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Syrian Cease-fire Reached; North Korea Tests Another Nuke; Trump: 'She Could Shoot Someone & Get Away with It.' Aired 4:00a-5:00a ET

Aired September 10, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

HANNAH VAUGHAN JONES, CNN ANCHOR: Finally, a plan for some kind of peace. Officials in Geneva come to an agreement for a cease-fire in Syria, but they urge caution in its execution.

And frustration in South Korea after the north claims its fifth successful nuclear weapons test.

Plus, "she could shoot someone and get away with it." Another extreme characterization from Donald Trump against his opponent in the U.S. presidential race.

Hello and welcome to our viewers in the U.S. and around the world. I'm Hannah Vaughan Jones here in London. And this is CNN NEWSROOM.

There's new hope. The bombs and the gunfire in Syria will stop at sundown on Monday. The U.S. and Russia have announced a cease-fire deal. Our Nic Robertson has the details now on the peace plan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: So key to the cessation of hostilities working, Secretary Kerry said, was for the United States to put pressure on the opposition to keep good on their obligations and for Russia, for their part, to keep Assad good on his obligations.

He said the United States assessment was that that's what Russia would do. This is how he put it.

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: Today the United States and Russia are announcing a plan which we hope will reduce violence, ease suffering, and resume movement towards a negotiated peace and a political transition in Syria.

The Obama administration, the United States is going the extra mile here because we believe that Russia and my colleague have the capability to press the Assad regime to stop this conflict and to come to the table and make peace.

ROBERTSON: Another key point of this peace agreement, not just the cessation but humanitarian access. Secretary Kerry laying out in specific detail how that would take effect in Aleppo to give besieged areas there, up to 300,000 people living in besieged rebel-controlled parts of the city, give them much-needed humanitarian access. Also talked about the limits being put on the use of Assad's air

force, his barrel-bombing helicopters, to prevent civilian casualties, that Russia and the United States would work together to target al- Nusra, the former al Qaeda ally inside Syria.

From the Russian perspective, Sergey Lavrov stressing that this seven- day test period of the humanitarian and cease-fire, would allow, and he said this was important, would allow and must happen after seven days, a separation of what he described, terrorist opposition elements and non-terrorist opposition elements.

This is how he put it.

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): After the regime is fully functional for seven continuous days, we, as John just said, ought to create a joint implementation center, JIC, where the military men and the special forces (INAUDIBLE) from Russia and the U.S. will be engaged in solving practical matters of delimitation and separation of terrorists from the moderate opposition.

ROBERTSON: And that has been a key issue for Russia in the past. A bone of contention with the United States going on for months. Wanting the United States to say who was a terrorist and who wasn't a terrorist. Who should be targeted, who shouldn't be targeted.

A lot of mistrust there. That seems to be overcome at this time now. Lavrov saying and laying out how he had told the Assad regime, Bashar al-Assad, he said, has been told of this plan and his responsibilities.

Secretary Kerry thanking him for that. But, of course, what has troubled peace talks in the past is that key point when the political transition part comes up somewhere down the road, that's when the expectation is that Russia will tell President Bashar al-Assad that he will need to step aside.

That hasn't happened in the past. And at this stage it's not clear how that will happen this time going forward. A long way to go yet.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Geneva.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: South Korea's foreign minister the nuclear capabilities of its northern neighbor have now grown to a dangerous level. The Yonhap News Agency quotes him saying "the world needs to impose tougher sanctions on North Korea."

Well, Pyongyang claims Friday's nuclear test is their most powerful yet, nearly twice the size of the last one back in January. North Korea has conducted five nuclear test explosions in all. The rest of the world is calling its latest blast another provocation.

Well, the U.N. Security Council says North Korea's latest test is a "clear threat to international peace and security." Our Paula Hancocks looks at the world's reaction. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hannah, North Korea is celebrating even if the rest of the world isn't, that is far more concerned by this latest development. Pyongyang claiming that they have successfully tested a nuclear warhead and claiming that now they can mount it on a ballistic missile.

Now it's impossible for the rest of the world to verify that claim. But we have consistently heard from officials that it would be very dangerous not to take North Korea at its word.

Now we have heard from state-run media as well, North Korea, saying that from now on they will be conducting their relations, their foreign relations as befit an independent state and a nuclear weapons state.

Now U.S. President Barack Obama has said that will simply not happen. Washington will never accept Pyongyang as a nuclear state. In a statement on Friday, he said that to be clear, the U.S. does not and never will accept North Korea as a nuclear state.

That is a sentiment that is also held by politicians in Tokyo, in South Korea, and certainly in many other countries.

Now the U.N. secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, says that he strongly condemns this, saying that it -- we must urgently break this accelerating spiral of escalation. And that is the overwhelming feeling at this point, that this is an accelerating problem, the United Nations saying that they will do something about it.

GERARD VAN BOHEMEN, U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: The members of the Security Council also recalled that they had previously expressed their determination to take further significant measures in the event of another nuclear test by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

In line with this commitment and the gravity of this violation, the members of the Security Council will begin to work immediately on appropriate measures and Article 41 in a Security Council resolution.

HANCOCKS: Intelligence officials briefing lawmakers here in Seoul said that they have concerns that North Korea appears to be progressing far quicker than previously estimated. And that is certainly a sentiment that is being felt around the region, around the world, and why we are seeing such strong condemnation from many of the world leaders and also why we are hearing more experts now start to question, what more can the rest of the world do beyond just sanctions? Hannah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Paula Hancocks there, thank you.

Well, joining me now to discuss this more is Allison Evans (ph). She is deputy head of the Asia-Pacific desk at IHS Country Risk (ph). That's a global information and analysis company. Allison, thanks very much for coming in. Let's talk, to start off

with, about the international response to this test. Ban Ki-moon has already condemned this in the strongest possible terms. But as I understand it, he did that for the four previous ones as well.

So does his voice carry any weight anymore or is Pyongyang just laughing at the rest of the world?

ALLISON EVANS, DEPUTY HEAD, ASIA-PACIFIC, IHS COUNTRY RISK: I think Ban Ki-moon's voice definitely does carry weight in the rest of the world and to gather the international community together to condemn this action.

But I think from North Korea's perspective it makes sense to keep carrying out these tests because, as your correspondent says, it shows a clear progress in North Korea's technical development. And we've seen that with the nuclear test today -- sorry, yesterday and in January but also with missiles test, the most recent of which was on Monday.

VAUGHAN JONES: In terms of North Korea's nuclear capability then, can it now, as far as we now know, put a nuclear warhead on a missile? And who is it pointing those missiles towards, is it Japan or is it the south?

EVANS: So North Korea does have nuclear weapons and it can put them on a shorter-range missiles. But what it is working toward is being able to put those nuclear warheads on intercontinental ballistic missiles to target the United States. And it hasn't yet shown that capability.

Some weapons experts are saying it might just be two years away from that. But what we saw in February this year was what North Korea a satellite launch, essentially the technology is the same, and we didn't see a successful reentry of that satellite. That is what North Korea is looking for to be able to deliver the nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

VAUGHAN JONES: Where do we go now with this, though? Because it seems that each time there is another test, there are more sanctions imposed, and then there are more tests anyway. They don't seem to carry any weight in terms of stop Pyongyang or stop Kim Jong-un from wanting to carry out these sorts of tests.

So what happens next? And how important is China in terms of bringing about some sort of peaceful resolution?

EVANS: That's a really good question, Hannah. I think China is essential. And unfortunately what we have seen since the test in January is that China has sort of been pulled in two directions.

So it agreed to U.N. Resolution 2270 in March, which had a much broader range and quite different sanctions to those before on North Korea. But after that South Korea and the U.S. also agreed to deploy THAAD, the anti-missile defense system there which China didn't want.

And so that is, of course, a reason for China not to enforce those new sanctions as strongly.

VAUGHAN JONES: And this is the -- this THAAD defense system, this is a cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea, is that right?

EVANS: Yes. And China's argument is that although nominally that defense system is aimed at North Korea, it would also allow the U.S. to scan China and defend against any missiles that might come from China.

VAUGHAN JONES: I think so many of us in the world are fascinated by this closed communist state in North Korea. When we see the pictures that are released from Pyongyang of Kim Jong-un looking very proud and jubilant at these sort of things, we wonder how much of a grip he has still on the country.

We have heard over the last couple of months there have been several defections from the north to the south. Does he -- do tests like this, rather, reinforce his grip on the state, or is he starting to lose some power?

EVANS: Yes, I think these tests definitely do show the people of North Korea, especially on a day like yesterday, the National Foundation Day, that the military is strong and that the country is developing its capabilities, both nuclear weapons capabilities and missile capabilities.

And also over the past five years, since Kim Jong-un came to power, we have seen different purges and changes in the top leadership that show that it probably is the case that Kim Jong-un is consolidating power and also bringing the party stronger relative to the military and decision-making in North Korea.

VAUGHAN JONES: There were some reports as well that at the time of this nuclear test yesterday, on Friday, there was a earthquake that happened in North Korea as well. And it just seemed like irrespective of the loss of life or the impact that these tests might have on North Koreans as a population, they will do whatever it takes to keep their leader content.

EVANS: Yes, I think so. The earthquake was one of the indicators that the nuclear device explosion had happened. There have also been reports of flooding in North Korea that have killed perhaps hundreds of thousands of people.

I think the important thing is that because North Koreans mainly, if not exclusively, get their information from North Korean media and government messages, that it is quite important for them to know that their country is strong and safe because that's what's keeping their system alive.

VAUGHAN JONES: It is fascinating. We'll no doubt be talking about it more in the months to come as well. Allison Evans, thank you very much for coming in on a Saturday morning to talk to us.

EVANS: Thank you.

VAUGHAN JONES: Thank you.

Now U.S. officials are concerned that apparent Russian cyber attacks could affect public confidence in the American election process. Sources tell CNN the Obama administration is debating how to respond to the hacks. Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the attacks on the Democratic Party a public service, but denies being involved.

Meanwhile, our sources also say there is growing evidence that Russian hackers are behind the attacks on election registration websites. Officials aren't afraid the hacks will actually impact the vote count on Election Day, but they are concerned about possible tampering of voter registrations.

Meanwhile, Russia is flexing its military muscle in Crimea. And that has some people wondering if Friday's war games in the territory was Russia stirring up trouble or just being prepared?

Frederik Pleitgen was there for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): Moscow putting on a huge show of force...

(GUNFIRE)

PLEITGEN: ... war games from land, air and sea, in Crimea, the territory Russia annexed from Ukraine a little over two years ago.

(on camera): The Russians are sending a very clear message with these large-scale and top-flight military drills. Their forces are entrenched here in Crimea and they are ready to fight any time.

(voice-over): The maneuvers are called Kavkaz 2016, and take place not only in Crimea but in Russia's entire southern military district right on the border with Ukraine. The drills involve more than 12,000 soldiers, dozens of fighter jets flying mock dog-fight missions, strike aircraft hitting ground and sea targets, and land forces in an amphibious assault.

Still, the defense ministry spokesman insists it is not a provocation.

"This is not at all a provocation," he says. "I want to stress that this is a planned event. We announced these drills last November. The troops have been preparing for a long time."

But they come at a time of heightened tensions with the U.S. and NATO over the annexation of Crimea and other issues. The Russian air force intercepted a U.S. P-8 Naval aircraft in the region just as the drills were getting under way. And only three weeks ago, Russia accused Ukraine of trying to smuggle operatives into Crimea for sabotage operations, a claim Kiev denies.

The Kavkaz military drills will likely cause more unease in Ukraine and eastern European NATO member states.

Russia's military chief of staff says the initial assessment is that they went smoothly.

"We need to fully analyze everything," he says. "But these drills were very beneficial to the southern military district and for the troops from other districts involved as well."

(GUNFIRE)

PLEITGEN: With Russia and the West at odds over Syria and Ukraine, Moscow is continuing to advance and refine its armed forces for all the world to see.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, at the Opuk military base in Crimea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Stay with us here on CNN NEWSROOM. Donald Trump famously once said he could shoot someone and not lose voters. But what if Hillary Clinton shot someone as well? Find out Trump's answer after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUGHAN JONES: Welcome back.

Scary moments for residents of Illinois on Friday as multiple tornados touched down in the region. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us now with more from the International Weather Center.

Derek, just bring us up to speed with the picture across the U.S. and the wider world.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it sure was a scary day on Friday across central and Midwestern parts of the United States. I mean, we're talking about a time of the year where we typically don't see as many tornados as, let's say, April or May when, of course, it's the peak season in the central and Midwest of the United States.

What I have done is I've taken an image and enlarged the moment when a twister actually blew through a small town, Homer, Illinois, this is just outside of Champaign, Illinois, in south central Illinois.

And I just want you to see the debris that's flying around the base of this tornado. We can actually enlarge this so you can see the entire real length of this tornado. We also have a few other images coming out of this particular region, if we cut to the video, you'll see exactly how ominous the skies were overhead across central Illinois.

Take a look at the video. And you'll be able to notice it was a scary moment indeed. Staff members from the National Weather Service are going to go to Champaign and the Vermilion counties on Saturday morning, that's this morning local time. They're going to conduct a storm damage survey to determine just how intense these tornados were.

Remember, we have a scale that identifies the intensity of tornados. It references an EF-0, which is the least amount of damage, to an EF- 5, which would be the most intense tornado with winds over 200 miles per hour.

Certainly something that we are going to have to monitor going forward across this area because there's now this threat of severe weather.

Get to my graphics, you'll be able to see what we're anticipating at least for the next few hours. Just to recap, though, on Friday, five tornados across the central United States. And typically during the month of September we would see about 74 tornados. You can see that April and May really are the peak of the U.S. tornado season.

Now I want to bring you up to speed on a potential of a typhoon developing over the western Pacific, because this needs to be in your radar if you are living in Taipei or anywhere across the southern Japanese islands.

Because we are talking three to five days where this storm could potentially strengthen into super typhoon status. That is an ominous sign as we go forward here over the next several days. Hannah, we need to keep our wits about us in Taipei, because this storm has the potential to create some serious damage.

VAUGHAN JONES: Derek, appreciate it. Thanks very much indeed.

VAN DAM: You're welcome.

VAUGHAN JONES: And the race for the White House, Donald Trump again slamming Hillary Clinton over her emails. And using North Korea's latest nuclear test to attack her record at the State Department.

The Republican presidential candidate called the blast "just one more massive failure from a failed secretary of state." And at a rally on Friday, he characterized Clinton in a way he once used to describe his own impunity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She is being so protected she could walk into this arena right now and shoot somebody with 20,000 people watching right smack in the middle of the heart and she wouldn't be prosecuted, OK? That is what has happened. That is what has happened to our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUGHAN JONES: Meantime, Trump's running mate has done what the billionaire refuses to do, release his tax returns. Indiana Governor Mike Pence and his wife reported a relatively modest gross income last year of more than a $113,000. They paid $9,000 in taxes. They released 10 years of returns in all.

Critics have pressured Trump to release his tax returns. But he says he won't until a federal audit is completed. Tax lawyers, though, say Trump could release those returns at any time.

Hillary Clinton is trying to send a message to voters that she has what it takes to be the next commander-in-chief. During the press conference on Friday, Clinton touted her achievements while painting Trump as incompetent.

Here's our senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton is offering a full-throated condemnation of North Korea's latest nuclear weapons test.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We are not going to let anyone who is a treaty ally and partner of ours be threatened. And we are not going to let North Korea pursue a nuclear weapon with the ballistic missile capacity to deliver it to the United States territory. That is absolutely a bottom line.

JOHNS: Clinton's comments come as she meets with a bipartisan group of national security leaders, including top members of former President George W. Bush's administration looking to emphasize her commander-in-chief credentials as global threats are put front and center in the presidential campaign.

CLINTON: We won't always see eye-to-eye. But when it comes to questions of war, peace, and the safety of our country, we can't let party affiliation stand between us. We need to put partisanship aside and work together for the good of all of us.

JOHNS: As the Trump campaign blames Clinton for the growth of North Korea's nuclear capabilities during her tenure as secretary of state...

TRUMP: It's just one more massive failure from a failed secretary of state.

JOHNS: ... the Clinton campaign is firing back that Trump is too cavalier when it comes to nuclear weapons.

SEN. TIM KAINE (D-VA), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump has said, well, maybe more nations, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, maybe more should get nuclear weapons. That would be a disaster for the world. We're going to control nukes, not allow them to proliferate.

JOHNS: Clinton adding 15 retired generals and admirals to her growing list of military endorsements.

CLINTON: I now have more endorsements from retired flag officers that any Democrat, other than incumbent president, has ever had.

JOHNS: And the Clinton campaign releasing a new television ad.

CLINTON: We've got to bring people together. That's how you solve problems.

JOHNS: Airing in seven battleground states, touting Clinton as a unifier.

CLINTON: Donald Trump says he alone can fix the problems we face. Well, I don't believe that's how you get things done in our country.

JOHNS: But as Clinton continues to paint Trump in the worst possible light, some newly released photos adding intrigue into the nature of the relationship between the Clintons and the Trumps over the years.

These pictures released by the Clinton Presidential Library in response to a Freedom of Information Act request show former President Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, as well as Trump's then-girlfriend and now wife Melania, socializing in New York in 2000, appearing to have a great time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Our CNN Washington correspondent Joe Johns reporting there for us.

Do stay with us. ISIS is claiming responsibility for two deadly bombings that targeted a busy shopping center in Iraq. Why the terror group is modifying its attack strategy.

Plus, it has been a mystery for 400 years. What caused the Great Plague of London that killed thousands of people? Scientists say they've finally figured it out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUGHAN JONES: Hello. And welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM with me, Hannah Vaughan Jones. The headlines this hour.

A cessation of hostilities is due to take effect across Syria on Monday. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, announced the deal following talks in Geneva on Friday.

Kerry says the pact calls on the Syrian government and opposition rebels to respect the cease-fire.

The U.N. Security Council is strongly condemning North Korea's latest nuclear test. It may have been the nation's most powerful test yet. North Korean officials say the explosion was nearly twice as large as their last one in January.

And Donald Trump makes an unexpected claim about his presidential rival. Hillary Clinton could, quote, "shoot somebody with 20,000 people watching and avoid prosecution." Trump says the FBI's decision not to charge Clinton over her handling of classified information while she was secretary of state proves she is "protected."

U.S. officials are concerned about possible tampering with voter registration after an apparent Russian cyber attack on election sites. Sources tell CNN the Obama administration is debating how to respond to the hacks. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has denied his country's involvement in political hacking.

At least 21 people are dead in Bangladesh after a boiler exploded inside a factory near the capital Dhaka. Police say it happened around 6 a.m. local time. There were employees inside the four-story building at the time of the fire. Officers tell us they sent around 50 workers to various hospitals. They are investigating what caused the boiler to explode.

Reuters news agency says Syrian government forces have retaken a very important road in the city of Aleppo. Well, that road is in the southwest of the city, at the lower left of this map on-screen. It is the same general area that rebels captured in August to end a month- long regime siege.

But government forces have now effectively surrounded rebel-held areas once more. And that essentially prevents rebels from using a key supply route. And you'll know, of course, that one of our top stories is that that cessation of hostilities should be in force across the country, including Aleppo then from Monday.

To the Iraq now. And ISIS is claiming responsibility for an attack that killed at least 11 people. Two bombings targeted a shopping center in Baghdad on Friday. Almost 30 people were wounded. The markets were busy preparing for the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, which begins next week.

The terror group has been losing territory across Iraq. And so the militants are relying on attacking areas that are not under ISIS control.

French officials say three women arrested on Thursday were part of an ISIS terror cell. The arrests followed the discovery of a car near Notre Dame Cathedral packed with gas cylinders. One of the women in custody had the keys to that car. Authorities also found a letter pledging allegiance to ISIS.

President Francois Hollande says a major terror attack was likely been prevented. France has, of course, increased its security measures since the violence last November in Paris.

Millions of Muslims from around the world have traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, which is under way this weekend. The pilgrimage to Mecca is a pillar of Islam, and among the largest gatherings of the faithful in the world.

Here's a look at the centuries old ritual.

(VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: A look at the Hajj pilgrimage taking place this weekend.

Now the French Alps stunning views and some of Europe's highest peaks. But a fun excursion turned into quite an ordeal with 33 cable-car passengers trapped overnight near Mont Blanc. They were rescued on Friday morning, but spent a very chilly evening in the mountains.

Our Ben Wedeman is in Chamonix, in France.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Visibly relieved to be back on the ground. It was supposed to be a beautiful day out at Western Europe's highest peak. But it turned into a nightmare.

Thirty-three people stuck in several cable cars overnight in the French Alps, suspended at over 12,000 feet. They were among 110 initially trapped after wires carrying the cars tangled in high winds. The experience left many shaken.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): You try to clear your mind as much as you can, but it's very difficult, very difficult. I had to close my eyes during a good amount of time to try to think about something else.

WEDEMAN: Rescuers raced against nightfall, using helicopters to evacuate as many as possible. When fog rolled in, they used rope to lower some riders to the ground.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They tried to take us with a helicopter, but the fog came in. So the two rescuers stayed with us. And then we did a belay (ph) after we decided there was no other way to get down.

WEDEMAN: Those stuck overnight had to use blankets, water, and cereal bars in survival kits found in each cabin.

As morning broke the final 33 people were freed after first responders managed to restart the cars. Now heading back, relieved it's over and that no one was hurt.

(on camera): French officials have already begun an investigation into this incident perhaps with an eye to make sure it never happens again. For those who were stuck all night in those freezing cable cars, however, they probably never wanted to step foot in one again.

Ben Wedeman, CNN, Chamonix, France.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Scientists say they finally know for certain what caused the Great Plague of London in 1665. It killed more than 75,000 people in the space of just one year. Scientists have been examining skeletons in a mass burial site discovered last year in London. They say DNA from some remains confirms the victims died of the bubonic plague.

The DNA matches bacteria responsible for the plague, the same bacteria that caused the Black Death which killed millions of people during the 14th Century.

The United States and the world will mark 15 years since the 9/11 attacks on Sunday. Now we're getting a look inside the Twin Towers that came down during the assault. It is part of "9/11," the award- winning documentary, which CNN recently acquired.

We want to warn you, you may find some of the images that follow disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Under the awning of 1 World Trade Center. (INAUDIBLE) gear on and I remember asking, you know, chief, can I come in with you? I want to come in with you. And he says, yes, come in with me (INAUDIBLE).

I go. And I hear screams. And right to my right there were two people on fire burning. And I just didn't want to film it. And it was like no one, no one should see this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUGHAN JONES: Be sure to watch CNN Films presents "9/11: Fifteen Years Later." You can at 6 p.m. in Hong Kong, 8 p.m. in London, and in New York.

Two thousand nine hundred and seventy-seven people were killed in those terror attacks. Most of them died at the World Trade Center in New York. At least 77 countries lost citizens in the attacks, 19 hijackers were involved, 15 of them were from Saudi Arabia.

Coming up, the U.S. military veteran blinded in Afghanistan is going for Paralympic gold in Rio. How swimming helped him face his new reality.

Plus, some American football players are defending a controversial protest meant to highlight racial injustice. What an entire team could be planning to do during a game on Sunday, September 11th.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUGHAN JONES: One swimmer has a pretty big challenge ahead in the pool at the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He's blind, the victim of IED blast. But that's not stopping the U.S. military veteran from chasing his dreams.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta has Brad Snyder's story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Brad had been a competitive swimmer all of his life. At the Naval Academy he had been captain of the swim team. The water was familiar territory for him. But how different would it be without his vision?

BRAD SNYDER, PARALYMPIAN: When I dove in I found this really cool sense of this freedom, this liberation from the burden of this new reality.

GUPTA (on camera): Was there a point you realized, look, I'm really pretty good at this and maybe this is something where I can go to the Paralympics?

SNYDER: People were talking about, you know, the world record is in reach, and this and that and the other. I said, guys, no, no, no, like, you guys don't understand. This is not -- you can't just happen into this. It takes years and years and years of dedication and hard work and mastering these different techniques that I am only just now learning, right? It would be impossible for this to happen.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this man here, Bradley Snyder, dominated the morning heat.

GUPTA (voice-over): Against the odds, Brad did qualify for the London Paralympic Games in summer of 2012. He was scheduled to swim the finals of the 400-meter freestyle on September 7th, 2012, just a year after his injury.

Brad touched the wall far ahead of his competition. He had done it, won gold, exactly one year to the day after losing his eyesight in Afghanistan.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... had the race of his life.

SNYDER: I don't even believe it sometimes. It seems very surreal. And even the memories are very -- they seem like something that was put into a movie or something like that.

GUPTA: Brad left London with two gold medals and a silver. Since that time, his life has been a whirlwind. He's focusing full time on training for this year's games in Rio. And the athletic brand, Under Armour, based in Baltimore where Brad now lives, signed him to a sponsorship deal last year.

Watching Brad do this, you would never know he's blind. Typically blind swimmers are tapped with a pole by their coaches, indicating its time to make the turn at the wall. In practice, Brad doesn't use a tapper. Under Gizzy's (ph) watchful eye, he navigates using the lane ropes and by counting his strokes.

It's not a perfect method. He has crashed into the wall at least a few times. But the way Brad approaches it, swimming is a lot like life. It is what you do after you crash into the wall that matters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Sanjay Gupta there with that amazing story.

Now the U.S. National Football League season kicks off this weekend. And some players are defending their controversial protest of refusing to stand during the U.S. national anthem before games.

Our Andy Scholes has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the NFL returns to the spotlight, Colin Kaepernick's peaceful protest has sparked conversation about his aim to shed light on the oppression of minorities in this country. COLIN KAEPERNICK, QUARTERBACK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: The players

aren't comfortable speaking what's really on their mind and what's right because they are afraid of consequences that come along with it. And that's not an ideal environment for anybody.

And I think that also speaks to the oppression and culture that we have here where if you don't fall in line, then we're going to get you out.

SCHOLES: Other NFL players are joining in on the protest: Kaepernick's teammate Eric Reid, the Broncos's Brandon Marshall, and the Seahawks's Jeremy Lane have all refrained from standing during the anthem.

And this Sunday on 9/11, before their game with the Miami Dolphins, the entire Seahawks team is planning a powerful display of national unity, honoring the flag but also to express solidarity with Kaepernick.

DOUG BALDWIN JR., WIDE RECEIVER, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Even if it wasn't September 11th, the point is -- the protest is to get people to think. I think it is very ironic to me that 15 years ago on September 11th is one of the most devastating times in U.S. history.

And after that day we were probably the most unified that we have ever been. And today you struggle to see the unity. And it is very ironic to me that this date is coming up. So it's going to be a special day, a very significant day.

SCHOLES: Not everyone agrees with Kaepernick's movement. He was booed during the 49ers's final preseason game. But President Obama defended the quarterback's constitutional rights.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he cares about some real legitimate issues that have to be talked about.

SCHOLES: Agree or disagree with Kaepernick's method, good is coming out of his protest. He has pledged to donate the first million dollars of his salary this season to groups that deal with social inequality. The 49ers will all donate a million dollars to community foundations.

The Green Bay Packers and coach Mike McCarthy, meanwhile, will each donate $100,000 to the Green Bay Police Foundation to improve partnerships between the police and the community. And Kaepernick is giving his portion of sales of his number 7 jersey, which has climbed to the top of the bestseller list.

KAEPERNICK: The jersey sales jumped because people's belief that there can be change. And we can make this country better. And that they believed that I was someone that could help that change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Many thanks to Andy Scholes, reporting there. And not only athletes are protesting, a U.S. Navy sailor could face

punishment after she posted this video online and it went viral. It shows her sitting down during the national anthem at a military base in Florida. The sailor says she is protesting racial injustices. The Navy requires all members to stand and face the flag whenever the national anthem is played. A Navy spokeswoman says they have identified the sailor and that "appropriate administrative actions are pending."

A recent gaffe by U.S. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson got us thinking about other memorable slip-ups by American politicians. Coming up, the moment some candidates wish we would forget.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VAUGHAN JONES: U.S. safety officials and Samsung are urging people who own a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to stop using it. Last week Samsung issued a worldwide recall of their latest smartphone over battery problems. Some customers reported their Note 7s caught fire.

Here's CNNMoney's business and technology correspondent, Samuel Burke.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMUEL BURKE, CNNMONEY BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Samsung says they know of 35 cases of this. And now they are taking the unprecedented step of recalling nearly 2.5 million of these units. The company says it's specifically a problem with the battery. They say the batteries come from two different suppliers. And only one of them has the problem. But they're not saying which of the suppliers it is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: Well, on Thursday, U.S. aviation authorities warned airline passengers to not use or charge their Note 7s in flight and not to stow their phones in their checked luggage.

U.S. Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson made a gaffe when he was asked about Aleppo, as in the war-torn city of Aleppo, Syria. Well, that made Jeanne Moos think about other notorious missteps by American politicians.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We dare you to try to look away even if you have seen it 10 times already.

MIKE BARNICLE, MSNBC GUEST HOST: What would you do if you were elected about Aleppo?

GARY JOHNSON (L), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And what is Aleppo?

BARNICLE: You're kidding.

JOHNSON: No. MOOS: The exchange instantly gave birth to #WhatIsAleppo. Granted,

11 out of 14 people we asked in the street...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is Aleppo? I wouldn't know.

MOOS: ... couldn't identify the Syrian city at the epicenter of the refugee crisis.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What is Aleppo?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have no idea.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, but I know the Libertarian candidate got it wrong. And I don't know either.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of those animals?

MOOS: Speaking of animals, someone tweeted "Donald Trump probably wouldn't know the difference between Aleppo and Alpo."

(on camera): But when you're criticizing someone for screwing up, you had better be sure you don't screw up yourself.

(voice-over): A former ambassador to Iraq called Libertarian Johnson "Aleppo Johnson," then proceeded to mischaracterize Aleppo.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The capital of ISIS.

MOOS: Actually, the ISIS capital is Raqqah, not Aleppo. The New York Times made the same mistake and printed a correction, then a correction to the correction.

Candidates hate what they consider to be "gotcha" questions. Though then-Governor Bush gave as good as he gotcha.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you name the president of Chechnya?

GEORGE W. BUSH, THEN-GOVERNOR OF TEXAS: No. Can you?

MOOS: But what happened to Johnson wasn't a gotcha, it was more like what happened to Sarah Palin.

CHARLES GIBSON, ABC ANCHOR: Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?

SARAH PALIN, THEN-GOVERNOR OF ALASKA: In what respect, Charlie?

MOOS: And when Herman Cain was asked if he agreed with President Obama on Libya.

HERMAN CAIN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: OK, Libya.

MOOS: The silence was deafening.

CAIN: I've got all of this stuff twirling around in my head.

MOOS: What wasn't twirling in Rick Perry's head was the third department he would eliminate.

RICK PERRY, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What's the third one there? Let's see.

MOOS: Gary Johnson said he first thought Aleppo was an acronym. "I blanked." But trying to get could be worse.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would it be a disease?

MOOS: One tweet framed Johnson's gaffe as if it were "Jeopardy," "A three-word sentence meaning 'end of campaign'. Johnson: 'What is Aleppo?' Trebek, sighing: 'That is correct, Gary.'"

Jeanne Moos, CNN...

JOHNSON: And what is Aleppo?

MOOS: ...New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUGHAN JONES: So uncomfortable to watch over and over again.

Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Hannah Vaughan Jones in London. I'll be back with another hour of news after this break.