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New Day Saturday

Officers Gather to Salute Fallen Colleague; Turkey Requests Meeting with Russia; Security Concerns in Paris Ahead of Climate Summit; Carson Visits Jordan to Meet Syrian Refugees; Pope Francis Meets Uganda's Youth. Aired 7-8a ET

Aired November 28, 2015 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:02] CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: But we do want to wish you a good morning. It is Saturday. I'm Christi Paul.

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Always good to be with you. I'm Victor Blackwell.

Let's go to Colorado, police are mourning a fellow officer this morning, gathering to salute Officer Garrett Swasey. His body was transported here as the officers pause to honor him.

PAUL: The officer was then gunned down yesterday in an attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs. He was one of six officers shot. Five others were treated at a local hospital, four other people were wounded.

BLACKWELL: We now have the name of this shooter, Robert Lewis Dear, 59-years-old. Witnesses describe him as having a cold stoned face. That's a quote. He is in custody as investigators really try to figure out why he did this.

Stephanie Elam is live for us in Colorado Springs this morning.

What are you learning about this investigation? I know it's still early.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is still early. Good morning, Victor and Christi.

But you're talking about a six-hour standoff just down the road here behind us yesterday that dragged on and threatened so many people, hurt so many police officers, and left three people dead.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just took fire to the window. One of the .S.O. guys got hit in the leg. He's code 4, we're going to extract him.

Once they extract this guy, you might be able to get a sniper shot through this open window. He's just shooting indiscriminately through the walls and that's how we got it. ELAM (voice-over): Tense moments at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs as two civilians and a police officer are killed in the nearly six-hour standoff. It ended when the gunman finally gave up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did get officers inside of the building at the Planned Parenthood, and the officers were able to shout to the suspect and made communication with him. And at that point, they were able to get him to surrender. And he was taken into custody.

ELAM: One of the dead, 44-year-old Officer Garrett Swasey, worked for the University of Colorado. He apparently rushed to the scene from the campus ten miles away. Two more victims have not been identified. Five police officers and four other civilians were injured in the attack, including one man who was waiting in a parked car.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was aiming at me and I just hit the gas. He started shooting. I was looking at his face. The shots entered the glass and then I started bleeding.

ELAM: A law enforcement official confirms to CNN that the suspected gunman is 59-year-old Robert Lewis Dear. Bomb experts are making sure he didn't leave behind any explosive devices inside or outside the clinic.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Once the suspect was taken out of the building, our process is to go through and clear the building room by room and then we turn it into a crime scene.

ELAM: And as the investigation into his motive goes on, police are being credited with saving lives by using security cameras to keep track of the gunmen and those trapped inside.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The officers were monitoring movement within the building on security cameras and communicating to the officers who were in the building and it was the most incredible work on behalf of officers trying to minimize the number of fatalities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM: And when you take a look at the nine people who were injured, those five police officers and the four civilians, we understand that they are all in good condition and they are all expected to survive -- Victor and Christ.

BLACKWELL: We heard from Lieutenant Buckley there that they had to go through this building and kind of look at these items as she described them. Do we know they have cleared all of these items and if any were, indeed, explosives?

ELAM: No, we don't know yet what they've been doing here all night, if you think about this happened around noon yesterday. And they are still clearing it out. They're still pretty having police precincts, but we do get the impression that they're starting to open up parts of this area, that they're going to try to open up this street, which would imply they are clearing out a lot of the area. They just have not told us that as of yet.

BLACKWELL: All right. Stephanie, we'll check back. Thank you so much.

PAUL: We also heard from some of the victims in yesterday's shooting, including this man who said the killer looked right at him before firing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OZY LICANO, SHOT BY COLORADO GUNMAN: You know, I saw a man crawling to the front door and I saw the class if shatter and he crawled into the entryway, and I saw this other fellow come behind him and shoot down and up and walk into the entryway and I just kind of lost it there.

I tried to get out of my car and run. I thought about that. I said, no, got back in the car, started it, put it in reverse, started backing out, and then he was in front of me and he was aiming at me. And I just hit the gas and he started shooting.

[07:05:-01] And I was looking at his face. I think I had ten seconds, five-to-ten seconds to look at him. To try to remember who he was, why he was doing that or whatever and then the shots came through the glass and I started bleeding.

Because I was looking at him, I saw blood. I didn't know if it was coming from my neck or my lip or what. I thought about it. One, two, like five seconds we stared at each other and in that five second period, those bullet holes went through my windshield and the brood and four second later, I think I saw his vehicle with the dark looking, SUV with the front door opened, drivers side, I started getting away, I heard him shooting some more at me then I made it through. I never experienced anything like that before and at the time I wasn't scared, I was more angry and I don't know why.

That's what's bothering you the most -- what the other people are going through. I can't imagine. There's a lot of women in there, very innocent people. I just felt helpless, that's all.

I don't want to feel helpless. That's why I was angry, I guess. It's not right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: A big story there from one of the victims of that attack yesterday. Again the gunman Robert Dear now in custody, investigators are, of course, trying to figure out the motive behind yesterday's attack.

We got with us, CNN law enforcement analyst and former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes. Also, HLN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson.

First question to you, Joey, a legal one. When and how do the authorities here in Colorado elevate this from a shooting, a hostage six to domestic terror?

JOEY JACKSON, HLN LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning, Victor.

That depends upon the motivations as a practical answer, then there's the technical answer. From a practical perspective, there are as we know now, believe to know, three people dead, so call it what you will, the fact is that the arm of the law will come down on him harshly and although Colorado's a death penalty state, they haven't executed a person in 40 years. Another issue, but just to be clear from a practical perspective, he'll be charged with serious and heinous crime likely spending the rest of his life in jail.

From a technical perspective, when you look at issues of terrorism, you look at answers that relate to what your motivations are. What were you attempting to do? Were you trying to influence or are you trying to coerce, based upon your religions, your ideological or your political point of view.

We don't know, you know, at this point exactly what he was doing in terms of the Planned Parenthood. But if you get to those motivations and you see that he was, in fact, doing that, and engaging in coercive question behavior, then you could certainly elevate it. But make no mistake about it, Victor, no matter the label you place upon it, the punishment will be harsh in terms of the justice that's exacted upon him.

PAUL: So, Tom, this man surrendered after nearly six hours. Probably something people didn't anticipate would happen. How likely do you think it is that he will talk to police, if he will give a motive willingly?

TOM FOREMAN, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, Christi, I think even whether he talks to him or not. They should be able to put together a pretty good profile of him just talking to family friends, co-workers, looking at social media, if he has it.

But certainly, his phone traffic, who he has been calling and they will go interview the people who called, especially in the recent past to just determine if this is an organization, if he's a mart of a group motivating each other to go ahead and do an attack like this during the investigation, we should get a pretty good idea of what was in his head.

As Joey mentioned, trying to prove terrorism, trying to prove ideology that that's the exact reason that he did it just adds another element beyond trying to prove first degree murder, which they already have in this case.

BLACKWELL: Tom, we understood from Stephanie Elam, who's there live in Colorado Springs, that there is this clearance of the building that is happening so many hours after Dear left the building, after he surrendered. Walk us through what is happening this morning, and if likely they will be able to clear this building soon this morning.

[07:10:01] FOREMAN: Well, it's a very methodical search that has to take place, and, of course, the explosive experts that are doing it also in great danger, because every little object that they look at have to move or picked up and examine puts a danger to them if this individual in fact had set up booby traps inside or outside the premises. It's a very difficult challenge for the bomb techs to do that and no one else is going to go in and do any of the crime scene investigation, the rest of the forensics until that's done. And then, that forensic search is probably going to take several days.

PAUL: All right. Tom Fuentes, Joey Jackson, thank you both so much. We really appreciate your expertise as always.

And we're going to have more on this story throughout the hour, including information about 44 year old Garrett Swasey. He is the officer who was killed.

Don't play with fire. The Turkish president giving Russia a warning as Moscow makes another series of moves ratcheting up tensions.

BLACKWELL: Plus, extreme weather across the country, at least parts of it today. Deadly flooding in some areas, icy roads, really dangerous conditions.

PAUL: And thousands of protesters in Chicago angry over the killing of a black teen shut down Black Friday shopping.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sit down in the streets and block the streets on Michigan Avenue with civil disobedience peacefully and say, you know what, business as usual can't go on while our children are dying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: Fourteen minutes past the hour. So good to have you with us.

You know, Russia is now responding to Turkey, for downing their fighter jet. And we're about to find out exactly what Russia is planning. Russia who now is calling the downing of their warplane a, quote, "ambush", releasing a list of possible actions they plan on taking against Turkey, most likely economic sanctions -- a move that could drive the two nations into a trade war of sorts.

[07:15:06] It appears that the Turks who had accused the Russians of deceit, wanted to calm the situation. Their president was wanting Russia not to, quote, "play with fire", is requesting a meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Jill Dougherty joining us now live from Moscow. She's a researcher for the International Center for Defense and Security.

Jill, what is the likelihood that President Putin will accept that offer for a meeting?

JILL DOUGHERTY, INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR DEFENSE AND SECURITY: You know, we still don't know. They say that they are not really planning anything, they're not, the Kremlin, that is, we won't necessarily meet. But at this point, there is nothing on the schedule. That's coming up next week on the 30th.

But also, getting back to the economic response and you're right, that's how Russia is responding primarily at this point. And there is a lot of anger, in fact, giving you an example, one senior official said every Turkish tomato that I buy helps to buy a missile that could shoot at our guys. And that's kind of the feeling. It's emotional and it's pretty personal.

The Russian government already has taken some steps. They've cut back on food imports from Turkey, saying they don't immediate safety regulations. But actually, obviously, the timing gives you an indication that this is quite political. They also urge Russian tourists not to travel to Turkey.

And then, finally, just yesterday, they said that they would be stopping, at least temporarily, visa free travel for Turks who come to Russia.

So, today, Saturday, we're expecting that there will be more. In fact, the Prime Minister Medvedev gave the government two days to come up with a list. And that's what we hope today as promised.

Other things, more major things perhaps, that the government can take and get back at Turkey. And its a big relationship, you know, $44 billion of trade and services per year last year, they're building a nuclear power plant, the Russians, in Turkey. And then you have a gas project building a gas pipeline. That's a major deals like that, as well as things like food. But it all adds up and it could spell some difficulties for the Turks.

PAUL: Do you think that the Turks will back down and give Russia what they want?

DOUGHERTY: Well, what they want is really an apology.

PAUL: Uh-huh.

DOUGHERTY: And that is, you know, politically, then when you get into domestic Turkish politics and whether President Erdogan feels that he can do that. That's one of the issues right now. But the Russians, that's I would say the primary thing. They want an apology. And so far, they're not getting it.

PAUL: Uh-huh.

All right. Jill Dougherty, thank you for breaking it down for us. We appreciate it.

BLACKWELL: (INAUDIBLE)

PAUL: All righty. I see we are having a problem with Victor's mic. So, we're going to get through retired Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, CNN military analyst, of course.

And we're wondering, Lieutenant General, could a trade war between Russia and Turkey here impact the crisis in Syria and U.S.-led coalition as well?

LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: I got to tell you, just listening to Jill Dougherty a minute ago, Christi, this is bizarre. I mean, if we thought Russia's actions in the past have been strange. This really takes it to a new level, because what we have to remember is, Turkey is one of the only European countries that has not put sanctions on Russia because of their incursion into Ukraine.

You add to that the fact that Russia's economy is just really, reeling right now from all of the problems they're having and the excessive amount of money they're spending on defense and Jill mentioned of the pipeline project, that actually, while it's being built in Turkey, is a pipeline project to flow Russian oil into Turkey.

So, all of these things are very strange parts of this equation. And both Turkey and Russia has significant economic problems right now. So this is going to hurt both side of the equation as Russia has allegedly put these sanctions on Turkey because of the shoot down.

PAUL: Certainly, but what does it do to the U.S.-led coalition and the fight in Syria?

HERTLING: Well, this is just another factor that contributes to the complexities of all this. The U.S. has been attempting to force Turkey to close the remaining 60 miles of border that is allowing fighters to go into Syria. They have not done that yet, even though Turkey has improved their border patrol. There is still a very big gap that's allowing fighters to flow in and out of Syria.

[07:20:01] But, secondly, each country has different enemies in this part of the world. Syria has the Turkey has the Kurds, Russia has anyone that's countering Assad, and not only includes ISIS, but also all the freedom fighters in Syria.

So, when you're talking about Russia and Turkey going at it now, this gets even -- add to even more complexity to an already complex situation.

PAUL: No doubt about it. Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, your expertise is always appreciated. Thank you.

HERTLING: Thank you, Christi.

BLACKWELL: All right. We fixed the microphone problem.

Let's get back to the big stories we are following this morning, including more protests expected today in Chicago. This is some of the protests we saw yesterday. Thousands of people angry over the killing of a white officer and as they say the cover-up of the video, to shut down Black Friday shopping yesterday. We'll look ahead to see what's going to happen this morning throughout the day.

Plus, icy roads, flash flooding and parts of the southern plains really could make for a rough drive home after the Thanksgiving break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUPERINTENDENT GARRY MCCARTHY, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT. The assassination of a 9-year-old child as a gang retaliation to get back at his father. We're going to go and destroy that gang now and, by the way, the rival gang, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Police say this gang member Corey Morgan lured 9-year-old Tyshawn Lee into an alley and then executed him. Morgan has been charged with first degree murder. But investigators say he did not act alone. There is a second man in custody. But police are now looking for a third man, this man, Kevin Edwards.

[07:25:04] PAUL: Also in Chicago, police have arrested four people during a protest over a police video showing an officer shooting 16 times at 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

PAUL: The protesters demanded the resignation of city top officials, alleging a year long cover-up. Demonstrators locked arms and marched along the city's famous Magnificent Mile, essentially blocking access to major stores during Black Friday.

BLACKWELL: North Texas drenched now with heavy rain. You see here the flooding. At least three people have died. Another person presumed dead due to widespread flooding. There is a flash flood watch in that area until 16:00 a.m. Sunday.

Security concerns and prayers as world leaders gather for a huge climate summit. This comes just as you know two weeks after the terrorist attacks there in Paris.

PAUL: And we go live to Jordan, where GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson is visiting a refugee camp. This sends a surprise to an awful lot of people. Is this a strategic campaign move?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLACKWELL: Twenty-eight minutes after the hour now.

And we are following new developments out of Colorado, starting with that veteran police officer killed, gunned down by man who according to a witness, and this is a quote, "cold stone face". This was in this attack on a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs.

PAUL: Earlier this morning, a procession took the body of 44- year-old officer Garrett Swasey from the team. His colleagues pausing to salute as he went by.

BLACKWELL: We got the name of the alleged shooter here, Robert Lewis Dear. Right now, investigators trying to figure out why -- why he went on this shooting spree. PAUL: Officer Swasey and two other people were killed. Nine people

were wounded in yesterday's attack, and the injured include five police officers and four civilians. We're obviously going to have so much more throughout the morning, though.

BLACKWELL: All right. Now to the latest on the Paris terrorist attacks. This morning, we're getting a few new details about the ongoing international manhunt for Salah Abdeslam. He's the man suspected of dropping off at least one of the suicide bombers at the Stade de France on the night of the attacks. Still out there somewhere.

CNN's Martin Savidge is joining us now live from Paris.

Martin, any indication from authorities they're any closer to locating Abdeslam?

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, none whatsoever, which is surprising given the fact that he is at the top of the most wanted list in Europe. It's been over two weeks and yet, apparently, there has been no sight by any official of Salah Abdeslam.

[07:30:04] So, that has authorities believing he is getting some kind of support as he continues to avoid law enforcement.

You can point out he is believed to be a driver dropped off the suicide bomber at the stadium. His DNA was found in one of the cars that was used in the Paris attack. French authorities know that he survived because he was actually seen Saturday morning, detained by French authorities briefly at a road block that had been set up close to the Belgian border. But he wasn't wanted at the time. So, as a result of that, he was allowed to travel on.

He was apparently seen again by a friend in Brussels, where there was a conversation in a cafe. But after that, he has not been seen since. And clearly French authorities want to find him. They want to make sure that he is, in fact, the sole survivor of this ISIS cell and they also in Belgium are arresting anybody who may have assisted him along the way, Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. So, Martin, we know on Monday, that Paris will hold world leaders, this meeting over climate change. President Obama, 40,000 delegates there, for this summit.

Whenever you have world leaders in town, security is tight. But how is this changing? What will be new based of course on what will happen two weeks ago?

SAVIDGE: Well, a number of things have changed. Security clearly is going to be changed. There was a huge public participation that is a part of this climate change conference.

All of that has been greatly scaled back because the authorities now have to use all of law enforcement to protect the world leaders and the venues. So, as a result they cannot be distracted with large demonstrations. So that's been dialed back. The other thing that may change is the concern by environmentalists

the mindset of the participants, especially the world leaders, once they get here, they will be talking more about terror than they will the climate, and it's also appears they may take the financial resources that they have planned to try to reduce carbon emissions and beef up their security measures. So, in a lot of ways this conference will be impacted, whether it'd be with the security or the subject matter -- Victor.

BLACKWELL: All right. Got you there.

Martin Savidge for us in Paris, thank you so much.

PAUL: Just think that it does speak a lot to the support of France, however, that this was not cancelled in the wake of these attack, all of these world leaders are still willing to say we support you, we are coming to your country. We are going to go on as the French have really championed and said we are not going to allow them to stop us. It's almost as if they have a global support.

BLACKWELL: There is an international resolve. I mean, we saw not just in, anecdotally, the displays of light, but the statements and some of the dedicated support as Hollande went around the world speaking with world leaders in this fight against ISIS after those 130 killed several weeks ago.

But as Martin said, there will no doubt be major changes as these world leaders and 40,000 delegates there are in Paris for this summit.

PAUL: Yes. And we have some information we are learning now. Just a short time, the defense interior minister said nearly 1,000 people have been denied entry into France, because they were quote a security risk to the public order and the security of the country. Officials also say nearly 15,000 officers have been stationed along France's borders for added security.

So let's bring in Jean-Charles Brisard, a CNN contributor and terrorism expert.

Mr. Brisard, thank you so much for being with us.

We learned about another arrest in Belgium. Six people there now charged in connection with the Paris attacks. Going back years to the bombings in London, the attacks in Spain, will all of the heightened awareness or with all of it, how could one neighborhood near Brussels nurture and support the suspects?

JEAN-CHARLES BRISARD, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The real question I think relies on the ability of the European Union, since then, since the bombings you just mentioned since, for example, the 2004 bombings, European leaders have called repeatedly to set up controls at the external borders of Schengen, systematic controls over our own citizens. They have called to reinforce the cooperation and exchange of information between European countries, especially Europol.

Now, Europol has set up a database since now one year, a year and a half. It only contains 1,500 names, compared to more than 6,500 potential jihadists we accounted for in Europe. So there is much more to be done. Plus, France is called to put in place not only controls at the border, but also be able to conduct controls inside our country.

[07:35:03] Again, to have a view of who is going where, you have to take control of the borders. You have passenger name records and exchange of information or passenger information to know these individuals. So, this is not done.

Basically until now, we were blind inside Europe. We have borders, only for external press. We could for example control a foreigner entering the Schengen zone, but not our own citizens coming back to Europe. The threat we explained now comes from our citizens coming back from Syria and Iraq and trying to plot terrorist attacks here in Europe. And so, the old priorities have changed in terms of security and the European Union must follow that pattern.

PAUL: Well, when we look at this threat, yesterday, ISIS claimed an attack at a mosque in Bangladesh. You add that to the attack that they've claimed just in the past two weeks. Egypt's hotel yesterday, Iraq, Beirut, Tunisia, Paris, the Russian jet in Egypt, do you think -- do you see that perhaps there is a part of urgency on the part of ISIS?

BRISARD: No, I don't see that like that. Since the beginning, since June, 2004, you have some experts saying that ISIS did not pose a global threat, that they were only there to consolidate the caliphate and will remain regional threat but not a global threat. And some others, I was among them, were saying a regional threat, but obviously because of the action of the international coalition against it, because of the attractiveness from -- of the ISIS towered thousands of jihadists from around the world, there will be sometime very soon a global threat coming from ISIS and coming from the jihadists joining ISIS.

This is what we see at work, a play not only recently, but since last year in Australia, in many plots in Canada, in the U.K., all over the world. Of course, regionally also, but so -- this is logic. This is -- I think the threat that poses ISIS internationally is quite substantial to ISIS itself.

PAUL: This is logic you say. Jean-Charles Brisard, we appreciate your insight. Thank you for being here.

BRISARD: Thank you.

PAUL: Well, shrouded in secrecy, CNN is there, GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson visits with refugees in Jordan.

BLACKWELL: Now, could this trip calm concerns over his foreign policy chops? And what will this mean for his evangelical supporters? Details on how they are trying to shape their image on the international stage.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [07:41:23] PAUL: And here is your look at this week's mortgage rates.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAUL: Forty-two minutes past the hour for you.

And Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson is in Jordan this morning where he has just visited a Syrian refugee camp. That camp is in Azraq, located in northern Jordan.

We want to share this video with you just into CNN here showing Carson's convoy leaving that camp. Now, the goal of the visit is to better understand the refugee crisis stemming from Syria's civil war. It comes, of course, as a race towards the White House turns towards a renewed policy.

Well, CNN's Oren Liebermann joining us live with the very latest.

Oren, this is said to have been a highly secret visit. Have you learned anything about conversations that he had with any of these refugees?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not yet. We know what Carson was supposed to do when he was inside the Azraq refugee camp right here behind you. We have very little of an idea of who he met, what he actually did, or how -- we know how long he was here, but how he spent that time.

He was here for just under three hours earlier this morning. He was supposed to visit a hospital, a woman's clinic, a facility for children, and meet some of the Syrian refugees here, according to "The New York Times," to have a better understanding of the Syrian refugee crisis. This is one of two main Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. The other one is the Zaatari refugee camp in northern Jordan that he is reportedly on his way to now or might be at right now.

But we don't notice what he actually did here and that's because the Carson camp has been very quiet about this visit. It seems to have come together the last second and we weren't allowed in when Ben Carson was here. We only got that shot of him on his way out with that convoy. So, we have very little of what he did.

But here's what we do know. We know he is flagging in the polls right now. He was first only a month ago. Now, his third. We know his weakest issues are foreign policy and those are the big issues now.

So, this sort of highly secretive, highly controlled visit at the Azraq refugee camp right behind me may be an attempt to try to boost those credentials on those.

[07:45:05] If so, we know very little about it. We hope we learn more soon -- Christi.

PAUL: We certainly do.

Oren Liebermann, we appreciate it so much. Thank you. BLACKWELL: All right. Let's talk more about this with CNN politics

senior digital correspondent Chris Moody.

Chris, good morning. And I want to start with this recent Quinnipiac Poll showing this double digit drop-off for Carson among evangelical supporters, the people who really boosted his campaign. Common wisdom is that this trip helps to boost his foreign policy credentials. But I wonder if this could also help with these evangelicals who have done foreign missionary work themselves, or at least admire a man who would take soccer balls and Beanie Babies overseas to refugees in Jordan?

CHRIS MOODY, CNN POLITCS SENIOR DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: The hope for the trip for Dr. Carson in the aftermath of those Paris attacks, national security and foreign policy has been thrust to the forefront of this campaign in the way it hasn't before. And that usually benefits sitting or former policymakers, governors or senators.

When you are a candidate like Dr. Carson or even Donald Trump that doesn't have that in-office experience, they tend to struggle. They'll do trips like this in order to learn. Even Dr. Carson's foreign policy advisors said they struggled to teach him about foreign policy over the campaign.

Now, to your point about evangelicals, he certainly was riding high, especially in Iowa early in the last few months. However, Ted Cruz has really shot up increasingly in the past few weeks. I was traveling with Ted Cruz in Iowa as early as 2013 when he was meeting with pastors. So he has been working at this a long time, playing the slow tortoise game and the tortoise and the hare. And he is really challenging Dr. Carson.

So, I think he sees a trip like this as an opportunity for him to learn something and be able to come back and speak to those people, at least with the appearance of knowing what he is talking about.

BLACKWELL: All right. Let's listen to something that Carson said about those criticisms about this foreign policy credentials. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. BEN CARSON (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: First thing, I said for multiple months is that if we take the fight to them over there, we're much less likely to have to fight them over here. And, you know, I find it a little frustrating. I say things like that.

And nobody ever pays attention, and they say Carson doesn't know anything about foreign affairs. And yet, everybody picks up on all the stuff that I say, including President Obama, and start using it, themselves. I think it's very, very strange.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: So, his suggestion is he initially introduced the idea of taking the fight over there, instead of bringing it here. Is that sticking with the GOP primary electorate? MOODY: I think because there is such a wide group, a lot of them are

saying that, even on both sides, certain risk facts. So he doesn't necessarily stand out as the lone voice in that position. There are other candidates that have not only have been saying things like that, but had been working on it, particularly you talk to someone like Lindsey Graham or Marco Rubio that had been crafting policy in the United States Senate and taking many trips and focusing on this for many years prior.

I think a lot of people see Dr. Carson on a job or not on a job yet because he doesn't have, of course, but learning the campaign trail and even the conservative "National Review" magazine has said that for the United States presidency, that's not just something that is acceptable. You have to come to the table knowing these issues when you get there.

BLACKWELL: All right. We'll see if this trip numbers and hopefully we learn more about it. Chris Moody, thanks so much.

MOODY: Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Christi?

PAUL: Well, Miss World Canada says she cannot compete in the Miss World Pageant. Find out why she says China has blocked her from entering the country.

Plus, Pope Francis is meeting with some of the world's poorest children today. We're taking you live to Kampala, Uganda.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:52:53] PAUL: Well, Pope Francis is in Kampala, Uganda, this morning. Earlier, he celebrated holy mass for hundreds of thousands of people at a shrine dedicated to Ugandan martyrs. And the pope said homage to Christians for refusing to denounce their faith.

BLACKWELL: Now, he's meeting with Uganda's youth. Some of the young people getting together with the pope.

CNN Vatican correspondent Delia Gallagher is there.

So, what are we expecting this to be about? What's the conversation going to be?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Victor, you know, the pope just arrived about 15 minutes ago. (INAUDIBLE) They've never seen anything like it. Ugandas have been here, folk dancing and music. (INAUDIBLE)

And the sound from the bleachers, the enthusiasm of the pope. (INAUDIBLE)

Now, he's speaking to youth because one of the things that the pope does when he comes to many countries is talk to the political leaders and religious leader about corruption, about radicalization, about making education and health care available and opportunity for job. But at the same time, he recognizes that the generations need to change as well. So, the young people need to take part in what they call a change of heart. That's what he's expected to talk to them about today.

BLACKWELL: Yes, we see all the excitement there in the video. Everyone running to get close to the pope as he drives through.

Delia Gallagher traveling with the pope on this tour to Africa -- Delia, thank you so much.

Now, coming up at the top of the hour, we're going to Colorado Springs for the latest on that deadly shooting as you know at the Planned Parenthood clinic. We're learning more about the police officer who was killed in this attack.

PAUL: And after the break, China (INAUDIBLE) a beauty queen. Find out why Miss World Canada says China is barring her to compete in the Miss World pageant.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:58:34] PAUL: Well, big protests are expected around the world this weekend ahead of the U.N. climate summit in Paris. Some, in fact, are already on the way.

Here's video from Brisbane, Australia, where demonstrators are calling for clean energy. And then in manila, in the Philippines.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)

PAUL: You see it there, saying the Philippines has been hit hard, obviously, by changing weather as we know. The change in weather patterns, as we know, and the deadly, catastropic typhoons that they've seen as of late.

BLACKWELL: All right. Miss World Canada says China has denied her visa application into the country to compete in the world pageant. Anastasia Lin, who was born in China and moved to Canada as a teenager, says she believes the reason that she's been an outspoken critic of China's human rights. China's ministry of foreign affairs is not responding to our request for comment.

PAUL: The official start to the Christmas season, a lot of people say (INAUDIBLE) by Friday, it's in the West Bank in Bethlehem, the biblical town of Jesus Christ. The parade to mark the ceremonial start of the season as a custodian of the holy man arrives at the birth place of Jesus.

That's just some of what's happening around the world. There's a lot more to talk to you about this morning.

BLACKWELL: Let's get to it. Next hour of your NEW DAY starts right now.

(MUSIC) BLACKWELL: A six-hour standoff. A police officer, two others, killed. Now, the big question is why? Why did a man with that long gun open fire at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic?