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Clinton, Trump Set to Debate; Aleppo's Renewed Humanitarian Disaster; Arnold Palmer's Legacy; UAE Opens Supertanker Port; Colombian Government, FARC Sign Peace Agreement. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired September 26, 2016 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:16] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: The tale of two conflicts: one sinking deeper into chaos, the other coming to an end after 52 long years.

The violence in Syria grows worse by the day, while an historic peace deal is in the making in Colombia. We are live for you this hour in both

places.

Also, we are hours away from the sparring match between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. So who will steal the show? Will it be Trump or will it

it be Clinton?

Right, just after 7:00 in the UAE. Welcome. It is the countdown to the showdown. Hold on to your seats everybody, because we are now just hours

away from what is the first presidential debate of the U.S. election. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will go head to head for the first time

ever on this very stage.

And we will bring you much more on that story just a few minutes from now. It is almost certain that they will be asked about Aleppo, Syria where a

massive attack is laying waste to what is left of a city already in ruins.

Activists say at least hundred people have been killed this weekend, and hundreds more hurt as government warplanes keep up their relentless

bombings of rebel-held areas.

I'm going to show you the reality of that now. First a warning to you, some of these pictures are

disturbing, but they're important.

Amid the dust and panic in the air, a rare hope, a baby found, thought to be alive, amid a devastated neighborhood. But hope often eclipsed by

incandescent horror in Syria. The rest of this child's body entombed in the crushed remains of where he perhaps lived.

Elsewhere, trucks are being loaded with aid to go to four Syrian towns, but it is no act of kindness. It is part of a strategic deal between Damascus

and rebels.

Well, among the lucky towns, Madaya (ph) where we have seen reports of people starving to death, yes, starving to death in 2016. Including, as

you can see, kids without enough to eat.

CNN's Fred Pleitgen is in the Syrian capital Damascus for us. Matthew Chance is in Moscow following all the diplomatic jostling.

I want to start with you, Fred. And we have seen atrocities this weekend as described by the UN Syrian envoy at the weekend as the worst in this

six-year conflict. Explain what you know and describe what we have seen.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, certainly.

You know, and what we're hearing also from activists that on the ground, Becky, is they say that the aerial bombardments that are going on in Aleppo

are far worse than they witnessed them before the cease-fire went into effect. Of course at the same time at the United

Nations and generally in the international sphere you still have the United States and Russia going at it, blaming each other for the breakdown of the

cease-fire.

You had that very emotional almost plea by the America's representative to the United Nations Samantha Power saying that what Russia is doing right

now in Syria by supporting the regime of Bashar al-Assad is, quote, barbarism and not fighting terrorism. There was a very strong rebuke, of

course, from the Russians and from the Syrians as well.

Meanwhile, the information that we're get from Aleppo is the situation there continues to be as dire as it was over the weekend. Where after the

breakdown in diplomacy, the breakdown of the cease-fire, you have that massive escalation that in the civil war -- and we want to warn our viewers

that some of what you're about to see very, very graphic. Let's take a look at what's going on in Aleppo.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: Aleppo is bleeding. The situation, activists say, worse than ever before. More than 200 people killed, hundreds more wounded over the

weekend. Few hospitals still function, a bed often a soiled tile floor. Rescuer workers say they, too, are under fire.

[11:05:04] ISMAIL ABDULLAH, ALEPPO RESCUE WORKER: We don't know why they targeted us. We're just saving people. We are doing our job. We're just

doing something for the people to save the kids, to save the women.

PLEITGEN: The pictures heartbreaking, the screams deafening. Aid groups say about half of

those killed and wounded are children. Rarely, a moment of luck. This baby pulled out of the rubble alive hand to her grateful father.

But while Aleppo is suffering, those charged with ending the violence are themselves fighting. The U.S. and Russia squaring off in the UN Security

Council Washington accusing Moscow of barbarism for aiding the Syrian military.

Russia, for its part, blames the U.S. for the failure of the cease-fire, while Syria's representative

makes the government's intentions clear.

I would like to reassure you that the Syrian government will reclaim Aleppo in its entirety, he says.

As the government presses its current offensive, getting aid to the rebel- held areas of Aleppo has been made impossible. The UN calling for a halt to the violence and a humanitarian corridor.

JAKOB KEM, UN AID COORDINATOR FOR SYRIA: We need free, unimpeded sustained and safe -- (inaudible) I have to underline safe -- access to those areas,

to all civilians in the area in need.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PLEITGEN: And Jakob Kem actually was also in charge, Becky, of those four aid convoys that did manage to make it to some of the besieged areas like,

for instance, Madayya, what you were mentioning there before. But at this point in time, of course, absolutely impossible for the UN or for the

Syrian Arab Red Crescent to deliver any sort of aid to those encircled areas in Aleppo. Of course, with the intensity of the fighting going on

there. And from what we're hearing from folks on the ground is it's not just the amount of air strikes that are going on -- that are a lot, but

also of course the type of munition apparently a lot heavier than what we've seen in this conflict in the past, Becky.

ANDERSON: One of the lines from Staffan de Mistura, the UN envoy to Syria yesterday was the fact that there are 270,000 people in Aleppo and he said

they can't all be terrorists.

Matthew, yesterday, I dedicated pretty much my entire show and this network a lot of time

afterwards listening into what was this UN security council meeting. There wasn't much diplomacy

going on. A lot of harsh words.

Washington labeling Moscow's actions in Syria, as we've heard, as barbaric. What's Russia's response?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I mean it really has been an extraordinary 24 hours or so, hasn't it, with the diplomatic niceties

that we normally see and hear from the United Nations being abandoned by all of those western allies, it seems, when it comes to

criticizing Russia and the Syrians of course, their allies, for what they're doing in Aleppo.

We heard what Samantha Power, the U.Ss. permanent representative to the UN, had to say about barbarism. But the British representative also had some

very harsh words for Russia saying that Russia was committing war crimes, that it was dropping incendiary bombs on civilian populations and

targeting the water systems as well.

And so really, really harsh allegations. The Russians have made a point of not responding very emotionally. In fact, Dmitry Peskov, who is the

spokesperson for Vladimir Putin, spokesperson for the Kremlin, he's saying, you know, we're not giving to an emotional response on this. But he has

warned over the past couple of hours here in Moscow in his reaction to these comments that these remarks are generally unacceptable, he said, and

he said that they could damage not just the peace process inside Syria, but they could damage bilateral relations between Russia, the United States and

Britain as well.

And so, you know, there's been a tough response from the Russians to these remarks. But nothing is -- nothing is kind of vitriolic as we're seeing

from the western side.

ANDERSON: All right, Matthew, thank you. Matthew's in Moscow for you. And Fred is in Damascus.

Later this hour, I'm going to speak with the former UK ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, about the breakdown of the cease-fire and, given one diplomatic

failure after another, whether there is any way for the country to find a path towards lasting peace.

You maybe surprised by what he has to say. That is coming up in about 20 minutes time. So do stay with me for that.

While peace eludes Syria, half a century of conflict coming to an end in Colombia.

Hours from now, the country's president is to sign a peace deal with FARC rebels. The accord the result of four years of negotiations will end the

longest armed conflict in Latin America during which an estimated 220,000 people were killed.

Well, the signing ceremony is in Cartagena and will be well attended attended with 15 presidents, 27 foreign ministers and the UN secretary-

general witnessing history. The pens that will be used to ink the deal are made from recycled bullets once used in the conflict.

The inscription on the side reads, bullets write our past, education our future.

CNN Enspanol's Rafael Romo has more from the city.

What can we expect later today?

[11:10:49] RAFAEL ROMO, CNN ESPANOL: Becky, what we can expect is a day full of ceremonies, a day full of events surrounding the signing of the

peace agreement. And I don't know if you can hear in the background, but the choir that is going to perform during the signing ceremony is already

rehearsing here.

There was a ceremony earlier this morning where President Santos honored the armed forces in the country and all those who have died in this

conflict, in this war, against the FARC guerrilla.

And let me tell you, one key part to the ceremony that will begin at 5:00 local time here in Cartagena at this convention center behind me will be

the participation of 400 people. Those people have been victimized one way or another by the FARC guerrilla.

You're going to have people who were kidnapped and spent some time in captivity. You're going to have people whose relatives were murdered by

the guerrilla. And they're going to be face-to-face with some of the perpetrators of these atrocities, and everybody is wondering here if the

guerrilla members, the leaders, in fact, are going to ask for forgiveness in front of

these people.

Now, let me tell you something. I had an opportunity to talk to a victim of the guerrilla and

this person is today the minister of the interior here in Colombia, Juan Fernando Cristo. And even though his father was murdered 19 years ago, he

says that for Colombia as a country, it's time to turn the page and forgive the guerrilla group.

Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUAN FERNANDO CRISTO, COLOMBIAN INTERIOR MINISTER: If we don't -- if we don't give a chance for peace in Colombia, we are going to have more

victims, more family suffers. We have to stop.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Now, Becky, as you can imagine, security is very tight here in Cartagena. About 2,000 members of the security forces are watching the

entire city. There's about 25 people expected to attend the ceremony, among then, 15 heads of states, members of foreign ministries from 27

countries. But we're only a few hours away from this historic signing of the peace agreement.

Becky, back to you.

ANDERSON: Rafael, thank you. Well, the deal allows the rebels to leave the jungles and re-enter society. Our colleague Patrick Oppmann has more

on the history of the FARC and the conflict.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: From their jungle camps, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia known as FARC in Spanish, battle

the Colombian Government in accused of carrying out kidnapping, extortion and drug trafficking to finance the longest running insurgency in the

Western Hemisphere.

At one point the Marxist guerrillas controlled an area the size of Switzerland. But the string of military defeats forced the FARC here to the

negotiating table in Havana.

As many of the FARC leadership had million dollar bounties on their heads. Cuba was considered neutral territory. The grueling talks dragged on for

nearly four years until on Wednesday they had a deal.

"I have the certainty that the agreement is the best possible agreement. We all wanted something more. But the deal we struck is a viable deal," said

the Colombian Government's chief negotiator.

October 2nd, Colombians will go to the polls to vote on the controversial deal. As a part of the agreement, FARC foot soldiers will leave the jungles

and reenter society with training programs. If the group's leaders, admits the crimes they committed and pay restitution to their victims. They might

avoid serious jail time. Something the FARC insisted on from the beginning of the talks.

"We aren't considering going to jail," this FARC commander told me. He will fight for justice doesn't deserve that. "We don't act like a criminal

terrorist group. We have a sacred fight." While not perfect, observer say the Colombian government got the best possible deal.

ADAM ISACSON, WASHINGTON OFFICER OF LATIN AMERICA: It's the best you could do. I think that actually getting something better than this on the

battlefield would have taken many more years and cost thousands or tens of thousands more lives.

OPPMANN: Supporters and opponents of the deal are already in full campaign mode. While the majority of Colombians approve of the peace process, still

for many after from has taken over 200,000 lives to see the FARC leadership walk away free and form a political party, that's a pretty bitter pill they

have to swallow, still though for many Colombians the best opportunity at peace after a half century of war is an opportunity they refuse to let slip

away.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, to some of the other stories on our radar today for you, and at least nine people were wounded when a man opened fire in a parking

lot in the U.S. state of Texas. It happened in Houston. The suspect pronounced dead after a shootout with police.

Authorities say he was a lawyer who lived in the neighborhood.

U.S. and South Korean warships held joint exercises Monday closer to North Korea than ever

before. The drills in the Sea of Japan were the third show of force since North Korea's latest claim of nuclear test earlier this month.

And the massive migrant camp in France known as The Jungle will be closed down by the end of the year, those words from French President Francois

Hollande who visited the port city of Calais earlier. Thousands of refugees and migrants live there in what are terrible conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT (through translator): I've come here to Calais to also say to the inhabitants irritated that we are on the track

of a solution. It is close. And we protect them as much as necessary.

I've also come to say to desperate immigrants that they will not remain here because their place is not here and that is why we will carry out the

full and final dismantlement of the camp.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The French president speaking earlier.

Still to come tonight at this hour, it's D Day, that's debate day for the U.S. presidential candidates, at least. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump

sharing the stage at last. Who has the upper hand? What can each do to win over those voters yet decided? We'll discuss that up next.

And a prominent writer's gunned down in the streets of Jordan after sharing a cartoon on Facebook. We'll have the very latest on that after this short

break. Do stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the stage is set and just hours from now, these seats will be filled. And the political showdown will begin.

Yes, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, face-to-face for the first time as presidential contenders.

You're with CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

Well, the promised spectacle of the Trump-Clinton matchup comes at a pivotal time in the race. With the candidates now locked in what is a

very, very tight battle.

CNNs' new poll of polls, which averages the last five national polls, has Clinton with a razor-thin lead: 44 percent to Trump's 41 percent.

So the stakes for this debate couldn't be higher, each has a big message to sell and a big platform to do it on.

It is estimated up to 100 million people could watch tonight's broadcast, that is in the U.S. alone.

It all goes down at 9:00 p.m. eastern time at Hofstra University in Hempstead in New York.

Dianne Gallagher is there and looking ahead to what is the main event.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DIANNE GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Monday's 90 minute debate will be divided into six 15 minute segments that will cover three topics --

America's direction, achieving prosperity and securing America.

Moderator Lester Holt will begin each segment with a question, and the candidates will have two minutes each to respond. They'll also get a

chance to respond to each other. Now, both candidates spend Sunday drilling. Clinton spent part of last week prepping for the debate, while

Trump stuck to the campaign trail, getting tips from advisers, including former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

RUDY GIULIANI, FRM. MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY: My advice for him, since he's been

my friend for 28 years, is to be himself. I think what the American people on Monday night are entitled to is Donald Trump being who he is.

GALLAGHER: The campaign manager for Hillary for America says that he fears that Trump's status as a political newcomer will mean that he's being held

to a different standard.

ROBBY MOOK, CAMPAIGN MANAGER, HILLARY FOR AMERICA: I'm very concerned Donald Trump will be graded on a curve. Just because he doesn't fly off

the handle in the middle of this debate does not mean he is prepared to be president of the United States.

Analysts say the debate could draw up to 100 million viewers and they could get quite a show. The executive director of the commission on presidential

debates says that the candidates should fact-check each other.

JANET BROWN, EXEC. DIRECTOR, COMMISSION ON PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES: In our history, the moderators have found it appropriate to let the candidates be

the ones that talk about the accuracy or the fairness of what the other candidate or candidates might have said.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Two candidates with two very different styles. So, how will it all play out? Let's go live to Hofstra University there in New York.

CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter is there for us. And before we talk about what we might expect, just underscore how important these

three presidential debates will be. What is the impact for these presidential candidates?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: The one thing -- the one thing the Clinton campaign and the Trump campaign agrees on is that this night is the

most important day of the election so far. There will be be two debates after this, three in total. But the first one is traditionally

the highest rated, the most tuned in.

I think that's going to be true this year, given that people have been waiting for this Clinton/Trump face-off for many months. So, that's why

the campaigns are taking it so seriously. You know, a lot of people like me who were political junkies have been paying attention for over a year,

but now is the moment when the rest of the country, and really the rest of

tunes in for the first time.

ANDERSON: So, Hillary Clinton has been approaching this like an end of term exam. She's been holed up in a hotel we're told, deep in the books,

trying to work out what it is that her contender, her opposition, might come up with.

Donald Trump, we're told, has taken a much more minimal approach. One of his mates there, Giuliani, the former mayor of New York, said the American

public is entitled to see the man as he know him to be.

How will they perform?

STELTER: Well, Clinton, we do know, has been preparing more, at least it seems that way. I have a feeling Trump might be preparing more than he's

telling us.

Think about the caricatures that have been presented of both these candidates. You know, you think about the attack ads, especially against

Trump, showing all the offensive things he's said. Well, if you only know that caricature of Trump, you might be surprised by the version of Trump

that you see on stage in a few hours. The same could be said for Clinton as well.

You know, she is often said to be not very liked, that a lot of Americans don't think she's warm

and fuzzy. Well, she has a chance to show who she really is for 90 minutes, no commercials, no

bathroom breaks, no coffee breaks tonight.

ANDERSON: Finally, Brian, we have seen these polls tightening to the extent that many of them you can't get a hair between the two contenders

this point.

Why is it that Clinton's lead has collapsed so much for so many who are being asked? And how

important do you think what she says tonight as opposed to what she says will be be?

STELTER: Most of what we've seen in the polls is a result of the bounce from the Democratic

convention starting to come back down. So, there was a real inflated result for Clinton after the convention.

It's come back down to Earth. And now where we see them essentially neck in neck, Clinton slightly ahead, is a result of a very, very polarized

United States. There are four out of 10 Americans who can't imagine voting for Clinton, four out of 10 American who can't imagine voting for Trump --

at least, maybe more.

However, Clinton still does have many paths to the presidency in the electoral college, while Trump has relatively few paths.

Tonight, I think tonight I think 9:00 p.m. Eastern time poeple will be watching all around the world of course, is about who can be and act

presidential, that's hopefully what folks are going to focus on as they watch this debate.

ANDERSON: Well, let's see. All right, you can watch the debate live on CNN at 9:00 p.m. eastern, as Brian suggested. Brian, thank you.

Stay with CNN throughout the day, because if you miss that, we are going to have around the clock coverage. Best political team in television,

reaction from around the world. And we will be repeating on CNN International the debate if you miss it, because it will be the middle of

the night of course for some regions around the world.

You'll get it.

The latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, you've seen the devastation Aleppo -- in Aleppo. But Syrian state media painting a very

different picture about life in the war-torn city. Why critics say it is a far cry from what life is really like. Stay with us for that report.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(HEADLINES)

[11:30:00] ANDERSON: Well, a prominent Jordanian writer has been shot dead outside a court in the country's capital Amman. He was facing charges for

sharing a cartoon on Facebook, which some Muslims found offensive. His killing have brought supporters out on the streets. Jomana Karadsheh

reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Nahid Hattar, was well known for his controversial writings and bold opinions like his support for

Syrian President Bashar al Assad. But the three bullets that silenced the Jordanian writer forever were because of a

cartoon he shared on Facebook deemed offensive by many Muslims in the kingdom.

The cartoon showed a bearded man in bed with two women in heaven instructing god whose depiction is forbidden and offensive for many Muslims

to bring him food and wine. The post caused an uproar last month and Hattar was charged with insulting religion and inciting sectarian strife

and racism.

Hattar reportedly apologized for the post, saying it was meant to mock ISIS and its twisted views.

His trial was set to begin on Sunday but Hattar was gunned down outside the main court complex in central Amman. According to state media, the

assailant was apprehended and an investigation is under way.

Local reports describe the shooter as appearing to be an ultraconservative Salafi Muslim.

The brazen attack in broad daylight is rare in this country that has remained relatively immune to the kind of violence that has swept across

its neighbors Syria and Iraq. But this and recent attacks by so-called lone wolves have raised concerns about growing extremism in the

kingdom.

DERGHAM HALASEH, FRIEND OF SLAIN WRITER (through translator): The Jordanian people must realize the seriousness of this issue. They must

unite to fight against the unjust forces that accuse others of being apostates. The government must take a stern stance towards these dark

forces. Jordan cannot handle this. Jordan suffers from the infiltration of these people who are spreading among us.

KARADSHEH: The government condemned the killing as a heinous act, saying the law will

be strictly enforced on the culprit. In the town of (inaudilbe), where his Christian family is from, crowds gathered, some holding pictures describing

him as a martyr.

Hattar's family is demanding justice and holding the government responsible for his killing. With his murder, intolerance and extremism surfacing in a

country that has so far defied the odds in a turbulent region.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Amman.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, we have witnessed scene after scene of devastation in Aleppo in Syria -- children wounded in air strikes, buildings reduced to

rubble. The city among the hardest hit in Syria's civil war. But you wouldn't know that looking at some of the images posted by Syria state news

agency.

Instead of putting the horrors into focus, those images are blurring the reality of what is happening on the ground it seems.

I want to warn you that some of these images that you are about to see -- and we've said this already tonight and I'm going to say it again, you may

find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: A city in ruins.

This is what we've come to association with Aleppo. Entire city blocks destroyed. Graphic images of survivors, of barrel bombs, the all too

familiar images of Syria's second largest city after five years of civil war.

But from Syria's state-sponsored news agency, a totally different narrative. This video was tweeted out by Sanaa, showing another side of

the same city which has been at the center of the country's civil war, mocking the perception of Aleppo as one of the world's most dangerous

cities.

The disconnection between the horror on the ground and the rhetoric put forward by the Syrian government and supporters like Russia is so glaring

that for some it's becoming absurd, a sentiment perhaps best captured by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, expressing his frustration over the

broken cease-fire deal at last week's UN General Assembly.

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I listened to my colleague from Russia and I sort of felt a little bit like we're sort of in a parallel

universe here.

ANDERSON: But it's not the first time the Syrian government has been accused of misrepresenting life in the war-torn country.

This video from the tourism ministry showing the Mediterranean resort of Tartus made headlines last month with its sleek productions and techno

soundtrack.

One of their latest videos shows a Christian festival in the city of Malouleh (ph) recaptured from rebels just last year, echoing the constant

line that government-held Syria is a safe place for minorities.

Damascus says it's not trying to lure foreign visitors with these glossy depictions, rather,

they say, they're targeting Syrian tourists.

But for international onlookers, these scenes might seem tasteless from a regime accused

of killing hundreds of thousands of its own citizens.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:35:15] ANDERSON: Well, I want to take a look where negotiations to resolve this conflict go from here. Joining me now is Peter Ford, former

British ambassador to Syria. He's with us live via Skype from Manchester in England. And you will have heard the diplomats jostling, talking the

talk, in the U.S. yesterday. You have long argued that it is President Bashar al-Assad who should be engaged with or negotiated with you said to

defeat ISIS back in February.

I just want to quote you here for our viewers. You said intervention is just prolonging the agony. We, the UK, should have backed off. We should

not have tried to overthrow the regime.

Peter, a regime carrying out the worst bombardment of Aleppo since the civil war began. I want to bring up some images that come to us from the

carnage of the weekend and ask you is this a regime that we should be negotiating with?

PETER FORD, FRM. BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA: Look, this is a conflict with two sides. What you never show is the damage inflicted by the rebels

on the government-held country, western Aleppo, the Christian quarters of Aleppo, come under regular shelling from so-called moderates which the

United States and Britain is supporting.

This is the parallel universe that John Kerry lives in. He seems to think that it's OK for the United States to be actually defending al Qaeda. I

mean, does it realize...

ANDERSON: Hang on a minute, sir, hang on a minute. Can I just stop you there for a moment, because...

FORD: ...Aleppo, which...

ANDERSON: Listen, I was actually alluding to Aleppo there -- so hang on, I'll give you a chance. I was alluding to Aleppo and I was asking you

whether the sort of damage and devestation that is being wrought there and wrought by a regime that is run by Bashar al-Assad suggest that this is

somebody that can -- certainly many people around the world -- that they should negotiate with...

Hang on...

FORD: In the government-controlled parts of the country.

ANDERSON: I'm not sure that that's true. But anyway, hold on for a minute, sir, please. Because I just want to get a couple of other things

out, because this is important.

On September 19, this year, as the cease-fire began to unravel, you said, and again, I'd like to quote you here, in an interview with the Russian

broadcaster RT, quote, "the Americans are trying to mask the fact that they have failed to deliver clients for the cease-fire. They were supposed to

put pressure on the jihadists and other Islamics to respect the cease-fire.

That has not happened. And you said almost all the cease-fire violations have been from the jihadi side, virtually none from the side of the Syrian

government. Virtually none, you say.

Can you really stand that up? And wasn't the whole point of the temporary truce to allow access to humanitarian aid?

FORD: 72 hours, the Syrian government forces respected it. They held their fire. But there were in the same period over 300 violation from the

jihadi side.

Now, I know this is an inconvenient fact that you try and sweep under the carpet as you tried to

sweep under the carpet the killing, the 62 Syrian soldiers by The Pentagon.

What is actually happening here is John Kerry has been stabbed in the back by the Pentagon and

the hawks in Washington. He's an honorable man. But he was never going to be able to deliver the American side of the bargain and what you're seeing

now is the sorry result...

ANDERSON: Fascinating, OK. All right.

I've allowed you to have your say there. The Americans have of course...

FORD: Thank you very much. Very good talking to you.

ANDERSON; ... apologized for what they called a mistake in the bombing of Syrian regime troops during that cease-fire period.

Question I wanted to ask -- get you to answer though, is the temporary truce was supposed to

allow access for humanitarian aid to areas like Eastern Aleppo. It never materialized. Permission was never granted to those areas by the Syrian

government.

So the children who might have survived the attacks this weekend are dead, because they had no access to -- they were bombed. They had no access to

hospitals or medical supplies.

You've been accused of being an apologist for the Syrian government. Are you?

FORD: Hardly.

I'm a defender of the Syrian people more than anyone else, and certainly more than yourself by the sound of it.

I do care very much, having lived there myself. And the shortest way to bring about the end of the suffering is for the United States and its

western partners to back off supporting the jihadis.

I don't see what can be contested there. The British government...

ANDERSON: You reported no blame to the Russians, the Syrians or the Iranians and others who are acting in this war?

FORD: I didn't...

ANDERSON: Nobody on the UN on Sunday -- sorry, we're struggling a little bit, the technology. Nobody at the UN Sunday in the emergency meeting

believes that President Assad wants anything but a military solution, even the Iranian foreign minister who supports the regime says there is no

military solution in Syria, there has to be a comprehensive political solution.

That is not what the Syrians are looking for at this point. What's your solution, sir?

FORD: Frankly, I doubt that there can be a political solution for the simple reason that the

rebels bankroll by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United States, with bottomless pockets are ready to continue this war and to fight to the last Syria.

Their demands are completely delusional, even while they are losing the battle, their demanding that President Assad must go.

At the very least, they should show some willingness to compromise. Therefore, it's impossible to be sanguine about the chances of any

negotiations.

I do believe that in the end the Syrian government forces will grind out what they would regard as victory.

ANDERSON: Or a genocide as some have likened it, as described by the now British ambassador at the UN yesterday.

FORD: Equal numbers of people have died on the two sides. This is what you don't want to understand. There are two sides to this conflict. And

there's suffering all over.

ANDERSON: Well, there are certainly two sides to the conflict. I'm not sure that your stats

stack up when we're talking about how many have died on both sides.

Sir, for the time being, thank you.

FORD: Why don't you check with the independent Syrian observatory based in London, the figures are from them.

ANDERSON: We have done, sir, we have done. I can tell you, in Aleppo, 270,000 people. They're not all terrorists.

Thank you, sir.

For a closer look at how the situation in Syria deteriorated so quickly, just do head to our website. You'll find an article there about why world

powers were unable to save Syria's short-lived cease-fire, despite intense negotiations.

Head to the website CNN.com.

Live from Abu Dhabi, you're watching Connect the World. Coming up, one of greatest players to ever pick up a golf club has died leaving behind an

army of admirers. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:46:41] ANDERSON: You're with CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

Will they or won't they? Leaders meet in Algeria this week to discuss a possible cap on oil output. Investors wavering between skepticism and

optimism that Saudi Arabia and Iran can find consensus on a deal to help curb what is this supply glut.

Crude prices, tumbled prices tumbled 4 percent on Friday. But it perked up right now, both brent crude, the international benchmark and U.S. crude

trading up around 3.5 percent as things stand at present.

Oil producers have been slashing investment by hundreds of billions of dollars in the past

year or two amid slumping crude prices. Gulf states, though, well, they are weathering the storm. And as is the case of the United Arab Emirates

spending heavily to capture even more market share.

The UAE has just opened its first dock for supertankers. John Defterios reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: Up close and personal with a thousand foot long supertanker in the Arabian sea. The Kelly with the

capacity of 2 million barrels is calling on what was the sleepy port of Fujairah.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did we catch any (inaudible) crossing today?

DEFTERIOS: From the control tower, harbor master Captain Tamir Massoud (ph) monitors a flotilla of tankers hovering offshore represented by the

dots on the screen.

The Emirate is leveraging its prime position. 70 nautical miles south of the Strait of Hormuz, the busiest oil shipping lane, to create a strategic

energy hub.

Captain Mousa Morad has been on the front line of its build out for three decades.

Did you ever think you'd get to this scale?

CAPT. MOUSA MORAD, GENERAL MANAGER, PORT OF FUJAIRAH: Not at all, not at all. I mean, you have this tiny port. We saw just to serve our traders

here.

DEFTERIOS: The loading of a supertanker is a major milestone for the rulers of Fujairah. They launched their plan during the first Gulf War,

seen a long line of tankers parked outside the port due to conflict.

FEREIDUN FESHARAKI, CHAIRMAN, FACTS GLOBAL ENERGY: It gives a comfort level, also -- psychological comfort level which is as important as the

economic value.

DEFTERIOS: Because of its strategic location?

FESHARAKI: Because of it's strategic location.

CHRISTOPHER BAKE, MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, VITOL: I think the capacity to be able to bring in this kind of vessel fully-ladened so this

is going to be the deepest port in the Middle East gives it yet another dimension to this growing storage hub.

DEFTERIOS: All told, over $5.5 billion have been spent here. Money allocated during the

heady days of $100 oil.

Being able to host supertankers is the final piece of the puzzle for Fujairah. It already stores nearly 60 million barrels on shore and it

receives oil via pipeline from neighboring Abu Dhabi.

Fujairah has emerged as the third largest energy hub after Singapore and Rotterdam.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are looking, I think, with this facility to compete internationally, because there is also aspiration to build a second hub.

DEFTERIOS: This is the UAE version of doubling down on investment to secure market share.

Today, onshore storage tanks are bursting at the seams with the global glut of some 3 billion barrels, so supertankers like the Kelly are loading up

and coming off shore as storage.

Now they can do so right in the heart of the world's oil belt.

John Defterios, CNN Mondy, Fujairah.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, tributes pouring in as the sports world mourns the loss of the king of golf. Arnold Palmer was awaiting heart surgery at a Pittsburgh

hospital, unfortunately, when he died on Sunday at age 87.

CNN's Mike Galanos looks back at the boy from Latrobe, Pennsylvania who grew up to be, well to become one of golf's most beloved stars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RORY MCILROY, GOLFER: He was just a wonderful man with great stories, had great

charisma.

MIKE GALANOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The greatest sports stars and fans around the world are mourning the loss of Golf Legend Arnold Palmer, an undeniable

king dedicated his entire life to the sport.

ARNOLD PALMER, GOLFING LEGENDY: It's hard work. It's not something that just comes along and you capture it. It's something that you must work for

and work very hard.

GALANOS: At the age of 3, Palmer started learning golf and never stopped, winning seven majors and 92 tournaments overall.

The 87-year-old's rise to dominance over the game coinciding with the beginning of televised golf, bringing the sport once for the country club

elite, mainstream. With his magnetic personality and distinctive style, Palmer was the first golfer to garner legions of

fans called Arnie's Army.

PALMER: when people say treat other people as you'd like to be treated, they don't really think that, that's a nice thing to say. But, you know, I

had it beaten into me that that was the thing to do and I have practiced that.

GALANOS: His final appearance as a player at the 2004 masters was a record 50th consecutive.

TIM FINCHEM, PGA TOUR COMMISSIONER: And there's just no real way to easily capsule the essence of the man. He is just an icon and a giant in the

sport of golf.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's Canadian tour continues. Prince William and his wife Catherine were given a warm welcome

by crowds in Vancouver on Sunday. They've spent the day sightseeing and visiting charities. The royal couple traveling with their children George

and Charlotte.

This is the couple's second visit to Canada and Charlotte's first overseas trip.

All right, Parting Shots.

And we have been counting down to the super bowl of American politics. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump about to face off in their very first

presidential debate just a few hours away. While we anticipate what kind of theatrics Trump and Clinton may offer up.

Your Parting Shots tonight, let's take a moment to reflect on some of the more memorable moments past debates have given us from zingers to gaffes.

CNN's Jeanne Moos went in to the vault to find the best and worst that history has to offer. Here's her report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't we tend to watch debates hoping to see a train wreck? Instead, we're left with

memorable moments.

Sarah Palin winking.

SARAH PALIN, (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR & FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How long have I been at this, five weeks?

MOOS: Ronald Reagan demanding the sound system not be turned off.

RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am paying for this microphone.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: A line he picked up...

SPENCER TRACY, ACTOR: Don't you shut me off. I'm paying for this broadcast.

MOOS: ...from Spencer Tracy in the movie "State of the Union."

TV magnifies everything. The sweat glistening on Nixon's chin that he had to wipe off to Al Gore's exaggerated...

[11:55:11GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: ...Texas, that's what a governor gets to do.

MOOS: ...exasperated sigh.

BUSH: There's differences.

MOOS: ...resuscitated by "SNL."

UNIDENTIFIED COMEDIAN: Rome came to life and gladiator...

MOOS (on camera): What was I going to say? Oh, yeah, there were some unforgettable, forgetful moments.

RICK PERRY, (R), FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Commerce, education and the -- what's the third one there. Let's see.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS (voice-over): Rick Perry's oops moment.

PERRY: Oops.

MOOS: And Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's brain freeze.

JAN BREWER, (R), ARIZONA GOVERNOR: -- that we could possibly do.

MOOS: And this was just her opening statement.

(on camera): You know what a televised debate isn't the time for?

(voice-over): Checking the time, as president George Bush did.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How has the national debt --

MOOS: Debates are a time for memorable zingers.

SEN. LLOYD BENTSEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.

(CHEERING)

MOOS: And one-liners. For instance, from a relatively unknown candidate for vice president.

ADM. JAMES STOCKDALE, (I), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Who am I? Why am I here?

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: And whatever you do, candidates, don't invade your opponent's personal space. As Hillary's Senate rival once did.

(CROSSTALK)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, we'll shake, we'll shake on --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, I want your signature.

MOOS: 0r when Al Gore crept up on George Bush.

BUSH: But can he get things done? And I believe I can.

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: There's nothing like debatable behavior to liven up a debate.

BUSH: There's differences.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're likable enough, Hillary.

MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --

TINA FEY, COMEDIAN: Are we not doing the talent portion?

(LAUGHTER)

MOOS: -- New York.

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: More stories like that, many of the pieces we bring you every day. Do use the Facebook page. That's Facebook.com/CNNConnect.

I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the world. Thank you for watching. CNN of course continues after this short break. Don't go away.

END