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Hundreds of Thousands Mourn Soleimani in Iran; Police on High Alert after Killing of Iranian General; Attack on Kenya Military Base Kills Three Americans; Massive Evacuations Underway as Australia Fights Fires; Australia Bushfires Devastate Wildlife on Kangaroo Island; Iraq Parliament Calls For U.S. Foreign Troops To Leave; Trump Reiterates Threat To Target Iranian Cultural Sites; Trump Threatens Sanctions On Iraq If Troops Expelled. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired January 06, 2020 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes.
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And I'm Natalie Allen. We are following the breaking news out of Iran. The consequences of the U.S. killing of an Iranian commander are unfolding quickly raising international concerns about a regional war.
HOLMES: Thousands of people, tens of thousands out in the streets in Tehran mourning the death of Qassem Soleimani. This as Iran has announced it will abandon limitations on enriching uranium, taking another step back from the 2015 nuclear deal.
ALLEN: But Tehran says it will continue to cooperate with the United Nations nuclear watchdog. Meantime, President Trump is reiterating his threat to target Iranian cultural sites if Tehran retaliates on the U.S. strike. Attacking cultural sites could be considered a war crime.
HOLMES: And the Iraqi parliament calling on the U.S. and other foreign forces to leave the country. In response, President Trump is threatening sanctions against Iraq if troops are forced to withdraw. He also insists the troops wouldn't leave unless Baghdad reimburses Washington for an airbase there that in fact, Iraq built.
ALLEN: Interesting tidbit there. For more on the Iraqi Parliament's vote, Jomana Karadsheh joins us now from Baghdad. Yet again another situation that puts Iraq in a difficult place. And it seems Donald Trump is continuing to play hardball.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Natalie, definitely Iraq is stuck in the middle here between its two allies, Iran and the United States. And as these tensions were growing between those two countries over the past few months, Iraq has been very concerned that these tensions are going to be playing out here in Iraq. And that is exactly what they've been seeing happen.
And we heard this from the Iraqi Prime Minister yesterday at Parliament where he gave background to members of parliament explaining how we got to this point here right now, saying that, you know, Iraqi -- the U.S. forces were really overstepping their mission here, their mandate here, they're really concerned that they're starting to go after Iran and Iranian backed groups while they're operating in Iraq.
And he made the case. It was a stunning move where you have the Iraqi Prime Minister sitting there telling Parliament that he thinks they should be voting to get foreign forces, coalition forces out of this country as soon as possible. He said there are possibly other options like, you know, having reaching some sort of an agreement to limit their mission, restrict their movement in this country.
But considering the current situation, the current threats, the tension, the Iraqi security forces are not going to be able to protect bases, the presence of these foreign troops here in this country, which leaves them with no option, but to get these foreign forces out.
So you've had the vote from parliament. It passed. Basically, the ball is in the court of the Iraqi government. It's a caretaker government. And there are some legal questions, procedural questions about how this is all going to be worked out. But they've been basically told that they need to find a way to get these foreign forces out. And there are the repercussions of such a decision like this, Natalie, where, first of all, this is handing a major victory to the Iranians, getting exactly what they wanted for years, to see us forces out of Iraq.
And the other issue is, of course, the battle against ISIS. While yes, they've lost their territory. Victory has been declared here, but ISIS remains a serious threat. And when you have a security vacuum, this kind of chaos, this is exactly what ISIS wants. This is how these terrorist organizations thrive, and reemerge.
And we heard yesterday from the anti-ISIS coalition, U.S. forces saying that they are opposing their operations to focus on protecting their forces here.
HOLMES: Yes, absolutely. And then ISIS regenerating by all accounts, as well in the area. You know, there's something else. You've been covering this story from the beginning. When Donald Trump tweets, I will slap sanctions like they've never seen before if they kick us out of Iraq. I mean, the tone-deaf nature of that when a rock has gone through what it has gone through.
KARADSHEH: I mean, Michael, we're still going to wait and see now as Iraqis are waking up their reaction to this tweet by the president. But as you look at it, where do you begin? First of all, saying that, you know, they can't ask us forces to leave, you know. This is going to be seen as so disrespectful to this country's sovereignty, when these foreign forces are here by the invitation of the Iraqi government. They're not occupying forces.
[01:05:22]
And then you have the other issue where he's talking about sanctions like Iraq has never seen before, which, you know, Iraqis will tell you they have seen some of the harshest sanctions anyone in the world has seen for decades under the Saddam regime. You had the U.N. imposed sanctions where thousands of child deaths were blamed on these sanctions, where the import of food and medicine was restricted.
So, you know, these kinds of comments by the president, these kinds of threats are not going to go down very well here where people will really see this as extremely disrespectful to the rocky people and what they have gone through. And of course, this is not an enemy. This is a U.S. ally, a key ally in this region. And all is going to do is increase anti-American sentiments that we are seeing resurface again, Michael,
HOLMES: It's hard to see any other outcome from a comment like that. Jomana Karadsheh, good to see you. Thanks so much for your reporting there.
ALLEN: Well, Iran is now threatening to retaliate militarily against the U.S. over Soleimani's killing. CNN's Fred Pleitgen has more from Tehran.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There's been a lot of anger here in Iran. You've heard those calls for revenge coming from pretty much all levels of Iranian politics from the President Hassan Rouhani, the foreign minister, and also Iran Supreme Leader himself.
Well, I spoke today to the main military advisor of the supreme leader and he essentially told me three key things. He said, first of all, the Iranians are going to respond militarily. They are going to be hitting military targets. But importantly, they also say they don't want a full-fledged war with the United States. Here's what he had to say.
HOSSEIN DEHGHAN, MILITARY ADVISER TO IRANIAN SUPREME LEADER (through translator): The response for sure will be military and against military sites. Let me tell you one thing, our leadership has officially announced that we've never been seeking war, and we will not be seeking war. It was America that started the war. Therefore, they should accept appropriate reactions to their actions.
The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they've inflicted. Afterward, they should all seek a new cycle.
PLEITGEN: So the Iranians essentially saying they will retaliate but they want it to end there. It was quite interesting, because I also asked them how big a blow this actually was to the Revolutionary Guard's Quds Force which is, of course, the foreign operations wing of the Revolutionary Guard, of which Qassem Soleimani was the head. And this advisor told me, look, despite the fact that, of course,
Qassem Soleimani was a towering figure for the Revolutionary Guard. He's already been replaced and they say that the Revolutionary Guard Quds Force is not going to miss a beat. And that also means Iran's efforts and Iran's capabilities at foreign operations are also going to continue exactly the way that they have before.
One of the things that's also, by the way, gotten this advisor pretty angry and a lot of other Iranians pretty angry is the fact that President Trump tweeted that there were 52 targets that apparently were in the crosshairs of the U.S., including targets that were important to Iranian culture. That didn't go down very well at all. The advisor is saying look, if President Trump's names 52 targets, we are going to name 300 targets.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right, Iraq's Prime Minister says officials have begun outlining steps to withdraw all foreign forces. But as we've been reporting, U.S. President Donald Trump threatening Iraq with sanctions if it actually goes through with kicking out U.S. troops.
ALLEN: And just hours ago, Mr. Trump reiterated his threat to target Iranian culture. Sides as he was on his way back to the White House from Florida. Sarah Westwood has more about that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: President Trump returned to Washington on Sunday night against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding his Senate trial and chaos in the Middle East after the President decided at his Mar-a-Lago resort to take out the commander of Iran's security and intelligence services.
And on Saturday, the president threatened to hit Iranian cultural sites if Iran struck any American or any American asset. That threat has sparked a backlash among critics. But the President doubled down on that threat as he headed back to Washington on Air Force One. I want to read you part of what he told reporters during that conversation.
"They're allowed to kill our people, they're allowed to torture and maim our people, they're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people and we're not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn't work that way."
Now, Democrats, for their part have expressed skepticism that the intelligence the administration cited as a reason for taking out this Iranian leader was urgent enough to warrant this level of military action. Democrats have also expressed concern that the administration has thought through the implications of this move. Take a listen.
[01:10:13]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY): I really worry that the actions the President took will get us into what he calls another endless war in the Middle East. He promised we wouldn't have that and I think we're closer to that now because of his actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WESTWOOD: Now, meanwhile, the future of the president's impeachment trial in the Senate remains in a state of limbo. While the President was at his resort for nearly two weeks around the holidays, he was asking advisors and aides who were with him who should represent him during that Senate trial. But White House officials have not been able to make concrete decisions about just what that strategy should look like, just who should play the exact top roles, because Speaker Pelosi hasn't yet made a move. Sarah Westwood, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And Nic Robinson joining us now from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. You know, what is the level of concern where you are about what is happening in the neighborhood by the Saudis? I mean, there's going to be a big meeting between the Crown Prince and the U.S. Secretary of State which would indicate a little bit of concern.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, sure. The Crown Prince is sending his brother Khalid bin Salman, the former -- the former ambassador to Washington, effectively the number three here in Saudi Arabia. So this is a very high-level meeting. And it really does sort of show you the level of concern that the Saudis have about the situation.
They want to make sure that there isn't an escalation in the region. They are concerned about what is happening to the united -- to the United States in the region at the moment. They're concerned that the United States is essentially being told to get its troops out of Iraq by Iraqi politicians. Iraq has a massive border with Saudi Arabia, that the Saudis could lose the sort of presence in the region of a key ally over the border in Iraq.
It would be of a major concern that instability that that could bring to Iraq would be a major concern for the Saudis. So all of this undoubtedly part of the discussion. The Saudis, of course, support the United States in their actions against Iran. They see Qassem Soleimani as a force for evil in the region, somebody who's been behind the proxies in Yemen, who've been firing Iranian-made ballistic missiles of the capital here. They see him as being part of the Iranian system that fired complex drone and missile attack at the Saudi oil facilities here just a few months ago.
So they're in lockstep, if you will, with the United States and President Trump on his actions against Iran, but they really don't want to see an escalation and they would be worried -- are worried about how they see the situation developing over the border in Iraq right now.
ALLEN: Yes, and as you speak, we have live video from Tehran, Iran there, Nic, in the moments that will be leading up to the funeral of Soleimani. You can see the anger on the streets there still. But you mentioned the attack by Iran on the Saudi oil field. We don't know where Iran will strike in its promise for revenge. But let's just say, what happens if an oil tanker is sunk in the Strait of Hormuz? What would that do to the regional economy?
ROBERTSON: It could have a very negative impact on the economy here in the region, particularly if it was felt that this -- an attack like that was going to be sustained and that there would be -- it was a precursor of higher grade attentions to come. Any diminishment of flow of oil from this region over a sustained period has a knock-on effects on the global economy. So that -- so that would be a concern.
I think the way that it's being viewed at the moment is the Iranians are saying that they will strike U.S. military targets. So certainly, what we understand from the way that Iran would look at this situation and decide whatever its response is going to be, is going to be strategic, they're going to be patient, and this will be to achieve long term aims, so that they would try to sort of, you know, in essence separate out the United States from its allies in the region in a way as Iraq is doing, forcing trying to force us troops out of Iraq right now.
That is something that Iran would welcome. So it seems unlikely that Iran would make arbitrary attacks against tankers in the Gulf on the basis of that logic at the moment. Saudi Arabia as a close ally of the United States could come into the crosshairs. Although of course, we do know from the Iraqi Prime Minister, that there was a sort of behind the scenes dialogue going on between Iran and Saudi Arabia recently, that Iraq was part of the game between and Solomon he was part of a go-between on that.
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ALLEN: Nic Robertson, we appreciate your perspectives. Thank you so much.
HOLMES: All right, well, as tensions rise, you got some world leaders expressing concern calling for de-escalation.
ALLEN: In a joint statement, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in part this. "We call on all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must be stopped."
HOLMES: We'll take a short break. When we come back, the U.S. Secretary of State goes on the defense when it comes to U.S. policy on Iran.
ALLEN: Hear Mike Pompeo's response over what comes next after the strike against Iran.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: It's time to talk weather across the Americas. I'm meteorologist Pedram Javaheri header, CNN weather watch. And we watch the southwestern and also the southeastern United States as the places to be when it comes to dry weather and generally milder temperatures in place.
Well, the northwest and the northeastern regions there dealing with some wintry weather over the next couple of days, and will notice an additional shot of colder air here eventually sets up shop going in towards the latter portion of the week. So in New York City, climbing -- dropping down to about two degrees there and then you'll see a rapid climb back up before the bottom drops out. But still, much of the week remains above that threshold which is about three degrees for this time of year. Not a bad setup there when it comes to enjoying a milder starts to 2020.
Across the western United States, this is where the pattern has been most active. Parts of Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington seen tremendous rainfall. It is the wet season, of course, but quite a bit of rainfall left in store there for Vancouver BC, highs there at six degrees. Los Angeles, a warm one at 25, plenty of sunshine to be had. Mexico City, one cooler at 24 degrees, into the Bahamas, as cool as you'll see it this time of year which is into the middle 20s. Nassau at 23 degrees with partly cloudy skies. And then in Kingston, Jamaica also at 29 degrees.
And we kind of bring the attention a little farther towards South America. If you're visiting or if you're residing and watching us from Lima, Peru, thank you for doing so. Highs there should be into the middle 20s, also seen some partly cloudy conditions. And we take you to the southern tier of Buenos Aires, 28.
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HOLMES: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo defending President Donald Trump's actions against Iran as the U.S. continue to brace for potential retaliation days after that U.S. strike killed Iran's top military leader.
ALLEN: Pompeo has said it has made American safer in the Middle East despite the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad warning Americans there to flee. CNN's Jake Tapper asked Pompeo about that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: I keep coming back to the fact you keep saying it's safer now even at the same time, that the U.S. government is telling all Americans to leave Iraq. I mean, again, I understand the idea that in the long term --
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE, UNITED STATES: You don't seem -- you don't see you don't seem to understand that. You know, oftentimes, I've heard you say, Jake, America, thanks just about the moment, doesn't think about the long term strategic implications. This administration --
TAPPER: I've never said that about America. I've certainly said that about leaders of this country. POMPEO: Yes, sir. This administration is thinking about exactly
that. We are setting the conditions for successful and safe America, prosperous American homes, secure America abroad. This is our Middle East strategies, what we've done over these last three years in Iraq in pushing back against the Islamic Republic of Iran. We will not stray from that course, Jake.
[01:20:02]
TAPPER: I do want to ask you because there does seem to be a disconnect here. President Trump according to polling, a majority of the American people have never considered him honest, have never considered him trustworthy. This is the American people, not me, OK. And there is this credibility gap.
In addition, obviously, this nation has heard leaders, whether it's blaming a YouTube video for the tax on the embassy in Benghazi, or WMD in Iraq. People have heard this government, the government of the United States say things to them that were not true when it comes to the war.
Do you understand that there might be a special responsibility to provide proof and evidence to the American people of the imminence of the attack, of the need to carry out the mission that you carried out?
POMPEO: Jake, I do understand the power that we have, and the need that we have to try and share with American people everything we possibly can about why it is we're taking the actions that we take and will do that. We'll continue to do everything we can consistent with protecting our sources and our methods and our -- importantly, our capacity to continue to see and to understand what's going on and presenting threats.
We don't want to risk that intelligence. I spent a little bit of time as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency. We never want to put that at risk. But as the Secretary of State, I also know my solemn obligation to make sure we share with the American people everything we can about why it is we're taking the actions and how it is we expect that we will deliver to protect and defend America each and every day, Jake.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: Now, Behnam Ben Taleblu joins me from Washington. He is a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. Thanks so much for coming in.
Great to be with you. Thanks for having me.
ALLEN: Sure thing. Well, you said in the interview back in August prior to the G7 summit that regarding Iran, it was important to deal with a nuclear threat before the terrorist threat. Well, now as a result of dealing with terrorism in killing Soleimani, Iran says it will abandon the nuclear deal. Let's begin with your thoughts on that development. BEHNAM BEN TALEBLU, SENIOR FELLOW, FOUNDATION FOR DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES: Well, to be clear, while the nuclear threat is the most pressing threat, you have to deal with Iranian threats comprehensive because one asymmetric threat drives another. Iran's interest in missiles begets its interested in a military nuclear program and vice versa. The fact that it's a week, asymmetry week, a conventional power means that it's a strong asymmetric power. So there is a lot of symbiosis between the Iranian direct networks, whether it's missile, military, nuclear, cyber, and whatnot.
But on the nuclear file, on the JCPOA which is the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that the Trump administration left in May 8, 2018, Iran has had a policy of leaving this deal incrementally every 60 days, starting May 8, 2019. Now, Iran's latest revelations slated for January 6th is that it is removing the caps on its enrichment of uranium. This is the material you need to eventually get a nuclear weapon, to put it in the warhead.
And this means that Iran has a lot more control over the scale, scope, and direction of its enrichment program, invest this to designed to weaponize the concept of fear in western countries and have America rush back into the same deal that it had previously called may be bought.
ALLEN: It would be interesting to see if that happened. Let's talk more about the news of the killing of Soleimani. When it broke, the main message from experts on the Middle East said this will upend the region. It will have unintended consequences. We're already seeing that. Now, Iraq wants to get rid of U.S. troops. It's been kind of stuck in the middle. Iran is vowing revenge. Where do you see this going perhaps? Does anyone know?
TALEBLU: Well, the most important thing to remember is that Qassem Soleimani has been one of the most important drivers of instability in the Middle East, but particularly in the heartland of the Middle East, Iraq, and Syria, where the U.S. is currently there under the auspices of the counter-ISIS campaign.
Qassem Soleimani is actually one of the reasons why Israel and Saudi Arabia previously two adversaries are inching closer towards each other to offset the growing regional rising breath of Islamic Republic of Iraq. So no doubt Iran was going to look to try to escalate, try to retaliate. But interesting, a member of Iran's parliament the other day said that they're looking for revenge, not war.
So the Islamic Republic once again understand his own conventional military weaknesses. The question is how are they going to escalate against America. And in this case, year 2019 has instructed. All the areas that Iran claimed then are likely once again going to be inflamed in 2020.
ALLEN: Well, the President is threatening to impose sanctions on Iraq if the U.S. troops are expelled. Iraq has been caught in the middle of this. What would the loss of American troops mean to that country?
TALEBLU: I think it would be devastating for U.S. national security strategy for either Iraq to evict legally through a parliamentary process, changing the Status of Forces Agreement, prematurely ending the counter-ISIS mission and the multinational counter-ISIS campaign. And simultaneously, it would be a mistaken for the U.S. president to unilaterally withdraw American forces from the region. This again, would be handing Iraq and the plains of Iraq to the successor of Qassem Soleimani, Esmail Ghaani. So, Iran has already name a successor for Soleimani's position there.
So, Iraq is going to be pivotal for the regional pushback on Iran. And as the U.S. steps up pressure on Islamic Republic, Iraq feels like it's between a rock and a hard place, to literally borrow a phrase. Iraq has balanced and bandwagon with and against America, but talk of sanctions right now against Iraq are premature.
The reason is that the Iraqi parliament, especially the pro-Iran block in Iraqi parliament has used almost every opportunity in 2019 to try to evict America and they failed. And the most recent resolution that people are signing is a non-binding one. So it's expression of distaste with the American movement to take out Soleimani but American troops still are there. American needs to make sure Iraq is on its side as it pushes back against Iran.
[01:25: 52]
ALLEN: Right. People in the streets are saying we want the U.S. out, we want Iran out. They've been in the streets protesting the government. They don't have basic rights and services since the fall of Saddam Hussein. So this puts them in an awkward position as far as the citizens go. You said of Soleimani that he is the reason for much of the instability and the terrorism in the Middle East. I want to ask you, other presidents considered assassinating but opted out, Mr. Trump did. And Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this weekend, the world is safer because of this action. Do you think it is?
TALEBLU: Just one quick note on the regional protests against Iran. While Iraqi nationalism is high, perhaps higher than it's ever been in the past two or three decades, it's clear who the primary target of the Iraqi people's eye is. It is almost definitely Iran. They're saying Iran out.
So while there are some small factions bolstered by pro-Iran backed Shia militias in the country of Iraq that are looking to point a finger at America, large swaths of Iraqi population that we're protesting 2018, particularly in August and September, as well as starting in October 2019, and present, have been pointing the finger Iran. And it's been the Iran-backed Iraqi, Shia militias that have been slaughtering these protesters for exposing the role of its neighbor in Iraq domestic politics.
As for the Secretary's comments, I do agree that the Middle East is going to be safer without Qassem Soleimani, but this does not permit America to say that victory is accomplished, mission accomplished, to borrow a phrase, and lead the region. If anything now, Washington has to capitalize on this opportunity to limit Iran's escalation, and to signal resolve to the Iraqi, and to work again with local partners to make sure that there can actually be a path to peace. ALLEN: Thank you so much for your insights. And yes, I don't think we'll hear mission accomplished from an administration in the United States. We really appreciate your expertise Behnam Ben Taleblu. Thank you so much.
TALEBLU: Thank you so much.
HOLMES: And at this hour, tens of thousands of supporters, hundreds of thousands paying their respects to Qassem Soleimani as the U.S. braces for potential response from Iran over the killing of its top general.
ALLEN: We have the latest from the region and an expert's view of Iran. That's all coming up. Please stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:31:10]
NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to CNN's continuing coverage of the escalating crisis in the Middle East.
Huge crowds filling the streets of Tehran to mourn Qasem Soleimani, hours after his body arrived in the city.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Right now the body is being taken to the Iranian capital's Azadi Square. Since his death, funeral processions have been taking place in cities all across Iran.
CNN's Sam Kiley with more on that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A road outside Baghdad's International Airport in the place where Iran's most famous warrior died. He is now starting his final journey home.
Carrying the remains of Qasem Soleimani who was reviled by the U.S. and its allies after decades of attacks, his coffin paraded through the most important place in Shia Islam -- Najaf in Karbala.
Then on Ta'avaz (ph) in Iran where he earned early fame in a war against Iraq under Saddam Hussein. By the end of the day his casket was drawing thousands on to the streets of the holy city of Mashhad before traveling on to lie in state in the capital of Tehran.
And in that capital the familiar chants of "death to America" from lawmakers outraged by the killing of the leader of Iran's external military operations around the world.
Iran and Iraq were ridden by pro-democracy demonstrations against the sheer domination of both governments, and against Iranian influence in Baghdad which were in Iraq met with murderous violence from the very Shia militia Soleimani controls. Now on those same streets he's being held as a martyr. MOHAMMAD ALI SHABANI, DOCTORAL RESEARCHER AT SOAS UNIVERSITY OF
LONDAN: I think this in itself displaced the manner which this had boomeranged on Trump. There's obviously a question of how did these governments, you know, turns around in a matter of a few weeks for cracking down on protesters for getting millions of people out on the streets in support of these same commanders -- the same forces which were involved in the crackdown. The question here is that of an external enemy.
Soleimani's death also detracted from Lebanon's long running protest against the government. With a Hezbollah rally in support of the Shia movement Iranian mentor in its campaign against Israel.
"This was a decisive day between two phases in the region. It marks the beginning of a new phase and a new history not just for Iran or Iraq but for the entire region," he said.
It's no surprise that Shia militia supported by Iran and Soleimani have poured onto the streets across the Middle East. Hardline Shia politicians voted to ordered the U.S. and other foreign forces out of Iraq in a parliamentary session that was boycotted though by moderate Sunnis and Kurds.
And in Yemen where Iran has supplied their vast weapons to Houthi rebels, those same rebels reacted to the death of the principal backer with silence.
Iran has pledged to take revenge, provoking President Trump to tweet in part "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 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 U.S.A. wants no more threats."
That maybe so, but across the Middle East, the fear is that this fierce rhetoric so often becomes reality.
SAM KILEY, CNN -- Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:34:59]
HOLMES: Trita Parsi joins me now from Washington. He is executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, and author of "Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy".
We speak again -- it's that kind of week. There are so many strands in what is an increasingly worrying situation. Let's establish something that was pretty concerning coming from the Iraqi Prime Minister. And then we'll move on.
He said he was scheduled to meet with Qasem Soleimani the morning he was killed. He said Soleimani was bringing him a message from Iran. He also said he received a phone call from Donald Trump asking him to mediate. Does it sound to you like a potential mediation effort was scuffled by this killing?
TRITA PARSI, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE QUINCY INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: I fear so because this is what actually happened the last couple of months. After the Trump administration back in the summer opted not to go to war with Iran after the Iranians had shot down an American drone, the Saudis and the U.A.E. drew the conclusion that they could not count on the Trump administration to defend them or to essentially go to war with Iran on their behalf.
What happened then is that they then realize they had to start diplomacy with Iran. And quietly, the Saudis have been exchanging messages with the Iranians through the Iraqi government. The U.A.E. has had much more open diplomacy with the Iranians with the officials actually going to Tehran.
So we saw that once the U.S. was not going to go to war, the regional actors themselves started to realize that they are better off engaging in diplomacy.
And according to the Iraqi prime minister part of that effort was that the Iraqis were mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia. And Soleimani was coming back with a response to the Saudis from a message to Saudis that sent the Iranians through the Iraqis. He was coming there with their response to the Saudis on how to reduce tensions. That is when the U.S. killed him.
HOLMES: And then he was killed which is extraordinary. This is coming from the Iraqi prime minister as well.
Now speaking of Iraq there was this vote in the Iraqi parliament demanding the government work towards ending the presence of U.S. troops on Iraqi soil. And then on top of that, you get Donald Trump saying he would sanction Iraq if that happened. It is all head- spinning stuff.
PARSI: It certainly is because Trump is the person who actually campaigned on a promise of ending these endless wars and bringing the troops home. I mean he's complaining about this all the time. And he is saying it because he knows the American public wants the troops to come home.
Now he has his best possible excuse, the Iraqi parliament recommended that the U.S. should leave. So he should take up on that. Instead now, he is saying he's not leaving unless he gets paid.
But there is no basis for the United States to be in Iraq if the Iraqi government asked them to leave. The only basis why the U.S. is there right now is because the Iraqi government asked for U.S. support in the fight against ISIS. If that request has come to an end, the U.S. should be leaving. And frankly it would be better for the U.S. itself if it left.
HOLMES: It is absolutely extraordinary, isn't it? I mean there was -- you had the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo talking the Sunday talk shows. And among other things, he said you know, we took a bad guy off the battlefield, made the right decision, less risk today to the American forces in the region as a result of it.
I mean Iran and its proxies Hezbollah and others would beg to differ. It is hard to see how he makes that conclusion?
PARSI: Well, if it is so that there is less of a risk, why is it so that the U.S. State Department asked all Americans to leave Iraq immediately? If this actually had made Iraq more safe and Americans in Iraq more safe, such a very alarming request by the State Department would not have come out. It specifically said that they should leave immediately.
The airport in Baghdad has been filmed with Americans leaving Iraq right now. They're not leaving because Iraq has been made more safe.
HOLMES: Extraordinary. You know, one thing that occurred today, when you stand back from all of this and the stuff that has been going on the last few days and take a look at the region, you know, you've got -- you've got the Shiites furious with the U.S. Sunni states are worried about what's happening the neighborhood.
You've got ISIS regrouping. The Kurds feel betrayed, Iran and Donald Trump are tweeting threats at each other. I mean what do you see when you take that broad view?
PARSI: Well, I certainly don't believe anyone has been made more safe. This is an absolute disaster. This is taking the entire region to the brink of war. This is not good for the United States, itself.
And I think most Americans will recognize and realize whether they do it immediately or not, that if there are reprisals and American soldiers are dead, clearly the Iranians will be responsible if they are the ones who did it. But Trump will also be responsible because he's the one who started this.
[01:39:59]
HOLMES: Where does it go from here? What are your thoughts? What happens next?
PARSI: Well, the question, to a very large extent, depends on if the Iranians -- what the Iranians decide to do. I fear that there will be some sort of reprisal but what exactly that will be remains to be seen.
The signals they've been sending in interviews for CNN instance is that they're going to follow the rules of proportionality which means that a military person was targeted so they will target a military person or a military asset in response.
If that is the case, then at least perhaps this will not lead to some sort of a major terrorist act that will kill a lot of civilians.
But again, we are all speculating because we don't know, and I suspect that what the Iranians will do it will do it in such a way that it will surprise the world.
HOLMES: That is very worrying. And yes, you just hope you don't get into tough guy stuff where it escalates just based on hubris.
(CROSSTALKING)
HOLMES: Trita -- it's good to see you, as always. Thank you.
PARSI: Thank you for having me. Thank you.
ALLEN: Next here, we turn to Kenya. New details are emerging on a deadly terror attack there.
HOLMES: The target -- American troops. We'll have reaction from the U.S. Military when we come back.
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[01:44:51]
ALLEN: To show you the extent of what is happening with the Iran story, listen to this with Nigeria. It's putting its police on heightened alert following the U.S. killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani.
HOLMES: Yes. The police inspector general says quote, "Some domestic interests are planning to embark on massive public disturbances and sabotage." Now he didn't name a specific group or threat but he said the measure was being taken proactively to ensure security.
ALLEN: Nigeria is largely split between Christians and Muslims most of whom are Sunni.
HOLMES: The U.S. says three Americans were killed in a terror attack on a military base in Kenya. One was a service member, the others civilian contractors.
ALLEN: Al-Shabaab is claiming responsibility for Sunday's attack.
CNN's Dianne Gallagher has more about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One U.S. servicemember and two civilian contractors working for the Department of Defense killed in a brazen, pre-dawn attack Sunday carried out by Al-Shabaab. Now, a Defense official tells CNN that the two dead American contractors were aircrew members.
U.S.-Africa Command said that two American DOD members were also injured but they are in stable condition and evacuated from the area.
Now, this attack is especially significant, not only because of the loss of life but this is the first known time that Al-Shabaab has penetrated a base that houses U.S. personnel.
The U.S.-Africa Commander General Stephen Townsend said in part in a statement, quote, "We will pursue those responsible for this attack and Al-Shabaab who seeks to harm Americans and U.S. interests. We remain committed to preventing al-Shabaab from maintaining a safe haven to plan deadly attacks against the U.S. homeland, East Africa and international partners.
Now, Al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to al Qaeda in the past and has been increasingly the target of airstrikes under the Trump administration. Sources had previously told CNN that the base was used by U.S. Special Operations Forces working with Kenyans and other counterparts in the region.
According to U.S.-Africa Command both U.S. and Kenyan forces fought back the attack after the initial penetration of the perimeter. It involved both indirect and small arms fire. A Defense official tells us that U.S. forces did not conduct air strikes but did engage in the firefight. The Kenyans attempted to provide air support.
Now, according to Kenyan defense forces, a fire broke out as a result of the breach that affected fuel tanks. U.S. and Kenyan aircraft were damaged.
The names of those killed and wounded have not been released at this time, of course, pending family notification.
Dianne Gallagher, CNN -- Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, when we come back fire conditions in Australia eased in some areas on Sunday --
ALLEN: But could get much worse in the days ahead.
We're live in New South Wales in just a moment.
[01:47:38]
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ALLEN: Well, we're now looking at the Australia wild fires which, as you know, have been going on since September. Now major evacuations are underway where deadly fires have claimed now 24 lives in September.
HOLMES: And this is an extraordinary image, too. It just shows how tough conditions are. This is the visibility for a military helicopter that is flying through those orange-red colored skies. This is during an evacuation mission. Just imagine looking out and seeing that.
ALLEN: I don't know how they're doing it. In fact some of the helicopters haven't been able to get into some places because of the visibility.
We're seeing widespread destruction of homes and livelihoods on the ground. Firefighters shot this video here as they drove through the flames. HOLMES: Literally going through them. Conditions did ease in some
areas on Sunday. But officials warned it's going to get worse in the days ahead.
Andrew Stevens is joining us now from Canberra -- a bit of a respite -- I mean, you were talking about rain earlier but it's not enough. And there's months ahead of this.
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is right Michael. In fact, you've talked about rain. It is just starting to spit down rain here in Canberra. So that will obviously be greatly welcome.
And when we drove up to the capital a few hours, we went through a patch of very, very heavy rain but even so, even though a lot of this rain has covered a lot of the key bush fires zones, the really the hot zones, as you say. it isn't enough. There are still more than 100 fires burning both in New South Wales and in Victoria, those are the most populous parts of Australia and really the epicenter of this fire.
There have been fires also in South Australia which is claimed live in Queensland and also across, into then Tasmania.
So it really is countrywide. There is brief respite here. It is expected to last for another couple of days. And then, the hot dry winds, which is the real killer in these bush fires.
Once you get conditions were temperatures soar and, and you get a scorching hot wind, usually coming down from the north into this forested areas, where there are fires. That is all the recipe the ingredients you made all a conflagration. And that is what we have seen over the past few days or past two days at least. Across these areas at the weekend.
We saw temperatures hitting nearly 50 degrees Celsius and Sydney on Saturday. Wind of up to well, over 100 kilometers an hour. All that continues and -- or will continue. All that is combined to produce this bushfire effect.
But right now Michael, people are trying to get back to their homes, to see whether they've got any homes left. All they are waiting to be evacuated.
You stick to your reference earlier on, after Mallacoota which is one of the hardest hit areas. And the parliament just couldn't lad. They had to abort the mission because it was just too dangerous, visibility down to virtually zero.
Meanwhile, we are hearing, or getting reports now that the government is going to stump up two billion dollars, which is a significant amount, which is going to be for the bushfire recovery fund. And that's going to be aimed at people who have lost so much.
It's going to be aimed at infrastructure and really trying to get Australia a little bit more prepared, a little bit more resilient, to these fires which as you point out have only really just begun. The bushfire scene is going to extend well into February.
ALLEN: Yes. Andrew -- and you mentioned, $2 billion -- fighting these fire is going to cost the government a lot of money here.
[01:54:51]
STEVENS: Yes, that is right. You've got to remember, Natalie -- a lot of these firefighters are volunteers. Thousands of people volunteer their time so they are paid but was asked for their free service to protect their homes and the homes of their neighbors and around many, many parts of Australia. So that keeps the cost down.
The government has said they're going to start paying people because they miss out on work time so they're actually going backwards there.
There has been an extraordinary outpouring of support from Australians as well. And not only Australians but an international support.
There was one appeal which was launched just a few day ago, on Saturday -- now, gone well north of $20 million, probably around the $25 million mark. People like Nicole Kidman donating half a million dollars. Pink -- the singer, donating half a million dollars.
ALLEN: Yes.
STEVENS: Shane Warne, the legendary bowler -- Michael, you know all about him. He's just donated his baggy green cap, which is the ultimate icon of any cricketer and it's up for auction. I think the last bid we saw was about $200,000.
HOLMES: Yes, I mean that is a big deal. Shane Warne putting out these baggy green, iconic cricketer. That's going to hopefully raise a ton of money.
Andrew -- we're going to leave it there. Thanks very much. Appreciate that. Andrew Stevens there on the nation's capital.
This is (INAUDIBLE). I've been to this place, South Australia's Kangaroo Island. It has been absolutely decimated. Two people killed. Most of the koala population wiped out.
ALLEN: So sad. So sad. As 7 Network's Casey Treloar reports they are doing all they can to save the remaining wildlife.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY TRELOAR, 7 NETWORK: Burned, injured, and bewildered -- koalas needing care arriving by the trailer load.
RICK FISHER, KANGAROO ISLAND RESIDENT: They're all stunned.
TRELOAR: Rick Fischer and his neighbor saved these ones from their properties -- some barely clinging to life.
FISHER: This little fellow -- he is too far gone. Yes -- he's too far gone. TRELOAR: The survivors are under critical care at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park. It's been inundated. Taking in dozens of severely burned animals a day.
SAM MITCHELL, KANGAROO ISLAND WILDLIFE PARK: Unfortunately for some of those animals, the best thing is euthanize straightaway. There's just no chance.
TRELOAR: The impact on wildlife is breaking hearts.
KATE WELZ, KANGAROO ISLAND WILDLIFE NETWORK: This environment has been completely, completely changed and I don't know that it will ever, ever come back and be the same.
TRELOAR: Park owner Dana has her hands full caring for these survivors around the clock.
DANA MITCHELL, KANGAROO ISLAND WILDLIFE PARK: Every day they are getting pain relief -- all of these guys are. We are also treating them for severe burns on a few of them; minor burns on others.
TRELOAR: This little orphan (INAUDIBLE) was brought in two weeks ago when the fire first started. She suffered horrific burns to her hands and face. Fortunately, she is on track to make a full recovery.
MITCHELL: She's a great ambassador for what we can do for some of those koalas.
TRELOAR: Hope amidst the devastation.
Casey Treloar, 7 News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: It is a beautiful place -- Kangaroo Island. And what happened there is just devastating.
ALLEN: Absolutely. Terrible.
HOLMES: I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM.
ALLEN: I'm Natalie Allen. Another hour of NEWSROOM is next with Rosemary Church and George Howell.
So please stay with us.
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