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CNN Live Today
Wilbanks Pleads 'No Contest' to Charge; Jackson Trial; Iraq Bombings
Aired June 02, 2005 - 11:01 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: Let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
President Bush last hour nominated nine-term Congressman Christopher Cox to run the Securities and Exchange Commission. Current Chairman William Donaldson, on the job just two years, says he will step aside to spend more time with his family.
Experts say that last winter's frequent storms are likely to blame for a massive mudslide -- landslide in Laguna Beach, California. More than a dozen multimillion-dollar homes are in a crumpled heap today at the bottom of a hill as we look at live pictures from southern California. About a thousand people had to flee their homes. Some may get back in their homes today to collect their belongings.
Wachovia is apologizing for its predecessor's corporation's ties to slavery. One of the companies owned at least 162 slaves. Another accepted more than 500 as collateral for mortgage property. Wachovia says its complete report on salve holdings will be posted on its Web site.
And Amnesty International is calling on the U.S. to open its Guantanamo Bay prison to inspectors. The human rights group says that's the best way to dispel accusations of abuse. Amnesty likened Guantanamo to a modern-day gulag. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called that comparison reprehensible.
Let's check the time. Just a few minutes past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, just a few minutes past 8:00 on the West.
From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour, no jail time for the so-called runaway bride. But she's not walking away scot-free either. We got our first good look at Jennifer Wilbanks without her towel over head this morning. It was her first and apparently only court appearance.
CNN's David Mattingly joins us now from the courthouse in an Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville.
Good morning.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks speaking softly as she apologized before a judge in court today. She was originally facing charges, including the felony of making false statements to police.
To that charge, she pleaded no contest. And in return, the judge has sentenced her to two years probation. She is also to serve 120 hours of community service, and she is to continue her mental health treatments. These are treatments she has been seeking since her return after her clandestine bus ride that ended in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Her attorney made it clear to the court that it was Wilbanks' decision to plead no contest and to face the charges today. Wilbanks spoke only briefly, however, in court. And here's what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER WILBANKS, RUNAWAY BRIDE: Your Honor, I'm truly sorry for my actions. And I -- I just want to thank Gwinnett County and the city of Duluth for all of their efforts. That's all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Wilbanks becoming choked with emotion there at the end. She's also required to pay $2,500 back to the county sheriff's department. She's already paid $13,000 in restitution back to the local police for all the overtime they incurred during the search.
The county D.A. also released a statement just a short time ago. He said, "This is a good resolution of the matter under all of the facts in the case and taking into consideration Ms. Wilbanks' prior criminal record." Remember, she has a history of shoplifting in her past. He goes on to say, "Other than the overwhelming press scrutiny, this was a routine case handled in a routine manner."
Now, Wilbanks was accompanied by her parents and her fiance. Everyone left the courthouse today with nothing further to say. It is clear that everyone focusing now on her getting on with her life. And yes, Daryn, Wilbanks was still wearing her engagement ring -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Thanks for clarifying that. David Mattingly, live from Gwinnett County. It urns into I guess a one-day court circus for Jennifer Wilbanks. She moves on with her life.
We move on to another kind of court circus, to Santa Maria now. Closing arguments today in the Michael Jackson trial. Each side will get four hours.
A preview now from our correspondent, Ted Rowlands.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Showdown in court today. The prosecution and defense each has been given four hours. We're not sure if each side will actually use the full four hours, but this clearly is the last chance for both sides to get to this jury. Michael Jackson left Neverland Ranch within the hour and is expected here within a few minutes. Outside the courthouse here, hundreds of fans have gathered. And that circus-like atmosphere which was present early on in the trial has returned here.
Three hundred people were in line early this morning to try to get a seat inside the courtroom. That is the highest level to date.
Outside Neverland Ranch last night, many of these fans journeyed down for a prayer vigil outside the property of Michael Jackson. We understand Michael Jackson himself did not take part in it, but according to a spokesperson, Michael Jackson is "nervous," along with Jackson family members, as the reality of the end of this trial starts to hit home with everybody involved, including Michael Jackson.
He faces 10 counts, 10 felony counts. Four of them have to do with child molestation. There's a conspiracy charge, and alcohol charges as well. And this jury will have the task of sorting it out and coming to a conclusion as to Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence, most likely starting tomorrow.
We expect closing arguments to take up the bulk of today, if not all of today. And we expect the jury to start deliberating tomorrow -- Daryn.
KAGAN: What about the jury, Ted? Will it be sequestered during deliberations?
ROWLANDS: No. No sequestration.
They will work on an 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule every day, with four short breaks in between. We understand the judge will allow them to go along on a day-by-day basis if they choose to do so. However, there should be -- or there most likely will be a cutoff point at some point during each day of deliberations.
They'll have the weekends off. And they will not be sequestered.
They have a lot to mull over. Jury instructions were given to them yesterday. It took more than an hour for the judge just to read the instructions. And each one of (AUDIO GAP) has different factual conclusions that this jury has to come to before they can come to a guilt or innocence.
And then with the alcohol charges, there's also a lesser on the table. If they think he's not guilty of one, they can -- they can say he's guilty of a lesser charge.
So a lot of work to do. It's expected that they will be out at least two days before they could come to a verdict. But remember O.J. Simpson. So nobody ever -- nobody really knows how long it will take.
KAGAN: We're not going to try to guess on those California juries. Ted Rowlands, thank you.
ROWLANDS: OK. KAGAN: Live from Santa Maria
Now to Richmond, Virginia. Police there are investigating three deadly shootings separated by only a few miles and several minutes.
Authorities say this is the suspected gunman. These pictures were taken by a security camera inside of a convenience store. Police say all three of the shootings took place on the south side of Richmond within 15 minutes of each other. Authorities are on the lookout for the suspect's car, which is described as a dark gray American sedan with temporary tags.
A 20-hour hostage standoff in Shelbyville, Indiana, ended earlier this morning than a -- in a hail of gunfire. Police managed to rescue a woman held captive by a burglary suspect inside of a convenience store. The situation got dicey when the gunman suddenly started shooting. Police returned fire and killed the suspect.
Murder and incest headline a trial in Fresno, California. Marcus Wesson is accused of killing nine of his children and grandchildren and sexually abusing his daughters and nieces. Jury deliberations are under way. The defense claims one of Wesson's daughters killed the family and then shot herself. The girl's child, also among the victims, had been fathered by Wesson.
To Iraq now. Scattered violence across the country left at least 17 Iraqis and three American soldiers dead today. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston joins me now from Baghdad, where she's keeping an eye on developments.
Jennifer, hello.
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
That's right. Well, U.S. Central Command here in Baghdad confirmed that three U.S. soldiers died Wednesday, including -- including three in combat near the city of Ramadi. That's a troubled city in western Iraq.
Now, that third soldier's death we've been told was not combat- related. But the overwhelming victims of today's violence are indeed Iraqi.
An explosive-rigged motorcycle detonated on a busy street in the northern city of Mosul this morning. Iraqi officials tell CNN one policeman is dead and 16 people were wounded as a result of that attack. But it all began early this morning as diners were eating breakfast outside the city of Kirkuk when a suicide car bomber ripped through the restaurant, killing 12 people and wounding 38 others.
Now, among the dead, Daryn, is a bodyguard to one of Iraq's Kurdish deputy prime ministers. Six other bodyguards were also wounded in that attack.
And then, almost 30 minutes later, another suicide car bomber targeted an American diplomatic convoy. That was actually in the city center of kirkuk. Two Iraqi children died as a result of that blast and 11 people were wounded.
And then the violence turned south, and that took place about 10 to 15 minutes after the Kirkuk bombing in the city of Baquba. A local government official and three of his bodyguards were killed, and that suicide car bomber who attacked their convoy.
Now, in an effort to stem the wave of bombings, the Iraqi-led Operation Lightning, involving some tens of thousands of Iraqi forces and upwards of 7,000 U.S. troops, continues here in Baghdad. Daryn, it's in its fifth day. And the Iraqi officials are claiming some success. They say they captured hundreds of insurgents, both Iraqi and foreign, and they say they also captured a number of weapons caches -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston, live from Baghdad. Thank you.
The insurgency hit overdrive after Iraq announced its Shiite-led government at the end of April -- by one count more than 750 people were killed in May, and that includes some five dozen U.S. troops.
Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr joins me now to talk about this war within a war.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
Well, as the violence continues every day, an awful lot of people are now asking the question, what exactly is going on inside Iraq?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice over): As the death toll in Iraq has mounted for U.S. troops and Iraqis, one word has been used repeatedly to describe the violence: insurgency.
GEN. RICHARD MYERS, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: We're involved in an insurgency, a very violent insurgency.
STARR: But is Iraq an insurgency? Most experts agree it is a unique conflict that cannot be easily labeled. The Pentagon defines insurgency as "an organized movement, aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through use of subversion and armed conflict."
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SR. FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: In Iraq, you have a small insurgency fighting largely for the benefit of one ethnic group but aided by globally-motivated and inspired jihadists.
STARR: Experts say the Iraq insurgency centers around members of the former regime who want to retake power. They number in the thousands. But the most lethal fighters are the hundreds of foreign fighters trying to incite civil war, loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
COL. THOMAS X. HAMMES, U.S. MARINE CORPS: What you have in Iraq is a variety of organizations that are very interested in taking power. Now, they don't agree with each other, but they do all agree that the United States has to get out.
STARR: Is Iraq the new Vietnam? Experts say no. The North Vietnamese had outside support from the Soviets and Chinese, and appealed to much of the population. Is Iraq the new El Salvador? For years, the U.S. supported the government there, fighting a left-wing insurgency.
Now, in Iraq?
O'HANLON: You do not have essentially the whole society engaged in a broad ideological debate.
STARR: So, can this multi-headed enemy be defeated by U.S. and Iraqi forces and by an emerging Iraqi democracy? Fighting insurgents takes manpower.
TOM DONNELLY, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: Because you're not just bombing people or blowing things up or destroying enemy forces in large formations. You have to pacify and secure villages and places to allow a new government to legitimate itself to take root.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Now, Daryn, most senior U.S. military officers point out that the majority of Iraqi people do not support the attackers. So perhaps not an insurgency in the classic sense of the word. But these officers also say they now all agree it may take years to bring peace to that country -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr, live at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.
This note from the Navy today. Seven sailors and an officer have been disciplined for hazing. The incidents involve crew numbers from the Navy frigate the USS Kaufman. Investigators found six sailors were hazing victims. Some were hit, others were taped to chairs.
And we're going to have more on the Laguna mudslides a little later in the show, including the Science Guy. Bill Nye is stopping by to explain, well, exactly what's happening here. I understand he's bringing along a Ketchup bottle. We'll figure out what that's all about.
And could some common painkillers fight pain but also cause other problems?
And what was intended to help some NFL players' images ends up doing more harm than good.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We go live now to Santa Maria, California. Quite a crowd out front. We haven't seen this for a while. But it's a big day in the child molestation trial of Michael Jackson, as he's about to get out of the Suburban.
I bet this works just as it has for many weeks now. No umbrella, which is interesting. But first comes Michael Jackson's parents, his mother, and then his father, and then Michael Jackson.
As I was saying, this is a big day. Jurors expected to get the case sometime on Friday. Closing arguments today, four hours allowed for each side, both the defense and prosecution.
You can see his brother there as well. This is about the point where Michael Jackson turns to the crowd and waves. As we're waiting for that to happen, perhaps not today, Michael Jackson seems to be pretty focused on just getting -- no, there's the wave.
A lot more people at the courthouse today as this is -- this trial wrapping up. Michael Jackson, 46 years old, charged with molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor in February and March of 2003. He's also accused of supplying him with wine and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut damaging aspects of the documentary that people saw all over the world, "Living With Michael Jackson." In that, Jackson and the accuser were shown holding hands.
Now, in this case, Michael Jackson hasn't taken the stand, but a number of people have. And the judge in this case also allowing past allegations of molestation to be entered into the evidence. The jury getting the case tomorrow.
It looks like an overcast day in Santa Maria in the middle of California. What about the rest of the country? Jill Brown is here with that.
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Now that Deep Throat's identity has been revealed, everyone has something to say about Mark Felt, including former President Clinton. His views on the Watergate era are coming up. He sat down and talked with our Larry King.
And we've all seen the horrific video of houses collapsing from the West Coast mudslides. But why did it happen? We called on Bill Nye The Science Guy to explain the science behind natural disasters.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Former President Clinton says he feels good but he still isn't 100 percent after his heart surgeries. Clinton is always eager, though, to discuss politics. He shared his viewpoints on Mark Felt last night with our Larry King. The ex-FBI number two revealed himself this week as Watergate's secretive Deep Throat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he did a good thing. And I think it's -- was an unusual circumstance. I think Felt believed that there was a chance that this whole thing would be covered up.
Ordinarily, I think a law enforcement official shouldn't be leaking to the press, because you should let criminal action take its course. When he did that, he obviously believed there was a chance that the thing would be covered up. And there was some evidence -- we now know that there was also a problem with trying to use the FBI and the IRS, and other agencies of federal government for political purposes back then. So there's some reason to believe he was right.
I don't think -- he always felt ambivalent about it, apparently. And I think that's good, because, on balance, you don't want law enforcement officials leaking to the press, even the truth, much less some vendetta or something that's not true. But under these circumstances, I think he did the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Bob Woodward outlines Mark Felt's transformation to Deep Throat in today's "Washington Post." He met Felt just by chance at the White House in 1970. Back then, Woodward was a Navy lieutenant. He had gone to the White House to deliver a set of documents.
So Woodward writes today, "I was thankful for any morsel of information, confirmation or assistance that Felt gave me while Carl and I were attempting to understand the many-headed monster of Watergate. Because of his position, virtually atop the chief investigative agency, his words and guidance had immense and at times even staggering authority. The weight, authenticity and his restraint were more important than his design, if he had one."
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein discuss Deep Throat tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE." It is, by the way, an exclusive live primetime interview and you can see it at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
We go back to California, where some Laguna Beach residents today are trying to save their homes. For others, though, it's too late. What caused all that destruction? Coming up, there's only one person who can really explain this like we can understand it. That's Bill Nye The Science Guy, and he's with us to help understand what happened to the ground underneath these million-dollar homes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired June 2, 2005 - 11:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's happening "Now in the News."
President Bush last hour nominated nine-term Congressman Christopher Cox to run the Securities and Exchange Commission. Current Chairman William Donaldson, on the job just two years, says he will step aside to spend more time with his family.
Experts say that last winter's frequent storms are likely to blame for a massive mudslide -- landslide in Laguna Beach, California. More than a dozen multimillion-dollar homes are in a crumpled heap today at the bottom of a hill as we look at live pictures from southern California. About a thousand people had to flee their homes. Some may get back in their homes today to collect their belongings.
Wachovia is apologizing for its predecessor's corporation's ties to slavery. One of the companies owned at least 162 slaves. Another accepted more than 500 as collateral for mortgage property. Wachovia says its complete report on salve holdings will be posted on its Web site.
And Amnesty International is calling on the U.S. to open its Guantanamo Bay prison to inspectors. The human rights group says that's the best way to dispel accusations of abuse. Amnesty likened Guantanamo to a modern-day gulag. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld called that comparison reprehensible.
Let's check the time. Just a few minutes past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, just a few minutes past 8:00 on the West.
From CNN Center in Atlanta, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan.
Up first this hour, no jail time for the so-called runaway bride. But she's not walking away scot-free either. We got our first good look at Jennifer Wilbanks without her towel over head this morning. It was her first and apparently only court appearance.
CNN's David Mattingly joins us now from the courthouse in an Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville.
Good morning.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn.
Runaway bride Jennifer Wilbanks speaking softly as she apologized before a judge in court today. She was originally facing charges, including the felony of making false statements to police.
To that charge, she pleaded no contest. And in return, the judge has sentenced her to two years probation. She is also to serve 120 hours of community service, and she is to continue her mental health treatments. These are treatments she has been seeking since her return after her clandestine bus ride that ended in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Her attorney made it clear to the court that it was Wilbanks' decision to plead no contest and to face the charges today. Wilbanks spoke only briefly, however, in court. And here's what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNIFER WILBANKS, RUNAWAY BRIDE: Your Honor, I'm truly sorry for my actions. And I -- I just want to thank Gwinnett County and the city of Duluth for all of their efforts. That's all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Wilbanks becoming choked with emotion there at the end. She's also required to pay $2,500 back to the county sheriff's department. She's already paid $13,000 in restitution back to the local police for all the overtime they incurred during the search.
The county D.A. also released a statement just a short time ago. He said, "This is a good resolution of the matter under all of the facts in the case and taking into consideration Ms. Wilbanks' prior criminal record." Remember, she has a history of shoplifting in her past. He goes on to say, "Other than the overwhelming press scrutiny, this was a routine case handled in a routine manner."
Now, Wilbanks was accompanied by her parents and her fiance. Everyone left the courthouse today with nothing further to say. It is clear that everyone focusing now on her getting on with her life. And yes, Daryn, Wilbanks was still wearing her engagement ring -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Thanks for clarifying that. David Mattingly, live from Gwinnett County. It urns into I guess a one-day court circus for Jennifer Wilbanks. She moves on with her life.
We move on to another kind of court circus, to Santa Maria now. Closing arguments today in the Michael Jackson trial. Each side will get four hours.
A preview now from our correspondent, Ted Rowlands.
Ted, good morning.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Showdown in court today. The prosecution and defense each has been given four hours. We're not sure if each side will actually use the full four hours, but this clearly is the last chance for both sides to get to this jury. Michael Jackson left Neverland Ranch within the hour and is expected here within a few minutes. Outside the courthouse here, hundreds of fans have gathered. And that circus-like atmosphere which was present early on in the trial has returned here.
Three hundred people were in line early this morning to try to get a seat inside the courtroom. That is the highest level to date.
Outside Neverland Ranch last night, many of these fans journeyed down for a prayer vigil outside the property of Michael Jackson. We understand Michael Jackson himself did not take part in it, but according to a spokesperson, Michael Jackson is "nervous," along with Jackson family members, as the reality of the end of this trial starts to hit home with everybody involved, including Michael Jackson.
He faces 10 counts, 10 felony counts. Four of them have to do with child molestation. There's a conspiracy charge, and alcohol charges as well. And this jury will have the task of sorting it out and coming to a conclusion as to Michael Jackson's guilt or innocence, most likely starting tomorrow.
We expect closing arguments to take up the bulk of today, if not all of today. And we expect the jury to start deliberating tomorrow -- Daryn.
KAGAN: What about the jury, Ted? Will it be sequestered during deliberations?
ROWLANDS: No. No sequestration.
They will work on an 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. schedule every day, with four short breaks in between. We understand the judge will allow them to go along on a day-by-day basis if they choose to do so. However, there should be -- or there most likely will be a cutoff point at some point during each day of deliberations.
They'll have the weekends off. And they will not be sequestered.
They have a lot to mull over. Jury instructions were given to them yesterday. It took more than an hour for the judge just to read the instructions. And each one of (AUDIO GAP) has different factual conclusions that this jury has to come to before they can come to a guilt or innocence.
And then with the alcohol charges, there's also a lesser on the table. If they think he's not guilty of one, they can -- they can say he's guilty of a lesser charge.
So a lot of work to do. It's expected that they will be out at least two days before they could come to a verdict. But remember O.J. Simpson. So nobody ever -- nobody really knows how long it will take.
KAGAN: We're not going to try to guess on those California juries. Ted Rowlands, thank you.
ROWLANDS: OK. KAGAN: Live from Santa Maria
Now to Richmond, Virginia. Police there are investigating three deadly shootings separated by only a few miles and several minutes.
Authorities say this is the suspected gunman. These pictures were taken by a security camera inside of a convenience store. Police say all three of the shootings took place on the south side of Richmond within 15 minutes of each other. Authorities are on the lookout for the suspect's car, which is described as a dark gray American sedan with temporary tags.
A 20-hour hostage standoff in Shelbyville, Indiana, ended earlier this morning than a -- in a hail of gunfire. Police managed to rescue a woman held captive by a burglary suspect inside of a convenience store. The situation got dicey when the gunman suddenly started shooting. Police returned fire and killed the suspect.
Murder and incest headline a trial in Fresno, California. Marcus Wesson is accused of killing nine of his children and grandchildren and sexually abusing his daughters and nieces. Jury deliberations are under way. The defense claims one of Wesson's daughters killed the family and then shot herself. The girl's child, also among the victims, had been fathered by Wesson.
To Iraq now. Scattered violence across the country left at least 17 Iraqis and three American soldiers dead today. CNN's Jennifer Eccleston joins me now from Baghdad, where she's keeping an eye on developments.
Jennifer, hello.
JENNIFER ECCLESTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn.
That's right. Well, U.S. Central Command here in Baghdad confirmed that three U.S. soldiers died Wednesday, including -- including three in combat near the city of Ramadi. That's a troubled city in western Iraq.
Now, that third soldier's death we've been told was not combat- related. But the overwhelming victims of today's violence are indeed Iraqi.
An explosive-rigged motorcycle detonated on a busy street in the northern city of Mosul this morning. Iraqi officials tell CNN one policeman is dead and 16 people were wounded as a result of that attack. But it all began early this morning as diners were eating breakfast outside the city of Kirkuk when a suicide car bomber ripped through the restaurant, killing 12 people and wounding 38 others.
Now, among the dead, Daryn, is a bodyguard to one of Iraq's Kurdish deputy prime ministers. Six other bodyguards were also wounded in that attack.
And then, almost 30 minutes later, another suicide car bomber targeted an American diplomatic convoy. That was actually in the city center of kirkuk. Two Iraqi children died as a result of that blast and 11 people were wounded.
And then the violence turned south, and that took place about 10 to 15 minutes after the Kirkuk bombing in the city of Baquba. A local government official and three of his bodyguards were killed, and that suicide car bomber who attacked their convoy.
Now, in an effort to stem the wave of bombings, the Iraqi-led Operation Lightning, involving some tens of thousands of Iraqi forces and upwards of 7,000 U.S. troops, continues here in Baghdad. Daryn, it's in its fifth day. And the Iraqi officials are claiming some success. They say they captured hundreds of insurgents, both Iraqi and foreign, and they say they also captured a number of weapons caches -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jennifer Eccleston, live from Baghdad. Thank you.
The insurgency hit overdrive after Iraq announced its Shiite-led government at the end of April -- by one count more than 750 people were killed in May, and that includes some five dozen U.S. troops.
Our Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr joins me now to talk about this war within a war.
Barbara, good morning.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.
Well, as the violence continues every day, an awful lot of people are now asking the question, what exactly is going on inside Iraq?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice over): As the death toll in Iraq has mounted for U.S. troops and Iraqis, one word has been used repeatedly to describe the violence: insurgency.
GEN. RICHARD MYERS, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: We're involved in an insurgency, a very violent insurgency.
STARR: But is Iraq an insurgency? Most experts agree it is a unique conflict that cannot be easily labeled. The Pentagon defines insurgency as "an organized movement, aimed at the overthrow of a constituted government through use of subversion and armed conflict."
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SR. FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTE: In Iraq, you have a small insurgency fighting largely for the benefit of one ethnic group but aided by globally-motivated and inspired jihadists.
STARR: Experts say the Iraq insurgency centers around members of the former regime who want to retake power. They number in the thousands. But the most lethal fighters are the hundreds of foreign fighters trying to incite civil war, loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
COL. THOMAS X. HAMMES, U.S. MARINE CORPS: What you have in Iraq is a variety of organizations that are very interested in taking power. Now, they don't agree with each other, but they do all agree that the United States has to get out.
STARR: Is Iraq the new Vietnam? Experts say no. The North Vietnamese had outside support from the Soviets and Chinese, and appealed to much of the population. Is Iraq the new El Salvador? For years, the U.S. supported the government there, fighting a left-wing insurgency.
Now, in Iraq?
O'HANLON: You do not have essentially the whole society engaged in a broad ideological debate.
STARR: So, can this multi-headed enemy be defeated by U.S. and Iraqi forces and by an emerging Iraqi democracy? Fighting insurgents takes manpower.
TOM DONNELLY, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: Because you're not just bombing people or blowing things up or destroying enemy forces in large formations. You have to pacify and secure villages and places to allow a new government to legitimate itself to take root.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: Now, Daryn, most senior U.S. military officers point out that the majority of Iraqi people do not support the attackers. So perhaps not an insurgency in the classic sense of the word. But these officers also say they now all agree it may take years to bring peace to that country -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Barbara Starr, live at the Pentagon. Barbara, thank you.
This note from the Navy today. Seven sailors and an officer have been disciplined for hazing. The incidents involve crew numbers from the Navy frigate the USS Kaufman. Investigators found six sailors were hazing victims. Some were hit, others were taped to chairs.
And we're going to have more on the Laguna mudslides a little later in the show, including the Science Guy. Bill Nye is stopping by to explain, well, exactly what's happening here. I understand he's bringing along a Ketchup bottle. We'll figure out what that's all about.
And could some common painkillers fight pain but also cause other problems?
And what was intended to help some NFL players' images ends up doing more harm than good.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: We go live now to Santa Maria, California. Quite a crowd out front. We haven't seen this for a while. But it's a big day in the child molestation trial of Michael Jackson, as he's about to get out of the Suburban.
I bet this works just as it has for many weeks now. No umbrella, which is interesting. But first comes Michael Jackson's parents, his mother, and then his father, and then Michael Jackson.
As I was saying, this is a big day. Jurors expected to get the case sometime on Friday. Closing arguments today, four hours allowed for each side, both the defense and prosecution.
You can see his brother there as well. This is about the point where Michael Jackson turns to the crowd and waves. As we're waiting for that to happen, perhaps not today, Michael Jackson seems to be pretty focused on just getting -- no, there's the wave.
A lot more people at the courthouse today as this is -- this trial wrapping up. Michael Jackson, 46 years old, charged with molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor in February and March of 2003. He's also accused of supplying him with wine and conspiring to hold his family captive to get them to rebut damaging aspects of the documentary that people saw all over the world, "Living With Michael Jackson." In that, Jackson and the accuser were shown holding hands.
Now, in this case, Michael Jackson hasn't taken the stand, but a number of people have. And the judge in this case also allowing past allegations of molestation to be entered into the evidence. The jury getting the case tomorrow.
It looks like an overcast day in Santa Maria in the middle of California. What about the rest of the country? Jill Brown is here with that.
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KAGAN: Now that Deep Throat's identity has been revealed, everyone has something to say about Mark Felt, including former President Clinton. His views on the Watergate era are coming up. He sat down and talked with our Larry King.
And we've all seen the horrific video of houses collapsing from the West Coast mudslides. But why did it happen? We called on Bill Nye The Science Guy to explain the science behind natural disasters.
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KAGAN: Former President Clinton says he feels good but he still isn't 100 percent after his heart surgeries. Clinton is always eager, though, to discuss politics. He shared his viewpoints on Mark Felt last night with our Larry King. The ex-FBI number two revealed himself this week as Watergate's secretive Deep Throat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he did a good thing. And I think it's -- was an unusual circumstance. I think Felt believed that there was a chance that this whole thing would be covered up.
Ordinarily, I think a law enforcement official shouldn't be leaking to the press, because you should let criminal action take its course. When he did that, he obviously believed there was a chance that the thing would be covered up. And there was some evidence -- we now know that there was also a problem with trying to use the FBI and the IRS, and other agencies of federal government for political purposes back then. So there's some reason to believe he was right.
I don't think -- he always felt ambivalent about it, apparently. And I think that's good, because, on balance, you don't want law enforcement officials leaking to the press, even the truth, much less some vendetta or something that's not true. But under these circumstances, I think he did the right thing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Bob Woodward outlines Mark Felt's transformation to Deep Throat in today's "Washington Post." He met Felt just by chance at the White House in 1970. Back then, Woodward was a Navy lieutenant. He had gone to the White House to deliver a set of documents.
So Woodward writes today, "I was thankful for any morsel of information, confirmation or assistance that Felt gave me while Carl and I were attempting to understand the many-headed monster of Watergate. Because of his position, virtually atop the chief investigative agency, his words and guidance had immense and at times even staggering authority. The weight, authenticity and his restraint were more important than his design, if he had one."
Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein discuss Deep Throat tonight on "LARRY KING LIVE." It is, by the way, an exclusive live primetime interview and you can see it at 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
We go back to California, where some Laguna Beach residents today are trying to save their homes. For others, though, it's too late. What caused all that destruction? Coming up, there's only one person who can really explain this like we can understand it. That's Bill Nye The Science Guy, and he's with us to help understand what happened to the ground underneath these million-dollar homes.
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