Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
"Insider Attack" Kills Four U.S. Troops; Afghan Admits to Attacking U.S. Troops; Pakistan Protest Turns Deadly; Israeli Prime Minister Warns U.S. About Iran; Chicago Teachers Strike Could End; Paul Ryan Attacks the Fed; Protests Spark Political Debate; Typhoon Hits Japan, Moving to South Korea; Pope Benedict Visits Lebanon; Royals Dogged by Topless Photos
Aired September 16, 2012 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
It's been an extremely deadly weekend for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The latest attack happened today in Southern Afghanistan. NATO officials say Afghan police turned their guns on U.S. forces in a so- called green on blue attack. Four American troops were killed.
CNN's Anna Coren is in Kabul. So, Anna, what more can you tell us about this attack?
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been, as you say, a very deadly weekend here here. Two green on blue attacks over two days. Four U.S. soldiers were killed early this morning when an Afghan police officer turned his weapon on them, killing them.
These green on blue attacks are Afghan soldiers turning on the coalition troops, I should say, that are training them. Yesterday, it was British troops that were killed, two British troops killed by an Afghan police officer.
Fredricka, we are seeing an uptick in these attacks. There have been 51 coalition deaths to date. That is a rise from 35 last year. So it certainly is alarming coalition forces who are in the process of transferring power to the Afghan forces -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: And so you recently talked with a former Afghan police officer as well who killed Americans, who actually trained people, so what did he tell you?
COREN: Yes, that's right. I was able to get an exclusive interview with this Afghan police officer who has been in hiding for the last three years. In October of 2009, he killed two U.S. soldiers in an attack.
He turned his weapon on them because he said, quote, "Americans were oppressing people in my country. They were burning copies of the Holy Koran and disrespecting it."
So that is why he attacked these U.S. soldiers. He wasn't a member of the Taliban, which is interesting to know it, Fredricka, but he certainly is protected by them at the moment.
WHITFIELD: All right, Anna Coren, thanks so much from Kabul.
Meantime, Reuters reports the protest over an anti-Muslim internet movie have flared up now in Pakistan. The demonstration today outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi turned violent.
Hundreds marched to the consulate and threw rocks. Police used water canons and batons to push them back. Some officers reportedly threw rocks at protesters. Reuters says one person was killed when people in the crowd opened fire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is asking the U.S. to take steps to stop Iran's race for nuclear weapons. And he tells our Candy Crowley that it is not just a campaign issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: This is not an electoral issue. It is not based on any electoral consideration. I think there is a common interest of all Americans of all political persuasions to stop Iran.
This is a regime that is giving vent to the worst impulses that you see right now in the Middle East. They deny rights of women, deny democracy, brutalize their own people, and don't give freedom of religion.
All the things that you see now in these mob mobs storming the American embassies is what you'll see is a regime that would have atomic bombs. You can't let people have atomic bombs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Netanyahu says if Iran is not stopped, they could be ready to produce a nuclear bomb in six months in his view.
All right, we could be seeing the week-long teachers strike in Chicago come to an end this afternoon. In about 90 minutes from now at 4:00 Eastern Time, the teachers bargaining team will give its members details of a tentative agreement it has with the school board.
The walkout has crippled the country's third largest school district and kept almost 400,000 kids out of class for a week now. CNN's Kyung Lah is in Chicago. So both sides have agreed, apparently, in principle, right, and now it's a matter of kind of crossing the T's, dotting the I's?
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. What we heard yesterday, Fredricka, was the union saying they weren't going to sign anything until they got the language worked out. Well, that's all been worked out.
Everyone has agreed, at least, the negotiators that is, on the deal. There is a deal in place. What's happening here at this building in about 90 minutes, is this 800-member union delegation, these are teachers, union members, who will come into a room and basically get the details read to them or expressed to them in some format.
Then the union delegation will decide whether or not to end the strike. They will not be ratifying this contract. This will be done by the entire union later on, all those teachers. What happening today is they are going to say yes or no on the strike.
Now there is something else that could happen. When the information about the contract is shared with the delegates, they could decide they want 24 hours to talk to their schools, to think about it before they make that decision on whether or not to end the strike.
So that's the two things that we are expecting to happen today. We are getting a little more information from the teachers' union about what exactly has been signed. We do know this is now a three-year contract with the possibility of extending it to a four-year.
According to the teachers' union, the city has now backed away, taking baby steps away from Merit K, but those teacher evaluations will be updated. For the very first time here in Chicago in 40 years and 30 percent of teacher evaluations will now be based on test scores.
The union quickly following up by saying that tenure teachers in the first year of this contract will not be impacted in any way because of the new teacher evaluations. So these are just some of the highlights.
We hope to know a little more information, a little more of those details once the union delegates get a little more information themselves.
WHITFIELD: All right, so particularly for those parents and kids who may want to get back to school tomorrow, even if there is an agreement today that both sides agree on, they nailed down, cement it, et cetera.
There is still a possibility they wouldn't have school tomorrow because they would still want to talk with those schools, as you mentioned. So the first day of school could really come Tuesday if everything is agreed upon.
LAH: Well, it's a possibility that kids could be back in school as soon as tomorrow. That's one option. If the union delegation comes here and says, this sounds great, strike over, school is back on for Monday, that is a possibility.
The other possibility is they could say, we want 24 hours to think about it before we decide whether or not the strike is over. So parents, tic-tac, we know it's Sunday and you want to get your kids to bed early. We'll just have to wait and see what happens.
WHITFIELD: So they might want to have a backup plan. All right, Kyung Lah, thanks so much in Chicago.
All right, Republican vice presidential nominee Congressman Paul Ryan says printing more money is not the way to boost the American economy. In a Florida speech, he blasted Democrats and the Federal Reserve's latest effort to stimulate the economy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. PAUL RYAN (R), VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And when they undermine the value of our dollar, it wipes out our standard of living. One of the most insidious things a government can do to its people is to debase its currency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Ryan's claim comes after the fed announced another round of buying billions of dollars worth of debt held in mortgage-backed securities hoping to increase the money supply. Critics say it will cause inflation.
How is it that one internet video could cause so much unrest around the world, and now, what about the political fallout here in the U.S.?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The unrest we've seen across the Middle East this part of the week has sparked protests overseas across 21 nations at least, violent demonstrations in 11 of those countries.
It's sparked new debates about foreign policy in the 2012 race for presidency. Brian Katuris is the senior fellow at the Center for American Progress where he focuses on U.S. national security policy in the Middle East.
Good to see you. Joining us from Madison, Wisconsin today.
BRIAN KATULIS, SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: Hi, Fredricka. Good to be with you.
WHITFIELD: Well, Brian, you know, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Susan Wright said today on various networks including ours that governments around the world are being urged to step up their security measures around certain American installations.
But in the meantime, you know, is it safe to say that this video sparked, you know, so much unrest, or is it that some extremist groups are simply taking advantage of this opportunity?
KATULIS: I think it's more of the latter, extremist groups in countries like Libya and other places that are still in the middle of a transition that's likely to take years to come to fruition are looking to assert themselves in ways that aren't really in line with the mainstream in those countries.
So I think we've seen over the last four or five days are the fringe voices reacting to fringe voices here in our own country. Because remember, the people who did this film or whatever it is, most of us have not even really seen it, are on the fringes as well.
And they're trying to claim emotions, and I think what we see is a moderate consensus in most of these countries saying, look, we need law and order. We need to continue these transitions and the images that we see on our TV is really a small number of these people in these countries.
WHITFIELD: Even Susan Wright was saying this morning that, you know, it was her belief that many Libyans have come out and expressed, you know, their sympathies for the deaths of Ambassador Stevens.
And that in her view and other, it was really the extremists that were in Libya who took advantage of the opportunity and caused the burning that led to the death of the four Americans.
OK, so let's talk about how this is taking center stage now in the race for the White House, all that's erupted, starting with Cairo, Benghazi and now beyond.
You wrote an op-ed in the "New York Times" about all of this saying the Republicans are in disarray. They're divided about national security and foreign policy.
So did Mr. Romney's handling of his comments following the unrest in Egypt further kind of underscore a real dearth of understanding, if not confusion?
KATULIS: Yes, it's a little bit of both. And I think if you see Mitt Romney hours after our top diplomat and three other Americans who were serving our country were murdered in Libya, he was trying to use this as a political case.
And then the reaction to Romney within his own party, many Republicans shaking their heads and criticizing and saying, this is not the moment. Some even noting that when Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush ran for president in 1980 and we had servicemen killed trying to rescue hostages in Iran.
Ronald Reagan didn't politicize that moment neither did George H.W. Bush. So it seems that the Republican Party has lost its way. As I mentioned in that "New York Times" article, there are so many splits inside the party about spending and how do we actually project power in the world.
That many Republicans really don't know what they stand for in foreign policy, and Mitt Romney has been heavy on rhetoric that's been critical of President Obama, but really doesn't offer any clear details of what he would do differently on most of the key issues that America faces in the world.
WHITFIELD: Does that reticence of other Republicans speaking out on his behalf kind of underscore that? Do they have a clear view of what Romney's approach is to foreign policy and maybe that's why so many of them remain silent, especially for an entire 24-hour period about his comments before Rob Portman and John McCain who finally said something?
KATULIS: Well, John McCain did actually say something earlier on, but it was more in line of what President Obama said, honoring our diplomats who had fallen and honoring their service and saying we need to stay engaged in these countries, which again, was quite a contrast to what Mitt Romney did.
The other thing I'd say is you look at Paul Ryan also trying to politicize this, the vice presidential candidate and I think most Americans when they look at this, they shake their heads. They say, this is a time for unity, especially when Americans have fallen overseas and we really shouldn't try to play politics with these instances.
WHITFIELD: All right, Brian Katulis, thanks so much for joining us from Wisconsin this morning. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
KATULIS: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right, overseas, in a different direction, Typhoon Sanba making landfall in Japan. Where it's headed next?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Typhoon Sanba is now barrelling toward South Korea after slamming into the Japanese island of Okinawa. That's where more than 25,000 U.S. troops are based. There are no immediate reports of damage, but the storm is moving north with 120-mile-per-hour winds. It's expected to hit South Korea in a couple days.
Some 350,000 people celebrated mass today with Pope Benedict on Beirut waterfront. The pontiff said Lebanon's diverse religions should live in harmony despite difficult times. He also called for peace in Syria saying both sides should lay down their arms. The mass marked the end of the pope's three-day visit to Lebanon.
Beautiful vineyards, river front hotels, intimate wine tasting, a trip around the world with a wine glass.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived in the Solomon Islands, but half a world away, the controversy over the topless photos of Katherine still unfolding.
On Monday, the royal family plans to file a criminal complaint in Paris against the photographer who took the pictures while the couple was vacationing in France. The royal's attorneys are also expected to ask the court to block publication of more topless photos.
All right, the first day of fall is September 22nd, just a week away, but with the change of weather also comes harvest season. And the most anticipated time of the year especially for many wineries.
Wineries often host festivals and other fun events to celebrate the time when the grapes are at their peak. I spoke with Kate Maxwell, jetsetter.com about where to best find vineyards, festivals and great wine.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Let's begin with the trip to Italy and Tuscany for the annual Chianti grape festival?
KATE MAXWELL, JETSETTER.COM: It's the Chianti festival. It's the food market. The leaves are turning, and the wine harvest. The Chianti festival is the most amazing wine in the region. It's a lovely Tuscan farmhouse in rolling hills and a great decor. Definitely check that out.
WHITFIELD: To Paris now where there is a festival under way?
MAXWELL: Believe it or not, Paris has its own vineyards in the shadow of the cathedrals. They have a little festival the last Sunday of September in which they celebrate the harvest of the 16,000-square- foot patch of vineyard.
Unfortunately, I don't think the wine is all that wonderful, but it's okay because you get to taste other French wines, and of course have wonderful food. And the place to stay there is Castile, which mixes up contemporary with baroque style.
WHITFIELD: Let's go now to Oregon. Oregon has a wine country. I didn't know this.
MAXWELL: It does. It's become more known in the last few years. North Willamette Valley is known for its pinot noirs. They have a festival in October. So you get to try wines. There are also some fun stuff happening. You got to go to three vineyards and have a wonderful lunch. It's only 30 minutes from Portland, Oregon.
Portland is a very trendy city. If you see the show "Portland," you'll know that, and the place to stay there is the hotel called "The Nines." It's a bit edgy, but it's a rather refined and elegant hotel.
WHITFIELD: Like dressed to the nines. I get it. And then, of course, everyone knows about California's great Napa and Sonoma Valley, but Napa Valley, it might be a particularly great time to be there now because of the festival about to be under way.
MAXWELL: Exactly. The Paradox Festival is under way on October 13. The vineyards I love is Duckhorn, Cakebread and Shramsberg. The place to stay there is the Napa River Inn.
Downtown until fairly recently was kind of a no-go zone, but it's fairly developing, and if you stay there, you're literally within stumbling distance of the Michelin restaurants. You can't go wrong with the food and the wine.
WHITFIELD: You clearly know about wine. It sounds like a festival is in order to get educated.
MAXWELL: Absolutely. Such a fun time of the year to go to the winery.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much. Cheers, Kate Maxwell.
MAXWELL: Cheers!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: You can find a lot more travel tips about harvesting, the season of wineries and other destinations at jetsetter.com/getaway.
All right, hard to believe it's been a year since the first "Occupy Wall Street" protest. It all started in New York's Zucotti Park, sparking a nationwide "Occupy" movement.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been a year about understanding some of the things we're trying to do, and it's always going to be a learning process, but I think for the first year, and now in this next year, it's more action. It's not necessarily just saying there is a problem. It's also making sure we're providing solutions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: About an hour from now, we're live from Zucotti Park on where the movement is today. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Stay with CNN. "YOUR MONEY" starts right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)