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President Obama and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the United Nations; Republicans' Pledge to America; Atlanta Bishop Under Fire
Aired September 23, 2010 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Up next with Rick Sanchez and RICK'S LIST.
(LAUGHTER)
RICK SANCHEZ, HOST: Ali Velshi always giving the best recommendations.
My thanks to you. Miss you down here in Atlanta.
Topping the LIST, this should be a very interesting hour in the United Nations. And we're going to be following it for you very carefully.
Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is scheduled to give a speech to the U.N. General Assembly. And you're going to see it live right here. What is this guy going to say this time? What is the room going to do when he walks in? We have -- we have got cameras all over the place. We want you to watch this as it happens. We will watch it together.
By the way, did you hear what he's saying now about Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu? He calls him a skilled killer -- skilled killer. And he also says that Netanyahu should be put on trial for killing women and children. That's a closed quote.
President Obama spoke at the United Nations this morning as well. He also talked about Israel and about the Palestinians, and finally being able to reach some kind of Middle East peace plan. He -- he made it clear, though, where he -- where the U.S. -- where -- where the U.S. stands on -- on Jewish settlements and a Palestinian state.
And take -- take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Israel's settlement moratorium has made a difference on the ground and improved the atmosphere for talks.
And our position on this issue is well known. We believe that the moratorium should be extended.
Those of us who are friends of Israel must understand that true security for the Jewish state requires an independent Palestine -- one that allows the Palestinian people to live with dignity and opportunity. And those of us who are friends of the Palestinians must understand that the rights of the Palestinian people will be won only through peaceful means -- including genuine reconciliation with a secure Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Speaking of Israel, Mr. Obama -- and I think this is important, and I want you to hear it -- you probably didn't get a chance to listen to the speech this morning.
Mr. Obama also makes it very clear that the United States stands firmly behind Israel.
Here's how he -- here's how the president puts it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Those who long to see an independent Palestine must also stop trying to tear down Israel. After thousands of years, Jews and Arabs are not strangers in a strange land. After 60 years in the community of nations, Israel's existence must not be a subject for debate.
Israel is a sovereign state, and the historic homeland of the Jewish people. It should be clear to all that efforts to chip away at Israel's legitimacy will only be met by the unshakeable opposition of the United States. And efforts to threaten or kill Israelis will do nothing to help the Palestinian people. The slaughter of innocent Israelis is not resistance -- it's injustice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Richard Roth is joining us now. He's our senior U.N. correspondent.
Richard, when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad walks into this center, this United Nations building, what do you expect the reaction will be? How is he generally treated by these dignitaries from around the world?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's a lot of curiosity with him. Look, but I have got to tell you, he's been appearing here as president for five years or so. And he's even made other speeches during the rest of the calendar year.
And they have seen everybody, from a king to a queen, here. I think that they know that his nation is under sanctions. Whether he gets applause in the middle of his speech, as President Obama did twice today, which is really not the custom during addresses by world leaders, that will be interesting.
But the big thing to watch for are people leaving the hall, which would be walkouts, which has -- have occurred, U.S., Britain, France. Should he go after Israel on any form or level or -- SANCHEZ: Hmm.
ROTH: -- the U.S. with any type of language --
SANCHEZ: But --
ROTH: -- that's what you will find, I think, visually interesting.
SANCHEZ: But the Israelis aren't going to be there, right? Because this is a holiday.
ROTH: That's right.
But I think he's not going to adjust his speech because they aren't in the hall.
(LAUGHTER)
ROTH: And now we're told that he's entered the U.N. grounds. But it's unclear whether he will be -- he -- the custom is that you keep these heads of state behind the curtain, you might say, and then they come out. He's not the first speaker.
So, we are at least 20 to 25 minutes away, in my opinion. We have the president of Georgia, who will speak first on the calendar. And that's the way it was scheduled.
SANCHEZ: Well, that's interesting. Yesterday, when President Obama went to speak at the United Nations, we had like four or five different camera positions set up, and you could actually see him walking in, making his way to the auditorium while -- while he was going in. Why were we able to see President Obama, but we aren't going to be able to see President Ahmadinejad?
ROTH: Well, it comes down to the United Nations' television system, which provides a transmission. They have a lot of activities going on, and they can't always have a camera there.
They do have a camera there, and they say they will try to show the live picture if he arrives.
SANCHEZ: Huh.
ROTH: But there's also a pending Security Council meeting that Iran is not invited to. It's one about international peace and security.
There are many events going on in this maze of the -- the U.N. compound, as they try to jam in anything that these world leaders can appear at.
SANCHEZ: Look at this. Wow. What a -- what a -- I'm only -- I can only imagine that his speech is going to be very forthright, very forceful, and probably controversial, right? ROTH: Well, probably, though he has been telling maybe the same story to journalists. He's been doing a -- including "LARRY KING," he's --
SANCHEZ: Yes.
ROTH: -- been speaking to every media member with a microphone or a -- or a notepad.
I think what's interesting always to -- for viewers who may not realize is that, except for a few people, maybe President Obama, the hall tends to kind of empty out, and you have lower-level diplomats sitting there.
I can -- I can guarantee you -- by the way, and the Security Council is currently meeting -- you're going to have people doing other things, and they send their lower-level people to leave -- the hall.
In fact, the premier of China, the way it was scheduled, was one of the last speakers in the morning. And I saw a few empty tables there.
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: But they're not exactly sometimes using these speeches to break new policy.
And that's the Security Council, by the way.
SANCHEZ: Yes, yes. I was just going to say, the picture we're looking at now is the Security Council. Looks like there's a lot of glad-handing going on there. I don't see anyone directly meeting or addressing each other, at least not as a group, right?
ROTH: Well, that is the custom, the -- the -- we call it the milling period. And
(LAUGHTER)
ROTH: And we're not sure who's going to represent the U.S. there. We thought it would be President Obama. He left the building. He may come back.
What's interesting for Iran is, they don't want to be mentioned in the council. And they have already had four rounds of sanctions slapped on them. And President Obama certainly said in his address today that he tried last year to engage; there hasn't been that cooperation.
And for viewers when may not realize --
SANCHEZ: There he is now. There he is now.
ROTH: -- this is a -- SANCHEZ: There he is now. There -- there --
ROTH: -- these are new --
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: There we go.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: There he is now. Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: There he is.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: There's the first shot we get of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his traditional tie-less look, I suppose --
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: He was shaking hands with a -- you know, the Syrian ambassador, the tall man to his right. And -- and to his left, that's the -- Mr. Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister, who was standing --
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
ROTH: -- to his right there with the white collar.
SANCHEZ: This should be a heck of a thing.
ROTH: And --
(CROSSTALK)
ROTH: -- you're looking now that president of the General Assembly -- no, not necessarily. That's not the president of the General Assembly. They rotate different people sitting in that chair. They are different heads of state and foreign ministers.
So, for the Iranian leader, this room has become a familiar pit stop, you might say, on -- in international diplomacy. And --
SANCHEZ: Let -- let me --
ROTH: -- he has become very -- a very frequent visitor there.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you another question having nothing to do with the situation at hand today. But we have received some reports that there's been a Nicaraguan diplomat that was found, as horrible as this may sound, but this is -- I'm actually quoting the report -- was found with his throat slashed in an apartment in the Bronx, a Nicaraguan diplomat found with his throat slashed in an apartment in the Bronx.
We're -- we have been working this story, but very little information has come out so far. He's a Nicaraguan consul, which means he -- he worked there at the Nicaraguan Embassy.
What -- what do we know? What do we -- what -- can -- have you been able to work this at all? I know you're there. It's tough. And I don't want to put you in a tough spot. But what can you say about this, if anything?
ROTH: Well, this is not making news at the United Nations as far as we know.
SANCHEZ: Right.
ROTH: It's possible that this man who was found dead in the Bronx was headed here to the General Assembly session, because the New York City police say a driver was -- found the body, and the driver was picking him up in the Bronx.
The -- it's really missions who are here. They call them missions, not embassies. Embassies would be in Washington.
SANCHEZ: Right. Right.
ROTH: They don't have a -- a reason of cause of death. There was a knife found. They don't know yet, was it murder, was it suicide? Interesting development.
It does sound if -- I don't know if you saw the movie "The Interpreter," but in that movie, which was the first film ever shot on U.N. grounds, it's not during General Assembly week, but there's a big speech by an African leader, and one of the members of his delegation is found dead --
SANCHEZ: Look at these.
ROTH: -- either in Upper Manhattan or the Bronx, actually.
SANCHEZ: Look -- look at these pictures, by the way, from that scene.
And you saw there just on the balcony. And I think you're going to see a picture coming up once again. There you see the police lines that police have set up, obviously taking this quite seriously. And you see one of the folks who is working with the police in one of those hazmat suits in the apartment, apparently, where he was found as well.
What an interesting story, and, yet, as we say, still developing.
Richard, my thanks to you. Maybe we will be able to get a chance to talk to you a little bit later as we hear from the Iranian president.
We're minutes away now from -- from the Iranian president's speech. So, a lot of people are asking what he's going to say, whether he will be as forceful during this address as -- as, frankly, he has been talking to us here at CNN in his conversations with my colleague Larry King.
Whatever happens, you will see it live, because we're going to carry it for you. Again, it's coming up in about 15, 20 minutes or so.
And then there's Pastor Eddie Long. He has once again refused to talk, even though he's accused now of having sex with teenage boys, three of them. And the question is, what's behind the silence? Will he speak now on Sunday? What are parishioners saying? Are there more people coming forward to make the same charge?
All right, Ed Lavandera has been working this story. He's over here on the other side of the studio. And he's going to be joining me in just a little bit to pick this up, and we're going to taking through -- taking you through all the new information. So, this will be good. It's -- it's a story that's certainly affected a whole lot of people.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A lot of people talking about it, for sure.
SANCHEZ: There -- there's no question about it, and tweeting.
We will be right back. This is RICK'S LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: It's a story that doesn't seem to want to go away, a story that the accused is still not addressing. And that's probably what's most important here.
Ed Lavandera is going to be joining us in just a little bit. He broke the story. He's been with us for the last three days.
The megachurch minister at the center of this growing list of sex allegations -- this was supposed to be the day, as you know, when Bishop Eddie Long broke his silence and confronted this -- these accusations, these terrible accusations against him. Instead, he backed out of a radio interview this morning and backed out of a news conference.
His silence comes, as we reported yesterday, following a third person, a young man who is also coming forward suing, saying the leader of this 25,000-member church in Atlanta also sexually -- I should say coerced him into having sex with him when he was a teenager.
The three young men are saying Long coerced all of them into having sex. Now, Long did not appear on Tom Joyner's show this morning with much colleague Roland Martin. Instead, his attorney was there, who I think did take some questions.
Let me -- let me let you hear what some of this -- what was discussed and what was said.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, "THE TOM JOYNER MORNING SHOW")
CRAIG GILLEN, ATTORNEY FOR BISHOP EDDIE LONG: These false allegations are an attack on Bishop Long personally. They are an attack on New Birth, the entire church, and all of its 25,000 good people who attend that church.
And it's an attack on the mentoring program that has helped thousands of young men. It is deeply, deeply unfortunate that these allegations have been made. They will be met.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right. Let's get to Ed Lavandera, who's been following -- I know you've -- you've -- you have been making phone calls. You have been talking to people. You visited the church. You have talked to officials. You have talked to people on both sides, people who are with the pastor and people who are running from the pastor.
Is there a possibility -- first things first, is there a possibility that even more alleged victims will come forward?
LAVANDERA: That's what we have been led to believe. And according to the attorney that has filed these three lawsuits so far, she has been getting calls, she tell us, from other young men that are coming forward --
SANCHEZ: Really?
LAVANDERA: -- and that she's in the process of vetting those people out. So, not at the point where we have any names, any kind of -- any documents that have been filed --
SANCHEZ: In other words --
LAVANDERA: -- that we have had the last couple days.
SANCHEZ: In other words, what she's saying is, people have come forward and said, me too, but she wants to make sure that that's legitimate and they're not just --
LAVANDERA: Right.
SANCHEZ: -- raising allegations that may not be able to be confirmed.
LAVANDERA: Some she had been in contact before all of this started.
So, obviously, I would imagine she lends more credence to those people. And, obviously, the people who come after the -- this news has broken probably have to be vetted out, you know, much more intensely.
SANCHEZ: It's -- you know, the general perception out there -- and you and I have been in this business long enough to know, and we have read and helped people address these matters -- when the media is talking about you, if you become the focus or the target of an investigation, it's important to get your message out there right away.
This pastor, for whatever reason, has chosen not to get his message out there. This morning, he was supposed to talk to Roland Martin, his very first appearance. Didn't do it. And then he was supposed to have a news conference, where you were supposed to ask him questions or at least ask questions of his representatives.
LAVANDERA: Right.
SANCHEZ: Didn't do it.
Finally, he did have his lawyer read a statement that was supposedly written by him. Let's listen to that now. And then we will talk about it, you and I. Here it is.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP, "THE TOM JOYNER MORNING SHOW")
GILLEN: This is coming from the bishop.
"I have been through storms, and my faith has always sustained me. I am anxious to respond directly to these false allegations, and I will do so. However, my lawyers counsel patience at this time. Let me be clear. The charges against me and New Birth are false. I have devoted my life to helping others, and these false allegations hurt me deeply.
"But my faith is strong, and the truth will emerge. All I ask is for your patience as we continue to categorically deny each and every one of these ugly charges.
"Finally, I have done as I have done for thousands of others over my decades of preaching. I ask for your prayers for me, my family, and our church. On Sunday, at New Birth, I will respond to my congregation."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Now, this -- this is interesting.
And I think it proves your hunch right. And, by that, I mean all the material that you have gathered and the people you talked to led you to believe and you told us last night here, don't expect that he's going to come up and say: I made a mistake. I sinned. I feel bad for it.
Instead, he's going to categorically deny everything.
He is saying, everything these young men are saying is not true. He's not saying: Well, you know, there are some things I made some mistakes on, but, when they say this, they're really exaggerating or it -- no, he's saying they -- all three of them made everything up, right?
LAVANDERA: I think as far as the -- the sexual relationships is concerned.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
LAVANDERA: One of the few details that the attorney went on to address that Roland had asked him about was the trips. We talked about essentially all these trips around the country, around the world --
SANCHEZ: Right.
LAVANDERA: -- in many -- in many instances.
SANCHEZ: With a young man with very little experience. Why would you do that, I mean, people would ask.
LAVANDERA: And what the attorney did say in this interview this afternoon -- or this morning -- he said that -- he didn't deny that those trips had happened, but that that was a common thing, that one of the things that the bishop liked to do was, this was his way of helping open up these young men's eyes to the rest of the world that that's -- so, that's the reason why it -- look, this -- this wasn't an uncommon thing. This is just one of the many things, he argued, that the bishop does to help young people.
SANCHEZ: And he's speaking Sunday?
LAVANDERA: Right. He made clear also -- you mentioned --
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: -- at his -- on -- his congregation?
LAVANDERA: Right. He is speaking Sunday morning.
But the attorney made the point -- I just want, for fairness, to throw this out there -- that attorney says it was his call to not let the bishop go on the morning -- that the -- the morning show this morning --
SANCHEZ: Yes.
LAVANDERA: -- and essentially call off the press conference.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: As any good attorney would say when they're hired to represent somebody.
LAVANDERA: I understand. My job -- my job to throw it out there. (LAUGHTER)
LAVANDERA: But, Sunday morning -- and, apparently, he's speaking at both services on Sunday morning.
SANCHEZ: And we will be there --
LAVANDERA: I would imagine a packed house.
SANCHEZ: -- or at least find a way to report on it.
Thanks, Ed.
LAVANDERA: You got it.
SANCHEZ: We will continue to follow this.
By the way, Roland is going to be joining us. Roland is going to be out here at 4:00, Roland Martin.
LAVANDERA: All right.
SANCHEZ: So, he's going to pick up some of this story as well.
What will Iranian President Ahmadinejad say to the world when he addresses the United Nations? He's scheduled to do so in just a little bit. These are live pictures of the leaders from the around that are speaking just before him. It's probably about 10 minutes away. And we are going to carry it live here at CNN.
And on RICK'S LIST, also: Republicans' search for new ideas turns into a contract with America -- another one. Jessica Yellin has been reading over their pledge. That's what it's called, a Pledge to America. And that's next right here on the LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here we go.
Top of the political list: Some very surprising poll numbers are being released. Jessica Yellin is going to be joining me now, and she's going to help me take you through some of these. Some of them may be surprising to some folks, some probably not.
You know, you guys should probably turn on another light over there. It looks like I'm totally in a shadow over here.
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: Thanks. It's a new studio. We're still getting our way around it.
There you go. Thanks.
Let's start in Delaware, where Republicans may have blown their chance to win back a seat long held by Democrats. Here we go, Jessica. According to the CNN/TIME/Opinion Research Corporation poll, 55 percent of likely voters say that they're backing the Democrat, Chris Coons, for Senate. Thirty-nine percent, they support the Republican/Tea Party movement candidate Christine O'Donnell.
What do you make of that?
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, she wasn't a well-known entity until now. And we will see what happens in the next month.
This -- this gap is expected to narrow, and it very well could, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Here's another one. Apparently -- and this is interesting. I want to take you now to Wisconsin.
Let me look -- let me look at these numbers just to be sure. Over in Wisconsin, we're talking about three-term stalwart incumbent Senator Russ Feingold. He's -- he's behind in this race. Look at these numbers. Fifty-one percent are choosing Ron Johnson. Forty-five percent say they are going to go with Feingold.
And -- and this is interesting about this case. And I want your take on this. Johnson has been not using the word Republican on any of his campaign literature or his signs. Maybe it's working for him. What's the deal with that?
YELLIN: Well, this one is an uh-oh moment for the Democrats. That's one of those states where it should be an easy Democratic win. And it's because this year is so good for the Republicans and so not good for the Democrats that Russ Feingold seems to be in a very tight race there, one of those states that the Republicans didn't hope to -- didn't really think they had a chance at picking up and now are very optimistic about. So, we're all watching this one really closely.
SANCHEZ: Well, you know, I mean, we're talking about Russ Feingold here.
LAVANDERA: Right.
SANCHEZ: I mean, this is no Johnny-come-lately to the Democratic Party. Wouldn't you think that the Dems are going to be pouring money at this guy at the end to make sure this thing -- that at least he gets all the support from his party that most candidates usually get, when they have given so much?
YELLIN: Absolutely. And it's one of those states where they would hope they don't have to pour money in.
SANCHEZ: Ah.
YELLIN: They would hope that it would be locked up, and they could focus elsewhere. So, it's really one of those, you know, hemorrhaging everywhere, and you have to take care of all these different problems. It's a concerning one for the Democrats.
SANCHEZ: Here's another interesting one. Let's -- hey, shall we? Let's go to Pennsylvania, you and I, just like that.
Beam -- beam us up, Scotty.
Pennsylvania, former Rep. Pat Toomey, the GOP nominee for Senate, he's got a 49 percent to 44 percent advantage on Joe Sestak, a Democrat, among likely voters. Sestak's numbers apparently are being dragged down, surprisingly, by women.
What -- what do you make of this race in Pennsylvania?
YELLIN: Well, Pennsylvania is always a battleground state. And this, remember, is where Arlen Specter was the Democratic favorite there. He had been a Republican, then changed to Democrat, and then got knocked out. So there wasn't a natural Democrat in this race.
Sestak had not been supported by President Obama, and then now is. So, he's a bit of a -- a complicated figure for the Democratic Party. And Toomey has some pretty solid support behind him. I'll tell you, the national Republicans are feeling really confident about this race and really think they're going to win this one.
MATTHEWS: Well, let's talk more about the national Republicans, because one of the things they did today is, they -- they did something similar to the Contract With America in the mid-'90s. They came out with a Pledge to America. It's a new version of the Contract With America.
You have got some information. I think you have got some sound you are going to share with us --
YELLIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: -- on this, right?
Go ahead.
YELLIN: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Take it away.
YELLIN: OK. So, what -- what is this?
Well, for months, you know, maybe even years, the Republicans have been knocked as the party of no, standing against the Democrats' agenda, without proposing one of their own. That's been the dig. So, here they are laying out what they stand for.
And House Minority Leader John Boehner made a simple statement of their principles. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: Government is out of control in Washington, and we need to rein it in, and begin a new drive for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government in our nation's capital.
These are the things that the American people are demanding. And our pledge to America is that the Republicans stand ready to get it done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
YELLIN: All right. So, what does it sound a lot like? It sounds a lot like the Tea Party message, doesn't it?
SANCHEZ: Mm-hmm.
YELLIN: So, it's a way to capitalize on the Tea Party's enthusiasm, in a sense, and also make sure that Tea Partiers see the Republican Party as their own party to support.
SANCHEZ: Yes, but the problem is, if -- if they're going to make it about -- and I know it's not just this, because I -- I was reading it earlier, and I understand that there's -- there's a lot of social issues that are involved there, traditional social democratic values kind of issues that Jim DeMint wanted to put in there, successfully.
But it talks a lot about fiscal issues as well, and, for example, less spending. Well, the Republicans, unfortunately, have a credibility problem there, don't they?
YELLIN: Well, you're saying that, I'm guessing, because President Bush racked up such a big record of spending.
SANCHEZ: I mean, absolutely.
YELLIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: It's right there for anybody who wants to see the numbers.
YELLIN: And that is an irrefutable fact.
What they say -- and I'm just reporting to you what they say when you talk to Tea Partiers and -- and folks who are behind an agenda like this -- is, yes, but look at how much more President Obama has added to it. We have never been in debt like this before.
SANCHEZ: But that's only -- but --
YELLIN: That's their point of view. SANCHEZ: But -- but, to be clear, that's only if you count the fact that you don't count the Iraq and Afghanistan war, which they didn't put on the books.
YELLIN: And -- correct.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: I mean, and -- correct.
And what they will say is, when you get to that point, let's not quibble about who's doing it. Let's just fix it.
SANCHEZ: OK.
YELLIN: So, that -- the Tea Party movement is really focused on reining in that spending.
The challenge, as you alluded to, is, there is another faction of the Republican Party that wants to be sure social issues, reproductive rights issues, and marriage, who should marry, who shouldn't, those sorts of things, are also on the agenda.
There's some tricky tension in that, because that's not a priority for the Tea Party. And this pledge tries to walk that line, dipping into it, but not leading with it.
And that could create tension with the party down the line.
SANCHEZ: It will be good to see.
Good -- thanks so much, Jessica. Appreciate you joining us. And I will look forward to talking to you again in just a little bit.
Meanwhile, I want to remind you that we're standing by for the Iranian President Ahmadinejad's address at the United Nations. What is he going to say this time? It's expected to start any minute now. And when it does, we'll bring it to you live.
And CNN Heroes is going to be back in just a little bit. And the finalists are in. Who made the cut? We'll share that with you as well.
Probably to Ahmadinejad by the time we get back. I don't know. I'd say it's about two minutes away. So, hang tight. Let's take a break, pay some bills, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. This is your national conversation. This is RICK'S LIST.
And today, we're going to reveal something. We're going to reveal the top 10 CNN heroes of 2010. We received 10,000 nominations. They came from more than 100 different countries. Each of these 10 honorees is going to receive $25,000 and a shot at a top spot, the CNN Hero of the Year.
We opened voting just hours ago at CNNHeroes.com. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll introduce you to each of our finalists. So, who makes the cut?
Here's my colleague Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, "ANDERSON COOPER 360": I'm Anderson Cooper.
All year, we've been introducing you to our CNN heroes -- everyday people changing the world. Well, today, we're announcing the top 10 CNN heroes for 2010.
The honorees are, in alphabetical order:
Guadeloupe Arizpe De La Vega -- she's providing quality health care in the increasingly violent Juarez, Mexico.
Susan Burton -- her reentry program helps female ex-convicts get back to their feet.
Linda Fondren -- she's brought her community together to shed pounds.
Anuradha Koirala rescues and rehabilitates Nepali girls from sex trafficking.
Narayanan Krishnan serves three meals a day to India's homeless by hand.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow feeds more than 400,000 kids everyday.
Harmon Parker builds bridges connecting Kenyan with life- changing resources.
Aki Ra restores safety by finding and defusing landmines planted by the Khmer Rouge.
Evan Wadongo is lighting the way to prosperity for rural Kenyans with his solar-powered lanterns.
And Dan Wallrath -- who builds custom homes for wounded veterans returning from service.
Congratulations to the top 10 CNN heroes of 2010. Which one inspires you the most? Go to CNNHeroes.com right now to vote for CNN Hero of the Year.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Hey, I should let you know, the CNN Hero of the Year is going to be awarded an additional $100,000. This year, who's it going to be? You decide. Go to CNNHeroes.com and vote for the CNN hero who inspires you the most. You can vote now.
At 6:00 a.m. Eastern on November 18th, the 10 be honored on thanksgiving night at the CNN heroes, an all star tribute hosted by Cooper. But only one will be named CNN Hero of the Year.
OK. Among other things, I want you to know that an old friend is going to be joining me in a little bit. It's an interview I can't wait to bring you. There's only one hint I'm going to give you. He is, without a doubt, a legend. That's ahead.
Also, we're standing by for the Iranian president's speech. And it looks like he's being backed out. Do you who this is? Do you remember him? That's Mikheil Saakashvili, and he is the president of Georgia of former Soviet Union. And you know that he was -- remember, he was doing all the talking during the attack by the Russians on his country and he's really going at it.
You see that little red light blinking down there on the right side of the screen? See that red light? That means he's supposed to be done talking a long time ago. We've been watching that thing blink and blink and blink. And he seems to be -- he seems to be ignoring it.
So, it's kind of interesting that he's just decided to go on and on and on. Let's dip in a little bit. Let's pick up and see what he's so angry about.
MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILI, PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA: It is time, ladies and gentlemen, for unity and peace. It is time to stop being prisoners of the past and move towards our common future. In the past, Georgia's citizens were perceiving our border with the Ottoman empire as an absolute threat. Today, we have passports, free customs. We have -- we can enter the region without passports and without visas. We have joint airports, free trade with Turkey and very friendly relations.
Tomorrow, the citizens of Armenia Azerbaijan will be able to cross without passports. Even today, it's a very, very simplified procedure and they don't even have to leave their cars.
SANCHEZ: Well, there you go. He's making his points now to the world. He has, as Reagan would say, the podium right now, the microphone. He ain't going to let it go.
So, we'll continue to follow this. I believe that the president of Iran is going to be speaking right around him, the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. And soon as that happens, we're going to take that live, given the controversial nature of his address.
Let's sneak a break in, come right back. Stay with us. We'll be we'll be here with U.N. proceedings as we continue here on RICK'S LIST.
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SANCHEZ: Wow, talk about great timing. Here we go. I think we are getting a change at the dais there. And we are about to have the introduction of the president of Iran. You know, Saakashvili finished talking just moments, alas. He went over by quite a bit.
Let's go ahead -- let's go ahead and listen to this.
ANNOUNCER: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, president of the Islamic Republic of Iran. I request protocol to escort His Excellency.
SANCHEZ: Protocol to escort His Excellency. We should be seeing him here.
Richard, what's going on? What's going on here, Richard? Roth, are you there?
Oh, there we go. Oh, there we go.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they've introduced -- here he comes, the president of Iran is going to speak. The hall is not completely full, as much as it was when President Obama spoke. This is a custom. He sits down and then they kind of reintroduce him again.
SANCHEZ: OK. Let's listen to the introduction then, I guess.
ANNOUNCER: -- the Islamic Republic of Iran and to invite him to address the assembly.
SANCHEZ: We've got Richard Roth and Robin Wright standing by to watch this with us and we'll give you post analysis in just a moment. Here we go.
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful, all praise be to Allah, the lord of the universe and peace and blessing be upon our master and Prophet Mohammad and his pure household and his noble companions and all the divine messengers. Oh, God, hasten the arrival of Imam Al- Mahdi and grant him good health and victory and make us his followers and those who attest to his righteousness.
Mr. President, dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I am grateful to the Almighty God who has granted me the opportunity to appear before this world assembly once again.
I wish to begin by commemorating those who lost their lives in the horrible flood in Pakistan and express my heartfelt sympathy with the families who lost their loved ones as well as with the people and the government of Pakistan. I urge everyone to assist their fellow men and women as a humane duty.
Allow me to thank His Excellency, Mr. Ali Abdussalam Treki, the president of the 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly, for all his efforts during his tenure. I would also like to congratulate Mr. Joseph Deiss, the president of the 65th session of the United Nations General Assembly, and wish them all success.
Dear colleagues, in past years, I spoke to you about some hopes and concerns, some concerns involved the crisis in families, the security challenge, disrespect for human dignity, the deterioration of world economy, climate change, and disregard for human aspirations to achieve justice and lasting peace. After about 100 years of domination, the capitalist system and existing world order are unable to provide appropriate solutions to the problems that society faces. Thus, their demise has arrived.
Therefore, I should try to examine several cause for their failure and features for an ideal order. The first cause relates to our attitudes and beliefs. As you are well aware, divine prophets had the mission to invite everyone to monotheism, to love and justice, and to show mankind the path to prosperity. They invite men to contemplation and to seek knowledge in order to better appreciate the truth and to refrain from atheism and egoism.
And the message of the prophets is one and the same. Every messenger has endorsed the messenger before him and gave him glad tidings about the next prophet to come, who presented a more -- a more complete version of the religion in accordance with man's capacity at the time. This trend continued until the last messenger of God who presented the perfection of an all-inclusive religion.
In opposition to the call by the prophets, the egotists and greedy stood up against their clear call, revolting against their messages. Nimrod countered Hassah (ph) Abraham. Pharaoh countered Hassah (ph) Moses. And the greedy countered Hassah (ph) Jesus Christ and Hassah (ph) Mohammad. May peace be upon all our prophets.
In the recent centuries, human ethics and values have been rejected as a cause for backwardness. They were even portrayed as opposing wisdom and science because the proclaimers of religion in the Dark Ages of the West inflicted man with backwardness. Therefore, man's disconnection from heaven has detached him from his true self.
Man, with his potential to understand the secrets of the universe, his instinct to seek truth, his aspiration for justice and perfection, his quest for beauty and purity and his capacity as god said to represent him on earth has been reduced to creatures restricted by the materialistic world, with the mission to maximize individualistic pleasures. Human instinct then replaced true human nature.
Human beings and nations are considered rivals and the happiness of an individual or a nation is upheld at the cost of others to the point of even eliminating or suppressing others rather than developing a constructive and evolutionary method of cooperation, it was replaced by a destructive struggle for survival.
The lust for capital and domination replaced monotheism, which is the gate to love and unity. This widespread clash of the ego is then -- with the dividing values gave way to slavery and colonialism.
A large part of the world came under the domination of a few western states. Tens of millions of people were taken to slavery and tens of millions of families were shattered as a result. All the resources, the rights and the cultures of the colonized nations were plundered. Lands were occupied and indigenous people were humiliated and mass -murdered.
Yet, nations rose up. Colonialism was eliminated and the independence of nations were recognized. Thus, the hope for respect, prosperity and security was revived amongst nations. In the beginning of the past century, beautiful motives of freedom, human rights and democracy created hopes for healing the deep wounds of the past.
Today, however, not only those dreams are not realized, but memories, even at times more bitter than before, have been recorded in our history. As a result of the two world wars, the occupation of Palestine, the Korean and the Vietnam wars, the Iraqi war -- the Iraq war against Iran, the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as many wars in Africa, hundreds of millions of people were killed, wounded or displaced.
Terrorism, elicit drug production, poverty and the social gaps have increased. The dictatorial and coup d'etat governments in Latin America committed unprecedented crimes with the support of the West. Instead of disarmament, the proliferation and stockpiling of nuclear weapons expanded, facing the world under a larger threat. As a result, apparently, the very same old goals of colonialists and the slave masters were pursued, but this time around with a new facade.
The second cause for the failure of the existing world order and capitalism has to do with the current global management and its ruling structures. The League of Nations and after that, the United Nations, were established with the promise to bring about peace, security and the realization of human rights, which, in fact, meant a global management.
One can analyze the current system of governance of world affairs by examining three events. The first is the event of the 11 September 2001, which has, indeed, affected the entire world for almost a decade. We recall that at the time, suddenly, the news of an attack on the Twin Towers was broadcast, using numerous footages of the incident almost all governments and known figures that mattered strongly condemned this incident.
But then, a propaganda machine came into full force. It was implied that the whole world was exposed to a huge danger, namely that of terrorism and that the only way to save the world would be to deploy forces into Afghanistan. Eventually, Afghanistan and shortly there after, Iraq, were occupied.
Now, please take note -- it was said that some 3,000 people were killed on September 11th, for which we are all very saddened. Yet with, up until now in Afghanistan and Iraq, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, millions wounded and displaced and the conflict is still going on and expanding.
In identifying those responsible behind the September 11th attack, there were three viewpoints.
First, that a very powerful and complex terrorist group, able to successfully cross all layers of the American intelligence and security, carried out the attack. This is the prevalent viewpoint, which has been supported mainly and advocated by American statesmen.
Second, that some segments within the U.S. government orchestrated the attack to reverse the declining American economy and its grips on the Middle East in order to save the Zionist regime. The majority of the American people, as well as most nations and politicians around the world, agree with this view.
Third, it was carried out by a terrorist group, but that the American government supported and took advantage of this situation. Apparently, this view point has fewer proponents.
The main evidence for this viewpoint links the incident with a few passports found in the huge volume of rubble and a video of an individual whose place of domicile was unknown, but it was announced that he had been involved in oil deals with some American officials. It was also covered up and said that due to the explosion of the fire, no trace of suicide attackers was found.
Regardless of each of these three viewpoints, there remain a few questions to be answered. First, would it not have been sensible that first, a thorough investigation should have been conducted by independent groups to conclusively identify the elements involved in the attack and then map out a rational plan to take measures against them? Second, assuming the viewpoint of the American government, is it rational to launch a classic war through widespread deployment of troops that led to the death of hundreds of thousands of people to counter a terrorist group? Third, was it not possible to act the way Iran conducted the operations, fighting the terrorist group who killed and wounded 400 innocent people in the Iranian operation? No innocent person was harmed.
It is proposed that the United Nations set up an independent, fact-finding group for the event of September 11th so that in the future, expressing views about it so that -- to ensure that the different views about it are not banned from discussion in the future.
I wish to announce here that next year, the Islamic Republic of Iran will host a conference to study terrorism and a means to confront it. I invite officials, scholars, thinkers, researchers and research institutes of all countries to attend this conference.
The second cause for the demise of the existing world order is the occupation of the Palestinian territories. The oppressed people of Palestine have lived under the rule of an occupying regime for 60 years, been deprived of freedom, security and the right to self- determination, while the occupiers are given recognition. On a daily basis, the houses are being destroyed over the heads of innocent women and children. People are deprived of water, food and medicine in their own homeland.
The Zionists have imposed five all-out wars on their neighboring countries and on the Palestinian people. The Zionists committed the most horrible crimes against the defenseless people in the wars against Lebanon and Gaza. The Zionist machine attacked a humanitarian flotilla in a blatant defiance of international norms and kills civilians.
This regime, which enjoys the absolute support of some western countries, regularly threatens the countries in the region and continues publicly to announce the assassination of Palestinian figures while Palestinian defenders and those opposing this regime are pressured, labeled as terrorists and called anti-Semites.
All values, even that of the freedom of expression, which in Europe and the United States seem to matter so much and are so important, have been sacrificed at the altar of Zionism. Solutions are doomed to fail because the right of the Palestinian people is not taken into account. Would we have witnessed such horrendous crimes, if instead of recognizing the occupation, the sovereign right of the Palestinian people had been recognized?
Our unambiguous proposition is the return of the Palestinian refugees to their homeland and the reference to the vote of the people of Palestine, all Palestinians, to exercise their sovereignty and decide on the type of government.
The third cause for the demise of the existing order has to do with the outlook on nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is clean and cheap and a heavenly gift, which is amongst the most suitable alternatives to cut pollutions emanating from fossil fuels.
The Non-Proliferation Treaty allows all member states to use nuclear energy without limit and the International Atomic Energy Agency is mandated to provide member states with technical and legal support. The nuclear bomb is the worst, inhumane weapon and one which must totally be eliminated. The NPT prohibits its development and stockpiling, and calls for nuclear disarmament.
Nonetheless, please note that some of the permanent members of the Security Council and nuclear powers, i.e., those who hold the nuclear bomb, have resorted to a measure. They have equated nuclear energy with the nuclear bomb and have distanced this energy from the reach of most nations by establishing monopolies and pressuring the IAEA, while at the same time, they have continued to maintain, expand and upgrade their own nuclear arsenals.
You may have heard that in the current year, the United States administration has asked for $80 billion to upkeep its nuclear bombs alone. This has entailed the following: Not on the nuclear disarmament has not been realized, but also nuclear bombs have been proliferated in some regions, including by the occupying and intimidating Zionist regime.
I would like here to propose that the year 2011 be proclaimed the year of nuclear disarmament and nuclear energy for all, nuclear weapons for none.
In all these cases, of course, I admit that the United Nations has been unable to take any effective course of action that has been viable -- meaningfully viable. Unfortunately, in the decade proclaimed by it as the international decade for the culture of peace, for example, hundreds of thousands were killed and injured as a result of war, aggression and occupation and hostilities and antagonism are being increased.
Ladies and gentlemen, very recently, the world witnessed an on who are rant act of burning the Holy Koran. The holy Koran is the divine book and the internal miracle of the prophet of Islam.
It calls for worshipping the one God, justice, compassion toward people, development and progress, reflection and thought, defense of the oppressed, and resistance against oppressors.
And it names, with respect, the previous messengers of God, like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, and Jesus Christ -- may peace be upon all of the prophets -- and endorses them. They burned the Koran to burn all these truths and good judgments. However, the truth cannot be burned.
Koran is internal, because God and truth are everlasting. This act and any other act which widens the gap and distances between nations is evil. We must wisely avoid playing into the hands of Satan.
On behalf of the Iranian nation, I pay respect to all divine books and their followers. This is the Koran, and this is the Bible. We pay respect to both books, as both are dear to us.
Dear friends, esteemed friends, for years, the inefficiency of capitalism and the existing world management structures have been exposed enough for us to understand what they mean. And the majority of states and people have begun a quest for fundamental changes and for the -- to allow justice in global relations to prevail.
The cause for the United Nations' ineptitude is its unjust structure. Major powers have monopolized the Security Council due to the veto privilege and sidelined the General Assembly, which is the main pillar of the organization.
In the past several decades, at least one of the permanent members of the Security Council has always been a party to a conflict. When both the judge and the defender or prosecutor are -- and the defender are on the same side of the conflict, how can you expect justice?
They feel immune as a result of the aggressions, due to the structure of the United Nations. For example, if Iran enjoyed the veto privilege, would the Security Council and the IAEA director general have taken the same position on its nuclear issue as they have today?
Dear friends, the United Nations is the key center for coordinating common global management. Its structure needs to be reformed in a manner that all independent states and nations are able to participate in the global governance, and actively and constructively. The veto --
SANCHEZ: There is Iranian President Ahmadinejad.
He has been, of late, hammering the United Nations and talking a little bit more, I guess, what you would regard as inside baseball material, for those who follow the United Nations.
But, earlier, he made some -- he made some very, very strident comments, specifically about the United States.
