Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Dozens of Aftershocks Rock California; American Hostage Freed After Two Years; U.S. Prepared to Strike ISIS in Syria; Michael Brown to Be Laid to Rest;

Aired August 25, 2014 - 08:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking this morning, cleanup underway in California after the biggest earthquake in 25 years rocks the bay area. The 6.0-magnitude earthquake inflicting heavy damage on Napa's historic downtown. We're live with the recovery effort.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Also breaking, American Peter Theo Curtis held hostage by terrorist in Syria for two years is free this morning as investigators say they're close to identifying the ISIS terrorist who beheaded another American captive, James Foley.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: CNN exclusive: our Don Lemon speaks with three mothers who share a unique and tragic bond. Their sons, Trayvon, Sean, and Michael. A look at the women who share something no parent wants to bear as the Ferguson community prepares to lay Michael Brown to rest.

BERMAN: Your NEW DAY continues right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.

BERMAN: Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to NEW DAY. It is Monday, August 25th, 8:00 in the East, 5:00 a.m. out West. I'm John Burrman.

CAMEROTA: Berman.

BERMAN: John Berman -- I know how to say that.

CAMEROTA: Wow, that was telling, a Freudian slip.

PEREIRA: You're on vacation too long, you don't know who you are.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: I'm joined by Alisyn Camerota, which somehow I can say without screwing up at all. Michaela is over here. Chris and Kate are both off today.

California is just waking up. Good morning to you out there, as the Bay Area and Napa Valley start to clean up from the area's worst earthquake in 25 years. People there are also dealing with dozens of aftershocks, 100 homes were condemned. But the power is finally back on for most customers. Schools in the area closed today. Napa's airport is open, even look at this -- most of the windows in the air traffic control tower shattered.

Dan Simon, who is on the street there -- you can see the rubble behind him -- has the very latest for us.

Good morning, Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

It's just a mess here in downtown Napa. You see this building behind me, these brick just crumbled to the ground. I tell you what? It's a good thing the earthquake happened at 3:20 in the morning, because on the bottom is an outdoor cafe. And you can just imagine what would have happened if you had people on the sidewalk eating or sort of lingering.

Here we are, John, it's been 24 hours since the earthquake occurred, and we're just beginning to get a full extent of the devastation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON (voice-over): The cleanup effort in Napa continues this morning while crews work to restore power to thousands left in the dark after Sunday's earthquake.

The first moments of the powerful quake caught on camera, rattling residents out of their sleep at 3:20 a.m.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's an earthquake.

SIMON: Striking the Bay Area at a whopping 6.0 magnitude, the strongest felt here in 25 years.

MARLOW DANIEL, NAPA RESIDENT: This just kept going and kept going and kept going. And I felt like I was on a raft in the motion almost.

SIMON: In downtown Napa, just six miles southwest of the epicenter, historical buildings and homes sustained heavy damage. Pieces of this courthouse and other structures crumbled to the ground, authorities reporting over 100 injuries, including a young child seriously hurt when a fireplace collapsed.

ELISE MARTINEZ, NAPA RESIDENT: I was in shock to see people's homes, people's offices on the floor and crooked, and to know that this is life changing.

SIMON: Business owners in the famed wine country also reporting being hit hard. Hundreds of gallons of wine spewing from a crack in this storage tank.

GAVIN NEWSOM, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA: A wine maker right across the street from us, they were devastated. Dozens and dozens of their barrels collapsed.

SIMON: Fires broke out following the quake, destroying dozens of homes. Broken water mains hampering firefighters' efforts to extinguish the flames. Fire crews having no choice but to let these mobile homes burn to the ground. Experts now warning residents of aftershocks.

JOHN PARRISH, CHIEF OF THE CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: We think there's probably over 50 or 60 aftershocks now, the largest one being a magnitude 3.6. We do think the aftershocks will continue for several weeks.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIMON: And folks here can only hope that we don't see too many more of those aftershocks. In the meantime here in downtown Napa, the cleanup is going to begin here today. This is going to take obviously several days, if not weeks, to get all these streets cleaned up.

But right now, the immediate concern, of course, is the infrastructure. John, you talked about the power. It's coming back on. There are about 2,000 customers still without power, and crews are going to be looking at the gas lines and, of course, trying to repair all those water main breaks -- John.

BERMAN: A lot of work to do. You see it behind you. Dan Simon for us in Napa -- thanks so much, Dan.

CAMEROTA: Now to the effort against ISIS kicking into high gear in the Oval Office. President Obama is back from his vacation and is meeting with Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel today about the terror group. The meeting comes a day after Peter Theo Curtis, an American held captive in Syria for almost two years, was finally granted his freedom.

Officials in the U.K. are working to identify the masked terrorist seen executing James Foley here a week ago. Multiple reports see three more Americans remain in enemy hand.

Senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh has more for us from London.

Nick, what's the latest?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That Washington meeting today will, of course, focus on whether or not the U.S. should take the fight against ISIS not only in Iraq but also into neighboring Syria, which is long been the stronghold, very hard to tackle them authoritatively if you don't hit them in Syria, too.

But that release of Peter Theo Curtis yesterday perhaps a one moment of good news because of the crackdown against ISIS. He was held by another al Qaeda affiliate, and a group called terrorists by the United States, known as Jabhat al-Nusra. They perhaps let him if because they wanted during the onslaught against ISIS to perhaps appear a more moderate alternative to the West.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH (voice-over): After a week of horror, finally some good news, an American held hostage in Syria by Islamist rebels for nearly two years is free. The 45-year-old peter Theo Curtis, a freelance author and journalist, released Sunday after being held by the al-Nusra, a Syrian rebel group with ties to al Qaeda.

His family thanking the government of the U.S. and Qatar for their efforts. While the U.S. has denied any involvement and details about his release remain unclear.

Curtis was handed over to United Nations peacekeepers in the Golan Height then released him to U.S. government officials.

These videos show Curtis during his last few months in captivity. In this video a rebel points a gun at his head while Curtis speaks rapidly as if under duress. Curtis was captured near the Syrian- Turkey border in October 2012.

And held in Aleppo with American journalist, Matthew Schrier, the two locked up for months before planning their escape. Schrier breaking free through a window with Curtis' help. Curtis however got stuck trying to escape.

MATTHEW SCHRIER, FREELANCE PHOTOJOURNALIST KIDNAPPED IN SYRIA: I'm pulling him and pulling him as hard as I could. We weren't making any headway and we were making too much noise. The windows were open and the lights were above me and the sun was coming up.

WALSH (on camera): You must have known then you had to leave him?

SCHENER: Yes. One of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I'm not going to have closure until he is home.

WALSH (voice-over): Curtis' release comes just five days after ISIS released a video of one of its militants beheading American journalist, James Foley.

On Sunday his parents releasing a letter on Facebook that they say he composed on captivity. He talked about sharing one cell with 17 others and playing games made up of scraps they found. Foley had a fellow hostage memorize the letter dictating it to his family upon release.

British officials close to identifying the ISIS militant responsible for the beheading. Experts say he speaks with a distinctly British accent. Investigators making headway using clues in the video to pinpoint the killer out of hundreds of British Muslims who joined ISIS.

PETER WESTMACOTT, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.: We put a great deal of resource into identifying this person. I think we're not far away from that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: Now, in this case, we have heard from Matt Schrier today saying quite clearly that he thought the happiest of the day of his life was when he heard that Peter Theo Curtis had finally been released. A man racked by guilt, that terrible decision he had to make when he got out of the cell and couldn't pull Peter Theo Curtis behind him -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Yes. We can only imagine the release that he's experiencing now.

Nick, thank you.

BERMAN: You know, you heard Nick mentioned in his report there, the United States military mulling the idea of hitting ISIS with airstrikes in Syria. The White House saying it is, quote, "ready to take action against any threat to the United States." Syria says it is ready to accept support from the United States to fight terrorists. This message coming as ISIS militants gain more ground in Syria, capturing a key government air base.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us now more with all these developments.

Good morning, Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

The capture by ISIS of the key Syrian air base now gives them even broader control across northern Syria -- a growing concern, of course. The decision now by all accounts is whether President Obama will authorize air strikes inside Syria, already happening against ISIS, of course, inside Iraq.

But as for Syria, the question for the White House, for the Pentagon, is what threat does ISIS pose to the United States -- to U.S. interests in the region? What we're told is if, if the president makes a decision to go ahead with airstrikes against is positions in Syria, look for it to be -- the targets to be troop formations, training camps, leadership targets, all of that. But those targets often move.

So, the very first step will have to be sending reconnaissance flights over Syria. They will have to look for the real-time intelligence, exactly where those positions are, before they could actually enact air strikes -- John.

BERMAN: Interesting to see when they begin that process. Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon, thanks so much.

CAMEROTA: All right, John. Let's bring in CNN's military analyst to talk about all of this, Major General James "Spider" Marks.

Spider, great to see you. Let's start with --

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Good morning.

Let's start with Theo Curtis. How do you think Qatar was able to get American Theo Curtis released from Syria?

MARKS: Well, I think a couple of things probably occurred. The United States was supportive of their efforts, much like they brokered the deal for Sergeant Bergdahl and his release. The difference here is that I hope that the United States -- I would have to assume that the United States did not pay any ransom. That would be in a direct contravention to any of our best interests. Ransom money in support of terrorist organizations goes directly -- it's absolutely unequivocal -- goes directly toward future funding and enhanced capability of the terrorist organizations.

So, certainly, the United States has a proxy in the region and can do some of this what I would call influence actions so that we can have these positive outcomes, and the United States can keep its hands off.

CAMEROTA: Yes. So, the U.S. has the policy of never paying ransom money. But does Qatar have the capability? Might Qatar have paid some ransom money?

MARKS: Oh, they certainly might have. Other nations have. We know that the French have, as matter of routine. And that money goes directly to the bottom line in terms in funding future terror organizations. I would hope that wouldn't be the case.

And if the United States was involved in a negotiation from -- by using Qatar as a proxy, I would hope it wouldn't be one of the conditions.

CAMEROTA: All right. Let's move on to fighting ISIS. I want to read to you some of the things that General Martin Dempsey, the chair of the Joint Chiefs said this weekend about this. He said that he would not recommend U.S. military airstrikes against ISIS until he determines if they have become a direct threat to the U.S.

Isn't executing an American on camera and releasing that video a direct threat to the U.S.?

MARKS: Yes. I think we've reached the point -- I agree with you, Alisyn, that the United States has reached the point where ISIS could definitionally be described as existential, a threat to the United States. Including -- this was the first act of terrorism by ISIS directly against the United States when they beheaded James Foley.

So, I'd say we're well beyond the point of this being a direct threat. Clearly ISIS has capability, funding, it has intentions, it is absolutely ungoverned in its execution of what it sees as its -- the creation of its cal fate. The united states should as a matter of routine now be conducting operations in Syria. Airstrikes in Syria against very precise targets.

CAMEROTA: And so, you are in favor of airstrikes. What about -- as you've heard, I'm sure, from all of your military colleagues, that won't necessarily do the trick. And there are going to be some boots on the ground. So, is that where we're headed?

MARKS: Well, it won't do the trick. Well, let's define "the trick." What it's going to do is give Iraq some capability to achieve some distance and some time so it can bolster its capabilities. The Kurds are having some success up north.

ISIS has to be treated -- it's not going to be destroyed. What we need to do now is just stop what they are doing. And the United States' efforts are contributing mightily toward that.

It needs to go -- the United States needs to go after those targets in Syria. We need not ask permission. We need to do it.

And we can gather the good intelligence. We have standing intelligence collection requirements to go after targets in Syria. We can collect those, precisely identify them. And we can go after those targets.

This is not unlike Operation Allied Force back in 1999 when we went after the former Republic of Yugoslavia. It ended up deposing Milosevic.

We need to have a persistent campaign that allows the United States and its allies in the region to achieve some time see that the -- if the United States steps up as it is and consistently do this, Alisyn, regional partners will be inclined to support. And it could lead to boots on the ground, and I'm not suggesting those would be U.S. boots at this point.

CAMEROTA: All right. We will find out later today and continue to debate whether President Obama has the vision for that persistent campaign that you have laid out.

General Spider Marks, thanks. Great to see you.

MARKS: Thanks, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: All right. Let's go over to Michaela.

PEREIRA: Yes, time for a look at our headlines. Fourteen minutes past the hour.

We have learned this morning that cease-fire talks in the Middle East have made no progress. This comes as violence rocked the region overnight. Israel claims rockets landed in communities near the Gaza border but that no one was hurt. Meanwhile, Palestinian officials say at least 16 people were killed by Israeli air strikes Sunday including a Hamas financial leader. Four Israelis were hurt in a mortar strike near the Gaza border.

New this morning: Russia's foreign minister says another aid convoy will be sent to eastern Ukraine later this week. The first convey entered Ukraine without authorize Friday to deliver aid. In the meantime, rebels paraded prisoners through the street of Donetsk Sunday. You see crowds in the pro-Russian stronghold hurled bottles and insults at captured soldiers.

A security scare forced a flight from Dallas to San Diego to make an emergency stop -- landing rather -- in Phoenix Sunday. A series of tweets mentioning explosives targeted a Sony executive aboard American Airlines Flight 362 and then forced that plane to divert. 179 passengers and six crew members eventually re-boarded and landed safely in San Diego.

Remembrances are pouring in this morning for acclaimed Hollywood legend. Oscar-winning director and actor Richard Attenborough has died.

Attenborough appeared in so many major films, including "Jurassic Park" as the billion theme park developer. In 1982, he won an Academy Award for directing "Gandhi." His son said he had been in poor health for some time before he died. Richard Attenborough was 90 years old.

BERMAN: A remarkable talent. He spent 20 years trying to get the funding to produce "Gandhi" and finally said, "I'll produce it myself."

PEREIRA: I'll produce it myself.

And behind the screen, he did a lot of work behind the scenes for muscular dystrophy, trying to get money and awareness and funds raised. Really a tremendous man.

CAMEROTA: Nice, long life he had.

BERMAN: Amazing.

Next up for us on NEW DAY: Michael Brown will be laid to rest today. This as a grand jury will decide whether the officer who shot him should face charges. We're going to speak with the family's lawyer, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Nineteen minutes past the hour. Welcome back to NEW DAY.

After two week of protests and unrest in Ferguson, Michael Brown is finally being laid to rest this morning at an emotional -- morning. At an emotional rally Sunday, Michael Brown's father said the one thing today he wants as his buries his son is peace.

We're joined now by Benjamin Crump. He's an attorney for Michael Brown's family, and he is there in St. Louis.

And I understand it's going to be at capacity, the Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church there, 2,500 in the church, 2,500 expected in the overflow area. It sounds like a big crowd is coming up to celebrate the life and legacy of Michael Brown.

BENJAMIN CRUMP, ATTORNEY FOR MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY: Yes, ma'am.

PEREIRA: You've had a chance to be with the family. How are they doing? How are they hoping that he will be remembered?

CRUMP: Well, primarily they are trying to get through this day. This is obviously an emotional day, Michaela. This is the day when it really sets in, when you have to put your child in the ground, and you realize that he's not coming back ever again.

And I think so many people are coming out here to support this family because he has become symbolic of a lot of pain and frustration that people of color all around America know all too well when it comes to senseless gun violence and police brutality.

PEREIRA: Some of that pain and frustration has led people to the streets to say we won't stand it anymore. We want -- we want to fight for equality in that community there in Ferguson and beyond, people from around the region to make their voices heard. Michael Brown Sr. gave a very emotional speech calling for peace in Ferguson today.

Do you think the community will hear him on that?

CRUMP: I think so. He and Michael's brother, Lesley, have asked that people be peaceful while they lay their son to rest in peace. And I think everybody will respect the wishes of the family, all the supporters. That's very important, Michaela, that we point out the fact that these are supporters -- the media has a way of labeling them protesters and the people who support their -- killer of their son as supporters.

These are supporters, people who have children of color, who worry greatly that this could happen to their child. So, they are coming out, saying we want this family to know we stand with you. So, they will follow the lead of the family.

PEREIRA: Let's talk about those supporters. They came out in droves over the weekend. A rally held by the NAACP. There were police officers that led that protest.

Does it feel as though Ferguson has turned a counter corner?

CRUMP: Well, I think Ferguson is symbolic of many cities in America that they want people to know, they want people to hear their voice and say you can't keep doing this to our children. And the question is, how loud do we have to scream before we don't have another Michael Brown? Before we don't have another Trayvon Martin?

And we can say our children shouldn't be profiled, our children should be treated as children.

PEREIRA: You talk about those children, Trayvon, Michael, we had the mother of Sean Bell on earlier with our Don Lemon. They are a part of -- a tragic crowd of people that have buried their sons due to gun violence in their communities.

In the case of many criminal investigations, the character of the victim is often questioned. How do you counsel the family, the parents of Michael Brown as this happens? They call it character assassination. How do you counsel them in their time of grief on the day that they're laying their son to rest to handle hearing those comments?

CRUMP: You know, I've been doing this for a while. All these cases I've done, that's police 101. The first thing they do is try to blame the victim and attack the victim when they can't justify the -- killing the unarmed young man. So what I tell the parents is, Mike is gone, you have to be his voice.

And so, when you hear this character assassination, you have to know that they're trying to do that because they don't want people to concentrate on that sad afternoon where your son was executed. That's what I tell them. We've got to stay focused because if we stay focused we will keep everybody else focused. And that's the key -- focusing in on what happened and why did this police officer execute this child in broad daylight.

PEREIRA: And today, the focus should be on the coming home where he is laid to rest, the funeral, the public memorial. What are you expecting out of today, Mr. Crump?

CRUMP: Well, I think it's going to be very emotional, because Michael Brown's tragedy has become symbolic, not just for Ferguson but internationally. So, a lot of people are going to talk about the reality that this is a young man, 18-years-old, cut down just as he was becoming a man.

And then talk about the larger picture of how do we turn this tragedy into triumph and make something so negative become something positive that will give a legacy for Michael Brown and Ferguson.

PEREIRA: First we start with the funeral service for an 18-year-old.

Benjamin Crump, thank you for joining us. I know it's a busy day for you. We send our thoughts, best wishes, and prayers to the family of Michael Brown today, OK?

CRUMP: Thank you. God bless.

PEREIRA: And you, as well. We'll take a short break here on NEW DAY.

Coming up, we're going to hear exclusively from Michael Brown's mother. As I mentioned, the mothers of Trayvon Martin and the mother of Sean Bell about losing their sons to violence. It is a story you don't want to miss, their heart-wrenching stories. We'll have that next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SYBRINA FULTON, MOTHER OF TRAYVON MARTIN: You have to focus on the good times. You have to focus on when he was smiling. You have to focus on his first day of school. And you focus on Christmas Day and things like that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)