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New Day Sunday

ISIS Video Claims Beheading of U.S. Hostage; New U.S. Ebola Patient "Extremely Critical"; Ferguson, Other Cities Brace for Decision

Aired November 16, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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

KARL PENHAUL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): It is different from the previous videos as well, however. It gives a long background to the origins of Islamic state or ISIL. And it also shows additional executions on the 16-minute video, namely, the killings of what appeared to be scores of what the killers say are regime pilots and officers. It shows that in very graphic detail.

The scene where the head that is allegedly that of Peter Kassig's is shown is a very short segment. There is no spoken message from Kassig. We also don't see him alive. We just see a head on the ground beneath the feet of the man that we have now come to know as Jihadi John, that apparently British ISIS knife man.

In this recording as well, Jihadi John says that Peter Kassig didn't have much to say. Now is that perhaps an indication that Peter Kassig in fact just refused to say anything? Is he the first of the hostage that's point blank said to his captors I'm not going to serve your propaganda purposes? Is that the reason we only show the aftermath?

So, certainly significant differences. Also the location as you mentioned. This one apparently filmed according to a slug that appears on the video in the count of their book. That is just northeast of the city of Aleppo. That is about 200 kilometers, about 150 miles from where we previous believed all the hostages are being held which is around the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Christi.

JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR: Karl, it's Joe Johns in Atlanta right now.

Any notion of what the timing of this means? We do know the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff had said the United States has been making something headway against ISIS. He said that fairly recently. Why would this video be timed for its release now?

PENHAUL: There's no indication as to actually when any of this video was filmed. A lot of it is file footage, archive footage that they used to put together the time line of the rise of is. We don't know when that apparent killing of the Syrian regime army offices and pilots may have occurred. It does not have occurred in the same location as the killing of Peter Kassig. There is also nothing to determine whether Kassig may have been killed either.

But in terms of the release, there are in what can interpret from the message of Jihadi John challenges to Americans. Jihadi John as he stands over the head of what he claims to be Peter Kassig's head, he says, "This is the third American crusader", and then he goes on to say we eagerly await the arrival of more American crusaders to come.

So, certainly, seeming to feed into this speculation that perhaps the U.S. may be thinking about putting some kind of ground forces on there. Jihadi John also makes a joke of a bomber he calls "dog of Rome" and said these proxy forces, the Iraqi military parentally, will not serve the purposes of fighting ISIS.

So, it does seem to be a challenge once again throwing down the gauntlet to U.S. forces saying they will have to go on the ground if they want to defeat ISIS. Apparently an attempt to suck the American deeper into this war, Joe.

JOHNS: Right. And that continues to be a debate in this country right now, as to whether the chairman of the joint chiefs will actually recommend that the president put more boots on the ground to try to get at this problem.

Karl, thanks so much for that.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: You know, a couple months ago Kassig's family got on YouTube, his mother specifically, her mother Paula, and she said, we're so very proud of you and the work you've done to bring humanitarian aid to the Syrian people -- her way of trying to get to her son. But now we understand they are speaking out on the news that he possibly has been beheaded as well.

JOHNS: CNN's Alexandra Field live in New York.

Alexandra, what you are hearing from the family?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christi, Joe, certainly they have been speaking out a lot over the last month. This morning, we're getting a statement from them that certainly they never wanted to put out.

I'll read it from it. They say, "We are aware of the news reports being circulated about our treasured son and are waiting for confirmation from the government as to the authenticity of these reports. We'll have no other statement at this time and ask that you please respect our privacy."

Those words coming from Ed and Paul Kassig who go on to say that they prefer that their son is written and remembered for his important work and the love he shared with his friends and family.

Peter Kassig, 26 years old, raised in Indianapolis, went to north central high school there. He ended up joining the Army, became an Army Ranger, deployed to Iraq. Returned to the States, went to Hanover College in Indiana, went to Butler University in Indiana, but then decided to get his EMT training done and decided to then return overseas.

Friends, family members say he was really called to do humanitarian work overseas. He believed that was his purpose and he felt compelled to leave college here in the States and head over there.

Ed and Paula Kassig have been doing everything as parents in their power during the course of their son's captivity to try and bring him home safely, last month releasing a video on YouTube in which they appealed for mercy, asked for their son's freedom. Paula Kassig getting on Twitter and writing directly to ISIS leaders asking to secure her son's freedom, doing everything as a mother that she knew how to do. But this morning, again, releasing this statement that I'm sure they had feared and dreaded they would at some point release.

A spokesperson for the family, however, Christi and Joe, goes on to add that both of the Kassigs this morning are feeling just ever so grateful for support and prayers that they received from people all over the world.

PAUL: Yes, a lot of that going out to them today for sure.

Alexandra Field, thank you so much.

We should point out that President Obama's flying home right now after wrapping up the G-20 Summit in Australia. But ISIS was certainly part of the conversation there.

JOHNS: CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta joining us now from Brisbane.

Jim, president returning to the United States on Air Force One. That's about the time we get word of this possible beheading of the American worker Peter Kassig. So, how much can we assume the president has been briefed on this?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Joe, I think it's safe assumption that president's been briefed on this. I don't think at this point we really can realistically have confirmation of this at this point, because the president is on Air Force One and on their way to Hawaii for refueling stop before heading all the way back to Washington. Perhaps when he makes that refueling stop in Hawaii the communication staff with the White House will be able to communicate with the people that are still here in Australia who do press for the White House.

So, perhaps at that point we might get some sort of additional guidance or indication as to whether or not the president's been briefed and whether he has further comments on this.

But, Joe, as you know from covering these things, it may take several hours, it may take a good portion of a day for us to really have a comment from President Obama on this apparent execution. But we do have a statement from the National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan who is traveling with the president or was traveling with the president on this trip, will be heading back with the president shortly.

And in that statement, she says, "We are aware of a video that purportedly shows -- excuse me, we're aware of a video that shows the murder of Peter Kassig by ISIL. The intelligence community is working as quickly as possible to determine the authenticity. If confirmed, we're appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American aid worker and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We'll provide more information when it is available."

Joe, as you know, from covering these things, and I've been covering these things, that is pretty much the standard boiler plate response from the White House at this point. It's really an indication as to how early it is in the process for the White House in responding to this sort of things.

But as you know, Joe, over the summer when these beheadings started up, they slowly but surely ratcheted up the pressure in Washington, ratcheted up the pressure in the White House for the president to take a more assertive role, to take a more assertive tone in dealing with ISIS. And that's what when we started to see this air campaign really ratchet up against ISIS in both Iraq and then later on in Syria.

So, the question I think becomes, Joe and Christi, what happens to this policy when the president gets back to Washington? Does this new beheading of Peter Kassig have some sort of impact on the president's thinking as to what should happen next?

PAUL: Boy, very good point, Jim.

Jim Acosta for us live there -- thank you, Jim, very much.

JOHNS: Now Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is finally acknowledging that he may have to put troops on the ground in Iraq not directly to fight ISIS but to help local forces locate targets and only if U.S. top general, Martin Dempsey, puts forward that proposal. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK HAGEL, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If we can get any other variation of recommendations from General Dempsey, then we'll deal with it. But we're not there yet and --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: And, remember, as Jim talked about at the G-20 summit, even President Obama had said, there is a possibility the U.S. would put boots on the ground if the need arises. Much of that due to possible nuclear need, if it came to it.

JOHNS: Absolutely. Some very tough choices there.

We do have other news to tell you about this morning, including the tenth and possibly sickest Ebola patient arriving on U.S. soil. An update on his condition and treatment coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: We're continuing to monitor development this morning involving the apparent execution of American aid worker and former army ranger Peter Kassig. ISIS this morning released a video purporting to show that he had been beheaded. American authorities are trying to confirm the authenticity of that video. We do have a statement if the family. We're going to keep checking on that story and bring you more information later.

But, first, there is some other news we want to talk about this morning.

PAUL: Yes, primarily, this doctor that's stricken with Ebola receiving care this morning in a Nebraska hospital. Dr. Martin Salia is a Maryland-based surgeon, and doctors treating him say he is extremely ill, possibly more so than any patient transported from West Africa to the U.S. thus far.

JOHNS: He arrived in Omaha from Sierra Leone yesterday. This shows Salia being taken from the plane on a stretcher aided by workers dressed in yellow protective suits.

CNN's medical analyst Dr. Seema Yasmin joins us on the phone from New Orleans. She's formally with the CDC.

First, let's start to talk about how sick Dr. Salia is. This Nebraska hospital saying possibly the sickest yet transported to the U.S.? What does that tell you?

DR. SEEMA YASMIN, CNN MEDICAL ANALYST (via telephone): Absolutely.

So, they said they already had two patients with Ebola successfully treated, both of them that this gentleman is the sickest of possibly any patient that's been here from West Africa to the U.S., and that's going to make their job a lot harder. At this time, they possibly will be using many experimental Ebola treatments but can't tell us which ones or when that might happen.

PAUL: So, help us understand why this facility has been so successful? And do you have confidence in their success with this particular patient?

YASMIN: Partly, it's about time. They've been in operation since 2005, when I spoke to the nursing manager there, she told me, look, we've had the best part for nine years to get ready to care for patients like this. She told me they train their staff and they train them again and then she told me they refresh their training. So, they're constantly building on expertise and getting ready to treat patients like this.

And I think we do have good faith in them because they've had such a great track record of caring for Ebola patients. They've already cared for two, both made recoveries and discharged back home.

JOHNS: It really is amazing the extent to which Ebola no longer sounds like the death sentence it was just not very long ago at all. We've come quite a long way.

Doctor, thank you so much for that.

PAUL: So, stay with us here on NEW DAY. We have the latest on what is developing not only with this alleged beheading of an American by ISIS, but also that closer to home what is happening in Ferguson, Missouri, right now.

JOHNS: Right. A town that is bracing for the grand jury's decision about Officer Darren Wilson.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JOHNS: This morning, we've got the latest on what's developing in Ferguson, Missouri. It's a town on edge as it waits for grand jury to decide whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson. He's the white police officer who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown in August. Brown's death sparked on going protests in the St. Louis suburb.

But some residents warn if there is no indictment, protests thus far will pale compared to what's coming.

PAUL: Joining us now for more, let's talk to Mel Robins, a CNN commentator and legal analyst.

Mel, good to have you with us today.

So, we know that we can expect this grand jury to make a decision at any point. I'm wondering, but let's take it from that point that they're saying, if there is no indictment, there's going to be problems on the street. From a legal standpoint, if there is no indictment, what happens to Officer Wilson at that point then if he pleaded to go back to work?

MEL ROBBINS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: You know, Christi, Joe, good morning. That is an absolutely excellent question. He would be cleared of any criminal charges at the state level. But keep in mind, there are on going federal investigations both from a civil point of view and a criminal point of view and those might not be resolved yet.

So, he would probably stay on leave until those federal investigations are over as well. But, yes, if he's cleared of all charges, he could go back to work. I think the question is would he want to and would it be safe for him to go back to work in this community if the tensions are going to be, you know, over the edge like we've seen that they are?

JOHNS: Mel, you talk about the possibility of a civil complaint. If there are no criminal charges, is the idea of civil complaint sort of defanged, if you will? Does it reduce the change that they'll ever get any type of damages or whatever?

ROBBINS: Well, there's a bunch of cases involved, Joe. And, you know, let's take them one at a time. You've got the state of Missouri investigating, you know, in terms of the St. Louis prosecutor and grand jury right now looking at criminal charges at a state level.

You have the federal government looking at two different cases. One would be violations of Michael Brown's constitutional rights. Those are very hard to prove because you'd have to prove that Officer Wilson was acting willfully and knowingly and wanting to deprive Michael Brown of his constitutional rights. And then there are federal, potential federal criminal charges.

Now, if all three of those cases, the state case, the two federal cases, if those don't get brought, Michael Brown's family absolutely have a claim for wrongful death in a civil court. That would be a civil case where they would be looking for monetary damages based on what happened. And they could be suing for not only wrongful death, guys, but also for intentional infliction of emotional harm based on how they handle Michael Brown's body at the scene.

So, the fact that there may be criminal charges that are never brought won't have that big of an impact on whether or not the family is successful in suing not only the officer but also the police force and potentially the state.

PAUL: You know, Mel, earlier we said we looked at this and thought it seemed to be somewhat of a strange proceeding. It was taking so long, and they were seeming to throw every ounce of evidence of any kind at this grand jury which normally, as I understand it, there's minimal, excuse me, evidentiary material that's given to them.

Do you find this to be rare in terms of the proceedings that we see thus far? And why is it taking so long?

ROBBINS: Well, a couple things here. First of all, when you typically are presenting a case to a grand jury, you're not presenting it where the person that's accused of the unlawful shooting is a police officer. So, typically -- and why that's important is because a police officer under the Supreme Court has been given wide difference in their ability to use force. And if the -- if it's found that Darren Wilson was acting in an objectively reasonable manner that he perceived, it was reasonable for him to perceive a threat, then he may be justified in the shooting.

And so, typically, I disagree with, you know, my colleague Jeffrey Toobin because typically if a prosecutor is presenting a case to a grand jury, which they do involving a police shooting, they try to take a step back and take a more objective point of view. They're going to give everything to the grand jury because they don't want to look like they're biased towards the police. They don't want to look like they're biased towards the shooting victim and that they're out to the police.

And so, this isn't atypical. What's atypical is to have the lens on it the way that we do.

Does it usually take this long? Not usually. However, in this case, they've got a special grand jury that is only meeting once a week. They've been meeting for weeks and weeks and weeks. They've heard from dozens and dozens and dozens of witnesses. I think what also is different in this case, Joe and Christi, is that we've got dozens of witnesses that disagree.

JOHNS: Right.

ROBBINS: And so, this is just a gigantic mess for the grand jury. I think it's also a mess for the rest of us because what they promised was transparency and what you don't get with a grand jury is transparency. But remember, on Friday, Dr. Michael Baden, who is the famed forensic, you know, guy that was testifying and he's part of the Brown case. So, presumably and hopefully, they will have heard everything, you guys.

JOHNS: Right.

Michael Baden, the medical examiner to the stars in some cases, who's looked at so many different cases. This is just a fascinating question and you're absolutely right about the grand jury. Who knows who they've heard from that we haven't heard from, in fact?

PAUL: Yes, we'll have to wait and see.

Mel Robbins, thank you so much. Great information. We appreciate it.

ROBBINS: Great to see you, guys.

PAUL: You, too.

JOHNS: All right. We'll see you back here at 8:00 Eastern.

"SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." is coming up for you after a quick break.