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Connect the World
Sweden to Recognize Palestinian State; Billions Promised for Gaza Rebuild; Rise of ISIS Spells Return of Slavery; Ocean Race Challenge; Oscar Pistorius Sentencing Hearing Begins; Liberian Health Workers Threatening Strike; Bridging the Gap: U.S., Turkish Authorities Attempt To Iron Out Differences; Hong Kong Protesters Refuse To Budge
Aired October 13, 2014 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JIM CLANCY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: British health secretary Jeremy Hunt there with a warning to British lawmakers in the House of Commons saying unless
we put all of our resources into helping fight Ebola in West Africa we face a more a serious scenario here at home. And then he went on to list ways
that Britain is already preparing for what he said were expected to be several cases that might crop up over the coming months, the coming three
months is the timeframe that he used right now.
He said that Sierra Leone was being addressed directly by Britain, Guinea was being addressed by France, the U.S. was involved in Liberia. He said
that some patients, anybody showing any symptoms in Britain, would be dispatched immediately for further tests if it was suspected that they had
been exposed to the Ebola virus.
All right, I'm Jim Clancy at the CNN Center, stay tuned, straight ahead starting right now is Connect the World.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: This is not just another airstrike targeting ISIS in the battle for Kobani, it comes amid some of the fiercest fighting heard
yet. And questions over just who is gaining control of that strategic town. This hour, we'll analyze the divisions at the heart of the alliance
tasked with stopping them there and in Iraq.
Also ahead, the final phase of Oscar Pistorius's long legal battle is underway. We're live in South Africa as the judge hears final arguments
ahead of deciding whether the athlete is going to prison.
It is 7:00 p.m. here in the UAE, 6:00 p.m. on the border between Turkey and Syria where the battle against ISIS militants in the Kurdish city of Kobani
is intensifying.
Coalition airstrikes hit several ISIS targets and a series of explosions in Kobani have been seen. You can see these just coming into CNN Center
earlier.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Syria, Iraq's western Anbar Province is on the brink of falling. Local leaders say the militant group now controls 80
percent of the province, closing in on the Iraqi capital.
Well, in the past couple of hours, U.S. Central Command confirming strikes by both American and Saudi aircraft on the area -- on the other side of the
Turkish-Syrian border where Nick Paton Walsh has been and he filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If Kobani falls to ISIS, they'll be Turkey's new brutal neighbor along 100 kilometers of
frontier.
And nowhere has living next door to ISIS begun to seem so normal as in Akhchakele (ph), ISIS's totem of fear truly enormous here.
The Turkish military are asking us to move away here. The ISIS flag so large in such full view so close to their positions.
Boys say they know what to do if ISIS tried to cross. One older resident said off camera at least the civil war's violence doesn't spill over
anymore since ISIS took the town of Talabiyad (ph) about a year ago.
Coalition airstrikes have been reported here recently, but more visible is the humdrum of life under the self-declared caliphate. These fighters off
to help fix a car.
Girls play uncovered. Women wear the niqab.
You can't see the fear ISIS rules with from this far away.
These two men have come to the border, it seems, for a crafty cigarette. Smoking is banned under ISIS, so we've hidden their faces.
We say hello. They wave back.
We ask how life is.
"Good," he shouts.
"True, only to a point as ISIS might kill us all if we crossed over to talk more."
The Turkish army aren't happy.
How could they be? Life here darkened, perhaps for a generation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh reporting for you. And we'll continue our special coverage of the battle against ISIS coming up later this hour on
Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
The Sunni militant group has brought back slavery in areas it controls. We're going to take an in depth look at how they justify their brutal
actions.
Also, it appears Turkey is inching towards closer support in the fight against ISIS. We'll talk to a military expert about where things stand now
between Washington and Ankara.
Well, Oscar Pistorius was back in court in South Africa for sentencing earlier. The Bladerunner was found guilty of culpable homicide for killing
his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. The prosecution and the defense are presenting evidence before the judge finally decides on a sentence.
Robyn Curnow joins us now from Pretoria. What happened on what is this first day of the end, I guess, of this legal proceeding?
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Becky.
Well, we're in this hearing phase. And what we heard today, the judge listening to witness number one who was Oscar Pistorius's -- or is Oscar
Pistorius's personal psychologist. This is what she had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. LORE HARTZENBERG, PSYCHOLOGIST: It is foreseen that Mr. Pistorius will require intensive and ongoing psychotherapy. What we are left with, my
lady, we are left with a broken man who has lost everything. He has lost his love relationship with Ms. Steenkamp, he's lost his moral and
professional reputation. He's lost friends. He's lost his career and therefore his earning potential and also his financial independence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: OK. And soon after that under cross-examination, the same psychologist was asked by the state, well, what about the Steenkamp family,
aren't they a broken family, too? He offered the information that Mr. Steenkamp, Reeva Steenkamp's father, had had a stroke since her death.
Now what does all this mean? It's all about Oscar Pistorius's character, a sense of who he is, who he was and how that plays into perceptions of him
and critically his character. And that's important, because that all plays into mitigation or aggravation of sentence. And the judge is weight on
that this week.
ANDERSON: That's Robyn Curnow reporting from Pretoria for you.
Health officials are moving fast to beef up monitoring of U.S. hospital workers after a nurse in Dallas, Texas became the first person to contract
Ebola inside the United States.
Now, she helped treat Liberian Thomas Duncan who died from the virus last week.
Even though the nurse wore protective gear, CDC officials tell CNN they believe there was a breach of protocol.
And in London, the British health secretary has just announced increased Ebola screenings at UK airports and at train stations.
Well, a number of Ebola deaths meanwhile in West Africa just keeps climbing. And in Liberia caring for thousands of people with the deadly
virus is taking a toll on its health care workers.
Nima Elbagir joining us live from Liberia's capital Monrovia.
8,000 in West Africa with the disease, 4,000 and counting already dead. What's going on there?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, health care workers as you said seem to be buckling under that burden, just the unrelenting
grimness, Becky, it's been months and months. Some only received a single day's training before they were sent down to the Ebola wards.
And now they're threatening a strike -- they have already begun a "go slow" over this week. And we saw firsthand the impact of that. Ambulance
drivers told us that they had been turned away from the largest government treatment facility IM Clinic (ph).
But health care workers say they have very little choice. Take a look at one what doctor told us, Becky.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SOKA MOSES, JFK EBOLA CARE UNIT: I don't want to strike, but the president has to listen to the mass of health workers out there. They are
angry people. You don't want to have angry people knocking at your door doing this kind of emergency situation. So the president has to listen and
act very fast.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ELBAGIR: They want better protective gear. They want the hazard pay they say they were promised. But there's also a sense that they want an
appreciation for what it is they've been going through, what risks they've been taking. And while all that focus has been on the international
community's response, the message here is that the world cannot afford to forget about those truly on the front lines of this fight -- Becky.
ANDERSON: I know there's been criticism of the sort of reporting by the media of cases in Europe and in the U.S. when this is such a scourge in
West Africa, in particularly where you are.
How significant is the sense of frustration still on the ground? I spoke to one UN department head yesterday whose mother lives in Sierra Leone who
said she feels like they're living at the gates of hell, for example, that what we are hearing is getting to these countries and isn't hitting the
ground, for example.
What the sense where you are?
ELBAGIR: Absolutely, Becky, absolutely. They feel like this situation really only seems to have come into focus for the world once we had the
Thomas Eric Duncan in the states, once we've started seeing these cases in Europe and that, you know, the world seems to be acting purely out of self-
interest.
But the message that we had been getting for awhile, Dr. Tom Frieden, the head of the Centers for Disease Control, when he came out here was that it
was always going to be in the world's interest to bring an end to this, that the world needed to overcome its fear for the reasons of its own
safety.
But is hard from here on the ground where you're trying to explain to people, well, yes the international response has stepped up, and yes that
is possibly because they now feel Ebola coming closer, but it will eventually be in the interest of the people here on the ground, because
there's the British health secretary said, Becky, this is the only place that this crisis really can be contained and the only way the rest of the
world can be safe is if they start from here -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Nima Elbagir on the ground there in Liberia for you. Nima, thank you.
Still to come, the UK vote on whether to recognize Palestine as an official state. Sweden has already said it will. We'll speak to the Swedish
foreign minister and with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair on the political framework needed to rebuild Gaza.
And talks between the U.S. and Turkey on tackling ISIS have yielded some results, but there are still mixed messages on the true level of military
cooperation. We're going to look at that where the two sides stand up next. Taking a very short break. Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. Now you're watching CNN. This is Connect the world with me Becky Anderson.
Talk of a standoff between the U.S. and Turkey over action on ISIS. Well, the Islamic State has dominated recent headlines, hasn't it, but the two
countries may be making progress on allowing American forces, at least, access to Turkish military bases. Officials say negotiations are
continuing.
Turkey has agreed to train so-called moderate Syrian forces against ISIS.
But Ankara has not sent troops across the border despite being within site of hotspots such as Kobani. One reason, well Turkey has asked for several
things that it hasn't received.
Well, one of these, a buffer zone to prevent the continued spillout of refugees, almost 870,000, nigh on a million, are already registered in
Turkey. Let me tell you, they believe there's a lot more there than that as well.
And the second, a no-fly zone over the Turkish-Syria border.
The third, and arguably the real dealbreaker where the U.S. is concerned, an agreement to target not just ISIS, but the government forces of Bashar
al-Assad. For Washington, that is off the table.
Let's examine where Ankara and Washington stand right now, shall we, and where it goes from here, that being the relationship as the two try to iron
out their differences over the ISIS threat.
I'm joined by CNN's military analyst Rick Francona. Rick, thank you for joining us. You're a former defense intelligence agency officer. You
served with the CIA. You participated in a variety of sensitive operations in the Middle East, so you get this story, you understand what's going on
on the ground.
Just how significant is the decision, if that is what it is, that Turkey allow access to its air bases for coalition jets?
RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALSYT: Well, I think it's a small win for each side. The United States wants -- and the coalition -- want to use
those bases because it cuts down the flight time from the areas of conflict from hours to minutes. If you look at the Turkish air bases and their
proximity just using Kobani as the example, we're talking 100 miles instead of 800 miles from the bases they're using right now.
So, it would allow much more effective coalition air operations over the area.
For Turkey, Turkey has been taking a lot of bad press lately, because -- and we've all seen this from our CNN coverage -- is the Turkish armor
sitting on their side of the border watching the destruction of Kobani and yet doing nothing. So this gives the Turks, say, well we're doing
something, we're allowing access to the base. And the United States is allowed now to use those bases for more effective operations.
So, everybody gets a little bit here, but it's not the end result that everybody wants.
ANDERSON: What the Turks will say is we haven't just been sitting back, we've made a number of demands, not least we are looking for a no-fly zone,
for example, they say. And more than that, effectively, they are looking for participation in establishing a security zone inside Syria.
What is Washington's problem with those two demands?
FRANCONA: Well, the problem with the no-fly zone is the United States does not want to commit itself and the coalition air power to enforcing a no-fly
zone over Syria because that really doesn't target ISIS. That hurts the Assad regime's ability to go after, you know, prosecute their own civil
war.
Right now, everything is geared toward taking out ISIS positions. So, it diverts that assets, it dilutes what they're trying to do. And it probably
would be very hard to do, because you're going to have to go after the Syrian air force helicopters, which are doing the most damage. So that's
something the United States doesn't want to get into.
On the buffer zone, who is going to do that. The Turks want us to be involved in that. They want the coalition to be involved in that. And as
far as I can tell, there's no one that has the stomach right now to put any of their boots on the ground. And the Turks won't do it alone.
ANDERSON: Which leads me to my next point, which is the criticism that Ankara has received in this perceived sort of sitting back and one not, you
know, providing any support for what are fighters that they will perceive, certainly many in the administration, as associated with terrorist groups,
even groups that have been designated by the U.S. They'll say, listen, you know, why would we help with somebody who we might perceive to be an enemy
anyway when we're not getting the support on the flip side for the demands that we haven't just put on the table. They -- Turkey has been talking
about these demands for a buffer zone and a no-fly zone since NATO way back when in Wales, this as it were, way back when a month or so ago, and before
that?
FRANCONA: Yeah. And the Turks, they're looking at their national interests. And they say what is our goal in this and what do we get out of
this? Sure, we know what the coalition wants, we know what the United States wants, we know what the rest of the world wants. But they have to
operate in what is Turkey's best interests.
And they're very wary of not only the humanitarian problems that they're taking on, but if you allow all of these Kurds, these Syrian Kurds from
northern Syria move into Turkey, they're afraid that many of them are going to be members of the PKK, which is -- has a lot of Turkish blood on its
hands.
And, you know, there's several different Kurdish groups there. And they're very wary of this.
So the Turks are being very cautious. And you really can't blame them for that.
So, I look at their willingness to allow us to use the air base as a compromise. And certainly speaking from the U.S. coalition side, it's a
welcome, welcome change. Because it will give us a much better capability to prosecute these air operations.
ANDERSON: Pleasure to have you on, sir. Thank you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World at 22 minutes past 7:00. Later this hour, we're going to remind you precisely why the leaders of the
U.S. and Turkey want to find a solution to what is the scourge of ISIS, the so-called Islamic State isn't just a murderous movement to their minds,
it's also defined by slavery and sexual abuse. A sexual report on that side of the story in 20 minutes.
And hundreds in Hong Kong are saying enough is enough. They want these -- or those pro-democracy protesters to clear out. And things are getting
ugly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Tensions have flared once again in Hong Kong after what was an angry crowd confronted pro-democracy protesters. My colleague Ivan Watson
was on the scene today. And he tells us the demonstrators at the sit-in refused to be moved.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Demonstrators have embarked on another furious round of barricade building using bamboo, using even
plastic wrap, and this after police launched a peaceful incursion early in the morning on Monday, ripping down some barriers and then after anti-
Occupy groups came in and had more violent, more angry confrontations with some of the demonstrators. And in some of those not only were people
hurling expletives and insults back and forth, but some fists were flying and the police actually had to intervene to protect these barricades and
these pro-democracy demonstrators from their critics who included a taxi driver's union that tried to plow through some of the barricades.
Angry taxi drivers saying that their revenues are down as a result of the fact that some of the main highways running through Hong Kong have been
occupied and shut down now for two straight weeks.
But demonstrators saying these are the sacrifices that Hong Kong's residents have to make if they are to win concessions and more democratic
elections in 2017.
The Hong Kong government standing firm saying that this is all illegal, these actions, and that they're not going to get the demands that they're
asking for, one of them notably a demand for the top man in Hong Kong, CY Leung, to step down. He said no way.
So the test of wills continues. And if you can draw any conclusion from the tensions that we've seen on Monday, it's that when force is used
against these young demonstrators, it tends to attract more supporters to their encampment.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the latest World News headlines are just ahead here on CNN. Plus, we'll meet the Emirati sailor who is aiming for glory in this
year's Volvo World Ocean race.
And while the British parliament debates whether or not to recognize the Palestinian state, well Sweden's has already taken a stand. I'm going to
talk to Sweden's foreign minister live after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, the top stories this hour on the battle for the Kurdish city of Kobani in Syria is
intensifying. Fierce fighting, airstrikes and explosions seen or heard all day in what is this strategic town. It's not known who has the upper hand.
The Kurdish fighters says they've been able to hold ISIS movements back from the northern part of the city. That's near the border crossing into
Turkey.
Olympic star Oscar Pistorius returned to a South Africa courtroom Monday. He's sentencing hearing, his lawyers are trying to persuade the judge not
to jail him for killing his girlfriend. A psychologist described Pistorius as a broken man.
Scuffles broke out in Hong Kong at the pro-democracy sit-in there. Hundreds of anti-Occupy activists tried to dismantle protests flat
barricade as police formed a human chain to separate the opposing crowds.
And the British Parliament is preparing to debate a measure that would officially recognize Palestine as a state. And these are live pictures
coming to us from the House of Commons, where lawmakers are currently discussing the threat from Ebola. The spokesman for Prime Minister David
Cameron said that he will abstain from the vote on the Palestinian question, which will follow this.
Israel condemning the measure, saying a Palestinian state can only come through negotiations.
Well, while Britain gets set to debate the motion, Sweden is ready to make it official. Swedish foreign minister Margot Wallstrom attended what was a
Gaza donors' conference in Cairo over the weekend. And their announcement Sweden will recognize the state of Palestine.
She says, and I quote, "Some say this announcement is premature, that it will make the peace process more difficult. Well, our own worry is rather
the opposite, that it might be too late."
Margot Wallstrom joins me now live from Stockholm.
You are back from Cairo. But I want to interrogate what you said there.
Why is the time right now to recognize a state of Palestine?
MARGOT WALLSTROM, SWEDISH FOREIGN MINISTER: Because the peace negotiations are suspended, because the situation on ground is dire. And I do believe
that through this measure, we can inject some new dynamics into the peace talks and into that old dream of actually achieving a two-state solution.
We also want to give hope to young people in this part of the world, that there is a prospect of living in two states, in Palestine and Israel.
And we also believe that we create a less than equal situation between the parties that have to negotiate.
ANDERSON: I'm wondering whether by antagonizing Israel, you are really doing anything to push forward these peace negotiations? You're absolutely
right, of course, to point out that they are stalled.
But shouldn't this not come through negotiation with Israel?
And might this unilateral action not actually hurt those talks going forward?
WALLSTROM: No, we actually believe that this will help the parties. We believe in and we support a two-state solution. We of course think that
this has to happen through negotiations. But we want to rebalance a bit between the two parties and I think also to give support to the moderate
Palestinians, because we see now that the threat is rather from the more radical parts of the Palestinian --
(CROSSTALK)
WALLSTROM: We think we should keep extremists and fanatics at bay.
ANDERSON: All right. You say that Sweden supports a two-state solution.
But there is the prospect that Palestine, a state of Palestine, if recognized, could refuse to negotiate with Israel on a two-state solution
going forward, conceivably opening the door to a whole new era that could lead to the end of Israel as a state.
That must have been something that Sweden considered ahead of this proclamation.
WALLSTROM: First of all, for 20 -- more than 20 years, now we have hoped for a two-state solution. That has been the goal since the Oslo agreement.
Secondly, I know for sure that the Palestinians do not think that this is a solution to this whole conflict, but rather that this will help them to
engage on a more equal footing by a number of states already recognizing them. We are in company of --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Can I stop you there, with respect? Right.
WALLSTROM: -- done so.
ANDERSON: Right. With respect, let me just push you on this point, because there are many Palestinians -- you may call them on more extreme
side. You may not call them moderates, but there are many, many, many Palestinians you say 1948 was the time we lost our keys. We're not looking
for a two-state solution. We want a state of Palestine.
Now what do you say to those who, when you say we think this is going to help a two-state solution go in form, when you (inaudible) opening the door
to a state of Palestine without Israel recognizing that.
That's where I think the problem lies here, isn't it?
WALLSTROM: Not at all. We give support to those that want a political process for this. We give support to President Abbas, to the Palestinian
Authority that has already demonstrated that they are able to take what comes with this recognition, that they can establish the necessary
authorities and institutions.
And that has been recognized also by the international community. So we give them the backing of support they need to have a process that is also
controlled.
And I know from talking to President Abbas and others that they need the negotiation track as well. So we will continue to work with the U.S., with
Israel as well, to -- because we have excellent bilateral contacts with both the U.S. and Israel.
So we need both of them to return to peace negotiations. And this will help them to stay on a more equal footing.
ANDERSON: Well, you hope so. All right, thank you for that.
That is the new Swedish foreign minister speaking to you here live on CNN. Thank you.
The process of rebuilding Gaza then is actually looking fairly hopeful, thanks to the donation of almost $5.5 billion from the international
community, the money to be used to reconstruct homes and infrastructure destroyed in Israel's bombing of Gaza, this money coming in at the
conference at the Swedish foreign minister attended over the weekend.
I asked the former British prime minister, Tony Blair, who was also there as the donors to be sure that their aid would be channeled to the right
places, i.e., Gazan families who need help in rebuilding their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TONY BLAIR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: If the Palestinian Authority has envisaged are in charge of that process of reconstruction this money
will go to them, it will go through a proper treasury account, properly administered.
So we are taking a lot of painstaking efforts to make sure the money goes for the purpose for which it's intended and goes to benefit the people in
Gaza.
ANDERSON: In the past, there have been criticisms about the robust nature of lack of it of the accountability and also the problem going forward that
there are limited relations between the P.A. and Hamas.
Has to be considered surely a problem as these funds are pledged and then summed up on surely.
BLAIR: It has been a huge problem. For the last seven years or more, there's been a division between Gaza and West Bank, Hamas being the de
facto government in Gaza, the P.A. in the West Bank.
And yes, that's caused enormous difficulty. However, there has been an agreement over these past months for the -- for there to be a consensus
government, a technocratic government, a government, by the way, that's obedient to the so-called core principles, the mean exclusively peaceful
means and so on.
And that should give us the opportunity over time to bring the P.A. back into Gaza. So you've got one authority and very important for the longer
term, one security apparatus. Because you can't have a situation where you have a Palestinian Authority but someone not of the authority has got an
army, a standing army at the same time.
So these are issues probably to tackle a little down the line. But that unification between Gaza and West Bank is what should offer us a more
hopeful prospect for the future.
ANDERSON: What should be tackled immediately is the fact that Israel apparently limits imports into Gaza and massively limits the exports from
Gaza. If that continues surely there's very little point in these pledges, this funding, this reconstruction if Gaza isn't allowed to act and work as
an authority unto itself surely.
BLAIR: The construction materials, I think we can make sure that those go in under the arrangements that are being worked out with the U.N. at the
moment in the international community and the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority. I think I'm reasonably confident that process of
reconstruction can go on.
But you're right; you need the private sector (INAUDIBLE) should be an ability to link up commercially and in economic terms Gaza and West Bank,
because that would help develop again a private sector in Gaza and help provide employment for the people there.
Now again I believe that is possible. But I think all of it, everything, is fragile unless there is that political framework I described.
ANDERSON: Your very own detractors have to be said criticize the fact that you spend very little time in Gaza and a considerably amount of time in
Jerusalem.
So how do you challenge those criticisms?
BLAIR: Well, I'm in Jerusalem and in the West Bank obviously a lot of the time. The problem for me going to Gaza as with other senior international
figures is security, I'm afraid, because you go in with a lot of other people and security situation's got to permit it.
But I'm absolutely enthusiastic to go back in. I want to go back in. My office -- I have an office in Gaza. We do an immense amount of work there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Tony Blair speaking to me post-the conference there in Cairo to 5.4 billion as we were suggesting pledged there in Cairo.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.
The U.S. Defense secretary insists Baghdad is secure against ISIS. But the Iraqi capital is increasingly hemmed in by Islamist militants, pushing
those in its path into a life of slavery and sexual violence. Details on that just ahead.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Europe's military here is facing another huge setback in the fight against ISIS this Monday. Government forces have abandoned what is
an important base in Anbar province, a vast area to the west of Baghdad, the capital, that's already largely under militant control, local troops
have vowed to vacate the region en masse if the U.S. doesn't intervene.
Ben Wedeman is in Baghdad for us this evening.
And what is happening, Ben, in Anbar and other areas under ISIS' control isn't limited to death and destruction. You describe an ideology that's
taking over that has, in fact, to be very bleakest period of human history.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Becky. We've seen over the last few months a variety of atrocities that have shocked the
world. But it seems that they -- there's no depths to which ISIS will go.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): ISIS' rampage through Syria and Iraq slaughtering prisoners, beheading hostages, destroying religious shrines of those they
call heretics and infidels and have now with typical brazenness resurrected slavery.
A new addition of ISIS' online English language magazine, Dabiq, announcing seemingly with pride the revival of slavery before the hour, the hour being
judgment day.
One should remember the article says that enslaving the families of the kuffar, the infidels, and taking their women as concubines, is a firmly
established aspect of the sharia or Islamic law.
And this is not a theoretical proposition. As a report from Human Rights Watch, underscores, slavery under the Islamic State has become an
institution.
The report documents a capture and forced marriage of women from Iraq's Yazidi minority and the forced conversion or murder of the men.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They killed my husband in front of me as well as my brother-in-law and my father-in-law within minutes.
Now my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law are under their grip. Islamic State were looking for women and they took them for themselves. There are
around 40 women with me. Some of them were already married. The fighters were tossing sweets at us, shooting guns in the air and dancing with their
weapons.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Another woman recounted her ordeal to Human Rights Watch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): They took all the girls with them, killed the men and raped the women. They beat us to make us submit
to them. As much as we could, we didn't let them touch our bodies.
WEDEMAN (voice-over): ISIS makes no attempt to deny the claims, but rather confirms them in the magazine. After capture, the Yazidi women and
children were then divided according to the sharia amongst the fighters of the Islamic State, who participated in the Sinjar operations after one-
fifth of the slaves were transferred to the Islamic State's authority.
For Yazidi men who weren't murdered, the choice was stark: convert or die.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They asked us if there was anyone who didn't want to convert to Islam. Of course, even if you said no, you'd
be killed. No one dared to refuse.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN: And, Becky, we've just gotten news that there have been two bombs here in Baghdad, one in Kadhimiya, which is the site of a very popular Shia
shrine, another in a market in Sadr City. We are hearing there are fatalities, but we don't know the exact number. But clearly, ISIS
continues around the clock with its wave of terror -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman reporting from the Iraqi capital for you.
And another reminder of the brutality of ISIS and the reasons why the U.S. and its allies say they want to defeat the group. But what does victory
look like?
Well, cnn.com/international is where you'll find an explain of exactly that. It's from CNN's chief national security correspondent Jim Sciutto.
His report looks at the objectives shaping the action against ISIS, at cnn.com/international for analysis and background for you. It's an
excellent watch and listen on that.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Just ahead, the very long way 'round in today's parting shot, we'll hear
from one adventurous emirate as he sets sail on what is a nine-month voyage on the seven seas.
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ANDERSON: Adil Khalid has begun a nine-month, 72,000-kilometer adventure of a lifetime. He's the helmsman and trimmer aboard Abu Dhabi's entry in
this year's Volvo Ocean Race, sailing the most challenging yacht race. He also happens to be the only person from the UAE in the race.
For tonight's "Parting Shots," then we caught up with this master yachtsman before he set sail around the world. Have a listen to this.
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ADIL KHALID, UAE YACHTSMAN (voice-over): My name is Adil Khalid and I'm a member of the (INAUDIBLE) yachting team.
It was a great achievement for me to be the first Arab to sail around the world and it's my second time around.
I got through the under 20 emirates. I was the first Arab sailor in the Olympics.
It's all about how to be patient, how to control the surf, how to be friendly. You have a family in the boathouse, communicate how to live in
the boat.
I am here in one of the biggest events in the world and one of the premier events in the world.
How I got from sailing is for something I was born with, like Arabs. (INAUDIBLE) you're connected out from the nature to the sea. In Arab
world, there is not so much sailors that can do this kind of sailing.
My biggest challenge is winning the Volvo race, getting more people (INAUDIBLE). This is my biggest challenge. When I'm sailing, I feel like
the whole country is behind me, because when you go out from the boat, you can (INAUDIBLE) at the back of you. It's like, oh, I have a responsibility
of my country. They can say I'm (INAUDIBLE) around the world.
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ANDERSON: Seven boats, nine legs. You can check out on the rest of the team's progress on the Volvo Ocean Race website. And I can tell you that
they are currently about two days, three hours and 56 minutes into what is the first stage from Alicante to Cape Town with a very long way left to go.
That's volvosoceanrace.com, volvooceanrace.com, what an adventure.
What do you think about the show? Any stories we've missed? (INAUDIBLE) CONNECT THE WORLD (INAUDIBLE) Facebook.com/cnnconnect. Have your say you
can tweet me @BeckyCNN. That is @Becky CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Up next on the international desk officials at the
Centers for Disease Control reporters on efforts to save the life of the second Ebola patient diagnosed in the U.S., a nurse who's worked at this
hospital in Texas and was treating a man who contracted the disease in Africa who later died. That news conference expected to be in just a few
minutes here on CNN. Do stay with us. (INAUDIBLE).
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