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UK And Egyptian Leaders Meet in London; U.S. Intel Suggests ISIS Bomb Downed Russian Plane; Rubio Responds to Trump Comments on His Finances; Interview with Foster Friess; Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired November 05, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:01] CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Singer Glen Campbell's farewell tour after his 2011 Alzheimer's diagnosis. It re-airs this Saturday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time and again from 10:00 to midnight.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts now.

And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

The mystery deepens and the divisions grow in the investigation of that Russian airliner crash that killed all 224 people on board. Both U.S. and British officials say intelligence suggest ISIS or one of its affiliates planted a bomb on the plane and that terrorists may have had inside help at the Egyptian airport.

Russia and Egypt are pushing back saying there's no hard evidence as of now to support those suspicions. U.S. government sources tell us that ISIS chatter after the crash is fortifying the belief that it was, indeed, a bomb. The ISIS affiliate in Sinai where the plane crash repeats its claims of responsibility and taunts its doubters with, "die with your rage."

The United Kingdom is suspending all of its flights in and out of Sharma el Sheikh airport where that doomed flight had left just 20 some minutes before the crash. Strands 3500 Brits who were due to fly out just today.

Let's start our coverage in London. CNN's Clarissa Ward is outside 10 Downing Street where Britain's prime minister has been meeting with the Egyptian president.

Good morning, Clarissa.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Well, the Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi just left 10 Downing Street moments ago. We expect to hear very shortly some of the comments that he and British Prime Minister David Cameron made at the end of their meeting. But certainly the timing of this is very awkward. President Sisi was here for a three-day state visit. The focus was supposed to be trade and issues of security. But of course now topping the agenda is the British government's decision to suspend all flights to and from Sharma el Sheikh airport. Now before President Sisi's arrival, the British prime minister met

with his Cabinet. They held an emergency meeting. And afterwards he made some comments. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We don't know for certain that it was a terrorist bomb. There is still an investigation taking place in Egypt. We need to see the results of that investigation. The reason we've acted before that is because of intelligence and information we had that gave us the concern that it was more likely than not it was a terrorist bomb.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WARD: The British prime minister has also spoken to President Putin of Russia to give further details and essentially an explanation of why the British government has taken this decision to temporarily suspend all of those flights to and from the -- from Sharma el Sheikh.

But now, Carol, the real emphasis here is on trying to get stranded British tourists back from that Egyptian holiday resort. There are reportedly up to 20,000 Brits there. The prime minister said earlier that empty planes will be flying to Sharma el Sheikh tomorrow to try to begin the process of bringing some of them back home -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Clarissa Ward reporting live from London for us.

Both Egypt and Russia are pushing back against those very public suspicions that a bomb brought down the flight. In fact Russia says even the most basic findings are still months away.

CNN's Matthew Chance live in Moscow with more on that. Hi, Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. That's right. The Russians along with the Egyptians, as you say, despite the concerns of the United States and of the United Kingdom, saying at the moment they haven't seen any evidence of terrorism being responsible for the downing of this Metrojet airliner with the loss of 224 lives.

The head of the Russian Federal Aviation Society said essentially -- that agency, rather, has said essentially that, look, you know, it's going to be some time before the outcome of the investigation is complete and it could take months because lots of details have to be decided. Lots of hard forensic work ahead. And until then, it seems the Russians are trying to say they're not going to categorically state whether they think it was mechanical failure or whether they think it was a terrorism attack that was behind the death of all these people in the downing of their airliner.

There's been some quite indignant remarks made as well by various Russian officials. The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that the information provided by the United States, for instance, and the other words from the United Kingdom seem like unverified information and some sort of speculation.

Maria Zakharova who is the spokesperson for Russian Foreign Ministry, saying that it's shocking that if the British government have got some information that might cast light on what really happened, that no one passed it on to the Russian side. So the Russians, at this point, sticking to their position that the jury is out, as it were, about what caused the crash of this airline.

COSTELLO: All right. Matthew Chance, reporting live from Moscow, thanks so much.

So let's bring in some experts to talk about this. Paul Cruickshank is a CNN terrorism analyst and Isaac Yeffet is the former head of security for El Al Airlines, the Israeli carrier with a safety record that is unsurpassed.

[10:05:12] Welcome to both of you.

ISAAC YEFFET, FORMER HEAD OF SECURITY, EL AL AIRLINES: Thank you.

COSTELLO: So, Paul, why does the United States and Britain seem fairly certain that a bomb was to blame and Russia and Egypt are saying, no, we don't know anything yet?

PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: Because the intelligent strands come from different directions. The intelligent strands coming into the United States and the UK are quite separate from the investigation on the ground. They come from ISIS communications and they also probably come from things we're just not being told about, possibly insiders within ISIS, maybe sharing information. All sorts of ways that intelligence could be getting back.

Also possible that an ISIS video is somehow in the works which will be showcasing this and the Western intelligence are somehow aware of that being --

COSTELLO: Why aren't they sharing the intelligence with Russia then?

CRUICKSHANK: Well, there's not a particularly strong relationship, to put it mildly, right now between Western intelligence agencies on the one side and their Russian counterparts on the other. That could be an obvious explanation.

COSTELLO: So, Isaac, what do you think happened?

YEFFET: I think it was an explosive that somebody from -- I believe it's ISIS, placed a bomb on the aircraft and the result was, one to three, involved 224 innocent people were killed.

ISIS has good reason why to kill Russians and to do what they did. This is an answer to Russia for the Russian Air Force. And now they will send more soldiers on the ground to fight ISIS. ISIS wants to show that they are the strongest terrorist organization and they will take over the Middle East.

COSTELLO: So do you think it was an inside job in Sharma el Sheikh, Isaac?

YEFFET: I will not be surprised. First of all, we have to remember that the -- ISIS, that they have base in Sharma el Sheikh. And every time we hear that they are killing the security people of the Egyptian authorities. Just two days ago an ISIS terrorist took a car, they fill it up with explosive. He went to the area of the Egyptian authorities. He blew himself up with the car and killed at least six security people of Egyptian. So we're not -- we should not be surprised us if this happened.

COSTELLO: So, you know, I don't know very much about bombs but you do, Paul, and I'm glad you're here. So there's that type of bomb. Would it be a similar bomb that would be planted inside of an airplane?

CRUICKSHANK: The intelligence strands point to this being a conventional, old-fashioned type of bomb. Not a sophisticated device like al Qaeda in Yemen has been developing. Pointing towards the fact that an insider managed to somehow smuggle it on to the aircraft. So it wouldn't have had to go through all those expensive airport scanners. It could have been placed directly on the plane, Carol.

For terrorist groups getting an insider at the airport is the holy grail. And of course very worrying if they did have an insider at Sharma el Sheikh and they'll be concerned they have other insiders at other airports in the Middle East.

COSTELLO: So what should Egypt do about protecting its citizens when they fly or people from other countries when they fly out of Sharma el Sheikh?

YEFFET: They should do what they're supposed to do before somebody placed an explosive in the aircraft.

COSTELLO: So what did they not do?

YEFFET: What they did not do? They didn't have security. They just fired the general manager of the airport. For what? Well, the security people. The security that can show that we know what is security. I have been to Egypt a few times. In this field. And I'm looking for the security. I'm looking for the security also in our country here with the TSA. We have zero security. We live with the illusion that we have security, but we don't have in this country security.

COSTELLO: So you're saying that if this could possibly happen in the United States because of our own lack of security.

YEFFET: We have zero security. Just last May was published what the inspector general of what Homeland Security did. He tested. He sent 70 people to our airports around the country. People with explosives, people with guns. And they went to check if somebody would stop them. After 70 people, 67 could pass. And the TSA people failed.

COSTELLO: So, Paul, can you make us feel any better?

YEFFET: Where's the security?

COSTELLO: You know, I think that's really scary.

YEFFET: Yes. I'm asking --

COSTELLO: You're right.

CRUICKSHANK: It's a legitimate concern.

YEFFET: It's a shame.

CRUICKSHANK: It's a legitimate concern and in fact in the summer of 2014 there was an American ISIS fighter killed in Syria when he had been in the United States, one of his jobs was working as a cleaner at Minneapolis-St. Paul's airport with access to some sensitive sites there. Concern that even in the United States these terrorist groups could recruit insiders at the airport.

[10:10:09] COSTELLO: OK. I have to leave it there. Paul, Isaac --

YEFFET: The condition of the security is very, very sad and scary. And scary.

COSTELLO: Well, they had a congressional hearing yesterday, so who knows. Maybe they're doing something about it.

YEFFET: Let's hope.

COSTELLO: Isaac and Paul, thank you so much.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Donald Trump not letting up on attacking Marco Rubio's financial past. Dana Bash just talked to Marco Rubio. We'll -- there she is. She'll tell you how he's responding today. Hi, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, there, Carol. That's right. Last night when I did a quick interview with Marco Rubio, he on the whole question of Donald Trump hitting him on his finances, he said, oh, that's just Donald. He gets weird when the polls change. Just now he had a very different answer. Wait for that after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:15:14] COSTELLO: Marco Rubio makes it official in New Hampshire today filing paperwork at the state house to appear on the ballot for the first in the nation primary. Rubio's visit coming as a new poll from FOX News showed him tied for third, along with Senator Ted Cruz at 11 percent. But still lagging behind frontrunner Donald Trump and Ben Carson.

Our chief political correspondent Dana Bash is in Concord, New Hampshire. And you got a chance to talk to Rubio. What did he say?

BASH: That's right. Well, look, this state is right now a welcoming place for Marco Rubio considering the fact that a poll just came out here showing that he has five times the support that he had just a couple of months ago. He's at 11 percent, third here, which as you know, that means that the man on top, Donald Trump, has him in his sights. So he has really been going after Marco Rubio. Even this morning, over and over and over using a new mantra. Marco Rubio and his credit cards. Almost trying to make it the new Jeb Bush is low energy.

So I put that question to Senator Rubio when he was filing just a few moments ago, asking if he's concerned that that is going to stick. Listen to what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just -- I find it ironic that the only person running for president that's ever declared a bankruptcy four times in the last 25 years is attacking anyone on finances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Very different response, Carol, from what he told me last night when I asked virtually the same kind of question where he just kind of blew it off saying, oh, that's just Donald getting weird because polls are changing. You know, it just indicates that he kind of answered my question with that response without giving an answer. That they clearly do feel that they need to fight back because it's more and more obvious with each interview and media appearance that Donald Trump has, he's going to keep doing this. And, you know, he has had success with this better in the past.

COSTELLO: All right. Dana Bash reporting live from New Hampshire, thank you.

The same FOX News poll that Dana mentioned showed Rubio in third place. It wasn't nearly so kind to Rick Santorum, giving him just an asterisk. Not even a number.

Can Santorum gain traction in time for the nomination? So let's talk about that and more. I'm joined by Foster Friess, he's a former fund manager, wildly credited with funding Rick Santorum's 2012 presidential run.

Foster, welcome.

FOSTER FRIESS, CONSERVATIVE DONOR: Well, I'm delighted to be here, Carol. It's an honor to be on your show. Thank you for inviting me.

COSTELLO: You're welcome. I'm glad you're here as well. I know you were at the CNBC debate with Santorum. What did you make of the debate process?

FRIESS: Well, I think as quite a gift to the GOP because the audience certainly responded to the sort of ridiculous questions. And it showed that the moderators -- and you can't blame them. They sit there and say, how do we get our ratings up? How can we have something exciting and controversial? It isn't in a moderator's mind to say, how can we ask a question so the American people can know, what is the position on taxes, on immigration, on health care? How much discussion have we had, for example, on health care reform or on confronting the global jihad movement?

So I think the camaraderie that developed among the candidates, may be momentary, but it was a good thing for the GOP to allow the American public to see the bias that took place there.

COSTELLO: Do you think that bias affected Rick Santorum's campaign?

FRIESS: Well, I think Rick Santorum is kind of, sort of in demolition derby mode right now. You've all seen these demolition derbies where all these aggressive cars are slamming into each other and he's kind of circling on the outside waiting for a number of cars to be diminished a little bit. I think what's amazing about Rick Santorum's efforts now that a number of the American tax policy giants, Art Laffer, Steve Moore, Steve Forbes, Grover Norquist, all of them not only endorsed Rick's tax plan but actually praised it.

It's a 20 percent across-the-board flat tax, it preserves the home interest deduction and the charitable deductions item, and also gives companies the opportunity to expense everything in their first year, which means you get rid of all the complication of the depreciation schedule. So I think that's probably what needs to be talked about more than anything.

COSTELLO: Well, it's not resonating with voters out there because in the latest FOX News poll, Rick Santorum gets an asterisk. Is it time he drops out?

FRIESS: Oh, listen, we'd settle for an asterisk right now. It's what happens at the actual election. And keep in mind, Carol, there's a difference between --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: What do you mean you'd settle for an asterisk?

(LAUGHTER)

[10:20:01] FRIESS: Well, it's early in the game. It's early -- you know, if you're playing basketball and you're down 10 points in the fourth quarter you just don't sit on the bench and don't go out on the floor. So I think when people hear more about who he ISIS, and the media hasn't really done the best job of covering, for example, he's one of the few people featured who has featured on the ISIS online magazine as the enemy. He understands this issue, which is probably the most important issue we're facing, more so than health care reform, education reform. And also

COSTELLO: But -- Foster, I don't mean to interrupt, but we learned a lot about Rick Santorum in 2012. And it's widely known that you funded a lot of his campaign back then. So I think that the voters know a lot about Rick Santorum, but this time around he's just not resonating. FRIESS: Well, that's what the polls say. But let me draw something

to your attention, Carol. What was the -- what was the poll showing Matt Bevin in Kentucky for governor? He was down 3 percent. Matt Bevin won Kentucky governor by 9 percent. The pollsters are losing a lot of credibility. And I understand they have some problem because the transition from landlines to cell phones. And they're kind of scrambling to figure out how to make their polls more reliable.

But if you look at what's happening on the ground in Iowa, Rick Santorum is ahead of where he was in terms of people coming to his meetings, rallies, supporters he's got I think just signed up a whole bunch of additional county chairman. So it's what the votes are. That what counts and --

COSTELLO: Well --

FRIESS: -- I think the pollsters --

COSTELLO: I'm just curious. Are you giving money to Rick Santorum's campaign?

FRIESS: Well, I have. And I am encouraging my friends also to give. And I think what makes it kind of nice is no one can now say he's, you know, a big -- funded by big money because he's getting his donations and money on a broader based, smaller group of people. And I think Rick Santorum, for example, on his immigration policy -- I remember the media saying Trump is the only one talking about immigration.

I was at Santorum's speech where he announced he's running for president. He says, I want to cut not only illegal immigration, but legal immigration. The media gives Trump the credit.

COSTELLO: Let me ask you -- let me ask you about Donald Trump, because he's been bashing GOP candidates for taking so much money from mega donors. And you are considered a mega donor. So is Donald Trump right to bash mega donors?

FRIESS: Well, I sure think he is because he can fund his own campaign, so that's what Donald Trump would do. And so I think when we look at Donald Trump, I've -- God has blessed me with success because of a key thing that I always looked at people's strengths rather than weaknesses. So I think we to want look at Donald Trump's strengths as how he's candid, he's honest, he's forthright and that's why Santorum is going to get traction eventually because he's a blend of that kind of honesty and straightforward. He doesn't shift his positions depending on what's popular.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Right.

FRIESS: And then again he has the kindness and the gentleness of a Ben Carson.

COSTELLO: Well, I guess I just want to center on Donald Trump for this one more second. I just want to center on Donald Trump. I'm just curious. Has Donald Trump ever reached out to you in any way?

FRIESS: Well, he's asked me a couple of times to come up to New York and, you know, I plan to do that at some point because I think Donald Trump has a lot to offer America. Whether or not he's the eventual nominee, I'm still sticking with Santorum but I think we ought to look at the Donald from --

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Did he ask you for money?

FRIESS: No, he did not.

COSTELLO: So he just wants your support --

FRIESS: He doesn't need any money. Yes, he just -- I don't know. maybe he wants to talk about my golf game and ask what I think -- you know, people should understand why he's succeeding because if you go into all these upscale hotels, Carol, you have a note on your bed. Dear Guests, please consider partnering with us to preserve the wonderful planet's resources by hanging up your towels. In Trump you go in his hotels, says, hang up your dang towel so it doesn't cut into my profit margin. He's just -- he's just plain candid and honest.

COSTELLO: OK. So who do you think will get the nomination? I'm putting on you the spot, Foster.

FRIESS: Oh, my gosh. I -- when I was at the debates and I heard each of those final parting statements, and even on the junior debate, we are so blessed in America to have the kind of quality people that are running. Now look at Jeb Bush, for example, he's not doing well in the polls but what a decent, honest, capable human being. You go just right down the line, Cruz, Rubio -- Rand Paul. I mean, every one of them has something to offer. So I often thought that each candidate ought to look at the other aspirants as a member of their cabinet and not speak ill of a fellow Republican. But that mantra or that request didn't seem to do too well. So to answer your question, I don't know. I don't know. I'm sorry. I wish I knew.

[10:25:02] COSTELLO: Me too. Foster Friess --

FRIESS: I think it's going to be Santorum. It'll be -- it'll be Santorum. I'll put my money on it.

COSTELLO: Man, you are a hopeful man, Foster Friess. Thank you so much for joining me. I appreciate it. Also a programming note --

FRIESS: OK, Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Foster.

Today Wolf Blitzer interviews Rick Santorum. That will happen live at 1:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, U.S. and British intel agree a bomb likely took down that Russian passenger jet in Egypt, so why are the two countries involved saying not so fast? We'll talk about that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: And good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me.

France is ramping up the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and deploying the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle. Here's part of the statement from the French government that we got in just a few minutes ago. Quote, "The defense council examined the state of the terror threat targeting our country and the establishment of measures necessary to protect our citizens."