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Hala Gorani Tonight
Court acquits Dominique Strauss-Kahn; Convicted killers still on the run; Germany drops spy probe; Woodfox to remain in prison; Lily pad bases may increase U.S. troops in Iraq; Hillary Clinton to hold rally on Roosevelt Island; NAACP leader accused of faking racial identity; New Boeing Dreamliner does near-vertical takeoff; "Jurassic World" roars on to big screen; Female scientists react online to sexist comments
Aired June 12, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[15:02:12]
MAX FOSTER, HOST: Tonight, acquitted after being publicly exposed. What's next for Dominic Strauss-Khan now that he's beaten aggravated pimping
charges?
Then U.S. police narrow the search area for two escape convicts who are managing to evade an urgent dragnet.
And these hikers bared all on a mountaintop in Malaysia but now they're hiding from the cameras after a court hands down a sentence.
Plus we'll tell you why this civil rights leader's race is being called into question by her own parents.
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Hello, I'm Max Foster, live from CNN London, this is The World Right Now.
We begin though in France where the criminal case against the man once thought to be a top contender for the Presidency has been dropped.
Today Dominic Strauss-Khan was acquitted of aggravated pimping. The 66 year old former head of the International Monetary Fund had been accused in
connection with sex parties he attended. CNN's Jim Bittermann has more.
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JIM BITTERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Four years after he was first arrested and charged in New York and then charged in France, Dominic
Strauss-Khan the former head of the International Monetary Fund has finally cleared all the legal hurdles before him.
As he arrived in a limousine in a French court there was still doubt about whether he might be found guilty of aggravated pimping for his role in sex
parties organized in France and the United States. But even the prosecutor admitted before the verdict that there was not enough evidence to convict
Strauss-Khan. His lawyer expressed afterwards the legal equivalent of I told you so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today this judgment has reduced the writ to nothing which should make us all think about what the secret instruction means in
cases such as these. The judgment was given; everyone saw that there was absolutely no legal basis for this case and all the enormous fuss which
surrounded this case should give everyone something to think about.
BITTERMANN: Still, if Strauss-Khan is legally absolved he's been widely condemned in the court of public opinion. The years of stories many of
which Strauss-Khan admitted to in court about his sexual appetite, his testimony from prostitutes about his desire for brutal and "animalistic
sex", those stories have made him the subject of much derision and shame and probably have ruled out any attempt at a political future for a man who
was once the front runner to be President of France.
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BITTERMANN: As the final ruling was handed down Strauss-Khan reported they turned to his daughter in court and said all of that for this. What
destruction. Apparently referring to the destruction of his reputation.
But his long protracted legal battles have not been just about him.
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The Strauss-Khan saga has also provoked a very public debate about subjects long taboo here such as the sex lives of politicians and the legal status
of prostitutes. In fact ironically even as Strauss-Khan was being cleared of the charges against him, the National Parliament was considering changes
in the law which would make the client of prostitutes as culpable as those who organize and encourage them, a change that if it would have been in
place four years ago might have led to a different outcome for Strauss-Khan today.
Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.
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FOSTER: New leads in the massive manhunt for two convicted killers in the state of New York.
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Sources tell CNN this prison employee gave hacksaw blades and other tools to the men before their brazen prison escape six days ago.
CNN has also learned that Joyce Mitchell's husband is being looked at and could have been involved or at least have knowledge of the escape plan.
Meanwhile authorities believe the fugitives are still together and say they're closing in on the search area for the pair after tracking dogs
picked up their scent at a gas station.
The small town is on high alert as investigators scour the area. CNN's Jason Carroll is in West Plattsburg New York with the very latest
developments.
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FOSTER: And first of all what do we know Jason about why Mitchell helped them?
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JASON CARROLL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it depends upon which Mitchell you're talking about. If we're talking about Joyce Mitchell, that
is the female worker who worked there at the prison. It seems to suggest that she - one of the men seemed to take a liking to her, she took a liking
to him, Richard Matt. Apparently Richard Matt made her feel special and that's why she provided some of the materials that you were talking about;
the hacksaw, the goggles with the glasses on them, the drill bits as well.
What's interesting Max is why her husband, Lyle, who also works at the prison. Why would he allegedly - why would he allegedly have been involved
with this as well? That is something that investigators are going to be looking at.
In addition to Lyle Mitchell, in addition to Joyce Mitchell, they are also going to be looking at other people who may have had knowledge of this
escape plan as well. So this investigation is very, very active. The search for these two desperate and dangerous men active as well.
Behind me Route 374 which is still partially shut down, it was shut down yesterday, partially shut down today. In terms of new leads that they're
coming for. In terms of trying to find these men, bloodhounds did pick up the scent of these two inmates at that gas station, Maplefields Gas Station
located just about a mile from the prison. In terms of why they were there well they're operating not on their A plan, but their B plan. So they're
desperate, they're out there possibly looking for food, possibly looking for supplies, going into the dumpster. What they're going to be doing
there is taking a look at the security cameras to try to determine if they can come up with any leads from that.
In terms of the leads out here where we are, bloodhounds did pick up the scent of these two inmates not far from where I'm standing. Apparently
there was one little section off 374 where they may have been bedding down for a period of time. That's where they found wrappers, used wrappers that
seemed to be the same kind of wrappers used at the commissary there at the prison.
In terms of the perimeter they've narrowed that perimeter in terms of trying to find the search. But in terms of actually locating these two men
they still seem to be eluding the massive amount of people who are out here looking for them, Max.
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FOSTER: It's amazing isn't it managing to get away with this for so many days. But in terms of the people living there it must be a frightening
environment right now.
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CARROLL: Absolutely, absolutely, this is a rural community, tightknit community you know you hear that term a lot. But even as we've been out
here we've noticed a lot of people coming over just to bring food not just for the police but for the media out here as well. They're not used to
things like this, I mean who would be.
You know in terms of hearing from some of those in the community there is definitely a great deal of concern especially at night, not a lot of light
out here as you can imagine, especially at night. But authorities asking for the public to remain vigilant. The know that the public is worried;
they know that there are deep concerns but they're asking the public to remain vigilant to report anything that might be suspicious.
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FOSTER: Jason, and appreciate your work, thank you very much indeed.
Now imagine looking out the window of a plane and seeing another jet just three meters away.
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The U.S. says that happened to one of its military surveillance planes in the Black Sea and the other plane was a Russian fighter jet allegedly
approaching at high speed.
Barbara Starr is one of the reporters who first broke this story. She joins us live from the Pentagon, she's been trying to get to the bottom of
it haven't you all day. What have you found out?
BARBARA STARR, PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi Max, you know the Russian military, the U.S. military they often encounter each other in the skies
above Europe, in the Black Sea, in the Baltic Sea. But now details coming to light of this incident back on May 30th.
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A U.S. Air Force Reconnaissance plane was flying in international airspace above the Black Sea when it was approached the Pentagon says by this
Sukhoi-27 armed fighter jet, a Russian fighter jet.
The Russian plane came up behind it at high speed within as we say in the United States, 10 feet, three meters and flew alongside, along the right
hand side for some period of time.
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The U.S. classifies this as very unsafe, very dangerous, many of the intercepts are fairly routine, everybody fly's, takes a look at each other,
gets a little closer but not too close and then the planes break off and go their own way. This one the U.S. says was dangerous. The Russians were
just too close and too fast and there was no reason for them to be that close and it is not the first time.
Back on April 7th in Northern Europe in the Baltic, a very similar incident with the Russians. So the U.S sort of you can come to the conclusion
letting these facts come to light, putting Moscow on notice in their view we know what you're doing, the routine stuff is fine but cut out the
dangerous stuff because things can just - there could be an accident or things can escalate out of control. Max?
FOSTER: When you talk about the U.S. messaging around this but there's also Russian messaging, that's the theory at least. Because similar air
incursions here in Europe, you described one of them that are affecting countries here as well and the suggestion being that this is saber rattling
from Russia. Just a little niggling showing that they've still got military might. So, do you think there's something in that as well?
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STARR: Yes, I think that most of the U.S. military personnel we talked to make that exact, very key point. The U.S. is out there flying to send a
message; Moscow is out there flying to send a message.
You know military air traffic over the Black Sea, and in Northern Europe over the Baltic has picked up in recent months by NATO, the Allied Nations,
the East European Nations, everybody trying to send that message to Russia with the Russian advances into Ukraine, were here to defend Europe. But
Moscow also sending out its fighter jets and doing really stepped up military exercises in addition to its operations in Eastern Ukraine and
along that border, the U.S. field to send its message. It's still out there, it is a vital player and it has no intention of backing off.
And most U.S. military analysts I think would tell you the same thing. All of that well and good, everybody understands the rules of the road but when
they violate those rules of the road when they get just too close, that's when there's a lot of concern that there could be some sort of mishap.
Max?
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FOSTER: Barbara thanks for bringing us that story today.
Now still to come tonight when The World Right Now continues.
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Interpol announces it's suspending an agreement with FIFA one that was set up for four years - was set up four years ago to fight corruption in
soccer. We'll have all of the details on that when we return. But first, they were touring Malaysia and have got an up close view of the country's
justice system why they were there. We'll tell you the latest on the so called nude hiker row.
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All western tourists in Malaysia have pleaded guilty to obscenity charges for posing naked on a mountain.
CNN's David Malko tells us why their decision to strip down on Mount Kinabalu sparked outrage.
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DAVID MALKO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Judge said their actions took the nation by surprise.
Four young travellers not just hit with the media spotlight but three days in jail and a $1300 fine. Their crime hiking up Malaysia's highest peak
then deciding to strip down. But their moment on the summit of Mount Kinabalu was captured on camera and shared with the world.
The father of 23 year old British National Eleanor Hawkins had this reaction.
TIMOTHY HAWKINS: We think the sentence is appropriate and fair for the offence committed. I am grateful that the Malaysian authorities reached
this decision.
Ellen knows what she did was wrong and disrespectful and she's deeply sorry for any offence she's caused to the Malaysian people.
MALKO: A brother and sister from Canada were also among those who pleaded guilty. Lindsey Peterson had been travelling around Asia for months. Met
some more amazing new friends from around the world he wrote on Facebook. Not enough time to explore it all but on to the next destination, Borneo.
Locals living around Mount Kinabalu consider it sacred and home to the spirits of their long departed ancestors.
(Banning) the public outcry an earthquake just days after the incident. One local officials said it was because the spirits were angry. At least
16 people died.
The young tourists could have faced up to three months in jail but the judge granted them time served and according to state media said he
appreciated they were willing to admit what they had done was wrong.
HAWKINS: We want her to come back but obviously we just want some privacy.
MALKO: Parents eager to see their children return safely and young adults exploring new frontiers learning a harsh lesson halfway around the world.
David Malko, CNN, Hong Kong.
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FOSTER: Well Interpol meanwhile says its suspending a sports agreement with FIFA. The world police body received a donation of 22 million euros
from FIFA back in 2011 to create a ten year program which combats illegal gambling and match rigging.
Interpol Secretary General decided to freeze the use of the funds in light of the current context surrounding FIFA.
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This follows news from Paraguay that its senate voted in favor of lifting diplomatic immunity for members of the South American Football
Confederation. The FBI's indictment list includes Paraguayan Nicolas Leoz.
Don Riddell joins us now with the latest from the CNN center in Atlanta.
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FOSTER: And one of the first question coming to peoples minds around this Interpol story is why were they getting money from FIFA in the first place?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: Well that's a very good question Max, and why were they accepting money from any corporate entity.
But this is the story that a lot of us are now becoming more familiar with.
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Essentially FIFA a few years ago decided that they wanted to do more to tackle match fixing and illegal gambling with regards to football and they
decided that the best course of action would be to make this huge donation to Interpol and essentially let them get on with it. And it doesn't seem
to have been troubling to any media at the time that this might present Interpol with a serious conflict of interest issue. Because what if for
example one day FIFA were themselves corrupt then how would Interpol stand in that situation and I think that's where Interpol have arrived at today,
the realization that it is inappropriate to take this money. And to some it would seem that there's a rather cozy relationship between Interpol and
FIFA.
So it's just yet another blow for the reputation of FIFA but also I would argue for Interpol. They would argue that their operational budget is
actually rather small and it's through donations like the one from FIFA and other major corporations like the tobacco firm, Philip Morris who has been
able to swell their operating budget by around a third and they've really come to depend on that but it may be going forward that Interpol have to
review their strategy.
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FOSTER: And Interpol have been involved haven't they? They issued alerts for members of FIFA. How do you think all of this is going to play in to
this ongoing investigation?
RIDDELL: Well it's interesting because Interpol have become involved in this operation latterly within the last couple of weeks but I'm not sure
how much they were involved during the investigation which has been going on since 2011. And there is a theory that the U.S. Department of Justice
and the Swiss Investigative Bureau has perhaps kept Interpol out of the loop because perhaps they fear that there is too much of a relationship.
So Interpol as I understand it actually hasn't played that big of role in the operation and I would suspect that today's news isn't really going to
change very much going forward, Max.
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FOSTER: OK, Don, appreciate it. Thank you.
The Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, has refused to answer claims that Australian border officials paid a boat crew carrying migrants to turn
back to Indonesia.
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An Indonesian police chief told an Australia news agency each crew member was offered $5,000 to turn back.
Mr. Abbott told a radio station on Friday he won't comment on the "operational measures border security uses to stop the boats."
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South Korea says a total of 13 people have now died due to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
There are 126 confirmed cases and nearly 4,000 are under quarantine and as Kathy Novaks reports it's also having an impact on the Country's economic
health.
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KATHY NOVAKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A trip to a country in crisis mode. Battling to tame the MERS outbreak, a good dose of hand
sanitizer, a quick selfie and they're off.
There are free face masks for everyone and the bus company has sanitized everything. You can smell the disinfectant.
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NOVAKS: When I arrived in Seoul the first thing I did was take a tour on a bus like this one and then the aisles were so packed that at some stops
people couldn't get on. We've been riding this one for about half an hour now and the whole time there have been empty seats available.
Bus drivers noticed it too. I've seen a huge decrease in the number of tourists he says. Normally at the museum, war memorial, and palaces, it's
so busy. These days, it's hard to even fill seats on the bus.
Even though MERS hasn't spread to the public, the fear is enough to keep many visitors away.
Daniel (inaudible) thought about cancelling too.
(DANIEL): Originally yes, and we talked a lot about it with our family. But since we got here we're not worried any more.
NOVAKS: They're getting off at Yeongdong a popular shopping destination. It's usually packed with people buying cosmetics, clothes and food. Now
the shoppers are notably absent. The Korean tourism organization says package tours from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are down by 80 percent
compared to this time last year.
Hong Kong and Macaw told their citizens not to travel here unless absolutely necessary. The ones who came anyway are taking precautions.
(UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE): We wear the mask on every public transportation; always wash our hands because you know Hong Kong more than 10 years before
we had the SARS.
NOVAKS: The SARS outbreak killed hundreds and had lingering economic affects.
The Bank of Korea is so concerned about the effect of the outbreak here it cut its main interest rate to a record low.
There is at least one sector doing well at the moment, it's not a bad time to be in the surgical mask business.
Kathy Novak, CNN, Seoul.
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FOSTER: That's one thing. Now coming up a look at the markets. And once again Greece is the word as the ailing economy heads to the brink of
default.
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And imagine if you had 175 quadrillion dollars in your bank account. It sounds like a fortune right? Well not if you lived in Zimbabwe. We'll
explain after the break.
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FOSTER: Welcome back, this is what's happening in the business world right now. The markets are down though we'll talk a bit more about Greece in a
moment but that's the overriding narrative getting closer and closer to a default, that's the theory.
But also concern about U.S. rates rising sooner rather than later, oil prices falling on concerns of a production rise later in the year. You can
see there the European markets all down very significantly actually more than one percent most of them.
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FOSTER: Shares in Greece have taken another tumble because of those hopes of a deal between Athens and its creditors. Those hopes are really fading.
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As the close of trade came in the main Greek index was down almost six percent. One of the causes for the drop was the IMF decision to walk about
on its bailout negotiations on Thursday. They say talks are no longer making any progress. All of this amid reports that EU officials have
discussed a Greek default for the very first time.
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Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe has decided to ditch what remains of its worthless national currency by offering an exchange rate of $1 per $35
billion Zimbabwean.
Here's Nina Dos Santos.
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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Zimbabwe's Central Bank has finally made official what people on the streets have known for years,
the Zimbabwean dollar is not worth the papers that its printed on.
After years of hyperinflation the country is officially ditching its currency and instead relying on the U.S. dollar and the South African Rand.
Starting next week Zimbabweans will be able to formerly exchange local money, but be warned you'll need a calculator for these conversions.
Having 175 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars in your bank account, by the way that's 175 followed by 15 zeros may sound like a lot of money; but actually
under the new exchange rate that will net you just $5.
Those who have balances above that they'll be paid at an exchange rate of $1 for every 35 quadrillion Zimbabwean dollars and that means that a holder
of 100 trillion bank notes which was the highest value and the last to be printed by the Central Bank will be getting just 40 cents.
KIT JUCKES: From here you're either issued a new currency and try to get confidence in it, restore confidence in the Central Bank and in the
institutions that run it; or you formalize the arrangements of not using a currency that no-one's got faith in. So there were two choices, this was -
this was almost certainly the easiest short term choice.
At some point Zimbabwe is going to want to have its own currency.
DOS SANTOS: Zimbabwe's economy had plunged into turmoil 15 years ago after Robert Mugabe's government seized white owned commercial farms curbing the
country's main export, agriculture.
The amount of foreign currency coming in fell off a cliff leaving less money to import basic goods and sky high prices for those scarce items. In
2008 alone inflation hit 231 million percent and people going to the market had to bring their money in wheelbarrows.
JUCKES: I think this just draws a line under the previous system which has been effectively dead now for some time. Does it work? You know the wider
question is can Zimbabwe as a defector dollar economy get its economy back on track, export more than they import, get the economy to recover and so
on, that's a much deeper longer term story.
DOS SANTOS: Since 2009 Zimbabwe has allowed people to use different monies to pay for things. This week's move just officializes that trend. Still
in that here Zimbabwe also gave up on reporting inflation now it's also decided to call time on its beleaguered currency.
Nina Dos Santos, CNN, London.
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FOSTER: The latest world news headlines are just ahead.
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Plus more troops heading in as land changes hands between Iraqi troops and ISIS. We'll get more on the strategy behind recent moves in Iraq from a
former U.S. Ambassador.
And as Hilary Clinton gets ready for a major public rally her husband makes an emotional appeal on T.V. defending his wife. That's after the break.
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[15:32:18] MAX FOSTER, HOST: Welcome, and this is what's happening in the world right now.
The former head of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, has been acquitted of aggravated pimping charges. The 66-year-old was accused in connection with
sex parties he attended in various cities. A judge says there wasn't enough evidence to convict him.
New York state authorities say a prison worker, Joyce Mitchell, gave hacksaw blades and drill bits to two inmates before their escape from
prison nearly a week ago. The convicted killers are still on the loose.
Germany's federal prosecutor's office says it is dropping a probe into allegations the U.S. National Security Agency bugged the phone of
Chancellor Angela Merkel. In a statement, it said it had uncovered insufficient evidence to launch a successful prosecution.
Albert Woodfox, a man who has been in solitary confinement in a U.S. jail for more than four decades, will remain in custody indefinitely while an
appeals process is underway. A federal court today blocked his release. Earlier this week, it appeared that Woodfox would be set free. He is the
last remaining member of the Angola Three in prison.
U.S. defense officials say even more troops could be heading to Iraq in the future to help in the battle against ISIS. Washington is already deploying
450 military trainers to the country. That announcement came on the heels of some high-profile losses in the region and President Obama saying this
week that the U.S. doesn't have a complete strategy on training Iraqis to fight the terror group.
The U.S. has spent $2.57 billion since operations began against ISIS last August. CNNs Jim Sciutto has more.
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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: The 450 additional U.S. troops heading to train Iraqi forces are just the beginning. The
Pentagon saying the deployment of U.S. advisers at Taqaddum Air Base in western Iraq could be the model for more U.S. outposts around the country.
Lily Pads' Joint Chiefs Chairman, Martin Dempsey, called (ph) them, telling reporters quote, "Our campaign is built on establishing these 'lily pads'
that allow us to encourage the Iraqi security forces forward. We're looking all the time to see if additional sites might be necessary."
The military is now considering three to four possible locations, including a base in-between Baghdad and the ISIS-controlled city of Kirkuk. These
U.S. forces would not be involved in combat, but they would be closer to combat and possibly in greater numbers.
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COL. CEDRIC LEIGHTON, U.S. AIR FORCE (RET.): When you bring forces out that - that far out in front, what you're doing is you're getting them as
close to the frontline as you possibly can without actually stepping on to the frontline. It's a very risky strategy.
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SCIUTTO: The new plan is, at its core, a recognition of failure by the Iraqi military. In battle after battle - from Ramadi, to Baiji, to the
fall of Mosul one year ago today - Iraqi forces were often overwhelmed even as they greatly outnumbered ISIS fighters.
U.S. forces will give Iraqi troops command support, logistics and crucially - confidence (ph). (INAUDIBLE) the administration acknowledged the danger
to U.S. troops while drawing a distinction between these new deployments and a full-scale occupation of Iraq.
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JOST EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There's a significant difference between a hundred and fifty thousand troops in a combat role and
thirty-five hundred U.S. troops not in a combat role.
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FOSTER: Well, that was Jim Sciutto reporting.
We're gonna get more on this story for you now, as I'm joined from Washington by James Jeffrey. He's a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq. Thank
you very much indeed for joining us.
Just explain the strategy about bringing these U.S. forces much closer to the frontlines and what they're gonna offer there.
JAMES JEFFREY, FORMER U.S. AMBASSSADOR TO IRAQ: Yes, there may be less in this than we think. The basic strategy that President Obama set up is to
degrade and destroy ISIS - start with Iraq, then Syria later - and have Iraqi forces and local forces being the lead with support by American
coalition.
Nothing has changed in that and it's, all in all, not a bad strategy. It's how you execute it. He has decided to execute this strategy with a minimal
risk policy of keeping American forces on the ground well away from combat.
This has considerable negative effects on the efficiency of training programs, and of coordination on the ground and with the U.S. air power
that's on the scene as well. And it's been a contributing factor to the series of defeats that you just mentioned.
The problem is that this lily pad concept gets our troops a little bit closer to the battle, but they're still in this train from a base posture.
Whether that's gonna work with a few hundred more or even a thousand or so more to the 3,000 we already have there, I think is quite in question.
FOSTER: When does a training adviser become someone actually involved in conflict, when they're right on the frontlines? I'm just wondering where
the gray area is here for you - when someone is on the frontline, but they're not actually involved in combat, but they're right next to someone
that is?
JEFFREY: You're absolutely right. But that's not the situation that these lily pads are gonna have, unless ISIS attacks the lily pads. These troops
are not gonna accompany Iraqi units in the field to fight against ISIS. That's the standard we have been doing for many, many decades. That's what
we did in Vietnam in '72. It's what we did in Iraq repeatedly all of the time. It's what we're doing today in Afghanistan.
And that's where you get the most efficient of American advisers, trainers and air controllers. They can't do as much from back behind the front for
all kinds of reasons, including psychological ones. They're not sharing the risks of the Iraqi soldiers who are supposed to listen to them. That's
a huge factor.
FOSTER: You just alluded to one of the main problems there though, which is, if ISIS did attack the lily pads which no doubt would have crossed
their mind, if they do do that, the Americans need to respond. And they are in a combat role.
JEFFREY: If they were to attack the lily pads, the extraordinary restrictions that limit air strikes in some cases to 15, 20 a day in all of
Iraq and Syria with tremendous rules of engagement such that most ordnances not released, those would all go away, and we would put wall-to-wall fire
power around those lily pads. I've seen that before in several conflicts. I'm not too worried about that. Those people will be able to defend
themselves.
FOSTER: Yes, but there will be American politicians who will be worried about American troops suddenly involved in combat that could create (ph) a
case, couldn't it, for them to lean on the White House saying, actually, you've crossed the line here- they need to come back?
JEFFREY: I disagree with that. First of all, we have 10,000 American troops actually doing these frontline jobs right now in Afghanistan.
That's dangerous place. We take casualties there.
Secondly, all of the polls indicate that the American people are quite comfortable with us being engaged in this fight against ISIS. And, in
fact, close to a majority - perhaps a majority - wanna see a more active role of American ground forces. There'll be some criticism, of course, but
I don't think there's a lot.
The main criticism that's coming from all directions of the administration today is, after almost a year of us being engaged in this battle, ISIS,
which is truly dangerous, is not stopped. In fact, it's continuing to expand in some areas.
FOSTER; And one of the other - just to talk about one of the other reasons that the Americans might want their people nearer the frontlines - I was
interviewing the Iraqi vice president the other day, saying this is exactly what they want, because when they're on the frontlines, they need the
support there to make a decision right away. And, at the moment, it's only the Iranians, effectively, that are there advising them. So, is this also
America trying to bring its influence towards the frontlines in Iraq where it's currently dominated by Iran?
JEFFREY: This is a half-way solution. But again, effectively, these troops are not going to be out in the field where they'll be fighting -
where they'll be accompanying the Iraqi troops who are fighting. The administration has made that very clear. They'll be closer to the
fighting. Their decision loop in trying to provide advice may be faster. They may have better communications. But it's not a difference in kind
from the kind of advice we're giving from the bigger bases now.
Putting them actually in 500-man battalions engaging within eyesight of ISIS formations, that's the kind of advisory role that the Iranians are
doing. And, as I said, we've done routinely for decades, but we're not doing in Iraq, and we should.
FOSTER: Are you worried about the American military effectively rubbing shoulders with Iranian military on the ground in Iraq?
JEFFREY: I'm terrified at ISIS' ability to take our strikes, to stand up to far larger forces and, frankly, to continue expanding and its impact on
the region psychologically. This is a first-class threat to us, to the region and to global stability. It needs to be stopped. I'm not so sure
this tactic is gonna stop it.
FOSTER: OK, Jeffrey - James Jeffrey, thank you very much indeed for joining us with your analysis today.
Now, maybe a-year-and-a half away, but the 2016 presidential race is already heating up over there in the U.S. Democratic front-runner, Hillary
Clinton, threw her hat into the ring a few months ago, of course, and has been campaigning since with lots of media attention.
Tomorrow she hopes to echo a former presidential family when she gives her first, big public rally on Roosevelt Island in New York. Meanwhile,
Hillary's husband, Bill, is making an appearance as the race begins to heat up. The former president defended his wife in an emotional interview with
Jack Tapper, who makes his debut as host of CNNs "State of the Union" this Sunday. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, HOST, CNN "STATE OF THE UNION": There are polls that show that fewer and fewer Americans think that your wife is honest and
trustworthy. And this has happened at the same time of (ph) these questions about the foundation, questions about her email, and that must
really bother you.
BILL CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Yes, but - I mean - we're used to it. And the only thing I would say about this is - number
one, I'm glad it's happening now because I trust the American people. And I trust her with my life and have on more than one occasion.
She was always - whenever I had trouble - she was a rock in our family. I was the youngest former governor in American history. In 1980, on election
night, I got killed in a Reagan landslide. And people I had appointed to office would walk across the street they were so afraid of the new regime
in Arkansas to not shake hands with me.
My career prospects were not particularly bright. And she never blinked. She just said, hey, it'll turn around. I believe in you. You've got - and
we built a life together based on, you know, the things we cared about and the things we loved. And we were blessed with a daughter who turned out
pretty well, I'd say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Well, you can watch Jake's full interview with Bill Clinton coming up this Sunday on "State of the Union." This is at 9 a.m. on the U.S. East
Coast. That's 2 p.m. Sunday here in London.
This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. A very different kind of racial firestorm erupts in the U.S. after a leader in the black community is confronted
about her race.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[23:58:56] FOSTER: An activist with the American civil rights group, the NAACP, has caused quite an uproar. Her parents say she's white, but she's
trying to pass for black. Take a look at this. This is 37-year-old Rachel Dolezal. The Montana's native's parents gave us the picture on the left.
You can see that's her as a young girl. On the right, Rachel today.
This all began to unravel when our CNN affiliate KXLY reported she lied about her race on a city job application. When the station confronts her,
watch what happens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Just wondering if your dad really is an African- American man?
RACHEL DOLEZAL: That's a very - I - I don't - don't know what you're implying.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you African-American?
RACHEL DOLEZAL: I don't - don't understand the question.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are your parents - are they white?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Dolezal later brushed off the controversy and refused to answer a newspaper's questions about her racial identity directly, saying she wanted
to talk to local NAACP leadership first. She told the Spokane spokeswoman in review quote, "The (ph) question is not as easy as it seems. There's a
lot of complexities ... and I don't know that everyone would understand that."
CNN spoke to Rachel's parents a short time ago. Stephanie Elam joins us live from Los Angeles with that. It feels like a very simple question.
Why can't she answer it, and what are her parents saying, Stephanie?
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's why this is such a head- scratcher, Max. Because, I'm pretty sure, if I asked you what you were, you'd be able to tell. I can tell you what I am. But apparently it's way
more complex for Rachel Dolezal.
What we have learned - and we have seen her parents - they have provided us with their birth certificate - with her birth certificate. She was born in
Montana. They are her birth parents, they are saying. But there is a legal dispute between her parents and her. That's one thing worth pointing
out there.
But, they're also saying that this about 2007 where it went from just being an interest that she had early on. She moved from Montana to go to college
in Mississippi. Montana is pretty white. Mississippi is pretty black. It's a big difference there.
And then, from there, she went to historically black university to get her master's degree and has really been on the forefront of fighting for racial
equality throughout her career. That part has been there.
But what is the issue for many is just the way she has portrayed herself. Her parents say they did adopt four black children. But that may have not
been the only thing that influenced this change. Take a listen to what they had to say.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUTHANNE DOLEZAL, MOTHER OF RACHEL DOLEZAL: Rachel has always been interested in ethnicity and diversity, and we had many friends of different
ethnicities when she was growing up. So it didn't start with the four adopted children of color. It was probably that attitude (ph) - her
passion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ELAM: And it's also worth pointing out that many of these organizations are standing behind her, including the NAACP where she is the president of
that local chapter in Spokane, Washington. And they put out a statement saying, in part, that she's enduring a legal fight (ph) with her family,
and they respect her privacy. But that one's racial identity doesn't matter when it comes to doing this job.
Max.
FOSTER: You also spoke with someone, didn't you, at her university which is - if you listen to what her parents are saying - where she really sort
of started committing to this cause as it were. What they said?
ELAM: Right - that's right. She's a professor of Africana Studies at Eastern Washington University. And I spoke with the director of the
program. He says - you know, he had no doubt that she had some white in her blood, but he did believe that she (ph) was black. All that HR
paperwork stuff of filling out who you are, and your background and your makeup, he didn't see that part. He just knew how she was in the
classroom, and she (ph) liked the way she engaged the students.
But yes, overall, people that we talked to - they do seem to believe that all along she was black. And there's also other images that she has put
there, which purports to show that this one black man in the picture is her father. But now we know what her father looks like and her mother. So,
it's all very puzzling on why she would take the time to lie into a race when she could - may have been just as effective if had just said that she
was white and that this is something she cares about, Max.
FOSTER: Puzzling is the word. Stephanie, you've done a great job of explaining what we know about it. Thank you very much.
ELAM: Thank you.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
FOSTER: Still to come - we're gonna take a look at this Boeing Dreamliner's fancy moves produced (ph) on this impressive takeoff. And
we'll be telling you about "Jurassic World," as the movie premiers in Hollywood. It looks set to be one of the biggest films this summer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:41:27] FOSTER: Now, you probably won't see this next stunt the next time you're at the airport. Boeing released this video on Thursday,
though, showing of its new Dreamliner jet doing a near-vertical takeoff. Look at that.
For those of you are already anxious about flying, there are no passengers onboard this plane at the time. We can tell you it was a rehearsal ahead
of next week's Paris Air Show.
Our former pilot and aviation consultant, Alastair Rosenschein, is here with a better explanation really of what happened, because we need to know.
First of all, was it vertical?
ALASTAIR ROSENSCHEIN, FORMER PILOT AND AVAIATION CONSULTANT: It's unlikely to have been. It may have been 60 or 70 degrees. You can do that by
trading air speed for height. But only on (ph) a short-term. And, in fact, anyone who's been to these major air shows will see other airliners
where they've done similar thing - take off, (INAUDIBLE) and go very steep.
FOSTER: It's freaked a lot of people out. So why are they doing it?
ROSENSCHEIN: They do it to show off the performance - this magnificent aircraft. I mean, it's very lightweight in comparison to its similar
aircraft. It's made from carbon fibers - very powerful engines - may not even had seats onboard. One thing's for sure - it was lightweight.
And, of course, any twin-engined (ph) airliner will have twice the power it needs, because they have to be able to continue a takeoff at maximum
takeoff weight with one engine failed. So, on a twin, that means that the single engine has gotta be able to take the aircraft with a full load of
passengers and full fuel - carry on with the takeoff successfully.
So, you've got lots of - lots of power there.
FOSTER: What does it say about the aircraft?
R OSENSCHEIN: Well, it's magnificent - aerodynamically designed.
FOSTER: That they're able to do that and it pulls off safely - there's no concern at all?
ROSENSCHEIN: No, there's no concern at all. I mean, if you were a passenger and the pilot was doing that, then you'd -
FOSTER: You'd wonder what's going on.
ROSENSCHEIN: - you'd wonder what's going on. But the point about this aircraft is it looks beautiful.
FOSTER: Yes.
ROSENSCHEIN: And anything that looks beautiful - any aircraft that looks beautiful flies well.
FOSTER: And it also - it shows that they can cope with that sort of maneuver which possibly can happen or whatever. But in terms of the flying
here, what's involved? Is that a very highly skilled maneuver?
ROSENSCHEIN: Well, no, not - not really so. But you've got to know what you're doing, because you are trading your speed for altitude. If you -
when you - when you do that very steep climb, and as your speed comes back, you've got to get the nose down again. In other words, back to level
flight before you run out of air speed. Otherwise, you'll stall the aircraft.
FOSTER: And, so, in terms of what we expect in Paris, from your experience of seeing these sorts of practices and stuff, we can expect something more
impressive?
ROSENSCHEIN: No, probably along those lines. But I tell you, it really is impressive, especially if you're a pilot. You know what aircraft can do.
Every time I see an airliner being demonstrated at an air show, I think wow.
FOSTER: And this particular bit of video, having watched lots of (INAUDIBLE) videos like this, did it still sort of surprise you and think -
ROSENSCHEIN: Well, in the sense they've got a very clever camera angle from liftoff (ph). And it does give the impression the thing's going near-
vertical. It doesn't have the power to actually do that. But, you know, an airliner can do a barrel roll, can do a loop. It's not designed to do
so. But, if it's flown well, you can actually do that.
FOSTER: They have, of course, had some technical issues with this aircraft, as well, haven't they? So, this is about showing the - we're
ready. We couldn't be more ready. This airline - this airplane is fantastic - safe piece of kit (ph).
ROSENSCHEIN: Well, it is. I mean it had battery problems (INAUDIBLE) seven, eight, seven, eight series, which was the previous model, which
there are now 300 made. There are eleven hundred on order. It's a superb aircraft. This one's 20 percent more fuel efficient than its predecessor,
which was 20 percent more fuel efficient than the Boeing 767. That's what sells airlines.
Airliners, because fuel's expensive - it's a major cost. This aircraft is superb. And I'm sure it'll do incredibly well.
FOSTER: OK, Alastair Rosenschein, thank you very much indeed.
ROSENSCHEIN: Thank you.
FOSTER: One of the summer's biggest expected blockbusters, "Jurassic World," has had its first showings. And it'll bring back a touch of
nostalgia for many. The original "Jurassic Park" came out 22 years ago, can you believe, and was one of the biggest movies of all time. Will
"Jurassic World" live up to its predecessor? Here's Robyn Curnow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Dinosaurs are roaring back onto the big screen more than 20 years after the original "Jurassic Park"
wowed moviegoers. A new installment inn one of the biggest franchises in history hits theaters this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm (INAUDIBLE) with four dinosaurs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's five dinosaurs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look. One, two, three, four.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: "Jurassic World" is the fourth film in the blockbuster series and, like the others, features a prehistoric amusement park full of dinosaurs
that escape and attack the park's gate (ph).
Paleontologist, Jack Horner, has served as the dinosaur consultant on every "Jurassic Park" film. He helped filmmakers come up with a bigger, even
scarier, dinosaur for the new movie.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK HORNER, CURATOR OF PALEONTOLOGY, MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES: Indominus Rex - the moviemakers wanted a new kind of dinosaur - a hybrid. And they
wanted one that was a little different than T-Rex. They wanted one with bigger arms that could grab things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Fans' fascination with dinosaurs matched with landmark visual effects have made the "Jurassic Park" movies one of the biggest money-
makers in Hollywood history. The Jurassic film franchises gross more than $2 billion globally to date.
The new movie is opening in 66 international markets and is expected to gross more than $200 million in ticket sales in its debut weekend. This
would make it one of the biggest June openings on record.
Robyn Curnow, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: We'll find out very soon how it's gone down.
Now, Nobel winning scientist, Tim Hunt, may be brilliant in his field. But his less than brilliant comments about women in science labs has triggered
his resignation. But also a flurry of responses on Twitter, with a hashtag, distractingly sexy.
Now Hunt notoriously referred to women as girls and said quote, "Three things happen when they're in the lab. You fall in love with them. They
fall in love with you. And, when you criticize them, they cry."
Several women had these responses. Charlene (ph) tweeted - the only picture I have of myself at work where my mascara isn't running from all
the crying. And this (INAUDIBLE) jokes - I fell in love with a micro centrifuge - typical woman in the lab. Meanwhile, Kelly (ph) says she is
distractingly sexy when emptying the biohazardous waste bucket. And Van (ph) wants to know how her male colleagues can publish when she shows up at
work in revealing outfits.
There you are - keeping people talking, at least.
This has been THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. Thanks for watching. "Quest Means Business" is up next.
END
