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Connect the World
Blair Apologizes for Iraq War?; Deadly Mudslides in Brazil; Report on Somali Pirates
Aired January 21, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I regret deeply and profoundly, the loss of life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Listen, it sounds suspiciously like an apology from Tony Blair for the Iraq war.
He still stands by his decision to go to war, but an emotional fallout. British Prime Minister says, he regret the lives lost.
Too late. CB protesters. I hold my baby tight. That's the last thing I remember. In Brazil, tales of survival but at a terrible cost. A daring mission accomplished. How South Korean's sailors were rescued from Somali pirates. And why the subject of this viral video is, frankly, curious (ph). That's CNN in the next 60 minutes.
ANDERSON: While angry shouts from a public gallery pierce the rumors, Tony Blair testified for a second time about most controversial decision that he made as British Prime Minister. Blair, once again, explained why he committed troops, the U.S. led invasion, of Iraq. When he first appeared before the panel last year, he said he had no regrets about toppling former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, here is what he says now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLAIR: The one thing nobody could have been in any doubt about was either where I stood on the issue or what the policy of the government was. The policy was to say to Saddam, you've got to let back in the inspectors, unconditionally, allow them to do their job. And the ultimatum is, if you don't do that, action will follow.
Even though, we may look at the world today and say, well, does it really matter? You know, is Iran that much of a threat? And supposing we just let Saddam carry on, would it really have been such a problem? My anxiety is that, yes, we cannot take that risk. That after September 11th, the calculus (ph) of risk have to change and change fundamentally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, now, his testimony a year ago, he was asked, did you have any regrets? He said, no, at the time. Well, this time he changed his tune. He said, today, and I quote, "That was taken as my meaning that I had no regrets about the loss of life and that was never my meaning or my intention." He said, "I wanted to make it clear that, of course, I regret deeply and profoundly the loss of life, whether from our own armed forces, those of other nations, the civilians who helped people in Iraq or the Iraqis themselves." All families who lost loved ones in Iraq shouted out, too late, during Blair's acknowledgement of regret. One yelled, your lies killed my son, who is a seen the outrage among Iraqis who suffered far greater casualties, of course, I taped earlier with CNN's Jomana Karadsheh. And she's in Baghdad and began by asking, you know, whether Iraqi's care about this inquiry, simply want it all behind them. This is what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The short answer, Becky, is they do not care. We've been monitoring local news channels almost all day today. Not even a mention of the Blair testimony. And when you talk to the Iraqis they say, they have more critical issues to worry about. Like, the problem of the continuing violence, the lack of basic services, the unemployment. And while many still blame the United States and its allies for a poor plan post invasion, here, for the current situation, they said - they tell us that they've enough of looking back at the past and the reasons or justifications for invading their country. What they want is focusing on the long list of issues and problems of today. It's been more than about eight years, Becky, since that invasion and since they were promised a better life that they're still waiting for.
ANDERSON: Yes, all right. It's been a particularly violent week, hasn't it?
KARADSHEH: Yes, this has been one of the bloodiest, most devastating week, in a very long time, Becky. After a lull of more than two months in high-profile suicide attacks, this week, in four days, we had seven suicide bombings in different parts of the country that claimed the lives of more than 130 people, wounded more than 500 others. Now, officials, here, blame Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni insurgent groups for these attacks.
But, also, we've heard from officials, like the Prime Minister, who blames some of these attacks on lack of security and negligence by Iraqi security forces. But these attacks, again, Becky, just underscore the fragility of the security situation here, ahead of the U.S. military planned complete withdrawal by the end of this year. And they, also, just prove that this stubborn insurgency is still there and it's still capable of carrying out these deadly attacks whenever it wants and targets whatever it wants.
ANDERSON: Yes, and you alluded to this complete scheduled -- complete pull out by the U.S. You're right. It's been eight years in March, and how do we - Iraqis feel about that pull out?
KARADSHEH: Well, Becky, we went out just a couple of weeks ago and talked to people at the beginning of this year, just to ask them how they felt about that. And what they tell you is that even those who have been opposed to having the U.S. military here as an occupying force, they're very concerned. They say, with the U.S. military still here, even though they haven't really been seeing them much on the street, because the U.S. military for the past two years has been gradually withdrawing its forces, people still know that that strong and capable force is still in the country, still close by, and can intervene, if necessary. So, they're really worried about what would happen when they're out, they don't completely trust their own security forces. So, they're worried the situation could get worse than what it is now. And we can only imagine what's that like.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Jomana, from Baghdad, for you this evening. Let's get more perspective, now, on Tony Blair's statements before that Iraq inquiry in London. And the possible impacts that they will have. Michael O'Hanlon recently served as an advisor for the U.S. secretary of state. He's a senior fellow, now, in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Michael, were you surprised by the contrition from the lead witness today?
MICHAEL O'HANLON, SENIOR FELLOW, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: (inaudible), clear confidence in his decision-making, and the basic conviction that he stands by those decisions with a very human and heart-felt concern and regret as he said, about the loss of lives. So, I found his tone appropriate and didn't have any big issues with it or find any great surprises within what he said.
ANDERSON: And how significant is his admission there that he regrets the loss of life?
O'HANLON: Frankly, I don't think it is significant, in a policy sense. I think it's a human statement by a very decent person, and I can't read too much more into it than that. There are big policy issues, here, to debate but parsing those words I don't think really get at any of them.
ANDERSON: Important to people who wanted a sense of regret or an admission from Tony Blair. Of course, you heard Jomana's report. Does it surprise you that Iraqis in the main just want to move on, and just - to a certain extent, I guess my question is, how significant is this inquiry at this point?
O'HANLON: It's a good question. I think it is important to look back on major decisions. Not so much to air out extreme views but to learn. You know, we've had a lot of very, very difficult political debates in your country and in my country, certainly in Iraq, for many years, that go back to these decisions. And I don't know that we need to rehash, for political reason, those debates. But, I think, we do need to understand the details of the decision-making along the way.
I still tend to think that the biggest mistakes were made here, in the United States, by war planners, and, specifically, Donald Rumsfeld, who did not allow for the difficulty of the mission that would result after Saddam was overthrown. To me, that's still the biggest set of issues, because that reflects the way in which we do planning within the government, in a way that's classified and hard for anyone to scrutinize. Even Tony Blair probably did not have access to much of that.
So, there are a lot of important lessons, but they're more at the - political technical policy level. And that's where, I think, these reviews are still important.
ANDERSON: You know, it's interesting what you just said. When you were interviewed by Bill O'Reilly in February of 2003, and let me take you back. You were asked, any doubts about going to war with Saddam? You, yourself, replied, not much doubt. Do you still stand by that?
O'HANLON: Well, you've taken one quote, but you're right, that's what I said at that moment. I spent a lot of time, in 2002, saying, if we're going to fight this war, we better be expecting a very difficult operation. And I'm quoted in many other places, that you did mention, pointing out that we're going to need a large occupation force, and we're going to need to do this for many years, and, frankly, that any implication otherwise, is irresponsible.
Now, I do stand by those statements very much. Learning now that - and I'm learning this from memoirs of people like Hugh Shelton and George Bush, himself. Books that have come out revealing things we did not know at the time. I do wish that I had anticipated that this administration, the Bush administration, might have been as careless as I think they were, about war planning. Had I know, had I suspected that more, I probably would have been a lot less supportive. And I do wish that I had tried to probe. But they, deliberately, classified a lot of this information to make it harder, for people like me, or even Tony Blair, to know fully what was going on.
ANDERSON: And we appreciate your honesty. And we're looking back, let's look forward, finally, and policy-wise, is the U.S., and the rest of the world, to a certain extent, but this was a U.S. aid invasion in those streets to the left there. Are they doing the right thing in scheduling a complete pull out this year?
O'HANLON: I would prefer to see some kind of international force stay, for many of the reasons that your excellent report got at, talking to your reporter in Baghdad. I think, Iraqis, themselves, realize they have enough unsettled issues, especially with the northern territories that are in dispute around Kirkuk and Kurdistan, and some other matters, that it would be helpful to have, let's say, a NATO force or a U.S. force, but it's the Iraqis, themselves, who have said they don't want that. The Iraqis, themselves, who would have to change their view on that for it to become possible. Because as you also pointed out, we're not an occupying force and we don't make the decisions about what happens in Iraq.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Michael O'Hanlon, we appreciate your thoughts, this evening. Thank you very much, indeed, for joining us, here, on CNN's National. And do stay with us for the latest details and analysis on the Iraq war inquiry.
Well, just ahead, on CONNECT THE WORLD, Chunu in mourning, remember those who lost their lives in protests which ousted the president. We'll get the latest from the streets of Chunu for you and the incredible story of one woman who's, literally, speaking out for the first time in years. The amazing surgery that gave this patient a voice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson in London. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, here on CNN. The Chinese president Hu Jintao is on his way home after wrapping up his trip to the United States. He spent Friday morning in Chicago, where he met with businesses, students, and local dignitaries there. After touring the U.S. President's home town, Mr. Hu promised to help create much needed jobs in the United States.
Rescue workers, in Brazil, still can't reach some areas where hundreds of people are missing after last week's deadly mudslides and flooding. The government says, more than 780 people have been killed. And those who have survived are now telling their heart breaking stories. Shasta Darlington reports, from one of the worst hate towns.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Massive mudslides flatten houses and wiped out entire neighborhoods of these hillside towns north of Rio de Janeiro last week. Leaving a trail of death and shaken survivors.
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DARLINGTON: Latisia Lima was found buried up to her neck in mud. Her forehead was crushed and her teeth knocked out. I remember my mother shouting in a loud noise, she says. I hug my baby tight, that's the last thing I remember. Unfortunately, her baby, Lorisa (ph), and her mother, didn't make it.
Stories of loss and survival are repeated throughout this Teresopolis Hospital. The director says, both patients and doctors are getting psychological counseling. On the first day, we treated 178 victims in less than 12 hours, she says. Liziel Modudata (ph) was one of them. He managed to grab his five-year-old son but saw half of his family swept away. He, then, went on to save his neighbor and her three children. I would do it all, again, he says, what else could I do? His 18-year-old daughter, Erica (ph), also survived by climbing into a refrigerator. It shook and shook, she says. I opened the door and it was floating.
They're still searching for her mother's body. Rescue workers continue to look for survivors who have been cut off from town, but they're just as likely to find bodies. As the rains subside, residents begin to think about the future.
Donations are pouring in from across the country. Here at this gymnasium in Teresopolis, you'll see stacks and stacks of clothes. You'll have to remember, these people lost everything. They're starting from zero. That means they're going to need water, rice, beans, and, of course, clothes. And that's what you see here.
Erica has hope because she's made it this far, but she says, she worries because she's the only woman left in her family. Shasta Darlington, CNN, Teresopolis, Brazil.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: A major milestone in the recovery of Gabrielle Giffords, the Arizona Congresswoman shot in the head less than three weeks ago. Giffords being transported to Texas where she'll begin therapy at a rehabilitation center. Her husband says, her progress is remarkable. She can now stand. With the help of her doctors say she can't walk or talk.
All flags are at half staff across Tunisia this Friday. The country is in three days of mourning for the dozens of people who died in protest that ousted President Zane El Abidine Ben Ali, one week ago.
Hundreds of people rallied at the capitol, again, on Friday, but these streets were calmer than in previous days. The government says school and universities will reopen on Monday.
A new round of nuclear talks with Iran is underway in Turkey. Negotiators from six countries are meeting Iranian representatives in Istanbul. CNN's Ivan Watson has the details.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The diplomats have gathered in an Ottoman 19th century palace, on the banks of the Bosphorus Strait to discuss one of the thorniest international issues of the 21st century, Iran's nuclear program.
Now, Iran has gone into these talks with a rather difficult negotiating position, saying that he is not willing to discuss the suspension of its Iranian enrichment program. And that really gets at the crutch of the disagreement, here. Where the five permanent members of the United Nation's security council, plus Germany, are very concerned that Iran is conducting a covert nuclear weapons' program. That's an argument that Iran firmly denies. Take a listen to what one Iran expert has to say about Iran's position vis-a-vis its nuclear program.
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SCOTT PETERSON, AUTHOR: What the Iranians want, more than anything else, is a recognition that they, legitimately, as a signatory of the nuclear known proliferation treaty, that they, legitimately, have a right to have nuclear power and that they are, in that sense, a nuclear nation. They want to have that power. They want to have that prestige.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Now, Iran is, also, looking for some escape from the international isolation it's facing. The U.S. has helped lead an international push to impose a fourth round of United Nations' security council sanctions against Iran.
Now, Turkey, which is putting a facilitating role, here, hosting these talks, basically, it actually voted against that round of sanctions in the United Nations' security council last year, and Turkey has said that it's moving to help revive an agreement that was reached with Brazil and Iran and in Turkey, last year, that the U.S. opposed a nuclear swap deal, where Iran would hand over some low enriched uranium for higher enrichment in another country, could then be handed back. Thus, a confidence building measure and, presumably, to avoid any of that fuel possibly being used for nuclear weapons.
A big question is how can these sides truly sit down and hammer out any agreement when there is such a level of distrust, especially between Iran and the U.S. These arch rivals that frequently accuse each other of terrible crimes. Ivan Watson, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, a woman in California is speaking out after a successful and incredibly rare transplant surgery. What's so amazing about this is the fact that she can speak at all. Brenda Jensen lost her voice 12 years ago, after complications with a ventilation tube during a hospital stay. Well, since then, she's lived with a robot voice and says she's had more than decade of social isolation. But, recently, doctors in California did a complete larynx transplant and gave Jensen her voice back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRENDA JENSEN: This was my 80th operation and -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eightieth, right?
JENSON: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eight, zero.
JENSON: And every time you have surgery, there's always a risk, but after 12 years of putting up with a lot of humiliation, a lot of teasing, not only from the kids but from adults, staring because I talked with a mechanical machine. And I sounded like a robot. And everywhere I was, people turned their heads. And it was frustrating but I had to live with it. But when this opportunity came up, I wanted to do it. I was game to go. I wanted to talk again, and I'm doing it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the doctors said, they couldn't tell if the operation was a success for almost two weeks. And, so, one day Jensen told them, I want to go home. There's more to come, here, on CONNECT THE WORLD.
We hear a shopper took a plunge into a water fountain. What was she thinking? Well, she wasn't. She was texting.
A daring high at the seas rescue. This one was a success, but is it safer just to pay the pirates their ransom? We're going to ask an expert. Up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson in London. You'll see now high drama on the high seas. A ship hijacked by Somalian pirates is being stormed by South Korean commandos in what is been a daring rescue of 21 hostages. Several pirates were killed in that operation. Paula Hancock has the details from Seoul.
PAULA HANCOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was an unprecedented rescue mission for the South Korean Navy. Special forces ambushed a chemical freighter that had been hijacked by Somali pirates just a week earlier in the Arabian Sea. The chemical freighter was on its way from the United Arab Emirates to Sri Lanka. Twenty-one crew members were rescued. We understand the breakdown is two were Indonesian, 11 from Myanmar and eight South Korean.
Now, the operation, according to military officials, lasted roughly five hours on the high seas. And we understand that more than 300 naval forces were involved in this rescue mission. Now, the South Korean military says, eight of the Somali pirates were actually killed in this mission and five have been captured alive. Now, during the mission, we understand that the captain of the ship was injured. He was shot in the stomach. According to the military, though, his injuries are not actually life threatening and he is not in critical condition.
Now, President Lee Muyng-Bak of South Korea shortly after this announcement made his own announcement, saying that he thanked those that had carried out the rescue mission. He, also, said that he thanked allies on the high seas for helping the military. He had said that there was U.S. cooperation in this particular ambush.
The President also said, quote, "We will not accept any actions that threaten the lives of our people." Now, this is a change in tact for the South Korean Navy. There have been ships that have been high jacked by Somali pirates in the past, and there have been ransoms paid, in the past, but, this time, there was a physical intervention. The Navy were involved and it was successful. Paula Hancocks, Seoul, South Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, an actual one successful rescue among dozens of hijackings around the world. Piracy is a growing business according to the International Maritime Bureau. There were 445 pirate attacks in the past year alone. Most of them blamed on Somali pirates. In 2010, there were 53 hijackings world wide. For the moment, 27 ships have been captured just by pirates. Six hundred and twenty-five crew members are being held hostage waiting to be released either by rescue or by ransom. And as the attacks, so to do the demands. The amount of ransom paid is between $3.5 and $4 million. And that is a remarkable number. Let's take a look more closer of the indications of today's dramatic rescue in the Arabian Sea. Piracy expert Candyce Kelshall, becoming a regular guest on this show, joins us now, here, from London. Now, that rescue could have gone either way today I assume.
CANDYCE KELSHALL, MARITIME SECURITY EXPERT: It could very definitely have gone either way. In fact, we've got an example of a French rescue, earlier, where by one of the hostages was actually killed by accident. And that represents the danger in this type of operation. And that's what we need to be mindful of.
ANDERSON: What message does today's operation send to the pirates, to you think?
KELSHALL: That's an excellent question. I think, it sends a good message to the pirates. It sends a good message in the sense that we're saying that we're not going to tolerate ships being taken and hostages being held. On the other hand, it also sends a bad message. We don't want to change in their current business plan or business model, which is where the hostages are the asset. We don't want them to change that where the ship and the cargo becomes the asset, similar to the type of piracy that prevailed in the Malaccan Straits before that got put paid to. So, this is one of the dangers that we need to mindful of.
ANDERSON: In the meantime, 27 ships have been captured by pirates. Six hundred and twenty-five crew members still being held hostage, waiting to be released either by rescue or, indeed, by ransom. If you had to make an informed or educated guess, how many of those hostages will be released? And what sort of money will be paid for them?
KELSHALL: OK. That's an excellent question. It's definitely an on the spot question. In the first instance, the ransom paid for the Samho Dream, which was the previous South Korean ship that was taken, was alleged to have been in the region of $9.5 million U.S. So, that's significantly more than has been reported in the media. Now, that's an example of the kind of money that is at plea. In terms of how many of the hostages will be safely delivered after this operation, I think, that hostages, at present, are still the main asset that the pirates are holding. But we don't want them to feel that the game has played and the ante has been raised and there's an escalation in terms of fire arms and weaponry. So, that's the trade-off.
ANDERSON: That's amazing. Candyce, we thank you for that, your expert on the subject tonight. Piracy is a story that we will continue to be -- run across in the coming months. So, if you've been watching the show, you'll know we've been doing (ph) a lot on it over the past week. Up next, too hot to handle a world cup? (inaudible). Soaring temperatures could cause dramatic changes to the way that we all watch football.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Just after half past nine here in London, you're back with CONNECT THE WORLD on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, is Qatar's searing heat enough to force a schedule change for the 2022 World Cup? We're going to see whether the summer games may be moved to the winter.
And then, making their voice heard by barring -- baring their frustrations. A feminist group in Ukraine tries a novel approach to political protest.
And a little later this hour, you may have seen her embarrassing plunge. Now we put a face to the shadowy figure. An American woman speaks out about the accident that became an internet sensation.
That's your fix in the next 30 minutes. Before that, let's get you a check of the headlines this hour.
Former prime minister -- British prime minister Tony Blair told a panel he regrets the loss of life in Iraq, but removing Saddam Hussein was necessary. Blair made his second appearance before the inquiry into the decision to go to war.
Chinese president Hu Jintao is on his way home after wrapping up his trip to the US. He spent Friday morning in Chicago, where he met with business leaders, students, and local dignitaries.
At least three people have died during a huge anti-government protest organized by Albania's opposition. Thousands showed up outside the prime minister's office calling for his resignation over corruption allegations and faced off with police officers.
Representatives from the UN Security Council's permanent members plus Germany have been meeting with Iran's top nuclear negotiator. World powers are pushing for Iran to freeze its nuclear program, but Tehran has ruled that out.
And the Dow has closed up a fraction in New York. Good, strong GE and Google earnings helping lift the mood after a big loss from Bank America. The week end the Dow up over one percent.
Those are the headlines this hour.
When to play or not to play? That is the question that's been troubling football's governing body ever since they awarded the 2022 World Cup to the Gulf state of Qatar. With summer temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Centigrade, many are wondering how players and fans are going to cope.
Growing speculation that the tournament could be switched to winter has forced FIFA to issue a statement denying that any decisions have been taken. Just listen to what its president, Sepp Blatter, told CNN earlier this month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEPP BLATER, PRESIDENT, FIFA: If you ask me the percentage to play in winter is definitely over 50 percent. It means that this is more than a probability to play in wintertime, because also for the -- for the spectators, for the football, and to protect footballers and, also, spectators, finally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: More from Sepp Blatter in a moment. While a winter World Cup would be one solution, it may create more problems than it solved. Falling right in the middle of the domestic football seasons, the move would cause chaos for players and clubs across the world.
As a result, one German newspaper yesterday reported that UEFA's president is considering a plan to switch the season so that it runs from March to October.
"World Sport's" Pedro Pinto joins me here in the studio. Crazy. I don't buy that at all. Is -- UEFA's really saying, now, is this just a report?
PEDRO PINTO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a report that was leaked to a German newspaper, as you said. And what Michel Platini has been trying to do for several years, because this isn't new, he's saying, "Let's have a brand new look at football. Where would it be better to play? At what time of year?" And because of Qatar getting the World Cup in 2022, he's trying to push this idea through.
Of course, as it is now, having a winter break to play the World Cup, for most European leagues, the leagues with the big money, let's not fool ourselves as well, because some leagues aren't playing. But the ones where most of the players are with most of the cash, they're not going to take this, Becky.
There are still 11 years left, so a change in the calendar could happen. Why not? The only thing is, from March to October, that's eight months. The season right now runs ten months. So, they'll have to compress --
ANDERSON: Yes.
PINTO: A lot more games into a shorter amount of time.
ANDERSON: All right. So, this is -- so this is something that Platini has said -- he's, of course, the head of UEFA. FIFA is run by Sepp Blatter, as we know. Let's deconstruct what Blatter said to you last week, because now, I am awfully confused.
PINTO: I think --
ANDERSON: Go on.
PINTO: I think that's why FIFA released a statement and put it on their website, because everyone's confused. Everyone's been giving their opinion. Michel Platini also said, "Why doesn't Qatar share this competition with other Gulf states?"
And Sepp Blatter told me in that interview earlier this month that he believed there was more than a 50 percent probability to have this World Cup. Now, FIFA came out and said not so fast, there are no plans to do this just yet. Sepp Blatter did also add that -- in that interview that I had with him earlier this month -- let's listen to what he had to say on what needs to happen for the World Cup to changed to the winter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLATTER: First of all, it must come from the organizing committee now in Qatar, the local football federation, to ask FIFA Executive Committee to make some amendments in the basic documents. And this is possible, because in the basic documents of the bid, it is said that the FIFA Executive Committee can at any time make some amendments to the basic conditions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PINTO: So, it has to come from Qatar. The curious thing is, Becky, that the head of the regional executive committee, member Mohammed bin Hammam said that, as far as he's concerned, and he's Qatari as well, as far as he's concerned, he wants a summer World Cup. So, a lot of infighting, a lot of opinions going around.
ANDERSON: All right. On the issue, then, of a summer World Cup, let's get a primer on the weather, shall we? Let's get to CNN Center. Guillermo's with us. Talk us through the -- well, basically, how hot it's going to be in the summer, and how difficult it's going to be for some of these footballers.
GUILLERMO ARDUINO, CNN INTERNATIONAL METEOROLOGIST: It is actually quite a contrast, when you look at the two different seasons. It is very significant, the difference that we see. And also remember, this is in the middle of the Middle East, so it's very hot in the summer, the temps going all the way up to 43 degrees in July with no precipitation at all, while in January, which would be the winter, the lowest it can be is 13 degrees, with a low bit of precipitation.
I'm going to end with this graphic, though, so you're going to see the difference. January, February, March, then the temperatures are quite comfortable, 24, 25 degrees, the high temperature of the day.
And then, the winter months for the southern hemisphere, or the summer months in the northern hemisphere, we see the temperatures are really hot, getting close to 50 or 45 degrees, but no precipitation at all. So, it's very, very dry in here. I would bet that it is much more comfortable to do it in the winter, Becky.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: I'm absolutely sure, but the point is, you're not going to make the decision. Thank you, Guillermo.
ARDUINO: Thank you.
ANDERSON: He makes a very good point. It is extremely hot. Of course, Qatar will tell you that they have got stadiums that they are preparing which are air-conditioned.
PINTO: The plan is to have air-conditioned stadiums run by solar energy. The technology hasn't been proven yet, so that's why there are a lot of people that are skeptical at the moment.
I think to build ten new stadiums, because they're going to have 12 -- the amount of money, we know that they have the money to spend. So, maybe that's not an issue. But I don't know.
The only thing I don't understand here, Becky, and I think that's why everyone is confused, why did Qatar run for a summer World Cup, knowing that this would be a problem? OK, they've got the air-conditioned stadiums. And now, changing it for a winter World Cup, as far as FIFA is concerned. It's just really confusing for football fans.
The good thing is, we've got 11 years to talk about it and make a decision, right?
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Seeing as -- I mean, the weather doesn't change in 11 years.
PINTO: No.
ANDERSON: But let me tell you, Qatar will. Because I remember going there 10 or 11 years ago, and the place looks very different today. And it will look very different in 11 years. But like we said, the weather won't change. So, they'll get their stadiums ready, and it will probably happen in the summer.
PINTO: And the decision will take place this year, because FIFA will meet and Qatar will have an opportunity, the organizing committee, to propose a change, because it needs to come from them.
ANDERSON: All right, Pedro, thank you for that. Pedro Pinto for you.
Well, this story has been creating plenty of debate on the website, let me tell you. Streaky writes, "No Premiership players will be there if it's played in winter, I can guarantee that right now."
Somebody who goes by the name of SuperJase, I believe, says, "I have nothing against a winter World Cup, but if they wanted a winter World Cup, then they should have mentioned it before countries started spending a fortune to try and host the event."
MisterPeter believes "A winter tournament causes so many problems. Better the stadiums are air-conditioned and the World Cup goes on in the summer."
Manofwool claims, "I don't think the World Cup should be held in Qatar at all. The decision needs to be reconsidered, and Blatter needs to go," he says. "Playing in air-conditioned stadiums is ridiculous."
All right, get your voice heard on CNN, we love to hear what you've got to say, it's your part of the show, of course. Head to the website, cnn.com/connect.
Premier week on "Piers Morgan Tonight" continues with Hollywood heartthrob, and hearts may break on this one. George Clooney tells Piers his one marriage, which ended in 1993, was enough. These days, Clooney is actively involved with bringing attention to the situation in Sudan, of course, and witnessed the recent voting on independence for Southern Sudan.
Well, Clooney told Piers he -- well, have a listen to this. This what happened while he was there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST, "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": George, I was going to start this final segment with you by asking about the glory of being George Clooney, but you've just told me that you've got a bout of malaria. It doesn't sound that great.
GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR/ACTIVIST: Well, even with malaria, it's just good fun.
(LAUGHTER)
MORGAN: I mean, you're looking slightly overheated, now, George. I thought it was down to me, but it turns around, there's actually this -- you do get malaria flare-ups quite regularly, do you?
CLOONEY: No, I've had it twice. This is just -- I just -- I guess the mosquito in Juba looked at me and thought I was the bar.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: George Clooney and his dad on "Piers Morgan Tonight." European viewers can see that Saturday at 21:00 CET. If you can't wait until then, you can also catch it at 9:00 PM Eastern in the Americas, just over four hours from now.
Well, baring their bodies for a cause. We're going to meet the Ukrainian feminist group that's chosen -- well, let's call it an eye- catching way to get their message across.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, it's the part of the show that we call "i-List," a special program on CNN where you learn more about the countries that are inventing, innovating, and bringing change to your world.
This week, the spotlight is on Ukraine, looking at how this Eastern European nation is trying to position itself on the global stage. Well, we've had a week's worth of reports. Tonight, we are closing out, looking at a feminist group there, using some orthodox and fairly provocative methods to get their message across and improve the lot of the country's women. Diana Magnay reports from Kiev.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(WOMEN CHANTING IN UKRAINIAN)
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As political manifestos go, this one's pretty eye-catching. Meet the women of Femen, Ukraine's topless protest movement. "Our god is woman, our mission is protest, our weapons are bare breasts," they chant.
(WOMEN SCREAMING)
MAGNAY (voice-over): Weapons -- or assets -- first put to use in 2008 to protest against sex tourism. Now, Femen's leader explains, the agenda is broader and now focused on political issues, as well.
ANNA GUTSOL, DIRECTOR, FEMEN (through translator): In a country like Ukraine, where authorities don't care about anything, the usual people don't have any way of bringing their thoughts to be heard. And we found that this was the only effective way for us to protest.
MAGNAY (voice-over): They've certainly got plenty of publicity.
MAGNAY (on camera): Because you've got all sorts of publications, here. "Bilid" from Germany, "Spiegel," "The Sun," "La Stampa," "Newsweek," BBC and, now, CNN.
MAGNAY (voice-over): Anna Gutsol herself doesn't bare all anymore. In fact, only around 20 of Femen's 300 activists go topless for the cameras. A publicity stunt to highlight broader issues.
(WOMEN CHANTING)
MAGNAY (voice-over): We catch up with them outside the parliament.
MAGNAY (on camera): It's minus seven in Kiev today, so there's going to be no undressing. But what they say is that in the recent cabinet reshuffle, no women were elected into the cabinet, that it's a bit like a male toilet, for men only.
(WOMEN CHANTING)
MAGNAY (voice-over): Gutsol says that many of the people they've criticized don't like the attention that Femen's getting.
GUSTOL (through translator): "We feel they're scared of us," she says, "and that there is an order to arrest us and not lest us protest. We've had ten arrests since the beginning of 2009, and our website has been hacked into."
(WOMEN SCREAMING)
MAGNAY (voice-over): Pressure, she says, which only serves to galvanize the movement. All the more determined to deliver their message with a bit of bare-chested brazenness. Diana Magnay, CNN, Kiev.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Closing out our programming from Ukraine this week.
What a lesson for us all. When you're busy texting on your mobile phone, it pays to watch where you're going. One woman in the US is learning the hard way, thanks to a security camera. That story up next, right here on CONNECT THE WORLD.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: What's got you clicking this week? With more on a new dance trend in South Asia, a top secret rocket, and a young rapper, here's our digital producer, Phil Han.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL HAN, CNN DIGITIAL PRODUCER (on camera): Welcome to another edition of Week on the Web. This is the place where we'll be bringing you the most popular social media stories from the past seven days.
First up, though, let's bring you the number one YouTube video from the week, with more than five million hits, this is pop star Taylor Swift's "Back to December."
(MUSIC - "Back to December")
HAN (voice-over): This video was released on January 13th and has become such a hot topic on social media that other musicians are even tweeting about it. Katy Perry tweeted that the video even made her cry. Now, incidentally, the director of Swiss Video also directed Perry's music video "Firework," which has over 89 million hits on YouTube.
(MUSIC - "Firework")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have ignition in the main engines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two, one --
HAN (voice-over): Now, another story that is getting lots of buzz on social media is a launch of a top secret rocket. The 72-meter-high Delta IV-Heavy took off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in the US, and is rumored to be carrying a payload that contains a classified spy satellite.
HAN (on camera): Next up, this video of a young girl singing the American national anthem has received over four million views in just a week, and it's turned eight-year-old Elizabeth Hughes into an overnight sensation.
ELIZABETH HUGHES, EIGHT-YEAR-OLD (singing): Rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air --
HAN (voice-over): The twist, though is what happens to her microphone in the middle of the song.
HUGHES (singing): Gave proof --
(AUDIO GAP)
CROWD (singing): That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner --
HAN (voice-over): The crowd at a hockey game in Norfolk, Virginia, saved Elizabeth and turned the moment into a mass sing-along.
CROWD: Yet wave --
HAN (on camera): Now, off to another musically inspired sensation.
HAN (voice-over): His name is George Watsky, and you can probably tell why he's such a big hit from this video.
GEORGE WATSKY (rapping very fast): Part of me was hoping to be caught up in the moment and to be open to the good and the God in me, but I got a lobotomy and I get that I oughtta become a bit of an oddity when somebody gets offended by the thought of me --
HAN (voice-over): This fast-talking 19-year-old from San Francisco is a big name in the world of spoken word rap. His Facebook page has over 15,000 fans, and he plans to release his very own album on iTunes.
HAN (on camera): Finally, let's turn our attention to Asia, where a new dance trend seems to be taking over the streets. Let's take look.
LOTUS WANG (singing): Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep, oh. Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep --
HAN (voice-over): The music video by Taiwanese singer Lotus Wang called "Bobby" (sic) is a cover from a South Korean group. But the Taiwanese version has become a global hit, with more than a million YouTube views. It's so popular that dozens of copycat videos have even appeared online.
LOTUS WANG (singing): Bo Peep Bo Peep, uh huh uh huh. Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep Bo Peep, oh. Bo Peep Bo Peep --
HAN (voice-over): Now, this isn't the first time that a pop star's dance videos have gone viral. Who can forget Beyonce's hit song "Single Ladies"?
(MUSIC - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)")
HAN (voice-over): The dance was imitated by everyone from Justin Timberlake --
(MUSIC - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)")
HAN (voice-over): To, of course, this guy, who's video on YouTube has over 17 million hits.
(MUSIC - "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)")
HAN (on camera): Well, that was your Week on the Web. Be sure to tell us what you think, and if we've missed anything, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and at cnn.com/connect. I'm Phil Han for CNN in London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Yes, he is. Now, it's happened to many of us. We've been so caught up in texting someone on our phone, haven't we? That we've run into someone or stumbled on the street. Well, one woman in the US managed to get an absolute soaking while texting a friend. And to her absolute horror, it was caught on camera.
Now, a security guard has been fired for circulating the surveillance footage, and the woman in the video is talking publicly. Here's our Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We now have a face to go with the fall.
(LAUGHTER)
CATHY CRUZ MARRERO, FELL IN FOUNTAIN: It's funny when it's not you.
MOOS (voice-over): At times, her interview was nearly as wet as the mall fountain she walked into while texting.
MARRERO: When it's you, it's a totally different feeling. It's a totally, totally different feeling.
MOOS (voice-over): Cathy Cruz Marrero says she was texting her and her husband's birth dates when she ran into the fountain.
MARRERO: The next thing I know, I'm just seeing pennies and coins in front of my face.
MOOS (voice-over): And soon, millions were seeing her as the security camera video made its way to the web.
LIAT, YOUTUBE.COM: Check this out. A girl falls in a mall fountain - -
BUDDHACHARLIE, YOUTUBE.COM: While texting. You ignorant human being.
MOOS (voice-over): The mishap was put to music and replayed mercilessly.
(MUSIC - "Chariots of Fire")
MOOS (voice-over): It took Cathy two days to discover she'd become an internet star.
MARRERO: I'm like, "Are you kidding me?" And my nephew's like, "No. You're on YouTube." And I was like, "I can't believe this." And I start crying.
MOOS (on camera): Believe me, we empathize. We know how dumb but easy it is to text your way into a tree. Into a pole.
MOOS (voice-over): And there was that open manhole a texting teenager once fell into.
ALEXA LONGUEIRA, FELL INTO MANHOLE: Like, there was no warning of a big, open hole.
MOOS (voice-over): No one caught that on tape. It's the mall's surveillance video that has Cathy mad.
PATRICKM1717, YOUTUBE.COM: I've got to show you the other angle.
MOOS (voice-over): You can hear laughter as someone shoots the tape.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa!
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS (voice-over): Cathy says she told a security manager that putting the video on YouTube was wrong. She says he said --
MARRERO: "The good thing is that they didn't see your face, then nobody knows who you are." I said, "I know who I am."
MOOS (voice-over): And she said others at the furniture store where she works recognized her. Now, the security company says it's fired the guard who shared the video. And Cathy's got a lawyer.
PAM CUNNINGHAM, WFMZ 69 NEWS CORRESPONDENT: What do you want the lawyer to do?
MARRERO: What needs to be done.
MOOS (voice-over): Not necessarily to sue. Maybe to get an apology. At least she resisted answering her phone when it rang during the interview.
CUNNINGHAM: So, when you left --
(PHONE RINGING)
MOOS (voice-over): The bruise on her leg is healing, but not her bruised feelings.
MARRERO: It's not over, and it's not going to be over. I said, "You don't know how many people are laughing at me.
MOOS (voice-over): She's got that right. Walking into a fountain is kid stuff.
JOY BEHAR, ABC HOST, "THE VIEW": She's lucky she wasn't at the Grand Canyon, this girl.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, before we go, in tonight's Parting Shots, the farm comes to the city. Berlin is hosting International Green Week at its annual agricultural show, and farmers around the world are serving up everything one could possibly want for a good, green party. The Dutch, of course, provided the cheese.
Well, not to be overshadowed by the 1200 other exhibitors, the French were offering up an abundance of sausage for meat-loving city-slickers.
Farmers from Afghanistan were also on site for the first time. They added to the nibbles list by bringing nuts and dried fruits to the event.
Well, how's this for a party hat? The Russian design doubling up as a fruit basket. The country's homegrown berries up for tasting, there.
Now, what would a party be without beer? Customers, including Germany's agricultural minister, stopping off for a rather large sample of one of Bavaria's finest brews.
Cheers to the farmers in tonight's Parting Shots. I'm Becky Anderson. That is your world connected. Thanks for watching. The headlines and "BackStory" will follow after this very short break.
END
