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Quest Means Business
Russia Ready to Defend Ruble; Ukraine Says Russian Tanks Crossed Border; European Stocks Mostly Lower; US Adds 214,000 Jobs; Modest Gain for US Stocks; US Job Growth; US Expands Iraq Effort; Breaking News: 4 Students Murdered, 43 Missing in Mexico
Aired November 07, 2014 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE CLOSING BELL)
POPPY HARLOW, HOST: A lackluster end to a volatile week for the markets. Trading is over here in New York. It is Friday, November the
7th.
Defending the Ruble. The Russian Central Bank promises it will act if and when needed.
Just the jobs. The US labor markets maintains its winning streak.
And when the wall fell, the rebuilding began. We look back at the cost of German unity.
I'm Poppy Harlow, and this is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
Good evening. Tonight, Russia's central bank has pledged to defend the ruble at any moment. After the ruble's worst week in over a decade,
fears of a currency crisis are, indeed, growing. The ruble pulled back from its record lows following the central bank's statement on Friday.
It's still down more than 30 percent, though, against the US dollar this year.
And the decline has only gotten steeper in the past month, with falling oil prices and tensions with Ukraine showing no sign of letting up.
The central bank burned through $30 billion US last month to try to shore up its currency to no avail. At the beginning of January, this 50 ruble
note was worth $1.52. Today, $1.07.
The fall in the ruble marks -- makes imported goods, rather, expensive for Russians. Inflation in Russia already running at well above 8 percent,
and the central bank warns it is likely to remain high. Matthew Chance is live for us in Moscow. Matthew, you've been covering this very, very
closely. I'm wondering what the reaction of the Russian people is to this? Are they outraged yet?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think they are deeply concerned. And in fact, one of the reasons why the Russian
ruble has started to plunge so dramatically is that Russians are starting to change their savings, which of course they mainly hold in rubles, into
dollars, into euros, into pounds.
And that spells big trouble for Russian banks, because when they -- when that starts to happen, it could lead, possibly, to a full-on run on
the ruble, and that will mean that banks will run out of money and perhaps have to close down. Already, there's anecdotal evidence --
HARLOW: Right.
CHANCE: -- from banks that are visited by people I know from Russia, from Moscow, who have gone into banks, and they just don't have any dollars
left. They're just running out of hard currency, Poppy.
HARLOW: And to Russians that I've read reports about, Russians going into banks, trying to withdraw foreign currencies or open accounts in other
currencies, and the branch -- bankers at the branch walking around trying to convince them to have faith in the Russian ruble.
I wonder, though, what is President Putin doing? What is he publicly saying outside of the statement from the central bank?
CHANCE: He's commented on the oil price. The oil price, you said, being so low is partly because of political reasons. The low oil price, or
the decreasing oil price at least one of the factors why the Russian ruble is depreciating so quickly. It's depreciated dramatically, of course, over
the past several months. And the Russian ruble rises and falls with the price of crude.
It's not the only factor affecting the price of the ruble, though. We've got other factors, the geopolitical factors in particular.
HARLOW: Sure.
CHANCE: The growing concern that violence could break out in Ukraine once more is also weighing heavy on the Russian currency.
HARLOW: But I wonder what is being said, what you are hearing about the concern over that, given the comments made about Russian tanks right
near the Ukraine border.
CHANCE: It's certainly not helping the situation, is it? The fact that this Ukrainian cease-fire, this truce, which has been in force since
early September, seems to be falling apart at the seams.
These latest reports coming from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry that 30 tanks and a large number of other vehicles and troops have crossed over
the border from Russia into Ukraine is only fueling that sentiment, in which investors feel now is not the time to hold rubles, now is not the
time to invest in Russia. It's all playing into the same kind of negative story for Russia.
HARLOW: Absolutely. And a question of what other tools in its war chest does the central bank have other than raising rates extraordinarily
high. We'll be following it. Matthew Chance, live for us in Moscow, thank you.
European stocks ended the day mostly lower. Bank shares fell on concerns of tighter scrutiny and weak economic growth reducing demand for
loans. Allianz shares ended 3.6 percent higher after the insurer said it would increase its dividends.
The US is on track for its strongest year of jobs since 1999. The US economy added 214,000 jobs in October. Unemployment ticked down to 5.8
percent. That is the lowest unemployment rate in this country since July of 2008.
October marks the ninth straight month of job growth over the key 200,000 mark. Although the number fell short of expectations, economists
do remain optimistic about the hiring trends that we are seeing. US labor secretary Tom Perez told CNN the quality of jobs is improving as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS PEREZ, US LABOR SECRETARY: The types of jobs being created, the job sector that's seeing the most growth in the last year, for
instance, is business and professional services. These are very good jobs that pay a very good wage for the most part. These are accountants,
architects, consultants, things of that nature.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: Well, US stocks ended the day with a modest gain. We did see a record high, though, of course, earlier this week. The Dow oscillated
between gains and losses as investors digested this jobs report. The dollar fell around 0.6 percent against the euro. It had risen sharply
following Tuesday's election.
Jonas Prising is the CEO of ManpowerGroup. He joins me now from Milwaukee. Thank you for being here, sir. We appreciate it.
JONAS PRISING, CEO, MANPOWERGROUP: Thank you, glad to be there.
HARLOW: Let's discuss this first. Looking at the United States, I'm wondering what trends you are seeing in where the hiring is, because some
optimism that I saw looking through the jobs report today is the fact that some -- we're seeing an improvement in terms of jobs being added in those
higher-paying sectors.
PRISING: Yes, this was really a good news report today and follows on a string of very good months here in succession during 2014. The report is
really showing broad-based gains across many, many different sectors. And what's great to see is that it is both in lower-wage areas as well as in
higher-skilled areas with higher wages. So, it's really a good report from that perspective.
HARLOW: I wonder -- you guys break it out state-by-state here in the US, and you look at where the growth is. Are you seeing any interesting
trends about what states the growth is in? Is it in states where you say you have lower corporate tax rates? Is it in blue states? Is it in red
states? Are you seeing any trends?
PRISING: Well, you can see some of the states that are involved more in manufacturing and/or many of the energy resources states, such as Texas,
that they are seeing some very, very warm labor markets and hot labor markets in some cities, metro areas in particular in Texas and parts of
California, but also on the east cost. So, it is really broad-based. And that bodes very well for the future as we look ahead into 2015.
HARLOW: But let me ask you this. Coming off what we heard from the ECB this week, the real increasing concern about the state of the European
economy, the US is certainly not an island, and many US companies rely very heavily on how their operations perform in Europe, and that translates
right into job growth or job cuts in this country. How big of a concern is that?
PRISING: Well, the employers, as I speak to employers all over the world and in the US in particular, they are certainly aware of what's going
on and that things could change at a pretty short notice due to geopolitical events or a slowdown in Europe.
So, we really live in this age of a certain uncertainty. Employers are very optimistic as it relates to the US, but they're also very cautious
and read to act if they see a slowdown. And that's why, I think, you've seen a good, robust, but very moderate jobs growth over the last five
years. So, gradual improvement, no euphoria, just steadily matching, improving demand with an increase in the workforce.
HARLOW: And we still have all of these companies with literally trillions of dollars sitting on the sidelines, and therefore, the markets
are sort of following that forward look that perhaps that money will be invested, it will grow jobs.
But still, the jobs number lags that and the real feeling of the US economy, I think, lags that. Thank you so much for coming on the program
this evening, sir. We appreciate it.
Well, one story that we are watching this hour very closely, the US president has authorized the deployment of up to 1500 additional American
military personnel to Iraq. We are told they'll play a non-combat role, so not necessarily quote-unquote "boots on the ground." They are there to
train, advise, and assist Iraqi security forces, including those Kurdish fighters, as they take on ISIS.
The Pentagon will have more to say on this this hour. We will bring you that briefing from the Pentagon live.
The bill and the backlash. Britain's claim of victory in the EU budget negotiations are under scrutiny. We're going to discuss that.
Next, Britain's finance minister, George Osborne, saying some comments, as well as David Cameron. We'll talk about that after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: Welcome back to QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. An update for you in the case of the missing Mexican students. Mexican attorney general Jesus
Murillo Karam speaking now.
JESUS MURILLO KARAM, MEXICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL (through translator): - - with the aim to find where those missing are.
Also, 33 days where Mexicans have gone through sadness and have been enraged and shocked by the disappearance of 43 students. The federal
Mexican government has led a great endeavor in one of the most complex operations carried out, 10,000 officers, marines, soldiers, public
ministers, trying to track down where these young people are.
We have arrested those who killed six people and also those who arrested, transported, and handed over to the Guerreros Unidos the
students. Sidronio Casarrubias Salgado was detained, leader of a criminal gang who took over the police in Iguala. Also, he who was in charge and
led to this painful event, the ex-municipal president of Iguala and his wife.
Today, we've got some new developments. We have managed to spot and locate Alicia El Patro (ph), International Sodio Gomez (ph), Alicia El
Jonan (ph), who were detained in a (inaudible) uptown in the state of Guerro.
These two detentions happened by Agustin Garcia Reyes. You can see here the photos of those three detained on the screen. These are members
of the Guerreros Unidos criminal gang. They confessed to having received and executed the students.
The government shares with family members and the Mexican society the need to be transparent in relation to these investigations, and therefore,
we wanted to provide details to the public step-by-step, first to the families who suffered the consequences of the disappearances. But also a
society in pain upon a situation that must never be repeated.
A few hours ago, I told the families as to the developments of the investigation, I know about the tremendous pain this information has given,
but it's something that we shared together, the confessions through the investigations point, sadly, to the killing and the murder of the huge
number of people.
Searching for the truth, my duty is to continue with the investigation, and so I have asked and appealed for this confidence.
The images are shown so that the citizens can recognize them and report them. These are some of the developments on the investigation.
These are not by any means the conclusions. The investigation still continues.
As we can see on the map, the group of students were on board buses from the Rural Normal School towards the entrance of the Iguala City. Then
they went over to the bus station, they took over two buses.
The ex-president of Iguala, who had (inaudible), ordered the municipal police officers to arrest those people in those four buses, according to
the radio operator of Iguala, David Hernandez Cruz (ph). And this was ratified by one of the officers known as "Hawk."
As it has been said, the officers -- the police officers killed the teacher, training teacher. A report the mayor -- was going to give a
report, Maria de los Angeles Pineda, linked to illicit crime, together with her husband.
After the first incident of the training teachers, when they continued on their journey on the buses, the police arrested them violently and took
them to the police station. From that time onward, and with the support of the local police officers, they were then taken up to the point
(inaudible). And they were then led and taken to another area, that you can see here in the map.
It has been found out that from this point, between (inaudible) the police officers handed over the students to the members of a criminal gang
called Guerreros Unidos, "United Warriors." According to the Guerrero attorney general of this investigation, they were taken to the mass gave in
Pueblo Viejo, where it was said that they were buried.
According to forensic tests, there is no certainty as to whether those remains are the ones of the students. But four people in those graves were
identified. They were killed, actually, in August, a month before this incident. Also, remains of two women were found in those mass graves.
However, the students were just made.
A new investigation has started, and the Iguala police officers are involved in the killing of these four identified bodies from the first mass
grave in Pueblo Viejo.
Sidronio Casarrubias Salgado, arrested and the leader of his criminal gang, was contacted by his deputy, (inaudible), known as "Gil," couldn't
tell him through a text message as the conflict that was taking place in Iguala, and he says that the students were members of a rival gang. And
then he gave orders to defend his territory.
You can see on the screen the photographs of those I've talked about and have a look at the (inaudible)
(PRESS CONFERENCE CONTINUES, INAUDIBLE)
HARLOW: You have been listening to a live press conference being held by Mexico's attorney general, Jesus Murillo Karam, very disturbing
developments in the case of the 43 missing students from Mexico.
What we can tell you at this hour is that Mexican authorities have found six bags of human remains near the area where it is believed that
those students disappeared some 40 days ago. Authorities do not know yet if the remains are, indeed, those students, but they have notified the
families that they are investigating this.
We also can tell you that it was discussed how four of the people that were part of that student group were, indeed, captured, murdered, and
tortured. Again, these human remains found there, trying to figure out if these are the missing students that they have been looking for.
I want to go to our Rafael Romo, he is on the phone for us in Mexico City. He has been following this very closely. What do you make of these
developments, and what more do we know?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (via telephone): Well, this is exactly the news that the parents of the 43 students missing didn't
want to hear. I've been talking to them all this week, and what they told me is that they felt in their hearts that they were alive.
But based on the information being given by Mexican attorney general Murillo Karam, it does not seem to be the case. And we're talking about
six bags with human remains in the general area where the students disappeared.
The attorney general very specifically said that the latest development in the investigation was possible thanks to the arrest of three
different people detained just a couple of days ago who have been providing new details as to what might have happened here.
Those three people have been questioned by authorities, and as a matter of fact, at this very moment, the attorney general is telling the
Mexican press, is showing videos of parts of the interrogation as to what exactly happened. So again, really bad news for the parents --
HARLOW: Right.
ROMO: -- of the 43 missing, although we cannot at this moment --
HARLOW: Right.
ROMO: -- conclusively say that the remains found are those of the missing students.
HARLOW: And Rafael, and the other important development that just came in the past few days is a key arrest of the mayor of the town where
these students were gathered and protesting as well as his wife. They had been looking for them, eventually found then in basically an abandoned
home, do we know if the mayor had said anything about any potential involvement in this or involvement of the police?
ROMO: Our sources have been telling us that the Mexican officials say the mayor is denying any responsibility in the disappearance of the
students and it has not really provided any express details into the investigation. What we're learning right now came from both - three
arrests that I was telling you before -- basically an attorney general saying that those three arrests proved crucial to advance this
investigation.
HARLOW: And Rafael, for our viewers - can you give a bit of a background on this story? Because it is rather complex and incredibly
disturbing and confusing as to why these students may have been taken. What is leading authorities right now? What is they believe the motive was
in all of this outside of the students protesting, angering as they're saying that the mayor and then him having the police involved and then
allegedly the police handing off some of these students to gang members.
ROMO: That's a very good point. To understand the case, you have to understand what's happening in the Mexican state of Guerrero. First of
all, the town of Iguala where the students disappeared (ph), was in the control of a criminal group called United Warriors - Guerreros Unidos in
Spanish. Apparently, the group had infiltrated the local government and the mayor was arrested this week -- Jose Luis Abarca -- was in cahoots with
the criminal organization. These students on the night of September 26, were on their way to a protest in city of Iguala, the mayor thought the
protest was going to disrupt an event led by his wife Maria Pineda and ordered the local police officers - again, working with this criminal
organization to stop the students.
HARLOW: Yes
ROMO: His words got (ph) intercepted by local police. The local police handed the students over to the criminal organization Guerreros
Unidos and the belief based on what the attorney general is saying now is that they were possibly executed by this criminal organization who at the
time believed they were enemies from a rival criminal gang trying to take control of their territory.
HARLOW: Now, unbelievable. And in fact, they're just students. We know that four at this point have been murdered and we are told tortured.
Again, the headline from this press conference from Mexico's attorney general - six bags of human remains found right in that same region where
it is believed those students disappeared. Our Rafael Romo with the update for us. Live from Mexico City, Rafael, thank you very much. And we'll be
back on the program in just a minute. We are awaiting a press conference at the U.S. Pentagon from the Rear Admiral John Kirby about the United
States sending 1,500 additional U.S. forces into Iraq - advisers, etc. for the Iraqi security forces. We'll have that as soon as it begins.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: Welcome back, I'm Poppy Harlow. This is CNN. It is time now for a news update. Mexico's attorney general says the investigation into
the disappearance of 43 students points to murder on a large, tragic scale. Speaking a short time ago, Jesus Murillo Karam said new detainees have
admitted to killing a group of people. Officials have discovered six bags of human remains near the area where the students disappeared. Back to the
news in a moment. Now, to the U.S. Pentagon where Rear Admiral John Kirby is speaking about the 1,500 U.S. troops the U.S. plans to send to Iraq.
REAR ADMIRAL JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: First, the Department of Defense issued today - I'm sorry - issued supplemental
civilian employee medical care guidance today for those employed to Ebola outbreak areas. Those employees deployed in support of Operation United
Assistance who become ill, contract diseases or injured - or are injured - are authorized to receive medical care at a military treatment facility at
no cost to the civilian employee. Additionally, those treated in theater will continue to be eligible for care in a military treatment facility or a
civilian medical facility upon their return at no cost to the employee.
Second, as directed by Secretary Hagel, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued guidance today for the implementation of a 21-day
controlled monitoring period. This was the implementation guidance that he asked the chiefs to come back and put into place while we continue to
assess the efficacy of this controlled monitoring. This policy applies to all military services that are contributing personnel to the fight against
Ebola at its source. In addition, to providing guidance for how controlled monitoring will occur. The policy states which installations have been
approved as controlled monitoring sites, and they are - Fort Bliss - El Paso, Texas, Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia, Fort Hood in
Killeen, Texas, Fort Bragg - Fayetteville, North Carolina, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and then overseas, the U.S. Army Garrison in Baumholder,
Germany and the U.S. Army Garrison at Caserma Del Din - Vicenza, Italy.
Selection criteria for these installations included proximity to medical facilities capable of treating Ebola, and the ability to conduct
twice-daily temperature checks, medical screenings and a controlled movement and access.
Third and last, General Chuck Jacoby, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command, has requested 30 additional personnel be identified and trained in
order to provide back-up capability to our existing 30-person Ebola medical support team. This request is currently being sourced, and we expect these
30 personnel will come from each of the services. I want to stress that this is not being driven by an anticipation of additional need, and it is
not a second team per se. But it's rather an effort to establish additional cadre - an additional cadre of personnel that will be given the
same specialized treatment - training - as the first group we trained last month. Training that focuses on helping them train civilian medical
professionals on the proper use of personal protective equipment while assisting with patient care. This additional group will begin their
training in San Antonio around November 17th. With that, we'll take questions. Justin (ph).
Male: Thanks. For the purpose of television here, it would actually be helpful if you did have a brief statement on what you've announced today
in your paper statement and what the Pentagon has decided to do with regard to these troops and why.
KIRBY: Sure. The Commander and Chief has authorized Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to deploy - to ploy to Iraq up to 1,500 additional U.S.
personnel over the coming months in a non-combat role to expand our advise and assist mission and initiate a comprehensive training effort for Iraqi
forces. Secretary Hagel made this recommendation to the President based on the requests of the government of Iraq, U.S. Central Command's assessment
of Iraqi units, the progress Iraqi security forces have made in the field and in concert with the development of a coalition campaign plan to defend
key areas and go on the offenses against I-S-I-L. U.S. Central Command will establish two expeditionary advise and assist operation centers in
locations outside of Baghdad and Irbil to provide support for the Iraqis at the brigade headquarters level and above. These centers will be supported
by an appropriate array of force protection capabilities. U.S. Central Command will establish several sites across Iraq that will accommodate the
training of 12 Iraqi brigades. Specifically, nine Iraqi army and three Peshmerga brigades.
These sites will be located in northern, western and southern Iraq. Coalition partners will join U.S. personnel at these locations to help
build Iraqi capacity and capability. The training will be funded through the request for an Iraqi train and equip fund that the administration will
submit to Congress as well as from the government of Iraq. Over the coming weeks as we finalize the training site locations, United States will work
with coalition members to determine how many U.S. and coalition personnel will be required at each location for the training effort. Ultimately,
these Iraqi forces, when fully trained, will enable Iraq to better defends its citizens, its borders and its interest against the threat of I-S-I-L,
and it is perfectly in keeping with the mission that we've been assigned there to assist ISF and Peshmerga forces. Again, as they improve their
capability against I-S-I-L.
Male: Thank you for doing that.
KIRBY: You're welcome.
Male: Last week -- it is helpful. Last week General Dempsey said - he hinted at this need. And he said the precondition for that is that the
government of Iraq is willing to arm the tribes in Anbar. Do you have any assurances that the government of Iraq is going to work closely with these
Sunni tribes and arm then and are - is - part of this plan to arm them yourselves or pay them or do anything akin to the awakening the previous
strategy.
KIRBY: Well, through the Iraqi training and equip fund, the Department has requested funding to provide training to tribes that are
operating under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Defense. Ultimately we expect that we will be able to conduct some of that training at the same
locations where we will train Iraqi army and Peshmerga brigades. I would also add that Prime Minister Abadi has made it very clear that he intends
to continue outreach with the Sunni tribes. He was out in Anbar very recently doing exactly that. He's encouraged his Iraqi security force
leadership to do the same - to continue that outreach - and while I can't put a fine point on exactly what all that cooperation will look like, we
certainly, as I said at the outset of my answer, expect that there will be a role for Sunni tribes in this effort. Phil (ph).
Male: Admiral, can you tell us when the Iraqi government made this request for this additional deployment of troops?
KIRBY: I don't have an exact time and date on that, Phil. This is something that's been in discussion for several weeks though.
Male: Another question - has Secretary Hagel committed to staying for the final two years of the Obama administration?
KIRBY: The Secretary is fully-committed to his job as defense secretary and leading this department, and he looks forward to doing that
for the remainder.
Male: So tell us this time this training will be different than ten years ago - U.S. trained thousands of Iraqis but they ran away.
KIRBY: Well, they didn't all run away. And, yes, we did spend a lot of money and effort training the Iraqi army, and when we left in 2011, we
left them capable and competent to the threat that they faced. That opportunity they were given, the skills that they were provided, the
leadership that they had was squandered by the Maliki government over the last three, three and a half years. Now, they weren't properly led, they
weren't properly resourced, they weren't kept properly trained and that led - that a lack of will, both political and military will at the top and some
units - led to their disillusion in the face of I-S-I-L earlier in the summer. So we saw four or five divisions, and I think it was a surprise to
us that they folded as quickly as they did, but not every one of them did. Not every division in Iraqi army turned and ran. And even before - I mean
- we're talking about just getting this stood up. As we speak today, they are very much on the go after I-S-I-L throughout the country - to include
Anbar Province. So they are making gains. It is slow, it is not steady every day, but they are making gains and they are fighting back.
Male: So this time you will have better teachers and better students?
KIRBY: That is a completely different situation than it was. And first, we're going in at the request of the Iraqi government, we're wanted
there. We weren't wanted to stay there after 2011. Number two, there's a very acute threat that's facing the Iraqi people, the Iraqi government and
the Iraqi security forces - a threat that they are trying to grapple with right now and they have acknowledged that they need a little bit of help in
that regard. So, it's a completely different situation and we're confident that if we get the funding that we're requesting from Congress, then they
will be able to make significant progress in this regard.
The other thing I'd add is, one of - one of -- the reasons why we think this is good idea right now is because the Iraqi security forces have
stiffened their spine, and have gone on the offense. And I've shown that they've got good capabilities, but there's gaps - there's gaps in some of
those capabilities, some of the enabling functions that they need a little bit of help with and advice, and again, that's what we're going to provide.
Male: And finally, just on the record - are you asking any other country like India to join in this fight now?
KIRBY: That's a great question, and I meant to say that in my answer to you and I didn't. There are several other coalition partner nations
that have agreed to contribute to these - the - train, advise and assist mission. In fact, literally within in just the last 30 minutes or so, the
Secretary wrapped up a meeting with his counterparts from Denmark and the Danes have agreed to provide 120 trainers to this effort. And there are
other nations that have likewise said that they will - that they will contribute. So, yes, there will be - there will be - coalition members
joining us in this effort. We know that for a fact and I think the list will continue to grow.
I'd also add that the United States is not going to be responsible for funding this entire effort. We're going to expect contributions from the
government of Iraq and there's going to be contributions expected from these coalition members. I don't just mean in terms of people, but in
terms of dollars as well.
Male: Thank you, sir.
KIRBY: Yes, Spence.
Male: Have any of the Iraqi brigades selected for U.S. mentorship previously received U.S. train, equip, other venture-ship, etcetera from
the previous Iraq war?
KIRBY: You mean like prior to 2011 or you mean? - I don't know, Spence. I don't know. In fact, the Iraqi brigades that we anticipate
putting through this training have not been selected yet, and we'll be in consultations with the government of Iraq to determine that. So it's - I
couldn't tell you right now because we just don't know exactly what brigades we're going to train.
Male: Then can you explain what went behind the specific numbers of up to 1,500 new troops and (inaudible) brigade?
KIRBY: Sure. Well, I mean, there's going to be two expeditionary training, advise and assist sites that - additional. And I don't want to
get into exact locations because we're still doing site surveys of that. But one will be in Anbar Province and one probably in the Baghdad Province.
In addition to those - and those are not necessarily training missions, they're advising missions - very much like what we're doing in Baghdad and
Irbil with our 12 teams now. We're just going to be doing it now in expeditionary locations. Same function.
In addition to that, there'll be several sites and I can't give you an exact number, but somewhere around four to five - what we call building
partner capacity sites. These will be more hands-on training. And, again, the sites are still being - the sites are still being surveyed. In those
locations, that's more hands-on training. So the 1,500 - less than half of it - less of half of them - will be dedicated to the advise and assist
mission. And of that number, -- and it's around 630 or so - it's important to remember that a good chunk of that will be enablers for other advisors -
logistics command and control, intelligence support for them. So not all of the 630 or so are going to be technically advising. There'll be some
support.
The remainder of the number which is I guess about 870, something like that, they'll be dedicated to this building partner capacity mission - to
the hands-on training. And I want to add that right now just in terms of contributions that we know we're going to secure from some other nations,
we're talking well over 700. Additional trainers will come from foreign governments and former partners. Does that answer your question? So, it's
broken down - it's broken down by, you know, a little less than half the number dedicated to advise and assist, the rest of the number dedicated to
this building partnership capacity and the training mission.
Male: Is there a reason why it's up to 1,500 and not, say, up to 5,000, not up to (inaudible).
KIRBY: Well, as we looked at potential sites and areas that we could this at - I mean, you have to look at infrastructure that's there, facility
- the ability to actually, you know, house people and then you have to look at the throughput. And you want to get 12 brigades trained - nine Iraqi,
three Pesh. There's going to be mixed skills and capabilities among those. So, again, this was based on best estimates about how many people we need
to train, how many sites we're going to have to train them and what the quality of those sites are. Jen (ph).
Female: John, why is this happening now and can you assure people that it had nothing to do with the political calendar and the election on
Tuesday that the announcement is being made this week?
KIRBY: It's being done now, quite frankly, because the Iraqis have reached a - they have demonstrated the willingness and the skill to go
after I-S-I-L. So they've reached a point where they need additional help and guidance, particularly in areas like Anbar. So as we said, that's one
of the reasons why some of this advising mission will take place in Anbar. So, a) they've reached a certain point, b) it's at the request of the
government of Iraq. What really drove this was Prime Minister Abadi saying, `I need this extra help and I want this extra help, I welcome this
help inside my country.' That's really what drove this was a request from the government of Iraq and then General Austin's assessment that this would
be beneficial to the overarching goals inside Iraq.
Female: So it was not -
KIRBY: There was no political angle to the timing here. I was really driven by a request from the government of Iraq and General Austin's
assessment about having - this being the right thing to do. And I would add that was an assessment supported by not only Chairman Dempsey, but of
course the Secretary who formally made this recommendation to the President and that this was not only the right thing to do, but it was the right time
to do it based on where we are in the campaign. And again, (Jen), I mean, you don't have to go very far back in time and Chairman Dempsey alluded to
this at a press conference right here in this room not long ago - a couple of weeks ago. So this was something that had been brewing for several
weeks.
HARLOW: You've been listening to a live press conference coming from the U.S. Pentagon - Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby, addressing
the media about why the United State/the Obama administration has decided to send up to 1,500 additional U.S. troops/advisors into Iraq to help fight
ISIS, saying the recommendation came from U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to the President. But it came to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel from
the prime minister of Iraq - Prime Minister Abadi - saying he needed the extra help, welcomed the extra help. Interesting note here - what really
set out to us is the fact that he said this is perfectly in keeping with the mission that we have been sent to do -- of course, differentiating this
from any U.S. combat forces on the ground. This is not that, the Pentagon is saying. We will continue monitoring that for you. We'll be back on
"Quest Means Business" in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARLOW: Breaking news into CNN. Mexico's attorney general says the investigation into the disappearance of 43 students points to murder on a
large and disturbing scale. Speaking just a short time ago, Jesus Murillo Karam said new detainees have admitted to killing a group of people.
Officials have also discovered six bags of human remains near the area where those students disappeared some 40 days ago. It is unclear though at
this point whether those are the missing students. Four students though are believed to have been tortured before they were murdered.
We have also just heard from the Pentagon, the U.S. announcing it will deploy an additional 1,500 troops to Iraq to assist its army in fighting
ISIS. These will be non-combat forces rather, training and advising forces. The President stressing there, again, that point. The White House
also said it would request $5.6 billion to fund its operations against ISIS. The Pentagon spokesman also said the U.S. would ramp up its response
to Ebola. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
KIRBY: First, the Department of Defense issued today - I'm sorry - issued supplemental civilian employee medical care guidance today for those
employed to Ebola outbreak areas. Those employees deployed in support of Operation United Assistance who become ill, contract diseases or injured -
or are injured - are authorized to receive medical care at a military treatment facility at no cost to the civilian employee. Additionally,
those treated in theater will continue to be eligible for care in a military treatment facility or a civilian medical facility upon their
return at no cost to the employee.
Second, as directed by Secretary Hagel, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, issued guidance today for the implementation of a 21-day
controlled monitoring period. This was the implementation guidance that he asked the chiefs to come back and put into place while we continue to
assess the efficacy of this controlled monitoring.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
HARLOW: As you just heard there, President Obama has asked congressional leadership to support funding a request to aid in the fight
even more against Ebola. That is according to the White House. Meanwhile, the African Union is urging businesses across the continent to pump more
resources, more money, more effort into combating this disease. So far, more than 13,000 people have contracted the virus. More than 4,900 have
died. At a meeting tomorrow the African Union will ask the private sector to give more financial support. Also on the agenda, how to reverse the
economic damage in countries hard-hit by Ebola. Our Diana Magnay spoke with Zimbabwe's richest man, founder and chairmen of Econet about how the
private sector must help in this battle.
STRIVE MASIYIWA, FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, ECONET: So the idea is to use the same mandates she's used and could draw down troops to fight in Somalia
and Central African Republic, to give us this time health care workers. Because we believe the key is to get the health care workers in numbers
into those countries.
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT BASED IN BERLIN: And what kind of change or difference do you think that can make to these three
countries where already there are international health workers in place? How many more are you anticipating being able to send through the African
Union?
MASIYIWA: I'm not an expert in this. I'm just relying on the appeal from the - our - chair of the African Union - who, as you know, is a
medical doctor. She was President Mandela's minister of health. She says that she can mobilize about 3,000 health care workers at the moment. She
needs resources for those. The African private sector could not sustain that level of support. But we need is to put in place a mechanism where
the private sector as well as ordinary people through crowd sourcing. With technologies like cell phones, we can call on people to make contributions
from Africa as well. But we're also counting on our international friends, including companies that are active in Africa that are not necessarily
African.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
HARLOW: Thank you, Diana Magnay for that report. And that is "Quest Means Business." I'm Poppy Harlow. Have a wonderful weekend.
END
