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British Aid Worker Beheaded by ISIS; NFL Star Players Not Playing;

Aired September 14, 2014 - 14:00   ET

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


DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: And hello, everyone. Thanks so much for joining us this afternoon. I'm Deborah Feyerick in for Fredricka Whitfield. And these are our stories topping the news this hour.

Well, another brutal beheading by ISIS. This time British aid worker David Haines executed in cold blood. His brother just speaking out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first reaction could be one of hatred. My brother's life wasn't about hatred. It was about love for all men.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: This as new details emerged on the coalition plan to destroy ISIS.

Plus, controversy surrounding the NFL is growing. Another NFL player forced to sit out today's game. Details on that decision.

And the ever question, will she or won't she? Hillary Clinton acting more like a presidential candidate as she visits a key state. We're going to have a live report coming out of Iowa straight ahead.

And David Haines, a heart-broken family in mourning today after ISIS militant terrorists behead the 44-year-old British aid worker in a gruesome video posted online. The video is similar to the one showing the executions of Americans James Foley and Steven Sotloff. The mass militant sounds like the same man who has been seen in the previous videos.

The U.S. and Great Britain made it clear today that both nations are prepared to do whatever it takes to destroy the ISIS terror group and bring Haines' killer to justice. Haines' executioner blames Haines' death on Great Britain's quote "evil alliance with America," unquote. British Prime Minister David Cameron says Haines' death will not cause Great Britain to waiver, but instead will increase their resolve to defeat this terror group.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We are a peaceful people. We do not seek out confrontation. We need to understand. We cannot ignore this threat to our security and that of our allies. There is no option of keeping our heads down that would make us safe. The problem would merely get worse as it has done over recent months. Not just for us, but for Europe and for the world. We cannot just walk on by if we are to keep this country safe. We have to confront this menace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And while governments react, Haines is being remembered as a loving husband and a father of two. His brother who calls Haines quote "just another bloke" spoke out a short time ago. Take a listen.

And he said that his brother was not about hate. His brother was about love and that spirit he was going to honor his beloved brother.

I'm joined now by senior Nic Robertson who is in London and Erin McPike, who is live at the White House.

Erin, we're going to get to you in just a minute. But, Nic, I want to start with you. What more do we know about prime minister Cameron's plan to confront this group now that a British citizen has been executed?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I think we listen to what he had to say, and he was talking there that British people cannot hide from this. He said that -- he went on to say that British people need to understand that this is an organization that has tried already, has planned already to attack Britain, continues to plan attacks against Britain. Calls it a fanatical organization. So really when you listen to that kind of language, this is David Cameron trying to prepare the people for another effort, if you will, to go back to -- to go back to parliament and try and win political support for a stronger assistance for the United Sates in the coalition to fight ISIS. We're already there. Britain is already there. But David Cameron stop short so far of saying that there would be airstrikes. He needs political support for that. He doesn't have it yet.

His words today really give you an indication that he is preparing the British people for such a kind of move. It has to be said right now he has got very big other issues on the table. The referendum in Scotland this week could see Scotland break away from Britain. That is a huge, huge issue for him. So I think perhaps ISIS is sort of just -- it's on the stage, but not center stage. We could be sure he is going to get back to it with more force later.

FEYERICK: And it was interesting, Nic, because the statement that David Haines was forced read by his executioner clearly shows that, in fact, the group has or at least the executioner had some understanding of British politics there, even referring to Tony Blair. The voice said speaking, the man in the mask, do we know anything further about him?

ROBERTSON: You know, when I talked to David Cameron last week, he said they were investigating who this man was. It does appear to be the same person in the videos in the murders of James Foley and Steven Sotloff. And the British say that they are working on it, that they're sharing intelligence with their allies. In this case I think it's very clear that's the United States.

But you know, the very words that -- the very words that Mr. Haines was forced -- David Haines was forced to say that, you know, when you listen to his brother, Mike, speak, that very impassioned and emotional way saying, you know, it would be easy for me to say that that I hate the people doing this, but this wasn't David.

The language that we saw that Mr. Haines was forced to use on that videotape by ISIS was not his language, was not his normal words. We've heard his family say that they've had a lot of support from the British government, that they decided not to publicize this because that would endanger David Haines, and they also said that they respected the Muslim faith, the family opens their arms to everyone who sort of wants to reset this relationship. So a very loving family. Not only loving, but the brother who was so brutally murdered, but loving as well in the sort of wider world community -- Deb.

FEYERICK: No question, Nic. And I think we do have that soundbyte by Michael Haines. We want to take a listen so you can hear the humanity of this family.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL HAINES, BROTHER OF SLAIN HOSTAGE: As you will be aware, our brother, son, father, nephew, husband, and friend was brutally and cold-bloodedly murdered by ISIL after being held hostage since March 2013. In that time we have been in constant contact with the foreigner commonwealth office, the police and other authorities. We have as a family received all the support and cooperation that could under the circumstances be given. We could only praise and give our thanks to the agencies that have helped us during our time of immediate. We agree with the government that ISIL are extremely dangerous and pose a threat to every nation, every religion, every politics, every person.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And that was the brother of David Haines. And Nic, obviously, the prime minister, he has his hands full right now, but he has also been very forceful about tackling terrorists. Anybody who is either in the U.K. now or who even plans on coming back, and that's also a big switch. He is saying we're going to take away your citizenship. It's want a right, which I thought was very interesting when he first said that.

ROBERTSON: Yes, he had a speech in parliament about a week ago, and he wasn't able to go quite perhaps as strongly as he would have liked to with the language and what he is capable of doing. But what he has said is that you go off to Syria, you try and come back to this country again after having gone there and say that you've joined ISIS, and you will very likely face the possibility your passport will be taken away from you. It could be taken away over an extended period while the police are allowed to question you.

The British intelligence services here have -- are aware of perhaps about 500 British citizens that have gone to fight in Syria. Just keeping an eye on all of them, if and when they come back, is a massive task.

So what David Cameron wants to do is to keep them at arm's length, to question all of them over an extended period before they come back and many of them that already tried to come back are already facing -- are already facing trials and court hearings coming up in the not too distant future there, Deb.

FEYERICK: You know, and it's amazing because I remember when you and I were both investigating the plot against U.S. jetliners at the time, it was a cell that was in the London area. Is there any indication that intelligence is now questioning the families or the friends or the relatives of any of those who they believe might be fighting in Syria or Iraq with is or any other terror group?

ROBERTSON: There's a lot more being said about it now. And certainly there are situations where families have gone public themselves and have gone to the authorities and said, look, my son, even my daughter has left the country. We believe they've gone to Syria. We want help to get them back. So there is a lot more of that kind of interaction with families. But certainly, in terms of questioning, the British are using extraordinary powers right now to put people on trial and in some cases behind closed doors. This is a sort of departure from the norm, and they will continue to try to use these new methods to stop this happening.

I mean, I talked to people here who are involved in de-radicalization on the streets, and they say since these beheading videos of James Foley, of Steven Sotloff, and now David Haines, they say since these videos have emerged, there's been an upsurge of young people who want to go to fight in Syria, and this is -- this is just making the situation much worse. And that's why we're hearing from David Cameron.

You know, obviously the threat level went up recently in Britain. We heard David Cameron in that statement, and I think this is the first time I've heard him say recently, they planned attacks -- ISIS planned attacks against this country and continues to plan attacks. The specifics of that we don't know what they are, but they're very real threats, and he is making that clear to people that they need to understand that.

FEYERICK: Clearly. And obviously, the threat also, they showed a fourth individual also wearing in the same orange outfit, also a British aid worker. So still a lot to keep an eye on there.

Nick Robertson, thank you so much.

And the Obama administration is also reacting to the beheading of David Haines. Erin McPike joins us live from the White House. And Erin, what is the White House saying? Has this strengthened the resolve? Has this focused the determination?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, Deb. And President Obama issued a brief statement last night condemning the latest act saying that the United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the U.K.

The unfortunate circumstance of this had is that it seems to be advancing the effort of the secretary of state John Kerry's push to build an international coalition, and over the last couple of hours, as we've heard him talk this morning on the CBS program. He is basically saying that they're ling up more countries who are willing to do more things, to get involved in the military effort. I want you to listen here to what he said there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: We have countries in this region, countries outside of this region, in addition to the United States, all of whom are prepared to e engage in military assistance or active strikes if that's what it requires. We're not looking to put troops on the ground. There are some who have offered to do so, but we are not looking for that at this moment anyway.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: Now, as far as that line in the sand that the administration has drawn, which is no troops on the ground, that means no combat troops and no ground troops specifically in Syria. There are, of course, troops who are there to train Iraqi forces and, therefore, security purposes. But this idea of no combat troops is beginning to draw skepticism, particularly from Republicans. I want you to listen here to republican senator Lindsey Graham who was on FOX this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: For anybody to suggest that we can do this with air power alone, or this is like imminent Somalia, disingenuous and delusional.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: But Deb, as we were talking about yesterday, that is what the public wants. Our latest polling shows large majorities of Americans want no troops on the ground, but they do want to see more air strikes.

FEYERICK: It is going to be very interesting also to see what country is really step up to the plate because even the countries in that region are going to be the one to are closest to the activities going on in Iraq and Syria.

Erin McPike, thank you so much. We appreciate it.

And at first John Kerry said no. It's not war. Now after ISIS executes a British aid worker, he says guess what, it is war. So which is it? Our military analyst colonel Rick Francona weighs in coming up straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And Secretary of state John Kerry says the countries in the Middle East and beyond are ready to help with the military operation to defeat is. So here's a question. Is the U.S. officially at war with is? This is how Secretary Kerry answered the question this morning on CBS's "Face The Nation."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KERRY: What I am focus on, obviously, is getting done what we need to get done to ISIL. But if people need to find a place to land in terms of what we did in Iraq, originally this is not a war. This is not combat troops on the ground. It's not hundreds of thousands of people. It's not that kind of mobilization. But in terms of al- Qaeda, which we have used the word war with, yes, we are at war with al-Qaeda, and its affiliates. And in the same context, if you want to use it, yes, we're at war with ISIL in that sense.

But I think it's a waste of time to focus on that, frankly. Let's consider what we have to do to degrade and defeat ISIL, and that's what I'm frankly much more focused on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And I'm joined again by CNN military analyst Colonel Rick Francona.

And Colonel, you hear him talk about war. Look, to the average American, you go into a different country. It's not a social call. So the president is going to have to go to Congress.

LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I believe so. And I know the secretary. He wants to get away from this discussion, so why didn't he just say we're at war? It's not the kind of operation this or operation that. The thing is we are sending young Americans into harm's way dropping bombs on a foreign country. That's an act of war. And at some point the president is going to have to go to Congress because the existing resolutions, I don't believe, are sufficient. What he has right now is authority to go after al-Qaeda. I don't think that extends to ISIS.

FEYERICK: If he were to go in, technically he could go in for 60 days, correct, without having to declare anything, without having to go to anyone?

FRANCONA: Yes. And once he does that it triggers the war powers act. He has got 60 days and he can do a 30-day extension with that. But what we're talking about is going to last much, much longer than that because these people are so far entrenched in western Iraq and eastern Syria, it's going to be a long-term campaign, and the president has said this. It's going to be a long, long operation.

FEYERICK: Do you think the public -- the American public, actually is aware of just how long this could potentially take. Because, for example, they have -- the U.S. air strikes had some success in Iraq. Especially with the Mosul dam, which was taken backed by the Kurdish forces there, this is going to take a while.

FRANCONA: Yes, it is. And the success we're seeing in Iraq right now, I think, is a little deceiving because we blunted momentum. ISIS is on a roll. They were coming down the Tigris valley and Euphrates valley, and it almost looks unstoppable. Bur once you got the U.S. airpower in there and supporting the Iraqi military and the Peshmerga, they were able to stop defensive and try to roll it back. Now, they're stymied right now. They're having trouble. So this is going to go on for some time. But this makes it look like we can do this from the air with no other boots on the ground.

And I think it is a little deceptive for the American public right now because I think soon we are going to come to the realization that this is a much bigger deal than we thought. And especially if the president is serious about destroying ISIS, that means we have to look at this whole ISIS operation, and that involves two countries -- Iraq and Syria.

FEYERICK: We also have to look at the propaganda that's going on. It is no coincidence that they executed a third individual. Look, every time they release one of those videos, basically what they are doing is they are trying to saw fear. They're also trying to recruit other fighters to come and join them. But they're also trying to tap into the local Sunni discontent to broaden their forces. So if they know that a coalition is being formed with the U.S., with the British, with other countries, they need manpower.

FRANCONA: Yes. And they're getting the recruits because when this looks like and we have to be careful how we frame this, is the Americans are rushing in on the side of the Shia. And it looks like we're becoming the Shia air force, and it just drives recruitment. And it heightens this anti-Shia feeling that we see in the Sunni community.

Most of the Shia in Iraq -- I'm sorry. Most of the Sunnis in Iraq that are allied with ISIS, they're not really signed up for this radical theology. They are there because it's anti-Shia. Someday that will change, and we have to hasten that change. We're looking for a new Arab awakening, the new Anbar awakening that we saw in 2007.

FEYERICK: And the hope is, perhaps, now with new leadership in Iraq, the ability to stabilize that country that perhaps if you can get Iraq, then you only have Syria to deal with possibly.

FRANCONA: Well, that's what the president is hoping that this new government will be inclusive and can attract some of those Sunnis back. Thus far, it doesn't appear to be the case, but we can hope.

FEYERICK: OK. Colonel Rick Francona, we appreciate your insights in all of this as always.

Well, it was a very bad week in pro sports from Ray Rice and Roger Goodell to Adrian Peterson. The spotlight on the NFL and now yet another player is not going to be taking the field today. What is going on? Details coming up just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, put on those jerseys, kick back. That's right. It is game day in the NFL. But some key players will not be on the field today because of issues that they're having off the field. One of them is Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy. He was convicted of domestic violence in July. Well, now the panthers suddenly deactivated him this morning.

CNN's Alexander Field joins me now. Alexander, do we know the reason for the panther's decision? Did they get a call from headquarters?

ALEXANDER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are not saying explicitly why they made this choice. They surprised a lot of people, though, by putting out that tweet that he had been deactivated. Because Greg Hardy played just a week ago against the Buccaneers. But we know that Greg Hardy has been facing trouble off the field. Convicted for domestic violence. He was convicted by a judge. He says he is innocent. He is appealing that decision. He will go to trial in November. The charge is that he attacked, tried to choke the woman who was his girlfriend at the time.

Right now the Panthers are only saying that he won't play today. We don't know what the rest of the season holds. This announcement certainly capping off what has been one of arguably the toughest weeks in the NFL's history.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD (voice-over): It's game day, and the NFL is taking the heat. Online a popular hash tag, -#boycottNFL. Also this photo shopped version of a cover girl ad for the NFL make up line altered to show a woman with a black eye. The commissioner himself Roger Goodell is being called out by a women's group with plans to fly banner planes with the message "Goodell must go" over several NFL stadiums.

And in Minnesota, the Vikings take on the Patriots for the first home game of the season without their star player. Running back Adrian Peterson is out of the game. He is in the middle of a seven-year deal with the team with a whopping maximum of $100 million. His face is on today's tickets, but it's also in yesterday's mug shot.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Obviously parents are entitled to discipline their children as they see fit except for when that discipline exceeds what the community would say is reasonable.

FIELD: Peterson is out on $15,000 bond following an indictment by a Texas grand jury on a felony charge. His attorney says he is accused of using a switch to spank his son, but he goes on to defend Peterson saying Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son. He used the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas.

The NFL is reviewing the case. The same week that they took action to indefinitely suspend the Baltimore Ravens star running back Ray Rice. This weekend Rice made a brief return to the football field. On the sidelines at his high school's football game. His wife Janay Rice by his side. It's the first time they have been seen publicly since video of the athlete attacking his then fiance was made public. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ray is a part of our family and a part of this

program, and that's why I'm very happy he is here today because he made a mistake and he made a very terrible mistake, but I know that character of the man, and he will rise from this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FIELD: The support for Ray Rice from his former high school football coach there, Ray Rice did not speak to the cameras at yesterday's game. As for Adrian Peterson, he has not spoken out publicly about the charges that he is facing, but he did just tweet out today a verse from the bible. It starts with "come to me and rest, give your mind a break from its habitual judging amidst (ph)." Seems to be leaving it at that for now, Deb.

FEYERICK: You know, it's interesting also, we see Ray Rice on the sideline, and clearly this is a man who worked very hard to get where he was. All of a sudden now he is dealing with this. But this is also very staged. This led him to something more he kind of showed up and decided I'm going to support my former team. This, there was a little bit of drama to all of this and you were there.

FIELD: Yes, a little bit of theater around this. Look, the rumor had been out there that Ray Rice is going to show up at this game. So it is not the that he just woke up and decided that he needed to get to football field. And there was some anticipation building at the field beforehand. You could see some security around. A couple of squad cars. The media. We were kept far away from Ray Rice. All he got to do was see him and the visual is him being surrounded by his friends, having his wife at his side, some people shaking his hand, giving him a hug.

So, you know, it'll be optics, I would imagine, for his team seem to be the appropriate way to re-introduce him to the public because we have not seen him since that video came out.

FEYERICK: Right. And nor have we heard -- heard from him.

OK. Alexandra Field, thanks so much. Really appreciate it.

FEYERICK: And coming up, how do you fight with a ground war with ISIS militants only from the air. How is that possible? The White House says that ground troops are also needed, but any country who's willing to put boots on the ground, that is the big question.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And one of the prevailing questions about the U.S. engaging ISIS is can you actually beat a terror group by fighting it just from the air? The U.S. has conducted airstrikes against ISIS, and now it's promising even more, but what about the ground fight? Will anybody be able to fight ISIS on the ground?

Chief political correspondent Candy Crowley asked President Obama's chief of staff that on "STATE OF THE UNION." And as you see he hedges when pressed about any country putting those so-called boots on the ground.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENIS MCDONOUGH, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I'm not going to front- run any announcement from any countries or from Secretary Kerry, who's in the region, or from John Alan since the president will be --

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN ANCHOR, STATE OF THE UNION: Right. You didn't need to name specifics. I just mean, has anyone said yes, we will put --

MCDONOUGH: Again -- again, I'm not going to front-run any announcements, but the president will be sitting down with John Alan on Tuesday morning. Secretary Kerry is continuing to work this in the region. He'll be testifying in Congress this week. And we'll make sure that we build coalition that is durable, that is sustainable, and has focused on the fundamental goal of this effort, which is to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIS.

CROWLEY: Do you need troops on the ground other than Syrian rebels that you can vet and then train and arm and Iraqi troops and Peshmerga?

MCDONOUGH: Ultimately to destroy ISIL we do need to have a force, an anvil against which they will be pushed. Ideally Sunni forces. That's why the Syrian opposition is so important, and that's why this proposal that the president has sent to Congress to authorize us to train and equip the Syrian opposition that's on the ground fighting ISIL today with better training, better weapons, so that they can take the fight to them, that's why that effort is so important. We'll do the same side on the Iraqi border with the Iraqis.

But ultimately, Candy, we can bring airpower to bear on this. We can bring ISR and we can bring training capability. It's going to be Iraqi and other boots on the ground that are bringing this fight to ISIL ultimately to destroy them.

CROWLEY: So -- and Sunni forces could include forces from many other countries in that region because they are obviously Saudi Arabia, others could put forces on the ground.

MCDONOUGH: The main thing I want to focus on today because of the importance of this -- these votes this week in Congress is focus on the Syrian opposition. The Syrian opposition wants to fight -- did their fight, and we should facilitate them to do that.

CROWLEY: And, you know, just last month the president was talking to Tom Friedman and sort of described Syrian rebels as, you know, former doctors and pharmacists and sort of -- and said it was a myth, a fairy tale, I believe he used the word fairy tale. It was a fairy tale that we could ever arm them and put them up against a Russian-backed Syrian government.

Why are they now trainable and able to push back against what everyone has said is the most brutal fighting force America has ever faced. MCDONOUGH: Look, I think that the question that the president was

responding to at the time was looking back a couple of years. We've had a relationship with these -- with these fighters now for a couple of years. They're getting better and more capable. And what's most important here is that the Syrian opposition on the ground fighting ISIL can count on American and coalition airpower to super charge their effort. That's important, and that's ultimately going to be what is called for in this strategy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: Well, a British aid worker is the third victim, but will this latest execution guarantee that Britain join the United States? Their fight against ISIS, a man who used to advise former prime minister, Tony Blair, he's going to be joining us coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And underscoring the national threat, Britain moving closer to joining the fight against ISIS after a British aid worker is executed. Prime Minister David Cameron said today that there will not be British boots on the ground in Iraq. However, he said the United Kingdom will not shirk its responsibility either.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: There is no option of keeping our heads down that would make us safe. The problem would merely get worse, as it has done over recent months. Not just for us, but for Europe and for the world. We cannot just walk on by if we are to keep this country safe. We have to confront this menace. Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle, and ultimately destroy ISIL and what it stands for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And I'm joined now by Matthew Doyle, who used to be an advisor to former prime minister Tony Blair from 2005 to 2012.

Thank you for joining us. Interestingly, this victim, David Haines, was forced to read a statement, which said, you know, don't do it, David Cameron. Don't do what Tony Blair did so many years ago. What is your reaction to how the prime minister is reacting today?

MATTHEW DOYLE, FORMER ADVISER TO BRITISH P.M. TONY BLAIR: This is one of immense sorrow and sadness at this brutal murder that we've seen of David Haines. A guy who dedicated his life to the service of others, who was an aide worker who'd worked in everywhere from Croatia to South Sudan to Syria. So my first reaction is just one of utter sadness and thoughts which is obviously his family at this time.

In terms of a policy response, then I think it's right that this is a threat that has to be confronted. What do we mean by that? Well, there are three elements to that ultimately, I believe. One is the current containment of Islamic State. Second is dealing with the counterterrorism threat that they pose to Europe and the rest of the world, and, thirdly, is them ultimately seeking the collapse of Islamic State.

And I think we need to look at what our objectives are, put together the right coalitions to do that, and deal with the different elements, but there is no -- there is no option of sitting this fight out.

FEYERICK: When we think about what the prime minister has said, you know, where he is saying it looks like U.S. airstrikes will be a possibility, but not necessarily putting ground troops in.

If you were advising the prime minister now, as you did Tony Blair, what would you tell him? What would you say is the right thing to do?

DOYLE: So I think there are five elements that we need to look at here. There is issues around travel and the people that are going to be foreign fighters. There is intelligence cooperation, working with people, other countries in the region. There's looking at what we can do in terms of airstrikes, whether that's manned or unmanned, whether that's by the U.S. and the U.K., or whether we get other countries involved as well, such as the UAE.

There's looking at money and the financing of Islamic State and what we can do to cut off that source of funding for them and, however, you know, tragic it is to say this when we've just seen the brutal murder of David Haines, we've got to send a message that ransom payments should not be paid to Islamic State because it just funds further activities on their part. However tough that message is for the families of those that have been held hostage.

And then fifthly, there's an element of what we can look at doing with special forces and if we know the sites that they are working from, the places that we can attack, then I think that's something that we should look at doing. But clearly a broader boots on the ground operation isn't where public opinion is. It's not where the governments are. And ultimately, I don't think it's actually what's needed at this stage. I think it is more about funding and supporting people like the Kurdish Peshmerga or the forces in Syria.

FEYERICK: And clearly, we've got to take a very close look at the funding because the funding really -- oil being sold on the black market and that oil passing through Turkey. Turkey in a very difficult position, obviously, because they've got 49 hostages that are being held by -- in Iraq, I should say.

Matthew Doyle, thank you so much. We appreciate your joining us today.

DOYLE: Thank you.

FEYERICK: And coming up, that's right, the question. Will she? Won't she? Will she? That's the question many want Hillary Clinton to answer. She and her husband Bill in Iowa about to speak. A live report. We're going to have that.

Then a familiar face takes on a tough challenge, and guess what. Our Fredricka Whitfield made it through her triathlon. She's tired but energized. I'm going to talk to her coming up next. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN HOST, UNGUARDED WITH RACHEL NICHOLS: The U.S. Open was your 18th career grand slam win. That ties you with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Christy and Martina. I just want to let that sink in.

SERENA WILLIAMS, GRAND SLAM CHAMPION: I know.

NICHOLS: What is that like?

WILLIAMS: It's really -- I don't know. It just doesn't seem right. Chris and Martina, Serena. It's like, my goodness. I can officially be there now. So it feels great because if you hear these names growing up, and you don't think that one day you're going to say, oh, Serena, but you don't think about yourself like this. You think I'm going to work hard and do the best I can. And then you start chasing titles and start chasing legends, and it's just a great feeling.

NICHOLS: And Chris and Martina surprised you on the court during the trophy presentation.

WILLIAMS: I was totally surprised.

NICHOLS: And they gave you a nice gift there. That number 18 charm bracelet. You want to hold it up there?

WILLIAMS: He this gave me a 18 charm bracelet. Number 18.

NICHOLS: Very nice. What was that moment like?

WILLIAMS: It was great. I didn't expect it, so I was really happy to see those two amazing, amazing women come out and support me like that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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FEYERICK: And as you know, Fredricka Whitfield would normally be sitting here in this anchor chair today, but she has been in California all week participating in the Malibu Triathlon. She's there along with CNN's Fit Nation team, and it's all for a great cause. A charity to raise money for the Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

Well, our latest, newest, greatest triathlete joins me live from Malibu.

Fred, you just finished a short time ago. First of all, how are you feeling? You look good.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, thank you. I'm feeling great now that it's over because believe along the way, especially that last discipline of running, that just completely reduced me to nothing, but it was fantastic. It was invigorating. Of course, it begins with the half mile swim.

We start at the start line, of course. Hundreds of people. We all head into that icy cold Pacific Ocean. We swim a half mile, 150 yards out, 540 yards along -- parallel to the coast, and then another 150 yards in. You're battling the waves and there's a lot of riptides out there. So you're constantly being pulled back. But it really is a wonderful feeling. It's a great personal challenge.

You have met the sassy six, part of the CNN Fit Nation. That is Sanjay Gupta's team that were hand-selected because of so many different personal stories as to why they wanted to do this. Whether it was weight loss or perhaps they wanted to quit smoking or they were cancer survivors.

And for me personally I'm not one of the sassy six, but I'm part of the Fit Nation. This was just an opportunity for me to just push my limits. I have always wanted to do the Malibu triathlon, and so I started my training about seven months ago. And I had -- you know, I started it with baby steps. That's the key. And then worked my way up to get myself ready for this, and then we all came out here and met, some of us meeting for the first time, earlier this week to get acclimated with the climate here, get acclimated with the ocean swim.

It was fantastic, invigorating, wonderful. Swimming, I felt super wonderful. Biking, I was -- I surprised myself that I did pretty well, and I felt good along the way, but I really put all that I had into the swim and the biking because I knew my running would be the weakest, and, indeed, it was. My legs felt like lead once I was done with the biking, but, you know what, finished. I'm very happy about it.

And then to surprise me in all of this the incredible encounter, I can't believe I actually won third place in my division.

FEYERICK: Well done.

WHITFIELD: But you know what, I missed the ceremony because I thought there's no way. I don't -- I don't stand a chance. So I went to go get my stuff, and then Sanjay comes running over and says, Fred, where were you for the medal ceremony? You got third place. So I missed my name being called. But I did run over there and I got my medal. So I'm very proud and very happy. And even though that video of me running, I looked very sad, I was hurting, but I did pick it up later on.

FEYERICK: And plus, you had the Achilles heel injury.

WHITFIELD: So of course --

(CROSSTALK)

FEYERICK: Absolutely. You know what, the discipline you put into this race, Fredricka, was really inspiring just to watch you, how many hours you put in to train. So you deserve that medal. We are all just so excited and so proud of you.

One quick question, how are you celebrating right now?

WHITFIELD: Thank you. I don't know. I mean, I'm not sure. All of it is just, you know, hit me with lots of surprises. I'm not really sure. I think I'm probably just going to enjoy kicking up my heels for a second. Maybe I'll get a massage or something later. But I'm so hungry that I do need to sit down for a really big meal.

(LAUGHTER)

FEYERICK: It's California. It's Malibu. We are sure that you will find something.

Fredricka Whitfield, congratulations. Great job. Great charity.

WHITFIELD: Thank you. Yes.

FEYERICK: And perhaps we'll get a list to see who competes next year. Thanks so much. Appreciate it. Enjoy.

WHITFIELD: Thanks.

FEYERICK: And coming up, will she? Won't she? Hillary Clinton acting more like a presidential candidate as she prepares to speak in Iowa, and that's where we're going to be. We've got a team in place. We're going to hear what she has to say and what she's doing.

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FEYERICK: The 2016 presidential Election Day is still some 185 days from today. Feels like that. But you might think it is. It's around the corner if you're in Iowa. Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, are just out of Des Moines. And they are there for a must-attend event for any Democrat who wants to get to the White House.

They are at the Tom Harkin Steak Fry, and that's where we find our intrepid senior political correspondent Brianna Keilar and our national political reporter Peter Hamby also there.

First of all, Brianna, what do we expect to hear from the Clintons?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think what we're going to be hearing from the Clintons, Deb, is a lot about Tom Harkin. He is retiring. This is really almost a big retirement party for him. They are expecting about 5,000 guests here, many of which it appears many of these guests, of course, here already.

We are at this point -- I'll tell you where we are. We're looking at the press, and this is why I want to bring in our national political reporter Peter Hamby, as we talk about what's going on here.

Peter, this is sort of -- there is the steak fry, but really they grill steaks, and this is a photo op where we'll see Hillary Clinton grilling steaks with Tom Harkin. But all of this media here, I mean, this is a problem for her, right? PETER HAMBY, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER: It speaks to her

challenges, but also her strengths. And her strength is that obviously she can command this media attention, get all this earned media, which is, you know, running for president can't be under estimated. But I mean, this crowd, there are over 250 media from all over the country and all over world as far away as from Japan.