Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
French Officials Postpone Closure of The Jungle; Donald Trump Denies Polls, Claims to be Winning; ISIS Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attack on Quetta Police Academy; ISIS Set Fire to Sulfur Mine Outside Mosul; Pro- Government Protesters Take To Streets in Caracas. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 25, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:12] ZAIN ASHER, HOST: The demolition begins: a notoriously crowded migrant camp in Calais, France, is being dismantled as I speak, and it
fears the safety of some of its youngest residents. Also ahead, we are live at the scene in just a moment.
Plus carnage at a police academy in Pakistan. ISIS claims responsibility for an attack that left at least 61 people dead.
Plus...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They placed explosives inside what was a massive mountain of sulfur.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: In Iraq, ISIS is leaving a truly toxic legacy, as forces push towards Mosul. We'll get the latest from the front line.
Hello, everyone, I'm Zain Asher in for Becky Anderson. At this hour, demolition crews in
Calais, France are tearing down the migrant camp known as The Jungle. I want to show you this video. These are live pictures from the makeshift
camp where many migrants have been living in limbo, some for over a year.
Bulldozers and workers with chain saws and shovels are leveling the structures that sheltered thousands of people who are seeking a better
life. Work to raise the camp was held up earlier when scuffles broke out between police and migrants, migrants who are refusing to move out. They
wanted to stay. More than 3,000 people have been transported to other regions of the country, but many more
remain.
CNN's Melissa Bell is at the the scene. She joins me live, now.
Melissa, so just explain to our audience how much of a huge undertaking is it for French authorities to actually tear down and demolish this camp?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Zain, it's a pretty big undertaking, just in
terms...
ASHER: OK. It looks as though we cannot hear Melissa Bell. We will try and get her back a
little bit later on in the show. She is at The Jungle at the migrant camp in Calais where massive demolition is taking place.
Now to Pakistan where a deadly attack has set the country on edge. Overnight, militants stormed this compound targeting the very young men who
are training to fight terror and other crimes. Cadets in a police academy. Survivors say they were sleeping without their weapons. Now officials say
at least 61 people are dead.
ISIS claims responsibility, but local officials have blamed another group linked to al Qaeda.
Our Muhammad Lila joins us live now from Abu Dhabi.
So, Muhammad, there was some confusion as to who exactly was responsible. ISIS of course now is claiming responsibility. What more do we know?
MUHAMMAD LILA, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Zain, here's why there was the confusion in the first place. ISIS, the so-called Islamic
State, put out a statement after the attack, even posting a photo online identifying the people that they
say were the three attackers that allegedly went into that police academy.
But the Pakistani military has a different position. A military official was quoted as saying that they had intercepted some communications they say
came from Pakistan and they are pointing the finger of blame at outlawed militant outfit called Lashkar e-Jungvi (ph).
Now, regardless of who was behind this attack, there's one thing that's absolutely clear, this attack was callous, it was calculated, and it was
designed specifically to kill as many people as possible.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LILA: One by one, the victims were carried out, some on stretchers, others by hand.
"They just barged in and started firing point blank," this victim says. "We started screaming and running around in the barracks. Then I ran
upstairs."
The attack happened in the middle of the night at this police training academy, with hundreds of recruits sleeping in their beds. Three gunmen
burst in and opened fire. The recruits never had a chance.
"They were wearing masks," this victim says. "They were all wearing masks." It happened in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, home to a long
running separatist movement and violent insurgency.
With the gunmen holed up inside, Pakistani soldiers responded, leading to a five-hour long
standoff.
MAJOR GENERAL SHER AFGAN, PAKISTANI PARAMILITARY (through translator): We came to know that the recruits were being held hostage here, but at that
time we did not know how many were inside.
LILA: By the time it was over, one gunman was shot dead, the other two blew themselves up. And this is what it looked like outside. The
aftermath of a fierce battle, soldiers on patrol, hospitals flooded with victims and the entire country on edge.
It's not yet clear who was responsible. ISIS put out a statement saying it was behind the attack, but the pakistani military is pointing the finger at
another outlaw group, Lashkar e-Jungvi (ph), an anti-Shiite group that's been launching attacks specifically against police in recent weeks.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:05:30] LILA: Now, the province of Balochistan has officially declared three days of mourning. And it's important to remember the context of all
of this, Zain. This is just the latest in a string of attacks that have targeted hospitals, schools, churches, and now tragically a police training
center.
ASHER: And Muhammed, have we had any sort of reaction from the prime minister, Nawaz Sharif?
LILA: Yeah, you know, in previous attacks the prime minister has waited for quite some time before issuing a condemnation. He was very quick,
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, in issuing a condemnation. He actually flew to Quetta very shortly after this happened and he has convened a
meeting with Pakistan's very powerful military general to talk about the next steps they will take.
So this is certainly a case of both the civilian leadership and the military leadership promising to respond very quickly to what's happened.
ASHER: Right, Muhammed Lila, thank you so much. Appreciate that.
All right, let's get you back to Calais, where the demolition of a migrant camp has begun. CNN's Melissa Bell is there for with us. We had some
issues with your audio, Melissa, but I believe you are back with us.
Just set the scene for us because this demolition has been going on about an hour, an hour and
a half so far.
BELL: The demolition itself, Zain, is happening on the very outskirts of the camp. And what you're talking about here is four square kilometers of
makeshift camp that has been home to 10,000 migrants for many months, some for years now. And so all kinds of structures have been put up, not just
the tents, but little huts in which there were shops.
There were restaurants, a whole life has really built up here. And that is what the authorities
have started clearing.
A cleaning company has come in to start taking apart those tents, those huts, but they're accompanied of course, and this was necessary, by a huge
police presence, and that's because they are still tonight saying thousands of migrants inside this camp.
As a form of resistance, what we've seen over the course of the last couple of hours since that demolition has begun, are fires being set around the
camp. Perhaps, you can see there in one corner of it, some of those huts now empty, some of those tents have been set alight. And there is this
sense in what was already a camp that was characterized by lawlessness and a sense of huge uncertainty for the many people who live here, that really
in the last couple of hours has gotten worse.
We've seen riot police making their way through the camp. And it's the first time that we've seen that since we've been here with local
authorities trying to convince those who are clinging on to their dream of staying here in order that they can continue, hoping to get to the United
Kingdom of taking up the French government's offer and settling in France or at least applying for asylum in France. There are some who will take
them up. But many here are holding firm tonight.
ASHER: So, Melissa, if you're in the camp right now, if you're a refugee in that camp and you are determined at all costs you're going to stay in
that Jungle. You want to stay in Calais, because as you mentioned, a lot of people have dreams of making it to the United Kingdom, what are your
options at this point?
BELL: The French authorities say very few. When you walk around the camp, they have put up eviction notices on some of the shacks that I have been
describing to you warning people that if they don't go and if they don't take up the government's offer, then they will bow arrested, they will face
the force of the law.
Now, I asked a couple of Afghans earlier on who were determined to stay on who say they're not interested in applying for asylum in France.
You have to understand, Zain, that these are people who have traveled huge distances and terrible conditions with one idea in mind, and that is
getting to the United Kingdom, very often because they have family there, or because they've heard that life there is good, you can get work, and
they're determined that that is the only place right field at that huge distances in terrible conditions with one idea in mind and that is getting
to the United Kingdom, very often because they have family there or because they have heard that life there is good, you can get work. They
are determined that is the only place they want to go. These are not people who will give up on that
dream lightly given all they've been through.
And what these Afghans were telling me earlier on was that if authorities come in and try to
move them off, them head off into the woods and come back. One of them told me The Jungle will never finish.
ASHER: So, I mean, once again, Melissa, I mean, how are the French sort of dealing with those people who are refusing to leave?
BELL: For now the attitude is they're go very gently on this. It is a soft attitude. They've allowed for a start a huge number of press in. I'm
speaking to you from the more than 800 journalists have been accredited and are allowed in and out of the perimeter that's been set up around the camp.
So there's been this effort at transparency, this openness on the part of the French authorities. And so far they have gone about it very gently.
They're trying to convince, they're trying to persuade, rather than trying to force. And it has -- it is a call, it is something that's appealed to a
lot of migrants, more than 3,113 migrants and that was at mid-day so those figures would have risen still further, have taken up the offer. Others
will, no doubt, be convinced by the authorities who make their way through the camp and come speak to them in their tents.
But there are those who say that they will not give up on their dream of getting to the United Kingdom, and those are the ones that are likely to
present a real headache to the French authorities.
What -- for now, what's happening is that the camp will be brought inwards. Its exterior parts will be demolished, so that what is left of it will be a
hard interior of those determined to stay, perhaps smaller numbers that will then be easier for the French authorities to deal with, Zain.
[11:10:46] ASHER: All right, Melissa Bell live for us there, thank you so much.
Now to some other stories on our radar today. Four people are dead, more than a dozen wounded after violent demonstrations in the Central African
Republic. Protesters in the capital are demanding the United Nations mission leave the country. It has faced growing distrust recently over
allegations of sexual abuse by foreign peacekeepers.
In Australia, four people are dead after a ride at the country's largest theme park malfunctioned. They were on the Thunder River Rapids Ride at
Dream World in the eastern city of Gold Coast. Two people were thrown from the ride while the other two victims were pulled into the conveyor belt.
All four died at the scene.
Rodrigo Duturte received a hero's welcome from the Filipino community in Japan as he arrived in Tokyo for an official visit. Ahead of that trip,
the Philippine president reignited his war of words with the United States, telling them, quote, do not make us your dogs, in reference to the
U.S. questioning of his human rights record.
Right, well, after the battle for Mosul, what is next? Defense ministers from several countries that are part of the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition
are meeting in Paris right now to try to figure that out. Tthe American defense chief and his French counterpart are giving details of what they
talked about in Paris.
Now, meantime back in Iraq, the fighting is still raging. I'm going to show you this video here
that a Kurdish journalist captured near Mosul, an ISIS car bomb racing toward Iraqi forces before he says a coalition jet takes it out.
ISIS has been throwing all of its horrific tactics at trying to hold off the assault on Mosul from truck bombs to reports they're using civilians as
human shields. And now they seem to be sinking to unimaginable new lows, setting fire to a sulfur factory to choke the air with toxic fumes.
Here's our Arwa Damon with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It could almost be waves rippling against a shoreline on another planet. Neon streams
catching the light. But this hauntingly beautiful scenery is toxic. The yellow rock formations are raw sulfur, crumbling and melting under intense
heat. It may look volcanic, but this is manmade.
(on camera): When ISIS withdrew from this sulfur factory, they placed explosives inside what was a massive mountain of sulfur, as well as placing
explosives over an expanse of around 4.5 kilometers of this factory, sending toxic poisonous fumes into the air.
(voice-over): Hundreds of people living in the area had to seek medical attention for trouble breathing, burning eyes and choking. Hospitals ran
out of oxygen.
(on camera): I have no idea how the vast majority of these workers out here are able to deal with the smell and the burning in one's eyes without
having proper protection. Most people out here don't have gas masks on, but they are working tirelessly to try to bring this under control.
(voice-over): Across this other worldly landscape, there are bulldozers, firefighters trying to stifle the flames with loads of dirt. This is a
battlefield that has no rules or boundaries.
(on camera): And this is just one of the many ways that ISIS is trying to use whatever it possibly can to try to not only impede the advance of the
security forces toward Mosul, but also in doing so cause maximum damage and maximum impact on the civilian population.
(voice-over): If this is a sign of the lengths ISIS will go to out here, it's terrifying to imagine what it plans for Mosul itself.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Mishok (ph), Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:15:12] ASHER: All right, still to come on Connect the World with the backing of The Vatican, Venezuela's embattled president is pushing for
talks with the opposition, but will they come to the table? That's the question. The latest on the situation in Caracas coming up.
Also...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CROWD: Trump, Trump, Trump.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: That's the cry in Florida where Donald Trump badly needs a win. We'll tell you why he's saying ignore the polls. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World. I'm Zain Asher in for Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Let's get you straight now to Iraq
where despite the dangers our Michael Holmes is very close to the front lines of the fighting.
So, Michael, before the break we played Arwa Damon's piece and you saw the sulfur fires just really showing the length that ISIS is willing to go to,
to protect Mosul. Is that line of -- that level of resistance, is it in line with what Iraqi forces had been anticipating?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, I think that what they have been anticipating and what, in fact, they have been seeing on the
battlefield is the first line of weaponry has been car bombs, truck bombs. That has been -- they have destroyed nearly 135 vehicle-borne explosive
devices, which is just terrifying.
It's a fearsome weapon. They have been trying to take them out before they get to the front lines, usually with success but not always with success.
And we've been getting word out of Mosul too that vehicle-borne explosive devices, truck bombs, car bombs are right now being prepositioned at
various places around Mosul. We've also heard of Katusha (ph) rocket launchers being placed on three
sides of the city, on the outskirts of the city, so obviously ISIS is preparing its defenses.
But interestingly, resistance inside the city as well. We've known for a while there have been resistance groups inside Mosul, but we heard word
today of an incident that occurred on Monday morning. A group of resistance fighters, they call themselves the Mosul battalions, opened fire
on ISIS in the southwestern part of the city, an old neighborhood, narrow alleyways, houses crammed very close together. And massive exchange of
gunfire.
The sources we've been speaking to tell us that the resistance fighters killed five ISIS fighters. ISIS returned fire, they say, indiscriminately
at the rooftops and the houses.
Now, when this engagement broke off, ISIS later came back, surrounded this neighborhood. They cut off water. They cut off power. And then they
rounded up 80 men.
Now, according to the sources we've been speaking to, those 80 men were not part of the resistance group. However, their fate at the moment is
unknown.
The situation in this particular southwestern portion of Mosul, apparently the tensions are very high, and resistance fighters are sniping at ISIS.
It's an interesting development given the fact that Iraqi and Kurdish troops are not at the city center, or city edges and ready to attack yet,
so perhaps a little premature. But it does show that a resistance movement is active inside of Mosul -- Zain.
[11:20:39] ASHER: All right, Michael Holmes, appreciate that. Thank you.
Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are focusing on the crucial battleground of Florida today. Clinton is headlining a get out the vote
rally a few hours from now. That's really a bedrock of her strategy. The Democratic candidate is favored to win the presidency at this point. It
doesn't do any good to be ahead in the polls if, of course, your supporters stay home.
For his part, Trump really has to expand his base right now and he absolutely must win Florida and its 29 electoral votes to capture the White
House. This morning, he seized on a new report about Obamacare that shows that health premiums will rise significantly next year. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Obamacare is just blowing up. And even the White House, our president, announced 25 or 26 percent.
That number is so wrong, that is such a phony number. You're talking about 60, 70, 80 percent in increases, not 25 percent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: That was Donald Trump there.
So much to cover today. Let's go live now to Miami where Jason Carroll is for us. So, Jason, you just had Donald Trump in that sound bite basically
saying that Obamacare's premiums are going to be rising by roughly 20 percent, 25 percent next year.
I'm just curious, could that have any impact on Democrats up and down the ballot come November 8? And how badly does Obama at this point really need
Hillary Clinton in the White House to protect his legacy, do you think?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, look, certainly the Trump campaign is
hoping that this is really going to be damaging for Democrats and for Hillary Clinton, this announcement that health care premiums could rise by
as much as 25 percent or more, according to Donald Trump. So expect this to be a rallying cry going forward for the Trump campaign. We've actually
heard them mention this before. They're going to continue to do that.
And Trump for his part is going to continue to take aim at those polls that show him trailing
behind Hillary Clinton, saying those polls are basically wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Donald Trump on the defensive.
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe we're actually winning.
CARROLL (voice-over): Trump flat out denying he is behind in the polls as he blazes through the battleground state of Florida.
TRUMP: They are phony polls put out by phony media.
CARROLL (voice-over): Just hours before hitting the trail, Trump did admit he's lagging.
TRUMP: I guess I'm somewhat behind in the polls, but not by much.
CARROLL (voice-over): And with only two weeks until Election Day, a new CNN/ORC national poll shows Hillary Clinton up by five points. No matter,
Trump is ratcheting up the attacks on his rival...
TRUMP: If you look at her plans for Syria, these are the plans of a child. These are the plans of a person that doesn't know what she's doing.
CARROLL (voice-over): ....the media...
TRUMP: The media isn't just against me, they're against all of you.
[08:10:03] CARROLL (voice-over): ...and the 11 women accusing him of unwanted advances.
TRUMP: They were made up. I don't know these women.
CARROLL (voice-over): Trump raising eyebrows over his comments about Jessica Drake, an adult film performer who alleges he grabbed and kissed
her without permission in 2006.
TRUMP: This one that came out recently, he grabbed me and he grabbed me on the arm. Oh, I'm sure she's never been grabbed before.
CARROLL (voice-over): This as Clinton works to seal a win in New Hampshire campaigning with liberal favorite Senator Elizabeth Warren.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, (D) MASSACHUSETTS: I'm with her. Are you with her?
(APPLAUSE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Both wasting no time hitting the GOP nominee.
HILLARY CLINTON, (D) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is someone who roots for failure and takes glee in mocking our country no matter who our President
is. Now, that may be who Donald Trump is, but this election is about who we are.
CARROLL (voice-over): Warren capitalizing on Trump's nasty woman comment on Clinton from the last debate.
WARREN: He thinks that because he has a mouth full of Tic Tacs that he can force himself on any woman within groping distance. Well, I've got news for
you, Donald Trump. Women have had it with guys like you.
(APPLAUSE)
WARREN: And nasty women have really had it with guys like you.
(APPLAUSE)
WARREN: Nasty women are tough, nasty women are smart, and nasty women vote.
(APPLAUSE)
[11:25:04] CARROLL (voice-over): President Obama joining the Democratic Trump takedown on Jimmy Kimmel.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I don't do is like, at 3:00 a.m., I don't tweet about --
JIMMY KIMMEL, HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE: You don't tweet any longer?
OBAMA: ...people who insulted me. Yes.
KIMMEL: You watch Donald Trump. Do you ever laugh? Do you ever actually laugh?
OBAMA: Most of the time.
KIMMEL: Most of the time.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: Well, 29 electoral votes up for grabs here in the state of Florida. It's a huge, huge take for one of these candidates. Both
candidates making a strong effort for the state. Trump making two stops here in the state of Florida today, Clinton for her part making one stop.
She's also making two more tomorrow.
Polls showing Donald Trump trailing behind Hillary Clinton here in the state. But once again, Zain, Donald Trump not believing those polls --
Zain.
ASHER: All right, Jason Carroll, appreciate you being with us. Thank you so much.
And we just saw a little bit of President Barack Obama's guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's
late-night talk show but we don't want you to miss the other highlight. Mr. Obama actually read out some tweets from his own critics, mostly taking
their opinions in his stride. But at the end, he turned the table. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Just found out my daughter shares a birthday with Obama. Puke.
Barack Obama dances like how his jeans look.
You know, this jeans thing, this is so old. This is years ago. Come on.
President Obama will go down as perhaps the worst president in the history of the United States! @RealDonaldTrump.
Well, @RealDonaldTrump, at least I will go down as a president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Oh, my goodness, you have to have such thick skin to run for office in this country.
OK, the latest world news headlines just ahead. Plus much more on Donald Trump's war on the media. He says mainstream outlets are staffed by
thieves and crooks, and so now he's actually offering up an alternative. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[11:30:54] ASHER: At this hour supporters of the Venezuelan government are rallying in Caracas. These are scenes from the streets of the capital,
crowded with people who back embattled President Nicholas Maduro. An opposition protest is expected tomorrow. These massive gatherings
basically symptoms of a deeply divided country in the depth of a massive recession.
The Vatican has stepped in to try to bring both sides to the table for talks, but one prominent opposition leader is rejecting any dialogue, even
after the Vatican announced a start date for the two camps to start the meetings.
CNN's Shasta Darlington is following developments in Venezuela from Brazil. She joins us live now.
So, Shasta, just explain for us what sort of recourse do the opposition have right now in terms of ousting President Maduro?
DARLINGTON: Well, Zain, they're obviously running up against a lot of obstacles. Tensions are running incredibly high in the country. You see
the government supporters out on the street today. They want to stand behind their man, President Micholas Maduro, and of course the socialist
revolution that was launched by Hugo Chavez, but that's in part because the opposition
has been pushing so hard for a recall referendum that could actually have Maduro removed from office this year.
And according to polls, 80 percent of Venezuelans want him out. This is the third year of a deep
recession. Venezuela has the highest inflation in the world. Shortages of food and medicine that have become life-threatening. So the government has
now stepped in and they're trying to block that referendum. They blocked the signature drive that would have gotten it started and that just
unleashed the fury of the opposition so they've called this massive demonstration for
tomorrow.
Part of the reason we're seeing those government supporters out on the street today, and also the national assembly, which is controlled by
opposition lawmakers. They're going to launch an impeachment proceeding this afternoon, so they say.
The problem is that will be largely symbolic because the supreme court, which would have to sign off on an impeachment, is controlled by supporters
of the government.
There's just a lot of back and forth. And of course we have now seen the Vatican try and step into the fray. They have said they got both the
opposition and the government to agree to these conciliatory talks that start on Sunday to deescalate tensions after Pope Francis received
President Maduro.
But as you mentioned, one of the main opposition leaders says they don't want to have anything
to do with that because they see it as a stalling tactic, as the government tries to hold off these attempts to have Maduro removed from office.
What we're seeing is that the tensions are escalating and there is no clear exit at this point, Zain.
ASHER: So, Shasta, I mean, given sort of economic pain there in Venezuela, given the
recession, the food shortages, the crime, why is there still so much loyalty for Maduro? Why does he still have so much support among the
people? >> DARLINGTON: Zain, there is support for Maduro, but again if you look at
the polls 80 percent want him out of office. There's a lot more support for former President Hugo Chavez, who of course hand-picked Nicholas Maduro
to succeed him after -- as he was dying.
But he has a lot more loyalty than Maduro. The problem is, of course, those in government don't want to give it up and they don't see a clear
exit either. If Maduro were somehow to be squeezed out of office, how would they maintain the power. So there is a huge power
play going on.
But the person of Nicholas Maduro certainly doesn't enjoy the broad support that Hugo Chavez did, Zain.
ASHER: All right, Shasta Darlington live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate that.
Back now to the race for the White House. It's become Donald Trump's favorite punching bag, and according to him, the cause of so many of his
problems -- we're talking about what he calls the mainstream media, which he says is staffed by thieves and crooks.
Trump has been on a tirade for months claiming unfair treatment, but now his campaign is offering an alternative. It's directing supporters to a
nightly broadcast live on Facebook.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:35:18] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going to each night about 6:30 come to you live right here from the Trump campaign war room. And we're going to
lead right into Mr. Trump's rallies, which usually start about 7:00 p.m. eastern.
This is just an effort by us to reach out to you guys, give you the message straight from the campaign. You don't have to take it through the media
filter and all the spin that they put on it. You can hear it from us directly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: Trump often complains that the media takes his words out of context. So The New York Times printed thousands of his own words in a
two-page spread, highlighting his Twitter insults, listing everybody that he has ever insulted on Twitter.
Let's get more details now from CNN senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter.
So, Brian, just explain to us, I mean, why would The New York Times put together something like this? What is the point of it?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: You know, hear you describing Trump's position about the media. I would just tell you he loves us. He
loves you, he loves me, he secretly loves journalists, he has for decades because we helped build his businesses by getting positive press. And of
course his rise in the GOP primary was partly thanks to intensive news coverage.
So putting that to the side, just pointing out how much he secretly loves the media, I would say right now he is frustrated by the aggressive
coverage we're seeing. And this New York Times feature is a great example. A two-page print spread showing all of Trump's
insults, all the nasty comments he's posted on Twitter ever since entering this race about a year and a half ago.
This was a great use of print, a great way for the Times to sort of show what a print newspaper can do. But it was also a very serious way to
illustrate how Trump's tone has been very strong, very aggressive, in some cases just vicious during this election season. Many
of those insults, you see on the pages here, are toward the media, they're toward CNN and other news
outlets.
So it is an example of Trump trying to have it both ways. He secretly loves journalists, but he does attack journalists all the time, including
at his campaign stops today. And then, of course, he goes on Twitter and he links the stories from CNN and other news outlets in order to promote
his campaign.
So talk about having it both ways.
ASHER: Yeah, when you look at The New York Times article, you know, I noticed obviously as you did a special hatred for the media but also
another sort of special vitriol for anybody who competes against him. Obviously his rivals, a lot of hatred in there.
Do you think when you go through the list of insults, can you sort of learn anything about the
psychology of a man like Donald Trump?
STELTER: That he is a fighter, that he's a fighter through and through and that he's a billionaire businessman through and through. We don't know
exactly how much money he's made. There's a lot of questions about how much, how many billions. And of course we haven't seen tax returns.
But it is a moment. I think this is a moment with two weeks until election day to ask what about Trump's businesses? What happens after this
election? If he does lose, what will he do to focus on his businesses?
You know, we saw him today at Doral, his resort in Florida. We see him tomorrow at one of
his hotels in D.C. It seems like he's holding business events during this campaign. And that goes to show that in the back of his mind, he might be
thinking beyond election day.
ASHER: Right. So he's obviously prepared of the possibility, I'm just going to say possibility, that he might lose this election.
We saw that sort of episode of a nightly news program with his staff via Facebook live. Does that give us a glimpse as to what Donald Trump might
be doing on November 9?
STELTER: Yeah, so on one hand he's at Doral, he's at his hotel in D.C. He's holding these sort of business promotional events while running for
president. And then the other part of that is the possibility of Trump TV. He has denied interest in launching a TV network after the election. He
says his only interest is winning on election day. But he had this kind of fake nightly newscast last night. The campaign says they'll be doing this
every evening between now and election day, bypassing what they say is the left wing media. This is a way for Trump's campaign to rally its base, to
speak to its most loyal supporters and reassure them that they're still in this race to win it, even though Clinton
is far ahead in most polls.
ASHER: All right, Brian, live for us there. Thank you so much. Appreciate that.
And as we were just discussing in American politics, almost everything is fair game, but
going after war veterans is normally totally off limits. Now, though, thousands of Americans who put their lives on the line fighting in Iraq and
Afghanistan are locked into a new fight with their own government.
Washington gave them bonuses to stay in the army, now it wants that money back.
Here's our Drew Griffin with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. military had a problem in 2006. It wasn't recruiting enough new enlistees so what it
did, it threw money at the problem.
(voice-over): In 2006 the military desperately needed soldiers to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan but it was missing recruitment goals for new
enlistees. So the Defense Department starting paying incentive to keep the soldiers it already had. Reenlist and you get not just money but loan
forgiveness, other benefits. It was a good deal.
Thousands reenlisted.
But now the Pentagon is saying to the soldiers, give us our money back.
[11:40:25] SUSAN HALEY, U.S. ARMY MASTER SERGEANT (RET.): They're asking for over $25,000 and that's because they've been charging me interest since
2013.
GRIFFIN: That's right, not just her bonus, but interest charges, too.
Master Sergeant Susan Haley got that bonus after signing up for an additional six years. now the military says it wants the money back.
Both Haley's husband and son served in the mlitary. Her son lost a leg in Afghanistan. The government, she says, is forcing her now to pay a quarter
of her income every month.
HALEY: It's very devastating. It's sad. It breaks my heart. I feel a little betrayed that I gave them my time and now they want my money back.
And my family has sacrificed so much -- sacrificed so much and now we're struggling to pay even our house payments.
GRIFFIN: It all started when a federal investigation found enlistment officers committing fraud. In California, the FBI went after Master
Sergeant Toni Jaffe (ph) who pleaded guilty to submitting false and fictitious claims on behalf of her fellow National Guard members. Her
efforts alone added up to $15.2 million in illegal payouts and loan repayments to California Guardsmen.
Jaffe (ph) has gone to prison but now inexplicably, the Department of Defense is going further, much further, and going after the soldiers to pay
back their bonuses they were promised and earned.
Chris Van Meter served his country an extra six years and was forced to pay back $46,000.
CHRIS VAN METER, NATIONAL GUARD RESERVIST: You think it's a joke. It obviously was not a joke. And it's gut-wrenching because you have to figure
out what you're going to do and how you're going to survive. I had a young family at the time.
GRIFFIN: The California National Guard shares the frustration but says it does not have authority to waive the debts. California Congressman Adam
Schiff today told CNN he has already written to the head of the California National Guard asking any attempts to reclaim soldiers' bonus money be
stopped until he and Congress can work out a solution.
REP. ADAM SCHIFF, (D) CALIFORNIA: I think it's outrageous that the National Guard soldiers are being asked to repay bonuses that they had every right
to expect.
GRIFFIN: There is already a cry from many members of Congress, including the two U.S. senators from California, demanding there be an investigation
and at least a temporary halt to having these soldiers pay back their money, but this problem has been going on now for several years and so far,
no solution.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: That was our Drew Griffin there. The latest world news headlines just ahead.
Plus, sheer relief. More than 20 sailors have been released by Somali pirates after nearly five years in captivity. We'll hear from one in just
a few moments.
Plus, Hillary Clinton's borders are turning one of Donald Trump's most pointed insults from the last debate into a battle cry. We'll tell you
what it is. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:43] ASHER: You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World. I am Zain Asher. Welcome back.
It's been nearly five years, but a group of more than 20 hostages have finally been freed by
Somali pirates. They were in a ship hijacked south of the Seychelles back in 2012. As (inaudible), though, report they went to extreme lengths to
survive.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arnel Balbero was 28 when Somali pirates struck. Four years after his capture, he's happy to be alive, even as he recalls the
pain he went through.
Arnel is now 32 and he is one of the Naham 3's 26 surviving hostages released on Monday.
They were captured south of the Seychelles in March 2012 and taken to shore to Gaikayo in northern Somalia where they have been held ever since and
under very harsh conditions.
ARNEL BALBERO, FREED HOSTAGE: In Somalia, sometimes they treat us like an animal. There is no good food, nothing of water.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arnel says they ate what they could, rats even, in order to survive. But not all of them made it through.
BALBERO: The crew, they got sick, you ask medical for them for medical treatment, they
said it's better to die, it's no problem. Just like that. And how -- what can you say about that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two of the crew members died. The captain was killed. Their bodies were never recovered. Something that still pains Arnel.
BALBERO: They only (inaudible) go home to their country. It's very, very sad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the rest of Naham 3's crew were taken hostage at the height of Somali piracy, with a major rescue even getting Hollywood
attention.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots fired.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not a drill.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A more robust international naval presence in Ssomalia's waters and intense policing eventually drove the pirates inland.
MICHAEL SCOOT MOORE, JOURNALIST: These guys from the Naham 3 are the end of
that Somali pirate era where lots of ships were getting captured, because they were one of the last semi-large ships to be hijacked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Journalist Michael Scott Moore was himself captured by Somali
pirates. He was held hostage for nearly three years and was kept with the Naham 3's crew for a few months.
MOORE: They still look like, you know, active southeast Asian kids. And they still had a good sense of humor. They have still got that
cheerfulness, but it's not the same.
UNIDENIFIED MALE: But more than four years later, Arnel is now safe, free from his captors, he will soon be reunited with his family, and he says
he's feeling stronger.
BALBERO: Skin and bone only, but I'm still OK. I'm OK. I'm still alive.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible), CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAE)
ASHER: Live from CNN Center, this is Connect the World. Coming up...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm showing people things that are out there that they don't want to look at.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: We speak to street photographer Bruce Gilden about his career all in black and
white for almost 50 years. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: Well, you can't be in two places at one time, but there's still so much ground to cover so the U.S. presidential candidates are sending high-
profile surrogates across the country in the final two weeks of the campaign.
Donald Trump's running mate, Mike Pence, is on the stump in the state of Ohio right now. He's actually just finished speaking there, while former
President Bill Clinton is campaigning in North Carolina, which has historically been Republican, but is now considered to be a swing state.
He is there, of course, for his wife, Hillary.
Well, you are watching CNN and this is Connect the World. I'm Zain Asher, welcome back.
The U.S. presidential debates are over and it's fair to say there was plenty of mudslinging. Neither candidate missed the chance to hurl an
insult or two, like when Donald Trump called Hillary Clinton a nasty woman.
But rather than take offense, the Democrat supporters are actually embracing that label. Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Four little words.
DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Such a nasty woman.
MOOS: Thrown back into Donald Trump's face.
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Get this, Donald, nasty women are tough.
MOOS: Hillary supporters put on their "nasty" T-shirts.
WARREN: Nasty women are smart.
MOOS: They put on their "Make America nasty again" hats.
WARREN: And nasty women vote.
(CHEERING)
MOOS: No wonder Hillary is laughing. First, there were the remixes.
(SINGING)
MOOS: Then there were the jokes.
UNIDENTIFIED COMEDIAN: Oh, yeah. So nasty. Also quick reminder, no one respects women more than me.
MOOS: Then the merchandise from the "such a nasty woman" throw pillow to "I'm with the nasty woman" T-shirt. "SNL" made this joke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go to HillaryClinton.com and buy a limited edition nasty woman mug.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: Soon someone was selling one on Etsy.
Singer Katy Perry bought a T-shirt on a website. Its creator had it on line before the debate even ended. She sold 10,000 items.
WARREN: We nasty women are going to march our nasty feet.
MOOS: We saw no nasty slippers but there is nasty woman perfume.
Hillary fans can carry your stuff in this nasty is the new black tote.
Jeanne Moos -- TRUMP: Such a nasty woman.
MOOS: ...CNN...
TRUMP: Such a nasty woman.
MOOS: ...New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Now in our Parting Shots, we bring you a man who once upon a time only photographed in black and white, capturing shots people might not want
to see. Now combining his gritty style with color, he's created images you just can't ignore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE GILDEN, PHOTOGRAPHER: I'm showing people things that are out there, that they don't want to look at.
My name is Bruce Gilden and I'm a photographer, and I've been doing it 48 years. That makes me, I guess, old, huh?
I have about 14 or 15 books. I've done two New York street books, Japan, London. I've covered Haiti.
I grew up in a pretty different kind of environment. I think my father probably went until the sixth grade. He was a bad boy. My mother had
problems of her own. I had a very tough emotional upbringing.
This is the first time I've ever said this. Maybe I wanted to be hugged and be close to people and people will say that, you know, oh, he's a good
boy or something or he's done right. I mean i don't know.
I use all of that and I think I see things that other people don't see or don't want to see.
I photographed in black and white my whole life. I see in black and white. I see in the abstract. I don't see the reality, I don't see colors.
But after so many years, you find that you have a tendency to repeat yourself. You're making the same image over and over and over again. So I
decided that I'm going to try color. If I don't feel it, I can't do it. My new book face, I wanted to do that for 20 years. It took me 20 years to
do it.
There was a lady who's in the book, she has one tooth. You know, she's seen better days. I showed her the picture, and I said what do you think?
She said I'm beautiful. That forced me to go back and look at this picture. And I saw something that I didn't see originally.
To be a good photographer, you have to know who you are and you photograph who you are. Those people are me. I'm photographing how I feel about
life.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: Well, the stories we brought you today from Mosul to the American elections and other stories our teams are working on, you can head to our
Facebook page. That's at Facebook.com/CNNconnect.
All right, I'm Zain Asher and that was Connect the World. Thank you so much for watching. The news continues on CNN so stick around. We'll have
the latest on our top stories and more next with iDesk next with my colleague Robyn Curnow.
END
