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CNN Live At Daybreak

Who is 'Scooter' Libby?; Fight for Iraq; Wilma: Category 3

Aired October 25, 2005 - 05:30   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You're right, though, it's easier to clean up when you're a little cooler.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

COSTELLO: And not so humid.

Thank you, Jacqui.

An interesting article in "The New York Times" this morning. A published report suggests Vice President Dick Cheney was the initial source in the CIA leak saga. Cheney's Chief of Staff, Lewis Libby, has been the focus of a grand jury probe in recent weeks.

Now today's "Times" reports Libby first learned about Valerie Plame Wilson from Cheney himself weeks before she was publicly exposed in a newspaper column. "The Times" cites lawyers involved in the case who describe notes of previously undisclosed conversations between Libby and Cheney.

But "The Times" reports "Mr. Libby's notes contain no suggestion that either Mr. Cheney or Mr. Libby knew at the time of Ms. Wilson's undercover status or that her identity was classified." And that, of course, is key. Disclosing a covert agent's identity is not a crime if the person who discloses it is unaware of the agent's covert status. So it should get much more interesting later today.

The grand jury investigating that matter for the last two years is set to wrap up Friday. The White House bracing for the possibility that Libby could be indicted.

CNN's Joe Johns tells us more about this man known in Washington circles simply as Scooter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scooter who? It was once a common question around this town. Libby is at the center of power, one of those high ranking officials who sits in at cabinet meetings when his boss, Dick Cheney, isn't available. But Libby is now a very public political target because of questions whether he blew the cover of a CIA operative.

His name spoken derisively by Democrats.

HOWARD DEAN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well the problem here is not just that Karl Rove and Scooter Libby had something to do with a cover-up and you know may have lied or whatever they may be indicted for. The problem is, this happened because the president wasn't truthful with the American people when we went into Iraq.

JOHNS: For Republicans, the prospect that someone so close to the vice president of the United States could be indicted is awkward, to say the least.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: I guess I'm just not comfortable speculating on what might happen, or whether anything will happen at all.

JOHNS: Libby has been in and out of government for decades. He was a lawyer, skilled at getting people out of legal trouble, which makes it puzzling how a man with Libby's background could get mixed up in all of this.

Libby is one of the White House hawks who helped convince the president to take down Saddam Hussein. But after the war started, Joe Wilson, the husband of CIA Agent Valerie Plame, publicly slammed Vice President Cheney and President Bush on one of their main arguments for invading Iraq, to stop Saddam from trying to get nuclear weapons.

According to published reports, Libby was furious and recommended that the White House press office respond aggressively to Joe Wilson. A word often used to describe Libby is intense -- intense in his work, in his loyalty to the vice president and passionate in his writing. He's the author of a historical novel, but it was one of his letters that's raising questions in the investigation.

In the letter to "New York Times" reporter Judy Miller, who said she spoke to Libby about the Wilson matter, Libby wrote, "the public report of every other reporter's testimony makes clear they did not discuss Ms. Plame's identity with me." And that's raising questions of whether he tried to influence her testimony before the grand jury. And powerful though he is, Libby is also a very private person, with a small circle of friends. If he's indicted, the spotlight will be hard to avoid.

Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: The U.S. could soon reach a grim milestone in the fight for Iraq. The number of American troop deaths is approaching 2,000. It now stands just two deaths short of that mark.

In the meantime, Iraqi insurgents show no sign of slowing down. And boy did they prove that yesterday with a string of attacks in Baghdad that killed 10 people.

CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson brings us the dramatic images.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Massive, spectacular and caught on camera, a bomb hidden in a cement truck detonates. The third and by far the largest of three explosions targeting two heavily fortified hotels used by international journalists and western workers.

BOB REID, A.P. CHIEF EDITOR, BAGHDAD: At just about sunset, as I was sitting at my workstation, you know, preparing to do the night's work, heard this very, very loud explosion and even could feel the blast. So I knew something had exploded very close to the hotel.

ROBERTSON: It all began moments earlier with two smaller car bombs. The first car, captured on this security camera, detonates next to a concrete security barrier, blowing a hole in the hotel's defenses. The second car bomb approaches the breach, but is driven back by gunfire and explodes about a hundred meters from the hotel.

Seconds later, the cement mixer drives through the gap in the security barrier, exploding as it approaches the hotel lobby. Inside, stores were ripped apart. Hotel workers and some journalists among the walking wounded. Others fared far worse.

REID: Why they chose to hit at this time, we really don't know. What the purpose of it was, we really don't know. We can only guess that they knew this hotel as a target of international press and that probably journalists were the targets.

ROBERTSON: Police said all three of the vehicles were driven by suicide bombers. The pattern of the attack, targeting international journalists, almost guaranteeing big media coverage, mirroring what U.S. and Iraqi officials believe that insurgents want maximum publicity to instill fear in Iraqis and the international community.

(on camera): Witnesses report gunmen armed with rocket-propelled grenades joining in, too. Security sources describe it as a complex attack, but note insurgents may have been forced to choose a soft target, like the journalists' hotel, rather than try to go after more prestigious targets inside the super secure, heavily fortified international Green Zone.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: They have spent nearly a year battling insurgents in Iraq. Now they're getting a much friendlier reception. A Tennessee- based National Guard unit has started coming home from Iraq. An advanced group from the 278th Regimental Combat Team arrived yesterday at a Mississippi airport. Weather was much cooler than what they faced in the Iraqi deserts. One guardsman says it was nice to put on a regular coat again.

In Florida, Wilma is gone, but the damage remains. And so does the job of the Red Cross. Up next, a look at what you can do to help.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Helping Wilma's victims pick up the pieces that's the latest challenge for the Red Cross. It's already swamped with survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Red Cross spokeswoman Jana Zehner joins us live from the hard-hit Naples, Florida with what the agency is doing now.

Good morning -- Jana.

JANA ZEHNER, AMERICAN RED CROSS: Good morning.

COSTELLO: What's your biggest problem?

ZEHNER: You know the focus right now is making sure that everyone has a safe place to stay. So many people left our shelters immediately after the storm and got home and realized that they'd have damage and that their homes weren't livable and had to return back to shelters. And so we opened some and closed them and then had to reopen to accommodate that.

COSTELLO: How badly damaged are their homes? What are you hearing?

ZEHNER: It depends on the location. It seems that the east side of Florida had far worse damage than anticipated and the west side fared a tiny bit better than expected.

COSTELLO: So homes are flooded?

ZEHNER: There's some flooding. There's some wind damage. Trees into buildings. Just basically what you see in a storm of this size.

COSTELLO: And a lot of people still don't have electricity. I know that there are millions of people without power this morning in Florida.

ZEHNER: There are millions. I am sitting in the dark right now as well. So, yes, there is a huge amount of people that are dealing with that and water outages.

COSTELLO: Are you in the shelter now?

ZEHNER: Actually, I am not. I am headed across the state to go check on the east side of the state.

COSTELLO: I see. So people are coming back to the shelters. And what will they find there?

ZEHNER: A place to stay that is safe and dry. And a place that they can take some time, talk to some of our mental health counselors, have food, water, the basics that they need so they can regroup and think about what the next steps are to get their lives going again.

COSTELLO: And how do you help them do that? ZEHNER: Well the key with the American Red Cross is those immediate needs, making sure that you have food, that you have water, you have a safe place to stay. Like I said, our mental health counselors are a big part of this. As we've seen with this hurricane season with storm after storm that we have this wonderful group of volunteers who take time to talk to people and help them work through the ideas of this daunting task ahead of them, how do they start over? And it's an amazing group that does this.

COSTELLO: You know Florida is going to need some contributions from the rest of the country, you know, in money terms. And that's got to be a difficult task for you now because people have given so much already.

ZEHNER: It really has been a challenge, because people have been so amazingly generous with both their time and their money. And now we're going to have to go and ask again, because we have really not raised the money we needed to finish assisting the Katrina victims and then Rita happened and now Wilma. And our disaster relief fund is -- it's hard to say that it's low with how generous people have been, but it is. So it is going to be a challenge for our organization.

COSTELLO: How much money do you think you'll need to raise?

ZEHNER: I know that with the Katrina numbers we still had $500 million that we had to raise for that storm. And the damage assessment hasn't even been done for this one yet.

COSTELLO: My gosh, that's a seemingly impossible task -- Jana.

ZEHNER: It feels that way. But people have always come through when we've asked, and, like I said, with both their volunteer time and with money. So, we just have confidence that they will again.

COSTELLO: Yes, Americans are very generous, aren't they?

ZEHNER: Yes, they are.

COSTELLO: All right.

Jana Zehner from the Red Cross joining us live this morning from Naples, Florida.

If you would like to help victims of Hurricane Wilma, you can call the Red Cross at the numbers you see on your screen. The easiest one to remember is 1-800-HELP-NOW.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:45 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Rosa Parks, the Alabama woman who sparked the Civil Rights Movement, has died. She died in Detroit at the age of 92. She was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man back in 1955.

The White House apparently wants to give the CIA more leeway in questioning terror suspects. "The Washington Post" is reporting that Vice President Dick Cheney and CIA Director Porter Goss want the CIA to be exempt from a measure barring cruel and degrading treatment of detainees.

In money news, President Bush chose one of his economic advisers as the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Ben Bernanke will follow Alan Greenspan as the Fed Chair. Greenspan will retire in January.

In pop culture, the legendary rock group Cream is playing at Madison Square Garden. Last night they kicked off the first of three shows. It is the only North American appearance for the band. They have reunited after 40 years for a limited number of shows. And, yes, Eric Clapton is back, at least that's what my camera crew tells me. They say it's true.

In sports, the Atlanta Falcons jumped out early on the New York Jets and cruised to a 27-14 win in Monday Night Football. Quarterback Michael Vick ran for two touchdowns to lead the way for the 5 and 2 Falcons.

To the Forecast Center and -- Jacqui.

JERAS: Hi, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: But don't go away, because it is time to read some e- mails. We're asking you this question. You know Rosa Parks died overnight in Detroit. She was 92 years old. Rosa Parks famous for of course refusing to give up her seat on that bus to a white man back in 1955. So we're asking you this question this morning, 50 years after Rosa Parks, how much progress has been made in the Civil Rights Movement?

JERAS: E-mail us, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: You have some, though, don't you?

JERAS: I don't have any e-mail answers yet...

COSTELLO: I do. I have a million of them.

JERAS: I don't have any yet.

COSTELLO: No.

JERAS: Sorry.

COSTELLO: OK.

JERAS: I'll have to look.

COSTELLO: OK, should we do it after a break?

JERAS: You start.

It's Angie's (ph) call.

COSTELLO: We're going to get it together and we will read your e-mails after a break. DAYBREAK continues in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Some "Health Headlines" for you this morning. It's 5:51 Eastern.

The FDA promises to speed up the process of making the anti-flu drug Tamiflu available. The drug is in high demand because countries around the world are preparing for a possible Bird Flu outbreak.

The FDA withdraws its approval of a drug used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. How come? Well apparently the drug has been associated with liver problems. The move means the manufacturers will no longer produce generic versions of Pemoline. It was developed by Abbott Laboratories and sold under the name Cylert. Earlier this year, Abbott said it would no longer make the drug, but generic versions have remained available.

Speaking of generic drugs, a new study indicates you could have saved more than $20 billion last year by using them. Well not exactly you, but you collectively. The study by a pharmacy group found generic drugs cost about $60 less for a monthly prescription than a name-brand medicine, not to mention lower co-payments for generics.

All right, we have our e-mail segment together now.

JERAS: We do.

COSTELLO: We do. We're asking you this question.

JERAS: I'm new to this, Carol, give me a break. Sorry.

COSTELLO: And you're probably tired, because you probably worked about 80 hours yesterday.

JERAS: Yes, something like that.

COSTELLO: Yes.

JERAS: I think I got four hours of sleep.

COSTELLO: You poor thing.

JERAS: But I'm good, I've got coffee.

COSTELLO: And you look spunky. You do.

JERAS: Thanks. Chad gave me a survival kit, kind of, for the morning.

COSTELLO: He's good at that.

JERAS: I've got cereal, coffee. COSTELLO: He's got the coffeemaker in there.

JERAS: All kinds of oatmeal. Pop tarts, my favorite.

COSTELLO: Pop tarts.

JERAS: OK, but you don't care about that. You care about what people have to say about Rosa Parks.

And this one coming in from Joe Palmer (ph) from Vidalia, Georgia. Are things better some 50 years later? I would hope to shout they are, he says. My son pastors a great church in Birmingham, Alabama, with a wonderful multicultural, multiracial congregation. It ain't your grandpa's Birmingham. And Rosa Parks deserves so very much credit for that.

This one from Deborah (ph) in Gainesville, Georgia, far too little has been made in regards to racism in this country. I have always been a guarded optimist. But just last Friday, I walked by an elevator door in my office building and the initials KKK had been etched on to it apparently with a car key. Those subtle signs of covert racism does little to lift the spirit.

And from Earl Ett (ph) in Chesapeake, Virginia, I believe we have come a very long way since Mrs. Parks refused to give up her seat nearly 50 years ago, but we still have a surprisingly long way to go. Unfortunately, much of the segregation we are subjected to is done on purpose. I withstand (ph) to realize that this mainly happens in churches where we choose to attend a church that is all white or all black.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Thanks so much for your e-mails this morning. We always appreciate them.

We're going to toss to a break. We'll be back with more DAYBREAK after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: I have been waiting to see this, Jacqui, all morning long.

JERAS: Me, too. I saw this when this happened live yesterday.

COSTELLO: No. You must have felt just like Chad did.

JERAS: I did. I'm like, no, don't taste the water.

COSTELLO: Don't taste the water.

We're talking about Miles O'Brien. Of course he was in Florida yesterday at the height of the hurricane. Chad was back here in the studio. Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show," well, they poked fun of it. Let's check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JON STEWART, "THE DAILY SHOW": Meanwhile, the master of disaster, CNN's Miles O'Brien, added yet another sense perception to his hurricane reportage.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: That's all saltwater flooding, Miles, right, not freshwater flooding from rain? That's actually being pushed back in from the ocean?

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm going to check for you right now.

MYERS: No, don't taste it. Do not do that.

O'BRIEN: No, no, it's kind of fresh, maybe a little brackish.

STEWART: It's kind of fruity with a hint of Katrina.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He should have said it tastes like chicken.

JERAS: I know. Don't drink that water, yes. You don't even want to walk in that water if you don't have to. There could be sewage, oil.

COSTELLO: Well...

JERAS: Not good.

COSTELLO: In fairness...

JERAS: Yes, he said, actually I heard him in my IFB after he did that, and Miles says I shouldn't have done that. Everybody is giving me so much flack for drinking that water is what he said.

COSTELLO: And, yes, he was right about that. But overall, Miles did a terrific job.

JERAS: He really did.

COSTELLO: Yes, standing in all that. Did you see him holding on to the sign?

JERAS: No, I missed that part.

COSTELLO: It was good.

JERAS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Anyway, let's move along now, shall we?

JERAS: All right.

COSTELLO: Many people who decided not to evacuate ahead of Wilma have regretted that decision.

CNN's Mark Biello introduces us to a couple who took a serious beating from the storm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK BIELLO, CNN PHOTOJOURNALIST (voice-over): We traveled the width of Florida Monday, just as Wilma did. We found some of the places she left her mark. One of them was a small town on the edge of Lake Okeechobee called Clewiston.

GINA VIVES, WILMA SURVIVOR: I had a shed here. It's flattened.

BIELLO: Gina and Jesse (ph) live in this mobile home park right in the central portion of southern Florida. Seventy miles from the ocean, they decided not to evacuate, hoping the storm would lose power before it reached them. It turned out to be the wrong decision.

G. VIVES: I was so scared. I thought my life was over. We were in the bathroom just holding on to one another just -- I was crying the whole time.

JESSE VIVES, WILMA SURVIVOR: The trailer was rocking back and forth.

BIELLO: Gina was scared, but she was also lucky. As we walked around their neighborhood, we saw dozens of trailers flipped over on their sides, totaled.

Shortly after we arrived and before the storm had fully passed, FEMA was on the scene to look for some of Jesse and Gina's less fortunate neighbors.

This home is mangled, the search for survivors treacherous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Charlie (ph), you want to get a chainsaw?

BIELLO: Luckily, no victims were pulled from this wreckage. But these teams have hundreds of homes to search.

As for Gina and Jesse, they're safe but will not forget the experience in a hurry.

G. VIVES: I want to move. Really, I want to get out of here.

BIELLO: Mark Biello, CNN, Clewiston, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: The next hour of DAYBREAK begins in one minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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