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CNN Live At Daybreak

Tropical Storm Cindy Hits Louisiana Coast; Bush Talks; Bleak Future?

Aired July 06, 2005 - 05:00   ET

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

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: It is Wednesday, July 6, 2005. President Bush gearing up for the G8 summit. It is also the president's birthday, but he has a whole lot more on his plate than just cake.
Also, will Paris get the games or will the Big Apple pull off an upset? We'll find out soon.

And it's wet down South and it's going to get wetter. That's because Cindy's windy and Dennis is a menace.

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

WALLACE: Good Wednesday morning, everyone. I'm Kelly Wallace, in today for Carol Costello. Thanks for joining us.

We'll have much more on President Bush's visit to Denmark in just a moment.

Also ahead, she's quite a survivor and quite a young lady. More details on the recovery of Shasta Groene and the search for her missing brother Dylan.

And a desperate plea from Beth Holloway Twitty as the search goes on for her missing daughter Natalee.

But first, these stories "Now in the News."

Things are heating up in southern California, literally. Firefighters are trying to contain several wildfires this morning. The scattered blazes have burned more than 1,200 acres from San Diego County to Palmdale.

The International Olympic Committee starts voting this hour on which city will get the 2012 Olympic games. Paris is considered the front-runner. The winner will be announced in about two-and-a-half hours. We'll have a full report coming up.

James Stockdale has died. He was Ross Perot's running mate back in 1992. The retired vice admiral was a prisoner of war during Vietnam and won the Medal of Honor for his service. Stockdale died at the age of 81.

To the weather center now and Chad Myers.

Good morning, Chad. You have a busy morning ahead of you.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Certainly, and a busy week, for that matter, because now we have Dennis down there, that's now forecast to be a Category 3 hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico over the weekend. So it could go left or right, but still, Category 3 doesn't spell good things.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: We'll be talking about that throughout the morning. Also talking more about Tropical Storm Cindy with our own Dan Lothian, who is live in New Orleans for us this morning.

Dan, good morning to you. Give us a sense of what the situation is like out there this morning now.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Kelly.

What we have here now is really more wind than rain. The rain has somewhat tapered off as the storm came to shore roughly around 10:00 last night. You had the heaviest pounding in the New Orleans area.

Right now we're having heavy wind, between 35 miles per hour in some areas, up to 60 miles per hour. That's what's being reported.

We're standing right along the Mississippi River. It's dark here. It's hard to really get a sense of what's really going on, but the water itself is relatively calm.

Again, the biggest problem, these bursts of wind that keep coming every few seconds or so, causing some major problems in parts around New Orleans. What we have heard is some 37,000 people have been left without power. Power officials have put extra crews on standby to respond to these power outages. Some 1,000, 1,100 or so workers standing by to go and respond to all of these outages.

Also, some of the problems we're seeing here in New Orleans are localized flooding. In some lower-lying areas we saw pictures of people driving through streets that were flooded with water. But right here, where we are right now, relatively calm in terms of the water accumulation. But that wind that I've been talking about continues to pound New Orleans -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Chad -- Dan, I think Chad Myers is going to join us right now.

Chad, go ahead.

MYERS: We had some wind gusts at the airport, 70 miles per hour in the overnight hours. Any indication of tree limbs down on your drive to the live shot location?

LOTHIAN: I did not see any tree limbs down here, but I was listening to the radio as we were coming here, and there was one reporter talking about some streets where you could not make it through unless you had a four-wheel-drive vehicle. But right in this area, no tree, or at least major tree limbs down.

You'll see branches and so forth scattered about. But no major road blockage in this particular area.

Now, I do want to point out that there have been some evacuations that have taken place. No mandatory evacuations.

I did talk to an emergency management official, and he told me that they have been encouraging folks, those who live along the water and low-lying areas, to evacuate, especially some of the tourists who have been here, enjoying the time prior to yesterday. They've been encouraged to evacuate, but no mandatory evacuations.

Out on the Gulf, though, some of the folks who work on those oil rigs have been evacuated. That is something which we are told happens every time there is any significant storm. So they've been pulled off those rigs in case there's any problems out there on the water.

WALLACE: Dan, taking all precautions necessary. Dan Lothian, reporting live from New Orleans. Dan, thanks so much. And we'll check in with you in the next hour here on DAYBREAK.

Turning to other news now, the war on terror, Guantanamo Bay, global warming and the G8 summit, just some of the topics President Bush has touched on in Denmark. He spoke within the last hour and fielded a whole bunch of tough questions.

Let's go straight now to Copenhagen and CNN's Elaine Quijano.

Elaine, good to see you. So what's the main headline that came out of the president's news conference?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly the reaffirming, if you will, strengthening of the ties between these two countries, Denmark and the United States. In substance, really what we heard from President Bush is much the same that we've heard before.

The president, of course, granting a couple of interviews before he left, talking about some of these very same issues that he was asked about today. But again, as I mentioned, this was a meeting between President Bush and the Danish prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen. They were at the prime minister's summer residence, and the prime minister starting off by wishing President Bush a happy birthday.

Today, we should mention, is President Bush's 59th birthday. But the president, for his part, expressed his thanks to the Danish troops, to the Danish government, for their contributions to the U.S.- led military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also on the agenda, of course, were the topics that will be the main focus at the G8 summit, Africa and climate change. And on that second topic, the president reiterated his objections to the Kyoto treaty, reiterating his position that it would "wreck the U.S. economy." The president also pointed out that there are nations not included; namely, India and China, but the president said that part of his strategy at the upcoming G8 is to focus on technologies and how they can help with climate change.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think there's a better way forward. I would call it the post-Kyoto era, where we can work together to share technologies to control greenhouse gases as best as possible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush also mentioned at the outset that there were concerns expressed by the Danish prime minister about the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The president simply reiterating his position that those people that are now detained will, in fact, go through a process of justice. The president saying today during that joint news availability that many of the detainees have been sent home, and that he said that he assured the prime minister that there will be a way forward and that the court system is deciding where best to try people.

So those some of the subjects that came up today, Kelly. The president will have lunch with the queen of Denmark and her husband, Prince Henri, before making his way over to the G8 summit in Scotland -- Kelly.

WALLACE: Elaine, thanks. And as you were talking we are watching some live pictures right now of the president arriving, we believe, at the palace for that lunch you mentioned with the queen of Denmark. President Bush, as we're saying, wrapping up his visit there in Denmark. Then he's off to Scotland for the G8 summit.

Elaine Quijano, thanks so much for joining us. We'll check in with you throughout the morning here on DAYBREAK.

And as Elaine was telling you, President Bush says he is looking forward to that G8 summit in Scotland. But hundreds of other people are not.

Scottish police have been engaged in running battles with protesters this week. They arrested more than 30 people this morning. Protesters pelting officers with bricks and stones. Thousands of protesters are expected to march near the summit site late today.

And time now for our "Security Watch" this morning.

The Pentagon is presenting a sweeping plan for protecting Americans at home. "The Washington Post" cites a recently approved plan for domestic defense. It calls for a greater role for the military at home, including more intelligence sharing with civilian authorities. Also, greater military activity in the air and sea, and on the ground. The plan, though, could worry civil liberties groups, who warn that a greater military presence could trample on people's rights.

U.S. officials are using a broader definition of the term "terror." A new Web site says there were nearly 3,200 terrorist incidents worldwide last year. That's nearly five times the number of attacks the State Department listed earlier.

The Web site, www.tkb.org, goes online today. TKB stands for Terrorism Knowledge Base. It's a nonprofit group dedicated to preventing terrorism.

He was a spiritual mentor to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most wanted militant in Iraq. Arab television reports that authorities in Jordan have re-arrested Isam al-Barqawi just days after he was freed from prison. No word on why he was arrested again. He was accused of plotting to attack U.S. targets in Jordan, but was released because of a lack of evidence.

And, of course, be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Coming up here on DAYBREAK, Natalee Holloway's family and friends try to do their best to keep their hopes alive in Aruba. We'll update you on the search and the suspect.

A historic shipyard fighting for survival. We're going to Groton to see if submarine warfare of a different kind is successful.

And today is the day that will change the year 2012 for one major city. An Olympic-size announcement is only a couple of hours away.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: The international markets are mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei down 13 points. The London FTSE is up by 37. And the German DAX is up nearly 30.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's about 15 minutes after the hour, and here's what's all new this morning.

President Bush has again defended his decisions on Iraq, aid to Africa and fighting global warming. He spoke in Denmark in the last hour, ahead of the G8 summit in Scotland.

The U.S. military says it's bringing Operation Sword to an end. It launched the offensive against insurgents in western Iraq eight days ago. About a thousand American troops were involved.

In money, it's now easier to get an employee discount on American cars. Ford announced that it will start an employee price plan that mirrors those already in place at General Motors and Chrysler. GM also decided to extend its sale until August.

In culture, a musical version of the movie "The Color Purple" is coming to Broadway in December. The 1985 film was directed by Stephen Spielberg and starred Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. None of the stars, though, involved in the Broadway production.

In sports, Lance Armstrong is back in a familiar yellow leader's jersey after the fourth stage of the Tour de France. Armstrong used a flawless ride to take a 55-second lead over the rest of the field.

Chad, so it's six times he's won. Could he make it number seven?

MYERS: Probably. He's got the yellow jersey now. It's hard to stop him with a yellow jersey. I think there's less friction with that jersey. I'm not sure. But once he gets it, he doesn't want to give it back.

WALLACE: He doesn't want to give it back. You got that right.

MYERS: Exactly.

Good morning.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WALLACE: All right, Chad. Lots to cover this morning. And we will check in with you about 15 minutes from now. Thanks so much.

Turning now to the search for missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway. The news is bleak for her parents. There is still no sign for the Alabama teen who went missing May 30 in Aruba.

Her dad talked to our Meridian, Mississippi, affiliate, WTOK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVE HOLLOWAY, NATALEE'S FATHER: Well, the FBI told us about two weeks ago that things didn't look good. In fact, they felt like foul play was involved and don't expect a miracle, that type of stuff. Of course we still hold one thread of hope that -- realistically, they told us that, you know, she's probably not alive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALLACE: Meantime, the past few days in Aruba have been eventful and emotional for Natalee Holloway's family. CNN's Chris Lawrence bringing us up to date.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When Deepak and Satish Kalpoe arrived home after 26 days in jail, two mothers had almost opposite reactions.

NADIRA RAMIREZ, MOTHER OF KALPOE BROTHERS: I can't even explain how I'm happy to see them, to hug them.

LAWRENCE: Nadira Ramirez called her sons innocent. Natalee Holloway's mother called him criminal. BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, MOTHER OF NATALEE HOLLOWAY: Help me by not allowing these two to get away with this crime to travel.

LAWRENCE: Beth Twitty asked Aruban officials to notify the U.S. State Department if the brothers leave the island.

TWITTY: I'm asking this in the name of my beautiful, intelligent and outstanding daughter who I haven't seen for 36 days and for whom I will continue to search until I find her.

LAWRENCE: The judge ruled there's not enough evidence to keep the Kalpoes. They can leave the country, but their mother says they won't. She's even canceled a family trip to Suriname.

Natalee's family is getting some help from a virtual eye in the sky. Holland has sent three F-16s to Aruba rigged with infrared sensors and sonar equipment. After a test flight Tuesday, they'll start searching the entire island tomorrow.

Natalee's friends say they last saw her five weeks ago leaving a bar with the three young men. On the Sunday afternoon before their latest court hearing, police said all three reconstruct what happened the night Natalee disappeared. Step by step, investigators took them to several spots on the island, including the beach where Joran Van Der Sloot says he left Natalee alive and well sometime after 2:00 a.m.

JOSSY MANSUR, "EL DIARIO" NEWSPAPER: They wanted to know for sure that Joran would take them exactly to the places that he said he took Natalee to that night.

LAWRENCE: Prosecutors won't say why the judge detained Van Der Sloot and let the Kalpoes go. They say all three changed their stories, and other evidence does not support those stories. An attorney for one of the brothers says the longer you keep someone in jail, the stronger your evidence should be.

RUDY OOMEN, DEEPAK KALPOE'S ATTORNEY: My client's case was the other way around. The longer they stayed in detention, the more proof came out that they didn't have to do anything with the disappearance itself.

LAWRENCE: That leaves Joran Van Der Sloot as the last suspect still in custody and the question of what happened to Natalee Holloway unanswered.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: And again, that was CNN's Chris Lawrence reporting.

Well, still to come here on DAYBREAK, it is a dreaded day for two reporters who refuse to give up their sources on a story involving a CIA operative and administration leaks. That story later this hour.

Also, some disturbing details of what an Idaho child endured at the hands of her kidnapper.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday, July 6. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WALLACE: And welcome back. A tough story to tell you about. We are learning more about the hell that little Shasta Groene went through at the hands of the man police say abducted and molested her. Court documents and convenience store videotapes are telling a grisly tale.

Here's CNN's Rusty Dornin.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joseph Duncan was charged in a closed-circuit televised appearance with two counts of first-degree kidnapping, no bail. Eight-year-old Shasta Groene apparently told investigators that Joseph Duncan was at her house before her mother, her older brother and her mother's boyfriend were discovered bludgeoned to death. She said she was woken by her mother the night of May 15, taken to the living room, where they were bound.

According to the police report, Groene described how Joseph Duncan tied her and the other members of her family up. She told them she and her brother Dylan were taken to a pickup and then transferred to the red Jeep.

She described being taken to two different camp sites in Montana, and allegedly told them she and her brother were molested repeatedly. Although she never used the word "rape," the graphic details make it clear that's what happened. The report, handwritten and only a few paragraphs long, says nothing about whether she witnessed the murders or if she saw what happened to her brother Dylan.

Haunting images from a convenience store surveillance tape have now been released of the hours before the little girl and her alleged abductor were discovered.

It seems innocent enough. A man identified as Joseph Duncan walks into a convenience store in Kellogg, Idaho, with a little girl that could be his daughter. Disturbing truth: Shasta Groene, missing for seven weeks, walks past several adults. She says nothing. Her alleged abductor off by himself reading the paper.

Eight minutes after entering the store, they leave. Six hours later, in a Denny's in the little girl's hometown only 40 miles away, Groene is recognized. Duncan is arrested, not for the first time in his 42 years.

On this street in Lakewood, Washington, Joseph Duncan's career as a criminal began. He was 16, according to police record. It was 1980. He broke into a neighbor's home and stole handguns and ammunition, but he wasn't done that day.

ED TROYER, PIERCE COUNTY SHERIFF: He came across a 14-year-old boy he didn't know. He kidnapped the boy at gunpoint, brought him into the woods out in the Lake City area by Fort Lewis, and took him out there and raped him repeatedly. During that, he also beat him with a stick, burned him with a cigarette, and dry-fired the gun.

DORNIN: No bullets, but he pulled the trigger twice, making the boy think he was going to kill him. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years. He served 14 and was released in 1994, but violated his parole and was back in prison by '97.

One week after his release in 2000, Duncan moved to Fargo, North Dakota. He enrolled at North Dakota State University. There, according to his student Web site, he described himself as an honor student and a go-getter who likes karate, skiing and scuba diving. He claimed he worked for several companies, some during the time he was in prison in the late-'90s.

In March of this year, Duncan was arrested for molesting a 7- year-old boy in Minnesota. In April, the judge granted him bail. The judge told a Minnesota TV reporter this week he isn't sure whether he knew that Duncan was a level-three sex offender when he granted him that bail.

Duncan then disappeared. Police believe he stole this red Jeep in May in Minnesota. Until early May, police say he was an active blogger. He denied being a pedophile, but wrote: "Because of my appearance and family circumstances, I was molested so often and by so many different people that up until the time of my offense, I thought it was normal."

In this Web log, he also unveiled his battles with his so-called demons. "The demons have taken over," this entry five days before the triple murder in Idaho. "My intent is to harm society as much as I can, then die."

Investigators say Duncan is the prime investigative lead in the killings of Shasta and Dylan Groene's mother, brother and mother's boyfriend. The house where the three were bludgeoned to death stands empty. Windows boarded up, crime tape still in place. A police sentry stands watch outside.

Investigators believe more charges are soon to come for Joseph Duncan, in particular, if the remains found in western Montana are identified as those of 9-year-old Dylan Groene.

Rusty Dornin, CNN, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALLACE: Such a disturbing story. And we'll have more on this story throughout this day on DAYBREAK.

Still to come in the next half-hour here, military families in the Northeast are fighting for their livelihoods. We'll have more from one community taking action.

Plus, five cities around the world are on pins and needles waiting to find out who will host the Olympics. Live from the top spot when DAYBREAK continues.

Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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