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Hillary Clinton Talks Syria; Clinton: Russia Proposal "Important Step"; Rodman: Kim Jong Un, A "Good Guy"; Rodman Confronts CNN Reporter; George Zimmerman In Police Custody

Aired September 09, 2013 - 14:30   ET

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

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: Whether they are used again against Syrian civilians or transferred to Hezbollah or stolen by other terrorists, this is about protecting both the Syrian people and our friends in the region. The world will have to deal with this threat as swiftly and comprehensively as possible. Now, if the regime immediately surrendered its stockpiles to international control, as was suggested by Secretary Kerry, and the Russians, that would be an important step.

But this cannot be another excuse for delay or obstruction. And Russia has to support the international community's efforts sincerely or be held to account. It is very important to note that this discussion that has taken hold today about potential international control over Syria's stockpiles only could take place in the context of a credible military threat by the United States to keep pressure on the Syrian government as well as those supporting Syria like Russia.

Third, as has been emphasized many times and I did so as secretary of state, the broader conflict in Syria is a threat to regional stability and security of our allies and partners as well as a humanitarian catastrophe for the Syrian people and those neighbors countries attempting to absorb hundreds of thousands now more than 2 million refugees. Achieving a political solution that ends the conflict is in the interest of the United States.

It will require an intense diplomatic effort guided by the road map that was agreed to by the international community in Geneva last year in June of 2012. There was an agreement. We hammered out that pointed the way forward. We need to get to the opportunity to begin such negotiations to move toward a resolution. The president and I discussed these challenges today. I will continue to support his efforts and I hope that the Congress will as well.

I also want to thank President Obama for making the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking a priority across the United States government, and for inviting me and Chelsea to participate today on behalf of the -

(END LIVE SPEECH COVERAGE)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: OK, so let's pull away. You have been listening to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She was speaking at this pre-planned event on wild' life trafficking. What is so huge, what just came out there is the fact that former Secretary Clinton essentially acknowledged John Kerry, the man who now has her old job, acknowledged his comment when he had said this morning in London, let me make sure I quote this for you.

He was talking and saying that, if Assad turned over every single bit of his chemical weapons, that would avoid U.S. strikes, and that's huge, especially since we have now learned from a senior U.S. official that that was actually Kerry going off script. That was to quote this official, "a goof."

But the fact that Hillary Clinton went with that, Jessica Yellin, let me bring you in on this, chief domestic affairs correspondent, and Christiane Amanpour is going to join us as well, chief international correspondent. Jessica, first to you, that is a huge deal to me to hear Hillary Clinton acknowledging Secretary Kerry's comments?

JESSICA YELLIN, CHIEF DOMESTIC AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: She did say she came from a meeting with the president and so the president would have known what she was going to say when she came out here. When she's acknowledging that, you know, sometimes policy is made from off the cuff remarks, and she did make it clear that any chemical weapons exchange, any development that comes out of this, would have to be done not as a charade and it would only be happening because there is a threat of military force by the U.S. but this is a clear development here.

And an acknowledgment is coming from a former official speaking at the White House, and it's something that we therefore have to take seriously. For Hillary Clinton, it gives her a little wiggle room because she's saying I support the president's military posture, but I also support this ability to find another way out. So maybe it gives her a lilt bit of political manoeuvrability but it's also a serious position from the U.S. I think.

BALDWIN: So serious from the U.S., and Christiane, just broadening it out because we then heard because of what Secretary Kerry said, then Russia and Syria had chatted and they said they would welcome this idea. What do you make of what Hillary Clinton said, and what does welcome really even mean, you think?

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, in other words, they have used inside the White House today, after this Russian and Syrian proposal, was that we're going to take a hard look at it. Of course, some of the administration officials say there was a dose of skepticism about it because they weren't sure the Assad regime would follow through. Here's the thing. Before even Secretary Kerry mentioned it today in London before leaving, this has been floated in certain very important circles in Britain and in other parts of Europe over the last several weeks.

Lord Owen, who used to be a foreign secretary in England many years ago and has been in many international arenas since, he started to float this idea to get Syria's stockpiles of chemical weapons and other weapons of mass destruction out and under international control. In fact, I asked Syria's ambassador to the U.N. this very question on CNN a week ago and he said that is something that Syria would look at. Now, the question is, is this going to gather momentum and is it really a go, if you like? Has it really got some legs to it? Obviously, if that did happen and Syria did finally sign on to the U.N. convention that bans chemical weapons, that would be a major development. But this is something that obviously is not going to happen overnight.

Although I just spoke to a former senior intelligence and weapons control expert and official under the Bush administration, and he said Syria could right now start making public pledges and public moves along with the U.N. to make this -- get this ball rolling. So we'll see how this develops.

BALDWIN: And Christiane, I hear you saying this had been floated before, and really, this is a question to either of you. Both of you have covered the White House, you have been around the world, Christiane, would you have diplomacy based on this seemingly off-the- cuff comment?

AMANPOUR: Well, again, you know, I don't know how off the cuff it is. I'm not there as their speechwriters and this and that, but this could be taken both ways. Either it's a serious development or a stalling tactic. That I think is at the heart of the issue right now, how the Obama administration is going to react to it, how Congress will react to it.

You know the "Washington Post" reported today there's an initiative by two U.S. senators to have some kind of ultimatum delivered to Assad before any kind of action is taken. And the ultimatum revolves around bringing conventional weapons or chemical weapons under some kind of international control. So this is not just happening in the foreign field. It's also apparently being taken up in some quarters in Congress as well.

BALDWIN: Let's take a look. We've had pretty stunning polling coming out. I'm sure both of you have seen it. First of all, let me talk about the question we pose, CNN Opinion Research poll, whether or not a larger war would develop if the U.S. attacks Syria. The majority of those we polled said likely, yes. That's 72 percent for that. Also, just this weekend, we were showing 59 percent of the public does not want Congress to authorize American military action in Syria.

These numbers said, Jessica, here we have the president, in a matter of minutes he'll be speaking with our own Wolf Blitzer. Six interviews, primetime address tomorrow night. How does the president balance what we have heard from John Kerry and since you mentioned, Hillary Clinton and that conversation in the White House, versus the overall message to the public?

YELLIN: He's in a difficult position, obviously, Brooke. But for the president, the claim will have to be essentially American exceptionalism. It's an awkward position, a surprising position for a man who has been accused by his critics of being an apologist for America, saying that America's made too many forays into foreign lands. But he'll essentially be arguing that America stands alone among nations as the one power that can essentially use its force for virtue and for good, and defend a convention, defend the standard against chemical weapons.

There is no real argument for national interest. There is no immediate threat to the nation that the U.S. would be taken this action because it is the right thing to do, and it's America's place to draw this line. And do Americans agree with him? Do Americans want to be in that position? It's a decision that the nation will then have to make. There are other arguments about the broader Middle East and the balance of power.

But on principle, that is the fundamental case that he'll be making tomorrow night, and it's an odd turn about to see him making that too many of the critics who have accused him of arguing against that position for so many years.

BALDWIN: Jessica Yellin and Christiane Amanpour, thank you. Before we watch the president tomorrow night, we'll be watching his interview with Wolf Blitzer, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time here on CNN.

Next is something a lot of you are talking about. We're going to move off Syria just for a moment and talk about former NBA star Dennis Rodman. He is opening up, shall we call it? After a recent trip to North Korea, telling President Obama what the leader, Kim Jong-Un, really wants.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS RODMAN, FORMER NBA PLAYER: This guy wants to do one thing. I got the inside track on what you want to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: OK, so that's not all. Rodman got personal. Hear his thoughts on Kim Jong-Un as a dad.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: There are plenty of words you could describe former NBA star Dennis Rodman, but could U.S. diplomat actually be added to that list? Upon returning from so-called basketball diplomacy trip to North Korea, Rodman announced he is putting together a basketball event set for January that will involve players from the two countries and will be held in North Korea. So in this lengthy and really at times uncomfortable news conference today, Dennis Rodman called his trip unprecedented and said Kim Jong-Un, and I'm quoting, "is a good guy."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RODMAN: A very historical moment and I just wish that all the other people in the government and in our country will understand the fact that this is not something that's going to interfere with our lives or anyone's lives in the world. This is about trying to breach a gap to a country that people say is so bad. This country is not bad because the marshal now, he wants to change, and I'm there. He wants to change.

And the one thing, what we hear and what we see in America is most of you people here don't see that over there. You write what you hear, but you don't see what you write. If you meet the marshal over there, he's a very good guy. And very serious, he has to do his job, but he's a very good guy. You know, People think this is a gimmick. I would love to make this a gimmick and make a -- of money. I would love to make a -- of money, but it's not about the money.

It's about doing one thing, trying to open Obama's and everyone's mind. And guess what, I could talk about politics, talk about anything in the world. Meet him in Switzerland. Meet him in London. Meet him in Ireland. Just meet him or even give him a call. That's all he wants. For me to go over there and do one thing, to make this happen, it says a lot. For him to like me, it says a lot. For him to open his heart and his mind to give me his daughter for the first time in history, I hold his kid, really.

It takes a lot to do one thing. How is Dennis Rodman, of all people, not Muhammad Ali, not Mike Tyson, not all the great athletes in the world, not Michael Jordan, why Dennis Rodman had to break these grounds to make things work, why me? Of all people, because all the media in the world has dogged Dennis Rodman, have dogged me, but I persevered.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: If you thought that was strange, wait until you see what happened when Rodman confronted our own correspondent there, Jason Carroll, and the invitation he got, the moments you cannot miss after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Former NBA great, Dennis Rodman, has returned from a second trip to North Korea with this message that Kim Jong-Un, and I'm quoting him, "is a very good guy." Rodman announced plans today for a basketball game between North Korea and the United States to be held, he says, in January. A part of what he is calling basketball diplomacy.

And CNN's Jason Carroll was there, part of this whole news conference, and you, of course you did, you asked him some tough questions, Jason Carroll. Even for Dennis Rodman, this was nothing short of strange.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, you know, with Rodman, you never know what to expect. I mean, look, he says that he doesn't want to get into politics. He says that he was in North Korea trying to break ground with the reclusive government. But as you know, Brooke, controversy seems to follow this man wherever he goes, and North Korea was no exception. Rodman described the North Korean leader as a man who wants to change.

He talked about that historic moment he says when he was allowed to hold the leader's daughter. He also talked how his version of basketball diplomacy was paying off. He said that he was able to announce that during his five-day visit, he inked a deal with the Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Un, that would allow a basketball match between U.S. and Korean players on January 8th of next year as well as the 10th, but no deal to release imprisoned American Kenneth Bay.

During that press conference, we had a bit of an exchange when I asked him about some derogatory comments he made about President Obama as well as former Secretary of State Clinton. Rodman defended what he said about them as well as defending the Korean dictator. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RODMAN: He's a very good guy. He has to do his job, but he's a very good guy.

CARROLL: Earlier in the press conference, you referred to the dictator as a very good guy and a guy who has to do a job, but how do you reconcile with the fact that this is a man who is responsible for repressing millions of people?

RODMAN: I said this to him, I said your grandfather and your father did some bad things, but I said you are trying to change something. Just because you see on TV doing this, doing this, you never hear him talk. You always see him do one thing like his grandfather and father.

CARROLL: When you were overseas, you referred to the president and the former secretary of the state using a derogatory term, which was caught on tape. Do you stand by what you said about the president and the former Secretary of State Clinton?

RODMAN: I would say that very easy. I'll say it direct. Obama, what are you afraid of? Come talk to me. Guess what? I've seen things. I know things that you want to know talk to me. And guess what? Obama, I don't hate your guts. Hillary, I love you. Bill Clinton, I love you. Come talk to me. I know things.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RODMAN: Interesting. So if all goes as planned, Rodman will be back in North Korea this December to help train the North Koreans. As for helping Kenneth Bay, Rodman said he's not going over there to rescue anybody. He said he's simply trying to open doors.

BALDWIN: Basketball diplomacy, he says. We'll see where it goes next. Jason Carroll, thank you so much.

Let me move on this. We're getting some breaking news here in to us at CNN. We have now learned that George Zimmerman is currently in custody. We're told it involves some kind of altercation. We are gathering the facts. That is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right, breaking news, you heard me before the break. We now have word that the man who was acquitted of murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman. He is now in police custody in the Orlando area. In fact, let's take some of the aerials from our Orlando TV affiliate. This is actually where this arrest has apparently recently taken place. Let me tell you what I know. You can see a number of police cars.

This is according to Lake Mary Police, the public information officer, Lake Mary, by the way, is just next door to Sanford. We know that Zimmerman has been placed in investigative detention and there are, according to this public information officer, there are a total of three parties involved. It appears to be a domestic altercation.

That being in investigative detention, is according to this officer, a normal procedure anytime, she says, we have somebody suspected of doing anything, we place them in investigative detention until a complete investigation has been done. The investigation, she says, should be done pretty quickly. The incident happened at a Lake Mary residence on Sprucewood Road just in the last hour. So that's what we have on George Zimmerman. As soon as we get more information, we'll bring it to you here on CNN.

Coming up next, more on our other breaking story out of Washington, moments ago, Hillary Clinton, fresh out of a meeting with the president of the United States stood at the White House and announced the administration is open to Russia's offer to Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control. Whose idea was this? Is this realistic? We're going to talk to Fareed Zakaria. He's going to join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)