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American Morning
Hunt for Osama bin Laden; Scott Peterson Jury Selection Process
Aired March 05, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. It is exactly half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. We've got lots coming to you over the next 30 minutes.
One of the commanders in Afghanistan is going to join us to talk about the increased effort there to track down Osama bin Laden.
Also, we'll talk to an attorney about the trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also in the next 30 minutes, where did the water go on Mars? And how much was there in the first place back when the planet was said to be soaking wet? We'll talk to a scientist -- Michael Shara is back with us today -- about those burning questions on the Red Planet.
O'BRIEN: We start with our top news stories, though, first.
Iraq's Governing Council ready to sign the country's interim constitution amid security concerns. Two more roadside bombs went off in Baghdad today. No casualties reported, but the country is still reeling from Tuesday's deadly bombings, which left at least 180 people dead. That signing is set to take place over the next half-hour.
Here in the U.S., three men have been convicted on charges of supporting terrorism. The men are part of what the government had called the Virginia jihad network. Prosecutors claim that the group used paintball games to train for a jihad, or a holy war. The men will be sentenced in June.
It could be a cruel summer for motorists, as the government repeats warnings about soaring gas prices and possible gas shortages. According to AAA, the current national average for unleaded gasoline is about $1.70. Commuters in California and Hawaii are paying the most -- an average of $2.10 or more per gallon.
What's being described as the largest collection of Jackson family memorabilia from stage costumes to personal documents is on its way to Europe. The Michael Jackson and the Jackson family collection has been sold to a European buyer. The items were supposed to be display in -- displayed, rather, in Jackson theme restaurants. But after the deal fell through, a New Jersey businessman acquired the collection. He paid $65,000 in storage and shipping fees.
In sports, a buzzer beater keeps Stanford undefeated. The Cardinals escaped defeat yesterday, thanks to a fall-away three- pointer at the buzzer. Top-ranked Stanford beat Washington State 63- 61, keeping their perfect season alive.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: So, they are very happy about that...
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... as you can see.
HEMMER: St. Joe's (ph) is burning on their heels in case they drop one. We'll see.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: U.S. forces in Afghanistan will soon bring high-tech surveillance technology into the search for Osama bin Laden. The U.S. plans to use U2 spy planes and Predator drones to take pictures and try and intercept communications in that area. Officials believe the al Qaeda leader is hiding in a mountainous area, a border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Beevers is with us, combined forces commander in Afghanistan, live from Kabul. Just a word to our viewers here, a substantial delay as we conduct this interview here.
And, sir, we appreciate your time. Do you believe, as we have reported, that Osama bin Laden is in that border region?
LT. COL. MATTHEW BEEVERS, COMBINED FORCES, COMMAND AFGHANISTAN: Well, Bill, I just want to thank -- I appreciate the opportunity to be with you today. I'll make one quite correction. I think you made a mention about me being a commander earlier on. I'm the director of public affairs. I want to make sure I get that right.
But to your question regarding the location of Osama bin Laden, I think, you know, clearly if we knew where he was, we'd have him right now. So, you know, that said, nothing here in Afghanistan and in warfare is certain, but, you know, we look with confidence to get this work done.
HEMMER: What would this new technology serve you -- how will it serve you in this hunt?
BEEVERS: Well, you know, I don't think it's really appropriate to discuss our equipment and tactics, techniques and procedures. You know, that said, we've got, you know, some 12,000 soldiers -- coalition soldiers on the ground, 6,000 from ISAF, 90 nations in the coalition here, in the global war on terror worldwide. So, with all of those forces to bear against one guy, hopefully, you know, we can get some work done here.
HEMMER: What the U.S. military learned in Iraq, as you well know, is that you need human intelligence to find people like Saddam Hussein. How is your human intel on the ground today?
BEEVERS: Again, you know, we don't want to discuss specifically any of our intelligence resources. That said, we're looking to apply lessons learned from Iraq and template those down here in Afghanistan. So, that said, I think that gives us some additional confidence in our ability to catch this guy.
HEMMER: You may know there was an intense and an in-depth article this past week in "TIME" magazine, suggesting that recent videotape shows that Osama bin Laden is in that border area. Can you confirm that report that was in the magazine this week?
BEEVERS: Again, it probably wouldn't be acceptable or prude, really, to speculate on some anecdotal reports in "TIME." You know, that said, you know, we're continuing to work very hard, work with our Afghan national army counterparts here. And clearly, we look to the Pakistanis and their work in the federal-administered tribal areas to achieve that hammer-and-anvil effect that I think you've heard before.
And again, so we look to all of those to hopefully get a good picture of where this guy is at and bring him in.
HEMMER: And we have heard from many military leaders who say that Osama bin Laden will be captured within the year. Do you echo that? Is that what you talk about in Kabul?
BEEVERS: Well, I think it's -- again, like I said before, nothing is certain here in Afghanistan. Nothing is certain in warfare. But I guess what I can tell you that we are certain that our commitment here to get this guy is unwavering, and we're going to bring all of the resources of all of the countries here that are fighting the global war on terrorism to get that work down.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, and I certainly understand the secrecy about which you are quite careful in answering these questions, but we appreciate your time. Matthew Beevers, lieutenant colonel there in Kabul, thank you -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The jurors who are chosen to hear the Scott Peterson double murder trial will not be sequestered. The first group of prospective jurors began the selection process yesterday. Picking the panelists could take several weeks.
Rusty Dornin reports now from Redwood City, California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You could have heard a pin drop in the courtroom as the first 100 prospective jurors were introduced to the defendant. Scott Peterson stood, turned to the audience and said, "Hello, good morning to you," and smiled. If Peterson doesn't testify, it may be the only words they ever hear from the defendant in person.
They were a cross section -- young, old, Asian, white, Hispanic, Indian and African-American. First came the warning from the judge. It's expected to be a five-month trial. If Peterson is convicted, another month for the penalty phase.
Amy Schulman was one of the first prospects to be excused.
AMY SCHULMAN, EXCUSED FROM JURY DUTY IN PETERSON CASE: I'm unemployed. I'm a single mom.
DORNIN: Excuses like that, says jury experts, will have a big impact on the makeup of the final 12.
JOE RICE, JURY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: And what you're left with are probably retireds, public servants, postal workers, teachers and others who either work for a large corporation or work for the government.
DORNIN: Jurors must at least be willing to consider the death penalty to qualify. They spent most of the time in court filling out the 30-page questionnaire. Paying close attention, Jo Ellen Dimitrius (ph), the jury consultant for the defense.
Juror's with financial hardships, medical problems or already paid-for vacations must return Monday with written proof.
(on camera): A thousand jurors will be polled over the week at the rate of 200 a day. When that number is whittled down, then the really tough questions begin.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: At the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams, more damaging testimony from prosecution witnesses. Yesterday, an ex-teammate told jurors how Williams was handling the gun just before the shooting that killed a limo driver in his New Jersey mansion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had your finger on the trigger. You were pulling the trigger back. You didn't see him do that, did you? Did you see him do that or not.
BENOIT BENJAMIN, FORMER TEAMMATE OF JAYSON WILLIAMS: Did I see Jayson pull the trigger? Yes, I saw him pull the trigger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Next week, prosecutors plan to call more witnesses -- friends of Williams who were present on the night of that shooting.
Attorney Brian Neary defended Williams 10 years ago on a gun charge, and he joins us this morning once again.
Nice to see you again.
BRIAN NEARY, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us all week. We appreciate your insight on this case.
That was Benoit Benjamin, and he was back on the stand. And what he said yes, I saw him pull the trigger, actually contradicts what we spoke about yesterday, where he wasn't really sure of the placement of Jayson Williams' finger. And, in fact, at one point, when he was asked to handle the weapon, he didn't really get his finger near the trigger. So, give me an assessment of how you think he's doing as a witness for the prosecution.
The point of the cross-examination was that Benoit Benjamin can't keep the story straight. He has given several different versions with regard to the trigger, including the judge asking him the very same question, as Billy Martin, the defense attorney, did yesterday.
The defense will try to argue that he's not credible. He's not credible about the trigger. He's not credible about the shell that he supposedly saw. He's also not going to be credible about that Williams was drunk, and that also that Williams said an expletive and in some way ridiculed Costas Christofi before the shooting, which is an important part of the defense.
O'BRIEN: Do you think the defense has done a good job of chipping away at his credibility?
NEARY: The amount of time that they spent with Benoit Benjamin was a real effort to damage that credibility. Now, in contrast, of course, the other teammate, Chris Morris, testifies, who tells a completely or very much different story than Benoit Benjamin did at the same proximity. They were standing next to each other. Well, Morris talks about drinking. He also says that Williams did not point the gun, an important part for one of the charges, but also important with regard to the general theory that Williams just didn't just snap gun up and look at Christofi to shoot at him.
O'BRIEN: Is the defense's strategy going to be -- because what follows, even regardless of the actual weapon being pointed, hand on the -- finger on the trigger or not, what follows -- the wiping down of the gun, the trying to place the gun in the limo driver, who is now on his way to being quickly deceased, in his hand and get the fingerprints and to changing this clothes. These are all -- this is all testimony that's come from witnesses. Is the defense strategy going to be he panicked, that's what happened, that wasn't a criminal act, that was just sheer panic from a guy who didn't know what to do?
NEARY: The defense has to separate two separate parts of the case -- the activity that takes place before the shooting and at the time of the shooting and everything afterwards. Everything afterwards has to be seen and portrayed as a panic and as a form of chaos, not knowing and not thinking. And the worst would be not caring, but it's the chaos.
The beginning part of it, in terms of the gun, they have to show that Williams was not drunk, was not intentionally ridiculing Christofi, that it was accidental that the gun went off, and that the gun play, the fact that the gun comes out and that the gun is moved, was done more either in playfulness, in showing off-ness, or -- if that be a word -- or...
O'BRIEN: Like it. We'll take it. Showing off-ness, sure.
NEARY: Or that the prosecutor is going to suggest that this was a pattern and a culmination of a night, where he actually had spent the night ridiculing the limo driver.
O'BRIEN: The charges -- manslaughter, witness tampering -- all could carry up to 55 years in prison. You know, as I like to do and I know lawyers always hate to do, weigh in for me on where you think is going and what you think potentially Jayson Williams could get.
NEARY: Well, let me break it down. The aggregated manslaughter carries a penalty of 10 to 30 years, and you would do 85 percent of whatever the sentence would be. Manslaughter is slightly less -- it's the recklessness standard -- is 5 to 10 years. The tampering, the activities, and the crimes dealing with the so-called cover-up are lesser crimes, carry threes, carry fives, are not mandatory time. But aggravated manslaughter and manslaughter carry tremendous penalties, and you do that time.
O'BRIEN: That's the real problem for him. Brian Neary, criminal defense attorney. Nice to see you. Nice to have you in all week. We appreciate it.
NEARY: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Have a great weekend -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, about 18 minutes away now, an historic moment in the building of democracy in Iraq, the signing of an interim constitution. We'll get you there live.
O'BRIEN: Also in our next hour, a mother reunited with the daughter that she was told had died six years ago. Her attorney was with her for that big event. He's going to tell us just what happened.
HEMMER: Also up next here, two little rovers on Mars have already opened up a world of possibilities. Their mission, not yet over -- not by a long shot.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: NASA's two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, already have provided enough evidence of water on Mars, but there is work to do in the time they have left.
Michael Shara is head of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History here in New York. He's our guest, back with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Always a pleasure to have you.
MICHAEL SHARA, AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: Thank you.
HEMMER: And you're wearing gloves. Explain that to our viewers.
SHARA: Well, this won't hurt a bit. What I've done here is I've brought along a piece of geracite (ph). Geracite (ph) is the...
HEMMER: Can I put my gloves on?
SHARA: I think if you want to handle it, because it's kind of messy stuff.
HEMMER: All right (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHARA: And it's going to leave a lot of stains on your hands and clothing.
This geracite (ph) is a rock that pretty much only forms in water. And geracite (ph) has now been identified essentially conclusively by the Mars rovers, and there's really nothing else to say other than proof-positive there is water on Mars. There has been water in the past on Mars.
HEMMER: Why are you wearing gloves?
SHARA: Well, if you hold the rock, you'll see what happens to your fingers. It's stuff that's really crumbly. It comes off in your hands. It's got iron in it.
HEMMER: It's not dangerous, is it?
SHARA: Absolutely not. No, contamination. It's just iron and sulfur and oxygen, no danger at all, but extremely messy.
HEMMER: It is very soft, too.
SHARA: A very soft mineral.
HEMMER: Tell me this. Here, take that.
SHARA: OK.
HEMMER: Hematite. Why have I heard -- boy, you can see it right there (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHARA: That's right. Exactly.
HEMMER: Why we have heard so much about hematite? And what is the difference with geracite (ph)?
SHARA: It's a different -- a slightly different composition. The iron is locked up in a slightly different way. The hematite is basically iron and oxygen. We've got sulfur -- additional sulfur locked up in here, which makes it so soft. But this demonstrates essentially beyond any doubt that there was water deposition, that there were rocks deposited by water on Mars. HEMMER: A couple of critical questions then. If you're going to go ahead and say there was water on Mars, how much water? Was it saturated or not?
SHARA: We'd love to know that, and that's why the rovers are now taking off. They're able to traverse 100 meters, maybe 200 or 300 meters a day. And as they get further and further away from their landing sites, they're going to check more and more to see how extensive it was; hopefully, also get higher up and give us an idea perhaps as to how deep the water might have been on Mars in the past.
HEMMER: And then the ultimate question: How long ago in the past was there water?
SHARA: A very tough question. The technology on board isn't there, unfortunately. We can't determine from the uranium and thorium (ph) and potassium clocks in these rocks. Like this rock, I could tell you how old it is if I analyzed it properly. We're going to have to send another rover -- another set of rovers, or bring rocks back to Earth to check those nuclear clocks.
HEMMER: Quickly, where did you get this?
SHARA: This is basically a rock that you can find almost anywhere.
HEMMER: Anywhere?
SHARA: On Earth. On Earth. This is not a Martian rock.
HEMMER: I understand that.
SHARA: No, no. But it's a common mineral on Earth, fairly common. Wherever water, rivers, lakes lay down rocks, you find this sort of stuff.
HEMMER: Listen, next week there's going to be a huge announcement that's come out about the Hubble Telescope. There's going to be a picture that is released. And I am told that this will be a headline in every newspaper around the world. Why so confident of the news for next week?
SHARA: Well, the images have been taken, and they're finally being set up for release by the Space Telescope Science Institute. This is an extraordinary image, 400 orbits of the Hubble Telescope. Six hundred hours have been devoted to taking this ultra-deep image. And, in fact, astronomers are going to be gathering next week -- I'm going to plug this -- at the American Museum of Natural History to analyze the data on the floor of the Rose Center in New York City public view. They're actually going to try and get enough analysis done to write a paper (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: So, even you are saying that this is monumental news next week.
SHARA: This is spectacular. We're going to see deeper into the universe, earlier back into the universe than we have ever before.
HEMMER: What day?
SHARA: The release is planned for Tuesday.
HEMMER: And you'll be back here.
SHARA: I'd be happy to.
HEMMER: All right, terrific. Michael Shara, thanks. Have a great weekend.
SHARA: A real pleasure.
HEMMER: You got it. There you go. Thanks again.
SHARA: OK.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, after weeks of scandal surrounding its football program, the University of Colorado is now making changes. We'll tell you what they are in a moment when AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The University of Colorado has slapped new rules on its beleaguered football program. Recruits will now have an 11:00 p.m. curfew, and all of their activities will be chaperoned, and they will not be allowed to visit bars or strip clubs or even private parties.
The program has been roiled by scandal since former placekicker Katie Hnida said she was raped by a teammate back in 2000. Hnida is one of several women who have accused football players or recruits of rape since Coach Gary Barnett took over the program.
Coach Barnett is now on paid leave, while the program is being investigated. His suspension was prompted by remarks he made about -- excuse me -- Hnida's ability after she went public with her allegations.
HEMMER: No strip clubs, no parties? Theyre going out on a limb, aren't they?
O'BRIEN: They're only 17 years old. They shouldn't be going to that anyway.
HEMMER: Yes.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Did they include in those rules that you should not hire a moron to run your football program?
HEMMER: You've never been a fan of Barnett.
CAFFERTY: He's an idiot. The things he said about that kid and the fact that, you know, she went out and tried to make the team. He stood in public after these allegations surfaced and said the things he did, the fact that he's getting a paycheck from that university for anything is...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Now, I'm (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the context for the question in which e answered. It was an ill-advised response. He probably should have left it alone.
CAFFERTY: Well...
HEMMER: But he asked her...
CAFFERTY: Let me try to rephrase this: He's an idiot. OK?
HEMMER: What's happening? Question of the day, a good one, too, by the way.
CAFFERTY: Great fun. Great fun. A church in England that -- we actually got this idea from the file. They have asked their congregants to come up with an 11th commandment. So, we thought it might be fun to have the audience of this program try the same thing. Tongue firmly in cheek, of course. We're not playing fast and loose with organized religion here.
But if there were an 11th commandment, what would it be?
Greg says from Orlando, Florida: "Thou shalt not watch" the "f" word, the "news channel."
"If thou hast the policy" writes Kevin, "a pre-emptive war based on intelligence thou best make damn certain that thine intelligence is accurate before thou invadest a country and killeth its citizens."
Michael in Albuquerque: "Thou shalt not speak on thy cell phone, apply they daily beauty treatment or shave thine face whilst driving thy vehicle down the road."
HEMMER: Amen!
CAFFERTY: Todd in San Diego: "Thou shalt not get all worked up over nothing, like the introduction of a new nickel, for crying out loud."
HEMMER: Hallelujah!
CAFFERTY: And Brian in Saginaw: "Thou shalt not stare at Jack Cafferty's receding hairline, lest you'll go bald yourself."
HEMMER: You still have hair, though, my friend.
CAFFERTY: Not nearly what there used to be.
HEMMER: That's good.
CAFFERTY: But it will get me by.
O'BRIEN: Very funny. HEMMER: You only take all of those power alleys, you know, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Thank you. Here, you want to do this? There you go.
HEMMER: You know, in baseball, you've got...
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: Power alleys?
HEMMER: ... left field, center field, right field and in between, that's where a hitter wants to hit the baseball. Power alleys (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CAFFERTY: I said the other day if I move one hair on my head, I create a two-lane road like that.
HEMMER: Love it.
CAFFERTY: Oh, yes, "IN THE MONEY" this weekend. I forgot, it's Friday, and I have to work late, because we tape "IN THE MONEY." And this week, we will have George Costanza on from "Seinfeld." Jason Alexander is his real name, and he has a new role, Middle East peacemaker, talking about what he's asking of everyday Israelis and Palestinians. "IN THE MONEY," on Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. And right after we get through taping it, I have to go to the dentist and have a wisdom tooth pulled.
HEMMER: Oh!
CAFFERTY: And if you hurt me, your name, address and phone number will be on this national TV show tomorrow morning, so get out the Novocain and make sure there's no pain involved.
O'BRIEN: I'm sure it will be completely painless.
HEMMER: You have a big day. You've got to deal with us for three hours...
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: ... and then you're going to do "IN THE MONEY"...
O'BRIEN: Wow!
HEMMER: ... and then you've got to sit in that chair.
CAFFERTY: I'm looking forward to the dentist, actually.
O'BRIEN: We've got to be much nice to you for the rest of the show.
HEMMER: Did you hear that?
O'BRIEN: I did. I ignored it. HEMMER: In a moment here, a mother and child reunion six years in the making. We'll talk about the remarkable get-together from one of the people who was near the scene of this yesterday. Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired March 5, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. It is exactly half past the hour on this AMERICAN MORNING. We've got lots coming to you over the next 30 minutes.
One of the commanders in Afghanistan is going to join us to talk about the increased effort there to track down Osama bin Laden.
Also, we'll talk to an attorney about the trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also in the next 30 minutes, where did the water go on Mars? And how much was there in the first place back when the planet was said to be soaking wet? We'll talk to a scientist -- Michael Shara is back with us today -- about those burning questions on the Red Planet.
O'BRIEN: We start with our top news stories, though, first.
Iraq's Governing Council ready to sign the country's interim constitution amid security concerns. Two more roadside bombs went off in Baghdad today. No casualties reported, but the country is still reeling from Tuesday's deadly bombings, which left at least 180 people dead. That signing is set to take place over the next half-hour.
Here in the U.S., three men have been convicted on charges of supporting terrorism. The men are part of what the government had called the Virginia jihad network. Prosecutors claim that the group used paintball games to train for a jihad, or a holy war. The men will be sentenced in June.
It could be a cruel summer for motorists, as the government repeats warnings about soaring gas prices and possible gas shortages. According to AAA, the current national average for unleaded gasoline is about $1.70. Commuters in California and Hawaii are paying the most -- an average of $2.10 or more per gallon.
What's being described as the largest collection of Jackson family memorabilia from stage costumes to personal documents is on its way to Europe. The Michael Jackson and the Jackson family collection has been sold to a European buyer. The items were supposed to be display in -- displayed, rather, in Jackson theme restaurants. But after the deal fell through, a New Jersey businessman acquired the collection. He paid $65,000 in storage and shipping fees.
In sports, a buzzer beater keeps Stanford undefeated. The Cardinals escaped defeat yesterday, thanks to a fall-away three- pointer at the buzzer. Top-ranked Stanford beat Washington State 63- 61, keeping their perfect season alive.
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: So, they are very happy about that...
HEMMER: Yes.
O'BRIEN: ... as you can see.
HEMMER: St. Joe's (ph) is burning on their heels in case they drop one. We'll see.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: U.S. forces in Afghanistan will soon bring high-tech surveillance technology into the search for Osama bin Laden. The U.S. plans to use U2 spy planes and Predator drones to take pictures and try and intercept communications in that area. Officials believe the al Qaeda leader is hiding in a mountainous area, a border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Beevers is with us, combined forces commander in Afghanistan, live from Kabul. Just a word to our viewers here, a substantial delay as we conduct this interview here.
And, sir, we appreciate your time. Do you believe, as we have reported, that Osama bin Laden is in that border region?
LT. COL. MATTHEW BEEVERS, COMBINED FORCES, COMMAND AFGHANISTAN: Well, Bill, I just want to thank -- I appreciate the opportunity to be with you today. I'll make one quite correction. I think you made a mention about me being a commander earlier on. I'm the director of public affairs. I want to make sure I get that right.
But to your question regarding the location of Osama bin Laden, I think, you know, clearly if we knew where he was, we'd have him right now. So, you know, that said, nothing here in Afghanistan and in warfare is certain, but, you know, we look with confidence to get this work done.
HEMMER: What would this new technology serve you -- how will it serve you in this hunt?
BEEVERS: Well, you know, I don't think it's really appropriate to discuss our equipment and tactics, techniques and procedures. You know, that said, we've got, you know, some 12,000 soldiers -- coalition soldiers on the ground, 6,000 from ISAF, 90 nations in the coalition here, in the global war on terror worldwide. So, with all of those forces to bear against one guy, hopefully, you know, we can get some work done here.
HEMMER: What the U.S. military learned in Iraq, as you well know, is that you need human intelligence to find people like Saddam Hussein. How is your human intel on the ground today?
BEEVERS: Again, you know, we don't want to discuss specifically any of our intelligence resources. That said, we're looking to apply lessons learned from Iraq and template those down here in Afghanistan. So, that said, I think that gives us some additional confidence in our ability to catch this guy.
HEMMER: You may know there was an intense and an in-depth article this past week in "TIME" magazine, suggesting that recent videotape shows that Osama bin Laden is in that border area. Can you confirm that report that was in the magazine this week?
BEEVERS: Again, it probably wouldn't be acceptable or prude, really, to speculate on some anecdotal reports in "TIME." You know, that said, you know, we're continuing to work very hard, work with our Afghan national army counterparts here. And clearly, we look to the Pakistanis and their work in the federal-administered tribal areas to achieve that hammer-and-anvil effect that I think you've heard before.
And again, so we look to all of those to hopefully get a good picture of where this guy is at and bring him in.
HEMMER: And we have heard from many military leaders who say that Osama bin Laden will be captured within the year. Do you echo that? Is that what you talk about in Kabul?
BEEVERS: Well, I think it's -- again, like I said before, nothing is certain here in Afghanistan. Nothing is certain in warfare. But I guess what I can tell you that we are certain that our commitment here to get this guy is unwavering, and we're going to bring all of the resources of all of the countries here that are fighting the global war on terrorism to get that work down.
HEMMER: Good luck to you, and I certainly understand the secrecy about which you are quite careful in answering these questions, but we appreciate your time. Matthew Beevers, lieutenant colonel there in Kabul, thank you -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: The jurors who are chosen to hear the Scott Peterson double murder trial will not be sequestered. The first group of prospective jurors began the selection process yesterday. Picking the panelists could take several weeks.
Rusty Dornin reports now from Redwood City, California.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You could have heard a pin drop in the courtroom as the first 100 prospective jurors were introduced to the defendant. Scott Peterson stood, turned to the audience and said, "Hello, good morning to you," and smiled. If Peterson doesn't testify, it may be the only words they ever hear from the defendant in person.
They were a cross section -- young, old, Asian, white, Hispanic, Indian and African-American. First came the warning from the judge. It's expected to be a five-month trial. If Peterson is convicted, another month for the penalty phase.
Amy Schulman was one of the first prospects to be excused.
AMY SCHULMAN, EXCUSED FROM JURY DUTY IN PETERSON CASE: I'm unemployed. I'm a single mom.
DORNIN: Excuses like that, says jury experts, will have a big impact on the makeup of the final 12.
JOE RICE, JURY RESEARCH INSTITUTE: And what you're left with are probably retireds, public servants, postal workers, teachers and others who either work for a large corporation or work for the government.
DORNIN: Jurors must at least be willing to consider the death penalty to qualify. They spent most of the time in court filling out the 30-page questionnaire. Paying close attention, Jo Ellen Dimitrius (ph), the jury consultant for the defense.
Juror's with financial hardships, medical problems or already paid-for vacations must return Monday with written proof.
(on camera): A thousand jurors will be polled over the week at the rate of 200 a day. When that number is whittled down, then the really tough questions begin.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: At the manslaughter trial of former NBA star Jayson Williams, more damaging testimony from prosecution witnesses. Yesterday, an ex-teammate told jurors how Williams was handling the gun just before the shooting that killed a limo driver in his New Jersey mansion.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You had your finger on the trigger. You were pulling the trigger back. You didn't see him do that, did you? Did you see him do that or not.
BENOIT BENJAMIN, FORMER TEAMMATE OF JAYSON WILLIAMS: Did I see Jayson pull the trigger? Yes, I saw him pull the trigger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Next week, prosecutors plan to call more witnesses -- friends of Williams who were present on the night of that shooting.
Attorney Brian Neary defended Williams 10 years ago on a gun charge, and he joins us this morning once again.
Nice to see you again.
BRIAN NEARY, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Thanks for being with us all week. We appreciate your insight on this case.
That was Benoit Benjamin, and he was back on the stand. And what he said yes, I saw him pull the trigger, actually contradicts what we spoke about yesterday, where he wasn't really sure of the placement of Jayson Williams' finger. And, in fact, at one point, when he was asked to handle the weapon, he didn't really get his finger near the trigger. So, give me an assessment of how you think he's doing as a witness for the prosecution.
The point of the cross-examination was that Benoit Benjamin can't keep the story straight. He has given several different versions with regard to the trigger, including the judge asking him the very same question, as Billy Martin, the defense attorney, did yesterday.
The defense will try to argue that he's not credible. He's not credible about the trigger. He's not credible about the shell that he supposedly saw. He's also not going to be credible about that Williams was drunk, and that also that Williams said an expletive and in some way ridiculed Costas Christofi before the shooting, which is an important part of the defense.
O'BRIEN: Do you think the defense has done a good job of chipping away at his credibility?
NEARY: The amount of time that they spent with Benoit Benjamin was a real effort to damage that credibility. Now, in contrast, of course, the other teammate, Chris Morris, testifies, who tells a completely or very much different story than Benoit Benjamin did at the same proximity. They were standing next to each other. Well, Morris talks about drinking. He also says that Williams did not point the gun, an important part for one of the charges, but also important with regard to the general theory that Williams just didn't just snap gun up and look at Christofi to shoot at him.
O'BRIEN: Is the defense's strategy going to be -- because what follows, even regardless of the actual weapon being pointed, hand on the -- finger on the trigger or not, what follows -- the wiping down of the gun, the trying to place the gun in the limo driver, who is now on his way to being quickly deceased, in his hand and get the fingerprints and to changing this clothes. These are all -- this is all testimony that's come from witnesses. Is the defense strategy going to be he panicked, that's what happened, that wasn't a criminal act, that was just sheer panic from a guy who didn't know what to do?
NEARY: The defense has to separate two separate parts of the case -- the activity that takes place before the shooting and at the time of the shooting and everything afterwards. Everything afterwards has to be seen and portrayed as a panic and as a form of chaos, not knowing and not thinking. And the worst would be not caring, but it's the chaos.
The beginning part of it, in terms of the gun, they have to show that Williams was not drunk, was not intentionally ridiculing Christofi, that it was accidental that the gun went off, and that the gun play, the fact that the gun comes out and that the gun is moved, was done more either in playfulness, in showing off-ness, or -- if that be a word -- or...
O'BRIEN: Like it. We'll take it. Showing off-ness, sure.
NEARY: Or that the prosecutor is going to suggest that this was a pattern and a culmination of a night, where he actually had spent the night ridiculing the limo driver.
O'BRIEN: The charges -- manslaughter, witness tampering -- all could carry up to 55 years in prison. You know, as I like to do and I know lawyers always hate to do, weigh in for me on where you think is going and what you think potentially Jayson Williams could get.
NEARY: Well, let me break it down. The aggregated manslaughter carries a penalty of 10 to 30 years, and you would do 85 percent of whatever the sentence would be. Manslaughter is slightly less -- it's the recklessness standard -- is 5 to 10 years. The tampering, the activities, and the crimes dealing with the so-called cover-up are lesser crimes, carry threes, carry fives, are not mandatory time. But aggravated manslaughter and manslaughter carry tremendous penalties, and you do that time.
O'BRIEN: That's the real problem for him. Brian Neary, criminal defense attorney. Nice to see you. Nice to have you in all week. We appreciate it.
NEARY: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Have a great weekend -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, about 18 minutes away now, an historic moment in the building of democracy in Iraq, the signing of an interim constitution. We'll get you there live.
O'BRIEN: Also in our next hour, a mother reunited with the daughter that she was told had died six years ago. Her attorney was with her for that big event. He's going to tell us just what happened.
HEMMER: Also up next here, two little rovers on Mars have already opened up a world of possibilities. Their mission, not yet over -- not by a long shot.
Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: NASA's two Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, already have provided enough evidence of water on Mars, but there is work to do in the time they have left.
Michael Shara is head of astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History here in New York. He's our guest, back with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.
Always a pleasure to have you.
MICHAEL SHARA, AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY: Thank you.
HEMMER: And you're wearing gloves. Explain that to our viewers.
SHARA: Well, this won't hurt a bit. What I've done here is I've brought along a piece of geracite (ph). Geracite (ph) is the...
HEMMER: Can I put my gloves on?
SHARA: I think if you want to handle it, because it's kind of messy stuff.
HEMMER: All right (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHARA: And it's going to leave a lot of stains on your hands and clothing.
This geracite (ph) is a rock that pretty much only forms in water. And geracite (ph) has now been identified essentially conclusively by the Mars rovers, and there's really nothing else to say other than proof-positive there is water on Mars. There has been water in the past on Mars.
HEMMER: Why are you wearing gloves?
SHARA: Well, if you hold the rock, you'll see what happens to your fingers. It's stuff that's really crumbly. It comes off in your hands. It's got iron in it.
HEMMER: It's not dangerous, is it?
SHARA: Absolutely not. No, contamination. It's just iron and sulfur and oxygen, no danger at all, but extremely messy.
HEMMER: It is very soft, too.
SHARA: A very soft mineral.
HEMMER: Tell me this. Here, take that.
SHARA: OK.
HEMMER: Hematite. Why have I heard -- boy, you can see it right there (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
SHARA: That's right. Exactly.
HEMMER: Why we have heard so much about hematite? And what is the difference with geracite (ph)?
SHARA: It's a different -- a slightly different composition. The iron is locked up in a slightly different way. The hematite is basically iron and oxygen. We've got sulfur -- additional sulfur locked up in here, which makes it so soft. But this demonstrates essentially beyond any doubt that there was water deposition, that there were rocks deposited by water on Mars. HEMMER: A couple of critical questions then. If you're going to go ahead and say there was water on Mars, how much water? Was it saturated or not?
SHARA: We'd love to know that, and that's why the rovers are now taking off. They're able to traverse 100 meters, maybe 200 or 300 meters a day. And as they get further and further away from their landing sites, they're going to check more and more to see how extensive it was; hopefully, also get higher up and give us an idea perhaps as to how deep the water might have been on Mars in the past.
HEMMER: And then the ultimate question: How long ago in the past was there water?
SHARA: A very tough question. The technology on board isn't there, unfortunately. We can't determine from the uranium and thorium (ph) and potassium clocks in these rocks. Like this rock, I could tell you how old it is if I analyzed it properly. We're going to have to send another rover -- another set of rovers, or bring rocks back to Earth to check those nuclear clocks.
HEMMER: Quickly, where did you get this?
SHARA: This is basically a rock that you can find almost anywhere.
HEMMER: Anywhere?
SHARA: On Earth. On Earth. This is not a Martian rock.
HEMMER: I understand that.
SHARA: No, no. But it's a common mineral on Earth, fairly common. Wherever water, rivers, lakes lay down rocks, you find this sort of stuff.
HEMMER: Listen, next week there's going to be a huge announcement that's come out about the Hubble Telescope. There's going to be a picture that is released. And I am told that this will be a headline in every newspaper around the world. Why so confident of the news for next week?
SHARA: Well, the images have been taken, and they're finally being set up for release by the Space Telescope Science Institute. This is an extraordinary image, 400 orbits of the Hubble Telescope. Six hundred hours have been devoted to taking this ultra-deep image. And, in fact, astronomers are going to be gathering next week -- I'm going to plug this -- at the American Museum of Natural History to analyze the data on the floor of the Rose Center in New York City public view. They're actually going to try and get enough analysis done to write a paper (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
HEMMER: So, even you are saying that this is monumental news next week.
SHARA: This is spectacular. We're going to see deeper into the universe, earlier back into the universe than we have ever before.
HEMMER: What day?
SHARA: The release is planned for Tuesday.
HEMMER: And you'll be back here.
SHARA: I'd be happy to.
HEMMER: All right, terrific. Michael Shara, thanks. Have a great weekend.
SHARA: A real pleasure.
HEMMER: You got it. There you go. Thanks again.
SHARA: OK.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, after weeks of scandal surrounding its football program, the University of Colorado is now making changes. We'll tell you what they are in a moment when AMERICAN MORNING continues right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The University of Colorado has slapped new rules on its beleaguered football program. Recruits will now have an 11:00 p.m. curfew, and all of their activities will be chaperoned, and they will not be allowed to visit bars or strip clubs or even private parties.
The program has been roiled by scandal since former placekicker Katie Hnida said she was raped by a teammate back in 2000. Hnida is one of several women who have accused football players or recruits of rape since Coach Gary Barnett took over the program.
Coach Barnett is now on paid leave, while the program is being investigated. His suspension was prompted by remarks he made about -- excuse me -- Hnida's ability after she went public with her allegations.
HEMMER: No strip clubs, no parties? Theyre going out on a limb, aren't they?
O'BRIEN: They're only 17 years old. They shouldn't be going to that anyway.
HEMMER: Yes.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Did they include in those rules that you should not hire a moron to run your football program?
HEMMER: You've never been a fan of Barnett.
CAFFERTY: He's an idiot. The things he said about that kid and the fact that, you know, she went out and tried to make the team. He stood in public after these allegations surfaced and said the things he did, the fact that he's getting a paycheck from that university for anything is...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: Now, I'm (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the context for the question in which e answered. It was an ill-advised response. He probably should have left it alone.
CAFFERTY: Well...
HEMMER: But he asked her...
CAFFERTY: Let me try to rephrase this: He's an idiot. OK?
HEMMER: What's happening? Question of the day, a good one, too, by the way.
CAFFERTY: Great fun. Great fun. A church in England that -- we actually got this idea from the file. They have asked their congregants to come up with an 11th commandment. So, we thought it might be fun to have the audience of this program try the same thing. Tongue firmly in cheek, of course. We're not playing fast and loose with organized religion here.
But if there were an 11th commandment, what would it be?
Greg says from Orlando, Florida: "Thou shalt not watch" the "f" word, the "news channel."
"If thou hast the policy" writes Kevin, "a pre-emptive war based on intelligence thou best make damn certain that thine intelligence is accurate before thou invadest a country and killeth its citizens."
Michael in Albuquerque: "Thou shalt not speak on thy cell phone, apply they daily beauty treatment or shave thine face whilst driving thy vehicle down the road."
HEMMER: Amen!
CAFFERTY: Todd in San Diego: "Thou shalt not get all worked up over nothing, like the introduction of a new nickel, for crying out loud."
HEMMER: Hallelujah!
CAFFERTY: And Brian in Saginaw: "Thou shalt not stare at Jack Cafferty's receding hairline, lest you'll go bald yourself."
HEMMER: You still have hair, though, my friend.
CAFFERTY: Not nearly what there used to be.
HEMMER: That's good.
CAFFERTY: But it will get me by.
O'BRIEN: Very funny. HEMMER: You only take all of those power alleys, you know, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Thank you. Here, you want to do this? There you go.
HEMMER: You know, in baseball, you've got...
(CROSSTALK)
CAFFERTY: Power alleys?
HEMMER: ... left field, center field, right field and in between, that's where a hitter wants to hit the baseball. Power alleys (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
CAFFERTY: I said the other day if I move one hair on my head, I create a two-lane road like that.
HEMMER: Love it.
CAFFERTY: Oh, yes, "IN THE MONEY" this weekend. I forgot, it's Friday, and I have to work late, because we tape "IN THE MONEY." And this week, we will have George Costanza on from "Seinfeld." Jason Alexander is his real name, and he has a new role, Middle East peacemaker, talking about what he's asking of everyday Israelis and Palestinians. "IN THE MONEY," on Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. And right after we get through taping it, I have to go to the dentist and have a wisdom tooth pulled.
HEMMER: Oh!
CAFFERTY: And if you hurt me, your name, address and phone number will be on this national TV show tomorrow morning, so get out the Novocain and make sure there's no pain involved.
O'BRIEN: I'm sure it will be completely painless.
HEMMER: You have a big day. You've got to deal with us for three hours...
CAFFERTY: Yes.
HEMMER: ... and then you're going to do "IN THE MONEY"...
O'BRIEN: Wow!
HEMMER: ... and then you've got to sit in that chair.
CAFFERTY: I'm looking forward to the dentist, actually.
O'BRIEN: We've got to be much nice to you for the rest of the show.
HEMMER: Did you hear that?
O'BRIEN: I did. I ignored it. HEMMER: In a moment here, a mother and child reunion six years in the making. We'll talk about the remarkable get-together from one of the people who was near the scene of this yesterday. Back in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING.
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