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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

U.S. Withdraws Special Ops, Troops in Yemen; ISIS Hit List Targets U.S. Military Officers; Ted Cruz: Running for President; Down to the "Sweet 16". Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired March 23, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:00] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: One of America's biggest Mideast allies on the brink of civil war. Yemen in crisis. U.S. evacuating troops, losing key ground for counterterrorism and intelligence gathering. We are live with the latest development.

U.S. military officers on an ISIS hit list -- 100 people targeted as we learn new information about Western doctors moving to Syria to help ISIS. We're live in Baghdad.

And the 2016 presidential campaign has begun. New this morning: Senator Ted Cruz announcing his bid for the Republican national nomination.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is Monday, March 23rd. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East. John Berman is in Washington this week.

Happening now: Yemen is in crisis, as the U.S. pulls the last of its forces, about 100 Special Operations troops out of that country in response to the deteriorating security situation there.

Now, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee warning of the dangers posed by losing Yemen as a base for U.S. counterterrorism operations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MICHAEL MCCAUL (R-TX), HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIR: We will have no intelligence footprint or capabilities to monitor what AQAP and ISIS and the Shia militants are doing in the region. And without -- you know, good intelligence stops plots against the homeland. Without that intelligence, we cannot effectively stop it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: On Sunday, Houthi rebels opposed to Yemen's president seized an international airport in the city of Taiz.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council met in an urgent session, backing Yemen's president, calling on all sides to put down their weapons and negotiate. A U.N. official warning that Yemen is in a, quote, "rapid downward spiral", and at the edge of civil war.

For the very latest, let's bring in senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.

A grim assessment, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is a very grim assessment, and there's no indication that the Houthi rebels are about to put down their weapons. What the U.N. Security Council said was that they support the president, the elected president, President Hadi. He's in the south, in the southern city of Aden. His presidential compound was bombed by aircraft on Thursday. On Friday, more than 130 worshippers to Sunni mosques near the capital for attacked by ISIS in a suicide bombing. More than 300 people were wounded there, along with all those dead.

And now, you have the -- not only the U.S. Special Forces pulling out, but also the Houthi rebels extending their search further south, taking control of parts of the city of Taiz, which now puts them within about 100 miles of the internationally backed president, President Hadi.

So, a real concern that not only will this civil war escalate, that it could overturn and overrun the internationally elected government. But the concern behind all of this, particularly when you pull out the last of the U.S. Special Forces that are really there to target al Qaeda and ISIS is what we have seen in Syria is that ISIS and al Qaeda will take advantage of the civil war situation to build themselves up and make themselves strong and be a potential stronger base for targeting the United States and other European countries. And that is the concern right now as the U.N. looks and tries to come up with an idea of how to improve the situation in Yemen. But nothing at the moment is taking hold -- Christine.

ROMANS: Nothing taking hold at the moment.

Nic Robertson, thank you for that this morning. A troubling situation there.

This morning, FBI and military investigators are looking into a purported hit list of U.S. troops posted online by a previously unknown group claiming affiliation with ISIS. It is the so-called Islamic State Hacking Organization. It posted the names, pictures and addresses of about 100 U.S. troops.

There are also reports that a group of foreign medical students have travelled to Syria to work in ISIS controlled hospitals. A Turkish lawmaker tells CNN that a group of 11 includes seven Britons, an American and a Canadian.

Joining me now from Baghdad with more, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh.

Good morning, Jomana.

First, tell us about these medical students still trying to gather information about them. But apparently they have moved in and are trying to help ISIS.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christine. This information is coming from a Turkish member of parliament, an

opposition MP. And what he told us is this group of 11 individuals as you mentioned, seven British, one American, one Canadian and two Sudanese arrived in Turkey last week, and from there, they crossed into Syria, into ISIS-controlled territory, where he says they are working in hospitals in those areas.

Now, the 11 were in Sudan before that, where they were studying medicine. Eight are fresh graduates and three were in the final year.

Now, according to this member of parliament, he says that their families who are in touch with him, some of them are with him in Turkey.

[05:05:02] He says they are convinced their children went to work with ISIS, describing them as, quote, "brainwashed" and have been cheated. He also says they are not there to fight. They are medical workers there to help.

Now, of course, all of this, we are trying to verify independently. A lot of this coming from the member of parliament and also from British media.

According to the foreign British office, that is so far the one government that is commenting on the situation. They are saying they are aware of these reports and that they are providing consular assistance for the families of the British nationals, men and women who are believed to be in Syria right now. And they are also in touch with the Turkish authorities informing them of the situation.

And according to British media reports, the families are on the Turkish side of the border, they are appealing and they are trying to convince their children to come back home.

ROMANS: Yes, just more evidence of that strange allure of the narrative of this radical jihad.

Talk to me about the hit list of U.S. military personnel. It's coming from a group I never heard of before.

KARADSHEH: We never heard of the group. It's calling itself the Islamic State Hacking Division or Hacking Organization. And this threat that was released over the weekend basically calling for attacks on U.S. military personnel on U.S. soil, about 100 of them, and they release their information, pictures, addresses.

And, of course, the Department of Defense is saying they are investigating and trying to verify it. But there is a lot of skepticism, Christine, about the threat that has been taken down, because this hacking division claims that it hacked a database and that is where it got the information. But, of course, this is a tech savvy organization if it indeed is coming from ISIS or any affiliated individuals. They are capable of surfing the Internet, going on social media sites and gathering such information.

Now, the Department of Defense says they are in the process and contacting the 100 or so personnel who are impacted by this threat and also the FBI in the criminal investigation division is looking into it. While there's a lot of skepticism, of course, threats like this are taken very seriously. A big concern these possible lone wolf attacks we could see on U.S. soil or anywhere in the West -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Jomana Karadsheh in Baghdad for us -- thank you, Jomana.

The president of Tunisia announcing a manhunt under way for a third attacker who escaped last week's museum massacre. Two other gunmen were killed after they killed 21 people, mostly tourists.

One tourist survived the attack. She is back home in Florida. Listen to Giovanna Gonzalez described what it was like inside that museum.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIOVANNA GONZALEZ, SURVIVOR: We have to run like crazy. The first thing we heard a bomb. And then him shooting. It was a tragedy. It was something that -- he marked my life forever.

I thank God I'm here. Just go ahead and have my family, and see my mom, see my daughter. And I'm happy to be home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Since the attack, Tunisian authorities are arresting more than 20 suspected extremists in a nationwide security sweep.

U.S. now expanding efforts to train Iraqi troops fighting ISIS. Hundreds of American advisors, hundreds working at a military base north of Baghdad, helping factions of Iraqi forces get on the same page with weapons training and improved coordination with coalition airstrikes. The Iraqi military is increasing its efforts to recapture land seized in the last year by ISIS.

Ted Cruz is making it official. The Republican senator from Texas becoming the first candidate to announce a bid for the White House in 2016. He tweeted overnight, "I'm running for president and I hope to earn your support." Cruz is expected to follow-up that tweet with a declaration speech at Liberty University today in Virginia.

The voice of the Tea Party starts the race trailing potential candidates Jeb Bush and Scott Walker in the polls.

Time for an early start on your money. U.S. stock futures down a bit. But Friday was a rally. Dow gained 169 points, about 1 percent. The NASDAQ closed above 5,000 for the fourth time in history. It is now within striking distance of its record high from March 2000, during the dot-com bubble.

But don't worry, this NASDAQ was a lot different. It's made up of well-established companies with lots of cash on hand. S&P 500 companies have $1.4 trillion sitting in cash. That means very healthy balance sheets in case another crisis comes along. But the bad news: corporate giants don't feel strongly enough to invest in equipment, employees and research.

New tension in the White House relationship with Israel this morning.

[05:10:01] President Obama casting doubt on his faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israeli officials fly to France. They're trying to possibly influence any nuclear that happens with Iran. We are live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The White House has all but given up on Benjamin Netanyahu as a willing partner in the Middle East process this morning. President Obama saying that he took the Israeli, quote, "at his word" when Netanyahu said there would never be a Palestinian state under his leadership. Now, that is despite Netanyahu's efforts after winning reelection last week to back pedal and reassert his support for a two- state solution.

CNN's Erin McPike has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, President Obama told "The Huffington Post" that he believes achieving a two-state solution won't be possible under Benjamin Netanyahu because he says the Israeli prime minister reversed himself under comments that he had made prior to his re-election last week.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I did indicate to him that we continue to believe that a two-state solution is the only way for the long term security of Israel if it wants to stay a Jewish state and democratic. And I indicated to him that given his statements prior to the election, it is going to be hard to find a path where people are seriously believing the negotiations are possible.

MCPIKE: Obviously, it doesn't sound as though the air is going to be cleared on that anytime soon. Now, on another matter, the president also had sharp words for Senate Republicans who are holding up the confirmation vote for attorney general nominee Loretta lynch due to differences on a completely different bill.

OBAMA: You don't hold attorneys general hostage for other issues. This is our top law enforcement office. Nobody denies that she is well-qualified.

[05:15:00] We need to go ahead and get her done.

SAM STEIN, THE HUFFINGTON POST: And is Eric Holder prepared to stay as long as possible?

OBAMA: Yes, he is. And the irony is, of course, the Republicans really dislike Mr. Holder. If they really want to get rid of him, the best way to get rid of him is to get Loretta Lynch confirmed.

MCPIKE: Of course, both of these issues will be front and center for the White House this week, Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Erin McPike, thanks for that.

Now, senior Israeli officials telling CNN they believe the real reason President Obama won't take Netanyahu's word now he still does support a Palestinian state is that they say the White House wants to divert attention from a developing nuclear deal and negotiations in Switzerland. Meanwhile, Israel is seeking to influence those negotiations, sending a senior delegation to Paris for talks today with French officials.

Let's bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann now. He's live from Jerusalem with the latest.

When I listen to that, this president on the "Huffington Post" interview, it sounds like a strained relationship with he and Benjamin Netanyahu.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Christine. We heard a few weeks ago from many different places that this is the worst the relationship has been between the two leaders and now somehow, we see that relationship getting worse. This is another round in the back and forth between these two leaders that really started or at least this latest round really started when Netanyahu spoke before Congress. We have seen them back and forth.

Now, the administration, that is the prime minister's office, claims they never switched sides, they never changed positions, and the policy has always been in favor of a two-state solution. Obama saying he's not buying in this latest volley between these two leaders. They don't like each other and we see that very much here.

Now, we already know what one of Netanyahu's next steps is in the back and forth, and that's when House Speaker Boehner is here at the end of the month. Christine, that is Netanyahu saying that his lot is with Republicans, his strongest supporters are the Republicans. House Speaker Boehner will be here right when the nuclear deal deadline with Iran comes up in negotiations.

ROMANS: And speaking of that nuclear deal, you've got a delegation going to Paris to try to influence that deal, even as the government there says that they think all this kerfuffle between the president and Netanyahu is really about diverting attention away from that deal making.

LIEBERMANN: Right. And that's what we heard from the prime minister's office here. This move to send somebody to France is a way of trying to influence the deal. It seems as if the prime minister's office has realized they can't stop the deal. There's no deal they can end the negotiations.

So, as Netanyahu tries to influence the American side of the negotiations, through his speech before Congress, through his campaigning, it's his intelligence minister who is in Paris, France, talking to that delegation, trying to influence the European side of those negotiations. So, that's the government here, the administration here trying to make sure that the security of Israel remains a top concern in the negotiations.

ROMANS: All right. Oren Liebermann, thank you so much for that this morning from Jerusalem.

Real estate heir and accused killer Robert Durst will be in court today in New Orleans for a detention hearing. He's being held there on drug and weapon charges and will soon be extradited to Los Angeles where he's charged with first degree in the death of his close friend, Susan Berman, back in 2000. Durst attorney says he's eager for that to happen. The attorney claims a California prosecutor talked to Durst in Louisiana for three hours without the attorney's permission.

"Rolling Stone" magazine will publish an external review of its disputed article about a gang rape at the University of Virginia, published that in the next few weeks. That article was based on a female student who said she was raped by seven men at a fraternity house party. Her account was later called into question, with "Rolling Stone" admitting it failed to corroborate her story. The magazine then asked a dean at Columbia University's Journalism School to review its handling of the story and promised to print it unedited.

The U.S. Supreme Court takes up a free speech battle over the Confederate flag today. The case involves the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Group members challenge the state of Texas for rejecting a specialty license plate bearing their logo which features the Confederate flag. An appeals court then ruled Texas officials had no grounds to bar the plate, even if it is, quote, "offensive". The Supreme Court is expected to rule by late June.

March Madness down to the sweet 16, after a weekend of rousing finishes and remarkable upsets. So, how is your bracket? Mine is dead in the water from the first day. Andy Scholes has the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:52:52] ROMANS: All right. Be honest, Monday morning. How is your bracket looking? We are now down to the sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

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

Good morning, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Christine.

Well, at this point, you are either in one of two camps, either your bracket is already busted, like both of us, or your final four is still intact. And you're looking good if that's the case, good for you.

Now, we did see a few upsets. Seven seed Wichita State and two seed Kansas squaring off for the first time since 1993. And why haven't these two interstate teams played so long? Well, because the Jayhawks refused to play the Shockers. Fans of both sides really looking forward to this game.

Second half, Wichita State starts to pull away. Zac Brown here, the steal. He's going to take it coast to coast and throw it down with the two-handed slam. Jayhawks never able to make a run this game. Shockers win convincingly, 78-65.

Governor of Kansas, Sam Brownback, he was in attendance in the game. He was in attendance at the game. He's being impartial, during, wearing a t-shirt with both schools on it. Afterwards, he puts on the Wichita state shirt. Obviously, the Shockers love seeing that.

Kansas not the only two seed to go down. For the second straight year, Michigan State knocks out Virginia. The east has lost the one and two seeds. Villanova lost on Saturday. Once again, we learned never bet against Spartan coach Tom Izzo. He is now 13-1 in the round of 32.

All right. The one seed in the west region, Wisconsin, surviving a scare from Oregon last night. Badgers only up three with four minutes to go. Sam Decker knocked down the three right there to put them up six. And then, Frank Kaminsky with the nifty move. Badgers hold on to win, 72-65.

They are heading to the second straight sweet 16. One seed in the south region, Duke, will also be in the sweet 16. Blue Devils had no problem with San Diego State. Jahlil Okafor, who many think will be the top overall pick in the NBA draft, pouring 26 points. Duke will now faceoff with Utah in the sweet 16.

The NFL holding its first ever NFL veterans combine over the weekend. Main attraction was Michael Sam. Sam became the first openly gay player to be drafted by an NFL team.

[05:25:02] But he's still never played a regular season game. By most accounts, Sam has tried out didn't go all that well. His 40-yard dash time was slower than it was a year ago, at the rookie combine. Sam is currently on this season's "Dancing with Stars", he says he plans on playing football somewhere next season.

Christine, me and you in the same boat when it comes to these brackets. Both of us are not doing very well. The CNN bracket standings, Christi Paul and Jennifer Gray actually have the lead right now.

You are the top of the leader board. With Iowa state as your pick to win it all, I don't see you staying up there.

ROMANS: No, I got to tell you, I feel bad for Iowa State for them and for me and the bracket.

SCHOLES: I had them in the final four as well. I'm with you.

ROMANS: Berman was so excited. He got his kids to do it. I feel personally responsibility for these broken brackets. SCHOLES: For all of our misery.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Andy Scholes. Nice to see you this morning.

A big setback for the U.S. war on terror: a key country for counterterrorism intelligence on the brink of war. Yemen is in crisis this morning. The U.S. evacuating troops. We're live, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Trouble for the U.S. war on terror. A key Mideast ally on the brink of civil war. Yemen in crisis this morning. A live report from inside that country, next.

The ISIS hit list. U.S. military officers are targets as we learn of new help coming to the terror organization. We are live in Baghdad, ahead.

The 2016 presidential campaign has begun. Texas Senator Ted Cruz officially running for the Republican nomination.