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CNN Live At Daybreak

Shattered Truce; Leak Investigation; Vino and Vivaldi

Aired October 27, 2005 - 05:00   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 Thursday, October 27. And rain or shine or whatever, this is one fine day in Chicago. Yes, indeed, the Chicago White Sox are baseball's champions. The Sox completed a four-game World Series sweep of the Houston Astros last night with a 1-0 win.
Of course that has nothing to do with the White Sox right there. That's Karl Rove. And the time clock is running down in the CIA leak investigation. The grand jury about to expire. We'll look at what could happen this week.

And she says she's been living a lie for seven years, but no more. Sheryl Swoopes comes out.

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

COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on that White Sox win in just a moment.

Also ahead, is it time to finally bury the past? We'll have a heated debate over what to do with Russia's most famous dead body.

And music soothes the soul. And as it turns out, the spirits. Get ready to sing for your wine.

But first, "Now in the News."

Israeli planes pounded Gaza today in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed five Israelis and wounded 28 at a marketplace. The Islamic Jihad militant group says the suicide bomber was retaliating for Monday's killing of one of its leaders in the West Bank. We'll have a live report for you out of Jerusalem in just a minute.

The commander in chief takes on hurricane duty today. President Bush heads to Florida for a firsthand look at Hurricane Wilma's destruction and the government's relief effort.

And there it is. You're going to see it soon, the winning hit. It's a piddly (ph) winning hit, but boy, it did the job.

The Chicago White Sox are the World Series champions for the first time since 1917. The Sox swept the Astros with a 1-0 win in Houston. Oh, and the fans are loving it.

I actually woke up, Jacqui, to catch the last two outs of the game.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Did you really?

COSTELLO: I did.

JERAS: It wasn't another one of those record-long games, was it?

COSTELLO: No. But the last two catches by (INAUDIBLE) were like something to see.

JERAS: Really?

COSTELLO: Like incredible catches.

JERAS: Wow.

COSTELLO: Catches you didn't think anybody was capable of. So the White Sox win.

JERAS: I know.

COSTELLO: And we're going to take you to Chicago later on, on DAYBREAK.

JERAS: That's excellent. Congratulations to them. And I'm sure half of the city, anyway, is celebrating, right?

COSTELLO: Not the Cubs fans, I guess.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.

The Israeli-Palestinian truce is in shambles this morning. Israel is on the attack after a suicide bomber killed five Israelis. And Palestinian militants are vowing more violence.

Guy Raz has details from the attack scene in Hadera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUY RAZ, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A quarter to 4:00 in the afternoon in this working-class city, a sound and force that shattered windows and terminated human life. Hadera's marketplace the target nearly three years since this city was last chosen by Palestinian suicide bombers.

Recovery teams soberly evacuated the dead. The wounded taken to hospital. Some hanging on to life. The familiar and predictable sound bites from Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

SAEB EREKAT, CHIEF PALESTINIAN NEGOTIATOR: We condemn the attack in Hadera. And we don't want to go back to this viscous cycle. Violence will be violence. It will be bullets. We've been there before. Israelis and Palestinians will pay the heaviest price if the cessation of violence is undermined. MARK REGEV: These groups don't want peace. They don't want reconciliation. They don't want to see a different Middle East. They only want to see violent jihad. And we call upon the Palestinian leadership to act to fulfill its promises to take the guns away from its killers.

RAZ: This was the end of a three-week Jewish festival period. Some Jews were celebrating Simchat Torah, the holiday celebrating the last chapter of the Hebrew bible. Others were picking up produce for dinner when the bomber struck.

"I saw bodies flying," said this eyewitness. "You can't imagine what I saw. I'm in shock."

Islamic Jihad says this 20-year-old man turned himself into a human bomb for its cause. The bomber's identity was announced over the loud speakers in his home town of Kabatiya, just south of the West Bank city of Jenin.

Senior jihad officials are now warning Israel's population to brace itself. "We are going to hit everywhere our hands can reach," he said.

Islamic Jihad lost a senior operative on Monday in a shootout with Israeli troops. This bombing, the group says, was retaliation.

(on camera): Sadly, Israeli expert teams are experts in cleaning up the broken glass, the blood-drenched streets and the toppled buildings. But local officials promise within 24 hours this marketplace behind be will reopen for business, just like any other normal day.

Guy Raz, CNN, Hadera, in northern Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Comments like the one made by Iran's new president certainly aren't contributing to peace efforts in the Middle East. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has quoted from Iran's late Ayatollah Khomeini, who said that Israel must be wiped out from the map of the world. The Israeli ambassador to the United Nations says comments like that are dangerous.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN GILLERMAN, ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: Now, I want to make this very clear. Iran is no longer just a threat to Israel. Iran is not an Israeli problem. Iran is a global threat. And it is up to the international community to act against a leader in a country who calls for the destruction and the wiping out of another member state of the United Nations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The Iranian leader's comments so outraged the French that they called Iran's ambassador to Paris for an explanation. Let's get more now on Israel's reaction to both the political and physical attacks against it. John Vause in Jerusalem this morning.

Good morning, John.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Within hours of that suicide bombing in Hadera, the Israeli prime minister authorized a wide-ranging military operation in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In particular, targeting Islamic Jihad, the militant group which claimed responsibility.

Overnight, Israel launched two separate air strikes on Gaza. Missiles damaged a bridge and also a road. And another time, in a later strike, an open field was hit. This field, according to Israeli intelligence, was used by militants to launch rocket attacks into Israel. So far, though, there have been no reports of casualties from Gaza.

The Israelis have also decided to step up targeted killings of the militant leadership. Security at checkpoints in the West Bank has been greatly increased, making it difficult for Palestinians to travel through the West Bank. Also, access to Israel for Palestinian has been shut down, closed from the West Bank into Israel. And also, the limited access from Gaza into Israel has been completely closed off as well.

Large numbers of Israel troops were already deployed in the northern part of the West Bank on military operations. They've now been ordered to step up their sweeping arrests of Palestinians suspected of militant activity, especially those associated with Islamic Jihad.

If necessary, Israeli soldiers have been ordered to go door to door, from town to village. This operation, we are told, has no time frame. It will be open-ended -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Quickly, John, what is Israel's reaction to what the Iranian president is saying?

VAUSE: Well, Israel plans to work through diplomatic channels. And basically, the Israeli government wants to have Iran kicked out of the United Nations.

COSTELLO: And just one more question. We thought that when Israel pulled out of Gaza this was the start to peace in that region. Yet, it seems like here we go again.

VAUSE: Yes, that's the feeling that many, many people have here on both the Israeli side and the Palestinian side. The disengagement was billed as a jumpstart back to peace negotiations, but it seems the momentum from the Gaza disengagement and the Gaza pullout certainly has been lost.

These two sides now moving further apart than they ever have been in recent months -- Carol.

COSTELLO: John Vause, live in Jerusalem this morning.

The CIA leak investigation may be just about over, or maybe it's not. No one really knows what's next except for the special prosecutor.

CNN Justice Correspondent Kelli Arena looks at several of the possible scenarios.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): As usual, special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald didn't have much to say as he left the courthouse. And the suspense continues. He could make his case on Friday and ask jurors to decide on indictments then, or Fitzgerald may need more time and will ask to extend the grand jury. He's already done that once.

In fact, Fitzgerald met with the judge who would grant that extension on Wednesday. But it's unclear why.

ROSCOE HOWARD, FMR. U.S. ATTORNEY: Let's say that he has one more witness to put in. You can ask for a brief extension. You can ask -- you can ask the chief judge to bring a grand jury back for a very limited engagement. It could be one day. It could be a couple of days. But one more time.

ARENA: Another possibility, though legal experts say it's unlikely, the grand jury may have already delivered an indictment and it's being kept under seal.

HOWARD: It's unusual. I mean, it's rare that you seal it for the convenience of the parties.

ARENA: Then again, Fitzgerald may not seek any indictments at all. But lawyers close to the case expect Fitzgerald to bring some type of charges, and they say they probably won't have to do with divulging CIA operative Valerie Plame's name.

ROBERT RAY, FMR. INDEPENDENT COUNSEL: Pat Fitzgerald may well decide that there's an important federal interest to be vindicated here simply by a prosecution in the area of obstruction of justice. Again, it remains to be seen, but it would not be unprecedented.

ARENA: Whatever decision he does make, legal experts say he'll be able to back it up by the thoroughness of his investigation. In fact, just this week, FBI agents were out again interviewing Valerie Plame's neighbors, asking if they knew she worked for the CIA before her name was made public.

Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: Also consider this: a story in this morning's "Washington Post" says an announcement on the investigation is expected tomorrow. But that does not necessarily mean indictments will be handed down. The paper also says that attorneys for White House adviser Karl Rove are trying to head off any possible perjury charges stemming from his earlier testimony.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, a high-profile athlete makes a big announcement. This basketball star says she's accepted an alternative lifestyle. And we're asking you this question: Can she still be role model for your kids?

Plus, the vines are listening. In northern Italy, one winemaker says it's not just the rich soil and right climate. Beethoven is making a difference as well. And a university says he just may be right.

Also, an icon from the Soviet Union. Is it time to bury the past, literally?

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: International markets are mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up 22 points. The London FTSE down 30. The German DAX lower by 42.

Ah, let's take a look at the futures trading and the price of oil. It's actually higher after yesterday's nearly $2 drop. Crude oil is trading up 46 cents at $61.12 a barrel this morning.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:15 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

President Bush heads to Florida later today. Frustration is mounting three days after Hurricane Wilma slammed the Sunshine State. And the president will get a firsthand look at recovery efforts.

A fire swept through a detention center in Amsterdam's airport overnight. Authorities say the blaze killed 10 illegal immigrants who were waiting to be deported. Fifteen other people were injured, including police and security guards.

In money news, investigators want to know what's been going on at General Motors. GM is expected to turn over accounting records that have been subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investigators also want records from the auto maker's finance unit, GMAC.

In cultures, legendary dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov was honored with a lifetime achievement award at last night's Princes Grace Awards. He is the first-ever recipient of the Prince Rainier Award. The awards are meant to honor contributions to theater, film and dance. In sports, the long wait is over for the Chicago White Sox. This is incredible. The Southsiders beat the Houston Astros 1-0 to win their first World Series title since 1917. Outfielder Jermaine Dye was named series MVP.

Yes, he's the guy who hit the winning run in, Jacqui.

JERAS: You're celebrating this morning, aren't you?

COSTELLO: Well, you know, I won a $100 bet, so I'm pretty happy.

JERAS: You did?

COSTELLO: Yes.

JERAS: All right. You're buying me breakfast.

COSTELLO: No problem.

JERAS: Although you'll have to FedEx it here.

COSTELLO: I know.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: More sports to talk about this morning with a slightly different bent, you could say. The WNBA superstar Sheryl Swoopes, you know her?

JERAS: Yes.

COSTELLO: She's opening her locker door, so to speak. The Houston Comets forward and three-time WNBA MVP announces she is gay. And she did that to "ESPN," the magazine.

Swoopes and her former husband have an 8-year-old son, but she says, "I was waiting to exhale." She said, "It's frustrating to keep everything inside and not be who I want to be. I'm sure life is not going to be easier for me just because I'm coming out, but at least I will be free."

And she adds this, says, "My biggest concern is that people are going to look at my homosexuality and say to little girls, whether they're white, black, Hispanic, that I can't be their role model anymore."

But you know, there's a lot more to this story that's very interesting. And we're going to explore this in-depth in our 6:00 hour. But apparently, she has an endorsement deal with a gay cruise line. So her announcement comes on the heels of that.

It's a six-figure deal. And apparently, she is deeply, deeply in debt.

The other kind of controversial thing associated with this announcement is apparently she was having a relationship with one of the coaches on her team.

JERAS: Right.

COSTELLO: And still is. She's been with her for seven years.

JERAS: Right. She's not a coach anymore, though.

COSTELLO: Not a coach anymore.

JERAS: Not for her team, anyway.

COSTELLO: But she was having this relationship while this woman was still the coach.

JERAS: She was the coach.

COSTELLO: And the other thing is, is that she says she wasn't born gay but she became gay.

JERAS: She was married and has an 8-year-old.

COSTELLO: Right. So she knows that is going to bring out a lot of controversy.

So we wondered what you thought about this, because a lot of little girls, especially athletes, little girl athletes, look up to her because she is one incredible athlete.

JERAS: Yes, she is. And that leads us to our DAYBREAK "Question of the Day." Do you even care if athletes are gay? E-mail us your answer at DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

COSTELLO: And still to come this morning, Merlot and Mozart? Chopin and Chardonnay? Vivaldi and vintage -- or Vinotage, I should say. That's what's fermenting in the Italian countryside. We'll explain just ahead.

You're watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: In entertainment headlines for you this morning, there will not be a wedding for one of the "Desperate Housewives." The engagement is off for Nicolette Sheridan and her Swedish actor-fiance. Sheridan's publicist says they parted ways after about a year and a half, and that's about the same amount of time she was married to actor Harry Hamlin back in the early '90s.

Late "Late Show" host Craig Ferguson has another gig. He's been chosen to host the upcoming People's Choice Awards. Awards for things like favorite on-screen match-up and favorite family film will be handed out on January 10.

Actor Johnny Depp is back on drugs, at least in the movies. Depp, who once played a pioneering cocaine dealer in the movie "Blow" has signed on to play a heroin addict in "Shantaram." Depp is also the film's producer.

We've all heard that talking to your plants can help them grown. But now one winemaker is taking that concept to a whole new level.

CNN's Rome bureau chief, Alessio Vinci, has the story straight from the Italian countryside.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN ROME BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): If good wine is all about sunshine and soil, can a good tune be just as beneficial? Carlo Cignozzi believes yes. Music, he says, helps grapes grow stronger and healthier. So instead of using chemicals to keep parasites, molds and bacteria away -- Cignozzi set up a network of speakers he says delights his vineyards 24 hours a day with the likes of Beethoven, Mahler and Vivaldi. The grapes closest to the speakers he says, ripen faster.

CARLOS CIGNOZZI, WINEMAKER: You can see here. So the first row near the speaker, no, are very, very red. And if you go on, if you go on -- far away.

VINCI (on camera): Go further away from the speaker?

CIGNOZZI: Very far away from the speaker, the bunches are green.

VINCI (voice-over): Carlos says people in town believe he is, in his words, a little crazy, or perhaps just jealous of his success. All of his production, about 35,000 bottles a year, are quickly sold, a third of it to the U.S.

(on camera): Skeptics may balk, but the benefits of music on these vineyards are being studied at a university in Florence not too far away from here. Researchers there say it is too early to draw any conclusions, but they do say that early tests show that these vineyards are growing stronger because of the sound.

(voice-over): And what the grapes listen to, the owner says, is just as crucial.

(on camera): What about other music? Not only classical, but rock or samba?

CIGNOZZI: No rock and samba. Because if the people in the wine room, you shot the rock in samba, for day and night, be kind of crazy, mad, because I prefer classical.

VINCI: You don't want the wine to go crazy?

CIGNOZZI: No, no.

VINCI (voice-over): Alessio Vinci, CNN, Montalcino, Italy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.

Has history passed the father of the Soviet Union by? More than six decades later, the body of Vladimir Lenin may finally be laid to rest.

And remember the "Question of the Day," Sheryl Swoopes, the WNBA star, came out and said she is gay. And she's kind of concerned that that will, you know, affect her image. But do you care if athletes are gay? And is there a difference between a female athlete coming out and a male athlete?

Send us your comments at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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