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U.S. Makes Move in Iraq Crisis; ISIS Seizes Control of Iraq's Second Largest City; Military Investigation into Bergdahl to Begin this Week; Casey Kasem Dies at Age 82; White House Holds Conference on Changing Rol of Dad; Isarel Launches Massive Search for Three Missing Teenagers

Aired June 15, 2014 - 15:00   ET

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

FREDERIKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Chilling images out of Iraq. Militants claiming they have executed dozens of Iraqi soldiers in providing pictures. They say for proof we'll take you live to Baghdad.

Also, radio's legendary voice, Casey Kasem, dead at the age of 82. A look at his decade's long career and the bitter family feud that came to a head in his final days.

And is Bowe Bergdahl a war hero or a deserter? A two-star army general is tasked with finding out why and why sergeant Bergdahl left his base in Afghanistan and got captured. What we know about the investigation, next.

We begin with the crisis in Iraq. Disturbing claims today from the militant group the Islamic state of Iraq and Syria, also called ISIS. It says it has taken Iraqi soldiers prisoner and executed them. I want to warn you, the pictures they have released are very disturbing. It shows people ISIS claims are Iraqi forces dressed as civilians being held as prisoners in trucks and then led by men with guns to their death. CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of the pictures -who were claimed where they claim.

The Iraqi government, meantime, says it is fighting back. The ministry of defense released this video showing air strikes against ISIS in Mosul. Thousands of volunteer fighters have responded to calls to protect their country and Iraq claims it is re-taking key territory, even with reports that ISIS is moving closer to Baghdad.

We're covering this story in Iraq and from the U.S., of course, Nic Robertson is live for us in Baghdad. Athena Jones is live at the White House with reaction from Washington.

Let's get started in Baghdad.

Nic is joining us by phone right now. What do you know about the latest moves by ISIS?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Well, the latest we're hearing is that they are attacking a town just Mosul (INAUDIBLE) and they are attacking an Iraqi army security base. Seven people killed so far, 33 wounded in that attack. ISIS still on

the advance. They took the town of Baquba or at least parts of the town of Baquba late Saturday. That was after the army flew from there, taking their weapons with them. Of course, what make Baquba is so important it's only a 45-minute drive from Baghdad. They still appear in times as they have said to take at least encircle Baghdad and the intense as well to take control of the international airport.

At the moment, there is no indication to that that they are close to it or are about international airport. But that is one of the state today we are hearing. But of course, this dramatic and horrific (INAUDIBLE) that ISIS is now approached about its activities, now just taking Iraqi troops prisoners as we have seen, but apparently leading them to their executions.

They are dressed in civilian clothes. They laid them down in the dirt and then approached them. (INAUDIBLE) had opened fire. It is horrific material to see and it's a horrific reality of what ISIS is doing in its advance towards Baghdad. A moment now, it fueled the whole sectarian emotions. They are now already pulling weight and potentially it's a much more bloody clash than what we are going to see in the coming days -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And then Nic, there was a car bomb that went off in Baghdad today. Is it related to ISIS?

ROBERTSON: They haven't claimed responsibility for it but it's entirely possible that it is. It's certainly the belief that they were so inside Baghdad. There are Sunnis community here that they been hide out in. This was a suicide bomber that detonated explosives inside a crowded cafe that was full of Shi'a workers.

Early in the morning, 17 people were killed. And we understand from the police that 40 people wounded. Again, these would apparent attack from Shiite community. And again, there are sectarian tensions. So, it suddenly even though ISIS hasn't claimed it, that we are aware of, that's certainly how it will be read here -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, terrible situation.

Nic Robertson, be safe. Thank you.

The crisis in Iraq has set off a very different battle in Washington over exactly what the U.S. should do about it, if anything.

Athena Jones is live for us at the White House. So Athena, what have we heard from the officials with intimate knowledge of Iraq in the U.S. relationship with Iraq?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred. We have heard a lot of opinions from a lot of people about what the U.S. should be doing right now. But this is pretty interesting.

Ryan Crocker, who is the former ambassador to Iraq, was on "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS" this morning. And he talks about what is lacking in the U.S. response to this so far. Let's listen to that. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN CROCKER, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: We have lacked that high level of engagement with the Iraqis. That was so crucial during my team in office. So we need the secretary of state out there in Baghdad right now. We need the president on the phone to the Iraqi leadership. We are the essential middle men among Sunnis, Shi'a, and Kurds. Ambassadors can go just so far.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So interesting and quite a criticism from Ambassador Crocker. Now, we know that vice president Joe Biden did speak with Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, on Thursday. We also know that secretary of state John Kerry spoke with Iraq's foreign minister just yesterday. So some of these high-level talks are certainly happening. But I asked the White House specifically about any plans to send secretary Kerry or anyone else, for that matter, to Iraq to negotiate on the ground or phone calls that might be made, more phone calls that might be made and all they will say is that the president's national security team has been working through the weekend on trying to come up with these range of options to help Iraq deal with this.

But of course, we know that President Obama is under pressure. At least from some members of Congress and others to make a decision fast, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And so, Athena, we hear this concert, you know, of people saying that Nouri al-Maliki is part of the problem, but is this White House or anyone else saying that Nouri al-Maliki is going to be part of the solution to end this?

JONES: That's the question here. Certainly, the hope is that he could be part of the solution. You heard the president say on Friday that there is not a purely military solution to this crisis. A political solution is necessary to have a long lasting resolution of this. Secretary Kerry echoed those remarks when he spoke to the foreign minister just yesterday.

But the White House and this administration has been trying to product al-Maliki to make some political accommodations for years, to come up with -- to put together a unified, a unity government with power sharing deals with between Shiites and Sunnis and Kurds, the kind of unity government that could give Iraq stability and solve a crisis like this and prevent it from happening. But he's been resistant so far. The president hopes it's a wake-up call but that's really the outstanding question here, what al-Maliki is going to do and what he really can do -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: Athena Jones at the White House, thank you.

Also here at home, many are celebrating the life of legendary radio host Casey Kasem. Kasem died this morning actually at the age of 82. The radio and TV icon had been suffering from dementia. He had been hospitalized in Washington State and a judge recently gave his daughter the authority to have doctors end his infusions of water, food, and medicine. Kasem had said that he would not want to be kept alive if it, quote, "would result in a mere biological existence," end quote.

A short time ago I spoke with CNN entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner and she told me what Kasem's family is saying about his passing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: We are hearing from his elder children today, Kerry, Mike, and Julie, they did release a statement to it saying that early this father's day morning our dad, Casey Kasem, passed away surrounded by family and friends. Even though we know he is in a better place and no longer suffering, we are heartbroken. Thank you for all of your love, support, and prayers. The world will miss Casey and an incredible talent and humanitarian. We will miss our dad. With love, Kerry, Mike and Julie.

And again, that was from his elder children from his first marriage. We have not heard from his wife Jean Kasem. We have not heard from his daughter Liberty as of yet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And a memorial service is planned now for Friday.

Well, one person who was no stranger to our show was also a close friend with Casey Kasem. For 30 years, you'll recognize him right there, one of our legal guys, Avery Friedman. Tight buddies with Casey Kasem. This is a tough day for him and for other close friends and family members of Casey Kasem. Avery joins me about his best memories of his good friend.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Casey Kasem's career and voice were both known as legendary around the world. And today, his family and friends are sharing stories about just how influential he has been in their lives.

One of those people is Ryan Seacrest. Kasem handed over American Top 40 back in 2004. And in a statement a short time ago, Seacrest said he would listen to Kasem's show every weekend and dream about some day becoming a radio deejay as well.

And there is also someone that I know pretty well who knew Kasem for 30 years as a very dear friend, Avery Friedman. You normally see Avery as a legal expert on this show on Saturdays, every Saturday, in a very dedicated way. And as that, Avery dedicated friend top Kasem.

This picture is from 1984 in Hollywood. And Avery is joining me right now n the phone. I know it's a very tough day for you. He was such a dear friend. But you do have the gift of having the opportunity to say good-bye to him before he passed, right?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHT ATTORNEY (via phone): I did, Fredricka. I said good-bye to Casey on Friday night. We talked about these franks over decades, the hospice people said he could hear and then I said good-bye. But most importantly, you think about so many people, like yourself, an event in your life that was happy or sad, and you associated that event with a song. And on the weekend you heard Casey Kasem counting down the hits and talking about that song or talking about the artists and making the song even more important in your life.

WHITFIELD: Yes, really making it come alive.

FRIEDMAN: And it is a thousand markets times millions of people hearing those stories. You can only imagine what a wonderful effect this beautiful man literally had on millions of people.

WHITFIELD: That's incredible. Beautifully said. And you know, I was a listener, you know, every weekend waiting for that top 40 countdown listening for Casey Kasem's voice. And like you said, there was always a story that went with the music. So his voice was nearly as important, if not more so, than oftentimes the song that he was framing but tell us something about him as a friend that you had the privilege of knowing about him that most of us as fans didn't.

FRIEDMAN: Well, the commonality was that Casey was a passionate advocate for human rights, whether it was fair housing, something close to me, of course, and then peace in the Middle East. Casey and I traveled the country together advocating for the rights of people. In fact, I must tell you, after the riots in Los Angeles and south central and it looked like a war zone of havoc people that showed up for a community meeting to try to heal and try to bring people back together, there was Casey Kasem and you had to be escorted into south central at the church telling Los Angeles residents it's going to be OK. We're going to get through this. And you can't imagine the risk that he has taken not only here in this country, Fredricka, but all over the world in advocating for the rights of people and the humanitarian efforts. He's literally one in a million and we will all miss him deeply.

WHITFIELD: We certainly will. And you talk about him really being known to bring people together which really speaks to the irony and days later, you know, weeks, months, days of his life and how so many people were torn apart over his disposition. The best care.

You joined us many weekends to keep us abreast on the legal ins and outs of what the family was going through. And each side saying they thought they were doing the right thing for him and his care. In the end, do you think now his family will come together when they've been through so much?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I'd love to be optimistic and to say that that is the case. The divisions within the family have been deep and long standing. So I don't think that's going to happen. I would like to believe it would. But at the end of the day we will remember Casey Kasem as a loving father, as a loving friend, as a humanitarian. And if the family can come back together, all the better.

More importantly, the spirit of Casey Kasem will continue to live on, Fredricka, and continue not only for all of us to keep his feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars.

WHITFIELD: Indeed. Beautifully said. Thank you so much, my friend. Avery Friedman, appreciate it. And of course, all of the best to Casey Kasem's family. We certainly will miss him.

All right. Straight ahead, the army is set to start investigating former POW Bowe Bergdahl, the latest on that straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A military investigation into Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl is set to start this week. A two-star general has been tapped to investigate how and why Bergdahl left his base in Afghanistan. The 28-year-old soldier was held captive by the Taliban for about five years. He was freed two weeks ago in exchange for five Taliban leaders at Guantanamo Bay. That deal with the Taliban has sparked tremendous criticism here at home.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us by phone now.

And Barbara, what can you tell us about how this investigation will get going?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Hi, Fred.

Well, the one thing we won't do is look at that swap deal per se. This is much more, almost completely focused on Bowe Bergdahl himself. What happened? What led him to leave his post in Afghanistan that nigh?. What happened, how did he do it, what was he thinking and how did he get captured by the Taliban? Also, what does he know, maybe, about the Taliban, given his experiences.

This two-star army general will begin by basically looking at the known facts, reviewing interviews with teammates that already exist. It's not clear just yet when he will start questioning Bergdahl himself. But what army officials are telling us, once that more formal questioning process begins, the letter of the law will be followed. Sergeant Bergdahl will be advised of his rights. He will be offered counsel. It is a fact-finding investigation at this point, but it's a very complex case so they are going by the letter of the law as they always do in the military. So that if it were to lead to some sort of discipline, they have their case, they have all of the evidence, they have all of the interviews gathered, according to military regulations -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And Barbara, you know, some soldiers have accused Bergdahl of being a deserter. They say that he put troops in danger and should, therefore, be punished.

Given that he has served as a POW for five years, is that likely, even if found, you know, that he was up to no good, that he indeed is a deserter? Would he likely be punished?

STARR: Well, you know, leaving your post doesn't exactly make you a soldier of the year. But desertion is something that requires evidence and very specific legal military findings we are told that the person who deserted had to have made a decision that they would never return. We don't know that in Sergeant Bergdahl's case. We really don't know the facts of what was in his mind. We know what his fellow soldiers accused him of.

So I think the military is likely to take this very slowly, very deliberately. And in military law there is a great deal of discretion to a commander about how to proceed. Sometimes it doesn't work so well in some cases many believe in terms of protecting victims. But in cases like this there would be tremendous discretion on the part of the commanders, what kind of punishment, if any, he would receive.

I have to tell you, there are people -- very senior people in the army who say this man suffered so much over the last five years, they first want to see the facts before they come to any of these types of decisions.

WHITFIELD: Barbara Starr, thank you so much.

STARR: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Coming up, he is one of the most vocal critics of Iran. But what Senator Lindsey Graham said today on "STATE OF THE UNION" has a lot of people scratching their heads.

And what is next for the GOP after their house majority leader was defeated in the primary by a tea party novice?

But first, a young woman is leaving a tragedy that left her paralyzed to help others in a similar situation. This is today's "human factor."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DOCTOR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 14 years old, Sabrina Cohen was your average teenager. She was building a social life, simply trying to fit in. So when a few older boys offered Sabrina and her friends a ride to a party, they jumped at the chance.

SABRINA COHEN, SPIRAL CORD INJURY SURVIVOR: I just remember being concerned with things like not putting my seat belt on, because I wanted to look cool.

GUPTA: Getting into the car and not buckling up was a decision that would cost her dearly.

COHEN: Within minutes they took off drag races down one of Miami Beach's most dangerous streets about 90 miles per hour. The other car lost control, hit the car I was in. We hit a tree and I instantly bake a quadriplegic.

GUPTA: Sabrina spent the first several months in denial.

COHEN: You know, I was more like I'm going to work out and I'm going to walk again. GUPTA: It wasn't until she saw others in her condition that the

reality set in. After several months of grueling rehab and soul searching, Sabrina decided to use her experience to help others.

COHEN: My principal approached me and said to me, would you do the school a favor and talk to the seniors about reckless driving. And that was the start of my mentorship and public speaking and motivational speaking.

GUPTA: She graduated at the top of her class from high school on time. Then she went tout get a dual degree in advertising and psychology from the University of Miami. A few years after college started the Sabrina Cohen foundation.

COHEN: My mental and fitness well-being has always played such an important role in keeping me healthy and active and able to do what I do. So my focus now is to basically allocate funds to people who can't afford to get the best therapy.

GUPTA: And she says leading by example especially when talking to children is key.

COHEN: I think I am an example that life can go on, and you can a full life, as I do.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right, bottom of the hour now. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Here are five things crossing the CNN news desk right now.

Radio and television icon Casey Kasem has died at the age of 82. A memorial service is planned for Friday. Kasem was suffering from dementia. Last week, a judge gave his daughter the authority that doctors and his infusions of water, fluid, and medicines. To many, Kasem was the world's best-known radio host. He counted down the American top 40 hits each week for nearly four decades.

Overseas, a militant group in Iraq appears to be getting closer to Baghdad, a city they threatened to storm. We are learning, ISIS has gained control of two villages near the city of Baquba. It is just about 40 miles from Baghdad. Earlier we heard that there were clashes between Iraqis forces and militants in that area. And according to a Saudi intelligence source, ISIS wants to get near the Baghdad airport and northern suburbs.

Israel has launched a massive search operation for three missing teenagers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today accused Hamas of kidnapping the young men. Hamas spokesman tells us the accusation is quote "stupid and baseless," end quote. The teenagers were last seen late Thursday in a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. One of them is said to be an Israeli-American with dual citizenship. Israel's military has detained about 80 Palestinians in search for the teens.

Two sequels packed a big punch at the box office this weekend. The cop comedy "22 Jump Street" earned a huge $60 million over the weekend, making it the second best opening of all time for an R-rated comedy. It beat out "how to train your dragon 2" which earned an estimated $50 million in its debut.

U.S. Navy ships have moved into the Persian Gulf as the president considers his option in Iraq this week. One U.S. senator says the U.S. needs to be talking to Iran to curb advances toward Baghdad by the military group. ISIS.

Our chief political analyst Gloria Borger Dana Bash, our chief congressional correspondent, are both here.

Ladies, on "THE STATE OF THE UNION" today, you both interviewed Senator Lindsey Graham of a critic of Iran.

But Gloria, today, he went even further, didn't he?

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you know, what he said today kind of surprised both of us. And I mean, as you point out, he's been a huge critic of Iran, as most everyone. But he said if we're going to solve this problem in Iraq, we have to work with Iran or at least talk to Iran to do that. So take a listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We should have discussions with Iran to make sure that they don't use this as an opportunity.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because so far the state department is saying --

GRAHAM: They are taking control parts of Iraq. They are in this. They are already on the ground. We need to put a red line with Iran, you know. You can help stabilize --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How do you do that?

GRAHAM: Well, you just sit down and talk to them.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm sorry. It's sort of hard for me to hear that I'm hearing a Republican to say sit down and talk with Iran.

GRAHAM: Do you realize what is happening here? If Baghdad collapses, the Iranians are the biggest winner, we are the biggest loser. ISIS, as Nic says, operates with impunity from Syria to Baghdad. They will hit us again. They will march on Jordan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: So a big question from that is kind of the why. Because, you know, you really underscored it, Dana. You know, you said, wait a minute, talk? I mean, talking seems nearly improbable if not impossible here. DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. You're

exactly right, the why. And Senator Graham explained it a little bit in the sound bite. But the why is because, first of all, by many accounts Iran in some way, shape, or form is in Iraq trying to prop up the Maliki government in Iraq. And so that is why Senator Graham is basically saying they are there, they could be helpful. You know, I mean, there was a term that was used today, frenemies (ph). And Iran does seem to be the U.S. frenemy (ph) when it comes to Iran.

BORGER: Well, and Iraq is -- Maliki, at least, is closer to Iran than to us. So maybe he'll listen to them where he won't listen to us.

WHITFIELD: All right, other big news rocking Washington, on Thursday. House Republicans were scheduled to take a secret vote to choose who will be the next majority leader, this after the number two man, Congressman Eric Cantor was defeated in a stunning upset in his Republican primary in Virginia's seventh district by a tea-party inspired challenger, college professor David Brat.

Dana, you landed the first sit-down interview with cantor since Tuesday's vote. He was predict to win in double digits and lost instead by double digits. He was one of those who inspired the tea party movement in the first place and ended up being a target of it. What is his explanation? Is he stunned?

BASH: He is stunned. I mean, he told me that the shock is just starting to wear off before the interview. He might be stunned but he is really still determined to sound like a politician and stay on his talking points. And that is to not dissect it too much in public because, you know, if you do that, then you risk making people even more angry than you already are. Listen to part of our conversation on that issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R-VA), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: I think that -- I said that day that we've reopened the government. That we as conservatives and as Republicans, we may have some differences but they pale in comparison to the differences --

BASH: But the voters in your own district didn't buy that. They voted for another Republican instead of you.

CANTOR: Again, going back is not what I want to do. I want to go forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: So he wants to go forward, Fred. He did say that he is going to vote for the man who defeated him in November in the general election, not the Democrat. That was a little bit of news. He was a little bit more forthcoming on how hard it was for him to tell his family, especially his son who doesn't live in there.

WHITFIELD: He had a different tenor, too. I mean, he seemed a little bit more melancholy. BORGER: Right. But he sounded like somebody who honestly is not over

politics because he was still talking about the future of the Republican Party. And I think there's a political future for him as well.

WHITFIELD: You do?

BORGER: I think there might be.

WHITFIELD: OK. We will be watching. If anyone has the pulse on Washington, it would be you two ladies. Thank you so much for the girl power this morning. I love it.

Dana Bash, Gloria Borger in Washington, thanks so much.

A legendary radio voice falls silent. Casey Kasem dead at the age of 82. Next, a look at his decade-long career and the family feud that boiled over in his final days.

And this programming reminder, watch or set your DVRs to record "41 on 41" tonight at 9:00 p.m. eastern and pacific right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Casey Kasem who died today at the age of 82 will forever be remembered and praised as an iconic radio and television host. And that's in spite of the battles his wife and children had over his care in his final years and days.

CNN's Nischelle Turner has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The police with the number one song in the land last week. "Every Breath You Take".

TURNER (voice-over): His voice made him a radio star and pop culture icon.

CASEY KASEM, RADIO HOST: I'm Casey Kasem and here we go.

TURNER: But in his final days, Kasem's achievements were overshadowed by an ugly battle over his medical care hitting his adult children against their stepmother, Jean Kasem.

JEAN KASEM, CASEY KASEM'S WIFE: Shame on these children. Shame.

TURNER: Kasem suffered from (INAUDIBLE) dementia. He spent his final weeks in Washington State where Jean Kasem had taken her husband without notifying Kasem's children of his first marriage. For months, the siblings have been complaining that their stepmother would not let them see their ailing father.

KERRI KASEM, CASEY KASEM'S DAUGHTER: We are an extremely close-knit family, extremely. And his family means more to him than anything. So why she is blocking us, the only -- UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's dumb founding, really.

TURNER: On May 30th, Kasem's daughter, Kerri, won approval from a judge in Washington State to visit her father briefly. The judge also gave her authority to get him evaluated by a doctor.

K. KASEM: He has a lung infection and bladder infection. It might be knew when I heard not being taking care to the fullest extent.

TURNER: The dispute became so bitter at one point, Jean Kasem tossed raw hamburger at her stepdaughter.

J. KASEM: In honor of King David, I throw this piece of meat to you, to the dogs.

TURNER: Eventually, Kerri gained temporary governorship over her father. When doctors advised her that Kasem was closer to death, she halted further life-sustaining treatment abiding, she said, by her father's wishes as expressed in an advanced health care directive.

TROY MARTIN, KERRI KASEM'S ATTORNEY: I think Kerri is conducted herself in a way that demonstrates that she is solely concerned about the death of her father. Every step of the way we have had to fight with Mrs. Kasem.

TURNER: Jean Kasem claimed her step children were only after money and that her husband still have the will to live and with food, water, and medicine could have recovered.

J. KASEM: My husband is a fighter. He's an American treasure. He would have never, ever wanted this.

TURNER: Heart-wrenching end of life decisions of the kind faced by many families. But in Kasem's case, they played out in public.

Nischelle Turner, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks to Nischelle Turner.

Up next, the search is on for three Israeli teenagers missing in the West Bank. Were they kidnapped by Hamas? Find out why our next guest says the Israelis are angry with the U.S. next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Israel's military has detained at least 80 Palestinians as part of an intense effort to find three teenagers. Two of the boys are 16, the other, 19. They went missing late last week while hitchhiking home from a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accusing Hamas of kidnapping the teens. I discussed this in the last hour with former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MICHAEL OREN, FORMER ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: Israeli intelligence sources, the Israeli military has come out and say that Hamas activists are responsible for the kidnapping. The prime minister is really reflecting what he's been told by his security advisers. So, yes.

WHITFIELD: And so is it your feeling that the Palestinian authority might be able to have some leverage with Hamas by the urging of the prime minister?

OREN: Well, if they have leverage, they are going to try to use it because right now the Palestinian authority is in a very difficult position. Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas had declared a national unity agreement with Abbas several weeks ago. He portrayed it as a great accomplishment for the Palestinians. But now, he sees that there's also a price that comes along with it.

Hamas, a terrorist organization, recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States and by most of the international community has wings that are still actively engaged in terror. And if it is indeed true that the Hamas organization, not just the activists, were in some way involved in this kidnapping, it will be very difficult for Mr. Abbas.

WHITFIELD: So one of the three teenage boys has U.S. citizenship. Does that in any way provoke the U.S. to get involved in the search for these young boys?

OREN: Well, Naftali Frenkel is indeed a citizen of the United States. And there was a certain amount of disappointment and anger here, Fredericka, over the initial reaction of the Obama administration to the kidnapping.

Three days ago, the initial reaction given by the assistance spokesperson at the state department was concern for the fate of the three Israeli young people who presumably were kidnapped at the time, but no explicit condemnation, certainly no explicit condemnation of Hamas because the Obama administration had very quickly recognized the national unity government between Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas.

And it put the administration in a very uncomfortable position. There was a prominent Israeli minister from the right wing who came out and actually accused the White House of abetting terror for not coming out more explicitly and condemning the action.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: That was former Israeli ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren.

The U.S. state department today strongly condemned the kidnapping of the Israeli teenagers and demand of immediate release. Even secretary of state John Kerry called it a despicable, terrorist act.

Straight ahead, a tribute to all dads today. How their roles have changed in the 21st century. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Let's take a look at the weather for tonight and as you get back to work tomorrow. Here now is Jennifer Gray.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Fred, on this father's day, we do have a slight risk of severe weather. Damaging winds, large hail, even a possibility of isolate tornadoes. This stretches all the way from Chicago south through Tulsa, Kansas City, St. Louise, you are all included in that, not only tonight but tomorrow afternoon, as well.

We could see a risk of severe weather. There's the slight risk area including Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Omaha and Lincoln.

So, as we go forward in time, you can see the front, that's just knocking on the door of Chicago late evening hours, 8:00 tonight and then a few of those showers still lingering as we go through tomorrow afternoon. Some pop-up thunderstorms expected for the south tomorrow even some showers in the east for tomorrow afternoon.

So, if you are hanging out with dad on this father's day, maybe firing up the grill, some great places to be, San Francisco. Sunshine, 63 degrees. Feeling great, 76 in Boston. You may see a few clouds out there and staying dry.

Monday's forecast, though, spotty showers in the south and mostly cloudy skies in the northeast and a few showers in the plains. Watch out for the severe weather tomorrow afternoon -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Jennifer. Appreciate it.

Hey, last week, the White House held its first-ever conference on the changing role of fathers in the work force and within the family. The conference highlighted new research that shows fathers are taking a more hands on approach to raising children.

I asked CNN digital correspondent Kelly Wallace if this shift is out of necessity or choice. She told me, both.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, we had a recession and a number of men lost jobs and, therefore, they had sort of this decision to make about, you know, who might be getting the jobs and when's going back into the workforce. But I think, Fredericka, you are see a lot more men talk about how they want to have more of a role with their children.

According to the Pew research center, fathers are spending triple the amount of time with their children than they were in 1965 and many men say they don't feel like they get enough time with their children. So you are definitely seeing a shift where you are seeing modern dads wanting to play almost as much or close to the role of modern moms are playing when it comes to care giving.

WHITFIELD: And in some cases, this is a rather tough transition for a lot of these men. Now, you write about some have had an identity crisis or they might even be struggling with the ego issue about taking on this role.

WALLACE: Yes. You know, the number of stay at home dads has doubled since 1989. And when you talk to some men who are full-time stay at home dads, they say when they first started, maybe, you know, ten to 15 years ago that one man said he had to have an ego of steel because he got so many negative comments from men and women kind of questioning, wait, it is the man who's supposed to be out in the workforce and the mom supposed to be home.

But talking to men, it seems like, Fredricka, as more and more families make different choices all kinds of reasons, it seems that there's, you know, an increasing comfort level for men to take on more of these roles. But you're going to still have those traditionalists out there who are going to say it's absolutely crazy to think that a dad is home full-time with his kids. Of course, many modern dads take issue with that conservative viewpoint.

WHITFIELD: That is so fascinating. In our household, we have experienced that. My husband is at home more. He works more from the home than ever before. And it is so interesting because he received I guess some admiration from a lot of moms. He would go to pick up, you know, our son from school and they started to include him and say, you know what? We know you're the dad but you are like a mom, so we want to invite you to the moms night out. Would you be insulted by that?

And it was really interesting because, you know, they look to him sort of like, you know, someone who adds some equilibrium to the conversation, as well. You know, it became therapy for a lot of the moms to talk about their family structures and husbands with my husband.

WALLACE: I love it. And so, you know, it's so funny. Number of dads I talked to, some who are stay at home, Dad. They sometime get extra points just for doing and then they will be standing next to a stay at home mom who said, wait a second. I'm not getting extra points for going grocery shopping and picking up the kids in the afternoon. But I love that kind of thinking, right?

You know, we all benefit from these different scenarios and how wonderful, you know, for parents, men and women, to be able to sit together and share a little bit because we're all kind of in this together and have different insecurities. I just think that is so great to see that happening more and more.

WHITFIELD: It is great. You write, you know, the role of dads with, you know, many of the women becoming kind of breadwinners and the role of the dad from the viewpoint of the children, not necessarily the disciplinarian anymore, that's not what, you know, dad represents. But instead you write a, quote, "moral teacher and emotional comforter." That's huge.

WALLACE: Huge. And that comes from Pew research center. I mean, this is real research. And it's showing kind of a different thinking on the part of Americans that they don't really think overall that the dad should be the disciplinarian or the one bringing home the paycheck. That he should be more of that moral and emotional support in the home. I think that goes into this sort of sense that modern dads will say, they don't want to be viewed as just like the baby- sitter, right, or the disciplinarian in-chief. They want to have more and more of a role in the upbringing of their kids. And I think you are seeing kind of changing attitude about that as well.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Kelly Wallace, thanks so much. We love the modern day dad.

Thanks so much and Happy Fathers' Day to all the modern day dads out there.

So, by the way, research released by the White House shows more than one in five children under 5 years old with a working mom has a dad as a primary caregiver these days.

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