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Election Day Around the World; Cuba Allows Some Drones To Capture Aerial Havana; Newly Released Video Shows Inside Raid on ISIS Prison; All Blacks Escape South Africa, Head to World Cup Final; Jordan Proposes 24 Hour Video Surveillance of Temple Mount Site. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 25, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:14] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Inside the rescue, newly released video shows U.S. and Kurdish special forces freeing hostages from the clutches of
ISIS. Tonight, the latest details on the raid that claimed one life, but saved 70 prisoners.
Also ahead, it is election day around the world. We'll bring you the latest as voters cast their ballots from Buenos Aires, Dar es Salaam, and
from Guatemala to Warsaw.
Also...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You don't see this very often here, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones are virtually nonexistent in Cuba.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, a rare sight in a normally secretive country. These bird's eye views of Havana from the air.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: It is very good evening from the UAE just after 7:00 in the evening. We begin tonight with striking new video that U.S. and Kurdish
officials say shows the rescue of hostages held by ISIS in Iraq.
Now this footage was captured on a helmet camera and released by the regional government of Iraqi Kurdistan. The raid was part of a joint
rescue operation between Kurdish and U.S. forces on Thursday.
U.S. officials say 70 hostages were freed. A U.S. soldier was killed during
the operation.
Well, senior international correspondent Nick Paton Walsh following the story for us. He joins us live from Gaziantep in Turkey for you.
And to quote Kurdish security forces, Nick, this was the single most significant joint rescue operation based out of the Kurdistan region
conducted deep into ISIS territory. What more do we know about this raid? And is this a sign of increased U.S. army involvement on the ground do you
think?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's perhaps a public acknowledgment of what has maybe been going on for longer. I think this
video pretty much edited as it is supplied by the Kurdish regional government and authorized as genuine by U.S. officials, does pretty much
corroborate the version of events we eventually got from U.S. officials, confused at the start.
I mean, you can see here slowly how these jailed men who they thought they were rescuing as Kurds, began to come out of the jail cells. That may well
be, given the dress of the men you're seeing there, (inaudible) Sunni Arabs, that they, in fact, that that was -- when they first learned that
perhaps they were looking at a different cache of prisoners they were releasing. It turned out in
fact Iraqi troops, Iraqi civilians, and maybe also, too, some ISIS members who were
being jailed as spies for ISIS's enemies.
But you can see the fear in their faces and you can hear the intensity of that gunfire. We don't know at which point Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler,
the veteran of 14 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, succumbed to the gunfire which took his life eventually. But still, the mission goes on there quite
clearly.
At latter points, they burs tinto one room. They see an ISIS flag. And there's a point, too, where they appear to notice one target through the
light of that window there, and open fire in that direction.
But the intensity of the raid is certainly caught as also is the moment, too, when they come across some jail cell doors and begin to slowly search
and filter through these prisons.
Remember, they were expecting Kurdish Peshmerga, perhaps, officers to be amongst those freed, instead they got a long collection of Iraqi men who
they had to search, perhaps fearing they well have been ISIS members maybe carrying
weapons or bombs or something.
So, a very tense moment there.
But remarkable how intimate that captured moment is on the GoPro camera o the helmet of the Kurdish Peshmerga fighter, giving you a brief moment,
too, where it's clear you're seeing American commandos in action as well. That's rare as well, Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh is on the border with Syria and Turkey for you tonight.
I want to turn across the border from Iraq, where that video was shot and Turkey where Nick is to the civil war in Syria. Russia says its air force
is prepared to help the American-backed Free Syrian Army and certain other opposition
forces fighting ISIS there, but there is a catch. Moscow wants Washington to point
out where those rebels are.
Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We're ready to
provide aerial support to the patriotic opposition, included so-called Free Syrian Army, but it's important to us to get in touch with people who are
authorized to represent these armed groups that are standing against terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, there is a lot of skepticism surrounding that statement. Russia has been accused of making other rebels its primary target in what
is this air campaign. Witnesses cite this hospital air strike as an example.
As for Russia's suggestion of elections in Syria, a Russian lawmaker said that Bashar al-Assad is prepared for that prospect as well.
Let's get more on this. I want to get to Moscow tonight and CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson who is joining us now from
there.
And Nic we talked last week about Assad's surprise trip to Moscow, his first foreign trip since the war in Moscow began, and whether that marked a
new strategic stage in the conflict. Reports this hour of a conversation between the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart
Sergey Lavrov who we saw speaking there.
What do you make of all of these developments in the context of any potential political resolution to this crisis?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Moscow's come hard into the
war in Syria. The TV stations here have been smothered over the past few weeks with images of Russian planes firing missiles on targets in Syria.
That's dried up over the past couple of days.
The bigger picture at the moment from the Russian perspective, and certainly the way it's being portrayed to the public, is a push for a
political solution through diplomatic channels.
What you have is a third conversation in a row now, Secretary Kerry speaking with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Sunday. They did
that Saturday. They had a long meeting in Vienna Friday. That was their first meeting since Russia began the air strikes in Syria several weeks
ago.
So you're seeing this sort of change in approach, if you will, and a narrative that's emerging from Russia for this push for diplomacy saying
that Sergey Lavrov yesterday on a television program here in Russia saying that Russia would support the Free Syrian Army and patriotic opposition
inside Syria with air strikes, but questioning who the Free Syrian Army is, which sort of fits with the narrative that we've heard from Sergey Lavrov,
from President Vladimir Putin over recent weeks, there's skepticism in the Russian leadership here about who the Free Syrian Army are, who represents
them, and where they are.
So I think what your seeing is Russia really tried to draw in and engage the United States and the other players in the region in a diplomatic and
political solution because they are going to need that in the coming weeks ahead as they try to move this from a military offensive to something --
some kind of solution and end game.
And the reality is, this is very complex what they're trying to do. It's incredibly complex. And the timeline is probably going to be significantly
longer than perhaps even they can anticipate at the moment.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in Moscow with the very latest from there for you tonight.
Well, our top stories as you've been hearing, one in Iraq, the other in Syria, two conflicts which are now linked by ISIS.
In an interview with CNN's, Fareed Zakaria, former British prime minister Tony Blair admits that the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq contributed in part to
the rise of that group. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FAREED ZAKARIA, HOST, GPS: Given, however, that Saddam Hussein did not prove to have weapons of mass destruction, was the decision to enter Iraq
and topple his a mistake?
TONY BLAIR, FRM. BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: You know, whenever I'm asked this, I can say that I apologize for the fact that the intelligence we
received was wrong, because even though he had used chemical weapons extensively against his own people, against others, the program in the form
that we thought it was did not exist in the way that we thought.
So I can apologize for that.
I can also apologize, by the way, for some of the mistakes in planning. And certainly our mistake in our understanding of what would happen once
you removed the regime. But I find it hard to apologize for removing Saddam. I think even from today, in 2015, it's better that he is not there
than that he is there.
ZAKARIA: When people look at the rise of ISIS, many people point to the invasion of Iraq as the principle cause. What do you say to that?
BLAIR: I think there are elements of truth in that, but I think we have again got to be very careful, otherwise we'll misunderstand what's going on
in Iraq and in Syria today.
Of course, you can't say that those of us who removed Saddam in 2003 bear no responsibility for the situation in 2015. But it's important also to
realize, one, that the Arab Spring, which began in 2011, would also have had its impact on Iraq today, and, two, ISIS actually came to prominence
from a base in Syria and not in Iraq.
And that leads me to the broader point, which I think is so essential when policy today, which is we have tried intervention and putting down troops
in Iraq, we've tried intervention without putting in troops in Libya, and we have tried no
intervention at all but demanding regime change in Syria. It's not clear to me that even if our policy did not work, subsequent policies have worked
better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:37] ANDERSON: You can see that full interview on Fareed Zakaria GPS later today 11:00 p.m. Abu Dhabi time. Tune in for a special CNN report, A
Long Road to Hell: America in Iraq that is Monday, 9:00 p.m. Eastern time in the United States. I hope you can work out the times locally for you,
only here on CNN.
All right, still to come this evening on Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson, leaders in the Middle East have agreed to take a step forward and
towards curbing violence in Jerusalem. And it centers around cameras at one of the region's most contested and revered sites.
And it looks like a political dynasty may be coming to an end in one South American country, but not entirely. We'll explain why in a live report,
coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Prime Minister Netanyahu has agreed to what I think is an excellent suggestion by King Abdullah, to provide 24-
hour video coverage of all sites on the Temple Mount, Haram al-Sharif. This will provide comprehensive visibility and transparency, and that could
really be a game changer in discouraging anybody from disturbing the sanctity of this holy site.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:15:14] ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. That was John Kerry, of course. He met with Jordanian and
Palestinian officials on Saturday before announcing that proposal.
On Sunday, there was more violence. Israeli forces in Hebron say they shot and killed a Palestinian woman who tried to stab security officers there.
Now this incident just the latest in weeks of violence that has now led Israel to approve a
new security measure at one of the holiest sites for both Jews and Muslims.
Let's get you to Jerusalem. CNN's Oren Liebermann is there for you this evening. And let's just talk about these holy sites if we can.
I want to remind our viewers of just how important this site is to Muslims, Christians, and Jews alike. Located in Jerusalem's old city, the Temple
Mount and the Western Wall are among Judaisms holiest sites.
On top of the Temple Mount is al Aqsa Mosque, the third most important mosque in Islam. They might be able to monitor it more closely, but Oren
will surveillance reduce tensions with so many worshipers and visitors?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the idea here is to see what's really happening and to provide constant surveillance of al Aqsa and the al
Aqsa compound. As you said, the Temple Mount to Jews, al Haram al-Sharif to
Muslims.
And Israel welcomed it. Netanyahu saying there are two good reasons to have 24 hours surveillance on this holy site from his perspective. The
first of those saying that it will prove, at least from his perspective, that Israel is not the one violating the status quo, which is the unwritten
agreement with Jordan governing this holy site.
And the second, as Prime Minister Netanyahu sees it is that it will show who is really provoking there and hopefully prevent some of that.
Now if we go back a few weeks here, about six or seven weeks or so, the al Aqsa compound was right at the beginning of the tensions here. The
question is, is that still what all the tension is about? If it still is, then perhaps Kerry is
right as well as Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders that surveillance there
could ease some of that tension.
But if this has gone beyond Jerusalem, then to what extent this could ease the tension remains a serious question here.
ANDERSON: And clearly there is still tension and we've been reporting the latest event on the streets. A bizarre event reported overnight, Oren,
which I wonder whether you have more sourcing on it. An Arab-Israeli paragliding into Syria. What are your sources telling you about who that
was and why?
LIEBERMANN: Well, from what we know -- and we still don't know a lot about this, and bizarre is a very good word there, because in the stories we've
covered over the last month or so, perhaps even longer than that, this struck us as
one of the most bizarre. The IDF says an Arab-Israel from an Arab village in northern Israel paragliding across the Golan Heights into Syria to fight
with militant groups there.
Israel has arrested people trying to fight for militant groups in Syria, but this is the first we've heard of somebody paragliding across.
There was a large search effort, that search not finding the Arab-Israeli who crossed into Syria. Prime Minister Netanyahu saying he will now work
to revoke the citizenship of that Arab-Israeli to make sure he is prevented from
coming back here.
So as you said, a bizarre incident. A large search, from what we hear, in and across the Golan, perhaps even into Syria to try to find this Arab-
Israeli. But if the IDF is right, then he has gone to fight with militant groups, the government now working to make sure he won't get back into
Israel.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. And as we get more on that story, viewers, of course, we will bring it to you.
Oren, for the time being, thank you. Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World.
Coming up next, history in their sights. New Zealand are in the rugby World Cup final, but who will they meet there? We have got the latest on
the World Cup Rugby, up next.
And a view of Cuba unlike anything you've ever seen as CNN get access to rare drone footage from the normally secretive island. That's just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:22:46] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You want to know what champions are made of, that's what champions are made of. And how close he came to beating the
best team in the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: One step closer to history: New Zealand into the final of the World Cup Rugby after narrowly beating South Africa 20-18 at Twickenham
(ph). If they win the tournament next Saturday, the All Blacks will become the first team ever to successfully defend the title.
You're watching Connect the World live from Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson for you.
Well, one more important will stand in the way of the All Blacks as they look to win their third World Cup, either Australia or Argentina. They
take on each other in the other semifinal in about half an hour's time.
Argentina looking to reach their first-ever final.
A little something for you putting tonight's semifinal into a bit of perspective, Connect the World style, Argentina's pack in the scrum, as
it's known, is a total weight of 882 kilograms. Australia's, well, it's a
little heavier, at 915, nigh on a ton of man mountain. Well, that's a combined scrum weighing almost 1800 kilos.
If you can't get your head around that, think two female black rhinos. Yep, you heard it, two female black rhinos.
Well, as for the distances they have covered, Australia have made over 2,000 meters so far in the tournament. Argentina have gained a fair few
more.
Or that's about 3,200 meters or about four times the length of the world's tallest building.
Well, lastly, in terms of caps, Argentina's starting 15 have an average of 36 international games under their belts, the Aussies far more experienced
with about 60 matches each.
All in all, well, it promises to be a cracking game.
Let's get you the view from Twickenham, the stadium in West London where Alex Thomas is reporting from tonight.
What can we expect from tonight's match, Alex?
[11:25:04] ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I think we can expect a more open semifinal in this one, Becky, than we saw 24 hours ago when New
Zealand were run awfully close by South Africa, who were actually leading at halftime. The All Blacks for the first time in a World Cup semifinal
came back from a halftime deficit to win.
They showed that after their nine try demolition of France in the quarterfinals, New Zealand showed they could also win ugly. So they will
be overwhelming favorites for whoever wins this second semifinal. And Australia will be favorites to beat Argentina, but it will are awfully
close.
Looking at some of those statistics you just mentioned to our viewers, Becky, I can add some more of my own. And that is that Argentina's
attacking stats actually stack up slightly better than Australia's in terms of points scored and tries scored at this World Cup.
And they played with a freedom we haven't really seen from Argentina before. They reached the semifinals in 2007 and went on to win the bronze
medal match. And now they have a chance to reach the final itself for the first time in their history. If Australia get through, it will bizarrely
be the first-ever trans-Tasman World Cup final. Australia and New Zealand have never met in the final before, despite them both being two-time world
champions. And either the All Blacks or the Wallabies will be going to make it a third World Cup.
That's never been done in the recent Rugby World Cup history before.
So too close to call in this one, Becky, but don't be surprised if Argentina surprise the Rugby World Cup fans across the globe one more time.
ANDERSON: It's been some cracking games in this tournament, not least the Australia game against Scotland, which put Australia into the semifinals.
And of course, Ireland against Argentina last Sunday.
Who are you backing in this?
THOMAS: Well, that's a really interesting point, because until that quarterfinal stage, Becky, you could say Australia were the form team of
the competition. Then New Zealand ran riot over France. Everyone said, oh, yes, the All Blacks are back to their best afterall.
Argentina, let's not forget, started with defeat, but it was to New Zealand. And in the two previous Rugby World Cup finals, the top two teams
in the pools that have met each other have then gone separate routes and ended up meeting again in the final. So, that might indicate Argentina if
it was going to make it third time lucky.
But momentum definitely is with the Pumas after their romping win over the Irish last week. Australia really struggled against the Scots. But
speaking to some former players a little bit earlier, they didn't think that would have too much of an impact.
Reset, start again, Australia slight favorites in their recent history against Argentina, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, all right, good stuff. Enjoy the game. It starts in 33 minutes, fans. Thank you, Alex.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World.
Coming up, from Haiti to Ivory Coast to Poland, millions of voters across the world heading out for their own national elections. We're going to run
you through some of those coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:31:38] ANDERSON: Well, we're doing what it says on the can, Connect the World with Becky Anderson. The top stories for this hour on CNN.
And a U.S. military official has confirmed this footage shows the rescue of hostages held by ISIS in Iraq. The raid was part of a joint rescue mission
between Kurdish and U.S. forces on Thursday. U.S. officials say about 70 hostages were freed. A U.S. soldier was killed during the operation.
Russia says its air force is ready to help American-backed opposition groups fighting ISIS in Syria, but it wants the U.S. to show it where those
rebels are. Washington has accused Moscow of targeting those same rebels as well as civilians in air strikes.
Israeli forces say they shot and killed a Palestinian woman who tried to stab security officers at a checkpoint in Hebron in the West Bank. The
incident is just the latest in weeks of violence that has now led Israel to approve a new security measure at a disputed holy site. 24-hour video
surveillance at the Temple Mount, or al Aqsa Mosque.
And what is left of Hurricane Patricia is drenching parts of the southern U.S. Roads around Houston, Texas, are look more like rivers. Patricia,
the most powerful storm ever recorded by the U.S. National Hurricane Center.
Well, Patricia came ashore in Mexico. CNN's Rosa Flores is with us from Halisco Sate. And it didn't come ashore as ferociously as it had expected,
but still, there is some cleaning up to do, correct?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And residents here are doing just that this morning.
Now take a look behind me, because, you know, damage estimates are still being made. But you can see the people here did lose some of their
property, and they're waking up this morning and cleaning it all up.
I want to take you right over here because the owner of this particular restaurant is actually having to dig out of the sand because of the force
of this hurricane. He was telling me he's probably going to have to dig several feet to get to the concrete floor of his restaurant.
Now I want you -- I want to give you a little 360 here, Becky, to kind of show you around first of all. So, you see that there's a lot of debris.
The storm surge was very, very strong. The owner of this restaurant was telling me that his expectation is probably that the sand probably moved in
about four or five feet onto his property. Of course he's going to have to dig out.
You can see that the water is very calm. It's more murky than normal, is what people here tell me. Normally, it's very nice, crystal clear. Of
course, it's very calm this morning. But you can see all around here there's a lot of debris, a lot of stuff that was brought in.
Unfortunately, a lot of sea life was also brought in and a lot of animal life as well.
Now I want to show you this because when we first arrived here on the beach, we noticed this little fella here. We can see that he's a bit
injured. It's a brown pelican. And, you know, we've heard a lot about how this storm was not as strong as expected, and, you know, there's not as
much property damage. But little fellas like this can still end up caught in those winds and damaged.
So we know that this little pelican is hurt. We're trying to get it some help, Becky. But, again, Hurricane Patricia not as strong as expected but
still there are some -- there is some damage and some animals that got caught in those dangerous winds -- Becky.
[11:35:29] ANDERSON: And things clearly chaotic. Forecast? It's all over at this point?
FLORES: Excuse me. Say that again.
ANDERSON: Don't worry. I think we may have lost you. Thank you very much indeed for that.
And you can clearly see pretty chaotic pictures there. But thankfully not as bad as some had expected.
But certainly things looking pretty messy in the southern U.S.
Well, voters heading to the ballot boxes in many parts of the world right now. Let's take a look. In Tanzania, people voting in the country's
tightest ever election race. Opposition parties gathering behind one candidate to try and end the ruling party's more than 50 year grip on
power. It's expected to win the once more.
On the other side of Africa, voters in Ivory Coast that had been for a peaceful election with the incumbent president widely tipped to hold onto
power. Violence erupted after he won in 2010, killing more than 3,000 people.
In Poland, many are expecting a right-wing party to be voted in amid the migrant crisis affecting Europe. That would give the country a new
government for the first time in nearly a decade.
And in Guatemala, as a corruption scandal fuels voter outrage with the establishment, a former comedian is leading the race for the top job with
the campaign slogan that he's, quote, not corrupt nor a thief.
Plus, security tight in Haiti as a tense election got underway in the early hours. millions of voters will pick one president from more than 50
contenders there. The country has a rocky history with large elections, as you may be aware.
I want to stay in the Americas now with Argentina, voters there also choosing their next president. The highly controversial incumbent reached
her eight-year limit after taking over the job from her husband. Her own pick to take over from her now looks set to win.
Let's bring in CNN Espanol correspondent Diego Laje now. He's live in the Capitol Buenos Aires for us this evening -- Diego.
DIEGO LAJE, CNN ESPANOL: Hi, Becky. Great to join you.
Yes, today in this cold spring afternoon in Argentina's history will change because a Kirchner will not be in government, will not be in the Pink
House, the seat of the presidency right behind me, for the first time in 12 years.
To put this into context for everybody, I invite you to see a package -- let's go see the report and then talk about it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAJE: In 2003, Nestor Kirchner was elected president. His wife, Cristina Fernandez succeeded him in 2007 for two terms. Nestor Kirchner he died in
2010, and Cristina Fernandez can't win for a third time.
Nestor Kirchner had inherited a country that had suffered a $95 billion financial default. Half the population was living below the poverty line,
all but about 2 percent of the lenders accepted reduced payments for most of this debts. The debt for these holdouts is still outstanding. As a
result, Argentina's access to international markets remains limited.
After taking office, Nestor Kirchner introduced cash handouts and benefits. This grew to about $53 billion last year according to the national budget.
In 2011, Kirchner's widow, Christina Fernandez, was re-elected with 54 percent of the vote. Much of that support from grateful beneficiaries who
rose from poverty.
Despite local popularity, both Kirchners have received little international acclaim. Economic and political partnerships with Venezuela, Russia and
China may summarize the country's international relations. Argentina, twice a victim of
terrorism in the 90s, closed ranks with the west against Iran who many believe was involved in the deadly bombings, which Iran denies.
In 2013, they signed an agreement with Iran to investigate the suspects that
Iran refused to expedite, but the agreement never went into effect since Iranian authorities never signed it.
Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor investigating a 1994 attack at a Jewish center
that left 85 dead and hundreds wounded accused President Fernandez of covering up Iran's role so trade agreements could continue, which she and
the government have denied and courts dismissed the case.
On the eve of his testimony to congress in January, Nisman was found shot to death in his home. The case is still under investigation, and
authorities have yet to determine if Nisman was murdered or took his own life.
After Nisman's death, outrage, thousands took to the streets demanding President Fernandez step down. Nisman's death, along with corruption
allegations, have haunted the administration.
The next man in charge here will have to mend fences with the west and leave behind a mixed record with international debt markets and the rule of
law.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:40:52] LAJE: So, Becky, you see a very controversial character will be replaced today at the polls. 32 million argentines will choose the next
president, but among those decisions up for grabs it's not only the presidency and vice presidency but also over 100 parliamentarians, and for
the first time ever...
ANDERSON: Once again, dealing with the technology gremlins. Apologies for that. But I think you got the point.
So elections there. And as we suggested as we Connect the World, elections in many other parts of the world.
The latest news headlines are just ahead. Plus, the U.S. presidential race, Hillary Clinton finishes the week in fairly strong position, while
Donald Trump sees his first slip in the polls.
Plus, drones are giving us a rare view of Cuba. We'll show you some spectacular images of Havana taken from above.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:11] ANDERSON: Well, in the U.S. presidential race, the front-runner for the Republican nomination, Donald Trump, is reacting to his change of
fortune in the early battleground state of Iowa. Although the primary there is still months away, numbers from two opinion polls say that Ben
Carson is now the man to beat.
Here's what Trump told CNN about that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just don't understand the number. But, you know, I accept the number. It means i have to work a
little bit harder in Iowa. I think it's just the same. I mean, I'm going to make our country
great again. We're going to do trade pacts that are incredible, instead of like incompetent because what we have right now with China, with Japan,
with everybody, is just incredible. And nobody can do -- nobody is going to be able to do what I do in terms of making our country wealthy again so
we can do all the things we want to do, including the military and the vets and taking care of people.
So I'm just going to have to work a little bit hard in Iowa.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right, that was Donald Trump, the top Democratic -- let me start that again.
The top contenders for the Democrat Party made their pitches Saturday in Iowa. For Hillary Clinton, it was a strong finish to a stretch in which
she appeared on Saturday Night Live, delivered a well received debate performance, and
saw Vice President Joe Biden make it official that he won't be running against her.
My colleague Jeff Zeleny has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fireworks in the presidential race. Democratic rivals descending on Iowa 100 days before the first votes
of the 2016 primary. Hillary Clinton seizing on the star power of Katy Perry.
KATY PERRY, SINGER: Fight on! 2016 is right around the corner!
ZELENY: And the political power of Bill Clinton in his campaign trail debut.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON, 42ND PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've never been the warm-up act for Katy Perry before! But I'm well aware I am the warm-up
act.
ZELENY: The biggest week yet of the Democratic presidential race ended in Iowa where Clinton had plenty of company and competition.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People power! Woo!
ZELENY: Senator Bernie Sanders has become a Democratic star of his own. His campaign chartered a plane to fly over their dueling rallies, calling for a
revolution, before marching side-by-side with his followers.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is a march which will end up in a year when you will join me in the White House.
ZELENY: A festival of politics coming to a full boil at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner, a marquee event for Democrats. It was at this dinner eight
years ago where Illinois Senator Barack Obama jumpstarted his presidential campaign.
BARACK OBAMA, THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If we are really serious about winning this election, Democrats, then we can't live in fear of losing it.
ZELENY: Sanders said history could repeat itself.
SANDERS: About eight years ago, all of the political experts talked about how another Democratic candidate for president just couldn't win. He was
unelectable. Do you remember that guy? What is his name? Oh, it's President Obama!
ZELENY: Sanders presented himself as a principle progressive, drawing a sharp contrast to Clinton's votes on Iraq, gay rights and Wall Street
reform.
SANDERS: I will not abandon any segment of American society just because it is politically expedient at a given time.
ZELENY: Former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley said it's time for a new generation to lead.
MARTIN O'MALLEY (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: New leadership or the same old battles of our past? Actions or words? Do we want to get things done? Or do
we just want to keep kind of shouting past each other? ZELENY: But Clinton argued her experience makes her the party's strongest nominee.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's not enough just to rail against the Republicans or the billionaires. We actually have to win this
election.
ZELENY: In Iowa, Clinton has an edge in the polls, but Sanders is capturing the enthusiasm, a sign this Democratic race is not yet settled.
(CROWD CHANTING)
ZELENY: With 100 days remaining before the Iowa Caucuses kickoff the road to the White House, Hillary Clinton is clearly in the Democratic driver's
seat. She's spent far more time talking about her Republican rivals than her Democratic ones. But Bernie Sanders supporters are loyal, committed
and still looking for a primary fight.
Jeff Zeleny, CNN, Des Moines, Iowa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, if you just can't get enough of the race for the White House, do use the website. CNN.com/politics. You will find the latest barbs being traded by both the Democratic and Republican front runners as
well as the latest CNN Opinion polls, that is CNN.com/politics.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
Coming up, drones were pretty much discouraged in Cubauntil these guys came along. We'll explain how they got the island to open up. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:53:35] ANDERSON: Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. This is the part of the show when we get you some Parting Shots.
And Cuba's tourism industry is growing. And it is growing fast, but the government is being overreserved about just what it wants visitors to see
once they get there, telling tourists and others to leave their drones at home.
Well, your Parting Shots then tonight, a small group of Cuban engineers did manage to fly around those restrictions.
Patrick Oppmann has the view for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OPPMANN: The filming of a music video in Havana, the crew gets a little help from above. You don't see this very often here, unmanned aerial
vehicles or drones are virtually nonexistent in Cuba.
The island's secretive government isn't a fan of flying cameras and tells tourists visiting journalists they can't bring them to the island.
But for the first time, a group of Cuban techies who have been building their own drones received government permission to fly them throughout
Cuba.
The results have been breathtaking.
"Everyone, Cuban or foreigner, as soon as they see the video," he says, "the
first reaction is always the same. Wow."
They're allowed to film hotels and attractions to help promote the island's growing tourism industry. Their cameras have captured an until now unseen
Cuba, images from above of a 1950s classic car traveling down the Havana sea front, residents of old Havana watching life go by from their apartment
balconies, the tiled rooftops of a small colonial town in the Cuban countryside.
Pilot Alejandro Perez de la Cruz shows off the first models of the aircraft they built from parts bought from China or that they themselves invented.
"We experimented with different types of propellers and motors," he says. "It took us years."
Years of research now paying off, his clients line up to have them film events like this massive concert on the Havana seafront.
Cuba hasn't embraced unmanned vehicles just yet, but for those who have figured out how to maneuver the red tape of aerial photography, the view is
worth the hassle.
Cuba's drone pioneers say the slow relaxing of some restrictions gives them hope.
"These are times to challenge ourselves, to try new things," he says, "and that's what we are doing."
Next, they say, they want to organize an exhibition of aerial photography to be shown in other countries so more people can see the drone's eye view
of Cuba.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Remarkable stuff.
I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World, thank you for watching. Your headlines follow this very short break. Don't go away.
END
