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New Day Saturday

ISIS Attacks Northern Iraq; U.S. Won't Engage in Ground Combat; Will Ukraine and Russia Honor Ceasefire?; Trial of American Sniper Killer; NBA All-Star Weekend

Aired February 14, 2015 - 07:00   ET

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

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. choppers strike against ISIS as the militants take control of an Iraqi town just a 10-minute drive from an air base where U.S. Marines are stationed.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: And more shelling today in Ukraine as the deadline to a cease fire between rebel fighters and Ukraine inches closer.

SAVIDGE: And a monster storm about to blast the northeast again especially New England. More than 60 million people impacted this time and another system could bring snow and ice and freezing temperatures. They are forecasted as far south as Georgia. Good morning, everybody. I'm Martin Savidge in for Victor Blackwell.

PAUL: We're always happy to have you here.

SAVIDGE: Thank you.

PAUL: I am Christi Paul. We want to get right to it here because we're talking about ISIS on the attack in Iraq first.

SAVIDGE: The Pentagon is acknowledging that there is no question U.S. troops may not be in combat, but they are close to danger.

PAUL: ISIS fighters seized 90 percent of the critical town al- Baghdadi in western Iraq in an all-out assault yesterday and we're learning this morning that they killed at least 25 Iraq police as well as sending suicide bombers to attack the al-Assad air base. That's just nine miles from the city.

Now hundreds of U.S. troops are on that base. And Iraqi forces were able to shove the ISIS militants back, but we're learning 13 Iraqi soldiers died there.

SAVIDGE: And elsewhere ISIS put on a very brutal show of force, parading captured Peshmerga fighters in cages.

PAUL: We're covering this from all angles for you. Erin McPike in Washington for us, Pentagon consultant Lieutenant Colonel Robert Maginnis in Virginia, but we want to start with Phil Black who's in Dohuk, northern Iraq.

And, Phil, I know you've got some new details for us that are coming in about that attack in western Iraq? PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Christi. Details

about the price that was paid by the Iraqi forces in their attempts to repel the attack, as you mentioned there, when ISIS first stormed the town of al-Baghdadi. The security forces resisted, but some 25 Iraqi police officers lost their lives there.

So far the Iraq Security Forces and their efforts to retake that town haven't made a lot of progress. They're at the outskirts, the perimeter, the ISIS still very much in control of the heart of the town, they boasted online about seizing the police station, freeing all the prisoners there.

At the nearby air base of Ayn al-Assad, well, that was where 13 Iraqi soldiers lost their lives, repelling a force of somewhere between 20 and 25 ISIS militants dressed in Iraqi military uniforms, eight suicide bombers among them. They dealt with that but as we say so many lost their lives there in response.

So far no further attacks against that military facility. But the concern going forward now is that there could be. If ISIS maintain its -- maintains its foothold in Al-Baghdadi, it will have the capacity potentially to launch further attacks against the air base, but the Pentagon is keen to insist and the point is made so far that during that initial attack its personnel, those 300 or so U.S. military personnel, were under no direct risk. They were seven miles away at another section of this sprawling military facility there in Anbar Province.

PAUL: There are so many battles being waged in Iraq, and I know you're in the north. What can you tell us about what's happening there this morning, Phil?

BLACK: It's a very different situation in this part of Iraq, Christi. Here it is local Kurdish fighters, the Peshmerga, that have had a lot of success in stopping ISIS, taking back a lot of territory from them. And ISIS has really lost to a significant degree the ability to go on the offensive in this part of the country.

Very different to that situation that we've been talking about in the west of the country where ISIS maintains that offensive capability, is still very much on the front foot and the Iraq army and the local Sunni tribes that have been trying to fight them have not been able to stop them successfully -- Christi.

PAUL: Alrighty. Phil Black, you and the crew take good care there. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: CNN's Erin McPike has been covering the latest on the ISIS attack from Washington.

And Erin, as we've reported, 13 Iraqi soldiers were killed when insurgents attacked that air base. So what are you hearing from Pentagon officials? It sounds really serious.

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Martin, Pentagon spokesman Admiral John Kirby explained Friday that, although there are hundreds of Americans located at that base, which he explained as really the size of Boulder, Colorado, and pretty large, that those American forces were not necessarily in immediate danger. But he also couldn't say for sure whether the security perimeter at that base was breached, and all of this is raising new questions about whether U.S. forces will simply be subject to a combat role as this war on ISIS intensifies.

He explained the nuance of the position in an interview with our Jim Sciutto yesterday. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON SPOKESMAN: These U.S. troops that are at Anbar are trainers, they're advisers. And that's what they're doing. They're training now hundreds of Iraqi security force personnel. They have the right to defend themselves. And so -- and we've been very honest that of course U.S. forces are in a combat role in Iraq. I mean, we've conducted more than 2,000 air strikes. That's combat.

But there's not going to be a return to a combat mission on the ground. And these individuals are not in a combat mission on the ground. Now, again, as I said, they have the right to defend themselves and should they ever feel under threat they certainly have the right and the responsibility, the obligation, to shoot back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: But let me point out to our viewers here, he said the policy in place is that there will not be a return to a combat mission. There's a slight opening there because of course policies can and do sometimes change -- Martin and Christi.

SAVIDGE: And so can the events on the ground, that could dramatically change things as well.

Erin McPike, thank you very much.

PAUL: All right, Lieutenant Colonel Bob Maginnis joining us now.

Lieutenant Colonel, I want to talk about something that Phil Black said. He made the point that the threat against this air base is still very real because ISIS has control of this city some nine miles away, so at this point, is it important for, you know, Iraq forces and U.S. coalition forces to target that city? In other words, how -- how nervous are you that ISIS is so in control of a city that's so close to American troops.

LT. COL. ROBERT MAGINNIS, U.S. ARMY (RET.): You know, Christi, it appears as if ISIS has the initiative right now. Keep in mind, back in September '14, at a different facility not far from there a lot of ISIS fighters got in and they killed a lot of Iraq security forces, so there's a precedent here that we're very concerned about.

Now we have ground surveillance, we have obviously the base, al-Assad, is well secured. However, there have been mortar and rocket firing, you know, sporadically for months now, and I think my biggest fear is that one or two suicide bombers will get close to our trainers as Admiral Kirby said. And they would then blow themselves up killing or wounding many of ours. So this is something that I'm sure we're very concerned about and we're working to prevent.

PAUL: You know, Rear Admiral John Kirby, we just heard in there, say that there's no question they're close to danger but there's not going to be a return to a combat mission on the ground. These individuals are not on a combat mission on the ground.

But you couple what's happening there with the -- you know, the U.S. helicopter gunships. Are we just talking semantics? I mean, let's get real here. Isn't there in some regard a combat going on, on the ground?

MAGINNIS: Of course there is. You know, any time that you're in a combat area and there's indirect fire or there's a chance of insurgents getting in amongst your friendlies, then yes, our Marines and our soldiers are very aware that they're able, as the admiral says, to defend themselves. But, you know, the president asked for authority to use military force and there is a caveat in there that, you know, under certain circumstances which, you know, of course General Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, made very clear, he wants to be able to send people to assist the Iraq security forces. And that may involve some sort of ground combat for a limited period of time.

But the president put a parameter on that that you're not going to have extended ground combat operations so we'll see in time, but it's a fluid situation, it's hard to predict. ISIS has the initiative right now and of course the flog of that has been around that area that allow that attack yesterday, it could return and things could go bad quickly.

PAUL: All right. Lieutenant Bob Maginnis, so appreciate your insight. Thank you, sir.

MAGINNIS: Thank you.

SAVIDGE: In less than 10 hours a cease fire will go into effect in Ukraine, but you wouldn't know it if you were there. Nonstop shelling and fighting is continuing in parts of that country.

Plus, Jeb Bush gets a big endorsement in a potential White House run. Someone in the past said he shouldn't run.

And more than 60 million people will feel the impact of another monster storm. Meteorologist Ivan Cabrera is covering that.

IVAN CABRERA, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Another danger one we're tracking. Heavy snow, hurricane force winds and life-threatening wind chills.

My forecast on this major blizzard affecting millions coming up on NEW DAY.

You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: At this hour the clock is ticking toward that ceasefire deadline in eastern Ukraine, but with just under 10 hours to go the sounds of shelling and gunfire can still be heard in eastern cities of Mariupol and Donetsk.

PAUL: CNN international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh in live in Donetsk for us.

And at one point I understand you had to get away from your camera. Obviously you've moved locations since last hour. There was shelling near you?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, just to explain where we are. We're standing in the hallway of a hotel. I mean, this building, as far as we can tell at this stage, is safe and has not been hit. But for the first time since I have been reporting from here we heard blasts that were very close to the vicinity of where we're standing. I think about four of them by our account.

Unclear what the target was or what they hit but we just moved away from the windows where we're normally standing which is fairly exposed. Obviously for those whom the shells landed closer this would be significantly more terrifying and that's part of the issue here as we edge towards the cease fire about 10 hours or so left. That sort of sense of escalating loathing frankly from those civilians who are caught by the shelling here in Donetsk.

It's compounded by the continued violence and also it makes some of the separatist militants that we've spoken to, and I hear this again and again and again, doubt that a ceasefire can actually stick. This is what one of them said to us yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): I think the ceasefire is so they can gather their strength. Personally I, with these people, can't talk peace because they have killed too many civilians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WALSH: Now obviously with a situation like this and such great volatility, the fear is if the violence escalates, neither side necessarily wants to stop when midnight comes around. Now we know there is an intense fight happening for a city called Debaltseve, that is a harbor that the Ukrainian military hold at the moment. They have hundreds if not thousands of troops inside but the separatists say they encircle it.

The sense of increased -- heightened drama really is building as we edge towards midnight. We hear reports from the Russian media suggesting that another convoy maybe on route at some point into the separatists held areas from Russia, bringing what they refer to as humanitarian aid, but of course what Ukraine and NATO refer to is further supplies for the Russian-backed separatists here. But we also have been seeing some satellite pictures posted by the

U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and also by NATO as well, which we can't verify ourself, which they say purports to show satellite imagery of actual Russian artillery being used. Not separatist weaponry but Russian weaponry. So the rhetoric on both sides is rising here and there is a great fear when midnight comes around, that may frankly drown out the broader goal of trying to bring silence over the guns here.

Back to you.

PAUL: Well, Nick Paton Walsh, we are glad that you and your crew are safe. Do take good care there.

SAVIDGE: All right. Let's bring in Michael Bociurkiw. He is the spokesman for the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine.

Thank you very much for joining us, Michael. Do you think now that we've heard this sort of assessment from Nick Paton Walsh, do you really think that this ceasefire is going to be honored by both sides?

MICHAEL BOCIURKIW, SPOKESPERSON. OSCE SPECIAL MONITORING MISSION TO UKRAINE: Well, first of all, thanks for having us. And what Nick and Frank have been reporting from the field the past few hours is consistent with what we've been seeing as well. Quiet heavy violence, in fact, over the past 24 hours, one of our two remaining drones has also been targeted by light fire but fortunately it wasn't damaged.

So we are hopeful, of course. Just a few hours ago our Secretary General Zannier and Chief Monitor Apakan issued a joint statement saying that they expect full adherence to the package and measure, and that they're very hopeful. Why, because, you know, the bloodshed has been continuing for weeks and weeks and months now in that outflow of displaced people. It's just continuing and putting on this huge burden on neighboring communities. So we're hoping for the best and we're ready to continue our monitoring tomorrow in the days following.

SAVIDGE: Some of the agreement's most important previsions like holding elections, granting amnesty to those involved in the conflict and releasing all prisoners, how are they going to take it forward?

BOCIURKIW: Well, one of the key provisions of Minsk, in fact one going way back to September was pull back on heavy weaponry. So the Special Monitoring Mission's role will be to observe that process. I can tell you that in the weeks following this September agreement we did not see much fall back in heavy weaponry whatsoever. In fact, what we've been seeing now is an increase and more use of heavy weaponry especially the shelling into -- indiscriminate shelling into densely populated neighborhoods.

What one needs, for example, to monitor the pullback of heavy weaponry is an inventory of what actually exists on the ground, where it is. So it's a very complicated process and to enhance our ability is we're actually increasing the number of monitors in the conflict zone to 250. In addition to using drones, we're also exploring other possibilities,

for example, satellite imagery, to monitor what's going on, on the ground.

SAVIDGE: Additionally it appeared that Russia's strategy was to support any government rebels in Ukraine, to prevent Ukraine from leading toward the West. But now I was wondering whether you think it looks like Russia maybe trying to annex eastern Ukraine.

BOCIURKIW: Well, I don't want to speculate on Russia's motives. I mean, we're -- our job here is really to monitor what's going on the ground to report to 57 member states and also to facilitate dialogue.

What we can -- can tell you is that there were for the past few days and weeks worrisome signals, if we can put it that way, of expansion of the conflict zone and what happened in Kramatorsk about a week ago was very alarming because here you had a peaceful quite large city in Luhansk -- I'm sorry, Donetsk Oblast that has remained quiet for weeks and then all of a sudden on a quiet morning it would show up very heavy into densely populated area.

And so Mariupol is also an area of concern because it is a strategic place, and Debaltseve, too. So we're hopeful that, you know, as of midnight tonight, guns will fall silent and that, you know, peace will prevail. And again we'll be there tomorrow in big numbers monitoring what is going on, on the ground and reporting on it.

SAVIDGE: We'll hope right along with you.

Michael Bociurkiw, thank you very much.

BOCIURKIW: Thank you. Thank you.

PAUL: You know, the father of two of the three Muslim students gunned down at the University of North Carolina believes that this was a hate crime, and the feds are stepping in now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOHAMMAD AL-SALHA, FATHER OF SLAIN VICTIMS: Why execution style? If you are angry with somebody and get engaged over something and you are full of anger, you shoot in the face, chest, neck, knee. And you run away.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: We'll have more on that, plus the governor of Massachusetts issuing warnings for residence.

Listen, it's not just Massachusetts, we're talking 60 million people in the northeast bracing for a major snowstorm. We're taking you inside overnight preparations coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: We want to give you a look at other stories that are developing right now. Mainly the Justice Department has opened what it's calling a parallel preliminary inquiry in the investigation of the three Muslim students who were shot at the University of North Carolina this week.

SAVIDGE: The suspect Craig Hicks is in custody. Police say that he killed the students over an ongoing parking dispute. But their families are calling this a hate crime.

PAUL: At least 16 people are dead and 30 wounded after a train slammed into a bus. This is in Mexico yesterday. The bus was attempting to cross the train tracks apparently that you see there. It was split in half by this train. So investigators are working to try to determine what caused this.

SAVIDGE: Oregon's governor has quit his job. That is as of Friday. The governor is involved in an ethics scandal over reports that his fiancee advised him and other state employees on energy policy while getting paid by a group advocating on the very same issue. He maintains he did nothing wrong. His resignation will take effect on Wednesday.

PAUL: You know what they're saying, people have (INAUDIBLE) if you change your mind. Apparently former First Lady Barbara Bush is doing just that regarding her son Jeb Bush running for president. So there was a charity event last night and Jeb mentioned a couple of years ago his mom insisted there had been enough Bushes in the White House already.

Well, suddenly she appears on the ballroom's video screen via Skype and tells the crowd, our problems are so big, it doesn't matter what your last name is. Apparently saying Jeb, go right ahead.

SAVIDGE: Thanks, Mom.

PAUL: Yes.

SAVIDGE: Still head 16 million people. That's how many are expected to be impacted by another major snowstorm. We'll take you to battered Boston as crews work around the clock ahead of this next blizzard.

PAUL: Plus, want to tell you how this compelling dash cam may play a key role in the trial for the alleged killer of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and fellow veteran Chad Littlefield.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: This is the kind of stuff the Florida Tourism Bureau loves. Take a look of this monster storm.

PAUL: If you can get out of it.

SAVIDGE: Getting ready to hit the northeast. It's not a laughing matter. Sixty million people, they can all be impacted. Bulldozers lining the streets of Boston to try to move the several feet they've already had and get ready for the next snowstorm. And there is more than a foot of snow that's expected there. All of this after a month of record snowfall that's battered the city.

PAUL: Yes, I mean, they've already got six feet of snow there. Look at the numbers here, too. Boston has already had more than 42 inches of snow just this month. That is the snowiest February on record with just one more inch of snow. This will officially becomes the snowiest month in the city's overall history. And the governor of Massachusetts issued these words of warning late last night to folks in that state.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. CHARLIE BAKER, MASSACHUSETTS: There's no doubt that this storm will bring significant challenges for all of us. In part because of its own significance but also because it comes on the heels of so many others. We would urge everybody to please stay off the road during this storm through Saturday night into Sunday morning, and through Sunday, check on neighbors and elderly neighbors as well. Shovel sidewalks and fire hydrants if you can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: All right. So it's a race around the clock right now. Boston and really millions of other people across the northeast are bracing for a storm. I saw blizzard warnings this morning in Massachusetts, of course, but in Maine and New Hampshire and Michigan.

SAVIDGE: Michigan.

PAUL: Michigan.

SAVIDGE: I am not surprised by Michigan.

PAUL: That's true.

SAVIDGE: CNN's Ryan Young is in Boston. He's following all the latest overnight developments at the storm preparations -- Ryan.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Martin, the temperatures already started to drop here in Boston. And look, this area has been hit already with nearly six feet of snow, and they believe another foot could hit today.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

YOUNG (voice-over): It's a race against Mother Nature and time. One blue tarp and plenty of heavy lifting. The men here, push, pull and haul massive amounts of snow from the top of this high school where eight foot drifts become mascots.

Record snowfall has Boston facing a serious challenge causing one mayor to shut all his area schools down.

MAYOR JOSEPH CURTATONE, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS: Anything over 18 inches you should really be moving. And you shouldn't remove your kids in the school. Now as I said before, can I guarantee that a roof was going to collapse? Now we weren't willing to take that risk. YOUNG: A risk no one is willing to take especially with the youngest.

But here in the city that's faced snowdrifts the size of trucks and more than 70 inches on the ground forecasters believe the next round could drop another 10 to 14 inches.

Now under way a record response after three major storms left this area snow weary. Building inspectors are worried about the load from the punch of another heavy snowfall.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can see the snow banking up against it. I'm a little more concerned about that.

YOUNG: Crews now running the streets looking to find any weak spots especially in neighborhoods where more snow could mean disaster.

WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, COMMISSIONER, BOSTON INSPECTIONAL SERVICES: We don't want to see mom and pop get out on the ladder and try to clear the ice themselves. We're being very proactive and having them go after professional contractors to help remove the situation.

YOUNG: Dropping temperatures, rock frozen neighborhoods and plenty of good people wanting the winter wonder land here to grind to a warmer halt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My wife and I, we have four children, 11, 9, 8 and 6, and I can tell you, Ryan, I am begging for them to go back to school last week. I mean, cabin fever is at the extreme here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

YOUNG: And that's why the operation to move so much snow off the roofs here is so important. They also believe they could get hit with hurricane force winds. This will make for a rude Valentine's Day -- Christi and Martin.

PAUL: You know, poor guy. I mean, he almost sounds like he can't talk. Clearly.

SAVIDGE: Very clearly.

(CROSSTALK)

PAUL: Yes, I -- yes, I mean, haven't we all been there. We've been so cold you can't do it. And this isn't just about -- I mean, it's about the frigid cold, but it's not just about the snow. We've got, you know, winds almost hurricane force in some places.

SAVIDGE: Yes. No, this is really shaping up to be a nasty one. So this is a good time to bring in Ivan Cabrera, and have him a look ahead at what we can anticipate because it's going to be bad.

CABRERA: Yes, so my worry is, is that now because we've had six winter storms into Boston, complacency kind of sets in and you are snow fatigued. But the reason this is an important storm is not just because we're going to get eight to 12 inches. You know, we could deal with that. It's the way it's going to come down here with hurricane force winds, and the fact that we're going to be talking about wind chills that are going to be anywhere from 20 to 30 below zero.

That combination is going to make this for a dangerous storm. We have to watch that really closely here.

Coastal flooding also at the time of high tides on Sunday morning is going to be an issue here. And power outages, when you talk about 60, 70 mile an hour wind gust, the island is certainly going to be impacted here along Massachusetts with blizzard warning that continue -- they extend, in fact, from Islet all the way to the tip of Long Island. And look at that, just millions of people involved here and the blizzard warnings here. That continues in effect tonight and heading into tomorrow.

With the winds, this is the kind of snowfall we're talking about here. The bull's eye for this storm as far as the snowfall potential will be down east Maine, but the rest of us here, you're talking about anywhere from four to six, to as much as 10 inches in places like Boston, but this is going to be the big deal. Forty to 50 to as much as 75 miles an hour winds. In fact hurricane force warnings for the waters off of Massachusetts.

Now it's going to be a big deal and then again the wind chills 25 to 35 below zero, 20 to 30 below down a little further to the south and west, and even behind the storm. Look at it here. Saturday afternoon getting cranking and then Sunday morning really getting going. That's when the hurricane force wind gusts are going to take effect. And then on the back side of the storm, we're not done. The winds are still going to be howling as we head through the day on Sunday and even into Monday with dangerously cold wind chills.

PAUL: Good heavens. All right. Ivan Cabrera, thank you so much.

SAVIDGE: Still ahead, we'll take a look inside the home of the alleged killer of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle.

PAUL: Plus a pivotal dash cam that defense attorney say proves their insanity argument. We're going inside this case coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: This dramatic video shown in court in the trial of alleged killer of the "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and his very best friend, Chad Littlefield, and this video shows a very wild police pursuit of Eddie Ray Routh just hours after that deadly shooting.

PAUL: Testimony is set to continue Monday in this case that's really been filled with an awful lot of drama. A lot of questions, too. We're getting an inside look into the home of Eddie Ray Routh as investigators reveal new details concerning his case.

SAVIDGE: I was just down there covering the trial.

CNN's Ed Lavandera has also been down there and has the very latest for us from Stephenville, Texas. ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi and Martin, the first three

days of testimony in the "American Sniper" trial have revealed new details of that fateful day that Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were murdered. These are details that we've never seen or heard until now.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA (voice-over): A few hours after Chris Kyle and Chad Littlefield were shot and killed the hunt for their killer Eddie Ray Routh ended with a 10-minute car chase that at times reached 100 miles per hour and at times frightening.

A swarm of police officers descended on Routh after he surrendered. Routh's attorney says the former Marine was in a deep psychosis.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Half of this tragedy Eddie Routh was insane.

LAVANDERA: And it appears Chris Kyle felt Routh wasn't stable either. As Kyle and Littlefield drove Routh him to the Countryside Gun Range Kyle snuck a text message to his buddy in the passenger seat. It read, "This dude is straight-up nuts," and Kyle's wife Taya said the last time she spoke with her husband he sounded irritated like something was going on but that he couldn't speak freely.

A short while later Kyle and Littlefield would be dead. Routh used two different guns to kill them. Prosecutors say Routh's mental health trouble can't excuse the murders.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mental illness does not take away the ability to know right from wrong.

LAVANDERA: Before the car chase police officers spent 30 minutes trying to get Routh out of the truck and officers' body camera captured the moments. The conversation was bizarre. Routh is heard rambling, "Satan is walking on the earth with us right now. I don't know if I'm going insane." And, "Is it voodoo that's upon us?"

Routh's attorney says the troubled former Marine was convinced Kyle and Littlefield were out to hurt him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not only was he suffering from severe mental leaving with these guys, not only did he not know his conduct was wrong, he thought he had to take their lives because he was in danger.

LAVANDERA: Prosecutors revealed gruesome crime scene photos. Taya Kyle stayed inside the courtroom. The pictures show an array of firearms and ammunition Kyle brought to the range.

(On camera): One of the crime scene investigators said each of the victims had a fully loaded handgun inside their clothing when the bodies were discovered. The suggestion that the killings happened so fast they had no time to react.

(Voice-over): Prosecutors argue that Routh had a history of abusing recreational drugs and alcohol. They showed a series of photos highlighting a throve of drugs paraphernalia Routh had inside his house like glass pipes consistent with meth use and several more pipes stashed away in an old Hershey's tin can.

The pictures show a messy home and sparsely filled closet with his military fatigues hanging which reminded us of a story that a friend of Routh told you us. Routh used to do odd jobs like moving lawns for Tim Xeriland.

TIM XERILAND, EDDIE RAY ROUTH'S FRIEND: He still seemed to carry a lot of the things that he did in the military with them. When he showed up to mow my lawn, he would be dressed in this full camo, boots and boony (ph) hat, the full works.

LAVANDERA: These days Eddie Ray Routh wears a suit to court and spends the day listening and taking notes on the testimony that could send him to prison for life.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: One of the more bizarre details prosecutors say that after Routh killed Kyle and Littlefield he then drove to a Taco Bell to buy a burrito before driving to his sister's house and told her that he had traded his soul for a pickup truck.

Now more details will continue as testimony continues in the "American Sniper" trial into next week -- Christi and Martin.

SAVIDGE: Ed, thanks so much.

I have to say being in the courtroom, it is a fascinating case. It could be very difficult for those jury.

There is still much more that we will have on the "American Sniper" trial including a break down on the insanity defense in this case and tell you just how often this kind of strategy actually works.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: When the trial for the alleged killer of "American Sniper" Chris Kyle continues next week attorneys defending Eddie Ray Routh will try to prove that their client was insane at the time of the 2013 shooting. Key evidence this week came from a text message that Chris Kyle sent to his friend Chad Littlefield. There's also police video including a dash cam and body cam video.

So let's bring in now our CNN legal analyst, that's Danny Cevallos, and HLN legal analyst Joey Jackson.

Joey, let me turn to you first. The text and the videos where Routh especially is heard making what sound like odd and very unusual comments including that he took a couple of souls, do you think that this points to insanity?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: You know, it certainly could, Martin. And here's why. What happens is, is that, of course the defense will amp up everything that points to insanity including his past medical history. That is Ralph's, including him going in and out of mental institutions to get that treatment, so in addition to that now, you have a text message from who? The actual person who was killed, Kyle. And he's going on with Littlefield saying this guy is straight-up nuts and watch my back, of course Littlefield saying.

So there's some indication, not that they're experts but that something is amiss. And then of course you look and take it further, you see the surveillance tape, and usually, Martin, when someone is running from the police, it's a consciousness of guilt. You know what you're doing is wrong. That's why you're running. But in this case they'll say he was under paranoia, and that's why he was rambling, I think I'm going insane. There are souls that are looking to get me, and so it plays into the defense's strategy to say he didn't know right from wrong.

SAVIDGE: Danny, I want to point out something that you recently wrote for CNN.com, and you said, quote, "The insanity defense is raised in less than one percent of felony cases, and it's only successful in a fraction of those."

And I'm wondering now from what you've heard, has the defense raised their odds in this case?

DANNY CEVALLOS, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, there is a lot of evidence in this case that people observed the defendant to be acting bizarrely. But remember the real testimony is going to become when there's competent medical evidence as to whether or not this defendant knew right from wrong. And in Texas under the applicable test, which is very narrow compared to other states, we can substitute for the word wrong simply the word illegal.

So the question, ultimately will be, did this defendant know that society deemed his conduct to be illegal? Irrespective of what he may personally have thought about the morality of his actions. So ultimately that's a jury determination. And it's not strictly a medical one and Texas courts have specifically said that. It is a moral determination as well as a medical determination, because if it wasn't we would decide the issue of legal insanity at the hospital and not in the courtroom. In the courtroom the jury ultimately as a -- laypersons have to make that determination.

SAVIDGE: And that could be extremely difficult.

Danny Cevallos and Joey Jackson --

JACKSON: Martin, just a --

SAVIDGE: Yes, Joey.

JACKSON: Just a brief add to that. And that is that remember when they're making it, that is the jury, it's by a preponderance of the evidence. And that means the defense merely has to show, is it more likely than not that my client was insane? And if they do that they got a shot at prevailing.

SAVIDGE: Yes. Now that was a point that was brought up by the defense in the opening statements. They just said look, it's the preponderance of the evidence here. It's going to be very difficult because that jury there is not only

very close to the story because of who is involved, but the community in which it took place.

Thank you both very much.

JACKSON: Exactly. Thank you, Martin. Have a great day.

SAVIDGE: Thanks.

JACKSON: Take care, Danny.

PAUL: Thanks, gentlemen.

Well, ISIS suicide bombers attacked an Iraqi air base where there are hundreds of U.S. and coalition forces. U.S. warplanes taking to the air to help ward them off. Is ISIS standing critical ground, though? That's what we're watching this morning.

Also want to tell you about this runaway school bus, and there's video, look at this thing barreling down a highway. There are students in there. What went wrong and how police were able to stop it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SAVIDGE: Basketball's biggest stars, they are -- it was that sound effect. Shining very bright.

The NBA's best players have taken over New York for all-star weekend.

PAUL: Yes. So we had to bring in Coy Wire to give us all the details on this.

SAVIDGE: Who else?

COY WIRE, FORMER NFL PLAYER: Yes. They're having some fun up there in New York.

PAUL: When do they not? When do you not have fun in New York? Come on.

SAVIDGE: I don't think they ever quit.

(LAUGHTER)

WIRE: That's right. Look, the game isn't until tomorrow night but tonight it will be the skills competition. We're going to see them showing off their skills, battling for bragging rights between the Eastern and Western Conferences.

You got the slam dunk contest which usually draws the biggest crowd. The skills competition. But this year it's the three-point contest getting all the hype.

It's a star-studded field featuring some of the best shooters in the league. Not only could any of the eight players take home the trophy, but we might even see some historic numbers put up by this group.

Mo'ne Davis, she was the star of last year's Little League World Series. Last night she was shining bright on the basketball court. Just 13 years old, Mo'ne was money in the NBA all-star celebrity game. She left comedian Kevin Hart reaching for air with that spin move and the trash talking star of the "Wedding Ringer" was speechless. And we all know that that doesn't happen very often. Hart did have the last laugh, though. He went on to become the game's MVP for the fourth time.

Now super models, how about hooper models?

PAUL: Boy.

WIRE: It's the first ever NBA All-Star All-Style competition. The ballers will be judged by an all-star panel that includes Kenny Smith, Kevin Hart and Charles Barkley.

Let's hear what the Hall of Famer Sir Charles will be looking for.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES BARKLEY, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Most of these guys, you know, you see them, they have to dress a certain way coming to the game. I don't know what they wear all the time. So that's what I'm really looking forward to because the way you dress really shows your personality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now players are going to show that personality in three categories, boardroom attire, a night out and game day chic. Tonight on TNT at 6:30 Eastern.

(LAUGHTER)

WIRE: You're looking game day chic today, Martin. I must say but --

PAUL: He is.

WIRE: -- the lady in red, she may be stealing the show.

PAUL: You are so sweet. Gosh, getting some points in here. I hear he's already --

(CROSSTALK)

SAVIDGE: I think he's working very hard on that.

PAUL: He's making on some points for Valentine's Day.

WIRE: Got to. Love is in the air.

PAUL: There you go.

Coy Wire, thank you. SAVIDGE: Thanks very much.

PAUL: Alrighty. I want to give you a look at some of the stories that are developing right now.

SAVIDGE: Yes. Pretty scary situation for some school kids in Minnesota. This police dash cam shows what happened after their bus driver had a medical emergency. The bus weaved in and out of lanes. The traffic, there was a deputy who noticed the erratic driving and eventually was able to stop that bus by deflating the tires that stopped it. No students on the bus were hurt. The driver rushed to the hospital, now in good condition.

PAUL: Thank goodness.

All right. Fire officials say an accelerant was used at a Houston Islamic center that went up in flames yesterday. The assistant imam tells our affiliate KTRK earlier someone had driven by screaming mocking chants. Apparently the Council on American Islamic relations wants authorities to investigate it as a possible hate crime because of that fire is under investigation. The good news is that nobody was hurt.

SAVIDGE: The U.S. coast guard is in the middle of a dramatic rescue mission to save 27 fishermen 900 miles off the Antarctica Coast. The Coast Guard says sub-zero conditions, snow storms and not to mention then extremely thick ice making the situation very difficult but the good news is they're making headway. The Australian fishermen became stranded earlier this week when they hit thick ice and that damaged their ship's propellers.

PAUL: And talk about loyalty. The dog in this hospital surveillance video, look at this, escaped from a yard and walked nearly 20 blocks to be at the bedside of her owner. Workers say the dog walked into the hospital as if she knew exactly where she was going. And with the help of some nurses, she did eventually find her 66-year-old owner and is -- who, by the way, is recovering from cancer surgery.

They are like our family, aren't they? They know it. Those are some instincts.

SAVIDGE: Mm-hmm.

PAUL: Hey, we are always so grateful for your company. We've got a busy morning of news ahead for you.

SAVIDGE: The next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.

U.S. helicopters battle ISIS near an air base in Iraq that is housing U.S. troops. We're learning more this morning. And we have learned that they killed at least 25 Iraqi police officers. We have all of those new details.

PAUL: Plus, this monster storm that we're watching about to hit the northeast could impact more than 60 million of you. The region is under a blizzard warning. We'll let you know what we've learned. SAVIDGE: And that clock is ticking down in Ukraine to a cease-fire,

hopefully, between Ukraine and rebel troops. But this morning shelling continues resulting in even more deaths.

PAUL: Hope you're having a good morning so far. We're so grateful for your company. I'm Christi Paul.

SAVIDGE: And I'm Martin Savidge in for Victor Blackwell. Happy Valentine's Day.

PAUL: So good to have you here. Yes.

SAVIDGE: Well, first this morning, let's start with ISIS. Gaining critical ground in Iraq right in their path is a massive air base the size of Boulder, Colorado, where there are hundreds of Iraqi and coalition forces.

PAUL: Now ISIS fighters seized most of the town of al-Baghdadi in western Iraq in an all-out assault yesterday.

We're learning this morning at least 25 Iraqi police were killed there. And they also, ISIS, sent suicide bombers to attack the al- Assad Air Base which is just nine miles from the city.

SAVIDGE: Iraqi forces were able to shove the militants back but we're now learning that 13 Iraqi soldiers died in that attack.