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New Day Saturday

Funeral Today for Officer Killed in Ambush; Experts Doubt North Korea Hacked Sony; Terror Groups Fight for Popularity

Aired December 27, 2014 - 07:00   ET

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

(MUSIC)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: You are looking at live pictures of New York where the funeral of New York Police Officer Rafael Ramos will take place later this morning.

Good morning, everyone. I'm Suzanne Malveaux, in for Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell. It's 7:00 here on the East Coast. It's good to be with you this morning.

And now, just one week after two police officers were ambushed and murdered in the streets of New York, more than 25,000 people police officers from around the country are expected to say good-bye to one of their own.

MALVEAUX: And later this morning, the funeral for Officer Rafael Ramos will take place at the Christ Tabernacle Church in Queens.

Vice President Joe Biden, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton are among those expected to speak.

BLACKWELL: You saw the live pictures. Here's the scene from yesterday in Queens, as thousands lined the streets to pay their respects. Ramos' son and sister reflected on the man they say was doing God's work. The farewell broadcast on a screen for those fill the streets to see.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

JUSTIN RAMOS, OFFICER RAFAEL RAMOS' SON: He was my rock. He was a beacon of wisdom. He was my absolute best friend. Dad, I'll miss you very much. I'll miss you with every fiber of my being.

CINDY RAMOS, OFFICER RAFAEL RAMOS' SISTER: Keep this short and sweet, just like my brother. I know you always worried about me, but you know how I rolled because we were two peas in a pod. You never think, just do. And hope for the best. You were one of the most humble people I know and having you as my brother is the highest honor that could have been bestowed upon me.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

BLACKWELL: We have a team of reporters covering this from all angles this morning. We've got Miguel Marquez in New York. Erin McPike at the White House. Nick Valencia is following the response on social media.

I want to start with Miguel Marquez there in New York.

Miguel, when we heard these numbers, first 15,000, then 20,000, then 25,000 officers, maybe 30,000 officers, from across the country who are coming here. You've spoken with many of them. Why are they coming? Why did they feel the need to travel to New York?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in this particular case, Victor, police from across the country are moved by the way that these two officers were assassinated in their squad car on a Brooklyn street. New York City, New York police funerals are always enormous affairs. This one will probably be the biggest one yet. They're planning for 25,000 police officers but when you add in the thousands of others, friends, families, and people who would come to this neighborhood to watch, it is likely to be upwards of 35,000 in this densely packed park of Queens.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ (voice-over): The casket of one of New York's finest.

Mourners lining the sidewalks, paying their respects to Officer Rafael Ramos. His casket draped in an NYPD flag.

His fellow officers right by his side, entering a church where he once worshipped.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel really sad because he's like a known person around our neighborhood.

MARQUEZ: Honoring the life of a man who was shot dead, along with fellow Officer Wenjian Liu, the two ambushed while having lunch in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Life is not guaranteed. My heart goes out to the families. It's really sad. It's really sad.

MARQUEZ: Twenty-five thousand law enforcement officers from across the nation expected among the massive crowd to support a deeply shaken police department. NYPD brass and political leaders also in attendance, all aware of the tensions.

REP. PETER KING (R), NEW YORK: This is going to be a dark period for New York unless we can turn it around.

MARQUEZ: Police not taking any chances with security, a full show of force from the rooftops to the streets.

Officer Ramos had been a school security officer when he joined the NYPD three years ago. He was on his way to becoming a chaplain.

Liu, an only child, was married only two months ago. His distraught widow at a press conference seeking donations for both men. Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani pledging $20,000 to a memorial fund. The hope, to pay off $800,000 worth of outstanding mortgage debts and to ease the family's financial burdens.

The New York Yankees pledged to pay for the kids' education and Queens-based JetBlue airlines is flying law enforcement to the funerals from around the country for free.

A heartbroken city rallying around two beat officers whose extraordinary killing is left despair.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a shame. It's terrible. It's absolutely terrible. I can't get over it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Now, Vice President Biden will speak at this funeral. But maybe more importantly, Mayor Bill de Blasio whose relationship with especially beat cops here in New York has been tested in recent days. He will also speak at this funeral. It's the beginning of the first of two funerals that are very tough week for New York.

Back to you, guys.

BLACKWELL: All right. Miguel Marquez reporting there from New York -- thank you so much.

MALVEAUX: Let's head to Washington where Vice President Joe Biden is expected to depart this morning for New York to attend that funeral.

Erin McPike is live at the White House.

And, Erin, we know this is something that has reached the White House because of this national discussion that we're having when it comes to race, when it comes to good policing and relations, and a cooling off period, if you will, that many have called for. Why is the White House weighing in today?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, they want to show some solidarity with law enforcement. Of course, President Obama has been focusing on race relations and issues there.

Listen here to him discuss those issues in a recent interview with CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And when you look at what's happened in law enforcement across the country over the last several years, that's not news to African-Americans. What's different is, simply, that some of it is now video taped and people see it.

And the question then becomes, you know, what practical steps can we take to solve this problem. And I believe that the overwhelming majority of white Americans, as well as African-Americans, want to see this problem solved.

So, I have confidence by surfacing these issues, we're going to be able to make progress on them. (END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: And, Suzanne, we've also heard President Obama make moves to begin to demilitarized some police units and law enforcement. And so, there's been some progress. But they want to show solidarity with law enforcement. And that is why Vice President Biden is going today, Suzanne and Victor.

MALVEAUX: Erin, do we have any sense of the message?

MCPIKE: Not yet, Suzanne. Of course, President Obama and many administration, I should say, staffers, have been with him in Hawaii this week as he's been vacationing. But we don't know much about what Vice President Biden will be saying today.

But again, he's trying to show some sensitivity to law enforcement at this difficult time.

MALVEAUX: All right. Erin McPike, thank you. Appreciate it.

BLACKWELL: Let's get now to Nick Valencia. He's joining us now for a look at how people on social media are reacting to this news this morning.

Nick, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram often become digital memorials to the fallen.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL REPORTER: Yes, all are very active conversation, and this is a national conversation, still very early this morning just after 7:00 a.m. But we're already hearing and seeing people weigh in, like you mentioned, Victor, on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook.

One of the most outspoken is the "I can't breathe" organizer Poppy Sand (ph). We'll bring that up, we'll show you. He's saying, "I will not mourn the death of two cops. I will mourn the death of two fellow human beings." And he goes on to write a long blog to explain himself. Poppy Sand, one of the lead demonstrators.

Another demonstrator, Lucy Pick (ph), she also took to Twitter earlier this morning, and she posted this sign, a photo in solidarity with the police officers, saying, "I am Wenjian Liu and I am Eric Garner." Of course, Wenjian Liu, his funeral not yet named, date not yet named for his funeral later today, at 10:00 a.m. this morning, Rafael Ramos' funeral, that NYPD officer, that funeral will begin.

And then a local Twitter account here support Brooklyn saying, "Police lives matter too. I'm sorry for the lives of Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos." A longer post goes to put on Reddit, also very active conversation. And if you guys have anything to weigh in on, you can use these hashtags a lot people are posting this morning, on #NYCPray, #NYPDofficers, #bluelivesmatter. You can also tweet me directly @CNNValencia, or Victor and Suzanne, and we'll try to include your social media posts in our conversation this morning -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Nick Valencia on the social media angle for us -- thank you so much.

MALVEAUX: And since those officer were going down last week, there are now been now men who have been arrested accused of threatening police. So, are police more vulnerable now? We're going to talk to a retired police detective and get his take on that.

BLACKWELL: Plus, President Obama wants to shut down Guantanamo Bay. We're going to tell you why this week, he may get one step closer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: And you see there, the sun coming up in New York City right now. It's a beautiful picture there. Just a couple hours, 25,000 police officers. This is from around the country. They are expected to attend the funeral of a fallen New York City Police Officer Rafael Ramos in just a couple hours. You're looking at live pictures there.

This is Christ Tabernacle Church. You see some of the officers already gathering in front of the church. Officer Ramos and his fellow Officer Wenjian Liu, you might recall just a week ago that they were shot in the head, executed last weekend, just sitting in their patrol car.

BLACKWELL: And since their murders, nine people have been arrested, accused of making threats against New York police.

Retired New York Police Department Detective Harry Houck joins me now.

Detective, good to have you with us.

HARRY HOUCK, RETIRED NYPD DETECTIVE: Good morning. Thanks for having me. It's a sad day today in New York City.

BLACKWELL: It certainly is. You know, one of the men arrested -- I want to talk about these continuing threats. One of the men arrested allegedly walked into the 28th precinct and harassed and threatened officers.

Do you feel that officers are more vulnerable now or we're just paying attention?

HOUCK: Well, you know, I think things happen all the time. But I think they're more vulnerable because of the rhetoric that's been out there and some of these nut cases that feel like they've got to go out and they've got to do something.

BLACKWELL: Tell me about the mentality going back into the street and working for maybe these officers at the 28th precinct. How does one compartmentalize. After that one person comes in and threatens and harasses an officer, not taking that angst, or that fear or that concern into the community, how do you do that?

HOUCK: Well, what I think a lot of people don't realize is that police officers live with these threats every day. So, although they're on a heightened level because of the threats, I don't think police officers -- I know for myself, and I worked up in the 28 before, that officers aren't going to really react much differently than they did before.

BLACKWELL: So, police say that 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley, the man shot Officer Liu and Ramos and killed them. Hours before the shooting, Brinsley apparently posted on his Instagram page that he was going to put wings on pigs today.

Tell us about this I guess growing concern, as social media grows, the growing concern to -- about social media accounts in catching posts like this when they're posted.

HOUCK: Well, you know, the police department and civilians alike, when they go through Facebook, looking for these types of things, they will contact the police. I know I think there were three different incidents on social media where the police were notified or the police had picked it up that there were threats against officers. And the police officers need to substantiate those threats and see if they're an incredible threat. And once they're a credible threat to track down that person through their IP address and then go and question them, speak to them.

BLACKWELL: It seems simple, credible threat. How does one determine it's a credible threat, because some people say on social media they post a lot of things on Facebook, and Instagram, but they don't really mean, they're just venting?

HOUCK: Right, exactly. You know, basically, not only they're making a verbal threat, like we had an instance where a guy posted a picture of himself pointing a gun at a police officer radio car. Things like that. And what they're going to do is they got to try to substantiate that threat, whether or not it's credible.

And then once they see the threat and track the person down, speaking to them, you'll be able to figure out whether or not that threat is credible or not.

BLACKWELL: You know, beyond the investigatory element of this, I just want to talk to you as a retired member of the New York Police Department.

What are you feeling today?

HOUCK: Well, I'm feeling really sad today and I'm feeling heartbroken about what had happened with these two officers. You know, an assassination like this -- you know, we deal with maybe being killed in the line of duty or injured. But an assassination is something that's totally different. That's why you're going to see tens of thousands of police officers come to New York to pay their respects to these police officers.

An assassination, thank God, isn't something that happens every day, but it goes to the heart of the city. It goes to the mindset of the city. Not only police officers, but I'm sure tens of thousands, millions of people are mourning these officers today.

BLACKWELL: Yes. There's an opinion piece on CNN.com that talks about the thin blue line that I suggest people go and read, kind of approaching this from a former officer's perspective.

Detective Harry Houck, thank you so much for talking with us this morning.

HOUCK: Thanks for having me.

BLACKWELL: All right. A busy day of news. We've got a lot going on. Here's your "Morning Read."

MALVEAUX: Up to five detainees of Guantanamo Bay may get transferred in the next few days. The Obama administration hopes to transfer dozens more, that in coming months. But the president wants to shut down Guantanamo, calling it an inspiration for terrorists and wildly expensive.

BLACKWELL: North Korea is fuming over the release of "The Interview." And it's blaming President Obama, saying he forced Sony to release it. In a new statement, Pyongyang compared Obama to a monkey in the continuing fallout over the satirical movie. It says the film which depicts the assassination of Kim Jong-un is illegal, dishonest and reactionary.

MALVEAUX: And while Sony's decision to release the interview, it is now paying off. It banked $1 million at the box office on Christmas Day. Sony pulled the plug on the original release date after hackers threatened to attack the theaters that showed it. But then, Sony reversed course and release the comedy in theaters and online.

BLACKWELL: SpaceX will try to land a rocket on a tiny ship at sea. If you're wondering how big of a challenge this is, SpaceX says it's like trying to balance a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a windstorm. The takeoff is planned for either January 6th, maybe the 7th.

MALVEAUX: And in weather, rain and snow expected to cause some headaches for folks returning home after celebrating the holidays, a couple inches of rain, flash flood watches expected along the gulf coast. And an arctic blast is on its way for New Year's. Snow already hit El Paso, Texas, this weekend. But sun is expected for the Hyundai Sun Bowl as Duke is set to play Arizona State.

And was North Korea really behind the Sony attack? We're going to tell you why there are new doubts about that claim.

BLACKWELL: Plus, we are just three hours now from the start of the -- that's Kim Jong-un. Let's get the live shot up. Do we not have it? There it is.

The funeral of Rafael Ramos there in New York, you see the flowers outside. The hearse there as well. We expect to see tens of thousands of officers line the procession. We'll bring you that as well as a city, a country pays tribute to a fallen officer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Welcome back. There are some new theories floating out there about the Sony hack.

Well, some hacking analysts are not convinced it came from North Korea.

MALVEAUX: So, could the FBI actually be mistaken?

Our Brian Todd explains why there's now new doubt.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The forensic trail of the Sony hack -- it's mysterious, difficult to follow and now, it's sparking increasing doubt over the FBI's belief that hackers works for North Korea are responsible.

SAM GLINES, NORSE CORPORATION: It's clear to us it's based on both forensic and other evidence that we've collected that unequivocally, they are not responsible for orchestrating or initiating attack on Sony.

TODD: The cybersecurity firm Norse did its own investigation of the Sony hack. Norse and another leading security firm called CloudFlare raised serious questions about the FBI's claim that the malware used in the Sony attack is similar to other malware used in other attacks by North Korea. These firms sources say that malware was leaked a long time ago, and could have been used anywhere in the world.

Previously, U.S. investigators said they have evidence hackers stole the computer credentials of a Sony insider, but Norse believes it was given out. And they tracked the attack to one potential suspect -- a woman co-named Lena, a former Sony employee, who Glines says work for Sony for several years. Glines says Lena was ties to the hacking group Guardians of Peace, which claims responsibility for the Sony hit.

Glines says Lena was a security staffer with Sony who had what he calls super user access to the company's cyber secrets, user names and passwords to critical systems. He says Lena had two motives for the hack.

GLINES: First of all, how Sony treated its employees, layoffs that were going on in the department. But also a bigger issue around piracy and how Sony was treating those who had producer and moved other content and how they would be prosecuted in the U.S. and other countries.

TODD: Experts have lingering doubts about North Korea's ability to carry out such a sophisticated attack.

SCOTT BORG, U.S. CYBER CONSEQUENCE UNIT: This is beyond the skill level that we've been able to observe.

TODD: But if North Korea did commit the Sony hack, analysts say it would have been done by a shadowy unit of the government called the Reconnaissance General Bureau, which they say conducts cyber warfare. It's commanded by General Kim Young Cho (ph), a very influential former bodyguard for Kim Jong-un's father and grandfather.

MICHAEL MADDEN, NORHT KOREA LEADERSHIP WATCH: So, they have somebody that's intimate to the Kim family, who's also very effective manager supervising this. Not only shows the importance of North Korea's national security apparatus places on electronic and cyber capabilities.

TODD: North Korea has emphatically denied hacking Sony. As for the tracking of the hack to a former Sony employee named Lena, Sam Glines of Norse Corporation says his firm has shared that information with the FBI. We reached out to the FBI and to Sony regarding the findings on Lena. And we asked the FBI for comment on the overall doubts that North Korea did this. Neither the FBI nor Sony would comment on any of it.

Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)]

MALVEAUX: We're going to talk more about the topic of cyber threats with Lieutenant General Mark Hertling. That's later this hour.

And, of course, it was supposed to be just another day of patrol for police partners Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu. Well, now, tens of thousands from around the country, they are preparing to say good-bye to one of their own as these officers were gunned down in cold blood. You're looking at live pictures from New York.

BLACKWELL: Plus, the sheriff's department is conducting dozens of new interviews in the death of a Georgia teen found dead in a gym mat. We'll tell you why, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Approaching the bottom of the hour now. A live look in Queens here.

That's where thousands of friends and relatives from police departments across the country and people who just live in this community are expected to gather today to say good-bye to slain Officer Rafael Ramos. He was ambushed and gunned down along with his partner Wenjian Liu a week ago while sitting in this patrol car.

We've got CNN's Miguel Marquez in New York.

Can you set the scene for us there? What are you seeing there on the ground, Miguel?

MARQUEZ: Well, they're just starting to set up for this massive event. There's a lot of Secret Service here. We had that in front of the church, you can see how the police are setting up at the moment. You can see a lot of New York City police. There is one car with a shield of New York City police. They have just filled that with flowers. Behind that, the hearse that will eventually carry the casket of Rafael Ramos to his final resting place. This area will be on complete lockdown. We have a second camera on

the mass looking down on Cypress Hill Street. That is the street where this procession will occur and that will carry Officer Ramos' body to the cemetery, which is just a short away. And thousands and thousands of people will line that route as well.

We spoke to a couple folks about what this funeral means.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It breaks all our hearts when something like this happens. And it could be any of us at anytime. That's what hits home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As a community, nevertheless, it's one thing to pray for something. In another part of the country, it's a whole other thing when it hits this close to home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: The first of two police officer funerals here in New York. The first, the beginning, of a very tough week for this city, Victor.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Absolutely. A tough week for the city.

We have to remember at the center of this, there's a family, and we know that there are some agencies and some charities that have stepped forward to help both families. What are we learning there?

MARQUEZ: Unbelievable the turnout. It's been a lot of focus on the protests and the anti-police fervor and concern out there.

But tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for these families from several different charities. One, the Tunnels to Towers project has offered to pate mortgages for both families. It's about $800,000. Aside from that, the New York Yankees have offered to pay the tuition for the Ramos children.

Before all of that, Bowdoin College said they would pick up the rest of the tuition of his time there at the university. Other organizations across this city raising tens of thousands of dollars.

JetBlue Airlines is flying in about 700 officers of different officers from around the country to be here today. All free of charge. They're also working with their partner airlines that fly overseas to bring Officer Liu's family in from China.

So, the outreach and the love for these families. People to embrace the families to let them know that they are cared for is enormous. Back to you.

BLACKWELL: We're about 2 hours, 2 1/2 hours from the start of the service there. We'll, of course, see that procession soon.

Miguel Marquez, thank you so much.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: For more, we are joined by former FBI assistant director and law enforcement officer, Tom Fuentes.

And, Tom, you and I have been discussing throughout the week what this means. For so many people, the NYPD, but also police officers around the country. And I want you to take off your FBI hat and just talk as someone who used to be as a patrol officer, what this means to you.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Suzanne, it means a great deal. And I think that, you know, my brother was an officer. My father was a career police officer. And I have so many friends over the years going back 42 years in the profession myself, but a police officer family, since I was 1 year old.

And yes, it hits home. And after you've gone to dozens and dozens of police funerals over the years of officers killed in the line of duty, it's just one tragedy after another. And I think maybe in the last few months, we've kind of lost sight of why police officers may, in some cases, admittedly overreact in a situation where they become afraid or think that they're in danger.

But it happens. We've had over 100 police officers killed in the line of duty in 2014 in the United States. And even just this week, 12 hours after Officers Ramos and Liu were gunned down in New York, Officer Charles Kondek was shot and killed in the line of duty in Tarpon Springs, Florida. His funeral also in Florida.

I know it's not gathering the attention that we're paying on the New York situation for many, many reasons, but that's another police officer's family grieving at the senseless loss of their family member.

MALVEAUX: I think you bring up a good point. A lot of people, they're thinking about these officers, about their families, there's been a lot of protests about the loss of black men. And, you know, this is something that people need to think about from both angles here. To see that there are certainly very good police officers day in and day out that do their jobs very well and make the ultimate sacrifices, you had mentioned.

We know that Ramos' family has asked the mayor, Bill de Blasio to attend. And we have seen that tension with NYPD, those officers literally turning their backs to the mayor. Do we expect that to play out here in any way today?

FUENTES: I don't expect that. I haven't heard that. But the friends I've talked to in New York have said they don't expect any similar problem today. The family has made the request for Mayor De Blasio to speak at the funeral. And, of course, the vice president will be there. I think out of respect to the Ramos family, the officers that are there will pay respect to the mayor.

MALVEAUX: And, Tom, I know this has been a very emotional week for you as well because of this kind of rift, if you will, between the police and the mayor. The mayor has tried to step up and make amend here.

Do you think he's done the right thing? Has he struck the right tone over the last several days to look forward and say, look, there are two sides to this? And certainly, most of our police officers are very good men and women on the force?

FUENTES: Yes, in my opinion, he has, you know, since last Saturday, when the murders occurred, he ask the protesters out of respect to hold off for a week until after the funerals and allow time for New York to grieve over the officers. And I think, of course, the protesters didn't honor his request. But he did make the request.

And, you know, he has been saying the right things. He's held press conferences where he's said if you hear of an incident or see it on social media where someone is threatening a police officer, police call the police. Police notify the authorities because they can't have it, and shouldn't have it.

So, I think that he's -- he's tried to say the right things and make amends. And he sounds sincere in doing so this past week. We'll see how this goes in the future. But I think for today, the concern is going to be the respect for the Ramos family.

MALVEAUX: All right. Tom, thank you. Appreciate it.

FUENTES: Thank you, Suzanne.

BLACKWELL: About 24 minutes until the top of the hour now.

Let's take a look at the other stories happening this morning. Five things you need to know for your NEW DAY.

Up first, a year and a half after closing its case a sheriff's office in Georgia say it's now conducting dozens of interviews in the death of Kendrick Johnson. You'll remember he's the young man found get inside a rolled up gym mat. It appears to be on video released by the Johnson family's attorney. The video challenges the whereabouts of a former school mate of Johnson on the day he died. Now, Johnson's death was ruled an accident but his family believes he was murdered.

MALVEAUX: Number two, former President George H.W. Bush is still in the hospital after experiences shortness of breath. His spokesman said he was expected to stay one more night. On Christmas Day, Bush got a visit from his wife Barbara, his son Neil and daughter in law Maria. Bush is 90 years old.

BLACKWELL: Number three: for those of you who got a PlayStation or an Xbox under the tree, those online gaming networks are mostly back up after going down on Christmas. One of the busiest gaming days of the year. Hackers have claimed responsibility for the problems, which affected thousands of games eager to test the skills against competitors in virtual space.

MALVEAUX: Number four, in his first television interview since being cut from the Dallas cowboys Michael Sam told Oprah he's not the only gay player in the league. Sam, the first openly gay player drafted in the NFL, said other players reached out to them, saying they wish they had had the courage to come out. Sam is now a free agent and still hopes to play in the NFL. BLACKWELL: And number five, private exploration company SpaceX is gearing up to try to land a rocket on a tiny ship at sea. Here's that ship. How challenging is it? SpaceX says try balancing a rubber broomstick on your hand in the middle of a windstorm. It's similar. The takeoff is set for January 6th or 7th.

MALVEAUX: And just a week ago, President Obama and the FBI said North Korea was behind the massive hack on Sony Pictures. Well, now, some cyber experts, they tell us Pyongyang was not responsible. We've got those details ahead.

BLACKWELL: Plus, two terror groups are competing for attention in the jihadist community. Are they more likely to strike the U.S. as they fight for power?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Mortgage rates dropped this week. Take a look.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SETH ROGEN, ACTOR: We want to say thank you. If it wasn't for theaters like this and people like you this literally would not be (EXPLETIVE DELETED) happening right now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That was Seth Rogen thanking fans on Christmas for coming out to see his film, "The Interview."

Despite its limited theatrical release in the massive hack of Sony Pictures, the comedy still banked $1 million at the box office on Thursday. It could make it a couple million more this weekend.

And growing doubts this morning about North Korea's role in last month's cyberattack on Sony Pictures. It was just last week that President Obama and the FBI accused the reclusive dictator of being behind it. But some hacking experts are not convinced.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAM GLINES, NORSE CORPORATION: It's clear to us based on both forensic and other evidence that we've collected that unequivocally, they are not responsible for orchestrating or initiating the attack on Sony.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Sam Glines' cybersecurity firm Norse did its own investigation and he says a former Sony employee, not North Korea, might actually be a suspect.

Retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling is a CNN military analyst. He also served as a brigade commander in South Korea. Lieutenant General, thank you for joining us this morning. So, what

do you make of this, the fact that this could have been somebody who was a disgruntled employee. Does that sound realistic?

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: It doesn't sound realistic to me, Suzanne. I just believe that the government probably has it right and they know exactly what happened. And this may be -- it may be someone else, but I doubt it.

MALVEAUX: So, how do you come to that conclusion? It seems like they're pretty confident, this independent group, that the president and White House had it wrong?

HERTLING: Well, Suzanne, I think we have quite a bit of capability that is not being publishes. There is an organization called Cyber Com within the U.S. military that was established a few years ago to defend military Department of Defense network. And I think they have a good capability of determining these things along with the national security agency. And I think they have more capability than perhaps an independent contractor.

MALVEAUX: Do you think, on the flip side of this here, that the White House is responsible for some of the glitches that we've seen on the Internet inside of North Korea? Because you heard the president say and promise that there was going to be a proportional response?

HERTLING: It's certainly possible. And I would not doubt it.

We've seen the attacks, or the disruption of services in North Korea have been limited to those things that are used by the elite, by the government, by Kim himself. And the rest of the people don't have that much capability of going tonight Internet. As someone said, there's only about a thousand IP addresses within North Korea. That's about three city blocks in New York.

So, I think it is a strong possibility because the proportional response would be against the government. The president and administration and national security team knows that the people are North Korea don't deserve to be attacked, that this is a governmental action and they're going to limit their response to them.

MALVEAUX: Lieutenant, are there other ways that the government could actually respond to really -- to hurt the government, to hurt the leadership and not attack the people? Is there something that he could do that's a bit beefier or more robust in the days to come?

HERTLING: Yes, it's tough, Suzanne, in North Korea, because it is such a dysfunctional state.

They do have this crazy dictator who has starved his people. They don't have the kind of infrastructure that most modern states have. So, it's very difficult to go after the government without hurting the people.

One of the things we were concerned about when developing plans for military operations were we were very concerned about a North Korea attacking South Korea because of their weaponry or artillery. But we were more concerned about an implosion in North Korea that would cause a huge humanitarian crisis. That would be much difficult to control than an actual war on that peninsula.

MALVEAUX: And honestly, actually, are we already in a cyber war with North Korea, back and forth? How do we know that's even happening?

HERTLING: Yes, I think we are in a cyber war not only with North Korea, but there are have been malicious attacks from the United States and other nations.

When I was commanding in Europe, there was a time that the Russians attacked into the Estonia network. And what we created was something called a NATO cyber center of excellence to defend against those attacks that willingly use this warfare. It's a new form of warfare and conflict. This is something that we have to contends with. We have to defend the cyberspace so we allow for free commerce and trade within that realm.

MALVEAUX: And are you confident that we have those measures in place to protect our electricity, the electric grid, to protect our water supply, all the things that we need that are connected in some way to the Internet?

HERTLING: Yes, I would have to say, Suzanne, that I am not fully confident. I don't even think the government is fully confident in that. This is a continuous effort.

And as we've seen with the engagement with North Korea, sometimes, you just never know where it comes from. Sometimes, the hackers are more adapt at this stuff than nation states.

So, whereas I like would to believe that our critical infrastructure is protected, there's always a potential for some wild free-floating electron, if you will, to get into the systems and damage it. That's why I think cyber command is expanding their capability. They've only been in existence for a couple years. But they're seeing how to defend cyber space, synchronize networks, and bring all the elements together to ensure that we're secure in this area.

MALVEAUX: All right. So important. Lieutenant Mark Hertling, we appreciate you and thanks for taking the time this morning.

HERTLING: Thank you, Suzanne.

BLACKWELL: There's a fight for dominance between two terror groups, ISIS and al Qaeda. Could one group get the upper hand by trying to target the U.S.?

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MALVEAUX: As the terror group ISIS fights for power against al Qaeda affiliates, the chances of an attack on the United States could be even greater.

BLACKWELL: Both groups have operatives with bomb making expertise. And both have stated their desire to the U.S.

Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Iraq and Syria, propaganda videos of ISIS' bloody violence, intimidation and killings.

In Yemen, the al Qaeda affiliate puts out its new video, showing pictures of its top leader, Nasir al-Wuhayshi.

The two terror groups now vying for power.

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: AQAP is having to compete for recruits, from the Arab world, for attention, in the global jihadist community.

STARR: And the U.S. may be in the crosshairs as the rivalry grows.

CRUICKSHANK: I don't think there is any doubt if ISIS decides to, they have the ability to launch a major terrorist attack on Western soil. This is a group with thousands of recruits.

STARR: And al Qaeda in Yemen posting a new edition of its magazine again calling for attacks on the west and complete with updated instructions yet again on making explosives, the type of instructions that inspired the Boston marathon bomb attack.

The chaos in controlling al Qaeda in Yemen made more difficult after a senior Yemeni intelligence official was kidnapped by an anti- government rebel group. Working with Yemen's intelligence agency, vital to President Obama's policy of supporting fragile allies.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us while supporting partners on the front lines is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Mongolia for years.

STARR: But in Somalia, another sign the al Qaeda-linked group there still on the attack, claiming responsibility for an assault on a military base saying it was their revenge for U.S. air strike killing their leader Ahmed Gadani (ph) in September.

Both groups have stated the intent to attack the United States, the only question may be when and if they would make their move.

Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: And we're just about two hours away from the funeral of Rafael Ramos, one of two officers shot and killed just a week ago today. Thousands of officers from all over the United States, they are gathering to pay their respects to Ramos, who leaves behind a wife and two sons. Stay with us.

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BLACKWELL: We're coming up to the top of the hour.

But I got to tell you this. Two Philadelphia transit officers, they wept beyond the call of duty on Christmas Day. Look at this video. It's amazing.

They help to deliver a baby boy on the train here on the subway. Mom and baby are doing well at a local hospital. And the two officers, they even paid them a visit. The baby is named Chris in honor of Christmas.

MALVEAUX: And one couple got a Christmas miracle this year after their son gave them a special note.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

MALVEAUX: Tears of joy, OK. This is awesome. Their grown son pays off his parents' entire mortgage. That is one heck of a gift. It reads, "Your house is paid off. Merry Christmas."

BLACKWELL: Right to the point there.

MALVEAUX: It's awesome. I love it. In weather, of course, many of you heading back home after Christmas.

Karen Maginnis is in the CNN weather center.

So, tell us about what we've got in store in the days ahead.

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: All right. We've got two major weather stories. One will be the arctic outbreak of cold air that plunges down into West Texas. The Big Bend area, El Paso. Temperatures will be much colder.

Also across much of the East as that dip in the jet stream is going to plunge the temperatures that have been mild as of late, but now temperatures backing off considerably through the great lakes and the Midwest. You're looking at highs only in the teens in some areas.

The other big weather story is the soaking rainfall all the way from the Gulf Coast region of Texas into Louisiana, you could see several inches of rainfall. And we'll see this clipper system move down across the Great Lakes region that reinforces the cold air. We've seen snowfall in Lubbock, Texas and temperatures bitterly cold. 3 to 5 inches of snowfall already across the upper sections of Wisconsin.

And for Chicago, yesterday you were 50 degrees. Not going to be that way the next several days, only in the teens and 20s as we go through the middle of the work week. So, there you can see, Chicago, 20s, and you'll be lucky if you make to the 21 degrees.

Take a look at St. Louis, readings in the 40s but then we plunge down to near freezing toward the beginning of the work week.

So, the wet weather up and down the eastern seaboard as this frontal system moves through. But the cold front is going to push those temperatures, as I mentioned, into the teens and 20s. Even into the Deep South. 30s and 40s expected. And a very cold air mass all the way from Utah and into Colorado, where they have seen just a little bit of snowfall. But we'll see that cold air all across the Pacific Northwest, 50s to 70s across the Florida peninsula.

Back to you guys.

MALVEAUX: All right. There was a lot over Christmas, maybe a little snow, right, going into the New Year?

MAGINNIS: Yes, it looks like that especially across the Midwest, we'll see 3 to 6 inches, could be heavier in some locations as well.

MALVEAUX: All right. Travel safe everyone.

Karen Maginnis, thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to some live pictures.

This is Queens in New York. You can see a hearse filled with flowers that are being sent as a sign of support for the family of slain Officer Rafael Ramos. Tens of thousands of officers, people from around New York, around the country will be there to say good-bye.

MALVEAUX: And much more on that throughout the morning. The next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.