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Bergdahl Investigation Underway; ISIS Fighting in Iraq; Iraq Conflict Sends Gas Prices Soaring; Risking Deportation to Help Family Survive

Aired June 16, 2014 - 09:30   ET

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

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: And really I think the key point here is, at the moment, Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl has not spoken to investigations for himself to tell his story. So really we only have half the picture -- what they were able to glean when they first investigated the matter back in 2009, what other troops are saying. They want to talk to him. They want to make very sure, however, that he's mentally very healthy when they talk to him, so they know they are getting solid information.

ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: Barbara, one last quick question. Any idea how long this investigation is going to take and will the public find out the details of this investigation at some point?

STARR: Well, at some point perhaps. I think it's going to -- instinct says it will be long and complicated because it is such a high profile case. That's how these things tend to move through the military. I just don't think we have any idea at this point, Ana.

CABRERA: Yes, it's anybody's guess. Barbara Starr, thanks so much.

Still to come, violent clashes in the streets of Iraq and now U.S. lawmakers are calling on the White House to take action. CNN White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski has more.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Ana. Right. Another foreign policy crisis for this White House, but even the critics don't have easy answers on this one, coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Let's talk about the U.S. role in Iraq. The White House is weighing possible military options. Some lawmakers are sending President Obama a stern message, take action in Iraq. Now, yesterday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham warned instability in the region threatens the safety of Americans here at home. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: This is another 9/11 in the making. The FBI director has warned us in Congress that Syria and Iraq represent a direct threat to our homeland. You got foreign fighters from American, western Europe occupying this battle space. They're operating with impunity. Get into the game, Mr. President. (END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Joining us now to discuss this political fallout, so to speak, White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski.

And, Michelle, certainly the president's in a pretty tough spot.

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I don't think it's any surprise that we're hearing criticism like this. And some people are relating it to the situation in Syria, the decisions that were made then and decisions that were not made then. So I think we can fully expect to hear some of this.

I think when you get past the sounds, though, what to really do is a problem even within that criticism. I mean there is -- so the people who are criticizing the president and the White House's decisions right now, they don't even agree really on necessarily whether there should be air strikes, on what good those air strikes will do. Some even with the administration, some Democrats are saying, well, we think that there should be air strikes, but we need to wait and get more intelligence first. So I think that even the critics out there are trying to temper that because no one is really sure exactly at this point, without that kind of intelligence on the ground, how much progress something like air strikes would do. I think one interesting comment came from former ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, over the weekend. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RYAN CROCKER, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO IRAQ: The first thing I would request is that Secretary Kerry get on a plane immediately. We have lacked this high level engagement with the Iraqis that was so crucial during my term in office. We need the secretary of state out there in Baghdad right now. We need the president on the phone to the Iraqi leadership.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KOSINSKI: So, there you go, communication is another issue that's being debated out there. But like I was saying, there are these big differences of opinion, even with whom and to what extent the U.S. should be engaging, on the Iraqi side. On the Iranian side, some Republicans calling for the president to now engage directly with Iran. That's not something that's really being talked about right now by the administration, but it has been asked because the U.S. and Iran have been engaging closely and very recently on the nuclear proliferation issue. So, will that be talked about in the near future? Possibly. But we don't know at this point.

Another big difference of opinion is on what kind of threat the situation in Iraq, as it stands, poses, as well as what kind of threat would be alleviated if the U.S. intervenes with something like air strikes. Is this an imminent threat or not? So even within the criticism, some big differences of opinion there, and enormous questions because it seems nobody really knows what the outcome of any particular course of action would be, Ana. CABRERA: Right. And it's interesting to hear people on the same side

of the aisle, Republicans in large part, saying, do this, no, do that. And so even within the same party we're hearing a lot of differences. People just don't know what the right solution is.

Michelle Kosinski, thank you for that update.

And this morning, the Iraqi military is striking back against the militant group ISIS. According to state TV, more than 200 radical fighters were killed in a series of air raids northwest of Fallujah. Now this as those chilling new photos show the ruthless brutality of what Iraq is up against. These images appear to show Iraqi security forces dressed in civilian clothing being taken into fields and then being viciously executed by ISIS gunmen.

CNN, we want to mention, has not been able to confirm the authenticity of these photos, but the apparent mass execution shows just how far ISIS is willing to go to create an Islamic state.

So let's dig deeper with CNN Middle East analyst and former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren.

And, Michael, we know you're a busy man. We appreciate you spending some time joining us on the phone. What's your reaction when you see those photos, just the brutality that's happening there on the ground?

MICHAEL OREN, FORMER ISRAELI AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S. (via telephone): Well, a pleasure to be with you, Ana, thank you. Those photos, if indeed they are real, are reflective of Middle Eastern realities. Perhaps more than a thousand Iraqi soldiers were executed by ISIS in Iraq, but 160,000 people have been killed in Syria and killed by a regime which is an ally of Iran. This is the Middle East, unfortunately. And as the United States plans its next move in the Middle East, it has to choose between perhaps the lesser two of evils, but all (ph) those evil are very evil indeed, whether it be the radical Sunnis or the radical Shiites.

CABRERA: And yesterday we played some sound from Senator Lindsey Graham who said that the U.S. needs to work with Iran on this crisis. There's at least one thing I guess both countries have in common, we want a secure and stable Iraq. Is engaging Iran the solution here? We know it comes with risks.

OREN: Well, I know that America's allies in the Middle East, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia, other gulf countries, would be very resistant to the idea of the United States working with Iran. Iran is the world's largest state sponsor of terror. The terror you see occurring in Iraq, Iran is trying to perpetrate that throughout the region and indeed throughout the world and Iran is also developing military nuclear capabilities. So any move on the part of the United States that will strengthen Iran and its hegemony in the Middle East would be viewed very warily by American allies there.

I would agree, we recently heard on CNN the former American ambassador to Iraq, Ambassador Crocker, talking about the need for America to engage diplomatically. I think that is a very good idea. And not to rule out the possibility of some type of standoff, military engagement, not boots on the ground. We're not talking about large ISIS forces. They're highly vulnerable. They don't have air power. They don't have a tremendous amount of armor. This is an opportunity, Ana, I think to restore American credibility in the Middle East. It is a crisis, but it's also an opportunity.

CABRERA: You talked about diplomacy. As far as our military response, or the possible military response, the president says no boots on the ground. So aside from air strikes, what else could be on the table?

OREN: Well, again, the United States could make a move to engage the Iraqi government to put leverage on the Iraqi government, to open its ranks, to make it more multiethnic. Up to now the Iranian government - the Iraqi government has operated sort of as a -- as a Shiite monopoly. They've edged out and purged leading Sunni figures from that government to make that government more multiethnic, more representative and more democratic. And here is an opportunity for America to put its agenda forward and also show that it's capable of standing up to its enemies in the Middle East.

CABRERA: Well, and certainly, talk sounds good, but we all want to see action. And al Maliki has really failed to incorporate the Sunnis in his country, as well as even the Kurds. So we have three different ethnicities and a political complicated problem here. So if the U.S. decides to get involved, could the U.S. risk the appearance of taking sides in this ethnic cultural religious political conflict and in effect incite violence against America?

OREN: Well, in taking sides against very radical elements in the Middle East, whether it be Shiites or Sunnis, is not a bad thing. It strengthens America's image among the moderates in the Middle East. And there are great moderate forces in the Middle East to look to the United States for inspiration, as well as for action. So, again, this is an opportunity.

There's always going to be a - there's always going to be a risk. There's a - there's been a myth, if you would, in the Middle East in recent years that America can go home from the Middle East, they can turn its back on the Middle East, it can pivot to other areas of the world. But as we've seen, the Middle East will keep on reasserting itself into America's attention, and demanding American intervention for reasons that relate to a fundamental American security, not just to economic interests. So there's - there's no going home.

And since there isn't going home, we see -- the great question is how then do you proceed and intervene in a way that makes a difference and limits American vulnerability. I believe again the way is to be engaged diplomatically and ISIS has great leverage over the Maliki government right now, Maliki has come to the United States literally on his knees begging for intervention. America can demand a quid pro quo, can demand a price. Maliki wants American air cover. American air cover could be an option. But, again, in return for guarantees that the future Iraqi government will be more open, more representative and more democratic.

CABRERA: And that's whether or not al Maliki stays at the head there as prime minister.

Ambassador Michael Oren, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

OREN: My pleasure, Ana. Have a good day.

CABRERA: You too.

NEWSROOM is back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: The growing crisis in Iraq is threatening to send gas prices skyrocketing. Some experts are even saying today's $3.66 a gallon average could look like a bargain soon. CNN's chief business correspondent Christine Romans is joining me now for more. So a bargain? $3.66?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I know I think you're going to see this go up maybe as much as 20 cents over the next few weeks. And if you look where we are today we've already got AAA and others saying motorists prepare yourself and brace yourself for more; AAA saying five cents to 10 cents. Our experts are saying up to 20 cents $3.86 a gallon you could see as oil prices continue to rise.

Most folks are telling us they don't think it will knock on the door of $4 just yet but it depends on what happens with the crisis in Iraq. When you look at oil prices, they are up four percent so far just this month. I mean the trajectory for oil has been up really since the beginning of the year and if this Iraq crisis worsens or doesn't get any better, you're going to see those prices continue to go up. And that's a big -- the big reason why gas prices go up, because of oil.

CABRERA: But we aren't hearing that oil exports are necessarily being affected in Iraq at this point. So is this just kind of a precursor, I mean people are getting ahead of it and are scared.

ROMANS: You know we've already got one big oil pipeline to the north that's been closed off since March so there's already been unrest. So oil markets are used to sort of the unrest in the north part of the country. You can see that red line there going to Turkey. That pipeline has been shut down. Now there is a lot of rich oil fields in the south of the country. And the Iraqi oil minister is saying those facilities are still intact. They are still in action.

But when you look at the way ISIS has moved down that map, like a stain spreading just to the north of Baghdad, it is a real concern. And here's one reason why. Saudi Arabia can open the spigot a little more to make up for Libya or to make up for supply disruptions in Nigeria or even Venezuela, but Iraq is a huge oil producer it's the fourth largest proven oil reserve in the world. Saudi Arabia can't make up for all of Iraq.

And so you need to see the stability there, for the oil production. A lot of experts expected oil production to go up to maybe eight million barrels a day over the next few years. Right now we're 3.3 million so anything that gets in a way of that is trouble for the oil market.

CABRERA: And of course it's not just Iraq, but we're also seeing the unrest in Ukraine, you mentioned Libya.

ROMANS: Right, absolute, absolutely, the natural gas situation was Russia showing off the Ukrainian supply -- the supplies of natural gas in Ukraine. That's also a big issue -- it all comes at a very delicate time for global energy supplies.

CABRERA: All right Christine Romans thank you so much.

ROMANS: Thanks so much.

CABRERA: It's good to see you.

Well still to come, thousands of children crossing into the U.S. illegally to escape the extreme poverty and violence in their home country. We'll take a look at one mother's quest to help her family survive.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: Vice President Joe Biden is making his way to Guatemala this week to address that massive wave of undocumented children coming into the United States. Now he's expected to meet with the country's president to emphasize children who cross the border illegally will be subject to deportation.

But in Honduras residents who live in areas with nearly 90 percent unemployment, if you can believe it, they say trying to reach the U.S. is really their only way to survive.

CNN's Rosa Flores traveled to Honduras for more on this story.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This is the extreme poverty Hondurans are trying to escape where homes with indoor kitchens, doors that lock and glass windows are a luxury. People in this slum sell just about anything door-to-door to put food on the table. They tell us about 90 percent of this community of about 3,000 is unemployed.

"When I can't feed my kids" says this mother of six, "I'm very tempted to give the American dream another try." She's already been deported once.

It seems everyone knows someone who has taken a stab at the dangerous trek, like this woman's son.

"There's danger everywhere" she says, "ten died down the street and mothers are left praying."

The communities on opposite sides of this river are a glaring example of the breakdown of law and order. On one side, you've got a gang- controlled slum where crime is rampant. On the other the side of the river you've got a neighborhood watch community taking security into its own hands, setting up a checkpoint with armed guards, only allowing residents inside. Before this, gangs were notorious for raiding this neighborhood to rob, assault, and kill.

"Slowly," says this guard, "We forced all of the known criminals out, but the poverty they fear is here to stay."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: Now, let's talk about that poverty. 65 percent of the people in Honduras are in poverty, making it the second poorest country in Central America. Now Ana, the other reason why a lot of these kids are making the trek to the United States is because their parents are in the U.S.

So what it appears like, it almost seems like there's this generation of kids who don't have parents in Central America, and so they are left alone. They are stalked by gangs. Pretty much recruited, asked to join or they die, and also unfortunately, a lot of these kids are abused sexually, emotionally, physically, and so they feel they don't have anything to lose. They make the trek to the United States in hopes to reunite with their family.

CABRERA: How weird that their parents would go to the U.S. and leave them behind?

FLORES: Well that's the thing. A lot of the times what happens is the parents go to the U.S. and send money back to their home country in hopes --

CABRERA: To try to help their family.

FLORES: To help them right. And then most of time pay coyotes to bring their kids to the United States.

CABRERA: The guides.

FLORES: The guides that we were talking about. Yesterday, actually with you --

CABRERA: It's such a complicated issue and just such a sad situation.

Rosa Flores thank you for that insight and your great reporting from Honduras -- we appreciate it. And thank you for spending some time with me.

The next hour with CNN NEWSROOM with Don Lemon comes up right after the break.

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