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Coalition Airstrikes Take Heavy Financial Toll on ISIS; Clinton & Sanders Discuss the Issues During CNN Town Hall; Age is Only a Number for Peyton Manning. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired February 04, 2016 - 06:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[06:31:12] MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: American-led coalition airstrikes are hitting the ISIS war machine where it hurts, in the pocketbook. The terrorist group once made $40 million a month selling oil, but sustained bombings have taken a big bite out of that.

CNN senior international correspondent Clarissa Ward got a firsthand look at the recently liberated oil field in northern Syria. She joins us live from Iraq.

And, Clarissa, I understand that some of what you found was really disturbing.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Michaela.

That's right. Well, not that long ago, oil really was ISIS' mainstream of revenue. They were making nearly $500 million a year on it. But after a protracted U.S. campaign of airstrikes, as well as plummeting oil prices, they were finally really starting to feel the pinch. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WARD (voice-over): Bubbling beneath this desolate landscape is the black gold that has funded the ISIS war machine.

Bat Shiro (ph) is a fighter with the Syrian Democratic forces who are battling ISIS in this part of the country. He showed us around an oil field in rural Hasaka that was seized from the militants two months ago.

ISIS earned a lot of money from these fields, he tells us. People from all over came here to buy their fuel.

You can still hear the hiss of gas but the pump is no longer operational. The U.S.-led coalition has been hammering ISIS' oil, which at one time generated $40 million a month. Airstrikes have targeted refineries, pumping stations and hit lines of tankers waiting for gas. Shiro says the militants learn to adapt.

"In each field, they put just one person as a cashier to sell the fuel and only one tanker could come at a time," he says. "They use this tactic because the planes are looking for big groups, not individuals."

But Kurdish fighters and U.S. airstrikes eventually forced ISIS in retreat. All that remains now of their presence is some graffiti.

(on camera): The Kurds and their Arab allies here are desperate to get the oil pumping again, but they have two major be pros. Firstly, the front lines are still just a few miles away from here and, secondly, they don't have the money or the expertise that they would need to start repairing the damage that has been done.

(voice-over): The trickle of oil will not become a flow for months or even longer, as ISIS fighters fled, they destroyed what they could. Electric cables were cut, booby traps were laid.

Only one facility was left untouched. Just behind the refinery, a row of tanks turned into an underground prison. Each cell held up to 15 are people, he tells us. Among them, women and children.

Written on the walls of one, a harrowing message, "I'm not afraid of dying but I feel the tears of my loved ones."

Shiro and his men are now starting to clear the wreckage left behind by ISIS but they can't erase the terror inflicted here.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WARD: And I just wanted to read more of that graffiti scrawled inside of that cell. It said, "Even if my eyes can't see you, my heart will never forget you," really giving you a sense of the terror that the people who were held there went through. And our tour guide Bat Shiro told us that those cells were reserved for those who ISIS deemed to be the worst offenders -- Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Clarissa, there is no substitute for being there and seeing the reality on the ground. Thank you for making the efforts to take our viewers there this morning. Appreciate it. Stay safe, my friend.

We're going to take a little break.

The big question last night, now the state of play in the Democratic side of the election.

[06:35:1] Who is more progressive? Clinton and Sanders tangle over that issue with the CNN town hall. Clinton on the defensive, Sanders steps up attacks.

New Hampshire's uphill battle for Hillary. What will it take to be considered a success? Answers ahead.

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CUOMO: These town halls, they make a difference. That is the consensus and reaction after watching last night. This time, a very fresh look at Clinton and Sanders going directly at each other and in response to actual New Hampshire voters at last night's town hall, just five days ahead of the nation's first primary. Remember, Iowa, a very different process.

So, last night, Clinton finding herself on the defensive much of the night, justifying her record.

Let's discuss this state of play. CNN politics executive editor, Mr. Mark Preston.

Mark, let's start with your general observations of the plus/minus for each last night.

MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Well, look, Chris, it was just last week when you did the first town hall in Iowa. They both came out of it very strong. Not very often you have both campaigns looking at you afterwards and saying, thank you for the opportunity for us to address these issues.

You know, the big takeaway at the very end, it was very interesting, hearing from some of our media colleagues is that they said, you know what, these formats are better than debates.

No, I don't necessarily think so because you need that exchange.

[06:40:03] But at this moment in time when we know so much about their positions, it's really about how they answer these hard questions, Chris, and also for us to dip in and find out a little bit about them more personally, because all we see them is through policy positions and this fighting to try to win the nomination.

CUOMO: Sanders had the big stick on two issues last night primarily against Clinton. The first was the vote on the war. You did not hear Hillary Clinton mentioning, hey, the information was bad. We got bad intel, even out of the mouth of the Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Why not -- why isn't that seen as a perceived rejoinder and how big does this play?

PRESTON: Because I think at some point, Chris, when you're dealing with a Democratic primary right now, when she's trying to get liberals to come rally to her and eschew Bernie Sanders, you just got to be forgiving, you got to say, I'm sorry, and she has said that over and over again.

But to your point, Bernie Sanders was hitting that home last night. He said it on more than one occasion on this whole theme about being a progressive and what he was trying to convey over to his supporters and for those who are on the fence, that a progressive would have never voted for the Iraq war and he tried to hammer that home last night in Derry.

CUOMO: Money for the banks. Everyone takes money for speeches, assuming that you are desirable for speaking engagements, but the source of it, the banks, seems to be the big sin. How did that play?

PRESTON: Again, it was an interesting exchange between Anderson Cooper and her when he asked her, why did you take $675,000 in speeches and she basically was caught off guard.

I think if there was a moment that was a bad moment for Hillary Clinton and we can all agree on this, when she said, well, that's what they offered, which got a little laughter from the audience but a subdued laughter. Probably not the best answer for Hillary Clinton you give at this time.

But, your point, that is what Bernie Sanders has been hitting home. His idea is, how does somebody who is regulating or supposed to regulate Wall Street as the president of the United States, how can they do that if, at the same time, they are taking such large amounts of money on speaking fees.

CUOMO: Quick side point, Preston, can you give us an example of subdued laughter? Is that in somehow a contradiction to a guffaw, or some kind of large outburst? Is it more just like a -- kind of thing?

PRESTON: There we go, I want to pass it off to Alisyn. She's doing a very good job at how do you that.

CUOMO: No, it was very good.

Very good. Let me ask you this. The big --

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: I was guffawing --

(LAUGHTER)

CUOMO: The big plus for Clinton last night in terms of what she was using on Sanders was, look, I'm ready day one. I've been involved in all of these decisions. Everybody is saying they'd make a great commander in chief. How do they know when they've never been 100 miles of a major decision?

How did that play?

PRESTON: You know, for Hillary Clinton, that's your biggest strength right now, secretary of state, U.S. senator, eight years as first lady. I mean, she's got the experience. No question about it.

And whatever she's talking about these major issues to deal with, whether it's foreign policy issues and it is Iraq dealing with Iraq or dealing with these other issues, she's been at the negotiating table. When you're a U.S. senator, you're not necessarily at the negotiating table. You're passing policy. You might be voting on nominations and what have you.

Hillary Clinton will keep saying over and over again, I've been to all of these countries. I have sat across from world leaders. I've tried to get them to try to come to our side. It's not an easy job but it's a job that I've done. And that's really her biggest asset right now.

CUOMO: Very interesting state of play, we remember, against Barack Obama and then senator, the 3:00 a.m. phone call ad Hillary Clinton ran then. Now, Bernie Sanders is saying, when that call came, you ended up making the wrong judgment, which was the Iraq war. Very interesting.

Thank you very much as always. Appreciate it, Mr. Preston.

Mick?

PEREIRA: The guffaw is usually what we do to you. So, I think the exact --

CUOMO: Guffaw implies mocking. Is that what you mean?

PEREIRA: Yes. What happens here --

CUOMO: All right. So, somebody's laughter is like we're not crazy about this, but we are --

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: All right, exactly. Especially with the lips.

All right. The big question on Monday, will Peyton Manning be super on Sunday? The Broncos quarterback raising a new health issue just a few days before Super Bowl's 50. We have details ahead in the bleacher report.

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[06:48:15] CAMEROTA: Super Bowl 50 just three days away as I can tell you even without a teleprompter. Peyton Manning is trying to become the oldest quarterback to ever win football's biggest prize.

Andy Scholes is live from Super Bowl City in downtown San Francisco with this morning's bleacher report.

Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning, Alisyn.

You know, at 39 years old, Peyton is the oldest quarterback to even play in a Super Bowl, surpassing his boss John Elway, who won a Super Bowl for the Broncos when he was 38 years old.

Now, we all know Peyton has had his share of struggles this season. He missed six games due to injury and when he did play, this was the worst season of his career. You know, the neck surgeries, the injuries have taken a toll on Peyton over the years. But in Peyton fashion, he was in a joking mood when discussing his health heading into Sunday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PEYTON MANNING, BRONCOS QUARTERBACK: Certainly, when you have injuries, when you have surgeries, you know, the doctor sometimes will mention to you whether you ask him or not how you're probably headed for a hip replacement, you know, at a certain time in your life. And I said, doc, I didn't ask you if I'm going to need a hip replacement. I don't need to know that at age 37 but thank you for sharing. I look forward to that day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: All right. Curry was just making the Wizards look silly last night in the nation's capital. Curry was doing it all last night. He made 11 three-pointers in the game, finished with 51 points, only played 35 minutes. The Warriors easily won that one, 134-121.

And today, Curry and the Warriors will be at the White House with President Obama. He's going to honor them for winning last year's NBA championship. President Obama is a big Bulls fan. I'm sure he's going to poking at the Warriors, telling them, hey, slow down because he doesn't want them to beat their old time best record of 72-10.

CUOMO: The game has got to respect game and Steph Curry has reminded all of us that this a skill sport, not just being tall and strong, you know?

[06:50:06] I mean, it's just amazing what he's done.

So I'm coming out there, my brother. I'll be in San Francisco later today. What can you tell me? Where do I want to go? Where do I not want to go? What's my best angle? What have you got?

SCHOLES: I can tell you the traffic is very bad here all day in downtown pretty much San Francisco. But we need to hit up some of the great restaurants that are around here because I haven't got to eat anywhere I've been here. I've been so busy.

CUOMO: Well, I've got a big appetite and a corporate card, my brother. I'm on my way.

SCHOLES: I can't.

CUOMO: That deserves a chuckle.

(LAUGHTER)

CAMEROTA: Oh my goodness. You sound like a joker.

CUOMO: Do I?

PEREIRA: Yes, terrifyingly.

CUOMO: I'm going out there for the show tomorrow night. We're doing a Super Bowl special as well.

CAMEROTA: Exciting.

PEREIRA: It will be good.

CUOMO: Uh-huh.

CAMEROTA: New Hampshire voters, why don't you take it?

CUOMO: I will.

New Hampshire voters putting Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders to the test. We're going to speak with two people who asked Democratic rivals difficult questions and discuss.

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[06:55:27] CUOMO: The beauty of the town hall is that it isn't just candidates playing off one another but responding to real voters and their concerns.

Last night, Clinton and Sanders were put to the test during our town hall in New Hampshire. So, we're going to speak to two of those voters in just a moment.

But, first, here's what they asked the candidates.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENISE SPENARD, ASKED BERNIE SANDERS A QUESTION AT TOWN HALL: I'm running a marathon this year again with my husband.

(APPLAUSE)

So, my kids are going to be out there spectating. And I can only think about their safety while they're out there.

So, my question to you is, what are your plans of keeping us safe from terrorism?

RABBI JONATHAN SPIRA-SAVEET, ASKED HILLARY CLINTON A QUESTION AT TOWN HALL: How do you cultivate the ego, the ego we all must know that a person must have to be a leader of the free world, and also the humility to recognize that we know that you can't be expected to be wise of all of the things that the president has to be responsible for?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: Big questions. So, joining us now, Rabbi Jonathan Spira-Saveet, the rabbi of Temple Beth Abraham in Nassau, New Hampshire, and Denise Spenard, who is injured in the Boston bombing terror attack.

It's great to have you both here.

Rabbi, I want to start with you and I want to play Hillary Clinton's response to your profound question.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: I've had to be in public dealing with some very public issues and personal issues, political, public issues. And I read a treatment of the prodigal son parable by a Jesuit Henri Nouwen who I think is a magnificent writer, spiritual and theological concerns. And I read that parable and there was a line in it that just became a lifeline for me. And it basically is, "practice the discipline of gratitude."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: The discipline of gratitude.

Rabbi, was Clinton's answer suggestive of a mitzpah (ph) or a shanda? Did you like the answer?

SPIRA-SAVETT: Well, I thought that she spoke for -- it was one of the longest answers I think that she gave to a question the whole evening. And I really felt that it was a kind of question that isn't being asked a whole lot and that she really wanted to have a chance to speak about some of those things about her soul and who she is.

And I thought that it was just very thoughtful and wonderful that a candidate would take that time to think it out. It seemed that she was contemporaneous and not just giving a canned answer.

CAMEROTA: Yes, it was such a great answer, Rabbi, because, you know, that's not one that you typically here on the campaign trail. And if you listen, certainly a different response than any of us have ever heard.

The same is true of yours, Denise. You asked a question that's very close to your heart and personal. You're running in the Boston marathon again and you wanted to know how our leaders can assure you that your children on the sidelines will be safe.

So, here's Bernie's answer to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTAIL CANDIDATE: For a start, in my view, we have got to crush ISIS, right, first off. And as somebody who voted against the war in Iraq, what I believe is going to be learned lessons of that war. So, we have to destroy ISIS but we have to be not just tough, we have to be smart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Denise, what did you think of that answer?

SPENARD: I thought it was a very good answer. I mean, that's got to be a tough thing to do. He sounds like he has a plan and he's beefing up what we already have going out there.

CAMEROTA: I mean, of course it wasn't specific to your question. I mean, in terms of how to keep your kids safe on the sidelines during the Boston marathon, but was it OK that he gave a more overarching answer?

SPENARD: Absolutely, absolutely. And that's what I had expected as well. So -- I mean, to zero in just on that one occasion, I know they have been working hard on that because of last year. I was there and there was heightened security and I think Bernie is going to heighten it even more.

CUOMO: Yes, we were there and there's no question that Boston locked it down, living Boston strong up there, doing the right thing from a policy, and also that enthusiasm of the people up there responding to terrorism by getting out there and living their lives.

Rabbi, let's end on this -- what was the big moment for you last night and what did it make you think in terms of who you want as your nominee?

SPIRA-SAVETT: Well, I think the big moment, as I said, was the thoughtfulness and what I hope is an example for both of those candidates as they go forward.