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Ceasefire Deal Reached in Ukraine Peace Talks; Fighting Rages in Eastern Ukraine; Obama Asks Congress for Approval to Fight ISIS; Reports: Kayla Mueller Paired with ISIS Fighter; CBS Reporter Bob Simon Dies in Car Crash; 3 Muslim Students Killed in North Carolina

Aired February 12, 2015 - 06:00   ET

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


ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: It calls for the fighting to end on Sunday. Let's get to senior international correspondent Nic Robertson in Minsk with the breaking news. What's the latest, Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Alisyn, the agreement says that there will be a pull-back of heavy weapons. Tactical missiles will be pulled back almost 100 miles. There will be a demilitarized zone. We've also heard from the Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that there is an agreement for, under the Ukrainian constitution, for constitutional change. That the rights of the people, the separatists in the southeast of Ukraine will be respected.

We've learned from the Germans, as well, today, saying that there will be elections in the near future. They will be working towards that, that there will be a prisoner exchange, as well.

But you know, just before this was finally agreed, the talks almost fell apart. The Ukrainian president saying that there wasn't enough on the table. The separatists saying very much the same thing. Now there seems to be a workable formula.

But the headline here is -- and we're hearing this from the German foreign ministry -- that not everything was agreed. A lot of fine details, issues that have been problematic in the past, have yet to become clear how they're going to be resolved. One thing the Germans are saying is the border issue between the separatist part of Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainians have been very concerned about how that would be managed, that there is some agreement on that.

But we're yet to get all the details here yet, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Nic, thank you so much for that background.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: And Nic, before I lose you, if we still have you, can I ask you a question? Because I know that we're waiting on information. But what do we know, because Minsk happened already. Russia violated it already. So I know they're putting at least a specific date on cease-fire at this time. But what are the points that are giving some hope for optimism?

ROBERTSON: The optimism here is based on the fact that they came to try to get a ceasefire to end the bloodshed. You know, how we can be optimistic about going forward, I think we need to be extremely concerned right now about how this is going to hold. Because we don't have the details. The devil is in the details. How much autonomy the separatists get.

What was agreed, as you say, last September broke down on the battlefield. It's two and a half days before that ceasefire comes into effect. The separatists have said that there are more towns that they want to take. So you know, there's a lot of places that this can still go wrong. And we're not seeing anything yet that can tell us yes, this is different this is changed, and it can work. So I think there needs to be a level of skepticism and concern at this stage, Chris.

CUOMO: Well, Nic, I remember standing in Kiev with you and you telling me how complex the situation is, how long will it take to get it right, so thank you for following along the developments. We'll check back with you later on.

Now, despite what we're hearing from Nic about the diplomacy at play, while they're talking, the fight something raging on in eastern Ukraine. We have Nick Paton Walsh live from the battle zone in eastern Ukraine, near the town of Donetsk.

Nick, what is the latest from there?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here where I'm standing in Dokuchaievsk (ph), we do have a bit of a confusing situation for many of the separatist militants here. Because while they only heard of the cease-fire deal from us, their immediate reaction is, "Well, we've been deceived before. We're not buying this. We don't stop until we've taken back the rest of the Donetsk region." That's a large amount of territory here that they have yet to cover.

Now of course, these men aren't the commanders. They could be told to lay down their weapons. But as we've been here, we've been hearing the sounds of rockets being fired, the sounds of rockets landing. There's no obvious sign that the tempo of combat here has changed. And it's, frankly, the immediate reaction you see in these men's faces on the front line here. They're about a kilometer away from the Ukrainian troops.

Behind me is a reason why there's so angry: the damage done, civilian areas here, basically you can see in their faces, their anger, the loathing they feel towards the Ukrainian government, what they said the shelling has done to their homes, to their families.

And a real sense here, I think, that this diplomatic explanation is going to be -- have to be substantial and remarkable, I think, when they first hear it in detail to make them want to lay down their arms. A very clear sensation amongst them here that they want to fight on-- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Nick Paton Walsh, just such a perfect illustration of the confusion that continues on the ground there. Thank you. We'll check back in with you. President Obama formally asking Congress to authorize military action

against ISIS. But his request is already drawing skepticism from both sides of the aisle. Let's check in right now with White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski with the key points of that proposal.

Good morning, Michelle.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Alisyn.

This is basically the president asking Congress, "How much should I be able to do or not in fighting ISIS?" This balance between narrowly tailoring it, but also leaving flexibility as things change down the road.

And you do see a balance. I mean, really, the only big restriction in this is against enduring offensive ground combat operations. Or as the president put it, long-term large-scale operations like what we saw in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But how long is enduring? What does that mean exactly? Obviously, there is room for interpretation there. And there's nothing in this that would restrict, say, short-term smaller-scale combat.

It also allows the 2001 authorization against al Qaeda and its affiliates to stand. It lets the president fight ISIS wherever it is, along with allied groups fighting alongside it. It also allows for other combat, like Special Operations, search and rescue, calling in airstrikes, some of which we've already seen.

Now, there are some Democrats who would love to see this more restrictive. Some Republicans who would love to see it less restrictive. Now it is up to them to either approve this or not, or come up with their own -- Chris.

CUOMO: All right, Michelle, thank you very much.

Mick, over to you.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Chris. In the war authorization request, President Obama names the Americans who have been killed in ISIS captivity, including aid worker Kayla Mueller. This morning, we are learning more about her time as a hostage and some of the various attempts to rescue her.

Our justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, is following all these developments for us live. I think it's some comfort to many that those attempts were indeed made.

BROWN: Absolutely. And I spoke to the family spokesperson, Michaela, about this. And she made it clear the family did everything it could, working with the White House, trying to get Kayla home. In fact, at one point last summer, when ISIS issued a deadline to execute Kayla, the family asked if the government would be willing to trade Dr. Sadiki, a woman known as Lady al Qaeda, in exchange for Mueller. ISIS had repeatedly made public calls for Sadiki's release, and after hearing about this in media reports, the family asked the White House if it could have Lady al Qaeda's sentence commuted. Of course, trying to find any option they could, in desperation as that deadline was approaching, that execution deadline.

We know what the White House did respond back. We don't know what that response was at this point. But the spokeswoman didn't say. But she said Kayla was still alive after that ISIS-imposed deadline to execute her last summer but didn't specify how that was known.

Also, contrary to many media reports, the family never turned down a military rescue mission because it was too risky. Instead, the family reached out to the White House and asked for notification if there would be another rescue attempt after that failed attempt last July of Kayla and other American hostages.

We've been hearing a lot about the attempts to rescue her. And one of them is about a man who posed as Kayla's husband and went to a Syrian terrorist training camp to try to save her. It turns out that that was actually her boyfriend, who was kidnapped with Kayla, at the same time. He was later released and then risked his life to try to get Kayla out of captivity. Of course, that did not happen. But it's clear, Chris, that many efforts were made along the way.

CUOMO: All right. Pamela, thank you very much. Appreciate it.

Let's get some more now on the president's war plan to fight ISIS, what's going on in Ukraine. And we have a man who understands both situations very well: CNN military analyst, Major General James "Spider" Marks.

General, thank you very much for joining us. Let's start with the immediate. In Ukraine, at least they have a timeline now, right? Last time in Minsk it wasn't that clear. But when you look at what's being said out of there, does this feel like a real cease-fire?

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You know, it does. I thought that what Nic was reporting on the ground, and he has, as you guys know and CNN has done a wonderful job -- you know, he's putting himself at risk so that we can get the very best view of what's taking place.

And at that lowest level, that's where the difficulty occurs. I mean, a cease-fire like this could be broken in a second, if those fighting parties, those warring parties simply have, make a bad decision at that very, very, very point of engagement. But it feels like there's going to be some progress.

Certainly, there's a very special relationship between Angela Merkel and Putin. They understand the risks involved, and it's wonderful that they've been able to at least get together and have an initial framework of how this thing needs to move forward.

CUOMO: It's interesting, given the strained history of Germany and Russia. Now they seem to have almost simpatico going on.

Now when you talk about the ground, you understand this so well from your time as a commander with the Balkan situation. The rebels weren't at the table, OK, in name with these diplomatic relationships. You had, putatively, Putin was there for them. However, if they keep fighting, then what is the use of this ceasefire?

MARKS: Well, what Putin has to be able to do -- and clearly, let's establish right now that the insurgents that are fighting in Ukraine right now are getting direct support from the Russians. End of sentence, period. So what Putin has to be able to do is, if he is sincere about this, he has to withdraw his advisers. He has forces that have gone across the border. Those have to be withdrawn. He can do that surreptitiously; he can do that overtly. It doesn't really matter. He has to assert himself very, very directly into this in order for this thing to end.

The only way that they've been able to act with a certain degree of independence and achieving the successes they have on the ground is because of Putin. He needs to withdraw that support, and this thing will peter out.

CUOMO: Of course, the way to do it would be international monitoring of it. He's not going to allow that.

MARKS: Right.

CUOMO: All right. Let's move onto the next situation.

Kayla Mueller, often the criticism is the U.S. government didn't do enough; you didn't try, despite all the military assets you have. This time that doesn't seem to be the case. We hear about a lot of rescue attempts. What stands out to you?

MARKS: Yes. The fact that the United States truly embraces its citizens wherever they are and will do anything it can to try to get them back.

I think that, that discussion piece, this is such a tragic and such a personal story. And we're very, very sensitive to it. We have to put to the side the fact that the United States may or may not or intentionally ties its hands in its abilities to try to recover its citizens.

Look, this isn't -- the United States does everything it can. It puts incredible young men and women at risk to go rescue these folks.

CUOMO: Right.

MARKS: Let's put that story aside. And then let's take the bigger story, which is how can we more fulsomely go after guys like ISIS, which brings us to AUMF.

CUOMO: It's true. But the reality, Kayla Mueller, and on one part, you know, represents the absolute best hope for the future. Right? A kid who put her own life...

MARKS: Sure.

CUOMO: ... in the hands of people she just thought deserved her help. But, you know, the president said we did everything we could, but it's

about how you define "could." Right? Because you didn't want to do the prisoner exchange. You don't want to negotiate unless it's somebody who's in the military. And Kayla Mueller represents the future: nonmilitary people going into harm's way to try to make a situation better.

MARKS: Exactly.

CUOMO: And by the way, as you well know, General, she may represent a better option than military action in terms of fighting against ideas like ISIS. Is it time we rethink the policy?

MARKS: Yes, it is, Chris. You know, we have our full elements of power that are in place, and with the collapse of governance in the Mideast and elsewhere around the world, and the United States inarguably kind of backing up from its position of influence around the world, you have to have industry step in. You have to have an economic piece. You have to have NGOs, nongovernmental organizations, folks like Kayla that get involved...

CUOMO: Right.

MARKS: ... and fill in that gap where the government has said, "We're not going to do it."

CUOMO: Right.

MARKS: So yes, there is -- there's an absolute time to relook how we view these types of contributions.

CUOMO: Also, now on the AUMF, the authorization for the use of military force. Of course, you know that. But now you see what's out there. The Democrats say it's too broad; the Republicans say it's too narrow. With what you hear in what's being offered, do you think that this is the right type of approach?

MARKS: Yes. Yes. It doesn't repeal 2001. So it gives -- the president still has very, very broad authorities. Whether he chooses to use those, under that remain in place.

But the new one says look, we've got -- we've got a problem that has metastasized. In 2001, we really didn't know what it looked like. We have a pretty good sight picture on what this enemy looks like, where it's located, how it's getting its motivation, how it recruits, how it deploys, and we've described geographically kind of where it is. We need to be able to define that very, very precisely.

And as Michelle indicated, the word "enduring" leaves the door open for interpretation in terms of what does that really mean.

So the president has very broad latitude right here, and it's good that he hasn't taken a capability off the table. We've got the most incredible military in the world. Why would you state our priority? You know, we're not going to use the Air Force. And we may be -- sort of will use a little bit of the Army dudes. No, it gives him this full authorization.

CUOMO: And it's also interesting that it's being called a war authorization, colloquially by these guys, even though Congress, they are the ones who have the power to declare war.

MARKS: Yes, they do.

CUOMO: This is just another step in the direction of giving that power to the president. General, thank you so much, as always. Filling us in on topics that matter.

MARKS: Thanks, Chris.

CUOMO: Appreciate it. Mick.

PEREIRA: All right, Chris.

Thousands of people taking to the streets in Yemen to protest the Houthi militia takeover. Crowds are gathering in the capital, Sana'a, and the central city of Taiz (ph), carrying banners, chanting anti- Houthi slogans, while Houthi fighters manned checkpoints and guarded government buildings that they control. Some of those fighters reportedly fired shots into the air. They threatened crowds with daggers. The U.S., Britain and France have all shut down their embassies in Yemen over security concerns.

CAMEROTA: The widow of a gunman who went on a killing spree in that kosher market in Paris has reportedly linked up with the ISIS in Syria. Hayat Boumeddiene, quoted in an ISIS-run French-language magazine, saying she encountered no problems reaching ISIS territory and that it feels good to be on ISIS soil. ISIS did not offer proof of Boumeddiene's presence.

CUOMO: We have lost a man who was a stellar example of humanity and journalism. CBS's Bob Simon was killed overnight in a car accident just blocks from his home, an end that stands in stark contrast to perils Simon overcame in becoming one of the best newsmen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCOTT PELLEY, CBS NEWS ANCHOR: We have some sad news tonight within our CBS News family. Our "60 Minutes" colleague Bob Simon was killed this evening. It was a car accident in New York City.

CUOMO: CBS News anchor Scott Pelley reports a shocking end for a man who had survived so much, distinguishing CBS, "60 Minutes," and enlightening the world for over 50 years.

PELLEY: Our colleague Bob Simon of "60 Minutes" was 73 years old.

CUOMO: A span full of the best and worst this life has to offer. Joining CBS in 1967 Simon's words quickly separated him.

BOB SIMON, CBS NEWS REPORTER: You guess it must be safer.

CUOMO: As did his commitment to covering turbulent times, especially abroad.

SIMON: And aerile (ph) steps are being wheeled up to a plane bearing the words, the Arab Republic of Egypt.

CUOMO: In Vietnam he was on one of the last helicopters out of Vietnam. Then came Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia and the Gulf War. In 1991, he was captured by Iraqi forces, he and three colleagues imprisoned for 40 days.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome back.

SIMON: They didn't beat us at these interrogations. They terrorized us, which is far more effective than beatings. After you've been beaten a couple of times, you realize that, hey, it's extremely unpleasant, and it hurts like hell, but after a while it stops. And you can get through it.

CUOMO: His spirit and talent endured, as will his legacy. Bob Simon represented the best of journalism. May he rest in peace.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: Indeed.

CAMEROTA: That's sad I always loved watching him on "60 Minutes. " He had such a great voice and presence and story-telling. And after being in the most dangerous battle zones of the world...

PEREIRA: Who knew that a livery cab in New York City would be where he'd find his ultimate demise. I mean, that's so...

CAMEROTA: So ironic.

PEREIRA: Horrible irony.

CUOMO: He's survived by a wife and a daughter. And it's interesting that at a time when we're examining journalism and what are the standards, this is a guy who was proof of how the job is supposed to be done. Yes, he had the telegenic qualities, but that's not the job. He put himself in hard situations so you would understand them better, and that's the craft at its best.

PEREIRA: For 50 years.

CUOMO: Fifty years. He really was one of the best. Our best to his family and to the CBS family, as well.

CAMEROTA: All right. Meanwhile, this story that so many people are talking about: three Muslim students shot dead. Their families call it a hate crime. Now the wife of the suspect speaking out and telling a different story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Good to have you back with us here on NEW DAY. The families of three Muslim students gunned down in North Carolina insist that their loved ones were victims of a hate crime. The FBI is now on the case. But the wife of the suspected gunman claims an ongoing dispute over a parking space triggered that deadly shooting.

CNN's Jean Casarez joins us now from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with more -- Jean.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The law enforcement this morning has the computer (ph) or the defendant in this case, 46-year-old Craig Hicks. They're trying to figure out his state of mind. Did he have a bias? Was he planning an attack like this?

Meanwhile, this community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, they are in mourning. They cannot believe why anyone would, execution-style, shoot three people in the head, students, who were just beginning their adult life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want everyone to remember them, please, only for -- in the good.

CASAREZ (voice-over): This morning, heartbreak and outrage over the murder of three Muslim students in North Carolina.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I heard about eight shots go off in an apartment, more than one girl screaming.

CASAREZ: Friends and family deeming their execution-style killing a hate crime.

DR. SUZANNE BARAKAT, SISTER OF VICTIM: It's basically incomprehensible to me that you can murder three people over a parking spot.

CASAREZ: According to a preliminary investigation, police say 46- year-old neighbor Craig Hicks may have shot Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, sister Yusor Abu-Salha, and Deah Barakat in the head over an ongoing parking dispute at their apartment. Hicks' wife says her husband was frustrated with the parking issue.

KAREN HICKS, WIFE OF CRAIG HICKS: I can say with my absolute belief that this incident had nothing to do with religion or victims' faith.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're in shock.

CASAREZ: But the family says there had been issues of disrespect and harassment.

MOHAMMAD ABU-SALHA, FATHER OF VICTIMS: My daughter, Yusor, honest to God, told us on more than two occasions that this man came knocking at their door, she told us, "Daddy, I think he hates us for who we are."

CASAREZ: Hicks, who claims he is an atheist, allegedly posted an anti-religious statement on his Facebook page, quote, "If your religion kept its big mouth shut, so would I." CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of this post.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you. We will never forget you.

CASAREZ: Overnight, thousands gathered on University of North Carolina's campus...

DEAH BARAKAT, VICTIM: I'm embarking on a trip to Turkey with ten dentists to help Syrian refugee students in need of urgent dental care.

CASAREZ: ... mourning the loss of three scholars dedicated to serving their community.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CASAREZ: And we are learning that the funeral for these three victims is today.

Let me tell you a little bit about these extraordinary people, as the community is calling them. Deah Barakat, who is a second-year dental student right here at the University of North Carolina, cared so much about helping people, his colleagues say that last week he was at a homeless shelter, passing out toothbrushes. And he was raising money online so he and other dentists could go to Syria to help teach oral hygiene to Syrian refugees.

Meanwhile, a law enforcement source with information on the case tells us the defendant has no criminal background at all. He remains behind bars today. And hate crime or not, this is a triple homicide; and Michaela, this is North Carolina, a death penalty state.

PEREIRA: These were good, good people doing good things in their community. We can feel the pain that community is suffering right now. Jean, thank you for that -- Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: For more on the Muslim community's response to these murders, let's bring in the author of "In the Land of Invisible Women," Dr. Qanta Ahmed.

Dr. Ahmed, thanks so much for being here. What was your response when you heard that these three Muslim students were shot?

DR. QANTA AHMED, AUTHOR, "IN THE LAND OF INVISIBLE WOMEN": Sorrow that I'm sure is shared by all the United States today. But particularly after seeing father and sister speak so poignantly last night. It's really terrible, and it's troubling for us as individuals and for our nation.

CAMEROTA: Police are saying that they believe at this point that this might have just been a dispute over parking. This neighbor apparently would become inflamed when someone would take his parking spot.

But other people believed that -- that it's hard not to see it as a hate crime when it's three Muslim students, who apparently were shot in the head. You don't like the message that that narrative would send, because it sounds as though, then, Muslim students or Muslims are somehow under siege in the United States.

AHMED: So I think it's important we first of all don't add to the sorrows of the family. They certainly feel that this was targeted based on their Muslim identity, whatever the conflict between neighbors; and we must respect their sentiments.

But the danger is not to expand that to all Muslim-Americans. We truly aren't victimized by the United States. In contrast, we thrive here.

CAMEROTA: Yes, I mean, that's such a -- you have data points that you want to get out, because you want to counter this false narrative. You think that Muslim-Americans are not under siege. They're not being victimized, that they're thriving. What do you mean?

AHMED: It's not what I think. It's actually surveys collected over a seven-year data point by Pew, which shows that Muslims are equally accomplished economically to the average American, and in some categories we're actually exceeding that in terms of income, in terms of education.

And that we are also a very diverse group. Though this group, this family unfortunately, who are suffering, do represent the majority ethnic identity of Muslim-Americans, 64 percent of Muslim Americans are of Arab-American origin. And I believe this family is. Nonetheless, we in the United States succeed to a greater degree than where I'm from, which is western Europe. We succeed economically more than in France, Germany, Spain and England. And we succeed in defined measures, which we can direct leaders to. In a 2007 Pew survey, Muslim-Americans are mainstream and middle class.

CAMEROTA: We have a little bit of one little excerpt from that 2007 Pew survey. Let me show it to you. Here it is.

Muslim-Americans' view of society. Seventy-one percent say hard work pays off. Seventy-two percent say that their community is a good place to live. Forty-two percent say that they have a good financial situation. You see a very positive trends in this. Even though it's from 2007, you think that the situation is the same or even better today?

AHMED: I agree. And also, the family that was -- that was so brutally deprived of their loved ones represent most Muslims: educated, highly accomplished, aspiring for academic goals with humanitarian values. They truly represent how Muslim-Americans are living.

But there are opportunists who wish to use this crisis, this tragedy, as a means to say there is a rising animus against Muslims, and Muslims are besieged by enmity.

CAMEROTA: When you say there are opportunists, you mean there are -- and this is controversial -- that there are some Muslim advocacy groups that will seize on this, to say that Muslims are victimized?

AHMED: I can predict that that's likely to happen. And in some of the earlier statements that happened yesterday, as I was reading the news, a statement from the Council on American and Islamic Relations, that describes itself as a Muslim civil liberties advocacy group, referred to the rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in the United States.

I would think a better context to provide is to quote President Sisi from Egypt, who reports that actions of extremist elements, which I call Islamists, is putting Islam into a global despise. And we're not shielded from that here in the United States. But that doesn't mean that America has a rising rhetoric against Muslims.

The data shows and the Muslim experience shows Americans embrace us, as have been inspired by the Founding Father that wrote the Declaration of Independence, President Jefferson, who had the imaginary Muslim -- at the time imaginary to him -- in mind when he wrote about freedom of religion and expression here.

CAMEROTA: So interesting. One of the things I know that you were most struck by was the family of the victims. They were on "ANDERSON COOPER" last night. Let me just play a little clip of what the sister had to say about this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

S. BARAKAT: They all had so much to offer, and I just want to make sure that we continue that legacy for them in their name, in their honor. And that all of us as Americans collectively -- not let their deaths go in vain.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: What struck you about that?

AHMED: What was so touching about that is I'm also an older sister with two younger brothers. So, I identified with her.

But in her grief and sorrow, she identified all of us as Americans. And I think that was so heartening.