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Prism

Violent Clashes Erupt On Egyptian-Gaza Border Over Aid Convoy Delay

Aired January 06, 2010 - 12:00   ET

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

STAN GRANT, CNN INT'L. ANCHOR, PRISM (voice over): Clashes at the Gaza-Egypt border. The delay of an aid convoy ignites a volatile mix of frustration and anger.

A crackdown on Al Qaeda in Yemen. Three suspected militants are now in custody. We're live in the capitol with the latest.

And hundreds of corporations, with hundreds of thousands of men operating in conflict zones; in our "Prism Segment" tonight, what role should private security contractors play in a war?

From CNN Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, this is PRISM, where we take a story and look at it from multiple perspectives. I'm Stan Grant.

First up, anger boils over at the Egypt-Gaza border over a delayed international aid convoy. Lighting the fuse of frustration with Egypt's handling of its border crossings. Egyptian security forces clashed with Palestinians hurling rocks. An Egyptian guard was killed. Several Palestinians wounded. It came after a demonstration called earlier by Hamas rulers in Gaza. Paula Hancocks joins us now from Jerusalem with more on this -Paula.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Stan.

Well, that protest did actually start peacefully. It was a protest against the fact that this international aid convoy has been kept at El- Arish, at port, in Egypt. And it has been delayed a number of times. So there is some anger in Gaza, and certainly it spilled over into bloodshed today. We saw hundreds of Palestinians throwing stones at Egyptian forces and firing on Egyptian forces. They returned in kind. So, one Egyptian soldier was killed. About three dozen Palestinians injured, according to Hamas. Two of them critically from gunshot wounds.

So, it really is anger that has turned over into this bloodshed. Anger that has been building for sometime. This international aid convoy has something in the range of 200 trucks carrying aid, carrying food, medicine, school supplies, clothes, on its way to Gaza. But it has been delayed a number of times by the Egyptian authorities. And Gazans, in particular, Hamas, are furious that the Egyptians have not allowed this convoy to come straight through.

So international activists - actually overnight, the pictures you are actually watching right now - clashed with Egyptian forces. They also were showing their anger and frustration that they had been delayed, Stan.

GRANT: Yes, Paula, you talk about the aid supply being delayed, but I understand also some concern, and there is some tension between the Gazans and Egyptians over attempts by Egypt to block tunnels that are along the border.

HANCOCKS: That is right. This is something that started just at the end of last year. There are hundreds of smuggling tunnels that go from under Raffa (ph) on the Gaza side, to Raffa (ph) on the Egyptian side. And through those tunnels there is a huge amount of basic goods that have come through. There is food, medicine, livestock, motorbikes, cars even. And of course, it is understood that there are weapons that also come through these tunnels.

So, what Egypt is now doing is trying to build an underground steel wall to try and cut these tunnels off. Now, this is a life line for many Palestinians in Gaza. It is certainly a live line for the Hamas government, which is why the Hamas wanted this protest today to also protest against the blockade they believe that Egypt and the Egyptian authorities are almost implicitly helping Israel keep its blockade on Gaza. Now Israel has had this blockade since Hamas took control of The Strip by force, just about two and a half years ago.

So, Hamas believes Egypt is almost siding with Israel and trying to enclose the Gaza Strip even more, Stan.

GRANT: And Paula Hancocks, joining us live there, and discussing the situation, the tension between Gaza and Egypt.

Now some fast facts on Gaza. It is one of the most densely populate places on earth. More than 1.4 million people live on a tiny strip of land. Gaza's economy has come to a near standstill during the last 18 months. Unemployment runs at 45 percent; 80 percent live on less than $2 a day. There are more than 960,000 registered Palestinian refugees. That is nearly 70 percent of Gaza's total population.

To Pakistan now, and another suspected drone attack in a tribal region near the Afghanistan border. Pakistani intelligence sources say at least 13 suspect militants were killed, apparently by missiles fired from an unmanned U.S. aircraft. The suspected drone strikes come less than a week since seven CIA officers and a Jordanian were killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.

Officials in Yemen say they have nabbed three Al Qaeda suspects apparently tied to threats against the U.S. and other embassies in the capital Sanna. They were wounded in fighting launched Monday over the embassy threats and in the wake of the alleged Christmas bomb plot aboard a U.S.-bound airliner.

Now, Yemen's foreign minister concedes to CNN's Christiane Amanpour, his government has not focused on Al Qaeda enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ABU BKR AL QIRBI, FOREIGN MINISTER, YEMEN: (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRANT: I'm losing - I can't.

Now, our International Security Correspondent Paula Newton has more from right there in Yemen's capital city. And that admission they haven't been doing enough, what is the government doing now to crack down on Al Qaeda?

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INT'L. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are trying to make the most of the resources that have been given to them, by the U.S. and its allies. And clearly, what they are trying to do is make the most of the intelligence that they are given and the tools to be able to make that intelligence work for them. That is what we saw in these strikes, today, again, three Al Qaeda operatives in custody.

But this will be an absolutely protracted battle here, in Sanna. And the government admits it is struggling to cope. Right now Al Qaeda has been able to stage somewhat of a comeback here in Yemen. They had been forced out of regions like Pakistan and Afghanistan. And Yemen, really, for many, many years has been uncontrollable by its own central government. There are areas of this country that the government does not pretend to have any kind of control over. And for that reason it has given Al Qaeda some safe haven.

The government here, though, can't be seen to be a puppet of the United States. They are very sensitive that they, themselves, take a lead on these operations. Certainly the last thing they want is to be seen to aiding too much American interference here in this country, Stan.

GRANT: Paula, not wanting to be seen as a puppet of the United States, but obviously a need for international support, not just from the United States, but also from Saudi Arabia?

NEWTON: Absolutely. Now, in the last year Saudi Arabia has stepped up its aid once again, more than $2 billion. And, Stan, keep in mind the poverty here is a huge reason why this country remains vulnerable to something like an Al Qaeda cell. The other thing, though, clearly in the last few months Saudi Arabia has escalated each battle with, in fact, Koufi (ph) rebels, that are in the north of this country. Saudi Arabia has made incursions into Yemen itself to try and contain that rebellion. And that has also taken a bit of pressure off the government.

But as we just heard, the foreign minister admitting, look, Al Qaeda was not our focus, we had what we thought were more significant problems. Now they say, they are refocusing on Al Qaeda.

GRANT: Paula, thank you. Paula Newton joining us live there from Sanna, Yemen.

For the Obama administration has temporarily scratched Yemen off its list. It will no longer be a transfer destination for detainees still being held at the U.S. Naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

President Obama says the current security situation in Yemen is unsettled. The decision to temporarily remove Yemen from the list follows the failed Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. airliner. The suspected bomber is believed to have been trained inside Yemen.

Yemen's neighbor to the north says its ready to lend a hand with security issues following a meeting with Egypt's president, the Saudi foreign minister said terror groups are a common threat and fighting them should be a shared battle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAUD AL-FAISAL, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We are defending our land and we are supporting the Yemeni government for defending its land and its unity. We are with Yemen and supporting its efforts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRANT: Now, is Yemen a safe haven for Islamic militants and what will it take to actually crack down on that. Tonight, on "AMANPOUR" is Yemen a safe haven. That is the focus of the provocative edition of "AMANPOUR" tonight at midnight in Abu Dhabi, 2100 in Central Europe, right here on CNN.

As a response to the failed bombing the tighter U.S. regulations on airline security was supposed to kick in yesterday in the countries highlighted here on the map. And some are not happy with the new rules. Cuba has reportedly complained about the extra screenings for passengers traveling from or through its borders. Nigeria also objects. The government is asking the U.S. to reconsider. Nigeria added that the decision could harm bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, it has become easier for suspicious persons to find themselves on the U.S. watch or no fly lists, and to have their visas pulled. The Obama administration has lowered the threshold for information that triggers these steps even though the alleged would-be bomber was known to have visited Yemen and his own father warned the U.S. about him, no action was taken because of rules in place at the time.

The weekend security breach at the international airport in Newark, New Jersey, points to another communication failure. An airport source says it took the U.S. Transportation Security Administration 80 minutes to inform the Port Authority about the breach. The Port Authority runs the airport. The scare unfolded when a man walked the wrong way through security. We are told Port Authority cameras installed cameras were rolling but not recording at the time. The terminal had to be shut down and thousands of passengers rescreened.

We all know about the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, less well-known the mirror force operating alongside the troops. In tonight's "Prism Segment" we'll look at role contractors play in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Plus, a high seas confrontation end in one whale of a crash. We'll bring you that story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRANT: Welcome back.

There are about 200,000 contractors working for the U.S. government in Iraq and Afghanistan. And the numbers could rise this year with the drawdown in Iraq and the troop surge in Afghanistan. In our "Prism Segment" we're exploring what role contractors should play in conflict zones. It is a question that generates lots of controversy, especially contractors with security roles. The U.S. Congress is scrutinizing the use of contractors and their considerable cost to taxpayers. We begin with a hearing in Washington last month.

Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, CO-CHAIR, WARTIME CONTRACTING COMMISSION: There aren't enough military trainers to do the training. Contractors like Xe, MPRI and DyneCorp (ph), play a significant role in the U.S. training efforts in Afghanistan. And as we noted earlier, contractors' role is likely to grow as the build up of Afghan army and police ranks continues.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRANT: Well, Iraqis are angry over the handling of a case involving the killing of Iraqi civilians and a U.S. security firm formerly as Blackwater. It is an example of the problems that can arise with contractors in a war zone. Problems that can lead to demands for contractors to leave.

Diana Magnay takes a closer look at this part of equation for us, from Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Guns hanging from the windows of high profile private security convoys used to be a common sight on Iraq's streets. Up until last year contractors enjoyed immunity from prosecutions in Iraqi courts. But a bloody shootout in a Baghdad traffic circle in 2007 changed everything; 17 Iraqi civilians were killed when six Blackwater guards shot into the traffic.

The Blackwater men said they came under attack, but the Iraqi government, the Pentagon, and the U.S. Department of Justice believe that there had been no enemy fire. There was an immediate sense on Iraq's streets, and even inside the government, that these guns for hire somehow thought they were above the law.

Now, dozens of private security firms operate in Iraq under a lowered profile. But that has done little to change the perception of this industry here.

MEHSEN MASHKOUR, BAGHDAD RESIDENT (through translator): There has been a positive change in their behavior, but it is not a complete change. About a 30 to 40 percent change.

MAJID AL-AQABI, BAGHDAD RESIDENT: The names of some companies have become really well known, because of things that they have done, like Blackwater, and what they have committed in (UNINTELLIGIBLE). And that influences Iraqi public opinion.

MAGNAY: Between 2003 and 2008 the cumulative value of private security firms contracts, according to the U.S. Department of Defense was around $4.5 billion. And even that is a conservative figure according to industry analysts. But the interior minister believes their services won't be required for much longer.

"Ministries and international companies in Iraq during a certain phase needed these security services," he says. "But with the improving security situation in the country I believe that the demand for these security companies will drop."

When the Blackwater case was dismissed in a U.S. court, the commander of U.S. forces in Iraq was concerned about how Iraqis would react.

GEN. RAYMOND ODIERNO, U.S. COMMANDER IN IRAQ: Well, I hope they realize that, once again, it wasn't - we all know it wasn't U.S. soldiers, sailors and Marines who did this. It was a private security company. What I worry about is will there be backlash against private security companies.

MAGNAY (On camera): And he's right to be worried. Many Iraqis say they don't see much difference between the U.S. military and this army of private mercenaries. And neither the military nor the U.S. State Department can do its job here without them. Diana Magnay, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRANT: Well, Blackwater has since changed its name. But the Iraqi government doesn't want any former Blackwater employees in the country, at all. In an interview with CNN, government spokesman Ali Al-Dabbagh said, "I don't think the Iraqi government is willing to have any Blackwater member, even if they are working in other companies. We don't like to see them here, working in any company."

From Hanoverian, a reader on CNN.com, there is this posting on the subject: "The men who operate within the law and guidelines deserve our thanks and support. The conduct of some security contractors can run counter to the objectives of the coalition or government. This can fuel the insurgency."

We are now going to bring in Suzanne Simons from CNN Center in Atlanta. Suzanne is a CNN executive producer and author of "Master of War: Blackwater USA's Erik Prince and the Business of War". Prince is the founder of Blackwater. Suzanne spent considerable time researching the firm and other contractors.

Suzanne, give us a sense from your research, the people that you spoke to, this very secretive organization, what sense did you walk away from that research with?

SUZANNE SIMONS, CNN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: You know, the most interesting thing, number one, I was kind of blown away by how reliant the United States has become on companies like Blackwater. It is the CIA, it is the Department of Defense, it is the Department of State, they simply can't do their job in Iraq and Afghanistan without private help. And you know, coming from America that is kind of a shocking revelation.

The other thing was there was really no accountability. This happened so fast, right after the invasion of Afghanistan when really a lot of the agencies started turning to private companies with help with security, that there were no clear legal structures in place. OK, well, they are not military, so we can't try them in a military court if they do anything wrong. And since that time it has been a kind of a catch up game and the government is still not there yet.

GRANT: Suzanne, there is a difference though in needing the help and how the organizations see themselves. In the past it has been described, for instance with the security organizations, the CIA, and so on, there is a brotherly relationship with organizations like Blackwater. Did you also get that sense?

SIMONS: Yes, well especially when it comes with, you know, the security details, the security contractors, the ones who are armed and travel around with the government details. Those are the people who are in it everyday. I mean, if you look at this bombing in Khost, last week, with the CIA team. I mean, the CIA said there were seven officers killed. They were counting the Blackwater contractors who were among that group, as CIA officers. That is how closely they think of them. They travel in very small teams, along that border, looking for Al Qaeda. They have targets they are going after and they are together 100 percent of the time. You can imagine the camaraderie that forms when your life is on the line with someone and it is the same person, day after day, after day. And that is what happens in situations like this.

GRANT: Suzanne, let's have a look at Iraq. You know, after Nisour Square and the killing of civilians that the Iraqi government wanted Blackwater, as it was then known, out of the country; doesn't want any of the former employees, in fact, operating in the country. Is that the case though, is that happening?

SIMONS: Well, there are two ways I can answer that question, it is going to show you how complex it is. The first one is, a lot of these contractors are not employees of the organization. So that is to say, the guards in the Nisour Square incident, for example, were on contracts. When their contract runs out they can simply go and work for another company. There are, as we know, hundreds of private companies, operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. So, a lot of the people who were working for Blackwater, which renamed itself Xe, did go to work for other companies. So those people could absolutely still be there.

However, the company, itself, was supposed to be kicked out as well. Erik Prince owns several companies, one of them he calls Presidential Airways. And they were offering aviation support for the Department of State. And they were still operating in Iraq. And I am told they have just transitioned that contract as of this past Sunday. They have just transitioned that contract to a new company to take over.

GRANT: Well, Suzanne, appreciate your thoughts. Thank you very much for joining us.

SIMONS: Bye (ph).

GRANT: Suzanne Simons, joining us from CNN's Center in Atlanta.

Suzanne has actually written a book on Blackwater. Some thoughts on the role of contractors in conflict zones.

We would like to hear from you. Drop me a note on Twitter, as StanGrantCNN.

Clash at sea: A conservation group's boat takes on water after being struck by a Japanese whaling ship. Both sides are trading blame.

And let is snow, let it snow, from Birmingham to Berlin, travel grinds to a standstill for much of Europe.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRANT: The whale wars in the waters of Antarctica appear to be escalating. For years anti-whaling activists have tried to sabotage Japan's hunt. Now they are accusing a Japanese boat of deliberately destroying their vessel. Kyung Lah has details on the incident. Video on the collision and much more on the fall out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KYUNG LAH, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONDENT (On camera): A clash in the Antarctic between Japanese whale hunters and anti-whaling activists. Both sides shot video of the incident. The larger vessel that you see, belonged to Japanese fisherman, who are there hunting whales. The smaller, power boat is the Ady Gil, a futuristic Bat Mobile looking boat. Now, Sea Shepard says that boat cost about $2 million.

(Voice over): The Japanese fishing boat is spraying the Ady Gil with water cannons. The two boats then get very close, and there is a collision. Now, it is very difficult to tell exactly what has happening there. But we are getting two very different interpretations. Sea Shepherd says that its vessel was deliberately rammed by the Japanese. Calling it, quote, "an unprovoked attack". Saying that the Ady Gil is now sinking. That's crew of six has been rescued, but one person was injured.

Japan says the Sea Shepherd vessel went in front of its vessel, and it could not avoid a collision. Japan blames the activists, who say this is a continuation of the Sea Shepard's activities down in the Antarctic to try to stop Japanese whaling. And saying that what is happening down there is very dangerous and it is instigated by Sea Shepard. Japan, as a country, does hunt whales, every single winter, despite a worldwide moratorium on whale hunting, Japan does do this, calling it scientific research. But because some of that meat does end up on store shelves and markets, sold and consumed, activists say it is absolutely a cover for whale hunting.

Sea Shepherd says it has no intent in backing down. And, if anything, this latest incident says it escalates its activities down in the Antarctic. Kyung Lah, CNN, Tokyo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRANT: Well this is a treacherous day for travel in some parts of the world, but especially, in the southern reaches of England. More than 40 centimeters of snow has fallen in some places. At least four airports were shut down for hours, by accumulated snow and ice. The roads are a mess as well. Travel remains sketchy today after many motorists were trapped in their cars over night. More snow is falling across the Channel, as well, in Germany, and France, making the region's already enduring cold spell, that much more miserable.

Extraordinary pictures, those. We'll take a look at the global weather picture. Mari Ramos is at the CNN World Weather Center.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRANT: Well, the Hubble Space Telescope continues to snap away at the universe. Now it has taken what amounts to a cosmic baby picture. Scientists combined an image shot last August with an infrared picture taken in 2004. That is when a number of unknown galaxies popped up. Scientists say the oldest one, appearing as bright red specks, are 1.3 billion light years away. That means a light force in the image left the galaxies 600 to 800 million years after the Big Bang, a long journey.

And that's it for me, Stan Grant in Abu Dhabi. "INSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST" is next, just after we update the headlines.

END