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CNN Live Today

James Sensenbrenner Holds Press Conference; Intelligence Overhaul; Baseball and Steroids

Aired December 08, 2004 - 10:59   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: And we'll start with a look in the headlines "Now in the News."
We're awaiting a press conference with Representative James Sensenbrenner. The House Judiciary Committee chairman will discuss border security and immigration legislation on the 9/11 intelligence reform bill. Sensenbrenner supported measures that would have barred states from issuing drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants and would have limited appeals for immigrants facing deportation. Those provisions were dropped from the bill passed in the House yesterday.

In Iraq, a government official welcomes the idea of holding the upcoming elections over the course of several days. Instead of a nationwide, single-day vote, the spokesman for Iraq's Interior Ministry says spreading out the time to vote would help ensure safety and security. The official says the idea is being discussed but the final decision would rest with Iraq's independent electoral commission.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he is confident that the January 30 elections in Iraq can take place. His remarks come as some concern about recent violent in Iraq suggests a delay for that vote.

And back here in the states, now that the smoke has cleared from those suspicious fires on expensive homes in Maryland, police are pursuing a clue. They are looking for a driver of a blue van seen in the area when the fire started.

Over two dozen homes in Charles County subdivision were damaged or destroyed in the blaze. Please say arson played a part, and some are suggesting eco-terrorism.

We are moving right along, as it's 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast and 8:00 a.m. on the West. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. Let's go ahead and get started this hour with CNN "Security Watch."

The Senate is back in session today. The vote on the historic bill overhauling U.S. intelligence should pass easily. And President Bush is set to sign it this week, if not immediately.

The bill, the biggest change in the intelligence community since the CIA was created decades ago, passed the House last night. The vote overwhelming after a compromise over Pentagon spy agencies.

Now, it creates a national intelligence director who reports to the president. Final passage comes four months after the measure was recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Only two or three weeks ago the Republican caucus in the House was so divided and so against this bill that the speaker didn't want to call it. Now that we're down to some 60 or 70 who voted against it, frankly, I think it's a big victory.

This bill passed in the Senate in similar form 96-2, overwhelmingly bipartisan. The House is much more political. And I want to give credit to Speaker Hastert and the president for standing up and convincing enough Republican congressmen to come forward and support this good bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: However, there is one congressman that remains against it, adamantly, denouncing the bill. It is James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. He is speaking now live. And we take him for you.

REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: ... I.D. card process, so that when people get on airplanes after showing I.D., we know who they really are. And when they open up bank accounts, we'll know who they really are as well.

The legislation will tighten our asylum system which has been abused by terrorists. Irresponsible judges have made asylum laws vulnerable to fraud and abuse. We will ensure that terrorists like Ramsey Yousef, the mastermind of the first World Trade Center attack in 1993, no longer receive a free pass to move around America's communities when they show up at our gates claiming asylum.

We will end judge-imposed presumptions that benefit suspected terrorists so that we stop providing a safe haven to some of the worst people on Earth. We will reduce the opportunity for immigration fraud. So we will protect honest asylum seekers and stop rewarding the terrorists and criminals who falsely claim persecution.

We must stop giving benefits to those who concoct a bogus political asylum story when they arrive in the United States. That means passing the provisions that were contained in Section 3008 of the intelligence bill and which were deleted by the Senate to prevent terrorist aliens from abusing and gaming the asylum system.

And finally, we will push through a comprehensive solution to get the Otay Mesa fence finished on the California-Mexico border that Duncan Hunter and David Dreier and others recognize is not only a national embarrassment but also a security risk. The maritime succulent scrub is more likely to flourish if it's no longer trampled under the feet of hundreds of illegal aliens every night. Let's make southern California's environment safe by completing the fence and restoring the habitat on both sides of it. Thank you. And I will now turn the microphone over to Government Reform Committee chairman, Tom Davis, of Virginia, for some remarks.

REP. TOM DAVIS (R-VA), CHAIRMAN, GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: Thank you, Jim.

I'm going to address the drivers' license...

SANCHEZ: All right. James Sensenbrenner, as you hear, pointing out what he thinks is wrong with this 9/11 measure that's been passed. Among the things that he highlights, of course, is he'd like to see it more difficult, or the United States make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to enter in the United States, and then specifically on the issue of drivers' licenses and how easy it is for illegal -- illegal immigrants right now to actually access drivers' licenses.

The dispute over this post-9/11 intelligence overhaul has certainly focused on a few lines in the bill, but there's really more to it. Let's focus on what the bill will do, rather than Mr. Sensenbrenner's focus on what it won't do. And to do that, we're going to bring in CNN national security correspondent David Ensor. He's in Washington to tell us about that -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Rick, this bill could dramatically change the way the U.S. government has been configured to gather and use intelligence for 50 years. It creates, as you mentioned, a director of national intelligence with power over all 15 federal agencies, intelligence agencies.

He replaces the director of Central Intelligence. That's the job, of course, that George Tenet had and Porter Goss has now.

It creates a national counterterrorism center with authority to plan operations in the fight against terror. Actually, the center already exists and started work Monday. But the bill makes the director a presidential appointee with new powers.

The bill also requires states to follow uniform standards for issuing drivers' licenses, to make them harder to forge. Many Americans are likely to have to get new drivers' licenses as a result of this bill.

And it beefs up border guards, immigration agents and aviation security. It also creates an independent oversight board on civil liberties.

The next time there is a 9/11-type attack or another intelligence failure, the bill seeks to answer that basic question, who will be responsible? Answer, the new director of national intelligence. But the bill poses many questions, too.

Who will brief the president on intelligence? Right now it's the director of Central Intelligence. This bill does not mean it clear whether it will be the new DNI or maybe the CIA director or maybe sometimes the new director of National Counterterrorism Center. Next question, will the DNI take hands-on control of America's spies or leave that to the CIA director? That will clearly depend heavily on the personalities of the individuals involved and the wishes of President Bush.

And does the bill give the DNI enough budget power to overrule the Pentagon on how to use intelligence resources? Answer: that's not clear. Again, much will depend on who's in that job.

Finally, how influential will the counterterrorism director be? The bill splits the difference on his or her clout, saying the presidential-appointed director reports to Mr. Bush on terrorism but must settle budget and personnel issues with the director of national intelligence. And, you know, in Washington, Rick, budget and personnel are sometimes the issues that really determine clout.

SANCHEZ: So obviously it's very important for him to be independent, whoever this person is. It's also important for this person to be able to hold other people accountable. But as I recall, David, after 9/11, some of the things that people like you and I were talking about was how incredible it was that agencies weren't talking to each other.

You know, an agent in Phoenix who wasn't talking to an agent in Minnesota, where the information somehow didn't get out of Washington. How is this new law, this new person, this new agency going to be able to change that?

ENSOR: You know, it's actually already been changed with the establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center, which started life as the Terrorism Threat Integration Center at the CIA. All the intelligence from all the intelligence agencies, FBI, even foreign intelligence that comes in, is brought together in one place, and they connect the dots, so to speak.

So that problem, and it's always going to be a problem, but an awful lot of work has been done already. This bill makes that center, though, more powerful and gives it more responsibility and lets the director be presidentially appointed. So he'll get to the president more easily.

SANCHEZ: To actually be able to hold those people accountable to do just that. David Ensor, we thank you so much for bringing us the latest on that and updating us on it as well.

ENSOR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Speaking of updating, Rick, we want to go back live to southern California, bring you the latest on that van crash. We were showing you live pictures, and we go back to more live pictures thanks to our affiliate, KTTV.

This is what we know. This is the commuter van that tumbled 200 feet off a highway in the Angeles National Forest. It was on Angeles Crest Highway. It happened about 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Five people trapped inside that van, one person was flung from the vehicle. CNN right now has confirmed that four people have died in the crash, and a number of others have been injured.

Apparently the firefighters have had to make their way down that embankment, get the survivors, and then try to get them out using a helicopter. A very tricky rescue operation.

And as we said, we already know that four people have been confirmed dead. A total of 10 people we believe were inside that van. So that rescue operation going on in southern California.

SANCHEZ: Boy, it's just the worst of conditions, isn't it?

Scott Peterson's defense should wrap up today, and the trial's sentencing phase, but not before the jury hears one final plea from his mother. We're going to get a live report from Redwood City, California.

KAGAN: It was supposed to be a pep rally, but things got a bit testy. We'll talk to a retired general about Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's reception in Kuwait.

SANCHEZ: Also, in our "Winter Woes" series, how holiday stress can lead to a heart attack.

All ahead this hour on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Oh, there's some nice music there. Some significant news coming out of the sporting world.

In Arizona, day three of the annual meeting of the Major League Baseball players, a sign that the players could be stepping up to the plate to deal with the steroid scandal facing the league. For more on that, we turn to CNN's Matt Morrison. He is live in the Valley of the Sun.

Good morning.

MATT MORRISON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Yes, indeed, the players did authorize their union leadership to open up the contract and negotiate a new steroids policy. Now, we don't know exactly when a new agreement might be in place. Spring training is the goal. However, what we do know is that the steps going forward on this hot topic issue will be breaking new ground.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MORRISON: Executive director Donald Fehr said Tuesday the players union is willing to amend the current drug-testing policy which was negotiated two years ago.

DONALD FEHR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MLB PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: In terms of coming to grips with this, we think in 2002 that we did make a good-faith start, that we did make a good-faith effort. Having said that, that doesn't mean it can't be done better, that doesn't mean improvements can't be made, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try and go further if after further consideration that that makes the most sense.

MORRISON: Fehr said the issue has been on the agenda for several weeks, long before the events of last week, when news of grand jury testimony indicated Jason Giambi used steroids and Barry Bonds may have unwittingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

FEHR: The Giambi story that came out last week obviously is troubling, even though it related, I believe, almost exclusively to periods of time prior to the implementation of program testing and all the rest of it. But obviously it's troubling. Obviously, it's...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORRISON: And Donald Fehr went on to say that a January deadline set by Senator John McCain in order to avert any government intervention on this issue, he expects that there will be plenty of progress, or at least an understanding in place that the government intervention won't be necessary, Daryn.

So now it's, where do we go? Point A to Point B. Baseball wants a much stricter testing policy, the players union has to agree to it, and somewhere in the middle they've got to meet.

KAGAN: Well, just the fact they're willing to make a change in the middle of their current bargaining agreement is historic indeed. Matt Morrison in Phoenix, Arizona. Thank you.

Also, news from that infamous NBA basket brawl. Criminal charges, well, they're on the way.

There's word that charges will be filed today, in fact, in connection with last month's basketball fight. Reports say five players and five fans are expected to be charged for their roles in the November 19 brawl during a Pacers-Pistons game. Prosecutors have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at 2:00 Eastern. CNN will bring that to you live right here.

SANCHEZ: In California, Scott Peterson's attorneys are expected to wrap up the portion of the penalty phase today, with closing arguments following. CNN's Rusty Dornin has been covering the Redwood City trial, and she's joining us now with an update.

Rusty, what's the latest?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, the defense strategy all along has been to try to elicit sympathy from the jury and impress upon them how horrific the impact would be on the Peterson family if Scott Peterson was sentenced to death. Yesterday, after the jury was dismissed for the day, the judge told the defense you cannot use that in the instruction under California law. But there's no question, when Jackie Peterson, Scott Peterson's mother, takes the stand, there will be -- the aim will be to elicit sympathy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN (voice-over): She has been depicted as the backbone of the family. As the last witness for the defense, Scott Peterson's mother Jackie will for the first time make a direct plea to save him from execution. A pitch for sympathy that legal analysts say could have mixed results.

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL ANALYST: I don't think there's any question that this jury is going to feel some sympathy for her. But it cannot be all about the Peterson family, and it certainly cannot be about blaming this jury for her pain.

DORNIN: Some members of the Peterson family, along with other witnesses, have told the jury that convicted him they don't believe Scott could have killed his pregnant wife Laci. One of six witnesses Tuesday told a bizarre story about a dogfight that took place when he lived next door to Scott and Laci Peterson.

Eric Sherar (ph) said Laci punched his dog to try to stop the fight, but then Scott stepped in and calmly dealt with the situation. Another testimonial about Peterson's prowess as a problem solver.

Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, broke down when a restaurant owner wept on the stand, describing how Scott and Laci met at his cafe. But it was a neighbor telling the story of her own father, witnessing an execution, says one legal analyst, that might have impacted the jury. Susan Medina said her father was never the same afterward.

JIM HAMMER, LEGAL ANALYST: She really summed up one of the most powerful arguments against the death penalty, which is that it really affects everybody, that it ruins everyone's lives, that it's not a solution.

DORNIN: But it is a solution that this jury must consider when they begin deliberations Thursday.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN: We're expecting a short day today, only four or five witnesses. Jackie Peterson will be the last witness. The judge told the jury yesterday that the attorneys will do their summations tomorrow, he will give them jury instructions, and then they will begin their deliberations -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: But they're not allowed to feel sorry for the Petersons or at least use that?

DORNIN: Well, they're -- they're not supposed to -- that will not be an instruction that is allowed. But he will tell them if they have any lingering doubt, that they definitely can consider that. And that has also been a strategy.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much for bringing us up to date on that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Some tough questions, some would say surprising questions, for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He hears from troops headed to Iraq.

SANCHEZ: Also, under fire. Kofu Annan has an address to the U.N. assembly. We're going to go live to the United Nations to bring you the latest on that developing story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: All right. Here we go. Time to find out what's going on with the weather.

KAGAN: Yes. Folks in the West having some tough times. Orelon Sydney is here.

Hi, Orelon.

ORELON SYDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: How you doing?

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: We've got two people that we're going to be -- oh, thank you, Orelon.

SYDNEY: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: ... two people that we're going to be hearing from during this next half-hour, which many consider controversial. Donald Rumsfeld, for one, with some candid comments to candid questions.

KAGAN: From troops that are headed to Iraq. Also, U.N. Secretary-General Kofu Annan set to address the general assembly of the United Nations. What kind of support will he have there after there have been calls for his resignation from Capitol Hill? We'll see.

SANCHEZ: We'll have it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Getting really close to half past the hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening in the news right now.

The Senate is in session this morning getting ready to vote on the intelligence bill. The historic legislation passed the House last night, as you may have heard. It will overhaul the nation's intelligence system, the biggest changes since the creation of the CIA decades ago.

A pair of third-party presidential candidates want a recount in Ohio, but officials doubt the results will change. The state has certified President Bush the winner by a margin of 118,000 votes. Recount advocates say there were irregularities in the election, including uncounted provisional ballots and suspicious vote totals as well.

Ukraine's parliament today adopted electoral reforms ahead of the new vote in the country's presidential runoff. The second ballot is scheduled for December 26 after the supreme court declared the first vote fraudulent.

Also, a commuter van rolls down a mountainside in Los Angeles County today. It killed at least four people.

This is some of the video that we've been sharing with you for the better part of the last hour or so. This van was carrying workers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Heavy fog shrouded the highway at the time of the accident. We're told the van belongs to NASA's jet area, but NASA could not tell us whether the people inside were actually JPL employees or not. We'll continue to check.

KAGAN: The U.S. defense secretary answers questions in the military's defense. Donald Rumsfeld visited a military base in Kuwait City this morning to energize troops heading to Iraq. But during...

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Aired December 8, 2004 - 10:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we'll start with a look in the headlines "Now in the News."
We're awaiting a press conference with Representative James Sensenbrenner. The House Judiciary Committee chairman will discuss border security and immigration legislation on the 9/11 intelligence reform bill. Sensenbrenner supported measures that would have barred states from issuing drivers' licenses to illegal immigrants and would have limited appeals for immigrants facing deportation. Those provisions were dropped from the bill passed in the House yesterday.

In Iraq, a government official welcomes the idea of holding the upcoming elections over the course of several days. Instead of a nationwide, single-day vote, the spokesman for Iraq's Interior Ministry says spreading out the time to vote would help ensure safety and security. The official says the idea is being discussed but the final decision would rest with Iraq's independent electoral commission.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he is confident that the January 30 elections in Iraq can take place. His remarks come as some concern about recent violent in Iraq suggests a delay for that vote.

And back here in the states, now that the smoke has cleared from those suspicious fires on expensive homes in Maryland, police are pursuing a clue. They are looking for a driver of a blue van seen in the area when the fire started.

Over two dozen homes in Charles County subdivision were damaged or destroyed in the blaze. Please say arson played a part, and some are suggesting eco-terrorism.

We are moving right along, as it's 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast and 8:00 a.m. on the West. From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez. Let's go ahead and get started this hour with CNN "Security Watch."

The Senate is back in session today. The vote on the historic bill overhauling U.S. intelligence should pass easily. And President Bush is set to sign it this week, if not immediately.

The bill, the biggest change in the intelligence community since the CIA was created decades ago, passed the House last night. The vote overwhelming after a compromise over Pentagon spy agencies.

Now, it creates a national intelligence director who reports to the president. Final passage comes four months after the measure was recommended by the 9/11 Commission.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Only two or three weeks ago the Republican caucus in the House was so divided and so against this bill that the speaker didn't want to call it. Now that we're down to some 60 or 70 who voted against it, frankly, I think it's a big victory.

This bill passed in the Senate in similar form 96-2, overwhelmingly bipartisan. The House is much more political. And I want to give credit to Speaker Hastert and the president for standing up and convincing enough Republican congressmen to come forward and support this good bill.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANCHEZ: However, there is one congressman that remains against it, adamantly, denouncing the bill. It is James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin. He is speaking now live. And we take him for you.

REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: ... I.D. card process, so that when people get on airplanes after showing I.D., we know who they really are. And when they open up bank accounts, we'll know who they really are as well.

The legislation will tighten our asylum system which has been abused by terrorists. Irresponsible judges have made asylum laws vulnerable to fraud and abuse. We will ensure that terrorists like Ramsey Yousef, the mastermind of the first World Trade Center attack in 1993, no longer receive a free pass to move around America's communities when they show up at our gates claiming asylum.

We will end judge-imposed presumptions that benefit suspected terrorists so that we stop providing a safe haven to some of the worst people on Earth. We will reduce the opportunity for immigration fraud. So we will protect honest asylum seekers and stop rewarding the terrorists and criminals who falsely claim persecution.

We must stop giving benefits to those who concoct a bogus political asylum story when they arrive in the United States. That means passing the provisions that were contained in Section 3008 of the intelligence bill and which were deleted by the Senate to prevent terrorist aliens from abusing and gaming the asylum system.

And finally, we will push through a comprehensive solution to get the Otay Mesa fence finished on the California-Mexico border that Duncan Hunter and David Dreier and others recognize is not only a national embarrassment but also a security risk. The maritime succulent scrub is more likely to flourish if it's no longer trampled under the feet of hundreds of illegal aliens every night. Let's make southern California's environment safe by completing the fence and restoring the habitat on both sides of it. Thank you. And I will now turn the microphone over to Government Reform Committee chairman, Tom Davis, of Virginia, for some remarks.

REP. TOM DAVIS (R-VA), CHAIRMAN, GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE: Thank you, Jim.

I'm going to address the drivers' license...

SANCHEZ: All right. James Sensenbrenner, as you hear, pointing out what he thinks is wrong with this 9/11 measure that's been passed. Among the things that he highlights, of course, is he'd like to see it more difficult, or the United States make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to enter in the United States, and then specifically on the issue of drivers' licenses and how easy it is for illegal -- illegal immigrants right now to actually access drivers' licenses.

The dispute over this post-9/11 intelligence overhaul has certainly focused on a few lines in the bill, but there's really more to it. Let's focus on what the bill will do, rather than Mr. Sensenbrenner's focus on what it won't do. And to do that, we're going to bring in CNN national security correspondent David Ensor. He's in Washington to tell us about that -- David.

DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Rick, this bill could dramatically change the way the U.S. government has been configured to gather and use intelligence for 50 years. It creates, as you mentioned, a director of national intelligence with power over all 15 federal agencies, intelligence agencies.

He replaces the director of Central Intelligence. That's the job, of course, that George Tenet had and Porter Goss has now.

It creates a national counterterrorism center with authority to plan operations in the fight against terror. Actually, the center already exists and started work Monday. But the bill makes the director a presidential appointee with new powers.

The bill also requires states to follow uniform standards for issuing drivers' licenses, to make them harder to forge. Many Americans are likely to have to get new drivers' licenses as a result of this bill.

And it beefs up border guards, immigration agents and aviation security. It also creates an independent oversight board on civil liberties.

The next time there is a 9/11-type attack or another intelligence failure, the bill seeks to answer that basic question, who will be responsible? Answer, the new director of national intelligence. But the bill poses many questions, too.

Who will brief the president on intelligence? Right now it's the director of Central Intelligence. This bill does not mean it clear whether it will be the new DNI or maybe the CIA director or maybe sometimes the new director of National Counterterrorism Center. Next question, will the DNI take hands-on control of America's spies or leave that to the CIA director? That will clearly depend heavily on the personalities of the individuals involved and the wishes of President Bush.

And does the bill give the DNI enough budget power to overrule the Pentagon on how to use intelligence resources? Answer: that's not clear. Again, much will depend on who's in that job.

Finally, how influential will the counterterrorism director be? The bill splits the difference on his or her clout, saying the presidential-appointed director reports to Mr. Bush on terrorism but must settle budget and personnel issues with the director of national intelligence. And, you know, in Washington, Rick, budget and personnel are sometimes the issues that really determine clout.

SANCHEZ: So obviously it's very important for him to be independent, whoever this person is. It's also important for this person to be able to hold other people accountable. But as I recall, David, after 9/11, some of the things that people like you and I were talking about was how incredible it was that agencies weren't talking to each other.

You know, an agent in Phoenix who wasn't talking to an agent in Minnesota, where the information somehow didn't get out of Washington. How is this new law, this new person, this new agency going to be able to change that?

ENSOR: You know, it's actually already been changed with the establishment of the National Counterterrorism Center, which started life as the Terrorism Threat Integration Center at the CIA. All the intelligence from all the intelligence agencies, FBI, even foreign intelligence that comes in, is brought together in one place, and they connect the dots, so to speak.

So that problem, and it's always going to be a problem, but an awful lot of work has been done already. This bill makes that center, though, more powerful and gives it more responsibility and lets the director be presidentially appointed. So he'll get to the president more easily.

SANCHEZ: To actually be able to hold those people accountable to do just that. David Ensor, we thank you so much for bringing us the latest on that and updating us on it as well.

ENSOR: Thank you.

KAGAN: Speaking of updating, Rick, we want to go back live to southern California, bring you the latest on that van crash. We were showing you live pictures, and we go back to more live pictures thanks to our affiliate, KTTV.

This is what we know. This is the commuter van that tumbled 200 feet off a highway in the Angeles National Forest. It was on Angeles Crest Highway. It happened about 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Five people trapped inside that van, one person was flung from the vehicle. CNN right now has confirmed that four people have died in the crash, and a number of others have been injured.

Apparently the firefighters have had to make their way down that embankment, get the survivors, and then try to get them out using a helicopter. A very tricky rescue operation.

And as we said, we already know that four people have been confirmed dead. A total of 10 people we believe were inside that van. So that rescue operation going on in southern California.

SANCHEZ: Boy, it's just the worst of conditions, isn't it?

Scott Peterson's defense should wrap up today, and the trial's sentencing phase, but not before the jury hears one final plea from his mother. We're going to get a live report from Redwood City, California.

KAGAN: It was supposed to be a pep rally, but things got a bit testy. We'll talk to a retired general about Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's reception in Kuwait.

SANCHEZ: Also, in our "Winter Woes" series, how holiday stress can lead to a heart attack.

All ahead this hour on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Oh, there's some nice music there. Some significant news coming out of the sporting world.

In Arizona, day three of the annual meeting of the Major League Baseball players, a sign that the players could be stepping up to the plate to deal with the steroid scandal facing the league. For more on that, we turn to CNN's Matt Morrison. He is live in the Valley of the Sun.

Good morning.

MATT MORRISON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Yes, indeed, the players did authorize their union leadership to open up the contract and negotiate a new steroids policy. Now, we don't know exactly when a new agreement might be in place. Spring training is the goal. However, what we do know is that the steps going forward on this hot topic issue will be breaking new ground.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MORRISON: Executive director Donald Fehr said Tuesday the players union is willing to amend the current drug-testing policy which was negotiated two years ago.

DONALD FEHR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MLB PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: In terms of coming to grips with this, we think in 2002 that we did make a good-faith start, that we did make a good-faith effort. Having said that, that doesn't mean it can't be done better, that doesn't mean improvements can't be made, that doesn't mean you shouldn't try and go further if after further consideration that that makes the most sense.

MORRISON: Fehr said the issue has been on the agenda for several weeks, long before the events of last week, when news of grand jury testimony indicated Jason Giambi used steroids and Barry Bonds may have unwittingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

FEHR: The Giambi story that came out last week obviously is troubling, even though it related, I believe, almost exclusively to periods of time prior to the implementation of program testing and all the rest of it. But obviously it's troubling. Obviously, it's...

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MORRISON: And Donald Fehr went on to say that a January deadline set by Senator John McCain in order to avert any government intervention on this issue, he expects that there will be plenty of progress, or at least an understanding in place that the government intervention won't be necessary, Daryn.

So now it's, where do we go? Point A to Point B. Baseball wants a much stricter testing policy, the players union has to agree to it, and somewhere in the middle they've got to meet.

KAGAN: Well, just the fact they're willing to make a change in the middle of their current bargaining agreement is historic indeed. Matt Morrison in Phoenix, Arizona. Thank you.

Also, news from that infamous NBA basket brawl. Criminal charges, well, they're on the way.

There's word that charges will be filed today, in fact, in connection with last month's basketball fight. Reports say five players and five fans are expected to be charged for their roles in the November 19 brawl during a Pacers-Pistons game. Prosecutors have scheduled a news conference for this afternoon at 2:00 Eastern. CNN will bring that to you live right here.

SANCHEZ: In California, Scott Peterson's attorneys are expected to wrap up the portion of the penalty phase today, with closing arguments following. CNN's Rusty Dornin has been covering the Redwood City trial, and she's joining us now with an update.

Rusty, what's the latest?

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, the defense strategy all along has been to try to elicit sympathy from the jury and impress upon them how horrific the impact would be on the Peterson family if Scott Peterson was sentenced to death. Yesterday, after the jury was dismissed for the day, the judge told the defense you cannot use that in the instruction under California law. But there's no question, when Jackie Peterson, Scott Peterson's mother, takes the stand, there will be -- the aim will be to elicit sympathy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN (voice-over): She has been depicted as the backbone of the family. As the last witness for the defense, Scott Peterson's mother Jackie will for the first time make a direct plea to save him from execution. A pitch for sympathy that legal analysts say could have mixed results.

DEAN JOHNSON, LEGAL ANALYST: I don't think there's any question that this jury is going to feel some sympathy for her. But it cannot be all about the Peterson family, and it certainly cannot be about blaming this jury for her pain.

DORNIN: Some members of the Peterson family, along with other witnesses, have told the jury that convicted him they don't believe Scott could have killed his pregnant wife Laci. One of six witnesses Tuesday told a bizarre story about a dogfight that took place when he lived next door to Scott and Laci Peterson.

Eric Sherar (ph) said Laci punched his dog to try to stop the fight, but then Scott stepped in and calmly dealt with the situation. Another testimonial about Peterson's prowess as a problem solver.

Laci's mother, Sharon Rocha, broke down when a restaurant owner wept on the stand, describing how Scott and Laci met at his cafe. But it was a neighbor telling the story of her own father, witnessing an execution, says one legal analyst, that might have impacted the jury. Susan Medina said her father was never the same afterward.

JIM HAMMER, LEGAL ANALYST: She really summed up one of the most powerful arguments against the death penalty, which is that it really affects everybody, that it ruins everyone's lives, that it's not a solution.

DORNIN: But it is a solution that this jury must consider when they begin deliberations Thursday.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN: We're expecting a short day today, only four or five witnesses. Jackie Peterson will be the last witness. The judge told the jury yesterday that the attorneys will do their summations tomorrow, he will give them jury instructions, and then they will begin their deliberations -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: But they're not allowed to feel sorry for the Petersons or at least use that?

DORNIN: Well, they're -- they're not supposed to -- that will not be an instruction that is allowed. But he will tell them if they have any lingering doubt, that they definitely can consider that. And that has also been a strategy.

SANCHEZ: That's interesting. Rusty Dornin, thanks so much for bringing us up to date on that -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Some tough questions, some would say surprising questions, for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He hears from troops headed to Iraq.

SANCHEZ: Also, under fire. Kofu Annan has an address to the U.N. assembly. We're going to go live to the United Nations to bring you the latest on that developing story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: All right. Here we go. Time to find out what's going on with the weather.

KAGAN: Yes. Folks in the West having some tough times. Orelon Sydney is here.

Hi, Orelon.

ORELON SYDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: How you doing?

(WEATHER REPORT)

SANCHEZ: We've got two people that we're going to be -- oh, thank you, Orelon.

SYDNEY: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: ... two people that we're going to be hearing from during this next half-hour, which many consider controversial. Donald Rumsfeld, for one, with some candid comments to candid questions.

KAGAN: From troops that are headed to Iraq. Also, U.N. Secretary-General Kofu Annan set to address the general assembly of the United Nations. What kind of support will he have there after there have been calls for his resignation from Capitol Hill? We'll see.

SANCHEZ: We'll have it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Getting really close to half past the hour. Good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez. And here's what's happening in the news right now.

The Senate is in session this morning getting ready to vote on the intelligence bill. The historic legislation passed the House last night, as you may have heard. It will overhaul the nation's intelligence system, the biggest changes since the creation of the CIA decades ago.

A pair of third-party presidential candidates want a recount in Ohio, but officials doubt the results will change. The state has certified President Bush the winner by a margin of 118,000 votes. Recount advocates say there were irregularities in the election, including uncounted provisional ballots and suspicious vote totals as well.

Ukraine's parliament today adopted electoral reforms ahead of the new vote in the country's presidential runoff. The second ballot is scheduled for December 26 after the supreme court declared the first vote fraudulent.

Also, a commuter van rolls down a mountainside in Los Angeles County today. It killed at least four people.

This is some of the video that we've been sharing with you for the better part of the last hour or so. This van was carrying workers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab. Heavy fog shrouded the highway at the time of the accident. We're told the van belongs to NASA's jet area, but NASA could not tell us whether the people inside were actually JPL employees or not. We'll continue to check.

KAGAN: The U.S. defense secretary answers questions in the military's defense. Donald Rumsfeld visited a military base in Kuwait City this morning to energize troops heading to Iraq. But during...

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