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CNN Live Today

Bush Addresses AIDS Problem in Philadelphia Speech; Protestors Demand South Korea Pull Out of Iraq; Saudi Prince Vows to Battle Terrorism; Detective: Scott Peterson Attracted Suspicion Immediately

Aired June 23, 2004 - 11:00   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, ANCHOR: We've been listening to President Bush. He's speaking at the Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, speaking on the topic of HIV and AIDS. And trying to commit a large number of American funds to fight the disease both here in the U.S. and overseas, especially on the continent of Africa.
With more on the president making the speech, let's bring in our Bill Schneider.

Bill, you hear the president keep -- he's constantly making the differentiation between what he would like to see go towards this battle and what Congress would approve, critics saying there's a big gap in between those two numbers.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Congress has appropriated money, about $2.4 billion of the $15 billion so far. And he's looking for an additional emergency appropriation of $500 million this year.

Critics are there, some of them outside this hall, protesting that they're not delivering the money fast enough. It's not getting to the people fast enough.

Of course, the administration contradicts that and argues that they're calling for more money to be appropriated as quickly as possible. So that it can get to the people in need. This is a debate that's going to go on for awhile.

KAGAN: And real quickly, the significance of the president being in Pennsylvania, a key state that he lost in 2000?

SCHNEIDER: Well, there's two key points here. One is that he's in Pennsylvania. He wants to win Pennsylvania this time. There are a lot of conservative voters there.

And second of all, it's a church. And he's calling for a stronger role of faith-based institutions and the delivery of AIDS service, arguing that the government should not discriminate against faith-based and spiritual institutions, because they're often the most effective in delivering these care services.

KAGAN: Bill Schneider, in Washington, D.C., thank you for listening in with us.

SCHNEIDER: Sure. KAGAN: We're at two minutes past the hour. Let's check the latest developments we're following at this hour.

Iran is making plans to free eight British soldiers and marines detained since Monday. The state run news agencies says officials are convinced that the troops mistakenly crossed into Iran's territorial waters. The men are expected to be released later today.

Airports that want to go back to private screeners find out the requirements for making that switch. Transportation security officials will release the new guidelines at a meeting today in Las Vegas. Most of the nation's 435 commercial airports are expected to stick with federal screeners put in place after 9/11.

The U.S. makes a proposal trying to end the nuclear dispute with North Korea. The plan would offer energy and a security guarantee if North Korea dismantles its nuclear program. The proposal was presented during a six-nation talk session in Beijing on the North Korea standoff.

We're looking at three minutes past the hour on the East Coast, past 11 a.m., and three minutes past 8 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

A chilling new threat tops our situation report from Iraq. It is just one week before the handover of power.

A recording believed to be from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatens to assassinate Iraq's interim prime minister. The message also vows to continue attacks on coalition troops and Iraqi government targets.

Prime Minister Allawi's office says the death threat against him will not derail Iraq's return to sovereignty. A spokesman says Allawi dismissed the threat, calling Zarqawi the enemy of all Iraqis.

A group linking itself to Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the murder of a South Korean citizen taken hostage in Iraq. South Koreans are reacting with sorrow, anger and concern over the beheading death of Kim Sun-Il.

Details now from CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For many, the death of Kim Sun-Il has a deep impact of their view of Iraq.

"I thought we would not be the target of such hatred. I was wrong," says this office worker.

This housewife says she feels everyone was making a big mistake, that something was awfully wrong.

A feeling Lee Son-Won (ph) knows all too well. His younger brother is now in Baghdad, as a security adviser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When I first heard that Kim was executed, my heart almost stopped.

SOHN: Lee phoned his brother just to make sure he was OK. But he still worries.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I won't rest easy until he's safely back in Seoul.

SOHN: The South Korean government is moving to evacuate all its civilians from Iraq, and says it will do more to improve the safety of those who remain.

But president Roh Moo-Hyun told the nation he would not change plans to deploy an additional 3,000 troops to Iraq, as demanded by Kim's killer.

ROH MOO-HYUN, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I have repeatedly stressed that the dispatch of troops is not to engage in hostile activities, but to help reconstruction.

SOHN (on camera): Protesters took to the streets of Seoul, demanding that the South Korean government cancel its plans to send additional troops to Iraq, and bring home those already there.

(voice-over): Kim Sun-Il's family, their grief uncontrollable, prepared a small funeral altar, adorned with his picture.

Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: I want to show you a live speech that is being given right now from Saudi Arabia. It is Crown Prince Abdullah, speaking on behalf of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, speaking to the Saudi people.

Let's listen in, with translation.

PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): ... is not going to forbid us from hitting them with our force, which we do get from our dependence on God.

We also promise -- we promise God that our force is not going to be hesitant under his guidance and power. Peace be upon you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking Arabic)

KAGAN: All right. That was the very end of the speech by Crown Prince Abdullah, speaking on behalf of King Fahd, addressing the Saudi people and the fight that the Saudis say that they are determined to fight against terrorism, especially in light of what has happened in that country over the last week, American Paul Johnson Jr. being held hostage and then beheaded by captors who say they were demanding that the Americans get out of Saudi Arabia and release al Qaeda captives in Guantanamo Bay.

With more on this, let's bring in Jim Walsh, terrorism expert from the Belfer Center at Harvard University. Jim, a number of topics to talk to you about today. Let's start with the very end of that speech that we just heard from the crown prince.

JIM WALSH, BELFER CENTER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Well, clearly, Saudi Arabia feels that this -- the issue of terrorism has now reached such a crescendo that the crown prince feels compelled to address the nation and to attack it and confront it head on.

So there were -- you know, we've seen an evolution in the Saudi approach to terrorism. For many, many years, Saudi Arabia was not a victim of terrorist attack. Then after 9/11 and the war in Iraq, they began to become a victim of terror attacks and began to take this more seriously, even as there were more people joining the ranks of the extremists.

And now I think they realize that this is something that threatens not only Americans but themselves as well.

KAGAN: Well, it is a sad day, indeed, that there is a long list of kidnappings and beheadings that we can go down and talk about the significance of each.

But let's talk about the latest, involving the South Korean businessman in Iraq, the demand there that South Korea not commit an additional 3,000 troops to fighting and helping to keep the peace in Iraq.

As we said he was kidnapped and beheaded, because South Korea did not meet his demands. Jim, as we're looking at this ever-growing list of kidnappings and beheadings, do you think that they're effective or the fact that the negotiations are not taking place, is going to send a message that it does not help one's cause to do this?

WALSH: Well, Daryn, I think on the ground we see lots and lots kidnappings, and they're being used for different purposes. In some cases, they're being used by locals for extortion, to get money out of rich Iraqis.

In some cases, they're being used in order to try to achieve some sort of political aim, whether it's withdrawal or undermining support amongst American allies.

In other cases, it's simply to shock and to cause anxiety and fear.

And we've seen a bit of both in these last two, last beheadings. I don't think it was likely that South Korea was going to agree to the terrorist demand. If they did, they would be setting themselves up to future demands by other groups at other times. So that was highly unlikely.

And I doubt whether the insurgents actually believed that South Korea was suddenly going to change policy. I think in this case it was again aimed politically at undermining that alliance or that -- that support from external forces. The factoid that's interesting here is South Korea, once it gets all 3,000 troops in, which is by the end of the year, it will be third -- ranked third, in the number of -- in terms of countries that are providing troops. And that's only with 3,000 troops.

So this is not a very popular cause. And there aren't many countries that are lending troops to the effort.

KAGAN: And in fact, even with or without the beheading and the kidnapping, it's not a popular cause among the public in South Korea, yet that government still going ahead with its plan. What does South Korea have invested in doing this?

WALSH: That's a great question. You know, there are a lot of issues in South Korea right now where Americans and South Koreans have to work out differences.

One is how to deal with North Korea. Another is the American decision to withdraw troops from South Korea and to station them in Iraq. That's been a very sensitive topic.

And on top of all of that, we also have the issue of the war in Iraq. It's true that most of the public -- not overwhelming majority, but most of the public does not support the war in Iraq.

But it's also important to remember that this particular president, President Roh, came to power on sort of an anti-American platform. So he has some wiggle room. He has some credibility where he can both commit forces and not -- I don't think, and still withstand that politically.

Nevertheless it does complicate matters. And it means that there are more things that Americans and South Koreans disagree on, and that's never a good thing.

KAGAN: Jim Walsh from Harvard University. Jim, thank you. Appreciate your time.

WALSH: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: As always.

WALSH: Absolutely.

KAGAN: Want to get back to the -- the little bit of the speech that we were showing you from Saudi Arabia. We have the hardest working woman at CNN with us right now, Octavia Nasr, editor for Arab affairs.

You were literally running here because you were translating the speech. So you are definitely the woman to ask what the crown prince was -- what he was saying as he was addressing the Saudi people.

OCTAVIA NASR, EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: The headline from this is that he is speaking on behalf of the King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. He's giving the terrorists the chance to repent. He gave them one month from the date of this speech to repent, give themselves up, and he says in his words, that in this case, they're going to be safe.

Basically, he's using the amnesty as prescribed in the Islamic law, and he's using certain expressions from the Quran, specifically, to explain to people that God, in his words, has asked us to give the bad people a chance to repent.

If they do repent, we -- we keep them safe. If they don't, then we have every right, in the name of God, to hit them.

So basically, he's giving the terrorists a chance to repent, give themselves up. And within one month, if they don't do that he's saying that he's going to hit them with a -- with an iron fist.

KAGAN: Well, when you're talking about terrorists, who exactly is he talking about? Because in light of Paul Johnson in terms of his kidnapping and his beheading, there was this big run on who they say was responsible for it and a number of people were killed.

So was he just talking about terrorists in general that are living and hiding within Saudi Arabia?

NASR: Yes. He did start the speech in a very interesting way. He said that this country has been built in a peaceful way. We worked very hard to keep it safe and stable. And right now there are many activities to destabilize our peace, and we are not going to be quiet about that.

So basically he's keeping it general. Everyone who threatens the peace and security of Saudi Arabia is basically included in this speech.

Very interesting speech. Very powerful, too. Remember, they announced the speech about 45 minutes ago. We heard about it. It's going to be aired on Saudi national television. Indeed, it aired.

It is a speech that is on behalf of the king of Saudi Arabia. Very powerful, coming, really, from the higher ups in Saudi Arabia.

KAGAN: I just wanted you to go back on this offer and put it in a cultural context, which you were beginning to do. Because the idea here in America that you would say to terrorists, "We're going to give you a month. If you turn yourself in, you're off scot-free." That does not jive in this culture at all.

NASR: No. But he -- in Saudi Arabia, in the Muslim world, this makes a lot of sense. Because -- remember, Islam teaches you how to live your life. It has laws, you know.

And remember, we always talk about the terrorists and how they have a mind of their own, their own interpretation of the Quran and so forth. So they kill people; they kidnap people; they slaughter people, in the name of Islam. So what the crown prince here is doing, he's saying Islam is about peace. It's about forgiveness. This is what God has taught us. So basically, if you give yourself up, you're going to be safe. He didn't say you're not going to be jailed or sentenced or whatever.

KAGAN: Ah, OK.

NASR: But basically safe, as in you're not going to be harmed. But if you don't, he is saying, God gives us the power to go out and kill you, basically, and that will be totally right.

And the other side of this, it's a very interesting question that you ask, Daryn. I'm glad you asked it. Because what he's doing, also, he's telling his people that he is going to act.

He's saying the government of Saudi Arabia is going to act. And before they start going out and raiding groups and killing suspected terrorists, he wants to get the approval of his people. So he's sort of giving them a head's up.

He's saying, "Look, we're giving them one month. If they turn themselves in, good. If not, then we're going to go out and we're going to kill some people."

KAGAN: The parental "I'm going to count to three."

NASR: Yes.

KAGAN: And then I'm coming after you. Octavia Nasr, thank you for the translation and the interpretation. Appreciate it, as always.

Well, CNN is going to take the pulse of the world this week as the countdown to the handover in Iraq nears. Join us at 1 p.m. Eastern tomorrow to find out the European view. Then you can get a check of the "AMERICAN PULSE," Friday, same time, 1 p.m. Eastern.

We are back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check the Dow. Well, the Dow is down 25 points, not looking so good on this Wednesday morning. The NASDAQ looking a little bit better in positive territory, barely. It is up two points.

We will continue to monitor the markets. They have been open about an hour and 20 minutes.

Let's check some legal news right now.

The first detective called to investigate Laci Peterson's disappearance returns to the witness stand today, testimony resuming next hour in Scott Peterson's murder trial.

Our Ted Rowlands at his post, covering the trial from Redwood City, California. Ted, good morning.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Al Brocchini, as you mentioned, was the first detective on scene. He was also the detective that was charged with trying to clear Scott Peterson, something he obviously never did. They brought double murder charges against him.

He took the stand yesterday for the entire day. Part of that was a replaying of the videotape of Scott Peterson being interviewed six after -- six hours after he had reported his wife missing.

During the interview, Peterson was very calm, answering all of the detective's questions. The detective seemed to insinuate to the jury that Peterson was so calm that it raised a red flag, because he wasn't acting like someone who was missing his pregnant wife and wanting to be out looking for her.

The defense, however, says that he was just basically doing what he could to help the investigation. In fact, at the end of that tape, he even told Brocchini, "I want to do everything I can to help you guys out."

From there, Brocchini talked about the investigation, talked about how Amber Frey came into the fray, how he was there when she first called in.

He also talked about a confrontation that he and Peterson had in Fresno, where Brocchini said he wasn't acting like a guy that was missing his wife, and he had some explaining to do.

He also mentioned two other girlfriends that Peterson allegedly had. Source say that Peterson had at least two other girlfriends that came forward that Peterson had relationships with during his marriage to Laci Peterson.

Today, Brocchini will be back on the stand, and the defense is expected to cross-examine him very vigorously. They paint him as a one-track detective that jumped to the conclusion erroneously that Peterson had killed his wife -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, more from you later in the day.

Weapons fire in the chaos. When the smoke clearly, a young boy lies nearly dead. Coming up, we're going to show you the incredible fight to save his life after an accident on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: As it has been said too many times, Houston, we have a problem. And it's not just Houston. Orelon Sidney here to tell us more about that.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Orelon, thank you. More ahead with Orelon.

Right now, I want to go back to our story of the Saudi crown prince addressing the Saudi people on Saudi television.

Our Nic Robertson is in Riyadh to tell us more about that message.

Hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, this was a message for the people of Saudi Arabia, in particular, for the people and the members of al Qaeda.

This message, coming from -- being delivered by Crown Prince Abdullah, but for King Fahd, saying that this was the last time the government would be offering an amnesty to al Qaeda members.

The message was you have one month from today to turn yourself in peacefully. This is your opportunity. You will be treated correctly under Islamic law.

But if those members of al Qaeda don't turn themselves in, and the message went on that, in the eyes of God, nothing will stop the government from using all its force to catch you.

The message also went on to praise the security forces here for all their work. A number of members of the security forces have been killed in shootouts with al Qaeda over the last few months. People I've talked with in the community here have personally known some of the people that have died.

There is an strong anti-al Qaeda feels on the streets here. And this message, the government here appearing to get very tough with al Qaeda. A one-month amnesty to turn themselves in peacefully or face the consequences -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Interesting that you said that the government's getting tough on al Qaeda because in the western world, offering a one-month amnesty might not be perceived that way, Nic.

ROBERTSON: There are a lot of people here who think that the government have been doing a very good job. The fact that they killed al-Muqrin, the head of the group that was responsible for Paul Johnson, last week. The fact that the government has killed and captured a number of senior al Qaeda figures over the last year or so.

But what the government appears to be doing here is to try to offset, potentially, any critics that might come from any quarters in the country, that if they crack down hard and kill and capture al Qaeda members that they could be criticized. They are publicly giving them a month to turn themselves in or face the consequences.

So it appears to be positioning themselves to head off any criticism, potentially, from the more conservative religious community here, citing that God, for example, won't -- won't hold the government back from taking strong action.

It does appear to head off any criticism that might come from the sort of conservative religious community.

But Daryn, for the people I talked to here, Saudis here, almost -- well, all without fail that we talked to, everyone here is against al Qaeda. They say it's a minority group, maybe in the 500, maybe tens of thousands, but still a minority in the community, that because of the severity and harshness of their actions recently, has really pushed them further away from mainstream Saudi community here, Daryn.

KAGAN: Nic Robertson, reporting from Riyadh. Nic, thank you.

President Bush back here in the states hits the road to talk about AIDS, while John Kerry is talking health care in general. The day's complete political wrap-up from Washington, D.C., is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired June 23, 2004 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, ANCHOR: We've been listening to President Bush. He's speaking at the Greater Exodus Baptist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, speaking on the topic of HIV and AIDS. And trying to commit a large number of American funds to fight the disease both here in the U.S. and overseas, especially on the continent of Africa.
With more on the president making the speech, let's bring in our Bill Schneider.

Bill, you hear the president keep -- he's constantly making the differentiation between what he would like to see go towards this battle and what Congress would approve, critics saying there's a big gap in between those two numbers.

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Congress has appropriated money, about $2.4 billion of the $15 billion so far. And he's looking for an additional emergency appropriation of $500 million this year.

Critics are there, some of them outside this hall, protesting that they're not delivering the money fast enough. It's not getting to the people fast enough.

Of course, the administration contradicts that and argues that they're calling for more money to be appropriated as quickly as possible. So that it can get to the people in need. This is a debate that's going to go on for awhile.

KAGAN: And real quickly, the significance of the president being in Pennsylvania, a key state that he lost in 2000?

SCHNEIDER: Well, there's two key points here. One is that he's in Pennsylvania. He wants to win Pennsylvania this time. There are a lot of conservative voters there.

And second of all, it's a church. And he's calling for a stronger role of faith-based institutions and the delivery of AIDS service, arguing that the government should not discriminate against faith-based and spiritual institutions, because they're often the most effective in delivering these care services.

KAGAN: Bill Schneider, in Washington, D.C., thank you for listening in with us.

SCHNEIDER: Sure. KAGAN: We're at two minutes past the hour. Let's check the latest developments we're following at this hour.

Iran is making plans to free eight British soldiers and marines detained since Monday. The state run news agencies says officials are convinced that the troops mistakenly crossed into Iran's territorial waters. The men are expected to be released later today.

Airports that want to go back to private screeners find out the requirements for making that switch. Transportation security officials will release the new guidelines at a meeting today in Las Vegas. Most of the nation's 435 commercial airports are expected to stick with federal screeners put in place after 9/11.

The U.S. makes a proposal trying to end the nuclear dispute with North Korea. The plan would offer energy and a security guarantee if North Korea dismantles its nuclear program. The proposal was presented during a six-nation talk session in Beijing on the North Korea standoff.

We're looking at three minutes past the hour on the East Coast, past 11 a.m., and three minutes past 8 a.m. on the West Coast. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

A chilling new threat tops our situation report from Iraq. It is just one week before the handover of power.

A recording believed to be from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatens to assassinate Iraq's interim prime minister. The message also vows to continue attacks on coalition troops and Iraqi government targets.

Prime Minister Allawi's office says the death threat against him will not derail Iraq's return to sovereignty. A spokesman says Allawi dismissed the threat, calling Zarqawi the enemy of all Iraqis.

A group linking itself to Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the murder of a South Korean citizen taken hostage in Iraq. South Koreans are reacting with sorrow, anger and concern over the beheading death of Kim Sun-Il.

Details now from CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SOHN JIE-AE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For many, the death of Kim Sun-Il has a deep impact of their view of Iraq.

"I thought we would not be the target of such hatred. I was wrong," says this office worker.

This housewife says she feels everyone was making a big mistake, that something was awfully wrong.

A feeling Lee Son-Won (ph) knows all too well. His younger brother is now in Baghdad, as a security adviser.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): When I first heard that Kim was executed, my heart almost stopped.

SOHN: Lee phoned his brother just to make sure he was OK. But he still worries.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I won't rest easy until he's safely back in Seoul.

SOHN: The South Korean government is moving to evacuate all its civilians from Iraq, and says it will do more to improve the safety of those who remain.

But president Roh Moo-Hyun told the nation he would not change plans to deploy an additional 3,000 troops to Iraq, as demanded by Kim's killer.

ROH MOO-HYUN, SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT (through translator): I have repeatedly stressed that the dispatch of troops is not to engage in hostile activities, but to help reconstruction.

SOHN (on camera): Protesters took to the streets of Seoul, demanding that the South Korean government cancel its plans to send additional troops to Iraq, and bring home those already there.

(voice-over): Kim Sun-Il's family, their grief uncontrollable, prepared a small funeral altar, adorned with his picture.

Sohn Jie-Ae, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: I want to show you a live speech that is being given right now from Saudi Arabia. It is Crown Prince Abdullah, speaking on behalf of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, speaking to the Saudi people.

Let's listen in, with translation.

PRINCE ABDULLAH, SAUDI ARABIA (through translator): ... is not going to forbid us from hitting them with our force, which we do get from our dependence on God.

We also promise -- we promise God that our force is not going to be hesitant under his guidance and power. Peace be upon you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking Arabic)

KAGAN: All right. That was the very end of the speech by Crown Prince Abdullah, speaking on behalf of King Fahd, addressing the Saudi people and the fight that the Saudis say that they are determined to fight against terrorism, especially in light of what has happened in that country over the last week, American Paul Johnson Jr. being held hostage and then beheaded by captors who say they were demanding that the Americans get out of Saudi Arabia and release al Qaeda captives in Guantanamo Bay.

With more on this, let's bring in Jim Walsh, terrorism expert from the Belfer Center at Harvard University. Jim, a number of topics to talk to you about today. Let's start with the very end of that speech that we just heard from the crown prince.

JIM WALSH, BELFER CENTER, HARVARD UNIVERSITY: Well, clearly, Saudi Arabia feels that this -- the issue of terrorism has now reached such a crescendo that the crown prince feels compelled to address the nation and to attack it and confront it head on.

So there were -- you know, we've seen an evolution in the Saudi approach to terrorism. For many, many years, Saudi Arabia was not a victim of terrorist attack. Then after 9/11 and the war in Iraq, they began to become a victim of terror attacks and began to take this more seriously, even as there were more people joining the ranks of the extremists.

And now I think they realize that this is something that threatens not only Americans but themselves as well.

KAGAN: Well, it is a sad day, indeed, that there is a long list of kidnappings and beheadings that we can go down and talk about the significance of each.

But let's talk about the latest, involving the South Korean businessman in Iraq, the demand there that South Korea not commit an additional 3,000 troops to fighting and helping to keep the peace in Iraq.

As we said he was kidnapped and beheaded, because South Korea did not meet his demands. Jim, as we're looking at this ever-growing list of kidnappings and beheadings, do you think that they're effective or the fact that the negotiations are not taking place, is going to send a message that it does not help one's cause to do this?

WALSH: Well, Daryn, I think on the ground we see lots and lots kidnappings, and they're being used for different purposes. In some cases, they're being used by locals for extortion, to get money out of rich Iraqis.

In some cases, they're being used in order to try to achieve some sort of political aim, whether it's withdrawal or undermining support amongst American allies.

In other cases, it's simply to shock and to cause anxiety and fear.

And we've seen a bit of both in these last two, last beheadings. I don't think it was likely that South Korea was going to agree to the terrorist demand. If they did, they would be setting themselves up to future demands by other groups at other times. So that was highly unlikely.

And I doubt whether the insurgents actually believed that South Korea was suddenly going to change policy. I think in this case it was again aimed politically at undermining that alliance or that -- that support from external forces. The factoid that's interesting here is South Korea, once it gets all 3,000 troops in, which is by the end of the year, it will be third -- ranked third, in the number of -- in terms of countries that are providing troops. And that's only with 3,000 troops.

So this is not a very popular cause. And there aren't many countries that are lending troops to the effort.

KAGAN: And in fact, even with or without the beheading and the kidnapping, it's not a popular cause among the public in South Korea, yet that government still going ahead with its plan. What does South Korea have invested in doing this?

WALSH: That's a great question. You know, there are a lot of issues in South Korea right now where Americans and South Koreans have to work out differences.

One is how to deal with North Korea. Another is the American decision to withdraw troops from South Korea and to station them in Iraq. That's been a very sensitive topic.

And on top of all of that, we also have the issue of the war in Iraq. It's true that most of the public -- not overwhelming majority, but most of the public does not support the war in Iraq.

But it's also important to remember that this particular president, President Roh, came to power on sort of an anti-American platform. So he has some wiggle room. He has some credibility where he can both commit forces and not -- I don't think, and still withstand that politically.

Nevertheless it does complicate matters. And it means that there are more things that Americans and South Koreans disagree on, and that's never a good thing.

KAGAN: Jim Walsh from Harvard University. Jim, thank you. Appreciate your time.

WALSH: Thank you, Daryn.

KAGAN: As always.

WALSH: Absolutely.

KAGAN: Want to get back to the -- the little bit of the speech that we were showing you from Saudi Arabia. We have the hardest working woman at CNN with us right now, Octavia Nasr, editor for Arab affairs.

You were literally running here because you were translating the speech. So you are definitely the woman to ask what the crown prince was -- what he was saying as he was addressing the Saudi people.

OCTAVIA NASR, EDITOR, ARAB AFFAIRS: The headline from this is that he is speaking on behalf of the King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. He's giving the terrorists the chance to repent. He gave them one month from the date of this speech to repent, give themselves up, and he says in his words, that in this case, they're going to be safe.

Basically, he's using the amnesty as prescribed in the Islamic law, and he's using certain expressions from the Quran, specifically, to explain to people that God, in his words, has asked us to give the bad people a chance to repent.

If they do repent, we -- we keep them safe. If they don't, then we have every right, in the name of God, to hit them.

So basically, he's giving the terrorists a chance to repent, give themselves up. And within one month, if they don't do that he's saying that he's going to hit them with a -- with an iron fist.

KAGAN: Well, when you're talking about terrorists, who exactly is he talking about? Because in light of Paul Johnson in terms of his kidnapping and his beheading, there was this big run on who they say was responsible for it and a number of people were killed.

So was he just talking about terrorists in general that are living and hiding within Saudi Arabia?

NASR: Yes. He did start the speech in a very interesting way. He said that this country has been built in a peaceful way. We worked very hard to keep it safe and stable. And right now there are many activities to destabilize our peace, and we are not going to be quiet about that.

So basically he's keeping it general. Everyone who threatens the peace and security of Saudi Arabia is basically included in this speech.

Very interesting speech. Very powerful, too. Remember, they announced the speech about 45 minutes ago. We heard about it. It's going to be aired on Saudi national television. Indeed, it aired.

It is a speech that is on behalf of the king of Saudi Arabia. Very powerful, coming, really, from the higher ups in Saudi Arabia.

KAGAN: I just wanted you to go back on this offer and put it in a cultural context, which you were beginning to do. Because the idea here in America that you would say to terrorists, "We're going to give you a month. If you turn yourself in, you're off scot-free." That does not jive in this culture at all.

NASR: No. But he -- in Saudi Arabia, in the Muslim world, this makes a lot of sense. Because -- remember, Islam teaches you how to live your life. It has laws, you know.

And remember, we always talk about the terrorists and how they have a mind of their own, their own interpretation of the Quran and so forth. So they kill people; they kidnap people; they slaughter people, in the name of Islam. So what the crown prince here is doing, he's saying Islam is about peace. It's about forgiveness. This is what God has taught us. So basically, if you give yourself up, you're going to be safe. He didn't say you're not going to be jailed or sentenced or whatever.

KAGAN: Ah, OK.

NASR: But basically safe, as in you're not going to be harmed. But if you don't, he is saying, God gives us the power to go out and kill you, basically, and that will be totally right.

And the other side of this, it's a very interesting question that you ask, Daryn. I'm glad you asked it. Because what he's doing, also, he's telling his people that he is going to act.

He's saying the government of Saudi Arabia is going to act. And before they start going out and raiding groups and killing suspected terrorists, he wants to get the approval of his people. So he's sort of giving them a head's up.

He's saying, "Look, we're giving them one month. If they turn themselves in, good. If not, then we're going to go out and we're going to kill some people."

KAGAN: The parental "I'm going to count to three."

NASR: Yes.

KAGAN: And then I'm coming after you. Octavia Nasr, thank you for the translation and the interpretation. Appreciate it, as always.

Well, CNN is going to take the pulse of the world this week as the countdown to the handover in Iraq nears. Join us at 1 p.m. Eastern tomorrow to find out the European view. Then you can get a check of the "AMERICAN PULSE," Friday, same time, 1 p.m. Eastern.

We are back in a moment.

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KAGAN: Let's go ahead and check the Dow. Well, the Dow is down 25 points, not looking so good on this Wednesday morning. The NASDAQ looking a little bit better in positive territory, barely. It is up two points.

We will continue to monitor the markets. They have been open about an hour and 20 minutes.

Let's check some legal news right now.

The first detective called to investigate Laci Peterson's disappearance returns to the witness stand today, testimony resuming next hour in Scott Peterson's murder trial.

Our Ted Rowlands at his post, covering the trial from Redwood City, California. Ted, good morning.

TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.

Al Brocchini, as you mentioned, was the first detective on scene. He was also the detective that was charged with trying to clear Scott Peterson, something he obviously never did. They brought double murder charges against him.

He took the stand yesterday for the entire day. Part of that was a replaying of the videotape of Scott Peterson being interviewed six after -- six hours after he had reported his wife missing.

During the interview, Peterson was very calm, answering all of the detective's questions. The detective seemed to insinuate to the jury that Peterson was so calm that it raised a red flag, because he wasn't acting like someone who was missing his pregnant wife and wanting to be out looking for her.

The defense, however, says that he was just basically doing what he could to help the investigation. In fact, at the end of that tape, he even told Brocchini, "I want to do everything I can to help you guys out."

From there, Brocchini talked about the investigation, talked about how Amber Frey came into the fray, how he was there when she first called in.

He also talked about a confrontation that he and Peterson had in Fresno, where Brocchini said he wasn't acting like a guy that was missing his wife, and he had some explaining to do.

He also mentioned two other girlfriends that Peterson allegedly had. Source say that Peterson had at least two other girlfriends that came forward that Peterson had relationships with during his marriage to Laci Peterson.

Today, Brocchini will be back on the stand, and the defense is expected to cross-examine him very vigorously. They paint him as a one-track detective that jumped to the conclusion erroneously that Peterson had killed his wife -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ted Rowlands in Redwood City, more from you later in the day.

Weapons fire in the chaos. When the smoke clearly, a young boy lies nearly dead. Coming up, we're going to show you the incredible fight to save his life after an accident on the battlefield in Afghanistan.

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KAGAN: As it has been said too many times, Houston, we have a problem. And it's not just Houston. Orelon Sidney here to tell us more about that.

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KAGAN: Orelon, thank you. More ahead with Orelon.

Right now, I want to go back to our story of the Saudi crown prince addressing the Saudi people on Saudi television.

Our Nic Robertson is in Riyadh to tell us more about that message.

Hello.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, this was a message for the people of Saudi Arabia, in particular, for the people and the members of al Qaeda.

This message, coming from -- being delivered by Crown Prince Abdullah, but for King Fahd, saying that this was the last time the government would be offering an amnesty to al Qaeda members.

The message was you have one month from today to turn yourself in peacefully. This is your opportunity. You will be treated correctly under Islamic law.

But if those members of al Qaeda don't turn themselves in, and the message went on that, in the eyes of God, nothing will stop the government from using all its force to catch you.

The message also went on to praise the security forces here for all their work. A number of members of the security forces have been killed in shootouts with al Qaeda over the last few months. People I've talked with in the community here have personally known some of the people that have died.

There is an strong anti-al Qaeda feels on the streets here. And this message, the government here appearing to get very tough with al Qaeda. A one-month amnesty to turn themselves in peacefully or face the consequences -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Interesting that you said that the government's getting tough on al Qaeda because in the western world, offering a one-month amnesty might not be perceived that way, Nic.

ROBERTSON: There are a lot of people here who think that the government have been doing a very good job. The fact that they killed al-Muqrin, the head of the group that was responsible for Paul Johnson, last week. The fact that the government has killed and captured a number of senior al Qaeda figures over the last year or so.

But what the government appears to be doing here is to try to offset, potentially, any critics that might come from any quarters in the country, that if they crack down hard and kill and capture al Qaeda members that they could be criticized. They are publicly giving them a month to turn themselves in or face the consequences.

So it appears to be positioning themselves to head off any criticism, potentially, from the more conservative religious community here, citing that God, for example, won't -- won't hold the government back from taking strong action.

It does appear to head off any criticism that might come from the sort of conservative religious community.

But Daryn, for the people I talked to here, Saudis here, almost -- well, all without fail that we talked to, everyone here is against al Qaeda. They say it's a minority group, maybe in the 500, maybe tens of thousands, but still a minority in the community, that because of the severity and harshness of their actions recently, has really pushed them further away from mainstream Saudi community here, Daryn.

KAGAN: Nic Robertson, reporting from Riyadh. Nic, thank you.

President Bush back here in the states hits the road to talk about AIDS, while John Kerry is talking health care in general. The day's complete political wrap-up from Washington, D.C., is up next.

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