Return to Transcripts main page

At This Hour

President and Congress Agree on Strengthening Cyber Security; Netanyahu Speaks at Memorial in Israel; Interview with Ambassador Jane Hartley; Airport Security Ramped Up; Germany Honors Attack Victims.

Aired January 13, 2015 - 11:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Right now @THISHOUR, the president and vice president meeting with and sitting down with congressional leaders in an effort to find areas of legislation where the White House and Congress can hopefully work together. President Obama took the opportunity to address the CENTCOM social media hack and says the proof in the hack is that the United States needs to strengthen cybersecurity.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're talking about cybersecurity. With the Sony attacks that took place, with the Twitter account that was hacked by Islamist sympathizers yesterday, it just goes to show how much more work we need to do both public and private sector to strengthen our cybersecurity, to make sure that family's bank accounts are safe. And I think we agree this is an area where we can work hard together to get some legislation done and make sure that we are much more effective in protecting the American people from these kinds of attacks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: As I bring in John Berman live in Paris, it looks like we found one area that congressional leaders on both sides of the House and Senate can agree on, the need for cybersecurity. No more hitting the snooze button. This has been a wake-up call that we have to pay attention to.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: They all want their computers protected.

Michaela, thanks so much.

A little bit after 5:30 here in Paris. It's a beautiful time here outside of the offices of "Charlie Hebdo". This is when people come after work. They relight candles burning outside this growing memorial for people killed here. There is so much mourning still going on in Paris. Today, we saw the mourning extend beyond the French borders to Jerusalem. That's where four people who were killed in the attack on the Jewish market were honored and laid to rest in an Israeli state ceremony. Hundreds of people, including family members and French and Israeli officials, attended this service.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translation): I have said for many years and I say it now again that these are not only the enemies of Israel. They are the enemies of the whole of the world and the time has come that all civilized people should come together and should uproot these enemies amongst us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

What are brewing controversies that had been simmering here in France perhaps mostly in the United States was the issue of why the White House did not seen a more senior official to attend the unity rally here on Sunday. Yesterday, as we know, the White House press secretary said the White House now regrets not sending a more senior official.

The person who did attend the ceremony was Ambassador Jane Hartley. The ambassador walked by where I'm standing earlier this morning and she laid a wreath at this memorial. I had a chance to talk to her about the controversy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: We heard the French president thank President Obama for his statements and for visiting the French embassy in Washington after the attack. Of course, there was this diplomatic snafu, if you will. The White House yesterday apologizing for the fact that the vice president, the president, the first lady, the secretary of state were not here for the unity rally. You were here. You marched in that rally. Have you conveyed this message that the White House press secretary did yesterday that they wish they sent a higher level official.

JANE HARTLEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE: You know, I marched and I spoke to President Hollande right before the march. He was so positive about the U.S. and about our president going over to the French embassy and thanked us for everything that we had done. I've been in contact through these days and they know our support. To be honest with you, I didn't get into the logistics of it but I marched right behind them. It was very moving to see the French government march arm in arm.

BERMAN: At this point you haven't been able to convey the message that the White House press secretary did yesterday that they regret not having sent someone else?

HARTLEY: No.

BERMAN: This issue as far as you're concerned is over and done with?

HARTLEY: It's not my issue.

BERMAN: You were here. You did march. What is your role going to be here over the next few days and next few weeks?

HARTLEY: I'm going to the memorial right now for the slain policemen and Secretary Kerry is coming in as well. We'll be meeting again with key people in the French government so it's the same as it's been. I'm staying in touch with all of the people in the government. They have been fantastic to work with. And we'll continue working hard and honoring the victims.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: That's Ambassador Jane Hartley. You hear her talk about it. But after she left this makeshift memorial, she went to this official ceremony honoring the three police officers who were killed in the days of terror here -- Michaela?

PEREIRA: This, as four Jewish men were laid to rest in Israel today. Somber ceremonies. There will be funerals for a while.

John, thanks so much. We'll be back with you, John.

Up next, New York police officers now being told to remain alert, and consider tactics at all times while on patrol.

Ahead, we'll take a look at how we'll deal with the Paris attack aftermath.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: A heads-up to anyone traveling by air in the next while, even after you pass through airport security, you might find yourself subjected to further searches at the gate as you wait for your flight. This is due to heightened concerns about homemade explosives that cannot be detected by some screening devices.

CNN justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, joins us now with details.

Give us an idea of what's behind this additional scrutiny and how serious this threat is.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: It's serious enough that the U.S. is now amping up security at airports. That tells you something. This is all in reaction to a recent "Inspire" magazine article published by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and this article describes how to make homemade bombs with simple household products. Of course, we know AQAP has consistently been trying to urge would-be jihadists to launch lone wolf attacks and we know AQAP wanted to target aviation. Apparently, Michaela, AQAP is now giving a new recipe to followers. Those that read "Inspire" magazine and to concoct these nonmetallic IEDs. In light of this new article and of course all that we've seen around the world with attacks, the department of homeland security doesn't want to take any chances. Not only stepping up security at airports where they increase searches but they are boosting security at federal buildings and additional cities.

PEREIRA: Terrorists seem to be changing their methodology. We have often seen these systems change. You're allowed to bring so much liquid on. They won't allow you to bring knitting needles. We've seen systems change over time. Haven't they always been on the lookout for nonmetallic explosives specifically?

BROWN: They ramped up security at international airports where there were U.S.-bound flights. They asked passengers to turn on their phones at certain airports but what we've seen is ramped up security at U.S. airports because what the concern now is that AQAP is sharing recipes with westerners, people who could be living in the U.S., through this magazine so they can concoct these nonmetallic devices.

PEREIRA: Thank you so much, Pamela.

Ahead here, murder, destruction, brutality and barbarism, details emerging from Boko Haram's recent attacks in Nigeria beyond anything in recent memory. We'll have a report from the ground there next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: I'm John Berman, live in Paris. Let's get the latest headlines from here.

A new arrest in the terror investigation. A Frenchman is being held in Bulgaria right now. Authorities say he was arrested while trying to cross into Turkey on the first of the year. The French news agency says that he had been in contact with Cherif Kouachi a week before the Kouachi brothers killed 12 people at the "Charlie Hebdo" offices here in Paris. Security official here tells me that the ultimate goal of this man arrested in Bulgaria was to try to get to Syria.

Newsstands in Paris are bracing for a crush of customers tomorrow. That's when the new issue of "Charlie Hebdo" magazine goes on sale. Three million copies of being printed. That's more than 50 times the usual number. This is the first issue since gunmen killed ten people inside the offices and two officers outside one week ago. Now the magazine put a cartoon of Prophet Muhammad on the cover holding a sign that says "Je suis Charlie." He has a tear in his eye and above the headlines it reads all is forgiven -- Michaela?

PEREIRA: All right, John. Thanks so much.

From that act of terror, we turn to one of epic proportions. The world is starting to react to terror by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. Recent attacks have left perhaps as many as 2,000 people dead. The terrorists have even gone to lengths to strap children with explosives to be used as human bombs. Actress and special envoy of the U.N. high commissioner for refugees, Angelina Jolie, is condemning the massacre, calling on the United States and other countries to bring Boko Haram terrorists to justice. In an exclusive statement to CNN, Jolie says, "Each new crime committed by Boko Haram exceeds the last in brutality. It's the direct consequence of the environment of total impunity in which Boko Haram operates."

Our Diana Magnay is following this story and joins us now.

Details have been sparse when they come out of that area. What are you hearing now about the death toll and whether anything is being done to try and stop this terror rampage?

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the death toll is incredibly hard to quantify. We know from eyewitnesses who fled this killing last week that there were bodies strewn all over the ground and that clearly a massacre of sorts has happened. In a small fishing community near the shores of Lake Chad and in 16 surrounding towns and villages. But this death toll, up to 2,000, what one local official said. It's very difficult that eyewitnesses fleeing this kind of murder would be able to assess on their own how many were actually killed, especially if you consider that in the town of Baga, there are just some 10,000 people. There have been attacks on that down before. There was an attack on the multinational base very close to the city in the days before Baga itself was ransacked. You would have thought a lot of the refugees would have already left. So I think it's very important to be quite skeptical of the 2,000 number. But a massacre did take place in the town and surrounding villages over the last week. The Nigerian military clearly unable to counter Boko Haram in that attack. They fled the military base. They have said now that they are regrouping. But there were subsequent attacks around this -- the northeastern region. For example, in the town of Damator (ph) of another Nigerian province, the Nigerian police did push Boko Haram back when they tried to take over that town. It is a difficult battle being played. The Nigerian military aren't equipped enough. They say they don't have the investment. They're poorly trained. Morale is extremely low. And they're fighting a very dangerous enemy who's very well equipped -- Michaela?

PEREIRA: Many wonder why the Western countries, the U.S., in specific, hasn't aided in the fight there. Part of it stems from the fact that the Nigerian government hasn't asked for assistance, correct?

MAGNAY: That's true. Generally, governments ask for assistance when they are struggling to keep their own governments going. And that's not the case with Nigeria. It's a fully functioning democracy. Elections are coming up within the next five weeks. It is Africa's largest economy. This is a country which, to all intents and purposes, should be able to equip and manage its military enough to counter the insurgency in the north. I think that's why you're not seeing Nigeria hold out its hands to the international community and say, come to our aid. It is asking and trying to cooperate with its regional allies, Cameroon, Chad, Niger. But that cooperation in terms of sending in troops, that was in the cards.

PEREIRA: Frustrated by the fact that the president of Nigeria was offering his sympathies to those that were lost in the Paris attacks but had nothing to say lost in his own country.

Diana Magnay, our thanks to you.

If you'd like to help in protecting children in Nigeria against this kind of violence and horror, please visit CNN.com/impactyourworld.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: I want to show you something beautiful and powerful that's happening right now. This is in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel is there joining members of the Muslim community in a really powerful show of force in a rally to promote tolerance and inclusion, and condemn the jihadist attacks in Paris last week. But also -- I think it's a really important thing to note this -- to rebuke the growing anti-Islamic movement that is sort of growing in her nation in Germany, in their nation. It's really, really powerful.

I want to bring in our guest right now, somebody who joined us yesterday, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, a Columbia University adjunct professor.

I think it's important. For those who didn't watch, he was here with us yesterday, and we talked about the importance of moments like that, unity, political leaders, community leaders coming together. We saw that there in Germany.

AHMED SHIHAB-ELDIN, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY: Exactly. Whether on a stage or whether it happens behind closed doors or in a grocery store, as we saw, it's really important that we counter this narrative that terrorists and extremists on all side are trying to promote. Specifically with what happened in France, this notion that French values and Islam are incompatible inherently. You and I were talking during the break about, you're afraid of what you don't know. And terrorists always try to use fear to change people's behaviors.

PEREIRA: I thought it was so powerful when we saw the word of the police officer who was Muslim who tried to save people and there was a beautiful eulogy by his brother at his funeral.

SHIHAB-ELDIN: Yeah. For as much as we saw world leaders gather in Paris on Sunday, there's a lot of people poking fun at them saying it's hypocritical, some of them stifle free speech at home.

For me, the profound moment was the eulogy delivered by the slain police officer. He touched on the notion that his brother emphasized that his brother was defending the right to free speech, which is powerful even if that speech offended Muslims.

Too often we allow people this platform where on all sides, we're going to start to see the big threat is the rhetoric will be upped and that might lead Muslims to retreat and look inward and kind of self- isolate themselves. This is the exact opposite of what's need.

PEREIRA: That's what happens with fear when we make fear-based decisions.

Really great to have you again here with us.

SHIHAB-ELDIN: Thank you.

PEREIRA: Thank you so much for sharing that image with us and watching it happen there in Germany. A big moment there, a moment of unity between the Muslim community and the German leader there.

That's it for us @THISHOUR. I'm Michaela Pereira.

"LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield starts now.