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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

U.S. Targets Terrorists in Somalia; Detained Americans Ask for U.S. Intervention; Celebrities Hacked

Aired September 02, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news this morning: the U.S. attacking terrorists in Somalia. What we know about these new air strikes and who the U.S. is targeting.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now, a desperate plea from three Americans detained in North Korea, asking for the U.S. to help them in an exclusive television interview with CNN. Could this new call for help lead to direct negotiations between the U.S. and North Korea?

We are live with the very latest this morning.

ROMANS: Celebrities hacked. The FBI now involved after private, nude photos are leaked online raising the question about the security of iCloud.

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

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It's Tuesday, September 2nd. It is 4:00 a.m. in the East. Thanks for joining us.

We're going begin this morning with breaking news. A U.S. military operation targeting senior leaders of the al Shabaab terrorists group in Somalia. The Pentagon has acknowledged launching this operation against al-Shabaab. It says it's assessing the results of this mission. Somali officials though say the attack appeared to target an al Shabaab camp where leaders were meeting.

They say at least four missiles targeted a convoy of senior leaders. The official say it's not known how many military leaders were killed in this strike or if the head of the militants Ahmed Godane was injured or not. The U.S. designated al-Shabaab as an al Qaeda-linked group as a foreign terrorist organization back in 2008. The group claimed responsibility for the siege of a mall in Nairobi, Kenya, last September. That siege in which 67 people died.

BERMAN: Later today, President Obama leaves for Europe. That's ahead of a NATO summit, where he will rally support for the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, not to mention the battle against Russia and Ukraine.

Britain is already taking steps to diminish the terror threat inside its country. Prime Minister David Cameron unveiling a rap of measures to restrict the movement of would-be jihadists, and slap penalties on airlines if they do not comply.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is following developments.

Karl, it was a pretty dramatic speech by the prime minister before the House of Commons yesterday.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It did sound quite dramatic, John, but it was also pretty much a copy paste of what he has said on Friday before parliament even come back from holiday. But what he did do, what Prime Minister Cameron did do was put a little more meat on the bone.

So, the kind of powers he is going to be looking for to fight this dreaded radical Islam at home is greater police powers to seize passports and to question people at airports if they are suspected of heading off to join ISIS. He's looking to beef up what are called control orders or terrorist prevention measures here in Britain. And that could effectively mean taking a terrorist suspect, not arresting him, not putting him on trial, but essentially putting a number of restrictive orders in place that he can't associate with his old colleagues and can presumably plot any terrorist measures.

Perhaps one of the most radical measures, however, that Mr. Cameron, e was proposing was to withdraw passports of Britons who were already abroad and that would prevent them from returning, effectively a modern day banishment.

Now, this, of course, is going to have to be debated by parliament, especially the measures that new laws to force them through. And many people are already saying are our civil liberties as risk? Let's listen to what an opposition lawmaker said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I cannot categorically say that civil liberties will be a big issue in any debate we have about new powers. So, I think Muslim communities want to make sure that young people are not going off to fight jihad. They want them to stay safe in this country and to abide by the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PENHAUL: So, right now, quite clearly, what the British government has to do is balance out how real and how deep this threat from radical Islam is, and balance that out with the rights and freedoms of its citizens, so that Britain doesn't take a step down the road toward becoming a police state, John.

BERMAN: I think, if nothing else, what you are seeing is incredibly high level of concern right now among many British officials.

All right. Karl Penhaul in London, thanks so much.

The United Nations set to investigate alleged human rights abuses and war crimes by ISIS in Iraq. The United Nations Human Rights Council will dispatch a special mission to Iraq to look into the actions of Islamic terrorists. Officials say more than 1,400 Iraqis were killed, another 1,300 wounded just last month, in acts of terrorism and violence. And that most of the casualties were civilians.

U.S. air strikes keep pounding away at ISIS targets in Iraq, including several near that strategic dam in Mosul.

ROMANS: Syrian rebels issuing new demands for the release of dozens of U.N. peacekeepers from Fiji who have been held captive now for five days. Officials say the al Qaeda-linked al Nusra front wants to be taken off the U.N. terror list once humanitarian aide delivered to part of Damascus and demands compensation for fighters, it says, were killed in a battle with U.N. (AUDIO GAP) escape these rebels in Golan Heights.

BERMAN: The White House says it is doing all it can for three Americans now detained in North Korea, calling their situation, quote, "a top priority." Kenneth Bae, Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle are all being held inside that secretive, repressive regime. CNN had unprecedented access to the three Americans which spoke to our Will Ripley in closely monitored interviews where they all pleaded with the Obama administration to help bring them home, even calling for a high profile U.S. envoy to visit North Korea and negotiate their release.

Will Ripley has now departed North Korea. He joins us live this morning from Beijing.

Good morning, Will.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, John.

We just arrived here in Beijing from Pyongyang within the last few hours. And, obviously, a lot of developments since our interview first began airing yesterday.

One thing that's pretty interesting that we can talk about a little more freely now that we are out of North Korea is the fact that Kenneth Bae claimed that he is being held right now as the sole prisoner in a labor camp. That's significant because Amnesty International, the human rights group, thinks that there are six large prison camps in North Korea housing more than 200,000 people. Obviously, Kenneth Bae is not being held in one of those buildings.

Does that indicate that the United States is trying to -- sorry, that North Korea is trying to show the United States he is being kept in good health, in humane conditions, therefore trying to prepare him for some sort of return to the U.S.? Nonetheless, Bae and the others, Miller and Fowle, say their situation grows more desperate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

JEFFREY FOWLE, DETAINED AMERICAN IN NORTH KOREA: I'm good for the time being, but I'm getting desperate. I'm getting desperate for help.

MATTHEW MILLER, DETAINED AMERICAN IN NORTH KOREA: My situation is very urgent. Very soon, I'm going to trial. I would be directly sent to prison. I think this is -- this interview is my final chance to push the American government into helping me.

KENNETH BAE, AMERICAN DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA: I am the American that has been here the longest since the Korean War. And I do believe that sooner this gets resolved, it would be better for not only for myself, for the rest of the other Americans who may come here in the future as well.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

RIPLEY: It remains to be seen, John, what the U.S. government response will be. But certainly, North Korea and its top leadership clearly sending a message that they are willing to open up a line of communication, and these three men are sitting there right now at the center of all this, wondering if they're going to get to go home.

BERMAN: At this point, Will, any reaction at all from the U.S. government?

RIPLEY: Not that we're hearing on the ground here in Beijing, certainly. Again, these are sometimes things or discussions are happening behind closed doors before a public announcement is made of a trip. We know that one U.S. diplomat did make an attempt a while back to enter and try to secure the release of Kenneth Bae. But he was denied a visa at the last moment, which seems to show that North Korea wants somebody who is a big name from the United States to go there and sit down at the table.

BERMAN: Last question, Will, after everything that went on, with the secretive, you know, carting you away to this interview with no notice, did the North Korean officials who were your minders, do they seem happy with how it all went?

RIPLEY: Before this interview happened, they seemed extremely nervous, to the point when they pulled me out of lunch and told me that we were going to be driving to Pyongyang, they were shaking, they were visibly shaking. And that made me pretty nervous as well because I wasn't really quite sure what was going to happen.

Then, when the interview was over and we had stayed within the time limit and the stayed within the guideline that had been prearranged, they seemed relieved. And as the evening progressed and heard from higher ups, then they seemed pleased with the coverage and pleased with how the interviews went.

The fact they were spread around the world so quickly, that, apparently was the goal, to get the message of these men and to use these men as a way to send a message directly to the United States.

BERMAN: Some kind of a negotiating tool to send a message that they want the U.S. to send an envoy now to begin talks.

Will Ripley now in Beijing -- thank you for the continued fantastic work on this.

ROMANS: So, we are hearing from the sister of one of the detained Americans, Kenneth Bae's sister, Terri Chung. She was surprised that CNN was allowed to speak to her brother, but knows that the North Korean regime does things for a season. Still, it was difficult for her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TERRI CHUNG, KENNETH BAE'S SISTER: It's painful to just watch him time after time being put on camera by the DPRK officials to make the same plea to our government. We are thankful for the ongoing efforts they have been making. They are working hard behind the scenes. The fact remains, he's still there after two years.

So, you know, I think we reiterate our plea in saying, yes, it's time -- if there was ever a time to step up efforts, it's now. They're signaling a window, please respond. Please bring him home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Terri Chung is also asking the government of Pyongyang to have mercy on her brother who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor and now is serving that prison term.

BERMAN: The legality of the NSA's bulk collection of phone records faces a test in federal court in New York. The panel of judges will be the first appeals court to address the controversial surveillance program. Today's hearing stems from a suit filed by the ACLU that says the bulk collection of phone metadata is a violation of privacy and federal law.

ROMANS: Labor Day tradition kicks off the home stretch of the fall election campaign, as President Obama was in fine campaign form Monday. The president addressing workers of a Labor Day rally in Milwaukee, touting his economic record, chided Republican lawmakers who were trying to block much of his domestic agenda, including his push for a higher minimum wage.

BERMAN: The FBI now is investigating what's likely the biggest celebrity hacking scandal ever. Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and other A-list stars had naked photos hacked and posted online. They were apparently stolen from Apple's iCloud online storage service. Apple is also investigating.

A publicist for Jennifer Lawrence calls it a flagrant violation of privacy. It says authorities will prosecute anyone who disseminates these pictures.

ROMANS: Yes, Apple will be talking about the big reveal next week, not the big reveal of the celebrities who had pictures on its service.

All right. The big question: how exactly did hackers get their hands on those photos? It's still being investigated. But a combination of scams, weak passwords and vulnerability in Apple's iCloud could be to blame. Hackers often send fake e-mails posing as a trusted site like Apple. Those phishing scams convinced people to enter their usernames and passwords to fake sites. It's also possible some celebrities had easy to guess passwords. Until this week, iCloud allowed (ph) to guess password over and over and never be locked out. Time for an EARLY START on your money. European shares are up.

Asians shares ended their day mostly higher. The U.S. market back from the Labor Day holiday and stock futures pointing higher at the moment.

Happening now, crisis in Ukraine. Has Russia launched a great war? Stinging accusations from Ukraine's government as the country battles rebels in the east, and the rebels they say are armed with Russia. We are live with how NATO is now stepping in, ahead.

BERMAN: Israel making a land grab in the West Bank. This is the largest in more than 30 years. Why it is not sitting well this morning with world leaders. That, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Fifteen minutes past the hour.

Now to the growing crisis in Ukraine. President Petro Poroshenko desperate for military assistance, is looking to NATO leaders, as they prepare to meet leader later this week. It's not clear the allies are willing to risk an escalation in the fight with Russia. NATO is prepared to establish a new rapid reaction force that could response to a global hot spot like Ukraine in a matter of days.

Meantime, the fighting goes on with pro-Russian rebels making new gains.

CNN's Reza Sayah live in Kiev.

Tell us about that, Reza.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, it has been a disastrous week for Ukrainian forces in South over the past several days. They have suffered significant losses. Hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers either retreating or encircled or trapped. Many others injured or killed.

And they are also losing significant territory and ground. One of the significant losses came yesterday, a critical airfield in the rebel stronghold of Luhansk. This was an airfield that up until yesterday was under the full control of Ukrainian forces. But then Ukrainian forces retreated after the airfield came under attack by rebels, backed by Russian tanks and troops.

Of course, Moscow continues to deny that the Russians have tanks and troops on Ukrainian soil. Whatever the case, that critical airfield now under the control of rebels.

Yesterday in Belarus, the potential of compromise surfaced. That's where all sides of this conflict met and the rebel who had represented there seemingly eased off their position and demand that an independent state in southeastern Ukraine. Essentially, they said they'd be OK with a guarantee of autonomy and self-determination in southeastern Ukraine. And in return, they would stop fighting. That's the position that seems to match what Moscow wants. Seemingly, it's an opportunity for a compromise.

Now, we wait to see what the response is from Kiev, and western capitals. But on the battlefield, Christine, the momentum shifting in favor of the rebels.

ROMANS: In favor of the rebels.

All right. Thanks so much, Reza Sayah in Kiev.

BERMAN: There is more criticism this morning of the Israel's move to claim close to 1,000 acres of land in the West Bank, to clear the way for the development of a new Israeli settlement. Palestinians say the land grab destroys the prospects for peace. Britain has now joined the U.S. in asking Israel to reverse this very provocative decision.

ROMANS: Testing of an experimental Ebola vaccine will begin this week at the National Institutes of Health. Researchers were given the go ahead after an expedited review by the Food and Drug Administration. This will be the first test of this type of Ebola vaccines in humans. It comes in a growing concern about the outbreak in West Africa. And more than 3,000 people have been affected. About half of them have died.

A British patient is said to be recovering well after contraction with this disease while working as a nurse in Africa. Will Pooley's parents say his appetite is improving. He remains in isolation at a London hospital.

BERMAN: Happening now: millions facing the threat of severe storms. We will tell you if you need to be on alert today. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Police in Ferguson, Missouri, have started wearing body cameras. These cameras were donated by two security companies after weeks of protests, following the shooting of Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson. Web sites set up to raise money for Wilson were shut down over the weekend. Two separate campaigns on the gofundme.com Web site stopped taking donations after raising more than $300,000. Organizers have not given a reason for closing donations.

On Monday, a group calling for Wilson's dismissal blocked traffic just briefly along I-70 in Missouri. The traffic stoppers took place despite a request by Brown's father to cancel that demonstration.

ROMANS: Texas National Guard deployed to help beef up security at the U.S./Mexico border is now dealing with another issue, boredom. Officials say the number of immigrants crossing the border illegally in the area of the Rio Grande, Texas, has dropped off significantly in recent weeks. That includes the flow of unaccompanied children. The guardsman say aside from keeping watch on the brush, there's not much to do right now.

BERMAN: Big difference from a few months ago. ROMANS: Meanwhile, millions of Americans could be in the path of

powerful storms today. Parts of northern Michigan got pounded by rough weather on Labor Day, including two reported tornadoes. The storms uprooted hundreds of trees in one country and sent some of them crashing into homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was sitting by the window and it got real dark and all of a sudden, I heard a roar. And it just -- trees started falling.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Thankfully, there were no injuries reported -- except to the trees, which were severely wounded.

ROMANS: The big cleanup underway this morning in Worcester, Massachusetts, after a tornado touched down there Sunday night. The twister tore trees right out of the ground, with some damage to homes and cars, but again, thankfully, no loss of life.

BERMAN: I want to get an early look at your weather today.

Here is Chad Myers.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Christine and John, good morning.

Pretty decent weather across the country today, although it will be warmer than it's been the past couple days across the east, and more scattered showers as well. High pressure in Chicago cools things down there, and still fairly nice and cool up in the Pacific Northwest.

Here are your temperatures in the 70s across the Pacific Northwest, but 90s in the East. It's going to be a flip from where we have been, even 67 for Seattle later today -- 92 in New York, 96 in Washington, D.C. And the humidity is back as well. The humidity is gone tomorrow as the front makes its way down to Hampton Roads.

Heavy showers across parts of Florida, very heavy rainfall into Mexico and south Texas. This is the area that could pick up tropical-like rains from a system that might get a number, could be Dolly. You see that. It will be quickly on shore, no real threat to the Gulf of Mexico at least right now.

Ninety-two in Atlanta tomorrow, 91 D.C., 87 in New York. But it feels better with less humidity.

John, Christine, back to you.

BERMAN: Oh, it feels hot to me, Chad, but thank you very, very much for that.

ROMANS: Hello, Dolly.

BERMAN: Yes. ROMANS: Twenty-five minutes after the hour.

BERMAN: Shame, shame.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: No.

ROMANS: All right. The U.S. -- breaking news this morning -- the U.S. launching attacks on terrorists on Somalia. New information we're learning overnight. We are going to bring it to you after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)