Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Egypt Calls for Pan-Arab Army to Fight ISIS; Terror Threat to Shopping Malls; Kayla Mueller's Parents Criticizes U.S. Hostage Policy; "Birdman" Takes Top Honors at Oscars

Aired February 23, 2015 - 05:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: ISIS in the crosshairs. The president of Egypt wants to double down on efforts to take out the terror group. Could plans be in the works for a unified show of force from Arab nations? We'll take you live to Cairo.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A video threat to shopping malls, including in the United States. Top officials warn shoppers to be cautious. We will tell you what law enforcement is doing as part of their response.

ROMANS: And the envelope please. The Academy Awards handed out in Los Angeles; "Birdman" flies to the top. Who else won? And who went home empty-handed?

BERMAN: Everyone wins. Everyone wins. It's like my kids' soccer games (ph).

ROMANS: Welcome to back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. About 29 minutes past the hour right now. And new this morning, the president of Egypt is calling for a unified Arab force to fight ISIS. This could be the latest sign that some Middle Eastern countries are heeding President Obama's call for them to step up in the fight against terror. Already, Jordan and the UAE have offered to send military assistance to help Egypt battle ISIS in Libya. Of course, several Arab nations have been part of the coalition striking ISIS in Syria and Iraq all along.

Want to bring in CNN's Ian Lee, live in Cairo with the latest. Ian, this seemed like a call to arms from the Egyptian leader.

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, that's right, John. And off the top of president's speech, addressing the Egyptian people, the need to fight ISIS. Egypt already confronting ISIS on two fronts, in the Sinai peninsula, where they've already lost hundreds of security personnel. Also in Libya, where the president confirmed they had 13 air strikes against ISIS there. That was after the brutal beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians.

Now, he did call for the pan-Arab army, saying that there was a need for a united Arab force for this growing threat. And he says that the need for it is growing by the day. Now, he did not give any real details about what that would look like, what that would consist of. We know that other Arab countries have offered Egypt assistance. But he did say, and reiterate quite a few times in the speech, that the Egyptian military's role is to protect the borders of the country. But if they need to be used in the region, then that is an option that is opened only with coordination with their Arab brothers. John.

BERMAN: The question is how far is Egypt willing to go and how much support does the Egyptian president have from the people of Egypt and perhaps from the people on the streets and other Arab nations?

LEE: Well, this call here in Egypt really resonates. Pan-Arabism is something that started here, took root here in Egypt, talking about the late Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser who really championed it. During the turbulent -- the '50s, '60s, and '70s, there was a lot of mistrust between the Arab countries. And that's when we really saw the failure of pan-Arabism. But now with the President Sisi calling for it again, they have this threat around the region, and really there hasn't been an Arab country that hasn't had to deal with ISIS in some sort of form. So it's something that will resonate in Arab capitals. But the Arab leaders are not really known for their unity. So it would take a lot, really a lot of diplomatic maneuvering and talks to get something like this going.

BERMAN: Ian Lee for us in Cairo where there is a lot going on this morning. Thanks so much, Ian.

ROMANS: This morning, Defense Secretary Ash Carter is in Kuwait where he's on an unannounced visit to consult with top military, State Department, and intelligence officials on the fight against ISIS. This on the heels of a newly released ISIS propaganda video that appears to show Kurdish Peshmerga forces captured by ISIS. CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of this video, but in it the prisoners, clearly under duress, call on fellow Peshmerga to give up the fight against ISIS.

Senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman following the story for us from Erbil, Iraq. Good morning, Ben. And the Peshmerga, they have been the fighting force that has been able to hold back, in many cases, ISIS.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, the Peshmerga really are on the frontlines in the fight against ISIS. You will recall, last summer, could -- ISIS forces almost got here, the Kurdish capital of Erbil. They were beaten back by the Kurds, but it was touch and go for a while. And when you go to the frontlines, you are really right overlooking ISIS. ISIS has tried in the last week three times to break through Kurdish lines. Fortunately, all of these attempts have been unsuccessful. But they really under score the constant looming danger that ISIS poses for the millions of people in northern Iraq.

The most recent incident, to the south of here in Mahmar (ph), which is about an hour and a half drive from here. ISIS tried to break through those lines during the middle of the night, and that is oftentimes when they attack. They try to take advantage of the fact, for instance, that the Kurds don't have much in the way of night vision equipment. However, they were repulsed; at least 50 ISIS fighters killed. Coalition air strikes also played a key role.

There was a similar such attempt to break through the Kurdish lines to the west of here. In that case, 30 ISIS fighters were killed.

But when you are at the front lines, you look at the weapons they have. It is mostly AK-47 assault rifles. They did have some Milan anti-tank missiles there, but they only have a few. And theey say if only we had more weapons, we could do so much more. But at the moment, at best, they can take back a village here and a village there. Certainly they appreciate the coalition air cover, but they say without heavier weapons, better equipment, more ammunition, there's really not much more they can do. Christine.

ROMANS: Ben Wedeman, we certainly appreciate your expertise in the region and your reporting. Thank you.

BERMAN: A chilling threat from the terror group al Shabaab has shopping malls across the United States stepping up security. This video calls for attacks on malls in Canada, Britain, and the United States, specifically naming the Mall of America in Minnesota. Officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, they seem to be walking a fine line, on the one hand urging heightened vigilance at the same time that they're sort of downplaying the threat level.

Our Washington correspondent Erin McPike spoke to Jeh Johnson and has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, Secretary Johnson is stressing that anyone heading to the mall of America should be careful was a striking comment Sunday morning. Government officials started walking back comments and continued to throughout day. So, I asked him later if he wanted to revise what he said.

Do you regret the comments you made this morning?

JEH JOHNSON, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: No, no.

MCPIKE: I also asked him to explain how Americans can be more careful when they go out to big public places. And his bottom line was to stay vigilant and embrace this motto, that if you see something, say something.

But pay close attention to the developing story here. A spokesperson for DHS said the agency is, quote, "not aware of any specific credible plot against the Mall of America or any other domestic commercial shopping center.

JOHNSON: That is becoming a less and less relevant statement because you and I won't necessarily know about when the next bad actor is going to strike and try to murder several cops on the beat, in Brooklyn or some other place. MCPIKE: And yet the Mall of America beefed of security and the spokesman for Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton said he was in close contact with the state's public safety commissioner throughout the day Sunday, trying to keep tabs on what they can prevent -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Erin McPike, thanks for that.

Relatives of three British teenage girls believed to be headed to Syria to join ISIS begging their family members to come home. Those are the girls. The trio was spotted by airport surveillance cameras before flying from England to Turkey last week. It is believed they are trying to cross into Syria. The sister of one of the girls, Shamima Begum, made a tearful plea.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To convince such young girls at that age which are vulnerable and so -- it's just wrong. It's evil. It's a really evil thing to do. You are breaking up entire families. We want her to come home. If you are watching this, baby, please come home. Mum needs you more than anything in the world. You're our baby.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Friends and family say there was no reason to believe the girls would do something so radical.

BERMAN: New this morning, the family of the slain ISIS hostage is speaking out against the U.S. policy of refusing to pay ransom to terrorists. The White House of course confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller earlier this month. Mueller's father tells NBC News the family pushed, without success, for a change in U.S. government policy on ransom, hoping to save Kayla's life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL MUELLER, SLAIN ISIS HOSTAGE'S FATHER: We understand not paying ransom, but on the other hand, any parents would understand that you would want anything and everything done to bring your child home. And we tried. And we asked. But they put policy in front of American citizens' lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Kayla's mother Marsha says she believes the U.S. underestimated, in her words, just how powerful ISIS was.

Nearly 70 people reported dead after a ferry in Bangladesh capsized. Authorities say a cargo vessel hit the ferry in a river and many passengers in the lower deck could not get out as the boat started taking on water. It is unclear this morning how many people were on board. The ferry operators, apparently, don't keep these records. The ferry accident last summer on the same river left 45 people dead. ROMANS: Two people are dead, 15 wounded, following an explosion at a

pro-government protest in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials are calling the detonation of a remote-controlled bomb in the city of Kharkiv a suspected terrorist act. Four people belonging to a group that received terror training in Russia have been arrested. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military says it will not withdraw its heavy weapons from front lines in the Donbas region as planned as it says its positions are still being shelled by pro-Russian separatists.

BERMAN: The mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat and bodyguard, they jumped out of their car apparently to stop a knife attack. The suspect was swinging he knife at a crowd of pedestrians, apparently struck an ultra-orthodox Jewish man. That is when the mayor sprang into action. He helped tackle and held the suspect down until police arrived. The attacker was said to be an 18-year-old Palestinian who was not authorized to live in Israel. The victim is not seriously injured.

ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Monday morning. Stocks are up around the world. U.S. stock futures down just a bit after hitting all-time highs last week. The Dow Friday up 155 points. That's a record. The S&P 500 also a record. Markets like the four- month bailout extension deal between Greece and its EU lenders. Now, that deal is conditional. Greece must outline budget cuts by today, keeping the Greece's drama at the top of the list of most important money news. Also on that list, oil. The largest U.S. oil refinery strike in 35 years is getting bigger. Negotiations between the United Steelworkers Union and oil companies fell apart Friday. Workers at the nation's largest refinery joined the strike that now includes 6,500 workers at 15 refineries and production facilities.

BERMAN: So, you know it's a rough winter when 40 degrees feels awesome. It felt like summer. We were out there in tank tops yesterday. We had a taste in the northeast, but it is all over. The wintry temperatures and icy conditions are back, even in the south. More than 1,200 flights were canceled today, the majority of those in or out of Dallas.

Want to get to meteorologist Pedram Javaheri for an early look at the weather. Pedram.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: John and Christine, good morning. Good Monday morning to you. Look at the perspective across the country. Just about every location across the country below average, some areas in northern and central Texas 30 to 40 degrees below average. Go to South Florida, you'll be OK. Go to the Western United States, you'll be OK, in that it will be above average.

But what I can tell you, countdown is on for the official start of spring, the 20thd of March. Do the math, about 25 days left. So we are getting there. Getting there slowly, but certainly going to get there in the next coming few weeks.

Take a look at this though. Temperatures this morning, a goose egg in Chicago. 34-39 in D.C. and also New York City. The cold air will eventually move in to the northeast as we head in on Tuesday. But the windchill already pretty brutal. 22 below across Minneapolis. 17 below out of Chicago, sitting into the teens and 20s around the nation's capital and New York. A little clipper system comes through here, but generally speaking light snow showers. The major metro cities do not look like they're going to get in on this, at least nothing in the way of major accumulations. The cold air, though, going to remain in place for at least the coming couple of days, guys.

ROMANS: All right, thanks for that, Pedram.

"Birdman" is on an Oscar high. The drama about a washed-up film actor beat out the coming of age film "Boyhood" to win Best Picture. "Birdman" won Best Director honors during Sunday night's award show. We will have more on the winners, some of the most show's most viral moments, later in this half hour. If you did not watch it, all many hours of it, we will tell you exactly what you need to know to sound like you know what you are talking about.

BERMAN: We were up all night, didn't sleep at all.

Republicans, some of them are putting some distance between themselves and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani after his comments about the president's patriotism. Now this morning, the mayor has a brand new explanation. We will tell you about this new op-ed; that's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, trying to clarify his message after creating something of an uproar when he said that President Obama does not love America. In a new op-ed this morning, the mayor writes in "The Wall Street Journal", "obviously", he says, "I cannot read President Obama's mind or heart. To the extent that my word suggested otherwise, it was not my intention. But I can only be disheartened when I hear him claim, as he did last August, that our response to 9/11 betrayed ideas to our country. When he interjected that we tortured some folks, he undermined those who managed successfully to protect us from further attack."

The former mayor's statements led a number of prominent Republicans to distance themselves from him. Although there were others who did not.

ROMANS: Bill O'Reilly's claims recent allegations that he embellished stories about his work as a TV reporter are an attempt to smear him and Fox News. O'Reilly is defending himself against a "Mother Jones" article accusing the conservative host of exaggerating his heroics during his coverage of the Falklands Islands conflict in 1982. Meantime, several of O'Reilly's former CBS co-workers dispute his account of what really happened.

BERMAN: This is the most press the Falklands have received in decades.

ROMANS: 47 minutes past the hour. Let's take a lot at what's coming up on "NEW DAY". Chris Cuomo joins us this Monday morning. Hey, Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Yes, it's not supposed to be about the Falklands, though, right? That's what O'Reilly says, but maybe it's about Buenos Airies. Now you've got these old timers from CBS coming out. The situation got more interesting, guys, if only just to see these parts of the legend of our business coming out. Like the CBS strong coming out and talking about the coverage there. And we have to remember O'Reilly has survived scandal before. So we're going to take you through where this stands right now. What's the best, worst proof of the situation and really where is it going to go?

But there are much bigger items on the agenda for you this morning. We will take a very close look on the politics behind what happened with Rudy Giuliani. Why didn't the Republican party come out right away? Why are they coming out now? And how? And what about this op- ed that Rudy Giuliani wrote in "The Wall Street Journal" where he said that he hopes his words would start a conversation that's based on confidence and optimism about the way forward for the United States? Is he talking about the same thing?

And, of course, we're also going to give you the big headline. Do we finally have, John and Christine, the boots on the ground that are needed in the war against ISIS? And don't forget, Micky is out there diong the Oscars. That's the show for you.

BERMAN: All right, looking forward to that. Chris, thanks so much.

We have more on the Oscars. The big winners, the big surprises, and, yes, the losers after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IDINA MENZEL, ACTRESS: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the stage my dear friend Glom Gazingo.

(APPLAUSE)

JOHN TRAVOLTA, ACTOR: The nominees for Best Original Song are --

MENZEL: You want me to do it?

(LAUGHTER)

TRAVOLTA: Here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Was that funny or awkward?

BERMAN: I thought that was funny. There were some other awkward moments with John Travolta but that, of course, making up from last year, John Travolta mangled Idina Menzel's name right there and she was a very good sport, trying to sort of make light of it now.

ROMANS: If you, like John Berman, did not spend four and a half hours of your life to watch the Oscars, here is what you need to know to get through your workday. Neil Patrick Harris came out in his underwear and black socks. Obviously that's a spoof on "Birdman". Graham Moore, he won for the screenplay, the Adaptive Screenplay for "Imitation Game". He had what I thought was the most moving acceptance speech. He talked about being 16 years old and trying to kill himself. And how you can come back from that. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRAHAM MOORE, WRITER: And I felt different. I felt like I did not belong. And now I'm standing here. So I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she's weird or she's different or she doesn't fit in anywhere. Yes, you do. I promise you do. You do. Stay weird. Stay different. And then, when it is your turn and you are on this stage, please pass the same message.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Love that. Also love Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga comes out and really surprises -- I know she is an amazing musician and singer. Listen to her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LADY GAGA, SINGER (singing): With the sound of music

BERMAN (voice-over): Very impressive. Even Julie Andrews was impressed by this.

LADY GAGA: My heart wants to sing --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: I just thought it was very lovely. And then Patricia Arquette, when she gave her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, she reached out there and said, look, women and men in this industry and in every industry need pay quality. Look at the response from the women in the front wrong.

BERMAN: When you can get J-Lo and Meryl Streep on board, not to mention Ethan Hawke there and that guy, you've done very, very well. She had a lot of people cheering.

Let me just give you a brief synopsis of the winners: "Birdman" Best Picture, also Best Director. Best Actor was Eddie Redmayne for "The Theory of Everything". Best Actress, Julianna Moore for "Still Alice". Best Supporting Actor, J.K. Simmons, the guy who's been in everything since "Law & Order" from like 30 years ago.

ROMANS: And his acceptance speech was so beautifully fitting. If your parents still alive, call them. Don't text them, don't e-mail them, call them. Call your parents. I love that.

BERMAN: Congratulations to all.

ROMANS: And I went online on Facebook, I said in 25 words or less, please tell John Berman what he needs to know about the Oscars. And Roy Neyfield (ph), he said on Facebook: "Way too long. " He did it in three words.

BERMAN: They ended, in fact, three minutes ago.

All right. We will have business headlines next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Monday. Stocks around the world like the four-month agreement between Greece and its EU creditor. Here in the U.S., stock futures are moving a bit lower after a record end to the week. On Friday, the Dow climbed 155 points and closed at its first record of the year. The S&P 500 is up 212 percent. Look at that chart, John Berman! That is a good-looking, beautiful chart.

BERMAN: That's amazing. Let's just hope it keeps going.

ROMANS: Oh, I love that chart. (INAUDIBLE) 2009.

Gas prices are climbing, 28 days in a row now. The national average for a gallon of regular, $2.30. It's up 5 cents in the past week, 27 cents in the last month. But drivers are still saving hundreds compared to this time last year when prices were well above $3. So in the near term, it hurts, but the long term looks pretty good.

BERMAN: All right, got some big news in the international scene. Egypt stepping up to take the lead in the battle against ISIS, calling on help from Arab neighbors. What will this all mean? "NEW DAY" picks it up right now.