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CNN Live At Daybreak
Iraqis Abused; Puppy Love, CMA Awards
Aired November 16, 2005 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(WEATHER REPORT)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, thank you, Bonnie. We'll get back to you.
There are new accusations this morning of Iraqi detainees being abused, but this time not by U.S. troops. Scores of detainees show signs of torture. That admission by Iraq's deputy interior minister.
Let's get more details on this.
Nic Robertson live in Baghdad.
Hello -- Nic.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol, good morning.
Well these latest accusations are not being denied by Iraqi officials. And it appears quite possible the latest accusations are possibly just the tip of the iceberg.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): CNN was recently given these shocking images of brutalized Iraqi prisoners. The video came from the deputy governor of Diyala Province, just north of Baghdad. He got a tip about police torture and took a cameraman to record what he found. Victims showed welts, apparently from beatings. The date on the tape indicated the video was shot back in August.
(on camera): And now in Baghdad, an apparently similar case of torture has been discovered at a ministry of interior facility by the U.S. military. When out searching for a 15-year-old boy, they entered a building containing many detainees, some of whom they said required medical attention. According to an Iraqi police officer at the scene, many had suffered torture.
(voice-over): While the police and U.S. military won't say where the building is in Baghdad, Iraq's deputy minister of interior confirms the abuse of prisoners, saying he is shocked, but says it's the worst torture he has seen.
HUSSEIN KAMAL, DEPUTY INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): I saw signs of physical abuse by brutal beating. One or two detainees were paralyzed and some had their skin peeled off various parts of their body.
ROBERTSON: U.S. troops have taken control of the premises, detaining several non-prisoners found at the facility. The U.S. is also providing medical care for some of the apparent torture victims. The Iraqi government says many of the prisoners appear not to have been fed.
The deputy interior minister blames a lack of resources for the abuses.
KAMAL (through translator): A major problem we face is that there are not enough places to contain these detainees after the preliminary investigation is through with them.
ROBERTSON: On Baghdad streets, rumors are rife about renegade ministry of interior death squads carrying out sectarian killings.
Interior ministry officials say they are aware those rumors are circulating, but vigorously deny them. Still, interior ministry officials now say they want a full investigation into the torture cases they say they found in Baghdad.
Iraq's prime minister wants answers, too. He's formed an investigative committee.
IBRAHIM AL JAFARI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The committee will start today to look at this situation, investigate it and report back what happened and how we got to where we are today.
ROBERTSON: If the new mood of self-examination in the Iraqi government is sustained, the public may well learn more about the abuses, not only in Baghdad, but also in Diyala Province and dispel the swirling rumors and restore confidence in the security forces.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
And the concern is that if those rumors and fears aren't dispelled, this sectarian divide that's opening up in the country between the Shi'a Muslims and the Sunni Muslims could be exacerbated by this. Because already the rumors are strong that it is the Sunnis who have been violated by the dominant --predominately Shi'a investigative force here -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning. Thanks.
A defense bill making its way through the U.S. Congress includes language barring the torture of detainees in U.S. custody. Most of you apparently believe the U.S. has tortured prisoners. A CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll finds 74 percent of Americans believe that, 20 percent don't. Asked should the U.S. torture suspected terrorists, more than half, 56 percent say no, but almost 40 percent responded yes.
The Republican-led Senate has said no to the Democrats. The Dems wanted a timetable for pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq. Instead, the Senate added special language to a Pentagon spending bill calls on the Bush administration to explain its strategy for the successful completion of the mission in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: Although our amendment was not adopted with some provisions that we think are important, the most important message is being sent from the U.S. Senate today in an overwhelming vote, which has now been cast, is we want to change course. We need to change course. Staying the course is not a strategy; it's a slogan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN WARNER (R-VA), ARMED SERVICES CHAIRMAN: I think it's very clear and it sends a strong message that we mean business with the Iraqi people now. I'm not satisfied with the manner in which they have very slowly these governments have come together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: As we have told you, President Bush is in Japan this morning. He met with the Japanese prime minister, but came away from the meeting without a commitment extending Japan's deployment of 500 troops to Iraq beyond next month.
President was asked about the Senate decision, seeking an explanation of the mission in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is important that we succeed in Iraq. A democracy in Iraq will bring peace for generations to come. And we're going to. The Iraqi people want us to succeed. The only reason we won't succeed is if we lose our nerve and the terrorists are able to drive us out of Iraq by killing innocent lives. But (INAUDIBLE) positive developments on the Hill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Just about 90 minutes ago, Air Force One touched down for the next leg of the president's eight-day Asian trip. This is Busan, South Korea, where President Bush will attend the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. We'll keep you posted.
One of the many rumors about Fidel Castro's health may be true. "The Miami Herald" is reporting in its morning edition that the CIA believes the Cuban leader has Parkinson's Disease. Unnamed officials have told the paper that symptoms became more pronounced about a year ago. And added that the 79-year-old leader's health could begin deteriorating quickly.
In news "Across America" now, Miami's mayor easily won reelection last night. Manny Diaz defeated four contenders in his bid for a second term. The election was delayed a week because of all the damage from Hurricane Wilma. Officials say less than 20 percent of eligible voters turned out to cast ballots.
We have a winner. One winning ticket was sold in last night's $315 million Mega Millions lottery. If it was mine, I'd be out of here, so it wasn't. The ticket was actually bought in Anaheim, California. Here are the numbers so you can be depressed, along with me, 2, 4, 5, 40 and 48 with 7 as the Mega Ball number. Nineteen players matched the first five numbers, which pays $250,000.
A signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation fetched nearly $700,000 at auction. The Abraham Lincoln signature was just one of the items up for sale from the estate of Malcolm Forbes. A doctor's note detailing Lincoln's autopsy sold for $240,000.
Veteran newsman Ted Koppel is making a farewell tour of the media. Koppel hangs up his microphone on "Nightline" next Tuesday. One of his stops was CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TED KOPPEL, "NIGHTLINE" ANCHOR: I think everybody expects you to do it either with your fingernails digging a hole in the floor as they drag you out by your ankles or waiting for some appropriate occasion with a zero at the end of it.
I think that what gives a television interviewer the right to be a little bit confrontational is not that there's anything special about us, but that you know each of us represents hundreds of thousands or even millions of viewers at home who have a right to a representative who is going to say you know I've heard your answer, but frankly, I don't think you were a) responsive to the question, b) I think you are weaseling and c) for some reason or another I've been trying to get an answer out of you for 20 minutes now and you haven't come up with an answer.
There's this obsession with being first with the obvious. There is an obsession with telling people about what's happened in the last five minutes rather than worrying about what's most important. And very often what's most important happened a week ago, a month ago, maybe even a year ago. Nobody on television likes to talk about anything older than 15 minutes these days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Ted Koppel's last "Nightline" broadcast next Tuesday will end 42 years with ABC.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, the biggest night of the year for country music. The highlights coming up.
And a surprise announcement has whale lovers celebrating.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:43 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
People in the nation's midsection are reeling from the weather. A powerful storm system spawned more than 35 tornadoes, damaging dozens of homes. One person reportedly killed in western Kentucky.
Robert Tisch, the co-owner of the New York Giants, has died of brain cancer. Tisch was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in 2004. Wellington Mara, the Giants other co-owner, died last month also of cancer. Robert Tisch was 79.
In money news, the battle over light beer is getting uglier. Some networks decided not to air a new Miller Brewing Company ad. The company -- the commercial claims Anheuser-Busch changed the taste of its best selling Bud Light brand. Ten cable networks are holding the ads until the claims are proved. CNN has chosen to air the ads.
In pop culture, it just might be "Sex and the City" part two. Writer Candace Bushnell is developing a series for NBC about women scheming to hold on to their power and their money.
In sports, the Philadelphia Eagles will have to play without quarterback Donovan McNabb when he goes against the New York Giants on Sunday. McNabb suffered a groin injury in Monday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Poor Donovan McNabb, I feel bad for him -- Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Bonnie.
Is there a dog in the house? Medical research gives new meaning to the phrase going to the dogs. A study shows that dogs can ease anxiety and improve a heart patient's condition.
CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTY FEIG, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): According to new research, it may be a good idea for dogs to make rounds at hospitals, not just doctors. Researchers studied 76 patients hospitalized with heart failure. They were either visited by a human and dog team, just a human volunteer or had no visitor at all. It seems just a 12-minute visit with a canine friend helped both heart and lung function.
In this study, anxiety levels dropped 24 percent for those who got a canine visit, compared with 10 percent for those who only saw a volunteer and no drop for patients who got no visit at all.
DR. ELIZABETH ROSS, CARDIOLOGIST: Patients who were visited by a volunteer and a dog had a drop in levels of adrenaline. They also had a drop in the critical pressure measurements in their heart, suggesting an improvement in cardiac function. FEIG: The specially trained dogs laid in the patient's bed so the patient was able to touch them. But the results aren't new. Other studies have shown animal-assisted therapy reduces blood pressure in both healthy and hypertensive patients and it reduces anxiety in hospitalized patients, soothing the mind, as well as the body.
ROSS: This suggests that there are many modalities that perhaps can be used to improve quality of life for patients who are learning to live with congestive heart failure.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: CNN medical correspondent Christy Feig.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, Lee Ann Womack, her song is "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," but probably not this morning. We'll wrap up the CMA Awards when DAYBREAK returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is not a dream. That really was Dolly Parton and Elton John performing together on one stage at the Country Music Association Awards.
Guess what, WOKQ's Waking Crew, they're usually in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but Mark Ericson and Danielle Carrier are with us live and in person this morning, because they got to attend the CMA Awards, which were in Madison Square Garden here in New York, which must have been strange?
MARK ERICSON, WOKQ 97.5: It was a little bit different other than the venue in Nashville. Strangely, during the commercial breaks, people were actually getting up and going and getting a snack and bringing them back into the stands.
COSTELLO: Hot dogs.
ERICSON: Yes.
COSTELLO: Why New York? Why hold the CMAs in New York?
DANIELLE CARRIER, WOKQ 97.5: A lot of the comments were let's bring country music back to New York. I think it's just to broaden the audience and try and bring in some new listeners, new fans.
COSTELLO: But doesn't that make hardcore country music fans angry? I mean when I heard Jon Bon Jovi was going to sing at the CMAs, I went, say what?
ERICSON: I think they're trying to strike a balance. If you look at a three-hour awards telecast last night, they had scheduled 23 musical performances. So clearly they are trying to get this music in front of a whole bunch of people.
COSTELLO: OK, so what worked and what didn't? CARRIER: Alan Jackson worked.
COSTELLO: Yes.
ERICSON: Alan Jackson always works.
CARRIER: Alan Jackson always works. And to do that song was just absolutely amazing.
COSTELLO: So what song did he do, because I don't know?
CARRIER: He actually performed and it was "You Look Wonderful Tonight." And I was sitting there and I went, I heard the music and I went, no, no way, and he did it. And he did it justice.
ERICSON: So you're doing this whole kind of crossover thing where Alan Jackson is doing an Eric Clapton song. And as we just saw on the video, Dolly Parton getting together with Elton John.
CARRIER: Elton John.
ERICSON: Two mega stars. And then Mayor Bloomberg was in Madison Square Garden to welcome all the country fans, but he introduced Garth Brooks who did his song live from Times Square.
CARRIER: From Times Square.
COSTELLO: That's just so strange. But you know really didn't New York and all the New York centric things overshadow country?
ERICSON: It was a mixed reaction. We talked to a lot of folks and a number of country stars. Some folks would like to see it come back as an occasional thing. It's definitely going back to Nashville for 2006. That was already announced months and months ago.
COSTELLO: Thank goodness.
ERICSON: After that, all bets are off. And maybe it will come back to New York at some point. Maybe it will travel to other cities around the country, again, trying to get country music in front of some new faces and in some new ears.
COSTELLO: Yes. We have to mention Lee Ann Womack. In fact, I think we have a clip, right? We have a clip? Just video of Lee Ann, because you know we have strict guidelines we must follow. I know the CMA says, use our video, are you kidding? We paid a lot of money for this stuff (INAUDIBLE). But Lee Ann Womack was the big winner of the night.
ERICSON: She won single of the year for "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," and then album of the year for the CD "There's More Where That Came From."
COSTELLO: Now, and the weird thing about that is she had gone pop previous, but she goes back to country and she wins big, but the CMAs move to New York. ERICSON: Yes, it's all the worlds are colliding all at once, aren't they?
CARRIER: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK. And Mr. Urban, because man I think he's cute. Do we have a picture of him?
CARRIER: He is so...
ERICSON: I'm out. I'm out.
CARRIER: He is so amazing. And he was so humble last night, completely taken aback by those awards. And a lot of people were actually saying you know Kenny Chesney up for the award and Toby Keith. Those two major acts they did such a great job this past touring season, nobody, I don't think, except for hardcore fans, actually would have thought that Keith Urban would walk away with entertainer of the year. But I think it's well deserved. I mean he is fantastic. If you have ever seen him in concert, amazing.
ERICSON: And you caught him hugging his mom when they made the announcements.
CARRIER: He was so cute. He brought his parents with him. And, so, yes, he was hugging his mom and dad.
ERICSON: We talked to him and his mom and that's for real, it's genuine.
COSTELLO: But not -- Nicole Kidman wasn't there?
CARRIER: No, we looked.
COSTELLO: Just checking. OK.
OK, let's talk about Carrie Underwood. She was the winner of what...
CARRIER: "American Idol."
COSTELLO: Whatever that is. I'm just not a big fan. I know I should be because most of America is, but did she perform? And if she did, was she good?
CARRIER: She was fantastic.
COSTELLO: Great.
CARRIER: She lived up to exactly what she won, "American Idol," one of the best vocalists that were out there. She did a great job. She definitely -- she held her notes. She held her stage presence, which was wonderful. She did a good job.
COSTELLO: Yes, she had a great dress on.
OK, so you guys were up for a fourth time for best country radio duo and you lost.
CARRIER: That's OK.
COSTELLO: Sorry.
(CROSSTALK)
ERICSON: It was an honor to be nominated.
COSTELLO: It's true. It's true. You're becoming the Susan Lucci of the CMAs.
But thank you so much for stopping by, and we've appreciated your appearance on DAYBREAK since it began.
CARRIER: Thank you. Thank you for having us.
ERICSON: Thank you -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Love you guys. Mark Ericson, Danielle Carrier, thank you so much for stopping by.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, Delta travelers and the latest headaches for the airline. What does it mean for holiday travel plans?
And marriage or molestation, a Georgia case that's stirring up quite a bit of controversy.
You're watching DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: We're doing a lot of laughing on this Wednesday morning, so let's do some more laughing. Last night, Jay Leno put his sights on who else, President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Was it 90 degrees here today? That's unbelievable. I tell you, people were sweating like President Bush looking at his approval rating. That's all. Not good. President Bush's approval rating down to 37 percent and not good. In fact, it is so low now, when he left for his Asian trip yesterday, the Marine band played "Hit the Road Jack." That's not good. That's not good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Man.
Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener" right now.
At least two bison were killed during the first day of Montana's new buffalo hunting season. Bison that wander out of Yellowstone National Park are fair game for 50 licensed hunters. Animal rights groups tried to keep the bison in the park. It's been 15 years since the last legal bison hunt in Montana.
Some killer whales won't have to worry about being hunted anymore. Three pods of Puget Sound orcas have been placed on the federal government's endangered species list. That means more protection for the nearly 90 orcas that live off the coast of Washington State.
There was no protection for this bridge in Charleston, South Carolina. Look at that thing go down. A thousand tons of steel from the old Pyramin (ph) Bridge dropped into Town Creek. I have driven over that thing. The nearly 40-year-old bridge has already been replaced by the longest cable stayed bridge in the country. And it's, of course, nearby. You can see it there in the background.
The next hour of DAYBREAK starts in 60 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is Wednesday, November 16.
President Bush arrives in South Korea for day two of his Asian trip. The president talking tough about democracy in China.
While back home, something you don't see, at least that often, the Senate actually agreeing on something. We want to hear more from the White House about the Iraq war.
And tornadoes tear up the Ohio Valley. We'll tell you where the storms are heading this morning.
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