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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

48 Iraqi Army Recruits Gunned Down; Campaign '04 Hits Final Week; NASCAR Family Hit by Tragedy

Aired October 25, 2004 - 5:00   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Costello. Now in the news, a roadside bomb today targets a U.S. military convoy. Three Iraqi civilians are hurt. It comes after 48 Iraqi army recruits were gunned down by insurgents northeast of Baghdad over the weekend.
South of Baghdad nearly 380 tons of high explosives are missing from a former Iraqi military base. "The New York Times" quotes weapons efforts saying the explosives could be a bonanza for terrorists. We'll have more on this in 15 minutes.

In Boston, Massachusetts, Curt Schilling bad ankle and all has them smiling. The Red Sox win game two of the world series, six two over the St. Louis, Cardinals. The series now moves to St. Louis, next game tomorrow.

Curt Schilling his ankle bleeding again. He pitches a great game.

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Unbelievable.

COSTELLO: Where is Chad today, by the way Jacqui Jeras?

JERAS: I think he's in the southwest somewhere Carol.

COSTELLO: I believe it's Las Vegas.

JERAS: I believe it's Las Vegas.

COSTELLO: And he's probably still up.

JERAS: That's right. Before that baby comes, you know, he's got to get one last party in, you know.

COSTELLO: Exactly.

JERAS: Good for him, but I'm glad to be here with you today. The pickings are kind of slim this morning though, Carol, not a lot going on. So Chad kept things nice and safe for us, hopefully. Looking at a couple of scattered showers across central and western parts of Texas. And then also, an area of convection there, just to the south and east of Jackson Mississippi, you're going to get a lot of lightning, I think, with that one, and some good heavy downpours, but no severe weather expected for today. Across the southeast, you're waking up to some very foggy conditions from Atlanta, extending on up towards Asheville. And then, we have some low level cloudiness across parts of the northeast for today. But I think you're going to see some of that sunshine starting to break out in to the afternoon.

A gorgeous day across the upper Midwest. A little wet and soggy, and also a little sultry across parts of the south temperatures. Well above average. You might even see a few '90s along the gulf coast for today. The big story out west is this next cold front pushing on through. And this is going to be bringing in a lot of west weather, a lot of snow in the higher elevations, having more of an impact by Tuesday -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Jackie. Here another day off the calendar, the polls open in eight days, one week from tomorrow, and the candidates are hot footing across the battleground states. Senator John Kerry opens his day in Dover, New Hampshire. Former President Bill Clinton joins him in Philadelphia for a lunch time rally. Kerry then heads to Warren, Michigan, and he will end the day in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

When Al Gore ran for president four years ago, we didn't see too much of Bill Clinton, but John Kerry is embracing the former president hoping he'll fire up the democratic base. Our Kelly Wallace has more for you on that.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The rock star of Democratic politics making his first campaign appearance since his quadruple by pass last month. And team Kerry-Edwards is thrilled, frequently mentioning the former president on the stump.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: As my friend, our friend, President Clinton likes to say...

SEN. JOHN EDWARDS (D-NC), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They like to talk bad about President Clinton, but let me say this, when he was president of the United States, we weren't losing jobs...

WALLACE: Their strategy, a reversal from Al Gore's decision four years ago not to embrace Bill Clinton. Political observers say that move might have cost Gore victories in key battleground states.

What can Bill Clinton do? He can fire up the democratic base, especially African-Americans, who Senator Kerry has been slow to energize. According to a recent study, 18 percent of African- Americans say they would vote for President Bush this year, that's double the number who voted for him four years ago. However, other polls show Mr. Bush's support now, the same 8 percent as in 2000. Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel told "INSIDE POLITICS SUNDAY," Mr. Bush's policies will actually send African Americans out for John Kerry.

REP. CHARLES RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: George Bush is going to be the biggest incentives to get minority and middle class people out to vote.

WALLACE: But some Republicans say dispatching Mr. Clinton could be a sign of worry inside camp Kerry. REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: And that's why they have bring Bill Clinton in Philadelphia to bring out the African American vote, because they are so concerned that the African Americans in larger numbers are going to vote for George Bush.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Kelly Wallace reporting for you. You can judge Bill Clinton's impact on the campaign for yourself, CNN plans live coverage of the Kerry-Clinton event in Philadelphia. That will happen at one p.m. Eastern, 10 Pacific side.

On the Republican side of the race, President Bush wakes up in Texas this morning, and is off to Greeley, Colorado, for a rally. After that he flies to Iowa for two stops, one in Council Bluffs, the other in Davenport. And then he'll spend the night in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

President Bush says the nation needs to be more vigilante since 9/11. He says staying on the offensive against terrorists is crucial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Whether or not we can be ever fully safe is, you know, up in the air. I would hope we could make it a lot more safe by staying on the offensive. We have no actionable intelligence. I mean if I knew that there was a plot getting ready to happen, we would be all over it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The president is adding some muscle to his campaign effort in Ohio later this week. He'll be joined by California Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Governor has broken ranks with the President, and the republicans on the issue of stem cell research. Still Bush aids say, Schwarzenegger is arguable the most popular republican who enjoys mass appeal among moderates.

Religion and politics, some might say they don't mix, others say you can't separate them because who you are and what you believe in effects what you do. CNN's Elaine Quijano looks at the roll of religion in this year's Presidential campaign.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can sign up here to volunteer for the Bush Campaign.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With just days to go until the election, campaign staffers aren't the only ones pushing hard for votes. Some religious leaders on both sides, are aiming their messages squarely at the faithful.

REV. JERRY FALWELL, FOUNDER, LIBERTY UNIVERSITY: But you've got to kill the terrorists before the killing stops. And I'm for the president, chase them all over the world. If it takes 10 years, blow them all away in the name of the lord.

REV. JESSE JACKSON, RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION: That does not sound Biblical to me. That sounds ridiculous. The war in Iraq is morally wrong, and politically a disaster.

QUIJANO: This election, religion and politics are intersecting on multiple fronts, not just the Iraq war, but also abortion, embryonic stem cell research and gay marriage.

In Roman Catholic churches nationwide parishioners are being urged to vote pro-life. And while the Catholic Church isn't officially endorsing President Bush, it's clear the pro-choice position of Senator John Kerry, himself a Catholic, does not fall in line with church teachings. Kerry's stand on abortion rights has prompted some for denying him communion. But Washington D.C.'s Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, doesn't support that, saying he does not want a confrontation over politics at the altar rail.

CARDINAL THEODORE MCCARRICK, ARCHBISHOP OF WASHINGTON: I favor us teaching clearly, and absolutely what the holy father is teaching. And that is how we form the consciences of our people. And hopefully the consciences of our politicians too.

QUIJANO: Just how big a roll will religion play at the polls, recent surveys suggest most Americans feel religion is important in their lives. And in a recent pew poll, when asked whether the President should have strong religious beliefs, 72 percent of registered voters said yes.

DOLORES O'CONNER, CHURCH ATTENDEE: To me, your religion encompasses your morality. You can't separate your religion from your politics.

QUIJANO (on camera): This year, Democrats who have historically focused their efforts on African-American churches, have tried to broaden out their reach. And Republicans are hoping to turn out evangelical Christians. GOP strategists say 4 million of them didn't vote in 2000. And Bush aides believe they can make the difference for the president this year.

Elaine Quijano, CNN Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: In other news across America this morning, six children are dead following an apartment fire in Toledo, Ohio. The children range in age from six months to seven years ago. A seven child is in critical condition this morning. Firefighters say there were no adults in the building when they arrived. The cause of this fire still under investigation.

Recovery crews are searching for the last two bodies from air ambulance crash near San Diego. Five people were killed here. The plane was returning to Albuquerque, New Mexico, after taking a patient from Mexico to San Diego. Two pilots, two paramedics, and a nurse were on board. A United Airlines flight from Chicago to Brazil turned around after one of its engines caught fire. The plane managed to land safely back at O'Hare Airport with no injuries among the 179 passengers. The cause of the engine fire, still under investigation. Earlier this month, an American airlines plane had similar trouble in Chicago after it sucked several birds in to an engine during take off.

One of stock car racing's top families has been hit by tragedy. A plane carrying members of Hendrick Motorsports crashed on the way to Sunday's race in Martinsville, Virginia. Rick Hendrick owns the cars driven by NASCAR champs Jeff Gordon and Terry Labonte among others. Ten people were killed including Rick Hendrick's son Ricky, and his brother Joe.

Mark Boone of CNN affiliate WCNC has more on this story from Charlotte, North Carolina.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARK BOONE, WCNC REPORTER: A long line of people filing into the Hendrick Motorsports museum hoping to learn what happened and what to do now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know I had friends and crew members who were at the race, and to wonder if it was one of them or who it was. There's so many of us here.

BOONE: Earlier in the day, workers covering the signs at the entrance to Hendrick Motorsports, as employees try to cover each other in parking log.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just can't believe it.

BOONE: Joe McGovern (ph) is one of several fans who drove from the race in Martinsville to deliver flowers to Hendrick Motorsports.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just devastating. Such a great race team.

BOONE: The team arriving back at the shop Sunday night, staying behind closed doors for more than 90 minutes before heading home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We mourn. We pray. And, you know, be there for each other and then we just move on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That report was from Mark Boone of CNN affiliate WCNC. Another one of Rick Henrick's drivers is Jimmy Johnson who won Sunday's race. The driver's and their teams were told of the tragedy after the race ended.

Brand new Iraqi soldiers don't even get the chance to prove their mettle. They don't even make it back home after months in training camp. A live report from Karl Penhaul in Baghdad in seven minutes. Colin Powell in Asia this morning, prodding North Korea on nuclear talks and prodding China on human rights reform. Our Mike Chinoy updates Powell's Asian tour live from Beijing in 26 minutes. And do not despair says the government, more flu shots are on the way. Details from Denise Belgrave in 45 minutes. But here's a look at what else is making news this Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now to our market watch, futures are beginning the weak in negative territory. The Dow down 54 points. The Nasdaq down 10. The S&P 500 down nearly 6 points. The international markets are mixed this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up close to 78 points. The London FTSE is down 53. The Paris CAC down more 11 points. Your news, money, weather and sports, it is 5:14 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

At least five are dead after Israeli air strikes hit a refugee camp in Gaza. Israeli sources say the camp was the base for mortar attacks launched over the weekend.

Religious leaders from across the company will be coming to Washington for the funeral of Cardinal James Hickey. Cardinal Hickey is the former archbishop of Washington. He was 84 years old. The funeral will be held on Saturday. In revenues, gas prices up again, the price per gallon up over a nickel in the past two weeks. It now costs an average of $2.04 cents for a gallon of unleaded regular.

In culture, Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels has been honored with the Mark Twain aware for American humor. The gala at the Kennedy Center featured past and present stars of the long running shares. Former winners of the Twain award include Richard Pryor and Bob Newhart.

Sports, it was just another Sunday for the New England Patriots, the Pats beat the New York Jets 13 to seven to extend their record winning streak to an amazing 21 games. They have not lost since September 28th of last year. Wow, it's just incredible, Jacqui.

JERAS: That's a year, over a year.

COSTELLO: It's incredible. They're unbeatable.

JERAS: Oh, my gosh, my Vikings won yesterday.

COSTELLO: As did my Lions.

JERAS: Good for you.

COSTELLO: We're happy.

JERAS: Hey, you know, the big weather is right out there today. You can't see it on a weather map, but there is some significant fog from Houston over to Atlanta down in to the Orlando area, extending up towards Raleigh-Durham for today. You'll have the clouds in the northeast. The fog shouldn't be a problem. You'll run in to some showers across the upper Midwest, and then also in to the southern plain states. And then, across the west, the big story that cold front you see bringing the wet weather from Seattle extending down in to northern California. Winter storm watches are in effect across the Sierra Nevada. We're expecting possibly up to two feet of snow by Tuesday night in the Sierras. You will see some wet weather scattered across west Texas this morning, heading towards Dallas this afternoon. Carol.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.

Those are the latest headlines for you this morning. A huge cache of powerful conventional explosives have reportedly vanished from a former military facility in Iraq. "The New York Times" is reporting the Bush administration new about it, but did not publicly reveal the disappearance. According to "The Times," Iraq's interim government warned the U.S. and the United Nations that 380 tons of explosives are now missing from a facility located just south of Baghdad. U.N. weapons inspectors monitored those explosives for years. After the U.S.-led invasion last year, the site was supposed to be under U.S. military control. "The Times" says National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was informed the explosives were missing within the past month.

The Kerry campaign was close to react, saying, and I'm quoting: "Today the Bush administration must answer for what may be the most grave and catastrophic mistake in a tragic series of blunders in Iraq. How did they fail to secure nearly 380 tons of known deadly explosives, despite clear warnings from the International Atomic Agency to do so? And why was this information unearthed by reporters, and was it covered up by our national security officials? And that is a quote from the Kerry camp.

Turning now to that horrific massacre in Iraq. A group led by suspected terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi now claims responsibility for the execution-style killings of 44 unarmed Iraqi soldiers and four drivers. It's the insurgents' boldest and deadliest ambush yet.

CNN's Karl Penhaul has our report, which does contain pictures some of you might find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a massacre. These Iraqi solders and their drivers were forced to lay down in the dirt, each of them shot in the back of the head, execution-style. This was supposed to be the new face of security and stability in Iraq. These faces are not caked with mud and blood.

These Iraqi soldiers, fresh out of boot camp, were heading home for a few days break. They left their guns behind.

COL. QASSIM MOHAMMED ALAIWA, IRAQI NATIONAL GUARD (through translator): They were laid down in rows on their faces in groups with gunshot wounds only to the head. They were executed by these terrorists. PENHAUL: Burned out wrecks mark the spot where insurgents intercepted the soldier's mini-buses Saturday afternoon, post the Iranian border. As trucks bring the corpses to a nearby military base, Iraqi national guardsman stare on mutely.

The latest string of attacks suggests insurgents still regard homegrown security forces, police, national guard, and the army, as easier targets, than better-equipped, better-trained U.S. soldiers. The Iraqi government and its coalition allies say they're still continuing with a plan to stem the surging violence.

Part of that plan hinges on Falluja. U.S. Marine jets bombed what commanders say is a terrorist command and control post there Sunday. Root out insurgents in Falluja, authorities suggest, and the guerilla war may wane. A key component to holding elections in January and bringing attacks like this to a halt.

Karl Penhaul, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: The New York office of the Homeland Security Department is facing allegations of discrimination. Three African- American female employees have filed a complaint. They say they were dropped from management spots, sent to out-of-state offices, and replaced by less-qualified white males. One of the women, Charlene Monroe, has this to say in a statement.

"I received a call Friday afternoon, August 13th, informing me that I was to pack my bags because I was being transferred to an office in California that following Monday. The new management team at Homeland Security has cleaned house of any black employees in the New York office."

A Homeland Security Department spokesman says the allegations are completely false.

Strong earthquakes strike in Japan, and weary residents try to pick up the pieces. We'll take you live to Tokyo for the latest. And St. Louis will be tickled pink for a good cause, at least we think so. We'll explain. You are watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye Opener" now. Outer space may be in Brazil's future. This test rocket successfully reached the outer edge of the earth's atmosphere. Just over a year ago, 21 people were killed when a Brazilian rocket exploded before lift off. Brazil is hoping to sell rockets to the European Space Agency for satellite launches.

Take a look at this. Everybody say ahh. This American born panda is a hero in China after giving birth to a pair of healthy cubs. The cubs are doing well, even though one of them is being raised by humans. Workers at the Panda Center had to teach the mother how to nurse and care for the cubs. But it seems she just couldn't handle the twins, so they are being cared for by the humans. They are so cute!

JERAS: It is adorable. That's really hard to give birth. Don't they have tremendous ...

COSTELLO: It is hard to get them to mate actually, pandas. In fact, I have to tell this story about the Washington Zoo, the national zoo. The pandas -- I'm sorry. I am it is just-- the pandas would not mate. And it was because the zookeepers were keeping the pandas too clean, and they couldn't smell each other. So they need to smell like panda you know, to get excited about each other.

JERAS: We don't have that problem.

COSTELLO: We were going to talk about the movie starring Ben Affleck, the Christmas movie. It is not doing very well.

JERAS: Really?

COSTELLO: Have you seen the promos?

JERAS: I have seen a few previews, yes.

COSTELLO: So you can kind of understand why it would not do so well.

JERAS: I don't see myself rushing out.

COSTELLO: Is this the end of Ben Affleck's career?

JERAS: I don't know.

COSTELLO: That's my question this morning, Jacqui.

JERAS: It's just going to take a little while. It's just going to take a little while for people, I think, to get over the J.Lo and Ben thing. And kind of let that settle a bit.

COSTELLO: Well, we hope so for Ben's sake.

JERAS: We will love him again soon.

COSTELLO: Wanted to talk about this St. Louis Arch, because it is going to glow pink tonight.

JERAS: Yes.

COSTELLO: There was a lot of controversy about this. Senator Jim Talent, a Republican of Missouri, wanted the arch to glow pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, because his mother died of breast cancer. The National Park Service was upset because you know who knows what is next, it said.

JERAS: Right.

COSTELLO: I mean, every protest group could come along in the future, because this is precedent-setting. JERAS: It will be green. It will be orange one day. Who knows?

COSTELLO: But it is going to glow pink tonight. And I must say...

JERAS: It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, by the way, if you did not know.

COSTELLO: And the groups are out there. I mean, I was at the football game. The Giants-Lions game. Of course the Lions won.

JERAS: I can't believe you went. She is like working on vapors here.

COSTELLO: I went to bed at midnight last night. But they were out there. The breast cancer awareness people, passing out flyers. They are everywhere.

JERAS: It is everywhere.

COSTELLO: They have done a great job this year, of getting the message out.

JERAS: My mom is a breast cancer survivor.

COSTELLO: So you are glad to see that.

JERAS: Happy to see all of that.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK. A visit to the University of Wisconsin, and Madison. Find out if it is still the hot bed of political activism it once was. Richard Quest, of all people, take the polls of the student body, on the war and the possibility of a draft.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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