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U.S. Commander Admits Airstrikes on Hospital a Mistake; U.S. Skeptical of Russia's Actions in Syria; Federal Probe Into Missing Cargo Ship Begins; Democratic Candidate Campaign for Long Haul; Police Focus on Oregon Gunman's Mother; NATO Chief Questions Russia's Intentions in Syria; Russia, Syria's Unique Relationship; Crisis Far From Over in S.C. after Flooding; 20th Anniversary of O.J. Simpson Trial. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired October 07, 2015 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[00:01:11] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead this hour, a mistake and a message. A top U.S. general orders retraining for U.S. forces in Afghanistan after accidental airstrike on a hospital. Also telling Congress the U.S. need a new plan to deal with the growing threat from terrorist groups.
SESAY: The U.S. demands talks with Russia to avoid an incident in the increasingly crowded and dangerous skies over Syria.
VAUSE: The search for the missing cargo ship and why it stayed the course to sail directly into a hurricane.
SESAY: Hello, and welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: It is great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. NEWSROOM L.A. begins right now.
U.S. military is admitting it made a tragic mistake when airstrikes hit a hospital in northern Afghanistan. The Defense secretary says he deeply regrets the deaths of 22 people in Kunduz.
SESAY: Barbara Starr reports the command process is coming under review as well as the long range plans for the U.S. troops there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the aftermath of the attack on the Doctors Without Borders hospital, a stunning military order from the top U.S. commander.
GEN. JOHN CAMPBELL, COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN: I have directed the entire force to undergo in-depth training in order to review all of our operational authorities in rules of engagement.
STARR: That order and acknowledgement that something went wrong. Rules of engagement spell out when and how the U.S. military can
conduct airstrikes, like the AC-130 gunship that hit the hospital. Doctors Without Borders says the U.S. knew it was a hospital. They were under attack for 30 minutes. It could not have been a mistake.
JASON CONE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: Until we`re told otherwise, and until we see an independent investigation, we will presume that this was, in fact, a war crime.
STARR: Did this violate U.S. military rules?
CAMPBELL: Even though the Afghans request that support, it still has to go through a rigorous U.S. procedure to enable fires to go on the ground.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R-AZ), ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: But there was no forward air controllers, American forward air controllers on the ground.
CAMPBELL: Sir, we had a special operations unit that was in close vicinity, that was talking to the aircraft that delivered those fires.
STARR: If the U.S. knew it was a hospital, did reports of Taliban firing justify the attack?
CAMPBELL: We would never intentionally target a protected medical facility.
STARR: Standards for airstrikes at least initially do not appear to have been met at the hospital. Military rules require U.S. troops are at risk. Contrary to initial reports, U.S. troops were not fired on. When the U.S. is going after al Qaeda, here, it was the Taliban. When Afghans are about to be overrun, here, the Afghans were trying to retake the area.
Campbell said the overrule security situation in Afghanistan is still so uncertain, he needs to revise his recommendations about a troop reduction.
CAMPBELL: We have to provide our senior leadership options different than the current plan that we`re going with.
STARR (on camera): It remains to be seen how many of the 10,000 U.S. troops still in Afghanistan will remain after the end of next year. But with ISIS, the Taliban and al Qaeda, still pressing for their advantage in Afghanistan, it`s very much an open question.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Well, joining us now from Kabul is Sune Engel Rasmussen. He's a reporter for "The Guardian" newspaper.
Sune, good to have you with us. How should we read the Afghan government's somewhat muted response to this hospital strike? SUNE ENGEL RASMUSSEN, THE GUARDIAN: It is a testament to the
different relationship between this current government under President Ashaf Ghani and the former government under President Karzai. As many viewers will remember Karzai's relationship with the U.S. grew increasingly antagonistic over the years and he refused to sign a bilateral security agreement which Ghani signed as one of the first actions after he came into power a little over a year ago.
And so Ghani and the U.S. are in close cooperation and when the U.S. carries out operations in Kunduz it is with the blessing of the Afghan government. It is also in close cooperation with Afghan troops on the ground. So that's probably one explanation why the Afghan government is not as critical as for example Hamid Karzai would have been.
SESAY: We know that President Obama is currently reviewing plans for the withdrawal of U.S. troops, all combat troops by the end of 2016. That is under review. But do we know what the Afghans want? Do we know what they're hoping to see happen?
[01:05:03] RASMUSSEN: The Afghan government agrees with General Campbell, the top U.S. general here in Afghanistan, that the troop withdrawal -- planned troop withdrawal at the end of next year is premature. And that it essentially will leave the Afghan Security Forces very vulnerable not only to attacks from Taliban but also to the growing presence of militant groups like Daesh or Islamic State which are increasingly present in the east of the country.
So many Afghan security officials here are recommending that the American forces and NATO forces in general prolong their presence here in the country. Now many people would say that at some point the U.S. will have to withdrawal from Afghanistan and when, if next year is not the right time, then when is? But that's going to be a discussion that will have to be taken many times, I expect, over the next year.
SESAY: The question then becomes should those troops remain on the ground what's that relationship going to be like going forward given what has just happened in Kunduz?
RASMUSSEN: Yes, and that's also up for review I think. But judging from the response so far from the Afghan government, this not necessarily going to be hugely damaging to the relationship between the Afghan government and U.S. forces. Now the way -- it might damage the way that ordinary Afghans look at the U.S. military naturally. They've gone through 14 years now of war where we've seen repeated incidence of great civilian losses at the hands of U.S. military and a lot of people are suspicious of U.S. here.
And as we saw in Kunduz, we didn't need General Campbell to come out and confirm that there had been a U.S. airstrike. A lot of Afghans simply assumed that it was. And every time one of these incidents happened, well then animosity towards foreign troops, or at least the suspicion towards them grows and that also rubs off on the Afghan government which loses legitimacy in the eyes of many people not of everyone, but of many people.
So the relationship between the U.S. military and Afghan government might remain strong over the next year but if these incidents keep happening this could affect the relationship between the international troops and the civilian population.
SESAY: Sune Engel Rasmussen joining us there from Kabul with some important perspective. Appreciate it. Thank you.
VAUSE: To the war in Syria now and growing fears of Russia's increasing involvement. NATO and American officials say there has been a significant ramp-up of Russian forces including ground troop. Russia denies that. We get details from Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Both the U.S. and NATO are pointing to mounting evidence that Russia is all in in Syria. Top officials say Moscow has deployed ground forces into Syria and has once again violated the airspace of a NATO partner, Turkey, to carry out airstrikes.
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL: I'm also concerned that Russia is not targeting ISIL but instead attacking the Syrian opposition and civilians.
ACOSTA: The war of words is ramping up, as well. U.S. officials are furious that Russian bombers appear to be hitting Syrian opposition groups backed by the CIA. Moscow, emphatically claims it's targeting ISIS. The White House is accusing Russia of trying to shift the balance of power in Syria, repeatedly striking outside ISIS and Syrian government-controlled areas and into rebel territory.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think President Putin is playing chess. He's playing checkers.
ACOSTA (on camera): At what point does the president say to Vladimir Putin, cut it out?
EARNEST: Well, I think the president has made quite clear that Russia should not be interfering with the 65-member international coalition that is seeking to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Moscow says it's agreed for another round of military-to-military talks with the U.S., like the one shown here on Russian television, to avoid any accidents. But it will be tough for both sides to come off hardening positions.
ASHTON CARTER, DEFENSE SECRETARY: This approach is tantamount to pouring gasoline on the fire of the Syrian civil war.
ACOSTA: President Obama, who's told his team he will continue to support the Syrian opposition, is coming under criticism from all sides, including his 2008 rivals, Hillary Clinton.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We should be putting together a coalition to support a no-fly zone because I -- and look, I think it's complicated, and the Russians would have to be part of it.
ACOSTA: And John McCain.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I think we should definitely have some more boots on the ground, not a lot but we better do something.
ACOSTA: But as the president told veteran groups seen here in this little-known White House video, he's adamant he's not launching new wars.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Right now, if I was taking the advice of some members of Congress who holler all the time, we'd be in, like, seven wars at a time. I'm not exaggerating.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:10:02] VAUSE: President Obama there finishing that report by Jim Acosta in Washington.
SESAY: Now to Australia where police have arrested four people in connection with the fatal shooting of a police department's accountant.
VAUSE: Curtis John was shot outside New South Wales police headquarters on Friday. The 15-year-old gunman was killed by police at the scene. Investigators believe the four suspects have terrorist ties.
Federal safety investigators now looking into the circumstances around the disappearance of the cargo ship El Faro. The U.S. Coast Guard says the ship sank with 33 crew members on board.
SESAY: But questions remain over why El Faro continued its route even though the captain knew a potential hurricane was brewing.
CNN's Martin Savidge reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW DEHLINGER, FATHER OF MISSING CREW MEMBER: I can't go there. And I've cried so much that I have no more tears. So he's got to come -- they all have to come back.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: But for many of the families, why did they go in the first place?
PHIL GREENE, PRES./CEO, TOTE SERVICES: The captain laid out his plan, and given his plan and given what he had in the way of information about the weather system, his plan was a sound plan that would have enabled him to clearly pass around the storm with a margin of comfort that was adequate in his professional opinion.
SAVIDGE: But even if the ship hadn't run into mechanical trouble, as it did with its propulsion system, weather reports last Tuesday show Joaquin already brewing as a tropical storm. The 5:00 p.m. forecast predicting it would become hurricane strength. That, just hours before El Faro even set sail at 8:00 p.m. that night, its path leading directly into the eye of the storm. Family members of those aboard visible angry over that decision.
DESTINY SPARROW, DAUGHTER OF MISSING CREW MEMBER: That's what I do not like. If they knew the hurricane was coming, they should have kept them there and waited, and to ship them back out like that, that makes no sense at all.
SAVIDGE: At daybreak today, the search for survivors continued. The Coast Guard dispatching planes; three naval cutters working round the clock, along with commercial tugboats. So far, only one of two lifeboats has been found, badly damaged, along with one victim in a neoprene survival suit.
CAPT. MARK FEDOR, USCG: We are still looking for survivors or any signs of life, any signs of that vessel.
SAVIDGE: The NTSB launching its own team to Jacksonville, apart from the Coast Guard, to investigate, but the outlook is grim. And after four days of searching, family members, like the mother of Mariette Wright, fear they may never see their loved ones again.
MARY SHEVORY, MOTHER OF MISSING CREW MEMBER: She loved the sea. She couldn't have lived without being on the sea somehow or somewhere. And that is her life, and now I'm so afraid she's lost it to the sea.
SAVIDGE: Martin Savidge, CNN, Jacksonville.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: A short break here on CNN NEWSROOM. When we come back, did the U.S. vice president play the sympathy card to win support for a potential presidential bid. Those details up next.
SESAY: Plus, police investigating the campus murders in Oregon are looking closely at the gunman's mother and her online posts. Do stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
[01:17:21] SESAY: We are just one week away from the first U.S. presidential Democratic candidates' debate right here on CNN. Be sure to watch or set your DVR for Tuesday night, 8:30 p.m. Eastern here in the United States, 1:30 a.m. Wednesday in London.
VAUSE: And with that in mind, Joe Biden has still not said if he is jumping into the presidential race but one report suggests the U.S. vice president has been fueling speculation about his own possible run for the White House.
SESAY: On Tuesday the Web site Politico reported Biden leaked to "The New York Times" that it was his son's dying wish for his father to run for president. The report suggested the leak was meant to lay the ground work for a potential campaign. Beau Biden died this year from brain cancer. The report says he told his father the country would be better off with Biden family values. A Biden spokesperson slammed the Politico report, calling it categorically false and offensive.
Well, one source close to the vice president says there will be a family conversation this weekend which could help decide whether he will run.
VAUSE: Jeff Zeleny has more now on the current and potential Democratic candidates who are making this run for the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Thanks to all of you.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton back in Iowa today and finally playing offense.
CLINTON: Wow.
ZELENY: She's taking to the airwaves, seizing on House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy's suggestion the committee investigating the Benghazi attacks is designed to bring down her candidacy.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R), CALIFORNIA: Everybody thought Hillary Clinton was unbeatable, right? But we've put together a Benghazi special committee. What are her numbers today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Republicans have spent millions attacking Hillary.
ZELENY: It's the first national television ad of her campaign, taking on Republicans, but not overlooking the Democratic race that's tougher than she imagined. With Bernie Sanders catching fire with liberals and Vice President Joe Biden waiting in the wings, Clinton is trying to hold on to her claim as the Democratic frontrunner.
CLINTON: Now I'm back on the campaign trail.
ZELENY: Day by day, she's putting more distance between her position and President Obama's. She's saying yes to a Syrian no-fly zone. She's saying no to the Keystone XL Pipeline. And she's speaking out forcefully against U.S. deportation.
In an interview with Telemundo, she outlined one of her biggest splits with the president, saying, "I think we have to go back to being a much less harsh and aggressive enforcer."
But it's Vice President Biden who's captivating the party's interest as he nears the decision about the 2016 race. Biden kept out of public view today, holding his weekly White House lunch with the president, but speculation about his political future raged. In Iowa today, those lining up to see Clinton had Biden on their minds.
[01:20:06] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Competition is always good and that's his choice. So he needs to decide that.
ZELENY: But several Democrats hoped Biden stayed on the sidelines.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm pretty satisfied between Hillary and Bernie. I like both of them.
ZELENY: Few people are eagerly awaiting an answer more than Clinton, but today she played it cool, joking about her star turn on "Saturday Night Live."
CLINTON: You know, I have been trying out different possible careers, and you know, I kind of like the bartending idea.
ZELENY (on camera): Now she drew cheers and applause inside that room. She's trying to project an aura of calm. But inside her campaign they're wondering if the vice president is going to run. A super PAC supporting the Clinton campaign has already started to do oppositional research on the vice president looking at his voting records from all these years in case he jumps in. This could be a very messy primary if he challenges Hillary Clinton.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Davenport, Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: It could be very messy indeed.
Now U.S. President Barack Obama plans to visit Roseburg, Oregon, on Friday. That's where a gunman killed nine people last week. The president will meet privately with some of the victims' families.
VAUSE: Republican candidate Ben Carson who is one of the leaders on the conservative side told FOX News if he were president he would not make this trip, saying, quote, and this is a quote, "I would probably have so many things on my agenda that I'd go to the next one." Carson also described how he may have reacted if he come face-to-face with the gunman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not only would I probably not cooperate with him, I would not just stand there and let him shoot me. I would say, hey, guys, everybody attack him. He may shoot me but he can't get us all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Meantime, investigators in Oregon have turned their attention to the gunman's mother.
SESAY: Her online posts reveal a fascination with guns, a stockpile kept in her home and her son's mental health.
Sara Sidner has more.
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Isha, police are looking into the social media postings of the shooter's mother. That is the latest in the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SIDNER (voice-over): Hours after the Umpqua Community College massacre, the mother of the 26-year-old gunman shown here talking to police broke down.
BRONTE HART, NEIGHBOR: She was bawling, and she looked really upset, and, I mean, I can't blame her. I mean, this is insane.
SIDNER: Now there are new details about what she knew about her son's mental health and access to guns before he went on a rampage killing eight students and a teacher. A series of online posts linked to his mother, Laurel Harper, reveals he had a developed mental disorder on the autism spectrum and there were plenty of guns of all types in the house.
In a post from at least three years ago, Harper boasted about her arsenal of weapons on a Yahoo! Answers discussion thread about state gun laws saying, "I keep two full mags in my Glock case and the ARs and AKs all have loaded mags. No one will be dropping by my house uninvited without acknowledgment."
Police say they found eight guns at the home she shared with her son and six at the crime scene. She made clear her son was familiar with gun laws. In an answers.com posting, where someone asked a hypothetical question about who police would charge if 10 people shot simultaneously at one person killing that person, she posted in part, at the very least, they would be charged with accessory to murder, at the worst, they'd be charged with felony murder, citing, quote, "My son who has much knowledge in this field."
She and her son shared more than a knowledge of guns and gun laws. They also shared a developmental disorder, Asperger's, according to posts linked to her e-mail. "My son has Asperger's, he's no babbling idiot nor is his life worthless. He is very intelligent and is working on a career in film making. My 18 years' worth of experience with and knowledge about Asperger's syndrome is paying off. I'm a nurse."
In another post she says in part, "I have Asperger's and I didn't do so bad. It wasn't easy, understatement, but it can be done."
This case bears striking similarities to Sandy Hook gunman, Adam Lanza, who killed 27 people before taking his own life. Both lived with their mother, had a deep interest in guns and were believed to have Asperger's.
CNN's multiple attempts to reach Laurel Harper have been unsuccessful but the shooter's father told CNN he was surprised his son had access to guns.
IAN MERCER, OREGON GUNMAN'S FATHER: I have no idea that he had any guns whatsoever and I'm a good believer that you don't buy guns, don't buy guns. You don't buy guns.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SIDNER: The mental disorder Asperger's is part of the autism spectrum. And we should note here that scientists have never linked violent behavior with that disorder -- John, Isha.
[01:25:06] SESAY: Our thanks to Sara Sidner for that report.
Now a New York attorney general is looking into the hugely popular fantasy sports companies DraftKings and FanDuel. It comes after a "New York Times" report that a DraftKings employee may have used inside information to win $350,000 on FanDuel.
VAUSE: The multibillion dollar industry is mostly unregulated. Now the attorney general wants to know how the companies store their data and who has access to it. Both companies say they have banned employees from playing fantasy games for money.
SESAY: Well, South Carolina is starting to dry out. But more trouble lies ahead as the state begins to rebuild after days of heavy rain and floods.
VAUSE: Plus the unique relationship behind Russia's involvement in Syria.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. Thanks for staying with us. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.
SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay. The headlines this hour.
The Pentagon is taking responsibility for the deadly airstrikes in northern Afghanistan Saturday. The commander of U.S. forces there told lawmakers the airstrikes in Kunduz on a Doctors Without Borders hospital were a mistake. Twelve medical personnel and 10 patients were killed.
VAUSE: Federal safety investigators are looking into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a cargo ship El Faro. The U.S. Coast Guard says the ship went down during a storm with 33 crew members on board. Officials are still searching for survivors.
SESAY: A former president of the U.N. General Assembly is facing bribery and tax fraud charges. New York prosecutors say John Ash took more than $1 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen. Five others, including a Chinese billionaire, are also facing prosecution.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: We have more now on Russian forces inside Syria. U.S. and NATO officials say their numbers appear to be growing and Turkey has protested at least two incursions of Russian warplanes over its air space.
SESAY: And earlier, our own colleague, Hala Gorani, spoke with NATO secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg, about the worries over Russia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HALA GORANI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Pentagon sources have spoken to CNN. These troops might, in fact, be preparing to provide support for a ground offensive by the Syrian army. Do you believe that's the case? JENS STOLTENBERG, SECRETARY-GENERAL, NATO: I would not speculate at
this time. I will comment on what we have seen. We have seen a substantial military build-up. We have seen they mainly attacked other targets than ISIL. That they're providing support for the Assad regime and also the stated purpose of the increased military presence is to also support existing regime.
GORANI: You have talked about this violation of Turkish airspace. You have said by Russia. You have said, quote, "It doesn't look like an accident." You said, in part, because two violations occurred and they, quote, "lasted a long time." So, really what you are saying is, this was deliberate on the part of Russia, correct?
STOLTENBERG: So based on our intelligence, based on the information that we have, this does not look like an accident. It is always a serious matter when the airspace of a sovereign nation is violated, as we saw during the weekend. And we have to do whatever is possible to avoid something like that to happen again.
GORANI: Do you consider that two violations of Turkey's airspace by Russia, do you consider those events to be acts of aggression in any way?
STOLTENBERG: It is unacceptable. It is dangerous and it's reckless behavior. And it adds to the tensions we see. And the violation of the Turkish airspace becomes more important, more dangerous because it happens in a context where we see more fighting, more Russian military presence in Syria. I think we also have to understand that in this context of increased tensions to the south of the alliance, to the south of Turkey, in Syria, this just adds to the -- the seriousness of the whole situation and of the airspace violation.
GORANI: You are not calling it an aggression. You are calling it reckless. The question, of course, now is, if you say it happened twice, what will NATO's reaction be if it happens again?
STOLTENBERG: We have the means, we have the capabilities to defend all allies. But the important thing now is that we have to convey a clear message to Russia that this should not happen again. And that is also the reason why our military commanders will contact their counterparts in Russia to convey this very clear message to them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: We have this just in to CNN here. The Reuters News Agency reporting an intense wave of Russian air strikes on the Syrian provinces of Hama and Idlib. This information is coming from the human rights group, the Syrian Observatory. Again, this is an indication the Russians are ongoing with air strikes across Syria. We'll get more details on this, what targets may or may have not been hit. We'll bring them to you as soon as we have them.
SESAY: Well, Russia and Syria have a long history of cooperation. But Moscow's latest involvement there has more to do with the future than the past.
VAUSE: Brian Todd has more on the unique relationship the two countries share and the reason both countries now are joining forces.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a letter, a personal overture from Bashar al Assad to Vladimir Putin which opened the door to Russian forces entering Syria. That's according to Syrian and Russian officials. A request from embattled dictator to his ally, which now threatens America's already shaky strategy against ISIS.
MATTHEW ROJANSKY, THE WOODROW WILSON CENTER: The dangerous factor in the Assad/Putin alliance and Russian intervention in Syria, more broadly, is it is putting a lot more fuel on an already raging fire.
If al Assad comes on strong now with a new offensive backed by Russian materiel, troops, pilots and planes, a lot more people will die.
TODD: It's an alliance dating back to the Cold War when the Soviets gave arms and support to Syrian dictator, Hafez al Assad, a man every bit as brutal as his son. But analysts say the personal relationship between Bashar al Assad and Vladimir Putin is far from friendly.
[01:35:07] ANDREW TABLER, WASHINGTON INSTITUTE FOR NEAR EAST POLICY: President Putin was mad at Bashar al Assad after the peace talks between Syrians in Moscow in April. During the peace talk, Assad and the delegation were rigid and went against the express wishes of Putin. He was angry about that.
TODD: Why is Putin so invested in al Assad now? Analysts say Putin needs warm-weather ports and bases on the Mediterranean and wants to counter America's moves in the region. Bu this is also about projecting relevance and strength, admitting to CBS's "60 Minutes" it is something he takes pride in.
CHARLIE ROSE, CORRESPONDENT, 60 MINUTES: To see images of you bare- chested on a horse, and they say, there is a man who carefully cultivates his image of strength.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translation): You know, I'm convinced that a person in my position must provide a positive example to people. In those areas where he can do this, he must do this.
TODD: But how can betting on Bashar go south for Vladimir Putin?
UNIDENTIFIED AUTHOR: If I was Vladimir Putin -- thankfully I am not -- I would be worried of footage coming from Syria of Russian pilots potentially being kidnapped or burned, such as happened to a Jordanian pilot not long ago.
TODD: If something like that happens, don't look for whatever personal connection there is to hold. A U.S. intelligence official tells us Putin's involvement in Syria is his chance to be at the center of the world stage. If Assad's failures threaten to trip him up, this official says, Vladimir Putin may be inclined to push Assad out and support someone else as Syria's leader.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Short break here on CNN. When we come back, we head to South Carolina where the sun has finally come out after days of heavy rain and flooding. Officials, though, say residents are not in the clear.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:40:04] SESAY: Good to have you with us, everyone. The rain has now stopped. At least 11 dams have breached or failed in South Carolina following days of downpours. The death toll from the historic flood in the state has risen to 15.
VAUSE: Two people killed in North Carolina. Officials say this crisis is far from over.
Details from Boris Sanchez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the aftermath of what is described as a once-in-a-1,000-year flood, crews are moving fast to try to repair devastated South Carolina. A massive rebuilding effort that could cost more than a billion dollars.
Residents are still not in the clear. Floodwaters overwhelming dams near Charleston as officials cautiously eye rivers still pushing the water towards the coast. Though the storm itself is past, more evacuations are expected.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can see where the water is covering over the road right there. Cars are trying to go through it.
SANCHEZ: While some roads are starting to reopen, many are shut down, including a major section of I-95, about 80 miles of the busiest highway in the state remain desolate. Lanes usually packed with traffic, now empty. Transportation officials inspecting overpasses and bridges for safety.
UNIDENTIFIED SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER: We would look to get it open fast as we can. We want to make sure it is safe before we let the motoring public get back on.
SANCHEZ: Highway Patrol says the cost in lost commerce is immense. Getting it re-opened will not be easy.
UNIDENTIFIED SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER: A lot of people taking a part in this and we want to make sure it is safe. But it's a difficult task.
SANCHEZ: Governor Nikki Haley warning residents not to take risks.
NIKKI HALEY, (R), SOUTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR: People are starting to go around barriers. This is not safe. We are doing this to protect you. SANCHEZ: While the waters receded and the authorities calculate the
financial toll, the loss of life is staggering. As crews get to areas previously under water, they fear the death toll could rise.
HALEY: What I saw was disturbing. And it is, hard to look at the loss that we are going to have. But everything will be OK.
SANCHEZ: Boris Sanchez, CNN, Manning, South Carolina.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Damage that will run into the billions.
Well, South Carolina not the only place to see record rainfall this weekend.
VAUSE: In California, one the driest places in the world right now, there is intense rainfall.
Our Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us with that.
Pedram, they found water on Mars. Looks like they may have found some in California as well.
(LAUGHTER)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Parts of California, right. Yeah. Just a little bit. A little bit. Pretty interesting story. Really worth noting what occurred across South Carolina. Devastating. Of course, mass destruction. In California, the event was historic, much like in South Carolina. Far less rainfall. Want to show you the contrasting occurrences. In Death Valley, known as one of the driest places in the world, hottest, .55 inches of rain, or 13 millimeters, came down. Represents 30 percent of a year. Just shy of two inches. Take a look at Columbia, South Carolina, 24-hour period, the storm totals over 11 inches coming down. 44 inches considered normal. Of course, damage into the billions of large scale infrastructure across the region. 26 percent of the annual rainfall. Look at the images. Showing you what occurred with the minimal rainfall they have seen on the order of 12 millimeters. Death Valley, bottom side of the screen. Top side, Columbia, South Carolina. Significant damage. Fascinating. Soil moisture, soil type, rocks surrounding desert landscape. Half an inch will do damage when it comes to the roads. As it came across parts of South Carolina, infrastructure and the large population of the region makes all the difference.
Show you what happened across portions of the southwest U.S. Take a look. We have active weather across southern New Mexico into western Texas, El Paso. One million under severe weather threat. Snow showers from Idaho to Vail, Colorado, the mountains above Vail.
I'll leave you over the Hawaiian Islands and Hurricane Oho. We have not seen it in the late season, October to end of the year. Form south of the Hawaiian Islands, look at the track. Not something you would see every day. Goes to the north, west. And Hurricane Oho a 1 category status, well offshore, northern California through the weekend. British Columbia, as extra tropical storm, meaning it loses tropical characteristics. Quite unusual. We know with an El Nino season, water temperature is warm off the Western U.S. as well -- Guys?
VAUSE: Pedram Javaheri, thank you. Let you get back to casino table and the Black Jack.
(LAUGHTER)
Appreciate the update.
JAVAHERI: All right, John.
SESAY: You look lovely, Pedram. You look lovely.
JAVAHERI: Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
VAUSE: A show break here.
(LAUGHTER)
What?
When we come back, a look at what some call the trial of the century, the O.J. Simpson murder case, marking the 20th anniversary. Please stay with us.
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[01:46:35] PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Hi there. I'm Patrick Snell, with your CNN "World Sport" headlines.
Liverpool appears to be closing in on the prize signature of one of the game's most sought-after managers, Jurgen Klopp. The Reds are hoping to complete negotiations within the next 48 hours before naming the 48-year-old as Brendon Rogers' successor. It's been reported Klopp would want to bring in two as part of his coaching staff.
The race to become the next FIFA president has taken another twist after one of the candidates, the South Korean Chung Mun Junn (ph) reveals he's facing suspension from the ethics committee. Chung, who is a former FIFA vice president, said he is charged with violating six articles from FIFA code of ethic, in connection with support for South Korea's 2022 World Cup bid and the proposal to launch a global football fund and the confidentiality rule. FIFA yet to make any statement on Chung's case. The 63-year-old denies all claims made against him.
And at the Rugby World Cup on Tuesday, Romania making their own piece of history. They took on Canada. Even giving them a head start as well. North Americans were 15 points to nothing up in this one. That fueled their opponent's hunger, who then rattled off the next 17 points for a famous win. Number eight went over for two tries before a penalty sealed it.
That's a look at your sports headlines. I'm Patrick Snell.
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SESAY: Welcome back, everyone. 20 years ago, a verdict was reached in a murder trial that captivated the United States and the world. The defendant O.J. Simpson, an American football player and movie star, accused of killing his wife, Nicole, and friend, Ronald Goldman.
VAUSE: Kyung Lah looks back at the drama that unfolded as millions of people waited anxiously for the decision.
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KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): October 3, 1995, the sun rises, and everyone, everywhere, is waiting and watching.
LARRY KING, FORMER HOST, LARRY KING LIVE: We were at the hotel in the suite. Looked out no one was in the street in Beverly Hills. No one was on Rodeo Drive. No one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard there was no crime for like two hours because everybody was too busy watching waiting for the verdict.
LAH: People around the world stopped what they're doing. The final moment in the trial of the century will be broadcast live.
[01:50:10] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Could you please stand and face the jury.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: State of California versus Orenthal James Simpson. We the jury in the above entitled action find the defendant, Orenthal James Simpson, not guilty of the crime of murder in violation of --
KIM GOLDMAN, MOTHER OF RONALD GOLDMAN: They read it, we heard that, I just fell apart.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: The defendant --
LAH: Fred and Kim Goldman are devastated.
FRED GOLDMAN, FATHER OF RONALD GOLDMAN: It was as if your inside got yanked out of you. Everything that we knew to be certain, that he had killed Ron and Nicole, suddenly, wait a minute, how is that possible?
KIM GOLDMAN: Then our side was in shock. Then you hear the cheers, you know --
(CROSSTALK) FRED GOLDMAN: On the other side of the room.
KIM GOLDMAN: -- jubilee going on, on the other side.
UNIDENTIFIED JUROR: Not guilty.
(SHOUTING)
FRED GOLDMAN: That division became what was seen across the TV's for, several days. It was blacks cheering and whites crying.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: In many ways, the O.J. Simpson trial paved the way for reality television and ever-faster 24-hour news cycle, and it turned courtroom lawyers into international celebrities. It also introduced a new form of evidence. Common place now, but 20 years ago, using DNA was rare, confusing and expensive. What else has changed?
Defense lawyer, Mark Geragos, has taken on high-profile cases in the United States. He joins us from his office in Los Angeles not far from where I am.
Mark, I found it fascinating, you did not defend O.J. Simpson. You were in a courtroom across the hall. With that in mind, would you defend O.J. if he came to you today? Do you think he did it?
MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY & CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, I don't think there is any lawyer that would turn down a case like that. If they did, they wouldn't live up to their duty or oath is. You take an oath for, in California, at least, is to never turn down some body just because they're publicly reviled. That's the opposite of what a lawyer should do. If you wouldn't take the case because O.J. is reviled, then you have no business being a lawyer.
VAUSE: Looking back, there was so much hype around the trial. It changed the news media, it changed lawyers. Do you think things would change for the better or the worse?
GERAGOS: It provided I think a window into what happens in a criminal trial. But also at the same time, I think what end up happening is people think all trials are that way, that you are allowed to kind of, as a defense lawyer or as a prosecutor, you are able to do and talk endlessly. That's generally not the case. I think that case also kind of was a precursor for people to understand that race plays a huge part in the criminal justice system.
VAUSE: The use of DNA evidence, too, it had such a huge effect when you look at the Innocence Project, which was started by two members of O.J.'s defense team. And, that's had the effect of overturning hundreds of convictions.
GERAGOS: Well, that's the kind of interesting law of unintended consequences. People learned about DNA through the case, through Barry and Peter, and the way they tried that case. And then they went on, as you said, to spring, you know, 300-some people off of various death penalties, death rows. And for people to understand that basically the lesson learned is that the most fallible thing around is eyewitness identification. That people who are positive about that end up, 20, 15, in some cases, 30 years later, realizing that what they were absolutely positive about turned out to be absolutely, positively wrong.
VAUSE: Why do you think this case still holds so much interest not just here in the United States but, you know, around the world really?
GERAGOS: I think one of the reasons for that is you had a guy who was literally a television, a movie, and a sports star, O.J., telegenic. The case was televised. The victims were very good looking people, which always is important. It cuts across -- I mean there's always the racial underpinning to the story as well. And it captivated America because there is a "who done it" quality to it. Although, the "who done it" was completely cut along the lines of race. Those, in the African-American community were adamant that he did not do it. Those in the non-African-American community are just as absolutely positive that he did do it. And ultimately, at the end of the day, there was kind of a rooting against the system, if you were the downtrodden and minorities, and kind of a view, that if you weren't, that the system failed you. So it encapsulated quite a few narratives, if you will, in this one case. And it was the ground zero because it was Los Angeles. There was the star quality that there tends to be when it comes to cases in L.A.
[01:55:] VAUSE: Yeah, narratives, should say, still ongoing.
Mark, good to speak with you. Thank you for being with us.
GERAGOS: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
VAUSE: Let's finish with the car chase. The Bronco slow car chase was a "where were you at the time" moment. This one took place in Western Australia. One man seemed to think he could get away from police by driving into the ocean.
(LAUGHTER)
Police chased him nearly two hours.
SESAY: The vehicle was stolen. Two officers battled heavy waves to capture him. The car, well that sank quickly.
VAUSE: Didn't work.
SESAY: Yeah.
(CROSSTALK)
SESAY: Australian.
(LAUGHTER)
VAUSE: Not the brightest.
(LAUGHTER)
SESAY: That's all for the team here in Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: I'm John Vause.
Stay with us. The news continues with Rosemary Church and Errol Barnett after a short break.
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