Return to Transcripts main page
Hala Gorani Tonight
Turkey Mourns Bombing Victims; Russia Supporting Assad with Airstrikes; Jason Rezaian Convicted in Iran. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired October 12, 2015 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:00]
HALA GORANI, HOST: Tonight as Turkey buries the victims - the victims of the Ankara bombings. ISIS becomes the prime suspect in the murder of almost
100 people.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Plus Valdimir Putin admits that he is bombing Syria to bolster President Assad. And a conviction in Iran for American journalist Jason
Rezaian, the Washington Post's foreign editor tells me why he believes the White House should be doing more to help free him.
And as the democratic candidates prepare to face off we take a look at how Bernie Sanders is giving Hillary Clinton a run for her money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Hello everyone. I'm Hala Gorani, we're coming to you live from CNN, London. Thanks for being with us. This is "The World Right Now."
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GORANI: More than 48 hours after Turkey was hit by the country's deadliest ever terrorist attack we are still apparently no closer to knowing who
carried it out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: the Turkish Prime minister is pointing fingers at ISIS for Saturday's blast suggesting that the group sent two suicide bombing.
AHMET DAVUTOGLU, TURKISH PRIME MINISTER: These three terrorist organizations are seen as potential suspects for this attack. But when we
looked at how the attack happened and the general tendency of the events, (inaudible) has become the primary suspect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well not everything adds up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: As you can see Ankara is deep inside Turkey's interior far away from the volatile borders it shares with Syria and Iraq where ISIS has its
stronghold and where it was blamed for an attack on a border town in July.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The political fighting over who to blame is spurring growing anger toward the government that is mixed with grief and mourning as funerals
began for some of the at least 97 people killed. Let's get more with CNN's Phil Black. He joins me now live from Ankara. Phil.
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi Hala, the Turkish government is not directly saying that it is ISIS at this stage but they
are making lots of noises to indicate that is what they strongly believe or that is what they would like people to believe.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: They say the investigation continues to focus on ISIS. They believe that they are close to identifying the remains of at least one of the
suspected suicide bombers responsible for Saturday's attack. And to help with that Turkish authorities have now begun taking DNA samples from the
relatives of people suspected of having joined ISIS.
But, as you heard there, they say they're also looking at other militant groups including Kurdish Separatists although it doesn't make sense why
Kurdish Separatists would attack pro-Kurdish crowds here. And Leftist militants as well who have never tried anything on this scale before.
At the scene of the crash it is almost business as usual in Ankara now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: The train station has been repaired. The trains are running, the crowds have returned. People are laying flowers there still. Red
carnations. It is a powerful gesture of respect for those who were killed in the blast. But to be blunt, it goes nowhere to conveying the powerful
sense of loss that was felt at funerals across Turkey today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: This was the moment (inaudible) first approached his father's coffin. The moment an 11 year old's confusion gave way to overwhelming
grief. Daddy, he calls again and again. (Inaudible) father, (Ali Katachi) rallied with thousands of people on Saturday for peace. His life and so
many others ended with terrible violence.
In the same cemetery (inaudible) family is crying out in pain. (Inaudible) was a lawyer, the father of a 2-year-old boy. A husband to (Metta).
I don't accept it she cries out again and again.
(Inaudible) is carried the final short distance. Some of those who watch as he's lowered into the grave were with him the moments before he died. His
friend (inaudible) carries a souvenir from the day. One of the ball bearings spat out at deadly speed by the explosions.
We were there for peace he says. We went there to shout for peace together.
The air is filled with grief and sometimes another emotion, too. This crowd chants the murderist state will be held to account. They blame the
government for letting this happen when they promised neither pain nor anger will pass quickly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACK: So the Turkish government's response to all of this Hala, is that this was an attack on the Turkish state and the only appropriate response
is one of national unity. But that is a difficult line to sell at a time when so many people are feeling this powerful mix of fury and loss and
blaming the Turkish government for allowing this all to happen in the first place. Hala.
[15:05:00]
GORANI: All right, Phil Black is live in Ankara, thanks very much. Just who is responsible for this terrible attack. Is it ISIS, Kurdish Separatists,
far left leaning groups? We'll take a look at all the theories a little bit later in the program.
Now to what's going on in Syria. Russian President, Vladimir Putin now admits that his country's air strikes are meant to help stabilize the
government of President Bashar al Assad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Those air strikes began on September 30. Russia says it's working with Syria to target ISIS and other terrorists but there are concerns that
Russia could be zeroing in on more modern Syria rebels who were opposed to the regime of Al Assad. Mr. Putin addressed those concerns in an interview
on Russian television.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT: (As translated) In case they really know better and want to fight terrorism, let them name us the specific places
where terrorists are hiding and where their headquarters and warehouses with weapons and equipment are. Give us the targets. What can be easier?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Vladimir Putin there, those comments come as U.S. official tells CNN, an American military plane air dropped 50 tons of ammunition to help
support rebel groups in northern Syria.
Let's get more on all these latest developments. Our senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, is in Beirut.
All right let's talk first on the one hand about this admission by Vladimir Putin that this military effort, military initiative is designed also to
help strengthen the regime of Bashar al Assad Nick.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well it's not uncommon for Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin to disguise the genuine
intentions at the outset. I mean I recall what's been happening in Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Now here what many believe I think was the obvious, that in fact, Moscow wanted to see the world's only ally against ISIS to be the Assad
regime and found the potential for there to be moderate rebels or half moderate rebels somewhere in northern Syria to be an obstacle to that.
What is clear from what we're hearing from American officials, most of the air strikes they're doing in fact a lot were done today, are actually
aimed at trying to take out many of the moderate rebels and alter the balance opposition against Assad.
Now one town hit today, (inaudible) is said to have some moderate rebels in it too videos of an extraordinarily intense amount of fire power, there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALKSH: The comments you heard from Vladimir Putin, well they're sort of mirroring in fact what Russian officials were saying days ago about ISIS
positions. Sorry in fact the positions of moderate rebels that shouldn't be attacked. They were telling American officials tell us where those who you
consider to be moderates are and we won't hit them. Now here's he's saying well tell us where you think the terrorists are and we'll hit them instead.
The basic concern on the side of American officials is they can't trust the Russian - that information. Because while they've openly said they're going
after ISIS, so many of the targets have in fact been those moderate rebels instead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: So, a potential here for the battlefield to be changed. You see a lot of heavy fire power being used, far more than we've seen in the past
year. The Syrian army certainly struggling.
But I think the question still is you can push Syrian rebels back from certain towns, you can clear further space for the Syrian regime but can
you hold the ground without Russian ground forces Hala?
GORANI: Right. Well we know that U.S. air strikes against ISIS haven't done much to put a big dent at least in the ISIS advance across territory in
Syria. And now they're trying another strategy which is air dropping 50 tons of ammunition to rebels. Unclear though Nick how they're going to make
sure it gets to the right fighters right? I mean what do you make of this latest development on the U.S. side against the back drop of Russian air
strikes?
WALSH: Well the U.S. are saying they don't want to get into a proxy war with Russia inside Syria, and that's true, they don't. But obviously with
symbolism like this they risk doing so or at least looking like they're trying to challenge the other heavy symbolism the Kremlin and using with
their attack helicopters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Now this air drop, a C17 50 tons of small arms and hand grenades a lot potentially fire power for small armed groups like this with a fighter
escort making sure it got in place. That is a clear symbol of course that now they've announced the main train equipment program in northern Syria is
to be put on a pause or stopped frankly. That they are moving to try and implement assistance to those considered to be helpful.
The recipients here though, the Syrian Arab coalition they're in Kurdish territory. So while this does on paper perhaps sound like they've found a
new group of moderate rebels to assist in the Syrian ranks. In fact they're giving those Syrians fights alongside the Kurds extra weaponry.
So this isn't the sudden overnight solution many thought they might be able to find - where they could find Syrian moderate rebels and assist them.
There's still a long gap between what the U.S. wants to do which is find that moderate force and what's actually available to them to give help to
on the ground Hala.
GORANI: All right, it looks like certainly there is fuel there for even more prolonged fighting. Thanks very much. Nick Paton Walsh is in Beirut
with the very latest analysis and reporting on what's going on inside Syria.
A lot more to come tonight.
[15:10:00]
GORANI: We'll look at what is behind the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians much of late, we should say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Much of it centers over one of the most sensitive holy sites a full report from Jerusalem is just ahead.
And in this town in Germany it has a proud tradition of taking in refugees but now the mayor says it cannot cope with the flow anymore.
We'll have those stories and a lot more ahead on The World Right Now. Do stay with us. You are with CNN.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GORANI: The Israeli police is now reporting four stabbing attacks today alone in Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: They say at least four Israelis were wounded including a teenage boy. Security forces shot dead, three of the alleged assailants at the
scene. Violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues to escalate with no end in sight. Apparently it's gotten worse and worse. Four Israelis
have been killed in resent attacks and The Red Crescent says 24 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces with another 1,300 wounded
by live and rubber coated bullets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Israel blames the violence on false incitement by Palestinian leaders over a sensitive holy site. But Palestinians say there are very
real injustices that reflect a much deeper problem. Ben Wedeman is in Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's arguably the most sensitive real estate on earth. The Temple Mount, the Haram al-Sharif as
it's known to Muslims is the epicenter of the long bitter struggle between Israelis and Palestinians.
In September 2000 then opposition leader, Ariel Sharon went there under heavy security.
ARIEL SHARON: I come here to the holiest place of the Jewish people.
WEDEMAN: His visit sparked violent clashes which marked the beginning of the second intifada known to Palestinians as the Aqsa intifada after the
Aqsa mosque located on the Temple Mount. And once again, tensions there are fueling more violence say young protesters in the West Bank.
[15:15:14]
So why are you here today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [speaking foreign language] so we will never give up.
WEDEMAN: It's here that Jews believe their holiest of holies the Temple of Solomon once stood.
For Muslims, the Aqsa mosque which sits within the compound is where they believe the prophet Mohammed made a miraculous night journey from Mecca
before ascending to heaven.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: When Israel conquered East Jerusalem in 1967 then Defense Moshe Dayan pledged to maintain a strict separation barring unofficially Jews
from worshipping on the Temple Mount in what became known as the status quo.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WEDEMAN: There are few places more a motive to Palestinians and Israelis says former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor, Meron Benvenisti.
MERON BENVENISITI, FORMER JERUSALEM DEPUTY MAYOR: Because it's a focal point of the conflicting views or if you want ideologies or narratives of
both national movements.
WEDEMAN: (Yusif Natsha) works for the Islamic (inaudible) or endowment that oversees the Haram al Sharif. Underneath the anger over perceived changes
to the status quo is a deeper issue.
(YUSIF NATSHA): It is the reputation which causes the frustration which causes really the unrest of (inaudible). And that -- to imagine that a
young people are ready to die for such a cause.
WEDEMAN: But the status quo's eroding. In recent years Israeli authorities have allowed a growing number of Jews to tour the area and right wing
Israeli politicians have insisted on the right of Jews to pray there.
In July an Israeli cabinet minister called for the building of the third temple on the Temple Mount. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads a shaky
coalition dominated by hard liners and insists the status quo remains in place and recently barred Israeli politicians and officials from going to
the Temple Mount.
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas has called for a nonviolent protest against perceived Israeli attempts to change the status quo.
And as leaders on both sides exchange accusations more and even greater violence around the site is inevitable warns Benvenisiti.
BENVENISITI: This is something that is a ticking bomb. The question is how long you can postpone the explosion. And for that you need realistic smart
politicians and I'm afraid I don't find them.
WEDEMAN: If this is the ticking bomb, what will the explosion look like?
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Coming up on The World Right Now --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: the Washington post calls it an outrageous injustice after its correspondent Jason Rezaian was convicted in Iran yet his fate remains a
mystery. I'll speak to the paper's foreign editor, stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
[15:21:35]
GORANI: The Washington Post is urging Iranian leaders to overturn the conviction of its Tehran Bureau Chief calling it an outrageous injustice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: According to Iranian state media a revolutionary court has convicted Jason Rezaian. You're seeing his picture there. In a highly
secretive espionage trial. We still don't know the sentence, we weren't by the way privy to any of the evidence or anything that happened inside the
courtroom.
The Washington Post says it's working on an immediate appeal. Rezaian's brother who we've interviewed on this program says he is innocent and
deserves full exoneration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The Washington Post's foreign editor says all the secrecy suggests perhaps that Rezaian isn't actually a prisoner but perhaps a bargaining
chip for the government there. Douglas Jehl joins me now from Washington. What do you think is going on Douglas? Why so much secrecy here?
DOUGLAS JEHL, FOREIGN EDITOR, WASHINGTON POST: It's impossible to know. I think we have stopped trying to make sense of what Iran is -- what Iran's
motives are in this abominable treatment of our correspondent Jason Rezaian. But we have seen signals from Iranian officials in recent weeks
that are pretty telling. They're making very clear that they will be willing to take steps toward releasing Jason and other Americans if the
United States government moves to release Iranian prisoners held in American jails.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEHL: They say they don't want to talk about a prisoner exchange but that's what they're referring to.
GORANI: All right, so you think they're trying to send that message perhaps. Have you been in touch at all with Iranian officials in this case?
I know you told I believe it was Fox News that his mom, his wife and his lawyer, Jason Rezaian's lawyer went to the courthouse but were turned away.
JEHL: They did - they did in Tehran try to get some clarity on just what's happening. After all, we have Iran speaking out on state television saying
that Jason Rezaian has been convicted but offering no details. And when they went to the court today, they were told that a translator wasn't
available. No one could meet with them and there simply wouldn't be more information coming. So we don't know what charges Jason has been convicted
of, we don't know what the penalty is and we certainly don't know what evidence Iran purports to offer to support this outrageous assertion.
GORANI: Right, so it is a - I mean it's a remarkable situation where you know there is a conviction but don't know the charge and certainly don't
know the sentence. I know that - and we said this to our viewers in the introduction here before our interview that an appeal is being worked on.
Tell us a little bit more about that.
JEHL: Well, under Iranian law anyone convicted of a crime has 20 days to appeal that conviction. And we'll certainly be taking that step. That said,
I think it's increasingly clear that the final decision in this case won't be made by the courts. It will be made by Iran senior leadership. And it's
Iran's leaders including Ayatollah Khamenei the supreme leader who has the power to overturn a verdict like this one. Who has the power to pardon
someone like Jason. Who has in his ability to release Jason Rezaian and allow him to go home to his family.
So while we'll proceed in the courts we really want to make clear to Iran senior leadership that now is the time to intervene, put an end to this
nonsense and do the right thing.
[15:25:05]
GORANI: Now you told my colleagues at MSNBC that the White House in your opinion could be doing more to help free Jason.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: I mean what would you like to see the United States government do right now?
JEHL: We would be very grateful throughout that the U.S. Government has raised this case publically, has raised it in meetings with Iranian
officials during the nuclear talks and has left no doubt that it wants to see Jason free. That said I think it's important that this be restated very
loudly, very clearly at this juncture from the highest levels of the U.S. Government. There should be no doubt --
GORANI: But do you think it would have any - do you think it would have any impact though?
JEHL: I think it's always important that Iran hears the kind of worldwide condemnation of its actions that the U.S. could convey. And I think it's
also important that the U.S. make clear that it wants to work with Iran to bring an end to this terrible travesty.
GORANI: And do you have any hope, final question? I mean I know there's an appeal that's going to be worked on very aggressively. You say ultimately
it's not a justice - it's not an issue that will be resolved in the courts but at the highest levels of government and the leadership of Iran. So do
you have any hope?
JEHL: I hope so, President Rouhani has said he has no desire to hold Americans in jail any longer. I think Iran would like to demonstrate to the
world that it's a partner, someone who companies can do business with, somebody who can be trusted as a partner in the nuclear deal.
I think it's important that to be seen in that way they need to do the right thing and bring an end to this unjustified imprisonment of Jason
Rezaian and other Americans there.
GORANI: All right, well I hope his family gets clarity and I hope this case is - certainly is resolved as quickly as possible for Jason's sake and
his family. Thanks very much, the foreign editor of the Washington Post, Douglas Jehl, joining us from Washington.
JEHL: Thank you.
GORANI: A lot more to come tonight. Who caused their anguish?
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The Turkish government is suggesting ISIS may have masterminded Saturday's deadly bombing but not everyone is so sure, we'll speak to an
expert on Turkey ahead.
Then later we are about 24 hours from the first debate between the U.S. Democratic Presidential candidates. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and
three others will take to the stage in Las Vegas. We have a live preview ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
[15:30:55]
GORANI: A look at our top stories. ISIS is now the prime suspect in Turkey's deadly terror attack in Ankara.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: People in the Turkish capital have been paying their respects to the victims today. A staggering death toll of at least 97 people were
killed, possibly more and hundreds more wounded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Also among the top stories we're following Israeli police are now reporting four stabbing attacks Monday in Jerusalem.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: They say at least four Israelis were wounded including a teenage boy. Security forces shot dead three of the alleged Palestinian assailants
at the scene.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Also among the other stories we're following, the U.S. dentist who killed Cecil the lion will not face any charges.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Zimbabwe's environment minister said Walter Palmer's papers were in fact in order. Cecil was killed with a bow and arrow in July prompting
protest outside Palmer's dental practice in Minnesota and strong condemnation on social media.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, the British police has stopped guarding the Ecuadorian embassy in London around the clock waiting to capture this man.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. Instead they are going to switch tactics to more covert measures.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Let's turn back now to our top story. That deadly attack in Turkey.
Let's bring in Sonar Cagaptay in Washington, he's the author of the Rise of Turkey and director of The Turkey Search program at the Washington
Institute. Thanks for being with us.
Let me first start by asking you about.
SONAR CAGAPTAY, AUTHOR, THE RISE OF TURKEY: It's my pleasure.
GORANI: About - yes, about the Turkish prime minister blaming ISIS. There are other - there are other theories, I mean what do you think of pointing
the finger at ISIS right now? Saying there are other possibilities but most likely it is an ISIS orchestrated suicide bombing.
CAGAPTAY: Early indicators also have suggested that this attack was carried out by ISIS. We don't really have confirmation yet but it looks like in
fact this is the group that has carried out this horrific massacre.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAGAPTAY: So I think it's really poignant that ISIS so far has not assumed responsibility, and I think this is because ISIS actually wants to use the
attack to mobilize or exploit a device of fault line that runs across the Turkish society.
For a very long time now Turkey has been divided with these supporters and opponents of the government and they're now blaming each other for the
attack instead of blaming ISIS.
GORANI: I was going to say, well ISIS, if in fact it is ISIS this would be a very different MO for them in that they'd be going deep inside of Turkey.
They were blamed for a border town bombing which made a whole lot more sense. But in this case, does it make sense, to blame ISIS for something
like this in Ankara, near a train station at a peace rally?
CAGAPTAY: I think it does because the peace rally is pro-Kurdish and ISIS is fighting Kurds in Syria so it probably wants to undermine the Kurdish
cause in Turkey. And Turkey recently joined the United States to open up its bases for U.S. missions to fly from Turkey to strike Syria and itself
joined in flying missions to strike ISIS targets in Syria.
So I think -- the question was not if, it was when ISIS would target Turkey and this has happened. And I think ISIS wanted to take this target of a
pro-Kurdish rally because it wanted to divide Turkey's society further alongside the lines of the government parties, opponents and supporters and
maybe it does succeed to an extent. Because so far instead of unifying after a horrific massacre the Turks are divided, they're blaming each other
for the attack and I hope that they stop doing that.
GORANI: Yes, and opposition groups in fact as you well know are blaming the government even. They're saying at the very least they're responsible for
failing to provide security. And at - and at - and at worse, maybe you're even complicit. I mean you're hearing that from opposition groups today.
CAGAPTAY: That's correct. And I think the blame game, is - this is not something ISIS created. I think ISIS wants to exploit this divisive nature
of the society by the attack.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAGAPTAY: For a very long time now Turkey has been run by the President's Erdogan's justice and development party also known as AKP.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAGAPTAY: Erdogan, has built a coalition block to win elections by getting his support from a right wing conservative political base which is his
political inclination. And he has done this successfully he has built a majority that has helped him win elections. But at the same time he has
politically brutalized his opponents.
[15:35:14]
CAGAPTAY: He has locked up dissidents, and journalists, he has sent the police to crack down on opposition rallies. So he's alienated large blocks
of Turks who despise him just as you have a large group of Turks who hate him at the same time. And I think this has given a very divisive nature to
Turkey's society that ISIS would like to exploit right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And it is - I mean if it is indeed ISIS, then it is on this level beyond of course causing carnage and murdering almost 100 people, achieving
that goal it sounds like what you're saying.
CAGAPTAY: I think ISIS is a group obviously that wants to target Turkey because Turkey is an (inaudible) to everything that this group represents.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAGAPTAY: Turkey is often considered the exception rather than being the norm to Middle East politics. Although the country is situated next to the
Middle East it has a large middle class, democratic secular form of governance and as well as a dynamic and boosting economy. And I think ISIS
wants to undermine all of that because Turkey's success ideologically is ISIS' failure.
And on top of it now ISIS working - Turkey working with the United States of course has anchored ISIS (inaudible).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAGAPTAY: So, unfortunately Turkey is targeted by ISIS and it has an ISIS problem that it needs to confront. My guess is that in the next few days
we're going to hear about that this attack is confirmed to be an ISIS act against Turkey and hopefully then we'll see Turks of all political colors,
including the Kurds united against the ISIS threat. Not just in Turkey but also in Syria.
I think ISIS wants to divide Turks and Kurds not just in Turkey also in Syria because there the Kurds are fighting ISIS and it doesn't want Turks
and Kurds joining battle on a common front against ISIS threat there.
GORANI: Well I can imagine it's making Turks very nervous all that's going on. Sonar Cagaptay, thanks very much for joining us. We appreciate your
time and analysis.
CAGAPTAY: My pleasure. Thank you.
GORANI: Now to this, thousands of migrants and refugees are still traveling from the Middle East into Europe, we report on the chaos every day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Many of these people hope to end up in Germany fleeing the war zones. But some towns there say they are struggling to cope with this
massive influx. Atika Shubert visited the town of Friedland which has a proud history of helping refugees but the mayor says we cannot take in
anymore people.
ATIKA SHUBERT, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: 70 years ago, the tiny village of Friedland opened its doors to thousands without homes at the end
of the Second World War. It had more than 100 emergency barracks to house those streaming back in. It was known as the gates of liberty. Today
Friedland is still welcoming refugees, nearly 4,000 at its peak. About four times the capacity this historic camp was designed to hold at any one time.
Most are from Syria and Iraq but also Afghanistan, Pakistan and Eretria.
(Inaudible) has worked here for nearly a quarter of a century long enough to see waves of refugees come and go. More than 4 million have passed
through from Vietnamese in the '70s to the Syrians that arrive today. It's open 24 hours, 365 days a year rain or shine.
But even in this idyllic setting nestled in the German country side there is now a problem. Too many refugees.
People queue everywhere he says whether it is in the registration offices or during meal time sometimes up to two hours or when refugees get their
clothing vouchers. It's a problem. Privacy is almost nonexistent. There are no private places and the infrastructure of the camp is maxed out he says.
A festival tent has been pitched on the kids' sports field now home to 200 refugees who hang their laundry on the goalpost. Mattresses line the office
hallways of the camp. Every spare meter devoted to sheltering refugees.
Ideally refugees are here for two weeks before moving on but the recent surge of refugees and a backlog of asylum requests has turned weeks into
months.
In the last two weeks he says, new arrivals in Friedland are brought to alternative housing facilities within 24 hours. We're seeking to reduce the
number of the migrants in Friedland by half which would still be more than double of what our capacity truly is he explains.
Refugees now outnumber Friedland's residents 3-1. Friedland's mayor says the village has gone above and beyond for refugees but it can't take any
more.
We do not have a problem with Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans says the mayor. They have received a big welcome in Friedland and the residents want to
help. That said, there is a fine line between wanting to help people and being stretched too thin.
Just as it was 70 years ago Friedland still welcomes those that need shelter but it warns even the gates of liberty has its limits.
Atika Shubert, CNN, Friedland, North Western Germany.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[15:40:09]
GORANI: Let us know what you think about this show, what stories you believe we should be covering, what you think of the stories we have
covered in fact. Go to facebook.com/HalaGoranicnn - facebook.com/halagoranicnn and check out some of our interviews also online
that we have aired during the program.
A lot more to come after a quick break. This is The World Right Now.
Bernie Sanders gears up for the democratic debate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: We'll take a closer look at this contender for the White House race. More on the Vermont senator just ahead.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
GORANI: Just one day before the democratic Presidential candidates face off in their first debate right here on CNN we're getting a look at where they
stand in two new polls. The CNN ORC poll, two of them are from the key primary states of South Carolina and Nevada.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Hillary Clinton has a commanding lead in both. In Nevada where Tuesday's debate takes place she's 16 points ahead of her closest
competitor. Bernie Sanders is at 34%. Joe Biden who is now declared by the way is at 12%.
Sanders dropped to third there and Vice President Biden comes in at second. All right, let's take a look at South Carolina. Clinton at 49% and Biden
again not declared 24%. Sanders at 18%. O'Malley 3%. No opinion 4%. In the state of New Hampshire though Sanders has the lead. Our Martin Savidge
takes a closer look now at the senator from Vermont.
BERNIE SANDERS, U.S. DEMOCRATIC PERSIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This campaign is sending a message to the billionaire class. Yes, we have the guts to take
you on! [ Cheers and applause ]
[15:45:00]
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: On the surface, the 73- year-old may not look like a political fire brand but he has a history of standing out and standing up for what he believes in. He calls himself a
Democratic socialist and is the longest serving independent member of congress in U.S. History.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bernie Sanders is really one of the most interesting characters in the senate because he's one of only two
independents, historically he's called himself a socialist and yet he has been able to work across the aisle in recent years with Republicans to
solve some really major problems.
SAVIDGE: Born in Brooklyn to Jewish parents went to James Madison high school, he became a socialist and active in the civil rights movement.
In Vermont he lost his run as a political office, then elected Mayor of Burlington by ten votes. Next came the U.S. Congress but it was in the
senate where he became nationally known, especially for his filibuster against extending Bush era tax cuts.
In April Sanders decided what's been good for Vermont would be good for the nation.
SANDERS: I am proud to announce my candidacy for President of the United States of America!
SAVIDGE: The same issues that have motivated him in the past are now campaign themes in the present. The gap between rich and poor, education,
immigration and racial inequality in the justice system.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bernie has not tailored his speeches to the agenda. The agenda has caught up with Bernie sanders.
SAVIDGE: The senator from Vermont may be a long shot to win it all. But fans say he brings something to the Democratic ticket Hillary Clinton so
far has not. Excitement.
Martin Savidge, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Bernie Sanders will be among the five Democratic candidates taking the stage for Tuesday's debate in Las Vegas. And by the way, this is a live
stream of where the debate will be taking place at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Now there are five podiums but there's an emergency Joe Biden podium
just in case. You can never be too careful. He is not declared but as you saw in some of those polls, he is still polling well and one of the polls
coming in second after Hillary Clinton.
Let's get now a preview with our CNN senior political reporter Nia-Malika Henderson. Thanks for being with us.
Let me ask you first about Hillary, yes, Bernie Sanders. So Bernie Sanders is behind Hillary Clinton polling far behind but he is still in a very good
position. What is the strategy for Hillary Clinton tomorrow in Las Vegas do you think?
NIA MALIKA HENDERSON: The strategy is to do what Hillary Clinton has always done in debates which is to perform well. But also stick to her message.
She is very much a policy walk. And if you've seen the things that she's focused on in the run-up to this debate in terms of like gun control I
think she'll try to focus in on that because she's very much to the left of Bernie Sanders in terms of gun control.
But I think both Hillary Clinton as well as Bernie Sanders they're really not going to go after each other but they're really going to try to draw
contrast. And I think ultimately Hillary Clinton's sort of underlying argument, she won't exactly put it this way, but her underlying argument is
that she can govern, she's a moderate in her plans for instance for college affordability are more practical than Bernie Sanders who of course as you
said, is a Democratic socialist.
Most people particularly in the south are not too keen on socialists and think it's pretty unrealistic for America to nominate a socialist for the
White House.
GORANI: Do you think any of her adversaries in this debate will bring up for instance, the state department e-mails, that issue, or the Benghazi
investigation? I mean those things that the Republican Party in the United States certainly has been trying to use against her?
HENDERSON: That's right, I doubt any of them will bring that up. I mean, you've got sort of the undercard debate with people like Martin O'Malley,
Jim Web and Lincoln Chafy. They I think again will try to portray her as old news right, as someone who is held captive by the establishment and
someone who changes her mind too often. I do think the moderators will likely bring up those issues that Republicans have already brought up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Nia-Malika Henderson, our senior political reporter live in Las Vegas. Thanks very much for joining us. And of course, our viewers
join us live from Vegas for the Democrat's debate at 8:30p.m. on Tuesday in the eastern united states or 1:30a.m. in London if you'd like to have an
all-night debate party.
You can watch the replay at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday in London and 9:00 p.m. Central European time when this show normally airs. So you can catch up
with the debate then. Coming up.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The New Zealand rugby team performs this Maori war dance before every game, what does the famous Haka mean? We'll explain in just a few
minutes. That and more coming up. Stay with us.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
[15:53:13]
GORANI: Well Rugby fever has gripped the U.K. in the last few weeks with record numbers of people attending the World Cup.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: More than 1.8 million people saw the (inaudible) matches, and that's despite the hosts, England, crashing out pretty early.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: New Zealand is the favorite to win and also famous or course for the pre-game war dance, the Haka. CNN went to speak to a few of the more
famous players from the team to find out just what it means.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a war dance, it's a challenge, it's a you know stand before you go to battle.
(Inaudible) also speaks to the warriors that used it before they went to bed.
Making sure that I don't disrespect them and make sure that I do it -- give it your all when you do it. .
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me, the Haka is -- it's a symbol of who we are and where we come from. It's just who we are. And it obviously comes from a
(inaudible) background but I think it also resonates with all Kiwis.
WILL CARLING, FORMER ENGLAND RUGBY CAPTAIN:: I'm a huge fan of the Haka. I think it's one of the great spectacles in rugby. People say are you scared
facing the Haka. And you go, well, if you go if you're scared, there's no point playing the game. For me you know it's a challenge and if you
challenge me, then fine, you know, let's play. I think it's great.
[15:55:10]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For me personally it's more about us in terms of New Zealand, they are indigenous people. The people that had gone before us
that had borne this amazing jersey, and coming together as one to hopefully defeat the opposition. As we say, it was a great way to start work.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Maori (inaudible) history is huge here in New Zealand and you know it's reflected through the team through performing the Haka
which we do before every game which is something you know very special to the All-Blacks and to New Zealanders.
When you're an All-Black, you're united as one and you know we show this through performing the Haka.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: This has been The World Right Now. I'm Hala Gorani. Stay with CNN. Quest Means Business is coming up next.
END
