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Hala Gorani Tonight
Trump: Cruz "Stole" Iowa, Calls For New Caucuses; President Obama Visits U.S. Mosque; WHO Declared Zika A Public Health Emergency; Syria Peace Talks Paused For Three Weeks; Cameron Defends Plan For E.U. Reform; Yahoo! To Lay Off 15 Percent Of Its Workforce; Russian Political Violence Examined; Latest Fighting in Syria Halts Peace Talks. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired February 03, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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[15:00:33] MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello everyone. I am Michael Homes in for Hala today, live from CNN center. This is the WORLD
RIGHT NOW.
And we begin tonight with a tit for tat on Twitter that could have implications in the race for the White House. Now basically Donald Trump
says Ted Cruz is a cheat. The Cruz camp calling Trump a sore loser.
All right, take a look at Trump's Twitter accusation, quoting here, "Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa. He stole it. That's why all of the polls were so
wrong and why he got more votes than anticipated, bad," unquote.
The series of tweets have culminated in a call for a caucus do over. For what is behind Trump's accusations and the response from Ted Cruz, I am
joined by MJ Lee in Manchester, New Hampshire.
MJ, there are a couple of things he is talking about, Ben Carson is one, we'll get to that, but especially this flier that went out to Iowa voters.
He is not the only one calling this a dirty pool.
MJ LEE, CNN POLITICS REPORTER: Yes, that's right. All of a sudden Donald Trump is very angry about the results in Iowa and even calling for a
rematch there. I just want to give you the background on why this is happening all of a sudden.
What happened is that Ben Carson his campaign told CNN during the Iowa caucuses that Carson would be heading home to Florida briefly instead of
coming to New Hampshire or South Carolina where the next contests are being held.
Now Cruz saw that news on CNN and some of his surrogates started telling basically Carson's supporters, look, it sounds like he is going to drop
out. You should come and vote for Cruz instead. All while the caucuses were still going on.
Now, I want to point out that the Cruz campaign and Cruz actually himself personally has apologized to Carson calling this, quote, "a mistake," but
nevertheless Trump is seizing on this to now say that he wants a rematch of the Iowa elections and that Cruz basically stole the caucuses unfairly.
If I could read for you a statement from Cruz's Communications Director Rick Tyler. It's pretty entertaining. He says, quote, "Reality hit the
reality TV star in Iowa, so nobody is talking about him now, so he is trying to regain some attention on Twitter.
There are Twitter addiction support groups so he should seek out his local chapter." So a really interesting turn in the 2016 race as we're just days
away from the New Hampshire primary.
HOLMES: That's just extraordinary and schoolyard. The accusation about Dr. Carson and also the flier which basically warned people of the voter
violations if they did not turn out, and also creating a lot of concern around the political world.
We're putting that flier up now. The words, "voter violation" I think is what got people and it looked very formal and it basically grades you on
the turn out and the Iowa caucus people, the electoral people in Iowa say it's just not true.
LEE: Yes, I mean it sort of goes to show how the caucuses are a bit of a strange phenomenon, right? You think about elections and you think about
voting, and the image that you immediately get is that you walk into a voting booth and cast a ballot and pick the person that you want to vote
for.
But in Iowa the caucuses are a pretty elaborate process and a lot of people don't really understand it. I think for the candidates and Cruz's rivals
who are looking at what happened, they see this as Cruz and his campaign playing dirty politics.
That they are manipulating the situation and really taking advantage of the fact that voters in Iowa, many of them may not be aware of how exactly all
of this works.
And you know putting out these fires basically to intimidate people and to warn people you better head out to vote or else you are in trouble.
[15:05:05]HOLMES: Politics. MJ, thanks so much. MJ Lee there in New Hampshire. We're going to have more on this story too in about 20 minutes.
We're going to look more at the substance of Trump's accusations and put all this story Ted Cruz supporter. U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows is going
to join me to discuss why he endorses Cruz for president.
Well, a few hours from now Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are going to be taking to the stage in a New Hampshire town hall right here on CNN. Now
the Sanders campaign shot out of Iowa after a near tie and heading into New Hampshire with a big head start.
Let's have a look at the polls in New Hampshire. A little different than what we saw in Iowa, 57 to 34 percent for Sanders. Will Senator Sanders
strengthen his appeals to the liberal base tonight to try to maintain that lead?
We will have to wait and see, of course. But we did have some indication from this interview with Wolf Blitzer earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We need leadership that stands up to the billionaire class and says to them you
know what? You guys can't have them all. We've got to rebuild the middle class.
And second of all, let's be frank. We have a very corrupt campaign finance system which allows Wall Street and billionaires to buy elections.
Here is the difference between Hillary Clinton and me. I have received three and a half million individual campaign contributions averaging $27 a
piece.
Hillary Clinton recently announced the results, the take from her super PAC $25 million coming into a super PAC and $15 million of that came from Wall
Street.
That is a very significant difference. Our campaign is funded by the people to a significant degree and her campaign is funded by Wall Street
and big money interest.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Some people say that politically, strategically, that could a mistake on your part not having
the super PAC. You probably could raise a lot of money, but you're unilaterally they disarming. Is that a problem?
SANDERS: Well, I think you're right. That's what a lot of people have said, but that's what we are taking on. That's what my campaign is about.
Yes, I can raise a lot of money if I have a super PAC. But I don't represent the interest of the billionaire class. I don't represent
corporate America. I don't represent the very, very wealthy. So I am going let them keep their money.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, before voters in the New Hampshire ballot cast their vote, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are going take part in that CNN
presidential town hall I mentioned a moment ago.
Catch all of it here on CNN live at 2:00 a.m. If you're in London or if that's a bit late for you. The full replay is Thursday, 12:00 p.m. London
time, that's 1:00 p.m. Central and an event that you will only see right here on CNN.
U.S. President Barack Obama visiting a mosque in Baltimore. It is the first time that he has visited a mosque in the U.S. while president.
During the visit, lauding the contribution Muslims make to American society trying to diffuse anti-Muslim rhetoric that has been used by some
Republican presidential candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Since the attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, you have seen too often people conflating the
horrific acts of terrorism with the beliefs of an entire faith.
Of course, recently we've heard in excusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans that has no place in our country. No surprise then that
threats and harassment of Muslim-Americans have surged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Let's talk a little bit more about this with Michelle Kosinski joining us now live from the White House. Michelle great to see you. You
know it was interesting listening to the president talking about inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslim-Americans really a reassuring
message of inclusion.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. I mean, the White House has been wanting to set up this way of speaking that
they love to contrast sharply with the way they view the Republican political rhetoric right now.
The White House keeps saying that its message is one of hope and inclusion. The president wanted to get that across. In fact, he wanted to get pretty
much everything across in the speech.
Wow, it was 45 minutes long, and it being the first time he appears at a mosque in America. He wanted to hit on seemingly every possible topic that
affects Muslim-Americans, but that rhetoric was a big part of it.
He did again take this opportunity and again without mentioning any names specifically to slam that rhetoric. You heard him call it in excusable.
He called it hateful saying it tears at the fabric of this nation.
But there were a couple of points too that were a little bit surprising that he made, things we don't hear him say all the time. He mentions that
he is still called a Muslim by many in this country. Yes, he did go there.
[15:10:04]He also said that Thomas Jefferson, one of this country's forefathers was also called a Muslim in his day so President Obama said
he's in good company.
He talked about American television saying that it's time that our TV programs portrayed Muslims in ways that don't relate to national security.
Have not really heard him say that before.
He also talked about Muslim-Americans having a responsibility to speak out against and to reject hateful ideologies, and he said that we need to
amplify those voices more.
We know -- you know, this is a symbolic appearance, the timing is perfect given the political season right now and all that rhetoric that's been out
there.
I mean, it's been making worldwide headlines, but we are talking to somebody who was involved in the round table discussion because at this
appearance, the president was also meeting with community leaders.
And she told her that when he told her children, for example, that President Obama was visiting a mosque. You can't imagine how excited and
happy that made them.
So even though this is another speech and it's making a statement, it does mean a lot to communities here in the U.S. -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, Michelle, appreciate that. It was rather stirring to hear Michelle Kosinski there at the White House.
OK. The American Red Cross taking action to protect the safety of the blood supply a day after the Zika virus was declared a public health
emergency.
Now, it wants blood donors who have traveled to the affected areas and you can see in tail green there on the map to delay giving blood for 28 days
after returning to the U.S.
There's no currently no viable vaccine, of course, or medicine to treat this mosquito-borne virus, but the drug maker, Sanofi Pasteur, says that it
can move quickly to develop a vaccine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLAS JACKSON, GLOBAL HEAD OF RESEARCH, SANOFI PASTEUR: The WHO has declared an emergency so we need to move as quickly as possible. So we've
technology in-house. We have capabilities and infrastructure that's being established around our dengue vaccine and other viruses. So we really hope
to reduce that timeline and cut the years off the typical amount of time that it takes to develop a vaccine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we're talking several years rather than perhaps a decade?
JACKSON: That's correct.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, on Monday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed a sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus in Dallas, Texas. Our chief
medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, just spoke to the director of the CDC and Sanjay joins us now here in the studio.
Just to clear this up first. The delaying of the giving of blood is a precaution. Talk to us about the sexually transmitted side of things. One
would imagine that is a small risk?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think compared to the idea of it being transmitted by mosquitoes, it's much less common obviously
through being sexually transmitted, but it's now been confirmed that than can happen.
You know, that they weren't sure, you know, for some time. This was a confirmed case. So the story was a man went to Venezuela. He returned.
He was sick. He was subsequently tested positive for Zika virus as was the sexual partner.
A woman who had not left the United States since 2008 so clearly she hadn't been in one of these affected countries. So that was a confirmed case.
So I think that there is concern about this. I think it's going to change the guidance. You're hearing the Red Cross react to it.
What Dr. Frieden, who is the head of the CDC told me the virus likely stays in your body for about seven days, 28 days is what Red Cross is saying they
want to wait before they'll blood from somebody.
It's extra precaution, but that's where this guidance is coming from.
HOLMES: And I supposed the thing with sexually transmitted is the risk there I supposed. If Ben gets it out of the mosquito area that carries the
virus, you can then be anywhere.
GUPTA: Yes, well, look, mosquitoes can pretty much travel most places around the world even in the United States you do have this (inaudible)
type of mosquito and I learned that traveling in certain parts of the United States as well. It is still seems like a much more important vector
in terms of transmission than through sex.
HOLMES: When you look at (inaudible), the Latin American leaders are meeting in Uruguay to down a plan to combat the spread of the virus, what
tactics are there? What cards are on the table that they might be able to play?
GUPTA: Well, you know, it's interesting Michael because I think there's all sorts of different things being proposed. Some of the very simple
things. You talk about simply being to get rid of mosquitos especially in areas where you have a lot of people and you expect a lot of people.
Carnival is starting this week. The Olympics will be here in six months and these are huge concerns, but getting rid of standing water and using
insect repellants and sprays.
I have heard that the idea of even using DDT, which is a very powerful mosquito repellant. It has been outlawed in many countries around the
world could may be make a resurgence in a much more limited way.
They've talked about essentially genetically modifying mosquitoes that can then mate with a female mosquito and cause the offspring to essentially not
feel to spread disease.
[15:15:12]So I think that it's going to be really interesting the impact this has had on the scientific community. We are just hearing about
vaccines still several years down the line, but these are some of the things we may hear more and more about sooner.
HOLMES: It's very worrying because they could be an awful lot of babies between now and the vaccine.
GUPTA: No question about it. Look, as a society, human society, we have gone through something like this before, Rubella, but you and I remember
Rubella. We had a vaccine in the 70s that finally came around for that.
But that was sort of the same thing. Women were getting pregnant and having children who had birth defects and a lot of times it was just we
don't know. We don't know how to protect ourselves against something like that.
HOLMES: Terrifying. Sanjay, thanks so much. Great to see you here. Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HOLMES: There are many more questions about Zika and the good doctor will try to answer them for you. Join in this afternoon 4:30 Eastern Time for a
live Q & A, that will be on CNN's main Facebook page. So do join Dr. Gupta for that.
All right, we are going to bring you the latest on the Syrian peace talks in a moment. And our team in Northern Syria make a fascinating discovery.
What it could mean for the U.S. war on ISIS coming up next.
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HOLMES: Welcome back, everyone. The Syria peace talks hitting another snag. U.N. Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, says he is hitting the pause
button for three weeks because there is more work to be done on both sides.
And with no end to the insight of the bloody conflict, Syrian government forces have just broken the rebel siege of Aleppo. That's according to a
military leader with the Free Syrian Army.
Now let's cross to our correspondent in Northern Syria, Clarissa Ward joining us now from Erbil with an exclusive report. Before we get to that,
Clarissa, let's talk about this pause and one would imagine that every game by the regime on the battlefield there would be less and less incentive for
them to talk anyway.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Things are looking increasingly bleak I think for the opposition, Michael, with
the announcement that those two Shiite villages, Nubla and Sahara (ph), which had been under siege for more than three years.
Those siege has now broken by Assad's forces and this is really significant strategically for the rebel forces because it means that their key supply
lines directly from Turkey into Aleppo has now been blocked.
Now this push came after a day what the opposition said was an absolutely massive escalation in aerial bombardment from the Russian and Syrian
fighter jets.
[15:20:02]I spoke to at least one person on the ground in Aleppo who told me that it was some of the worst bombardment he had ever seen before.
And I think the combination of losing that strategic supply root as well as undergoing that intensive bombardment yesterday has really led the
opposition in Geneva now to say that enough is enough.
And in fact the statement that they gave was the government has sent a message that there is nothing to negotiate just go home. So things looking
increasingly bleak -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, absolutely. Now there has been talk about the lengthening of an airstrip in the region and what that might be for. And you popped by to
have a look, tell us what you found?
WARD: Well, that's right. Essentially since the U.S. has started to ratchet up its military presence inside Syria now there are at least 50
U.S. Special Forces troops on the ground, they're looking for ways to enhance their relationship with their allies, the Kurdish forces.
And they are also looking at ways to try to attack ISIS militarily beyond just airstrikes. We were able to see a little bit of both of those things
for ourselves. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WARD (voice-over): This place does not exist according to the U.S. Defense Department, but behind that berm of freshly dug earth, a small agricultural
airstrip is being turned into something very different.
A military airfield just a hundred miles from the ISIS positions. Satellite photos show the work that's done here in recent months.
(on camera): So you can see behind me they are working to extend the run way so that larger planes could land here. The advantage of this site is
that it's well secured inside Kurdish territory so it could be used to supply U.S. Special Forces deployed here in Syria.
(voice-over): We were escorted away from the airfield as soon as we were spotted. They told it was a military zone. It's another example of the
U.S. growing military footprint in this remote corner of Northern Syria and it's deepening relationship with Syrian-Kurdish fighters known as the YPG.
In an abandoned apartment building closer to the frontline, we were given access to the YPG's joint operations group. It is a modest set up.
The 21-year-old (inaudible) and his colleagues talk to their men on the battlefield using newly provided tablets, they pass on enemy locations to a
coalition command center from where airstrikes can be launched.
Right now this is the frontline of Yasaka, he says, our comrades there have seen the movement of two enemy fighters and so we sent this message along
with their coordinates to the general command room.
When there are heavy clashes, the operations room moves to the frontlines. Immediately after the strikes, Hasaki (ph) and his men rush in to make sure
that the right targets have been hit.
(on camera): Who taught you how to use this?
(voice-over): He tells us a group of foreigners and Americans train his commanders who in turn trained him and his comrades.
In the skies and on the ground in Syria, the U.S. is deepening its commitment to the battle against ISIS.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: It's not just the U.S., Michael, less than 50 miles from that airstrip, there are reports that the Russians have also been significantly
bolstering their military presence. Certainly it is fair to say that Northern Syria is becoming increasingly crowded -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, it would appear so. Clarissa, great reporting. Clarissa, thanks so much. Clarissa Ward there in Erbil in Northern Iraq.
Later in the program, we'll be speaking to a U.N. official in charge of bringing humanitarian relief to Syria. Steven O'Brien joins me in the next
half hour to discuss what needs to be achieved at U.N. peace talks in Geneva, those talks that are now on pause, of course.
The prime minister of U.K., David Cameron, urging British lawmakers to get behind a proposal for E.U. reform. Now this comes as the country prepares
to hold a referendum on whether or not to stay in the block.
Skeptics say the draft plan does not go far enough, but Mr. Cameron insists progress is being made.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I believe that we will succeed more as a country if we get a good deal in Europe and stay in a reform Europe.
That will be good for jobs. Good for investment. Good for (inaudible) and that's what I am fighting for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Newspapers in the U.K. have been reacting to the reform proposals. The business focus "Financial Times" had this to say, for example, quote,
"For all the criticism, however, Mr. Cameron looks set to secure a reasonable deal for Britain."
[15:25:12]But the right wing "Daily Mail" not as complimentary saying this, quote, "The mail admires David Cameron, but on Europe we have to say
frankly his capacity for self-delusion is breathtaking," unquote.
You're watching THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. Coming up on the program, Yahoo! under pressure after posting a dismal quarterly report and cutting staff.
Where will they go from here? We will be speaking to our very own Richard Quest in a few minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Welcome back. Tech company, Yahoo!, has announced a massive $4.4 billion loss last quarter and says it's going to be laying off 15 percent
of its work source, that's around 1,600 employees.
These are the shares at the moment. Not surprisingly down about 5 percent on the back of that news. The company's CEO, Marissa Mayer, says that a
more focused Yahoo is a solution to the current problem.
So what does all of this mean for the company? Richard Quest is in New York and joins us now. I have got to imagine on the back of that sort of
news, what kind of pressure is on the CEO?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN ANCHOR, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS": Enormous pressure, Michael. If for no other reason, then core investors in Yahoo! have
already sent a warning shot. Not just across the bows, but pretty much the main sail as well.
And what now basically saying is a leaner more focused company might be better, but leaner and more focused on what. They believe that Marissa
Mayer having now been in the job for several years has spent an enormous amount of money, billions of dollars on various bits and bobs to try and
give Yahoo! a bigger range but to no avail.
Now to her credit, Marissa Mayer has transformed the company no doubt. She is also come up with a plan to split off the most valuable asset, which is
the stake in Alibaba of China.
But the reality is, Michael, when you look at the core Yahoo! business that the investors are saying she has so far failed.
HOLMES: Yes, and also selling off chunks, you know, Yahoo TV and other things as well and the Alibaba as you pointed out posed a question, you
know, investors. I think stocks are down 40 percent since the end of 2014. The question is can the ship be turned around with the shot up the
"mainsail" as I think you said?
QUEST: Well, the first question is what is Yahoo? What you does it stand for? Why do people visit the site and where is its future? If you ask
those questions to most people, you get a scratching of heads and people saying that it did not used to be.
I think it was about (inaudible) perhaps in the future and what investors are saying is, all right, Marissa Mayer, you came in as a great guru in
these areas and you turned things around and spent some money.
[15:30:00]
But you haven't addressed the core raison d'etre of Yahoo. And that's the point now because the investors have had enough. They want the Alibaba and
the Japan Yahoo stake gone, she wants to reverse split it, they're saying we're not sure that's the way forward.
I think when you take Apple with its own issues and success and Google and now as the most valuable company in the world you realize Yahoo is almost -
almost holed beneath the water line.
HOLMES: Oh dear. All right, Richard, good to see you my friend, thanks so much for that. And Quest Means Business coming up in about 30 minutes as
well.
Meanwhile coming up here on this program in the next half hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Trump vs Cruz, is there any validity to Donald Trump's tweets accusing Ted Cruz of fraud in Iowa?
Say with us, we'll be right back.
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(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOLMES: Welcome back everyone, we are hours away from a town hall with the Democratic Presidential hopefuls right here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Bernie Sanders expected to continue an appeal to a liberal base in New Hampshire while Hillary Clinton will try to close a big polling gap and
try to appeal to younger voters. She's getting tooled in that demographic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The U.N. Special Envoy, Steffan de Mistura says he is halting the Syria peace talks for three weeks because there's more work to be done he
says on both sides.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The violence continues on the ground meanwhile. A leader with the Free Syrian Army says regime forces have broken the rebel cease of Aleppo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The American Red Cross warning blood donors who have travelled to areas affected by the Zika virus to delay giving blood for 28 days after
returning to the U.S.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: That move comes after the World Health Organization declared the virus a public health emergency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: U.S. President, Barack Obama visiting a mosque in Baltimore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: It is the first time he has visited a mosque in the U.S. while President. He lorded the contribution that Muslims make to society trying
to defuse anti-Muslim rhetoric that is being used by some Republican Presidential candidates.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
HOLMES: All right, let's return to our top story now. Donald Trump's accusation that Ted Cruz committed fraud to win Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Trump pointing to the fact that the Cruz campaign reached out to precinct captains to say that Ben Carson was taking time off from his
campaign and set to make a big announcement.
[15:35:05]
HOLMES: Well there wasn't any such thing in the air, Cruz did apologize, he apparently misinterpreted CNN reporting. Now also there's this document
and many say it is a (inaudible). A voter violation flyer, the Cruz campaign telling some voters they had a failing grade and that attending a
caucus would improve it. Trump jumped on that tactic as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well Jonathan Mann joins me now from our newsroom, he is of course the host of "Political Mann" on CNN. You know the funny thing is Donald
Trump says a lot of things, but particularly when it comes to this flyer, he's not the only one calling dirty pool.
JONATHAN MANN, CNN HOST "POLITICAL MANN": He's not and you know the flyer really on the face of it, really is an underhanded tactic. The Cruz
campaign is not denying sending it out in fact Ted Cruz himself said his communication is aimed in every way at getting people to turn out to vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: But the astonishing thing is it's just a lie. There is no voter violation because there's no such thing as a voter violation. The
Government did not send it out even though it kind of looks like the Government did send it out. And the scores that it assigns to the
recipients, there are no such scores, it's completely, completely untrue. Manufacturered, fabricated from beginning to end. The idea was to spur a
turn out to get people to vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: Presumably they were trying to send them only to people they thought would vote for Ted Cruz. They weren't 100 percent successful in that.
Underhanded yes, fraudulent, yes, what anyone's going to do about it I don't know. But clearly this is one where they should have their knuckles
wrapped.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: I'm not sure the Republican Party in Iowa can let this stand but whether, as Donald Trump is demanding, they are going to have an entirely
new set of 1681 caucuses, I kind of doubt that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: So much - so much is said in politics and particularly this campaign that you're just left shaking your head because it's either not
true or a stretch to say the least.
I was wondering what you thought about Ted Cruz in New Hampshire. New Hampshire as you know only too well, it ain't Iowa, and Cruz won 43 percent
of very conservative Iowa caucus goers. New Hampshire poll shows he has only the support of two percent of the more moderate voters in New
Hampshire.
What does he need to do there?
MANN: He needs to really, really work hard and pull something impressive off. You know the polls don't put them ahead and in Iowa he had an
advantage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: The Evangelicals, so many conservatives Americans in Iowa. New Hampshire is a more liberal state, Evangelicals are not a factor at all
there. And for weeks Donald Trump has been the man in the spotlight. Every misstep measured and weighed, now it's Ted Cruz's turn. We're talking
about the flyers, we're talking about the stories that were spread about Ben Carson. He's the man in the difficult spotlight now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: Hard to imagine he's going to pull off another upset but he doesn't really need to, he is a contender now and he can continue on. The next
state, South Carolina, elsewhere in the viable belt, a lot of Evangelicals, a better territory for Ted Cruz.
So whatever happens in New Hampshire, he's in it for at least the medium term. A lot of - well four different candidates have pulled out in the
last 48 hours, he's going to stick around for a little while longer.
HOLMES: Yes, when you're leading the pack your head is above the power voter isn't it. I wanted to ask you we have the Democratic Town Hall, how
do you think - I mean it's a lot more civilized on the Democratic side, but Bernie Sanders talking about the difference between progressives and
moderates. Do you expect any fireworks here? He's got to make a distinction and on Hillary Clinton's side, she's got to get some young
folks out.
MANN: She does, you know it has been such a love in that every time Bernie Sanders has even eluded to some negative trade or made a disparaging
comment or nearly a disparaging comment, it's really gotten a lot of attention.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MANN: These two have been very nice to each other personally but they are rooted in very, very different parts of the Democratic Party. Hillary
Clinton represents a continuity and pragmatism. Bernie Sanders represents change and radical change at that.
So it could get personal but I think the two of them have staked out such different ground, it's hard to see how they're going to really, really
change the conversation in the course of this debate.
A lot of attention has focused on the demographics. New Hampshire has some industrial workers, it's not - well it's not home turf for Bernie Sanders
but he is from the neighboring state of Vermont and that will help him a lot. This is considered Bernie Sanders race to lose, he's ahead by more
than 20 points.
Once again it's not about New Hampshire it's about all the races that follow. Both of these candidates are very well funded. Both of them
however things turn out in New Hampshire are in it now for the long haul.
Martin O'Malley the last of the potential Democratic contenders to challenge either of them was one of the people who dropped out after Iowa.
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MANN: This is about those and two and we're going to see - they're going to be - they're going to be biting at each other and competing against each
other for a while to come.
HOLMES: Yes. Bernie Sanders may get an advantage because he's from the neighboring state of Vermont. I saw one (inaudible) say that Ted Cruz
might get an advantage because he's from neighboring Canada. We shall see how that all unfolds.
[15:40:04]
HOLMES: Jonathan Mann, thanks so much. And Jonathan is of course CNN's "Political Mann" and he's got the U.S. Presidential race all covered for
you. Join him Saturdays 7pm in London, as he guides you through the world's wildest and most expensive exercise of democracy.
Activists in Russia are blaming the Kremlin for an uptick in violence. They say the government is encouraging attacks against opposing politicians
and a new video released may just support that claim. Activists say that they're concerned for their safety.
Our Matthew Chance has more now on the story from Moscow.
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MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the chilling image posted online provoking condemnation. Two of the Kremlin's most prominent
critics quite literally in the cross hairs. This in a country where opposition figures have been gunned down on the street.
One of the men pictured told CNN, this was nothing short of incitement to murder.
VLADIMIR KARA-MURZA, RUSSIAN OPPOSITION MEMBER: I think it just goes to show what we know that it's a dangerous location to oppose Mr. Putin's
regime.
CHANCE: The fact that the video was posted by this man makes it especially alarming. Ramzan Kadyrov, is the pro-Kremlin strong man who runs Chechnya
and recently given to intimidating Russia's tiny opposition.
This resent post by a top ally of Kadyrov showed the Chechnyian leader handling an aggressive dog named Tarzan. His fangs are itching to bite
important opposition figures the post read. We can barely restrain him.
But fangs or even snipers bullets aren't the only concerns. Vladimir Kara- Murza is only just back on his feet he told me after a mysterious poisoning in May that he nearly killed it.
Have the doctors found what the cause of that poisoning was?
KARA-MURZA: No, we don't know the precise cause of the poisoning other than to - you know that we believe it was something sophisticated, you know
some kind of substance that usually either the special services or people from the special services have access to.
CHANCE: He's now formally requesting an investigation into what he believes was a politically motivated attack.
Of course the Kremlin denies any involvement in this alleged poisoning as it has in others. But there's no escaping the fact that in recent years
there's been a very high mortality rate among prominent opponents of the Russian leadership. One leading figure (inaudible) was killed right here on
this bridge next to the Kremlin. You can see there are tributes that have been laid marking the exact place.
But almost exactly a year on critics say those who ordered the killing have still not been brought to justice.
KARA-MURZA The result of this impunity is that we've seen these open threats from Mr. Kadyrov, from his henchmen directed towards us, members of
the Russian political opposition, we've seen their statements in the last few weeks, we've seen this new video a couple of days ago. You know Mr.
Kadyrov wasn't even formally questioned by investigators.
CHANCE: Sending a dangerous message say activists that opponents of the Kremlin are now fair game.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
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HOLMES: You're watching "The World Right Now." While the Syrian government celebrates a huge military victory U.N. peace talks on pause in Geneva.
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HOLMES: We're going to speak to a U.N. official focusing on getting aid into that war torn country, do stay with us.
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[15:45:55]
HOLMES: Welcome back everyone. Syrian government forces have broken through a siege in Aleppo a military official with the Free Syrian Army tells CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: We cannot of course independently confirm the video that you're watching but it purportedly shows the Syrian Army fighting rebel groups.
The regime forces breached the siege in the rebel held towns of (inaudible). The area was used as an opposition supply route linking
Aleppo to the Turkish border.
Now Syrian government media say this ends a three and a half year siege and does cut off a crucial supply route.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now the offensive comes as U.N. peace talks in Geneva have been put on hold as we reported earlier. But after nearly five years of civil war,
there is no pause button when it comes to the humanitarian crisis.
I'm joined now by Stephen O'Brien in London who helped manage the delivery of aid to (inaudible) earlier this month. He is a U.N. Under Secretary
General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
Thanks so much for being with us. As we said the U.N. Special Envoy announcing a pause in those talks. How concerning is that from a
humanitarian standpoint?
STEPHEN O'BRIEN, UNDER SECRETARY GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS: Well of course the best humanitarian answer to such scale of need and vulnerability
for the very many millions of Syrians still instead of Syria and indeed for those who have had to flee to the neighboring countries -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: -- is that there should be a cessation of hostilities, there should be a cease fire. They should simply stop fighting.
But in the absence of that we have to meet the needs and therefore the fact that there has been a pause announced means that we must carry the hope
that these can be reconvened, the circumstances can be brought together where the parties can brought around the table because there is only a
political diplomatic situation to this terrible, terrible protracted war. No military solution.
HOLMES: Indeed, you were on one of the recent emergency aid conveys I believe. Tell me - tell me what did you see? What did you see with your
own eyes? What did the people there tell you?
O'BRIEN: Well, this is the key because in Syria itself when you go to hogs, when you go to areas which have been absolutely devastated you look
of course at completely collapsed neighborhoods, not one building left standing, concrete jutting in all sorts of angles everywhere. But what
really grabs you is the black holes of where windows were and imagining human beings used to live in those and they are no longer there.
Sadly they've either been killed or they have had to flee for their lives to a neighboring country. And so that is the scale of destruction and at
the same time you have got the bravest of people seeking to be selflessly delivering to the people in need whether they're besieged, hard to reach,
or in need because of the conflict has caused them to either have shelter, or food, or water, or medical or education challenges.
So it's absolutely vital when you drive from Damascus as I did with the U.N. people who are delivering and with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and
the International Committee of the Red Cross to (inaudible) in that case in December, and cross the line, the line is often just a rope across the
road. But you've got opposition forces and Syrian army forces facing each other. You've got snipers waiting to try and pick off people who move and
there's no freedom of movement. And so you have to have these long patient negotiations, frustrating as they are, in order to get guarantees of safety
and of unimpeded access to where we need to deliver these vital humanitarian supplies.
HOLMES: And that is the thing is to put that human face on it. And we're showing video now of images from these aid conveys. Now you say only a
political solution for peace and the respect for international humanitarian law by all parties will get a resolution here. But let's face it, there's
not much of either at the moment.
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[15:50:02]
HOLMES: And for the government, as we said, these offensive have been underway, ground has been gained by the regime. If the battlefield changes
to their favor, the incentive to negotiate lesson surely and the refugee situation worsens.
O'BRIEN: Well the refugees of course are those who have fled and seek asylum and get registered. There are many, many internally displaced
people. The vast majority of humanitarian needs are still those people who remain in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: And of course all of us, wherever we come from, ultimately we want to be in our own homes or get back to our own homes even if they're
bombed out, we want the chance to rebuild, to build our family and our community lives. And that is simply not an option for the terrible
humanitarian needs which are being forced upon the millions of Syrian civilians because of this protracted, crisis, this protracted war.
So of course, it does feel as though it's protracted and it's vital that we raise the humanitarian resources to be able to meet those needs. And at
the same time that we pursue every avenue open to us to get talks going so that we get a piece. Otherwise we just continue to have this cycle of
violence which is hideous, it is unacceptable, and it's a total failure of politics both internationally and nationally.
HOLMES: There seems to be so much relying on these talks and we've seen them hit the pause button as we've said. I'm just curious from a
humanitarian standpoint with so many lives disrupted and destroyed, what's plan B?
O'BRIEN: Well, at all times there's a plan A which is to get the parties to agree to sit down and to - and to make sure they come to a view about
their differences so that we can actually stop the fighting.
But in the meantime, we have to meet the humanitarian needs. That is why the London/Syria conference which we're about to have is so important
because it raises the resources from a wide number of countries supporting the global communities, supporting the people in need in Syria and in the
neighboring countries, and indeed strategically to support those countries neighboring Syria who have been so hospitable to those who have fled either
for bombs or because they've lost all hope after so many years of a persistent and protracted crisis.
So it's absolutely vital that we meet those humanitarian needs. But at the same time we do everything we can to support the encouragement of political
talks.
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O'BRIEN: But let us be absolutely firm in our condemnation that it is the parties who are causing sieges or making it very hard to reach people in
need, they're the ones who are at fault. And the brave humanitarian workers who - be they the U.N., their partners, their delivery partners,
the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, or the International Community of the Red Cross and others, all need to be saluted for the selfless courage they
display in trying to meet those needs getting to people.
HOLMES: You're a man with an extremely difficult and incredibly important job. Stephen O'Brien, U.N. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, our thanks.
O'BRIEN: Thanks you.
HOLMES: We will be back after the break, do stay with us.
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HOLMES: Welcome back everyone. It is a crime mystery that has engrossed the United Kingdom for decades.
Lord Lucan disappeared in 1974 since then speculation about exactly what happened has been rife. But the British High Court has now declared him
dead. ITN's Juliet Bremner with the story.
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[15:55:09]
JULIET BREMNER, ITN CORRESPONDENT: After more than 41 years George Bingham hoped to bring to an end speculation and rumor surrounding the
disappearance of his father, Lord Lucan.
Lucky Lucan as the aristocrat was known hasn't been seen since shortly after November 7th, 1974 when the body of his children's nanny was found in
their Belgravia home.
Sandra Rivet had been beaten to death with a lead pipe. Lord Lucan's estranged wife was also attacked. He became the prime suspect.
GEORGE BINGHAM, LORD LUCAN'S SON: But despite extensive searches around New Haven where his bloodstained car was discovered, there was no sign of him.
Today his son was granted a death certificate and the right to call himself the 8th Earl of Lucan.
Relieved frankly. It's a very sensible verdict, it's been 41 years, we've all seen the most extraordinary of claims and tales over these 41 years.
To some extent it's been a bit of a jaunt but at other times it's been very difficult.
BREMNER: The theories regarding Lord Lucan's fate include that he was smuggled abroad possibly to Africa assisted by wealthy gambling friends.
There have been unconfirmed sightings of him in India, Australia, even living in a car in New Zealand. Others believe he took his own life in the
English Channel as he escaped. Or most bizarrely shot himself and then got a friend to feed his remains to a tiger in a bid to disappear completely.
BINGHAM: My own personal view and it was one I took I think as an 8 year old was that he's unfortunately been dead since that time. I would think
it in the circumstances I think it's quite possible that he saw his life at an end regardless of guilt or otherwise of being dragged through the courts
and through the media would have destroyed his personal life, his career and the chances of getting custody of his children back.
BREMNER: With years of police inquiries exhausted, the victim's son worries he'll never see justice.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No closure to me. Sandra Rivet was still beaten to death wasn't she by somebody and we will have closure when we can get to the
truth.
BREMNER: Both men agree that the missing pair is now dead. But how or when that happened looks set to remain a mystery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Juliet Bremner there. This has been "The World Right Now," thanks for watching I'm Michael Holmes, "Quest Means Business." next.
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