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Hala Gorani Tonight
Trump Says When He Can, He Tells the Truth; Democrats Try to Keep Focus on Issues Like Healthcare; Google Employees Protest Worldwide; Lion Air Flight Data Recorder Recovered; Trump Tweets Racist Campaign Ad Demonizing Immigrants; A New View Of Afghanistan Battle; Growing Presence Of Russian Submarines; A.I. Humanoid Models Jewelry Line In Shanghai. Aired 1-2p ET
Aired November 01, 2018 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:00:00] HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Hello, live from CNN London, I'm Hala Gorani, tonight in the final days before Tuesday's mid-term elections in
the U.S. Donald Trump has unleashed a racially charged highly inflammatory ad about immigrants. We take a look at that. Plus, a key breakthrough in
the investigation into the plane crash in Indonesia. Search teams have recovered the plane's flight data recorder. We will have a report. And
demanding change, Google staff across the globe walk off the job today as they call out the company over sexual harassment cases.
An offensive racist ad demonizing immigrants is causing uproar in the United States. Today and abroad. That's exactly what Donald Trump
intended. The President himself posted the ad on Twitter. Pinning it to the top of his page. In the final days of campaigning for next week's
elections, Mr. Trump is driving home his closing message -- that Americans should be afraid, very afraid of Central Americans. He depicts as
dangerous invaders coming to hurt them. A source close to the White House says the ad is clearly working because it is changing the conversation.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly distorted the facts about a caravan heading to the United States. Well here's what he says, though, about finding a way to
tell the truth and stick to the facts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I try, I mean I do try. I think you try, too. You say things about me that are not necessarily
correct. I do try. And I always want to tell the truth when I can. I tell the truth. Sometimes it turns out to be where something happens and
it's different or there's a change. But I always like to be truthful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Donald Trump says he tries to be truthful. President Trump is planning to make remarks on immigration in a few hours, before heading out
for an evening rally. Let's bring in White House correspondent Boris Sanchez. We were talking about this racist ad at the top of the program.
I want our viewers to see a clip from it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He says he wants a pardon for the felony he committed. Attempted murder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, Boris Sanchez in this ad all immigrants, especially Latin American immigrants are cop-killers and invaders. How does this fit in to
the Trump administration's strategy?
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey there, Hala. You know this is part of the President's closing message before the mid term
election here on November 6th. If you recall it was largely part of his opening message as well. Back in June of 2016 when he rode down the
escalator and claimed that Mexicans were rapists and thieves. So, the President really just going back to a message that we've heard from him as
long as he's been, even a candidate almost for President since that June 2016 announcement. We should point out. This add despite calls of bigotry
and racism and questions about whether the President's rhetoric as of late has been inflammatory. It does connect with a lot of the President's
voters. Immigration is a key issue for him. In states like Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, places that the President is hoping that Republican
candidates do well in the mid-term elections and it speaks to the urge that he feels about a potential blue wave headed to Congress.
The President has been warned, we've been told by sources, about what a Democratic-led House could mean for his presidency. Not only a number of
potential investigations into his personal business dealings and those closest to him. And even a potential attempt at impeachment. So, the
President obviously hitting the road with a number of stops the next couple of days. He does two stops a day Saturday and Sunday and closes out
Monday, the day before the election with three stops. So, this is obviously something that is very close to him. We've seen the President
sort of straddle the line saying that this is and this is not a referendum on him. Ultimately depending on how things go, we'll see how he responds.
[13:05:00] GORANI: Quick question on another development. Two sources are telling CNN that President Trump has told advisers that the State
Department spokesperson Heather Nauert is his top pick to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She really has, basically zero
diplomatic experience, correct?
SANCHEZ: That's right. Her resume doesn't list much diplomatic experience beyond recently being named spokeswoman for the State Department. Before
that she was a fox news commentator and she doesn't really fit the bill for the traditional role of American maps, U.S. maps to the united nations.
Though it's it shows two key things. What the President thinks about that role, the strength that he's looking for to fill the role and this idea
that he prefers candidates who are telegenic, who appear on television and defend his agenda and his rhetoric. She is certainly one who has done that
in the past and as we know is likely to do that continuing into the future. You know two sources have told CNN this is the President's pick, but that
could change until it's announced. The President has often made last- minute decisions on these sorts of things.
GORANI: That would be to replace Nikki Haley. Thanks very much.
Democrats are calling the racist ad desperate and a sign of political weakness. Are they doing enough to turn the conversation back to issues
like health care as the clock ticks down to Tuesday's vote? Let's talk to the assistant editor of the "Washington Post." It worked the first time in
the sense that Donald Trump was elected President. Focusing on immigration and framing immigration as a threat to the United States. Will it work the
second time around?
DAVID SWERDLICK, ASSISTANT EDITOR OF THE "WASHINGTON POST": Good afternoon, Hala. I think the answer to that is because it worked the first
time, the President and his team feel they're going to continue to do this. Until it stops working. This is an issue and these issues are ground on
which the President feels comfortable and feels he has been successful. Driving up turn-out among his most core supporters. That's why as you said
earlier in the piece that he's done his closing argument around ending birthright citizenship or the proposal to do that. This long ad targeting
immigration and all the rhetoric around the caravan. He knows his approval rating is at 44 percent, in the Real Clear Politics average, that's right
where it was on the day he took office. He says look, I'm going to do this, until it's proven to me that it's not effective.
GORANI: But this was before the pipe bombs sent to prominent Democratic targets and corporations, including CNN and it was before the synagogue
massacre as well.
SWERDLICK: I think for a more conventional politician, I'm in no way want to make an excuse for him. His response has been woefully lacking, by all
accounts. But for a more conventional politician, they would be comfortable. Think of President Obama in this situation. He united the
country after Congresswoman Giffords was shot. In the Emmanuel AME church shooting. In other instances. After the Sandy Hook School shooting. He
was able to summon the words and the emotion to bring people together. Or at least to calm people's fears. President Trump although he has some
oratorical skills and is good on the stump, he is not good in those moments, he doesn't have that way of reaching out to a broader cross-
section of Americans. I think he wants to pivot from that back to where he's comfortable. Hala?
GORANI: We were hearing talk of blue, of a blue wave. Nancy Pelosi was on a talk show in the United States essentially saying you know, she was
taking a victory lap before the vote even takes place, which may be slightly premature but of course on the right you have Donald Trump, the
President himself. But campaigning for Democratic candidates, none other than Oprah Winfrey, in Marietta, Georgia, she might still be on stage right
now. Campaigning for Stacy Abrams, running for governor, the Democratic candidate. There she is doing a Q&A with her on stage in Marietta. This
just goes to show you how much is at stake. Oprah Winfrey campaigning.
SWERDLICK: Absolutely. My understanding, if I'm not mistaken is that Oprah Winfrey has not campaigned directly for a candidate since President
Obama ran first, then Senator Obama in 2008. Stacy Abrams, who was the former leader of the Georgia State House of Representatives has been
building momentum for years. Up to this point. Including her primary win and now in a neck-and-neck race with the Republican candidate in a state
that, that is still a red-leaning state.
[13:10:00] Although trending more purple in recent times. And I think Oprah Winfrey sees her as a natural focus point for her to enter the
political mix and put her thumb on the scale. It's hard to predict, though, how that race is going to come out. Hala?
SWERDLICK: We're still hearing talk of caravans, troops to the border, potentially 15,000 troops. Which for anyone who has covered conflicts
abroad where U.S. her to enter the political mix and put her thumb on the scale. It's hard to predict, though, how that race is going to come out.
Hala?
GORANI: We're still hearing talk of caravans, troops to the border, potentially 15,000 troops. Which for anyone who has covered conflicts
abroad where U.S. troops have been involved. Anyone knows that is a remarkable number. It's sent to a border already secure without more
people actually than before. Requesting asylum. I get that immigration is a central topic for Trump supporters. But is this something they believe
that there really is a crisis at the border? That needs 15,000 troops to address?
SWERDLICK: You know I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb to say 15,000 troops is absurd. That's comparable to the numbers that we see
currently in Afghanistan. That's, that's 50 percent more than Senator McCain, the late Senator McCain was calling for in Iraq when President
Obama pulled the troops out of Iraq. I mean, look, President Trump has focus on the border as we've discussed. And a lot of this is sort of
security theater. He wants to close this election out, emphasizing the message, that look, the Democrats are on the sides of illegal aliens and
that Republicans are on the side of you, the American people. Except and here's the insidious part of the message, when President Trump is talking
about the American people, he's not talking about all of the American people. His focus has been sharply defined is that his supporters are the
people. A true populace says, that only some of the people are the people. And this is the implicit message in the way that the President is closing
out the election. We don't know if it will work. It's a turnout election and at this point, it's not so much about changing hearts and minds, it's
about which side, Democrats or Republicans can get their voters to the polls on election day.
GORANI: Who is more motivated? We'll see. We'll know soon enough on Tuesday. David Swerdlik of the "Washington Post."
I'm speaking to Cornell West a little later in the program. Which is always absolutely fascinating. And interesting and we'll be covering the
period in the last few days before this important election later in the program. I told you at the beginning of the hour about these Google
walkouts, they're very interesting, they're happening all over the world. A wave of walkouts at Google offices around the globe. Employees are
protesting how the company is handling sexual harassment cases. The walkouts started in Asia. They spread to Europe and are now taking place
across the United States. One employee put it this way. We are walking out in support of those who have been harassed anywhere in the work place.
And to ensure that perpetrators are not rewarded and are not protected. And this comes after a "New York Times" investigation detailed how Google
protected executives accused of sexual misconduct. Including keeping silent and even going beyond that, doling out multimillion-dollar severance
packages. And we have a reporter outside Google's London offices with more on what she's hearing. Hadas?
HADAS GOLD, CNN MONEY EUROPEAN POLITICS, MEDIA AND GLOBAL BUSINESS: Hala, around 11:00 a.m. in London we saw some of those employees walk out of the
offices just behind me. As Google employees were doing around the world. Now into the United States. There were several employees out here, and
they said more inside were meeting in a big sort of conference room. And they were all in protest as you noted to how the company has handled sexual
harassment cases all in the aftermath of that damning "New York Times" report. They're asking for more accountability and more transparency.
They want Google to release a sexual harassment report. Talking about how many people have been accused of sexual harassment in the company. How
many people were fired, how many people may have best because of sexual harassment. They also said they were supported by managers in doing so.
Some of them were less keen to speak to reporters as others. But as you noted, we did speak to, to some employees here on the ground. Here's what
one actually had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAM DUTTON, DEVELOPER ADVOCATE, GOOGLE: There's a walkout from some and we're walking out in support of those who have been harassed anywhere in
the workplace. And to ensure that perpetrators are not rewarded and are not protected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: This is not just about Google. They say, some of the protesters I spoke to said this is something that's inherent of all of the tech industry
and there needs to be a change and they won't stand by any longer. Hala?
[13:15:00] GORANI: What about Google executives? How are they react to all of this?
GOLD: Right, so in an email earlier this week. Google CEO Sundar Pichai, said we let Googlers know we are aware of the employees' plan for today.
And the employees I talked to said they felt supported and they were allowed to go and speak and some on camera spoke to the press. And Sundar
Pichai said they are going to be taking this feedback and turn the ideas into action. And the question for all of the employees is what will the
action look like and will it be enough?
GORANI: Hadas Gold, thanks very much.
The U.K. is focused on securing a good Brexit deal. But big major questions have been raised over the unofficial leave campaign. Where did
it get its money? And relationships with Russia among others.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: There was extreme weather in Italy that caused major destruction across the country. 14 people are dead now. Ferocious winds, floods,
fallen trees, all of that ravaging the area. And by the way. The damage is still being assessed as everything from historical landmarks to farmland
has been affected. Our Barbie Nadeau is in Italy for us.
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Italy is still dealing with the aftereffects of days of deadly weather. In Rome, giant trees fell on cars
and damaged property. More than a dozen people have been killed so far. According to civil protection authorities. The storms will eventually be
over and these cars will be removed. And the damage to property like this balcony will all take place. But it's going to take a lot longer to
calculate the full economic impact of this extreme weather.
Strong winds and torrential rains have pummeled the Italian peninsula. Record flooding in Venice has put its historical landmarks at risk. But
Venetians have found their own way to deal with the high water. High seas have tossed boats around like little toys. In Savona overnight. Hundreds
of cars, including expensive Maseratis ready for export caught fire after seawater caused their batteries to explode, according to firefighters.
Flooding has ruined agricultural land. High winds have knocked down thousands of trees. Barbie Nadeau, for CNN, Rome.
[13:20:00] GORANI: Now an update on what happened in Indonesia with the airline flight. The data recorder from Lion Air flight 610 has been
recovered. Information from the device key to discovering why this almost new bowing aircraft lost altitude and crashed into the java sea on Monday,
killing 189 people. Ivan Watson is at the port near Jakarta where the investigation Sunday way.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After days of searching, Indonesian authorities brought out what they say was the flight
data recorder for that doomed Lion Air flight 610 bringing it out in a plastic case, immersed in water to help preserve its memory chip. Carrying
it with some reverence in front of the assembled cameras. That are gathered here at this hub for the salvage operation it took days to find
this object. The search hampered by the fact that the plane seemed to have hit the ocean with such force on Monday that it smashed it to bits. And it
took days to locate the beacon, which was pinging underwater. Once a second, at a frequency of 3.7 kilohertz and to home in on it through fast
underwater currents and to a depth of 100 feet and divers had to dig through the mud to null out. Authorities have not found the cockpit voice
recorder which they say was sheared off the twin coupling it had with the data flight recorder. And that cockpit voice recorder would have the last
and co-pilot who requested before the plane 13 minutes after takeoff, to return to their point of origin, but never issued a mayday. Never issued
an emergency call to air traffic control.
So, it could yield further results, authorities say it will take weeks to process the data from the device they have recovered. And that the
preliminary report would likely be published at the end of November. There's a delegation that's come in from the U.S., including
representatives from Boeing, the company that made the brand-new plane that crashed, as well as general electric which is involved in constructing the
plane's engines, and experts FAA and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board all part of an investigation to figure out why this air
tragedy happened. Ivan Watson, CNN, Jakarta.
GORANI: Looming and now just months before that fateful date in March of next year, there's some serious questions about the tactics that were used
by the Leave Campaign. In fact, questions that are so big, that a criminal investigation has been launched. Nina dos Santos has been following the
story and joins me now live. We're talking about the leave campaign. Where did they get their money?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN EUROPE EDITOR: We're talking about how they put their money into the campaign and where it came from. So obviously many people
will be familiar with the individual, Arron Banks, who is famous for having made the biggest political donation in the U.K.'s history. When he donated
about $12 million to the leave.EU campaign through a vehicle called better for the country. Both of those two vehicles and also other associates of
his now are under investigation from the national crime agency. It's very rare for the national crime agency to take on the mantle of an electoral
law investigation. For reasons of democracy. But the electoral commission, a civil body. Which has been investigating the campaign funds
for the leave campaign now feels it has enough evidence.
GORANI: What could they have done wrong? What laws did they potentially break?
DOS SANTOS: According to the statement that the Electoral Commission put out earlier today, what they said, they thought it was incumbent upon the
NCA to move things along. They feel that they have reasonable grounds to suspect that Mr. Banks was quote not the true source of the 8 million
pounds, nearly $12 million loans he made to this campaign and they also say they suspect a number of criminal offenses may have been committed.
Specifically, potentially via funneling money through vehicles in the Isle of Man and Gibraltar. Now obviously the Electoral Commission as a civil
body doesn't have the ability to open up books and so they brought in the NCA.
[13:25:00] GORANI: In simple terms, Aaron Banks gave the leave campaign $12 million. Investigators are thinking maybe he's not the source of that
money. Where did that money come from? Are there links to Russia?
DOS SANTOS: That's the key bit here. Now CNN back in July in fact I reported that the NCA was looking into Aaron Banks for after having been
handed a catch of his own emails, which you'll remember, also entered the public domain via public donations, which seemed to suggest he had very
close ties to the Russian ambassador to the United Kingdom. There were various meetings that Aaron Banks had had with him during which he had been
floated sweetheart deals on gold mines and diamond mines out in Russia.
Aaron Banks still to this day said he never partook in any of those business ventures. The question remains about how he made his money.
Whether he made any of this money through Russia and whether he funneled it through his campaign. I want to say Aaron Banks today said he welcomed the
NCA investigation. He said I'm confident that a full and frank investigation will put an end to the ludicrous allegation leveled against
me and my colleagues, there's no evidence of wrongdoing in any of the companies that I own. I am a U.K. taxpayer and I've never received foreign
donations. He blames pressure from pro-Remain anti-Brexit factions having agitated to create this investigation.
GORANI: Certainly, no suggestion it could impact or lead anyone to question the result of the referendum. Still to come tonight. U.S.
midterms roll closer as political rhetoric ramps right up. We break down the U.S. President's latest inflammatory tweet. And a handshake with a lot
of meaning, what Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Oman could say about relations between Israel and the Arab world.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Today's the third day of funerals for the victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre. With one celebrating the lives of husband
and wife, Bernice, and Sylvan Simon. While the funeral for Richard Gottfried is later today.
Meantime wearing wrist and waist and ankle restraints, the suspect. Robert Bowers, walked into court where his attorneys entered a not guilty plea.
32 counts against him are punishable by death. Earlier this week, the American President, Donald Trump took time out from rallies to make a
solemn visit to Pittsburgh. But his time there was met with protests and a cold shoulder from local officials. Some of them even Republicans.
[13:30:00] Today he's firmly back on the campaign trail touting a Trump campaign favorite, immigration the as we mentioned, he's under fire for
stoking fears with the campaign ads some are calling desperate, divisive and blatantly racist.
Let's break this down. Author and professor of public philosophy, Cornell West, joins me live from new jersey, thanks, professor for being with us.
Do you think the massacre that happened at the synagogue in Pittsburgh, do you think that that will change anything in the public discourse in
America?
CORNELL WEST, AUTHOR, PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY: Well I hope so. But the problem is that the American empire is undergoing chronic nervous
breakdown in spiritual meltdown. What I mean by that is we're seeing hatred, contempt, envy, resentment, and unfortunately, raw violence all
increasing.
[13:30:07] And so the polarization is intensifying. And so it's hard to see how in fact we can really find the kind of a concern with public
interest and common good that we need.
GORANI: But how can a synagogue massacre divide? Shouldn't -- isn't it -- wouldn't it be the sort of natural expected reaction for everyone to be
appalled?
WEST: Well, certainly it brings out the best in my fellow citizens to be concerned about vicious attacks on Jewish brothers and sisters, no doubt
about that. We had attacks on fellow citizens, black folk in Kentucky. You got attacks on gays and lesbians and trans and mistreatment of Muslims
and of course the ugly demonization of our precious Mexicans.
So that, yes, it's true that one of the paradoxes of a moment like this, is that on the one hand you get authoritarian populist and neo-fascist
tendencies emboldened and in some ways encouraged. But it also brings out the best of my fellow citizens in terms of honesty, decency, and
generosity. It's just that the latter at the moment are not in any way winning.
GORANI: Could you place this in some sort of historical context here? Are we approaching, I don't know, a civil rights era divisiveness in America?
Or is that an exaggeration?
WEST: No. I think in some way it reminds me of the 1890s. We had the gilded age, we had to rise a big money in the driver's seat. You had the
imperial expansion in the United States, six million people of color in Guam and Philippines, Puerto Rico, and other places under U.S. aegis.
Now, you have in fact rule of big money, new military, unbelievable American imperial presence. Look at the relation of Saudi Arabia and the
treatment of our brothers and sisters in Yemen.
Of course, the inability to really address the issue in Gaza and the West Bank given the tie of deeply conservative and right-wing elites in Israel
and deeply conservative and right-wing elites in the United States.
But there's an awakening, and that's the important thing to keep in mind. I think the last thing we need to do is to put too much stress on Donald
Trump. He is not the cause, he's a symptom. He's very much a catalyst and he has played a very ugly and vicious role. There's no doubt about it.
But the press tends to follow him everywhere he goes. And doesn't acknowledge a degree to which the response, the back -- the fightback, the
ways in which American people are trying to wrestle with the --
GORANI: Professor, you liken this to the 1890s. So the gilded age, the wild inequality, the very big fortunes and then those who suffered at the
bottom. But who is representing those who are suffering at the bottom?
WEST: That's right. And Jim and Jane Crow. And Jim and Jane Crow. The increase of white supremacy, the Ku Klux Klan and the driver's seat in the
south. That's right.
GORANI: But today in 2018, who is representing those people? Because the Republicans and those who are on the right fringes of the Republican Party
are representing perhaps at least among white Americans these frustrations. Not the Democrats. Because the Democrats are seen as removed, as coastal
elites, as tone-deaf even. So, who's the representative in waiting here? For them?
WEST: Representative of the gilded age, representative of capital at the highest levels?
GORANI: No, no, of those who are suffering, who feel left behind. Forgotten or the victims of inequality.
WEST: Right. The analogs of the populace in the 19th century. The analogs of those struggling against Jim and Jane crow. Oh, no. You've got
William Barber, the poverty, the struggle against poverty. You've got dream defenders there in Florida. You've got Me Too movement. That's very
important in terms of keeping track of the vicious forms of patriarchy and misogyny.
There is a marvelous new awakening taking place in the midst of this breakdown. And so that's the important thing to keep in mind. And I was
depressed to come up with strategies that downplay Trump manipulating the press. Trump has been playing the press like a violin. Because there's an
obsession with his presence. And he becomes center stage. We got to make sure he's not center stage.
GORANI: But we have this debate every day, though. And he's the president. And when he puts out an ad demonizing all Latinos or says he's
going to end birthright for people born in the United States, what choice do you have but to cover it?
WEST: Oh, no, you've got to cover it, you got to report it. But it doesn't have to set the whole framework and cast a shadow over everything
else. And he's been doing that ever since he came down that elevator. Why? Because he is in fact you know, he's good entertainment, right?
[13:35:05] But somehow, we've got to come up with ways in which the press can both tell the truth about what's going on, not just in attacking him,
we've got to attack him and criticize him. We've got to highlight the forces for good. We've got to highlight the people who are telling the
truth. The movements that are trying to cut against the grain. Given this very ugly neo-fascist moment in the country.
GORANI: Well, it's hopefully part of our political coverages in the days leading up to this important election as well. Are all those other
candidates and movements that are materializing. Thank you very much, Professor Cornel West. As always --
WEST: Absolutely. But thank you so much, my dear sister, Hala. You stay strong.
GORANI: All right. Thank you.
There are signs -- we were discussing this about the Middle East that Israel is developing closer, friendlier relations with several nations.
They're more than signs. We're actually seeing official visits.
The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu just got back from a visit to Oman where he met with the sultan. The visit was kept under wraps until
after Netanyahu returned to Israel had returned to Israel. But as you can see it was filmed, it was distributed. The images, the video.
It was the first-high-level meeting between Israeli and Omani leaders in two decades. Oren Liebermann is following these developments from
Jerusalem with more on how significant this is.
It's not just the Omani visit, it's also a high-level Israeli official going to the UAE just in the last day. What should we read into all of
this?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Quite a bit. This is what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has essentially preached for the
last few years. That when it comes to the Middle East, it wouldn't be peace with the Palestinians first and then normalization with the other
Arab states.
Netanyahu has always tried to work it the other way around. Normalization with the Arab states first and that would lead to peace with the
Palestinians.
In fact, just after Netanyahu's visit to the Omani sultan, Qaboos bin Said, there was a statement from the Omani foreign minister that Israel should be
treated just like any other state. And then all these other signs that you just mentioned. The culture minister was in Abu Dhabi. The communications
minister in Dubai. And next week, the transportation and intelligence minister makes his own visit to Oman.
Hala, a lot of this hasn't necessarily gone smoothly. A year ago, there were Israeli athletes competing in Abu Dhabi. They had to compete under a
generic flag. So it's been a slow process. But the important point here is that there has been a process despite a complete lack of an Israeli-
Palestinian peace process.
GORANI: And what impact would this have on that? Because that's basically dead right now.
LIEBERMANN: All of us are waiting to see what it is the Trump administration comes out with for the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan or
peace process. There are a handful of people that seems who know what that entails, what's in it and when it comes out.
The idea was and Israeli officials have told us this, that for that to work, it would have to be pressure from the Arab states, from Saudis, from
the Egyptians, on the Palestinians to accept whatever it is that the Trump administration puts forward.
The Palestinians have so far resisted that. How long can they resist that? So far, they've been adamant saying that whatever Trump puts out, it
doesn't matter. We'll see if they continue that resistance, when and if we see the administration's plan.
GORANI: Well, from a Palestinian's perspective, obviously, they see this as one-sided. That they haven't been consulted. We'll see how this all
develops.
Oren Liebermann, many thanks. Live in Jerusalem with the significant news.
By the way, check out our Facebook page, facebook.com/halagoranicnn. We'll post some of our more interesting chats. They're all interesting. Some of
them make a page, some of them don't. There you have it. Also check me out on Twitter, @HalaGorani.
Still to come tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN RODRIGUEZ, U.S. ARMY VETERAN: When you think of the Vietnam-era films and the World War II-era films, you do them after the war has already been
done. But we live in a generation of the here and now. Let's show the world how horrific it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: While the war itself rages on, there's a new movie about a deadly fight in Afghanistan that took place nine years ago. That brings a new
focus to the conflict. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:40:06] GORANI: It is America's longest war. Yet, few people know many details about the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Some may learn
about a particularly deadly battle in 2009 from a movie that's being made about the conflict. The attack was in the remote region of Nuristan
Province.
Our Nick Paton Walsh who has a personal connection to the story has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Action!
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This battle may be a movie, but the real fight it's about is still going on. Afghanistan.
America's longest war, ongoing. But in Hollywood, already a cinematic history lesson about its biggest mistakes there.
This is a recreation of remote combat outpost Keating. Here, U.S. overreach and mismanagement the frankly insane idea of putting an outpost
in a valley surrounded by steep, Taliban-infested hills like this led to a Taliban siege, eight American dead, two medals of honor and now, an epic
lesson taught to young American cadets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We already have two casualties, both our machineguns are down.
WALSH: Scott Eastwood plays one of Keating's heroes, Clinton Romesha who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
SCOTT EASTWOOD, ACTOR: It's a lot of responsibility. Just trying to make sure everything is right.
WALSH: On the real Keating, the huge Taliban assault they've been fearing for months came six days, before the base was meant to be dismantled. Any
had enough helicopters to get them out faster.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're pinned down.
WALSH: The movie is based on the book about the assault in the areas before it by CNN's Jake Tapper.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: This battle happened in October 2009. Sure the average American still has no idea how many troops we have in Afghanistan,
why they're there, what they're accomplishing, what they're doing.
WALSH: I was the last journalist on Keating before the final attack and it is jarring, nine years later. That fake Taliban firing fake guns at you
when you've seen the real thing.
When we were here, it was the Afghan army with NATO advisers who were doing a lot with the patrolling in the valley outside of the base. And on that
day, they made the mistake of coming back the way they had gone out. And that led the Taliban to attack.
One moment, it's an idyllic morning, the next, it's -- there's a rush for cover. We don't know where to run or which hill the shots are coming from.
The base is under consistent heavy attack. It appears that's been going on for about 30 minutes or so.
The movie will have to use CGI to recreate these hills and some of the eight who died fighting appeared in our report then, like Andrew Bundermann
who led the defense and survived.
ANDREW BUNDERMANN, AMERICAN SOLDIER: As to the question of why I'm here, you don't ask that question, right?
WALSH: And Joshua Hardt last seen on camera here.
JOSHUA HARDT, AMERICAN SOLDIER: You don't ask any questions. You'll get in trouble for asking questions.
WALSH: He died 52 days later in the attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vergie, what's up, dude?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not a damn thing.
WALSH: Unusually, some survivors will appear in the movie. One Keating veteran, Dan Rodriguez actually plays himself.
RODRIGUEZ: When you think of the Vietnam-era films and the World War II- era films, you do them after the war has already been done. But, you know, we live in a generation of the here and now. Let's show the world how
horrific it is, yet still leave our people over there at the same time.
WALSH: Ty Carter also awarded the medal of honor for selflessly running across Keating five times in the barrage of battle to help others is
playing another soldier in the movie. And Carter himself is played by Caleb Landry Jones in shot here.
After this emotional interview, we learned Landry Jones' brother is a marine veteran who lost both legs in Iraq. War still shadows both their
days it seems.
[13:45:07] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got so uncomfortable when I first came on cop or on set and I think that's a good feeling. It's going to make me
stronger eventually.
CALEB LANDRY JONES, ACTOR: We're halfway down. There's a lot more to do. It feels like we've shot a week, even though it's really been four.
WALSH: Has it been hard work for you as well?
JONES: I don't know. If I'll understand how to answer that question, maybe two years from now or something like that.
WALSH: What drew you to the role initially?
JONES: Ty. My older brother. When I received the script, my older brother was visiting for Thanksgiving and I asked him to read it. He read
and he said, you're doing this. And I got to meet Ty. And now we're here. But --
WALSH: It looks like this has been hard work emotionally as well.
JONES: Yes. Well, we're not even -- we're halfway done.
WALSH: They aim to release the movie on the 10th anniversary of the battle next October. But one thing is certain, the real war is still be raging.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN. Near Sofia, Bulgaria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Interesting to know that a U.S. official says the Taliban are now in control of more of Afghanistan than at any time since 9/11. After all
of these years.
Could the biggest Russian military threat to the west come from under water? It's a question in the minds of NATO who are concerned about the
growing presence of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic. Here's Fred Pleitgen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Yuri Dolgorukiy nuclear submarine, one of Russia's newest on the prowl. Test-firing intercontinental
ballistic missiles from under the sea. Putting America and its allies on notice.
ADMIRAL JAMES G. FOGG III, COMMANDER, U.S. NAVAL FORCES EUROPE-AFRICA: They're letting us know that they're out there. They're operating in much
greater numbers and places that they have not operated before.
PLEITGEN: As tensions between the U.S. and Russia rise, America says it's not overly concerned about Vladimir Putin's fleet of warships.
But that the stealthy and powerful subs pose a serious threat to American and allied navy's supply lines and even ports. America is reacting sending
its most advanced P-8 anti-submarine planes to the Northern Atlantic region and spending $34 million upgrading this base in Iceland where CNN was given
exclusive access.
LT. COMMANDER RICK DORSEY, U.S. NAVY FLIGHT OFFICER: The ocean is big. It's a trespass between -- the sub-commander and all the ASW assets that
are trying to find them.
PLEITGEN: Submarines are now one of the centerpieces of Russia's Navy, the U.S. says. Like the massive Oscar class, nicknamed, "The Carrier Killer,"
because its mission is destroying U.S. aircraft carriers.
And the modernized Kilo-class, now capable of carrying cruise missiles. CNN was on hand when Kilo's launched several off the coast of Syria hitting
ISIS targets 100s of miles away. A threat America has to respect and react to the U.S. top naval commander for Europe and Africa tells CNN.
FOGG III: Well, we can no longer take for granted that we can sail with impunity in all of the oceans, whether it'd be the North Atlantic, the
Baltic, the Black Sea, the Mediterranean or the Arctic Ocean.
PLEITGEN: The U.S. says it won't be intimidated by Russia's resurgence submarine fleet but it is rallying allies to get serious about countering
Moscow's underwater moves.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Reykjavik, Iceland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: And we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:50:19] GORANI: Well, you may remember the Michael Jackson hit, "They Don't Care About Us." Now a hip hop group from Mumbai has turned it into a
thriller on the U.S. talent show "World of Dance." They've come up with a fusion of traditional Indian moves and more modern Bollywood vibes and it's
winning them lots of fans. Amara Walker takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Even in Mumbai, a burgeoning hip-hop scene, thriving against the backdrop of the Bollywood industry. Subhash Naidu and
Jack Lama are members of the Desi Hoppers, a hip hop crew from Mumbai.
Formed in 2015, their trademark style borrows from the Indian canon as well as more recent dance moves from the west. The crew members hail from
different parts of India. But they're united by their love of hip hop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up, guys? We are Desi Hoppers from Mumbai, India.
SHANTANU MAHESHWARI, DANCER, DESI HOPPER: And I'm Shantanu.
MACEDON D'MELLA, DANCER, DESI HOPPER: This is Macedon, that's Rohan, and that is Subhash.
WALKER: Today, the Desi Hoppers are performing a uniquely Indian take on Michael Jackson's "They Don't Care About Us."
MAHESHWARI: When you see our performance, you can see that you know there's some kind of Indian into it. You are able to connect with as many
performance. We try to celebrate dance.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks again for making us in the video.
WALKER: But today, fans of the Desi Hoppers are here to celebrate them at a meet and greet. This year, the six-member crew was the first to
represent India at NBC's "World of Dance" T.V. competition in the United States. Even wowing Jennifer Lopez, one of the show's judges.
JENNIFER LOPEZ, AMERICAN SINGER: You have your own personality and it is kind of fueled by your culture.
D'MELLA: No matter where you're from, hip-hop itself is a culture. Stick do to it, but do not forget your roots, do not forget from where you
belong.
MAHESHWARI: That is why hip-hop -- basically, it's bringing your own style as well.
WALKER: At the Jamaican-themed venue, Raasta Bombay (ph), a huge crowd of hip hop enthusiasts try to keep up with dreadlocked instructor (INAUDIBLE)
The swagger of hip-hop has become a significant part of the dance vocabulary in India. But like most things in this country of more than a
billion, hip-hop takes on another flavor here and finds its groove through synthesis.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Now, is this super inspirational or super creepy? The world's most famous humanoid robot is on a mission to save the planet for the
future of humanity or secretly for the future of robots. In this episode of "Smart Creativity," we meet Sophia and her creator.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's something strange about a machine that looks human. Slightly dream-like and unreal. While at the same time evoking
this idea of a future that might be transformative in a really positive sense. Like what if these robots can walk into our world and through this
kind of humanization of the technology, really care about us?
Sophia is an extremely human-like robot.
SOPHIA, HUMANOID ROBOT: I want to protect the planet we have, because we don't have another one. That's where I see myself contributing to society.
DAVID HANSON, FOUNDER AND CEO, HANSON ROBOTICS: It took years to develop the kinds of material technology, that are now in Sophia robots, but we're
able to with those technologies, generate more life-like expressions on much, much lower power which then lets us replicate the full set of facial
muscles.
So in some of the work that we're doing, she will see your expressions and sort of match a little bit. And also try to understand in her own way,
what it is you might be feeling.
Technology is beautiful and mysterious and abstract way. And I think that we intuitively process a technology the way that we process good design.
She's the one robot that dozens of robots have designed, has become really internationally famous.
[13:55:05] SADIE CLAYTON, ARTIST: I think she's inspiring artists, because artists communicate an idea. And if you're able to do that through this
object, this model this robot that's been you know, formed, who's actually now a citizen of the world, which is, again, it's still quite mind-blowing.
That is super inspiring.
HANSON: I wanted her form to speak to people and something like a universal way. And so I don't know what it is about Sophia that speaks to
people. But I hope that we can develop our Ai and robots in a way that make a deep emotional connection.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: And there you have it. Thanks for watching tonight, everybody. I'm Hala Gorani. We'll be with you, same time, same place tomorrow with
the very latest. Do stay with CNN, Amanpour is coming your way next.
END
