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Hillary Clinton Announces Candidacy for President; Yazidi Family Describes ISIS Captivity; French Spiderman Climbs Cayan Tower; Why ISIS Destroys Ancient Relics; How Would Middle East React To Hillary Presidency? Aired 11:00a-12:00p ET
Aired April 13, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:00:29] HAIDER AL-ABADI, IRAQI PRIME MINISTER: We are the only country who have armed forces on the ground who are fighting DAESH. We
need all the support of the globe on this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: The Iraqi prime minister sets off for Washington with a wishlist for support in the fight against ISIS.
We'll consider what help he is likely to get.
Tonight, tough decisions for Barack Obama and a tough several months ahead for this woman who wants to succeed him as Hillary Clinton officially
throws her hat into the ring for the 2016 presidential race. We'll examine how her record in this region might impact her chances.
And the amazing French Spiderman gets his sticky paws on a major Dubai landmark. We'll hear from the superhero who can't get enough of
skyscrapers.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: And one minute past 7:00 in the UAE. It's a very good evening to you.
The Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi is on his way to Washington with one major issue on his mind: how to put an end to ISIS. He'll meet
with President Obama at the White House on Tuesday. And he'll push for more support in the fight against the terror group.
And ISIS continues to press its offensive on the ground with an attack underway on the country's largest oil refinery, we've heard.
Well, Iraq's oil minister confirming the attack to our Arwa Damon just a short time ago. She joins us now from Baghdad.
This isn't the first time that militants and Iraqi forces have battled over the Baiji oil refinery, which is of course a key strategic resource.
Is it clear who is in control at this point?
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, it's not. It seems as if the battles are still ongoing. The country's oil minister telling us
that around 70 ISIS fighters were still holding on in some portions of the oil refinery.
And ISIS not just advancing on that strategic installation, but also launching offensives on multiple fronts in al Anbar Province to the west of
the capital, also a key strategic battleground.
It is against this complex backdrop, Becky, that the Iraqi prime minister does go to Washington with that key request you were mentioning
earlier. More military support from America, more airstrikes.
He says that his country can ultimately defeat ISIS, but they cannot do it alone.
He also has another big challenge facing him as he does meet with the American president and other top U.S. officials and that is to alleviate
some of America's concerns about the role that Iran is playing in the Iraqi battlefield. America very worried about the influence that Iran is having
-- Iran has been. That being said, a very key and vital partner when it comes to Iraq's war against ISIS.
So, we have two uncomfortable nations -- America and Iran -- whose interests are coming together in the battlefield that is Iraq. And makes
for a very difficult balance when it comes to the task that prime minister is facing and asking America for more military support -- Becky.
ANDERSON: I know you've, Arwa, been speaking to some of those whose lives have been wrecked by ISIS, may now be able to go back to their homes,
may not want to at this place. They fear for what might happen next. What have you heard?
DAMON: And that, Becky, would be the country's Yazidi population who have really suffered at the hands of ISIS. Every single individual who we
met at a refugee camp up in the region of Iraqi Kurdistan has a tragic story. And this is one family's event -- story of how they managed to
escape enslavement under ISIS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:04:32] DAMON: A suffocating fear has chased most of these Yazidi refugees into Iraqi Kurdistan, fear not just for themselves, but for their
loved ones still captive with ISIS. Those we spoke to ask that we conceal their identities.
Mahmoud was not home when ISIS arrived in Sinjar last August. The fighters took his wife Ahlan (ph), three children, the youngest just a
month old at the time, and his parents.
"They forced us at gunpoint and two big trailer trucks," Ahlan (ph) recalled. "They wrote everyone's name down and asked who wants to work as
a farmer, cleaner or herder."
Family chose (inaudible) and put to work.
"At the start, there were a lot of tears and fear, but then we got used to it," Ahlan (ph) says.
Two men who tried to escape were beaten and dragged to death behind a car. The village was their prison.
For two months, Mahmoud (ph) did not know if his family was dead or alive. Then Ahlan (ph) found a cellphone left in the house and called him.
She said, "we are alive, but we are prisoners."
One day ISIS fighters appeared and took her in-laws.
"We didn't know where they were taking them," she tells us. "We thought we would be next. So we decided this is it. We survive or we
don't."
She fled with her children, part of a group of 31, under cover of darkness walking, they could only hope, towards freedom.
"When the sun started to come up I thought that's it we are going to get caught. And what am I going to do with the kids," she remembers asking
herself. "I can't carry all three of them and run."
Luckily, she never had to.
The couple can't find the words to describe the moment they were reunited, but the fate of Mahmoud's parents remained unknown. Two days
later, that question was answered.
ISIS released 217 Yazidis, many of them elderly. Exactly why, they don't know.
ISIS moved them around for six terrifying days before setting them free. Among them were Mahmoud's (ph) parents.
"We didn't know if they were going to slaughter us or what they were going to do with us," his father says.
"Of course I was so happy. I couldn't believe that I was in the home of the enemy facing death and then got away,"" his mother adds."
Ahlan's (ph) own parents are still held by ISIS. She cannot escape the haunting memories of all she witnessed and went through.
Ahlan (ph) was saying that the hardest moment for her in all of this was when the ISIS fighters began taking away the little girls, the young
women, to be used as sex slaves. And they would at times tear these girls away from their mothers, dragging them off by their hair as they were
screaming and shouting.
She was spared.
"I would hide, or I would stay dirty. And I was breastfeeding," she says.
That is what ultimately saved her. We're told that ISIS slavery rules prohibit the use of women who are beastfeeding for sex.
The thought of those that are is what torments her most.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DAMON: And, Becky, a Yazidi member of parliament we spoke to is part of the prime minister's delegation to the United States and will be
addressing the United Nations, said that for many Yazidis death would be more merciful than what they're going through under ISIS.
ANDERSON: Arwa Damon in Baghdad for you this evening. Arwa, thank you.
We'll have more from Iraq later in this show. We're going to take a look at how ISIS continues to destroy more of the country's cultural
heritage. Then we're going to speak to CNN's Fred Pleitgen on the mindset behind the video and how the terror group justifies its actions.
Well, to some news just in to us here at CNN. Republican U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida says he is running for president and is, and I
quote, uniquely qualified to talk about the future. Well, that's -- or one of his advisers has told CNN.
That announcement coming hot off the heels of another one.
Of course, Hillary Clinton's big launch on Monday it was long awaited in some quarters and took nobody by surprise.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HILLARY CLINTON, FRM. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm getting ready to do something, too, I'm running for president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, just hours after making public her promise to champion everyday Americans, Hillary Clinton hit the road. No private jet
for her to drive from New York to her first campaign stop in the important caucus state of Iowa.
Well, unlike the declared Republican candidates, Mrs. Clinton chose to keep her announcement virtual by email and YouTube using Facebook as well.
But after a late email, an unfortunate typo and an online drubbing of her logo, let's bring in Brianna Keilar in Washington.
Brianna, what lessons will her team be taking away from this launch that was, what, months in the making, of course?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CORRSEPONDENT: Yeah, months in the making and still ongoing.
As we speak, Hillary Clinton is basically roadtripping from the east coast to Iowa. She popped up unexpectedly yesterday in Pennsylvania. We
didn't know until last night.
So this is all part of what is a more down to earth approach at launching her campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:10:16] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm getting ready for a lot of things. We're moving. Just so she can belong to a better school.
KEILAR (voice-over): Hillary Clinton announcing her presidential campaign with a video of Middle Class Americans.
CLINTON: I'm getting ready to do something, too. I'm running for president.
KEILAR: Clinton outlined her campaign message, a populist family based rationale for her candidacy.
CLINTON: Everyday American needs a champion. And I want to be that champion.
KEILAR: Her announcement quite different than her 2007 pitch.
CLINTON: I'm not just starting a campaign, though, I'm beginning a conversation.
KEILAR: This time --
CLINTON: I'm back.
KEILAR: She tries to convince voters she's not taking her dominance in the Democratic field for granted.
CLINTON: I'm hitting the road to earn your vote.
KEILAR: When she said hitting the road she was being literal. In Pennsylvania, she stopped at a gas station. A man who met the new candidate
provided CNN these photos. Clinton is on her way to Iowa.
CLINTON: Together we will make history.
KEILAR: Where she lost big in 2008. Then it's on to another early state, New Hampshire, where she pulled out an unexpected win after this
emotional appeal.
CLINTON: I see what's happening. We have to reverse it.
KEILAR: Ultimately, of course, she lost.
CLINTON: Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in
it.
KEILAR: Republicans want to stop her from shattering that ceiling in 2016. Rand Paul's campaign launching this ad.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hillary Clinton represents the worst of the Washington machine.
KEILAR: Jeb Bush, still undeclared, responding in advance of Clinton's video.
JEB BUSH, FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: We must do better than the Obama- Clinton foreign policy.
KEILAR: But President Obama, who brings a loyal Democratic constituency along with a potentially damaging foreign policy record, all
but endorsed Clinton during his trip to Panama.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: She was an outstanding secretary of state. She is my friend. I think she would be an excellent
president.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: But as we speak again Hillary Clinton on her way to Iowa in a van. Sort of interesting, Becky, we are told that she has nicknamed it in
the past the Scoobie Van or Scoobie, sort of a take on the cartoon Scoobie Doo.
But we know that these are small events that she is expecting to do in Iowa, a couple of stops in eastern Iowa, also in central Iowa. And this is
mostly a listening tour. We don't think -- we understand she's not doing a big speech until actually next month.
ANDERSON: Brianna Keilar reporting for you.
Still to come tonight, well she steered U.S. foreign policy as the Arab Spring rocked the Middle East. Later, we will look at how Hillary
Clinton's run is being viewed in this region.
Also ahead, horrifying accounts of war from those lucky enough to escape. We're going to hear from medical workers fleeing Yemen about the
hell that they left behind.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:35:34] ANDERSON: Well, there are new tensions brewing between Iran and Saudi Arabia, this time over allegations that two Iranian teenaged
boys were sexually abused by Saudi officers at the airport in Jeddah two weeks ago.
And according to Iranian media, President Rouhani has ordered the suspension of the Umrah pilgrimage to Mecca and is demanding swift action
to punish those responsible for the alleged assault. Unlike the Hajj, the Umrah can be performed at any time of the year.
You're watching CNN, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. As Saudi Arabia and Iran continue to spar verbally over Yemen,
the humanitarian situation there is growing more dire by the hour for civilians trapped by the fighting.
Many people struggling to cope with shortages of food, water and petrol, queuing up in long lines for what are just basic necessities. But
even worse is the constant fear of coming under attack.
Nic Robertson joins us now from the Saudi border.
More and more people are packing up and fleeing the violence. Nic, what are those that you've met telling you?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, Becky, we met two brothers who were coming across the border. One of them had left Saudi
24 hours before to go to the capital Sanaa in Yemen to get his brother, because the situation there was so desperate. And in that time while he
was in the capital of Yemen he said there was an airstrike, an explosion that was very close to them as they came towards the border he said there
was another explosion that was close to them.
And their stories were very typical.
But also, you know, that what is beginning to happen is you're getting people who are beginning to flee Yemen because of the situation inside --
because of the situation inside the country, not just the violence, but the shortages of food, of water, of electricity driving the prices up. We were
down at the border. And we got to talk to some of them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: Bordering a bus full of fleeing Filipino medical workers, we find fear.
Tell me how the situation was for you?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very hard, sir. It's continues bombing.
ROBERTSON: They just left Yemen, arrived at the Saudi border.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, we're afraid. And we are stressed, tension (ph), everything. We cannot sleep nicely.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every day we hear airstrike (inaudible).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It came near in our place. We come here (inaudible).
ROBERTSON: Working inside hospitals, eyewitnesses to the war wounded.
Are there casualties coming to the hospital?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, many.
ROBERTSON: Many? You tell me about them.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Every day.
ROBERTSON: Every day casualties?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: Lots, or one or two or...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not too much.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One family burning.
ROBERTSON: One family burning?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bomb blast...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because of an airstrike.
ROBERTSON: Back where they came from, gunmen can be seen strolling on the Yemen side of the border. On the Saudi side, guns trained in their
direction. No trouble here so far.
This, no mass exodus, but with each fleeing Yemeni a picture emerging. There may be many more to follow.
Why are you leaving?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because of problems. There is no schools. No universities. Nothing in Yemen.
ROBERTSON: Tells me he's going to Turkey, continue his education.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some people get injured near by our houses, because of some people they have everywhere guns. You can see everything.
ROBERTSON: And not just fighting people are fleeing.
This driver from Ta'izz in the south tells me food is cut off, gas, food shortages everywhere.
But not everyone welcome.
What are you doing here today?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to go to Saudi Arabia, but I can't go.
ROBERTSON: Why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I don't have a visa.
ROBERTSON: Tells me he beat a policeman, went to jail here. Officials say he has drug offenses, too, has a 10 year visa ban.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel very scared.
ROBERTSON: Why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because I want to go to see my family, I can't go to see my family and I will go back to the war.
[11:20:05] ROBERTSON: He won't be the last down on his luck at the border.
Plans already begun for a refugee camp not far away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON: We're already in the third week of airstrikes, Becky. And the longer it continues, the longer that that situation inside Yemen
fragments, and that's the picture that's emerging, as long as that continues at the moment this sort of undercurrent of people coming to the
border is that it may -- sort of may grow into a torrent of people trying to flee the escalating problem there, food being a particularly big issue.
That if it's bad now, and nothing has changed, it's only going to get worse, nevermind the violence.
That's leading to a really big concern that a lot more people could end up at the border and not all of them with visas able to get inside
Saudi Arabia, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Nic Robertson reporting from that border for you.
Well, Saudi and other coalition members, including the U.S., should ensure that all necessary steps are taken to minimize harm to civilians,
that's what Human Rights Watch said earlier, releasing letters to the Saudi King Salman and U.S. Defense Secretary Ashton Carter.
But clearly, as Nic is pointing out, the picture on the ground is one in which civilians are bearing the brunt of this allied action.
Let's bring in Faisal al-Yafai for some perspective for you. He's chief columnist at The National, a daily based here in Abu Dhabi, a regular
guest on this show.
Faisal, nearly three weeks in, what has been achieved?
FAISAL AL-YAFAI, THE NATIONAL: Well, no one can fail to watch those tapes and hear the stories from Yemen and not be moved by it. From the
perspective of the Gulf states I think a line in the sand has been drawn, because prior to this military action and prior to the intervention, they
felt that Yemen was being gently, but not so peacefully squeezed and suffocated. And that is what they are trying to resolve by military force.
ANDERSON: What's the significance of the announcement by the Riyadh- based President Hasi who fled Aden, of course, and is in Saudi Arabia, that his prime minister is now also installed as vice president of Yemen?
YAFAI: Yeah, so while you have the action going on, at the same time you have the sort of diplomatic attempt.
I think it's an attempt to draw the Houthis away from Saleh, the former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
If you look at what President Hadi said in the New York Times he said that the place for the Houthis is back at the table. This person that we
are talking about, Khaled Bahah who used to be the prime minister -- he was the prime minister appointed by the Houthis at the point of a gun in
September.
So I think what they're to suggest is that there is a way back for the Houthis without them being completely destroyed as a group.
ANDERSON: We'll speak more as we move through (inaudible). For the time being, we thank you very much indeed.
On Yemen for you tonight, Faisal al-Yafai.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, one of the greatest archeological treasures in the world now lies in shambles. We
take a look at what is motivating ISIS's attack on antiquities.
And UNICEF is hoping another hashtag and campaign will bring awareness to the plight of the kids fleeing conflict in Nigeria. I'm going to speak
with the group's regional director in that part of the world after this short break. Do stay with us.
You're watching Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Back after this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:25:06] ANDERSON: This is Connect the World live from Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
It is about 25 minutes past 7:00 here. Tuesday marks one year since an attack by Boko Haram that shocked the world.
More than 200 schoolgirls were captured by the militant group in the village of Chibok in northern Nigeria. Now that attack, you'll remember,
spawned the hashtag #BringBackourGirls.
Well, now almost a year on and UNICEF is hoping another hashtag #BringBackourChildhood will highlight the impact that the conflict is
having on children.
UNICEF says around 800,000 children have been forced to flee during the conflict in northeast Nigeria. It says it faces a severe funding
shortfall, this being UNICEF, receiving only 15 percent of the funds required for its humanitarian response in Nigeria this year.
So how can this new campaign help raise awareness? Well, I spoke to Manuel Fontaine, UNICEF's regional director for Western and Central Africa,
and I asked what toll the conflict is having on these kids. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MANUEL FONTAINE, UNICEF REGIONAL DIR. WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA: More than 1.5 million people have been displaced across northern Nigeria, but
also crossing borders into Niger, Chad and Cameroon. And among them, 800,000 children, this is our estimate.
So this is the impact, but also the impact is on their protection, many of them have been recruited, have been abducted, killed. We know that
at least 300 children have been killed in schools, for example, in northeastern Nigeria over the past few months, a couple of years.
Access to health services has been ended. So it's -- there are -- you know, it's their future, it's their present and their future that is at
stake and is jeopardized.
ANDERSON: I know that UNICEF has talked to many of these kids caught up in this conflict. What are they telling you?
FONTAINE: Well, what are they telling us? It's stories, horrific stories of having to leave their homes just overnight seeing people killed,
seeing a lot of men and women being killed around them, having lost everything -- their friends, their education, their childhood in general.
And so this is what we're hearing from them.
So, horrific, terrible stories of abuse, but also of simply having to leave your home overnight and having to seek refuge somewhere else.
ANDERSON: UNICEF, I know, faces a severe financing and funding shortfall at the moment. Why? And what can the world do to help these
kids out?
FONTAINE: Well, I think there's a number of things Feed the World can do. Yes, we're facing a shortage of funds. And of course funding is
important. It helps us, you know, deploy our work in terms of health and water and nutrition, make sure we treat children right for malnutrition,
make sure we give them education chances, make sure we protect them. So we need that obviously. And this is important.
Why is it not happening sufficiently? Probably many crises around the world. And this one shouldn't be forgotten. This is important. These are
large numbers of children in need of real assistance.
Now we're asking people do is I think join our campaign or hashtag on the #BringBackourChildhood, which is important for us and really link up --
contribute their thoughts and views, go and joining us on the UNICEF website and making sure that those children don't get forgotten.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Manuel Fontaine speaking to me a little earlier on what was a very windy afternoon here in Abu Dhabi.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead.
Plus, U.S. Republicans eyeing the top job attack Clinton's candidacy. We talk to a veteran of online politicking, the man who directed Mitt
Romney's digital campaign three years ago. That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:31:26] ANDERSON: This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back. You are watching CNN. These are the headlines
for you.
The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is on his way to Washington to meet President Barack Obama on Tuesday. On his agenda, the fight
against ISIS. Mr. al-Abadi is set to ask the U.S. for more arms and an increase in the air campaign against the terror group.
Well, Saudi-led war planes are keeping up attacks on Houthi rebels in southern Yemen. Reports say new airstrikes hit the rebel-held presidential
palace in Aden as well as checkpoints at the entrances to that city.
China has freed three of five women's rights activists detained last month ahead of protests for International Women's Day. The case sparked
widespread criticism with the U.S. calling for the women's release. The status of the other two held is not clear.
Well, the Republican race for the White House has just added another runner. Florida Senator Marco Rubio has announced he'll stand for
president joining Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. And after launching her second bid to be the first female president of the U.S. Hillary Clinton is on the
road. She's driving from New York to Iowa where she is expected to meet with voters ahead of her official campaign kickoff rally, which is planned
for next month.
Well, less than 24 hours since Mrs. Clinton's bid was officially launched, declared and undeclared. Republican hopefuls went on the attack.
Have a look at these clips from Rand Paul and Jeb Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: What path will America take? Will be a path to the past? A road to yesterday? A place we've been to before? Hillary Clinton
represents the worst of the Washington machine, the arrogance of power, corruption and cover-up, conflicts of interest and failed leadership with
tragic consequences.
JEB BUSH, FRM. GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA: America should be respected by our allies and feared by our enemies, that's why it's critical we change
the direction our country is heading. We must do better than the Obama- Clinton foreign policy that has damaged relationships with our allies and emboldened our enemies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Let's bring in a man who knows all about the cut and thrust of offensives and social strategies. Zach Moffatt was Mitt Romney's
campaign digital director back in 2012 joining me now from Washington.
And Zach, as Republican opponents of Hillary Clinton launch attack ads before she even announces her bid, what can we expect from the media
onslaught both on tele and online in the, what is it 19 months ahead?
ZACH MOFFATT, ROMNEY DIGITAL CAMPAIGN MANAGER: Yeah, I think that you're just going to see your Facebook feed, your Twitter feed, everywhere
you look it's going to be all about the campaign for the next two years. And it's starting early.
ANDERSON: Social media is something that can win elections if candidates get it right. It's also something that can do untold damage if
a candidate says or does anything of a, what, controversial nature, caught in the act and the evidence goes viral, as it were.
You probably know what I'm referring to, Zach, this is Mitt Romney speaking to donors about six weeks before the 2012 election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, 2012 REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who
believe that they are victims, who believe that government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to
health care, to food, to housing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Yeah, well these comments painting quite a harsh pitch of Romney.
What can we learn from this episode, if anything?
[11:35:05] MOFFATT: Well, I think the takeaway is that you're always on. I think, you know, this was three years ago and yet now with Meerkat
and Periscope and everything else I mean you have this massive infrastructure of the social networks that allow through the social graph
(ph) information to flow very, very quickly and across the whole world in a matter of minutes.
ANDERSON: What role do you think social media will play in comparison to previous election campaigns?
MOFFATT: Well, I hope that this time around it will be a two-way conversation. I think before we primarily used social media as a broadcast
mechanism. And I think this way you're going to see with better social media monitoring tools and listening tools there will be more two-way
dialogue, people will give input to the campaigns.
I also think you're going to have greater reach. And I think our job as campaign operatives is to reduce the points of friction to allow it to
be as simple as possible for someone to participate in elections.
ANDERSON: How good are the teams around these candidates?
MOFFATT: Well, I mean, I think they're some of best in the field. I think definitely on the Democratic side where you have, you know,
consolidation around one candidate you're going to see -- you know they're get to have a proactive budget. So they get to do a lot more things.
I think on the Republicans with so many candidates running, they're going to have a lot more challenging part -- early in the process, but in
the long run I think that'll be a net positive for them, because that'll force them to be used to working with limited resources.
ANDERSON: You've probably forgotten more about the word world of digital than I will ever know. So just tell me, what did you learn in
2012? And if asked by one of these candidates to get it right for them, what would your one message be?
MOFFATT: Invest early. I mean, I think that's the biggest thing. Human capital is the most important thing you can do, having the right
amount of staff and people focusing on this will let you be successful. I think, you know, this can't just be a talking point, you really have to
make this a focal point of the campaign. People are looking for you to participate and to engage with them. And I think to be as authentic as
possible on social media is the only way that someone is going to be successful in 2016.
ANDERSON: Well, I'm sure you wish everybody the best, correct?
MOFFATT: Yeah. You know, campaigns are fun. I mean, I think they're stressful, but they're fun.
ANDERSON: Good. All right. Thank you for that.
Zach joining us out of -- what was it, Washington this evening?
Faisal al-Yafai, chief columnist at Abu Dhabi's National newspaper here with me to explore more about this campaign.
We spoke a little about the style of campaigning we can expected to see from Hillary Clinton perhaps this time around. Let's look at little
bit more at the substance, specifically of course on the world stage.
You had Jeb Bush, for example, in that campaign attack ad saying that America must do better than the Obama-Clinton foreign policy of the days of
yore.
These words from the man whose as yet undeclared.
She certainly got -- this is Hillary Clinton -- more experience in international affairs than any of these other candidates who have shown
their heads yet. But does he have a point?
YAFAI: Well, it's an old Bush-Clinton spat once again.
He does have a point in that that sort of discussion about what America's role should be in the world, how aggressive it should be, that
seems to have been something that was part of the past, it was part of the campaign with Barack Obama to become the president.
This campaign I think is very different. This is going to be something about her record. And she has a long record as secretary of
state. From the point of view of the region, it's frankly a mixed record at best.
ANDERSON: How well liked is she here?
YAFAI: Personally she's probably reasonably well liked. She's well known. But like I say, there are two elements of her history that are
going to be difficult for the region.
One is the support that she has given in the past to the Israelis, in particular last year during the assault on Gaza she was very vocally
supportive of the Israelis even at a time when they were hammering Palestinian kids and a lot of things were coming, a lot of video was coming
out.
They will like one path. They will like the fact that she is very assertive. They will listen very closely to what she said in her book
about what Syria should have been dealt with much earlier. They will like that. And they will be listening for more assertive words from her in the
coming weeks.
ANDERSON: Critics of Hillary Clinton don't just point to her duties as secretary of state when outlining her alleged shortcomings, they also
point to her family's charitable activities. Have a listen to Rand Paul speaking to CNN this weekend.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RAND PAUL, (R) KENTUCKY: I do think that there is sort of a history of the Clintons sort of feeling like they're above the law. They
said they weren't going to take donations, you know, for the Clinton Foundation during the period of time she was secretary of state. And there
are questions whether they did.
Since then, there are questions of them taking millions of dollars from Saudi Arabia, from the Sultan of Brunei, countries that really have an
abysmal human rights record and women's rights record.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Is there, do you think, a danger that Clinton is a little too cozy with some of America's closest, but perhaps most controversial
allies?
[11:40:06] YAFAI: Well, the Saudi government is a very close ally to the Americans. And the Saudi government has invested a lot of time and
financial and as you see now military capital in it. So I'm not sure that they're going to be taking lessons from Rand Paul, a man who, after all,
represents a party that had George Bush come to the region and declare war on one of the countries. I'm not sure that is the person that you should
be listening to lectures from.
In the end, the Clintons, particularly through their foundation, have a wide network of donors across the world as a lot of former presidents and
prime ministers have. I think that will stand them in good stead here in the region, elsewhere in the region. How it plays back home in America is
really for the Americans.
ANDERSON: It's unclear how Hillary Clinton feels about the Iran talks, for example, at present. It is clear that Iran is involved to some
degree, less or more depending on who you speak to in this region, in what is going on in many parts of this region.
How important is it going to be that people here find out and find out quickly where she stands on some of the biggest issues?
YAFAI: Iran, from the point of view of foreign policy for the U.S. and the Middle East is going to be a very interesting case for her, because
she does have to sort of separate herself from this passive-aggressive attitude that Barack Obama has had. If by the end of June we do have a
deal, it is going to be extremely difficult for her to separate herself, but at the same time say I will build on that legacy.
I very much doubt you will see her saying anything substantive before June.
ANDERSON: Yeah, that will be interesting, because if we do get a deal it is still, what, 15 months away from the election. There's a long time
to run.
Thank you, Faisal, always a pleasure. Faisal al-Yafai in the house for you this evening.
It won't just be Clinton's foreign policy record that is up for scrutiny, she'll also be under the microscope for how she handles gender
issues and whether she can relate to.
Let's play the everyday woman. You can read more about the gender politics Clinton will undoubtedly have to face by going to our website
CNN.com. Search for Hillary Clinton's gender tightrope. There you go.
The challenge for you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up, ISIS has demolished yet another historical landmark.
We take a closer look at why the terror group is bent on destroying Iraq's cultural history. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:32] ANDERSON: Well, you're back with Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
Now another piece of history is apparently gone, destroyed by ISIS militants. This time it was the ancient city of Nimrod, a site dating back
thousands of years that was considered to be one of the greatest archeological finds of the 20th Century.
ISIS released propaganda video it says showing fighters leveling much of that city last moth.
CNN's Ben Wedeman explains what's behind the terror group's campaign to lay waste to Iraq's cultural history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Thousands of years of history wiped out in minutes. Videos of ISIS destroying ancient artifacts
have sent shockwaves throughout the world, but just why are they doing it?
From the Mosul Museum to the ancient Assyrian site of Nimrud, nothing is off limits. ISIS militants have destroyed unique statues and artifacts
documenting the very history of human civilization. Their value beyond estimate.
ISIS says God ordered them destroyed because people in the past worshipped these objects instead of God, including the famous winged bulls
of Nineveh, dating back to 900 BC.
It`s about eradicating a country`s, indeed, an entire region`s, cultural heritage, its past, and perhaps ruining whatever hope people still
have in the future.
ISIS are attacking anything that`s either pre-Islamic or conflicts with their beliefs. UNESCO has accused them of trying to erase world
history.
Of course, many of the objects from the Mosul Museum have already been sold on the black market for antiquities, a market now flooded with loot as
never before.
After the upheavals in Libya, Egypt, Syria and Yemen and war here in Iraq, government order has broken down in many areas and it`s a free-for-
all, whether it`s ISIS or simply ordinary people desperate to make a living.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Joining me now to talk more about ISIS's destruction of these cultural heritage sites is our senior international correspondent
Fred Pleitgen. He's in London for us this evening.
And it was, as I describe, the ancient city of Nimrod, a site dating back thousands of years that was considered to be one of the greatest
archeological finds of the 20th Century that is now apparently gone.
Fred, these are UNESCO images that we are showing our viewers of Nimrod. Just talk us through what we know.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it was interesting, Becky, because we found out back in March that apparently ISIS
had destroyed this archeological site. And back then, the word was that apparently they had bulldozed it over and there were some who were hoping
that perhaps that hadn't totally destroyed it, that perhaps some of the site might have survived or maybe some of it could be salvaged afterwards.
Of course that area is still very much under ISIS control. It is, after all, very close to the city of Mosul which is the stronghold for ISIS
there in northeastern Syria -- northeastern Iraq, I should say.
However, of course, now it turns out that everything is much worse than anybody would have thought. Not only did they destroy much of the
site with power tools, they also did use bulldozers, in fact, to tear down walls. They destroyed statues, they destroyed ancient frescos, everything
that is of any sort of cultural and historical relevance they destroyed. And then what they did is they packed everything full of explosives and
blew the entire site up. So it certainly seems out of the question to be able to salvage anything from that.
The worst part about all this, Becky, is that ISIS fighters then actually taped themselves saying they were actually proud of what they'd
done saying that this was very much in line with their interpretation of Islam, which is of course something that wide majority of Muslims would
very much dispute.
The -- UNESCO for its part -- I know we're showing these images -- UNESCO for its part, the UN has said they call the destruction of cultural
treasures in Iraq during the conflict that's going on right now, they consider that to be a war crime, Becky.
[11:50:01] ANDERSON: And oft times these fighters we believe would be foreign fighters, those in the throes of action for ISIS. Quite possibly
these will be people who have no idea about the cultural wealth, the heritage of this country. Will they?
PLEITGEN: Well, they certainly don't have any sort of appreciation for it. I mean, it's difficult to say how much they actually knew about
these sites or how much they actually cared about these sites, but you're absolutely right, presumably it wouldn't be very much. And they, of
course, for the most part also fanatics. As you said, there are many foreign fighters who are taking part in this.
But of course this is also not something that is generally new. It is new on the scale that we're seeing it right now, but there has been a lot
of destruction of, quote, "cultural sites" in the past as well.
If you look to places like Iraq, organizations like al Qaeda in Iraq, which of course is the predecessor of ISIS, there was also some destruction
of cultural sites that went on there as well.
But by far not on the scale, and also not in the way that they use it and try to instrumentalize it for their PR purposes by videotaping
everything. They're putting out these very upscale videos as well. That certainly is something that is very much unprecedented, and, as you said,
shows a large disregard for civilization.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Disregard and sickening disrespect.
And of course those of our viewers who are old enough to remember it, and it does seem some time ago now, but back in 2001 and '02 of course, we
saw the Taliban acting in the same despicable fashion in Afghanistan.
PLEITGEN: Absolutely. The Buddhas of Bamiyan were of course one of those big cases. This was in, as you say, in the early 2000s. I think in
2001 when they did this. And it's something that Afghanistan hasn't recovered from yet. Those sites are destroyed forever.
But it's the entire region. We heard that in Ben Wedeman's report. If you look at Syria, if you look at Iraq as well, the amount of looting
that's gone on since the U.S. invasion of Iraq with the lawlessness that followed there. If we look at Syria, the amount of cultural sites that
were destroyed there in the fighting. It is certainly a place where you see these ancient civilizations, these high cultures of the past that have
given us so much knowledge, a lot of that is now being destroyed as these conflicts are going on, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in London for you this evening.
Well, what do you make of this wanton destruction of Iraq's cultural heritage in the hands of ISIS? Have your say. Facebook.com/CNNConnect.
You can alternatively get ahold of me on Twitter @BeckyCNN. That is @BeckyCNN.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Four years ago he climbed the world's tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa. Well, now French
Spiderman is taking on the world's tallest twisted building. We'll have that story next in tonight's Parting Shots.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Music superstar Kanye West apparently doesn't mind getting a little soggy while performing in concert, but I'm not talking sweat. The
American rapper decided to take a dip during a free show in Armenia in the early hours of Monday.
Soon after, he started wading in the waters, fans went right in after him. His security crew and Armenian authorities had to rescue him from the
water after crowds started swarming the singer there with his wife Kim Kardashian, I believe.
You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
We're going to stay here in the United Arab Emirates and in Dubai to be precise for tonight's Parting Shots. Daredevil Alain Robert, also known
as the French Spiderman has climbed what is described as the world's tallest twisted building.
Robert reached the top of the 75 story Cayan Tower in just over an hour. And he did it without a safety harness. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:55:41] ALAIN ROBERT, DAREDEVIL: My name is Alain Robert. I'm known as the French Spiderman, the guy who is climbing buildings, actually
over 120 buildings.
Most of the time we use bare hands.
The first time I saw that building, I'd been really amazed by you know the shape. I just thought I need to climb that building.
When I climbed, there is no -- there is no space for fear. On the contrary, you know, you are pushing aside everything and it's a lot about
positive thinking.
I love climbing. You know, this is like -- you know, this is pretty much my whole life.
(inaudible) you are in between life and death, but everything depending a lot on your mental and your physical standing up. So it's a
great, great feeling.
The hardest part was towards the end, because stories are much taller and so I didn't even known. I haven't (inaudible) it before. And then the
last part of the building as well was complicated.
I love it. I enjoy it. And, yeah, that's my life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: He is just a little bit crazy, isn't he? We're just peering over the wall here to make sure that he hasn't decided to join us
here in Abu Dhabi. He hasn't tonight. He'll still be in Dubai.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World. Thank you for watching.
END
