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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

ISIS Siege Broken; Putin Raising the Stakes; CNN Exclusive: Americans Detained in North Korea Speak Out

Aired September 01, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: A major CNN exclusive. The three known Americans being held captive in North Korea speaking out this morning only to CNN. How they have been treated? Do they think they will make it back home? We'll bring rare and unprecedented interviews.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Siege broken. American airstrikes bring relief to thousands in Iraq facing slaughter by ISIS. But President Obama is facing growing criticism about how he's dealing with the terrorism group. Members of his own party are now saying he's been too cautious.

BERMAN: Raising the stakes. Russia's President Vladimir Putin pushing for stakes on statehood for eastern Ukraine. The provocative language raising red flags this morning as the top U.S. lawmakers suggest to CNN that the U.S. should arm Ukrainian forces.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Monday, the first day of September. It is Labor Day. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

We'll bring you to those incredible inclusive interviews from North Korea in just a moment. But, first, Iraqi forces celebrating a major victory on the ground. Breaking the ISIS stranglehold on Amerli and entering that besieged town under the cover of American jets, targeted air strikes on ISIS positions. The U.S. and its allies also dropped food and water to aid thousands of Iraqis. These are Turkmen Shiites who have been cut off by ISIS for weeks.

CNN's Anna Coren is live in Irbil with this, strange in a way, coordinated or not coordinated effort between the U.S., Iran, the Peshmerga militia, Iraqi military -- quite an effort here.

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, quite an effort. I think that's a good way to describe it. But, you know, a combination of some sworn enemies there. We are talking about these Shiite militia leading this ground offensive with the Iraqi military. Now, this militia backed by Iran, the same that fought U.S. soldiers on the ground during that long occupation here in Iraq backed by those U.S. airstrikes, which, as you know, changed the situation on the ground, providing that cover so that forces can move in and as they did, liberate the township of Amerli.

Less than 20,000 people who had been trapped there more than two months, food, water cut off as we have been discussing for days. But, finally, they were able to push through, breakthrough and save these people. We heard from the United Nations more than a week ago that there was a crisis unfolding, that there was a potential massacre that could take place. It then took another week before this international community came to the aid of these people. But, certainly, from what we are hearing, crisis has been averted.

But, John and Christine, as we know it, it's one thing to go after a small remote farming village. It's another thing to go after the stronghold of ISIS in the major cities of Mosul and Tikrit and Fallujah.

BERMAN: Not to mention to go after ISIS in Syria, which, of course, is part of the discussion here in the United States.

Anna Coren for us in Irbil, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right. In Washington, President Obama faces mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle for a strategy to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Lawmakers insist the threat ISIS poses to the U.S. is immediate and the president's go slow approach to the Islamic terrorists in Syria won't work.

We get more this morning from CNN's Erin McPike.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, President Obama is taking harsh criticism from both sides of this aisle on this point. Republicans especially want him to lay out whether his goal is to simply contain ISIS or defeat them.

And John McCain was on CBS on Sunday morning and he pushed hard on that point. Take a listen.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: A full-blown strategy would be recognizing that we now are facing the largest, most powerful, wealthiest terrorist organization in history and it's going to require strong measures to defeat them. They must be defeated, not contained. And we have -- first of all, we have to have a strategy. The president said he didn't. But what our goals there, if you want to build coalitions, what are you telling allies?

MCPIKE: And, of course, the point there is that President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will all be traveling overseas this week with the goal of trying to rally allies to the United States to the same cause, to fight ISIS.

Now, to that end, Dianne Feinstein who, of course, chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, was on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday morning and she suggested, hinted I would say as well, that the rest of the Obama administration may be a little further along than President Obama himself suggested.

Listen. SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: I have learned one thing about this president, and that is he's very cautious -- maybe in this instance, too cautious.

MCPIKE: On the House side, Democrats who serve on the House Armed Services Committee are upset because Congress is not schedule to come back to Washington until September 8th. Then on September 9th, there is to be a classified briefing for members of the House Armed Services Committee, but those Democrats are upset because they want to come back to Washington earlier. They are afraid they are being sidelined.

So, we should be seeing more political fireworks this week, John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Our thanks to Erin McPike for that report.

Now, in just a few hours in London, British Prime Minister David Cameron will address parliament on the growing threat from ISIS in Iraq and Syria. This has led to the raising of Britain's terror alert from substantial to severe. The prime minister is expected to announce strong new anti-terrorism measures. Let's get a sense of what they might be.

CNN's Erin McLaughlin is live for us in London.

Good morning, Erin.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John.

All over the weekend, we saw this really intense debate about if any additional counterterrorism measures are necessary to combat this perceived threat of British extremism at home and abroad. On Friday, we heard David Cameron and today, he plans on introducing new legislation that would make it easier for government officials to seize passports from British jihadists trying to travel to places such as Syria. It's currently estimated there are some 500 British jihadists traveled there to Syria, expected some 250 thought to have returned back to the United Kingdom.

And yet, according to current legislation, only 23 passports have been seized by British officials since April, 2013. So, government officials very much looking at ways to address that gap. There's also on the table, a proposal to potentially ban temporarily those carrying passports who travelled on an extremist agenda from returning to the United Kingdom. And that proposal, more controversial, some people saying it's a violation of international law.

So, what we are seeing right now playing out in the United Kingdom is an intense debate about the need to preserve people's civil liberties and the need to protect people against terrorism.

BERMAN: All right. Erin McLaughlin live for us in London. Thanks so much, Erin.

ROMANS: All right. Now, to a major CNN exclusive. Right now, three known Americans are being held captive in North Korea.

Our Will Ripley was in North Korea and had this rare and unprecedented interview with all three of these Americans in Pyongyang.

Who are they? Kenneth Bae, a missionary detained in 2012. Pyongyang accused Bae of planning to bring down the government through religious activities.

BERMAN: Also talking to CNN, Matthew Miller who is detained in April, and Jeffrey Fowle was accused of leaving a bible in his hotel room.

Will Ripley, who had these really remarkable discussions, joins us now by phone from Pyongyang.

Will, we had so many questions for you. How were you able to speak to these men at all? Walk us through what happened here?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Well, we were here on a tour of North Korea and I say government tour because it's carefully controlled. We were pulled away out of our normal schedule today. We are about two hours outside Pyongyang, having lunch at that time and I was told I immediately had to leave the lunch (AUDIO GAP) and said that he had to drive to Pyongyang to meet with a high level government official. We had put in several requests, speak with people, including the detained Americans at the beginning of our trip. We got in a van, we drove to Pyongyang. We were taken to a secret location and walk in to building.

And that's when we were told that we weren't going to be speaking to a government official, but in fact, we would be speaking with Jeffrey Fowle, Matthew Miller, and Kenneth Bae, who, of course, is the American who has been detained in North Korea now for almost two years.

All three men told us that they had received humane treatment. Miller and Fowle are currently awaiting trials, as you mentioned, Fowle is accused of leaving a bible, which is -- Miller is accused of tearing up his tourist fees and seeking asylum upon entry into the DPRK. Kenneth Bae was convicted of what the North Koreans claim is a plot, a Christian plot, to overthrow the regime here. All three men say they have signed statements admitting their guilt. They say they're being treated well, but they also say this is a desperate situation.

Here's what Kenneth Bae told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH BAE, DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA: My health is failing and I have been transferred back from the hospital to the camp. I lost 15 pounds or more. It's been very difficult to stay in camp right now. So, I do ask U.S. government and the people out there to really put an effort to send somebody to make it work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: Kenneth Bae says he's working eight-hour days at the labor camp. He says he's the only prisoner there and he has about 20 North Korean officials, including guards, doctors and others who are supervising him. The other two Americans right now are living in hotel rooms in Pyongyang. They're getting three meals a day.

They say they are able to walk outside once a day with their guides. But they know that that could soon change. Their trials could be happening in one month time, sentencing happens immediately after that trial, John.

ROMANS: Wow. How remarkable. I mean, so many people have been wanting to hear from these three men, Kenneth Bae, someone who's made headlines in this country. For a long time, the United States government didn't even know why he was being held.

Tell me a little bit about the mechanics behind this. Why do you think they took you to this room? What was the point of Pyongyang of letting you talk to them?

RIPLEY: Well, right now, the situation politically with North Korea and pretty much most of the rest of the world is very tense. And it's clear, we have gotten the impression from the North Korean government, they desire a more open line of communication with the United States, specifically. They want to talk to America.

These men, all three of them are reaching out, hoping the United States government will send a special envoy here much like Bill Clinton came here to help secure the release of some journalists who were detained after they crossed the border illegally in North Korea. They are hoping for something similar that they can get out of the situation that they are in right now.

BERMAN: Will, we should make clear, you are speaking to us from inside North Korea right now. So, it is highly likely this conversation is being monitored on many different levels.

But did you get the sense these three prisoners were speaking freely to you or did this somehow feel scripted or restricted?

RIPLEY: Well, we were given specific guidelines about what we could talk about in the interview. We could ask about the charges they are facing, we could ask them about their living conditions and whether they are being treated humanely. They could give a message to family and government. That was it. Five minutes with each.

We were recorded while we did the interview. We were told that the government would be closely watching to make sure that we didn't violate any of those conditions, which we did not. When you come to North Korea as a journalist, from the moment you arrived, you hand over your cell phone, it's registered. You wear an arm band that identify as journalist. We have two government minders who accompanied us on this trip.

So, there's no doubt that we're -- all of our actions, the actions of anybody who comes to North Korea as a tourists or especially a journalist, it's monitored very closely. As the three men learned, when you violate the law in this country, no matter what country you are from, there's a good chance you will be detained. There could be serious consequences.

As Kenneth Bae found out, a missionary here, accused of trying to plot -- to spread a Christian plot to somehow topple the government here in North Korea. Matthew Miller is a little more unclear why he tore up his visa and sought asylum.

But Jeffrey Fowle left a bible to a seaman's club in Chongjin. He's on a rare trip to the DPRK. He admitted to doing that. It's considered a covert act here.

You had these -- all men have signed statements admitting their guilt and asking for the forgiveness of the North Korean government and its people.

So, if you step out of bounds here, and it's taken seriously and consequences, as these three Americans have learned, they no longer have the freedom of things they had in the United States. They are under 24/7 supervision. They are essentially prisoners here, even though two right now are staying in hotels. Kenneth Bae has spent his time in a labor camp and then in hospital when he had some health problems because he has been dealing with some health setbacks in recent months.

ROMANS: We should say Kenneth Bae convicted and sentenced to 15 years of labor. And he's someone who his family and his friends have really sought to find out more about the charges against him and get him released because of his health and they think he's being unfairly detained there.

It's so opaque, the system there. I mean, we don't just know what the intentions are of Kim Jong-un, why he's trying to reach -- everything that happens there happens with the -- only with the blessing of authorities. So, motive maybe will be able to expound more on motive when he's not actually in DPRK.

BERMAN: No, indeed.

Will Ripley, thank you so much for this. I think the families of these three men, I think will be thrilled to at least see them, see pictures of them. Kenneth Bae says he's not doing well. So, I can't say they are thrilled to see them not happy and healthy. But to see their images will be important to those families.

Will Ripley, we do appreciate your work there. We're going to check back in with you as soon as we can, because I have to say, this is remarkable to see and hear. Surprising.

ROMANS: It's surprising. It's remarkable. You might recall, earlier this year, Chris Cuomo and Dennis Rodman got in this -- you know, a tussle about Dennis Rodman's trip to South Korea where -- to North Korea where he made suggestions that Kenneth Bae was being held for good reason. You can remember that and the problem that is caused.

But we want to talk to his family. We also want to talk to government officials in the United States. Will they send someone? Does this -- is it opening some sort of communication? BERMAN: Well, it is interesting. Kenneth Bae said, send somebody to

make it work. S end someone to negotiate.

The North Koreans are going to be saying, you got to send someone high profile to make this kind of deal. They are looking for some kind of propaganda coup, it seems.

ROMANS: Yes.

All right. Fifteen minutes past the hour.

In Libya, U.S. officials say the main U.S. embassy compound in Tripoli is being guarded and has not been ransacked. That came after a video posted on online, showing militia members frolicking in a swimming pool in an embassy annex. It was believed members of an Islamist militia have taken over the complex. Libyan officials say that the militants are securing the compound and did not attack it.

U.S. diplomatic personnel were evacuated last month amid heavy fighting. Libya has been rocked by the worst violence since Moammar Gadhafi fell three years ago.

BERMAN: There's some breaking news in Pakistan. Three people are dead, hundreds more injured after protesters clashed with police in that country's capital. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets on these demonstrators who marched on the home of the prime minister, demanding his resignation because they say his party allegedly rigged last year's e lexes. The prime minister has denied those allegations.

A whole lot of weather here last night.

ROMANS: Oh, yes.

BERMAN: Not sure you got much sleep with all the banging out there.

Let's get a look at your forecast. Jennifer Gray has that from the CNN Center in Atlanta.

Good morning, Jennifer.

JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, guys.

Yes, we had a lot of rain across the Northeast. Even a tornado confirmed, EF-0 in Massachusetts, more severe weather will stick around for today. We are going to be looking at the Midwest. It will include Chicago, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, Springfield, Kansas City -- all under the threat of damaging winds, large hail, even the very slight possibility of an isolated tornado.

So, we are watching for that this afternoon. In the meantime, we have a lot of moisture that's feeding in from the Gulf of Mexico. So, pop- up showers along the Gulf Coast. More severe storms across the Midwest, and that will all be pushing to the East as we go through the next couple days.

New York gets a break today and then possibly more rain on the way tomorrow. So, something else to watch. In the meantime, you are looking at rainfall totals through Tuesday, looks like about an inch or so across much of the Ohio valley. We could see higher amounts right around Springfield, St. Louis.

So, we are going to see the unsettled weather stay in the Midwest and travel to the east. In the meantime, hot weather will remain across the Gulf Coast and the Southeast. We are going to see temperatures staying well above normal. We'll be at 92 in Atlanta today. New York City goes from 86 today to 92 tomorrow. That's 12 degrees above normal. So, the heat will stick around for a couple days -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: That's hot. All right.

BERMAN: You can't wear white because it's Labor Day. So, it will be hot tomorrow and I still can't wear my white pants. Very challenging.

All right.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: All right. Coming up, the conflict in Ukraine heating up this morning. Russia denies it is invading Ukraine despite what a U.S. lawmaker on the ground now says. Should the U.S. start providing arms to Ukraine?

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Overnight, a new round of denials from Russia concerning its involvement in Ukraine. Former Minister Lavrov insists there's no Russian incursion in Ukraine and he says there won't be. Of course, there is mounting evidence that Russian troops are inside Ukraine, fighting alongside separatist rebels. And a U.S. senator now in Ukraine has called for the arming of the Ukrainian forces.

ROMANS: Meantime, a rescue operation is under way after Ukrainian patrol boat was sunk off the coast Sunday reportedly by artillery fire. Two crew members are missing.

CNN's Reza Sayah live in Kiev.

Bring us up to speed, Reza.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, the bad news keeps coming for Ukrainian forces in southeastern Ukraine as pro-Russian rebels continue to gain momentum. The last piece of bad news coming on Sunday off the coast of southeastern Ukraine, in the Sea of Azov. That's where a Ukrainian patrol boat came under fire and was sunk.

Amateur video on Sunday shows the boat is off in the distance, seemingly going up in smoke. Officials here Kiev say they haven't confirmed who shot the boat, but you can be sure that many here will be blaming the pro-Russian rebels. Eight seamen were rescued when other patrol boats came to the scene. Two seamen are missing.

That's what's happening at sea north of that region. On land and the battlefield, more pressure on Ukrainian forces. The airfields around the Luhansk area, being fired on by Russian tanks, according to Kiev officials. Rebels taking more land, the next time they could be targeting is Mariupol. That's where east to the city, you had rebels baring down, seemingly poised for an attack. And east of that location, Christine, you have the Ukrainian soldiers bolstering their defense lines, getting ready.

BERMAN: What about providing arms to Ukrainian forces the government forces? U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is in Ukraine right now. He's been calling for that.

What can you tell us?

SAYAH: Senator Menendez and other leading senators are saying, let's arm the Ukrainian troops.

Let's listen to what he had to say here in Kiev yesterday, and then, we'll talk about some of the obstacles that this strategy could face.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. ROBERT MENENDEZ (D), NEWE JERSEY: I think the European Union, NATO, as well as the United States, has to consider that this was dramatically different and we have to give the Ukrainians the fighting chance to defend themselves. I'm not suggesting U.S. troops here or NATO troops here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right.

MENENDEZ: But I am suggesting they have the where with all to fight for themselves.

(END VIDEO CLI)

SAYAH: Senator Menendez wants the Ukrainian troops to be armed. Problem number one, the White House hasn't mentioned arming the troops. Even officials here in Kiev are not asking for arms. Also, that strategy doesn't consider reaction from Moscow, guys. Remember, they have weapons, too. They can arm the rebels.

So, at this point, unlikely that that strategy is going to take place.

ROMANS: All right. Reza Sayah for us this morning in Kiev -- thanks, Reza.

BERMAN: Coming up for us -- Tony Stewart gets behind the wheel for the first time since he struck and killed a driver. Why his return to the track did not go as planned. Andy Scholes has the details coming up in the "Bleacher Report".

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BRMAN: As the investigation into Kevin Ward Jr.'s death on a dirt track continues, Tony Stewart returns to racing last night in Atlanta.

ROMANS: Andy Scholes has more on this morning's "Bleacher Report". Hey, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, guys.

You know, NASCAR said on Friday that Tony Stewart went through the proper steps to get back on the track. And Stewart said getting back in the car would hopefully help him get through what's been a very difficult time. The three-time NASCAR champ received the loudest cheers when he was introduced before last night's race. He started in the 12th position. He drove up into fourth place. But his night ended after he blew a tire and went into the wall for the second time. Stewart ended up finishing 41st in the race.

And his fellow drivers, they said afterwards, it's good to see him back on the track.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANICA PATRICK, NASCAR DRIVER: It's unfortunate all the things he's been dealing with and trying to get through, but this is a step to recovering, essentially. And we are glad to have him here.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Michael Sam will have to wait a little longer to make history. The NFL's first openly gay player to be drafted was cut the Rams on Saturday, and that went to claim on waivers yesterday. That means he is now free to sign with any team's practice squad. The Rams are unlikely to retain Sam to their practice squad because they have needs at other positions.

So, guys, we have to wait and see what happens with Sam. But yesterday was the last Sunday without NFL football for five months. So that's something to be excited about.

BERMAN: We made it, Andy. We made it.

SCHOLES: We did.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Andy.

Top headlines and everything you need to know for your day, right, after the break.

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