Bush Heads to Ireland for U.S.-EU Summit; Protests Expected
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The sounds of war in Iraq; fighting in Fallujah. It is Friday, June 25. This is DAYBREAK. And good morning to you. From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello. Let me bring you up to date right now. President Bush heads to Ireland today for a Saturday summit with leaders of the European Union. The president will then travel to the NATO summit in Turkey. Sources tell CNN that Florida Congressman Porter Goss may soon be the president's choice for CIA director. Goss, a Republican, is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. George Tenet resigned as CIA director, effective in mid-July. At least 90 people are dead this morning following a tragic crash in southeastern Iran. Another 114 people were injured. It happened when a gas truck hit six passenger buses that were stopped at a police inspection site. Many of the dead are women and children. In money news, Congress is looking at billing practices of the nation's hospitals. Experts say uninsured patients are charged as much four times more than those with insurance, and are also subject to more severe collection techniques. In culture, there's plenty to do in Denver when you're single. Forbes lists the Denver-Boulder area as the place - as the best place to be unattached. The Baltimore-Washington area is ranked second, just ahead of Austin, Texas. Pittsburgh comes in last.</s>CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. Back on Wednesday, had some severe weather across parts of Wisconsin. Here's the aftermath, pictures yesterday, some aerials there from our affiliate WTMJ. They are still picking up the pieces. One person did lose his life, found in a cornfield after his home was destroyed. That's the power of this thing. Also picked up semis, threw them around as well. So don't really know yet what the value of this storm, what F-scale it was. But I'm sure we'll find out soon.</s>COSTELLO: Two summit meetings in five days. That's President Bush's schedule as leaves this morning for Shannon, Ireland. In Shannon, the president will meet tomorrow with the European Commission, which is the executive arm of the European Union. And then President Bush flies to Ankara, Turkey, to meet with the Turkish president and prime minister. And from there, he'll go on to Istanbul for the NATO summit meeting that opens on Monday. And as I just told you, in advance of his arrival in Ireland, President Bush appeared on Irish television, telling an interview - telling an interviewer that the world is now a safer place. The president talked about Iraq, about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and about terrorism.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I do believe the world is a safer place and becoming a safer place. I know that a free Iraq is going to be a necessary part of changing the world. Listen, people - people join terrorist organizations because there's no hope and there's no chance to raise their families in a - in a - in a peaceful world where there is not freedom. And so the idea to promote freedom, and at the same time protect our security. And I do believe the world is becoming a better place, absolutely.</s>COSTELLO: Four thousand police officers and 2,000 troops will be on patrol in Shannon, Ireland, to control expected demonstrations. And although you didn't see it from that interview, the president's interview with that Irish interviewer was quite contentious at times. Want to talk more about that with our senior international editor, David Clinch.</s>DAVID CLINCH, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Yes. Good morning, Carol. It was a little bit testy. There were a couple things, though, that we should say about that. There's a different interviewing style I would say in Ireland and Britain than perhaps President Bush is used to here. The interviewer interrupting him a couple of times. That definitely bothered him. But on the other hand, he was also clearly upset by some of the lines of questioning and some of the questioning of what he was saying about Iraq and the war on terror. Specifically, in defending his administration's actions in Iraq and the war on terror. He mentioned the fact that, in his view, most of Europe had supported his action in Iraq. Now, from an Irish point of view and from many people's point of view in Europe, that was not the case and perhaps still is not the case. And so the front page of the Irish papers this morning making a point of his comment in that regard. Not exactly slamming him for that, but definitely making a point that his point of view is in some ways different from the reality on the ground. There is - there is not a great welcome awaiting President Bush in Ireland today. You can see that is the front page of the paper there today as well. On the right-hand side, pictures of a line of tanks heading off -- probably the entire Irish army heading off down to the castle where he, President Bush, and the other European leaders will be staying for this summit on Saturday. Security is a big issue, not just because of terror threats, of which there are none specific that we know of, but also, as we were saying about the welcome that he is likely to receive there, the definite prospect of anti-Bush demonstrations.</s>COSTELLO: And those demonstrations are supposed to be quite large, aren't they?</s>CLINCH: Yes, well, the people organizing them hope they will be. There are some demonstrations planned for the capital, Dublin, which is a long way away from where he will be today. And then around the time of the summit meeting Saturday in this luxurious hotel out in the west of Ireland. This is all making me very homesick here, seeing these beautiful pictures. But there are planned demonstrations. We'll see how big they are. One of the key things, though: This is about the image of President Bush and how he can persuade people. In this interview last night, he made one of those gaffes that he makes occasionally - I don't know if we can listen to the sound - where he commented about the growth of democracy around the world, if we can listen to that soundbite. I'm sorry, I'm told we don't have it. Nevertheless...</s>CLINCH: He was talking about growth of democracy in the Middle East and beyond and talking about democracy growing in Afghanistan, and mentioned the fact that there is a democracy in Pakistan. Well, I think many people in Pakistan and beyond would argue that the military in control of the country does not equate to a democracy. It may have been a misstatement. Who knows? But the point is, it plays into this unfortunate image that President Bush has for many people in Europe - not all, but some people, at least in Europe - that he is prone to gaffes and also perhaps out of touch in some ways. In his statement about the support from most of Europe, out-of- touch with the people - with the way people view him there. So he has an image problem, but really it's about support: political and military support in Iraq, the war on terror and beyond. And he has quite a mountain to climb tomorrow at the summit. The Irish prime minister, Bertie Ahearn, in a key role as head of the EU right now, playing a very important role trying to bring everybody there together.</s>COSTELLO: Well, we'll see if it works. Thank you. David Clinch. Five days and counting until the handover of sovereignty in Iraq. Here is the latest in our situation report this morning. The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on the transition of power in Iraq. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, General Richard Myers, will testify. More American troops may be deployed to Iraq. U.S. military planners are preparing to send possibly as many as 15,000 additional ground forces to Iraq if violence there increases. Already this morning were (ph) new clashes that (ph) broken out between insurgents and U.S. forces in Fallujah. Explosions were heard outside of that rebel stronghold. And U.S. troops are tightening their security ring around Baghdad. It follows a day of carnage across the country. We take you live to Baghdad now and Brent Sadler to talk about the day after. Hello, Brent.</s>BRENT SADLER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello. Good morning, Carol. Yes, indeed, the air around Baghdad is thick with tension after the attacks 24 hours ago in five major Iraqi cities, from Mosul in the north, to Baqubah, Ramadi, as well as Baghdad and Fallujah as well. Now what did this mean? It did mean a significant departure in the kind of hit-and-run tactics we've seen as late - of late. As well as the suicide bombings that destroyed police stations, most of the attacks were aimed at destroying and intimidating the Iraqi security authorities that are supposed to take more responsibility for security after the June the 30th handover. We also saw the insurgents coordinating to some extent their attacks. And in Baqubah, in particular, one of the heaviest places where there were clashes between insurgents and U.S. forces, we did see insurgents attempting to stockpile weapons and to hold ground. And that's why the United States military called in heavy support, pushing in armor and calling up airstrikes to knock out those insurgent strongholds. In Fallujah today, a much quieter situation. There has been some loss of life overnight in terms of the Iraqis. Nothing from the U.S. side. Three U.S. soldiers killed 24 hours ago in that intense action. Fallujah much quieter, but certainly atmosphere in and around Baghdad tense. Security firms here warning foreign workers to not set foot outside their compounds, as they expect the possibility of a major offensive in these coming days before the handover to Iraqi sovereignty - Carol.</s>COSTELLO: Brent Sadler, live in Baghdad this morning, thank you. The latest poll numbers do not bode well for what President Bush once called "a war of necessity." A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows a majority of Americans, 54 percent, say it was a mistake to send troops to Iraq. That's up from 41 percent earlier this month. It's the first time since the war that a majority have expressed this negative view. And 55 percent of Americans now say that the war with the Iraq has not made the U.S. safer from terrorism. That's a significant shift from last December, just after the capture of Saddam Hussein. Later today, we conclude our weeklong series with "TAKING THE AMERICAN PULSE." Jonathan Mann holds a live town hall meeting with a panel of guests who have tried to influence public opinion about the U.S. role in Iraq and the Middle East. A studio audience will include military families and peace activists. You can see it 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific right here on CNN. I'm going to have to take a pause for a second because I have to cough. So I'm going to take a drink of my coffee. Thank you. I apologize. Here are some stories making news "Across America" this Friday. Eight Los Angles police officers involved in the beating of a suspect during his arrest have been taken off the street and placed behind desks. Among those under investigation is John Hatfield. He's been identified as the officer who repeatedly hit the suspect with a flashlight. Police Chief William Bratton says it appears the officers acted inappropriately, and L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn says any officers who acted unlawfully will be prosecuted. Todd Bertuzzi of the Vancouver Canucks is being charged with assault fort his vicious hit on the Colorado Avalanche's Steve Moore. Bertuzzi broke Moore's neck when he hit him from behind in a game back in March. He's expected to appear in court on July 9 to answer the charge. Bertuzzi remains under an indefinite suspension by the NHL. And charges are expected to be filed this morning in the shooting of nine people at a crowded a fireworks festival in downtown Detroit. Two of the victims remain in critical condition this morning. Police say they got a flood of tips from the public, which led them to a suspect in the shooting. There's much more ahead for you on CNN's DAYBREAK. A detective does the defense a big favor in the Scott Peterson double-murder trial. We'll get a live report on a horrific accident in Iran after a tanker truck full of gasoline careens out of control. And some lawyers are livid after supposedly secret testimony gets leaked about steroid use by some top American athletes. This is DAYBREAK for Friday.