Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Iraq Unleashes New Airstrikes against ISIS; Interview with Kevin Lace; Police Update on Biker Gang Shooting; Gas Prices Climbing Almost a Penny A Day; D.C. Murder Baffles Police; Clinton's Private E- Mails on Libya Stir Controversy. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired May 19, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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


[10:00:02] JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: The Iraqi government has also sent in another brigade from its quick reaction forces, coalition aircraft hitting targets inside the city, but a lot of the focus right now is on Shiite militias. The so-called popular mobilization units that are being called on to help in the fight to reestablish control. The problem is the presence of Shiite militias backed by Iran fighting against Sunnis is provocative to say the least. There are concerns it could create a blood bath.

Here in the U.S., the situation in Ramadi is being used by critics of administration policy as a reminder of how the U.S. essentially gave up its power positions in Iraq. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham saying it would take 10,000 U.S. troops to help shore up the Iraqis right now. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: We don't have enough forces in Iraq to help the Iraqis, we have no strategy in Syria, and let me just tell you as bluntly as I know how. If we don't turn around the tide of battle, if we don't put ISIL on the run and disrupt their operations, they're going to hit us here at home. So it will take thousands of American soldiers over there to protect millions of us here back at home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: The administration says Ramadi is a setback but in time Iraq and the U.S. will push the ISIS forces back -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: What can you tell us about that rescue operation that we glimpsed?

JOHNS: Right. This is video that was released by the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. About 20 Iraqi soldiers, we're told, stranded after the fall of Ramadi. They were apparently located about 70 miles west of Baghdad. They were taken to a location outside of the city. The government essentially withdrew its military after the ISIS forces overran their positions -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Joe Johns reporting live from Washington. Many thanks. Ramadi is particularly important because it's the capital of Anbar

Province, that's where some of the bloodiest battles during the Iraq war took place. About 1300 U.S. service members lost their lives there after the 2003 American-led invasion. Ramadi is also where Navy SEAL and American sniper Chris Kyle fought. Kyle known for being the deadliest sniper in American history. He earned the nickname "The devil of Ramadi" by his enemies.

My next guest served with Chris Kyle and was deployed to Ramadi in 2006. In 2008 he returned to Iraq along the Syrian-Iraq border. He was also awarded the Bronze Star for braving enemy fire and carrying a fallen comrade to safety. Retired Navy SEAL and co-star of "American Sniper" Kevin Lace joins me now.

Thank you so much for coming in. I appreciate it.

KEVIN LACE, RETIRED NAVY SEAL: Thanks for having me, Carol.

COSTELLO: So when you look at what's happening in Ramadi right now, what goes through your mind?

LACE: I mean, it's inexplicable. The futility of the situation. The amount of lives that were dedicated -- 1,335 to the securing of Iraq, helped stabilize the Anbar Province. To see that just washed away whether it's a symbolic loss or not, it's still a loss. And it's frustrating for those on the ground that served because we look at what we did and we're brothers in arms and we brought the fight to the enemy. We won that city and it was a hard fought fight. And to see it washed away by politicking is just -- it's frustrating.

COSTELLO: OK. We're going to get to the politicking in just a second. But I want to read something from another veteran who served in Ramadi. He wrote in the "Washington Post" today, quote, "While every place our warriors have died is sacred to us, we cannot build and protect a shrine everywhere they fell. That doesn't mean their sacrifices lose value. Our warriors' sacrifice is not cheapened because people in suits couldn't hold on to what those in camo gained."

Your reaction to that?

LACE: I think he's spot on. I believe -- you know, we in the fight, operators are very keen at getting the job done. And we do that very well. You know, the administration, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they're more adroit to politicking. We're good at getting the job done. And our record stands for itself. And I think going forward, this is a big deal because we look at Afghanistan and how that's going to play out. And we're just facilitating by passively doing nothing, hotbeds for insurgencies to launch attacks here in this country.

COSTELLO: So we hear politicians saying different things. You know, Republicans and Democrats are saying different things. But from your perspective as someone who was there, who is to blame for this?

LACE: Right. I don't represent the SEAL teams. I speak for myself. I believe that it's just -- we don't have a plan going forward. You know, we can't stay in every single city for the rest of our lives. We're still in countries from World War II. But I think we need to have a plan going forward whether that's -- we're going to be facilitate by proxy or we're going to actually have boots on the ground. There should be an adherent plan that we stick to going forward. A five, 10, 15-year plan and, you know, a long-term goal.

COSTELLO: Well, for example, the reason that ISIS was successful in Ramadi was because they took advantage of a sand storm. And when you're fighting a war from overhead, of course you can't see the people on the ground in a sand storm, right? So they took advantage of that.

You heard Senator Lindsey Graham saying that we need to put 10,000 American troops on the ground to train Iraqi forces. What do we need to do?

LACE: Right. I don't think we can blame the sand storm. I think we could blame the lack of, you know, attention to detail with the forces going forward. We didn't prepare the Iraqi, you know, advisers well enough when we left. And we left abruptly. And by doing so we left them vulnerable and we left them open to ISIS.

[10:05:12] COSTELLO: Would you go back and fight in Iraq?

LACE: That's a tough -- that's a tough call right there. You know, I'm fortunate to have been part of, you know, a great group, the SEAL teams and I served alongside a lot of, you know, very strong Army, Marines, Air Force, Navy. And we protect this country in the past, we have today and we will in the future. And you know, I'm glad to know that there are people around me that would do the same and, you know, if I was called, I would.

COSTELLO: We thank you for your service. And thank you so much for your insight. I appreciate it.

LACE: Sure. Thank you.

COSTELLO: Back to Waco, Texas, where we're a waiting -- we're waiting for a police update on that deadly biker shootout. Officers worried about another wave of violence. Gang members heavily armed and hell- bent on retaliating against Waco Police. One reason, a law enforcement source telling us that police gunfire may have killed four of the nine bikers.

CNN's Nick Valencia is in Waco with more.

Good morning.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. We are standing by as you mentioned for the latest press conference from the Waco Police Department with Sergeant Patrick Swanton who has over the last three days been updating the media on the latest information here on the scene. Of course that shooting leaving nine people dead, 18 people injured, 170 people in custody still. Each with a million dollar bond. You mentioned that so-called green light hit out on police officers.

They tell me they are on a heightened level of alert. They believe that these are credible threats against uniformed police officers, though they do tell me that they are prepared for whatever happens next.

Very tense situation here in the strip mall parking lot where that shootout happened. Police have established still a perimeter. Not allowing the public in. All of the shops around me still closed at this time. Only media and other law enforcement officials allowed.

Interestingly enough, just behind me, we saw moments ago a bomb sniffing dog sniffing for bombs in these cars left behind. I mentioned that police are still gathering evidence. Earlier this morning motorcycles continue to be removed from the scene. Cars left behind by customers who were presumably having lunch at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday here at the Twin Peaks so you see dozens and dozens of cars here in this parking lot remain.

We don't know exactly the timetable for a removal of these vehicles. I spoke to one police law enforcement official earlier today. They told me that they hopefully will have this wrapped up by the end of the day.

Again, though, Carol, we are standing by for the latest press conference from the Waco Police Department. Patrick Swanton, sergeant with Waco Police Department, expecting to update the media any moment now -- Carol.

COSTELLO: What about this notion because we've had several members of the Bandidos, one of the motorcycle gangs, on our air saying you know what, we're not a gang, we're just a club? And we don't know why people are accusing us of criminal activity.

VALENCIA: That's really a he said/she said at this point. The police have not minced words about who they say they're dealing with and while the Bandidos and the Cossacks and others -- five gangs in all involved in this fight -- say that they're just motorcycle clubs and not involved in criminal activity. That's not the story line that we're hearing from police and that's not the narrative that they are spinning.

They're saying that these guys are criminals. They are involved in criminal -- illicit criminal activity, and it goes to show exactly what they're involved in when you look at how many weapons were gathered from the scene over 100 weapons which include handguns, brass knuckles, clubs.

They knew as we've been reporting that this meeting was going to happen on Sunday. It was advertised, in fact, online by a confederation of motorcycle groups. Police said that they knew for weeks, which is why they were prepositioned. Eighteen Waco police officers on the scene as well as four Texas Department of Public Safety officers on the scene. They say they engaged those suspects immediately. But they said they were anticipating trouble and that's exactly what they encountered -- Carol. COSTELLO: All right. Nick Valencia, many thanks to you. Of course

we'll bring you that news conference when it begins.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:12:41] COSTELLO: We're just a few days away from Memorial Day, that unofficial start of summer. You know the drill. The mercury rises and gas prices climb. But this year the jump is even more dramatic than usual. Nearly a penny a day over the last month.

CNN business correspondent Alison Kosik joins me to talk me out of my theory that they always raise prices before Memorial Day.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right about gas prices being higher. At 33 out of the past 35 days we have seen gas prices head higher but believe it or not, it's not as much as you think. Let me show you the comparison if we can pull up what it looks like today per gallon. It's 200 -- oh my gosh.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: My goodness.

KOSIK: We'd all be like blasting. $2.71 a gallon. That's the national average. Just to put it in perspective here. This time last year it was $3.65 a gallon. So we're almost a dollar less than last year. I know it feels like it hurts. And some people are saying well, why is this happening? Well, first of all, the price of oil and the strength of the dollar go hand in hand. So we are seeing the dollar weaken a bit.

So what you're seeing happen is investors pile into oil, buy more oil, that's pushing the price of oil up more, and that's adding to those higher gas prices. But I talked to one oil analyst, Carol, who says don't expect these higher gas prices to actually stick around. He in fact calls this -- let me get his little phrase right, he calls it --

COSTELLO: The Memorial Day effect?

KOSIK: Yes. That too. So yes, the summer driving season. Exactly. Bingo. That's when everybody hits the road and the demand is there. Also you've got these seasonal issues when the winter grade switches over to the summer break. You see those refinery hiccups. And also you've got California having its own refinery issues. But this one again is peak week, according to this oil analyst.

He says, keep your fingers crossed. No, we won't see violence in the Mideast. No, we won't see crazy hurricanes. But he sees gas prices holding steady this summer and then, Carol, are you sitting? They could fall after Labor Day. I'm talking gas prices falling right where they were when they were in the first quarter of this year.

COSTELLO: So we're not going to hit the $3 mark? Because I keep -- and my mom. KOSIK: Not according to this oil analyst, Tom Kloza. He thinks --

he's crossing his fingers. He thinks that we'll see gas prices be -- right after Labor Day fall right around to where they were at the beginning.

COSTELLO: OK. I'm going to come and hunt you down after Labor Day.

(LAUGHTER)

KOSIK: OK.

COSTELLO: Alison Kosik, thanks. I'll be right back.

[10:14:57]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: New clues in a Washington, D.C. murder mystery. Investigators are combing through text and a voicemail after a family was found dead in this burning mansion.

This is new video of a stolen Porsche belonging to one of the victims surfaces. You can see the car totally engulfed in flames, ditched here in a Maryland parking lot. Police are now searching for a person of interest. That's him.

Here's more from Gary Tuchman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the middle of the day. Fire breaks out at a home in one of Washington, D.C.'s most posh neighborhoods. Blocks away from the vice president's residence and Embassy Row.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 3201 Woodland Drive Northwest.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's fire in the attic.

TUCHMAN: Four people are found dead inside. Tragic. And as it turns out, very sinister.

Washington, D.C.'s police chief.

CATHY LANIER, METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CHIEF: The fire appears to be intentionally set.

TUCHMAN: But before it was set, police also say three of the four victims had suffered blunt force trauma. It has been declared a quadruple homicide. The victims, 46-year-old Savvas Savopoulos, a CEO of a company called American Iron Works. His 47-year-old wife, Amy. A Washington philanthropist and socialite. Their 10-year-old son, Philip. And a woman named Veralicia Figueroa, their 57-year-old housekeeper.

[10:20:02] (On camera): Veralicia Figueroa was one of two family housekeepers. The other housekeeper says she, too, was supposed to be at this house when this all happened but she wasn't because of a strange text message.

NELITZA GUTIERREZ, HOUSEKEEPER: I almost had a heart attack. It's very hard to believe.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): That other housekeeper is Nelitza Gutierrez. About three hours before the fire broke out she received this text from Amy Savopoulos. It reads in part, "I am making sure you do not come today." And the day before she received a voicemail from Savvas Savopoulos, telling her not to come the next day because her wife was sick.

GUTIERREZ: Sometimes you never understand, you know, all this thing happen and I'm lucky that I am still here.

TUCHMAN (on camera): Police say no evidence was found of forced entry into this home. But was anything taken? Was it ransacked? Because of the fire damage authorities say they don't know.

(Voice-over): So what is going on here? Were the voicemail and the texts sent out under duress? And why are police not saying which three of the four people suffered blunt force trauma and which one did not, and what that all means? Police are staying relatively quiet.

(On camera): Gentlemen, are there any updates you can give us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't give you anything. I'm sorry.

TUCHMAN (voice-over): But the D.C. Police have released this video of what they call a person of interest. It is literally and figuratively a shadowy image of somebody walking behind a building after possibly taking the Savopoulos' Porsche 911 from the crime scene. The car was found ditched in a Maryland church parking lot where it was torched. Authorities have released pictures of the car.

(On camera): As we speak police are going through evidence. They are literally going through the garbage. They're also looking at the other cars the family has here. A Range Rover, an Audi and a vehicle in the garage known as Mosler, which is a very rare and expensive sports car.

(Voice-over): The sifting through trash is meticulous. The odor of the smoke still sifting through the neighborhood obvious as police continue working to solve what is a deadly mystery.

Gary Tuchman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And checking some other top stories for you at 22 minutes past. In the first for the British royal family, Prince Charles has met with the leader of Sinn Fein. Jerry Adams has long been associated with the Irish Republican Army once considered the armed wing of Sinn Fein. But he denies being a member of the IRA. It comes as the prince and his wife begin a tour of Ireland including a visit to the spot where the IRA killed his great uncle. Sources say the meeting was designed to promote healing and reconciliation.

A "Washington Post" journalist detained for nearly 10 months in Iran will make his first court appearance there next week. Jason Rezaian,. the newspaper's Tehran bureau chief, was rested in July on several charges including spying. Rezaian was born and raised in San Francisco but holds both U.S. and Iranian citizenship. The U.S. State Department calls the allegations absurd.

"Charlie Hebdo" cartoonist Renald Luzier says he's leaving the magazine. Luzier, also known as Luz, drew "Charlie Hebdo's" first front cover following the deadly terror attack in January. He said working there was too much to bear adding, quote, "finishing each edition is torture because the others are gone."

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Hillary Clinton taking questions in Iowa.

(LAUGHTER)

Don't be silly. Not from reporters.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:26:55] COSTELLO: Hillary Clinton has been slammed by her Republican rivals for not taking enough questions from the media but today she will take questions from a different group, small business owners and potential voters in the all-important state of Iowa.

The meet-and-greet part of Clinton's second trip to Iowa since announcing her candidacy last month. And it takes place as a new controversy swirls around the candidate involving reports of e-mails with a longtime adviser while discussing conditions in Libya.

Senior Washington correspondent Jeff Zeleny joins me from Cedar Falls to tell us more.

Good morning.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. You're right. The biggest question is when Hillary Clinton will actually take questions from reporters but also from regular Iowans? But we don't know if it will happen today. It's been 28 days since she's taken a question. And the reason it matters is this. Some -- even some of her Democratic supporters are saying she needs to be more clear on her position. She needs to be more clear on where she stands.

But most of the criticism is coming from her Republican rivals of course. Yesterday afternoon in a house party in nearby Mason City, she had this to say to them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is not a time for easy answers or glib answers, or one-liners, or applause lines. Those are all great. That's part of campaigning. But at the end of the day we need a president who has both the experience and the understanding to deal with the complexity of the problems that we face.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZELENY: But one thing she is not addressing is other issues that are coming up. It's almost like there's somewhat of a parallel campaign here, Carol. She's pushing this message today of small businesses, how she would help the economy but there's something going on entirely with those private e-mails that still -- it's still going on. "The New York Times" had a story this morning that talks about an undisclosed set of e-mails from a longtime Clinton adviser, Sidney Blumenthal, who was e-mailing her all during out her time as secretary of state, offering advice on Libya and other things to that private e- mail address.

So all of this will come out wherever she testifies before that House Committee on Benghazi. But that, Carol, was not being discussed here at all. It's almost like there's two separate campaigns and two different political universes -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Interesting. So thank you, Jeff Zeleny. But if you could stay right there.

E-mail scandal-shmandel (PH), who needs to answer questions? Hillary Clinton continues to leave all that pesky question answering to the many Republicans potentially running for president and they are talking.

Rand Paul whose new book is titled, quote, "Taking A Stand: Moving Beyond Partisan Politics to Unite America," sat down with CNN's Alisyn Camerota.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Of all of the GOP presidential candidates, you are the most vocal opponent of the Patriot Act. Some of your fellow candidates say that it has been a great tool. It's been a great tool in protecting the homeland. Do you disagree with that?

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes. They're wrong. I mean, the Privacy Commission recently came out and originally the government said 52 people have been captured through this bulk collection of records. When the Privacy Committee looked at this and when -- then when the Senate committee looking at this, they found nobody that was actually captured by the bulk collection of records.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So with me now to talk about this and more, "New York Times" op-ed columnist Ross Douthat and Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen.