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CNN Live At Daybreak
Troop Strengths in Iraq; 17 Spanish Troops Killed in Afghan Helicopter Crash; Wireless Crime
Aired August 16, 2005 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is Tuesday, August 16.
Japan jolted. A powerful earthquake shakes the nation. Rising heartbeats in the land of the rising sun. The quake leaves debris, injuries and tsunami warnings.
Also...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got 25 people on board that aircraft. They're in crash position. They're braced. They're ready for an impact.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Scary moments in the air. People aboard a military jet brace for the worst. We'll show you what happened.
And just keep your shoes on. Wouldn't you like someone at the airport to tell you that for a change? Well, now they might.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK.
I'm Kelly Wallace in today for Carol Costello.
Good Tuesday morning to you.
Thanks for waking up with us.
Chad Myers will have your forecast in just a moment.
Also ahead, you may be committing a crime right now and don't even know it. What every computer user needs to know about going wireless.
Plus, they call her "cookie lady." Meet the woman who keeps soldiers with a sweet tooth well stocked.
But first, these stories now in the news.
Northeast Japan was rocked by a major earthquake a little more than seven hours ago. There have been numerous reports of damage and even injuries caused by that quake. We'll go live to Tokyo in about two minutes. Time is running out for Israeli settlers to leave Gaza and parts of the West Bank. They have 11 hours to leave voluntarily before Israeli soldiers begin removing them by force. More than 5,000 protesters also will be forced to leave.
And in Cologne, Germany, World Youth Day events are now underway. Organizers expect hundreds of thousands of young people from around the world and therefore, of course, security is very tight. Pope Benedict XVI will lead an open air mass on Sunday.
Time to get a check of the forecast.
Chad Myers in Atlanta -- Chad, what is it looking like for today?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, not bad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: As we told you, our top story this morning, Japan dealing with the aftermath of a major earthquake. That quake was followed by fears of a possible tsunami.
For more we go straight to Tokyo, where CNN's Atika Shubert is standing by -- Atika, this was a powerful earthquake.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Japan's pretty used to high magnitude earthquakes, but even for Japan, this was a pretty big one. It was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake and it happened off the northeastern coast of Honshu Island, about 80 kilometers off the coast.
The closest area to it was Miyagi Prefecture, and that's the area that had the most damages and injuries as a result of this earthquake. The area there had about 39 people reported injured. That's according to firefighters there. Most of those apparently coming from a sports complex. An indoor pool there, the ceiling collapsed and there were about 200 people inside that sports complex. Fortunately, only about 19 people were injured when that ceiling fell. One of them was seriously injured.
But, again, fortunately, there were no widespread reports of damages or casualties. There were some incidents of homes being minored -- having minor damages and one home just outside of Tokyo, actually, a wooden house, that collapsed. Police and emergency workers are checking those buildings to make sure they are safe for people to stay in -- Kelly.
WALLACE: And, of course, Atika, we always think of a possible tsunami after an earthquake of this magnitude. There was a tsunami watch.
What can you tell us about that?
SHUBERT: There was a tsunami watch, which is actually standard practice here, particularly for a powerful earthquake like that, that happened just off the coast. The tsunami warning was immediately issued.
Now, there were actually two tsunami waves, but they were very small, just about 10 to 20 centimeters each, or about four inches, a little bit more than that. So obviously when they came ashore it didn't cause any damage.
But, again, Japan has many of these earthquakes. It's actually a very earthquake prone region of the world. And tsunami is actually a Japanese word. That's how frequently they happen here. So, again, nothing unusual in having a tsunami watch go into effect. It has been dropped, however.
WALLACE: Atika, though, very quickly, what did it feel like? What did it feel like when -- for yourself in Tokyo? Did you feel it?
SHUBERT: You certainly did feel it in Tokyo. It was quite a long tremor, actually. It started very gently, just sort of a gentle rocking of the building. But it quickly sped up. You could hear the building creaking and see some of the buildings swaying.
But as you can imagine, it gets a lot scarier the closer you get to the epicenter. But the fact that we could feel it here, about 300 kilometers or 180 miles away from the epicenter, just goes to show you how strong of an earthquake it really was.
WALLACE: Absolutely.
OK, Atika, thanks so much.
Atika Shubert reporting live from Tokyo for us this morning.
Turning now to Iraq. The country's constitution isn't quite done yet. So the national assembly approved an extension until next Monday. The constitution has become bogged down by two key issues, including the role of Islam in Iraq's future. But there is still hope that an agreement can be reached before Monday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: We are witnessing democracy at work in Iraq. The new constitution will be the most important document in the history of the new Iraq. We are confident that they will complete this process and continue on the path toward elections for a permanent government at the end of the year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: President Bush issued a statement saying: "I applaud the heroic efforts of Iraqi negotiators and appreciate their work to resolve remaining issues through continued negotiation and dialogue. Their efforts are a tribute to democracy and an example that difficult problems can be solved peacefully through debate, negotiation and compromise."
Time now for our CNN "Security Watch." A key player in a terrorism probe in Lodi, California will be deported. A federal judge ruled that Muslim cleric Shabbir Ahmed be sent home to Pakistan. An FBI agent testified last week that Ahmed was working in the United States as an agent for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. Two other men in the investigation already agreed to be deported.
The Justice Department is looking for surveillance tapes from a federal prison in Brooklyn. The tapes are part of a probe into prisoner abuse at the facility in the wake of September 11. The prison also allegedly taped conversations between attorneys and detainees.
The government's terrorism no fly list is causing problems for some parents. It seems that several small children have been stopped because their names match or are close to those on the no fly list. Those kids, including some as young as 11 months old, have been pulled out of line for extra security screening.
Well, the long lines caused by extra screening may actually lead to a change in security procedures. In an effort to make air travel more consumer friendly, security officials are considering a change to the list of banned items. They may even let travelers keep their shoes on.
CNN's Mary Snow takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Is it time to allow airline passengers to carry some items banned in the wake of 9/11? The Transportation Security Administration thanks so. A spokesman says the agency is looking into easing restrictions on things like razor blades, scissors, knives under five inches, as well as lifting the requirements for passengers to remove their shoes.
Also on the table, exempting groups like lawmakers and pilots from screening. A spokesman says the TSA is looking to update its approach to threats and be more consumer friendly. "The process," he says, "is to stimulate creative thinking and challenge conventional beliefs. In the end, it will allow us to work smarter and better as we secure America's transportation system."
Passengers have mixed feelings.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it is kind of a bad idea, you know? I mean people want to feel safe when they're on the airliner.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's pretty obvious that most senators are not going to turn out to be terrorists.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Swinging to the other end of the pendulum isn't the answer for me. Moderation and common sense.
SNOW: Some security experts applaud the move, saying screeners are not being used most effectively. RAPHAEL RON, NEW AGE SECURITY SOLUTIONS: And we should not waste our resources on searches of people that do not carry any risk whatsoever. This is a waste of resources. It takes us a -- it takes our focus away from where the problems are.
SNOW: Other security experts say easing security restrictions is a mistake.
GEORGE BAURIES, CRITERIAN STRATEGIES: To change regulations right in the midst of what we saw a couple of weeks ago in London, it really does not make sense. And I don't think the American public would be pleased knowing that the only thing between an individual getting on an aircraft with a sharp edged instrument would be the kind of sixth sense that an individual from TSA might have as they go through.
SNOW (on camera): The debate over whether easing some security measures is a help or hazard is right now just debate. A spokesperson for the TSA says the agency will meet in the near future to consider the proposals.
Mary Snow, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
WALLACE: And this remainder, to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
A dramatic emergency landing took place last night at the U.S. Navy airfield in Norfolk, Virginia.
Let's listen in as a local news traffic reporter describes the touch down.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming in, oh, just about to touch down. You'll see the arresting gear coming into the picture here in just one second. He's very, very short filed, approximately five feet off the ground. He's down. The aircraft is down. He's caught the cable. That should stop the aircraft very, very quickly. They'll shut that forward engine down immediately on touch down and begin to exit that aircraft.
Again, there's 25 people on board that aircraft. That'll be an emergency landing by the tower. The tower is telling us he's done it. He's done a great job getting that aircraft down. You'll see the rear of that...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: A great job, indeed. A great job, indeed. And as you can see, that C2 transport plane touching down without its landing gear. All 25 passengers and crew walked away without any injuries. Let's take another look. The plane is usually used to ferry sailors to an aircraft carrier. And, again, it has a problem. It had no landing gear, so it made perfect sense to use a catch cable to stop the plane, just like you see used on those aircraft carriers. An amazing story.
Again, no one hurt. Everyone off OK.
Still to come this hour on DAYBREAK, the clock ticks down on a grace period in Gaza. We'll see how settlers are responding to what Israeli soldiers are doing today.
And protecting America's troops in harm's way. How good and how widespread is that new body armor in Iraq?
Then, we'll introduce you to a woman who's showing her support for the American military right at home in her own kitchen, night and day.
And later, Louis Farrakhan makes some startling comparisons. Hear why he thanks Mexico's president wasn't necessarily wrong for statements about African-American workers in America.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: A new day here in New York City.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's about 16 minutes after the hour and here is what's all new this morning.
A major earthquake jolts Japan. The magnitude 7.2 quake struck off the coast of northeastern Japan, injuring about 50 people. Several people were hurt when the roof of an indoor swimming pool collapsed.
In money, gas prices at another record level. The Energy Department says the average price for a gallon of unleaded is $2.55.
In culture, a group of best-selling authors wants you to name their next characters. Authors including Stephen King, Nora Roberts and Lemony Snicket are taking bids for the names on eBay. The money goes to the First Amendment Project.
In sports, Phil Mickelson is a major champion once again. Lefty hit a birdie no the final hole of the rain delayed PGA championship, to take the title by one shot -- and, Chad, we were saying that over the weekend, they were playing in 100 degree temperatures.
MYERS: Yes.
WALLACE: I guess yesterday it was about a high of 85 or 86, though. MYERS: Yesterday was absolutely perfect. Yes. I mean, really, and not much wind either, so the guys really got some really great, nice, soft greens to play with, because there was rain over the weekend with that cold front. So nobody complaining there.
Congratulations to Phil. He's really one of the good guys, I think, out there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Turning now to the situation in the Middle East, this is the last day for Jewish settlers to get out of Gaza and the final hour is fast approaching.
Our Guy Raz joins us live from the largest settlement in Gaza with the latest -- and, Guy, what is going on there today? What have you been seeing in terms of relationships going on between the soldiers and the settlers?
GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kelly, there's no question that we've seen some of the most intense scuffles today that we have seen here in the past week. Just behind me is the main road leading into this settlement. If we can just zoom in a bit, you'll see a few hundred demonstrators out there with police, confronting police. Police surrounding the moving vehicles that have been brought into the settlement to help begin the process of evacuation.
Now, earlier this morning, at first light, police tore down the main gate leading in this settlement. They removed the gate and they moved into the settlement. The objective, the police say, to keep the roads clear into the settlement, to allow moving trucks and containers. Some 120 containers will be brought into the settlement throughout the day.
Now, there were some scuffles, as I mentioned, and at a certain point police did make arrests inside this settlement. Some nine demonstrators were arrested earlier today.
Now, this, of course, is the last day before the settlements will be formally evacuated. What we can expect to see over the coming 24 hours is police and soldiers beginning to move into these settlements and arresting the non-residents.
Many of the young demonstrators, many of the pictures you've been seeing over the past few days of these demonstrations are non- residents. They will likely be removed first. At that point, soldiers will once again ask the existing and remaining residents to voluntarily leave. Those who do not will be removed by force.
Now, the process, as I say, formally begins tomorrow. But at this point it's not clear which settlement will be evacuated first. There are 21 Jewish settlements here in Gaza. There's a lot of opposition among the people who live here. And the government essentially saying that it will evacuate the settlements based on the judgment of military commanders in the field. It's expected, there is quite some speculation that this settlement we're in, Neveh Dekalim, could be one of the first to go. It's one of the largest settlements. It's one of the most hard-line and there are many, many people in this settlement. The army may simply want to get rid of this -- the army may simply want to remove the residents from this settlement first before moving onto the easier ones -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, Guy, we'll be watching your reports and the reports of your colleagues throughout this day.
Guy Raz reporting live from Neveh Dekalim, the largest Israeli settlement in Gaza.
Still to come here on DAYBREAK, home prices have to slow down eventually, don't they? Carrie Lee will joins us with the latest reading on the housing market.
Then, some people wear ribbons, some send socks. This woman bakes cookies to show her support for U.S. troops. See how she keeps up a remarkable pace in the kitchen.
But first, we want to say good morning to St. Louis.
DAYBREAK will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: Time now for a little "Business Buzz."
The government is trying to determine if there are potential problems with door handles on some 53,000 Volkswagen Touraegs. It comes after complaints that the 2004-2005 models have a latch problem which the auto maker asked dealers to correct months ago.
Older Americans are paying more for their prescription drugs, according to AARP. It says wholesale prices for brand name medicines widely used by older Americans jumped more than twice the rate of international, 6 1/2 percent in the year ending in March. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America Group disputes that claim. It accusing AARP of using "fuzzy math."
Well, no slowdown yet as home prices remain red hot.
Carrie Lee is joining us now with a "Business Buzz."
Still red hot, right?
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We know prices have gone up, but the numbers here are really pretty staggering, Kelly. Homes across the country rose 13.6 percent in the 12 months ended June 30th, according to the National Association of Realtors. And that is the strongest growth rate in history relative to inflation.
Now, this means the national median home price is now over $208,000. Of the 149 metro areas surveyed by the NAR, only seven posted a decline in home prices and 67 of those areas posted increases of more than 10 percent.
Leading the way, Phoenix, Arizona, with a 47 percent gain. That's a big retirement area. Also, the West was the strongest region, with a nearly 20 percent gain, setting the median price there to $312,000.
The NAR does sound one note of caution, though, focusing much slower growth for home prices over the next year.
But still, Kelly, even over the next year, they're still expecting increases in price of about 6 percent.
WALLACE: And stories have been done about lower and lower middle income families now probably can't even afford the price of a home.
LEE: In some areas, unfortunately, it's becoming increasingly disproportionate and I think as long as interest rates, mortgage rates, stay relatively low, well, home prices are going to stay relatively high so.
WALLACE: Give us a sense of the markets.
How are futures looking today?
LEE: Futures looking a bit mixed. We will get a key report on inflation an hour before trading gets underway. Also, a couple of profit reports from retailers Home Depot and Wal-Mart.
WALLACE: All right, Carrie, thanks so much.
LEE: Sure.
WALLACE: Always good to see you.
LEE: You, too.
WALLACE: Well, this is a sweet story and it involves a sweet way to support the troops.
A woman who grew up in a military family is giving American forces overseas a taste of home with fresh baked cookies and care packages. She is known as the "cookie lady."
We are pleased to introduce you to Germaine Broussard.
She's joining us live from Washington with more on her one woman cookie factory.
And, Ms. Broussard, thank you so much for being here today.
GERMAINE BROUSSARD, "THE COOKIE LADY": Good morning.
Thank you.
WALLACE: It's incredible. You tell us you have already sent 26,000 cookies since Christmas of 2003. BROUSSARD: Yes.
WALLACE: How did you get started? Why did you want to do this?
BROUSSARD: I wanted to do something for the troops to show them that we cared. And I called a friend, a Marine Corps colonel, and asked him what to do. Everybody kept telling me that you had to go through the USO or the Red Cross or another organization. But I wanted to do something more personal.
So I -- he gave me all four branches of the military and in several countries.
WALLACE: Now, many of us, even I thought, when I first learned about the story, that you must have an industrial oven at home to make 26,000 cookies.
But that's not the case at all, is it?
BROUSSARD: No. Actually, I have an apartment sized oven and it's all done with a hand mixer.
WALLACE: It is incredible. You say that you usually start when you get home from work. You have a job at Smith Barney.
BROUSSARD: Yes.
WALLACE: So when you get home from work about 6:00, you work until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning. You're involved in other groups and causes, as well.
How do you keep up the stamina to keep doing this?
BROUSSARD: You just make it work. Whatever needs to be done will happen.
WALLACE: Now, you have not met many of the troops that you send cookies to.
Have you heard from them, though? Do you get thank you notes? What's the response been?
BROUSSARD: I get letters, I get e-mails. It's phenomenal. The guys have -- the best e-mail I got was from a chaplain who said that the sacrifices these guys are making are great, but with people like you behind us, it makes it a lot easier.
WALLACE: And you also said, I think, sometimes, you know, you get home, you're tired. Maybe the last thing you want to do is make another batch of cookies. But, again, you keep doing it.
What keeps pushing you?
BROUSSARD: I think, do they really want to be there? And it changes your whole attitude. WALLACE: Yes, but here's the thing. It costs money. You need materials. You need flour, you need everything that goes into making these cookies.
How are you doing it? Is it all coming out of your own pocket?
BROUSSARD: A lot of it is, but my partner in this endeavor, Bob Fratkin (ph) and his wife Susan, have been wonderful. When they go shopping, they'll call and ask if I need anything. And it happens.
WALLACE: You also, though, are partnering up with a group. So you're getting some additional support.
What can you tell us about that?
BROUSSARD: I've got -- I've been working with Navy League of the United States and the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society. Through them, I've gotten two ships, a batch of Marines and my branch manager, Bruce Spence (ph), with the McClain (ph) office of Smith Barney, has been helping cover postage.
WALLACE: Now, you talked about you could have, you know, sent money. You could have gotten involved.
What is so special about getting a batch of homemade cookies from the United States if you're in a war zone?
BROUSSARD: It's a chance to be a kid again when the only thing you have to worry about is whether you finished your homework.
WALLACE: Well, we want to let you get some help from some of our viewers. We want you to know if you want to help Germaine Broussard, here's what you can do. You can e-mail trooptreats@verizon.net or you can mail donations to P.O. Box 11192. That's in McClain, Virginia, 22102.
Again, e-mail to trooptreats@verizon.net and copy down that address.
Germaine, thank you so much for joining us.
You're doing incredible work and I know, I'm sure the soldiers, the airmen, the Marines appreciate what you're doing.
BROUSSARD: Thank you very much.
WALLACE: OK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Now, you've talked about you could have, you know, sent money. You could have gotten involved. What is so special about getting a batch of homemade cookies from the United States if you're in a war zone?
GERMAINE BROUSSARD, "THE COOKIE LADY": It's a chance to be a kid again when the only thing you have to worry about is whether you finished your homework.
WALLACE: Well, we want to let you get some help from some of our viewers. We want you to know if you want to help Germaine Broussard, here's what you can do. You can e-mail trooptreats@verizon.net, or you can mail donations to Post Office Box 11192. That's in McLean, Virginia, 22102. Again, e-mail to trooptreats@verizon.net, and copy down that address.
Germaine, thank you so much for joining us. You're doing incredible work, and I know I'm sure the soldiers, the airmen, the Marines appreciate what you're doing.
BROUSSARD: Thank you very much.
WALLACE: OK. Still to come here on DAYBREAK, the science of safety in a war zone.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
I equate it sometimes to the heat tiles on the shuttle, because we're talking about a piece of equipment that has to meet some very high tolerances for what we expect of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: In the battle against insurgents, body armor is sometimes a soldier's best defense. We'll hear about improvements to America's supply.
And a brother remembers his sister who gave her life in Iraq this week.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: From the Time Warner center in New York, this is DAYBREAK, and I'm Kelly Wallace in today for Carol Costello. Good morning, everyone. Thanks for waking up with us. Chad Myers will have your forecast in just a moment.
Also coming up this half-hour, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has something to say to Mexico's president. But it's not what you might expect.
And stealing the airwaves. We'll look at how Wi-Fi is becoming a pretty big problem.
But first, this just in to CNN. Authorities in Spain confirm 17 Spanish troops have been killed in helicopter crash in Afghanistan. The chopper went down near the city of Herat a short time ago. The cause of the crash is not yet known.
In northeast Japan, officials assessing damage from a 7.2- magnitude earthquake. About 50 people were hurt. Among those hurt were several people swimming in an indoor pool when the roof collapsed. Train service in some areas was halted so officials could check for damage. Israel's defense minister says he expects half of the Jewish settlers to voluntarily leave Gaza. The grace period to get out ends at midnight in Gaza, that's 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Those who don't evacuate will be forcibly removed.
Memorial services are being held in Cypress today for victims of Sunday's plane crash near Athens. Bodies of some of the victims are being flown home. A man who claimed he received a text message from a passenger on that plane will be in court today on charges of causing a public disturbance. His text message story turned out to be a hoax.
To the weather center now.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Turning now to Iraq. The country's next chapter will have to be written this week. The National Assembly voted to delay the draft constitution by a week so it can iron out a few final details. One sticking point has been the role of Islam in the new Iraq. But U.S. officials hope they won't be stuck for long.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: I think that the United States has been very involved with the Iraqis every step of the way. But this is an Iraqi process. This is not an American process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: And the new deadline for the draft constitution is next Monday.
If all goes well, Iraq will have new national elections in December. The U.S. ambassador to Iraq says more U.S. troops may be needed to ensure the safety of voters. But a troop increase once again highlights possible problems with the supply and demand.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Pentagon is shipping improved armored vest plates to Iraq at the rate of 20,000 a month, but it could be some time before all the troops have the new gear.
The Army is adamant that soldiers and Marines already have the best armored vest protection there is. All troops in Iraq do have the current armored plates inside their vests.
COL. THOMAS SPOEHR, U.S. ARMY: What we do is we add what's called the smalls-arms protective insert, or SAPI plate, if you will, into a pocket in both the front, and then there's already one here in the back, you'll see.
STARR: But the improved plates use new ceramics and materials for better protection against small-arms fire. The Army says it's simply trying to stay a step ahead of the insurgents.
SPOEHR: We're facing a very learning and adapting enemy who adapts to our actions and takes counteractions.
STARR: Critics still believe the military could do better.
LAWRENCE KORB, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: They all have body armor, but they don't have the best. There's body armor, and then there's body armor. We're now into the third upgrade.
STARR: The Army won't say how many troops have the new gear, and says the plates are being made as fast as possible.
SPOEHR: I equate it sometimes to the heat tiles on the shuttle, because we're talking about a piece of equipment that has to meet some very high tolerances for what we expect of it.
STARR: But all of this comes as the insurgent arsenal is growing more sophisticated. U.S. troops near Mosul last week raided this suspected clandestine insurgent chemical protection site. Initial analysis shows that chemicals found were accelerants to be used in explosive devices.
(on camera): The military has taken the highly unusual step of asking the news media not to talk about exactly what type of protection these new armored plates offer. They worry if the information gets out, the insurgents will simply step up their attacks once again.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Eighteen hundred fifty U.S. troops have been killed since the war in Iraq began; 52 of those deaths have come this month.
One of those was Army Specialist Toccara Green. She was one of five soldiers killed during an ambush Sunday near the Iraqi border with Jordan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GARRY GREEN, BROTHER: Unfortunately, she was involved in a roadside attack that was on a refueling mission. When she was outside of the vehicle, she -- her and four of her fellow service members all fell. It just breaks my heart that she had to just go like she did. But I know she went going what she needed to do. She would want us to be happy. I know that. You know, I know she would want us not to be all down and just miserable. She would want us to do her justice and just don't forget her name.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Twenty-three-year-old Specialist Toccara Green had just returned to Iraq less than a week before the attack. She is the first female soldier from Maryland to die in combat during the war. Thirty- two female American troops have been killed by hostile forces in Iraq.
So many families are worried about their loved ones serving in Iraq. Now, a mother and daughter are facing their deployments together. That's one of the stories on "AMERICAN MORNING" this morning. We check in now with Carol Costello.
Carol -- that is an incredible story, a mom and daughter headed to Iraq.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I know. You don't hear that very often, do you?
WALLACE: Not at all.
COSTELLO: Yes, with the rising casualties in Iraq, a lot of mothers are worried about their children serving in the military. Well, down in Texas, we see the antiwar protests by Cindy Sheehan, whose son died in Iraq. But today, as Kelly told you, we'll meet a mother and daughter who will be deployed to the region. They'll join us live to talk about why they decided to serve together, and we'll find out what their other family members think about this decision.
Plus, does this look like the face of a terrorist? Well, guess what? Her name, like the name of several other infants, popped up on the government's no-fly list. Baby and mother will join us live.
And I know, Kelly, that was your e-mail question today, because you had a story about another baby who was on the no-fly list.
WALLACE: Exactly.
COSTELLO: And I was reading viewer comments, and they just thought it was kind of silly.
WALLACE: Yes.
COSTELLO: But then, what else do you do?
WALLACE: Well, that's right. Like, for the most part, people are saying this is sort of ridiculous. But what do you do? And then, one e-mailer to Chad said, if you're a terrorist, you're not likely to use your name when you're flying on a plane, although that wasn't necessarily the case.
All right, Carol, we have to scoot away for some breaking news. We'll check in with you at the top of the hour.
COSTELLO: All right, will do. See you.
WALLACE: We want to turn now to Al Goodman. He joins us on the phone.
We've been talking to you about a situation of a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. Al, what can you tell us right now?
AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Spanish prime minister's office is confirming to CNN that 17 Spanish troops have died in what appears to be an accidental helicopter crash on Tuesday. The 17 troops were serving under NATO command. They're part of a Spanish force there numbering in the hundreds.
Now, this prime minister spokesman did not have details on the circumstances of the crash, but a defense ministry spokesman telling our partner station (INAUDIBLE) a second helicopter flying alongside the one that crashed made an emergency landing. And there were injuries aboard that second craft.
The Spanish defense minister is due to address the nation here in Madrid in a little over an hour's time. We're expecting to get some more details on this.
These would be the first deaths of Spanish troops in Afghanistan since they've been serving there over the past several years. But a couple of years ago, two years ago in 2003, 62 Spanish peacekeeping troops who had been serving in Afghanistan died as they were coming back to Spain when their plane crashed in Turkey -- Soledad (sic).
WALLACE: Al, actually it's Kelly Wallace, which is OK. I know a lot is coming at you. The question for you -- and, again, it's early -- we don't really know what this exact mission these Spanish troops were involved in, do we?
GOODMAN: Kelly, we do not. The crash, that's what it's been described, and the Spanish prime minister spokesman telling CNN that they have no indication whatsoever -- none -- that this was due to hostile fire. So they are calling this an accident at this point.
The Spanish troops are based in western Afghanistan near a city called Herat, and this crash apparently happened near their base as they were aboard this helicopter. They're all serving under NATO command. And so, we're waiting to get more details on what happened.
Apparently, though, if the second helicopter in the flight pattern made an emergency landing, something was going on out there, because apparently there were injuries on that second craft in addition to the dead on the first craft.
Now, there are some reports, Kelly, that the number of 17, which is what they're giving out here in Madrid, may be slightly lower. There are some reports from Afghanistan it may be somewhat lower than 17. But that's what the information they've got here in Spain is 17 dead.
WALLACE: OK, Al, we'll be listening to your reports throughout the rest of this show on DAYBREAK and then coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING." Al Goodman reporting from Spain, telling us about how authorities in Spain are confirming 17 Spanish troops killed in that crash in Afghanistan.
Turning to news across America now.
Four men who escaped from a Michigan courthouse have been recaptured. Police in Pontiac shut down streets and buildings in the area after one of the men overpowered a guard. No one, though, was seriously injured during the escape.
Police in Atlanta, Georgia, are investigating a murder/suicide that took place in a hospital intensive care unit. They say a 71- year-old husband shot and killed his 70-year-old wife. They had been married for more than 50 years. Neighbors say they believe Donald Shields had become despondent over his wife's condition. But a statement from the family and the hospital said Beverly Shields had been recovering.
Louis Farrakhan says Mexican President Vicente Fox was right. President Fox was roundly criticized by African-American leaders when he said Mexican workers were doing jobs that even blacks wouldn't do. But now, the Nation of Islam leader says that wasn't a false statement, for a good reason.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LOUIS FARRAKHAN, NATION OF ISLAM: Well, he said they're taking jobs that even blacks don't want. Well, is it the truth? Are you out there in California picking? Do you want to go out in California and pick the fruit, pick the this, pick the that? Not you. You picked cotton for so long you don't want to see a farm. Even if you own it, you get away from it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALLACE: Fox had apologized for his comments, saying he was trying to highlight the contributions of Mexicans.
Well, still to come on this Tuesday edition of DAYBREAK, former Senator Bob Dole has something to say about reporters, as one journalist sits behind bars for refusing to reveal sources.
And it may seem innocent enough, but if you're picking up a signal from your neighbor, you could be committing a crime.
First, though, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.
Former Senator Bob Dole is coming out in defense of reporters, saying they must be able to protect confidential sources without fear of imprisonment. In an opinion piece in today's "New York Times," Dole says he's baffled about how federal investigators handled the alleged leak that exposed Valerie Plame as a CIA officer.
He writes -- quote: "As someone with a long record of government service, I must admit that I did not always appreciate the inquisitive nature of the press. But I do understand that the purpose of a reporter's privilege is not to somehow elevate journalists above other segments of society. Instead, it is designed to help guarantee that the public continues to be well-informed." Senator Dole says he's concerned that "New York Times" reporter Judith Miller is in jail for refusing to disclose her sources in the Plame case, especially since she never wrote a word about the CIA flap. Dole is calling on Congress to pass a bill that sets clear standards before the federal government can subpoena any reporter.
Well, we've heard a lot about that mother, Cindy Sheehan, protesting at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas. But she is not the only soldier parent with an opinion about the war and politics of the battle.
CNN's Soledad O'Brien joins us now for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
Hi -- Soledad.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Kelly, good morning to you.
And you're absolutely right. And as we've been reporting, Cindy Sheehan has vowed to remain outside President Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch until he meets with her. Her son, you'll recall, was killed in Iraq last year. She says the troops need to come home.
Now, many folks have gathered, as you can see in some of the pictures you're looking at. They've gathered with Cindy Sheehan to support the cause. We're going to talk this morning, though, with two other mothers who have also lost their sons in Iraq. Do they agree with Cindy Sheehan's mission? We'll talk to them about that.
Also ahead, the controversial drug Accutane. It's prescribed, as you know, for very, very severe acne. It's long been linked to birth defects and teen suicide. Well, now the Food and Drug Administration is putting some tough restrictions in place for doctors and patients. We'll explain and see if it makes any kind of difference. That story is ahead on "AMERICAN MORNING" -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right, Soledad, a busy morning. We'll see you in a few minutes. Thanks so much.
Well, turning now to the growing popularity of wireless computers. It is creating a new-age crime wave of sorts, especially in cities. We're talking about Wi-Fi theft, or people borrowing your wireless connection.
If you have a Wi-Fi network, you'll want to make sure it is secure. Be aware that a Wi-Fi signal indoors can range anywhere between 75 and 150 feet. But that same signal outside can be as great as 1,000 feet. And windows and doors slow but do not block a signal.
Well, joining us now to talk more about the proliferation of Wi- Fi theft is David Carnoy, executive editor of CNET and a self- professed techie.
Thanks for being here today.
We should go back a little bit, though, because not everybody might understand Wi-Fi. Give us a sense of what we're talking about Wi-Fi.
DAVID CARNOY, CNET.COM: Well, a lot of -- all you need to go to get Wi-Fi is to buy a wireless router, hook it up to your cable modem or DSL modem. And a lot of computers now have built-in chips that have Wi-Fi on them, or you can buy a network card, and you have Wi-Fi.
And the idea is that you can roam anywhere in your house. You don't have to have wires. You can go out in your back yard. And there's a lot of freedom to it.
WALLACE: This just happened to a pal of mine. She just moved her house -- from her house to another house in the neighborhood. And her neighbor said, "Oh, we're so upset." And she said, "Why?" They said, "We were able to access your Wi-Fi." And she kind of freaked out about that. How common is it other people using other people's Wi-Fi network?
CARNOY: Well, I think, you know, when I moved into an apartment in New York City, I didn't have an Internet connection. And there were, like, six networks right around me, and three of them were insecure. So, you know, I borrowed it to initially get on, and I got my own Internet access.
And so, there's a lot of borrowing going on. The analogy that people have is that people are leaving their door open, essentially, to their home. And the question is some people are inviting people in. Is it an open house? Or is it a theft if you leave your door open and someone comes in and takes something? You know, the way I look at it is that, you know, if someone was to have a beer in your house, that's fine. But if someone wants to take the whole case of beer, that's a problem.
WALLACE: But it can, you know, obviously be considered a crime, because a man was arrested in Florida for doing this very thing.
CARNOY: Yes, certainly it can. There's some question over whether it is a crime or not. There is some question whether if you leave your -- you actually leave your network open and you're giving your ISP to people, that's essentially giving -- you're responsible for your network in some ways.
WALLACE: What can you do? Let's just say, I'm sitting at my home with my laptop. What can I do to secure my network and to make sure that people are not able to access my e-mails, my bank statements, anything like that?
CARNOY: Well, the simplest thing is to encrypt your network. The other thing you can do is to change the password on your computer and turn off file-sharing, because those are the two areas of entry.
If someone really wants to get in, they can get in. It's not completely secure, but there are obviously levels of security that you can add. But that's the simplest (INAUDIBLE) encryption. Unfortunately, when a lot of people set up a wireless network, there's a set-up wizard for it, but there's no security wizard. So that's the problem where people don't take the next step to add security. You have to go to a special advance menu in some cases.
WALLACE: Complicated stuff out there, but important information. David Conroy, thanks for joining us.
CARNOY: Thanks for having me.
WALLACE: Shedding some light on this. We appreciate it.
When we come back here on DAYBREAK, your chance to win a mug. Also a look at your travel forecast. This is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday morning. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: Chad, our favorite moment.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is time to give away the mug from yesterday and give you a chance to win one today.
The questions from yesterday. By how many cents have gas prices surged in the past three weeks? And the number on the program was 20 cents, although in my neighborhood I think it's more. In the technology community, what is the term for a responsible hacker? Actually hackers that are hired by companies to find out if their system can be hacked. And those are called "white hats."
The winner from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Brian Serzega (ph). Brian, congratulations. You are the winner of today's coffee mug that we questioned yesterday.
Now here are the questions. We'll give away the mug tomorrow. According to the USGS, the U.S. Geological Survey, what was the magnitude of the earthquake in Japan? And that was just a few hours ago. And what is the indoor signal range of Wi-Fi? We just gave you that answer about five minutes ago.
Go to CNN.com/daybreak, and there's a link to submit your answers right there.
WALLACE: Yes, if they were paying attention just moments ago, they will know.
MYERS: Well, the outside range is really long, but the indoor range seems to be a lot shorter.
WALLACE: A little clue there. All right, Chad.
MYERS: For those who have been paying attention.
WALLACE: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Chad, great to be with you. Ms. Carol is back in this chair tomorrow.
MYERS: Oh, good. But you're back on Thursday.
WALLACE: I'm back on Thursday.
MYERS: Very good.
WALLACE: So I'll see you then. All right, Chad, have a great day.
MYERS: Thank you.
WALLACE: And everyone out there, have a great day. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Kelly Wallace in today for Carol Costello. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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