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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Scotland Rejects Independence; Two More U.S. Airstrikes against ISIS

Aired September 19, 2014 - 05:30   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. Scotland rejecting independence. Keeping the United Kingdom united. But that doesn't mean big changes aren't coming. We are live with the latest reaction and what comes next.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Congress officially signs on to the war against ISIS. The Senate voting to arm and train Syrian rebels, but not everyone is happy with the president's plan. This as new airstrikes target terrorists in Iraq. We are live with the latest.

ROMANS: American tourists stranded. Trapped in hurricane ravaged Cabo. The U.S. military airlifting victims out as another storm approaches. Indra Petersons is tracking this one for us.

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

BERMAN: I'm John Berman. Great to see you at 31 minutes past the hour. It is Friday. And this Friday morning is breaking historic news out of Scotland. The United Kingdom still united. Voters in Scotland have rejected a hotly contested vote for independence. The margin was 55 percent to 45 percent.

CNN's Becky Anderson is live in London.

Becky, you know, how is this being received? I imagine that David Cameron who lives in the house right behind you must be incredibly relieved today.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And exhausted, I would say. It was a long and sleepless night for many Scots and a long and sleepless night for David Cameron here at 10 and when he came out to speak to the press a couple of hours ago as the sun rose here in London, there was, well, a sense of palpable relief.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Scotland voted for a stronger Scottish parliament backed by the strength and security of the United Kingdom. And I want to congratulate the no campaign for that, for showing people that our nations really are better together.

I also want to pay tribute to yes, Scotland for a well fought campaign. And to say to all those who did vote for independence, we hear you. We now have a chance, a great opportunity to change the way the British people are governed and change it for the better. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And that is across the board. Not just in Scotland, but in England, in Wales and in Northern Ireland. What David Cameron did with the no campaign is in the dying days of this referendum, when the polls were squeezed and it looked like the separatists might win the day, he vowed alongside other politicians from Westminster here in London that Scotland would get more devolved powers, more facility for raising funds.

And he's going to stick to that, he says. But he says that will be a new and fair settlement for Scotland mirrored by a new and fair settlement for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. No referendum for the populations in those other nations that make up the United Kingdom. But he's absolutely determined now that what Scotland gets, the other nations may get going forward.

So do not expect a status quo going forward. Things will change. The U.K. will be governed in different ways but that will be across the board as far as the prime minister is concerned. There is a timeframe for this. He is looking for draft legislation by the beginning of January. So by the time the British get to an election in May of next year, if that is when it is, then expect that we may be a long way down the road to what could be a more federal United Kingdom -- guys.

BERMAN: You know, but as you say, this still will change everything for how these regions were governed in the United Kingdom going forward.

Big sigh of relief today not just behind you but all around the world. The financial markets were very nervous about what might happen but they're all up this morning.

ANDERSON: Right.

BERMAN: Becky Anderson, in London, thanks so much.

ROMANS: President Obama enjoying a rare victory in Congress this morning. The Senate on Thursday passed a measure to fund arms and training for the so-called moderate Syrian rebels. It got approved by a vote of 78-22. That was one day after the House approved the funding which the White House has been lobbying hard for. President Obama thanked Congress for backing the plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm pleased that Congress, a majority of Democrats and a majority of Republicans in both the House and the Senate, have now voted to support a key element of our strategy. Our plan to train and equip the opposition in Syria so they can help push back these terrorists.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The wide margin in the Senate disguised some unhappiness about the way the funding was inserted into must-pass spending legislation and unhappiness about the president's overall strategy against ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: And when they said we have a 10 percent approval rate, Republican or Democrat, it's because of this hypocrisy. Because we don't obey the law. Because we don't engage in important debates. And because we stuff war and shuffle war into a spending bill.

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Why does the president insist on continuing to tell the enemy what he won't do. Why is it that the president of the United States keeps telling the people that are slaughtering thousands don't worry, we won't commit ground troops?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: After the funding vote, Congress adjourned pushing off debate on further military action until after the November elections.

BERMAN: President Obama express confidence Thursday that the plan will work, saying the threat posed by ISIS, quote, "doesn't frighten us."

In France, the president there, Francois Hollande, officially committed French jets to airstrikes against ISIS targets starting soon. In fact there are reports that France has already launched some of these airstrikes. That's in addition to the reconnaissance flight they're already running. And in Iraq the United States military launched two more air attacks on Thursday. One near Mosul, the other southeast of Baghdad.

CNN correspondent Anna Coren is live with us now from northern Iraq.

There is a sense that there is now this coalition of forces engaged in this battle in Iraq -- Anna.

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, engaged and definitely committed to this war against ISIS. We're getting exactly the same report that the French have launched their first airstrike here in Iraq. They say the airstrikes are going to be restricted just to this country. They are not prepared to go into Syria. But obviously good news for the Iraqis that the French are definitely on board and taking part in those critical airstrikes.

As far as the United States is concerned, they have already launched 176 strikes according to U.S. Central Command. And as we've been discussing, John, they are making a huge difference to the operation on the ground providing that essential cover for the Kurdish forces and the Iraqi Security Forces as they try to make those advances against ISIS. And certainly what we are seeing here in Iraq is that it is happening. They are gaining momentum. The troops on the ground.

And It is a piecemeal approach. It's a few villages here, a town here. A strategic bridge in a particular location. But this is the way that this war is going to look. Certainly with the help of the airstrikes, they can make those advances and place pressure on ISIS and gradually hit the cities that they want to hit such as Mosul. Iraq's second largest city and ISIS stronghold that they took in June. And have, you know, up to a million people, two 2 million people I should say, under their control.

So this is -- this is the situation on the ground here. We've also just got news as well, John, that there was a bombing, a suicide bombing in Kirkuk, which is about an hour from us here. Many killed and dozens injured. This is something that we saw several weeks ago. It has been quiet since. And in Baghdad, a few hours ago, another car bombing. Same with overnight. You know, this is something that we are going to be seeing more of as the global coalition places pressure on is.

They are not able to make the rapid advances that they have done so for the past several months. So this is the way that they then diversify, I guess, their actions on the ground with these car bombings, these suicide bombings and obviously, you know, killing so many innocent civilians in the process -- John.

BERMAN: I feel for the people of Iraq who've been through so much over the last several years.

Anna Coren for us in northern Iraq. Thanks so much.

The death toll exploding in West Africa. More than 2600 people killed by the Ebola virus. The United Nations declaring the outbreak a threat to international peace and security. Officials there are moving quickly to set up a mission to coordinate the relief efforts. In Sierra Leone, a three-day lockdown has been ordered for six million people. Everyone confined to their homes through the weekend while a house-to-house search is conducted to find Ebola victims who might be hiding.

In southeastern Guinea, a deadly mob attack on a team of Ebola educators trying to teach locals -- they were there to teach locals how to avoid getting infected. Eight people, including three journalists, were killed.

The situation is becoming so dire there is now a black market in West Africa for the blood of Ebola survivors. Why? Well, it is said to have anti-bodies to fight the virus. Health officials are very concerned about black market blood because it could spread HIV or other diseases.

ROMANS: Terrifying. All right. 39 minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money.

European stocks sharply higher this morning on news Scotland will stay with the U.K. The pound is up against the dollar and against euro. Asian shares are up. U.S. stock futures are pointing much higher, everybody. If these gains hold, a record day on Wall Street. The Dow and the S&P 500 both hit records yesterday. News out of the U.K. driving the rise.

And there is a lot of excitement about a little tiny company called Alibaba. It's actually not little.

BERMAN: Not tiny.

ROMANS: It's a very big company. Its securities places the largest U.S. listed IPO all time last night. The stock priced at 68 bucks. That's at the top of its expected price range. It raised $21.8 billion. Only large investors have been able to buy in so far, but this morning the share will start trading on the stock exchanges under the ticker BABA.

BERMAN: BABA.

ROMANS: And that's when normal people like you and I could buy.

BERMAN: You just called me normal. That's like the nicest thing you've said to me.

ROMANS: Well, I retract, I retract my normal statement.

BERMAN: But I understand what you're saying right there. Big IPO today.

All right, 40 minutes after the hour. Daring rescues. Americans airlifted out of hurricane ravaged Cabo San Lucas. The U.S. military involved now as a new storm approaches.

Indra Petersons joins us with the latest next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The King Fire east of Sacramento burning out of control this morning, moving toward north, toward Tahoe National Forest. More than 4,000 firefighters have now dumped an unbelievable half a million gallons of flame retardant on this blaze. It's already consumed 73,000 acres, still threatening 12,000 homes.

The man suspected of starting the King Fire has a court appearance this afternoon. 37-year-old Wayne Allen Huntsman has an extensive criminal history. Police say that includes a conviction for assault with a deadly weapons. Police say he willfully started this fire, but they're not saying why. Moving north toward Tahoe National Forest.

BERMAN: Meanwhile, four days after Hurricane Odile hit, thousands of stranded American tourists are still trying to get out of Cabo San Lucas. There are reports of extensive damages and looting in that Mexican resort city. Thousands left homeless. A northern California couple still missing. And forecasters now are keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Polo which is steaming towards Mexico's southern coast.

ROMANS: Indra Petersons has a look at your forecast for us this morning.

Good morning, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Imagine being stuck there right now, right? ROMANS: Horrible.

PETERSONS: Without a, C, you're in the horrible condition and now you're talking about another storm making its way into the region. Yes, Tropical Storm Polo is out there. The good news, it's continuing to weaken. So the latest forecast continue to only weaken it but also push it offshore. But you can tell by Sunday, it is very close near Cabo. So we could still be talking about feeling the impact of that system.

Who's also still feeling some impact maybe from Odile? Look at all the tropical moisture that still remains in through the southwest. The flooding concern there still very high as 2 to 4 inches of rain are expected so of course, still, looking for that as we go towards the afternoon.

Out to the Gulf, stationary front, making its way off shore so definitely improving the conditions here except for around Florida where that stationary front continues to enhance the amount of rainfall in that region. Meanwhile, temperatures not too bad. We're still looking at nice 80s out there. So beautiful weekend that actually still feels like summer somewhere.

Not necessarily the case if you are in the Midwest out to the northeast as another system is making its way through. Severe enough that we're going to be talking about a severe weather threat in through Saturday around Chicago. So keep that in mind if you have some flying plans out there. You're also going to be noticing those temperatures going down on the weekend. Now that's of course the Midwest. For the northeast, temperatures are actually going up unless you're in that perfect top, tip top of the northeast where temperatures there from a cold front yesterday are definitely on the cool side over highs today out toward Boston in the 50s by the time the next cold front comes through, it will drop again on Monday.

BERMAN: Saranac Lake, 23 degrees. Saranac Lake.

PETERSONS: Yes, and that's why I'm here. Not there.

(LAUGHTER)

ROMANS: Thanks, Indra.

PETERSONS: Yes.

ROMANS: Pack a sweater.

All right. Passenger injured in a dramatic emergency landing. Smoke filling the cabin so thick, passengers could not see the person sitting next to them. That is a flight to remember. And we've got the dramatic video right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: A real scare for passengers on a JetBlue flight forced to make an emergency landing just minutes after it took off from the airport in Long Beach, California. Cell phone video capturing this mid-air chaos. Passengers say they heard a loud boom. Suddenly there was smoke everywhere.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JONATHAN HUBBARD, PASSENGER: The engine blew out. We're out over the ocean.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Wait, wait. What do you mean the engine blew out?

HUBBARD: Our right engine blew out.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: You actually heard it?

HUBBARD: Yes, a pop blew out. Smoke engulfed the cabin where you couldn't see the person next to you.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: That bad?

HUBBARD: It was that bad.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Four people suffered injuries. JetBlue will only say the plane had an issue with one of its engines. It's still not known exactly what happened to it.

BERMAN: New details this morning about the abuse allegations against Arizona Cardinals running back Jonathan Dwyer. Police now revealing he allegedly broke his wife's nose when he head butted her in the face after she bit his lip to stop unwanted sexual advances. That's according to the police. This all happened during a July domestic dispute. Dwyer was arrested on Wednesday, but is now out on bond.

The Cardinals have now placed him on the reserve non-football injury list. In effect ending his season. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians says he was stunned by the allegations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRUCE ARIANS, CARDINALS COACH: It was like the worst nightmare a coach can have right now. For me, personally, I was totally shocked because I've known John a long time. And it was totally out of character from what I've known. And so I was extremely shocked by the incident and -- but we have to move forward.

You never forget the victims. The victims come first. But yes, you build relationships. And me as a coach, I've always taken the approach that these are my children. And I treat them as my children. And this is very hard. If this was my son, I would have a very hard time dealing with it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The national women's advocacy group Ultraviolet flew a "Goodell Must Go" banner over the Georgia Dome Thursday before the Falcons-Buccaneers game. That banner flew over several NFL venues last week.

All right, 53 minutes past the hour. The iPhone 6 goes on sale today, but don't expect to just waltz in. Even if you do a beautiful waltz, you can't just go right into the score and pick one up. We're going to get an EARLY START on your money next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Let's get an EARLY START on your money this Friday morning.

European stocks sharply higher on news Scotland will stay in the U.K. The pound is also gaining against the dollar and the euro on the news. U.S. stock futures pointing higher this Friday morning with news out of the U.K. and this big stock market debut of Alibaba. It could be another record on Wall Street.

Stocks have had a great year so far. The Dow is up more than 4 percent. The S&P 500 up almost 9 percent. And look at the Nasdaq, up a stunning 10 percent since January.

The world's highest paid CEO giving up his job. Larry Ellison announced he will step aside as Oracle's CEO. He has held that job since he started the technology firm in 1977. It's made him one of the richest men in the world. How rich? Last year he made $78.4 million in company stock options.

BERMAN: Didn't break a sweat.

ROMANS: Didn't even break a sweat. Easy. Now two of Oracle's top executives will replace Ellison as co-CEOs. Ellison will take over as executive chairman of the company's Board and he will be the chief technology officer.

The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus go on sale today. People around the world camping outside Apple stores to buy these new phones. Apple said there will be a limited supply for customers today. And it will go fast.

Here in the U.S., stores open at 8:00 a.m. The new phones broke pre- ordered sales records last week with more than four million orders placed in the first 24 hours.

I would not wait in line for concert tickets or an iPhone. Just for the record.

BERMAN: No.

ROMANS: Just wait two days. Why do you have to be first?

BERMAN: Even two days there's going to be a line and even in two days they may not have a supply.

ROMANS: You like the new --

BERMAN: I like the new software. I loaded the new software. I like it. I like it.

ROMANS: So why get a new phone if you like the new software?

BERMAN: Well, I might not need to now. For a long time. Maybe even last another year.

ROMANS: OK.

BERMAN: Think about that.

"NEW DAY" starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The people of Scotland have spoken.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, the United Kingdom still stands. Scots reject independence. Why? And what now after the bitter campaign to break away. We have what comes next.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: War path. The Senate approves the first phase of the battle against ISIS, arming and training Syrian rebels to fight against them, as the terror group releases another hostage video. We're live with the latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Air scare. Look at this video, a JetBlue cabin filling with smoke. Passengers forced to put on oxygen masks as the plane makes an emergency landing. We're going to hear from those on board.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira.

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome to the TGIF edition of NEW DAY, September 19th, check, 6:00, just about, check. Scotland wins independence? No check. An historic vote could have broken up America's closest ally. But in the end, the United Kingdom remains united. Scotland rejecting independence in a dramatic referendum. Hence the tears from that young man.

The race too close to call in the days leading up to the vote. A lot of bad blood, certain to remain.

So we begin with chief international correspondent, Christiane Amanpour, who has the latest on the historic decision from Glasgow, Scotland.

And let's be honest, Christine, in some way, for all the drama, the vote -- Christiane, may have been the easy part.