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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Dozens Dead in Iraq After Bloody Weekend; A Crash Course in Safety

Aired December 20, 2004 - 05:00   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, the aftermath -- dozens dead in Iraq after a bloody weekend. We'll take you live to Baghdad at the bottom of the hour.
Also, small cars, big crashes -- we'll give you a crash course in safety.

And how do diamond merchants keep their sales sparkling? We'll reveal how they keep you on the rocks.

It is Monday, December 20.

You are watching DAYBREAK.

And 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 woman accused of killing a pregnant Missouri woman and cutting the unborn child from her womb is set to appear before the federal judge this morning. The victim's funeral will be tomorrow. The infant was not harmed.

A desperate search going on this morning in eastern Pennsylvania. Hundreds of volunteers have been looking for a 9-year-old autistic boy missing since Saturday. Temperatures are below freezing.

In Iraq, 50 people suspected of taking part in a car bombing in Najaf have been detained. Also, an Iraqi official says cars are now banned from the downtown area. Sunday's car bombing killed 54 people and injured 142.

And have you mailed your holiday cards and packages yet? The Postal Service says tomorrow is the last day to mail your stuff if you want it delivered by Christmas. Wednesday is the deadline for instate deliveries.

Oh, Chad, I can't believe it's five days until Christmas.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It feels like it outside, though.

COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding. Oh.

MYERS: Oh, man. The warmest place in New York is going to be in the subway today. Just get underground if you can. It is cold out there.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Oh, you know what? I was in Ohio over the weekend?

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: So I got to experience the blizzard that took place in Cleveland.

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: When the forecast on the forecast channel said highs in the 10s.

MYERS: Yes? That's not good.

COSTELLO: I know. And then I came back to New York and there's snow on the ground this morning. I guess it's December, though, huh?

MYERS: It is. It's the December to remember.

COSTELLO: Oh, you're not kidding.

Thank you, Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: We start with a story this morning that both fascinates and horrifies. A pregnant woman in Missouri is killed, her fetus cut from her womb. And today the woman accused of the crime goes to federal court.

Emily Aylward of CNN affiliate KNBC tells us about reaction in the community where the baby was found.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

EMILY AYLWARD, KNBC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This time of year at the First Church of God, they're anticipating celebrating the birth of Christ. Instead, most now are talking about another baby that seems to have changed everything.

REV. MIKE WHEATLY, MONTGOMERY FAMILY PASTOR: Right now, he is just so emotional that he can't even speak a word without getting emotional.

AYLWARD: Mike Wheatly heads up the congregation where Lisa and Kevin Montgomery call home. Days ago, they went through town here with what they said was their newborn baby girl. Many now know that authorities at the time knew otherwise, swooping on the couple's farm home and recovering the kidnapped baby.

Lisa Montgomery now admits she didn't deliver the child, rather, strangled the real mother, Bobby Jo Stinnett, cutting the unborn child from her womb. WHEATLY: Our sympathy goes out to you.

AYLWARD: Now a spokesman for the Montgomery family, Mike Wheatly, today read a prepared, handwritten statement from Kevin.

WHEATLY: This is going to be a long and difficult road for these families to walk down.

AYLWARD: The same note was read to Chargers, humbled and trying to find healing.

DARREL SCHULTZE, MONTGOMERY FAMILY FRIEND: We have no one else to turn to. Jesus is our savior.

AYLWARD: Darrel Schultze is Kevin Montgomery's boss and long time family friend. Scripture, for many, like Ruth Silver, is easing the pain. It's faith, she says, that comforts her most.

RUTH SILVER, FELLOW PARISHIONER: God's in control. We don't understand how, but he's in control.

AYLWARD (on camera): Usually, this is a place of refuge for the entire Montgomery family. Today, though, Kevin felt more comfort at home than out in public.

In Melvern, Emily Aylward, KNBC-9 News.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And, again, that was Emily Aylward of CNN affiliate KNBC.

We thank her for that report.

It is still unclear this morning if defendant Lisa Montgomery will go to trial in Missouri or Kansas. We'll have another, well, actually, we'll have a live report for you in the 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK.

In other news across America this morning, three arson suspects will be in federal court today to answer charges stemming from the fires in a Maryland subdivision earlier this month. The fires caused $10 million in damage. Investigators still don't have a motive, but race and revenge are the two theories being discussed. A security guard who was the first person arrested in the investigation has his hearing tomorrow.

One witness called the pileup on a Pennsylvania highway a vision of hell. The road is open again today. Seventeen motorists were sent to local hospitals after at least 70 vehicles were involved in a pileup on Interstate 80 near the Ohio border. Police believe the chain reaction crash was caused by whiteout conditions and excessive speed.

Christmas trees are at a premium in Hawaii this year. Short supply has led to high prices and heightened tempers for those looking to get into the holiday spirit. Fresh trees are going for about $200 apiece in Oahu. A large amount of leftover trees last year led to smaller orders from retailers this season.

The latest in the fight for Iraq now. The hostages shown here are civilian Iraqis who work for a Washington-based security firm called the Sandi Group. The militants who kidnapped the 10 are threatening to kill them unless the Sandi Group eaves Iraq.

And it was a bloody weekend in Iraq. The biggest toll was in Najaf, where a suicide bomber drove his car into a funeral procession and blew it up. Fifty-one people killed, 92 wounded. And late word from Najaf this morning, 50 people have been arrested in connection with that bombing.

In Karbala, 16 people were killed when a car bomb exploded at a bus station. That blast wounded 37 people.

And along with all of that violence comes an attack on Iraqi election plans. A senior election official and two of his bodyguards were killed on a central Baghdad street execution style.

Our Suzanne Kelly Simons has details. And we caution, some of what you're about to see may be disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

SUZANNE KELLY SIMONS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a bold attack early in the morning, on Baghdad's Haifa Street. The Associated Press says a stringer captured the killing of a senior election official and two of his bodyguards. Insurgents pulled them from their car, dragged them into the street, forced them to the ground and executed them.

The brazenness of the attack, just six weeks before scheduled elections, is clear. The insurgents don't bother to cover their faces, instead, killing their victims in the middle of the busy street for all to see. This image, believed to be captured just moments before the man lying down is shot, while another of the attackers walks to the man kneeling on the street behind to shoot him in the back of the head. A third man was killed the same way.

A.P. cites an official from the Independent Electoral Commission saying two other workers in the car managed to escape the crowd of some 30 insurgents. Locals call this street Little Falluja because of continuous violent attacks.

U.S. officials have been warning of a possible escalation of insurgent attacks as the election draws near. This latest and very public execution testimony of the insurgents' own campaign to scare Iraqis away from the polls.

Suzanne Kelly Simons, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And we'll get more on the story on the latest violence in Iraq when we take you live to Baghdad.

Karl Penhaul is there.

He'll join us at the half hour.

"Time" magazine has picked its Person of the Year for 2004 and the choice may not come as much of a surprise to many of you. The choice is President Bush. The reasons all spelled out in this special issue of "Time," which hits newsstands today. It's the second time President Bush has been named Person of the Year. He also won the honor back in 2000, after another long and difficult election year.

Last year's choice was the American soldier.

And, you know, cnn.com asked for opinions on if President Bush was a good choice. And, Chad, did you hear about this?

MYERS: I have not, Carol.

COSTELLO: The majority of respondents to that poll, which is unscientific, we must say...

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: ... said no.

MYERS: Yes, but look at...

COSTELLO: That surprised me.

MYERS: Like a million and a half people voted, though. Isn't that right?

COSTELLO: Yes, a lot of people voted.

MYERS: A hundred thousand.

COSTELLO: And 67 percent were not pleased with the choice of George Bush being "Time" magazine's Man of the Year. I don't know if that's...

MYERS: I was floored.

COSTELLO: Pardon?

MYERS: I was floored.

COSTELLO: I was, too.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Like, what's the big deal? We want to know. So we're asking you with our DAYBREAK E-Mail -- not you, Chad.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: ... but the viewers out there.

MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: We want to know what you think. Don't you think President Bush was the right pick for "Time" magazine's Person of the Year? And if you don't think so, why?

MYERS: And give me a better name.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Give us a better candidate.

MYERS: Sure.

COSTELLO: Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

Of course, we'll be interested to read some of your comments later in the newscast because they're always pretty feisty and we like that on DAYBREAK.

Much more to come this hour.

The legal sparks are sure to fly. Michael Jackson's lawyers head back to court with a list of demands, but prosecutors want to head them off.

Also, they're the gifts that give back. You might want to go green this holiday season. We'll show you why.

And diamonds are a girl's best friend. Oh, yes, they are. But the diamond industry also wants to cozy up to all of you men out there. We'll tell you the tricks of the trade.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: First Vioxx, now Celebrex. Both painkillers are linked to an increased risk of heart attack. Now the question is being raised, can we trust the Food and Drug Administration to ensure that prescription drugs that are being sold are safe?

Let's go beyond the sound bite for what White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card has to say about this issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I support the FDA. They do a spectacular job. When you think about all of the new technologies and the new drugs that are coming into the marketplace and they have to review them all, to make sure that when they come into the marketplace, they live up to the expectation of improving health care, that's an awesome responsibility. And Les Crawford is doing a very good job meeting that responsibility. And I actually think what we are learning about these drugs that have come into the system and may not live up to those expectations is a testament to the FDA and how they do their job.

So, I've got great confidence in the FDA and, you know, I'm excited about the new drugs and the new technologies that are there to extend our life...

QUESTION: So we don't need a commission -- excuse me.

We don't need a commission?

CARD: I don't know that we need a commission. I would like the FDA to continue to do the job they do. I also would point out that we need legal reform in this country, and that's something that we should be talking about and I'd like to see more people talking about that.

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It is 5:13 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

A Kansas woman is scheduled to appear in court today on charges she stole a baby from another woman's womb after strangling her. Lisa Montgomery could face the death penalty for the federal charge of kidnapping resulting in death.

Volunteers search in subfreezing weather in eastern Pennsylvania for this little boy. He's 9-years-old and he's autistic. The boy is unable to speak. He was wearing a shirt, jeans and slippers when he went missing on Saturday.

In money news, gas prices have dropped for people looking to drive to grandma's house this holiday season. The average price of unleaded is down one dime over the past two weeks, to $1.83 a gallon.

In culture, it was a fortunate weekend at the box office for "Lemony Snicket" and Jim Carrey. The movie "Lemony Snickets: A Series of Unfortunate Events" was tops for moviegoers, with more than $30 million worth of tickets sold. I was wrong about that one.

And bad weather could not stop the San Diego Chargers from clinching a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 1995. The Chargers beat the Cleveland Browns 21-0, to win the AFC West division.

And, you know, Chad...

MYERS: Yes?

COSTELLO: Since it was so cold in Cleveland, they thought San Diego would just go down to defeat. And what happened? Cleveland played a terrible game.

MYERS: Well, I love the Snow Bowl, anyway.

COSTELLO: I know. It was a great -- people in the stands had their shirts off, Chad.

MYERS: Well, of course they did. Those are the dogs. That's the dog pound, Carol.

COSTELLO: It's true. MYERS: Hey, those of you who couldn't stay up late last night, Peyton Manning did get one touchdown, but didn't get two. So he's still one behind for the record, but still two games to go.

COSTELLO: Oh! Did Indianapolis win?

MYERS: They did, 20-10.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.

Attorneys for Michael Jackson are expected in court today for the first in a series of hearings. Jackson's child molestation trial is scheduled to begin at the end of next month.

CNN's Miguel Marquez takes a look at the arguments and a surprise appearance by Jackson himself.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Michael Jackson, this Christmas week, a pretrial hearing with a long legal list.

ROBERT PUGSLEY, SOUTHWEST LAW SCHOOL: It suggests that this judge really is anxious to get this case going.

MARQUEZ: Among other things, the judge will hear two defense motions to dismiss the case. Jackson's lawyers will argue Santa Barbara District Attorney Tom Sneddon has carried out a prosecution based on revenge and that he's abused his power in obtaining search warrants. Over 100 warrants have been executed against Jackson. The latest was in early December, when his Neverland Ranch was raided for a second and third time in this case. Authorities also obtained a DNA sample from Jackson.

Last April, a grand jury indicated the pop star, for, among other things, conspiracy and lewd acts against a child. Jackson has denied all charges.

PUGSLEY: I think that the independence of the grand jury is going to stand fast against any motions to dismiss.

MARQUEZ: If the judge won't dismiss the case, Jackson's defense will argue that evidence recently gathered at Neverland should not be allowed at trial and the trial date should be put off by six weeks.

The hearing comes days after Jackson greeted children and the media at his Neverland Ranch, a move his spokeswoman said had nothing to do with Jackson's case.

PUGSLEY: On Mr. Jackson's side, a demonstration that there's nothing to hide. Bring the public on.

MARQUEZ (on camera): The judge will also hear arguments from the prosecution objecting to Jackson's defense, seeking personal records from the accuser and his family. This hearing is expected to last between one and four days.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And still to come on DAYBREAK this morning, what do you get for the person who has everything? Well, think green. We'll show you some stuff you might want to add to your Christmas list.

Also, we are taking your e-mails this morning. Do you think President Bush is a good choice for "Time" magazine's Person of the Year? Oddly enough, many of you don't, at least according to a CNN online poll.

Drop us a line at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

And you are watching DAYBREAK for Monday, December 20.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Oh, time is running out, Chad.

MYERS: It is. Yes. It's the 20th.

COSTELLO: I know. I can't believe it.

MYERS: Time to go.

COSTELLO: Did you get all your gifts for Sally?

MYERS: I'm done, yes.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: Yes. All in one feel swoop. Yes.

COSTELLO: What did you get her?

MYERS: I can't tell you.

COSTELLO: Come on.

MYERS: She's watching.

COSTELLO: She's not awake.

MYERS: Well, she might be.

COSTELLO: Oh, with the baby and all, yes.

MYERS: Well, of course. She's still awake from midnight last night.

COSTELLO: Poor Sally. MYERS: I know.

COSTELLO: She's probably so exhausted, she won't understand what you're saying anyway.

MYERS: True.

COSTELLO: Anyway, we're going to talk about some interesting Christmas gifts, because you might want to spend your green on something green this year.

MYERS: Kind of ecologically friendly kind of things going on here.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Then you hop in your SUV and you travel back from the store.

MYERS: Right. You get in your Hummer and you drive home.

Right.

COSTELLO: Here's Veronica Delacruz.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

VERONICA DELACRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From appliances to automobiles, computers to clothing, eco experts say cool gifts with a natural twist is a growing trend.

JEANIE PYUN, EDITOR, "ORGANIC STYLE" MAGAZINE: Green gifts are really great because they are gifts that give back somehow, either to the environment or to people or communities around the world.

DELACRUZ: Want to walk in the wild side? How about adopting an animal or an acre of land? Groups like the Defenders of Wildlife and the Nature Conservancy offer the chance to preserve endangered species and forests around the world.

For those on the run, companies like Voltaic Systems and Eclipse have a bright idea on the market, a solar backpack that lets you charge cell phones, PDAs and other devices without missing a step. And on the home front, the EPA says consumers who switched to more efficient energy tsar appliances and electronics saved $9 billion in utility costs last year alone.

TRAVIS SALLEY, BEST BUY: Energy star compliance is actually now a selling point with a lot of customers who are coming in more educated. And we actually have those products to fit their needs.

DELACRUZ: High energy costs, record gas prices and dwindling resources make eco gifts a natural choice. Many companies say consumer demand is driving their bid to offer more natural selections. And a growing population is choosing to spend their greenbacks on green gifts.

DAVE WHITE, HOME DEPOT: Certainly, there is a move toward the greener products. We're seeing a lot more sales on the greener items.

DELACRUZ (on camera): Now, as you can see, there's a wide variety of unique eco friendly gifts for everybody on your holiday list, from solar powered backpacks to organic foods, clothing. There's even some cool games for the kids. And most online vendors say there's still time to mail out your gifts to reach your loved ones just in time for the holidays.

(voice-over): Know someone with a need for speed? Gas-electric hybrid and fuel cell cars are on the fast track at many car companies. They're rolling out vehicles that feature similar style and comfort as standard models, with the added bonus of amazing fuel economy.

For the high tech toy fan, e-stores like Bizlink.com offer cool eco based experiment kids geared to inspire curious kids of all ages.

And let's not forget the food lover on your list. Grocers like Whole Foods and even online vendors like Eco Express feature full lines of organic products that can satisfy even your most finicky friend or family member.

So, from the pampered pet to the unexpected guest, eco gift selections are endless. And if saving energy or the environment is on your wish lift, a green gift could be a very natural choice.

Valeria Delacruz, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: And here's...

MYERS: I like it.

COSTELLO: Did you get a few ideas?

MYERS: You know, I based Christmas this year on made in America. I really tried to buy "made in USA" products, to try not to ship my money overseas. I'm trying to keep my money in the U.S., so.

COSTELLO: I can hear "America the Beautiful" playing right now in my head.

MYERS: I just think it's ridiculous. You go to a store and you can't find anything made in the USA.

COSTELLO: It is ridiculous. Good for you, Chad.

MYERS: I try.

COSTELLO: Lou Dobbs would be proud.

MYERS: Yes, that's OK.

I'll give him a call.

COSTELLO: Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.

Are in the market for a small car? Some of them are not making the grade when it comes to crash tests. We'll give you the latest results.

And dozens dead in Iraq. We'll take you live to Baghdad for the aftermath of a violent weekend.

Also, we want to hear from you this morning. Do you think President Bush is a good choice for "Time" magazine's Person of the Year?

We didn't think this question would be controversial, but boy, ooh, we're getting some spicy e-mails this morning. E-mail us at daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.

From New York, this is DAYBREAK for a Monday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NANCY LUBLIN, CEO, DO SOMETHING, INC.: I don't know that I'm very different from other entrepreneurs out there. I think most of us are a little bit nuts. We believe that you can create something from nothing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Eight years ago, Nancy Lublin took a simple idea -- providing career wear to low income women -- and turned it into a successful national organization. After founding Dress For Success, she was recruited to revamp Do Something, a non- profit offering opportunities for young people to improve their communities.

Lublin is proving her work. In her first seven months as CEO, she not only pulled the organization out of debt, but made a $1.2 million profit.

LUBLIN: How do you stay successful? I think you don't. There are going to be times when your definition of success has to change. Not everything you do is going to be a home run. There needs to be a degree of realism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: And 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 eastern Pennsylvania, volunteers are expected to resume their search this morning for a 9-year-old autistic boy. This child, wearing a shirt, jeans and slippers, has been missing since Saturday. The temperatures in the area are not expected to get above 20 degrees today.

Opening statements are scheduled today in the Robert Blake murder trial in California. The actor is charged with killing his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley, who was shot to death in May of 2001.

Workers now clearing away debris from the site of yesterday's suicide car bombing in the Iraqi city of Karbala. Sixteen people died when the car exploded near Karbala's bus station.

And the Postal Service is ready for the busiest mailing day of the year for cards and letters, most of them holiday greetings. Two hundred eighty million postmarks will be applied today, compared with 100 million on just any old day.

To the forecast center -- good morning, Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And remember, you can go to usps.com and actually print out your own stamps, print out mailing labels. And that may help you out in line, because I'm sure the lines are going to be out the door, out the door when outside it's 13 below wind chill. It doesn't sound so fun this morning. So, yes, try to get some things done early enough in the day that you're not standing in that line.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


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