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Security Threats Prompt Warnings to Leave Airport; Afghans Plead with U.S. to Keep Evacuations Going; U.S. Congressmen Under Fire for Afghanistan Trip; Body Camera Video Shows 2019 Beating of Black Man by Louisiana State Trooper; Pandemic Burnout Leads Many Nurses to Resign; Imminent Draw for Champions League Group Stages. Aired 4:30-5a ET

Aired August 26, 2021 - 04:30   ET

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

[04:30:00]

KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber, this is CNN NEWSROOM.

Well, it's 1:00 in the afternoon at the Kabul airport in Afghanistan where the evacuation push is being hampered by a terror threat from a group known as ISIS-K. The U.S., U.K. and Australia are now warning citizens to avoid traveling to the airport. The U.S. defense officials says the concerns are based on a very specific threat stream from the terror group against crowds that have gathered there and just a couple hours ago, a British official says there is now credible reporting that an attack could be imminent. All this amid a race to evacuate as many people as possible ahead of the August 31 deadline. CNN's Oren Liebermann has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the span of ten days, the U.S. and its allies have moved nearly the equivalent of a packed giant stadium out of Afghanistan. Flights leaving Kabul International Airport every 39 minutes. But there are possibly as many as 1,500 Americans who remain in the country. The Biden administration still working to keep its solemn promise to evacuate every American who wants out. But also saying it is difficult to track in real time every U.S. citizen in Afghanistan. But how the U.S. will ensure passage for Afghans after the last U.S. plane leaves remains a question.

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: They will not be forgotten. We certainly have points of incentive and points of leverage with a future Afghan government to help make sure that that happens. But I can tell you, again, from my perspective, from the president's perspective, this effort does not and on August 31.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): When asked who shoulders the blame for this frantic effort up to the deadline, he said this.

BLINKEN: I take responsibility. I know the president has said that he takes responsibility. There will be plenty of time to look back at the last six or seven months, to look back at the last 20 years, and to look to see what we might have done differently.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): The Taliban now imposing even tighter restrictions on Afghanistan. One day after warning it wouldn't allow Afghans to reach the airport. In this video shared on social media, this man says he was beaten by the Taliban. His face bloodied, he says they hit me bad and this happened to me when I was crossing to the airport. Now the Taliban telling working women to stay home until security is in place for them. They say their fighters don't know how to treat women yet.

ZABIHULLAH MUJAHID, TALIBAN SPOKESMAN (through translator): They want to make sure women are not treated in a disrespectful way or God forbid hurt, so we would like them to stay at home until security is in place for them in the offices.

LIEBERMANN: The founder of an Afghan girls school burning school records for her students' protection. She fled with her students to Rwanda.

Taliban checkpoints limiting movement in Kabul and beyond. In the crowds outside the airport, one Afghan woman tried about a dozen times to get through so she could join her husband in the United States, he told CNN's Kylie Atwood. Finally, she dressed her baby in yellow and managed to send a photo through to Marines who were able to spot the baby in the crowd. The family made it in. On Tuesday, the first U.S. troops began leaving Afghanistan, a mix of headquarters staff and maintenance no longer required in Kabul.

JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: In those last couple of days, we will begin to prioritize military capabilities and military resources to move out.

LIEBERMANN: For now, the mission remains focused on the evacuation, but with time racing down, it'll soon transition to the withdrawal of U.S. forces and equipment before the August 31 deadline.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: And joining me now live from Kabul is "Los Angeles Times" Middle East bureau chief Nabih Bulos. Thanks so much for being with us. I want to start with the terror threat from ISIS-K, which were hearing is specific and credible. What more can you tell us about that? And I'm also just wondering, you know, all those people lining up outside the airport and those dense crowds, are they aware that they might be in danger here?

NABIH BULOS, MIDDLE EAST BUREAU CHIEF, LOS ANGELES TIMES: I mean, they've been in danger for these last weeks, really. Every day you have shootings, you have beatings, and of course there is a risk of the crowds themselves. I mean, you're talking about thousands of people. I mean, yesterday when we went to the gate area, I mean people were just contending with the Taliban guards shooting in the air all the time and you also had sewage water. So, this just gives you a sense -- I mean, I'm actually like the canal had actually flooded into the street. So, we're talking about and already terrible situation made only worse. And so, I mean yes, it is very credible that you could have a threat

like this and it would be easy for an ISIS-K fighter to come in and actually with a suicide vest and blow himself up. It would not be difficult. And it's worth noting that the ISIS Afghan fighters are actually devout enemy of the Taliban and would happily create chaos and instability even more so than there is already.

BRUNHUBER: With people being warned away from the airport, is that slowing down the evacuation process?

[04:35:00]

I'm wondering from what you are seeing on the ground what are the chances that the U.S. will fulfill their promises to get everyone out by that deadline.

BULOS: Well, it's worth noting that actually there are also a lot of people inside the airport. So, there are actually a few stages you have to go through before you are processed by Western troops. And so, there is already a huge number of people there. I mean, yesterday when we were there you saw just really hundreds lining up in an enclosed space, and you had of course, a full-throated effort of all these barriers. When these troops are from Germany, the U.S., from Ireland, from Poland, all of them trying to help. But the fact of the matter is when you're talking just about a deluge of people is going to take ages to do this I imagine. And the fact of the matter is I don't know if they'll finish in time.

All right, we heard the Taliban saying they don't want Afghans leaving the country. We saw the video just now of that man who said that he was beaten while he was trying to get to the airport. How difficult is it for Afghans to get to the airport let alone to get on a plane?

BULOS: Well, so for one thing there has been a lack of clarity about that particular point. I mean, I spoke to officials yesterday and they insisted that actually if Afghans had their valid visa, they could go through. But with that being said, you are talking about massive crowds. And so, I mean, the average Taliban fighter is going to hit first or shoot first then ask questions later. So, by the time you can actually show that you have these valid documents, you might have already been beaten. And so, I mean the fact of the matter is that right now there is just a lack of clarity there of what's going to happen in that situation. But I can tell you are ready that in terms of just the chaos that's around, it's there.

BRUNHUBER: You've been documenting some of that chaos around the airport. I saw you took some video at one of the gates where the Taliban were lined up guarding it. Even though you must be used to seeing the Taliban in Kabul by now, it must be a bit surreal as an experience to see that they are there, you know, providing security ostensibly protecting the crowds against a terror attack.

BULOS: Well, I must admit I'm not used to it. It's completely surreal. You can see the Taliban flag flying from it. And so, the fact of the matter is no, is still very much an unusual sight. And the fact is that yes, I mean you're seeing them you know with the various weapons, including M-16s and lining up. It really is surreal, that's the best way to describe it.

BRUNHUBER: Well, listen, stay safe there Nabih Bulos. Really appreciate you joining us.

BULOS: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

BRUNHUBER: Two U.S. Congressmen who made an unauthorized trip to Afghanistan this week are facing criticism from lawmakers in both parties. Democratic Representative Seth Moulton and Republican Representative Peter Meijer announced Tuesday that they'd secretly flown to Afghanistan to see the situation for themselves. Meijer insists their trip didn't interfere in any way with the U.S. mission there.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. PETER MEIJER (R-MI): We did fly in a military plane on the way out at the encouragement of individuals who were there. We waited for a plane that had open seats to make sure that we didn't take anything away from individuals who needed it and actually went several hours out of our way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: The Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy found themselves in rare agreement, the trip wasn't a good idea. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA) U.S. SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: It's not just about them going to Afghanistan. Even going to the region because there is a call on our resources diplomatically, politically -- militarily and the rest in the region as well. So this is deadly serious. We do not want members to go.

REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA) U.S. HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Any member that I've heard that might go, I explain to them that I don't think they should. I think it creates a greater risk. You've got enough Americans over there that could be held hostage, they could make a point out of a member of Congress. I think that you take military away from doing their job of getting as many Americans out we can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BRUNHUBER: Disturbing video has just surfaced of a Louisiana police officer beating a black man during a traffic stop two years ago. The body camera footage shows the driver being hit several times with what appears to be a flashlight. Now we have to warn you some of the images you are about to see are graphic and difficult to watch. CNN's Ryan Young has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Another Black man beaten during a traffic stop. This body camera footage from May 2019 appears to show now former Louisiana State Police Officer Jacob Brown beating Aaron Larry Bowman as other officers hold Bowman down.

[04:40:00]

Trooper Brown is seen swinging what appears to be a flashlight, repeatedly striking Bowman while he is face down on the ground with his hands behind his head. Bowman's attorney is saying Brown hit their client 18 times in just 24 seconds.

AARON LARRY BOWMAN, HIT BY POLICE: I didn't do nothing, man.

UNKNOWN: Well fighting us ain't going to help you, bud.

BOWMAN: I'm not fighting you.

UNKNOWN: You are.

YOUNG (voice-over): Bowman can be later heard moaning, saying, "it all hurt me."

BOWMAN: He hit me by hand with flashlight.

YOUNG (voice-over): Bowman was left with multiple lacerations, a fractured arm and broken ribs, according to court documents. This video is from more than two years ago but was just recently turned over to Bowman's attorneys.

State police releasing a statement in December, saying: A detailed search of body camera video revealed the incident was intentionally mislabeled and Brown was involved. And detectives concluded that Brown engaged in excessive and unjustifiable actions and failed to report the use of force to his supervisors.

Brown was charged with aggravated second-degree battery and malfeasance in office in December.

But the incident is part of a bigger issue. The division of Louisiana State Police where Brown worked, Troop "F" is under federal investigation for potential abuses committed by trooper against Black motorists.

LEE MERRITT, RONALD GREENE'S FAMILY ATTORNEY: That troop that he belongs to Troop "F" in Louisiana is notorious. And they've left a lot of victims and families in their wake.

YOUNG (voice-over): The Troop "F" investigation started following the death of Ronald Greene, a Black man who died after he was beaten and tased during a traffic stop, also in May of 2019.

RONALD GREEN, BLACK MAN WHO DIED AFTER BEATEN AND TASED: I'm scared. I'm your brother. I'm scared.

YOUNG (voice-over): Greene's family say they were told by Louisiana State Police that Greene died in a car crash following a chase. But nine body camera and dash camera videos tell a different story of what happened that night. MERRITT: Now, will the leadership of Louisiana be stirred into action to hold these officers accountable, to dismantle this troop, to address the policies that allow this to go forward, to address the coverup from the prosecutors on down?

YOUNG (voice-over): Ryan Young, CNN, Atlanta, Georgia.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

BRUNHUBER: Hospitals in the pandemic hot spot of Mississippi are seeing nurses resigning in droves. We'll get the inside story on why so many have reached their breaking point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLE ATHERTON, NURSE, SINGING RIVER OCEAN SPRINGS: We have had situations in here where COVID, with people that is critical, where two people start to go bad at once and you have to decide which room you run to. It's a hard decision to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[04:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: The state of Mississippi has at least 2,000 fewer nurses than it did at the beginning of the year. Many are resigning worn down by the stress of working in hospitals who have been pushed to the brink by COVID. Erica Hill has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Ocean Springs, Mississippi, the ICU is full

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I need two and a another call for you.

HILL (voice-over): Every patient here battling COVID, every one of them on the ventilator. 15 miles east, it's the same story. The nursing staff at a breaking point.

ATHERTON: I come in here and it's war. It's sometimes chaos.

HILL (voice-over): Just 38 percent of Mississippi's population is fully vaccinated. Along the Gulf Coast, it's even worse, hovering around 30 percent, pushing new cases and hospitalizations higher. Officials warned there aren't enough beds. But on the front lines, the focus isn't space, it's staff.

LEE BOND, CEO, SINGING RIVER HEALTH SYSTEM: There's not a bad shortage. There's a nursing shortage.

ATHERTON: We have had situations in here with COVID, with people this critical where two people start to go bad at once. And you have to decide which room you run to. That's a hard decision to make. HILL (voice-over): The stress of those decisions of the growing number of young COVID patients and preventable death brought Nicole to a breaking point earlier this month.

HILL: You made the decision to resign. Why?

ATHERTON: Sometimes it feels like we're fighting a losing battle.

HILL (voice-over): Yet a week after that conversation, Nicole was still in the ICU.

ATHERTON: I realized as I was saying goodbye to these nurses here that I couldn't leave them in the middle of this.

HILL (voice-over): Nicole is cutting back her hours. But for now, her resignation is on hold.

BUDDY GRAGER, NURSING MANAGER, SINGING RIVER OCEAN SPRINGS HOSPITAL: That's where a nurse's heart comes in, you know. You don't want to see your co-worker suffering as much as you don't want to see a patient suffer.

HILL (voice-over): While it helps, one nurse choosing to stay isn't enough. Mississippi has at least 2,000 fewer nurses than it did at the beginning of the year.

ATHERTON: It looks heroic and it looks -- but that's not what it is. It's sweaty, and hard and chaotic and bloody.

MELISSA DAVIS, NURSE, SINGING RIVER PASCAGOULA: I didn't even know really what burnout meant as a nurse until I hit COVID.

HILL (voice-over): Melissa Davis has worked in the ICU for 17 years. It's never been this bad.

DAVIS: I've seen a turnover nurses I never would have thought would have turned over because I they take anymore.

HILL: Do you feel that you're close to a breaking point?

GRAGER: I think we're already broke.

HILL (voice-over): Burnout, stress, grueling hours. There are multiple reasons career nurses are choosing to leave.

DR. RANDY ROTH, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, SINGING RIVER HEALTH SYSTEM: We've been seeing it probably hit a peak recently. We have over 120 nursing vacancies open right now.

HILL (voice-over): When they do, that experience is also lost.

DR. SYED ABDULLAH WAHEED, SINGING RIVER OCEAN SPRINGS: It takes years of training to get to the point where you can actually take care of a COVID patient. This is nothing like we've seen before.

HILL (voice-over): The head of Singing River Hospital System is now urging the state to use some of its $1.8 billion in COVID relief funding for retention bonuses.

BOND: We need to give them an incentive to want to stay and continue to be a nurse.

ROTH: I think every little bit helps. Do I think it's going to fix the problem? A lot of nurses have told me it's not about the money at this point. It's about I need to recharge my battery.

HILL (voice-over): Yet with fewer staff and a surge in patients, that chance to recharge increasingly difficult to find.

DAVIS: It's hard to see a 34-year-old, the family not make it. You can't describe that.

ATHERTON: To have friends, colleagues who understand that it's the only way we're all getting through this, is because we have each other.

HILL: On Tuesday, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced more than 1,000 health care personnel would be coming to the state to help fill the void.

[04:50:00]

Singing River Hospital system tells me the state has committed 59 nurses and 18 respiratory therapists to its three hospitals. They'll be on 60-day contracts and the hope is that the first could arrive as soon as Friday.

In New York, I'm Erica Hill, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRUNHUBER: An imminent Champions League draw and MLS triumph and more tennis stars dropping out of the next Grand Slam. World Sport's Don Riddell has our minute in sports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: The U.S. open tennis tournament starts on Monday, but it is going to be without some of the biggest stars and it is kind of starting to feel like the end of an era. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal had already withdrawn. On Wednesday, we learned that both Serena and Venus Williams are going to be out as well. Both are suffering hamstring injuries. It means that for the first time since 1996, the open will be without Federer and Nadal and both Williams sisters.

The draw for the Champions League group stage is coming up in the next few hours, and on Wednesday the last three teams secured their qualification.

[04:55:00]

Sheriff Tiraspol became the first ever team from Moldova to qualified. Arsenals disappointing start to the season got a little better on Wednesday. The Gunners trashed West Brom in the league cap. Pierre- Emerick. Aubameyang stealing the show with a hat trick.

And it's been a good night for major league soccer in the all-star game. They beat Mexico's Liga MX team on a penalty shootout with Ricardo Pepi of FC Dallas scoring the decisive kick. And that is your minute in sports. Back to you, Kim.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks.

Two decades after creating one of the most recognizable album covers in rock music. The band Nirvana is being sued for what's on it. The cover of the Nirvana's 1991 album, Never Mind, features a naked baby in a pool appearing to swim toward a dollar bill. Well, that baby is now 30 years old and suing the band. Spencer Elden says the artwork is child pornography. The lawsuit alleges that he was sexualized because the dollar bill used in the cover artwork made the baby resemble, quote, a sex worker. Despite re-creating the image several times throughout his adulthood, Elden claims he has suffered lifelong damages. He is seeking $150,000 from each surviving band member and others. Now CNN has reached out for comment to those who Elden is suing.

Well, that wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Kim Brunhuber. "EARLY START" is next.

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