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Crisis in Yemen; Sniper Controversy; Honoring Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

Aired January 19, 2015 - 15:00   ET

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

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Top of hour now. Hello to you. I'm Pamela Brown live in Paris.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Brianna Keilar in Washington. We will be going back to Paris and the terror investigation in Europe shortly.

But, first, I want to begin with a related story. It's a developing crisis in Yemen. This could have major consequences for the fight against terror. There are rebels in the capital. And they're trying to topple the government. Yemen's information minister told CNN government control is -- quote -- "almost nonexistent."

For now, a fragile cease-fire is in place. The presidential palace and the prime minister's residence are currently under government control, but both are said to be surrounded by the rebels and no one is mistaking this standoff for peace.

Today's fighting left nine people dead, dozens more were wounded. This crisis is a nightmare for Yemenis. But al Qaeda militants could exploit this chaos. They could use it to strength their launching pad for attacks against the West.

CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is one of the only Western journalists in Yemen. He's in Sanaa, the capital there.

Nick, you have the prime minister, who is said to be surrounded by gunmen. Are you witnessing a coup?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We thought we have been seeing the beginnings of that this morning, when we were seeing an artillery duel between the Houthi militia and the Yemeni army to try and defend the presidential administration, which one Yemeni official said to me is basically, you control that, you control the country.

Then there seemed to be a bit of a cease-fire. That was messy, because as officials came out of that meeting, they were fired upon, including the prime minister. So, it has been a very complex day, but now as dark falls it is quiet here. There's the intermittent moments of automatic gunfire.

We are hearing from the information minister, Nadia Sakkaf, and she is saying tomorrow the president will chair a meeting with a number of the sides involved in the peace and transition plan, which the U.N. put together in September, presumably a bid to try and calm all sides down and get the results from the political meeting that is going on behind closed doors here behind a lot of the armed forces and the Houthis.

There's also another suggestion too, that the kidnap of the president's chief of staff, well, he may be released in exchange for a tweak to the constitution, a pretty substantial confession frankly on behalf of the government. We will have to see whether other issues in here, other factions involved in this necessarily want to see that happen.

We are still very far from out of the woods at this point, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yes, and this is an issue, Nick, of sectarian opposition. You have the rebels who feel marginalized here. What do they want?

WALSH: The predominantly Shia Houthis have been increasingly less marginalized, Friday. They have got their act together remarkably in the past few months and swept across the country into the capital, Sanaa, putting up checkpoints, some residents saying actually they at first instilled an order, a peace which had not been there for a while.

But, yes, of course, eventually the time would come when they would want to challenge or at least dilute the already tenuous authority of the government here. And that was very evident when they kidnapped the president's chief of staff or abducted or detained, I should say, in the Houthi vocabulary.

And, of course, today with the clashes around the presidential administration which the Houthis say the Yemeni army started -- they clearly want a bigger say in power here. They clearly want the constitution to be altered. That's the reason they gave for kidnapping the chief of staff.

The question is at this point, how much power more do they want, how confident and emboldened do they feel by today's developments? And of course a third question here in this mess, we have al Qaeda and the tribes often aligned with them. They're predominantly Sunni. But we also have a former regime here and militants loyal to them.

It's a hugely complicated whirlpool of different sides here, Brianna. The question is, how can you find a compromise that cleans through that sectarian distrust and growing conflict here and get some kind of government to still hold this country together? That is a pretty hard challenge right now, Brianna.

KEILAR: It certainly sure is. Nick Paton Walsh for us, Nick Paton Walsh for us in Sanaa, Yemen, thank you.

Remember that al Qaeda in Yemen has taken credit for the massacre at the Paris magazine, "Charlie Hebdo." French authorities now think the brothers who executed the attack went to Yemen in 2011.

I will turn now to former CIA operative Bob Baer, who is also CNN's intelligence and security analyst. And, Bob, you look at this turmoil and Yemen is so much I think in the

front of our minds now because of this AQAP attack in France. Do you think that this could hurt U.S. surveillance of terrorists?

BOB BAER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, as Nick was saying, the place is a mess.

And you have to think about the practicalities of targeting al Qaeda in Yemen. And one is you just have to put people out in the street. You have to have a central government. Right now, I would imagine that the U.S. Embassy there is on a complete lockdown. You wouldn't go out armed or otherwise.

With the central government seemingly having fallen apart, there is no help there. So, yes, we can do what's so-called signature strikes, and that's seeing four or five people on the ground with weapons and firing a drone at them. But the chances of missing or hitting the wrong people are huge, which leaves al Qaeda in Yemen pretty safe.

They're up in the mountains in the provinces where the army can't get in to. They are staying off telephones. They are not out in the open. So, yes, they are going to use that as a base. And let's not forget, I would like to add, that there is a proxy war going on in Yemen between Saudi Arabia, who supports the Sunnis in Iran, who supports the Houthis or the Shia there.

That's another thing that could spill over at any moment. So, this is really an ongoing crisis. But in any case, it's to al Qaeda's benefit.

KEILAR: Yes. And it's such a complex problem, between what you said and what we heard Nick say there.

You mentioned the embassy. I'm sure they are on lockdown; they are ready to evacuate at this point if it comes to that. When do they make that call and how hard would it be to evacuate the U.S. Embassy?

BAER: It would be extremely difficult. It's big.

I have been in an embassy that was evacuated. There were just a dozen of us. But we also had the Russians on the ground to help us at the time. This was in Central Asia, so they got us to the airport. The question is, is the airport road open? Would, for instance, Saudi Arabia let us launch by helicopters?

I just don't know. It's a very sensitive issue. And I think what the State Department is hoping is that this fighting just dies down of its own accord. But we are in a tough position, just like we were in Libya, where all personal are at danger, just as the news is.

KEILAR: As you have these Houthi rebels, these Shia rebels and they have been able to get some momentum here in the last few weeks, what is their relationship to al Qaeda? Is there any sort of friendship there or this really just an issue of destabilizing the central government creates a void for AQAP?

BAER: No, al Qaeda is the enemy for the Houthis, which effectively puts them on our side.

But I don't think the Houthis can get up into the Sunni areas, into the tribal areas were al Qaeda is being protected. So, even if this Shia group, the Houthis, were to take over Sanaa, I don't think we would be better off in terms of intelligence. I think it would still be a blind spot in our coverage.

KEILAR: OK. Very good point. All right, Bob Baer, thank you so much for your insight on that.

We are following some new arrests in Europe more than a week after those attacks in France. We are live in Paris and Belgium next.

Plus, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is speaking out about the attacks, his comments about so-called no-go zones raising some eyebrows.

Just ahead, filmmaker Michael Moore is stirring the pot over the movie "American Sniper" -- what he said about snipers that has a lot of people angry just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: From right here in Paris to Belgium and now Greece, a manhunt is under way for potential terror cells, new arrests revealing a widening web of suspected terror cells across Europe.

In Belgium, five more people are now charged with participating in a terrorist organization. In Greece, several people have been arrested, among them an Algerian man wanted in connection with a jihadist cell that Belgian police raided last week, Belgium now seeking his extradition.

And in France, two others are in custody and they were arrested while trying to cross into Italy. And now a potential break in the case of a deadly kosher market siege. While police still hunt for the gunman's widow, DNA found on his magazine clip, Amedy Coulibaly's magazine clip, in his car have led French investigators to two men, one of them now is in custody.

And joining me now to discuss all of this, Phil Black in the Belgian capital of Brussels.

Phil, what are you learning about these five new people arrested there and this Algerian man who was arrested in Greece?

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, one man arrested in Greece, Pamela, that's right.

This follows investigation, information passed on by in Belgian investigators to police in Athens. They arrested two men as a result of that information. But only of them is said to be of interest to the Belgian investigators here, a 33-year-old Algerian.

The investigators here are still being very tight-lipped on detail. They are not revealing what they believe his suspected role was in the plot. Throughout this process and through exhibiting that discipline throughout the investigation, they have been citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.

So, that is now one man picked up in Athens, two in France, and, as you say, five here in Belgium. One of them was the survivor of a shoot-out with police in the town of Verviers on Thursday night. Two terror suspects were killed in that raid. This man who survived, Marouane El Bali, is being held in custody and his lawyer has told us that he denies all involvement in any terror plot.

He says that his presence at that property at that time was purely coincidence, that he was doing a favor to his mother by dropping off a pair of running shoes to one of the men who was subsequently killed during the raid. This man who is now in custody is 25 years old. He's from Brussels, of Moroccan descent, a security officer.

And he denies any involvement in international terrorism, traveling to Syria, anything like that. But he remains in custody. And like the five other people here in total, he has been charged with preparing the terror plot that the authorities believe they broke up here Thursday night, which was going to target police officers on the streets of Belgium -- Pamela.

BROWN: Phil, what have you learned in regards to the role ISIS may have played with this plot?

BLACK: Well, at the moment, and, again, pointing to the discretion really and the discipline of the investigators here, which has been pretty intense, they are simply admitting that some of the members of the organization have spent time in Syria.

They are not being specific yet in naming which terror group they are believed to have spent time with, who they are associated with. That in many ways cuts to the core of this, because the issue is not just what were these people planning, but who was directing them, does this go back to a specific group, an al Qaeda affiliate or perhaps ISIS or the Islamic State?

Was it being directed or simply being inspired by these groups and their goals? At the moment, the police and the investigators here, they are not revealing those specific details. They are pointing to the ongoing nature of the investigation. They believe there remains a substantial terror threat. There are clearly still people they are looking for, Pamela.

BROWN: Very, very concerning, especially in the light of the fact that ISIS is believed to be sending their recruits back to their hometowns to launch attacks. Thank you so much, Phil Black, for that reporting there in Brussels.

And tonight don't miss a CNN special report starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, "Inside the Paris Attacks," and then at 9:30 "The War Within Islam," a deeper look into what can be done to calm violent extremism.

Meantime, the governor of Louisiana is in London today talking about the recent attacks in France. He is talking about neighborhoods where he says only Muslims go and others stay out. But locals say that idea is overblown. His controversial remarks up next.

Plus, filmmaker Michael Moore's explosive comments about the movie "American Sniper." He says snipers are cowards -- what a former Navy SEAL has to say about that coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal spoke today to a London think tank, saying -- quote -- "I'm interested only in dealing with reality and facts."

But minutes later, the Republican presidential prospect brought up so- called Muslim-only no-go zones, telling the Henry Jackson Society -- quote -- "In the West, non-assimilationist Muslims establish enclaves and carry out as much of Sharia law as they can without regard for the laws of the democratic countries which provided them a new home. It is startling to think that any country would even allow, even unofficially, for a so-called no-go zone."

Our Max Foster in London joining us now. He spoke with Governor Jindal after his speech.

Max, the governor is not backing down on those comments, is he?

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, he was there giving a speech about his foreign policy, effectively, saying Islam has a problem, a very strongly worded speech.

He was not backing down from his comments at all. He has walked straight back into a debate that erupted famously last week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FOSTER (voice-over): First, the so-called terror expert on FOX News declaring England's second city a no-go zone for non-Muslims.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Britain, it's not just no-go zones. There are actual cities like Birmingham that are totally Muslim, where non- Muslims just simply do not go in.

FOSTER: That was followed by the prime ministerial slap-down.

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: When I heard this, frankly, I choked on my porridge and I thought it must be April Fool's Day. This guy is clearly a complete idiot.

FOSTER: Swiftly followed by an apology from FOX.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Over the course of this last week, we have made some regrettable errors on air.

FOSTER: Then more apologies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We apologize.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We apologize. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We apologize.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We deeply regret these errors and apologize to the people of Birmingham, our viewers and all who have been offended.

FOSTER: Now Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has reopened the row, telling me there are indeed non-Muslim no-go areas in the U.K.

GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: There are people here in London that will tell you there are neighborhoods where the women don't feel safe walking through those neighborhoods without veils. There are neighborhoods where the police are less likely to go. That's a dangerous thing.

FOSTER (on camera): You need to give me -- to make an assertation like that, you need to give me the area, so we can look at it, because I haven't heard of one.

JINDAL: Oh, well, look, I think your viewers know absolutely there are place where the police are less likely to go. They absolutely know there are neighborhoods where they wouldn't feel comfortable.

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: Well, that's high crime rates.

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER: To the extent that they feel uncomfortable, it's not because there too many Muslims there.

JINDAL: We're not saying -- look, this isn't a question. I know the left wants to make this into an attack on religion, and that's not what this is. What we're saying is, it absolutely is an issue for the U.K., absolutely is an issue for America and other European and Western nations.

FOSTER (voice-over): All of this off the back of the Paris terror attacks, which were carried out by Muslims in the name of their faith.

JINDAL: Muslim leaders have a responsibility to step up and denounce these individuals.

(CROSSTALK)

FOSTER (on camera): If they had done that before, would Paris not have happened?

JINDAL: I think if we had had greater integration and assimilation, we would not see the extent of the problem we are facing.

FOSTER (voice-over): Another voice added in the increasingly heated question about who is to blame for terror in the name of Islam.

(END VIDEOTAPE) FOSTER: So, his comments not going down well here in the U.K., Pamela, but of course the governor is speaking to his U.S. audience, so it's how it plays there that probably matters most to him.

BROWN: Max Foster, thank you so much for that reporting -- Brianna, back to you in Washington.

KEILAR: Thanks, Pam.

Next, a Navy SEAL gives his take after filmmaker Michael Moore says snipers are cowards, not heroes.

Plus, a man who has famously spoken out about how he was tortured in North Korea is changing his story -- what he says now coming up.

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