Return to Transcripts main page

Connect the World

International Leaders Gather in Paris To Build Coalition Against ISIS; Scottish Sense of Independent Identity Growing; Interview with Saudi Prince bin Talal; Parting Shots: Wine and War

Aired September 15, 2014 - 11:00   ET

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

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: International leaders gather in Paris building a global partnership to combat ISIS. This hour, who's in, who's out and

why some are calling Washington's Middle East allies a coalition of the unwilling.

Also ahead, more troops are marching on Ukrainian soil. Why American soldiers are now on the ground there.

And the phase ahead of a vote on independence. We tap into a sense of culture and identity. Find out what Scotland means to Scots.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: A very good evening from the UAE. It is just after 7:00 in the evening here.

Defeating ISIS by all means necessary. World leaders gathered in Paris say they will provide whatever support Iraq needs to fight the

radical islamists including military aid.

Leaders from nearly 30 countries huddled in Paris working on a plan to dismantle the ISIS network of terror.

So far, few details have come to light, but what we do know is that one Middle East nation won't be taking part -- Iran.

Frederick Pleitgen is in Paris. And Fred, it was over almost before it began with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius closing the meeting

with a statement a short while ago.

In the end, did we get a concrete plan of action?

FREDERICK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERANTIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There wasn't really a concrete plan of action, but it does appear as though, Becky, that

coalition that the U.S. keeps talking about appears to be becoming more clear and appears to be forming.

Now, as you said in that statement that they had in that communique they said that they would try to defeat ISIS by all means necessary,

including what they call the appropriate military means. And what Francois Hollande said before the conference is that he believed that nations would

be very specific about what they can and cannot contribute to all of this.

He said some of them would try and help dry up funding, financing for ISIS, others would do more in the way of humanitarian assistance to the

hundreds of thousands of people who are displaced both in Iraq as well as in Syria. And then there would be those nations that would be part of a

broader military coalition.

One of the things that the U.S. has said is that it has had some offers from Arab countries to participate in air strikes. It didn't say

which ones that would be or when something like that might happen.

So right now the details still appear to still be quite vague.

One of the thing, however, that Francois Hollande did say is that he believed that ISIS is not only a threat to Iraq and inside Syria, but to

the entire world. Let's listen in to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): This terrorist movement is deployed over a whole territory. In Iraq, in Syria,

this terrorist movement pretends founding a state, such is the threat. It is a global one. And there must be a global response.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Now, interestingly enough, Becky, you did mention that Iran, of course, was not part of these talks, as the Syrian regime was not

a part of it as well. That's something that Russia heavily criticized. They said that any sort of resolution to ISIS, combating ISIS, needs to go

through these two obviously very prominent players in the Syrian and Iraqi theaters, if you will.

The Iranians say that they rejected any sort of cooperation with the United States, but appears as though there is some tit-for-tat jabbing

going on between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. of course in the form of Secretary of State John Kerry who came forward a couple of days ago and

said he felt it would not be opportune for the Iranians to participate in this conference, clearly believing that he would alienate Sunni Arab

countries that clearly the U.S. feels should be part of this coalition, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yeah, I was fascinated to see Russian participation in this today. Just walk me through what sort of atmosphere was created as a

result of the Russian president there, given what's going on, of course, in Ukraine as well. Many of those players, or actors at this meeting today

are also, you know, intent on pushing Russia back into the cold, as it were, and out of the fold at present.

PLEITGEN: Yeah, you know, it always changes the atmosphere a little bit when the Russians are present at a meeting like this. And certainly

they did make their presence known, as you said, in the form of Sergei Lavrov with some very differing views than what the majority of the

countries there had.

As I said, the Russians saying that they believe that not inviting the Syrian regime and not inviting Iran was a very big mistake. They say that

the Syrians and the Iranians are, quote, they're allies in combating terrorism both in Syria as well as in Iraq.

And the other thing that the Russians put forward is they called for an international conference to determine the root causes of terrorism,

clearly taking a jab there at the United States saying that the U.S. has fostered some of the policies that have led to the situation in the Middle

East being the way that it is right now.

So, certainly there is still some competition between the U.S. and the Russians. Clearly some political jab being traded there. But the Russians

also said that of course they believe that ISIS is a threat to them as it is to any of the other countries that were present there today.

So there is a certain level of cooperation. However, the Russians also being very, very assertive and certainly very critical of the European

and the American roles in trying to combat this terrorist organization, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Paris for you this evening. We're going to have a lot more on the battle against ISIS this hour ahead on the

Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.

Tehran sidelined during the conference, but some analysts say that is a very big mistake, because Iran is a major power player in this region.

More on that coming up.

Also , U.S. President Barack Obama said no U.S. ground forces will be used to battle ISIS. So who will be on the ground? And can the terrorist

group be defeated without U.S. or western boots? We'll have a live report from Baghdad and why some countries in the region are dragging their feet

when it comes to offering up concrete commitments to fight ISIS. All that and more on Connect the World.

Well, as we said for American and European officials gathered in Paris, the battle against ISIS not the only pressing foreign policy

concern, they're also dealing with the crisis in Ukraine. Kiev continues to observe a shaky cease-fire with pro-Russian rebels in the east, but now

military exercises in the west could add to the tension.

Multinational forces, including U.S. troops, began training drills Monday. It's the first such military exercise in western Ukraine since the

crisis began. They had, though, happen before.

CNN's Reza Sayah joining me now from western Ukraine.

What sort of action are we seeing on the ground, Reza?

REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERANTIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, both NATO and Washington insist that they're only here in western Ukraine to train and

practice. They say they're not going to be involved in the conflict.

But make no mistake, this is in many ways NATO and Washington's way of flexing their muscles at Moscow, essentially telling Russia look at this

alliance that we have, look how widespread it is and look at how close our military might can get to the Russian border. And I think a lot of people

are going to be anxious to see how Moscow reacts.

All of these exercises taking place in the town of Yavyrov, Ukraine. It's a town just about 10 kilometers east of the Russian-Polish border --

excuse me, the Ukraine-Polish border.

NATO says this event is designed to promote security and stability in the region and to help Ukraine more effectively work with NATO alliances in

case of a conflict.

But obviously this even taking place at a very sensitive time, about 1,000 kilometers east of where we are is a very fragile ceasefire in a

conflict where on one side you have pro-Russian rebels, on the other side you have Ukrainian forces. And that's why many critics of this event,

including Moscow, say this is the wrong time for this event, this is the wrong time to have NATO and U.S. forces on Ukrainian soil, because it's

only going to fuel the tension.

And remember, Moscow has long accused NATO of using the Ukraine crisis to expand its presence closer to the Russian border. Obviously Ukraine is

not a member of NATO at this point, but today they're working very closely with one another.

So lots of reasons for Moscow to be not very pleased with what's happening. Nevertheless, the exercises are going to take place over the

next two weeks, roughly 1,300 soldiers from 11 NATO member states and four non-member states doing all sorts of exercises, practicing, reacting to

ambushes, diffusing IEDs, working with command centers. All the while, Becky, very likely that right next door Moscow is going to be watching

closely irritated at what's unfolding here.

ANDERSON: Reza Sayah in western Ukraine for you.

Well, with just three days to go before Scotland's independence referendum, leaders battling it out to try to sway voters to either stay or

leave the United Kingdom.

Scottish Press Minister Alex Salmond has accused British Prime Minister David Cameron of scare mongering as the conservative leader

embarks on yet another trip north.

The latest polls show that the outcome remains too close to call.

Well, the referendum is in large part about economics and politics, but for some it's also a matter of tradition and identity. CNN's Max

Foster found out firsthand what that means.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't get any more Scottish than this. The cowal stone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cowal stone.

FOSTER: It's basically a stone. You found it upon (inaudible) river, individual to this event.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And obviously no two stones are the same, so again it's part of the charm of the Highland Games is that stone-putting as

opposed to the shot-putt in athletics, which we are doing today.

FOSTER: I can lift it up. I'm pretty pleased with that.

How would you describe a caber?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just about (inaudible) come from telegraph polls. And the object of this is to pick it up at one end.

FOSTER: You throw this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pick it up at one end -- that end, because it's got the -- it's the light end. So you pick it up at the light end, like

that, two hands, lift on your shoulder, run with it as fast as you can, stop as quickly as you can and then you throw it. And the object is to get

the light end, which starts in your hands to land at 12 o'clock. So you're not throwing it for distance, which you may think from watching it, you're

throwing it for straightness.

FOSTER: Now, as then, competitors in every event here are acquired to wear traditional tartans.

ALAN PETTIGREW, GOVENOR, HEAVY ATHLETICS: It's cool when you're asked to wear tartan. You didn't want to dance with the girls to start with and

you had to wear tartan, you associated it with country dancing rather than Highland dancing and heavy events.

FOSTER: But that's changed now. Scots want to be part of this.

PETTIGREW: Very much so. Scots gather hold of it and prove it's theirs.

FOSTER: Overlooking the stadium, a tent of Scottish clan leaders, ancient Celtic tribes, which many Scots still pledge allegiance to.

ROBERT LAMONT, CLAN LAMONT SOCIETY: People have become more interested in the history and separated themselves a little bit from the

British identity. So, Scottish identity is becoming much stronger than people know.

FOSTER: Do you any sense of where that comes from?

LAMONT: Well, I think it's something that's probably been dormant all the time. And you see countries in Europe, small countries who can

survive. I mean, I have no doubt that Scotland will do OK in an independent scenario.

We do consider ourselves different, because we are as I said already a different nation. We are Celtic. And our egalitarian values, I think, are

a lot stronger here than they are in England.

FOSTER: For me, as an Englishman, Scotland already feels like a different culture, a different nation, but many Scots yearn for a greater

sense of identity and control over their future.

Max Foster, CNN, the Scottish Highlands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Still to come tonight, we've been speaking a lot about what is happening internationally to try to defeat ISIS, but what's the view on

the ground in Baghdad in Iraq? We're going to take you live to the Iraqi capital later this hour.

First, though, the elephant in the room, why the notable absence of Iran at the Paris meeting matters and the impact it will have in the fight

against ISIS.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're with CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.

Now, the United States says nearly 40 countries have stepped up to help fight the Sunni militant group ISIS. Some have offered military

assistance, including airstrikes. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with representatives of dozens of countries in Paris to effort this

coalition to degrade and eventually destroy ISIS.

Not a lot of concrete detail, though, out of that meeting. We do know was that Iran was not invited, but that didn't stop the Supreme Leader

Ayatollah Khamenei from speaking out. He rejects what he called a U.S. offer relating to ISIS.

Washington says there will be no military coordination with Tehran.

Let's work this out, shall we? Reza Marashi joining me now from Washington. He's research director of the National Iranian-American

Council.

Let's get this straight off the bat, was Tehran offered a seat at the table or not?

REZA MARASHI, NATIONAL IRANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL: I think it's unlikely that they were offered a seat at the table only because there's no

precedent during the Obama administration to try and integrate Iran into solutions to solve regional security issues.

If, in fact, they were invited and turned down an invitation, it would be a big mistake on the part of the Iranians in my view.

ANDERSON: The Iranians will tell you that it isn't as a result of U.S. airstrikes over Iraq that at times, at least, ISIS is being contained,

but it's their help, their military assistance to the Peshmerga and indeed the Iraqi forces on the ground that is making the most difference. And

they are almost unique in that support, of course.

Let's just see or hear, at least, what the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei says about why Iran will not cooperate with the U.S.,

whether they've been asked or not, on ISIS as he left hospital after what was his much publicized prostate operation that he had recently.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYATOLLAH KHAMENEI, SUPREME LEADER OF IRAN (through translator): In the last few days, we've had some excitement and with that excitement we've

been hearing from American officials making comments on fighting ISIS, which are blank, hollow and self-serving and lack in any direction.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The problem is, Reza, that it was out of the ashes of the Syrian civil war the proxy war being fought between Saudi and Iran that

ISIS emerged. Not having Iran at the table when Saudi is clearly feet under, although today its offering, what, technical and military assistance

to this coalition of the slightly willing, not having Iran at the table seems slightly errant, doesn't it?

MARASHI: I think you're right on the money, Becky. Durable solutions to these kinds of problems, whether it's ISIS or Syria or anything else in

the region, these durable -- any durable solution is going to require the buy-in and the participation of all the countries that have the capacity to

spoil the situation. Iran is one of those countries, Saudi Arabia is one of those countries.

We've seen for the past few years now what happens when these two countries don't cooperate. Problems in the region get worse. So until

they figure out a way to sit down and really try to address the issues, the outstanding issues before them, neither of them are going to be able to

have and achieve true security.

ANDERSON: Whether Washington invites the participation of Tehran or not going forward, do you sense a rapprochement on the part of Tehran and

Riyadh at present?

MARASHI: I think both sides are certainly exploring the opportunity. Private discussions have been taking place. And you also recently saw a

deputy foreign minister from Iran visit Saudi Arabia to try and talk about these regional security issues that are most pressing for both sides.

Just like the situation between America and Iran, the nuclear issue is the 10,000 pound gorilla in the room. If and when a final nuclear deal is

able to be achieved, it could serve as a springboard to address countless other regional security issues facing all parties involved. And I think

until that happens, it's going to be tough to see the kind of movement we would all hope to see on these very pressing regional security issues.

ANDERSON: If Iran were willing to convince Bashar al-Assad and his government to back off the fight in the north, as it were, allowing the

Syrian moderates going forward to fight a sort of rear guard action against ISIS, and they will be the ground troops alongside the Iraqi forces and the

Peshmerga across the border, might that help to heal any sort of rift that Washington still believes it has to flog, as it were, between itself and

Tehran at this point?

MARASHI: I think both sides, Washington and Tehran, are extremely nervous about regional security cooperation, because they've both been

burned by the past -- in the past, by the other side. The reality of the situation, though, is that until they figure out a way to cooperate with

one another, whether it's covertly or overtly, these problems will continue to blow up in their face.

I think it's been a positive sign that they've had discussions about regional security issues, ISIS for example, on the sidelines of the nuclear

negotiations, but these very pressing issues need much more gravitas, they need much more investment, much more buy-in by all sides if we are to

prevent a smaller problem now from becoming much, more worse in the immediate future.

ANDERSON: Yeah, fascinating. With that, we're going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.

Carrying on, though, with the narrative, up next as the U.S. tries to get support from the Middle East, we speak to a member of Saudi's royal

family about Riyadh's role in battling ISIS. That is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the United States is efforting what it calls a broad coalition to battle the threat of iSIS. On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State

John Kerry said countries in the Middle East are willing to help with strikes against the group, but he stopped short of naming them.

Well, CNN's Emerging Markets editor John Defterios is in Saudi. He spoke to the Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Now Walid's one the

kingdom's most visible business magnates, but he does provide a key window into the discussions within the Saudi ruling family. This is what he had

to say about what role he thinks Riyadh could play in tackling ISIS>

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALWALEED BIN TALAL, SAUDI PRINCE: We've seen how President Obama developed from first of all containing, then degrading and now I think the

recent state of demolishing and eradicating. I think that with each killing that takes place, unfortunately every time -- hopefully the world

community will be more united in their (inaudible) this disease that's really infecting the whole Middle East and a region that inevitably will be

contagious to other countries in the world.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Saudi Arabia held exercises earlier this year with 130,000 troops. Is it a fair assessment to say they

want a very strong response by the kingdom here? And would Saudi Arabia put troops on the ground, do you think?

BIN TALAL: No, I think that Saudi Arabia will not be involved directly in fighting the ISIS in Iraq or Syria, because really this does

not really affect -- although it affect it implicitly, it does not really affect Saudi explicitly. But clearly these military maneuvers that took

place a few months ago, it's a multi-faceted message. It's a message Iran, number one, that we're going to defend our territory and defend (inaudible)

countries, number one.

Number two, it's a message also to the ISIS group in Iraq. And also a message to the southern (ph) border.

So there's a big vacuum in the Arab world. So clearly military power is a very important message to the whole world, because this could

(inaudible) eventually into political power.

DEFTERIOS: A mistrust with Washington and a mistrust with President Obama. Do they not trust him after the Arab Spring and what's transpired

in Syria, Egypt and even Libya?

BIN TALAL: I think when Obama took over, expectations were raised substantial -- dramatically in the Arab world -- in the Muslim world. But

clearly what took place, you know, by having this rapprochement with Iran without informing the Arab world, and especially Saudi Arabia, by putting

red line against Syria using chemical weapons and having Syria use a chemical weapons and still he blinked when Russia exerts pressure on him

and his later (inaudible) ISIS, took him more than two months to assemble this -- the team of Arab -- 10 Arab countries and Turkey to really face

ISIS head on.

So all these things has shaken the trust, not only Saudi Arabia, but the whole Arab world, really, in Obama administration. But I believe

there's a good chance right now to prove to the Arab world and the Islamic world and the whole world in general that Obama is willing to follow up,

and follow through with his words right now to really eradicate and demolish completely ISIS even if it will take three or four years to use

his own words.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And watch the full interview with Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal on Marketplace Middle East at 7:45 p.m. Abu Dhabi Time.

Well, the latest World News Headlines are just ahead. Plus, tonight can ISIS be defeated without military forces on the ground, at least

international military forces on the ground. We're going to talk to a leading expert about why he says no.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. The top stories for you, as you would expect at this time.

Multinational forces, including US troops, began training drills in western Ukraine on Monday. It's the first such military exercise in

Ukraine since the crisis began in the east. Sporadic fighting continues despite a cease-fire between Kiev and pro-Russian rebels.

British prime minister David Cameron is again in Scotland to try and hold together the United Kingdom as we know it. Scottish voters go to the

polls on Thursday to decide whether to become an independent nation. Right now, the race still too close to call.

It's been a rough night for Mexico's Baja peninsula, where thousands of sun-seeking tourists and local residents slept in hotel ballrooms riding

out Hurricane Odile. The beginning of the storm surge was evident even before the front of the hurricane arrived. Other than broken windows and

water seeping into hotel rooms, little is known about the damage because communication channels are down.

Foreign ministers from around 30 countries ended a conference in Paris with an agreement to take on ISIS, and I quote, "by any means necessary in

accordance with international law." Iran was excluded from the conference, but Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini weighed in on Twitter, saying his

country had rejected what he called a US offer to Iran about ISIS. Well, the US has ruled out an coordination with Tehran.

We are bringing you this show tonight, as ever, from Abu Dhabi in the UAE at the heart of a region emerging from what has been a summer of

reckoning, and now faced with the menacing threat of this militant group.

But can this region's desire to take action against ISIS be overshadowed by sectarian concerns? That's a big question here. Let's

bring in Jomana Karadsheh from Baghdad. And Jomana, I know you spoke with a leading expert on ISIS on the challenges of defeating the militant group.

What did you learn?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this expert, like other Iraqis, whether officials or the regular people we've

spoken to, there's this sense of relief, this feeling that finally now the world is moving.

They are turning their attention back to Iraq that they felt has been neglected for a very long time. And the international community is now

joining the fight against ISIS. But this expert says, the road ahead is not going to be a smooth one.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH (voice-over): The United States now has a strategy to deal with the terror group it describes as a threat unlike the world has ever

seen. But a leading Iraqi expert on ISIS believes President Obama revealed more than he should have about the US's plans to the leader of ISIS, Abu

Bakr al-Baghdadi.

HISHAM ALHASHIMI, JIHADIST GROUP EXPERT (through translator): The mistake was announcing too much of the strategy, and this was a free gift

to al-Baghdadi to prepare and counter what has been revealed.

KARADSHEH: Hisham Alhashimi, who has studied jihadist groups and their evolution in Iraq over the past decade, says the highly-adaptable

organization has already taken defensive measures.

ALHASHIMI (through translator): They've moved a lot of weapons and ammunition into depots and valleys and the desert between Iraq and Syria.

Al-Baghdadi moved elite Arab and foreign fighters among civilian populations knowing well that the US or the coalition air force cannot

target civilians.

KARADSHEH: While Alhashimi says a coalition is needed to fight ISIS, he says this alliance could drive more terror groups, including al Qaeda

affiliates, to join forces with ISIS in what these groups see as a crusade of war against Muslims. But having Egypt and Saudi Arabia onboard, he

says, is essential to countering ISIS's narrative.

ALHASHIMI (through translator): Help is needed from Saudi and Egyptian colors in fighting ideology with ideology. This is key to

extracting ISIS from roots.

KARADSHEH: Excluding Iran, arguably the most influential player in Iraq, from the coalition is dangerous, Alhashimi says.

ALHASHIMI (through translator): Iran controls the Shia militias in Iraq, and these militias could sabotage military operations when it comes

to logistic support, or can threaten the safety of American advisors.

KARADSHEH: While Alhashimi says the United States should have one strategy for fighting ISIS in Iraq and Syria, the tactics would be

different.

ALHASHIMI (through translator): America is going to have to apply the Afghanistan and Iraq strategy in Syria and the Waziristan, Somalia, and

Yemen strategy in Iraq.

KARADSHEH: Tactics in Iraq would include special forces operations, a strong Sunni Arab force to turn on ISIS, and airstrikes. But Syria is far

more complex. Airstrikes alone, he says, would likely benefit the Assad regime. Arming and training Syrian rebels will not do the job. He

believes Syria will require ground forces.

With plans announced and international action seemingly slow, Alhashimi says ISIS is now preparing for the next phase and may be relying

on sleeper cells.

ALHASHIMI (through translator): Al-Baghdadi is now planning qualitative operations that will target countries within the coalition on

their home soil.

KARADSHEH: Alhashimi says rallying the world against ISIS could defeat the group, but the battle will be a long and bloody one.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH: And Becky, according to Alhashimi, one of the biggest challenges is going to be targeting the financing of ISIS. While the

United States is working with its Gulf allies to try and crack down on that individual funding from certain countries, the biggest challenge, he says,

is that ISIS is a sophisticated and an advanced group that has already thought of that.

And they are a few steps ahead with some indirect investment, with a lot of its capital already being done outside the region. And they would

use the revenues that they would get from that.

ANDERSON: Jomana, I've heard the same concerns viewed -- voiced here in the Gulf about this window of opportunity, this perceived window of

opportunity that President Obama gave the group in signaling his sort of effective strategy as early as he did.

And suggesting that he wouldn't have any concrete plans until -- what? -- next week, which is the end of September, when he hosts the Security

Council meeting at the UNGA. Have you heard other people voicing those same concerns as the guy in your report?

KARADSHEH: Absolutely. We've heard this from Iraqi officials, a number of officials we've spoke to, various, from different political

walks, as saying these are great promises, great strategy, we want to see this take place, but they feel that it's too slow, it's given ISIS pretty

much a heads up on what the plan is. And as we've heard, that it's already countering these measures that are going to be taken.

So, what we're hearing here is they want to see action, and they need to see it fast. Of course, they're relieved to see this international

massing behind President Obama's strategy in the fight against ISIS, but really key here is to move fast. There's a feeling that it's very cautious

and slow to an extent, Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes. All right, Jomana. Thank you for that. Excellent analysis, as ever, from Jomana Karadsheh in Baghdad.

Let me just remind you of something that I quoted to you just earlier on. Foreign ministers from around 30 countries ended this Paris conference

earlier today with an agreement to take on ISIS, and I quote, "by any means necessary in accordance with international law."

And as Jomana's report was pointing out there, international law will mean not targeting civilians. ISIS, it seems, already moving their

military asset into civilian regions, and that a big problem.

You've heard the view from Iraq. What's the view, then, from here in the Gulf? Well, I've been talking to players and experts in this region

over the past couple of days to see why we haven't seen what is a clear united Arab response so far.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON (voice-over): Secretary of State John Kerry has racked up the air miles in recent days in the Middle East, shuttling from Iraq to

Turkey, onto Cairo, Amman, and finally touching down in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in an effort to build an anti-ISIS coalition.

Along the way, he has drummed up agreement, in principle at least, from Washington's closest regional allies to help confront the terror

group, including a commitment from the UAE to join a coordinated response to combat Islamist extremists in Iraq and Syria. And from Saudi Arabia,

the offer to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition groups.

ANDERSON (on camera): Yet, his exhaustive travels have resulted in what, frankly, looks like a Middle East coalition of the unwilling, with no

one Arab state publicly declaring its readiness to take a lead, either on the ground or in the air. A reticence that some experts say stems from a

long-held suspicion of US policy here in the Middle East

ALI KHEDERY, CEO, DRAGOMAN: Something that's been building constantly since President Obama took office in 2009, but it also dates back to the

Bush administration, is regional leaders feeling that, frankly, that the United States doesn't have a coherent regional strategy, that it doesn't

stick by its allies, that when times are good, Washington ignores regional leaders.

ANDERSON (voice-over): While the purpose of Monday's Paris conference was to define the role each member country will play in military action

against ISIS in Iraq, it seems Middle East players are looking for more detail on the US-lead coalition's overarching regional plan before any one

country is prepared to show its hand.

RIAD KAHWAJI, CEO, INEGMA: We need to see a strategy that focuses more on political issues than military issues because military issues,

military solutions are very short-sighted, very narrow-ended. You need to look at the major strategic political factors to resolve the conflict with

ISIL.

(GUNFIRE)

ANDERSON: And that means a long-term plan to fill the political insecurity vacuum in Syria and Iraq.

(GUNFIRE)

ANDERSON: The very vacuum that's provided a fertile breeding ground for the rise of ISIS.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And we will continue to cover how actors in this part of the world are dealing with the treat of ISIS in the coming days.

Do get in touch. Let us know what you think, what areas you want us to cover more. Who you believe is in, who's out, who's dragging their

feet. Why we seem to have this sort of coalition of the unwilling, as it were, if you agree, maybe you don't. It's facebook.com/CNNconnect, have

your say. You can tweet me @BeckyCNN, that is @BeckyCNN.

Live from Abu Dhabi, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. The gruesome killing of David Haines and other western hostages

causing shock and a horror around the world. One analysts says it is just one part of the militants' twisted propaganda machine.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. Britain says the killing of the British aid worker, David Haines, has only strengthened its resolve to track down and

destroy ISIS. Haines is the third known Westerner that the group has beheaded in just a matter of weeks.

One analyst says the group keeps producing the gruesome videos because it's a simple and effective way to grab the world's attention. Atika

Shubert reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is now a recurring nightmare, the same orange robes, the hostage on his knees

as his masked killer stands beside him. And always the same. A man with a British accent, a knife in his left hand that he uses later to behead his

victim.

We asked Peter Neumann, who tracks radicals such as these online, why ISIS has choreographed these brutal execution videos in this way.

PETER NEUMANN, DIRECTOR, ICSR: I think they want to establish some kind of routine whereby people are almost having an expectation that this

will continue and there will be another execution, perhaps in two weeks' time, because the previous ones have also been every fortnight.

SHUBERT: Creating a terrible sense of dread. ISIS has already threatened to kill a fourth hostage, another British citizen. The group is

believed to be holding a number of other foreign aid workers and journalists.

NEUMANN: ISIS looks at this as a low-cost strategy. They're seeing that in order to capture the world's attention and recruit people, they no

longer need to bring down towers in New York and hit the Pentagon. They can take one of their hostages to the desert, behead him, with no risk to

themselves, and still have the same effect.

SHUBERT: A recurring nightmare that shows no signs of ending.

Atika Shubert, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, Britain appears to be taking a much bigger role in the fight against ISIS in the wake of David Haines' death. Nic Robertson

joins me now from Perth in Scotland. Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I've just been talking with the MP for this area. He's been talking to us about

David Haines and what he meant to the people around here. The words that he used very strong, very emotional.

He said that this town of Perth, which is where David Haines went to school, the church still associated with his family just up the street

beside me here, the MP saying that this town is diminished, that people here have a huge amount of respect for David Haines, that he is a hero of

Perth for his selfless work, his humanitarian work.

They say people who went to school with him have been telling this MP that they remember him as someone who always wanted to help. He told me as

well that there's been such an outpouring of support here for David Haines and for his family, people wanting to rally around and do what they can.

They intend to hold a memorial service here in the coming days.

So, this is a man for whom this community now is really coming to terms with his loss, somebody who was respected and now will be cherished

by this town. Becky?

ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in Perth in Scotland. Threats now, I'm afraid, on the life of a fourth Western hostage. Fears that ISIS could be

holding many more people captured. That is one of the top stories on our website right now.

There, we look at why ISIS carries out these kidnappings and what Western governments can do to rescue those being held. That's the main

page, cnn.com/international.

We're going to take a very short break. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up before we leave you this evening,

making wine near a battlefield. The unlikely business that continues to prosper in the Golan Heights. That after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Your Parting Shots this evening, doing business next to a war zone. A winemaker in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights is still

squeezing grapes even as the war in Syria rages next-door. Ian Lee reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The sun rises over the Golan Heights, burning off the cold morning mist. The perfect

time to pick wine grapes. Jews and Arabs from nearby villages harvest the ripe fruit.

Israel occupied this strategic plateau from Syria in the 1967 war and turned it into a major wine-producing region. These grapes are bound for

the Pelter Winery. A conveyor belt delivers them to a sorter, fruits from stems, the grapes then slither toward a slow press. Old techniques give

way to modern. No feet-stomping here to create their more than 100,000 bottles of wine a year.

Co-owner Tal Pelter runs the multi-million-dollar winery. We find him testing wine in a room full of oak barrels, or what he calls "expensive tea

bags."

TAL PELTER, CEO, PELTER WINERY: When you go taste barrels, usually you know where you started, and you want to see the progress in development

of flavor.

LEE: The wineries attract tourists, people wanting to taste directly from the source, like Rachel Spigelman.

RACHEL SPIGELMAN, WINE TASTER: The wine lovers. I don't understand a think about wines, I just enjoy it. My husband is the wine connoisseur.

He knows the years and the blends and everything else. I just -- I go along with him, and this is how we stay married for 32 years.

(AIR RAID SIREN)

LEE: Suddenly, a siren blares. Workers and tourists take cover, exposing the surreal reality of the Golan -- wine-tasting next to a deadly

civil war.

(EXPLOSIONS)

LEE: A few fields over, Syrian rebels and government troops exchange fire. The Golan hasn't been left unscathed.

LEE (on camera): When the strike came in and exploded once it hit the roof, leaving divots on the ground, shrapnel like this peppered the walls

and injured one person. The tanks, too, holding the wine were hit, spilling tens of thousands of bottles-worth of wine all over the ground.

PELTER: It took our very calm, let's say, lifestyle and shook it up a bit. But I'm -- it's not something to be afraid of.

LEE (voice-over): Tal sympathizes with his neighbors across the border, but he's not allowing it to affect his life. As proof, the company

is expanding, keeping their wine exclusive by diversifying into other markets: Kosher wine and cognac. So, the harvest and wine process

continues in the shadow of a war.

Ian Lee, CNN, the Golan Heights.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: At just before 8:00 here in the UAE, that was CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Your headlines follow this short break.

Thanks for watching.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

END