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U.S. Condemns North Korean Launch; Mall Shooting Rampage; Trade Cliff Proposals; CNN Sees Syrian Chemical Plant

Aired December 12, 2012 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Here's his picture. No motive yet. We're told the two people he killed did not know him. We have their images for you here. We'll have much more on their lives in just a moment.

Also, a teenage girl in serious condition right now. Here's the sheriff.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF CRAIG ROBERTS, CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON: All of us have to recognize that this was a heart-breaking tragedy by any standard and many, many people will be affected by this terrible act of violence every day for the rest of their lives. And we should keep them in our thoughts and prayers. On the other hand, I think we all need to be very thankful that this incident wasn't much worse.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: We will take you live to Portland for more on the shooter in just a moment here. But first, the victims. And this is where this briefing got emotional. I want you to listen here to the sheriff spokesman describe the victims and the requests on behalf of the families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SGT. ADAM PHILLIPS, CLACKAMAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE: This first statement comes from the family of Cindy Yuille, age 54, from Portland. "Cindy was everybody's friend. She was a wonderful person who was very caring and put others first." The family has advised us they want time and space to grieve their loss and will not be giving interviews at this time. The family will make a statement at an unspecified later date through the sheriff's office.

This is a statement from the Forsyth family. "Steven Matthew Forsyth was a loving husband, father of two children, a son, a brother, an uncle, a long-time youth sports coach, and a friend to the many people who had the privilege to meet him. Steve was one of the most passionate people with a true entrepreneurial spirit that drove him to start his business, Coastums (ph). He had a great sense of humor and a zest for life. He had a vision and a belief in others that brought great joy and value to many lives. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him."

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: And, again, we have our correspondent standing by. Of all places it's called Happy Valley, Oregon. We'll take you there in minutes.

Meantime, a defiant North Korea took the U.S. somewhat by surprise today, firing this long range rocket several days earlier than expected. The launch is raising worldwide concerns about the reclusive government's plans for its nuclear arsenal. The rocket was not carrying a warhead. North Korea claims it launched a science satellite. The defense secretary, Leon Panetta, talked to Erin Burnett. Said that the U.S. is still evaluating whether the rocket launch was, in fact, a success. The secretary of defense said this. Quote, "we have no idea. We're still assessing just exactly what happened to determine whether or not it really was a success," end quote.

Just eight months ago, North Korea totally flubbed a launch attempt. The rocket broke apart after 90 seconds and fizzled into the ocean. Jim Clancy, CNN International, here.

Talk to me, I guess first, the fact that this was a surprise. How did North Korea get this past the U.S.?

JIM CLANCY, CNN INTERNATIONAL : Well, it didn't really get it past the U.S. It had said itself that it had a few problems, was going to delay the launch. Then suddenly, on 12-12-12 --

BALDWIN: 12-12-12.

CLANCY: On the Asian, a very, you know, day of fortune for many, and Kim Jong-il, I would say, got very lucky. The three latest attempts had all failed. And this one appears, appears to be a success. Something is in orbit.

BALDWIN: So we know that the rocket range is something like 5,000, 6,000 kilometers. What does the distance tell you?

CLANCY: Well, it's technology. It's a three stage rocket. That's what's significant here.

BALDWIN: Tells you it's advanced.

CLANCY: It tells you -- it's more advanced. This is 1950s scud technology that they've built on. A lot of people thought they would never get this far with it. But obviously they've made incremental advances. So in that sense, it poses a threat.

And, remember, while they were celebrating in the streets of Pyongyang, there were probably also celebrating in the control rooms in Iran because those two share their missile technology.

BALDWIN: What about ally, China? China saying that --

CLANCY: That was a big surprise.

BALDWIN: Let me quote, "expressed regret," quote/unquote. CLANCY: Regret.

BALDWIN: Regret from China?

CLANCY: Their -- well, you see, China's been their backer, tried to support them quietly in all these talks. But for them to come out today and say we regret that this happened --

BALDWIN: North Korea further isolating themselves.

CLANCY: Further isolating themselves. And look at this from another perspective, too. They didn't fire it anywhere close to Japan, because the Japanese have set up anti-ballistic missiles. And they had told the North Koreans, we will shoot them down.

Remember what the fundamentals are of this North Korean missile program. First of all, they'll sell it to anybody that has the cash. But, second of all, it's blackmail. Give us money for food, give us money for technology, give us money, give us energy, give us oil, otherwise we may kill a whole lot of people. We're going to be out there with that threat. And they will be appeased. Strategy isn't working with the South Koreans. It isn't working with the Japanese. Other Asians are now lining up. They're looking at all of this and saying, we -- you know, we can't allow this. This country to hold us, you know, at risk, constantly, to get what it wants.

BALDWIN: Jim Clancy, thank you, on North Korea and this rocket launch here.

Now back to Oregon. We feel your shock and we feel your grief today and now the shock of learning the gunman, who opened fire at this crowded mall, 10,000 people inside, was 22 years old. Here he was. This is the picture just handed out by Oregon officials.

I want to bring in Dan Simon. He is outside this mall. This is suburban Portland.

Dan, I mean, I was listening to the news earlier. The sheriff walked us through basically what we refer to as a timeline, a tick tock of the shooting. What did he reveal?

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, hi, Brooke. We'll get to that in a minute. But first of all, authorities wanted to stress that the shooter in this case, Jacob Tyler Roberts, acted alone. There was a lot of speculation that perhaps he was with others, but they said time and time again that this was a sole person who went on a rampage, no terrorist attack or anything of that nature.

The way they explained the narrative in terms of how this took place, they said that Roberts entered the mall on the second floor, going through the Macy's store, and then rushed towards the food court area. That's where the shots rang out. That's where the mayhem occurred and where all three victims were shot.

They say at that point police responded very quickly and actually arrived at the mall within one minute after the shots rang out. And Roberts, apparently in a desperate move, went downstairs to the first level, got in a corner and then shot himself. Here's how authorities described what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF CRAIG ROBERTS, CLACKAMAS COUNTY, OREGON: The suspect pulled his vehicle in front of Macy's, parked his car, exited, and moved in a rapid manner toward the food court. A lot of folks reported that he was running, moving quickly. Left his car, opened fire in this general area. He ended up striking two victims that both died of their injuries. There were some medical staff and other people that rendered aid.

Following this, the individual fled down this -- along this corridor, out, down a back hallway down to some stairs, which is -- this is actually on the upper level. He came down the stairs to the lower level and back in this corner is where he shot himself.

And one of the things that we located, a victim, that was transported to OHSU, this was her. We believe she was up in this area, but was able to come out through the front Macy's, work her way down to near REI. That's where law enforcement officers met with her and she was subsequently transported.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dan, one question. As I was listening to that newser a moment ago as well and he stressed -- I mean it's incredible, especially this time of year, we're talking 10,000 people and he said many people, thanking them, kept level heads, got themselves out of the mall, many, many heroes. So as there are two lives lost, to quote the sheriff, this could have been so much worse.

SIMON: That's exactly right. And one other reason perhaps why more people weren't shot is at one point the weapon, described as an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, jammed. And authorities said that's one of the reasons why perhaps more people weren't injured or shot during this attack. We can also tell you that that weapon, the AR-15, was stolen from a friend yesterday, according to authorities. And, of course, we're learning a lot more information and we'll bring it to you as the day unfolds.

Brooke.

BALDWIN: We'll wait for the updates. Dan Simon for us in the Portland area, thank you.

And before we do move on here, I just want you to listen to one more thing. This is from the Clackamas County sheriff as he pretty much sums up what many of us are thinking.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CRAIG ROBERTS, CLACKAMAS COUNTY SHERIFF: The mall is supposed to be a place that we can all take our families, feel comfortable that this is a great place, especially at the holiday season like this. And these things aren't supposed to happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: These things aren't supposed to happen. We have heard those words in some form before.

A man suffering from amnesia has no identity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Benjamin Cot (ph). You don't know who I am. And, quite frankly, neither do I.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: He'll join me live on what could be his last chance at having a past and finding a future.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

An assassin on the loose after a hit in broad daylight. Details about the victim's past revealed.

An asteroid barely misses earth and we had no warning.

Plus, a former Marine is behind bars in Mexico. What's happening to him there is causing one senator to ring the alarm.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Here is where we are on the fiscal cliff talks. We are less than three weeks now from that 1-2 punch of tax increases and government spending cuts and the two sides appear to be moving farther apart. Here's House Speaker John Boehner describing his latest negotiations with the president just over the phone last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There were some offers that were exchanged back and forth yesterday. And, you know, the president and I had a pretty frank conversation about just how far apart we are.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dana Bash is our senior congressional correspondent. She has unearthed some surprising new details here about the speaker's latest offer to the president.

Dana, what can you tell us?

DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we were told first earlier today by a Democratic source that part of the reason why that phone call between the president and the speaker didn't go so well, to put it mildly, is because part of the Republican counteroffer that they sent to the White House yesterday included a renewed call for, quote, "permanent tax cuts" for the wealthiest Americans. Now, we know that that is a nonstarter in general for the president. And he's said it umpteen times. But the Democrats at the White House felt that just even to put the word "permanent" in a Republican offer made clear, according to the source I talked to, that it was -- that they just don't understand what needs to be done to get something to pass the Senate and the House, or to get, more importantly, the president to sign something. That's one of the main reasons why there's a lot of tension today.

I can also tell you on the Republican side, the speaker wasn't happy because he simply does not think, and he said this in private to Republicans today, as well as in public, that he doesn't think the president has done enough to offer spending cuts. So that is why they are further apart than they were before.

BALDWIN: But also, as you listen to these Republicans, you know, more and more they seem to be saying that the president is being unreasonable, not really budging. In fact, I know you talked this morning to Trent Franks of Arizona. He went as far to say, let me quote him, "the president is out of touch with reality." Let's listen to some of that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TRENT FRANKS (R), ARIZONA: I never speak to the negotiations because I think the speakers at a profound disadvantage in the negotiations as it is.

BASH: Why?

FRANKS: Simply because he's got a recalcitrant Senate and a president that simply is out of touch with reality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: That's his opinion. Maybe the opinion of other Republicans as well.

But let me share this with our viewers. We have this brand-new poll and it shows nearly half of the public approves of how the president's handling the talks. Only 25 percent, they say, you know, they say the same for Boehner.

We do have one more poll. This is really the big kahuna. It shows 65 percent believe the voters gave the president a mandate to raise tax rates on the wealthy. So, Dana Bash, given all of that, do we have any idea what the Republican calculus is here and apparently hardening now their position on the taxes?

BASH: You know, I'm not really sure if, in reality, their position is hardening on raising -- or in keeping tax cuts in place for the wealthiest Americans. It may have been on paper in the proposal. Certainly Democrats are using that today. That is definitely the story line of the day. Democrats are using it politically against Republicans. But I talked to so many Republicans, Trent Franks is one of them, who kind of, you know, shrugged their shoulders and say that they understand that they don't have leverage, as you just illustrated in that poll. That the Democrats have leverage for a number of reasons, whether it is the amount of -- that the president won by, politically, or just the substance of this argument, the Democrats are winning when you talk about taxes.

But what the speaker has been able to successfully do, and it happened again behind closed doors today, is keep his party behind him in the House by turning their anger towards the president for not calling for spending cuts. And that is the dynamic that we're seeing still today. That's why the speaker has been able to keep his troops in line.

BALDWIN: Keep us posted, Dana Bash. We appreciate it here. Twenty days to go until those automatic tax increases, spending cuts go into effect.

From a Democrat to an Independent here to a vice presidential candidate, moments ago, long time Senator Joe Lieberman called it quits on the Senate floor. We will play you what exactly it was he said, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Joe Lieberman joked on the Senate floor today that when he became a senator, a blackberry was merely a fruit. The reflection came in his farewell speech as he prepares to leave his seat after 24 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: During my time here in Washington, we have had our first female secretary of state, nominated and confirmed, and our first African-American president elected and re-elected. And it will forever remain one of my deepest honors, that thanks to Vice President Gore, I was given the opportunity to be the first Jewish American nominated by a major political party for national office. And incidentally thanks to the American people, grateful to have received a half million more votes than my opponent on the other side. But that's a longer story. So while there is still much work to do, and many problems to be solved, I believe we can and should approach our future with a confidence that is based on the real and substantial progress we've made together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Senator Lieberman also thanked the staff and the security at the Capitol for all their service. Thanked his parents who, by the way, never went to college, but saw their American dream fulfilled when he and his siblings did.

A CNN exclusive here. Something the Syrian government does not want seen. Our camera crew inside Syria got dangerously close to a chemical weapons productions plant. What did our crew find? We'll show you right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: President Obama sends a clear message to Syrian President Bashar al Assad, saying the U.S. now recognizes the rebel coalition fighting against Assad's crumbling regime. The president made that declaration in an interview with ABC's Barbara Walters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Keep in mind here, what he just said, that doesn't mean that the U.S. will be arming the rebel forces. The declaration is just intended to be a showing of support.

But all of this comes one day after a group of rebel fighters called the al Nursa Front, they were labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. President Obama quick to say there is a clear distinction between terrorists and what he's calling legitimate forces. Some say this latest flurry of diplomacy was triggered by the threat that Assad would use chemical weapons against his own people. CNN's Arwa Damon is in Aleppo and has been trying to get close to this plant believed to be one of Syria's largest chemical weapons factories. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In most of these villages, we don't dare stop. While no longer fully controlled by the government, the regime spies still lurk. And we're snaking our way towards a facility the government most certainly does not want us to see. A site that multiple sources on the ground say is where the Assad regime produces chemical weapons. A place called the Scientific Research Facility.

To the southeast of Aleppo lies the town of al Safita (ph). On its outskirts, a sprawling factory. Manufacturing anything from containers to long-range missiles. This is as close as we can get before we hear an aircraft overhead and quickly leave.

To the southeast of that, according to our sources, is the Scientific Research Facility.

DAMON (on camera): From here we can see the outer most perimeter of the general research facility. And the fighters are telling us that it is amongst the most heavily guarded areas where they're operating. The village right below it, that is filled with government loyalists. So this is about as far as we can go.

DAMON (voice-over): Abu Obaida commands the Dela Al Shaba (ph) brigade that has fighters surrounding the facility, tasked by his commanders with isolating, but not attacking it.

"The regime might take extreme actions if we try to assault, so we're just militarily choking it off," he tells us.

On all sides, it is surrounded by rolling hills. We're being escorted by a defective soldier who worked on the inside and a rebel fighter from the area. We've agreed not to reveal their identities. At one point, between the two hilltops, a man-made barrier.

DAMON (on camera): We have to be very careful filming through here, but visible on the side of the mountains are what rebel fighters with us are telling us were the former positions that government troops used to occupy. Since the Free Syrian Army moved into this area, government forces have pulled further and closer to the facility itself.

DAMON (voice-over): This man was recently captured by the rebels. He says he led a unit whose job was to patrol part of the perimeter. Artillery units are positioned on the hilltops. He agreed to be interviewed if we disguised his identity and his voice. He says that soldiers like him were constantly searched. Their calls monitored, forbidden from seeing people who entered the main building. They arrived escorted by armed guards, concealed from sight. "It was even forbidden for us to ask about it. If we did, we were punished," he tells us.

They were under orders to shoot to kill anyone who approached, even a civilian, within 300 meters. He says that around five months ago, regular employees stopped arriving. "And what I overheard is that those who were allowed to leave were Syrians, and those inside were foreigners. We saw large quantities of food still being delivered," he says.

Defectors have previously told CNN that Iranian scientists have often worked here. There's no way to confirm that. Portions of the complex are underground. The hilltops have tunnels as well, guarded, we are told, by up to 5,000 soldiers.

The fear of chemical weapons has further traumatized people. In Aleppo, Doctor Hamza says he began requests precautionary supplies six months ago. Some Atropine has arrived, but no chemical suits.

DAMON (on camera): You're going to make your own chemical suits?

DR. HAMZA, ALEPPO ACTIVIST: Yes, we tried to do that right now. We have, like, two pieces, chemical suits, and --

DAMON: You make your own?

HAMZA: Yes, exactly. Because we tried to get chemical suits, but now we couldn't.

DAMON (voice-over): At secret sites around the city, he says, medical teams will be provided with atrophine and training in case government forces resort to chemical weapons. But in reality, people can do little more than pray, that Syria's war doesn't lead to such a catastrophe. Arwa Damon, CNN, Aleppo Province.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: Making their own chemical suits. Arwa Damon, thank you.

Now to this one, this man, lost his past, has no idea who he is. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Amazed, absolutely floored, just about ready to cry, actually.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Ready to cry over getting this, an I.D., and now he and a filmmaker are taking his fight to the White House. We'll tell you why he says a nine digit number will open the door for him having a future.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)