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Two Americans Being Held Captive Come Home; Airstrike Possibly Killed or Wounded ISIS Leader; GM Ordered Switches before Recall; Prominent Pastor among Nine Killed in Plane Crash; Protests Erupt in Mexico

Aired November 10, 2014 - 08:00   ET

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

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Free at last, two Americans breathing a sigh of relief, back in the U.S. after being detained by Pyongyang. What won their freedom? What might the North want in return and what has it been like to be back home? Insight from another American released just weeks ago.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: And anger in Mexico, protesters benching their rage over dozens of missing students, riots gripped the streets as details emerge about what may have been a heinous ending for 43 abducted students. We're live in Mexico with the latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: A show from Mother Nature, quakes, underground in the west, fireballs lighting up the night sky over the south, is this the start of something big or were we just treated to a wild weekend?

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY continues right now.

Freedom Tower open for business, what a beautiful sight to behold. Good morning to you. Welcome to NEW DAY. It's Monday, November 10th, just a few clicks before 8:00 in the east. Now President Obama says there was no secret deal offered to bring home those Americans from North Korea.

So one mystery now replaces another. But here's the good news. The men you're looking at, Kenneth Bae, Matthew Todd Miller, home, readjusting to life back in the States in their own beds with their families.

They spoke to reporters after arriving home before the president addressed relations with North Korea this morning. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It did not touch on some of the broader issues that have been the source of primary concern when it comes to North Korea. It's, in particular, its development of nuclear tests.

KENNETH BAE, FORMER NORTH KOREAN PRISONER: I just want to say thank you all for supporting me and standing by me during this time. And it's been just amazing blessing to see so many people being involved, getting released the last two years. And to not only mentioning for the thousands of people who've been praying for me as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: And we have full coverage this morning, beginning with Ana Cabrera in Seattle, near Bae's family home, and Paula Hancocks is in Seoul with more on the timing and the circumstances of the release.

But let's first go to Ana. So tell us about this homecoming, Ana.

ANA CABRERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's been an emotional past 24 hour so here in Seattle for both families. When they stepped off that tarmac in McCord Field (ph), late, late Saturday night and into the arms of their loved ones, their family members there, to greet them.

We know Matthew Todd Miller's family have asked for their privacy, but Kenneth Bae's family, who's from the Greater Seattle area, has been a little more outspoken about what this reunion has been like, what they've been through and what they're experiencing now that he's finally back, a moment that seemed so far out of reach for so long.

You know, Kenneth Bae was held for two years; Matthew Todd Miller held for seven months, both sentenced to hard labor. We're told Kenneth Bae has stayed away from talking about the specifics of his time held captive but has really enjoyed those everyday moments that so many of us take for granted, being able to eat pizza with his friends and family.

We're told he's sharing stories. There have been lots of laughs, a little bit of the old Kenneth is already coming out. So that's the great news.

I asked what his plans are moving forward when I spoke to his sister, Terri Chung, yesterday -- listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: What are his plans moving forward?

TERRI CHUNG, KENNETH BAE'S SISTER: I don't think anybody knows. I don't think he knows yet. I think, at this point, it's just to hitch up with family and I think he wants to talk with different people, to reconnect with old friends and he also is very aware that so many people have been supporting him. So he wants to be able to kind of express his thanks and gratitude to all of those individuals as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: He's a humble man, a gracious man. When he stepped off that plane, he also said, you know, I learned a lot over the last couple of years. I've grown a lot. I've lost a lot of weight, which he kind of joked was a good thing.

And he said I am standing strong because of you, being a collective you, all the thousands of people who have been praying for him -- Chris, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Wow, it's wonderful that he's able to see the silver lining in all of this ordeal, Ana. Thanks so much.

Let's go now to Paula Hancocks. She's in Seoul with more on the release.

Paula, what's the latest?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, obviously the question is why were these two released now?

I think there was some surprise that they were actually both released at the same time. The assumption was by experts that they were being used as bargaining chips. So to let both of them go at the same time surprised many here in South Korea.

Now the question obviously is why now?

Many experts say that it is a PR coup for the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un. It's clear that this was a decision that was made from the top and we have also heard from Pyongyang, a statement, saying that the U.S. president, Barack Obama, gave an earnest apology.

Now Washington hasn't confirmed or denied that. But obviously Kim Jong-un can use that domestically, propaganda gold, this is, so that he can tell his people that effectively the most powerful man in the world has apologized to him. And he is legitimate on the international stage.

Now another reason for this timing could also be that Pyongyang wants to show a humanitarian gesture. Remember that that United Nations commission of inquiry report is making its rounds in the U.N. This accuses of Pyongyang of human rights abuses, of crimes against humanity.

So we've seen really a charm offensive by many of these officials over recent months. That was the assumption why Jeffrey Fowle was released and potentially why these two U.S. citizens released as well -- back to you.

CAMEROTA: OK, thanks so much, Paula.

So let's talk more about this and how the release happened and the relationship between the U.S. and North Korea with State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

Good morning, Jen.

JEN PSAKI, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON: Good morning. Good morning.

CAMEROTA: Jen, what do you know about how all of this transpired over the past 74 hours?

PSAKI: Well, I think, first of all, we're just so thrilled that they are back with their families and that DNI Director Clapper was able to go there to visit to bring them home. I think we'll have plenty of time to get a readout from him, get a debrief with the families and with the individuals.

But right now, we're just pleased that they're back with their families.

CAMEROTA: As are we -- and what about that timing?

Why now?

Obviously Mr. Bae has been there for two years.

Why, do you think, the North decided this weekend?

PSAKI: Well, Alisyn, it's always hard to get into the minds of the most opaque government around the world, or one of the most opaque. So I can't give you much insight into that.

But I can tell you that this is something that we've been pressing on for two years now when it comes to Kenneth Bae. We've used every diplomatic tool at our disposal. And we're just thrilled that they're back home with their families.

CAMEROTA: All right. So let's talk about getting into the minds of our own government officials.

Why was Director Clapper the one sent, to go to North Korea?

PSAKI: Well, this was not an opening for a negotiation. This is not a new diplomatic opening. This was simply a very specific mission, to bring these two American citizens home. And we felt it was most appropriate to send somebody with security credentials, and that's why he went.

CAMEROTA: We just heard Paula Hancocks' report there, from Seoul.

Did Director Clapper issue some sort of apology on behalf of the U.S.?

PSAKI: Absolutely not. Those reports are simply inaccurate. He did come with a message from the president, just simply conveying that he was the president's envoy, representing him, to bring these two American citizens home.

And that's exactly what he did.

CAMEROTA: And we know that the North is often look for some sort of legitimacy, or at least some sort of visit from a U.S. dignitary to sort of make them seem larger on the world stage.

Should Director Clapper or any other envoy have tried this sooner, maybe six months ago, Mr. Bae could have been released earlier?

PSAKI: Well, look, there's always -- the timing has to be right for the opportunity and that's what we saw on this occasion.

Let me be clear here, though. There's no quid pro quo. We sent a high-level envoy over to bring them back. But we're not going to allow North Korea to change the subject. They still have an abysmal human rights record. We still have significant concerns about their nuclear capabilities and we're going to keep pressing on those issues.

CAMEROTA: And since there was no quid pro quo, what did North Korea get out of this?

PSAKI: They got a visit from a high-level envoy from the United States. And what we got was two American citizens, back with their families. And we'll certainly take that.

CAMEROTA: Do you think that Kim Jong-Un was intimidated by the prospect of international criminal charges against him?

PSAKI: Well, if intimidation worked, I think North Korea would have changed a number of their programs, whether it's their nuclear capabilities or their human rights record, which is simply one of the worst in the world.

But this is not -- we don't see a direct relationship here. We see -- we're going to continue to press on their human rights record. We're going to work with the U.N. and the international community on that. And we're going to continue to press for them to do more on their nuclear program and show the world they're serious about making changes.

CAMEROTA: So what is our relationship today with North Korea?

And how do you see it moving forward?

PSAKI: Well, the ball has long been in North Korea's court. They signed an agreement or a joint statement, I should say, back in September of 2005. They need to convince the international community that they can abide by their international obligations. They have not done that; they have not taken steps to do that.

Nothing has changed in that regard, regardless of the fact that we now have our -- now three American citizens back.

CAMEROTA: And what do you want to say to the families of those American citizens this morning?

PSAKI: Just that we are so thrilled that they are back with their loved ones, that you know, we were proud to play a role in that. And we're just -- hope that they take the time to be with each other during this holiday season.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely. It is a good morning for all of them and for the U.S. this morning.

Jen Psaki, thanks so much for taking time for us.

PSAKI: Thank you.

CAMEROTA: Let's go over to Chris.

CUOMO: So here's the question: is the head of ISIS dead? Wounded? Or was he not present at all at this alleged major meeting that was blown up by coalition forces? Now Iraq state media says that the head of ISIS was hit, reporting that Abu Baker al-Baghdadi was injured in a strike over the weekend. But U.S. CENTCOM, Central Command, cannot confirm the report. Let's do our best.

Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joins us with the latest developments.

What do we make of this?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Chris.

What the military here is saying is they were not targeting Baghdadi when they hit that convoy vehicle. They had no reason in particular to even believe that he was there.

What they were going after, they say, is a top group of ISIS leaders, essentially commanders, that were meeting, a bit unusual because there was a convoy of 10 vehicles near Mosul that they struck. And it's been a long time since they've seen ISIS move around in such a large configuration of vehicles.

Usually they're in one vehicle or two, not to draw attention. But they didn't have information that Baghdadi was there. And they still don't. So what they're doing now is looking for any confirmation.

Are there any social media postings?

Are there any videos coming out about this?

Are people talking on their cell phones?

Can they intercept those calls?

It may be a few days or some time before they are able to rule it in or rule it out but that is why you're seeing the uncertainty right now. Now all of this coming, of course, as President Obama announces that the U.S. will be sending 1,500 additional troops to Iraq, many of them helping retrain those Iraqi forces.

Some of those U.S. troops will be in Anbar province, by all accounts, west of Baghdad. A very tough area right now because ISIS is there in significant numbers. A lot of effort will be made to keep those additional U.S. troops safe. But there's still one big to -o. President Obama has to get approval, funding approval, from Congress to make that new deployment happen -- Chris.

CUOMO: Well, hopefully it forces Congress to have the necessary debate and vote on the war that many argue should have happened before the war was begun. It also just points to the need of that intel infrastructure on the ground. That's what those troops are supposed to be doing.

Barbara Starr, thank you very much for the reporting this morning -- Alisyn. CAMEROTA: All right, Chris. This story breaking overnight. New information about GM's deadly ignition switch scandal. The automaker reportedly ordered replacement switches two months before alerting federal regulators about the problem. This is according to "The Wall Street Journal." CNN's Rene Marsh joins us live to break down the details.

What do we know this morning, Rene?

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Alisyn, new questions this morning about how long General Motors and its top executives knew about the deadly problem with the ignition switches on 2.6 million vehicles.

An attorney suing the automaker on behalf of some of the victims says recently unclassified e-mails revealed GM placed an emergency order for half a million ignition switches two months before it alerted federal safety regulators.

The faulty switches are linked to at least 30 deaths.

Now the e-mails between GM and the supplier are raising the question, why play an urgent order for replacement parts without alerting safety regulators of the defect?

The victims' attorney says e-mails show top executives knew about the problem long before the recall was issued. If that was the case, it's truly a blow to their credibility. The company had said top executives did not know about the problem until just before the recall and they acted immediately.

If you remember the problem is, too much weight on the ignition key can move the switch out of the run position to cut power to the airbags as well as the braking system. We should note CNN has a reached out to both GM and the ignition switch supplier for comment -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: All right, Rene. Let us know when GM responds to these latest accusations. Thanks so much.

Let's get over to Michaela for some more headlines.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN HOST: Hello.

Good morning, everybody, all right, 13 minutes past the hour. The clock is ticking on nuclear talks with Iran and Secretary of State John Kerry, negotiating into the night with Iran's foreign minister in Oman, those talks continuing today. There is a November 24th deadline to get an agreement signed to keep the Iranians from building a nuclear bomb.

A deadly plane crash in paradise. All nine people killed on board in the Bahamas. Among them a prominent preacher and his wife. Alina Machado is following developments for us from Miami.

What do we know, Alina? ALINA MACHADO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michaela, we're still in the

early stages of this investigation. And authorities have released very few details, but CNN has just learned from a spokesperson from the Royal Bahamas police force that this plane clipped a crane as it was trying to land in Freeport. It then ended up crash landing in a shipyard not far from the runway.

There were also storms in the area. Weather may play a big factor in this plane crash. Nine were on board, all of them have died. Among them, Dr. Miles Monroe and his wife, Ruth. Monroe was a prominent pastor in the Bahamas and he was on his way to Freeport for the global leadership forum, which he was supposed to host when this plane crashed.

Former U.S. Ambassador to United Nations and also former Atlanta mayor, Andrew Young, is in the Bahamas for this forum. He is sending his condolences this morning to the victims' families -- Michaela.

PEREIRA: All right, Alina. Thanks for updating us on that story. We'll keep an eye on it.

Also breaking this morning, at least 47 people are dead, 80 others have been injured after a suicide bomber attacked outside a school in Northern Nigeria. The attacker was disguised as a student when he set off the explosion at a government boarding school. Local officials believe that Boko Haram is behind that attack.

Caught on video, an apparent slap that caused the suspension of a sheriff's deputy in upstate New York. The video shows the officer verbally sparring with the man who repeatedly says there's no reason to search his car. Then, you hear what sounds like a slap.

That deputy has been suspended without pay pending an investigation.

And, a would-be robber picked the wrong gas station to try to hold up in South Florida. The guy points his gun at the clerk, demands money and goes behind the counter to open the register. The clerk realized that wasn't a real gun. He said it sounded like plastic.

So, instead, he grabs his baseball bat and starts swinging. He clocks him, too. The suspect fled. The same suspect may be responsible for a half dozen armed robberies in the area with a plastic gun.

CUOMO: Thank God it wasn't a real gun.

CAMEROTA: Sharp-eyed clerk to know the difference in that situation.

CUOMO: Got to be right to make that.

CAMEROTA: That's right. Good point.

All right. Dozens of college kids have been missing in Mexico for almost months. And this morning, there are fears all of them may have been murdered. So, we will take you live to Mexico for the latest developments.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Dozens of college students have been missing since September. Did you know this?

Protests have now erupted in Mexico after word spread that these kids were abducted and maybe dead. The Mexican attorney general has these gruesome details saying bodies could have been burned, maybe some were tossed in a river.

A powerful political couple was allegedly behind the abductions. And families still don't have the answers they want.

CNN's Rosa Flores is on the ground in Mexico. Here's the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Tensions erupt in Mexico's southern state of Guerrero.

(on camera): Take a look around. You can see charred vehicles.

(voice-over): And in Mexico's capital.

As the parents of 43 missing college students lose patience with authorities. It's been more than a month, and no trace of their children; not even after the arrest of more than 70 people, including a political power couple that Mexico's attorney general says is the possible mastermind of the kidnapping.

This is cell-phone video showing the mayor of Iguala and his wife being arrested. Authorities say the cartel-connected pair colluded with the police chief and drug traffickers to kidnap, kill and dispose of the missing students.

Neither the mayor nor his wife has commented.

Even before the couple was taken in, protesters were determined to take them down, burning their seat of power.

(on camera): This is the perfect example. It's Iguala city hall. But take a look. It's a charred building, a shell of what it was.

Protesters actually came in and wrote on the walls "Vivos los queremos," "alive we want them back."

(voice-over): Fuelling anger in the community, taped confessions by three recently arrested cartel members, saying they burned the bodies in a public dump and tossed the remains into a river.

Edmundo Delgado (ph), a community activist, says too many people disappear in Mexico and are never found.

(on camera): He says if today there's 43 students who have gone missing and we don't find them, 10, 15 years from now, what can we expect?

(voice-over): The parents of the missing students say they've lost patience.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

FLORES (on camera): He says that this group has one message. That their response will get more and more radical.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Rosa, in talking to families, when they hear the confessions of those, what is hair best explanation at this point of what happened to their kids?

FLORES: You know Chris, they are very skeptical. Quite frankly, they don't trust the government. And here's why: they've been told three times that confessions have been made, that remains have been found, and that these remains could possibly be their children.

And, of course, they're extremely skeptical. They say until we have forensic evidence, we are going to believe that our children are alive -- Chris.

CUOMO: Well, the cartels kill people all the time. The question is why these kids? Is there any notion? Was it for ransom or anything?

FLORES: You know, that's one of the big mysteries. I've talked to multiple people in this community. That's exactly what they question. They say, why?

Normally, in this part of southern Mexico you mind dead bodies on the side of the road quite frankly. Their main question is, why such a gruesome crime against students? Quite frankly, people don't have the answer to that.

CUOMO: So, then, it takes you to who's trying to find the answers. You're saying there's a distrust of government there. We know the history there.

Any word about the U.S. helping out or international bodies helping out?

FLORES: You know, international bodies are definitely coming in. Actually at the request of the parents because they don't trust Mexican officials. So, they're bringing in forensic experts from Argentina to sample the remains. Then they did a search trying to figure out which best lab could handle these particular remains because they're heavily decomposed and chars. They're going to be sending those to Austria, Chris. And they're expecting the results soon. They, of course, are hoping that those results are negative.

CUOMO: Absolutely. Rosa, thank you for being there. Be safe. We'll get back to you.

CAMEROTA: Such a sickening story. Hope we can get some answers at some point very soon.

Meanwhile, is the name Silicon Valley synonymous with Lily White? We'll look at how a lack of diversity affects top companies in the U.S.

And anxiety is growing in Ferguson as we a wait the grand jury's decision on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson. So, we will to Ferguson. We'll speak with the attorney for Michael Brown's attorney.

Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right. Here we go. Five things you need to know for your NEW DAY. At number one, President Obama said there was no secret deal made to secure freedom for two Americans freed by North Korea over the weekend, Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller are now readjusting to life back home on American soil.

Meanwhile, President Obama is in Beijing for Asia-pacific Summit, with China's president. China, the first stop on his week-long trip. That will include stops in Myanmar and Australia.

Conflicting reports emerging on whether ISIS leader Abu Bakr al- Baghdadi was killed, pardon me, wounded rather by a U.S. airstrikes. Iraq state media reports that he was injured. U.S. Central Command cannot confirm, though, that al-Baghdadi was in the envoy that was hit.

Nine people are dead after a plane crashed in the Bahamas. Prominent preacher, Dr. Miles Monroe, and his wife Ruth, are among the dead. The plane apparently hit a crane while descending and crashed to the ground.

GM reportedly ordered a half million replacement switches that came nearly two months before it alerted the feds about a deadly flaw that led to millions and millions of recalls.

We do update those five things to know. So, be sure to visit NewDayCNN.com for the very latest.

But first, do you like that? CNN money time. Our chief business correspondent Christine Romans is here.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Money Monday.

Stock futures are higher you guys this morning, and that could mean a record. We had a record high Friday after a solid jobs report. This is three weeks the stock market has been gaining ground.