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Bush News Conference; Accuser Credible?; Who Killed Hariri?

Aired March 16, 2005 - 09:01   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: News breaking out of the White House just moments ago. We're going to bring that to you live. The president speaking this morning. We've got his message just ahead.
The jury the in the Michael Jackson trial weighing the most graphic testimony yet. Where do both sides go now after so many bombshells from the star witness?

And Scott Peterson, will he live or die? That decision expected on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Jack is in today because Bill's got a couple of days off.

Good morning to you.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for helping us out.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Coming up this morning, what really happened on the day that the former prime minister was killed in Beirut. Anderson Cooper has been given incredibly rare access to the site of the assassination. We're going to talk with him this morning about coming up with some conflicting theories in the attack.

CAFFERTY: Also ahead, the case of those two New York City detectives accused of having part-time jobs as hit men for the mob. The lawyer for one of them is our guest, a man who knows something about mob connections since he once defended John Gotti. We'll talk to Bruce Cutler in a little bit.

O'BRIEN: And Carol Costello's got the "Question of the Day" this morning.

Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I do. It has to do with the Harvard president. A vote of no confidence from the faculty. So the question this morning, should Larry Summers resign as the president of Harvard? Email us, AM@CNN.com. O'BRIEN: Some really great answers I think this morning. Thanks, Carol.

Just word this morning President Bush holding a news conference. It's going to happen in just over an hour. Suzanne Malveaux standing by for us at the White House.

Good morning, Suzanne. What are we expecting that the president is going to talk about this morning?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Of course President Bush is going to hold that press conference in the briefing room at 10:15. What we've been told by senior administration officials is that he's going to be talking about the political developments in the Middle East. Specifically, he'll be talking about Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.

He'll also, of course, touch on his domestic agenda. He will push forward what he's been really pushing forward for the last couple of months. That is, his Social Security reform plan, creating those private accounts.

Now, it comes at a very important day today. As you know, of course, the Iraqi National Assembly picking their new leadership. The president, of course, will talk about that.

Also, comes on a day when he'll be meeting with a Lebanese cardinal. He'll be talking about the need to support that Lebanese opposition movement for Syria to get out of Lebanon. That is going to be another hot topic.

And Soledad, should let you know, of course, he's going to be making his case. It has been a big challenge to make his case on the international and domestic front. Polls show that Americans do not believe that it is worth American bloodshed to move forward and promote democracy. That is one thing that he is going to have to convince the American people. On the domestic side, he still faces an uphill battle when it comes to both Democrats and Republicans supporting his Social Security reform plan -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.

And again, we're expecting the president around 1015 Eastern Time. We'll get his remarks to you live.

Let's get right to the headlines with Kelly Wallace this morning.

Hey, Kelly. Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Soledad and Jack.

Good morning to all of you. Here are some of those other stories we're following "Now in the News." There are calls for democracy and freedom in Iraq amid insurgent attacks throughout the country. The 275-member assembly was sworn in earlier today, even as about half a dozen explosions rattled the area around the convention center where members were meeting. Politicians are calling for "national unity" in the country's first freely elected parliament in 50 years.

Staying in the Middle East now, Israeli troops are beginning to pull out of the West Bank town of Jericho. Palestinian security forces raised a flag after the handover marking the territory where an Israeli checkpoint had been dismantled. But the formal signing of a security agreement was stalled. Jericho is the first of five West Bank towns to be turned over to the Palestinians. Two other checkpoints will be turned over in about a month.

Another public sighting of Pope John Paul II. The 84-year-old pontiff seen from the window of his apartment overlooking St. Peter's Square. His first appearance since leaving the hospital on Sunday. The Vatican has not given any indication of the pope's upcoming schedule, but it is confirming he will give the traditional blessing on Easter Sunday, March 27.

And New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi will the not take part in a steroids hearing. Giambi is one of seven athletes subpoenaed by a House panel on the use of steroids in baseball. But lawmakers are excusing Giambi. They say his testimony may interfere with an ongoing federal probe.

The six other players are still expected to show up. That hearing tomorrow in Washington. And again, still big questions if those other players will definitely turn up.

O'BRIEN: We will see. All right, Kelly, thanks.

WALLACE: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Well, the defense is done with the teenage accuser in the Michael Jackson molestation case. The prosecution had a chance to try to repair some of the damage that was done by the defense. Did it work? A warning now. The next report has material that may not be suitable for all viewers.

CNN's Miguel Marquez live in Santa Maria, California, for us.

Good morning, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

It's not clear that it did work. The boy did seem to go a long distance toward making his case. But one analyst I talked to said he felt that the prosecution just wanted to get this kid off the stand because he wasn't doing their case any good.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): His accuser's off the stand and the self- described king of pop is feeling pretty good. Jackson's accuser, a 15-year-old boy, told his story over four days. The cross-examination by Jackson lawyer Tom Mesereau was relentless in attacking the boy's character and credibility.

LINDA DEUTSCH, ASSOCIATED PRESS: This is the most critical part of trial. We probably have learned more now from the accuser and his siblings than we are going to learn from any other witness. The rest is filling in the blanks.

MARQUEZ: The teenager testified that Jackson twice masturbated him to ejaculation. But under cross-examination, the teen was vague on when the alleged molestations happened.

ANDREW COHEN, LEGAL ANALYST: I think that everything he did hurt his credibility from the way he answered questions to the way he acted on the stand.

MARQUEZ: The boy admitted that after Jackson cut his ties to his family he told the dean of his school that the pop star never touched him. But on further questioning by the district attorney, the boy said the reason he said that is because he was embarrassed that other kids were calling him "the kid that got raped by Michael Jackson."

The boy also testified that after the Martin Bashir documentary aired on ABC in February 2003, Jackson conspired to imprison his family at Neverland. But under cross-examination, Jackson's lawyer hammered away at the conspiracy allegation, getting the accuser to admit that his family left whenever they wanted and never complained once.

COHEN: If the conspiracy is weak, everything else is going to be weak, too, because the conspiracy is the foundation upon which the molestation charges are built.

MARQUEZ: Today, Sergeant Steve Robell (ph) will continue testifying about the timeline of key events that prosecutors say happened in this case.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, it is very difficult to know whether or not -- how this boy is playing to those 12 people on the jury. And, of course, in the end they are the only ones that matter.

I can tell you, on the timeline matter, jurors were taking lots of notes. They take lots of notes anyway, but on this timeline, it was fairly dry testimony, but they were taking lots of notes to get an idea of when events happened, or at least when the prosecution says things happened. And the defense is very interested in that because they believe or they hope that timeline just doesn't work out -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Because really, Miguel, the timeline is key. And if everybody's taking notes and it's very complicated -- I mean, I know the reporters, too, are trying to figure out this timeline as well, and it's kind of the crux of this whole case. Does it seem like the jurors are getting it or are they confused by that timeline?

MARQUEZ: Well, they're starting to. The defense right now is going through with this witness who is on the stand right now, who is a sergeant with a sergeant with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office. And they're literally having them fill out specific dates and what happened on specific dates.

The dates in question are February 7 through March 12, the day after the Martin Bashir documentary aired through March 12, last day the family says that they were at Neverland Ranch. That's when the molestations allegedly occurred, and that's when the prosecution has to make their case for when those things happened.

But there are very big things that happened during that time. A trip to Miami, an interview with the Department of Child and Family Services, a video that the family made praising Jackson. And it's very difficult for those witnesses to say certain things happened before or after those -- those different, big instances -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A very short and critical time. Miguel Marquez for us this morning. Miguel, thanks -- Jack.

MARQUEZ: Sure.

CAFFERTY: Scott Peterson set to learn later today whether he will live or die. Peterson was convicted last November for the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn son. The jury recommended the death penalty for Peterson.

The judge in the case has the option to reduce the sentence to life in prison without parole. But it's expected he will take the jury's recommendation and that will be the end of Mr. Peterson at some point.

Sweeping security changes are among the latest developments at the Atlanta courthouse in connection with the shooting case half the week. A reorganization has been ordered, and the number of officers on duty, the way prisoners are handled and other areas seen as weak, things that could have led to Friday's courthouse killings.

Security was extraordinary on Tuesday. Suspect Brian Nichols was brought before a judge in leg irons, handcuffs and a chained belt. He was guarded by 19 officers. Prosecutors plan to charge Nichols with four murders.

Also, Cynthia Hall, the deputy who police say Brian Nichols attacked in the holding cell before the deadly shooting spree says she can't remember anything that happened. That's according to the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution."

The paper also reports during the 26-hour manhunt for Nichols, authorities found a list of names in his jail cell. That sent police scrambling to put people in protective custody. Judge Rowland Barnes was on that list. Of course he had already been shot and killed when they found it.

Last night, police officers held a candlelight vigil for Deputy Sergeant Hoyt Teasley who was killed outside the courthouse.

O'BRIEN: It is time to get a look at the weather for the day ahead. Chad Myers is at the CNN Center. He's got the latest for us.

(WEATHER REPORT)

CAFFERTY: If it's true, it's the ultimate betrayal of public trust. Two New York City cops accused of being hit men for the mob. They say they're innocent. So it may be a surprise to see who one of their lawyers is.

O'BRIEN: Also, Dr. Gupta, advice for weary travelers, how you can catch your Z's just about anywhere. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Let's get right to our CNN "Security Watch" this morning. And some secret government terror plans now exposed.

According to "The New York Times," the feds have been secretly looking at a number of doomsday scenarios of how many terrorists may be planning to attack America. It's all part of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to make sure that anti-terrorism dollars are getting to the cities that need them most.

Among the possible plots envisioned, blowing up a tank of chlorine, killing more than 17,000 people, injuring more than 100,000 others; spreading pneumonic plague in the bathrooms of an airport, sports arena and train station; and infecting cattle with foot and mouth disease, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits.

Clark Kent Ervin is the former inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. He is now a CNN security analyst. And I asked him how close most cities are to being prepared for such large-scale attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK KENT ERVIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: The report lists about 1,500 specific tests that communities can take to protect themselves. And certainly that needs to be whittled down. But it's very important for communities that are most at risk to know exactly what they should do to prepare themselves against the possibility of an attack and then to help recover from any attack that does occur just as quickly as possible with minimal loss of life and minimal economic damage.

So this kind of planning is really worthwhile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: The feds say they have no credible intelligence the plans actually exist, and they don't want to scare the public. The plans are supposed to be secret, but posted on a Hawaii state government Web site. We expect to hear some answers this hour when Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff addresses reporters in Washington.

You'll want to stay with CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Jack.

CAFFERTY: It has been a little more than a month now since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and there are still few answers about who did it. A U.N. investigation into his death is said to be finished, the report due out next week.

Anderson Cooper is live in Beirut this morning.

Anderson, any early indication what might be in this report?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, at this point there is no public acknowledgement of what might be in the report. There are various reports, plenty of rumors, as you know, here in this part of the world. But at this point, no solid facts about what is going to be in this report.

The Lebanese government is officially in charge of the investigation. The U.N. has been working its own investigation alongside the Lebanese, and most of people here in Lebanon who we've talked to are going to be paying very close attention to what the U.N. says, not so much what the Lebanese government said.

There is widespread skepticism about the thoroughness of the Lebanese government's investigation. Lebanon, of course, occupied by Syria. The Lebanese government is an ally of Syria. The basic question still unanswered more than a month after former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a bold and brazen bomb attack on a Beirut street, the main question that remains unanswered is who killed him and how.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): This was the scene moments after Rafik Hariri was assassinated, blown apart by a massive explosion. The former prime minister, his bodyguards and more than a dozen people just passing by were killed on the spot. CNN's Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler and I gained rare access to the crime scene.

(on camera): The former Prime Minister Hariri was traveling in a multi-vehicle convoy, as he often did. He had many bodyguards with him. They were driving down this road when the blast went off.

But the crater is extraordinarily deep. You get a sense of just how strong explosive device was.

(voice-over): What's outraged many Lebanese is that it's been more than a month since Hariri's murder, and the mystery of who killed him and how remains unsolved.

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: There are two theories here, Anderson. One, whether explosives put under the ground, or was there a suicide bomber. COOPER (on camera): And the significance of if it was underground is what? That that took time and perhaps collusion in order to set?

SADLER: Exactly.

COOPER (voice-over): That would seem to implicate the Lebanese government or their Syrian allies. No one else would have time or access to execute this type of attack.

In recent days, a photo has surfaced, taken by a tourist near the blast side 36 hours before Hariri was killed. In a cordoned off area next to a manhole cover there appears to be some object sticking out of the ground. Is it a detonation device, as some are suggesting? The crater created by the blast is at least 20 feet from the manhole cover, but the photo's emergence has only increased the speculation and anxiety.

Whoever was behind the brazen bombing, Lebanese say they just want to know the truth. Hariri's grave site has become a shrine. Daily, thousands of visitors come to pay their respects and shed their tears.

The truth, that's what many Lebanese are now demanding. The truth about who killed Hariri, the truth about who really was involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And of course President Bush has been putting lots of pressure on Syria to get out of Lebanon. He's expected to make some comments in the top of this hour. CNN will, of course, bring that to you live, and we'll have reaction from here in Beirut, Lebanon -- Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thanks, Anderson. Anderson Cooper, live all week, reporting from Lebanon. You can join him 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, for a fine program, "AC 360."

O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, we hear from Dr. Gupta. He's got advice for road warriors who cannot get a good night's sleep when they travel. One tip, get a window seat. We'll explain ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Baseball's big day on Capitol Hill comes tomorrow. We're going to have complete coverage of the House hearing of steroids, including a look at the impact the drugs are having on high school kids. That's tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, starting at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

CAFFERTY: We apparently have found out at least part of the reason for the news conference with President Bush coming up at 10:15. A senior White House official has confirmed to CNN that at that time the president will name Paul Wolfowitz to head up the World Bank. So that is part of what will be covered 10:15. Of course, CNN will carry it live.

Time now to check in with Carol and the "Question of the Day."

COSTELLO: Yes, the "Question of the Day" has to do with the Harvard president and his remarks about women and math and science. And the faculty of the arts and sciences voted him a vote of no confidence.

So we're asking you this question: Should he simply resign? Should he get out of there now?

Many interesting responses this morning.

This is from Bruce from Olney, Maryland: "Yes, only because he has lost the confidence of those he serves. In his situation, this will never, ever be recovered. So he should move on."

This is from Judy from Pennsylvania: "I would hope there is someone at Harvard who regards this whole overblown situation for what it is, not such a big deal, just a dumb foot in the mouth occasion. Surely the women of Harvard are confident enough in their knowledge to blow this off as dumb and then make sure that in their careers they prove him wrong again."

Prove the president of their own university wrong about their abilities. That's what Judy says.

Mary says this: "Na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-, hey, Larry, goodbye."

I thought that was pretty good.

CAFFERTY: You sing well.

O'BRIEN: She does.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

COSTELLO: Would you have done it that way?

CAFFERTY: No.

COSTELLO: I didn't think so.

This is from Greg from Nova Scotia. He says, "Summers should resign. As to which of the sexes is more intelligent, ponder this, which person in the Cafferty abode has to rise at 4:00 a.m. to get to work?"

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Greg. Thank you very much. I appreciate the support.

O'BRIEN: That would be you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Yes, no kidding.

O'BRIEN: Yes, OK.

CAFFERTY: I'm the only one dumb enough to get up at that hour to go do anything.

COSTELLO: Well, we're in that boat, too.

O'BRIEN: We've got nothing to say about that. All right, Carol. Thanks.

Much more AMERICAN MORNING right after this short break.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," Woody Allen's new movie hits theaters this week and his newest muse is one of us, part of the AMERICAN MORNING family. We'll explain.

Plus...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is my...

O'BRIEN: ... "The Incredibles" try to live up to their name on the DVD. The poppers tell us whether the new extras are super-duper or super duds.

That's later on AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 16, 2005 - 09:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: News breaking out of the White House just moments ago. We're going to bring that to you live. The president speaking this morning. We've got his message just ahead.
The jury the in the Michael Jackson trial weighing the most graphic testimony yet. Where do both sides go now after so many bombshells from the star witness?

And Scott Peterson, will he live or die? That decision expected on this AMERICAN MORNING.

ANNOUNCER: From the CNN Broadcast Center in New York, this is AMERICAN MORNING with Soledad O'Brien and Bill Hemmer.

O'BRIEN: Good morning. Welcome back, everybody. Jack is in today because Bill's got a couple of days off.

Good morning to you.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

O'BRIEN: Thanks for helping us out.

CAFFERTY: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Coming up this morning, what really happened on the day that the former prime minister was killed in Beirut. Anderson Cooper has been given incredibly rare access to the site of the assassination. We're going to talk with him this morning about coming up with some conflicting theories in the attack.

CAFFERTY: Also ahead, the case of those two New York City detectives accused of having part-time jobs as hit men for the mob. The lawyer for one of them is our guest, a man who knows something about mob connections since he once defended John Gotti. We'll talk to Bruce Cutler in a little bit.

O'BRIEN: And Carol Costello's got the "Question of the Day" this morning.

Good morning.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I do. It has to do with the Harvard president. A vote of no confidence from the faculty. So the question this morning, should Larry Summers resign as the president of Harvard? Email us, AM@CNN.com. O'BRIEN: Some really great answers I think this morning. Thanks, Carol.

Just word this morning President Bush holding a news conference. It's going to happen in just over an hour. Suzanne Malveaux standing by for us at the White House.

Good morning, Suzanne. What are we expecting that the president is going to talk about this morning?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

Of course President Bush is going to hold that press conference in the briefing room at 10:15. What we've been told by senior administration officials is that he's going to be talking about the political developments in the Middle East. Specifically, he'll be talking about Syria, Lebanon and Iraq.

He'll also, of course, touch on his domestic agenda. He will push forward what he's been really pushing forward for the last couple of months. That is, his Social Security reform plan, creating those private accounts.

Now, it comes at a very important day today. As you know, of course, the Iraqi National Assembly picking their new leadership. The president, of course, will talk about that.

Also, comes on a day when he'll be meeting with a Lebanese cardinal. He'll be talking about the need to support that Lebanese opposition movement for Syria to get out of Lebanon. That is going to be another hot topic.

And Soledad, should let you know, of course, he's going to be making his case. It has been a big challenge to make his case on the international and domestic front. Polls show that Americans do not believe that it is worth American bloodshed to move forward and promote democracy. That is one thing that he is going to have to convince the American people. On the domestic side, he still faces an uphill battle when it comes to both Democrats and Republicans supporting his Social Security reform plan -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House for us this morning. Suzanne, thanks.

And again, we're expecting the president around 1015 Eastern Time. We'll get his remarks to you live.

Let's get right to the headlines with Kelly Wallace this morning.

Hey, Kelly. Good morning.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Soledad and Jack.

Good morning to all of you. Here are some of those other stories we're following "Now in the News." There are calls for democracy and freedom in Iraq amid insurgent attacks throughout the country. The 275-member assembly was sworn in earlier today, even as about half a dozen explosions rattled the area around the convention center where members were meeting. Politicians are calling for "national unity" in the country's first freely elected parliament in 50 years.

Staying in the Middle East now, Israeli troops are beginning to pull out of the West Bank town of Jericho. Palestinian security forces raised a flag after the handover marking the territory where an Israeli checkpoint had been dismantled. But the formal signing of a security agreement was stalled. Jericho is the first of five West Bank towns to be turned over to the Palestinians. Two other checkpoints will be turned over in about a month.

Another public sighting of Pope John Paul II. The 84-year-old pontiff seen from the window of his apartment overlooking St. Peter's Square. His first appearance since leaving the hospital on Sunday. The Vatican has not given any indication of the pope's upcoming schedule, but it is confirming he will give the traditional blessing on Easter Sunday, March 27.

And New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi will the not take part in a steroids hearing. Giambi is one of seven athletes subpoenaed by a House panel on the use of steroids in baseball. But lawmakers are excusing Giambi. They say his testimony may interfere with an ongoing federal probe.

The six other players are still expected to show up. That hearing tomorrow in Washington. And again, still big questions if those other players will definitely turn up.

O'BRIEN: We will see. All right, Kelly, thanks.

WALLACE: Sure.

O'BRIEN: Well, the defense is done with the teenage accuser in the Michael Jackson molestation case. The prosecution had a chance to try to repair some of the damage that was done by the defense. Did it work? A warning now. The next report has material that may not be suitable for all viewers.

CNN's Miguel Marquez live in Santa Maria, California, for us.

Good morning, Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.

It's not clear that it did work. The boy did seem to go a long distance toward making his case. But one analyst I talked to said he felt that the prosecution just wanted to get this kid off the stand because he wasn't doing their case any good.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): His accuser's off the stand and the self- described king of pop is feeling pretty good. Jackson's accuser, a 15-year-old boy, told his story over four days. The cross-examination by Jackson lawyer Tom Mesereau was relentless in attacking the boy's character and credibility.

LINDA DEUTSCH, ASSOCIATED PRESS: This is the most critical part of trial. We probably have learned more now from the accuser and his siblings than we are going to learn from any other witness. The rest is filling in the blanks.

MARQUEZ: The teenager testified that Jackson twice masturbated him to ejaculation. But under cross-examination, the teen was vague on when the alleged molestations happened.

ANDREW COHEN, LEGAL ANALYST: I think that everything he did hurt his credibility from the way he answered questions to the way he acted on the stand.

MARQUEZ: The boy admitted that after Jackson cut his ties to his family he told the dean of his school that the pop star never touched him. But on further questioning by the district attorney, the boy said the reason he said that is because he was embarrassed that other kids were calling him "the kid that got raped by Michael Jackson."

The boy also testified that after the Martin Bashir documentary aired on ABC in February 2003, Jackson conspired to imprison his family at Neverland. But under cross-examination, Jackson's lawyer hammered away at the conspiracy allegation, getting the accuser to admit that his family left whenever they wanted and never complained once.

COHEN: If the conspiracy is weak, everything else is going to be weak, too, because the conspiracy is the foundation upon which the molestation charges are built.

MARQUEZ: Today, Sergeant Steve Robell (ph) will continue testifying about the timeline of key events that prosecutors say happened in this case.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, it is very difficult to know whether or not -- how this boy is playing to those 12 people on the jury. And, of course, in the end they are the only ones that matter.

I can tell you, on the timeline matter, jurors were taking lots of notes. They take lots of notes anyway, but on this timeline, it was fairly dry testimony, but they were taking lots of notes to get an idea of when events happened, or at least when the prosecution says things happened. And the defense is very interested in that because they believe or they hope that timeline just doesn't work out -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Because really, Miguel, the timeline is key. And if everybody's taking notes and it's very complicated -- I mean, I know the reporters, too, are trying to figure out this timeline as well, and it's kind of the crux of this whole case. Does it seem like the jurors are getting it or are they confused by that timeline?

MARQUEZ: Well, they're starting to. The defense right now is going through with this witness who is on the stand right now, who is a sergeant with a sergeant with the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office. And they're literally having them fill out specific dates and what happened on specific dates.

The dates in question are February 7 through March 12, the day after the Martin Bashir documentary aired through March 12, last day the family says that they were at Neverland Ranch. That's when the molestations allegedly occurred, and that's when the prosecution has to make their case for when those things happened.

But there are very big things that happened during that time. A trip to Miami, an interview with the Department of Child and Family Services, a video that the family made praising Jackson. And it's very difficult for those witnesses to say certain things happened before or after those -- those different, big instances -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: A very short and critical time. Miguel Marquez for us this morning. Miguel, thanks -- Jack.

MARQUEZ: Sure.

CAFFERTY: Scott Peterson set to learn later today whether he will live or die. Peterson was convicted last November for the murder of his wife Laci and their unborn son. The jury recommended the death penalty for Peterson.

The judge in the case has the option to reduce the sentence to life in prison without parole. But it's expected he will take the jury's recommendation and that will be the end of Mr. Peterson at some point.

Sweeping security changes are among the latest developments at the Atlanta courthouse in connection with the shooting case half the week. A reorganization has been ordered, and the number of officers on duty, the way prisoners are handled and other areas seen as weak, things that could have led to Friday's courthouse killings.

Security was extraordinary on Tuesday. Suspect Brian Nichols was brought before a judge in leg irons, handcuffs and a chained belt. He was guarded by 19 officers. Prosecutors plan to charge Nichols with four murders.

Also, Cynthia Hall, the deputy who police say Brian Nichols attacked in the holding cell before the deadly shooting spree says she can't remember anything that happened. That's according to the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution."

The paper also reports during the 26-hour manhunt for Nichols, authorities found a list of names in his jail cell. That sent police scrambling to put people in protective custody. Judge Rowland Barnes was on that list. Of course he had already been shot and killed when they found it.

Last night, police officers held a candlelight vigil for Deputy Sergeant Hoyt Teasley who was killed outside the courthouse.

O'BRIEN: It is time to get a look at the weather for the day ahead. Chad Myers is at the CNN Center. He's got the latest for us.

(WEATHER REPORT)

CAFFERTY: If it's true, it's the ultimate betrayal of public trust. Two New York City cops accused of being hit men for the mob. They say they're innocent. So it may be a surprise to see who one of their lawyers is.

O'BRIEN: Also, Dr. Gupta, advice for weary travelers, how you can catch your Z's just about anywhere. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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O'BRIEN: Let's get right to our CNN "Security Watch" this morning. And some secret government terror plans now exposed.

According to "The New York Times," the feds have been secretly looking at a number of doomsday scenarios of how many terrorists may be planning to attack America. It's all part of the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to make sure that anti-terrorism dollars are getting to the cities that need them most.

Among the possible plots envisioned, blowing up a tank of chlorine, killing more than 17,000 people, injuring more than 100,000 others; spreading pneumonic plague in the bathrooms of an airport, sports arena and train station; and infecting cattle with foot and mouth disease, costing hundreds of millions of dollars in lawsuits.

Clark Kent Ervin is the former inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. He is now a CNN security analyst. And I asked him how close most cities are to being prepared for such large-scale attacks.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARK KENT ERVIN, CNN SECURITY ANALYST: The report lists about 1,500 specific tests that communities can take to protect themselves. And certainly that needs to be whittled down. But it's very important for communities that are most at risk to know exactly what they should do to prepare themselves against the possibility of an attack and then to help recover from any attack that does occur just as quickly as possible with minimal loss of life and minimal economic damage.

So this kind of planning is really worthwhile.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: The feds say they have no credible intelligence the plans actually exist, and they don't want to scare the public. The plans are supposed to be secret, but posted on a Hawaii state government Web site. We expect to hear some answers this hour when Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff addresses reporters in Washington.

You'll want to stay with CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security -- Jack.

CAFFERTY: It has been a little more than a month now since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and there are still few answers about who did it. A U.N. investigation into his death is said to be finished, the report due out next week.

Anderson Cooper is live in Beirut this morning.

Anderson, any early indication what might be in this report?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, at this point there is no public acknowledgement of what might be in the report. There are various reports, plenty of rumors, as you know, here in this part of the world. But at this point, no solid facts about what is going to be in this report.

The Lebanese government is officially in charge of the investigation. The U.N. has been working its own investigation alongside the Lebanese, and most of people here in Lebanon who we've talked to are going to be paying very close attention to what the U.N. says, not so much what the Lebanese government said.

There is widespread skepticism about the thoroughness of the Lebanese government's investigation. Lebanon, of course, occupied by Syria. The Lebanese government is an ally of Syria. The basic question still unanswered more than a month after former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a bold and brazen bomb attack on a Beirut street, the main question that remains unanswered is who killed him and how.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER (voice-over): This was the scene moments after Rafik Hariri was assassinated, blown apart by a massive explosion. The former prime minister, his bodyguards and more than a dozen people just passing by were killed on the spot. CNN's Beirut bureau chief Brent Sadler and I gained rare access to the crime scene.

(on camera): The former Prime Minister Hariri was traveling in a multi-vehicle convoy, as he often did. He had many bodyguards with him. They were driving down this road when the blast went off.

But the crater is extraordinarily deep. You get a sense of just how strong explosive device was.

(voice-over): What's outraged many Lebanese is that it's been more than a month since Hariri's murder, and the mystery of who killed him and how remains unsolved.

BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: There are two theories here, Anderson. One, whether explosives put under the ground, or was there a suicide bomber. COOPER (on camera): And the significance of if it was underground is what? That that took time and perhaps collusion in order to set?

SADLER: Exactly.

COOPER (voice-over): That would seem to implicate the Lebanese government or their Syrian allies. No one else would have time or access to execute this type of attack.

In recent days, a photo has surfaced, taken by a tourist near the blast side 36 hours before Hariri was killed. In a cordoned off area next to a manhole cover there appears to be some object sticking out of the ground. Is it a detonation device, as some are suggesting? The crater created by the blast is at least 20 feet from the manhole cover, but the photo's emergence has only increased the speculation and anxiety.

Whoever was behind the brazen bombing, Lebanese say they just want to know the truth. Hariri's grave site has become a shrine. Daily, thousands of visitors come to pay their respects and shed their tears.

The truth, that's what many Lebanese are now demanding. The truth about who killed Hariri, the truth about who really was involved.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COOPER: And of course President Bush has been putting lots of pressure on Syria to get out of Lebanon. He's expected to make some comments in the top of this hour. CNN will, of course, bring that to you live, and we'll have reaction from here in Beirut, Lebanon -- Jack.

CAFFERTY: Thanks, Anderson. Anderson Cooper, live all week, reporting from Lebanon. You can join him 7:00 Eastern, 4:00 Pacific, for a fine program, "AC 360."

O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, we hear from Dr. Gupta. He's got advice for road warriors who cannot get a good night's sleep when they travel. One tip, get a window seat. We'll explain ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

Stay with us.

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O'BRIEN: Baseball's big day on Capitol Hill comes tomorrow. We're going to have complete coverage of the House hearing of steroids, including a look at the impact the drugs are having on high school kids. That's tomorrow on AMERICAN MORNING, starting at 7:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

CAFFERTY: We apparently have found out at least part of the reason for the news conference with President Bush coming up at 10:15. A senior White House official has confirmed to CNN that at that time the president will name Paul Wolfowitz to head up the World Bank. So that is part of what will be covered 10:15. Of course, CNN will carry it live.

Time now to check in with Carol and the "Question of the Day."

COSTELLO: Yes, the "Question of the Day" has to do with the Harvard president and his remarks about women and math and science. And the faculty of the arts and sciences voted him a vote of no confidence.

So we're asking you this question: Should he simply resign? Should he get out of there now?

Many interesting responses this morning.

This is from Bruce from Olney, Maryland: "Yes, only because he has lost the confidence of those he serves. In his situation, this will never, ever be recovered. So he should move on."

This is from Judy from Pennsylvania: "I would hope there is someone at Harvard who regards this whole overblown situation for what it is, not such a big deal, just a dumb foot in the mouth occasion. Surely the women of Harvard are confident enough in their knowledge to blow this off as dumb and then make sure that in their careers they prove him wrong again."

Prove the president of their own university wrong about their abilities. That's what Judy says.

Mary says this: "Na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-, hey, Larry, goodbye."

I thought that was pretty good.

CAFFERTY: You sing well.

O'BRIEN: She does.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

CAFFERTY: Yes.

COSTELLO: Would you have done it that way?

CAFFERTY: No.

COSTELLO: I didn't think so.

This is from Greg from Nova Scotia. He says, "Summers should resign. As to which of the sexes is more intelligent, ponder this, which person in the Cafferty abode has to rise at 4:00 a.m. to get to work?"

CAFFERTY: Thank you, Greg. Thank you very much. I appreciate the support.

O'BRIEN: That would be you, Jack.

CAFFERTY: Yes, no kidding.

O'BRIEN: Yes, OK.

CAFFERTY: I'm the only one dumb enough to get up at that hour to go do anything.

COSTELLO: Well, we're in that boat, too.

O'BRIEN: We've got nothing to say about that. All right, Carol. Thanks.

Much more AMERICAN MORNING right after this short break.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Ahead on "90-Second Pop," Woody Allen's new movie hits theaters this week and his newest muse is one of us, part of the AMERICAN MORNING family. We'll explain.

Plus...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is my...

O'BRIEN: ... "The Incredibles" try to live up to their name on the DVD. The poppers tell us whether the new extras are super-duper or super duds.

That's later on AMERICAN MORNING.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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