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Hala Gorani Tonight
North Korea Launches Ballistic Missile Toward East; Trump Risks Undercutting Own Tax Reform Pitch; Japan: Missile Flew For About 50 Minutes; Wooden Boats Carrying Skeletons Wash Up In Japan; "Washington Post": Conservative Groups Stand Exposed; Pope Calls For Unity And Tolerance In Myanmar Speech; "Going Green": Rhino Poaching In South Africa; Meghan Markle's Next Role. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired November 28, 2017 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome. I'm Clarissa Ward in for Hala Gorani. You have been watching our sister network, CNN
Domestic. We are going to pick back up with a breaking news that we are tracking this hour.
North Korea has fired a ballistic missile. CNN has confirmed that with the South Korean military. From what we understand, it was fired east from the
Korean Peninsula. Right now, still have not identified the type of missile, but as you can imagine, officials worldwide are now investigating
this.
Also, we should be hearing from U.S. President Donald Trump any moment now. We will, of course, bring you that as soon as we get it.
But first, let's go to Seoul and bring in CNN's Paula Newton. She joins us live now. Paula, what are we learning about this missile test?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it went off here local time just after quarter of 3:00 in the morning, in the middle of the night, that's
very odd, Clarissa, in terms of having a launch. Of course, South Korean officials had been on guard here.
The reason is that one of their ministers have confirmed to us just a few hours prior that they had noticed from what they said were noteworthy
movements in North Korea that might have led to this kind of a launch.
They were careful to say, look, that doesn't mean there will be. Of course, within hours, there was. What is key now is for them to
investigate exactly as you said what kind of missile this is.
What is also interesting is that the South Korean military has confirmed that they conducted what they are calling a precision missile strike drill.
They did this, we believe, Clarissa, as the missile -- the North Korean missile was still in the air.
They say it was in retaliation for the provocation by North Korea. We are awaiting to get more details on this. This is still highly significant,
Clarissa. You know, in speaking to South Korean officials yesterday, they told us that look, they hadn't seen what they determined to be provocations
in 70 days.
They took this to be a good signal. They also said that the likelihood was not high that there would be this kind of missile strike, but that they
were ready for anything. The reason is that the North Korean military was presumably busy with other things.
It's harvest there right now. It's colder weather, more difficult to launch. But clearly, the Kim regime has definitely a goal with this kind
of a launch. To remind everyone here in South Korea, they are getting ready for the Olympics in early February.
Again, the details of exactly what this rocket looks like, what the missile looks like, where it landed is still something that they are looking at,
but they're going to look at it very carefully.
What is also significant, Clarissa, I want to point out that we saw a bit of a position change from South Korea yesterday telling us that, look,
experts have been saying that they will do what they call nuclear completion in two to three years.
That means that they will master what everyone has been worried about, the intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States
and beyond. That they would complete that technology in two to three years.
Yesterday, Clarissa, the South Korean officials put on the table that they believe that it's possible that actually North Korea could step up that
timetable and be nuclear capable, fully nuclear capable with that missile, ballistic -- intercontinental ballistic missile and master that re-entry
point by the end of 2018. That was a change.
WARD: All right. Paula, a lot of people around the world going to be very concerned about that potential development. We are covering this breaking
story from all angles for you.
Let's go now to our Pentagon reporter, Ryan Browne. He joins me from Washington. Ryan, has the Pentagon reported anything. Do they know yet
where this missile landed, what kind of a missile it was?
RYAN BROWNE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Clarissa, no information yet from the Pentagon as to where this missile landed or what type of
missile it was. Officially, the Pentagon did issue a statement a short time ago telling us here that the missile was detected at 1:30 p.m. Eastern
U.S. Standard Time.
And that they were still assessing the type of missile, the location of where it fell, and that more information would be released. U.S. officials
told me earlier today and yesterday that they had observed North Korea moving some missile equipment around in the last 48 hours.
Now, again, sometimes they do that on a routine basis to try and fool those watching them. Other times that could be an indicator that a launch was
imminent. Again, they will be reviewing this information.
Of course, North Korea remains relatively postured to perform smaller launches at almost any time. Larger missiles sometimes take more
preparation, like an ICBM that could be more easily detected. So, these are some of the things that are being reviewed at this time.
WARD: All right No sense, Ryan, of how the Pentagon plans to respond to this or when we might hear an official response from them?
BROWNE: No official response other than just an acknowledgement that the missile was launched. Of course, President Trump's White House press
secretary saying that President Trump was briefed while the missile was still in the air.
So, the military very much detecting and locating it. No official response. No announced actions yet.
[15:05:06] Sometimes the military -- the U.S. military along with the South Korean military will conduct some kind of drill in response to these
launches. No word of that yet from the U.S. side at least. So, again, we're still waiting to hear if any action is taken by U.S. military forces
in the region.
WARD: OK. Ryan Browne at the Pentagon, thank you.
I want to bring in now Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA North Korea analyst and a former White House official as well. She joins me from the Center for
Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Thank you so much for joining us.
Start out, give our viewers a sense more than 20 missile tests this year alone from North Korea. How concerned should people be about this one?
How serious do you take this to be?
SUE MI TERRY, FORMER CIA NORTH KOREA ANALYST: Well, not this particular missile test, but I take North Korea's nuclear missile program very
seriously because they are at the last stage of really completing their program, perfecting their nuclear arsenal, which means having an
intercontinental ballistic missile, nuclear tipped ICBM, that could reach any part of the United States.
North Koreans are not going to get off on this path that they're on. I never bought this argument (inaudible), you know, because they didn't test
since September 15th that they were giving us some sort of signal. They aren't. It was probably some technical reasons why they didn't test before
so I'm very concerned.
WARD: And so what options does the U.S. really have here? We just heard from the pentagon. There's no official response yet. Presumably they want
to know more details about what kind of missile it was, where it landed. But what options does the Pentagon have or the U.S. government more broadly
in terms of responding to this?
TERRY: Well, we already doing what we can, which is trying to pressure the regime, financially, diplomatically, squeezing the regime through sanctions
and pressing China to do more on North Korea.
In terms of military options, it's very unthinkable, and potentially catastrophic consequences of a military option. What is interesting about
this missile test is it was launched in the middle of the night.
Perhaps the North Koreans were concerned that we are going to intercept. They wanted to avoid interception. That's why they launched it in the
middle of the night.
WARD: You mentioned those sanctions, Sue Mi, I mean, is this a sign that those sanctions haven't worked? They were far reaching. They were deep.
They bit, but here we are. It's Groundhog Day, 23rd missile test of the year. Is any of this working?
TERRY: Well, it's not that the sanctions don't work, but it takes time and it needs to be implemented for it to work. So. for Iran, it took about
three years of really hard sanctions and implementation of sanctions for Iran to come back to the negotiating table.
The problem here is not sanctions. It takes time and we don't have a lot of time because North Korea is at the final stage of trying to complete
their nuclear program.
WARD: So, when you look at, because obviously, the Trump administration has been very critical of the Obama administration's approach of strategic
patience as they called it. At the same time, we are seeing some shifts in policy towards North Korea.
We're not yet seeing a shift in the attitude or the response from North Korea. In your opinion, what action needs to be taken in order to
facilitate some kind of a positive move from the North Koreans?
TERRY: Well, the problem here is it's not only the Trump administration because North Korea is also bent on completing their nuclear program before
they come back to the talks. It's fine if we say, North Korea, let's talk right now.
North Korea wants to get to another level in their nuclear program before they come back to the talks, so they can have leverage in negotiations.
We're trying to do what we can through sanctions and other pressure measures. So, we can have leverage if and when we return to the talks.
That's why we are really stuck at this stage right now.
WARD: OK. Sue Mi Terry with a sobering assessment. Thank you for joining us.
TERRY: Thank you for having me on.
WARD: To other news now, an urgent mood in Washington as Republicans move to advance their tax overhaul. Earlier, Democratic congressional leaders
refused to meet with President Donald Trump. They canceled a scheduled meeting citing an early morning Trump tweet predicting that it wouldn't
lead to any deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), MINORITY LEADER: Mr. President, it's time to stop tweeting and start leading.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARD: The president travelled to Capitol Hill but only talked with fellow Republicans ahead of the crucial vote on his tax cut bill. A Senate
committee has just voted to send the bill to the full Senate, but the outcome there is uncertain. Republicans consider the bill to be make or
break legislation.
Let's bring in now White House reporter, Stephen Collinson, and U.S. congressional correspondent, Phil Mattingly.
[15:1:06] Phil, let me start with you. How are the president's meetings on the Hill going? Do we have a sense yet?
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, look, in talking to members and talking to sources inside the room, the idea that they actually got this
through the Budget Committee, which was really a big hurdle as of two hours ago, means he did well.
OK, I think Ron Johnson, who is a senator had a major problem with the tax bill was saying he was going to vote no on this bill, could single-handedly
have stalled it out in this committee process, voted yes.
The reason why I'm told is the president put a lot of pressure on him in the meeting itself. The president had a back and forth with him,
specifically on the policy issue that Senator Ron Johnson had a problem with.
Several senators stood up and told the senator, please address this when it gets to the Senate floor. Don't short-circuit this process now. Somehow,
some way, without giving anything policy-wise to Senator Johnson, they moved the bill forward.
So, in that sense, it was a positive assessment. Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, came out after the meeting, said the president did
about an hour of Q&A. The Republicans gave him a round of applause afterwards.
I think it's worth noting, there are often times when Republican leaders aren't necessarily comfortable with the president coming up here, aren't
necessarily comfortable with the president weighing in on specific policy issues. But at least in this case, in the near term, it was helpful.
WARD: So, Stephen, what's the next obstacle or the next challenge or I should say the next goal that needs to be achieved now?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, for the tax bill, we are talking about the bill going to the Senate floor. Senate leaders hope
to have a vote on it this week. Then if it's different from the House bill, it will have to be a process of reconciliation, bringing those two
bills together to have a final vote.
Things could always come unstuck at that point. As Phil was saying, the progress of the president today is leading Republican leaders to be
optimistic and this is a very important step.
The president doesn't have a significant piece of legislation so far in his presidency. The first year is the time when a president has the most
leverage. If he cannot get anything out of the Senate and the House this year, his prospects for doing so next year, a midterm election year, don't
look good.
And for Republican leaders, it's hugely important because they have very little to show for their one-year monopoly on power in Washington to show
to their voters who are very frustrated.
So, there have been a lot of bad days for the Republican Party so far in 2017. So far, on this issue at least, it's a good one.
WARD: I mean, some have said indeed that this is actually make or break for the Republicans. Do you agree with that assessment, Phil?
MATTINGLY: Yes. Look, I think Republican leaders agree with that assessment. They've been very candid about that reality of they're going
into an election year, particularly in the House. You got 10 senators going into election year, Republican senators in the Senate in 2018.
They don't have anything to show for their work. They don't have anything to show any of their constituents in their states or districts for why they
were elected and why it's worthwhile to have Republicans controlling both chambers.
If you talk to Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, they make very clear, the political imperative of passing this bill should
overwhelm any other concern. Frankly, that's why it moved so quickly through the U.S. House. That's why it made such quick progress in the U.S.
Senate.
The idea that an individual provision you have a problem with or an individual industry that has a problem with this bill shouldn't stand in
the way of the reality that they need to do something, anything by the end of this year. That has been what's been winning the day up to this point.
I think today was just another prime example of that.
WARD: And Stephen, I mean, a lot of the people this morning are not talking about this bill. They were talking about the latest presidential
gaff when President Trump referred to Senator Elizabeth Warren as Pocahontas yesterday in front of an audience of Native Americans.
What do you make of this kind of "off the cuff" style of the president? Is it possible that this is all some genius tactic or is there a lack of
ability to control one's speech? What is going on here with this?
COLLINSON: I think what it shows is that -- how different President Trump is from anybody that's held the office of the presidency in recent memory.
This is the real Donald Trump. He says what he thinks as soon it says it.
I mean, that comment, which was basically a racial slur has angered a lot of people. It's revived the issue that is sort of been constant throughout
this presidency, is if Donald Trump is actually fit to be president.
If he respects the expectations that come with being the head of state, the person who sits in the oval office. Now, some people will say, Donald
Trump supporters really like this. This is exactly because he's politically correct, this is why they liked him in the first place.
It's a good tactic because they see a president who says what he wants when he wants to say it. They went for his personality rather than what he
offered on policy. But in the wider sense, what it says about this presidency and how this presidency will be viewed by history and how in
fact Donald Trump has almost a talent for sort of falling into side shows and perhaps sometimes taking his eye off the main event.
[15:15:11] Today, we have two big issues, tax reform. We're going to see him talk about North Korea as well. That missile launch, these are two big
issues at least for the day, he is keeping his focus on where it should be. With Donald Trump, you never know what's going to come out of his mouth at
any one moment.
WARD: All right. Well, we will be listening. Stephen Collinson, Phil Mattingly, thank you so much for joining us.
Still to come tonight, we are working all our sources on the breaking news from North Korea. An update on this latest ballistic missile launch is
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WARD: Here is the latest on the breaking news that we are following. The U.S. and South Korea say that North Korea has fired a ballistic missile to
the east. South Korea's military carried out a precision missile strike drill in response just minutes later.
It's still not clear what type of missile North Korea fired. An official with the Japanese Defense Ministry says the missile flew for nearly an hour
and that it landed in the waters off of Japan's coast. North Korea has fired nearly two dozen missiles this year.
We are getting word that Japan's cabinet will hold an emergency meeting. We're joined now on the phone by journalist, Kaori Enjoji, who is in Tokyo.
We have her on tv even better. Tell us what the latest that you are hearing there in Tokyo, please.
KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: Clarissa, we're getting a lot more information from the Japanese defense minister about this missile launch. The Japanese
defense minister moments ago confirmed that its more than likely, it's most likely he said that North Korea has launched an intercontinental ballistic
missile.
Based on the altitude and the information that he is getting, which he said exceeded 4,000 kilometers. Japan Defense Ministry is saying that North
Korea is most likely to have launched an intercontinental ballistic missile with an altitude exceeding 4,000 kilometers, which will be much higher than
the one that they last launched in July.
We're getting also some details about the trajectory of the missile. The Defense Ministry is saying that they confirmed the projectile at 3:18
Japanese Time, launched from the western coast of North Korea. It flew with an altitude of 4,000 kilometers and likely flew for about 53 minutes.
One of these projectile missiles landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. These are exclusive waters designated by the United Nations where there's a
lot of traffic, fishermen and flights going through that area. There have been five such landings in the economic -- exclusive economic zone in
Japan.
[15:20:10] Again, so the Japanese Defense minister is saying that given the altitude of more than 4,000 kilometers, this is more than likely to have
been an intercontinental ballistic missile launch from North Korea.
There were reports earlier on from a parliamentarian in Japan that North Korea launched three projectiles. The defense minister months ago said
right now they are working with this one missile launch.
They are confirming whether or not there may have been other missiles involved in today's launch. This is the first time -- we've had so many
missile launch tests this year. This is the first time that it's occurring in the middle of the night like this.
It's currently 5:20 a.m. local time. We are not getting reports however, Clarissa, that there was an alert system that may have gone off for the
residents of Japan.
WARD: OK. Kaori Enjoji in Tokyo, keeping us abreast at that story. Thank you so much.
Staying in the region, at least four ships have washed up on Japan's west coast this month. It appears they came from North Korea. On board, a grim
cargo. CNN's Michael Holmes has this story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A mysterious wooden boat aimlessly drifting in the Sea of Japan. Those on board, dead, eight
skeletons, all that remain. It's unclear how long they were at sea before finally washing up on Japan's northwest shores.
Their battered fishing boat now the latest in a string of so-called ghost ships that have strangely appeared here following a pattern that suggests a
curious origin, North Korea.
Forty five incidents of fishing boats or debris have mysteriously washed up on Japan's shores this year. Earlier in November, eight men claiming to be
stranded North Korean fishermen were rescued after their boat landed in Akita Prefecture.
A week earlier, officials discovered four dead on a boat that washed up on Noto Peninsula. In the same area two days prior, the Japanese Coast Guard
rescued more North Korea fishermen who asked to be sent back to their home country indicating they weren't trying to flee.
But there have been several high-profile defections this year from Japan's reclusive neighbor. The most recent, earlier this month, when a soldier
made a dramatic break across the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea under gunfire from his former comrades.
South Korea estimates more than 30,000 have defected from North Korea in the last two decades. A silent, unknown number never survived their escape
attempts. Whether or not these ghost ships carry those trying to escape North Korea or just fishermen blown off course, some analysts think their
arrival on Japan's shores may only increase.
As North Korea test fires missiles that are flown over its island neighbor, stronger U.N. sanctions are strapping Pyongyang's resources. Food and fuel
shortages maybe leaving some fishermen without enough gas for their boats or extra food supplies.
At the mercy of the wind and the sea, they run into trouble, forced to drift alive or not to the nearest shore. Michael Holmes, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: Now shifting gears a little bit, it's a story that has captured everyone's attention. We now have new details on next year's royal
wedding. Prince Harry and American actress, Meghan Markle plan their lives together and plan what is sure to be 2018's wedding of the year.
On Tuesday, they revealed that the royal wedding will be held in May at Windsor Castle. Our Max Foster has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Now that the royal engagement is public, it's down to the business of planning the wedding.
It will take place in May next year, though, no specific day has been announced yet. That will be just after the birth of the Duke and Duchess
of Cambridge's third child expected in April.
DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE, UNITED KINGDOM: William and I are absolutely thrilled. It's such exciting news. It's really happy times for any
couple. We wish them all the best. Hope they enjoy this happy moment.
FOSTER: The venue is one of the queen's favorite homes, centuries old, Windsor Castle. The couple chose it they say because Windsor has become a
special place for the two of them. Keeping with custom, the royal family will pay for most of the wedding.
The chapel St. Georges is where Prince Harry was baptized and has hosted many royal marriages, especially second ones. Harry's father, the Prince
of Wales and stepmother, the Duchess of Cornwell had their religious blessing there in 2005.
ROBERT JOBEAN, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: I think that Windsor gives more control in terms of the fact that they can have who they want behind the walls of
Windsor Candle.
[15:25:07] St. George's Chapel is a magnificent chapel where solemnly kings and queens buried there and tombs. I think actually you will find it an
incredible occasion.
FOSTER: The chapel holds around 800 guests. So, it will be more low key compared with the 2,000 capacity Westminster Abby where the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge wed in 2011. Charles and Diana were married at the equally grand St. Paul's Cathedral.
Meghan Markle will be first American to marry into the royal family since Warla Simpson famously wed King Edward VIII forcing his abdication from the
throne. Like Simpson Markle is divorced, but 81 years later, it's not an issue.
As for religion, though, she attended a Catholic high school in Los Angeles, Markle is Protestant and plans to be baptized and confirmed into
the church of England. The guest list promises to be high profile.
Markle counts Serena Williams amongst her friends. The Obamas and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau are also likely to attend. It's unclear
whether U.S. President Donald Trump, though, will even be invited.
Unsurprisingly, Markle will become a British citizen but plans to keep her American passport for now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: A glimpse then into how this couple planned to be married and they say they are going to be across every single detail. They also want the
public involved and are working out how to do that -- Clarissa.
WARD: All right. Our thanks to Max Foster.
Still to come tonight, North Korea launches another ballistic bringing a quick response from South Korea. We are closely following this rapidly
developing story.
And an apparent sting operation designed to trick reporters gets turned on its head.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WARD: Let's bring you up to speed on what we know about this breaking news. North Korea firing another missile and we are getting fresh details
from the Pentagon. An initial assessment indicates it was an intercontinental ballistic missile.
We understand that it was fired east from the Korean peninsula. Japan says it flew for about 50 minutes just under an hour. Also, it is likely we are
learning now to have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone.
Needless to say, intelligence agencies and militaries around the world are now investigating this.
Let's go to Hongkong now where we are joined by CNN's senior international correspondent, Ivan Watson, who is tracking developments there for us.
Ivan, what are you learning?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. We're learning more about this missile, which has been identified by the Pentagon as an
intercontinental ballistic missile, Clarissa.
The Pentagon and the Japanese Ministry of Defense are indicating that it flew for about 50 minutes, that it was fired, I believe, somewhere just
south of Pyongyang and flew east before splashing into the sea, flying at an altitude of about 4,000 kilometers. And it landed within the economic
exclusion zone of Japan.
That's typically a distance of about 200 nautical miles from the Japanese coast. In this case, the Japanese say that it landed about 210 kilometers
away from the Japanese coast.
So, that puts this missile in a different category from the last one we saw fired by North Korea, which was on September 15. And in that case, the
missile actually flew over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, which is very much seen by the Japanese as a provocation, as a threat. In this
case, it did not fly over Japanese territory.
Now, the Japanese have announced that they're convening an emergency cabinet meeting. The South Koreans have announced as well that they will
be convening an emergency meeting of their national security council.
And the South Koreans have announced that, within minutes of the North Korean missile launch, that they conducted their own live fire drill,
clearly, as some kind of a preplanned response in the event of a North Korean missile launch.
Clarissa?
WARD: So, Ivan, we haven't yet heard, though, from China. And, of course, this is all coming just weeks after President Trump and President Xi had a
very, by all accounts, productive and positive meeting together in China. Any sense of how they may be reacting to this?
WATSON: No. And we're not likely to hear an official statement from the Chinese till well after daybreak here in East Asia.
Not only did President Trump engage in direct diplomacy with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, but within the last week, the Chinese sent an envoy to
Pyongyang. There had been exchanges, messages of congratulations between the two communist parties in the wake of the Communist Party Congress that
China held a few weeks ago where Xi Jinping was basically appointed to another term in office.
It will be interesting to hear what the response from the Chinese will be. It has typically been quite measured, where the Chinese call on all sides
to avoid raising the tensions and they typically call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
That, of course, is a position that the North Koreans are unwilling to really negotiate. They have made it very clear that their nuclear program
is part of their - what they see as an existential question. They need it for their defense and they have made it clear time and time again that they
are not willing to negotiate away their nuclear weapons.
And with this move, they've brought an end to kind of a two-and-a-half- month hiatus in the missile launches that had been conducted on just incredible frequency, Clarissa, from February to September 15.
There were missiles going off - I mean, it felt like practically every week. Then we had this unexplained pause. And now that pause has clearly
come to an end. And it has alarmed all of the major players in the region.
It's worth adding that NORAD, the US aerospace command, has made it clear that North America was at no risk at any time with his latest North Korean
missile launch. Clarissa?
WARD: OK. All right. Ivan Watson in Hong Kong, thank you so much.
We have heard from Japan's chief cabinet secretary speaking to reporters in Tokyo. Here was his response to this breaking news. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YOSHIHIDE SUGA, JAPANESE CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY: We can never accept North Korea's repeated provocative acts. We will lodge a strong protest
against them. They will never have a bright future if they do not resolve issues such as abductions and nuclear and missile developments. We
strongly urge the country to change its policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WARD: OK. We will be bringing you more on this story as we get it. But, now, it was a story where everything felt wrong. "The Washington Post"
says a woman approached one of its reporters, claiming when she was a teenager, the Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore got her pregnant.
[15:35:09] Well, we know he's currently the subject of multiple accusations. But as "The Washington Post" reporters dug a little deeper,
they say they found a tale that didn't quite make sense.
Now, "The Post" says it exposed an apparent attempted sting by a US conservative group designed to fool and embarrass its reporters and to
discredit women who had spoken out against Roy Moore.
Brian Stelter has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): "The Washington Post" says this woman, identified as Jaime Phillips, approached
the paper about three weeks ago, falsely claiming that Senate GOP nominee Roy Moore impregnated her as a teenager, leading to an abortion.
During routine fact-checking, "The Post" uncovered several inconsistencies in her story, including this fundraising post for a woman with the same
name, but says she accepted a job working for a conservative media outlet to combat the mainstream media.
In a subsequent interview, reporters pressed Phillips about that online post and explained that she was being video recorded.
STEPHANIE MCCRUMMEN, REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: You saw an interest in working in the conservative media movement to combat the lies and deceit of
the liberal MSM? Is that - is that still your interest?
JAIME PHILLIPS, ATTEMPTED TO GIVE FALSE INFORMATION ABOUT ROY MOORE TO THE WASHINGTON POST: No, no, not really.
MCCRUMMEN: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Not at this point.
MCCRUMMEN: No?
STELTER: Phillips claimed the job was with "The Daily Caller", but the site's executive editor later told "The Post" that "none of us has
interviewed a woman by the name Jaime Phillips."
During previous conversations, "The Post" says that Phillips pressed reporters to give their opinions on the effects that her claims could have
on Moore's candidacy, raising eyebrows. But she insisted that she was not working with anyone that targets journalists.
MCCRUMMEN: And are you in contact with other people? Are you in contact with the Roy Moore campaign -
PHILLIPS: No.
MCCRUMMEN: - or Steve Bannon -
PHILLIPS: No.
MCCRUMMEN: - or "Breitbart" or -
PHILLIPS: No, not at all.
STELTER: However, on Monday, reporters for "The Post" saw Phillips entering the offices of Project Veritas, an organization that uses fake
stories and secret recordings to try to discredit news outlets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Does Jaime Phillips work for Project Veritas? Did you guys send her to speak to - pose as a victim of Roy Moore to "The
Washington Post?"
JAMES O'KEEFE, FOUNDER, PROJECT VERITAS: I'm 15 late to this meeting so -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
O'KEEFE: - I've got to - I've got to run. But I will - we will get in touch with you, OK?
STELTER: Project Veritas founder James O'Keefe refusing to answer repeated questions.
AARON DAVIS, REPORTER, "THE WASHINGTON POST": Does Jaime Phillips work for Project Veritas? Did you send her to approach "The Washington Post" under
a false name and with a fake story? If you're not going to answer that question, we're done.
O'KEEFE: I want to talk about one of your -
DAVIS: I'm disappointed - all right.
O'KEEFE: - national security reporters.
STELTER: The newspaper now stinging the supposed sting artist, deciding to publish off-the-record details, saying "This so-called off-the-record
conversation was the essence of a scheme to deceive and embarrass us. We weren't fooled and we can't honor an off-the-record agreement that was
solicited in maliciously bad faith."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: That was our Brian Stelter. Still to come tonight, what about the refugees. The pope visits Myanmar, but doesn't mention the Rohingya by
name. We will tread into difficult diplomatic territory in a debate coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:40:25] WARD: Let's turn now to the pope's highly anticipated trip to Myanmar. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church has charted an
unconventional course on many difficult issues. So, human rights activists hoped that he would highlight the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority
group during his visit.
But as Delia Gallagher reports, Pope Francis had to strike a careful balance in a speech along Aung San Suu Kyi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: In his first and likely most important speech of this trip in front of Aung San Suu Kyi and the
government leaders of Myanmar, Pope Francis concentrated heavily on the theme of respect for the rights of ethnic minorities, excluding none, the
Pope said.
He spoke about human rights and the need for democratic order in Myanmar. The Pope did not specifically mention the Rohingya refugees, something
which going into the speech, some considered a sort of benchmark for the Pope's moral authority on the issue, whether or not he would use the term
Rohingya, which is not accepted by the Myanmar government in his speech to them. He did not do that.
He did speak about the rights of ethnic minorities here, particularly "those who call this land their home." That is a reference to the Rohingyas
who have been here for centuries, and yet are not recognized by the government of Myanmar or granted citizenship.
And indeed, the military of Myanmar has been accused by the UN and the US of ethnic cleansing of the Rohingyas.
So, on balance, a speech which likely will not satisfy those who wanted to hear stronger language from Francis, but at the same time, perhaps,
furthers his objective in coming here, which is to have the ear of the leadership here open to dialogue and open to the possibility of building a
full democracy and full human rights for the people of Myanmar.
Delia Gallagher, CNN, Naypyidaw, Myanmar.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: Well, let's get into the diplomatic challenges that the Pope faced in Myanmar and debate his decision not to directly mention Rohingya
refugees. I'm joined now from New York by Roman Catholic priest and CNN religion commentator Father Edward Beck. And here with me in London, law
professor Penny Green of Queen Mary University, who has studied the Rohingya conflict.
Penny, let me start out by asking you, were you disappointed that the Pope did not use the term Rohingya during his visit?
PENNY GREEN, PROFESSOR OF LAW AND GLOBALISATION, QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: Well, I think I'm more disappointed by the fact that he actually
went to Myanmar. And by going and by talking with Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who has been conducting and leading these terror attacks against the
Rohingya and by speaking with Aung San Suu Kyi, he's actually legitimizing, I think, the genocidal regime in Myanmar.
So, I wasn't expecting a great deal. And I think that the visit is problematic in itself. The speech, given Pope Francis' history in relation
to human rights, lacked great courage, I think.
WARD: I mean, Father Beck, Penny does raise an important point here, which is that the Pope has not previously been shy about wading into
controversial waters. Why do you think that he declined to use the term Rohingya Muslims because it does seem to almost facilitate this process of
dehumanization that the Myanmar government has been engaged in with dealing with this issue?
GREEN: Look, Clarissa, a little context first. When this crackdown first began in the Rakhine State, Pope Francis from St. Peter's definitely used
the term Rohingya. He's referred to them specifically and asked for prayers for them.
Now, when he was visiting Myanmar, the purpose of the visit is to visit really the small Catholic community there, only 1 percent. And his
cardinal on the ground, Cardinal Bo said, please don't use the term because it's so incendiary right now that it could cause further crackdown on the
Catholic community that we need to shore up. They're beleaguered as well. There is not religious freedom in Myanmar.
Now, remember, the Pope did speak privately with this general responsible for the crackdown. You can be sure he used the term Rohingya with that
general.
And let's not forget, there's a whole other day. Now, we have a mass tomorrow with a homily. He may still use it. We don't know. You cannot
put this Pope in a box.
But, diplomatically, it was suggested to him to avoid the title. Maybe you attract more bees with honey than vinegar. And this is so far what he has
done. The rest remains yet to be seen.
[15:45:07] WARD: And, Penny, what do you make of that argument that maybe privately, behind the scenes, he has been applying pressure, he has been
using the term Rohingya. Do you buy that?
GREEN: He may have used the term Rohingya privately. But I certainly don't think it's going to have any impact whatsoever on this very brutal
regime.
I think what he's done has lent legitimacy to one of the world's most violent and brutal regimes. And in some ways, that makes him, to some
extent, complicit in what's going on. And I think that we have to remember that this is a genocide.
The research that the International State Crime Initiative conducted in Myanmar and in Bangladesh demonstrates very clearly that this is a
genocide, that it's been a genocidal process that's taken place over 30 years - I'm sorry - but has absolutely escalated since 2012 and more
particularly since Aung San Suu Kyi came to power.
And so, I think that any dialogue at this stage is far too late. I think what we require now are sanctions, targeted visa restrictions against the
Myanmar military and against politicians like Aung San Suu Kyi.
WARD: I mean, Father Beck, the genocide word is always extremely - it's a difficult one to use. And there is a lot behind the criteria that goes
into making the conclusion about whether something is a genocide or not.
But, certainly, it is fair to say that the United Nations has called this a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Does the Pope not run the risk of
somehow coming across as an apologist for that textbook example of ethnic cleansing if he does not speak out forcefully against the perpetrators of
it?
BECK: Well, I think, Clarissa, though, he has, in fact, spoken out against them. Remember, in the speech, he said that they must respect the rights
of every ethnic and religious group. That's what he's there, saying, you're not doing this, you must do better.
I don't see how Penny claims he's complicit with the regime when he's challenging the regime. He wasn't supposed to meet with that general till
the end of the trip. And by the way, that was added on late. He chose instead to meet with him first, the one responsible for the crackdown,
because this is a major concern of his.
By the way, these are Muslims. Not even his own flock. And yet, he has put them front and center. So, how we can say that he's complicit or not
being prophetic just because he's not saying the word. Again, this is a Pope who knows diplomacy, he knows what he has to do, he's listening to the
people on the ground, his own cardinal.
So, he leaves them and goes back to Rome and then things are worse because he said one word? Perhaps he can make much more progress doing exactly
what he's doing diplomatically behind the scenes and speaking out forcefully for human rights publicly in these venues.
WARD: OK. Father Beck, Penny Green, thank you both for joining us. We will be watching to see what the Pope says tomorrow.
Coming up after the break, we have a lot more including - now that Meghan Markle is set to join the Royal family, she's giving up her acting career.
So, what will she do instead? Stay with CNN and find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:50:06] WARD: In South Africa, almost three rhinos were killed each day last year. Poaching has become a serious environmental problem in the
country. And Going Green shows us the dangerous role of those who stand between rhinos and extinction, the field rangers.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANTON MZIMBA, LEAD FIELD RANGER, TIMBAVATI PRIVATE NATURE RESERVE ANTI- POACHING UNIT: name is Anton Mzimba. I work for Timbavati Private Nature Reserve as a field ranger.
I'm doing this with passion because I want my children's children to see that I know. I want my children's children to see the wildlife as it is
today.
No one forced me to become a field ranger. I risk my life day and night, waking to protect the wildlife. We have still significant loss of rhino
numbers due to poaching. If this is going to carry on like this, we're going to see the rhinos go extinct.
As a Ranger, my duty is to protect the wildlife. My job includes patrolling the reserve and investigate any crime that I may find.
A rhino, to me, as a ranger, it's like a colleague. We are connected to the nature. If the rhino one day goes extinct, it means that that chain
that exist within the living organisms has broken.
When I see the rhino in their natural habitat, I praise the work that the field rangers do. Not only the rangers on Timbavati, but the rangers
around the world because, without them, we are not going to see the rhinos in their natural habitats, roaming freely, breeding and enjoying life.
Our job is very dangerous. Now, you're looking for an armed poacher. And it puts us in a life-threatening situation and we have to deal with that.
And our job is to protect our reserve and we have to. It's an obligation for us.
What I fear most, it's man. If one day, a rhino goes to extinction, it's going to follow the elephant, the lion, the hyenas. So, by protecting our
environment, we are also protecting the lives of our children's children.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: The woman who is set to join the royal family has captured the world's curiosity in the past 48 hours. From Meghan Markle's acting roles
to her work on women's issues, she has certainly made her mark.
But now, she joins one of the most elite families in the world. What will her new role be? Our Isa Soares reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: From a feisty hotshot paralegal in US legal drama, "Suit" -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You look pretty.
MEGHAN MARKLE, ACTRESS: Go ahead. You hit on me. We can get it out of the way that I'm not interested.
SOARES: To UN ambassador for women.
MARKLE: I'm proud to be a woman and a feminist.
SOARES: Meghan Markle has been making her mark in the philanthropy world long before her prince came along.
In fact, she's been fighting the good fight since she was 11 years of age, writing letters complaining about a sexist soap commercial.
MARKLE: This commercial came on with a tagline for this dishwashing liquid and the tagline say women all over America are fighting greasy pots and
pans. Two boys from my class said, yes, that's where women belong.
SOARES: Her perseverance forced the soap manufacturer to change the commercial. Today, she continues this fight for equality. She recently
traveled to Rwanda for World Vision and has been an advocate women's rights, writing on how periods can hold girls back.
"During my time in the field, many girls share that they feel embarrassed to go to school during their periods. Ill-equipped with rags instead of
pads, unable to participate in sports. And without bathrooms available to care for themselves, they often opt to drop out of school entirely.
The marriage into the British royal family comes at a price. Meghan is leaving her acting career for love.
MARKLE: I don't see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change.
PRINCE HARRY: It's a new challenge.
MARKLE: It's a new chapter.
SOARES: While she's been hailed as a breath of fresh air for the British royal family, there are constraints being married to a prince. So, can
this future feminist royal stay true to the values that she's been celebrated for.
[15:55:05] SALLY BEDELL SMITH, ROYAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think she has gone back on her advocacy of women's issues and feminist issues. I think
there are ways that you can continue to be an advocate for them and to shine a light on them even as she's within the royal family.
And she made it pretty clear in that interview that she was taking on a job as well as marrying a member of the royal family.
SOARES: A new chapter for this confident now-former actress, determined to define her role in one of the most traditional establishments in the world.
Isa Soares, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARD: A famous Spanish sculptor has scored with a bust of football star Cristiano Ronaldo that actually looks like him, unlike another statue that
tried to capture his likeness, but clearly failed, as you can see for yourself.
The one with the oddly crooked eyes and grin is still at an airport in Portugal, though - the Cristiano Ronaldo international Airport, ironically
- the new one with the perfect hair is at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.
And before we leave you, just a quick update on this hour's breaking news. CNN has learned North Korea has fired another missile. An initial
assessment now indicates it was an intercontinental ballistic missile. We understand that it was fired east from the Korean Peninsula.
Japan says that it flew for about 50 minutes, just under an hour. Also that it is likely to have landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. We
have also been expecting a statement from US President Donald Trump all this hour. Of course, CNN will bring that to you as soon as it happens.
Thank you so much for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. "Quest Means Business" is up next.
END
