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FBI On Hack: We Should Have Seen This Coming; Inside War-Torn Yemen's Cholera Crisis; Miliband: People Of Yemen Beleive There's No Hope; Trump's Paper Towel Toss Slammed As Disrespectful. Aired at 11a-12p ET
Aired October 05, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[11:00:12] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Run, run, don't walk. Run, go. Go.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: As investigators search for a motive behind the Las Vegas massacre new details emerge about the killer's
elaborate plan. We are live in Nevada for you this hour. Plus a welcome fit for a king, the Russian president welcomes Saudi Arabia's monarch. A
look at the historic visit and what it means to the shifting sands of regional politics.
And --
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Little (inaudible) has all the signs of cholera, severe dehydration, her skin on her stomach crumpling like paper.
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ANDERSON: A crippling crisis in a country already battered by war. Yemen, cholera epidemic, this hour on Connect the World.
You are watching Connect the World, I am Beck Anderson in Abu Dhabi, it is 7:00 in the evening here. To the outside world, it was just a quiet low
key retiree who likes gambling and his privacy, but authorities say the man behind the Las Vegas massacre led a secretive life and started stockpiling
weapons in earnest a year ago. We're also learning other new details from investigators. The shooter apparently planned to escaped after the
horrific attack. And authorities now speculate he may have had some kind of help. All this coming as we're hearing from the shooter's girlfriend
for the first time through her attorney. Jean Casarez has all the details plus disturbing new video from the scene.
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JEAN CASAREZ, CNN PRIMETIME JUSTICE SHOW GUEST HOST: A hail of bullets sending concert- goers running for their lives in this chilling new video.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Run, don stop! Run, don't look! Go! Everybody go!
CASAREZ: Rapid fire starting and stopping as the minutes go by. A traffic system's technician heard directing thousands of frantic people to safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Keep your head down and run this way.
CASAREZ: As investigators work to find out what triggered this heinous attack, new details continue to emerge about the killer elaborate plan.
Authorities now looking into what happened last October that led the killer to begin stockpiling 33 firearms within the last year. Police also
discovering 50 pounds of explosives and 1600 rounds of ammunition in the killer's car parked in the hotel's valet.
SHERRIFF JOE LOMBARDO, LAS VEGAS POLICE: You look at the weapon obtaining, the different amounts available, do you think this will all accomplished on
his own?
It would be hard for me to believe that.
CASAREZ: Investigators also confirming that the killer rented a room at this condo building in downtown Las Vegas across a different and much
larger Music Festival, the weekend before he opened fire at the route 91 country music festival. Investigators say new evidence suggest the killer
planned to escape and had blocked off the stairway near his hotel room. Authorities are releasing a more detailed timeline of how the carnage
unfolded. The suspect fired the first shots at 10:05 and continued firing for 10 minutes. The gunshots stopping at 10:15. During this time, an
unarmed hotel security guard approached the room where the killer had set up cameras to see any approaching threats. The killer firing more than 200
rounds into the hallway at the security guard, wounding him in the leg. A door riddled with bullet holes. 12 minutes after the voting began, the
first police officers arrived on the 32 floor finding the wounded guard and calling for backup before clearing the surrounding hotel rooms.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have the hallway contained.
CASAREZ: After the SWAT Team arrived, the first breach of the room was made at 11:20, an hour and 15 minutes after the first shots were fired.
Police found the killer who they say took his own life, dead on the floor surrounded by his arsenal and bullets casings. Marilou Danley breaking her
silence after a being interviewed by the FBI. Her lawyer read a statement on her behalf.
[11:05:06] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He never said anything to me, or took any action that I was aware of that I understood in any way to be warning that
something horrible like this was going to happen.
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ANDERSON: Well, the why then still unanswered. CNN Dan Simon is live in Las Vegas with the very latest now on the investigation, sir.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky at this point it's clear that a motive remains elusive, the sheriff talked about the shooter's so-called
secret life, he did not have a social media present apparently he had very few friends. So determining what caused all of this, what the motive was,
is proving to be difficult. The sheriff also talked about the possibility that perhaps other venues may have been target. He said that the shooter
did rent a condo in another part of Vegas overlooking another music festival that was just a weekend prior and he also raised the possibility
that the shooter may have had help, he said he must had help given the planning that was involve and he also said that there were plans to escape
but he did not elaborate how. Meantime let's talk about the girlfriend. We know that she is talking to the FBI. She spoke investigators yesterday.
Through her attorney she said that she is cooperating that she is very distraught and the bottom line here Becky is that she said that she had no
knowledge that he was about to commit this mass atrocity, Becky.
ANDERSON: Remarkable. Dan, thank you.
It's been a busy and challenging week for Donald as he handles multiple crisis from the Las Vegas shooting of course to Puerto Rico hurricane
relief. Also taking time to address what he called the latest disgraceful example of fake news. Mr. Trump is furious over Secretary of State Rex
Tillerson. He tweeted again this morning denying that Tillerson had her threatened to resign. Now, the controversy made news throughout the day as
Mr. Trump was visiting Las Vegas. CNN's Joe Johns has the details.
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TRUMP: We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain.
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JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump paying an emotional visit to survivor and medical workers in Las Vegas Wednesday praising first
responders while avoiding any talk of gun control.
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TRUMP: Americans defied death and hatred with love and with courage.
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JOHNS: The White House press secretary posting this video of a survivor shot in the leg standing to greet the President and first lady. President
Trump trust in the consoling victims of another tragedy as his administration tried to dispel new reports of in-fighting in the White
House. NBC news reporting Tuesday that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson call the president a moron after July. Tillerson blasting the report
during hastily called press conference while the President was flying to Las Vegas, but side stepping the question when asked directly.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you address the main headline of the story that you called the President a moron and if not where do you think these reports
are --
REX TILLERSON, SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm not going to deal with petty stuff like that.
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JOHNS: The secretary of state also reaffirming his loyalty to the President Trump remains that at times appeared designed for an audience of
one.
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TILLERSON: He is smart, he loves his country. He puts Americans and America first.
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JOHNS: The president publicly dismissing the report affirming his support for Tillerson.
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TRUMP: Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence.
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JORDAN: But two sources tells CNN the President already knew that Tillerson had called him a moron, but is wary of another high profile
departure from his administration. The simmering tensions between Tillerson and Trump on display after Trump undercut Tillerson diplomatic
message on North Korea this past weekend. Tennessee Republican Senator Bob Corker offering this stinging assessment of the President.
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SEN BOB CORKER, (R) TENNESSEE: Secretary Tillerson, Secretary Mattis, and Chief of Staff Kelly are those people that help separate our country from
chaos.
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ANDERSON: Joe Johns reporting for you. And more on Trump/Tillerson when should we get anymore of course you'll be the first to hear.
To Spain now where a fast moving political crisis is threatening to plunge the region into chaos, heading major new development. Spain's
constitutional court has suspended Monday's session of the Catalan parliament, that is expected to declare independence from Spain. Now, this
all stems from Sunday's contentious referendum which as you will be aware ended in violence. Erin McLaughlin had been speaking to those who worked
to ensure that the vote took place.
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ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is Barcelona's on response to police violence. Tens of thousands took to the streets in a show of
solidarity, a counter to the crackdown on the Catalan independence referendum. In the distance, a face in the crowd, who has asked to remains
faceless. He wanted his identity concealed, the potential legal ramifications for what he has done unclear. He is one of the activist.
Random logistics turned (inaudible) polling station in the outskirts of Barcelona. He said planning for the referendum began with a phone call
asking for volunteers.
Over three months, calls turned in to encrypted messages, apps such as telegram and signal and secret meetings. Separatist wary of government
spies. This is one of the ballot boxes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
MCLAUGHLIN: Why did you keep it?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it has been difficult and sad, but very nice day.
MCLAUGHLIN: He tells us how he managed to hide them, each component, sticker, lid, case, kept separate, assembled at the last minute. The night
of the vote the activists camped at the school gym to keep watch over the ballot. By dawn, a line of voters sneak around the corner. The Catalan
police were hands off, the national police another story. They raided a nearby polling station. The potential consequences were clear.
I was the person in charge of that school, he says. I felt the pressure and was scared that the people there would be beaten, that police would
storm in violently and hurt any people, children. My family was there, my parents were there. So that fear was there. They had problems with the
voting technology verifying voters with that much more difficult.
Given that there weren't independent monitors present, that there were technical difficulties, do you feel that this referendum was legitimate?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The problem had been that maybe a lot of people don't - - didn't want to go vote because of the fear of the police. So the result maybe is not the best because not all the people finally vote. But I think
that it's legitimate.
MCLAUGHLIN: The Spanish government tells a very different story, of an illegal referendum that defies the Spanish courts an democracy. A
referendum that has sewn division from the country into crisis.
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ANDERSON: To a lot of factors that influenced the fight on both sides of this argument. And here is one important one. The bottom line, Catalonia
makes up nearly 20 percent of Spain's economy. It is responsible for a quarter of Spain's export. Remember the country is just picking itself up
from what was a brutal recession the crisis could have a domino effect pushing back that recovery and that of course could have a domino effect,
across Europe. But equally as important, the latest political developments. Let's get you to Erin who is there in Barcelona for you.
Erin, explain.
MCLAUGHLIN: Well, earlier today the Spanish high court ruled the special parliamentary session of the Catalan regional government as to be shut down
for Monday saying that the special session was illegal. Unclear at this moment if that special session will in fact go ahead. We have yet to get
any sort of reacts on that from the Catalan government and no official statement from them so far. But remember, that same high court - the court
that declared the referendum illegal and the Catalan government chooses to go of course with the referendum regardless. So if they declare
independence on Monday as was expected, all eyes will turn on to Madrid as to how Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy will react to that.
He was giving media interviews in Madrid earlier this morning to Spanish media. In which they asked him if he plans to invoke article 155 of
Spanish constitution. To exert emergency control over this region. He said that that was option that was on the table.
[11:15:01] He said that all options are on the table and he is listening to different views on that so really for that is what happen, if independences
is declared, we're entering very uncertain territory. And people really across Spain are very concerned there. You were pointing out some of e
economic ramifications. This morning one of the biggest banks in Catalonia saying that they will be looking at whether or not they should move their
domicile outside of this region and the possibility that independence is declared, Becky.
ANDERSON: Erin McLaughlin on the story out of Barcelona in Spain.
Still to come, tonight unlikely allies Saudi Arabia's king holds what are historic talks with Russia's President in Moscow. We are live in the
Russian capital, up next.
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ANDERSON: A moment on history. Russia bring on a pumping ceremony for the first ever state visit on the Saudi King, King Salmon prompt meeting
President Vladimir Putin, sealing a powerful new alliance centered in oil and geopolitics in the middle east. This state visit by the Saudi King,
another sign that Russia is making its mark in the Middle East region. Russia and Saudi Arabia different sides in the war in Syria, but they have
managed it seems to put those differences aside to work together to stabilized global oil prices. More on that in a moment, but the Russian
President has been pressing the flesh in the region beside Turkey president in Ankara just laws week. State of Moscow then where CNN Contributor Jill
Dougherty is standing by. It's almost impossible to overstate the first visit by a Saudi king to Russia coming at a time of global uncertainty and
questions over America's leadership role in the world. To that end, there are many spoken to saying Moscow's to lose. Your thoughts.
[11:20:04] JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that perhaps could be true. I mean, Moscow right now is expanding its influence, it is
amazingly able to balance relationships with countries that traditionally are at odds witness Iran and Saudi Arabia. And this visit was very
significant. They pulled out all the stops. It's very long, it was very filled with pomp and circumstance. But also behind the scenes, there were
some deals cut. You have probably one of the most significant is a $1 billion investment fund in energy project that the two countries have
agreed on. And another when you get into the arms agreement and memorandum of understanding on purchasing the S-400's, Russia's S-400's which are the
surface to air missile systems.
You had deals on infrastructure, petro chemicals, education, culture, even making a road which is right up the street from us which the Saudis are
very good at. The first toll road in Moscow. But I think one of the most important things is you know what they were saying in terms of how
President Putin actually exerts his power and the approach of Russia is. And we spoke to a person who knows that field very well, Yuri Shafranik, he
is a former energy minister of Russia and he is also at this point the President of the Russian Union of Oil and Gas producers and he told us his
idea of how Russia approach relations with other countries in the region.
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YURI SHAFRANIK, PRESIDENT, RUSSIAN OIL AND GAS PRODUCERS UNION (TRANSLATOR): I'm convinced that now on the Russian position responds to
the spirit of many countries, noninterference in internal affairs, that is the basis of the Russian position. Second respect for historical roots and
traditions. If you take Iran and Saudi Arabia and put them on the same shelf, it is going to be like a bowl in a China shop, you will definitely
going to break something.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOUGHERTY: Becky, a bowl in China shop actually is a phrase that is often used here in Russia to describe what the United States does especially in
that region. Now, whether you agree with that or not, really you would have to say that right now probably, because of the U.S. uncertainty about
the U.S. position and role in the Middle East and also oil pricing as you mentioned are bringing or making major changes in this relationship.
ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. Jill, thank you for that. Jill Dougherty in Moscow for you and what has been an historic day. Russia and Saudi Arabia
couldn't have been further apart on the war in Syria until now. That is the foreign ministers have both, this two countries have now sat down
together in Moscow, they agreed on the need to preserve Syria's territorial integrity and state institutions. That is a shop turnaround from previous
statements that we've heard on this matter.
The last time Russian President Putin was on Saudi ground was back in 2007 marking the first visit by a Russian President to the Arab country. Even
by Russian standards, the visit was seemed historic. Later that year the Saudi crown prince returned the favor with a 7 hour trip to the Kremlin.
Let's get more analysis. I want to bring my friend and colleague here CNN Emerging Markets Editor John Defterios. Fast forward a decade, 2007 what
was once an arm length relationship looking increasingly cozy between Riyadh and Moscow. Energy politics sitting front and center, explain.
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: And first it's energy politics. In fact they were brought together ironically by the U.S. Shell
producers. They boosted output their output by 5 million barrels a day over five years. Put downward pressure on prices and it was the Russian
energy ministers Alexander and the Saudi Energy minister (inaudible) who don't hide their kind of likeness or bromance with each other. They
decided that $60 a barrel is a very good target. This plays into the 2030 plan for Saudi Arabia, because they want to take Saudi/Iran code to the
market 5 percent in 2018, the second half. And $60 is much better than where we were two years ago, Becky. $30 to $40 a barrel. And they ha the
bond, two producers producing about 10 million barrels a day. And oil finding the common ground. Jill brought up the potential deals on a
missile defense system, a $100 million infrastructure fund looking into petro chemicals, Russia is helping Saudi Arabia get into military
manufacturing business. Another 2030 target. They have to be questioning in Washington right now.
[11:25:00] Look, Donald Trump came to Riyadh in May. They signed $300 billion of deals, many of them were defense contracts, they have a big
investment form at the end of this month again with Riyadh mainly the U.S. CEO's. What is going on here, why the quick pivot to Russia. This is not
the first time we've seen this by the way. Even during the Obama administration, taking the opportunity to hedge their bets. They weren't
happy with the Obama administration position on Iran, so the UEA got very close to Russia, how did they do it? They investing a billion dollars in
the southern front of Russia. The first things that was ticked off today, a billion dollar investment into the fund of Saudi Arabia. So this is a
first step. Not $300 billion worth of deals, but Russia play a high profile in the region and they want to lock in his loyalty to them and not
to Iran.
ANDERSON: It is fascinating. You allude to the Riyadh summit in May. That is now four months ago. In very visible showing of support for the
make America great again. Donald Trump effectively being promised as you rightly point out hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of defense deals.
Is this -- we talk about - is this s snob on the nose, I mean you say you think this is sort of hedging their bet. I mean will all of this come off?
This is very visible, this visit by the Saudis as I understand it from our sources had representatives of every single department, every single
department across Saudi visible to the Russians today.
DEFTERIOS: Yes, in fact and I'll go back to my original thought here, this was born out of necessity because of energy. But the common link of energy
opened the door to a lot more of collaboration. Let's not forget the minister of energy is also the minister of industry and the industry of
mining as well. So they need help to deliver that 2030 plan. They will have the U.S. expertise. In fact one very senior source in Saudi Arabia
told me back then, the reason we've signed $300 billion worth of contracts with United States, we know President Trump is loyal to us, he wants to do
deals. But as way for the kingdom to lock in loyalty with the United States for ten years. Go back to my original point. I think this is an
ability by Saudi Arabia to pivot as you're suggesting here and also hedge their bets. Get expertise from Russia to push along the 2030 plan. They
have collaborated when it comes to energy. What else can Russia do to support them. And the missile defense system that Jill brought up, is
worth noting, it's the initial step to get equipment from Russia which I'm sure Washington will not be happy about.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. John as always a pleasure. Looking very dapper.
DEFTERIOS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Let's remind everyone of developments on the Kurdish front on Wednesday at Turkey and Iran, said they were ready to increase measure
against the Kurdistan region after the Kurds controversial vote for independent inside from Iraq. You will remember that, that was the news
headline of course, what, ten days ago. Now Turkish president Erdogan met Iranian President Rouhani in (inaudible). Kurds chose overwhelmingly to
split from Iraq and the independence referendum last week. Turkey and Iran and many other countries fiercely oppose the vote. Talk about the shifting
tectonic plates in this region of the Middle East that we are broadcast to you. This is our middle eastern half. We are in Abu Dhabi, the latest
world news headlines are just ahead plus the investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 U.S. Election. We have an update on the month's
long senate probe. That is after this.
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[11:30:00] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, if you are just joining us, it is half past 7:00 just after here in the UAE, you're very welcome. This
is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson for you. The top stories for you this hour.
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ANDERSON: Investigators saw uncovering a lot of new details about the shooter in the Las Vegas massacre. They say he had planned to escape after
the attack and had stashed 50 pounds of explosives in his car. They also now believe he may have had some kind of help.
Well, at Brazilian National Olympics Committee has been arrested in connection with the vote buying scandal. Authorities accused Carlos Arthur
Nuzman of helping to arrange $2 million bribe to make Rio de Janeiro, the site of the 2016 games.
Officials tell CNN, eight soldiers, three of them are Americans who were killed in an attack in southwestern Niger, part of the patrol that was
attacked near the border with Mali. The officials say these soldiers were advising and assisting local forces.
Iraqi forces say they have retaken the center of Hawija, one the last major ISIS strongholds in the country. The Army now says, some ISIS presence
still remains and operations are very much ongoing.
We should have seen this coming, that stunning admission comes from the deputy director of the FBI, on Russia's efforts to try to influence the
U.S. election.
Andrew McCabe said it should be no surprise because Russians have been targeting America with everything they have over the last 50 years. Well,
Senate Intelligence Committee is still looking for any signs of collusion.
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ANDERSON: Let's get the view from Washington. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz joins us now. What have you got?
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Yes, it certainly was a stunning admission yesterday from the number two at the FBI who says it
should not have surprised them. But in some ways it did.
I think when it comes to the Facebook ads that have been talked about now and how the Russians were using Facebook ads to target voters in the U.S.,
this may not come as a surprise to people outside of the U.S. who have seen this kind of activity before.
But for the FBI, it certainly was a new -- a new frontier, a new place to look at how Russia has continued to sow discourse in this country meddle in
the affairs of this country and certainly now we know the election.
[11:35:00] Yesterday, the two ranking leaders at the Senate Intelligence Committee had a press conference where they've talked about so far with
their investigation has found. They haven't and they basically didn't reveal anything because they have the key question they say, they have not
been able to answer yet.
And that is whether or not there was some kind of collusion between Trump associates -- Trump campaign associates and the Russians. That is still
very much on the table. That is still something that the committee says that they are looking into.
They have so far interviewed over 100 people. They do plan to at least interview two dozen or so more people, and also Facebook and Twitter are
expected to appear before the committee on November 1st and address how social media was used by the Russians and these fake ads against Hillary
Clinton.
And other people involved, and other issues -- I should say on the political sort of that, were political and were becoming an issue during
the campaign, that they seem to put out there.
The Russians -- if you know, they bought ads on Facebook to try and sort of create this conversation, so discourse and in key targeted states, and that
is what it appears now that they have targeted key states in the country.
ANDERSON: Shimon Prokupecz is in Washington for you with the very latest on the investigation. Thanks you, sir. We are live from Abu Dhabi. I'm
Becky Anderson. This is Connect the World.
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ANDERSON: Coming up, they are somebody's child, brother or sister on celebrating their youth, now victims to the world's worst cholera outbreak.
That's Yemen and that's next.
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ANDERSON: This child has lived through nothing but war and now, disease. One the Middle East's poorest countries devastated for these kids, tubes,
machines and medicines are the new norm in what is the world's worst cholera outbreak.
For two years, the war has been taking place in Yemen. It's often quite on the world stage but not so much for the millions of people living there and
by now, gotten used to the sound of Saudi-led air strikes because of this conflict.
[11:40:00] These top 12 months have brought on a horrific cholera outbreak, the worst in modern history. Cases are expected to reach one million by
2018, the most heartbreaking for years, this potentially fatal bacterial infection which has pass through unsanitary food and water is entirely
preventable. CNN's Diana Magnay has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It started just after breakfast, vomiting and diarrhea. It looks like that man has all the signs of cholera, severe
dehydration, the skin on her stomach crunching like paper.
A child like so many who has grown up with this war but can't understand why it leads to this, a needle in the hand and drift over head. Yemen's
few remaining hospitals echo with the moans of cholera patients.
There are some 750,000 suspected cases across the country on both sides of this two-year conflict. It's the most severe outbreak in modern history
says the World Health Organization and it's expected to get worse.
DR. FUAD AHMED NASSIR ALAKEELY, DIARRHEA TREATMENT CENTER (through a translator): Most people are being forced to buy expired and contaminated
food, even the drinking water in some areas is contaminated with sewage water. Therefore, the immune system in most people is weak
MAGNAY: Access for journalists into Yemen is extremely limited. The International Rescue Committee is one of several aid organizations working
in country and provided CNN with this footage.
War forced eight-year-old Wajidah and her family from their home in the besieged city of Taez, three months ago. Her mother said cholera has swept
through the camp where they are now, which is why her daughter is sick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I came to treat my daughter. When the missiles came, and the fighting we fled. We're living in a kind of no-man's land now.
MAGNAY: Alongside the two million others internally displaced, many of whom live with little access to clean water. Jerry cans are scattered like
confetti, awaiting this precious deliveries, water from aid organizations are lifeline to communities like this, and education in how to wash
properly. The cholera must be treated fast and mobile units like these can't make it to all the corners of this country.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through a translator): The number of illnesses has risen and people can't afford to buy any medication and go to hospitals.
We simply don't have money but hopefully, we'll be able to help them save lives.
There is not enough food and cholera on top of appalling malnutrition, a double affliction on an already war-ravaged people. Diana Magnay, CNN,
London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And Saudi Arabia on the increasing scrutiny and pressure towards bombing campaign in Yemen on fighting on what it said a terrorists of
killing hundreds of civilians in the process.
Last week, the U.N. Human Rights Council agreed to investigate alleged abuses on both sides and Reuters News Agency has just obtained a leaked
draft U.N. blacklist of names of the Saudi-led to elation for killing and maiming kids in Yemen.
Well, David Miliband heads up the International Rescue Committee that Diana had noted in her report. One of the global charities argues in to the
fighting there and the immense civilian self reality. He outlined just how grave the situation is.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MILIBAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yemen is the worst humanitarian disaster in the world at the moment and that is in the face of stiff
competition. It is a country of 27 million people and says the fighting started two and a half years ago between the rebels and the Saudi-backed
authorities.
We have seen an outbreak of cholera that you reported very clearly there. Seven hundred thousand people affected by cholera.
We have seen hundreds of thousands affected by the fighting and we now have 20 million people, according to U.N. estimates, desperately waiting for
international health, so they can literally survive.
To count it all, the humanitarian access is being blocked because the war is being conducted in such a way as to make it incredibly difficult and
dangerous for aid workers and the pause at her data which is meant to be the entry point for 90 percent of the food coming into the country, doesn't
have the appropriate cranes.
They are not being allowed to establish the appropriate cranes in the port. So this is a political emergency as well as a humanitarian emergency.
ANDERSON: David, what needs to happen in the next three to six months for the situation in Yemen to stabilize, yet alone, improve?
MILIBAND: I think there are three prior over the next three months.
[11:45:00] But frankly, you could say over the next three to six days, not just the next 3 to 6 months. First there must be proper humanitarian
access to people in need and what's happening to the people of Yemen is being strangled by the way the war is being conducted.
It is essential as the U.S. Senate has demanded the cranes be established at the day of the ports, so there can be proper entry of food. Secondly,
and absolutely critical, there needs to be a ceasefire in he fighting.
The bombing that's taking place from the Saudi-led coalition is not achieving the goals of quelling the rebellion, the so-called Houthi
rebellion backed by the Iranians.
There is absolutely no evidence of the war making the kind of progress that could bring the fighting to an end. If anything, the Houthis are being
radicalized and now cleaving closer to their Iranian supports.
So an immediate cessation of the fighting was achieving nothing and thirdly, suddenly a restart of the political process that has been talked
about for two and half years but has so far come to nothing.
John Kerry, the former U.S. Secretary of State was active on this issue of over a year ago but at the moment of political efforts are strongly only
when we get progress on all three fronts. Can there be any glimmer of hope for the poor people of Yemen.
ANDERSON: And based -- then on what you are hearing and seeing from stakeholders, is any of what you have just outlined likely to happen?
MILIBAND: Well, what I am hearing and seeing is from my own staff, I mean there are 300 international rescue committees staff, there is a local
Yemeni people desperately trying to work across nine sides across the country of both towards Aden in the south and towards Sana'a in the north.
And what I hear from them is first the people of Yemen believe there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Secondly, that people on the ground up --
if anything, being radicalized by the misery that they are all suffering.
And thirdly, what I saw and heard around the U.N. two weeks ago because of course it was the U.N. General assembly here in New York, when I talked to
Arab leaders, European leaders, American and other diplomats.
What I saw was a real absence of creative diplomacy, the diplomatic pride seems to have stalled two years ago at the U.N., I spot in a meeting, a
forum that was called by foreign minister of the key Arab States who wanted to talk about a political settlement from Saudi Arabia, from the United
Arab Emirates.
There has been no such a meeting this year and it is desperately needed because at the moment, the absence of diplomacy is matching the chronic
growth of humanitarian suffering on the ground.
ANDERSON: The Saudi ambassador to the United Nations wrote this in the New York Times this week, commenting on what he painted as misperceptions about
the war in Yemen. He pointed to three policies.
The third, he said the assumption that Yemen is cholera infested and famine threatened, yet there is cholera, he wrote. And yes, there are famine like
conditions but they are concentrated in a area no larger than 20 percent of Yemeni territory that is controlled by Houthi rebels.
The problem in this area arises more from the failures of management and distribution than from any lack of available humanitarian aid supplies.
You have boots on the ground. Based on what your staff asking, is this an accurate representation of the situation?
MILIBAND: It was accurate to say that 20 percent of the country is suffering from dire need including cholera, 770,000 cases as reported by
the U.N., but it should not be a source of pride that 20 percent of the country is facing a cholera epidemic.
It shouldn't be a source of pride that 20 million people dependent on international handouts and it shouldn't be a source of pride at all that
the cranes that are desperately needed.
I mean we are talking very basic efforts here to be able to unload stocks at the main port -- the Hodeidah port are being blockaded and not being
allowed to be installed.
ANDERSON: By whom, David?
MILIBAND: The Saudi-led authorities are not allowing the U.N. to establish the cranes that are needed at the U.N. -- at the Hodeidah port and what we
have to report from our people on the ground is that the food is not getting through.
The medical supplies are not getting through, the civilian aid workers are not betting through because it is too dangerous for them, and because the
way the fighting is being pursued, the bombing but also the strangulation of parts of the country is that, we simply cannot do our job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: That is David Miliband speaking to me from New York earlier. This story is extremely close to our hearts, on the show and we will
continue to follow it closely.
For more on how devastating a cholera crisis can be and what can be done to fight it, do use the digital site, that is CNN.com. This is Connect the
World. I'm Beck Anderson. We are going to take a very short break, back after this.
[11:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: That Well, things are certainly improving in Puerto Rico as it recovers from hurricane Maria. You all remember earlier this week that the
U.S. President Donald Trump visited the survivor and held distribute supplies. One moment stopped, shop and some anger, and my colleague Jeanne
Moos has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is how not to distribute aid especially if -- unlike paper towels, you're not very absorbent when it
comes to criticism.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the goof ball is at it again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Acting like, you know, Steph Curry shooting paper towels to people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does he really think like the paper towels are to sop up the flood?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at that. I'm having fun. This one was a three- pointer.
MOOS: Twitter was brutal. Here Puerto Rico have a paper towels the caption above photos of devastation. This isn't a giveaway. You're not
Oprah, tweeted someone else. Our president is basically a t-shirt cannon, wrote a senior editor from Cosmo.
Conservative David Frum tweeted, as if dispensing dog treats to pets. President Trump's towel tossing was compared to other presidents hugging
disaster victims but at least when the president jokingly threatened to lob a can of chicken, the crowd laughingly said no. They seemed to be enjoying
things amid the bounty of criticism Trump supporters came to the president's defense.
Trump just tried to make people laugh for a few minutes and he gets nothing but grief, commented one. Wrote another, oh geez, first they whine he's
not in Puerto Rico. Now they're pissed he's helping out.
[11:55:00] The president handed out other items normally and lobbed only six rolls of towels on camera but that's the part that sticks.
JIMMY KIMMEL, TV HOST: He really puts the ass in compassion, doesn't he?
MOOS: The president found himself compared to Marie Antoinette.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let them eat paper towels.
MOOS: The next time President Trump gets the urge to toss maybe be better stick to his make America including Puerto Rico great again hats, as former
Democratic Congressman John Dingell tweeted, heck of a job, Brawny. Jeanne Moss, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World from the team working with me here and around the world, it is a very good evening.
Thank you for watching. We will see you, end of our working week. So we'll see you Sunday.
END
