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Perry: Mistakes Were Made In Ebola Cases; Obama Names Ron Klain As Ebola Czar; Dallas Ebola Doctor Speaks Out; Florida Debate Fans Political Flames; WHO Spokesman Talks About Efforts to Fight Ebola in West Africa; Fight Against ISIS
Aired October 18, 2014 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: It is always so good to wake up to you. Thanks for being with us. I'm Christi Paul.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. It's 6:00 on the east coast. We have to start this morning with the Dallas health care worker in isolation on a cruise ship that's steaming back to Galveston, Texas right now.
PAUL: She may have handled lab specimens from Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who died of Ebola. So Belize refused to allow her to get a flight back to the U.S., despite a personal appeal by Secretary of State John Kerry to Belize's prime minister. So the ship also could not get permission to dock in Mexico. The
State Department says it's disappointed. As soon as today, we could see new guidelines from the CDC on protective gear for health care workers dealing with Ebola patients. This, of course, is coming under fire after two nurses, who treated Duncan, contracted Ebola.
BLACKWELL: And we have new pictures from inside the CDC's private Gulfstream jet that one of those nurses, Nina Pham, took from Dallas to the National Institutes of Health there in Maryland. During Thursday's three-hour flight, Pham flew in the back of the plane in a specialized containment tent.
Doctors at the NIH say she's doing well, sitting up, and she is eating, all progress there. Texas is now asking every health care worker who had contact with Thomas Duncan to use any form of public transportation for 21 days. Governor Rick Perry admits mistakes were made. Here's CNN's Nick Valencia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With Texas under criticism, its governor speaks out, Rick Perry admitting mistakes concerning the state's handling of Ebola patients and announcing new measures.
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: We must admit, along the way, we've seen ample opportunity for improvement, considering this was the first time that Ebola has been diagnosed on American shores. It's perhaps understandable that mistakes were made, but it's also unacceptable. VALENCIA: Perry's press conference was clouded by critics who say he's been slow to react and that the state of Texas was not ready to battle the Ebola threat. All of this as CNN confirms the top epidemiologist for Dallas County is now under Ebola watch.
Dr. Wendy Chung who had direct contact with Thomas Duncan is one of 76 health care workers currently being monitored for signs of Ebola infection. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said health officials are doing all they can to stop others from coming into contact with those who may have been exposed.
CLAY JENKINS, DALLAS COUNTY JUDGE: These are hometown heroes who are going to honor them.
VALENCIA: Dr. Elba Garcia, the Dallas County commissioner, said it's a good first step.
DR. ELBA GARCIA, DALLAS COUNTY COMMISSIONER: I'm very glad that we finally came, that these -- to the conclusion, that these streamline, new guidelines have to be followed by everyone. This is the only way we're going to give people the -- feel better about the situation.
VALENCIA: But despite the new steps to prevent Ebola from spreading, local leaders are bracing for the possibility of more cases. Already two Dallas nurses who have treated Duncan have been hospitalized, after being diagnosed with the virus. Both have been transferred out of state to be cared for in special facilities.
Meanwhile, during a Friday rally outside of Texas Presbyterian -- dozens of nurses marched to show support for a hospital thrust into the spotlight that it never asked for.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Our Nick Valencia joins us outside of Texas Health Presbyterian. Nick, so I understand that any person who entered Duncan's hospital room now cannot travel by plane or go to restaurants or stores until the possibility of infection has passed? Expound upon that if you will?
VALENCIA: Yes, that's right, Victor. All of these health care workers have actually signed a legal binding document to keep them away from the general public. While they might not all be a threat to the general public, this is as much about public perception here in the state of Texas. This is what Texas state health officials are doing to try to keep everyone calm -- Victor.
BLACKWELL: So the second nurse who became ill, we understand her uncle said she didn't start feeling sick until after she returned to Dallas from Cleveland?
VALENCIA: Well, we know she got on that plane and she was registering a 99.5 fever. It doesn't fall in line with Ebola symptoms. It's about 104 degree fever that falls in line with signs of Ebola. She called the CDC and much has been made about this. That she was not told to get on that plane. She got on the plane exposing all 132 passengers to perhaps her symptoms. The CDC director has come out, Dr. Tom Frieden, come out and said that no one has a risk, I should say, a very low risk to those other passengers that were on that plane.
But still going back to that point, it's really about public perception. That's really been a major battle here, not just in Texas, but across the country -- Victor.
BLACKWELL: Our Nick Valencia live for us this morning in Dallas. Nick, thank you so much.
PAUL: You know, after a lot of pressure, President Obama has tapped White House insider, Ron Klain to be the country's so-called Ebola czar. His main mission is to lead the federal response to the deadly virus.
BLACKWELL: Klain has a pretty impressive resume including a stint as the former chief of staff of Vice President Joe Biden, but as his critics are quick to point out he has no medical experience.
PAUL: CNN senior White House correspondent, Jim Acosta, will clue us into what's going on here -- Jim.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Victor, the White House isn't calling Ron Klain a czar instead he will be what officials are calling the Ebola response coordinator. And unlike a czar, Klain will not be his own boss.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA (voice-over): Hammered for days over its lack of Ebola leadership, the White House is confident a remedy is now in place.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We have an all-hands-on-deck approach across the government to make sure that we are keeping the American people safe.
ACOSTA: The latest hands on deck Ron Klain tapped to become the president's Ebola response coordinator, a former chief of staff to both vice presidents, Joe Biden and Al Gore, Klain was made famous during the 2000 election recount and the film that followed. But Klain has no medical experience.
(on camera): What does Ron Klain know about Ebola?
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: What we were looking for is not an Ebola expert, but an implementation expert.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Republicans were quick to pounce.
REP. BILL JOHNSON (R), OHIO: I'm not sure what appointing someone that has no experience in health care or public health administration is going to do to help stem the tide of Ebola in West Africa and protect the public health of Americans here at home. ACOSTA: Aides say Klain is the czar and will report to National Security Advisor Susan Rice and Counterterrorism Advisor Lisa Monaco who answer to the president. Earlier this week, the White House insisted Monaco could handle the task of being the Ebola point person.
EARNEST: She is a highly capable individual who can fulfill her responsibilities.
ACOSTA: One day later, the president changed course.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It may be appropriate for me to appoint an additional person.
ACOSTA: And more shifts could come. Pressure is building on the administration to reconsider a travel ban on flights from West Africa.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: I believe it is the right policy to ban air travel from countries that have been hit hardest by the Ebola outbreak.
ACOSTA: Now the White House says the option is on the table.
OBAMA: I don't have a philosophical objection necessarily to a travel ban.
ACOSTA: The White House is no longer knocking it down.
EARNEST: It's an option that will continue to be on the table.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ACOSTA: The administration announced that speeding up production of Ebola drugs and potentially a vaccine, as for Ron Klain, the White House would not say when he would be on the job only that it's as early as next week. And he is expected to be in this role for five to six months, a sign of cautious optimism that perhaps they can beat this virus by then -- Christi and Victor.
BLACKWELL: All right, Jim Acosta at the White House for us. Jim, thank you so much.
PAUL: We need to tell you, for the first time, we're hearing from one of the Dallas doctors who treated all three Ebola patients including Thomas Eric Duncan. Dr. Gary Weinstein is his name. He says his team did everything they could to try and save Duncan's life.
Duncan was the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. He lost his battle with the virus earlier this month. But in recent weeks, Duncan's family has accused the hospital of not treating him fairly because of his race.
Our affiliate WFAA had a chance to ask Dr. Weinstein about those accusations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DR. GARY WEINSTEIN, TEXAS HEALTH PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL: I find that remarkably insulting. That's -- I don't know how better to describe that. The team here worked their tails off to try and save his life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think you tried everything you could?
WEINSTEIN: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think he could not be saved?
WEINSTEIN: Yes, he was too sick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was your reaction -- did you know he was dying? And that it was imminent?
WEINSTEIN: It is very, very quick. He was critically ill and unstable. And over a period of minutes, he lost his pulse and was dead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL: You could tell it was a bit emotional for the doctor there too. Our WFAA exclusive we should point out, Dr. Weinstein also addressed accusations that teams were not given proper protective gear. He says his team was given everything they asked for. A lot of people, though, still wondering maybe they had that gear, but did they know how to use it properly?
BLACKWELL: Yes, and we'll get some answers to some of the questions about protection and treatment from our experts throughout the day.
A new report has been released on the Ferguson shooting of Michael Brown. And it gives, in part, the police officer's version of what happened the day Brown was killed.
PAUL: Also, there's a hurricane barreling into Bermuda and a second one hovering close to Hawaii.
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BLACKWELL: All right, welcome back to NEW DAY. It's 14 minutes after the hour. There's a lot going on this morning. Let's hit up that "Morning Read" now.
PAUL: "The New York Times" reporting new details on the death of Michael Brown by a Ferguson Missouri police officer. It says Officer Darren Wilson fired his gun twice inside his cruiser. Forensics tests apparently do show Brown's blood was on the officer's gun, uniform and cruiser.
"The Times" reports Wilson said he was pinned inside his car and feared for his life. His account of events contradicts what some witnesses have said though. Brown's death led to weeks of protests in Ferguson, remember.
BLACKWELL: In another shooting case, the man who shot a teen over loud music in Florida has been sentenced to life in prison without parole. Michael Dunn was convicted of first degree murder for killing Jordan Davis. That was in 2012. The prosecutors did not seek the death penalty in this case, which was really racially challenged.
PAUL: In business news, starting on Monday, you're going to be able to use your iPhone 6 like cash or credit card, so to speak. That's when Apple Pay rolls out. About 500 banks are going to support the tech giant's smartphone based payment system. To use it at participating stores, just put your finger on the fingerprint scanner and you hold the phone up for the register.
BLACKWELL: Sports now, the New York Jets have acquired Percy Harvin from the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional draft pick. The trade comes after reports of alleged discord behind the scenes between Harvin and the Seahawks. You know how that goes.
PAUL: But let's talk about some weather here, Hurricane Gonzalo -- Gonzalo?
BLACKWELL: Gonzalo.
PAUL: Gonzalo, thank you, has now been downgraded to a Category 2 hurricane not before it slammed Bermuda with some pretty powerful winds, heavy rain and high surf. But let's talk about what's happening in the Pacific because there you got Hurricane Ana now a Category 1 storm not expected though to make landfall in Hawaii.
BLACKWELL: I think it's Gonzalo, I said that with such gusto --
PAUL: It's Gonzalo. Just checking.
BLACKWELL: All right, a simple electric fan, it is blasting more than just fresh air inside Florida's gubernatorial election.
PAUL: Yes, a debate between the candidates turned into political theater when one of the contenders refused to take the stage until his opponent's fan was removed from the stage.
BLACKWELL: You never heard of anything like that.
PAUL: I know it's bizarre. CNN national correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, has more for us.
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ANNOUNCER: The two candidates invited to take part in this debate right now are not stepping up on the stage. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an extremely peculiar situation right now. We have Governor Charlie Crist. We have been told that Governor Scott will not be participating in this debate.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Suddenly, the rules of the debate became the biggest issue of the night.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor Crist has asked to have a fan, a small fan, placed underneath his podium. The rules of the debate that I were shown by the Scott campaign say that there should be no fan. Somehow there is a fan there. And for that reason, ladies and gentlemen, I am being told that Governor Scott will not join us for this debate.
MALVEAUX: And so fangate was born. Crist seized the moment.
CHARLIE CRIST (D), FLORIDA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: Are we really going to debate about a fan or are we going to talk about the future and the environment and the future of the state?
MALVEAUX: It was one of the strangest sven minutes in the history of political debates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My understanding is that Governor Scott will be coming out. Frank, have you ever seen anything like this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I haven't.
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, that has to be the most unique beginning to any debate.
MALVEAUX: Charlie Crist's portable electric fan has reportedly been blowing at his feet since he ran for education commissioner in 2000. Florida Republicans this morning created a Crist hits the fan hashtag showing it from on high, down low, by its lonesome, and double-teamed captured here with our own Candy Crowley.
It even has its own Twitter account. Newspaper headlines couldn't resist. Crist even wrote about his biggest fan, the fan in his memoir, seen briefly here at the DNC convention.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: There was so much social media buzz during the debate about the fan moment that the moderator addressed it asking Crist why insist on bringing the fan in the first place. Crist said, why not, is there anything wrong with being more comfortable?
Well, today, he's taking it a lot more seriously, e-mailing voters to raise money from all of it calling Rick Scott's actions pretty ridiculous. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Washington.
BLACKWELL: Yes, I remember, the first time I interviewed Governor Crist, there is a person who carries the fan everywhere.
PAUL: That is their job.
BLACKWELL: All the time -- and that's -- he turns to them and says, can you turn the fan up a skosh? That's the first time I heard the word "skosh" by the way.
A Texas hospital, getting back to the top story, says it's deeply sorry for mistakes made in handling Ebola. But are other hospitals any equipped to deal with the American virus. An American doctor who took care of Ebola patients in the hard-hit West African nation is going to join us next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: More now on our top story this morning. What can be done to stop Ebola from spreading? Dr. William Fischer of the University of North Carolina, School of Medicine spent several months with "Doctors Without Borders" in Guinea, that's one of the West African nations hit hardest by Ebola.
He joins us now. Dr. Fischer, first, thanks for being with us. I want you to listen to what President Obama said earlier this week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: The biggest thing we have to do is make sure that health workers have more confidence because they are on the front lines and we're entering into flu season, which means there may be a lot of people coming in with symptoms and there may be false alarms and concerns. And so we're going to spend a lot of time working with our public health workers to make sure that they feel safe and adequately protected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: So the question is, are hospitals, are health care workers, ready for this potentially growing problem of Ebola? And if not, how far do they have to go?
DR. WILLIAM FISCHER, UNC SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: I think that everyone has a lot of work to do, in order to make sure that we're protecting the people on the front lines and really protecting everyone in this country. And that includes both the focus on the equipment and as well as the process that goes along with protecting them.
BLACKWELL: Let's talk more about the protection because this week we heard from a nurse at Texas Health Presbyterian there in Dallas, who said that the nurses there do not have the proper equipment. You worked in Guinea. Compare what is being described inside that hospital, their protection equipment, and what you had, working in Guinea? Was it the same?
FISCHER: No, I mean, it was very different. And I would offer there's really no consensus among the major organizations that are fighting the current outbreak with respect to the equipment. So what I was wearing --
BLACKWELL: Explain that.
FISCHER: Well, I think to be honest, all the recommendations will protect the health care provider if they wear them the correct way and more importantly that they take them off the correct way. So process is one of the most important aspects of this approach.
BLACKWELL: We're seeing pictures of you right now in Guinea, as you work there to try to stop the spread of Ebola. This week, President Obama -- actually, yesterday, President Obama appointed Ron Klain or named him as his so-called Ebola czar. No medical experience, do you think that makes a difference?
FISCHER: Well, I think there are two aspects about this virus. One is the protection, using equipment and infection control mechanisms to protect health care workers. The other aspect is really controlling the fear that goes along with Ebola.
And fear can be an incredibly paralyzing force and we have to overcome that fear. I think having someone that can reassure the public and help communicate information is a key piece to controlling fear.
BLACKWELL: In addition to relaying information, there has to be a response. We heard from the director of the CDC, Dr. Tom Frieden earlier that initially they beefed up -- there should have been a stronger response to Thomas Eric Duncan.
We heard from the president calling for an Ebola SWAT team of sorts from the CDC to be ready to deploy anywhere in the U.S. to help local hospitals respond.
If this grows and theoretically, we've heard that it possibly will grow, are there enough medical experts with the CDC to have the resources to go to these locations? These huge teams, do we have enough?
FISCHER: Well, we certainly -- there's a growing number of people with experience with Ebola. I mean, that's one of our major limitations right now is that we have very little data about the care of patients with Ebola because we've never seen it in this country before.
And we also have very few numbers of people who actually have clinical experience with the virus, but that number is growing, unfortunately. I think that's a good start, but I think we can do more.
BLACKWELL: We have a piece on CNN.com written by a physician and journalist and it's entitled "Why the CDC chief must go." He says that Dr. Frieden is a good man, but lacks the vision and the crisis -- leadership crisis management skills to properly run what, I guess, essentially he's considering a crisis. What do you think about that?
FISCHER: Well, first, I think it's been a humanitarian crisis for a long time, especially in West Africa. Secondly, I think there's going to be a time for finger pointing that we can deal with later. Right now, we have to get to work and focus on a solution to the current problem.
BLACKWELL: All right, Dr. William Fischer, thank you so much for speaking with us and sharing your photographs of your experience there in Guinea --Christi.
PAUL: All right, the Nigerian government, by the way, is declaring a ceasefire with the terrorist group, Boko Haram. Could this deal, though, include the release of hundreds of missing kidnapped girls?
And a California mayor is busted for alleged dui after crashing into a car full of cheerleaders. We've got that more on the other side of this break. Stay close.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: Thirty-one minutes past the hour right now. So grateful for your company as always. I'm Christi Paul.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Let's start this off with five things you need to know for your new day. Up first, the Nigerian government says it has reached a cease-fire agreement with Boko Haram. The deal came Thursday night, and includes some undisclosed concessions to the Islamist terror group. Nigerian officials say the deal includes the release of more than 200 kidnapped girls. Now, the girls would be released in phases, but no timetable was given.
PAUL: No. 2, two weeks after ISIS terrorists released a video threatening to kill American hostage Abdul Rahman Kessig, dozens of people from his home town gathered to pray for his safe release. This was yesterday. Kessig's parents also attended that service. Remember, the former Army ranger was captured last year while doing humanitarian work in Syria.
BLACKWELL: No. 3 now, authorities in Southern California arrested a local mayor for suspicion of DIU after they said he rear-ended a car full of high school cheerleaders. At least three of the passengers were seriously hurt. The mayor's attorney told the Los Angeles Times that he jumped out of his truck to help the victims. The mayor is a battalion chief with a local fire department.
PAUL: No. 4, the body of actress Misty Upham has been found. Officials say a family member found her along a river near Seattle. The actress, who appeared in "August Osage County" and "Django Unchained," was last seen walking from her sister's apartment. She had been missing since October 5. The cause of death is still under investigation now.
BLACKWELL: And No. 5, Alaska and Wyoming are now the latest states to allow same-sex marriage. The move came in Alaska after the Supreme Court refused to block a ruling that struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. A federal judge did the same thing in Wyoming. Barring any more legal intervention, Alaska and Wyoming will become the 30th and 31st states to allow same-sex marriage, up from 19 states at the beginning of October.
The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola outbreak over in Senegal, while the deadly virus continues spiraling out of control, though, in neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone and Liberia. The WHO is congratulating the West African nation for this rare moment of good news.
Tariq Jasarevic is with us now via phone. He is the spokesman for the World Health Organization. Sir, thank you for so much being with us. We appreciate it.
I wanted to ask you, first all, before we get to Senegal, there have certainly been a lot of reports this week about the W.H.O. blaming an incompetent staff and lack of information in the U.N. for not being able to better handle this outbreak and this crisis. It said, quote, "nearly everyone involved in outbreak response failed to see some fairly plain writing on the wall." What specifically do you think was missed? And by whom?
TARIQ JASAREVIC, SPOKESMAN, WHO: Well, Christi, we are definitely monitoring our response, and time will come where we'll be able to analyze it. And to see exactly what could have been done better. And what would have been done more. Right now, really, we are trying to focus on how to make the current response as efficient as possible, how to achieve those very ambitious goals that we set, to have 70 percent of infected people in those three countries in treatment centers, and 70 percent of burials of people who died from Ebola being buried in a safe way by end of November.
So, definitely, we have been all taken by surprise by how this outbreak has spread geographically beyond the initial area, how it reached capitals, and how we found ourselves behind the disease. Definitely, this is something that will be looked into from all of the organizations who have been enrolled. This is something that we are trying to document as we go. But, again, we should focus right now in the best interests of victims to help Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
PAUL: Let me ask you this, because I know the W.H.O. is predicting as many as 10,000 new cases per week in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone alone by the end of the year. What specifically do you think is being done now that might be able to thwart that proliferation?
JASAREVIC: We hope, Christi, we will not get there. This is the projection if the response stays at the same way it is now. But we hope we will be able to bend the curve by the end of the year. How we do that, we are right now building more than 40 centers in those three countries. We are training health workers.
I've been in Liberia two weeks ago when we opened a training center for health workers, so they get trained and equipped before they are sent into these newly built health Ebola treatment centers so they know how to help patients while staying safe. So there are a lot of people on the ground right now, working around the clock to provide what is needed so we get to this point of 70 percent of infected people being treated appropriately, and having enough of teams to do safe burials, have epidemiological surveillance teams who will check on contacts. It's very ambitious, but we just need really to bend the curve. It will take time to get to zero, that's for sure, but at least, we need to stop this escalating numbers that we're seeing.
PAUL: Sure. Again, let's get back to Senegal here as you declared them virus-free, and they share a border with Guinea. We know that they closed their borders. Do you think closing borders is part of the answer here? Specifically maybe if you close borders and you don't let necessarily, I guess, people -- sick people out. But then you flood that country with help. Is that part of what you think might alleviate?
JASAREVIC: We are against closing boards. We are against suspending flights and doing travel bans. This is not the way forward. Because borders can never really be completely closed. And it will just put additional burden on those countries, that would make problems in getting in supplies and getting in personnel. That would have a horrible psychological impact on those populations.
What is needed and what we recommend is that there is exit screenings at the airports and the land border crossings from those three countries to neighboring countries, or at the airport, whatever the destination is, so people who are visibly sick do not board a plane or are checked at the borders, and they do not really carry the virus away. Because we know this is what happened when a Liberian man travelled to Nigeria and started a transmission chain there. So exit screening, yes, but closing borders is not something we recommend.
PAUL: OK, Tariq Jasarevic, we appreciate you taking time for us today. Thank you so much.
JASAREVIC: Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Car bombs have exploded in Baghdad. Right now, no one is claiming responsibility. But suspicion is falling on ISIS.
Here's a question, if ISIS is continuing these attacks inside the capital, are these coalition air strikes working? And is Baghdad as safe as some like to say that it is? We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Another major story we're following this morning. The battle to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and possibly a shift, as we discuss Kobani there near the border there with Turkey and Syria. ISIS may be playing right into the coalition's handed. U.S. Central Command said legions of fighters have poured into that besieged city of Kobani. We saw a lot of action there this morning. A top general says that's giving the coalition warplanes direct targets to strike. Let's talk about this now with CNN military analyst, Major General James "Spider" Marks. Good to have you with us this morning, sir.
MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Good morning, Victor.
BLACKWELL: So we're hearing that Syrian Kurds are giving U.S. forces intelligence on ISIS positions. There had been some frustration within these coalition air strikes that there was no one on the ground to direct the strikes. Could this now be a game changer?
MARKS: Well, if the Syrian Kurds are providing this level of direct targeting for close air support, that means there's either equipment with the Syrian Kurds or there is equipment and personnel with the Syrian Kurds, and I would suggest it's the latter. So there probably are some Special Forces individuals on the ground with the Kurds in a loose arrangement, that allows them to mark some targets.
What you have to understand, of course, is that allows those Special Forces to come across the border from Turkey, conduct some operations, and then possibly get back to Turkey to seek some refuge. But it's certainly a step up when you can mark targets that precisely and then have the results.
BLACKWELL: A week ago, we heard from the Pentagon spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, that we should be, quote, steeling ourselves for reality, suggesting that Kobani will fall, other parts of Syria and other parts of Iraq. This week, we're hearing and seeing that there is a concerted effort to protect Kobani, to go after targets there. Why the shift?
MARKS: Well, the deal with Kobani is that, Victor, tactically, Kobani is essentially insignificant. It's another town along this stretch of border between Syria and Turkey that ISIS already controls. So they are -- they, ISIS, are consolidating in Kobani.
The strategic importance of Kobani is the act of taking it. This has a tremendous communications and recruitment value to ISIS. This is a perception that has great strategic importance. So, it's from that optic that Kobani becomes important. The fact that ISIS may in fact be struggling a little bit in Kobani, because of the resistance by both PKK or others, is really lending to the coalition's ability to see -- coalesce targets. We can now go after ISIS forces that are in formations as they try to take Kobani. They've come to Kobani, it has become a magnet, therefore it becomes a target for the coalition strikes.
BLACKWELL: A lot of pictures there on your screen of Kobani. Appears to be quiet there, as evidenced by the lack of those smoke plumes we saw when there were of course the air strikes and the bombings from ISIS, but we saw some action there today. How credible do you find these reports that are coming up from this London-based group that the ISIS fighters have acquired their own air power, three warplanes, and former Iraqi military officers are now training with them to fly these warplanes?
MARKS: Well, I would suggest that we not hype this report, and I know we're not, we're simply reporting the facts as they exist.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
MARKS: Three airplanes don't equal air power. The fact that Iraqis -- former Iraqi officers may in fact be training fighters to take over these aircraft and achieve some level of competence to get these things off the ground is probably true. We should expect that.
The key issue is to watch this, not to spend a lot of time concerned about it. But to stay persistent, watch it, make sure it doesn't advance into a certain direction where it could become a greater threat.
I think that can be done not easily -- but it can be done simply through routine activities. So I would not overhype it. I'd put it on the shelf and say it's a curiosity. Our intelligence community is watching it. We'll keep you posted as we go along. But it is something that we should watch, certainly.
BLACKWELL: All right, General James "Spider" Marks, thank you so much for your insight this morning. MARKS: Thank you, Victor. Absolutely.
BLACKWELL: Christie.
PAUL: All right, Victor. Using horses, think about this, to bring children back to their childhood, and towards a brighter future as they grow. Meet one of this year's top ten CNN heroes, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: You know, each week we are shining a spotlight on the top ten CNN heroes of 2014, as you vote for the one who inspires you the most. Again, it's at CNNheroes.com. I love this good news stuff.
BLACKWELL: Yes. And this week's honoree has found a unique way to keep children off the streets of Hartford, Connecticut. Meet Patricia Kelly.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's tough. It's tough growing up here. It's just so easy to take the wrong path. I was walking around with a lot on my shoulders at a young age. I didn't really care about life anymore. When I met Ms. Kelly, everything changed.
PATRICIA KELLY, CNN HERO: Fred (ph) was hurting. He needed a place where he could just be himself. Our program provides a year-around urban oasis, seven days a week, 12 months a year. For children up to 19 years old.
We use horses to create pride, esteem and healing. The children take care of animals, take care of the farm. When they get to a certain riding level, young men become mounted park rangers. When they put their cowboy hats and they go out on patrol, the myth of the urban male has changed instantly. When kids see other kids ride, they want to know how it's done. That's the hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't tell you where I'd be without this program. It's changed my life. It's helped me set goals for myself. I'm a part of something.
KELLY: When you teach a child how to ride a horse, they learn that they are the center of their environment. Once they make that connection, they can change what happens in school, at home, and the community. It's through their minds and through their hearts. They have ability. They just have to unlock it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Work there. Go to CNNheroes.com online or on your mobile device to vote for Patricia or one of the other nine nominees for hero of the year. They will be honored at CNNheroes, an all-star tribute hosted by our own Anderson Cooper Sunday December 7th. The winner receives -- excuse me, I almost choked on the figure -- $100,000 to help further their work. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PAUL: Okay. So here is a must-see moment you don't see very often. A baby bear rescue.
BLACKWELL: Yes, it's really nice. Check this one out. While rolling through a neighborhood in California.
PAUL: I'm stuck, I'm stuck.
BLACKWELL: I can't get out of this dumpster. So this wandering bear climbed and got into trouble, he climbed into this dumpster, could not get out.
PAUL: Well, his worried mom circled the dumpster as you saw there just a minute ago. Thankfully, animal control showed up, they rescued the little guy with a ladder. And look what they did afterwards.
BLACKWELL: Yes, after the reunion, they just hung out for a few hours. Let's sit by the pool, you've had a rough morning. Eventually they headed back home on their own.
PAUL: Are you not surprised, however, that the mama bear did just sit back while they rescued the cub? Because she is a mama bear, and we know what they do.
BLACKWELL: That's true, although maybe she had the instinct that they were coming to take him out.
PAUL: They were helping.
BLACKWELL: And if anything happened after that, then we'll go crazy.
PAUL: They were clearly exhausted.
BLACKWELL: Needed a break.
PAUL: Glad everybody's fine.
Thank you so much. We have a lot of news to talk with you about this morning.
BLACKWELL: And we have got it all for you coming up right now in the next hour of your "New Day."
