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American Morning
A Series of Coordinated Attacks Across Country of Iraq; One Member of Scott Peterson Jury Kicked Off
Aired June 24, 2004 - 07:00 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops among the scores of dead and wounded today. A series of coordinated attacks across the country of Iraq.
One member of the Scott Peterson jury now off that panel, kicked off. He tells which side he thinks was winning that case so far.
Police in L.A. accused of using excessive force. This arrest caught on videotape. The fallout this morning, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING, with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody. Some of the news making headlines this morning. We're getting a look into the Scott Peterson trial, unlike anything we've had before. Juror No. 5 now dismissed. His name is Justin Falconer, and he is talking a lot. He'll join us in the show, in fact in the next hour. We'll also talk with Jeff Toobin in a moment about some of the comments that this former juror has been making. We'll get some analysis on this case now.
HEMMER: Talking a lot, you can underline that, huh?
O'BRIEN: Yes, a lot, a lot.
HEMMER: He's everywhere. Also serious questions today about the Saudi government and its offer of amnesty to terrorists. Is this a sign of weakness in the war on terror, or is it a sign of strength? We'll talk to a veteran of the British Foreign Service, find out if the Saudi offer is a good one or not. We'll get to that.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a new series that we're starting today, helping you sort through the maze of difficult money decisions. Our personal financial coach David Bach back with us for "Live Rich Today." He talks about just how much you should be paying yourself.
HEMMER: See if we can make it happen, huh. That's the question. Jack's out for a few days, but Toure's going to be filling in again today, so his topic is coming up in a moment here.
Let's start this morning in Iraq. Near-simultaneous attacks across that country, killing dozens of Iraqis today, including at least 18 police officers, and at least three U.S. soldiers. All the attacks by insurgents occurring in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Mosul, Baghdad, all just six days before the handover of power in Iraq.
Straightaway this morning to Brent Sadler in Iraq for more on this -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Bill. Good morning.
Coalition officials have been warning for weeks that they have been expected an upsurge in violence in the few days before the handover of sovereignty at the end of this month, and that's exactly what's happened today.
Let's start, first of all, to the north of Baghdad in Mosul. A series of detonations, a suicide bomb, other explosions, primarily targeting the police station in the city of Mosul. A dawn until dusk curfew now imposed on that restless city.
Also the most serious clashes taking place in Baqubah, northeast of the Iraqi capital. It began early this morning Iraqi time when troops from the 1st Infantry Division came under attack from loyalists suspected of being followers of -- the ones in al Qaeda -- terror suspect Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. Two American soldiers killed there. Rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars used there to attack the police station in Baqubah and other police targets, and a government building.
Over to the west of Baghdad, in Ramadi, yet another similar attack. These more or less happening in coordination, according to U.S. military officials, more or less at the same time, and more casualties there.
In parallel to that, clashes between U.S. forces and insurgents in Fallujah, a hotbed of violence in the so-called Sunni Triangle. The U.S. called in an airstrike. An F-16 dropped several bombs, precision-guided weapons, against houses to suppress small-arms fire. A U.S. Cobra helicopter gunship forced to make an emergency landing. The crew all right after coming under small-arms fire. So a deadly day here in Iraq, scores of people dead, and as many as 170 people in Mosul alone wounded as a result of those bomb blasts.
Bill Hemmer back to you.
HEMMER: Brent, thank you for that. But stay with me one second.
On the issue of Zarqawi, the U.S. and the coalition forces give this man a lot of credit for a lot of the violence in Iraq. Do the Iraqis give him the same level of credit?
SADLER: No, the Iraqis believe that there is a cocktail of people and Zarqawi is just one of the operatives. It is a cocktail, primarily Iraqis believe of Sunnis loyal to the old Saddam Hussein regime, the very backbone of what was here before in terms of the intelligence services and the military, really trying to derail this handover of sovereignty, because it is these Sunnis, the old remnants of Saddam Hussein's loyalist regime, that will expect to suffer under democracy in Iraq, which should bring to power, it's expected, a Shia- dominated majority, a Shia-dominated government in the future, and that's what all this about, an upsurge in violence to postpone, derail, preferably as far as the insurgents are concerned, it would seem, to destroy this handover period, this event that happens so importantly at the end of this month.
HEMMER: Brent Sadler in Baghdad. Same part of the world, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government warning al Qaeda terrorists in that country, they have 30 days, one month to turn themselves in, or face the consequences. Crown Prince Abdullah in a nationally televised addressed offered amnesty to any al Qaeda militants who have not committed serious crimes. But, he warned, that any terrorists with blood on his hands would be dealt under Islamic law.
Is this a legitimate crackdown? Can it work? Dominic Simpson is head of the Mideast practice at the Krull Risk Consulting Company, recently returning from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our guest now live in London.
Sir, welcome to our program.
How significant is this step?
DOMINIC SIMPSON, KRULL RISK CONSULTING: Good morning to you.
Well, I think it is significant, there's no doubt when I was in Saudi Arabia recently a very widespread feeling that the ruling family has been dithering in the face of the terrorist threat, not quite sure which way to turn. It seems now that we've had a considered response, at least, with this offer of amnesty from Crown Prince Abdullah.
HEMMER: Does this put this government in position to make bold moves once the time period's up? And how is a bold move defined in that country?
SIMPSON: Well, I think it's important to remember this amnesty comes in a long Islamic tradition, as it were, of amnesties. We had them throughout Islamic history. We've had one most recently in Algeria, where the government has been engaged in a long and bitter struggle with an Islamist insurgency.
I think what this amnesty means is irrespective of how many people take it up, once it's expired, it will enable the Saudi authorities with a greater degree of legitimacy, of political and religious cover, to move and crackdown on these elements with as much as they can muster.
HEMMER: But do you see that crackdown as legitimate, or do you see it in word only?
SIMPSON: I think the crackdown will certainly happen. I think it is legitimate to the extent that the overwhelming majority of ordinary Saudis, while they may have disagreements with aspects of American foreign policy, they don't support the terrorists, they don't support the kind of attacks that are often very brutal and hands-on gruesome attacks that we've seen during recent weeks. And as I say, I think the way that the amnesty is phrased, Islamic law and so forth, I think that does give the move by the Saudis greater legitimacy. There are some religious clerics, people like Sayman Al Audr (ph) and Sufra Awalli (ph), guys who have criticized the Saudi royal family in the past, but who are now saying that these actions by the terrorists are not legitimate. I think the Saudi government is trying to reach out to that constituency.
HEMMER: Also that government saying they've raided an Internet operation run by al Qaeda. They're saying they're on the lookout at tailor shops, because they believe police uniforms are being made there. We'll see as the next month unfolds.
Dominic Simpson, live in London, thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
SIMPSON: Thank you.
HEMMER: Appreciate -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, now to this development in the Scott Peterson trial. When court reconvenes this morning, there will be a new juror who's sitting in seat No. 5. The judge yesterday dismissed the original juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, who had a brief encounter last week with Laci Peterson's brother.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Justin Falconer says while he doesn't think he did anything wrong, he understands why the judge removed him as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson double- murder trial.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: He regretted having to let me go, but because of the attention that I was getting, he didn't - he felt like it was too much of a distraction.
ROWLANDS: Much of the attention was centered around this exchange between Falconer and Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, as they entered the courthouse last week.
FALCONER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ROWLANDS: Falconer, a 28-year-old security guard and airport screener, says he believes that media reports on what happened between he and Rocha led to his dismissal. Others think there's more to it.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: It's much more than that, because that was past. That was gone. This trial would have moved on had something else not have happened.
ROWLANDS: As for the case against Scott Peterson, Falconer says he has a lot of respect for the defense attorney, but had trouble following the prosecution. FALCONER: It was difficult for me to follow what was - you know, what did he want us to think here? What did he want us to think there?
ROWLANDS (on camera): Following Falconer's dismissal as a juror, Scott Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for a mistrial. That request was denied, and alternate No. 1 took over as Juror No. 5. He is a middle-aged male with a degree in both law and medicine.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: So, will Justin Falconer's dismissal affect the trial itself and other jurors as well. Those are questions for CNN's senior legal analyst joining us this morning.
Nice to see you.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Considering we're just a couple of weeks in, we heard this from Justin Falconer -- I want to play a little bit -- about whether he thought Scott Peterson was guilty. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED PETERSON JURORS: What information I've gotten from testimony and from the evidence presented, you can't possibly have convicted him on that, and that's what I'm basing that on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Early on, when you hear comments like that, what do you think?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, first of all, it's really inappropriate to make up your mind in any way based on so little evidence that has been presented so far, so I think he's really kind of overstating what he could possibly say.
But I do think it's also a wake-up call for the prosecution that this case has been was not brought before jurors in a very dramatic way. This is the third week of testimony. Almost all the evidence is related to how Scott Peterson has reacted to the news of his wife's disappearance. Basically, that evidence is pretty ambiguous. They should move on to something better.
O'BRIEN: So then do the prosecution, and the defense as well, listen to someone like this juror, and say, OK, we now are going to tweak our strategy. I mean, is that standard?
TOOBIN: Well, nothing is standard about have a high-profile dismissal like this. But certainly, if you hear from a juror, you are going to take it seriously, because those are the people who are sitting in court everyday who are really listening to all the evidence. We don't know if this is his view alone or the view of more jurors, but I don't see how you can just ignore it, and say, well, we're not going to pay any attention at all.
O'BRIEN: Mark Geragos jumped up and said, I want a mistrial. He's now said that a couple of times. The judge said no, but potentially, down the road, could this be grounds for a mistrial?
TOOBIN: I think very unlikely. Judges have an enormous amount of discretion to control the relationship of jurors in their courtroom. The see the jurors everyday. Appeals courts are very reluctant to criticize trial court judges about how they dismiss or don't dismiss jurors.
But it is a serious thing to have a juror say that the case is going so badly for the prosecution.
O'BRIEN: Peterson's attorney, Geragos, said "The media insinuated themselves in the case in a way that's unprecedented. I think it's an outrage they are" -- they being the media -- "are choosing off jurors, and that is outrageous." Does he have any point, do you think?
TOOBIN: Well, I think it is a little peculiar that a camera was at the security table when these people were walking in. Usually cameras are somewhat greater removed. But that's not really the media's fault. The rules are established by the courtroom authorities, and if cameras are allowed, cameras are going to go where they're allowed. If they're kept at some distance and don't capture on tape interactions like that, then there wouldn't be any problem.
O'BRIEN: On Monday when the judge was reviewing that interaction at the security desk, he said that the juror would stay. This morning, juror not staying. So, I guess the question would be -- and I think there was a legal analyst in Ted Rowlands' piece, who sort of raised it, which said something bigger is happening behind the scenes.
TOOBIN: It does suggest something else was going on here. Based on that interaction at that table, that extremely brief, you know, almost an exchange of pleasantries, it's hard to imagine that alone could get someone thrown off a jury. It seems like something else was going on. I don't know what.
O'BRIEN: More than just a distraction, because that's what apparently he said the judge told him, you're a distraction.
TOOBIN: Well, a distraction can be something pretty big -- if you're completely obnoxious to other jurors, if you're violating the rules. He made some references in his interviews to the facts that he was discussing some aspects of the case or press coverage with his girlfriend. Those could be considered violating his obligations as a juror. I don't know really what happened.
O'BRIEN: We probably will hear more. We're going to hear from him actually a little bit later on this morning. Jeff Toobin...
TOOBIN: He rivals Bill Clinton in the...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: In the short time, he's really been making the rounds, as they say. Thanks, Jeff. Appreciate it.
We're going to be, in fact, talking with him this morning, 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. That's 5:00 a.m., obviously, on the West Coast -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, also in California, a story that caught our eye here yesterday on AMERICAN MORNING. The FBI and L.A. police now investigating the possible use of excessive force during the arrest of an unarmed suspect. Thirty-six-year-old Stanley Miller running from police after he was suspected of driving a stolen car. Miller appears to surrender, but critics say here's the problem. It appears as if he is struck 11 times, often with a flashlight, hence the outrage in that community.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJEE ALI: We saw an unarmed man be beaten on camera, who seemed to be cooperating and not resisting arrest, so we're outraged and shocked by what happened on this videotape. We're very concerned and alarmed, and it's very unfortunate that after the Rodney King beating, we still have some rogue officers within the LAPD.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: A bit later today, the LAPD holds a news conference, releasing this statement yesterday: "The internal affairs division personnel, in addition to our administrative folks, will thoroughly unpeel the layers of this situation until we get to the truth," unquote -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: It is just about quarter past the hour, time to take a look at some of the other stories making news today, with Daryn Kagan.
Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Soledad.
We begin with an explosion in Turkey, just two days ahead of President Bush's scheduled trip there. A small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara. That is where the president is reportedly expected to stay when he visits this weekend. Mr. Bush's stop in Ankara planned ahead of next week's NATO summit in Istanbul. Turkish police say that at least two people were injured in today's explosion, including a police officer.
Preparations are being made to get some British servicemen out of Iran. Britain's foreign office says that Iran has freed eight crew members, three days after they were detained for crossing into Iranian waters. The British servicemen will stay at Britain's embassy in Tehran until they are able to fly home. With the countdown to the handover in Iraq less than one week away, a new diplomatic phase. Secretary of State Colin Powell swearing in John Negroponte yesterday as the new American ambassador Iraq. Negroponte said that his mission there is clear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMB. TO IRAQ: As I prepare to go to Iraq as United States ambassador, I do so with a clear mission: to offer support and assistance to the Iraqi people and government as Iraq reasserts its full sovereignty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Negroponte will head up what will become America's biggest embassy overseas. He is expected to arrive in Baghdad at the beginning of next month.
And the International Space Station will be left empty for a planned spacewalk today. The two-man crew, one American and one Russian, will be heading out to fix a faulty circuit breaker. The mission being described as risky, because they'll be wearing Russian spacesuits with stiffer gloves, not the best for repairs. They'll also be traveling a longer distance, 45 minutes each way.
But, Bill, let's be clear here, the really tough work is taking place down here on Earth. Michael Finke, he's the American astronaut, his wife gave birth to their second child. She's doing the tough work.
HEMMER: Indeed you're right, Daryn.
KAGAN: Exactly.
HEMMER: Thanks for that, talk to you later.
O'BRIEN: Understatement.
HEMMER: I'm telling you, Soledad.
Jack's out. Toure's back with us today.
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: The winning streak continues.
HEMMER: How're you doing? Two for two -- what's on your mind?
O'BRIEN: If you say so yourself.
TOURE: That's right. If I say so. We're going to start with a prop, because it's a special day today. This is my wedding ring. Can you see that? I'm not married yet.
O'BRIEN: Put it back on your finger.
TOURE: No, I'm not married yet. I'm getting married next year, but I got my engagement ring yesterday, and the point of the day is that there's been a survey, 1,000 men, by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers, reasons for getting married, and men seem to like getting married; 81 percent say the right time to settle down is the reason why they did it, 35 percent say having children is why they did it, 15 percent, pressure from a partner, which isn't perhaps the best reason to choose, but...
O'BRIEN: Some people need to be pushed, let's say.
TOURE: But there are good reasons to get married, and men seem to like it; 94 percent say they're happier, 73 say they're having better sex, which is good to hear for an engaged guy, 68 percent, more financially stable.
So we've got wedding shows all over the TV -- "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "For Money or Love," or whatever. Our question, why get married? Aside from love, why get married? Money. Power. Book sales. Green card. Vegas. Haven't been married in a month. No, that's J-Lo's reason alone. E-mail us at AM@CNN.com. We've got an engaged person, a very married person and an extraordinarily single Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Still single, baby.
O'BRIEN: I try to set him up all the time.
HEMMER: I won't be single forever. Someday it'll come along, and I'm hoping today you'll be able to give me some guidance.
TOURE: Someday your princess will come.
HEMMER: Should I look for him for guidance?
O'BRIEN: Let's see how this goes.
TOURE: I don't know, baby. I'm at the altar.
O'BRIEN: Let's see how it goes before you start taking guidance from Toure. I'll tell you at the end of the show.
All right, Toure, thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: In a moment here, some advice on how best to build up a nest egg. One hint, put away your checkbook, if you can.
O'BRIEN: That probably won't last very long, will it?
Also this morning, some say Ron Reagan took a swipe at President Bush when he spoke at his father's eulogy. Well, now Ron Reagan has a response. We're going to hear that, just ahead.
HEMMER: Also an amazing story here, 100 million e-mail addresses stolen and sold to spammers. Were you one of them? Even worse, authorities say it was an inside job. Andy's "Minding Your Business," in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Investigators say it is an inside job. An AOL worker is accused of selling e-mail addresses to spammers.
Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Good morning. Pretty shocking.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It is. It's scary stuff. It's a spam story, and it's got to be chilling if you're sitting at home and using e-mail this morning. Secret Service agents yesterday arresting an AOL software engineer and accusing him of stealing screen names, nearly 100 million screen names, then selling them to a spammer who later sold it himself and used it to send out junk e-mail. Jason Smathers, 24 years old of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, arrested. He sold 92 million plus e-mail screen names to one Sean Dunaway, 21 years old, Las Vegas. That's Sean Dunaway right there. Looks like a cast member of "The OC," doesn't he? Twenty-one years old.
Wow. These guys are in a world of trouble here. Again, they're just accused at this point, of course. A hundred-thousand dollars this gentleman paid the AOL employee for the names, and then he later resold them to other spammers for 50 million dollars. AOL is cooperating in the investigation, has fired the worker who is accused.
HEMMER: Sound like a do-not call list, raising money, generating off other people's information.
O'BRIEN: That's amazing how much of a profit he made off that.
SERWER: It is. But obviously it's a huge business.
O'BRIEN: Yes, let's talk about the markets quickly.
SERWER: Quickly, a banner day yesterday, stocks up nicely across the board. Futures looking a little bit weaker though this morning.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks, we'll check in with you again.
HEMMER: In his first primetime interview since the death of his father, President Reagan's youngest son, Ron, last night speaking candidly with our Larry King.
Among the range of topics Iraq, and Ron's opinion about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON REAGAN JR., SON OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: We lied our way into the war.
LARRY KING, HOST: You think it's a mistake.
REAGAN: Oh, absolutely, it was a terrible mistake, terrible foreign policy here. We didn't have to do it, it was optional, and we were lied to, the American public was lied to about WMD, connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam, which is virtually nonexistent, except for a few fleeting contacts, but they're still trying to pull that one off now. Cheney and all are out there, you know...
KING: Can I gather from that that you will not support this president?
REAGAN: No, I won't.
KING: Will you support his opponent?
REAGAN: I will vote for whoever the viable candidate is who can defeat George W. Bush, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Part of the interview last night, Ron Reagan with Larry King. He did stress that he thinks his father would have gone after Osama bin Laden, with his words, "with a vengeance" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, in "Political Pop," John Kerry faced some serious downtime in the Senate on Tuesday, and one of our panelists say it's the sign of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Also ahead this morning, a series of deadly attacks today across Iraq. We've got details just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired June 24, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. troops among the scores of dead and wounded today. A series of coordinated attacks across the country of Iraq.
One member of the Scott Peterson jury now off that panel, kicked off. He tells which side he thinks was winning that case so far.
Police in L.A. accused of using excessive force. This arrest caught on videotape. The fallout this morning, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING, with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Welcome, everybody. Some of the news making headlines this morning. We're getting a look into the Scott Peterson trial, unlike anything we've had before. Juror No. 5 now dismissed. His name is Justin Falconer, and he is talking a lot. He'll join us in the show, in fact in the next hour. We'll also talk with Jeff Toobin in a moment about some of the comments that this former juror has been making. We'll get some analysis on this case now.
HEMMER: Talking a lot, you can underline that, huh?
O'BRIEN: Yes, a lot, a lot.
HEMMER: He's everywhere. Also serious questions today about the Saudi government and its offer of amnesty to terrorists. Is this a sign of weakness in the war on terror, or is it a sign of strength? We'll talk to a veteran of the British Foreign Service, find out if the Saudi offer is a good one or not. We'll get to that.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, a new series that we're starting today, helping you sort through the maze of difficult money decisions. Our personal financial coach David Bach back with us for "Live Rich Today." He talks about just how much you should be paying yourself.
HEMMER: See if we can make it happen, huh. That's the question. Jack's out for a few days, but Toure's going to be filling in again today, so his topic is coming up in a moment here.
Let's start this morning in Iraq. Near-simultaneous attacks across that country, killing dozens of Iraqis today, including at least 18 police officers, and at least three U.S. soldiers. All the attacks by insurgents occurring in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Mosul, Baghdad, all just six days before the handover of power in Iraq.
Straightaway this morning to Brent Sadler in Iraq for more on this -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Bill. Good morning.
Coalition officials have been warning for weeks that they have been expected an upsurge in violence in the few days before the handover of sovereignty at the end of this month, and that's exactly what's happened today.
Let's start, first of all, to the north of Baghdad in Mosul. A series of detonations, a suicide bomb, other explosions, primarily targeting the police station in the city of Mosul. A dawn until dusk curfew now imposed on that restless city.
Also the most serious clashes taking place in Baqubah, northeast of the Iraqi capital. It began early this morning Iraqi time when troops from the 1st Infantry Division came under attack from loyalists suspected of being followers of -- the ones in al Qaeda -- terror suspect Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. Two American soldiers killed there. Rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and mortars used there to attack the police station in Baqubah and other police targets, and a government building.
Over to the west of Baghdad, in Ramadi, yet another similar attack. These more or less happening in coordination, according to U.S. military officials, more or less at the same time, and more casualties there.
In parallel to that, clashes between U.S. forces and insurgents in Fallujah, a hotbed of violence in the so-called Sunni Triangle. The U.S. called in an airstrike. An F-16 dropped several bombs, precision-guided weapons, against houses to suppress small-arms fire. A U.S. Cobra helicopter gunship forced to make an emergency landing. The crew all right after coming under small-arms fire. So a deadly day here in Iraq, scores of people dead, and as many as 170 people in Mosul alone wounded as a result of those bomb blasts.
Bill Hemmer back to you.
HEMMER: Brent, thank you for that. But stay with me one second.
On the issue of Zarqawi, the U.S. and the coalition forces give this man a lot of credit for a lot of the violence in Iraq. Do the Iraqis give him the same level of credit?
SADLER: No, the Iraqis believe that there is a cocktail of people and Zarqawi is just one of the operatives. It is a cocktail, primarily Iraqis believe of Sunnis loyal to the old Saddam Hussein regime, the very backbone of what was here before in terms of the intelligence services and the military, really trying to derail this handover of sovereignty, because it is these Sunnis, the old remnants of Saddam Hussein's loyalist regime, that will expect to suffer under democracy in Iraq, which should bring to power, it's expected, a Shia- dominated majority, a Shia-dominated government in the future, and that's what all this about, an upsurge in violence to postpone, derail, preferably as far as the insurgents are concerned, it would seem, to destroy this handover period, this event that happens so importantly at the end of this month.
HEMMER: Brent Sadler in Baghdad. Same part of the world, Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government warning al Qaeda terrorists in that country, they have 30 days, one month to turn themselves in, or face the consequences. Crown Prince Abdullah in a nationally televised addressed offered amnesty to any al Qaeda militants who have not committed serious crimes. But, he warned, that any terrorists with blood on his hands would be dealt under Islamic law.
Is this a legitimate crackdown? Can it work? Dominic Simpson is head of the Mideast practice at the Krull Risk Consulting Company, recently returning from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our guest now live in London.
Sir, welcome to our program.
How significant is this step?
DOMINIC SIMPSON, KRULL RISK CONSULTING: Good morning to you.
Well, I think it is significant, there's no doubt when I was in Saudi Arabia recently a very widespread feeling that the ruling family has been dithering in the face of the terrorist threat, not quite sure which way to turn. It seems now that we've had a considered response, at least, with this offer of amnesty from Crown Prince Abdullah.
HEMMER: Does this put this government in position to make bold moves once the time period's up? And how is a bold move defined in that country?
SIMPSON: Well, I think it's important to remember this amnesty comes in a long Islamic tradition, as it were, of amnesties. We had them throughout Islamic history. We've had one most recently in Algeria, where the government has been engaged in a long and bitter struggle with an Islamist insurgency.
I think what this amnesty means is irrespective of how many people take it up, once it's expired, it will enable the Saudi authorities with a greater degree of legitimacy, of political and religious cover, to move and crackdown on these elements with as much as they can muster.
HEMMER: But do you see that crackdown as legitimate, or do you see it in word only?
SIMPSON: I think the crackdown will certainly happen. I think it is legitimate to the extent that the overwhelming majority of ordinary Saudis, while they may have disagreements with aspects of American foreign policy, they don't support the terrorists, they don't support the kind of attacks that are often very brutal and hands-on gruesome attacks that we've seen during recent weeks. And as I say, I think the way that the amnesty is phrased, Islamic law and so forth, I think that does give the move by the Saudis greater legitimacy. There are some religious clerics, people like Sayman Al Audr (ph) and Sufra Awalli (ph), guys who have criticized the Saudi royal family in the past, but who are now saying that these actions by the terrorists are not legitimate. I think the Saudi government is trying to reach out to that constituency.
HEMMER: Also that government saying they've raided an Internet operation run by al Qaeda. They're saying they're on the lookout at tailor shops, because they believe police uniforms are being made there. We'll see as the next month unfolds.
Dominic Simpson, live in London, thank you for your time. Appreciate it.
SIMPSON: Thank you.
HEMMER: Appreciate -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Well, now to this development in the Scott Peterson trial. When court reconvenes this morning, there will be a new juror who's sitting in seat No. 5. The judge yesterday dismissed the original juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, who had a brief encounter last week with Laci Peterson's brother.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Justin Falconer says while he doesn't think he did anything wrong, he understands why the judge removed him as Juror No. 5 in the Scott Peterson double- murder trial.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: He regretted having to let me go, but because of the attention that I was getting, he didn't - he felt like it was too much of a distraction.
ROWLANDS: Much of the attention was centered around this exchange between Falconer and Laci Peterson's brother, Brent Rocha, as they entered the courthouse last week.
FALCONER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)
ROWLANDS: Falconer, a 28-year-old security guard and airport screener, says he believes that media reports on what happened between he and Rocha led to his dismissal. Others think there's more to it.
MICHAEL CARDOZA, LEGAL ANALYST: It's much more than that, because that was past. That was gone. This trial would have moved on had something else not have happened.
ROWLANDS: As for the case against Scott Peterson, Falconer says he has a lot of respect for the defense attorney, but had trouble following the prosecution. FALCONER: It was difficult for me to follow what was - you know, what did he want us to think here? What did he want us to think there?
ROWLANDS (on camera): Following Falconer's dismissal as a juror, Scott Peterson's attorney, Mark Geragos, asked for a mistrial. That request was denied, and alternate No. 1 took over as Juror No. 5. He is a middle-aged male with a degree in both law and medicine.
Ted Rowlands, CNN, Redwood City, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: So, will Justin Falconer's dismissal affect the trial itself and other jurors as well. Those are questions for CNN's senior legal analyst joining us this morning.
Nice to see you.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.
O'BRIEN: Considering we're just a couple of weeks in, we heard this from Justin Falconer -- I want to play a little bit -- about whether he thought Scott Peterson was guilty. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED PETERSON JURORS: What information I've gotten from testimony and from the evidence presented, you can't possibly have convicted him on that, and that's what I'm basing that on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Early on, when you hear comments like that, what do you think?
TOOBIN: Well, I think, first of all, it's really inappropriate to make up your mind in any way based on so little evidence that has been presented so far, so I think he's really kind of overstating what he could possibly say.
But I do think it's also a wake-up call for the prosecution that this case has been was not brought before jurors in a very dramatic way. This is the third week of testimony. Almost all the evidence is related to how Scott Peterson has reacted to the news of his wife's disappearance. Basically, that evidence is pretty ambiguous. They should move on to something better.
O'BRIEN: So then do the prosecution, and the defense as well, listen to someone like this juror, and say, OK, we now are going to tweak our strategy. I mean, is that standard?
TOOBIN: Well, nothing is standard about have a high-profile dismissal like this. But certainly, if you hear from a juror, you are going to take it seriously, because those are the people who are sitting in court everyday who are really listening to all the evidence. We don't know if this is his view alone or the view of more jurors, but I don't see how you can just ignore it, and say, well, we're not going to pay any attention at all.
O'BRIEN: Mark Geragos jumped up and said, I want a mistrial. He's now said that a couple of times. The judge said no, but potentially, down the road, could this be grounds for a mistrial?
TOOBIN: I think very unlikely. Judges have an enormous amount of discretion to control the relationship of jurors in their courtroom. The see the jurors everyday. Appeals courts are very reluctant to criticize trial court judges about how they dismiss or don't dismiss jurors.
But it is a serious thing to have a juror say that the case is going so badly for the prosecution.
O'BRIEN: Peterson's attorney, Geragos, said "The media insinuated themselves in the case in a way that's unprecedented. I think it's an outrage they are" -- they being the media -- "are choosing off jurors, and that is outrageous." Does he have any point, do you think?
TOOBIN: Well, I think it is a little peculiar that a camera was at the security table when these people were walking in. Usually cameras are somewhat greater removed. But that's not really the media's fault. The rules are established by the courtroom authorities, and if cameras are allowed, cameras are going to go where they're allowed. If they're kept at some distance and don't capture on tape interactions like that, then there wouldn't be any problem.
O'BRIEN: On Monday when the judge was reviewing that interaction at the security desk, he said that the juror would stay. This morning, juror not staying. So, I guess the question would be -- and I think there was a legal analyst in Ted Rowlands' piece, who sort of raised it, which said something bigger is happening behind the scenes.
TOOBIN: It does suggest something else was going on here. Based on that interaction at that table, that extremely brief, you know, almost an exchange of pleasantries, it's hard to imagine that alone could get someone thrown off a jury. It seems like something else was going on. I don't know what.
O'BRIEN: More than just a distraction, because that's what apparently he said the judge told him, you're a distraction.
TOOBIN: Well, a distraction can be something pretty big -- if you're completely obnoxious to other jurors, if you're violating the rules. He made some references in his interviews to the facts that he was discussing some aspects of the case or press coverage with his girlfriend. Those could be considered violating his obligations as a juror. I don't know really what happened.
O'BRIEN: We probably will hear more. We're going to hear from him actually a little bit later on this morning. Jeff Toobin...
TOOBIN: He rivals Bill Clinton in the...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: In the short time, he's really been making the rounds, as they say. Thanks, Jeff. Appreciate it.
We're going to be, in fact, talking with him this morning, 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. That's 5:00 a.m., obviously, on the West Coast -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, also in California, a story that caught our eye here yesterday on AMERICAN MORNING. The FBI and L.A. police now investigating the possible use of excessive force during the arrest of an unarmed suspect. Thirty-six-year-old Stanley Miller running from police after he was suspected of driving a stolen car. Miller appears to surrender, but critics say here's the problem. It appears as if he is struck 11 times, often with a flashlight, hence the outrage in that community.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NAJEE ALI: We saw an unarmed man be beaten on camera, who seemed to be cooperating and not resisting arrest, so we're outraged and shocked by what happened on this videotape. We're very concerned and alarmed, and it's very unfortunate that after the Rodney King beating, we still have some rogue officers within the LAPD.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: A bit later today, the LAPD holds a news conference, releasing this statement yesterday: "The internal affairs division personnel, in addition to our administrative folks, will thoroughly unpeel the layers of this situation until we get to the truth," unquote -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: It is just about quarter past the hour, time to take a look at some of the other stories making news today, with Daryn Kagan.
Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Soledad.
We begin with an explosion in Turkey, just two days ahead of President Bush's scheduled trip there. A small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara. That is where the president is reportedly expected to stay when he visits this weekend. Mr. Bush's stop in Ankara planned ahead of next week's NATO summit in Istanbul. Turkish police say that at least two people were injured in today's explosion, including a police officer.
Preparations are being made to get some British servicemen out of Iran. Britain's foreign office says that Iran has freed eight crew members, three days after they were detained for crossing into Iranian waters. The British servicemen will stay at Britain's embassy in Tehran until they are able to fly home. With the countdown to the handover in Iraq less than one week away, a new diplomatic phase. Secretary of State Colin Powell swearing in John Negroponte yesterday as the new American ambassador Iraq. Negroponte said that his mission there is clear.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN NEGROPONTE, U.S. AMB. TO IRAQ: As I prepare to go to Iraq as United States ambassador, I do so with a clear mission: to offer support and assistance to the Iraqi people and government as Iraq reasserts its full sovereignty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Negroponte will head up what will become America's biggest embassy overseas. He is expected to arrive in Baghdad at the beginning of next month.
And the International Space Station will be left empty for a planned spacewalk today. The two-man crew, one American and one Russian, will be heading out to fix a faulty circuit breaker. The mission being described as risky, because they'll be wearing Russian spacesuits with stiffer gloves, not the best for repairs. They'll also be traveling a longer distance, 45 minutes each way.
But, Bill, let's be clear here, the really tough work is taking place down here on Earth. Michael Finke, he's the American astronaut, his wife gave birth to their second child. She's doing the tough work.
HEMMER: Indeed you're right, Daryn.
KAGAN: Exactly.
HEMMER: Thanks for that, talk to you later.
O'BRIEN: Understatement.
HEMMER: I'm telling you, Soledad.
Jack's out. Toure's back with us today.
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE" MAGAZINE: The winning streak continues.
HEMMER: How're you doing? Two for two -- what's on your mind?
O'BRIEN: If you say so yourself.
TOURE: That's right. If I say so. We're going to start with a prop, because it's a special day today. This is my wedding ring. Can you see that? I'm not married yet.
O'BRIEN: Put it back on your finger.
TOURE: No, I'm not married yet. I'm getting married next year, but I got my engagement ring yesterday, and the point of the day is that there's been a survey, 1,000 men, by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers, reasons for getting married, and men seem to like getting married; 81 percent say the right time to settle down is the reason why they did it, 35 percent say having children is why they did it, 15 percent, pressure from a partner, which isn't perhaps the best reason to choose, but...
O'BRIEN: Some people need to be pushed, let's say.
TOURE: But there are good reasons to get married, and men seem to like it; 94 percent say they're happier, 73 say they're having better sex, which is good to hear for an engaged guy, 68 percent, more financially stable.
So we've got wedding shows all over the TV -- "The Bachelor," "The Bachelorette," "For Money or Love," or whatever. Our question, why get married? Aside from love, why get married? Money. Power. Book sales. Green card. Vegas. Haven't been married in a month. No, that's J-Lo's reason alone. E-mail us at AM@CNN.com. We've got an engaged person, a very married person and an extraordinarily single Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: Still single, baby.
O'BRIEN: I try to set him up all the time.
HEMMER: I won't be single forever. Someday it'll come along, and I'm hoping today you'll be able to give me some guidance.
TOURE: Someday your princess will come.
HEMMER: Should I look for him for guidance?
O'BRIEN: Let's see how this goes.
TOURE: I don't know, baby. I'm at the altar.
O'BRIEN: Let's see how it goes before you start taking guidance from Toure. I'll tell you at the end of the show.
All right, Toure, thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: In a moment here, some advice on how best to build up a nest egg. One hint, put away your checkbook, if you can.
O'BRIEN: That probably won't last very long, will it?
Also this morning, some say Ron Reagan took a swipe at President Bush when he spoke at his father's eulogy. Well, now Ron Reagan has a response. We're going to hear that, just ahead.
HEMMER: Also an amazing story here, 100 million e-mail addresses stolen and sold to spammers. Were you one of them? Even worse, authorities say it was an inside job. Andy's "Minding Your Business," in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Investigators say it is an inside job. An AOL worker is accused of selling e-mail addresses to spammers.
Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business" this morning.
Good morning. Pretty shocking.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It is. It's scary stuff. It's a spam story, and it's got to be chilling if you're sitting at home and using e-mail this morning. Secret Service agents yesterday arresting an AOL software engineer and accusing him of stealing screen names, nearly 100 million screen names, then selling them to a spammer who later sold it himself and used it to send out junk e-mail. Jason Smathers, 24 years old of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, arrested. He sold 92 million plus e-mail screen names to one Sean Dunaway, 21 years old, Las Vegas. That's Sean Dunaway right there. Looks like a cast member of "The OC," doesn't he? Twenty-one years old.
Wow. These guys are in a world of trouble here. Again, they're just accused at this point, of course. A hundred-thousand dollars this gentleman paid the AOL employee for the names, and then he later resold them to other spammers for 50 million dollars. AOL is cooperating in the investigation, has fired the worker who is accused.
HEMMER: Sound like a do-not call list, raising money, generating off other people's information.
O'BRIEN: That's amazing how much of a profit he made off that.
SERWER: It is. But obviously it's a huge business.
O'BRIEN: Yes, let's talk about the markets quickly.
SERWER: Quickly, a banner day yesterday, stocks up nicely across the board. Futures looking a little bit weaker though this morning.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thanks, we'll check in with you again.
HEMMER: In his first primetime interview since the death of his father, President Reagan's youngest son, Ron, last night speaking candidly with our Larry King.
Among the range of topics Iraq, and Ron's opinion about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RON REAGAN JR., SON OF PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN: We lied our way into the war.
LARRY KING, HOST: You think it's a mistake.
REAGAN: Oh, absolutely, it was a terrible mistake, terrible foreign policy here. We didn't have to do it, it was optional, and we were lied to, the American public was lied to about WMD, connection between Osama bin Laden and Saddam, which is virtually nonexistent, except for a few fleeting contacts, but they're still trying to pull that one off now. Cheney and all are out there, you know...
KING: Can I gather from that that you will not support this president?
REAGAN: No, I won't.
KING: Will you support his opponent?
REAGAN: I will vote for whoever the viable candidate is who can defeat George W. Bush, yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Part of the interview last night, Ron Reagan with Larry King. He did stress that he thinks his father would have gone after Osama bin Laden, with his words, "with a vengeance" -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, in "Political Pop," John Kerry faced some serious downtime in the Senate on Tuesday, and one of our panelists say it's the sign of a vast right-wing conspiracy.
Also ahead this morning, a series of deadly attacks today across Iraq. We've got details just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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