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U.S. Congress to Grill Military Leaders About Withdrawal; Republicans Block Bill to Suspend Debt Limit, Avert Shutdown; Nearly 1 in 4 Eligible Americans Remain Unvaccinated; British Government Puts Army on Standby Amid Panic Buying; South Korea: North Korea Fires Presumed Short-Range Missile; Haiti Struggling with Kidnappings and Gang Violence. Aired 4-4:30a ET

Aired September 28, 2021 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:00]

ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: A very warm welcome to our viewers joining us in the United States and all around the world. I'm Isa Soares in London. And ahead on CNN NEWSROOM.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. MARK MILLEY, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINTS CHIEFS OF STAFF: The proceeding were correctly followed and it was a righteous strike.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Top military officials are in the hot seat in Washington as lawmakers protracted will them at that chaotic Afghanistan exit.

Panic buying leaves U.K. pumps on empty. Now British government is asking lorry drivers from the military to stand by.

And singer R. Kelly is convicted on all charges and what his accusers are saying after decades of abuse.

Good morning, everyone, happy Tuesday. In roughly five 1/2 hours U.S. lawmakers will get for the first time to publicly grill America's top military leaders about the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. The U.S. Defense Secretary and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs will be questioned by Senators on the Armed Services Committee. But don't expect many softball, Congress is expected to ask tough questions about the evacuation. Pentagon correspondent Oren Liebermann has more for us about what to expect.

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OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee promises to be a highly scrutinized, at times very contentious hearing as lawmakers grill the Pentagon is top to officials and the commander of the U.S. Central Command in charge of Afghanistan about what went right in the withdrawal from Afghanistan but also what went wrong.

That includes not only a terror attack that killed 13 U.S. service members at the airport in the closing days of the withdrawal, but also the planning and what went into a drone strike that the military defended as a righteous strike, but then turned out to have killed ten Afghan civilians including seven children. It him 'll be the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin the top official in the hearing facing questions from lawmakers but it is Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is expected to get the bulk of the questions especially from Republican lawmakers who've made it clear they'll go after Milley.

And it's not just about Afghanistan. It was Milley who called it a righteous strike before U.S. Central Command and Commander Gen. Frank McKenzie came out and said it was a mistaken target that killed ten Afghan civilians.

But also, Republican lawmakers have made it clear they will go after him for topics that have nothing to do with Afghanistan including conversations between Milley and his Chinese counterpart in the days after the January 6th Capitol insurrection and much more recent conversations between Milley and his Russian counterpart about Central Asia and any possibility of Russian cooperation for counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda going on in Afghanistan.

Those conversations we learned were done at the request of the NSC, but Republicans have made it just is clear that they'll still go after him. And it doesn't just and on Tuesday after four or five hours of hearing, the Senate hearing on Tuesday, followed by the House hearing on Wednesday from the Armed Services Committee there. Those can be even more contentious.

Oren Liebermann, CNN at Pentagon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: It's a busy two days. Well, for more about the questions we should expect to hear today, the Afghan withdrawal hearing, I want to bring in CNN's Jomana Karadsheh in Istanbul. And Jomana, I suspect military leaders will not only face the questions, as Oren was saying, about the chaotic and messy withdrawal but also that drone strike that killed ten civilians.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, Isa, they've got a long list of questions for weeks now. The U.S. lawmakers have been trying to get answers about why it all played out the way it did, why did the U.S. end up in this situation of that very chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. And they've not really been able to get any clarity or satisfactory answers really from the Biden administration.

They've heard the administration's arguments, its defense of its decisions. Basically, saying that they were handed an agreement that President Trump had with the Taliban, that they had to abide by that deadline, that they had then agreed to, or whether was no other alternative. It was either that withdrawal, or the U.S. is going to be drawn into a long and bloody conflict again in Afghanistan. And we've heard the Secretary of State Antony Blinken also defending the administration's decision in front of lawmakers.

[04:05:00]

Now, we are going to get to see lawmakers publicly for the first time getting to ask these questions directly to the top military leadership, the top leadership that was in charge of planning, and executing this chaotic withdrawal. And the questions are going to range from asking them about did it really have to be this way, Isa? Was there no other alternative really? What did they advise President Biden? What was their advice in keeping a residual force in the country?

And as you mentioned, of course, we would likely expect them to ask tough questions, also about the drone strike that initially the U.S. insisted did not kill civilians but then they admitted that it was civilians who were killed in that strike. And this is going to likely also raise questions about U.S. -- the U.S.'s intelligence gathering capabilities, in the country, following the withdrawal, about counter- terrorism operations in the country. And how they are going to ensure that Afghanistan once again does not turn into a breeding ground for extremist groups and a threat to the U.S. homeland.

So, everyone is going to be keeping a close eye to hear their answers, get insights into the decision making that went into the planning and execution. But of course, Isa, this will not change the reality on the ground for the people of Afghanistan, who are now left facing an even more dire humanitarian situation.

SOARES: Yes, I'm sure we will hear lots of tough questions for what we've been needing to hear are key answers. Jomana Karadsheh there for us in Istanbul. Thanks very much, Jomana, good to see you.

Now U.S. Senate Republicans have blocked the House passed bill to fund the government and suspend the debt limit. The government funding runs out on Thursday. Republican leader Mitch McConnell says his party is ready to support a bill to avoid a shutdown as long as it's not tied to the debt limit. Take a listen.

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SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): We will not provide Republican votes for raising the debt limit. There's no chance. Republicans will help lift Democrats' credit limit so they can immediately steam roll through a socialist binge that will hurt families and help China.

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SOARES: Will Democrats could offer a funding bill without the debt limit extension, that they want Republicans to share their responsibility of raising the limit.

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SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY) U.S. SENATE LEADER: The Republican Party has now become the party of default, the party that says America doesn't pay its debts. Our country is staring down the barrel of two totally Republican manufactured disasters, a government shutdown, and a first- ever default on the national debt. The impacts of both would gravely harm every single American in this country. Republicans would let the country default for the first time in history.

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SOARES: Now, the chairman of the Congressional committee investigating the January the 6th insurrection says more subpoenas could be sent out this week. Bennie Thompson wouldn't specify who might be called to testify but said it would be a broader group associated with the Trump White House, individuals who been charged with crimes in connection with the riot may also be subpoenaed.

Now the former commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tells CNN COVID is likely to be a more persistent menace after the Delta surge passes. Just over 55 percent of the total U.S. population is fully vaccinated, 16 states have yet to vaccinate more than half of their residents. And then the daily pace of new doses administered is the lowest it has been since the CDC started tracking data back in mid-January. Top health experts are trying to reach out to those who haven't received the shot.

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DR. ROCHELLE WALENSKY, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: We've extraordinary experience with this vaccine now, so let's present the safety data. What are the questions of people who are unvaccinated? What is it that they are worried about? And right now, we have to do that with trusted messengers. We have to inform people and give them the information that they need. We have to meet people where they are. This is not about blame and shame. This is about help me understand what has made you reluctantly, you personally reluctant, and let's get to a place where you feel less reluctant.

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SOARES: Well, critics of the Biden administration say mixed messaging on booster shots has caused confusion but the America's top infectious disease experts say no need to worry.

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DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: As we get more and more data, it'll be clear that booster shots, or the third shot, when you get the mRNA first and second dose, the third shot may ultimately turn out to be the standard regimen that we'll use.

[04:10:00]

When the CDC director said walk, don't run, it means that you are still pretty well protected, in fact, quite well protected, in many, many categories.

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SOARES: Well, meanwhile U.S. President Joe Biden is among the first Americans -- you can see there -- to receive the vaccine booster shot since he is over the age of 65, a condition for eligibility. He got his third shot of Pfizer on Monday at the White House while cameras were rolling. He urged others to get the jab and saying it will save lives.

In New York, the mayor says it was an uptick in COVID vaccinations received by public school employees over the weekend. Staff must prove they have received at least one vaccine shot by Friday to keep their jobs. So far, the mandate has been upheld in the court system despite legal challenges. Right now, 87 percent of New York public school staff has been vaccinated and that includes 91 percent of teachers, as you can see there, 97 percent of school principals. Officials say those numbers continue to rise every day.

Now, panic buying and pumps running dry. Britain's fuel crisis has become so dire, the government is now putting the military on standby and that means army drivers could be tasked with petrol delivery if the situation doesn't improve. To be clear the problem here is with the supply chain. The U.K. has is plenty of fuel but not enough drivers to get it in fact to the service stations.

Our Nina dos Santos is with us live from the London petrol station. And Nina, you know, I was coming in, I saw another two lines forming for fuel. But it's not just fuel because supermarkets have also been facing supply issues. I remember just last week at my local supermarket, we don't have this product, we are facing a supply issue. How much, Nina, is this symptomatic of the bigger problem here in the U.K.?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think there's a real realization, and there was in the food and beverage industry, even before the fuel crisis this week, that there's a supply chain blockage, particularly with delivery drivers for heavy goods vehicles and that we're just going to continue to see these shortages. Perhaps not outright shortages like we're seeing at fuel pumps like this one, but curtailed supply ranges and so on and so forth.

And now, in the meantime, just going back to the fuel crisis, as you can see here, people are still continuing to accuse the government ministers of going on the air waves saying that they are seeing some signs based on petrol station data that the situation is abating, that people now have full tanks and they're not panic buying to quite the extent they were before. They're hoping all of this will probably blow over by the end of the week.

But as you pointed out earlier, they're still starting to train up military drivers, so that they can deliver fuel to petrol stations as and when necessary. In the meantime, there's also pressure on the government to start limiting fuel for people who might not need it. To make sure that key workers and emergency services get access to the stocks they need. And there are reports that people, doctors, nurses, dentists, can't get to their places of work because they can't actually spend all the time, they need to fill up in cues like this one behind me. And then find that the pump is dry.

That's prompted the British Medical Association to issue a statement and I will read you a comment from the chair, Dr. Chaand Nagpaul earlier today. Saying everyone will have their own reasons for needing to fill up but as pumps run dry, there's a real risk that NHS staff won't be able to do their jobs and provide the vital services and care to people who urgently need it.

Now this comes amid a big backlog obviously induced by the pandemic and operations that are needed in this country. They've raised taxes indeed to pay for more NHS services so that's a really strongly felt point. And also remember, Isa, there's a big labor crunch in this country, it's not just critical infrastructure like this, that people are worried about, there's also one million jobs that aren't being filled by British workers. So, there's a sense of something broken here economically, that could undercut the recovery. Remember the economy in this country is still 4.4 percent below pre-COVID levels -- Isa.

SOARES: Nina dos Santos for us there. Thanks very much, Nina.

Now, North Korea suspected of launching yet another missile, and the timing is quite interesting.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is, Isa. How much did North Korea's Ambassador Kim Song know when he was getting ready to step up to the podium. Did he know that North Korea had launched yet another ballistic missile? Their third this month. And what does it mean?

[04:15:00]

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SOARES: Welcome back everyone. Now, North Korea has launched what's believed to be a short-range missile. That is according to the South Korea defense ministry. It landed in the waters east of the Korean Peninsula just before North Korea's U.N. envoy spoke to the General Assembly, and shortly before South Korea was expected to debut a new submarine. CNN's Will Ripley is following this live for us from Taipei. And Will, this is the third projectile this month. What does this tell us, including the time of course of this happening, about North Korea's intentions here?

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It tells us, Isa, that they certainly know how to get attention when they want to and even though we don't know for sure if the timing, it seems quite a coincidence. If at 6:40 a.m., North Korea launches this missile and then just 20 minutes later, their Ambassador Song Kim steps up to the podium at the United Nations General Assembly and delivers a message about a number of issue. But of course, one of the main issues that North Korea is always defending itself about is its weapons program and weapons testing. So, the fact that there was a missile in the air just minutes before Song Kim, Ambassador Kim said this, certainly interesting.

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KIM SONG, NORTH KOREAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N. (through translator): Given the U.S./South Korean military alliances increased military threats against the DPRK, nobody can deny the righteous right to self- defense for North Korea to develop, test, manufacture, and purchase the weapon systems equivalent to the ones which are possessed or being developed by them.

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[04:20:00]

RIPLEY (on camera): In terms of this launch itself, it was pretty routine, if you want to say that, for what is considered to be an illegal missile launch by North Korea in violation of U.N. Security Council resolution. At least it is as the Japanese government described it as a ballistic missile. The North Koreans have yet to actually officially confirm what they launched from Chagang Province, which is a mountainous region that straddles the Chinese border.

Chagang Province is noteworthy because that is where it 2017 North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile which of course, led to the further tightening of sanctions, further escalation of tensions and then the Korean detente. Where there were those face-to- face meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and former President Donald Trump. That led us back to exactly where we were essentially before, albeit perhaps less tense, less nervous on the Korean Peninsula.

So North Korea now by conducting these launches, their third as you mentioned this month. The last time they launched was in the middle of the month. And it was an interesting day because they launched a ballistic missile from a train on the same day South Korea launched a ballistic missile from a submarine. And as you mentioned in your introduction, Isa, that submarine is now being put into the water. So, is that a factor in all of this?

Is it a factor that Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-Jong has been hinting at a resumption of diplomacy with South Korea which could potentially pave the way to talks with the U.S.? Or will North Korea just continue to launch things and will tensions continue to ratchet up in this part of the world? We just have to wait and see.

SOARES: I mean, plenty of coincidences, or not, we shall see. Will Ripley, in Taipei, good to see you, my friend.

Now in his first speech before the U.S. General Assembly, Israel's new Prime Minister made headlines both for what he talked from what he didn't. In his 25-minute speech Naftali Bennett made no mention of the conflict with the Palestinians. Instead, he almost exclusively focused on the threat from Iran and its nuclear program. Take a listen.

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NAFTALI BENNETT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: Iran's nuclear program has hit a watershed moment and so has our tolerance. Words do not stop centrifuges from spinning. There are those in the world who seem to view Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons as an inevitable reality, as a done deal, or they have just become tired of hearing about it. Israel doesn't have that privilege.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SOARES: Well meanwhile, Iran fired back saying Israel loves playing the victim and pretending to be innocent and they criticize Israel for not saying anything about the plight of Palestinians.

And the final hours of U.N. General Assembly were punctuated by a heated exchange between Canada and China. Canada's foreign minister suggested China's attention of two Canadian nationals was in retaliation for Canada's house arrest of Huawei's executive Meng Wanzhou on (INAUDIBLE). China's representative answered saying Meng's arrest was a way to hold back Chinese advancement in science and technology. The exchange comes days after three detainees were released and headed home.

Now, we want to show you some images of Haitian migrants tracking through Honduras. Their goal really is to reach the United States which requires crossing through several countries and there's hundreds of treacherous miles. So far this year, Honduras says it has registered nearly 11,000 foreign migrants, many of them Haitians. Many of them as children, you can see there. But as we've seen in recent day, thousands of Haitians who've actually made it to the U.S. are being deported by the Biden administration. CNN spoke exclusively to Haiti's Prime Minister about the controversial situation. Take a listen.

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ARIEL HENRY, HAITIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): For us, all Haitians who return to their native soil are entitled to be welcomed. And we will welcome them as best we can. We will make room for them and we will try to reintegrate them as best as we can into society.

Regarding the deportation, we are not responsible for their deportation. What we are saying is that as long as there are countries that are better off than others, there will always be an appeal towards those wealthier.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: The Haitian Prime Minister there. Well, CNN's Melissa Bell shows us what is forcing thousands of Haitians to flee their country in the first place.

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MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Another six flights of Haitian deportees due to land back here in Haiti on Monday. Haitians returning to a country that they fled for the most part many years ago. It is a simply the grinding poverty that you can see on the street of the Haitian capital but increasingly the violence that has become difficult for Haitians to deal with. We spoke to one human rights watchdog president who told us, that it was more than half of the Haitian capital that was now essentially under the control of gangs.

MARIE-YOLENE GILLES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FJKL (through translator): Now the gangs are able to kidnap people day and night in the middle- class neighborhoods. [04:25:00]

They move around on motorcycles or cars with impunity. The police and the army are mostly passive and have remained very in active in responding to the actions of these armed gangs which operate with much more intelligence. There's no response. The police did not respond to the insecurity.

BELL: Those kidnappings that have become such a problem here in the Haitian capital, just one of the reasons that those Haitian deportees are telling us that they're only in (INAUDIBLE) now that their back in the country, to get back on the road. With several of those deported this week, already telling us they are back in the Dominican Republic and planning to get as far away from Haiti as they possibly can.

Melissa Bell, CNN, Port-au-Prince.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Now, CNN's decades-long fall from grace, ahead, the jury's verdict in R. Kelly's sex trafficking trial.

Plus, new audio sheds light on what police knew about Gabby Petito's relationship with her fiancee. The latest on the search to find him when we return. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

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SOARES: R. Kelly faces ten years to life in prison for his conviction of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Prosecutors accused the R&B singer of exploiting his fame for more than 25 years to lure women as well as underaged girls, sentencing is set for May 4th. Monia Moghe has the details for you.

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SONIA MOGHE, CNN REPORTER: There have been 50 witnesses during the course of this trial. Some of them women who say they were sexually abused by the singer when they were minors. Testifying that R. Kelly knew their ages at the time and had sex with them anyway and some cases even reporting the sexual encounters.