhancing security and advancing democracy. And a clear warning from Kofi Annan, the U.N. secretary-general, when he spoke, there must be an emphasis on unity and transparency, and a clear hint that they want to see the Sunni minority given plenty of assistance and a large role in the rebuilding of Iraq -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Robin Oakley, live in London this morning. An attack using weapons of mass destruction is extremely likely to happen within the next 10 years. That's according to a study commissioned by the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The report says there's a 70 percent chance that such an attack will take place somewhere in the world in the next decade. The most likely scenario is for terrorists to make their own device out of black market materials.

Remember Dick Durbin's comments on Guantanamo? Well, the Democratic senator from Illinois had linked the treatment of terrorist suspects to what happened to prisons in the old Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.

The White House called his remarks reprehensible. Republicans called on him to apologize. And on Tuesday he did just that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: In the end, I don't want anything in my public career to detract from my love for this country, my respect for those who serve it, and this great Senate. I offer my apologies to those who were offended by my words. I promise you that I will continue to speak out on the issues that I think are important to the people of Illinois and to the nation.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Human rights activists of the International Red Cross have criticized the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo.

Following up now on that terrorism investigation in Lodi, California. A father and son pleaded not guilty to federal charges of lying to FBI agents. Federal prosecutors say Umer Hayat and his son Hamid lied about the son's attendance at an al Qaeda terror training camp in Pakistan.

Now from our stories that just won't go away file, everyone, it seems, is still talking about Jennifer Wilbanks. You know, the runaway bride.

From New York "Newsday" there is this: "Only in American can someone make up a cock-and-bull story about why they skipped their wedding and then land a $500,000 movie-book deal, followed by a sit- down prime-time interview with Katie Couric."

During that interview, Wilbanks poured her heart out to Couric. She talked about why after being found in New Mexico she felt compelled to cover herself with a towel and hide. NBC won't let us use the -- you know, the televised quotes from the program, but we have them here.

This is a quote. She says, "I was terrified. I was terrified. I was humiliated. And quite frankly, that's why I kept my face covered." "I didn't want to face them. I was so ashamed. I wanted to run away again."

Wilbanks also talked about her hopes and dreams for the future. She says, "I hope that I will no longer be the runaway bride, that a lot of people could call me friend or call me by my real name, Jennifer."

And Chad, that brings us to our email "Question of the Day," because, you know, a lot of people in the Atlanta area are not so happy that she's making money from this -- from a book and a movie deal. $500,000, supposedly, she's earning from that.

MYERS: Well, part of the problem is that the bill that Gwinettt County came up with was $43,000. They agreed on $13,000. And now she's going to get $500,000.

But you know what, Carol? That's only $310,000 after taxes. I'm kidding.

Should Jennifer Wilbanks earn royalties from telling this story? It went on ad nauseam on this -- man, every network. DAYBREAK@CNN.com, give us your opinion.

Is there a way -- there's no way to stop it.

COSTELLO: Well, no, there's no way in Georgia. She was convicted of a felony, but Georgia has no law preventing people convicted of a felony from profiting from their crime, so to speak. She can get that $500,000.

MYERS: Yes, but she could also donate it to some good place.

COSTELLO: She could. And there is a community push to file a lawsuit against her to get her to pay more money to Duluth, to the police department there.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: So what do you think? DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Coming up, how volunteers made all the difference in the search for that missing Boy Scout in the Utah mountains.

And Baghdad's water supply is shut down. We'll tell you what's happening to get clean water back to the city.

And an attempt to break a world record. It's a little too hot to handle.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The international markets mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei up 58 points. The London FTSE down by 2. And the German DAX is also lower by just about, oh, just over 2 points.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:13 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Belgium to talk to other world leaders about rebuilding Iraq. Rice and other leaders called on the Iraqi government to be more inclusive, particularly of the Sunni Muslim community. Iraqi leaders are looking for world support in reconstruction.

Battles in southern Afghanistan have left 40 Taliban fighters dead. That's according to the U.S. military. U.S. and Afghan forces faced off with the rebels southwest of Kabul. One Afghan national police officer also killed.

In money news, slumping sales has led Ford to announce a new round of job cuts. The carmaker plans to slash 1,700 white collar jobs and eliminate all management bonuses. Ford blames higher gas prices for hurting sales of their larger trucks and SUVs.

In culture, a book about Michael Jackson's legal troubles already is in the works. Jackson was acquitted of child molestation charges. The untitled work is being written by "Court TV" reporter Diane Dimond. It is scheduled for release in the fall.

Maybe it will be right beside the runaway bride's book.

In sports, the Detroit Pistons have forced a game 7 in the NBA finals. The Pistons beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-86 for their first win in San Antonio since 1997.

Game 7, Chad, tomorrow.

MYERS: On a weekday. So I can actually stay up and watch it.

Good morning, Carol. Remember the old saying, "To the moon, Alice"? There you go.

Beautiful full moon setting this morning. Get out and look at it. It is huge. It's the biggest moon I've seen ever, I think. It's a beautiful full moon setting on the western horizon,

As the sun rises, the moon will set. That's how we get full moons. But enjoy it this morning if you can. Take an extra minute and take a look at that setting in your western sky.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

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

A happy ending. More on that missing Boy Scout who was found alive. Volunteers turned out to be the difference for the family of 11-year-old Brennan Hawkins. Thanks to their efforts, the boy was found in good shape four days after his disappearance. CNN's Ted Rowlands looks at how the search progressed and how hope never died in Summit County, Utah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Brennan Hawkins disappeared Friday evening from a mountainside campsite; his parents rushed to join the search, every minute of every day.

JODY HAWKINS, MOTHER: (INAUDIBLE) the days just turn into eternity, and all of a sudden, it's night fall. You learn to hate the moon. And when the moon comes up, you just don't (INAUDIBLE).

TOBY HAWKINS, FATHER: A greatest plea at this time, and the way we can find my boy is for anybody and everybody to come up and help.

ROWLANDS: Thousands answered the call and made the difference.

DONIS MINOR, GRANDFATHER: You guys got the word out, and the volunteers came. I mean, they came. It was -- it was incredible. And we appreciate the so many people who have helped, given their time, their effort, and their horses and mules and four-wheelers. And, you know, it's just overwhelming.

ROWLANDS: Relatives, friends and strangers came from as far away as Hawaii, an army of searchers, up to 3,000 strong.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was like he was our neighbor, and it was only the neighborly thing to do, to come up and search for somebody. If our daughter was lost, we'd hope that people would come out and look for her, too.

ROWLANDS: They combed the mountain on foot, on horseback, on all-terrain vehicles and by helicopter for nearly 100 hours. Hopes ebbed as each day passed. But no one gave up.

J. HAWKINS: It really is important, even though I know they were feeling the failure last night. What they did was so crucial, so important. Even though he wasn't found yesterday, we got that much closer, just because of those people that we're not -- the four of us aren't out trying to do five miles by ourselves.

ROWLANDS: Then, just before noon in Utah Tuesday...

BOB HAWKINS, UNCLE: Brennan has been found.

ROWLANDS: Forty-three-year-old Forest Nunly (ph) found Brennan in the woods five miles from the Boy Scout camp.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I turned a little corner, really going slow, looked up there, and there was a kid standing in the middle of the trail. And it was -- I didn't know it was him. I was just like, is it real? And so I drove up to him and asked him his name. He said, yeah, my name is Brennan, and he was all muddy and cold, wet clothes. I took all of his clothes off, his shirt and stuff. Put a shirt on him and a blanket. Gave him some food and water, and ran up and called 911.

ROWLANDS: For the rescuers, a moment of joy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think I could...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't express it. There's no words...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't. I have four daughters of my own, and I wouldn't be here anywhere else. I tried to explain it to him last night, and it's just impossible to try to describe your feelings at this moment.

ROWLANDS: For Brennan's mother, prayers answered.

J. HAWKINS: People say that the heavens are closed and god no longer answers prayers. We're here to unequivocally tell you that the heavens are not closed, prayers are answered, and children come home. We love you. We thank you.

ROWLANDS: A boy returned to his parents, alive and well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That was CNN's Ted Rowlands. Brennan was kept overnight in a hospital for observation, but doctors say he is in remarkably good condition.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, three days in the desert without water, that's what's been happening for some two million people in Baghdad. More on that problem coming up.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday, June 22.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Pitch it, Chad.

MYERS: Here we go, the DAYBREAK "Question of the Day." Should Jennifer Wilbanks, the runaway bride, earn royalties from telling her story? So far, she's up to about $500,000 in offers.

From Reggie in Hampton Roads, Virginia, "She should take that money and pay the volunteers for their time, and then take the rest to the battered women's shelters for people who have a real reason to run."

And John in Burlington, "The only reason she's profiting from this event is because there's enough people out there who are interested in paying for this dribble. Get a life, people."

More to come, Carol. Keep those emails coming. They're good this morning.

COSTELLO: Ooh, they are juicy.

MYERS: They're smoking. COSTELLO: We like that. Hey, we like them smoking.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: Hey, in case you missed the late-night talk shows, we've got something that might get you laughing this morning, because I know I need to laugh this morning.

MYERS: OK.

COSTELLO: So let's take a look at Jon Stewart taking a jab at President Bush.

MYERS: Oh, there's a shock.

COSTELLO: Oh, yes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, "THE DAILY SHOW": Vice President Dick Cheney recently said the insurgency is in its last throws. The question is, do you agree?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Adam, I think about Iraq every day. Every single day.

STEWART: Really? You think about the war you started every day?

(LAUGHTER)

STEWART: Yeah, I tie a little string around my finger. Sometimes -- sometimes I look down and I think to myself, "What's that doing there?"

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You just can't help but laugh. All right. I think we should move along, don't you?

MYERS: Go right ahead.

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener."

It was a disappointing day for popsicle fans in New York.

Did you hear about this, Chad?

MYERS: What?

COSTELLO: This was the unveiling of a world record-sized popsicle. But it was thwarted by -- by -- it melted.

MYERS: Oh, my gosh. Ice melts in the heat. COSTELLO: I know, you'd think Snapple would know that. But they wanted to, like, put up this giant popsicle to advertise Snapple. But it melted, and it flooded the street.

People were, like, slipping. One woman had to be rushed to the hospital because she sprained her ankle slipping on the Snapple.

MYERS: Was that really -- was that really made of sugar? Could you imagine now what that street looks like?

COSTELLO: Oh, it's a mess. Snapple has offered to pay for the cleanup, though.

Residents in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, must feel like they're in a scene from the movie "The Birds." Hundreds of gulls have made their home in a vacant lot in the middle of town. Some local businesses are complaining about what the gulls are leaving behind.

One business is happy with the gulls' activity, though. And that would be car washes everywhere throughout Sheboygan.

Florida's honey bee industry could be in danger from killer bees. The number of the aggressive African Honey Bees have been increasing mostly because they're well-suited for Florida's warmer climate. The African bees are called killer bees because they can attack in large groups and will actually chase you for long distances.

Oh, that's scary.

MYERS: Well, it was scary back in the '80s when they were all -- remember that movie that they had and all that kind of stuff?

COSTELLO: I'm scared now, are you kidding?

MYERS: Oh, OK.

COSTELLO: All new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK, it took four days, but a lost Boy Scout is found. You will hear more from the volunteers who would not give up the search.

Plus, frustrations build in Baghdad as millions spend a third day without running water.

You are watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. Welcome to the second half- hour of DAYBREAK.

Coming up in the next 30 minutes, imagine the summer heat with no water. That's life in Baghdad for many of the city's residents. We'll have a live report coming up. And an amazing story of a young Boy Scout found alive in the Utah woods. We'll hear from the people who searched for him for days.

But first, "Now in the News."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Belgium to talk to world leaders about rebuilding Iraq. Rice and other leaders are calling on the Iraqi government to be more inclusive, particularly for the Sunni Muslim community. Iraqi leaders are looking for world support in reconstruction.

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