Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

President Obama Authorizes Airstrikes in Iraq; Gaza Truce Ends; Hurricane Iselle Hits Hawaii

Aired August 08, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning: President Obama authorizing airstrikes in Iraq. The U.S. pledging to stop genocide with humanitarian aid and force, if necessary. Militants gaining ground and slaughtering thousands. What the president had to say and the dire conditions, some ethnic groups are dealing with right now. That is straight ahead.

Also, breaking overnight, cease-fire over in Gaza. Violence erupting between Hamas and Israel this morning after peace talks in Cairo break down. Hamas refusing to extend the three-day truce which just ended a few hours ago. Live team coverage of the latest in the negotiations and what comes next.

Also happening, Hurricane Iselle barreling into Hawaii bringing violent winds, pounding rain and ferocious waves. And this could just be round one. Indra Petersons is tracking the storm for us throughout the morning.

Good morning, everyone. Happy Friday. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Poppy Harlow.

There is a lot going on as we just told you. It is August 8, 4:00 a.m. here on the East Coast.

We welcome all of our viewers both here in the United States and around the world.

And we begin with President Obama authorizing targeted air strikes in Iraq. In a nationally televised address last night, the president warned America, quote, "cannot turn a blind eye to the crisis unfolding in northern Iraq. ISIS extremists on the rampage in the region now, closing in on the city of Irbil, where U.S. military and diplomatic personnel could be in harm's way. The president also authorizing an emergency air drop of water and food to help a huge number of Kurds and other ethnic groups now trapped in the mountains by oncoming militants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: First, I said in June -- as the terrorist group ISIL began an advance across Iraq -- that the United States would be prepared to take targeted military action in Iraq if and when we determined that the situation required it. In recent days, these terrorists have continued to move across Iraq, and have neared the city of Irbil, where American diplomats and civilians serve at our consulate and American military personnel advise Iraqi forces.

To stop the advance on Irbil, I've directed our military to take targeted strikes against ISIL terrorist convoys should they move toward the city. We intend to stay vigilant, and take action if these terrorist forces threaten our personnel or facilities anywhere in Iraq, including our consulate in Irbil and our embassy in Baghdad. We're also providing urgent assistance to Iraqi government and Kurdish forces so they can more effectively wage the fight against ISIL.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Also this just in to CNN, Britain announcing it will not participate in any military action in northern Iraq. Even though ISIS militants in northern Iraq have been making stunning advances in just recent weeks, seizing town after town in a bloody onslaught, even taking control of the largest dam in Mosul.

All eyes on the city of Irbil now, as we heard from the president, where chaos could erupt at any moment.

That is where we find our Ivan Watson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These are the conditions that thousands of desperate Iraqis are going to be sleeping in tonight, after they have fled the most recent offensive by ISIS militants who have succeeded in capturing a number of towns and villages, taking them away from Kurdish Peshmerga militia fighters. We can see some of the families who pulled up after arriving, packed into the back of pick-up trucks, hitchhiking, hiring taxis and in some cases, fleeing on foot. And they are showing up in some of the unfinished apartment and office buildings on the outskirts of the Kurdish city of Irbil.

The conditions here, as basic as can be. They are sleeping on cement. We have seen some distribution of water to the people.

But these families have no plan in mind. They tend to come from religious minorities that are viewed as apostates by the ISIS militants. These are Shiites. In other cases, they are Christians Yazidis who feel threatened. Their lives are at risk from the Sunni Muslim hardliners who have vowed to kill people who do not come from a Sunni Muslim faith.

This exodus of people is going to be an enormous burden for the authorities in the Kurdistan regional government that controls northern Iraq. Even at the same time as their militias, they're Peshmerga fighters are pressed on the front lines to try to protect Kurdish territories from the ISIS militants who we are told are now equipped with armored vehicles and heavy weapons that have been captured from the Iraqi army that collapsed, the same Iraqi army that was equipped with weapons from the U.S. government.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Irbil in Iraqi Kurdistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: More breaking news, loud explosions rocking Gaza this morning. Israel, it looks like resuming air strikes after claiming Hamas violated a three-day cease-fire before it ended. Israeli has withdrawn its ground forces from Gaza, but they remain in what they call defensive positions surrounding the region.

Let's go straight to John Vause, live from Gaza.

John, the latest at this moment? Are those airstrikes continuing right now?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they seem to be, Poppy. It took almost three hours before the response began. In the last few moments, we have seen two air strikes in the area of Gaza City, reports coming in from local media here. So far, at least two people have been hurt. In one of those strikes, also, there seems to be two rounds of artillery, five into Gaza, in the northern part of the strip, not far from the Erez border crossing into Israel.

There was rocket fire coming out of Gaza almost immediately after the cease-fire expired. What is interesting is Hamas is not claiming responsibility for any of the rocket fire, at least not yet. But another militant group, Islamic Jihad is saying at least eight of the rockets fired over the last couple hours are theirs. And they say it is because Israel violated the cease-fire by refusing to agree to Palestinian demands at those negotiations in Cairo.

Now, a short time ago on CNN, the Israeli government's spokesperson, Mark Regev, explained why those cease-fire negotiations essentially collapsed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARK REGEV, ISRAELI GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON: The Cairo talks are based on one crucial assumption, that is unconditional cease-fire. The talks only started because there was a cessation of hostile fire. By breaking the cease-fire, by re-initiating violence, by targeting our civilians as they have done this morning, it's clear that Hamas has broken the fundamental premise for these talks in Cairo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: What he was referring to, in the early hours this morning, about two hours before the deadline of the cease-fire, two rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. But no militant groups have claimed responsibility for that rocket fire. In fact, Hamas saying it was essentially Israeli misreporting to try to confuse the situation.

Well, the situation certainly has been very confused as to who fired those rockets. One other point in all of these, Poppy, so far, it seems that all of the outgoing fire, the rockets coming from Gaza into Israel, have been short range rockets landing in the southern part of Israel -- Poppy.

HARLOW: You know, John, over the past few days, as the peace talks were going on, you and I were talking about how people were getting out of those shelters, going to the markets, going to see what remained of their homes, et cetera. What are the streets like there in Gaza now? I would assume deserted.

VAUSE: Yes, just having a quick look over my shoulder to see what the situation is, there are a few cars out. We went out a short time ago but pretty much deserted. This time yesterday, it was bumper-to- bumper traffic on the roads. People were out. They're at the shops at the markets.

Well, today, they have been a few people, I've seen them essentially stocking up on last minute supplies, pretty much everybody heading back indoors, knowing that this cease-fire was over. Some people had decided that they're going to take shelter at those U.N. schools- turned-evacuation centers. They believe that may be safer than returning to their home. But I guess everyone here hunkering down.

Hamas, overnight, did warn the people here, the Palestinians here, that they should get ready for a long war -- Poppy.

HARLOW: Well, you know, there was hope as this cease-fire and the peace talks were continuing for the full three days, longer than they have throughout this four-plus week battle. And now, it is deteriorated again. Thank you, appreciate the reporting, John.

Of course, the question now is what becomes of these talks in Cairo. Let's go to straight to Reza Sayah, who is there for us this morning.

Reza, a lot of missed messages coming from all sides in this.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Poppy. What's worrying is there's no indication of the indirect talks between the Palestinians and Israelis resumed. According to the Palestinians, the last time they spoke to Egyptian mediators was 4:30 a.m. local time. That was roughly 61/2 hours ago.

And this point, we haven't been able to confirm if those talks are taking place. And what's most worrying, there's increasing signs the fight has resumed in Gaza. All of this after this 72-hour cease-fire officially ended, 8:00 a.m. local time. Both sides failed to reach an agreement. They fail to agree on meeting the other side's conditions and demands. They also failed to reach an agreement on extending the cease-fire past this particular deadline.

And now, we wait to see what the next move is. We are getting mixed messages. Some Hamas officials are saying that even though the cease- fire is over, we are willing to negotiate. And then you have the military wing of Hamas indicating, before the cease-fire that they are prepared to start fighting again.

Of course, we are seeing indication of rockets being fired into Israeli territory. Hamas is saying we didn't do it, Islamic jihad taking responsibility. Another important factor we are going to be keeping a close eye on,

Poppy, is whether the Palestinian delegation here is going to stay unified. You get the sense all factions are looking to see what the other faction is doing. Moving forward, that is going to be critical.

HARLOW: Yes. And, you know, Reza, we have been talking throughout the recent weeks of Hamas and the political wing and the military wing, Qassam Brigade, as you said. And this is just another indication there are definitely not exactly on the same page in all of this. We appreciate it. We'll get back to you many times throughout the next two hours in the show. Thank you, Reza. Appreciate it.

Also this, Hurricane Iselle battering the Hawaiian Islands this morning. Heavy rain began falling yesterday afternoon. The storm's outer bands packing 70-mile-an-hour winds overnight. Iselle is a category one right now, edging closer to land. Let's get the latest from Indra Petersons.

So, it's interesting. It's pretty rare for hurricanes to be in this area and to be making land fall.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, when you actually take a look at the two hurricanes that are out there right now, Poppy, it's very easy to see why you get a lot of wind shear, things hurricanes do not like and a lot of the cooler waters as you make your way closer to the Hawaiian Islands.

Right now, again, two hurricanes are out there. Iselle, the effects felt on the island. Notice in the difference, how well defined the eye is, the category three hurricane Julio is right behind it.

Let's talk about Iselle because, of course, we're going to expecting landfall here within the next few hours. You can already see in the radar, you're seeing some of those outer bands, bringing some of those rain showers into Hilo.

But the center of circulation is offshore. We are waiting for that to make its way on shore within the next several hours. That's going to be feeling those biggest effects.

Tropical storm warnings in effect for islands behind it. Why? If you're looking at the threshold here, right now, 75-mile-per-hour winds. You could it really breaking apart, 74 miles an hour. That's all it takes to be a category one hurricane. It's right on that borderline of a tropical storm or category one hurricane. Either, those effects are going to be felt similar. What are we looking at as it makes its way through the island, throughout the day today, those effects will be felt. The afternoon will be quiet as we go through this late afternoon.

By tomorrow, the first system makes its way offshore. Look what we are expecting here in the next few hours. You're talking about up to a foot of rain possible, not only on the big island, but also in through Maui, four to seven inches of rain when you talk about Oahu and Kauai. Of course, you have huge waves out there. We're talking about this, over 20 feet is the concern of storm surge as well. Our biggest concern, of course, is going to be the mountainous region,

where we talk about that heavy rain making its way down the mountains, looking for the threat of mudslides.

And, again, Poppy, one day to recover before Julio, a stronger system, is right behind it.

HARLOW: One-two punch. Indra, thanks for the update. Appreciate it.

All right. We are going to continue, of course, to follow the breaking news in Iraq, also the war between Israel and Hamas and the breakdown of the cease-fire. Also, Hurricane Iselle, as you heard from Indra, all morning.

But, first, the U.S. is issuing a new Ebola warning as the virus continues to rage across West Africa. We are live with the very latest, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Targeted U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq could be imminent. President Obama authorizing the attacks on ISIS extremists who are taking over town after town in a bloody rampage. The militants now threatening thousands of Kurds and other ethnic groups and also threatening U.S. personnel in the city of Irbil. The president assuring Americans, though, no U.S. ground troops will be deployed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: As commander-in-chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq. And so, even as we support Iraqis as they take the fight to these terrorists, American combat troops will not be returning to fight in Iraq, because there's no American military solution to the larger crisis in Iraq. The only lasting solution is reconciliation among Iraqi communities and stronger Iraqi security forces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: President Obama authorizing a humanitarian air drop of food and water to help thousands of fleeing people trapped in the mountains by the advancing militants. We will be following the story, of course, all morning long.

The State Department is warning Americans not to travel to Liberia, and starting tomorrow, family members of U.S. embassy staffers in Monrovia will be evacuated, the spread of the deadly Ebola virus showing no signs of slowing down, 932 people died from it with 1,700 confirmed or suspected cases in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Guinea. Patients in West Africa finding out they will not have access to the medicine being used to threat those two Americans infected with Ebola in Atlanta right now. There's simply apparently not enough of it at this point.

The crisis is so severe now that the World Health Organization at its meeting in Geneva talking about this outbreak and considering what to do has declared this an international public health emergency.

Isa Soares is tracking the latest developments from London.

So, I know we were waiting and within just the last hour or so, we found out they officially declared it that. What does it mean in terms of money, aid, action, going to help people?

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Poppy.

In fact, it's just wrapped up. It was a meeting that lasted an hour. It was happening in Geneva.

Like you said, they've declared an international public health emergency but also said that it constitutes an extraordinary event, Poppy, and basically saying that the World Health Organization chief saying the consequences of further international spread are particularly serious. And she says, it is the largest, most severe, and longest case seen in the four-decade history of tracking the disease.

It went on to outline a series of measures that the world should take. Now, it's important to emphasize the World Health Organization does not have powers of enforcement. It simply advises and recommend.

What it did do, it calls for a coordinated international response to kind of stop or contain the spread of the disease. And a call that she said, the World Health Organization said, a call for international solidarity, but acknowledged, interestingly enough that many countries would probably not have Ebola cases.

Now, in terms of travel, I know you were talking just there, in terms of all states, those countries do not have Ebola said there should be no general ban on international travel or trade because the impact, they said, would actually hurt the economies. But they have been talking to try and brief them and educate them in terms of how to deal with this.

The biggest problem, interestingly enough says the world health chief, Poppy, is the biggest challenge is education. There is a fear factor in West Africa. People are running away. And those who actually do not run away, who approach and come to the clinics actually have a better risk of dealing with the outbreak.

But in terms of the outlying, what they are advising is basically containing the crisis, the clinics being closer to the areas where people have Ebola and really education, training. Really, what we have seen, but they want each country in West Africa, those who have been affected, to declare it a public health emergency and calling on international community, more importantly, to step up the efforts and help these countries, Poppy.

HARLOW: Yes. And I know the WHO has talked about really being underfunded in terms of all the countries that are -- member countries giving the money that is necessary to try to help to treat these people, again, more than 900 deaths. It is really spiraling.

Isa, I appreciate the updates. Thank you.

Also happening right now, closing arguments in the Oscar Pistorius case. The Olympic athlete on trial for murdering his model girlfriend. The very latest from court, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Tennessee Republican, Lamar Alexander, is the latest sitting senator, to beat back a Tea Party challenger. CNN projects Alexander has defeated Tennessee State Senator Joe Carr in the GOP primary. Carr was endorsed by Sarah Palin and other Tea Party conservatives.

Alexander is now expected to likely win that reelection in November.

Meantime, House -- well, Republican hopes of picking up a Senate seat in November just got a boost with Montana Democrat John Walsh dropping out because of a plagiarism scandal. Walsh says claims that he plagiarized part of a paper submitted for his masters degree had become, quote, "distraction" from the issue. He was appointed back in February to replace Montana's Baucus.

In the Senate, Republicans need a net gain of six Senate seats in the midterm elections to take control of that chamber.

In the murder trial of Oscar Pistorius is expected to wrap up in South Africa today. The case will then go to the judge after the defense closes finishing arguments today. Pistorius is accused of premeditated murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. His defense argues the former Olympic star shot Steenkamp accidentally, mistaking her for an intruder. Pistorius faces 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted.

And, of course, a lot of breaking news this morning including this, President Obama authorizing airstrikes in Iraq, if deemed necessary, promising to help fight out Islamic terrorists gaining ground in that country. We'll take you live to the ground in Iraq, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)