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Connect the World
Diplomatic Progress in Question after New 4-Way Talks; 15-Year-Old Athlete Tests Positive for Banned Heart Drug; Search Underway to Replace Britain's Top Cop; Afghanistan's Economic Collapse Since Taliban Takeover; South Africa's Rhino Population Under Threat from Poaching; AC Milan CEO Talks about Super League Advantages. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 11, 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]
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Welcome back! It's the second hour of "Connect the World". This hour the U.S. President talking to NATO
and European allies about this Russia/Ukraine crisis this a day after warning, "Things could go crazy quickly".
Joe Biden's level of concern about a potential Russian invasion highlighted by news that the White House convened a situation room meeting on Russia on
Thursday night Mr. Biden also telling Americans to leave Ukraine now and other countries giving similar warnings Japan now advising its citizens to
leave immediately and South Korea ordering its citizens to evacuate.
Now these developments happening as diplomatic efforts to end the crisis are facing big challenges. Nic Robertson, connecting us from Moscow tonight
where the UK Defense Secretary has been meeting with his Russian counterpart Natasha Bertrand is in Washington.
I want to start with you Natasha, as the White House convening a situation room meeting on Thursday night on Russia, Ukraine is important President
Joe Biden set to hold a call with NATO and other world leaders this hour. Is there something going on here that we don't know about?
NATASHA BERTRAND, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: There seems to be a new level of urgency to the situation that we have not seen over the last several
weeks, of course, U.S. officials have been engaging in this intensive diplomacy with all of the parties involved, including Russia.
But right now they are just seeing no progress being made in those discussions. And the situation we're meeting last night kind of reflects
the newfound urgency, along with calls to allies overnight. And of course, this call that the president will hold this morning with NATO allies and
European allies, that the feeling among U.S. officials here is that Russia has continued to move forces into that region into the border area with
Ukraine.
They have erected logistical equipment there; they have continued to move weapons into the area, all the while telling U.S. and the West that they
are willing to keep up these negotiations. Obviously, their actions and their words there not matching up in the U.S. is beginning to see new
intelligence that suggests that Russia may be looking to move a bit quicker than previously expected, of course, that White House Situation Room
meeting last night a reflection of how urgent that situation has become.
ANDERSON: Nic, is there any sense of any change in Russia's activity strategy positioning at this point?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: There isn't. I think there was a thought at the beginning of the week expressed by President
Putin after he met with President Macron that perhaps the Minsk talks by the Normandy format that we're going to be held later this week might be an
opportunity.
It was going to be a test, President Putin thought of how much influence President Macron could bring to the diplomatic - to the diplomatic track
and how much influence he would have over the authorities in in Kyiv, in Ukraine.
But the read really later this week has been that, you know, from the Russian side from officials involved in the talks last night, Normandy four
talks was that there isn't really an impact of Western diplomacy. It can't be felt, certainly from the Russian perspective.
And I think what you're seeing today with the British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, meeting with Sergey Shoygu, the his Russian opposite number, a
sense of the same thing. You're Ben Wallace was asked in a press conference just underway a few minutes ago by journalists.
OK, you were in the room with Sergey Shoygu. You looked him in the eyes. And he said to you that he is that Russia is not going to invade Ukraine.
Do you believe him? And Ben Wallace said look, you know, I accept what he's saying. But I'm looking at the facts on the ground 130,000 forces, he said,
arrayed around Ukraine, this is not a normal training posture.
He said this is out of the normal. So he's saying while he's getting that verbal message from the Russian side, the physical message on the ground
isn't tallying up. And to get to your specific point Shoygu saying, look, there's tensions in Europe NATO's to blame you keep putting more weapon
systems inside Ukraine.
And, you know, this is essentially Europe fault here, not us. So that sort of narrative stands there on the weapon side, because of course, Britain
sending weapons to Ukraine as well, the Defense Secretary saying, look, we've been very clear about these weapons.
We've got trainers in there. There'll be coming out soon once the training is done. But these weapon systems all short range, defensive, not there and
not usable to fight over the borders at Russia, so no threat to Russia if you're on your side of the border.
They can only be used short range in a defensive capacity if, in essence, there was an invasion. So diplomatically, there, just - there is not a
closing of the ground diplomatically at the moment Becky.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Natasha this was Joe Biden in an interview with Lester Holt of NBC last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: I've spoken with Putin, I've spoken with every NATO leader, I brought them together like I
think they've never been such coordinated in modern history, NATO leaders about what to do if Putin moves.
The question is he knows he has to know that if he does, the entire circumstance for Russia changes worldwide, changes overnight the cost to
Russia both in terms of reputational cost and economic costs to be profound.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That was Joe Biden Thursday night. He is bringing European and NATO leaders together once again, this hour. Do we have any sense at this
point of the substance of that conversation?
BERTRAND: We believe it'll just be a reiteration among all of the partners of the contingency planning of what is going to happen here if Russia does
make a move and the potential scenarios in which Russia could attack Ukraine because there are many different ways that that could play out?
Now, the U.S. has wanted to coordinate obviously, their military moves with NATO. NATO Secretary General this morning said that the organization is
looking at putting a longer term presence on that Eastern flank. And the U.S. also, of course, has sent thousands of troops to Poland to Germany to
Romania in order to bolster those allies there.
So there's going to be discussions about military coordination, as well as the consequences of Russia's actions here. What are the countries willing
to do in coordination in order to impose those sanctions, those economic penalties that will make the Kremlin suffer here that will actually have an
impact on Russia, and perhaps if they do make a move, then force them to pull back or force them to reenter talks?
At this point, it's less about deterrence, because a lot of officials see that as kind of a, you know, that ship has sailed, and more about what are
the harshest consequences that we can impose on Russia? If it does, in fact, move on Ukraine.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Natasha. Natasha is in Washington. Nic is in Moscow. Let's bring in Fred Pleitgen, who has been speaking exclusively to NATO's
Secretary General. He is in Romania, U.S. troops arriving there to reinforce NATO's eastern flank. What did Jens Stoltenberg tell you, Fred?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there Becky. Well, he's also extremely concerned about the situation it was so
interesting to just hear, Nic Robertson, there saying that one of the reasons why the U.S. believes that the situation has escalated once more,
again, is the fact that Russia apparently appears to be saying one thing.
But the facts on the ground with NATO allies in the U.S. are seeing on the ground seem to tell a different picture and a picture of a possible
invasion. That could happen very quickly. That's also one of the things that Jens Stoltenberg said as well.
He believed that right now with Russia moving more forces in and around or around the area of Ukraine, but especially also with those exercises taking
place in Belarus as well with a large Russian force. There were exercises happening and the posture that they're seeing there, that right now the
situation certainly is one that is extremely dangerous. I want to listen into more of what Jens Stoltenberg had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Russia is increasing both the number of troops but also their readiness and the capability to act and to
conduct aggressive actions on very short notice. So the number of troops is going up while the warning time is going down.
PLEITGEN (on camera): Do you think that there is a chance that Russia will invade?
STOLTENBERG: There is a real danger and we are prepared for many different scenarios so everything from a full-fledged invasion, to smaller scale and
military action, aggression against Ukraine, to subversion and the big cyber-attacks so the thing is to be prepared. But as we prepare for the
worst, we also work strongly for a political and peaceful solution. And it's still possible for Russia to deescalate.
PLEITGEN (on camera): How important is this commitment from the United States to send these reinforcements here to NATO's eastern flank?
STOLTENBERG: I strongly welcome the deployment of more U.S. forces borrowed partly because the United States is by far the biggest ally, and they
contribute thousands of troops, but also because it's of course, sends a very strong message of the Iran - commitment of the United States to NATO
and European security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: As you can see, Becky, a lot of messaging going on, on the part of the United States on the part of NATO as well and of course, Romania and
in fact, the Southeastern Flank of NATO right now so very important because of what's going on in the Black Sea that's an area that NATO is really very
much concerned about.
[11:10:00]
PLEITGEN: But the Russians obviously beef up their forces there on sea and online and in the air as well with some of those forces in Crimea. And I
was actually speaking to some of the American soldiers who arrived recently there 1000 American troops who came in there. And they said that really,
it's about two things for them.
On the one hand, obviously, it is sending that message of deterrence sending a message of assurance, also to the allies. But they also said, of
course, a lot of this is down right down to military training, training between the allies to make sure that if that does come to worse that they
can fight as a united force.
So that's also one of the things why it's so key to have those additional forces down here in this part of Europe for that additional training to
make sure God forbid, that everybody would be would be ready if that comes to worse. Of course, everybody's saying though, especially the NATO
Secretary General saying, right now, diplomacy, the most important thing, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, we get that. But there is a sense of what we often hear termed as readiness. So just explain for the sake of our viewers what
readiness means or looks like?
PLEITGEN: Yes. Yes, you know, you're absolutely right. Readiness is extremely important. And of course, readiness in this case is also part of
that diplomacy. And part of that deterrence as well. Part of it is having those additional U.S. forces down there on the ground, but also additional
NATO forces as well.
It's not just U.S. ground troops that are there. It's of course, keeps also from other NATO nations as well. And some of that also comes down to
additional fighter jets that are being put into the area by other NATO countries, the Germans, the Italians, other countries as well, to increase
the air policing around this area.
The U.S. by the way is going to step that up in a big way as well. And then you have the generally the Eastern countries of NATO who of course, see all
this with a lot of worry Poland, also one of those as well. But we also have some additional American troops that have come in there simply because
right now you have those big exercises going on in Belarus with the Russians.
The Belarusians are amassing those forces not just near Ukraine, but your NATO's border as well Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Bucharest in Romania. Cnn.com has a story up now on new satellite images do appear to show a continuing Russian troop
buildup in Premiere in western Russia and in Belarus cnn.com also, of course, on your CNN app on your smartphone.
Well, the Kremlin says there has been a misunderstanding after a Russian Olympic gold medalist tested positive for a banned substance. Kamila
Valieva failed a doping test in late December before the Beijing Winter Olympics began. But the results were not confirmed until Tuesday a day
after the 15-year-old was part of the team that won gold in women's figure skating.
Now the Russian Olympic Committee and that's the team that these athletes are competing in is not giving up this medal saying it was honestly one won
the International Olympic Committee is taking Valieva to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And Valieva herself training for the women's singles
short program this Tuesday. Selina Wang live for us in Beijing with what is the very latest Selina?
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, it's unclear if Kamila Valieva is going to be able to continue her journey at these Winter Olympics. The
IOC wants her out they are challenging the decision by the runt Russian anti-doping agency to keep her in these games.
It is all going to come down to this urgent hearing where they have to make a quick decision because her next competition is coming up on Tuesday. The
context here Becky, of course is that this is the fourth straight Olympics where Russia has been unable to compete under their national anthem under
their flag because of punishment of state sponsored doping.
And I spoke to the Former Deputy Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency and he said that Kamila Valieva she is a victim of a state system and that
there needs to be real accountability to Russian authorities to make sure that athletes like her have the opportunity to compete clean.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WANG (voice over): A 15-year-old pushing the laws of physics, Kamila Valieva has lit up the world of figure skating, leading a Russian team to
gold on Monday at the Beijing Olympics and honor that could still be taken away after the team tested positive to a banned substance before the games.
The heart medication--
DR. ELIZABETH MURRAY, PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE PHYSICIAN: Well, what this drug does is actually kind of make your heart work more efficiently
and it doesn't change your blood pressure very much or change your heart rate. So an athlete wouldn't get jittery, or necessarily feel all that
different. But they would theoretically be able to perform at a higher level for longer so it would increase their endurance potentially.
WANG (voice over): Confirming the apparent doping violation on Friday the International Testing Agency pointed toward protected status as a minor as
to why they delayed naming her?
[11:15:00]
WANG (voice over): And because she is only 15 it's unclear what kind of penalty she might face if any. Other athletes like men's singles gold
medalist Nathan Chen in the U.S. watching closely.
NATHAN CHEN, U.S. FIGURE SKATING GOLD MEDALIST: Certainly, you know, as athletes you know, you want to be able to have as fair playing field as
possible.
WANG (voice over): In a statement Friday the ITA said the sample that later tested positive was taken on Christmas Day last year in St. Petersburg by
Russian officials and processed in a lab in Stockholm accredited by the world anti-doping agency. But it said the test result was only reported
after Valieva had competed in the team event here.
Almost immediately after the results became known, Russia's anti-doping agency suspended her from their Olympic team, but then overturned that the
next day after she appealed. Now the ITA says the International Olympic Committee is challenging Russia in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
While the Russian Olympic Committee says she's tested negative before December 25 and after arrival in China, and should be able to compete and
claim her team gold medal.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: If people tune in on Tuesday and if she is competing, what a travesty that will be. What a tainted competition
that will be, someone who has tested positive for a performance enhancing drug competing in the Olympics when everyone knows that she has tested
positive. That would be a first.
WANG (voice over): That legal process eating up precious time here at the Olympics, Valieva allowed to practice as her singles event grows closer.
WANG (on camera): All eyes will be on this venue on Tuesday to see if Valieva will be able to take the ice. This doping scandal is overshadowing
the premier event of the Winter Olympics. It's diminishing Valieva's phenomenal athleticism and once again putting the spotlight on Russia's
history of state sponsored cheating.
WANG (voice over): It's no small matter the medals for the team figure skating event. That ceremony has been postponed while we wait to see if
Valieva's team will lose their medals. The RFC says it is taking measures to keep its "honestly one Olympic gold medal". But if they lose it Chen's
U.S. team would move from silver to gold.
CHEN: The medal ceremony is definitely a very special part of the Olympics. And for those that you know, should get a medal, I truly hope that they
can. Just having had the experience in 2018 and being able to be a part of a team collectively standing on the podium together was a really, really
special moment. So you know, whatever happens, but I do hope that we will have this opportunity to share as a team.
WANG (voice over): The ITA warned Friday that a decision on whether the team from Russia keeps its gold medals could take time, and that might not
allow for a team medal ceremony at all.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WANG: And Becky, the Russian Olympic Committee, they are fighting to keep Valieva in these games. She is the star of the games is in history books
already as the first woman to land a quad jump in the Olympic Games.
And we're just learning that from the Russian anti-doping agency, they're actually launching an investigation into Valieva staff. And this is what
they said in their statement that due to the fact that the athlete is a minor RUSADA which is the name of the agency has initiated an investigation
into the athlete's personnel.
The purpose of this investigation is to identify all the circumstances of a possible anti-doping rule violation. Now, the Russian Olympic Committee has
also insisted that Valieva has repeatedly passed drug tests here in Beijing. They want her to continue that competition.
But if she does, there will be outraged that she's allowed to compete despite having not passed this drug test just shortly, weeks before this.
And there will be an outcry that you're having these games, and you're having this competition when it just isn't fair. Becky?
ANDERSON: Selina, thank you, Selina Wang on the story for you. A little later in the show why the CEO of Italian giant AC Milan thinks football
leagues need to change or risk becoming irrelevant. Part two of my sit down with Ivan Gazidis is coming up.
And will run Britain's biggest police force after accusations of racism and misogyny among London Police. Plus the UK's most senior officer --. And
later, meet the heroes trying to save South Africa's rhino population threatened by poaching. You're watching "Connect the World", stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Britain's biggest police force is looking for a new leader. Thursday's surprise resignation of Cressida Dick, London's first female
police chief comes just days after an independent report slammed. The Met as it's known, the Metropolitan Police Service for it calls a culture of
misogyny and racism.
Public Trust in the forces been rocked by the murder of Sarah Everard in London last year at the hands of a serving police officer and the Mets
handling of a public vigil held in her memory amongst other things. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is live for us from London.
And some of the others saying that the Cressida Dick was tone deaf about the deep seated cultural problems in the Met exemplified by last week's
damning report, is that fair?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Well Becky depends on who you ask. If you ask supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, they will tell you it's
absolutely unfair that this is a long overdue resignation. If you ask many young women, many young Londoners who saw that horrific, brutal murder of
Sarah Everard at the hands of a Met Police Officer last year, they'll tell you, yes, this is overdue.
Women have felt unsafe in the city at the very hands of those who have been tasked with their safety. Look, there's a long litany of scandals here that
have eroded public trust in the Met Police Force and ultimately led to this resignation. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): London's top cop is on the way out barely a week after a damning, independent review found a toxic culture of racism,
sexism, and homophobia and bullying at the Met Police. And revealed highly offensive language used on social media platforms by officers at a London
Police Station. The city's Mayor Sadiq Khan says he has lost faith in Cressida Dick's leadership.
SADIQ KHAN, LONDON MAYOR: It's clear that the only way to start to deliver this scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the
top.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): The first woman to lead London's force and in her 40 year policing career in disgrace.
CRESSIDA DICK, METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMISSIONER: The murder of Sarah Everard and many other awful cases recently have I know damaged confidence
in this fantastic police service.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): The brutal kidnap rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer in March last year left many Londoners feeling
scared and unprotected. And the police's handling of a street vigil in Everard's honor showed callousness in the face of anguish and anger,
activists say.
For years critics accused the commissioner of running a systemically racist and sexist police force. The police chief has previously denied
institutional discrimination on the force.
LEROY LOGAN, FORMER METROPOLITAN POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Trust and confidence is the cornerstone of police legitimacy. And you cannot expect
to serve the needs of the public if they don't trust you. They're not going to work in partnership with you.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): That trust was eroded by multiple scandals during Dick's five year tenure as chief. In December, pair of officers were jailed
for taking photos of two murdered sisters, which they shared on WhatsApp.
In 2020, Black Lives Matter protesters demanded the commissioner step down and the Met Police is under fire for being slow to investigate multiple
allegations of partying at 10 Downing Street dorm lockdowns.
[11:25:00]
DICK: I can confirm that the Met is now investigating.
ABDELAZIZ (voice over): As of late January, a police inquiry is now underway to determine if COVID rules were broken under the prime minister's
roof. But the commissioner's resignation is not enough. Activists say radical reform of the Met Police is long overdue.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABDELAZIZ: Becky, as you can see there, there have been loud and consistent in widespread calls for this commissioner to resign. But I think the
question for many activists right now is, is this token gesture? Or is this actually a move, a real indication of possible reform in change within the
Met Police?
And that question is even more important now because there's a lot of politics involved. The London Mayor Sadiq Khan withdrew his support of
Cressida Dick, that's why she was forced to resign.
In the past Prime Minister Boris Johnson has supported her all amid a party gate allegation. Look, many people in this city are wondering is it
politics, or do they mean it this time. Does this mean change? Becky?
ANDERSON: Thank you Salma, one country, two prime ministers, who is in charge of Libya. Ahead we'll look at how the nation can or might resolve
its latest political crisis and freezing temperatures starvation and economic implosion. Afghanistan's perfect storm I take a closer look at how
we got there and where we might go next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back, 28 minutes past eight here in Abu Dhabi. You are watching "Connect the World" from our Middle East programming hub. Libya
has been in political limbo for years and now another crisis on its hands. The parliament in the eastern part of the country has declared a new prime
minister. So fast says the Prime Minister of the interim unity government, who you see here.
He says he will hand over power only to an elected leader. I want to bring in CNN's Jomana Karadsheh who was based in Libya for years. She covered the
country for years, all the way back to the fall of Moammar Gadhafi, who certainly has experience of Libya a long time before that as well.
Look, let's just step back here. On December the 24th, which would have been or was the 70th anniversary of Libyan independence? The people of
Libya were promised an historic election. And they were promised the election of the first ever president of the country - first ever elected
president of the country. But never happened that election and now this, what's going on?
[11:30:00]
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it looks Becky, like we are back on this road to uncertainty and chaos in Libya. And as you mentioned, those
elections not happening, that was really significant.
And I mean you can trace what happening right now backs to that those elections not happening, obviously, for so many different reasons,
disagreements and divisions. Disagreements over the different candidates that were going to run in those elections and whether they were allowed to
or they were eligible to run in these elections.
And the concern was, Becky, when they postponed these elections, no new date was set. And the concern was, we're going to end up in this state of
political limbo, and that some of those who are in power now would try to exploit that to cling on to power.
So the parliament in eastern Libya came out and said, look, the government of national unity was supposed to see the country through elections. It was
supposed to be a transitional government, the elections are not happening.
This government, this Prime Minister, they're done, they need to leave. And unilaterally, they go ahead and they have this vote on Thursday, and they
vote in Fathi Bashagha as a new Prime Minister, it was a questionable vote. Bashagha is a former prime minister in Libya.
And just too again, give you an idea of how complicated the situation is the shifting alliances, Bashagha was leading the forces that were defending
Tripoli, from that offensive when the Libyan General Khalifa Haftar in the east was sending his forces to try and capture the capital.
They were fighting each other, they are allies now, he's got the backing of Haftar. So really, to sum it up, what we're looking at right now is Libya
is potentially looking at a situation where you end up with this crisis of legitimacy.
Two Prime Minister's potentially two parallel governments, Becky, back to where we were a few years ago, Libya went through this. So they're undoing
what has been done over the past couple of years.
ANDERSON: And the elections were supposed to usher in a new period of peace and stability, which at the end of the day, is what Libyan people deserve.
The spokesperson for the Secretary General of the U.N. mission in Libya is issuing a statement saying that he is closely monitoring the situation.
That language is very familiar to us, "and I quote him here, "He also takes note of the vote of the House of Representatives to designate a new prime
minister. The Secretary General calls on all parties and institutions to continue to ensure that such critical decisions are taken in a transparent
and consensual manner".
The statement went on to call for elections as soon as possible. So this is basically not an endorsement, it seems, or is it? What do you make of that?
KARADSHEH: I mean, they're really trying to buy time, I think, to try and figure out what the next step is, because everyone is waiting to see what
the United Nations going to do. You've got a U.N backed government right now, that's in power.
And the U.N. position, the international community's position has always been that you need to keep this government of national unity that is part
of this roadmap that they put in place until elections take place.
And their position has always been, those elections need to happen and that government hands over to new governments. So I think right now, they're not
really saying much. They're not backing either Prime Minister, it sounds to me from that statement. I think they're just waiting to see what's going to
happen next while they try and work it behind the scenes.
ANDERSON: We're lucky to have you in Abu Dhabi. Thank you. Your analysis and insight, particularly on this story is absolutely crucial to us and the
viewers. Thank you.
I want to get back to the Afghanistan story that we were talking about if you were with us last hour. Earlier today, U.S. President Biden signed an
executive order allowing $7 billion of frozen funds belonging to Afghanistan to be distributed equally between humanitarian assistance for
the people of Afghanistan and U.S. victims of the 911 attacks. This is a very important story. So let's take a closer look.
You'll remember these images from last year, U.S. hastily pulling out the Taliban swooping in and desperate Afghans clinging onto planes in a bid to
flee the country. Since then, the Taliban has been trying to consolidate its grip on power. But without the international community's recognizing
them, they face a danger much bigger than anything they saw on the battlefield. Let's take a closer look.
Here's the deal. Afghanistan is heavily reliant on foreign aid to run its economy. No surprise there. The country has been torn by conflict for
decades. And that doesn't help when you want to build or rebuilt a domestic economy. In fact between 70 and 80 percent of the previous government
budget had been funded by international aid mostly from the United States.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Once the Taliban took over all of that money simply vanished. The Biden Administration cut off $9 billion in foreign currency reserves meant
for the central bank. That was back in August.
Healthcare, education, defense, basically every service that keeps the country and its people surviving is gone. Even if you had money in
Afghanistan, you wouldn't be able to take it out of the bank because there is almost no cash circulating in the economy.
Families have been resorting to selling their kids out of desperation. And that is why today's announcement by the White House that seven of the $9
billion will be un-blogged is so important. Here's the caveat, half of that money will never go to Afghanistan.
And the bit that is earmarked for Afghans can in no way go to the Taliban run government, meaning the situation on the ground is not likely to get
any better anytime soon. And that situation is dire.
Christina Lamb is the Chief Foreign Correspondent for The Sunday Times. She's reported on Afghanistan for years. And in a recent article, she wrote
that in her 35 years, as a reporter, she has never seen anything like the crisis happening on the ground in Afghanistan right now.
CHRISTINA LAMB, CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, THE SUNDAY TIMES: People just really struggling because you've got like this perfect storm of the worst
drought in 30 plus years, really freezing temperatures and then a complete economic implosion, or without liquidity, none of this will change.
There won't be work, there won't be jobs. So of course, it is absolutely crucial. And I think honestly, it's a real indictment of the, what the
international community has done here over the last 20 years to leave the country in such a situation that literally people can't survive the moment
that the foreign aid is taken away. That institutions and organizations were not created in a way that the country could sustain itself.
ANDERSON: Well, the recent report from the Norwegian Refugee Council finds that Western sanctions on the Taliban run government are making matters
worse; aid agencies simply cannot get money into the country to fund their operations. And the thing is you don't even need to recognize the Taliban
to do so.
LAMB: I understand that it's really difficult to deal with the Taliban after 20 years of fighting them and all that they represent and the
repression of human rights. I don't think anybody is advocating recognizing the Taliban, but they are the only government on the ground. If you want to
do anything here, you're going to have to engage with them.
ANDERSON: So I put all of this to the man in charge in Washington, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan, Thomas West. He says they had made
it clear to the Taliban that if they took power by force, that they couldn't expect the same level of support. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS WEST, U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AFGHANISTAN: I think it would have been unreasonable to expect the international community, the United
States, UK, Germany, Japan, other critical donors to turn on a dime and begin immediately bankrolling a Taliban run government. And I think that
would have been unreasonable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, he says he's now working hard to find a way to fix what this banking crisis is and to get cash into the economy? And he's right,
look, he's been meeting with loads of different international actors, but robust diplomacy isn't going to feed Afghan families who are starving right
now. So I'll say more he will do as a tangible step to tackle this crisis now. Now, in February 2022.
WEST: The scale of the crisis underway, Becky, again, it's not something that even the international community can fix overnight. It's simply not.
What we're talking about trying to fix is a $9 billion hole in an economy.
It's a banking sector that is broken, very largely because big foreign banks are not going to engage with - banks while the Taliban is in charge.
That's not something I can hit a switch on and fix it simply not.
ANDERSON: OK, fair enough. But does the U.S. have any responsibility here. What do you have done anything differently?
[11:40:00]
WEST: Some absolutely, yes, absolutely. But again, I think that responsibility is more. I, you know, I'm just not interested in blame. I'm
really not. And I understand the - of questioning. And I think it's interesting to viewers.
But what we all need to do is focus on solutions. How do we get more cash in the economy safely and responsibly to your point? How do we ensure that
humanitarian actors can do what they need to do?
How do we ensure that women and girls can go to school that teachers get paid? How do we ensure that 500,000 civil servants eventually go back to
work? That's what I'm focused on, not looking backwards.
I do wish that we had pushed Kabul and the authorities in Kabul, I think, a little harder to compromise on some of their fundamental concerns. I wish
we had pushed even harder than we did. And I'm not saying we didn't push.
But for a force consolidation plan that might have had the Afghan military survive and continue for longer. I wish we'd had a plan in place a better
plan for the Afghan Air Force for its sustainment. But I also wish we had pushed the Taliban even harder than we did. I think there were certainly
steps we could have taken that, that in retrospect, we probably shut up.
ANDERSON: But we are where we are, folks, the Taliban is in charge. And without a significant injection of foreign funds and fast, millions of
Afghans will be left wondering where their next meal will come from.
LAMB: To find a way to deal with this situation, we can't just say we're not going to - do anything - because it's not that that are really the ones
suffering. Or if anybody thinks that the Taliban government is just going to go away because the international community is frozen its asset, so I'm
afraid that they're under a misapprehension. That isn't going to just what it will mean is more and more people will be starving.
ANDERSON: In 2022 we should be able to do better than this. That is my closer look. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: South Africa's anti-poaching patrols are on a mission to save what they love. Have a look at this. Environmental officials say there's
been a surge in Rhino killings recently. And authorities say the patrols trying to keep rhinos safe desperately need the return of tourist dollars
to pay for conservation efforts. CNN's David McKenzie is in South Africa's Kruger National Park for you and he joins us now live. What are you seeing?
What are you hearing?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, it's extraordinary the efforts that are happening to try and stabilize the rhino population. Here
in Kruger National Park, this is the stronghold of rhinos. It's really in the long term potentially one of the safe havens of this Keystone animal,
but it's been hammered in recent years from poaching, we went inside the effort to save them.
[11:45:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE (voice over): An aerial operation. A wildlife vet readies powerful - dots to save an iconic giant even dragged its 5000 pounds of raw power.
LUFUNO NETSHITAVHADULU, WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN: Whenever they are down, we need to be careful because she sort of put them in a border of death. So
you just need to be to keep the balance and make sure that on go to the other side.
MCKENZIE (on camera): That is to do everything to keep the rhino calm, not to make this that traumatizing. But it's extraordinary what anything to do
here to make these rhinos safe.
MCKENZIE (voice over): They're removing the rhino's horns, this doesn't hurt the animal, but it may save its life. Illegal poaching syndicates,
target rhinos for their horns, they sell for tens of thousands of dollars in Asia, take away the horn, take away the incentive to poach.
MCKENZIE (on camera): What does it feel like that you have to take this extraordinary step to actually change the way animal looks --?
ROBERT THOMSON, SECTION RANGER, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: Yes for me, it's terrible because it's not really a runner at the end of the day, taking
that piece of it, which makes it sort of prehistoric. For the species to survive, we have to do at the moment.
MCKENZIE (voice over): That survival is far from assured. New figures show that in the past decade, Kruger National Park lost around 70 percent of its
white rhino, mostly to poaching.
MCKENZIE (on camera): What is the consequence if you get this wrong?
CATHY DREYER, HEAD RANGER, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: So, if we get this wrong, the consequences no Rhino in Kruger which for us is really not an option.
We know that we don't have another 10 years of looking after Rhino if we don't turn things around.
MCKENZIE (voice over): Her team is up against this. COVID-19 drove away tourists collapsing the parks revenue stream. Forensic teams like this one
are under-funded and they know that in many cases, a poached Rhino represents a generational loss. Often baby rhinos like a - would have died
alongside their mother. Petronel Nieuwoudt hadn't stepped in to raise them by hand.
PETRONEL NIEUWOUDT, CARE FOR WILD RHINO SANCTUARY: Just look at them. You know, why do you want to not save them? You know, they stay here for 50
million years. And now on our clock, we can't save them.
MCKENZIE (voice over): It's like a giant vacuum cleaner. There we go, almost done almost done. Oh, all finished. Their aim is to get all of these
rhinos even when they come here as young orphans back into the wild and look at this crush of them together like this. They're socializing learning
how to be rhinos, even teaching the very youngest like two month old Daisy.
She's made an unusual friend, as zebra called --. Daisy arrived barely able to walk. In rhinos, the will to live is strong. But we are failing them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE: We got to feed Daisy and what a lovely animal it is. And you look at the amount of effort just to save one orphan shows you the amount of
effort they're putting into save rhinos in general.
And here in Kruger National Park, you get the sense that the ranges and the team here is very committed. They're using new strategies like smart
cameras and aerial spotting and more targeted range of patrols here in the part of the park, where there's a concentration of rhinos, but that COVID
related shortfall of funding is really a massive issue for them.
They need money, they need support and the hours they're putting in and the passion they show isn't enough. They need the help to save the species.
Becky?
ANDERSON: Is there some optimism that we are coming out of this crushing COVID era at this point, and that tourism will take up and with it. Those
dollars will be back helping these conservation efforts, David?
MCKENZIE: Well, you just look at the pictures in our story and the scene behind me on the Saudi River. This is a world class destination. So you
can't imagine the tourists will be back.
But those two years of COVID not just here in Kruger National Park, but in parks across the continent have really suffered. And I've been speaking to
a lot of people over the past many months about this. They need that support and that gap in the funding needs to be filled.
[11:50:00]
MCKENZIE: And with outage you can lose years of progress in terms of working on saving the species in getting communities engaged in helping the
natural world. It's a tall order, but there is a sense of optimism that maybe the worst is over, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, and apologies for this distortion on David's mic, but it's good to have you. It's good to have you out on folk Kruger Park. It's an
important story. And we're glad you're on it. David, thank you all.
Well, taking football to new frontiers. AC Milan's Chief Executive shares why the next World Cup in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Qatar is key in growing
what many call the beautiful game.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, we are just two days away from the big game that is the Super Bowl the Los Angeles Rams hosting the Cincinnati Bengals for the NFL
championship. Game official say will bring in half a billion dollars for local businesses and advertisers who've paid a record $7 million for each
32nd ad spot.
You're looking at the state of the art venue in LA SoFi stadium itself worth five and a half billion dollars. Well now as many of you know, we
like our football on this show. Football otherwise known as soccer and this year is going to be a big year for the sport in this part of the world.
Global stars have flocked here to Abu Dhabi this week to take part in the FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea will take on Brazilian side pan the era's - on
Saturday in the final. Well, later in the year, all eyes will be on Doha as Qatar hosts the 2020 World Cup.
These are massive events drawing in thousands of fans and millions of dollars in revenue. And it's that cash many say that's at the heart of
calls to for example hold the World Cup every two years rather than every fall.
And for controversial plans to revolutionize European club football with for example, a Super League for the super-rich clubs. Will I put that more
to Ivan Gazidis, the Chief Executive of AC Milan? Take a listen to what is the second part of our recent discussion.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN GAZIDIS, CEO, AC MILAN: The reality of football is that the Premier League continues to be just an engine. It has a first mover advantage. It
is in effect the world's Super League at the moment. But the other leagues cannot simply sit and accept that state of affairs you know because
otherwise they'll be on a long path towards irrelevancy.
ANDERSON: So this idea of a European football, Super League, with or without premier clubs has not gone away to your mind.
GAZIDIS: The issues that created the Super League have not gone away. Those issues in the game have not gone away. The issues that the disparities that
we see in the game, the cliffs that we see in the game that provide tremendous financial peril for football clubs make it very, very difficult
to plan provide a lot of excitement, but actually do a lot of damage at the same time.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: The World Cup is a trophy tournament for the game, the trophy tournament, of course for the game. FIFA is discussing hosting the FIFA
Men's and Women's World Cup every two years. What do you think of that idea; do you think it would improve the game around the world?
GAZIDIS: I'm not in favor of it. But what I do think is many of these types of ideas are quite complex discussions. Because this involves the
international match calendar, how we break up league play, because at the beginning of the seasons, you know, league players interrupted constantly
by these international breaks.
So it's quite a nuance and complex conversation, again, that doesn't only involve Europe, it involves the world.
ANDERSON: You know, Austin being very, very well, he managed the club that you ran for a very long time, he is in favor of this.
GAZIDIS: Austin's a very intelligent person who really thinks about what is good for the game, who has a global perspective. And you know, I think it's
a mistake to dismiss something that Austin is thinking very, very deeply about.
ANDERSON: AC Milan has a very special relationship with the city of Dubai with the UAE and with this region. It is this region that will for the
first time host the World Cup at the back end of this year in Qatar, Qatar 2022. How important is it that that event is held here and is a success?
GAZIDIS: The World Cup is such a powerful event. And it really has the ability to not just bring the world together, but to provide real impetus
within the sport within a region; it can revitalize and show recognition and acknowledgement for a region.
So I think it's going to be a very important sport for the region --sorry, event for the region and for the sport. But I also think it's an important
acknowledgement of the world of football of the importance of the Middle East to the game and future of the game.
You know, I know there was a lot of controversy around the granting of the competition here. But competition has to go to new Frontiers, it has to.
And that's a part of the growth of the game and again, it's a part of a global vision for the game.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ivan Gazidis with his thoughts in what was a two part interview, find the other part of that online. It's a good stuff. Well, whether you
are watching European or American football this weekend, stay safe. Stay well. Thank you for joining us wherever you are watching in the world, we
as a team will see you after the weekend.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
