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Chicago Protesters Call for Mayor's Resignation; Interview with U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon; Army Vs. Navy: 116th Edition Kicks Off Saturday. Aired 6:30-7a ET

Aired December 11, 2015 - 06:30   ET

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

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[06:30:17] POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Protesters keeping up the pressure on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, but there is no sign the embattled politician has any intention of stepping down. Many still suggesting, is he covering up police misconduct in his city?

CNN correspondent Rosa Flores live in Chicago with the latest.

Rosa, you've been there all week as these protests broke out en masse on Wednesday. They continued last night. They're calling for him to step down. But this is not a man that goes silently.

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're absolutely right, Poppy. I mean, for the past two weeks we've seen this mayor ask two officials to resign. First of all, the superintendent of police, he stepped down and also the head of the Independent Police Review Authority.

Now, that is the authority that investigates all officer- involved shootings. But like you mention, protesters, they are not happy. They still want more. Yesterday, 75 to 100 protesters hit the streets here in Chicago, asking for the mayor to resign.

For the past two weeks, like you mentioned at the height of these protests, about 200 protesters have been going up and down the streets of Chicago asking for the mayor to resign. Now, three legislators have co-sponsored a bill that could start that process. Of course, that bill has to go through the legislative process.

And now, even a presidential hopeful decided to step in. Ben Carson calling the Laquan McDonald case disturbing -- Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Rosa, thank you very much.

So, in terms of what's going on in the war against is, who's going to bring the fight? We now know the U.K. is but they're also going to be coordinating with Russia. What does that mean? British defense officials are agreeing to cooperate with Russia in Moscow. They had a meeting there.

So, what's going to happen with this alliance? How's it going to work? What's the plus, what's the minus? We're going to hear the answers from somebody who knows very well. Britain's defense secretary joins us next.

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[06:36:10] CUOMO: Important news on the war front. The U.K. has agreed to coordinate with Russia in the fight against ISIS. What are the pluses and the concerns?

Let's ask someone who knows, Michael Fallon, the defense secretary for the United Kingdom.

Mr. Secretary, thank you for joining us. What can you tell us about the progress of U.K. bombings and why you believe it is important to coordinate with Russia?

MICHAEL FALLON, BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY: Well, first of all, the U.K. is stepping up to the fight against ISIL. We've already been flying strike missions in Iraq for over a year now, providing surveillance and reconnaissance. Parliament decided last week to include Syria in the strikes because it is Syria where ISIL is headquartered from where their terrorism is directed and inspired.

Now, our prime minister recently met Mr. Putin to review the position in Syria. We've had official level talks since then. Yesterday in Moscow to try and persuade Russia to exercise a more constructive role in Syria, to stop attacking those groups that are opposed to Assad and the Assad regime and to start working with everybody else to a future for a new Syria without the dictator Assad.

CUOMO: What do you make of concerns about coordinating with Russia that it may do more harm than good?

FALLON: That it may be what?

CUOMO: That it may do more harm than good. It may upset the process more than advance it?

FALLON: Well, we have agreement now between most of the parties involved, that there has to be a new settlement in Syria that can lead to elections. We had an important conference in Saudi Arabia yesterday, involving most of the opposition groups, planning their way towards a more pluralist Syria that excludes Assad.

Now, Russia needs to be part of that, needs to stop fueling the civil war and needs to work together with us for a better future for Syria so that we can focus on the real menace in the air, the real danger, which, of course, is ISIL.

CUOMO: Russia now saying the coalition must also coordinate with Damascus, meaning Assad, in terms of fighting against ISIS in Syria. Is that something the U.K. will agree to?

FALLON: There can't be a future for Syria with the dictator Assad being there. He's been responsible for murdering his own civilians, for barrel bombing those groups opposed to him and hundreds of thousands have died in this civil war. We need to bring that to a close before we can then focus all our efforts on ISIL.

But we shouldn't wait. We can still be carrying out air strikes against the infrastructure of ISIL in northeast Syria and we're doing that now. And British strike aircraft are part of that operation, which I'll be reviewing with your defense secretary, Ash Carter, later today.

CUOMO: Do you see a scenario where the U.K. would put boots on the ground?

FALLON: No. We said Western boots here are not the answer.

In Iraq, too, the government there made it clear. They don't want British or even with respect, they don't want American troops doing their fighting for them. We have to re-assure the Sunnis, particularly, that the security that they need is provided locally by forces that they trust. Now, in Iraq, you've got the Iraqi army, starting to make progress. We need to see the same in Syria, eventually we need to see some ground force of Syrian troops that has the support of the local population ensuring that where ISIL had driven out that they don't come back.

CUOMO: Two other quick points. Borders have become a big issue in and around Europe in terms of how you control the movement of people. Obviously, the U.K. has geographical advantages in that regard. What do you think needs to happen with border crossings within Europe?

FALLON: Well, we all need, I think, to look to our homeland security and be sure that our processes are in place, to stop foreign fighters coming back, people who have gone out to Syria, returning to countries in Western Europe, including Britain, to commit terrorist offenses there.

[06:40:14] We've seen the appalling shootings in Paris and you've seen the same in Bernardino.

So, we need to control the movement of foreign fighters. We need to pool more intelligence, particularly airline passenger information and we need to ensure, too, that arms are not being moved too easily throughout Europe's borders.

We're fortunate in Britain. We're outside the European border arrangements. We have our own border controls in place. But we can all do more to share intelligence between us.

CUOMO: The intelligence sharing is a big point. Lastly, and the political dialogue going on in America right now, London has become relevant. It was used as an example by the top candidate here for the GOP, that there are no go zones in London, that officers are afraid, that they are told not to wear their uniforms when on patrol.

Can you substantiate or correct any of this?

FALLON: Look, I'm a visitor in New York. I'm not going to get involved in our political process.

But I can say something about London. I've lived in London for over 40 years. There are no no-go areas in London. London is a safe city and welcomes visitors and those coming over from the United States to work in our city.

So, those comments were wrong. I want to reassure you on that. There are no no-go areas in London.

CUOMO: All right. Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for joining us. Good luck in the efforts.

FALLON: Thank you.

HARLOW: Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl speaking publicly forever the first time about why he left his post in Afghanistan and the Americans lives lost searching for him. You will hear from him directly, why, he says, he abandoned his platoon, when NEW DAY returns.

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[06:45:49] CUOMO: Ted Cruz making a move, surging into second place in a new national poll, coming out swinging against number one, Donald Trump, at least privately.

How do we know?

Tapes obtained by "The New York Times." In them, the Texas senator says he respects Donald Trump and Ben Carson but neither one should be the GOP nominee. Meanwhile, will Trump's own party let him win the nomination? Is it up to them?

There's now talk of a brokered convention. Could that happen?

Just minutes, we're going to talk with presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. She's going to join us live to discuss all this and where she is in the polls.

Pop?

HARLOW: Two Louisiana police officers this morning indicted on murder charges in connection with a fatal shooting of a 6-year-old boy. You're looking at Darryl Stafford and Norris Greenhouse Jr. right there. They started firing at a car, the car the father was driving after a chase. Jeremy Mardis died from multiple shots to his head and his chest.

CUOMO: The governor of Connecticut is planning to shut down gun sales in his state to anyone on the no fly list. That's Governor Dan Malloy. And he says this is a no-brainer, that he was horrified by the recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino and that Connecticut is going to be the only state to do this right, all by itself without Congress helping them, although a lot of callings for this on the national level.

HARLOW: And Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl explaining publicly for the first time why he walked away from his army unit in Afghanistan, a move that could land him life in prison. In a new "Serial" podcast he reveals he wanted to send a message about poor leadership but quickly, within minutes, he realized he made a mistake. Then he said he decided to be like the fictional spy Jason Bourne.

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BOWE BERGDAHL: I was trying to prove to myself, prove to the world, that anybody who used to know me, that I was capable of being that person. Twenty minutes out, I'm going, "Good grief, I'm in over my head. When I get back to the FOB, they're going to hit me with everything they can."

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HARLOW: You know, Bergdahl spent five years in Taliban captivity before the White House traded five Taliban prisoners for him.

CUOMO: The 116th meeting of Army/Navy take place tomorrow. We've got Coy Wire in Philadelphia.

Everybody knows Coy. This is way more than a game, boy. Love watching them. What have you got?

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Chris, this is one of the most iconic revered, outstanding, commanding and enduring rivalries in all of American sports. It dates all the way back to the year 1890. And this game represents all the very best of college football.

It's about leaving your heart and soul out on the field for the man standing next to you, earning his trust and fighting for him. For these players, it's something they'll continue to do after their playing days are over. As they are the future defenders of our nation. Just as this event is more than a game, Keenan Reynolds is more than just a football player. He's an inspiration.

Let's take a look at this young man's course list that he's taken here -- financial analysis, national security decision making in the cyber age, not you run of the mill average ordinary course list for a football player. This is a guy is an outstanding difference maker, a dedicated future defender of our nation.

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KEENAN REYNOLDS, NAVY'S ALL-TIME RUSHING LEADER: It's big, the courses that we take kind of priming us for what we need to be successful as leaders.

WIRE: When you hear about what happened in Paris and now in San Bernardino, California, does that move you?

REYNOLDS: It definitely reminds you of why you're really here, the bigger commitment that you've made to serving your country and the evil that we're out to protect. So, I think it's a centering thing.

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WIRE: Now, tomorrow, in one of our nation's most spectacular spectacles, Keenan will be the center of attention and he and his fellow servicemen will play for the love of the game, the love of each other and the love of our nation in one of the greatest traditions we have here in the U.S. in the Army/Navy game.

Poppy, back to you.

HARLOW: Lucky you're going to be there. A lot of us will be watching from home. Thank you.

What is the future, the future of Rahm Emanuel as mayor of Chicago?

[06:50:01] Following mass protests on the streets of his city this week, will he survive the mounting pressure? And how can change really come for the people of Chicago? That's next.

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HARLOW: Demonstrators taking to the streets of Chicago again on Thursday, calling for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel for his handling of several deadly police-involved shootings.

Can the mayor survive these calls? And what changes actually need to be made in Chicago to repair that critical trust that's clearly been broken between the police department and the citizens?

Joining me now to discuss, CNN law enforcement analyst, NYPD retired detective, Harry Houck, and CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill.

Guys, thanks very much for being here.

HARRY HOUCK, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Good morning.

HARLOW: Good morning.

MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Pleasure.

HARLOW: Let's listen, because look, we have -- let me read the way "The Washington Post" puts it.

[06:55:00] "In a sense, the whole world seemed to know what Emanuel didn't seem to want to admit up front, the Chicago police department has a problem.

That was then. Let's listen to him now speaking, this week, very candidly.

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MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL (D), CHICAGO: My voice is supposed to be for those who are powerless, to make sure their voice matters as much as those who are in power or have power. We were adding to the suspicion and distrust and I did not fulfill the job in the magnitude of being a mayor.

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HARLOW: OK. Some may say we're glad to hear it. Some may say, too little, too late. Marc Lamont Hill, where do you fall on this, as you look at the people of Chicago and what they need most?

HILL: Well, I think the people of Chicago need good leadership, but they also need structural change. Changing the face of Chicago, changing the leader or making a new business manager of the same corrupted reality isn't going to make much of a difference.

So, removing Rahm Emanuel, yes, it's a good symbolic gesture. It may help animate the base. I don't oppose it. I think it's actually a good move. I think it's time for Rahm Emanuel to go.

But I don't want us to confuse the replacement of Rahm Emanuel or the removal of Rahm Emanuel with actual structural changes. If we want to fix policing in that city and crime and corruption in that city, we need a whole lot more than a new mayor.

HARLOW: Harry, you've spoken about this extensively. First of all, it's not just about removing him easily. This is -- first of all, Rahm Emanuel is not someone who goes quietly at all. I think you have to think about the vacuum or who takes his place, right, the future, not just getting one person out. Who's going to do a better job?

You say it comes down to community policing. And I think when people hear that, they think, of course, it's just another line people throw out. You're a big believer in it. What does it actually mean and how expensive is it?

HOUCK: All right. First of all, community -- you know, the police department isn't the only problem in Chicago. I mean, that's a step for the police department to be able to go out there and start community policing.

Now, community policing means you put a police officer -- I've done this -- on a beat of four or five square blocks and let him get to know everybody. I know it works because I did it myself in a black neighborhood in Irvington, New Jersey, where I was a cop. They assassinated a white cop on my beat two years earlier also.

So, the fact that I went out there and I got to know everybody, what happened is I almost solved every crime on my beat. People need to know the police officer, all right? This is a start.

But the crime is so bad in areas of Chicago that even if you change a police commissioner tomorrow, right, new superintendent, maybe some new chiefs, police have got to go in there and aggressively go after the criminals, because until that crime is down to a -- down to a lower amount inside Chicago, no business is going to come in. Who's going to open a business when the crime is out of control in the inner city Chicago?

HARLOW: There have been big companies that have opened up factory on the south side of Chicago, trying to go against the grain.

But, Marc Lamont Hill, let's talk specifically about the Laquan McDonald video and the fact that the city paid out $5 million to the McDonald family before anyone saw that video publicly. This question of -- I asked one of the surrogates for Rahm Emanuel this week, when did he see the video? She told me when the rest of you saw it, when the media saw it.

But the question really becomes when should he have seen it? But also, doesn't it become, should someone have been asking the city, as mayor, you know, why are we paying this family $5 million? What happened?

HILL: Of course. I don't doubt they just saw it. To your point, the question is why did they just see it?

There's something called willful ignorance. There's something called plausible deniability. They didn't see it because they didn't want to be accountable for it.

But when you pay $5 million to a woman who hasn't even filed a lawsuit yet, it smells bad. Any leadership would ask, why is this happening?

It's not just a Rahm Emanuel problem. I agree with Harry on this. I think it's a law enforcement problem, I think it's a structural economic problem. There's a range of problems.

But when you see something like this happened with Laquan McDonald, it makes you wonder about a deeper layer of corruption in the city. You don't ask these questions if no one is paying attention, number one. And number two, you don't ask these questions if you're running for mayor.

A good question could be if this comes out a year ago, does Rahm Emanuel win the election?

HARLOW: Harry Houck, to you.

HOUCK: Well, I tell you, I think that, you know, like you said, Rahm Emanuel does need to step down and the city council also needs to step down here. There's a big problem here.

HARLOW: Let's be realistic. Not so much in the cards.

HOUCK: And not much is going to happen, I can tell you right now. Not much.

The people inside Chicago got to start looking at who they vote for, all right? These people that live in the inner city ought to get together, start their own tea party or something, all right, and get out there and vote for the right people that will come in and take care of the inner city.

How much money, you know, went to different parts of that city and they took all these programs away from the kids, basketball programs, baseball programs, all these programs that helped kids get off the street? That's what they need to do.

But the problem is like mark said, the problem is so large, where do you start?

HARLOW: Yes, we've got to start somewhere. I have to leave it there. It's important. We'll keep talking about it.

Marc, thank you. Harry, thank you very much.