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CNN Live At Daybreak
Unhappy Al Qaeda?; Driven to Extremes; Oprah's Mission
Aired October 12, 2005 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.
Coming up in the next 30 minutes, they're just driving cars really, really fast, right? The debate over the athleticism of NASCAR drivers is ahead. Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look.
And talk show host mogul, crime fighter, bad guys beware, Oprah is coming for you. We'll explain ahead.
But first, "Now in the News."
Judith Miller will be back in front of a grand jury today. It'll be the second appearance for Miller in the Valerie Plame CIA leak investigation. "The New York Times" reporter spent 85 days in jail after originally refusing to testify.
Tom DeLay is looking for answers of his own in his money laundering case. DeLay's attorney is turning the tables on prosecutor Ronnie Earle and has subpoenaed communications between Earle's office and the grand juries that heard evidence against the Texas Republican. Earle's office says grand jury proceedings are meant to be secret.
Chinese astronauts have entered orbit for just the second time. They'll spend up to five days circling the Earth. This is the first time China's manned space flight will last more than just a few orbits.
To the Forecast Center.
Morning -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: I think.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Time now for our "CNN Security Watch."
Is there a rift in al Qaeda? A newly released letter from the terror group's number two man seems to show there may be some displeasure with insurgent operations in Iraq. And part of the problem may be with public perception.
CNN national security correspondent David Ensor has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Senior U.S. intelligence officials call the 6,300-word letter from al Qaeda's number two man to its leader in Iraq chilling because of how calm, clear and well-argued it is. The letter, which a senior official says he is absolutely confident is genuine, predicts -- quote -- "the Americans will exit soon from Iraq." And says, "things may develop faster than we imagine."
But in the letter, Ayaman al-Zawahiri is clearly worried that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, with his televised beheadings of hostages and attacks on Shiite Muslims, could lose what he calls a media battle for the hearts and minds of Muslims. "The Muslim populace who love and support you will never find palatable the scenes of slaughtering the hostages," Zawahiri warns.
It is the language, says a senior U.S. intelligence official, of an al Qaeda elder to an occasionally hotheaded field commander.
Language President Bush had seen before he spoke last week.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Zarqawi has said that Americans are -- quote -- "the most cowardly of God's creatures." But let's be clear, it is cowardice that seeks to kill children and the elderly with car bombs and cuts the throat of a bound captive and targets worshipers leaving a mosque.
ENSOR: In the letter, Zawahiri is even more opposed to Zarqawi's attacks on Shiites in Iraq, to the many car bombs and attacks on mosques. "Is the opening of another front now in addition to the front against the Americans and the government a wise decision?" he asks. "Or does this conflict with Shi'a lift the burden from the Americans by diverting the mujahadeen to the Shi'a while the Americans continue to control matters from afar?"
Zawahiri reminds Zarqawi that Shiite Iran is holding more than a hundred al Qaeda prisoners, many of them leaders, like Cy Filadal (ph) and Osama bin Laden's son, Saad.
The letter, dated two days after the July 7 terror attacks in London, makes no mention of them and pleads for more information. Zawahiri clearly feeling cut off. He describes difficulties he and al Qaeda are facing over a dozen times, says the real danger to him comes from Pakistani army operations in the tribal areas and asks Zarqawi whether he could spare $100,000.
JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: I would think Zarqawi is reading this letter a bit skeptically. I mean, it's coming from a guy who's remote from the situation, who's asking for money, who confesses that he's having difficulty with communications and other things, while Zarqawi is probably full of himself, feeling he's the field commander, he's running troops.
ENSOR (on camera): A senior U.S. intelligence official said the letter is being released now because it would no longer compromise U.S. intelligence sources and methods or operations to do so. The American public and the world, he said, should be fully informed about the enemy.
David Ensor, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Will a firsthand look at the Bird Flu help the United States to develop a plan to stop a possible pandemic? Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt is touring Asian countries, like Thailand, and are already dealing -- who are already dealing with the spread of the virus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL LEAVITT, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We are worried about it. We need a comprehensive plan. It has to include surveillance, international surveillance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So far, 60 human deaths have been attributed to the Bird Flu. And the development of an effective vaccine may be still months away.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, never underestimate the power of the television. The story of how some Oprah viewers helped to catch two child molesters on the run.
And remember our "Question of the Day," cartoons and catastrophe: overboard or right on target? UNICEF is using the Smurfs in a new ad. In it, they blow up the Smurfs. The Smurfs are bombed. We want to hear from you. Is this a good tactic to get your attention? E-mail us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:43 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is due in Pakistan just about now. She's expected to discuss quake relief efforts while there. Earlier, Rice was in Afghanistan meeting with President Hamid Karzai.
Focus on the Family founder James Dobson says he knew days ahead of time that Harriet Miers might be the president's choice for the Supreme Court. That heads up was given by White House advisor Karl Rove. But Dobson, who supports Miers, says he was never told how she would rule on Roe v. Wade.
In money news, Microsoft and Yahoo! are apparently teaming up to offer instant messages. The companies are expected to make their separate services work together in order to challenge industry leader AOL. The Associated Press reports the deal should be formally announced today.
In pop culture, Jon Stewart got one of the coveted Quill Awards. The Quills are sort of a People's Choice awards for books. Stewart won in the humor category for "America" the book. "Harry Potter" author, J.K. Rowling, and legendary singer Bob Dylan also won awards.
In sports, game one goes to the Angels. After eliminating the Yankees just a day earlier, the Los Angeles Angels traveled to Chicago to beat the White Sox three to two. Game two is tonight. The first game of the National League championship series between St. Louis and Houston also tonight -- Chad.
MYERS: And good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Great.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: Rain is so depressing, isn't it?
MYERS: Well, it is. But this is actually going to be dangerous, because now all of this ground is saturated, there's no place for this water to go. Every place that you're -- if you're in a deep creek or ravine, like we saw in New Hampshire, you need to really watch out for this. That's why there are flood watches in effect. It just means watch out.
COSTELLO: Yes. And New Hampshire got hit so hard.
MYERS: They did. Now this rain may be a little bit farther south in New Hampshire, but we're talking about the city of New York and then all of New Jersey. And how many million, what, 10 million people around there could be affected, so.
COSTELLO: Yes, and it's been raining for days. I can attest to that.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Time to read some e-mail. We had sort of an interesting question. Cartoons and catastrophe: overboard or right on target? UNICEF is running this commercial in Belgium and they picture Smurfs being bombed and killed. And they're trying to get across the point of children being used as soldiers in some African countries and they want to end that. And they're trying to use this cartoon and the catastrophe that happens in it to get people's attention.
MYERS: And it seems like it's getting some attention here on DAYBREAK this morning.
From Winnipeg, this Smurf ad is nothing worse than we've seen in countless other cartoons throughout the years. Remember the old "Looney Tunes," ACME explosives and falling off cliffs? Today's shows, like "South Park," push the envelope even farther than that. At least this one has a message.
And from Westminster, California, using a controversial method to bring attention is easily ignored in this situation and it -- this one seems like a really good idea. Now I'm searching for information about this whole issue.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
MYERS: From Carlton (ph) in Sandusky, I believe the average citizen gets the point well from cartoons. My only concern is who will explain it to the president.
And from Don (ph) in New York -- Don in New York, were the violence right on target, the bombs would have taken out all of the Smurfs, not just one or two. Yes, I think the technique to raise awareness about children soldiers exploited in Africa wars that's great. But what's next, a safari against Barney?
And then from Kevin (ph) in Schaumburg, Illinois, the earthquake, Katrina, indictments to grand juries, political borders, all of this, and you guys are talking about Smurfs. Yikes!
Yes, but Smurfs with a purpose, Kevin, really.
COSTELLO: I know you want to go on with that one. Thank you, Chad.
Still ahead here on DAYBREAK, yes, they go fast, but are the speed demons of NASCAR really athletes? You've got to hear what these drivers go through. That story straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now for a little racing. NASCAR was built on fast cars, good old boys and beer bellies, but those days have passed. A new NASCAR has become wildly popular all over the country, but the debate remains, are these drivers athletes?
CNN senior medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta tries to answer that question with a little help from veteran driver Rusty Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY WALLACE, 1989 NASCAR CHAMPION: It's very important to be fit, mentally fit, physically fit. These cars take a lot out of you.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the straightaways, Wallace and the other drivers travel almost the length of a football field every second. On the turns, they experience G-forces similar to the space shuttle on liftoff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three, two , one and liftoff of Space Shuttle Discovery.
GUPTA: That means drivers are pulled sideways on the corners with the same force as astronauts are pushed down on the shuttle launch. Are racecar drivers athletes? A definitive yes says Dr. Steve Olvey who has studied them.
DR. STEVE OLVEY, UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI: Absolutely. Race drivers require all the same attributes that more traditional athletes require in their sports.
The heart rates that we saw in the more fit drivers would be very similar to what you would see in a very fit Olympic long distance swimmer, marathon running, somebody actually playing basketball, professional basketball.
GUPTA: NASCAR drivers also need to concentrate with few breaks as they maneuver in traffic at 180 miles per hour or more. Imagine hitting the fast forward button the next time you're on the highway.
Jack Stark is team psychologist for Hendrick Motorsports, one of the top teams in NASCAR.
DR. JACK STARK, HENDRICK TEAM PSYCHOLOGIST: No other sport, that I know of, no other sport demands that kind of attention to detail and focus for four hours.
GUPTA: Drivers need to stay mentally sharp in conditions like a sauna. The car is humid. And the temperature inside is routinely over 100 degrees, closer to 170 degrees by the floorboards. That's why he wears this special heel protector and has cool air pumped through the hose in the top of his helmet.
WALLACE: The hardest thing is being -- getting dehydrated real, real quick, physically just overheating and your body starts shutting down, concentration level starts going away. The most weight I've ever lost in one race was 11 pounds.
GUPTA: Even with all the challenges, the 49-year-old Wallace remains in contention for the NASCAR championship.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: So there you have it.
A programming note for you NASCAR fans out there, Dr. Sanjay Gupta has more drivers with speed in the CNN special, "NASCAR: DRIVEN TO EXTREMES." And I understand that he gets on the track for a few laps of his own. That comes your way at 10:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday night.
DAYBREAK will be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: She is one of the most watched women on television. I think she's the most watched. And now talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is using her voice and visibility to help capture some of the most wanted child molesters and sex offenders. Recently, two women each received $50,000 from her show for their part in capturing a fugitive sex offender from Indiana.
CNN "ShowBiz Tonight" correspondent David Haffenreffer has the whole story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): She got angry.
OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: I'm angry at the system and I'm angry at us.
HAFFENREFFER: She made the plea.
WINFREY: I asked all of you to take note, to study their faces on Oprah.com and to call your local FBI if you recognized any of them.
HAFFENREFFER: It worked. Within 48 hours of her emotional, impassioned plea on her show, two alleged child molesters were captured, William C. Davis and Niles Scott. Both had been at large for at least a year, captured because of Oprah.
She is the most watched woman on television. And the people who work tirelessly to rescue kids tells "ShowBiz Tonight" having Oprah alongside them is powerful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's probably no American who is more trusted or respected than Oprah and utilizing that credibility, utilizing the power of the media.
HAFFENREFFER: In the United States there are some 563,000 convicted and registered sex offenders monitored by law enforcement. And there are another 100,000 who are unregistered, at large, not being monitored. That's the category William C. Davis fell into until his photo aired on Oprah.
WINFREY: William C. Davis.
HAFFENREFFER: He was recognized immediately by a woman in North Dakota.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was watching the show and she showed a bunch of pictures at the end. And I know that guy.
HAFFENREFFER: She knew that guy because he used to be the maintenance man in her former apartment building and because he currently lived above one of her good friends who had three small children. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a relief. It was a, yes, we got him.
HAFFENREFFER: It turns out Davis was wanted for alleged child molestation spanning more than a decade.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clearly the media is more important than it's ever been before. For example, what CNN did recently in helping us find the missing and displaced children as a result of Hurricane Katrina, what programs like "America's Most Wanted" and others have done.
HAFFENREFFER: The second accused child molester behind bars because of Oprah, Niles Scott.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We considered Mr. Scott a dangerous fugitive. He was wanted for rape and kidnapping.
HAFFENREFFER: He was found in Belize, of all places, and was extradited back to Ohio where two years ago he had been arrested for raping his 10-year-old niece.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why were you hiding in Belize?
NILES SCOTT, CAPTURED FUGITIVE: I was not hiding.
HAFFENREFFER: Turns out he'd been released on bail and fled the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The system failed by leaving him out on such a low bond.
HAFFENREFFER: It's a system that Oprah swears she will change.
WINFREY: I am going to spend my own resources and I am going to work with law enforcement and I'm going to change, with your help, the laws in this country, state, by state, by state.
HAFFENREFFER: And she's serious, because she was a victim herself, molested, starting at age 4.
WINFREY: I know that this is what I'm supposed to do in my life. I know this. This is a full circle moment for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Wow.
CNN's Anderson Cooper, by the way, will be on Oprah's show today. That show will take an in-depth look at poverty in America.
The next hour of DAYBREAK starts in one minute.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is Wednesday, October 12. TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
