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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Nurse Fights Maine Ebola Quarantine; Khorasan Terrorists Survive U.S. Airstrikes; Giants Win World Series; NATO Tracks Large- Scale Russia Air Activity in Europe
Aired October 30, 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: Not sick and not backing down. A nurse recently returned from treating Ebola patients in West Africa, she's refusing a mandatory quarantine. The state of Maine threatening to sue and lining police officers outside her home. A tense standoff this morning that could escalate. We are bringing you the new developments overnight.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Terrorists believe to be planning an attack on the United States, surviving airstrikes. U.S. military officials are reasonably sure they missed their targets. New information on what the Khorasan group could be planning next, ahead.
ROMANS: And the San Francisco Giants unstoppable, claiming their third World Series win five years. How they did it, ahead.
That's why John Berman is so tired this morning.
Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It is 32 minutes past the hour right now.
And developing overnight, the tense standoff with the nurse and state of Maine. Does the state have the right to keep her quarantined with no symptoms just because she treated Ebola patients in West Africa? Kaci Hickox has tested negative for the virus twice. She has no fever, but Maine health officials have told her to remain isolated in her home and say they will seek a court order to make sure that happens.
Overnight, with her boyfriend by her side, Hickox told reporters she will not let her civil rights be violated over policies that she says is not science based.
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KACI HICKOX, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS NURSE: It is not my intention to put anyone at risk in the community. We have been in negotiations all day with the state of Maine and tried to resolve this amicably. But they will not allow me to leave my house and have any interaction with the public even though I am completely healthily and symptom-free. I am frustrated by this fact, and I have been told that the attorney general's intention is to file legal action against me and if this does occur, then I will challenge those legal actions.
I'm fighting for something much more than myself. There are so many aid workers coming back. Doctors Without Borders estimated that 20 American aid workers are coming back from the Ebola response in the next month. And it scares me to think of how they're going to be treated and how they're going to feel. When we let stigmatization wins, we all lose.
MARY MAYHEW, MAINE HEALTH COMMISSIONER: There are other cases where individuals have not tested positive, did not believe that they were symptomatic, and quickly developed symptoms while they were out in the public and have since been hospitalized. I do not understand why this common-sense approach to ask someone to stay in their home for 21 days during the incubation period, why that is not a reasonable request.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: Hickox says she is not exactly sure what she will actually do today, whether she will go into the nearby town of Ft. Kent. She says she is only thinking five minutes ahead right now.
ROMANS: President Obama also emphasizing the need for science based response to Ebola. Planked by health care workers and an Ebola at the White House on Wednesday, the president praised their bravery in traveling to West Africa to fight the deadly disease, touted federal guidelines emphasized monitoring over quarantine when they return. He also said America must lead in the fight against Ebola. He warned there could be more cases of Ebola in the U.S.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I want America to understand the truth is that until we stop this outbreak in West Africa, we may continue to see individual cases in America in the weeks and months ahead, because that's the nature of today's world. We can't hermetically seal ourselves off.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The NBC News cameraman who survived the brush of Ebola says he now understands the suffering he does stories on in West Africa. Ashoka Mukpo spoke with CNN's Don Lemon.
Mukpo fell ill one day into a shoot in Liberia for NBC News. He was airlifted to Nebraska medical center where he suffered through the worst of the disease and recovered.
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ASHOKA MUKPO, FORMER EBOLA PATIENT: I used to see people who would be laying in front of treatment centers trying to get admitted. And, you know, they are just laying out on the ground in the gravel and in the sun. I used to look at them and say, my God, you can't sit up at least.
And once I was sick, I completely understood. You just have absolutely no energy. To walk three feet feels like you just ran a marathon.
I'm feeling pretty good. I'm happy to be alive. Lucky that I'm around family and friends. I'm back home, and it's a good feeling to be where I am right now, especially considering where I've been.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: The only remaining Ebola patient in the United States is Dr. Craig Spencer, is in critical, but stable condition at Bellevue Hospital here in New York City. The health department here released a statement overnight. It calls Spencer a hero and praises him for fully cooperating with an investigation into his movements around the city after he returned from Guinea.
ROMANS: Surprising news from Liberia this morning. The number of Ebola cases seems to be dropping. This is according to the World Health Organization. But officials don't know yet if there are fewer cases or if sick people have stopped going to the hospital or if overwhelmed aid workers have stopped reporting cases.
WHO says across West Africa, 521 health workers have been infected with Ebola, 272 health workers have died. Dr. Kent Brantly, who survived a bout with the disease in July, says traveling to Africa to fight Ebola requires a commitment to helping people, one that should not be discouraged by bad public health policies.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. KENT BRANTLY, EBOLA SURVIVOR: People are going to work over there. They have to be motivated out of compassion for their fellow human being. Beyond that compassion, they need incentive, because it's a risk and a scary thing to leave your home and go to the other side of the world and take care of people who are dying of a deadly virus. So, I think any barrier to that is going to have an impact on people who are trying to decide whether or not they can go help.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BERMAN: All right. This morning, there are new worries in the U.S. intelligence. Deep concerns that the first U.S. airstrikes in Syria last month did not kill key terrorists operatives -- operatives that U.S. open officials have special skills that could be actively plotting attacks against the United States.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr now has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: John, Christine, U.S. officials are telling CNN's Pam Brown and myself that they now believe two key operatives in Syria are still alive, two al Qaeda operatives belonging to the so-called Khorasan group -- the leader of the group, a man al-Fadhli, and a French jihadist named David Drugeon.
They are concerned about these people because they have the ability to work to make non-detectible bombs that can get past airport screening and they also have the ability to recruit European jihadists, bring them to Syria, train them, send them back to Europe, possibly send them on to the United States.
The Khorasan group these men belong to has been a big concern for the U.S. It's been labeled an imminent threat to the U.S. because of this very capability.
The U.S. attacked the Khorasan group on September 22nd with almost 50 tomahawk cruise missiles a number of sites. They had always worried that they didn't get these two men. They don't know if they had left the site before the strike began or if possibly they are injured.
But this is the clearest acknowledgment we have now that the U.S. believed both of these very dangerous operatives are still alive -- John, Christine.
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ROMANS: Barbara Starr, thanks for that.
Time for an early start on your money this morning. European stocks are higher, so are U.S. stock futures. As expected, the Fed ended its controversial bond-buying program. That means the party is over, a six-year party of unprecedented support for the American economy.
Supporters say that flood of money sparked a recovery in housing and job growth. The unemployment rate now, 5.9 percent, the lowest since the program began in 2008. Critics say the Fed simply stoking new bubbles.
The focus now, though, on corporate earnings. Three-quarters of companies that reported stronger than forecast results. And at 8:30 this morning, we're going to get a look at third quarter gross domestic product, U.S. economic growth. Expectation, a solid 3 percent growth in the economy. So --
BERMAN: That's not bad.
ROMANS: -- can the economy keep going without the fed pumping that money in? Interest rates are still near zero. So, it's not like the Fed is out of the game, let's be honest. Interest rates still near zero, but the Fed, party is over on --
BERMAN: Yes, 20 or 30 years ago, that would be an impossible statement to make. People think you are crazy if you said that. But now, it's commonplace.
ROMANS: Yes.
BERMAN: Speaking of commonplace, the San Francisco Giants won another World Series for the third time in the last five seasons. But it was exciting, man, oh, man. They beat the Royals 3-2 in a winner-take-all game seven.
Their ace Madison Bumgarner came on in the lead. He pitched five scoreless innings two days after pitching a complete game shutout. He is fantastic. He is the greatest world series pitcher of all time and he was a no-brainer as the world series MVP.
This is the first time that a road team has won a game seven in a World Series since 1979.
ROMANS: Really?
BERMAN: The Pittsburgh Pirates, the we are family Pittsburgh Pirates, I know you love that team. Willie Stargell, Dave Parker, and Ed Ott.
Any Ed Ott fans watching at 4:41 Eastern Time?
ROMANS: How come you know this?
BERMAN: All right. But there you. Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants. Well done.
ROMANS: Your depth of sports history is frightening.
BERMAN: New help this morning to battle ISIS in a key Syrian city. Will this be enough to stop ISIS from taking that city? We are live on the ground with what is happening this morning.
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BERMAN: All right. Developing overnight: reinforcements for the besieged city of Kobani. Kurdish fighters now from Iraq have arrived in Syria which is near the Syrian border town of Kobani. Syrian rebels, though, did enter Kobani already. They are helping in the defense.
There is word from leaders inside that ISIS controls about half the city. U.S.-led air strikes so far not able to drive them out, but seemingly able to stop the forward advance.
Let's get the latest on the ground from our Nick Paton Walsh at the Syrian border with Turkey -- where there will be a lot going on, Nick, over the next 24 hours.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, John, those Peshmerga fighters over 150 over 30 vehicles meeting in two different groups. Some flew in, some traveled, you say, across land and southern Turkey are not in Syria at this stage. We think they are about under a mile away from where I'm standing inside Turkey at police base. Some of them certainly, at least.
Critics of Turkey asking why it is taking so long for the journey to be completed. Often, frankly, is because they are met along the way of Kurds thronging the streets expressing support.
But, of course, the key issue was yesterday morning, that surprised I'm sure those defending Kobani must have felt when it wasn't the Peshmerga that arrived first, but Syrian rebels ,about 50 of their fighters, came in and begun, trying to assist that mission. They still need badly what the Peshmerga are bringing with them, that's within the convoy of vehicles, heavy weapons, hardware. In a city of that size behind me, we hear jet planes above us today, so the battle is still very much going on. The city that size, hardware of that level will make a difference in the fight. The question today is when do the Peshmerga enter? Do they use the appalling weather to get in?
The fighting seems little lower than it was yesterday at this time, or are they going to wait until night?
The key moment though for those fighting, and a key question too afterwards, the three separate groups inside, Syrian rebels and Syrian Kurds, and Syrian Kurds, how do they coalesce together to hold ISIS back? And does ISIS have anything left to throw at them? John?
BERMAN: Key question. You know, what does ISIS have left if anything? Nick, as you say, one of the most amazing pictures I've seen overnight with the throngs of people greeting those forces as they head toward Kobani. Very, very dramatic.
Nick Paton Walsh, we'll check back in with you in a little bit to see if any progress has been made. Thanks, Nick.
ROMANS: All right. To Hawaii this morning, where the people in the village of Pahoa are bracing for the slow, steady and devastating lava flow from the Kilauea Volcano. This river of molten rock is now in the outskirts of the village, it's creeping closer to homes, threatening to destroy frankly everything in its path.
Hawaii's civil defense officials say it is a force of nature. It could take decades to stop.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not uncommon for Pahoa to last up to 50 to 60 years. And on the law, there was a period where lava flows lasted for five centuries. So, if you are looking at the geologic record, for example, it can last for another 30 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: Officials say the lava is flowing at a rate of between 15 and 30 feet an hour. It is chest deep in some places. People on the ground, John, the report is so amazing. Explodes trees and crackles all of the vegetation, methane explosions.
BERMAN: Yes, nevertheless, being invited to watch -- to stay and watch, if they want to.
ROMANS: Yes, they're watching history.
All right. Out of bounds. Russia flying dozens of military aircraft throughout Europe. No flight plans, no notice. NATO now on alert. What is Vladimir Putin up to? We are live in Moscow, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BERMAN: New concerns this morning about Russian war planes flying dangerously close to key U.S. allies. NATO says it is intercepted more than a dozen Russian military aircraft.
Now, the Russian planes have not filed flight plans. They are not maintaining radio contact with air controllers, which poses a risk to civilian flights.
The White House at this time is also confirming cyber attacks on unclassified computer networks and some officials believe that Russia could be involved with that.
Matthew Chance is live in Moscow with more.
Matthew, you hear it from so many European countries right now. These Russian planes over air space, what's going on?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is incredible, isn't it? Despite the international sanctions and U.S. sanctions against Russia, the Kremlin doesn't appear to be adopting a less assertive, a less provocative stance. We've seen over the course of the past, I think, 36 hours now, 26 aircraft intercepted by NATO war planes coming close to NATO air space.
It has to be said that the airplanes are flying from Russia in international skies. They are not invading NATO countries. But they are very aggressive planes flying in formation, strategic nuclear bombers, some of them backed by fighter jets as well, flying in these international skies close to air space controlled by NATO. So, sparking off the scrambling by NATO defensive jets from Norway, from Portugal, from United Kingdom, from Germany, other countries scrambling their jets as well.
And we've seen that issue in the White House. White House officials saying that they believe that Russia may be behind the recent cyber attack on the computer system inside the White House. No evidence to that. We spoke to the Kremlin about it, saying there's a lot of unfounded rumors and allegations being bandied against Russia. Unless proved, we will not response to them. So, Russia distancing themselves from that.
But, yes, it seems that the Russians aggressive both in cyberspace and air space as well over the course of the past few weeks over these tensions in Ukraine.
BERMAN: Yes, Matthew, both dangerous places to be more aggressive, and especially in the air space. Accidents can happen, which could create a perilous situation for pilots, not to mention countries as well.
Matthew Chance for us in Moscow, thanks so much.
ROMANS: All right. Fifty-five minutes past the hour.
College credit for watching TV?
BERMAN: I think that's great.
ROMANS: We're going to explain with an early start on your money next. You could get MBA for watching --
BERMAN: Get idea.
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ROMANS: Good morning. Let's get an early start on your money this Thursday.
Stocks looking good so far. European stocks are higher. So are the U.S. futures.
The big story, of course, is expected the Federal Reserve announced the end of its bond buying program. That means the U.S. economy is strong enough, the Fed says, although not quite on its own. The Fed is still keeping interest rates near zero and promise to keep those rates low for a considerable time.
All right. How would you like college credit for watching the History Channel? The University of Oklahoma partnering with the History Channel offering United States 1865 to present. It's the four credit college course run by a TV network.
The 16-week course will have lectures, quizzes, video content. It will cost $500. This is part of a growing trend of free or discounted courses available online. Interesting.
BERMAN: You can get credit for junior high for watching EARLY START.
ROMANS: This is true.
BERMAN: Seventh grade language arts. If you watch our show, we can write you a slip and you'll get credit for watching.
ROMANS: John Berman is a lot like a seventh grader in many, many ways.
BERMAN: Yes, very true. I'm a lot younger than you.
EARLY START continues right now.
