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New Day

Hagel Warns U.S. About ISIS Threat; Michael Brown's Parents Speak; Calm has Finally Come to Ferguson

Aired August 22, 2014 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back.

The top Pentagon official sounding the alarm this morning saying ISIS poses a dire threat that the United States must take seriously. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel says the U.S. must be prepared for everything when it comes to the militant group.

Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK HAGEL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: They marry an ideology, a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh, this is beyond anything that we've seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: Quite a startling warning. Let's talk about the threat from is extremists with Haras Rafiq. He's outreach officer with Quilliam, an anti-extremism think tank.

Haras, it's great to see you again.

You heard that warning and they went on and on and one warning from another coming from the Pentagon quite frankly. The secretary of defense saying oh, this is beyond anything that we've seen. Do you agree?

HARAS RAFIQ, OUTREACH OFFICER, QUILLIAM: Oh, absolutely. This is 21st century jihad. As I said, this is an organization --

BOLDUAN: What is different? Can you lay that out? What's different about ISIS now?

RAFIQ: OK. Essentially, what's different is they have over $1 billion worth of assets. They are well-funded.

They are operating as a corporate entity. They are getting out to people. They are using social media. They are more barbaric than anything they have seen before. They will go to no ends. They have had children in photographs and images with severed heads. They have obviously had the gory and gruesome beheading of the late James Foley. They are ready to do whatever they need to do and what we see

different now is they have the strategy. They have the motivation. They have the funds and they are actually well, well organized, and this is something we've not experienced before.

Before we had al Qaeda who were operating as cells and inspiring other groups. We had al Shabaab, Boca Haram, et cetera. These guys are much more organized and have so-called -- they created these "Islamic State" that I don't recognize, and the majority of Muslims don't recognize, but some do.

And this is the problem. We've had decades of Islamist ideology, including the Muslim Brotherhood, in the U.S., in the U.K., around the world, that had been sowing the seeds. There had been so many people that have been taught since they were young, that there is such a thing as utopian Islamic caliphate. Well, now, there's a guy who claims he's done one, he's got the money, he's got the means, he's won some battles and there'll be many more people saying we believe in the Islamic caliphate, why don't we go join them.

BOLDUAN: Let me --

RAFIQ: This is the problem. We --

BOLDUAN: Let me ask you, Rafiq. Let me ask you, Haras, about this -- you talk about them being well-funded. We discussed this last time, and you say again, $2 billion in assets. That's an eye-popping number.

That gets to my question which is, when it comes to the case of James Foley, we have learned that there was a ransom request of $130 million. Does ransom play a large role in the funding of ISIS? Where are they getting their funding, in other words?

RAFIQ: ISIS basically were part of al Qaeda in Iraq, and they were kicked out, and they have a history of funding themselves through extortion, through blackmail, through kidnapping. They used to extort money from the oil field -- the people who run the oil fields in the Iraqi region.

I remember a story where they actually wanted, demanded half a million dollars a month from one particular organization, and they were paying it, and then when they wanted 1 million a month, the organization actually brought all its staff back and said, no, no, no, we'll take half a million.

So, they have a history of blackmail and extortion. Other areas that they are getting the funding from, now that they have captured these oil fields in northwest Iraq, they are actually selling oil on the black market, and it's estimated, and I think we talked about it before, that it's estimate that had they are earning anywhere in the region of $1 billion a day from selling oil in the black market and, of course, they've also got the bank in Mosul that they have raided and there's a different numbers of what sort of -- different figures of the amount of money that was there. But some people were say there were $800 million and $900 million worth of liquid cash that was available there, and they took that. So, yes, extortion and blackmail plays a key part, and historically that's played a key part in the way that they fund themselves.

BOLDUAN: Of course then the question is what do we do about it, we being all the Western allies, the United States and its Western allies? I mean, the focus -- the U.S. policy so far has been largely the focus of containing the threat, not necessarily defeating ISIS.

But also in this press conference, this press briefing, we heard from the joint chiefs chairman, Martin Dempsey, when asked about do you have to go in and address part of this organization that resides in Syria? He says you can't defeat them without doing that. Do you agree?

RAFIQ: Oh, absolutely because what will happen is that once we're arming -- we arm the Peshmergas in Kurdistan, the only option under the cover of airstrikes from the USA and its allies, the only option that they will have is to go back into Syria.

Now, imagine -- imagine if this happens and is sort of capitulates a little bit, and all the foreign fighters that we have fighting in the region are sent back to their home countries. What do we do then? Our security agencies will not be able to cope. We'll have a number of European and American and Western jihadists with passports that will allow them free travel.

This is a long-term battle that we have to have some strategies in place of what are we going to do when they actually go into Syria. And, secondly, how are we going to tackle the hearts and minds? We have a number of people in the U.S., we have a number of people in the U.K. over the last 10, 15 years who have been taking this battle of hearts and minds forward.

We have Sheikh Qabbani in the USA who I've had the pleasure of meeting and they are not getting the support from the government, from the White House and from other places to take and be empowered to take this battle forward. That's what we need to do. We don't win the hearts and minds of people long term we're going to carry on losing.

BOLDUAN: That is a terrifying thought and a huge task ahead in winning the hearts and minds. One thing to have a military campaign but it's another to take on the task that you're talking about right there. That is long term. Haras Rafiq, it's great to see you as always. Thanks so much.

RAFIQ: My pleasure.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

Let's take a break. Coming up next on NEW DAY, the parents of Michael Brown talking to CNN, the emotional interview including his mother's heart-wrenching account of the moment that she learned her son had been killed. That is ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Good to have you back with us here on NEW DAY.

Here's a look at your headlines:

Breaking news this morning from Ukraine. A Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid has started crossing into eastern Ukraine, this according to a Russian official. Thirty-four trucks are making their way to the rebel-held city of Luhansk and now 90 more are moving towards the border.

But Red Cross is no longer accompanying these trucks as planned because continued fighting in the area between Ukrainian forces and the rebels. The Red Cross was supposed to be with the convoy as part of a Russian-Ukrainian agreement.

In the Middle East, Israel is stepping up airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. Overnight, Israeli forces attacked militant targets mainly in vehicles and on motorcycles. Dozens of Palestinians killed in the latest round of violence. Meanwhile, as Egypt attempts to end the conflict falters, the United Nations says the U.S. has joined the European effort to come up with a resolution that will call for a sustainable cease-fire and advance the goal of long-standing peace in the region.

Texas Governor Rick Perry will be arraigned in an Austin courtroom today, but he will be 2,000 miles away in New Hampshire. Perry is traveling around the country, exploring a possible 2016 run for president. Grand jury indicted Perry last week on charges of abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant.

Perry for his part has pleaded not guilty. He did have his mug shot and fingerprints taken earlier this week.

A federal judge has declared Florida's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, but the judge did put the marriages on hold for now, pending appeals. A total of 19 federal courts have now weighed in on the issue, all reaching the same conclusion, to strike down state laws barring gay and lesbian couples from tying the knot.

BOLDUAN: Alright. Let's take a look at weather right now. Meteorologist Indra Petersons is keeping track of it all for us. We are heading into the weekend and you just whispered to me thunderstorms.

PEREIRA: She did say the t word, didn't she?

INDRA PETERSONS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we already saw them in the Northeast, but its not really as bad as it is in the Midwest right now. Take a look right around Chicago especially, look at all the lightning that continues to flash in the region. In fact, a lot of flooding concerns are imminent in that area with over four inches of rain already having fallen around the Midway Airport there What we're going to be watching is the Northeast is going to get better. High pressure is going to build in as we go towards the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday looks pretty good but, unfortunately, around the Midwest still a lot of instability out there, so more showers even as you go through that weekend. Meanwhile, a lot of heat is out there, that's one of the reasons we're talking about that threat for thunderstorms so even a severe weather threat will be there. Toward the Mid Atlantic Greenville, Wilmington, looking for that severe weather threat, and again also back kind of towards the plain. But it is the heat.

Talk about how warm it is, the warmest it's been all year, so the hottest day all year will be for Little Rock, Indianapolis, Memphis and Jacksonville today. That's the kind of heat we're talking about, so with this heat advisories are in place. That's the actual high and hearing some more of them, Dallas 100 degrees today, but it's going to feel even warmer once you add in that humidity. That is one of the concerns.

Another major thing we're really going to be watching here. 60 percent chance now that we're talking about development here out in the Atlantic. Latest models look good. They're going to be curving these out to sea. But again, there's not complete agreement here just yet but it is something we're going to be closely watching as we go to the next several days. We do not want another system, but we're getting very close to peak system right now.

BOLDUAN: Yes, we're heading right into it. And on the temperatures, I mean, its been a relatively mild summer for most.

PETERSONS: For the Northeast it's been great, but, unfortunately, the south is burning up, literally.

PEREIRA: And so dry out west, too.

BOLDUAN: Yes.

PETERSONS: Complete opposites really.

BOLDUAN: Thanks, Indra.

Coming up next on NEW DAY, an emotional new interview with Michael Brown's parents. You're going to hear his mother's heartbreaking account of the day, the moment, that she learned that her son was killed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to Ferguson, Missouri here as we start your NEW DAY. The National Guard still here, you see the vehicle behind us, about a dozen police cruisers just came to the command center as the community is far calmer. But there's still a question of how long it will last, and for all the doubt that is on the ground here, one thing is for sure. Michael Brown Jr.'s life ended far too soon. At just 18 years of age, the unarmed teenager was shot and killed almost two weeks ago and is set to be buried Monday. His mother and father sat down with Anderson Cooper and opened up about how the loss of their son has changed them forever and what the outrage and all that followed has done to help and hurt and what justice they seek now.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: This is obviously every parent's worst nightmare. Mike, how do you get through each day?

MICHAEL BROWN SR, FATHER OF MICHAEL BROWN JR.: I don't. I just glide through, you know. Not going to actually see him physically moving around again in my life. That's a heartbreaker for me. It's painful, you know. I just -- I can't really explain how I really feel about this, you know.

COOPER: Leslie, does it seem real?

LESLIE MCSPADDEN, MOTHER OF MICHAEL BROWN JR.: Nope.

COOPER: It still doesn't? How are you getting through each day?

MCSPADDEN: Prayer, family, support.

COOPER: You both met with the attorney general yesterday, Eric Holder. How was that? What did he say to you?

MCSPADDEN: He just kind of talked to us from a man with kids himself perspective.

COOPER: He talked to you as a parent?

MCSPADDEN: Yes.

COOPER: Did it help?

BROWN: It actually helped me because he -- he has our support, you know. He's supporting us, and he said he's not going to -- he's not going to stop. He's going to help us all the way through.

COOPER: Did it make a difference that he came here, that he looked you in the eye, that he met with you privately?

MCSPADDEN: Yes, it did to me.

COOPER: In what way?

MCSPADDEN: Because you can read a person, and when you are looking at them and they are looking at you in your eyes, it puts some trust back there that you lost, and he did and assured that it will be a fair and thorough investigation.

COOPER: Do you believe, do you have confidence in the investigation?

MCSPADDEN: Up until yesterday I didn't.

COOPER: You didn't? MCSPADDEN: But just hearing the words come directly from his mouth,

face-to-face, he made me feel like one day I will, and I'm not saying today or yesterday, but one day I'll -- they will regain my trust.

COOPER: The grand jury just started yesterday.

MCSPADDEN: Yes.

COOPER: We learned it may not be until October that they come up with a decision about what they are going to do. Obviously you want answers now.

MCSPADDEN: Right.

COOPER: Are you ready to -- are you able to wait?

BROWN: I want everything to -- I don't want to rush judgment. I want everyone to take their time so there will be no mistakes and get it done right.

COOPER: You've talked publicly about justice. You want justice. For you, what is justice for your son?

BROWN: For this guy to go to jail so we can have some type of peace. He's still walking around with pay. That's not -- that's not fair to us, you know? We're hurt and there isn't any telling what he's doing, but he has his life. Our son is gone.

COOPER: Do you actually go to the scene?

BROWN: Yes.

COOPER: That terrible day?

BROWN: Yes.

COOPER: Did you see your son?

BROWN: Well, when I -- when we arrived, he was covered up, so I didn't see him how other people saw him laying in the street.

COOPER: Did it upset you that he was left out for so long?

BROWN: Yes.

COOPER: Did that -- is that something that still upsets you?

BROWN: Yes. We couldn't even see him. They wouldn't even let us go see him. They just left him out there four and a half hours with no answers, with nobody tell us nothing.

COOPER: Leslie, were you there as well?

MCSPADDEN: Mm-hmm, yes.

COOPER: I can't imagine as a parent standing there as the hours tick by.

MCSPADDEN: Right.

Before even getting there, somebody called you on the phone and tell you something like that and you are miles away. It's terrible.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

CUOMO: Nothing will ever take away the loss that these two people have suffered, and yet to hear from the father, he doesn't want any rush here. He wants everything to take time that it needs so that it's all done right. The parents of Mike Brown Jr. And there is new information into the investigation of their son's death. We are going to have that for you and a lot of other news that you're going to want as you start your NEW DAY as well so let's get to it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In order for us to move forward, then we're going to have to build some trust.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 12 days after the shooting death of Michael Brown, people here are so angry, and they want answers.

COOPER: For you, what is justice for your son?

BROWN: He's got to go to jail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ISIL clearly poses a long-term threat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been told with no uncertainty there are ISIS sleeper cells in this country.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two Americans receiving treatment for Ebola have recovered.

Dr. KENT BRANTLY, RECEIVED TREATMENT FOR EBOLA: I'm thrilled to be alive, to be well and to be reunited with my family.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome back to NEW DAY. We are in a much calmer Ferguson, Missouri this morning. The crowd now marching for peace. Only seven people arrested, and we will wait to see what will come after the anger, Kate.

BOLDUAN: The situation, Chris, calm enough that Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has now ordered the National Guard to start withdrawing, to begin the process, and they are expected to begin that process of leaving later today, Chris.

CUOMO: We're also learning new information about the officer involved, Darren Wilson. His condition, for example, after the shooting. A source with detailed knowledge of the investigation tells CNN Officer Wilson did have injuries to his face, but not a fractured eye socket. There were many reports to the contrary, but that's what we are told. So the big mystery remains, what prompted the shooting and was Brown complying with police? On that part let's get to George Howell, he has the latest for us.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Chris, good morning. A day of calm, a night of calm. It's something many in this community had hoped for, but let's take this moment now to reset, to review the case in full and the various conflicting points of view.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL (voice-over): In the center of Canfield Drive, this memorial marks the spot where Michael Brown was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer, but after nearly two weeks exactly what led officer Darren Wilson to fire at the unarmed teen remains unknown.

HOWELL (on camera): One thing that is not in dispute by many accounts is where everything happened. We know that Officer Wilson's car was just about here where I'm standing, and Mike Brown's body was found right over here where this memorial is, about 35 feet away. The one thing that is still unclear is exactly where the officer was between these two points when the shots were fired.

HOWELL (voice-over): Eyewitness Dorian Johnson was with Brown on that day.

DORIAN JOHNSON, WITNESS TO MICHAEL BROWN SHOOTING: He turned around with his hands up, beginning to tell the officer that he was unarmed and to tell him to stop shooting, but at that time the officer was firing several more shots into my friend.

HOWELL: But several key points are in dispute. Among the scenarios was Brown shot from behind? Was he the aggressor, or did he die with his hands up? At least two witnesses, Tiffany Mitchell, and Piaget Crenshaw, believe they know.