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Disaster in Kolkata; Brazil's Largest Party Drops Support of President; Zuma Must Repay Money Spent on Home; Migrant Workers Abused at Qatar World Cup Site; Lahore Bombing Victims Suffer; Opponents Slam Trump's Abortion Comments; NYPD Counterterrorism Official Blasts Cruz; Trump Excuses Himself. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired March 31, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN AL THAWADI, SECRETARY GENERAL, QATAR 2022 SUPREME COMMITTEE: Is our work done?
No, it's not.
Will our work ever be done?
We don't know. But we're going to continue striving. Our commitment is never going to be wavered. It is unwavering.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): The head of Qatar's World Cup organizing committee tells me more needs to be done to protect migrant
workers after a new report highlights abuse at the World Cup stadium. My full interview with Hassan Al Thawadi is coming up this hour.
Also ahead:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kiza's (ph) chest is peppered with ball bearings. He and his friends were just deciding which
ride to go on when --
KIZA (PH), ATTACK VICTIM (through translator): I felt like something was on fire. And there was an explosion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON (voice-over): CNN goes inside the hospital, where the survivors of the deadly Lahore bombing are struggling to recover.
And countering violent extremism by monitoring whole communities or controversial proposals by some leading U.S. presidential hopefuls.
But would that even work?
Our state Pulitzer Prize-winning author, who has written a book on it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: And a very good evening. It's just after 7 o'clock here.
Twenty-two people are dead. Dozens more are believed to be trapped after an overpass collapsed in a busy neighborhood in the Indian city of Kolkata.
The overpass had been under construction for five years when it gave way, crushing cars and pedestrians below. Teams of rescue workers are at the
scene, along with doctors and nurses to assist with the wounded.
Our Mallika Kapur is tracking the rescue and recovery operation. And she joins me on the phone from Mumbai at this point.
The death toll sadly rising, according to authorities, Mallika.
What are they telling you?
MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are telling us that the death toll could rise much more. As we know, it's 22 people right now. Several
people who have been injured are in hospital. Many of them are critically injured and may not even make it through the night.
And we just don't know how many people remain trapped in the rubble. It's not like there was a building underneath the flyover in what officials are
saying so they would have some estimate about how many people were at home (INAUDIBLE) the building.
This was a road. There were people walking. There were people going in cars. There were minibuses. So there's absolutely no way of knowing how
many people remain trapped in the rubble.
So we are hearing is that the death toll of 22 could rise overnight. And we also know in the meantime there is a frantic and desperate rescue effort
going on now.
It's nighttime now. It's dark. Every minute, every hour is precious and the rescue effort is very much underway at the moment to try to save as
many lives as possible.
ANDERSON: Mallika, we'll get back to you as you get more on what is an awful situation there, as you say, now it's dark and there's these pictures
coming to us slightly earlier on today. But the rescue and the emergency situation there continues.
Thank you, Mallika.
Well, the hits just keep coming for the government of Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff in the midst of a full-blown political crisis. Brazil's
sports minister has now resigned, just months before the Summer Olympics in Rio.
Ms. Rousseff is facing much bigger troubles, though. Her main coalition partner has gone into opposition, increasing the odds that efforts to
impeach her will succeed. Now rallies in support of the president are scheduled across the country today.
Well, Shasta Darlington is following all of this from Brasilia for you this evening.
The president, wait and see if she's going to be dealt a knockout blow, Shasta, corruption allegations talking many of her political allies and now
the resignation of her sports minister just months before the Rio Olympics.
How much worse can things get?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, things are definitely bad. The big picture, probably the biggest blow right now to
the government has been the fact that this PMDB Party pulled out. They're the biggest party in Brazil.
And that means that what she is looking at is a very likely scenario in which she will be impeached. So you can see right behind me many
government supporters, union groups, are already gathering for what are going to be demonstrations across the country in solidarity.
These are people coming together, saying even though your sports minister has resigned, even though the PMDB party has pulled out, there are hundreds
of thousands of people across the country, who still support the government, who --
[11:05:00]
DARLINGTON: -- still support the Workers' Party. And we do expect to see this, as she becomes more embattled, as she becomes more isolated, the
Workers' Party is going to try and do this every time they face a new blow. They're going to get people out on the streets so that the people here in
Congress right behind me, who are working on the impeachment proceedings, so that they know she's not entirely isolated.
And where this stands right now, we have got this committee here, congress meeting, they are hoping to get two-thirds of the members in congress to
approve an impeachment proceeding.
And again, with that party that pulled out, it's looking ever more likely. People behind me hoping to step up pressure and say that we won't accept
this. This we consider an institutional coup d'etat -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, on an almost daily basis now we are reminding ourselves that the Rio Olympics are scheduled to start at the beginning of August.
The IOC, the International Olympic Committee, Shasta, says it is watching developments closely.
I bet.
At this point, what's being said about preparations and whether these games will go ahead?
DARLINGTON: I think in many ways, we're looking at the Olympic Games as being on auto-pilot, at least as far as the preparation is concerned. The
venues are on schedule. They're being delivered.
But there are some issues that are still very problematic. First of all, if you take a look at the fact that there are protesters on the streets,
the fact that we don't even know who the president is going to be when August rolls around, this could be pretty off-putting for visitors
considering coming to the games.
Now we have on top of that the sports minister has resigned -- in reality, he was more of a figurehead; the day-to-day operations were being handled
by the local organizing committee and by people lower down.
But just as an image, just as the sort of face of the Brazilian sports, this is looking bad and it certainly sends this image around the world that
the government would rather not have put out there.
What we have heard from Brazilians as they plan to step down the whole political tensions and the protests as we get closer but there are going to
be problems with protests leading up to it and also there are some infrastructure problems.
The metro system, for example, also behind schedule with the economic crisis here; it looks like it may not be finished in time. So they're
already discussing a plan B. We'll see how that comes together a little closer to the date -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, though 7:00 pm in Brasilia, in Brazil, 7:07 here in Abu Dhabi, Shasta, thank you.
Let's get you caught up, viewers, with some of the other stories that are on our radar right now.
And Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says he's ready for new elections if the Syrian people want them.
In an exclusive interview with a Russian state news agency, Mr. Assad said -- and I quote -- "It is natural to respond to the will of the people and
not to that of certain opposition forces," end quote.
Also on our radar is Donald Trump, the U.S. Republican presidential front- runner is under fire after saying women who have abortions should be punished if the practice was illegal. He clarified that initial remark,
saying that doctors who performed illegal abortions should be held responsible, not women.
More on that later in the show.
The Turkish president is blaming European countries for allowing ISIS to spread. He spoke exclusively to CNN's Christiane Amanpour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY (through translator): Just look at how many countries daish is present with foreign fighters coming all
around the world. Mainly 98 countries make up daish.
This is very interesting. We're jointly fighting against all these fighters that make up daish. We are committed to this goal and we expect
the same determination from Western countries as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And you can watch the full interview on "AMANPOUR" at 10:00 pm Abu Dhabi time. When is that, 7:00 in the evening in London.
The South African president Jacob Zuma is facing fresh calls from the opposition to resign after a scathing ruling by the country's top court.
It says Mr. Zuma must repay some of the money that he spent on his private home.
He used $15 million of state funds for so-called security upgrades, which included a swimming pool, an amphitheater and a chicken run. For more on
that, let's get to CNN's David McKenzie, who's in Johannesburg for you this evening.
Is this the end of the road for Zuma?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, it's been a long road and certainly had many twists and turns, Becky. And at every turn, it seems
like Zuma has survived. It's not the first scandal. It might not be the last. But this is certainly the most serious because the constitutional
court, the highest court in the land, has done this unanimous decision, all 11 judges, saying that in fact the president acted unconstitutionally,
illegally, in --
[11:10:00]
MCKENZIE: -- in ignoring the calls, the orders, in fact, from the anti- corruption watchdog of the government to, in fact, pay back some of that public money that he used for his private residence.
And also said that the parliament in South Africa also acted unconstitutionally because they, in fact, didn't look and take the
presidency to account, which is their role, to keep the executive in check. So very damning judgment. The ANC at this point has said they are going to
review the ruling but opposition parties are circling. And I spoke to the leader of the official opposition.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MMUSI MAIMANE, SOUTH AFRICAN OPPOSITION LEADER: It's a significant day for South Africa. And it means it affirms the separation of powers, that the
judiciary certainly can make judgment of this nature without fear or prejudice. I think that's significant for a nation and certainly for
anyone who's watching all over the world. We welcome the judgment.
But the second thing is that actually the president, as we've always maintained, acted outside the prescribes (ph) of the law and it's a great
opportunity now. We believe we begin the process of impeaching the president.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE: And by the ruling ANC is in charge, as it were, in parliament, holds the majority of the seats. So any two-thirds majority that is
required for impeachment is unlikely unless, Becky, the ruling ANC turns on President Jacob Zuma.
And the only reason, say analysts, that that might happen is if he's become such a liability politically that they have to dump him ahead of important
elections.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. All right, David, thank you.
David McKenzie is in Johannesburg with you on that important story from there.
Still to come tonight, building for the World Cup.
But at what price?
As a human rights group blasts Qatar, the head of the organizing committee there joins me to defend what is going on.
And later, survivors of the horrific Lahore bombing struggle to recover from serious burns and other traumatic injuries, adults and children alike.
We're going to take you inside a hospital in Pakistan.
We are taking a very short break. Back after this.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: Welcome back, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. It is 14 minutes past 9:00 here.
It is rare for an event that is still some six years away to be making headlines. But here we are with the 2022 World Cup big news again.
Human rights group Amnesty International has just put out a new report, blasting Qatar for what it calls "the appalling treatment of migrant
workers." It's specifically looking at this, the Khalifa International Stadium and you are getting an exclusive look inside it now.
This is footage CNN shot when we were in Qatar towards the end of last year.
Now let me walk you through --
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: -- some of Amnesty's allegations, that workers are being tricked with deceptive recruitment practices, squalid living conditions,
confiscation of passports, denial of exit visas, late payment of wages and even cases of outright forced labor.
Well, a short while ago, I spoke to the head of Qatar's World Cup organizing committee, Hassan Al Thawadi. And he began by giving me his
reaction to those accusations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THAWADI: Becky, what I'm saying is the report that issued by Amnesty, while we acknowledge that performed their investigation during the period
of February to May in 2015 and might have found a number of issues there, they came back to us in January 2016 with their findings.
During the period of time from when they actually did the investigation to when they got to us, we addressed many issues that were reflected in the
report and actually covered them ourselves and addressed them and fixed them.
So what we ended up doing was the companies that were mentioned in the report, four out of currently 40 companies on Khalifa Stadium have been
dealt with. One has been banned until they rectify their situation and they're actually working currently on rectifying their situation.
Two have not been contracted further and they have been banned from future projects.
And the fourth one is actually becoming a model in complying with our standards. During the period of time in 2015, they have rectified many of
the issues that were raised in the report and have ended up becoming, as I said, a model of compliance within the standards.
So what I'm saying is progress is being made on the ground as you move forward step by step.
ANDERSON: You can see, though, that more needs to be done.
Correct?
THAWADI: Becky, nothing's ever enough. In the end for us, we never said that we have the full solution. We have never claimed that we will be able
to resolve everything from the first -- from the first moment.
We know this is a work in progress. We know this is a journey. And we're working very hard. I think the Amnesty report itself reflects our
commitment on complying with the standards and enforcing the standards.
We have just recently appointed our third party independent auditor as part of our four-tier auditing system to ensure that if anything falls through
the gaps, this will be covered by the third party independent auditor, who will be providing an independent report to the public.
At the end of their reports and as I've said, we've always said very openly that this is a journey. And we are willing to work hand-in-hand with
anybody who is willing to work with us in assuring we leave a sustainable change and leave sustainable progress on the ground.
ANDERSON: The issues, though, continue, look. So no one is saying this is just a Qatari problem. Migrant work issues, we know, are rife across this
region. But right here in the UAE, big strides were made on January the 1st this year, when changes were brought in to give workers more rights.
This country's labor minister last September, saying, quote, "We want to close the door on those who trick the simple worker."
This shows it can be done right here in the Gulf. I know there is legislation on the books for the end of this year.
But in Qatar, the kafala system will continue.
Do you concede that that is the issue and that it should be scrapped?
THAWADI: In relation to your question, I think that's more directly -- can be directly responded by the government officials. But what I can comment
from my experience over the last five years is that, as you mentioned currently, legislation is in place that will come in force by the end of
this year that addresses the question that you've mentioned. And that is the first aspect.
And the second aspect, as we've said, the World Cup is going to be a catalyst for change, for positive change, not only in Qatar but within the
region. And it is serving that purpose. You can see over the last five years that progress has been made, gradually, sustainably going forward.
And, accordingly, you can -- you can feel that.
ANDERSON: Hassan, I want our viewers just to hear something that you told the United Nations just a few weeks ago, back in February. Have a listen
to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THAWADI: Forces of destruction and dehumanization across the world and within our region have dominated the conversation and perception of our
people for far too long.
It is important for the rest of the world to understand that the Middle East is more than what they see in the headlines. It is important for the
average American, Brit, German, Nigerian, Brazilian or anyone else across the world to understand that the people in our region are multidimensional,
just like them. They are passionate, just like them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: No one disputes that football is much loved in this region, Hassan. And it is absolutely about time that the Middle East got a chance
to host the game's premier event. The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy that you head says -- and I quote --
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: "We wholly reject any notion that Qatar is unfit to host the World Cup."
That is not at issue here, sir, certainly not on this show. The fact is that Amnesty found there are some bad practices going on in Qatar towards
your migrant workers.
So I put it to you again, when are you going to fix this?
THAWADI: Becky, we have always said, we have always been very open from day one, whether it was through our personal or private meetings with
Amnesty International, with Human Rights Watch, with the ILO, with BWI, that this is going to be a work in progress.
From the supreme committee's perspective, our commitment, there is no way you can doubt our commitment.
And as I said, it is reflected very clearly in Amnesty International's report. But we also recognize the realities on the ground. And what we
want to do is leave a sustainable change in relation to this matter, not a change that is covered by a spotlight of 2022 and then after that
disappears.
And therefore, we're going to continue working on this. We're continuing winning on this. Over the last five years, many workers have benefited
from the impact of the supreme committee's standard. In relation to the report, one of the companies that was mentioned in the report has actually
now applied the supreme committee standards on over 1,000 workers that are not related, directly related, to the work of the World Cup.
This is progress on the ground. These are steps that are being taken. When we say this is a catalyst for positive change, when we say this is the
Middle East's chance and time for the Middle East to work and utilize this World Cup as a positive catalyst, this is only one way and one example of
how we're doing it on the ground.
Is our work done?
No, it's not.
Will our work ever be done?
We don't know. But we're going to continue striving. Our commitment is never going to be wavered. It is unwavering. And we'll continue
delivering on what we've promised.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: The S.G. of the organizing committee for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, speaking to me earlier.
Football star Lionel Messi has stumbled into a major cultural mine field off the pitch. An Egyptian lawmaker lashing out at the athlete because he
donated a pair of his football boots to charity during an Egyptian talk show.
Now in Arab countries, shoes symbolize dirt because they touch the ground and offering them to anyone could be perceived as a major insult.
Well, MP and TV presenter Said Hasasin called Messi's gesture "humiliating and pathetic" and he even offered to donate his own shoes to Messi's home
country of Argentina.
The Egyptian talk show host Mona El-Sharkawy says the footballer's gesture was misinterpreted. It's a custom to accept gifts from celebrity guests
and auction them off for charity.
Pakistani police have arrested 17 suspects in connection with Sunday's suicide bombing in a Lahore park. They say more arrests are expected. The
Easter Sunday attack killed at least 74 people, including many children.
A Pakistani Taliban splinter group has claimed responsibility. The attackers said they were targeting Christians but most of the victims were
Muslim.
Almost 400 people were hurt in that bombing and, again, since the target was a popular park, many of the wounded were kids.
A warning now: some of you may find the images in our next report disturbing. And I'll give you a chance now to simply turn away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A 3-year-old boy that can barely be held because he's covered in burns. Tears stinging his face,
Shabalza's (ph) cries ring out across the ward. He's inconsolable, in extreme pain.
Shabalza's (ph) mother is in intensive care with severe burns. His father, split between two wards, this man is a neighbor. He's been at Shabalza's
(ph) bedside since the attack. Sharing the bed, his cousin, Bermina (ph), just 4 years old, shrapnel wounds on her skull. Her uncle tells me she has
special needs. She doesn't know her father and sisters have died.
"I have lost count of how many family members have died," he tells me.
Kiza's (ph) chest is peppered with ball bearings. He and his friends were just deciding which ride to go on when --
KIZA (PH), ATTACK VICTIM (through translator): I felt like something was on fire. And there was an explosion. My friend grabbed me and pulled me
to the ground. He saved my life.
MOHSIN (voice-over): His friend is lying in a bed opposite him.
In each ward, we found friends, complete strangers, family, tending to their loved ones.
[11:25:00]
MOHSIN (voice-over): "He shouted, 'Mama,' down the phone. Oh, his voice," his mother tells me.
"My heart sank as he told me, 'A bomb's gone off. Please come to me. I'm in hospital.'"
MOHSIN: You'll notice this is a mixed ward. Young children, men and women are being kept in together because the doctors are keen that these
traumatized families are kept together.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a horrible picture. There were about 137 patients within 20 minutes and with every patient we had 20 other people,
who were well-wishers or their relatives. So we had to bring immediately about 30 doctors and 40 nurses and we had to open up 20 more operating
rooms.
MOHSIN (voice-over): Many of the patients agreed to talk to us but others are in intensive care. We didn't film them. They haven't regained
consciousness since the attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had to open up the abdomen of these patients because sharp things had gone into them and we had interrupted their intestine.
And we had about 10 patients who had serious head injuries because their brain had been entered by these sharp objects.
MOHSIN (voice-over): Local people are coming together to deliver food and toys to the families and children like Shabalza (ph), who will live with
the physical and mental scars of this bombing forever -- Saima Mohsin, CNN, Lahore, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Terrible legacy of an horrific attack on innocent people in Lahore in Pakistan over the weekend.
Well, the latest world news headlines are just ahead.
Plus: he has been at the center of various controversies.
But could this be the biggest yet?
Donald Trump is under fire from all sides after something he said about abortion.
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ANDERSON: You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. The top stories for you this hour here on CNN.
[11:30:00]
(HEADLINES)
ANDERSON: Donald Trump isn't known for backtracking on his controversial remarks. But this time the Republican presidential front-runner is
distancing himself from his own comments that he made about abortion. Phil Mattingly has more on what could be Trump's biggest campaign faux pas so
far.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There have been very few things that have been consistent throughout this really unwieldy Republican primary
process. But one of them has been that Donald Trump does not backtrack, he does not apologize. He does not reverse his positions.
Often when other campaigns would be curling into the fetal position, maybe going on the defensive, Donald Trump going on offense. That all changed
Wednesday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC HOST: This is not something you can dodge.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Donald Trump, smack in the center of another controversy: this time, abortion. At a town hall, MSNBC's Chris Matthews,
the front-runner stating that women who get abortions should face, quote, "some form of punishment" if the procedure were to be outlawed.
MATTHEWS: Do you believe in punishment for abortion, yes or no, as a principle?
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The answer is that there has to be some form of punishment.
For the woman?
TRUMP: Yes. There has to be some form --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: -- that I don't know.
MATTHEWS: Why not?
TRUMP: I don't know because --
MATTINGLY (voice-over): The backlash: fast, furious and bipartisan, Trump's rivals on both sides of the abortion issue quick to pounce and
reject the notion.
GOV. JOHN KASICH (R-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: But of course women shouldn't be punished. I don't think that's an appropriate response and
it's a difficult enough situation then to try to punish somebody.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald's comments, they were unfortunate, they were wrong and I strongly disagree with them.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Anti-abortion groups and Democratic presidential candidates, all lining up to criticize the comments.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: When he was asked whether women should be punished, he said yes. And that is absolutely
unacceptable. It is outrageous.
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: To punish a woman for having an abortion is beyond comprehension.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): Amid the firestorm, Trump's campaign uncharacteristically backtracking, quickly issuing this statement,
attempting to clarify his remarks.
Quote, "This issue is unclear and should be put back into the states for determination. Like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions."
Within a few hours, another statement, a complete reversal of the first, saying if abortion were made illegal, quote, "the doctor or any other
person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman. The woman is a victim in this case, as is the
life in her womb."
His son coming to his defense tweeting, "Be fair, he was asked if it was illegal. Should there be punishment? Shouldn't there be consequences for
breaking laws?"
MATTINGLY: Now it's important to note that Donald Trump's comments on abortion come just one day after his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski,
was charged with a misdemeanor for simple battery for grabbing a female reporter.
And this is part of what a lot of people are seeing as a theme. If you look across the country, voters, female voters with a 70-plus percent
disapproval rating when it comes to Donald Trump and that is a major problem for him, should he get to the general election.
But it's also worth pointing out that it's a problem for him in the Republican primary as well. If you look at this state in Wisconsin, Donald
Trump in the most recent polling, trailing Ted Cruz by as many as 10 points.
Now voters go to the polls here in just five days, Donald Trump with not only a lot of ground to make up but a lot of questions to answer, based on
his comments and some of the actions of his campaign -- back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: For more analysis of these controversial comments, CNN's senior political reporter, Stephen Collinson, joining me now from Washington.
One commentator likening Trump's comments, not just on abortion but other things as whiplash that the Republican Party is facing at present, not just
bad for his own campaign -- although ofttimes these things don't seem to harm him -- but really bad for the Republican Party as a whole.
What's the downside of all of this?
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: This is whiplash to the party as a whole, correct?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky. This is coming at a time when many Republicans are starting to come around to the
realization that Donald Trump is their likely presidential nominee.
This doesn't just pose issues for Donald Trump in a general election campaign himself. He's already got very bad approval ratings among women;
74 percent of women had an unfavorable impression of him, according to the latest CNN poll.
But what it does is very bad as well for candidates for the Senate and the House in the Republican Party, who are in close races and find themselves
having to answer to Donald Trump's statements, reversals, policy faux pas. So it's wider than just Donald Trump. And I think what you've seen is that
the Democrats, this is a gift for the Democrats.
Hillary Clinton, for example, and other Democrats have come out and said, well, Donald Trump said about abortion being a crime is what every
Republican really thinks but are afraid to say. So she's sort of tarring everybody with the brush of Donald Trump. And it's a huge issue for
Republicans more broadly than just the likely Republican nominee -- Becky.
ANDERSON: I guess the question is, how are these latest comments going to go down with voters?
And will these comments affect his ratings?
Because whatever he's said, he seems to be gaining ground, not losing it.
What are people going to say about -- is he right about NATO, for example, condemning NATO as obsolete?
Talking about potentially more nuclear weapons for the U.S.' allies rather than less?
What are the polls saying about whether any of this is damaging?
Clinton would like to think it were, certainly Bernie Sanders would like to think these comments would hurt Trump.
But are they?
COLLINSON: I was talking to the Clinton campaign yesterday about specifically those nuclear comments you mentioned. And they believe that
Donald Trump is now coming under much more scrutiny than he has at any stage of this campaign so far. And he's under more pressure. The
spotlight is glaring.
And he might start begin to sort of have to pay a price for some of these inconsistencies. For example, the nuclear issue, Donald Trump says he's
against nuclear proliferation. That's his number one policy priority, to stop nuclear proliferation.
But in the same breath he said that perhaps Japan and South Korea should have nuclear weapons. So there are huge inconsistencies inside his own
referendum, often inside the same sentence. And I think this is something, as we move to a general election, if Donald Trump is the nominee, it's
going to have a much bigger effect because he's talking to a much broader electorate. He's trying to expand his political base.
Things he says about abortion and foreign policy, the proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States, they might ring true to a certain
sector of the Republican electorate, that 35 percent to 40 percent of people who are currently supporting him.
But when you move to a general election, a much wider electorate, that's when it's going to be a big problem for Donald Trump. And nominees always
come under more scrutiny than primary candidates. And I think that's in the last few days is what we have been seeing.
Whether it hurts him in the end, Donald Trump has broken every single rule of politics in this campaign. It's possible that he can sort of skip
through it. But I think it's becoming more and more difficult for him to do that as people look at him as a potential president and a potential
commander in chief.
ANDERSON: Always a pleasure, sir, thank you, 11:38 am in Washington. It is 7:38 here in the UAE.
Well, another controversial issue in this campaign, this U.S. presidential campaign, is Ted Cruz's call to patrol Muslim neighborhoods. Cruz recently
defended the proposal, saying it would help stop radical Islamic terrorism. He cited the Brussels neighborhood of Molenbeek as an example. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRUZ: These terror attacks in Eastern Europe are a result of failed immigration policies, where they have allowed vast numbers of Islamic
terrorists to come into Europe. And they are in communities that are isolated. They're called no-go communities, where the law enforcement
doesn't engage in those communities.
One in Brussels, Molenbeek, has been a particular incubator for radical Islamic terrorism. Many of these terrorist plots trace back to Molenbeek.
And my point is very simple. America should not make the mistakes of Europe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Cruz has praised previous patrols by the New York Police Department, even though they never led to any prosecutions. And now one of
the NYPD's top counterterrorism officials has blasted Ted Cruz, saying the idea is -- and I quote -- "birthed out of fear and simply doesn't work."
That is an issue explored in this book, "Enemies Within," by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Matt Apuzzo and Adam Goldman. They look at the
failure of plans to infiltrate Muslim communities after 9/11.
Adam joins me now from Washington.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: So given the changing nature of terrorism and the new homegrown threat in countries like Brussels, is there an argument to support Ted
Cruz?
ADAM GOLDMAN, AUTHOR: No. Communities in New York and Denver and Iowa and other parts of the country aren't radicalized. Communities don't
radicalize. Individuals radicalize. But not that many, a very small part of this population in the United States have, in fact, radicalized.
So what Cruz suggests is, in fact -- would have a -- would be counter to what law enforcement, both federal and local, hope to achieve in these
communities, which is to gain their cooperation.
Yes, if you secure neighborhoods and you isolate them, you just might end up with what you found in Brussels.
ANDERSON: Hillary Clinton has hit out at some of those controversial Republican policies, isn't she, including patrols on Muslim neighborhoods.
She says the comments say more about the men making them than anybody else. Let's have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: On the Republican side, what we're hearing is truly scary. When Donald Trump talks casually about using torture and allowing more countries
to get nuclear weapons or when Ted Cruz calls for treating American Muslims like criminals and racially profiling predominantly Muslim neighborhoods,
that doesn't make them sound strong. It makes them sound in over their heads.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Do you buy this line that Hillary uses of racial profiling, then?
Correct?
GOLDMAN: Well, what we found with the NYPD under Former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly is that they created this unit called the
Demographics Unit, which was going to public places and businesses, mosques and other spots, and which is fine. Law enforcement going to the public
domain.
But what they were doing is going into these places using plainclothes officers and then recording what they found and putting it in secret police
files. And when this became public, the Muslim community -- the American Muslim community in New York was absolutely outraged. And they felt that
the NYPD was spying on them clandestinely.
And more importantly, later, in a lawsuit the commanding officer of the NYPD intelligence division admitted under oath that this unit, the
Demographics Unit, had never generated a lead.
And from the perspective of Muslim Americans, that's exactly what was happening, that they were targeting with no predicate because they are
simply Muslim.
ANDERSON: What else were you told by those that you interviewed for this book, out of interest?
(CROSSTALK)
GOLDMAN: Well, I think one of the more disturbing things we found is the sloppiness and amateurish behavior of some of these detectives, who were
going out as plainclothes officers and going to these businesses. I mean, they were creating secret police files on people who -- on businesses that
had Al Jazeera playing at the bar -- so not at a bar but at the restaurant or not playing at the restaurant.
They were eavesdropping on people and putting them in secret police files. People who were exercising their First Amendment, that they were putting
those views in secret police files. And that was really troubling to us.
We also found that some of these detectives were going into these businesses, creating secret police files.
And why were they doing this?
They were going to their favorite bakery. And they needed a reason to go in there. So they actually were buying sweets and pastries but yet
creating secret police files on what they found.
ANDERSON: After all of this, what has been exhaustive but excellent research, how would you answer this next question, which is simply this:
what is the best way to ensure domestic security without violating individual freedoms in a minority population?
GOLDMAN: Well, as I'm sure Ted Cruz would agree with me, since he's a strict constitutionalist, not violating the First Amendment or the 14th
Amendment is very important.
And I think the police can do their job and the FBI can do their job, based on predicated investigations, where they have a lead or they have a tip and
they track it down.
And also -- and you would hear this from the FBI and you would also hear this from the NYPD. You have to do outreach. You have to be in these
communities. You cannot antagonize these communities. The communities need to feel like, hey, you are coming to us because you want us to engage.
But they also don't want to feel like they are being --
[11:45:00]
GOLDMAN: -- singled out. There's a safe and there's a responsible way to do this. And if you talk to American Muslims in these communities, they
don't like what's happening. They don't like the idea that when people radicalize that all the negative attention is cast back upon them. They
are here. They've assimilated and they want to live their lives.
ANDERSON: Adam, thank you, Adam Goldman is a national security reporter for "The Washington Post," joining us with some analysis on the show this
evening.
And CNN, of course, has every aspect of the 2016 White House battle online. Do head to cnn.com/election. You can see which states, for example, are
about to vote and get more on the candidates. You'll also find the latest reports from our teams on the ground.
There's an awful lot there. It's an excellent resource, cnn.com/election. You'd expect me to say that, wouldn't you, but it really is.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, fashion and function coming together at a unique high-end water
bottle company. Find out how they are tapping success in this week's edition of "The Connectors."
And what does Donald Trump say most often?
I'm winning?
I'll make America great again?
Wrong. We'll tell you the answer -- but, excuse me, you're going to have to wait for it.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
What we are about to show you might be just too cute for some of you in China. This giant panda cub is spotted giving little panda kisses to his
foster dad and handler. It doesn't end there, though. The panda then decided to be even more adorable by posing for selfies. He puts a paw on
the neck of his keeper and snuggles right in.
Well, unlike pandas, politicians are known for posing for photos. This one, though, is pretty unusual. It is the Canadian prime minister, Justin
Trudeau, showing off his yoga moves. He's balancing there in what is called the peacock pose. Now that's not -- we haven't got the pictures.
There you go. He first tweeted the picture in 2013. It's now resurfaced amid increased interest in Canada's new leader.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Well, for a long time on our show we have been watching Saudi- Iran relations take a steep decline. The two countries have been locked in a steely rivalry made worse when Saudi Arabia cut formal ties to Iran.
But where diplomacy fails, art can thrive. Well, that is the opinion of one CNN contributor, who say Iranian art has been booming in Arab Gulf
countries and could perhaps defuse tensions in the region. You can read an interesting take on our Facebook page. Have a look and let us know what
you think. Do get in touch. You can tweet me as always @BeckyCNN. That is @BeckyCNN.
And your "Parting Shots" just before we go tonight, we turn back to U.S. politics. Donald Trump, known for being pretty unapologetic, isn't he, so
it may come as a surprise to hear about a term he has been using more than any other. Here's Jeanne moos to explain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: Mind if I read you --
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): When a Trump interview gets intense.
TRUMP: I mean, give me a break --
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: Come on --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Come on Anderson --
COOPER: -- politically motivated?
MOOS (voice-over): You have to excuse The Donald for excusing himself.
COOPER: A 5-year old is --
TRUMP: He started it.
You would say that --
COOPER: You're running for President of the United States --
TRUMP: Excuse me, excuse me --
MOOS (voice-over): He may sometimes sound like a little kid.
TRUMP: I didn't start it.
I didn't start it.
COOPER: Sir, with all due respect, that's the argument of a 5-year old.
TRUMP: I didn't start it.
MOOS (voice-over): But a 5-year old with manners.
GLAMOUR BEE: You said "excuse me." You used good manners.
MOOS (voice-over): And if this sounds familiar.
TRUMP: Oh, excuse me --
MOOS (voice-over): -- that's because we first focused on Trump's favorite verbal lesson last summer, making this --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Excuse Me."
MOOS (voice-over): -- the sequel.
We thought it deserved a sequel when "The Washington Post" counted 18 "excuse me"s in just one hour of a CNN town hall.
COOPER: Whether or not you think it was battery or not --
TRUMP: Excuse me --
MOOS: One.
COOPER: -- you've suggested you might --
TRUMP: -- excuse me, excuse me. I didn't suggest --
MOOS: Two, three.
COOPER: So it doesn't concern you that --
TRUMP: -- excuse me --
MOOS: Four.
TRUMP: Excuse me, excuse me --
MOOS: Five, six --
TRUMP: We're supporting Japan.
COOPER: But it's been
TRUMP: We're supporting -- excuse me, excuse me, we're supporting --
MOOS (voice-over): Actually when you add them all up...
COOPER: -- do you trust --
TRUMP: -- excuse me.
MOOS (voice-over): -- 18 was an undercount.
TRUMP: -- excuse me --
MOOS: Twenty.
Sort of makes Bernie Sanders' lonely single interjection --
SANDERS: Excuse me, I'm talking --
MOOS (voice-over): Seem like a poor excuse for an "excuse me," compared to Trump's 20. Maybe The Donald could add a little variety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Excuse me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excusez moi.
MOOS (voice-over): Break down those cultural walls.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Desculpe.
MOOS: Even when he interrupts himself, his own story, The Donald excuses himself.
TRUMP: But when he said we had a big day, we won Utah -- excuse me -- I won Arizona.
MOOS (voice-over): Mr. Trump, you are excused.
TRUMP: -- it's my -- excuse me --
MOOS (voice-over): Jeanne Moos --
TRUMP: -- excuse me, excuse me --
MOOS (voice-over): -- CNN --
COOPER: -- 5-year old --
TRUMP: -- excuse me.
MOOS (voice-over): -- New York.
TRUMP: Excuse me. Excuse me. I didn't suggest.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching from the team here and those working with us around the world,
it's a very good evening. Don't go away. CNN of course continues at the top of the hour with news headlines.
END
