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The State of U.S.-Israeli Relations; Behind Jihadi John: Who is Mohammed Emwazi?; New Details in the Aaron Hernandez Murder Trial; The Human Factor: Williams Syndrome

Aired February 26, 2015 - 14:30   ET

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

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: I know you've been following this story closely. We now know she's going to be going to AIPAC as a representative of the U.S. administration.

Do you think that sending her is perhaps in response to what she said, trying to smooth things over after those strong words when she said that everything that's been going on has been destructive to the relationship between the U.S. and Israel?

WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Well, they've got a lot of work to do. They've got a lot of work to do on both sides to fix this relationship, because the rhetoric has been so intense -- not only the public rhetoric but behind the scenes what you hear. And I've covered this story for a long time. It's gotten really, really awful right now. What he says publicly his visit is acceptance of this speech before a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, the invitation by the Speaker John Boehner, is going to be destructive as far as the U.S.-Israeli relationship, you don't hear that kind of stuff very often. So they've got a lot of work to do to fix this relationship.

Now, we know that two weeks after the speech -- the speech was supposed to be delivered Tuesday morning -- there are elections in Israel on March 17th. It's going to be tight by all accounts. The polls show it's very tight. There's no guarantee that Netanyahu is going to be re-elected, although most political observers think he does have the inside shot.

But there's a lot going on right now. There's going to have to be a lot of work, Ana, to fix this relationship right now. Because it clearly -- the personal relationship, the public relationship -- has clearly deteriorated over the past several weeks.

CABRERA: Right. And critics of this visit are saying perhaps Netanyahu's doing this as a political ploy, trying to boost his numbers ahead of the elections.

BLITZER: There's no doubt that he's a political -- he's a politician, he wants to get himself re-elected. There's also no doubt that he worries deeply about what he senses is a bad deal that the U.S. -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany are trying to put together with Iran. He doesn't like that deal. He's made it clear. Everything he says publicly says that this freeze on Iran's nuclear program, he says, is not good enough. He says as much as he's concerned about the deterioration in the U.S.-Israeli relationship, he's much more worried about Iran someday getting a nuclear bomb.

So he hates this deal. He's making that clear. John Kerry, he's making it clear he disagrees. He says there's no deal yet. Wait until there's a deal, if there's going to be a deal. There's no certainty there will in fact be a deal. But he says give ate chance because that's a lot better than going to war against Iran, blowing up its nuclear capabilities, if you will, because you don't know what the ramifications of that are going to be.

So there's a lot of poisonous things going on right now. I will make this one point, Ana. I've seen this before. I've seen a deterioration in the U.S.-Israeli public relationship. Once, it was pretty bitter, going back to 1990. 1990 there was a Republican president in the White House, George H.W. Bush. There was a Republican Secretary of State, James Baker. They didn't like what the Israeli prime minister at that time, Yitzhak Shamir, was doing as far as settlement activities. And it got nasty. At one point, Baker was testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He was clearly irritated by Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank. Listen to what he told members of Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES BAKER, THEN-SECRETARY OF STATE: Everybody over there should know that the telephone number is 1-202-456-1414. When you're serious about peace, call us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: That's what he said to the Prime Minister of Israel. If you're serious about peace, call us. And he put the public phone number of the White House up there.

That was a pretty low point in U.S.-Israeli relations at that time. Democrats on the Hill, they were really furious with the Republican administration. This time, Republicans are obviously very furious with the Democratic administration.

I will add one final point, Ana. At that point, a lot of people don't remember, a year later when the relationship was also very sour, George H.W. Bush was still President of the United States -- at that time they did something that this administration still has not done. It could happen down the road but it has not done. They linked U.S. economic aid to Israel to the settlement activities on the West Bank. At that point, Israel was absorbing tens of thousands of Soviet Jewish refugees to Israel, needed some loan guarantees, $10 billion in loan guarantees, and Bush and Baker at that time said they were not going to provide Israel with those loan guarantees. They were going to put them on hold until Israel ceased the settlement activity.

In this particular case, I haven't seen any direct connection between U.S. economic or military aid to Israel because of the irritation of the -- over the Netanyahu visit. So just a little historic per respective for our viewers about what's going on. CABRERA: Well, it is important and we are seeing elements of history

repeating itself. Wolf Blitzer, thank you for that insight.

Up next, the man known as Jihadi John, the suspected ISIS terrorist appearing on a number of videos showing those brutal murders of captive Americans, has been identified. He is an educated man from London and we are learning what some of his friends back in London are now saying about him -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Back to our breaking news. U.S. officials confirm that the masked man in the beheading videos from ISIS is Mohammed Emwazi. Born in Kuwait, lived in London, and according to a British activist, Emwazi was repeatedly detained unfairly and questioned by security agencies, including the U.K.'s MI-5. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ASIM QURESHI, RESEARCH DIRECTOR, CAGE: He wants to make a life for himself in Kuwait. He was obsessed with this one thing. I want to get married out there. I want to live out there. I don't want to live in this (INAUDIBLE) country that treats me like a terrorist even though they've got no evidence against me. I'm an innocent man.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: And, apparently, that was back when he was detained in 2009, 2010. Those were some of the conversations going on between Emwazi and authorities.

Joining me now is Adam Goldman, one of the "Washington Post" reporters who broke this story, revealing Emwazi's name. Adam, I want to play another clip from Asim Qureshi, who is a source also in your article. He met Emwazi back in 2009 as he helped him to file some official complaints over his treatment by the authorities there.

And here's what Qureshi said earlier today. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QURESHI: While I think that there are some striking similarities between the young man that I remember and the person we see on the video, I can't be 100 percent certain. He's got a hood on. Come on, guys. The guy's got a hood on his head.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: So still questions. I mean, is this the right guy? Adam, how certain are your sources that Jihadi John is Mohammed Emwazi?

ADAM GOLDMAN, NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: Well, as certain as "The New York Times" and other British newspapers that have also confirmed. And Asim wasn't used as an identifying source in there. Asim never -- we didn't say Asim said he was 100 percent certain. Asim only said he had a striking resemblance. So Asim didn't -- wasn't -- Asim was useful in the story in that he interacted with Emwazi and he had the e-mails.

CABRERA: He knows Emwazi.

GOLDMAN: Right.

CABRERA: And on that line of questioning, at the same news conference, Qureshi characterized Emwazi as somebody who is kind, gentle, humble, grateful. I know your co-writer spoke to people who also knew Emwazi, friends of his. Do they say the same?

GOLDMAN: They described him as intelligent, somewhat quiet, outgoing, respectful. So that doesn't -- that fits with what we know. I might add there are many people throughout history who have been cold killers who have been given the same descriptions.

CABRERA: It doesn't necessarily fit our image of a terrorist or fit what we know of ISIS. Do you think that's why officials have been so hesitant to confirm his identity up until this point?

GOLDMAN: I mean, I don't know. I think there was an active investigation and I think they -- officials didn't want his name to come out because they are targeting him. And it's no surprise that officials -- I mean, officials know his name. The director said as much in February of last year. We know his identity. So none of this is a surprise to Jihadi John. Multiple news outlets, including NBC, "The New York Times", "The Guardian", have all confirmed this is the individual.

CABRERA: We've seen Jihadi John at all of those horrific scenes involving Foley, Sotloff, Cantlie, but you reference another hostage in your article who apparently got away. He said Jihadi John was tasked with guarding western captives apparently. What more did that hostage divulge about him and how he treated the hostages?

GOLDMAN: Well, look, I've spoken to a number of hostages. They describe Jihadi John as a sadist. Along with the other Beatles, they waterboarded American Jim Foley, I'd already reported that, along with three others. Repeatedly, more than once.

They also described him as being important in the organization. They weren't just guards. They had more of a supervisory role and were tasked to make videos of them, perhaps they were going to use these videos as proof of life.

But one thing that's really interesting that I learned from the hostages is there's all this debate about when this guy radicalized. But when he took to this -- when he said he finished college, he went to Tanzania in 2009. And he denied wanting to go there to join al Shabaab in Somalia. But yet when he was holding the hostages, and I reported this in the story, he was obsessed with al Shabaab. And he had them watch videos of al Shabaab when they were -- when he was holding these hostages. So there are real indications by the time he leaves the country in 2009 to go to Africa where he stopped, he's already radicalized.

CABRERA: So you said he was obsessed with al Shabaab. Then why didn't he go join al Shabaab? Why ISIS? Is it because ISIS is just the name of the game at this hour?

GOLDMAN: Well, in 2009, he traveled to Africa to Tanzania; Tanzania is south of Somalia. To get to Kenya, you go to Somalia. It's not hard. But when he gets to Tanzania, he's stopped by authorities and he's deported essentially. And he flies to Amsterdam where the MI-5 interrogates him. So I think his options were limited.

CABRERA: And so ISIS was easier access then, you're saying.

GOLDMAN: Well, I think ISIS getting to Syria has proved much easier for thousands and thousands of foreign fighters, right? I mean, how many foreign fighters in Syria now? 15,000, 20,000, more? So clearly there are ways of getting to Syria that are much easier than, say, going to Africa or Yemen.

CABRERA: Adam Goldman, thank you for your time. We appreciate it. And obviously quite a scoop you had, breaking this news this morning. Congrats.

GOLDMAN: Thanks.

CABRERA: Up next, the trial of ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez got very interesting today. Some new surveillance footage. Details about Hernandez's bar tab on the night of the murder. And bubble gum. We'll sort all this out for you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Bright blue, cotton candy-flavored bubble gum. Yes, a piece of bubble gum could end up being one of the most important pieces of evidence in the murder trial of former NFL star Aaron Hernandez. Today in court, the prosecution brought this clue full circle, showing the jury this gas station surveillance of Hernandez allegedly buying this sugary treat.

CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti is joining me now. Also with us, CNN legal analyst Mel Robbins.

First to you Susan, who I know you're out in the cold so we'll try to get through this segment with a hurry. The gas station video, we know that was important for a few reasons. Why?

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, the timing of it, because it has taken -- after it is taken, after this car leaves the gas station, about eight minutes more goes by, that is when prosecutors say Odin Lloyd is picked up from his home. So this is while Aaron Hernandez and two others who are also charged in the murder are literally on their way to pick up Odin Lloyd. So the timing is important.

But also you get to see the way Aaron Hernandez is acting. He gets out to pump gas for his car but then you also see, after a minute or two goes by, it's kind of odd. He's acting sort of goofy on the videotape. In the headlights of the car, you can see him sort of waving his arms, pumping his arms up in the air, and appearing to sort of hop on one foot a little bit. And he's also seen on that video with Carlos Ortiz, who is wearing a white towel around his neck. Prosecutors say that same white towel is later found at the crime scene.

And then you see him go inside, Ana. And inside you see him buy a pack of cotton candy blue bubble gum. And that bubble gum, a piece of it, a chewed piece of it, is later found by the rental car manager after the murder takes place and they return the car. Found the same kind of gum inside the car along with a .45 caliber shell casing, the same kind of shell casing that is also found at the crime scene.

CABRERA: So Mel, all this seems to be a lot of circumstantial evidence. They have the shell casing. They have the bubble gum. But they don't have the murder weapon. Is it enough, what they have?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, it's only a question for the jury. The jury can take all of this circumstantial evidence and infer what they think happened from it.

So think about it like a Lego kit. You buy a Lego kit that's a car. It's got 100 pieces in it. They're going to try to give the jury as many pieces of the puzzle they can put together to assemble the complete picture. So you've got casings at the scene that match a casing that's in the car. You have bubble gum that Aaron Hernandez has bought that you also find in the car. You have footprints at the scene. You have tire tracks at the scene.

Is the bubble gum enough? Of course not. We don't have a murder weapon. We don't have an eyewitness. But if they can give the jury enough pieces, a timeline that shows exactly what Aaron Hernandez did that night, so that the jury takes a step back, looks at all these pieces and says the only reasonable inference here, based on the timeline, based on the shell casings, based on the bubble gum, based on the rental car, based on the video of him, based on the location of his house to the location of the murder is that he was there and he was responsible for this.

CABRERA: They're able to really put him in the place at the time of the murder, at least in their eyes that's the goal.

ROBBINS: Correct.

CABERRA: Susan, I know today started with some testimony from a manager at a restaurant where Hernandez and some friends ate at just a few hours before Lloyd was murdered. What else happened while he was there at that restaurant?

CANDIOTTI: Well, once again, you and Mel are talking about the timeline. This is another piece of it. What happened before you saw him at that gas station? Aaron Hernandez and his fiancee at this bar. And they are -- the bar manager sees that Aaron Hernandez at one point appears to be smoking marijuana. She sees him outside with another man. And she goes outside and she tells him, look, the smoke and the smell is floating inside. Can you please put it out? And she says he did.

And then we also learn that he rings up a bar tab, pays for it for all of his friends, and it cost $273. And that included a $30 tip. Little over 10 percent for that tab. What's on there is interesting to see. Ten -- several cognacs, and ten drinks called Sex on the Beach. So again, was he high or was he drunk? We have no way of answering that question. But we can say that, after he leaves there, that's when he goes home and then leaves again, prosecutors say, to pick up Odin Lloyd. Ana.

CABRERA: All right, Susan Candiotti, Mel Robins, thanks to both of you. Appreciate you being here.

At the top of the hour now, more on our special coverage of three New Yorkers arrested and accused of planning terror attacks in the name of ISIS.

And the man known as Jihadi John now identified. Lots going on here in the NEWSROOM. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: After a smooth pregnancy, mom was shocked to learn her baby was born with a rare genetic disorder. Now, she reached out for help. Sadly, she couldn't find any. And now she's making sure other parents have the support they need.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta has her story in today's Human Factor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With each note, Alex Mody (ph) defies expectations. You see, when he was just five months old, doctors told his mother something was wrong.

CARRIE MCGEE, SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATE: He really didn't sleep at all and had very bad colic, cried 24 hours a day. Doctors discovered a heart condition and that he had lost weight.

GUPTA: And further tests revealed a devastating diagnosis.

MCGEE: We were told he has this thing called Williams Syndrome.

GUPTA: It's a rare genetic disorder which can cause heart problems, developmental delays, learning disabilities.

MCGEE: The information we were given is that the average I.Q. is 40, that he won't be able to function independently.

GUPTA: She quit her job as a hospital executive to care for her son. She enrolled Alex in a public school and made sure he had much needed speech, physical and occupational therapies.

MCGEE: I was seen as an unreasonable mother who couldn't accept reality.

GUPTA: But Carrie also knew her son needed something more, and so did she, a place where families could find support.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think they're friendly?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe so.

GUPTA: So with some other moms, Carrie created that place. It's called Whole Children.

MCGEE: We don't focus on disability, we focus on ability.

GUPTA: Alex will graduate from high school this year and wants to be a DJ.

ALEX MODY (ph): I want people to think of me as a guy who has faced his fears.

MCGEE: I see what he brings to the world, which is an incredible gift. I'm just so proud of him.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)