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Saudi Crown Prince Expresses Condolences To Khashoggi's Son; Trump Outlines Importance Of Saudi Arabia As Ally; Australian P.M. Apologizes Institutional Child Abuse; Kremlin: Putin Meeting With Bolton "Being Prepared"; U.S. To Pull Out Of Russia Nuclear Missile Treaty; Crowds Resume Trek To U.S. After Entering Mexico; Turkey to Interview More Saudi Consulate Staff Monday; No Women Allowed; "A Private War" Depicts Late Reporter Marie Colvin. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired October 22, 2018 - 1:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:00:00] CYRIL VANIER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: A powerful crown prince supposedly kept in the dark an unauthorized murder and still no corpse. Saudi Arabia doubles down on its story of the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I want them to study, have a good future. I do this for my kids. I ask you with all my heart, wouldn't your mother do the same for you?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: CNN follows the migrant caravan as it crosses into Mexico and heads for the U.S. border. Plus, the life and work of Marie Colvin, a new film memorializes the late war reporter killed on assignment in Syria. Live from the CNN center here in Atlanta, I'm Cyril Vanier, it's great to have you with us.
As Saudi Arabia is vowing to hold the people responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's death accountable, the questions and doubts remain. The Saudi Press Agency reports Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his condolences to the journalist's elder son. And in an interview on Fox News, the Saudi foreign minister called Khashoggi's killing a murder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You said you don't know where the body is, someone obviously knows. Was it chopped up, was it dismembered, do you know that?
ADEL BIN AHMED AL-JUBEIR, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SAUDI ARABIA: We're working on this with our Turkish colleagues. The public prosecutor is continuing his line of questioning. This was an operation that was a rogue operation. This was an operation where individuals ended up exceeding the authorities and responsibilities they had. They made a mistake when they killed Jamal Khashoggi in the consulate and they tried to cover up for it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: The Saudis changing story is meeting with widespread skepticism. Ben Wedeman reports on the push for more answers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: U.S. President Donald Trump is spoken by phone with Recep Tayyip Erdogan and they agreed according to the Turkish media to shed more light on the Jamal Khashoggi incident. We expect President Erdogan to address his parliamentary group in the capital Ankara on Tuesday and he has said that he will reveal the naked truth about the killing of The Washington Post Columnist. Until now the Turkish government has been officially agnostic on the killing. However, plenty of anonymous Turkish officials have said a variety of details they say of the killing basically that Khashoggi entered this consulate behind me was murdered and then his body was dismembered.
As far as the investigation into the killing goes, on Monday Turkish prosecutors will resume questioning employees of the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. On Friday they spoke to 20 of them, on Monday 28 will be questioned. Turkish nationals as well as foreigners, it's not clear whether they're Saudis or other nationals in this case. We're also learning the Turkish police are now providing 24-hour protection to Hatice Cengiz who is the fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi. I'm Ben Wedeman, reporting from Istanbul.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Even as the international community expresses its doubts about the Saudis explanation, U.S. President Donald Trump's own comments appear conflicted. Boris Sanchez reports on his interview with The Washington Post.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: This Washington Post interview with President Trump published on Saturday night really the first time that we've seen the American president acknowledged that there are some inconsistencies in reporting from Saudi Arabian officials regarding the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi. The President saying but there are deceptions and there are lies in their account of his death being related to an interrogation gone wrong.
Ultimately, the President is suggesting though that his relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman should remain the same. The President suggesting that the Crown Prince perhaps didn't know about what happened to Khashoggi inside that Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. He told The Washington Post "I would love it if he wasn't responsible. I think it's a very important ally for us especially when you have Iran doing so many bad things in the world. It's a good counterbalance to the world. Iran, there is evil as it gets."
The president essentially saying that as far as his relationship with Saudi Arabia goes, it should largely stay the same because of the common interest in keeping Iranian aggression at bay in the Mideast. The President actually went further when defending his own son-in-law Jared Kushner whom we've reported has a close relationship with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He told the Post "Jared doesn't do business with Saudi Arabia. They're two young guys. Jared doesn't know him well or anything. They're just two young people. They are the same age. They like each other I believe. Jared has done a very good job. I think he'll make peace with Israel but there are a lot of setbacks. This is a setback for that.
So in this interview, we're seeing President Trump essentially outlined why Saudi Arabia is an important ally for the United States not only with a potential peace plan between Israel and Palestine confronting Iran but also in that $100 billion-plus arms deal the president secured with Saudi Arabia. Shortly after taking office the president has balked at the idea from some in Congress that the United States should potentially block or limit that deal somehow. He has suggested sanctions in the past but during that interview, he did not outline any specifics. Boris Sanchez, CNN at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: A Republican U.S. Senator is pointing the finger at the Saudi Crown Prince for Khashoggi's death. Bob Corker says the U.S. should punish Mohammed bin Salman if an investigation confirms that he was involved in the killing. Here's what Corker said to CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BOB CORKER (R), TENNESSEE: Do I think he did it? Yes, I think he did it. If he did it, then I think there should be a collective response. I've talked to ambassadors from other countries in the West. They're looking for the United States for leadership on this issue but they also want to make sure that they coordinate a response with us. They too have arms sales to Saudi Arabia. They too have interest there just like we do. And so this is something where I think you're going to see the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany working collectively with others. If he did this, to respond in an appropriate way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will attend a meeting in Riyadh this week on combating terrorism financing. This is even though he pulled out of the high-profile investor conference in the Saudi capital because of the Khashoggi case. His travel plans have been closely watched as an indicator of the Trump administration's response to the situation.
Australia's Prime Minister is offering an emotional apology to thousands of people who survived institutional child sexual abuse. In a parliamentary speech with Sir with survivors in the audience, Scott Morrison said the nation had failed its children. His statement comes after a landmark inquiry into rampant sexual abuse that took place over decades. The crimes happened in places that were meant to keep the children safe, places like churches schools, or orphanages.
Will Ripley joins me from Hong Kong. And Will, we discussed this last hour. I want to touch on this again. Just how emotional this speech was?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is emotional on so many levels, Cyril, because I think in Australia people found the results of this five-year study by the Royal Commission just staggering 8,000 cases and the ownership that Australia is now taking in terms of actions to help survivors in -- with counseling, with financial assistance even getting an apology from the institutions that were complicit for their abuse.
But what all of this doesn't erase is the raw pain felt by the people who have suffered in many cases for years as a result of abuse that happen their childhood but the after-effects have lingered and lingered and even during the Prime Minister's speech there were people who were shouting that it's taken too long and why are the institutions that allow this to happen still receiving government funding.
But the Prime Minister really got emotional when he talked about the role of the church and the abuse that 60 percent of the victims that Australia found actually endured at the hands of the church. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT MORRISON, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Not just as a father but as Prime Minister, I am angry too at the calculating destruction of lives and abuse of trust, including those who have abused the shield of faith and religion to hide their crimes, a shield that is supposed to protect the innocent, not the guilty. And they stand condemned.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: One of the advocates in Australia who has been pushing for changes Chrissie Foster and her story is just heartbreaking. She has three daughters, two of them were abused by a priest, local priests who the family knew and they trusted. One of the daughters killed herself, she overdosed and the other daughter had a very serious binge drinking problem. She got behind the wheel and was in a car accident that left her disabled. That just goes to show you, Cyril, the lifelong impact that this kind of abuse has. Australia now is trying to take steps to help these people.
VANIER: So look, apologizing is one thing -- and I mean, this national apology presented by the Prime Minister is a big deal. It's an important step. But he made it clear during his speech that this wasn't just about words, that he was going to follow up with action. What did he promise?
RIPLEY: So what Australia has announced is this national redress scheme and there are multiple components to it. One, raising awareness. Letting people know that they should come forward, that they will be believed when they when they actually are brave enough to come forward as a victim of abuse because what so many children for far too long suffered was that they were not believed. They can also receive counseling, monetary payments and if they wanted an apology from the institution that was complicit in their abuse.
VANIER: All right, Will Ripley reporting live from Hong Kong on this important story. Thank you very much.
The U.S. Midterm elections are just over two weeks away and Florida is home to several of the key races this year. On Sunday, CNN's Jake Tapper hosted a debate for the two main candidates for governor and president Trump came up again and again and again for both Democrat Andrew Gillum and his Republican rival Ron DeSantis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREW GILLUM (D), GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE, FLORIDA: Donald Trump is weak and he performs as all weak people do, they become bullies. And Mr. DeSantis is his acolyte. He's trying out to be the Trump apprentice. At every turn, he's tweeting him, he's talking to him, he's showing up he's complimenting him.
REP. RON DESANTIS (R), FLORIDA: Now, Andrew wants to impeach Donald Trump. You got to be able to work with the administration because you have to work with the Army Corps. You got to know the key people at the administration otherwise we're never going to be able to solve the problems. I'm the only guy that can do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: And you can catch all of the Florida governor's debate coming up less than three hours from now on CNN. So that will be 4:00 p.m. for viewers in Hong Kong, 9:00 a.m. for viewers in London. The U.S. and Russia accuse each other of violating a nuclear missile treaty, and now the U.S. is saying it's going to pull out. Are we heading for a new nuclear arms race? We'll talk to an expert about that. Plus, they have made it past hardships and closed borders, now thousands of people continue their harrowing journey to the U.S. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KATE RILEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sports headlines. We start with Formula One at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas. Lewis Hamilton had the chance to come to his fifth world title there. Check out the action on lap 54. Hamilton knows he has to get to second and battles Max Verstappen in a great sequence trying again and again to pass them but continually gets denied, just great racing there. In the end, it was Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, he took the checkered flag. Hamilton's title hopes are now on hold.
Over to the world of football where the Olympic icon Usain Bolt had the contract to play professional football. The Jamaican has been off the deal by the Australian side Central Coast Mariners. His agent confirmed the news but the team has not commented. Bolt had a couple of goals and his first start in a friendly match but was not with the Mariners in their first game of the season Sunday, a one or draw with a Brisbane Roar there.
Finally, to Italy, Syria, where this is a Milan derby, has a certain buzz about it. The two European powerhouses are both showing signs of returning to elite from there. It was looking like a goalless draw, but in the last minute of the match, Mauro Icardi, scoring the winner. He barely touched the ball all game. But when it mattered, he certainly delivered a flawless effort. Inter Milan win 1-0.
That's the look of all your sports headlines, I'm Kate Riley.
[01:15:51] VANIER: Tuesdays after the U.S. announced it would pull out of the key nuclear treaty with Russia, a top U.S. National Security Advisor could come face-to-face with Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin says a meeting between the two is being prepared during John Bolton's trip to Moscow. Bolton just landed there. On Sunday, one of the men behind the agreement, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, told Russia's Interfax news agency, the U.S. rejecting this treaty is a mistake. Fred Pleitgen has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. has long been accusing Russia of violating the INF Treaty by developing and deploying medium-range nuclear-capable missiles. Now, President Trump, says America is axing the agreement.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're the ones that have stayed in the agreement, and we've honored the agreement. But Russia has not, unfortunately, onto the agreement. So, we're going to terminate the agreement, we're going to pull out.
PLEITGEN: During his visit to Moscow in the coming days, National Security Advisor John Bolton is expected to formally tell the Russians that America is leaving the INF Treaty.
INF stands for Intermediate Nuclear Forces. The treaty was signed in 1987, between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. And ultimately led to almost 2,700 medium-range nuclear missiles being withdrawn. Experts saying, by and large, the agreement has worked.
REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: It was designed to provide a measure of strategic stability on the continent of Europe, by banning missiles of a range between 300 and 3,400 miles. Both cruise and ballistic missiles.
So, it was really meant to kind of take the temperature down. And it resulted in the destruction of literally thousands of missiles and it has been in effect ever since.
PLEITGEN: Russia denies violating the treaty and accuses the U.S. of reaching it by developing anti-missile systems. Vladimir Putin, recently making what some felt were troubling remarks about possible nuclear warfare. VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): In this situation, we kind of expect that someone will use nuclear weapons against us. We do not do anything ourselves. Well, yes, but then, the aggressors should still know that vengeance is inevitable, that he will be destroyed. And we are the victims of aggression. And as martyrs, we will go to heaven and they will simply die.
PLEITGEN: The U.S. also believes the INF treaty puts it at a disadvantage versus a resurgent China which is not part of the agreement. Another reason the administration says to pull out of the deal. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Moscow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Jeffrey Lewis is a self-described arms control wonk. And that makes him the perfect person to talk to about all of this. He heads the East Asia nonproliferation program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
Jeffrey, pulling out of this treaty from the U.S. perspective, good or bad idea?
JEFFREY LEWIS, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, MIDDLEBURY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, MONTEREY: I think it's a pretty terrible idea. You know, the reason given is that the Russians cheating on the treaty, which is probably true. But pulling out doesn't fix that problem. It did just leave it in place. So, it's not a decision I'm wild about.
VANIER: But it allows the U.S. in theory, at least, to now start competing with them. And the second reason also that you haven't addressed is that China, which is not a party to this treaty has been building and stockpiling missiles. So, the U.S. also wants to counter that. So, two reasons.
LEWIS: Well, I mean, there are lots of reasons. In 2011, John Bolton wrote an op-ed, saying that Iran's missiles were reason to pull out of the INF Treaty. So, people have their reasons. But you know, the reality is, this is a treaty that banned land-based missiles of a -- of a particular range. It doesn't ban those same missiles on ships or aircraft.
So, you know, the United States has for many years had the option of responding to these deployments, whether they are in Russia or China or Iran by using land and sea-based systems. But generally, we have it.
Because while it's a problem, it's not a problem that you can fix by getting your own missiles of the same range. It's a -- it's a deeper and more complex issue than that.
VANIER: But do you agree with the assessment that Russia has been violating this treaty for years?
[01:19:56] LEWIS: I just think that in recent years, it does look like the Russians have done two things, they violated the treaty with a new cruise missile which looks pretty much like it has the sort of range that means it should be covered.
And if also found very legalistic ways to circumvent the treaty, taking advantage of loopholes and other technicalities. So, the treaty certainly needed some work. But simply walking away from it leaves all of those weapons in place in Russia and China, and leaves the United States with no real strategy to do anything about it.
VANIER: And can you make one thing, one essential thing about this conversation super simple for us. Why this -- why is this particular category of missiles posing a problem here? Because, there are all sorts of treaties governing nonproliferation for different weapons.
And here we're talking specifically about land-launched missiles with a range of 500 to about 5,000 kilometers. Why are those, in particular, a problem?
LEWIS: Well, there was an enormous crisis in the 1980s when the Soviet Union began deploying missiles like this. And their idea was they would be able to hit targets in Western Europe from the Soviet Union.
The United States made a decision to deploy the same weapons, and the real challenge that these weapons pose is they are so close to their targets. That they are deeply destabilizing. They create an enormous incentive for the other side to attack first before it gets hit.
So, you know, all weapons to some extent pose a little bit of this dilemma. But weapons of this range just make it very, very acute. You know, the reason the Soviets, in the end, decided to agree to the treaty is when the U.S. deployed these weapons, the Russian, or the Soviet general staff called it a gun to their head.
VANIER: OK. So, what happens now? Another arms race?
LEWIS: Well, I feel like that's probably where we're headed. You know, it's not an arms race with the kind of speed and intensity that we saw in the Cold War, but it's picking up.
You know, we're watching one by one each of the major treaties that really solidified the post-Cold War set among the abandoned. Starting with the ABM Treaty, which limited missile defenses. The U.S. walked away from that in 2001.
Now, the INF Treaty has gone, and it does look like the Trump administration has made a decision not to extend the big treaty covering strategic nuclear weapons.
And so, you know, we are getting into this place where there really aren't any of these treaties left, and both United States and Russia have very active programs to design new and more sophisticated nuclear weapons.
VANIER: And well, certainly, the Trump administration hasn't met many treaties it doesn't want to rip up. We'll leave it at this for now. And, of course, we'll see if this ends up being confirmed. For the moment, it's just the U.S. saying you're going to do this. We'll see what actually happens. Jeffrey Lewis, thank you so much for joining us.
LEWIS: It was a pleasure.
VANIER: Thousands of Central American migrants are on a long journey north right now. Crowds of men, women, and children are traveling through Mexico, hoping to make it to the U.S.
President Trump, says they're not welcome. On Sunday, he tweeted, "Full efforts are being made to stop the onslaught of illegal aliens from crossing our southern border." Adding that the U.S. will turn away anyone who does not apply for asylum in Mexico.
Mexican authorities say more than 1,000 people have requested asylum there over the past three days. Others, however, are still focused on the U.S. CNN's Bill Weir is following the caravan.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL WEIR, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: After 24 hours stuck on a bridge between nations, the caravan finds another way. Most go back to the Guatemala side and pay a few pesos for an inner-tube ride, while others pry a hole in the fence and jump.
Well, the stress of it all is too much for the sick and the weak. A few of the strongest manage to scavenge a ladder and rope and come back to help others down. Including a mother named Rosalin.
The migrants on the bank of the Suchiate gasp and cheer as she is lowered to the raft. "Si se puede," they chant.
MIGRANT CROWD: Si se puede! Si se puede! Si se puede!
WEIR: "Yes we can." After a splash of relief from the heat and the thirst, she looks up anxiously for her babies. A 5year-old daughter named Candy, a 3-year-old son named, Carlitos.
It is stunning to see him here, because the day before, I spotted him playing inside the Mexican gate. The little boy was fascinated by the riot gear and helmets. And one member of the Federales displayed touching humanity amid all of the chaos.
I assumed his family was among the lucky few allowed through for processing. But they were actually separated from Candy in the tear gas panic. So, Rosalin went back to find her, and another way north.
What made you decide to climb on to that ladder?
ROSALIN GUILLERMO, GUATEMALAN MIGRANT (through translator): To complete the dream that I had."
[01:25:04] WEIR: This bridge, this river, they can't stop me," she says. "I am an all-terrain woman."
GUILLERMO: Si.
WEIR: But there are people who see what just happened, and would say you're using your child as a shield to break the law.
"I don't think we're abusing the kids," she says. "We can't leave them at home. They have to eat. I want them to study, have a good future. I do this for my kids. I ask you with all my heart, wouldn't your mother do the same for you?
WEIR: Do you know that President Trump is threatening to use soldiers to keep you out, and he has even separated families. He's taking children like these, and away from their mother.
GUILLERMO: Si.
WEIR: You know this?
GUILLERMO: Si.
WEIR: She knows. But says, "We have faith in God. He has the final word."
In town, they are met with cheers from fellow travelers and a bit of Mexican hospitality. There is shelter here, advice from human rights workers, and precious nourishment for the kids.
She borrows a phone to call her mom. "They're OK," she tells her and are not turning back. They rest here for the night, waiting for the caravans' strength in numbers, and are back on the road at dawn. From here, it is a 2,500-mile walk to America.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: As Saudi Arabia struggles to get its story straight, international outrage over journalist's death could bring consequences for the kingdom. We'll be talking to a former ambassador in the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:30:17] VANIER: Welcome back to the CNN NEWSROOM.
Here are the biggest stories right now.
Australia's Prime Minister delivers an emotional apology to survivors of widespread institutional abuse. Scott Morrison told a parliamentary chamber that the nation's failed its children. The apology follows a five-year inquiry into thousands of cases of child sexual abuse that took place at religious and state-run institutions.
The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet with U.S. national security advisor John Bolton this week in Moscow. Russia is warning of dire consequences if the U.S. follows through with its plan to pull out of the 1987 missile treaty. The Cold War era agreement bans many ground-based missiles.
In northern India protesters clashed with police Sunday in the aftermath of a train accident that killed at least 55 people. Nearly 200 people were injured when the train struck a crowd celebrating a Hindu festival in Amritsar on Friday. Some protesters say the government is not providing the medical treatment and monetary compensation it promised but a government official denies that.
In an interview on Fox News Saudi Arabia's foreign minister called the death of Jamal Khashoggi a murder and a tremendous mistake by a rogue operation. That explanation is being met with widespread skepticism. Turkey state television reports Turkish authorities plan to interview 28 members of the Saudi consulate staff on Monday.
Earlier I spoke with Christopher Hill about the Khashoggi case. He's a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: I mean clearly this is a Saudi line that they're trying out. They try out these various lines over the couple -- last couple of weeks. Frankly, they're not really working. They're certainly not working in the United States especially in Washington and on the Hill.
So I think the Saudi's got a lot of digging to do here to get out of this mess that they've created for themselves. And the real issue is how they're going to do it and what is going to happen to the U.S.- Saudi relationship.
VANIER: The Saudis have made their move now by providing this story. Now it's up to Turkey and to the U.S. to make theirs. And it seems they haven't really decided how to respond.
HILL: Well, it's interesting. President Erdogan signaled that he was going to provide a lot more details in the next 48 hours as if to say he wants something from the Saudis in the meantime that he's giving them an extra 48 hours.
This Saudi move though -- I mean they've tried it out and it's really a dog (ph) that just didn't (INAUDIBLE). I mean this is not really going to work.
And I think they're going to have to come up with something else. And in particular I think MBS who's going to be -- they're going to look very carefully at Mohammed bin Salman and see what is going to be his future.
Obviously he has really wired things in Saudi Arabia. He has everyone in every important position on his team. But this is very serious. The problem is Saudi talk about somehow they can threaten the U.S. I think they need the U.S. probably more than the U.S. needs them.
VANIER: When you say the U.S. and possibly Turkey, but especially the U.S. are waiting to see what Mohammed bin Salman's future is going to be -- I mean where does the uncertainty come from? Because it's unclear who could possibly take his place or remove him from power.
He has the blessing from the King. We keep hearing that the King may not have quite the wherewithal to change anything anyway. HILL: Well, I think it's a very complex picture back in those palaces in Riyadh. And I would not be surprised if there are a lot of discussions going on about what his future is.
To be sure he looks very solid in terms of how he's built his future. But I'm sure he's made a lot of enemies in a short time. And I'm sure there are a lot of knives out to get him.
So really the question is what is the U.S. -- what are countries like Turkey going to do about their relationships with the Saudis in the future? I think the Saudis really need to take a hard -- consider this -- consider their futures here now.
They've got Saudi commentators going on the air to say hey, you've got to not mess with us. We can cause great problems to the international economic picture and things like that, and threats. But I think the Saudis, you know, on a more sober moment, if you will have to consider the fact that they need the West.
They have a lot of countries in the region that don't particularly like them and frankly, they've had some very serious economic problems in recent years. So a lot of issues for them to think about and I don't think this is by any means known how the story is going to end.
VANIER: It seems according to "Washington Post" reporting that it's also a point of embarrassment for Donald Trump here privately, which is the much touted relationship between his son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner and the Saudi Crown Prince. According to "Washington Post" the U.S. president sees this is a liability.
[01:35:12] HILL: Well, to be sure, President Trump has had to deal with his son-in-law's problems over the course of his two-year presidency. But I think what is significant is that every U.S. president for the last few decades has counted on Saudi Arabia as being an important ally.
But nobody, until Donald Trump became president, has considered Saudi Arabia as the be-all and end-all of Middle East peace. I mean after all, the President made it very clear that whatever you want Saudis, we're going to do including probably the strongest position for Iran that we've ever seen from a U.S. president. And this clearly reflects Saudi thinking going into this.
So the President has indeed looked to Saudi Arabia for just about everything in the Middle East. And the question is will that change. And of course, we haven't heard much from Jared Kushner. We never do.
VANIER: Going back to an earlier point. Why do you think the U.S. still seems to be hedging on what its best response should be to this? I mean do you think that they are negotiating with Saudi Arabia and perhaps trying to see how they can both save face in this? Or do you think they're actually waiting for evidence in the investigation?
HILL: I think they're waiting to see it play out because the options for this administration, frankly for any administration are pretty horrific. I mean no one wants to cut off all ties to Saudi Arabia -- to the Saudi Arabians. I mean this is really too much.
And so no one wants to do that. So they're hoping the Saudis will come forward with something that passes the last test (ph) from this idea that somehow a fist fight broke out and then there was strangulation but no one is believing that. So I think the whole idea is maybe to give the Saudis more time to concoct a story.
I don't think people expect -- certainly not in the short run that Mohammed bin Salman will somehow be cast aside but I think the Saudis are going to have to do better than to arrest a few people and claim that it was a rogue error.
But I think it's important to understand as well, when we talk about Turkey -- there's a lot that goes on between the Saudis and the Turks. And I think to some extent Erdogan is really to trying to get back at the Saudis and he's got a pretty good issue on which to do that. By the way, he doesn't have a particularly clean record with respect to journalists but he certainly has never been accused of inviting one into a consulate and then hacking the person to death.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: And that was Ambassador Christopher Hill speaking to me earlier.
India's high court gave women the right to enter a sacred temple but hard-line protesters are not backing down. They're even blocking female journalists from getting near the place.
Reporter Marie Colvin died covering the war in Syria -- coming up, we talk to people who have told her -- who have told her story in a new movie.
[01:38:08](COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: Officials are trying to find out what caused this deadly train derailment in Taiwan. At least 18 people were killed when carriage flew off the tracks on Sunday.
This happened in northeastern Taiwan on a rail line reportedly popular with tourists. More than 300 people were on board. And reports say around half of all the passengers were injured. This is being called Taiwan's worst rail disaster in decades. All eight cars derailed, several were overturned.
More than four million people defied the Taliban this weekend just to vote in Afghan parliamentary elections. That is according to the election commission and it means half of the country's eligible voters cast ballots.
The elections were delayed three years for security concerns. Technical and staffing problems as well as a wave of violence meant that many people didn't vote on Saturday. Authorities opened some polling stations on Sunday in response.
In India now protesters have refused to let women enter a sacred temple for several days. This, despite a court ruling that allows women of child-bearing age to do so.
And as Pauline Chiou reports, the protesters are now targeting female journalists working on the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULINE CHIOU, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Lining the streets, hard-line Hindu protesters confront women stopping any female between the ages of 10 and 50 from making their way into a centuries' old temple. Although now legally allowed to enter for the first time, not a single woman can cross the threshold.
Then the mob turned on journalists, targeting women trying to cover the story.
On Wednesday a reporter from CNN's affiliate, CNN News 18 attacked as she tried to make her way to the Sabarimala temple in southern Kerala state. Another from India today, who tried to warn others away from the scene, "Don't go there. They're beating up media people. A lot of people have gone over there and they're beating up the media.
Then reporting while leaving on a bus, she was attacked again, heckled (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's my duty. No one will stop my duty.
CHIOU: Later she says she was assaulted, hit in the head, her leg bleeding and India Today reports that she was also pelted with stones.
On Thursday several hundred men screamed and hurled rocks at a "New York Times" reporter forcing her to turn back from visiting the temple. And on Friday a reporter from Modo TV (ph) donning a helmet and escorted by police still could not enter.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are feeling very (INAUDIBLE) to come here. And use our --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How dangerous (INAUDIBLE).
CHIOUS: The BBC, Reuters, and other news outlets also report their journalists being attack.
The heated protests began after a Supreme Court decision to lift a ban on women of child-bearing age from entering the temple. When the temple reopened this week for the first time since the court ruling, women wanted to come make history. Instead they face a backlash from men and women who believe the Supreme Court's ruling is an interference in religion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are questioning the belief of hundreds and thousands of believers. The government and the court here are trying to oppose things that the devotees here do not want.
CHIOU: Some even ransacked the woman's home after she tried to enter the temple. It's the latest in a cultural battle in deeply religious India, a battle that had moved from the court to the streets.
[01:45:04] Pauline Chiou, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Several courageous reporters there, trying to bring us that story; very hard to do in the face of angry crowds. And that brings us to this fearless reporter who was killed covering the war in Syria. And now Marie Colvin's story is the subject of a new movie.
We'll have the details on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good Monday to you. I'm meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
And look at this, lake effect snow back in the forecast across portions of the Great Lakes. That means we have cold enough air going over a relatively warm body of water across the Great Lakes at this point that's resulting in enough energy transfer for additional snow showers across at least some of the areas that are favorable for lake- effect snow.
Chicago, not yet -- not so much at least, 16 degrees there, partly cloudy skies; Winnipeg down to 4. Denver, Colorado beautiful set up there warming up to 21 degrees, high pressure sits in place; we will have additional chance of cooler area as we go towards this weekend and parts of the northeast yet again begin cooling off rather dramatically over this region.
Look at this. In New York, warms up to 15 eventually back down to 7, tries to climb back up again but it looks like we are in for the long haul when it comes to cooler weather across areas of the north east.
To the south we go, we do have Hurricane Willa to tell you about. This particular storm is impressive as it gets here becoming not only the 10th major hurricane in the Eastern Pacific but sitting there just off the coast of Mexico, not far from Manzanillo. Models suggest it will retain its intensity as it heads to the north, potentially weaken just before landfall, still would be a major hurricane.
Mazatlan, of course, the resort town there and not far north there of Puerto Vallarta where landfall is possible. So certainly a story we'll follow.
And also to the south, Vicente, the next tropical storm beginning to form and strengthen in that region. That will push in a little farther towards the north.
VANIER: The (INAUDIBLE) of late war correspondent Marie Colvin is the subject of the upcoming movie "A Private War". Colvin, who worked for the "Sunday Times" was killed by Syrian forces six years ago. It happened just hours after she spoke live on CNN.
Neil Curry has the story. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[01:49:55] NEIL CURRY, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (voice over): The loss of an eye while covering the war in Sri Lanka made Marie Colvin an instantly recognizable figure, with an eye patch which she joked made her resemble a pirate.
Equally distinctive was her fearless journalism, risking her life to expose the suffering of civilians during some of the world's most devastating conflicts.
ROSAMUND PIKE, ACTOR: I hate being in a war zone. I also feel compelled, compelled to see it for myself.
CURRY: The compulsion to tell Colvin's story drove actor Rosamund Pike to fight for the role in Matthew Heineman's film "A Private War".
PIKE: I just felt I will dive into this with you. I will go wherever you want me to go. And I'll be, you know, as fearless and committed, and as unvain as I can be. And I believe in her. I want to know more. I want to tell her story.
Maybe in a very similar way to the way that she approached her journalism. I just thought there is a compulsion in me to -- to do this for, I don't know, for the story I suppose, for her memory.
CURRY (on camera): As an actor, can you divest yourself of the character or does Marie inhabit you a little still.
PIKE: It's an interesting question. I think, you know, to a degree I can and then somebody, you know, you come in and you say something quite penetrating and I feel in my body, you know. I feel a memory. I feel a connection that is not easy to shake. No.
What's your name?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Paul.
PIKE: I'm Marie.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know.
PIKE: Are you a freelance?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always.
PIKE: Any good?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best.
CURRY (voice over): Colvin's long-term photographer Paul Conroy was at her side in Homs and was badly injured in the blast which claimed her life.
He worked closely with actor Jamie Dornan to portray their symbiotic working relationship. JAMIE DORNAN, ACTOR: I think what Paul and Marie have is very unique.
It's a relationship that she hadn't had with any other photographer and with many other men to be -- Marie said that you're the only she ever trusted, you know, that's a massive thing.
CURRY (on camera): When, where and how do you miss her? What are the moments --
PAUL CONROY, PHOTOGRAPHER: If I can (INAUDIBLE) I mean like you know, what I mean -- I've been back in England for kind of six years now and normally the phone will be going, "Paul -- we got this." You know, and I'd be waiting for the phone to ring saying get yourself, we're going.
And you know, the phone doesn't ring and we don't get to do what we did so well and, you know. It's just a huge hole, huge gap.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: The reporter was in the room when a child died. Marie Colvin of "Sunday Times of London", who joins us now from Homs.
PIKE: There are scenes where the people I talk to, those are their stories. And we recreated the famous CNN (INAUDIBLE) that Marie gave to Anderson Cooper with our own bereft father and a small child dying which, you know, CNN fearlessly showed to show what was going on and many other networks might not have wanted to broadcast it.
And when we shot that scene, we had our child. And the man who came in to be the father was someone who had had a child shot off his shoulders in Homs. And we saw this little baby on the bed, this grief welled up out of him which was -- which was so painful.
CURRY: Another key scene, Marie's fateful decision to return to Homs proved painful for both actors and particularly her photographer.
PIKE: I've got to go back. There are 28,000 people there. We can't abandon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen to me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look, Marie -- I'm brave and you've got amazing (INAUDIBLE) for the story but you don't have a military brain --
PIKE: Let me go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You think we can save lives if we go back. Ok, we will die.
PIKE: You go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
PIKE: Save me a seat at the bar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Marie. CONROY: And Marie just kind of turned (INAUDIBLE) well, I'm the journalist and you're the photographer. You can go home you want. I was like, ok. And then it was done, you know, it didn't go any further than that.
You know, I never talked after, not in a million years.
COLVIN: Especially there's a lot of snipers on the high buildings --
CURRY: A short time later, Colvin spoke to CNN's Anderson Cooper from a building which is being used as a makeshift media center.
COOPER: Marie -- I mean you have covered a lot of conflicts, over a long time. How does this compare.
COLVIN: This is the worst -- Anderson, for many reasons. There's nowhere to run. The Syrian Army is holding the perimeter. And there's just far more ordnance being poured into the city and no way of predicting where it's going to land.
PIKE: What happened?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They've opened fire.
CURRY: Just a few hours later, Colvin was killed alongside French photographer Remi Ochlik, in a rocket strike. Her family believed she was deliberately targeted by the Syrian regime.
[01:55:04] (on camera): What do you think she would have made of an era of fake news?
MATTHEW HEINEMAN, DIRECTOR: I think she'll be appalled at the state of journalism. I think she'll be appalled at the way journalists are being described especially in the country that she's from, my country. I think the fact that, you know, journalists are you know enemies of the state is a tragedy, you know. Journalism is the bedrock of a free and democratic society.
CURRY: Would you like President Trump and other world leaders to see this film? And is there a message for them?
HEINEMAN: Yes. Do you know how to get it to him? You know, I hope people from all different walks of life, all different political affiliations see the film, talk about the film and that it sticks with them.
COOPER: Marie Colvin -- I know it's impossible to stay safe but please try. Thank you for talking to us.
COLVIN: Thanks very much -- Anderson.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Marie Colvin was a remarkable reporter that many, many in the profession look up to.
Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Cyril Vanier. The news continues next with Rosemary Church. You are in very good hands. Have a great day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:00:09] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: A tremendous mistake -- Saudi Arabia blames a rogue operation for the --
