Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Grading Obama on Syria; Russia's New Advice for Syria; High Cost of Being a Football Fan; Serena Williams Defends U.S. Open Title

Aired September 09, 2013 - 10:30   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now in the NEWSROOM, a resounding no. That's the response of the majority of Americans when asked if Congress should ok President Obama's plan to strike Syria.

It's becoming a scene all too familiar in California wildfires burning out of control. Now a new one is threatening the bay area community.

And she almost had to walk away from the sport she loved. Now once again, Serena Williams is a U.S. Open champion. NEWSROOM continues now.

Good morning. Thank you so much for being with me. I'm Carol Costello.

President Obama has an uphill battle as he pushes to punish Syria especially here at home where any military action would be again the will of most Americans. We have new insight into America's skepticism. A new CNN/ORC poll finds 59 percent of Americans do not want Congress to authorize a strike.

And if lawmakers do pass a resolution that supports the President, 55 percent oppose any kind of air strike. And support for a strike falls dramatically if lawmakers do not pass a resolution authorizing military action. If that happens, 71 percent think the President ought not to go it alone.

This afternoon, CNN's Wolf Blitzer will sit down with President Obama to talk about strikes on Syria. You can see the entire interview tonight at 6:00 Eastern in the "SITUATION ROOM".

And while the President prepares to take his appeal directly to the American people, in interviews today and a national address tomorrow, supporters of a strike in Syria say the President's message is muddled and comes way too late. Here's what one of them, House intelligence Committee Chair Mike Rogers had to say to CNN this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. MIKE ROGERS (R), HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: He hasn't had any national or foreign policy speeches really to speak of in the last five years. He hasn't really talked about Syria in a meaningful way with any depth of understanding of how it impacts the United States at all. He has very poor relations with members of Congress of both parties, by the way. They're completely disengaged. And so they're coming in and asking for a very big thing without allowing, I think, Americans and most members of Congress who don't sit on national security committees to understand the broader impact of what's going on in Syria.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: John Avalon joins me now. He's a CNN political analyst and senior columnist and political director for "Newsweek" and "The Daily Beast". Good morning, John.

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: So -- good morning. It's a tough one, isn't it? And do you agree with Mr. Rogers? I mean he says the President should have been talking Syria for months and months. But frankly, the American people, they don't listen all that closely.

AVLON: Absolutely. Look, what Mike Rogers is articulating is the long-standing criticism of this President by members of Congress. That essentially there's not enough LBJ in this President, not enough really ability to arm twist with members of Congress, to reach out, to kind of make that sustained push to build trust.

Now obviously within the Republican conference, there's deep distrust in the President. And Republicans are wrestling with their own isolationist impulses against the internationalists -- an age old division inside the Republican Party.

But as the President prepares to make this full court press, hitting the interviews across the various stations today and then a national televised address tomorrow night he can't ignore the members of Congress. This is being thrown together late, but the President can make a case this is in the national interest. He has to do so very forcefully tomorrow night to take a lot of these congressmen off the fence and move them to the yes column. Otherwise this congressional gamble could be a disastrous bet by the President.

COSTELLO: All right. Stay with us, John. We're going to take you to Great Britain right now where David Cameron, the Prime Minister addressing parliament. Let's listen to what he has to say.

DAVID CAMERON, PRIME MINISTER, GREAT BRITAIN: -- responsibility to that attack and calls for a strong international response to this grave violation of the world's rules. This statement from St. Petersburg was reinforced on Saturday when the 28 E.U. foreign ministers unanimously condemned the chemical weapons war crime and called for strong response that demonstrates that there will be no impunity for such crimes.

I'm clear it was right to advocate a strong response to the indiscriminate gassing of men, women, and children in Syria, and to make that case here in the chamber. And at the same time, I understand and respect what this house has said.

So Britain will not be part of any military action but will continue to press for the strongest possible response including at the U.N. We'll continue to shape the more urgent, effective, and large-scale humanitarian efforts. And we will work for the peaceful political settlement that is the only solution to the Syrian conflict.

And let me just say a word about each of these three. On chemical weapons, we will continue to gather evidence of what happened and make it available so that those responsible can be brought to account. Along with 11 other G-20 countries, we've called for the U.N. fact- finding mission to present its results as soon as possible.

We support efforts by the United States and others to reinforce the prohibition on the use of chemical weapons. And we will continue to challenge the U.N. Security Council to overcome the paralysis of the last two and a half years and fulfill its responsibilities to lead the international response.

In terms of the humanitarian response, Britain is, I believe, leading the world. This is the refugee crisis of our time. A Syrian becomes a refugee every 15 seconds. That is, Mr. Speaker, 240 fleeing during the hour of this statement alone. Inside Syria, 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. At the same time, aid convoys simply can't get through to areas that are under siege because of the fighting and most major routes between large populations are too insecure to use.

So in St. Petersburg, I organized a specialty team with the U.N. Secretary General, the E.U., Japan, Turkey, Canada, France, Australia, Italy, Saudi Arabia and America. We agreed to work together through the U.N. to secure unfettered humanitarian access inside Syria.

We agreed to increase the focus of that humanitarian assistance on dealing with the dreadful impact of chemical weapons including providing medicines and decontamination tents. And we challenge the world to make up the financial shortfall for humanitarian aid by the time the United Nations' general assembly meeting takes place later this month. Britain, Canada, Italy and Qatar have made a start with contributions totaling an extra --

COSTELLO: All right, we're going to jump away with this. But you get the gist of what he's saying, John. Britain's -- he's not going to -- the Prime Minister is not going to go against Parliament's wishes. He's not going to like say, oh, we're in it militarily now. He's saying he's going to push for a political solution, which is interesting. He's also going to push for the international community to deal with this problem.

AVLON: Sure. Well, right there you've got a classic example of why the President -- this vote in Congress is so high stakes when Prime Minister David Cameron leading America's greatest traditional ally in international efforts like this got a resounding defeats from members of Parliament. First time in two centuries a prime minister has been refused the right to engage in interventionist military action. These are the stakes.

So now David Cameron is trying to go for effectively a plan b and keep England in some sort of leadership position in the international community. But it highlights just why this vote in Congress is so important, why it's such high stakes, why the President needs to present a united front if America is going to lead in this efforts.

You know, there are a lot of polls out now, brand new CNN poll showing, that as you referenced earlier Carol that Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to this intervention. But there are problems sometimes putting issues of war and peace to a public poll. And that's worth keeping in minds.

The real question is going to be when the President makes his national address Tuesday nights whether he's able to move those polls and the telephone calls to members of Congress. But you know if there were polls taken at various critical moments in American history -- the civil war, World War II, there would have been moments when continuing to do what we now believe is the right thing wouldn't have been popular. And that's part of the responsibility of the leadership and part of the risk of bringing a vote like this to the House of Representatives.

COSTELLO: All right. John Avlon thanks so much for joining me this morning.

We have -- we have actually a bit of breaking news to tell you about. I'm trying to read it off my phone here. Apparently the Russian foreign minister told reporters that Russia will urge Syria to put its chemical weapons supply under international control if it will avert U.S. military action.

Of course we have Phil Black, our correspondent, in Moscow. Phil, tell us more about this.

PHIL BLACK, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, this was the result of a sudden briefing called by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov. And he is responding to some comments made by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry earlier today. When he was effectively asked to his commenting on what it would take to avert U.S. military strikes on Syria. And he responded in such a way to suggest that if Syria gave up its chemical weapons, then, well, that could do it.

Russia has jumped on this, has seen great potential in this statement. The Russian and Syrian foreign ministries -- foreign ministers have been in talks here all day in Moscow and Foreign Minister Lavrov of Russia emerged from these talks, heard about the statement that Secretary Kerry has made and he said there's real potential in this. "We suggest that Syria complies with this." That they should go along with this, that they should give up their chemical weapons especially if it will avert the possibility of a military attack on Syria which is really Russia's fundamental diplomatic goal here.

There is a catch, though. Because after Secretary Kerry made this initial statement, a lot of questions were asked. And the State Department spokesman issued a clarifying statement in which he said that Secretary Kerry was making a rhetorical argument about the impossibility and unlikelihood of Assad turning over chemical weapons he's denied he used. So it doesn't sound like it was a serious offer on behalf of Secretary Kerry. But Russia has still jumped on this, sees potential in it and is urging the Syrian government to think about it -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Phil Black, I know you'll have more on this later in the day. Phil Black, reporting live on the phone from Moscow.

We're going to take a break we'll be back with more in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Checking our "Top Stories" at 43 minutes past the hour, Congress returns to Washington today after a month-long summer recess. First on the agenda: of course whether to intervene in Syria. More than half of the Senate still undecided. In the House, the challenge to sell a strike against Syria is even greater for President Obama. At least 148 lawmakers are expected to vote no, while just 25 support the President's plan.

At least a dozen children were injured after a Connecticut carnival ride malfunctioned on Sunday. Officials say a swing lost power, throwing riders from their seats and then slamming them into the ground. The ride's owner says state inspectors checked the ride two days before the accident. The incident remains under investigation.

A 30-year-old man has died after falling from an elevated platform onto a sidewalk at San Francisco's Candlestick Park. Police say the man was walking with his brother and he appeared to be intoxicated. In August, a Georgia man died after falling from an upper deck at Atlanta's Turner Field.

On Sunday -- on Sunday rather a Thai Airways flight skidded off the runway while landing in Bangkok. More than a dozen were injured. The incident is the second in two weeks for this airline. In August, at least 39 passengers were injured after a Thai Airlines flight hit severe turbulence coming into Hong Kong.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, it's not cheap to go to a football game. We'll tell you why you're paying so much to see your favorite teams.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Just want to brag a little bit. The Detroit Lions, they won; and Reggie Bush is my new best friend. And I only say this to set up our next segment about football prices.

Alison Kosik, I'm looking at Stubhub right now. And if I wanted to see the Detroit Lions play the Chicago Bears, on Stubhub, tickets start from $71. And I can get a parking pass for $99.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There you go. That's the going rate. Don't be surprised. You wonder why they can do this -- because they can; because people are going to these games, and these games are selling out. You look at how much it costs to go to, let's say, football games versus baseball versus basketball. You almost always pay more to go to a football game. The average price for two tickets, for parking, if you want to get a little beer there -- $209; that doesn't even count the hot dogs. It doesn't even count the food.

Most of the cost is actually for the ticket though; $164 for a regular season ticket. But you know what; many people pay much more because about half of the NFL teams out there, they sell out every game. It's because it's basic economics -- supply and demand. These people want to go to the games so the prices of these tickets can be elevated.

Now, you look at particular times -- if you're a Cowboy fan, a Patriot fan, a Bears fan -- you pay the most because these are basically teams from big cities or the most winning teams. Buccaneers fans, Bills, Browns fan, you pay the least because these teams come from cheaper areas. They've also had losing seasons.

COSTELLO: They're not winning teams, Alison.

KOSIK: No. But I do have a little bit of a good news nugget for you. 17 NFL teams left prices alone this year or actually cut prices though it still feels like gosh, you need to take out a loan just to have season tickets, doesn't it?

COSTELLO: Yes it does. And it's so much more fun to watch football at home on the big screen. You can watch the replays.

KOSIK: Drink as much as you want.

COSTELLO: Exactly. Alison Kosik, thanks so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, she's one of the most dominant women in tennis history. Serena Williams has done it again.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: For the 17th time, Serena Williams is the Grand Slam champion. The younger Williams sister did it again at the U.S. Open successfully defending her title. In fact, she has been the dominant woman in tennis, winning four grand slams over the past 14 months. And it almost didn't happen.

CNN's Rachel Nichols sat down with Serena Williams. Rachel joins us now. Good morning.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Good morning. Talk about dominant. Serena is 98-5 since last year's French Open. How would you like to have that record? But as you said, it's after triumphing over a very significant health problem.

We talked about that and also how happy she is to be where she is today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: 17 grand slam titles. You're going to have to explain yourself by the way because you're 31 years old. And a lot of the people that you came in to the game with are retired, play legends games. How are you playing like a 20-year-old?

SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PLAYER: Oh I just feel like I just go for broke now. And I really am focused again on what I want to do and just goals and, you know, I'm just having a lot of fun out there. And everyone's like, 31 -- 31's old.

But that doesn't seem like me, you know. I seem like -- I don't act it either. Maybe that has something to do with it.

NICHOLS: Former President Clinton was at your finals match. I know that you met him back when you were 17 years old. Is he like a groupie now? What are we talking here?

WILLIAMS: Well, President Clinton's a great guy, you know. He loves tennis. Every time -- he wasn't here last year and I asked him. I said, "You weren't here last year, were you?" He said "He was working."

NICHOLS: You told him to get his priorities straight. He should see a tennis match.

WILLIAMS: Exactly. Stop working, come to the U.S. Open.

NICHOLS: Exactly.

A lot of people out there might not realize that you might not have been at this tournament at all. You might not have been here at all. You had blood clots in your lungs. You had to be rushed into emergency surgery.

WILLIAMS: Being in the emergency room and being in the hospital for all that time and just not knowing if I would ever pick up a racket again and just not even caring. Just wanting to be healthy, I think that was a tough time for me.

NICHOLS: And the footnote to that story seems to always be, "And she spent 11 months recovering." But 11 months recovering is not a footnote.

WILLIAMS: It was the toughest thing I've been through in my life. One thing kept happening after another from the blood clots in both of my lungs. I lost part of my lung. I had to retrain. My lungs -- I don't have two full lungs anymore. Then you go through these days of why is all this happening to you. It was really 11 months of hell.

But, you know, I got through that, and now I feel like, you know, now when I'm on that court and I'm facing opponents, I feel like I faced so many tougher opponents, this is just fun now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: And Carol, Serena is aware that as she continues to succeed on the court she really is a role model off of it, redefining for young girls not only just what a stereotypical tennis player can be, but what stereotypical beauty should be. And she loves the fact that she's out there, looking a little different than people might expect and showing girls they can look different, too.

COSTELLO: I just think it's amazing that she's able to maintain her stamina when she lost part of a lung.

NICHOLS: Absolutely. Look, as she put it, 31 is old -- I don't know if I agree with her on that one. I'm going to take a different position on that one. But certainly 31 without a lung or part of a lung is a difficult thing and she looked great out there.

COSTELLO: She's terrific. Thanks so much, Rachel. We appreciate it.

NICHOLS: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Tonight, the top two men battle for the U.S. Open crown. Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will take on Rafael Nadal on center court. It will be the fifth time these two men have played against each other in a grand slam final. And it's the third time these two men face off for the U.S. Open crown. Nadal leads the all-time series, by the by.

Summer's over, and yes, football is back. And the Giants -- they're not looking so hot right at the moment. New York Giants' quarterback Eli Manning threw a total of three interceptions to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. The Giants lost by five on the road.

And it was a bitter loss for the Atlanta Falcons. They lost a thriller to the New Orleans saints who had their head coach back for the first time in a year. So (inaudible) to Peyton has paid off.

Thanks so much for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.

"LEGAL VIEW" with Ashleigh Banfield after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLIE ROSE, CBS HOST: The Middle East, if there's an air strike --

BASHAR AL-ASSAD, PRESIDENT OF SYRIA: Should expect everything. Should expect everything.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN HOST: Syria's dictator on American television warning the United States to expect retaliation for a strike on Syria. So just what does Bashar al Assad mean by "everything goes"?

Also, new insight this morning into why a solid majority of Americans say that attacking Syria is not in our national interest; and how the numbers add to the uncertainty in a deeply divided country.

And the Commander-in-Chief deploying his top advisors to --