Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
Intense Effort to End Standoff in Fallujah; Child Strangled at Hands of Another Child
Aired April 28, 2004 - 06:00 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: Fallujah under fire -- a two week stand-off escalates into shock and awe.
It's Wednesday, April 28.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date.
Americans battle Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah, but sheikhs head to that city hoping to peacefully resolve the siege.
An explosion and gunfire along diplomat row in Damascus. Syrian officials say four people were killed when a group of terrorists set off a bomb then fought security forces.
Attacks on police outposts in southern Thailand have resulted in the deaths of about 100 people. It's not clear if the attackers were criminal gangs or Islamic insurgents trying to establish a Muslim homeland.
And do some terror suspects have equal protection under the law? A man accused of planning a dirty bomb attack and a second American citizen have their cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court today.
To the forecast center and Chad now.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: In Iraq right now, an intense effort to end the standoff in Fallujah. Tribal leaders from across Iraq have been heading to the city west of Baghdad to negotiate a truce. Also, U.S. warplanes hit targets in the city of Fallujah last night, in the midst of that very shaky cease-fire. A U.S. military official says U.S. troops blew up an ammunition site.
In Najaf, where anti-American Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is still holed up, funerals held for some of the 64 Iraqi Mahdi Army fighters killed near the city in a clash with U.S. forces.
And at the United Nations, the top U.N. envoy to Iraq says a caretaker government needs to be selected by the end of May.
You know, looking at today's tense stand-off in Fallujah, it's hard to believe that this city was once considered a success story for the American occupation.
Jim Clancy has more for you from Fallujah.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. troops in Iraq couldn't see it coming a year ago. As small faces looked up and begged soldiers for autographs, Fallujah looked like it was going to be a textbook case of cooperation and goodwill.
Today, U.S. Marines are looking at Fallujah through the telescopic sights of their sniper rifles. "I think it's come to this point for two reasons," says Fallujah's former mayor. "The people absolutely hate the occupation and the U.S. troops have intimidated the people."
One year ago, Fallujah residents were seething after U.S. troops opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding 70 more, an attack the U.S. says was in defense after being fired upon from the crowd. Human Rights Watch investigated and found no conclusive evidence to support the U.S. claims.
That incident began a pattern of what Iraqis say has been excessive force and random fire that has killed innocent civilians. Images of U.S. troops holding a boot on even common criminals wasn't likely to charm the residents.
Though it has been described as a company town for Saddam Hussein's military and intelligence, even he found it rebellious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were somehow the only town who opposed him in the open when he executed one of their very brave officers in the Iraq-Iran War.
CLANCY (on camera): Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Decision made -- two weeks after losing their sister in Iraq, the Witmer sisters from Wisconsin have decided not to return. In a statement, Rachel and Charity Witmer say the Army wanted them to request new assignments away from Iraq. Michelle Witmer, their sister, was killed in action in Iraq on April 9. The sisters were told a return to Iraq might put their unit in danger since their presence would no doubt draw international media attention.
Senator Arlen Specter survives a tough challenge to win the Republican primary in Pennsylvania and take a shot at his fifth term. Specter won by a razor thin margin, beating Congressman Pat Toomey 51 percent to 49 percent.
After the results were in, Specter talked about his opponent and the fight ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I compliment Congressman Pat Toomey on a hard fought campaign. Now is the time, having settled our family disagreement within the Republican Party, to unify, to reelect President Bush, to maintain the Republican majority in the United States Senate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Congressman Toomey, in the meantime, says he has no hesitation in supporting Specter now, despite their differences. He called the senator to offer his congratulations once the results were in. Toomey had tried to convince voters that Specter wasn't conservative enough. And some Democrats say the razor thin victory shows Specter will be vulnerable to his Democratic challenger this fall.
President Bush is off the campaign trail today, but he's indirectly responding to Democratic critics. The Bush administration is releasing an unclassified version of a presidential directive on biodefense. The directive is designed to coordinate the nation's defense against terrorists who might use biological agents. Democrats on the House homeland security committee have accused the administration of moving too slowly on biodefense.
And it is the third day of John Kerry's Jobs First Tour through industrial states key to the election. Kerry will be in Toledo, Ohio for a rally of autoworkers and he also plans to speak at a community college in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kerry has accepted an invitation to speak at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. The college's president invited Kerry to balance a speech at the school by Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday.
And for all of you political junkies out there -- and I know you're out there -- our Web site is like a cookie jar. Head there and grab all the latest information on the presidential race. The address -- cnn.com.
A child is strangled at the hands of another child -- that allegation has shocked a rural Georgia community.
Reporter Paul Crowley joins us live from Carrollton, Georgia with details of an accused 12-year-old killer?
PAUL CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct. Even the sheriff here, who's worked for the sheriff's department for 24 years, Carol, says he's never seen anything like it. Carroll County, where we are now, is about 50 miles west of Atlanta. The city, Carrollton, here, only has 16,000 residents. And what they're dealing with is the, first of all, the terrible murder, strangulation death of an 8- year-old girl named Amy Yates. And that was discovered Monday evening, her body. She had gone to ride a bicycle to go visit a friend in her mobile home park. But yesterday evening, they questioned and then charged a 12- year-old, who neighbors say lives in the same trailer park. Authorities could not yet identify him because technically he's still a juvenile, although the district attorney here may ask the juvenile court judge to upgrade those charges to be treated as an adult. That will be up to the courts. For now, the boy is being held in a juvenile prison in a neighboring county, charged with murdering this girl with his bare hands. People in the trailer park who know the boy said he had gotten in a little bit of trouble of taking things, but never anything like this. They never could have imagined it. And the authorities here still can't believe it themselves.
Live in Carrollton County, Georgia, Paul Crowley reporting.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Paul.
We appreciate that.
A Black Hawk helicopter crash tops our look at stories making headlines across America this Wednesday.
The Army is trying to figure out what caused the helicopter to go down during a training mission in South Carolina. All three members of the flight crew died. The crash site was spotted by a trucker a day after the chopper disappeared in bad weather.
In the Kobe Bryant case today, defense attorneys argue their motion to have Bryant's interview with police thrown out. Also, the judge may set a date for Bryant to enter a plea. Further hearings on the relevance of the accuser's sexual history have been delayed until May 10.
In California, people hit the beach to beat the heat. In Los Angeles -- get this -- the mercury climbed to 102 degrees. That broke the record set more than 120 years ago. But L.A. certainly was not alone, as temperature records were shattered or tied all the way up the coast to San Francisco.
Coming up this hour on DAYBREAK...
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've tried many times to request help from the Sadr Hospital, for medical supplies and other assistance, but the Americans refused.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: One war, two views and a whole lot of speculation in between. Up next, fighting in Fallujah from the Arab perspective.
Gunfire and explosions shake the Syrian capital as security forces get tough on terror. We'll get the latest for you from Damascus.
And consumed by caffeine? Do not fret. Later this hour, decaf options that can still give you that perfect perk.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At night, they moved into our farmlands and people were standing out on the streets. Then the planes started bombing innocent civilians, our farm animals and our farms. I would like to send a letter to Bush thanking him for this democracy he is sending us.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: If a person inside Fallujah is not carrying a weapon, he will not be considered a threat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This morning, we are starting something new. Every Wednesday we'd like you to know what they're saying. It's a look at how networks like Al Jazeera are portraying the war in Iraq.
With us now, Octavia Nasr, CNN's senior editor of Arab affairs.
Welcome to DAYBREAK.
OCTAVIA NASR, SENIOR EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Thank you so much for having me.
COSTELLO: Oh, this is just so fascinating.
So the obvious question, how were networks like Al-Arabiya and Al Jazeera covering what happened in Fallujah last night?
NASR: Well, first of all, you have to understand positioning, where we are versus where they are. The Arab networks, especially Al- Arabiya and Al Jazeera, are inside. They are on the side of the insurgents -- not siding with them, but this is where they are positioning. They can see the pictures from the other side. The way we're seeing the pictures is from the side of the coalition forces. We are using reporting from embedded reporters with the Marines. So as we look at the picture from outside, they're looking at the picture from inside.
COSTELLO: So they're right down there on the streets next to where the damage happened.
So what did they show on television?
NASR: Well, they did not show damage. We're waiting on pictures of what really happened in Fallujah. We're expecting it to be dramatic because last night what they were doing is describing and talking about hundreds of people dead and thousands injured. Of course, you know, these numbers could be inflated. We're waiting on official numbers to come out right now. COSTELLO: Interestingly enough, we talked to a reporter in Fallujah with the Marines, Scott Peterson, from the "Christian Science Monitor." He said there weren't many casualties on the Iraqi side. He cited three deaths of insurgents.
NASR: And this is exactly what we're talking about. You know, you watch the different networks, it's the same conflict. It's the same war, the same things happening. But on one network you're going to see one version -- especially when you compare Western to Arab networks. On the Western networks, you're going to get one side of the story. On the Arab networks you're getting a totally different picture, as if you're looking at two different conflicts.
So the numbers are going to be different, the pictures are going to be different, the reactions are going to be different because as, on Western networks, you're looking at things in a cleansed way, in a sanitized way. We use this word a lot. On Arab networks, you're seeing things as they are. You heard it in this man's words earlier. You know, he's saying I want to send a letter to Bush telling him thank you for this democracy. You're not going to hear these kind of words on the Western networks.
COSTELLO: But many Americans would say that networks like Al Jazeera portray the situation quite unfairly and actually incite the insurgents to more violence.
NASR: And even clerics last week started saying that. And, as a matter of fact, yesterday there was a statement issued by the highest Shiite authority in Najaf, and that's exactly what they said. First of all, they called the insurgents, the militias, they called them terrorists. They were warning people against aiding them, hiding them, helping them, supporting them. And they had a very interesting attack on what they called these satellite channels that incite more violence and that pretend to be on the side of the Iraqis and to pretend to love the Iraqis, but, in fact -- and they pretend to be on the side of Islam, but, in fact, they're not.
A very interesting shift in the way things are looking on the ground. So right now it's not just people like us, observers and Western media, criticizing Arab media for inciting more violence, but it's the people on the ground, especially these clerics. In their Friday prayers, when they start telling the folks that you have to be careful with these networks, you have to be careful with these insurgents, that's very telling.
COSTELLO: So that word is apparently getting out to some on the street. But are those words from those clerics getting on television, on Arab television?
NASR: Well, they were slipping through last week. We could start seeing signs of them happening. Right now I think it's going to be hard for them to ignore them. Last week they were trying to ignore them. But one interesting thing that happened yesterday, as soon as that statement was issued by the highest Shiite authority in Najaf, I tuned in Al Jazeera to see what they're doing at that point, to see if they're reporting on it. That's pretty strong. In fact, they were doing just the opposite. They were interviewing the spokesperson of Muqtada al-Sadr, who is leading the militias in the Najaf areas. It's very interesting to see Al Jazeera totally ignore the statement criticizing Al Jazeera and other Arab networks and criticizing the militias of Sadr and instead they're interviewing the spokesman of Sadr.
And really they were very easy on him. The anchor just gave him a field trip, if you will, let him say what's on his mind. He didn't have to react to this statement. Very interesting reactions, a very interesting view from the Arab networks.
COSTELLO: That's one way to put it.
Octavia Nasr, thank you for joining us and you'll be with us again next Wednesday.
NASR: I hope so.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Tribal leaders from across Iraq are heading to Fallujah. They're trying to negotiate an end to the fighting between insurgents and U.S. Marines.
Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Germany this morning for an international conference on anti-Semitism. Fifty-five nations are taking part in that two day conference.
In money news, gas is not the only thing going up. The Travel Research Group says the average daily price for a hotel room hit $151 in March. That's up 4.8 percent from one year ago.
And in sports, big bucks at Wimbledon. An official for the group that puts on the tennis tournament says the Wimbledon women's winner could make a million bucks.
In culture, rock star Elton John says he finds voting by the national television audience of "American Idol" -- and I'm quoting here -- he says it's "incredibly racist." Elton John was a guest judge on the series this month -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you. Time for a little business buzz right now.
Advertisers are betting millions that you will watch the "Friends" finale next week.
Joya Dass has the numbers live from the NASDAQ market site.
This is just crazy.
JOYA DASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's absolutely crazy. Of course we all know that the last episode of "Friends" is due to air on May 6. And as of right now, $2 million per 30 second of commercial air time. You know, the only other thing that's rivaled that is the Super Bowl with $2.3 million.
However, here's an interesting point. Forty to fifty million viewers are expected to see the last episode of "Friends," but that comes nowhere near the 80 million who saw the finale of "Cheers" back in '93 and the 106 million who saw the conclusion of "Mash" back in '83. And get this. Advertisers only paid $840,000 for each 30 second spot.
So what's the message? Advertisers are willing to pay more for fewer eyeballs because since the advent of cable TV and the Internet, mass audiences are harder to come by -- Carol.
And if you want to...
COSTELLO: And, of course, that's what I like to hear, working at cable television.
DASS: Absolutely. Some of the folks that are actually paying up that money is Anheuser-Busch, General Motors and Hewlett-Packard.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Thank you, Joya Dass live from the NASDAQ market site in New York.
DASS: You bet.
COSTELLO: Italian hostages in Iraq -- the U.S. says it does not negotiate. But what is the Italian stance on terror?
Coming up, we'll talk live with our Rome bureau chief.
And they are our most precious gift -- our children. But is child welfare delivering them a raw deal?
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: 6:24 Eastern time.
We don't know how the latest assault by American Marines in Fallujah will affect the hostages being held in Iraq. We know of two American hostages and three Italian. The Bush administration has been very clear, though -- there will be no negotiating with terrorists.
The Italians? Have they been clear?
Joining us now with more insight, Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief.
Welcome to Atlanta.
I know you're here for the week.
VINCI: Yes.
COSTELLO: And we're glad to have you here live and in person.
VINCI: It's nice to be here.
COSTELLO: Are the Italians negotiating with these hostage takers?
VINCI: They're not negotiating directly with the hostage takers and the Italian government position, the official position is there is no negotiation whatsoever with terrorists. That's the official line from the very beginning of the hostage crisis.
At the same time, of course, there are contacts with people who may be in contact with the hostage takers and these go from religious clerics in Iraq, as well as some officials in neighboring countries. So there is a contact there ongoing. They...
COSTELLO: And, sadly, it hasn't really worked, because one of the Italian hostages was killed.
VINCI: That is correct. And that has changed completely the perception of this tragedy, if you want. I mean I remember talking to Italian officials at the very beginning of this crisis, when the four hostages were kidnapped. And Italian officials were pretty much dismissing a little bit the fact that these were almost mercenaries who went to Iraq to find a quick amount of money, you know, if you want, a quick buck to bring back home.
Once that first hostage was killed, then it brought this, the whole thing into a completely different perspective and, of course, now the families are trying to intervene and call on the government to do something.
COSTELLO: It's interesting you say that because in Japan, when the Japanese hostages were released and they returned home, they've been vilified. They're hiding out in their homes. The Japanese people are very angry at them. So you're saying that the Italian people thought that way at first about the Italian hostages. Now they don't because one was killed. Now the hostage takers are asking for Italians to demonstrate in the streets against their government.
Will they do that?
VINCI: A big dilemma right now taking place, right in these hours, in Italy, because, of course, there are demonstrations planned for May the 1st. These are traditional in Europe, huge demonstrations. And these demonstrations are also sort of left-wing, anti-global, whatever, good relations. So there are like demonstrations where usually there is a peace movement present. So those demonstrations were planned before this hostage taking, of course, took place.
Now, they're faced with shall they or shall they not address the issue of the hostages.
At the same time, the kidnappers have asked the families or the government, or people to organize anti-government demonstrations in Italy as a condition not to kill the remaining hostages. One was killed, as you mentioned.
What we do know is that there will be some demonstrations. There will be demonstrations organized tomorrow by the families. The organizers of these demonstrations are making sure that they want to make sure that people understand this is not an anti-government demonstration, this is a humanitarian demonstration. They're trying to do all they can, the families, to secure the release of those hostages.
Interestingly enough...
COSTELLO: So...
VINCI: ... a poll in Italy just now, 57 percent of the people agree that there should be a demonstration and that people should participate. But 37 percent of people say we should not give into the demands of the terrorists. So, the country is pretty much divided.
COSTELLO: Well, but this -- I think that that would probably be amazing to most Americans, that any idea of holding a demonstration because hostage takers, terrorists, ask you to, is pretty appalling.
VINCI: It is. And, you know, I guess, you know, this has to do a lot with the close bond, perhaps, you know, in Italian, in Italy, perhaps, the families and the children and their mothers -- I mean the mothers have been extremely outspoken into this. And I would emphasize -- one has to understand what the feeling is of these families. I mean they've seen the pictures of their relatives on television. And, again, the fact that one of them has already been killed.
At the same time, I think the organizers of these demonstrations are really trying to make a point that this has nothing to do with politics, is that, you know, they want to organize a peace demonstration. It's going to be organized in the vicinity of the Vatican. So they want to give this sort of also a sort of peaceful message, if you want. Pope John Paul II, there's a rumor he may bless these demonstrations or this march from the balcony.
So there is a whole sort of peaceful aspect to these demonstrations rather than this is a demonstration that -- or a march -- that the hostage takers were asking for.
COSTELLO: Alessio Vinci, many thanks. Have fun in Atlanta.
VINCI: You're welcome.
All right.
COSTELLO: All right.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Weapons are found in a Mideast capital after security forces do battle with terrorists.
Child welfare agencies are failing to protect children. We'll have a live guest to tell us what can be done.
And can coffee be good for you? Yes. A new study has shaken things up. We'll tell you about it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired April 28, 2004 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Fallujah under fire -- a two week stand-off escalates into shock and awe.
It's Wednesday, April 28.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date.
Americans battle Iraqi insurgents in Fallujah, but sheikhs head to that city hoping to peacefully resolve the siege.
An explosion and gunfire along diplomat row in Damascus. Syrian officials say four people were killed when a group of terrorists set off a bomb then fought security forces.
Attacks on police outposts in southern Thailand have resulted in the deaths of about 100 people. It's not clear if the attackers were criminal gangs or Islamic insurgents trying to establish a Muslim homeland.
And do some terror suspects have equal protection under the law? A man accused of planning a dirty bomb attack and a second American citizen have their cases heard by the U.S. Supreme Court today.
To the forecast center and Chad now.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: In Iraq right now, an intense effort to end the standoff in Fallujah. Tribal leaders from across Iraq have been heading to the city west of Baghdad to negotiate a truce. Also, U.S. warplanes hit targets in the city of Fallujah last night, in the midst of that very shaky cease-fire. A U.S. military official says U.S. troops blew up an ammunition site.
In Najaf, where anti-American Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is still holed up, funerals held for some of the 64 Iraqi Mahdi Army fighters killed near the city in a clash with U.S. forces.
And at the United Nations, the top U.N. envoy to Iraq says a caretaker government needs to be selected by the end of May.
You know, looking at today's tense stand-off in Fallujah, it's hard to believe that this city was once considered a success story for the American occupation.
Jim Clancy has more for you from Fallujah.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. troops in Iraq couldn't see it coming a year ago. As small faces looked up and begged soldiers for autographs, Fallujah looked like it was going to be a textbook case of cooperation and goodwill.
Today, U.S. Marines are looking at Fallujah through the telescopic sights of their sniper rifles. "I think it's come to this point for two reasons," says Fallujah's former mayor. "The people absolutely hate the occupation and the U.S. troops have intimidated the people."
One year ago, Fallujah residents were seething after U.S. troops opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding 70 more, an attack the U.S. says was in defense after being fired upon from the crowd. Human Rights Watch investigated and found no conclusive evidence to support the U.S. claims.
That incident began a pattern of what Iraqis say has been excessive force and random fire that has killed innocent civilians. Images of U.S. troops holding a boot on even common criminals wasn't likely to charm the residents.
Though it has been described as a company town for Saddam Hussein's military and intelligence, even he found it rebellious.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were somehow the only town who opposed him in the open when he executed one of their very brave officers in the Iraq-Iran War.
CLANCY (on camera): Jim Clancy, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Decision made -- two weeks after losing their sister in Iraq, the Witmer sisters from Wisconsin have decided not to return. In a statement, Rachel and Charity Witmer say the Army wanted them to request new assignments away from Iraq. Michelle Witmer, their sister, was killed in action in Iraq on April 9. The sisters were told a return to Iraq might put their unit in danger since their presence would no doubt draw international media attention.
Senator Arlen Specter survives a tough challenge to win the Republican primary in Pennsylvania and take a shot at his fifth term. Specter won by a razor thin margin, beating Congressman Pat Toomey 51 percent to 49 percent.
After the results were in, Specter talked about his opponent and the fight ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ARLEN SPECTER (R-PA), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I compliment Congressman Pat Toomey on a hard fought campaign. Now is the time, having settled our family disagreement within the Republican Party, to unify, to reelect President Bush, to maintain the Republican majority in the United States Senate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Congressman Toomey, in the meantime, says he has no hesitation in supporting Specter now, despite their differences. He called the senator to offer his congratulations once the results were in. Toomey had tried to convince voters that Specter wasn't conservative enough. And some Democrats say the razor thin victory shows Specter will be vulnerable to his Democratic challenger this fall.
President Bush is off the campaign trail today, but he's indirectly responding to Democratic critics. The Bush administration is releasing an unclassified version of a presidential directive on biodefense. The directive is designed to coordinate the nation's defense against terrorists who might use biological agents. Democrats on the House homeland security committee have accused the administration of moving too slowly on biodefense.
And it is the third day of John Kerry's Jobs First Tour through industrial states key to the election. Kerry will be in Toledo, Ohio for a rally of autoworkers and he also plans to speak at a community college in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Kerry has accepted an invitation to speak at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. The college's president invited Kerry to balance a speech at the school by Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday.
And for all of you political junkies out there -- and I know you're out there -- our Web site is like a cookie jar. Head there and grab all the latest information on the presidential race. The address -- cnn.com.
A child is strangled at the hands of another child -- that allegation has shocked a rural Georgia community.
Reporter Paul Crowley joins us live from Carrollton, Georgia with details of an accused 12-year-old killer?
PAUL CROWLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's correct. Even the sheriff here, who's worked for the sheriff's department for 24 years, Carol, says he's never seen anything like it. Carroll County, where we are now, is about 50 miles west of Atlanta. The city, Carrollton, here, only has 16,000 residents. And what they're dealing with is the, first of all, the terrible murder, strangulation death of an 8- year-old girl named Amy Yates. And that was discovered Monday evening, her body. She had gone to ride a bicycle to go visit a friend in her mobile home park. But yesterday evening, they questioned and then charged a 12- year-old, who neighbors say lives in the same trailer park. Authorities could not yet identify him because technically he's still a juvenile, although the district attorney here may ask the juvenile court judge to upgrade those charges to be treated as an adult. That will be up to the courts. For now, the boy is being held in a juvenile prison in a neighboring county, charged with murdering this girl with his bare hands. People in the trailer park who know the boy said he had gotten in a little bit of trouble of taking things, but never anything like this. They never could have imagined it. And the authorities here still can't believe it themselves.
Live in Carrollton County, Georgia, Paul Crowley reporting.
COSTELLO: All right, thank you, Paul.
We appreciate that.
A Black Hawk helicopter crash tops our look at stories making headlines across America this Wednesday.
The Army is trying to figure out what caused the helicopter to go down during a training mission in South Carolina. All three members of the flight crew died. The crash site was spotted by a trucker a day after the chopper disappeared in bad weather.
In the Kobe Bryant case today, defense attorneys argue their motion to have Bryant's interview with police thrown out. Also, the judge may set a date for Bryant to enter a plea. Further hearings on the relevance of the accuser's sexual history have been delayed until May 10.
In California, people hit the beach to beat the heat. In Los Angeles -- get this -- the mercury climbed to 102 degrees. That broke the record set more than 120 years ago. But L.A. certainly was not alone, as temperature records were shattered or tied all the way up the coast to San Francisco.
Coming up this hour on DAYBREAK...
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've tried many times to request help from the Sadr Hospital, for medical supplies and other assistance, but the Americans refused.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: One war, two views and a whole lot of speculation in between. Up next, fighting in Fallujah from the Arab perspective.
Gunfire and explosions shake the Syrian capital as security forces get tough on terror. We'll get the latest for you from Damascus.
And consumed by caffeine? Do not fret. Later this hour, decaf options that can still give you that perfect perk.
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At night, they moved into our farmlands and people were standing out on the streets. Then the planes started bombing innocent civilians, our farm animals and our farms. I would like to send a letter to Bush thanking him for this democracy he is sending us.
BRIG. GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY: If a person inside Fallujah is not carrying a weapon, he will not be considered a threat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This morning, we are starting something new. Every Wednesday we'd like you to know what they're saying. It's a look at how networks like Al Jazeera are portraying the war in Iraq.
With us now, Octavia Nasr, CNN's senior editor of Arab affairs.
Welcome to DAYBREAK.
OCTAVIA NASR, SENIOR EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: Thank you so much for having me.
COSTELLO: Oh, this is just so fascinating.
So the obvious question, how were networks like Al-Arabiya and Al Jazeera covering what happened in Fallujah last night?
NASR: Well, first of all, you have to understand positioning, where we are versus where they are. The Arab networks, especially Al- Arabiya and Al Jazeera, are inside. They are on the side of the insurgents -- not siding with them, but this is where they are positioning. They can see the pictures from the other side. The way we're seeing the pictures is from the side of the coalition forces. We are using reporting from embedded reporters with the Marines. So as we look at the picture from outside, they're looking at the picture from inside.
COSTELLO: So they're right down there on the streets next to where the damage happened.
So what did they show on television?
NASR: Well, they did not show damage. We're waiting on pictures of what really happened in Fallujah. We're expecting it to be dramatic because last night what they were doing is describing and talking about hundreds of people dead and thousands injured. Of course, you know, these numbers could be inflated. We're waiting on official numbers to come out right now. COSTELLO: Interestingly enough, we talked to a reporter in Fallujah with the Marines, Scott Peterson, from the "Christian Science Monitor." He said there weren't many casualties on the Iraqi side. He cited three deaths of insurgents.
NASR: And this is exactly what we're talking about. You know, you watch the different networks, it's the same conflict. It's the same war, the same things happening. But on one network you're going to see one version -- especially when you compare Western to Arab networks. On the Western networks, you're going to get one side of the story. On the Arab networks you're getting a totally different picture, as if you're looking at two different conflicts.
So the numbers are going to be different, the pictures are going to be different, the reactions are going to be different because as, on Western networks, you're looking at things in a cleansed way, in a sanitized way. We use this word a lot. On Arab networks, you're seeing things as they are. You heard it in this man's words earlier. You know, he's saying I want to send a letter to Bush telling him thank you for this democracy. You're not going to hear these kind of words on the Western networks.
COSTELLO: But many Americans would say that networks like Al Jazeera portray the situation quite unfairly and actually incite the insurgents to more violence.
NASR: And even clerics last week started saying that. And, as a matter of fact, yesterday there was a statement issued by the highest Shiite authority in Najaf, and that's exactly what they said. First of all, they called the insurgents, the militias, they called them terrorists. They were warning people against aiding them, hiding them, helping them, supporting them. And they had a very interesting attack on what they called these satellite channels that incite more violence and that pretend to be on the side of the Iraqis and to pretend to love the Iraqis, but, in fact -- and they pretend to be on the side of Islam, but, in fact, they're not.
A very interesting shift in the way things are looking on the ground. So right now it's not just people like us, observers and Western media, criticizing Arab media for inciting more violence, but it's the people on the ground, especially these clerics. In their Friday prayers, when they start telling the folks that you have to be careful with these networks, you have to be careful with these insurgents, that's very telling.
COSTELLO: So that word is apparently getting out to some on the street. But are those words from those clerics getting on television, on Arab television?
NASR: Well, they were slipping through last week. We could start seeing signs of them happening. Right now I think it's going to be hard for them to ignore them. Last week they were trying to ignore them. But one interesting thing that happened yesterday, as soon as that statement was issued by the highest Shiite authority in Najaf, I tuned in Al Jazeera to see what they're doing at that point, to see if they're reporting on it. That's pretty strong. In fact, they were doing just the opposite. They were interviewing the spokesperson of Muqtada al-Sadr, who is leading the militias in the Najaf areas. It's very interesting to see Al Jazeera totally ignore the statement criticizing Al Jazeera and other Arab networks and criticizing the militias of Sadr and instead they're interviewing the spokesman of Sadr.
And really they were very easy on him. The anchor just gave him a field trip, if you will, let him say what's on his mind. He didn't have to react to this statement. Very interesting reactions, a very interesting view from the Arab networks.
COSTELLO: That's one way to put it.
Octavia Nasr, thank you for joining us and you'll be with us again next Wednesday.
NASR: I hope so.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:18 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Tribal leaders from across Iraq are heading to Fallujah. They're trying to negotiate an end to the fighting between insurgents and U.S. Marines.
Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Germany this morning for an international conference on anti-Semitism. Fifty-five nations are taking part in that two day conference.
In money news, gas is not the only thing going up. The Travel Research Group says the average daily price for a hotel room hit $151 in March. That's up 4.8 percent from one year ago.
And in sports, big bucks at Wimbledon. An official for the group that puts on the tennis tournament says the Wimbledon women's winner could make a million bucks.
In culture, rock star Elton John says he finds voting by the national television audience of "American Idol" -- and I'm quoting here -- he says it's "incredibly racist." Elton John was a guest judge on the series this month -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you. Time for a little business buzz right now.
Advertisers are betting millions that you will watch the "Friends" finale next week.
Joya Dass has the numbers live from the NASDAQ market site.
This is just crazy.
JOYA DASS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's absolutely crazy. Of course we all know that the last episode of "Friends" is due to air on May 6. And as of right now, $2 million per 30 second of commercial air time. You know, the only other thing that's rivaled that is the Super Bowl with $2.3 million.
However, here's an interesting point. Forty to fifty million viewers are expected to see the last episode of "Friends," but that comes nowhere near the 80 million who saw the finale of "Cheers" back in '93 and the 106 million who saw the conclusion of "Mash" back in '83. And get this. Advertisers only paid $840,000 for each 30 second spot.
So what's the message? Advertisers are willing to pay more for fewer eyeballs because since the advent of cable TV and the Internet, mass audiences are harder to come by -- Carol.
And if you want to...
COSTELLO: And, of course, that's what I like to hear, working at cable television.
DASS: Absolutely. Some of the folks that are actually paying up that money is Anheuser-Busch, General Motors and Hewlett-Packard.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
Thank you, Joya Dass live from the NASDAQ market site in New York.
DASS: You bet.
COSTELLO: Italian hostages in Iraq -- the U.S. says it does not negotiate. But what is the Italian stance on terror?
Coming up, we'll talk live with our Rome bureau chief.
And they are our most precious gift -- our children. But is child welfare delivering them a raw deal?
This is DAYBREAK for Wednesday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: 6:24 Eastern time.
We don't know how the latest assault by American Marines in Fallujah will affect the hostages being held in Iraq. We know of two American hostages and three Italian. The Bush administration has been very clear, though -- there will be no negotiating with terrorists.
The Italians? Have they been clear?
Joining us now with more insight, Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief.
Welcome to Atlanta.
I know you're here for the week.
VINCI: Yes.
COSTELLO: And we're glad to have you here live and in person.
VINCI: It's nice to be here.
COSTELLO: Are the Italians negotiating with these hostage takers?
VINCI: They're not negotiating directly with the hostage takers and the Italian government position, the official position is there is no negotiation whatsoever with terrorists. That's the official line from the very beginning of the hostage crisis.
At the same time, of course, there are contacts with people who may be in contact with the hostage takers and these go from religious clerics in Iraq, as well as some officials in neighboring countries. So there is a contact there ongoing. They...
COSTELLO: And, sadly, it hasn't really worked, because one of the Italian hostages was killed.
VINCI: That is correct. And that has changed completely the perception of this tragedy, if you want. I mean I remember talking to Italian officials at the very beginning of this crisis, when the four hostages were kidnapped. And Italian officials were pretty much dismissing a little bit the fact that these were almost mercenaries who went to Iraq to find a quick amount of money, you know, if you want, a quick buck to bring back home.
Once that first hostage was killed, then it brought this, the whole thing into a completely different perspective and, of course, now the families are trying to intervene and call on the government to do something.
COSTELLO: It's interesting you say that because in Japan, when the Japanese hostages were released and they returned home, they've been vilified. They're hiding out in their homes. The Japanese people are very angry at them. So you're saying that the Italian people thought that way at first about the Italian hostages. Now they don't because one was killed. Now the hostage takers are asking for Italians to demonstrate in the streets against their government.
Will they do that?
VINCI: A big dilemma right now taking place, right in these hours, in Italy, because, of course, there are demonstrations planned for May the 1st. These are traditional in Europe, huge demonstrations. And these demonstrations are also sort of left-wing, anti-global, whatever, good relations. So there are like demonstrations where usually there is a peace movement present. So those demonstrations were planned before this hostage taking, of course, took place.
Now, they're faced with shall they or shall they not address the issue of the hostages.
At the same time, the kidnappers have asked the families or the government, or people to organize anti-government demonstrations in Italy as a condition not to kill the remaining hostages. One was killed, as you mentioned.
What we do know is that there will be some demonstrations. There will be demonstrations organized tomorrow by the families. The organizers of these demonstrations are making sure that they want to make sure that people understand this is not an anti-government demonstration, this is a humanitarian demonstration. They're trying to do all they can, the families, to secure the release of those hostages.
Interestingly enough...
COSTELLO: So...
VINCI: ... a poll in Italy just now, 57 percent of the people agree that there should be a demonstration and that people should participate. But 37 percent of people say we should not give into the demands of the terrorists. So, the country is pretty much divided.
COSTELLO: Well, but this -- I think that that would probably be amazing to most Americans, that any idea of holding a demonstration because hostage takers, terrorists, ask you to, is pretty appalling.
VINCI: It is. And, you know, I guess, you know, this has to do a lot with the close bond, perhaps, you know, in Italian, in Italy, perhaps, the families and the children and their mothers -- I mean the mothers have been extremely outspoken into this. And I would emphasize -- one has to understand what the feeling is of these families. I mean they've seen the pictures of their relatives on television. And, again, the fact that one of them has already been killed.
At the same time, I think the organizers of these demonstrations are really trying to make a point that this has nothing to do with politics, is that, you know, they want to organize a peace demonstration. It's going to be organized in the vicinity of the Vatican. So they want to give this sort of also a sort of peaceful message, if you want. Pope John Paul II, there's a rumor he may bless these demonstrations or this march from the balcony.
So there is a whole sort of peaceful aspect to these demonstrations rather than this is a demonstration that -- or a march -- that the hostage takers were asking for.
COSTELLO: Alessio Vinci, many thanks. Have fun in Atlanta.
VINCI: You're welcome.
All right.
COSTELLO: All right.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
Weapons are found in a Mideast capital after security forces do battle with terrorists.
Child welfare agencies are failing to protect children. We'll have a live guest to tell us what can be done.
And can coffee be good for you? Yes. A new study has shaken things up. We'll tell you about it next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
