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CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Marines Begin Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah; Security Tight for Parliamentary Elections in Indonesia
Aired April 05, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for April 5. I'm Carol Costello.
And we're going to talk about Fallujah a lot, because things are happening right now in Iraq. Let me bring you up-to-date further.
U.S. Marines have begun Operation Vigilant Resolve. They have blocked roads in and out of Fallujah. The city is now in a lockdown.
A U.S. Marine has been killed there this morning. And earlier, a U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq. We're going to take you to Baghdad in just a bit.
Police in France have launched a series of raids. They're trying to weed out suspects linked to last year's terror attacks in Casablanca, Morocco.
Dozens are injured, many seriously when a grenade explodes at a busy market in the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir. Police sources tell CNN the grenade was intended for a passing army convoy but landed in the market instead.
Jury selection resumes today in the Scott Peterson murder trial. The selection process has been on hold for six days due to a court holiday.
And in the Jayson Williams trial, defense attorneys may ask for an immediate acquittal during a hearing today. The hearing was called after the prosecution admitted they did not turn over some important evidence to the defense team.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's talk about a picture. Did a 59-year-old picture help sway the White House toward letting Condoleezza Rice testify? Maybe. Maybe not.
President Bush's national security advisor testifies publicly and under oath Thursday before the independent commission investigating the 9/11 attacks. The White House was reluctant to let her testify, saying there was no precedent for that.
So, the commission's executive director faxed the White House a photo published by "The New York Times" back in 1945. It shows White House Chief of Staff William Leahy testifying before Congress about Pearl Harbor.
So, did the picture really make a difference?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR: I don't think that the photograph alone would have been convincing for a White House. I do think that the White House was getting its own reading of public opinion and of the political environment up on Capital Hill, where many, many Republicans were privately, as well as a few publicly, urging the White House to have Dr. Rice testify.
I think it may well be that the photograph is the kind of thing that you can wave around in a meeting and say, this is what's going to happen to us. We're going to get blasted on this. This is graphic evidence of what can happen to us. It's only right around the corner. We've got to move.
It's ammunition that can make a difference. I don't think it would be decisive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And guess what? A White House spokesman agrees with David Gergen. He says the Leahy photo did not prompt President Bush's about face on the Rice testimony. And by the way, Condoleezza Rice will testify before the 9/11 Commission Thursday morning publicly and under oath at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time, and you can count on CNN to bring that to you live.
All right, let's get to the situation own in Iraq. Thirteen Americans have died in firefights and bombings in Iraq since Saturday. The latest U.S. military deaths took place this morning as Marines began Operation Vigilant Resolve in and around the city of Fallujah. Marines have put Fallujah under lockdown now.
We're trying to get Walter Rodgers in Baghdad, but we can't right now, so let's go to David Clinch, our senior international editor, to tell us what's happening right now.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Well, we've got a lot going on in Baghdad. Walt's trying to get the latest information from there.
Two parts to this story. Follow-up on the Fallujah incident from last week, that horrific abuse of the bodies of four Americans killed in Fallujah. The U.S. coalition promised, pledged, that those killings would not go unpunished. And we hear today that that operation has begun in Fallujah. The U.S. Marines surrounding the city, shutting off the main highway from Baghdad to Jordan, moving in.
As I said earlier, though, saying to us they're not going in with all guns blazing. They say they have at least some specific information about who they're looking for, and they want to isolate them.
COSTELLO: Although there were explosions heard this morning in Fallujah.
CLINCH: There were, and perhaps they've isolated them already. But that's a perhaps. We are there with a full crew, and we will get that video later today, but...
COSTELLO: We're getting new pictures in from Baghdad as well.
CLINCH: Right.
COSTELLO: Because there are military operations under way there, too.
CLINCH: This is the other part of the story, not just geographically, but today in Baghdad, follow-up from what we saw yesterday, Shiite militia in Baghdad, also other Shiite cities. This is Seder City (ph), the Shiite part of Baghdad, and also in Najaf, Basra, elsewhere. Shiite militia taking over or trying to take over Shiite parts of town.
The U.S. military saying that's outside the law, they will not allow it. They've moved in today with, as we can see there, at least Apache helicopters and other hardware, to put down this rebellion, if you want to put it this way.
A particularly vitriolic, anti-American cleric in this part of Baghdad has been calling for his militia to take over these buildings, take over their part of the city. The U.S. making it clear today they will not tolerate that.
COSTELLO: And, of course, there are military strikes going on there, too, today, but we don't know exactly what they're hitting.
CLINCH: Well, we're getting a little bit more information. Walt will bring us that soon. But it's very clear that they are hitting this militia, this Shiite militia. Whether they're actually hitting the personnel or buildings or vehicles, that's not clear to us yet.
But we already know dozens of Iraqis have died over the last 24 hours. We know, as you say, that at least eight Americans died in this exact place during the day yesterday. This is a fight. It's a big fight.
And, again, the distinction not the Sunni-led insurgency we've been talking about, but a Shiite militia, very scary prospects of the U.S. military.
COSTELLO: And we do understand that one U.S. Marine has been killed near Fallujah this morning.
CLINCH: That's in that separate operation to go in and find and punish those from last week's event. So, we're circling around here.
COSTELLO: Well, you try to go get Walter for us.
CLINCH: We will.
COSTELLO: And we'll let you get back to work.
CLINCH: All right.
COSTELLO: David, many thanks to you.
Maintaining security in Iraq, what's working and what's not. On "AMERICAN MORNING," we'll talk to a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, and we will get some answers for you.
Voters in Indonesia are electing a new parliament today amidst tight security.
CNN's Maria Ressa live in Jakarta.
How are things going -- Maria?
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's going very well. Much better than initially expected, Carol.
Counting is under way now in nearly 600,000 polling stations across the world's largest archipelago. All of this -- the ballots are being counted manually. Those results are going to be then sent to an electronic tabulation center. Initial results are expected a few hours from now, but they are unofficial. The official results are not expected until the week of April 21.
There's a lot at stake for Indonesia here. First of all, it is the very first time that Indonesians are voting directly for candidates, not just political parties. The political parties, which win in these elections, are then going to be able to field the presidential candidates for elections later this year.
Also, if Indonesia can pull off these elections without a hitch and the results aren't questioned, then Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population and the world's third-largest democracy, can then prove that democracy and Islam can go hand in hand.
Back to you -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I am sure the United States will be watching -- is watching. Marie Ressa reporting live from Jakarta, Indonesia, this morning.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, take me out to the ballgame, but before we can throw the first pitch we've got to see who will be the next college basketball champion.
And join the ranks of star detectives. It's a comeback of sorts for Agatha Christie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning. A Marine is killed in fighting around the volatile city of Fallujah. Marines have now closed all roads into that hot spot. The city is under lockdown. Loud explosions are being heard there. We'll have more in a bit.
Secretary of State Colin Powell heads to Haiti today to meet with the country's new leaders. He'll urge them not to give government positions to rebel leaders who have ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In money news, JetBlue flies higher than anyone in a national survey on airline performance. Three of the top four in the survey are low-cost airlines.
In sports, it's time for a rematch in the women's NCAA basketball championship. Both the University of Connecticut and the University of Tennessee advance to Tuesday's final game. Yukon beat Tennessee in last year's final, by the way.
In culture, "Hellboy" was No. 1 at the box office. The comic book hero pulled in more than $23 million over the weekend.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. Still to come on DAYBREAK, it's opening day. What lies ahead this baseball season? We're talking starters, stars and steroids.
Plus, why the rush to get married? We'll tell you why these couples just had to tie the knot.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And welcome back to DAYBREAK. A lot is going on this morning, especially in Iraq. But let's head live to New York City to check in with Bill and Heidi Collins, who is in for Soledad today.
And apparently you guys...
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: good morning.
COSTELLO: You guys are interviewing a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, which should be very interesting in light of what's happening this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, a lot of questions about how much support here is among the Shiite population from Matado al-Sadre (ph). He is the name that many Americans are becoming familiar with over the weekend. Walter Rodgers also live in Baghdad, too. We'll talk about the latest violence, and also the latest about how many Americans have died since Saturday as well. A tough, tough situation today in many parts of that country.
COLLINS: That's right. And including Fallujah, the operation there, Barbara Starr is going to be talking to us from the Pentagon about that. A curfew now has been put in place at 7:00 p.m. All weapons and demonstrations have been banned as well, and all of the roads leading into Fallujah have also been closed off, so we're going to talk a lot about that.
HEMMER: Also, this time Thursday morning, four days from now, Carol, Condoleezza Rice will be before that commission. In fact, you'll see it live here on "AMERICAN MORNING" come Thursday morning. And we're starting to hear a little more about the questions -- the key questions that may or may not be asked among the commission and how long her speech will be at the beginning. It's said to be about 20 minutes in length, so we'll get to that as well.
Jack Cafferty has got a few things on his mind, too, by the way.
COLLINS: No!
HEMMER: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as a matter of fact. He's been nursing his cold all weekend.
COSTELLO: Oh, poor Jack. Jack, we feel for you, babe.
HEMMER: Time to get dressed. See you, Carol.
COLLINS: Bye, Carol.
COSTELLO: Give him a mike, because I'm sure he would have choice words for us. Thank you both. We'll see you in about 10 minutes.
HEMMER: Bye-bye. OK.
COSTELLO: We want to talk a little bit about Freddy Adu, the D.C. United soccer player who is 14 years old. He had his debut over the weekend.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: He did, yes.
COSTELLO: And you watched.
MYERS: I did. I actually watched. He came in. Well, he was the first substitute, I think, in the second-half, about 60 minutes left, so he did get to play. He was a little bit timid as he was playing, but as I was seeing it really, he was a boy among men yet.
COSTELLO: Oh, no!
MYERS: But still, obviously he is a boy. He's only 14. It was nice to see it. I still can't figure out how soccer is the world's most popular sport, because after about 20 minutes, I almost took a nap.
COSTELLO: Oh, Chad!
MYERS: But there you go.
COSTELLO: But the crowd really chanted his name as he came into the game.
MYERS: They did. They loved it.
COSTELLO: And then he...
MYERS: They love him.
COSTELLO: They do love him.
MYERS: And he had a great -- he had a couple of good touches. I mean, he really did. The first touch he had was he kicked it over toward the side, and then back to a fullback, but that was it. And then after that it was...
COSTELLO: Oh, that sounds like exciting, doesn't it?
MYERS: It was.
COSTELLO: Hey, guess what? Ray D'Alessio is here.
MYERS: The man is in the house.
COSTELLO: Yes.
RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN SPORTS: How could you blast soccer like that, Chad? I fall asleep watching clouds in the sky, OK?
MYERS: Well, I guess so. Well, that would be good. And then you'd get a sunburn.
COSTELLO: That was a good one, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: I was just kidding. I've got to be nice. I haven't even been up here in a while, so I'd better be nice to Chad.
COSTELLO: Yes, and we want you back as often as possible.
D'ALESSIO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about baseball season, because for many teams the season opener was Sunday.
D'ALESSIO: Right. Last night, of course, the Red Sox and Orioles, they opened last night. And then last week, you know, we had the Yankees and the Devil Rays opening up in the Tokyo dome, but we'll talk about this game last night. And, you know, of course, the Red Sox are under a lot of pressure after what happened last year against the Yankees in the American League championship series.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes. Not good, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: And really just a rough outing for Pedro Martinez, too, of course. A lot of people are wondering if this guy is losing something. He had some very rocky outings (UNINTELLIGIBLE) spring training last night, gave up the homerun the Javy Lopez. Here we see him here going to first base. Whoops! It goes awry. Last night, you know, Martinez giving up three runs in the second inning...
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Unbelievable. And what you said, because Baltimore is a fairly new team, so to speak.
D'ALESSIO: Right.
COSTELLO: Lots of new players.
D'ALESSIO: They've got some very good players, too.
COSTELLO: Javy Lopez.
D'ALESSIO: We saw Javy Lopez there. They went out. They got Rocky Elcamara (ph), of course. Now, they've got former American League MVP Miguel Tejada as well. Those guys are batting three, four, five in lineup, all of them coming through. Last time you saw Javy Lopez. That was the very first pitch he faced last night, and the guys hits a homerun.
COSTELLO: So, maybe this is the year for the so-called lesser teams to take it like the Detroit Tigers.
D'ALESSIO: That's a stretch.
MYERS: Maybe not.
D'ALESSIO: Maybe not.
COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
D'ALESSIO: But if you look at recent history, I mean, nobody thought the Marlins would win last year.
COSTELLO: Yes.
D'ALESSIO: The year before nobody, you know, really thought the Anaheim angels would win win, and you're seeing that trend. It's not the big money teams, like the Yankees, like the Red Sox, you know, winning it all anymore. It is the smaller market teams who, you know, believe in themselves.
COSTELLO: Yes. Well, let's talk about the opening day over in Japan, because that struck you strange, right, Chad?
MYERS: Well, you know, I'm used to opening day being with Marge Shot (ph), the late, great Marge Shot (ph)...
D'ALESSIO: Right.
MYERS: ... down in Cincinnati, going down there, you know.
D'ALESSIO: Grayson Tubbs (ph).
MYERS: I mean, just freezing your tail off, because it's so cold.
COSTELLO: You're not used to taking a plane to Japan to watch the favorite home team.
MYERS: No.
D'ALESSIO: And who watches a baseball game at 5:00 in the morning? I mean, of course, that's what time it was over here in the states. People like me who come in at, you know, 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning, yes, it's great, and we actually got something to, you know, continuously update.
But, you know, for 5:00 in the morning, I mean, it's just absolutely -- I don't want to say ridiculous, but you do want to get the game abroad. You know, you want to expand a little bit. But let's face it. Opening day is today. You know, you've got President Bush throwing out the first pitch down in Saint Louis. Vice President Cheney is actually throwing out the first pitch at the Reds-Cubs game.
COSTELLO: Really?
D'ALESSIO: So, I mean, this is what opening day is about. It's -- you know, it's an event. It's not an occasion, say like, you know, the Yanks and D.Ray's (ph) game in Tokyo.
COSTELLO: Well, and Mike Messina (ph) was really complaining kind of bitterly...
D'ALESSIO: Jet lag.
COSTELLO: Jet lag, yes.
D'ALESSIO: The guys...
COSTELLO: So, that's why he pitched so poorly.
D'ALESSIO: The guys were very tired, and quietly, I guess, that's one of the reasons why Darrell Jeter (ph) had such a poor outing, and I believe Jeter (ph) like went 1 for 8 in the two games. And, you know, a lot of these guys were just jet-lagged, and they were tired.
And, plus, you know, they're also, you know, playing ambassadors to the game, and they were making trips around Tokyo, you know, trying to spread this game around. So, you know, all of these public appearances and stuff like that, they had to be exhausted.
COSTELLO: Speaking of public appearances and big muscles and steroids -- wasn't that a great segue?
D'ALESSIO: A good segue. That's good.
COSTELLO: Thanks.
D'ALESSIO: That's good.
COSTELLO: But tell us about that, and where that stands right now as far as testing is concerned and the latest dirt on that. D'ALESSIO: Well, we saw Commissioner Bud Selig last night during the broadcast of the Red Sox and the Orioles game. He said that there is ongoing dialog. Of course, right now, basically the way the rules are set up, players will be randomly tested once per season. A player who tests positive all really he faces is just treatment and that's it, and his name is not going to be, you know, drawn out in the newspapers or anything like that. It's gotten so like the fifth offense that they could actually, you know, face a long time suspension.
But, you know, Selig last night, he continues to say we need random testing year round, harsh testing, zero tolerance, like in the minor league system, and that's what they're trying to accomplish right now. Again...
COSTELLO: And good luck.
D'ALESSIO: Yes, and good luck in their ongoing dialog.
COSTELLO: Yes.
D'ALESSIO: But it's interesting, Carol, because fans, they not seem to be bothered by this. Attendance was up in pre-season games. Ticket sales are astronomical right now.
COSTELLO: And they like to see guys pound homeruns. Let's face it. It's exciting.
D'ALESSIO: Exactly.
COSTELLO: That's what makes the ballgame exciting.
D'ALESSIO: It is.
COSTELLO: Let's go to our question of the day before we run out of time.
MYERS: Thanks, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: Hey, no problem. No problem.
MYERS: You can come up any time. You can come up any time.
D'ALESSIO: Any time.
MYERS: Hey, the morning quiz for you, the DAYBREAK quiz. If you want to win the coffee mug, hurry up, type, type, type.
A study of airline quality came out this morning. Name the three top airlines.
A major Asian country holds elections today under fears of terror attacks. Which country?
And you need to answer them both, please. Daybreak@CNN.com.
COSTELLO: That's right. Daybreak@CNN.com so you can win a lovely mug.
Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Happy birthday, Colin Powell.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: I didn't realize it was his birthday today.
MYERS: He looks like a pretty good 66, though.
COSTELLO: He certainly does.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it is time for our "Lightning Round," the cheesy segment that we love so much each day on DAYBREAK.
Let's talk about Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, shall we?
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Because, you know, their marriage has all of the elements of a soap opera, Chad.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And Bobby...
MYERS: And guess what?
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: They're trying to shoot one.
COSTELLO: Yes, they are. Bobby Brown is taping scenes for a reality TV show about his life. Cameras have actually been following the couple around Atlanta. Shall we tell the story of the Palm Restaurant in Atlanta, Chad?
MYERS: Shooting a little pilot there, Carol. Go right ahead.
COSTELLO: Oh, no. You go ahead.
MYERS: Oh, yes. Where actually they brought the puppy with them?
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: They brought the dog and the drug rehab counselors to the restaurant in Atlanta, and they filmed the entire dinner. It should be interesting for a reality TV show.
MYERS: Do I want to watch that?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes (AUDIO GAP) Germany one of their marriage certificates to say 4/4/4 that several registry offices had to open on Sunday to accommodate all of the requests.
MYERS: Carol?
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: You know on my anniversary?
COSTELLO: 44?
MYERS: 2/2/2.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: February 2. I got married on Ground Hog's day, so I'll never forget it.
COSTELLO: Oh, you did that on purpose.
MYERS: 02/02/02.
COSTELLO: And you relive it every day, I'm sure.
MYERS: Just about.
COSTELLO: All right, let's move on to Agatha Christie right now, because she lives on in print, and now in CD-ROM. The famous mystery writer's grandson has given permission for Christie's stories to be adapted into detective games for computer users. Can you say cha- ching?
MYERS: Hmmm.
COSTELLO: Yes. One of Johann Sebastian Bach's original musical scores has turned up at a college in Japan. Gee, look what I found, professor.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: A professor there determined this wedding cantata is authentic. It had been missing, Chad, for 80 years.
MYERS: Outstanding.
COSTELLO: Outstanding!
MYERS: Yes, it's one of those garage sale finds. You never know what you're going to find behind that painting at a garage sale.
COSTELLO: It's like, oh my gosh, a cantata or whatever songs from Bach. MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: All right, that does it for us this morning. I'm Carol Costello with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
MYERS: Have a good day. See you tomorrow.
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Aired April 5, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, this is DAYBREAK for April 5. I'm Carol Costello.
And we're going to talk about Fallujah a lot, because things are happening right now in Iraq. Let me bring you up-to-date further.
U.S. Marines have begun Operation Vigilant Resolve. They have blocked roads in and out of Fallujah. The city is now in a lockdown.
A U.S. Marine has been killed there this morning. And earlier, a U.S. soldier was killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq. We're going to take you to Baghdad in just a bit.
Police in France have launched a series of raids. They're trying to weed out suspects linked to last year's terror attacks in Casablanca, Morocco.
Dozens are injured, many seriously when a grenade explodes at a busy market in the Indian-controlled section of Kashmir. Police sources tell CNN the grenade was intended for a passing army convoy but landed in the market instead.
Jury selection resumes today in the Scott Peterson murder trial. The selection process has been on hold for six days due to a court holiday.
And in the Jayson Williams trial, defense attorneys may ask for an immediate acquittal during a hearing today. The hearing was called after the prosecution admitted they did not turn over some important evidence to the defense team.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's talk about a picture. Did a 59-year-old picture help sway the White House toward letting Condoleezza Rice testify? Maybe. Maybe not.
President Bush's national security advisor testifies publicly and under oath Thursday before the independent commission investigating the 9/11 attacks. The White House was reluctant to let her testify, saying there was no precedent for that.
So, the commission's executive director faxed the White House a photo published by "The New York Times" back in 1945. It shows White House Chief of Staff William Leahy testifying before Congress about Pearl Harbor.
So, did the picture really make a difference?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR: I don't think that the photograph alone would have been convincing for a White House. I do think that the White House was getting its own reading of public opinion and of the political environment up on Capital Hill, where many, many Republicans were privately, as well as a few publicly, urging the White House to have Dr. Rice testify.
I think it may well be that the photograph is the kind of thing that you can wave around in a meeting and say, this is what's going to happen to us. We're going to get blasted on this. This is graphic evidence of what can happen to us. It's only right around the corner. We've got to move.
It's ammunition that can make a difference. I don't think it would be decisive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And guess what? A White House spokesman agrees with David Gergen. He says the Leahy photo did not prompt President Bush's about face on the Rice testimony. And by the way, Condoleezza Rice will testify before the 9/11 Commission Thursday morning publicly and under oath at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 Pacific Time, and you can count on CNN to bring that to you live.
All right, let's get to the situation own in Iraq. Thirteen Americans have died in firefights and bombings in Iraq since Saturday. The latest U.S. military deaths took place this morning as Marines began Operation Vigilant Resolve in and around the city of Fallujah. Marines have put Fallujah under lockdown now.
We're trying to get Walter Rodgers in Baghdad, but we can't right now, so let's go to David Clinch, our senior international editor, to tell us what's happening right now.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Well, we've got a lot going on in Baghdad. Walt's trying to get the latest information from there.
Two parts to this story. Follow-up on the Fallujah incident from last week, that horrific abuse of the bodies of four Americans killed in Fallujah. The U.S. coalition promised, pledged, that those killings would not go unpunished. And we hear today that that operation has begun in Fallujah. The U.S. Marines surrounding the city, shutting off the main highway from Baghdad to Jordan, moving in.
As I said earlier, though, saying to us they're not going in with all guns blazing. They say they have at least some specific information about who they're looking for, and they want to isolate them.
COSTELLO: Although there were explosions heard this morning in Fallujah.
CLINCH: There were, and perhaps they've isolated them already. But that's a perhaps. We are there with a full crew, and we will get that video later today, but...
COSTELLO: We're getting new pictures in from Baghdad as well.
CLINCH: Right.
COSTELLO: Because there are military operations under way there, too.
CLINCH: This is the other part of the story, not just geographically, but today in Baghdad, follow-up from what we saw yesterday, Shiite militia in Baghdad, also other Shiite cities. This is Seder City (ph), the Shiite part of Baghdad, and also in Najaf, Basra, elsewhere. Shiite militia taking over or trying to take over Shiite parts of town.
The U.S. military saying that's outside the law, they will not allow it. They've moved in today with, as we can see there, at least Apache helicopters and other hardware, to put down this rebellion, if you want to put it this way.
A particularly vitriolic, anti-American cleric in this part of Baghdad has been calling for his militia to take over these buildings, take over their part of the city. The U.S. making it clear today they will not tolerate that.
COSTELLO: And, of course, there are military strikes going on there, too, today, but we don't know exactly what they're hitting.
CLINCH: Well, we're getting a little bit more information. Walt will bring us that soon. But it's very clear that they are hitting this militia, this Shiite militia. Whether they're actually hitting the personnel or buildings or vehicles, that's not clear to us yet.
But we already know dozens of Iraqis have died over the last 24 hours. We know, as you say, that at least eight Americans died in this exact place during the day yesterday. This is a fight. It's a big fight.
And, again, the distinction not the Sunni-led insurgency we've been talking about, but a Shiite militia, very scary prospects of the U.S. military.
COSTELLO: And we do understand that one U.S. Marine has been killed near Fallujah this morning.
CLINCH: That's in that separate operation to go in and find and punish those from last week's event. So, we're circling around here.
COSTELLO: Well, you try to go get Walter for us.
CLINCH: We will.
COSTELLO: And we'll let you get back to work.
CLINCH: All right.
COSTELLO: David, many thanks to you.
Maintaining security in Iraq, what's working and what's not. On "AMERICAN MORNING," we'll talk to a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, and we will get some answers for you.
Voters in Indonesia are electing a new parliament today amidst tight security.
CNN's Maria Ressa live in Jakarta.
How are things going -- Maria?
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's going very well. Much better than initially expected, Carol.
Counting is under way now in nearly 600,000 polling stations across the world's largest archipelago. All of this -- the ballots are being counted manually. Those results are going to be then sent to an electronic tabulation center. Initial results are expected a few hours from now, but they are unofficial. The official results are not expected until the week of April 21.
There's a lot at stake for Indonesia here. First of all, it is the very first time that Indonesians are voting directly for candidates, not just political parties. The political parties, which win in these elections, are then going to be able to field the presidential candidates for elections later this year.
Also, if Indonesia can pull off these elections without a hitch and the results aren't questioned, then Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population and the world's third-largest democracy, can then prove that democracy and Islam can go hand in hand.
Back to you -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I am sure the United States will be watching -- is watching. Marie Ressa reporting live from Jakarta, Indonesia, this morning.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, take me out to the ballgame, but before we can throw the first pitch we've got to see who will be the next college basketball champion.
And join the ranks of star detectives. It's a comeback of sorts for Agatha Christie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning. A Marine is killed in fighting around the volatile city of Fallujah. Marines have now closed all roads into that hot spot. The city is under lockdown. Loud explosions are being heard there. We'll have more in a bit.
Secretary of State Colin Powell heads to Haiti today to meet with the country's new leaders. He'll urge them not to give government positions to rebel leaders who have ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.
In money news, JetBlue flies higher than anyone in a national survey on airline performance. Three of the top four in the survey are low-cost airlines.
In sports, it's time for a rematch in the women's NCAA basketball championship. Both the University of Connecticut and the University of Tennessee advance to Tuesday's final game. Yukon beat Tennessee in last year's final, by the way.
In culture, "Hellboy" was No. 1 at the box office. The comic book hero pulled in more than $23 million over the weekend.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. Still to come on DAYBREAK, it's opening day. What lies ahead this baseball season? We're talking starters, stars and steroids.
Plus, why the rush to get married? We'll tell you why these couples just had to tie the knot.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And welcome back to DAYBREAK. A lot is going on this morning, especially in Iraq. But let's head live to New York City to check in with Bill and Heidi Collins, who is in for Soledad today.
And apparently you guys...
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: good morning.
COSTELLO: You guys are interviewing a member of the Iraqi Governing Council, which should be very interesting in light of what's happening this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, a lot of questions about how much support here is among the Shiite population from Matado al-Sadre (ph). He is the name that many Americans are becoming familiar with over the weekend. Walter Rodgers also live in Baghdad, too. We'll talk about the latest violence, and also the latest about how many Americans have died since Saturday as well. A tough, tough situation today in many parts of that country.
COLLINS: That's right. And including Fallujah, the operation there, Barbara Starr is going to be talking to us from the Pentagon about that. A curfew now has been put in place at 7:00 p.m. All weapons and demonstrations have been banned as well, and all of the roads leading into Fallujah have also been closed off, so we're going to talk a lot about that.
HEMMER: Also, this time Thursday morning, four days from now, Carol, Condoleezza Rice will be before that commission. In fact, you'll see it live here on "AMERICAN MORNING" come Thursday morning. And we're starting to hear a little more about the questions -- the key questions that may or may not be asked among the commission and how long her speech will be at the beginning. It's said to be about 20 minutes in length, so we'll get to that as well.
Jack Cafferty has got a few things on his mind, too, by the way.
COLLINS: No!
HEMMER: Yes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) as a matter of fact. He's been nursing his cold all weekend.
COSTELLO: Oh, poor Jack. Jack, we feel for you, babe.
HEMMER: Time to get dressed. See you, Carol.
COLLINS: Bye, Carol.
COSTELLO: Give him a mike, because I'm sure he would have choice words for us. Thank you both. We'll see you in about 10 minutes.
HEMMER: Bye-bye. OK.
COSTELLO: We want to talk a little bit about Freddy Adu, the D.C. United soccer player who is 14 years old. He had his debut over the weekend.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: He did, yes.
COSTELLO: And you watched.
MYERS: I did. I actually watched. He came in. Well, he was the first substitute, I think, in the second-half, about 60 minutes left, so he did get to play. He was a little bit timid as he was playing, but as I was seeing it really, he was a boy among men yet.
COSTELLO: Oh, no!
MYERS: But still, obviously he is a boy. He's only 14. It was nice to see it. I still can't figure out how soccer is the world's most popular sport, because after about 20 minutes, I almost took a nap.
COSTELLO: Oh, Chad!
MYERS: But there you go.
COSTELLO: But the crowd really chanted his name as he came into the game.
MYERS: They did. They loved it.
COSTELLO: And then he...
MYERS: They love him.
COSTELLO: They do love him.
MYERS: And he had a great -- he had a couple of good touches. I mean, he really did. The first touch he had was he kicked it over toward the side, and then back to a fullback, but that was it. And then after that it was...
COSTELLO: Oh, that sounds like exciting, doesn't it?
MYERS: It was.
COSTELLO: Hey, guess what? Ray D'Alessio is here.
MYERS: The man is in the house.
COSTELLO: Yes.
RAY D'ALESSIO, CNN SPORTS: How could you blast soccer like that, Chad? I fall asleep watching clouds in the sky, OK?
MYERS: Well, I guess so. Well, that would be good. And then you'd get a sunburn.
COSTELLO: That was a good one, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: I was just kidding. I've got to be nice. I haven't even been up here in a while, so I'd better be nice to Chad.
COSTELLO: Yes, and we want you back as often as possible.
D'ALESSIO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Let's talk about baseball season, because for many teams the season opener was Sunday.
D'ALESSIO: Right. Last night, of course, the Red Sox and Orioles, they opened last night. And then last week, you know, we had the Yankees and the Devil Rays opening up in the Tokyo dome, but we'll talk about this game last night. And, you know, of course, the Red Sox are under a lot of pressure after what happened last year against the Yankees in the American League championship series.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes. Not good, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: And really just a rough outing for Pedro Martinez, too, of course. A lot of people are wondering if this guy is losing something. He had some very rocky outings (UNINTELLIGIBLE) spring training last night, gave up the homerun the Javy Lopez. Here we see him here going to first base. Whoops! It goes awry. Last night, you know, Martinez giving up three runs in the second inning...
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: Unbelievable. And what you said, because Baltimore is a fairly new team, so to speak.
D'ALESSIO: Right.
COSTELLO: Lots of new players.
D'ALESSIO: They've got some very good players, too.
COSTELLO: Javy Lopez.
D'ALESSIO: We saw Javy Lopez there. They went out. They got Rocky Elcamara (ph), of course. Now, they've got former American League MVP Miguel Tejada as well. Those guys are batting three, four, five in lineup, all of them coming through. Last time you saw Javy Lopez. That was the very first pitch he faced last night, and the guys hits a homerun.
COSTELLO: So, maybe this is the year for the so-called lesser teams to take it like the Detroit Tigers.
D'ALESSIO: That's a stretch.
MYERS: Maybe not.
D'ALESSIO: Maybe not.
COSTELLO: (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
D'ALESSIO: But if you look at recent history, I mean, nobody thought the Marlins would win last year.
COSTELLO: Yes.
D'ALESSIO: The year before nobody, you know, really thought the Anaheim angels would win win, and you're seeing that trend. It's not the big money teams, like the Yankees, like the Red Sox, you know, winning it all anymore. It is the smaller market teams who, you know, believe in themselves.
COSTELLO: Yes. Well, let's talk about the opening day over in Japan, because that struck you strange, right, Chad?
MYERS: Well, you know, I'm used to opening day being with Marge Shot (ph), the late, great Marge Shot (ph)...
D'ALESSIO: Right.
MYERS: ... down in Cincinnati, going down there, you know.
D'ALESSIO: Grayson Tubbs (ph).
MYERS: I mean, just freezing your tail off, because it's so cold.
COSTELLO: You're not used to taking a plane to Japan to watch the favorite home team.
MYERS: No.
D'ALESSIO: And who watches a baseball game at 5:00 in the morning? I mean, of course, that's what time it was over here in the states. People like me who come in at, you know, 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning, yes, it's great, and we actually got something to, you know, continuously update.
But, you know, for 5:00 in the morning, I mean, it's just absolutely -- I don't want to say ridiculous, but you do want to get the game abroad. You know, you want to expand a little bit. But let's face it. Opening day is today. You know, you've got President Bush throwing out the first pitch down in Saint Louis. Vice President Cheney is actually throwing out the first pitch at the Reds-Cubs game.
COSTELLO: Really?
D'ALESSIO: So, I mean, this is what opening day is about. It's -- you know, it's an event. It's not an occasion, say like, you know, the Yanks and D.Ray's (ph) game in Tokyo.
COSTELLO: Well, and Mike Messina (ph) was really complaining kind of bitterly...
D'ALESSIO: Jet lag.
COSTELLO: Jet lag, yes.
D'ALESSIO: The guys...
COSTELLO: So, that's why he pitched so poorly.
D'ALESSIO: The guys were very tired, and quietly, I guess, that's one of the reasons why Darrell Jeter (ph) had such a poor outing, and I believe Jeter (ph) like went 1 for 8 in the two games. And, you know, a lot of these guys were just jet-lagged, and they were tired.
And, plus, you know, they're also, you know, playing ambassadors to the game, and they were making trips around Tokyo, you know, trying to spread this game around. So, you know, all of these public appearances and stuff like that, they had to be exhausted.
COSTELLO: Speaking of public appearances and big muscles and steroids -- wasn't that a great segue?
D'ALESSIO: A good segue. That's good.
COSTELLO: Thanks.
D'ALESSIO: That's good.
COSTELLO: But tell us about that, and where that stands right now as far as testing is concerned and the latest dirt on that. D'ALESSIO: Well, we saw Commissioner Bud Selig last night during the broadcast of the Red Sox and the Orioles game. He said that there is ongoing dialog. Of course, right now, basically the way the rules are set up, players will be randomly tested once per season. A player who tests positive all really he faces is just treatment and that's it, and his name is not going to be, you know, drawn out in the newspapers or anything like that. It's gotten so like the fifth offense that they could actually, you know, face a long time suspension.
But, you know, Selig last night, he continues to say we need random testing year round, harsh testing, zero tolerance, like in the minor league system, and that's what they're trying to accomplish right now. Again...
COSTELLO: And good luck.
D'ALESSIO: Yes, and good luck in their ongoing dialog.
COSTELLO: Yes.
D'ALESSIO: But it's interesting, Carol, because fans, they not seem to be bothered by this. Attendance was up in pre-season games. Ticket sales are astronomical right now.
COSTELLO: And they like to see guys pound homeruns. Let's face it. It's exciting.
D'ALESSIO: Exactly.
COSTELLO: That's what makes the ballgame exciting.
D'ALESSIO: It is.
COSTELLO: Let's go to our question of the day before we run out of time.
MYERS: Thanks, Ray.
D'ALESSIO: Hey, no problem. No problem.
MYERS: You can come up any time. You can come up any time.
D'ALESSIO: Any time.
MYERS: Hey, the morning quiz for you, the DAYBREAK quiz. If you want to win the coffee mug, hurry up, type, type, type.
A study of airline quality came out this morning. Name the three top airlines.
A major Asian country holds elections today under fears of terror attacks. Which country?
And you need to answer them both, please. Daybreak@CNN.com.
COSTELLO: That's right. Daybreak@CNN.com so you can win a lovely mug.
Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Happy birthday, Colin Powell.
MYERS: I know.
COSTELLO: I didn't realize it was his birthday today.
MYERS: He looks like a pretty good 66, though.
COSTELLO: He certainly does.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it is time for our "Lightning Round," the cheesy segment that we love so much each day on DAYBREAK.
Let's talk about Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, shall we?
MYERS: OK.
COSTELLO: Because, you know, their marriage has all of the elements of a soap opera, Chad.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And Bobby...
MYERS: And guess what?
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: They're trying to shoot one.
COSTELLO: Yes, they are. Bobby Brown is taping scenes for a reality TV show about his life. Cameras have actually been following the couple around Atlanta. Shall we tell the story of the Palm Restaurant in Atlanta, Chad?
MYERS: Shooting a little pilot there, Carol. Go right ahead.
COSTELLO: Oh, no. You go ahead.
MYERS: Oh, yes. Where actually they brought the puppy with them?
COSTELLO: Yes.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: They brought the dog and the drug rehab counselors to the restaurant in Atlanta, and they filmed the entire dinner. It should be interesting for a reality TV show.
MYERS: Do I want to watch that?
COSTELLO: Oh, yes (AUDIO GAP) Germany one of their marriage certificates to say 4/4/4 that several registry offices had to open on Sunday to accommodate all of the requests.
MYERS: Carol?
COSTELLO: What?
MYERS: You know on my anniversary?
COSTELLO: 44?
MYERS: 2/2/2.
COSTELLO: Really?
MYERS: February 2. I got married on Ground Hog's day, so I'll never forget it.
COSTELLO: Oh, you did that on purpose.
MYERS: 02/02/02.
COSTELLO: And you relive it every day, I'm sure.
MYERS: Just about.
COSTELLO: All right, let's move on to Agatha Christie right now, because she lives on in print, and now in CD-ROM. The famous mystery writer's grandson has given permission for Christie's stories to be adapted into detective games for computer users. Can you say cha- ching?
MYERS: Hmmm.
COSTELLO: Yes. One of Johann Sebastian Bach's original musical scores has turned up at a college in Japan. Gee, look what I found, professor.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: A professor there determined this wedding cantata is authentic. It had been missing, Chad, for 80 years.
MYERS: Outstanding.
COSTELLO: Outstanding!
MYERS: Yes, it's one of those garage sale finds. You never know what you're going to find behind that painting at a garage sale.
COSTELLO: It's like, oh my gosh, a cantata or whatever songs from Bach. MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: All right, that does it for us this morning. I'm Carol Costello with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
MYERS: Have a good day. See you tomorrow.
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