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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Kurds Say ISIS Fighters Repelled; White House Summit on Violent Extremism Copenhagen Terror; Ukraine Ceasefire Falling Apart; A-Rod Letter to Fans: "I'm Sorry"

Aired February 18, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight: ISIS repelled after launching an intense attack near a major city in Iraq. What happens if they strike again? A live report in moments.

New details this morning about the accused gunman in the Copenhagen terror attacks. What officials now say about his state of mind the night of the attacks, and whether concerns he was being radicalized were ignored.

A bone-chilling video caught -- this rescue caught on video. Look at this. The incredible moments, three people were pulled from icy waters. How did they end up trapped in the first place?

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans for you this morning. John Berman, he has the morning off. It is Wednesday, February 18th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

Breaking overnight, ISIS fighters launching a major attack in Iraq near the Kurdish city of Irbil. Kurdish officials say Peshmerga troops have succeeded in pushing ISIS forces back, pushing them back far enough to let airstrikes begin.

I want to bring in CNN's Tim Lister joining us from Irbil for the very latest.

And, Tim, these forces, ISIS and Peshmerga, were so close, so close in combat that the airstrikes couldn't get in there safely. Now, Peshmerga have pushed them back far enough for airstrikes to begin?

TIM LISTER, CNN JOURNALIST: That's true. The airstrikes commenced in the early hours of the morning. And they were instrumental in making sure that ISIS could not take the Kurdish positions. Up until that point, there was almost hand-to-hand combat, very close quarters, and the air power just could not be used because of the risk of hitting Peshmerga positions as well.

So, that's really been a very important part of the military equation in this area. If the Kurds did not have that air power to help them out, they could be overrun along this very, very wide stretch that they defend, about 1,000 kilometers of the front lines here in northern Iraq, Christine.

ROMANS: Tell us a little bit about why Irbil is so important for these ISIS fighters and why they have been so persistent the last couple of weeks in trying to break through those Kurdish lines.

LISTER: They're persistent everywhere. They're not just persistent in attacking that particular sector. They launched a major assault on Kirkuk at the very end of January under cover of fog and darkness, which is what they like. And that took three days to repel, again, with the help of a lot of airstrikes.

What they're trying to do is keep the Kurdish forces here off balance. They're trying to hit them at different points along this long line all because they want to protect Mosul, their crown jewel in northern Iraq. The place which is really the spiritual home of is. If they lose Mosul, then the game is up in this part of Iraq.

But they're making a very determined effort to make sure that they can hold on to Mosul for months to come, and there's no sign yet of the Iraqi army stepping up and being able to launch that assault on Iraq's second largest city.

ROMANS: What about the Peshmerga fighting force? How well are they armed? How well are they able to hold their positions?

LISTER: They're very poorly armed, to be honest. We've been to six or seven different front-line positions over the last week or so. And they are equipped with very ancient rifles, very few automatic weapons -- certainly an absence of armor which is making them very vulnerable to IEDs. They've lost 70 percent of their casualties which are now exceed 1,000 are down to IEDs.

They're pleading for more weapons, heavy weapons, defensive armor to allow them to hold this line. They're running out of ammunition in several places. We've seen that. And they're very vulnerable to these Humvees that ISIS has converted into massive suicide bombers. We saw one that had 8 1/2 tons of TNT on it, which was luckily defused -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Tim Lister for us in Irbil, thank you so much for that, Tim. We'll talk to you again soon.

This morning, the U.S. working its way down a list of top ISIS operatives it wants to kill. CNN has learned there is a secret list of ISIS leaders in Syria and Iraq, a secret list of leaders targeted for killing. At the very top of that list, is leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

And now, we now have another picture of al Baghdadi taken back in 2004 while he was still in American hands. CBS News obtained this photo taken while al Baghdadi was being processed into a U.S. military prison in Iraq.

CNN's Barbara Starr is at the Pentagon with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the U.S. is maintaining a secret kill list of the top ISIS operatives it would like to get. CNN has learned this list of about two dozen operatives is growing because the U.S. is struggling to figure out what the best intelligence is, who is out there, who do they really want to put on the list, who can they get to, where if they can take them off the battlefield by killing them, it would make a significant difference in ISIS' capability?

Look, they still want to get people like Jihadi John, that British accented speaker who has appeared in multiple execution videos. But killing him, does that really change ISIS' capability on the ground? Nobody is sure.

So, a lot more intelligence is needed. The estimate now is that they have taken about a dozen, killed about a dozen top operatives, but ISIS is replacing people in the battlefield in the command structure almost as fast as the U.S. is killing them.

So, still a very long way to go to get the crucial intelligence about who the really critical players are and even more tough to get the critical intelligence about where they are located. Months later, the U.S. still looking for number one on that list, a man named al Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, and right now, they do not even know where he is -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon -- thank you, Barbara.

Now, the Pentagon is considering a plan this morning that would give moderate Syrian rebels the ability to call in American airstrikes. A defense official tells CNN the U.S. would not conduct those airstrikes without additional confirming intelligence. A more definite part of the plan is to give some teams of moderate Syrian rebels U.S. military gear, including pickup trucks, machine guns, mortars and communications equipment.

With terror attacks and the battle against ISIS topping the headlines, President Obama set to address a White House summit on combating violent extremism later today. The White House has carefully avoided labeling it a summit on Islamic extremism. That's drawing criticism from some who say violence by Islamic radicals should be dealt with head on. No reason to be P.C. about it.

Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the White House opened up its countering violent extremism summit just as ISIS appears to be growing stronger, whether it's in Libya, where those Egypt Christians were beheaded, or in Denmark where a radical inspired by the group went on a violent rampage. But administration officials caution the summit is not about the military campaign to defeat ISIS. It's also about finding ways to address the root causes of violent extremism in communities and then sharing those ideas around the world.

Here's how the president put it in the Oval Office with his new defense secretary, Ash Carter.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Everything from making sure that we are dismantling ISIL and not only stabilizing the situation in Iraq but addressing the foreign fighter issue and countering the narrative of violent extremism that has been turbocharged through the Internet.

ACOSTA: The Obama administration is hoping to combat that potent terrorist message from ISIS by beefing up its own social media presence. The State Department is adding staffers to a little-known agency called the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications which will be on Twitter and Facebook with its own propaganda aimed at young Muslims with the slogan "Think again, turn away."

But the Obama administration is finding its own message under fire. A GOP and even a few Democratic critics asked why the summit does not use the term Islamic extremism or terrorism.

And later on in the day, President Obama will be addressing this summit. It will be one of two speaking appearances for the president at this summit this week -- Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right, thanks for that, Jim.

We're learning more this morning about the accused gunman in the deadly terror attacks in Denmark. His actions on the day of the shooting, his state of mind, and the advanced warnings that he was at risk for radicalization.

Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson has been following the story for us in Copenhagen.

Nic, this is exactly the sort of individual that this summit in Washington is meant to discuss -- how he became that way and how you stop him. What are we learning?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And again, how the intelligence services can do a better job, how they can analyze the problem and see these problems coming. And the intelligence services knew that this young man was being radicalized in jail, problem number one, radicalization in jail, how do you combat that? And then the assessment when he came out of jail, the intelligence services here didn't think that he was likely to attack.

The same assessment made in France of the radicals there. The assessment was, intelligence services there didn't need to continue to monitor them because they didn't expect them to attack. So, in the case here, what we're learning is that this gunman could have killed far, far more people. We know that within two weeks of getting out of jail, question number three for the intelligence services, who put him up to and gave him the idea of attacking this particular venue because it had been publicized a freedom of speech venue.

But he tries to go in through the back door at the cafe where it was taking place, tries to go in through the side door, couldn't get in, ends up trying to shoot his way in through the front door, chased off by the guards after only killing one person. But the understanding here is, if he had been able to get in through a side door with that automatic weapon, he would have killed a lot more people. Then he dumps that weapon and gets two pistols, problem number four for the intelligence services.

You know, this is a man with access to multiple weapons. And then he acts drunk when he goes to attack the synagogue. So, he can get close to the policeman and the guard outside there, firing nine shots from both of those guns -- indications firing from both weapons at the same time -- left hand, right hand.

So, for the intelligence services, determining who is a real and imminent threat is going to be one of the lessons to learn out of all of the issues facing European and U.S. services at the moment -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks so much for that, Nic Robertson.

Ten minutes after the hour.

New evidence this morning that the massacre at the French magazine "Charlie Hebdo" and the deadly attack on a French kosher supermarket, those two attacks were coordinated. The French newspaper "Le Monde" reporting that less than an hour before the "Charlie Hebdo" attack, one of the gunmen, Cherif Kouachi, he sent a text message to the man who later attacked the supermarket, Amedy Coulibaly. "Le Monde" also says the "Charlie Hebdo" attack was nearly called off the day before because one of the gunmen was sick with stomach flu.

President Obama will comply, he will comply with a federal judge's ruling temporarily blocking his executive orders on immigration. But he says the administration plans to appeal, and the administration expects to prevail in the courts. The president's policies could spare as many as 5 million people now in the U.S. illegally for being deported. Now, they are back in legal limbo. The courtroom wrangling gives a coalition of 26 states opposed to the president's immigration action, it gives them time to pursue their lawsuit aimed at putting a permanent stop to the Obama plan.

The number of people signing up for Obamacare exceeding expectations. In its second year, 11.4 million people enrolled in the president's signature health care program. It beat the targets set by the Department of Health and Human Services. The White House did not disclose how many of the enrollees are renewing coverage from last year and how many of them are new to the marketplaces.

The measles outbreak is spreading. The Centers for Disease Control now says it has confirmed 141 cases of the virus since January 1st. It's spread to 17 states and Washington, D.C. Officials say they are also seeing a greater uptick than usual in adult cases of measles during this outbreak.

Time for an early start on your money. U.S. stocks are higher, could be another record day if that holds. Yesterday, the S&P 500 closed above 2,100 for the first time in history. It's second record in a row. It's up 2 percent for the year.

The White House trying to resolve a port labor dispute on the West Coast that is turning harbors into parking lots with goods like California oranges rotting in the sun. Labor Secretary Tom Perez met with both sides yesterday. He said talks were productive. He said more meetings are scheduled for today.

Some economists are saying with the bad weather in the East and a port strike, report dispute, rather, out in the West, a strong economy could see its growth crimped a bit.

Thirteen minutes past the hour.

The truce in Ukraine deteriorating by the minute. Ukrainian troops moving out of an area that's seen heavy fighting. What does this mean for the cease-fire?

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ROMANS: This morning, the truce between Ukraine and pro-Russian separatists signed just last week is falling apart. Heavy fighting breaking out in the city of Debaltseve, it's a crucial rail hub. Now, there's word that at least some Ukrainian troops are at this very moment pulling out of that city.

Following events for us from Moscow, CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us now with the very latest.

A fragile truce from the beginning, Erin, and it just -- it looks like it's falling apart.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Christine.

And as you mentioned, we are getting some fresh information about a potential withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the besieged city of Debaltseve, that according to a posting on the Facebook page of a Ukrainian military commander. Now, it's unclear from that posting if it will be a full withdrawal of troops or a partial withdrawal of troops.

We're also hearing from Russian state media that separatist leaders are considering whether or not to create a corridor for those troops to evacuate, though they will have to withdraw according to this Russian media report without their weapons.

Now, Debaltseve is a strategic city, it's a key transport hub, the site of intense fighting before and after the ceasefire. Separatists had claimed to have some 80 percent control of the city as of yesterday. And we heard from Russian President Vladimir Putin in a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, yesterday, calling on Kiev to allow the Ukrainian military to surrender to the separatists.

And now, you know, this word of a potential troop withdrawal from that city -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Erin McLaughlin for us on this complicated and deteriorating situation in Debaltseve -- thank you so much for that.

In New Jersey, a daring rescue effort on the ice. Three people had to be pulled from icy waters in Middletown, New Jersey. Police say a mother and two teenagers ventured out on a dock-like structure on Sandy Hook Bay. And they were somehow trapped. One of the teens fell into the water. All three were brought back safely to shore.

Regrets, Alex Rodriguez has a few. Now, A-Rod is apologizing for his season-long PED suspension in a handwritten letter to his fans. Andy Scholes has the details in "The Bleacher Report." That's next.

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ROMANS: All right. Alex Rodriguez wants you to know he's sorry. The New York Yankees Star suspended for the 2014 season because of using performance-enhancing drugs, he's written a letter, a hand-written letter to his fans.

Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

He's sorry.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he definitely is, Christine.

You know, A-Rod never really admits he used performance-enhancing drugs while with Yankees in this handwritten letter, but he did apologize for pretty much everything else he did over the last two years.

A-Rod in a letter says, "I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season. I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I can say at this point. I understand why. And that's on me."

A-Rod went on to say, "I'm ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball."

Now, A-Rod will have to face the media when the Yankees' position players report to Tampa for spring training next week.

The man who allegedly supplied A-Rod with steroids, Tony Bosch, was sentenced yesterday to four years in federal prison. In October, Bosch pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute testosterone. The district judge says Bosch accepted thousands of dollars a month to provide steroid injections to players such as A-Rod. And the most troubling part of his biogenesis clinic was that Bosch also injected high school players in the Miami area with steroids.

The Kentucky Wildcats looking to remain undefeated last night, taking on Tennessee. First half, Devin Booker fouled hard, and he goes flying right into a volunteers' cheerleader. That looked like it hurt. Booker who said he felt so bad about this in a tweet, he apologized, and the cheerleader tweeted right back saying she was, in fact, OK. Kentucky would go on to win this game, 66-48, to improve to a perfect 26-0 this season.

Potentially more troubling reports surfacing rounding footballs and the New England Patriots. According to an ESPN "Outside the Lines" report, a locker room attendant for the Patriots tried to introduce an unapproved special teams football during the famous deflate-gate game.

Now, in the report it says an alternate official became suspicious when a locker room attendant, 48-year-old Jim McNally, handed him a ball that had not been marked for the kicking game. The official also said he found it odd that the locker room attendant was on the field during the game. NFL special investigator Ted Wells has reportedly interviewed McNally.

And, Christine, this is potentially very bad for the Patriots because you can't explain this one away with the weather, saying the weather caused him to try to introduce this football. I mean, this would be blatant cheating if this is, in fact, true. So, this is not looking good for the Patriots, the way this investigation is going now.

ROMANS: There is more to that story. We've got to scratch that surface to find out what's really going on.

All right. Thanks so much, Andy Scholes.

Back to our top story, ISIS repelled after launching fierce assaults near a major Iraqi city. Can the Kurdish forces keep ISIS at bay?

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