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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

American Air Attacks to Help Iraqi Forces; Ebola Crisis: President Obama's New Plan; NFL Violence Fallout; UK Prime Minister Pushes for No Vote

Aired September 16, 2014 - 05:00   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The hunt for ISIS. Right now, bombs dropping over Baghdad. New U.S. airstrikes targeting the terrorists, as more countries sign on board to help in this fight. We are live in Iraq with the very latest this morning.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ebola crisis. Today, President Obama reveals a surprising new strategy to stop the deadly virus from spreading -- thousands of U.S. troops, hundreds of millions of dollars. All the details ahead.

ROMANS: Off the field violence hurting the NFL today. New accusations of abuse from embattled player and another set to appeal his punishment for violence as the NFL proposes a new solution to the problem.

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

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It's 5:00 on the nose this morning.

We have a lot of news to get started with.

John, you can begin.

BERMAN: Yes, we are going to start with a key moment in Iraq. The United States going on offense against ISIS this morning, launching air strikes close to Baghdad for the first time in the fight against the militant group. Previous hits near the town of Irbil, focused mostly on the north.

The U.S. Central Command calls this the first strike in the expanded effort to help Iraqi forces go on offensive. Officials say six vehicles in a ISIS fighting position southwest of the capital were destroyed on Monday.

Now, Kurdish forces are also on offense in the north and from the looks of it, backed also by U.S. airstrikes.

CNN correspondent Anna Coren joins us live from the frontlines in northern Iraq.

You can see the smoke plumes behind you, Anna. Give us the sense of what's going on. ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, we are close by in the township of Hasam Sham (ph), which is about 30 kilometers to the east of Mosul. That ISIS stronghold. This has been a ground offensive by the Peshmerga, the Kurdish forces, to clear out the villages.

You say the smoke behind me has been rising for hours now, big black plumes of smoke along the horizon. Our cameraman Sanjiv will give you the idea of how far the fighting has reached. This offensive begin before dawn. Peshmerga pushing and trying to clear those villages. The mission here is to seize an area where there was a bridge blown up by ISIS about a month ago.

Now, it is a strategic bridge because of the link between Irbil, the capital of Kurdistan, not far from where we are, and the city of Mosul. Of course, this will be the next phase of the operation, the battle for Mosul. So, the plan is for Peshmerga to take control of the area and rebuild the bridge for the thorough way all the way to Mosul.

But you mentioned those U.S. air strikes, you can see the jets a little bit earlier, they have been circling for hours now and have been launching airstrikes. It's making a huge difference on the ground as you can imagine to the forces here, giving them the air cover, but taking out enemy positions that ISIS vehicles, and convoys that are traveling throughout these plains. It really is making a difference.

We've spoken to the Kurdish president, President Barzani, yesterday. We sat down with him. He welcomes President Obama's strategy to degrade and destroy ISIS. He says they need an intensification of those air strikes.

Those jets still circling. John, it is a very active campaign.

BERMAN: No, it does seem to be a coordinated effort where you are with the Peshmerga fighting on the ground, U.S. airstrikes in support of that. While this is going on, Anna, the United States military tells us a new phase in the battle of ISIS near Baghdad. Those air strikes south of Baghdad also going on offense against ISIS.

COREN: Yes, that's right. That news overnight that there were the airstrikes south of Baghdad, certainly seeing an escalation of the campaign. I mean, we heard it from the president when he outlined his strategy last week, this systematic campaign that we are going to be seeing here in Iraq.

That means an intensification of air strikes. They're not just going to be focused on looking at the U.S. personnel or the humanitarian issues here in this country. It is now about hunting down ISIS and killing the enemy, and taking out the targets so the ground forces, Peshmerga, and the Iraqi security forces, who are the boots on the ground.

You have to remember, there are no foreign troops on the ground here in Iraq at the moment. We spoke to the president yesterday and he said he would welcome foreign troops here to help his forces. But they are the ones on the ground taking the fight to ISIS. But they need the air support. It is critical.

Jets flying over us as we are speaking, John. It's extremely, extremely fluid. They are constantly surveying what is going on. They have the eyes on ISIS which is making it so much harder for them to move from town to town.

BERMAN: You're literally looking at what could be the next phase in the fight against ISIS in Iraq, right behind Anna Coren, who's in the northern part of that country. Thanks so much, Anna. Appreciate it.

ROMANS: All right. One big question still up in the air this morning as the coalition against ISIS comes together: which nations are committing to what? On Monday, France joined Britain over aerial reconnaissance in support of the U.S. air campaigns. But neither countries on the record so far about whether they'll commit to combat roles. And two countries, Iran and Syria, were not invited to Monday's international conference on ISIS.

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: Thanks, Michelle Kosinski at the White House.

There is chilling new audio this morning of a convicted terrorist raised in the United States talking with an ISIS operative. CNN 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 camp, and "peanut butter and jelly" which apparently 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: We are now learning of another big source for ISIS recruits headed to Iraq and Syria. They are coming from neighboring Turkey. Turkish media and government officials say as many as 1,000 Turks may have signed up to fight for ISIS.

ROMANS: The latest word on ISIS hostage Alan Henning is not encouraging. Officials saying Monday that U.K. intelligence services do not know where the British aid worker is being held. That would means any possible mission by special forces troops to Rescue Henning is effectively impossible.

BERMAN: Administration officials will head up to Capitol Hill today. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey will face questions by the Senate Armed Services Committee on U.S. policy towards Iraq and Syria and the threat they say is 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: You heard Michelle Kosinski talk about this. The Justice Department is launching a program to try to battle ISIS recruitment efforts here in the United States under plan, social and mental health workers, as well as religious leaders and local police will be enlisted to try to hamper those efforts.

ROMANS: Meanwhile, opposition starting to build in the U.S. against the president's plan. Now, some activists warn against the same kind of rush to war that led to the earlier American involvement in Iraq, a petition on the Web site on 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 Move On petition.

BERMAN: Today, President Obama will layout the new U.S. effort to contain the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It is a huge escalation. The plan includes the deployment of up to 3,000 U.S. military personnel.

Compare that to Iraq. There are 1,600 U.S. military troops in Iraq right now. We're talking about 3,000 troops headed to West Africa. Also the addition of 1,700 beds for treating patients in Liberia alone.

The U.S. military will take a command and control role for the international response to the crisis. On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council will hold an emergency meeting to discuss how to get a better global response to the 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 staffers have been sickened by Ebola, with half of them dying. The virus already has killed more than 2,400 people.

The NFL and off the field violence this morning. New reports of abuse allegations as the NFL rolls out a new plan to try to stop the violence. Andy Scholes breaks it down for us.

BERMAN: Plus, California on fire. Thousands evacuating their homes. The flames spreading across the state. Indra Petersons is tracking extreme heat that is making things worse. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Just hours after the Minnesota Vikings reinstated Adrian Peterson, more allegations of child abuse surfaced in Texas.

ROMANS: Andy Scholes still not talking about football this morning. Still talking about but football players' behavior.

Good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, good morning, guys. You know, CNN affiliate KHOU is reporting that Adrian Peterson who has been indicted on child abuse charges, was accused in a separate second incident involving another son who was 4 years old. KHOU cited text messages. The report include a photo of the son with an apparent head wound covered by bandages. Peterson's attorney says the allegations were unfounded and more than a year old.

Now, before this new report, the Vikings reinstated Peterson. General Manager Rick Spielman spoke about that decision.

(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)

SCHOLES: Peterson did not speak with the media, but they released a statement that reads in part, "I have to live with the fact that when I disciplined my son the way I was disciplined as a child, I caused an injury that I never intended or though would happen." He went on to say, "I love my son and I will continue to become a better parent and learn from any mistakes I ever make."

Now, Greg Hardy meanwhile is back practicing with the Carolina Panthers. Hardy was convicted of domestic violence, but is currently appealing that ruling. He played in week one, but was benched in week two. Kansas head coach Ron Rivera says the team still undecided if Hardy will play this weekend.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RON RIVERA, PANTHERS HEAD COACH: I'm concerned about it. It is a distraction. That's part of the reason why I made the decision, because if you play him and you win, then you don't have a conscience. You play him and you lose, he is a distraction. So, decision was made in the best interest of this organization.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is expected to appeal his indefinite suspension from the NFL later today. He has until 11:59 Eastern Time to file. The NFL players union plans to defend rice during his appeal.

The NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams yesterday announcing going forward, four women will shape the league policies for domestic violence and sexual assault. In the letter, Goodell admitted to the spotlight getting brighter on these issues, saying we know that we will be judged by our action and their effectiveness.

And, guys, there was an exciting game on Monday night football last night.

ROMANS: What cares?

SCHOLES: The Eagles beat the Colts, 30-27. A side note.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: That is what the people are talking about, which is the problem for the NFL right now.

ROMANS: If you run the business of the NFL, I mean, you must be freaking out, because no one is talking about football. Even if you look at that picture of the GM of the Vikings and the name Radisson all over the place. If you're a sponsor of one of these things, you must be calling up your team saying, hey, you will not parade somebody out there for bad behavior. My name is everywhere on that poster.

BERMAN: I will say the one thing we have not seen evidence of is people not watching football. That is what would make the difference.

ROMANS: A couple of days ago you saw the woman on the cover holding the switch supporting Adrian Peterson. I wonder now in the next couple of days if you will still see those women who are holding rough sticks trying to be in solidarity with him. I wonder. I think you won't. I think that's going to fade.

Anyway, thanks, Andy.

Protesters calling for Goodell's resignation hijacked the CoverGirl ad. This campaign originally targeted female NFL fans. But activists changed the picture and gave the Ravens fan a black eye. The jarring image has gone viral. CoverGirl updated its social media accounts overnight, saying the brand has encouraged the NFL to take action against domestic violence.

It just shows you how this is front and center right now with the NFL brand.

Eighteen minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

European shares lower. U.S. futures are lower. A lot for investors to consider this week. A policy statement from the Fed. A vote on Scottish independence. Alibaba's record-breaking IPO.

Watch this space. There's a lot going on today.

BERMAN: Eleven major wildfires burning this morning in California. The King Fire two hours east of the Sacramento has doubled in size to nearly 9,000 acres, now only 5 percent contained. More than 160 homeowners forced to evacuate on very short notice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STACEY MORE, EVACUATED SUNDAY: When it came to getting 15 minutes of we need to get out. We took all the stuff. Got the dogs and ourselves and we went.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The Baja Peninsula battered by hurricane Odile. Look at the pictures. The entire neighborhoods are now disasters zones. The category 3 storm wiped out hundreds of homes and businesses. Hundreds of thousand of people without power right now.

More than 30,000 tourists forced to stay overnight in temporary shelters. Los Cabos International airport is still closed. If you're coming or going, you're not, because you are stuck there, and it ain't pretty.

Indra Petersons has a look at your forecast.

Hi, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, still very hard to get a hold of anyone. Cell service definitely, and still a lot of power down in many places.

ROMANS: Yes.

PETERSONS: Even this morning, it still remains as a tropical storm.

I'm getting a lot of questions about whether or not it's going to alleviate the drought conditions in California. Unfortunately, no, look at the path. Yes, we're talking about that moisture pulling all the way into the southwest. More like Arizona. Very easy to see here.

When you take a look at the water vapor, look at all these moisture and now think about what they say out towards Phoenix just about a week ago, all that terrible flooding. This is the concern. They could see enhanced rainfall out there. So, that flooding concern is going to be high in the southwest over the next several days. You don't want a lot of rain where you got inundated with rain. That makes that flood concern a lot higher.

Into the northeast, look at the showers making their way in. So, yes, a little bit of a rainy day. Notice, not really intense storms. Light scattered showers will be out there. Also into the southeast, you're going to see some of these scattered showers. Just keep in mind all of this does mean cold air is going to be reinforced as another system is kind of reinforcing that cooler air for the second half of the week.

So, the temperature divide. It's going to be big. Form the East Coast to the West Coast, East Coast you're talking about mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s. West Coast, talking abo8ut 100 degrees. The humidity from Odile makes it hotter.

ROMANS: All right. Thanks, Indra.

Happening now: Scotland and Britain, very big story, could be heading for a very messy, very painful, very expensive split. A vote for independence coming in just days. We are live with what could come next, after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: 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 the country were broken up.

Meantime, word that British banks have been moving billions of bank notes to Scotland. They have to make sure there's enough currency is there if there is a run on ATMs following a yes vote.

CNN's Max Foster is live in Edinburgh with the very latest here.

Max, when I talk to economists, they say it would be a national economic tragedy for Scotland to secede. But there is this nationalist passion that's keeping the polls pretty balanced.

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's true and you talk about the banks notes coming up, but also a major Scottish bank rolling back in Scotland, one of the biggest in the world, based in Scotland, has contingency plans to move to England if there is a yes vote, because they know it will hit their credit rating.

If they are based in the country where no one knows where the control lies, because if it's a yes vote on Thursday, the foreign minister then has to go to negotiations with the Westminster government and talk about how to carve the country up, which is the third of the country's land mass. I mean, what part of the military do we control?

What about the pounds? David Cameron being clear that Scotland won't be able to share the pounds. Alex Simon said we will have the pound. We can take the pound.

But there would be a Central Bank in Scotland. So many complicated questions. It is making the markets nervous, indeed. But the Westminster government hasn't really helped things, that the treasury has not thought this through.

I think actually until a month ago, they did not in the slightest sense there would be yes votes. They weren't prepared for this and this is being factored into the market. So, I think there is a great deal of concern if there is a yes vote. But as you say, this is a passion in Scotland, particularly among the yes campaign. They want to feel like they live in more of a nation where more decisions are made here in Edinburgh -- Christine.

ROMANS: It just fascinating. And people as young as 16 are able to vote. So, it is a really interesting development. I'm sure we will talk to you about it a lot over the next couple of days.

Max Foster, thanks, Max.

BERMAN: I think the implications are huge. What do you say to the separatists in Spain? What do you say to the people in Ukraine right now? You say Scotland split up, why shouldn't we?

All right. Happening right now: new U.S. air strikes dropping bombs near Baghdad for the first time as the United States enters a new phase in the battle against ISIS. We'll take you live to Iraq right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)