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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Order Restored in Ferguson; National Guard Pulling Out of Ferguson; ISIS Terror Threat; Gaza Airstrikes Kill 3 Hamas Commanders; Chicago Eliminates Mo'ne Davis & Philly

Aired August 22, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a peaceful end to a night of protests in Ferguson, Missouri after the shooting death of an unarmed teenager, Michael Brown. The state's governor is calling off the National Guard as we hear from Brown's parents and learn new information about the past of a star witness in the case.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A terror organization be on anything this country has seen. The U.S. issuing a new warning about ISIS days after the militants murdered a kidnapped U.S. journalist.

What makes these terrorists so powerful as the U.S. hunts for the British jihadist who killed James Foley? Live team coverage from Iraq and London ahead.

Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell, in for John Berman. Good to be here for a second day.

ROMANS: Nice to see you.

BLACKWELL: It's Friday, August 22, 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And calm and order have been restored and they're taking hold on the streets of Ferguson. Governor Jay Nixon is ordering National Guard troops to systemically withdraw from the embattled Missouri town, demonstrators now numbering in the dozens instead of the thousands. The mood there, more measured, but the anger remains, nearly two weeks after the shooting death of Michael Brown.

We get more from Stephanie Elam this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor and Christine, another peaceful night here in Ferguson. Protesters took to the streets, but they stayed calm. The police also stayed out of their way. In fact, we listened to Captain Ron Johnson talk about how the night went. Here is what he had to say.

GOV. RON JOHNSON, MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL: We also experimented with pulling cars back from the street to allow more room for marching. That trend is continuing. We had to respond to few incidents tonight. There were no Molotov cocktails tonight, no fires, no shootings. We did not see a single handgun.

Again, tonight, we deployed no smoke devices, no tear gas and no mace. And again tonight, no police officer fired a single shot.

ELAM: Captain Johnson also said that there were seven arrests last night. Compare that to two nights ago when they had 47 arrests. And he said, of those seven, three were from Detroit, the other four did come from the St. Louis area.

But, overall, they're saying, things continue to improve. And he credit that to not just the police changing their tactics, but also to the clergy and to the elders in the community, as well as the young people, for doing their part to keep nerves calm.

And you could definitely feel it on the streets. The energy was much different today. You could feel it was calmer, the police looked more relaxed.

We also spent some time at the memorial, at the location where Mike Brown died. And the energy there was pretty solemn. People were stopping by to leave candles, and to drop off flowers.

And at one point, there was a prayer group that showed up. They came up singing a spiritual. They sang for a bit, they prayed for a bit, and then they kept on walking.

We saw another group arrived, and they came with flowers. And quietly, they just lay down flower after flower, down the street, along the way back to Florissant, West Florissant Avenue, which has been the hubbub of so much of this tension, just handing them out to people standing by. An effort to bring peace back to this community and for the people who were there, a moment and a place where they could focus on Mike Brown and remember him and the loss of life that did happen almost two weeks ago now -- Christine and Victor.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: All right. Stephanie Elam, thank you for that, Stephanie. Michael Brown's mother says her face-to-face meeting this week with the Attorney General Eric Holder mattered. Lesley McSpadden telling CNN's Anderson Cooper, Holder promised her a fair and thorough investigation into the shooting death of her son. She says the attorney general helped restore some of her trust for authorities. McSpadden addressed her son's detractors who are quick to point out the teenager is accused of robbing a convenience store before his deadly encounter with Officer Darren Wilson.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LESLEY MCSPADDEN, MICHAEL BROWN'S MOTHER: He was a teenager. He was growing up. He was only 18. He had a chance to make a mistake and correct it. Just like the officer. He had a choice. He chose the wrong one.

And was it really necessary? No. My son is only 18. Only 18.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Brown's parents say their son was peaceful and humble. They are calling for the arrest of Officer Darren Wilson so they can, quote, "have some peace."

BLACKWELL: A key witness in the Michael Brown case was arrested in 2011 for theft and making a false report to police. And there's a warrant for his arrest right now in Jefferson City, Missouri. Twenty- two-year-old Dorian Johnson who was with Brown the day he was killed, if you follow the story, you recognize his face and his name, they claimed that the unarmed teen, he claims was shot running away from police with his hands up.

Now, in the summer of 2011, police claimed that Johnson lied about his identity, his age and address when he was being questioned about stealing a woman's backpack. Well, here's what Johnson's attorney is saying. "Dorian Johnson's past transgressions do not change these facts nor do they justify Officer Wilson's grotesque and deadly violation of Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson's civil rights."

Now, as we detailed last hour, some will ask, why is this relevant? Well, because it speaks to Johnson's credibility especially when it comes to speaking with police and describing incidents and those incidents reported. So, if this were something else, maybe it would not be relative.

But because so much of this case early on hinged upon his story, because he was there, that's why this is relevant and that's why we're reporting it.

Stay with CNN for continuing coverage of the latest developments in Ferguson, Missouri.

(MUSIC)

ROMANS: A chilling warning from the Pentagon about the terror group ISIS. Senior defense officials describe the organization as apocalyptic and an imminent threat. Listen to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. He's at a Pentagon briefing Thursday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHUCK HAGEL, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: ISIL is a sophisticated and well- funded as any group we have seen. They are beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology, sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh, this is beyond anything that we have seen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: U.S. airstrikes on ISIS targets continue in Iraq. But Secretary Hagel warns, defeating the terror group won't be possible unless its presence in Syria is addressed. But he would not say if the U.S. is considering military strikes there.

Let's bring in Jomana Karadsheh monitoring the latest developments live from Baghdad.

And you say that the U.S. air campaign, the airstrikes, have really slowed what looked like unstoppable momentum of ISIS in Iraq.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christine.

We have to look at what has taken place over the past week. Most of the U.S. airstrikes have been focused around the Mosul dam area. More than half of the 90 strikes carried out since August 8th have been concentrated there. And they have allowed that air power, air support, has enabled Kurdish and Iraqi forces to regain control of the Mosul dam. We've also seen how the airstrikes stop the advances of ISIS on the Kurdish city of Irbil.

But as has been mentioned by the senior U.S. defense officials, this is not enough. ISIS still controls big parts of this country, major cities like the city of Mosul, like the city of Fallujah, to the West, are under complete control of ISIS. And while these airstrikes have been a significant setback for ISIS, it's not really enough to weaken it or defeat the group. Other things need to happen.

Here in Baghdad, the political process is key. This new government that's being formed, the new prime minister needs to bring in the Sunni community who at the past few years have felt marginalized and sidelined by the sectarian policies of prime minister Nouri al Maliki. In the past, the Sunni community aided the U.S. military and its presence here in combating and fighting the predecessor of ISIS, al Qaeda in Iraq. So, they will be key.

And also, we cannot look at the situation in Iraq in isolation. The situation in Syria, as mentioned, they have, ISIS has sanctuary. It has the ability to withdraw back into the Syria, as a result of these airstrikes, regroup and strike back.

Over the past couple weeks, we have also seen ISIS make more advances in Syria, in the northern part of the country. So, tackling the issue of ISIS this is going to be key.

ROMANS: Key indeed. Jomana Karadsheh for us this morning in Baghdad -- thank you.

BLACKWELL: Meanwhile, Scotland Yard, British intelligence officials and the FBI are all trying to identify the black-hooded ISIS executioner who killed U.S. journalist James Foley. His distinctively British accent on a videotape of the beheading may have left behind more clues about him than he intended.

Atika Shubert live from London with the latest on the investigation.

Give us an idea of these clues that investigators are combing through.

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they'll be looking at visual clues, of course, the build and height of this, what appears to be a British militant and the fact that he does seem to be left-handed. They'll also be looking specifically at his voice. He has a very distinct accent. And we've spoken to linguistic experts who say they believe this is an accent that comes from South of England, possibly the London area, and somebody who's quite well-educated, seemed -- probably well-off and group up here from a very young age.

So, now, what investigators will be looking at is comparing that voice to what they have in their database. They have a number of video and audio recordings of militants that have gone to fight in Syria and Iraq. They have been trying to keep track of hundreds that have gone there. Sao, they'll be combing through what they have to see if there's a match, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Atika Shubert for us in London, following the investigation and hunt for that executioner -- thank you, Atika.

ROMANS: All right. Eleven minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money this Friday morning.

Stocks at highs. A rough start to the month, but this much talked about correction of 10 percent or more never came. The bull market back on track. The S&P 500 closed at a record yesterday, the 28th record of the year. The Dow closed above 17,000 for the first time since the end of July.

U.S. stocks futures pointing higher right now, could mean another record day. One factor in how stocks perform, the Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, Yellen speaking at the Fed's annual symposium in Jackson Hole this morning. Earlier this week, the Fed minutes showed surprise in improvements in the labor market. We'll be listening for any hints at raising interest rates earlier than expected, something that could, could put the brakes on the stock market.

BLACKWELL: All right. Israel, another story we are following, making critical gains in its war against Hamas, taking out military leaders as they pound Gaza with escalating air strikes. What does this mean for peace talks ahead? We are live after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Israel is stepping up airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza. Three top Hamas military commanders already killed in the attacks. And now, the Israelis are calling up an additional 10,000 reservists, a sign of possible escalation as Hamas officials vow revenge. Palestinian President Abbas insists there's no alternative to Egypt's plan for a long-term truce. He's headed to Cairo for a round of peace talks this weekend.

Let's bring in Karl Penhaul live from Jerusalem.

Karl, we've heard these threats from Hamas. We've seen this call of additional 10,000 troops. Does it seem like something new or is this a return to what we saw before that brief cease-fire?

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It really is a change in the style of war, but a reversion to what we saw, in fact, before Israel launched its ground campaign, pretty much the fight between Gaza militants in Israel has gone back to being an air war. For that reason overnight, according to the Israeli military, we saw about 100 rockets in the last 24 hours, in fact, coming from the Gaza Strip towards Israel -- Israel launching several dozen airstrikes on targets inside of Gaza. Still, however, the majority of casualties in Gaza continue to be civilians, around 72 percent of the casualties, in fact, are non-combatants -- people that shouldn't be targeted in this war at all.

Of course, as well, one might say Hamas in terms of the rocket fire, that's not particularly accurate. It hasn't inflicted a serious number of casualties on the ground in Israel. But it does have tremendous symbolic and political impact, because this weekend, for example, the Israeli Football Association has canceled the start of soccer season. So, that shows Israeli's life cannot go on as normal.

Also as well, Hamas has said it will target Ben-Gurion International Airport. Now, when the FAA canceled U.S. airlines flying into that airport last month because of the threat there, that was a huge international embarrassment to Israel.

And also, don't forget, just around the corner, the start of the school year both in Israel and in Gaza, and all that is under review. Is it safe enough for students in Israel to go back to study? And, of course, in Gaza, no chance they can go back to study because most of the schools are being used as shelters for displaced people, Victor.

BLACKWELL: Karl, quickly, Mahmoud Abbas returning to Cairo said there's no alternative to the Egyptian plan. How long will there be other people on the other side of the table with whom to negotiate?

PAUL: It's very difficult to know. We have no knowledge the militant factions have their representatives still in Cairo. No knowledge whether Hamas and Islamic Jihad are still sitting at the peace table.

The Israeli's pulled out of Cairo. There have been whiffs in the media there that maybe they will return, but nothing firm.

But, of course, the real problem there is that the cease-fire negotiations are really looking for an entire solution to the whole Palestinian problem, not really just looking at how to silence the weapons, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Karl Penhaul in Jerusalem for us this morning -- Karl, thank you.

ROMANS: A friend of Boston marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev pleading guilty to obstruction of justice and conspiracy. Dias Kadyrbayev was accused of removing a backpack and computer from Tsarnaev's dorm room with the intent, prosecutors say, of impeding the bombing investigation. Part of the plea deal with Kazakhs 20-year-old national, he'll be deported after serving up to seven years in prison.

BLACKWELL: The two American flags stolen from the top of the Brooklyn Bridge will be returned to the New York Police Department today. Two German artists claim they stole the flags and swapped them for bleached flags last month. It's unclear at this point if the pair will face charges. But the artists insists that nothing more than an art project. Whatever happened to finger painting? Stay off the bridge.

ROMANS: Performance art.

All right. Time for an EARLY START on your Friday forecast with meteorologist Indra Petersons.

Indra says Thursday is Friday eve, and then Friday comes, she goes, two-thirds of the week I'm happy --

BLACKWELL: Where is the party hat? There's got to be streamers.

ROMANS: Always working for the weekend.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You guys are already feeling it and I can see it, right? We are all happy, because, yes, it's officially Friday. Yes, there are storms out there.

Notice all the lightning around the Chicago area and the Upper Midwest watching a lot of activity, thanks to all the warm air really king of filtering in from the south. This high pressure has been building in there. Meanwhile, Northeast also continue to see some of those scattered showers out there.

Some of the places we are going to be watching: Northeast is going to get better through the weekend. High pressure is going to build in. Nicer for the weekend. The Midwest, we are looking at a lot of scattered showers as we continue through the weekend. Hot spots we are looking at toward the mid-Atlantic, Greenville, Wilmington.

Meanwhile, the biggest story is the heat. Talk about temperatures. The warmest is expected to be all year so far. Little Rock, Indianapolis, Memphis and Jacksonville are looking for warm temperatures, heat advisories are going to be out there as the temperatures are climbing. The humidity is up there.

We have to point out quickly, the number is up to 60 percent chance now for development into the Atlantic. The new thing, the bulk of them out to sea -- but again, not all of them. That is the thing to watch closely.

ROMANS: All right. We will. You will actually, you'll be watching it. I'll wait for you to tell me when I should be worried.

PETERSONS: Doing that with smile.

BLACKWELL: And Chris Rocks snags a foul ball at Yankee's Stadium. What does the big star do with the souvenir? Andy Scholes joins us with the "Bleacher Report", next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: All right. The run for Mo'ne Davis and her team from Philly has come to an end, the Little League World Series. But what a story.

BLACKWELL: Yes, and to cover that. BLACKWELL: Andy Scholes has more in this morning's "Bleacher Report".

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, good morning, guys.

You know, unfortunately, Mo'ne Davis is not going to get another shot at taking the mound at the Little League World Serious. Last night, her team was playing Chicago in an elimination game. Errors in the field would be costly for Philly in this one. This ball is thrown right by Davis at first base. Chicago takes a 4-2 lead.

Philly would make it close, but they end upcoming up short, losing 6- 5. So, Jackie Robinson, what, the team comprised of all black players from the south side of Chicago, is going to move on to play Las Vegas in Saturday's championship game.

Week three of the NFL kicking off last night with the Eagles and Steelers. Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount both playing in this game, less than 48 hours after being sided for marijuana possession. And Bell got his bell rung by DeMeco Ryans here in the first quarter. Ryans flagged for an illegal hit on that play.

Now, there was a scary moment in this one. Lesean McCoy on your fantasy team, he left the game in the first quarter with an injured thumb. But the x-rays were negative and the eagles say it's no big deal. Philly won the game 31-21. And afterwards, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said even though Bell and Blount played last night, they will face discipline for their actions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE TOMLIN, STEELERS HEAD COACH: Obviously, that conduct is detrimental to our efforts. They will be dealt with. From my perspective, in terms of their participation tonight, I didn't view it as punishment to send them home, to be quite honest with you, to not play in the preseason game.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Trending on bleacherreport.com this morning, Chris Rock taken in yesterday's Yankee's game when a foul ball headed his way. He gives it to a kid nearby, which is really nice of him, but take a look, when the ball is heading his way, instead of going for the glory, making the catch, Rock wusses and gets out of the way.

Guys, it's all about making the catch. Ending up with a baseball is not a big deal.

ROMANS: The sun in his eyes, he couldn't see where it was.

SCHOLES: Making excuses for him?

ROMANS: He makes a lot of money with that, he's got to make sure he doesn't get pounded right there.

BLACKWELL: He handed it off, which is honorable.

ROMANS: Yes, that was chivalrous.

All right. Thanks, Andy. Happy Friday. Nice to see you.

Have a great weekend even though it's only 5:30 in the East.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

ROMANS: It's a little early telling you have a weekend.

BLACKWELL: You can start your weekend as soon as Friday hits.

ROMANS: True.

Twenty-six minutes after the hour. A calm night on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. The state's governor calling off the National Guard after nights of violent protests tapered off. What changed over the last few days?

And new information we are learning about the star witness and his credibility in the Michael Brown shooting case. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)