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EARLY START

Obama's Historic Visit to Hiroshima; Warriors Stay Alive with Win Over Thunder. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired May 27, 2016 - 05:00   ET

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

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They have been asking for it, talking about it, not necessarily looking for an apology, because that raises issues within Japan as well and sentiments here that this government doesn't necessarily want to address in that way, and uncomfortable feelings.

[05:00:05] But this is exactly what they were looking for. And in fact, last night, we talked to the U.S. ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy. And she said, when people found out she knew President Obama was coming here, she said they actually cried.

So, they were looking for this kind of address, to talk to -- to speak to moving beyond what happened here as Hiroshima. Obviously, you know, it is something that both nations have to deal with. It's emotional on both sides, what happened here.

To try to think back and picture it like President Obama said. To be here, you are forced to imagine what happened on that day. He wanted to have this be a real turning point.

The relationship, obviously, with the U.S. and Japan is strong. But he wanted this to be a real reconciliation, a moving past. Apology not necessarily needed for a moment like this. But people here are responding to it. There will be lots of reaction to it once the president leaves later today.

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Michelle, we were listening and it was so emotional and somber in his remarks. A reflection of the past, as you said, also taking us into the future, where we are at present day, and some of the turmoil in the world that we see in this day and age.

I'm curious what the sentiment was as the president was making the remarks there where you are.

KOSINSKI: It was quiet here. You could only hear his remarks in the air. You could practically hear a pin drop. People wanted to hear these words. They were curious to see how he would address the trip.

It was interesting, before his trip, there were analysts talking about what he should say and might say. Many thought less is more in a situation like this. And the White House didn't want it to be an apology. They didn't feel that was appropriate.

They also didn't feel it was appropriate to deliver a policy speech and get into specification of their nuclear policy or politics at all. I think the president delivered more than we expected. His remarks were fairly lengthy. To hear him get into not just what happened in Hiroshima, but kind of the moral responsibility.

He did talk about nuclear weapons and wanting to see a world eventually where there are none. He went beyond that and talked about humanity and rethinking war itself and getting beyond that.

So, he wanted to really move the concept well beyond looking back at history. I think in the time leading up to his remarks today, people here and in the United States, it really reminds you of what exactly happened. You want to refresh your memory and read about it more and looking at the pictures online.

I think if you are interested in this, go back online and look at the pictures of Hiroshima and Nagasaki before the bombs fell and immediately after. It is just incredible. And to read the accounts and see some of the photos, that gives you a real sense of what people here, some of whom are survivors. You know, the whole first row there, people listening to President Obama, were survivors.

There are families here that experienced that. So, it means much to the Japanese people. It is very hard to overstate the power of the moment.

And when President Obama was delivering his remarks, you could tell that he knew that too, just in his delivery. He took it very slowly. He wanted certain words to make an impact. He knows the weight of this moment and the occasion for people both here and in the United States. Clearly.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN ANCHOR: He did talk about, he said words like science can create ever more efficient killing machines. We have a responsibility to look into the eye of history. He wasn't political, but it is clear that Tokyo and Washington here are forming an alliance here, trying to breathe new life into an effort to abolish nuclear arms.

KOSINSKI: And it doesn't change that relationship. The alliance was strong. This was almost a point in time that was unsaid and didn't happen yet for a number of reasons. But eventually, this was a moment that had to happen.

Some analysts -- you know, you heard a lot of talk leading up to these remarks. They felt like President Obama is really the president to do this in part because of his age. He is really the first post-Vietnam president to make this trip.

You know, remember, he dealt with moving past the Vietnam War before coming here to Japan. This was kind of a perfect time for him as he is leaving office, to make this moment finally happen.

[05:05:01] And, you know, it's not as if Japan and America can move on together. In so many ways, they already have. But it's almost as if the Japanese were waiting for this to happen and both sides felt it should and this ended up being the proper time really. And for President Obama, peace and moving beyond war, focusing on security and trying to denuclearize the world. These are the time to seize on the remarks.

Right now, the White House is feeling the impact of this and very happy with what they have been able to deliver here today.

CABRERA: Michelle, he spoke for almost 20 minutes. As you mentioned, it was expected to be brief. So, perhaps that was longer than many would anticipated. It wasn't just a symbolic gesture of him going there. He really did make a statement about what he hoped for the future of the world.

Do you anticipate that this moment is going to create any kind of ripple effect or shift in terms of policy among the international community?

KOSINSKI: It was a real gut check, right? Speaking not just about the tragedy of what happened. You heard him say look at war itself. The humans shouldn't be doing this.

He also talked about the obvious moving beyond nuclear weapons. Crude weapons, we see barrel bombs cause the same terror and wreak the same kinds of destruction. Individually, I don't know there is a human alive that wouldn't agree with his words. But the reality of the world right now is much, much different.

Much has been said about denuclearization, how much progress this administration has been able to make on that. Obviously, the Iran nuclear deal is the crowning moment of that effort. But many have said that right now, the world is really farther away from that goal than it was when President Obama first took office. The threat of North Korea right now is very real. It's especially real to the people of Japan.

So, with that overarching threat and the uncertainty that surrounds the hot spots in the world, it to have his words impact the reality of the world right now, to kind of drive those points home in light of what is going on.

Will this spur nations to additional action in denuclearization? That really remains to be seen. When you look at, for example, the U.S. and Russia, they have reduced the stockpiles, but the U.S. would like to go further. It is stalled. Russia doesn't want to participate in that.

So, obviously, reaching the goals that President Obama laid out in his speech. He said he doesn't think this will happen in his lifetime, but why not take the moment, take the impact of being in a place like this. This is the one time in human history where --

CABRERA: Michelle, we have to stop you for a moment. We are watching pictures. I want to reference and we can continue the conversation.

Here is President Obama meeting with presumably some of the survivors of the Hiroshima bomb blast. We have seen him now give hugs to a couple of these men. We have seen smiles. We've also seen him listening intently and also now responding now through a translator.

Just a touching moment. Another historic moment here.

KOSIK: Go ahead, Michelle.

KOSINSKI: Another reason this is a good time is given where we are right now, 71 years past this happening. These survivors are harder to come by now. There aren't that many of them still alive.

So, it was touching to see them arrive here today. Everyone turned around and tried to sort of at least get a glimpse of them and kind of offer respect in whatever way you could. Some of them brought in in wheelchairs.

They are the living reminders of what happened here. It is hard enough to stand here and look at the city. You see construction cranes and modern buildings. It's really a vibrant place. But to see a person walk in who survived that nuclear bomb blast, that really drives it home.

[05:10:01] That, you know, the human toll of this is what the White House wanted to get across, the toll of innocent people, because remember, most of the people who died in both of these blasts were not soldiers, but civilians.

KOISK: And he did, President Obama, did tell some of the survivor stories during his speech there today.

Let's go ahead, Michelle, let's bring in while you stay right there, let's bring in CNN political analyst and "Washington Post" columnist Josh Rogin.

Josh, we are bringing you in because you lived and reported in Japan for several years. What are you thinking as you watch this historic moment?

JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, thanks.

Yes, I have been to that exact spot several times. And let me give the viewers a little bit of background information. There is a Hiroshima Peace Park. You see the atomic dome. That was the one structure that remained in that entire downtown area following the blast of the atomic bomb blast on August 6th, 1945.

And that structured was preserved and not repaired, as a constant reminder of the sheer devastation of that fateful day. And also, you see in the background what's called the Children's Peace Memorial. That is a monument to the children that not only died on that day, but died for several years later of the lingering effects of the radioactive material that was leftover in the wake of the bomb. Thousands of children who weren't alive in 1945 developed terrible diseases and died years later. So, the effects of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima were not on that day, but people suffered years later.

You know, as I watched these remarks and interactions, I'm struck emotionally and sort of intellectually by the difference in Japan from then until now. Just think only 70 years ago, it was not that long ago in historic terms. U.S. and Japan were literally at war in their existence. And here were are 70 years later in Japan, as a peaceful, prosperous member of the community of nations, a thriving democracy and a very strong ally of the United States.

That is a testament to not only the Japanese people themselves, but also the work of both countries to work together to really establish both diplomatic, political and security relationship that has really become the model for how the west and east can forge, you know, a partnership in this world. It's really a model that both the U.S. and Japan seek to replicate all over the region.

You know, at the same time, as we heard from President Obama in the speech, there is a lot of to be done. I mean, we see Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose grandfather was actually part of the regime that fought against the United States in World War II. Here he is, grandson, standing next to the United States.

And Shinzo Abe, one of his main efforts since coming to his post for the second time as Japanese prime minister has been to reconcile some of Japan's demons from that fateful time. Of course, Japan and its relationship with its neighbors is not fully repaired. Shinzo Abe has been doing his own to repair those ties and to address those historical issues between Japan and its neighbors.

At the same time, Japan now lives under the threat of the North Korea nuclear program, which is advanced enough that it threatens Japan. So, there is a lot going on here for sure.

CABRERA: No doubt about it. Josh Rogin, thanks for the insight.

Michelle Kosinski, thank you for the reporting there, again marking this historic day as the president visits Hiroshima. The first sitting U.S. president to visit the city seven decades after the atomic bomb is dropped.

Now, he is getting back in his motorcade. We are told the visit will only be a matter of hours before he continues his trip.

Again, our thanks to you, guys.

KOSIK: Moving on. Dramatic video capturing violent storms in the South. What is expected for today? That's coming up next.

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[05:18:19] CABRERA: A devastating storm system damaging homes and businesses all across Kentucky. In fact, take a look at this dash cam video taken from a police cruiser as he was patrolling the streets of Paducah.

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CABRERA: That will shock you a bit. That was a bolt of lightning striking a nearby house. The force blowing the camera right off the patrol car's windshield. It also triggered a small roof fire. Fortunately here, nobody was hurt.

All across the state, tornadoes and storms have damaged or destroyed 30 homes and buildings in the past 48 hours.

KOSIK: Just incredible. The severe weather threat continuing today.

Let's go to meteorologist Derek Van Dam with the latest. Good morning, Derek.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, Ana and Alison, there have been over 100 tornado touchdowns in the Central U.S. this week alone. And just on Thursday, there were 17 with dozens of wind reports and hail reports as well.

This is all thanks to a very deep area of low pressure that continues to pull in the Gulf of Mexico moisture. We've got a dip in the jet stream, and that is setting up all the ingredients, all the appropriate dynamics for the potential severe weather.

And that will be continuing into Friday time frame as well, the early parts of the weekend, from Nebraska through Kansas and Oklahoma and parts of Texas. Look out for isolated large hail, strong winds and a possible tornado this Friday.

Temperatures today, we're looking at daytime highs in the middle and upper 80s along the East Coast. Cincinnati, 89. Chicago, 80 degrees. Of course, it's Memorial Day weekend, and Fleet Week in the Big Apple.

Look at this. You'll reach 90 degrees by Sunday.

[05:20:00] Watch out, though. We're still monitoring the potential of tropical development for the coastal areas of Carolinas and Georgia.

Back to you.

CABRERA: Mother Nature with a split personality.

KOSIK: Absolutely.

CABRERA: Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors facing elimination on home court. Could they hold off the Oklahoma City Thunder and live to see another day?

Coy Wire with this morning's bleacher report joins next. Hey, Coy!

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CABRERA: Welcome back to your EARLY START at 5:24 here in the East.

The defending NBA champion Warriors staying alive in the playoffs, but they still face an uphill battle, though, against the Thunder.

KOSIK: Coy Wire has more in this morning's bleacher report.

[05:25:00] Good morning, Coy.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Top of the morning. You know it is a great weekend when it starts off with Ana and Alison. Good morning to you both. (LAUGHTER)

CABRERA: I can say the same about you, Coy.

WIRE: All right.

Let's talk about these Warriors. Only two teams have come back trailing 3-1 in conference finals history. Warriors in a must-win situation, they looked a bit deflated the last two games in Oklahoma City. Now, they are back in the Bay Area. Home crowd getting them riled up.

And so does Steph Curry. Durant just get left in the dust. Slicing through the Thunder defense like a hot knife through butter, 31 points in the night. Warriors win 121-111.

Look at him says, we ain't going home. No, you're not. You are going back to Oklahoma City, the place to play tomorrow, game six, series tied at -- 3-2, do or die again for the Warriors.

Eastern conference finals tonight. LeBron James and the Cavs, they're going to try to push the Raptors to extinction. Game six at 8:30 Eastern.

Now, check this out, more than 1 million people logged on their computers this week not to play video games, but to watch the pros put on a show. ELeague. Breaking the world of competitive video gaming to mainstream. Teams from around the world duking it out at Turner Studios right here in Atlanta for a piece of $1.4 million price.

Tonight and every Friday throughout the ten-week season, you can watch the games live on sister channel TBS. The action starts at 10:00 Eastern.

Guys, they are playing the game "Counterstrike". I have been to the arena up the street. This is as impressive as any NFL stadium I've ever played in. These folks are professional and passionate about what they do.

KOSIK: People cannot get enough of the ELeague, including you, right?

WIRE: That's right. I love it. It reminds me back in the day playing Nintendo 64. I get the goose bumps when I was over there. Fun stuff, guys.

KOSIK: I hear you.

All right. Coy, thanks very much.

WIRE: You're welcome.

KOSIK: Emotional moments from President Obama, hugging survivors of the atomic bomb drop in Hiroshima. He also gave a very touching speech. We are breaking it down live. That's next.

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