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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
ISIS Beheads Another American Hostage; Aid Groups: ISIS Stealing Food; Obama Pushing Ahead on Immigration Reform; Ebola Patient Now Extremely Critical; Wreckage Recovery Begins For MH17
Aired November 17, 2014 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Pure evil. The White House condemning the murder of American aid worker Peter Kassig, beheaded by ISIS. The terrorists releasing a chilling, new video. We are live breaking down the latest clues and the reaction this morning.
A battle over immigration looming in Washington. President Obama expected to unveil big reforms that would allow millions of people here illegally to stay. But Republican leaders of Congress not ready to go down without a fight. What they could do to stop the president ahead.
Deadly storms barreling across the country. Snow, ice, record- breaking temperatures. But it's not over yet. Indra Petersons with who will be next, ahead.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It's Monday morning. It's 30 minutes past the hour. John Berman has the morning off.
This morning, the family of American aid worker, Peter Kassig, coping with his death at the hands of ISIS terrorist. The militant Islamic group releasing a horrific video showing Kassig's body after a beheading.
Hours later, President Obama denounced the killing as, quote, "an act of pure evil." Kassig's parents released a statement saying they are heartbroken. They are scheduled to speak to reporters later this afternoon.
Joining us now from London this morning with more on this is CNN's Atika Shubert. Atika, the spokesman for ISIS on the beheading video, the man who is talking, he speaks with the familiar English accent.
We have heard this man on videos before. There are similarities here, but also some striking differences. Tell us about it.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are some very striking differences. In previous videos, we have seen the hostages before dressed in orange jumpsuits and they addressed the camera and really spouting ISIS propaganda. This time, we never see Peter Kassig speak. You don't see him alive at all, in fact, only his body. Standing over him is the man known in the British press as Jihadi John. That is the masked militant with the accent that delivers that propaganda speech.
Unfortunately, it is not only Peter Kassig who is killed in the video, but in the preceding 15 minutes, there is actually a very highly choreographed and highly style mass murder of what appears to be more than a dozen Syrian soldiers, again, led by that masked militant known here as Jihadi John and also a number of other ISIS militants who actually aren't masked.
And so investigators are now poring over that video to try to identify all of those ISIS fighters in that video who participated in that masked killing.
ROMANS: That's right. We know these governments are looking to see if there could potentially be a French citizen among those unmasked people in that video. We'll have to wait and see exactly what that shows.
What I think is interesting here is that we don't know why we don't see Peter Kassig speaking. It could be that he would not say the propaganda that they wanted him to say as the others had.
It could be that something else happened or could be also that the public relations value of killing him is just not good for this group. He is a man converted to Islam and someone who is helping the Syrian people.
SHUBERT: Exactly. His case in particular has evoked widespread condemnation around the Muslim world. They were already horrified by the killings that had already happened. But to see somebody who is out there helping the Syrian people in their time of need, who had converted to Islam.
He was known as Abdul Rahman Kassig. The fact that he may not have been saying the words they wanted him to say. There is some speculation online as to whether or not, for example, he would have tried to recite the Muslim prayer.
And obviously to show that at the time of killing would have been a particularly offensive and gruesome thing for ISIS to put out. So that may be one reason.
They simply do not knowledge that he was Muslim and he did convert in part because it would devalue the public relations aspect of the message that's kind of propaganda they are trying to put out.
ROMANS: Certainly, it's tragic. His family is heartbroken. They will speak with reporters later today. Our thoughts and hearts go out to them. I know they tried very, very hard to save their son's life. Atika, thank you so much.
Aid agencies say ISIS has been stealing food and other foreign aid to redistribute it to the hungry Syrian families and then take credit for it. Aid groups are also telling the "Wall Street Journal" that ISIS has diverted some of the aid to its own fighters and their families.
America's top unformed officer says momentum in the war against ISIS is starting to turn. Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey making a surprise visit to Baghdad over the weekend.
Also telling Marines defending the U.S. Embassy that victory over the Islamic terror group may take several years. President Obama at the G20 Summit responding to General Dempsey's earlier suggestion that he may somebody have to recommend the president sending ground troops to fight ISIS.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are always circumstances in which the United States might need to deploy U.S. ground troops. If we discover that ISIL has gotten possession of a nuclear weapon and we had to run an operation to get it out of their hands, then, yes, you can anticipate that not only with Chairman Dempsey recommend me sending U.S. ground troops to get that weapon out of their hands, but I would order it.
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ROMANS: The State Department rushing to upgrade the security at its e-mail system after detecting signs of possible hacking. Department officials say only unclassified systems were affected.
Officials are not saying if the apparent intrusion over the weekend was the work of foreign government, but a senior official tells CNN it is related to an earlier hack of White House computers. And Russian hackers were reportedly suspected in that attack.
Near the top of the president's inbox as he returns from the G20 summit this morning, immigration. President Obama pushing back hard against Republican claims that he lacks the authority to take executive action on immigration in Congress doesn't do something.
CNN's Erin McPike is at the White House this morning with more.
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, President Obama has long said that once he returns from this swing through Asia, he would take say the kind of executive action that he will take on immigration. Now that he is back, we should see something from him.
We are now hearing that we could hear something by the end of the week. Over the weekend, both sides on the political aisle drew lines in the sand on what kind of thing they want to see on immigration reform. Listen to Oklahoma Senator-Elect James Lankford on Fox News Sunday.
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SEN.-ELECT JAMES LANKFORD (R), OKLAHOMA: The American people believe in the rule of law. They don't have a problem with immigration. They have a problem with illegal immigration. For the president to step and say I'm just going to remove illegal and ignore the law, a lot of people have a problem with that, Republicans and Democrats alike.
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MCPIKE: And while overseas, President Obama also said what he would like to see in a bill from Congress that could then nullify the actions that he will take on immigration reform with those executive actions. Listen here to those comments.
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OBAMA: If Congress passes a law that solves our border problems and improves our immigration system and provides a pathway for the 11 million people who are here working in our kitchens and working on farms and making beds in hotels.
Everybody knows they're there. We're not going to deport all of them. We would like to see them being able out in the open to pay taxes and pay a penalty and get right with the law.
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MCPIKE: Over the weekend, a number of mainstream Republicans said on a number of public affairs programs that they do not think Republicans should try to shut down the government to force President Obama's hand on immigration reform, but we should see something this week from them on what kind of bill they can end up passing -- Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Erin McPike, thanks for that this morning from the White House.
Veterans Affairs patients are still waiting for improvements to the VA health system. New data obtained by "USA Today" shows more than 10 percent of VA patients wait more than a month for appointments, 64 facilities have average wait times longer than two months.
But the VA has made some improvements, the number of patients waiting longest, waiting more than four months for an appointment. That number dropped from 120,000 in May to 23,000 in October.
So far so good for Obamacare 2.0, the White House says some 100,000 people signed up for health insurance on the first day of open enrollment compare that to just six on day one last year.
The president is defending his signature achievement from White House conservatives brandishing a quote from White House health care adviser, Jonathan Gruber. Gruber said the White House got Obamacare passed because of voter stupidity and lack of transparency by those advocating for it.
The president responding he completely disagrees with the Adviser Gruber and that the bill was extensively debated with no lack of transparency.
Time for an EARLY START on your money this morning, tough day for stocks so far, Asian stocks ended the day down. Look at Japan's benchmark index, wow, down about 3 percent. That is on surprising news that Japan's economy fell into recession. GDP shrank 1.6 percent in the third quarter.
European stocks also drag lower so are U.S. stock futures. Looks like a lower open after last week's record highs. On Friday, the S&P 500 inched up slightly to close at the high. It was the S&P's 41st record high close this year.
The fourth week in a row for stock market gains. Stocks are having a great year. The S&P, look at that up 10 percent. The Nasdaq up more than 12 percent. Those are some good returns on your 401(k).
Happening now, a new round of snow storm set to hit millions. The northeast is now bracing for impacts. What you need to know for today ahead.
Plus, surprise drug inspections for the NFL, the DEA targeting teams in a sudden raid. What we are learning this morning next.
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ROMANS: A deadly blast of winter-like weather paralyzing communities in many parts of the country. Six more people killed in weather- related accidents as ice and snow froze roadways. Snow is hitting as far south as Texas where four people died in Lubbock. Police reported dozens of accidents on icy roads. At least 17 states from Arkansas to New England are under winter weather advisories.
In Oklahoma, snow packed icy roads hampering the commute for residents there this morning. Slick roadways have caused a number of accidents. Crews have warned of black ice conditions on highways and interstates. They are urging drivers to use extreme caution.
In New Mexico, temperatures plummeted to single digits following a massive snowfall there. Snowfall causing difficult driving conditions throughout most of that state, as much as 13 inches of snow fell near a ski resort in Angel Fire.
In Colorado, residents are digging out from the second snowstorm of the week. Another round of ice, snow and cold hit Colorado Springs and surrounding areas. Several inches of snow covered the streets and roadways disrupting drivers' commute.
So how long is all of this going to last? It is such a mess. Indra Petersons is going to tell us with an early start on your forecast. Hi, there.
INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning. There is so much going on. Where do we start, right, I mean, let's start with where we are talking about the heaviest amount of snow. We are talking about snow in feet. It is around the lakes with lake-effect snowfall.
It's really kind of ramping up as we go through the overnight hours, why, because a blast of cold air behind the next system should really kind of kick things up. Notice what is going on, 30 million of us have the threat today for winter weather. We are talking from New England, but even stretching as far as the Mississippi Valley. It is not the only thing going on. Notice the southeast. In addition, we are talking about the threat for severe weather this morning. In fact, tornado watches are currently out there in through the southeast.
Another 20 million of us are under the gun for severe weather including the threat for isolated tornado out there, a lot going on. The temperatures divide across the country, 70s and even 80s in the southeast with the threat of severe weather.
Meanwhile, teens is your highs in Minneapolis. Chicago today, your high is 23 degrees. Now it may look good if you are in the northeast. Not bad, 57 degrees. You are actually above normal just a tad.
Look at this huge drop by tomorrow. Here comes the cold arctic air. Temperatures plunge and you will feel the bite. Enjoy the one day here in New York.
ROMANS: Wear a hat. All right, thanks, Indra.
The surgeon diagnosed with Ebola in Sierra Leone is in extremely critical condition. He may be the sickest person yet to be treated in the U.S.
Initially, Dr. Martin Salia's Ebola test came back negative, friends and colleagues celebrated with him. Now later tests confirmed Ebola and they are now under quarantine. His wife and son are holding out hope he'll recover.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want him to be laid out there. I'm worried for him.
MAADA SALIA, SON OF DR. MARTIN SALIA: We should keep calm. Everything will be OK. So far, he is responding very well to treatment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The medical director of the hospital's bio-containment unit says Dr. Salia's status is, quote, "an hour by hour situation."
The Drug Enforcement Administration taking a very close look at the NFL. Several teams were subjected to surprise inspections following their games on Sunday. Agents are questioning trainers and doctors about allegations of illegal prescription drug use.
The San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers training staffs were among those targeted. A lawsuit filed in May by more than 1,000 retired NFL players alleges rampant distribution of illegal painkillers by medical personnel.
New this morning, the Vatican is announcing that Pope Francis will visit the U.S. for the first time as pontiff in September of next year. He is coming to the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Francis has recently spoken of his desire to travel to New York and Washington, but further stops for this trip have not yet been announced.
World leaders accusing Russia of fueling war in Ukraine, arming pro- Russian separatists. Vladimir Putin warned to get his military out of that country. We are live with what is happening right now.
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ROMANS: There is shocking new video this morning that shows just how close Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 came to smashing into houses in the Ukrainian village. This amateur footage shows flaming wreckage yards from homes in that town.
Now four months after the jetliner was shot out of the sky, that wreckage is just starting to be recovered. About two-thirds of the nearly 300 passengers and crew killed were Dutch. The Dutch government is paying for the recovery operation in war-torn Eastern Ukraine. The wreckage will eventually be sent to the Netherlands.
The battle for Eastern Ukraine was behind the frosty reception for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Australia over the weekend. Western leaders blasted Russian aggression against Ukraine though, Russia has steadfastly denied it has any troops or military hardware there.
CNN's Phil Black is in Donetsk, Ukraine, for us this morning. Phil, what's the latest? I guess, let's start with this video shows for the first time the moments after that crash.
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Christine, extraordinary pictures, really. Extraordinary that it has taken four months for these to come to light too because what you are seeing there is that crash site just moments after the largest piece of MH-17 struck the earth in those fields in Eastern Ukraine.
Remember MH-17 broke up in the sky. Pieces scattered over a very wide area. That is where the bulk of the plane hit, the wings and engines and landing gear, the better part of the economy class section.
It is an interesting coincidence too because that is the section of the aircraft that as you mentioned is now being collected to be sent back to the Netherlands for the investigation.
That recovery effort is expected to take a few days. It is late in coming no doubt. Almost four months after the crash, but it is crucial that it is happening now because pretty soon that landscape will be blanketed in snow.
And there is another important reason. As they are moving those parts, they are still finding human remains. That is crucial because nine of the 298 passengers and crew on the aircraft have yet to be accounted for. So important for their families and loved ones of those nine people whose bodies and remains are yet to be found.
The reason the investigators have not been able to get to the site is, of course, because of the ongoing conflict despite the ceasefire being signed back in September. The fighting continues.
The battle lines have remained the same. The territory that the Ukrainian government and separatists are holding that hasn't really moved, but the artillery, the rockets, they continue to fire back and forth.
As we speak, the constant thud of heavy weapons being used in the near distance can be heard right from where I am standing now. The real concern is that assessment that Russian troops and weapons have flooded across the border into the separatist territory over the last week or so.
That is what Ukraine, NATO, and European observers on the ground have made observations that back that up as well. That's what they all say. Russia denies it. The Ukrainian government fears that these forces could now be preparing for a new offensive -- Christine.
ROMANS: All right, Phil Black for us this morning in Donetsk, Ukraine, thank you, Phil, for that.
It's 53 minutes past the hour. Gas prices keep falling. How could this help retailers this holiday season? I'll tell you when we get an EARLY START on your money next.
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ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money on Monday morning. Tough day so far for global stocks, look at this, Asian stocks ended the day down. Japan's benchmark index down by about 3 percent today that's on surprising news that Japan's economy is in recession. The economy there shrank by 1.6 percent the third quarter.
European stocks are also down so are U.S. stock futures. It looks like a lower open to the week after last week's record highs. On Friday, the S&P inched up to its 41st record high close this year. The S&P is up more than 10 percent this year.
Gas prices keep falling, the average price for a gallon of regular now down to $2.88. It is down almost 30 cents from a month ago. It is about 80 cents lower than the highs this summer. Falling fuel prices could put an extra $400 a year in your pocket.
Now businesses hoping that translate into more holiday spending and prices are expected to stay low next year as U.S. production remains very, very brisk.
The most expensive college in the country is Sarah Lawrence. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the total cost of one year at Sarah Lawrence including tuition room and board more than $65,000. Harvey Mudd is not far behind. Columbia, NYU and the University of Chicago also made the top five priciest schools, wow, four years. That's a lot of money.
"NEW DAY" starts right now.
