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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Russia Vows Consequences for Downed Jet; Police Shooting Video Released: Protesters March; Warriors Win Again and Set Record at 16-0. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired November 25, 2015 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Russia vowing serious consequences for Turkey shooting down its war jet. Will there be retribution? What will it mean for the international fight against ISIS? We have live team coverage ahead.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news in Chicago. Protesters demanding justice after video of a white police officer shooting a black teenager is released.
Good morning, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Alison Kosik.
SANCHEZ: Good morning, Alison.
KOSIK: Good morning.
SANCHEZ: And I'm Boris Sanchez. It's Wednesday, November 25th, 5:00 a.m. on the East Coast. We welcome all our viewers here in the U.S. and around the world.
Happening now: world leaders bracing for possible fallout after Turkey shoots down a Russian bomber, a deadly move that could derail any chance for a true international coalition to fight ISIS in Syria.
[05:00:03] Turkey says the plane violated its airspace and ignored multiple warnings.
Russia says its jet never strayed from Syrian territory. Russian news agencies reports one of the two pilots was killed as was a Russian marine trying to rescue them. A second pilot was rescued, and is with the Syrian army now.
But Western leaders fear escalation. The head of NATO urges calm. That calm echoed by President Obama, expressing support for Turkey's right to defend its sovereignty.
From Istanbul, let's bring in CNN's Ian Lee for the latest.
Now, Ian, Russia is saying this was an operation targeting ISIS, but this area where it happened isn't an area known for ISIS activity, right?
IAN LEE, CNN REPORTER: That's exactly right, Boris. We do not have any real evidence, proof of ISIS operating in the area, who is operating are Turkmen rebels. These are people who are -- ethnically have close ties with Turkey. Turkey has been backing them.
Turkey has warned the government of Syria as well as the Russians from attacking them. They see them as their close relatives. Erdogan talked about this a little while ago. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, TURKISH PRESIDENT (through translator): We do not have any intention to escalate this matter. All we are caring for is a defending of security and the law and rights of our brothers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEE: But, Boris, we really have two different narratives here, two different times of rhetoric from Turkey is one of conciliatory tone, where they're saying they don't want this to happen again they say there should be a dialogue to make sure that happens.
While Putin has used fiery rhetoric, and he is going to ensure it doesn't happen again through still. There are surface-to-air missiles being deployed in the western part of Syria, near Latakia, near the area where this plane was shot down. He also said jets that are on bombing missions will have fighter escorts as well. So, it definitely seems like tensions are rising. But the international community is trying to do what they can to lower them.
SANCHEZ: Now, Ian, we know, obviously, Turkey is a NATO ally. They called an emergency meeting yesterday. Do we know if they are making preparations militarily to prepare for any kind of escalation?
LEE: It doesn't seem right now that there will be any sort of military escalation as far as any more direct action between the two countries. What we're seeing right now at least from Russia is punitive measures, going after the Turkish economy. We could also see Russia going after Turkish-backed rebels in Syria, pushing against them and trying to, and trying to destroy Turkey's ambitions within Syria. That is more likely.
But, right now, this was the first time we've seen direct action between a NATO country and Russia. But both sides are calling for cooler heads. It is unlikely that this will escalate any further.
SANCHEZ: We certainly hope so.
Ian Lee, reporting in Istanbul, thank you.
KOSIK: Russian President Vladimir Putin furious, accusing Turkey, an important trading partner -- actually, its biggest trading partner -- of stabbing Russia in the back, even calling Turkey an accomplice of terrorism for financing ISIS through illicit oil sales.
It's not clear yet how the shoot-down will affect Putin's meeting with the president of France which happens tomorrow. President Francois Hollande traveling the world, trying to build a coalition against ISIS. It's expected he's going to push for Putin's help, easing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad out of power, ending the Syrian war and refocusing all Russia's firepower on ISIS.
Now, on Tuesday, Hollande met with President Obama. Afterwards, the president said Russian cooperation would be enormously helpful but signal that it's not essential.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We got a coalition. Russia right now is a coalition of two, Iran and Russia supporting Assad. Russia is the outlier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: With the latest on Russia's reactions, CNN's Matthew Chance joins us live now from Moscow.
So, what do you think? What are the chances that this shoot down will destroy any chance of united front against Russia, meaning Russia joining in on this battle?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a difficult question to answer, because despite the fact there is obviously a great deal of anger on Russia's side at this point one of its pilots, another marine killed on the ground as well during the rescue mission, there's still the underlying interest that Russia shares with many Western countries, if not Turkey, but another NATO countries, to destroy ISIS.
[05:05:15] And so, you know, it's difficult to say how this is going to advance. I expect some concern that made as well by NATO countries that Turkey acted so quickly to shoot down that Russian plane. I mean, the Turks, themselves say the Russian aircraft was only in Turkish airspace for 17 seconds. It took the decision for F- 16s to intercept it and to shoot it down.
That seems to me to be an extraordinarily short time to take such decisive action. The Turks say they have their rules of engagement and that's that.
But nevertheless, it's provoked inevitably consequences from the Russians which are going to make it difficult, like it or not, for the Western military alliance to work with the Kremlin in terms of cracking down on Islamist groups and ISIS inside Syria. Already, the Russians announced a number of measures, which indicate the difficulties to come.
They've announced today Vladimir Putin -- sorry, the defense minister, Sergey Shoygu, announcing today that S-400 surface-to-air missiles are going to be deployed to Syria in the very near future. They're in some of the most if not the most sophisticated surface-to- air technology that exists in the world. They can shoot down anything over an area of something like 400 miles, you know, away distance.
And so, you know, the Russians are very serious, it seems, about first of all continuing their air strikes on targets inside Syria. But also making sure that no one comes anywhere near their bombers again. They said all their bombers are going to have fighter escorts. They've got their S-400 they're deploying as well.
And so, they potentially close off Syria's airspace, if they choose to do that to NATO countries. So, you know, yes, it could be a flash in the pan they could let this go. There could be serious military consequences on the days and the weeks ahead.
KOSIK: Interesting, though, Matthew, this is a situation even before the shoot down, where you look at all these countries with differing interests and little coordination when it comes to Syria. Thanks so much for your report.
SANCHEZ: The latest now on the manhunt for a new suspect in the Paris terror attacks. He is 30-year-old Mohamed Abrini. And police believe he drove a key terrorist two days before the attacks.
We are also learning more about the group's ringleader. Police say Abdelhamid Abaaoud, he returned to the shootings at the Bataclan concert hall where police were still battling the gunmen inside. Abaaoud has since been killed.
This morning, the city of Brussels remains on high alert while trying to return to normal. After four days of lockdown, subway schools and businesses slowly starting to reopen now.
Let's go live to Brussels and bring in CNN's Alexandra Field.
Good morning, Alex.
How are neighbors responding to things getting closer to normal?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Boris.
You know, for the first time in days, we are seeing people back out in the streets, but the streets are still full of police officers and military personnel. While these metro stations begin to open, they are being secured by hundreds of members of the military. And schools like this one behind me are also being patrolled by hundreds of police officers who have fan out around the city in a show of force intended to make students and parents feel safe as these students return to school for the first time.
We have spoken to some of them who are returning to school today. They say they're putting aside whatever anxiety remains, but they feel they have no choice but to try to get back to normal in some way. This is what authorities have determined, that the schools would open, even though this city remains under the highest terror threat alert level until Monday at least, according to the minister of the interior, who says that operations are still ongoing to try to ferret out anyone who could be connected to the cell that perpetrated those attacks in the city of Paris.
The Belgium part of this investigation has already netted the arrest of five people who authorities believe were connected to those attacks. And a new break in this case, we now that police are now searching for Mohamed Abrini, the person who they say was with Salah Abdeslam just two days before those attacks in Paris.
They've gotten image of this person. It was taken by a camera that was at a gas station which both men were at prior to the attacks. They were driving a car police say that was used during those attacks. So this international manhunt continues while people here in Brussels say they have no choice but to get back to work and school, Boris.
SANCHEZ: That will be a tough road back.
Alex Field, thank you.
KOSIK: Amid the world wide terrorism alert from the State Department, President Obama takes in a briefing from his national security team.
[05:10:00] The White House says the national security officials believe there is currently no specific credible threat to the homeland from ISIS.
The president also ordering his national security team to intensify efforts to degrade and destroy the terrorist group.
MARQUEZ: A bit of good news before the holidays. So many Americans traveling to major cities, watching big parades and big crowds. So, obviously something to be concerned about.
KOSIK: Yes, of courses.
MARQUEZ: Breaking news this morning, protesters marching throughout the night in Chicago, demanding justice after a video was released of a deadly police shooting.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: A tense night in the city of Chicago. Protesters taking to the streets after the release of a disturbing dashcam video showing a white police officer shooting a black teenager 16 times. Mayor Rahm Emanuel admitting the actions of the officer are so disturbing people have a right to be angry.
We get more now from CNN's Rosa Flores.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[05:15:00] ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Boris and Alison, Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke faces first degree murder charges in the killing of Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old here from Chicago, all of the shooting was caught on tape.
I want to show you this video and take you second by second here. According to prosecutors, the police officer arrived on scene and started shooting six seconds after that. Now, if you look at the video, you'll see Laquan McDonald towards the center. He's walking, kind of running. Then you see a police officer on the left side of your screen pointing his weapon.
According to prosecutor, he fired his weapon 16 times. According to autopsy, he hit the body 16 times.
Now, the prosecutor made it very clear, she says that this police officer abused his power.
ANITA ALVAREZ, COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY: Clearly, this police officer went overboard, you know, and he abused his authority and I don't believe the force was necessary.
FLORES: McDonald's family settled with the city of Chicago for $5 million and didn't want this video to be released. But as you might imagine, a lot of the protesters in this community, a lot of activists, wanted the release of this video for transparency purposes. And as soon as this video was released, there were protests planned. Now, as for the defense, the defense attorney of this police officer keeps asking for a fair trial -- Boris and Alison.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOSIK: OK. Rosa, thanks for that.
And the Chicago Police Department has now fired Jason Van Dyke. The defense attorney for the former officer says his client feared that he would be attacked. He says the officer's actions were appropriate. Van Dyke wants the case tried in court. Not the media, and has the presumption of innocence like every other American.
SANCHEZ: And protests for a separate police shooting in Minnesota, three people have been charged. They're accused of shooting demonstrators at a Black Lives Matter rally on Monday. Five people suffered non-life threatening injuries. The protests continue more than a week after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man by a police officer.
Crowds have gathered outside of Minneapolis precinct, demanding justice for 24-year-old Jamar Clark. Community members claimed Clark was handcuffed when he was shot. But police are disputing that. Two separate investigations now underway.
KOSIK: It's time for an early start on your money. European markets are higher, despite rising tensions between Turkey and Russia after Turkey shot down that Russian plane. U.S. stock futures are slightly higher as well.
A quiet day for markets yesterday. The Dow eked out a small gain, rising 20 points. The NASDAQ and S&P 500 gained 0.1 percent. A little.
Traveling for Thanksgiving, here is something to be thankful for -- gas prices are going to be the cheapest in seven years. The national average for a gallon of regular is at $2.06. Prices peaked in 2012 when drivers paid an average of $3.50 cents to get to their Thanksgiving dinners. Those prices are expected to keep falling. Yay!
Experts say gas will be less than $2 a gallon by the end of this year, but, of course, if you live in suspect states like Hawaii, California and New York --
SANCHEZ: A little bit more.
KOSIK: -- you probably will see it a little more. But I'll take it.
SANCHEZ: Forty-plus million Americans expected to travel. I'm sure they'll be happy to see that.
KOSIK: Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: The defending champion Golden State Warriors reaching another milestone, now officially off to the best start ever in NBA history. Coy Wire with this morning's bleacher report, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[05:22:54] KOSIK: The Golden State Warriors, they continue to outdo themselves. And now, they have a new record to show for it.
SANCHEZ: And Coy Wire has more on this morning's bleacher report.
Good morning, Coy.
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Boris and Alison.
Most people think of the '95-'96 Bulls as the greatest team to ever take the court. They were led by Michael Jordan. But Steph Curry and the Warriors have done something even they couldn't do, win their first 16 games to start the season. In fact, no team in NBA's 69-year history has done that.
Heading into Golden State's game last night against Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, league MVP Steph Curry led the team with 24 points. He hits four threes on the night. That puts them to 78 3-pointers on the season. That's more than two entire NBA teams, the T-Wolves and the Nets.
The Warriors beat the Lakers 111-77. Next up on this historic run, 7-7 Phoenix Suns this Friday.
Now, we have some disturbing news this morning out of Miami. St. Louis Rams receiver Steadman Bailey is currently hospitalized and critical but stable condition at a Miami hospital. Reports say Bailey was shot in the head and hit yesterday. While sitting in a car, the wounds are not life threatening. He is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning. Bailey is currently serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Johnny Manziel, he went from being the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns to being demoted to third string. This news coming after a video released there week that zoomed to show Manziel partying like a rock star in Austin during the Browns bye week. Remember, earlier this year, Manziel spent more than 10 weeks in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
Head coach Mike Pettine said Manziel has failed to consistently demonstrate that he understands what it takes to be successful in the NFL.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE PETTINE, BROWNS HEAD COACH: It's all a part of the frustration and disappointment and it's a little easier to handle when it's just a one-time occurrence. But when the behavior repeats -- it's not just him, it's with anybody -- it's certainly a cause for concern.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIRE: Now, the college football playoff rankings are in.
[05:25:01] This week, we have two newcomers joining the coveted top four, Clemson and Alabama stay at number one and two respectively. But the Oklahoma Sooners land at number three after their big win over TCU, and the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes join the club at number 4. That kicks Notre Dame and Ohio State to the curb.
Iowa is 11-0, just one of two undefeated teams nationally, but just now moving into the top four because of a weaker schedule. They'll face Nebraska this Saturday. With the win, they'll likely face Michigan State, maybe Michigan, maybe Ohio State, in the Big 10 championship.
Boris, I'm sorry to say, your Syracuse Orange, they did not make the top 25, that 3-8. But they do have a big game against 3-8 Boston College this week, and I think they have a chance.
KOSIK: I'm putting my vote in for the Sooners. My dad plays for the Sooners. So, hear, hear.
SANCHEZ: I've got to say 3-8 is an improvement for Syracuse after how they've done in the past couple of years. But I appreciate the --
WIRE: They have some young talent, Boris. They will be all right.
SANCHEZ: I guess. Thanks so much.
WIRE: You're welcome.
KOSIK: Russia vowing serious consequences after Turkey shoots down a warplane, next.
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