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Queen Elizabeth's Historic Visit to Ireland; U.S. Sanctions Syrian President; U.S. Defense Secretary: No Evidence Pakistani Officials Knew bin Laden's Whereabouts; Libya Releases Four Western Journalists
Aired May 18, 2011 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Dressed for a state occasion many people thought they would never live to see.
It's a landmark trip, but the British monarch isn't the only world leader heading to the Emerald Isle. What US President Obama's upcoming visit means for a struggling nation.
Crisis at the IMF. With its chief behind bars, who should take charge?
And from buttoned-up to business casual, why workers in the Japanese tsunami zone are dressing down.
These stories and more tonight, this hour, as we CONNECT THE WORLD.
Well, it's a visit that is as historical as it is emotional, a trip which, just a decade ago, would have been simply unthinkable.
But tonight, standing in Dublin Castle, Queen Elizabeth said it was time to bow to the past, not be bound by it. The first British monarch to step foot in the country since the republic gained its independence from Britain 90 years ago.
Fionnuala Sweeney is outside Dublin Castle, tonight, with our coverage. Fionn?
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, there, Becky. Yes, well, this state dinner is now well underway in Dublin Castle behind me, Queen Elizabeth speaking about 20 minutes or so ago.
Perhaps not saying anything too surprising, but the devil is in the detail, and she used phrases such as "events have touched us personally," presumably a reference to the murder of Lord Mountbatten, her cousin, by the IRA in 1979 off the northwest coast of Ireland.
She touched on the common interests of both countries rather than the distinctions, and she spoke particularly about the deep mutual understanding, but then said quite early on in her address that it was impossible, however, to ignore history.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HRM QUEEN ELIZABETH II, UNITED KINGDOM: Indeed, so much of this visit reminds us of the complexity of our history. Its many layers and traditions, but also the importance of forbearance and conciliation, of being able to bow to the past, but not be bound by it.
Of course, the relationship has not always been straightforward, nor has the record over the centuries been entirely benign. It is a sad and regrettable reality that through the history, our islands have experienced more than their fair share of heartache, turbulence, and loss.
These events have touched us all, many of us personally, and are a painful legacy. We can never forget those who've died or been injured and their families. To all those who have suffered as a consequence of our troubled past, I extend my sincere thoughts and deep sympathy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SWEENEY: Well, not an apology, nor was one expected, except perhaps in certain extreme republican corners of this island. Queen Elizabeth now winding down her schedule. The trip has two more days to go, but it will take on a more personal tone in the morning as she continues her -- what is an historic, of course, visit, this word as we've been saying, somewhat overused but nonetheless appropriate. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, this is the end of her second day. Of course, as you say, she's got two more days to go. Fionn, what else was she up to today?
SWEENEY: Well, she began her itinerary today with a rather lighthearted visit to the Guinness factory. The Guinnesses being one of the oldest Anglo Irish families in this country and who have donated many buildings, indeed, to the central park that we have in Dublin, is known as St. Stephen's Green and was donated by the Guinness family to the city of Dublin.
From there, it was onto government buildings which, incidentally, was the last building that was constructed, or beginning to be constructed, by the British before it -- this -- the 26 counties became a free state.
She had a meeting with Enda Kenny, the newly-elected Taoiseach, and then, it was onto perhaps one of the more sensitive stops on her itinerary, a visit to the bastion of Gaelic sports and all things nationalist, that is the GAA, the Gaelic Athletic Association. And the head of the GAA saying it was an honor to have the queen there.
The historical aspect of this, as far as Britain is concerned, was that it was on a November day back in 1920 at the height of the war of independence that the queen -- that the British security forces entered Croke Park, killing 14 spectators at a game in retaliation for the murder of 14 intelligence officers earlier that day.
So, it really has been full of emotion and reconciliation and bridge- building. But, of course, none of this, Becky, would be happening without the backdrop of a serious economic decline that has been taking place in Ireland since the international banking crisis of 2008.
And in 2008, Ireland was the first euro zone country in the EU to slip into recession. It wasn't the only one, of course, but the real concern here is about the security cost of this trip and the upcoming trip of President Obama in the millions of dollars.
But to go back to Ireland's economy, by November 2010, Ireland was forced to seek a bailout, as we know, from the international community to the tune of $100 million and even more. In return, the country had to draw up plans to cut billions in spending, raise taxes, and slash jobs.
The unemployment rate currently standing at 14.7 percent, and while GDP has fallen for the past three years, it was down one percent in 2010.
So, with the security costs over the next few days in the tens of millions, there have been people who've been questioning the validity of these visits and what exactly will it bring to Ireland in its aftermath.
To talk about this a little more, particularly the next visit on the horizon, that of President Obama, I'm joined now by RTE's former Washington correspondent, RTE being the state broadcaster here in Ireland, Mark Little. He's now at Storyful.com, which is all involved in news and all things on the web.
Mark, let's talk about President Obama's visit. Why?
MARK LITTLE, IRISH JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR: I think you just set it up really clearly, there. Everything you have to understand about this visit, the queen's visit, and President Obama's visit, has to be set against what real people are feeling about the economic pain right now.
It's not just job losses, or losing their houses, or feeling like they are the poor people of Europe. It's this kind of psychological, almost post-traumatic stress disorder that this nation's living through right now.
And in many ways, I think ordinary people feel, not so much excited by this visit, because of certain disconnect between the queen and ordinary people, but Obama particularly. That notion of this guy coming here, the guy who was elected, the night of his speech said, the genius of America is change.
Well, I think a lot of people here are feeling, God, if he could only have a bit of that rub off on this country.
SWEENEY: But there isn't exactly the historical connection with President Obama as there have been with other Irish presidents who've come here, ostensibly to find their roots.
LITTLE: Yes, I remember in 1995 being in this very spot when President Clinton came here to support the Irish peace process. He was absolutely pivotal. That visit, he went to Belfast at the time, led to what we now know as the Good Friday Peace Agreement.
This visit by President Obama has really no substance. I mean, I'm really sort of searching hard for something that could tangibly come out of the visit beside a boost for tourism. I mean, the queen drinking a pint -- well, not drinking a pint of Guinness, but watching a pint of Guinness --
SWEENEY: That would be news.
LITTLE: That would've been headline news -- has huge impact on tourism. But I don't think in a tangible way you can see President Obama's visit producing any economic dividend.
SWEENEY: I mean, it's a very short visit. He will be meeting the people, he's allegedly going to be in a part of central Dublin seeing a couple of hours of Irish cultural and traditional music and the best that Ireland can offer. What is he going to offer Ireland?
LITTLE: Well, I think what he can offer Ireland -- it's almost a dose of Prozac. As I say, we're going through these periods of bereavement that we need to just perk up. And there are a lot of people saying that when they look to a man like this, he looks the future.
The queen, here, is drawing a line under the past. In many ways, people are hoping that Obama comes here and says, "Get off your knees, you're still in business, look to the future," and no better person to carry that message.
I think for Obama, what's in it for him, well, he's going to be standing in front of O'Connell Street, going to his ancestral home in Moneygall and County Offaly, he brings back great stories for the campaign trail.
And in many ways, his visit here might be similar to what he did in Berlin on the campaign trail first time around, looking like he was a statesman, a world leader, and taking home a few stories to spread with the Irish Americans in Pennsylvania.
SWEENEY: Just back to the queen's visit and where Ireland now stands at the closing of one chapter, as it's often put and was put today by David Cameron. Is this a country now that feels it has matured, that's OK to say the queen is welcome here without feeling it's in any way less nationalist?
LITTLE: You have to remember, most people of my generation, 40 under, let's say, are people who grew up with the United Kingdom, Britain, being a fact of their lives. We watched their TV programs, we supported their football teams.
Britain has been very much a part of our life, and the Northern Ireland conflict was in very many ways not our conflict. It was something most Irish people rejected. So, I think many people made their peace a long time ago. In fact, in many ways, this visit comes possibly a couple of years too late.
What's important at this visit, the next visit, is it makes us Irish people feel, because we've been the butt of those headlines about bankruptcy and bailouts, we're a good news story again. And that's very important for a people that really do crave the world's attention, and I think we kind of feel like, well, at least this is a positive story once again about Ireland.
We can be proud, we can stand up and say, you know what? We're back in the world again, and people are recognizing who we are, not necessarily for our property bubble or our bailout, but just perhaps because they can see something beyond all of that. Something truly unique in the world.
SWEENEY: Mark Little, thank you very much, indeed.
LITTLE: Thanks, Fionnuala.
SWEENEY: From all of us. And there you have it, really, put very succinctly, there, by Mark Little. A country that's in need of a dose of Prozac, suffering post-traumatic stress and looking ahead to the visit of President Obama.
And really, for the moment, putting aside these security costs that are in their tens of millions, but the people of Ireland will expect that to pay off as the government says it believes it will. Becky?
ANDERSON: Yes, Fionn, thank you for that. Fionnuala Sweeney, there, outside Dublin Castle. And don't forget to stay with CNN as we continue to follow the queen's visit to Ireland, and we'll have full coverage of Barack Obama's trip to Europe next week.
Well, the hotel maid who says the IMF chief tried to rape her is due to testify. As pressure grows on Dominique Strauss-Kahn to resign, where does that leave the organization that runs the global financial system, and can Europe hang onto the post -- the leadership post.
Plus, all -- al Qaeda appoints a new caretaker after the death of Osama bin Laden. Find out who this man is.
And why being funny is sometimes deadly serious. We're going to meet your Connector of the Day about 30 minutes from now. You're watching CNN, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: He's still technically in charge of the IMF, but the battle has begun to replace financial kingpin Dominique Strauss-Kahn as he prepares to fight allegations of attempted rape. So, how will the case play out for the French politician? Stay with us as we explore what is a story with global implications.
I'm Becky Anderson in London, you'd expect that from us, as you watch CONNECT THE WORLD. Here's a look at other stories that we are following for you.
This Wednesday, two months into Syria's crackdown on pro-democracy protest, the United States is now holding President Bashar al-Assad personally accountable. Washington has slapped its first-ever sanctions on the Syrian president, citing his regime's "violence and intimidation," and I quote that, against its own people.
Well, six top aids were targeted, as well. The US president says that President al-Assad must lead a transition to democracy or step aside.
The Syrian regime shows no signs of changing course, and the death toll only grows with each passing day. The Syrian Human Rights Information Network now says eight more people have been killed in Tal Kalakh, a town along the Lebanese border.
The United Nations estimates as many as 850 people have died since the uprising began. Thousands of others have been arrested.
There's no evidence that Pakistan's senior leadership knew Osama bin Laden was in their country. That word, at least, from the US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, talking to reporters on Wednesday. He did say that, while the senior leaders may not have known, someone likely did.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, US DEFENSE SECRETARY: I've seen no evidence at all that the senior leadership knew. In fact, I've seen some evidence to the contrary. But -- and we have no evidence yet with respect to anybody else. My supposition is, somebody knew.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: At the same event, Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned military members against leaking details of the raid that killed bin Laden.
Looking healthy but tired, four Western journalists captured by the Libyan military have been released. They've been sentenced to a year in prison for entering the country illegally. Now, as they arrived in the lobby of a Tripoli hotel, a government spokesman told them that they are welcome to stay and report in the country.
A friendship that will last forever. That is how Chinese premier Wen Jiabao described Beijing's relations with Pakistan as his counterpart, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani began a visit there. Mr. Gilani referred to China as an "all-weather friend." And that visit comes as Pakistan's relations, of course, with the US appear more strained than ever.
Well, some 9,000 people in Mississippi and in Louisiana have been forced from their homes as record-breaking floods continue to rise in the United States. CNN's Rob Marciano reports, now, on the lengths that some residents are going to in the fight to save their dream homes. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Folks who live the path of the water streaming out of the Morganza Spillway and don't live inside a protective seawall or levee are taking some drastic measures to save their home.
Look at this house behind me outside of the city walls of Morgan City. It's a 140-year-old home, so it's worth saving.
They came in with some heavy equipment. In 19 hours, they jacked it up about six feet, so now it should clear any floodwaters that are already beginning to stream in here underneath this house, and they're going to permanently -- make that a permanent structure so that future floods won't have this sort of effect.
Matter of fact, earlier today, I talked to a family member who grew up in this home.
People say, well, they live outside the flood wall. I shouldn't feel sympathetic to them.
MARIO GROSS, MORTAN CITY RESIDENT: Well, yes, some people say that because we chose to live here. But we chose to live here because it's not -- it's hard to find a riverfront property, and it's pristine, you know? I loved growing up here. A lot of childhood experiences, and I love it.
MARCIANO: Two bedroom, one bath, it's got electricity, it's got plumbing, and it's on the river, and they're going to ride out the flood, believe it or not.
Folks have evacuated in a lot of areas up and down the basin, but not one Red Cross shelter has been activated yet. A lot of folks who are moving out are doing it slowly and staying with some friends and family. The river here not expected to crest until next week in Morgan City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Rob Marciano reporting for you.
Well, the Space Shuttle Endeavor docked on Wednesday morning at the International Space Station. It's Endeavor's last scheduled mission into space. Only one scheduled mission remains for the entire Shuttle program. The orbiter is expected to return to Earth on June the 1st.
The approach wasn't quite as smooth for US president Barack Obama today. Air Force One was forced to abort an attempted landing, at least, with the president onboard. Suffering from poor visibility, the pilot managed to land the plane safely on a second attempt. The president was unharmed and continued with his visit to meet US Coast Guard graduates in Connecticut.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. I'm Becky Anderson in London. Coming up on tonight's show, the case against the IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn. We're going to explore his legal options as he remains in custody in the United States.
And the new face of al Qaeda. We profile the man said to be stepping into bin Laden's shoes.
That's coming up. It's 20 minutes past 9:00 in London. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, five days on since his dramatic arrest, IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn remains in custody in the States on allegations of attempted rape. Here at CNN, we are covering every angle in this case, a case that has got truly global implications.
John Defterios is in the heart of the crisis in Brussels, as world leaders wrangle over Strauss-Kahn's replacement.
In France, images of the handcuffed IMF chief have caused outrage. Jim Bittermann covering the fallout there.
Well, in New York, the scene of the alleged crime, Richard Roth keeping a watch for you on court proceedings. We'll get reports out of Rikers Island Prison.
And Ivan Watson in Paris, investigating France's culture of silence surrounding its politicians.
Well, tonight on CONNECT THE WORLD, we will be focusing on two key angles in this developing crisis, the fight that Strauss-Kahn himself is facing in court and the global wrangling to take his place at the head of the IMF.
Let's begin in New York, where the 32-year-old Guinean-born maid of the -- at the center of the allegations is set to testify before a grand jury today. The closed proceedings are being held to help jurors decide, at least, whether there is enough evidence to go to trial. Richard Roth looks at how the case against Strauss-Kahn could play out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR UN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The chief of the International Monetary Fund, the IMF, sits in jail. But is it an impossible mission for his lawyers to win his case?
BENJAMIN BRAFMAN, STRAUSS-KAHN'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We are, obviously, disappointed by the court's decision. I think it's important that you all understand that this battle has just begun.
ROTH: And it will be a fight. Their high-profile client has been hit with serious sex assault felony charges. The alleged victim's private lawyer is not worried.
JEFF SHAPIRO, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I am totally confident in this woman, and I have no doubt whatsoever that she is telling the truth.
ROTH: A criminal defense attorney who practices in New York City says Strauss-Kahn's lawyers are likely focusing on two options.
TONI MESSINA, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: One is, he didn't do it. Two, the second defense in a case like that is, it's consent. Something might have happened, but it's not what she says, and she consented to it.
ROTH: Strauss-Kahn's attorneys have already indicated they are ready to play the "he said/she said" strategy.
BRAFMAN: He is presumed innocent and, indeed, this is a very defensible case. There are significant issues that we have already found simply with preliminary investigation.
ROTH: The biggest hurdle for the defense? The alleged victim, a single mother, a hotel maid, given good marks by her employer.
SONNY HOSTIN, FORMER NEW YORK PROSECUTOR: You have a victim who immediately reported, and they found her so credible that they went and snatched a guy of this stature off of an airplane. And so, certainly, they found her that credible.
ROTH: A grand jury is likely to consider indicting Strauss-Kahn, perhaps before Friday's next court date. Then, will this international financial kingpin actually face 12 New York City jury members?
MESSINA: I think the case is going to go to trial. He can't plead guilty to what it is now. He'd go to jail, he'd lose his career.
ROTH (on camera): Until then, Dominique Strauss-Kahn sits in an isolation cell on Rikers Island in New York, far from the high-level finance meetings in Europe he was supposed to attend. So far, he has had one unidentified visitor. Richard Roth, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. All those high-level finance meetings in Brussels are still going ahead without Strauss-Kahn, but his predicament, let me tell you, is very much governing the talks. I spoke to John Defterios a short time ago about how the IMF is dealing with this rudderless crisis. This is what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: It's fascinating. I was at a summit of economic finance ministers yesterday, where they're being very guarded, and moved over to the European business summit. And in the last half day, the debate has moved along as well.
I sat down with the president of the European Commission, Mr. Barroso, and did an interview with him for the summit, and he basically said we cannot leave a power vacuum. Let's take a listen to that.
JOSE MANUEL BARROSO, PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN COMMISSION: I have full confidence in IMF, it's a very strong international institution. They have already stated that the recent events will not undermine their operational capacity.
But of course, in terms of leadership, we don't like vacuum. So, I think it will be important as soon as possible to have this matter solved.
DEFTERIOS: There's been a clear desire by Chancellor Merkel and others to retain a European as manager-director of the International Monetary Fund. Is it time to get some clarity, though, since there is so much global attention on what's transpiring with Dominique Strauss-Kahn?
BARROSO: Look. First of all, I think the executive director has to be chosen on merit. We want a strong, respected, competent executive director for the IMF.
But I think it is only natural that European Union countries, together they are, by far, the biggest stakeholder, the biggest contributor to the IMF, feel the responsibility to present a good candidate. So yes, I hope there will be a good candidate for the European Union from the European Union, we'll be able to give IMF credible and strong leadership.
DEFTERIOS: So, Becky, that's a shift in 24 hours. The Europeans were saying they'd like to have a European take over the managing director position at the IMF. They didn't want to put any names forward.
Now, they're basically saying we can't leave a power vacuum, because it could undermine the case for putting a European in that post in the future.
ANDERSON: So who or where are these frontrunners at this point?
DEFTERIOS: Well, traditionally this has gone to a European, but in the last year, we've moved from this concept of the G-8 to the G-20, and we've welcomed the money from China and Saudi Arabia in that context.
And the debate is taking place even here in Europe right now, perhaps it shouldn't be a European, although the frontrunners that we're hearing about are German and French, like Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: John reporting for you from Brussels. And CNN, of course, is staying with this story. Coming up in the next hour for you, "BackStory" is going to take a look behind the scenes, what it's like to actually work for the IMF.
And don't miss Ivan Watson's report on France's culture of silence when it comes to politicians and their extramarital antics.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENOIT HAMON, SPOKESMAN, FRENCH SOCIALIST PARTY: When a French journalist knows that there is a relation between one politician and a girl who is not, for example, his wife, he will not write about that.
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Why?
HAMON: Because that's private life. If it's relations who are attracted by both, he will not write about that. If it's not that, if it's a crime, of course. He must. He has to talk about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Staying mum in France. You can catch Ivan's full report in "World Report" here on CNN about two hours from now.
Plenty more right here on CONNECT THE WORLD this hour, including a new fashion campaign in Japan. The damage to Fukushima nuclear plant has got authorities thinking, why office workers are being asked to ditch their shirts.
Plus, the comedian who got fed up with interviewing celebrities, so she went to Uganda to investigate after a Google search on the most evil man in the world. You're intriguing Connector of the Day is ahead in the next half hour. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You may not recognize him, but he is the new face of al Qaeda, at least for now, that is. We're going to see how this man went from being an elite Egyptian soldier to interim replacement for Osama bin Laden. That story ahead in the next half hour.
First, though, let's get you a quick check of the headlines this hour.
The United States has slapped its first-ever sanctions on Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, holding him personally accountable for the deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators. Six of his top aids are also targeted.
Queen Elizabeth II has said Britain and Ireland should bow to the past, not be bound by it. She was speaking during a state dinner at Dublin Castle. Now, it is a first visit by a British monarch to the republic since it gained its independence from Britain 90 years ago.
The governor of an Afghan province says ten demonstrators were killed during clashes with police. Protesters were angry over a NATO attack on Tuesday night that officials say killed four insurgents. Protesters say the victims were civilians.
New information about the day Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York. A law enforcement source tells CNN security camera video shows the IMF chief leaving the Sofitel Hotel in a rush. That is where a housekeeper says he sexually assaulted her. She is set to testify in front of a grand jury later today.
And people living in the lower Mississippi River valley in the US are racing to clear out their homes and find higher ground. Mandatory evacuations go into effect on Saturday in several Louisiana towns as floodwaters surge through the Morganza Spillway.
And those are your headlines this hour here on CNN.
Al Qaeda has appointed a caretaker leader just weeks after the death of Osama bin Laden, and it is not who you might expect. Saif al-Adel isn't exactly a household name, but he's been in the FBI's list of most-wanted terrorists for years. Dan Rivers introduces us now to the Egyptian who calls himself "Sword of Justice."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Is this the new face of al Qaeda? Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian special forces soldier turned terrorist is now caretaker leader.
That's according to Noman Benotman, a former Libyan Islamist who met Adel before 9/11. Benotman says his contacts confirm Adel's temporary elevation.
NOMAN BENOTMAN, FORMER JIHADIST: He's been tasked with this mission, which is a different context. We need to be very careful about this. It's the context of hitting the floor, hitting the organization. And they can't afford to leave it like this for long.
He's like a sher (ph), a charismatic leader can appeal to the Muslim world based on religion.
RIVERS: In other words, someone like bin Laden. And al-Adel is not in bin Laden's league in terms of charisma, philosophy, or respect. But al-Adel was one of the earliest members of al Qaeda, and the FBI believes he's helped to plan numerous attacks, such as the 1998 embassy bombings in East Africa, and has been on the run for years.
FRAN TOWNSEND, CNN SECURITY CONTRIBUTOR: He fled to Iran with two of bin Laden's sons. He was there with his wife and his family for a number of years. It wasn't until the last year and a half or so that he got out of Iran, where he was held in sort of house arrest, and then went back to Pakistan.
RIVERS: Ayman al-Zawahiri, also an Egyptian, is widely assumed to be bin Laden's heir apparent, but consultations on Zawahiri's promotion have probably been hampered by drone strikes and concerns that information seized here, at bin Laden's lair in Pakistan, may have compromised al Qaeda's operations.
Experts say al Qaeda has always had a succession plan.
TOBIAS FEAKIN, SECURITY ANALYST, RUSI: It's not so vital that there's immediate replacement for bin Laden. In terms of who we might see fulfill that position, it's always been assumed that al-Zawahiri, bin Laden's number two, the key philosopher behind al Qaeda, would eventually step up to the plate and take over.
RIVERS: And those who've met bin Laden say his killing has left al Qaeda reeling.
BENOTMAN: They failed so far to appoint or to at least to announce who is bin Laden's successor. I think this fact by itself, it's crystal clear evidence how effective was the death of bin Laden.
RIVERS (on camera): You might never have heard of Saif al-Adel, but intelligence analysts here at MI6 have been tracking him for years. Now, suddenly, he's headline news, caretaker of al Qaeda, but not its new permanent leader.
That task may still fall to Ayman al-Zawahiri, who may finally emerge from bin Laden's shadow to lead the world's most notorious terrorist network. Dan Rivers, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, you heard there from Noman Benotman in Dan's report, a former Jihadi himself who's now an analyst with the Quilliam Foundation.
Well, that counter-extremist think tank first broke the news about al Qaeda's interim leader and, earlier, I spoke with Quilliam's co-founder, Maajid Nawaz, a former Islamist himself. This is what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAAJID NAWAZ, CO-FOUNDER, QUILLIAM FOUNDATION: I'm not surprised, because he was one of the candidates that we had already analyzed as potentially being in that position to take over. There are a few other names, as well, that have come forward as potential successors.
I think the idea that he's an interim, that did catch everyone slightly off guard, I think. People were expecting for a leader just to be elected, but I think there's a reason, there's a solid reason why he's an interim.
ANDERSON: Why?
NAWAZ: Well, the succession process in these types of Islamist and Jihadist organizations, they seek authority from an ancient rite within scripture called the bay'a process, which is the pledge of allegiance. And the Prophet of Islam himself took a bay'a, or a pledge of allegiance when he became the civil leader of the city-state in Medina.
Now, that wasn't a religious pledge because, of course, you don't pledge allegiance to a prophet you're already following for his prophethood. His followers are already Muslims. But it was a pledge to take it to the next level, for him to become a civil leader.
Islamists have since utilized that as, I suppose, a legitimizing factor for their own leadership within organizations. So, what they needed to do was give Zawahiri time, who's potentially going to be the next leader of al Qaeda, to collect the bay'a, or the pledge of allegiance, from the key figures that he needs to around the world.
And there are some existing tensions, and he needed an interim period. And so, I think that this Saif al-Adel fills that role quite nicely.
ANDERSON: What does it say about the organization. We often call it an umbrella organization, but it -- we're back focus once again on al Qaeda.
NAWAZ: Yes. It says that bin Laden succeeded, as I had said on this very show with you last time, Becky, bin Laden succeeded in creating something bigger than himself. He created a phenomenon. That phenomenon will live on beyond bin Laden, though operationally it will suffer in the short term. But it will live on.
And what it tells us also is that, actually, for this interim period, Saif al-Adel, who is extremely capable operationally, may restructure the way they do business, and he may succeed in that.
ANDERSON: What's he been doing recently?
NAWAZ: Well, this is the really fascinating question. So, Saif al- Adel was a former special forces guy in Egypt. He's extremely capable, trained to a high degree. And yet, after 9/11, he disappeared.
And there is a huge question mark as to what he was doing. And sources tell us he was in Iran. So, for ten years, somebody who the US government's put a $5 million bounty on his head, has been sitting safely in a safe house under so-called house arrest in Iran. And then, suspiciously, in the last few months, turns up again inside Pakistan.
So, the questions that I'd like to ask Iranians is, what links did he build with the so -- with the revolutionary guard in Iran? How was he able to remain in Iran safely under house arrest? You would've thought that would be arrest, because he's a wanted al Qaeda fugitive. And how was he able to leave Iran and then rejoin al Qaeda in Pakistan?
ANDERSON: What are your best guesses on the answers to those questions?
NAWAZ: What I think, seriously, if we're going to be realistic about this, he couldn't have left Iran if he was under house arrest as they claim without their knowledge. And I'm extremely worried within those ten years what links he's built up with the revolutionary guard.
He is already an extremely capable military commander. And what some of the rumors suggest that he left after 9/11, he left the scene of the battlefield, if you like, because he was disillusioned, serving amateurs.
Let's not forget, bin Laden and Zawahiri are both civilians. One's an engineer, bin Laden, and Zawahiri's a pediatrician. Here's an extremely capable military leader who wasn't leading military strategy.
So, rumor suggests that he left, disillusioned with what he considered amateur behavior. Now, he's back in the driving seat, albeit for an interim period.
But what I think, back to your question, I'm concerned about the relationships he's built with other very capable military leaders, and I'm concerned that he may make al Qaeda operationally a lot more effective in this interim, and he may recover from the serious damage that was inflicted against them in Abbottabad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Your expert on the subject tonight. Who is the new interim leader of al Qaeda?
Well, the damage from the Fukushima nuclear plant has forced Japanese authorities to adopt some creative thinking. After the break, why office workers are being encouraged to dress down in Japan.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A very warm welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
Now, Japan is still recovering from this year's devastating earthquake and tsunami, and the damaged Fukushima plant is forcing authorities to find new ways to cut energy use. Well, one way is for office workers, we are told, to ditch their clothes.
Since 2005, the Japanese have been allowed to come to work without a tie or jacket as bosses cut back on air conditioning in a scheme that was known as Cool Biz.
Well, some workers will be able to show up in little more than a t- shirt from now on as the government and other corporations try and save power. It's been dubbed Super Cool Biz.
So, what is allowed? Well, polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, and trainers are all going to be accepted dress code in a traditionally very conservative culture. Workers will even be allowed, we are told, to show up in a Hawaiian flowered shirt and sandals. Good thing, too, as office temperatures will be set to a sticky 28 degrees.
But there are some things that are still off limits. Bing! Sportswear and shorts will not be allowed for guys wishing to push the trends. And beachwear, flip flops, also outlawed.
Well, how do people in Japan feel about the campaign? Some are clearly up for Super Cool Biz. Others are worried about how it will fit in with Japanese culture.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES STEWART, TOKYO, JAPAN: Definitely a great idea. It's not a new idea. They've been doing it for five years. This year, they've -- they've changed it a little bit, so now it's called the Super Cool Biz campaign. And so, they're pushing for t-shirts, polo shirts, instead of the usual short-sleeve shirts.
I think it's a great idea because Tokyo is so hot and humid in the summer, there's so much concrete and very little greenery. So, let's just -- it's really uncomfortable. Especially this year, they're going to cut a lot of air conditioning in trains, public buildings.
And so, yes, I think it's a great idea that they're pushing for people to wear less this summer.
Will it work? I'm not sure. They're pushing for t-shirts, and this is Japan. And Japan's very conservative, and I'm not sure people will feel very comfortable turning up to work in just plain t-shirts. I mean, it's a great idea, but I don't think it's going to go through.
KEN TANAKA, TOKYO, JAPAN: Japanese society puts the company first before their personal well-being. And so, if the company says to do it, they will.
But it's all about image of the company, here. I think that, for instance, if a partner company or another person from a different company was to come in and see people in, let's say, shorts and t-shirt, yet while it might be comfortable, it puts a slack image onto the company, which is not something that, obviously, any company wants as an image of their company.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Talking Super Cool Business in Japan.
Still to come on tonight's show, the comedian who ended up chasing a Ugandan warlord, but never lost her sense of humor.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANE BUSSMANN, AUTHOR, "THE WORST DATE EVER": I got this fantastic phone call from "The Independent," a very highly prestigious British newspaper and, I swear, this is the conversation. He says, "Jane. We'd love you to write a feature for us."
I'm like, "Me? Really?"
"Yes. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but we think you would be perfect to do a story about dating out of your league."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Quick-witted, courageous, and unforgiving, Jane Bussmann is your Connector of the Day. That is up after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, her comedy has people up in arms and in stitches. Such is the mark of a successful satirist.
And tonight's Connector of the Day for you, quick-witted and unforgiving, Jane Bussmann is also fearless. After all, she did seek out a man that a Google search told her was the most evil man in the world.
Let's get you connected you with the comedian who exposed an African atrocity.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON (voice-over): Writer Jane Bussmann is a combination most wouldn't expect. A comedian and performer, and one of the world's most unlikely experts on Uganda.
Born in London, Bussmann relocated to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. She worked on dozens of shows, including the hit "South Park."
But in 2005, she went to Uganda in search of a well-known peace activist and romance. What she found was a story about war.
Bussmann found herself investigating the Lord's Resistance Army, a notorious rebel group that fought for years against the Ugandan government and, upon returning, wrote a book on her experience entitled "The Worst Date Ever."
She's still a passionate speaker about what's going on in Uganda and spoke to me about why.
BUSSMANN: Britney Spears. I -- I'm terrible at career management and business and all of that stuff you're supposed to be doing if you want to make it big in show biz. I just sort of write something because I think it's quite funny.
And I sort of moved to Hollywood thinking, "I'm going to jolly well write movies in Hollywood." Because I didn't check that anyone else was already doing this.
And they quickly made it clear to me that what I was much more suited for was interviewing celebrities at great length for British women's mag, which basically means going on and on and on about how sane and happy they are.
Of course, you're not even allowed to meet these poor girls because they're suicidal at home, weeping uncontrollably and pulling their hair out like parrots. And then you just all have to sort of sit in a room writing, "Britney's never looked better." Can you tell me what's she's wearing? "In a pink track suit."
You hate yourself. You're scum. And to keep myself from killing myself at night, I'd sort of sit there and Google genocide and human rights violations just to get the idea that someone was having a worse time than me.
And I sort of stumbled across the concept of the Lord's Resistance Army, and I thought, God, that's really got to be worse than this. Probably.
ANDERSON (on camera): Your book chronicled your adventures in Uganda. And for those who haven't read it, it is quite some journey. Fact or fiction?
BUSSMANN: Do you think it was -- you think I could make that up? Obviously you think I'd make myself look that bad. Oh, crikey. No. You can't go from -- well, I suppose you logically can.
If you put anyone in a situation where they are eulogizing -- sorry, writing about how "it" girls and how Paris Hilton is a role model for women, oh God. It stands to reason they're going to have to do something better with their lives.
And that's just that I had reached a point where it was either leave my organs for charity by having -- by accidentally running over a seagull and crashing into a tree, and then my organs would go -- I got through this thing going, what about if they don't find my donor card and it's a complete waste?
So I got this thing, I've got to make it look like an accident in case my mum is upset by my killing myself I'm so miserable. So, I worked out a whole system where I put my donor card in a Ziplock bag and pin it to my shirt, and then I pin it to my shirt, and then I could kill myself.
And I thought, how does that not look like suicide? So I thought, well, I've got to do something good with my life. And then, as luck would have it, I found someone who was already doing something brilliant, it seems, John Prendergast.
And after a while -- he's one of the world's most respected conflict resolution experts. And it occurred to me he was also extremely attractive. And I was single. And I thought, I have to interview this man for the good of the world.
So, I -- of course, I was never going to get to him. No one was going to let me interview John Prendergast. I work for "In Style" magazine.
But then, I got this fantastic phone call from "The Independent," a very highly prestigious British newspaper and, I swear, this is the conversation. He says, "Jane. We'd love you to write a feature for us."
I'm like, "Me? Really?"
"Yes. Now, don't take this the wrong way, but we think you would be perfect to do a story about dating out of your league."
(LAUGHTER)
BUSSMANN: And having no sense of irony, I said, "No, there's a bloke I'd like to interview instead. He's called John Prendergast. He's in Washington."
He said, "What does he do?"
I said, "He ends war."
And they said, "I don't think it's right for 'The Independent.'
"OK, but this man's data was to put an end to war."
"That didn't work."
I said, "Look, he's famous. He's a celebrity."
They went, "Find him."
So, I found myself on a plane to Washington and conned John Prendergast into letting me follow him to Uganda, where he was -- had himself rather been conned, because he was under the impression he had a shot of ending a war.
But I later found out, due to John not marrying me and spending more time than I'd actually planned in an African hell hole, that it was an enormous con, and everyone was making money from it, apart from me, who is still not rich off this. And here I am today.
ANDERSON: You talk about that. I mean, you were particularly scathing about almost everybody, John apart. Was this --
BUSSMANN: I couldn't make it worse.
ANDERSON: But was that justified?
BUSSMANN: I'm thinking like a bloke here. You never shut down the options. Was that justified? Everyone's scathed. Yes, they're all unbelievably awful.
The charities, government, diplomats. Every single person there had the opportunity, at least, to stop what's going on. They've still got an opportunity now. But they have chosen -- and I still believe if you don't do something, you've chosen to do a not to do no thing, and to rescue, to stop them kidnapping children.
ANDERSON: Is this a one-woman mission?
BUSSMANN: I've got nothing. All I did was embarrass these people by digging up facts they pretend things that didn't happen. I just remind them they did.
ANDERSON: You, during your time in London, have been dividing it between the House of Lords and the foreign office, it seems. What are you cooking up at the moment?
BUSSMANN: I went to Africa in -- a little while back, and I said, what are we actually doing about the Lord's Resistance Army? This person who's kidnapped 17,000 kids. And they said, "We can't do anything, because we don't know where he is."
I said, "Oh, that's awful. Well, we must be doing something."
They said, "Well, we're giving $70 million to the Ugandan government, X million to the Congolese government, all," he says.
I said, "Don't these politicians generally speaking steal money from the victims?"
And they said, "That's OK, because some of this money is going to help a charity that stops local -- that helps local people protest against politicians who steal their money."
I'm like, "OK. All right. Let me put this another way. If I was kidnapped by the Lord's Resistance Army, how would you get me back."
And they went, "Local, local, local intelligence."
"I'm sorry?"
"Local intelligence."
"You mean the local people?"
"Yes. They know where they are."
I said, "Well, is anyone asking these local people?"
They said, "No, not really."
So I got this new thing. It's called Ask a Black Bloke. And I'm trying to get the British government and whoever else is interested to put it to the African Union to ask a black bloke where Joseph Kony and the LRA are.
And not -- you're not leaving entirely to a military exercise between a bunch of companies -- countries that don't always get on, historically, and they hate each other. And if we're about to pump in bazillions more of taxpayers' money, then maybe we could rethink the way we look for them, the way we gather intelligence.
So, first thing is Ask a Black Bloke. The second thing is, maybe two helicopters, because at the moment, I don't know if you've notice, it's hilarious -- so, it's not really, but it kind of is.
The UN have white helicopters. They can't go anywhere that hasn't been secured, i.e., dangerous. The Lord's Resistance Army don't go anywhere safe. Never the twain shall meet.
So, they have green helicopters, they're called green because they paint them green, they can land anywhere. Even dangerous places. So, I think that would help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I could sit with Jane Bussmann for hours. And actually, we did after that interview. She is fantastic.
Well, tomorrow night, the young Russian tennis star aiming for more than just a title. She's climbing through the rankings, that is, between studying for her second degree. Russian beauty Vera Zvonareva is thinking beyond tennis. She is your Connector of the Day tomorrow. It's your part of the show, of course. Find out more, head to cnn.com/connect.
Well, as we know, there's been plenty of ire in France over images of the handcuffed Dominique Strauss-Kahn. His walk of shame has caused outrage in the country, but in tonight's Parting Shots, CNN's Jeanne Moos looks at some other so-called "perp walks" that have caused sensation for other reasons.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's a scene seen by Americans all the time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nicholas, did you strangle your girlfriend?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did you do it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm innocent, I didn't do it.
MOOS: But you tend not to look innocent, even when no one shouts a single incriminating question. It's what's called --
GRAHAM WISNER, LAWYER: The perp walk.
MOOS: "Perp" as in "perpetrator." And some in France are outraged over the treatment of the head of the IMF, accused of attempted rape. France's former culture minister called it a "lynching that provoked horror and aroused disgust."
MOOS (on camera): French law bars the media from showing suspects in handcuffs before they're convicted.
MOOS (voice-over): Some say the perp walk goes against the presumption of innocence.
WISNER: It is done, probably some would say, to humiliate the suspect, and they give off an aura of guilt.
MOOS: Though sometimes the aura doesn't fit the alleged crime, from the smiling, accused Somali pirate --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, got a smile.
MOOS: To the JFK terror plot suspect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you guys.
MOOS: Others bend down or cover up to conceal their identity.
MOOS (on camera): Suspects use anything that's handy -- and we do mean anything -- to hide from the cameras during a perp walk.
MOOS (voice-over): Amy Fisher, the Long Island Lolita, used her own hair to keep her face out of sight.
The perp walk is a perennial, always popping up even as camera men, peddling backwards, are falling down, and suspects are falling forward.
And every once in a while, you get an apparent confession.
UNIDENTIFED MALE: Something came over me.
UNIDENTIFED FEMALE: Do you regret it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Of course I do. No matter what he did, you know, you can't justify that.
MOOS: He's been charged with using an ax to murder a man.
Sometimes, I a perp walk leads to perpetual cursing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You (EXPLETIVE DELETED) eating (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of my face, you're lucky I got these (EXPLETIVE DELETED) handcuffs on or I'll break your (EXPLETIVE DELETED), smack you, (EXPLETIVE DELETED) mother (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: And finally, there was the armed robbery suspect who managed to escape in mid perp walk. It happened in Staten Island last year. Here, the suspect took off down the street with police in hot pursuit.
(POLICE SIRENS)
MOOS: They recaptured him quickly. Check out how he slipped out of the loose handcuff to make his break.
Now, if only they could cuff this guy's mouth.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I'll kick you in your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) head, you (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You mother (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, do you have a Nokia mobile phone? If the answer is yes, then we've got an app for you. Available for the E7 now and other handsets soon, CNN's new app allows Nokia users to stay connected with the latest headlines and breaking news anytime, anywhere.
You can also watch CNN video, upload your own iReport, and share your top stories with your friends. That's CNN's app for Nokia, you would expect nothing less from us. Available now at all good Ovi stores, I am told.
They should've paid me for that! Anyway, I'm Becky Anderson, that is your world connected. Thank you for watching. The world news headlines and "BackStory" will follow this short break. Don't go away.
END
