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Biden: Syria Raid a Message to Terrorist "Terrorist Around the World"; More details Emerge on U.S. Special Forces Raid in Syria; Defense Ministry Says it Shot Down Three "Hostile" Drones; Putin: I and I are Good Friends. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired February 03, 2022 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:00]

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome back to "Connect the World". More details coming from the U.S.

President on the Special Forces raid in northwest Syria that killed the leader of ISIS.

It is a message he said for "terrorists around the world", this video emerging on social media. Mr. Biden, he said watched in real time from the

situation rumors the raid unfolded and briefed the public a short time ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: Last night, operated under my orders, United States military forces successfully moved in major terrorist threat to the

world, the global leader of ISIS, known as Haji Abdullah, knowing that this terrorist had chosen to surround himself with families, including children.

We made a choice to pursue a Special Forces raid at a much greater risk than our - to our own people rather than targeting him with an airstrike.

We made this choice to minimize civilian casualties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, there were civilian casualties; U.S. said the ISIS leader blew him up killing his wife and children. Syria's White Helmets Volunteer

Rescue group had said 13 people were killed in clashes that broke out during and after the raid that includes they say, six children are here

with me now.

CNN National Security Analyst Peter Bergen, also author of the book The Rise and Fall of Osama Bin Laden, we'll get to you shortly, Peter. First

off, I want to get to our Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon.

We've heard from the U.S. president on the detail of the raid from the U.S. perspective. CNN, though, has spoken to witnesses who are reporting some

alarming details on this operation. What are they - what are they saying, Arwa?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we've spoken to numerous eyewitnesses. And we've also been watching some pretty gruesome

and very difficult to look at images from inside the target house itself that show children's bodies being pulled out from underneath the rubble.

Now, what eye witnesses are saying is that, this raid began at about one o'clock in the morning that they heard helicopter gunships overhead for

hours that yes, they there were calls in Arabic, geared towards the target house saying that the inhabitants should surrender that they were

surrounded.

But there was also very intense gunfire. And they're saying that they heard multiple explosions. Video that we have seen of the aftermath show that

there wasn't just damage to what we believe was the target building itself, but also to a number of other buildings in the area.

We have also heard from the man who is the owner of the building, where the target live this ISIS leader, who says that, first of all, he had no idea

who he was renting the building out to.

But that there were seven inhabitants in the building, three adults, a man and two women, one of them, he said was his sister, and their children. And

so that would add up to seven people being killed.

Whereas we also know from the White Helmets, as you just mentioned there that 13 people were killed along with six children. So there are really a

lot of questions right now. But suffice to say that, you know, when it comes to operations like this, it's never as simple as we won.

We were successful. We killed the leader of ISIS; there are always civilian casualties that take place. And there was always this so called fog of war

that has a lot of details that tend to be quite disturbing that many people perhaps don't want to hear about, but that is the reality of how these

things do unfold when these kinds of operations do take place.

And so we're waiting and we will be looking into a lot of the statements that have been made by the Americans as to what took place. And try to

figure out exactly what happened who was killed and how, Becky.

ANDERSON: Barbara Starr is joining us from the Pentagon. And I know that you've been talking to your sources. We've learned that this operation was

said to be months in the making. What else do we know about it?

[11:05:00]

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, to Arwa's point right off the top, they will be reviewing this entire operation, as they always do.

And we will see if additional information comes to light through U.S. government channels.

They believe, based on what they believe happened on the ground, according to these initial reports, that the civilians who were killed were killed at

the hands of the ISIS leader, they were going after all - when he blew himself up on the third floor of this building.

Previously to that in the moments before, several civilians, including children did come out of the building at the urging of loudspeaker

messages, but not everybody apparently. I want to emphasize the U.S. at the moment says that's what happened; they're going to be looking into it and

trying to verify everything.

So what we know is they've been looking for this person for some time, somebody they wanted to get, and apparently the intelligence really

sharpened up in, you know, recent weeks.

And they were able to keep an eye on this compound, and be able to get enough intelligence to go to President Biden and get him to authorize this

special operations raid. Very significant, I think that the troops came in on the ground via helicopter. This is a much more precise, but much more

dangerous raid, than if they'd simply done an airstrike, Becky.

ANDERSON: And this, of course, begs the question, just how significant was this raid? Peter, will the death of the current leader have any impact on

ISIS or its affiliates in the region and or elsewhere?

PETER BERGEN, CNN U.S. SECURITY ANALYST: Well, you know, this - Karachi regression being a nom de guerre claiming descend from the Prophet Muhammad

by using this last name, Karachi. You know, he had virtually no public profile, he wasn't like Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, it was certainly a sound and

- who was constantly releasing messages.

In fact, he went out of his way to be silent. So I don't think he's some charismatic leader that a lot of people are going to be looking for. Now,

according to the President, in his public remarks, just recently, he was responsible for the murder of hundreds or perhaps thousands of Yazidis.

And so clearly, he was a dangerous person, but I don't for a second, imagine that ISIS won't appoint a new person relatively soon. And ISIS

itself is a pale shadow of, you know, where it was in Iraq and Syria when it controlled territory, the size of Britain and population the size of

Bulgaria.

But they are able to carry out operations, we still wanted a prison in trying to release ISIS prisoners within the last week or so it killed

hundreds of people. ISIS in Afghanistan has a fair amount of freedom of movement.

So the group will continue, I mean, but the group itself is not in great shape compared to where it was in 2014 or 2015.

ANDERSON: Barbara, while we have you, I think it would be useful for our viewers for you to just explain what we understand to be the scope of U.S.

operations in the region at this point.

STARR: Well, let's just talk about Syria, then for a minute, Becky, there are about 900 U.S. troops in Syria. Most of them are east of the Euphrates

River, and they are there to support Syrian Democratic Forces.

And they did recently in that prison situation that Peter was just describing. That was perhaps one of their most robust recent missions.

Their mission is to assist in enable and train the Syrian Democratic Forces to be in those oilfield areas to keep ISIS out of there to keep any oil

revenue away from ISIS.

And they've been relatively successful in recent years at doing that. We have then on this other side of that's in the east on the northwest part of

Syria. We have seen operations in the past, going after terrorist targets more the ISIS al Qaeda, al Nusra type of situation that has happened in the

past, but those are relatively different than the more routine operations we see in the east.

ANDERSON: What do you make of the detail that Barbara has been able to bring us on the raid from the U.S. perspective, Peter? And what does it

tell you about their understanding of intelligence about ISIS activity in the region that we are talking about here?

You've also heard Arwa tonight speaking to eyewitness accounts of what actually happened at the - on the ground as well. What do you make of it

all?

[11:10:00]

BERGEN: Well, I mean, there's a lot of similarities to the bin Laden raid. And but there's also a big difference. I mean, Vice President Biden oppose

a bin Laden raid, precisely because it was dangerous, and it was on the ground.

And the reason that they did it, the bin Laden raid with us special operations on the ground was to avoid massive civilian casualties, that

they just dropped it has done an airstrike.

Now, so the thinking on both raids is sort of similar in the sense that they also opted not to drop a bomb on this house, and they opted for the

more risky ground operation. The big difference is that President Biden OKed it.

And if you think about, you know, Biden's done at a fair amount of evolution in the last year, which is, you know, he authorized the pull out

of all American forces out of Afghanistan. And, and here he is, you know, authorizing thousands of American forces to go into Eastern Europe.

And then this really takes place or the day after that authorization becomes public. So as a commander in chief, I think he's, you know, he's

taking more risks and he's being, you know, a different person than he has been in the past.

ANDERSON: Fascinating to both of you, thank you very much indeed. You also heard from our Senior International Correspondent at the top of the hour

Arwa Damon, thank you. Well, prominent Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's says "terrorists are trying to drag Iraq into a dangerous regional war".

A little known Iraqi group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on the United Arab Emirates where I am here. The UAE says it shot down

three drones on Wednesday, Iran backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have carried out several previous terror attacks here.

Jomana Karadsheh is following this for us tonight from Abu Dhabi. What can you tell us about this latest drone attack Jomana?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, as you mentioned, this is the fourth attack or attempted attack targeting the UAE in about three

weeks. Now the previous attacks have been claimed by the Iranian backed Yemen based Houthi rebels.

But to complicate matters in this very complicated region right now, we have a claim of responsibility that surfaced today on social media from a

group calling itself Elliott Swat, an Iraqi militant group claiming that it carried out this operation targeting the UAE they claim that they used for

armed drones in response to the UAE's involvement in the war.

In Yemen, as you mentioned, the UAE's Ministry of Defense saying they intercepted these drones as three drones, they say as they entered into UAE

airspace and destroyed these drones in unpopulated areas.

Now when it comes to this group, Becky, up until today, those of us who've covered Iraq for a very long time, it hadn't really heard of this group.

They've not put forward any evidence to back their claim that they launched these drones.

They also would the UAE's government hasn't confirmed that these drones came from Iraq. Now there are reports suggesting that this group is an

offshoot or link to one of the major Iranian backed Shia militias in Iraq, which yet again raises the question here of Iran's role in all of this

whether Iran is allowing its proxies giving them the green light to carry out these attacks, or have they gone rogue because this is coming at a time

when the UAE is engaged in diplomatic talks with Iran.

Iran is also engaged in talks with Saudi Arabia. So lots of questions about that, Becky, and that question remain unanswered.

ANDERSON: These terrorist attacks and that is what they are. They're attacks meant to terrorize civilians, at least in the case of Houthis who

have confirmed but not claimed this latest attack, as you rightly would just pointed out. Do those suggest advancement at least on the Houthis

part?

In technology UAE air defenses are being tested and Abu Dhabi is discussing a range of security needs with Washington. I spoke to the UAE Ambassador to

the United Nations about all of this in an extensive, wide ranging conversation just last week; this is what she told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LANA NUSSEIBEH, UAE AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: I think we carry a large burden for the regional security environment and we're happy to carry

that burden. But of course, we need the support of our partners at the same time.

What does that support look like today, as you rightly pointed out, our defensive capabilities or abilities to intercept and deflect these attacks

is world class. And it is it is internationally world class.

Now at the same time there can always be upgrades, there can always be improvements, there can always be additional intelligence cooperation. And

I think these are the fields that we are looking at with our partners in the United States.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

[11:15:00]

ANDERSON: Washington has provided some immediate support. And you can you can detail what that is for our viewers momentarily. What the UAE is also

determined to detail is that they are still pushing for what is a de- escalation around this region.

Most recently, this country has said that its foreign policy will work squarely to the values of its economic issues going forward. I just wonder

where you see or how you would describe what's going on at present and how concerning you think it is?

KARADSHEH: Well, I mean, Becky, again, that's the big question. When we're looking at all of this, the timing of all of this, just as it seemed that

this region was headed towards de-escalation on so many different fronts, whether it is these talks, these diplomatic talks between the UAE and Iran,

whether it's the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

So that is why there's been a lot of questions about what it is that we're seeing. And, you know, observers and experts here are quite divided on what

might be happening.

Some would tell you that this could be some of these Iranian proxies, feeling that Iran might be abandoning them. And that they need to really

assert themselves here and show that they are, you know, they're able to carry on the fight on their own.

And some others would tell you that this is a time where negotiations get really serious when diplomacy is really serious. Sometimes you would see

that play out in the way that we are seeing now perhaps in a way of flexing muscles to get what different sides want at the negotiating table, Becky.

ANDERSON: It's just disturbing. It's, it's messy and as you say, very unclear as to where this goes next, Jomana, thank you. You're watching

"Connect the World" live tonight from Expo 2020 in Dubai. Still ahead the latest diplomatic efforts to defuse the Russia Ukraine prices what the

Turkish President offered during a visit to Kyiv.

Plus Vladimir Putin is touting his closest with Xi Jinping. More on the two men's relationships they get ready to meet in Beijing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: It was a busy week of diplomacy for Russia's president. His various world leaders work to defuse the crisis along the Russian Ukrainian

border. Vladimir Putin spoke in Moscow after meeting Argentina's President.

Later he will hold a third phone call within a week with French President Emmanuel Macron before heading off to the Beijing Olympics and what will be

a closely watched meeting with the Chinese President there, Xi Jinping

[11:20:00]

ANDERSON: Turkey's president on a regional diplomatic mission, himself meeting his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv. Richard at Taipei who wanted to

offering to host a summit between Zelensky and Putin.

Let's get you to Nic Robertson, in Moscow. In a Kremlin readout of President Putin's meeting today with his Argentine counterpart, Ukraine was

not mentioned at all. But the Kremlin spokesman talked today about the 2000 troops U.S. will send into Europe the other 1000 they will reposition

there, what's the perspective from the Kremlin?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, this is a perspective that we've continued to hear. It's been the background drumbeat

coming from the Kremlin about the sending of U.S. weapon systems to Ukraine about the talk a few weeks ago of the 8500 U.S. troops being put on a

higher level of standby to come support NATO in Eastern Europe.

And that is that from the Kremlin's perspective, this is the United States driving up tensions in the region destabilizing Ukraine. And the Kremlin

spokesman said today that this was something that everyone could see.

And that everyone could understand Russia's position that this is the United States positioning troops close to Russia's border. So that's a

narrative from there. I think to go back to the diplomatic steps; it's very interesting to see the body language today between President Putin and the

Argentinean President Alberto Fernandez.

They shook hands, they hugged, yet the last two leaders that President Putin international leaders, President Putin has met just a couple of days

ago, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban they sat way apart, separated at the end of a long table, the same with the Iranian president

when he was here a few weeks ago.

And this, of course, on the eve of when President Putin takes off to China to have a one on one meeting with President Xi. And President Putin will be

the first world leader that President Xi meets since COVID began.

So this is all sort of important, you know, for President Putin to show that he is an important leader that he's connected across many continents

of the world, you know, Europe, China, Latin America.

But you know, as you say that the substance of the conversation that he had with the Argentinean President was very much at a business level and, and

about vaccines as well. You know, Russia supplying COVID vaccines to Argentina.

So you know, there's a lot going on and expect a lot of the trade talk when President Putin meets with President Xi tomorrow.

ANDERSON: Yes, well, he is thank you Nic, praising his Chinese counterpart, saying he and Xi Jinping are good friends who hold largely the same views

on addressing the world's problems.

The two leaders are expected to meet on Friday before the Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing. The Head of the IOC, the International Olympic

Committee is urging world leaders not to mix sports, with politics at the Games.

Good luck with that, many will say. Meantime, Mr. Xi is reassuring the world that China is ready to have a safe and wonderful event. David Culver

joining us live from Beijing. You are outside of the Olympic bubble; tell us what's going on there.

And then we'll get some perspective from you, as to what you understand is going on inside that bubble with the athletes, David?

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Hey, there Becky. Good to be with you. Outside the bubble, part of the concern here is that there have

been in recent weeks in increasing cases. Now Beijing officials are saying that they have it mostly under control.

And they're starting to see single digit cases now of COVID-19 - reported each day, that in and of itself a good thing, still in double digits inside

the bubble where we have CNN colleagues as well.

And that's, of course, what the athletes are the personnel, several of the incoming media from around the world. But all eyes are going to be not so

much on the opening ceremony until really 24 hours or from now or so, but the big meeting that's taking place tomorrow.

And that is as you and Nic were talking about Becky, between President Xi and President Putin and it is symbolic on many levels. Nic mentioned

something that we should underscore and that is that this is the first world leader that President Xi will be meeting because he has not left this

country since the start of the pandemic.

And so it for him is going to be a major step to show the rest of the world that he is on the same page with Russia that China and Russia are moving

forward with this mutual trust, and this strengthened relationship, really in defiance of the West.

[11:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER (voice over): A mesmerizing opening ceremony expected to be attended by two strongman leaders. Chinese President Xi Jinping will soon be hosting

his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, as their country stands shoulder to shoulder in defiance of the West.

Despite lingering disputes over issues such as economic interest in the Middle East, Beijing and Moscow managed to see past those differences. And

focus instead on one common adversary the United States, which has launched a diplomatic boycott of the games over Beijing's human rights record.

And as tensions rise between Russia and NATO over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has publicly backed the Kremlin. In a recent

phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that Russia's reasonable security concerns should

be taken seriously and resolved.

CULVER (on camera): This will be the 38th time that President Xi and President Putin have met face to face since President Xi took power here

back in 2013.

CULVER (voice over): These frequent interactions are a sign of increasingly close bilateral ties, despite how different the two leaders are. The images

tell it all the pair in 2018 happily sampling together a traditional Chinese pancake.

A few months later, they made a Russian version of the dish, complete with caviar and vodka. They visited with China's iconic pandas the following

year, and took in an ice hockey game. Later basking in the sunset boat tour, The cozy China Russia relationship, not stopping the U.S. from trying

to sway China on the Ukraine crisis.

VICTORIA NULAND, U.S. UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS: We are calling on Beijing to use its influence with Moscow to urge diplomacy.

CULVER (voice over): But analysts say Beijing sees little benefit to side with the West.

DANIEL RUSSEL, VICE PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL SECURITY AND DIPLOMACY, ASIA SOCIETY POLICY INSTITUTION: What Putin and Xi Jinping have in common here

is actually the desire to undercut U.S. credibility to drive a wedge between Washington and its allies.

CULVER (voice over): Other democracies and U.S. allies like Taiwan will be watching closely. As China stepped up its military activities across the

Taiwan Strait--

RUSSEL: If the people in Taiwan saw that, despite all of Washington's efforts, and all of NATO's tough talk that they didn't succeed in deterring

Putin, they're going to ask themselves, can we on Taiwan really count on the United States in a crisis?

CULVER (voice over): After the U.S. has disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan; Ukraine presents the latest test on the U.S. capability to

maintain global peace and security. And the outcome may further convince China and Russia of an emerging new world order that both have long sought.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER: And one thing that is really worth noting, Becky, is I was going back through some of the archived footage from the 2008 Olympics. And what

a striking difference in the global climate if you will, compared with what we're experiencing 14 years later.

In those Olympic Games, you saw President George W. Bush here in Beijing smiling and greeting several of his counterparts here at the time that was

then Vice President Xi that he was meeting with.

And now of course the U.S. part of a diplomatic boycott that includes Canada, the UK, Australia, they are not here in an official capacity,

Becky.

ANDERSON: David Culver is there in his official capacity is CNN Correspondent. And we thank you for that. Thank you. Just ahead Russia

tensions add to Europe's energy woes. Well, my next guest says Qatar isn't likely to come to continents rescue.

Only to outrage over apps that tried to put Muslim women on sale, I'll ask one of the targeted women why she thinks the issue goes beyond misogyny.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:00]

ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson; you're watching "Connect the World". It is half past eight here in the UAE tonight. We are in Dubai at

the EXPO 2020 site. Normally of course, you know we broadcast from our Middle East programming hub in Abu Dhabi.

As we await another diplomatic phone call between the French and Russian presidents on this UK or Ukraine Russia crisis and that call expected in

the next hour.

One of the major issues looming over the Russia Ukraine standoff is whether the Kremlin will cut the flow of energy to Europe. Now Russia is the

largest supplier of natural gas to the continent and the world's third largest source of oil.

With that in mind, Senior White House officials recently told reporters they are trying to identify alternative sources of natural gas which could

be rerouted to Europe.

Well, this all follows Wednesday's announcement from OPEC. Plus a group of the world's major oil producers which says it's staying with its current

output plan that's even as crude prices hover near seven year highs.

I'm joined now by Amena Bakr, who's Chief OPEC Correspondent and Dubai Deputy Bureau Chief for Energy Intelligence, it's good to have you on. What

I've just delineated there is an energy shock and energy crunch.

And it could potentially get an awful lot worse; we don't know what's going on, in President Putin's mind. So we can't know that there is going to be a

real shock to the energy supply in Europe. But there could be you suggest that Qatar, who Washington have reached out to, is unlikely to come to

Europe's rescue, why?

AMENA BAKR, CHIEF OPEC CORRESPONDENT, ENERGY INTELLIGENCE: It's just a matter of capacity; Becky, Qatar now is producing at its maximum capacity,

which is about 77 to 78. They could push more, of course, but their main customer base and their long term contracts are in Asia.

What we recently reported at Energy Intelligence Group is that Qatar might try to divert some of those cargos to Asia, sorry, from Asia to Europe. But

however, the Asian customers have to agree to this. We don't know if they have approached them yet.

They have long term contracts with them. And they're dedicated to them. So it'll be difficult for pathetic to deliver to Europe. However, last year,

Qatar exported around 17 million tons to Europe, and it could possibly do two to three more this year. But that's still not enough to make up for the

supplies coming from Russia.

ANDERSON: It will certainly be doing Qatar's reputation, no harm to have them sort of, you know, appeal to by Washington, but puts them in play. And

certainly for some of our viewers, they may only be hearing the story of Catherine LNG for the very first time.

Certainly that is not a new story to the Europeans by any stretch of the imagination. So what you're saying is you don't think that Qatar will can

to a certain extent, come to the rescue, certainly not in the short term, long term.

There is an awful lot of business that could be done with the Europeans. If the Europeans and indeed for example Washington you fit.

BAKR: Absolutely, I mean one of the things that Qatar I think would seek at this point in time is to sign long term contracts with Europe.

[11:35:00]

BAKR: And that's something that they will be asking for Qatar is expanding its LNG capacity, it's going to reach 110 million tons by 2025. So that

extra capacity needs to go somewhere.

So you really needs to sign these long term contracts and commits just like Qatar's Asian customers. And this is what they're seeking.

ANDERSON: We've seen a rise or potential rise in energy prices in the UK today, as it what's known as the COVID cap comes off, there's been this

real energy crunch hasn't and ultimately, it's a consumer who has been hurt.

And the concern is that should this situation with Russia and Ukraine deteriorate, that things could get a whole lot worse. OPEC Plus, just

getting on with the thing, as it were, how do you explain what we've heard in the news today?

BAKR: Becky, we're currently facing an environment, which is very, very volatile. We have many factors that are affecting oil prices from

geopolitical tensions to I mean, what you mentioned that the Ukraine situation is at the top of the list, of course. But the Iran deal with the

U.S. and other factors that are contributing that there are--

ANDERSON: Terror attacks here in the UAE -

BAKR: A premium, there's definitely a premium, some even estimate that premium to be about around $10. It's a lot, so all of that is contributing

to the prices that we're seeing. OPEC Plus realize they can't control these factors, what they control is supply.

And at a time of extreme volatility, it's better to keep everything stable. And this is what they're doing. And this is the reasoning behind their

decision to continue the 400,000 barrel increments. Another point, Becky, is that the group's spare capacity is shrinking massively.

It's around 2.5 million barrels, so if they start eating up that spare capacity, everyone's going to look there, and that's going to raise prices

even more. So their hands are tied. This is why they were seeing--

ANDERSON: Are we looking at $100 on the barrel anytime soon?

BAKR: It's definitely aiming in that way, I'm not sure that, I mean, I've heard from some of the OPEC Plus officials, they don't want it to go in

that direction. But it's certainly aiming for 100.

ANDERSON: Why did they not want it to go in that direction?

BAKR: its demand destruction, they do not want their customers to start demanding more. And this is another factor Becky, we haven't still heard

from many of the Asian consumers that current prices when I say current, maybe at 90 is affecting demand. So we're still OK.

However, just today, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke to the Japanese prime minister and express the Japanese prime minister expressed his

concern. And the Crown Prince said that Saudi Arabia is ready to do everything and anything to keep oil prices stable.

ANDERSON: Powerful position to be in.

BAKR: Absolutely.

ANDERSON: It's a pleasure having you on, thank you.

BAKR: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Just had my next guest tells me about her ordeal after she was listed in fake auctions targeting Muslim women, that after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:40:00]

ANDERSON: In the last six months, Indian Muslim women have been targeted twice through apps where they've been listed for fake auction. The first

incident emerged in July last year the second was as recent as January.

All the outrage has prompted quick action. The police are investigating whether this incident is actually part of a larger conspiracy. CNN's Vedika

Sud spoke to two Muslim women about their ordeal and why they think they've been targeted have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Arfa Khanum says she will never forget New Year's Day. Khanum and Indian journalist became part of the

biggest headline in the country. Along with at least 100 other Muslim women including journalists and activists, Khanum's photograph sourced without

her consent, and her twitter handle were posted online, offering her for sale in a fake auction.

ARFA KHANUM, JOURNALIST: I was numb and I can't say I was scared. I was still trying to make sense of what was happening. For several hours I did

not know how to process this, how to kind of internalize it. How to react to it.

SUD (voice over): Khanum says she's been targeted for questioning rising Hindu nationalism under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance.

KHANUM: I feel it is part of their strategy to actually attract those women who are political, who are outspoken who are brave, who are critical of

this government's social, political economic policies.

And women like me who are political journalists who report from New Delhi and report at Narendra Modi's government.

SUD (voice over): 25 year old Khadija Khan, a lawyer and journalist says she was horrified to find details on the same website called bully by, a

derogatory term for Muslim women.

KHADIJA KHAN, LAWYER & JOURNALIST: I realized that the message that they were trying to send is that OK, we will debase you, we will degrade you, we

will humiliate you until you silence or until you carve down.

SUD (on camera): India's Technology Minister tweeted to say the Indian government is working with the police. Within 24 hours the U.S. website

GitHub pulled down the account and suspended it for violating its policies.

India has laws targeting cybercrime, but it does not have a specific legislation against cyber bullying.

SUD (voice over): The Mumbai and Delhi police have made at least five arrests in the case so far. They have been booked under various offenses of

the Indian law, including promoting enmity between different groups on basis of religion or race and outraging the modesty of women.

Speaking to CNN, the lawyer of one of the arrested Michel Jarre says her client is innocent, the accuser yet to enter a plea in court. According to

the Delhi police during preliminary investigations, and accused confessed of being part of a conservative group with the intent to defame and troll

Muslim women. Maharashtra's Information Technology Minister suspects a bigger network behind these crimes.

KAVITA KRISHNAN, ACTIVIST: Movement against the--

SUD (voice over): Activists like Kavita Krishnan, who have been monitoring the probe closely; feel little has been done by Modi's government to secure

the safety of these Muslim women.

KRISHNAN: Of what we are seeing is not a fringe phenomenon, because the silence of the so called mainstream political leadership, the silence of

the Modi regime leadership on what is happening here, repeatedly auctioning Muslim women online. I think that that silence speaks volumes.

SUD (voice over): While investigations continue Khanum and Khan say they don't feel safe as Muslim women in India.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN has reached out to the Indian government, the ruling political party, the BJP for comment on this controversy. We haven't as yet

received a response.

However, speaking to a news agency A&I earlier this month, the countries Minority Affairs Minister said no criminal or communal conspiracy will

succeed against India's composite culture. Well, Afreen Fatima is an activist in India.

She is also one of women who was listed on the apps and she joins me now live. Afreen, if you can just tell us about your experience?

[11:45:00]

AFREEN FATIMA, STUDENT LEADER AND ACTIVIST: Right. So I was listed, my picture was used in July also and as well as on the first of January. And

to say the least, I was numb, I was angry, I was extremely angry. Because the first time around, we tried to outrage over it, we tried to get

attention over it, we tried to file complaints, we got FRIs registered, but nothing really happened.

And when it's repeated, the trauma, the horrific, sleepless nights, they all just came back. So for a moment, I think I was just done by, did not

really know what emotions I was experiencing. But as a Muslim women, I think, for Muslim women who are vocal and whose presence are felt, we face

these kinds of attacks. And all the time, and this is nothing new.

ANDERSON: Sure. I want to bring up one of your recent tweets for our audience. And you say that the targeting of Muslim women is systemic, it's

deliberate, and that these instances are part of the wider anti-Muslim ecosystem as you describe it. Can you just expand on that for us?

FATIMA: Right, so the website that was created to auction off Muslim women is part of the wider anti-Muslim Islamophobic ecosystem, which thrives on

anti-Muslim hate on anti-Muslim bigotry.

And these - the people who are a part of this ecosystem, they enjoy impunity from part of the government. The Nationalist Hindu supremacist

BJP, they in fact, applaud and they salute people who will do crimes like these, and hate crimes are much normalized in India right now.

ANDERSON: Right. You heard me ahead of this interview, "the country's Minority Affairs Minister who said recently, was reported as saying

recently that no criminal or communal conspiracy will succeed against India's composite culture".

When you hear that statement, how does that go down with you? Is that reflective of reality, as far as you're concerned or not?

FATIMA: Is not, it is absolutely not reflective of what is happening. Just today Muslim students were denied entering to their colleges; to their

schools simply because they wear hijab, and Muslims are being discriminated against lynchings are happening.

Hindu community the majority communities organizing congregational programs were calls to pick up arms against the Muslim community to kill too openly

kill Muslims is being given and there's nothing being done about it.

So for someone to say that to applaud the composite culture of India, it's it just seems like a very good dream. It's not a reality of what is it is

not show on ground. There is a massive mass radicalization of the Hindu community.

And the minorities in India are, I'm afraid to say are literally staring at the Chino side that is to follow.

ANDERSON: Thank you for explaining your point of view here and I'm sorry for the experience that you have been through. I appreciate your time with

us here on CNN, thank you.

With China's zero COVID strategy getting into Beijing for the Olympics has been tough for many. CNN Sports Anchor and Correspondent Coy Wire shows us

how his journey to enter the Olympic bubble went, definitely worth a watch, stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:50:00]

ANDERSON: Well, this year is a far cry from how athletes and reporters would normally get ready for the Winter Olympic Games. And once they get

there, strict COVID measures weight them from mandatory daily testing to being cut off from the outside world. My colleague Coy Wire takes us along

his journey to getting there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COY WIRE, CNN WORLD SPORTS (voice over): Beijing 2022, nearly 3000 athletes from 90 nations are going to China chasing dreams. Our journey from the

United States started with an approval process that took weeks, be fully vaccinated, show two negative PCR tests, acquire a green health QR code and

so on.

It's not like anything I've experienced in the U.S. where some places have hardly any COVID protocols. We're headed to one of the most lockdown places

on the planet. Team USA chartered flights for its athletes for the first time ever.

MAAME BINEY, TEAM USA SHORT TRACK SPEED SKATER: I know that I've done everything in my power to not get COVID and I've done everything right.

JAMIE ANDERSON, TEAM USA SNOWBOARDER: I've just been so strict lately. Definitely make things like going to the Olympics. Not as enjoyable.

WIRE (voice over): Our plane ride via Paris was packed with Olympians from France, Brazil, Netherlands, Monaco. This is my neighbor - bronze medal

skier for France at the last winter games. He says these are crazy times no family allowed and one positive test that squash has dream of a second

Olympic medal.

Seeing a flight attendant doing random temperature checks on sleeping fellow Olympians made it even more real. De-boarding a plane being greeted

by people in hazmat suits was a bit shocking like a pandemic paradigm shift.

Everyone here has been exceedingly kind. They take their jobs very seriously. The COVID test upon arrival, it's been called the brain scraper.

And let's just say it's a throw--.

China's zero COVID strategy as a harsh contrast to the packed arenas of screaming mask less fans and other countries. No tickets being sold to fans

here. Athletes are being asked to mask up and not even cheer for their teammates out loud. It's unsettling.

While here you could get a knock on your door at any time with a hazmat messenger revealing you've tested positive. You'd have 15 minutes to gather

your things before being taken away and put on lockdown at a designated isolation facility for an uncertain length of time.

Like Hong Kong's Adri King, one of the Olympians who's already tested positive. They're very serious about COVID protocols here. It's a process

we have to respect.

These Beijing Games are a lot different than the Tokyo Games just six months ago, daily COVID testing being confined to a well-defined closed

loop system. And instead of closed loop, you could say fenced in.

If there's any doubt about how strict Chinese authorities are in regard to preventing the spread of the virus, these heavily branded chain link walls

say it all.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, competition has kicked off earlier today; athletes took part in curling and skiing louche and in hockey. With the opening ceremony

now less than a day away, athletes who have spent years training will soon get to showcase their skills.

Coy spoke to American figure skating hopeful, Nathan Chen about that and his hopes of bringing home a medal. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NATHAN CHEN, TEAM USA FIGURE SKATER: A lot of the things that I've done in my career over these past four years with skating and also being able to go

to school for a little bit. Just being able to put in perspective what it means to compete and to be in the sport and have these opportunities.

I think before I really took it for granted and was like Hey, you know like, I'm just here to compete and here to win. That's all I want to focus

on.

A lot of being able to perform well is results in upon being able to spend time off the rink and recovering and giving you the time to be a human. and

be you know a friend and fill the role that's not an athlete all the time.

Being able to spend time with my friends, my family, hobbies do things that are unrelated to skating. Sort of dress myself physically and mentally has

been really useful.

WIRE: How you balance being this elite athlete but then finding the time to go to Yale and study statistics and data science? And also what was your

time like at Yale?

[11:55:00]

CHEN: Yes, it was awesome. My time at Yale, it was really great to be able to have the opportunity to realize, hey, like sport is really important.

And that's kind of why we're doing all this.

But also, there's a complete other side of life that is available to athletes, you can still succeed in sport, even if you aren't 24/7 thinking

about sport, you know, and I think just being able to have that realization was, was really useful. And I'm really looking forward to going back to

school after in August after these games.

WIRE: At a young age, Nathan, you predicted on television that you are going to be in Olympic? When and how did your Olympic dream begin?

CHEN: I think being able to grow up in Salt Lake City with the 2002 Games were held, just instilled that sort of sense of what the Olympics were all

about, right at the very start of my career.

Everyday going to the rink I pass through the Salt Lake City memorabilia, the cauldron you know, all the rings everywhere. You know, pictures of all

the athletes, all these things, you know if you see that every single day, you're like, dang, it's really cool to be an Olympian.

So I think being able to grow up like that, and then recognize, you know, how, how cool the Olympics were, just gave me the excitement and

inspiration to want to chase those things myself.

WIRE: Both your parents were born in China, for me to the U.S., what do these games mean to you and your family?

CHEN: I mean, it certainly means a lot to us knowing that that's where my parents came from. My parents moved when they were in their, like, late

20s. And you know, realizing that that was only like, some 30 plus years ago.

And then now having the opportunity, you know, to be able to be to be back in their home country. My mom's hometown - Olympics and I still have family

I'm trying to - so it's going to be really special to have that.

WIRE: Team bronze at the last winter games, what would it mean to you to win an individual medal this time around?

CHEN: I mean, so thankful to my team, for getting me that bronze last time, you know, I definitely didn't really pull away so. To be able to win my own

individual medal after that would be would just mean the world to me.

That's why, you know, I've been training so much over my life, it's like, oh, come to the rink every single day and do what I need to do, so that I

can have the opportunities to try my best.

WIRE: Now to get that Olympic gold, one of the people you're going to have to be is two time Olympic defending champions of 10 - what does he meant to

you and what he's meant to this sport?

CHEN: He's done so much for the sport, both just with himself, and then all the things that he's done outside of the range. You know, I think he's just

really, really changed a sport for the better and just to be able to have opportunities to compete against him to be on the same, - eyes and his head

is on at itself.

You know, I've always been a huge fan of him. So to be able to see an idol of yours on the rink, as you're competing is just pretty special. He's

consistently pushing the sport forward. So really special to have competitors like that.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: How gracious he is about his competition, wonderful. It's good to talk sport. Thanks for joining us. "One World" with Eleni Giokos is up

next. Do stay with CNN. Good night.

END