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New Airstrikes Hit ISIS Stronghold Mosul; U.S. Investigating Claim of Hostage Death; Jordan Strikes ISIS to Avenge Pilot's Murder; Vice President Biden Speaks about Ukraine; Coalition Pounds ISIS Targets in Syria, Iraq; Investigators Focus on Bobbi Kristina's Boyfriend; 80 Million Customers' Personal Information Exposed

Aired February 07, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, thanks for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We begin with the war against ISIS. Overnight, some 26 coalition air strikes pounded the militants in Iraq and Syria, according to the U.S. military. Over a dozen of the strikes hit strategic ISIS targets in Iraq's second-largest city of Mosul.

And now we're learning the U.S. military may recommend to the president that American forces assist in the eventual ground assault there. In Baghdad today, suicide bombings have killed 36 and wounded nearly 100 more. In separate incidents, two bombers targeted a busy market and a restaurant in the Iraqi capital.

And in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, ISIS has blown up a bridge, possibly to prevent an advance by Kurdish forces. Just over a week ago, ISIS used the bridge to launch a surprise attack on the oil-rich city, gaining a stronghold there.

CNN's Phil Black is on the front lines in the war against the ISIS militants.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Behind me is the most important piece of territory that ISIS still controls in northern Iraq -- Mosul. It is Iraq's second biggest city, and you can see it here from the top of Mount Zartak.

Where I'm standing it is one of the closest positions occupied by the Kurdish fighters, the Peshmerga, who have drawn a defensive line around that ISIS controlled city. And from up here, there is a commanding view into Mosul from the south and the towns and villages which surround it and which are still occupied by ISIS as well.

On this day overhead has been the constant sound of aircraft, fast- moving aircraft. We have seen what appears to be a slower-moving, larger reconnaissance aircraft of some kind. And then frequently, repeatedly, often very close to one another, the sound of large blasts in the distance.

It is a hazy day, not the best day to view Mosul from this location, but you still have a very clear idea of what lies between the lines that have been established by the Kurdish fighters around the south and southwest of this city and that no man's land in between leading up to Mosul itself.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: All right, Phil Black now joining us live from Mount Zartak.

So, Phil, you know, are -- is there real optimism with this mission?

BLACK: Well, it does appear, Fredricka, that the Kurdish fighters have gone a long way towards establishing lines that the ISIS fighters are simply unable to break through. It looks increasingly like a war of attrition. We visited a number of front lines over the last three days. And we have seen very similar sites in each.

These areas where Kurdish fighters having to stop the ISIS advance, have actually rolled it back significantly, and where they are now, digging in, holding defensive positions that ISIS increasingly simply looks unable to break. So it points to the possibility that ISIS' ability to strike forward, to lurch and claim large areas of new ground as it did when it first moved into northern Iraq, it does appear to have been curtailed significantly.

Partly by the efforts of the Kurds on the ground, now they're holding these lines, and at the same time, of course, they're being hit by the international coalition from above. All of this is designed to protect the Kurdish territory. These areas. That's what they're trying to do. And at the same time, steadily, slowly wear down ISIS in Mosul, which it still occupies, still controls, and which is obviously significant. Head of any attempt, major operation, to take that city back from them -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, Phil Black, thanks so much for reporting from northern Iraq there.

All right. The U.S. meantime is trying to determine if claims by ISIS that a Jordanian air strike killed an American hostage are true. The family of Kayla Mueller is imploring ISIS to contact them and let them know if she is still alive.

CNN's Kyung Lah joins us now from Prescott, Arizona.

So, Kyung, what is being said in the community there?

KYUNG LAH, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the people are here -- here are saying, and specifically her parents, is that Kayla Mueller has a common thread in her life. And that is of quiet leadership and of serving others. She knew -- you can see how idyllic it is here. She knew how lucky she was and she couldn't tolerate this while the people of Syria were suffering so much.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAH (voice-over): Police closed off the street leading to the Mueller family home, where Kayla Mueller's mother and father grapple with how their child who gives so much is trapped in war's brutality. But it was the very atrocities of war that drew Mueller. In Syria, she felt compelled to help the victimized. In 2011, she posted this video protest online.

KAYLA MUELLER, AID WORKER IN SYRIA: I am in solidarity with the Syrian people. I reject the brutality and killing that the Syrian authorities are committing against the Syrian people.

LAH: By the following year, she would make her first trip to the Syrian-Turkish border, oceans away from her quiet hometown of Prescott, Arizona. But even growing up, she longed to engage in the wrongs of the world.

Todd Geiler is a doctor close with the family.

TODD GEILER, MUELLER FAMILY FRIEND: The daughter is one of those folks that looks for the good in everything. And in that vein, she goes on ahead and tries to look for her god-sender with the way she looks and acts in day to day life.

LAH: In high school, her local paper showed her marching through town as part of the Save Darfur Coalition, lobbying members of Congress and staging silent protests against the genocide.

As a student at Northern Arizona University, Mueller was president of a group called Stand, a student-led movement to end mass atrocities.

After graduating, she joined aid agencies that took her to India, Israel and the Palestinian territories. She came home briefly in 2011, volunteering at a woman's shelter and an HIV/AIDS clinic, Northland Cares. The director telling CNN, she was truly a remarkable woman. "We are all very sad."

But Mueller could not ignore the unfolding crisis in Syria. The children, she told her local paper, captured her heart. In May of 2013, she spoke at the Prescott Kiwanis Club where her father is a member. She said, "For as long as I live, I will not let this suffering be normal."

Just two months later, as she left a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, she was kidnapped. Her family would hear nothing until 10 months later. ISIS demanded a ransom of nearly $7 million or they would kill Kayla Mueller on August 13th. As Jordan begins its air strikes against ISIS, this photo from ISIS, and their claim that those air strikes killed Mueller, unsubstantiated, likely a twisted ploy in the ISIS propaganda game.

Mueller's parents in a public statement directly to ISIS urged her captors to contact them privately and added, "We are still hopeful that Kayla is alive."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAH: Now we have spoken with people who are with the family this weekend. They say that they are surrounded by spiritual counsel, as well as friends and family, and that they are not speaking on camera, Fredricka, because of that original threat by ISIS that if they spoke they would hurt Kayla Mueller.

WHITFIELD: I know that they're still holding out hope.

All right, thank you so much, Kyung Lah, appreciate that.

All right. The country of Jordan has launched more air strikes meantime on ISIS today to avenge the murder of one of its pilots.

CNN's Atika Shubert is in Amman, Jordan.

What is the latest on this strategy being launched by Jordan?

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jordan is continuing to hit at those ISIS targets in Syria. Today we know that a number of targets were hit around Raqqa, specifically weapons depots, storage areas. But also a mobile oil brigade and a number of vehicle convoys, as well. So those strikes have been continuing, and, in fact, they're likely to increase.

The UAE, the United Arab Emirates, has now said that it will send a squadron of its own F-16 jets to help also fly alongside Jordan's planes. Remember, the UAE actually suspended flights when that Jordanian air pilot was downed late last year, but they have now resumed flying again to show solidarity with Jordan that they will be literally flying right alongside.

WHITFIELD: All right, Atika Shubert, thank you so much from Amman.

All right. Still ahead, there appears to be no letting up in the fighting in Ukraine, even after President Putin got involved in peace talks. What is his real agenda?

Plus, criminals may already be using the personal information of 80 million people who are victims of the massive Anthem health insurance hack attack. We ask a former hacker if and how you can protect yourself.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: On the streets of eastern Ukraine, more artillery fire between separatists, rebels and Ukraine forces today and after five hours of talks at the highest levels, there appears to be little progress on a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, met with German Chancellor Merkel and France's President Hollande in Russia. They're trying to rejuvenate a peace deal that has been in tatters since it was signed back in September.

Vice President Joe Biden addressed the crisis while attending a security summit in Germany.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT: It is not the objective of the United States -- I repeat, it is not the objective of the United States of America to collapse or weaken the Russian economy. That is not our objective. But President Putin has to make a simple, stark choice. Get out of Ukraine, or face continued isolation and growing economic costs at home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in Kiev, Ukraine.

So, Fred, with a push to get a renewed agreement in place, is there any sense that some peace might be in sight?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the hopes certainly aren't very high. It was interesting because today I was -- there was that Munich Security Conference where a lot of these world leaders were meeting. And the main topic there, Fredricka, was Ukraine. And there really wasn't any sense whatsoever that there was progress being made. There wasn't a sense that some sort of cease- fire could be imminent.

Because as you've just said, Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande went to see Vladimir Putin just yesterday and came back basically with nothing. And that certainly didn't do very much to lighten the mood there at that security conference and to get people here on the ground in Ukraine the sense that perhaps the bloodshed could stop at any point in time soon.

It was interesting because Angela Merkel went on the stage at the Munich Security Conference and said that so far there's very little to show for her efforts in trying to persuade Vladimir Putin to stop the violence in the east of Ukraine. However, she also said she feels that she has to keep on trying. And there also is sort of a divide between the Europeans and some in the U.S. The Europeans are saying, we need to keep going down that diplomatic path.

They're totally against any sort of defensive weapons for Ukraine, where as we know there are some in the U.S., of course, members of Congress say that the U.S. and others need to give defensive weapons to Ukraine, otherwise they're simply going to get overrun by these pro-Russian separatists.

Now one of the voices who spoke out very clearly was, of course, Joe Biden, as we heard in that sound bite there. I want you to take a listen to a little bit more of what Vice President Biden had to say when he basically made an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin, saying that even if there is another agreement, he wants to see things happen on the ground before he believes anything. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: Given Russia's recent history, we need to judge it by its deeds, not its words. Don't tell us, show us, President Putin. Too many times, President Putin has promised peace and delivered tanks, troops, and weapons. So we will continue to provide Ukraine with security assistance. Not to encourage war, but to allow Ukraine to defend itself.

Let me be clear. We do not believe there is a military solution in Ukraine. But let me be equally clear. We do not believe Russia has the right to do what they're doing. We believe we should attempt an honorable peace. We also believe Ukrainian people have a right to defend themselves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: So some very clear words there from the U.S. vice president. Now, of course, one of the positive things that did happen in these two days of talks of this new Merkel/Hollande initiative is that there are going to be additional talks where all four parties are going to be speaking with each other. There is a phone call that's planned for Sunday that involves the Russians, the Ukrainians, as well as the French and the Germans.

It's called the Normandy Format, where they're going to try and come to some sort of agreement. As you said, there was a peace agreement on the table. The so-called Minsk Agreement before. That of course right now is in tatters with the fighting going on, and what they're trying to do is they're trying to revive that.

But, of course, Fredricka, there are still some issues in play where these -- the Ukrainians and the Russians certainly at odds with each other about some key points.

WHITFIELD: All right. Fred Pleitgen, thank you so much from Kiev.

So Putin says he is open to creating a lasting peace in Ukraine but he also says none of the rebels in eastern Ukraine are being backed by the Kremlin.

Joining me from Washington is Liz Wahl, she is a former anchor for the Russian cable network, Russia Today. She's also known for quitting her job on the air, saying that she couldn't take the network's distorted coverage of Russia's intervention in Crimea.

So good to see you.

LIZ WAHL, FORMER ANCHOR, RUSSIA TODAY: Nice to see you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right. So in your view, what is the message that Russia is trying to send? Yes, he's at the table with France and Germany. But is that message symbolic of something other than what he really wants?

WAHL: Well, you know, it's hard to tell because his message has been so convoluted. I mean, as we know here, you know, according to Kiev, according to NATO, according to the Ukraine, according to the U.S., according to the U.S. allies, Russia has a presence in Ukraine. They're there with -- they're backing the separatists with weapons, with tanks, with personnel. Yet all this time, the Russian president has denied that they're even involved in there.

And so -- I mean, this is ludicrous. I mean, it's -- there can't be a big conspiracy that everybody is lying, you know, about the fact that they're there. But the -- what we're seeing, and it's part of the whole strategy, is just denial. Denial of the facts. And so -- and the media is used to kind of back up these claims. And we hear it from Russian officials and we hear it -- we reiterate it in the media, is that hey, there is no proof. There's no proof. No matter how many voices come out and say that this is there, they

say that there is no proof. And when we -- when proof comes out, when there is photographs of military personnel, Russian, you know, without insignia uniforms on the ground there, what does president say? What does Vladimir Putin say? He says they're volunteers.

So, I mean, there's no other way to put it besides it being outright lies. And it's part of this kind of manipulative strategy. And it's part of getting misinformation out there so we don't really know what's going on. And it's troubling, especially in the wake of what we're seeing in Ukraine.

WHITFIELD: Yes. And this is kind of the sentiment you feel as to why you actually quit when you were working for Russia Today. So then what about the Russian people? Are they being blindsided by this? Do they -- are they too in denial? Do they believe the Russian president?

WAHL: Right.

WHITFIELD: Or do they just publicly say they believe them but then people are quiet because they know, you know, they'd be putting their lives on the line, so to speak.

WAHL: Right.

WHITFIELD: Or their -- their -- you know, their livelihoods on the line by speaking otherwise?

WAHL: Well, this is -- it's an interesting question. And, again, it goes -- it does go back to the media and the expansion, the control of the media within Russia and the expansion of state-controlled media because here, you know, we're looking at this, and kind of analyzing the Kremlin's objectives, trying to read what they're doing. And we're all skeptical. You know, we're wondering what he's up to. But within Russia, I mean, Putin is a hero.

His approval ratings have skyrocketed after the annexation of Crimea. And why is that? Well, independent media has been silenced. The state-controlled media that is allowed to air has been amplified, a lot more state funding go into that. So there is not a diversity of voices within Ukraine. And because of that, what are the citizens hearing? Well, this biased media.

And so what you see is a lot of support for Putin and not a lot of questioning. And we're seeing the real effects of this misinformation more -- for lack of a better word -- tactic of media control and manipulation and the effects of that in terms of public perception of what it is that's going on.

I mean, this is after sanction after sanction has been hurled at Russia. Their economy is suffering. Yet you don't see that kind of pushback within the Russian population.

WHITFIELD: Interesting. WAHL: To put pressure on their leader. And it all -- it all kind of

goes back, I think, to information, to media. Because the truth gets lost in all of this. Unfortunately.

WHITFIELD: All so fascinating.

Liz Wahl, we appreciate your point of view. Appreciate it. Thanks for being with us.

WAHL: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. It is called the pineapple express. A storm band pounding the West Coast, bringing flooding, hurricane-force winds and this, a huge dust storm.

We'll bring you the latest on the wild weather, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Checking our top stories now. Two new states, Nevada and Delaware, have now confirmed cases of measles. That makes 16 states and Washington, D.C., with at least 110 reported cases of the highly contagious virus. California is the hardest hit. The majority -- a majority of its cases are linked to an outbreak at Disneyland. That began last December.

And NBC has assigned the head of its own investigative unit to look into false claims made by its own anchor, Brian Williams. Williams has apologized for repeatedly telling an incorrect story about being on a helicopter in Iraq in 2003 that came under fire.

And huge cleanups today on the West Coast. Hurricane-force winds are hammering northern California, Oregon and Washington state. Floods and mudslides are forcing residents from their homes there. And fallen trees have knocked out power to thousands of people, including many in San Francisco.

And they're calling this massive storm band the pineapple express. Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera here to tell us why.

IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, it sounds benign enough.

WHITFIELD: Pineapple, Hawaii.

CABRERA: Right?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

CABRERA: And it sounds pleasant, but it's not.

WHITFIELD: It does. You're right.

CABRERA: It's a tropical plume of moisture coming in, and by the way, we had upwards of a quarter million people in California without power this morning. We're doing better now, we're down to 50,000 so that's an improvement. WHITFIELD: Wow.

CABRERA: Here are the ones in Nevada, by the way. The hurricane- force winds 90 to 130 miles an hour. Up to a category 4 strength and well, my goodness, this is right east of a slight mountain on the Lee side of the Sierras there as we talk about some incredible winds that were moving in. The rains, of course, have been amazing, as well. Anywhere from six to as much as a foot of rainfall.

Here it is. The tropical moisture. We've had at this point I'm -- up to three now. And we have the next one that's moving in, and the next storm system, you see the rain there in Seattle. But one that is poised to about -- about to move in across the northwest. I think that one not only will bring heavy rain but will also bring very strong winds along the coasts. We're going to have to watch that closely.

Look at these numbers. This is like snowfall numbers here. Four to six, six to 10. That is not going to be following in the form of a snow. That is going to be rain and it is going to be coming down the mountain sides. And you know in California that is going to lead to some -- unfortunately some mudslides likely here.

And then we take you to more snow. Look at the pockets of snow. It's snowing right now in Boston. A light snow, but this is going to be an event that's going to be with us through Tuesday. A series of storms are going to move through.

Here we are Sunday morning, still snowing in Boston. And then we're going to have a little enhancement here right along the bay, I do think, where we're going to still see some light snow throughout the day tomorrow. And then our big storm comes in Sunday night into Monday. That's the one that potentially could drop anywhere from 12 to 18 inches. Twelve to 18 inches.

WHITFIELD: Again?

CABRERA: This is just depressing stuff for the folks in the northeast. I think they're giving up. Perhaps going down to Florida. It's lovely there. In fact, here in Atlanta, as well. But there it is. This is what you don't want to see. This would be a big story, anyway. But it's just bigger because of what we've had so far this winter. It's relentless.

WHITFIELD: The pileup continues.

CABRERA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Hey, but guess what, Ivan? Here is the uplifting story of the day.

CABRERA: There has to be one. There has to be one.

WHITFIELD: We have it for you right here. And it's about a Detroit man who was walking 21 miles to a factory job. That's not the uplifting part. Here it goes, though. And he was doing that in brutal weather all the time.

Now his commute is going to be much more comfortable because James Robertson just received a brand new car. That one right there. Robertson's story actually went viral this week and caught the attention of a Ford dealer who gave him a 2015 Taurus. Robertson, well, he tearfully accepted this gift.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAMES ROBERTSON, WALKED 21 MILES TO WORK: You know, that's a good question. You know, every time I step into this -- whenever I step into it, it reminds me of where I've been and where I'm going.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: Oh, my gosh. Robertson, guess what, he's not going to have any problems taking care of car insurance because the story gets even better. A sympathetic college student set up an online fundraiser for him, which has now raised more than $300,000.

A new car and a lot of new money. Congrats to him.

All right. Still ahead, with the killing more brutal and the fighting on the rise, is it time to send in U.S. ground troops to eliminate ISIS? The boots on the ground debate, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Mortgage rates were mixed this week. Here are the numbers.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Hello, again, everyone. Welcome back to the NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.

Overnight some 26 coalition air strikes pounded the militants in Iraq and Syria, according to the U.S. military. Over a dozen of the strikes hit strategic ISIS targets in Iraq's second largest city of Mosul. And now we're learning the U.S. military may recommend to the president that American forces assist in an eventual ground assault there.

In Baghdad today, at least 36 were killed, and nearly 100 wounded after two suicide bombers targeted a market and a restaurant in the Iraqi capital.

And in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk, ISIS has blown up a bridge possibly to prevent an advance by Kurdish forces. Just over a week ago, ISIS launched an attack on the oil rich city, gaining a stronghold there.

So as the war escalates against ISIS, is it now time to increase the U.S. role in the fighting? More air power, combat troops on the ground?

Joining me to talk about the latest developments is former army intelligence officer, retired lieutenant colonel, Tony Schaeffer.

So, Colonel Schaeffer, good to see you.

LT. COL. TONY SHAFFER (RET.), FORMER ARMY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER: Good to see you.

WHITFIELD: So your feeling is the U.S. isn't launching enough sorties and that to really make an impact, a greater investment needs to be made?

SHAFFER: Absolutely. I think there's three things that we have to do, and none of them include our ground troops. First, as you mentioned, you know, we had 26 attacks, that's a high. We've been doing about seven a day. So I think we ought to increase that by a factor of 10 to be effective and increase the scope of what we're hitting, as well.

Secondly, the issue, as you mentioned, there is a number of ongoing battles right now. The Kurds have been very effective in going at it against ISIS, without much help from us, and frankly, the help we've sent has been stuck in Baghdad. Baghdad has been sitting on heavy equipment, MRAPs, which are the armored vehicles, heavy weapons, tows, things like that.

Those are things that they should be using. So as much as I feel we don't need boots on the ground, there must be boots on the ground to be effective. And I've been meeting with Kurds and other reps and they're willing to do that for us.

WHITFIELD: So you said they're sitting on arsenal there on the ground but they're not using it.

SHAFFER: Right.

WHITFIELD: Is it because they don't have the training, they don't know how to use it? Why wouldn't they be using it if --

SHAFFER: No, we have --

WHITFIELD: -- they already know how?

SHAFFER: We have about 2,000 troops, special operations forces mostly, supporting the Kurds. We have a command center there. It's not -- it's not that we don't have people there training them. It's about the politics of the chaos of Iraq in the central government.

The central government chooses to actually be kind of a firewall, if you will. And it's not a good situation, it's one of those things that we've been working to get around. And the other issue is the very apt and -- numerous armies, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, that we've all trained. So we really need to look at a solution which includes those armies that we trained. I've met with officers at our own army war college who were from these nations.

So I think, Fredricka, we've got to leverage all the resources available to us and take the lead. We don't have to do everything, but we must lead them, I believe, in helping be effective.

WHITFIELD: So -- and your belief is also that more intel needs to be on the ground.

SHAFFER: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: Are we talking about U.S. intel or are you talking about engaging the countries you just mentioned like, you know, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, their intel? Do they need to be there and working in concert with U.S. intel already there?

SHAFFER: Both. There's something called bilateral operations where we partner with host countries and our allies and there's something we call unilateral operations which we do it ourselves. Mostly people like me in the old days would -- set up our own asset nets and that's obviously our special operations forces are doing reconnaissance and that sort of thing, too.

Both are necessary, both are required. And President Obama has actually said, look, we need to get a better handle on where these hostages are being handled. The only way you do that is through human intelligence on the ground. Eyes on target. You cannot do that through drones.

So as much as I think we have had drones now doing things, it's not adequate for the missions now required to be effective in both pinpointing ISIS leadership, pinpointing the hostages being held and being much more effective in our precise use of power against ISIS to be -- to be able to start pushing them back.

WHITFIELD: So I don't think I'm hearing from you, though, that you are a huge advocate for sending in ground troops, because you did just say that, you know, there are a lot of things that you can do --

SHAFFER: Absolutely.

WHITFIELD: -- before even sending in ground troops. So if the Pentagon were to recommend that to the president right now, you would be in disagreement of that?

SHAFFER: I think it'd be premature and I'd like to believe most military planners, and I've talked to a few, believe it or not, at the very senior level. I think most people recognize that our ground troops would simply become another target for ISIS, and simply -- again, Fredricka, I think ISIS wants us to overreact to put our troops back into Iraq, to become the target.

Once we enter into a war, often all sides start focusing on us. In this case, we really need to focus on the Shia and Sunni issue. The Sunni are the one -- Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, really ought to be the ones focusing their forces against the ISIS folks, who are also Sunni. Really we need to find a way that they these elements, their faith, work through this with our help, not us becoming the issue that everybody targets.

WHITFIELD: So just kind of recap everything I'm hearing from you. SHAFFER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: You say, you know, beefing up this coalition, using that arsenal that's already on the ground that is not being used.

SHAFFER: Right.

WHITFIELD: Using more intel, whether it be from the U.S., maybe Saudi Arabia, Egypt, that coalition effort. In addition to more air strikes? Is that going to be the formula? Would all of that be necessary, you know, solely to try to make a dent to, you know, try to cripple ISIS, air strikes and the use of all these things that you just mentioned?

SHAFFER: Yes, as a matter of fact, LondonCenter.org, my think tank I belong to, actually has this strategy lined out. And it is something that we have to do. And I would stipulate further that we should form this into a permanent treaty organization, much like we've done NATO. And then use that, Fredricka, to bring regional stability.

NATO, remember, was not only a military organization. It actually served to bring Europe together in such a way to create the conditions for the European Union. So we see this as a way of actually winning the war currently, but paving the way and setting conditions for permanent stability, which obviously we all want for the Middle East.

We don't need to be showing up there with a land army every 10, 15 years to have to refight the same war. We really need to enable those there to do what's necessary for their own security. And enlightened self interest is a very strong motivator and we just have to help them organize it.

WHITFIELD: All right. Colonel Tony Shaffer, thanks so much.

SHAFFER: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: All right. It has been a week now since Bobbi Kristina Brown was found face-down in a bathtub full of water. Outside the hospital a development on her case.

Nick Valencia has been following this -- Nick.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good afternoon, Fred.

I'm Nick Valencia in Atlanta. Police in the investigation of Bobbi Kristina Brown are turning their attention specifically on one person who was in that house. We'll tell you who they're looking at after the break.

You're watching the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. There's a brand new development in the investigation involving Whitney Houston's daughter. Bobbi Kristina Brown is still in a medically induced coma a week after being discovered face down in a tub of water.

National reporter Nick Valencia here, tracking the developments.

VALENCIA: Yes. This is a big development. Police are now focusing their attention on the boyfriend, Nick Gordon, the man that Bobbi Kristina would call her husband, though we checked into marriage records, we could not find any official documents that they are married. But now the attention solely on Nick Gordon.

And what police really want to find out is Bobbi Kristina was found with some injuries they are unable to explain and they hope that Nick Gordon can perhaps glean some information on that. They also know -- want to know exactly what transpired in the hours leading up to her being found in that bathtub face down -- Fred.

WHITFIELD: And so how do they feel they're going to be able to get those answers? Strictly by this conversation with Nick Gordon or does it encompass a lot of players?

VALENCIA: Well, we wish we knew. We know that there were four people in that home. There's been media reports out there, including Nick Gordon himself who said that he'd found her. We now know that it was actually another man, named Max Lomas who may have lived there. We're not quite sure about that. Police said two couples lived in there.

But Nick Gordon is also reportedly to have lawyered up, something that we have yet to confirm here independently at CNN. So we don't even know physically where he is right now. There was a restraining order, some conflict, inner conflict with the dynamic of the family. He wasn't allowed to visit Bobbi Kristina at the first hospital she was placed in.

The second hospital, Emory University, he was spotted outside. We don't know if he was ever able to make it inside. But right now everything is focused on this one man, Nick Gordon.

WHITFIELD: OK. Family members who are there, Bobby Brown still there, her dad.

VALENCIA: Correct. Yes.

WHITFIELD: Sissy Houston.

VALENCIA: And here's really the unfortunate thing. As recently as Monday, we were told that the hospital told the family to prepare for the worst. Now we're also seeing reports out there that family members are coming from far and wide, including Sissy Houston, who just showed up, that's her grandmother, mother of Whitney Houston. So we're told that it could be very bad for Bobbi Kristina Brown. Of course the family maintaining hope, hoping for a miracle.

WHITFIELD: Yes. All right. We all are.

VALENCIA: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much, Nick Valencia, appreciate that. VALENCIA: You got it.

WHITFIELD: All right, still ahead, criminals may already be using the personal information of 80 million people who are victims of the massive Anthem Health Insurance hack attack. We'll talk about that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. One of the most popular Web sites for doing taxes resumes service after concerns about a hack attack. Turbo Tax stopped accepting online state tax returns on Thursday after concerns about a security breach. The company says they saw an increasing criminals using personal information, stolen from other sources in order to file fake state returns.

Well, this comes just days after the nation's second largest health insurance company announced 80 million Americans' personal information may have been stolen by hackers. Anthem says customers' names, birthdays, Social Security numbers and addresses were all exposed. They are also warning about phishing schemes, a sign the hackers are already using data that they stole.

I'm joined now by CNN business correspondent, Samuel Burke, and a white hat hacker and the CEO of TrustedSEC David Kennedy.

All right, first to you, David. You have new details about how this Anthem attack was carried out?

DAVID KENNEDY, CEO, TRUSTEDSEC: Well, some initial indicators are that they could have came in through initial phishing, and that's basically going in and sending targeted e-mails to employees at Anthem in order for them to click a link and then from there compromise a machine and then hack into what we see today with the 80 million records that were stolen. So it looks like a compromise of the data base itself.

WHITFIELD: So, Samuel, you know, we've been seeing so many big companies being hacked. Do consumers, you know, just need to accept the fact that this is part of doing business? That it's unavoidable?

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, that would be the absolute worst thing that we as consumers could do. You wouldn't let a burglar break into your house month after month. And in this case the "Wall Street Journal" is reporting that Anthem didn't even encrypt the information, so in some ways that's like leaving the door unlocked.

If you're one of these people, the best thing that you can do right now is be vigilant about these phishing attack that David was just describing. You may get an e-mail that says you're account was one of the accounts that was hacked, click here to reset your password, and that actually could be the fake e-mail that you're getting because they have all these information right now.

So if somebody e-mails you or gives you a phone call and they say they're from Anthem or from any other big company for that reason, say, great, I'll call you back, look at the number on the back of your card. Go to the Web site on your own, do everything on your own accord. Don't reply to e-mails or phone calls.

WHITFIELD: Right. And don't even agree to stuff like, is this you? Is this your Social Security number? Is this your banking account information?

BURKE: Exactly.

KENNEDY: Right.

WHITFIELD: Because people somehow will do that, they'll kind of, you know, engage in that.

So, David, you know, what are these criminals looking to do with this personal information? Is it, you know, try to open up other credit cards, you know, buy homes, make big purchases? What are they going to do with this information?

KENNEDY: Well, this isn't -- this is actually a really alarming trend right now. You saw last year and the year before, you know, we had Target, Home Depot and Jimmie Johns, who all experienced a major credit card breaches. And credit cards are relatively painful for consumers because they have to get a new credit card reissued, right?

But what's happened is that the retail industry has really tried to move to encryption which we saw it wasn't the case in Anthem and so the hackers are actually changing their techniques and moving more towards what we call personal identifiable information.

And the problem with that is that you can't just reissue your Social Security number easily. So if your Social Security gets compromised they can take outlines of credit, you know, fraudulent transactions, it can really destroy your entire livelihood and it's really difficult to protect. So, you know, Anthem is offering a year of credit monitoring service. It's not going to be good enough because they can take out, you know, your line of credit two years from now or five years from now.

WHITFIELD: My gosh.

KENNEDY: All that information is now taken. It's really devastating.

WHITFIELD: That is scary.

And so, Samuel, what can be done with your information like your e- mails, or just your address, say, they don't have the Social Security, but they have that other kind of information?

BURKE: Well, in some ways people say this is worst than having your credit card stolen.

KENNEDY: Absolutely.

BURKE: Because you can change your credit card number, which is what David was just describing. It's much harder to change your date of birth, your Social Security number, near impossible, so you probably need permanent credit monitoring, so want to be as vigilant as possible as long as you can. And again, a credit card company, they're going to be vigilant all the time.

We've all received that dreaded phone call that tells you someone made a purchase at Best Buy on your credit card. But they have that type of vigilant monitoring.

When it comes to us looking at our 401(k)s, looking at tax returns, we're not nearly as vigilant so in some ways this is much worse than having your credit card stolen.

KENNEDY: Spot on.

WHITFIELD: So -- so is the recommendation for everybody, you know, David and Samuel, which is like, just put on a longstanding alert, you know, on your Social Security? So that no matter what, I guess for -- no matter what period of time, a credit card can never be opened, the bank account can never be opened without your direct consent?

BURKE: Yes. Well, you want to do things like that, you want to be as vigilant as possible but the number one thing really is those phishing attacks. So just be vigilant looking at your e-mail, listening to those phone calls, and do things on your own is always my advice.

WHITFIELD: David, what's your advice?

KENNEDY: I actually attest to those credit monitoring services, they're really good.

WHITFIELD: Say that again?

KENNEDY: I attest to those credit monitoring services. I actually have my entire family and my kids on those that actually actively monitor your -- you know, new credit cards being taking out.

WHITFIELD: Yes.

KENNEDY: Or new lines of credits. They actually work really well and they're relatively inexpensive.

WHITFIELD: Really?

KENNEDY: Yes.

WHITFIELD: Because is it just me? I'm afraid of those, too.

(LAUGHTER)

You know? I feel like I'm probably one of those consumers now that I don't want to trust anyone with my personal information.

KENNEDY: And it's -- the world we live in today unfortunately it's going to continue to get worse until we can figure out a way to get ahold of this. WHITFIELD: All right. David Kennedy, Samuel Burke, thanks so much,

gentlemen. Appreciate it.

KENNEDY: Thank you very much.

WHITFIELD: All right. And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. Checking our top stories now.

Defense attorneys in the so-called "American Sniper" murder trial say a fair trial will be impossible in the small Texas town where Chris Kyle was killed. Kyle's story was made famous for his best-selling autobiography and the movie "American Sniper." He was killed at a gun range in 2013.

And police say Kyle and a friend were gunned down by former Marine Eddie Ray Ralph who was suffering from PTSD. Defense attorneys have indicated that they will use an insanity defense.

And federal authorities have arrested six people in the U.S. accusing them of providing materials and money to terrorists in Syria and Iraq. All six defendants immigrated to the U.S. from Bosnia, three are naturalized citizens. Officials say two suspects planned to join terrorists in battle. Five of them were arrested in the U.S. and one overseas.

And Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, are donating a whopping $75 million to the San Francisco General Hospital. Chan completed her pediatric residency at that hospital which serves mostly uninsured or underinsured patients.

The contribution is meant to help double the size of the ER and quadruple the number of beds.

And Rosie O'Donnell is saying good-bye to "The View". For the second time now. The comedian rejoined the ABC talk show five months ago after departing back in 2007. ABC and her publicists say O'Donnell is leaving to focus on her family after she split from her second wife Michelle Rounds in November.

We've got to so much more straight ahead in the NEWSROOM. And it all starts right now.

Happening right now in the NEWSROOM, new air strikes against a major ISIS stronghold.

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PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Behind me this is most important piece of territory that ISIS still controls in northern Iraq.

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