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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Bush-Blair Talks; Medical Marijuana; Crowded Arlington National Cemetery

Aired June 7, 2005 - 06:29   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A public disagreement; then a $674 million meeting of the minds. President Bush agrees to Tony Blair's wishes and pledges aid to Africa. Now keep in mind, the U.S. has already pledged nearly $1.5 billion in aid this year. Why did the president pony up?
Let's head live to London to find out and Nic Robertson.

Good morning -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, Tony Blair is actually looking for quite a bit more than that $674 million. The European nations, at least some of them, along with Great Britain, have agreed to contribute $80 billion to aid in Africa by the year 2010.

Tony Blair had originally been looking perhaps to get several billions, at least, promised by President Bush. What he wants to do, and what both President Bush and Tony Blair seem to have agreed on, is that debt relief is a priority for Africa to end poverty. But this increasing of the aid does seem to be a sticking point despite the fact of that increase.

Now, what's all of this is about is about trying to get agreement ahead of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, so that that summit can be a success. Why should it be a success? Tony Blair needs to have a strong political legacy in some arena at least to leave behind. His majority in the elections here slacked recently because of his support with the United States for the war in Iraq. The European Union, one of his other projects, is not looking particularly strong.

So, this is about getting broad support ahead of the G8 summit, broad support so that Tony Blair can have a strong political legacy on one of his big issues: ending poverty in Africa -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nic, before you go, I want to ask you about Cherie Blair. The prime minister's wife spoke at the Kennedy Center, and she charged some big bucks for a speaking fee.

ROBERTSON: Some of the British newspapers here are reporting it could be as much as $54,000. The Conservative Party, the opposition party here, is calling on the British prime minister's wife to hand that money over to charity, saying that she is taking advantage of his public position. Ten Downing Street's press office has said that Cherie Blair's trip to the United States had been planned a long time ago. This speaking engagement was planned a long time ago, a matter of bad timing that her husband should turn up for a meeting in Washington at the same time.

So, the view here, particularly from 10 Downing Street, the two trips are completely not connected, and therefore no conflict of interest. But it is stirring a lot of controversy here. The Conservative Party is trying to make political capital out of it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: And she's a human rights lawyer in her own right. She wasn't speaking on behalf of her husband, right?

ROBERTSON: No. She was speaking as a lawyer, as a mother, as somebody who has a very high-profile job, in support of a book about life at 10 Downing Street that was recently published. So, it wasn't a speech advancing her husband's political agenda by any stretch of the imagination. This was about her and about her life -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Nic Robertson live in London this morning.

By the way, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair plan a joint news conference later this afternoon. CNN will bring it to you live at 4:45 Eastern.

President Bush could win Senate confirmation of another controversial judge today. Lawmakers are set to vote on California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown's nomination to a federal appeals court. She would become the second of three controversial nominees to be confirmed following last month's Senate compromise.

Now to the kinds of decision judges make. Take medical marijuana. The Supreme Court says the fed trumps the state. Translation: The federal government can prosecute medical marijuana users. But it's not quite that simple.

CNN Radio's Dick Uliano joins us live from Washington with what it all means.

Good morning -- Dick.

DICK ULIANO, CNN RADIO: It may be difficult for people to see what has changed this morning following the Supreme Court decision. The justices' ruling very clearly, 6-3, that people who use marijuana, grow it, posses it, smoke it or taking it by doctor's orders, are subject to the same federal laws as anybody else. Marijuana is federally banned. And these individuals can be prosecuted.

But Bush administration officials are saying there's little reason to worry among these people who use marijuana for medicinal purposes in California and nine other states. In the words of the Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman, we have never targeted the sick and dying, but rather criminals who are engaged in drug trafficking.

COSTELLO: Well, let me ask you this, Dick. So, can states refuse to enforce this federal law?

ULIANO: Well, that's apparently what's going on right now. In fact, after the Supreme Court handed down its ruling, 6-3, that suggested that individuals could be federally prosecuted over on the West Coast. These various facilities where people procure marijuana were still functioning, people going in and buying their pot. They carry these kinds of cannabis cards that say a doctor has recommended this.

By the way, apparently people smoke marijuana from medicinal purposes to reduce either pain or nausea. And that's essentially expected to continue despite this ruling.

And what it may do, Carol, is shift the battlefield to Congress, because the high court ruled if people want to change these laws, they shouldn't be going to the state legislatures. They ought to be going to Congress.

COSTELLO: Dick Uliano live from Washington this morning.

In the next hour, CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING" talks with one man very close to this issue. Soledad O'Brien is here to tell us more.

Good morning.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol, good morning to you.

We're going to talk this morning to one of medical marijuana's biggest advocates. It's Montel Williams. The talk show host was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis back in 1999. He says that marijuana is the only thing that will relieve his chronic pain. He's going to join us live in the studio in just a little bit.

Plus, '60s icon Peggy Lipton, she's written a new autobiography. It's called "Breathing Out." In it, the former "Mod Squad" star describes a lonely childhood, sexual abuse, affairs with famous men like Elvis and Paul McCartney. She also talks about what led to the downfall, rather, of her marriage to Quincy Jones and her two girls that she had with him as well. Peggy Lipton is our guest a little bit later on "AMERICAN MORNING" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: We look forward to it. Thank you, Soledad.

Now for a follow-up on a story we have been following. A preliminary Olympic report does not look like good news for New York City. The report gives good reviews to Paris, Madrid and London in their bids for the 2012 Summer Games. But New York and Moscow get mixed reviews.

New York's bid also may have been hurt by a setback in its stadium plan. The state decided against spending $300 million on a new West Side stadium. The decision on the Olympic venue will be announced on July 6.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, Mark Geragos breaks his silence. We'll hear what he has to say about Scott Peterson's guilt or innocence. Does he think his client was innocent?

But first, 30 funerals a day, 6,000 a year, and no relief in sight. Arlington National Cemetery's superintendent joins us live in the next hour -- in the next half-hour, I should say, to talk about how he's coping.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now to our market report. The international markets are mixed this morning. Japan's Nikkei closes down 53 points. Britain's FTSE is up over 16 points. The German DAX is up nearly 30 points.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 6:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

You're seeing the aftermath of a car bombing in Baghdad. Twenty- eight people are wounded, including two police officers. The attack apparently targeted a police patrol.

In money news, the personal information of millions of Citigroup customers could be at risk. The company's finance division says UPS lost some of its computer tapes. The tapes have data on nearly four million Citi financial customers.

In culture, you've seen her waifish figure on billboards and magazines and, of course, on the runway. Now, supermodel Kate Moss is getting a top fashion industry award. The Council of Fashion Designers of America honoring Moss' long and fashionable and swanky career.

In sports, the Detroit Pistons are moving on to the NBA finals. They advance to an 88-82 win over the Miami Heat in game seven of the Eastern Conference finals. Game one of the finals between the Pistons and Spurs begins on Thursday.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: They are running out of room at Arlington National Cemetery. Luckily, they found an extra 70 acres. But is it enough?

Keep in mind, an average of 26 people per day are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. And now, there's a backlog of sorts.

John Metzler, Jr. is the superintendent at the cemetery. He joins us live from Washington.

Good morning, sir.

JOHN METZLER, JR., ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY: Good morning.

COSTELLO: How many calls do you get per day from across the country? METZLER: The cemetery average is probably about 30 phone calls for new burials each day.

COSTELLO: Each day. You know, it's amazing how the numbers have gone up. In 1972, there were 11 funerals per day at Arlington National Cemetery. By 2008, it will be 30 a day. Actually, it's 30 a day now, almost, right?

METZLER: Almost. That's correct, yes.

COSTELLO: Why so many?

METZLER: Well, the main business that we're doing each day right now is the World War II veteran. The largest demographics that we have in people that served in our military are the World War II veterans. And they're dying right now at a very large rate.

COSTELLO: And also you have active-duty members in Iraq and Afghanistan.

METZLER: That's correct. We're doing two to three funerals from Iraq and Afghanistan right now per week.

COSTELLO: Who gets priority?

METZLER: Well, we try to treat everybody the same. The first phone call and (INAUDIBLE) that we're able to do. On the active-duty desk from Iraq and Afghanistan, we look very hard into the schedule and try to squeeze them in anywhere we can, so that we don't inconvenience the family at all.

COSTELLO: What about those found missing in action that you can't quite identify? How is that handled?

METZLER: Well, those remains are, as you said, missing. And if they are found 20, 30 or 40 years later, those funerals are usually scheduled four or five weeks ahead of time, so that families can reconvene and come to Arlington for a service. So, those funerals are scheduled. They're very easy to work into our daily activity.

COSTELLO: I understand. You said that you found 70 extra acres. Is there any more room to find?

METZLER: Well, we're reaching our limits right now. But, of course, we have other federal agencies that are bordered up against Arlington Cemetery. And in 20, 30, 40 years, we'll probably look at those very hard to see what their current mission is and whether or not the cemetery can expand again into those locations.

COSTELLO: So, in the future, will there come a time when you make it more difficult to get into Arlington?

METZLER: I'm sure that will happen. My goal right now is to try to find enough available space for the next hundred years. At the present time, we have identified lands and expansions that will take us to the year 2060. So, we're looking for another 40 years beyond that point right now.

COSTELLO: Are you turning people away that might have been buried at Arlington years ago?

METZLER: Well, the eligibility at Arlington National Cemetery changed in 1967. So, those individuals who may have been eligible before 1967 aren't eligible today under the new rules. So, to answer that question, yes.

COSTELLO: John Metzler, superintendent at the Arlington National Cemetery. Thank you so much for joining us this morning.

METZLER: You're welcome. Good morning.

COSTELLO: You're watching DAYBREAK. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A pregnant woman and her unborn child murdered; her husband convicted. The Laci and Scott Peterson case riveted much of the nation. And now you could almost start a library with the number of books being written about it. The latest author is Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha. Her book, "For Laci," is due out later this year.

In the meantime, Scott Peterson's lawyer is breaking his silence about the case, which landed his client on death row. Mark Geragos spoke to our Larry King.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE LAWYER: He has been throughout all of this, I think, enormously resilient. And one of the things, you know, without breaching confidentiality, because he's said it to others and not just to me, but he said, look, after my family was killed, the fact that they're blaming me for it pales in comparison with losing Laci and Connor. So, as I had indicated before, the guy is the greatest sociopath of all time or he's innocent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Prosecutors painted Scott Peterson as a liar and an adulterer, who wanted to live a swinging bachelor's life.

It is 6:50 Eastern. Here is what will be making news today.

Confirmation hearings open in about three hours for the man President Bush picked to be the next ambassador to Iraq. He is Zalmay Khalilzad, and he's currently U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.

The heads of three major airlines will be grilled at Senate hearings about their pension plans. Lawmakers fear the struggling industry could get stuck in a crisis, like the one that hit the savings and loan industry back in the '80s.

And some 50,000 people are expected in New York today to celebrate the arts. Nine museums located along Fifth Avenue open their doors to visitors for free. It's billed as a mile-long block party.

That sounds like a lot of fun.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It does. Decent weather, too.

Guess what time it is, Carol?

COSTELLO: Is it mug time?

MYERS: It is time for giving away the CNN DAYBREAK coffee mug already. Boy, the time has just gone by so fast today.

COSTELLO: It really has.

MYERS: Let's give you the answers for yesterday and the winner. How much money in state funding is needed for the proposed West Side stadium in Manhattan? That was $300 million. Many of you typed in two billion, and that was the total cost. But they're looking for 300 in state funding. And according to a new survey, which state has the dumbest drivers? This is not our survey. This was someone else who did this. Rhode Island. So, please no tomatoes at me from Rhode Island, please.

The winner today, the winner today, Gayle Harmon, Griffin, Georgia. Congratulations. A CNN DAYBREAK coffee mug in the mail for you.

Now the questions for today; winner tomorrow. How many acres of land did Arlington National Cemetery recently acquire? We just talked about that. An even number. What's the only city east of the Mississippi on the list of top wireless cities? A smaller town or city, if you will.

CNN.com/daybreak. And Carol got married there. Boy, that was just a little hint. Sorry. If you know where Carol was married.

COSTELLO: Oh, that's right.

MYERS: That's right.

COSTELLO: That's right. Hey, you know, we want to revisit our e-mail question, because we've gotten in so many responses this morning.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: We were asking the question earlier: Should you be required to take your driver's test more than once in your lifetime? You know, you take it at 16, and you don't take it anymore. A lot of people said, yes, we should be required to take it every five years or so.

MYERS: Correct. And some brought out the fact that, you know, if you do this, where is this bureaucracy going to come from? I've got a couple of them here that I want to pull off here.

"Nobody ever considers the additional bureaucracy and additional funding that would be required to just pass these kinds of requirements. Think of the lines. They're bad now. Just imagine what it would be like if everyone had to take a rules of the road test every time. To those who say hire more employees, my response is, and who pays for that? The taxpayers. This would just increase the size of the monstrously bloated government. And I for one would not want to foot that bill." That was from Matthew in Chicago.

COSTELLO: Any more?

MYERS: Carol, sure. "I would base the driver's license renewals on a scale of accidents or tickets a driver receives. A driver with multiple violations would require a written and driving test with heavy fees. A driver with no violations would only have to take a simple written test free of charge." John from Illinois.

COSTELLO: That's kind of a good idea. Thank you for your e- mails this morning. We always appreciate knowing what you are thinking.

When we come back, more headlines and a look at your travel forecast. This is DAYBREAK for a Tuesday.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Travel update for you now.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: "Now in the News."

A huge aid package for Africa, that's what President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair will announce when they meet at the White House this afternoon. The two leaders have been at odds over the amount of the package in the past.

A vote is expected today on another one of President Bush's judicial nominees. Last month's Senate compromise should mean confirmation for California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown. She was first nominated for a seat on a federal appeals court two years ago.

The U.S. is taking a bite out of crime. The FBI says the number of murders fell last year for the first time since 1999. Other types of violent crimes have also dropped.

And that does it for us this morning. From the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Carol, thanks, and good morning. I'm Bill Hemmer.

Two men are due in court today, held in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway; this, as 700 people combed the island looking for the missing 18-year-old. We'll get a report from Aruba, just moments away.

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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