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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Pentagon: Iraq Plans to Retake Mosul from ISIS; Obama: Muslim Nations Must Undercut Terror; Rebels Maintain Control of Debaltseve; Road Rage Arrest; Cold Snap Freezing Eastern U.S.; Tension After Danica Patrick Crash
Aired February 20, 2015 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A surprising revelation from the Pentagon. They say Iraq's military is planning to take back a key city from ISIS or at least try this spring.
So, why are they telling us this and why are they unveiling these plans?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking overnight. Chaos in Venezuela as a top mayor is arrested. U.S. accused of backing an alleged coup. How officials are firing back.
BERMAN: This morning, more than 100 million Americans are feeling the bitter, bitter cold. That's if they can feel anything at all if they are not numb already.
(LAUGHTER)
BERMAN: Freeze warnings issued across several states and new warnings about seriously dangerous driving conditions.
ROMANS: I know, I shouldn't laugh. It is very serious. It is cold out there.
BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Berman.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Friday, February 20. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.
New this morning, the Pentagon revealing plans to force ISIS out of Iraq's second largest city Mosul. U.S. military officials telling CNN some 20,000 to 25,000 Iraqi troops could be recommitted to retaking Mosul just months from now. That leaves unanswered the big question whether any American troops would be involved and just why, why are we learning of these details months ahead of time.
Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr tracking the story for us -- Barbara.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the Pentagon offering some extraordinary details about an upcoming military operation in Iraq. Iraqi forces now getting ready to try to retake Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, ISIS capturing it last year.
Now, the plan is for five Iraqi brigades, plus additional Iraqi forces, more than 20,000 troops to try to go to Mosul, perhaps as soon as early April or May. Pretty specific information. More than 20,000 troops. There were also Peshmerga forces who will try to cut off any ISIS escape routes north and west of Mosul.
The big question, of course, is what role will U.S. troops play besides the ongoing coalition air strikes?
Still on the table, not decided, no recommendation to President Obama, is whether there will be a small group of U.S. military advisers going to Mosul, functioning as target spotters, helping the Iraqi forces spot those ISIS targets on the ground. It's a populated area. The Iraqis may need help in figuring out exactly where ISIS is. Again, raising the specter in the minds of some that it will bring U.S. troops, perhaps, closer to a combat environment.
The Pentagon says it's revealing all of this information to show the commitment that Iraqi forces have to the battle -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Our thanks to Barbara Starr.
President Obama is walking a fine line, he did so in the final day of his summit on violent extremism. The president called on Islamic nations to work harder to undercut the root causes of terrorism. At the same time, the president again pushed back against identifying the terrorism strictly as Islamic.
Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta has the latest from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, he didn't use the words Islamic terrorism or extremism, but President Obama called on Muslim and Arab nations to start doing a better job of pushing back on what he repeatedly called lies from al Qaeda and ISIS.
In a speech of his countering violent extremism summit to hundreds of world leaders at the State Department, the president said the U.S.-led coalition will continue pounding ISIS with air strikes. But he argued, the Islamic world must take aim at the underlying reasons for radicalism, from income inequality, to the lack of democratic freedoms. Of course, it should be noted, many of the countries where the problems exist also happen to be members of the president's coalition against ISIS.
Still, the president did prod those Muslim partners to develop a more effective counter-message to the terrorists who are now all over social media. Here's what the president had to say.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: None of us, I think, should be immune from criticism in terms of specific policies. But the notion that the West is at war with Islam is an ugly lie. And all of us, regardless of our faith, have a responsibility to reject it.
ACOSTA: Now, all critics have pounced on the president's refusal to use the term "Islamic terrorism" or variations of that phrase. And as soon as the president wrapped his remarks today, Arizona Republican Senator John McCain jumped in on Twitter, saying the notion that radical Islam is not at war with the West is an ugly lie -- using the president's words there.
The White House had hoped to make great strides this week in communicating an inclusive message to the Islamic world. But it's a message that had to battle against this debate over semantics that the president seemed determined to have -- John and Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Jim Acosta -- thanks for that, Jim.
Breaking news this morning: two trains have collided north of Zurich, Switzerland.
BERMAN: Wow.
ROMANS: At least five people have been injured. You can see these photos here. Carriages pushed off the tracks. We will bring you more information as it becomes the available.
BERMAN: Curious pictures, though.
ROMANS: This morning, pro-Russian rebels maintain control of the crucial rail hub of Debaltseve in Eastern Ukraine. The Ukraine government calls the rebels battle for the city a breach of the cease- fire that they agreed to just last week. The question this morning is, will these separatists put down their arms now they have Debaltseve or will they move forward -- will they try to grab more territory?
For the latest, let's bring senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh live from Donetsk in Eastern Ukraine -- Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The fall of Debaltseve, as you mentioned, Christine, has really left so many more gaping questions here in the Ukrainian conflict, which is now a year old. A year ago, in central Kiev, dozens of protesters shutdown by what seem to be police snipers at that stage. Now, here, we're seeing separatists emboldened because of how swiftly they encircled the Ukrainian forces a retreat, forcing them to leave behind weaponry. We are also still left with the question, how Ukrainian servicemen lost their lives in the operations around that town, as their initial number from the Ukrainian military, but no final count how many civilian deaths there as well.
And then, now, what do the separatists want. Those fighters on the ground joke about going to Kiev, but talk more seriously about taking a hold on the region. That requires more violence both to the north and south of the territory they currently have. And then, finally, what becomes of the peace agreement. This was a
truce that never was. We heard a lull in the shelling around Donetsk, from Sunday, early morning on words for a few days. That was destroyed yesterday by heavy shelling by both sides. It seemed the fighting around Debaltseve has never stopped. Yet, still, world leaders call this a cease-fire.
There has to be I think a stern political reckoning now to assess whether Minsk ever came into play at all. The other (INAUDIBLE) never been addressed, like the withdrawal of heavy weapons and political agreements here. I think we are looking at Ukraine really holding its breath to see if there is further violence, the first anniversary of the unrest here -- Christine.
ROMANS: Stern political reckoning, indeed. We'll see if that happens. Thanks so much for that, Nick.
BERMAN: Breaking overnight: the government of Venezuela has arrested the mayor of that country's capital, Caracas. The Venezuelan military source confirmed to CNN that intelligence agents arrested Mayor Antonio Ledezma because of his alleged involvement in a coup against President Nicolas Maduro.
Maduro accused the U.S. of involvement in that alleged coup. But the United States State Department denies those claims.
I want to bring in CNN's Rafael Romo with the latest.
Good morning, Rafael.
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Good morning, John.
Witnesses say as many as 150 heavily armed intelligence agents burst into his office and breaking the door with sledgehammer and taking opposition Mayor Antonio Ledezma away violently. It was hours before they acknowledged the arrest broadcast on national TV. The mayor will be prosecuted so that, quote, "he answers for all of the crimes committed against the peace, security and constitution, unquote," of Venezuela.
Last week, the president accused the mayor of being involved in a plot to overthrow the government. Mayor Ledezma denied the accusation calling the government's latest attempt to manufacture controversy. And target political opponents. Opposition leaders say Maduro is targeting political opponents to shift from Venezuela's problems, including inflation that reached 63 percent last year and shortages of goods and services are commonplace.
John, world leaders like former President Bill Clinton are calling for his release. On Twitter, the president said it is time to free all political prisoners in Venezuela. He also specifically mentioned Mr. Lopez. Another candidate who has been in prison for one year, John.
BERMAN: The history of this, just rounding up and arresting opposition leaders in that country, which is why that is a concern I think to people who support democracy around the world.
Rafael Romo for us covering the story in Venezuela, thanks so much.
ROMANS: Police in Las Vegas arresting a suspect that left a mother of four dead. Nineteen-year-old Erich Nowsch taken into custody after a bread standoff with police at his house, just one street away from the home of victim Tammy Meyers. Meyers husband Robert emotionally overcome during that standoff, lashed at the media for he felt blaming his wife and son for escalating that confrontation with her accused killer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT MEYERS, HUSBAND OF VICTIM TAMMY MEYERS: Are you all happy? You made my wife look like an animal and my son. There's the animal a block away! Are you happy?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: After Nowsch's arrest, Robert Meyers spoke out, revealing that his wife knew the suspect from a local park. He said she had tried to help him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MEYERS: My wife spent countless hours at this park consoling this boy. He is probably watching this right now and I know he's got to feel bad because she was really good to him. She fed him. She gave him money. She told him to pull his pants up and to be a man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Las Vegas police looking for a second suspect, but they believe Nowsch was the killer.
BERMAN: FOX News Bill O'Reilly defending himself from what he is calling his Brian Williams problem. Left-leaning "Mother Jones" is calling him less than honest reporting from Argentina for CBS during the 1982 Falkland Islands war, especially claims that he reported from the warzone. O'Reilly was never actually made it to the Falkland Islands. Few reporters were, O'Reilly reported from Argentina himself. Demonstrations after the conclusion, that is what he considers the warzone.
"Mother Jones" edited together its evidence posted it on its Web site and on YouTube. O'Reilly calls the article's author a liar and worse, frankly, and O'Reilly claims he never said he's actually in the Falkland.
ROMANS: All right. The FDA issuing a warning about a deadly superbug. Health officials say improperly cleaned medical scopes inserted down the throat may be infecting patients with a deadly drug- resistant bacteria. The warning comes after California hospital officials reported several people, including two who died, were infected with the superbug CRE which was linked to improperly sterilized scopes at UCLA Medical Center. Almost 180 patients exposed.
BERMAN: A federal advisory board is urging the government to tax sugary drinks and food. A report published by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee recommends the consumers keep their added sugar intake to no more than 10 percent of their total daily calories.
Stay away from soda. You know, sugary drinks, soft drinks, filled with sugar.
The report says the caffeine in a few cups of coffee could be good for you. That is fantastic news. Committee is backing off stricter limits of salt.
ROMANS: Salt is my weakness. Yours is caffeine.
BERMAN: Caffeine. You can salt your coffee. I'm fine with that.
ROMANS: Time for an early start on your money. European stocks lower now. Today is the E.U.'s deadline for the debt deal with Greece. Weeks of negotiations have fallen apart. U.S. stock futures are not moving that much.
Rumors flying about the apple car. Apple accused of poaching employees working for a company t makes batteries for electric cars.
And according to Bloomberg, Apple wants to start production of an electric vehicle by year 2020. It would compete with Tesla and electric vehicles in development by General Motors and others.
You know, Apple wasn't the first to make a digital music player. It wasn't the first to make a smartphone. But Apple revolutionized those products. Maybe they are doing the same for electric cars? That is the big Apple story this morning.
BERMAN: You cannot drive your phone, though. That is one of the differences.
ROMANS: But it can drive your life.
BERMAN: Well done, well done.
All right. The unbearable cold weather effecting 30 states across the U.S. To say affecting, that's like the euphemism. It is wrecking us, creating dangerous conditions, icy roads. Police release this dash cam video shows how dangerous it is.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Record-breaking cold. Bitter cold effecting nearly 30 states from Wisconsin to Alabama. We're talking freeze warnings posted everywhere, even Florida. Look at the pictures from Niagara Falls, frozen trees there. The waterfalls are nearly iced over.
That is where we find CNN's Ryan Young.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine and John, usually cold temperatures have tourists running in another direction. Here, people are running to see the natural beauty of Niagara Falls. Just take a look at this frozen palace. In fact, that's the American side.
As we trace along this here, you can see the solid blocks of ice. And many people have been asking if the water has stopped flowing. No, it hasn't. In fact, if you look over here on the Canadian side, you can see that constant flow of water. More than 20 million gallons rushes over the side. And that is causing people from all over to see the wonder of the world.
Now, this area hasn't had a day over freezing in quite some time. In fact, if you look here, you can see everything on the side is encased in ice. It is very cold here. It is very cold here. But it hasn't stopped people from showing up. In fact, we're seeing dozens of folks show up just to take pictures and selfies and enjoy this wonderful view as the colors keep changing -- Christine and John.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: So pretty -- the picture so pretty behind him. But pretty is deceptive when it is cold.
Disturbing dash cam video out of Michigan. Officer standing outside of this car and all of a sudden, a car from nowhere slams into his police car and hits the second car. Somehow, he narrowly avoids being crushed and being thrown into a ditch. The officer was taken to the hospital and is expected to be OK.
BERMAN: Scary moments on the track for Danica Patrick. Her car spins out during a qualifying race. The fireworks off the track that everyone is talking about.
Our Coy Wire has the details in the bleacher report next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: So in football, the Raiders are from Oakland, right? The Chargers, they're from San Diego, right? Well, maybe no more. They may both move to Los Angeles and share a stadium.
ROMANS: Coy Wire has more in this morning's bleacher report. Hey, Coy.
COY WIRE, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, guys.
Both the Chargers and the Raiders have wanting new stadiums. If they cannot get deals done in their homes cities by the end of this year, they will shack up together in Carson, California.
Let's check it out. The owners have already released renderings of the proposed $1.7 billion stadium which will be privately financed. Both teams are struggling to get financing in the respective cities. So, this move makes sense. Oakland called L.A. home in the '80s and '90s. So, they have fans in history there, while the Chargers say that 25 percent of the fan base is in L.A. and Orange County. The teams are expected to announce the project at the news conference today in Carson.
Indianapolis Colts GM Ryan Grigson made an admission about deflate- gate. There are reports that he had alerted officials that the Patriots were using deflated footballs at halftime of the AFC championship game. Well, during a press conference at the NFL combine, Grigson he said that the colts notified the NFL about the concerns the week before the game. He did not say what caused them to alert officials. He said, quote, "We had concerns. Just like any general manager would do, he wants his team to play on an even playing field", end quote.
Scary moment for giants manager Bruce Bochy. He was hospitalized yesterday after undergoing a procedure that would put two stents in his heart. The team said their medical staff was watching Bochy closely after he said he was experiencing discomfort following a medical exam Wednesday. The team released a statement saying he is resting comfortably now and he's going to be released today.
Big time drama during last night's Budweiser shoot in Daytona. Hey, Danica. Four laps to go, Danica Patrick gets turned around by Denny Hamlin and wrecks.
Now, she needed to finish 15th or better to make the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Danica's pit crew goes to work, gets her back on the track fast. Patrick is able to drive her way back in the race and finished tenth, earning a spot in the Daytona 500.
Afterwards, Danica gave Denny Hamlin a good talking to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANICA PATRICK, NASCAR DRIVER: What are you doing?
DENNY HAMLIN, NASCAR DRIVER: Danica, I didn't --
PATRICK: Seriously. You did the same (EXPLETIVE DELETED) thing in practice. You did the same thing. You get on my left rear and it spins me out. You did the same thing. Tighten up what? Nobody else left me with a problem out there.
HAMLIN: Nobody has your back like I have in spot. Now, listen to me --
PATRICK: Denny, I would have thought so.
HAMLIM: I would have given you an extra two feet because of you.
PATRICK: Dude, you give me nothing. You give me nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Get him, Danica.
John and Christine, NASCAR season is an upon us, starting with a bang. Jeff Gordon is starting in the pole at the Daytona 500 on Sunday. Danica, she'll be starting 20th. But she's going to have a big chip on her shoulder.
ROMANS: Wow. You know what? I was interviewed her and asked what her best advice she received was. I was thinking maybe she was going to say something about how to take the last turn, how to navigate the pit crew. She said save your money. The younger you are, you have more time to save your money. Save every penny.
That's what he said. She is like a financial reporter. Isn't amazing? Another reason to love her.
BERMAN: Yes, exactly. Now we know why you like her.
All right. Coy, thanks so much.
ROMANS: Our top story: a plan to retake a key city from ISIS set for spring. Why is the military revealing their strategy now? A live report ahead.
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