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Terror Leader Seized in Libya; Government Shutdown Showdown; Most Wanted Terrorist Nabbed; Horrific Crash at Indy; U.S. Command Strikes in Africa; Obama's Absence Notices at Summit; Interview with Cicely Tyson

Aired October 06, 2013 - 19:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. Thank you so much for joining us here on CNN. I'm Don Lemon. You're in the NEWSROOM.

We are learning some fascinating details about the two U.S. forces raids halfway around the world in Africa. U.S. officials confirm it was members of the elite U.S. Army Delta Force who captured this man Abu Anas al Libi who is wanted in the deadly twin U.S. bombing attacks in Africa back in 1998. Al-Libi was snatched upon returning to his home after morning prayers yesterday in Tripoli.

Meanwhile 3,000 miles away, Seal Team 6, the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden went after another high-value target. Commandos storm the home in Somalia, thought to belong to the leader of al-Shabaab. That is the terrorist group blamed for the last month's deadly siege in a mall in Kenya. But the mission didn't go as planned. A firefight broke out. U.S. forces were forced to retreat. One suspect was killed but it is still unclear who that is.

We're hearing some incredible details of what went down during the U.S. forces raid in Libya straight from the wife of Abu Anas al Libi. She spoke exclusively to CNN hours ago about what she saw unfold inside her home. And what she says is raising a lot of eyebrows.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UMM ABDUL RAHMAN, WIFE OF CAPTURE AL QAEDA LEADER (through translator): What I saw were Libyans. Maybe they had Americans with them but I didn't see them because there was more than one car. They say there are ten people but I believe there are more than ten. I couldn't count them because there are many of them. I can't confirm if they were Americans or not. What I saw were Libyans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Well Libya at least publicly has deemed his capture a kidnapping. In just a moment I'm going to talk to CNN's Jomana Karadsheh about what else she learned from al Libi's wife during their conversation.

There are a lot of questions about exactly what happened in Libya. I want to bring in CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr. Barbara how is the Pentagon responding to these claims that Libyans possibly worked in conjunction with U.S. forces to get al Libi? BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well good evening Don.

The Pentagon is not officially commenting on any of it other than to acknowledge an operation took place and that U.S. forces led that operation. These are, you know, Delta Force Navy Seals. These are some of the most highly trained covert operations, operatives that there are in the U.S. military that go into the most dangerous operations, the most dangerous corners of the world.

So I think it's pretty unlikely that they would engage in any kind of joint operation. They may have had a translator or someone like that along with them.

But I want to very quickly tell everyone, we have a new piece of information at this hour. A U.S. official has confirmed that al Libi was taken to a U.S. Navy warship in the region. They're not saying exactly where. They're not saying exactly which ship obviously for security reasons, presumably he is of course being questioned but he is taken -- has been taken to a U.S. Navy warship. He is expected of course eventually to be brought to New York for federal prosecution -- Don.

LEMON: Al Libi is wanted in connection with the twin U.S. embassy bombings in Africa Barbara. So how big of a get is he? We've been talking about this. He's a -- this is a pretty big deal -- correct?

STARR: It's a really big deal. For 15 years, the U.S. has been looking for him. U.S. intelligence has been tracking him. Trying to gather information about where he's been. And by all accounts, this operation to get him was in the works for some time. You don't just suddenly do something like this. So this is really a reflection of a massive intelligence effort to keep going after senior al Qaeda operatives, even if it is 15 years after the embassy bombing. This in the view of the administration is delivering justice to al Qaeda and delivering justice for the American families and the Kenyan families, as well as the families in Tanzania who lost loved ones in those attacks.

LEMON: Absolutely before I let you go, I want to talk to you about Seal Team 6 -- we want to turn to Somalia now -- that's the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden. And they carried out the mission that stormed the home of the top leader of al-Shabaab in Somalia.

STARR: They did indeed. We don't know a lot about this one yet it's going to turn out to be pretty interesting I suspect they went to this town in the southern part of Somalia, a longstanding al-Shabaab stronghold. They knew they were going into a very rough patch of territory there. They were going after a top al-Shabaab leader. They have not said who they were looking for. They run into a firefight. They leave, they don't know if they got the man they went after.

LEMON: Barbara Starr I appreciate it, thank you very much.

Now back that successful raid in Libya. Jomana Karadsheh spoke exclusively earlier today with Abu Anas al Libi's wife. She joins me now from Tripoli. Jomana what did she say to you? JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well she defended her husband and said that he is an innocent man. She did admit that he was a member of al Qaeda but she said he left the organization in 1996 after serving alongside Osama bin Laden. She said he served as a personal bodyguard to bin Laden.

But then in '96, she said they were in Sudan at the time left the country and he left the organization. And since then she claims he has had no contact with any members of al Qaeda. And she says he left two years before the twin bombings that you mentioned of the U.S. embassies in eastern Africa.

So she said he was not involved in these bombings or any other bombings. She claims her husband was not linked to any terrorist activity. She said yes, he took part in jihadist activity in Afghanistan years before that but that he was not involved in any of those major bombings -- Don.

LEMON: Jomana Karadsheh thank you very much. We appreciate your reporting as well.

Now back to the new terror group al-Shabaab. Based in the Somalia, they claim responsibility for shooting up that shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya last month. I want to show you a frightening piece of video we just got today here on CNN. It's close circuit footage of those al-Shabaab gunmen walking through that mall, weapons in -- weapons in firing position, apparently searching a store and opening doors.

Now remember, these attackers burst into the mall and started killing people. So this video was shot after people were presumably already panicking and hiding.

But the video also shows the gunman casually leaning against a railing and talking. Kenyan forces killed five of the attackers but not before 67 people died in that mall attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: When I give the Senate Majority Leader some advice at the White House about how -- how to proceed. I gave him some advice over a week ago about how to avert this. And yet they refused.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST: But Mr. Speaker, he says -- and he said it publicly on many occasions -- that you came to him back in July and offered to pass a clean government funding resolution. No Obamacare amendments. It was $70 billion below what the Senate wanted, they accepted it and now you've reneged on that offer.

BOEHNER: No clearly there was a conversation about doing this.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Several conversations.

BOEHNER: Several but I --

STEPHANOPOULOS: And you offered a clean resolution.

BOEHNER: -- but I and my members have decided that the threat of Obamacare and what was happening was so important that it was time for us to take a stand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: House Speaker John Boehner standing firm on the government shutdown battle and he wants President Obama to negotiate with congressional Republicans. Boehner says a clean spending bill has no chance of passing the House.

Well meantime, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says without a debt ceiling increase by October 17th the U.S. won't be able to pay its bills for the first time in 224 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JACK LEW, TREASURY SECRETARY: Now we've never gotten to the point where the United States government has operated without the ability to borrow. It's very dangerous, it's reckless. It would mean that the United States for the first time since 1789 would be not be paying its bills and hurting the full faith and credit because of a political decision.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Don't expect to see a vote on a clean spending bill any time soon. House Speaker Boehner says he won't even try to because he doesn't have the votes to pass it. Some of the Democrats are challenging him just to put to it a vote. The back and forth was all over Washington today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEPHANOPOULOS: I take it from your answer that you're not prepared to schedule a clean vote on government funding right now.

BOEHNER: There are -- there are not the votes in the House to pass a clean CR.

SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The Speaker said there aren't the votes on the floor to reopen the government. Let me issue him a friendly challenge. Put it on the floor Monday or Tuesday. I would bet there are the votes to pass it. We have just about every Democrat; 21 Republicans have publicly said they would. There are many more Republicans who have said that they privately would. So Speaker Boehner just vote, put it on the floor and let's see if you're right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I want to bring in now CNN's Erin McPike who is tracking the shutdown stalemate in Washington. What are the odds that Boehner will take Schumer up on that challenge? ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly not tomorrow Don. If it happens, it would be much later this week. But the Speaker has said repeatedly that he doesn't have the votes.

Now we do think that there are about 20 Republicans or so who might vote for a cleaning spending bill. But the Speaker said also on their very next fight which is coming over the next 11 days on raising the debt ceiling, he won't do a clean bill on that either. So until he has a conversation with the President, don't expect any votes to happen -- Don.

LEMON: So Erin, Republican Senator Ted Cruz made waves with his comments today on Obamacare what did Cruz say to people in Washington and how are they reacting?

MCPIKE: Well Don, this very next fight as we were just talking about over raising the debt limit, Senator Ted Cruz said much the same thing. That he wants to attach the fight over funding Obamacare to that as well. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: In my view, the debt ceiling, we should look for three things. Number one, we should look for some significant structural plan to reduce government spending. Number two, we should avoid new taxes, and number three, we should look for ways to mitigate the harms from Obamacare.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCPIKE: And Don, he said historically, the best way that Congress has leveraged in dealing with the President is by using a fight over the debt ceiling.

So it doesn't look very good.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: All right Erin McPike.

MCPIKE: The healthcare fight continues on.

LEMON: All right thank you Erin we appreciate that.

You know it's almost hard to watch. Indy car driver Dario Franchitti crashing into the wall of today's race in Houston. Once you see the video you'll be amazed he survived. That's next.

And more on our top stories coming up right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: There's a lot going on this week. Let's get you caught up with CNN's Rosa Flores in the "Weekly Five".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here are five things you need to know for your week ahead.

A government shutdown won't stop the Supreme Court. It's business as usual on Monday as the high court holds arguments in some key high profile cases including political campaign donation limits, lawyers are challenging government limits on what individuals can give to candidates, political parties and political action committees.

Tuesday, the Benjamin gets a makeover. The new $100 bills have colorful anti-theft features. Such as a wide holographic strip and color changing ink. It's the biggest redesign to the Big Ben since the big head bills went into circulation in 1996.

We're used to seeing them on the reality TV show "Duck Dynasty". Wednesday, Willie and Korie Robertson received high honors from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. The organization recognizes people who have made extraordinary contributions on behalf of children in need of families.

Thursday, grab the tissues. "Glee" will say goodbye to one of its cast members -- Cory Monteith. Monteith played Finn Hudson the football star and glee club instructor at McKinley High School. Monteith died of an overdose of heroin and alcohol in July.

We'll find out who wins the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. This year brings the greatest number of candidates ever. Among the nominees include Myanmar President Thein Sein for relaxing his country's military rule and the youngest ever nominee, 16-year-old Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban while advocating for education and women's rights.

With your "Weekly Five," I'm Rosa Flores.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Rosa, thank you very much for that.

Our top news story today on CNN is the capture of one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists. I'm talking about Abu Anas al Libi. For 15 years, he eluded capture for his involvement in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in Africa.

Today he is in American custody. More than 200 people died in those bombings. These two Americans were among them -- father and son, Julian Bartley Sr. and Julian Bartley Jr. They were killed at the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya August 17 -- August 7, excuse -- 1998.

They were father and brother to Edith Bartley who joins me now from Washington. Edith thank you for joining us. How are you doing?

EDITH BARTLEY, FATHER AND BROTHER WERE KILLED IN 1998 BOMBING: Thank you for having me.

It's been an interesting weekend. As families, we are certainly surprised by the news last night which was breaking news on CNN, and we thank you for covering that. We want to thank our military and our intelligence community for making the capture of al Libi a reality. And thank our Commander-in-Chief for authorizing that operation. It has been 15 years and there are still other terrorists who are at large who need to be brought to custody and brought to trial.

LEMON: Right. As you mentioned, 15 years in the making -- had you given up hope or were you holding out hope that the man would ever be brought to justice?

BARTLEY: We never give up hope, you know. There were 12 Americans killed -- half of my immediate family and many others who were killed and injured, both Kenyan and Americans. And we have to forge forward. We've been continuing to really push to ensure that our Congress provides adequate resources for embassy security, following the '98 embassy bombings and now, you know, most recently, Benghazi. And we have also hope that with this show of support from our government to not forget these families by going after al Libi, that there will be further confirmation of our government support of diplomatic families and our families when they fully support, approve and pass legislation that will provide adequate and comparable support, compensation and resources for diplomatic families comparable to what our military receives.

You know, these were American lives. People who were dedicated, career diplomats and my brother was a college intern. And our country -- today is a good day. We have to do better to take care of our own --

LEMON: Right.

BARTLEY: -- to prevent these incidents from happening around the globe.

LEMON: Can we talk more about your work with this? You work with victims and families affected by the 1998 bombing. Tell me about that and tell me more of what you're hearing from them.

BARTLEY: You know, the families today, we've been in touch and we'll be talking been together as a group at 9:00. But they're pleased with the news. You know this has been dragging on so we're never too far from August 7, 1998. A day doesn't go by for any of our families that we don't think of our loved ones. So it is significant -- it's definitely significant. Every trial is significant.

We anticipate that there will be more trials. We plan on attending any future trial around al Libi or anyone else. It is important to not forget.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: And your work?

BARTLEY: Our work, we continue to be vigilant and ensure that there is more attention brought to diplomatic families and the work that they do around the globe, front and center with our military personnel. And we want to ensure that the State Department does more and puts something in place to ensure that families of those who have been killed in the line of duty receive compensation and resources and support comparable to our military. Right now that is still not in place. And we're hopeful that with the leadership of Senator Mikulski, Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri and Congressman Bennie Thompson in Mississippi and others that this will become law sooner than later.

LEMON: Right.

BARTLEY: We've had much success in the House and still much more to do. But these families' lives have been changed forever. We are very grateful to our military and our intelligence community for what has transpired in the most recent days.

LEMON: Edith, Edith Bartley, thank you. Thank you, we really appreciate you coming on.

BARTLEY: Thank you.

LEMON: You know it's almost too hard to watch. Indy car driver Dario Franchitti crashing into the wall at today's race in Houston. Once you see the video, you'll be amazed he even survived. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: An horrific crash at an Indy car race in Houston that sends one of the sports' most popular drivers to the hospital. Here's what happened. Another driver bumped Dario Franchitti during the final lap of the race. Then you see him hit the fence. It is amazing that he even survived.

He is married to by the way, actress Ashley Judd. The couple is getting a divorce though. However she tweeted this about an hour ago. "Thank you for the prayers for Dario Franchitti. I have only clothes on my back and the dogs but that's all that we need and we are on our way."

Last hour we got this video. This from Carl Daniel -- look at it. Carl and 12 other spectators were injured when debris flew into the stands. We're going to hear from Carl here on CNN in just a moment.

But first we want to go to CNN Sports anchor Mark McKay -- he is with me. Mark -- we just got some information about Franchitti's injuries. What do -- what does CNN know now?

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS: We know that he was first of all admitted to the hospital, awake -- Don. He is suffering from a concussion, a spinal fracture that will not require surgery, according to doctors, and a fracture to his right ankle. He will be held overnight.

All in all after seeing those pictures, not only from the broadcast but from those in the stands, Dario Franchitti and those injured on the spectators' side very, very lucky indeed -- Don.

LEMON: How about the fans who were hurt, Mark. MCKAY: 13 spectators according to the Houston Fire Department telling CNN, 13 in all. 12 were -- two were transported to hospitals and all the rest were treated on the scene there at the Houston Speedway.

LEMON: Franchitti's next race is October 19th. The next one is October 19th. Any word on if he'll be able to participate in that one with the injuries?

MCKAY: Well, the injuries that he has -- I mean when you look at the extent of them and what could be very serious injuries, you know, the ankle injury is going be an issue when you try to race these cars. How much is that spinal fracture that doesn't require surgery -- how is that going to affect? He's going to be very, very sore for a long period of time.

His team, I'm sure, just thankful that he came out of that with the injuries that he did. It could have been a whole lot worse today -- Don.

LEMON: Absolutely.

Mark, I want to you listen to Carl Daniel. He was a witness and he shot some of this incredible video that we're seeing. Listen to what he told me and I want your reaction to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL DANIEL, WITNESS TO THE CRASH: I was standing track side when they were coming out of the one of the turns and they allow you to stand there behind one of the barricades. And as the cars were coming out of the turn, I noticed that one driver was attempting to pass the other driver. And his right front tire actually came and rolled up on to the left rear tire of the other driver. And his car was launched into the barricades directly in front of me. And that barricade just imploded in front of me. And there was no time to run, move left, right. I mean actually at that time, the car literally exploded into pieces. It disintegrated in front of me.

LEMON: What were you thinking here? Did you even have time to think?

DANIEL: Actually people say how much time you have to think about something. The biggest thing that I thought at that time was life is over. It is no way that I can survive this barricade coming down in front of me. It is no way that any of us are going to make it. And literally the car which was one piece became nothing more than confetti pelting (ph) all of us, pieces of it were all around us.

I was literally, literally thinking that my life is over. But there was no time to say can you duck, can you run, can you get away. It was like, this is it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Mark -- Mark, he talks about those barriers there. Those concrete barriers did not budge. The fence moved. The barriers didn't budge and that saved some lives. MCKAY: Well, I'm amazed that Carl had his wits about him to be able to tell you in such detail what happened right in front of him. You look at the pictures that were taken directly from the stand. These cars are coming right at you and then like he said completely exploding right in front -- the debris is flying into the stands. You see the first set of fencing there is completely torn away.

I had not seen that on the race video until we actually got the eyewitness video and you see that first fencing is completely sheared away by the car that was kept on the track. Yes, car parts went into the stands. That's where the shrapnel injuries, if you will, came to the spectators but the main bulk of it went back on to the track with Franchitti inside. But incredible pictures from the spectators' point of view -- Don.

LEMON: How -- do you -- I hate to put you on the spot. How fast are these cars going?

MCKAY: Well, you know, depending -- they're coming around a turn there so 100 plus for sure. I mean the straightaway -- that's where they have the maximum speed but he came around that turn, got into with it the other driver. If it went airborne, it had to be going at an incredible speed for that car to get lifted by the air, taken away by the fence and then put back on to the track.

LEMON: All right. Just getting some information in -- Mark, right at the end of you here. A hospital spokesperson -- it's just in my e- mail -- listing Franchitti in fair condition -- the Catherine Klein hospital spokesperson.

Thank you, Mark. Appreciate it, sir.

MCKAY: Ok, Don.

LEMON: Just getting that information in.

MCKAY: Sure.

LEMON: Now, on to other news. One of the FBI's most wanted terrorists now in U.S. custody. What kind of blow is this to al Qaeda? I've got two guests. One with the army intelligence credentials, the other is a former CIA person -- their expert opinions coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Al Qaeda leader, Abu Anas al-Libi is in U.S. custody. His exact whereabouts unknown after his capture yesterday outside his home in Tripoli. In an exclusive interview with al-Libi's wife, she told CNN that the men she saw who snatched her husband were Libyan. She said there were other men involved but she couldn't confirm if they were Americans. Libya's government publicly has deemed his capture a kidnapping.

U.S. Special Forces conducted a separate operation 3,000 miles away in Somalia. The mission didn't go as planned. A firefight broke out. U.S. forces were forced to retreat. One suspect was killed. His identity, still unknown.

You know, these raids were launched back to back in countries that have become havens for terrorists.

So joining me now to talk about the significant of these strikes, CNN military analyst, Major General James "Spider" Marks. Always good to see you. And former CIA officer Gary Berntsen who is on the phone from Jackson, Florida -- Jacksonville, Florida.

Gentlemen, you know, we have our most elite forces, SEAL Team 6 go into Somalia to capture the leader of al-Shabaab. They left without confirming they had completed mission. What do you think happens?

Spider Marks, I'll start with you.

MAJ. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well, first of all, the only way that a mission like this can occur is with some really solid intelligence on the ground. I can guarantee you, Don, that in advance of the go-decision that there was a very good set of strong indicators, a lot of confirming data. Multiple means of intelligence beyond just having sources on the ground.

But also some technical intelligence as well. That will be signals intelligence, probably some good imagery of the -- of the compound where they thought he was going to be. But most importantly, and I think the key to all of this is there were folks on the ground, sources that had been vetted that had indicated that this would be a good place, the timing was right and this was the opportunity. So that's kind of how you go through it.

Now if in fact that wasn't successful, there will be an after action review that will be exceptionally detailed to figure out what went wrong, what sources need to be dropped away and who they can rely on again.

LEMON: Gary, how do you see this mission? The one in Somalia. Do you see this as a failure?

GARY BERNTSEN, FORMER CIA OFFICER: No. I think that it's a standard military operation. And using SEAL Team 6, of course, you come up on the coast. Whether you're coming up by air or you're coming by boat. You know, the SEAL teams have operated, they've gone on rescue missions in Somalia before. CentCom and SoCom are, you know, comfortable operating in that area.

They've got platforms nearby from which to launch. I don't see that as interesting as the one in Libya. And Libya, of course, you've got a rendition from an Arab capital and possibly done without the assistance of the local security forces which is very, very unusual, if that is in fact what happened.

The Libyans may be seeking political cover by saying that they don't know what happened. That it was a kidnapping. But either way, a rendition from an Arab (INAUDIBLE) or an Arab world is a pretty gutsy thing. And you have to give the commander in chief and the major players and the intel community a military kudos for taking a bold step to do that.

LEMON: Absolutely. You know, I'm going on get back to Libya now. The wife of captured al Qaeda leader, Abu Anas al-Libi told CNN in an exclusive interview today that Libyans were involved in her husband's capture. Listen and we'll talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (Through Translator): What I saw were Libyans. Maybe they had Americans with them. But I didn't see them because there was more than one car. They say there were 10 people but I believe there were more than 10. I couldn't count them because there were many of them. I can't confirm if they were Americans or not. What I saw were Libyans.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Gary, to you first, what do you make of this?

BERNTSEN: Well, that's no big surprise because you would you use locals on the ground wherever you can. You don't want a bunch of big gringos walking around there. If you can use local forces whether it's in the Arab world or Africa or Asia, you use locals, and -- who are either trained up by you or they were part of local security forces. So no surprise there. And this gentleman, this terrorist, this murderer, going to spend the rest of his life in an American prison before this is all over.

He did kill hundreds of innocents in east Africa and I was actually there in the beginning. In east Africa. I led the agency's teams out there when he escaped back in 1998.

LEMON: General Marks, what is your reaction?

MARKS: Clearly, as Gary indicated, there had to be very solid intelligence. These operations only occur when it meets a certain criteria, a certain threshold of certainty in terms of the intelligence that's been gathered. Again, you're going to have guys on the ground who are locals who know their way around and certainly you have to vet them very aggressively. And once you determine that they're good to go, that they're going to be supportive. You hold them close. You don't let them start to wander.

You don't want the information to be released and get out to somebody that might in fact alert the target, in this case, Libi. And that he'll alter his patterns. So I think what's also important is to (INAUDIBLE) these two raids. You don't want to alert one with the word coming out in Somalia of an effort taking place or to precede it with something taking place in Libya.

Those would be aberrant behaviors. Words would get out. The news would get out very quickly. So you want to keep those as closely coordinated as you can. I'd also suggest that this really speaks highly of our DOD, our joint forces. You've had the African Command that essentially allows and provides the outer ring, if you will, strategically in Libya and you have the Central Command with the raid in Somalia and certainly with the Special Operations Forces working within both of those.

This is highly, highly coordinated, exceptionally well trained folks can pull this off.

LEMON: OK. Well, Gary, let's talk about this. You're a former CIA officer. You heard what General Marks said. This is highly coordinated. Do you think that is unusual that the military and not CIA operatives perhaps were sent in to get these suspects? You don't think so, right?

BERNTSEN: Well, I think it would be very unusual on the ground for at least in the Libyan case. I could see the military doing this in Somalia. The thing inside of Libya, clearly it would have been a civilian intelligence prep on all of that. Heavily prepped. Heavily involved. And -- but, you know, either way, you know, it's sort of one team, one site. You know, since 2001, you've had the agency and the military attached the (INAUDIBLE) all over the world.

The interesting thing would be the military now operating outside -- you know, operating inside Libya like this is a big step. This has not been done before. The military was doing, you know, operations like this of course inside of, you know, Afghanistan and Iraq regularly but they've just expanded the field here.

LEMON: Gary Berntsen, Spider Marks, thanks to both of you. Appreciate your time.

MARKS: Sure, Don.

LEMON: President Obama had to back out of his Asian trip instead sending Secretary of State John Kerry to pinch-hit for him. We're going the live to Bali next and get the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: President Obama cancelled his trip to a major international summit to try to deal with the government shutdown back here at home. The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Meeting has drawn major leaders from 21 nations including China. The president sent Secretary of State John Kerry instead. And there Mr. Kerry right there on the ground.

Let's bring in CNN International's Anna Coren. She's covering the APEC summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Ana, what are leaders there saying about the president's absence?

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL: Don, look, I think everybody is very disappointed that the president of the United States is not going to be here in attendance. But the feeling is the show must go on. And that's exactly what will happen here at APEC. There's a certain level of understanding that obviously Barack Obama has a lot on his plate here. He has to deal with the huge domestic challenges facing his government.

But unofficially, Don, I think there's real concern as to America's commitment to this part of the world. You know, Asia is the fastest growing region. And you know, the United States made it perfectly clear that its foreign policy was really going to change. That it was going to take on this pivot to Asia to rebalance after years of war in Afghanistan and Iraq. The focus was to be here in Asia.

Obama made that perfectly clear when he came and visited, you know, several years ago. So I think the feeling is that if America cannot perhaps influence what's going on back home, can't manage its business, what sort of influence is it going to have in this part of the world?

LEMON: All right. Thank you. Anna Coren there, beautiful, beautiful Bali. That beach is amazing. We appreciate your reporting. Enjoy it while you can there.

We're going to get back to our top story in just a minute here. We're going to break and regroup because we have some breaking news. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has some new information concerning those missions carried out overseas yesterday. Don't go away. A quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Breaking news into CNN. It involves those missions carried out overseas by U.S. Special Forces yesterday.

Barbara Starr's information on both of them. Let's start with Libya. The successful one.

STARR: Indeed, Don. At this hour, we are now able to tell our viewers that al-Libi -- Anas Abu al-Libi, the man captured in Libya, has been taken to a U.S. Navy warship for interrogation. No one is saying which ship, where exactly it's located but my justice colleague Evan Perez now also has confirmed that the government's high-value detainee interrogation group.

This is a group of FBI, CIA and other intelligence experts. They have been activated and they will be interviewing al-Libi for any intelligence he has on al Qaeda operations. So he is on a U.S. Navy warship undergoing interrogation and believed eventually to be headed towards New York for federal prosecution. No word when that may happen.

On the other matter, the other raid in Somalia. A U.S. official now confirms to me who the target was in Somalia. It was a man named Ikrema. That is the only name we have. Ikrema. Said to be a Kenyan of Somali origin. A big fish, if you will, in the al-Shabaab network in Somalia.

But why did the U.S. want him so bad? Why risk the SEALs going in there? That is because he has significant ties to al Qaeda. An associate of other al Qaeda operatives now killed in East Africa who were involved in some of the most significant attacks in the region in recent years. So now the picture emerging of who they were going after and of course they don't know if they got him because the SEALs had to leave that town when they came under heavy fire but now we know why they were willing to risk so much to go after him -- Don.

LEMON: Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr -- Barbara, thank you very much.

And next, this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So you said you don't like to kiss and tell but you know I would not be doing my job as a reporter if I didn't ask you but Miles.

CICELY TYSON, ACTRESS: What about him?

LEMON: Is he the love of your life?

TYSON: That's none of your business.

(LAUGHTER)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: We'll get into her business, my conversation with the legendary Cicely Tyson next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Actress Cicely Tyson isn't known for holding back when the cameras are rolling, but her personal life is a different story. I sat down with her, and what she says is her very last interview. And I asked her about her husband and jazz legend Miles Davis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: So you said you don't like to kiss and tell, but you know I would not be doing my job as a reporter if I didn't ask you about Miles.

TYSON: What about him?

LEMON: Is he the love of your life?

TYSON: That's none of your business.

(LAUGHTER)

If I said yes, what difference would it make in your life? If I said no, what difference would it make in your life?

LEMON: Well, probably not much. But people watching may be interested.

(LAUGHTER)

People love you, they love Miles.

TYSON: Listen, I'll tell you like my mother said. What I want to tell you, my mouth won't let me say.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: You can say it. You can say it. I know what you want to say. None of your damn business, right?

TYSON: You know Miles.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: What was that like? I think a better word -- because I keep saying you're a legend. Two icons together.

TYSON: Well, tumultuous, of course. Wouldn't you know that? You have two people who are so -- well, I could say enriched. I could say blessed by incredible talent. I thought he was, he thought I was. And what it takes to live from day-to-day was that. There are so many facets to a dual life that is completely alien to most people. Completely alien. There have been some of the most incredible moments in my life afforded me through him.

And then there are each -- see, I think my problem is that every moment to me in life is a learning experience. That I perceive those moments that most people think of as negative as positive. They mean more to me than what people perceive to be positive. Because once I have experienced that and lived through it, and reach another level of understanding of human beings, especially, particularly talented ones who don't know themselves how rich they are, then I am the better for that experience. And so I really welcome those kinds of experiences.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Cicely Tyson's latest Broadway role, in Horton's Foote, "The Trip to Bountiful," just two more shows, this Tuesday and Wednesday night, and we wish her all the best.

Thank you very much, Miss Tyson, for that.

Up next, my interview with an eyewitness on today's terrible Indy car crash in Houston.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Dario Franchitti one of the most popular race car drivers in the world was injured in a crash this afternoon in Houston. A witness to the crash spoke with me earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARL DANIEL, WITNESS TO INDY CRASH: I was standing trackside when they were coming out of one of the turns, and they allow you to stand there behind one of the barricades. And as the cars were coming out of the turn, I noticed that one driver was attempting to pass the other driver and his right front tire actually came and rolled up on to the left rear tire of the other driver and his car was launched into the barricade that was directly in front of me. And that barricade just imploded in front of me. And there was no time to run, move left, right. I mean, actually at that time, the car literally exploded into the pieces. It disintegrated in front of me. And I was pelted from head to toe with what I thought was just like confetti but it was actually pieces of the car that were pelting me.

I mean, at the time, I was literally amazed, yet shocked. But I was transfixed in the moment where there was nothing, nothing that I or anyone around us could do because the fence literally went away and was thrown over my head into the grandstands behind me and actually struck the patients that were in the grandstand behind me.

LEMON: Carl, pause right there. Pause right there. I want to -- if you guys can re-rack this video. I want to just watch it from the beginning and then we'll just let our viewers hear and then I'll continue my conversation with Carl.

My goodness, Carl. You're right. Just in an instant. You didn't even have time to react. This is the video you shot. What were you thinking here? Did you even have time to think?

DANIEL: Actually, people say how much time you have to think about something. The biggest thing that I thought at that time was life is over.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Thirteen spectators were also hurt. Dario Franchitti is in fair condition. See more of my interview at CNN.com.

I'm Don Lemon in New York. A brand-new "ANTHONY BOURDAIN PARTS UNKNOWN: COPENHAGEN" will start at 9:00 Eastern. Meantime "ANTHONY BOURDAIN: NEW MEXICO" begins right now.