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CNN Live At Daybreak

Bali Bombings; Operation Iron Fist; Political Controversy; Tragedy on the Lake

Aired October 03, 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: All right, thank you -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: Investigators in Indonesia are trying to track down the plotters of three suicide bombings over the weekend. They're running photos of the suspected bombers in newspapers across the country hoping to get new leads. And these photos, well, they're rather Macob (ph).

CNN's Stan Grant joins us live from Bali to explain.

Good morning -- Stan.

STAN GRANT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, Carol.

Bali you know is such a friendly island. It's an island that's been loved by tourists worldwide. People come here to party, they come here for the sun, they come here for the surf, but in the past couple of years, it's also become synonymous with terror. Remember 2002, the Bali nightclub bombings? They're being reminded of that once again. We've seen Bali restaurant bombings over the weekend.

Now police have been sifting through the debris, trying to piece together exactly what happened. They believe that three suicide bombers entered the three separate restaurants. Now video has actually been released showing a man wearing a backpack in one of the restaurants. Police believe he could be one of the suspected suicide bombers. He walked through the crowded room. Moments later detonating explosives and of course setting off mayhem.

As many as 19 people have been killed, more than 100 people, including 6 Americans, also being wounded, Australians also amongst those wounded. And the Australian prime minister, John Howard, has been expressing his sympathy with the Balinese people. And the Balinese people have been out laying wreaths and setting up shrines to the dead here, as well showing their compassion for a crime that has truly shocked this island -- Carol.

COSTELLO: The Macob twist is, gosh, how do I put this gracefully, because I know it's early in the morning here in the United States, but all that's left of the bombers are heads and their feet. But the newspapers are running pictures of these dead men's heads, right?

GRANT: Yes, exactly. This is the hallmark of suicide bombing that you find various parts of the body. Not to put too fine a point on it, but basically strewn around the room you will find the legs in one part, the head in another, the arms in another. That's how they believe this was in fact a suicide bombing.

They also believe it has the hallmarks of Jemaah Islamiya. Now that's a well-known terrorist group in Southeast Asia with links to al Qaeda. They were implicated in the 2002 Bali bombings, the nightclub bombings here, also the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta 2003 and the bombing of the Australian Embassy just last year. They have been gutted in the past few years. There have been many, many arrests. But there are still masterminds of Jemaah Islamiya on the loose, and they are the ones they believe have carried out these attacks -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Stan Grant, reporting live for us this morning, thank you.

The next chapter of Iraq is being written in blood, and a new U.S. military offensive in western Iraq, Operation Iron Fist is what it's called, it began over the weekend, and it's going on right now.

Jennifer Eccleston is embedded with the troops. She has the latest for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, we're taking incoming rockets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was close.

JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): India (ph) Company was looking for a fight. In eastern Karbala, the insurgents complied, gunfire and rockets.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: India Company running around with RPGs. As soon as I get a shot, I'm going to be taking a few.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you even see them?

ECCLESTON: Firing but fleeing before they're identified and engaged.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know these pop shots are frustrating. Keep your eyes open and we're going to snag one of them. And keep your heads down.

ECCLESTON: Frustrations mount.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And then if you've got somebody to shoot at, it's a done deal. Do it.

ECCLESTON: Nerves fray.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yankee 4 to Yankee 6, what's going on?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger. Anybody know what that machine gunfire was?

ECCLESTON (on camera): The Marines were taking sporadic gunfire for about an hour, which limited their ability to advance further into town. And they thought the shooters were coming from this area.

(voice-over): So Abrams tanks are called in to take out the alleged safe haven. Marines think they may have struck their target, but then a stream of civilians in shock, in disbelief, in pain. The wall is hit, but so is a building. A mother, father and child struck by flying pieces of their home. Marines treat them and others. The most serious evacuated.

What's our crime, one man moans, we're innocent.

Innocence and guilt blurred when fighting a counter insurgency, Marines say, especially when their enemy is capable of such deception. Hidden bombs, like this, mined streets. Marines use their tools to isolate the insurgents, but everyone is a potential suspect.

LT. COL. DALE ALFORD, U.S. MARINE CORPS: This isn't an open battlefield where we're -- you've got the bad guys and the good guys lined up against each other. You've got innocent civilians intermixed in the battle, and it's always tough.

ECCLESTON: Especially tough this day. While the mission to secure Karbala is progressing, the mission to win the trust of innocent civilians suffers a setback.

Jennifer Eccleston, CNN, Karbala, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Iraqis are two weeks away from voting on a new constitution. And what would be an election without controversy? Iraq's Kurdish president is calling on the Shiite prime minister to resign. President Jalal Talabani says the Shiites are monopolizing power.

Aneesh Raman in Baghdad with more on this political infighting.

What does it mean -- Aneesh?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, it was an awkward alliance to begin with between the fiercely secular Kurds and the more religious Shi'a. That, of course, the group that makes up the backbone of this government. And we're now seeing that really rise to the top.

As you mentioned, Iraq's Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani, saying that the prime minister, the Shi'a Ibrahim al-Jaafari, is misusing his power. He's leaving out entities in his decisions. He's essentially acting as a singular authoritative figure. He has made similar comments like this before, but really not with the strong rhetoric that we saw in recent days.

For his part, the prime minister, through a spokesman, is saying these comments are incredibly political, which they perhaps are, and that there is power sharing taking place at the top level.

But, as you mention, we are entering, Carol, an incredibly political period. We have two elections coming up, not just the October referendum, but those critical December elections that will decide who will reign in this now permanent five-year government to come beginning next year.

And so we are seeing clearly posturing by the various groups. And it hits home how divided they are, how fearful they are of being left out. The Kurds, the Shi'a, the Sunnis, the secular politicians, all of them invested in making sure that their group is represented at the table.

Meanwhile, Carol, Iraq's interior minister has had some strong words of his own, this time for Saudi Arabia. The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia, you'll recall, just recently came out with his own warning that Iraq was essentially disintegrating into chaos.

The interior minister here, Bayan Jabor, coming out just yesterday with strong words, saying Saudi Arabia should stay out of Iraq's affairs. And also saying that Saudi Arabia essentially has no credibility when talking about what's happening here in Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BAYAN JABOR, IRAQ INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): We taught humankind how to read, write and about human rights. It is unacceptable for a Bedouin who rides a camel to come teach us how to read.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RAMAN: So amidst all the security concerns here, political infighting clearly exists as well. A good thing if you're looking at this process as true democracy. But it does have the potential of really crippling this process. All of these groups are looking at every moment as a window of opportunity to maximize their influence. And so we'll likely hear more rhetoric like this, Carol, in the weeks and months to come.

COSTELLO: Strong rhetoric, too.

Aneesh Raman live in Baghdad this morning.

Lima Company comes home from the front lines in Iraq, minus more than a few good men. The vice president, Dick Cheney, will be at Camp Lejeune today for a welcome home ceremony. The Ohio Marine Reserve unit suffered heavy casualties in Iraq, 48 men in all, 9 the same day in just one roadside bomb attack all died. But the rest of the company is back home today.

Still ahead on DAYBREAK, within minutes a joyful day turns tragic for senior citizens cruising Lake George in upstate New York. We'll have a live update for you in a few minutes.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Elian Gonzalez, you remember that name, don't you? He's the Cuban boy at the center of an international custody battle. Happened about five years ago. Well, he's 11 years old now. He's living with is father in Cuba.

In a CBS "60 Minutes" interview, the little boy talked about leaving Cuba for America with his mother. And you may recall she drowned in the failed attempt to reach the United States. Elian also recounts his experiences with his Miami relatives who fought to prevent his return to Cuba.

We take you "Beyond the Soundbite" now to hear what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELIAN GONZALEZ, FORMER CUBAN REFUGEE (through translator): They told me we were going fishing and we were going to see my uncles. I remember it was daytime, and I found my mother and a friend. Then I saw them fighting. No, I couldn't do anything. Then I fell asleep. And when I opened my eyes, I didn't see anyone.

They were telling me bad things about him, and I would tell them not to. They were also telling me to tell him that I did not want to go back to Cuba. And I always told them that I wanted to. When they said I was going to see my father, at that moment, then I felt joy that I could get out of that house.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: He's with his father today. In the interview, Elian says he considers President Fidel Castro a friend and a father figure.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:44 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Historic session for the Supreme Court, John Roberts takes over as the new chief justice. The court opens its new term in just a few hours.

Investigators return to an upstate New York lake in just over an hour. A tour boat carrying senior citizens flipped over yesterday at Lake George. At least 20 people drowned.

In money news, Harvard University's endowment has topped $25 billion. That makes Harvard the richest university in the world. Yale is about $10 billion behind. Harvard received more than 100 gifts of at least $1 million last year.

In pop culture, Melissa Etheridge is ready to enter the world of TV sitcom. She's working on a show for ABC about a gay teacher in Etheridge's home state of Kansas. The singer says she doesn't want to rely on touring to make a living anymore. In sports, it was a wild ride for some of NASCAR's best. This multi-car wreck at the Talladega Speedway sent Michael Waltrip rolling head over headlight.

But, Chad, no one was hurt. I can't believe it.

MYERS: Everybody walked away. There were three cars, actually, that went upside down during that race. Everybody walked away, especially that young man, well, 49 years old, maybe that's young compared to some of us. He is doing great this morning with his new crew chief. They put them back together, Todd Parrott. And man, he had such a great race. Great job for the UPS team there. And he wins a lot of money -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Good for him. Good for Dale Jarrett.

MYERS: Good for Dale Jarrett.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines for you this morning.

Investigators will be back on the scene in upstate New York today where a tour boat flipped over on Lake George killing 20 people.

Abigail Bleck of our affiliate station WNYT joins us from Warren County where the sheriff's department is about to hold a news conference.

What might they say?

ABIGAIL BLECK, WNYT-TV REPORTER: That's exactly what everyone is waiting to hear. Last night, the search and rescue ended just as it began to get dark. And certainly once daylight breaks today, that investigation is definitely going to continue.

The death toll here now in New York State's north country is said to be more than 20 people, the tour of about 50 senior citizens. They were visiting here from Michigan. The 38-foot cruise boat is said to have capsized in less than a minute, that's what witnesses tell us, in 70 feet of water near a state park here on Lake George. The tour of the Ethan Allen was mostly seniors here on a fall foliage tour.

Many in walkers and wheelchairs so investigators aren't even sure if they were even in a position to save themselves. Twenty-seven people were also sent to the hospital. The survivors, many were -- have already been released. Residents and boaters in this community helped with that rescue effort.

Now this is a community right on a lake, so you can imagine how hard everyone is being hit by this. There is a teenage girl pulling senior citizens out of the water. She said she did all that she could, she, her brother and her father. So this is a community very tied to the water, very concerned with finding out what happened, exactly what happened. And that's what we hope the investigators will begin to do today.

The NTSB is expected on the scene. They will begin their work as soon as daybreak. And the sheriff's department will hold its first news conference of the morning at 7:00 a.m. We'll, of course, keep you updated.

COSTELLO: Abigail, so many questions for you. The captain of the boat, I know he was experienced and I know he's said to feel terrible this morning. Was he the only crew member on board the boat?

BLECK: That's exactly what we're hearing. We also heard that he wasn't checked for drugs or alcohol, because they do not -- did not see any fault with him at the time. I'm sure, though, that will also be looked into. He is known in this community. Everyone seems to know him by name. This is a boat that when it goes by on the lake everyone waves to. So everyone is thinking about him at this time. He, of course, is one of the survivors.

COSTELLO: Well you know this is what I'm trying to get at, there were a lot of senior citizens on board this boat and only one crew member. In New York state you're not required to wear a lifejacket when you're on such a boat. So I'm wondering if it was such a good idea to have all of those disabled people on board that boat with just one captain aboard?

BLECK: Yes, I'm sure that's something that the NTSB, the federal folks, and also the local people will be looking into. Really, yesterday, though, their focus was making sure that the people who did survive were safe and well. And today, I think the investigation in full will begin and also continue.

COSTELLO: Final question for you, Abigail, some of the elderly in the water were seen wearing lifejackets, other were not. Can you sort that out for us?

BLECK: That's their choice. When you're an adult in New York State, you can get on a boat. The boat is required to have a lifejacket for you, but just like you and I could make that decision, they can make the decision not to wear it. So, again, there is nothing that can be faulted there. If you're over 18 and you're not wearing a lifejacket, that's your decision, nothing that the boat can make you do.

COSTELLO: Abigail Bleck, reporting live for us this morning, thank you.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, your e-mails. The question, what will you do to conserve energy, if anything? The energy secretary is going to come out today and tell you how to conserve fuel, because he said your heating bills might double this winter. We'll get to your e- mails right after this. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: A rare "Ring of Fire" darkens -- but we can't see it here in the United States -- Chad.

MYERS: No, because the earth is in the way.

COSTELLO: Darn.

MYERS: You'd have to look through -- you have to look through the dirt. Superman can see it, but no one else can.

COSTELLO: So you can only see this in southwestern Europe, and you can see it over much of Africa. And this called, what, an annular eclipse.

MYERS: It's pretty beautiful, huh?

COSTELLO: It's gorgeous.

MYERS: Even in that dark state.

COSTELLO: Is this happening right now?

MYERS: It happened about 20 minutes ago.

COSTELLO: OK.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: That's cool.

MYERS: Yes, really graceful.

COSTELLO: I just want to -- I just want to look at this. Let's just leave this on for the rest of DAYBREAK. But we can't, we must go on.

MYERS: That's one way to conserve fuel, put the moon in front of the sun and that will keep the temperature down.

COSTELLO: Exactly. But, of course, we'd have to turn on our lights more.

MYERS: I guess. It's always something.

COSTELLO: Yes.

MYERS: The "Question of the Day" was what are you going to do to help conserve electricity, help conserve fuel, whether it's natural gas, propane or heating oil, whatever you're going to do this winter? What are you going to do? Obviously the secretary is going to have a couple of ideas later on today. DAYBREAK@CNN.com there's still time.

From Mark (ph), says my energy plan is going to go into effect on October 17 when I pick up my 2006 VW Jetta turbo diesel. It's going to get 50 miles per gallon and it's a car that will eventually run on bio-diesel. COSTELLO: Well, good for him.

MYERS: And -- yes, good for him.

Sarah (ph), we'll be using our wood burner this weekend and this winter to conserve energy. It's more efficient than a fireplace and has always been a good way of getting rid of those dead trees anyway.

From Michelle (ph) in upstate, I have the west-facing apartment with large windows. And I covered them this summer with a light auto window tint. You wouldn't believe how much this has helped. At least $15 per month in my cooling bill.

And, Carol, I have a map. A little picture back here behind me there, well I did, anyway, of the little compact fluorescent light bulbs. I'm sure you've seen them. They don't look the best. They've kind of got those little spinners there.

But would you believe that if you went out and bought one compact light bulb, one fluorescent light bulb, replaced it with just one. If everybody in the United States did that, the Energy Star Program says that that would be equal to taking the same effect of one million cars off the road. That's how much energy that would save.

And I did figure it out. I wrote it down. If you put one light bulb in and put it in your one socket, ran it for four hours, the light you usually use the most, whether you're watching TV or something or reading, you would save yourself $180 every year by putting that one bulb in. If you go to Sam's and buy a box of 10, that's 18 bucks for a box of 10. You would, therefore, by the time these bulbs ran out, you would save yourself $1,080.

COSTELLO: I think you should join the energy secretary today -- Chad.

MYERS: They don't pay enough.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: I guess you got that right. All right. Thanks so much.

MYERS: All right.

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK@CNN.com if you have a tip.

In news "Across America" now, in Connecticut, dozens of same-sex couples took advantage of the new civil union law there. Couples were allowed to get civil union licenses beginning Saturday. Connecticut is the first state to allow the unions without being forced to by the courts. But the federal government still doesn't recognize same-sex civil unions.

Celebrities may now have a little more security against the paparazzi. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a tough new law that's designed to control overly aggressive photographers. Among the provision is the tripling of damages celebrities can seek if they are assaulted by photographers.

The Seattle City Council is expected to vote today to ban lap dances. They are considering new adult entertainment rules, partly as a way to discourage strip clubs from opening in the city. This comes after a judge ruled last month that the city council's 17-year moratorium on new clubs is unconstitutional. Seattle currently has four strip clubs.

It's the first Monday in October, and that means it is the first day on a new job for the new Chief Justice John Roberts. We'll get legal analyst Kendall Coffey's take on that, as well as the agenda for the Supreme Court's fall term. And believe me, their decisions could change your life.

The next hour of DAYBREAK starts in two minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is Monday, October 3.

An historic day for American justice, assisted suicide, abortion, the death penalty, the Supreme Court prepares to tackle some big issues with a brand new chief justice.

An afternoon boat excursion turns into a nightmare in an upstate New York lake.

And the investigation into a suicide bombing takes a grim turn in the international press.

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