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Peter Kassig's Parents Speak Out; Remembering Peter Kassig; Governor of Missouri Activates National Guard Ahead of Grand Jury Decision in Ferguson

Aired November 17, 2014 - 15:30   ET

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


PAMELA BROWN, CNN HOST: Any second from now, the heartbroken parents of Peter Kassig are about to speak. Kassig is the former army ranger and third American beheaded by ISIS.

And joining me now to discuss this, Arwa Damon, senior international correspondent, Alexandra Field who was at this press conference in Indianapolis and Jim Sciutto, CNN chief national security correspondent and Robert Baer, the CNN security analyst.

As we just mentioned, Jim, We're waiting to hear from Peter Kassig's family. They have been pretty outspoken about this ever since their son has been kidnapped. Tell us about that and what we would expect from them.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a family. It's remarkable because we have seen this to some other families who have through this, the Sotloff family, James Foley's family as well, showing enormous courage throughout even as they suffer what can only be described, and as a father, I feel this, the worst fate to lose a child and in such gruesome circumstances which you know to be painful and torturing and yet to maintain your poise throughout and the Kassig family has certainly done that like the Foley family and the Sotloff before them.

I have to say, I've just been bowled over by that and I'm sure today we'll hear sadness and goodness. They deserve it, but also some of that remarkable strength.

BROWN: Yes. You know, Bob, it's really interesting because, really, all the families -- here they are walking up to the pod podium. Let's take a listen to Peter Kassig's family.

ED KASSIG, PETER KASSIG'S FATHER: Good afternoon. Greater love hath no man than this than to lay down his life for another. A while ago we were informed that our beloved son, Abdul Rahman, no longer walks this earth. Our hearts feel heavy, are held up by the love and support that has poured into our lives these last few days.

PAULA KASSIG, PETER KASSIG'S MOTHER: One of Abdul Rahman's teacher, the mother of some of his friends wrote before his slaying, if a person can be both a realist and an idealist then that's Peter. Peter has earned the right to be both. In 26 years he has witnessed and experienced firsthand more of the harsh realities of life than most of us can imagine. But rather than letting the darkness overwhelm him he has chosen to believe in the good, in himself and in others.

Peter's life has is evidence that he has been right all along. One person makes a difference. Our hearts are battered. But they will mend. The world is broken but it will be healed in the end. And good will prevail as the one god of many names will prevail.

E. KASSIG: Please pray for Abdul Rahman or Pete if that's how you know him at sunset this evening. Pray also for all people in Syria, in Iraq and around the world that are held against their will. And lastly, please allow our small family the time and privacy to mourn, cry and, yes, forgive and begin to heal. Thank you very much.

BROWN: And there, we just heard from the parents of Peter Kassig, the latest American to be beheaded by ISIS. They say our hearts are battered, but they will mend. They also said that Peter was both an idealist and realist and it's interesting they referred to him, their first rear fence to him as Abdul Rahman, his Muslim name that he chose for himself after he converted to Islam.

So Jim, I'm going to start with you. What do you take away from what we just heard from Peter's parents there?

SCIUTTO: I think, again, that strength that we spoke about briefly very -- before they spoke there. Our hearts are battered but they will mend, as you say, good will prevail, asking for privacy but also showing enormous strength here on what can only be described as the worse day for a parent possible to have not only the death of a child but in the worst circumstances in broadcast for the world to see. I can only imagine that as a father and to see that strength there. But also, I think as you say speaking about how he dedicated his life because he's truly a remarkable man. He served as a soldier in Iraq and then through a feat of conscience goes back to another war zone alone to serve as a humanitarian worker in effect and knowing frankly that as a former soldier, that if he were to be taken, he would be treated differently. You know, any American there, of course, will be abused but a soldier in particular. So, truly brave individual and just such a sad day for his parents.

BROWN: It absolutely is. You can't imagine what they are going through.

Arwa Damon, you actually knew Peter Kassig personally. And I'm sure a lot what you heard from his parents there really ring true from what you saw firsthand from Peter. As they said, he chose to believe in good in himself and others. What else can you tell us about Peter?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's not just that part of the statement, Pam but also his parents' desire alongside, the fact that they are going through such inexplicable pain but their desire to draw the attention of pain of others. That is the Kassigs and that's how they brought up Peter, and that is the young man that we all knew.

He was someone who put others before himself. He was someone who was filled with this profound and almost desperate desire to not just say he wanted to help but actually go out and do something. I remember being absolutely taken back by this young man who at the time that we met him was just 24 years old, this was in 2012, and he was helping wounded Syrians at a hospital in Tripoli. But I was taken aback when a few months later when he told me hey, remember I wanted you I wanted to start a nonprofit, well, I've done that.

And he was already running humanitarian aid missions to Syrian refugees in Turkey and also inside Syria. And then began running those much needed medical missions where he was training ordinary civilians and first aid.

And this is very critical because a lot of the time first responders to the scenes of these attacks were civilians. And he was also delivering much needed medical assistance as well. He really felt the pain of the Syrian people. And this isn't just something that was evident through the passion that he used when he spoke about what it was that he was witnessing but it was also evident in those that he met.

Look, he didn't speak a lot of Arabic, but he a compassion that transcended that language barrier. And one Syrian activist who met him remembered how he genuinely felt sad during their time of sorrow. He felt joy during their times of joy. He was someone who, yes, knew the grave serious risks that he was under taking, going into Syria especially during that last mission that he under took in 2013 when he was kidnapped. But he was someone who could not have lived with himself had he not gone in there during that trip.

BROWN: And we've heard his parents plead for help. They took to twitter. They talked about how and he was Muslim convert and yet nothing worked here, Bob. What do you think about this? What we've seen from the parents they really have been outspoken, we saw it from James Foley's parents as well. And I think a lot of people may be confused because James Foley as well converted to Muslim. But yet, ISIS still killed him in such a brutal manner.

ROBERT BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Exactly, Pam. This group is extremely vicious and they are defining Muslims as they like. I mean, if you convert to Islam you're a Muslim. And clearly, they decided they didn't care. They are going to interpret the Koran the way they want to. And I think this is one of the reasons this movement is at the end of the day is doomed because they are so violent, so vicious. And I think we are going to see Muslims turn against.

This kid was clearly courageous having been a ranger, having all this stuff up on facebook. He knew when he was captured they would get into his cell phones and his digital records. It just didn't matter. And the parents' pleas went unheard. And I just think this just defines this movement as it has to be suppressed.

BROWN: Well, we're just learning that there are at least two remaining hostages held by ISIS, a British journalist who has appeared in a number of ISIS produced videos and a 26-year-old female American aid worker, Bob. It was interesting because unlike some of the previous beheadings videos we've seen there was no one at the end of this video with Peter Kassig. What does that tell you?

BAER: I think this group is just so incoherent. They had hoped that these executions would get them something politically drawn supporters and the rest of it. I think even at this point that they understand this violence is just gratuitous. And I would be surprised if they execute the American woman, but on the other hand I wouldn't put it past them.

BROWN: And, Jim, do we know anything about U.S. efforts? We know there was a rescue mission for James Foley which obviously didn't work out. Do we know anything about rescue efforts for Peter Kassig and now the remaining hostage?

SCIUTTO: We don't know. And I think that the battlefield has changed. The opportunity they had or thought they had with James Foley earlier this year based on the best intelligence at the time and it turn out when they got there to a location they believed that he and other hostages were at they were no longer there.

You know, U.S. intelligence on the ground in Syria has never been great in part because the U.S. hasn't been present there. Now, present in the air over Syria and with some, you know, continuing CIA aid programs and training programs for certain rebel groups so arguably that intelligence getting better. But we don't know if it's gotten to the point where they can pinpoint where other hostages are. And frankly, you have to expect this group knowing the value of them, sick value, frankly how they use it, knowing the value would move them around a lot to hold on to them.

BROWN: Really a dire situation.

Arwa, I want to go back to you because I think it is important focus on Peter, the kind of man that he was. Was there anything else at his parents said that really struck you, if could you just give us a glimpse of who he was and how he the change of heart going from a soldier to then becoming a humanitarian aid worker?

DAMON: Look, Pam, if we go beyond the statement they made today but look at everything that's come out publicly about him since his captivity and even before that, this was young man who was not afraid to talk about his own personal, very emotional journey.

He started out as an army ranger. He was honorably discharged for medical reasons. He went back to the United States. Was kind of trying to figure out where he was going to fit in, how he was going to fit in, and then having realized his experiences overseas, he didn't really fit in the U.S. any more.

He went on the get training as an EMT. He had a need to do something. He wanted to help humanity. He just didn't necessarily know how. And then came the war in Syria. And then came all of the reports about wounded Syrians showing up in Lebanon, desperately needing medical help. And he said to himself, I'm an EMT, I can do something. And so, he literally packed a bag full of whatever medical supplies he could collect, and came to Lebanon and began working in that hospital. It's an astonishing story. He didn't speak a word of Arabic at the

time. He didn't even know anybody in Lebanon per see and yet managed to from the moment he really arrived in country create bonds with individuals that then drove that desire that he had to want to do even more because he simply realize that he could even as a single individual then he went on -- he went on to establish SERA, the special emergency response and assistance, and that was his nonprofit that was delivering humanitarian aid, that was delivering medical missions and that ultimately gave him his sense of purpose.

Despite all of the horrible situations he was exposed to, despite all of the evil that he saw, really, the worth that one human being can do to another and the violence that he witness firsthand in Syria. He continued to believe in the need to do something about it. And the thing that his parents referenced as well that good would ultimately prevail and that's who Peter was.

And that's why again, I will say at this point in time, I do genuinely believe he's someone who would not want the focus on him. He would want the focus to be on Syria and he would want people to try to think about what is it they can do as individuals no matter who they are about trying to help alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people.

BROWN: I want to go now to Alexandra Field. She's actually in the room where the press conference with Peter Kassig's family was.

Alexandra, what can you tell us? What is the mood like there?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via phone): Well, I think you heard some of these people talking about Peter Kassig's courage, his courageousness and what he took on. And we saw courage from his parents. They came out here and they showed what we all though incredible grace and composure in the moment they had planned and prepared for. They were releasing statements up to this point yesterday afternoon when the U.S. government was able to confirmed that that was, in fact, Peter Kassig in the video released by ISIS. They decided to make themselves available to the press and to the cameras.

They held this at their church here in Indianapolis at United Methodist church. We know that they were meeting privately with two of their pastors before they came out here. We were actually given a copy of the message and notes they would read. They do stick to the script. They were able to speak in clear voices and they had a couple of point that they truly wanted to communicate. Obviously they are very hurt right now at the loss of their son. But again, continuing to turn this forward not only to talk about Peter's work, but to talk about the importance of that work and importance of people continuing to do that work.

And I was really struck by them saying that at sunset tonight, they want people not only want to remember their son but also to pray for people in Syria, in Iraq, people who are being held against their will around the world. And have the opportunity here in Indianapolis. We to talk to people and try to understand why this young man who grew up here, who was on the cross country team at north central high school would have this journey in life, would feel his calling was in Syria.

Had a conversation with his adviser and political science professor at Butler University where he spent some time while returning overseas. And she told me he was a really engaged and good student, but most struck by the time they spent together in her office when he talked about his need to do more, his compulsion to do more, to serve and give back. And that's a lot of what we heard from his parents speak of what must have been an incredible and painful moment and wanting to come out and communicate that to the world.

BROWN: And just, you can't even imagine what they've been through and just the journey of getting here. But they were pillars of strength today in that room.

Alexandra Field, Arwa, Bob and Jim, thank you very much for coming on the talk with us. We appreciate it. And we will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: And more now on our breaking news, the governor of Missouri activating the National Guard ahead of the grand jury decision in Ferguson. And as the nation discusses the relationship between police in their communities tomorrow night, CNN present as special documentary from the black in America series called "Black and Blue." Award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien takes an in-depth look at aggressive policing tactics used within the New York police department and the impact they have on crime (INAUDIBLE) as well as within the communities, the officer serve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Made it quite clear that I'm interested in problem resolution, not the numbers game.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN HOST, CNN SPECIAL PRESENTS: The way that policing plays out on the streets is increasingly being captured on cell phone cameras.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've grown to be very secretively record them because I was at my grandmother's house getting ready to go to the gym and my ride is on the way, coming around the corner. We're standing outside but underneath --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say that again? Say that again?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to come outside (INAUDIBLE) --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why are you talking to me like --?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't hear you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said I'm going to handcuff you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why would I say that? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get inside right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just trying to see if my ride is coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go inside right now. Go inside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go up the stairs right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since when has it become illegal to wait for a ride?

O'BRIEN: But Commissioner Bratton hasn't abandoned the policing theory he adopted in the 1990s called "Broken Windows." It proposes that small crimes like a broken window encourage further neglect or more serious crimes.

Do you think that going after these small offenses does not help bring down crime?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I actually believe in the theory of broken windows. But when WE views it, it hurts the people who is trying to protect --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Starfish Media CEO Soledad O'Brien joins me now.

Soledad, you have heard many personal stories of the man affected by this line of policing, not just the average citizen, but even police officers themselves, right?

O'BRIEN: Absolutely. The story itself is very complex. And what we wanted to do in this documentary was to try to figure out, what is that line between keeping communities safe, especially communities that are high-crime communities where, by the way, even people in those communities want to be safe. But also not trampling on people's civil rights, or profile a young man who tells us he's been stopped at least 100 times in his own community, often right near his college. So his professor can see him being stopped by the police, his classmates can see him being stop by the police.

We were very interested in what the police officers, how they feel about what they're being sent out to do. What the impact is on the communities, of moms in the community, a young black man, Latino men, usually who are stop, really get a sense of what is happening in these communities.

What's happened in Ferguson, which is how you started, I think doesn't come out of nowhere. There is a conflict between a community and the police department. And this is not something that is -- I think it's something as been percolating certainly in Ferguson for quite a while.

BROWN: Like you say, didn't just come out of nowhere. You've been working on this documentary, actually, for quite some time before Ferguson. But it's obviously just bubbling to the top here with what we saw there. I'm wondering, what did you take away after sort of going on this journey, talking to police officers and people like the man you profiled in the story?

O'BRIEN: It's so unfortunate that you have people who are in conflict when actually ultimately most good people want the community to be safe. Police need the community to give them information on the ground about what's happening, right? You shouldn't, on both sides, alienating the community is a bad idea. Alienating the police is a bad idea. It is not a win-win. It's actually a lose-lose.

The people in Ferguson aren't safer when they hate the police and the police hate them back. S I think we have to kind of figure out our way through this where the police can feel like they're serving a community that appreciates them and the people feel like the police respect them as well.

BROWN: Let's talk about stop-and-frisk, because the man behind that, as you point out, in your documentary, Commissioner William Bratton. He is back in charge of the department. That didn't sit too well with many New Yorkers --

O'BRIEN: I think for some people they were concerned the architecture of stop-and-frisk was being brought back in under the new mayor de Blasio in New York City. And you know, we talked to Bill Bratton a lot during this documentary. I think he's very interested in trying to figure out how to fix some of the overreaching that happened during stop-and-frisk sort of version 1.0, the first time around.

We have seen many fewer stop-and-frisks in certain areas, east New York, and also bad status her in New York. But ask people on the ground and the community, they actually don't see the big change. They still feel like they are criminals in their own community or perceived to be. For the young man, by the way, who was stopped 100 times, you sort of imagine it wherever it is you live. Imagine if you were and some said, hey, I need to see inside your handbag. And they did it the first time, you would show him.

BROWN: Right.

O'BRIEN: The fifth time, you'd be a little annoyed. The tenth time, you'd be mad. That wouldn't help anybody down the road.

BROWN: And certainly an interesting debate and both sides want the solution. It's just figuring out what that solution is.

Soledad O'Brien, thank you for bringing this to us. We appreciate it.

O'BRIEN: It is my pleasure. Thanks you.

BROWN: Again. Soledad's new documentary "Black in America, Black & Blue" premieres tomorrow night at 9:00 p.m. eastern time only on CNN.

And up next, more breaking news, a shocking end for a fugitive featured on CNN's "THE HUNT" with John Walsh. That second big catch reported today. Details on that in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: We have some breaking news now.

A dog has made a gruesome discovery in a field in Austin, Texas. It's a skull belonging to one of the most wanted sex offenders in America. Kevin Patrick Stoeser was also profiled right here on CNN in the first season of "THE HUNT" with John Walsh. And in a press conference just moments ago, U.S. marshals gave credit to this episode.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: CNN "THE HUNT," a program -- the inaugural program was this season. Producers from "the HUNT" contacted us and requested if Kevin Stoeser could be profiled in their inaugural season. They did present him in the second episode, again, garnering extensive national and international coverage.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Stoeser reportedly had sex with underage girls while stationed in Port Food and served 13 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to child pornography and raping a woman. But the escape from the halfway held in October 2013, the cause of his death is unknown.

"The LEAD" with my friend, Jake Tapper starts right now. Thanks for watching.