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CNN Live At Daybreak

Iraqis get Ready to Vote on Constitution; Scripted Event?; Earthquake Relief

Aired October 14, 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 Friday, October 12. Security is tight in Iraq and hopes for the future are high. It's history in the making as Iraqis get ready to vote on their constitution. Will it be a move toward democracy or division?
Live to Baghdad for the latest straight ahead.

A little Q&A with the president. Go ahead, ask a question. Just don't get off message.

And he shared his music with us for decades. Now share a trip home to New Orleans with Fats Domino.

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

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on the Iraq vote in just a minute.

Also ahead, Christmas comes early for Chad Myers. Our own Chad, he's talking NASCAR in the next half-hour with driver Jeff Green.

But first, "Now in the News."

The Russian resort city of Nalchik is still sealed off following yesterday's siege by up to 150 rebel attackers. Russian officials say the last of the hostages have been freed more than 24 hours after the attacks began. Dozens of attackers, police and civilians were killed during the violence, which was north of Chechnya.

Karl Rove will be back in front of a grand jury today. The White House special adviser is once again being called to testify in the CIA leak investigation involving outed agent Valerie Plame. Today's appearance will be Rove's fourth in the investigation.

One of Hollywood's worst kept secrets will be revealed today. That's when British actor Daniel Craig is expected to be anointed as the new James Bond. The seventh Bond will star in "Casino Royale," which will be released sometime next year.

To our own James Bond.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, Miles O'Brien wanted that job.

COSTELLO: He did? MYERS: He said.

COSTELLO: But alas, it went to Daniel Craig.

MYERS: He didn't have the accent.

Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Iraq taking a crucial step toward democracy this weekend. Iraqis will go to the polls and vote on a new constitution that will pave the way for the establishment of a permanent government. Iraqi police and army troops are ratcheting up security amid threats of more insurgent attacks, though.

Let's head live to Baghdad to check in with CNN's Aneesh Raman.

How's it going so far, Aneesh?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, good morning.

Preparations well under way across Baghdad, if not the country, ahead of tomorrow's constitutional referendum. Some 15.5 million Iraqis are registered to vote. That number is up since January, largely because we've seen the Sunnis start to enter the political process.

All expectations are that the turnout will be quite high. We saw 58 percent back in January. Experts here saying we could see a higher turnout on this referendum.

Now, what is at stake, this isn't just a vote on a constitution. It is also a vote on this political process. If the constitution fails, this entire national assembly is dissolved, the new one is elected by mid-December, and this process starts anew.

If it passes, though, in mid-December we have general elections for a permanent government that would be in office for five years. And that is really what Iraqis are looking for, not these transitional interim governments that are in power for a matter of months, but a government that would have years, really, not just to establish relations with neighbors, but also fix the situation on the streets.

So the two numbers we're going to be looking for, Carol, tomorrow, first and foremost, is turnout. That gives us a sense of how many Iraqis are still invested in the political process. And fixing the politics here, by all expectations, is the only way to bring stability to Iraq.

And the other number is by what margin this constitution either passes or fails. The Sunnis still are looking to reject this constitution. And if the document passes, despite a large Sunni turnout, it could further deepen divides. And this document itself, something meant to bridge the communities together, is actually deepening divides as well.

The major issue is federalism, Carol, and how powerful the regional governments will be.

COSTELLO: Aneesh, I want to talk about the voting process itself, because as people go to the polls, you know, it's dangerous in Iraq still. And the U.S. military has gone to extreme measures to protect them.

Tell us what the polling stations will look like.

RAMAN: Yes, there will be incredible security. You'll recall back in January the country was virtually under martial law the day of the election. Something similar set up now.

Roads will be closed, barricades put up, checkpoints throughout the city for those who are walking. But the biggest threat, we're told, because the cars are going to be off the roads, are suicide bombers. And there are suggestions that they'll be advising voters to stay as far away from each other in line as possible so that they're not cuddled together, making themselves a target for a suicide bomber.

But huge security tomorrow.

We haven't seen a real spike in attacks, aside from a couple of big suicide bombings in that northwestern town of Tal Afar this week. We saw a steady rise in attacks back in January. And there have been suggestions from the U.S. military, Carol, that insurgents may be laying low, planning attacks for tomorrow.

So incredible vigilance on the streets by Iraqi security forces, as well as the U.S. military here -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Aneesh Raman, live in Baghdad this morning.

An historic D-Day unit of the 101st Airborne Division is being reactivated and deployed to Iraq. The 506th Regimental Combat team was among the first to land in Normandy during World War II. The unit's bravery was the subject of the book "Band of Brothers," which was later adapted for an HBO miniseries.

A group of American soldiers aren't making news for what they said to President Bush, but for what they knew President Bush would say to them.

CNN White House Correspondent Suzanne Malveaux takes a peak behind the curtain.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): President Bush's videoconference call to American troops was an event like many at the White House that wasn't expected to make any news. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Again, I want to -- I want to thank you all for being so courageous and for stepping up when the United States of America needed you.

MALVEAUX: In fact, the event didn't make news. Instead, it was the rehearsal just moments before that caught the media's eye.

ALLISON BARBER, DEP. ASSIST. DEFENSE SECRETARY: So here's what you have to be prepared for, Captain Kennedy, is that the president is going to ask you some questions...

MALVEAUX: Taken from a live satellite feed, we see 10 American troops and one Iraqi soldier being briefed by a Pentagon official on the possible topics the president will address.

BARBER: The president's going to open up and say, "I'm interested in how the pre-election operations are going."

MALVEAUX: A rare glimpse into the kind of preparation that goes into a tightly-controlled presidential event.

BARBER: So then that looks like what you were talking about yesterday, about being confident in what -- in Iraqi people and proud to serve.

1ST. LT. GREGG MURPHY, U.S. ARMY: I want to tell you, sir, that we appreciate you coming with us today for this interview and hearing us express our confidence in the Iraqi security force's role in the upcoming referendum.

MALVEAUX: Some of the coaching was of a lighthearted nature.

BARBER: That was great. Everybody seemed pretty comfortable. A few smiles wouldn't hurt back here on the TV. See, look at how good you guys look.

MALVEAUX: Other portions of the rehearsal, mundane technical issues. And while the White House and Pentagon say none of it was scripted...

BARBER: All right. But if he gives us a question that's not something that we've scripted, Captain Kennedy, you're going to have that mic. And that's your chance to impress us all.

MALVEAUX: ... the White House described the videoconference as a Q&A session and said that participants did not know the questions in advance.

MASTER SGT. CORINE LOMBARDO, U.S. ARMY: Well, they gave us a general idea of, you know, things that he may be asking, but we didn't know until we were actually on.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I mean, this is an event where there's coordination that goes on, and we worked closely with the Department of Defense. They worked to pull together some troops for the president to visit with and highlight important topics that are going on right now on the ground in Iraq.

MALVEAUX (on camera): But one senior Pentagon official who saw a videotape of the rehearsal tells CNN that he was livid by what he saw. He says service members pride themselves on speaking their minds.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we'll have more on this story a little later with John Mercurio, from "The National Journal's Hotline." That will come your way in the next hour of DAYBREAK.

Afterwards, though, here's what the Pentagon had to say -- I'm quoting here. It said, "The event was technologically challenging and required organization and preparation. The soldiers were advised as to the issues they should expect to discuss and decided among themselves who would speak to each issue as it may arise."

"The service members were excited about the opportunity to speak with the president. No one intended to tell them what to think or how to express themselves. Going through likely questions in advance was meant solely to help the troops feel at ease during an obviously unique experience."

Again, we'll be talking more about this in our 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK.

There are mixed messages coming out of earthquake-ravaged Pakistan this morning. An Army spokesman says the search and rescue operation has now ended and the focus is on relief efforts and the recovery of bodies. But Pakistan's government insists the search for survivors continues. Government officials say the quake killed at least 23,000 people.

Emergency aid is pouring into Pakistan from all around the world, bringing food, water, medical supplies and more. The U.S. and other countries are flying into an airbase outside Islamabad.

CNN's Becky Anderson is following developments from there.

Quite an unusual place for you to be, Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is an unusual place to be. It's an unusual place for the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan to be as well.

He does come here every so often. But normally he flies in and he flies out and there's nobody here. He says this is quite incredible to see the effort that's going on here today.

You referred to the officials in this area suggesting the rescue effort is still going on. It's got to be said at this point it is now winding down. And this is becoming a relief effort. Although this morning, I'm told a one-and-a-half year old little girl was pulled from the ruins alive in Monteret (ph), to the north of here. But as I say, this is now a race against time. And it is a huge relief effort.

Some 20 countries are involved in this. Behind me you'll see pallets that are going up by road, in fact, by Pakistani truck, American pallets full of winterized tents, of water, of towels, everything that people to the north might need.

Let's remember the official estimate is some 2.5 million people homeless. And maybe as many as five million.

Just walk around with me here so you can see the extent of the involvement here by the U.S. and other countries. That is a German plane. That is an Uzbekistani plane. That over there is a Thai cargo plane. And, of course, the Americans are here in force at this point.

Eight choppers have been in for some time now. Two U.S. Navy choppers are here. And there are more on the way. There are 200 U.S. troops on site here working alongside those from other countries.

I'm joined now by the U.S. rear admiral, Michael LeFever, who is in charge of this operation here for the U.S.

Thank you very much, indeed, for joining me.

Let me start with this extremely significant point. I guess for you guys, when you saw this morning an Iranian plane arrive here, an Iranian plane, a cargo plane full of gear, but not enough staff and crew to unload that plane, I know that one of the Iranians went over to the Americans and asked for help. And we can see effectively you and the Iranians working together, a very, very significant point, and pointed in this time of such disaster.

REAR ADM. MICHAEL LEFEVER, U.S. NAVY: It is. It's a wonderful thing to be able to break down and see all the countries working together for one effort, to help our Pakistani allies and their relief efforts in saving lives out in the -- out in the north regions, where people have been without food and water and medical supplies.

We're starting to experience some of the cold weather up in the mountain areas, and it's just wonderful to see all the different nations. You mentioned 20 different nations involved in saving lives for humanity. It's a great...

ANDERSON: Give us a sense of the scale of your operation here alone and how you're coordinating it. Because to me, it seems quite incredible, the coordination.

LEFEVER: Yes. I'm coordinating a joint U.S. effort in support of the Pakistani government in their ability to handle the relief organizations. We have heavy-lift and medium-lift helicopters that we have people that will be able to move those supplies, as we did to get them up to those affected areas right away. Smaller helicopters from other nations are getting them out to those other regions.

We have a (INAUDIBLE) on board that loads the aircraft, as you saw. Different countries, different abilities loading the cargo into the trucks, as well as our own aircraft, up to eight large aircraft that arrive each night on loading pallets, pallets of needed supplies, medical supplies, tent and equipment that the Pakistani government has been requesting.

ANDERSON: You've been up north. Just how bad are things?

LEFEVER: I have yet to get up there. I've been on the ground for a couple of days and getting the situation awareness here. Going up, the reports back from our pilots have been such that there is -- there is some areas that are quite devastated. There are roads that are impassable, and so they're making the best to be able to get the distribution of those emergency supplies to those people.

ANDERSON: All right.

LEFEVER: It's a wonderful, wonderful mission.

ANDERSON: And sir, we thank you very much, indeed, for joining us.

LEFEVER: Thank you.

ANDERSON: And just a sense there of just how organized things are becoming here in South Asia. As I say, some 20 nations now involved in this international relief effort, desperately trying to get resources to these 2.5, maybe 3, maybe 4 million people who are now displaced.

Pakistan also massively involved in this. Not, of course, just the military, who have already got some 70 helicopters working here, but people on the ground.

We've seen people arriving on bikes, by foot, in cars, and in trucks. They're all bringing much-needed blankets and old clothes here to the airport in order to help out with this effort. Quite phenomenal -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Quite. Becky Anderson, live from Pakistan this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a new version of that videotaped beating in New Orleans' French Quarter.

And as Iraqis count down to their crucial vote, debate over the referendum goes on. We'll tell you about who's planning to vote and what they're talking about.

And a home in ruins and treasured mementos trashed. Fats Domino checks out his House in New Orleans.

And he's fast and furious on the track. Veteran NASCAR driver Jeff Green talks to Chad about what it's like to race for a living.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: International markets lower this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is down 54 points. The London FTSE down 16. The German DAX lower by 12.

In futures trading, yes, got to talk about oil now. It's down 34 cents. Down 34 cents. That's pretty good. It's $62.74 a barrel this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:18 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Some people apparently got word of the New York subway terror threat days before it was announced to the rest of us, on October 6. "The New York Daily News" reports the advanced warning came in emails from people with close connections to homeland security.

Vivian Malone Jones has died of a stroke. Jones will always be remembered as the first African-American woman admitted to the University of Alabama. The controversy over her 1963 enrollment included then governor George Wallace's famous stand in the schoolhouse door.

Vivian Malone Jones was 63.

In money news, ultra-famous director Stephen Spielberg is trying a new venue, video games. The Academy Award winner has agreed to develop three different video games for Electronic Arts. It's unknown what type of game Spielberg is expected to come up with.

In culture, Beethoven is expected to fetch a pretty penny more than 75 years after his death. A handwritten piece -- that's not him. Anyway, a piece of music from the legendary composer is being shown off in front of a December 1 auction date. The original score could go for as much as $2.5 million.

In sports, the Houston Astros used some timely hitting to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-1. The National League championship series now tied at one game a piece. Game three of the series slated for tomorrow. Game three of the ALCS is tonight -- Chad.

MYERS: I like to see a nice little guy -- I mean, just a kind of a chunkier guy be able to get a triple out of that. That was a great hit yesterday for those guys, man.

COSTELLO: There's a lot of good chunky players in baseball.

MYERS: Yes. There's hope for me yet. I don't see any bald guys out there yet, so maybe I'm done.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thanks, Chad.

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

Let's talk more about that New Orleans police videotape. You know, where the one where the man was -- well, you see it here.

The Associated Press, though, has now released the full video of that incident that played out last Saturday on Bourbon Street. It shows one of the officers knocking the victim, Robert Davis, who was already on the ground restrained. And at one point, though it's very hard to hear, Davis yells, "If you allow me to turn over, I will."

The tape also shows relief worker Calvin Brials (ph), who tried to intervene, but was pushed away by police and later handcuffed.

We'll show you more of this videotape in the 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK.

About $5 million worth of food reportedly never reached hurricane victims. "The Washington Post" is reporting that U.S. import laws have kept the emergency rations from Britain stacked in a warehouse more than a month. It costs taxpayers $16,000 a month to store this food.

Still to come this morning, last fall we could hardly get one. Of course I'm talking about the flu shot, because, as you know, there was a vaccine shortage. Not so much this year. So will there be a mad rush? We'll have more on that story ahead.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Friday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In health headlines for you this morning, Mexican immigrants who've lived in the United States fewer than 10 years are not as likely to visit the emergency room as long-term immigrants or people born here in the United States. That's one finding of a recent analysis of immigration data. The survey finds immigrants rarely seek health care, especially if they're in this country illegally.

Health officials say the deadly strain of bird flu found in Turkish poultry probably has also affected birds in Romania. If confirmed, it will be the first instance of the lethal H5N1 strain known to have reached Europe. And that would boost the theory that it's spread by migrating birds.

And plenty of health care providers across the United States are still waiting to get their flu vaccines. One health official says some providers are getting partial shipments, but others aren't getting anything. Federal experts say there will be plenty of vaccine to go around within a couple of weeks, so don't worry.

Apparently what's happening, you know there was that big vaccine shortage last year, Chad.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Well, this year, they're spacing out the shipments. But smaller towns aren't getting their shipments in time because they're suggesting that people really in need of a flu shot, like the elderly and children, get them before October 24.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: But the shipments aren't arriving in time.

MYERS: Well, the 91 million flu shots are expected to be available, which is more than the normal consumption of flu shots in a regular year. But last year we didn't get them because of that contamination with half the -- with half the batch, right?

COSTELLO: Right.

MYERS: So this year, so far, that has not happened.

The "Question of the Day" is, are you going to get a flu shot this year? And are you going to get a flu shot...

COSTELLO: Yes, because, you know...

MYERS: Maybe you have never gotten one before. Are you going to get one? Are you scared about this Asian -- avian flu? Although this is not going to help you. The flu shot does not take care of that flu.

COSTELLO: No. And remember, you know, everybody was afraid because you couldn't get a flu vaccine last year because we didn't have enough of the vaccine? But there was no flu epidemic in the United States.

MYERS: Right. But we were very concerned about one, weren't we? Now, this year, we don't seem as concerned. Are we going to be lackadaisical about all this, this year?

COSTELLO: We're curious. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Here's what's all new in the next half-hour.

Jeff Green is at the wheel of a petty (ph) racing legendary number 43 Dodge. Chad gets a few driving tips.

Plus, New Orleans music legend Fats Domino returns home to the hurricane-battered and flood-ravaged Ninth Ward. We'll have a report on what he's found.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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