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Interview with Mark Sanford, US rRepublican Presidential Candidate; Turkey Proxies Accused of Killing Syrians; Protests in Ecuador Forced the Government Out of Capital. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired October 13, 2019 - 10:00   ET

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

BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD HOST: This hour, highway to hell. We are on the ground as Turkish proxies are accused of disguising themselves

and killing Syrian civilians, plus a warning of a confrontation with America.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been faced with that very uncertain and disconcerting position of the United States since the Obama administration.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ANDERSON: All of Saudi Arabia's most powerful princes tells me they're not quite sure where they stand with Washington anymore. Plus protests getting

so out of hand in Ecuador, the government actually leaving town. And they told him it was impossible, so he went and did it anyway. Joining me right

here, the first man to ever run a marathon in under two hours.

Well, it's 6 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi, and hour behind in Northern Syria. I'm Becky Anderson. You are watching Connect the World, and we are

tracking Turkey's fast-moving military operation in Northern Syria this hour and have exclusive reporting from CNN's Nick Paton Walsh and his team

on the ground. Pro-Turkish forces have cut off the main road to the Kurdish city of Kabani. Why is that important? Well, because it's the

link between the east and west parts of Syrian Kurdish territory.

Now, the fall of the main highway presents a strategic crisis for the Syrian Kurds. We'll have more from Nick on that in a moment. His team

shot this video showing civilians fleeing the area. The U.N. says over 130,000 people have been displaced following the launch of this Turkish

military offensive.

All questions still remain about the scope and scale of the offensive. To that end in the past couple of hours, we have heard from the Turkish

President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Have a look at this map. The Turkish President says the operation will go 30 to 35 kilometers into Syrian

territory.

Well, thousands of kilometers away in Washington, the U.S. Defense Secretary announced his boss, President Donald Trump, is ordering most of

the remaining U.S. forces out of Syria. This after Trump, again, defended his decision to remove American troops from the Turkey-Syria border. It's

a decision that has drawn criticism from both sides of the political divide. Here's what the president told Fox News.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They've been fighting with the Kurds for many years. For centuries they've been fighting with the

Kurds, and it's like some people go to lunch. That's what they do. They fight with the Kurds. It's time for us to leave.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that's the U.S. President. A new reporting from CNN, remaining U.S. forces are at risk of being isolated in Northeastern Syria

and are preparing to withdraw further as Turkey advances in the region. A U.S. official familiar with the situation on the ground says it is

deteriorating rapidly.

We have reporters on the ground in the region. Arwa Damon is on the Turkish side of the Syrian border, and we will get to her in a moment.

First up, though, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh is across the border in Northern Syrian. He had to be moved from his location because of security concerns.

Before he left, though, he filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The road to Kabani tells you how savage this war already is and where it's going. Here

Kurdish female activist, Hevrin Khalaf, was shot dead allegedly by Syrian rebels - Turkey's backing. A gruesome of the killing viral online.

Just outside Anissa and its huge ISIS family camp, there is panic. Gun fire up ahead. Trucks turn around fast. Families in disarray. "There are

heavy platters (ph) there," he said. "Nobody can go." "What do you want from us, hey," he says. "They are coming, and they'll take everything.

May God end America."

Turkey and before them ISIS have been their enemies here,

[10:05:00]

but only America betrayed them. And they are leaving. Just down the road, this patrol pulling out of Anissa. Well, everyone's talked to us, but

clearly Americans still active in areas around the Syrian Kurds.

As they leave, Turkey makes its bold ambition to go anywhere he felt.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jet, jet.

WALSH: A jet flying low, sending a message to us, the Kurds, and the Americans, leave now. But the arrival of two U.S. apache helicopters to

circle the area and their patrol show the Americans are not ready to do that just yet despite President Trump's instincts to end the endless wars

as he says. Syria's war, though, just keeps getting longer.

One of the U.S. officials told me that actually the road now towards Kabani where they have some of their troops based is being cut off by Turkish-

backed Syrian rebels. They (ph) set up checkpoints just outside that town we were in. We've had to leave, but this is extraordinary. Nobody thought

this was original part of Turkey's invasion plan.

And as you drive away, it seems clear Turkey plans to seize the road in part. These are Turkish armored personnel carriers and tanks bearing

Turkish flags. More of them arriving in the dust. Soon Syrian Kurds won't be able to drive down here at all, and the west of their area cut off from

its east. The city of Kabani, again, left to face a siege. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Anissa, Northeastern Syria.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And Nick is now on the phone for us, and Nick, your reporting showing just how chaotic things are on the ground. And a U.S. official

just in the past hour or so suggesting it is very difficult to identify who is who on the ground. Is that your experience?

WALSH: Yes, that's what they said to me earlier on, and it tallies with our situation here, and frankly nobody really knows what's happening amidst

the pile on the ground (ph). You saw the panic there initially. Now, once the same U.S. official also said the issue they often face is that most, in

their words (ph), that the Syrian rebels backed by turkey are, quote, "extremists". They said that some are former ISIS and some are former Al-

Qaeda and that these are obviously not groups that the United States are able to coordinate with or, you know, immediate with.

So that perhaps explains some of the nature of this withdrawal. I think the impact (ph) on it trying to make it sound like it was a long-term

policy goal, but I have to tell you from the ground it's nonsense. There was no real I think sense of urgency about the collapse of some of these

areas to the Syrian rebels backed Turkey until a matter of hours ago. I think they've been (ph) moving extraordinarily quickly.

I've been speaking with several U.S. official about how, you know, those who've served in this area, who've worked for the U.S. government in

(inaudible) there's a sense of I think of a dismay of how extraordinary the collapse of their position here really has been. I mean, the announcement

has been given they'll be leaving, and they - all of them will be leaving, and it sounds like that'll be happening quite quickly because of the

collapse of what's happening here.

You saw in that - in that - in that report the Anissa IDP camp, well that's put into SPF (ph) official that has experienced a breakout, it's not

necessarily, as far as we recall, home to that many (inaudible) or their families, but still that was the sign of a breakdown in order here that's

happening around the Turkish advance.

Let me know (ph) - say to you how one U.S. official's interpreted what we've been seeing in the past 24 hours or so. Extraordinary to here this

and (inaudible) has failed. America and our allies are now facing new threats at home and abroad. ISIS had a second life (ph), and our

geopolitical adversaries are the ones who have the advantage.

The defeat ISIS campaign in Syria is over for now, and ISIS has a second lease on life with nearly 100,000 who will rejoin the Jihad. Russia and

the Syrian regime will take back all of the territory and Iran will have freedom of movement across the region again. A startling assessment

frankly, and I think part of how many who've observed the extent of the (inaudible) the sacrifice of the Syrian Kurds who've fought doggedly on the

ground, who lost tens of thousands are now seeing a NATO-equipped backed army propelling a lot of the time what seems to be extremists - according

to that U.S. official are extremists who are using fear and often savaged to push people out of these areas (inaudible) very quickly indeed, Becky,

ANDERSON: Standby. I want to get to Arwa on the other side of the border, and Arwa, we've got this alarming video. Wives and children of ISIS fight

is rioting in the (inaudible) camp as Nick now points in a different camp, the Anissa camp. Over 750 ISIS affiliates are said to have fled. This has

been of great concern in capitals, in Europe, and in Washington, the potential for and ISIS resurgence. The Turks have said, as they started

this military offensive, that they will have control of what is going on on the ground. As you witness these scenes, do they have control?

[10:10:00]

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky, it's war and when we look at that, it does not seem as if anyone has control at this

stage on the situation inside Syria, and that is exactly what war and its various dynamics do.

Even before this offensive by Turkey and its Syrian Arab allies on the ground, there were concerns about security, especially at the Al-Hawl camp

and other camps that are housing the families, the wives and widows and their children of ISIS members, especially since there were, by and large,

the wives, widows and children of ISIS fighters or members who held out until the very end.

Prior to all of this, we were hearing that these camps, especially the Al- Hawl camp was an incubator for ISIS' ideology, and ISIS academy. Women within that camp, themselves, were actually implementing ISIS' way of life.

Yes, there are great concerns that there could be a breakout at this camp. Do they pose an imminent threat to security? That remains to be seen,

because although a number of them do still hold very tightly onto the ISIS ideology, there are some that don't.

And to think that they will be out there running around these parts of Northern Syria will presumably, less so than them posing a threat in and of

themselves, really give the various remaining ISIS (inaudible), the ISIS elements that are still out there, that needed boost, that needed extra bit

of confidence, especially since right now the Syrian Kurds have suspended their operation, because they're focusing on Turkey.

So, the situation is extremely chaotic, Becky. And as I was saying, we all know what war looks like and it never looks pretty, it is constantly

chaotic and the civilians are always stuck in the middle of it all.

ANDERSON: What's the end -- remind us what the end game, as stated, is for Turkey and as you, again, witness what is going on, how that strategy might

change, given the chaos on the ground?

DAMON: Look, Turkey is determined, no matter what, it is going to accomplish this, and here is what they want to accomplish. And President

Erdogan put this map up at the United Nations General Assembly just recently. They want to go some 30, 35 kilometers into Syria, along

hundreds of kilometers of border that they share with Northern Syria, because that is where the Syrian Kurdish fighting group, known as the YPG,

that was, up until now, America's strongest on the ground force in the battle against ISIS. That is where they are based.

From Turkey's perspective, the YPG and the Kurdish separatist militant group, the PKK, that has been battling the Turkish state for decades now

are one in the same. The YPG is an offshoot of the PKK. Turkey cannot, to date, still fathom why American, a NATA ally, would have chosen the YPG to

partner with on the ground. The Americans say that it's because they were the only capable fighting force.

But that aside, so what Turkey wants to do is create this corridor along its border that it says is necessary for its own national security, and

then, also provides an added benefit when it comes to Turkey, in that the government plans on potentially resettling around two million Syrian

refugees who live in Turkey, in that area. Problem is, Becky, they are not from there and what we're potentially looking at is, yet, another

demographic change along the Syria-Turkey border.

ANDERSON: Arwa Damon is on the Turkish side of the border and we will -- we'll feature again the -- in the next hour. Arwa, thank you. And that is

just an insight from the best in the business here on CNN.

Next hour, are these Kurdish forces looking to Russia as a new ally? I'll be speaking to an SDF spokesman, on what is happening behind the scenes.

What they expect from the Americans and if they don't get it, what they suggest they will do next. Only here on CNN.

Well, historically Saudi Arabia has been one of the United States most steadfast allies here in the Middle East. Of course, you'll remember that

Donald Trump made his first overseas trip as president to the kingdom. So, I sat down with one of its most powerful princes, Prince Turki Al-Faisal.

He tells me, they're not quite sure where they stand with Washington anymore. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL, PRINCE IN SAUDI ARABIA: Trump's retreat, if you like, from -- from the Middle East -- Mr. Trump did not start that, Mr.

Obama did. We've been faced with that very uncertain and disconcerting position of the United States since Obama Administration.

[10:15:15]

Mr. Trump, perhaps, is a bit more erratic in how he expresses things, but we have to accept that he has decided to follow a course of action in Syria

that, I think, is unwise.

ANDERSON: The commander of the Kurdish lead Syrian Democratic forces has said, and I quote, to the U.S., "You are leaving us to be slaughtered." Do

you agree with his position?

AL-FAISAL: It's not for me to agree to disagree, but I observe also that the so-called Kurdish forces in Northern Syria had not hesitated in the

past to engage with the Assad regime. So, it's not surprising that having now, as you say, been abandoned by the United States, that they might put

their hands in the hands of -- of the Assad regime in the face of the Turkish incursion.

ANDERSON: And what would the consequence of a pivot by the Syrian Kurds to Assad, and indeed to the Russians be, on Syria and the wider region?

AL-FAISAL: I really don't know. The Turkish incursion is not going to bring peace and stability to Syria. Also, was the failure of the Russians

and the Iranians, for anybody to claim that they're for the benefit of the Syrian people, I think, I don't believe that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Also in my interview with Turki Al-Faisal, I asked him about Kurd troops going into his country, what he has to say about sir (ph),

extra U.S. troop deployments to the kingdom, coming up in the next hour.

Well, to the U.S. impeachment inquiry now. A new question about a key exchange with one of the key witnesses. The "Washington Post" reports that

Ambassador Gordon Sondland will tell Congress this week that he relied solely on what President Donald Trump told him in a text message to a

fellow diplomat. In that text message exchange, Bill Taylor says it's, quote, crazy to withhold millions in military aide to Ukraine until they

start investigating Joe Biden and his son.

Sonland, who was the U.S. Ambassador to the E.U. or is, responds by saying, the president has been crystal clear that there's not quid pro quo.

However, Sondland will reportedly testify. He doesn't know if Mr. Trump was telling him the truth.

Well, those texts are now a focal point in the impeachment probe. I want to talk more about this with Sarah Westwood, who is at the White House, a

CNN Political Analysts and "Washington Post" Congressional Reporter, Karoun Demirjian.

Let's start with you Sarah. Big week coming up. Congress back, of course, just how important might this deposition from Ambassador Sondland be at

this point? Where are we, effectively, in this impeachment inquiry?

SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, this could be hugely important, Becky. Keep in mind, that the Trump Administration actually

tried to prevent Sondland from testifying this week. He's been subpoenaed, he's coming forward with this testimony.

And the "Washington Post" reporting that he is expected to say that these texts, at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, the one that he sent that's

been under scrutiny on September 9, was dictated to him by President Trump, and that he doesn't know whether President Trump was telling the truth when

he told him that there was not quid pro quo in the suspension of military aide to Ukraine.

Now Sondland says at the time he did not understand or know the motives for the suspension, that's according to "The Post." Some of the things that he

is expected to tell lawmakers. There are also other testimonies, depositions planned for this week with House Democrats, Congress coming

back.

There impeachment proceedings are only deepening as the White House has announced its strategy will involve not responding, not cooperating with

House Democrats. They're daring Speaker Pelosi to take an impeachment vote.

And meanwhile, President Trump is ramping up his attacks on the Congressional Democrats, leading the charge on impeachment, including House

Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi last night at the Value Voter Summit. He said he's asked his lawyers to sue both of

them. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I actually told my lawyers, I said, sue them anyway. He's got immunity. But they can't mean immunity for that. I said, sue them anyway,

even if we loose, the American public will understand.

(APPLAUSE)

[10:20:00]

TRUMP: And soon Nancy Pelosi or maybe we should just impeach them.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

WESTWOOD: And we should note that that is not a thing. You cannot sue a member of Congress for something that they say on the floor. You also

can't impeach a member of Congress. But nonetheless, it just reflects the president's increasingly aggressive attitude toward impeachment as House

Democrats are making inroads in getting some of these key witnesses to show up and testify, Becky.

ANDERSON: Can we expect to see - it's something that's been - it's something that's been lacking. It's been absent, Karoun, in the past three

weeks - a GOP Republican impeachment strategy. Should we expect to see that in the week to come? We already know that these opinion polls,

including those from Fox News - a great supporting media operation of the U.S. president - showing that impeachment now beginning to be a majority

view from the U.S. voting public. Where is this Republican strategy?

KAROUN DEMIRJIAN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well right now what you see is a GOP strategy against the impeachment probe which is to basically question

every move the Democrats are making, question why they're doing this behind closed doors, question why they are reading motives into it that they can't

necessarily prove at this junction. So it's a bit of a what-aboutism sort of a defense, but it is a defense that is begin operating and orchestrated

by the president's chief eyes (ph) in Congress.

I don't think that it's likely that you'll see a GOP strategy for impeachment. What you're going to end up seeing if the Republican party

starts to move towards questioning the president, feeling like he should be pushed out of office, is we'll start to see that GOP defense winnowing,

lessening, silencing, and then people started to kind of splinter off of that on their own.

I mean, not everybody is following the lead of people like Mitt Romney who has said that he thinks that the moves the president has made are

surprising and shocking and deserving of scrutiny, but if the Democrat-led impeachment probe is able to turn up pieces of evidence that cannot be

disputed, and this is the thing. That is a higher bar than you need right now to convince the Democrats if you need a proof of wrongdoing that would

be probably indefensible in a court to actually convince enough Republicans in the Senate really is where it matters because they are the ones who

would vote to convict. The House will probably have the votes to impeach him, but that's just basically an indictment.

In order to flip enough senators to actually get two-thirds of the Senate to push Trump out of office is going to take some significant production of

evidence. This is why the Democrats have focused so acutely on pulling people like Sonland who was a Trump supporter. He ws a big bundler for

Trump in the election and is in this position where he was defending the president, maybe not defending him anymore. These types of steps, having

these types of people come forward and present the evidence they have is going to be very important for Democrats trying to make a broader case not

just to their own party but to the Republicans as well with the Senate I their sites for actually being able to take this impeachment to its - what

they hope is their final state, which is to remove the president from office.

And I would add to that that even if that doesn't work, because that seems like quite a long shot now still, they're hoping to have a message to take

to the campaign trail. Democrats, especially the speaker and other leaders have always been very cognizant of the parallel case that they're making

both for the impeachment process within Congress but also for the political campaign trail. They are looking at 2020 elections being 13 months away

and knowing that if they lose even in Congress in this quest to remove the president, they may still win the argument with the voting base and that

could gain them seats in the Senate down the line.

ANDERSON: Karoun and Sarah, it's an incredibly busy week coming up. In just a few minutes, I'll speak to one of Donald Trump's 2020 challengers,

and he's from - his own party will get perspective from Republican Mark Sanford on the impeachment inquiry and the fallout from Mr. Trump's Syria

decision.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:25:00]

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible) to go. Eliud Kipchoge (inaudible) into the final 20 second. Eliud Kipchoge (inaudible) 1:40 (ph) -

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (inaudible)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eliud Kipchoge storms into the (inaudible) in Vienna.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ANDERSON: Well and outpouring of national pride in Kenya there as fellow countryman, Eliud Kipchoge, smashes the two-hour marathon barrier. Well,

the distance runner accomplished the feat in Vienna on Saturday. He broke the two-hour mark by 20 seconds, becoming the first ever human to do so.

But while this is one of the history book, it won't be entered into the record books. Patrick Snell joining me now from Atlanta. Explain, if you

will.

PATRICK SNELL, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's just not an official event. It's not official in terms of breaking a world record.

When you look at his story, history that Kipchoge has, Becky, with the marathons, but you know for him it is very, very personal indeed.

Now, this is just history in the making for him. Let's take nothing away, breaking that two hour barrier by 20 second. Why won't it be officially

recognized by Athletics Governing Body? Well as I say, not an official event and, you know, the purists will point to the fact, Becky, that all

the conditions were extremely favorable for him in terms of the fact he had between 30 and 40 pace setters keeping him honest if you like every step of

the way quite literally.

The favorable start time in the 7 a.m. hour and that shield, if you like, the pace setters around him forming around his body, keeping the wind at

bay, and also the pace setting car at the front with the green laser lights off the road showing him where exactly he needs to be at any given time,

but let's take nothing away here, Becky, from what he has achieved. It is a remarkable historic achievement, and here's what he had to say about it

afterwards.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

ELIUD KIPCHOGE, FIRST TO RUN SUB-TWO HOUR MARATHON: (inaudible) to run under two order in order to inspire many people, to tell people that no

human is limited. You can do it. I'm expecting more that in this (ph) all of the world to run under two hours after today.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

SNELL: And you know, Becky, two years ago at Monza in Italy, he tried and came up short. He was about 25 seconds short last time. He really wanted

to get the job done on this occasion and he has done just that.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Listen, can the ordinary person keep pace with Kipchoge? A lot of people have been trying this out there and programming their treadmills.

Here's one of our producer's husband giving it a go. He didn't get very far. Willy (ph) only got about 400 meters. Patrick, have you tried the

treadmill challenge? Just how big a deal is this?

SNELL: No. No, and nor will I.

(LAUGHTER)

A terrific achievement -

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: Willy (ph) did.

SNELL: -- though I have to say, 400 meters. But look, yes - look, we all dream of being, for example, in my case a footballer growing up.

[10:30:00]

You know, I wanted to be say a legendary pelay (ph) or Eric Canton (ph) or whatever, but in the world of athletics now, you imagine all these

youngsters aspiring to be Eliud Kipchoge and his achievement. Just imagine - look, later today I'm intending to go for a workout, intending to go for

probably a run, and I'll probably set a time. But imagine, Becky, setting it to 21 kilometers an hour on that piece of machinery and then trying to

stick to it not just for a few second, but for two hours because that is exactly what Kipchoge did this weekend in Vienna. Incredibly, and I'm just

getting weary even thinking about it.

ANDERSON: All right, well listen. You just told me and our viewers around the world that you are going for a bit of a run later.

SNELL: No, I said I was planning to.

ANDERSON: So send us a clip later.

(LAUGHTER)

If you do, send us a clip and show us how far you've got at that pace if you will, sir.

SNELL: I will if I do, yes.

ANDERSON: Meantime -

(LAUGHTER)

Meantime, the man himself joins us next hour. I'll speak with Eliud on his historic feat and what comes next. You won't want to miss that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

All right, just after half past 6 here in the UAE. This is our Middle East broadcasting hub here in Abu Dhabi. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching

Connect the World. And if you're just joining us, you are more than welcome. We return to what is our top story this hour - the situation in

Syria, the United States withdrawing most of its remaining troops from the war torn country. That is at least according to U.S. Defense Secretary,

Mark Esper, speaking with CBS.

Now, this is the latest blow to their Irshwall (ph) allies in the fight against ISIS, the Syrian Democratic forces who are being targeted in the

latest incursion there or latest Turkish offensive.

[10:35:00]

Esper made the announcement just minutes after Turkey's president said his forces were pushing deeper into Syria. One of the U.S. officials with the

situation on the ground says U.S. forces are at risk of becoming isolated within Syria, and there is now an increased risk of confrontation with

Turkish proxies. That is if Turkey doesn't halt its operation.

Well, our Senior International Correspondent, Clarissa Ward, has managed to gain access to one U.S. base in Syria protected in part by Kurdish

fighters. She filed this exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So even though U.S. forces have pulled back from the border area where Turkey is staging this

military operation, there are still U.S. military personnel deployed across parts of Northern Syria. We're here at one U.S. base. You can see in the

distance there the American flag billowing, and we want to try to get a sense from the Americans who are stationed here, how they feel about the

U.S.'s decision to essentially allowing President Erdogan of Turkey to go ahead and launch this military operation against the Kurds. The Kurds, of

course, have been the U.S.'s main ally on the ground in the battle against ISIS.

What's interesting to see is that even though this is U.S. base, it's actually guarded and protected by Kurdish forces. You can imagine that

things must be a little bit tense between them right now.

So unsurprisingly the Americans don't want to talk to us right now. Someone did come out to at least greet us. They were very polite, but they

said due to the sensitive nature of their work here, they can't say a thing.

Just outside the base you can see a poster to commemorate all of the Kurdish fighters who have died in the battle against ISIS. Kurdish

fighters have been telling us about the Americans. They feel that they've been sold out and that the U.S. is not going to do anything to help them in

this fight against Turkey. Clarissa Ward, CNN, Northern Syria.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, that accusation that Mr. Trump has abandoned the U.S. ally is causing major blowback for the White House. The administration also

grappling with the Democrats' impeachment inquiry which has American divided. Support for the inquiry is growing even in district Mr. Trump won

in the 2016 election. Well joining me now is Republican presidential candidate challenging Donald Trump and former Governor of South Carolina,

Mark Sanford. And I'm going to get to some of that polling and where the Republicans stand on impeachment and where you stand specifically going

forward.

First, though, once again, the U.S. threatening sanctions against Turkey. President Trump has this up his sleeve. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin

told ABC just a short time ago, sir, and I quote, "These sanctions could be starting small. They could be maximum pressure which would destroy the

Turkish economy." I want to get your sense of whether you are part of this sort of bipartisan criticism of Donald Trump's actions in having green lit

this offensive and whether it would be wise to be threatening a NATO ally once again?

MARK SANFORD, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think so. I'm most critical of the president's actions with regard to Syria because

at two different levels I think are problematic. One, if you want to have friends, be a good friend. If you want to have allies, be an ally. And

what we're doing is irreparable harm. Maybe not irreparable, but certainly long-lasting harm to folks affinity for us and for, frankly, their

willingness to put themselves in harm's way on our behalf.

I think it's also problematic from the standpoint of the signal that we send is to what America stands for. I mean, traditionally we stood for a

measure of stability, a gravitas, a deliberation, if you will, in the way that we made decisions. And I think is being signaled to the world right

now that does tremendous damage to the American brand is this notion of being capricious, of one day this, one day that, add a sanction, add a

tariff, withdraw a troop, put troops in. It's capricious. And I think that that is, again, doing real lasting damage to the American brand and

what we've traditionally stood for.

ANDERSON: Mark, this wasn't a Trump administration decision to ally with a Kurdish group on the ground. That is according to the Turkish president,

and enemy of the Turkish people, and after all, Ankara is a NATO ally. Is Donald Trump taking a lot of criticism from people who are taking an anti-

Trump position on this rather than stepping back and saying are we right?

[10:40:00]

MARK SANFORD (R-SC), U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, I -- let's be real, I mean, in the world of foreign policy, the enemy of my

enemy is my friend. And so, I think you end up with different and evolving alliances based on that process.

I think what's most telling though is to look what two sitting U.S. Republican Congressman have been saying of late, Adam Kinzinger and John

Shimkus, both of whom served in the military, one in the Army the other in the Air Force, and both of them have been outspoken on their degree of

frustration and anger and disappointment with Trump's decision.

So, I don't think is just a case of folks of Trump saying this. These have been allies, certainly in John Shimkus' case, but he's removed his name

from the list of presidential supporters in the president's upcoming election.

ANDERSON: Let's do impeachment, sir. A new poll shows that a majority of Americans approve of the start of an impeachment inquiry into President

Trump over his telephone call with the President of Ukraine.

But, it's split along Party lines, poll saying 52 percent of Americans overall approve, that's four-fifths of Democrats, perhaps not surprisingly,

only nine percent of Republicans. Are you in that nine percent, sir?

SANFORD: I'm not. What I have said is, I think that what I hear is it sounds impeachable, but I believe in the process and it that we ought to

sequentially go through that process.

I think that my sense is, where there's smoke there's fire, what you would find is something for which he could be impeached, but then the question

is, is it wise to impeach. And that's where I draw the line.

And I've said, what you ought to do is look at a censure, because if you want to end the topsy-turvy nature of the Trump Administration, you

ultimately have to kill it off at the ballot box. And I think what an impeachment would do, in addition to absolutely ending all political debate

in this country between now and the election, on both the Republican and the Democratic sides, what it will do, I think, is it in fact strength his

hand in the next election.

People will circle wagons on both sides, he'll make it a contest of personality and at the end of the day, Donald Trump versus Jerry Nadler or

Nancy Pelosi, I think is a winning combination for him in the heartland of America that accrues to his electoral chances.

And particularly, you don't want this, you don't want, given the vote count right now in the Senate, for him to be able to walk out of this exercise

and say this was perfectly normal behavior, it was OK, the Senate didn't impeach me, I'm absolved of any guilt.

ANDERSON: OK.

SANFORD: I think that, that sends a conflicting message, which would be problematic.

ANDERSON: President Trump had lunch with Rudy Giuliani on Saturday. He is defending Giuliani, his personal lawyer after the "New York Times" reported

that Giuliani's dealings with Ukraine are part of a federal investigation. Let's listen to this phone interview last night, sir.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

TRUMP: He's great gentleman, he was a great mayor. One of the greatest, maybe the greatest mayor in the history of New York. He was a fantastic

prosecutor. I know nothing about him being under investigation. Somebody said -- I heard a report today, I don't -- I can't imagine it.

He's a man that looks for corruption, and whatever he does, I really believe he's a totally -- I mean, I know he's an honorable man. I stand

behind Rudy Giuliani, absolutely. He was -- again, he was a crime fighter from day one.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Mark, that's a change from Friday, when the president wasn't even sure if Giuliani was still his lawyer. You say that you, I think,

worry that he will be stronger going into 2020 if this impeachment process continues as it is. If that was to be the case, would that be without his

current team? Do you see him -- do you know enough about him to know that he will chuck enough people under the bus to escape this?

SANFORD: Totally. I mean, it's completely in his playbook. And so, he is for Giuliani right now because Giuliani is for him, but it is much as

people equivocate or show a degree of uncertainty as to their allegiance to Donald Trump.

Again, not the office, but him personally, you will see him turn on them in two second.

ANDERSON: Right. He is feeling the love in one area, before you we leave you. He is describing the U.S. relationship with Beijing as a, quote,

"love fest," after the two countries reached a partial trade deal last week. He says the deal is a win for U.S. farmers. Again, have a listen.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

[10:45:00]

TRUMP: I want my farmers -- I love my farmers. I want them to come back to me. Sir, we can't produce this, it's too much. It's too much, sir.

It's too much, we can't produce that much wheat, and corn, and all the stuff, because I want to tell you, I got China to order a lot.

(APPLAUSE)

(END AUDIO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Whether this, sir, is a done deal or not, Donald Trump supporters will say that he continues to get things done for the United

States. Is this a good deal for America?

SANFORD: No. It's -- it's -- it's typical Trump, which is a good headline, but let's look into the details of what it really means. And

there's not concrete, in terms of the $50 billion worth of agricultural sales. It's -- they've committed to it.

Well, in Chinese speak, that means, well we're going to work on it and next year and the next year, and the year after that, there's no time lapse in

terms of when this would take place.

So, it means nothing, other than, we're not going to impose tariffs on the American public. That's about the only win. So, we're not going to

escalate the tariff battle, but as to what really happens, in terms of agricultural sales, remains to be seen.

ANDERSON: Congressman, always a pleasure, sir.

SANFORD: As well.

ANDERSON: And a lot more on this in the next hour. Thank you.

Still ahead, Ecuador's government agrees to talks after more than a week of unrest, but also takes step to tighten security. How and why, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, in the coming hours Ecuador's government will hold talks with indigenous groups in an attempt to (inaudible) what's been a week and

a half of often violent protest. Now the cause of these demonstrations, a decree from the president to end state fuel subsidies and raise prices.

Well Saturday President Moreno ordered a curfew in Quito and surrounding areas.

Well, I'm joined now by CNN en Espanol's Gustavo Valdes, who is Quito. We've been watching these images for now for, what, 10 days. What's the

story on the ground as we speak?

GUSTAVO VALDES, CNN EN ESPANOL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Becky. As you can see, the city is almost empty. Most people are respecting this curfew

imposed by the president. The question today is, will the negotiations be enough to stop the protests, because it's not only a matter if the

negotiations are going to be quick enough, but also if the many thousands of indigenous people who have come to the capital will agree to those

terms, because we have seen a disconnect between what the leadership is saying and what the people on the front lines of the protest are telling

us.

[10:50:00]

We were right there Friday and Saturday when the indigenous people were trying to charge the National Assembly and other buildings in the center of

the city, and the police was responding with tear gas and other projectiles to try to keep the line.

The protest got worse Friday evening. Hours after the president has made a call for negotiations, but then the police repelled a group that was in

front of the National Assembly, and ever since it was a constant battle with huge fires in the area that blocked the view of many buildings.

The government says that one of the government buildings caught fire, a serious incident, and they are blaming external influences from Venezuela

and Cuba who are trying to destabilize this country that has moved to the right of the political spectrum since Mr. Lenin Moreno took office even

though he was Rafael Correa's vice president. President Correa is another of the person they are blaming for this intrusion.

The people on the ground are telling me that that is not the truth. They simply want, first, the fuel subsidies to come back, but they also think

that some economy package is needed for those who need it most in indigenous communities. And yesterday we saw many more non-indigenous

people, people from different cities who came and joined in the cry for change in this country.

ANDERSON: Gustavo, a pleasure. Thank you, sir. And just a reminder, these are fuel subsidies that were introduced nearly 50 years ago. The

government saying they can no longer afford them. It's all part of a (inaudible) IMF (ph) is introduced. Indigenous-led protests are quite

something in that country. We will continue to monitor where this goes from here.

Well, thousands are now mobilized in search and recovery efforts throughout the country. People in the hardest-hit areas are being air lifted to

safety by helicopters as you can see here. I'm talking about Japan, of course. Paula Hancocks with us now with more on the storm's impact.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Japan is assessing the damage of its biggest storm in decades. Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on

Saturday evening, leading to landslides and flooding that caused a number of fatalities, including dozens of injuries.

The body of a man in his 60s was found in his flooded home in the apartment block behind me. A number of rivers in the region breached their banks

leading to widespread flooding of some houses close to those rivers.

The JMA - the Japan's Meteorological Agency - at one point said that they were seeing unprecedented amounts of rain. Now, several million people

have been advised to evacuate the area. Many chose not to. They chose to hunker down. They stocked up on provisions ahead of the typhoon leading to

empty supermarket shelves. In fact, the capital city of Tokyo was much like a ghost town until Sunday morning.

Now there were many flights canceled, also the bullet trains canceled, local trains, and also there were three Rugby World Cup matches that had to

be cancelled because of the storm. Now, on Sunday morning, Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, held an emergency meeting with his cabinet.

He offered his condolences to those who had been killed or affected, and he also said as well as the fire department, the police, the coast guard

helping operations here. There were 27,000 members of Japan's military that were also going to be helping with the ongoing search and rescue

operation. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Kawasaki City, Japan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Right. Time for a quick break. We'll be back with a lot more in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:55:00]

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: New this morning, Turkish forces have blocked the main road now into the Kurdish city of Kabani. That's where U.S. troops

are based.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw as we drove down that road scenes of frankly damage, devastation, and SUV where a Kurdish female activist was shot dead

allegedly by Syrian rebels backed by Turkey.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Accusing their ally, the United States, of forsaking them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We call on our allies to fulfill their duties and assume their moral obligations.

TRUMP: They've been fighting with the Kurds for many years. For centuries they've been fighting with the Kurds, and it's like some people go to

lunch. That's what they do. They fight with the Kurds. It's time for us to leave.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Turkey nearly bombing U.S. Special Forces apparently by accident.

[11:00:00]

END