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Hala Gorani Tonight
Netanyahu Addresses U.N. General Assembly; Trump Warns U.S. Could "Totally Destroy" North Korea; Trump: Iran Nuclear Deal An Embarrassment To U.S.; Powerful Earthquake Shakes Central Mexico. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired September 19, 2017 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00]
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: -- of representing my country on six different continents, one year, six continents. I went to Africa
where I saw Israeli innovators increasing (inaudible) turning air into water, fighting AIDS.
I went to Asia where we deepened our relations with China and with Singapore and expanded our cooperation with our Muslim friends in
Azerbaijan in Kazakhstan. I went to Europe where London and Paris (inaudible) Budapest we enhance our security and economic times.
I went to Australia, becoming the first Israeli Prime Minister to visit our great allies down under and just last week, I went to South America
visiting Argentina and Colombia, and then I went on to Mexico becoming, if you can believe it, the first Israeli Prime Minister ever to visit Latin
America.
After 70 years, the world is embracing Israel and Israel is embracing the world. One year -- one year, six continents. Now it is true. I have not
yet visited Antarctica, but one that I have to go there, I want to go there too because I've heard that penguins are also enthusiastic supporters of
Israel.
Now you laugh but penguins have no difficulty recognizing that some things are black and white, are right and wrong, and unfortunately, when it comes
to U.N. decisions about Israel, that simple recognition is too often absent.
It was absent last December when the Security Council passed an anti-Israel resolution that set back the course of peace. It was absent last May when
the World Health Organization adopted -- you have to listen to this -- the World Health Organization adopted a Syrian-sponsored resolution that
criticized Israel for health conditions on the Golan Heights.
As the great John McEnroe would say you cannot be serious. I mean, this is preposterous. Syria has bell bomb, starved, gassed and murdered hundreds
of thousands of its own citizens and wounded millions more.
While Israel has provided life-saving medical care to thousands of Syrian victims of that very same carnage yet who does the World Health
Organization criticize? Israel. So, is there no limit to the U.N.'s absurdities when it comes to Israel?
Well, apparently not because in July, UNESCO declared the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, a Palestinian world heritage site, that is worse than
fake news, that's fake history.
Mind you, it's true that Abraham, the father of both Ismael and Isaac is buried there, but so too are Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Sarah is a
Jewish name, by the way, Sarah, Rebecca and Lea (ph), who just happened to be patriarchs and matriarchs of the Jewish people.
Well, you won't read about that in the latest UNESCO report, but if you want to, you can read about it in a somewhat weightier publication. It's
called the Bible, a highly recommended. I hear it even got 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon and it is a great read. I read it every week.
Ladies and Gentlemen, a moment to be serious despite the absurdities, despite the repetition of these farcical events, there is change, slowly
but surely, there are signs of positive change even at the United Nations.
[15:05:07] Mr. Secretary-General, I very much appreciate your stick, the denying Israel's right to exist is anti-Semitism, pure and simple. Now
that's important because for too long the epicenter of global anti-Semitism has been right here at the U.N.
And while it takes many years, I am absolutely confident that the revolution in Israel's ties with individual nations will ultimately be
reflected here in this hall of nations. I say that because there is also a market change in the position of some of our key friends.
Thanks to President Trump's unequivocal support for Israel in this body that positive change is gathering force. So, thank you, President Trump.
Thank you for supporting Israel at the U.N. and thank you for your support, Ambassador Nikki Haley. Thank you for speaking the truth about Israel.
But Ladies and Gentlemen, here at the U.N., we must also speak the truth about Iran as President Trump did so powerfully this morning. Now, you
know, I have been ambassador to the U.N. and I am a long-serving Israeli Prime Minister.
So, I've listened to countless speeches in this hall, but I can say this, none were bolder, none were more courageous and forthright than the one
delivered by President Trump today.
President Trump rightly call the nuclear deal with Iran -- he called it an embarrassment. Well, I couldn't agree with him more and here is why. Iran
vows to destroy my country everyday including my chief of staff the other day.
Iran is conducting a campaign of conquest across the Middle East and Iran is developing ballistic missiles to threaten the entire world. Two years
ago, I stood here and explained why the Iranian nuclear deal, not only doesn't block Iran's path to the bomb, but actually paves it.
Because of restrictions placed on Iran's nuclear program have what's called a sunset clause. Now let me explain what that term means. It means that
in a few years, those restrictions will be automatically removed.
Not by a change in Iran's behavior, not by lessening of its terror or its aggression. They will just be removed by a mere change in the calendar and
I warned that when that sunset comes, a dark shadow will be cast over the entire Middle East and the world.
Because Iran will then be free to enrich uranium on an industrial scale, placing it on the threshold of a massive arsenal of nuclear weapons. That
is why I said two years ago, let the greater danger is not that Iran will rush to a single bomb by breaking the deal.
But that Iran will be able to build many bombs by keeping. Now in the last few months, we have all seen how dangerous even a few nuclear weapons can
be in the hands of a small rouge regime.
Now imagine the danger of hundreds of nuclear weapons in the hands of a vast Iranian Islamist empire with missiles to deliver them anywhere on
earth. I know there are those who still defend the dangerous deal with Iran, arguing that it will block Iran's path to the bomb.
[15:10:08] Ladies and Gentlemen, that is exactly what they said about the nuclear deal with North Korea and we all know how that turned up.
Unfortunately, if nothing changes, this deal will turn out exactly the same way.
That is why Israel's policy regarding the nuclear deal with Iran is very simple, change it or cancel it. Fix it or nix it. Nixing the deal means
restoring massive pressure on Iran, including crippling sanctions until Iran fully dismantles its nuclear weapons capability.
Fixing the deal requires many things among them, inspecting military and any other site that is a suspect and penalizing Iran for every violation.
But above all, fixing the deal means getting rid of the sunset clause.
And beyond fixing this bad deal, we must also stop Iran's development of ballistic missiles and rollback its growing aggression in the region. We
have these debates. as you know, I took a fairly active role in them.
And many supporters of the deal naively believed that it would somehow moderator on. It would make it a responsible member so they said of the
international community. Well, you know, I strongly disagree.
I warned that when the sanctions on Iran would be removed Iran would behave like a hungry tiger unleashed not joining the community of nations, but
devowering (ph) nations one after the other and that is precisely what Iran is doing today.
From the Caspian Sea to the Mediterranean from Tehran to Tartus (ph), an Iranian is descending across the Middle East. Iran spreads this curtain of
tyranny and terror over Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and elsewhere.
It pledges to extinguish the light of Israel. Today, I have a simple message for Ayatollah Khomeini, the dictator of Iran, the light of Israel
will never be extinguished.
(Speaking in foreign language). Those who threaten us with annihilation put themselves in mortal peril. Israel will defend itself with the full
force of our arms and the full power of our convictions.
We will act to prevent Iran from establishing permanent military bases in Syria for its air, sea and ground forces. We will act to prevent Iran from
producing deadly weapons in Syria or Lebanon for use against us.
And we will act to prevent Iran from opening new terror fonts against Israel along our northern border. As long as Iran's regime seeks the
destruction of Israel, Iran will face no fiercer enemy than (inaudible).
But I also have a message today for the people of Iran. You are not our enemy. You are our friends. (Speaking in foreign language). One day, my
Iranian friends, you will be free from the evil regime that terrorizes you.
Hangs gays, jails journalists, tortures political prisoners, and shoots innocent women like (inaudible) Sultan, leave the girl choking on her own
blood on the streets of Tehran. I have not forgotten that. I am sure you haven't too.
[15:15:06] And so the people of Iran when your day of liberation finally comes, the friendship between our two ancient peoples will surely flourish
once again.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Israel knows that in confronting the Iranian regime we are not alone. We stand shoulder to shoulder with those in the Arab
world who share our hopes for a brighter future.
We've made peace with Jordan and Egypt whose courageous president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, I met here last night. I appreciate President El-Sisi's
support for peace and I hope to work closely with him and other regions and other leaders in the region to advance peace.
Israel is committed to achieving peace with all our Arab neighbors including the Palestinians. Yesterday, President Trump and I discussed
this, all of this, at great length.
I appreciate President Trump's leadership, his commitment to stand by Israel's side, his commitment to advance a peaceful future for all.
Together we can seize the opportunities for peace and together we can confront the great dangers of Iran.
The remarkable alliance between the United States and Israel has never been stronger, never been deeper and Israel is deeply grateful for the support
of the Trump administration, the American Congress, and the American people.
Ladies and Gentlemen, this year of historic visits and historic controversies, Israel has so much to be grateful for. A 120 years ago,
Theodore Hertzel (ph) convened the first Zionist Congress to transform our tragic past into a brilliant future by establishing the Jewish state.
One hundred years ago, the Balfour Declaration advanced Hertzel's vision by recognizing the right of the Jewish people to a national home in our
ancestral homelands. Seventy years ago, the United Nations further advanced that vision by adopting a resolution supporting the establishment
of the Jewish state.
And 50 years ago, we reunited our eternal capital, Jerusalem, achieving a miraculous victory against those who sought to destroy our states.
Theodore Hertzel was our modern Moses and his dream has come true.
We returned to the promised land revival our language, in-gathered our exiles, and built a modern thriving democracy. Tomorrow evening, Jews
around the world will celebrate (inaudible), the beginning of our new year.
It's a time of reflection and we look back with wonder and the remarkable - - the miraculous rebirth of our nation and we look ahead with pride to the remarkable contributions Israel will continue to make to all nations.
You look around you and you will see these contributions every day in the food you eat, the water you drink, the medicines you take, the cars you
drive. The cell phones you use and so many other ways that are transforming our world.
You see it in the smile of an African mother in a remote village who thanks to an Israeli innovation no longer must walk eight hours a day to bring
water to her children. You see it in the eyes of an Arab child who's flown to Israel to undergo a life-saving heart operation, and you see it in the
faces of the people --
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: All right. You have been listening to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu there. He took
some very strong lines against the Iran deal, unsurprisingly.
He mentioned the speech the U.S. president, Donald Trump, gave at that very podium, his maiden speech at the UNGA saying that Donald Trump's speech
that no speech had been bolder or more courageous than the one delivered by the U.S. president on the Iran deal, who you'll remember this morning,
Donald Trump called that deal an embarrassment to the United States.
[15:20:02] The prime minister of Israel has time and time before made his dislike and hatred, you could say for this Iran deal very apparent. The
prime minister of Israel saying that that Iran deal rather than stopping Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon in fact, paves the way for a nuclear
bomb.
He said that listing the sanctions he said against Iran as part of this deal is something that is allowed an Iranian curtain to descend on the
Middle East throughout the entire region.
He even spoke in Farsi at what point saying to ordinary Iranians you are not our enemy. This obviously is something that many people in Europe, for
instance, would disagree with. We've seen European countries come out and say and heard them say that even if the United States decides to step away
that they would actually in fact like this Iran deal to survive.
We are seeing big European companies, Rhino at France, for instance, signing car making deals with Iran back in August, so you have clearly two
camps here, the U.S. and Israel finding this deal distasteful and other countries in the E.U., who would like to see it survive and trying to
convince the United States to stay in it.
Hello, everyone. We are starting this hour a little bit late. You heard there from the Israeli prime minister. I'm Hala Gorani.
Donald Trump today called it a message of peace, but in his debut speech to the U.N., he said he would, quote, "totally destroy" North Korea if he had
to. The U.S. president warned that evil will triumph if the world does not stand up to a small group of rogue nations.
He blasted Iran. He called it a murderous regime and also criticize Venezuela and Cuba, but by far, his toughest words were reserved for North
Korea and its leader, Kim Jong-un. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or
its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea. Rocket man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime. The
United States is ready, willing and able, but hopefully, this will not be necessary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's some more perspective on all of this. I'm joined now by CNN global affairs analyst, David Rohde, the online news director for "The New
Yorker" and also with us, CNN senior political analyst, David Gergen, an advisor to four American presidents, both Democrat and Republican.
David Gergen, I want to start with you. The U.S. leader threatening another U.N. member with total annihilation. It sounds unprecedented to
me.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: I never heard it before. Donald Trump clearly ratcheted up the rhetoric today. Not only was the
rocket man reference be taunting the North Korean leader in a way it's not done in diplomacy.
But more importantly, you know, we went -- that administration has done in effect promising or threatening if the United States is threatened by the
North Koreans, we would decapitate the regime.
He has moved from decapitation of the regime to destruction of the country. There are some 25 million people who live in North Korea. I cannot believe
he really means a total destruction of the country.
But clearly, he's ratcheted it up. Clearly, he put more on the table, and this has become a real war of nerves between the two countries.
GORANI: And David Rohde, you spoke about Iran with almost more harshly than about North Korea. I want our viewers to listen to what Donald Trump
said about the Iranian regime. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: The Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into. Frankly, that deal is an
embarrassment to the United States, and I do not think you have heard the last of it, believe me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, David Rohde, is he saying essentially that the United States could pull out of this deal because European countries do not want this to
happen at all?
DAVID ROHDE, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: I think it's a very strong possibility that the Trump could decide himself to pull out of this deal.
The speech reminded me in a way of the rhetoric of George W. Bush and that he's sort of threatening military action against two countries, North Korea
and Iran.
And there has been a lot of talk about it playing to his political base in the United States, but there's many Americans who voted for him because
they did not want the United States to be engaged in these foreign military interventions.
I mean, we are going to destroy or topple the regime in North Korea, who is going to run the country then? Same thing with Iran. So, it's a sort of
very stark and I was surprised by the tone President Trump used today.
[15:25:02] GORANI: And David Gergen, it's in contradiction to his other main message, which is America first, which is a more isolationist message.
This is what he said about the United States standing in the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I will always put America first. Just like you as the leaders of your countries will always and should always put your countries first. The
United States will forever be a great friend to the world and especially to its allies, but we can no longer be taken advantage of or enter into a one-
sided deal where the United States gets nothing in return.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: David Gergen, these are the themes of the campaign, America is the victim. America always gets the raw end of the deal. What's his audience
here? It could have been the leaders in that Assembly Hall.
GERGEN: Well, I think that the leaders in the Assembly Hall could draw some encouragement (inaudible) to be sure from the fact that President
Trump has moved from disdain for the United Nations.
And you know, it looked as if he might want to pull out of that too. Now at least looking for reform and I think sticking to it, but even so, I do
agree with the other David. This was a dark speech.
It bristles with military threats. Yes, it is nationalistic, but he sees the smashing up the Iran agreement or smashing up North Kore as very much
in America's interest and so it is selective isolationism, if you would.
I do think what's missing from this and what we have been looking for, for a while is an overall vision from President Trump, what world he would like
to see develop and what the role of the United States, what our leadership would be in that.
This was yet another speech that just talk in generalities, didn't get what sense of strategy or vision, and I think left a lot of leaders sort of
thinking this is -- you know, he takes each issue that comes up on its own face and not in terms -- not within the context of a coherent long-term
strategy, which I think the world is still looking for a much clearer sense of what role of leadership the United States will play under President
Trump.
GORANI: All right, thanks so much, David Gergen and David Rohde for joining us. We really appreciate both of your analyses on the program.
We got to some breaking news here just in to CNN. A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake had struck Central Mexico a short while ago. The U.S.
Geological Survey says the epicenter is about 120 kilometers southeast of Mexico City and it was felt there.
The depth was 51 kilometers so not a shallow some other quite destructive earthquakes, but we've seen some very dramatic footage coming to us from
Mexico City already. The president of Mexico said on Twitter that he's called a National Emergency Committee meeting to assess the situation and
as soon as we have more details on this, we will bring them to you.
Let's bring in meteorologist, Allison Chinchar. She has the very latest on that. Talk to us first of all about how far away it was from Mexico City
and how deep and how that is significant (inaudible) how much damage an earthquake can cause.
ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. It is a great question. So again the 7.1 earthquake is this orange dot you can see right here. This
is Mexico City. Give or take about 25 miles down to the south and east of Mexico City.
But again, when you are talking something that strong, 7.1, the depths even though it was relatively deep, about 51 kilometers, it can still spread in
terms of the amount of damage and the amount of people that can actually feel this particular quake.
Again, here is the dot and this is Mexico City. So, you can see it was down towards the south and east of that location. This is the shake map,
OK, again, here is the epicenter of the quake. This is Mexico City.
You can see that yellow color spreading out. The yellow color indicates who felt the quake. So, you can see even though in the scope of
earthquakes 51 kilometers is fairly deep, but when you have a quake this strong that doesn't necessarily matter in terms of the people that can end
up feeling it.
Here is a look at the population, OK, around this general region. Likely at least 28 million people felt that at least some type of weak shaking
from this storm. You've got up about 20 million that could feel moderate shaking and you have got about 8 million that felt strong and maybe about
1.5 million that felt very strong shaking with this particular earthquake.
So again, it matters a lot when you are talking about the magnitude of the storm as well as the depth, the two coincide together. Here is a look on
average we got about 15 earthquakes that have a magnitude of 7 up to 7.9 each year.
So, it is not that uncommon to get them. Again, this was 7.1. This was again for today -- you know, pretty decent depth. It's about 32 miles or
52 kilometers. Now, we do want to also point out another thing too for some folks as well that some of these areas are just coming off the heels
of another earthquake that was just two weeks ago, an 8.1 earthquake.
Now, this was not the same area. The area that had the earthquake today is a little bit further north and west of that earthquake. But even still, as
an 8.1 earthquake, it spreads out even further. So, it's very likely that some folks were able to feel that earthquake from two weeks ago as well as
this earthquake.
The question is the amount of damage that will come in from this. Even though 51 kilometers deep is relatively deep for an earthquake, at the
magnitude of 7.1, it's still strong enough to cause some damage.
We've been seeing video, we've been seeing photos of debris in the streets, pieces of buildings and homes that have come down from the earthquake.
And again, you've also got the dust, keep in mind, that gets kicked up from that that's likely reducing visibility in some of these towns.
And, again, I would also like to point out, Hala, that you're also going to have aftershocks. So, any buildings or structures that have been
compromised from this initial quake, it may not take much. A 3 or a 4 magnitude quake can then cause further damage to some of those buildings if
they have been rendered structurally compromised because of this initial quake.
GORANI: Allison Chinchar, thanks very much. We were - and Allison was mentioning there some of the dramatic video. We saw rubbles sort of coming
off of building, little bits of the concrete off of buildings as people holding on to anything they can inside of buildings. In a restaurant, we
saw one of them.
This is sort of overhead footage from a street in central Mexico City. This earthquake, 7.1 magnitude, hitting just minutes ago. And Allison was
mentioning another more powerful earthquake in another part of the country, which was over 8 in magnitude. That killed dozens of people.
Right now, we're waiting for more information on whether or not - on how much damage this particular tremor caused and whether or not there were any
injuries or let's hope not loss of life.
All right. There we have it. We are going to take a quick break. More after this on US President Trump's first address to the United Nations.
How will other world leaders interpret his vision of American foreign policy. We will have that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:35:04] GORANI: Donald Trump stood in front of the leaders of the world and gave a speech to the UN that probably won't be forgotten in a hurry.
It was full of fiery rhetoric, a threat to North Korea that it would be totally destroyed if the US was forced to defend itself. And a none-too-
subtle rebuke of the Iran deal, an embarrassment to the US according to the president.
But Donald Trump wasn't the only leader making his debut at the UN. French President Emmanuel Macron also spoke before the General Assembly for the
first time.
He has been quite friendly with President Trump, but he brought up one topic where they strongly disagree. The Paris Climate Agreement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): Before this august assembly, my country promised that we would achieve a universal
agreement in Paris. That was achieved and it was signed in this very room.
That agreement is not up for renegotiation. It binds us. It rallies us together. Taking it apart would mean taking apart a pact that exists just
between states, but also between generations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, Mr. Macron also weighed in on the Iran nuclear deal, saying it would be a "grave error" if the US renounces it.
Let's go to Paris and CNN's Jim Bittermann. I wonder, Jim, with his popularity rating going down quite rapidly inside of France, how will a
speech like this, do you think, how will his first appearance at the UNGA go down in his own country?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: I think it's going to go down very well. In fact, just listening to some of the commentators
after his speech, I think it has gone down very well, at least as far as the talking heads are concerned.
Basically, I think because no matter what the personal - the domestic problems that he may be facing, that personal relationship with Trump that
he has, it seems to be at least giving him some sway over Trump's attitudes or at least has an access to Trump.
He had spoke that - he said that in a news conference after his speech that he had talked to Trump yesterday and tried to talk him out of any military
escalation in North Korea. He tried to talk him out of tearing up the Iran deal and tried to talk him back into the climate change agreement.
So, he feels like he's being listened to. He told Christiane Amanpour in an interview afterwards as well that, in fact, he feels that Trump is
listening to him.
So, I think that there's going to be some national pride here at work over the way he handled himself at the UN today.
GORANI: All right. Jim Bittermann, thanks very much, our senior international correspondent in Paris with more on Macron's first speech at
the UNGA.
Now, when it came to North Korea, Donald Trump did not exactly mince his words at the United Nations. The escalating crisis has global policy
makers scrambling for a solution.
Earlier, I spoke to the head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. I asked him if he thought the military option should still be on the table.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JENS STOLTENBERG, SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO: United States, of course, has the right to defend itself and also allies against a nuclear threat. So,
that's always the case and we are - and that's the reason why the United States has military capabilities and NATO is a strong alliance.
But I don't think the time now for me is to speculate in possible military actions. For me, as secretary general of NATO, the important thing is to
support all efforts to continue to try to find a peaceful solution.
GORANI: I understand not speculating. I am just saying do you think it should be one of the responses that North Korea believes is still an
option, as in on the table or not?
STOLTENBERG: United States has the right to defend itself. And this is a threat not only against the United States, but against the allies and the
whole global community. And, therefore, it requires a global response and that's the reason why NATO supports the efforts which takes place here at
the UN to strengthen the work to stop North Korea from developing both nuclear weapons and long-range missiles.
GORANI: Sunday, Nikki Haley, the UN ambassador, said we pretty much exhausted UN options. Donald Trump said essentially today we will have no
choice but to totally destroy North Korea if we're forced to defend ourselves. You previously have said the world is more dangerous today than
it has been in a generation.
How worried should we all be that we're heading toward a very dangerous confrontation here?
STOLTENBERG: What we see now is a more unpredictable world with many different threats and challenges at the same time.
We see the proliferation of nuclear weapons in North Korea, Iran. We terrorism - Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and also in our own streets. And
then, for NATO, of course, it's all sorts of challenge that we see a more assertive Russia, which has been willing to use military force against
neighbor in Ukraine.
[15:40:13] All this unpredictability and uncertainty is just an argument for stronger international institutions like the UN and like NATO.
GORANI: When you mention nuclear proliferation, you mentioned North Korea, but also Iran. Do you believe Iran is respecting its nuclear deal with
western countries, including the United States, because you listed it as one of the countries?
STOLTENBERG: Well, I think it is extremely important that we make sure that the Iran deal is fully respected and implemented by Iran.
No deal is good without being respected. And, therefore, I welcome the fact that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, together
with Germany, will meet tomorrow. They are very key countries in making sure that this deal was reached. And they are also key countries in making
sure that the deal is fully respected.
GORANI: Do you think the deal is being respected because Donald Trump is floating this idea somehow that perhaps Iran is not abiding by the terms of
the deal, even saying we'll see if we pull out or not from this agreement with Iran, that it was one of the worst - it's an embarrassment to the
United States? Do you agree with that?
STOLTENBERG: Well, NATO is not part of the deal. And, therefore, I think it will be wrong if I start in a way to assess whether the deal is
implemented. I think we should leave that to the countries which have negotiated the deal and are part of the deal.
And, therefore, I welcome the fact that these countries are going to sit down tomorrow and see how can we make sure that the deal is implemented and
that Iran is stopping the development of nuclear weapons.
GORANI: North Korea has, obviously, tested missiles, some of which could reach Guam, which is an American territory. If Guam is in anyway hit by
North Korea, would NATO then invoke Article 5 and come to the defense of the United States against North Korea?
STOLTENBERG: This is a political decision that has to be made if something like that happened. And the US asked for the invocation of Article 5 when
they were attacked back in 2001, 9/11. And it's up to the US to decide whether it asks for Article 5.
But, again, our focus now has to be on how can we buy strong economic sanctions by united international community, make sure that North Korea
stops developing nuclear weapons.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of NATO. I need to update you on of our breaking news out of Mexico City. A powerful 7.1 magnitude
quake has struck Central Mexico. The US Geological Survey says the epicenter - you see it there on that Google Map - is about 120 kilometers
southeast of Mexico City.
It was felt there. The depth was 51 kilometers. Take a look there on your screens, some dramatic amateur footage coming to us from people who
survived this quake. This looks like perhaps some sort of airport or a train station.
This is a four box there with four different views of the earthquake as it struck Central Mexico, including there, you see on the upper left-hand
corner, what looks like an aerial view of a major artery in Mexico City.
We've been seeing pictures and images of damaged buildings, people fleeing, collapsed facades. We also saw amateur video of people just holding on to
furniture. In one case, holding on to a bar inside of a restaurant, trying not to fall over because that's how strong the tremor was.
That's the skyline of Mexico City. Theses now are images - obvious images of destruction. I don't know exactly where in Mexico it is or if it is
indeed Mexico City, but it just gives you an idea that, in some parts, there was significant damage.
We don't really have any word on whether or not there were injuries or, let's hope not, deaths. We are about to speak to a witness who lived
through what must have been an unbelievably frightening moment in Mexico City.
Anyone who's lived through an earthquake knows how unsettling it is because you really feel, especially if you're indoors, that there is nowhere to go.
You just kind of sometimes freeze in position and hope that the building you're in doesn't collapse.
But, look, here you have a huge pile of concrete and rubble. And the risk, in this case, always, was someone inside, if someone trapped under all of
that.
You're going to have here hours and hours of rescuers trying to dig through very large mounds of rubble and concrete, trying to find survivors because,
based on these images, it looks like at least in some cases there was a lot of physical damage to the structures.
[15:45:07] Well, I am still waiting for an eyewitness to join me on the phone. Clearly, communications in these cases are always a little tricky.
So, we're going to wait for that.
And while we wait for that, Allison Chinchar joins me now live. Allison, let's talk a little bit about the magnitude 7.1, the depth 51 kilometers.
But you saw those images in that video, it looks like there was some significant damage to the structures there and some buildings in Mexico
City.
CHINCHAR: Absolutely, yes. So, here is - it's this dot that you can see right here. This orange dot, this is the epicenter of the quake, 7.1, 51
kilometers deep. For reference, this is Mexico City, not too far away, just to the north and west.
Also, just to the south and east, about two weeks ago, they had an 8.1 earthquake. Thankfully, not in the same location, but there are still some
folks that probably felt that quake and have also felt this particular earthquake again.
Here is a look at the epicenter of the quake. This is Mexico City. Now, in terms of the people that could feel the earthquake or likely had some
type of damage, that's this yellow scale right here. OK? This. Where my finger is pointing, that is the epicenter.
See how far out that yellow color spreads. That just goes to show you how far out there likely could be some type of damage because that's where
people were able to feel that earthquake, OK?
So, let's take a look at what we've got in terms of the population that did feel this, OK? We've got about 28 million people that likely felt some
type of weak shaking, 20 million that felt moderate shaking, and at least about 8 to 9 million people that saw strong shaking.
We talked about the depth at 51 kilometers. That may seem pretty deep to you when you think about it in your head. But in relative earthquake
scales, that's actually considered shallow. Anything that's 70 kilometers or up to the epicenter, that's considered shallow.
Once you start getting 70, down towards 300 kilometers, that's intermediate. And deep is considered anything that would be 300 kilometers
or deeper than that.
So, in relative terms, this was considered a relatively shallow earthquake, OK? And that's important because that then tells us that this could have
some significant damage.
Again, 7.1 magnitude quake, 32 miles deep or about 51 kilometers to the deep.
We talk about estimated fatalities, it is possible when you're talking this particular magnitude, along with that depth, as well as the potential that
you could also have some damage, Hala, as well.
GORANI: Allison, thanks very much. Allison Chinchar in standby. We will get back to you in a moment. But let's get to Mexico City now on the line.
Adrian Wilson joins me now. He is from New York. His fiance lives there. He is visiting. Adrian, tell us what you witnessed today in Mexico City as
the earthquake hit?
ADRIAN WILSON, EARTHQUAKE SURVIVOR: Well, I mean it seems like twice - I live next to a main road. It just seemed like (INAUDIBLE) the building was
slightly shaking and then it gets magnified and magnified and then the whole room was shaking.
The doors were flapping open, the windows, everything. So, luckily, I took a quick video after a while to show my kids. (INAUDIBLE) last month. And
it just seemed like that it's almost a roller coaster ride where you think, wow, this is kind of cool, but then all of a sudden, you're like, wow, this
isn't cool at all.
There's around about five big helicopters (INAUDIBLE). There's been some pictures of burning buildings and collapsed buildings and you realize this
isn't a joy ride for anybody.
GORANI: So, you were indoors when it hit?
WILSON: Yes. And the building I'm in built in 1930s and there was just 8- point-something earthquake couple of weeks of ago. So, I presume, though, it's going to be OK. But, yes, I suppose you never know. Yes, it was
(INAUDIBLE) we don't get earthquakes, we don't get eclipses.
GORANI: You don't. But what are you seeing now where you are? Are you able to see any damage? How did people react when you were able to look
out on to the streets? What were you able to witness?
WILSON: (INAUDIBLE). I'm not sure what the actual time of the earthquake was, but at 11 o' clock this morning, there was literally a practice siren,
speaker thing all across Mexico City to deal with earthquakes. And I am guessing, at least an hour after that, the actual earthquake hit, which is
totally bizarre.
But, obviously, it's really organized here. They have (INAUDIBLE) and gathered on the streets that are well marked. Everyone went outside. All
the traffic stopped.
But, yes, now there's helicopters flying around, there's motor vehicles, people are moving around. But the area where I am, I don't think, has been
as damaged. I'm in Polanco, which has a lot of modern buildings, but I think certain other areas have seen - the area where my fiance is, there
was a - next to where she is, the building has collapsed.
[15:50:17] GORANI: So, your fiance, next to where she is, is telling you the building collapsed?
WILSON: So, my fiance works in Santa Fe as a school teacher and they really didn't see much at all.
Mexico City is a strange place. It's got mountains around it. (INAUDIBLE) and it seems like one was an earthquake. They don't really shake too much.
But Mexico City itself is based on a lake. So, because of all this water underneath, it really amplifies any earthquake tremors. So, down in the
basin, it's a lot worse than on the mountains. (INAUDIBLE) shaking all over the place.
GORANI: Yes. So, it could explain why some parts of Mexico City were affected and others weren't.
You were talking about the drill earlier, around 11:00 AM local, that's a drill that was held today. I was reading in Mexico City, on the
anniversary of a huge earthquake that happened in 1985. So, it's one of those sort of coincidences that on the day that a big drill was held, that
very day, an earthquake hits Mexico City.
What's the situation now as you look out on to the streets? Are people still out? Is traffic still stopped? Are things returning to normal at
all?
WILSON: Yes. I think back on the balcony, I mean, people sat in the restaurant outside eating, going back to normal. I mean, unless you're in
the thick of it and trying to help people recover, (INAUDIBLE). I suppose it's just a fact of life in Mexico City. And maybe people here are not
aware of what's happening in other parts of the city. Just have to go back to work.
Obviously, WhatsApp and social media, we've all seen the terrible pictures. So, you know that it's not like the last earthquake, which was a higher
magnitude, but didn't really affect the city at all.
GORANI: And just one last question, were you able to connect at all with friends or family in other parts of Mexico City that might have also been
affected by the earthquake and ask them what it's like where they are?
WILSON: So, my fiance is fine up in Santa Fe where she is. My fiance's daughter, the building collapsed where she is. (INAUDIBLE).
GORANI: Is she OK?
WILSON: Everybody has been connected and they're asking each other how they are. So, yes -
GORANI: She's OK then?
WILSON: Yes. She's OK. I think she's trying to help with the building recovery, so the people next door. So, I guess, everyone is just knocking
on them, trying to help as much as they can.
GORANI: OK. I hope they are all OK in that damaged building. Thanks, Adrian Wilson. He is in Mexico City. His fiance in another part of town
where there was more damage. Where he is, though, the building shook, but thankfully no major structural damage, it appears, where Adrian is.
Just to recap for you, as we continue to show you these images coming to us from Mexico City, 7.1 quake, about 50 kilometers deep, about 120 kilometers
south of Mexico City, in the State of Puebla.
But you can see there, some of the buildings did suffer significant damage, but it appears, at this stage, as though it's not as bad as the earthquake
that hit a couple of weeks ago in another part of Mexico that was an over 8 magnitude quake. Dozens of people were killed then.
We are going to keep our eye on what's happening in Mexico for you and bring you the latest.
But, for now, we're going to take a quick break. We will be right back. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: All right. We'll get more on the Mexico earthquake in a moment. But I want to turn our attention back to what's happening at the UN and the
president of the United States' debut speech.
[15:55:06] I want to bring Nicholas Burns. He's a former US Ambassador to NATO and Bush's administration's State Department official. He is now
Harvard Kennedy School professor and he joins us from Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Thank you for joining us, ambassador. First of all, you heard Donald Trump's speech, I assume, at the UN. On the one hand saying America first,
but on the other hand then delivering this remarkable threat, saying that the US would totally destroy North Korea if provoked. We've never really
heard a US leader talk like this before.
NICHOLAS BURNS, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO NATO: Not quite like that. Hala, I think that president Trump was right to say two things.
First of all, should North Korea attack the United States or South Korea or Japan or American forces in Asia, of course, we would defend ourselves.
Every American president since Eisenhower has said that.
Secondly, President Trump was clearly - he didn't name Russia and China, but he said those countries that are trading with and giving assistance to
North Korea are part of the problem. He is right on both counts.
The problem in my judgment was - this was bombastic rhetoric. And in the most dangerous times of the Cold War, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush,
they were steely and determined. They said we will defend ourselves if necessary, but they held out hope for peace.
You didn't hear that. You heard a shrill rhetoric from President Trump. You didn't hear anything about the diplomatic course here. I think this is
all leading to a negotiation. And that's where the United States should be putting the emphasis right now.
GORANI: But, in a way, I mean, playing devil's advocate here, it's different. It's never been tried before. These terms have never been used
before, certainly not at a UN GA speech. Isn't it worth trying something else since the strategy that's been in place for many years hasn't worked
with North Korea?
BURNS: Well, you do want the rest of the world to be with you, particularly the people of South Korea and the people of Japan, who would
suffer if there was a conflict.
And I think if we are very aggressive and truculent and bombastic in our speech, it hurts the possibility of gaining international credibility for
our efforts. It might give Kim Jong-un a propaganda advantage.
You also don't want to push Kim into a corner. You want him to compromise. You want him to give up something on the negotiating table.
If you push him so hard publicly, it makes it less easy to do that. So, I think it was the tone and tenor of the speech which was the problem.
But president was right that the United States, of course, Japan, South Korea, we will defend ourselves - that's what strategic deterrence is -
should the North Koreans be the aggressor.
GORANI: All right. I wish we had more time to expand on this. hopefully, we will speak again soon. Nicholas Burns, as always, a pleasure having you
on the program.
We'll have a lot more on our breaking news. That powerful earthquake in Mexico City. "Quest Means Business" is coming up next. I'm Hala Gorani.
I'll see you soon.
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END
