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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Crisis in Iraq: More U.S. Advisors on the Way; Gaza Cease-fire Ends Today; Mourning Hollywood Legends
Aired August 13, 2014 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Crisis in Iraq. The U.S. sending more military advisers as Islamic militants employed new tactics to dodge airstrikes.
This morning, the very latest on the hunt for ISIS and the missions to rescue Iraqis trapped by these terrorists. We're live.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: time is ticking on a cease-fire in Gaza, set to end in hours with no plan for a permanent peace in place. Can Israel come to an agreement before time runs out?
We're live in Cairo with a new offer on the table this morning.
BERMAN: New details in the tragic death of Robin Williams revealed, this as the world mourns another Hollywood legend. This morning, remembering Lauren Bacall.
ROMANS: What a talent.
BERMAN: What a talent. What a voice.
All right. Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.
ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It's Wednesday, August 13th, 4:00 a.m. in the East.
We welcome all of our viewers here in the United States and around the world.
Up first, Robin Williams' final tortured details. Grim new details emerging this morning about the beloved actor's suicide. The Marin County sheriff describing in detail how the troubled star hanged himself in his Northern California home.
We're finding out this morning, Robin Williams was trying to get help for the depression that ultimately overcame him.
We get more from CNN's Ted Rowlands.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John and Christine. The folks here in the San Francisco Bay Area are still mourning the loss of Robin Williams. Last night, there was a tribute to Williams at the San Francisco Giants game. He was a longtime Giants fan and a member of this community. People really did have a special attachment with Robin Williams. And he had a special attachment with this area of the country.
Meanwhile, we did get the news yesterday on the specifics around his death. He did die of asphyxiation. That's the preliminary autopsy report. And he did die at his own hands, hanging using a belt in a closet.
His wife was with him the night before his death. She went to bed around 10:30, the next morning left thinking that her husband was just asleep. A personal assistant found Robin Williams just before noon. And he was in that state.
He also had cut his wrist with a knife, superficial cuts. They say it did not contribute to his death but also just difficult to detail to hear from people that were just so in love with Robin Williams and his work, and the idea that this man who gave us so much joy was in so much pain, it really has been tough on not only the people here but people around the world -- John, Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: Our thanks to Ted Rowlands for that.
It's difficult details. Frankly, also, a lot of details. They released a lot of information yesterday that made a lot of people uncomfortable.
ROMANS: And there are fans who are saying, you know, we don't need to know all those details. We need to celebrate his life, not how he died.
BERMAN: On the heels, of course, of Robin Williams' death, we are learning now about the loss of another screen legend, Lauren Bacall, famous for the deep, sultry voice and the look. I mean "the look" in quotation marks.
Bacall was a teenage model before becoming an overnight success in her big screen debut, 1944's "To Have and Have Not" with leading man Humphrey Bogart, who became really her leading man, the love of her life. They married a year later. They made several more films together.
Lauren Bacall died in her home here in New York City. She was 89.
We're going to take a complete look back at her life and storied career, oh, in about 20 minutes.
ROMANS: All right. Now to the turmoil in Iraq -- the end could be near for the country's longtime leader Nouri al Maliki.
The embattled prime minister growing increasingly more isolated now that Iran and his most loyal militia have spurned him in favor of the prime minister-designate, Haider al-Abadi. Now, the U.S. sees al Abadi as the only hope for the formation of a new Iraqi government. This as ISIS changed their tactics in the face of U.S. airstrikes. They're choosing now to blend in with the population, making them more difficult to target.
The U.S. sending an additional 138 advisers to Iraq to plan the evacuation of thousands of refugees, refugees who are now under siege by these militants.
Nick Paton Walsh monitoring these developments live from Baghdad.
And the political developments, at least, it looks as though Nouri al Maliki is more isolated now than he has been in recent days.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's going to be extraordinarily hard for him to come back from this one, certainly. And I think many of them saw the end of the tide changing here in the statement from the prime minister-designate now, Haider al-Abadi, the man that Washington is backing, everyone seems to throw their weight behind, even Iraq, Saudi Arabia, oddly, in unison on this one point.
A statement on a Facebook page on Mr. Al Abadi saying that he would welcome Mr. Nouri al Maliki into the fold, saying he done a lot to fight terrorism in his time in power. And many I think view this as a bid for those frankly in power inherent to the job in the next 30 days if Haider al Abadi can get his cabinet together fast enough, a bid to make Mr. Maliki not feel threaten by what may lie ahead, to bring him into the fold again.
So, many still waiting for him to make some kind of concession or speech. The last time we saw him was state television when he was pretty defiant really in this tone, and ordering military and police to stay out of politics, given how he's threatened to use force to keep himself in power in the hours earlier.
Baghdad still on edge, though, because until this political crisis passes no one really feels that the country as a whole can begin to deal with the bigger threat and that's so much of the territory is now being ceded to ISIS militants, and causing that potential genocide many say up in the north with the Yazidis -- Christine.
ROMANS: And, Nick, what about the shifting tactics of those ISIS militants now trying to blend into the population? I mean, clearly U.S. air strikes causing them to change some of their tactics. How big of a concern is that?
WALSH: It's a big deal. It's not something that ISIS militants are doing new here. They have never really faced air power before. One of the key things they've been fighting in Syria is that the Syrian regime has not been bombing their targets, noticeably apart from a couple exception, and the Iraqi air force are not particular successful in their use of air power against them either. This is the first time they would have come up against such precision consistent intelligence-based strikes that the U.S. Air Force can provide, moving into the civilian population.
Well, that's what they've been doing since their founding really, living and being amongst them, rarely going out alone on to the battlefield. Similar to the Taliban, if you like, in Afghanistan. So, I think, the U.S. Air Force would be very aware of the dangers that could cause and how many civilians could get caught up in the fighting as a result. But I don't think we should be too surprised given how ISIS reacts towards civilians normally, that they're willing to put them at rick at a time like this -- Christine.
ROMANS: Nick Paton Walsh for us in Baghdad -- thanks, Nick.
BERMAN: The latest now on the fast-growing Ebola crisis in West Africa. An experimental vaccine to fight the virus now being offered by Canada, 1,000 doses will be donated to the World Health Organization that just ruled the use of an unapproved drug they say is ethical to fight the outbreak.
The WHO is also pushing for fast production of ZMapp. That's an experimental drug already being used on two American Ebola victims. They're hoping to have it available by November.
The deadly virus is showing no signs of slowing down. Well over 1,800 confirmed or suspected cases in four West African nations now, with more than 1,000 deaths.
As for stricken missionary Nancy Writebol, she is recovering in an Atlanta hospital. Her son says she still feels called to finish her work in Liberia. He says she might go back once she gets better.
ROMANS: All right. Texas Governor Rick Perry will meet the members of Texas National Guard today. They are training for deployment to secure the border. The program comes at a cost of about $18 million a month. By that rate, money would dry up by October. But a Texas National Guard official says other states have offered to help share the cost of that mission.
BERMAN: All right. Get me to Martha's Vineyard because that where Hillary Clinton and President Obama are expected to meet tonight at the home of a mutual friend on that really ritzy, tony island.
Mrs. Clinton called the president Tuesday to assure that nothing she said in recent days was meant as an attack. Of course, she needed to call. The former secretary of state opened a lot of eyes in an interview with "The Atlantic" when she called parts of the president's foreign policy a failure, specifically not intervening in Syria, when recommended it years ago.
And aide to Hillary Clinton said when they meet at this party tonight, they're going to hug it out after this. Well, David Axelrod sent a tweet which was fairly scathing, thinly veiled criticism of Hillary Clinton. There's something going on here.
ROMANS: Yes, it's called 2016, elections.
BERMAN: It's exactly what it's called. ROMANS: All right. Eight minutes past the hour -- time for an EARLY START on your money.
Here, European stocks mixed ahead of news from the U.K. central bank, readings on inflation. Asian stocks ending the day higher, despite a report showing Japan's economic growth collapsing. U.S. stock futures pointing higher right now after stocks ended the day lower yesterday.
And more news on diversity or lack thereof in the tech world. This has been a big theme. Apple became the latest company to report its employee makeup. The company has 98,000 employees worldwide, including Apple Store workers. Seventy percent of those are male. The number gets even higher for leadership roles and technical positions. That puts Apple in line with the other tech giants, like Google and Facebook. About 55 percent of Apple's U.S. employees are white, compared to 63 percent of the U.S. population.
I don't know, there's been this keeping score in tech over the makeup, the diversity of their workforce. A lot of people have thought, you know, despite high profile women running tech companies, that it really has been a bro-grammer culture, you know?
BERMAN: Numbers tell the story right there.
ROMANS: Brogrammer culture.
BERMAN: I like that word, brogrammer.
ROMANS: You would.
BERMAN: All right. When we come back, time is ticking for peace talks in Cairo with a cease-fire set to expire today. Can Israel and Hamas come to any kind of lasting agreement right now? We're live with very latest details.
ROMANS: Plus, severe storms creating deadly floods. The dramatic video of that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BERMAN: Day three now with the latest cease-fire in Gaza. And as of now, there seems to be some kind of a plan on the table that might help bring an end to the month-long war between Israel and Hamas. Negotiators in Egypt calling on Israel now to ease parts of its blockade of Gaza, with the border being opened gradually over time.
The current truce ends in just over 12 hours. No word yet from either side on whether the Egyptian proposal is acceptable.
Reza Sayah is tracking the negotiations live from Cairo this morning.
Hearing rumblings from Israel. They're talking I think more out loud about this proposal, Reza?
REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think so. When you look at the two sides, it looks like the Israelis are making some comments. The Palestinian delegation, they're choosing to stay silent seemingly.
But here's the newest information we have, I talked to a senior Egyptian government official about an hour ago. He told us that they're pushing both sides, Israelis and Palestinians, to extend the cease-fire beyond the midnight deadline tonight. We want the two sides to agree to extend the cease-fire, that's what this official said, and continue talking, and that's what we're working on. This is a very sensitive time in the negotiations and it's hard to predict the outcome at this point.
Now, this is a statement that suggests that the two sides are not talking about a longer lasting permanent deal. They're only talking about to extend the cease-fire to continue talking.
This is, of course, what the Israelis want. It's not what the Palestinians want. So, it's not clear if they're going to reach this particular agreement.
We've been monitoring these on and off, indirect negotiations, two rounds of them for more than a week now. And every time we do these reports, we're really looking for any sign of progress, any sign of positive development.
But, unfortunately, that hasn't been the case. The Israelis yesterday telling "Reuters" news agency that they haven't had any progress. The Palestinians choosing not to comment. The Egyptians who are acting as mediators, they're trying to remain positive, saying it's too quick, too early to judge this, too early to reach any conclusions.
But you have to stop looking at the clock now. It's a little after 11:00 a.m. local time. That means these two sides have roughly 13 hours to get something done.
One more note to pass along -- the U.S. envoy to the peace process, Robert Serry, he will be meeting in Gaza City in a couple hours with the Palestinian deputy prime minister. It's not clear what that meeting is going to be about, but they're going to have a statement. We'll bring it to you when it happens.
BERMAN: All right. Reza Sayah, a lot of information there. Let's hope -- even if they haven't made overt progress yet, the fact that they're not being more critical of these discussions right now, all sides, maybe that is reason for hope.
Reza Sayah in Cairo for us this morning -- thanks so much.
Other news to tell you about right now, historic flooding turning deadly in Detroit. More than half a foot of rain shutting down five major freeways. Two deaths being blamed on the floodwaters, including a 100-year-old woman whose body was found in the basement of her flooded suburban home.
ROMANS: More of the same extreme weather in Maryland, a staggering three inches of rain, that's right, 3.6 inches, that's in Baltimore, shattering a record that stood for nearly 60 years. And it's still coming down overnight. Heavy flooding, shutting down highways, leaving dozens of drivers stranded, facing serious danger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was very scary sitting there in the car watching the water gets higher and higher, and the grass disappearing and the water coming. And I was thinking about getting out and sitting on top of the car. And I'm so glad they came.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: There is more rain in the forecast for today. So, let's get an early look at the weather with Karen Maginnis.
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: John and Christine, it looks like another soggy afternoon with significant rainfall totals wrapped around this area of low pressure across the northeastern New England, with the frontal system draped toward the south. So, all the way from Atlantic City, into Bangor and Portland, Maine. This is an area we could see significant rainfall. It could see flood potential as well.
While we expect to see some cooler air push in across the Midwestern United States, but during the early morning hours and by the afternoon, we could see some delays pile up along that I-95 corridor.
What about the afternoon? Well, temperatures are going to be below normal across the Southeast. This could be some welcome news where temperatures had been in the 90s. Only about 85 for Atlanta. A pretty warm day in the forecast for New York City, expecting 84. Chicago, 83 degrees coming up for Wednesday afternoon.
And what as we go into the Thursday forecast. Well, there's that high-pressure system moving across the Midwest. Still looks like the showers still prevailing across northeastern New England, as we get stuck in the summertime pattern.
We've got some dry thunderstorms from the northwest, and that monsoon moisture continuing into the Four Corners region. Back to you guys.
ROMANS: All right. Karen Maginnis, thank you for that.
All right. This truly is the end of an era. Legendary actress Lauren Bacall, dead at the age of 89. A look back at the leading lady's film of golden age, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROMANS: All right. She was one of the last links to Hollywood's golden age. Lauren Bacall died Tuesday at her home in New York City. She was 89 years old.
BERMAN: Known for that voice and that look on screen. Oh, that look.
The model-turned-actress began her career acting at least off the screen legend and future husband Humphrey Bogart, she became overnight success.
CNN's Nischelle Turner has more on the life and legacy of Lauren Bacall.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAUREN BACALL, ACTRESS: You know how to do it, don't you, Steve, you just put your lips together and blow.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With those words in the film, "To Have and To Have Not", audience imagination soared and a screen icon was born. The confidence smoldering expression, the downturned face, and upturned eyes, earned Lauren Bacall the nickname "The Look".
Ironically, the 19-year-old struck the post because she felt insecure.
BACALL: I mean, that's what started the look, was nerves, just trying to keep my head steady.
TURNER: Bacall was more than a movie legend. She was from Hollywood's golden era and the wife of actor Humphrey Bogart.
"The Big Sleep" was among a handful of films they made together but their love affair was one of Tinseltown 's greatest romances. Bogart died of cancer in 1957, leaving Bacall a widow at 32, with two small children.
For a time, she was engaged to family friend and singer Frank Sinatra. When romance fizzled, Sinatra headed to Las Vegas.
Soon, Bacall fell in love again and married actor Jason Robards with whom she had a son. She blamed his drinking for their divorce.
BACALL: I don't even know if he enjoyed it, but he was hooked on it. And he was really almost destroyed, and fortunately did not.
TURNER: Bacall was born Betty Joan Perske on September 16, 1924. Her parents were Jewish immigrants who divorced when she was 6. As a lanky teen, she modeled to earn extra money, taking her mother's maiden name Bacal, adding a second "L" to make it easier to pronounce.
Film director Howard Hawks saw her photograph on a magazine cover. A screen test later, and Hawks changed her name.
BACALL: He felt that Lauren Bacall was better sounding than Betty Bacall. He had a vision of his own. He was a Svengali, he wanted to mold me. He wanted to control me.
TURNER: Big screen or small, even her fellow actors viewed her as a legend.
ADAM ARKIN, ACTOR: John Houston, Charlie Chapin, and she just knows or has been around everyone that has formed what we know of this business.
TURNER: Bacall films co-stars read like the who's who of Hollywood, but it was on Broadway where she achieved her most critical acclaim.
BACALL: Oh, I loved. That was my original dream anyway, be on stage.
TURNER: She spent nearly 20 years on the stage, starring in "Cactus Flower", "Applause", and "Woman of the Year", earning two Tony Awards. In her later years, her film career saw a renaissance. She starred opposite Barbra Streisand in "The Mirror Has Two Faces", earning her only Oscar nomination.
And she was still acting in her 80s in such films as "Dogville" and "Birth" with Nicole Kidman -- a diva, a film star, a Broadway jewel, and the classic legend of an era gone by.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BERMAN: You know, I was reading this morning she actually worked on the voice to make it sound that low and husky. She would go and read her lines in the car by herself, because someone told her the low voice sounded great, so she worked at that for hours and hours and hours.
ROMANS: The detail of the look is that she was so nervous, trying to keep her gaze steady. That's where the look came from.
BERMAN: I'm not like an old movie guy, but I can watch the movies with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall again and again and again because what they had, oh, my goodness.
ROMANS: Really something.
BERMAN: All right. Happening now, 138 U.S. military advisers heading to Iraq. Why U.S. airstrikes may not be enough to stop the terrorists from my taking over that country, and why the U.S. is discussing doing more? That's next.
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