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Turkey Launches Military Offensive in Syria, U.S. Allies at Risk; White House Refuses to Cooperate With Impeachment Inquiry. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired October 10, 2019 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world. It is 9:00 in the morning on the Turkish-Syrian border, 8:00 am in Germany. From CNN headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Rosemary Church with the next 90 minutes of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's get started.
Turkey's military offensive against the Kurds begins, thousands of civilians fleeing the airstrikes in Syria's northern border region. As the Democrats impeachment probe deepens, the White House shows it is ready for a fight to protect Donald Trump. While the president questions, the legitimacy of the inquiry.
Plus Germany mourns after a deadly anti-Semitic shooting, near a synagogue on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
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CHURCH: Turkey calls it Operation Key Spring, a mission to drive terrorists out of Northern Syria and return millions of refugees to the region. Its military is bombarding the area with airstrikes and artillery fire claiming it hit 181 targets in the first day. Kurdish forces say at least eight people were killed and a prison holding ISIS detainees was struck.
Syrian Kurds who helped the U.S. fight ISIS, fleeing in droves. Donald Trump pulled the American forces from the region, just days ago. Critics say that green light Turkey's operations, something the U.S. administration denies. CNN has correspondents, in place, to bring you the latest developments.
We begin with Nick Paton Walsh at the border between Turkey and Syria.
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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A tense afternoon of airstrikes and artillery barrage around the town of Tal Abyad, where we were standing on the Turkish side of the border in Akcakale, followed up by, as night fell, the Turkish defense ministry saying that its ground troops have entered now northeastern Syria to the east of the Euphrates River territory held by Syrian Kurds.
It is unclear how many Turkish troops have gone in, unclear what their objectives are or necessarily where they will be moving. But the tweet from this Turkish defense ministry says they were accomplished by something called the Syrian National Army, which is Turkey's nomenclature for Syrian rebels.
We saw some of those at the border, driving up and down the border wall, one of them waving a Syrian rebel flag out the window. These are backed by Turkey and part of Turkey's message here, which is to say that they are taking the land off the Syrian Kurds. that the Syrian Kurds kicked ISIS out and returning it to who Turkey believe are its rightful owners, the Syrian Sunni Arabs who originally lived there before ISIS took hold.
But that is for a longer term discussion. Now the question is, of course, the humanitarian impacts of Turkish shelling and military intervention and exactly the full scope of what Turkey has planned here.
A senior adviser to President Erdogan said the White House was aware of what the full scope was but still we heard Donald Trump today try and trade in both camps saying he thought that the mission was a bad idea but he hadn't endorsed it but also hoping Turkey would remain humanitarian in its aims and take hold of the ISIS prisoners currently in Syrian Kurdish custody.
How that happens in a war zone I simply don't know. But we are now in the opening phase of what could be weeks or months long campaign. It simply depends on how deep into Syrian Kurdish territory president Erdogan wants to send in his forces.
He talks about 18 miles possibly; that could take a very long time along the border of that particular length. But now there are Turkish ground forces with Syrian rebels working alongside them inside of Syria. Casualties on the side of the Syrian Kurds, it seems, continued; airstrikes being used and it's fair to say pretty much remarkable global condemnation from Turkey's NATO allies for this particular move. But still, Ankara pressing on ahead regardless -- Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Urfa (ph), in southern Turkey.
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CHURCH: For more details on this, Ethem Coban joins me now. He's an expert in international law and Kurds at the American University Washington College of Law.
Thank you for being with us.
ETHEM COBAN, AMERICAN UNIVERSITY: Thank you for having me, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Now in the wake of President Trump's withdrawal of U.S. troops in northern Syria, Turkey has now conducted military operations against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces on the border there.
What are you hearing from your contacts on the ground and what impact is this having on people's lives there?
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COBAN: So to sum up their sentiment, it's betrayal and disappointment at the same time. Betrayal for the fact that it is a repetition of Kurdish history whenever they have been supported or supporting Western allies. They have been backstabbed by the same powers for whom they were fighting.
This happened in 2017, if we might recall what the reactions to Western states were post referendum in Iraq. Then also disappointment because the Syrian Democratic Forces to whom I have just talked about a few minutes ago, they are quite surprised that this is actually happening for the fact that the agreement that Turkey has had with the United States in regards to a safe zone of the SDF, argued that they in their turn have implemented those requirements and conditions.
And one of them being that the Kurds would have to clear the area and redraw from the area. So the Kurds rightfully now are saying, hold on, we on our part have been bringing the terms on the table and the United States, in Turkey, do not fulfill, for their part, the terms and conditions as well as laid out just a couple days ago.
CHURCH: Now CNN witnessed the first waves of strikes from Turkish artillery, identifying six different strike targets initially and a wave of civilians fleeing the region as a result of that.
What is your sense of what may come next and where that might happen?
COBAN: My contacts so far has been informing me that, as of time speaking, there are three access, meaning, three regions that are being under shelling as well as under airstrikes.
One very interesting detail that I could find out is the fact that -- well, I wouldn't call it a fact -- but what has been alleged by some senior officials of the SDF that in fact the shelling and the airstrikes go as deep as 50 kilometers into Syrian territory, which, of course, is a plus-20 kilometer intrusion into Syrian territory.
CHURCH: And what do you think this all might mean in terms of ISIS fighters who had been captured and the Kurds now, of course, have to leave them?
What might that mean in terms of enabling a resurgence of ISIS fighters and ISIS itself?
COBAN: Oh, the math is very simple. Right now there are some 12,000 detained ISIS soldiers plus 1,500 foreign ISIS fighters that came from across 40 countries. General Mazloum of the Syrian Democratic Forces announced already publicly, that 17,000 (ph) forces will be mobilized and deployed towards the northern borders, towards the border with Turkey and therefore this will create a vacuum of human resources.
As a matter of fact, there were just some reports that last night in the largest camp, where some plus 10,000 ISIS fighters are being detained by the SDF, there has been already rebellions in the wake of using the situation and using it for the benefit of trying to retaliate and fight back against the SDF, as it most certainly came to a perfect timing for ISIS fighters.
The power vacuum that has been created right now, with the SDF having to actually self-defend themselves against a military invasion.
CHURCH: What do you believe Turkey's intentions here and why do you think President Trump withdrew U.S. troops at that time?
COBAN: President Trump's decision is -- well, let me be diplomatically very cautious. It is a very, very bad decision, a decision that will have a long impact for the future because what this actually means in terms of hegemonic distribution powers, what Kurds do fear.
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COBAN: And it's a fear that really needs to be taken seriously, is that this is another attempt of changing the demography entirely in the region and Turkish government officials actually didn't make any secret about it.
CHURCH: Ethem Coban, thank you so much for joining us, we do appreciate it.
COBAN: Thank you.
CHURCH: And with President Trump facing backlash from both Democrats and Republicans over Syria, he's busy trying to rally support on another thorny issue. The impeachment inquiry. Sources tell CNN he's been on their phones, working to make sure Republicans on Capitol Hill are unified and loyal to him. CNN's Jim Acosta has details.
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JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Waging war on Democrats who were out to impeach him, President Trump is sounding all too eager to escalate the constitutional conflict.
TRUMP: Probably ends up being a big Supreme Court case, maybe it goes a long time, I don't know.
ACOSTA: Mr. Trump is firing back at Joe Biden, who for the first time is calling on the president to be impeached over his infamous phone call with the leader of Ukraine.
JOE BIDEN, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts.
You know, to preserve our constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached.
ACOSTA: No surprise, the president waited only minutes to respond tweeting, "So pathetic to see Biden calling for my impeachment and I did nothing wrong. Joe's failing campaign gave him in other choice."
TRUMP: My guess he's no longer the front-runner. But, look, I feel badly for him.
ACOSTA: Democrats are up in arms over the president's refusal to cooperate with their impeachment inquiry with some threatening to jail witnesses who don't respond to congressional subpoenas.
REP. JOHN GARAMENDI (D-CA), MEMBER, ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: When witnesses come and they simply refuse to answer questions, I think it's time to call in the sergeant-at-arms, march them off to a little jail which we do happen to have in one of the rooms of the Capitol and let them sit there and cool off for a while.
ACOSTA: The president is replying by recycling his old unproven conspiracy theory like his accusation that Barack Obama wiretapped him at Trump Tower. Mr. Trump tweeted, "So why is someone a good or great president if they needed to spy on someone else's campaign in order to win, that didn't work out so well."
The president is adding one notable name to his impeachment team, former GOP Congressman Trey Gowdy who once slammed Obama for withholding information.
REP. TREY GOWDY, (R) OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: The notion that you can withhold information and documents from Congress no matter whether you're the party in power or not in power is wrong. Respect for the rule of law must mean something.
ACOSTA: But here's one more flash back during the Bill Clinton's impeachment in the late '90s then Republican Congressman Lindsey Graham said failure to comply with congressional demands was a violation straight out of Watergate.
REP. LINDSEY GRAHAM, (R) SOUTH CAROLINA: It is not your job to tell us what we need. It is your job to comply with the things we need to provide oversight over you. The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day that he was subject to impeachment.
ACOSTA: Graham and other Republicans are outraged over Turkey's invasion of Syria, a strike against Kurdish allies of the U.S. that got a presidential thumbs up from Mr. Trump. The president is now trying to distance himself from Turkey's actions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you concerned that Erdogan will try to wipe out the Kurds?
TRUMP: I will wipe out his economy if that happens. I've already done it once.
ACOSTA: The president was also asked whether he was concerned about Isis fighters escaping as a result of the operation.
TRUMP: Well, they're going to be escaping to Europe. That's where they want to go.
ACOSTA: Long-time Trump defenders worry it's an unholy blunder.
PAT ROBERTSON, TELEVANGELIST: And I believe and I want to say this with great solemnity, the president of the United States is in danger of losing the mandate of heaven if he permits this to happen.
ACOSTA: As for whether the White House would cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, the president hedged and said that depends, quote, "if Republicans get a fair shake."
The president went on to explain why his aides went to great lengths to keep his call with the Ukrainian president under wraps. The president responded by saying he doesn't want spies inside the White House -- Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.
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CHURCH: Joining me now to talk more about this is Larry Sabato, director for the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. Always good to have you with us.
LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Thank you, Rosie.
CHURCH: So, President Trump is feeling the heat within his own party right now while most Republicans remain very silent over the Ukraine scandal. Everything changed when he announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from northern Syria.
Now the president is dealing with increasing anger within his own ranks as Turkey launches an attack on U.S. allies. Lindsey Graham leading the charge along with Majority Leaders Mitch McConnell. Where could this potentially go, do you think?
SABATO: This is really quite significant.
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SABATO: The Republicans over the years have been great advocates for the Kurds ever since the Iraq War, if not before that. And they're very loyal to the Kurds.
It's really quite amazing that this particular issue involving after all only a few dozen U.S. troops has triggered such a strong Republican response. They wouldn't break with Trump about anything until now.
Now will they carry over to other subjects? We'll see. But it is significant that some of the key leaders like Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham have decided that they can finally express opposition to something that President Trump does.
CHURCH: Yes. And of course, President Trump's troubles don't end there with the impeachment inquiry heating up as well. The Democrats considering a wave of subpoenas in response to his refusal to cooperate.
And now for the first time he's rival Joe Biden has joined other presidential hopefuls and call for the impeachment of the president. Could this perhaps force the hand of Nancy Pelosi to move forward with an official vote on the issue do you think? She's resisted so far.
SABATO: Yes. She's resisted. She may have to reconsider because even some of her own troops have been calling for this. It would certainly carry. It's not going to be a close vote. I don't know why it sacrifices anything that Pelosi believes in and it would clear some of the underbrush and also take away a rationale for the Republicans to disagree with the process.
But, you know, having said that, what's really significant again is whether this becomes at all bipartisan. The impeachment effort. In the House it probably won't although I wouldn't be surprised if a handful of Republicans voted to impeach in the end.
In the Senate it's essential because if you don't get at least 20 Republican votes you will never get to 67 votes out of 100 needed to convict.
CHURCH: Right. And in the meantime, a new poll from Fox, from Fox News in fact, finds 51 percent of registered voters want Donald Trump to be impeached and removed from office. Representing a new high in Fox's polling. Up about nine points since July. And those increases come across party lines. What do you think that might signal for the president? We're talking Fox News here. His favorite network.
SABATO: Yes. That catches anybody's eye. Now the truth is I have to say, Fox polling has been fairly accurate and unbiased as opposed to other parts of Fox News. But this is the fifth poll in just three days that has shown real movement among independents and Republicans against the president and in favor of impeachment and in some cases, conviction.
Now for Republicans it's still maybe a fifth in the best poll for impeachment advocates, it's perhaps a quarter. But a quarter of Republicans is a lot of Republicans added to 80, to 90 percent of Democrats and a majority of independents.
So, I would say things are going terribly well for the president at least in terms of impeachment. Conviction is another matter.
CHURCH: Indeed. And of course, that same Fox News poll finds 51 percent of those surveyed feel the Trump administration is more corrupt than previous ministrations, up six points in the last months.
And as to rate how troubling Mr. Trump's dealing with Ukraine's president are, 51 percent again rate them extremely or very troubling, while just 26 percent say they're not at all troubling. What are those numbers tell you?
SABATO: It tells me that people are actually paying attention and they haven't always been since Donald Trump became president or they would've been a stronger reaction to a lot of other developments. That again is bad news for Donald Trump.
He is convinced himself because there has been so little reaction to many of his moves that he could get away with anything. Well, not necessarily. We'll see whether it plays out this way but these numbers suggest to me that people are responding, average Americans and that this may be cutting at least somewhat across party lines.
CHURCH: And what's interesting too is that these numbers reflect how people are feeling about the Ukraine call. So, people are starting to digest the details of that. This is before they get an opportunity to understand what is happening in northern Syria and now of course the operation, the military operation by Turkey is now underway.
So presumably, this is not going to look good for President Trump in the days and weeks ahead?
SABATO: If Donald Trump doesn't have the usual unanimous support or new unanimous support among Republicans in Congress.
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SABATO: And for that matter outside of Congress, he's going to discover a new reality which is people won't have his back. He's used to having the chorus of Republicans across the country supporting everything he does. This will be a new experience for him.
CHURCH: Larry Sabato, we always appreciate your analysis and perspective on all things political and beyond. Many thanks.
SABATO: Thank you, Rosie.
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CHURCH: And we'll take a short break. Still to come, a gunman goes on a shooting rampage in Germany. An apparent anti-Semitic attack on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. We are live, in Germany. That next.
Plus China's anger, escalates in the wake of a tweet from a U.S. pro basketball executive. See what steps Beijing is taking against the league. We are back with more after just a moment.
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CHURCH: Police in Germany have arrested a 27-year-old man suspected of an anti-Semitic attack on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The gunman killed two people near a synagogue and a kebab shop in Halle. He apparently streamed the attack online with a camera mounted on a helmet and was heard using anti-Semitic slurs.
Our Melissa Bell joins us now live from Halle in Germany.
So, Melissa, what more are you learning about this deadly shooting rampage and the motivation behind it?
Clearly anti-Semitic. Turkey's way very clear early on limited to that saying that what they're looking into his motivation based on right wing extremism this morning outside the synagogue where I think one of the important things to say this morning is how many more could have died. When you look at that live stream footage captured by the assailant helmet, that's what is striking. The number of times the door first to open here, the weapon time that a crucial moment, this 70 to 80 people who were gathered here for a young couple years to the Iraq and that it was for about five attended minutes he was outside before heading on towards that could Bob shop and killing a second a person there.
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BELL: This could have been much more deadly than it was. The head of the Jewish community here in Halle is outside speaking to journalists, saying that what he wants to see is more security where it's needed.
Last night it was German chancellor Angela Merkel who joined the vigil in Berlin in German chancellor saying this after she attended.
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ANGELA MERKEL, CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (through translator): Unfortunately, today on your holy day, we witnessed something horrible. Two people lost their lives. There was an attack on Jews in and Jews in Germany. My goal and that of the politicians is to do everything possible to ensure that you can live in safety.
And this day shows us that this is not enough, that we must do even more.
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BELL: Those were sentiments echoed by the whole of the German political class. We're expecting the German president to make a visit here later today. Again, Rosemary, it is because of the footage that we have such clarity of exactly what went on. How much greater could've been and precisely what this man's motivation really was as he went on this rampage -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Melissa what more are authorities learning about the suspect?
BELL: We know he's a 27 year old man, Stephan B. He's been named by authorities, We are hearing from the German press at the time being that there have been some manifesto left before he set off. Clearly those mutterings, ramblings throughout the rampage itself clearly anti-Semitic and an idea of his motivations.
Again we understand, from what he tried to do, watching the video, trying to get past the door here, that it was the people who gathered inside. Again they were 70 to 80 gathered in there yesterday when the attack took place. Among them 10 American tourists, who had come here and were marking young all Yom Kippur as well.
They were clearly his intended targets. You hear his frustration in the video as he fails to unjam the door and get inside. I think it is that sense of shock of how terrible it could've been as well as the motivations that have so shocked Germany this morning -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Melissa Bell with that live report from Halle, Germany, many thanks..
Syrian Kurds are under threat from Turkey's large military, but this isn't the first time they say the U.S. has betrayed them. That is next on CNN NEWSROOM.
And outrage in Ecuador, protesters furious over a cut in fuel subsidies face off against security forces in a national strike.
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone, I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour. Turkey's defense ministry says it has hit 181 terrorist targets in Northern Syria with airstrikes and artillery fire. We're looking at live pictures here from that region on the border. And now, its ground forces are crossing the border. Syrian Kurds who live there and helped the U.S. in its fight against ISIS, are fleeing the bombardment.
President Trump is not backing down, now slamming the Democrats Impeachment Inquiry as really unfair. We're told he's trying to rally support from Republicans on Capitol Hill demanding their loyalty. And for the first time, his main democratic rival Joe Biden is saying Donald Trump must be impeached.
A 27-year-old man is in custody after two people were gunned down near a synagogue and a kebab shop in Germany. It happened on Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar. The gunman apparently streamed video of the attack online and was heard using anti-Semitic slurs.
When Donald Trump announced U.S. troops were withdrawing from Northern Syria, critics said Turkey would launch a military offensive aimed at the Kurds, a vital U.S. ally that did most of the fighting against ISIS. And that's exactly what's happened. Here's what the U.S. President said.
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DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, the Kurds are fighting for their land just so you understand. They're fighting for their land. And as somebody wrote in a very, very powerful article today, they didn't help us in the Second World War, they didn't help us with Normandy as an example. They mentioned names of different battles. They were there, but they're there to help us with their land. And that's a different thing.
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CHURCH: Now, CNN's Arwa Damon reports now, this is not the first time Kurds have been abandoned by the United States.
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ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: History has often been unkind to the Kurds, a cycle of repeated betrayals. When the U.S.-led coalition expelled Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait in 1991, then-President H.W. Bush encouraged the Iraqi people to oust the dictator altogether.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's another way for the bloodshed to stop. And that is for the Iraqi military and the Iraqi people to take matters into their own hands, to force Saddam Hussein the dictator to step aside.
DAMON: In response, Iraq's Kurds rose up against Saddam. But when his elite forces advanced north, the Kurds got no help. Millions fled to the mountains and many others were slaughtered trying to resist. During the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Kurds were again enthusiastic allies, assisting American and British forces and their drive to Baghdad. When ISIS swept through Iraq, Kurdish resistance was crucial in keeping the militants at bay. In Syria, the U.S. turned to the Kurds there, the YPG, as key allies, the main ground force that led the liberation of Raqqa, ISIS's headquarters.
But in both Iraq and Syria, the Kurds have been allies of convenience, deserted when no longer needed in the geopolitical chessboard. Last year, the U.S. stood by while the Iraqi military drove the cards back from territory they held during the fight against ISIS.
MASOUD BARZANI, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQI KURDISTAN (through translator): We said that the people who were verbally telling us they were our friends and would support us that they would have supported us or if not stay silent.
DAMON: Now, it's Syria's Kurds that face attack by Turkish forces as U.S. troops pulled back. Turkey sees the Kurds as terrorist, allied to the insurgents in its own Kurdish areas. The modest U.S. presence has deterred a Turkish incursion and held the Syrian regime at bay. But President Trump has repeatedly threatened to pull U.S. forces out of Syria.
TRUMP: Let the other people take care of it now. Very soon, Very soon we're coming out.
DAMON: Again, in December last year, he announced U.S. forces were withdrawing, tweeting ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being there during the Trump presidency."
DAMON: On both occasions, advisors persuaded the President to change course. But now he has given Turkey the green light to cross the border. In a move that stunned even his closest allies at home.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he follows through with this, it would be the biggest mistake of his presidency. DAMON: The Kurds themselves are separating the President from the people. The spokesman of the Syrian Democratic Forces Mustafa Bali tweeting ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Despite the President's decision to pave the way for Turkish invasion, American people are true friends of the SDF."
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DAMON: The Kurds have made it clear, they'll divert forces currently guarding ISIS prisoners to the front lines with possibly dangerous consequences. Unsure of what their ally intends, they will as they have done so often, fight for their very existence. Arwa Damon, CNN, Istanbul.
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CHURCH: Well, any chance of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson securing a Brexit deal during the upcoming E.U. summit is looking less and less likely. The sticking point remains, how to avoid a hard border between E.U. member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.
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MICHEL BARNIER, BREXIT NEGOTIATOR, EUROPEAN UNION (through translator): To put things simply and frankly with objectiveness, at the time I'm speaking, we are not in a position to be able to find an agreement with Britain.
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CHURCH: Mr. Johnson is to meet his Irish counterpart on Thursday, but the Irish Prime Minister has echoed what the German Chancellor said that Northern Ireland leaving the E.U. Customs Union is a huge problem. By law, Mr. Johnson must ask for an extension if he doesn't secure a deal by October 19th.
Well, protesters once again confronted security forces in Ecuador's capital. Carbon fuel subsidies triggered the worst unrest in years forcing the government out of the Capitol as these as far as reports there's no sign the fury of the past seven days will ease anytime soon.
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ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Angry protesters flood the streets of downtown (INAUDIBLE) of violent riots become a national strike against (INAUDIBLE) paralyzing Ecuador's capital city. Demonstrators faced off with the least suffering rocks and projectiles, burning debris and tires.
Security Forces fire tear gas their heavy artillery on display, as government struggles to contain some of the country's worst unrest in a decade. The military forced to rescue more than 50 of its personnel held hostage by protesters. The uprising has seen hundreds of arrests and dozens injured. A nationwide curfew issued on Tuesday did little to quell the discord.
Earlier plumes of smoke billowed over the National Congress, where protesters briefly stormed the heavily-guarded Parliament. Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno announced his government will leave key to admit the violence.
The protest spurred by his move and state-fueled subsidies, which send petrol prices soaring. Part of the spending cards in a multibillion dollar financing deal with International Monetary Fund, the IMF.
ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ, PROTESTER (through translator): The government is allowing us to be controlled by the International Monetary Fund putting up their own rules for money. They're being totally manipulated by the fund.
NELSON ERAZO, INDIGENOUS LEADER (through translator): Our people are mobilizing to demand and reject these economic measures that hit the pocket of Ecuadorians.
SOARES: Thousands from Ecuador's indigenous population have come to the capital from outlying areas, joining labor as well as transport unions in the protests, demanding an end to austerity measures and the President's resignation. But Moreno remains defiant, refusing to back down to reforms or step down from office. He blames the unrest on foreign influences like Venezuela as Nicolas Maduro and former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.
Meanwhile, the outrage in this country continues to grow. Spreading from the capital to the largest city, Guayaquil, when Moreno has moved its government. The anger appears to follow close behind. Isa Soares, CNN.
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CHURCH: Well, trade talks between the United States and China are set to resume Thursday but sources say U.S. negotiators have low expectations for this 13th round talks. That meeting comes after the Trump administration blacklisted more than two dozen Chinese businesses and put visa restrictions on Chinese officials for human rights abuses. Tariffs on $25 billion of Chinese goods are set to go up to 30 percent on Tuesday.
Well, tensions between China and the National Basketball Association have hit a new high. All of the NBA's official Chinese partners have now suspended ties with the league over last week's controversial twitch by the Houston Rockets General Manager. CNN's Brian Todd is following the developments including a bizarre offer from the outrageous former pro-basketball star Dennis Rodman to smooth things over.
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BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A banner promoting Thursday's NBA game in Shanghai between the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets is taken down. A media event for the game is called off today's media availability.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today's media availability has been postponed. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why? Because why?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Going upstairs.
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TODD: An NBA official in the U.S. tells us Thursday's game is still on, but that the media event was postponed simply because of the fluidity of the situation. Fluidity is putting it mildly. President Trump has just weighed in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you OK then with the Chinese government pressuring the NBA over Hong Kong?
TRUMP: They have to work out their own situation. The NBA, they know what they're doing.
TODD: Adding to the theater of the absurd, an offer via Twitter from the uneven, eccentric, self-styled NBA ambassador to North Korea, ex- All-Star Dennis Rodman to help mediate the NBA's crisis in China.
DENNIS RODMAN, FORMER NBA ALL-STAR: Commissioner Adam Silver, I know a thing or two about diplomacy. Book me a ticket to Shanghai with you. Ambassador Rodman.
BEN GOLLIVER, NATIONAL NBA WRITER, WASHINGTON POST: This is really a case of Dennis Robin being a skilled self-promoter, being very good on social media. I don't think that this crisis will be resolved by Dennis Rodman.
TODD: The NBA is not commenting on Rodman's offer. Analysts say it's emblematic of a public perception nightmare that has only spiraled over the past few days.
SCOTT KENNEDY, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: I think it's gotten far bigger than anyone expected. You would think just a couple words in a tweet issued from Houston wouldn't cost such a strong reaction on the other side of the planet. But the Chinese are extremely sensitive about any issues that touch on their red lines.
TODD: And Daryl Morey, General Manager of the Houston Rockets, didn't just touch that red line, he drove across it. Morey's weekend tweet in support of the Hong Kong protesters led Chinese state TV to pull NBA preseason games from its air, lead Chinese retailers to pull NBA merchandise, lead NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to first appear to side with China, then to reverse course, and say the NBA supports Morey's right to free speech. Now, the Chinese government continues to brush back against Silver, accusing him and Morey of, quote, "ulterior motives and arrogance." Is the NBA's labor of some 30 years building a multibillion dollar relationship with China about to come crashing down over a tweet?
GOLLIVER: The size and scope of their relationship is so big that it is mutually beneficial. I mean, clearly, it's in everybody's best interest to sort out a solution. Adam Silver, even back in June was saying that he hoped the NBA could be part of basketball diplomacy. This is a huge test for him as commissioner.
TODD: Analysts say it looks like just about everyone involved botched the response to Morey's tweet, including the always calculating leadership in Beijing.
KENNEDY: And the way they did it, they drew more attention to the Hong Kong, maybe draw more sympathy to the protesters. Their bet is -- will pay a small costs now. And hopefully, everyone will stay in line in the future.
TODD: Analysts say for the government in Beijing, it doesn't matter as much that more attention has been drawn to Hong Kong at least for the moment. They say what matters to the government in China is that this incident was an affront to Chinese dignity. And in those cases, they say, Beijing feels it has to lash out and punish. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: We'll take a short break here. Still to come, Rugby World Cup organizers have been forced to cancel two big matches on Saturday. When we return, which teams will sit it out due to a super typhoon, and what happens next. We'll take a look.
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[02:45:00]
CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, for the first time in the 32- year history of the Rugby World Cup, two big matches have been canceled because of expected bad weather. And it's not just your average storm, a powerful super typhoon is approaching Japan. And that means the matches on Saturday between England and France, and New Zealand and Italy have been scrapped.
Organizers say two points will be awarded to each team in line with tournament rules and they are still hoping some days matches will be played as scheduled.
Well, CNN "WORLD SPORT" anchor Alex Thomas, joins me now from Tokyo with more. So, Alex, first time in 32 years, the bad weather has derailed a Rugby World Cup. What is the latest on this?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: It was super Typhoon Hagibis is, as you say, a very strong one indeed. In fact, it's going to be the most powerful of this year's storm season here in Japan with winds gusting up as strong as almost 200 miles per hour. That's over 300-kilometers-per-hour.
Officials in Japan and along the route of the typhoon are saying to the public, do not travel, stay indoors, and anyway things like the bullet train and other possible links are going to be shut down.
So, with this in mind, as tournament director Alan Gilpin pointed out earlier, Rugby World Cup officials felt they had no choice but to cancel those two games on Saturday. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALAN GILPIN, DIRECTOR, WORLD RUGBY TOURNAMENT: As you can imagine, the decision to cancel these matches has not been taken lightly. And has been made with the best interests of team, public, tournament, and volunteer safety as a priority. Based on the expert advice and the detailed information we have available.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: Despite saying they're putting fans safety first, World Rugby, the governing body for the sports have been criticized for not having contingencies such as moving the games to another venue, not along the route of the Typhoon's path or holding another day delaying them by 24 or 48 hours.
I've been speaking to the governing body and they say there's all sorts of logistical reasons why that couldn't happen, and they did discuss it long and hard if you think of all the match officials, television match officials, referees, line judges, medical staffs, stewards, volunteers, plus the contracts that have with the stadiums for certain numbers of days and duration, it's too big a deal to do it.
Unfortunately, gets a stage we're in Pool A, if the Sunday's game between Japan and Scotland is called-off, the hosts will go through to their first-ever quarterfinal which will delight many around here but leave Scotland fuming. But their World Cup hopes have ended without having the chance to play, Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right, Alex Thomas, bringing us the very latest there from Tokyo. Many thanks to you, appreciate it.
All right. So, let's get more now on the typhoon threatening Japan. And meteorologist Derek Van Dam is here. And, of course, as you've heard from Alex Thomas, some people have criticized, why didn't you have some other plans in place?
But it's a huge operation, and there's really nowhere to run when you've got a super typhoon like that coming at you.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN INTERNATIONAL WEATHER ANCHOR: Yes, especially when you're talking about the cloud field of the storm is stretching over 2,500 kilometers. It is a massive storm, so to move the masses of people that are expected to attend these games to a different location in mainland Japan, we'll hardly put a dent on the impacts that will be felt across the area. It's just about where that direct landfall makes landfall.
Now, this storm is incredible not only is it large but we've learned from previous storms that we need to take it seriously. I've got a lot of family and friends right now, especially in South Africa who are paying such close attention to this because well, they've got the Springboks in Japan this weekend battling it out for the Rugby World Cup.
260-kilometer-per-hour sustained winds with our super typhoon that is a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane equivalent.
[02:50:13]
VAN DAM: Now, I talked about learning from the past, especially in Tokyo. We've had five named storms since July first impact mainland Japan. But it was Typhoon Faxai that made such a significant impact. That more a rode through the Tokyo region just about a month ago and that caused $7 billion in damage. That's an equivalent and in the United States, just as a comparison, Hurricane Matthew back in 2016 was just over $8 billion.
So, you can imagine the economic impacts. Let alone the impacts to the infrastructure. There are still some pending decisions for Sunday's Rugby World Cup matches. And I believe that they should be considered to be canceled as well of just because there could be some structural damage to some of the stadium's taking place there as well. So, that's going to be a consideration for those decision-makers as well.
Look at Hagibis' projected path. Right over Tokyo -- I mean, this is a worst-case scenario. Now, the good news out of all this, the silver lining is that climatologically speaking, most of these storms weakened this time of year as they approached mainland Japan and that's what we forecast.
But nonetheless, we still expect a Category 2 equivalent hurricane -- well, typhoon, I should say, to impact mainland Japan here as we head into Saturday. Landfall just west of Tokyo likely Saturday evening local time impacting the area into Sunday morning. And then, departing rather quickly, it'll be a major rainmaker, not only a wind maker.
So, the potential there for localized flooding and even the potential for some landslides and mudslides, especially in the mountainous region. So, we know matches have been canceled as the super typhoon approaches the country.
And wow, what an incredible impact that this storm will have as it makes its closest approach to Japan here within the next 24 to 48 hours. A busy weekend, but you asked whether or not this was the appropriate decision? Hands down, it is the best call that officials can make to cancel these matches.
CHURCH: All right. Do you think that in future, when they determine -- any of these organizations determine which country hosts a particular sporting event like this, they're going to have to start thinking about the changing in weather and how climate change is altered so many things?
VAN DAM: Yes. I couldn't agree more. But then, where is it safe to play?
CHURCH: Yes.
VAN DAM: Right? I mean --
(CROSSTALK)
CHURCH: England, somewhere.
VAN DAM: Maybe England, away from the coast? You're right, maybe that's the best call for future Rugby World Cup tournaments perhaps.
CHURCH: Yes, all right, Derek, always a pleasure. Thank you so much.
VAN DAM: Thank you, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Appreciate it. Well, kids say the darndest things and they also do the darndest things like interrupt their parents on live television. We round up some of the best-unexpected cameos. You have to watch this. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: OK, so, anything can happen on live T.V. We know about that. Such as the scene-stealing appearance by a child. And CNN's Jeanne Moos looks at what happens when kids and live T.V. collide.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's one thing to help a kid make a cameo. And another thing, when the kid's cameo is a sneak attack.
COURTNEY KUBE NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, MSNBC: Their concern is that they want -- their concern is that they want to have a Kurdish -- excuse me, my kids are here, live television.
MOOS: When in trouble, go to the map. MSNBC's national security correspondent couldn't keep herself secure from her own kid.
[02:55:08]
KUBE: Excuse me, my kids are here.
MOOS: "BBC dad, you're not alone anymore," someone tweeted. Referring to the most celebrated instance of kids barging into a T.V. interview. As Professor Robert Kelly tried to fend off his 4-year-old daughter, his 9-month-old son made his entrance.
ROBERT KELLY, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AT PUSAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY: I would surprise if they do.
MOOS: Followed by his wife, sliding in like it was a home plate, ducking, dragging out the kids.
KELLY: My apologies.
MOOS: Apologies, we loved it. In the recasting that followed featuring Spicer, Trump, Ben Carson, and Kellyanne Conway.
Now, maybe you think Rudy Giuliani has been making a spectacle of himself on T.V. lately. RUDY GIULIANI, ATTORNEY TO PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I'm not going to give you the documents. Why would I give you the documents?
MOOS: But remember, what his kid once did? 25 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I, Rudolph William Giuliani --
GIULIANI: I, Rudolph William Giuliani
ANDREW GIULIANI, SON OF RUDY GIULIANI: I, William Giuliani.
MOOS: Rudy's son help utter the mayoral oath of office.
R. GIULIANI: So, help me, God.
MOOS: And muscled in on the handshake. Even a ball-handler like Steph Curry had trouble handling his 2-year-old. Riley laughed to dad, told him to shush.
RILEY CURRY, DAUGHTER OF STEPHEN CURRY: Be quiet.
MOOS: And yawned.
STEPHEN CURRY, SIX-TIME ALL-STAR, NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION: You know, he play as well and obviously he did that for us.
MOOS: But sometimes, the parent can claim victory. Commentator Rachel Sklar did an entire interview on the subject of Barbie while breastfeeding. There was only one telltale tug of the top. And then at the very end, watched the tiny hand appear.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's cultural commentator Rachel Sklar, joining me.
MOOS: Give that kid a hand. Jeanne Moos.
KUBE: Live television.
MOOS: CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Love that story. OK, so, next time, you were shopping for Nike shoes online, beware. A sloppy swoosh is a red flag that something's wrong. Customs officials in Los Angeles seized more than 14,000 pairs of the phony footwear in two shipments from China.
The containers were labeled napkins that was to try to fool inspectors. Another tip-off, Nike's logo, those swooshes were taped onto the shoes and there were quotes around the word, air. Genuine Nikes can cost up to $2,000 a pair.
Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosewood Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter and I'll be back with more news in just a moment. You're watching CNN.
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[03:00:00]
