Dragging a passenger off a plane in chicago after he refused to give up his seat on an overbooked flight. Now the airlines ceo under fire for blaming the passenger. And good morning, america. I still cant believe that video. A lot of people still talking about it. Not just here theyre talking about it, the reaction is worldwide and china on just one of their sites, this video already has more than 100 million views. United airlines, a big airline in china. Well have more ahead. Dan abrams will be here to weigh in and tell us legally what we can do when boarding a plane, train or other form of transportation. But we have a lot of stories to cover this morning. Secretary of state Rex Tillerson heading to moscow for meetings with top officials. One of the question, did the russians know about the syrian chemical attack before it happened . A new report claims that they did. And how do americans feel about that u. S. Strike . Well, a new abc News Washington post poll suggests most support it but only by a small margin. We begin with that. The secretary of state lands there after a meeting with our allies in europe where he called out russia for not keeping its promise. To help eliminate syrias chemical weapons. Take a look. Stockpiles and continued use demonstrate that russia has failed in its responsibility to deliver on its 2013 commitment. It is unclear whether russia failed to take this obligation seriously or russia has been incompetent but this distinction doesnt much matter to the dead. Lets bring in Martha Raddatz for more on this. Martha, there was concern during tillersons confirmation he would be soft on russia but going to moscow with a very tough message. Reporter he clearly has a tough message for russia, george. Saying this morning that russia needs to take a hard look at its relationship with assad asking whether siding with such an unreliable partner is in russias best interest. The russians have said to you their support for syria is not unconditional but you also had the russians say that the relationship is lower than it was during the cold war and that was even before the chemical weapons attack and before the u. S. Missile strikes and this morning in regards to the meeting, the russians say we expect constructive cooperation rather than confrontation, alleviating tensions rather than escalating them. But i suspect this will be plenty tense, george. The russians also said he would not be meeting with president putin. That means hes the first secretary of state that wont be meeting with the russian leader on his first visit and new questions about whether russia knew about the chemical weapons attack before it happened. Reporter yeah, george, you know there was that ap story saying that they did know that the russians were aware this chemical attack was about to happen. But they now say at this time the white house is saying at this time there is no u. S. Intelligence Community Consensus that russia had foreknowledge of the syrian chemical attack so the white house is denying that. But i hit on the word consensus. We dont know whether or not some of the 17 intelligence agencies actually do believe russia was complicit. The secretary firming up his antiassad stance saying its clear to all of us the reign of assads family is coming to an end. Reporter they say that again and again, george. We heard those mixed messages but we dont know exactly what they mean by that. They say they hope assad will leave. But theres no military intervention beyond what weve already seen. Martha raddatz, thanks very much. George, we get more on the u. S. Response to syria. The Trump Administration seeming to draw a new line monday committing to more intervention but then immediately walking that back. Our senior White House Correspondent cecilia vega tried to get clarity and joins us now with more. Good morning, cecilia. Reporter good morning to you. Initially the white house seemed to suggest that barrel bombs, a weapon regularly used by the assad regime against its own people, might be a new red line. But then an almost immediate aboutface. After launching 59 missiles in response to that deadly chemical attack, the white house is backpedaling on how far it is willing to go to in syria. At first sean spicer seeming to shift the socalled red line saying its not just the use of chemical weapons that would prompt the United States to take military action. Is the red line, just to clarify, the red line for this white house chemical warfare, is conventional warfare enough to get the president to go further there than this white house has gone before . The answer is is that if you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, i think you can you will see a response from this president. That is unacceptable. Reporter but Bashar Al Assad has frequently used barrel bombs against his own people. Human Rights Groups say nearly 13,000 last year alone, far more than any chemical weapon attacks. An american attack in response to syrian barrel bombs would mark a significant shift in u. S. Policy. But just hours later, an aboutface. The white house walking back spicers comment, a spokesman telling abc news nothing has changed in our posture. The president retains the option to act in syria against the assad regime whenever it is in the national interest. So, this is not the only mixed signal coming out of this white house right now. Key members of the Trump Administration seem divided on whether assad should stay or go. I asked Secretary Sean Spicer yesterday how far President Trump is willing to go to see assad out of power. He said you cant imagine a peaceful syria with assad in charge. Lets get more from richard haass, the president of the council on Foreign Relations and author of the new book a world in disarray. That word disarray can apply to what the administration is saying about a syria policy. Its been all over the place. Clearly they want to properly, i think, strongly react to the use of chemical weapons. The real question is where do we go from here. When you talk about regime change there is an enormous gap between where we want to go and where we are and the capabilities it would take. Not only what sean spicer said yesterday about now maybe retaliating for barrel bombs, the secretary of state, we rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocent anywhere in the war. Thats openended war everywhere. Pretty sweeping. Bear any burden. You have to narrow it down. The United States cant if you will become the policeman of the world. There is an awful lot of places where governments are acting really badly towards their own people and youve got to be much more narrow. Youve got to decide where your vital interests are at stake. Where you can use military force in ways that will make a difference at a cost youre prepared to pay. How about this showdown in moscow again. We saw that one report that moscow may have known about the chemical weapons attack, if they did, how much of a game changer is that . Its not. Its just another reminder that russia is an outlier. Its not as though we need new information. This is a country that went into ukraine, took over crimea and allowed Bashar Al Assad to use chemical weapons and interfered in our own elections. Russia is a spoiler, an outlier. A remainder of who were dealing with and under Vladimir Putin you have somebody who has enormous discretion to do what he wants to do often which is quite problematic. How do you deal with it . As i said earlier theres some concern that President Trump, the secretary of state would be soft on putin. Taking a much tougher line right now but its at a time where our relations according to the russians are worse than they were during the cold war. What youve got to do is two thing, set the table. Weve got to create a context with the russians know they cant use military force and easily get away with it so did a little in syria i mean strengthening nato so russia isnt tempted to invade any other country and have to be careful with our rhetoric. We dont want to humiliate the russians or paint them into a corner. That theres no place for diplomacy. Is there a way to pull putin away from assad. Mr. Putin is many things. Sentimental is probably not one of them so, sure, i think what we want to do is try to drive a little wedge between iran who is syrias principal backer and the russians and talk to them whats your longterm interest. Can you protect your longterm interests in a way that you separate yourself from assad . Itll take several years but we ought to begin that process . Richard haass, thanks for coming in. Robin. Going to turn to another major headline this morning, that tragic shooting at an Elementary School in california. Here is what we know. The shooter targeted his estranged wife, a teacher, killing her before turning the gun on himself. An 8yearold was also killed and a fourth victim, a 9yearold was injured and is now in stable condition. Abcs Kayna Whitworth is on the scene there for us and has more. Good morning, kayna. Reporter robin, good morning. There were 15 kids in that classroom. And it was a special education classroom. Authorities say that those two little boys you just talked about had gotten behind their teacher when the shooting happened. He had nothing to do with the couple who had been married three short months and had recently separated. Tragedy unfolding in San Bernardino. Possible active shooter at north park elementary. Reporter after a gunman stormed a special education classroom opening fire on a teacher and two of her students before turning the gun on himself. Can you advise if the victim is a student or an employee . Its both. Its both. Reporter 53yearold Cedric Anderson checked in at the front desk of north park elementary in San Bernardino at 10 30 a. M. Monday morning saying he needed to drop something off for karen smith, his estranged wife and a teacher at the school. He entered the classroom without saying anything armed with a large caliber revolver, opened fire on his wife. Reporter the school immediately going on lockdown. Students evacuated hand in hand as heavily armed officers and s. W. A. T. Teams arrived on scene within minutes. Todays been a nightmare for sure. Reporter but it would be hours before parents and children were reunited. 5yearold cindy doty in class down the hall when the shooting started. I didnt know what was happening and i just wanted to go home. Reporter smith and 8yearold Jonathan Martinez did not survive. Another boy in stable condition this morning. Authorities later searching a home in nearby riverside where the once happy couple lived. Police havent said why anderson may have targeted his wife. The pair seen in this facebook video but are shedding light on his dark past including a history of domestic violence, weapons and drug charges. The teachers mother telling abc news her daughter knew something was wrong and she tried to get out of her marriage. North park elementary is closed for the next two days, robin. So tragic. All right, kayna, thank you. Michael. Robin, now to that outrage over video of a passenger forcibly removed from United Airlines flight after refusing to give up his seat when he was ordered to. The Airlines Response is raising new questions and Abcs David Kerley is at Dulles Airport with the story. Good morning. Reporter good morning. This shocking video that is lighting up social media around the globe has some wondering why united has not apologized to the passenger. [ screaming ] reporter this shocking scene captured by passengers aboard that united flight from chicago to louisville prompting even a response from the ceo of united calling it upsetting. Ceo oscar munoz writing in a letter to employees said, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact chicago Aviation Security officers. While i deeply regret this situation arose, i also emphatically stand behind all of you and i want to commend you for continuing to go above and beyond to ensure we fly right. The video shows the 69yearold man getting pulled out of the plane by three Aviation Security officials. Moments after being told he needed to give up his seat because the plane was overbooked. As officials dragged the man through the aisles by his arms and legs, horrified passengers say they overheard him shouting that hes a doctor and being profiled because he is chinese. I could not believe what i was seeing or hearing. I was in shock. Reporter once off the plane he unsuccessfully tries to reboard with a bloody lip. The drama began when the airline asked passengers to give up seats voluntarily because four crew members needed to board to work a flight in louisville. United offered passengers vouchers up to a thousand dollars but because the next flight didnt depart until the following day there were no takers. The airline says this forced them into an involuntary deboarding situation which means the airline decides which passengers to bump using a computer involving connecting flights and how long the passenger must stay at the airport. Now, united says the passenger was belligerent. One of the Security Officers has been placed on leave and, robin, in the fine print when you buy a ticket this is part of the contract. It is perfectly legal for the airline to tell you even if youre in a seat to get off. Many dont know that. Well talk to dan about. Dan abrams joins us and talk about that in a moment. First, whats going on here . The ceo i dont know why hes making this statement, right. United is getting so caught up in the issue that david just raised which is its our legal right to refuse someone access to the plane or even to remove them from the plane. Thats not the point. The point is the world is watching that video and saying, wait a second. Could that be me . All right. And as a result, the response from United Airlines ought to just be this is horrible. This is terrible. This is awful and this wont happen again. Thats it. I mean from a pr perspective and, again, pr in legal do end up intersecting, it is not smart for him to at this point simply be saying we did nothing wrong. We did nothing wrong, we did nothing wrong. Another legal issue of the man who was scuffed up, we saw him bleeding. Could he possibly file a lawsuit. Lets talk about the legal issues involved. If theres a lawsuit, it likely is against actually the Police Department. More than united because, again, united does have the legal right to refuse someone access or even to ask someone to leave a plane. The people who pulled him off the plane were not United Airlines employees. That was the Police Department doing that. And a member of the Police Department, the Aviation Police have already been put on leave as a result of those actions. Now, could there be a lawsuit against united . Absolutely. Will they throw in the fact that it was employees of united who were taking those seats instead of passengers, absolutely. But the fact that united couldnt take care of it itself and had to call the police for Something Like that, that could be another issue. Talk about the legal stance. People are not aware of what rights and the rights that they dont have when theyre boarding. There is a passenger bill of rights, right . If you are one of those people in an overbooking situation who has refused access or told to leave a plane youre entitled to not just some coupons but entitled to cash and theres specific amounts of money youre entitled to in addition to getting to the location youre going to. This is far from over. It is far from over in particular as a result of what the united ceo said. Lets see if they settle. Amy here with the other top stories and more news out of russia. Authorities have arrested eight people now in connection with a subway bombing in st. Petersburg, russia, last week. The suspects are linked to a terror cell they say and storing weapons and police are looking into whether the bomber identified as a 22yearold Russian National trained with isis in syria. Back here in this country alabama is under new management. The Lieutenant Governor is taking over following the resignation of Robert Bentley who pleaded guilty to using public money when he was governor to cover up an affair with a top aide. The 74yearold will have to pay back that money and fines but will avoid jail time. Well, a maryland supermarket is investigating how a live scorpion got into a bag of spinach bought by a couple who posted this video of it. This comes just days after a bat was found inside a bag of salad in florida that prompted a recall. And it was a terrifying scene at a fair in paris as a woman, look at this, fell out of the harness on this bungee ride and dangled in the air with just her boots and you can see that her head was just inches from the ground as she swung back and forth seven times before workers finally stopped her. Physically she is okay. Finally, it wasnt a bird or a plane, but whatever it was caused some woman some very frightening moments in california. Did you guys see that . Yep, we saw it. We it appeared to be a meteor streaking across Southern California there. People as far away as phoenix reported seeing it. Another unexplained mystery in the air. Hmm. And george laughs. All right. Well, she got it on camera. Got to be real, right . All right. Wel