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Bomb Suspect Leaves Hospital; Congress Moves to End Flight Delays; Police Search For Suspect's Laptop; Boston Magazine's Powerful Tribute; Boston Celtics Return Home; Obama: Chemical Weapons in Syria "Game Changer"; Comedy After Boston, Texas Tragedies; Matt Damon: We're Still in Shock; Debate over Muslim Burial for Suspect

Aired April 26, 2013 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Live here in Boston on a beautiful Friday afternoon. I'm Brooke Baldwin alongside Jake Tapper and good to be with you.

TAPPER: Nice to be here.

BALDWIN: And with you. CNN has just learned investigators are back at this land fill near UMass Dartmouth where the younger suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was attending classes. This time though they're specifically looking for his laptop.

Meantime, Tsarnaev is now sitting in a prison after a week spent in the very same hospital that so many of the victims have been. Victims that he's accused of wounding last Monday. Overnight, he was moved right here to a federal prison camp that holds detainees who need medical care. The 19-year-old has a gunshot wound to the throat.

Meantime, the whereabouts of his parents, unclear. We know his mother is wanted in the United States on a shoplifting charge. Now his father is in Russia. We have now learned he has abandoned his plans to come to the U.S. They have left Dagestan, but say their trip to the U.S. is delayed indefinitely.

TAPPER: Indefinitely. And while investigators dig into the details behind the bombing, folks here are finding ways to move forward. They're banning together, honoring victims in very special ways. Take a look at this breathtaking cover of the may issue of "Boston" magazine.

You see shoes worn by runners from the April 15th marathon with the title, we will finish the race. Inside, some of those runners tell their stories in a special feature, the shoes we wore. Brooke and I spoke with "Boston" magazine Deputy Art Director Liz Noftle. This cover was her idea. I asked her why the heart and why the running shoes?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LIZ NOFTLE, DEPUTY ART DIRECTOR, "BOSTON" MAGAZINE: The running shoes just to honor the runners in the event and the heart, just to show our support for the community and our love for everyone here. It is a whole community event, the marathon. We wanted to honor that.

TAPPER: You didn't paint any of the shoes. That's the natural colors of the shoes.

NOFTLE: Our photo editor was, like, let's put the colors in the middle. It feels like it is beating almost, like it is alive and I think it makes it. We turned over all the shoes and on the back is the soles of the shoe, so the heart and soul.

We're a resilient city. This is an opportunity, our whole company represents it. Everyone on staff came together to make this happen. Interns, editors, online people, from sales, all coming together, gathering shoes, turning this around and I think it represents that we're a strong city.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: It was fun to talk to Liz earlier. I had only seen the cover of the magazine. When she flipped it over and showed us the sole of the shoes, really beautiful. In a couple of hours, people will get to cheer on their Boston Celtics. I got my green on today, Tapper. They take on the New York Knicks for game three of the --

TAPPER: I'm not actually obligated to cheer for the Celtics, am I, at this point?

BALDWIN: It's debatable. We have been here for two weeks. I feel like this is home away from home now. It is the Celtics first game at home since last Monday's bombing. So the deal right now. They're down two games so far.

After everything their city has been through in the last two weeks, the hunger, the thirst for a win, I can tell you will be pretty intense. And so our team caught up with the Paul Pierce, also Doc Rivers and the gang, got their take on what is going on and what will certainly be pretty emotional night tonight.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've had the pleasure of covering the Boston marathon at least eight times and I know this finish line area like the back of my hand. And it is absolutely chilling and downright emotional to come here to Boylston Street and seat memorials and to think back to what happened here just days ago.

The city of Boston continues to recover, the Celtics finally return home, having watched all of this from a distance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last time, I was home was the day of the bombing. I mean, when came home the other day, I mean, it seems like things are back to normal, but still, you know, it is in the air. You know what happened.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels like -- we have been on the road for a month. And then while you're on the road, the lockdown of the city happened and everybody on the phone, making sure all the families are inside. And that's -- it's been there, there is no doubt about that.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to thank you for your support and all the support for the people throughout the country through this tragic event. Boston will rise and run again. Thank you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boston could not find a way to win a game in Madison Square Garden and found them in a deficit against the Knicks. They're now hoping for a different result with the help of the Celtics fans at TD Garden for game three.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just being a Celtic, representing the city of Boston, sports, it brings the community together. We have 18,000 fans in there, all supporting the same thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you going to be someone cheering for the Celtics, try to help them get a lift. They're down 0-2 to the Knicks.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely, absolutely. I think everyone in Boston is cheering for everything Boston related right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know how we can help the city. The city helped itself already. They really have. There is nothing more we're going to do except for inspire them with a win. That would be nice, but our city has been so strong. They didn't need us. We actually need them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: The role of these sports teams play for this town and its recovery has been important. We have seen that with the Red Sox game, which had been canceled and then went on. There was the singing of the national anthem at the Bruins game.

BALDWIN: Yes, "Sweet Caroline" in the Bronx.

TAPPER: Yes, it's been pretty important for this city. We want to show you some sound now, of President Obama, meeting in the oval office with Jordan's King Abdullah, just made comments about Syria and the discussion of whether the Syrian regime, Bashar Al-Assad, has been using chemical weapons. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Hold on a second, one at a time. The -- what we have right now is an intelligence -- as I said, knowing that potentially chemical weapons have been used inside of Syria doesn't tell us when they were used, how they were used, confirmation, and strong evidence, all of those things we have to make sure that we work on with the international community.

And we ourselves are going to be putting a lot of resources into focusing on this. And I think that in many ways a line has been crossed when we see tens of thousands of innocent people being killed by a regime. But the use of chemical weapons, and the dangers that pose to the international community, to neighbors of Syria, the potential for chemical weapons to get into the hands of terrorists, all of those things add increased urgency to what is already a significant security problem and humanitarian problem in the region.

So we're going to be working with countries like Jordan to try to obtain more direct evidence and confirmation of this potential use. And in the meantime, I've been clear publicly, but also privately, that for the Syrian government to utilize chemical weapons, on its people, crosses a line that will change my calculus and how the United States approaches these issues.

So, you know, this is not an on or off switch. This is an ongoing challenge that all of us have to be concerned about and we're going to be working with the international community and our partners to keep our eyes on what is happening on the ground, to gather any evidence of potential chemical weapon use.

And at the same time, to continue to help with a moderate and inclusive opposition to help bring about the day when the Syrian people can once again focus on living their lives, raising their children, starting businesses, and obtaining basic freedom and human rights.

This is going to be a long term proposition. This is not going to be something that is solved easily overnight, but I know that King Abdullah is committed to trying to find these kinds of solutions. So am I, all right?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TAPPER: President Obama in the oval office meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. He was talking about the question about whether or not Bashar Al-Assad, the ruler of Syria, whether or not there is some conclusive evidence he used chemical weapons against the people.

He said this is not an on or off switch, it is a long process, and talking about the need to make sure that the evidence is real and concrete. A lot of questions about whether or not Bashar Al-Assad crossed what President Obama described as a red line.

If he used chemical weapons or moved around chemical weapons, that would be a red line. A lot of questions still remaining according to President Obama as to whether or not that actually happened.

They say with varying degrees of confidence according to the intelligence agencies in this country, they believe he may have.

BALDWIN: Given what broken about Syria in the last 24, 48 hours and what happened here in Boston last two weeks, you know, the president has a precarious line to walk, right, tomorrow night with the White House Correspondents' Dinner. You've been there. I've been there two years in a row now.

So when I come back, I want to ask you your take, having covered the White House for years and years, how the president walks this line of humor, given what has happened here in Boston for the last two weeks. Be right back.

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BALDWIN: It has been a tough couple of weeks for the country, not just what happened here in Boston, but of course that horrendous explosion in West, Texas, killing 14. It's been a tough week for the country, tough week for the president.

But tomorrow night he's expected to walk on that stage in Washington, tell a couple of jokes, it is the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner where journalists and politicians and A-listers gather really for just a great night of partying. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CONAN O'BRIEN, COMEDIAN: I wasn't aware that this is true, I hear, when you attend a function, Mr. President, that the Secret Service puts you through an extensive background check. You know, it is a little embarrassing, actually. Turns out technically I'm still a virgin.

But I went to the Jefferson Memorial and I was inspired because carved on the beautiful walls are really inspiring sayings. First one at the top, I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

And then just below that, I know but one code of morality for men, whether acting singly or collectively. And then way down at the bottom, carved in marble, it says, P.S., if there is ever a movie about me, please don't cast Nick Nolte.

Some people say the president is going to have a tough race in '96. Some say it is not going to be easy, it is going to be an uphill struggle. Well, I speak for the 30 and under generation.

Mr. President, I want you to know you don't have to worry about us because we don't vote. Finally, I have an announcement for those of you watching tonight's event live on C-Span, for God's sake, it's Saturday night. Come on.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: So that was Conan O'Brien from almost 20 years ago.

TAPPER: In 1995.

BALDWIN: In 1995.

TAPPER: Little baby Conan.

BALDWIN: Little baby Conan. We know he'll be there tomorrow night. And you, as the White House correspondent for many years, how many years did you attend that thing?

TAPPER: I don't know, a decade, more than a decade, a while.

BALDWIN: So how does it work with the president getting up there, given what happened in West, Texas, in Boston, and now everything happening with Syria, how does he get up there? Pretty funny guy, at least whoever is writing the jokes are pretty funny. How does he manage that?

TAPPER: Well, I think first of all you have to acknowledge the tragedy and ask for prayers and the peoples thoughts and make sure people understand you recognize this is a moment where something like that is going on. Talk about the troops, a moment to respect and honor the troops abroad.

I think avoiding jokes about any of those very sensitive subjects is a good idea. People do want to laugh. They do want to laugh and he usually comes armed with lots of jokes about the likes of us, and I'm sure he has no shortage of things to make fun of, and he'll do that.

The big challenge is for Conan, because the president, whether it is President Bush or President Obama, the president is the opening act and then the comedian comes on after that.

BALDWIN: No pressure.

TAPPER: And, so, you know, I think the last two have been really good, Jimmy Kimmel last year and Seth Meyers the year before. So Conan, who is very funny, you know, he needs to continue the streak. There have been some real duds in the past.

BALDWIN: Last couple of years I've been it was hysterical.

TAPPER: Yes, I know. Kimmel and Meyers killed, I thought.

BALDWIN: All right, it will be nice to see you all dressed up. Let's see how that goes. Meantime, Matt Damon, he was speaking across the river in Harvard, talking about his own hometown, and revealed his indirect link to one of the suspects. Back in a moment.

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TAPPER: Welcome back. One of Boston's favorite sons talked about the marathon bombings while visiting Harvard University. Academy award winning Matt Damon received the school's annual award for excellence in the arts.

During the ceremony, the actor reflected on the attacks, saying he was shocked when he found out he went to the same high school the younger Tsarnaev brother attended, Cambridge Rindge and Latin. He says everyone is wondering what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT DAMON, ACTOR: I think we're all still in shock. I certainly am still in shock and trying to figure out what this all means and what happened and just incredibly shocking and hard to figure out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TAPPER: Damon wrote about the importance of the Boston marathon, in a "Boston Globe" article, just weeks before the attacks.

BALDWIN: Coming up next in Boston, a compelling conversation, standing near us now are two Boston imams who will be joining us in a matter of minutes and they disagree over whether the older suspect who is dead deserves a proper Muslim burial, after all, even Osama Bin Laden got one. You'll hear both of their perspectives live next.

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TAPPER: Here in Boston, there is a debate among many in the Muslim community. The issue is whether or not the suspected Boston marathon bombing mastermind Tamerlan Tsarnaev should receive a proper burial.

Let's bring in two imams with two different views. Here's Imam Talal and Imam Webb joining us now. Let's start with you, your opinion, should Tamerlan Tsarnaev have a traditional Muslim burial. I guess, we've already missed the traditional 24-hour period.

IMAM SUHAIB WEBB, ISLAMIC SOCIETY FOR BOSTON CULTURAL CENTER: Yes, sir. Yes, for sure. At my mosque in Boston, our position is that of all Americans -- we treat our enemies better than they treat us.

You know, the people who he shot at actually took him to the hospital. Doctors who made sure they tried to keep him alive. So in that spirit, we feel he has the right of a Muslim burial, because that's his right as a --

BALDWIN: Imam Talal, you disagree.

IMAM TALAL EID, ISLAMIC INSTITUTE FOR BOSTON: Yes, I disagree and I have different position with respect to Imam Webb. For me, this man is a murderer, OK. He killed people in cold blood and I'm not too please anyone, to please people.

I'm standing on the rules and the teachings of Islam, where the Koran considers the killings of innocent person is equal to the killing of all of mankind. And the Koran clearly mentioned that those who kill innocent people, they will be without parole.

BALDWIN: But if Osama Bin Laden, we talked about a murderer, Osama Bin Laden was given a -- we know he was, a proper Muslim burial, everything else --

TAPPER: Within 24 hours.

BALDWIN: Within 24 hours, a couple of years ago, why would that be different than this Tamerlan Tsarnaev?

EID: You are looking at my opinion. Even if they called me for Osama Bin Laden, I would never put my hands on him because it is clear. This man is responsible for murdering. I really need the Muslim leaders in America to stand up strongly for the truth of the matter. Killing innocent people, this police officer, the MIT police officer, sitting in his cruiser, he chose this job of protecting people, and he was killed in cold blood. He was not after the two brothers to kill them, to say that they defended themselves.

They came to him, this is a deliberate attack, buying materials, buying cooking parts, preparing for the bomb, walking, putting -- this is deliberate act. It is not an act of someone who randomly gets upset and decided to act this way.

WEBB: That is his opinion. The majority of classical legal scholars in town, anyone who dies, their soul stands before God. That's a respected opinion. I love him. He's one of my teachers.

But the opinion of the majority of us is that he should be buried and his case is with God, even though we completely denounce his actions, but we treat our enemies in America better than they treat us. It is one of our traditions.

TAPPER: How would he be buried? The fact that obviously 24-hour period has already passed, does that mean that he needs to be buried as soon as possible or --

WEBB: It is recommended that that happens. But it is not something that we have to press forward. There is an investigation. There is an autopsy. There are questions that need to be answered. I think his wife also at the end of the day, from what I understand, she has the right to claim the body. We should honor her requests as next of kin, how she wants to bury her husband.

BALDWIN: I don't think, as of at least most recent check from CNN, his body has been claimed and the issue with the parents who were supposed on their way here to the United States. They're now MIA. We don't know where they are. So who knows how long this body will be sitting --

WEBB: If he was brought to our mosque, we would perform that service, wash the body, pray over it and take it to the graveyard and have it buried.

TAPPER: Before you go, how is your view on this position being received in your community and also for you?

WEBB: Our view is that he should be given the right. I feel he shouldn't be buried in America. He committed a crime against America and that's where there are some differences in my community. As for him being buried outside of -- our community is in agreement he should be given --

EID: In the prophetic tradition, we have an incident of a Muslim who killed in cold blood and Prophet Muhammad criticized him for that, and blamed him, and when the person died, he was -- when the people buried him, in the morning they found him on the -- on the surface of the earth.

And they tried to bury him again and they would find him in the same situation next day. The Prophet Muhammad said that the earth would accept worse than him, but it would not accept him because he murdered an innocent person.

So I'm not really against the -- it is my opinion and I'm willing to defend it. Not from my own perspective, but from the perspectives of the Koran and the --

TAPPER: Thank you for sharing your views, thank you so much.

BALDWIN: Thank you so much. We appreciate it, certainly a debate that will continue on.

Coming up next, actor and singer Donnie Wahlberg speaks out for the first time since the attack on his own hometown. He will join us live. Don't miss this.

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