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American Morning
Bombs Go Off in Four Iraqi Cities; Bush Meets with Congressional Leaders; Booted Juror Says Peterson Not Guilty; Saudi Deadline for Terrorists Indicates Crackdown Coming; Jose Contreras Reunited with Family from Cuba
Aired June 24, 2004 - 08:00 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.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Autobiography sold on Tuesday. Kelly Wallace will join us in just a little bit to talk about how long the streak could last.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also now officially, the summertime. Have you heard of something called Rift Valley Fever? Some say it could be the next mosquito-born virus that everyone is talking within the medical world. Sanjay Gupta has a look at this when the good doctor joins us a bit later this hour. So details then.
O'BRIEN: Let's go overseas, though, first.
Near simultaneous attacks across Iraq have killed dozens of Iraqis this morning, including at least 18 police officers and at least three U.S. soldiers.
The attacks by insurgents occurred in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah and Mosul. They come just six days before the handover of power in Iraq.
We've got two reports for you this morning. Elaine Quijano at the White House for us, where President Bush is preparing to meet with congressional leaders, and Iraq will be on the agenda. And also, Barbara Starr, live for us at the Pentagon this morning.
Let's begin with Barbara.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
A lot of concern here about this latest wave of violence, the assessment, the same here as it is in Baghdad, that these are a coordinated wave of attacks, possibly unleashed by the followers of the insurgent leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Now, of course, the question is, what to do now. A senior military coalition official says at the moment, they're not losing a lot of sleep over it, in his words. He calls the insurgents, quote, "one trick ponies who come out and shoot their wad with no follow up."
But here at the Pentagon there is much deeper policy concern. Of course, concern now that these attacks certainly will continue, even after the June 30 handover date. A senior official saying there is no reason to think any of this is going to stop on June 30. He was saying that the coalition should be prepared to deal with this type of violence all the way to the elections next year -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: So then, how exactly is the U.S. prepared with this type of -- to deal with this type of violence all the way, if it is, to the elections of next year?
STARR: Well, it's going to be very difficult, officials say. They had planned to try and lower the U.S. military profile in Iraq as the transition happened and as they move toward elections trying to reduce the profile so U.S. forces would be much less visible.
But with the wave of violence and with the concern about security in Iraq, especially keeping the new interim government leaders safe from any insurgent attacks, it looks like that lower profile may be very difficult to achieve.
So, expect to see more U.S. military response in the days ahead, especially in Fallujah. They will definitely try and go after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, especially before that June 30 handover date. They believe he's hiding in Fallujah, and they are looking for him.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon.
Let's take it quickly to the White House. Again, Elaine Quijano is there for us this morning.
Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
President Bush is set to meet with about 15 to 20 members of Congress this morning. We are told that this is a bipartisan meeting in which the president will be meeting with both members of the House and Senate.
Now we know that one of the topics likely to come up is the issue of Iraq. Obviously, with just days now before the official transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people and the uptick of violence, this is something that the Bush administration has prepared the American people for, the Iraqi people for, as well, saying that this would be the critical time. This, in fact, would be the crucial time for people in Iraq.
This uptick of violence certainly no surprise to officials here.
Officials, though, also saying they are closely monitoring the offense on the ground. This is something, as I said, not unexpected for the administration. They remain committed, though, to moving forward with this transfer of sovereignty.
Officials also saying that this is a busy time for the president as he prepares to head to Europe, to Ireland, to Turkey, to meet with European leaders; also to attend the upcoming NATO summit. The president this morning, this part of a regular series of meetings the president holds from time to time, we understand. Officials all this past week have been meeting with people on the Hill to try and talk to them in advance of that transfer of sovereignty, coming up in just a week or so.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Four minutes past the hour.
Did not take long, about two weeks, in fact, for juror No. 5 to form an opinion.
In Scott Peterson's double murder trial Justin Falconer was kicked off the jury yesterday. Last week he was recorded making a remark to Laci Peterson's brother outside the courtroom.
Juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, is with us live from California.
Good morning to you.
I know you've done a number of interviews.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: Good morning.
HEMMER: This is another one in the string.
At one point you said you do not believe he's guilty. Why not?
FALCONER: Well, the prosecution hasn't given me any reason to yet. I, you know, coming in Tuesday morning, I didn't have an opinion. You know, I didn't have anything either way I didn't really have an opinion yet. The only reason I have one now is because I'm no longer a juror.
HEMMER: You're saying Tuesday morning of this week, Justin?
FALCONER: Yes. It was Tuesday morning. When I came into the courthouse I didn't have an opinion. I was looking forward to hearing the cross-examination of Brocchini, but now I'm just -- I'm not part of the jury, so I have an opinion now. But...
HEMMER: Let me be clear on this. Tuesday morning of this week you did not have an opinion, but yesterday you had a number of opinions when you talked with the media outside the courthouse. What changed?
FALCONER: Today is Thursday. I'm sorry; Wednesday I didn't have an opinion. I forgot what day it was.
Yesterday I didn't have an opinion when I came into the courthouse and I, you know, I didn't have one. But once I left the courthouse everyone is asking me for an opinion.
They asked me, if I had to deliberate today, would I convict Scott Peterson? The answer is no. The prosecution hasn't given me any evident whatsoever that is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Scott Peterson is guilty. And...
HEMMER: Let me just get some things straight here. Did you consider yourself neutral in this case when you sat on that panel?
FALCONER: Yes. When I was on it, yes. I mean, I was really interested in what the prosecution had to say. I wanted -- I wanted to know. You know, I had a lot of questions. I had a lot of, you know, concerns that I want answered and I was. And I wanted to know all the information.
I was going to get the defense's side later on, and I looked forward to going in and deliberating it with the rest of my, you know, peers, as jurors. But I didn't get that chance.
HEMMER: Justin, you're a father, right?
FALCONER: Yes, I am.
HEMMER: Did you say at one point pregnant woman are crazy?
FALCONER: Yes. I was -- I was referring to, you know, their behavior. With one day they cannot want to get off the couch and the next day they want to walk all over the place.
I didn't mean that all pregnant women are crazy. I kind of -- I wish I could take that back or at least rephrase it when I said it. But I was just referring to their activities and how it can change and it can vary from day to day.
HEMMER: I'm told that you did an interview for another network already today, and you said you had sympathy for Scott Peterson. Why sympathy?
FALCONER: Well, the guy's innocent until he's proven guilty. The man sitting in that chair, Scott Peterson, is innocent until the prosecution proves that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
And so, you have to have a little bit of sympathy for the guy, knowing that's the case, as you know, he's lost his wife, he's lost his son, he's -- you know, the family. His whole life is upside down. So you have a little bit of sympathy for him there. And then -- But you have to understand, he's an innocent man until he's proven guilty.
HEMMER: Did your opinion about this sympathy vote that you're voicing with us today, did that just form also just yesterday?
FALCONER: What? I'm sorry.
HEMMER: The sympathy you have for Scott Peterson, did that just develop yesterday, as well?
FALCONER: No. Well, I mean, I don't want to say it started yesterday, but, you know, when the prosecution first sat me down before the jury was even picked and I was in my interviews, they made the judge, the prosecution, defense, everybody made it very clear that Scott Peterson was innocent until he was proven guilty. And so, once you get that seed in your head, the way that they pound it into your head, you can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the guy for, you know, having to be there.
And you're just looking forward to getting all the information so that you can kind of come up with an opinion in your mind.
HEMMER: You're going to face a lot of questions about whether or not you were in this for the attention. You were on Court TV yesterday, "LARRY KING" last night, already today NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News, CNN.
Granted, we extended the invitation. You took us up on it. How do you respond to those who say you were in it for the attention?
FALCONER: I never asked for the attention. I didn't want the attention, and that's not why I'm here. Well, actually that's why I'm here, is because I don't want the attention. I figured if I come on here now and get it all out of the way, I can go back to my life the way it was.
HEMMER: The judge has admonished the jurors -- the judge admonished the jurors, saying don't pay any attention to any media reports. You have said you did not. You have said your girlfriend was the one who filled you in on the media reports surrounding you being in the news for the past week.
Should this jury be sequestered, you believe, at this point?
FALCONER: No. I think they should be definitely separated. I think they should definitely be separated. Going in and out, seeing -- the courthouse is very small. The town is very small.
So, when we were going in and out of the courthouse we're seeing, you know, the family and the lawyers. When we're in the hallways and the bathrooms and the elevators, when we go eat lunch we're sitting right across from them in a restaurant.
So I think that that's a bad situation. I think it put us in a difficult situation that we had, you know, addressed before. How are we supposed to act? And what are we supposed to do?
And the judge had said human -- you're just human. If you say, you know, hello, you greet somebody, you know, "How are you doing?" Just not to talk about the case. And nobody ever did to anybody, including myself.
So, I don't think they should be sequestered, but I think that they should definitely be separated from the general public.
HEMMER: Justin Falconer -- Justin Falconer, live in San Mateo, California, juror No. 5, thanks -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Saudi Arabia wants terrorists to turn themselves in within a month or else. Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday ordered a one-month amnesty for terrorists. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): We announce for the last time that we are opening the door of forgiveness and the chance to return to righteousness and be judged under Islamic law for everyone who has gotten out of righteousness' way and committed a crime in the name of religion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Abdullah speaking on behalf of his brother, King Fahd, said that terrorists have the option of turning themselves in or to face the full might of state wrath.
What does this offer really mean? Why is it coming now?
Theodore Kattouf is a former U.S. ambassador to Syria and the United Arab Emirates. He joins us live from Washington this morning.
Ambassador Kattouf, thank you for joining us. It's nice to see you. It was addressed to the terrorists, but words like forgiveness and amnesty were used. Do those words seem inappropriate at all to you?
THEODORE, KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: No. Because these words are not directed, Soledad, toward a Western audience. They're directed towards the Saudi people.
And basically what the royal family is trying to do is try to isolate the terrorists from the population. They know that in certain districts in Riyadh and elsewhere that these people's philosophy, if not their actions, enjoy a certain amount of sympathy.
And they also know that the populations in certain neighborhoods are angry because they feel that their homes have been violated in the search for Paul Johnson. They feel that they've been intruded upon.
So, the family is basically saying, look, we're giving these people every chance, but in the end, if it comes to violence and shootouts, the blame is on them.
O'BRIEN: So, then, are you saying that essentially the kingdom is preparing everyone for violence and shootouts when the month deadline is over?
KATTOUF: I think that they're doing two things. One, they're trying to get the foot soldiers, if you will, of al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula to give themselves up. People who don't have, as the Israelis might say, blood on their hands. To give themselves up.
That doesn't mean, in my opinion, that these guys will be totally let off, but they'll -- their treatment will probably be lenient.
I think they know the hard core are not going to be turning themselves in. It's they who they're trying to isolate. It's they who they're trying to collect intelligence on, and it's those people that they hope that the Saudi populists will blame for any violence to follow.
O'BRIEN: How far do you think this statement goes in eliminating the sympathy that, as you say, that some of the people have for these terrorists? I mean, how successful do you think this is going to be?
KATTOUF: It's really hard to say, Soledad. Western style polling is just generally not done in Saudi Arabia. The Zogby poll has done some polling, but, you know, people -- it's not a free society. People are wary about what they say, and it's hard to get a fix on it.
I think what we can say is that the debate in Saudi Arabia takes place within an Islamic religious context. And basically the al-Saud are trying to convince the people, "We are the legitimate rulers. We are upholding the tenets of Islam, and these people are the extremists. These people are the people who are attempting to bring chaos."
O'BRIEN: It's appealing to these self-declared terrorists and they say those who have not committed severe crimes. You say they'll be treated, you think, leniently. Specifically, what does that mean? I mean, what happens to people who turn themselves in?
KATTOUF: I think they will still go before. These are Islamic courts. All the law in Saudi Arabia is Islamic. They'd still have to go before an Islamic judge. I think they -- according to what I understand, they would have to plead guilty and repent. And, frankly, it's not clear yet to what degree they would be sentenced.
Certainly, the Saudi security forces would want to question these people at great lengths, probably even before they took them before an Islamic judge, because these people may know things that help lead them to the remaining ring leaders of this movement.
O'BRIEN: We'll have to see how successful it is, I guess when the month is out.
Ambassador Kattouf, thank you for joining us this morning. Appreciate it.
KATTOUF: Thank you. That you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Bill.
HEMMER: Fifteen minutes past the hour. Now to Daryn Kagan, other news today at the CNN center in Atlanta. Developing story overseas and many today, too.
Daryn, good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Yes. A lot of news, a lot of headlines to fit in, Bill.
Turkey is offering secures that security has been stepped up ahead of a planned NATO summit. This after a small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara today. Significant because President Bush is reportedly expected to stay there when he visits this weekend.
The president's stop in Ankara planned ahead of next weekend's NATO summit in Istanbul. Turkish police say at least two people were injured in today's explosion, including a police officer.
A diplomatic standoff between Britain and Iran appears to be over. Britain's foreign office says that Iran has freed eight servicemen three days after they were detained for crossing into Iranian waters. The crewmembers will stay at the British embassy in Tehran until they're able to fly home.
A special group of U.S. Army Reserve soldiers could soon be heading off to Iraq. Pentagon officials say part of the individual ready reserve -- that is a group that is rarely tapped for duty -- may be called up later this year.
The troops will be chosen to fill roles for units such as military police. A Pentagon decision is expected within the next week.
Outgoing CIA director George Tenet is defending his agency. Tenet sending an angry letter yesterday to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
A panel report has criticized the CIA's human intelligence gathering as, quote, "dysfunctional and averse to risk." Tenet firing back in his letter with CIA successes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
Mr. Tenet steps down from his post next month.
And in Texas some commuters may be wishing they had a boat instead of a car. Sheets of rain pounding the Houston area yesterday, causing flooding throughout the region. As much as eight inches of rain reported in some parts. I know people will be very anxious to see, Bill -- to hear what Chad has to say about all that.
HEMMER: How about it?
Here's Chad Myers now -- Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Chad, thanks for that.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.
Still to come this morning, Bill Clinton's media blitz gives a bounce to the former first lady. The "Toure Experience." That's hard to say. The "Toure Experience" is up next.
HEMMER: Replaces the "Cafferty File" for a day or two.
Also in a moment, a big league ballplayer trying to break out of a slump. Maybe seeing his family for the first time in two years may help.
O'BRIEN: Plus, there's some funny money in Texas. Now police are on the lookout for some pint-sized suspects. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Developing story out of Turkey, Istanbul. Getting word now through Reuters and Associated Press, an explosion taking place there in some sort of residential area. There are reports of casualties.
That's all we have right now. But this follows a report from earlier, this bomb in a hotel in Ankara that we've been talking -- talking about, rather, for the last two hours.
All this in light of the NATO leaders meeting there at the end of this week, including President Bush headed that way. Much more when we get it out of Turkey. That's what we have for now -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: On a much lighter note, time to check in with Toure for the "Toure Experience."
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": Great.
O'BRIEN: Which I guess replaces the "Cafferty File."
HEMMER: That's right. I'm selling tickets.
TOURE: And you see how many people want to come to the show.
HEMMER: Why not?
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
TOURE: We're talking about reasons to get married today. I remember famously, Warren Beatty said that marriage sex is the best sort of sex. So there you go; that's a good choice. Good reason to get married.
But one person's choice to stay married is apparently paying off. Some of the 500,000 who ran to stores yesterday to buy President Clinton's "My Life" are also picking up a copy of Senator Clinton's "Living History," which came out last April. But now the paperback is No. 5 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.
O'BRIEN: People are doing the side-by-side comparison, you know. He said, she said.
TOURE: She said.
O'BRIEN: You know that's what's happening. Wait a minute, he said, she says.
TOURE: Breaking news for hip-hop fans who are going to be so excited. Last year, as of course we all know, Jay-Z, who called himself the Michael Jordan of rap, retired.
O'BRIEN: Dating Beyonce. TOURE: Dating Beyonce. But now he's pulling another Michael Jordan move. I've been told by a high-level music industry source that Jay-Z is back in the studio now...
O'BRIEN: Thank God.
TOURE: ... working with Dr. Dre, will have another album next year. Hallelujah.
O'BRIEN: I was so worried.
TOURE: The king is back.
HEMMER: Well, he's like 21 years old. You didn't think he was going away forever, did you?
TOURE: He's, like, 35 maybe.
HEMMER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Please.
TOURE: Close, close.
And "Playgirl" magazine has an online poll. They want to know who's the sexiest newscaster among the boys.
Some of the obvious choices, Matt Lauer; Ed Bradley, who was always a big -- my mom was a huge fan of Ed Bradley. Anderson Cooper, of course. There are some less obvious choices: Andy Rooney, Dan Rather, anybody from the "F-word" network, where they give new meaning to "blind hiring" over there.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: And of course, it's all a race for second because Bill Hemmer is certainly going to win.
O'BRIEN: We have to go online and vote for Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: We don't have to do a darn thing.
TOURE: The girls will take care of this for us. Dog eat dog (ph).
HEMMER: Just vote for Andy Rooney.
O'BRIEN: I like Andy Rooney, but I'm going to vote for Bill Hemmer. He's no Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: That's -- next story.
O'BRIEN: At Playgirl.com. I've got to go to "Playgirl" to vote?
HEMMER: No you don't; don't do it.
TOURE: As if you have never been there before.
O'BRIEN: You know what? Honestly, Toure, I have not.
TOURE: Are you kidding me?
O'BRIEN: But this is a conversation for out of camera. Please.
TOURE: We don't make a difference for anything else.
O'BRIEN: Someone get Jack Cafferty back.
TOURE: Jack, Jack!
HEMMER: You're getting the hook on day two. We're not even halfway there, Toure.
TOURE: I was threatened on day one. Getting...
O'BRIEN: I know. I told you, I'm hormonal. Move on.
TOURE: I'd require my day off from that guy.
O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about this now. A high profile sports finally back together with his family two years after he defected from Cuba.
Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras left the field to catch up with the people closer to him.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras couldn't leave his team fast enough, flying to Miami to see his wife and two children.
Their reunion at a swanky Miami Beach hotel was two years in coming, made possible by an escape from Cuba by speedboat, apparently smuggled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What made them take this decision? I mean, what made them go through...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love, love. L-O-V-E.
JOSE CONTRERAS, YANKEES PITCHER (through translator): It was very emotional. Think about it, two years without seeing my family.
CANDIOTTI: Two years ago, Contreras, a star player on Cuba's national team and the favorite of Fidel Castro, defected to the United States via Mexico and Nicaragua. Ever since the Cuban government refused permission for his family to join him.
On the mound, Contreras admitted the separation put him in a slump. For awhile he was sent back to the minors to regain his form. JOE TORRE, NEW YORK YANKEES MANAGER: I think the fact that, you know, he's been going home to that empty room or empty apartment is probably one of the toughest things that, you know, someone has to deal with.
CANDIOTTI: Around midnight Sunday a gold bass boat picked up Contreras' family and others, they claim, by accident.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We were there at the beach bathing and the boat showed up, and we took advantage of the opportunity, says one relative.
The Coast Guard gave chase for three hours. The boat slipped into shore in the Florida Keys, making it possible for the Cubans to legally stay.
So far this year, more than 630 migrants were turned back at sea.
"I want to enjoy every moment I lost when I was separated from my husband," says the pitcher's wife of 16 years.
Contreras is looking forward to improving his game.
CONTRERAS (through translator): I think I'll be more relaxed now. I will be able to concentrate more on my job.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Federal investigators say they're looking into smuggling charges. So far government sources say no one's in custody.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami Beach.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Contreras says he always dreamed of showing his wife and daughters the sights of New York, everything from Yankee Stadium, where he works, to the Empire State Building.
HEMMER: And there is a ton to see, too.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: They're going to enjoy it.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the latest out of Turkey that we're getting, this explosion in Istanbul, a residential neighborhood, we're told. Wire reports saying there are casualties. More in a moment on that.
Also in a moment, what is with the Clinton craze? Can Bill Clinton match Harry Potter, and how long will it last? Have a look at that.
And the buzz on Senator Kerry's meeting with Senator Edwards. Is he the smart choice as the running mate for the senator? Bill Schneider stops by in a moment. We will move on right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Eighty-thirty here in New York City. Another beautiful day in Manhattan. Really nice outside. A lot to talk about today.
In a few moments we'll get back to that sensation over President Clinton's book. Or is it a sensation after all? Kelly Wallace tells us how long the sales spree may last.
Also the best game for political junkies this time of year. Who will be Senator John Kerry's running mate? John Edwards? Dick Gephardt? Have the clues gotten any clearer to who he may choose? We'll get to that with Bill Schneider in a moment here.
Also, you've heard the West Nile Virus. In a moment Sanjay talks about the Rift Valley Fever. Could it be the next big health concern here in the U.S. for this summer? We'll get to that in a moment.
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Aired June 24, 2004 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Autobiography sold on Tuesday. Kelly Wallace will join us in just a little bit to talk about how long the streak could last.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Also now officially, the summertime. Have you heard of something called Rift Valley Fever? Some say it could be the next mosquito-born virus that everyone is talking within the medical world. Sanjay Gupta has a look at this when the good doctor joins us a bit later this hour. So details then.
O'BRIEN: Let's go overseas, though, first.
Near simultaneous attacks across Iraq have killed dozens of Iraqis this morning, including at least 18 police officers and at least three U.S. soldiers.
The attacks by insurgents occurred in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah and Mosul. They come just six days before the handover of power in Iraq.
We've got two reports for you this morning. Elaine Quijano at the White House for us, where President Bush is preparing to meet with congressional leaders, and Iraq will be on the agenda. And also, Barbara Starr, live for us at the Pentagon this morning.
Let's begin with Barbara.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
A lot of concern here about this latest wave of violence, the assessment, the same here as it is in Baghdad, that these are a coordinated wave of attacks, possibly unleashed by the followers of the insurgent leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Now, of course, the question is, what to do now. A senior military coalition official says at the moment, they're not losing a lot of sleep over it, in his words. He calls the insurgents, quote, "one trick ponies who come out and shoot their wad with no follow up."
But here at the Pentagon there is much deeper policy concern. Of course, concern now that these attacks certainly will continue, even after the June 30 handover date. A senior official saying there is no reason to think any of this is going to stop on June 30. He was saying that the coalition should be prepared to deal with this type of violence all the way to the elections next year -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: So then, how exactly is the U.S. prepared with this type of -- to deal with this type of violence all the way, if it is, to the elections of next year?
STARR: Well, it's going to be very difficult, officials say. They had planned to try and lower the U.S. military profile in Iraq as the transition happened and as they move toward elections trying to reduce the profile so U.S. forces would be much less visible.
But with the wave of violence and with the concern about security in Iraq, especially keeping the new interim government leaders safe from any insurgent attacks, it looks like that lower profile may be very difficult to achieve.
So, expect to see more U.S. military response in the days ahead, especially in Fallujah. They will definitely try and go after Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, especially before that June 30 handover date. They believe he's hiding in Fallujah, and they are looking for him.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon.
Let's take it quickly to the White House. Again, Elaine Quijano is there for us this morning.
Elaine, good morning.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
President Bush is set to meet with about 15 to 20 members of Congress this morning. We are told that this is a bipartisan meeting in which the president will be meeting with both members of the House and Senate.
Now we know that one of the topics likely to come up is the issue of Iraq. Obviously, with just days now before the official transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi people and the uptick of violence, this is something that the Bush administration has prepared the American people for, the Iraqi people for, as well, saying that this would be the critical time. This, in fact, would be the crucial time for people in Iraq.
This uptick of violence certainly no surprise to officials here.
Officials, though, also saying they are closely monitoring the offense on the ground. This is something, as I said, not unexpected for the administration. They remain committed, though, to moving forward with this transfer of sovereignty.
Officials also saying that this is a busy time for the president as he prepares to head to Europe, to Ireland, to Turkey, to meet with European leaders; also to attend the upcoming NATO summit. The president this morning, this part of a regular series of meetings the president holds from time to time, we understand. Officials all this past week have been meeting with people on the Hill to try and talk to them in advance of that transfer of sovereignty, coming up in just a week or so.
O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano at the White House this morning -- Bill.
HEMMER: Four minutes past the hour.
Did not take long, about two weeks, in fact, for juror No. 5 to form an opinion.
In Scott Peterson's double murder trial Justin Falconer was kicked off the jury yesterday. Last week he was recorded making a remark to Laci Peterson's brother outside the courtroom.
Juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, is with us live from California.
Good morning to you.
I know you've done a number of interviews.
JUSTIN FALCONER, DISMISSED JUROR: Good morning.
HEMMER: This is another one in the string.
At one point you said you do not believe he's guilty. Why not?
FALCONER: Well, the prosecution hasn't given me any reason to yet. I, you know, coming in Tuesday morning, I didn't have an opinion. You know, I didn't have anything either way I didn't really have an opinion yet. The only reason I have one now is because I'm no longer a juror.
HEMMER: You're saying Tuesday morning of this week, Justin?
FALCONER: Yes. It was Tuesday morning. When I came into the courthouse I didn't have an opinion. I was looking forward to hearing the cross-examination of Brocchini, but now I'm just -- I'm not part of the jury, so I have an opinion now. But...
HEMMER: Let me be clear on this. Tuesday morning of this week you did not have an opinion, but yesterday you had a number of opinions when you talked with the media outside the courthouse. What changed?
FALCONER: Today is Thursday. I'm sorry; Wednesday I didn't have an opinion. I forgot what day it was.
Yesterday I didn't have an opinion when I came into the courthouse and I, you know, I didn't have one. But once I left the courthouse everyone is asking me for an opinion.
They asked me, if I had to deliberate today, would I convict Scott Peterson? The answer is no. The prosecution hasn't given me any evident whatsoever that is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Scott Peterson is guilty. And...
HEMMER: Let me just get some things straight here. Did you consider yourself neutral in this case when you sat on that panel?
FALCONER: Yes. When I was on it, yes. I mean, I was really interested in what the prosecution had to say. I wanted -- I wanted to know. You know, I had a lot of questions. I had a lot of, you know, concerns that I want answered and I was. And I wanted to know all the information.
I was going to get the defense's side later on, and I looked forward to going in and deliberating it with the rest of my, you know, peers, as jurors. But I didn't get that chance.
HEMMER: Justin, you're a father, right?
FALCONER: Yes, I am.
HEMMER: Did you say at one point pregnant woman are crazy?
FALCONER: Yes. I was -- I was referring to, you know, their behavior. With one day they cannot want to get off the couch and the next day they want to walk all over the place.
I didn't mean that all pregnant women are crazy. I kind of -- I wish I could take that back or at least rephrase it when I said it. But I was just referring to their activities and how it can change and it can vary from day to day.
HEMMER: I'm told that you did an interview for another network already today, and you said you had sympathy for Scott Peterson. Why sympathy?
FALCONER: Well, the guy's innocent until he's proven guilty. The man sitting in that chair, Scott Peterson, is innocent until the prosecution proves that he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
And so, you have to have a little bit of sympathy for the guy, knowing that's the case, as you know, he's lost his wife, he's lost his son, he's -- you know, the family. His whole life is upside down. So you have a little bit of sympathy for him there. And then -- But you have to understand, he's an innocent man until he's proven guilty.
HEMMER: Did your opinion about this sympathy vote that you're voicing with us today, did that just form also just yesterday?
FALCONER: What? I'm sorry.
HEMMER: The sympathy you have for Scott Peterson, did that just develop yesterday, as well?
FALCONER: No. Well, I mean, I don't want to say it started yesterday, but, you know, when the prosecution first sat me down before the jury was even picked and I was in my interviews, they made the judge, the prosecution, defense, everybody made it very clear that Scott Peterson was innocent until he was proven guilty. And so, once you get that seed in your head, the way that they pound it into your head, you can't help but feel a little bit sorry for the guy for, you know, having to be there.
And you're just looking forward to getting all the information so that you can kind of come up with an opinion in your mind.
HEMMER: You're going to face a lot of questions about whether or not you were in this for the attention. You were on Court TV yesterday, "LARRY KING" last night, already today NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox News, CNN.
Granted, we extended the invitation. You took us up on it. How do you respond to those who say you were in it for the attention?
FALCONER: I never asked for the attention. I didn't want the attention, and that's not why I'm here. Well, actually that's why I'm here, is because I don't want the attention. I figured if I come on here now and get it all out of the way, I can go back to my life the way it was.
HEMMER: The judge has admonished the jurors -- the judge admonished the jurors, saying don't pay any attention to any media reports. You have said you did not. You have said your girlfriend was the one who filled you in on the media reports surrounding you being in the news for the past week.
Should this jury be sequestered, you believe, at this point?
FALCONER: No. I think they should be definitely separated. I think they should definitely be separated. Going in and out, seeing -- the courthouse is very small. The town is very small.
So, when we were going in and out of the courthouse we're seeing, you know, the family and the lawyers. When we're in the hallways and the bathrooms and the elevators, when we go eat lunch we're sitting right across from them in a restaurant.
So I think that that's a bad situation. I think it put us in a difficult situation that we had, you know, addressed before. How are we supposed to act? And what are we supposed to do?
And the judge had said human -- you're just human. If you say, you know, hello, you greet somebody, you know, "How are you doing?" Just not to talk about the case. And nobody ever did to anybody, including myself.
So, I don't think they should be sequestered, but I think that they should definitely be separated from the general public.
HEMMER: Justin Falconer -- Justin Falconer, live in San Mateo, California, juror No. 5, thanks -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Saudi Arabia wants terrorists to turn themselves in within a month or else. Crown Prince Abdullah yesterday ordered a one-month amnesty for terrorists. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWN PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): We announce for the last time that we are opening the door of forgiveness and the chance to return to righteousness and be judged under Islamic law for everyone who has gotten out of righteousness' way and committed a crime in the name of religion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Abdullah speaking on behalf of his brother, King Fahd, said that terrorists have the option of turning themselves in or to face the full might of state wrath.
What does this offer really mean? Why is it coming now?
Theodore Kattouf is a former U.S. ambassador to Syria and the United Arab Emirates. He joins us live from Washington this morning.
Ambassador Kattouf, thank you for joining us. It's nice to see you. It was addressed to the terrorists, but words like forgiveness and amnesty were used. Do those words seem inappropriate at all to you?
THEODORE, KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: No. Because these words are not directed, Soledad, toward a Western audience. They're directed towards the Saudi people.
And basically what the royal family is trying to do is try to isolate the terrorists from the population. They know that in certain districts in Riyadh and elsewhere that these people's philosophy, if not their actions, enjoy a certain amount of sympathy.
And they also know that the populations in certain neighborhoods are angry because they feel that their homes have been violated in the search for Paul Johnson. They feel that they've been intruded upon.
So, the family is basically saying, look, we're giving these people every chance, but in the end, if it comes to violence and shootouts, the blame is on them.
O'BRIEN: So, then, are you saying that essentially the kingdom is preparing everyone for violence and shootouts when the month deadline is over?
KATTOUF: I think that they're doing two things. One, they're trying to get the foot soldiers, if you will, of al Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula to give themselves up. People who don't have, as the Israelis might say, blood on their hands. To give themselves up.
That doesn't mean, in my opinion, that these guys will be totally let off, but they'll -- their treatment will probably be lenient.
I think they know the hard core are not going to be turning themselves in. It's they who they're trying to isolate. It's they who they're trying to collect intelligence on, and it's those people that they hope that the Saudi populists will blame for any violence to follow.
O'BRIEN: How far do you think this statement goes in eliminating the sympathy that, as you say, that some of the people have for these terrorists? I mean, how successful do you think this is going to be?
KATTOUF: It's really hard to say, Soledad. Western style polling is just generally not done in Saudi Arabia. The Zogby poll has done some polling, but, you know, people -- it's not a free society. People are wary about what they say, and it's hard to get a fix on it.
I think what we can say is that the debate in Saudi Arabia takes place within an Islamic religious context. And basically the al-Saud are trying to convince the people, "We are the legitimate rulers. We are upholding the tenets of Islam, and these people are the extremists. These people are the people who are attempting to bring chaos."
O'BRIEN: It's appealing to these self-declared terrorists and they say those who have not committed severe crimes. You say they'll be treated, you think, leniently. Specifically, what does that mean? I mean, what happens to people who turn themselves in?
KATTOUF: I think they will still go before. These are Islamic courts. All the law in Saudi Arabia is Islamic. They'd still have to go before an Islamic judge. I think they -- according to what I understand, they would have to plead guilty and repent. And, frankly, it's not clear yet to what degree they would be sentenced.
Certainly, the Saudi security forces would want to question these people at great lengths, probably even before they took them before an Islamic judge, because these people may know things that help lead them to the remaining ring leaders of this movement.
O'BRIEN: We'll have to see how successful it is, I guess when the month is out.
Ambassador Kattouf, thank you for joining us this morning. Appreciate it.
KATTOUF: Thank you. That you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Bill.
HEMMER: Fifteen minutes past the hour. Now to Daryn Kagan, other news today at the CNN center in Atlanta. Developing story overseas and many today, too.
Daryn, good morning.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: Yes. A lot of news, a lot of headlines to fit in, Bill.
Turkey is offering secures that security has been stepped up ahead of a planned NATO summit. This after a small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara today. Significant because President Bush is reportedly expected to stay there when he visits this weekend.
The president's stop in Ankara planned ahead of next weekend's NATO summit in Istanbul. Turkish police say at least two people were injured in today's explosion, including a police officer.
A diplomatic standoff between Britain and Iran appears to be over. Britain's foreign office says that Iran has freed eight servicemen three days after they were detained for crossing into Iranian waters. The crewmembers will stay at the British embassy in Tehran until they're able to fly home.
A special group of U.S. Army Reserve soldiers could soon be heading off to Iraq. Pentagon officials say part of the individual ready reserve -- that is a group that is rarely tapped for duty -- may be called up later this year.
The troops will be chosen to fill roles for units such as military police. A Pentagon decision is expected within the next week.
Outgoing CIA director George Tenet is defending his agency. Tenet sending an angry letter yesterday to the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
A panel report has criticized the CIA's human intelligence gathering as, quote, "dysfunctional and averse to risk." Tenet firing back in his letter with CIA successes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.
Mr. Tenet steps down from his post next month.
And in Texas some commuters may be wishing they had a boat instead of a car. Sheets of rain pounding the Houston area yesterday, causing flooding throughout the region. As much as eight inches of rain reported in some parts. I know people will be very anxious to see, Bill -- to hear what Chad has to say about all that.
HEMMER: How about it?
Here's Chad Myers now -- Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HEMMER: Chad, thanks for that.
O'BRIEN: Thank you, Chad.
Still to come this morning, Bill Clinton's media blitz gives a bounce to the former first lady. The "Toure Experience." That's hard to say. The "Toure Experience" is up next.
HEMMER: Replaces the "Cafferty File" for a day or two.
Also in a moment, a big league ballplayer trying to break out of a slump. Maybe seeing his family for the first time in two years may help.
O'BRIEN: Plus, there's some funny money in Texas. Now police are on the lookout for some pint-sized suspects. We'll explain.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Developing story out of Turkey, Istanbul. Getting word now through Reuters and Associated Press, an explosion taking place there in some sort of residential area. There are reports of casualties.
That's all we have right now. But this follows a report from earlier, this bomb in a hotel in Ankara that we've been talking -- talking about, rather, for the last two hours.
All this in light of the NATO leaders meeting there at the end of this week, including President Bush headed that way. Much more when we get it out of Turkey. That's what we have for now -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: On a much lighter note, time to check in with Toure for the "Toure Experience."
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": Great.
O'BRIEN: Which I guess replaces the "Cafferty File."
HEMMER: That's right. I'm selling tickets.
TOURE: And you see how many people want to come to the show.
HEMMER: Why not?
O'BRIEN: Good morning.
TOURE: We're talking about reasons to get married today. I remember famously, Warren Beatty said that marriage sex is the best sort of sex. So there you go; that's a good choice. Good reason to get married.
But one person's choice to stay married is apparently paying off. Some of the 500,000 who ran to stores yesterday to buy President Clinton's "My Life" are also picking up a copy of Senator Clinton's "Living History," which came out last April. But now the paperback is No. 5 on the Barnes and Noble bestseller list.
O'BRIEN: People are doing the side-by-side comparison, you know. He said, she said.
TOURE: She said.
O'BRIEN: You know that's what's happening. Wait a minute, he said, she says.
TOURE: Breaking news for hip-hop fans who are going to be so excited. Last year, as of course we all know, Jay-Z, who called himself the Michael Jordan of rap, retired.
O'BRIEN: Dating Beyonce. TOURE: Dating Beyonce. But now he's pulling another Michael Jordan move. I've been told by a high-level music industry source that Jay-Z is back in the studio now...
O'BRIEN: Thank God.
TOURE: ... working with Dr. Dre, will have another album next year. Hallelujah.
O'BRIEN: I was so worried.
TOURE: The king is back.
HEMMER: Well, he's like 21 years old. You didn't think he was going away forever, did you?
TOURE: He's, like, 35 maybe.
HEMMER: All right.
O'BRIEN: Please.
TOURE: Close, close.
And "Playgirl" magazine has an online poll. They want to know who's the sexiest newscaster among the boys.
Some of the obvious choices, Matt Lauer; Ed Bradley, who was always a big -- my mom was a huge fan of Ed Bradley. Anderson Cooper, of course. There are some less obvious choices: Andy Rooney, Dan Rather, anybody from the "F-word" network, where they give new meaning to "blind hiring" over there.
HEMMER: Yes.
TOURE: And of course, it's all a race for second because Bill Hemmer is certainly going to win.
O'BRIEN: We have to go online and vote for Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: We don't have to do a darn thing.
TOURE: The girls will take care of this for us. Dog eat dog (ph).
HEMMER: Just vote for Andy Rooney.
O'BRIEN: I like Andy Rooney, but I'm going to vote for Bill Hemmer. He's no Bill Hemmer.
HEMMER: That's -- next story.
O'BRIEN: At Playgirl.com. I've got to go to "Playgirl" to vote?
HEMMER: No you don't; don't do it.
TOURE: As if you have never been there before.
O'BRIEN: You know what? Honestly, Toure, I have not.
TOURE: Are you kidding me?
O'BRIEN: But this is a conversation for out of camera. Please.
TOURE: We don't make a difference for anything else.
O'BRIEN: Someone get Jack Cafferty back.
TOURE: Jack, Jack!
HEMMER: You're getting the hook on day two. We're not even halfway there, Toure.
TOURE: I was threatened on day one. Getting...
O'BRIEN: I know. I told you, I'm hormonal. Move on.
TOURE: I'd require my day off from that guy.
O'BRIEN: Well, let's talk about this now. A high profile sports finally back together with his family two years after he defected from Cuba.
Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras left the field to catch up with the people closer to him.
CNN's Susan Candiotti has this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras couldn't leave his team fast enough, flying to Miami to see his wife and two children.
Their reunion at a swanky Miami Beach hotel was two years in coming, made possible by an escape from Cuba by speedboat, apparently smuggled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What made them take this decision? I mean, what made them go through...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love, love. L-O-V-E.
JOSE CONTRERAS, YANKEES PITCHER (through translator): It was very emotional. Think about it, two years without seeing my family.
CANDIOTTI: Two years ago, Contreras, a star player on Cuba's national team and the favorite of Fidel Castro, defected to the United States via Mexico and Nicaragua. Ever since the Cuban government refused permission for his family to join him.
On the mound, Contreras admitted the separation put him in a slump. For awhile he was sent back to the minors to regain his form. JOE TORRE, NEW YORK YANKEES MANAGER: I think the fact that, you know, he's been going home to that empty room or empty apartment is probably one of the toughest things that, you know, someone has to deal with.
CANDIOTTI: Around midnight Sunday a gold bass boat picked up Contreras' family and others, they claim, by accident.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We were there at the beach bathing and the boat showed up, and we took advantage of the opportunity, says one relative.
The Coast Guard gave chase for three hours. The boat slipped into shore in the Florida Keys, making it possible for the Cubans to legally stay.
So far this year, more than 630 migrants were turned back at sea.
"I want to enjoy every moment I lost when I was separated from my husband," says the pitcher's wife of 16 years.
Contreras is looking forward to improving his game.
CONTRERAS (through translator): I think I'll be more relaxed now. I will be able to concentrate more on my job.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): Federal investigators say they're looking into smuggling charges. So far government sources say no one's in custody.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami Beach.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Contreras says he always dreamed of showing his wife and daughters the sights of New York, everything from Yankee Stadium, where he works, to the Empire State Building.
HEMMER: And there is a ton to see, too.
O'BRIEN: Yes.
HEMMER: They're going to enjoy it.
O'BRIEN: Absolutely.
HEMMER: In a moment here, the latest out of Turkey that we're getting, this explosion in Istanbul, a residential neighborhood, we're told. Wire reports saying there are casualties. More in a moment on that.
Also in a moment, what is with the Clinton craze? Can Bill Clinton match Harry Potter, and how long will it last? Have a look at that.
And the buzz on Senator Kerry's meeting with Senator Edwards. Is he the smart choice as the running mate for the senator? Bill Schneider stops by in a moment. We will move on right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Eighty-thirty here in New York City. Another beautiful day in Manhattan. Really nice outside. A lot to talk about today.
In a few moments we'll get back to that sensation over President Clinton's book. Or is it a sensation after all? Kelly Wallace tells us how long the sales spree may last.
Also the best game for political junkies this time of year. Who will be Senator John Kerry's running mate? John Edwards? Dick Gephardt? Have the clues gotten any clearer to who he may choose? We'll get to that with Bill Schneider in a moment here.
Also, you've heard the West Nile Virus. In a moment Sanjay talks about the Rift Valley Fever. Could it be the next big health concern here in the U.S. for this summer? We'll get to that in a moment.
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