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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Mother's Plea to ISIS for Her Son's Life; Iraqi City of Amerli Needs Help to Avoid Humanitarian Catastrophe; An American Disappeared in Jerusalem; Large Waves on Both U.S. Coasts; The Bleacher Report

Aired August 28, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a mother's carefully worded plea to a terrorist to release her son, American journalist Steven Sotloff, held captive by ISIS. The Islamic terrorist organization promising to kill him if U.S. airstrikes on their group continue. Could this mother's message help save her son?

This as the jihadists make strong gains in Iraq and Syria. President Obama now weighing his options to attack. This morning, we are learning new information about ISIS recruiting teenagers here in the U.S. We have live team coverage from London and Iraq ahead.

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Berman. Great to see you, and it is Thursday, August 28th, 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And this morning remains to be seen what impact, if any, the emotional plea by the mother of an American hostage will have on ISIS. The mother of Steven Sotloff appealing directly to the leader of ISIS in a video message to spare her son's life asking to release him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHIRLEY SOTLOFF, MOTHER OF KIDNAPPED JOURNALIST: Steven has no control over the actions of the U.S. government. He's an innocent journalist. I have always learned that you the Caliph can grant amnesty. I ask you to please release my child.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Very interesting there. She refers to al-Baghdadi as the Caliph. Steven Sotloff was taken captive by terrorists a year ago while covering the civil war in Syria. CNN's Karl Penhaul is following the latest developments. He's live for us in London. Karl, going line by line in this plea, it is fascinating. And the analysts telling you, telling us here, that this was a very effective message this mother was sending.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, absolutely. A key message, John, because the person we have been talking to, a kidnap and ransom adviser who's had a broad experience with this in Latin America or Africa or in the Middle East, he says that this kind of message in this kind of situation is very strategic message. He says that what the statement aims to do is really to recast the debate to show Steven Sotloff as a human being, try and get away from this notion that he is simply a political pawn, a piece of chuckle. But get back to the fact that he is a human being, that he's an individual and really has nothing to do with U.S. policy. Now, of course, what is also important here is not just to look at this plea by a desperate mother, but to see it also as trying to open a line of communication with ISIS, to try and say look, you and I, by name, let's sit down. Let's talk. Opening the line to a possible negotiation.

Now, of course, what the expert we have been talking to says that the nightmare scenario would be, in any kidnap situation, that the victim was being held by a bunch of crazy hot heads that have no real idea what they are doing. Ironically, it's much better to be in the hands of an experienced kidnapper who knows what he is doing and who knows what realistically he can demand. And the expert we talked to said, that undoubtedly ISIS does have some expert kidnappers. Particularly the Chechens who cut their teeth on kidnapping the war against Russia.

Certainly, though, right now, of course, no sense that there is any financial demand for Steven Sotloff. Most of the demands have been political. Although we do know that other European countries widely reported that they have been paying ransoms under the table for the freedom of their citizens. John?

BERMAN: The analysts you are speaking to, forget for a second whether or not it will lead to the release of Steven Sotloff, that might be a miracle at this point, but do they think it will elicit at least a response from ISIS?

PENHAUL: They didn't talk specifically about a response. And it's not always the case that lines of communications, once they have been opened, a public lines of communication, but it could lead to some -- well, private line of communication behind the scenes that quite feasibly, we would never find out about.

Also, if there were a ransom demand and even a ransom payment under the table, that again, is something that quite feasibly we would never find out about it. But what the experts also interesting and told us about was that this strategy of opening a line of personal communication there on the one hand is very good.

And also, this perceived pressure by U.S. and British intelligence services kind of saying, we think we know who the kidnappers are. It's not a bad idea as well. It's a kind of a jewel precious strategy here, also letting the kidnappers know that there could be some consequences to their actions, somebody has their eye on them. And to use Steven Sotloff now as a way of getting out of a problem rather than just killing him and turning this into a much bigger mess than it already is, John.

BERMAN: Karl Penhaul for us in London. Thanks so much, Karl.

ROMANS: While President Obama considers possible airstrikes against ISIS in Syria, the terrorist group is now claiming responsibility for a series of car bombings in Iraq last weekend. Meantime, the U.S. is considering a humanitarian relief operation to help Iraqis who have been under siege by ISIS for weeks.

CNN's Anna Coren has the details. She's live in Erbil, Iraq. And tell us, Iraqi officials want more help from the Americans?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They do. They desperately need more help from the Americans in way of aid, but also airstrikes. The township of Amerli, which is about 100 miles north of Baghdad has been under siege from ISIS militants for two months now. It's local police and volunteers who manage to somehow keep these ISIS fighters just on the outskirts of the city. Although we do understand just from this morning that ISIS fighters are at the gates of Amerli. They've managed to cut off water and power to this township of Turkmen Shia. 12,000 people.

We are getting reports from the Turkmen Foundation who have family and friends on the ground there that dozens of children have died from dehydration, from starvation. This is how dire the situation is according to that organization. But certainly, the U.N. special representative for Iraq is waiting to this several days ago warning that a potential massacre could be under way. And asking that the Iraqi military get much more involved. And we understand that that is taking place now. But they need the support of those U.S. airstrikes.

We also understand, Christine, that President Obama is now considering airstrikes in that area. Mainly being focused obviously here in the north around Erbil as well Mosul Dam. That apparently that is now on the table to stop a potential massacre from unfolding in Amerli.

ROMANS: All right, Anna Coren, of course, this morning, in Erbil, Iraq. Thank you, Anna.

BERMAN: There's more this morning of another American killed in Syria in addition to Douglas McCain who was also fighting for ISIS. This is coming from a Syrian opposition group who did not identify the second American. This, as the FBI investigates Douglas McCain's terror origins. He's from the Minneapolis area which the FBI says has become fertile recruiting ground for Islamic terrorists.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYLE LOVEN, FBI SPOKESMAN: Unfortunately, the recruiters and those who would lure youth overseas are very aware that they have a pool of potential travelers here in Minneapolis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Douglas McCain attended the same high school as Troy Kastigar who was killed fighting for the terror group Al Shabab in Somalia.

ROMANS: American journalist Peter Theo Curtis making his first public statement as being released after two years in captivity in Syria. He says he is grateful beyond words to those who worked so hard for his freedom and to the welcome home he has received.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) PETER THEO CURTIS, JOURNALIST FREED FROM SYRIA: I had no idea when I was in prison, I had no idea that so much effort was being expended on my behalf. And now having found out, I'm just overwhelmed with emotion. I'm also overwhelmed by one other thing that is that total strangers have been coming up to me saying hey, we are just glad you are home. Welcome home, glad you are back, glad you are safe. Great to see you. I suddenly remember how good the American people are and what kindness they have in their hearts and to all those people, I say a huge thank you from my heart, from the bottom of my heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Curtis telling fellow journalists he plans to answer all their questions but first he needs time to decompress, John, and he needs to bond with his mother.

BERMAN: What a nice young boy.

ROMANS: Right. The FBI investigating coordinated cyber-attacks on JPMorgan Chas and other major banks. Possibly stemming from Russia. Experts say the hack was sophisticated. Hackers able to breakthrough bank security and steal account information.

The U.S. official told CNN the extent of the damage and where the hack came from still isn't clear. The hackers from Russia are often top FBI suspects. And the timing of the hack has raised suspicions given U.S. sanctions against Russia. In response to the breech, JPMorgan said companies of its size experience cyber-attacks every day and the bank has measures to protect itself. What they really will be looking at here is what the hackers are going for, was it account information or was it trading desk information about oil and gas movements? That's what also they could be looking at.

Let's get a quick check of the markets. European shares moving lower right now, Asian shares ending down. The S&P 500, record high yesterday, but stock futures pointing a little bit lower right now.

BERMAN: Website glitches, too, causing problems for Obamacare. Hundreds of thousands of insurance customers, they've been told they could lose their health coverage. Why? Well, more than 300,000 people have been asked to confirm their citizenship status with the administration. But bugs in the website, healthcare.gov prevent many from submitting the required proof. They have until the end of next week to provide the information or their insurance will be cancelled at the end of September.

ROMANS: Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal suing the Obama administration over Common Core education standards. The suit claims federal grant money and regulations were manipulated to effectively force states to adopt these uniformed education standards in testing. The Republican governor accuses the White House of sending states down a path toward national curriculum in violation of the Constitution state sovereignty clause.

BERMAN: Protesters demanding action in the wake of the Michael Brown shooting. They are taking their case to the White House planning to deliver a petition with some 900,000 signatures urging what they called justice for Michael Brown. The petition calls on the Justice Department to investigate, prosecute and fire all police officers involved in the shooting of the unarmed teenager. Police today scaling back their presence in Ferguson, following several nights of relative calm. Highway Patrol Captain Ron Johnson says state and county police will now have a reduced role.

Happening right now. A New Jersey father's desperate search for his son missing in Israel. This is a fascinating story. We are live with the very latest, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Israel and Hamas are now both declaring victory in the Gaza war. But the important thing is here neither side is shooting. And the indefinite cease-fire they agreed to it is still holding. Meantime, Israeli officials are investigating the disappearance of Aaron Sofer, a New Jersey religious student who went missing last week while hiking near Jerusalem. His parents making this appeal on YouTube.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHULDA SOFER, MOTHER OF MISSING STUDENT: I beg of you, beg you, please, if anyone sees him, any -- of Aaron, please call the police immediately.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: It was, of course, the kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers by Hamas that helped trigger the seven week Gaza fighting.

CNN's Ben Wedeman is live for us in the Golan Heights and we just don't know whether this young man was abducted. It's just simply a mystery at this point.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a complete mystery, Christine. In fact, it's now been six days since 23-year-old Aaron Sofer went missing in the Jerusalem forest, just west of that city. He was hiking with a companion there. They are apparently, according to that companion, they reached the steep incline, they became separated when the companion got to the bottom of that incline. Aaron Sofer was nowhere to be found. He contacted the police.

Now, the police have been conducting a fairly thorough search of that area using sniffer dogs, the foot patrols, police on horseback. But until now, they say they have found absolutely nothing. Now, some of the friends, family and supporters of Aaron Sofer were out there yesterday doing a search of their own. But they have found nothing so far. The family has offered a $100,000 shekel reward, that's about $28,000 for any information leading to the discovery of Aaron. But until now, nothing, nothing has shown up.

The police aren't saying whether they believe the motive behind his disappearance was criminal, political, personal. They simply don't know. And apparently, you know, and this is a country which has a lot of security, a lot of police. And it's very unusual for people to simply disappear without a trace like this. Christine?

ROMANS: All right, such a mystery six days on now. Thanks much, Ben Wedeman for us this morning.

BERMAN: The sister of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been arrested for alleged bomb threat against a woman in New York City. Ailina Tsarnaev who lives in New Jersey is charged with aggravated harassment. Police say she phoned in the threat to the woman who said to be her ex-boyfriend's girlfriend saying quote, "I know people who can put a bomb on you."

ROMANS: Authorities in Omaha confirm it was a police officer's bullet that killed a crew member of the V show "Cops" during a robbery at a fast food restaurant. The 38-year-old Bryce Dyon was hit by an officer's errand bullet during the shootout with the robbery suspect. Police say the suspect who was also killed was armed with a pellet gun.

A new gun control bill is gaining tractions in California. That measure would allow family members to ask a judge to order firearms be removed from people likely to commit gun violence. Now, this bill, introduced after police in Santa Barbara said they were unable to confiscate weapons from the 22-year-old who later went on a deadly shooting spree, despite concerns from that shooter's family members about his mental health.

BERMAN: A search and rescue mission under way for the pilot of a fighter jet that crashed in Virginia of the Air Force National Guard F-15 went down in a rugged area of the George Washington National Forest on Wednesday. The plane was on a test flight from Massachusetts to Louisiana where the pilot reported an in-flight emergency. Barnes Air, the National Guard base says it lost radio contact with the flight about 25 minutes before the crash.

ROMANS: Look at this, in Indiana, reports of a violent explosion at a BP refinery. According to local stations, people as far as two miles away reported feeling this blast. The houses shook, pictures knocked off the walls. A fire department official said BP issued an all-clear more than two hours after the explosion. A BP says a fire ignited after a compressor exploded. No reports of injuries, thankfully.

All right, powerful storms on both coasts. Land for kicking up. Look at that monster waves. And that's just how the big game surfers like it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAIRD HAMILTON, BIG WAVE SURFER: We live for this. This is like we wait our life for this stuff to happen. So, you know, we are -- we spend our whole life waiting for the storm of our lifetime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: He is a professional. A lot of people out there have been rescued, by the way, because they -- you know, it's a real danger there. There've been hundreds of water rescues in the Pacific and violent surf led to the death of one surfer.

BERMAN: All right. Let's get a sense of what's going on today. Indra Petersons is here with the forecast.

ROMANS: Hey, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's not 20, if not 25 feet, if you are familiar with the wedge, out in Orange County, yeah, unbelievable surf out there. And it's not just in California. Take a look at really the entire country right now. On the East Coast, look at the high risk for rip currents even from Cristobal, and then, of course, all the way in the west. (INAUDIBLE) still looking at the high surf and rip currents.

And now, even a tropical -- let's say it again, disturbance developing along the gulf. So, even there, we do have the concern in the water around the gulf. So close to Labor Day weekend and really not a safe place to be in the water if you're on the beach. What are we looking at -- yes, this is making its way offshore, but still even today, we are still talking about that high surf out towards California, especially out towards the wedge again. Most of the sets are going to be kind of diminishing over the next several days. But still, ten to 15 foot sets will be possible in that region.

Cristobal is out there as well, still making its way just west of Bermuda. And by the way, even though you are this far north, it is still strengthening. About 85 miles per hour staying as that category one hurricane. The impacts are going to be felt even on the Eastern sea board. Five to seven foot surf. Even eight to 12 feet there once you talk about kind of near the Boston region, of course, with that, we are still talking about that very high risk for rip currents. Definitely not the place to be in the water.

Showers are going to be out there, especially in the Midwest. Scattered showers through that Labor Day weekend. Even through Atlanta as well. Temperature wise, a huge drop. Remember yesterday, 91 in Boston. Today 80, tomorrow down to 70. But not as that, the mid-Atlantic, you are still kind of normal where you should be this time of year.

ROMANS: A lot going on in your piece.

PETERSONS: I know. I'm trying to talk as fast as possible.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Indra.

BERMAN: USC Josh Shaw, well, he has got some explaining to do. I've got - a whole lot of explaining. That story of heroism, the one he was telling, a lie. Andy Scholes has the details on the "Bleacher Report," next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: USC captain Josh Shaw, well, he has fessed up now, admitting that the story told about saving a drowning nephew was a lie.

ROMANS: Oh, boy, Andy Scholesm he's got the more in this morning's Bleacher Report. Too good to be true.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: Yeah, it sure was, guys, and after people started questioning the authenticity of Shaw story, USC started -- getting in that's when Shaw finally decided it was time to tell the truth.

In a statement, Shaw said, in part, "On Saturday, I injured myself in a fall. I made up a story about this fall that was untrue. I was wrong to not tell the truth. I apologize to USC for this action on my part." USC has suspended Shaw indefinitely. And the circumstances surrounding Shaw's injuries are still very cloudy. The police were called to the apartment where Shaw fell from a balcony. He was mentioned, but not as a suspect in a report involving a Saturday night break-in.

The long wait is over for Browns fans. And it's not good news. The NFL has ruled they are going to uphold star wide receiver Josh Gordon's yearlong suspension after he violated a league substance abuse policy for the second time. Now, Browns will be in action tonight as the NFL preseason wraps up with 16 games on the schedule.

A group of soccer parents and players have filed a class action lawsuit against FIFA, which is soccer's governing body. The suit claims FIFA has been negligent in monitoring and treating head injuries. The plaintiffs are not seeking financial damages, but instead, are asking for changes to the sport's rules such as limiting leaders -- limiting headers for children and altering FIFA's substitution protocols.

All right, guys, you are going to check out this video from the U.S. Open yesterday. Caroline Wozniacki who is looking to return this shot, but she can't because her hair gets stuck in her racket. Look at this, she still tried to take ...

BERMAN: Oh. Wow. Oh ...

SCHOLES: Ouch, that had to hurt. That doesn't happen very often. Now Wozniacki, she was able to shake that off and avoid her hair the rest of the match. She was able to go on and win in straight set of the game. That had to hurt. And guys, look at for something to watch today, Serena is back in action this afternoon, as well as 15-year old sensation CiCi Bellis. She's actually going to be taking the court in prime time tonight. And I'm guessing there will be many more cameras and people watching this match as there were in her first round match. Again, that's tonight 7:00 Eastern. Prime time, she's going to be at court 17, which is also a much bigger stadium than she played in in her first game.

ROMANS: I wonder if Wozniacki could have headed the ball in to go from FIFA to tennis.

BERMAN: Oh, yeah, worrying about concussions in tennis.

(LAUGHTER)

BERMAN: Very much.

Andy Scholes, thanks so much.

ROMANS: An American mother's carefully worded plea to terrorists to spare her son's life. Steven Sotloff held hostage by ISIS. His mother begging for his release, possibly strategically as President Obama weighs the best options for taking this terror group down. Live team coverage after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)