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Around the World
Biden Can't Think of Reason Not to Run for President; Turkish Airliner Diverted After Bomb Threat; Putting an End to Child Sex Trafficking
Aired February 07, 2014 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Well, Hillary Clinton, Chris Christie, Scott Walker, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, all floating out there as candidates for president for 2016, but the question being, will Joe Biden jump into the fray?
Here's what he told our own Kate Bolduan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, "NEW DAY": Other than Corvettes give me another reason why you shouldn't run.
JOE BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can't.
BOLDUAN: Yeah?
BIDEN: There may be reasons I don't run, but there's no obvious reason for me why I think I should not run.
BOLDUAN: Can I have a timetable?
BIDEN: Probably the -- realistically, a year this summer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: All right. We are going to bring in our Wolf Blitzer from Washington.
What do you think, Wolf? You and I have covered him and his many attempts to go for the gold if you will. 2016, do you think he's just waiting for Hillary Clinton to make up her mind?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, "THE SITUATION ROOM": I think that's certainly one factor. Certainly if Hillary Clinton decides not to run for the Democratic presidential nomination that would certainly push him to go ahead and make that decision.
But even if she decides to run, he's the sitting vice president of the United States. Maybe he thinks there's areas where she could be vulnerable. Look, she didn't beat Barack Obama last time around in 2008. Maybe he'll still run.
There's no doubt in my mind, and I've covered Joe Biden for a long time, he would like to be president of the United States. I believe Hillary Clinton would like to be president of the United States, as well, so that could be a strong competition. We'll see what happens.
But as he says, at least he's given enough thought to think he's not -- he wouldn't make a formal announcement about whether or not he would run in the summer of 2015.
But I have to tell you, if you are really serious about running for that nomination, you've got to decide a lot earlier than that. You've got to get a team in motion. You've got to start raising money. You've got to start even if there's no formal announcement.
MALVEAUX: Yeah, sure, I mean, Joe Biden has wanted that for quite some time.
What do you think about this, the early poll numbers? They show that Hillary is ahead of someone like Chris Christie. Would the Democrats really even want Biden to jump in?
BLITZER: I'm sure they're -- if Hillary Clinton runs, there will be somebody probably someone from her left, a more populist Democrat, shall we say. who would challenge her.
But she'll have a very strong position, and if Joe Biden decides to run, I look forward to moderating some debates between Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton, and hopefully, the voters out there will be able to make a good, smart decision.
Look, when you are vice president of the United States for as long as he will have been vice president, you bring a lot of experience to the game, and certainly he was a senator for 36 years, as well.
So, it would be fun covering both of them.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yeah, it's a lot of experience, but another way of saying a lot of experience is he's getting on.
You know, he's 74, wouldn't he, if he ran for the presidency and got it. That would make him the oldest ever, wouldn't it?
BLITZER: Yeah, well, Hillary Clinton is 66-years-old right now. If you add a few years she's getting closer to 70 herself.
Remember, Ronald Reagan was president in his 70s, and he was in pretty good shape for most of that presidency, I suspect, although at the end he was getting a little bit, a little bit, more frail.
But he was pretty lively during those eight years he was president of the United States. And, you know, he was no spring chicken.
MALVEAUX: All right.
HOLMES: Not like you. MALVEAUX: Yes, 70 is the new 60 and 60 is the new 50. It's all relative.
HOLMES: Great to see you, Wolf.
MALVEAUX: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, guys, thank you.
MALVEAUX: CNN got some Hollywood help in exposing a dreadful practice in Cambodia. We're talking about the trafficking of children for sex.
We've got a special CNN documentary premiering this weekend. It is Oscar-winner Mira Sorvino who was a huge part of all this. We're going to talk to her, next.
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MALVEAUX: Want to go directly to our correspondent Ivan Watson in Sochi to give us the very latest.
We have a report now of a person who was trying to hijack a plane that landed at a Turkish airport, but they wanted the plane to go to Sochi, the site of the Winter Olympics.
So, Ivan, what kind of details do we know about this individual and how the people are on board?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The latest news we have right now, Suzanne, is being reported by our sister news agency CNN Turk.
They're getting information from Turkish security officials, and they're reporting that Turkish special forces have captured a man who has been described as a Ukrainian passport holder who is suspected of trying to hijack a Pegasus Budget Airline plane that was flying from Kharkiv, Ukraine, to Istanbul this evening as the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics is under way in the stadium behind me.
Now, according to Turkish government officials, that man claimed that there was a bomb on board the aircraft, and then demanded that it be diverted here to Sochi.
The plane is at an airport in Istanbul called Sabiha Gokcen, and, again, our sister network CNN Turk reporting that the suspected hijacker has been captured by Turkish security forces as the plane has been on the ground at one of Istanbul's key airports and also being searched for any possible or suspected bombs or explosives.
Now, the passengers have been on board that plane as the search has been going on, and the Turkish news agency DHA has been reporting that they got the "we-are-OK" signal from the pilot of aircraft. He is presumed to still be on board that plane.
Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: All right, Ivan, thank you. We appreciate the new details.
We're going to take a quick break. When you have some more information, of course, we'll come back to you.
This is obviously something that is concerning to people, just because of the high state of alert and security that's on the ground in Sochi.
Out of abundance of caution, I'm sure that they're following this very closely.
HOLMES: Absolutely. We're going to take a short break on AROUND THE WORLD. We'll be right back.
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MALVEAUX: This is the new CNN Freedom Project that tackles a very serious and disturbing practice that sadly is part of daily life. And this is around the world. We are talking about the buying and selling of human lives. Modern-day slaves, too often children, part of the sex trade.
HOLMES: CNN has for some time now been shining a light on this issue and on Cambodia for a film called "Freedom Project: Every Day in Cambodia." We found a very dedicated partner for this project, Oscar- winning actress and U.N. goodwill ambassador Mira Sorvino. She traveled with us to Cambodia. And watch here as she confronts some men believed to be involved in buying and selling children for sex.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIRA SORVINO, ACTRESS, U.N. GOODWILL AMBASSADOR: I just want to yell at them, but what's going to happen if I yell at them?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, you - well, you know what the truth is?
SORVINO: What?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They think they're untouchable because they have been.
SORVINO: Do you think any of them speak English?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. No.
SORVINO: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Most of them speak Vietnamese.
SORVINO (voice-over): I knew they probably wouldn't understand me and that it wouldn't make any difference at all, but I felt compelled to say something, as futile as it might be.
SORVINO (on-camera): I just want them to know that the world is watching, you know? I just want them to know that there's a tally being taken. Yes, we're filming -- it's not OK to sell children. It's not OK to sell children to pedophiles. It's not OK. And the world is watching. Protect your children. Do not hurt your children. Protect them. Oh, God, I can't deal with it. I can't deal with the reality of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Very emotional. Mira Sorvino is joining us live from Los Angeles.
And that really is a moment that a lot of people are watching and have really responded to because you -- it is very clear that you're emotional about this and you wanted to shine a light on this very serious situation. Describe how that actually happened and what happened afterwards?
SORVINO: You know, that -- that is perhaps -- you know, it was a very emotional moment for me, but perhaps one of the least effective moments of the documentary. Later on we were able to speak to members of the government and implore them to do more in their policy to fight human trafficking and to help the victims and to create an atmosphere of punishment for the perpetrators.
As we were seeing in that scene, most of those guys, you know, they have a sense of confidence that nothing's going to happen to them. But that's also the case of the men who buy the services of children. Not only there, but everywhere in the world, including the United States.
You know there's this concept that you can go on a trip and you can make a call to your hotel concierge and somehow it's going to be OK if he brings you a child to sleep with. And that happens here in the U.S. It happens in Cambodia. It happens in Europe. It happens everywhere. And it is, as a mother, one of the most nauseating things that you can imagine happening to a child.
MALVEAUX: Absolutely.
HOLMES: Yes. You know, Mira, I've seen the documentary. It really is powerful stuff. One of the things that might surprise people is, you have parents, mothers sometimes, selling their children. And the other thing that's really disturbing, too, you sometimes see these kids get rescued and then end up back in the same situation.
SORVINO: Yes. Well, you know, obviously the root cause of all of this is vulnerability due to poverty, lack of education, poor health. The mothers we interviewed were in terrible, terrible debt to the tune of over $5,000 where most Cambodians survive on a dollar a day. And debts they would never escape from. And loan sharks would prey on this fact and then bring traffickers around and say, hey, we know you have a daughter.
MALVEAUX: Wow.
SORVINO: We can give you $2,000 to sell her virginity. And so virginity sale is big business over there. You know, all child sex over there is big business. It's estimated that it's worth $5 million a year in Cambodia. And, you know, corruption in endemic at every level of society there. And, you know, there's a lot of hands taking money from the exploitation of those small children.
MALVEAUX: Wow.
SORVINO: But the mothers, you know, you could - you could blame them but you could also see them as victims themselves because they are backed up against a wall and this is becoming a cultural practice where the traffickers know very well who are the most vulnerable, who might be willing to make this sacrifice to save the rest of the family. It's just so disturbing.
MALVEAUX: It is.
SORVINO: But there are people like Don Brewster, people like, you know, this organization that we highlight, Agapi International Missions there, who are working on the ground to change things, who are working with the victim's families, who are trying to educate, trying to give them other options, taking these girls and giving them livelihoods, giving them educations, giving them a safe place so they do not get retrafficked. And also working hard with the government, working with the police, trying to bring them up to a level of effectiveness that will actually get more of these traffickers in jail and raise the stakes.
MALVEAUX: Right.
SORVINO: One of our girls that we interviewed did eventually have her day in court and to the brothel managers that had her imprisoned went to jail.
MALVEAUX: All right.
SORVINO: So, that's very positive, but it's very rare. It's very rare that these cases go to trial there.
MALVEAUX: Yes. Mira Sorvino, thank you so much. We really appreciate it. And, you know, it might surprise you -
HOLMES: A great documentary.
MALVEAUX: Atlanta, one of the hubs for sex trafficking among children because of the airport, because of the international travel and the transport.
HOLMES: Hubs. The freeway systems and everything.
MALVEAUX: It's - yes, absolutely.
HOLMES: Yes.
MALVEAUX: It is a problem around the world.
HOLMES: It's a terrible thing. This is a great documentary, an important one. And you can see clips from this film "Every Day in Cambodia" on cnn.com. The entire documentary series will premiere this weekend on CNN Sunday evening, 7:00 p.m. Eastern, all part of the CNN Freedom Project, which is an ongoing initiative by CNN as well. Do check it out. It's important.
MALVEAUX: Please do.
Well, the Taliban says it has captured a military dog belonging to U.S. forces, but the U.S. military says that, guess what, it's not our dog. It's quite a bizarre story because a U.S. military official says this dog actually belongs to Great Britain.
HOLMES: Now, the Taliban distributed the video you're looking at there of the dog wearing a sort of harness, a vest if you like. They claim that they got the dog during an attempted nighttime raid by U.S. forces in December.
MALVEAUX: And this story, Israeli authorities have now forced hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators from a tent city. This is the video of this raid that happened last night. Palestinian activists say at least two dozen people were injured. Now, Israeli officials, they say that they gave the demonstrators ample warning to evacuate because of a rock-throwing incident earlier in the week.
HOLMES: Yes, now those tent cities have been set up. Organizers say they're nonviolent protests against Israeli settlements.
MALVEAUX: And this ship got into serious trouble on the high seas. We're going to show you what happened, up next.
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MALVEAUX: A couple of stories caught our attention today, photos as well. Take a look at this.
In Australia, a huge mysterious jellyfish washed ashore. Isn't that amazing?
HOLMES: Look at that.
MALVEAUX: This is on the coast of Tasmania. A family discovered it, this four feet 11 inches specimen (ph), and contacted the marine biologist to get a look at this. The scientist says this type of jellyfish has actually been seen before, but it's just -- never this big. It's a big thing (ph).
HOLMES: Gross.
Off the coast of France now. Take a look at that picture. It's a Spanish cargo ship that slammed into a seawall, hit the rocks, as you can see, and then it snapped in half. Fortunately, good news, all 12 crew members were rescued by helicopter.
MALVEAUX: That's a good story.
HOLMES: It is a good story.
So, today is our last day together on AROUND THE WORLD, although I'm going to continue to anchor on CNN International. So -- MALVEAUX: I'm headed to Washington to cover national/international news for CNN domestic. And we'd like to just take a moment to share with you a few highlights of the show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Starting on Monday, I'm going to be getting a co-anchor, an anchor buddy, to join us for "Newsroom International." Half you guys said it was Anderson Cooper. Come on. The other half said Michael Holmes. Drum roll. Here he is, all grown up.
HOLMES: You actually did have a drum roll. That was very exciting.
MALVEAUX: That was -- you were such a cute kid.
HOLMES: I was an evil child.
We just could not believe it today when the news broke that a woman was found alive beneath that pile of rubble.
MALVEAUX: In South Africa, the grieving and mourning are mixed with songs and celebration.
Welcome to a special edition of AROUND THE WORLD, remembering the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela.
HOLMES (voice-over): Iraq's volatile Anbar province, it was the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the Iraq War.
HOLMES (on camera): There is a sense of foreboding intertwined with the daily violence here.
MALVEAUX: That is where we heard those loud explosions. What makes this so powerful for people in the community here is the fact that it really is at the heart of the city.
We are shedding light in going in-depth on a killer disease called ALS. For me, it is personal. My mother, Mirna (ph) Malveaux, was diagnosed with the disease a year and a half ago, and this is our family's story.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You, Suzanne, have got that vast steamer trunk of clothes that you wish to take.
MALVEAUX: How did you know that?
HOLMES: Of course he'd know.
MALVEAUX: I carry the big bag. I know. I have to pay extra for the big bag.
HOLMES: Yes, she got the shoes. I've got the (INAUDIBLE).
MALVEAUX: I do have the big bag, yes.
QUEST: And - MALVEAUX: At least 100 million people are expected to watch this Sunday's Super Bowl. I'm going to watch. Are you going to watch?
HOLMES: Of course I'm going to watch.
MALVEAUX: I'm going to watch, even if it's for the commercials.
HOLMES: Come on, admit it, you just - I just had to tell you who was playing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Well, that's a shame (ph).
HOLMES: We hadn't seen that. It was kind of fun.
MALVEAUX: That was a shame. That was very recent.
HOLMES: Yes, that was -
MALVEAUX: That was just a couple of days ago.
HOLMES: That was good (ph).
MALVEAUX: We want you to know it's been a real pleasure doing this show, bringing you national and international news. And we want to thank our viewers for your real interest and passion in what we've done.
HOLMES: Yes. Also want to thank our team, led by Tenisha Bell, Katie Baratone too. Yes, we're calling you out. Talented, dedicated team. Real family.
MALVEAUX: Yes, they really have become family. And, of course, Michael, my TV husband --
HOLMES: Ah, wifi.
MALVEAUX: I just -- a pleasure and an honor to sit beside you. Someone I respect as a colleague and as a friend.
HOLMES: Thank you. That's great. You're off to Washington, right?
MALVEAUX: Yes, I'm off to Washington.
HOLMES: Yes. OK.
MALVEAUX: So you'll see plenty of me.
HOLMES: Yes. She's going to be a national correspondent there. I'm going to miss you as well, TV wife, and viewers won't need closed captions anymore because the Aussie accent's going away. But if you get CNN International, 10:00 a.m. Eastern for the I-desk, all right?
MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks for watching AROUND THE WORLD. CNN NEWSROOM starts in a moment. But first we would like to thank the members of our team, all those who make this possible behind the scenes, producers and writers behind the show.
HOLMES: It wouldn't happen without them.
BLITZER: Right now, breaking news, a flight from Ukraine is on the ground in Istanbul, Turkey after a passenger claimed there was a bomb on board and demanded that the plane land at the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.
