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CNN Investigation Reveals Startling Rise in Anti-Semitism; Ukraine Imposing Martial Law in Areas Bordering Russia; Saudi Prince, CIA's Assessments "Not Up to Par"; U.S. Senate to Vote on Measure to End Support for Saudi Coalition; Manafort Allegedly Met with Assange Multiple Times in London Between 2013 in 2016. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired November 27, 2018 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson live from Abu Dhabi where it is

7:00 in the evening.

We begin in the extraordinary story of a 17-year-old boy who experienced firsthand what sometimes is called humanity's greatest failure. His father

had just died of starvation and dysentery and his mother and sister had been gassed to death. Miraculously the boy survived. And he would make it

his life's mission to ensure the world never forgot what happened to his family or the 6 million Jewish people murdered alongside them in the

Holocaust. His name was Elie Wiesel and he would go on to win both the Nobel Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom as well as write the

bestselling masterpiece "Night".

In teaching people about the Holocaust, he once wrote that the opposite of love is not hate. It is indifference. And it is tragically that

indifference with which we begin our program. CNN exclusive investigation is revealing that awareness of the Holocaust is fading in the same part of

the world it took place. Some people in Europe have never even heard of the word. What's worse amongst those who have, anti-Semitism is on the

rise.

Well, let this picture speak on behalf of all of what we are talking about tonight just for a moment. This is anti-Semitic graffiti scrawled across

Elie Wiesel's childhood home. It was taken earlier this year.

All this week we are focusing on the shameful shadow over Europe. Our chief international correspondent, Clarissa Ward, begins our coverage with

a sweeping new survey commissioned by CNN that reveals some alarming statistics. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: To give us our unprecedented look at anti-Semitism in Europe, we spoke to more than 7,000

European citizens across these seven countries. 44 percent said they believe anti-Semitism is a growing problem in their country with 40 percent

saying Jewish people are at risk of racist violence there.

63 percent, around two-thirds of the people we spoke to agree that commemorating the Holocaust helps ensure that such atrocities will never

happen again. But awareness of the genocide seems to be fading. Of the people in the 18 to 34 age bracket that we spoke to, almost two-fifth said

they had either never heard of the Holocaust or had just a little knowledge of it.

The situation is especially bad in France, 8 percent of the people we spoke to there, across all age groups said they never heard of the Holocaust.

That's about 5 million people in France alone. More than double the population of Paris.

The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance spells out what anti- Semitism is with 11 specific examples. One is the myth that Jewish people control global media, economies and governments. In Europe, 28 percent

responded that Jewish people had too much influence in finance and business across the world. A view that was most common in Poland and Hungary.

Europe's understanding of how many Jewish people there are in the world is also way off the mark. 16 percent of respondents thought that Jewish

people make up at least a fifth of the global population. According to Pew Research it's a hundredth of that, around .2.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That was Clarissa Ward. Let's bring her in. She is in London. What else did the poll find? And why is there this uptick?

WARD: Well, it's a really interesting question, Becky, in terms of why there is this uptick. And we spoke to the chief Rabbi of Poland who

actually suggested that perhaps this problem never really went away. That anti-Semitism has continued to simmer beneath the surface of European

society. But it's only in recent years that people have felt emboldened to come out and give air to views that have traditionally been viewed as

abhorrent or as being some kind of a taboo.

We were even very surprised. Obviously, we commissioned this poll with the belief that we would see evidence of some kind of an uptick in anti-Semitic

attitudes.

[10:05:03] At the same time we were genuinely surprised by the results, 19 percent of Hungarians saying simply that they have an unfavorable

impression of Jews altogether. That's nearly 1/5 of the country. And this poll has a very good margin of error, within three percentage points for

each individual country.

Across Europe 18 percent of people, again, nearly a fifth of Europeans saying they believe that anti-Semitism in their country is down to the

everyday attitudes or every day behavior, I should say, of Jewish people. These are dangerous and troubling belief trends that we do see across the

continent and there aren't any obvious rules, Becky. Because we see anti- Semitism flourishing in countries with very small Jewish populations, like Poland, like Hungary.

But we also see a country like France which has the largest Jewish population in has a serious problem, too. And no one group, no one

ideology, no one theology is completely to blame for this. A lot of people would like to simply dismiss this as a far-right trend. But the reality

once you start digging beneath the surface and talk to all the different Jewish communities across the continent it's that it's much pervasive and

persistent than that -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about who is responsible for this uptick and how this is rise in anti-Semitism manifested?

WARD: So, this is where it tends to break down along a country-by-country basis. And throughout the course of this week, as you know, we will be

looking at those companies, Germany, France, Poland. In Germany, for example, 90 percent of the anti-Semitic attacks are being perpetrated,

according to the government, at the hands of far-right groups. And there can be no question that with this sort of wave of immigration, 1.4 million

refugees arriving in the last three years into Germany, you've definitely seen the far-right become emboldened. You've seen the AFD, far-right

political parties secure solid base of parliamentary seats.

And that has essentially, according to some, opened Pandora's box, has made it OK to air these ideas or talk about things to the nature of Jewish

people being in control of finance. Jewish people having too much influence in the political affairs of European countries. But then if you

look at a country like France and talk to people in the Jewish community there, they talk a lot about what they call the new anti-Semitism. Which

they see as coming from radical elements of France's growing Muslim population.

Elsewhere, you talk to people in the Jewish community who complain about anti-Semitism coming from the far left. Which is traditionally very

critical of Israel. There, of course, raising the really thorny issue of the sort of nexus between anti-Semitism, criticism of Israel when something

oversteps the line and goes from being legitimate criticism of a nation state and veers into anti-Semitism. This is a complex subject. It's a

sensitive and nuanced subject, Becky. And throughout the course of this week, we will be digging deeper into it.

ANDERSON: Yep. Fascinating. Clarissa, thank you. This, the beginning of a week-long investigation. The full investigation available online

CNN.com/anti-Semitism. Stay with us here on CONNECT THE WORLD. We will speak to Israel's former opposition leader, Isaac Herzog. That is in a few

minutes time after really bring you some of the day's other stories.

And a clash at sea leads to a tense standoff between Russia and Ukraine. The Kremlin now says that Ukraine's declaration of martial law is set to go

into effect on Wednesday, could escalate tensions between the two countries even higher. The move follows Sunday's naval confrontation in the Kerch

Straits.

Look at this video. This appears to show a Russian ship ramming a Ukrainian tugboat. Russia ceased three Ukrainian ships and detained two

dozen sailors just a short time ago. Russian state news reporting that one of those men had been sentenced to two months detention. We are following

this story across the region. CNN's Nick Payton Walsh joining us live from Kiev. Let's first go though, to Matthew Chance in Moscow. How does Moscow

or the Kremlin explain what is going on at this point?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well the Kremlin have had the same line from the outset. Which is, this was something that

was orchestrated by Ukraine, specifically by the Ukrainian government. In order to first of all provoke a crisis to draw Russia into this kind of

volatile situation. Perhaps for political purposes and that's a theory that the Kremlin has spoken to, to numerous world leaders, including most

recently to Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor.

[10:10:00] That's saying that because of the situation in Ukraine, in which the President Petro Poroshenko has very low opinion poll ratings ahead of

an election campaign. This was a provocation that was orchestrated essentially by him to bolster his standing in the public arena.

Now there have been critics of the Kremlin that have said, well, look, perhaps reintroducing the Ukrainian bogeyman -- from a Russian point of

view -- and manufacturing this kind of crisis may have helped the Russian President as well. Because he has benefitted enormously in the past from

the sense of nationalism that's derived from the confrontation with Ukraine. Perhaps with his opinion polls sinking himself, himself, he may

have been looking to bolster them from his side as well.

Clearly, both Presidents of both Ukraine and Russia may be making political capital out of this. But it doesn't mean that that tension in the Sea of

Azov and in the Kerch Straits, isn't absolutely real. Clearly, there have been months and months of Ukraine worried about the interference by Russia

into its shipping and it has finally come to a head in this way -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Nick, what's the perfective where you are?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is obviously a war that's been going on four years. So, this is just for many

Ukrainians here a time when the rest of the world really pays attention to it. Also, a time when the Russian military felt adequately emboldened to

take on the Ukrainian military themselves in this clash in the Kerch Strait.

We are about a matter of hours away from martial law being introduced in 10 regions of Ukraine as a result of this crisis. That would involve a

heightened military, heightened air and cyber defense. And I think a sense of unease perhaps amongst Ukrainians. Because they don't quite know really

what it spells on the ground and also because the Kremlin have already seized upon it as, quote, a barely camouflaged overtone of trying to

escalate matters here.

We've also, as you just heard yourself seen three now of those sailors given jail terms until the 25th of January. Quite the opposite of what

most world leaders are asking for, which is a de-escalation of the situation here. Now clearly, we have Petra Poroshenko, the President here,

who is facing reelection in March. Obviously, many are concerned perhaps that perhaps this sort of martial law may play into a delay or upset to the

normal political process. It should be over, the martial law period by those elections. Clearly, it's only supposed to last 30 days.

But the broader question I think really comes after the Kerch Strait. Now we've had this extraordinary lukewarm response from Donald Trump despite

his officials being significantly more tough on Russia. Is this yet again Moscow pushing really to see how far it can go and get away with matters.

Under Barack Obama the invasion of Crimea wasn't met militarily with outside help in terms of military force. But there were tough sanctions

put in place.

Really in the last few day, they've seemed to establish unilateral control over all the sea area they should be sharing with Ukraine. And at this

point they have a lot of tough statements and Donald Trump saying he would like to straighten it out with Vladimir Putin. So, if are you in Moscow,

you're feeling probably quite courageous right now or embolden. And if you're in Kiev, increasingly worried about what the new Trump world order

might actually mean.

ANDERSON: The perspective from Kiev and from Moscow for you tonight here on CNN. Chaps, thank you.

One man who knows Ukrainian politics better than most, President Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who used to work for the former

ousted President there. And there has been a remarkable development in the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S.

Presidential election.

Prosecutors say Manafort breached his plea agreement by lying to the FBI on a variety of matters. Manafort denies that. Both sides asked the judge to

move the case to sentencing. Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy and witness tampering back in September as you may remember and agreed to

cooperate with prosecutors.

You are watching CNN. I'm Becky Anderson. We are in Abu Dhabi. It is 40 minutes past 7:00 here. Still to come a senior Saudi prince refused the

CIA's conclusion that Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman ordered the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's killing. We bring you my interview with Turki

bin Faisal.

And to fight the disease before it spreads. That's some of the strong feeling being set up by a CNN investigation on anti-Semitism in Europe.

And we have the reaction from a former Israeli law maker in a few moments.

[10:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: A very warm welcome back. And if you are just joining us, you are more than welcome. You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD.

I'm Becky Anderson for you.

After World War II, Germany swore it would never forget the Holocaust or the actions of its Nazi leaders. But it didn't mean like this. You are

watching and looking at pictures of modern day far-right demonstrators in Germany, that were using Nazi style iconography as a part of their message.

A CNN investigation reveals that the majority of people in Germany agree anti-Semitism is a growing problem. But as we've also uncovered from

Germany to beyond, anti-Semitism is on the rise regardless. Sir Isaac Herzog is the chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and former leader of

the opposition there. Joining us from London with his reaction to CNN's investigations. How surprised were you by the findings of this exclusive

poll?

ISAAC HERZOG, CHAIRMAN, JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL: Well, thank you, Becky. And thank you and your station CNN for coming forward with this very

important topic and placing it on the agenda of the world. Because it is quite shocking and disturbing when one follows various examples all over

Europe where you see anti-Semitism on the rise. You pinch yourself and you ask yourself, how come in Europe? Europe that 80 years ago saw the most

horrific human tragedy, atrocity in the world, the Holocaust of the Jewish people. So, yes, it is very disturbing. And it requires efforts all over

Europe.

ANDERSON: Let's talk about those, Isaac. There has been strong reaction to this investigation. Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center, in

Israel says, and I quote, the results of this survey prove the necessity to intensify broad-based efforts in the area of Holocaust education and

awareness.

What else can be done to address this situation, Isaac?

HERZOG: Well, there is enormous hate underneath and we know it and social networks and anti-Semitism. You can align it with xenophobia or you can

align it with discrimination and with racism. It all goes together. And I can tell you, I have just come from a major event in the British Parliament

with the caucus of the Labour Friends of Israel. It's the caucus of Friends of Israel in the British Labour Party.

[10:20:00] Where the British Labour Party is actually affected heavily by anti-Semitism, which has been unraveled in recent months. And you ask

yourself, how come a pillar of democracy -- of the democracy of Britain has been contaminated by anti-Semitism? Well, that is an ancient generation or

generations old -- centuries old disease that has affected humankind. And therefore, leaders all over the world need to unite together. Public

leaders, civic leaders, academia, opinion makers, media, to eradicate or at least uproot this disease as much as possible.

It is unbelievable when you look at the research, your investigation shows that not only one-third of Europeans do not know what the Holocaust was,

where the atmosphere is very correct, but also, they put the blame on the hate against Jews on Jews. And not only that, they actually, some of them

agree with the blames on Jews. Which is, you know, I'm trying to think of the proper word to say how shocking it is when you remember what Europe has

seen in the past.

ANDERSON: You say you have been down at the Houses of Parliament today. You have been talking to lawmakers in the U.K. Let's be quite clear the

Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has been charged with being an anti-Semite by some. Do you believe he is and is that party doing enough?

HERZOG: Well, that party is a sister party of the party which I lead in Israel. And I was extremely saddened to see what is happening there.

There's a major debate and there are forces who say we want anti-Semitism out. And I call on Jeremy Corbyn to take all the necessary steps. I've

invited him as Labour leader in the past to Yad Vashem to see for himself. I never received an answer.

I think it's a larger picture to a very big problem. And I think nobody can turn a blind eye. I can tell you that my late father, who was later

the president of Israel, Claim Herzog, he was a high-ranking British officer in World War II, fighting the Nazis. And I say to myself, what

would him and his generations think if they had known how much anti- Semitism there is there in the British Labour Party or in other parts of Europe?

Now, the education is number one. Educating youngsters about the Holocaust and especially its lessons is a must. We understand that when hate is

lurking, terrible things can happen as we have seen in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, in America, just about a month ago. In a place which was

tranquil, some white supremacist walks in and simply mows and kills innocent people who came to pray for the lord almighty for peace. So same

goes in the challenge for Europe. Europe has to confront anti-Semitism with no ifs and buts. Nothing. And in the modern era, there are many

tools to deal with it, including on social networks.

ANDERSON: As you mentioned, a reminder of a startling statistic from our investigation, let's just ram this one home. 38 percent of 18 to 34-year-

olds, nearly 2/5 of this survey had no or little knowledge of the Holocaust.

You just alluded to the awful, awful incident in Pittsburgh. This is a poll as it reflects what we understand to be going on across Europe. On a

global basis, where do you see the biggest issues? And what is your agency the Jewish agency, doing to try to help educate a younger population who

may not know enough or may already be anti-Semites themselves? What can be done? And not just across Europe.

HERZOG: You are right. I lead the biggest Jewish organization all over the world. It's called the Jewish Agency. It's a global partnership of

Israel and Masa Israel Journey to actually enhance and foster and strengthen Jewish life and combat anti-Semitism, BDS and hate. We have

activists and youngsters on campuses all over the world. And we have emissaries. We deal with it a lot. I can tell you when I meet my young

emissaries, you know, people in their early 20s and what they say on campuses in very, you know, one would say very advanced societies, and

their quite shocked. People don't want to listen.

[10:25:00] Somebody is brain washing them from an early childhood. They just don't want to listen. And that is why we need to be very forceful to

use all the means and tools to explain to people the story of the Jews and explain to people their right for self-determination and explain to people

what went on in Europe 80 years ago. It was something which is almost human mind can't encompass. When you walk into Auschwitz on the

concentration camps all throughout Europe and we understand the people were brought there by carts or animal carts to be burned in furnaces. So, you

know, this is unheralded in human history. And we need to disseminate the lessons of hate. What people wrote the Jews. What people depicted about

the Jews. Forgetting, of course, that they are human beings created like all other human beings. And of course, the great contribution of Judaism

to humanity all throughout the ages.

ANDERSON: Isaac, it's a pleasure having you on. Thank you, sir, Isaac Herzog, of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Thank you, sir.

HERZOG: Thank you.

ANDERSON: Our week-long look at anti-Semitism in Europe specifically focuses on Germany. On Wednesday, Clarissa Ward taking us to a right-wing

extremist march on the streets of Berlin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WARD (voice-over): Christian Weisberger explains that neo-Nazis are finding new ways to express the same old hatred and he should know.

Wiesberger used to be a right-wing extremist, himself.

CHRISTIAN WEISBERGER, FORMER GERMAN NEO-NAZI: I would say it's a form of anti-Semitism that disguises itself. So, they don't talk about the Jew

anymore. They talk about the Zionists or the globalists or the bankers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Clarissa also meets with members of the Jewish community who are questioning their future in Germany. Join us for that report in our

exclusive series, "A SHADOW OVER EUROPE, ANTI-SEMITISM IN 2018", Wednesday here on CNN.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from Abu Dhabi where it is 7:27. It is 27 minutes past 7:00. Coming up, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on a

measure to end its involvement in Yemen's grueling war. Why pressure is mounting from both Democrats and Republicans.

First, though, one of the most powerful princes in Saudi Arabia shrugged -- talking to me some time ago and before they face angry American lawmakers.

That interview with Turki al-Faisal coming up.

[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Tunisians are not happy about the arrival of the Saudi Crown Prince to their country. Dozens of people in the capital city

demonstrating this hour against Mohammed bin Salman's visit. Activists say welcoming the Prince is a step back for democracy in their country. And

that was the birthplace -- one that was the birth place of the Arab spring.

And those demonstrations are just the latest public relations blow for the Crown Prince and for Saudi Arabia. The kingdom has faced two months of

fierce criticism since the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. The CIA says the Crown Prince personally ordered the Saudi journalist's brutal murder.

One man who has represented the kingdom to the international community for decades is prince Turki al-Faisal. He was the director of the Saudi

Arabia's intelligence agency for nearly a quarter of a century and served as the Saudi ambassador to United States and to the United Kingdom. So, if

anyone knows what's going on behind the scenes you think it would be him. I sat down with Turki al-Faisal and started by asking him whether he

believed the veracity of the CIA assessment. That the Crown Prince knew about the operation in Istanbul ahead of time. This is what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PRINCE TURKI AL FAISAL, FORMER SAUDI DIRECTOR OF GENERAL INTELLIGENCE: I worked with many, for many years with the CIA when I was the director of

the intelligence. We had good cooperation and I hope we still do in exchange of information and undertaking joint actions and so on. But I

would say that particularly since the Iraqi invasion -- the American invasion of Iraq -- that the reliability, if you like, on CIA assessments

or information is not necessarily up to par as far as truthfulness or veracity are concerned.

As far as assessment is concerned, is it fair and just to presume that because a certain government or a certain individual in government has

certain authority that things do not happen without his knowledge? I think that is unfair conclusion.

ANDERSON: You ran intelligence for Saudi Arabia for nearly a quarter of a century. Did your offices work unilaterally to the leadership in Saudi

Arabia? Help us understand the Saudi system.

AL FAISAL: I never had that experience and, of course, I think this is the first time that that thing has happened. And that is why the King has

ordered an investigation into the procedures and workings of Saudi intelligence, to make sure that such events don't take place anymore.

ANDERSON: It is rare to see a united Congress, to see Republicans and Democrats united in their condemnation. Just how concerned are you about

the impact on the country of what has happened of late? And follow up, is the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at risk in anyway of his position?

AL FAISAL: On the issue of the Congress, we faced that same issue after September 11th. We managed to get over that situation because of who we

are. Because people discovered that we are steadfast.

[10:35:00] We are not the, the devil incarnate. But rather we have, we have very positive contributions that we make to, to the world. And, of

course, you asked about the Crown Prince's standing in the kingdom. The Crown Prince is there because the King chose him to be the Crown Prince and

because the al-Bay'ah Counsel, the succession counsel in Saudi Arabia supported his selection as the Crown Prince and because the people like

him. And if you took a measure of public opinion in Saudi Arabia today of where the Crown Prince stands, it's probably much higher than it was six

months ago. Not because of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi. But basically, they see him as someone who has been steadfastly steering the kingdom

towards development and engagement with the rest of the world.

ANDERSON: Donald Trump has said that Saudi Arabia wouldn't last two weeks without the support of the United States. Your answer to that as a former

ambassador to the U.S.? And, further, does Riyadh believe it has Washington and Donald Trump over a barrel and excuse the pun, when it comes

to making America great again and the price of oil?

AL FAISAL: You know, Saudi Arabia has never considered itself to be in a position to be having anybody over a barrel on any issue. We work through

concentration. Whether it is with the United States or with other countries and hopefully we reach consensus on mutual benefits and so on.

But you know, the Saudi ideal, if you like, has survived for three centuries now. As far as survivability is concerned, I don't think

throughout those centuries that we relied on American good will. We never forget that America stood with us when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. The

America gave lives in support of Saudi Arabia and that is much appreciated and remembered. And we will continue to be a historic factor.

But we also stood by America at the time when America was much reviled in the Middle East in the '50s, '60s and '70s. And yet we stuck to America

and bore the burden of that friendship with America by attacks from anti- American forces in the Middle East. So, it's been a history of mutual benefit, mutual respect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: The former Saudi ambassador to the U.S., Prince Turki al-Faisal speaking to me very recently.

Concerns about Saudi Arabia have been mounting in the U.S. Congress over the last two weeks. We alluded to that very subject in that interview.

Both Republican and Democratic Senators outraged by President Trump's -- what they perceive as lack of action against the kingdom, but also his

emphatic support for a country he calls a spectacular ally.

The Senator's concerns also extending to another front, U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition, currently fighting in Yemen's war. This week,

Senators are set to vote on this measure introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders. It calls for the direct removal of the United States armed forces

from hostilities in Yemen. Well, the one voice who has been critical of the war in Yemen since it began three years ago is the Democratic Senator

Chris Murphy. He spoke with CNN's Nima Elbagir about what he wants the U.S. to do and why he wants it to end its role in the conflict. Have a

listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SEN. CHRIS MURPHY (D), CONNECTICUT: There is no reason to be engaged in the civil war in Yemen. There is no moral reason, given the fact that it

is the world's worst cholera epidemic on record because the Saudis have been using our bombs to hit water treatment facilities. There is no

national security reason to be a part of this disaster, Al Qaeda and ISIS are getting stronger inside Yemen as the civil war continues. That poses a

grave danger to the United States.

There is really no reason to be involved in the civil war any longer, other than some vague notion that the Saudis are our ally. But how can you call

a country an ally that lies to your face? That willingly murders one of our own residents and then lies to us for weeks about it. That's not an

ally.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The realities, of course, even if this resolution, your resolution doesn't pass, there is

another revolution that's being put forward, one of President Trump's allies, key ally, Lindsey Graham is one of the sponsors of the Saudi

Accountability Act.

[10:40:00] Even before we get into the new year where the Democrats will be taking over the House. Do you think that President Trump now has a pretty

serious Saudi problem when it comes to both the killing of Jamal Khashoggi and the war on Yemen? Do you see this going away any time soon for the

President?

MURPHY: Well, I don't view, you know, it as a political problem for the President. I view this as a national security problem for the United

States. We have an ally that isn't straight with us that is murdering our residents, that is using our weapons to kill innocent civilians, that is

stimulating the growth of radical extremist groups that want to hit the United States. The United States, in order to maintain our own security

has to reset our relationship with Saudi Arabia and I think the House of Representatives is going to have to get to the bottom of why Donald Trump

is so blind to this reality. Is there some financial connection that this President has with Saudi Arabia that causes him to bear hug this country

when no one in Congress, Republicans or Democrats, are using the same rhetoric or taking the same position?

That is a very important question that I would love for the Senate to get at. But given that Republicans are in charge here. It's much more likely

the House will have to do that work comes 2019.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: All right, Senator Chris Murphy. I want to bring in Nima now. Who has reported extensively on the war in Yemen and the humanitarian

crisis, of course, there. The vote of those lawmakers, their first real chance to test a sort of formal rebuke of the administration after the

President said last week that Khashoggi's killing wouldn't impact the relationship. Nima, the Senate narrowly rejected this resolution back in

March. Bernie Sanders has brought it back for another vote. What chance does it stand this time?

ELBAGIR: Well, people are pretty split. The reality is that nobody has a clear reading of this. Senator Murphy is a co-sponsor with Senator

Sanders. And even he really couldn't give us any kind of statistical analysis on what they expect. Because a war powers resolution, when you

have a Republican majority in the Senate against a Republican President is pretty unpopular. Republicans don't tend to like to clip the President's

wings.

But it's like as you were saying, it's what he represents. And it is really only the first shot against the vows. Because even if this one

dies, there is another resolution coming a few weeks down the line. And this does have Republican support. This has main stream Republican

support. And if that fails, then you go into 2019. What is really interesting is whether Yemen which for years was an issue where nobody in

Congress really was able to get any traction on. Whether it's going to become a testing ground for the President and his administration, where

even his key allies, like Senator Lindsey Graham, won't stand beside him?

ANDERSON: Nima, speak to people in this region. And many will argue that American military disengagement won't push the Saudis and the Houthi

militia towards peace. Nor will it alleviate the suffering of the millions and millions of Yemenis who ultimately bear the brunt of what is going on.

David Harden have been known until this year -- early this year, at least, over saw U.S. assistance to Yemen.

Recently wrote, and I quote. All of the combatants regard the ongoing war as an existential battle. Losing, or political compromise, are not favored

outcomes.

And he went on to write.

Realistically the only play that the Trump administration has in the short term, at least, is to work in concert with the United Nations, the Saudis

and the Emirates, to increase Yemeni purchasing power at the household level. And by stabilizing the currency and increasing household income.

Where you see Congress going at present and trying to withdraw military engagement on the part of the U.S., so do we see any effort to try and sure

up what is going on, on the ground as we understand it? There are warlords running what is now a war economy. What efforts are being made to that

degree? To shore up the central bank, issues that I certainly haven't seen enough. I wonder whether you've seen much effort from the U.S. side on

these sort of issues?

ELBAGIR: There is one other play that they do have, which is to not commit to actually engaging on the $2 billion Raytheon weapons contract that's

currently held up by Senator Bob Menendez. So, there is the practical issue of just cutting off their supply. And the Democrats are saying that

that's one they are willing to pursue and will continue hammering out.

[10:45:00] But you're absolutely right. The practical realities on the ground are so appalling. I mean, it actually is -- words fail. But when

you start to kind of look at the puzzle a little bit in the face of all these kind -- all of this politically met. There are steps that they

should be taking, first and foremost critically is the cease-fire. Relief the siege on Hodeida. Hodeida alone brings in about 80 percent of food

imports. It brings in all fuel needed to get aid to people.

So, if Secretary Mattis, the secretary of Defense, who is telling senators tomorrow that he believes he can deliver a cease-fire. If he can deliver a

cease-fire, then that will go so far to relieving some of this pain. But it is appalling that we are only talking about a practical measure like

that three years into this conflict.

ANDERSON: Nima is in London -- I'm sorry. You're not in London today. You're in Paris today, thank you, Nima. And more as we move on through

this weekend into the following week. We are looking at some point -- we don't have a date as of yet confirmed -- at some point, these talks on

Yemen in Sweden and we stick with this story until we see some action on that. Thank you, Nima.

Coming up, a new report alleges President Trump's former campaign chairman may have met with Julian Assange just months before WikiLeaks hacked the

DNC. The latest from London is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, President Donald Trump defending the U.S. use of tear gas to drive back migrants who rushed a border crossing over the weekend. They

were women and children among the people hit with the tear gas. But the U.S. President insists border patrol guards did nothing wrong. And he says

those children are just being used by people, who think a child will help them get a lenient treatment. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, first of all the tear gas is a very minor form of the tear gas, itself. It's very safe.

But you really say why is a parent running up into an area where they know the tear gas is forming and it's going to be formed and they're running up

with a child and in some cases, you know, they're not the parents. These are people, they call them grabbers. They grab the child.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Donald Trump is speaking. You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

A developing story now. The "Guardian" reporting that Donald Trump's former campaign chairman allegedly met with the WikiLeaks founder, Julian

Assange, several times between 2013 and 2016. Now the "Guardian" also says it's not clear why Paul Manafort wanted to see Assange or what these two

discussed.

WikiLeaks issued this response and I quote. Remember this day when the "Guardian" permitted a serial fabricator to totally destroy the paper's

reputation.

[10:50:03] Wikileaks is willing to bet the "Guardian" a million dollars and its editor's head that Manafort never met Assange. End quote.

CNN's Nina dos Santos for the very latest developments from London. Nina, what does this report mean?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's significant. Because what the "Guardian" is alleging here, Becky, is that Paul Manafort had private

meetings with Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London all the way back since 2013. And we are talking about a number of meetings that

extend into 2016. Crucially, the "Guardian" is alleging that Manafort met Assange in March 2016. Which would mean that that would be just months

before WikiLeaks first published obviously those leaked DNC documents. And also, it would have been at a time when Paul Manafort was actually the

chairman of the Trump election campaign.

Now, I can tell you that the "Guardian" has actually had access to some of this information for around about six months they have been looking into

this. The real question being the context of these meetings and what was discussed as you raised in your introduction. That is a question that

remains unanswered.

But it comes at a particularly sensitive and significant time for Paul Manafort. Because this is also the day when of course it has been alleged

that he's breached the terms of his plea agreement with the Justice Department by lying to the FBI and the special counsel Robert Mueller.

You remember that back in September, Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy and witness tampering after a lengthy trial on September the 14th. He

pleaded guilty to those charges but was shown some leniency because of this plea bargain. It seems now as though he has breached the terms of that

plea bargain according to DOJ for lying.

So, the question is, what potentially is it that we don't know about this and what is it that we don't know about the context of those meetings? And

again, what's crucial here is that people in the United Kingdom have been asking for some time also on the other end of the Atlantic how long Julian

Assange will be able stay holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy. Ecuador's made moves repeatedly to engage with the British government about this to

get him out. Also, they've tried to make his life more and more uncomfortable in there. But for the moment, he is staying put. Because

obviously, he is seeking asylum there. This will shed fresh light, fresh pressure on Julian Assange. And fresh pressure on Paul Manafort on a

crucial day.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Well, we'll watch the developments on this one. Thank you. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.

Coming up next, what do you need to go hang gliding? Well, a hang glider? Right? Check. A pilot, check. Beautiful views, check. And to actually

strap in. Well, they seem to have forgot about that one. Details ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:00] ANDERSON: Well, just before we go, we just had to show you this next video. If you've just been dangling high above ground thinking you

would plummet to your death any second would you be cracking jokes right afterwards?

Well, get a look at this guy. You are watching a hang glider literally hang on for dear life after the pilot took off and forget to make sure he

was strapped in. Yep, there is nothing keeping him there, but his tired arms articles and apparently an iron will not to fall. In this video, he

put out, he added jokes, like, I'm thinking, nice view -- I'm going to die. The death-defying flight landed just over two minutes when he jumped off

into a field. To top it all off, the glider on vacation from Florida wants to do it all again.

You couldn't make it up, could you? I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching. From the team working with me here and

those around the world, it is a very good evening.

END