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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Boko Haram Pledges Loyalty To ISIS; Obama Would Walk Away From Bad Iran Deal; Five Arrests In Putin Opponent's Killing; Protests Over Wisconsin Police Shooting; Hint Of Spring; Abbott: MH370 Search Can't Go On Forever
Aired March 09, 2015 - 05:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: ISIS and Boko Haram, two of the most feared terror groups on earth, now aligning. Is there a way for the west to slow the spread of the deadly message? A live report moments away.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Deal or no deal? President Obama says he would like a nuclear agreement with Iran, but he is willing to walk away if Iran will not meet certain conditions. We will tell you where he says he will not back down.
ROMANS: And the investigation into the shooting of a key Russian political figure taking a bizarre deadly turn. One suspect blows himself up as five others appear in court. The very latest live from Moscow are moments away. Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans.
BERMAN: I'm John Berman. It's 30 minutes past the hour. Great to see you this morning. New this morning, America's highest ranked general in Iraq. Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey is set to hold talks with Iraqi officials and U.S. commanders.
The visit comes as the new offensive begins in the war against Islamic terror. Hundreds of troops from Chad and Niger are launching ground and air attacks against Boko Haram in North Eastern Nigeria.
The offensive begins one day after Boko Haram pledged its allegiance to ISIS in an audio reportedly recorded by the group's leader. An allegiance between Boko Haram and ISIS, what does that mean?
Let's bring in senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon, who is in Istanbul this morning. Good morning, Arwa.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning. Boko Haram most certainly does benefit from pledging its allegiance to ISIS at this stage. The terror group does remain firmly in control in huge swaths of northeastern Nigeria.
But having Chad and Niger involved in multiple fronts, especially Chadian forces have seen Nigeria able to a certain degree regain key territory from Boko Haram. ISIS benefits from this as well further extending its footprint into Africa. This is something that top U.S. Special Forces commanders when we were on the ground in Chad during exercise foot log just a few weeks ago were warning about. They were trying to beef up the capabilities of the countries and the Lake Chad basin so that they could take the fight to Boko Haram and decimate the terrorist group as Nigeria has promised to do before March 28th elections.
But also they were trying to prevent this kind of an allegiance from taking place. Its solidification takes place. So we cannot independently verify the authenticity of that audio that did emerge is quite critical.
Because as so many individuals have been warning both African commanders and American commanders we have been speaking to, what happens in other parts of the world does not remain isolated. Terror at this stage knows no boundaries.
So gains that are made by ISIS in Africa or in the Middle East do potentially have the capacity to impact security in the United States.
BERMAN: All right, interesting. Arwa Damon for us in Istanbul, thanks so much, Arwa.
ROMANS: President Obama is promising he will walk away from a nuclear deal with Iran unless it includes tight inspections and what he calls unprecedented transparency. Weeks until the deadline for the outline of the deal, the president says he thinks an agreement can happen.
But Mr. Obama says Iran would have to accept quote, "verification and restraint" that so far at least they have not been willing to say yes to.
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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: If there is no deal then we walk away. If we cannot verify that they are not going to obtain a nuclear weapon, that there is a breakout period, if they cheated, we would be able to have enough time to take action. If we don't have that kind of deal, we will not take it.
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ROMANS: The next round of talks with Iran begins on March 15th.
BERMAN: Police in Russia have arrested five suspects in the killing of the top opposition leader there, Boris Nemtsov. A sixth suspect blew himself up after a standoff with police. The suspects starting to appear in court and the question is did these men act alone or orders from someone higher up?
Want to turn now to senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance. Matthew, what are you hearing?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not any answer to that question, I'm afraid, John. Certainly, we know that five suspects are now in custody. Four of them are protesting their innocence. One of them has confessed to involvement in the killing of Boris Nemtsov, of course, one of Russia's most prominent opposition figures.
He was killed more than a week ago on a Friday night as he walked back from a meal that he'd been at with his girlfriend. That sort of killing shocked Russia. Another person, sixth suspect, was also approached by the authorities in the Chechnya capital.
There was a fire fight with the police as they tried to bring him into custody and he detonated a grenade apparently according to the police that killed him. That is a twist to the thickening plot into who killed Boris Nemtsov.
In terms of who may have carried out the order to kill him and the motive for it is still much unclear. These people could have been paid by somebody else to carry out the killing.
The implication, though, and this is coming out in drips and drabs from the official investigation as well as from comments from the leader in Chechnya, is that this may have been a religious not a political killing. This is merely an attempt to distance the kremlin from the killing of Boris Nemtsov.
BERMAN: It will be hard if not impossible to satisfy all parties involved here in this investigation. Matthew Chance for us in Moscow, thanks so much.
It's about 35 minutes after the hour right now. Hillary Clinton is set to make a public appearance in New York City. It is not clear whether the former secretary of state will address the e-mail scandal that following her around.
One of her biggest supporters, Dianne Feinstein is urging her to break her silence and explain why she used a personal e-mail account to conduct government business at the State Department.
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SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN (D), CALIFORNIA: What I would like is for her to come forward and say just she is the political figure right now. She is the leading candidate, whether it be Republican or Democrat to be the next president. I think that she needs to step up and come out and state exactly what the situation is.
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BERMAN: Senator Feinstein says if Mrs. Clinton does not address the scandal now, the silence will hurt her.
ROMANS: What a turnout in Selma, Alabama to mark the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. Thousands stood together to remember the protests with police to help bring about the 1965 voting rights act.
The weekend wrapped up with the march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke to the crowd saying despite the progress, the right to vote is now under siege. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ERIC HOLDER, U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Without adequate political representation and without real political power, people of color continue to be marginalized and stigmatized and denied their very humanity.
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ROMANS: On Saturday, President Obama and the first family led the way across the Selma bridge hand-in-hand with Georgia Congressman John Lewis, who was a leader in 1965. Some would like the bridge to be changed to the John Lewis Bridge. The old name of the bridge is poignant.
BERMAN: There is a lot of history there.
ROMANS: A lot of history.
BERMAN: Growing outrage in Madison, Wisconsin after the fatal shooting of an unarmed teenager by a police officer. The shooting of 19-year-old Tony Robinson caused protests. The Madison police officer involved in the shooting has been identified as 45-year-old Matt Kenny. He has been placed on administrative leave while this investigation goes forward.
ROMANS: A protest rally will be held this morning on the University of Oklahoma campus after this video surfaced showing fraternity members engaged in a vile, racist chant. The Oklahoma chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon has been shut down after the video showing members shouting slurs. The national chapter leadership is disgusted. The university is investigating.
BERMAN: This story is just beginning, I think.
ROMANS: It is really gross. A collective sigh from millions of people now enjoying a break from the winter temperatures is more of the same on the way? Let's get to meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri for a look at the weather.
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, John and Christine. It feels like spring has sprung. You look at the colors you don't like. The purples and pinks, that's all out of the country into areas really into the northeast of Canada.
The mild air really builds in towards the latter portion of the week, for the foreseeable future, generally warmer than average temperatures for most. We have snowshowers and a wintry mix north of Pittsburgh and Williamsport.
You could see a few flakes in New York City this morning, but nothing in the way of accumulation. About 4.5 million underneath these advisories this morning, slick conditions for the morning rush hour. Wet down across the south from Houston to San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Strong southerly flow of moisture here, looking at tremendous rainfall around the gulf coast, from 2 to 4 inches from Houston to 2 to 4 in Jackson. Birmingham North, 4 to 6 inches of rainfall through the latter portion of the week.
The moisture and long-range outlook for the next two weeks, keeps Texas below normal. You in the northeast, below normal as well, but generally speaking, the entire country looking at above average temperatures in the coming two weeks, guys.
ROMANS: All right, thanks, Pedram. Let's get an EARLY START on your money. Asian and European markets lower this morning following the U.S. market plunge on Friday. Investors worry that the great jobs report means the fed can raise your interest rates sooner.
The Dow and S&P and Nasdaq, all lost more than 1 percent on Friday. Right now futures are lower. The Wall Street has something to celebrate. The bull market turns six years old today.
BERMAN: The bull market is in first grade, just learning to read.
ROMANS: All right, your Apple watch questions may soon be answered. The tech company is holding an event today in Cupertino where it's expected to unveil details about the upcoming Apple watch. Here is what we know.
It's Apple's first wearable device. It will available in three models with multiple wrist band options. It needs an iPhone to connect to the internet. We will learn more than after 1:00 p.m. today. They think this is a must-have wearable. Status item.
BERMAN: You didn't need an iPad either, but Apple somehow convinced people that it was worth having. That is their challenge here once again.
ROMANS: Are you going to buy one?
BERMAN: Nope.
ROMANS: Are you going to look for all the details?
BERMAN: Of course, I'm fascinated by it. I will not buy it.
ROMANS: You're cheap.
BERMAN: It's 41 minutes after the hour. New information revealed in the crash of MH-370. That's the Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared one year ago. Could all the data, the search grid and recovery efforts, been thrown off because a battery wasn't replaced, a battery. A live report from Malaysia next.
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ROMANS: The search for Malaysia Air Flight 370 cannot go on forever. Those words are from Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott one year after the mysterious disappearance of this passenger jet. Abbott says search crews are 40 percent done with a 23,000 square mile search zone off the coast of Western Australia. He is reasonably optimistic this plane will be found.
CNN's Anna Coren is live from Kuala Lumpur for us this morning where a comprehensive report on the disappearance of MH-370 has now been released. Anna, what does this report revealed to us or conclude?
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we are looking at the report that provides more questions than answers, Christine. The reason I say that is because the flight was routine. It was normal. There was nothing wrong with the plane. There was a battery among the black boxes which had expired in the flight data recorder.
Obviously a major maintenance oversight, but there was the battery in the cockpit voice recorder which was operational so the pings signals were still emitting for the 30 days after the crash if that is what happened, which is what is presumed.
But certainly it doesn't look good for Malaysia Airlines. The other thing to come out of the report, Christine, is a minute-by-minute blow as what took place in the air traffic control tower when they realized the plane was lost.
There were emergency protocols which normally come into place and they were not followed. The search and rescue operation that was delayed by hours because of that confusion and really in his report what was scathing of Malaysian authorities.
The other really interesting piece of information to come from the report is the behavior of the pilot. Captain Zahari, who you know, the theory has been banning around now for 12 months. Was he responsible for the disappearance of MH-370? Did he commit suicide?
The report says that his behavior was normal. He was not stressed. He was no financial or medical or personal problems so really that cleared him.
But for the families, Christine, the families of the 239 people on board, they just feel that this report is meaningless because it provides no clues as to what happened to their loved ones.
ROMANS: Still a mystery for MH-370. Anna Coren in Kuala Lumpur, thank you, Anna.
BERMAN: It's 47 minutes after the hour, a truly stunning rescue you will not believe. A baby pulled from a car submerged after her mother crashed. We will tell you how long the little girl spent waiting for help. We will hear from the rescuers next.
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BERMAN: Eight years since America's hostage first disappeared in Iran while on a mission for the CIA. The family of the former FBI agent has released a statement reminding the world that Levinson is a husband and father and grandfather while urging the governments of Iran and the United States to work together to resolve the case and bring him home. He turns 67 tomorrow.
ROMANS: Two California women may have to face a judge in Italy for carving their initials into the wall of the coliseum in Rome. The women scratched the letters "j" and "n" on the landmark. They took selfies. The last tourist who defaced the coliseum was fined $25,000. That is the selfish craze run amok.
BERMAN: A record-setting attempt to fly a manned solar powered plane around the world is under way from Abu Dhabi across the Atlantic and Pacific. Solar Impulse 2 is wider than a 747, but weighs less than a large SUV. It features 17,000 solar cells.
ROMANS: A stunning discovery in Utah. A baby still alive, 14 hours after a crash that left the car upside down in the Spanish Forks River. A nearby fisherman spotted the vehicle. The rescuers found the 18-month-old baby girl strapped into the car seat.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The witness said there was an arm he could see in the vehicle.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It became apparent that the driver was deceased, but we also noticed that there was a small baby in the backseat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Grabbed the baby in my arms, raised its head out of the water as I tried to release the seatbelt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The child was passed to me and I just ran up and climbed in the ambulance with the child.
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ROMANS: It just takes my breath away. The thought of what those rescuers were going through. She is in critical condition at a Salt Lake City hospital. Her mother was driving that car died in the crash. What a miracle the girl survived. What a tragedy for the whole family.
BERMAN: That's true.
All right, 54 minutes after the hour. Changes could raise some costs at McDonald's. We will hear from McDonald's next.
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ROMANS: All right, let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning. Asian and Europe stocks are lower. U.S. stock futures are lower. Markets plunged on Friday. Most Americans welcomed the jobs report. Investors are worried it will force the fed to raise interest rates sooner.
Nasdaq and the S&P 500 each lost more than 1 percent. All three were down 2 percent for the week. Chicken growers could pay for the policy. Two years to eliminate antibiotics from production. Experts predict McDonald's will push the cost back to supplies rather than consumers.
BERMAN: Dangerous terror alliance taking shape between ISIS and Boko Haram. What does that mean for the United States and the battle against terror? "NEW DAY" starts right now.
