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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

9/11 Families; Indian Hostages; Beating Trial; Targeting Youth; Treating Alzheimer's

Aired July 23, 2004 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. forces conduct a precision airstrike in Fallujah.
It is Friday morning, July 23, and this is DAYBREAK.

Well good morning on this Friday, and welcome to the second half- hour of DAYBREAK. From CNN's Global Headquarters here in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen in for Carol Costello.

'Now in the News,' suspected Iraqi insurgents have been targeted in Fallujah. A coalition spokesman says today the airstrike was against a dozen insurgents with ties to terror suspect Abu Musab Zarqawi. The strike was conducted in coordination with the Iraqi government.

A car bomb exploded today as a U.S. military convoy was passing in Kandahar, which is in southern Afghanistan. Witnesses at the scene said four American soldiers were hurt, but the U.S. military can confirm just one soldier wounded.

Congress is under pressure to put the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission on a fast track. Senator Joe Lieberman and others say the reforms are so important that a special session should be called if necessary.

And Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge huddles with sports leaders, college and professional, today in Herndon, Virginia. It's a seminar on security at special events.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

Chad, it's a Friday morning, a lot of folks looking forward to that weekend. How is it shaping up this time (ph)?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know the weekend doesn't look great for the East Coast.

(WEATHER REPORT)

MYERS: Betty, back to you.

NGUYEN: One hundred, I can only imagine. No, I don't want to imagine.

MYERS: No.

NGUYEN: Thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: Well the federal commission investigating the September 11 terrorist attacks only exists because the family members of victims pushed for it.

CNN's Maria Hinojosa got some reaction to the panel's work from some of the people who made it happen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Terry McGovern lost her mother on September 11th, just six weeks after her first baby was born. She pressed for the commission, because she wanted answers.

TERRY MCGOVERN, DAUGHTER OF 9/11 VICTIM: Sitting through those commission hearings and reading those reports carefully, it's a very scary thing. We are totally vulnerable. And I think that hopefully what it's going to do is get the public to understand that they have got to push the elected officials and the people running these agencies to do a much better job.

HINOJOSA: Bob and Elaine Hughes traveled to Washington for almost every single commission hearing, thinking always of their 30- year-old son, Chris, who was a history and current events buff.

ELAINE HUGHES, MOTHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: I sat there and tried to think the way Chris would think. He was on my shoulder. He was -- as I was writing down information, as each witness was talking, it was his words.

HINOJOSA: What they got were 567 pages of words, clearly pointing to signals the government got, but missed. And so, their son died.

BOB HUGHES, FATHER OF 9/11 VICTIM: We, as family members, have been asked: Do you think it could have been prevented? We absolutely do. We think that, you know, the hints were there, the signs were there, the intelligence was there. We never realized, until we got into this ourselves, how much intelligence was there.

JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: The status quo failed us on September 11th, and it'll fail us again unless we reform and change it in some of the ways this commission recommended.

HINOJOSA: The families are learning about clues and miscues and of unheeded warnings, but the report, they said, assessed no specific blame and demanded no accountability.

BEVERLY ECKERT, WIFE OF 9/11 VICTIM: I'm not angry, it's not that I wanted heads to roll, but I worked in a large corporation, and I think, you know, sometimes you do have to identify the people within the organization who are -- who are not functioning the way they should be.

Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And the 9/11 Commission released new details on the doomed United Airlines Flight 93. That's the one that crashed in Pennsylvania. According to the report, the hijacker who was piloting the plane, Ziad Jarrah, rolled the Boeing 757 up and down to try to knock passengers off balance. The passengers were trying to charge the cockpit.

The report says -- quote -- "five second later Jarrah asked, is that it? Shall we finish it off? A hijacker responded, no, not yet. When they all come, we finish it off." Jarrah resumed pitching the plane up and down for some time. The commission says he then yelled Ali is the greatest and later crashed the plane.

You'll want to stay right here through the morning. In the 9:00 a.m. hour, our guest will be Carie Lemack. Her mother was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11 that crashed into the Pentagon.

An attack on a U.S. convoy that leads our quick look at the situation today in Iraq. Two American soldiers are dead after a roadside bomb ripped through their convoy in Samarra, which is north of Baghdad. Another soldier was wounded.

U.S. forces launch a strike today in the western city of Fallujah. They were targeting up to a dozen insurgents with ties to terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. That strike was carried out in coordination with the interim Iraqi government.

Top execs of a Halliburton subsidiary appear before Congress to defend allegations of war profiteering in Iraq. Whistleblowers have accused subsidiary KBR of waste, theft and misuse of funds. Halliburton, once headed by Vice President Dick Cheney, is the U.S. Army's main logistics contractor in Iraq.

India's foreign minister says his government is working with friendly nations to get three Indian hostages released. The three are among seven truck drivers abducted in Iraq by kidnappers who are threatening to behead them one by one.

CNN correspondent Suhasini Haidar has a live report now from New Delhi.

Good morning to you.

SUHASINI HAIDAR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty.

In that videotape the hostage takers released, they said that they will behead one hostage every 72 hours with their first deadline on Saturday. They say what they want is that the Kuwaiti -- the Kuwaiti trucking company that employed all the hostages should withdrawal all its operations from Iraq. What they have also asked is that the countries that these hostages belong to should withdrawal their troops and their personnel from Iraq immediately. Now India has no troops in Iraq. And in fact, two months ago, India -- the Indian government made it illegal for Indian citizens to even be there until the situation there is safer. Even so, the Indian government says it's doing all it can, contacting as many friendly governments as possible. The Indian foreign minister says he is in contact with his counterpart in Baghdad and in Kuwait. And the Indian Foreign Ministry is also speaking to the Kuwaiti trucking company that employed these men and sent them on assignment into Iraq.

Now these three Indian hostages belong to villagers, to farming communities in northern India. Anxious appeals from the families who have come to the Indian government asking for the Indian government to do anything to free their loved ones, even asking for the Indian prime minister to personally intervene in the matter. All this ready as the first deadline set by the hostage takers approaches now about 29 hours away -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Suhasini, we understand that the foreign minister is contacting leaders in these friendly nations, but what are these leaders in these nations saying that they are going to do to help in this situation?

HAIDAR: Well what the families of the hostages clearly want the Indian government to do is to sum upward pressure, to put pressure on various governments and to -- on the Kuwaiti trucking company to speak to the hostage takers. And in fact, to put any pressure they can that will free the hostages.

The Indian government hasn't said very clearly what kind of responses they have received so far. All that they are saying is that they are doing all they can. They have a crisis management committee in place that's trying to continuously speak for the government in both in Kuwait and in Iraq -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Suhasini Haidar, thank you very much.

A car bomb exploded today along a roadside as a U.S. convoy was passing in Kandahar in southern Afghanistan. Witnesses at the scene say four American soldiers were wounded, but the U.S. military can confirm only one soldier hurt. The convoy was heading into the city from a nearby U.S. base when the car blew up.

A federal judge says he'll review classified material before it's used in the trial of former soldier David Passaro. Passaro traveled to Afghanistan under contract with the CIA and is charged in the death of a prisoner in Afghanistan. Now there are questions about warning signs the CIA may have muissed.

CNN's David Mattingly explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a civilian contractor working for the CIA in a part of Afghanistan few back home had heard of, doing a job even fewer could know about. But in a four-page federal indictment, covert paramilitary operative David Passaro is publicly accused of beating an Afghan detainee with a flashlight during two days of interrogations. The prisoner, suspected in rocket attacks on a U.S. base, died soon after.

KERRY PASSARO, EX-WIFE: I wasn't surprised.

MATTINGLY (on camera): Why?

K. PASSARO: Because he's a very violent person. He's a very violent person.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): Passaro's ex-wife is among those describing him as an abusive, volatile personality.

K. PASSARO: My daughter saw him, like, strangle me one time.

MATTINGLY: She claims Passaro, a former Green Beret, hit her many times during their 13-year marriage, but she never filed charges.

Passaro's North Carolina neighbor, Paul Rodriguez, claims Passaro once shot out his car window after his dogs chased Passaro's horse.

MATTINGLY (on camera): Short-tempered?

PAUL RODRIGUEZ, NEIGHBOR: Short-tempered.

MATTINGLY: Dangerous?

RODRIGUEZ: I'd say so. He shot across the yard into one of my vehicles.

MATTINGLY (voice-over): But again, there were never any criminal charges filed, nothing that would raise red flags in a background check.

(on camera) A U.S. official tells CNN there was a full background investigation of Passaro and that the CIA was aware of one violent incident in his past. It was an off duty fight that cost him his job as a rookie police officer in Hartford, Connecticut.

But the incident was 12 years ago. It was downgraded to a misdemeanor and resulted only in a small file.

(voice-over) Now in federal custody, Passaro was deemed a flight risk after investigators found over a dozen firearms and thousands of dollars in cash in the apartment of his girlfriend, a local police detective. When contacted by CNN, she declined comment.

Wearing the striped uniform of an inmate and now wearing a beard, he has not been able to discuss his case with his attorneys, due to the secrecy surrounding his activities.

S. PASSARO: I definitely think that it will be impossible for David to receive a fair trial. MATTINGLY: Stephen Passaro says his brother is not a violent person and launched a web site for his defense. On it is a letter he says came from David Passaro, who writes he is the victim of a cover- up, claiming "the allegations against me are false. The Army had control of the prisoner who apparently died of a heart attack. And I've done nothing but serve my community and country dutifully, loyally, trustworthily and with honor."

His brother believes the Army is looking for someone to blame.

S. PASSARO: And David is that scapegoat.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well you want to stay tuned because we are talking politics with the president's daughters. Go one on one with twins Jenna and Barbara Bush. We'll tell you where and how.

Plus, the links grassroots groups are taking to get young people to the polls. This is DAYBREAK for Friday, July 23.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We have your news, money, weather and sports on this Friday. The time right now is 5:45 Eastern. And here is what's all new this morning.

The government says there is no credible or specific intelligence suggesting terrorists plan an attack at the Democratic National Convention in Boston next week, but the FBI warns Boston authorities to be on alert anyway.

On Capitol Hill, the House votes to strip federal courts jurisdiction over cases dealing with same-sex marriage. The House approved the Marriage Protection Act with backing from the Bush administration. You can expect a fight in the Senate.

In money, Greyhound buses just aren't getting enough riders. And as a result, it's cutting 260 stops between Chicago and Seattle on August 18. Service along North Dakota's eastern border beyond Fargo is among those affected.

And in culture, Bob Edwards, the once popular host of NPR's "Morning Edition," may not be returning to National Public Radio. In a New Hampshire interview, Edwards declined to say what his plans are after his current book tour ends. He was recently reassigned as an NPR correspondent.

And in sports, check it out, Lance Armstrong is on course to become the only six-time winner of the Tour de France when it ends in Paris on Sunday. A team spokesman says Armstrong may not be in next year's race. Well why would he if you win the sixth one, right -- Chad?

MYERS: Well, I didn't think he actually would do this one, but he just -- he was a man on a mission, absolutely. NGUYEN: He is a machine.

MYERS: Yes, really. Look at that, just look at him go.

Anyway, hey, good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: They are not used to that kind of weather -- Chad.

MYERS: No.

NGUYEN: All right.

Well you can talk politics with the daughters of President Bush. Those twins, Jenna and Barbara, today will host an online chat on President Bush's official campaign Web site this evening. They plan to focus on the importance of young voters in the November election. The twins are scheduled to be online for one hour. So write this down, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Eastern, the address is GeorgeWBush.com.

Well a lot of campaign rhetoric, such as Medicare and prescription drug benefits, don't generally affect young people and it's hard to peak their interest.

But as CNN's J.J. Ramberg reports, many groups this year are tailoring their message to Generation Y.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

J.J. RAMBERG, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The numbers may surprise you. According to one estimate, in the last presidential election, only 30 percent of 18 to 24-year-olds voted compared to 54 percent of all voting age Americans. Four years before that, even fewer young voters went to the polls. But organizers say this November things will be different.

JEHMU GREENE, ROCK THE VOTE: There are lots of differences this year from the issues that are at stake to the way we're going to organize and reach out to young voters.

RAMBERG: Get out the vote initiatives geared towards the country's youth are devoting more money and time than ever before. From established organizations like Rock the Vote, to newer efforts like the Hip Hop Action Summit and Punk Voter, these programs are determined to do more than just sign people up.

IVAN FISHBERG, NEW VOTERS PROJECT: The big exciting stuff also comes on Election Day where there's that precinct operation and where we're contacting folks who have already committed to turning out to vote and making sure that 100 percent of those folks who said they are interested in voting actually turn out to vote.

RAMBERG: Volunteers from the New Voters Project will actually knock on people's doors November 2. And it may take extreme measures like that to increase voter turnout. Look at this survey from UCLA. When asked how important it is to keep up with political affairs, in 1996, 60 percent of incoming freshmen said very important. By last year, that number had plummeted to 33 percent.

CURTIS GANS, STUDY OF AMERICAN ELECTORATE: Our young people you know may be idealistic about a lot of things, but they have been cynical about politics.

RAMBERG: But with a number of hot button issues this year that directly affect young people, from the war in Iraq to how they are going to pay their college tuition, that age group is already starting to show more interest. Four times as many of them turned out to vote in the Iowa caucuses this year than in 2000.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think I do care more about this election than I've cared about past elections, because I think that our country is at a really crucial moment and I think that this one is going to be particularly significant.

RAMBERG (on camera): The campaigns are clearly paying attention. Both Senator John Kerry and Ed Gillespie, Head of the Republican National Committee, have already turned up on MTV. And with the latest poll numbers showing this presidential election shaping up to be a very tight race, neither side can afford to miss out on any voting block, especially not one 34 million strong.

J.J. Ramberg, CNN Financial News, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And on that note, CNN will have complete coverage of the Democratic National Convention. Our Wolf Blitzer and Judy Woodruff will begin with a preview on Sunday night at 10:00 Eastern.

We are back in a moment. You are watching DAYBREAK for Friday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: More accusations of steroid use are being leveled against Olympic champion Marion Jones. Two Bay area newspapers quote Jones' ex-husband who testified that Jones used steroids during the 2000 Olympics. Marion Jones won five medals, including three gold at the Sydney Games. "The San Francisco Chronicle" reports that C.J. Hunter told investigators he injected Jones with banned substances and saw her inject herself. Her attorney says Hunter is lying out of bitterness over their divorce.

In 'Health Headlines' this morning, the number of people dying of asbestos is skyrocketing. That's according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials there say nearly 1,500 people died of asbestos in 2000 compared to 77 deaths in 1968. The CDC blames the rising rate on long ago exposure to the material.

Most parents will tell you their little ones have better memories than they do. Well, a new study backs that up. Researchers have found 5 year olds can beat most adults on a recognition memory test, at least under specific conditions. And the reason is that adults simply know too much. There, there's the excuse.

Well you may want to put those smart kids to bed and whip out a good movie this weekend. Researchers have found that movies can put you in the mood. They are said to boost hormone levels, making men and women feel more romantic and more aggressive. Watch out.

Well when it comes to the mind robbing Alzheimer's disease, doctors can easily make a diagnosis, but treating it is a whole other matter.

Now as CNN's Holly Firfer reports, there is progress on that front.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLLY FIRFER, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): German physician Alois Alzheimer noticed strange behavior by a 51-year-old woman in a Munich mental institution. The year was 1901. More than a century later, the degenerative brain disorder, named for that doctor, still baffles researchers.

DR. PAUL AISEN, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY: Unfortunately today, the drugs that we have improve symptoms but do not stop progression of the disease.

FIRFER: Until now. Dr. Aisen and his colleagues are studying one of the most promising Alzheimer's treatments yet, a drug called Alzamed.

AISEN: Alzamed is not directed at the symptoms, it's directed at the cause of the disease. So what we expect is not an improvement in symptoms over the short term, but a stabilization in the course of the disease over the long term.

FIRFER: They are targeting brain plaque that ultimately disrupts communication between brain cells in Alzheimer's patients. These plaques are formed when enzymes clip off part of a protein called amyloid. Those clipped off fragments clump together and build up around brain cells, interrupting communication between them, and those brain cells eventually die. Alzamed targets the amyloid to try to keep it from sticking together and forming these plaques and potentially clear it from the brain.

Libby Monroe suffers from moderate Alzheimer's.

BILL MONROE, LIBBY'S SPOUSE: We decided to get involved in the trial because we knew that Libby had Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's patients go downhill. We wanted to prevent that, if possible. Alzamed seemed to offer us a possibility to stop the decline of memory.

LIBBY MONROE, ALZHEIMER'S PATIENT: I thought Mariah (ph) was coming. FIRFER: Although she's had a hard time remembering names or dates or even some words, Bill says he notices she seemed to be declining at a much slower rate.

B. MONROE: She's got a lovely, sunny, cheerful temperament and that has not changed. And I think I'm very fortunate in that respect.

FIRFER: Alzamed is going into a final 18-month testing period. Once that data is complete and FDA reviewed, it could be on the market by 2007.

Holly Firfer, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And for more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

DAYBREAK will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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