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Iranians Mourn the Death of Qasem Soleimani; Iraqi Parliament to Hold Emergency Session; Trump Threatens Strikes if Iran Retaliates; Kenyan Military Says It Repulsed Attack on U.S.-Kenyan Airstrip; Soleimani Killing Widens Gap between U.S. and Allies; Russian FM: Soleimani Killing a Violation of International Law; Devastating Australian Bushfires Turn the Sky Red; Iranian Americans React to Death of Qasem Soleimani. Aired 4-5a ET
Aired January 05, 2020 - 04:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Welcome to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Becky Anderson, live for you in Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
And grief and anger finding voice in funeral processions taking place in the Iranian city of Ahvaz. This is the scene there a short time ago, thousands of people, filling the streets even beyond what you see here.
The body of Qasem Soleimani returned there for burial. From there it will be taken to Mashhad in the north and then to Tehran for a funeral on Monday. Burial is expected Tuesday in his hometown in the southeastern part of the country.
Meanwhile, Tehran is threatening harsh revenge that prompted a warning from the U.S. president, who said the U.S. has identified 52 Iranian sites it could hit if Iran retaliated for Soleimani's death.
Privately, the U.S. administration is telling Congress it fears a reprisal from Iran could come within weeks.
Back in Baghdad, where Friday's strike took place, the Iraqi parliament is expected to convene an emergency session in about an hour's time. An awful lot to talk about and CNN correspondents are fanned out across the region standing by with the very latest.
Jomana Karadsheh is in Baghdad and Nic Robertson is in Riyadh and Matthew Chance joining us for perspective from Moscow.
Jomana, just how concerned are people there that any escalation between the U.S. and Iran will end up with Iraq and the Iraqi people in the middle of all of this?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, this is the biggest concern, Becky. You speak to so many people here, who are so worried about that, that their country is, yet again, being caught in the middle of a conflict between different countries this time, what is turning into this confrontation between the United States and Iran.
The concerns that this could play out between the United States and Iranian proxies here on the ground. The situation is so tense. People are really on edge. And we saw that yesterday.
You know, there were several rocket attacks, targeting the green zone and an airbase to the north of Baghdad. No casualties in this attack. No one claimed responsibility for the attack and these sort of attacks do happen and they happen from time to time.
But because of the situation and because of the heightened threat levels here, people were really worried, especially after we heard the Iranian backed paramilitary groups threaten the United States, saying they will retaliate for the killing, not just of Qasem Soleimani but also of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, one of the top leaders of these paramilitary groups here in this country.
So it's not just the Iranian-backed groups, it's not just people in favor of the Iranian influence here that are very upset, furious with how the United States carried out this strike.
Others, too, who are opposed to Iranian influence and interference, are also furious, saying that, here we go again, the United States turning Iraq into an arena for settling scores.
They feel the way this all played out shows disrespect for Iraq, a real disregard for this country's sovereignty, its stability. And what could happen right now is a very dangerous situation. So they are extremely worried about this.
And Becky, all eyes right now are on parliament, what is going to happen in the next hour. As you mentioned, we were aware of this emergency session that is supposed to take place.
But now there's question if that's even going to happen. One member of parliament that our producer just spoke with said they don't even know if they're going to have a quorum to hold this session.
The Iraqi parliament is notorious for not being able to agree amongst its members to deliver. We've heard threats from these Iranian-backed paramilitary groups, telling parliamentarians, their eyes are on parliament.
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KARADSHEH: They'll watch what happens today, putting pressure on them to pass some sort of legislation and reach some sort of agreement to force U.S. troops out of this country. They want to see an end to U.S. forces and it's unclear if parliament is going to be able to deliver anything.
We're told there are several bills that have been presented, some who want the United States completely out of here; others who want some sort of limited presence and also talk that certain groups within parliament don't even want to see the United States out. They want the United States to remain, saying it is important for the country's stability, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Jomana is in Baghdad. Thank you to you.
Tensions continue to rise then here in the Middle East. Protesters have taken to the streets, burning U.S., Israeli and British flags after the killing of Iran's top military officials. CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in the capital, Tehran.
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FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Iran continues to be in a state of mourning. But at the same time it is vowing retaliation and revenge against the United States after the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force.
The president of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, actually visited Soleimani's family on Saturday and was asked by Soleimani's daughter, who is going to take revenge for the killing of my father?
He said, everyone will take revenge. Don't worry.
Obviously some sort of retaliation will take place. It's interesting because the head of the Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said there would be strategic retaliation against the United States and that strategic retaliation would spell the end of America's presence in this region.
He said that the strategic retaliation would happen in a vast geography and over a period of time. Those are two very key points.
We know the Iranians control a lot of proxy forces in many neighboring countries in the greater Middle Eastern region. At the same time, the Iranians have also said they believe time is on their side.
In fact, senior Iranian military officials said on Saturday the Iranians don't need to be rushed into anything. They will do all this on their own terms and they will do it in their own time as well -- Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Tehran.
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ANDERSON: Following the deadly U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani, a spokesperson for the Iranian armed forces says there is a plan to respond in anticipation of that. The United States beefing up its presence here in the Middle East.
This is new video of troops with the 82nd Airborne in North Carolina as they move out to the region. Meanwhile, President Trump responding to Iran's threats with warnings of his own. Let's get more from CNN's Jeremy Diamond.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Trump on Saturday issuing a serious threat to Iran and a very specific one at that. In a three-part tweet, the president setting his most significant red line of his presidency, at least as far as matters of foreign policies are concerned.
The president tweeting that, "Iran has been nothing but problems for many years. Let this serve as a warning that if Iran strikes any Americans or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago, some at a very high level and important to Iran and the Iranian culture.
"And those targets and Iran itself will be hit very fast and very hard. The USA wants no more threats."
Now very interesting to see the president issuing such a specific and direct threat to Iran, particularly after nearly two days, during which the president, on teleprompter -- and many of his top advisors have been insisting they're not trying to go on the path to war with Iran.
In fact, the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, just hours before the president issued that tweet, said the U.S. remains committed to de- escalation. So obviously, now the president is issuing very bellicose rhetoric.
Also on Saturday, the Trump administration formally notified Congress of that strike, that it took out the top Iranian general, Qasem Soleimani. That is required under the War Powers Act.
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DIAMOND: So very much a pro forma notification. But it is already stirring quite a bit of debate in Congress and discontent from Democrats.
The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reacting after the Trump administration issued that notification. She writes in a statement, "The classified War Powers Act notification delivered to Congress raises more questions than it answers.
"The highly unusual decision to classify this document in its entirety compounds our many concerns and suggests that the Congress and the American people are being left in the dark about our national security."
Now it seems that Pelosi there is referencing the fact that that notification would traditionally include the legal justification from the administration to take military action.
Given the classified nature of that, we aren't able to confirm at this point whether or not that's in there. But perhaps Pelosi is teams here is alluding to concerns with that legal rationale.
The Trump administration has said it acted because of imminent threats to Americans but has provided few details about the specific nature of those threats or how imminent they really were -- Jeremy Diamond, CNN, traveling with the president in Palm Beach, Florida.
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ANDERSON: All right. Joining me now is CNN senior international correspondent, my colleague, Sam Kiley.
Sam, in Tehran we are witnessing images of thousands on the streets, honoring the funeral procession, honoring Qasem Soleimani. This the beginning of two or three days' worth of funeral activities in Tehran.
As we hear the U.S. and Donald Trump threatening reprisal, should the Iranians seek any sort of revenge at this point, what do you make of the last 24 hours or so?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just in the last hour, the Iranian foreign minister Javad Zarif saying rightly, under international law, that threatening to bomb cultural sites is a war crime.
He's very good at fairly sarcastic responses to the Trump administration in broad terms. But the Iranians do face a strategic turning point. They can't dial down, which they're not showing any signs of, the rhetoric and therefore the threats and the promises of threats, which is galvanizing support on the street for a genuinely -- figure that was seen as a genuine hero in Iran and the wider Shia community.
Or they could take the European option, with the French and the Germans in particular. Still trying to keep that good old JCPOA, nuclear deal somehow alive. That effectively, you'll excuse the pun, has been exploded.
From the American perspective, they have a tactical win in that they have killed a notorious leader of terrorist and proxy groups that have killed Americans or organized the killing of Americans and coalition forces, back in the day during the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq before. That is a tactical win.
But how does that translate into strategic success?
At the moment in the short term it seems the advantage is lying mostly with the Iranians.
ANDERSON: Which begs the question, what happens next?
It is interesting to see, in a region that can be so alarmist, that experts and those we are talking to, our sources, while concerned are perhaps less alarmist about what is going on here than those from the U.S. and the West.
KILEY: We in the Western media get rather excited by these events but the more mature, perhaps -- and it's very interesting. And Jomana was saying they're worried they wouldn't get a quorum together in the parliament in Baghdad when yesterday the expectation was there would be a unanimous condemnation of the American presence there.
People staying away means they can't be accused of backing away from support for Iran but also not driving the Americans out. The Iranian backed Houthis fighting against the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen have been almost completely silent over the death of Soleimani, a man who was highly instrumental in getting equipment and support to them.
Why is that?
Well, there's not always a smooth sailing on the Iranian side; just because the Americans have a bumpy road doesn't mean the Iranians have it, too. So a waning influence potentially there.
I want to bring in Joost Hiltermann from the Crisis Group, he's MENA program director, joining us now for this discussion.
We've been discussing what we make of the past sort of 72 hours here in region. We know that many have said that this is a turning point. We've been discussing that ourselves.
What do you believe happens next?
JOOST HILTERMANN, MENA PROGRAM DIRECTOR AT THE CRISIS GROUP: It's very hard to predict what will happen.
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HILTERMANN: There's certainly still a chance that both sides agree and go forward to some kind of de-escalation. But it will not happen until and before the Iranians have responded in some form. And the key is really in the nature of that response.
We have to see what kind of attack or series of attacks it will be and whether it will harm Americans, which is in the end a threshold for the United States.
But if the Iranians feel that they can somehow still preserve their honor through a series of attacks that would harm the United States and its interests but not harm American citizens, then it's possible to go back to some kind of mediation through the established channels, the French president, others, the Swiss and maybe, you know, go back.
Because, again, President Trump does not seek a war and I think, in the end, the Iranians don't seek a war, either.
ANDERSON: It's interesting to get perspectives from all stakeholders. And we've been discussing that of Iran, of the Europeans and, indeed, of the U.S.
I was interested, Sam, by the editorial in the local newspaper here, "The National" today.
"Soleimani has been killed. Now we must de-escalate." This is one of the main publications here in the Gulf published in the UAE. The sub headline here, "The Quds Force leader will not be missed but cool heads must prevail to avert catastrophe." This coming from a newspaper based in a country that, until about six
months ago, I wouldn't say was beating the drum of war but was certainly in the department of hawks, as it were, when it came to the Iran fire, a clear sort of pivot away from that hawkish drumbeat now by the UAE.
And indeed we're hearing similar lines from the Saudis.
Your perspective on where the Gulf sits in all of this, Joost?
HILTERMANN: I was just in the Gulf. I was in Saudi Arabia and Emirates and Oman and Qatar and the impression I have is very clearly that, yes, they want Iran to be cut down to size in terms of its influence in the region.
But they do not want a war with Iran because they are terribly exposed, especially if the United States does not rush to their defense when they are being attacked, as happened after the Aramco attack in September.
So this is why the Emirates started reaching out to the Iranians over the summer and came to some sort of agreement about fishing and maritime issues. They want to talk to the Iranians because they realize that if Iran were to take revenge in the region, generally, they, in particular, may be very hard hit.
And they are not wanting to run that risk. So, yes, they don't like General Soleimani and are probably happy they got rid of him but they need to deal with Iran because that's a long-term issue.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. We are seeing more effort for a regional security file here than we have seen for a long time.
Sam, I just want to weave in another story and find out whether you feel there is any connection developing now. Kenya's military says it killed at least four terrorists Sunday morning, repelling an attack on an airstrip near a U.S. Naval base it shares with Kenya.
The attempted breach was at Manda airstrip in Lamu county near Kenya's border with Somalia. And earlier, an Al Qaeda affiliate, Al-Shabaab, claimed it attacked the base near the camp. The terror group claims U.S. equipment was destroyed that camp but it provided no evidence.
A fire broke out during the attack but authorities say the airstrip is safe.
Any connection that you see between what has happened with the U.S. and killing Soleimani and his comrades and what we are seeing in Lamu today?
KILEY: I think in all probability, Al-Shabaab being an Al Qaeda- linked group does not have the terrible or enemy relationship that the so-called Islamic State had with Iran, in which they are mortal enemies. There have been patterns in the past of Iran supporting Sunni Islamist groups around the world, notably Islamic Jihad, for example, at the moment in Gaza. In the case of Al-Shabaab, they have been attacking frequently
locations in Lamu County, massacring a village. Also an attack led by a British convert in 2015.
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KILEY: Lost about 30 of their people attacking a Kenyan base. Camp Simba, though, which is near the very popular tourist destination of Lamu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a very, very important U.S. Special Forces base from which a lot of the intelligence of planning for drone strikes that are being conducted against Al-Shabaab inside Somalia is going on.
One could argue, perhaps, that Al-Shabaab were fleet of foot and were trying to project a degree of anti-American energy there in order to win support from the Iranians.
Frankly, I think it is a little farfetched and coincidental because Al-Shabaab had been hammered from bases similar to Camp Simba which is also next to a major tourist site. This time last year I was in Nairobi covering their last terrorist attack there in a hotel in downtown Nairobi.
So they're an active terrorist group perhaps, seeking help from Iran but too early to say, really.
ANDERSON: Sam Kiley, thank you.
A number of U.S. allies putting some distance between themselves and that strike that took out Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. How the killing is sparking global concerns and appeals for calm -- up next.
Plus, Australia facing an unprecedented bush fire crisis. See what residents are facing as they try to evacuate. We're live for you in Australia.
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ANDERSON: Welcome back. Iran bidding farewell to the military commander killed in a U.S. strike. Huge crowds of supporters turning out for a mourning ceremony for Qasem Soleimani in the city of Mashhad.
He is revered as a hero in Iran. The U.S., though, holds him responsible for killing hundreds of Americans and said he was taken out to prevent an imminent attack. That has got Tehran and Washington trading threats over what comes next. And many U.S. allies are calling for restraint. Nic Robertson is in the Saudi capital of Riyadh and Matthew Chance is in Moscow.
And, Nic, let me start with you. One of those close allies, Saudi Arabia, calling, echoing those calls for restraint.
Just how concerned is Riyadh that the Trump administration seems to be upping the ante instead of showing any sense of de-escalation at this point?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes. I think there is concern here because one of the sort of longer concerns about being so closely supportive of President Trump but not having -- knowingly having a huge amount of influence over him is that, while Saudi Arabia and the United States are aligned at the moment in their view of Iran as a destabilizing influence, spreading instability and hegemony throughout the region, that's certainly Saudi Arabia's view.
They've been on the front line of Iran's anger and attacking the oil refineries and firing Iranian made missiles at the desert and some have been intercepted. There is an alignment of understanding about Iran with the United States. An understanding that Saudi's standing on the front line of any conflict that could break out.
And while aligned with President Trump, you don't necessarily know what he is going to do and perhaps don't feed into his information processing in the way that you would desire.
And the message from Saudi Arabia at the moment, very clearly, is they're watching the situation. They have been predicting that Iran was heading for trouble and Soleimani was part of the troublemaking of the regime.
But again, to urge caution and to urge restraint -- and I think that's the enduring message at the moment. If you're on Iran's side, looking back at this situation right now, you're looking in whatever you do to exploit the divisions that lie between the United States and its allies, be they in the region or the allies in Europe.
At the moment, because President Trump is the only one talking about, you know, upping the ante and having more strikes back, is that to target the U.S. and not allies at the moment, strategically for Iran, is going to be a better move because it keeps the United States a little more isolated and opens the gaps between it and its supporters in the region and elsewhere.
ANDERSON: And how might Moscow take advantage of that, Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think in the short term, there may well be some advantages for Russia. I mean, the fact that the oil prices spiked, what was it, 4 percent when news of this targeted killing first broke.
And, of course, Russia is one of the world's biggest oil producers. That was an unexpected boon for the Russian treasury. Also in Syria on the ground. They fight side by side, the Russians do with Iran, and in defense of their joint ally but also a degree of rivalry between the Russians and Iranians and Syria.
And the fact that Soleimani is now out of the picture, I think, you know, makes it more difficult for the Iranians to assert themselves in that theater elsewhere in the Middle East. That is a vacuum at least temporarily that the Russians may want to fill.
I think as the Russians sort of analyze the consequences of this for them and their interest, they will want to balance their short-term advantages with the longer term prospect that this could lead to spiraling conflicts, that could bring the United States and Iran into direct confrontation.
That's something that really bothers the Russians because that may end in regime change in Tehran.
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CHANCE: they have seen regime change in Iraq, Libya and other countries, as well, where a relatively pro-Russian administration has been changed for a relatively pro-Western one.
They resisted it in Syria and intervened militarily to prevent that from happening to al-Assad and they don't want it to happen in Iran, which they see as a really important partner in the Middle East.
ANDERSON: Matthew is in Moscow, Nic is in Riyadh. Extremely important analysis as we try to connect the dots on what is, as ever, a messy region here in the Middle East.
All the more messy since Friday and the killing of Soleimani in Baghdad by the U.S., outrage in Iran. Here are the images of Mashhad. This is the funeral procession for Iran's military chief. We are in Baghdad, where protesters want Americans out and are also vowing revenge. More of our special coverage up next.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): This is CNN breaking news.
ANDERSON: Well, a massive show of mourning in Iran for the military commander killed on Friday by a U.S. strike in Iraq.
Thousands are taking part in a funeral procession for Qasem Soleimani in Mashhad. The second such gathering of the day, the U.S. president Donald Trump wants Tehran not to retaliate for his death, tweeting that he already has dozens of targets identified, should U.S. assets be attacked.
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ANDERSON: Well, outrage is uniting both anti-Iran and pro-Iran groups in Iraq, both in agreement that the U.S. needs to leave the region, some even vowing revenge. Arwa Damon now reports for you from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A quiet intensity takes over as the morning procession in Baghdad disperses.
DAMON: The mood is very somber. It almost feels like as if it is masking the anger that lies underneath. But when you talk to any number of these people moving through, once they say that they have been able to overcome their initial shock, the main feeling that they had was a desire for revenge but also anger, anger at the United States.
ABU HUSSEIN, IRAQI MOURNER: (Speaking foreign language).
DAMON (voice-over): "They will be more mutilated than what they did to Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis," Abu Hussein swears. "And the coming days will show that."
It is not just Iran that is vowing to retaliate; so, too, are its proxies in Iraq, proxies that have already proven their ability to kill during the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.
ASIA ABBAS, IRAQI MOURNER: (Speaking foreign language).
DAMON (voice-over): "America just dug its grave in Iraq," Asia vows.
Her husband and two sons are all part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, mostly made up of former Shia militias, whose second-in- command was killed along with Qasem Soleimani.
"They will be a thorn in America's eye, just like it was at the start," she says.
This unprecedented American attack is potentially as transformative as the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
FAWZI AKRAM, FORMER IRAQI MP: (Speaking foreign language).
DAMON (voice-over): "The map of Iraq has changed," Fawzi Akram, a former member of parliament says.
"The map of the new Iraq will be drawn in the blood of these martyrs."
It is hard to find anyone who supports the U.S. in a country that, for decades, has paid a high price for American foreign policy. In Baghdad's Tahrir Square, where anti government protesters have been demonstrating for months against their leaders and outside interference, there is little love for Iran.
But right now, there is even less for the United States and the American troops stationed here.
The crowd grows, arguing about who bears the bigger blame for Iraq's bloodshed, Iran or United States. But there is an agreement on one point: both need to get out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking foreign language). DAMON (voice-over): "Iran get out. America get out," this man passionately pleads.
"We are Iraqis. We want to be governed by an Iraqi. It is our beloved Iraq, please understand us."
But that is not part of the calculus for Iran or the U.S. This country is an arena to settle scores -- Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
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ANDERSON: In the past, Donald Trump repeatedly accused President Obama of wanting to start a war with Iran in order to win re-election. Now some are asking if President Trump is trying to do the same thing by taking out the top general. We'll get some perspective on that, after this.
And the bush fires are so bad in Australia, they've turned the skies into ominous shades of orange. We are live in one of the hardest-hit states after this short break.
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ANDERSON: Well, three days of national mourning have begun in Iran for Qasem Soleimani who was killed Friday in a U.S. airstrike. His funeral is set for Monday in Tehran, followed by burial the next day in his hometown.
But witness the crowds in Mashhad in Iran as we speak. U.S. president Donald Trump warning Tehran not to retaliate for Soleimani's killing, saying the U.S. could hit dozens of important Iranian sites if it does.
To my colleague, George Howell, now in Atlanta, with more on how the attack is affecting politics in the United States -- George.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Becky, thank you so much.
This, of course, an election year here stateside and a threat of a war with Iran could become a significant factor to voters, especially if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Let's talk more with Natasha Lindstaedt, a professor at the University of Essex, joining us from Colchester, England.
NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: Thank you for having me.
HOWELL: The question here: the White House has notified Congress of the drone strike required by The War Powers Act. Still heavy criticism on how this was carried out without congressional approval. The House Speaker even saying, Natasha, it raises more questions than answers.
LINDSTAEDT: It does raise more questions than answers because, normally, the document that is provided, that justifies why something like this takes place, is a public document. In this case, they decided to make it classified.
And one of the things that Nancy Pelosi responded to this is that we are keeping Americans in the dark. We don't know why this happened at this particular point. There wasn't a lot of information as to what in particular went on that is any different from the last several decades of all the different attacks that Soleimani has been doing through his proxies.
So she feels that the American public needs and deserves more information, that there's too much secrecy around this. And we're seeing there is already a reaction from the public in that we're seeing there are protests that have been organized nationwide.
So I think that, if we look to 2020 and how this is going to play out, I think this is going to become a very big issue. The way that Trump handles his foreign policy, it appears he doesn't listen to his advisors.
In fact, a report in "The New York Times" that stated that the advisors who put this idea to him of assassinating Soleimani didn't really think it was possible that Trump would agree to it but they put it forward anyway. He is a risk taker. He tends to make his decisions without having a lot of information about that.
And that's why I think we're in the dark about this. We don't know much about what happened because possibly Trump himself doesn't really know how to justify this.
HOWELL: You'll remember the president, before he became President of the United States, famously tweeted out, suggesting that his predecessor, Barack Obama, would start a war with Iran in order to win election. President Trump back then put together a video on it. Let's listen.
Our president will start a war with Iran because he has absolutely no ability to negotiate. He's weak and he's ineffective. We have a real problem in the White House.
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TRUMP: So I believe that he will attack Iran some time prior to the election because he thinks that is the only way he can get elected. Isn't it pathetic?
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HOWELL: Natasha?
LINDSTAEDT: Right. We have a huge list of things that Trump has attacked both Bush Jr. and Obama on that he himself has changed his mind on. Originally he was campaigning as someone who was going to get the U.S. out of all these different wars. That seemed to be the justification for why U.S. troops were leaving Syria.
And he was playing with that with Afghanistan as well. So he changed his mind on this. And I think there are going to be critics saying the reason for this is mostly because of the impeachment crisis taking place, that he wants a distraction from this and this really changes the conversation.
The impeachment process, though he is not likely to be convicted, is a humiliating process and I think also it may come down to the fact that it was posed that Bush didn't want to do it and that Obama didn't want to do it and that they didn't possibly have the courage to do it.
And he wants to come out as someone who has the decisive moves, to stand out against these other leaders. What we're seeing already, I don't think this will play out well with Democrats and independents, but his base seems to be galvanized by this. The Republicans seem to be standing by him very, very strongly, with the few exceptions of Mitt Romney and Cory Gardner in the Senate.
And he has gained a lot of attention for this. So he wants to set himself apart from previous administrations.
HOWELL: Natasha, pointing out the political divide here in the United States. Mr. Trump's supporters saying this shows he is strong, tough, carrying out, you know, U.S. foreign policy in a way that they like.
Others fear that the president could be plunging the United States' American men and women overseas, service members into a possible war. Natasha, thank you. We'll stay in touch with you.
Now to Australia. Military there has called up 3,000 army reserves to help fight the massive bush fires that are taking over several states there. Skies turned a haunting shade of orange as thousands of people try to evacuate that region.
Those fires have claimed the lives of 24 people since September. The latest, a 47-year-old man, who died while fighting fire that was threatening his friend's home in New South Wales.
Our Anna Coren is near the fire lines there near the town of Eden.
Anna, we saw your shot there earlier and that eerie shade of orange there. Tell us more about the situation.
ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, George, it's approaching 9:00 pm here in Eden in New South Wales. As you can see, it is starting to rain. That is some good news. It's a bit of a reprieve for the firefighters, who are battling more than 200 blazes across southeast Australia.
But we will need a good week, if not weeks of drenching rain to put out the fires. Many of them are out of control. The fire specifically threatening the township of Eden, here on the far south coast of New South Wales, is about 2-3 kilometers in that direction across the bay.
The fear is that the winds, the southerly winds will whip up and bring that fire much closer and potentially threaten the township of Eden.
Earlier this morning, police came here and told residents to get out. Most residents have evacuated but there are some who are down at the harbor, down at the wharf where we are now, in their cars and their caravans, who feel it is much safer here.
And the boats behind me, many of them are fishing vessels. Families and their friends are staying onboard. We went onboard one a bit earlier and there were a bunch of children and also two tugboats with 30 to 40 people onboard. Each of those tugboats, along with dogs and prized possessions.
So families congregating down here and they feel that it is safe down near the water. But even though the temperatures have dropped, the rain is falling, it's not very heavy but it's still falling. It's not enough to put out those fires and get rid of that threat.
Earlier, George, when we spoke to the residents who had been told to evacuate, many of them said they're just furious. They are angry at the government. We've seen their anger over the past week directly aimed at the Australian prime minister Scott Morrison. Take a listen.
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JOY ROBIN, RESIDENT OF EDEN, AUSTRALIA: This is our war. This fire is Australia's war at the moment. It's been right down the great dividing range and now it's going right to the coast. And there is one IDF on the ground.
COREN: What would you say to the prime minister, Jenny?
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JENNY ROBB, KIAH, AUSTRALIA, RESIDENT: Like get out. Get out. You cannot lead this country. You are hopeless. You are a moron. Get out. That's my message to ScoMo: go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: People are angry, George. And they need help. You talk about the 3,000 army reservists, the H.M.S. Adelaide, Australia's largest vessel, has arrived in Eden and we can't see it due to all the smoke. But it is due to help tomorrow. We will see those troops tomorrow -- George.
HOWELL: People are livid. The skies there orange. The ground, the environment burning. Anna, we appreciate the reporting, thank you.
Still ahead here on NEWSROOM. We take you to southern California to hear how the Iranian regime casts a long shadow even here in the United States. Stand by.
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ANDERSON: Mourners in Iran expressing their anger at the U.S. airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani. The military commander being remembered there as a hero, someone who helped to spread Iranian influence through the region and faced enemies like ISIS head on.
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ANDERSON: But as Nick Watt reports, it could be a different story when you speak with Iranian Americans. Have a listen.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, citizenship: fill out this form.
NICK WATT, CNN REPORTER (voice over): At a citizenship seminar for Iranian immigrants here in LA, no one would talk to us on camera. No one wanted their face shown.
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PEYMAN MALAZ, MANAGING DIRECTOR, PARS EQUALITY CENTER: A lot of Iranians still have families over there. Their relatives live over there. The chances of their security to be in danger is high.
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WATT (voice over): Many emigres we spoke to say they watched on TV the brutal repression of anti-government protests that swept Iran back in November. Human rights organizations say at least 400 protesters were killed.
Here in LA, Qasem Soleimani is not mourned.
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WATT: What's your first reaction?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy.
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WATT (voice over): We're in Westwood, AKA Tehrangeles, there is some jubilation among the older generations who fled here after Iran's Islamic revolution of 1979. Again, they declined to speak on camera even in death, even thousands of miles away, Soleimani's shadow still haunts.
Eeman, born and raised here preferred we not use his last name.
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EEMAN, LOS ANGELES RESIDENT: There is definitely a huge shock just because of the magnitude of who Qasem Soleimani is. (END VIDEO CLIP)
WATT (voice over): For those who long for regime change back home, there is now more hope.
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TODD KHODADAI, LOS ANGELES RESIDENT: I'm sure this is the first step for freedom probably. We are just looking for hope.
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WATT (voice over): But despite the U.S. president's words --
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TRUMP: We did not take action to start a war.
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WATT (voice over): Now, a real fear of war.
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MALAZ: So many Iranians have a -- have memory from war and the memory from the war is still alive.
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WATT (voice over): In the 1980s, Iran and Iraq fought a brutal protracted conflict that killed more than half a million.
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EEMAN: I think a lot of us know what Iran is capable of and we don't want Iran to have a chance to show the world what that is.
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WATT (voice over): Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.
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ANDERSON: Well, that wraps this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Becky Anderson. Another hour of news is just ahead. Do, please, stay with us.
