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American Morning
Monster or Not? Jury Deliberates Peterson's Fate; Two Dodge SUVs Have Safety Issues; Marine Who Appeared on Hostage Tape Charged with Desertion
Aired December 10, 2004 - 09:00 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.
KELLY WALLACE, CO-HOST: A monster or a man with some good left in him? The jury deciding Scott Peterson's life or death in deliberations today.
Six hundred thousand SUVs and trucks on the road, potentially in danger of losing their front wheels. Will the automaker answer demands for a recall?
And "Extra Effort."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kept screaming for people to give me a T- shirt. Someone to help me. And I was saying, "Oh, God, don't let me lose this baby."
WALLACE: Incredible story. A grandmother finds an SUV overturned in a canal and discovers her inner superhero. Her amazing story. That's all ahead on this Friday on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Good morning to you. Bill and Soledad are off this morning. Miles O'Brien here with Kelly Wallace, filling in for Friday. The three-hour tour almost over. We're going down the home stretch.
Good to have you with us.
WALLACE: Good morning, everyone.
O'BRIEN: Some of the other stories we're following for you this morning, the military has reached a conclusion on the case of Marine corporal Wassef Hassoun, who disappeared earlier this year from a base in Iraq. Its conclusion, despite showing up in a hostage tape, as you see here, he's a deserter. Barbara Starr will explain the case against him for us.
WALLACE: Also, Miles, CNN this weekend doing a special on the re-examination of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. We'll have a preview of that. Also talk to the associate dean of religious life at Princeton about whether traditional perceptions of these women are flawed.
O'BRIEN: And Jack Cafferty is here with some...
JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Do we know what time that's on?
WALLACE: I think it's usually on at 8 p.m...
O'BRIEN: Eight p.m. Sundays.
WALLACE: Sunday.
O'BRIEN: "CNN PRESENTS." You going to TiVo that?
CAFFERTY: Yes, I'll be checking that out.
O'BRIEN: OK, good.
CAFFERTY: The question of the day today has to do with this poor unfortunate woman out in Washington state who was monitoring her teenage daughter's telephone calls and was hauled into court for violating the kid's privacy and convicted.
Should parents be allowed to monitor their kids' phone conversations? AM@CNN.com.
WALLACE: You getting lots of e-mails?
CAFFERTY: Getting a lot of e-mail.
WALLACE: Any teenagers?
CAFFERTY: Yes, we are hearing from some young people. Some of them are even saying, "You know what? I probably would have complained about it at the time if I had known, but now that I'm a little bit older, I look back and I thank them for whatever they did to keep me from getting myself in trouble." So there's some very bright kids watching AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: All right. I think that's probably why they use instant messaging, to avoid that. But that's another -- another thing. All right.
WALLACE: All right. Moving right along here.
O'BRIEN: Stay up with the technology.
WALLACE: Carol Costello with other stories making news.
Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, ANCHOR: Kids have all kinds of sneaky ways.
O'BRIEN: They do, don't they?
COSTELLO: They do.
Good morning everyone. In the news this morning a vigil last night at the site of a shooting spree in Columbus, Ohio. Guitarist Darrell Abbott of the heavy metal group Damageplan and three others were killed at this club on Wednesday night. Witnesses say the gunman blamed Abbott for the breakup of another popular band, Pantera. Witnesses were on the line with 911 operators when the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nine-one-one emergency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at the Alrosa Villa, and there's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the stage at the Alrosa Villa. And they're screaming, "Call 911."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, stay on the line with me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, (expletive deleted), they're still shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're still shooting. The person is still moving with the gun.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
WALLACE: Operators telling patrons to get out or hit the floor. The gunman, 25-year-old Nathan Gale, was killed by police on the scene.
Americans are losing faith that Iraq will have a stable Democratic government. An Associated Press poll finds that less than half, 47 percent of Americans, believe those goals can be met. Fifty- five percent thought so last spring.
A reporter had a hand in setting up the tough questions Donald Rumsfeld got from soldiers in Kuwait. The defense chief grilled by one National Guard member about a lack of armor on combat vehicles in Iraq.
A Tennessee newspaper reporter embedded with the soldier's unit says he worked out the question with the soldier. That, after being told only military personnel were allowed to question Rumsfeld.
A memo from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security warns U.S. airlines that terrorists abroad are exploring the use of lasers as weapons. The memo warns that laser beams could be used to blind pilots and cause a crash.
Under investigation is an incident last September when a Delta Airlines pilot reportedly suffered an eye injury from a laser beam while approaching the Salt Lake City airport. That is scary.
O'BRIEN: I should say. WALLACE: Exactly. And there have been a handful of incidents?
COSTELLO: No formal intelligence, though, that, you know, terrorists could be doing this. But something they're looking into.
WALLACE: All right. Carol, thanks so much. We'll check in with you in a bit.
The jury deciding whether Scott Peterson lives or dies will resume its deliberations later this morning. Jurors got the case yesterday after dramatic final pleas from both sides in the trial sentencing phase.
Dean Johnson, former San Mateo County prosecutor, joins us this morning from Redwood City, California.
Dean Johnson, good to see you. Thanks for being here.
DEAN JOHNSON, FORMER SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning.
WALLACE: Let's look first at the prosecutor's closing argument. One prosecutor describing Scott Peterson as, quote, "the worst kind of monster," going on to say, quote, "This is somebody who had everything and threw it away. He had a plan and executed it."
How effective do you think that was?
JOHNSON: It's a very powerful argument. Dave Harris talking in almost an intimate tone with this jury, flashing picture after picture of Laci Peterson on the wall, and begging this jury to remember the victims.
And reprising the theme that he had in the guilt phase, the two Scott Petersons: the public Scott Peterson that all of his family and friends knew, and the private Scott Peterson that Dave Harris said was a monster and deserved to die.
WALLACE: Looking to defense attorney Mark Geragos. In his closing arguments, he's literally begging the jury not to give Scott Peterson a death sentence.
He goes on to say, "I'd get down on my knees if it weren't so contrived. I'd do whatever I can to convince you not to put him to death."
He also said, Dean, that he feels he let his client down. Some incredible video showing Mark Geragos kind of putting his hands, his face in his hands.
How effective do you think all that was for this jury?
JOHNSON: Mark Geragos may very well have saved Scott Peterson's life with his closing argument. For once, the otherwise cocky Geragos, very humble, so quiet that the judge had to caution him to raise his voice so that he could be heard. Mark Geragos saying, "Don't blame my client for anything that I may have done. Don't blame him for anything that -- any mistake I may have made."
And then giving this jury another way to think about this case. He asks them, "What is to be gained by choosing death over life? Certainly a life sentence would honor Laci Peterson's memory and do justice. There is nothing to be gained by an additional death."
WALLACE: And the judge also giving the jury a lot to think about in his final instructions, including the issue of lingering doubt. Explain that and how that could play a role in this case.
JOHNSON: Well, in -- in California, we have to weigh what we call aggravating and mitigating factors. One of those mitigating factors that the jury can consider, lingering doubt.
If there's any shadow of a doubt in the back of their mind that maybe there may be a real killer out there, they need to think about that now. That's for the protection not only of Scott Peterson but of the jurors themselves because, of course, they'd have to live with this ultimate decision themselves.
WALLACE: All right, Dean Johnson joining us this morning from Redwood City, California. We thank you so much.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
WALLACE: And of course, jury deliberations resuming again this morning about 11 a.m. Eastern -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: If you drive a Dodge Durango or a Dakota, listen up. Government safety experts asking Dodge to recall two types of the popular vehicles.
Regulators say they've found problems with 4x4 Durango SUVs and four-wheel drive Dakota pickups built between 2000 and 2003. "Automobile" magazine's editor-in-chief Jean Jennings told me the problem is in the ball joints, which hold the front wheels.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN JENNINGS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "AUTOMOBILE" MAGAZINE: This is a part that should not fatigue at 30,000 miles. And this is about the time you'd be finding this out. Most people put about 11,000 miles a year on their vehicle, so, you know, 30,000 miles, this is about when they're seeing this happen.
I -- I would suggest that the company is going to look at this carefully and make the right decision on -- on what to do about this.
O'BRIEN: Right. But I mean, they shouldn't be too reluctant to talk to people and be honest with them about a problem like this, I presume?
JENNINGS: No. I understand that they're saying they don't think it's a safety problem. And I don't know what that's all about because, you know, I would say a front wheel coming off is a serious safety concern. I'd put that -- more so than the rear wheel.
O'BRIEN: I'd put that -- I'd put that in the category of safety issues. Wheels coming off, definitely. I'm sorry, it's not funny. What -- what recourse do people have in these situations?
JENNINGS: I would say that, you know, in these day and age -- in this day and age, you're not really going in for a lot of service, a lot of maintenance, routine maintenance, maybe every 15,000 miles. I would look at your mileage and look at your service manual, see if it calls for a ball joint, you know, inspection. It probably doesn't.
If you have a vehicle, a Dakota, a Durango, four-wheel drive from 2000 to 2003, I would take it in and have those ball joints inspected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: That was Jean Jennings.
Now, in the past hour Chrysler said it has identified the problem as corrosion in the upper ball joint. Chrysler said it is working with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and hopes to have an announcement on the recall by this afternoon. We'll keep you posted -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Miles.
The Marines have issued charges in the case of a corporal who mysteriously disappeared from his base in Iraq. Our Barbara Starr is following the story from the Pentagon.
Great to see you, Barbara. What's the latest from there?
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Kelly.
Well, Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, as everyone will remember, disappeared from his base in Falluja back in June, then showed up in a hostage videotape, apparently under the capture of extremists in Iraq, and then several weeks later turned up in Lebanon.
He then came back to the United States and said he was not a deserter, that he had been abducted. But now, the U.S. Marine Corps has charged Corporal Hassoun with desertion and larceny.
Let's go through what those charges are. Desertion, that he voluntarily left his post without authorization. Larceny, regarding the taking of a government vehicle and his nine-millimeter government firearm.
All of this happened after the military several weeks ago then found some of Corporal Hassoun's personal items in Falluja, including his passport, his I.D. and his uniform. So now these charges have been filed.
The military says it has taken hundreds of statements from U.S. military personnel and from foreign nationals. What we have learned this morning from military spokesmen is they have statements from people in Lebanon, which a U.S. military official tells us, are statements that are, quote, "very interesting."
It may be a problem, however, if this all goes to trial, for those people in Lebanon, where he was found, to be brought here to testify in any trial.
The next step, he will face a pretrial hearing that will be determined if there is enough evidence for him to go to a court- martial. If he is convicted of these charges, he could face 15 years in a military prison.
But there are an awful lot of mysterious unanswered questions here. These charges all relate to his disappearance from Camp Falluja. The military not yet saying what they have learned about his travels from Iraq to Lebanon -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right Barbara Starr, we'll leave it there, reporting from the Pentagon. Thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. A lot of you making weekend plans right now. Rob Marciano is the man who will tell you what you can and cannot do weather-wise.
Hello, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Yes, we're getting the wet stuff. And it's cold here, too. Thanks so much, Rob. We appreciate it.
News just in to CNN: we're learning that President Bush will announce his choice to replace outgoing energy secretary Spencer Abraham. He will announce his choice at 9:45 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room. And of course, CNN will bring you live coverage of that -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: We'll have that for you shortly.
Still to come on the program, we'll meet a woman who says she just did what anyone else would do. But a family from Georgia thinks she's a hero. Her touching moment of heroism ask in our "Extra Effort" segment.
WALLACE: Also, after a bruising election, some people think the Democrats have an identity crisis. What's the biggest mistake the party could make if it tries to change?
O'BRIEN: And the two Marys. Is pop culture forcing Christians to rethink the role of women? There's a provocative tease for you. Stay with us for the answer on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: The best-selling book "The Da Vinci Code" has stirred many Roman Catholics to re-examine the role of women in the church. This Sunday "CNN PRESENTS" looks at "THE TWO MARYS," Mary the mother of Jesus and the changing view of Mary Magdalene.
Here is an expert -- excerpt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIGOURNEY WEAVER, NARRATOR, "THE TWO MARYS": Mary Magdalene has become a media star, the lynchpin character of a mega selling novel says she wasn't just Jesus' apostle, but his wife and the mother of his children.
PROF. AMY-JILL LEVINE, VANDERBILT DIVINITY SCHOOL: "The Da Vinci Code" is appropriately shelved in books labeled fiction.
REV. GERALD O'COLLINS, S.J., PONTIFICAL GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY: Have I read it? I would give it prize one for historical misinformation.
WEAVER: Those reviews haven't stopped new Magdalene fans from thronging to places like London's Temple Church. According to the novel, this was home base to the Knights Templar, who fought crusades to keep the truth about Mary Magdalene's marriage to Jesus a secret for centuries.
REV. ROBIN GRIFFITHS-JONES, TEMPLE CHURCH, LONDON: We must now have 50 visitors or more every day coming into the church and asking the verger on their entry, "Have you read the book?" The verger still naively assumes they mean the Bible, but of course they mean the other Bible, "The Da Vinci Code."
WEAVER: This change in perception among both scholars and the public, that Mary Magdalene was a leader and not a sinner, is nothing short of seismic, especially for Christian women, who filled the pews but not the pulpit and who now want their due.
PROF. KAREN L. KING, HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL: Some people are very threatened by this, precisely because it may be that the results of this work are going to show that women were leaders in the early church. It's going to ask people, I think, to rethink some really fundamental things about Christian theology, life and practice. And that can certainly be threatening.
PROF. MARVIN MEYER, CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY: One cannot alienate half of the human race and get away with it. That's not what spirituality is all about. These issues must be addressed, and they will have to be addressed if the church is going to survive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Joining us to talk about the roles of both Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene is pastor Paul Raushenbush. He is the author of "Teen Spirit: One World, Many Paths." He's also an associate dean of religious life at Princeton University.
Good to have you with us, Paul. PAULA RAUSHENBUSH, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RELIGIOUS LIFE, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Nice to be here.
O'BRIEN: First of all, Mary Magdalene, sinner, saint, leader. Was she also the wife of Jesus, perhaps?
RAUSHENBUSH: In my mind, I have questions about whether or not she was the wife of Jesus. But I think she was kind of all of the above as far as the other things.
I have no problem with a woman who is depicted in the Bible as someone who came in contact with Jesus and had a turnaround experience, had a repentant experience, and then went on to be a leader in the movement.
It's clear that Mary was everywhere that Jesus was. Mary was not only there when Jesus was crucified, but -- but Mary was also the first person that Jesus appeared to when he was resurrected. And so there's clearly a close connection between Mary and Jesus as a leader of the Jesus movement and as Christ's resurrection.
O'BRIEN: So would it be an overstatement to say this kind of rocks the foundation of the very paternal Roman Catholic Church?
RAUSHENBUSH: Well, first of all, this rocks the foundation of many churches. But there's always been interest in the feminine, of, for instance Mary, mother of God. It's the heroine of this season. We're in the advent season right now.
And Mary is the woman who God comes to, to bring Christ into the world. And she is like a prophet to us. I mean, she is the heroine of this story.
And so -- so there have always been women in the church who have had strong roles, and -- and now there's this resurgence of Mary Magdalene in the general consciousness. And that's what I think is a little bit intimidating to the church.
O'BRIEN: All right. The fact that it's in the general consciousness, and perhaps is a little bit intimidating, does that lead to real, substantive change? Does it ultimately lead to a real discussion about giving women a role on the altars?
RAUSHENBUSH: Well, I think maybe this may be a lay movement. This may be something that comes slowly out of the ranks and files of women and men in the pews.
I think right now you've seen things go actually the other way. Catholic Church has been very clear that they're not going to be ordaining women. And even the Southern Baptist Convention has reversed its policy. It used to have women pastors, and now it has said that that's absolutely not allowed anymore in the Southern Baptist Convention.
So you see a certain entrenchment, I think, of the -- of the church hierarchy. But at the same time, this is -- this is a growing interest. Obviously, "The Da Vinci Code" has a lot to do with it, but it also has to do with the research that's recently -- recently been found. There's a recent Gnostic gospels with, actually, a gospel according to Mary Magdalene, and these are very powerful testimonies.
O'BRIEN: So final thought then, will there be some real change made in the church as a result of this growing awareness?
RAUSHENBUSH: I think it will be -- it won't be because the church says, "Well, we've got to change."
I think it will be because the spirit of God will come in and say, "Yes, we have to open ourselves to the power and the -- the witness of women in the life of Jesus, and in the life of the world today."
And so it will be -- it will be something that's very organic and alive in the world. And it won't be because people are -- are forced into it. It will be because the spirit of God is still moving in the world.
O'BRIEN: All right. Somebody say amen to that. Paul Raushenbush, Pastor Paul from Princeton, thanks very much. Appreciate it.
RAUSHENBUSH: My pleasure.
O'BRIEN: This reminder: "CNN PRESENTS: THE TWO MARYS, THE MADONNA AND THE MAGDALENE," airs Sunday night, 8 Eastern, narrated by Sigourney Weaver. You heard her there briefly. You won't want to miss that one -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Miles, thanks so much.
Still to come as we round out this Friday, how blowing up a taxicab helped keep America safe. You can say it is an explosive story. That's all ahead, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back. Let's check in with Jack and the question of the day.
CAFFERTY: Thanks, Kelly.
A mother who eavesdropped on her teenage daughter's phone conversation was found guilty of violating Washington state's privacy law. Washington is one of eleven states requiring consent from all parties involved before a conversation can be recorded.
The mother called the ruling ridiculous. She said her daughter was out of control. This was the only way she could get information and keep track of her.
So the question we're asking is, do parents have the right to eavesdrop on their kids? James in New Orleans writes, "As a 21-year-old college student, I reflect upon my teenage years, and would have been outraged if my parents would have listened in on my conversations. But, if I was headed in the wrong direction toward crime, drugs and failure, I know I would thank my parents later for it."
Maria, Colorado springs -- I have a sneaking suspicion Maria may be a youngster -- "I don't believe parents should have the right to eavesdrop on their children's conversations, because even though the kids are underage, they're still individuals with private issues and concerns of their own that sometimes they don't want their parents to know about."
Fair enough, Maria.
WALLACE: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Chris from Wisconsin writes, "Yes, and give them a smack, too. My dad -- my dad would have taken his paddle to my backside if I'd gotten out of line. He did that once, and it kept me in line and out of most trouble for a long time. Kids need discipline now for than over. I'm only 23, and I see that every day."
And Matt from Chillicothe, Ohio, says, "Let me check the Patriot Act. Nope, nothing about parents checking on their kids' phone calls, only the FBI, CIA and NSA can do that."
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks. Thanks very much, sir. Still to come in the program, your Friday morning dose of "90 Second Pop."
Billionaire Donald Trump isn't hurting for cash. So why is he jumping at the chance for a freebie?
Plus, is newlywed Star Jones Reynolds ready to push an icon off the red carpet?
Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired December 10, 2004 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KELLY WALLACE, CO-HOST: A monster or a man with some good left in him? The jury deciding Scott Peterson's life or death in deliberations today.
Six hundred thousand SUVs and trucks on the road, potentially in danger of losing their front wheels. Will the automaker answer demands for a recall?
And "Extra Effort."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I kept screaming for people to give me a T- shirt. Someone to help me. And I was saying, "Oh, God, don't let me lose this baby."
WALLACE: Incredible story. A grandmother finds an SUV overturned in a canal and discovers her inner superhero. Her amazing story. That's all ahead on this Friday on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer and Soledad O'Brien.
MILES O'BRIEN, CO-HOST: Good morning to you. Bill and Soledad are off this morning. Miles O'Brien here with Kelly Wallace, filling in for Friday. The three-hour tour almost over. We're going down the home stretch.
Good to have you with us.
WALLACE: Good morning, everyone.
O'BRIEN: Some of the other stories we're following for you this morning, the military has reached a conclusion on the case of Marine corporal Wassef Hassoun, who disappeared earlier this year from a base in Iraq. Its conclusion, despite showing up in a hostage tape, as you see here, he's a deserter. Barbara Starr will explain the case against him for us.
WALLACE: Also, Miles, CNN this weekend doing a special on the re-examination of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. We'll have a preview of that. Also talk to the associate dean of religious life at Princeton about whether traditional perceptions of these women are flawed.
O'BRIEN: And Jack Cafferty is here with some...
JACK CAFFERTY, CO-HOST: Do we know what time that's on?
WALLACE: I think it's usually on at 8 p.m...
O'BRIEN: Eight p.m. Sundays.
WALLACE: Sunday.
O'BRIEN: "CNN PRESENTS." You going to TiVo that?
CAFFERTY: Yes, I'll be checking that out.
O'BRIEN: OK, good.
CAFFERTY: The question of the day today has to do with this poor unfortunate woman out in Washington state who was monitoring her teenage daughter's telephone calls and was hauled into court for violating the kid's privacy and convicted.
Should parents be allowed to monitor their kids' phone conversations? AM@CNN.com.
WALLACE: You getting lots of e-mails?
CAFFERTY: Getting a lot of e-mail.
WALLACE: Any teenagers?
CAFFERTY: Yes, we are hearing from some young people. Some of them are even saying, "You know what? I probably would have complained about it at the time if I had known, but now that I'm a little bit older, I look back and I thank them for whatever they did to keep me from getting myself in trouble." So there's some very bright kids watching AMERICAN MORNING.
O'BRIEN: All right. I think that's probably why they use instant messaging, to avoid that. But that's another -- another thing. All right.
WALLACE: All right. Moving right along here.
O'BRIEN: Stay up with the technology.
WALLACE: Carol Costello with other stories making news.
Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, ANCHOR: Kids have all kinds of sneaky ways.
O'BRIEN: They do, don't they?
COSTELLO: They do.
Good morning everyone. In the news this morning a vigil last night at the site of a shooting spree in Columbus, Ohio. Guitarist Darrell Abbott of the heavy metal group Damageplan and three others were killed at this club on Wednesday night. Witnesses say the gunman blamed Abbott for the breakup of another popular band, Pantera. Witnesses were on the line with 911 operators when the shooting occurred.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nine-one-one emergency.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm at the Alrosa Villa, and there's a shooting. Someone is shooting the band on the stage.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone's shooting the band on the stage?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On the stage at the Alrosa Villa. And they're screaming, "Call 911."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, stay on the line with me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, (expletive deleted), they're still shooting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're still shooting. The person is still moving with the gun.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
WALLACE: Operators telling patrons to get out or hit the floor. The gunman, 25-year-old Nathan Gale, was killed by police on the scene.
Americans are losing faith that Iraq will have a stable Democratic government. An Associated Press poll finds that less than half, 47 percent of Americans, believe those goals can be met. Fifty- five percent thought so last spring.
A reporter had a hand in setting up the tough questions Donald Rumsfeld got from soldiers in Kuwait. The defense chief grilled by one National Guard member about a lack of armor on combat vehicles in Iraq.
A Tennessee newspaper reporter embedded with the soldier's unit says he worked out the question with the soldier. That, after being told only military personnel were allowed to question Rumsfeld.
A memo from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security warns U.S. airlines that terrorists abroad are exploring the use of lasers as weapons. The memo warns that laser beams could be used to blind pilots and cause a crash.
Under investigation is an incident last September when a Delta Airlines pilot reportedly suffered an eye injury from a laser beam while approaching the Salt Lake City airport. That is scary.
O'BRIEN: I should say. WALLACE: Exactly. And there have been a handful of incidents?
COSTELLO: No formal intelligence, though, that, you know, terrorists could be doing this. But something they're looking into.
WALLACE: All right. Carol, thanks so much. We'll check in with you in a bit.
The jury deciding whether Scott Peterson lives or dies will resume its deliberations later this morning. Jurors got the case yesterday after dramatic final pleas from both sides in the trial sentencing phase.
Dean Johnson, former San Mateo County prosecutor, joins us this morning from Redwood City, California.
Dean Johnson, good to see you. Thanks for being here.
DEAN JOHNSON, FORMER SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning.
WALLACE: Let's look first at the prosecutor's closing argument. One prosecutor describing Scott Peterson as, quote, "the worst kind of monster," going on to say, quote, "This is somebody who had everything and threw it away. He had a plan and executed it."
How effective do you think that was?
JOHNSON: It's a very powerful argument. Dave Harris talking in almost an intimate tone with this jury, flashing picture after picture of Laci Peterson on the wall, and begging this jury to remember the victims.
And reprising the theme that he had in the guilt phase, the two Scott Petersons: the public Scott Peterson that all of his family and friends knew, and the private Scott Peterson that Dave Harris said was a monster and deserved to die.
WALLACE: Looking to defense attorney Mark Geragos. In his closing arguments, he's literally begging the jury not to give Scott Peterson a death sentence.
He goes on to say, "I'd get down on my knees if it weren't so contrived. I'd do whatever I can to convince you not to put him to death."
He also said, Dean, that he feels he let his client down. Some incredible video showing Mark Geragos kind of putting his hands, his face in his hands.
How effective do you think all that was for this jury?
JOHNSON: Mark Geragos may very well have saved Scott Peterson's life with his closing argument. For once, the otherwise cocky Geragos, very humble, so quiet that the judge had to caution him to raise his voice so that he could be heard. Mark Geragos saying, "Don't blame my client for anything that I may have done. Don't blame him for anything that -- any mistake I may have made."
And then giving this jury another way to think about this case. He asks them, "What is to be gained by choosing death over life? Certainly a life sentence would honor Laci Peterson's memory and do justice. There is nothing to be gained by an additional death."
WALLACE: And the judge also giving the jury a lot to think about in his final instructions, including the issue of lingering doubt. Explain that and how that could play a role in this case.
JOHNSON: Well, in -- in California, we have to weigh what we call aggravating and mitigating factors. One of those mitigating factors that the jury can consider, lingering doubt.
If there's any shadow of a doubt in the back of their mind that maybe there may be a real killer out there, they need to think about that now. That's for the protection not only of Scott Peterson but of the jurors themselves because, of course, they'd have to live with this ultimate decision themselves.
WALLACE: All right, Dean Johnson joining us this morning from Redwood City, California. We thank you so much.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
WALLACE: And of course, jury deliberations resuming again this morning about 11 a.m. Eastern -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: If you drive a Dodge Durango or a Dakota, listen up. Government safety experts asking Dodge to recall two types of the popular vehicles.
Regulators say they've found problems with 4x4 Durango SUVs and four-wheel drive Dakota pickups built between 2000 and 2003. "Automobile" magazine's editor-in-chief Jean Jennings told me the problem is in the ball joints, which hold the front wheels.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN JENNINGS, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, "AUTOMOBILE" MAGAZINE: This is a part that should not fatigue at 30,000 miles. And this is about the time you'd be finding this out. Most people put about 11,000 miles a year on their vehicle, so, you know, 30,000 miles, this is about when they're seeing this happen.
I -- I would suggest that the company is going to look at this carefully and make the right decision on -- on what to do about this.
O'BRIEN: Right. But I mean, they shouldn't be too reluctant to talk to people and be honest with them about a problem like this, I presume?
JENNINGS: No. I understand that they're saying they don't think it's a safety problem. And I don't know what that's all about because, you know, I would say a front wheel coming off is a serious safety concern. I'd put that -- more so than the rear wheel.
O'BRIEN: I'd put that -- I'd put that in the category of safety issues. Wheels coming off, definitely. I'm sorry, it's not funny. What -- what recourse do people have in these situations?
JENNINGS: I would say that, you know, in these day and age -- in this day and age, you're not really going in for a lot of service, a lot of maintenance, routine maintenance, maybe every 15,000 miles. I would look at your mileage and look at your service manual, see if it calls for a ball joint, you know, inspection. It probably doesn't.
If you have a vehicle, a Dakota, a Durango, four-wheel drive from 2000 to 2003, I would take it in and have those ball joints inspected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: That was Jean Jennings.
Now, in the past hour Chrysler said it has identified the problem as corrosion in the upper ball joint. Chrysler said it is working with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration and hopes to have an announcement on the recall by this afternoon. We'll keep you posted -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Thanks, Miles.
The Marines have issued charges in the case of a corporal who mysteriously disappeared from his base in Iraq. Our Barbara Starr is following the story from the Pentagon.
Great to see you, Barbara. What's the latest from there?
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Kelly.
Well, Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, as everyone will remember, disappeared from his base in Falluja back in June, then showed up in a hostage videotape, apparently under the capture of extremists in Iraq, and then several weeks later turned up in Lebanon.
He then came back to the United States and said he was not a deserter, that he had been abducted. But now, the U.S. Marine Corps has charged Corporal Hassoun with desertion and larceny.
Let's go through what those charges are. Desertion, that he voluntarily left his post without authorization. Larceny, regarding the taking of a government vehicle and his nine-millimeter government firearm.
All of this happened after the military several weeks ago then found some of Corporal Hassoun's personal items in Falluja, including his passport, his I.D. and his uniform. So now these charges have been filed.
The military says it has taken hundreds of statements from U.S. military personnel and from foreign nationals. What we have learned this morning from military spokesmen is they have statements from people in Lebanon, which a U.S. military official tells us, are statements that are, quote, "very interesting."
It may be a problem, however, if this all goes to trial, for those people in Lebanon, where he was found, to be brought here to testify in any trial.
The next step, he will face a pretrial hearing that will be determined if there is enough evidence for him to go to a court- martial. If he is convicted of these charges, he could face 15 years in a military prison.
But there are an awful lot of mysterious unanswered questions here. These charges all relate to his disappearance from Camp Falluja. The military not yet saying what they have learned about his travels from Iraq to Lebanon -- Kelly.
WALLACE: All right Barbara Starr, we'll leave it there, reporting from the Pentagon. Thanks so much -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: All right. A lot of you making weekend plans right now. Rob Marciano is the man who will tell you what you can and cannot do weather-wise.
Hello, Rob.
(WEATHER REPORT)
WALLACE: Yes, we're getting the wet stuff. And it's cold here, too. Thanks so much, Rob. We appreciate it.
News just in to CNN: we're learning that President Bush will announce his choice to replace outgoing energy secretary Spencer Abraham. He will announce his choice at 9:45 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room. And of course, CNN will bring you live coverage of that -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: We'll have that for you shortly.
Still to come on the program, we'll meet a woman who says she just did what anyone else would do. But a family from Georgia thinks she's a hero. Her touching moment of heroism ask in our "Extra Effort" segment.
WALLACE: Also, after a bruising election, some people think the Democrats have an identity crisis. What's the biggest mistake the party could make if it tries to change?
O'BRIEN: And the two Marys. Is pop culture forcing Christians to rethink the role of women? There's a provocative tease for you. Stay with us for the answer on AMERICAN MORNING.
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O'BRIEN: The best-selling book "The Da Vinci Code" has stirred many Roman Catholics to re-examine the role of women in the church. This Sunday "CNN PRESENTS" looks at "THE TWO MARYS," Mary the mother of Jesus and the changing view of Mary Magdalene.
Here is an expert -- excerpt.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIGOURNEY WEAVER, NARRATOR, "THE TWO MARYS": Mary Magdalene has become a media star, the lynchpin character of a mega selling novel says she wasn't just Jesus' apostle, but his wife and the mother of his children.
PROF. AMY-JILL LEVINE, VANDERBILT DIVINITY SCHOOL: "The Da Vinci Code" is appropriately shelved in books labeled fiction.
REV. GERALD O'COLLINS, S.J., PONTIFICAL GREGORIAN UNIVERSITY: Have I read it? I would give it prize one for historical misinformation.
WEAVER: Those reviews haven't stopped new Magdalene fans from thronging to places like London's Temple Church. According to the novel, this was home base to the Knights Templar, who fought crusades to keep the truth about Mary Magdalene's marriage to Jesus a secret for centuries.
REV. ROBIN GRIFFITHS-JONES, TEMPLE CHURCH, LONDON: We must now have 50 visitors or more every day coming into the church and asking the verger on their entry, "Have you read the book?" The verger still naively assumes they mean the Bible, but of course they mean the other Bible, "The Da Vinci Code."
WEAVER: This change in perception among both scholars and the public, that Mary Magdalene was a leader and not a sinner, is nothing short of seismic, especially for Christian women, who filled the pews but not the pulpit and who now want their due.
PROF. KAREN L. KING, HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL: Some people are very threatened by this, precisely because it may be that the results of this work are going to show that women were leaders in the early church. It's going to ask people, I think, to rethink some really fundamental things about Christian theology, life and practice. And that can certainly be threatening.
PROF. MARVIN MEYER, CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY: One cannot alienate half of the human race and get away with it. That's not what spirituality is all about. These issues must be addressed, and they will have to be addressed if the church is going to survive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Joining us to talk about the roles of both Mary of Nazareth and Mary Magdalene is pastor Paul Raushenbush. He is the author of "Teen Spirit: One World, Many Paths." He's also an associate dean of religious life at Princeton University.
Good to have you with us, Paul. PAULA RAUSHENBUSH, ASSOCIATE DEAN OF RELIGIOUS LIFE, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Nice to be here.
O'BRIEN: First of all, Mary Magdalene, sinner, saint, leader. Was she also the wife of Jesus, perhaps?
RAUSHENBUSH: In my mind, I have questions about whether or not she was the wife of Jesus. But I think she was kind of all of the above as far as the other things.
I have no problem with a woman who is depicted in the Bible as someone who came in contact with Jesus and had a turnaround experience, had a repentant experience, and then went on to be a leader in the movement.
It's clear that Mary was everywhere that Jesus was. Mary was not only there when Jesus was crucified, but -- but Mary was also the first person that Jesus appeared to when he was resurrected. And so there's clearly a close connection between Mary and Jesus as a leader of the Jesus movement and as Christ's resurrection.
O'BRIEN: So would it be an overstatement to say this kind of rocks the foundation of the very paternal Roman Catholic Church?
RAUSHENBUSH: Well, first of all, this rocks the foundation of many churches. But there's always been interest in the feminine, of, for instance Mary, mother of God. It's the heroine of this season. We're in the advent season right now.
And Mary is the woman who God comes to, to bring Christ into the world. And she is like a prophet to us. I mean, she is the heroine of this story.
And so -- so there have always been women in the church who have had strong roles, and -- and now there's this resurgence of Mary Magdalene in the general consciousness. And that's what I think is a little bit intimidating to the church.
O'BRIEN: All right. The fact that it's in the general consciousness, and perhaps is a little bit intimidating, does that lead to real, substantive change? Does it ultimately lead to a real discussion about giving women a role on the altars?
RAUSHENBUSH: Well, I think maybe this may be a lay movement. This may be something that comes slowly out of the ranks and files of women and men in the pews.
I think right now you've seen things go actually the other way. Catholic Church has been very clear that they're not going to be ordaining women. And even the Southern Baptist Convention has reversed its policy. It used to have women pastors, and now it has said that that's absolutely not allowed anymore in the Southern Baptist Convention.
So you see a certain entrenchment, I think, of the -- of the church hierarchy. But at the same time, this is -- this is a growing interest. Obviously, "The Da Vinci Code" has a lot to do with it, but it also has to do with the research that's recently -- recently been found. There's a recent Gnostic gospels with, actually, a gospel according to Mary Magdalene, and these are very powerful testimonies.
O'BRIEN: So final thought then, will there be some real change made in the church as a result of this growing awareness?
RAUSHENBUSH: I think it will be -- it won't be because the church says, "Well, we've got to change."
I think it will be because the spirit of God will come in and say, "Yes, we have to open ourselves to the power and the -- the witness of women in the life of Jesus, and in the life of the world today."
And so it will be -- it will be something that's very organic and alive in the world. And it won't be because people are -- are forced into it. It will be because the spirit of God is still moving in the world.
O'BRIEN: All right. Somebody say amen to that. Paul Raushenbush, Pastor Paul from Princeton, thanks very much. Appreciate it.
RAUSHENBUSH: My pleasure.
O'BRIEN: This reminder: "CNN PRESENTS: THE TWO MARYS, THE MADONNA AND THE MAGDALENE," airs Sunday night, 8 Eastern, narrated by Sigourney Weaver. You heard her there briefly. You won't want to miss that one -- Kelly.
WALLACE: Miles, thanks so much.
Still to come as we round out this Friday, how blowing up a taxicab helped keep America safe. You can say it is an explosive story. That's all ahead, here on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WALLACE: And welcome back. Let's check in with Jack and the question of the day.
CAFFERTY: Thanks, Kelly.
A mother who eavesdropped on her teenage daughter's phone conversation was found guilty of violating Washington state's privacy law. Washington is one of eleven states requiring consent from all parties involved before a conversation can be recorded.
The mother called the ruling ridiculous. She said her daughter was out of control. This was the only way she could get information and keep track of her.
So the question we're asking is, do parents have the right to eavesdrop on their kids? James in New Orleans writes, "As a 21-year-old college student, I reflect upon my teenage years, and would have been outraged if my parents would have listened in on my conversations. But, if I was headed in the wrong direction toward crime, drugs and failure, I know I would thank my parents later for it."
Maria, Colorado springs -- I have a sneaking suspicion Maria may be a youngster -- "I don't believe parents should have the right to eavesdrop on their children's conversations, because even though the kids are underage, they're still individuals with private issues and concerns of their own that sometimes they don't want their parents to know about."
Fair enough, Maria.
WALLACE: Yes.
CAFFERTY: Chris from Wisconsin writes, "Yes, and give them a smack, too. My dad -- my dad would have taken his paddle to my backside if I'd gotten out of line. He did that once, and it kept me in line and out of most trouble for a long time. Kids need discipline now for than over. I'm only 23, and I see that every day."
And Matt from Chillicothe, Ohio, says, "Let me check the Patriot Act. Nope, nothing about parents checking on their kids' phone calls, only the FBI, CIA and NSA can do that."
O'BRIEN: All right. Thanks. Thanks very much, sir. Still to come in the program, your Friday morning dose of "90 Second Pop."
Billionaire Donald Trump isn't hurting for cash. So why is he jumping at the chance for a freebie?
Plus, is newlywed Star Jones Reynolds ready to push an icon off the red carpet?
Stay with us for more AMERICAN MORNING.
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