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American Morning
Scott Peterson Sentenced to Death for Double Murder
Aired December 14, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER,CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson sentenced to death for double murder, and now the jury speaks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHELLE NICE, PETERSON JUROR: At the end, the verdict, no emotion -- no anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: What convinced the jurors that Peterson should die? We'll hear live today from two members on our program.
Is the net closing on one of Afghanistan's most wanted fugitives? Word this morning of two high-level arrests there.
The chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs is in Baghdad. He's met with more deadly attacks today.
And the war in Iraq tearing away at the public in Japan. We'll talk to the U.S. ambassador as our live coverage from Tokyo continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer from Tokyo, Japan and Soledad O'Brien in New York.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. Welcome, everybody. It is another sunrise-sunset edition of AMERICAN MORNING today -- excuse me -- as we come to you from New York and Tokyo this morning.
I'm Soledad O'Brien. Bill Hemmer on the other side of the world this morning. Good morning to you, Bill.
HEMMER: Hey, Soledad. Hello as day two rolls on here as our special coverage, 9:00 at night, here, day two of our broadcast week from Tokyo -- a lot to cover.
But check out the crowd behind me. We doubled the size we had last night. And a huge turnout here in Roppongi Hills, which is in the central part of Japan.
Give yourselves a hand.
(APPLAUSE)
HEMMER: We're going to talk to some folks a bit later this morning. But we've got a lot to cover today. In a moment, we'll talk to the U.S. ambassador here, Howard Baker. The use of Japan's military continues to be a huge issue here.
And we'll also talk today about cars. What else in Japan? Mazda's getting a lot of mileage out of an ad campaign that's known as "Zoom Zoom." And we'll talk about that and talk about what those two words have come to signify and how other auto makers now are being forced to adapt to it.
We'll also talk today about Zen Buddhism, the proper way to breathe and meditate. Honest now, it helps. And it works, actually, too -- and also, the proper way to roll sushi.
So, we'll have it all for you as our coverage continues. Back to New York, now, and more with Soledad there. And good morning, again, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks. And good morning to you.
Back here in the U.S., the big story this morning is the Scott Peterson decision. Peterson's death sentence bringing cheers outside the Redwood City courthouse.
This morning we talked with two members of the jury, including the jury foreman -- what was happening as the days of deliberation went by and was there one piece of testimony that really changed the case for them. We're going to ask that question.
Mr. Cafferty has got the "Question of the Day." Good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, thanks, Soledad.
When it comes to secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, there is a chorus of "boos" that's getting louder, and the voices are from some very influential folks are highly critical of the secretary of defense, particularly in light of that caustic remark he made to that soldier in Baghdad when he was asked about the lack of armor on some of the vehicles the soldiers are using over there.
Remember he said something about, you go to war with the army you have. Well, Mr. Secretary, you're in charge of the army that we have. We'll take a look at that in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
A developing story to report this morning as authorities in Afghanistan have reportedly nabbed two key figures in the war on terror. The arrest happened near the southern city of Kandahar. The men are said to be high ranking members of the Taliban.
The Associated Press and Reuters reporting that one of them, Mullah Naqeebullah Khan is a former security chief for Taliban leader, Mullah Qayoom Ahangar, who is seen right there. Omar's Taliban militia have been waging war against the U.S. and government forces in Southern Afghanistan for the last three years. Officials say the men were carrying a satellite phone and documents and hope that the arrests will lead to the former Taliban leader. We're going to continue, of course, to watch this story throughout the program.
First though, let's get right to the other stories that are now in the news with Kelly Wallace.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, as always, Soledad. And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news.
A boost for the troops in Iraq. Joint chief chairman, General Richard Myers, arriving in Baghdad today for meetings with military officials, but he will also play master of ceremonies at a show for the troops.
Traveling with Myers, an all-star lineup including actor, Robin Williams, football hall of famer, John Elway and model, Leanne Tweeden.
Meantime, though, the violence continues in Iraq -- for a second, straight day a car bomb attack near the Baghdad's protected green zone. Hospital officials say at least two people were killed and 13 others wounded in the suicide bombing. No reports of American casualties.
But elsewhere in Baghdad province, two more U.S. Marines were killed yesterday, bringing to nine the number of American soldiers killed in the country since Sunday.
Here in the United States, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce today an increase in short-term interest rates. Fed chairman, Allen Greenspan, will likely raise the rate by a quarter percent. It would be the fifth time the fed has done so since June.
And the French are literally soaring today with national pride. That's because they're celebrating the official opening of what's being called the world's tallest world bridge.
Hailed by the locals as a work of art, it spans a valley in Central France at almost 900 feet. It is beautiful. Cars will be able to use the bridge beginning Thursday.
The writers originally had me saying c'magnifique. But they were worried about what my French would say.
O'BRIEN: Oui! Oui!
WALLACE: So, they took it out.
O'BRIEN: Beautiful but kind of scary, don't you think?
WALLACE: Yes, so high up there.
O'BRIEN: All right, Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Let's get right to the dramatic end of Scott Peterson's double murder trial, the jury recommending that Peterson be put to death for murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn child.
More now from CNN's Rusty Dornin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The crowd outside the courthouse greeted the death sentence with approval. Laci Peterson's stepfather said the family has lived through a nightmare the past two years.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: They had no reason to doubt that it was Scott who did what he did. And he got what he deserved.
DORNIN: Three of the jurors, including the foreman, told reporters the deliberations were very tough and emotionally draining, but it was Peterson's demeanor that confirmed their decisions.
NICE: A big part of it was, at the end, the verdict, no emotion -- no anything. That spoke a thousand words. That was loud and clear.
Today, the giggles at the table, loud and clear. I heard enough from him.
DORNIN: What else stood out in their minds? The fact that Peterson went fishing near where his wife and unborn son's bodies washed ashore.
STEVE CARDOSI, PETERSON JURY FOREMAN: He lost his wife and his child and he -- didn't seem to phase them. And while that was going on, they were looking for his wife and child, he's romancing a girlfriend.
That doesn't make sense to me.
DORNIN: Many observers thought the girlfriend's testimony was key. For the jurors, Amber Frey was only a piece of the puzzle.
GREG BERATUS (PH), PETERSON JUROR: I don't think that Amber Frey was the issue. I think that this had been planned before Amber Frey even got into the picture.
DORNIN: The jurors talked about how they thought in the beginning the police had botched the investigation and prosecutors had a weak case.
BERATUS (PH): At the start, I thought that the prosecution was messing it up. I remember being in there, and you were there, listening to the judge almost asking the question so that we could understand what they were trying to say.
DORNIN: But the prosecution's case came together in the end, as Scott Peterson's lies unraveled the myth of a perfect marriage.
After the death sentence was announced, defense attorney, Mark Geragos, put his arm around Peterson but didn't have much to say afterward.
MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Obviously, we're very disappointed. Obviously, we plan on pursuing every and all appeals, motions for a new trial and everything else.
DORNIN (on camera): Scott Peterson will remain in jail here in Redwood City until his official sentencing February 25th. Then if the judge does not downgrade his sentence to life in prison, his next stop will be San Quentin, where he will join the more than 635 inmates on California's death row.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Let's get right to former San Mateo County prosecutor, Dean Johnson, who was in the courtroom yesterday.
Hey, Dean, good morning to you.
DEAN JOHNSON, FORMER SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We heard from Rusty the reaction outside the courtroom. What was the reaction inside the courtroom by observers when the verdict came in?
JOHNSON: Well, you know the reaction inside the courtroom was in sharp contrast to what happened on the street. I've attended a number of death penalty verdicts, and usually when the verdict of death is announced, there is an audible gasp.
In this courtroom, there was simply silence, almost as if this death penalty verdict were a foregone conclusion.
O'BRIEN: How did the jurors look to you, who have spent so much time now observing them and kind of getting to know them, if that's the right way to put it. They looked wiped out and exhausted to me.
JOHNSON: Well, they looked stressed out when they left the courtroom, no doubt about it. But this jury maintained its usual, stone-faced demeanor all through the proceedings, even through the announcement of the verdict.
O'BRIEN: They spoke about that sort of stone faced demeanor when they were talking about Scott Peterson. What kind of an impact did what he say, or did not say, have on them? JOHNSON: I think that was enormously significant. You know, I go back to something we said six months ago. If Scott Peterson had lost his wife and baby and was innocent and was now on trial for his life, this would be a man who was emotionally devastated, and it would show on his face.
But they looked across that courtroom, and they saw another stone-faced emotionless, sometimes even happy Scott Peterson. That complete disconnect was what destroyed Scott Peterson.
Ultimately, the strongest piece of evidence against Scott was Scott himself.
O'BRIEN: Here's what juror Richelle Nice had to say. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICE: Little man, that's what I call him, Conner, that was the hardest for me because, as I said, that was his daddy who did that. You know, his daddy should have been the protector of him, and instead he took his life. So that was hard for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The prosecutors seemed to succeed in bringing Laci and Conner to life and making the jurors really bond with the victim in this case. Not unusual, is it?
JOHNSON: No, it's not. And you notice what they did? They also made Scott Peterson the worst of the worst. They said, this is not some stranger. This is a person who works his way into your heart so that you never see it coming.
Laci and Conner never saw it coming, never expected that their own husband and father would be the person who would cause their death.
O'BRIEN: The judge could reduce the sentence if he wanted to. Any expectation that he will actually do that?
JOHNSON: No, I don't think so. It's very rare for a judge in California to reduce a death penalty verdict, even more rare for Judge Al Delucchi to do so.
He gives deference and respect to the expression of the conscience of the community, as expressed by this jury.
O'BRIEN: Dean Johnson, as always, covering this case for us. Thanks for talking with us, Dean.
JOHNSON: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it.
We're going to talk to two of the Peterson jurors, including the foreman, in our next half hour, at 7:30 Eastern time.
Let's head back to Bill Hemmer, though, first, in Tokyo. Hey, Bill. Good morning, again.
HEMMER: Soledad, America and Japan considered close eyes -- allies, rather -- in this region, evidenced by the prime minister here and his consistent backing of the American-led invasion in Iraq.
Just last week Japan's government extended its troop mission in Iraq by another year. That mission was set to end this very week.
Japan has 550 troops there on a humanitarian mission to support the reconstruction effort. Its constitution prohibits oversees deployments that might involve the use of force.
Japanese troops on the ground focusing mainly on rebuilding the infrastructure, purifying water systems and giving medical help. It is the country's largest overseas operation since the end of World War II.
However, the mission is largely unpopular with the Japanese public. Polling here show a majority want the troops brought home now. We talked about that issue a bit earlier today here in Tokyo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
1ST UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I've been against sending the self-defense force from the beginning. But it is absolutely unbelievable to have it extended by a year.
2ND UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If you think about the national and the regional security issue, I think Japan should also participate in efforts like this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I'm really against it. Article nine of the Japanese constitution is a part of the constitution that we are to be proud of. We have renounced war.
3RD UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think it is really risky to extend, as the condition in Iraq is very unstable at the moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Much more on this topic in a moment with Ambassador Baker. Stay tuned for that in a matter of moments here in Tokyo.
In the meantime, though, on a most lighter note, though, Zen is a word synonymous with Asia in its traditional beliefs. The school of Buddhism, it professes that enlightenment can be reached through meditation.
I went to a Buddhist temple a few days ago here in Tokyo, trying to learn the art of meditation. If you've done it, you know that breathing is critical, the technique, anyway -- three seconds through the nose, then you hold it, then three seconds out the mouth. And also while we were there, we were given this back slapping treatment that we are told is designed to help relieve the stress that goes up and down the back and sort of collects right around the shoulder area.
I have not had that experience before. But it was quite interesting to learn that technique. Our boss, Will Sarat (ph), went with us, too. And I'm not sure who needed it more, him or me. But we learned an awful lot.
And we are told that the young people and business people are taking up this form of meditation more and more everyday throughout the country of Japan.
More in a moment. Back to Soledad, now, in New York -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks.
Let's get right to the forecast this morning. Rob Marciano at the CNN Center with the latest weather update for us. Hey, Rob, good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad. That cold air we talked about yesterday now engulfing much of the Eastern two-thirds of the country.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Rob, thanks.
Still to come this morning.
The jury votes for death in the Peterson case. Two members of that jury are going to talk with us about how they came to their decision and what they really wanted to see or hear.
Mazda is doing something none of the big, three Japanese car makers do. We're going to find out how they put the zoom into their cars.
And Japan pretty much has the same issues with U.S. foreign policy as other nations, so how do the two countries manage to maintain good relations? The answer might be Ambassador Howard Baker.
He's with Bill, live from Japan, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Tokyo. With the end of the cold war and end of World War II more than 50 years ago, the U.S. and Japan have been working toward what today is considered a good working relationship.'
From the war in Iraq to the situation with North Korea, what's happening in China as well, the countries pretty much see eye-to-eye. Much of that credit is given to the ambassador here in Japan, Howard Baker.
Ambassador Baker now is my guest live here in Tokyo. And it's a pleasure and honor to see you here.
HOWARD BAKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: Bill, thank you very much.
HEMMER: Good evening to you. Thank you for being a part of our broadcast.
BAKER: It's an honor to be here. Thank you.
HEMMER: We were, on our program last night, talking with the head of U.S. forces here in Japan, who did not discount the possibility that there may be a troop reduction, at some point, of the U.S. military 58,000 here in Japan. Do you see that as a possibility?
BAKER: Well, it's certainly a possibility. Tom Wasco, by the way, General Wasco is a first class, military man, Air Force officer. And we work with him often and successfully.
I think if you'll go back and look, you'll find that the president and secretary of defense both have said, at one time or the another, as to Okinawa, at least, that we realized the burden we placed on this country and on those people and that we want to try to reduce that burden.
And translated into plain English, that means one of these days, we've got to reduce our troop levels here.
HEMMER: If North Korea, though, is still such a threat, why does it make sense to reduce U.S. troops here in Japan, at this point?
BAKER: Well, it goes back to the president and secretary's determination to re-examine the configuration of our military and to make that sure we're arranged so that we can meet today's threat, not last year or last decade's threats.
So even though there's a significant danger in this part of the world from the Korean peninsula, perhaps the straits of Taiwan and other places, it's time for us to re-examine how American military and naval forces are configured here.
So I think it's appropriate. I think it upsets a lot of people, including many Japanese. But I think they're coming to understand it and understand we'll be better prepared to defend them and defend ourselves after this readjustment.
HEMMER: One other thing that appears to have set a good majority of Japanese people here is the issue of Iraq and the deployment for the Japanese troops serving on behalf of the coalition.
The prime minister, just about five days ago, extended that deployment by another year. Yet, all the polls that we see, well over 65 percent say the mission is wrong on behalf of Japan. Why then -- and you're close with the prime minister -- does he continue to have that position?
BAKER: Bill, let me say two things. Number one, I've been in American government and American politics for a long time. And the one lesson I've learned above all others, is follow your feelings, don't follow the polls.
The polls are merely a slice, a sample of what people think at that moment. So I don't really place too much credence in the polls.
And the second point is that I think, Koizumi, Prime Minister Koizumi, is a real leader. And I measure leadership many ways, but one of the ways is that he's willing to face the consequences of doing an unpopular thing.
And clearly, he has demonstrated that on the determination to renew the commitment of self-defense forces in Iraq. I think the decision was right. But more important, it was Japan's decision not America's decision.
HEMMER: I want to talk a little bit about you. You have essentially asked the president to end your term here that started back in 2001. You want to go home, is that right?
BAKER: I do. And that will not be a surprise to the president because when he asked me to accept this job, first of all, I was surprised when he asked and perhaps even more surprised when I agreed to come over here. I thought I had safely retired.
HEMMER: How's your health?
BAKER: It's good. I had heart surgery in September. But I feel better than I felt in 10 years. So, my wife says if you felt any better, I don't know what we'd do with you.
But my health's good, and that has nothing to do with why I'm going home. Initially, I told the president that I only wanted to serve in his first term. So, this is all in plan and we look forward to it.
HEMMER: Thank you.
BAKER: Bill, thanks to you.
HEMMER: Howard Baker here in Tokyo. Good luck to you, all right.
BAKER: Pleasure to be here.
HEMMER: Appreciate it.
BAKER: Thank you.
HEMMER: Back to New York now. Here's Soledad with more.
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Bill.
Still to come this morning, there was not a lot of physical evidence to convict Scott Peterson of murder. We're going to ask some of the jurors how they could be sure enough to recommend a death sentence.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Today, we're talking again about a major merger, this time in the cell phone business. Also a look at what's happening on Wall Street today. Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business."
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Soledad.
It seems that major -- merger mania -- excuse me, is sweeping across Wall Street. The latest, another blockbuster, potentially. The "Wall Street Journal" reporting the telecom giant Verizon may be making a bid for rival Sprint.
This would be scuttling Sprint's $35 billion deal to merge with Nextel. And a Verizon-Sprint deal would dwarf that $35 billion deal, I mean just to give you an idea of the scale of these deals.
Meanwhile, news of other deals, real or rumored, powered Wall Street, yesterday. The Dow was up 95 points. NASDAQ up and S&P up. That's up at a level I have not seen since 9/11.
What else is going on? Verizon and Semantic, two other big software companies in the security business...
O'BRIEN: Veritas?
SERWER: Possibly, Veritas, excuse me. Veritas -- Veritas and Semantic possibly merging.
O'BRIEN: I'm reading off your notes.
SERWER: About $13 billion -- thank you. Well, someone should.
The $13 billion deal. And, of course, the big news this afternoon, the Federal Reserve meeting, and we're looking at a possible, probable interest rate hike at 2:15.
O'BRIEN: All right, Andy. Thank you very much.
Jack's got the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Want to handle it?
O'BRIEN: Sure. Secretary... SERWER: Well, I'm the only one who needs that, Jack, not you. You do a pretty good job.
O'BRIEN: We were talking about it in the commercial break. So...
SERWER: Well, thank you. Appreciate the help.
CAFFERTY: Secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, is catching heat from some pretty powerful people for his handling of the war in Iraq. Republican senator, John McCain, told the Associated Press that he has, "no confidence in Rumsfeld's leadership."
Senator McCain estimates an additional 100,000 troops are needed to secure Iraq. In an MSNBC interview, retired general, Norman Schwarzkopf, expressed his disappointment with Rumsfeld, especially with the response last week to a soldier complaining of insufficient armored protection.
Rumsfeld told the soldier, "You go to war with the army you have." Schwarzkopf pointed out the secretary of defense acted as if he, the secretary of defense, had nothing to do with the state of the army we have.
With resignations already from more than half of the president's cabinet, here's the question, should Donald Rumsfeld consider resigning as the secretary of defense?
Ii mean, if he's not in charge of the army we have, who is?
SERWER: The president.
O'BRIEN: That was a very odd question and answer session coming out from that...
CAFFERTY: Well, it was a very legitimate question...
O'BRIEN: It was a terrific one.
CAFFERTY: ... and it was a very stupid answer would be the way I would analyze that deal.
O'BRIEN: One would think you would prepare more for those kinds of open...
CAFFERTY: Well, I don't think he -- you know, he didn't expect it.
O'BRIEN: Right.
CAFFERTY: I mean, no -- you know, they expect the soldiers to be a bunch of lap dogs when the secretary of defense shows up. And a guy stands up and fires a high, hard one at him and almost knocked him off the podium with it.
I thought it was brilliant. O'BRIEN: It was a good question.
SERWER: Brush back pitch.
CAFFERTY: Huh?
SERWER: Brush back pitch.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack. Thank you very much.
Still to come this morning, Taliban leaders arrested in Afghanistan and a Mars rover -- Jack, you're going to love this story -- has found...
CAFFERTY: Dirt, red dirt.
O'BRIEN: ... no this time water on Mars.
CAFFERTY: Red dirt and water.
O'BRIEN: Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
CAFFERTY: You can make red mud with that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 14, 2004 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER,CNN ANCHOR: Scott Peterson sentenced to death for double murder, and now the jury speaks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHELLE NICE, PETERSON JUROR: At the end, the verdict, no emotion -- no anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: What convinced the jurors that Peterson should die? We'll hear live today from two members on our program.
Is the net closing on one of Afghanistan's most wanted fugitives? Word this morning of two high-level arrests there.
The chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs is in Baghdad. He's met with more deadly attacks today.
And the war in Iraq tearing away at the public in Japan. We'll talk to the U.S. ambassador as our live coverage from Tokyo continues on this AMERICAN MORNING.
ANNOUNCER: This is AMERICAN MORNING with Bill Hemmer from Tokyo, Japan and Soledad O'Brien in New York.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning. Welcome, everybody. It is another sunrise-sunset edition of AMERICAN MORNING today -- excuse me -- as we come to you from New York and Tokyo this morning.
I'm Soledad O'Brien. Bill Hemmer on the other side of the world this morning. Good morning to you, Bill.
HEMMER: Hey, Soledad. Hello as day two rolls on here as our special coverage, 9:00 at night, here, day two of our broadcast week from Tokyo -- a lot to cover.
But check out the crowd behind me. We doubled the size we had last night. And a huge turnout here in Roppongi Hills, which is in the central part of Japan.
Give yourselves a hand.
(APPLAUSE)
HEMMER: We're going to talk to some folks a bit later this morning. But we've got a lot to cover today. In a moment, we'll talk to the U.S. ambassador here, Howard Baker. The use of Japan's military continues to be a huge issue here.
And we'll also talk today about cars. What else in Japan? Mazda's getting a lot of mileage out of an ad campaign that's known as "Zoom Zoom." And we'll talk about that and talk about what those two words have come to signify and how other auto makers now are being forced to adapt to it.
We'll also talk today about Zen Buddhism, the proper way to breathe and meditate. Honest now, it helps. And it works, actually, too -- and also, the proper way to roll sushi.
So, we'll have it all for you as our coverage continues. Back to New York, now, and more with Soledad there. And good morning, again, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks. And good morning to you.
Back here in the U.S., the big story this morning is the Scott Peterson decision. Peterson's death sentence bringing cheers outside the Redwood City courthouse.
This morning we talked with two members of the jury, including the jury foreman -- what was happening as the days of deliberation went by and was there one piece of testimony that really changed the case for them. We're going to ask that question.
Mr. Cafferty has got the "Question of the Day." Good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, thanks, Soledad.
When it comes to secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, there is a chorus of "boos" that's getting louder, and the voices are from some very influential folks are highly critical of the secretary of defense, particularly in light of that caustic remark he made to that soldier in Baghdad when he was asked about the lack of armor on some of the vehicles the soldiers are using over there.
Remember he said something about, you go to war with the army you have. Well, Mr. Secretary, you're in charge of the army that we have. We'll take a look at that in a few minutes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack, thanks.
A developing story to report this morning as authorities in Afghanistan have reportedly nabbed two key figures in the war on terror. The arrest happened near the southern city of Kandahar. The men are said to be high ranking members of the Taliban.
The Associated Press and Reuters reporting that one of them, Mullah Naqeebullah Khan is a former security chief for Taliban leader, Mullah Qayoom Ahangar, who is seen right there. Omar's Taliban militia have been waging war against the U.S. and government forces in Southern Afghanistan for the last three years. Officials say the men were carrying a satellite phone and documents and hope that the arrests will lead to the former Taliban leader. We're going to continue, of course, to watch this story throughout the program.
First though, let's get right to the other stories that are now in the news with Kelly Wallace.
Good morning.
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good to see you, as always, Soledad. And good morning, everyone.
Now in the news.
A boost for the troops in Iraq. Joint chief chairman, General Richard Myers, arriving in Baghdad today for meetings with military officials, but he will also play master of ceremonies at a show for the troops.
Traveling with Myers, an all-star lineup including actor, Robin Williams, football hall of famer, John Elway and model, Leanne Tweeden.
Meantime, though, the violence continues in Iraq -- for a second, straight day a car bomb attack near the Baghdad's protected green zone. Hospital officials say at least two people were killed and 13 others wounded in the suicide bombing. No reports of American casualties.
But elsewhere in Baghdad province, two more U.S. Marines were killed yesterday, bringing to nine the number of American soldiers killed in the country since Sunday.
Here in the United States, the Federal Reserve is expected to announce today an increase in short-term interest rates. Fed chairman, Allen Greenspan, will likely raise the rate by a quarter percent. It would be the fifth time the fed has done so since June.
And the French are literally soaring today with national pride. That's because they're celebrating the official opening of what's being called the world's tallest world bridge.
Hailed by the locals as a work of art, it spans a valley in Central France at almost 900 feet. It is beautiful. Cars will be able to use the bridge beginning Thursday.
The writers originally had me saying c'magnifique. But they were worried about what my French would say.
O'BRIEN: Oui! Oui!
WALLACE: So, they took it out.
O'BRIEN: Beautiful but kind of scary, don't you think?
WALLACE: Yes, so high up there.
O'BRIEN: All right, Kelly, thanks.
WALLACE: Sure.
O'BRIEN: Let's get right to the dramatic end of Scott Peterson's double murder trial, the jury recommending that Peterson be put to death for murdering his wife, Laci, and their unborn child.
More now from CNN's Rusty Dornin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The crowd outside the courthouse greeted the death sentence with approval. Laci Peterson's stepfather said the family has lived through a nightmare the past two years.
RON GRANTSKI, LACI PETERSON'S STEPFATHER: They had no reason to doubt that it was Scott who did what he did. And he got what he deserved.
DORNIN: Three of the jurors, including the foreman, told reporters the deliberations were very tough and emotionally draining, but it was Peterson's demeanor that confirmed their decisions.
NICE: A big part of it was, at the end, the verdict, no emotion -- no anything. That spoke a thousand words. That was loud and clear.
Today, the giggles at the table, loud and clear. I heard enough from him.
DORNIN: What else stood out in their minds? The fact that Peterson went fishing near where his wife and unborn son's bodies washed ashore.
STEVE CARDOSI, PETERSON JURY FOREMAN: He lost his wife and his child and he -- didn't seem to phase them. And while that was going on, they were looking for his wife and child, he's romancing a girlfriend.
That doesn't make sense to me.
DORNIN: Many observers thought the girlfriend's testimony was key. For the jurors, Amber Frey was only a piece of the puzzle.
GREG BERATUS (PH), PETERSON JUROR: I don't think that Amber Frey was the issue. I think that this had been planned before Amber Frey even got into the picture.
DORNIN: The jurors talked about how they thought in the beginning the police had botched the investigation and prosecutors had a weak case.
BERATUS (PH): At the start, I thought that the prosecution was messing it up. I remember being in there, and you were there, listening to the judge almost asking the question so that we could understand what they were trying to say.
DORNIN: But the prosecution's case came together in the end, as Scott Peterson's lies unraveled the myth of a perfect marriage.
After the death sentence was announced, defense attorney, Mark Geragos, put his arm around Peterson but didn't have much to say afterward.
MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Obviously, we're very disappointed. Obviously, we plan on pursuing every and all appeals, motions for a new trial and everything else.
DORNIN (on camera): Scott Peterson will remain in jail here in Redwood City until his official sentencing February 25th. Then if the judge does not downgrade his sentence to life in prison, his next stop will be San Quentin, where he will join the more than 635 inmates on California's death row.
Rusty Dornin, CNN, California.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: Let's get right to former San Mateo County prosecutor, Dean Johnson, who was in the courtroom yesterday.
Hey, Dean, good morning to you.
DEAN JOHNSON, FORMER SAN MATEO COUNTY PROSECUTOR: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: We heard from Rusty the reaction outside the courtroom. What was the reaction inside the courtroom by observers when the verdict came in?
JOHNSON: Well, you know the reaction inside the courtroom was in sharp contrast to what happened on the street. I've attended a number of death penalty verdicts, and usually when the verdict of death is announced, there is an audible gasp.
In this courtroom, there was simply silence, almost as if this death penalty verdict were a foregone conclusion.
O'BRIEN: How did the jurors look to you, who have spent so much time now observing them and kind of getting to know them, if that's the right way to put it. They looked wiped out and exhausted to me.
JOHNSON: Well, they looked stressed out when they left the courtroom, no doubt about it. But this jury maintained its usual, stone-faced demeanor all through the proceedings, even through the announcement of the verdict.
O'BRIEN: They spoke about that sort of stone faced demeanor when they were talking about Scott Peterson. What kind of an impact did what he say, or did not say, have on them? JOHNSON: I think that was enormously significant. You know, I go back to something we said six months ago. If Scott Peterson had lost his wife and baby and was innocent and was now on trial for his life, this would be a man who was emotionally devastated, and it would show on his face.
But they looked across that courtroom, and they saw another stone-faced emotionless, sometimes even happy Scott Peterson. That complete disconnect was what destroyed Scott Peterson.
Ultimately, the strongest piece of evidence against Scott was Scott himself.
O'BRIEN: Here's what juror Richelle Nice had to say. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICE: Little man, that's what I call him, Conner, that was the hardest for me because, as I said, that was his daddy who did that. You know, his daddy should have been the protector of him, and instead he took his life. So that was hard for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'BRIEN: The prosecutors seemed to succeed in bringing Laci and Conner to life and making the jurors really bond with the victim in this case. Not unusual, is it?
JOHNSON: No, it's not. And you notice what they did? They also made Scott Peterson the worst of the worst. They said, this is not some stranger. This is a person who works his way into your heart so that you never see it coming.
Laci and Conner never saw it coming, never expected that their own husband and father would be the person who would cause their death.
O'BRIEN: The judge could reduce the sentence if he wanted to. Any expectation that he will actually do that?
JOHNSON: No, I don't think so. It's very rare for a judge in California to reduce a death penalty verdict, even more rare for Judge Al Delucchi to do so.
He gives deference and respect to the expression of the conscience of the community, as expressed by this jury.
O'BRIEN: Dean Johnson, as always, covering this case for us. Thanks for talking with us, Dean.
JOHNSON: Thank you, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Appreciate it.
We're going to talk to two of the Peterson jurors, including the foreman, in our next half hour, at 7:30 Eastern time.
Let's head back to Bill Hemmer, though, first, in Tokyo. Hey, Bill. Good morning, again.
HEMMER: Soledad, America and Japan considered close eyes -- allies, rather -- in this region, evidenced by the prime minister here and his consistent backing of the American-led invasion in Iraq.
Just last week Japan's government extended its troop mission in Iraq by another year. That mission was set to end this very week.
Japan has 550 troops there on a humanitarian mission to support the reconstruction effort. Its constitution prohibits oversees deployments that might involve the use of force.
Japanese troops on the ground focusing mainly on rebuilding the infrastructure, purifying water systems and giving medical help. It is the country's largest overseas operation since the end of World War II.
However, the mission is largely unpopular with the Japanese public. Polling here show a majority want the troops brought home now. We talked about that issue a bit earlier today here in Tokyo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
1ST UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I've been against sending the self-defense force from the beginning. But it is absolutely unbelievable to have it extended by a year.
2ND UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If you think about the national and the regional security issue, I think Japan should also participate in efforts like this one.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I'm really against it. Article nine of the Japanese constitution is a part of the constitution that we are to be proud of. We have renounced war.
3RD UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think it is really risky to extend, as the condition in Iraq is very unstable at the moment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Much more on this topic in a moment with Ambassador Baker. Stay tuned for that in a matter of moments here in Tokyo.
In the meantime, though, on a most lighter note, though, Zen is a word synonymous with Asia in its traditional beliefs. The school of Buddhism, it professes that enlightenment can be reached through meditation.
I went to a Buddhist temple a few days ago here in Tokyo, trying to learn the art of meditation. If you've done it, you know that breathing is critical, the technique, anyway -- three seconds through the nose, then you hold it, then three seconds out the mouth. And also while we were there, we were given this back slapping treatment that we are told is designed to help relieve the stress that goes up and down the back and sort of collects right around the shoulder area.
I have not had that experience before. But it was quite interesting to learn that technique. Our boss, Will Sarat (ph), went with us, too. And I'm not sure who needed it more, him or me. But we learned an awful lot.
And we are told that the young people and business people are taking up this form of meditation more and more everyday throughout the country of Japan.
More in a moment. Back to Soledad, now, in New York -- Soledad?
O'BRIEN: All right, Bill, thanks.
Let's get right to the forecast this morning. Rob Marciano at the CNN Center with the latest weather update for us. Hey, Rob, good morning.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Soledad. That cold air we talked about yesterday now engulfing much of the Eastern two-thirds of the country.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: Soledad, back to you.
O'BRIEN: All right, Rob, thanks.
Still to come this morning.
The jury votes for death in the Peterson case. Two members of that jury are going to talk with us about how they came to their decision and what they really wanted to see or hear.
Mazda is doing something none of the big, three Japanese car makers do. We're going to find out how they put the zoom into their cars.
And Japan pretty much has the same issues with U.S. foreign policy as other nations, so how do the two countries manage to maintain good relations? The answer might be Ambassador Howard Baker.
He's with Bill, live from Japan, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back to Tokyo. With the end of the cold war and end of World War II more than 50 years ago, the U.S. and Japan have been working toward what today is considered a good working relationship.'
From the war in Iraq to the situation with North Korea, what's happening in China as well, the countries pretty much see eye-to-eye. Much of that credit is given to the ambassador here in Japan, Howard Baker.
Ambassador Baker now is my guest live here in Tokyo. And it's a pleasure and honor to see you here.
HOWARD BAKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: Bill, thank you very much.
HEMMER: Good evening to you. Thank you for being a part of our broadcast.
BAKER: It's an honor to be here. Thank you.
HEMMER: We were, on our program last night, talking with the head of U.S. forces here in Japan, who did not discount the possibility that there may be a troop reduction, at some point, of the U.S. military 58,000 here in Japan. Do you see that as a possibility?
BAKER: Well, it's certainly a possibility. Tom Wasco, by the way, General Wasco is a first class, military man, Air Force officer. And we work with him often and successfully.
I think if you'll go back and look, you'll find that the president and secretary of defense both have said, at one time or the another, as to Okinawa, at least, that we realized the burden we placed on this country and on those people and that we want to try to reduce that burden.
And translated into plain English, that means one of these days, we've got to reduce our troop levels here.
HEMMER: If North Korea, though, is still such a threat, why does it make sense to reduce U.S. troops here in Japan, at this point?
BAKER: Well, it goes back to the president and secretary's determination to re-examine the configuration of our military and to make that sure we're arranged so that we can meet today's threat, not last year or last decade's threats.
So even though there's a significant danger in this part of the world from the Korean peninsula, perhaps the straits of Taiwan and other places, it's time for us to re-examine how American military and naval forces are configured here.
So I think it's appropriate. I think it upsets a lot of people, including many Japanese. But I think they're coming to understand it and understand we'll be better prepared to defend them and defend ourselves after this readjustment.
HEMMER: One other thing that appears to have set a good majority of Japanese people here is the issue of Iraq and the deployment for the Japanese troops serving on behalf of the coalition.
The prime minister, just about five days ago, extended that deployment by another year. Yet, all the polls that we see, well over 65 percent say the mission is wrong on behalf of Japan. Why then -- and you're close with the prime minister -- does he continue to have that position?
BAKER: Bill, let me say two things. Number one, I've been in American government and American politics for a long time. And the one lesson I've learned above all others, is follow your feelings, don't follow the polls.
The polls are merely a slice, a sample of what people think at that moment. So I don't really place too much credence in the polls.
And the second point is that I think, Koizumi, Prime Minister Koizumi, is a real leader. And I measure leadership many ways, but one of the ways is that he's willing to face the consequences of doing an unpopular thing.
And clearly, he has demonstrated that on the determination to renew the commitment of self-defense forces in Iraq. I think the decision was right. But more important, it was Japan's decision not America's decision.
HEMMER: I want to talk a little bit about you. You have essentially asked the president to end your term here that started back in 2001. You want to go home, is that right?
BAKER: I do. And that will not be a surprise to the president because when he asked me to accept this job, first of all, I was surprised when he asked and perhaps even more surprised when I agreed to come over here. I thought I had safely retired.
HEMMER: How's your health?
BAKER: It's good. I had heart surgery in September. But I feel better than I felt in 10 years. So, my wife says if you felt any better, I don't know what we'd do with you.
But my health's good, and that has nothing to do with why I'm going home. Initially, I told the president that I only wanted to serve in his first term. So, this is all in plan and we look forward to it.
HEMMER: Thank you.
BAKER: Bill, thanks to you.
HEMMER: Howard Baker here in Tokyo. Good luck to you, all right.
BAKER: Pleasure to be here.
HEMMER: Appreciate it.
BAKER: Thank you.
HEMMER: Back to New York now. Here's Soledad with more.
O'BRIEN: Thanks, Bill.
Still to come this morning, there was not a lot of physical evidence to convict Scott Peterson of murder. We're going to ask some of the jurors how they could be sure enough to recommend a death sentence.
That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.
Today, we're talking again about a major merger, this time in the cell phone business. Also a look at what's happening on Wall Street today. Andy Serwer "Minding Your Business."
Good morning.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Soledad.
It seems that major -- merger mania -- excuse me, is sweeping across Wall Street. The latest, another blockbuster, potentially. The "Wall Street Journal" reporting the telecom giant Verizon may be making a bid for rival Sprint.
This would be scuttling Sprint's $35 billion deal to merge with Nextel. And a Verizon-Sprint deal would dwarf that $35 billion deal, I mean just to give you an idea of the scale of these deals.
Meanwhile, news of other deals, real or rumored, powered Wall Street, yesterday. The Dow was up 95 points. NASDAQ up and S&P up. That's up at a level I have not seen since 9/11.
What else is going on? Verizon and Semantic, two other big software companies in the security business...
O'BRIEN: Veritas?
SERWER: Possibly, Veritas, excuse me. Veritas -- Veritas and Semantic possibly merging.
O'BRIEN: I'm reading off your notes.
SERWER: About $13 billion -- thank you. Well, someone should.
The $13 billion deal. And, of course, the big news this afternoon, the Federal Reserve meeting, and we're looking at a possible, probable interest rate hike at 2:15.
O'BRIEN: All right, Andy. Thank you very much.
Jack's got the "Question of the Day."
CAFFERTY: Want to handle it?
O'BRIEN: Sure. Secretary... SERWER: Well, I'm the only one who needs that, Jack, not you. You do a pretty good job.
O'BRIEN: We were talking about it in the commercial break. So...
SERWER: Well, thank you. Appreciate the help.
CAFFERTY: Secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld, is catching heat from some pretty powerful people for his handling of the war in Iraq. Republican senator, John McCain, told the Associated Press that he has, "no confidence in Rumsfeld's leadership."
Senator McCain estimates an additional 100,000 troops are needed to secure Iraq. In an MSNBC interview, retired general, Norman Schwarzkopf, expressed his disappointment with Rumsfeld, especially with the response last week to a soldier complaining of insufficient armored protection.
Rumsfeld told the soldier, "You go to war with the army you have." Schwarzkopf pointed out the secretary of defense acted as if he, the secretary of defense, had nothing to do with the state of the army we have.
With resignations already from more than half of the president's cabinet, here's the question, should Donald Rumsfeld consider resigning as the secretary of defense?
Ii mean, if he's not in charge of the army we have, who is?
SERWER: The president.
O'BRIEN: That was a very odd question and answer session coming out from that...
CAFFERTY: Well, it was a very legitimate question...
O'BRIEN: It was a terrific one.
CAFFERTY: ... and it was a very stupid answer would be the way I would analyze that deal.
O'BRIEN: One would think you would prepare more for those kinds of open...
CAFFERTY: Well, I don't think he -- you know, he didn't expect it.
O'BRIEN: Right.
CAFFERTY: I mean, no -- you know, they expect the soldiers to be a bunch of lap dogs when the secretary of defense shows up. And a guy stands up and fires a high, hard one at him and almost knocked him off the podium with it.
I thought it was brilliant. O'BRIEN: It was a good question.
SERWER: Brush back pitch.
CAFFERTY: Huh?
SERWER: Brush back pitch.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
O'BRIEN: All right, Jack. Thank you very much.
Still to come this morning, Taliban leaders arrested in Afghanistan and a Mars rover -- Jack, you're going to love this story -- has found...
CAFFERTY: Dirt, red dirt.
O'BRIEN: ... no this time water on Mars.
CAFFERTY: Red dirt and water.
O'BRIEN: Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
CAFFERTY: You can make red mud with that.
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