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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Iraqis Break ISIS Siege of Amerli; Three American Detained in North Korea Speak Out; Putin Urges Talks for Eastern Ukraine

Aired September 01, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: CNN exclusive. The three known Americans being held captive in North Korea speaking out this morning to CNN. We are going to bring you these rare and unprecedented interviews.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Growing pressure. President Obama facing mounting criticism about his strategy or no strategy for taking on the ISIS threat in Syria. Members of his own party now joining that chorus as U.S. airstrikes help Iraqi forces take a town back from ISIS.

ROMANS: Invasion denial. Russia says there is no invasion of Ukraine as President Putin calls for talks of statehood for eastern Ukraine. And now a top U.S. lawmaker suggesting to CNN the U.S. should arm Ukrainian forces.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. Great to see you this morning. Thirty- four minutes past the hour. We want to get you to those really incredible surprising interviews with the American captives in North Korea. We'll have those for you in just a minute. But first up, a victory for the Iraqi forces liberating the besieged town of Amerli from the stranglehold of ISIS terrorists. Now they did it with the help of American jets delivering targeted airstrikes on ISIS positions.

The U.S. and its allies also dropped food and water to aid the thousands of Iraqis who have been cut off by ISIS for weeks.

CNN's Anna Coren is live in Irbil this morning. Good morning, Anna.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, you are absolutely right. The U.S. air strikes allowing the Iraqi forces as well as the Shiite militia to make that ground defensive on Amerli and free, liberate this township that has been under siege for two months.

Now it's important to note that those Shiite militia backed by Iran are the same forces that fought the American soldiers whilst they were here in Iraq. So you have sworn enemies coming together to fight ISIS. It really goes to show how desperate the situation is on the ground. But ISIS had that town under siege for, as we say, more than two

months cutting off food, cutting off power, cutting off water and from what we understand, from what the residents on the ground, the situation, dozens of children were dying because of the conditions. And obviously those forces coming through, really averting a huge crisis.

None of this would have been possible without those U.S. airstrikes. And this also shows that the United States is broadening its campaign. It's been very limited to up here in Irbil, protecting the capital of Kurdistan as well as that very vital piece of infrastructure, Mosul dam and surrounding area there. But seeing these airstrikes around Amerli, moving further south, the United States broadening its air campaign -- John.

BERMAN: All right. Anna Coren for us in Irbil. Thanks so much, Anna.

ROMANS: All right. There are bipartisan calls this morning for President Obama to take strong action to deal with the growing threat from ISIS on the heels of the president's comments last week that he had no strategy to combat the terror group in Syria. One of his closest political allies sided with Republican lawmakers who say the White House must do more.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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 some very strong measures to defeat them. They must be defeated, not contained. And we -- 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?

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: GOP lawmakers insists ISIS poses an immediate threat to the U.S.

BERMAN: Let's get now to that breaking news. This remarkable CNN exclusive.

Right now three known Americans are being held captive in North Korea. Our Will Ripley had a rare and unprecedented interview with all three.

ROMANS: They are Kenneth Bae, a missionary detained in 2012. He was convicted of a Christian plot to overthrow the regime, sentenced to 15 year hard labor. Matthew Miller was detained just in April and Jeffrey Fowle who's been -- who's been held since May allegedly for leaving a bible in his hotel room.

Will Ripley joins us on the phone now from Pyongyang.

Remarkable. You say you were having lunch. You were on this very choreographed trip to Pyongyang and then suddenly you got word to get in the car, to drive to (INAUDIBLE), and you were going to meet with an official. And it turned out it was three detained Americans.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Yes, absolutely. And, you know, that's sometimes the way it works here in North Korea. You really don't know where you're going until, literally, minutes before you arrive or in this case, when we arrived at this building we still thought that we were going to be talking to someone in the North Korean government. And then we were told by our two government (INAUDIBLE) that in fact we'd be granted access to the three detained Americans, Kenneth Bae, who's been here in North Korea for nearly two years now and Jeffrey Fowle and Matthew Miller who were both detained in April of this year.

And we were told that we were being granted this interview because the North Korean government wants the world to know that these American detainees, one, are (INAUDIBLE),l they considered them criminals, or at least accused criminals at this point for Fowle and Miller. And they wanted to show the world that they are in good health, that they're being treated humanely, and they wanted to allow these men to send a message to their families and also perhaps more importantly for North Korea, the American government.

Here's what Matthew Miller told them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIPLEY: The sound we just rolled is actually from Kenneth Bae who was detained. Kenneth Bae that you just heard from there, that was not Matthew Miller. Kenneth Bae was detained in November of 2012. He is a missionary, as you said, accused of a Christian plot to overthrow the regime here. Religion is something that potentially could get somebody into very serious trouble.

Jeffrey Fowle was accused and actually admitted that he left a bible at a seaman's club on a rail tour of the DPRK. He came in as a tourist. Leaving that bible was considered a covert act. He said he signed a statement admitting his guilt and asking for the forgiveness of the North Korean government.

And Matthew Miller, who I mentioned, a young man in his 20s, his situation is different. He actually admitted to tearing up his visa. He said it was something that he planned to do ahead of time. Tear up his tourist visa and seek asylum in the DPRK. But now, he says he desperately needs the help of the American government. He says he's reached out and is actually frustrated with the slow pace of his case.

I asked him why he sought asylum here in the first place and why now he is wanting the help of his government and that was a question that he didn't want to answer -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: And he seemed a little cryptic. I was listening to that interview. He seemed a little cryptic. I mean, all of them are not really in a position to speak freely. I mean, tell us a little bit about -- you know, these are people who say they've have all signed admissions of guilt. They're not necessarily able to speak freely.

BERMAN: And Will, you had very specific things you could and could not ask them.

RIPLEY: That's correct. We were told we had five minutes with each American and we could cover very specific topics. The charges that they were accused of here in North Korea, how they are being treated and a message to their family and the government.

Jeffrey Fowle talks quite a bit -- so this is the American, the 56- year-old American, from Dayton, Ohio, he talked quite a bit about his family, his wife and his three elementary school aged kids, plus his mother-in-law who are all living together. He's afraid of losing his job. He's missed his kids' birthday parties. He was actually arrested on his daughter's birthday. And so he talked a lot about missing his family but also said he's being treated well.

The food is good, he's staying in a hotel suite at the moment and is allowed to go outside for a daily walk. But he's very fearful because his trial is coming up in about a month, as is the trial of Matthew Miller. And the way it works here in North Korea, after your trial, you are sentenced immediately.

Kenneth Bae's sentence, 15 years of hard labor. Right now, he spends his time -- most of his time in a hard labor camp where he works eight hours a day doing agricultural work, although he recently was moved to a hospital because of his failing health.

So these men know that their situation could change very quickly very soon, and that's why they're appealing to the U.S. government to send a special envoy here to try and secure their release. And the fact that the North Korean government gave us access to these men in the first place is perhaps a signal that they would be willing if the United States sent someone over here to try to start some kind of a deal.

ROMANS: All right. Will Ripley, so interesting, trying to tease up the motive of the government also just astonishing to be able to see video and hear from these men in their words, albeit under very big restriction.

BERMAN: No. And you heard Will say, you know, the message of the North Korean government may trying -- and you heard Kenneth Bae say there that he wants the U.S. to send somebody to make it work. In other words, send somebody to negotiate. That seemed to be that message of the North Koreans that they want some kind of high-profile person, the Bill Clinton-type.

ROMANS: Bill Richardson is -- the former New Mexico governor has been there several times, I think.

BERMAN: Several times. Jimmy Carter, you know, for some kind of propaganda coup to get this people released.

That is a remarkable interview, series of interviews. There will be much more coming up on "NEW DAY" in just a few minutes and throughout the day here on CNN because this is a big, big story.

ROMANS: Great work, Will.

BERMAN: Coming up for us, Russia's denial mount over the Ukraine invasion as does evidence that their troops are inside Ukraine, directly involved in the fighting. We'll have a live report from Kiev, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Over night, a new round of denials from Russia concerning its involvement in Ukraine. The Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov insists there is no Russian incursion in Ukraine and he says there won't be. Of course there's 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 Ukrainian forces.

Meantime, a rescue operation is under way after a Ukrainian control boat which sunk off the coast there Sunday reportedly by artillery fire.

BERMAN: Look at that.

ROMANS: Two crew members are still missing.

CNN's Reza Sayah live in Kiev this morning. Just a lot going on. You say it's just bad news after bad news in the Ukrainian situation -- Reza.

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christine. It has been a long time seemingly since Ukrainian forces, Ukrainian troops in southeastern Ukraine had any kind of good news, made any kind of progress on the battlefield. That's because it's the pro-Russian rebels gaining the momentum.

The bad news continued on Sunday off the coast of southeastern Ukraine in the Sea of Azov, that's where a Ukrainian patrol boat came under fire, was shot and sunk. Amateur video on Sunday showed the boat off in the distance going up in flames. Officials here in Kiev say they haven't confirmed who shot the boat but many here will surely blame the pro-Russian rebels.

Up north in that region, more developing news. Within the past hour, government officials here in Kiev holding a briefing, has announced that Ukrainian troops have retreated from an airfield in the Luhansk region. That's a rebel stronghold. The Ukrainian troops have the airfield. But according to Kiev officials, that location came under fire from Russian tanks. And now, according to this Kiev official, the Ukrainian troops retreating overnight. Sixty-eight other soldiers retreated. So again, all sorts of indications that Ukrainian troops on their heels. Pro-Russian rebels gaining momentum.

ROMANS: All right, Reza Sayah. Thanks you for that -- Reza.

BERMAN: About 10 minutes before the hour right now. Let's look at what's coming up on "New Day." Alisyn Camerota joins us now.

Good morning, Alisyn.

ROMANS: Good morning.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Hi, guys. Happy Labor Day. Great to see both of you.

So we will begin with a CNN exclusive. We'll hear more from those three Americans who have detained in North Korea for months. We'll tell you what Kenneth Bae and the two others have to say to the U.S. government about their treatment and if they think they will ever make it home.

Meanwhile, chaos intensifying in Iraq. Troops manage to end the ISIS rule of a town after a two-month siege. We'll show you how they got help from the U.S.

And the fragile situation in Ukraine, despite evidence, Russia still denies any of its troops are on the ground. This, as two crew members go missing when the Ukrainian ship is sunk off the southeastern coast.

All of that and much more when "NEW DAY" begins at the top of the hour.

John, I'll see you then.

BERMAN: Eight and a half minutes. Be there.

(LAUGHTER)

CAMEROTA: I got it. I'm here.

BERMAN: All right, Alisyn.

ROMANS: Thanks, Alisyn.

BERMAN: Coming up on EARLY START, NASCAR star Tony Stewart returns to racing. But did his first night back after that deadly accident last month go as planned? We'll have the details ahead.

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ROMANS: All right. The State Department asking Israel to reverse its decision to appropriate nearly 1,000 acres in the West Bank for a possible future settlements. The land currently home to several villages. The Palestinians have condemned the land grab. U.S. officials say the Israeli move is counterproductive to efforts of achieving a two-state solution in the Middle East.

Tony Stewart's return to racing at the Atlanta Motor Speedway Sunday lasted only about half as long as he hoped it would. Stewart received a big cheer from the crowd when he was introduced before the start of the race. Once behind the wheel, though, not so great.

Stewart's number 14 car slammed into a wall twice. He ended up finishing 41st. It was Stewart's first race since his car struck and killed a fellow Spring cup driver, Kevin Ward, Jr., during a dirt track race last month.

Coming up, much more on the three Americans in North Korea. The incredible, exclusive interviews, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: All right. Happy Labor Day, everybody. That's it for me here. "NEW DAY" starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KENNETH BAE, DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA: What I can say to my family and friends is to continue praying for me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news. A CNN exclusive. Three Americans held in North Korea speak. Our reporter inside the country meeting them face-to-face and how they say they're being treated, their message to their families, plus mysterious circumstances behind these interviews.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: The enemy of my enemy. Is the U.S. working with Iran against ISIS? U.S. airstrikes help Iranian-backed militia fighters take back an Iraqi town. The U.S. says there is no coordination. But is that true?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Out of control. Look at this video. Militants in Libya have apparently seized parts of the U.S. embassy there, throwing what looks like a pool party, even diving into the pool. What does it say about U.S. power in the region?

BERMAN: Your NEW DAY starts right now.