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Fragile Truce in Syria; Obama Pressured to Accuse ISIS of Genocide; Iran Voting Extended; Christie Endorses Trump; "Star Wars" Brings Tourists to Britain>Aired 12-12:30a ET

Aired February 27, 2016 - 00:00   ET

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


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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): A fragile truce in Syria as Russian and Syrian forces keep bombing right up to an internationally brokered deadline.

Out of the presidential race into the Trump camp, New Jersey governor Chris Christie gets behind the Republican front-runner.

And a galaxy supposedly far, far away may be closer than you think. We'll tell you how "Star Wars" is bringing tourists to a quiet corner of Britain.

It's all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM. We are live from Atlanta. Thanks for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen.

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ALLEN: It is 7:00 am in Syria right now and we are hours into a temporary truce. The U.N. special envoy and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have reported unusual quiet in Syria's major cities.

How about that one for good news?

A task force will meet in Geneva Saturday afternoon to determine whether this cease-fire is being respected. This, though, is the most hopeful sign in years that peace could come to Syria, which has been ravaged, as you know, by civil war. However, both Russia and Syria attacked sites up until the last minute.

CNN's Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has that.

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BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hours ahead of the cease-fire deadline Russia continued heavy airstrikes in Western Syria. And Syrian government forces dropped more barrel bombs. Even if the bombing eases up, there is deep doubt that a true cease-fire will hold.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're all aware of the many potential pitfalls and there are plenty of reasons for skepticism. If implemented -- and that's a significant if -- the cessation could reduce the violence.

STARR (voice-over): Russian president Vladimir Putin called the truce "difficult" but said military action by Russia and the U.S. will be stopped. The U.S. says it's only attacking ISIS, which is not part of the cease-fire.

Al-Nusra, the Al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, also not part of the agreement. The problem: Russia continues to lump many opposition groups in with Al-Nusra and bombs them.

A map published by the Russian state news agency shows only small yellow areas of Syria, the Russians say, are now under the cease-fire. The U.S. does not agree. It wants Russia to stop bombing civilians and moderate opposition wherever they are.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that many of us has been asking what happens if, in fact, the cease-fire doesn't hold. And I don't think Russia believes that anything is going to happen.

STARR (voice-over): President Obama's top intelligence advisor says Putin may actually be thinking of increasing Russia's military operation in Syria.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are confronting the possibility I think or considering whether they're going to put more ground forces in.

STARR (voice-over): The White House is working on the so-called plan B, what to do if the cease-fire fails. One option: adding to the 50 U.S. special operations forces already on the ground in Syria.

Those U.S. troops moved more than 30 miles from the relative safety of their Northern Syrian base south to near the town of Shaddadi to help tribes take the town back from ISIS, assisting with calling in airstrikes and offering advice on the battlefield.

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ALLEN: As Barbara Starr just mentioned, the situation in Syria may be thousands of miles from the White House but it's hitting ever closer to home. And here's why. There's growing pressure on the Obama administration to formally accuse ISIS of genocide.

In Washington there has been intense debate over making that call, given what it might compel the administration to do. Here's CNN's Brian Todd with more on the controversy.

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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Groups of Christians in orange jumpsuits, lined up on beaches in Libya, beheaded at the hands of ISIS. It's happened at least twice. ISIS has crucified people in the center of Raqqah, Syria. In Iraq, the group has killed thousands of Yazidis, an ethnic and religious minority.

This 15-year-old Yazidi described what happened to his family in Sinjar Province. UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): ISIS killed my dad, my uncles. They kidnapped 25 relatives, including women.

TODD (voice-over): Then ISIS has enslaved Yazidi women and girls, militants bragging about it in videos.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Where is my Yazidi girl?

TODD (voice-over): Now members of Congress are pushing the Obama White House to formally accuse ISIS of genocide.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time for America to act.

TODD (voice-over): Religious freedom --

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TODD (voice-over): -- advocates say it's past time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've got killings by a number of barbaric methods, beheadings, rape of young girls, a number of actions with the intent to inflict violence, death and other tremendous (ph) forms of mental stress, which will drive those communities from the Middle East.

TODD (voice-over): U.S. officials tell CNN inside the Obama administration a debate has been going on since last year over whether to accuse ISIS of genocide. Now under pressure from Congress, Secretary of State John Kerry says he's close to making the call.

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: I share just a huge sense of revulsion over the -- these acts, obviously.

TODD (voice-over): But Kerry says the administration's lawyers have to first make a judgment that what ISIS is doing meets the standard of genocide. Advocates say it should, since ISIS appears to be targeting Yazidis, Christians and others based on their religions.

This 19-year-old Yazidi woman tells a horrific story of being handed over to an ISIS militant.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): He put me to a room and put a gun to my head and I was on the ground. And he said, "I will kill you because you won't convert to Islam."

TODD (voice-over): If atrocities like that are labeled as genocide by the U.S., the Obama administration wouldn't be legally compelled to do anything but morally and politically they would come under pressure to take actions that might not be popular with many Americans.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It will certainly mean more protection of minority communities on the ground, which will mean more military engagement. It will also mean more resources in terms of identifying and resettling refugees.

TODD (voice-over): Would being accused of genocide put any more pressure on ISIS?

Analysts say it might result in more investigations, possible trials before the International Criminal Court. It's not clear if it would mean stepped-up bombing or other military operations. And experts say it likely won't change ISIS' behavior, given the group's apocalyptic view toward anyone who's different from them -- Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.

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ALLEN: In Iran, votes are being counted right now; voting was extended repeatedly because so many people showed up. Iranians voted to elect members of parliament and the influential assembly of experts. Early results are expected to start coming in on Saturday. Here's our senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen from Tehran.

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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Many stood in line for hours, waiting to get into the polling stations, looking to cast their ballot in what both supporters of Iran's moderates and conservatives say is a key election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As soon as the sanctions are lifted, everything is going to be changed. Of course, we cannot expect the whole country to change this overnight but I believe that we're going to have a very good future.

"I like the conservatives," this man says. "They have proven themselves when they were in power and we really like what they do."

Many of the polling stations are inside mosques, where voters fill out forms to register and then cast their ballots. In many ways this election is seen as a referendum on President Hassan Rouhani's course of opening Iran up to the West and on the recent nuclear agreement.

One of Rouhani's vice presidents tells me a strong turnout for the Rouhani camp would help them continue their course.

MASOUMAH EBTEKAR, IRANIAN VICE PRESIDENT: It's very important because the parliament has both oversight and legislation authority. So they play an important role in providing the necessary laws that we need to implement in the executive branch.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): But conservative forces around Iran's powerful clergy accuse the moderates of opening the door for what they believe is dangerous Western and especially U.S. influence in the Islamic Republic.

Iran's supreme leader warned of alleged American infiltration into Iranian affairs when he cast his own ballot.

PLEITGEN: Despite all the controversy and the fierce rhetoric between the political factions, Iran's Supreme Leader has defined these elections as decisive ones and has called on all Iranians to come out and cast their votes.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): And authorities say turnout is high, as many people in this country see the vote they cast this Friday as one that could do a lot to shape the future of their nation -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.

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ALLEN: Well, speaking of elections, let's look at the U.S. here. Donald Trump and Chris Christie share the stage once again. We'll tell you why the former rivals are now standing side by side in the race for the White House. That's coming up.

Plus, why one of this year's Oscar nominated films have sent a rush of tourists to this lush corner of England.

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ALLEN: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. We turn now to U.S. politics and after a savage brawl with Marco Rubio during Thursday's debate, Republican front-runner Donald Trump dropped a bombshell.

He appeared Friday with New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who is now backing the billionaire for president. Christie dropped his own presidential bid earlier this month and now says Trump is the man for the job.

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GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), N.J.: America must have a strong leader again that can restore American jobs, that can restore American confidence. And Donald Trump is just the man to do it. America needs someone who's going to make sure that Hillary Clinton doesn't get within 10 miles of the White House. Donald Trump can do it.

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ALLEN: Christie's support for Trump is a surprise. Just a few months ago he was singing a very different tune.

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CHRISTIE: Donald's a great guy and a good person but I just don't think he's suited to be President of the United States.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why?

CHRISTIE: I don't think his temperament is suited for that and I don't think his experience is. He's got great experience in doing things of business. But I'll give you a perfect example. If he doesn't get what he wants from John Boehner, he can't fire him.

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ALLEN: There you go. That was just a short while ago.

Well, Trump went after his former rival on a number of occasions in the past, even blasting how Christie handled Hurricane Sandy when the storm devastated his state.

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DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Honestly it was terrible. I was with him. They had the flood, they had the hurricane and Obama went to New Jersey and he was like -- he was like a little child. He was like a little boy.

Oh, I'm with the president.

Remember he flew in the helicopter and he was all excited to be in the helicopter?

I said I would have put you in my helicopter, it's much nicer. Still.

No, I thought it was a terrible thing.

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ALLEN: And after a night of mudslinging with Donald Trump at Thursday' Republican debate, Ted Cruz responded to the unexpected endorsement, saying it won't affect the election.

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SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: Listen, I think the endorsement was no doubt troubling news for the Rubio campaign. I like Chris. I don't think the endorsement was a big surprise to many observers. Our focus is real simple, uniting conservatives in the Super Tuesday states and I don't think this endorsement has any significant impact on that.

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ALLEN: Josh Rogan is a CNN political analyst and columnist for "Bloomberg News? and he joins me now from Washington.

Hi, there, Josh.

JOSH ROGAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good evening.

ALLEN: Lots to get to so let's start with the endorsement of Donald Trump by the former candidate, New Jersey governor Chris Christie, what do you make of that?

ROGAN: Most political professionals I talk to today say that Chris Christie endorsed Donald Trump for one main reason: to get revenge on Marco Rubio. The Rubio super PAC was instrumental in knocking Governor Christie out of the race in New Hampshire and Chris Christie is exerting some payback.

But it has a great benefit for Donald Trump. It allows him to retake the --

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ROGAN: -- narrative after what many people think was a less than stellar performance at the debate. Rubio has gone on the attack. The Rubio PAC and other assorted PACs are spending big against Trump for the first time ever and this endorsement allowed Trump to at least capture half of the news cycle.

And, of course, capturing the news cycle is a big part of his campaign strategy.

ALLEN: And what about the timing though?

One day after the debate where both Rubio really went on the attack, both Rubio and Cruz piling on and pretty much a lot of people agreeing Trump might have been just thrown off his game a little bit.

ROGAN: Well, that's exactly right. First of all, we know that the Trump campaign often has these things in their back pocket and rolls them out when they want. They have a number of items, a number of big announcements that they keep at the ready.

And then when they need them they release one of them and that's been their pattern all along. I think this is an example of that.

But there is a bigger change going on in the Republican race.

For months and months everyone has been asking all the establishment candidates, when are they going to attack Trump?

When is the big GOP donor money going to be pointed at Trump?

Up until now they've been pointed at each other. The theory was that Rubio was going to go after Kasich and try to get Kasich to leave the race.

Now there's no doubt about it. The Rubio and the establishment power centers are training all of their fire on Trump. They see it as a last ditch-effort to derail the Trump candidacy and nobody knows if it's going to work. But they're giving it their go. And that's the big development coming out of the debate.

ALLEN: Rubio seems like he's having a good time for the first time in this race, too.

ROGAN: And you can't underestimate how much a difference that makes. I talked to some Rubio advisors today and they said they see a change in the candidate. He's enjoying himself, he's laughing, he's having fun with it.

That's -- that has an effect and it has an effect on his supporters. Inside Rubio World, the concern was that the candidate wasn't up to snuff, that he couldn't rise to the occasion and take on Trump.

And now that the Rubio campaign has decided to go ahead and take on Trump, Senator Rubio seems to be fitting well into that strategy and that means that they're going to stick with it and they're going to stick with it every day until either they lose or they win.

ALLEN: It's going to be an interesting weekend and a Monday leading up to Super Tuesday.

But let's switch to the Democrats briefly. Saturday is the South Carolina primary. Let's talk about the chances for Bernie Sanders there and the chances for Bernie Sanders to go to catch up with Hillary Clinton on Super Tuesday.

ROGAN: Right. The Super Tuesday states, mostly Southern states, have a -- represent an advantage for the Clinton campaign that Bernie Sanders is simply probably not going to be able to overcome. You see him focusing on those states where he thinks he might have a chance. Of course, Massachusetts, Vermont, these are states he can reasonably expect to have a very good chance of winning.

Then he's focused on Minnesota and, for some reason, Oklahoma. The rest of the states in Super Tuesday are Southern states and the Clinton camp is expecting that Secretary Clinton will sweep those states.

So after Tuesday we could see Secretary Clinton with a much bigger advantage in delegates and an even bigger advantage in super delegates than she has right now. That won't be the end of the Sanders' campaign but it might be the beginning of the end of his hopes for actually surpassing her.

ALLEN: Well, we'll talk with you again really soon because this is getting interesting, isn't it?

Josh Rogan, thank you for joining us, Josh. See you soon.

Yes, the next several days will be ones to watch in this presidential election season. For some context, for those of you not familiar with the American election process, Super Tuesday could be a make-or-break day for candidates on both sides of the political divide.

It falls on March 1st this year with primaries and caucuses in 12 states from Alaska to Virginia. Candidates can win more delegates on Super Tuesday than any other day of the campaign calendar. A whopping 865 delegates are up for grabs among Democrats. Almost 600 are on the line for Republicans. That's nearly half the total needed to clinch the nomination.

All right. Let you mull that over and right now we're just going to turn and look at the weather in Western Europe, getting battered by a major storm.

Good thing they're not having to go out and vote in Europe. Karen Maginnis is here with that for us. KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. And this is going to be a multiday event, Natalie, a very vigorous storm system. We were tracking this yesterday. It's now moved further across the Iberian Peninsula, this from just about the North Atlantic, now sliding a little bit towards the south.

When I say slide, it's doing it very slowly and it's going to mix with an upper level disturbance right across the north central Mediterranean.

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ALLEN: All right, Karen, thanks so much.

Well, Sunday in Hollywood could be a big night for "Star Wars" at the Oscars but thousands of miles away, a quiet corner of the U.K. is already reaping the rewards thanks to a hit film. And we'll have that next.

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ALLEN: And doesn't that just get you in Oscar mood because they're this weekend? And with five Oscar nominations, the latest "Star Wars" film could clean up at the Sunday show, thanks to the blockbuster movie, the force is with a quiet corner in the west of England where part of "Star Wars" was filmed. A lot of people are headed there.

Here's CNNMoney Europe editor Nina dos Santos.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's so exciting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's great.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good lord, they're screaming my name. It's crazy.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR (voice-over): It's not just the British actors who have been in the limelight recently.

Some of these most beautiful locations are also taking center stage. This small ancient woodland in the west of England has become home to one of the highest grossing films of all time, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."

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DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Puzzlewood, in the forest of Dean, has been the stunning backdrop to a string of TV and film productions and with the recent filming for "The Huntsman" and "Star Wars," the woodland is as much of a must-see for the fans as for the movie themselves.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE).

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Bringing more visitors and, crucially, cash to the area.

MAUREEN MCALLISTER, WYE VALLEY TOURIST ASSOCIATION: The film and TV crews are staying in local hotels, they're eating in restaurants and they're going out and about and they're also talking about us; 300 million pounds are spent annually in the area and we're estimating that over the next three years we could get not less than about 35 million, just based on the number of visitors that will come after seeing us on the big screen.

DOS SANTOS (voice-over): An uplift that is spreading across the U.K. Screen tourism, or "set-jetting," is increasingly being seen as great business for Great Britain.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What we've found is that screen tourism is a really key motivator for visitors coming to the U.K. and also for domestic people traveling within the U.K.

In terms of an overall value, we estimated between 100-140 million pounds annually.

DOS SANTOS: Tourists aren't the only ones creating blockbuster figures. Generation $14 million an hour, the creative industries in the U.K. are worth $117 billion -- 5.2 percent of the country's economy.

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DOS SANTOS (voice-over): As the number of productions coming to the U.K. increases, where the films go, the fans are increasingly sure to follow -- Nina dos Santos, CNNMoney, London.

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ALLEN: What a beautiful place. Love to go there.

Here's a quick by-the-numbers look at this Sunday's Oscars: 24, that's the number of award categories and most have five nominees each; 121 is the number of total nominations; 72 the number of envelopes with the names of the winners inside, three sets for each category and two is the number of people who know the winners ahead of time.

Both their partners from PriceWaterhouseCoopers, the Italian firm that tallies up the Oscar ballots.

Oh, and about, let's see, 100 beautiful dresses on the red carpet. CNN is the place to turn before and after the Academy Awards for all the glamor from the red carpet. Tune into Hollywood's biggest night 7:00 am Monday in Hong Kong, 8:00 am in Tokyo. I'll be watching. Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'll be right back with our top

stories.