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CNN Live At Daybreak
Limiting Terror; Checkpoint Shooting; Cold War Echoes; Runaway Bride
Aired May 03, 2005 - 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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."
In Iraq this morning, the U.S. military has found the body of a pilot from one of two missing Marine fighter jets. The search goes on for the second pilot. Military sources tell CNN they believe the jets collided in bad weather.
In Wichita, Kansas, the man suspected of being the BTK serial killer heads to court in four-and-a-half hours. Dennis Rader is expected to plead not guilty to charges he strangled 10 people.
President Bush hits the road again to talk Social Security reform. He heads to Canton, Mississippi to an auto plant there this afternoon to push his plan for personal retirement accounts. Democrats still oppose it.
Back to the sea, seven dolphins will be released today off the Florida Keys, two months after stranding themselves in the shallows. Volunteers have given them round-the-clock care and it's victory this morning -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There are some phenomenal dolphin research centers down there in the Florida Keys. And I've been to a couple of them, and they do really good rehab work down there. So congratulations to those. Hope they take to the ocean like "Jollyman," as we had played some of the Jimmy Buffet music earlier.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Our top story this morning, the concern about nuclear terror in the United States. This morning's "Washington Post" quoting emergency officials, nuclear experts and federal reports says the government is not adequately prepared to deal with a nuclear attack by terrorists.
For example, Homeland Security officials say only a fraction of first responders have been given training on how to handle a nuclear attack. "The Post" says there are two million firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel nationwide, but only 2,200 have the proper training.
Another point from "The Post," the Energy and Homeland Security departments differ over how to assess where a nuclear cloud would travel. That's a difference that could mean life or death to people threatened by nuclear fallout.
At the United Nations, talks there, as well, about nuclear weapons. Every five years the U.N. holds a conference on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The latest opened on Monday.
More now from our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): North Korea fired a shot across the bow on the eve of this nuclear review conference. A missile test from a country that says it has nuclear weapons did little to calm countries worried about the spread of bombs.
At the U.N., countries are taking stock of one of the world's most significant disarmament agreements, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. But North Korea's nuclear ambitions and Iran's uranium stockpiles have turned up the heat at a meeting designed to reduce nuclear weapons.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: In the five years since you last met, the world has reawakened to nuclear dangers, both old and new.
ROTH: Two years ago, North Korea withdrew from what's called the NPT Treaty, kicking out international inspectors. North Korea has refused to resume six-nation talks and claims to possess nuclear weapons. The missile test has deep intentions with the Bush administration.
DANIEL PONEMAN, SCOWCROFT GROUP: I think they are trying to put some pressure on the United States and others to come to the table and give them something that they're looking for.
ROTH: The missile test didn't prompt any offers from Washington.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: So I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to. But that does not mean that it is not a serious problem and that the North Koreans shouldn't come back to the six- party talks, because all of their neighbors consider this to be a problem.
ROTH: The U.S. would like the conference to focus on threats from North Korea and Iran, closing loopholes so that countries, such as North Korea, don't sign on to NPT in order to build up nuclear fuel and then only later leave the treaty to make weapons.
The U.N.'s top nuclear watchdog met with Iran's foreign minister, later saying he hopes Tehran will not resume uranium enrichment work in it's disputed nuclear program.
MOHAMMED EL BARADEI, DIRECTOR GENERAL IAEA: Without question, improving control over facilities capable of producing weapon-usable material will go a long way towards establishing a better margin of security.
ROTH: A majority of NTP members want something from the U.S. and other nuclear powers, slash your arsenals, as promised, under the treaty.
(on camera): After 35 years, the strength and viability of this NPT Treaty is being questioned here. For the next month there'll be debates, especially between the haves and have nots of nuclear power.
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Looks like the war in Iraq is still having a big impact on Army recruiting. The Army missed its recruiting goal in April. It's the third straight month that's happened. An Army spokesman says so far the Army is on target to achieve only 85 percent of its recruiting goal for the year. Polls have indicated young people and their parents are wary of the Army's recruiting pitch, especially in light of daily killings in Iraq. The Army's goal for this year is 80,000 enlistees.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a law involving military recruiters on college campuses. At issue, whether colleges and universities may bar military recruiters from their campuses without fear of losing federal funds. Many institutions bar military recruiters because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policies of excluding openly gay service members.
The Justice Department will review a lower court ruling that sided with colleges. The lower court concluded the Solomon Law, which allows the withholding of federal funds, likely violated the Constitution's First Amendment.
Hope you digested all of that at this early hour.
The U.S. and Italy are at odds over who is responsible for that March 4 checkpoint shooting in Iraq. U.S. soldiers killed an Italian intelligence agent and wounded an Italian journalist. After a joint investigation, both sides reached different conclusions.
The follow-up report now from CNN's Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. investigators have concluded an American soldier did nothing wrong when he fired bullets into this Toyota, killing Italian agent Nicola Calipari and wounding both Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist whose release he had just secured, and the car's driver. The checkpoint shooting occurred the evening of March 4, along Route Irish, the seven-and-a-half-mile road between Baghdad and the airport, dubbed the deadliest in Iraq.
Among the findings, 15 to 30 vehicles had been safely stopped at the checkpoint earlier that night. The driver admitted going as fast as 50 miles per hour. The U.S. thinks it might have been faster. The car did not slow down when signaled by a U.S. soldier holding a search light and laser pointer. The car didn't respond to a burst of warning fire. Disabling fire hit the car in the right and front. And the time between the first shot and the car coming to a stop was no more than seven seconds.
In addition, an American soldier told investigators the driver said afterward "he heard shots from somewhere, and that he panicked and started speeding, trying to get to the airport as quickly as possible."
And, finally, the report found no coordination by the Italians with the U.S., stating flatly, "the U.S. military was totally unaware of the recovery and transport of Ms. Sgrena on the 4 March 2005 until after the shooting incident had occurred."
In fact, the only American who even had a hint of what was going on at the time, an Army captain assigned as an aide to an Italian general, was told by the Italians it is best if no one knows.
(on camera): Italy has released its own report, calling the checkpoint poorly marked and blaming stress and inexperience on the part of U.S. soldiers. Neither report mentions any ransom. Italy claims it didn't pay one. But privately, the Pentagon believes the Italians put as much as $10 million in the hands of terrorists to secure the release of their hostage.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, a report that airport screeners still are not getting enough training. That story is up next.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In our "Security Watch" this morning, they check your luggage at the airport, but do they know what they're doing? A congressional report says many of the nation's airport screeners are not getting the required training. The report blames staffing shortages.
It also says many screeners don't have access to high-speed Internet training courses. In March, some screeners at the Atlanta airport complained they were getting only 25 minutes of training a week instead of the required 3 hours.
People applying for a driver's license may soon be getting a closer look. According to "The New York Times," Congress is working on setting tougher rules on how states issue licenses. Under the proposed legislation, states would need proof of a person's citizenship or legal presence in the United States. Also needed, proof of a legal address and a Social Security number.
States say the rules would be too costly and complex to put into place. Civil liberties groups are also complaining, saying a standardized driver's license amounts to a national ID card.
How to get rid of the world's deadliest weapons is the topic of discussion at the United States. More than 180 countries are reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty amid rising concerns.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on non-nuclear states, like Iran, to renounce potential bomb technology. And he wants nuclear nations, like the United States and Russia, to significantly slash their arsenals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNAN: The obligation, therefore, falls on all states, nuclear and non-nuclear alike, to increase transparency and security. Indeed, on this, all states recognize that disarmament, like nonproliferation, requires action from everyone, the goal of general and complete disarmament will remain a distant dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In the meantime, in Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is talking tough in response to North Korea's weekend missile test. She says the U.S. can handle any nuclear threat posed by the communist nation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICE: I don't think anyone is confused about the ability of the United States to deter both on behalf of itself and on behalf of its allies North Korean nuclear ambitions or gains on the peninsula. We have, after all, a very strong alliance with South Korea and a very strong alliance with Japan.
And of course the United States maintains significant, and I want to underline significant, deterrent capability of all kinds in the Asia-Pacific region. So I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Rice is also encouraging North Korea to return to those six-party talks.
Three years ago the United States and Russia signed a nuclear pact pledging to slash their Cold War arsenals. Three years later, it looks like both sides still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to the former Soviet stockpile.
Joining us now from Arlington, Virginia is David Mosher, a Senior Policy Analyst for the Rand Corporation.
Good morning -- David.
DAVID E. MOSHER, SENIOR POLICY ANALYST, RAND CORP.: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: First of all, let's talk about just how many nuclear weapons Russia still has. Do you have any idea, or the old Soviet Union, I should say?
MOSHER: Well they have -- they used to have probably about 30,000 nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War, and they've slashed that significantly. The actual number that they have both on their weapons and scattered around in surplus is not known for sure. But it's significantly less than it used to be, because they've reduced the number significantly, probably...
COSTELLO: Yes, but that stuff scattered around that we don't know about is pretty scary.
MOSHER: Yes, it is, and it's something that the United States and other countries worry significantly about. But the United States probably spends about $500 million to $600 million a year just trying to help the Russians get rid of those weapons, get rid of the missiles, et cetera.
But, yes, it's a real concern, and it's a concern that has not gone away. In fact, perhaps, has gotten worse, to some degree, because they have reduced the number of weapons. And now they've increased the amount of material that probably doesn't have as much security as the weapons used to.
COSTELLO: Well you know what people think, people think members of al Qaeda or other terrorist groups can break into those scattered stockpiles, steal material and then make something like a dirty bomb.
MOSHER: Well, yes. I mean for a dirty bomb, there's -- I mean we're not even talking about the Soviet's nuclear arsenal for a dirty bomb. There's lots of radiological material throughout the former Soviet Union. There's even a lot in the United States. And that's a concern for a dirty bomb.
I think the more serious concern is actually being able to fabricate a nuclear weapon or to steal one. And that's something that does keep people up at nights for sure.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
We have an interesting graphic, because I don't think people realize how many nuclear weapons are out there. I mean countries that legally have them. And you see our map up here. The United States has 7,600 nuclear weapons. France has 350, Britain 185, Russia 9,000, China 400, India 60, Pakistan 24 to 48. We suspect that North Korea is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. We suspect Iran is doing the same thing.
MOSHER: Yes. I mean the proliferation is a serious concern. You know we used to worry a lot about states, we still do, but I think the real threat that we face today is the terrorist threat and the focus on that. The more countries that have nuclear weapons, the more opportunities there are either for diversion or for theft. And it's a real serious problem, something that we worry a lot about and something I'm not sure that we're doing enough about.
We really need to be spending more money to try to address these issues. And if you think about it, we're probably spending, as I said, roughly a billion dollars a year on this, which is just a tiny fraction of our whole national security budget, and yet it seems to be something that could really hurt us at home or abroad a nuclear...
COSTELLO: Well let me lay this by you, because the 1970 Nonproliferation Treaty, there was a deal in there that if other countries didn't develop nuclear weapons that countries, like the United States, would diminish their stockpiles. But you know what, I can't see the United States getting rid of all of its nuclear weapons. I don't think most Americans would even want that.
MOSHER: Yes, you know that was the bargain, it was that the nuclear powers would move towards disarmament, but it wasn't expected that they would give up their weapons certainly right away. And I don't think anyone is expecting that today.
But the bargain was that we would move towards disarmament. And you know looking objectively at the facts, you can't say that we haven't been. You know certainly the last treaty the United States and the Soviet Union and Russia, excuse me, signed cut the number significantly. So there has been a move towards disarmament.
I think what people are worried about in this upcoming treaty is the emphasis on new types of nuclear weapons that the Bush administration has made an issue of. And in fact, of course the administration is not willing to sign and ratify the comprehensive test ban treaty.
COSTELLO: Well, and other than that, countries don't care about the Nonproliferation Treaty. I mean it didn't stop India or Pakistan from developing nuclear weapons.
MOSHER: Right. No. And you're right, that sort of within the bargain we're sort of the seeds of potentially its own destruction and that was the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, so called. And this allows countries to develop reactors.
And countries have -- what they've done is they've adhered to the treaty in some cases and then pulled away at the last minute. North Korea was one of those. India has never been a signatory to the treaty, nor Pakistan, so you can't really say the treaty didn't stop them because it never applied to them.
But you're right, it is this challenge. And that's one of the most serious issues, I think, facing the NPT. It's that, plus the confidence that the non-nuclear states have in the nuclear powers to sort of reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in their own arsenals.
COSTELLO: Well, David Mosher, you've given us a lot to think about this morning. Thank you for joining DAYBREAK. We appreciate it.
MOSHER: Thank you, Carol, it's been my pleasure.
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the latest news on your security.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, the age-old question, does art imitate life or life imitate art? Did the real life runaway bride steal some moves from the movie? That story still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK, it's time to get to our e-mail "Question of the Morning." We're talking about Pat O'Brien, the host of, what, "The Insider."
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: He used to be with "Access Hollywood," as well.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Anyway, he's gone through alcohol rehab. He's made some inappropriate calls to women around the country suggesting different sex acts with them and he has allegedly harassed...
MYERS: There you go.
COSTELLO: ... women at work, going as far as supposedly licking one's face to grabbing a body part of another.
Anyway, he's going to go on "Dr. Phil." They're going to have this hour prime time special where he's going to come clean. It's sort of the Pat O'Brien redemption tour. The question this morning is I'm sorry enough?
Go for it -- Chad.
MYERS: I have one from Chris (ph) in Baltimore. Of course Pat O'Brien's apology is enough. Basically, who cares? The only people that really need to hear this apology are the people that were affected by any alcohol abuse or sexual harassment period. It is not really any business of the general public.
COSTELLO: Well then why is he doing a prime time special?
MYERS: Because it's ratings -- Carol.
COSTELLO: That's right. MYERS: OK. F.B. (ph) from New Jersey, now this is the other side, sorry is just an empty word from an empty shot glass. After living with an addict for several years, I've heard I'm sorry a million times, and the only thing he's sorry for is when the liquor store closes early.
COSTELLO: This is from Tom (ph) from Waynesville, Missouri. He says wasn't I'm sorry enough for Bill Clinton to keep his job. And whatever happened to Marv Albert?
Marv Albert also got his job back. Took him a while, but he did.
This is from Sherry (ph) from Oak Park, California. Pat O'Brien should be treated no differently than anyone else who did what he did and gets called on it, although Bill O'Riley paid his way out of an accusation in spotlight. I suppose O'Brien will do the same. Justice is a junkie to wealth, fame or political power.
That was a good one.
We're going to take a short break. More of DAYBREAK when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You knew it would happen, Hollywood is weighing in on the real life drama of Georgia's runaway bride.
CNN's David Haffenreffer talked to the celebrities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the movie "Runaway Bride," Julia Roberts ran away from her wedding on a horse. In the real story of the runaway bride, Jennifer Wilbanks chose a Greyhound.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER: I just heard something about that today.
HAFFENREFFER: She's the bride-to-be who's got the whole country talking about her cold feet. Thirty-two-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks vanished from her home in Georgia Tuesday after saying she was going out jogging. She lied to authorities saying she was kidnapped, but later admitted she hopped a Greyhound bus to avoid saying I do in what was supposed to be a lavish wedding.
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst tells "ShowBiz Tonight" she could have survived this whole ordeal without running away.
JEFF PROBST, HOST, "SURVIVOR": That's a lot of work to go to when you could have just said, honey, I don't know. And what is he thinking? Is that wedding going to happen now? Odds are not good.
HAFFENREFFER: Wilbanks returned home Saturday, the same day 600 guests were supposed to show up to see her get married. But instead of wearing a veil, she threw a towel over her head to hide her face.
Today, she was the talk of TV.
REGIS PHILBIN, HOST, "REGIS & KELLY": So hard to do.
KELLY RIPA, HOST, "REGIS & KELLY": You don't stage a kidnapping. And then she blamed it on the Hispanic guy. My husband goes why does it always got to be a Hispanic guy? Mark and I totally fit the profile. We were like, I swear to God, it wasn't us.
STAR JONES-REYNOLDS, HOST, "THE VIEW": She was under a lot of pressure from planning a big over-the-top wedding.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE VIEW": How many people?
JONES-REYNOLDS: She don't know from pressure, OK.
HAFFENREFFER: OK, that's what one star had to say.
"ShowBiz Tonight" worked the red carpet and caught up with a lot of others.
LORENZO LAMAS, ACTOR: Well, wouldn't it be easier just to tell your groom-to-be that you know that it might not be the right time, rather than, you know, create a whole manhunt.
SHAUNA SAND (?): That'll probably give that man a lot of good publicity. And he'll be able to find a really good girl now.
LAMAS: Maybe "The Bachelor." The next "Bachelor," how about that?
ALICIA SILVERSTONE, ACTRESS: My first question is who's going to play her in the movie of the week?
HAFFENREFFER: "ShowBiz Tonight" has been thinking about that, too. We did our own casting call to see who should star in the TV movie of the week. To play the role of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks, Phoebe Cates seems to have a close enough look. And what about the jilted fiance, John Mason? It seems like Jerry O'Connell might just fit the bill.
While, of course, we don't know who will get the parts, this has must see TV sweeps week written all over it.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, you know it's going to happen, too, don't you?
That report from CNN's David Haffenreffer.
Of course, the question right now is will the runaway bride face criminal charges? You can get more entertainment news every night on "SHOW BIZ TONIGHT." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on "HEADLINE NEWS."
The next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.
Good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the military has found the body of one of two Marine Corps fighter pilots whose jets apparently collided over Iraq. A search is now underway for the second pilot. The FA-18s from the carrier USS Carl Vincent went down in bad weather during a routine mission.
The alleged BTK serial killer heads to court in Wichita, Kansas this morning. Dennis Rader is expected to plead not guilty to charges that he strangled 10 people in cases that date back to the 1970s.
Prosecutors plan to rev up their case against Michael Jackson today. They're using phone logs to try to prove the pop star conspired to hold his accuser's family prison.
To the Forecast Center now -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You mean that trial is almost half over?
COSTELLO: Yes. Only about six more months to go now.
MYERS: Man, oh, man. Then we can get back to the runaway bride story.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now more on that apparent collision of two Marine jets in the Iraq war zone. The U.S. military has now found the body of one of the pilots.
Let's head live to Baghdad and Ryan Chilcote for more -- hello, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not good news by any stretch of the imagination.
We start at the beginning. The U.S. military says it lost contract with two Marine pilots late last night. They had taken off from an aircraft carrier in the region when contract was lost with them as they were flying F18s, also known as Hornets, somewhere over Iraq.
Now, the U.S. military says it is not prepared to conclusively say what happened there yet. But they are saying that they do not believe that these aircraft were brought down by hostile fire. And the U.S. Navy is telling us that they believe those planes may have collided midair because of bad weather in that region. Now, we have subsequently learned that one of the pilots has been found dead by a search crew this morning. The search, however, is still on for the other pilot. No word on his status and the two aircraft -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live in Baghdad this morning.
Thank you.
Italy is out with its own version of the checkpoint shooting incident that left an Italian agent dead in Baghdad. And, as expected, it differs from the U.S. conclusion. The Italian report says stress and the inexperience of U.S. soldiers played a role in the shooting. It also says warning lights were flashed at the same time U.S. troops began firing.
But according to U.S. Army investigators, 15 to 30 vehicles safely stopped at that checkpoint earlier and they say the Italian car was going 50 miles per hour or faster and did not slow down when signaled. The Army also says, "It can be positively stated that the U.S. military was totally unaware of the recovery and transport of Ms. Sgrena on March 4, 2005, until after the shooting incident had occurred." Italy says it did inform U.S. officials about plans to rescue journalist Juliana Sgrena, who was in the car when the troops opened fire.
Another top story we're covering this morning, the concern about nuclear terror in the United States. This morning's "Washington Post" quoting emergency officials, nuclear experts and federal reports, says the government is not adequately prepared to deal with a nuclear attack by terrorists. For example, homeland security officials say only a fraction of first responders have been given training in how to handle a nuclear attack. The "Post" says there are two million firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel nationwide, but only 2,200 have the proper training.
Another point from the "Post," the Energy and Homeland Security Departments differ over how to assess where a nuclear cloud could TV. That's a difference that could mean life or death to people threatened by nuclear fallout.
And that news is even more worrying when you look at rising nuclear tensions around the world. That's what the United Nations is doing. It's opened a meeting to review a 35-year-old global treaty aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. But some officials wonder if it's just gathering dust, especially in light of alleged nuclear activity by Iran and North Korea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: The obligation, therefore, falls on all states, nuclear and non-nuclear alike, to increase transparency and security. Indeed, unless all states recognize that disarmament, like non-proliferation, requires action from everyone, the goal of general and complete disarmament will remain a distant dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We will talk about what we might expect out of the United Nations when we speak with an expert on all things nuclear. That will come your way just about 10 minutes from now. And, of course, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
There are no charges against the Georgia runaway bride, at least not yet. Still, Jennifer Wilbanks is not free and clear. The city of Duluth says it may sue to recoup up to $60,000 spent looking for her. And Gwinnett County authorities say they believe Wilbanks committed a crime when she lied to police about being kidnapped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY BELCHER, DULUTH POLICE CHIEF: She stated to me that she was jogging. She had her headphones on. She wasn't exactly sure where she was at. But an Hispanic male and a white female jumped her from behind and placed her in a van and drove off. And she was not sure where she was at.
At this point, she did violate Georgia law by advising me of this situation, that she was kidnapped.
DANNY PORTER, GWINNETT COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We know that Georgia law will permit a prosecution in this case if the evidence justifies it.
To answer Mr. Hannity's question about what discretion is going to be exercise, that discretion will be, first of all, on the police level, after their efforts. They've exercised the discretion to refer the case to me for prosecution. And my discretion will be whether or not the case will be prosecuted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Amazingly enough, John Mason seems to be sticking by his fiancee. The "Atlanta Journal Constitution" Web site reports he told a TV interviewer, "Hey, we all mess up. We all make mistakes."
He gave her the ring back. Wilbanks has hired an attorney, Jennifer Wilbanks. But so far neither has had anything to say publicly.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, going nuclear. Where are the nukes? Who's got them and who wants them? We'll find out.
Also, what do "Baywatch" and Bollywood have in common? They both cannot get enough of Hasselhoff. Just one of the strange tales we have for you.
And Florida's tough new anti-sex offender law might be offending some people. We'll take a closer look.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Still to come, if a man sells you a horse, you can do whatever you want. But if the government sells you a horse, things are a little bit different. We'll explain why the issue of horse sales has some people out West in an uproar.
DAYBREAK continues in a minute.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": Index funds are basically a mutual fund that hold all the securities in a well known index, for example, something like the Standard & Poor's 500. A mutual fund might hold all 500 stocks in the S&P 500. Or it could hold all the stocks in the Dow Industrial Average.
So basically an index fund is nothing more than a portfolio that holds all the stocks in an index. And its sole purpose is to try to get the index return.
So I think index funds are good for somebody who doesn't want to worry about what kind of fund they should be picking. Another good thing about index funds is that they tend to be tax efficient. And, also, somebody who just wants a kind of a quick choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The U.S. military has found the body of one pilot whose plane went missing over southern Iraq. The search continues for the pilot of a second Marine Corps FA-18 that took off from the USS Carl Vincent. Military officials believe the two planes collided in midair.
In money news, the battle over MCI is over and Verizon Communications is the winner. The MCI board of directors says it's recommending Verizon over Qwest. The Verizon offer is for more than $8 billion.
In culture, Harry Potter fans, start marking your calendars. The fourth film, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," is scheduled to hit the big screen on November 18. The first three films have grossed $2.6 billion worldwide.
And in sports, Dallas Mavericks moved ahead for the first time in their seven game series against the Houston Rockets. The Mavs held on to win game five 103-100, and now hold a three games to two lead in the series -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: That's a look at the latest headlines for u.
At the United Nations, they are talking non-proliferation. And before your eyes glaze over, keep in mind the treaty they're talking about is supposed to keep us safe from nuclear attack.
Before we get into that, consider this. The United States has 7,600 nuclear weapons; Russia, 9,000; China, 400; France, 350; Britain, 185; India, 60 or more; Pakistan, 24 to 48. Now, those countries suspected of having nukes -- Israel, 100 to 200; North Korea, one or two; Iraq and Iran, who knows? So at the very least, there are more than 17,000 nuclear weapons pointed everywhere, including at the United States.
Now for what they're discussing at the United Nations, 1970s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. In a nutshell, it was a pact designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the big five. The big five, the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France.
But wait. It does not seem to be working.
Live to Boston and James Walsh from Harvard, and an expert on all things nuclear.
Good morning.
JAMES WALSH, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So, is this pact obsolete? Is it working? Should we keep it?
WALSH: Oh, I don't think it's obsolete. If it didn't exist, we'd have to invent it all over again. Remember, the only way that we found out about nuclear problems in Iran and in North Korea in the early '90s was because there was a treaty and those two countries are members of the treaty. And that allowed inspectors to go in and those inspectors found discrepancies in their reporting. And that's how we discovered there was a problem.
I think the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is, arguably, the biggest successes story of the 20th century. Everyone thought there would be more countries with nuclear weapons. John F. Kennedy talked about 20 countries with nuclear weapons. And so the treaty has been very effective.
Now, Carol...
COSTELLO: Yes, but wait a second.
Wait. Hold on.
WALSH: Sure.
COSTELLO: Some of these countries that are -- that say they're developing nuclear weapons are dangerous countries to be doing that, right? That's not stopping countries like North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.
WALSH: Well, it certainly -- well, two things on that. One, the -- it's true that North Korea and Iraq both violated their treaty commitments. But if there was no treaty, then countries could do whatever they want. And I guess you have to look at it in historical context.
Everyone thought that there would be more nuclear weapons states than there are now. And the reason why we don't live in a world of 20 nuclear weapons states is because there is a treaty. And so you have to compare where we are now with where we would be in the absence of the treaty.
Now, that's not to say there aren't problems and there aren't challenges, but god knows where we would be without it.
COSTELLO: And I want to talk about one of the challenges. Because the other part of the deal was for the United States and others to dismantle their arsenals. I can't see that happening in a big way.
What's the incentive now for, let's say, the United States to get rid of more of its nuclear weapons?
WALSH: Well, Carol, you put your finger on one of the big problems, one of the big controversies that the countries meeting in New York this month are facing. The U.S. is coming to that treaty negotiation or that treaty conference saying, you know, we want to focus on Iran and North Korea and we want to make changes in the way the treaty is implemented. Other countries, particularly the non- alignment movement countries, are saying hey, wait a minute, this treaty was a bargain. You were supposed to move toward reducing your nuclear stockpiles. And, if anything, the U.S. is thinking about building a new generation of nuclear weapons.
So other countries aren't very happy with the United States.
Now, we often...
COSTELLO: So, see, I ask you again, is the deal -- does the deal even matter?
WALSH: Well, it does matter, Carol. I mean you'll remember, first of all, that the U.S. is going down in numbers of nuclear weapons. It has far less than it did during the cold war. The Russians are also reducing their nuclear weapons.
But it's sort of, to say that because people commit murders we shouldn't have any law against murder doesn't make much sense to me. And it doesn't make much sense to me to say that about nuclear weapons. COSTELLO: Well, let me come in at another angle. This scientist in Pakistan, remember him? He sold nuclear secrets to countries that we would rather not have those nuclear secrets. Pakistan really, really slapped him on the wrist. Nothing really happened to him.
Couldn't that happen again?
WALSH: Oh, I think, I think there's real concern that A.Q. Khan's network, that that sort of thing could happen again. Moreover, there's concern that there may be parts of that network that are still out there. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States want to talk to Khan directly and they want to see what happened to those materials and those technologies that they had been trying to sell on the black market.
I think that that's one of the big new developments that's something that everyone agrees is a problem. Most countries wouldn't give a nuclear weapons program to a terrorist, but if you have a private black market, that's where the real danger is, is that the terrorists might get it from a private black market. So that's one of the new challenges we face and I think it's something that they'll be a lot of discussion of at this treaty conference.
COSTELLO: All right, food for thought this morning.
James Walsh from Harvard joining us live on DAYBREAK.
Thank you.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, it is decision day again at the Fed. We'll talk about what's ahead for interest rates when DAYBREAK returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, more beautiful shots of New York City for you this morning.
Good morning.
Time now for a little "Business Buzz."
Alan Greenspan and friends are meeting today to discuss interest rates.
For a look at what they might do -- and I think we can guess what they might do -- but Carrie Lee is here to tell us -- good morning.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Carol.
Wall Street widely expecting another 1/4 point hike. And if we see that, then this will be the eighth increase, 1/4 point increase, in the last 10 months. Now, the federal funds rate is what banks charge each other for loans overnight. That rate now stands at 2.75 percent. So if we see that hike, it would go to 3 percent.
Keep in mind that this rate was at 1 percent last year, a 46-year low, and it was as high as 6 1/2 percent back in 2000.
But what does this all mean for you?
Well, if banks are charging each other more, then they're charging you more, too. It trickles right on down to the consumer. So that means higher auto loan rates, higher credit card rates and maybe even higher mortgage rates.
Here's the key. What is Greenspan going to say about the economy going forward? This has been the question for the last couple of meetings, but more than ever now, the Fed feels, perhaps, they can raise rates. But they're trying to tide the increases at what they're calling a measured pace. That's what they've been doing lately. But lately we've seen signs of slower economic growth. That first quarter GDP report, gross domestic product. We have had oil prices come down. Inflation is still a concern.
So mixed economic signals. It's going to be a very interesting session. We'll get the decision at about 2:00 p.m. today.
COSTELLO: And you'll be back tomorrow to tell us about it.
LEE: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Carrie Lee, many thanks.
LEE: OK.
COSTELLO: Well, if you're a stay-at-home mom, do you ever wonder what you're worth for all the things that you do? According to Salary.com, stay-at-home moms wear many hats. They're the family CEO, daycare provider, housekeeper, chauffeur, cook, nurse, general maintenance worker. That's just to name a few of the jobs that mom does. Based on a 100-hour work week, Salary.com estimates the fair wage for a typical stay-at-home mom would be about $131,471. That includes a base pay of more than $43,000 for a 40-hour work week and $88,000 for 60 hours of overtime.
Wow!
And I believe that. Women work hard, don't they, Carrie Lee?
LEE: Well, they said a 100-hour work week. It should be a 24-7 work week, I'll tell you.
COSTELLO: Exactly. Day and night.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, David Hasselhoff's legend lives on, at least in India. We'll take a look at that and some other wacky stories that are floating around the Web, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You might think the stories we're about to tell you are made up, but we assure you they are all true.
Joining us now is Drew Curtis from Fark.com, a Web site that showcases all kind of weird stories. And he has picked the cream of the crop for us.
The only thing I cannot believe, Drew, is that you didn't include the runaway bride story.
DREW CURTIS, FARK.COM: Well, that one has been done to death, unfortunately. I mean it just goes on and on and on and never, never stops. It's going to be a while for that story.
COSTELLO: OK. So let's concentrate on the big story on your Web site, which would be about David Hasselhoff.
CURTIS: David Hasselhoff, continuing his reign of terror across the globe, has now taken over India, as it turns out. Actually, I kind of feel bad for the poor guy. He probably had no idea that the reruns running in India were going to get him any kind of recognition. He's sitting at home one day and they say oh, by the way, David Hasselhoff, you've received an Indian Oscar.
COSTELLO: You're kidding?
CURTIS: Yes. Essentially, yes. And what's funny is I had to check just in case to see what it could have possibly been for, other than "Baywatch" reruns. Nothing. It's "Baywatch" reruns. That's what he got it for.
COSTELLO: He won an Oscar for "Baywatch?"
CURTIS: "Baywatch" reruns. Well, an international performer, basically. It's an honorary award.
COSTELLO: That's just wrong.
CURTIS: Oh, yes. Yes, it is.
COSTELLO: OK. On to the next story now, about the odd case of the naked nanny.
CURTIS: Yes, you've got to wonder whether or not it's a good idea to ever do what a 4-year-old asks you to do. In this particular case, when a 4-year-old asks you to take all your clothes off for them, don't ever do that. On top of that, don't ever do that when the parents of the 4-year-old are going to walk into the room while this is going on.
COSTELLO: So the 4-year-old is in the room, his female -- isn't that a picture of her in the orange jumpsuit?
CURTIS: Unfortunately, yes.
COSTELLO: Oh. Yes, not a good idea. So there's some controversy about this. CURTIS: Yes, apparently so. Apparently that's not a good idea. Who knew? It's right up there, I think, with not jumping off bridges if somebody asks you to.
COSTELLO: But she's saying she just took her clothes off merely because the 4-year-old asked her to.
CURTIS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yes, she deserves to be in that orange jumpsuit.
CURTIS: Yes. Even if it's completely innocent, it's still wrong.
COSTELLO: Yes, that's really wrong.
OK, the third story, really wacky story, there's a hotel completely under water?
CURTIS: Yes, that's right. There's a hotel that's opened up in the Maldives, actually. It's not the entire hotel, it's a restaurant. It's, I'm guessing, a seafood restaurant that exists entirely underwater. They have roll down windows where you just basically reach out and grab your dinner. No, I made that up.
But, yes, it sounds pretty interesting. I'd love to check it out, except the Maldives is too far to drive and impossible to drive, now that I think about it.
COSTELLO: Yes, right now that's true. But it's part of the Hilton Hotels.
CURTIS: Yes, that's right.
COSTELLO: Completely under -- I think that would be cool.
CURTIS: I do too, actually. It would be kind of neat. At least the scenery would be interesting.
COSTELLO: Yes. It'd be like eating in a submarine.
CURTIS: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, the Web site is Fark.com, F-A-R-K.com. And millions of hits every day?
CURTIS: Yes. Yes. It's insane. I don't know where they keep coming from.
COSTELLO: Drew Curtis, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
CURTIS: Thank you very much.
COSTELLO: We're going to take a break.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired May 3, 2005 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."
In Iraq this morning, the U.S. military has found the body of a pilot from one of two missing Marine fighter jets. The search goes on for the second pilot. Military sources tell CNN they believe the jets collided in bad weather.
In Wichita, Kansas, the man suspected of being the BTK serial killer heads to court in four-and-a-half hours. Dennis Rader is expected to plead not guilty to charges he strangled 10 people.
President Bush hits the road again to talk Social Security reform. He heads to Canton, Mississippi to an auto plant there this afternoon to push his plan for personal retirement accounts. Democrats still oppose it.
Back to the sea, seven dolphins will be released today off the Florida Keys, two months after stranding themselves in the shallows. Volunteers have given them round-the-clock care and it's victory this morning -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: There are some phenomenal dolphin research centers down there in the Florida Keys. And I've been to a couple of them, and they do really good rehab work down there. So congratulations to those. Hope they take to the ocean like "Jollyman," as we had played some of the Jimmy Buffet music earlier.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Our top story this morning, the concern about nuclear terror in the United States. This morning's "Washington Post" quoting emergency officials, nuclear experts and federal reports says the government is not adequately prepared to deal with a nuclear attack by terrorists.
For example, Homeland Security officials say only a fraction of first responders have been given training on how to handle a nuclear attack. "The Post" says there are two million firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel nationwide, but only 2,200 have the proper training.
Another point from "The Post," the Energy and Homeland Security departments differ over how to assess where a nuclear cloud would travel. That's a difference that could mean life or death to people threatened by nuclear fallout.
At the United Nations, talks there, as well, about nuclear weapons. Every five years the U.N. holds a conference on the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. The latest opened on Monday.
More now from our senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): North Korea fired a shot across the bow on the eve of this nuclear review conference. A missile test from a country that says it has nuclear weapons did little to calm countries worried about the spread of bombs.
At the U.N., countries are taking stock of one of the world's most significant disarmament agreements, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. But North Korea's nuclear ambitions and Iran's uranium stockpiles have turned up the heat at a meeting designed to reduce nuclear weapons.
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL: In the five years since you last met, the world has reawakened to nuclear dangers, both old and new.
ROTH: Two years ago, North Korea withdrew from what's called the NPT Treaty, kicking out international inspectors. North Korea has refused to resume six-nation talks and claims to possess nuclear weapons. The missile test has deep intentions with the Bush administration.
DANIEL PONEMAN, SCOWCROFT GROUP: I think they are trying to put some pressure on the United States and others to come to the table and give them something that they're looking for.
ROTH: The missile test didn't prompt any offers from Washington.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: So I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to. But that does not mean that it is not a serious problem and that the North Koreans shouldn't come back to the six- party talks, because all of their neighbors consider this to be a problem.
ROTH: The U.S. would like the conference to focus on threats from North Korea and Iran, closing loopholes so that countries, such as North Korea, don't sign on to NPT in order to build up nuclear fuel and then only later leave the treaty to make weapons.
The U.N.'s top nuclear watchdog met with Iran's foreign minister, later saying he hopes Tehran will not resume uranium enrichment work in it's disputed nuclear program.
MOHAMMED EL BARADEI, DIRECTOR GENERAL IAEA: Without question, improving control over facilities capable of producing weapon-usable material will go a long way towards establishing a better margin of security.
ROTH: A majority of NTP members want something from the U.S. and other nuclear powers, slash your arsenals, as promised, under the treaty.
(on camera): After 35 years, the strength and viability of this NPT Treaty is being questioned here. For the next month there'll be debates, especially between the haves and have nots of nuclear power.
Richard Roth, CNN, United Nations.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Looks like the war in Iraq is still having a big impact on Army recruiting. The Army missed its recruiting goal in April. It's the third straight month that's happened. An Army spokesman says so far the Army is on target to achieve only 85 percent of its recruiting goal for the year. Polls have indicated young people and their parents are wary of the Army's recruiting pitch, especially in light of daily killings in Iraq. The Army's goal for this year is 80,000 enlistees.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a law involving military recruiters on college campuses. At issue, whether colleges and universities may bar military recruiters from their campuses without fear of losing federal funds. Many institutions bar military recruiters because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policies of excluding openly gay service members.
The Justice Department will review a lower court ruling that sided with colleges. The lower court concluded the Solomon Law, which allows the withholding of federal funds, likely violated the Constitution's First Amendment.
Hope you digested all of that at this early hour.
The U.S. and Italy are at odds over who is responsible for that March 4 checkpoint shooting in Iraq. U.S. soldiers killed an Italian intelligence agent and wounded an Italian journalist. After a joint investigation, both sides reached different conclusions.
The follow-up report now from CNN's Jamie McIntyre.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): U.S. investigators have concluded an American soldier did nothing wrong when he fired bullets into this Toyota, killing Italian agent Nicola Calipari and wounding both Giuliana Sgrena, an Italian journalist whose release he had just secured, and the car's driver. The checkpoint shooting occurred the evening of March 4, along Route Irish, the seven-and-a-half-mile road between Baghdad and the airport, dubbed the deadliest in Iraq.
Among the findings, 15 to 30 vehicles had been safely stopped at the checkpoint earlier that night. The driver admitted going as fast as 50 miles per hour. The U.S. thinks it might have been faster. The car did not slow down when signaled by a U.S. soldier holding a search light and laser pointer. The car didn't respond to a burst of warning fire. Disabling fire hit the car in the right and front. And the time between the first shot and the car coming to a stop was no more than seven seconds.
In addition, an American soldier told investigators the driver said afterward "he heard shots from somewhere, and that he panicked and started speeding, trying to get to the airport as quickly as possible."
And, finally, the report found no coordination by the Italians with the U.S., stating flatly, "the U.S. military was totally unaware of the recovery and transport of Ms. Sgrena on the 4 March 2005 until after the shooting incident had occurred."
In fact, the only American who even had a hint of what was going on at the time, an Army captain assigned as an aide to an Italian general, was told by the Italians it is best if no one knows.
(on camera): Italy has released its own report, calling the checkpoint poorly marked and blaming stress and inexperience on the part of U.S. soldiers. Neither report mentions any ransom. Italy claims it didn't pay one. But privately, the Pentagon believes the Italians put as much as $10 million in the hands of terrorists to secure the release of their hostage.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, a report that airport screeners still are not getting enough training. That story is up next.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In our "Security Watch" this morning, they check your luggage at the airport, but do they know what they're doing? A congressional report says many of the nation's airport screeners are not getting the required training. The report blames staffing shortages.
It also says many screeners don't have access to high-speed Internet training courses. In March, some screeners at the Atlanta airport complained they were getting only 25 minutes of training a week instead of the required 3 hours.
People applying for a driver's license may soon be getting a closer look. According to "The New York Times," Congress is working on setting tougher rules on how states issue licenses. Under the proposed legislation, states would need proof of a person's citizenship or legal presence in the United States. Also needed, proof of a legal address and a Social Security number.
States say the rules would be too costly and complex to put into place. Civil liberties groups are also complaining, saying a standardized driver's license amounts to a national ID card.
How to get rid of the world's deadliest weapons is the topic of discussion at the United States. More than 180 countries are reviewing the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty amid rising concerns.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is calling on non-nuclear states, like Iran, to renounce potential bomb technology. And he wants nuclear nations, like the United States and Russia, to significantly slash their arsenals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNAN: The obligation, therefore, falls on all states, nuclear and non-nuclear alike, to increase transparency and security. Indeed, on this, all states recognize that disarmament, like nonproliferation, requires action from everyone, the goal of general and complete disarmament will remain a distant dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In the meantime, in Washington, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is talking tough in response to North Korea's weekend missile test. She says the U.S. can handle any nuclear threat posed by the communist nation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICE: I don't think anyone is confused about the ability of the United States to deter both on behalf of itself and on behalf of its allies North Korean nuclear ambitions or gains on the peninsula. We have, after all, a very strong alliance with South Korea and a very strong alliance with Japan.
And of course the United States maintains significant, and I want to underline significant, deterrent capability of all kinds in the Asia-Pacific region. So I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Rice is also encouraging North Korea to return to those six-party talks.
Three years ago the United States and Russia signed a nuclear pact pledging to slash their Cold War arsenals. Three years later, it looks like both sides still have a long way to go, especially when it comes to the former Soviet stockpile.
Joining us now from Arlington, Virginia is David Mosher, a Senior Policy Analyst for the Rand Corporation.
Good morning -- David.
DAVID E. MOSHER, SENIOR POLICY ANALYST, RAND CORP.: Good morning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: First of all, let's talk about just how many nuclear weapons Russia still has. Do you have any idea, or the old Soviet Union, I should say?
MOSHER: Well they have -- they used to have probably about 30,000 nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War, and they've slashed that significantly. The actual number that they have both on their weapons and scattered around in surplus is not known for sure. But it's significantly less than it used to be, because they've reduced the number significantly, probably...
COSTELLO: Yes, but that stuff scattered around that we don't know about is pretty scary.
MOSHER: Yes, it is, and it's something that the United States and other countries worry significantly about. But the United States probably spends about $500 million to $600 million a year just trying to help the Russians get rid of those weapons, get rid of the missiles, et cetera.
But, yes, it's a real concern, and it's a concern that has not gone away. In fact, perhaps, has gotten worse, to some degree, because they have reduced the number of weapons. And now they've increased the amount of material that probably doesn't have as much security as the weapons used to.
COSTELLO: Well you know what people think, people think members of al Qaeda or other terrorist groups can break into those scattered stockpiles, steal material and then make something like a dirty bomb.
MOSHER: Well, yes. I mean for a dirty bomb, there's -- I mean we're not even talking about the Soviet's nuclear arsenal for a dirty bomb. There's lots of radiological material throughout the former Soviet Union. There's even a lot in the United States. And that's a concern for a dirty bomb.
I think the more serious concern is actually being able to fabricate a nuclear weapon or to steal one. And that's something that does keep people up at nights for sure.
COSTELLO: Definitely so.
We have an interesting graphic, because I don't think people realize how many nuclear weapons are out there. I mean countries that legally have them. And you see our map up here. The United States has 7,600 nuclear weapons. France has 350, Britain 185, Russia 9,000, China 400, India 60, Pakistan 24 to 48. We suspect that North Korea is trying to develop a nuclear weapon. We suspect Iran is doing the same thing.
MOSHER: Yes. I mean the proliferation is a serious concern. You know we used to worry a lot about states, we still do, but I think the real threat that we face today is the terrorist threat and the focus on that. The more countries that have nuclear weapons, the more opportunities there are either for diversion or for theft. And it's a real serious problem, something that we worry a lot about and something I'm not sure that we're doing enough about.
We really need to be spending more money to try to address these issues. And if you think about it, we're probably spending, as I said, roughly a billion dollars a year on this, which is just a tiny fraction of our whole national security budget, and yet it seems to be something that could really hurt us at home or abroad a nuclear...
COSTELLO: Well let me lay this by you, because the 1970 Nonproliferation Treaty, there was a deal in there that if other countries didn't develop nuclear weapons that countries, like the United States, would diminish their stockpiles. But you know what, I can't see the United States getting rid of all of its nuclear weapons. I don't think most Americans would even want that.
MOSHER: Yes, you know that was the bargain, it was that the nuclear powers would move towards disarmament, but it wasn't expected that they would give up their weapons certainly right away. And I don't think anyone is expecting that today.
But the bargain was that we would move towards disarmament. And you know looking objectively at the facts, you can't say that we haven't been. You know certainly the last treaty the United States and the Soviet Union and Russia, excuse me, signed cut the number significantly. So there has been a move towards disarmament.
I think what people are worried about in this upcoming treaty is the emphasis on new types of nuclear weapons that the Bush administration has made an issue of. And in fact, of course the administration is not willing to sign and ratify the comprehensive test ban treaty.
COSTELLO: Well, and other than that, countries don't care about the Nonproliferation Treaty. I mean it didn't stop India or Pakistan from developing nuclear weapons.
MOSHER: Right. No. And you're right, that sort of within the bargain we're sort of the seeds of potentially its own destruction and that was the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, so called. And this allows countries to develop reactors.
And countries have -- what they've done is they've adhered to the treaty in some cases and then pulled away at the last minute. North Korea was one of those. India has never been a signatory to the treaty, nor Pakistan, so you can't really say the treaty didn't stop them because it never applied to them.
But you're right, it is this challenge. And that's one of the most serious issues, I think, facing the NPT. It's that, plus the confidence that the non-nuclear states have in the nuclear powers to sort of reduce the importance of nuclear weapons in their own arsenals.
COSTELLO: Well, David Mosher, you've given us a lot to think about this morning. Thank you for joining DAYBREAK. We appreciate it.
MOSHER: Thank you, Carol, it's been my pleasure.
COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the latest news on your security.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, the age-old question, does art imitate life or life imitate art? Did the real life runaway bride steal some moves from the movie? That story still ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: OK, it's time to get to our e-mail "Question of the Morning." We're talking about Pat O'Brien, the host of, what, "The Insider."
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: He used to be with "Access Hollywood," as well.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Anyway, he's gone through alcohol rehab. He's made some inappropriate calls to women around the country suggesting different sex acts with them and he has allegedly harassed...
MYERS: There you go.
COSTELLO: ... women at work, going as far as supposedly licking one's face to grabbing a body part of another.
Anyway, he's going to go on "Dr. Phil." They're going to have this hour prime time special where he's going to come clean. It's sort of the Pat O'Brien redemption tour. The question this morning is I'm sorry enough?
Go for it -- Chad.
MYERS: I have one from Chris (ph) in Baltimore. Of course Pat O'Brien's apology is enough. Basically, who cares? The only people that really need to hear this apology are the people that were affected by any alcohol abuse or sexual harassment period. It is not really any business of the general public.
COSTELLO: Well then why is he doing a prime time special?
MYERS: Because it's ratings -- Carol.
COSTELLO: That's right. MYERS: OK. F.B. (ph) from New Jersey, now this is the other side, sorry is just an empty word from an empty shot glass. After living with an addict for several years, I've heard I'm sorry a million times, and the only thing he's sorry for is when the liquor store closes early.
COSTELLO: This is from Tom (ph) from Waynesville, Missouri. He says wasn't I'm sorry enough for Bill Clinton to keep his job. And whatever happened to Marv Albert?
Marv Albert also got his job back. Took him a while, but he did.
This is from Sherry (ph) from Oak Park, California. Pat O'Brien should be treated no differently than anyone else who did what he did and gets called on it, although Bill O'Riley paid his way out of an accusation in spotlight. I suppose O'Brien will do the same. Justice is a junkie to wealth, fame or political power.
That was a good one.
We're going to take a short break. More of DAYBREAK when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You knew it would happen, Hollywood is weighing in on the real life drama of Georgia's runaway bride.
CNN's David Haffenreffer talked to the celebrities.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID HAFFENREFFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the movie "Runaway Bride," Julia Roberts ran away from her wedding on a horse. In the real story of the runaway bride, Jennifer Wilbanks chose a Greyhound.
JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE, SINGER: I just heard something about that today.
HAFFENREFFER: She's the bride-to-be who's got the whole country talking about her cold feet. Thirty-two-year-old Jennifer Wilbanks vanished from her home in Georgia Tuesday after saying she was going out jogging. She lied to authorities saying she was kidnapped, but later admitted she hopped a Greyhound bus to avoid saying I do in what was supposed to be a lavish wedding.
"Survivor" host Jeff Probst tells "ShowBiz Tonight" she could have survived this whole ordeal without running away.
JEFF PROBST, HOST, "SURVIVOR": That's a lot of work to go to when you could have just said, honey, I don't know. And what is he thinking? Is that wedding going to happen now? Odds are not good.
HAFFENREFFER: Wilbanks returned home Saturday, the same day 600 guests were supposed to show up to see her get married. But instead of wearing a veil, she threw a towel over her head to hide her face.
Today, she was the talk of TV.
REGIS PHILBIN, HOST, "REGIS & KELLY": So hard to do.
KELLY RIPA, HOST, "REGIS & KELLY": You don't stage a kidnapping. And then she blamed it on the Hispanic guy. My husband goes why does it always got to be a Hispanic guy? Mark and I totally fit the profile. We were like, I swear to God, it wasn't us.
STAR JONES-REYNOLDS, HOST, "THE VIEW": She was under a lot of pressure from planning a big over-the-top wedding.
JOY BEHAR, HOST, "THE VIEW": How many people?
JONES-REYNOLDS: She don't know from pressure, OK.
HAFFENREFFER: OK, that's what one star had to say.
"ShowBiz Tonight" worked the red carpet and caught up with a lot of others.
LORENZO LAMAS, ACTOR: Well, wouldn't it be easier just to tell your groom-to-be that you know that it might not be the right time, rather than, you know, create a whole manhunt.
SHAUNA SAND (?): That'll probably give that man a lot of good publicity. And he'll be able to find a really good girl now.
LAMAS: Maybe "The Bachelor." The next "Bachelor," how about that?
ALICIA SILVERSTONE, ACTRESS: My first question is who's going to play her in the movie of the week?
HAFFENREFFER: "ShowBiz Tonight" has been thinking about that, too. We did our own casting call to see who should star in the TV movie of the week. To play the role of runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks, Phoebe Cates seems to have a close enough look. And what about the jilted fiance, John Mason? It seems like Jerry O'Connell might just fit the bill.
While, of course, we don't know who will get the parts, this has must see TV sweeps week written all over it.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, you know it's going to happen, too, don't you?
That report from CNN's David Haffenreffer.
Of course, the question right now is will the runaway bride face criminal charges? You can get more entertainment news every night on "SHOW BIZ TONIGHT." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on "HEADLINE NEWS."
The next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.
Good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the military has found the body of one of two Marine Corps fighter pilots whose jets apparently collided over Iraq. A search is now underway for the second pilot. The FA-18s from the carrier USS Carl Vincent went down in bad weather during a routine mission.
The alleged BTK serial killer heads to court in Wichita, Kansas this morning. Dennis Rader is expected to plead not guilty to charges that he strangled 10 people in cases that date back to the 1970s.
Prosecutors plan to rev up their case against Michael Jackson today. They're using phone logs to try to prove the pop star conspired to hold his accuser's family prison.
To the Forecast Center now -- good morning, Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You mean that trial is almost half over?
COSTELLO: Yes. Only about six more months to go now.
MYERS: Man, oh, man. Then we can get back to the runaway bride story.
Good morning.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Now more on that apparent collision of two Marine jets in the Iraq war zone. The U.S. military has now found the body of one of the pilots.
Let's head live to Baghdad and Ryan Chilcote for more -- hello, Ryan.
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not good news by any stretch of the imagination.
We start at the beginning. The U.S. military says it lost contract with two Marine pilots late last night. They had taken off from an aircraft carrier in the region when contract was lost with them as they were flying F18s, also known as Hornets, somewhere over Iraq.
Now, the U.S. military says it is not prepared to conclusively say what happened there yet. But they are saying that they do not believe that these aircraft were brought down by hostile fire. And the U.S. Navy is telling us that they believe those planes may have collided midair because of bad weather in that region. Now, we have subsequently learned that one of the pilots has been found dead by a search crew this morning. The search, however, is still on for the other pilot. No word on his status and the two aircraft -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live in Baghdad this morning.
Thank you.
Italy is out with its own version of the checkpoint shooting incident that left an Italian agent dead in Baghdad. And, as expected, it differs from the U.S. conclusion. The Italian report says stress and the inexperience of U.S. soldiers played a role in the shooting. It also says warning lights were flashed at the same time U.S. troops began firing.
But according to U.S. Army investigators, 15 to 30 vehicles safely stopped at that checkpoint earlier and they say the Italian car was going 50 miles per hour or faster and did not slow down when signaled. The Army also says, "It can be positively stated that the U.S. military was totally unaware of the recovery and transport of Ms. Sgrena on March 4, 2005, until after the shooting incident had occurred." Italy says it did inform U.S. officials about plans to rescue journalist Juliana Sgrena, who was in the car when the troops opened fire.
Another top story we're covering this morning, the concern about nuclear terror in the United States. This morning's "Washington Post" quoting emergency officials, nuclear experts and federal reports, says the government is not adequately prepared to deal with a nuclear attack by terrorists. For example, homeland security officials say only a fraction of first responders have been given training in how to handle a nuclear attack. The "Post" says there are two million firefighters, police officers and emergency medical personnel nationwide, but only 2,200 have the proper training.
Another point from the "Post," the Energy and Homeland Security Departments differ over how to assess where a nuclear cloud could TV. That's a difference that could mean life or death to people threatened by nuclear fallout.
And that news is even more worrying when you look at rising nuclear tensions around the world. That's what the United Nations is doing. It's opened a meeting to review a 35-year-old global treaty aimed at stopping the spread of nuclear weapons. But some officials wonder if it's just gathering dust, especially in light of alleged nuclear activity by Iran and North Korea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KOFI ANNAN, U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL: The obligation, therefore, falls on all states, nuclear and non-nuclear alike, to increase transparency and security. Indeed, unless all states recognize that disarmament, like non-proliferation, requires action from everyone, the goal of general and complete disarmament will remain a distant dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We will talk about what we might expect out of the United Nations when we speak with an expert on all things nuclear. That will come your way just about 10 minutes from now. And, of course, stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
There are no charges against the Georgia runaway bride, at least not yet. Still, Jennifer Wilbanks is not free and clear. The city of Duluth says it may sue to recoup up to $60,000 spent looking for her. And Gwinnett County authorities say they believe Wilbanks committed a crime when she lied to police about being kidnapped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY BELCHER, DULUTH POLICE CHIEF: She stated to me that she was jogging. She had her headphones on. She wasn't exactly sure where she was at. But an Hispanic male and a white female jumped her from behind and placed her in a van and drove off. And she was not sure where she was at.
At this point, she did violate Georgia law by advising me of this situation, that she was kidnapped.
DANNY PORTER, GWINNETT COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: We know that Georgia law will permit a prosecution in this case if the evidence justifies it.
To answer Mr. Hannity's question about what discretion is going to be exercise, that discretion will be, first of all, on the police level, after their efforts. They've exercised the discretion to refer the case to me for prosecution. And my discretion will be whether or not the case will be prosecuted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Amazingly enough, John Mason seems to be sticking by his fiancee. The "Atlanta Journal Constitution" Web site reports he told a TV interviewer, "Hey, we all mess up. We all make mistakes."
He gave her the ring back. Wilbanks has hired an attorney, Jennifer Wilbanks. But so far neither has had anything to say publicly.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, going nuclear. Where are the nukes? Who's got them and who wants them? We'll find out.
Also, what do "Baywatch" and Bollywood have in common? They both cannot get enough of Hasselhoff. Just one of the strange tales we have for you.
And Florida's tough new anti-sex offender law might be offending some people. We'll take a closer look.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Still to come, if a man sells you a horse, you can do whatever you want. But if the government sells you a horse, things are a little bit different. We'll explain why the issue of horse sales has some people out West in an uproar.
DAYBREAK continues in a minute.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALTER UPDEGRAVE, SENIOR EDITOR, "MONEY": Index funds are basically a mutual fund that hold all the securities in a well known index, for example, something like the Standard & Poor's 500. A mutual fund might hold all 500 stocks in the S&P 500. Or it could hold all the stocks in the Dow Industrial Average.
So basically an index fund is nothing more than a portfolio that holds all the stocks in an index. And its sole purpose is to try to get the index return.
So I think index funds are good for somebody who doesn't want to worry about what kind of fund they should be picking. Another good thing about index funds is that they tend to be tax efficient. And, also, somebody who just wants a kind of a quick choice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
The U.S. military has found the body of one pilot whose plane went missing over southern Iraq. The search continues for the pilot of a second Marine Corps FA-18 that took off from the USS Carl Vincent. Military officials believe the two planes collided in midair.
In money news, the battle over MCI is over and Verizon Communications is the winner. The MCI board of directors says it's recommending Verizon over Qwest. The Verizon offer is for more than $8 billion.
In culture, Harry Potter fans, start marking your calendars. The fourth film, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," is scheduled to hit the big screen on November 18. The first three films have grossed $2.6 billion worldwide.
And in sports, Dallas Mavericks moved ahead for the first time in their seven game series against the Houston Rockets. The Mavs held on to win game five 103-100, and now hold a three games to two lead in the series -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: That's a look at the latest headlines for u.
At the United Nations, they are talking non-proliferation. And before your eyes glaze over, keep in mind the treaty they're talking about is supposed to keep us safe from nuclear attack.
Before we get into that, consider this. The United States has 7,600 nuclear weapons; Russia, 9,000; China, 400; France, 350; Britain, 185; India, 60 or more; Pakistan, 24 to 48. Now, those countries suspected of having nukes -- Israel, 100 to 200; North Korea, one or two; Iraq and Iran, who knows? So at the very least, there are more than 17,000 nuclear weapons pointed everywhere, including at the United States.
Now for what they're discussing at the United Nations, 1970s Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. In a nutshell, it was a pact designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond the big five. The big five, the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France.
But wait. It does not seem to be working.
Live to Boston and James Walsh from Harvard, and an expert on all things nuclear.
Good morning.
JAMES WALSH, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: So, is this pact obsolete? Is it working? Should we keep it?
WALSH: Oh, I don't think it's obsolete. If it didn't exist, we'd have to invent it all over again. Remember, the only way that we found out about nuclear problems in Iran and in North Korea in the early '90s was because there was a treaty and those two countries are members of the treaty. And that allowed inspectors to go in and those inspectors found discrepancies in their reporting. And that's how we discovered there was a problem.
I think the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is, arguably, the biggest successes story of the 20th century. Everyone thought there would be more countries with nuclear weapons. John F. Kennedy talked about 20 countries with nuclear weapons. And so the treaty has been very effective.
Now, Carol...
COSTELLO: Yes, but wait a second.
Wait. Hold on.
WALSH: Sure.
COSTELLO: Some of these countries that are -- that say they're developing nuclear weapons are dangerous countries to be doing that, right? That's not stopping countries like North Korea from developing nuclear weapons.
WALSH: Well, it certainly -- well, two things on that. One, the -- it's true that North Korea and Iraq both violated their treaty commitments. But if there was no treaty, then countries could do whatever they want. And I guess you have to look at it in historical context.
Everyone thought that there would be more nuclear weapons states than there are now. And the reason why we don't live in a world of 20 nuclear weapons states is because there is a treaty. And so you have to compare where we are now with where we would be in the absence of the treaty.
Now, that's not to say there aren't problems and there aren't challenges, but god knows where we would be without it.
COSTELLO: And I want to talk about one of the challenges. Because the other part of the deal was for the United States and others to dismantle their arsenals. I can't see that happening in a big way.
What's the incentive now for, let's say, the United States to get rid of more of its nuclear weapons?
WALSH: Well, Carol, you put your finger on one of the big problems, one of the big controversies that the countries meeting in New York this month are facing. The U.S. is coming to that treaty negotiation or that treaty conference saying, you know, we want to focus on Iran and North Korea and we want to make changes in the way the treaty is implemented. Other countries, particularly the non- alignment movement countries, are saying hey, wait a minute, this treaty was a bargain. You were supposed to move toward reducing your nuclear stockpiles. And, if anything, the U.S. is thinking about building a new generation of nuclear weapons.
So other countries aren't very happy with the United States.
Now, we often...
COSTELLO: So, see, I ask you again, is the deal -- does the deal even matter?
WALSH: Well, it does matter, Carol. I mean you'll remember, first of all, that the U.S. is going down in numbers of nuclear weapons. It has far less than it did during the cold war. The Russians are also reducing their nuclear weapons.
But it's sort of, to say that because people commit murders we shouldn't have any law against murder doesn't make much sense to me. And it doesn't make much sense to me to say that about nuclear weapons. COSTELLO: Well, let me come in at another angle. This scientist in Pakistan, remember him? He sold nuclear secrets to countries that we would rather not have those nuclear secrets. Pakistan really, really slapped him on the wrist. Nothing really happened to him.
Couldn't that happen again?
WALSH: Oh, I think, I think there's real concern that A.Q. Khan's network, that that sort of thing could happen again. Moreover, there's concern that there may be parts of that network that are still out there. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States want to talk to Khan directly and they want to see what happened to those materials and those technologies that they had been trying to sell on the black market.
I think that that's one of the big new developments that's something that everyone agrees is a problem. Most countries wouldn't give a nuclear weapons program to a terrorist, but if you have a private black market, that's where the real danger is, is that the terrorists might get it from a private black market. So that's one of the new challenges we face and I think it's something that they'll be a lot of discussion of at this treaty conference.
COSTELLO: All right, food for thought this morning.
James Walsh from Harvard joining us live on DAYBREAK.
Thank you.
Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, it is decision day again at the Fed. We'll talk about what's ahead for interest rates when DAYBREAK returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, more beautiful shots of New York City for you this morning.
Good morning.
Time now for a little "Business Buzz."
Alan Greenspan and friends are meeting today to discuss interest rates.
For a look at what they might do -- and I think we can guess what they might do -- but Carrie Lee is here to tell us -- good morning.
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Carol.
Wall Street widely expecting another 1/4 point hike. And if we see that, then this will be the eighth increase, 1/4 point increase, in the last 10 months. Now, the federal funds rate is what banks charge each other for loans overnight. That rate now stands at 2.75 percent. So if we see that hike, it would go to 3 percent.
Keep in mind that this rate was at 1 percent last year, a 46-year low, and it was as high as 6 1/2 percent back in 2000.
But what does this all mean for you?
Well, if banks are charging each other more, then they're charging you more, too. It trickles right on down to the consumer. So that means higher auto loan rates, higher credit card rates and maybe even higher mortgage rates.
Here's the key. What is Greenspan going to say about the economy going forward? This has been the question for the last couple of meetings, but more than ever now, the Fed feels, perhaps, they can raise rates. But they're trying to tide the increases at what they're calling a measured pace. That's what they've been doing lately. But lately we've seen signs of slower economic growth. That first quarter GDP report, gross domestic product. We have had oil prices come down. Inflation is still a concern.
So mixed economic signals. It's going to be a very interesting session. We'll get the decision at about 2:00 p.m. today.
COSTELLO: And you'll be back tomorrow to tell us about it.
LEE: Absolutely.
COSTELLO: Carrie Lee, many thanks.
LEE: OK.
COSTELLO: Well, if you're a stay-at-home mom, do you ever wonder what you're worth for all the things that you do? According to Salary.com, stay-at-home moms wear many hats. They're the family CEO, daycare provider, housekeeper, chauffeur, cook, nurse, general maintenance worker. That's just to name a few of the jobs that mom does. Based on a 100-hour work week, Salary.com estimates the fair wage for a typical stay-at-home mom would be about $131,471. That includes a base pay of more than $43,000 for a 40-hour work week and $88,000 for 60 hours of overtime.
Wow!
And I believe that. Women work hard, don't they, Carrie Lee?
LEE: Well, they said a 100-hour work week. It should be a 24-7 work week, I'll tell you.
COSTELLO: Exactly. Day and night.
Still to come on DAYBREAK, David Hasselhoff's legend lives on, at least in India. We'll take a look at that and some other wacky stories that are floating around the Web, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You might think the stories we're about to tell you are made up, but we assure you they are all true.
Joining us now is Drew Curtis from Fark.com, a Web site that showcases all kind of weird stories. And he has picked the cream of the crop for us.
The only thing I cannot believe, Drew, is that you didn't include the runaway bride story.
DREW CURTIS, FARK.COM: Well, that one has been done to death, unfortunately. I mean it just goes on and on and on and never, never stops. It's going to be a while for that story.
COSTELLO: OK. So let's concentrate on the big story on your Web site, which would be about David Hasselhoff.
CURTIS: David Hasselhoff, continuing his reign of terror across the globe, has now taken over India, as it turns out. Actually, I kind of feel bad for the poor guy. He probably had no idea that the reruns running in India were going to get him any kind of recognition. He's sitting at home one day and they say oh, by the way, David Hasselhoff, you've received an Indian Oscar.
COSTELLO: You're kidding?
CURTIS: Yes. Essentially, yes. And what's funny is I had to check just in case to see what it could have possibly been for, other than "Baywatch" reruns. Nothing. It's "Baywatch" reruns. That's what he got it for.
COSTELLO: He won an Oscar for "Baywatch?"
CURTIS: "Baywatch" reruns. Well, an international performer, basically. It's an honorary award.
COSTELLO: That's just wrong.
CURTIS: Oh, yes. Yes, it is.
COSTELLO: OK. On to the next story now, about the odd case of the naked nanny.
CURTIS: Yes, you've got to wonder whether or not it's a good idea to ever do what a 4-year-old asks you to do. In this particular case, when a 4-year-old asks you to take all your clothes off for them, don't ever do that. On top of that, don't ever do that when the parents of the 4-year-old are going to walk into the room while this is going on.
COSTELLO: So the 4-year-old is in the room, his female -- isn't that a picture of her in the orange jumpsuit?
CURTIS: Unfortunately, yes.
COSTELLO: Oh. Yes, not a good idea. So there's some controversy about this. CURTIS: Yes, apparently so. Apparently that's not a good idea. Who knew? It's right up there, I think, with not jumping off bridges if somebody asks you to.
COSTELLO: But she's saying she just took her clothes off merely because the 4-year-old asked her to.
CURTIS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Yes, she deserves to be in that orange jumpsuit.
CURTIS: Yes. Even if it's completely innocent, it's still wrong.
COSTELLO: Yes, that's really wrong.
OK, the third story, really wacky story, there's a hotel completely under water?
CURTIS: Yes, that's right. There's a hotel that's opened up in the Maldives, actually. It's not the entire hotel, it's a restaurant. It's, I'm guessing, a seafood restaurant that exists entirely underwater. They have roll down windows where you just basically reach out and grab your dinner. No, I made that up.
But, yes, it sounds pretty interesting. I'd love to check it out, except the Maldives is too far to drive and impossible to drive, now that I think about it.
COSTELLO: Yes, right now that's true. But it's part of the Hilton Hotels.
CURTIS: Yes, that's right.
COSTELLO: Completely under -- I think that would be cool.
CURTIS: I do too, actually. It would be kind of neat. At least the scenery would be interesting.
COSTELLO: Yes. It'd be like eating in a submarine.
CURTIS: Yes.
COSTELLO: OK, the Web site is Fark.com, F-A-R-K.com. And millions of hits every day?
CURTIS: Yes. Yes. It's insane. I don't know where they keep coming from.
COSTELLO: Drew Curtis, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
CURTIS: Thank you very much.
COSTELLO: We're going to take a break.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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