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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Donald Rumsfeld Makes a Surprise Visit to Iraq

Aired February 11, 2005 - 06:00   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Donald Rumsfeld makes a surprise visit to Iraq. We'll take you live to Baghdad for details of the defense secretary's visit.
Plus...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, freedom of speech has gone a little too far here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: A couple displays their political sentiment on their home. Now neighbors take matters into their own hands.

And fashion finale -- we'll take you on one last walk down the runway.

It is Friday, February 11.

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, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Baghdad today. He arrived in Mosul in northern Iraq earlier this morning. He told U.S. troops it will be up to Iraq's new security forces to bring the insurgency under control.

Also in Iraq today, about a dozen insurgents shot at least nine workers to death at two bakeries. Police say the attacks happened in a predominantly Shiite area known as the New Baghdad.

Forty people confirmed dead, more than 400 missing, after a dam burst in southwestern Pakistan. Troops are at the scene of the flood and have rescued 1,200 people so far.

To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT) COSTELLO: Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Iraq to inspect U.S.-trained Iraqi security forces. Rumsfeld addressed American troops in Mosul and then he headed for Baghdad, where Nic Robertson is covering the story -- hello, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Carol.

Good morning.

Well, Donald Rumsfeld arrived before dawn. It was dark as he was let into his first meeting inside a base in Mosul. He met with commanding officers there. Then he was taken to the bedside of a soldier who's already received two Purple Hearts for his injuries. This particular soldier had been shot less than 24 hours ago, shot by a sniper in the hand. Donald Rumsfeld talked with him for some minutes, handed him a coin, a special military coin, before moving on to go and pin medals on both U.S. and Iraqi troops, commending them for their work in Iraq.

And, indeed, he gave a speech after that to a combined audience of Iraqi and U.S. troops, telling them how important their work was in establishing security in Mosul for the elections, telling them that it was their sacrifices that allowed this to happen; and in particular addressing the U.S. troops there, as well, saying it wasn't just their sacrifices that allowed it to happen, it was the sacrifices of their families at home, saying he understood what it took for families to allow their loved ones to be in Iraq and how hard that was for them -- how hard it is for them.

After that, he flew down to Baghdad. It appeared that he landed in the green zone. Security is very, very tight on this visit. We don't know exactly who he'll be meeting inside the green zone, but very likely, again, meeting with Iraqi politicians following on for the elections; very likely meeting with U.S. officials.

A little earlier in the day in Baghdad, a little earlier -- a little ahead of when Donald Rumsfeld arrived in the city -- there was an attack on a bakery. Two carloads of gunmen pulled up outside of two bakery stores, opened fire, killing nine workers. Police say that this was clearly a Shiite bakery in a Shiite neighborhood and that they believe at this time it is quite possibly Sunni Arab insurgents trying to create sectarian violence, one of their big, big problems at this time -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nic Robertson reporting live from Baghdad this morning.

Thank you.

Back in this country, a veteran civil rights lawyer says she'll appeal her conviction on charges she helped a jailed terrorist. A New York jury convicted Lynne Stewart of smuggling messages from a radical Egyptian sheikh, whom she represented, to his followers on the outside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LYNNE STEWART, CONVICTED ATTORNEY: I still see myself as being a symbol of what people rail against when they say that civil liberties are eroded, that we don't live in the same America that we lived in even three or four years ago, and that we have to struggle against that. We must resist that and we must resist it with every fiber of our being, or we all will wake up one morning to hear someone saying, "Guilty" and being placed in jail.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Stewart could get up to 20 years in prison when sentenced in July. Two of her associates were also convicted.

The House votes to toughen driver's license laws and some state governments are angry about that. The bill would make states verify they're not giving licenses to illegal immigrants. It also calls for the completion of a fence along the U.S.-Mexican border south of San Diego. States are complaining that Congress is making them do what it can't accomplish -- track illegal aliens.

But Representative Tom Davis, who chairs the Government Reform Committee, says this is a security matter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DAVIS (R-VA), CHAIRMAN, GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: We don't tell states who they can issue driver's licenses to. That's up to them. We do say if you want to use it for federal purposes, such as getting on an airplane, then you're going to have to show what's called legal presence, that people are who they say they are. They can't be somebody else, they can't be here illegally. This is not an immigration issue, it's a national security issue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The measure goes before the Senate next.

Those multi-million dollar class action lawsuit awards may soon be a thing of the past. A measure passed in the Senate makes new rules as to which suits are heard in state courts and which in federal ones. The bill would also limit lawyers' fees in so-called coupon settlements. That's when plaintiffs get discounts on products instead of financial settlements.

More news across America now.

Police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida say a newborn baby that was tossed from a moving car is in remarkably good condition this morning. A witness says she saw a couple arguing in a car before tossing a bundle out of the car window. That bundle was that baby boy. Police still trying to locate the child's parents.

The FBI has joined the search for 32 people who agreed to a Valentine's Day suicide pact. The Oregon man accused of setting up the idea was charged with solicitation to commit murder. People in the United States and Canada made a pledges in an Internet chat room. A 54-year-old Chicago man went into cardiac arrest and died after police used a taser gun to subdue him in his apartment building. The death came on the same day a lawsuit was filed against the city over the use of a taser gun on a 14-year-old boy earlier this week. The city has decided to delay its plan to equip more officers with the tasers.

In Cincinnati, a pitbull attack on a toddler is overshadowed by an unguarded comment by a police dispatcher. She took a 911 call after this pit bull attacked a member of the family, an 18-month-old boy. The dog attacked the baby's face, leaving him scarred for life.

Let's listen to the emergency call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What kind of dog attacked him, Samantha?

SAMANTHA:

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What kind of dog attacked him, Samantha?

SAMANTHA: What kind of dog is J.D.?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's a pit bull.

SAMANTHA: He's a pit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stupid people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The baby is now recovering. The police dispatcher may be facing suspension.

A war protest in California has some homeowners outraged.

Reporter Joe Orlando of CNN affiliate KTXL in Sacramento takes us to the site of the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

PETE MILES: To me, it's just mostly signs of ignorance.

JOE ORLANDO, KTXL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pete Miles (ph) lives next to the house on Mardi Way (ph) in Sacramento that's got a lot of people upset.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is our neighborhood, so we have to look at it. We don't have a choice. So now that's where your freedom of speech has gone a little too far here.

ORLANDO: This is what's gotten neighbors so worked up -- a U.S. soldier in uniform hung by the neck with a noose with a sign on it that says, "Your tax dollars at work." UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our great servicemen, you know, fighting for our lives. And, you know, if they don't like it, that's one thing. But that's a gross display right there.

ORLANDO: This young man was just walking down the street when he decided he'd seen enough. He's visibly shaken as he tries to explain his actions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because you can't -- hey, our soldiers are there dying for us, so we can have freedom for our own good. That's just wrong, man.

ORLANDO (on camera): There's an Iraqi flag in the window and Steve, the owner, put up this Palestinian flag in one of the front windows, which has his Jewish neighbors across the street perplexed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Both my wife and I are Jewish. We found it very offensive.

ORLANDO (voice-over): Owner Steve Pearcy e-mailed us his reason for putting up the display: "The effigy portrays the truth, i.e., that our tax dollars are being used to send Americans to Iraq to die."

This man was riding his motorcycle when he just had to stop and do something about the soldier's pants hanging. So he took them down and grabbed the torso and took off. We asked him what he'd like to tell Steve Pearcy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Words wouldn't do it.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

COSTELLO: That report from Joe Orlando of CNN affiliate KTXL.

Another statement from the homeowner, Stephen Pearcy. He says: "Those who find our effigy offensive should also find Bush's policy regarding Iraq offensive. It's ironic they now seek to suppress our speech here at home."

Chances are you'll see one in rush hour this morning. But beware -- there's a major recall underway, and it's not just Hummers in harm's way.

And, from bands to ballots, rap to rock, "Spin" magazine's best guess on who will take home a Grammy on Sunday night.

And, of course, the story that roused all of us awake in America yesterday morning -- the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, where will you find Michael Moore, Barbara Streisand and George W. Bush all in one place? Hmmm. And the New York media gathers round Jason Giambi. We'll hear what the apologetic All Star has to say.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.

It's 6:14 Eastern.

Here's what's all new this morning.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is in Baghdad this morning. He arrived earlier today in Mosul in northern Iraq, where he pinned some medals on U.S. troops.

Pope John Paul II is back in Vatican City. He left a Rome hospital in his familiar pope mobile on Thursday. He was in the hospital nine days with breathing problems.

In money news, Pfizer, makers of the drug Viagra, and Microsoft, are suing Web site operators selling illegal versions of the drug. The suits follow a seven month investigation to learn the identities of the operators and the spam advertisers offering Viagra.

In culture, Mel Gibson has cut five to six minutes from "The Passion of the Christ." He's removed some of the more violent parts. The new version opens March 11.

In sports, Phil Mickelson started off with a bang at the Pebble Beach National ProAm Tournament. "Lefty" carted a record 10 under par on the tour's toughest course. Mickelson was playing in the ProAm with baseball announcer Steve Lions (ph) and investment guru Charles Schwab -- Chad.

MYERS: I was watching some of the behind-the-scenes video from that. You could really tell who the pros and who the ams were. It was a big, big line of distinction.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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

New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi has apologized, but he never really said for what. He was making his first public comments since it was reported that he admitted to using steroids. He never mentioned the steroid scandal directly, but said he is ready to move forward.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON GIAMBI, YANKEES FIRST BASEMAN: I know there's been a lot of distractions, you know, over the past year, and I wanted to apologize for all those, you know, distractions, from the bottom of my heart. You know, I take full responsibility for it and I'm sorry and, you know, most of all, I feel like I let down the fans. I feel like I let down the media. I feel I let down, you know, the Yankees. I feel I let down my teammates.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Giambi is scheduled to report to spring training in nine days. And everybody will be watching his performance in the coming season. What pressure.

You could say a stop and go problem has G.M. recalling thousands of vehicles. If your car has a gas or a brake pedal, keep watching for the least warning.

And forget Hollywood. The real power couples are in Washington. We'll see which love birds are being honored this Valentine's Day.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, everyone.

I'm Carrie Lee at the Nasdaq market site.

A big recall coming from General Motors. The big three auto maker recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles because of safety defects with brakes, gas pedals and windshields. The company says it's not aware of injuries caused by the defects, but still they are quite extensive, covering mostly pickups, vans and SUVs, because of possible brake malfunctions.

Among the vehicles being recalled, a popular Hummer H2; also, a lot of other brands that are being named, Chevy Silverado, the Cadillac SRX, XLR Coupes and many others.

So if you think that you may fall into this recall and it does cover 2004 and 2005 model years only, you should contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see if your vehicle falls under this.

Now, this is a very -- has not been a very good time for the big three auto makers in terms of recalls. General Motors alone, in 2004, recalled about 10 million vehicles. So be aware of this.

Meanwhile, turning to stocks, futures are looking pretty flat across-the-board. Technology issues could see some pressure on a disappointing profit report last night from Dell. The stock did lose some ground in the after hours session, so that could put some pressure on techs today.

And that is the latest business news.

DAYBREAK will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The rehearsals are on for this weekend's biggest music awards. The Grammys will be handed out in Los Angeles on Sunday. "Spin" magazine always looking for the next big thing in the music biz. And associate editor Sarah Lewitinn is here with a Grammy preview.

Good morning, Sarah.

SARAH LEWITINN, ASSOCIATE EDITOR, "SPIN": Good morning.

How are you?

COSTELLO: I'm fine.

How are you doing?

LEWITINN: Good.

Thank you.

COSTELLO: Will there be any big surprises?

LEWITINN: Well, I think the biggest surprise will be seeing J-Lo sing live and, you know, we're really expecting a lot here. We're not used to hearing someone like J-Lo sing live so...

COSTELLO: Because she usually lip syncs, frankly, right?

LEWITINN: Yes, she does. She does usually lip sync.

Also, I think we might be surprised by who will take probably awards like best album of the year.

COSTELLO: Well, before we get that, let's talk about J-Lo for just a little bit more.

LEWITINN: OK.

COSTELLO: She's going to perform on stage with her husband, is that right?

LEWITINN: Yes, that's right.

COSTELLO: So Marc Anthony. And he is a really great singer. So that may help her along.

LEWITINN: Yes.

COSTELLO: And I'm sure she's been practicing because we haven't really seen much of J-Lo.

LEWITINN: Yes, I think she probably has been practicing. I mean she has been out of the spotlight for a while and lord only knows, like the two of them have a lot of time to practice together. So...

COSTELLO: So it will be very interesting.

LEWITINN: Yes.

COSTELLO: Let's talk about song of the year first. Kanye West with "Jesus Walks."

LEWITINN: Yes.

COSTELLO: It's a rough song, but it's a beautiful song at the same time.

LEWITINN: Yes. "Jesus Walks" is a great song and it's probably his greatest achievement. And, you know, it's most likely going to win song of the year.

COSTELLO: Is it a surprise that he's written such an overtly religious song, that that song would be such a big hit?

LEWITINN: It's sort of surprising, yes. But if you ask Kanye, he's not surprised at all that it's such a big hit.

COSTELLO: Well, he's not exactly...

LEWITINN: Modest.

COSTELLO: Yes. Yes, he's way out there.

OK, what do you think will win for album of the year?

LEWITINN: Album of the year, gosh, you know, that's probably going to go to Kanye West, as well, because he's one of those underdogs that's really achieving a lot. He's -- he brought himself up from down and Grammys love that sort of story. It's an Alicia Keys story. He's going to walk home probably with eight awards.

COSTELLO: What about Green Day? Green Day comes out with this great album after so many years of having not so great albums...

LEWITINN: Yes.

COSTELLO: So you think Green Day -- is Green Day going to win anything?

LEWITINN: Green Day might win for best rock performance. They did a great job this year with the album and it's unlikely that the Grammy people will ignore that.

COSTELLO: It's a very political album, as well.

LEWITINN: Yes, it is.

COSTELLO: Very anti-American, actually.

LEWITINN: Yes, exactly.

COSTELLO: I don't know.

Best rock album cover. Wait, the cover of "Spin" has The Killers.

LEWITINN: Yes. COSTELLO: Best rock album, you say, will probably go to, what, Kanye West? But...

LEWITINN: No, no, no, to Green Day.

COSTELLO: OK, I'm sorry. See, I get the categories mixed up because they're so very similar in the Grammys.

LEWITINN: Well, yes. It's everything -- I mean you have best rock song versus best rock record, you know? It's like you can't really figure it out. It's hard.

But for best rock band, I guess, to do a group, I think it might go to Green Day. Well, it could go to Green Day, it could go to U2, it could go to The Killers. You know, it's really a toss up with that one.

COSTELLO: OK. Well, let's get right to the kind of fun stuff.

LEWITINN: OK.

COSTELLO: The best dance performance will probably go to who?

LEWITINN: OK, this one is probably going to be, OK, oh --

COSTELLO: Britney Spears.

LEWITINN: Britney Spears, yes, for "Toxic."

COSTELLO: Because it was -- will she be there with her husband? Will she be dancing on stage, do you think?

LEWITINN: God, I hope so.

COSTELLO: I hope so, too. I do.

Sarah, thank you for joining DAYBREAK this morning.

LEWITINN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We sure appreciate it.

LEWITINN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: And, of course, the Grammys air on Sunday.

A conservative political group is not going to miss a chance to rub Hollywood's nose into George Bush's win. A large billboard funded by Citizens United, which is a conservative political group, will greet the Oscar crowds, actually. The billboard is about a block and a half from the Kodak Theater. It features a smiling President Bush alongside famous liberal leaning types like Michael Moore, Martin Sheen and, of course, Barbra Streisand. It says: "Four More Years: Thank you, Hollywood."

It's a threat no one wants to test. Is North Korea's nuclear warning for real or just another round of tough talk? This time even allies of the communist nation are taking things quite seriously.

And will it be lovelier the second time around? We'll see how the Brits are taking the news that Prince Charles is taking another wife.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Tough talk or real nuclear threat? Friends of North Korea have something to say to the communist nation.

A big meeting, and also a big meeting with a mouse in Minneapolis. And if that's not a tongue twister enough, wait until you hear what Michael Eisner has to say about one of the company's most successful movies.

It is Friday, February 11.

DAYBREAK will be right back.

And good morning to you.

Welcome to the last half hour of DAYBREAK.

From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.

Now in the news, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is making a surprise visit to Iraq, where he pinned medals on U.S. troops. Rumsfeld says Iraqi troops will soon be responsible for defeating the insurgents, but he didn't say how soon. The defense secretary arrived before dawn at an airfield outside of the city of Mosul.

Also in Iraq today, about a dozen insurgents opened fire in two bakeries, killing at least nine workers. Police say the attacks happened in the predominantly Shiite area known as the New Baghdad.

In Indiana, authorities say a brother and sister may face the death penalty for allegedly killing their mother, grandmother and grandfather. The siblings are accused of burying the bodies under concrete in the basement of their grandparents' Indianapolis area home.

Well known attorney Lynne Stewart could face 20 years in prison after a jury found her guilty of aiding terrorists. She was convicted for passing messages to her client, Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, to his followers. Rahman is jailed for planning terror attacks inside the United States.

To the forecast center now and Chad -- good morning.

MYERS: Good morning, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

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