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U.S. Hits ISIS Targets Near Baghdad; Expanding the Fight Against Ebola; Interview with Lisa Monaco

Aired September 16, 2014 - 08:00   ET

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


KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: We are covering every angle of these breaking stories for you. Let's begin with Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr live at the Pentagon for us and those U.S. airstrikes against ISIS overnight. Barbara, what more are we learning?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate.

The Pentagon now flat-out calling it offensive targeting against ISIS. This is first time we have seen this airstrike. U.S. warplanes rolling in on the ISIS target, about 25 kilometers southwest of Baghdad when the Iraqi forces came under fire and called for help.

Until now, we have only seen U.S. airstrikes for humanitarian missions and to protect assets, U.S. personnel. This time going after ISIS because the Iraqi forces were under attack. This is part of the expanded effort now by the Obama administration to support the Iraqi forces and get them into the front line of that fight for ISIS.

But the location is fascinating -- 25 kilometers southwest of Baghdad. A Sunni area by all accounts, and the people who do support is to some extent, but now south of Baghdad and an indication that ISIS is still on the move and moving around the perimeter of the capital and moving to the southern regions and worrisome development, but for the first time what we are seeing is the expansion of the U.S. mission.

Of course, everyone is waiting for what the next steps may be, when and if the U.S. does take the next step of going after targets inside Syria -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Yes, what is next on the front of where ISIS is going to move next, and also then, what is the next move for the United States. Key questions.

Barbara Starr -- great to see you, Barbara. Thank you.

Chris?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Let's bring in Fareed Zakaria, the host of "FAREED ZAKARAI GPS."

It's good to have you. Fresh back from a trip to India.

There is dangerous talk going on here back home while you were away. Oh, it's too in the weeds to talk about which Arab states are going to help, let's just start bombing, it will work itself out, no need to vote this close to the midterms -- dangerous talk.

You were just in India. What is the state of the prospective from that country and the other Arab states about who is willing to join this coalition and put boots on the ground which is as we all know that's what decides what happens with ISIS.

FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST, "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS": It's a very important point, Chris. Let's think about it from this point. What is ISIS strategy? What are they trying to do to put out these videos, by doing this kind of brutality?

They are trying the goad the United States in. What they want to do is say, there America goes again, invading another Arab country, bombing Muslims, and we are the defenders. They want to make us against them.

What we have to be careful to do is to not play into the game, not jump when they ask us to.

CUOMO: How?

ZAKARIA: The most important thing is that we have to make sure that the other Arab states are involved. We have a few countries like Saudi Arabia say they would be willing to participate in the bombings.

CUOMO: Only training though. Bombings and training, not on the ground.

ZAKARIA: But at least, let's get them out of their bombing.

I would like to see a Saudi general announcing bombing targets rather than a U.S. general. I would like an Arab face to it.

CUOMO: Better optics.

ZAKARIA: Well, much better optics, and people say what the Obama administration did not say, but in a New York article unnamed administration official, he said, we are trying to lead from behind -- it was a reference to the Libya operation, and now, let's remember why it worked at the time.

It worked well because the Arab League voted for it and the Arab foreign ministers were out in front, and so, difficult to make it into a U.S. versus the Arabs --

CUOMO: I'd seen that's a nightmare now, though, what's going on in Libya. They couldn't work. Do you agree with that?

ZARAKIA: Well, removing Gadhafi worked, but after that, once you change the regime, you have to do something to stabilize the society. My point is that even now people in Libya don't realize the ud as having attacked them, but they see that the Egyptians did it, and not the United States, but everyone is in it together.

The crucial mistake is if we allow it to be portrayed as the United States invading and attacking another Muslim country. CUOMO: Well, it is portrayed that way and not in terms of another

Muslim country, but we're the ones doing anything right now. It's the headline all over the world.

Did we get, we are not supposed to say we, we're supposed to U.S. -- I mean the U.S. -- did we get brought into the coalition because of the beheadings and not only in terms of taking out ISIS militarily, but doing the political and cultural reform which is the only hope of changing the situation long term?

ZAKARIA: I think so. I think that at the end of the day, the only way you get rid of ISIS is by getting at what is feeding it. And what's feeding it is this massive political discontent in Iraq and Syria among Sunnis, who think they are being ruled by two apostate regimes. In Iraq, the Shia, and in Baghdad, the Alawites, who are kind of branch of the Shia.

So, we've got to figure out that dynamic, which means we can't turn this into a Sunni versus Shia, can't turn it into a U.S. versus Arab. So, there is political dimension to this that is at the heart of getting it right.

So, you know, there is a Petraeus used to say that the Arabs when he was in Iraq, he would say that they are a model of fighting that was fire, ready, aim. Well, what we need to do is to ready, aim, fire.

CUOMO: We are doing the same thing right now, right? We're bombing in and around Baghdad and that is a security interest, but ready to go into Syria and arming a very -- not only just ill-equipped, but very unsuccessful Free Syrian Army that, by the way, doesn't want to fight ISIS, wants to fight Assad, seems like the recipe disaster and our Arab state coalition partners are just sitting there watching.

ZAKARIA: It seems like a recipe for a lot of unintended consequences. I mean, think about Iraq which at least the military part of it was reasonably well-planned and still massive amounts of unintended consequences.

What are the unintended consequences here? You're strengthening the Assad regime. You're strengthening of Iran. You're strengthening Hezbollah. You're strengthening Russia, because after all, Russia is --

CUOMO: They have been quiet by the way. And where is captain righteous, Putin? About what's going on with ISIS?

ZAKARIA: Well s, he is pleased that we are shoring up the Assad regime. So there are parts of this that the political fallout from military action is as important as the military action. It is easy for the United States with the massive military power to drop the bombs, but it is much harder to do the politics and the diplomacy that will make it effective.

CUOMO: And the reason that this is so important, and that is why I encourage you the watch Fareed's show, "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS", Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Eastern, and 1:00 p.m., only -- did I get it right? ZAKARIA: Yes, you got it right.

CUOMO: Ten a.m. Eastern, 1:00 p.m., because this is the conversation that is so much more important of what is going on, and Congress won't touch it, and ask yourself why. Fareed, thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you for the education.

Kate?

BOLDUAN: Also, talking this morning about new fears about homegrown terror. We are learning about Ali Muhammad Brown, an American citizen, when he said he was out to avenge the Muslims when he killed four people in two states. The prosecutors, they won't call him a terrorist at this point.

Pamela Brown is following these developments live in Washington.

Scary to say the very least. But what more are you learning?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is really disturbing, Kate. And according to the court documents we've obtained, the defendant in this case made chilling statements to the authority, saying he was on the mission to exact vengeance against the United States by killing four Americans in two states, raising concerns of terrorism on U.S. soil.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN (voice-over): Police say the man seen here in handcuffs is 29- year-old Ali Muhammad Brown, the prime suspect in a killing spree stretching from New Jersey to Washington State. One allegedly motivated by Brown's hatred of U.S. foreign policy.

Court documents obtained by CNN say Brown told investigators he strictly follows the Muslim faith and had become angry with the, quote, "evil" the government was allowing to take place in the U.S.

Brown allegedly telling police, "My mission is vengeance for the lives, millions of lives are lost every day, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, all of these places where innocent lives are being taken every single day. So, a life for a life."

Police say between April and June this year, Brown killed three people in Washington State, allegedly shooting them late at night in quiet locations, execution-style.

A few weeks later in New Jersey, 19-year-old college student, Brandon Tablin, was found dead inside his SUV from multiple gunshot wounds. Police say they traced the gun used in all of these killings to Brown.

REV. BRIAN NEELDES, ST. PHILOMENA CHURCH: When we bury somebody like that, 19 years old, we don't have any answers.

BROWN: Brown's previous run-ins with the law, a conviction for bank fraud in 2004 had put him on the FBI's radar before. At the time, the reports say the FBI tried unsuccessfully to link the case to fundraising for terrorists in Africa.

And while authorities aren't labeling Brown a terrorist or charging him under federal terrorism statutes, there are allegations that Brown's bloody crusade to kill Americans are now raising questions.

AMY JEFFRES, PARTNER, ARNOLD & PORTER: Based on the statements he's made, I believe you could prove that this was a terrorism offense. But that doesn't necessarily determine whether it should be prosecuted in federal court or state court.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: And right now, Brown carries a possible sentence of a death sentence. And in Washington state, he faces death penalty. Authorities could bring additional charges, including terrorisms charges. In his initial court appearance, Brown pleaded not guilty. We did reach out to his attorney, but have not heard back yet -- Chris and Kate.

BOLDUAN: This is far from over. Pamela, thank you so much for following all of those developments for us. A lot of developments and a lot of the headlines we are watching this morning.

Let's get over to Michaela now.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, there certainly are, Kate. Thank you much.

Good morning, everyone. Breaking overnight, the Taliban claiming responsibility for a bloody suicide car bombing that was targeted of convoy of coalition troops in central Kabul. At least three members of the international security assistance force were killed in that blast, happened just a few hundred yards from the main entrance of the U.S. embassy during heavy rush hour traffic this morning.

California is a tinderbox with 11 major wildfires now burning across the state. The King Fire burning east of Sacramento has grown to more than 8,000 acres, doubling in size over the last day, and coming dangerously close to homes. Triple-digit heat and high winds are not helping firefighters. Nearly 1,500 fire personnel are battling that blaze.

All signs indicate Ray Rice will appeal his indefinite suspension by the NFL. He has until 11:59 p.m. Eastern to do so.

In the meantime, Adrian Peterson has been cleared to play Sunday. The Vikings star is denying a new report of a second child abuse allegation involving one of his other children. We'll have much more on this story a little later in the program.

Apple users, if you are ticked off that U2's new album suddenly appeared in your iTunes automatically, now have an easy way to remove it. In response to a big Twitter backlash, the tech giant a launch that will show you how to do it. Apple delivered the album to 500 million accounts during the unveiling of the iPhone 6, Apple watch and Apple Pay. Not every customer was happy about it. I saw someone post something on the Facebook and I quickly went to the iPhone and I said, wait, I love you U2, but I didn't know it was there.

CUOMO: I don't get it. Did you have to pay for it?

PEREIRA: No, they uploaded it to your --

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Weird how people are like upset about free stuff.

BOLDUAN: And especially with U2. It's not like it was like the Barney theme song or something that popped into your iPhone.

CUOMO: More proof that Twitter can corrupt even the purer of intent intentions. Free stuff, and U2 and still the anger.

BOLDUAN: I was going to wait for it, but I will look now in the break. I thank you, U2 if you gave me a free album. Thank you so much. I have an iPhone 1, so it probably won't work.

CUOMO: You have the crank it up?

BOLDUAN: Still crank it up, exactly.

All right. Thousands of Americans heading to the Ebola hot zone now. President Obama is stepping it the fight against the disease. But will it work and what measures is the administration taking? Now, we're going to speak with the White House about this plan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: President Obama facing two serious national security concerns this morning. Today, the president will announce a new effort to combat the deadly Ebola outbreak, including a deployment of up to 3,000 U.S. military personnel just to Liberia alone to tackle this crisis. Also today, the president will meet with the envoy that he has tapped to lead the anti-ISIS coalition.

And Secretary of State John Kerry continues to work to shore up support from other nations on this challenge.

Let's get to all of this with Lisa Monaco. She's the assistant to the president for homeland security and counterterrorism.

Lisa, thanks so much for the time this morning.

LISA MONACO, WHITE HOUSE COUNTERTERRORISM & HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR: Good morning, Kate.

BOLDUAN: Good morning.

I want to ask you about this -- I mean, I'm calling it a "surge" when we talk about this fight against Ebola first in West Africa. Why is the president taking this on when we are talking up to 3,000 military personnel that are going to be heading over there to try to help, why the surge and why now?

MONACO: Well, Kate, what the president will announce today as you indicated is a significantly ramped up response by the United States. The president from the beginning has made this a top national security priority. This is a devastating outbreak and even epidemic in West Africa, and he believes that the unique capability and expertise of the United States, including our military in terms of the logistics expertise and experience can really help bring this outbreak under control.

BOLDUAN: The president has faced some criticism from those in the region that he's been slow to try to help in this. When are all of the assets, if you will, going to be in place? I mean, I saw up to 17 treatment centers are going to be added to that. Is this a quick endeavor or is this long term?

MONACO: Well, this will unfold over a period of weeks, Kate, but I think what's important to remember is, the United States has been very involved and responsive to this crisis from the beginning, from the beginning in March when the cases first started to appearing. We deployed more than 100 Centers for Disease Control specialists into the region, and this is the largest deployment from CDC ever in its history. We've had experts on the ground for some time now.

And what you see now is an effort to step up to significantly increase with the establishment of a joint forces command that will also be announced today, to assist and he help coordinate the United States civilian and international response efforts.

BOLDUAN: It's important to make that note, I mean, when you talk about the international response effort, it does of course beg the question, from the White House's perspective, how real of a threat is it at this point that Ebola would make its way here?

MONACO: Well, Kate, I think it is important for people to remember that this is a virus that is not spread via the air. This can only be contracted, and Ebola can only be contracted through a significant contact with bodily fluids from somebody who is already sick. So, it is very important for people to understand that.

And I think Tom Frieden from the Centers for Disease Control has spoken extensively about this.

So, our experts believe it is low probability that it would actually come here, and if it were, we've got the infrastructure and the public health expertise to isolate it and contain it. What's very important now is that we deploy these resources, we have an international response that is stepped in and increased to contain and control the outbreak at its source in West Africa.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. A huge crisis West Africa is facing from Ebola right now.

If I could switch gears to other major national security issue that the president and you face on a daily basis, this expansion of the campaign against ISIS in Iraq. The air strikes near -- outside of Baghdad, southwest of Baghdad, yesterday, is a very important move. Many saying that these were requested by Iraqi troops that were coming under fire and the airstrike moved in.

It does beg the question, though, Lisa, is Baghdad now at risk?

MONACO: Well, Kate, from the beginning, the president has been quite clear -- we're going to take this fight to ISIL. They do pose an immediate threat to our personnel in Baghdad and Irbil, that's why the president took decisive action to undertake military airstrikes in support of the Iraqi security forces, in support of the Kurdish forces, and now in support of the inclusive Iraqi government, which is very important.

And what we are doing now, you see Secretary Kerry in the region building an international and regional coalition to respond to what is a global threat.

BOLDUAN: Do you think that Baghdad is at risk? I mean, when this began months ago, I think it was kind of beyond comprehension that anybody would think that Baghdad would fall, I mean, such a huge U.S. embassy there, and that is originally pr protecting the U.S. embassy personnel is one of the original reasons that the United States went in to take action against ISIS.

Is Baghdad threatened right now?

MONACO: Well, Kate, what we have been able to see is that we are pushing ISIL back in the strikes taken around Irbil and the president has said, we will do what is necessary to protect the personnel and support the Iraqi government and Iraqi forces, and I think that's what you are seeing now to some very good effect, to push back ISIL, to take the fight to them and to ensure that they don't have a safe haven.

BOLDUAN: At the very same time, we're going to hear Secretary Kerry saying that the United States is open to talking to Iran, Lisa, about the situation in Iraq, but also being quick to point out that there won't be military cooperation or intelligence sharing in that kind of a conversation. With that in mind, what does "open to conversation with Iran" when it comes to fighting ISIS in Iraq mean?

MONACO: Well, as you heard Secretary Kerry say, there won't be no military coordination with Iran.

But we believe that all governments and all governments in the region in particular have a role to play in supporting an inclusive Iraqi government. That is what Secretary Kerry has been urging in the region, as he also works to build the coalition abroad, the coalition, the broad coalition for a comprehensive campaign against ISIL to include military, but also diplomatic, and other security elements and humanitarian assistance as well.

BOLDAUN: And that cooperation is key especially to any success in what is going on in Iraq, and especially if it moves into Syria.

Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president on homeland security and counterterrorism -- Lisa, it's great to see you. Thank you.

MONACO: Thanks very much.

BOLDUAN: Of course.

The attorney for Adrian Peterson is now denying a second allegation of child abuse against the Viking player. And Ray Rice is expected to file an appeal against his suspension from the NFL. Should both players be allowed back on the field? It is part of the debate we're going to discuss.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: All right. Here we go with the five things that you need to know for your NEW DAY.

At number one, U.S. airstrikes hitting ISIS targets near Baghdad for the first time -- the first stage of President Obama's expansion of the assault on ISIS.

This morning, the president will meet with his newly announced envoy for ISIS, General John Allen, as the Senate Armed Services Committee grills top Pentagon and defense officials on the ISIS threat.

The World Health Organization says more than 2,500 people have died from the Ebola virus. Today, President Obama is expected to reveal an expanded strategy to stop its spread.

Ray Rice has until 11:59 eastern tonight to appeal the indefinite suspension by the NFL. The league banned Rice after the Ravens cut him when a video of him punching his then-fiancee in an elevator surfaced.

At number five: Montana and Alabama have reported of cases -- respiratory virus that has hospitalizing children across the nation. Seven other states have confirmed cases EVD68. Several more are teaching patients for that various.

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

Chris?

CUOMO: We have "Impact Your World" for you. Reba McEntire, Billy Crystal and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. What are they doing? They are jumping in the ring with boxing legend Muhammad Ali to help knock out Parkinson's disease. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO (voice-over): There is something magnetic about the man known as "The Greatest".

REBA MCENTIRE, ENTERTAINER: He draws people in. It's just incredible the power he has. Everybody wants to meet and be around Muhammad Ali, he is a force to be reckoned with. CUOMO: It's that force that draws musicians, actors, sports

personalities and philanthropists to celebrity fight night.

MCENTIRE: This is the 20th anniversary and many of you have been coming since it started.

(MUSIC)

CUOMO: The annual event raises money primarily for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson's Center in Phoenix, where everybody gets a star treatment.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am asking $200,000 to spend the night with the Kennedys.

DR ABRAHAM LIEBERMAN, MEDICAL DIR., MUHAMMAD ALI PARKINSON'S CENTER: Muhammad, because he's Muhammad Ali gets excellence.

He's Parkinson's close to 30 years a the Alis wanted to make sure that everybody got the same service that Muhammad Ali are gets. Questions are answered, am I seeing the best doctor? Am I getting the best treatment?

CUOMO: For 67-year-old Janice Manky, the center provides more than doctors, therapists and yoga classes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If I need any information, I can pick up the phone and call. The socializing is is great. I'm not alone with the disease.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The fondest hope is to cure Parkinson's disease and we go out of business.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOLDUAN: It's nice to be reminded of the positive that major sports figures can do, too. You got celebrities, but Muhammad Ali.

BOLDUAN: Very good point, and especially today. And especially when we're talking the about stories like this.

Former Baltimore Raven Adrian Peterson -- no Ray Rice, and Adrian Peterson, we are talking about who plays for the Minnesota Vikings is returning to the field this week facing a second allegation of child abuse. Should he be allowed to play? That is of course part of the debate.