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CNN Live At Daybreak
Filipino Hostage; Bush & The NAACP; Wicked Weather; Fighting the Epidemic; Tops on TV
Aired July 15, 2004 - 05:30 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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A former U.S. Marine held hostage in Iraq will be back on American soil today.
It's Thursday, July 15, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello this morning.
Now 'In the News,' Filipino troops are awaiting orders to pull out of Iraq, an effort to save the life of hostage Angelo de la Cruz, but there is confusion. A military spokesman says no order has been issued and plans -- planes, rather, that were on standby for evacuation have left on other missions.
Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is on his way to the United States from Germany where he was being debriefed. Hassoun was missing in Iraq and believed taken hostage but reappeared alive and well in Beirut, Lebanon.
Nelson Mandela will push tuberculosis treatment at the International AIDS Conference six hours from now. The former South African president says large numbers of AIDS victims die of tuberculosis.
The 11th stage of the Tour de France begins about an hour and 10 minutes from now with Frenchman Thomas Voeckler the overall leader. American Lance Armstrong, the five-time champion, is in sixth place.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
And, Chad, I know you are watching Lance Armstrong very closely, or at least fingers are crossed.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know it's on -- it's on OLN, and I don't have Outdoor Life Network. It's not on my satellite. I...
WHITFIELD: You're reading the paper.
MYERS: You know that or I'm too cheap to pay for the upgrade, one or the other. Yes, but actually, he did make up some time yesterday. Not only did he make up some positions, he also made up some time.
(WEATHER REPORT) Fred, back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
WHITFIELD: Well it's something the Bush White House certainly did not want to hear, the Philippines government caving in to the demands of terrorist kidnappers in Iraq. Trouble is, the whereabouts of the Filipino truck driver are still unknown.
CNN's Maria Ressa has been covering this story from the beginning, and Maria is joining us live from Manila.
And now, Maria, there is confusion over the airplanes, are they on standby, are they not on standby? What's the story?
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, Fredricka, there is a news block out that's been imposed by the Philippine government. As you know, it's been a week since it issued deliberately ambiguous statements on exactly what it planned to do, was it going to give in to the kidnapper's demands or will it stay true to its international commitments?
On Wednesday, it said that it was lowering the headcount of its troops in Iraq, implying that a pullout had begun. But sources on the ground here told us that no pullout had officially begun. They refused to comment on anything else.
However, regardless of what the situation is, the damage has been done. The Philippines is now seen internationally as caving in to kidnapper's demands, critical condemnation by many analysts. Australia had very, very strong words. The United States saying it was disappointed in its ally. At the same time, however, we're still waiting for word on the fate of Angelo de la Cruz -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. And how is -- how are his family members holding up? Did they embark on their trip to go to Iraq? What's the status of them?
RESSA: His wife and his brother are waiting for him, waiting for word from Jordan. His eight children are here in the Philippines. Again, it's been a roller-coaster weekend. You know that on Saturday there was actually news. They went to sleep thinking that Angelo de la Cruz had been released, only to wake up Sunday morning with the -- with the knowledge that he was still in the kidnapper's hands.
Here's another interesting thing, the reaction on the Philippines to -- the Philippines' actions in Iraq. Filipinos, in general, welcomed the decision to pull its troops out of Iraq, mostly because here in the Philippines it was seen as standing up to the United States, getting out of an unjust war of sorts. So the fate, the actions of the Philippines was very directly connected to what the Philippines relationship to the United States. A lot of that colored by the fact that the Philippines is a former colony of America -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Maria Ressa in Manila, thanks very much.
Well some Iraqis took to the streets of Baghdad today for a protest, but it may not be what you think. Instead of protesting against the United States and President Bush, the Iraqis were demonstrating against opposed leader Saddam Hussein. The demonstrators burned an effigy of the former leader.
A car bomb in northwestern Iraq today killed at least three Iraqi police officers. The bomb exploded outside the main police station in the northwestern city of Hadithah. Two suspected suicide car bombers were killed today in Karbala. On Wednesday, 11 people were killed in a car bombing in Baghdad.
Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi holds a news conference at 7:00 Eastern this morning, about 90 minutes from now. We expect some of his remarks will touch on improving security in Iraq.
Well let's talk now to international editor David Clinch about all the things going on in Iraq and worldwide.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Well, actually what I want to talk about today is one of my pet stories, one of my favorite stories is this story of Charles Jenkins. We have reported on this story for the last week or so. This is the accused American deserter, left his unit in Korea and wandered into North Korea during the Korean War. Was not heard from from years. Well now he has reemerged and reunited with his Japanese wife, who was also in North Korea, in Indonesia.
And remember he went there last week because Indonesia is a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S. He, Charles Jenkins, had always been afraid of coming out of North Korea for fear that he would be extradited back to the U.S. on these accusations of deserting.
WHITFIELD: And Colon Powell said he would be...
CLINCH: Well...
WHITFIELD: ... if he was in a country that...
CLINCH: ... the official...
WHITFIELD: ... had a treaty.
CLINCH: Correct. And the official statement, up until even today in Japan, the U.S. ambassador there, Howard Baker, is saying we will ask for custody if he comes to a country that has extradition, specifically Japan,...
WHITFIELD: And now?
CLINCH: ... because we are now hearing that he will go to Japan, perhaps as soon as Sunday, although that hasn't been confirmed.
WHITFIELD: Why?
CLINCH: Well ostensibly the Japanese government, which is sort of sponsoring this entire thing because it's a big political and domestic issue for them, is saying that he has health issues, serious health issues. Not new health issues, but serious health issues, and they want to bring him to Japan to give him the proper care.
Well that's all well and good, but if he is in Japan, they have an extradition treaty. The ambassador is saying they will ask for custody. But interestingly, Howard Baker said we'll ask for custody, but the question of when they will ask for him to come into U.S. custody is being left open. And that's interesting for two reasons.
One, the limit -- statute of limitations on his case runs out officially sometime next year. Now it would be renewable, perhaps, but it does run out. So there's that question of timing.
There's also the question of the fact that he is quite old, and if he does have serious issues, how long will he live?
And then there's also the overall issue. The U.S. making it clear they are very sympathetic about his case. He's older. They are not necessarily interested in playing hardball.
WHITFIELD: They are sympathetic, but at the same time...
CLINCH: Officially they want him in custody and they want to charge him with desertion. Now having said that,...
WHITFIELD: Why?
CLINCH: ... a more senior official today, we kind of surprised him with a question in Pakistan today, Richard Armitage in Pakistan today. We asked him about this case. And his response is it's an open question. Now we'll hear a little bit more from Richard Armitage later. But his response to whether or not they would seek custody is it's an open question, so clearly a very difficult issue.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. And part of the answer to why is they believe that they can extract some important information from him because he was in North Korea?
CLINCH: Well it's certainly an idea that's being circulated. And apart from the custody question is he's a gold mine of information potentially about this...
WHITFIELD: Potentially.
CLINCH: ... mysterious state, North Korea. So a fascinating story. We'll be following it.
WHITFIELD: It is a fascinating case. All right, David Clinch, thanks very much.
CLINCH: OK. WHITFIELD: Well Senator John Kerry speaks today at the NAACP Convention in Philadelphia, and that calls more attention to President Bush's decision to bypass the convention this election year.
CNN's Jason Carroll has a report from Philly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Familiar sounds, familiar faces, but one familiar face that wasn't here, the president of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry accepted our invitation to speak at this convention. And the president of the United States did not.
CARROLL: President Bush's decision not to address the convention sent a resounding message Maxine Smith (ph), a Democrat, and Gladys Johnson (ph), who says she sometimes votes Republican.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I feel that he missed an opportunity by not coming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, I don't care about you. I don't care what you think.
CARROLL: And it's not just the older delegates who feel that way.
(on camera): Who is upset by the president's decision not to come here to speak?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It speaks volumes to the commitment that President Bush has to the communities of color.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The people who agree with the NAACP and the people who do not still think that he should respect the organization enough to hear what they have to say.
CARROLL: The White House says a scheduling conflict prevented the president from attending. That did not help his already strained relationship with the NAACP. To that, attorney Douglas Oden says, so what?
DOUGLAS ODEN, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO NAACP: I think the president has a habit of going to locations where everyone agrees with him. He goes to rallies where everyone is waving flags. And if you don't listen to what the other part of Americans is saying, you can have flawed advice.
CARROLL: And while most criticism is directed at Bush, the Democrats are also taking heat for what some here say is a feeling that party takes the black vote for granted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Democratic Party, we support them more historically, but if we had another party that could speak more to our needs as a community, I'm certain that our votes would go that way. CARROLL: John Kerry will speak at the convention tomorrow. And under pressure from African-American leaders, the Democratic Party added a black speaker to its convention lineup, Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois. Many here say that was a symbolic gesture and it will take more than symbolism for either Democrats or Republicans to win their votes.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: A tragic accident in Michigan, a family who thought their son was alive discovers the worst, and mixed emotions for another family who learns the fate of their son. The story in the next hour of DAYBREAK.
And summer storms plowed through Pennsylvania. A live report from one hard hit town straight ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for Thursday, July 15.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's now 16 minutes before the hour, and here is what's all new this morning.
The brother of an American hostage beheaded in Saudi Arabia is trying to get his brother's body back. He's pleading with the U.S. and Saudi officials for help. Paul Johnson was abducted in June by al Qaeda operatives.
A Senate report says Riggs Bank helped former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet hide his wealth and evade efforts to seize his assets. A hearing on the matter begins in less than four hours from now.
In money, a teacher's union survey says teacher pay is not keeping up with the cost of living. The study found the average pay is less than $46,000 last year, not enough to keep pace with health costs.
In culture, Slim Fast is shedding spokeswoman Whoopi Goldberg. The company says it's disappointed in her off-color anti-Bush comments at a fund raiser last week for Senator John Kerry.
In sports, the diesel has left. L.A. Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was officially traded to the Miami Heat for three players and a draft pick. We'll have more on Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers coming up a little bit later.
And, Chad, apparently this might be a big day for Kobe Bryant, too, because he could announce that he might stay with the Lakers or even go to the L.A. Clippers.
MYERS: Did you hear the numbers?
WHITFIELD: The numbers of how much?
MYERS: Like $140 million...
WHITFIELD: For a three-year contract?
MYERS: ... is the offer to stay. I think it's longer than that. But that's the offer to stay. But he wants to play in a different, you know, whatever.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
MYERS: Scattered rain showers. I'll play anywhere for $140 million. I'll play in Antarctica.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: And OK, back to you. I was reading a different map, and I don't know what that map was on the screen, I didn't see it there. It was just stuck there.
All right, back to you.
WHITFIELD: OK, well we're going to continue talking a little weather. This time we're going to talk a little bit more about some severe weather. South-central Pennsylvania was particularly hit hard. Storms there injured dozens of people and left a path of destruction.
Reporter Kevin Henry of CNN affiliate WHTM joins us live from Campbelltown, Pennsylvania.
KEVIN HENRY, WHTM-TV REPORTER: Hi, Fredricka, good morning to you.
This storm blew through the area around mid afternoon yesterday, and it certainly did leave a lot of damage behind, very significant damage.
We have some aerial pictures we'd like to show you now this morning. The hardest hit area was the Country Squire development, that's in South Londonderry Township near Campbelltown in Lebanon County. There are about 80 homes in that development. We're told anywhere from 30 to 50 of them was destroyed.
Now some folks who live there say it sounded like a siren or a train coming through. Others say they did see that funnel cloud, which could indicate a tornado. That, of course, is going to be up to the National Weather Service to determine. Some folks from the National Weather Service will be on scene today to check that out. They'll be here sometime this morning.
In the meantime, 150 people flooded the Campbelltown fire department yesterday afternoon seeking help from the Red Cross. There is a shelter here, but I'm glad to say not a whole lot of people are here right now. In fact, I don't think there is anybody in there as we speak. Nobody sought shelter for the night. A lot of folks are staying with family and friends. Other folks, well they are allowed back in their homes, but we should say they have no power.
We should also add that 16 people in that neighborhood were injured. One of them is injured critically. And emergency folks we've been talking to say that number should have been a lot higher. The good news here, a lot of folks were at work, so they lucked out, so to speak.
Fredricka, I'll send it back to you.
WHITFIELD: And, Kevin, it really is remarkable just looking at the videotape we've been rolling to see that there may be properties decimated and then right next door a house seems to be completely in tact.
HENRY: It's one of those things. I was talking to some folks here this morning, and I said you know it's almost like it said OK, here's the storm coming through, here's Country Squire, let's hit it and then let's pick out each individual house. You're right, it's almost like it did a figure eight through these houses, left some unscathed, left some totally destroyed. But I don't think anybody in this neighborhood is untouched by it. I mean there are a lot of people that have a lot of cleaning up to do.
WHITFIELD: Yes, as remarkable as it is, it's actually still a very common sight and a common swirl of emotions that most towns experience after going through things like this. Kevin Henry, thanks very much.
HENRY: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.
Your antidote is in the mail. The CDC says it's now shipping drugs that would treat victims of a chemical weapons attack to hospitals around the country. The goal is to have antidotes for a biological attack available in every state in the next two years.
Stopping the spread of your next cold could soon be right under your nose. Kleenex has developed a tissue that kills viruses. Kimberly-Clark says the anti-viral product will be on store shelves soon. The tissue won't be able to cure a cold that you've already caught, but it can help prevent spreading the bug.
There's more evidence that drinking red wine can be healthy. A new study finds a chemical compound in red wine extends the life of every organism it was given to from yeast and fruit flies to worms and monkeys. Harvard scientists say all showed benefits from the compound.
Nelson Mandela is the headline speaker at today's session of the International AIDS Conference. Mandela is the former president of South Africa, a nation hit hard by the epidemic.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman is covering the conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and he has this live report -- Aneesh. ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that's right. Mandela speaking earlier today to reporters talking about tuberculosis. Now what does that have to do with AIDS? Mandela making the case for those who are co-infected, who have both HIV and TB. That's about 14 million people worldwide, 70 percent of whom reside in sub-Saharan, Africa.
Now this is important because TB is one of the prime attackers on those with HIV whose immune systems are pretty much all but destroyed. It accounts for about one third of the HIV-AIDS deaths worldwide. So Mandela really bringing this to the forefront, saying the world has made defeating AIDS a top priority, this is a blessing, but TB remains ignored.
That is undoubtedly going to change with the words of Mandela and another big name backing this cause, Bill Gates. The Gates Foundation today announcing a $45 million grant to fight TB on a grassroots level worldwide -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Aneesh Raman, thanks very much, from Bangkok.
Well for more on this or any other health stories, head to our Web site. The address is CNN -- CNN.com, rather, /health.
This is DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The Emmy nominations are signed and sealed and they'll be delivered two-and-a-half hours from now. But who are the favorites?
CNN's Sibila Vargas has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: Tell him if he can use saving American lives as a pretext for force, so can I.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this election year, Emmy incumbents are once again expected to make the strongest showing at the nominations. Four-time best drama winner "West Wing" is a solid contender, along with familiar competition.
LYNETTE RICE, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": I think, for the most part, we're going to see predictable nominees. We will see "24," but that's a -- that's a good thing. "The Sopranos" will definitely get nominated.
VARGAS: Expect "CSI" to score a repeat nomination, but "Six Feet Under" didn't air enough episodes in the eligibility period to be in the running this year. So that could trigger first-time nominations for FX's "Nip/Tuck," HBO's "Deadwood" or the CBS drama "Without a Trace."
LISA KUDROW, ACTRESS: I guess this is it.
VARGAS: On the comedy side, the question is whether outgoing series will earn a last hurrah. "Friends" is a strong contender, along with "Sex and the City." But "Frasier" may not make the cut for its 11th and final year.
RICE: It's the winningest comedy in any history. There may be a feeling that you know been there, done that.
VARGAS: Defending champ "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a lock for a nomination. Less certain are the chances for "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Will & Grace." Newcomer "Arrested Development," a favorite with critics, may be left out.
RICE: The Emmy voters are very slow in acknowledging new hits shows. So it usually takes a couple of years before they catch on to like a great break out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me what you don't like about yourself.
VARGAS: The acting categories could yield some surprises with the stars of "Nip/Tuck" trying to nose out the usual suspects for dramatic recognition. "Joan of Arcadia's" Amber Tamblyn has an outside shot for lead actress in a drama. Comedy performers still looking for love include 'Scrubs" Zach Braff and the "Gilmore Girls" Lauren Graham.
(on camera): In the reality competition category, look for parental nominee "Survivor" to be joined by an upstart, NBC's "The Apprentice." The winners will be announced on September 19.
Sibila Vargas, CNN, North Hollywood, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And be sure to stay with CNN for live coverage of the Emmy nomination announcements. It all gets under way at 8:30 Eastern this morning. So tune in to "AMERICAN MORNING" for a complete look at the tops in television.
In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a one on one with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. We'll tell you what he had to say about Iraq, the threat of al Qaeda and nukes in Pakistan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and the threat of nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Colin Powell's trusted No. 2 sits down with CNN this morning.
It's Thursday, July 15, and this is DAYBREAK.
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Aired July 15, 2004 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A former U.S. Marine held hostage in Iraq will be back on American soil today.
It's Thursday, July 15, and this is DAYBREAK.
Good morning, and welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Costello this morning.
Now 'In the News,' Filipino troops are awaiting orders to pull out of Iraq, an effort to save the life of hostage Angelo de la Cruz, but there is confusion. A military spokesman says no order has been issued and plans -- planes, rather, that were on standby for evacuation have left on other missions.
Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun is on his way to the United States from Germany where he was being debriefed. Hassoun was missing in Iraq and believed taken hostage but reappeared alive and well in Beirut, Lebanon.
Nelson Mandela will push tuberculosis treatment at the International AIDS Conference six hours from now. The former South African president says large numbers of AIDS victims die of tuberculosis.
The 11th stage of the Tour de France begins about an hour and 10 minutes from now with Frenchman Thomas Voeckler the overall leader. American Lance Armstrong, the five-time champion, is in sixth place.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.
And, Chad, I know you are watching Lance Armstrong very closely, or at least fingers are crossed.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know it's on -- it's on OLN, and I don't have Outdoor Life Network. It's not on my satellite. I...
WHITFIELD: You're reading the paper.
MYERS: You know that or I'm too cheap to pay for the upgrade, one or the other. Yes, but actually, he did make up some time yesterday. Not only did he make up some positions, he also made up some time.
(WEATHER REPORT) Fred, back to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks a lot -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
WHITFIELD: Well it's something the Bush White House certainly did not want to hear, the Philippines government caving in to the demands of terrorist kidnappers in Iraq. Trouble is, the whereabouts of the Filipino truck driver are still unknown.
CNN's Maria Ressa has been covering this story from the beginning, and Maria is joining us live from Manila.
And now, Maria, there is confusion over the airplanes, are they on standby, are they not on standby? What's the story?
MARIA RESSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point, Fredricka, there is a news block out that's been imposed by the Philippine government. As you know, it's been a week since it issued deliberately ambiguous statements on exactly what it planned to do, was it going to give in to the kidnapper's demands or will it stay true to its international commitments?
On Wednesday, it said that it was lowering the headcount of its troops in Iraq, implying that a pullout had begun. But sources on the ground here told us that no pullout had officially begun. They refused to comment on anything else.
However, regardless of what the situation is, the damage has been done. The Philippines is now seen internationally as caving in to kidnapper's demands, critical condemnation by many analysts. Australia had very, very strong words. The United States saying it was disappointed in its ally. At the same time, however, we're still waiting for word on the fate of Angelo de la Cruz -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. And how is -- how are his family members holding up? Did they embark on their trip to go to Iraq? What's the status of them?
RESSA: His wife and his brother are waiting for him, waiting for word from Jordan. His eight children are here in the Philippines. Again, it's been a roller-coaster weekend. You know that on Saturday there was actually news. They went to sleep thinking that Angelo de la Cruz had been released, only to wake up Sunday morning with the -- with the knowledge that he was still in the kidnapper's hands.
Here's another interesting thing, the reaction on the Philippines to -- the Philippines' actions in Iraq. Filipinos, in general, welcomed the decision to pull its troops out of Iraq, mostly because here in the Philippines it was seen as standing up to the United States, getting out of an unjust war of sorts. So the fate, the actions of the Philippines was very directly connected to what the Philippines relationship to the United States. A lot of that colored by the fact that the Philippines is a former colony of America -- Fredricka. WHITFIELD: Maria Ressa in Manila, thanks very much.
Well some Iraqis took to the streets of Baghdad today for a protest, but it may not be what you think. Instead of protesting against the United States and President Bush, the Iraqis were demonstrating against opposed leader Saddam Hussein. The demonstrators burned an effigy of the former leader.
A car bomb in northwestern Iraq today killed at least three Iraqi police officers. The bomb exploded outside the main police station in the northwestern city of Hadithah. Two suspected suicide car bombers were killed today in Karbala. On Wednesday, 11 people were killed in a car bombing in Baghdad.
Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi holds a news conference at 7:00 Eastern this morning, about 90 minutes from now. We expect some of his remarks will touch on improving security in Iraq.
Well let's talk now to international editor David Clinch about all the things going on in Iraq and worldwide.
DAVID CLINCH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Well, actually what I want to talk about today is one of my pet stories, one of my favorite stories is this story of Charles Jenkins. We have reported on this story for the last week or so. This is the accused American deserter, left his unit in Korea and wandered into North Korea during the Korean War. Was not heard from from years. Well now he has reemerged and reunited with his Japanese wife, who was also in North Korea, in Indonesia.
And remember he went there last week because Indonesia is a country that does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S. He, Charles Jenkins, had always been afraid of coming out of North Korea for fear that he would be extradited back to the U.S. on these accusations of deserting.
WHITFIELD: And Colon Powell said he would be...
CLINCH: Well...
WHITFIELD: ... if he was in a country that...
CLINCH: ... the official...
WHITFIELD: ... had a treaty.
CLINCH: Correct. And the official statement, up until even today in Japan, the U.S. ambassador there, Howard Baker, is saying we will ask for custody if he comes to a country that has extradition, specifically Japan,...
WHITFIELD: And now?
CLINCH: ... because we are now hearing that he will go to Japan, perhaps as soon as Sunday, although that hasn't been confirmed.
WHITFIELD: Why?
CLINCH: Well ostensibly the Japanese government, which is sort of sponsoring this entire thing because it's a big political and domestic issue for them, is saying that he has health issues, serious health issues. Not new health issues, but serious health issues, and they want to bring him to Japan to give him the proper care.
Well that's all well and good, but if he is in Japan, they have an extradition treaty. The ambassador is saying they will ask for custody. But interestingly, Howard Baker said we'll ask for custody, but the question of when they will ask for him to come into U.S. custody is being left open. And that's interesting for two reasons.
One, the limit -- statute of limitations on his case runs out officially sometime next year. Now it would be renewable, perhaps, but it does run out. So there's that question of timing.
There's also the question of the fact that he is quite old, and if he does have serious issues, how long will he live?
And then there's also the overall issue. The U.S. making it clear they are very sympathetic about his case. He's older. They are not necessarily interested in playing hardball.
WHITFIELD: They are sympathetic, but at the same time...
CLINCH: Officially they want him in custody and they want to charge him with desertion. Now having said that,...
WHITFIELD: Why?
CLINCH: ... a more senior official today, we kind of surprised him with a question in Pakistan today, Richard Armitage in Pakistan today. We asked him about this case. And his response is it's an open question. Now we'll hear a little bit more from Richard Armitage later. But his response to whether or not they would seek custody is it's an open question, so clearly a very difficult issue.
WHITFIELD: Interesting. And part of the answer to why is they believe that they can extract some important information from him because he was in North Korea?
CLINCH: Well it's certainly an idea that's being circulated. And apart from the custody question is he's a gold mine of information potentially about this...
WHITFIELD: Potentially.
CLINCH: ... mysterious state, North Korea. So a fascinating story. We'll be following it.
WHITFIELD: It is a fascinating case. All right, David Clinch, thanks very much.
CLINCH: OK. WHITFIELD: Well Senator John Kerry speaks today at the NAACP Convention in Philadelphia, and that calls more attention to President Bush's decision to bypass the convention this election year.
CNN's Jason Carroll has a report from Philly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Familiar sounds, familiar faces, but one familiar face that wasn't here, the president of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Kerry accepted our invitation to speak at this convention. And the president of the United States did not.
CARROLL: President Bush's decision not to address the convention sent a resounding message Maxine Smith (ph), a Democrat, and Gladys Johnson (ph), who says she sometimes votes Republican.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I feel that he missed an opportunity by not coming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said, I don't care about you. I don't care what you think.
CARROLL: And it's not just the older delegates who feel that way.
(on camera): Who is upset by the president's decision not to come here to speak?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It speaks volumes to the commitment that President Bush has to the communities of color.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The people who agree with the NAACP and the people who do not still think that he should respect the organization enough to hear what they have to say.
CARROLL: The White House says a scheduling conflict prevented the president from attending. That did not help his already strained relationship with the NAACP. To that, attorney Douglas Oden says, so what?
DOUGLAS ODEN, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO NAACP: I think the president has a habit of going to locations where everyone agrees with him. He goes to rallies where everyone is waving flags. And if you don't listen to what the other part of Americans is saying, you can have flawed advice.
CARROLL: And while most criticism is directed at Bush, the Democrats are also taking heat for what some here say is a feeling that party takes the black vote for granted.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Democratic Party, we support them more historically, but if we had another party that could speak more to our needs as a community, I'm certain that our votes would go that way. CARROLL: John Kerry will speak at the convention tomorrow. And under pressure from African-American leaders, the Democratic Party added a black speaker to its convention lineup, Senate candidate Barack Obama of Illinois. Many here say that was a symbolic gesture and it will take more than symbolism for either Democrats or Republicans to win their votes.
Jason Carroll, CNN, Philadelphia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: A tragic accident in Michigan, a family who thought their son was alive discovers the worst, and mixed emotions for another family who learns the fate of their son. The story in the next hour of DAYBREAK.
And summer storms plowed through Pennsylvania. A live report from one hard hit town straight ahead.
This is DAYBREAK for Thursday, July 15.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's now 16 minutes before the hour, and here is what's all new this morning.
The brother of an American hostage beheaded in Saudi Arabia is trying to get his brother's body back. He's pleading with the U.S. and Saudi officials for help. Paul Johnson was abducted in June by al Qaeda operatives.
A Senate report says Riggs Bank helped former Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet hide his wealth and evade efforts to seize his assets. A hearing on the matter begins in less than four hours from now.
In money, a teacher's union survey says teacher pay is not keeping up with the cost of living. The study found the average pay is less than $46,000 last year, not enough to keep pace with health costs.
In culture, Slim Fast is shedding spokeswoman Whoopi Goldberg. The company says it's disappointed in her off-color anti-Bush comments at a fund raiser last week for Senator John Kerry.
In sports, the diesel has left. L.A. Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was officially traded to the Miami Heat for three players and a draft pick. We'll have more on Shaq, Kobe and the Lakers coming up a little bit later.
And, Chad, apparently this might be a big day for Kobe Bryant, too, because he could announce that he might stay with the Lakers or even go to the L.A. Clippers.
MYERS: Did you hear the numbers?
WHITFIELD: The numbers of how much?
MYERS: Like $140 million...
WHITFIELD: For a three-year contract?
MYERS: ... is the offer to stay. I think it's longer than that. But that's the offer to stay. But he wants to play in a different, you know, whatever.
WHITFIELD: Yes.
MYERS: Scattered rain showers. I'll play anywhere for $140 million. I'll play in Antarctica.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: And OK, back to you. I was reading a different map, and I don't know what that map was on the screen, I didn't see it there. It was just stuck there.
All right, back to you.
WHITFIELD: OK, well we're going to continue talking a little weather. This time we're going to talk a little bit more about some severe weather. South-central Pennsylvania was particularly hit hard. Storms there injured dozens of people and left a path of destruction.
Reporter Kevin Henry of CNN affiliate WHTM joins us live from Campbelltown, Pennsylvania.
KEVIN HENRY, WHTM-TV REPORTER: Hi, Fredricka, good morning to you.
This storm blew through the area around mid afternoon yesterday, and it certainly did leave a lot of damage behind, very significant damage.
We have some aerial pictures we'd like to show you now this morning. The hardest hit area was the Country Squire development, that's in South Londonderry Township near Campbelltown in Lebanon County. There are about 80 homes in that development. We're told anywhere from 30 to 50 of them was destroyed.
Now some folks who live there say it sounded like a siren or a train coming through. Others say they did see that funnel cloud, which could indicate a tornado. That, of course, is going to be up to the National Weather Service to determine. Some folks from the National Weather Service will be on scene today to check that out. They'll be here sometime this morning.
In the meantime, 150 people flooded the Campbelltown fire department yesterday afternoon seeking help from the Red Cross. There is a shelter here, but I'm glad to say not a whole lot of people are here right now. In fact, I don't think there is anybody in there as we speak. Nobody sought shelter for the night. A lot of folks are staying with family and friends. Other folks, well they are allowed back in their homes, but we should say they have no power.
We should also add that 16 people in that neighborhood were injured. One of them is injured critically. And emergency folks we've been talking to say that number should have been a lot higher. The good news here, a lot of folks were at work, so they lucked out, so to speak.
Fredricka, I'll send it back to you.
WHITFIELD: And, Kevin, it really is remarkable just looking at the videotape we've been rolling to see that there may be properties decimated and then right next door a house seems to be completely in tact.
HENRY: It's one of those things. I was talking to some folks here this morning, and I said you know it's almost like it said OK, here's the storm coming through, here's Country Squire, let's hit it and then let's pick out each individual house. You're right, it's almost like it did a figure eight through these houses, left some unscathed, left some totally destroyed. But I don't think anybody in this neighborhood is untouched by it. I mean there are a lot of people that have a lot of cleaning up to do.
WHITFIELD: Yes, as remarkable as it is, it's actually still a very common sight and a common swirl of emotions that most towns experience after going through things like this. Kevin Henry, thanks very much.
HENRY: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: 'Health Headlines' for you this morning.
Your antidote is in the mail. The CDC says it's now shipping drugs that would treat victims of a chemical weapons attack to hospitals around the country. The goal is to have antidotes for a biological attack available in every state in the next two years.
Stopping the spread of your next cold could soon be right under your nose. Kleenex has developed a tissue that kills viruses. Kimberly-Clark says the anti-viral product will be on store shelves soon. The tissue won't be able to cure a cold that you've already caught, but it can help prevent spreading the bug.
There's more evidence that drinking red wine can be healthy. A new study finds a chemical compound in red wine extends the life of every organism it was given to from yeast and fruit flies to worms and monkeys. Harvard scientists say all showed benefits from the compound.
Nelson Mandela is the headline speaker at today's session of the International AIDS Conference. Mandela is the former president of South Africa, a nation hit hard by the epidemic.
CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman is covering the conference in Bangkok, Thailand, and he has this live report -- Aneesh. ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, that's right. Mandela speaking earlier today to reporters talking about tuberculosis. Now what does that have to do with AIDS? Mandela making the case for those who are co-infected, who have both HIV and TB. That's about 14 million people worldwide, 70 percent of whom reside in sub-Saharan, Africa.
Now this is important because TB is one of the prime attackers on those with HIV whose immune systems are pretty much all but destroyed. It accounts for about one third of the HIV-AIDS deaths worldwide. So Mandela really bringing this to the forefront, saying the world has made defeating AIDS a top priority, this is a blessing, but TB remains ignored.
That is undoubtedly going to change with the words of Mandela and another big name backing this cause, Bill Gates. The Gates Foundation today announcing a $45 million grant to fight TB on a grassroots level worldwide -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Aneesh Raman, thanks very much, from Bangkok.
Well for more on this or any other health stories, head to our Web site. The address is CNN -- CNN.com, rather, /health.
This is DAYBREAK for a Thursday morning. We're back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The Emmy nominations are signed and sealed and they'll be delivered two-and-a-half hours from now. But who are the favorites?
CNN's Sibila Vargas has a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: Tell him if he can use saving American lives as a pretext for force, so can I.
SIBILA VARGAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this election year, Emmy incumbents are once again expected to make the strongest showing at the nominations. Four-time best drama winner "West Wing" is a solid contender, along with familiar competition.
LYNETTE RICE, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": I think, for the most part, we're going to see predictable nominees. We will see "24," but that's a -- that's a good thing. "The Sopranos" will definitely get nominated.
VARGAS: Expect "CSI" to score a repeat nomination, but "Six Feet Under" didn't air enough episodes in the eligibility period to be in the running this year. So that could trigger first-time nominations for FX's "Nip/Tuck," HBO's "Deadwood" or the CBS drama "Without a Trace."
LISA KUDROW, ACTRESS: I guess this is it.
VARGAS: On the comedy side, the question is whether outgoing series will earn a last hurrah. "Friends" is a strong contender, along with "Sex and the City." But "Frasier" may not make the cut for its 11th and final year.
RICE: It's the winningest comedy in any history. There may be a feeling that you know been there, done that.
VARGAS: Defending champ "Everybody Loves Raymond" is a lock for a nomination. Less certain are the chances for "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Will & Grace." Newcomer "Arrested Development," a favorite with critics, may be left out.
RICE: The Emmy voters are very slow in acknowledging new hits shows. So it usually takes a couple of years before they catch on to like a great break out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tell me what you don't like about yourself.
VARGAS: The acting categories could yield some surprises with the stars of "Nip/Tuck" trying to nose out the usual suspects for dramatic recognition. "Joan of Arcadia's" Amber Tamblyn has an outside shot for lead actress in a drama. Comedy performers still looking for love include 'Scrubs" Zach Braff and the "Gilmore Girls" Lauren Graham.
(on camera): In the reality competition category, look for parental nominee "Survivor" to be joined by an upstart, NBC's "The Apprentice." The winners will be announced on September 19.
Sibila Vargas, CNN, North Hollywood, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And be sure to stay with CNN for live coverage of the Emmy nomination announcements. It all gets under way at 8:30 Eastern this morning. So tune in to "AMERICAN MORNING" for a complete look at the tops in television.
In the next hour of DAYBREAK, a one on one with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. We'll tell you what he had to say about Iraq, the threat of al Qaeda and nukes in Pakistan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, and the threat of nuclear weapons. Secretary of State Colin Powell's trusted No. 2 sits down with CNN this morning.
It's Thursday, July 15, and this is DAYBREAK.
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