Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Oscar Pistorius Verdict; Reaction From Middle East On U.S. ISIS Strategy; U.S. Remembers 9/11; Benghazi Consulate Attack Remembered; Libyan Ambassador on Country's Turmoil; Parting Shots: Young Emiratis Speak Out
Aired September 11, 2014 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our objective is clear -- we will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Thirteen years to the day since the 9/11 attacks, a new enemy, but a familiar vow to take on the terrorists and win.
This hour, what the Middle East thinks of the U.S. president's plan of attack.
Also ahead, not guilty of premeditated murder, but not free yet. The latest from the Oscar Pistorius trial after an engrossing day of
proceedings.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: And just after 7:00 in Abu Dhabi, a very good evening to you.
Barack Obama's global influence is being put to the test. He's calling on a, quote, broad coalition to unite against the militant group
ISIS and the timing of his speech preparing Americans for a new fight couldn't be more poignant.
You're hearing the bell tolling at Ground Zero on this, the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Back then it was al Qaeda that took the
U.S. to war. Today, it's ISIS that is taking the U.S. military back into Iraq and beyond.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks. Working with our partners, we will
redouble our efforts to cut off its funding, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, counter its warped ideology and stem the flow of
foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDESRON: Well, leaders in this part of the world are already united with the president on paper, at least, but will they join forces in an
actual fight against ISIS?
Well, the countries you see here in yellow, most of the Gulf states, along with Jordan, are where U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is
visiting, a push to get them onboard.
In the wake of Mr. Obama speech , we'll address the role the Middle East can play in dismantling the danger on its doorstep and the regional
issues that are set to arise as that role expands.
Well, let's not forget it's also two years to the day since the fatal attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi in Libya.
To discuss all of this, we're joined this evening by regional expert and regular guest on the program, H.A. Hellyer. He's an non-resident
fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington and the royal united services institute in London.
And you'll be with me throughout this show.
So, first, let's just get your reaction to what you heard from the U.S. President Gulf time very early this morning.
H.A. HELLYAR, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Indeed. I think it's very interesting how President Obama has put forward this sort of strategy. It
represents very much a continuation, actually, on the way that President Obama has been pursuing (inaudible) bridges. I don't want to get
embroiled. I don't want a repeat of Iraq.
The problem is as that as quite a few analysts in D.C. recognizing the president is that that policy is actually leading it to become more
embroiled, not less. The Syrian conflict is not getting any better, it's getting worse. It's actually spreading. And you see that with the
development of ISIS in Iraq and it's in plantation there as well. So this policy isn't quite working--
ANDERSON: All right. I'll leave it there. I think we've got a few problems with your mic. So I'm going to leave it there. And you are with
me yet through the rest of this show. And as you rightly point out, how does the U.S. get together with this coalition of the regional willing to
contain the spread of ISIS without, for example, emboldening the Syrian president, Iran and the Shia-led militia in Iraq and in Lebanon, for
example. that's going to be the big question.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry taking President Barack Obama's message on the road in an effort to build what will be that broad coalition
that we're hearing about.
Soon after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Kerry met with Saudi government officials. He's also meeting with leaders of Gulf nations.
Support from Saudi Arabia key to the president's plan, of course.
And Iraqi officials, not surprisingly, also in Saudi with John Kerry.
CNN's Jomana Karadsheh is in Baghdad. And while the outcome of that Jeddah meeting, Jomana, is as yet unclear, how did Baghdad react to Obama's
speech earlier today?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's that sense of finally, Becky. People here, the officials here have been waiting
for that international support, that U.S. commitment again for Iraq. They have made it clear, they cannot do this on their own, they need more
support.
And officials are seeing this as a positive sign. These promises made, what they heard President Obama pledge. They're calling it a good
first step, positive signs.
Over the past few weeks, we've been speaking to officials here saying basically what do you need? What does the United States have to do here
that could help you in the fight against ISIS.
And, the number one thing which we heard President Obama say not going to happen is no boots on the ground. But they do need support for their
really fragile military forces here as we saw them really crumble earlier in the face of the ISIS advances.
They need training. They need equipping. They need advising. They're going to be getting that.
They need airstrikes and the United States is saying they are going to broaden the airstrike campaign as we heard President Obama say.
One very important thing, Becky, is this regional cooperation. They want to see the United States really try and bring together the region in
this fight against ISIS, something very important to stem the flow of foreign fighters cut the funding.
And Iraqi officials are saying one regional partner that's missing in all of this is Iran. There was no mention of Iran, they say, in President
Obama's speech. It is a key player, as you know, and as you mentioned earlier here in Iraq. And that has to happen.
And another issue, of course, they want to see action in Syria. That is one big thing Iraqi officials are waiting to see happen, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah. The elephant in the room, Iran. More on this as we move through the show. Jomana, thank you.
To South Africa now and what is turning out to be a very dramatic conclusion to the Oscar Pistorius trial. Hours ago, the judge cleared the
star athlete of murder in the shooting death of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, but we'll have to wait until Friday now to find out if Pistorius
will be convicted on the lesser charge of culpable homicide.
CNN's Robyn Curnow has been following the trial for us since it started in March. She joins us now live from Pretoria with the very
latest.
Quite a day. I know you've been in court full of technical jargon and legalese. But at the end of the day, Robyn, what did we learn?
ROBN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you're right. I mean, it was a very weighty. It was thick of legal jargon, with details
about South Africa's criminal justice system. The air -- the atmosphere in the court was very, very tense. Oscar Pistorius really struggling to
contain himself. And it really was a big moment, just before the lunch break when she came out very simply in the end not convicting him of that
murder charge.
Let's take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THOKOZILE MASIPA, JUDGE, HIGH COURT OF SOUTH AFRICA: The time lines as set out in the chronology of events tip the scales in favor of the
accused's version in general. Viewed in its totality, the evidence failed to establish that the accused had the requisite intention to kill the
decease let alone with premeditation. I am here talking about direction intention.
The state clearly has not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: So, that lets Oscar Pistorius off on one charge, but really if you're talking about intention that's murder. The other, big charge,
culpable homicide talks about negligence. And she all but said she's going to convict him of culpable homicide as she described Oscar Pistorius's
actions as negligent. That he had failed what is called the reasonable man test, that he had failed to act reasonably in the circumstances, that he
had been use excessive force and had acted hastily.
And then at the end of all that, she never really said he was not guilty or guilty of culpable homicide, leaving that for Friday. And of
course she's going to deal with additional charges, those gun charges, on Friday.
So, although we had a very roller coaster day, it's still not looking like Oscar Pistorius's fate has been totally decided. He and Reeva
Steenkamp's family will be back here tomorrow to hear the end, the conclusion of Judge Masipa's verdict.
ANDERSON: Robyn Curnow in South Africa for you.
Still to come tonight on Connect the World with me Becky Anderson, millions pause around the United States and the world to remember the
people who died in the September 11 attacks. We'll show you what's happening at Ground Zero just ahead.
First, though, U.S. President Barack Obama calling on help from around the world for the fight against extreme violence. We'll look at how he
plans to win support for his strategy against ISIS within the Middle East. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You are with CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
Now U.S. President Barack Obama has issued a global call to fight back against ISIS. He now, though, faces the task of actually forming a
coalition to take on the militants.
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says the allies you see here on this map, including Britain, Germany and Australia have already pledged
support. But recruiting some nations within the Middle East may present challenges.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Somber in style, presidential in tone, this was Barack Obama laying out the reasons why the U.S. needs to expand its fight against
ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria.
OBAMA: Our own security depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation.
ANDERSON: Apart from reassuring a war weary American public and skeptical members of congress, the U.S. president is hoping to enlist the
cooperation of key allies in the Middle East, vital to the success of any U.S. action against ISIS.
OBAMA: This is American leadership at its best. We stand with people who fight for their own freedom. And we rally other nations on behalf of
our common security and common humanity.
ANDERSON: And rallying Middle East partners is the task of America's top diplomat as he meets key players in the region.
But for many of those nations, supporting Washington's campaign against ISIS it won't be a straightforward decision.
Take Saudi Arabia, for example. King Abdullah warned a group of foreign diplomats last month that ignoring ISIS will see them reach the
shores of Europe and America. But defeating ISIS will be weighed against the kingdom's other main objective: removing Syrian President Bashar al
Assad. And the White House says the Saudi king has agreed to U.S. plans to train and equip the moderate Syrian opposition.
The fate of Assad will also be a determining factor for Turkish leaders. But Turkey's role in the fight against ISIS will be overshadowed
over concerns that the militants would harm the 49 Turkish citizens that they are holding.
Hostage after an attack on the Turkish consulate in the Iraqi city of Mosul in June. And the one regional country that so far has proved the
most interested in fighting ISIS in Iraq is the one that the U.S. has had no relations with for decades: Iran.
Tehran helped pave the way for a new inclusive government in Baghdad, a crucial first step in winning over Iraq's dissatisfied Sunnis, and was
one of the first countries to arm Kurdish and Shia forces fighting ISIS.
But Tehran will not want to support any action in Syria that will undermine its key ally, Bashar al-Assad. Suggesting just how complicated
the task of weaving an effective regional response will be for Obama and his diplomats.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, I think it is fair to say that without support form this region, the Middle East -- and we, of course, are broad to you --
broading to you from Abu Dhabi this evening the coalition can't be truly effective against ISIS.
Well, joining me now from Amman, Jordan is Marwan Muasher, a former foreign minister of Jordan, now a CNN's Mideast analyst.
You were host for a couple of hours this morning to John Kerry, secretary of state who was on his way from Iraqi to Saudi via you guys, as
I say, for just a couple of hours.
President Obama promising to expand the U.S. military campaign against ISIS during his speech last night, sir. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our
efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions so that we're ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.
Moreover, I've made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country wherever they are. That means, I will not hesitate
to take against ISIL in Syria as well as in Iraq. This is a core principle of my presidency -- if you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's start with Jordan, and a country that shares a border with Syria and Iraq. Will is want, sir, to see airstrikes on Syria?
MARWAN MUASHER, CNN MIDEAST ANALYST: I don't think that Jordan, or for that matter, maybe any other Arab country will participate militarily
in a battle against ISIL. The fact remains that without boots on the ground, the United States is probably the only country that can do this.
But countries like Jordan will provide much needed logistical support, intelligence support, connections with the Sunni tribes of Iraq, all
important elements in the fight against ISIL. And I expect that other Arab countries will do the same.
ANDERSON: Yeah. And Jordan has been incredibly important to any efforts in Iraq in the past in exactly the efforts that you have just
suggested.
Just how easy would it be -- when you hear President Obama say there will be no safe haven, just how easy would it be for ISIS elements to slip
across your border in Jordan, sir?
MUASHER: I doubt that they will be able to do this effectively. The Jordanian army is strong. The borders, I think, are very secure. I think
the challenge is not particularly militarily only. Yes, this is going to take a long time, maybe, you know, years before a military strike is
successful. But I think the more important thing to consider is that ISIL cannot just be defeated militarily without looking into the underlying
causes that produce people like this -- frustration, et cetera, that's going to be the real challenge. And that's a challenge that the U.S.
cannot take, that a challenge that the countries of the region have to assume.
ANDERSON: Yeah, the sort of challenges that you face with the what, now, millions of -- or hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees alone, not
least those Iraqi refugees that you hosting in your country, and that of poverty, of course. And that's a challenge going forward for everybody.
The other challenge, how about stemming the flow of funds to this group. How can the regional players play a part in that?
MUASHER: It is, you know, not always possible to severe all funds, but certainly much can be done to severe funds that are going into these
groups. Much needs to be done with the Sunni tribes to lure them away from giving ISIL and such forces, you know, a haven inside Iraq. That's also
going to depend on a truly inclusive Iraqi government, not just one where members of Sunni forces are participants, but one where there is true power
sharing so that the Sunni community feel they are part of the decision making process.
ANDERSON: It is no secret that the only help to date in Iraq outside of U.S. help, has been of course the Iranians who have been helping to
equip those Iraqi forces in the north. Do you want to see the U.S. talking overtly with Iran and getting them involved in this point?
MUASHER: I think at some point the Iranians need to be involved. I doubt, frankly, that the U.S. at this stage is interested to talk to the
Iranians beyond the nuclear file. And I will be very surprised if I see them doing that.
However, if you truly are looking for a regional solution, then everybody needs to be involved, including the Iranians.
ANDERSON: With that, sir, we're going to have leave it there. We thank you very much. Your analysis very insightful.
So, we've got the possibility of airstrikes in Syria and the U.S. arming moderate factions among Syrian rebels.
Hala has got the first interesting reaction to this from the Syrian regime when she speaks to Bataniya Shevan (ph) the political and media
adviser to the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. That is tonight 7:30 London, 10:30 here in Abu Dhabi. Only on CNN.
Live from the UAE, your watching Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
Coming up, Americans remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the 9/11 attacks. We're going to get you live to Ground Zero. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, Americans are holding memorials across the United States to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 13 years
ago today. This is the scene at Ground Zero where friends and family members are reading the names of those killed when the World Trade Center
came crashing down.
Similar memorials being held at the Pentagon in Washington and of course Shanksville in Pennsylvania.
Let's get to Poppy Harlow who is live at Ground Zero in New York for you this evening.
And even though this is 13 years on, this is a very poignant day, of course, for Americans and for the rest of the world, Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky.
It certainly is for all of us. I was here 13 years ago today when this nation was attacked and he city was attacked. And today, 13 years
later, it's no easier. And you can't even imagine what it's like, none of us can, unless we are in their shoes for these families.
One family told me they have a 25-year-old son Peter Alderman. He would have been 38. And he had so much ahead of him. And for them, it's
too difficult for them to come down to be here today, but they listen on television for his name to be read. That is important to them.
Another young girl, four years old Sarah Fisher was, when her father was killed in the Towers in the attack.
We spoke to her a little earlier today about why it's so important for her to come down here now that she's 17 years old.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH FISHER, LOST FATHER ON 9/11: It gives me a chance to honor my father and pay my respects. And I -- this is my fourth year reading. And
I just really like the opportunity to come and pay respects to everyone lost on that day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And of course the respects are being paid by reading all of those nearly 3,000 names. Also, the beautiful memorial that has been built
here will open to the public tonight at 6:00 p.m. The first chance that they've had to come visit this site on the 9/11 anniversary, the museum,
the 9/11 museum opened early this morning for the family members to visit before the ceremony if they wanted to do so.
Of course, you also have NYPD, the police here on high alert, no specific threat to New York City at this point in time, but they've got
extra police out. The bridges, tunnels, anything that could be a target is in focus. Their large command center with many, many cameras, many, many
eyes, many, many vehicles all over this city making sure that it remains safe.
I did have a chance earlier this morning, Becky, to speak with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson. And I asked him specifically
about the threat if there is an imminent threat to the United States, and frankly, if the American people are getting that message clearly from the
administration. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEH JOHNSON, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: What we've said is that there is no specific intelligence of a plot by ISIL to attack the homeland
at the moment, but that does not end the story.
HARLOW: You're clear, though, no imminent threat now.
JOHNSON: We know of no specific intelligence of a plot by ISIL to attack our homeland, but again that's not the end of the story. ISIL is a
very dangerous organization that has demonstrated a willingness to kill Americans because they are Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARLOW: And Becky, what you see there as well -- as he told me off camera after, you have to listen to his words very specifically. He is
talking about ISIS, but of course American officials here in New York City, across this country, watching every terror group incredibly closely right
now.
ANDERSON: Poppy Harlow in New York for you today. Thanks, Poppy.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead tonight. Plus, today also marks two years since four Americans were killed in an attack on the
U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi. With Libya still in chaos, I'll speak to the country's ambassador to the UAE about Benghazi, the ongoing
militia battles and the proxy war that's fueling the fire.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. The top stories for you this hour on CNN.
Oscar Pistorius has been cleared of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. He still, though, faces the charge of culpable homicide along
with three weapons charges. The trial resumes on Friday.
Russia still has about 1,000 troops inside eastern Ukraine. That's what a NATO military officer tells CNN, at least suggesting it's a large
and effective military force. The officer says another 20,000 troops are positioned along the border.
Two of the UK's biggest banks say they would move their legal home from Scotland to England if Scots vote for independence next week. The
Royal Bank of Scotland itself and Lloyds Banking Group says they will shift their registered offices south of the border if there is a yes vote.
US president Barack Obama says the US will now lead a, quote, "broad coalition" to fight ISIS in Syria and will launch more airstrikes against
ISIS in positions in Iraq. The president says this will not involve US combat troops on the ground, but he is shifting $25 million to help Iraqi
forces.
Although Mr. Obama can put his strategy in place without congressional approval, he says he would rather have their support. Senior White House
correspondent Jim Acosta reports on what's in the plan and what's not.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My fellow Americans.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was a cautious commander-in-chief no more, rolling the dice with an ambitious
plan to wipe out ISIS.
OBAMA: Our objective is clear: we will degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism
strategy.
ACOSTA: The president's biggest leap: ramping US airstrikes on ISIS targets in both Iraq and Syria.
OBAMA: I've made it clear that we will hunt down terrorists who threaten our country wherever they are. This is a core principle of my
presidency. If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven.
ACOSTA: To help expand those airstrikes, the president is sending 475 more US service members to Iraq, raising the total there to 1600. Add to
that a new mission to equip and train moderate Syrian rebels. To make that happen, the president has been working the phones to build a global
coalition that officials say includes Saudi Arabia, which will host a training program for anti-ISIS fighters.
(GUNFIRE)
ACOSTA: But the president also insisted the war on ISIS will be different.
OBAMA: And I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not
involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, that was senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta reporting. Earlier, we spoke about the regional reaction to President
Obama's strategy against ISIS. Now, let's talk about regional action. H.A. Hellyer joining us once again. He's a non-resident fellow at
Brookings in Washington and the Royal United Services Institute in London. A busy man.
Let me, before we start, just hear from Mr. Obama again briefly. He says close cooperation with the Iraqis will be an essential part of his
plan. This is what he said last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Working with the Iraqi government, we will expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people and humanitarian missions so that we're
hitting ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yes, so is it, H.A., any clearer at this stage who regionally is prepared to do what and how?
H.A. HELLYER, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: Well, as yet, not everybody has come out and actually declared what they're willing to do. Some people
have said what they're not willing to do. The Turks have made it very clear that they will participate only in humanitarian efforts with regards
to ISIS. They will not allow combat operations from Turkey or even the United States --
ANDERSON: So, no to bases. No to any flying out of Turkey into --
HELLYER: They've made that very clear.
ANDERSON: Right.
HELLYER: You also have the issue of some countries in the region actually disagreeing with each other on a whole range of political issues,
which I think is going to actually interfere with the cooperation --
ANDERSON: Explain.
HELLYER: -- on ISIS. Well, you have, obviously, the Turks arguing with the Egyptians about what's going on in Egypt. You have the Qataris
arguing with other GCC countries about their policies in the region. And those sorts of splits are actually going to hinder, I think, a more
coordinated effort on an issue like ISIS.
ANDERSON: We've got John Kerry in Jeddah --
HELLYER: Indeed.
ANDERSON: -- as we speak. He's on a whirlwind 24-hour tour. It started in Iraq, he was in Jordan, and then onto Jeddah today, where the
GCC, the six states, the UAE included, of course --
HELLYER: Indeed.
ANDERSON: -- and Saudi, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq. Elephant in the room: no Iran?
HELLYER: No Iran, and I think that that also is going to play into this. Because on the one hand, you do have these disputes within the GCC
about certain things within the GCC and beyond in the Arab world.
But you also have relations with Iran as well. And the fear and the concern of certain GCC states vis-a-vis Iran. But it's hard to see how the
problem of ISIS is going to be tackled without solving the wider issue around.
ANDERSON: You can see them at the top, here, at present. And we've got the European countries there, we've got some North America, we've got
Canada and the US outside of this map, of course. Then you've got the regional players down there to the right-hand side.
It was the UAE ambassador to the United States who spelled out in an op-ed in "The Wall Street Journal" just this week that ISIS --
HELLYER: Indeed.
ANDERSON: -- may be actually grabbing the headlines, but it's just one of a range of extremist groups that he described, and I quote, as "the
most destabilizing and dangerous global force since global fascism. And just as extremism arrives in more than one form, so, too," he says, "should
an intelligent and nuanced response."
You were alluding to the rift here in the GCC --
HELLYER: Indeed.
ANDERSON: -- and that is all about the rise of political Islam, basically, and the Muslim Brotherhood. How close are regional players to
developing this intelligent and nuanced approach to the roiling problems of the region, not just ISIS?
HELLYER: I'm not sure that they're close at all, to be honest. I think that we're seeing, actually, a firming and a deepening of the rift
between certain countries on this particular issue around political Islamism. I don't see that solving itself anytime soon. And
unfortunately, it spills over into other problems as well.
You've seen it with regards to Libya, for example. And I think that that's going to continue to define a lot of the relationships.
Now, when it comes to ISIS, a lot of them are agreeing to actually bury the hatchet temporarily, because they see this big problem in front of
them. But it's only a question of time.
ANDERSON: A lot of talk as well about how to stem the flow of funds to ISIS and, indeed, again, other groups that are fueling this extremist
violence in the region. It's already out in the open.
The UN has already voted on a resolution to release names of mainly, it has to be said, Gulf residents who are or have been involved in the seed
financing of the group we now know to be ISIS or the Islamic State. What more can be done to stop this flow of money? Because follow the money,
stop the money, you stop the problem.
HELLYER: Well, I think that that's a part of it. It's not stopping, unfortunately, all of it. You do have funds that have been stopped from
countries like Saudi Arabia, from Kuwait, which people don't talk about that much, and from Qatar.
And I think that all of these countries are, indeed, actually trying to take this bull by the horns. But it's very difficult for you to stop
the flow of funds completely. And then, you also have the issue of people physically going.
So, you have the Turks today, there are reports coming out saying that hundreds of Europeans or people with European passports in Turkey trying to
cross into Syria and Iraq. They're being turned back.
ANDERSON: Fascinating.
HELLYER: So, there is a movement of people here as well that needs to be blocked.
ANDERSON: This is so complex, isn't it?
HELLYER: Indeed.
ANDERSON: We're going to continue to talk to you as the weeks go on, whether you're here or whether you're in Egypt, we'll sort of follow you
around the world for your insightful analysis.
HELLYER: That's very kind.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much, indeed.
A senior US official says Saudi will support the US and may even join the fight against ISIS. To discuss that further, veteran Saudi journalist
Jamal Khashoggi joins me now, live via Skype from the Bahraini capital of Manama.
In fact, I believe in a conversation that's been reported between the US president and the king of Saudi Arabia, they've gone so far as to say
they will host the training of and perhaps financing of the Syrian moderates.
Now, at this stage, what are we talking about when we talk about Syrian moderates? Way back when, there was talk of these moderates, but
they were discombobulated at best. Is it worth even giving them a go again at this point?
JAMAL KHASHOGGI, JOURNALIST: Yes. This -- that statement, which was made last night, it shows that the fight is not going to be only against
ISIS, but also the root causes of ISIS. The immediate root cause of ISIS is the situation in Syria and the situation in Iraq, which is being amended
right now by forming a new government. And we need to form a new situation in Syria.
And for Saudi Arabia to agree to cooperate more or to actually engage more because Saudi Arabia has been very much wanting to remove Bashar al-
Assad and do a new beginning in Syria, that means a serious commitment now coming between --
ANDERSON: All right.
KHASHOGGI: -- the American administration and the Saudi administration to launch some kind of a campaign to end Assad and start a
new Syria.
ANDERSON: All right, sir. Experts calling ISIS the wealthiest terrorist group in the world. While exact numbers are hard to come by,
it's estimated that the militant group has a massive bankroll, between $1 billion and $2 billion.
ISIS has built its fortune from a wide range of criminal activities, we know: robbery, smuggling, extortion, and kidnapping. ISIS also cashing
in on oil, taking crude captured from oil fields in northern Syria and selling it back to the Syrian government.
And it's believed the group receiving financial support, as myself and H.A. were just discussing, from individual sympathizers in the Gulf states,
like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar. Now, what do you know about that?
And we've already had some names released by the United Nations. How wide a scope or how big is this financing package, as it were? I know it
was seed, to begin with. And for example, would you expect that there is still money flowing between Saudi and the militant extremists in either
Syria or Iraq?
KHASHOGGI: It could happen. Saudi Arabia has been at war with al Qaeda, which is an ISIS in some kind of format, for what, the last 20
years? And rounded up a lot of terrorists locally here in Saudi Arabia, rounded up money being collected in Saudi Arabia to be used inside Saudi
Arabia.
So, it is true that some money could leak from Saudi Arabia, which has an extremist organization here, which the government is at war with for
some time, and from Kuwait. But I do not rely more on that.
Now, ISIS has more money generated by its seizure of oil fields. The money from smuggling. It's -- I think the money you refer to could be seen
as seed money. Probably now, they do not need that money being collected from wealthy extremists in the Gulf. They don't need that anymore, with
the kind of cash they have their hands on today.
ANDERSON: All right. Sir, we are waiting for word out of Jeddah tonight. We know that Secretary of State John Kerry is speaking. We'll be
reporting on what he is saying more as the minutes and hours go past.
What I am getting from Jeddah so far is that he is saying and talking about the critical role that regional players will play in the counter-
terrorism efforts. And that is what he's calling them, that is what the president is calling them.
And I'm assuming, sir, that that is what you would expect regional players to call these efforts, counter-terrorism, fighting extremist
violence. You wouldn't expect, sir, would you, to hear "waging war," because that would be uncomfortable, surely, for a country like Saudi
Arabia, effectively a Sunni brother to those in Iraq, for example.
KHASHOGGI: The meeting that happened today is very healthy. It brought countries who were at odds with each other over issues that
developed in the Arab world in the last three, four years. Now, they are sitting at the same table and trying to coordinate their plans and war
against ISIS.
But I think they should expand more talk of cooperate over other issues, because ISIS is not only in Iraq and Syria. It is an extreme,
reductionist, angry movement, political, religious movement, that we have remnants of in Libya, in Yemen, in North Africa, in the central Sahara.
So, we need more effort into -- to address the issues of democratization, the issue of creating a new hope for the Arab world so
this reiteration of this extremist group will be the last form of it. We have seen three faces or three generations of ISIS. This is the third
generation of it.
We should not wait and leave the Arab world at this stalemate so the same situation that created this ISIS --
ANDERSON: Yes.
KHASHOGGI: -- will be created a few years later.
ANDERSON: Thank you, sir. Out of Saudi Arabia this evening, your expert. Live from Abu Dhabi, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me,
Becky Anderson. Another country, another militant threat. We are talking Libya with the nation's ambassador to the UAE on the second anniversary of
the Benghazi attack. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Two years ago this evening, an attack on the US mission in Benghazi in Libya left four Americans dead, among them, the US ambassador
to Libya, Christ Stevens. Well, that attack that night led to a great deal of finger-pointing in Washington over whether the consulate had adequate
security and whether more could have been done to save lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(GUNFIRE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
Well, the US has since pulled its diplomats out of Libya as the chaos there has only grown worse in Benghazi and in other parts of the country.
Well, earlier, I sat down with the Libyan ambassador to the UAE, Aref Ali Nayed, and I asked him about the impact of the deadly events that night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AREF ALI NAYED, LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO UAE: Benghazi, the very seed of the revolution that was a beautiful longing for freedom and for liberty, it
turned out to be quite a dark nightmare, not only for the tragedy of the Americans who lost their life doing their duty in Benghazi and who were
beloved to the Libyan people.
The ambassador, God bless his memory, was a friend, and I knew him personally, and I knew how much he loved Libya and how much he did for
Libya. And this darkness descended upon the city, not only for Americans, but for Libyans.
There are hundreds of Libyans who have been murdered and kidnapped and tortured. Some of them are some of the most important activists, women and
men, in the history of Libya. And my message is that we are in this together. That we are all pained, and that we all face tragedies.
And we are facing a monster, really. A mutation of Islam that purports to be Islam, that is not Islam. A monster that is closer to
fascist ideas and to totalitarian ideas and that has nothing to do with the peace and compassion of our religion.
ANDERSON: A monster that's being fed, possibly, by the export of weapons and fighters from Libya today?
NAYED: I think the notion of a nation-state that works like a compartment is no longer valid. What you're dealing with are networks, and
networks of networks that span the entire world, not just the Muslim world or the Arab world.
These networks are vast and are complex, and they feed each other and they help each other. And they can only be -- these networks of terror and
sheer tyranny -- can only be countered by other networks, networks of compassion and love and peace and understanding and the humbleness to
listen to each other and to work with each other towards a better world.
ANDERSON: President Obama has said one of his biggest foreign policy regrets was the insufficient support that the US provided for the
institutions after the fall -- the Libyan institutions, political institutions after the fall of Gadhafi. What more could the US do at this
stage? And does it pain you that not enough has been done in the past?
NAYED: What I can tell you is that there have been many failings and many of them Libyan, not just American.
And one of the most important failings is that when the attackers of the American consulate in Benghazi were actually rebelled against by the
people of Benghazi, the youth of Benghazi, the women of Benghazi, who went out on demonstrations and actually kicked the militias out of Benghazi.
Not only were they failed by the world community by not even taking notice, but they were failed by the Libyan government and the GNC,
unfortunately, that basically called those militias legitimate and delegitimized the demonstrations against them. I believe that that was a
historical tragedy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The Libyan ambassador to the UAE where this show, of course, is broadcast from, talking to me earlier.
This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Ahead, young people here in the United Arab Emirates speaking their minds. Hear what
they told me about President Obama's speech and the regional threat from ISIS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, throughout this hour, we have been talking about the very complex circumstances that this region, the Middle East, is facing,
and the increasingly active role that the UAE is playing in them. I hoped to find out what young people here think, so earlier, I sat down with some
young Emiratis to get their Parting Shots on the issues at play.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATHARI AL HAMMADI, EMIRATI: The fact that he reassured the American people that, first of all, ISIS is not a state and that they do not
represent Islam is a very important factor. Because obviously, Islamophobia is going to be one of the effects that come out of this.
FATIMA AL ZAABI, EMIRATI: Islam is not this way. We don't go ahead and kill people. And ISIS is basically killing Christians and now Shias.
They're killing everybody.
ANDERSON: You're all Emiratis. It's almost unique that we have heard a very detailed statement from the UAE on how they may get involved.
Politics outside of the UAE isn't something that you'd normally hear a lot discussed here.
RAWDHA AL MANSOORI, EMIRATI: That's right. The UAE here does not really involve themselves into politics, but that's not the case anymore.
We see UAE as having a mind here, like they're involving themselves in what's happening right now.
Like our table here, and the ambassador of the UAE in the US is saying that the UAE will contribute any coordinated international response. And I
like that. I like what he's saying.
HAMMADI: Within the regions, we have all these emerging orders that are trying to basically topple governments and instill sort of theocracies,
actually. That is flipping the status quo completely, and that's what they're trying to prevent here.
MANSOORI: These terrorists take innocent individuals, innocent people and bring onto them into becoming terrorists. The UAE wants to stop that.
ANDERSON: Do you feel, ladies, more under threat today than you ever have as you've been growing up?
ZAABI: I don't feel threatened at all, but I feel like UAE nowadays is like one of the most countries safe in the world. Everyone wants to be
safe, they come here because it's a safe country and they don't feel threatened or anything.
MANSOORI: However, we are in the middle of it. There is a chance of us being attacked, of us being the next victim.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Your Parting Shots this evening, left to those of the next generation. The team at CONNECT THE WORLD wants to hear from you,
facebook.com/CNNconnect, have your say. You can tweet me @BeckyCNN. We're on Instagram, just search for Becky CNN. And cnn.com/connect is where you
can find the blog.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching, your headlines follow this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
