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Hala Gorani Tonight
U.S. Envoy To Syria, James Jeffrey, Raises War Crimes Question; Republican Lawmakers Storm Closed-Door Session; Trump Lawyers Argue No Prosecution For Fifth Avenue Murder; U.K. P.M. Blames Parliament For Requesting Delay; Morales Calls Strike Over Election A "Coup"; Murder Suspect Returning To Taiwan To Turn Himself In; U.S.-Made Weapons Traded In Yemen's Shifting Alliances. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired October 23, 2019 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:20]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, everyone. I'm Lynda Kinkade, welcome.
Tonight, the U.S. president, claiming victory after abruptly withdrawing from Syria. And as the U.S. pulls out, Russia moves in.
A gruesome discover in a container truck in southeastern England. We're going to live to the scene.
Also, Washington impeachment drama. Why Republican lawmakers stormed a secure hearing.
Well, U.S. President Donald Trump is taking credit for what he calls a major breakthrough in Syria. The end of a Turkish offensive that he
essentially paved the way for by withdrawing U.S. forces from the region. Mr. Trump says Turkey assured him a U.S.-brokered ceasefire is permanent,
so he's lifting all sanctions on Ankara.
Turkey's offensive against the United States' Kurdish allies has dramatically shifted the balance of power in Syria. But Mr. Trump says it
was time for America to leave.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: it was supposed to be a very quick hit and let's get out, and it was a quick hit except they stayed for
almost 10 years. Let someone else fight over this long blood-stained sand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, according to a spokesman for the Kurdish-led forces in Syria, a top Kurdish commander is thanking Mr. Trump for, quote, "his
tireless efforts that stopped the Turkish offensive."
President Trump responded with this tweet, saying, "Thank you for your kind words and courage. Please extend my warmest regards to the Kurdish
people."
Well, Mr. Trump did not mention a new Russian-Turkish deal that has changed the reality on the ground in northern Syria. Russia has emerged as the key
power broker, deploying forces to help set up border patrols. Well, a key part of that deal took effect at noon on Wednesday.
Russian and Syrian forces are now jointly patrolling part of the Turkish border, enforcing demands for Kurdish fighters to withdraw 30 kilometers
south. Russian-Turkish forces will begin separate patrols next week.
There certainly is a lot to break down here. I want to bring in our Jomana Karadsheh who is on the Turkish-Syrian border, as well as Kylie Atwood in
Washington. Good to have you both with us.
I want to start with you first, Jomana. In terms of what the U.S. president is saying today -- he's calling this a victory for the U.S. --
saying that the Syrian Democratic commander of the forces there is thankful to the U.S. This certainly is a far cry from what we've heard from the
Kurds in recent days.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. You know, General Mazloum Abdi, the top commander of the Syrian Kurdish forces, might be
thanking President Trump for that pause in fighting, for that ceasefire that was brokered last week, stopping the military offensive.
But we have to look at how this all started. And everyone, really blaming President Trump for essentially greenlighting that operation after that
phone call with President Erdogan, pulling U.S. forces from the border region and allowing Turkey essentially to go ahead with this operation.
And you need to look at the results on the ground, of this very chaotic and messy situation right now. The Kurds, who enjoyed a big deal of autonomy,
really, over the past few years, have lost that. They're now at the mercy of Russia and Syrian regime, who they were forced to turn to for support
after they were, as they say, abandoned by the United States. You have nearly 200,000 people who have been displaced from their homes.
So -- and we've heard from people, from ordinary Syrian Kurds over the past few days, basically saying how they feel betrayed by the United States, how
they feel backstabbed by the people who they thought would protect them, who were their partners.
So basically, you know, forget what everyone is saying. We saw those stunning images yesterday, coming out from northeastern Syria, and coming
out also from northern Iraq, where you had Kurds pelting U.S. military vehicles that were withdrawing, with stones and rotten vegetables.
And that's quite telling, Lynda. The Kurds have been amongst the very few allies that the United States and the U.S. military have had in this
region. They have always been welcoming of the U.S., and they saw the U.S. as friends. So that's really quite telling.
I think we're looking at a situation here where what the president says and what reality is are two very different things.
KINKADE: It certainly does sound that way, Jomana. Just stand by.
I want to bring in Kylie Atwood because the U.S. envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, said that the U.S.-Turkish-supported opposition forces have
committed war crimes. Donald Trump did not mention that at all today, but he did say that he is going to withdraw the sanctions on Turkey but leave
the door open about re-imposing them at a later stage.
[14:05:14]
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, that's right. So the big news today is that the Trump administration is going to lift these
sanctions that were put into place just earlier this month, when Turkey began this invasion into northern Syria.
Now, the question that a lot of folks are bringing up today is, why are those sanctions being lifted if there were war crimes that were actually
committed? How is Turkey ever going to change its behavior if these sanctions are lifted and there's really no pressure put on them to prevent
them from carrying out any kind of war crimes in this region again?
The other thing that President Trump talked about was the fact that the places where these ISIS fighters have been kept, these prisons, he said
that the SDF commander told him that they were under lock and key and that there are some who have been -- who have gotten out but they have ben
recaptured.
Now, that also does not match up with what U.S. envoy, special envoy to Syria James Jeffrey was telling members of Congress today. He told them
that more than a hundred ISIS fighters have escaped and the U.S. does not know where those ISIS fighters are.
KINKADE: Yes. Certainly, he is at odds with his officials on that and what it means for the ISIS families who have escaped.
And just, Jomana, in terms of the talks going forward, what's going to happen, we know that Turkey's president met with Vladimir Putin yesterday.
They spoke for some six hours about how to essentially divvy up Syria, that part of Syria along the border.
How is this going to play out over the coming days, particularly given that Donald Trump said, a short time ago, that he is handing over the reins to
other countries now?
KARADSHEH: Well, basically, we're going to have to wait and see. You know, you've had so many agreements in the past, and how they play out on
the ground is a whole different thing, it's a very complex situation on the ground, you know. That's obviously an understatement, very complex
situation. So we'll have to wait and see what happens with that, Lynda.
But if you look at what Turkey has managed to accomplish over the past two weeks, it did get what it wanted at the end. They have wanted to see the
Syrian Kurds pushed away from their border. They tried to work out a deal with the United States, their NATO ally, but they never really felt that
the United States was really committed, was really serious about delivering that kind of deal.
And that's why Turkish officials say that they had no choice but to go ahead with that military offensive, to try and secure that.
But then you look at their talks with the Russians, the Russians managed to provide them with, at least right now on paper, that commitment that they
want, to push the Syrian Kurdish fighters away from the border. We're going to have to wait and see in the coming days, in the coming weeks, how
this is all going to play out, with these joint patrols and if Turkey manages to get what it wants.
One complicating factor in all of this is the other aim of their operation, Lynda, was they wanted to resettle about 2 million Syrian refugees who are
in Turkey, to send them back into that safe zone, that designated safe zone that they're setting up.
But now that you have the Assad regime moving into these areas, that is really going to complicate that because a lot of these refugees have
escaped that Syrian regime, Lynda.
KINKADE: Absolutely. Jomana Karadsheh, Kylie Atwood, good to have you both with us on this story. Thanks so much.
Well, staying on this story, President Trump is calling the situation along the Syrian-Turkish border a big success, but his own top envoy to Syria
says the U.S. believes Turkish-allied militia have committed war crimes, as were just discussing there with Kylie Atwood.
Well, some graphic video is surfacing that appears to back those allegations. Our Nick Paton Walsh is covering that part of the story from
northern Iraq, and joins us now live.
And, Nick, obviously you heard from President Trump today, those comments a few hours ago, essentially calling this a victory, saying it's better for
the future of Syria, better for the Middle East. But this whole operation, essentially coming at a huge cost to the Kurdish people.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, obviously, yes, they have lost their main ally, the U.S. They have found themselves
turning to the Syrian regime in order to try and get some kind of protection there. And, of course, to -- they've borne the brunt of the
forces that Turkey have used to prosecute this war for them.
Now, they are Syrian rebels, called mostly extremists, accused of being former al-Qaida, former ISIS by a U.S. official I was speaking to. And of
course, what's vitally important to remember here is that since this campaign has begun, a series of videos have in fact emerged that have
suggested, these rebels, backed by Turkey, have been behind atrocities.
[14:10:04]
Here's some of them. I should warn you that this report does contain some graphic images.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATON WALSH (voice-over): The gruesome videos keep coming. But not just the normal brutality of war, something uglier, more radical. Scenes of the
Syrian rebels Turkey is backing, abusing, here, the corpse of dead Syrian Kurdish female and male fighters, Tuesday near Tal Abyad. Rebel leaders
said they had arrested and would punish the fighters behind this.
A U.S. official has said these fighters, backed by Turkey, are mostly extremists, former ISIS and al-Qaeda. And from the start, they were
accused of savagery.
This is the widely circulated video of the murder of Kurdish activist Hervin Khalaf, her bodyguards beaten before execution. We found their
vehicle, heavily shot up and discarded on the highway.
Startling acts of violence like this have made many reassess exactly who Turkey is using to try and execute its goals here in northeastern Syria.
An autopsy report CNN can't independently verify says the widely traveled (ph) activist was dragged by her hair and beaten with a blunt object on her
head before being shot to death.
Some of the videos the rebels have posted of themselves, add support to the theory that Turkey was in such a hurry to build militia to fight for them,
it didn't vet out extremists. It may now be liable for war crimes.
JAMES JEFFREY, U.S. ENVOY TO SYRIA: We've seen several incidents, which we consider war crimes.
MARK ESPER, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I've seen the reports as well. We're trying to monitor them. They are horrible and if accurate -- and I assume
that they are accurate -- they would be war crimes, as best as I know the law of land warfare.
So I think all those need to be followed up on. I think those responsible should be held accountable. In many cases, it would be the government of
Turkey, should be held accountable for this because we cannot allow those things to happen.
PATON WALSH (voice-over): Turkey and the rebels have rejected many accusations, and often post media of how life has returned to normal under
their control. And some of the behavior here, though, posted on the rebels' own Telegram channels, isn't that distant to ISIS' old videos.
Turkey has loyal rebel forces in Idlib Province, which Western intelligence has said is now infiltrated by al-Qaida. But it is unclear which units of
rebels Turkey is using.
Will these men stop when Turkey tells them to? Will Turkey tell them to? And what sort of society will they build? Will it have a place for -- or
reject -- ISIS?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PATON WALSH: Now, I should point out that Turkey has always insisted that the groups it backs in Syria generally and dong the fighting here are
moderates, and has denied a lot of the allegations levied against them, of course. And has suggested (ph) it prosecutes (ph) the campaign here as
best as it possibly can be according to international law, and has called some of the accusations against it, disinformation.
But we are seeing a slow drumbeat, backed by the almost daily release of some video, to some degree, that is frankly disturbing a lot of the time,
now coupled with these allegations from high-ranking U.S. officials, of war crimes by these Syrian rebels, and it raises a deeply troubling question
for where this short-executed enormous reversal of a campaign has left Syria.
Are we now seeing a chunk of territory, annexed by Turkey, controlled by Syrian rebels who are essentially a little too close to ISIS, who the
Syrian Kurds have been trying to fight.
What kind of community, what kind of Syria will they end up building there? We simply don't know. And responsibility for that, frankly, lies with
Turkey, who have said they've done all they possibly can to fight ISIS. There are many who say, frankly, they allowed a lot of ISIS fighters
through their territory into Iraq and Syria in the first place.
That's history. The burning obvious question now is what can be done about these more radical-seeming groups? And frankly, how can atrocities like
the ones you've just seen in that report, spanning really a 10-day period of this incursion, how can they be stopped? Back to you, Lynda.
KINKADE: Exactly. How can they be stopped. Nick Paton Walsh for us in Erbil. Good to have you on the case, thank you.
Well, in southeast England, we're following the murder investigation after 39 bodies were found inside a truck at an industrial park. British police
believe the trailer traveled from Belgium into England. The victims have not yet been identified but one suspect, the driver of the truck, is now in
custody.
Well, moments ago, a local councillor identified him as Morris Robinson. Scott McLean has been following this story all day, joins us now live from
the scene. Scott, absolutely horrific, 39 people -- 39 bodies, including a child, in the back of this truck. What are you learning?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's hard to imagine just how horrific that scene would have been, to come upon it. Today, we saw
forensic teams going through the cab of that truck. And then, in the back, there were obviously those 39 bodies, 38 of them adults, the other one,
police believe, is a teenager.
[14:15:03]
Now, police have not said what type of container was on the back of that truck, but one industry expert that I spoke to said that he believes that
it is a refrigeration truck, based on the look of it.
The refrigeration trucks have much thicker walls, and you wouldn't be able to hear anything going on on the inside from the outside.
It is also not clear at this point, who alerted authorities to that area. It is in an industrial park. It would not be uncommon, even at 1:30 in the
morning, for trucks to be driving through that area. Police will only say that it was the ambulance service who called them over, but it's unclear
who told the ambulance service.
The bodies -- the truck has now been taken here, to this docklands area about 20 minutes' drive from the original scene. Police say it is to give
them some privacy while they remove those bodies, give them some dignity, dignity that they seemingly did not get at the end of their lives -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Right. Scott McLean, we will speak to you and stay on this story. Thank you very much.
Well, still to come here tonight, a bizarre showdown unfolding in the halls of power of Congress. Republican lawmakers, storming the secure hearing
room as a witness in the Trump impeachment inquiry was about to testify. And they are refusing to leave. We're going to have details on that story,
next.
Also, we're going to take you to the streets of Lebanon, where people say they won't stop protesting until they see real changes in government.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, on Capitol Hill, a bizarre scene, unfolding today in the Trump impeachment saga. About two dozen conservative
Republican lawmakers stormed the secured basement committee room just as a key witness was sitting down to testify before three House panels.
The witness left, but the lawmakers have not. They even got snacks delivered. They rallied against what they say is an unfair secretive
process by Democrats, and accused them of trying to undo the 2016 presidential election.
Well, these lawmakers are not members of the House. They're conducting, obviously, the closed-door depositions. A top Republican who is on one of
those panels is defending that stunt. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JIM JORDAN (R-OH): It has finally reached a boiling point where members just said they are so frustrated at the idea that they can't be a
part of this and see what's going on. And so we're at a standstill here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, negotiations are going on right now to end this standoff, and it comes just a day after bombshell testimony by the top U.S. diplomat
to Ukraine. Bill Taylor dismantled President Trump's claim that there was no quid pro quo with Ukraine, and directly tied the delay in military aid
for Ukraine to the president.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Bill Taylor, sending shock waves through Capitol Hill, telling Congress multiple
administration officials informed him that President Trump personally blocked military aid unless Ukraine agreed to announce investigations into
the Bidens and the 2016 U.S. election.
[14:20:12]
Sources say those inside audibly gasped and sighed, just from the top U.S. diplomat to Ukraine's opening statement.
REP. ANDY LEVIN (D-MI): In my 10 short months in Congress, this is the -- my most disturbing day in Congress so far.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): Taylor, providing a clear timeline of events based on copious notes he kept of his communications, saying he shared those
notes with the State Department, which is refusing to give them to congressional investigators.
REP. AMI BERA (D-CA): He's filling in some gaps, he's sharing with us in a pretty candid way, and (ph), you know, his experience.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): The 50-year career diplomat, detailing a conversation with U.S. ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland,
who he says told him, "Everything was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance," adding, "He said that President Trump
wanted President Zelensky 'in a public box' by making a public statement about ordering such investigations."
Taylor, telling Congress he disagreed with the tactic, but Sondland repeatedly tried to explain the president's intent.
According to Taylor, Sondland told him, "When a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something... the businessman asks that
person to pay up before signing the check."
The next day, the diplomat raised concern in a text message exchange with Sondland, writing, "I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for
help with a political campaign."
After speaking with President Trump, Sondland stressed that was not the case, texting, "I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's
intentions. The president has been crystal clear, no quid pro quos of any kind."
The White House, quickly attempting to discredit Taylor and the impeachment inquiry, saying, "This is a coordinated smear campaign from far-left
lawmakers and radical unelected bureaucrats, waging war on the Constitution. There was no quid pro quo."
Trump's Republican allies, doing the same.
REP. MARK MEADOWS (R-NC): -- been in there for 10 hours, I can assure you there was no quid pro quo.
MALVEAUX (voice-over): But House Democrats are adamant, Taylor's testimony directly links the president to a quid pro quo --
REP. KAREN BASS (D-CA): You can't just commit a crime and say that you didn't, and then expect it to go away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, you know, it's --
MALVEAUX (voice-over): -- and applauding him for testifying against the Trump administration's wishes.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL): He came forward, again at risk of his career and expense to himself. He had no incentive but to tell the truth.
And I believe that's what he did today.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, that was CNN's Suzanne Malveaux, reporting there.
I want to bring in CNN Politics Congressional Reporter, Lauren Fox now. Good to have you with us. So, certainly, some pretty dramatic scenes
going, down there, with these Republican lawmakers storming into this closed-door session.
LAUREN FOX, CNN POLITICS CONGRESSIONAL REPORTER: Well, that's right. And they brought their phones with them, some of them. Now, this is a secure
room, this is somewhere where you're supposed to take off your Apple watch, you're supposed to disregard your phone. This is an environment that's
supposed to be taken very seriously.
And of course, these Republicans, many of them, were not part of these relevant committees, they're not invited to be part of these depositions.
But Republicans are arguing, they're fed up. They do not want these depositions happening behind closed doors any more.
Their argument -- And I just talked to Kevin McCarthy, the top Republican in the House -- is that, look, we have to ultimately vote on articles of
impeachment if they come to the floor. Therefore, we need to know what's going on behind closed doors.
Now, Democrats' response has been, all along, that these depositions have to happen behind closed doors because this is an investigation and you
cannot have witnesses hearing each other's testimony and influencing each other when it comes to the information that they're sharing.
KINKADE: Certainly fascinating case to cover for you. Lauren Fox, good to have you with us. Thank you.
While Donald Trump battles the impeachment on Capitol Hill, his lawyers are also fighting in a New York courtroom to keep his tax returns secret.
One of the president's lawyers made a remarkable argument today. The attorney, telling the U.S. Court of Appeals that the president has absolute
immunity from prosecution, arguing that even if the president shot someone in the middle of New York's Fifth Avenue, he could not be prosecuted or
even investigated for that crime.
Let's get more from CNN White House reporter Stephen Collinson. Stephen, this is certainly a fascinating case, hearing this lawyer basically wanting
to strike out -- make a case for just how much immunity President Trump could have here.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, Lynda. The first thing to remember, of course, is that the president's lawyers are trying to
make this legal proceeding last as long as possible. It's in their interest to push this issue of whether Congress can get President Trump's
tax returns as far and perhaps past the next election, if they can.
Having said that, this is a very interesting legal argument, as you say. Most of the legal thought on this issue goes back to the Nixon era and an
opinion that was released by the Justice Department at that time, which said that the president did have immunity from prosecution because if he
was open to prosecutions from all the 50 states for example, he would never be able to get on with his job.
And there's also the argument that, as the head of the U.S. judicial system, the titular head, the president would effectively be prosecuting
himself.
This, then, went into the Clinton impeachment, where the Supreme Court made an argument that while the president does have certain immunity from
prosecution in the course of his job, that doesn't mean that he could just go out, as President Trump said during his campaign, and shoot someone in
Fifth Avenue and get away with it.
It depends on the president and the official functions of his job. So in many ways, this is a very interesting and somewhat specious legal argument.
But the motivation of the president's lawyers is to obstruct the court proceedings and to make them last as long as possible.
KINKADE: Yes. Certainly trying to drag this out. We will stay on that case.
I want to also point out some new opinion polls we've got in on the Democratic candidates. The former U.S. vice president Joe Biden, certainly
firming up as the favorite. Now, 34 percent. And that, of course, is up from 24 percent just last month.
Stephen, what do you put that down to?
COLLINSON: You know, there's been a lot of talk since the CNN debate last week, that Elizabeth Warren is the true frontrunner in this race. I think
this will bolster former Vice President Biden's supporters. There's been a lot of talk that perhaps he's fading.
This poll does show that the former vice president still has very strong support among minority voters. They are the most important voters in the
Democratic race. I think we can sort of question exactly how much it tells us about what's going to happen in the early months of next year, for
example, because Biden is in a very close race with Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders in Iowa, the first state to vote, in February. It's the
same in New Hampshire.
If the -- if Biden were to lose those two contests, it would raise questions about his entire argument that he is the strongest candidate,
he's the best candidate placed to beat President Trump in the general election.
So while it's very interesting and perhaps an encouraging sign for Biden, he's perhaps a wobbly frontrunner in many ways, but he is showing a great
deal of resilience across this race. I think it's too early to start drawing conclusions that suddenly he's going to start off in Iowa and run
the table through all these primaries and caucuses.
KINKADE: Yes. Still very early days, yes. Stephen Collinson, I wish we had more time to talk to you. We've got to wrap it up for now. Thanks so
much.
Still to come tonight, Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, stuck in limbo while the E.U. is considering a flexible extension. We'll go live to Westminster
for the latest from Parliament.
Also, Bolivia's current president, claiming victory as tensions run high among the opposition. What he is accusing demonstrators of orchestrating.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:32]
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, after major defeat in Parliament, Boris Johnson is telling lawmakers he does not know what happens next for Brexit.
The British Prime Minister reiterated Wednesday that he doesn't want to delay and he blamed parliament for forcing him to ask for an extension.
Johnson's Brexit deal Europe is on hold after parliament rejected his attempt to fast track the bill through Parliament.
Well, now, as Europe is likely to grab that extension, the president of the European Council and Parliament are both recommending E.U. nations approve
a flexible extension to the Brexit deadline.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID SASSOLI, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (through translator): I think it is advisable, as requested by President Donald Tusk that the
European Council should accept this extension. This extension will allow the United Kingdom to clarify his position and the European Parliament to
exercise his role.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Nic Robertson joins us now from outside British Parliament in London. Good to have you with us, Nic.
So Boris Johnson's dream of leaving the E.U. by October 31st no longer happening. What sort of extension are we looking at here?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, it's interesting that Boris Johnson doesn't perhaps seem to have got that memo properly that
his dream of leaving on the 31st of October is dead. He was mentioning again in Parliament today.
But fate to the additional right, and as soon as the European Union response to him, assuming that they respond positively with an extension,
which is what is expected, it is likely to be this flex extension.
But this is in keeping with the request that he made over the weekend that the Ben Act, which was what he was following through and he's legally
obliged to do, request the three-month extension. But the reality is if everything is all done and dusted here in the U.K. and in Brussels that
everything is actually agreed before that deadline. Then that becomes the Brexit date. So that's what a flexible part of it comes in.
KINKADE: And what sort of circumstances, Nic, could we see an early election?
ROBERTSON: Yes, if Boris Johnson decides that he doesn't want to use his additional time to go through and negotiate the withdrawal agreement bill
in parliament and the Labour Party again reiterated this offer to do exactly that. I think he decides that too much of it will change, that
there will be too many acceptable amendments to it, so cause a wreaking amendments.
Then he will decide, perhaps, that his better option is to go for an election. He said he wants an election before. And the thing that's held
him up is the no-deal option. And the Labor Party has said, as soon as that no-deal option is off the table, which appears to be it will be off
the table once an extension is granted, then there's a possibility that Boris Johnson to move to an election.
But it still requires the Labour Party's support. They can sail that. And then when it comes to it, they might not actually go through this vote of
no confidence in the government which has two-thirds majority. And if it doesn't get that, then Boris Johnson doesn't get the election. So he's
still hostage to other people at the moment. And it's not clear what his decisions going to be at, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, a lot of talk and not a lot of progress.
Nic Robertson. As always, good to have you there on the cold for us. Thank you.
Returning to Bolivia now, a protest to say the president rigged Sunday's election and holding a general strike today. President Evo Morales is
holding onto his claim of victory while accusing demonstrators of a coup.
As protests continue, the Organization of American States held a meeting today to discuss the situation and plans to order the board. CNN's Matt
Rivers reports from Mexico City.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ballot boxes burnt. Angry clashes with police in riot gear. Violent protests on the
streets of Bolivia, with many questioning the outcome of the country's presidential election. Demonstrator claim, Bolivian electoral authorities
manipulated the vote count in favor of President Evo Morales.
Preliminary results released hours after polls closed on Sunday showed a tight margin between Morales and opposition candidate, Carlos Mesa, which
would have prompted a runoff in December.
To avoid another round of voting, the incumbent needs a 10-point advantage. Sunday, Morales had 45 percent of the votes while Mesa had 37 percent with
about 83 percent of the vote counted. Meaning a runoff was almost certain. The election results released Monday with 95 percent of the vote counted,
give Morales a big enough lead to avoid a runoff.
[14:35:05]
Opposition groups and international observers grew suspicious after election officials stopped the vote for 24 hours without explanation. Mesa
didn't hesitate to speak out.
CARLOS MESA, BOLIVIAN OPPOSITION CANDIDATE (through translator): What is happening is very serious, even the OAS has asked for an explanation as to
why the vote count was stopped. We cannot accept it. We cannot accept that the results were manipulated. They clearly headed as to path to a
runoff that should be carried out regardless.
RIVERS: People shouted fraud as the updated tallies were red. Tensions boiling over at the electoral tribunal.
The confusion over the results sparked anger and outrage as Mesa supporters claimed the results were rigged. If he is declared the winner, this would
be Morales' fourth term in office. He's been the country's president for 14 years and he's one of the longest serving heads of state in Latin
America.
A 2017 ruling to end term limits gave Morales the green light to run in this election.
EVO MORALES, PRESIDENT OF BOLIVIA (through translator): We won a gap. We won four consecutive elections in Bolivia.
MORALES: While Morales is already claiming victory, the Organization of American States is sending a team of election observers to get to the
bottom of the voting discrepancy. And clashes on the street shows no signs of ending.
Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, 18 people including a child are now confirmed dead in the massive protest that have paralyzed the capitol of Chile.
Demonstrators took to the streets again today hours after President Sebastian Pinera pleaded for forgiveness and announced a slew of economic
reforms.
We're looking at live pictures just there. It's still not clear what require this anger. The demonstrations, of course, began over a week ago
over a proposed hike in subway fares.
Well, that swiftly widened into protests against Chile's cost of living. Low wages, lack of skilled jobs, and of course, inadequate pensions, and
healthcare, and education.
Well, nationwide protest in Lebanon have ended at seventh day. Banks and schools are again closed. Major roads have been blocked by people angry of
the government corruption. Lebanon's military quote on protest is to open roads. But as far refused to openly clash with civilians.
We get more now on the anger in the streets from CNN's Ben Wedeman in Beirut.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Whatever is on your mind, you can write it down on a long sheet of white paper
stretching along the side of Beirut's Martyr's Square.
An imitative by the civil society group, Beirut Madinati or Beirut is my city.
NAGHAM ABOUD, BEIRUT MADINATI CAMPAIGN: If the politicians don't want to hear us, they can see what is our demands today.
WEDEMAN: Monday, Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri went on television to insist he did hear the demands from Lebanon's increasingly arrested
streets. Announcing a set of reforms designed to address the flagging economy and clamp down on official corruption.
But that falls far short of what those in the street are demanding, they want the entire political elite to go.
DAYNA AYASH, PROTESTER: The fact that you can come together now and say, yes, we can do these reforms only is proof of how corrupt you really are
because you never did them before. It just goes to show that you've had this power and you never exerted it, except to fill your own pockets.
WEDEMAN: The gap between the ruling class and the rest of the population is becoming a yawning chasm.
GILBERT DOUMIT, PROTESTER: It's too late, it's too little. We're not going to take it and we don't trust them. Look at those people. No one
trust they're going to do anything.
RASHID QASIM, PROTESTER: We're done. We're fed up with this. We need reforms, real reforms.
WEDEMAN: Lebanon's October revolution has taken on a life of its own. Their public spaces have been reclaimed, a sense of community rekindled.
WEDEMAN (on-camera): Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri came out with a raft of reforms hoping it might bring the protests that had been going on across
Lebanon to an end. But he didn't find many takers here. The protests carry on.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Beirut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, after months of anti-government protests and unrest, the Hong Kong government is formally withdrawing its controversial extradition
bill, fulfilling one of the main demands of the pro-democracy protesters.
The bill would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be extradited to Mainland China or trial. Meanwhile, there's an update in the case that led
to the extradition bill in the first place. A murder suspect freed from a Hong Kong prison is offering to go back to Taiwan and turn himself in.
He's accused of killing his girlfriend last year in Taiwan. After she died, he returned to Hong Kong where authorities could only charge him with
money laundering for stealing from the victim. And for that, he served a 19-month sentence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[14:40:11]
CHAN TONG-KAI, SUSPECTED OF MURDER IN TAIWAN (through translator): I understand that because of my irreversible wrongdoing, I have caused huge
pain and I've been blaming myself. Therefore, I am willing to pay the price for my impulsiveness and my wrongdoing, which is to turn myself into
the Taiwanese authorities and serve my sentence there. I hope Poon Hiu- wing's family will feel relieved now and Poon can rest in peace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, he also asked Hong Kong citizens for forgiveness. But he did not address the months of unrest that followed his arrest.
Still to come tonight, a CNN investigation has found American made weapons falling into the wrong hands in Yemen's war. Well, now a leading
democratic contender for U.S. president is demanding answers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, Elizabeth Warren, one of the top democratic contenders for the U.S. president is demanding answers from the U.S.
government. It comes after a CNN investigation revealed that American made weapons had fallen into the wrong hands.
Well, our Nima Elbagir who investigated that story joins us now from London. Incredible reporting, Nima, from you and the team.
So we've got Elizabeth Warren now wanting to know how these weapons, American made weapons ended up in the wrong hands in Yemen. How did you
uncover this? What did you find?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, set out to pick up from our original reporting which found that key U.S. allies, the
UAE and Saudi Arabia were distributing weaponry, U.S. weaponry, illegally. And we wanted to see, seven months later, what the impact of that had been.
And this is what we found, Lynda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Separatist militia in Southern Yemen and armed groups loyal to the internationally recognized Yemeni government.
Just a few months ago, these forces were on the same side backed by the Saudi-led coalition supplied with U.S. weapons. Now, they've turned those
very weapons against each other. And terror groups are exploiting the result in chaos.
In January, we travel through Yemen, documenting the proliferation of U.S. weaponry there.
ELBAGIR (on-camera): Like a graveyard of American military hardware. And this is not under the control of coalition forces. This is in the command
of militias.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): This is in violation of the law governing U.S. arm sales which says they can't be passed on.
In our original investigation, we identified American made armored vehicles which have been sold by the U.S. to the UAE under a 2014 arm sale contract
and had fallen into the hands of armed groups.
Six months on and we spot one of the Emirati supplied vehicles, the U.S. Made, MaxxPro, being paraded by UAE-backed militia known as the Giants
Brigade.
[14:45:04]
Giants Brigade forces have a new mission, here on their way to the strategic port city of Aden to fight against the very legitimate
government, the Emirati's anthem to restore. They are now fighting with the separatists.
The Giants Brigade did not respond to CNN's request for comment. But the UAE hasn't denied supplying them with U.S.-made vehicles. The Giants
Brigade, they told us earlier this year, are part of Yemeni forces that fight the Houthis on the ground and under direct supervision.
The supervision has failed. Half year on, as fighting between separatists and government forces escalates. We set out to find out what happened to
the American MRAP vehicles.
ELBAGIR (on-camera): In the aftermath of our original reporting, we received death threats. So we haven't been able to return to Yemen. But
working with local journalists, we have been able to verify that amongst the military vehicles being used to weigh Yemen's escalating civil conflict
are those that we identified in the U.S.-UAE contract in our initial reporting.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Our team traveled to Shabwa, east of the Yemeni capital, Sana'a, a Yemeni army commander told CNN in these far flung
warzone, U.S. military technology is a game changer which ever hands it ends up in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They are lethal and powerful weapons that the militias were using against the people. American weaponry
is deadly. If the militias or others have them, they may be the winning side.
ELBAGIR: CNN also filmed this. And armored vehicle captured by forces loyal to the legitimate government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. It's a U.S.
made BAE Caiman.
Inside, we found the serial number of the AC system made by RealTime Laboratories at their in Mississippi USA.
We contacted RealTime Laboratories who confirmed it had been supplied under a U.S. government contract but said they couldn't comment on what the
government may have eventually done with the vehicle.
Already, the terror group ISIS has stepped in to exploit the chaos, launching a camping of multiple suicide bombings. The group's first
success was strikes in over a year with a promise of more to come.
After years of drone attacks and the U.S. concentrating its military might on degrading their presence, terror groups once more developing a foothold
here.
The U.S. is a key ally to the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and both countries have spent time and effort lobbying D.C. decision makers.
High on the agenda, rolling back the move by U.S. lawmakers earlier this year to abstract arm sales to both countries.
SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D-CT): There is no reason for the United States to be involved in this war in Yemen. It is a humanitarian catastrophe, but it is
also a national security catastrophe.
Triggered by CNN's original reporting.
SEN. JEANNE SHAHEEN (D-NH): Again, a recent CNN report that suggest that weapons that have been provided to UAE and to Saudi Arabia have wound up in
the hands of Houthis that they have been traded and then used on both sides of that conflict.
GEN. JOSEPH VOTEL (RET.), FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: We have not authorized Saudi Arabia or the Emirates to retransfer any of this
equipment to other parties on the ground.
ELBAGIR: Publicly, the UAE and Saudi Arabia have been struggling to explain how and why forces loyal to them have opened fire on each other.
Worse as we've learned that they're using proprietary U.S. technology to do it with.
CNN has reached out to both the Emirati and Saudi Arabian governments for comment, the Saudis didn't respond, but the UAE told us that there were no
instances when U.S. made equipment was used without direct UAE oversight, except for four vehicles that were captured by the enemy.
CNN found U.S. made vehicles being used in attacks on key locations and personnel within the U.S.-backed legitimate government of Yemen. This in
spite of the fact that the UAE told us no weaponry was being used without their direct oversight.
We also contacted the Pentagon who told us there is an ongoing investigation into our previous findings. For how much longer or what
they'll do with it, it would be saying. All the while, the war in Yemen rages on more lethal than ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR: So months later, and if anything the situation on the ground is much, much worse, Senator Warren has now said that she's giving the State
Department and the Department of Defense two weeks to get back to her with answers on how this weaponry was misused in this way, Lynda.
[14:50:03]
KINKADE: Certainly, your report creating a stir.
Lawmakers are pushing back on the recent deal, just what has been the impact of that, Nima?
ELBAGIR: The most extreme impact has been that President Trump has utilized his veto. His administration have said that it is unwilling to
not provide weapons to the UAE and Saudi Arabia in spite of the evidence that we and others have provided that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are
misusing, and in fact, breaking the law with regards to the arms deal that it has signed with the U.S.
Senator Warren and other senators like Senator Chris Murphy, who was in our piece, say though that they are going to continue to push back, Lynda.
KINKADE: All right. Nima Elbagir, keep up the great work. Thank you so much. We will stay on this case.
We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Hala Gorani continues next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, it seems you can't turn on the T.V. these days without hearing the phrase, quid pro quo. And even though in the know
can't seem to get it out, without stumbling.
Here's our Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's enough to make you say quid pro no.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A quid pro quo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no quid pro quo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quid pro quo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the quid and that's the pro.
MOOS: Hitting a missing quo.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's no quid pro quo.
MOSS: What's the constant bombardment?
TRUMP: It was quid pro quo. That's all you heard about.
MOOS: Trump supporters even know to join in.
TRUMP: Now, that's what you call quid pro quo.
MOOS: President Trump on occasions.
TRUMP: There is no pro quo.
MOOS: Forgets the quid. Maybe that's why he had it on the note card the other day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Armed with a handwritten note that read in part, no quid pro quo.
MOOS (on-camera): Quid pro quo is from Latin, meaning something for something. Think of it as you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Quid pro quo, I'll tell you things, you tell me things.
MOOS: But there's something about trying to say it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Trump had ordered a quid pro quo.
MOOS: That makes even a pro says, quid pro, uh-oh.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I said there was no quid pro quo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He doesn't say that was the quid pro quo.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: May have been a quid pro quo.
MOOS: Stumbling not just once.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said there's no quid pro quo.
MOOS: But twice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But don't require quid pro quo.
MOOS: Forget the Three Stooges, Rudy, President Trump, and Attorney General Barr got labeled quid pro and quo in this cartoon.
Stephen Colbert pretended he was the president's acting chief of staff.
STEPHEN COLBERT, AMERICAN COMEDIAN: My point is, we're not quid amateur quos. We're quid pro quos. We're really good at it.
MOOS: But is it possible to become allergic?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This guy is saying, I don't think he should hold us the money, that's a quid pro quo, that's (INAUDIBLE)
MOOS (on-camera): Joined maybe on to something here. Maybe every time we hear quid pro quo, we should all say (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
MOOS: OK, that's good.
And even if it's not good.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was a quid pro quo.
MOOS: (INAUDIBLE), Jeanne Moos, CNN --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never in the sense of a quid pro quo --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
MOOS: -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[14:55:02]
KINKADE: Oh, that's great.
Well, a new insider's perspective on the Trump White House. It will be published next month and it promises to be explosive.
Sources tell CNN it's written by a senior Trump administration official who wrote an anonymous New York Times op-ed last year about the chaos in the
White House.
The book is called "A Warning," and it will be published anonymously, November 19th. A draft press release describes it as, quote, shocking
firsthand account of President Trump.
Well, in response, the White House's press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said it "Takes a lot of conviction and bravery to write a whole book
anonymously."
Well, finally, if chirping birds ever wake you up too well. You'd be glad you don't have one of these particular ones outside your window.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BIRDS CHIRPING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: It sounds mechanical. Well, it is an ear-splitting screech. We can tell you that. It belongs to the white bell bird. Scientists say it
appears with the loudest in the world.
It takes at 125 decibels. We had to turn it down for you. Well, that, of course, is the level where pain begins. It's louder than a jackhammer.
Thankfully, the mating call is limited to the Amazon. The bird flocks by screaming in the face of potential partners. And apparently that works for
it.
Well, thanks so much for watching. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Stay with CNN, "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
