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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

The Battle Against ISIS: President Obama to Address the U.N.; Warning of Lone Wolf Terrorists; Ebola Outbreak Exploding; Parents of Missing American Speak Out

Aired September 24, 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: The battle against ISIS. President Obama will make his case against the United Nations today. A very big speech, the day after the first U.S. airstrikes in Syria. Can he now rally the world to join this cause to battle this terror group?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Raising the alert. In the aftermath of those air strikes, a new warning: watch out for lone wolf attacks in the U.S. Authorities now concerned self-radicalized terrorists are emboldened to attack at home.

Good morning, and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.

BERMAN: And I'm John Berman. It is Wednesday, September 24th, 5:00 a.m. in the East. We do want to welcome our viewers here in the United States and around the world.

The breaking story at this hour, President Obama delivers a crucial address at the United Nations this morning. And the world will truly be watching. The now war-time president will try to explain and justify the new mission from the United States and its Arab allies. That mission put some 200 bombs and missiles on targets in Syria.

The president will also highlight what he calls the rising threats from new terror groups like is, also Khorasan, that al Qaeda offshoot. And new worries that these Islamic militant groups are training or inspiring westerners to launch terror attacks in Europe, also possibly the United States. We have complete coverage.

First, CNN's senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta is in New York with a preview of the president's long day ahead -- Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, later this morning, the president will give a major address here at the United Nations where a senior administration official says Mr. Obama will talk about the general unease that the world is feeling right now because of the dangers posed by these new terror groups, ISIS and Khorasan. The president will also go on to talk about the importance of building global coalitions, to take on these threats.

Later on today, the president will sit down with the new Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi. They will, of course, talk about the airstrikes that had been taking place in his country, and also next door in Syria. Mr. Abadi ahs already told CNN he'd like to see more of those airstrikes in the weeks to come.

And then later on in the afternoon, the president will do something he's only done once before, and that is to chair a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. Before, he did it on the subject of climate change. This time around, it will be on the subject of foreign fighters. The president wants to talk about the dangers posed by those foreign fighters -- Americans and Westerners who go down to Iraq and Syria, train with ISIS and other terror groups and then come back to the United States, with the potential there of wreaking havoc on the home front -- John and Christine.

ROMANS: Jim Acosta, thanks for that.

We're learning more now about the air campaign against ISIS and another dangerous militant group in Syria. Pentagon officials say the air strikes involving the U.S. and five Arab allies began about 8:30 Monday evening Eastern Time. In all, some 200 bombs and missiles were dropped. Most of them precision guided. We're also learning a little more about who did what in Tuesday's air strikes.

CNN's Becky Anderson is standing live for us this morning -- standing by live for us in the United Arab Emirates, one of the Arab nations that took part in the attack.

And so, Becky, this wasn't just symbolic. A lot of questions about, you know, how far the participation of the five Arab nations went. These nations, some of them dropped bombs.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are committed. And you cannot understate the importance of the Arab allies in this, four of the five Arab nations that we've been mentioning, in the air, dropping bombs over Syria. And the UAE very unusually coming out and confirming what it did in saying that it has flown the first of its airstrikes, assuming therefore, there will be more to come.

UAE in the air. Saudi in the air. Bahrain in the air. Outside of this region, Jordan in the air. All of these flights, we believe, came back safely. Qatar, not very far from here, in a supporting role. There are logistics and intelligence roles that need to be played from here as well.

But there's one editorial that I was reading this morning that I thought really summed up in a local newspaper here how the government and indeed the people in the street feel. It said, "The perversion of ideology and religion that ISIS represents poses a real danger to the region."

I think guess the next question is and what we'll be waiting to hear from Obama on this at the U.N. today, let me tell you the delegations from here are huge at the U.N. for this U.N., and understandably so. We're waiting to find out what the interim game is, because we know what the end game is, to degrade and destroy ISIS. Many people here in the region will say that will be impossible to do.

But what happens in the interim here, over in Iraq, we've seen air strike, and air cover. For those on the ground, the local boots on the ground, the Peshmerga, the Iraqi forces. In Syria, there are big, big questions. Of course, the Saudis have said that they will train and militarized what they call the Syrian moderates.

But who are they? And how many are there? How quickly can they get on the ground?

And don't forget they'll be looking to the north to fight is in the south is Bashar al Assad. And the U.S. said they're not coordinating with him and he's not involved. So, what does the U.S. do and when they get there, it's absolutely crucial at this point. As we say, since that Arab fight. And they're delighted that the international community is involved. But this is very much an Arab-led effort.

ROMANS: Our Becky Anderson for us this morning in Abu Dhabi, thank you, Becky.

BERMAN: We know much more this morning about that shadowy terror network called Khorasan, the U.S. forces hit separately in Tuesday's airstrikes, really a completely different operation. White House says this group of al Qaeda veterans was plotting an attack against the U.S. or possibly Europe.

Officials say the plan involved a bomb designed to pass undetected through airport security. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby tells CNN that the attack that Khorasan was planning was well along in development and imminent.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: We know that they were very close to the end game in their planning. We don't know exactly where the attack that they were planning would go take place. That's why we said we think it was either in Europe or the homeland. So, there's some information that we probably didn't have all the way down to the exact detail.

That said, we know they were close. We know that they had a very serious intent to conduct an attack on Western targets. And that drove a lot of urgency last night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Connect the dots. You might recall earlier this year, right, people were told there could be extra scrutiny at airports coming from Europe to the U.S., maybe even scrutiny after you've cleared the security and almost boarding the planes. All of that tied together, those concerns about that group.

Now, while officials believe Tuesday's air strikes have at least temporarily disrupted attacks in the U.S., organized by ISIS, of course. They're warning now the air campaign may spark attacks by homegrown violent extremists. A bulletin sent Tuesday by the FBI and Homeland Security urging law enforcement agencies to stay vigilant and keep an eye on social media for anyone encouraging violence in reprisal for U.S. military action in Syria. BERMAN: It is life in prison for Osama bin Laden's son-in-law,

Sulaiman Abu Ghaith. He was sentenced in New York Federal Court on Tuesday. The 48-year-old was convicted back in March for conspiring to kill Americans and providing material support to terrorists. Prosecutors say Abu Ghaith acted as a spokesman for al Qaeda following the attacks on September 11, 2001.

ROMANS: The Iraq war vet who scaled the White House fence and got into the executive mansion was questioned twice by Secret Service agents in the last two months. In July, Omar Gonzalez was arrested during a traffic stop with an illegal shotgun and a map of Washington, with the White House circled inside his car. In August, he was stopped outside the White House with a hatchet in is waist band. On both occasions, Secret Service agents interviewed Gonzalez, determined he was not a threat.

In fact, his family members are saying he needs some help, he needs help. He needs mental health treatment.

BERMAN: I think that's clear.

One-point-four million people in Liberia and Sierra Leone could be infected by the Ebola virus by the end of January. That grim scenario from the Centers for Disease Control which says that Ebola could kill hundreds of thousands of people and embed itself in populations for years to come.

Another warning, this one from the World Health Organization that says if we do not get this outbreak under control, Ebola could become a permanent part of life in that region, spread routinely, as routinely as malaria or even the flu.

The crucial time is right now, we're talking this week, next week, next month -- things need to be done now to stop this from spreading.

ROMANS: I mean, imagine Ebola being the part of the fabric of life in West Africa like malaria or the flu.

All right. Nine minutes past the hour.

The man described as the person of interest in the disappearance of Hannah Graham is now officially a suspect this morning. Police in Charlottesville, Virginia, issued an arrest warrant for 32-year-old Jesse Matthew. He's charged with abduction with intent to defile in the case of the University of Virginia student who went missing 11 days ago. Police believe Matthew was the last person to see Hannah Graham. A restaurant surveillance tape shows him walking behind her, following her.

BERMAN: In northeast Pennsylvania, the manhunt goes on for suspected cop killer Eric Frein. Schools in the Pocono mountain district have reopened for the first time since last week. Frein, of course, is a survivalist who has been at large for nearly two weeks. Police believe he may be hiding in a bunker that he built before the deadly ambush. They say they think they are closing in on him.

Breaking overnight, tensions flaring again in Ferguson, Missouri.

Moments after an emotional city council meeting last night, a group of protesters smashed the windows of a local beauty shop. Witnesses say the store was emptied and gunfire could be heard nearby. Protesters were chanting for the arrest of Darren Wilson, the Ferguson police officer who shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

ROMANS: All right. Ten minutes past the hour. Time for an EARLY START on your money this Wednesday morning.

European stocks lower, Asian shares ended the day mixed. U.S. stock futures pointing up, maybe trying to reverse losses some of this week's losses if this early indication holds. Last week, the Dow hit a record high. This week it's down more than 200 points in two days. Talking about a true correction, a 10 percent drop, we haven't seen one since 2011.

Concerns about growth in China and in Europe, weighing on markets, as are those air strikes in Syria, just adding more uncertainty.

Another factor sending stocks lower, Alibaba hype is over. The stock fell again yesterday, $87 a share. It's down about 12 percent from its high during Friday's debut.

BERMAN: Coming up, President Obama meets today with the new prime minister of Iraq. This man will be crucial in the battle against ISIS. Our Christiane Amanpour sat down with the prime minister exclusively. So, does he think the new U.S. airstrikes against ISIS and Syria, does he think they go far enough? Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Happening today, President Obama will meet with Iraq's new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi. Both in New York for the U.N. General Assembly.

The meeting comes at a pivotal time. Al-Abadi just assembled a new more inclusive Iraqi government to fight ISIS threats.

In his first major international interview since his appointment, he sat down with chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour for a CNN exclusive. She asked him what he thinks of the Arab coalition that's joined in the fight against ISIS.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAIDER AL-ABADI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: We have warned in last two years, this is a danger. This is a blood game. This will end in a bloodbath if nobody stops it, nobody listening. They thought everybody was immune from this danger and only Iraq sees this part of the danger.

But now, I think we're happy. Personally, I'm happy that everybody is seeing this danger so that they are going to do something about it. I hope they do something about it and they do it right, and they don't do it the wrong way. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Al-Abadi says he hopes airstrike don't lead to, quote, "The rise of another terrorist element instead of ISIS."

BERMAN: And now the effort to save British aid worker Alan Henning. He's being held captive by ISIS militants who have threatened to kill him. Now, Henning's wife Barbara is speaking out because he said his kidnappers will not engage in open dialogue. But she said she did receive a chilling recording from them, audio of her husband pleading for his life.

Erin McLaughlin joins us now live from London with the latest.

The outpouring of support for this man who everyone speaks of so highly has just been remarkable.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has been, John. And as you said, this morning, this wife of 45-year-old Alan Henning making her own emotional appeal for his life. The British foreign office releasing a statement on her behalf that reads in part, "I and people representing me continue to reach out to those holding Alan. Islamic State continue to ignore our pleas to open dialogue. I have been told that he has been to a Sharia court and found innocent of being a spy and declared to be no threat. I implore the Islamic State to abide by the decisions of their own justice system. Please release Alan."

Now, Henning is a taxicab driver from Manchester, known as the cabbie with the heart of gold. He traveled to Syria on Christmas to deliver food and water to people there, really trying to help them. The people that were with him said he was captured by masked gunmen the very next day.

He was last seen in the latest grisly ISIS execution video kneeling in an orange jumpsuit beside the man known by the British press as Jihadi John.

So, people here really hoping that this latest appeal will lead to his release -- John.

BERMAN: Let's hope. Erin McLaughlin for us in London. Thank you so much.

You know, coming up, there's been no word from an American journalist who went missing two years ago in Syria. His parents are now speaking out in a CNN exclusive, begging for answers.

Stay with us.

ROMANS: All right. We still got months to go before the holidays, but one airline is preparing, already preparing for an increase in passengers. Spirit Airlines says it's raising check bag fees by $2 during the holiday between December 18th and January 5th. Spirit's standard bag fees usually from 30 to 100 bucks a bag.

In a statement on its Web site, Spirit said the move is making room for more bags by encouraging passengers to pack a bit lighter, spend less time packing and more time laughing with family and friends this holiday season.

Spirit is known for bare fees, that means your ticket price and a personal item are the only thing included. Everything else from a carry-on bag to bottled water will cost you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: The parents of an American journalist believed kidnapped in Syria say they are fed up with the way the government is handling their son's situation. Thirty-three-year-old Austin Tice was abducted from a Damascus suburb in 2012. Since then, his parents have waited for word, a vigil they call excruciating and they say their interactions with the United States State Department have not made this situation any easier.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Houston with this story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The family of Austin Tice lives here in the city of Houston, Texas, this is where they've stood vigil, trying to get their son back for more than two years. But the Tice family says they've now grown increasingly frustrated with the U.S. response in handling their son's hostage situation. They say this is a process that's broken. They say they're frustrated with way the U.S. government has kept information they believe to be vital to her son's case close to the vest and haven't brought to his parents.

We sat down with them for an extensive interview to talk about this very issue.

You've been told the U.S. government has various pieces of information that you think would benefit you?

DEBRA TICE, MOTHER OF AUSTIN TICE: Absolutely, we've been told that.

MARC TICE, FATHER OF AUSTIN TICE: Yes.

D. TICE: We can't share this information with you because you do not have clearance.

M. TICE: We don't know what the information is, but we don't want to be treated or feel like we're being treated as a security risk.

D. TICE: To our own child. This is my son and my personality says the mother bear will find the cub, and I'm looking for my cub.

LAVANDERA: Marc and Debra Tice hope that speaking out publicly about their frustrations that it will help them in their efforts to get their son back home safely -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Our thanks to Ed for that. The White House and State Department does did not respond for CNN's request for comment on Tuesday.

ROMANS: All right. Twenty-four minutes past the hour.

Let's get to meteorologist Indra Petersons. She's got a look at your forecast this Wednesday morning.

Hi, Indra.

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.

Yes, we're talking about a couple of showers across the country, easy to see, you can almost see the swirl in the Pacific Northwest, one of the systems bringing rain out there. And all the way on the Eastern Seaboard, we're going to be tracking another low making its way up the coastline.

This is something that's good. It's going to bring some rain, well- needed rain to the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, though, still some strong winds as it makes it way until that fire threat remains high as you transition and the system kind of makes its way. Into the Carolinas today, look for the threat for even flooding as the low starts to make its way up the coastline.

This is going to be the story really in the Eastern Seaboard for the next several days. As you can see in through tomorrow, the mid- Atlantic, as well as the Northeast starting to see some of the heavier rain. And good amount, we're talking about a good one to three inches of rain is possible out there, even two to four inches possible around Boston.

And it's not just a rain. Remember, as the low makes its way for transitioning there. Some strong winds seeing it in the mid-Atlantic and evening hours spreading farther to the north. That's where we're going to see the strong gusts out there as well. We're going to be watching that really over the next several days.

And with that, as the low makes its way closer, we'll see the temperatures kind of -- yes, just like that, I don't need to say it, right? You get it, going down.

ROMANS: Doesn't matter in three days, it's the weekend, if it's cool, it's warm --

PETERSONS: Good attitude, Christine.

ROMANS: Wednesdays are hard on me. And Thursday is the Friday eve, so I just need to get here tomorrow and you can make me feel better for everything.

Thanks, Indra.

BERMAN: Coming up, President Obama makes his case to the world today after the first airstrikes in Syria -- a very important speech to the United Nations. Can he rally support and build a bigger coalition to battle ISIS?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)