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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

U.S. Targets Terrorists in Somalia; Detained Americans in North Korea Ask for U.S. Intervention; U.K. Anti-Terror Measures; FBI Investigates Celebrity Photo Hack; Separatist Rebels Advance in Ukraine

Aired September 02, 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: Breaking news this morning: the U.S. attacking terrorists in Somalia. What we know about the new airstrikes and just who was targeted.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: a desperate plea from Americans detained in North Korea, asking for the U.S. to help them in an exclusive TV 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 on that this morning.

BERMAN: Celebrities hacked. The FBI now involved after private, naked photos are leaked online, raising new questions about the security of iCloud.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. Great to see you today. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: You usually have an aside comment almost every story. But that story, you don't have any a side comment for that.

BERMAN: Exactly. I'm not making any comment.

No, it's a big, big thing. It's a gross violation of privacy.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: Five o'clock in the east. I'm Christine Romans, September 2nd. Thanks for joining us.

BERMAN: Breaking news this morning: U.S. military targeting terrorists in Somalia. The Pentagon says they launched the operation against the al-Shabaab terrorist network. Somalia officials say the attack appeared to target an al-Shabaab camp where leaders were meeting. And it's not known if the head of the militant group Ahmed Godane was injured or not. The U.S. designated al-Shabaab before a terrorist organization back in 2008. They claimed responsibility for the siege of a mall in Nairobi in Kenya last September. Remember, 67 people died.

ROMANS: The White House says it's doing all it can for three Americans now detained in North Korea, calling their situation a top priority. Kenneth Bae, Matthew Miller and Jeffrey Fowle are all being held by the secretive regime. CNN had unprecedented access to the three American who spoke to our

reporter, Will Ripley, in these closely monitored interviews, in which they pleaded with the Obama administration to help bring them home, even calling for a high profile U.S. visit -- an envoy to visit the North Korean regime and negotiate their release.

Will Ripley joins us now. He is in Beijing for us this morning. He has returned from Pyongyang.

And this is clearly -- very clearly, this surprise set of interviews that you had yesterday, very clearly a message from the North Korean regime that it wants to talk.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And they even alluded, as we were being briefed, before going into the building to talk to these three detained Americans, Christine. The government said, look, we understand the situation right now politically is very tense especially between the United States and North Korea. There's no dialogue right now between the two countries. It was very difficult for me, as an American even to secure a visa to enter that country for a trip where we were covering a pro-wrestling, an international pro- wrestling sports diplomacy event.

So, we were shooting stories covering that event, when all of a sudden, we were pulled away. We were put in a request a few days earlier to speak with these three detained Americans. We were told it would be virtually impossible. But yet in a matter of hours, we were driven from an area in the far north, right in the center of the capital and we were put into this building where these men were being held separately, isolated from each other in three different rooms, talking about what they consider to be a very desperate situation.

(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 that 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: Anybody who has spent time in North Korea knows that there is no message that goes out in that country without some sort of government involvement. That goes for the newspapers there, for television. As foreign reporters, we go in and they do not exercise control over

how we write our stories. However, we were told that during the interview, which they were closely monitoring and recording, if we went beyond the allotted time or veered beyond the topics that were agreed to ahead of time, that there would be serious consequences for us and our crew who had a flight scheduled to leave this morning, a flight that we were able to get on and get out of the country.

So, it would not be a stretch to think they were spoken to before these interviews. If you listen to the message, all three of their messages about seeking the involvement of the U.S. government are remarkably similar.

ROMANS: All right. Will Ripley for us thank you for reporting -- excellent reporting. Thank you.

BERMAN: We are hearing now from the sister of one of the detained Americans, Kenneth Bae's sister Terri Chung. She was surprised, she says that, CNN was allowed to speak to her brother. She knows the North Korean regime does things for a reason. As Will said, it was hard for her, she says, to watch.

(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)

BERMAN: Terri Chung is also asking the government of Pyongyang to have mercy on her brother who was sentenced to 15 years hard labor. He talked about the labor he's been doing, eight hours a day, all by himself, serving out that prison term.

ROMANS: Today, President Obama leaves for Europe ahead of a NATO summit where he'll rally support in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Britain is already taking steps to diminish the terror threat. The Prime Minister David Cameron unveiling measures to restrict the movements of would-be jihadist and slap penalties on airlines if they don't comply.

CNN's Karl Penhaul is following developments for us. He is live in London.

And, Clearly, David Cameron, clearly officials in the U.K. are really concerned about the 500 Britons they say who have gone to wage jihad.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christine. And that really is front and center of these proposals that Mr. Cameron made to parliament. In many ways, they were copy paste of some of the statements that he made on Friday, but he was putting a little more meat on the bone telling us exactly how he proposed to go about this.

That is why he's talking about greater powers for the police to seize passports at airports to stop people heading off to fight jihad or join groups like is. He's talking about pushing through tighter no- fly lists like you have in the U.S. already to stop suspects boarding planes, so they can't head off to trouble spots.

And also, perhaps one of the most radical new proposals that still has to be debated by parliament, of course, is the suggestion that Britain could block its own citizens from returning to the country if they are found to have been in war zones at the time.

Now, some of these measures would be involved certain secret powers by the intelligence service, particularly the so-called control orders or the terrorist prevention measures. And so, this is why opposition lawmakers say there's a balance between civil liberties and fighting radical Islam. Let's listen to what one had to say.

(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: Cracking down on a potential terrorist threat in any open liberal society is always going to be a challenge. But now, of course, Prime Minister Cameron has to talk to parliament, to other lawmakers, to make sure we achieve this balance -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Karl Penhaul -- thanks, Karl.

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

Meantime, U.S. airstrikes keep pounding away at ISIS targets in Iraq, including several targets near the strategic Mosul dam.

BERMAN: Syrian rebels issuing new demand for the release of dozens of U.N. peacekeepers from Fiji who had been held captive for five days now. Officials say the al Qaeda linked al Nusra front wants to be taken off the United Nation's terror list and want humanitarian aid delivered to parts of Damascus and demands compensation for fighters it says were killed in a battle with U.N. personnel. Over the weekend, a group of trapped Filipino peacekeepers managed to escape the rebels in the Golan Heights. ROMANS: The legality of the NSA's bulk collection of phone records faces a test in federal court in New York. The panel of judges rather will be the first to address the controversial program. Today's hearing stems from a suit filed by ACLU that says the bulk collection of phone metadata is a violation of privacy and federal law.

BERMAN: President Obama delivering his Labor Day message from an enthusiastic crowd in Milwaukee. The president addressing workers at a Labor Day rally in Milwaukee, touted his economic record and chided Republican lawmakers who are trying to block much of his domestic agenda, including his push for a higher minimum wage.

The minimum wage is an issue the White House likes to see front and center in this campaign season.

ROMANS: The labor secretary yesterday (INAUDIBLE) that the states have been doing it with the help of the White House pushing for it.

All right. This is the big scandal de jure. The FBI now investigating what might be the biggest celebrity hacking scandal ever. Oscar winning actress, Jennifer Lawrence, other A-list stars had naked photos hacked and posted online. They were apparently stolen from Apple's iCloud online storage device. Apple is also investigating.

Lawrence's publicist calls it a flagrant violation of privacy. And they say authorities will prosecute anyone who disseminates those pictures.

ROMANS: So, the big question, how exactly did hackers get their hands on the photos, right?

BERMAN: Yes.

ROMANS: It is still being investigated. But a security flaw in Apple's iCloud system could be to blame. Until this week, iCloud allowed users to guess passwords over and over and never be locked. Celebrities were using easy to guess passwords. Hackers might have been able to access it through trial and error and guessing sort of like the security questions.

Another possibility is hackers often send fake e-mails posing as a trusted site like Apple. Those phishing scams convince people to enter usernames and passwords to fake sites.

A quick check on your money this morning, European shares are up. Asian shares ended the day higher. The U.S. market back from the Labor Day holiday and stock futures are pointing higher as well right now.

BERMAN: Nice.

ROMANS: A new trading month begins.

BERMAN: Happening now: crisis in Ukraine. Russia has now launched a great war, stinging accusations from Ukraine's government as that country battles rebels in the east. They say those rebels are armed by Russia. We are live with how NATO will now step in, ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Now to the growing crisis in Ukraine. President Poroshenko of Ukraine desperate for military assistance. He's looking for help now from NATO leaders as they prepare to meet later this week.

NATO is set to establish a new rapid reaction that could respond to a global hot spot, like Ukraine, in a matter of days. But, right now, Ukraine's military is losing ground to separatist rebels.

CNN's Reza Sayah with the latest from Kiev.

And, Reza, a very different situation now facing the Ukrainian government really than just a few weeks ago.

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, if you look at what's happening on the battlefield, by any measure, Ukrainian forces are losing. And unless something changes, they are going to be in trouble.

Over the past several days, hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers, many of them, volunteer fighters had either retreated, or been encircled, or trapped, many others injured or killed. And they are also losing significant ground, significant territory.

One of the latest losses came yesterday, a critical airfield and the rebel stronghold of Luhansk. Up until yesterday, this airfield was under the control of Ukrainian forces but they retreated after the airfield came under attack by rebels, allegedly backed by Russian troops and Russian tanks. Of course, Moscow continues to deny they have tanks and troops on Ukrainian soil.

We are also keeping a close eye on the critical port city of Mariupol. That's where 15 miles east of the location, you have pro-Russian rebels baring down, seemingly poised for an attack.

Whether they attack or not, perhaps defends a lot on what happens on the negotiating table where pro-Russian rebels have seemingly eased off their position and demand for an independent state in southeastern Ukraine.

Yesterday, in Belarus, where all sides of this conflict met. The pro- Russians rebels said they would be satisfied with some sort of guarantee for autonomy and self determination. And in return, they would accept a sovereign and united Ukraine, John.

So, seemingly, an opportunity for a negotiated deal or compromise, but no breakthrough there yesterday -- no response from Kiev in western capitals.

BERMAN: Talks show little success over the last several months.

Our Reza Sayah in Kiev, thanks so much.

ROMANS: Police in Ferguson, Missouri, have started wearing body cameras. The 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 those donations.

On Monday, a group calling for Wilson's dismissal blocked traffic briefly along the Interstate 70 in Missouri. That traffic took place despite a request by Brown's father to cancel the demonstration.

BERMAN: The Texas National Guard deployed to help beef security at the U.S.-Mexico border. But now the guardsmen that there is not a lot for them to do. They say this is because the number of immigrants crossing the border illegally in the Rio Grande, Texas, has dropped significantly in recent weeks. This includes the flow of unaccompanied children.

Millions of Americans could be in the path of powerful storms today. Parts of northern Michigan, they were pounded by rough weather on Labor Day, including two reported tornadoes. It uprooted hundreds of trees in Otsego County and sent several crashing down into homes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

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

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.

And a big clean up underway this morning in western Massachusetts, after a tornado touched down there on Sunday night. A twister tore trees right out of the ground, some damage to homes and cars. But thankfully, again, no loss of life.

BERMAN: All right. Indra Petersons has a look at what's going to happen today.

Good morning, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: A tough start to the day. We look at all of the lightning that's on the map right now, very easy to see that line of storms. A lot of them are out toward in St. Louis overnight, now making its way in through Cincinnati. Definitely we are going to see some spots right where that cold front, or just ahead of the cold front, with that threat for severe weather today.

In the south, scattered showers. Not looking for heavy rain, but again let's talk about who is right in the zone. Binghamton, all the way back down through Cincinnati. That's we're going to see the heaviest rain. The thunderstorms are already out there this morning. That's going to be the concern.

The other story is going to be the heat. Remember, we kind of said it felt like cool weather, like fall throughout the summer? Well, now, it is actually in getting close to fall. It feels like summer. It feels like July and August down in the South.

Why the jet stream is well to the north. All this heat is out there. Let's talk about what the temperatures look like. I mean, 12 degrees above average in New York today. It's going to be 92 degrees.

Notice out towards Dallas, 97. These aren't the feels like temperatures. You add in the humidity, how uncomfortable it is. And you start talking about that triple digit heat, even out towards D.C. today, it will feel like it is 100 degrees at the hottest time of the day.

You do want to point, we have a tropical storm Dolly, out there. Keep in mind, the heaviest rain are going to be just to the south of the states here, kind of through Mexico where they could see 10 inches of rain. That will be a concern in the higher elevations.

BERMAN: Thanks, Indra.

ROMANS: Hello Dolly.

BERMAN: You say it again. Even after the first time, when it was widely condemned, you said it again.

ROMANS: It wasn't funny then. Going to say it until it's funny.

BERMAN: All right. Coming up for us, a baseball rarity. I'm talking to you about a combination of no hitter. It took four pitchers to toss this no, no. We have the "Bleacher Report" after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Michael Sam's journey to becoming the first openly gay player to make an NFL rooster caught with a sudden halt after he was lift off the Rams practice squad.

ROMANS: Laura Rutledge has more on his morning's "Bleacher Report".

Hey, there.

LAURA RUTLEDGE, BLEACHER REPORT: Hey, there. And, yes, you are right. Michael Sam wasn't included on the Rams ten-player squad when they announced it Monday afternoon.

Now, this doesn't mean the end for Sam. He cleared waivers so he's free to sign with any team interested in adding him. Sam was one of four seventh round picks released by the Rams. And Rams coach Jeff Fisher said the team's decision weighed heavily on their need for depth and other positions.

Now, turning on bleacherreport.com, several media outlets report that J.J. Watt has agreed to an estimated $100 million deal with the Houston Texans overnight. That makes him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history. In just three seasons, Watt has already earned the reputation as one of the best defensive players. And he will now be getting paid like it. Hey, who says you can't go home? Late last night, Bobby Petrino made

his return as the head coach of the Louisville Cardinals. Now, you may remember his scandal at Arkansas two years ago?

As for the game, the Cardinals only trailed for 14 seconds in their ACC debut, and that was all thanks to the 97-yard kick-off return to put the Cardinals ahead for good. Louisville goes on to win it, 31- 13.

And while it was a season to forget for the Phillies until yesterday, Cole Hamels threw the 11th combined no-hitter to beat the Atlanta Braves. Hamels got started pitching sixth innings and striking out seven, then relievers Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon finished the job, each with perfect innings.

OK. But what about the Braves who couldn't get one hit off any of the pitchers they saw? Normally, guys would say hey, we couldn't get a hit off the starter, but he's out of the game. Let's get to the bull pen. Didn't happen for the Braves.

BERMAN: Rub it in. It makes it that much better for the Braves this morning to hear that from you this morning. Thank you so much, Laura.

RUTLEDGE: I know. That's what I'm here for.

BERMAN: Great to have you with us.

All right. We do have some breaking news this morning. The U.S. launching new attacks on terrorists in Somalia. We have new information we learned overnight about this operation. That's coming up right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)