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Bush News Conference; New Developments in Case of Missing 9- year-old Girl in Florida; Congress Tackles Steroids Issue in Baseball

Aired March 16, 2005 - 11:59   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.


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're watching lots of news unfold here on NEWS FROM CNN. The president meets the press on a day of political triumph in Baghdad. Iraq's new National Assembly taking office.
And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK NICHOLS, BRIAN NICHOLS' BROTHER: That's my only brother, you know. And I love him. And I want him to know that we all still love him. We're not turning against him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The other side of crime and tragedy, the unanswered questions. We'll hear directly from the brother of Atlanta killing spree suspect Brian Nichols.

Also, play ball or be in contempt. We'll examine Major League Baseball's steroid scandal and congressional plans to ask some tough questions to some of the game's greatest stars.

We'll get to all of that. First, some other headlines "Now in the News."

Reckoning day for Scott Peterson. Life in prison or death for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci? The jury weighed in December with a recommendation of death. A judge's decision expected later today.

The search for Jessica Lunsford. Law enforcement officials in Citrus County, Florida, to release the name and photograph of a man they want to talk to. Yesterday they said they'd wait 48 hours. Today a change of mind for reasons still unclear.

A news conference with the announcement scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern. We'll have live coverage of that during "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS."

Israel today began dismantling a checkpoint along the West Bank town of Jericho and Israeli forces pulled back. It's part of a transfer of security control of Jericho to Palestinian authorities. The deal was made official at a signing ceremony earlier today.

And this... among the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com, a North Dakota third-grader who is the envy of all of her classmates. The reason? She makes the half-hour commute to her school on a mule.

To find out what other stories are popular on the Web right now you can do this, simply go to CNN.com.

Our lead, President Bush, a wide-ranging discussion today with the White House press corps. Social Security, Iraq, Iran, steroids in baseball, gay marriage, even his reading list, all those subjects discussed.

Joining us now live from the White House, our correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, with a recap.

What exactly happened within the past couple hours, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it really ran the gamut. As you said, of course, same-sex marriage, steroids in baseball, Hezbollah, as well as high gas prices, a little bit of everything. But of course the president focusing particularly on his Social Security reform plan, his domestic agenda, the idea of creating these private accounts.

The president rejecting the notion that he has failed to convince the American people about his plan, that his plan would actually work. Most polls showing that the majority of American people do not believe it. But the White House pointing out the latest poll showing that, look, if you look at younger Americans, they overwhelmingly think it's a good idea. Two-thirds, they say, of Americans at least recognize that there is a problem.

President Bush earlier today dismissing some of this as partisan politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I urge the members to go out and when they go home to talk to their constituents, not only about the problem, but about solutions. I urge members to start talking about how we're going to permanently fix Social Security.

Members I hope would not talk about a Band-Aid solution. But I think it's important that they talk about a permanent fix, something that will last forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Still a great deal of frustration among Democrats and Republicans alike, who are going to their home districts to talk about that plan.

The president also, of course, focusing on his foreign agenda, saying it was really a bright moment for the Iraqi people today. You saw them gathering there, the National Assembly, for the first time.

The president also rejected the notion here that the coalition inside of Iraq is essentially crumbling. Just yesterday, it was the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who announced that they were with drawing their 3,000 troops. President Bush saying that he talked to Berlusconi earlier this morning, was assured that their policy is not changing. Saying that the troops of allied forces, as well as the United States, would not leave Iraq until they were confident that Iraqi forces were trained effectively.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Countries will be willing or anxious to get out when Iraqis have got the capacity to defend themselves. And that's the position of the United States. Our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Of course the president faced with a number of questions, of so many different topics. But clearly he felt the need, of course, to highlight his Social Security agenda, to defend his plan, as well as make the pitch again, make the argument that he believes democracy in the Middle East is on the rise -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, the president also announcing his recommendation for the new president of the World Bank, a sort of -- I guess not a huge surprise, but a little bit to some in the international community, an almost in-your-face announcement. Tell our viewers what happened.

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly the president, of course, is going to be choosing Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, really number two at the Pentagon. What some people would argue really as someone who takes on a rather contentious role.

He was definitely a hawk, one who was pushing forward when it came to the Iraq war, weapons of mass destruction. Some people calling him a divisive figure.

The president saying that he felt that he has management skills, that he is a decent man. That he not only has experience in the Pentagon but also the State Department.

But just to give you a sense of how contentious this is, the Democratic leadership, Nancy Pelosi, already saying she believes that perhaps the president made the decision because Democrats have been calling to get rid of him for some time. Well, the president rejecting that notion, of course, saying he believes he's the right man for the job. Ultimately, it's going to depend on world leaders inside the World Bank to make that call -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Last week the president announced John Bolton to be the U.N. ambassador. That was seen is an in-your-face announcement. Now Paul Wolfowitz. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much for that report.

I want to go to Susan Candiotti. She's joining us on the phone. She's got some additional information on that little missing girl down in Florida.

What do we know, Susan?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, law enforcement sources tell CNN a person of interest in the case of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford is a convicted sex offender who had been living in Citrus County, Florida, doing odd jobs near the missing girl's home. Now, he was last known to be in the Savannah, Georgia, area where police had stopped him recently on an unrelated matter, but let him go at the time because at that time there was no request to hold him. Investigators will not say whether they have possible physical evidence to link him to Jessica Lunsford.

Now this so-called person of interest is one of a lengthy list of convicted sex offenders police have been looking into, part of the police standard operating procedure in an investigation like this since Jessica was reported as missing just last month. You'll recall that she was last seen after her grandmother put her to bed. They woke up in the morning to find her gone, and police have been looking for her ever since. A task force working on it night and day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are we expecting this convicted sex offender that his photo, his name will be formally announced as a so-called person of interest at the 5:30 p.m. Eastern news conference that law enforcement has scheduled down there? Is that what's going to happen, Susan?

CANDIOTTI: We do expect that to happen, Wolf, because this man would be -- it would be a matter of public record. He is a convicted sex offender, and therefore his name and photograph is out there. And, in fact, I'm also told that there is an outstanding warrant for him of probation violation for failure to report to authorities.

BLITZER: Do we know if this convicted sex offender actually did work around the Lunsford home, or just in the neighborhood?

CANDIOTTI: Not specifically. All I was able to learn at this time is that he is more or less someone who does odd jobs in the area. Don't know how close he was specifically to that house.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti reporting with the latest on that heart-wrenching story. Susan, thanks very much.

And a reminder to our viewers. We'll carry that news conference live 5:30 p.m. Eastern, later here today on CNN's "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS," 5:30 p.m. Eastern.

We'll move on to other important news we're following around the world.

President Bush today referred to the first meeting of Iraq's National Assembly as a "bright and hopeful moment." Today's swearing- in of the assembly's 275 members took place despite nearby explosions.

CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad. He's joining us live with more -- Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, good afternoon. Another seminal moment for a country that has already seen so many. This puts in place essentially the final step towards a permanent Iraqi democracy.

What did not happen today was names being put forward for those top positions, prime minister, president, key ministerial positions. The reason being that no deal has been finalized both between the Kurdish Alliance and the United Iraqi Alliance. But also, in terms of officials we've spoken to, they're trying to form a unity government, get the secular politicians like Ayad Allawi's Iraqi List and the Sunnis on board before they even begin forming this government.

It's a huge task. It has a lot of difficulties entrenched in these issues, constitutional among them. But they really want to try and present a unified front as they form this government.

That withstanding, Wolf, the fact that they've convened a huge day for Iraqis who have seen since the election at the end of January a need for this government to really continue for democracy to take root. And now, Wolf, the pressure will be mounting for them to finalize those negotiations. We're hearing it could take anywhere from days to perhaps a week.

BLITZER: Well, let's hope they get together and get a new solid government in place in Baghdad. Aneesh Raman, thanks very much for that report.

Here in Washington, the St. Patrick's Day celebration tomorrow at the White House won't include Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, but it will include the sisters of a man that members of the IRA are blamed for killing outside a pub in Belfast. Among officials that Robert McCartney's sisters are meeting here in Washington is Senator Edward Kenny of Massachusetts.

He's joining us now live, together with Paula McCartney, one of those sisters.

Senator Kennedy, thanks so much for joining us. Why have you decided to boycott any meeting now with Gerry Adams since you've met with him at this time around St. Patrick's Day every single year for many years back?

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, it's been 11 years since we've had the cease-fire in northern Ireland. It's been seven years since we had the Good Friday agreement. It's been two years since the Sinn Fein have actually gone into the elections locally.

And it's time that Gerry Adams free himself from the IRA. We cannot in western countries have a political party that has its own private army, particularly one that's been associated with criminality and violence.

I want to say, we had a very strong bipartisan group of senators that met with Paula and her sisters today. Americans understand bravery and understand courage. We regret that we had to receive these sisters under the circumstances of the loss of their brother. But they're a real inspiration to us. And we have committed to them that we will work very closely with them until we have justice for their brother. And we will work with them to see an end to the violence and criminality in northern Ireland.

BLITZER: But Senator Kennedy, you've suggested that you still believe that Gerry Adams wants peace in northern Ireland. If he wants peace, and he's committed to peace, why not have a dialogue with him?

KENNEDY: Well, I think that's a reasonable question. There are two different ways of sort of approaching it.

Either you can have a dialogue and express yourself as bluntly and frankly as you can. I have done that. I have done that repeatedly over the past years. And it has not been effective.

And I don't know whether they didn't believe that the strength of my feeling and the feeling of other Americans, and that is that if you're going to have a political party in a democracy, they can't have their own private army that is committed to criminality and to violence. And this is a golden opportunity now for Mr. Adams to bring to justice.

Paula can speak to that. But all the sisters are asking for is justice with regards to her brother. And there's no question that Sinn Fein and the IRA are involved in a cover-up there and Mr. Adams has to free himself from the albatross -- from the albatross of the IRA.

BLITZER: Well, do you believe, Senator Kennedy, that Gerry Adams personally, personally is involved in that cover-up?

KENNEDY: No, I don't think he is involved in the incident on this. I think that he is a leader of the Sinn Feiners, and I think they have been the head of the association with the IRA.

You cannot have a political party that's got a military component to it that is involved in violence and criminality. It's as simple and plain as that. And he has to free himself.

The Sinn Feiners have to free themselves of the albatross of the IRA. And I think that this is a golden opportunity to bring in the people to justice for Paula's brother in this brutal and senseless and violent killing.

BLITZER: All right. I want to bring Paula into this interview as well, Senator Kennedy.

Paula, first of all, our deepest condolences to you on the murder of your brother. Our hearts go out to you.

I want you to listen to what President Bush said only a few minutes ago here in Washington over at the White House. I know you're planning on meeting him, together with your other sisters tomorrow. Listen to what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: We wanted to make sure that we honored those in civil society in Ireland who are contributing positively to the peace process. And that's what we'll be doing in this particular trip.

It's very important that people understand that parties must renounce violence. There's a Good Friday agreement laid out the way forward for peace in northern Ireland, and this administration and our government strongly supports those steps. But tomorrow's message will be, you know, we want to thank those in civil society who are working hard to achieve a peaceful resolution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Paula McCartney, what will be your message to the president?

PAULA MCCARTNEY, ROBERT MCCARTNEY'S SISTER: Well our message obviously to the president is that we hope that he keeps Robert's murder up high, high profile on the agenda. And we'll most likely be asking him -- we think it should be put on the table as a form of completion. We don't believe that the peace process can progress unless Robert's murder is resolved.

BLITZER: Who do you believe killed your brother?

MCCARTNEY: We know that it was -- as we've said before, we know that the IRA did not sanction Robert's murder. But it cannot be denied that members of the IRA did carry Robert's murder out. We believe that the IRA., as an organization, are responsible for bringing the murderers of Robert to justice.

BLITZER: One final question to Senator Kennedy before I let both of you go. Senator Kennedy, is there anything else specific you want the president, the Bush administration, to be doing as far as northern Ireland is concerned right now?

KENNEDY: Well, I think the sisters are going to meet with the president, and they have some ideas which I think they ought to put forward to the president. And we are going to be supporting those kinds of initiatives immediately.

But what Paula has mentioned is that in the negotiations that are taking place, and continue to take place, the IRA has put certain cases that they want resolved in order for progress to be made. And I think what Paula is saying, that the family hopes that this case, the McCartney case, will be the number one case.

And that has to be resolved if there's really going to be justice and if there's really going to be progress. And I think that's an eminently sound, fair, and the correct position.

BLITZER: Senator Kennedy, and Paula McCartney, to both of you, thanks very much for joining us. And once again, to you, Paula, and to your family, our deepest condolences, especially coming around St. Patrick's Day and all the celebration here's in the United States and around the world.

Let's move back to the situation unfolding in Iraq right now, the convening of Iraq's National Assembly that happened today. It comes nearly two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Let's get some more insight now on this history-making moment. For that we turn, as we often do, to Michael Weisskopf, the senior correspondent for "TIME" magazine here in the Washington bureau.

Michael, thanks very much. You spent a lot of time over there. What do you make of this convening of the parliament, setting the stage for the establishment of a new government?

MICHAEL WEISSKOPF, "TIME" MAGAZINE: It's remarkable that such politically disparate forces could be meeting under the same roof, Wolf. But what's really important is what happens behind closed doors now. And that is the formation of a unified government. And here the Kurds and the Shia, representing about two-thirds of the assembly, will have to come up with a government that not only works for them, but works for the Sunni minority.

BLITZER: Can they bring the Sunnis in and make them full partners in this new Iraq?

WEISSKOPF: Of course that's the great hope. And we're reminded of it simply by the sound of mortars from the Sunni-led insurgency outside the Green Zone where this is taking place. But there are plans to make one of the vice presidents a Sunni, giving him a third of a voice within the so-called...

BLITZER: So there would be a new president and two vice presidents. They will, in turn, recommend to the parliament the prime minister.

WEISSKOPF: Yes. And so the Sunni party would then -- the Sunnis, rather, would then have a third representation on this all- important presidency council. The presidency council, as you mentioned, will appoint the prime minister. Most likely will be a member of the Shia majority and a man by the name of Ibrahim Jaafari, who headed the so-called...

BLITZER: He's going to be...

WEISSKOPF: He's been named as a likely candidate for that. There will be also be another Shia representative, probably the current premier, Allawi, who will take one of the vice presidency positions. A Kurd will have the larger ceremonial position of presidency. And that's likely to be Talabani.

BLITZER: It looks like a pretty robust government that is emerging. Is it your sense -- and you watch this very, very closely -- that the insurgency, despite almost the daily death toll, and the continued roadside attacks, and the suicide bombings, that the insurgency to a little degree at least is petering out?

WEISSKOPF: No. There's no sign of that, actually, Wolf. And I think that this is an insurgency that has ebbed at times and come back strongly at times and picks its spots.

It is still well organized and well funded from the outside. There's no reason to believe it will go away.

BLITZER: Several of the coalition partners, Ukraine, Poland, now Italy, are either substantially reducing or planning on eliminating their military involvement in Iraq. What does that say about the U.S.-led coalition?

WEISSKOPF: Well, it's been a U.S. party from the beginning here in the representation even by the Italians, which was significant at 3,300 troops. It was largely symbolic.

They operated in a kind of peacekeeping role in Nasiriyah, which was down south and fairly peaceful. And we shouldn't be distracted by the withdrawal of these forces because it's been largely a U.S. effort from the start.

And if one is to look at polls by "The Washington Post," and today's papers, for instance, it looks like the American public is now believing that the president will succeed in establishing a stable Iraqi government. This gives him more time as the single force there to continue his operations.

BLITZER: And presumably it gives the U.S. and its other coalition partners more times to pump in some aid money to try to develop parts of Iraq and maybe send a different message to the insurgents.

WEISSKOPF: Well, that would be nice. And the president has asked the Europeans to do some of that.

They've promised to help with training of Iraqi forces, which is the -- the basic -- what we need basically to get U.S. troops home. And thus far, the Europeans have been pretty slow to fulfill that pledge.

BLITZER: Michael Weisskopf of "TIME" magazine, as usual, thanks very much.

WEISSKOPF: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: When we come back, it's sentencing day for convicted wife killer Scott Peterson. We're watching developments from the courthouse in California. We'll go there.

Also, more details emerging in the case of Brian Nichols. Wait until you hear what reports say authorities found in his jail cell.

You're watching NEWS FROM CNN, and we're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Turning now to new information in the Atlanta killing spree. The burning question today, did the suspect Brian Nichols have a hit list? There are now reports in Atlanta that authorities found a handwritten list in Nichols' jail cell shortly after Friday's courthouse shootings.

The "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" and local television station WSB are reporting that the list included the names of Judge Barnes, who was presiding over the Nichols rape case and was the first person killed in Friday's rampage. The member of the team prosecuting Nichols on rape charges says the list also included the names of the boyfriend and family members of Nichols' accuser, as well as the lead prosecutor.

Nichols' brother says his family is just devastated by what has happened. Speaking to CNN's Larry King last night, Mark Nichols described a brother who had a lot going for him. He says the news has come as a complete shock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: I turned on the news, and I noticed that it was a courthouse shooting that happened. And I didn't really pay too much attention to it then. Then noticed that it was a rape case.

So after that, I called a friend of mine, and he confirmed that the judge -- that was the judge that was proceeding in my brother's case. That's how I learned.

He's laid back. I mean, he's been portrayed really bad, you know.

People are saying that he was always into some kind of trouble, but it wasn't like that. You know, he's a real laid back kind of guy. I mean, he would do anything for you. He did so much for me. I'm the -- I'm the older brother, but I looked up to him as if he were my older brother, you know, so...

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": He was the stable person.

NICHOLS: I mean, a lot of people, like they haven't really said he worked for Hewlett-Packard for eight years as a Unix system operator engineer, making probably six figures or very close to six figures. You know, so he's a smart person. You know? But that side hasn't been portrayed.

Look at me. I'm tired. I'm worn out. I haven't slept in three days. I haven't eaten.

You know, that's my only brother, you know, and I love him. And I want him to know that we all still love him, we're not turning against him, we're here for him.

You know, it's hurting me. It really is. It's hurting me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The woman credited with getting Nichols to surrender will collect a $20,000 reward from the state of Georgia. And $20,000 more from law enforcement agencies. Tonight on CNN we'll have an in-depth look at the book Ashley Smith says helped her win Brian Nichols' trust. Smith's amazing ordeal has boosted sales, by the way, of that book, "The Purpose- Driven Life."

Our Paula Zahn will have a closer look at the book on a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT." That airs tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 p.m. on the West Coast.

When we come back, going out of their way literally to catch insurgents in Iraq. CNN's Jane Arraf will take us along with United States Marines. Their mission, to find and catch the enemy in Iraq.

That story when the NEWS FROM CNN continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Don't expect cheaper gasoline prices any time soon. Sweet crude oil prices today hit a record $56.30 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and U.S. gasoline inventories are down sharply, by nearly three million barrels. Both factors are fueling fears gasoline prices might rise higher and faster than expected. And experts say the higher fuel costs could hurt corporate profits, consumer spending, and the overall U.S. economy.

The fight for Iraq continues, as does the hunt for insurgents and their weapons supply dealers. Our senior Baghdad correspondent Jane Arraf joining us now live via videophone from the Al Assad airbase in Iraq. She had an exclusive look at a joint U.S.-Iraqi raid.

Jane, tell our viewers what happened.

JANE ARRAF, CNN SR. BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, out here in the more remote parts of Iraq, western Al Anbar province, spreading all the way up to the Syrian border, troops are still very much focused on untangling that web of insurgents and foreign fighters, trying to root out these sells that they believe re-establish themselves up here, coming in some cases from Falluja. We went along with specially trained Marines, the first force reconnaissance company of Marines, as they dropped in to a remote farmhouse to nab a weapons dealer they believe may be linked to Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF (voice-over): These are Marines, trained to go behind enemy lines, to carry out reconnaissance, rescue, raids. They're members of the first force reconnaissance company. This raid Tuesday was on a collection of remote farmhouses in Iraq's western desert, more than 130 miles northwest of Baghdad. Dozens of them landed by helicopter. Some had to walk for two hours on foot. It was their biggest operation since they arrived in Iraq a month ago. Their target was a man intelligence officers have been tracking for weeks.

LT. COL. GEORGE SMITH, U.S. MARINE CORPS: He moves weapons between all the major urban areas, from Tikrit to Beiji (ph), down to Haditha, and even into Baghdad. So this is kind of a hub for a trail network that emanates out of here.

ARRAF: In this remote farmhouse, they found their target and three other suspected insurgents.

(on camera): These farmhouses are miles away from the nearest community. This area is so remote there are usually no U.S. forces here.

(voice-over): So remote it took recon Marines who came by road four hours of driving through the desert, which is why Marine commanders say it made a perfect safehouse for insurgent leaders. For the Marines who landed by helicopter, it was a long wait in the frigid desert.

MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT GREG GILLESPIE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: When you're laying still for four hours doing the reconnaissance, it really gets pretty cold.

ARRAF: For the first time the Marines used Iraqis to help with the raid, private contractors called The Freedom Guard. It was their first time ever on a helicopter. They raided a small mosque attached to the farmhouses. They didn't want their faces shown, but told us off camera that although the insurgents talk about religion, they're against Islam. The Marines blasted open the doors, but the family was sleeping. Not a shot was fired. A bomb-sniffing dog looked for explosives and didn't find any. They took away every grown man for questioning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going in the cab.

ARRAF: Assuring this man he'd get medical treatment while he was detained. They recorded they had found 17 $100 bills on one of the suspects. He seemed to gather who the suspects are and who they might be connected to will take hours of questioning, a step that force reconnaissance hopes will lead to targeting and capturing more leaders of the insurgency.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF: These missions are painstakingly planned, wolf. Weeks, days, hours go into mapping them out, plotting what could go wrong. And in more urban environments, they're trying to go in and get out with the suspects in as little as 10 minutes. Now this one, they have the luxury of time because it was so remote.

They say piece by piece, they are getting through that web of insurgents and foreign fighters, some of them still coming through from Syria, that they say they need to defeat the insurgency -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Jane Arraf with an excellent, excellent eyewitness report on what's happening on the ground in Iraq.

Jane, thank you very much for that. Please be careful in your coverage. We have this news coming in to CNN now. CNN has confirmed that President Bush has chosen a new man to become the head of the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. That would be Kevin Martin, who's already a member of the commission. He's been a member since 2001. He would succeed Michael Powell, who's stepping down as head of the FCC. Powell, the son of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, announced several weeks ago he was stepping down. Now Kevin Martin will replace him. He does not, repeat, not need Senate confirmation since he's already been confirmed as one of the FCC commissioners. He doesn't need additional confirmation now. The FCC had been in the focus of lots of news lately involving fines to various organizations, broadcast organizations, for supposedly putting indecency on the air. Kevin Martin, a Republican from Charlotte, North Carolina will now head the FCC.

When we come back, baseball gets set to face an inside pitch. Tomorrow, right here in Washington, some of the games biggest stars, and records, will come under scrutiny as the U.S. Congress tries to uncover the truth about steroids in the Major Leagues. I'll speak live with two members of Congress who will be grilling the witnesses tomorrow.

And we're checking some of the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com. For those of you who are interested, an Oklahoma man who tried to prove his innocence through a little-known procedure called "brain fingerprinting" was executed by lethal injection yesterday for the 1991 murder of a woman and her daughter. Jimmy Ray Slaughter insisted he was not guilty, even as the mix of lethal chemicals was injected into his arms at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. You want to know more about this story? Here's an idea: Go to CNN.com.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to news from CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

Baseball's Barry Bonds says he may be short of 100 percent when the season starts next month. On a posting on his personal Web site, Bonds said his knee is healing slower than first expected from off- season surgery.

Baseball and steroids. The Yankees' Jason Giambi gets a pass from Congress from appearing tomorrow at the blockbuster hearing scheduled for Capitol Hill. Like Bonds, who also has been excused, Giambi appeared before a federal grand jury in a criminal probe into steroid distribution. Bonds and Giambi may be out, but the witness list tomorrow includes Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. Also scheduled, the commissioner of baseball Bud Selig and the union chief Donald Fehr. Compelling for sure. But what's Congress doing about this? Why is Congress involved?

Joining us now, two guests from Capitol Hill. Elijah Cummings. He's a congressional Democrat of Maryland. Here in our studio, Georgia Republican Lynn Westmoreland. Both are members of the House Committee on Government Reform, which is holding the hearing tomorrow. Thanks to both of you for joining us.

Congressman Westmoreland, I'll start with you. Why are you doing this?

REP. LYNN WESTMORELAND (R), GEORGIA: Well, I think we're trying to shed some light on the problem that there seems to be out there. There's a perception by baseball fans and Americans that Major League Baseball players are using performance-enhancing drugs and...

BLITZER: Don't you think Major League Baseball can police themselves?

WESTMORELAND: Well, they haven't. They've known about this problem since 1991. They've done very little about it. If anything, they've come up with a drug policy. But I think it's time that we shine some light on it to see if there's any truth in it or not. There's no better people to have in here than the players theirself to let them testify and then we'll let Mr. Selig and Mr. Fehr answer to why Major League Baseball has not done anything.

BLITZER: Do you agree with that assessment, Congressman Cummings?

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I certainly do agree. Wolf, ten years ago, one in 45 youngsters in high school were using steroids. Now it's one in 16. Clearly it's sending a powerful message. That is, these athletes using steroids, that it's OK. And we cannot have one standard for athletes who are usually multimillionaires, and another standard for the rest of the country.

Keep in mind, Wolf, the fact is is that this is a Schedule III drug. And the fact is is that it is on the same level as LSD. And so therefore in my community, in the inner city of Baltimore, if somebody is caught with LSD, or a Schedule III drug, you know what happens to them? They go to jail. Here it appears that the baseball league merely gives them a little slap on the wrist and say, bad boy, go on and play ball. That's not good enough.

BLITZER: Congressman Cummings, why has Major League Baseball, in your opinion, been derelict in its responsibilities in policing the Major League players?

CUMMINGS: I'm not really sure, Wolf. But the fact is, is in your dialogue with my fellow Congressman Westmoreland, you talked about how perhaps these owners have not done enough. Well, the fact still remains that the owners ought to be the ones who should be begging for the hearings. If I were an owner, I would want to know that if I were to contract with a player that he's not using steroids.

Because, again, if I'm getting somebody who's using steroids, then I'm getting a false sense of who that person is. And so -- and by the way, it also sends a message to the fans. I want our fans, when they sit in those seats and pay all of that money, by the way, for those seats, I want them to know that the game is being played fairly, and not one player using steroids and another not.

BLITZER: Congressman Westmoreland, there's one sense out there -- and you've heard the critics, say you guys, Democrats or Republicans, because you guys agree on this, are simply showboating. You want to get some publicity and you're really not going to get to the bottom of this. It's just an opportunity to get some good publicity.

WESTMORELAND: Well, I disagree. I mean, well, I agree with you, we may not ever get to the bottom of it. But I disagree in that we're showboating. We're not. And you know, too many times politicians have talked about children as being any kind of excuse for any kind of cause that they've had. But, as Elijah said, we've got young people right now, -- I've had two people in my district that died from using steroids. Two young people.

I had dinner last night with a gentleman that told me that his 15-year-old son, that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire was his heroes and he had actually come to him and talked to him about using steroids. And to answer your questions, Wolf, about the owners, it's money. You know, 1994, they had the walkout. The fans got mad. And now the steroids have come back. These boys have been juiced up, and they're approaching Henry Aaron's record.

BLITZER: Because fans like to see home runs. All right, Congressmen, we're going to take a quick break. But when we come back, we'll have much more to discuss. I'm going to ask, among other things, why Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi won't have to show up tomorrow and the others will. More with these two Congressmen right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I spoke out and I was pleased to see that baseball responded and they've got a testing policy in place for the first time ever, a firm testing policy in place. And it's very important that baseball then follow through and implement the testing and, obviously, deal with those who get caught cheating in the system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: President Bush speaking out just a little while ago on the issue of baseball and steroids. Tomorrow's hearings set for Capitol Hill. We're continuing our conversation with Elijah Cummings, congressional Democrat of Maryland, and Georgia Republican Lynn Westmoreland, both members of the House Committee on Government Reform, which will be holding these hearings tomorrow morning. Scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Is that correct?

Let's talk about why you're giving a pass to Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. Why don't they have to show up, Congressman Westmoreland? WESTMORELAND: Well, I think you'd have to ask the chairman about that. But I think from everything I've heard, they may be involved in some other investigations and may be testifying in front of maybe a court jurisdiction.

BLITZER: So did the Justice Department, the federal investigation, ask you to hold off on these because they don't want you to do anything that could hurt their investigation?

WESTMORELAND: Well, I think, unlike Elijah, they didn't ask us who they were going to invite, we just kind of found out. But I'm sure that Chairman Davis or Ranking Member Waxman will be glad to comment on that. But from what I've been told, they're involved in another investigation right now and so they're just not going to come to our committee here.

BLITZER: Do you believe, Congressman Cummings, any of the witnesses who will testify tomorrow will take the fifth and refuse to answer questions?

CUMMINGS: I think that that's quite possible and I think it will be kind of sad if they have to do that. Wolf, we've got to have a zero-tolerance policy with regard to steroids. We really do have to have that. And so it would not shock me. I don't know which ones, but it would not shock me if they were to come out.

I am a lawyer by profession and I've practiced criminal law for some 20 years, and I can see that possibly happening.

BLITZER: Do you anticipate, Congressman Cummings, that the committee, the Congress will grant immunity to any of these witnesses?

CUMMINGS: It's my understanding that there has been some negotiations with regard to immunity. I just don't know where it stands right now.

This is a very fluid situation. As Representative Westmoreland has said, a lot of these decisions made by the ranking member and the chairman, and so they sort of get filtered down to us eventually. But I expect that there may be some immunity granted, so that we can get the kind of testimony we need.

BLITZER: But you do expect Congressman Westmoreland, all of the witnesses to actually show up and not necessarily be held in contempt of Congress?

WESTMORELAND: Well, I hope so. And I hope none of them take the Fifth. And I hope they understand that this is not a courtroom setting, that this is a hearing setting. It's being done to bring light to the problem that we have. And I think Congressman Cummings was right in the zero tolerance. You know, they have a zero tolerance for gambling. If you don't believe me, ask Pete Rose. I mean, he'd been banished from baseball for 15 years. And is there any difference? If you're going to have a zero tolerance on something, you need to have it on all of it. Gambling is not killing our young people. And right now, as Congressman Cummings said, we've got more young people using steroids today, performance enhancing-drugs, to try to compete than ever before. And young people are actually dying because of this.

BLITZER: Congressman Cummings, give our viewers a little preview of the kind of question, or key question, you want answered tomorrow.

CUMMINGS: I want to know what the extent of steroid use is in the Major Leagues. I want to know how -- what they -- how what -- what policies have been put in place, how effective those policies have been. And exactly how has the punishment gone with regard to these players. You know, it's almost a slap on the wrist. I mean, some of these players may end up having to say take some days off and have a $100,000 fine. But when you're making $10 million, $15 million, $100,000 is shoeshine money.

So again, I think a lot of these players see it as a cost of doing business; it just goes with the territory. But it does not apply -- and again, I hope that the public or anybody else doesn't get the impression that this is some showboat kind of hearing.

The fact is this is going to be probably one of my proudest moments in my nine years here in the Congress, because Republicans and Democrats are coming together to say that we're going to help parents help their children grow up in a healthy, fair and productive environment, and I think that's what parents want. They want us to do this.

BLITZER: Congressman Westmoreland, your constituents, like Congressman Cummings' constituents, like all Americans, they love baseball. What kind of feedback are you getting from their constituents? Are they happy you're holding these hearings? Are they saying, you know what, this is none of the federal government's business, move on and do something else like Social Security reform?

WESTMORELAND: Wolf, I'm have a very conservative district in Georgia, and I've had a lot of people that said, you know, it's none of the government's business.

And I'll be honest with you, I had that approach when I was first told about it. But after reading the release that the chairman read and finding out that our jurisdiction covers the national drug policy. Government reform committee in the U.S. House is over our national drug policy. And I mean, if we're going to be over something, let's be over it and let's have some influence. And so the people in my district I've talked to them, and once they've been made aware of what the real heart of this is and what the real objective of it is, they don't have a problem with it. In fact, they think it's something that we should be doing.

BLITZER: Lynn Westmoreland is a conservative Republican, and Elijah Cummings a liberal Democrat, but they totally agree with these hearings tomorrow on baseball.

CUMMINGS: It's scary.

BLITZER: It may be the first and last issue they totally agree on. But we'll continue our conversation.

CUMMINGS: This is a unique moment, Wolf.

WESTMORELAND: It is.

BLITZER: We got it on tape right here, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to both of you for joining us. Good luck with the hearings tomorrow. We'll be watching. CNN of course will have coverage of that tomorrow.

When we come back, life or death for Scott Peterson. The convicted killer is being formally sentenced today in California. Will the judge uphold the jury's recommendation for the death penalty? Our coverage continues on that in the next hour on "LIVE FROM."

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: I'll be back later today, every weekday, 5:00 p.m. Eastern for "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS." Among other things, he's not making many friends in the world of baseball. But former slugger Jose Canseco is certainly making waves. I'll talk to him later today about his new book, his allegations of steroid use, and what he expects tomorrow on Capitol Hill. That's coming up later today, 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

"LIVE FROM" with Kyra Phillips, all by herself today. She's standing by. She's ready, though, right after a short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired March 16, 2005 - 11:59   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're watching lots of news unfold here on NEWS FROM CNN. The president meets the press on a day of political triumph in Baghdad. Iraq's new National Assembly taking office.
And this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK NICHOLS, BRIAN NICHOLS' BROTHER: That's my only brother, you know. And I love him. And I want him to know that we all still love him. We're not turning against him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The other side of crime and tragedy, the unanswered questions. We'll hear directly from the brother of Atlanta killing spree suspect Brian Nichols.

Also, play ball or be in contempt. We'll examine Major League Baseball's steroid scandal and congressional plans to ask some tough questions to some of the game's greatest stars.

We'll get to all of that. First, some other headlines "Now in the News."

Reckoning day for Scott Peterson. Life in prison or death for the murder of his pregnant wife Laci? The jury weighed in December with a recommendation of death. A judge's decision expected later today.

The search for Jessica Lunsford. Law enforcement officials in Citrus County, Florida, to release the name and photograph of a man they want to talk to. Yesterday they said they'd wait 48 hours. Today a change of mind for reasons still unclear.

A news conference with the announcement scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Eastern. We'll have live coverage of that during "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS."

Israel today began dismantling a checkpoint along the West Bank town of Jericho and Israeli forces pulled back. It's part of a transfer of security control of Jericho to Palestinian authorities. The deal was made official at a signing ceremony earlier today.

And this... among the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com, a North Dakota third-grader who is the envy of all of her classmates. The reason? She makes the half-hour commute to her school on a mule.

To find out what other stories are popular on the Web right now you can do this, simply go to CNN.com.

Our lead, President Bush, a wide-ranging discussion today with the White House press corps. Social Security, Iraq, Iran, steroids in baseball, gay marriage, even his reading list, all those subjects discussed.

Joining us now live from the White House, our correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, with a recap.

What exactly happened within the past couple hours, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it really ran the gamut. As you said, of course, same-sex marriage, steroids in baseball, Hezbollah, as well as high gas prices, a little bit of everything. But of course the president focusing particularly on his Social Security reform plan, his domestic agenda, the idea of creating these private accounts.

The president rejecting the notion that he has failed to convince the American people about his plan, that his plan would actually work. Most polls showing that the majority of American people do not believe it. But the White House pointing out the latest poll showing that, look, if you look at younger Americans, they overwhelmingly think it's a good idea. Two-thirds, they say, of Americans at least recognize that there is a problem.

President Bush earlier today dismissing some of this as partisan politics.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I urge the members to go out and when they go home to talk to their constituents, not only about the problem, but about solutions. I urge members to start talking about how we're going to permanently fix Social Security.

Members I hope would not talk about a Band-Aid solution. But I think it's important that they talk about a permanent fix, something that will last forever.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Still a great deal of frustration among Democrats and Republicans alike, who are going to their home districts to talk about that plan.

The president also, of course, focusing on his foreign agenda, saying it was really a bright moment for the Iraqi people today. You saw them gathering there, the National Assembly, for the first time.

The president also rejected the notion here that the coalition inside of Iraq is essentially crumbling. Just yesterday, it was the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, who announced that they were with drawing their 3,000 troops. President Bush saying that he talked to Berlusconi earlier this morning, was assured that their policy is not changing. Saying that the troops of allied forces, as well as the United States, would not leave Iraq until they were confident that Iraqi forces were trained effectively.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Countries will be willing or anxious to get out when Iraqis have got the capacity to defend themselves. And that's the position of the United States. Our troops will come home when Iraq is capable of defending herself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Of course the president faced with a number of questions, of so many different topics. But clearly he felt the need, of course, to highlight his Social Security agenda, to defend his plan, as well as make the pitch again, make the argument that he believes democracy in the Middle East is on the rise -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Suzanne, the president also announcing his recommendation for the new president of the World Bank, a sort of -- I guess not a huge surprise, but a little bit to some in the international community, an almost in-your-face announcement. Tell our viewers what happened.

MALVEAUX: Well, certainly the president, of course, is going to be choosing Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, really number two at the Pentagon. What some people would argue really as someone who takes on a rather contentious role.

He was definitely a hawk, one who was pushing forward when it came to the Iraq war, weapons of mass destruction. Some people calling him a divisive figure.

The president saying that he felt that he has management skills, that he is a decent man. That he not only has experience in the Pentagon but also the State Department.

But just to give you a sense of how contentious this is, the Democratic leadership, Nancy Pelosi, already saying she believes that perhaps the president made the decision because Democrats have been calling to get rid of him for some time. Well, the president rejecting that notion, of course, saying he believes he's the right man for the job. Ultimately, it's going to depend on world leaders inside the World Bank to make that call -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Last week the president announced John Bolton to be the U.N. ambassador. That was seen is an in-your-face announcement. Now Paul Wolfowitz. Suzanne Malveaux, thanks very much for that report.

I want to go to Susan Candiotti. She's joining us on the phone. She's got some additional information on that little missing girl down in Florida.

What do we know, Susan?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, law enforcement sources tell CNN a person of interest in the case of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford is a convicted sex offender who had been living in Citrus County, Florida, doing odd jobs near the missing girl's home. Now, he was last known to be in the Savannah, Georgia, area where police had stopped him recently on an unrelated matter, but let him go at the time because at that time there was no request to hold him. Investigators will not say whether they have possible physical evidence to link him to Jessica Lunsford.

Now this so-called person of interest is one of a lengthy list of convicted sex offenders police have been looking into, part of the police standard operating procedure in an investigation like this since Jessica was reported as missing just last month. You'll recall that she was last seen after her grandmother put her to bed. They woke up in the morning to find her gone, and police have been looking for her ever since. A task force working on it night and day -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are we expecting this convicted sex offender that his photo, his name will be formally announced as a so-called person of interest at the 5:30 p.m. Eastern news conference that law enforcement has scheduled down there? Is that what's going to happen, Susan?

CANDIOTTI: We do expect that to happen, Wolf, because this man would be -- it would be a matter of public record. He is a convicted sex offender, and therefore his name and photograph is out there. And, in fact, I'm also told that there is an outstanding warrant for him of probation violation for failure to report to authorities.

BLITZER: Do we know if this convicted sex offender actually did work around the Lunsford home, or just in the neighborhood?

CANDIOTTI: Not specifically. All I was able to learn at this time is that he is more or less someone who does odd jobs in the area. Don't know how close he was specifically to that house.

BLITZER: Susan Candiotti reporting with the latest on that heart-wrenching story. Susan, thanks very much.

And a reminder to our viewers. We'll carry that news conference live 5:30 p.m. Eastern, later here today on CNN's "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS," 5:30 p.m. Eastern.

We'll move on to other important news we're following around the world.

President Bush today referred to the first meeting of Iraq's National Assembly as a "bright and hopeful moment." Today's swearing- in of the assembly's 275 members took place despite nearby explosions.

CNN's Aneesh Raman is in Baghdad. He's joining us live with more -- Aneesh.

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, good afternoon. Another seminal moment for a country that has already seen so many. This puts in place essentially the final step towards a permanent Iraqi democracy.

What did not happen today was names being put forward for those top positions, prime minister, president, key ministerial positions. The reason being that no deal has been finalized both between the Kurdish Alliance and the United Iraqi Alliance. But also, in terms of officials we've spoken to, they're trying to form a unity government, get the secular politicians like Ayad Allawi's Iraqi List and the Sunnis on board before they even begin forming this government.

It's a huge task. It has a lot of difficulties entrenched in these issues, constitutional among them. But they really want to try and present a unified front as they form this government.

That withstanding, Wolf, the fact that they've convened a huge day for Iraqis who have seen since the election at the end of January a need for this government to really continue for democracy to take root. And now, Wolf, the pressure will be mounting for them to finalize those negotiations. We're hearing it could take anywhere from days to perhaps a week.

BLITZER: Well, let's hope they get together and get a new solid government in place in Baghdad. Aneesh Raman, thanks very much for that report.

Here in Washington, the St. Patrick's Day celebration tomorrow at the White House won't include Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, but it will include the sisters of a man that members of the IRA are blamed for killing outside a pub in Belfast. Among officials that Robert McCartney's sisters are meeting here in Washington is Senator Edward Kenny of Massachusetts.

He's joining us now live, together with Paula McCartney, one of those sisters.

Senator Kennedy, thanks so much for joining us. Why have you decided to boycott any meeting now with Gerry Adams since you've met with him at this time around St. Patrick's Day every single year for many years back?

SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Well, it's been 11 years since we've had the cease-fire in northern Ireland. It's been seven years since we had the Good Friday agreement. It's been two years since the Sinn Fein have actually gone into the elections locally.

And it's time that Gerry Adams free himself from the IRA. We cannot in western countries have a political party that has its own private army, particularly one that's been associated with criminality and violence.

I want to say, we had a very strong bipartisan group of senators that met with Paula and her sisters today. Americans understand bravery and understand courage. We regret that we had to receive these sisters under the circumstances of the loss of their brother. But they're a real inspiration to us. And we have committed to them that we will work very closely with them until we have justice for their brother. And we will work with them to see an end to the violence and criminality in northern Ireland.

BLITZER: But Senator Kennedy, you've suggested that you still believe that Gerry Adams wants peace in northern Ireland. If he wants peace, and he's committed to peace, why not have a dialogue with him?

KENNEDY: Well, I think that's a reasonable question. There are two different ways of sort of approaching it.

Either you can have a dialogue and express yourself as bluntly and frankly as you can. I have done that. I have done that repeatedly over the past years. And it has not been effective.

And I don't know whether they didn't believe that the strength of my feeling and the feeling of other Americans, and that is that if you're going to have a political party in a democracy, they can't have their own private army that is committed to criminality and to violence. And this is a golden opportunity now for Mr. Adams to bring to justice.

Paula can speak to that. But all the sisters are asking for is justice with regards to her brother. And there's no question that Sinn Fein and the IRA are involved in a cover-up there and Mr. Adams has to free himself from the albatross -- from the albatross of the IRA.

BLITZER: Well, do you believe, Senator Kennedy, that Gerry Adams personally, personally is involved in that cover-up?

KENNEDY: No, I don't think he is involved in the incident on this. I think that he is a leader of the Sinn Feiners, and I think they have been the head of the association with the IRA.

You cannot have a political party that's got a military component to it that is involved in violence and criminality. It's as simple and plain as that. And he has to free himself.

The Sinn Feiners have to free themselves of the albatross of the IRA. And I think that this is a golden opportunity to bring in the people to justice for Paula's brother in this brutal and senseless and violent killing.

BLITZER: All right. I want to bring Paula into this interview as well, Senator Kennedy.

Paula, first of all, our deepest condolences to you on the murder of your brother. Our hearts go out to you.

I want you to listen to what President Bush said only a few minutes ago here in Washington over at the White House. I know you're planning on meeting him, together with your other sisters tomorrow. Listen to what the president said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: We wanted to make sure that we honored those in civil society in Ireland who are contributing positively to the peace process. And that's what we'll be doing in this particular trip.

It's very important that people understand that parties must renounce violence. There's a Good Friday agreement laid out the way forward for peace in northern Ireland, and this administration and our government strongly supports those steps. But tomorrow's message will be, you know, we want to thank those in civil society who are working hard to achieve a peaceful resolution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Paula McCartney, what will be your message to the president?

PAULA MCCARTNEY, ROBERT MCCARTNEY'S SISTER: Well our message obviously to the president is that we hope that he keeps Robert's murder up high, high profile on the agenda. And we'll most likely be asking him -- we think it should be put on the table as a form of completion. We don't believe that the peace process can progress unless Robert's murder is resolved.

BLITZER: Who do you believe killed your brother?

MCCARTNEY: We know that it was -- as we've said before, we know that the IRA did not sanction Robert's murder. But it cannot be denied that members of the IRA did carry Robert's murder out. We believe that the IRA., as an organization, are responsible for bringing the murderers of Robert to justice.

BLITZER: One final question to Senator Kennedy before I let both of you go. Senator Kennedy, is there anything else specific you want the president, the Bush administration, to be doing as far as northern Ireland is concerned right now?

KENNEDY: Well, I think the sisters are going to meet with the president, and they have some ideas which I think they ought to put forward to the president. And we are going to be supporting those kinds of initiatives immediately.

But what Paula has mentioned is that in the negotiations that are taking place, and continue to take place, the IRA has put certain cases that they want resolved in order for progress to be made. And I think what Paula is saying, that the family hopes that this case, the McCartney case, will be the number one case.

And that has to be resolved if there's really going to be justice and if there's really going to be progress. And I think that's an eminently sound, fair, and the correct position.

BLITZER: Senator Kennedy, and Paula McCartney, to both of you, thanks very much for joining us. And once again, to you, Paula, and to your family, our deepest condolences, especially coming around St. Patrick's Day and all the celebration here's in the United States and around the world.

Let's move back to the situation unfolding in Iraq right now, the convening of Iraq's National Assembly that happened today. It comes nearly two years after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Let's get some more insight now on this history-making moment. For that we turn, as we often do, to Michael Weisskopf, the senior correspondent for "TIME" magazine here in the Washington bureau.

Michael, thanks very much. You spent a lot of time over there. What do you make of this convening of the parliament, setting the stage for the establishment of a new government?

MICHAEL WEISSKOPF, "TIME" MAGAZINE: It's remarkable that such politically disparate forces could be meeting under the same roof, Wolf. But what's really important is what happens behind closed doors now. And that is the formation of a unified government. And here the Kurds and the Shia, representing about two-thirds of the assembly, will have to come up with a government that not only works for them, but works for the Sunni minority.

BLITZER: Can they bring the Sunnis in and make them full partners in this new Iraq?

WEISSKOPF: Of course that's the great hope. And we're reminded of it simply by the sound of mortars from the Sunni-led insurgency outside the Green Zone where this is taking place. But there are plans to make one of the vice presidents a Sunni, giving him a third of a voice within the so-called...

BLITZER: So there would be a new president and two vice presidents. They will, in turn, recommend to the parliament the prime minister.

WEISSKOPF: Yes. And so the Sunni party would then -- the Sunnis, rather, would then have a third representation on this all- important presidency council. The presidency council, as you mentioned, will appoint the prime minister. Most likely will be a member of the Shia majority and a man by the name of Ibrahim Jaafari, who headed the so-called...

BLITZER: He's going to be...

WEISSKOPF: He's been named as a likely candidate for that. There will be also be another Shia representative, probably the current premier, Allawi, who will take one of the vice presidency positions. A Kurd will have the larger ceremonial position of presidency. And that's likely to be Talabani.

BLITZER: It looks like a pretty robust government that is emerging. Is it your sense -- and you watch this very, very closely -- that the insurgency, despite almost the daily death toll, and the continued roadside attacks, and the suicide bombings, that the insurgency to a little degree at least is petering out?

WEISSKOPF: No. There's no sign of that, actually, Wolf. And I think that this is an insurgency that has ebbed at times and come back strongly at times and picks its spots.

It is still well organized and well funded from the outside. There's no reason to believe it will go away.

BLITZER: Several of the coalition partners, Ukraine, Poland, now Italy, are either substantially reducing or planning on eliminating their military involvement in Iraq. What does that say about the U.S.-led coalition?

WEISSKOPF: Well, it's been a U.S. party from the beginning here in the representation even by the Italians, which was significant at 3,300 troops. It was largely symbolic.

They operated in a kind of peacekeeping role in Nasiriyah, which was down south and fairly peaceful. And we shouldn't be distracted by the withdrawal of these forces because it's been largely a U.S. effort from the start.

And if one is to look at polls by "The Washington Post," and today's papers, for instance, it looks like the American public is now believing that the president will succeed in establishing a stable Iraqi government. This gives him more time as the single force there to continue his operations.

BLITZER: And presumably it gives the U.S. and its other coalition partners more times to pump in some aid money to try to develop parts of Iraq and maybe send a different message to the insurgents.

WEISSKOPF: Well, that would be nice. And the president has asked the Europeans to do some of that.

They've promised to help with training of Iraqi forces, which is the -- the basic -- what we need basically to get U.S. troops home. And thus far, the Europeans have been pretty slow to fulfill that pledge.

BLITZER: Michael Weisskopf of "TIME" magazine, as usual, thanks very much.

WEISSKOPF: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: When we come back, it's sentencing day for convicted wife killer Scott Peterson. We're watching developments from the courthouse in California. We'll go there.

Also, more details emerging in the case of Brian Nichols. Wait until you hear what reports say authorities found in his jail cell.

You're watching NEWS FROM CNN, and we're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Turning now to new information in the Atlanta killing spree. The burning question today, did the suspect Brian Nichols have a hit list? There are now reports in Atlanta that authorities found a handwritten list in Nichols' jail cell shortly after Friday's courthouse shootings.

The "Atlanta Journal-Constitution" and local television station WSB are reporting that the list included the names of Judge Barnes, who was presiding over the Nichols rape case and was the first person killed in Friday's rampage. The member of the team prosecuting Nichols on rape charges says the list also included the names of the boyfriend and family members of Nichols' accuser, as well as the lead prosecutor.

Nichols' brother says his family is just devastated by what has happened. Speaking to CNN's Larry King last night, Mark Nichols described a brother who had a lot going for him. He says the news has come as a complete shock.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: I turned on the news, and I noticed that it was a courthouse shooting that happened. And I didn't really pay too much attention to it then. Then noticed that it was a rape case.

So after that, I called a friend of mine, and he confirmed that the judge -- that was the judge that was proceeding in my brother's case. That's how I learned.

He's laid back. I mean, he's been portrayed really bad, you know.

People are saying that he was always into some kind of trouble, but it wasn't like that. You know, he's a real laid back kind of guy. I mean, he would do anything for you. He did so much for me. I'm the -- I'm the older brother, but I looked up to him as if he were my older brother, you know, so...

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": He was the stable person.

NICHOLS: I mean, a lot of people, like they haven't really said he worked for Hewlett-Packard for eight years as a Unix system operator engineer, making probably six figures or very close to six figures. You know, so he's a smart person. You know? But that side hasn't been portrayed.

Look at me. I'm tired. I'm worn out. I haven't slept in three days. I haven't eaten.

You know, that's my only brother, you know, and I love him. And I want him to know that we all still love him, we're not turning against him, we're here for him.

You know, it's hurting me. It really is. It's hurting me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The woman credited with getting Nichols to surrender will collect a $20,000 reward from the state of Georgia. And $20,000 more from law enforcement agencies. Tonight on CNN we'll have an in-depth look at the book Ashley Smith says helped her win Brian Nichols' trust. Smith's amazing ordeal has boosted sales, by the way, of that book, "The Purpose- Driven Life."

Our Paula Zahn will have a closer look at the book on a special edition of "NEWSNIGHT." That airs tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, 7:00 p.m. on the West Coast.

When we come back, going out of their way literally to catch insurgents in Iraq. CNN's Jane Arraf will take us along with United States Marines. Their mission, to find and catch the enemy in Iraq.

That story when the NEWS FROM CNN continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back.

Don't expect cheaper gasoline prices any time soon. Sweet crude oil prices today hit a record $56.30 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and U.S. gasoline inventories are down sharply, by nearly three million barrels. Both factors are fueling fears gasoline prices might rise higher and faster than expected. And experts say the higher fuel costs could hurt corporate profits, consumer spending, and the overall U.S. economy.

The fight for Iraq continues, as does the hunt for insurgents and their weapons supply dealers. Our senior Baghdad correspondent Jane Arraf joining us now live via videophone from the Al Assad airbase in Iraq. She had an exclusive look at a joint U.S.-Iraqi raid.

Jane, tell our viewers what happened.

JANE ARRAF, CNN SR. BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, out here in the more remote parts of Iraq, western Al Anbar province, spreading all the way up to the Syrian border, troops are still very much focused on untangling that web of insurgents and foreign fighters, trying to root out these sells that they believe re-establish themselves up here, coming in some cases from Falluja. We went along with specially trained Marines, the first force reconnaissance company of Marines, as they dropped in to a remote farmhouse to nab a weapons dealer they believe may be linked to Abu Musab Al Zarqawi.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF (voice-over): These are Marines, trained to go behind enemy lines, to carry out reconnaissance, rescue, raids. They're members of the first force reconnaissance company. This raid Tuesday was on a collection of remote farmhouses in Iraq's western desert, more than 130 miles northwest of Baghdad. Dozens of them landed by helicopter. Some had to walk for two hours on foot. It was their biggest operation since they arrived in Iraq a month ago. Their target was a man intelligence officers have been tracking for weeks.

LT. COL. GEORGE SMITH, U.S. MARINE CORPS: He moves weapons between all the major urban areas, from Tikrit to Beiji (ph), down to Haditha, and even into Baghdad. So this is kind of a hub for a trail network that emanates out of here.

ARRAF: In this remote farmhouse, they found their target and three other suspected insurgents.

(on camera): These farmhouses are miles away from the nearest community. This area is so remote there are usually no U.S. forces here.

(voice-over): So remote it took recon Marines who came by road four hours of driving through the desert, which is why Marine commanders say it made a perfect safehouse for insurgent leaders. For the Marines who landed by helicopter, it was a long wait in the frigid desert.

MASTER GUNNERY SERGEANT GREG GILLESPIE, U.S. MARINE CORPS: When you're laying still for four hours doing the reconnaissance, it really gets pretty cold.

ARRAF: For the first time the Marines used Iraqis to help with the raid, private contractors called The Freedom Guard. It was their first time ever on a helicopter. They raided a small mosque attached to the farmhouses. They didn't want their faces shown, but told us off camera that although the insurgents talk about religion, they're against Islam. The Marines blasted open the doors, but the family was sleeping. Not a shot was fired. A bomb-sniffing dog looked for explosives and didn't find any. They took away every grown man for questioning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's going in the cab.

ARRAF: Assuring this man he'd get medical treatment while he was detained. They recorded they had found 17 $100 bills on one of the suspects. He seemed to gather who the suspects are and who they might be connected to will take hours of questioning, a step that force reconnaissance hopes will lead to targeting and capturing more leaders of the insurgency.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ARRAF: These missions are painstakingly planned, wolf. Weeks, days, hours go into mapping them out, plotting what could go wrong. And in more urban environments, they're trying to go in and get out with the suspects in as little as 10 minutes. Now this one, they have the luxury of time because it was so remote.

They say piece by piece, they are getting through that web of insurgents and foreign fighters, some of them still coming through from Syria, that they say they need to defeat the insurgency -- Wolf.

BLITZER: CNN's Jane Arraf with an excellent, excellent eyewitness report on what's happening on the ground in Iraq.

Jane, thank you very much for that. Please be careful in your coverage. We have this news coming in to CNN now. CNN has confirmed that President Bush has chosen a new man to become the head of the FCC, the Federal Communications Commission. That would be Kevin Martin, who's already a member of the commission. He's been a member since 2001. He would succeed Michael Powell, who's stepping down as head of the FCC. Powell, the son of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, announced several weeks ago he was stepping down. Now Kevin Martin will replace him. He does not, repeat, not need Senate confirmation since he's already been confirmed as one of the FCC commissioners. He doesn't need additional confirmation now. The FCC had been in the focus of lots of news lately involving fines to various organizations, broadcast organizations, for supposedly putting indecency on the air. Kevin Martin, a Republican from Charlotte, North Carolina will now head the FCC.

When we come back, baseball gets set to face an inside pitch. Tomorrow, right here in Washington, some of the games biggest stars, and records, will come under scrutiny as the U.S. Congress tries to uncover the truth about steroids in the Major Leagues. I'll speak live with two members of Congress who will be grilling the witnesses tomorrow.

And we're checking some of the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com. For those of you who are interested, an Oklahoma man who tried to prove his innocence through a little-known procedure called "brain fingerprinting" was executed by lethal injection yesterday for the 1991 murder of a woman and her daughter. Jimmy Ray Slaughter insisted he was not guilty, even as the mix of lethal chemicals was injected into his arms at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. You want to know more about this story? Here's an idea: Go to CNN.com.

We'll be right back.

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BLITZER: Welcome back to news from CNN, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

Baseball's Barry Bonds says he may be short of 100 percent when the season starts next month. On a posting on his personal Web site, Bonds said his knee is healing slower than first expected from off- season surgery.

Baseball and steroids. The Yankees' Jason Giambi gets a pass from Congress from appearing tomorrow at the blockbuster hearing scheduled for Capitol Hill. Like Bonds, who also has been excused, Giambi appeared before a federal grand jury in a criminal probe into steroid distribution. Bonds and Giambi may be out, but the witness list tomorrow includes Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire. Also scheduled, the commissioner of baseball Bud Selig and the union chief Donald Fehr. Compelling for sure. But what's Congress doing about this? Why is Congress involved?

Joining us now, two guests from Capitol Hill. Elijah Cummings. He's a congressional Democrat of Maryland. Here in our studio, Georgia Republican Lynn Westmoreland. Both are members of the House Committee on Government Reform, which is holding the hearing tomorrow. Thanks to both of you for joining us.

Congressman Westmoreland, I'll start with you. Why are you doing this?

REP. LYNN WESTMORELAND (R), GEORGIA: Well, I think we're trying to shed some light on the problem that there seems to be out there. There's a perception by baseball fans and Americans that Major League Baseball players are using performance-enhancing drugs and...

BLITZER: Don't you think Major League Baseball can police themselves?

WESTMORELAND: Well, they haven't. They've known about this problem since 1991. They've done very little about it. If anything, they've come up with a drug policy. But I think it's time that we shine some light on it to see if there's any truth in it or not. There's no better people to have in here than the players theirself to let them testify and then we'll let Mr. Selig and Mr. Fehr answer to why Major League Baseball has not done anything.

BLITZER: Do you agree with that assessment, Congressman Cummings?

REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS (D), MARYLAND: I certainly do agree. Wolf, ten years ago, one in 45 youngsters in high school were using steroids. Now it's one in 16. Clearly it's sending a powerful message. That is, these athletes using steroids, that it's OK. And we cannot have one standard for athletes who are usually multimillionaires, and another standard for the rest of the country.

Keep in mind, Wolf, the fact is is that this is a Schedule III drug. And the fact is is that it is on the same level as LSD. And so therefore in my community, in the inner city of Baltimore, if somebody is caught with LSD, or a Schedule III drug, you know what happens to them? They go to jail. Here it appears that the baseball league merely gives them a little slap on the wrist and say, bad boy, go on and play ball. That's not good enough.

BLITZER: Congressman Cummings, why has Major League Baseball, in your opinion, been derelict in its responsibilities in policing the Major League players?

CUMMINGS: I'm not really sure, Wolf. But the fact is, is in your dialogue with my fellow Congressman Westmoreland, you talked about how perhaps these owners have not done enough. Well, the fact still remains that the owners ought to be the ones who should be begging for the hearings. If I were an owner, I would want to know that if I were to contract with a player that he's not using steroids.

Because, again, if I'm getting somebody who's using steroids, then I'm getting a false sense of who that person is. And so -- and by the way, it also sends a message to the fans. I want our fans, when they sit in those seats and pay all of that money, by the way, for those seats, I want them to know that the game is being played fairly, and not one player using steroids and another not.

BLITZER: Congressman Westmoreland, there's one sense out there -- and you've heard the critics, say you guys, Democrats or Republicans, because you guys agree on this, are simply showboating. You want to get some publicity and you're really not going to get to the bottom of this. It's just an opportunity to get some good publicity.

WESTMORELAND: Well, I disagree. I mean, well, I agree with you, we may not ever get to the bottom of it. But I disagree in that we're showboating. We're not. And you know, too many times politicians have talked about children as being any kind of excuse for any kind of cause that they've had. But, as Elijah said, we've got young people right now, -- I've had two people in my district that died from using steroids. Two young people.

I had dinner last night with a gentleman that told me that his 15-year-old son, that Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire was his heroes and he had actually come to him and talked to him about using steroids. And to answer your questions, Wolf, about the owners, it's money. You know, 1994, they had the walkout. The fans got mad. And now the steroids have come back. These boys have been juiced up, and they're approaching Henry Aaron's record.

BLITZER: Because fans like to see home runs. All right, Congressmen, we're going to take a quick break. But when we come back, we'll have much more to discuss. I'm going to ask, among other things, why Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi won't have to show up tomorrow and the others will. More with these two Congressmen right after this.

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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I spoke out and I was pleased to see that baseball responded and they've got a testing policy in place for the first time ever, a firm testing policy in place. And it's very important that baseball then follow through and implement the testing and, obviously, deal with those who get caught cheating in the system.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: President Bush speaking out just a little while ago on the issue of baseball and steroids. Tomorrow's hearings set for Capitol Hill. We're continuing our conversation with Elijah Cummings, congressional Democrat of Maryland, and Georgia Republican Lynn Westmoreland, both members of the House Committee on Government Reform, which will be holding these hearings tomorrow morning. Scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Is that correct?

Let's talk about why you're giving a pass to Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi. Why don't they have to show up, Congressman Westmoreland? WESTMORELAND: Well, I think you'd have to ask the chairman about that. But I think from everything I've heard, they may be involved in some other investigations and may be testifying in front of maybe a court jurisdiction.

BLITZER: So did the Justice Department, the federal investigation, ask you to hold off on these because they don't want you to do anything that could hurt their investigation?

WESTMORELAND: Well, I think, unlike Elijah, they didn't ask us who they were going to invite, we just kind of found out. But I'm sure that Chairman Davis or Ranking Member Waxman will be glad to comment on that. But from what I've been told, they're involved in another investigation right now and so they're just not going to come to our committee here.

BLITZER: Do you believe, Congressman Cummings, any of the witnesses who will testify tomorrow will take the fifth and refuse to answer questions?

CUMMINGS: I think that that's quite possible and I think it will be kind of sad if they have to do that. Wolf, we've got to have a zero-tolerance policy with regard to steroids. We really do have to have that. And so it would not shock me. I don't know which ones, but it would not shock me if they were to come out.

I am a lawyer by profession and I've practiced criminal law for some 20 years, and I can see that possibly happening.

BLITZER: Do you anticipate, Congressman Cummings, that the committee, the Congress will grant immunity to any of these witnesses?

CUMMINGS: It's my understanding that there has been some negotiations with regard to immunity. I just don't know where it stands right now.

This is a very fluid situation. As Representative Westmoreland has said, a lot of these decisions made by the ranking member and the chairman, and so they sort of get filtered down to us eventually. But I expect that there may be some immunity granted, so that we can get the kind of testimony we need.

BLITZER: But you do expect Congressman Westmoreland, all of the witnesses to actually show up and not necessarily be held in contempt of Congress?

WESTMORELAND: Well, I hope so. And I hope none of them take the Fifth. And I hope they understand that this is not a courtroom setting, that this is a hearing setting. It's being done to bring light to the problem that we have. And I think Congressman Cummings was right in the zero tolerance. You know, they have a zero tolerance for gambling. If you don't believe me, ask Pete Rose. I mean, he'd been banished from baseball for 15 years. And is there any difference? If you're going to have a zero tolerance on something, you need to have it on all of it. Gambling is not killing our young people. And right now, as Congressman Cummings said, we've got more young people using steroids today, performance enhancing-drugs, to try to compete than ever before. And young people are actually dying because of this.

BLITZER: Congressman Cummings, give our viewers a little preview of the kind of question, or key question, you want answered tomorrow.

CUMMINGS: I want to know what the extent of steroid use is in the Major Leagues. I want to know how -- what they -- how what -- what policies have been put in place, how effective those policies have been. And exactly how has the punishment gone with regard to these players. You know, it's almost a slap on the wrist. I mean, some of these players may end up having to say take some days off and have a $100,000 fine. But when you're making $10 million, $15 million, $100,000 is shoeshine money.

So again, I think a lot of these players see it as a cost of doing business; it just goes with the territory. But it does not apply -- and again, I hope that the public or anybody else doesn't get the impression that this is some showboat kind of hearing.

The fact is this is going to be probably one of my proudest moments in my nine years here in the Congress, because Republicans and Democrats are coming together to say that we're going to help parents help their children grow up in a healthy, fair and productive environment, and I think that's what parents want. They want us to do this.

BLITZER: Congressman Westmoreland, your constituents, like Congressman Cummings' constituents, like all Americans, they love baseball. What kind of feedback are you getting from their constituents? Are they happy you're holding these hearings? Are they saying, you know what, this is none of the federal government's business, move on and do something else like Social Security reform?

WESTMORELAND: Wolf, I'm have a very conservative district in Georgia, and I've had a lot of people that said, you know, it's none of the government's business.

And I'll be honest with you, I had that approach when I was first told about it. But after reading the release that the chairman read and finding out that our jurisdiction covers the national drug policy. Government reform committee in the U.S. House is over our national drug policy. And I mean, if we're going to be over something, let's be over it and let's have some influence. And so the people in my district I've talked to them, and once they've been made aware of what the real heart of this is and what the real objective of it is, they don't have a problem with it. In fact, they think it's something that we should be doing.

BLITZER: Lynn Westmoreland is a conservative Republican, and Elijah Cummings a liberal Democrat, but they totally agree with these hearings tomorrow on baseball.

CUMMINGS: It's scary.

BLITZER: It may be the first and last issue they totally agree on. But we'll continue our conversation.

CUMMINGS: This is a unique moment, Wolf.

WESTMORELAND: It is.

BLITZER: We got it on tape right here, ladies and gentlemen. Thanks to both of you for joining us. Good luck with the hearings tomorrow. We'll be watching. CNN of course will have coverage of that tomorrow.

When we come back, life or death for Scott Peterson. The convicted killer is being formally sentenced today in California. Will the judge uphold the jury's recommendation for the death penalty? Our coverage continues on that in the next hour on "LIVE FROM."

I'll be right back.

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BLITZER: I'll be back later today, every weekday, 5:00 p.m. Eastern for "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS." Among other things, he's not making many friends in the world of baseball. But former slugger Jose Canseco is certainly making waves. I'll talk to him later today about his new book, his allegations of steroid use, and what he expects tomorrow on Capitol Hill. That's coming up later today, 5:00 p.m. Eastern.

Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.

"LIVE FROM" with Kyra Phillips, all by herself today. She's standing by. She's ready, though, right after a short break.

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