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Ceasefire to Begin in Syria; Trump Says He'll Blow Iranian Harassers Out of Water; Patriotism and Protests Continue as NFL Season Begins; Former Mosque of Pulse Nightclub Shooter Set on Fire. Aired 10:30-11:00a

Aired September 12, 2016 - 10:32   ET

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

[10:32:49] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN HOST, "NEWSROOM": And good morning, I'm Carol Costello, thank you so much for joining me. In a little more than an hour from now a ceasefire supposedly goes into effect in Syria. It'll be a big test for the U.S.-Russian led truce to stop the air strikes. Over the weekend the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad announcing he would support the deal. But this morning while touring an area reclaimed by the rebels, Assad vowed to take back all of Syria.

To help us understand what this could mean is CNN Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon. She joins us live from a city along the Turkish-Syrian border. Hi Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi Carol. And President Assad's comments came from a Damascus suburb called Sayyida (ph). And this suburb, up until very recently, was under siege by regime forces. The population there effectively suffocated, cut off from the rest of the world with very little access to food, medicine, and basic supplies.

The fact that the President went there made this statement, in fact it was at a mosque in this particular suburb where he undertook the prayers for the Muslim holiday of Eid (ph) is really the government at this stage putting out a message of strength. Especially given that that ceasefire is coming up.

This is a government, a Syrian government, that is very confident in its position, that feels as if it has, to a certain degree, come to this negotiating table with the upper hand because of the solid backing they have of the Russians. The opposition, for their part, are very skeptical about this deal. An alliance of rebel groups that are fighting mostly in the Northern part of the country have said that they feel that this arrangement would potentially sway the battlefield in the regime's favor.

Of course they are onboard when it comes to allowing humanitarian access. Everyone is really hoping that that is, at the very least, what is -- even if just for a short period of time -- accomplished. But there isn't really that overwhelming sense that this particular agreement is going to be that solution that is going to be more long- term.

So there's still a lot of uncertainty at this stage but people inside Syria, Carol, really holding onto the very slim hope that at least they'll have a little bit of time where there won't be any sort of bombardment.

COSTELLO: All right, Arwa Damon reporting live for us this morning, thank you. Still to come in the Newsroom, Trump goes off script, vowing to blow Iranian warships out of the water. We'll talk about that next.

[10:35:18]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Donald Trump heads to Baltimore this afternoon to speak to thousands of national guardsman. Mr. Trump will talk to them about what their role would be under a Trump presidency. But his speech comes after another foreign policy comment raises eyebrows. Trump said if Iranian ships threaten American vessels, he would "blow them out of the water."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... With Iran, when they circle our beautiful destroyers with their little boats and they make gestures at our people that they shouldn't be allowed to make, they will be shot out of the water.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: All right so let's talk about this. Joining me now is Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, CNN Military Analyst and former Army Commanding General in Europe in the 7th Army. And Mike Baker, former CIA Covert Operations Officer. Welcome to both of you.

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Oh thank you (ph).

COSTELLO: General, what do you make of those comments about blowing these Iranian ships out of the water?

HERTLING: Yeah, I -- what I'd comment on Carol, is the commanders on the scene, either a Navy Captain on a ship or even a ground commander or an air commander, has to make these kind of decisions in terms of what is threatening, versus what's just harassment. I saw the films of the harassing patrol boats against the cruiser, and in fact yeah, it was unprofessional behavior on the part of the Iranians, but it's not something you want to generate World War III over.

You don't shoot boats out of the water when they're in international seas, even if they are performing harassing actions. There are other actions that that Navy Commander can take before he actually pulls the trigger.

Now he certainly can do that at any given time if he feels his ship is threatened. But in this case it's mostly harassment. And truthfully, Carol, this goes on all over the world between Navies, Armies, and Air Forces with different patrols.

[10:41:31]

COSTELLO: So Mike, do you think Mr. Trump meant that?

MIKE BAKER, FORMER CIA COVERT OPERATIONS OFFICER: You know at that -- determining what Mr. Trump means from day to day is way above my pay grade, frankly. And the Lieutenant General was far, far more experienced and able to talk to the mechanics of this in response out on the high seas, or in any theater.

But I will say that it's unnecessary as far as the comment goes. It's unrealistic, it's a naive thing to say when you're talking about gestures. As the Lieutenant General just mentioned, suggesting you would shoot because somebody is simply harassing and not legitimately threatening the safety of your personnel and assets, is -- it borders on ridiculous.

It's unfortunate and also -- and I think it points to one thing -- I've always felt that presidents that we have here, any presidential candidate, it would be nice to think that they have some experience with the military in some form. Because they would understand the seriousness of this.

And I think what we're seeing from Donald Trump is yet again another comment that he's making off the cuff. Fine, he's speaking extemporaneously, a lot of people in his camp like that and I think they like the sabre rattling and the notion that we're going to be strong out there. But you have to be realistic, pragmatic, and understand that the real world is different from just throwing out a comment like this. It's unfortunate.

COSTELLO: Well I think, I think General, Mike brings up a good point. Like many of Trump's supporters, that kind of language appeals to them. Because they do think if you let Iranian Ships harass American ships that America is showing weakness. Why isn't that weak?

HERTLING: Well it's not weak, it ...

COSTELLO: If we don't act.

HERTLING: They have actions they can take, Carol, that are below the level of blowing them out of the water. That would be actually an act of war. Harassment is not an act of war. If you pull the trigger first, you're actually generating that war conditions. And I'm not sure with all the harassment that goes on between forces all over the world, that you would be soon in fights against Iran, Russia, China, and a variety of other nations who do these kind of actions.

The other thing is, as I just mentioned, the commanders on the scene are better trained. And certainly I heard Mr. Trump's comment and the reaction by those in the crowd. There is that sabre rattling. But I would also suggest that the people who were cheering are not part of the less than one percent who were actually on the front lines wearing the uniform that actually have to take the actions.

So it's well and good to rattle sabres until you're the one that actually has to either execute the mission of suffer the consequences of those kind of missions. And I don't think, truthfully, having been a commander of a large number of forces, that the U.S. military is disrespected. In fact, the kind of actions that this Navy Captain took to ensure that his ship was safe, but at the same time not going overboard in terms of his actions, was actually extremely professional and well-mannered on his part. And that's the kind of the operational forces we need in the field.

COSTELLO: So just one more question to you, Mike about Vladimir Putin this time. Because the ex-CIA Acting Director, Mike Morell, came out again and said Trump is playing perfectly into the Russian President's hands. Here's what he said on CNN yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE MORELL, EX-CIA ACTING DIRECTOR: I think Vladimir Putin considers him an unwitting agent. Putin played to Trump by telling Trump what he wanted to hear, which is "I'm a great guy, I'm smarter than anybody else, I'm a great person." Putin played to that, Putin's a trained intelligence officer, he knows how to play the people. What was the result of Putin praising Donald Trump? Donald Trump, in turn, praised Vladimir Putin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So Mike, is Mr. Trump being played by Vladimir Putin?

BAKER: Well this is -- yes. I suppose another way to put it would be that Vladimir Putin -- who's an old school KGB officer and very disciplined, very well-trained from the old days -- he's taking advantage of things that Donald Trump, and also now Mike Pence -- because Pence backed him up on this. Although he tried to walk that dog back recently -- he's taking advantage of these comments.

And again it's an example of something that's unnecessary. You don't need to be saying these things as a presidential candidate. There's a certain level of -- again, he's speaking extemporaneously, just throwing these things out. But there's a naivety there that is -- it is worrisome. And Putin will turn this to his advantage. And he will -- as he always does -- I mean one of the things he always reaches into his kickback for is do -- the idea of nationalism. And it's us against them. And that plays well in Russia, it plays

well with the population's psyche in a sense. You know being suffering, and long suffering against the world. So Putin is absolutely taking advantage of the things that Trump has been saying. COSTELLO: Interesting, I have to leave it right there. I ...

HERTLING: And if I could add -- I might add, what's interesting, anyone who has these kind of experiences knows what's said on CNN or Fox News or any other major U.S. channel, that it is a free press, is quickly played again in countries of the world that don't have a free press.

And I think that's already occurring in terms of Mr. Putin's Russia. Where you're taking sound bytes from both of the candidates and saying, "put that on here if it supports the Russian view of the world. And it's unfortunate Mr. Trump used to say these kind of things which levies more praise toward Mr. Putin who is not that charismatic in Eastern Europe or in Western Europe. He is charismatic in his own country.

COSTELLO: All right I have to leave it there Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, Mike Baker, many thanks, I do appreciate you being here with me this morning. The NFL season opens with even more demonstrations during the national anthem. We'll talk about that, next.

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[10:51:22]

COSTELLO: The NFL season kicks off with patriotism and protests. And the national anthem played, some players kneeled, others raised their fists or locked arms. To highlight the problems of racial injustice and police brutality, tonight all eyes are on the player who started it all.

49ers quarterback, backup quarterback, Colin Kaepernick takes the field against the new L.A. Rams. Christine Brennan joins us now to talk about this. Good morning and thanks for being here.

CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN COMMENTATOR: Sure, thanks.

COSTELLO: So I think probably the strongest protest was the New England players raising their fists, right?

BRENNAN: Yeah, you could say that. Although you have the four Miami Dolphins who were kneeling opposite the sideline where the Seahawks were all linking arms. So maybe that game, Carol, Miami and Seattle, might have had the most action in it. But yes, there were, there were protests and pockets of protests -- if you want to say that. Or unusual, different kind of displays of -- as opposed to just standing at attention for the national anthem -- throughout the day yesterday. Of course still a vast minority of the players in the NFL. But on 9/11 of all days, which of course, I think created all the interests that we're discussing right now, of course.

COSTELLO: Oh yeah, it happened on 9/11, a place where we really want to pause to remember America you know and, you know, because that you're together after 9/11, its finest moments. And of course, our first responders and -- do you think that this -- these protests will eventually go away? Or is this just -- or is this here to stay throughout the season?

BRENNAN: You know I think we're going to see it for a while. And my sense, Carol, is that what happened yesterday was a bit of a pause because, as you were just alluding to, this was of course September 11th. And people, even if you wanted to protest maybe, hey this is where we'll link arms, we won't take a knee. And that's what happened with Seattle for example.

So I think we're going to see more of this. We've seen it in soccer with Megan Rapinoe, the U.S. Women's star. We've seen it in some high schools and colleges just a little bit. I think we're going to see more. Whatever you think, whatever your opinion is personally; for it, against it.

Obviously the NFL has, I think, said it best, they're threading the needle right now by saying, "well we ask our players to stand and we encourage that." The NFL has also said, "we completely respect their right to freedom of expression and to do what they want." Let's see how that plays out over the next month or two if this continues.

COSTELLO: I know The Today Show, Matt Lauer asked Roger Goodell what he thought about Colin Kaepernick's initial actions. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATT LAUER, HOST, THE TODAY SHOW: Are you proud of Colin Kaepernick for taking this stand?

ROGER GOODELL, COMMISSIONER OF THE NFL: Listen, I support our players speaking out on issues that they think need to be changed in our society. We don't live in a perfect society, Matt. Our players have strong views about things. So I support our players speaking outward against that. But that's what the focus should be on. The changes he wants to see in our society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So Roger Goodell seems kind of conflicted there, doesn't he?

BRENNAN: Yeah, wise though to play both sides, kind of against the middle. I think what we're going to see a lot, Carol, in the next few weeks is these athletes who are taking a knee, people are going to ask, start asking questions about what they're doing in the communities, what kind of donations they're giving. I think that's also a very valuable part of this conversation.

COSTELLO: OK what do you think's going to happen tonight when the 49ers take the field?

BRENNAN: Well I think Kaepernick will probably be taking a knee. I don't know for a fact, but my guess is that's the case. Of course, it's not 9/11, it's the day after. So that might be a positive in that sense. But I think he's going to be consistent and continue to do something, as in taking a knee or sitting.

COSTELLO: All right, Christine Brennan, thanks for being with me this morning.

BRENNAN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: You're welcome. Still to come in the Newsroom, fire erupts at the Florida mosque once attended by the Pulse Nightclub shooter.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:59:07] COSTELLO: Checking some top stories for you at 59 minutes past. Florida investigators say an arsonist started a fire at the mosque once attended by the Pulse Nightclub shooter. The fire broke out early this morning. Police say they have a video taken from inside the mosque that may show how the fire was started. The Orlando shooter killed 49 people at that nightclub in June. He had attended the mosque since 2003.

Three people are dead after a plane crash at a Reno airport in Nevada. Officials say the small plane experienced an unknown issue after takeoff and crashed into a parking lot. All three passengers aboard were killed. No one on the ground was hurt. Of course, an investigation is underway.

As the first nine NFL games kicked off, ESPN's Fantasy Sports app fumbled, putting its 7 million users in a time-out. According to its Twitter account, the fantasy app and website were partially, were partially working by 4:00 p.m. Eastern, when the second round of games kicked off. And fully restored by 6:30 on Sunday.

Thank you so much for joining me today, I'm Carol Costello. AT THIS HOUR with Berman and Bolduan starts now.

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