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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

U.S. Hits ISIS with Airstrikes Near Baghdad; Ebola Crisis; President Obama's New Plan; The NFL & Domestic Violence

Aired September 16, 2014 - 04:30   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: A new intensified hunt for ISIS. U.S. airstrikes targeting terrorists near Baghdad, near Baghdad, for the first time, as more countries pledge their alliance in this fight. We are live with the latest this morning.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And Ebola epidemic. President Obama's new expanded effort to stop the deadly virus from spreading, including thousands of U.S. troops headed to the danger zone and hundreds of millions of dollars headed there as well.

We'll have all the details ahead.

ROMANS: Domestic violence and the NFL. The league's new push to address the problem as new reports of abuse allegations surface. We are breaking it down for you.

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

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Thirty-one minutes past the hour. Great to see you this morning.

And we do begin with a new phase in the fight against ISIS. The U.S. launching airstrikes near Baghdad for the first time since the campaign against the militant group started.

Previous airstrikes to target terrorists near the town of Irbil. U.S. Central Command calling these new airstrikes the beginning of an expanded effort, an offensive effort to help Iraqi forces move ahead.

CNN correspondent Anna Coren joins us now live from the frontline of the battle against ISIS in the north.

Good morning, Ana.

ANA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John, that's right.

We are up here in northern Iraq, very close to the township of Hasanshan (ph), about 30 kilometers east of Mosul. And as you can probably see over my soldiers, the black flume of some really sets the scene. It has been a scene of intense fighting between the Peshmerga and the Kurdish forces, as well as ISIS. Now, they have been trying to regain territory. The Peshmerga regain

territory here. Five villages where there has been that intense fighting going on. Just a short time ago, we heard gunfire. The U.S. fighter jets have been circling since dawn. It is 11:30 a.m.

The plan is to regain this territory so they can get to a strategic bridge nearby. Now, that bridge was blown up by ISIS a month ago. But it is a vital link between Irbil, the capital of Kurdistan here in northern Iraq, and to Mosul, which is Iraq's second largest city and as we know, has been an ISIS stronghold since June.

So, the plan is to regain this territory, rebuild that bridge so they can have that pathway to Mosul, for the next phase of this operation which will be the battle for Mosul.

But, certainly, in the meantime, those U.S. airstrikes making a huge difference to the state of play here on the ground. We also saw the remnants of a suicide bomber packed with explosives in an oil tanker heading towards the Peshmerga before he could reach them, he was blown up by RPG. And as a result, there was a huge, huge, explosions here. More explosions overhead.

So, there is fighting going on many fronts here as the Peshmerga, the Kurdish forces try to regain this territory which is being seized by ISIS over the past few months -- John and Christine.

BERMAN: Anna, we can see the smoke behind you. Clearly, you are on the frontlines of this battle right now between the Peshmerga and the ISIS forces. You mentioned that the U.S. airstrikes have made a difference.

Have these been key, have these provided Peshmerga with the ability to move against ISIS and perhaps take the fight to ISIS?

COREN: Yes, absolutely. There's been no question as to how effective these U.S. airstrikes have been. And as I say, they were circling, these two jets circling since dawn. They have continued to really pummel those enemy lines.

According to the Peshmerga, the Americans not willing to take out the towns and villages filled with ISIS militants. We might just -- I'm not sure if you can pick that up. There has been another explosion there on the horizon, one of many that have happened today.

This is, as we say, fluid and ongoing battle here. Yes, those U.S. airstrikes, John, as you mentioned, critical for ground forces, because they have allowed them to make up that extra territory because of that air cover. As I was saying, the Americans are refusing to hit the towns because of the concern of civilian casualties. However, according to the military here in Kurdistan, the Peshmerga, they are saying the townships are only filled with ISIS. The local population has fled.

We sat down yesterday with the Kurdish president, President Barzani and he, too, called for intensification of the airstrikes, because they are making such a difference to his forces on the ground who are directly taking the fight to ISIS.

BERMAN: Anna, amazing pictures behind you right now. Please be safe. But it's interesting to see the battle -- literally the battle against ISIS going on in this very scene.

Anna Coren on the frontlines -- thanks so much.

ROMANS: One big question up in the air this morning as the coalition against ISIS comes together. Which nations are committing to what? On Monday, France joined Britain flying air reconnaissance in support of the U.S. air campaign. But neither country is on the record if they will commit to combat roles.

And two countries, Iran and Syria, they weren't invited into Monday's international conference. CNN's Michelle Kosinski has more from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, John and Christine.

The White House keeps talking about this fight, this war now against ISIS, will be all about building an international coalition. But will that look like exactly? What country will do what militarily?

For now, the administration is holding its cards close. Even though there has still been some mixed messaging out there on who's made an offer, whom will the U.S. work with, and whom will it not?

For now, the White House isn't answering any questions on specifics, even what other countries are willing to conduct air strikes? They say there is still coordination that needs to be done to even decide what will be needed from whom and when.

Secretary of State Kerry, though, traveling through the region and Europe has acknowledged that there are real offers out there. Some are from Arab countries. He says some of those offers include not only air strikes, but troops on the ground. Other countries, for example, Iraq, have said that France is willing to conduct airstrikes.

The White House has made clear whom it will not work with at this point. It says Syria and Iran. However, we know there have been back channel discussions with Iraq on this subject. And Tehran just said that it rejects an offer to work with the U.S. on this.

So, if there hasn't been coordination, where did that supposed offer come from? And just this month, Iraq's president told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that Iranian militias worked with the U.S. inside Iraq, to help end the siege on an ethnic minority in a particular city there. The White House isn't commenting further.

Something else that we know is that the U.S. will fight something of a battle at least against ISIS within the United States. The attorney general just announced this new initiative to try to target radicalism and extremist recruitment inside American communities -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: All right. Our thanks to Michelle Kosinski there.

There is chilling audio this morning of a convicted terrorist raised in the United States talking with a key ISIS operative. CNN has obtained tapes showing how ISIS terrorists communicate secretly. Listen as Tarek Mehanna talks with a fighter apparently in Somalia. You will hear them say culinary school, which is code for training camps, and peanut butter and jelly which analysts say means jihad.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, ISIS OPERATIVE CALL)

SOMALI MAN: Well, right now, I'm in culinary school and I just making peanut better and jelly. No way will I be on the internet.

TAREK MEHANNA: Right, right. Inshallah.

Do you have like an email or something that you're checking, or just a phone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, actually, I'm not even on the Internet. Trust me, there's now way I'm going to be on the Internet. Not that there isn't some here, but where I am right now, no.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

BERMAN: Fascinating. We're now learning the biggest source of ISIS recruits may be Turkey -- of course, across the border from Syria. Turkish media and government officials say as many as 1,000 Turks may have signed up to fight for ISIS.

ROMANS: The latest word this morning, an ISIS hostage Alan Henning is not encouraging. Officials saying money that U.K. intelligence services don't know where the British aid worker is being held. That would mean a special mission to rescue Henning, an aid worker, is effectively impossible.

BERMAN: Administration officials will head to Capitol Hill today. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey, they will face questions by the Senate Armed Services Committee on U.S. policy toward Iraq and Syria, and the threat posed by ISIS. The administration is seeking authority to train and arm so- called moderate Syrian rebels.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIE HARF, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: We heard members of Congress talk quite a bit about how important they think this effort is and they should put their vote where their words are, and hopefully, we can get it done. Holding this off until the mid-term elections I think would set this effort back even further.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: While this is going on, the Justice Department is launching a program to fight ISIS here in the United States. Under the plan social and mental health workers, as well as religious leaders and local police will be enlisted to help fight recruitment.

ROMANS: Meanwhile, opposition starting to mount in the U.S. against the president's plan. Some activists warn against the same kind of rush to war that led to the earlier American involvement in Iraq. The petition on the Web site MoveOn.org calling for the administration to, quote, "hit the pause button and put more effort into non-military diplomatic options to blunt the expansion of ISIS." So far, just over 4,000 people have signed that petition.

BERMAN: Today, President Obama lays out the United States expanded new effort to contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This is large, large plan. It includes the deployment of up to 3,000 U.S. military personnel in the additional 1,700 beds for treating patients in Liberia alone. The U.S. military will be taking a command and control role in the international response to the crisis. On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council holds an emergency meeting to get a better global response to the Ebola outbreak.

Right now on the ground in West Africa, international relief groups say their workers are exhausted and at the breaking point. More than 240 medical staffers have been sickened with Ebola and half dying. The virus has killed more than 2,400 people so far. But 3,000 U.S. military personnel headed to West Africa.

ROMANS: All right. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

Rough day for stocks. Shares down in Europe and in Asia. U.S. futures pointing lower. The Dow and S&P barely budged yesterday.

But it was a tech rout in the NASDAQ, down 1 percent as high profile tech stocks plunged. Facebook fell 4 percent. Twitter lost 5 percent. Yelp and LinkedIn both fell 6 percent.

Tesla shares plunged a stunning 9 percent, after an analyst wrote the stocks was a bit ahead of itself, echoing comments from the Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Other than those comments, it's unclear why tech investors fled yesterday.

But it could be that Alibaba is stealing attention from the rest of the sector. The stock is expected to start trading on Friday. It raised the target IPO to $66 to $68 a share because of high demand. It will be the largest IPO in history. So, watch this space.

All right. The NFL taking new steps to battle domestic violence as new reports of abuse allegations roll in. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: There are new allegations this morning against Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson who was just indicted on child abuse- related charges. CNN affiliate KHOU affiliate is reporting Peterson was involved in a second incident with another son who lives out of state with his mother. CNN has not been able to independently confirm the report. But through his attorney, Peterson is vehemently denying the details here. No charges were ever filed.

And Peterson's first public comments since the indictment posted on his Twitter, he says he is not a child abuser, but he is sorry about the hurt he has brought to his son.

The Vikings have reinstated Peterson and he will be active for the game on Sunday. The team's general manager addressed the issue on Monday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICK SPIELMAN, MINNESOTA VIKINGS GM: This is a difficult path to navigate regarding the judgment of how a parent disciplines his child. Based on the extensive information we have right now and what we know about Adrian not only as a person, but what he has done for the community, we believe he deserves to play while the legal process plays out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Now if you saw behind him there, the team logo, there is also a Radisson corporate logo behind him, that is going to go away, because it appears the allegations against Peterson are hitting the Vikings now in pocketbooks. The Radisson hotel chain has suspended its sponsorship of the team. You saw the Radisson logo behind --

ROMANS: As big as the Vikings emblem. Imagine if you are Radisson, your base, your hometown team, your hometown sponsorship. Your name is just as big.

And guess what, Radisson supports groups of child protection and helping -- so, it's two images that were very uncomfortable for Radisson. They are suspending the sponsorship. We see this a lot. They go back in the future when they see the behavior is changed or the team changed position on something.

But reinstatement of their logo back there was not cool for them.

ROMANS: All right. Between now and 11:59 tonight, former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is expected to appeal his indefinite suspension from the NFL. The players association is standing behind Rice and plans to make a case for letting him return to the playing field.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIN BURNETT, CNN HOST: Should Ray Rice be allowed to play again?

ERIC WINSTON, NFLPA: I think so. I think we are all entitled to a second chance. Obviously, he made a horrific mistake. And he's going to pay for it. He's already been disciplined once, actually been disciplined multiple times by the commissioner.

BURNETT: Roger Goodell, should he keep his job? WINSTON: Obviously, there's an issue with player conduct, like you've

been referring to and maybe it's time to take it out of the commissioner's hands and put into a neutral arbitration process where there can be a fair process for everybody involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is appointing four women for new policies and resources for domestic and sexual assault. I think men can do that, too.

BERMAN: I think everyone should be involved in that.

Breaking news this morning. A bomb blast near the U.S. embassy in Kabul. The Taliban taking credit. We will have details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Sweeping concessions being offered by Ukraine to pro-Russian rebels. President Poroshenko offering the separatists broad amnesty and self governance in the territories they already occupy. The plan also includes protection for Russian language and culture and a separatists controlled police and legal systems. The concessions in effect formalize the gains the rebels made during a resurgence over the last two months, gains that NATO says were backed by Russian arms and troops. This, of course, is a claim that Russia denies.

ROMANS: Breaking overnight: a deadly suicide bombing in the Afghan capital Kabul. It happened just steps from the main entrance, the heavily guarded, heavily guarded U.S. embassy. The Taliban taking responsibility for attack on a foreign military convoy that killed at least three members of the international security systems force.

BERMAN: British Prime Minister David Cameron making an 11th hour push for a no vote on Scottish independence. Cameron made an emotional plea, telling voters in Scotland that the United Kingdom is not just, quote, "any old country." He said millions would be heart broken if it was split apart.

Meanwhile, word is emerging that British banks have been moving millions of bank notes to Scottish banks, trying to make sure there is enough currency in case, there is a run on ATMs if there's a yes vote there. This is a stunning, stunning story that the world is watching this week, big, big news.

ROMANS: Those banks saying that they just don't know. There's so much uncertainty with a yes vote. They would move their headquarter to England, out of Scotland, if there is a yes.

Fifty-four54 minutes past the hour. Amazon bringing back a '90s favorite. An EARLY START on your money, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. Rough day for stocks, so far. European stocks lower. U.S. stock futures pointing lower.

Yesterday, the NASDAQ yesterday fell 1 percent. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn all down significantly for the day. And Tesla shares fell 9 percent after the analyst said the stock was, quote, "ahead of itself."

But one company making its market debut last week, getting a whole lot of attention from investors. It's a company called Alibaba. It's Chinese Internet company, just increased its IPO price because of it says, high demand.

Marriott says you should tip your housekeeper. Marriott International placing envelopes in more than 160,000 rooms in the U.S., encouraging guests to tip their room attendants. The hotel chain says those workers often get overlooked because guests don't see them.

The campaign is causing outrage. Many people saying it is Marriott's responsibility to pay its workers a living wage, so tips aren't necessary. A lot of people online saying raise the wages. Hotel room prices are going up. Raise the wages, don't make me pay.

Remember, Surge Soda? It is back. Coca-Cola unveiled the soda in 1996 to compete with Mountain Dew. It was taken off the shelves way back in 2001. It is selling on Amazon to test reaction.

It's mostly thanks to both the fans like the Surge movement on Facebook. The group has more than 130,000. The commercial is not in HD. It's so 1990s. Even raised $4,000 to buy the billboard's near Coke's Atlanta headquarters. "Dear Coke, we could not buy Surge, so we bought this billboard instead."

BERMAN: I'm glad people are involved in something important, this communal effort right here.

EARLY START continues right now.