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Wolf

Newly Released Video Shows Caged Prisoners; Egypt Calls for Unified Arab Force; Common Enemy Could Rally Arab Nations; Captured Soldiers Paraded in Cages; African Forces Prepare for the Enemy; Al Shabaab Calls for Attacks on Malls

Aired February 23, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington, 6:00 p.m. in London, 9:00 p.m. in Erbil, Iraq. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

We begin with new developments in the fight against ISIS. And a chilling video being released by the militant group. This time showing 21 Kurdish prisoners being held in cages. CNN can't verify when this video was shot or the fate of the men being held inside. But it does show ISIS is not giving up on its aggressive propaganda fight despite pressure from the U.S.-led coalition.

We're also hearing from the president of Egypt who says his country has now had enough. He's calling for a new Arab coalition to fight ISIS across the entire region.

We're covering these developments. Ian Lee is standing by in Cairo. Ben Wedeman is in Erbil in northern Iraq. Ben, what do we know about this released video showing these Peshmerga fighting being held in these cages?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, this is a video that was posted on Facebook yesterday. What you see is these 21 Kurdish fighters. We believe most of them were captured by ISIS at the end of January when it attacked the city of Kirkuk to the southeast of here. They -- you see them clad in these bright orange jumpsuits. Their hands in chains. They're led to cages where they're interviewed by a bearded man with a microphone. On that microphone is an ISIS logo. Among other things, one of the prisoners tells him that he call -- well, basically, he calls upon his colleagues in the Peshmerga to stop fighting ISIS or they will suffer a similar fate.

Then, we see them still in their cages on the backs of pickup trucks going through what we believe is the town of Huija (ph) which is just south of Kirkuk. And towards the end of the video, you see flashes of still photographs of some of those Egyptians who were killed early last week, beheaded by ISIS in Libya. Now, it doesn't appear, from the video, of course, that the Kurdish prisoners have been executed but it certainly suggested that may be their fate -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Well, you're there with the Kurds in Erbil. A lot of Peshmerga fighters are with you. What's been the reaction there among the Kurds to this video? WEDEMAN: Well, obviously, when this sort of video becomes public,

it's very upsetting for many people because almost everybody here has a relative who is in the Peshmerga, who is in the front lines. Some of these Peshmerga, in fact, were captured not on the front lines but while they were trying to hitch rides back home from their bases and the front lines. People are angry. But, at the same time, keep in mind that the Peshmerga have been fighting ISIS since last summer, that the Peshmerga, actually on the front lines, are doing better than anybody else in Syria or Iraq when it comes to fighting ISIS. Just over the weekend, ISIS tried to break through the front lines to the south of here. The Kurds repulsed them. They were helped by coalition aircraft, killed 50 ISIS fighters. So, propaganda is one thing. Reality on the front line seems to be something completely different -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Yes, we know the Peshmerga. The Kurdish fighters are fierce. They're courageous. Unfortunately, they don't have the weaponry they really need. Let's see if that changes. Ben Wedeman in Irbil, thank you.

Let's get to another significant development we're watching right now. This time in Egypt. That country's president saying it's time for, quote, "a united Arab force to take on ISIS." This is something the U.S. would undoubtedly welcome. Ian Lee is our man in Cairo. Ian, what's the significant -- significance of this dramatic announcement from the Egyptian president, El Sisi?

IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, he made this announcement last night when he was addressing the nation on an array of issues. ISIS was front and center. He said that the need is growing for this united Arab force and it is becoming more apparent every day. He didn't give many details about what that actually meant. We reached out to the presidency's office. They didn't offer up much clarification. But in the speech, he reiterated multiple times that the Egyptian army was a defensive army, there to protect its quarters. But if it were needed regionally, it could be possible with the cooperation of their Arab brothers.

This isn't the first time we've heard an Egyptian president call for a pan Arab coalition like this. The late Egyptian president, Gamal Abdel Nasser, championed this as well. But, today, we have a different threat. ISIS, for these -- it's a huge threat for many of these countries. It's touched almost every single one. And they're definitely concerned about it and want to address it -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We'll stay on top of this part of the story as well. Ian, thank you.

Let's get a closer look to what's going on right now. Joining us now, our CNN Global Affairs Analyst, the Delta Force commander, retired Lieutenant Colonel James Reese; also CNN Intelligence and Security Analyst, the former and CIA operative, Bob Baer; and our National Security Analyst Peter Bergen.

Colonel Reese, what do you make of this proposal for a united Arab force? That would be boots on the ground, as they say, combat forces to go in there and destroy ISIS and Iraq, in Syria, in Libya, presumably elsewhere that they might develop. How realistic is this idea?

LT. COL. JAMES REESE, CNN GLOBAL AFFAIRS ANALYST: Wolf, good afternoon. Strategically, boy, it sounds great and it would be a great piece for all of these Arab nations to get together. And especially remember, the GCC, the Gulf Council Countries, they already have a force called Peninsula Shield, about 40,000 folks. So, strategically, it's a great idea and it's great for us in the U.S. to get the Arab forces out in front. However, tactically is where you start to run into problems in commanding and controlling.

Now, a few years ago, the U.S. helped bolster that command and control in the GCC by setting up a joint command headquarters, also, to help the aspects which Egypt is not part of. But, again, what I like to see strategically is at least we're talking about it and maybe we can help get some momentum to really make this an Arab fight which we've been trying to get for quite a while.

BLITZER: The GCC, the Gulf Cooperation Council, including the UAE in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain in Kuwait, other countries in that area. What do you think, Bob Baer? Is this possible to form this kind of coalition that President El Sisi is talking about?

ROBERT BAER, CNN INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY ANALYST: Well, Wolf, it's an uphill road. I mean, I think we've advanced since 1967. But, remember, that's the last joint Arab force and they got whipped by the Israelis in six days. Yet, in 1973, you have Syria and Egypt fighting on the same sides but same effect.

So, I have never seen the Arabs cooperate, and especially in an offensive, which is what it would take. You know, the biggest army in the Gulf is the Saudi army. I don't have much confidence in it. The tribal level (ph) is pretty good but they've never -- they've never invaded another country and they've certainly never cooperated, tactically as Colonel Reese says, with the UAE or the other Gulf countries. So, at the end of the day, I think this is a long shot.

BLITZER: What about in Iraq, Peter? Because the Iraqi military is a huge military. Unfortunately, they are missing in action. They simply abandoned their positions when ISIS came into Mosul last June. They left their U.S. weaponry behind. But is there hope that this Iraqi military now can regroup, be retrained, the U.S. will spend a lot of money, a lot of effort, to try to get them up to par so they can go in there and destroyed ISIS in Iraq?

PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Well, you know, if history is a guide, that would be an optimistic view, I think. I mean, a lot of money and a lot of effort did go into training the Iraqi army and there were problems. I mean, it was -- you know, the -- it was overly -- the officer call was too sheer, not enough Sunnis. And, you know, if you could change the kind of ethnic complexion of the Iraqi army, you might have a better shot.

BLITZER: You know, Colonel Reese, when you see that video of the Peshmerga fighters who are being held in cages, in steel cages, this video that ISIS has released, we know what the impact was when ISIS released that video of those Egyptians in Libya being beheaded. The Egyptians reacted powerfully. We know what happened when the Jordanians saw the video of their pilot being burned alive in one of those cages. They reacted. What's the likely impact, among the Kurds, when they see these kinds of pictures?

REESE: Well, I will tell you, Wolf, if anything happens to those Kurdish Peshmerga forces, that happened to both the Egyptian Christians or their Jordanian pilots, there will be hell to pay by the Peshmerga on ISIS. The Peshmerga does not mess around.

That being said, I also believe that ISIS realizes that now and I've seen some reports and some discussions about that they might be looking at doing some type of swap between the two of them to get their folks back. But you don't mess with the Peshmerga.

BLITZER: Yes, that's well said. All right, I want all you to stand by.

Preparing for the battle against terrorists in Africa. African elite units, they are training right now with special operations' forces from the United States and Europe to respond to the growing threat from terrorists groups. Our Arwa Damon is in Chad. She'll have an exclusive report.

Plus with a Somalia based terror group staged a bloody attack at a Kenya mall back in 2013. Now, Al Shabaab is calling for similar attacks in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We have details. Stay with us.

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BLITZER: There has been a new terror threat against the west. This time, it's against the very public target, shopping malls. Al Shabaab, that's the group behind the 2013 attack on a shopping center in Kenya, is calling for similar attacks at malls across the west. In a video that went on for more than an hour, they actually named malls they think would make suitable targets. One is in Canada, one is in London and a third is the Mall of -- is the Mall of Americas -- America in Minnesota. And that's where CNN's Nick Valencia is joining us right now. How is this mall reacting to these threats? What does the FBI have to say about it, Nick?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they reacted very quickly, Wolf. The Mall put out a statement almost immediately after the video was posted online by the Somali terror group, Al Shabaab, saying that they're going to add additional security measure, some that might be visible to shoppers, some that might not be. The broader concern, among shoppers, is that this is very worrisome for them, others have mixed feelings about it. They haven't let that limit their everyday actions.

And, in fact, I spoke to a couple of them earlier who said that they were going to go inside despite that this potential threat was out there. The broader concern in the community, though, is in that Somali community. I spoke to a community leader just a little while ago. He says that he was disgusted with the video, that this community in Minneapolis, the largest Somalia community in the nation, is really traumatized still by the attack in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013, when somebody from that community went over there and participated with the attack. He says that Al Shabaab certainly does not speak for the majority of Muslims in Minneapolis or beyond -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are they beefing up security? Is it visible, what you've seen?

VALENCIA: Well, I'll tell you, we've been out here since the very early morning. And so far, from the location where we're at, we've only seen one police car. Now, that's not to say that there aren't additional measuring being taken. But from what we can see, from our vantage point, it's really business as usual here, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, be careful over there. We'll -- it's obviously very cold where you are as well. Nick, thank you very much.

Again, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security both say they're aware of the call by al Shabaab, but they also say at this time, in their words, there's no credible threat.

Let's bring back Bob Baer, our CNN security intelligence analyst, and Peter Bergen, our national security analyst.

Peter, what's the strategy behind ISIS now, these al Shabaab in this particular case, making a warning like this, a videotape, saying we're going after these malls.

PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I think, you know, al Shabaab is not doing at all well in Somalia, Wolf. I mean you could -- when they attacked the mall in Kenya, it's really almost a sign of weakness rather than strength. After all, their real enemy is the Kenyan army. They didn't go after a Kenyan military installation, they went after an undefended mall. So here, I think, you know, ISIS is taking up all the oxygen of publicity which they want. This is a group that's not doing very well. This is guaranteed to draw attention to them, and it has.

BLITZER: And it's drawn a lot of attention, Bob Baer, because, as you know, in Minneapolis, St. Paul, that's got the largest Somali American population in the United States. I assume al Shabaab, which is based in Somalia, that's what they're driving at.

BOB BAER, CNN SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST: Well, yes, Wolf, as Peter said, this is a shot in the dark. They need publicity. They're not doing well. They've been driven back by Kenyan troops and African troops. Lost a lot of land.

You know, and what they're doing is they're appealing to the Somali -- young Somalis there who have not assimilated well in Minnesota. Let's don't - let's don't forget that Minnesota is not the best - you know, it's not a gateway to immigration like New York City or Los Angeles, someplace like that. So what they're really hoping for is some lone wolf will find a weapon, attack a mall and they'll get - they hope to get a lot of mileage out of this. But as the FBI said, this is not a credible threat. On the other hand, that can't account for lone wolves that haven't popped up on the Internet or anything.

BLITZER: Yesterday, Jeh Johnson, Peter, the secretary of Homeland Security here in the United States, told Gloria Borger on "State of the Union" that it would be wise if you're going to that mall, and maybe even other malls, to just be a little bit more extra vigilant. Wise?

BERGEN: Well, that is his job. I mean he's the head of homeland security in this country. And as Bob indicated, you know, while al Shabaab has absolutely no network really to speak of able to carry out an attack in the United States, they certainly could inspire perhaps a lone wolf who might take this call for a jihad against the Mall of America seriously.

BLITZER: You know, Bob, it dawned on me - and I'm anxious to get your thoughts on this. Nowadays you go to the airport, you've got to go through metal detectors. You go to - here in Washington, the Verizon Center, for a Washington Wizards basketball game, you go through metal detectors. Is it only a matter of time when you go to a major mall in the United States - in Europe already they've got metal detectors at a lot of malls. You go to Israel, you go to a big mall outside of Tel Aviv, you go through metal detectors. Is it only a matter of time that we're going to have to go through metal detectors here in the United States when we want to visit a local mall?

BAER: You know, one successful attack, Wolf, and that's what we're going to face. The Israelis stopped this, as you know, you go to Tel Aviv to a mall there and you're checked. They look in your bags. But one successful attack and that will change the game. You know, we've been talking about this for months, this lone wolf getting through. It's easy to make explosives. And you're right, we could face that one day.

BLITZER: What do you think, Peter?

BERGEN: As Bob says, once -- you know, we reinforced cockpit doors after 9/11, not before 9/11. It takes an event for things to change.

BLITZER: But maybe -- do you think it would be wise at this preemptively now even before there's been an attack on a mall in Minnesota or any place else to go ahead and take a step like that?

BERGEN: I think it - I think it would not be wise for the following reason. You know, terrorism don't work if people aren't terrified. And as soon as you start doing that, you start making people anxious. And we don't - we shouldn't be living in a sort of, you know, national security state where it going to, you know, do shopping is somehow, you know, something that just fills people with anxiety. We should only do that if it's absolutely necessary.

BLITZER: All right, Peter Bergen, Bob Baer, we'll stay on stop of this story. Thanks to both of you.

Still ahead -

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's more of a risk society in a sense where we're -- what happens far away is eventually our concern.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Fighting extremism in Africa. Twenty-eight nations come together to do their part to stop it from spreading.

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BLITZER: Special forces for the United States and other countries, they're training African troops to fight militants. The military (INAUDIBLE) is in Chad are an international response to the threat from terror groups in the region, including Boko Haram and ISIS. CNN's Arwa Damon got an inside look.

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ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Off a remote air strip in the middle of Chad's austere landscape, some of the world's most elite soldiers have come together. We're with America's secret special forces, the ground wolves, no identification, no on camera interviews and no combat technique specifics.

Here at the Chadian's drill on how to respond to a vehicle ambush. Their commander, Captain Decaria Modeka (ph) tells us, "if you have this kind of training, you can defend yourself from death."

This is Exercise Flintlock (ph). Twenty-eight nations in all, American and Europeans training with African elite units to respond to a growing threat from terrorists groups. Nigerian navy special forces who have lost men to the fight against Boko Haram, instructed by the Brits on how to extract a wounded soldier while under fire.

DAMON (on camera): The countries that make up the Lake Chad Basin have been heavily criticized for their slow response to the threat posed by Boko Haram. As one U.S. special forces operator put it, Boko Haram was allowed to fester. So as important as the tactics learned here are, what is equally, if not more significant is that this exercise will strengthen the newly formed coalition.

DAMON (voice-over): A regional coalition at war with Boko Haram to the west, surrounded by even more threats. From here, al Qaeda and the Islamic Maghreb (ph) operate in the northwest. ISIS to the east.

Dangers Europe already faces. Among Flintlock's training partners, Belgium, a country currently on high alert due to extremists threats.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And everyone is trying to do their part because there's no -- there's not really a sense of national security anymore. We're -- it's more of a risk society in a sense where we're -- what happens far away is eventually our concern.

DAMON: It is all of Europe and America's concern. A U.S. special forces operator telling us, quote, "we need to build relationships in Africa and you can't do that if you aren't on the ground." (END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: And Arwa's joining us now live from Chad.

Arwa, how long will all of this training last?

DAMON: Well, Wolf, it lasts about a month in all. And at this stage we're halfway through it. So there's two week to go. Now this training exercise has actually been happening on a yearly basis for the last decade or so. But arguably, at this specific juncture in global history, it carries even more significance simply because of the threats that are being faced. If we look at the regional level, Boko Haram. But if the threats are not contained, you've also got al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. You've got ISIS trying to constantly make inroads into Africa. And as a number of the U.S. special forces operators were tell us, something that was echoed by the Europeans as well, if this threat is not contained in Africa, it could eventually pose a threat to security in Europe and the United States.

What's happening here right now, this exercise is a very vital piece of the puzzle when it comes to the overall broader war against global terror, Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, Arwa Damon in Chad for us watching this story unfold. We'll check back with you, Arwa. Thank you very much.

Coming up, they ran away from home six days ago and authorities now fear these teenage girls are headed to Syria to join ISIS. So what's drawing these young women, these girls, to this kind of terror group? We'll speak with an expert.

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