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President Obama Confirms ISIS Executioner Jihadi John Was Killed In U.S.-Led Air Strike Last Month; Ted Cruz Expected TO Be On Top After Next GOP Debate. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired December 14, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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

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[15:32:22] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: President Obama is now confirming what had been suspected all along here. That ISIS executioner jihadi John was killed in a U.S.-led airstrike last month. Jihadi John is that British national seen on camera wielding that knife beheading western hostages including Americans. President Obama made the announcement at the Pentagon earlier today after meeting with his national security team with regard to ISIS. The president says his administration's strategy to d destroy ISIS is quote-unquote "moving forward."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are hitting ISIL harder than ever. Coalition aircraft, our fighters, bombers, and drones have increasing the pace of airstrikes. Nearly 9,000 as of today. Last month in November we dropped more bombs on ISIL targets than any other month since this campaign started. We are also taking out ISIL leaders, commanders and killers one by one. The point is ISIL leaders cannot hide and our next message to them is simple. You are next.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to our chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto who is live in Washington who, of course, watched the president earlier today.

Hitting ISIS harder than ever. Will that be enough to satisfy his critics?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: In a word, no, really. And his critics that you hear in Washington, some of them frankly in both parties, not just Republican but Democrats are looking for more assertive military moves. Now, the disagreement among them is what that is from a large ground force to perhaps more greater use of U.S. Special Forces, more airstrikes, et cetera.

But what you heard from the president today was really almost a defense and a progress report on his current strategy. You know, the one concession he made is he said that, you know, progress has to come faster than it already is, but then he made the case that progress is coming. He said that ISIS is losing ground in Iraq. It's losing thousands of square miles in Syria and then he listed, as you heard him there, the number of Isis leaders who have been killed or senior figures such as jihadi John, but also Abu Sayyaf, another leader in Libya, et cetera, to say, you know, in effect the strategy is working. Now that's an argument, frankly, that's not satisfying to a lot of folks in Washington, but that was the president - it seems to be the president's message today.

BALDWIN: That was the president there. Let me pivot you to Bowe Bergdahl, Jim. We were just talking last week how we sort of hearing for the first time that the podcast right with regard to Bowe Bergdahl and the reason to leave his post. And now today, we are learning about how he is, what, being referred to the general court-martial. Tell me more about that.

[15:35:03] SCIUTTO: That's right. So in effect, his case is going to trial. And he is going to go to court-martial on two charges. Ones we heard about for some time, one is desertion. That carries a sentence, maximum sentence of five years. But the other one more serious and that is putting his unit in danger, putting his fellow service members in danger. That conceivably carries a life sentence. It doesn't mean he's going to be charged with both of those or get that sentence, but that's the outer limit.

And clearly they have decided they have to go to court to decide if there's substance there. You may remember that a few weeks ago the chief military investigator in this case, he doesn't really argue for one side, but he did make the case that Bergdahl was being honest and doesn't believe he has nefarious intentions. That said there are others who believe differently. And it was interesting as we heard that podcast last week, he was giving in effect his public defense perhaps of what you might hear in ha that courtroom if you were there to say that he went out. He wanted to expose wrong doing, bad, dangerous leadership in his unit there, you know. That's his case and a judge and his peers are going to have to decide what they believe.

BALDWIN: All right. Going to trial. Jim Sciutto, thank you so much in Washington.

I want to turn our attention now to the investigation into the Paris terror attacks. Stunning new details out today suggesting the ring leader Abdelhamid Abaaoud apparently directed the Bataclan theater attacks by phone blocks away in real-time. This is according to a French terrorism expert. A witness told investigators they actually saw him standing on this doorway screaming on his phone for about an hour and appearing in a word, agitated.

So let me bring in our Paris-based journalist and correspondent Stefan De Vries.

And Stefan, I mean, first it was the bomb shell he had gone back to the theater as investigators were still there and it was this gruesome scene. Now to learn that he was this close proximity calling the attacks over a cell phone.

STEFAN DE VRIES, PARIS-BASED CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. That's what this magazine today published. Allegedly, he was in front of the theater basically conducting the attacks while they were going on inside the music venue. There was already known that he went to a western suburb. He parked his car and took the subway to the area of the Bataclan. And so he may have been giving instructions while the terrorists were acting out the massacre inside the music venue.

A police source have told French media this is not sure. It is sure he was in the surroundings. And another detail is that Francois Hollande, the France's president, he was at the same spot around - well, maybe at the same time as the terrorist, which is of course incredible information. But it's not clear whether Abdelhamid Abaaoud was giving instructions directly. It is clear, however, that he must have been in the direct neighborhood of the music venue.

BALDWIN: As we talk about Paris and what happened there, and of course, sitting here in Las Vegas, this is a day ahead of our, you know, final primary debate among Republican candidates for president at the end of this year. And I'm just wondering, you know, from more of a global perspective there from your perch in Paris, how this candidates, how this race thus far is being perceived from your point of view.

DE VRIES: Of course, in Europe, we have been following the ascend of Donald Trump and especially all his remarks about Muslims, for instance, last week. Actually we make the comparison with a lot of European politicians like Marie Le Pen, the leader of the right wing party here in France but also in other countries like the Netherlands or in Hungary. There are people who like -- that can be compared to Donald Trump. Very harsh talk, very anti-immigrant, anti-immigration. Well, no nonsense rhetoric, something that pleases with the electorate.

We have, of course, here yesterday elections in France regional elections. Marie Le Pen did now win any region. But nevertheless, she got over almost 30 percent of the votes and that's something completely new. France was a bipartisan country with socialists and now basically it's a country of three parties and it brings the traditional parties huge difficulties because Marie Le Pen wants become France's next president. In 18 months from now, there will be a presidential election in May 2017 and she has very good chances.

There are two rounds in France of what a presidential election. She will most likely win the first round very easy, but it will be very difficult to become the next president. But it shows that everywhere in Europe, just like in the U.S., populist politicians are gaining ground and, well, they can have a lot of success.

[15:40:02] BALDWIN: It also goes to show what happens here on the stage in Las Vegas tomorrow night. The world will indeed be watching.

Stefan de Vries, thank you very much live from Paris.

As the world watches who is most likely to succeed tomorrow night here in Las Vegas on that arena stage. How about who is most likely to fail or surprise us? We will have our predictions live from Las Vegas. We will be right back.

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[15:43:42] BALDWIN: And we are back live in Las Vegas here. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Beautiful blue skies, a chilly Monday here in Las Vegas, but it's heating up inside the debate hall come tomorrow night. The countdown clock, 26 hours, 16 minutes, 20 seconds. We are watching. We are waiting especially these two sitting next to me. CNN senior political reporter Nia-Malika Henderson and CNN political director David Chalian are joining me now here in a windy Las Vegas.

But Listen. This is kind of fun. We wanted to play a little bit of political game. We all remember in high school the senior superlatives or whatever it would be. I'm sure yours is most likely to succeed. And so, we wanted to go through some of these candidates. So for example, let's begin with that. Who would be most likely to succeed? If everyone on that stage tomorrow night.

NIA-MALIKA HENDERSON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER: I think it's going to be Ted Cruz, who is probably the best just pure debater on that stage. Here's a guy who is arguing cases before the Supreme Court. And actually was a champion debater.

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HENDERSON: So I think he's going to know not only how to take incoming, which is expect her is going to get a lot of, but also kind of turn it around. Because that's the trick when somebody comes after you. Can you sort of take the blow, absorb it and turn it into an upper cut.

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: And he has proven it in previous debates. I would add Rubio to the list maybe almost likely to succeed. Just because has accomplished his goals for almost each debate he has participated in, which is sort of getting his biography out there. He is not trying to make splashes, jump in. He is just trying to plot along until we get closer to the voting, which he is looking to really get hot. At the end, and I think that he is probably likely to succeed in this format because it's also a little more so national security focus in his wheelhouse.

[15:45:18] BALDWIN: Who is most likely to brawl to fight it out?

HENDERSON: You know, it I think Trump first, but also I think Rand Paul as well. Because Rand Paul, he is the one kind of going after Trump. He has gone after everyone, you know, at some point. Certainly has gone after Marco Rubio and we will have to see. The thing about Trump is that he is often brawled off stage. But when it comes to actually trying to do that stage, he didn't do that with Carson and even though after, you know, on the way away from the stage he was aggressive in going after Carson. Didn't do it.

CHALIAN: But I think you are right about Rand Paul. I mean, I do think his entire mission is to brawl. That is the whole reason he is there. And you know, he made it to the main stage. Skin of his teeth. And I think he is there to agitate the rest of the field. BALDWIN: Yes. Who is most likely to surprise?

CHALIAN: You know, I find Chris Christie is always sort of has a moment where after each of these debates, I'm like, wow, I didn't expect Chris Christie to have one of the lasting moments of the debate and then he did. And so, I think maybe we should be surprised anymore, but I do think he is the one that always sort of like, wow, he really got in there despite, you know, being towards the end of the stage.

BALDWIN: Agreed.

HENDERSON: And he always looks like he is enjoying himself on the stage. He shows parts of his personality. He is also always in some ways up often played the adult on stage and kind of less of brawling to elders. So I think he will definitely be a surprise tonight.

BALDWIN: Who is most likely to fail? Final question.

CHALIAN: Most likely to fail, I got to say Ben Carson, who is on such a slide right now and opposite of Rubio, this is not Ben Carson's wheelhouse. I mean, this environment of post-Paris, post San Bernardino, a commander-in-chief kind of debate, I just don't think plays to Ben Carson's strengths.

BALDWIN: Yes. I have the tables have turned. Just yesterday we were sitting at the Reagan Library talking about Ben Carson, Ben Carson, Ben Carson.

HENDERSON: I think that's right, Carson. I mean, every time before these debates I will talk to his advisers. They say he is going to be great. He is going to be in the weeds in policy. Has never lived up to those expectations. He is very soft spoken. This isn't his issue.

BALDWIN: He is taken all the (INAUDIBLE), right.

HENDERSON: Yes. He has another one planned, a three country tour of Africa coming up after Christmas. Of course, he went to Jordan as well. But he hasn't been able to bring it in terms of national security in seeming like a forceful commander-in-chief.

HENDERSON: Right. He comes with that credential of traveling overseas, which is why he is doing it, but then it doesn't expand into a policy debate with others on the stage.

BALDWIN: This is your college game day. Are you stoked?

Nia, David, thank you both so much.

More of the superlatives coming up next here live from Las Vegas. Mitt Romney may not be on the ticket in 2016, but party insiders could use him as we are hearing to help whittle down the Republican field. What is going on behind the scenes as we head into this final debate of the year?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [15:52:02] BALDWIN: With just a little bit more than 24 hours now until the Republican candidates will be taking that stage, obviously you see four podiums on the stage getting set for the undercard debate which is followed by the big debate on stage tomorrow night there at the venetian here in Las Vegas.

Listen. There's a lot on the line, we keep saying that over and over, but this is the big one, final one of the year. What are the candidates doing to prepare? We are going to talk so much more about that. I have CNN political commentator and Republican strategist Kevin Madden who worked with the Mitt Romney campaign and CNN political commentator Dan Pfeiffer, who ones served as senior advisor to President Obama. So these two are, you know, perfect conditions to discuss this.

Looking into this -- good to see you all by the way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good to see you.

BALDWIN: Beginning with Donald Trump as he is front and center and everyone's talking about this Monmouth poll and I say it again, I mean, he is above this 40 percentage mark in this latest poll, he says he would run the table if he wins Iowa, meaning he has got it all, right, if he can win that first caucus February 1st. How does one do that?

KEVIN MADDEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: It's extremely difficult. Dan knows these things are not easy. Particularly trying to run the table and, you know, thinking sweep. I know Donald Trump probably thinks he can do that in the business world and he has done it previously in everything else he's faced in life, but in presidential primary politics it's very difficult in Iowa.

There are very different electorates. The electorate in Iowa is very highly evangelical. The one in New Hampshire has a little bit more of an independent streak. And then when you go down to South Carolina it's much more focused on issues like national security. So the idea that Donald Trump is going to bring together all those different types of Republican voters and sweeping the table is somewhat farfetched.

DAN PFEIFFER, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think that Iowa is the hardest state for Trump of the first four. But there's a history here that when you start to get momentum one of those four state wills give you a come upens, and said you like - we thought we are going to in 2008 going to run the table or come closer in a table after we won there in caucus by a large marge. And then Hillary Clinton comes from far behind in the last few hours there to beat us in New Hampshire, so it is unlikely I think.

BALDWIN: Lesson learned.

PFEIFFER: Yes.

BALDWIN: With here we are the day before the final debate of the year and we have just learned a while ago that Alice Stewart who is the chief communications director for the Mike Huckabee campaign, she's out. She's out. What is that -- that can't -- I don't know, that can't bode well for that campaign.

PFEIFFER: Well, look. I think we don't know the circumstances here.

BALDWIN: No, we don't.

PFEIFFER: Individual circumstances that are totally torn apart in the direction of the campaign. But it is usually a pretty bad sign. And Huckabee has struggled throughout this entire time to ever gain traction, which is pretty amazing for someone who won the Iowa caucuses just eight years ago. So we need to learn more but not a good sign I think.

MADDEN: And I would say first Alice Stewart is probably one of the better folks in the business. She is very good and highly talented. The other thing is on a day like this or the day before a big debate that is when your team, your campaign team is supposed to come together. That they are supposed to be highly functioning. And a lot of like a game day atmosphere we always say. So to have this type of internal turmoil inside a campaign terrible sign right now.

[15:55:00] BALDWIN: Looking at you because I'm thinking of Mitt Romney and I was just talking to someone about this Julie Pace with the "Associated Press" reporting talking to John King that apparently, you know, because there are so many sort of candidates still in this as we are coming up upon Iowa in February and the fact that it would be perhaps speaker Ryan and Mitt Romney who would have this, and I'm quoting, come to Jesus conversation with some of these candidates to say, hey, it's time we went down the field. And most people are calling, if I may, BS on some of that, do you see that something could happen?

MADDEN: Well, I think there is two things. I don't think Governor Romney or Speaker Ryan see that as their place. I think they firmly believe in the will of the voters and letting this process play out before something like that would happen. I think a lot of party elders, a lot of folks that are inside the leadership of the Republican Party, I think they are increasingly going to look to leaders -- other elders in the party like a Mitt Romney or Paul Ryan to start trying to have more of an influence on this race.

BALDWIN: Those would be two names that you would think of who would play that sort of role.

MADDEN: Yes. You also have to remember when Governor Romney was the nominee, I don't think he took it very well when folks from the outside were trying to have an impact on him. Or there was talk about somebody coming from the outside to start making decisions for the party.

BALDWIN: Yes.

MADDEN: The will of the voters I think is important and that was something he articulated in 2012. And I think he'd be very reluctant to get too involved.

BALDWIN: OK. Dan Pfeiffer, Kevin Madden, thank you so much as we are 26 hours away from the big night tomorrow.

I'm Brooke Baldwin here live in Las Vegas. Thank you so much for being here with me on this Monday. We will be back tomorrow.

In the meantime, "the LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts in just a moment from right here in front of the Venetian hotel in Las Vegas.

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