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At This Hour

ISIS Militants Engaged in Worst Human Behavior; Former Boston Mayor Dies; Tensions Between Obama, Israeli's Netanyahu; Researchers May Have Found Plane of Amelia Earhart; Lebron Plays First Game in Cleveland

Aired October 30, 2014 - 11:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: More shocking evidence of ISIS militants engaged in the worst of human behavior, women very young, kidnapped and, worse, raped repeatedly by members of ISIS and used as sex slaves.

Our Ivan Watson spoke to a young victim and brings us her horrifying story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Janna was a 19-year-old high school senior with dreams of becoming a doctor when ISIS first came to her village.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): They came to the village and said you have to convert to Islam or we will kill you.

WATSON: Janna -- not her real name -- is from the village of ethnic Kurds from the Yazidi religious minority, which was surrounded and occupied by ISIS. Soon after, she says, they ordered the entire village to go to the school where they separated the men from the women. According to a United Nations report ISIS gathered all males older than 10 years of age, took them outside the village by pickup trucks and shot them. A different fate lay in store for the women.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): They separated the girls and the women who had children and the old women. They took us girls to Mosul to a big three-story house.

WATSON: Janna says there were hundreds of girls in the house and they got visits from the men of ISIS.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): They came to the room and looked around at the girls, and if they liked one, they chose her and took her. If the girls cried and didn't want to leave, they beat the girl. The guy who chose me was 70 years old and he took me to his house. There were four Yazidi girls there already. They hit us and didn't give us enough to eat or drink. He put me in a room and put a gun to my head. I was on the ground. He said I will kill you because you won't convert to Islam. That night, they came and took an 11- year-old girl away. When she came back, she told me they raped her. WATSON: Dr. Nazand Bagikhani (ph) is an adviser to the Kurdistan

regional government and an expert on gender violence. She says ISIS kidnapped more than 2,500 Yazidi women last August. Since then, she says the captive women have been bought and sold across Iraq and Syria like cattle.

DR. NAZAND BAGIKHANI, ADVISOR TO KURDISTAN REGIONAL GOVERNMENT: They have two first aims, first to recruit youngsters by giving them these young girls and women, and, secondly, to humiliate and expose these women into slavery and systematic rape.

WATSON: Since August, Kurdish authorities succeeded in rescuing only a fraction of the thousands of kidnapped Yazidi women.

But Bagikhani says all of those rescued say they were raped.

(on camera): If you could say something to the man who took you to his house, what would you want to tell this guy?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): I don't want to tell him anything. I just want to kill him.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: Such terrible heartbreak that young woman and so many others have endured and are enduring.

We want to turn to breaking news now. Thomas Manino, the former mayor of Boston, has died at age 71 following a lengthy battle with cancer, the 53rd mayor of Boston.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: The former mayor, the longest-serving mayor in that city's history, served for more than 20 years in office. Known as the Urban Mechanic. A lot of big city mayors are these big colorful figures, larger than life. He got stuff done. He wasn't some big fiery orator. There was a favorite poll, 57 percent of Bostonians say they met Thomas Menino.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: 57 percent of the people in that city say they met this man because he was everywhere. Of course, at the very end of his career, he was the mayor of Boston during the Boston Marathon bombings. A lot of people look at that and say that may be one of his finest moments, he typified "Boston Strong." He was limping around. He was battling illness then. He was even in and out of the hospital during this period dealing with his sickness.

PEREIRA: Several times, we saw him on camera in press conferences in a wheelchair. He battled a lengthy illness. He's been sick as far back as 2003 when he first had surgery. We should mention he's survived by his wife and two children and six grandchildren. Definitely, a loss for the city of Boston.

You're a son of that city. I know you feel this loss significantly.

BERMAN: He will be missed, but he served the city very well. Everyone there will remember him.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: There's a few secrets in Washington. This is not one of them. President Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu do not get along. The Israeli prime minister often compared their relationship to an old couple bickering over every little thing.

BERMAN: But this week, that relationship entered a new level. A bombshell article in "The Atlantic" quoting an administration official calling Benjamin Netanyahu names, bad names. It could have huge diplomatic implications.

Listen how the White House is trying to massage the situation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUSAN RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The relationship is not in crisis. The relationship is actually fundamentally stronger in many respects than it's ever been. We have the greatest and strongest security cooperation between the United States and Israel that has ever occurred, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has held to that on many occasions. President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu have a constructive and effective relationship. They have met one another more frequently than President Obama has met any other foreign leader.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: Susan Rice there. Sounds like damage control to me.

Let's bring in global affairs correspondent, Elise Labott.

Elise, she is set to meet the senior Israeli delegation, or at least we know the White House is set to receive them today. I'm kind of thinking it would be nice to be a fly on the wall. I'm expecting this will be addressed, no?

ELISA LABOTT, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Michaela, it might be addressed on the margins, but I don't think it will be a big issue on the meeting. Everything that Susan Rice said more or less is true. The security relationship between the U.S. and Israel is still very tight. U.S. officials say they acknowledge that there's a lot of tension in the relationship with Israel right now, particularly on name calling that the Israelis have done about Secretary of State Kerry, and also about settlement activity, a lot of other things. But that security relationship, the U.S. funding for Iron Dome, for instance, or how they approach Iran, that type of stuff is sacrosanct. While it might be mentioned, I don't see this name calling have a big effect on U.S. foreign policy on Israel or vice versa.

BERMAN: Didn't need the name calling for the situation to be tense right now because the United States has been very critical of settlements, of housing units being built inside Jerusalem. What's the prime minister's response to all this been? LABOTT: Basically, he was a little bit defensive about it, saying

that he was just working on behalf of Israel's best interest.

Take a listen to Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday.

Unfortunately, we don't have that sound. Unfortunately, we don't have that sound from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

But basically, what he said was he was acting on Israel's best interest. He said, I've been on the battlefield many times, I've risked my life for the country, and I'm not willing to make concessions that would endanger our country. He did go on to do a little damage control of his own, saying that he really treasured the deep partnership that the U.S. and Israel have.

Now, I am hearing from some of my sources that while that security relationship remains tight, the U.S. frustration with Israel could manifest itself in the longstanding political support that the U.S. offers Israel at the United Nations and in Europe. As you know, Palestinian President Abbas has been going to the United Nations trying to declare a Palestinian state. Who is the U.S. going to defend Israel? Maybe the U.S., while keeping close to Israel on security issues, may not offer that strong unequivocal, "going the extra mile" type of support that you've seen in the past --John and Michaela?

BERMAN: Elise Labott, thank you so much.

PEREIRA: Something happening @THISHOUR, Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health speaking right now at the Washington Ideas Forum in Washington, D.C. Among the things he's discussing is the U.S. response to Ebola. Given the quarantine battle goings-on right now in Maine, we're going to keep an eye on this and monitor it. Let you know if he announces anything or makes any news there.

Ahead here, Amelia Earhart, she and her plane vanished decades ago. But a new clue could help solve one of our greatest mysteries.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Want to take you back to a situation we have been watching near Wichita, Kansas. Emergency crews are responding to a plane into a building. We've learned a few details about this situation at Midcontinent Airport. It was a small plane that reportedly lost power, lost engine power as it was taking off, and hit the building of the training center, the flight safety building. Right now they're working the find out how many people were on board and if there were any other people in the building.

BERMAN: A King Air 200. No word on how many people on board. The affiliate said one person in critical condition. We will tell you when we find out more. PEREIRA: We want to turn now to one of the greatest mysteries,

arguably, what happened to Amelia Earhart, whose plane disappeared on her flight around the world back in 1937. Researchers believe they may have the answer now. They believe this piece of aluminum discovered some 23 years ago in the Southwest Pacific came from Earhart's aircraft.

BERMAN: The connection after all these years is a fresh look at this photo was taken during her stopover in Miami. Investigators say it is a perfect match to the fragment. They released this statement: "The patch was as unique to her particular aircraft as a fingerprint is to an individual." The group will return to the island next year to see if they can find more clues.

Joining us to talk about this is Amelia Rose Earhart -- no relation, which is a story in and of itself.

(LAUGHTER)

She completed her name sake's round-the-world journey in a single- engine plane just this year.

Amelia, tell us your thoughts on this new connection?

AMELIA ROSE EARHART, PILOT(voice-over): You know, it's certainly exciting. Any piece of evidence that leads us closer towards putting the cap on that huge mystery of what happened to Amelia Earhart, it lights me up because it gets people reengaged in her story which has fascinated millions of people through the years.

It fascinated your parents so much that they named you after her. You actually retraced her -- I was going to say her footsteps, but her wing steps, if you will -- and went on this same journey that she was endeavoring to do. I'm curious, given that voyage that you've taken, do you have theories about what happened to her?

EARHART: You know, now that I've flown through the South Pacific, flying over areas like Papua New Guinea is very close to where this piece of metal was found, not only did I gain a new perspective on the amount of bravery Amelia and Fred Noonan had, but also certainly give light to the possibilities out there. If she was able to make it to an island and live a few days, that's a theory. It's tough for me to choose, as her namesake, because I've been contacted by so many research groups with all the different theories. I try to focus on her life and legacy and leave the professionals to do the research work on exactly what happened.

BERMAN: You've flown over the island where they found the new piece of metal that's led them to reach this big conclusion. Tell me about that place where they found this metal, and what of these many theories would lend itself to that metal being there?

EARHART: You know, I flew about 350 miles away from the area where the metal was found. I flew directly over Howland Island, which is where the runway was built back in the 1930s for Amelia to land on after she passed through Papua, New Guinea. It's a similar one to where the metal was found and it's tiny. We're talking four miles across in terms of the beach around the island, 450 square acres on Howland Island, in particular, so tiny. It would be tough to survive because, obviously, there's no inhabitants out there. She would have to be living on what was on the island, which basically is just small bushes and brush. You know, if this turns out to be linked to her connection, I hope that area of the world is the main focus, and I hope certainly we can find the rest of the aircraft.

PEREIRA: My goodness. After alls these years, it would be truly amazing for this mystery to finally be solved.

Amelia Rose Earhart, thank you so much for joining us today. And hopefully, we can talk to you again once they get out there and take a better look at that area.

BERMAN: All right. Coming up for us, Lebron James, plays his first game back with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not in that uniform, in a Cleveland uniform. Why? Well, it's because of us, because of this show, and one fan that made it happen. He is back with us.

PEREIRA: There he is!

BERMAN: Coming up next.

(LAUGHTER)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: So it is a special day here @THISHOUR. Lebron James plays his first game back as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

PEREIRA: You're earnest about this.

BERMAN: This is one of the biggest stories in sports this year. And we like to think that it is because of us. You see, in July, we had Jason Herron on our show.

PEREIRA: Oh, yeah.

BERMAN: A long suffering Cleveland Cavaliers fan who once burned a Lebron James Jersey for leaving Cleveland. But he came back on our show to beg Lebron to go back to Cleveland. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON HERRON, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS FAN: I can't imagine him doing this to us twice. You know, this is his home. His kids are going to go to school in Akron. The gymnasium is called the Lebron James Gymnasium. I'm sure that's where he wants his kids to play sports and go to school and retire here. He's got a beautiful mansion in bath outside of Akron and you know if he does this to us again I don't know if he can come home.

So, Lebron, if you're watching, all is forgiven, come home, baby.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: We really are about forgiveness here @THISHOUR. Within 15 minutes of that plea, Lebron James made the announcement he was going back.

You see, it was us, and Jason Herron, we should point out, who joins us once again today. Jason, you must feel like a man who, I don't know, are you feeling

vindicated, good, are you ready?

HERRON: John, Michaela, before we start, in honor of Lebron's return -- Welcome home, Lebron! Let's get this party started. We are ready!

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: So you're handling this very well. You're very calm about this, very steady heading into tonight.

PEREIRA: Oh, goodness.

HERRON: It is going to be one of those nights that Cleveland is never going to forget. I'm honored to be able to go. I'm a season ticket holder. I just have goose bumps thinking about what it's going to be like there tonight. They're unveiling the new scoreboard called humongoustron. The biggest scoreboard in the arena. When they introduce Lebron, from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, the place will go insane, and when he throws the chalk in the air, I don't think there will be a dry eye in the place.

PEREIRA: It's been some time since we've spoken to you, a long time since you've been able to watch a basketball game, an NBA game. What have you been doing with yourself? Have you been out shopping, maybe replace that Jersey that you so famously burned?

HERRON: I suddenly became a lot better looking since Lebron came back. I have all these girls wanting me to take them to Cavs' games. It's been a heck of a ride. The CNN show we did, that day, obviously you guys were great and everywhere I've gone since then, people have brought it up that how ironic it was he came back. As soon as I left the show I met a friend for lunch and I've been honored to be in a couple Lee Jenkins' "Sports Illustrated" story and I checked Twitter and there he was breaking news. No one believed he was back because it wasn't on TV yet. The place went insane. One of those days you'll never forget. Everyone hugging, high fiving. It has been an incredible ride all coming down to tonight. It's going to be great.

BERMAN: So you got him back. Is it safe to say it's all downhill for here from you?

HERRON: No, are you kidding me?

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: Anything less than several championships would be a huge disappointment, right?

HERRON: One championship is all we're asking for. I mean this is going to be a heck of a ride. It starts tonight and we're hoping it goes through June. I mean I went downtown on the way here and it looks like Vegas downtown. Media trucks everywhere. They're unveiling the new Lebron banner, Kevin Love banner, Kyrie Irving banner, having 40 watch parties tonight downtown. All the bars will be packed. All the hotels are booked. My favorite bar in Kent, where I went to school two hours from here, the Water Street Tavern, is expecting a record crowd tonight. This is just one game. This is opening night. This isn't even a playoff game. The excitement that he is creating around all of northeast Ohio from Cleveland to Akron to my hometown of Salem, Ohio, two hours away, everyone wearing Cavs gear, all over social media. He's galvanized this entire region.

PEREIRA: Super fan, Jason Herron, we're glad you're part of our show, we're glad we're part of something, you haven't lost -- we haven't lost that passion because I was a little concerned maybe he would have become more and more subdued but good to see you brought the glitter, baby.

BERMAN: A quick congratulations.

HERRON: You have to come to a game this year.

PEREIRA: We will. We'll sit with you.

HERRON: Every game will be incredible.

BERMAN: You've got it. It's on you.

(LAUGHTER)

Thanks so much.

HERRON: All right.

BERMAN: Let's talk about a team that has already won a championship, three of them in the last five years. The San Francisco Giants did it again last night. Game seven behind the greatest World Series pitcher of all time, Madison Baumgartner. Congratulations to you and the Giants.

And to you, who once lived in San Francisco.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: That's all for us. I'm John Berman.

PEREIRA: And I'm Michaela Pereira.

This is how you roll. I see how it is and I'm not talking to you for another hour.

(LAUGHTER)

"LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts now.