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George W. Bush Campaigns for Brother Jeb; Pope Francis Visited Mexican States Ravaged by Drug Violence; NYPD Searching Eliot Spitzer's Accuser's Cell Phone; Taylor Swift Wins Album of the Year at the Grammys; Aired 10:30-11a ET

Aired February 16, 2016 - 10:30   ET

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


[10:30:05] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: With me now, Van Hipp, he's the chairman of the American Defense International. He's also the former deputy assistant secretary of the Army.

Welcome, sir.

VAN HIPP, CHAIRMAN, AMERICAN DEFENSE INTERNATIONAL: Good to be with you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Nice to have you here. Donald Trump is taking his attacks against George W. Bush to a new level. He called the Iraq war a failure. He pointed out that 9/11 happened on W.'s watch. How do you respond to that?

HIPP: Well, first of all, I think that Jeb Bush bringing his brother in is a positive for him. And it's pretty interesting that Donald Trump at a press conference yesterday wondered why he waited so late to bring him in and said, quote -- I'm quoting Donald Trump, "I think he would have done better." So I think even Donald Trump realizes that George W. Bush is very popular in South Carolina.

COSTELLO: Is that why Donald Trump is saying these things?

HIPP: You know, I think when the poll -- you know, part of me thinks that because of some of the big numbers that Donald Trump is getting, maybe he's already beginning to run a general election campaign. Maybe he thinks he's well on his way to the nomination and beginning to run more of a general election campaign both to independents and Democrats. But you know, I think what's really interesting, there was a list of network back in 2003 when former President Bill Clinton came on, Carol, told Larry King that when he left office, there was a substantial amount of biological and chemical weapons unaccounted for.

This is Bill Clinton. So I'm one who believes that fighting terrorism is not a Democrat issue, it's not a Republican issue. It's an American issue, and we need more bipartisanship.

COSTELLO: OK. Ted Cruz is holding a campaign rally, and he's talking about rebuilding the military. He's in South Carolina right now because he and some of the other Republican candidates say our military is not as strong as it ought to be. In your mind, is our military weak?

HIPP: There's no question. Just talk to the troops, talk to our ground commanders today.

Carol, we have cut the United States Army down to pre-World War II levels. We've got more admirals today than we've got ships. That sends the wrong message not only to our friends but to our foes. We need a strong military. Only when you're strong do you really have the respect of your adversaries. It's getting tougher and tougher for us to do the things that we need to do to keep this country safe. And --

COSTELLO: So let me ask you a more specific question, sir, because when politicians say they want to strengthen our military, what do they mean by that? Do they mean more troops? Do they mean better equipment? What exactly do they mean? Because all of those things take millions and millions of dollars?

HIPP: Yes. That's a very good question. I think it's a combination. But, you know, we need to look at what we're spending on the military today versus in the year's past. Back in 1960, 52 percent of all federal spending was for national security. Today it's down to 16 percent. And I'm one who believes the reason we have the states came together was to provide for the common defense of the American people. Everything else is secondary. It's first about keeping America safe.

COSTELLO: So is it more money? Because we spend $618 billion on our military.

HIPP: Like I said, we're spending so much less today than we had in real dollars in years past. I don't know of another time in history when we -- only 16 percent was for national security. Like I said, in the -- I mean, late '50s, early 60s, over half. It's the entitlement programs that are bankrupting America, not national security and keeping this country safe.

COSTELLO: And just one more question about funding our national defense because, you know, sequestration plays into this. So why aren't any of the candidates talking about getting rid of that?

HIPP: That's a very good point. And when you take the sequestration cuts together with the roughly $500 billion worth of cuts that the Obama administration has already imposed on our military, that's a trillion dollars. And it's had a tremendous unfortunately negative impact on our military and our national security.

COSTELLO: All right. I just want to -- I want to go to the Ted Cruz event because he's talking about drafting women. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. TED CRUZ (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are not going to break our promises to those who have given so valiantly. We will not tolerate incompetence at the V.A.

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

CRUZ: Rebuilding the U.S. military's readiness and material is essential but so is ending the scandal of political correctness. We know from heroic veterans what combat is. Combat is death, honor, and chaos. And a commanding officer's mission in battle is to destroy the enemy, take the objective and bring through as many of their own troops as possible. That's why the last thing any commander should need to worry about is the grades he is getting from some plush- bottomed Pentagon bureaucrat for political correctness or social experiments.

COSTELLO: All right. Let's talk about this.

[10:35:02] So I'll pose that question to you, sir. As you listen to Ted Cruz, what goes through your mind?

HIPP: Well, he's trying to play to not only social conservatives but national security conservatives.

And, Carol, many years ago before I had white hair, I was chairman of the Republican Party in South Carolina in the late 1980s. And I remember back then just like today what historically is won. And South Carolina has gotten it right more than any other state, is that candidate who can really unite that old Ronald Reagan winning coalition of national security, economic and social conservatives. It sounds like what he's trying to do.

COSTELLO: All right. And going back to the issue of drafting women because we kind of missed it because I got there late. It was my fault. But what Ted Cruz has said about drafting women before is it would be immoral. Do you agree?

HIPP: No. I think you listen to your -- to the military and ground commanders. I will say this, though, the purpose of the military is to win wars, to win wars and protect the national security interest of the American people. It's not the place for social experimentation. But women have made a great role in our military today. And it's -- I mean. thank goodness that we have the military that we do have. I just want to see it made stronger.

COSTELLO: Right. So you're saying that all combat roles should not be open to women? Is that what you're intimating?

HIPP: Not all. I would listen to the ground. I would sit down and talk to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I would want to hear from the Joint Chiefs of Staff which roles are the roles that make the most sense.

COSTELLO: Well, the Department of Defense has spoken and it's studied this issue --

(CROSSTALK)

HIPP: And the joint chiefs of staff spoken or is that the political types? I think -- I'm all for listening to the people who were the uniform, the ground commanders but women have done a wonderful job in the roles that they have right now. No question about it.

COSTELLO: The just a last question for you along these lines, the Army Ranger. Right? HIPP: Yes.

COSTELLO: So three women have passed the Army Ranger school.

HIPP: Yes.

COSTELLO: Should they participate fully in what that means?

HIPP: If you passed the Army Ranger school, absolutely. If you meet the criteria, I'm all for it. If you can meet the criteria that our joint chiefs and that our commanders say that we need for our fighting men and women, absolutely.

COSTELLO: All right. Van Hipp, thanks for being with me and thanks for rolling with the punches.

HIPP: Thank you.

COSTELLO: I appreciate it.

HIPP: Enjoyed it.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Pope Francis is visiting a Mexican state ravaged by drug violence. We'll take you there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:41:48] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 41 minutes past. Stocks jumping this morning. The Dow opening up more than 150 points higher, and now you can see it's up just about 113 points. The jump follows news the two major oil producers plan to cut back on production. The first deal to control the overflowing supply of oil since the price collapse started 19 months ago.

Forty-six people have been killed in attacks on four hospitals and a school in northern Syria. Casting doubts on the planned ceasefire there scheduled to go into effect later this week. The U.S. State Department blamed the Assad regime and their supporters for the attack. Amnesty International calls both attacks war crimes.

The Eagles of Death Metal are returning to France to finish the concert they started last November. Terrorists opened fire as the band was on stage at the Baticlan concert hall. 89 people were killed there including the band's merchandise manager. The band will perform tonight at Olympia Hall in Paris because the Baticlan is -- well, not reopened until November.

Anti-Beyonce protesters planned a demonstration at NFL headquarters and then her fans interrupt them. The protesters say Beyonce Super Bowl halftime performance was inappropriate because of its polarizing black power theme. But the singer's fans found out about the protest and they showed up to support Beyonce.

Pope Francis continues his five-day trip to Mexico with a visit to Michoacan, a state that's been ground zero for the country's deadly drug war.

CNN's Rosa Flores joins me now live on the phone. She's with the Pope. Good morning. Rosa? Rosa, are you there?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

COSTELLO: There you are.

FLORES: This is Rosa and I'm in Morelia. At a location where Pope Francis will be celebrating mass in moments. And you can probably hear a lot of the music around me right now because they are practicing the welcome for Pope Francis.

Now this is the mass for seminarian, for nuns, for priests, so there is a lot of excitement here to receive Pope Francis.

Now this is a place that is the epicenter of the drug war. And so he is expected to speak to drug lords, to speak about drug violence and, of course, we're going to have to wait and see what he says here, but if this trip is any indication, he has not shied away from speaking directly to drug lords or people involved in organized crime.

Earlier in Ecatepec, a suburb of Mexico City, he said don't dialogue with the devil because he always wins. In the past, in 2013, I can show you that in Brazil he called the narcos dealers of death. So we're going to have to see what he says here about that topic. But after that, then he's expected to go to La Juarez where he will be celebrating mass right along the border.

[10:45:04] And that will be the culmination of this trip where Pope Francis not only celebrates mass and he can see both the U.S. and Mexico, but he's expected to walk toward the wall that divides these two countries and pray in silence for immigrants who have perished -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Rosa, I can't help but notice the Pope is traveling in a vehicle that is not covered. Is he doing that on purpose or is that just something that happened? It's a golf cart, I see.

FLORES: Yes. Pope Francis actually has five Pope mobiles in Mexico because he is moving so swiftly through this country, and, yes, it's not covered. It's not covered. It wasn't expected to be covered, and in fact the Vatican just say that they don't expect any sort of security issue in Mexico, that they know that Mexicans love Pope Francis. That they love their Pope. And so we've seen him in these open Pope mobiles in other places in Mexico that he's already visited, and even in the epicenter of the drug war, he's traveling in this open Pope mobile.

COSTELLO: I know. That's what took me aback for a minute there, but there he goes, Pope Francis. All right. Rosa Flores, reporting live from southern Mexico this morning. Thank you.

I'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [10:50:29] COSTELLO: And this just in, the United Nations says former secretary general Boutros Boutros-Ghali has died. He was in charge of the world body during several crisis in the 1990s. Just moments ago the United Nations held a moment of silence for him. No details about his death have been released.

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer is denying assault allegations against him after a woman accused him of choking her in a Manhattan hotel room. A Spitzer spokeswoman the assault never happened and since the woman has now recanted her allegations. Now sources are telling CNN the NYPD is looking through text messages on the woman's cell phone.

CNN's Jean Casarez has been following this. What's the latest?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the investigation is continuing. And a search warrant was executed in the hotel room as I told you yesterday. They found broken glass which was evidence to them, potentially, that an altercation took place. And you're right, they have the cell phone of this alleged victim. Now they're going through it. They believe that some of the text messages on it, the communications, were wiped remotely, because she has gone back to Russia now.

And they're trying to see if there's anything that discerns that criminal activity took place. Just as you're saying Spitzer has come out saying definitively no assault, no criminal activity. Giving a little more explanation here that the accuser lived in California was on her way back to Moscow. Stopped for a period in New York for a hotel room that had been previously arranged for her at the Plaza Hotel. She asked for Spitzer to came. He came Saturday afternoon. They had a very nice conversation. She asked for him to come back later. When he came back later, he saw someone very emotionally disturbed that potentially could harm herself.

She then as we know went to the hospital. That's where she alleged that he had choked here. She's now in Russia, and Spitzer says that he got an e-mail from her apologizing from her profusely that never had there been an assault, never had he choked her and that she was not telling the truth when she told that to authorities.

Carol, authorities have that e-mail now. They're looking at it. But they have not spoken with her, and she has not recanted this to police who she originally --

COSTELLO: But she's in another country now.

CASAREZ: She's in another country. And when your victim is in another country, it makes it very difficult. But the investigation continues.

COSTELLO: All right. Jean Casarez, I'm sure you'll keep us posted. Thank you.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, at the Grammys, Taylor Swift fires back at Kanye West, and a technical glitch has Adele singing off key. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:57:12] COSTELLO: Taylor Swift, one of the biggest winners last night's Grammy Awards. She won Album of the Year for "1989." But many are actually praising her strong acceptance speech. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR SWIFT, GRAMMY AWARD WINNER: There are going to be people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame. But if you just focus on the work and you don't let those people side track you, someday when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you will know that it was you and the people who love you who put you there, and that will be the greatest feeling in the world. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right. Taylor Swift's response was actually to a lyric from a song on Kanye West's new album where he wrapped that he and Swift might get together and still have sex. I made that B-word, that rhymes with witch, famous. So there you have it.

Brian Stelter is here to -- really, Kanye West?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Kanye did not quite make Taylor Swift famous. There was that moment -- remember he got up on stage to try to take the microphone away from her when she won an award many years ago, but no, she has built this on her own, and I thought those are very inspiring message she shared yesterday -- last night on stage. Speaking to many young women when she accepted her award.

COSTELLO: It was a wonderful speech actually. It obviously moved some people in the audience.

STELTER: And Kanye West was smart. He actually didn't respond to her on Twitter. You know, he's been on a Twitter tirade basically promoting his new album. Trying to get people download it on title. Thankfully he didn't respond to Taylor Swift. Maybe this sort of back and forth is over for now.

COSTELLO: Since he's, what, $53 million in debt.

STELTER: Yes. Something like that. We'll see how he does at the Grammys next year. You know, it's probably going to be him. It's going to be Adele as well. Adele wasn't up for any award this year but she did perform. She had some trouble on stage. Not her best night. There were some technical difficulties. But she still I think impressed a lot of people. And we'll see this time next year if Adele's her night. but really this was Taylor Swift's night and Kendrick Lamar's night. Both of them big winners at the Grammys.

COSTELLO: Well, a lot of people talking about Lady Gaga's tribute for David Bowie too. STELTER: Yes. Yes. It was remarkable. She performed 10 different

David Bowie songs in just a few minutes. She clearly worked on this for a very long time, and I think it showed. It even worked with Intel to light up her face at one point. And it was one of the most memorable points of the whole show. It's worth watching on YouTube if you can find it.

We also saw tributes to Glenn Frey, other Bb King, other legends of the music industry that have been lost in the past year.

COSTELLO: Yes. Lady Gaga is making a comeback, right?

STELTER: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: When she disappeared for all that time and here she is singing everything.

STELTER: Well, that's what you do. If you're going to disappear for a little while , you want to come back the way she did last night.

COSTELLO: Absolutely. Brian Stelter, thanks for stopping by.

STELTER: Thanks.

COSTELLO: Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello. "AT THIS HOUR WITH BERMAN AND BOLDUAN" starts now.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Hello, everyone. I'm John Berman, Kate is off today.

Welcome to the "I Know You Are but what am I" chapter of the 2016 race. Donald Trump say --