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War in Syria; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Projected to Win; Trump Impeachment Inquiry. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired October 22, 2019 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, it 7:00 am in London and 3:00 pm and Tokyo from the Atlanta headquarters, I'm Rosemary Church with your next 90 minutes of CNN NEWSROOM, let's get started.
The latest from northern Syria where the shaky cease-fire comes to an official and just hours from now.
In Canada, Justin Trudeau survived a nasty campaign and is set to remain prime minister.
Plus an, historic day in Japan with the coronation of the 126th emperor.
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CHURCH: U.S. forces will welcome their allies when they join Kurdish fighters to defeat ISIS in Syria. Now they are being pelted with rotten fruit and vegetables as they leave. The cease-fire with Turkey will end in the upcoming hours and Ankara has given every indication that it's ready to resume its offensives unless the democratic forces pull out of a so-called safe zone.
Even if Turkey honors that safe zone it is not clear if the rebels will. Abandoned by the U.S., the Kurds made new allies on the Syrian government and the Russian backers. The whole situation will make for an interesting meeting between the Russian president Putin and Turkish President Erdogan in Sochi on Tuesday. Now the U.S. president is defending his Syria strategy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Where is an agreement that said we have to stay in the Middle East for the rest of humanity?
For the rest of civilization to protect the Kurds? They never said that.
And we have protected them. We've taken very good care of them. And I hope they're going to watch over ISIS. (END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: President Trump has promised a full withdrawal in the past but many U.S. troops are not going home, at least not yet. Some will even stay in Syria just with a mission as Barbara Starr now reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A convoy of U.S. troops leaving northern Syria, pelted with vegetables by protesting Kurds. And unprecedented language for an American commander in chief.
TRUMP: It would be much easier for me to let our soldiers be there and let them continue to die.
STARR (voice-over): Instead a possible expanded role for some U.S. troops that are staying behind in Syria for the next several weeks.
MARK ESPER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Our forces will remain in the town located near the oilfields. The purpose of those forces, working with the SDF to deny access to these oilfields by ISIS and others.
STARR (voice-over): U.S. officials say the proposal is for 200 special forces to stay in Syria for now and to protect oilfields and fight ISIS with limited support close by. But using U.S. troops to deny access to oil could put American forces in the role of targeting Russia, the Syrian regime and Iranian forces.
And that is very different than the long-standing mission of fighting ISIS. Trump ally Lindsey Graham, who opposed the presidents original withdrawal plan, is now happy oil is on the table.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): Guarding the oilfields so that Iran doesn't take them over is smart.
STARR (voice-over): Graham suggesting something that might appeal to the president.
GRAHAM: He could actually make money in Syria if he took those oil fields over and shared the revenue.
TRUMP: We want to keep the oil and work something out with the Kurds so that they have some money.
STARR (voice-over): While most U.S. forces in Syria are now headed to the relative safety of western Iraq, they are not going home just yet, despite the president's promises.
TRUMP: And we're using our economic power, much more powerful in certain ways than playing with guns.
STARR: So some troops will stay in the northeastern oilfields and some will stay down south. So President Trump's pledge that troops are going home, well, not just yet -- Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon. (END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Our Nick Paton Walsh is on the ground in northern Syria. We asked him what difference those remaining U.S. troops will make.
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NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's possible it will make quite a difference. The mission allegedly in the south protecting oil, that's not real strategic use to the U.S.
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WALSH: But having troops in the south to block the through route for Syria for Iranians sympathizers toward Lebanon and Israel, that's a key U.S. goal and they will now have boots on the ground in Syria to continue the fight against ISIS, try and rebuild that relationship with Syrian Kurds and be sure ISIS detention facilities are still under their control.
But the broader upshot of all of this is now the majority of U.S. troops that were in Syria fighting ISIS in its last dying moments are now in Iraq. None of them are going home. They're in the neighboring country and will continue the same mission without any Syrian Kurdish allies who feel betrayed by the United States and with a completely different field inside Syria, with most likely the Syrian regime and its Russian backers in the ascendance and Turkey feeling emboldened with its proxies on the ground. Back to you.
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CHURCH: Thanks for that, Nick.
And we turn to Canada now. The hard-fought election is over and prime minister Justin Trudeau remains in power but with a minority government. Early returns have his Liberal Party leading but far short of the 176 needed for a second majority government.
Trudeau's popularity dropped after scandals appearing in blackface and his handling of a corruption case. Mr. Trudeau will have to rely on support from the new Democratic Party to get legislation passed. He thanked supporters in Montreal.
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JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER: None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you for the early mornings and the late nights. You've sacrificed a lot in taking time away from your families and friends to move Canada forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: CNN's Paula Newton is at Trudeau HQ in Montreal and joins us now.
Paula, despite the scandals confronting Justin Trudeau, he seems to have pulled off a win with a minority government. How is he able to do that?
And what might this mean for his national and international standing?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That tour of atonement and the contrition, it's very quick and it was very pointed and I think many in Canada forgive him because they don't believe he or his policies are racist.
Having said that Rosemary there is a list of other scandals he was trying to overcome and certainly the shine had come of his political brand. The issue here Rosemary were his opponents, they were not strong enough to capitalize on that.
And to remind everyone, Canada is running a strong economy right now. That has to do with the strong U.S. economy but things are good in Canada right now. It has low unemployment rates and the economy continues to grow and that definitely had a lot to do with it.
The issue now Rosemary -- and you cited the minority government -- he is weakened at home and he will be weakened abroad in terms of what he can do, save for one specific issue and that is on climate.
Canadians spoke loud and clear this time around. They do want action on he climate crisis and even if that means in some way shape or form it will come out of their wallets.
CHURCH: Paula, with the diminished government, can Canadians expect to see some sort of fundamental reshape of politics in Canada?
NEWTON: There won't be anything fundamental but around the edges. As much as Trudeau's allies continue, for the international leaders at the table with him, the G7 or the G20, they'll see a diminished person.
He will have different guardrails around them in terms of his spending. He has made spending commitments already. There may not be a heck of a lot of money left over for defense spending. Some of the allies, especially NATO, wanted to see.
Those are the kinds of issues you will start to see his international stature diminished and he may not be able to come out as boldly as he would like. Having said that, this was a very negative campaign Rosemary. It left a bad taste in many peoples mouths. It is a minority government and it may last for four years or it may not At that point in time he will be very careful to strike out in any bold way internationally.
CHURCH: Paula, the scandals no doubt humbled Trudeau.
How might this change his own leadership style?
How about his party going forward?
NEWTON: It's such a good word, isn't it?
He was incredibly humbled and humiliated and those around him say that he hasn't quite figured out how that atonement will continue. And they say it will. Former U.S. president Barack Obama broke with convention and wrote a few days ago, encouraged Canadians to vote for him.
I'm not sure it made any material difference but inside the Trudeau circle, it meant a lot that he would tweet that out.
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NEWTON: I think they're seeing that as a platform from which he will rebuild his reputation.
CHURCH: Paula Newton with that report from headquarters in Montreal, many things.
Israel's political future is in doubt for a second time this year. Prime minister Netanyahu is unable to form a ruling coalition which means, for the first time in a decade, the responsibility will fall on someone else. That is likely to be Benny Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White Party.
President Reuven Rivlin intends to give him the mandate to see if can form the government and if Gantz doesn't succeed then there is a three-week period for members of the Knesset to pick one of their own.
If that fails, Israel would be forced into its third election in 12 months.
Another big decision looms for British lawmakers, whether to fast- track Boris Johnson's Brexit deal through Parliament. The British prime minister says that he hopes lawmakers will vote "to take back control for itself."
Mr. Johnson is trying to speed the complicated Brexit legislation through Parliament after the House of Commons speaker rejected another bid for a yes or no vote on the prime ministers deal in the E.U.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN BERCOW, SPEAKER, BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS: In summary, today's motion is in substance the same as Saturday's motion and the House has decided the matter. Today's circumstances are in substance the same as Saturday's circumstances.
My ruling is therefore that the motion will not be debated today as it would be repetitive and disorderly to do so.
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CHURCH: So debate on the so-called withdrawal agreement bill kicks off in the upcoming hours and as Nic Robertson reports, the process is unlikely to be pretty or easy.
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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: To that point, can the prime minister on the do or die date of October 31st?
He is still committed to doing it. One of the impediments in the way is the E.U. 27 leaders and how they take and what view they take from the prime minister's request for a three month extension which he was obligated by law to ask.
That could come up and thwart the prime minister on that deadline The other issue is a pushback from parliamentarians. In the House of Parliament on Monday there was criticism that the government position by opposition MPs, saying they quite simply have not been given enough time and the bill that was presented about at quarter to 8:00 British time in Parliament, the withdrawal agreement bill, did not give them enough time to meet the government timeline of getting amendments to that bill proposed on Monday evening.
And on Tuesday, MPs said that the government desire to get it to a committee stage by the end of Tuesday, which would require a vote, wasn't realistic. What they have described is that it's an international treaty and the past president for international treaties, a master at treaty, took over 20 days, the Lisbon treaty took 11 days.
So the point that the MPs are making is, that they require more time for scrutiny than they've been given. The past president allows more time and they say that the jobs and the livelihoods of their constituents on the line here.
So the prime minister is facing pushback there over the timeline he is trying to execute on but as yet nothing has actually stopped him. And the October 31st deadline in its tracks yet. Things are raising their heads however -- Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
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CHURCH: Back in the United States with the impeachment inquiry heating up, President Trump is making some more baseless claims about who is to blame.
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TRUMP: The whistleblower gave a false account. The information was wrong.
So was there actually an informant?
Maybe the informant was Schiff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The latest on the probe and why the president says Republicans should act more like them.
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CHURCH: Welcome back everyone.
It is a tough week in Washington for Donald Trump as the impeachment inquiry gathers steam. Several officials will be on the hot seat before lawmakers this week over the Ukraine controversy. Bill Taylor, the acting ambassador to Ukraine, deputy assistant Defense Secretary Laura Cooper and a source tells CNN Philip Reeker, acting assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs.
The president is furious about it all and is lashing out at Democrats calling them vicious and ordering Republicans to get tougher and to fight. But he's been strangely quiet on the acting chief of staff Nick Mulvaney. Kaitlan Collins has more now from Washington.
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TRUMP: I don't need promotion. I don't need promotion.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under fire and in front of the cameras, President Trump was forced to defend himself on all fronts today. But there was one person he left out.
QUESTION: Will Mick Mulvaney remain your chief of staff through the end of next year?
TRUMP: Thank you very much everybody.
COLLINS (voice-over): Trump making no mention of his embattled chief of staff Mick Mulvaney during the 75 minutes reporters were in the room today. Mulvaney's job security is now in question after he backed off assertions that the White House sought a quid pro quo with Ukraine for military aid.
MICK MULVANEY, ACTING WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: That is what people are saying that I said but I didn't say that.
COLLINS (voice-over): CNN was first to report there were efforts underway by Jared Kushner and other top officials to oust Mulvaney. Before Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched the impeachment inquiry, revealing he's been on thin ice for weeks.
MULVANEY: Get over it. There is going to be political influence in foreign policy.
COLLINS (voice-over): His Briefing Room appearance undercut the president's defense for why he shouldn't be impeached, a stance Trump maintained today.
TRUMP: The president of the United States should be allowed to run the country, not have to focus on this kind of crap.
COLLINS (voice-over): The president also pushing an unsubstantiated theory about the whistleblower at the center of the scandal. TRUMP: Was there actually an informant?
Maybe the informant was Schiff.
COLLINS (voice-over): Trump claiming without evidence that House Intelligence chairman Adam Schiff was the whistleblower's informant then moments later praising Democrats for sticking together in their push to investigate him.
TRUMP: They're vicious and they stick together. And the Republicans have to get tougher and fight --
COLLINS (voice-over): Those comments coming amid some cracks in Republicans' support, cracks the president dismissed today.
TRUMP: I think I have great Republican support.
COLLINS (voice-over): Trump has tested the GOP's patience with his decision and then reversal to host the G7 summit with world leaders at his own hotel next summer.
TRUMP: Doral was a very simple situation.
COLLINS (voice-over): In the face of intense criticism, Trump now says he'll pick a new location.
TRUMP: You don't think I get enough promotion?
I get more promotion than any human being that's ever lived.
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COLLINS (voice-over): Ethics lawyers said payments from visiting governments could violate the emoluments clause in the Constitution, forbidding the president from accepting gifts or funding from foreign governments.
TRUMP: You people with this phony emoluments clause.
COLLINS (voice-over): The president did defend another move Republicans have criticized, his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria.
TRUMP: When I said we're bringing our soldiers back home, the place went crazy.
COLLINS (voice-over): Trump said he got high praise for the withdrawal during a rally in Dallas last week.
But those U.S. forces aren't going home. Instead, moving into Iraq, opening him up to criticism he's abandoning the coalition of Syrian Kurdish fighters.
TRUMP: We never agreed to protect the Kurds for the rest of their lives.
COLLINS (voice-over): Today he downplayed the U.S. allies' help in the fight against ISIS.
TRUMP: I'm the one that did the capturing and knows more about it than you people or the fake pundits.
COLLINS: The president didn't offer any words of support for Mick Mulvaney. But during a senior staff meeting this morning, there was a round of applause for the chief of staff after he acknowledged it had been a tough week for him.
Whether or not these negative news reports damage his standing ultimately with the president is to be determined -- Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.
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CHURCH: Joining me now is CNN political analyst Michael Shear, he's also a White House correspondent for "The New York Times."
Good have you with us.
MICHAEL SHEAR, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Sure. Happy to be here.
CHURCH: So the U.S. president covered a lot on Monday in the 75 minute chat with reporters but failed to respond to questions about whether his acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney will remain in that position due to his quid pro quo admission.
What will likely happen do you think and does it even matter at this juncture?
SHEAR: I think the reality that most viewers understand, watching this White House show for the last 2.5 years is that there really isn't a real chief of staff in this White House. In the previous White Houses the chief of staff was the one that imposes discipline on the staff and people in the White House and around the president but also on the president himself.
It helps him to stay on the message and to deliver on policy in a calculated and disciplined way, which is not going to happen in this White House. But Donald Trump is not only his own press secretary but in many ways he's his own chief of staff.
In some ways it doesn't really matter. But my sense is the fact that the president was frustrated and upset with the way Mick Mulvaney handled that briefing the other day, that he is in no immediate danger.
But as I say that, he will be fired in five minutes. But he appears to be at least for the moment as the acting chief of staff role and destined to stay there for some time.
CHURCH: President Trump is putting out another conspiracy theory. Let's take a listen to what he is now saying about House Intelligence chairman Adam Schiff and the whistleblower.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: The whistleblower gave a false account. I happen to think there probably wasn't an informant. The informant went to the whistleblower. The whistleblower had second and third hand information. You remember that. It was a big problem. But the information was wrong. So was there actually an informant?
Maybe the informant was Schiff. It could be Shifty Schiff. In my opinion it's possibly Schiff.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: What's he trying to do here?
How does the media need to respond to conspiracy theories like this from the president of the United States, of all people?
SHEAR: There is so much wrong with that answer. The underlying point that he makes about the report by the whistleblower and not being an accurate reflection of what happened on the phone call, which, of course, we all found or we all have seen the reconstructed transcript of it.
In fact, the information was remarkably accurate in describing what happened with the phone call so that from the beginning is a red herring that the president has tried to put out multiple times.
The offhand, flip accusation of Schiff was somehow a source for the whistleblower feels like the way the president tosses out ideas when he says, "people are saying," and offers something up. The truth is, people aren't saying the things that he often says they are saying and if they are, they're certainly not any kind of reputable source.
As far as I'm concerned, I don't know many journalists that took that very seriously today.
CHURCH: President Trump dismissed any suggestion of cracks occurring in his Republican support.
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CHURCH: But his initial decision to host the G7 summit at his own hotel has tested that support hasn't it?
Despite the reversal of the decision.
Was that the straw that broke the camel's back for many Republicans?
And will it be exactly what the Democrats need as they pursue their impeachment inquiry?
SHEAR: I think that's stating it a little bit too strongly. I was on Capitol Hill last week when the announcement of the G7 at one of his properties was announced. It frustrated and upset many Republicans and they all shook their heads, why do we need to deal with this in the middle of everything else, with Syria, with impeachment. It was definitely frustrating. I think the firewall to the president
has is pretty strong still among most Republicans. You see a few cracks there, like with Mitt Romney, who isn't really a friend of the president anyway.
But to see the cascade of support fall away from the president, I think it will take something much more fundamental and damaging to the president's story about Ukraine or something far worse that where the G7 summit is being held.
CHURCH: Mr. Trump continues to defend his decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria. Which angered Republicans, Lindsey Graham was the most vocal but now the senator it appears to be softening with his criticism after learning those troops will remain in the region.
What does that indicate to you?
SHEAR: Lindsay Graham is a interesting character and at one point during the presidential campaign in 2016, he at one point was one of President Trump's harshest critics. Now he's become several years later once of his fiercest defenders. I think he always looking for a way to remain in the president's good graces and Syria tested that.
But the fact that Lindsey Graham, Senator Graham can hang onto the idea that the troops that are not actually coming home and are staying here in the region and that gives him some comfort, I think that is true but it also is an excuse for him. He's looking for a way to stay in the president's good graces and that seems like a way to do it today.
CHURCH: We always appreciate your analysis. Many thanks for joining us.
SHEAR: Thanks, talk to you soon.
CHURCH: We'll take a short break and still to come. The presidents of Russia and Turkey support different factions in Syria but they both look to gain from the U.S. withdrawal. What to expect from their summit. We will take a look at that.
Also a dozen people are dead after a violent weekend in Chile's capital and what is the government doing to calm the unrest there. Stay with us.
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone, I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the top stories we've been following this hour. It appears Justin Trudeau will remain Canada's Prime Minister, but the CBC and CTV project he will have to form a minority government. Mr. Trudeau fought off a challenge from conservative Andrew Scheer during two major scandals involving blackface and a corruption case.
Boris Johnson's vision for Brexit will see its first big test in Parliament in the coming hours. U.K. lawmakers are expected to vote on his new withdrawal agreement bill. The Prime Minister's Brexit plan was delayed yet again Monday after the Speaker of the House of Commons refused a vote on it.
A ceasefire between Turkey and Kurdish fighters will soon expire in northern Syria. The Kurds still furious at President Donald Trump withdrawing his forces pelted U.S. troops with rotten fruit and vegetables, Monday, as they left a border town near Turkey. Well, the Kurds face an uncertain future, as U.S. forces withdraw. It's not clear if Turkey and its rebel allies will honor the so-called Safe Zone, or what Russia and the Syrian government have planned. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh has more now from northern Syria.
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WALSH: They really didn't want to go, but had to all the same. Hundreds of U.S. vehicles rallying here near Hasakah Sunday, before the drive north. Borders from thousands of miles away, given without warning made this messier than elite troops would have it.
This campaign cut so abruptly short so perilously and this exit frankly so hasty. A messy job for any military to have to undertake.
And this is where the mess of U.S. policy towards Syria's Kurds will have to be cleaned up. 1,000 men left out on their own here once President Trump drops the Syrian Kurds, mostly headed for the exit. The amount of convoy workers in the city of Qamishli. A mixed reception, Syrian Kurds aware these troops didn't choose to leave. But having no other Americans to vent their rage at, movements and aerial support carried on until dawn. The convoy rolled through deserts out into neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan, not on their way home but to reposition. But they would have to continue to fight against ISIS in Syria as it regroups from a much worse position. It's the enduring fault of this policy move, ISIS isn't finished, and nobody's really coming home.
In this Qamishli hospital, Sarah (ph) hasn't gone home yet either. She doesn't know yet that her brother Mohammed (ph) died in the same mortar attack allegedly by pro-Turkish forces that also took her leg. She can't look at her missing limb without screaming and tells those around her to stop standing up. Her mother (INAUDIBLE) blames herself for not leaving town earlier.
My heart is in pain, she says. They took the light from my eyes. The candle in my life is out forever. What was our guilt? What did we do for this? There is global anguish over the fate of Syrian Kurds, and Sarah's plight has been working publicized. But they and she are still here. Nobody has come to help yet. She has toys aplenty but a future the shape of which she cannot feel yet. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Qamishli, Northern Syria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Turkey's President says the ceasefire in northern Syria will not be extended. Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke Monday about his plans ahead of a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): Now, there is a truce of 120 hours. Hence, a large amount of this 120 hours has ended. We have a trip to Sochi, Russia tomorrow. In this meeting, we will take up this process with Mr. Putin. And after that, God willing, we will take the necessary steps.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more now on the Russia-Turkey summit from Sochi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The stakes could not be higher as the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan is going to come here to Sochi in Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin. And of course, we know that President Trump has essentially maneuver the United States out of the diplomatic equation for Northeastern Syria by pulling a lot of the U.S. forces out of that area. And then, also, by abandoning the Kurdish fighters were so important before the fight against ISIS. So, essentially, it's going to be Putin and Erdogan who are going to decide the fate of northeastern Syria and for the Kurdish population that lives there as well.
Now, we know that the Kurds have already made a deal with the Russians, and essentially have allowed Syrian government forces and Russian forces into a lot of those border areas. In north or Eastern Syria, between Syria and Turkey. So, the Russians certainly are going to have those areas, and the Turks are not going to be able to invade those areas.
Now, Erdogan is going to want something in return. He's going to want assurances that there are not going to be armed Kurdish fighters in those border areas. Essentially, what Vladimir Putin is saying is he wants the Kurds to integrate into the Syrian Government security forces and to essentially have the Syrian government patrol those areas in the northeast of Syria. So, it's going to be an extremely difficult diplomatic meeting between these two leaders. But one of the things that they have going for them is that there is a good degree of trust between Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan. And so, certainly, it seems as though that the future of northeastern Syria, probably also the future of the Kurdish population in that area, is going to get decided right here in Sochi. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Sochi, Russia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: In Chile, the government is trying to end more than a week of violent protests that have left 11 people dead. Lawmakers have voted to repeal a controversial public transit fare hike, but they've also extended a curfew in Santiago for a third night. CNN's Matt Rivers reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: One of Latin America's
largest city Santiago is paralyzed. At least 11 dead so far, hundreds arrested, and millions of dollars in damage since last Friday. Late Sunday night, the country's President, Sebastian Pinera didn't mince words.
SEBASTIAN PINERA, PRESIDENT OF CHILE: We are at war with a powerful enemy, relentless. That does not respect anyone or anything.
RIVERS: The President's rhetoric could spur further violence and protest that began over a transit fare hike. Violent clashes between police and protesters have gone on for days now with dramatic effect.
Looting has been ramping, massive buildings and train stations have been set on fire. And for the first time since a military dictatorship ended in 1990, the country's military has been deployed on Santiago streets. A national emergency has been declared as some politicians call for calm.
KARLA RUBILAR, MAYOR OF SANTIAGO, CHILE (through translator): We are trying to bring back peace to the people. We received your message but in order to carry it out, we need to dialogue in peace.
RIVERS: The President first announced the hike would be suspended on Saturday. It did little if anything to calm things down. For protesters, the demonstrations and their frustrations are about so much more than a pricier Metro ticket.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They are years of repression. They are years of living in misery. They are years of government imposed measures at the expense of the people.
RIVERS: Though Chile is Latin America's wealthiest country, it also has one of the highest levels of economic inequality in the world. People are frustrated by what they call a lack of economic reform on a number of topics, including pensions, health care, and public education. There's also concerned about government overreach. As on Sunday, authorities imposed a curfew. Some 10,000 police and armed soldiers were deployed.
And in just a few weeks, the APEC summit is set to kick off in Santiago, a highly-anticipated event, not least of which because President Trump and President Xi of China could sign a trade deal on the sidelines of the event. But if these protests continue, senior government leadership might choose not to attend. And that would be a blow to Chile's government, which had been hoping to show off its modern efficient capital, which is now racked with protests. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Activists in Lebanon say they are not impressed with the reforms passed by lawmakers Monday. Mass demonstrations over the economic conditions that have crippled their country have been growing over the past few days. And protesters say, it's time for change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ASSAD THEBIAN, LEBANESE PROTESTER (through translator): We are used to Hariri's promises. Before the elections, he promised 900,000 jobs. They all promised reforms and to fight corruption. And here we are, a year and a half later, what a lie. They claim to change and they are the ones who are corrupt themselves. DANY MOURTADA, LEBANESE PROTESTER (through translator): Protesters,
we are everywhere. We want action on the ground, not just talk. We want people to go back home having achieved something solid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[02:40:03]
CHURCH: The protests began over a proposed tax on messaging services like WhatsApp, but they pivoted to wider issues of government corruption and crumbling infrastructure. CNN's Ben Wedeman explains how the government is working to fix things.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has come out with a raft of reforms, which he hopes will quell the wave of protests that has broken over Lebanon since last week. The reforms include a 50 percent cut in the salaries of current and former senior government officials and members of Parliament. It also includes a new tax on bank profits, which is hoped will cut the annual budget deficit. It also will involve the formation of a committee that will try to bring back so-called looted money that's now in foreign bank accounts. And he vowed that the government will solve the problems created by Lebanon's decrepit public services.
However, it appears that the protesters didn't buy it. After the speech, in fact, more people went to join the demonstrations in Beirut and other Lebanese cities. Those we spoke to said, they simply have little faith in the promises of politicians. It appears that the gap between the rulers and the ruled in Lebanon is only getting wider. Ben Wedeman, CNN Beirut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And despite the mounting tensions, a heartwarming moment emerged on Saturday, a mother driving through Beirut, asked protesters not to be too loud because her 15-month-old son got scared when they gathered around the car. So, they broke out with the megahit song Baby Shark.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PROTESTERS: Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Baby shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo ... Baby shark. Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo. Mommy shark, doo doo doo doo doo doo ... Mommy shark.
(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: It's very cute. All right. We'll take a break. And still
to come, now a new era begins in Japan as Emperor Naruhito proclaims his enthronement in a grand centuries-old ceremony.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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[02:45:13]
CHURCH: It's a day of ceremony and celebration in Tokyo as Japan's Emperor Naruhito has now officially completed his coronation.
He proclaimed his enthronement to the world earlier in a ceremony steeped in tradition. The rituals began back in May with a much smaller event when he replaced his father, Akihito. But Tuesday's ceremony was much bigger held before an audience of royals, dignitaries, and other heads of state, all except the parade which will now take place on November 10th.
And CNN's Will Ripley has been following the events from Tokyo. He joins us now live. Good to see you, Will. Of course, steeped in tradition carefully choreographed and very few surprises. How significant is all of this?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Rosemary. This was pretty much down to the minute we knew what to expect. And yet, still, it is so compelling to see this window into Japan's past. The fact that for more than a century, the images that we saw live on television earlier today are the same images that we saw 30 years ago when the Emperor Emeritus Akihito ascended to the throne and was enthroned at his ceremony. And, of course, his father before that as well.
But what the imperial family is kind of grappling with is, you know, these traditional moments and images. And yet, their continued push to try to modernize, and that's going to be the challenge moving forward because you have a very modern couple with the new Emperor Naruhito and his wife the empress, who -- you know, Masako, it was a -- was a diplomat before she became a member of the imperial family and she's multi -- you know, she's a polyglot, she's fluent in a number of different languages: English, French -- you know, will she be put to better use? Those are some of the questions that are being asked.
But today is a day of celebration of the new emperor. And for him to officially declare his seat on the ancient Chrysanthemum Throne, which claims to be the world's oldest hereditary bloodline.
And at that moment, when the curtain opened and the emperor gave those remarks -- very scripted, very brief remarks. But essentially declaring himself and his seat on that ancient throne. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) EMPEROR NARUHITO, EMPEROR OF JAPAN (through translator): I deeply reflect anew that for more than 30 years on the Throne, His Majesty the Emperor Emeritus constantly prayed for the happiness of the people and world peace, always sharing in the joys and sorrows of the people, and showing compassion through his own bearing. I pledge hereby that I shall act according to the Constitution and fulfill my responsibility as the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people of Japan, while always wishing for the happiness of the people and the peace of the world, turning my thoughts to the people and standing by them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Now, it certainly one of the most colorful moments of the ceremony when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, repeated the shout of Banzai, wishing the emperor a long life for a thousand years, of course, another tradition.
Prime Minister Abe will be moving into a political role now, however, he's already conducted perhaps close to two dozen or more bilateral meetings on his schedule over this entire period of a few days. 50 bilateral meetings with the dignitaries who are here from all over the world, everyone from Prince Charles in the U.K. to the South Korean prime minister who has a lot to talk about with his Japanese counterpart given the recent tensions between the two countries.
Even Hong Kong's embattled leader Carrie Lam was here along with kings from across Europe, including, you know, the royal family in Brussels, who were very close friends of the Japanese monarchy.
We saw the Imperial Regalia make an appearance yet again that those ancient artifacts that are so, so sacred that even the emperor himself actually never gets to see them in person. That would be, of course, the sword and the gemstone.
There's one more, the mirror, which is kept in a secret location never even brought out into public view. And so, as we mentioned, Rosemary, it's kind of this balance between the old and the new. And it was -- it was really extraordinary to see, once again, Japan, in kind of its own understated way celebrating their new emperor's enthronement.
And, of course, the parade is expected. It was delayed because of this country being hit by a super typhoon about a week ago. Out of respect for the upwards of 70 people who've been killed and the many who are dealing with devastation, they've decided to push the parade through the streets of Tokyo until next month, which will be another chance for the Japanese people to come out and celebrate their new emperor.
[02:49:57]
CHURCH: Yes, indeed. Yes, certainly an incredible event to witness. Our Will Ripley there in Tokyo. Many thanks to you.
We turn to England now, the Football Association Cup qualifier has been rescheduled after racist taunts over the weekend. Saturday's match came less than a week after England's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria was halted twice over racist behavior.
"WORLD SPORTS" Don Riddell has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: The beautiful game is not supposed to look or sound like that. But in London on Saturday, such vile abuse led to the game between Haringey Borough and Yeovil Town being abandoned.
AKI ACHILLEA, CHAIRMAN, HARINGEY BOROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB: To be perfectly honest with you, I'm mortified about what happened here on Saturday. We were so looking forward to hosting a club with the tradition the Yeovil Town had in the F.A. Cup.
RIDDELL: The players of Haringey Borough F.C., say they were subjected to racist abuse throughout the match. But it was when projectiles were reportedly thrown and their goalie spat out in the 64th minute that they felt compelled to leave the field. The game was subsequently abandoned.
ACHILLEA: I think we brought it into focus last week, last certainly to me that my players should not under any circumstances be subjected to this. I will not allow them to be subjected to this and I will do whatever I can as head of the club effectively to try and protect them.
RIDDELL: On Monday, the first team was given the day off. These youth players reflective of their multicultural community in north London.
ACHILLEA: And we don't see -- we don't see color. We are one collective together and it's worked so well.
RIDDELL: This shocking incident occurred just five days after England's Euro 2020 qualifier in Bulgaria was halted twice as fans were warned about racist behavior. Racist abuse can now be found on the terraces at every level of the game. And by walking off the field, players are taking matters into their own hands imploring authorities to do more.
DARREN LEWIS, FOOTBALL JOURNALIST: Time and again, we see players leaving the field of play and complaining that the game is not able to protect them. We have had to find another way. This is the way because now, players can feel empowered. But if they leave the field of play, the authorities have to do something about it in order to protect them.
RIDDELL: The manager who bravely made the decision to call-off the match said that some of his players were absolutely distraught.
TOM LOIZOU, MANAGER, HARINGEY BOROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB: I got quite upset not with the abuse and the bottle-throwing but to see the look in Coby Rowe's face and couple of my other players, that's what really upset me. And that's the time I really decided and made my mind up so implosive. RIDDELL: So, far, two arrests have been made. The game will be replayed next Tuesday. The Football Association, says it is deeply concerned and will investigate. Don Riddell, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And we are back in just a moment. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: U.S. Senator Mitt Romney is an outspoken critic of President Trump. But when it comes to Twitter, the republican prefers a bit more cover. Jenny Moos reveals his delectable alias.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If you think the name, Mitt, fits Romney like a glove, you haven't heard his alias.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pierre Delecto.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pierre Delecto.
[02:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, back to Pierre Delecto.
MOOS: But first, back to Mitt Romney's secret Twitter account. A reporter for Slate dug it up after Romney mentioned it in The Atlantic and Romney confirmed the account.
MCKAY COPPINS, STAFF WRITER, THE ATLANTIC: He gave me a two-word response, c'est moi, which for those who don't speak French means, it's me.
MOOS: It was a Twitter account intended mostly for following others. As Romney told The Atlantic, "What do they call me, a lurker?"
He didn't tweet much, though like quite a few things.
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): And I like what I like. Fortunately, there's not a dislike button.
MOOS: Of course, the fake name Pierre Delecto turned out to be the most delectable part of the story. "Pierre Delecto is an objectively terrific fake name." "Pierre Delecto is French for Peter Delight."
He had a beret and mustache slapped on him. "Pierre Delecto is the best pseudonym since Carlos Danger." Dare you forget that was Anthony Weiner sexting alias.
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, CBS: Carlos Danger.
MOOS: Letterman even dreamed up 10 other Anthony Weiner pseudonyms.
LETTERMAN: Carlos Dangler. MOOS: Carlos Danger is now joined by Pierre Delecto and the pantheon of aliases where Donald Trump is already enshrined with, at least, three.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: John Miller, John Barron.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: David Dennison, is that an alias for President Donald Trump?
MOOS: Young Donald Trump was known for calling reporters pretending to be a spokesman for himself.
JONATHAN GREENBERG, CONTRIBUTOR, HUFFPOST: What's your first name, by the way?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: John.
GREENBERG: John.
TRUMP: John Barron.
MOOS: John Barron and Pierre Delecto have been rough on each other.
ROMNEY: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud.
TRUMP: Romney choked like a dog. He went --
ROMNEY: The bullying, the greed, the showing off.
TRUMP: He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, Mitt, drop to your knees, he would have dropped to his knees.
MOOS: Maybe only if you called him Pierre Delecto.
Jeanne Moos, CNN.
ROMNEY: Oh, yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give it up for Mitt Romney!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: And thanks for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter and I'll be back with more news in just a moment. You're watching CNN. Stick around
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Another showdown over Brexit will be happening soon in Parliament. What the prime minister was hoping to achieve today?
The deadline on a shaky ceasefire in Syria is fast approaching. And as U.S. troops withdraw, their Kurdish allies are showing their anger over being abandoned.
And we will look at what's ahead for Israel now that Benjamin Netanyahu has given up on his effort to form a coalition government.
[03:00:00]
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