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President Obama Goes To China; Americans Kenneth Bae And Matthew Todd Miller Released From North Korean Prison; Germany Celebrates Fall Of Berlin Wall; Decision To Be Handed Down On Michael Brown Shooting In Ferguson, Missouri Soon

Aired November 09, 2014 - 15:00   ET

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

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: And President Obama is now on his way to Asia. He is due to land in Beijing just a few hours from now. But there are other questions about his agenda and what he will be able to accomplish there.

Plus, 200 million Americans bracing for a polar plunge. Tim is about to take a nosedive into the single digits, and some places could see snow. That's right. Snow. A look at where you'll need to bundle up.

Hello. I'm Pamela Brown in for Fredricka Whitfield. Thank you for joining us on this Sunday.

And we begin with the return home for two Americans who have been held captive in North Korea. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller are now back home with their families here in the U.S. after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un suddenly ordered their release. The timing of this has many wondering if he will want something in return.

So in that note I want to bring in CNN's Paula Hancocks, live in Seoul, South Korea.

Paula, the big question, why now?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, nothing happens by accident in North Korea. Everything that comes out of that country is highly choreographed. Every picture you see of the leader, everything on state-run media, and the fact that they have released these two U.S. citizens. So every analyst says there is definitely something that North Korea wants.

Now, they have pegged this as a humanitarian gesture, and they have effectively said that they should doing this because of the U.S. President Barack Obama having a number of requests and also an apology which, of course, is propaganda gold for the North Korean leader being able to say to his own people the most powerful man in the world has apologized for what these two men have done. Their crimes or at least crimes as they're seen in North Korea.

Certainly from a PR point of view, Kim Jong-Un has got a fair amount from this. But of course, the question is what else does he want? We are seeing a remarkable charm offensive from the North Korean leader, from the top officials traveling around the world. We have three men, the number two, three, and four in North Korea come here to South Korea recently. This is effectively enemy territory. So we really are seeing a charm offensive from Pyongyang. Most likely according to analysts, because of this United Nations report on its human rights abuses. That's going through the process within the U.N. now accusing Pyongyang a crime against humanity. It appears as though this PR by Pyongyang is trying to mitigate that report and also improve its image around the world -- Pamela.

BROWN: And when you talk about the apology from President Obama apparently in a letter brought to Pyongyang by the U.S. director of national intelligence James Clapper. I'm curious that the North Korean government released a statement. What did they say about this?

HANCOCKS: Well, video we've heard about this is from the North Korean side. So, of course, it will be interesting to hear if Washington does admit that yes, President Obama did give that apology. This is really what Pyongyang wanted. They wanted the commander in chief of the U.S., President Obama, to be apologizing to the leader of North Korea.

Now, there are no diplomatic ties between these two countries, as they have been for some time. But of course, the fact is this is the closest indirect meeting or connection that these two leaders have ever had. So it is significant that this letter was taken by James Clapper, effectively saying that he was the personal envoy. It's significant.

BROWN: And especially this letter is supposed to be short and sweet, apparently, according to the U.S. officials we've been speaking with.

Thank you so much, Paula Hancocks.

And right now, the families of Bae and Miller are simply happy to have them back as you can imagine.

CNN's Ana Cabrera is right outside Kenneth Bae's sister's church in Seattle.

Ana, tell us more about this reunion. I can imagine it was a very emotional. What are the men saying about being back home?

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was such a joyful reunion, indeed, when we saw both those families embrace their loved ones as, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller, as they arrived here back in the U.S. We're hearing more about what Kenneth Bae has been up to since he arrived this morning. We understand he has been eating pizza, spending a lot of time sharing stories with his family and friends, really enjoying those simple pleasure. And we're outside the church where we know they have held vigils and prayers for Kenneth Bae over the past two years. Well, today. Pam, those prayers have been answered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA (voice-over): After months and years of detention, two Americans held prisoner in North Korea are back in the United States. First off the plane, Kenneth Bae, who had been held for two years. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for hostile acts against the government, claiming he was part of a Christian plot to overthrow the regime.

KENNETH BAE, FREED IN NORTH KOREA: I just want to say thank you all for supporting me and standing by me through this time, and it's been just amazing blessing to see so many people being involved getting the release the last two years. Not only mentioning for the thousands of people praying for me as well.

CABRERA: Then Matthew Todd Miller stepped off. Miller had been detained since April. He was sentenced to six years of hard labor. He had been accused of tearing up his tourist visa and seeking asylum upon entry to North Korea. Miller did not speak to the media after his arrival. Their release comes after North Korea unexpectedly reached out to the White House to set a cabinet level official to discuss the detentions. But apparently there wasn't a guarantee that the Americans would be brought home. They were set free after director of national intelligence James Clapper went to the capital of Pyongyang in a secret mission delivering a letter from President Obama to North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un. The letter was said to be short and to the point, but Clapper did not meet with Kim.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: (INAUDIBLE) it is a wonderful day for the families (INAUDIBLE).

CABRERA: Their released comes less than a month after North Korea let go Jeffrey Fowle, an Ohio man who spent five month to detention. And now, with the men who just returned, there are no Americans being held in North Korea.

BAE: It has been amazing two years. I learned a lot. I grew a lot. Lost a lot of weight and good way. But standing strong because of you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CABRERA: A happy endings to the story for both families, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller. As we mentioned, Matthew Miller's family has chosen to make this a private matter and does not want to see to the media. And we just see to the U.S. official about what is next. And he basically said it is up to them because they are truly free -- Pam.

BROWN: Incredible here Kenneth Bae sick there. He seems like he is remarkably good spirit after what he went through.

Ana Cabrera live for us in Seattle. Thank you so much.

And right now, President Obama on his way to Asia for eight-day journey there. He left Washington earlier today and heads to China first for the APEC Summit. And then he goes to Myanmar before heading to the G20 summit in Australia. He will strap off in Hawaii before making his way back to the White House which is where we find our Erin McPike.

So Erin, Looks like a lot on this plate for this trip.

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Well, Pamela, he does have a lot on his plate. First, he is in Beijing where he will be meeting with the Chinese president to talk about the economic relationship between the two countries to talk about trade, also climate change, then he is off to Myanmar to check on the social progress there. Then he is going to Australia for a meeting of the G20. He may get a chance to talk to Russian president Vladimir Putin who will be there, though, the two don't have any sort of bilateral meeting scheduled at this point. Bt advisors have said that they may get together and talk.

But before he left, he did have a chance to talk to CBS News and he talked about some domestic politics. He said that he likes politics. He likes his jobs. He said with the name like Barack Hussein Obama, you have to like politics. But some of them talking about how he might not like politics. He doesn't seem to be fully engaged in the job. But he said that he very much is -- Pamela.

BROWN: All right, Erin McPike, thank you so much. We are going to check back in with you a little bit later from now.

Plus, 200 million Americans bracing for a polar plunge, tends to about to take another drive to the single digits and some places could see snow. We are going to take a look at where you will need to bundle lock (ph).

We will be right back. Stay back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: A frigid blast of icy air is about to put the deep freeze on about two-thirds of the country. Temperatures are about to plunge up to 35 degrees below normal.

Meteorologist Jennifer Gray has all the details. Hi, Jennifer.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Pamela, we had some very, very cold arctic air that is sinking down into much of the country as we go through the beginning part of the week. We're talking 200 million people affected by this. We are going to see temperatures well below normal anywhere from the Dakotas all the way down to Georgia. Folks in the south will experience temperatures five to ten, maybe 15 degrees below normal.

But when we talk about the northern plains in the Midwest, we're going to be talking about temperatures up to 35 degrees below normal. In fact, today already we have winter storm watches and warnings in place. We have winter weather advisories that stretch across seven states, and we could see as much as a foot of snow in Minneapolis, so that's going to be the hardest hit area right around Minneapolis on into portions of Wisconsin.

We also could see anywhere from six to nine inches of snow in the Dakotas. And this is basically going to be where the snow is concentrated. Anywhere south of this, this is going to be a dry front, but we are going to have very, very cold temperatures behind it.

What we're talking about in rapid city, temperatures in the teens through much of your workweek. In Minneapolis, we won't even get above freezing for your workweek. In fact, we could be looking at an eight-day stretch of temperatures below freezing around Minneapolis. A lot of areas around here will be about 35 degrees below normal.

Chicago, you don't look at all that bad compared to Minneapolis. Even though your temperatures will be chilly. Especially Wednesday and Thursday. You may not even hit freezing on Thursday.

But when you look at places like Atlanta and New York City, the south, the northeast won't be hit quite as hard. However, temperatures will still be below normal. Fifty five degrees or high temperature on Thursday in Atlanta. New York city won't even hit 50 on Thursday -- Pamela.

BROWN: All right, this frigid weather come a little early this year.

Thanks so much, Jennifer.

A huge crown celebrating a moment that change the world. A look at the 25th anniversary in the fall of the Berlin wall up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: As President Obama leads to the far east, is he leaving behind a political storm brewing in Washington with Republicans set so seize control of the U.S. Senate in January. So will the president's next two years be derailed, or is there now a chance of Republican- controlled Congress and a democratic White House can compromise and finally get work done for the American people?

CNN's chief political correspondent Candy Crowley is anchor of "STATE OF THE UNION."

Candy, great to have you here with us.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks. Good to see you.

BROWN: Good to see you.

You had a really interesting discussion this morning to both sides. So from that, what was your take-away? Is there room for compromise, or can Democrats and Republicans sticking to their hard core positions?

CROWLEY: Well, here's the problem. Everybody says, there's plenty of room to compromise. We can do it on infrastructure, you know, roads and bridges, and et cetera. Well, the problems in the infrastructure always has been how are you going to pay for it and where are you going to take the money from, right? Or they will say, you know, yes, we can find an agreement on immigration? Really? Because you've been trying for, you know, however many years. I think since Ronald Reagan last did immigration reform to do it again.

So while everyone seems willing, you know, we had four brand new members of Congress as of January. And three older members of Congress. And you can hear kind of the echo of earlier years where you had these new members when we can compromise. American people want to us reach across the aisle, but the minute we started talking about different things, they had, of course, different positions.

So I thought that the other interesting thing was we talked to senator -- a Republican in the leadership on Senate side. We also talked to Chris Murphy, Senate Democrat and we asked about the president's choice for attorney general.

Now, the president seems to want to have his nominee, Loretta Lynch, be confirmed in the lame-duck Congress. Here is what they both had to say about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN THUNE (D), SOUTH DAKOTA: Loretta Lynch will get fair consideration. But there is got to be -- there is a process. There's hearings and everything that goes with that, we got to move a funding bill. We've got to prevent some tax increases. A number of things that have to be done before the end of the year. And Eric Holder said he is not going anywhere soon. So it's not like the position isn't going to be filled. It's important position. It's one that needs to be filled, and we will give the president's nominee every consideration, but would like to do that, consider that next year when the new Congress is seated.

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D), CONNECTICUT: I hope we do move forward on that confirmation process, and, in fact, we have a long back load of other presidential appointees and ambassadors and judges.

CROWLEY: Even though Republicans want to wait until the next session?

MURPHY: Well, I think it's important that we have an attorney general. And so, I would like to see us move forward. I have not spoken to Senator Reid about his intentions. But I would like to see us move forward. I think this is an important post and I think we should have somebody on the ground there sooner rather than later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: All right, so we will have to wait and see what happens on that.

CROWLEY: So much for compromise. Isn't it?

BROWN: Yes, exactly. Not a great way to start things off.

Well, on the other issue that everyone is talking about here, Candy, is of course, with the president's announced just last Friday that he wants to send more troops to Iraq. Curious to know what your thoughts are on this. With such losses in the midterms, will the president find it harder to get his foreign policy requests approved, Candy?

CROWLEY: I imagine he will be all right. And here's why. It has been mostly Republicans. Democrats have gone along, but it has been mostly Republicans who have said you need to do something about ISIS. You need to get the U.S. in there and get involved. And now that the president is and he needs that $5.8 billion, I guess, initially to fund additional advisors and trainers going over there. He is going to ask for this lame-duck session to approve it and I expect there will be a lot of jumping up and down. But that it will be approved. I think that eventually, the president will seek approval through the war powers act. I think there will be a lot of jumping up and down, but I suspect it will be passed simply because the action is already taking place. And because he does have so many Republicans at this point on his side as well as Democrats.

BROWN: All right, Candy Crowley in Washington. As always, thank you so much, Candy.

CROWLEY: Thanks, Pamela.

A huge celebration is happening right now in Germany marking the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

BROWN: Pretty spectacular. Thousands of firework show and concert at the city's iconic Brandenburg gate. And earlier today emotional speeches recounted the painful cold war divide between east and west Berlin and the joyous moment on this day back in 1989 when the wall came crashing down.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel calling the wall collapse a message of hope.

Well, they will talk about economics and foreign policy, but when President Obama goes face-to-face with China's president, China's human rights record is likely to be on the agenda. That's next as we continue our coverage of the president's trip to Asia. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Bottom of the hour now on this Sunday. Welcome back. I'm Pamela Brown.

And here are the top stories crossing the CNN news desk right now.

A blast of polar air is about to send shivers through 200 million Americans across two-thirds of the country. This week temperatures will plunge from Montana to Myrtle Beach. Highs in some cities could drop as much as 35 degrees below normal. Winter advisories, watches, and warnings are already posted in at least seven states. So get ready to bundle up.

And the last two Americans held prisoner in North Korea are back home now. Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller met with their families after landing in Washington state late yesterday. Bae told reporters he thanks the U.S. and North Korean governments their roles in his release.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BAE; Also, I would like to thank the North Korean government as well for allowing me to go home and come home and be united with our family and for the loved people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Bae and Miller were both found guilty of hostile acts against North Korea. They had been serving multiple year sentences in labor camps.

The U.S. central command says American war planes attempted to kill ISIS leaders yesterday. Officials say a coalition aircraft conducted air strikes on a convoy in Mosul, Iraq, in what they believe was a gathering of top ISIS commanders. Authorities say the U.S. destroyed ten ISIS armed trucks. And right now, though, we don't know who, if anyone, was killed or injured.

President Obama now on his way to Asia. For an eight-day journey. He is expected to arrive in China where he will attend the APEC summit. Later this week, he will head to Myanmar and Australia before making his way back to the White House.

And China expected to put on a grand display for the dignitaries coming to the apex summit, but according to our David McKenzie, the Cuban rights record of the country will also be under the microscope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The gleaming towers of Beijing. An image of the ruling communist party wants for show off. But there is another side to the Chinese capital.

In an apartment complex called Freedom City, evidence of the party's latest crackdown on human rights.

So when the times as most prominent dissident live in this compound in the east of Beijing, we are going to see if we can access them.

But plain codes state security is everywhere here, sometimes 20 at a time.

Yes, but is just -- this is a private complex. What's the problem?

The extraordinary measures for just one man.

Fujah (ph) this is a human rights icon in China. An agitator for reform and democracy. This time around he has been under house arrest for more than 40 days.

The authorities don't want who to reach diplomats or journalists, but there are other ways to talk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They have posted state security agents outside my door for ten years, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. MCKENZIE: They weren't into preserve the communist party, not to

preserve the safety of the people or even the government, but the party.

Human groups say that China's government is engage in the worst crackdown on dissidents in decades. Activists, professors, and journalists have all been detained this year alone.

(INAUDIBLE) SAYS China's president Xi Jinping has declared war on human rights. And he has a message for President Obama.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think Mr. Obama should bring up human rights crackdown with Xi Jinping. If he doesn't, it would be a huge loss for himself, for China, and for American values.

MCKENZIE: The communist party says activists like Hu (ph) are law breakers as they threaten China's social stability. Hu (ph) wants to show his present he bought for his young daughter's upcoming birthday.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): If she came to visit me in prison, she used to carry a toy like this. I saw hope in this toy. It's become a symbol of my fight for her future freedom and happiness.

MCKENZIE: He says they weren't let him see her this year. But despite years of jail, house arrest and harassment. Hujah (ph) says he won't give up his fight for a different kind of China.

David McKenzie, CNN, Beijing China.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: As the nation prepares to honor its military Tuesday, veterans day, of course, President Obama says he plans to send another 1, 500 military advisors to Iraq and the fight against ISIS. This as U.S. central command says U.S. war planes attacked a convoy near Mosul, Iraq, in an attempt to kill ISIS leaders. But at this point there's been no confirmation whether the top is leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was hit or was even in the convoy.

I'm joined by retired army lieutenant colonel James Reese.

Thank you so much for being here with us, Colonel Reese. Do you think this news trip commitment is a good thing timely or has it too late too late?

LT. COL. JAMES REESE (RET.), U.S. ARMY: Hi, Pam. Absolutely. What I think right now is it is a good thing. What are you seeing now with these 1,500 extra soldiers coming in there, we are reinforcing success. Earlier today, we had another person on saying this is the build-up like Vietnam, and I completely disagree.

We have had success. If we really just look at the facts of what the coalition air strikes have done, we have made ISIS stall. Yes, there have been some, you know, successes by ISIS in some areas, but they really haven't captured any more ground, so this stalling effect that we've done and are now doing is reinforcing success by putting other soldiers in there to give the Iraqis time to prepare for a counter offense and to get them trained up so when they're ready to go, we can assist them.

BROWN: But do you really think that is what's going to make the difference here because the argument has been made that we've tried this before, we've tried training the forces there, and it just hasn't worked. I mean, you really think this time around we can really make an impact?

REESE: Well, Pamela, we had before. We did it before. But just like General Austin said the other day, this is not our primary fight. The primary fight is a diplomatic fight. We need our diplomats and the coalition diplomats to get involved with the Iraqi government to make sure that the Shia leadership there in Baghdad is helping and reinforcing the Sunnis out to al-Anbar make sure that the Sunni leadership that's involved with the Iraqi government are also going against ISIS. So we become literally a secondary effect for supporting effort to the political aspects.

BROWN: And the president continues to insist that these troops that are there and that we're sending are noncombat troops. Is that semantics, though, when we're talking about troops going into a war zone?

REESE: Pamela, it is. Unfortunately, that's our politics. I guarantee you all the commanders at the Pentagon and down at CENTCOM, they just keep steady smiles when that is being told. You know, we talked about this for a while. Any time you go to an OK corral and you go to a gun fight, it is combat. And the soldiers know that. They just -- they execute what their civilian leadership does that don't know -- everyone realizes we're still in the combat, and that's the bottom line.

BROWN: Right. And they're going into harm's way. Let's not forget that.

We've been hearing the term mission creek being thrown out there a lot. The administration is saying this is not mission creep. What is your take?

REESE: I completely agree that this is not mission creep. You know, the first thousand, 1,200 that went over, we talked about this six, seven weeks ago. These guys go over. They conduct an assessment. They start setting up the ops, Intel fusion centers to bring all the assets that the coalition -- that's what we have to remember. The coalition can bring to the Iraqis.

Now we have some success. We've made an assessment. The leaders of this coalition know what we need to do, and now this is the U.S.', you know, President Obama through his commanders have heard, OK, sir well, need to push in another 1,500 troops to reinforce the success, and that's what we're doing.

BROWN: All right, Colonel James Reese, thank you so much. REESE: Thanks, Pamela.

BROWN: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: We could get a decision on the Michael Brown shooting in Ferguson, Missouri, any day now. Ahead of the announcement, members of the Don't Shoot coalition say there are 19 rules of engagement that will help the city avoid violence and chaos while the grand jury announces its decision.

So joining us to talk about this live from Ferguson, Missouri, a Justin Hansford, an assistant professor at St. Louis University school of law, and McGraw Milhaven, a radio talk show host in St. Louis.

Thank you both for coming on to talk to us. I really am interested to hear your thoughts, your opinions. And Justin, I'm going start with you here. You actually worked with the group that came up with these 19 demands to city officials. In your view, what do you think are the most critical stipulations in that list?

JUSTIN HANSFORD ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW: Yes. I think the first stipulation is the most important for the law enforcement authorities to prioritize their preservation of life.

I actually spoke with someone yesterday who is planning to stay home and keep their son home from protesting for fear of violence. Not from protesters, but from violence initiated by the police, and that's unacceptable in the United States of America. We should be able to exercise our first amendment rights and exercise our freedoms of speech without fear of violent reprisals. We've paid for their guns, their shields, their equipment with our taxpayer dollars. And we should be able to exercise our first amendment rights.

BROWN: And in addition to what you just mentioned, the group also wanting 48 hours notice before the grand jury decision is announced. They don't want police to use rank here, and they say excessive police force will not be tolerated.

I'm curious what do you think this -- they're going to -- police -- how they're going to respond to this list of demands because this is not very typical, Justin?

HANSFORD: Right. Well, this is an extraordinary situation that calls for extraordinary measures. And I think, you know, we have plans to create safe houses and other places where people can go to vent their frustration, to have medical supplies present if people are injured, so there are a number of safety measures that people in the community want to take. And it only makes sense to provide notice so folks can actually begin to make those preparations without being under the cloud of lack of knowledge of when the decision is going to come down.

BROWN: And McGraw, I want to let you jump in here because some are arguing that these measures are over reaching and extreme. Is that your view?

MCGRAW MILHAVEN, ST. LOUIS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST. Well, I wish the list of demands would have had some type of code of conduct for the protesters. I wish they would have said the police officers will not be spit at, will not be yelled at, will not be shot at. Businesses will not be torn down.

Justin talks about protesters afraid of going out. We have school districts that don't want to be in school because they're afraid of what's going to happen.

Look, this is a very volatile situation, and there are protesters that want to peacefully protest, but they are providing cover for a bad element. How do you get the bad element out of the way and protect the businesses and the homes and the people and the property? We're asking the police to do an extraordinary measure these next couple of weeks, and they need to actually work with the peaceful protesters, not against them.

BROWN: Right. And I'm curious, doesn't have you all come up with a list for the protesters at all about what you are asking from them?

HANSFORD: No, I wouldn't agree that the priorities for the law enforcement authorities should be to work with the peaceful protesters and not against them, but I think there's been a misconception. Protesters have been painted as rioters and looters. The reality they are American citizens. They deserve to be treated with dignity.

MILHAVEN: Someone is protesting. Someone is looting. Someone is destroying buildings. I don't care if you call them protesters or troublemakers or terrorists, but people are afraid. Whatever you want to label them, somebody is going to try and do damage.

And you can make the argument that there wasn't enough police support and enough police force out there because a (INAUDIBLE) pizza is torn down. Quick trick is burned down. Ferguson's market has burn down. You can make an argument there was not enough police presence because those buildings and those businesses are destroyed.

HANSFORD: And my responses would be after you have five, six, 7,000 people peacefully protesting in this hard to say that you will be able to have a complete domination over at the protesters if there are 10 or 15 people who decide to take different approaches. That's unfortunate, but to paint all five or six or 7000 people as violate as looters, as rioters, that's wrong.

BROWN: All right, Justin Hansford, McGraw Milhaven, thank you so much for coming on and sharing your insight with us. We appreciate it.

And again, we're expecting the grand jury there in Ferguson to release its decision any day now.

Up next right here on NEWSROOM, why so many people are trying to get into the U.S. from Cuba and other Caribbean countries? We ride with the coast guard as they protect our borders. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: The coast guard is seeing a record number of migrants trying to make it to the U.S. They found more than 600 migrants just off Miami last month. And at least four of them died.

In a CNN exclusive, our Alina Machado went along with the coast guard to get a firsthand look at the crisis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We got eyes on them.

ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A dramatic scene plays out in the Florida straits.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You for to press.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, I got them.

MACHADO: A United States coast guard plane spots this small boat packed with 29 Cubans, including several women and at least one young boy. The boat is taking on water.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So the Norvell is coming on scene.

MACHADO: Yet when the coast guard cutter Margaret Norvell arrives to help, the group's leader refuses to cooperate.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

MACHADO: Eventually, the group gives up and gives in.

Joining the growing number of migrants rescued while making this dangerous and sometimes deadly journey to the U.S.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been seeing the highest migration levels that we've seen from Cuba and Haiti the past five years.

MACHADO: Roughly 10,000 migrants have been found in this area just this year. That's more than 3,000 than the year before. The biggest spike, Cubans who's numbers have doubled since the Castro government lifted travel restrictions in 2012.

You have to be pretty desperate to jump, you know, to go into open water and just try to make it, no?

LT. KIRK FISTICK, NORVELL COMMANDING OFFICER: Yes, it is.

MACHADO: I mean, it is dangerous. It's very dangerous.

FISTICK: Most of it is economic, you know. They are looking for a better way of life.

MACHADO: Lieutenant Kirk Fistick is the commanding officer of the Norvell, one of the agency's newest high tech ships in the coast guard seventh district.

FISTICK: This is the front line of coast guard operations. This is where the action happens.

MACHADO: We wanted to get a firsthand look at the action. We spent a few days on board at Norvell and what we saw was sobering. A few hours into our journey, the boat takes on ten migrants. The lights of the U.S. shine in the distance. This is the closest this group will get.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One more.

MACHADO: A doctor is concerned that the last one may be suicidal, refusing to eat after telling the coast guard this was his ninth attempt to reach America.

So you see, they have put the man on the stretcher, on the cutter safely. It doesn't appear that he's responding at this point. It's unclear what they are going to do with him. We know that the remaining nine migrants are all in the same area on this boat and they will probably be here until the process runs its course.

In the early morning hours, another group of Cuban migrants is found barely moving, idling in what appears to be the middle of nowhere. Each one is given a life vest before being transferred to the cutter. Their small boat is then filled with gasoline and shot up with a 50 caliber machine gun. A fire sinks the tiny boat.

On the cutter, the migrants wear Tyvec suits to stay dry. They are given red beans and rice to eat twice a day and a rubber mat to sleep on. Some interact with coast guard members like Ronald Garcia, a Cuban-American himself.

RONALD GARCIA, U.S. COAST GUARD: It's difficult to see the situation that they are in.

MACHADO: In all, we saw about 80 Cuban migrants in just four days with the coast guard, all of them with desperation in their eyes. For most, their search for a new life over at least for now.

Of the 80 migrants we saw, 29 Cubans who were found on a U.S. territory were actually allowed to stay in the U.S. because of a long standing policy that only applies to Cubans. Most migrants who were found at sea, regardless of their country of origin, are usually sent back.

Alina Machado, CNN, Miami Beach.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Thank you to Alina Machado for bringing us that eye opening story there in Miami.

And still to come, right here in NEWSROOM, comedian Jon Stewart gets very serious about a worthy goal.

Coming to the aid of U.S. veterans, we are going to share part of his conversation with CNN's Christiane Amanpour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Up to 1500 additional U.S. forces could be deployed to Iraq to join the fight against ISIS. The U.S. role in Iraq over the last decade is the subject for a lot of debate and discussion. And the "Daily Show's" Jon Stewart talked about and his work with U.S. Veterans with our Christiane Amanpour.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JON STEWART, CNN HOST, THE DAILY SHOW: I think early on, when we invaded Iraq, I always consider that sort of the original sin of the 21st century. I was highly critical of the decision, but also felt incredibly removed from the individuals that were participating in it and the reality of it. I didn't feel like I knew enough. And so, I began to visit with people. And have those discussions. And what I think amaze me more than anything and unfortunately cemented the anger that I had at the missteps was the value of the human capital of the men and women that were serving over there. As I started to meet with them and generally they were individuals that had just been wounded and just came back. And some of them, you know, two weeks out of having an IED and were already taking getting back to their unit or wondering the war and bringing cheer and things to the road (ph).

It was astonishing and I was used to, you know, you would leave and say thank you so much for coming. And I think like, yes. I am the real hero here. You know, you always felt like you walked out of there having been given so much more than any of your time would have been worth. And so, through that process I began to see just how their integrity and sacrifice was in the shadows. And that when they were useful to the purpose they were held the law and when they were back here, they were, you know, they talk about, you know, the computer programs, alter and listed (ph), DOD and VA don't talk to each other.

Well, guarantee this, though, when you are enlisted man and they want to stop law (ph) you and they want to send you back there, they will find you. They put the college loans guys to shame lie hike they know any nook and krany. But when you're five years out and you have got PTSD and you live and 50 miles away from the VA, maybe you need a new, you know, you're on your own. And that injustice truly upset me.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And the injustice of such a small minority of people fighting for all of us, do you think there should be a drop? Do you think there should be some kind of national service?

STEWART: Absolutely. And I don't understand it. I don't understand the difference between the rhetoric and reality. You can't come on TV and say we as a nation face an existential threat, so anyway, back to the good point. We will be dealing with it in the back. You guys go ahead.

It's unacceptable. And I think that not only -- I think the benefits are and I don't think it should be compulsory military. I think it just has to be served. It does a lot of things. It invests younger people in the country. But it also in the way that we all live in our own intellectual and opinion bubbles it forces Americans together again in the way that in World War II, the draft integrated America. Without that we don't have a more integrated society. It forces people to live among each other and to realize the more shared nature of our cause than the differences. I just think it would be --

AMANPOUR: Yes. I think a lot of people feel that same way.

Really, really serious and heavy things. And thank you very much indeed for joining me.

STEWART: Sure.

AMANPOUR: And will we see you as host of "the Daily Show" through the next presidential election?

STEWART: That I don't know. That I can't tell you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)