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Hala Gorani Tonight
President Obama's Visit To Cuba; New Details On Capture of Paris Attacker Abdeslam; Hillary Clinton Speaks At AIPAC Conference; Details of Terror Attack in Mali; Latest US Campaign Happenings; Belgium and Islamic Extremism; Cuba Normalization Opposed by Some. Aired 4-5p ET
Aired March 21, 2016 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[15:00:21] HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. Thanks for being with us. We're live from CNN London. This
is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
This is a new day. The words of President Obama as he met with Cuban leader, Raul Castro. It is the second day of Obama's historic trip to the
island so long as -- so long a cold war adversary.
While the events are historic, there are still some pretty major sticking points. Human rights for instance and an economic blockade against Cuba,
they were both raised. Here are the highlights of the second day so far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI (voice-over): The American national anthem played by a Cuban military band. A warm handshake between leaders previously unthinkable
gestures of friendship between two countries many thought would be locked in a frosty standoff for generations to come.
In the first time in nearly 90 years, a serving U.S. president has made the very short trip to Cuba. On the second day of this historic visit,
President Obama was welcomed into President Raul Castro's revolution palace.
Behind the smiles for the cameras, the two leaders agreed they still had profound differences of opinion.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Our starting point is we have two different systems. Two different systems of
government. Two different economies and we have decades of profound differences.
GORANI: Castro, for his part, called for the U.S. to end its trade embargo on Cuba.
RAUL CASTRO, CUBAN PRESIDENT (through translator): We recognize the position of President Obama and his administration against a blockade. The
most recent measures adopted by his administration are positive but insufficient.
GORANI: President Obama began his first full day on Cuban soil in Revolution Square where he laid a wreath at the statue of Cuban
independence hero, Jose Martis (ph). It was from this same plaza that revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro held rallies condemning America.
And the background, a huge image of Che Guevara (ph) looked down as Obama was mobbed by cameras. After years of planning, officials hope the visit
will help rebuild the troubled relationship between America and its communist neighbor.
The U.S. is pushing for Cuba's economy to be opened up and reforms on human rights. For many Cubans, Obama's visit has been welcomed cautiously.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): For us, it's an honor that a U.S. president had shown us, the Cuban people, so much sympathy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't disagree with his coming to the island, but what I want is changes be for the benefit of the Cuban
people.
GORANI: While Monday's agenda is focused on formal meetings with the Castro government, Obama will also meet dissidents opposed to the communist
regime. All in his effort to bring change to the island.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, let's cross live to the Cuban capital, Havana. CNN's Ed Lavandera is there. Tell us, you've been speaking with ordinary Cubans.
Now, there were demonstrations just a few hours before President Obama touched down and arrests of dissidents as well. Tell us a little bit about
that.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, on every Sunday, there's a (inaudible), the Ladies In White hold a weekly protest that ended with
several being taken into custody.
[15:05:05]There are also reports of other political activists being rounded up. Something that is often routinely heard about here in Cuba in days
leading up to events like this or when a pope comes or a major state dignitary where there is a lot of international press.
So really what you've seen today and after watching Raul Castro and President Obama speak today, you really get a sense of how both sides are
simply working around the edges of the very contentious issues that are on the table here and the questions of human rights and political activism and
whether or not this country would be able to open up to some sort of democratic reform in the future.
Obviously Raul Castro talking about the embargo that continues to be a major issue for the Cuban government. Even though in the United States
there has been some change in the way people would like to see an end to the embargo.
That embargo is still very much in place and given the political makeup of the U.S. Congress at this point, that doesn't appear to change any time
soon.
So you really get the sense Raul Castro and President Obama simply working around the edges on some economic issues, agricultural issues and that sort
of thing, that there are still major, major issues between both countries and both sides here -- Hala.
GORANI: Yes, there are major issues. Raul Castro also saying until Guantanamo is closed, that normalization can't happen, so that's another
issue that was brought up by at least on the Cuban side.
So tangibly, what will change, since the embargo stays in place, the travel ban essentially stays in place, even though person to person travel is
allowed. What will tangibly change in the relationship between the two countries?
LAVANDERA: Well, whatever changes do happen, I think it's hard for people around the world to understand just how slow anything truly changes here.
And what we have seen in the last year, albeit an intense amount of increase in the tourism.
And, in many ways, that is what the United States would like to see, more increase, and perhaps that's one way to begin chipping away and opening up
the Cuban people to tourism.
And then perhaps that can begin to change the mentality and the philosophy here on this island and start kind of forcing change from within. So that
will be interesting to see.
But those kinds of economic reforms that we've seen, you know there have been some loosening up on restrictions on Cubans allowed to own businesses
and operate businesses. At this point, that's really what we are going to see.
GORANI: All right, Ed Lavandera, thank you very much reporting live from Havana.
Well, traveling with the president, Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern has long pushed for closer relations between the two countries. As I
mentioned, he's traveling with the president on this historic trip and he joins me now live from Havana.
Congressman, thanks for being with us. You have been supporting normalization with Cuba for a very long time. Describe what it was like to
be in Havana today.
REPRESENTATIVE JIM MCGOVERN (D), MASSACHUSETTS: It's a real thrill and a real privilege. I'm someone who believes our policy toward Cuba has been
misguided and quite frankly not in the best interest of the Cuban people or in the national security interest of the United States so I've been pushing
for this for a long time.
I'm not sure I ever thought it would ever come and here it is. The first president since Coolidge to set foot on Cuban soil and to basically say
that the cold war is over. Congress has to do its part. We need to build on what the president has done. We need to lift the embargo and lift all
the travel restrictions, and my hope is we can get to that point.
GORANI: But your critics would say look what happened just hours before President Obama and his family touched down. The Ladies In White, some of
them were arrested, wives of dissidents who are in prison. Isn't this trip just rewarding bad behavior?
MCGOVERN: Well, first of all, let me just say, no one is under the illusion that things are going to change here totally overnight. The fact
of the matter is political space has begun to open up here on the island.
Not because of U.S. policy but because of the engagement of the Europeans, the Canadians, and the rest of the world. Look, we have a better
opportunity to influence Cuba on the issue of human rights from a position of mutual respect, where we treat each other as, you know, with respect and
have a more constructive and mature dialogue on these things.
For the past 50 years, all we've done is scream and yell and shout and we've had no impact at all. And most of the people I've talked to here by
the way who are -- who are opposed to the government, who are being critical of the government, they all believe that the embargo and our
policy of isolation has done more to embolden the hard-liners in Cuba and not helped to open up political space.
So even the government's critics welcome what President Obama is doing and Congress now needs to get on board. We need to repeal the embargo and
repeal all the travel restrictions.
[15:10:04]GORANI: And Congressman, you've worked very hard on legislation to lift the travel restrictions, to repeal the trade embargo as well, but
it's not on the agenda this year. So it doesn't look like something that's imminent, that's going to happen in this calendar year at least. Why not?
MCGOVERN: Well, first of all, I'm not prepared to give up on this year. There's a bipartisan group of members of Congress down here with the
president. There's a bipartisan group in Congress who want changes.
I think if we ever had a debate and vote, we would probably prevail. You know, the critics of president's new policy say we ought to have more
democracy in Cuba. I think we all have a little more democracy in the United States Congress.
These issues should be brought to the floor. They should be debated and voted on. I think there's a bipartisan majority in both the House and
Senate that want to repeal the travel restrictions, that want to repeal the economic sanctions and want to have normal relations with Cuba.
And I think the leadership and the House and Senate ought to get out of the way and let us proceed. Public opinion wants a change. The only people
that are resisting change are a small group in congress who have the ear of the leadership of the House and Senate who seems nostalgic for the cold
war.
It is time to put the past behind us. The cold war is other. I think some of us will try to force some votes on the travel restrictions and on the
embargo this year.
GORANI: OK, so you're going to try to force that through. I've got to ask you, one of the things you said about a closer relationship and normalizing
relations between the two countries has a better chance of leading to political liberalization than just isolating Cuba.
Do you believe that? Do you think that's the way to go? Even though the changes that the U.S. might want to see on human rights still haven't taken
effect?
MCGOVERN: Well, first all, we have a double standard when it comes to Cuba. We deal with China. We deal with Russia. We deal with Vietnam.
But yet we can't deal with Cuba because we don't like their system of government and we don't appreciate their human rights record here.
The fact of the matter is, I've seen change here on this island. My first visit was 1979 as a college student. The Soviet Union was still a big
presence here. They left and then the Europeans and Canadians and others came in.
And I think there's no arguing that there's more political space here. Is it where we would all like it to be? No. Are there human rights problems
here? Absolutely. But the question is how best to influence that.
I would argue that our policy for the last five decades has done absolutely nothing to help advance the cause of human rights or open political space
here. In fact, it's had the opposite effect.
It's time to try something different. I give President Obama a lot of credit for having the guts to finally say enough is enough and change this
policy.
GORANI: All right, Congressman Jim McGovern speaking to us live from Havana, thanks very much. The congressman is traveling with the president,
has supported normalization for a long time, and joined us with his thoughts on this important day. Thank you.
This is just in to CNN. We are hearing reports of a gun attack in the Malian capital, Bamako. The Reuters and AFP news agencies both are saying
that unidentified gunman attacked a hotel that had been converted into an E.U. military training mission.
The E.U. training mission just tweeted, "HQ has been attacked. No personnel has been hurt or injured during the attack. UTM Mali is securing
the area." We'll bring you more on this breaking news story as we get it.
Bamako targets have been attacked in the past. We've seen increased activity from militants in that part of Africa and we'll keep a close eye
on this story of this attack reported in Bamako, Mali.
A lot more to come tonight. Days after a key suspect is caught in the Paris terror attacks, we're learning more about how authorities tracked
Salah Abdeslam down. We're live from Brussels with the latest.
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[16:16:13]
GORANI: We are learning new details on the capture of that key suspect in the Paris terror attacks that happened on Friday. Belgian authorities say
Salah Abdeslam and an accomplice contacted someone Belgian security services already had under surveillance and they say Abdeslam, quote, "came
right into our net."
You are looking at newly released images from his arrest on Friday, by the way. It came just a few days after he escaped a shootout in Brussels.
Earlier, officials said Abdeslam may have been plotting another attack after police found a large stash of weapons.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): To find foreign fighters with weapons in a house, I don't think they're there to have a picnic. And so
we had reasons to be worried by that. I don't know if we will know one day what they wanted to do. That depends on the discovery material elements
and the various statements that we will have in the case.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The hunt is also on for this man. A suspected accomplice who travelled with Abdeslam to Hungary last September. They say his name is
Najim Laachraoui and he's 24 years old, and police consider him dangerous.
Senior international correspondent, Nima Elbagir, is in Brussels with further details. What else is coming out from authorities about how they
tracked down Abdeslam? We know he was in touch with someone who was under surveillance. Do we know more?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, just to take you back to that first raid in forest, it's there where authorities almost
stumbled on to Abdeslam, completely by happenstance. During that shootout, he escaped.
Then we understand the trail went cold. It was only after he reached his Molenbeek hiding space and contacted this accomplice, this individual that
authorities say was under their surveillance as part of a network of known radical Islamists.
That is when he blipped back up on to authority's radar. The interior minister acknowledged to us they had no idea he was hiding in Molenbeek.
It was a complete surprise.
It was almost two absolutely extraordinary pieces that fell together to make this happen. Images of Abdeslam being led away. That's the only
details we have so far about triggering the arrest.
It appears they also found detonators, Hala, in addition to that cache of weapons which gives more credence to the theory they're working with at the
moment there's a larger network planning a new series of attacks.
And Interpol has warned European countries, asked them to be hyper vigilant on their borders. France has already deployed already to the borders extra
security -- Hala.
GORANI: Let's talk also about this new suspect. The name we didn't know just a few hours ago, Najim Laachraoui. We showed his mug shot on our air.
What more do we know about him and his role?
ELBAGIR: Authorities had already spoken about him but only under his alias (inaudible). They hadn't at that point in time had any real idea about his
real identity. It's this new information that's intensifying the manhunt.
Back in January, (inaudible) he was then known, authorities tell us that they picked up phone conversations, previous to the Paris attacks, between
him and the man believed to be the ringleader.
And the sense they got between those phone conversations was that (inaudible) was giving the orders. So that's why they are talking about
him as being extremely dangerous because they believe he is a key conspirator. That he could be particularly senior in fact.
[15:20:04]And they're obviously also concerned in any situations when you begin shaking the tree, one source said to me, it creates a real sense of
panic.
And often can fast forward a lot of these plots and that's why authorities are watching so closely and have asked the public really not to approach
this man, to pass on any information they have to remain vigilant, to really keep a distance if they do see this person -- Hala.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much, Nima Elbagir, live in Brussels. Salah Abdeslam in custody. What is he telling investigators? We will look
into that as well. Thank you.
As the hunt for Laachraoui intensifies in Brussels, Nima went on the hunt for this sort of extremist literature that is fueling some of the hate and
discovered this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELBAGIR (voice-over): In many European countries, these books are banned. In Belgium, at best, buying these books may attract unwanted attention from
the authorities. But the books and their sale is completely legal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, we'll bring you that full exclusive report later in the hour so do stay tuned.
Now, a quick break and when we come back, Hillary Clinton gets a rousing reception at a major pro-Israel conference and she gets in a sharp dig at
Donald Trump. We'll have live coverage from Washington.
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GORANI: All but one major American presidential candidate are making the same stop today, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in
Washington, AIPAC. It is a prominent and influential pro-Israel lobbying group in America.
Now the only major Jewish candidate, Bernie Sanders, is the one skipping the gathering. Hillary Clinton spoke to AIPAC earlier today, playing up
her pro-Israel stance, while taking a swipe at Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Yes, we need steady hands, not a president who says he's neutral on Monday, pro-Israel on Tuesday and
who knows what on Wednesday because everything's negotiable! Well, my friends, Israel's security is non-negotiable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Hillary Clinton there. As you can see, she got a good reception with that comment. Republican candidates, John Kasich and Ted
Cruz are also scheduled to speak to AIPAC in the next few hours. But Trump is filling his day with numerous stops around Washington.
Chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, is at the AIPAC conference and she joins us now live from Washington. For more on what to expect,
protesters and Republican candidates -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right. She didn't name him by name, but Hillary Clinton was very clearly talking
about Donald Trump who going to speak in a little more than an hour here.
It is going to be an unusual setting for him. He's used to having his own supporters at his rallies. He speaks off the cuff. This is going to be
something that is very deliberate we're told, very carefully crafted. So, again, it's not going to be your typical Donald Trump event.
[15:25:03]But today, all day was kind of atypical for Donald Trump because he spent his day here in Washington, the very place he spends a lot of his
time rallying against.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BASH (voice-over): Donald Trump predicted something many others doubt that he will win the nomination outright.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think we're going to maybe easily make that number of the 1,237. We should make it pretty easily
based on what I'm seeing so we won't have to worry about fighting at a convention.
BASH: The unlikely frontrunner trying to make Washington Republicans more comfortable with him as their nominee.
TRUMP: If people want to be smart, they should embrace this movement. If they don't want to be smart, they should do what they're doing now and the
Republicans are going to go down to a massive loss.
BASH: Before meeting in public with reporters, the anti-Washington candidate went behind closed doors with Washington power brokers. A group
of about two dozen members of Congress, lobbyists and establishment Republicans.
Meeting organized by the lone GOP senator to endorse Trump, Jeff Sessions and attended by a handful of rank and file House Republicans considering
backing Trump and others who already do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Watch what's happening across the country, watch what the voters are saying, and, you know, in my district in Tennessee, 48
percent went to Trump so, you know, it's pretty easy to listen to people that you represent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's obvious that Mr. Trump will be our nominee. We need to take the fight to Hillary Clinton.
BASH: Anti-Trump forces showed up too, handing out never Trump stickers and on the lookout for Republican lawmakers backing Trump in preparation to
run TV ads against them.
Trump's attempt to woo the establishment he rails against will culminate with one of his most crucial speeches to date, an address to a meeting of
the influential pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC.
TRUMP: Probably the toughest negotiation of all time.
BASH: Trump has his work cut out for him explaining his promise to be neutral in Israeli/Palestinian talks which staunch supporters of Israel see
as anti-Israel.
TRUMP: I would like to at least have the other side think I'm somewhat neutral as to them so we can maybe get a deal done.
BASH: Beyond the policy, Trump supporters say the AIPAC venue is a critical test of whether he can come off as presidential. Especially
important for Team Trump after a weekend of more heated images from Trump rallies, including campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski in the middle of a
tussle.
RNC Chair Reince Priebus told CNN Trump staffers should not put themselves in such positions.
REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: Getting involved is not the answer. I think you leave these things up to the professionals.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: One of the open questions for months has been who Donald Trump relies on for advice on foreign policy especially he has -- it has become
something that his opponents and others make fun of him for.
That he has answered by saying he gets his information from the shows by watching TV effectively. But today, he had an editorial board meeting with
the "Washington Post" newspaper where he did reveal about five names who he says are going to, and have been, advising him on issues.
He said that their names -- they are not maybe household names, but one of them is a counterterrorist expert, one is an oil and gas consultant, and
another is a former Pentagon official.
People who are of substance but not necessarily Republican heavyweights when you talk about people that are well known in the Republican
establishment -- Hala.
GORANI: All right, Dana Bash, thanks very much, live in Washington.
Trump is expected by the way to speak soon, sometime after 9:00 p.m. We'll bring you that speech live. Join us for a special CNN town hall event.
Interview all five major candidates. That begins at 8:00 a.m. in Hong Kong, midnight here in London for you.
This is THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. Coming up, is any Republican able to stop Donald Trump? Ted Cruz's camp says their man is the one to do it. I'll be
speaking to Cruz's national spokesman in a few minutes.
Then, how extremism is taking hold in parts of Brussels. We'll bring you an undercover report on jihadi literature delivered door to door.
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[16:31:50]
GORANI: Welcome back. A look at our top stories. The U.S. President is on a historic visit to Cuba and he says an American embargo on the nation will
end.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Barack Obama says he can't say when though but the process will go on after he leaves the White House. He made the announcement during the
state visit to the Cuba by a sitting American President in nearly 90 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: New details are emerging of the capture of that key suspect in the Paris attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Belgian authorities say Salah Abdeslam and an accomplice contacted someone that Belgian security services already had under surveillance and
they say Abdeslam, "came right into our net."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And let's bring you the latest on the situation in the Malian capital Bamako. We were mentioning earlier, we don't have many details.
Take a look at the map of the area we're talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The E.U. training mission in the city says the hotel where there headquarters are based was attacked. They say no one was hurt and they are
trying to secure the area. The city experienced another gun attack in November 2015, you will remember, but here's a look more or less of the
part of Bamako that we're talking about on Google Earth. As I mentioned there not many details, no video yet but we are working to bring you the
latest on that as soon as we can.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well let's turn our attention now to the race for the White House. The five remaining candidates are gearing up for the latest rounds of
primaries and caucuses on Tuesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Democrat and Republican primaries take place in Arizona. There are caucuses in Utah and Democrats are also caucusing in Idaho. You can see how
many delegates are at stake. Ahead of those votes, all five candidates will be interviewed live by CNN at a special event in a few hours' time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Ted Cruz will be hoping for a good night on Tuesday as he tries to convince Republicans that he is the man to challenge front-runner Donald
Trump. I'm joined from Houston by Ron Nehring, he's the national spokesperson for Ted Cruz. Thanks, sir, for joining us.
RON NEHRING, NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON FOR TED CRUZ: Thank you.
GORANI: Let me first ask you about the big challenge that Ted Cruz has. Of course more than most people, you look at these delegates numbers very
closely. Now if Ted Cruz wins all of Utah, he is still 200 delegates behind Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And that's before Arizona even votes. How are you going to face this challenge here?
NEHRING: Well we're going to go all the way to the June 7th primaries which includes my own state of California where we have 172 delegates that will
be at stake there. Look, this is a long ball game. There are many states. About 22 states or so that have yet to vote. Down about 20 after we have
the elections that take place tomorrow. And what we know is overwhelmingly clear, is that the vast majority of Republicans do not want Donald Trump to
be the Republican nominee.
Now so far in a multicandidate field, you know, with 17 or 10 or 5 candidates, the 35, 37% of the vote that he tends to get, you know, puts
him in a strong position. But in a two-person contest, 35% of the vote makes you a loser and that's the direction which this race is going. John
Kasich really doesn't have a path to the nomination. He's been mathematically eliminated. So this is a two-person contest between Donald
Trump and Ted Cruz.
[16:35:16]
GORANI: But you're saying 35% makes you a loser in a two-person - in a two- person race but in Arizona Trump is pulling up 34% and Cruz at 21%. The loser in that contest would be your candidate.
NEHRING: Well, let's see what happens tomorrow. You know we have Utah where we're doing very, very well. We're on the move upward in the state of
Arizona. And then we have many more states yet to come. What is clear, though, is that only two candidates can either be nominated or receive the
votes necessary to win and that's Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. So the choice before us is whether we nominate Donald Trump, someone would clearly cannot
win the general election, or nominate Ted Cruz.
If we nominate Donald Trump, we lose the presidency, we lose the congress, and we lose the Supreme Court for the next 25 years. So you're right, the
stakes could not be higher.
GORANI: But Ted Cruz, I mean, you're talking about who the party supports. Lindsey Graham, whose of course one of the most prominent Republicans in
the United States, the South Carolina Senator, he was asked in January, would you support Trump or would you support Cruz?
He answered, it's like being shot or being poisoned, in the end what does it really matter? So neither of those two candidates really have the
Republican establishment behind them. They're sort of reluctantly supporting Ted Cruz because they think it's the, you know, the best of two
bad options, so how do you overcome that challenge.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEHRING: Oh boy, this really has been an interesting election cycle and one of the things that is clear though in this topsy turvy environment, is that
this election is not going to be won inside of the 202 area code. It's what happens outside of Washington, D.C. that's going to determine the outcome
and that's why for example today's news that the Governor of Utah, Governor Herbert has come on board for Ted Cruz following in the path of the
Lieutenant Governor of Utah, Congressman Matt Salmon in Arizona coming on board. These are the endorsements that really matter. The establishment
will come along, you know, later on.
But it's not going to be Ted Cruz, that goes to the establishment, it will be the other way around. Because one of the reasons why Ted Cruz won his
own state of Texas by 17 points is that he's the same man today that Texas elected to the U.S. senate in the first place and that's the type of
authenticity that voters are looking for.
GORANI: Right, but he's losing major swing states, Ohio, and Florida. Let me ask you this, if Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee, would Ted
Cruz support him?
NEHRING: Well, Donald Trump is not going to be the Republican nominee at the end of the day. I've been active in the Republican Party for 25 years.
And although Donald Trump is currently ahead, you know, just because you're ahead at the end of the first quarter doesn't mean that you ultimately win
the game. But Senator Cruz has said he'll ultimately support the Republican nominee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEHRING: However what's clear is that we need to have a Republican nominee who can win the general election. There's really no point in doing all of
this if we then go on to turn the White House over to Hillary Clinton to continue the disastrous policies that we've had under Barack Obama that's
why --
GORANI: So he would support Donald Trump - he would support Donald Trump then if he were the nominee?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEHRING: Well, at the end of the day, senator -- at the end of the day, Senator Cruz is someone who's going to keep his word. And he says
remarkable of a thing to come out of a candidate that is, however, that's not the issue here. The issue here today, the issue here that will be
facing the voters in Arizona and Utah tomorrow and voters in the remaining states in the weeks ahead is which candidate can win the General Election
in November and will be a candidate that we can look up to who will inspire Americans, who will be in that position to be Commander in Chief of the
United States Armed Forces and the like and the huge responsibilities that go with that. And we know that Donald Trump as the Republican nominee will
not win the general election and will lose the congress and will lose the - go ahead --
GORANI: Sorry - I just want to jump in because we only have a few seconds left. Of course Ted Cruz, your candidate, Senator Cruz will address the
APAC Conference today. What does he plan to tell this very powerful lobby group in Washington?
NEHRING: Well, I think there are two key things here. One thing is that there's no candidate for President who's been stronger on the issues
related to Israel and Israeli security then Ted Cruz. No other candidate has said for example that on day one of his administration that he would
begin the process of moving the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to the capital of Jerusalem where it belongs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEHRING: The second thing is that Donald Trump of course you know continues to avoid having a one on one debate with Ted Cruz. We know why he's
avoiding that because he would get crushed. And so if Donald Trump doesn't want to debate Ted Cruz, then we're going to bring the debate to him. So
we'll be speaking after -- Senator Cruz will speak after Donald Trump at APEC and I think that Senator Cruz will have a few things to say about
Donald Trump's record and his flexibility on the questions related to Israeli security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEHRING: You know, he said that he would be neutral on questions related to Israel and the Palestinians, and that's something that he has to account
for because we need an American President who will stand with Israel, our ally, not be neutral on Israel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[16:40:05]
GORANI: All right, Ron Nehring, thanks very much, the national spokesperson for the Ted Cruz campaign, thanks for joining us.
NEHRING: Thank you.
GORANI: All right, quick update now on the story out of Belgian. Belgian Police are searching for another suspect in the Paris terror attacks, just
days after capturing Salah Abdeslam in Brussels Molenbeek district. The area of course Molenbeek, ever since the Paris attacks we've heard that
suburb name a lot. It's becoming known as some sort of Jihadi capital in Europe. Now in the first part of this exclusive series, Nima Elbagir
discovers just how easy it is to get ahold of extremist literature there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: A sunny day in the center of Brussels. For years authorities here have been combating an epidemic of
extremist literature. We set out to find how easy it still is to access these texts. Using our under cover camera we visited a number of book
shops, asking for books we knew espoused violent Jihadi ideology. This man stammers nervously before telling me he doesn't have them in but knows
where to find them.
(Inaudible) he says, a small district in the north of Brussels. We head to (inaudible). Another bookshop, another stammered answer. We're directed to
the center of town, back to the first shop. It's starting to feel like we're being given the runaround. So 11 years ago (inaudible) knows these
book shops all too well.
10 years ago the researcher visited many of them under cover to expose the extremist literature openly for sale. After she published her findings, she
found herself at the centre of a whirlwind of recrimination, criticism and threats.
HIND FRAIHI, RESEARCHER: The Mayor, the Police, the secret service, they all said it was too sensational. That I exaggerated. My conclusions were
based on, well, just street talks, so they didn't take me serious and they didn't take the young people of the streets seriously.
ELBAGIR: The buying and swapping of the books is itself part of the radicalization. Seen as evidence of commitment that the ideology is taking
hold.
Armed with the titles and the publishing houses, we don't have to search much further. To online bookshops in Belgium, extremist literature is
delivered right to your front door.
We're not disclosing the names of these books but these are amongst the extremist texts being found in the homes and hideouts of suspected
militants, they're essentially Jihadi 101s. The language in here is horrifying. Justifying the targeting of Jews. The conscription of children.
And matter of fact statements that it's every Muslim's responsibility to bear arms. These are key ISIS tenets.
In many European countries, these books are banned. In Belgium, at best, buying these books may attract unwanted attention from the authorities. But
the books and their sale is completely legal.
Videos like this have grown infamous here. Belgian Jihadis exhorting those still at home to join them in Iraq and Syria. Estimates vary but Belgian
security forces calculate the average number of Belgians who have successfully left to join ISIS since the Paris attacks at almost 2 dozen.
The dramatic capture of the so called eighth Paris attacker Salah Abdeslam just a street away from his childhood home in Brussels after months on the
run. A stark reminder of how hard it's been for Belgian authorities to stay one step ahead of the extremist networks. And the tide of extremist
literature bolstering the networks is proving even tougher to quell. If anything, it appears to be even easier to obtain.
Nima Elbagir, CNN, Brussels.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Still ahead, pomp and ceremony greet the American President on his historic trip to Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: But there are people who have blasted Barack Obama for going in the first place. We'll hear from a critic next.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:46:52]
GORANI: Let's get back to our top story and President Obama's historic visit to Cuba.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: In the last few hours, Mr. Obama announced that the U.S. embargo against Cuba is going to end. It's just a matter of when, though congress
doesn't have it on their agenda. He made the remarks during a joint news conference with Cuban leader, Raul Castro in Havana. President Obama says
change may not be fast but that it is coming to Cuba. As we've been covering today now not everyone is praising President Obama's visit to the
island Nation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Mike Gonzalez, is an American born in Cuba and a senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. He served in the state department in the last
Bush administration. Mike Gonzalez is live in Washington. Thank you, sir, for joining us. Why are you opposed --
MIKE GONZALEZ, SENIOR FELLOW, HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Thank you Hala, for having me.
GORANI: Sure. Why are you opposed to normalization between the two countries?
GONZALEZ: Because it's against America's national interest. What we need to have is a democracy in a free market nation close to us or anywhere in the
world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GONZALEZ: What we are doing right now with President Obama's visit and with his change in policy is helping Raul Castro perpetuate his family and
regime and power. He - Raul Castro is trying to hand the reins of power to his son, Alejandro Castro Espin, to his daughter, Mariela Castro, and to
his son-in-law, General Luis Alberto Rodriquez, who is the head of (inaudible), the holding company that controls over 95% of the Cuban
economy. Any deals with Cuba is a deal with the Castro family. What we should -- so we shouldn't be trying -- we shouldn't be helping Raul
perpetuate his family's rule.
GORNAI: But isn't it better to try to effect change by re-establishing a relationship with the country rather than isolating it and keeping it
outside of sort of a normal trade relationship with the U.S.? I spoke with Jim McGovern, a congressman who's been pushing for normalization for a very
long time about his thoughts on this day, this is what he told me, and then I'll get your reaction to it.
JIM MCGOVERN, CONGRESSMAN: The fact of the matter is political space has begun to open up here on the island not because of U.S. policy but because
of the engagement of the Europeans, of the Canadians, of the rest of the world. Look, we have a better opportunity to influence Cuba on the issue of
human rights from a position of kind of mutual respect where we treat each other as, you know, with respect and have a more constructive and mature
dialogue in these things. For the past 50 years, all we've done is scream and yell and shout and we've had no impact at all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, so what do you make of that? Jim McGovern says we've been trying it the other way for 50 years. It hasn't worked. Let's try
this.
GONZALEZ: I don't know where he gets his facts. I get my facts from the Independent Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation.
According to them, last month, February, there were 1,141 political arrests in January, it was actually 1,400.
Already in the first two months of this year, we have seen 30% of all the political detentions of last year. Now the fact of the matter is, you have
cameras there, you should be showing the arrests. Yesterday, the day that Obama landed
[16:50:10]
GORANI: We showed some - no, we absolutely showed it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GONZALEZ: 60 people were arrested, they were carted to prison. I spoke to one of them, Antonio Rodiles, a dissident leader, I spoke to him this
morning. He told me he was beaten up. His wife was beaten up. They beat up women, they took him to prison, he was kept in there for eight hours. This
happened on the day that President Obama arrived. So there is change. It's going from bad to worse.
GORANI: You think it's a worse situation now?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: One of the other things people will say is why the double standard right? The United States does business with China. China has big issues of
human rights issues and issues with imprisoning and silencing dissidents. It does business with Saudi Arabia. It sells arms to many countries that
have human rights issues. Why not just normalize relations with Cuba and try to impact change in the country by keeping the dialogue open? What's
the problem with that?
GONZALEZ: I'm very happy you brought that up. I covered China, I lived in Hong Kong eight years. I covered it for "The Wall Street Journal." Frankly
I was wrong. When I was there in the '80s, I thought that economic change was going to bring political change. You know what Hala, it hasn't
happened, it just hasn't happened.
Today you cannot speak your mind in China. The reforms were started in 1978. China continues to be a one-party state. It's gotten very good at
being a corporate state. One party with the regime and the children get rich. This is what's coming to Cuba. And in China if you're a Nobel Prize
winner, you get put in prison and your wife gets put in prison. You cannot - you don't have the freedom to practice religion. What we expected to
happen in the 80s just has not happened. Vietnam, has not happened. We're looking to the future here. This is the model.
GORANI: All right, Mike Gonzalez, thanks very much. Opposes this initiative to normalize relations with Cuba. Thanks very much for joining us from
Washington with your point of view. We appreciate it.
GONZALEZ: Thank you.
GORANI: We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Well many expect the U.S. President's visit to Cuba to usher in all sorts of changes with internet, more flights, new cars. Havana's frozen in
time feel could change very soon. But while some tourists rush to see it others are eager for a new era. Chris Cuomo is there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The excitement is everywhere. And so are the tourists. Drawn by the historic visit of President Obama and
the Rolling Stones, the band performing for the first time on Friday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love Cuba.
CUOMO: Tourists here no matter the country are saying the same thing. Everyone wants to see the time capsule that is Cuba.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just want to see I guess the architecture and it's like a time capsule for sure.
CUOMO: And they are all talking about change.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We wanted to see Cuba before the change. We feel like there's going to be a big change in Cuba.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hopefully it won't be change.
CUOMO: Cambio is the word for change. But it means something different depending on your perspective. For tourists especially from the United
States, it means coming to see this beautiful art deco Spanish revival architecture, the authentic Cuban life that's frozen in time.
[16:55:00]
But frozen in time if you live here means something very different. It means beyond the patina of the pretty is the reality. The water that
doesn't work when it's on. Buildings that pretty on the outside but destroyed on the inside.
So change is a matter of perspective. The novelty and the reality find their source in the Cuban government. The Castro regime. The embargo was
put in place more than half a century ago by the U.S. to stifle them.
This parking attendant believes when and if the embargo is lifted, everything is going to change. But with Castro still in place, many in the
U.S. have resisted President Obama's move to open up relations. But here, his move is endorsed by captivated outsiders.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Way past time for us to be here in Cuba and be friends.
CUOMO: Many Cubans here also want normalized relations. (Rafaella) She says she even wants Obama to be her President to get democracy she says she
needs.
The charm and the challenge of change for Cubans are reflected in the old cars. Vestiges of that pre-revolution 1950s Cuba. On the outside, pretty
pictures of time standing still, but inside, six different cars in one.
So it's from a new Russian truck he got the hinges from this, the engine is from a Hyundai, it's brand new, the car itself is a '57 Pontiac, it's a mix
of all these different things because in Cuba you have to make it work on your own.
These American college students have never known life without constant internet access, but that is the reality in Cuba. For these young
Americans, this may be one deprivation that could have a silver lining.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would have been on Instagram probably posting everything but now I'm actually paying attention and taking it all in and
it's just -- it's exciting.
CUOMO: It's called living, by the way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Exciting. Now, owners of a new $300 million ship funded by the British government have put its name to a public vote. Online. Good idea,
right? Well, maybe not. They asked for names that were inspirational such as an historical figure or landmark. Instead, this is what they got.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: There is Usain boat, a reference to the Olympic sprinter. There's also Ice Ice Baby. And a nod to Vanilla Ice. This is a research ship that's
going to go into very cold environments. But steaming way ahead is this one, Boaty McBoatFace. You read that right. It was suggested by twitter
user James Hand and has quickly become the crowd favorite. It has 26,000 votes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: RSS Boaty McBoatFace. I'm Hala Gorani, this is "The World Right Now," Quest Means Business is next.
END
