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CNN Live Today

At Least 22 Wounded in Baghdad Bombings This Morning

Aired June 02, 2004 - 10:00   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.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan.
In the headlines right now, a spotlight on Saudi Arabia. A U.S. Army officer was wounded by gunmen today while driving on a highway. An officer in a second vehicle was not hurt.

Near Mecca, a daylong standoff ended with Saudi security forces killing two militants. One of those killed was the Saudi -- on the Saudi list of most wanted terrorists.

The man once considered the next possible leader of Iraq may have been spying for Iran. Sources confirm to CNN that Ahmed Chalabi tipped of Iran that the U.S. had broken Iran's intelligence code. Chalabi recently fell out of favor with the Bush administration and has become a harsh critic of U.S. policy in Iraq.

The apparent theft of two proprane -- propane trucks has touched off a nationwide dragnet. The trucks, carrying a total of more than 5,000 gallons of propane, were discovered missing Monday from a San Antonio company. The FBI has not ruled out a possible terrorist link. Fifteen propane tanks were also reported missing from another company.

And in Congress, Democrats have picked up one more seat in the House. Thirty-three year-old Stephanie Herseth won yesterday's special election in South Dakota to replace Bill Janklow. Janklow gave up his seat in January. The congressman was convicted of manslaughter for running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Iraq's new leadership is preparing for the June 30 handover when it takes power from the U.S.-led coalition. But violence remains an ongoing threat.

Our Harris Whitbeck is in Baghdad; he has the latest developments -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi gave a speech this morning, in which he praised the process by which the new interim government of Iraq was formed and presented to the people of Iraq yesterday. He said that he felt that the Iraqi people have to give the new government a chance to show how good it can be. And he said it is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to judge for themselves what will, in effect, be their government from June 30 until early 2005. He did say the next few months will be crucial; and of course, security will be one of the main challenges the new interim government faces. Just this morning, another example of that, a car bomb went off. There were actually two explosions. This happened in a busy residential neighborhood of Baghdad. At least 22 people were wounded. Ten in the first explosion and then just a minute later there was a secondary explosion, in which another 10 people were wounded. Iraqi police say they do not know the motive for this car bomb. No obvious target at this site of this explosion, which occurred early this morning -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So Harris, I want to get back to the leadership questions. They established the who. But what about the what in terms of what they will be allowed to do and how much control they'll have versus the Americans? How much is left to be negotiated on that?

WHITBECK: Well, the degree of sovereignty is, of course, the big question that many people have here, particularly control over the armed forces and how much teeth the new government will have in dealing with security. The United States-led coalition has said that it wants the interim government to start handling security. And it feels that they can because they know the country. And security, of course, will be one of its main focuses.

But of course, the chain of command over troops and the role that U.S. troops will play here has many wondering how sovereign the new interim government will actually be, when it will have more than 100,000 foreign troops on its soil, and it won't be able to control them -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Harris, Whitbeck in Baghdad.

More now on that aspect of the story, members of the U.N. Security Council are reviewing a revised resolution draft on Iraq that gives more specifics on transition. The U.S.-British proposal makes clear that the Iraqi government will control Iraqi security forces. The proposal sets a new time frame for U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq. It would be after the Iraqis have a new constitution and a freely elected government. U.S. officials expect that to happen by the end of 2005, but it could come sooner. The revised text also states the occupation ends June 30 and that the Iraqi government will have full sovereignty.

But while that occupation is due to end at the end of this month, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says that multi-national troops intend to stay on in Iraq. Rice spoke with CNN's Judy Woodruff, adding that the Bush plan for Iraq is moving along.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The Iraqis don't like occupation any more than we would like occupation. And it is time for that occupation to end. This new Iraqi government will have full sovereignty on June 30. We want the international community to support the new Iraqi government, which is why we're seeking a U.N. Security Council resolution. And the leaders of the government said yesterday that they're going to need the help of multi-national forces for some time, until they can secure themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And you can see the rest of Judy's interview with Condoleezza Rice on "INSIDE POLITICS." That's today at 3:30 Eastern.

President Bush will have more to say about the transition in Iraq when he gives the commencement address at the Air Force Academy today.

Our Kathleen Koch is at the White House with a preview of that speech. Kathleen, good morning.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. This is the second in a series of speeches that the administration has planned for the coming months, to lay out the U.S. strategy in Iraq. And President Bush, this afternoon at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, will compare the conflict in Iraq to World War II, telling cadets there that this conflict is just as heroic and just as important. Mr. Bush is also expected to mention the new interim government that was named in Iraq yesterday.

President Bush speaking at a fund-raiser last night in Denver, Colorado vowed that the U.S. would stay the course in the mission that has already claimed the lives of more than 800 Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We will honor our duty to those who have fallen on the battlefield to complete the mission. We will honor our word to the Iraqi people when we say we'll stand with them as a free society emerges.

This is historic times. It's a great moment in history. As a free country emerges, and serves as an example in a part of the world that's so desperate for freedom. A part of the world where people are angry and hostile because they don't have any hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: And the Bush administration today continues to insist that it had no role in selecting the leaders of a new Iraqi government. Saying that all of the possible choices were acceptable to the United States. And it was, indeed, United Nations special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi who was in charge of the process.

And also, while the administration does believe that its new U.N. resolution, the one that sets a clear end date for the exit of U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq, also guarantees that Iraqi forces would be under the control of the Iraqi government. While the administration believes that that new resolution will be more palatable to its allies, like France, Germany and Russia, it certainly does leave some questions unanswered, such as what control will this new Iraqi government, indeed, have over U.S. or coalition actions -- forces -- actions of the forces that it opposes? And what advance notice, if any, will U.S. and coalition forces have to give to the new fledgling government of any planned military actions?

So these very sticky issues left to be worked out at some future date -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House.

And a reminder for our viewers, when the president does speak at the Air Force Academy, you'll see live coverage right here on CNN.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry will focus again today on national security. He'll be in Tampa, Florida to talk to emergency medical personnel about the threat of bio-terrorism. Yesterday, he criticized the Bush administration for, in his words, not doing enough to control the proliferation of nuclear materials.

The U.N. Security Council will be asked to help block assets of a Muslim charity. A senior Saudi official tells CNN that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia will ask council members to freeze the assets of a charity, accused of backing terrorist groups. U.S. and Saudi officials are to announce their plan in Washington today. We will bring you that news conference live at the top of the hour. It's coming from the Saudi Embassy, as I said, at the top of the next hour.

The attorney for terror suspect Jose Padilla is again challenging the government to bring her client to trial. The renewed call comes after the Justice Department revealed new allegations, previously classified against Padilla. Including accusing him of plotting to blow up high-rise apartment buildings here in the U.S. Padilla's attorney says her client's side of the story is not being heard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONNA NEWMAN, PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: The fact of the matter is, where we belong is in court. Mr. Comey's statement was nothing more than an opening statement to a trial that they have not allowed to proceed. They are trying my client in the court of public opinion, without allowing him an opportunity to give his side of the story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We're going to take a closer look at the controversy surrounding Jose Padilla and that case coming up. We're going to talk with an expert about the government's accusation and what might come next.

Also from the legal world, Scott Peterson's defense team presents its side of the story today. It is their turn after a dramatic day in court yesterday. We'll talk with a legal expert about what we can expect.

And later, she didn't win "American Idol" -- well, the actual contest. But she is hoping to win you over with her new album and her burgeoning career. Tamyra Gray is our special guest just ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More now on the Jose Padilla case. The timing of the government's release of previously confidential files on the terror suspect is raising some questions today.

Terror expert Jim Walsh from the Belford Center at Harvard University joins us from Boston.

Jim, always good to have you along.

JIM WALSH, HARVARD UNIVERISTY: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: You heard Padilla's attorney come out and say you're trying this guy in the media; you're not even giving him a chance to tell his side of the story.

WALSH: Well, I tell you, my reaction to this whole episode is probably different than most folks. I think that this is all very, very odd. And it's important to keep a little context. For the past two years the government hasn't said anything about Padilla. He hasn't -- they haven't honor request by family members or lawyers, they didn't even want to say where he was being held. No one can find out anything about this guy. And then yesterday, really a bolt out of the blue, they have a press conference and release all this information. At least claims by the government, that's what his defense lawyer is saying.

And you sort of wonder, why now? Why didn't -- if you wanted to inform the American public, which was the stated reason for the press conference, why didn't you want to inform them, you know, a year ago or six months ago, or why not six month later? So I think there is really an issue of timing here.

KAGAN: Could the message be to the Supreme Court because they are looking at the status of enemy combatant?

WALSH: Well, that's what some folks might say. They might say boy, it's sort of a coincidence that you have a press conference in the very month that the Supreme Court is going to decide this case, after a month of prison abuse allegations at Abu Ghraib. Maybe these two things are connected.

I don't know. I didn't hold the press conference. There might be other reason. People speculated it had to do with last week's terror warning. Or the more cynical think it is an effort to keep John Kerry off the airwaves. I don't know why. All I know is the reason given doesn't really add up.

KAGAN: No, but when you hear something like this guy is accused -- they believe he was going to try to blow up as many as 20 apartment buildings in different American cities, it does get your attention.

WALSH: Well, a lot of things got my attention about that. First of all, it now appears that the charge is not that he was going to detonate a dirty bomb. But instead, that he was going to go after apartment buildings. and that apartment plot is very scary. In case, you know, if you haven't quite read it, it's really quite clever and very scary. But he used to be the dirty bomb guy and now it appears he is not the dirty bomb guy.

I chair a working group here at Harvard on radiological weapons. And there was information that came out in that press conference that I wish I had had, you know, a year ago when our group was making or thinking about recommendations. For example, that Khalid Sheik Mohammed was skeptical about a dirty bomb and preferred this other route. This is all information we're only now getting. And again, I wish I had it a long time ago.

KAGAN: Well, let's move to Saudi Arabia. At the top of the next hour, we expect a news conference from the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. talking about -- they're calling on the U.N. Security Council to help in shutting down funding to certain Muslim charities that they believe are funding terrorists. How does the U.N. Security Council playing into all this?

WALSH: Well, the U.N. has been involved in terrorism for many, many years, decades really. Some of the oldest international treaties relate to piracy and the prevention of terrorism, and then hijacking. So the U.N. has, in fact, been very active. They have every year countries are supposed to report what they're doing on terrorism. And it provides a form where you can coordinate different government action to go after the terrorist and sort of close loopholes.

I think this press conference is going to be interesting though, for another reasons. Remember, this follows the attack in Saudi Arabia and the explanation as to what happened during that attack, why three out of the four terrorists got away. There are lots of questions surrounding this. And it will be interesting to see if they ask questions about it during the press conference.

KAGAN: Well, we can only hope the reporters on hand will do just that. Jim Walsh, thanks for your time this morning.

WALSH: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: I appreciate it.

We're at 15 minutes past the hour. To McAllister, Oklahoma, the penalty phase in the Terry Nichols' trial resumes at this hour. The prosecution is pushing for the death penalty. And the jury has been listening to painful testimony from witnesses and family members of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.

Our Susan Candiotti has that update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now twice a convicted killer, Terry Nichols is facing a jury, which will decide whether he should live or die. Prosecutors called on victim's families and survivors to describe the horror of the Oklahoma City bombing. REGINA BONNY, BOMBING SURVIVOR: And I stood up. Heard the explosion, after that I was like I was asleep and woke up.

CANDIOTTI: Survivor Regina Bonny was working on the ninth floor with the DEA task force. Five other co-workers, including a pregnant drug agent were killed. Ironically, a fate Bonny does not want for Terry Nichols.

BONNY: I know that's what a lot of people want, I just think that that's just too easy for him. I think that's just a chicken way out.

CANDIOTTI: Rudy Guzman is against a life sentence.

RUDY GUZMAN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I want Mr. Nichols to pay the ultimate price and I want the death penalty for him. He deserves it.

CANDIOTTI: Guzman's brother Randy was a Marine recruiter. At first, Guzman did not know it was his brother's building that was bombed.

GUZMAN: I shuffled through my wallet and pulled out Randy's card, I looked that address. and it just matched the address and I knew.

CANDIOTTI: Roy Sells, who lost his wife also wants Nichols executed.

ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: I think I could rest a lot easier and feel a lot better about it when he's no longer breathing our clean air.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Nichols's defense will call witnesses asking that his life be spared. In the words of his attorney, "A life that is not beyond redemption."

Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAllister, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Most of us do this, fill up the gas tank. Do worries about terrorists hitting oil supplies affect the average American? We will ask.

And severe weather overnight leaves thousands without power this morning. We'll tell you where and a complete look at the weather straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Oil prices soar to record highs on Wall Street yesterday. They hovered around $40 a barrel. Today a bit more oil is flowing. The United Arab Emirates primed the pump, releasing an additional 400,000 barrels of crude a day. And in an effort to bring down oil prices down to earth, OPEC could suspend its quotas when it meets tomorrow in Beirut. However, Saudi Arabia oil minister says supply is not the problem, he says fear and speculation are fueling prices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI NAIMI, OIL MINISTER, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): This paranoia about terrorism in the world that is threatening all the oil establishments of the world. That is not true. I tell you very confidently that the oil establishments in Saudi Arabia are very, very secure and they are protected very, very strongly to prevent anything happening to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The oil minister says his country is ready to increase production. He says the kingdom's idea of a fair price is around $25 a barrel.

Well, you caught just a bit of a break at the pumps this past week. The average cost of a gallon of gas down a few cents, down to an average of $2.05 a gallon.

Our Chris Lawrence is at a busy gas station in Hammond Indiana, just outside of Chicago.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn. You know when gas gets to be 2.09, 2.19, 2.29 in Hammond, Indiana; you know they're feeling the pinch out on the West Coast and East Coast. And a lot of people say they need more than just a couple cents drop. They need a big change in the gas price.

Is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. These prices are ridiculous. Just last week gas was like 2.25 in Indiana. And I work in Indiana and I think I'm getting a bargain. But I'm not really getting a bargain, you know? So I just hope it goes down.

LAWRENCE: Now, you're on the road a lot, does this change the way you get around? Does it change the way you do things?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, definitely. Just the other day, I went down the street. I had to go like three blocks down because I'm driving a company truck to work every day. And it's like $67 to fill up with gas. So if I see gas 4-cent or 5-cent different, I definitely try to go and get it.

LAWRENCE: All right. Yes, it sounds like everybody is pinching pennies these days. And you know, a lot of people here are telling me that they have started to make some slight changes. Not in terms of changing everything that they do, but I guess making some slight changes. And maybe consolidating a few trips here and there.

Is that what we're hearing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. I still drive to work about three times a week and I do take the train sometimes. It hasn't really affected that. If I want to drive, I'm still going to drive.

LAWRENCE: What do you think when you go to pay and check out after filling up the gas tank? And you've got a pretty small car here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't like it. It's still -- I just filled up and it's what? Four or $5 more than usual.

LAWRENCE: Changing any of your driving habits at all?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not really. No, I live downtown Chicago, so I take public transportation anyway, a lot.

LAWRENCE: Thank you very much.

Well, again, she's got a definite advantage in that living in Chicago and being able to take public transportation. New Yorkers, they can count on the same thing. But a lot of people here in Indiana, places like that, they have got no recourse. They say they're just going to have to consolidate some other trips, and suck it up and pay at the pump -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Chris Hammond -- Chris Lawrence in Hammond, Indiana, thank you for that.

The power company says it could be days before some customers in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Texas area can turn their power back on. A Texas ball -- a tennis ball -- make that a Texas tennis ball...

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: ... that was the size of the hail. Also 80 mile an hour winds and a tornado kept planes on the ground and left some buildings damaged. That did not look like a pretty picture.

Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, Day 2 in the Scott Peterson murder trial. We're live from Redwood City, California.

Vague and a violation of a woman's rights. A judge in California says that's enough to keep her from enforcing a ban on a type of late- term abortion. The story on that just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 2, 2004 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Daryn Kagan.
In the headlines right now, a spotlight on Saudi Arabia. A U.S. Army officer was wounded by gunmen today while driving on a highway. An officer in a second vehicle was not hurt.

Near Mecca, a daylong standoff ended with Saudi security forces killing two militants. One of those killed was the Saudi -- on the Saudi list of most wanted terrorists.

The man once considered the next possible leader of Iraq may have been spying for Iran. Sources confirm to CNN that Ahmed Chalabi tipped of Iran that the U.S. had broken Iran's intelligence code. Chalabi recently fell out of favor with the Bush administration and has become a harsh critic of U.S. policy in Iraq.

The apparent theft of two proprane -- propane trucks has touched off a nationwide dragnet. The trucks, carrying a total of more than 5,000 gallons of propane, were discovered missing Monday from a San Antonio company. The FBI has not ruled out a possible terrorist link. Fifteen propane tanks were also reported missing from another company.

And in Congress, Democrats have picked up one more seat in the House. Thirty-three year-old Stephanie Herseth won yesterday's special election in South Dakota to replace Bill Janklow. Janklow gave up his seat in January. The congressman was convicted of manslaughter for running a stop sign and killing a motorcyclist.

The first hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins right now.

Iraq's new leadership is preparing for the June 30 handover when it takes power from the U.S.-led coalition. But violence remains an ongoing threat.

Our Harris Whitbeck is in Baghdad; he has the latest developments -- Harris.

HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. U.N. special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi gave a speech this morning, in which he praised the process by which the new interim government of Iraq was formed and presented to the people of Iraq yesterday. He said that he felt that the Iraqi people have to give the new government a chance to show how good it can be. And he said it is ultimately up to the Iraqi people to judge for themselves what will, in effect, be their government from June 30 until early 2005. He did say the next few months will be crucial; and of course, security will be one of the main challenges the new interim government faces. Just this morning, another example of that, a car bomb went off. There were actually two explosions. This happened in a busy residential neighborhood of Baghdad. At least 22 people were wounded. Ten in the first explosion and then just a minute later there was a secondary explosion, in which another 10 people were wounded. Iraqi police say they do not know the motive for this car bomb. No obvious target at this site of this explosion, which occurred early this morning -- Daryn.

KAGAN: So Harris, I want to get back to the leadership questions. They established the who. But what about the what in terms of what they will be allowed to do and how much control they'll have versus the Americans? How much is left to be negotiated on that?

WHITBECK: Well, the degree of sovereignty is, of course, the big question that many people have here, particularly control over the armed forces and how much teeth the new government will have in dealing with security. The United States-led coalition has said that it wants the interim government to start handling security. And it feels that they can because they know the country. And security, of course, will be one of its main focuses.

But of course, the chain of command over troops and the role that U.S. troops will play here has many wondering how sovereign the new interim government will actually be, when it will have more than 100,000 foreign troops on its soil, and it won't be able to control them -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Harris, Whitbeck in Baghdad.

More now on that aspect of the story, members of the U.N. Security Council are reviewing a revised resolution draft on Iraq that gives more specifics on transition. The U.S.-British proposal makes clear that the Iraqi government will control Iraqi security forces. The proposal sets a new time frame for U.S.-led forces to leave Iraq. It would be after the Iraqis have a new constitution and a freely elected government. U.S. officials expect that to happen by the end of 2005, but it could come sooner. The revised text also states the occupation ends June 30 and that the Iraqi government will have full sovereignty.

But while that occupation is due to end at the end of this month, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice says that multi-national troops intend to stay on in Iraq. Rice spoke with CNN's Judy Woodruff, adding that the Bush plan for Iraq is moving along.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The Iraqis don't like occupation any more than we would like occupation. And it is time for that occupation to end. This new Iraqi government will have full sovereignty on June 30. We want the international community to support the new Iraqi government, which is why we're seeking a U.N. Security Council resolution. And the leaders of the government said yesterday that they're going to need the help of multi-national forces for some time, until they can secure themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And you can see the rest of Judy's interview with Condoleezza Rice on "INSIDE POLITICS." That's today at 3:30 Eastern.

President Bush will have more to say about the transition in Iraq when he gives the commencement address at the Air Force Academy today.

Our Kathleen Koch is at the White House with a preview of that speech. Kathleen, good morning.

KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. This is the second in a series of speeches that the administration has planned for the coming months, to lay out the U.S. strategy in Iraq. And President Bush, this afternoon at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, will compare the conflict in Iraq to World War II, telling cadets there that this conflict is just as heroic and just as important. Mr. Bush is also expected to mention the new interim government that was named in Iraq yesterday.

President Bush speaking at a fund-raiser last night in Denver, Colorado vowed that the U.S. would stay the course in the mission that has already claimed the lives of more than 800 Americans.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We will honor our duty to those who have fallen on the battlefield to complete the mission. We will honor our word to the Iraqi people when we say we'll stand with them as a free society emerges.

This is historic times. It's a great moment in history. As a free country emerges, and serves as an example in a part of the world that's so desperate for freedom. A part of the world where people are angry and hostile because they don't have any hope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOCH: And the Bush administration today continues to insist that it had no role in selecting the leaders of a new Iraqi government. Saying that all of the possible choices were acceptable to the United States. And it was, indeed, United Nations special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi who was in charge of the process.

And also, while the administration does believe that its new U.N. resolution, the one that sets a clear end date for the exit of U.S. and coalition forces from Iraq, also guarantees that Iraqi forces would be under the control of the Iraqi government. While the administration believes that that new resolution will be more palatable to its allies, like France, Germany and Russia, it certainly does leave some questions unanswered, such as what control will this new Iraqi government, indeed, have over U.S. or coalition actions -- forces -- actions of the forces that it opposes? And what advance notice, if any, will U.S. and coalition forces have to give to the new fledgling government of any planned military actions?

So these very sticky issues left to be worked out at some future date -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Kathleen Koch at the White House.

And a reminder for our viewers, when the president does speak at the Air Force Academy, you'll see live coverage right here on CNN.

Meanwhile, Democratic challenger Senator John Kerry will focus again today on national security. He'll be in Tampa, Florida to talk to emergency medical personnel about the threat of bio-terrorism. Yesterday, he criticized the Bush administration for, in his words, not doing enough to control the proliferation of nuclear materials.

The U.N. Security Council will be asked to help block assets of a Muslim charity. A senior Saudi official tells CNN that the U.S. and Saudi Arabia will ask council members to freeze the assets of a charity, accused of backing terrorist groups. U.S. and Saudi officials are to announce their plan in Washington today. We will bring you that news conference live at the top of the hour. It's coming from the Saudi Embassy, as I said, at the top of the next hour.

The attorney for terror suspect Jose Padilla is again challenging the government to bring her client to trial. The renewed call comes after the Justice Department revealed new allegations, previously classified against Padilla. Including accusing him of plotting to blow up high-rise apartment buildings here in the U.S. Padilla's attorney says her client's side of the story is not being heard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONNA NEWMAN, PADILLA'S ATTORNEY: The fact of the matter is, where we belong is in court. Mr. Comey's statement was nothing more than an opening statement to a trial that they have not allowed to proceed. They are trying my client in the court of public opinion, without allowing him an opportunity to give his side of the story.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: We're going to take a closer look at the controversy surrounding Jose Padilla and that case coming up. We're going to talk with an expert about the government's accusation and what might come next.

Also from the legal world, Scott Peterson's defense team presents its side of the story today. It is their turn after a dramatic day in court yesterday. We'll talk with a legal expert about what we can expect.

And later, she didn't win "American Idol" -- well, the actual contest. But she is hoping to win you over with her new album and her burgeoning career. Tamyra Gray is our special guest just ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: More now on the Jose Padilla case. The timing of the government's release of previously confidential files on the terror suspect is raising some questions today.

Terror expert Jim Walsh from the Belford Center at Harvard University joins us from Boston.

Jim, always good to have you along.

JIM WALSH, HARVARD UNIVERISTY: Good morning, Daryn.

KAGAN: You heard Padilla's attorney come out and say you're trying this guy in the media; you're not even giving him a chance to tell his side of the story.

WALSH: Well, I tell you, my reaction to this whole episode is probably different than most folks. I think that this is all very, very odd. And it's important to keep a little context. For the past two years the government hasn't said anything about Padilla. He hasn't -- they haven't honor request by family members or lawyers, they didn't even want to say where he was being held. No one can find out anything about this guy. And then yesterday, really a bolt out of the blue, they have a press conference and release all this information. At least claims by the government, that's what his defense lawyer is saying.

And you sort of wonder, why now? Why didn't -- if you wanted to inform the American public, which was the stated reason for the press conference, why didn't you want to inform them, you know, a year ago or six months ago, or why not six month later? So I think there is really an issue of timing here.

KAGAN: Could the message be to the Supreme Court because they are looking at the status of enemy combatant?

WALSH: Well, that's what some folks might say. They might say boy, it's sort of a coincidence that you have a press conference in the very month that the Supreme Court is going to decide this case, after a month of prison abuse allegations at Abu Ghraib. Maybe these two things are connected.

I don't know. I didn't hold the press conference. There might be other reason. People speculated it had to do with last week's terror warning. Or the more cynical think it is an effort to keep John Kerry off the airwaves. I don't know why. All I know is the reason given doesn't really add up.

KAGAN: No, but when you hear something like this guy is accused -- they believe he was going to try to blow up as many as 20 apartment buildings in different American cities, it does get your attention.

WALSH: Well, a lot of things got my attention about that. First of all, it now appears that the charge is not that he was going to detonate a dirty bomb. But instead, that he was going to go after apartment buildings. and that apartment plot is very scary. In case, you know, if you haven't quite read it, it's really quite clever and very scary. But he used to be the dirty bomb guy and now it appears he is not the dirty bomb guy.

I chair a working group here at Harvard on radiological weapons. And there was information that came out in that press conference that I wish I had had, you know, a year ago when our group was making or thinking about recommendations. For example, that Khalid Sheik Mohammed was skeptical about a dirty bomb and preferred this other route. This is all information we're only now getting. And again, I wish I had it a long time ago.

KAGAN: Well, let's move to Saudi Arabia. At the top of the next hour, we expect a news conference from the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C. talking about -- they're calling on the U.N. Security Council to help in shutting down funding to certain Muslim charities that they believe are funding terrorists. How does the U.N. Security Council playing into all this?

WALSH: Well, the U.N. has been involved in terrorism for many, many years, decades really. Some of the oldest international treaties relate to piracy and the prevention of terrorism, and then hijacking. So the U.N. has, in fact, been very active. They have every year countries are supposed to report what they're doing on terrorism. And it provides a form where you can coordinate different government action to go after the terrorist and sort of close loopholes.

I think this press conference is going to be interesting though, for another reasons. Remember, this follows the attack in Saudi Arabia and the explanation as to what happened during that attack, why three out of the four terrorists got away. There are lots of questions surrounding this. And it will be interesting to see if they ask questions about it during the press conference.

KAGAN: Well, we can only hope the reporters on hand will do just that. Jim Walsh, thanks for your time this morning.

WALSH: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: I appreciate it.

We're at 15 minutes past the hour. To McAllister, Oklahoma, the penalty phase in the Terry Nichols' trial resumes at this hour. The prosecution is pushing for the death penalty. And the jury has been listening to painful testimony from witnesses and family members of those killed in the Oklahoma City bombing.

Our Susan Candiotti has that update.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now twice a convicted killer, Terry Nichols is facing a jury, which will decide whether he should live or die. Prosecutors called on victim's families and survivors to describe the horror of the Oklahoma City bombing. REGINA BONNY, BOMBING SURVIVOR: And I stood up. Heard the explosion, after that I was like I was asleep and woke up.

CANDIOTTI: Survivor Regina Bonny was working on the ninth floor with the DEA task force. Five other co-workers, including a pregnant drug agent were killed. Ironically, a fate Bonny does not want for Terry Nichols.

BONNY: I know that's what a lot of people want, I just think that that's just too easy for him. I think that's just a chicken way out.

CANDIOTTI: Rudy Guzman is against a life sentence.

RUDY GUZMAN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I want Mr. Nichols to pay the ultimate price and I want the death penalty for him. He deserves it.

CANDIOTTI: Guzman's brother Randy was a Marine recruiter. At first, Guzman did not know it was his brother's building that was bombed.

GUZMAN: I shuffled through my wallet and pulled out Randy's card, I looked that address. and it just matched the address and I knew.

CANDIOTTI: Roy Sells, who lost his wife also wants Nichols executed.

ROY SELLS, VICTIM'S HUSBAND: I think I could rest a lot easier and feel a lot better about it when he's no longer breathing our clean air.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Nichols's defense will call witnesses asking that his life be spared. In the words of his attorney, "A life that is not beyond redemption."

Susan Candiotti, CNN, McAllister, Oklahoma.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Most of us do this, fill up the gas tank. Do worries about terrorists hitting oil supplies affect the average American? We will ask.

And severe weather overnight leaves thousands without power this morning. We'll tell you where and a complete look at the weather straight ahead.

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KAGAN: Oil prices soar to record highs on Wall Street yesterday. They hovered around $40 a barrel. Today a bit more oil is flowing. The United Arab Emirates primed the pump, releasing an additional 400,000 barrels of crude a day. And in an effort to bring down oil prices down to earth, OPEC could suspend its quotas when it meets tomorrow in Beirut. However, Saudi Arabia oil minister says supply is not the problem, he says fear and speculation are fueling prices.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI NAIMI, OIL MINISTER, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): This paranoia about terrorism in the world that is threatening all the oil establishments of the world. That is not true. I tell you very confidently that the oil establishments in Saudi Arabia are very, very secure and they are protected very, very strongly to prevent anything happening to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: The oil minister says his country is ready to increase production. He says the kingdom's idea of a fair price is around $25 a barrel.

Well, you caught just a bit of a break at the pumps this past week. The average cost of a gallon of gas down a few cents, down to an average of $2.05 a gallon.

Our Chris Lawrence is at a busy gas station in Hammond Indiana, just outside of Chicago.

Chris, good morning.

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn. You know when gas gets to be 2.09, 2.19, 2.29 in Hammond, Indiana; you know they're feeling the pinch out on the West Coast and East Coast. And a lot of people say they need more than just a couple cents drop. They need a big change in the gas price.

Is that right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Definitely. These prices are ridiculous. Just last week gas was like 2.25 in Indiana. And I work in Indiana and I think I'm getting a bargain. But I'm not really getting a bargain, you know? So I just hope it goes down.

LAWRENCE: Now, you're on the road a lot, does this change the way you get around? Does it change the way you do things?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, definitely. Just the other day, I went down the street. I had to go like three blocks down because I'm driving a company truck to work every day. And it's like $67 to fill up with gas. So if I see gas 4-cent or 5-cent different, I definitely try to go and get it.

LAWRENCE: All right. Yes, it sounds like everybody is pinching pennies these days. And you know, a lot of people here are telling me that they have started to make some slight changes. Not in terms of changing everything that they do, but I guess making some slight changes. And maybe consolidating a few trips here and there.

Is that what we're hearing?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. I still drive to work about three times a week and I do take the train sometimes. It hasn't really affected that. If I want to drive, I'm still going to drive.

LAWRENCE: What do you think when you go to pay and check out after filling up the gas tank? And you've got a pretty small car here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't like it. It's still -- I just filled up and it's what? Four or $5 more than usual.

LAWRENCE: Changing any of your driving habits at all?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not really. No, I live downtown Chicago, so I take public transportation anyway, a lot.

LAWRENCE: Thank you very much.

Well, again, she's got a definite advantage in that living in Chicago and being able to take public transportation. New Yorkers, they can count on the same thing. But a lot of people here in Indiana, places like that, they have got no recourse. They say they're just going to have to consolidate some other trips, and suck it up and pay at the pump -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right. Chris Hammond -- Chris Lawrence in Hammond, Indiana, thank you for that.

The power company says it could be days before some customers in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Texas area can turn their power back on. A Texas ball -- a tennis ball -- make that a Texas tennis ball...

(LAUGHTER)

KAGAN: ... that was the size of the hail. Also 80 mile an hour winds and a tornado kept planes on the ground and left some buildings damaged. That did not look like a pretty picture.

Coming up on CNN LIVE TODAY, Day 2 in the Scott Peterson murder trial. We're live from Redwood City, California.

Vague and a violation of a woman's rights. A judge in California says that's enough to keep her from enforcing a ban on a type of late- term abortion. The story on that just ahead.

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