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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
U.S. Sending Military Advisers in Iraq; Iraqis Divided; World Cup Fever
Aired June 20, 2014 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: New help for Iraq. The U.S. sending hundreds of military advisers as the country tries to stop terrorists from taking over its city. We are live in Baghdad with what's happening right now.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And dangerous storms moving across the country, tearing communities apart and leaving others under water. We are live with what's headed your way right now.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Miguel Marquez.
KOSIK: And I'm Alison Kosik. It's 30 minutes past the hour.
New worries this morning in Iraq now that ISIS fighters have seized Saddam Hussein's former chemical weapons factory. That facility has been called contaminated but there are concerns the militants could use what they find as part of their fight against the government. This, as the U.S. is now making plans to get involved in the crisis.
President Obama announcing he will send hundreds of advisers into the country, not to fight but to help Iraqi forces learn how to better back the militant advance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The United States will continue to increase our support to Iraqi security forces. We are prepared to create joint operation centers in Baghdad and northern Iraq to share intelligence and coordinate planning to confront the terrorist threat of ISIL.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more now on the mission for those advisers.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Miguel, Alison, the first of the 300 U.S. military advisers will start arriving in Iraq in the coming days. They will be Army Green Berets, Army Rangers and SEALs. They will go to a number of different locations around Iraq to work with Iraqi security forces. Basically they have two jobs now. To assess what is going wrong with the Iraq forces, to get them back in the fight, to find out what else they need. But they will also have a very important intelligence gathering
mission to keep their eyes on the ISIS militant fighters. Where are they, what weapons do they have, how are they moving, what does their military strategy look to be and especially keeping an eye on the perimeter around Baghdad, to make sure ISIS isn't going to try and move into the city.
At the same time, the U.S. is using manned, pilots in the cockpit aircraft, fighter jets and other aircraft to conduct around-the-crock surveillance over Iraq, over Baghdad, including. And they're also using drones. So this picture that's developing is to have all eyes and ears on the situation in Iraq. Why? Because if it comes to it, the president needs better intelligence, the more fine granular intelligence about where ISIS is on the ground, if, if, he had to order air strikes -- Miguel, Alison.
MARQUEZ: Thank you, Barbara Starr.
The Iraqi government wanted the U.S. to launch air strikes calling it the best way to stop the ISIS advance. But the White House has rejected that for now. And senior officials are telling CNN they'd like to see someone other than Nuri al-Maliki running the country. President Obama, for his part, isn't exactly expressing confidence in Maliki's leadership.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: It's not our job to choose Iraq's leaders. But I don't think it is -- there's any secret that right now, at least, there is deep divisions between Sunni, Shia and Kurdish leaders. And as long as those deep divisions continue or worsen, it's going to be very hard for an Iraqi central government to direct an Iraqi military to deal with these threats.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is live in Baghdad this morning.
Nic, are those divisions becoming sharper and more pronounced amongst Iraqis?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Oh, you bet, Miguel, they are. It's the way that Maliki has handled this crisis. Some of the religious leaders here did was called on Iraqis to stand up and join the fight. What that is meant, in effect, is that a lot of the Shia militias that Maliki and others had essentially turned a blind eye to who were involved in terrible sectarian violence just a few years ago, they've allowed those units to be stood back up.
They -- ostensibly they're supposed to join the Iraqi army in the fight. Many of them are. But it is that kind of reaction to the crisis, rather than building across those sectarian divisions, rather than trying to find Sunni politicians, convince them that he will share power with them in the future, it's that kind of response that's exacerbated the crisis. Now Maliki's office says it has received no official statement from
the United States that says he has to leave. It's all there in the language. There are many politicians here, many Sunnis among them, many moderates in this country who realized Maliki gas set this country on a very negative path.
Will he change? Will he move out of the way? That's the big question. Right now Friday prayers are on. The spokesman for the most important religious Shia cleric in the country is speaking right now.
Does he make -- will he make any hint that Maliki needs to go? Because it's the religious leaders really that could have the most influence here -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: All right, Nic Robertson, for us in Baghdad.
Nic, we'll be watching to hear what you say that they say today during prayers. Thanks very much, Nic.
KOSIK: The House of Representatives has a new majority leader. Representative Kevin McCarthy from California chosen by his colleagues in the GOP to take the number two leadership role. He replaces Eric Cantor who stepped down after an unexpected primary loss. McCarthy's rise to power, the fastest in history. He had only served four terms in the House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R), MAJORITY LEADER: They elected a guy who is a grandson of a cattle rancher, the son of a firefighter. Only in America do you get that opportunity. They elected a guy that's only grown up through the grassroots. They elected a guy that spent his time going around recruiting many of these individuals to get the majority.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Taking McCarthy's old role as majority whip is Representative Steve Scalise from Louisiana. He greeted his family after his election. Scalise is promising his party will be united. A position he'll be responsible for enforcing as the person who has to round up votes.
MARQUEZ: Immigration and the plight of thousands of undocumented children housed in detention centers on the agenda for the Obama administration today. Vice President Biden will be in Guatemala where he'll talk to the government there about stopping parents from sending their children north. That as Homeland Security Secretary Jae Johnson visits Texas to see for himself how the children are being treated.
In Congress, some Democrats are now pushing for asylum, calling the situation a humanitary crisis. Border Patrol officials tell "The Washington Post," they are putting so many resources into dealing with the influx, they can't stop the cartel smuggling drugs across the border." KOSIK: Time for an EARLY START on your money. European markets mixed
this morning. Futures are flat. The S&P 500 hitting a new record high after a slow day. The Dow also up, but the Nasdaq dropped. One story -- one stock that got a bump, American Apparel, that after the CEO Dov Charney was ousted. Charney has been making headlines for a while now for alleged bad behavior for years.
CNN MONEY's Cristina Alesci sat down with American Apparel board member Allan Mayer to find out what took so long to fire him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALLAN MAYER, AMERICAN APPAREL CO-CHAIR: We were not blind or deaf. We heard the stories, we read the newspapers. We knew about the allegations. But as a board, we can't operate on the basis of rumors and allegations. We had suspicions, but we didn't have very, very good reason until only a few months ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: And you can see more with Mayer at CNNmoney.com.
MARQUEZ: And happening now, record rain. Major flooding, dangerous winds and it is not over yet. Indra Petersons is tracking the storms, coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: This morning, millions are on alert again for dangerous weather. The threat today stretching from the Midwest all the way to the south. Those areas were already hard hit by storms.
MARQUEZ: In Minnesota, the problem? Rain. Lots of it. These pictures taken not far from Minneapolis. Rain has been piling up there for days. Rain also responsible for this, a hillside giving way in Minneapolis, under a hospital. There are worries if anymore of the hill starts to fall, the buildings above could be damaged.
KOSIK: And amid the tornado devastation in South Dakota, there's some gratitude this morning that no one was killed. A twister took direct aim at Wessington Springs damaging or destroying dozens of homes. But those who lived there say it could have been much worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DENNIS MCELVOWNEY, TORNADO VICTIM: You always hear about people praying. We never said one prayer. I'm a fairly religious person but I don't think -- I don't think we had time. We are both alive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Mother Nature can do some scary stuff.
MARQUEZ: What a sweet man.
KOSIK: Indra Petersons, what's it looking like today? Any calmer? INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You guys are talking about all
that rain in Minnesota. Unfortunately today that's going to be the exact same spot we're going to be talking about. Not only severe weather but of course severe weather means more heavy rain in ground that's already saturated. So that's their biggest concern. Hot spots, Fargo, Duluth, even St. Cloud will be under the gone for that threat.
What are we looking at? It'll change as we go through the weekend. I mean, it is the weekend, guys. Where is the nicest place? Well, that's going to be out towards the New England. One of the obvious things you're going to notice high pressures is in place and the humidity dropped. That is a huge plus unlike all this hot and humid air that you're still going to be talking about into the southeast.
The other side of it, yes, humidity drops, we're also talking about beautiful, sunny skies. If you're up in here, nice and dry. Meanwhile if you're kind of in maybe the southern portions of the southeast, look for scattered showers all the way up to about the mid- Atlantic. That's going to be a little bit of a hot spot there. But hello, it is summer. Finally, we waited so long. But yes, by tomorrow morning, 6:51 in the morning, East Coast time, it is actually officially summer.
And that, I'm extremely happy about. But it makes me a little bit too hot for some of you. What are we talking about? Look at these 90s, well above -- we've already showed you the humidity. So it's going to feel hot and sticky in the southeast. But again, look how good this is. Temperatures below normal, in towards the northeast. In fact Washington, D.C., about 71 degrees. Beautiful and staying dry, at least for the first half.
New York City even better, 74 and dry as you go through the weekend. So I know exactly where I'm going, a little bit farther north this weekend.
KOSIK: All right.
MARQUEZ: Very good, very good. A little sweet, a little sour. Just like that.
PETERSONS: Yes, right.
(LAUGHTER)
MARQUEZ: Very good.
Let's take a look at what's happening on "NEW DAY" coming up. Kate Bolduan joins us now.
Kate, what you got?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Good morning, guys. Happy Friday.
We're following all the latest developments of course coming out of Iraq. ISIS militants now seizing an old stockpile of chemical weapons that were once under the watchful eye of Saddam Hussein. What kind of danger do they present in this current crisis?
Also of course, the president is now sending help to the Iraqis. But no combat troops on the ground. He made that very clear. We're going to have the very latest coming from Baghdad.
Also, a strange case, an unfortunate case of possible anthrax exposure at the Centers for Disease Control. 75 employees are now being treated after anthrax went to the wrong lab.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to be here to tell us how this possibly happened and what the employees are obviously facing now.
MARQUEZ: Wow. Crazy story.
KOSIK: I know.
MARQUEZ: Crazy story.
Thanks, Kate, have a great weekend.
KOSIK: Thanks, Kate.
BOLDUAN: Thank you.
KOSIK: Are you surprised? New drama, new drama in the Donald Sterling saga.
MARQUEZ: Yes.
KOSIK: The L.A. Clippers' owner leaving angry, threatening voice mails for his wife's doctor.
MARQUEZ: Stalking.
KOSIK: So what's got him so upset this time? We are going to play you some of those voicemails next.
MARQUEZ: Crazy, crazy. Plus Team USA, USA, preparing for its biggest World Cup battle, yet. We are taking you to Brazil coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARQUEZ: Donald Sterling captured on audio tape, again. No.
(LAUGHTER)
Voice mails were presented in court by lawyers for Sterling's estranged wife, Shelly, who asked a judge to protect attorneys and witnesses from being threatened and intimidated by her husband.
Can this get any worse?
On one recording, Sterling goes off on a doctor who diagnosed him as mentally incompetent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD STERLING, L.A. CLIPPERS OWNER: What a horrible woman you are. All you did was go to the Beverly Hills Hotel and drink liquor. You're nothing but a fraud, and a liar and a cheat, and I'm going to see that you lose your license. And I'm suing you for conspiracy. I'm not incompetent, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED) incompetent. You stupid (EXPLETIVE DELETED) doctor. I'm going to get you fired from UCLA because you're nothing but a tramp.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSIK: Well, I think he needs to stay off the phone.
MARQUEZ: That's why the doctor is a tramp.
(LAUGHTER)
I agree he's a tramp. That's very interesting.
KOSIK: He does.
MARQUEZ: Weird, weird, weird. Donald Sterling's lawyer says he wasn't threatening the doctor, no, he was frustrated. His medical records were being made public. The judge denied Shelley Sterlings protection request to trial next month, we'll determine whether she's the sole trustee in the family trust and can sell the L.A. Clippers.
KOSIK: A new report raising new questions about the deadly crash that severely injured comedian Tracy Morgan. The NTSB now say the truck driver whose big rig slammed into Morgan's limo bus may have been speeding. The report says Kevin Roper was driving 65 in a 45-mile- per-hour zone just seconds before the impact that killed comedian James McNair. He pleaded not guilty to vehicular homicide and assault by auto. Morgan remains hospitalized in fair condition.
MARQUEZ: I hope he's all right.
Another full day of World Cup action on tap for the today in Brazil while Team USA gets ready for its crucial match Sunday against Portugal. Gees, it's going to be tough. The Portuguese maybe without their star player but the American team will definitely be missing one of its best.
We get more from CNN's Shasta Darlington.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miguel, Alison, this is one of the last training sessions for Team USA before they head to the Amazon where they'll face-off against Portugal and the man considered the best soccer player today Cristiano Ronaldo.
Now we had a chance to talk to some of the players about how they're preparing not only to face off against Cristiano Ronaldo to prepare for the heat in Manaus, the heart of the Amazon where the temperature can be over 90 degrees, its humidity 100 percent. Listen to what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you been doing any special preparation to take on best player in the world?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We can have like maybe two or three special players, those key players. But if you play it like a team, you will be stronger than like three or two players.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you talk a bit about how you're preparing for the heat and especially humidity in Manaus?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's probably similar to Houston, Dallas, Midwest, east coast in the summer. So hopefully when we get there, it won't be as shocking as it has been to some other teams.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DARLINGTON: Both teams realize this is a crucial game for Portugal after suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Germany. This could mean elimination if they don't win. Now the United States even though Jozy Altidore won't be available on Sunday, he won't be playing, they say they're going to be there 100 percent giving it their all and they are confident.
Back to you.
KOSIK: I know you're going to be watching.
MARQUEZ: I will. Of course I will. I'm so excited. I'm going to paint my face, my body. I'm going to be at the bar. You know. No, maybe not.
KOSIK: Did you know there's very little on the road that sounds like a Harley-Davidson? You know that.
MARQUEZ: I did not know that.
KOSIK: Yes. Yes. Yes. So even with an electric motor, Harley- Davidson is making it smart?
MARQUEZ: Real.
KOSIK: It's the company's the newest hog, revealed. We're going to get an early check of your money next as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KOSIK: Let's get an EARLY START on your money. European markets are mixed this morning. Futures are slightly higher. The S&P 500 hit a new record high. The Dow also is up but the Nasdaq dropped. This after Wednesday's major rally on news that the Fed wouldn't raise interest rates any time soon.
Gold prices saw a huge spike yesterday. Its biggest rise in nine months. This jumped most likely from investors that think the feds are going to weaken the dollar. The latest crackdown on shady credit card practices is the biggest
yet. GE Capital ordered to refund $225 million to customers. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau claims GE Capital misled customers about the cost of add-ons and supposed free services. But the biggest chunk of the payout -- $169 million -- is going to customers' excluded from debt relief. Why? They were allegedly discriminated against because they asked for communications in Spanish.
And Harley-Davidson unveiling its first electric motorcycle called Project Live Wire.
MARQUEZ: Sure.
KOSIK: A bike completely has free. It runs on batteries. The Harley, though not for sale yet, but it's going to be going on tour next week, to get customers a chance to try it out. And as for that iconic sound, Harley-Davidson is a sure in customer that the new bike is still going to have that roar that you say is so annoying.
MARQUEZ: Thank god. Thank god. Well, I only like it if I can wear leather products with fringe. It's fine.
KOSIK: You got to. You got to.
MARQUEZ: Perfectly fine.
KOSIK: And no flip-flops on that bike. OK?
MARQUEZ: Have a lovely weekend.
KOSIK: You, too.
MARQUEZ: NEW DAY starts right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We've positions additional U.S. military assets in the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Seized. The terror group ISIS takes over Saddam Hussein's old chemical weapons plant. Can they use it? This as President Obama sends hundreds of American troops back to Baghdad. We are live with the latest.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Exposed. 75 scientists being treated for anthrax exposure after a serious safety laps at the CDC. How safely are these dangerous diseases being handled and stored?
MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Rumble in the jungle, literally. Team USA set to score up against Portugal this weekend. The stadium location, a rain forest. Heat and humidity. Which team will it help? We'll break it all down.
CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.
ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira.
CUOMO: That is a beautiful shot, right? The sun comes up over the river here in New York City.
