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Connect the World
Russia Moves into Syria, as the U.S. Moves Out; U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Turkey; Trump Says Kurds are Thankful to the U.S.; Alleged War Crimes in Syria Posted on Social Media; Lebanon's President Addresses Nation Amid Weeklong Protests; U.K. Police Say the 39 Bodies in Truck Were Chinese Nationals; Interview with Bassam Ishak, Syrian Democratic Council Representative to the U.S., War Crimes and U.S. Withdrawal from Northern Syria. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 24, 2019 - 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:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Wow. What a great outcome. Congratulations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: After Russia and Turkey seal the fate of northeastern Syria, the U.S. President claims a victory for himself, but just down the road, one of
his top lieutenants disagreeing with him about alleged war crimes there. That full story is just ahead.
Then P.R. stunts aren't exactly unique in Washington. But Republicans are just storming into a secure meeting room, holding up their phones amongst
the impeachment inquiry, Democrats say to distract attention. That as a fired-up protesters demand their governments look after them from Beirut to
Santiago. We connect all of that for you this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They knew that I'm Jewish, and they knew that I happy just I for the Palestinians, for them, nothing can be worse than that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Extremist Israeli settlers targeting a rabbi as well as Palestinian farmers. The full story for you.
Plus, this is the greatest show. Well, that's how Dubai is spinning its 2020 Expo. I'll take you on a behind-the-scenes look.
6:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, it's five in the afternoon at the Turkish/Syrian border and it's 10:00 in the morning in D.C. I'm Becky Anderson, hello and
welcome to the show. This is CONNECT THE WORLD.
And this hour, the big question. Does the United States have a responsibility to stay in Syria? According to a new CNN poll, most
Americans think they do, but a pretty sizeable portion disagree. Let us know what you think wherever you are in the world by going to CNN.com/join.
Well the U.S. commander-in-chief Donald Trump obviously thinks, no, that is, his country should not have any skin in the game. He took a victory
lap Wednesday saying, pulling U.S. troops from northern Syria was the right thing to do. And, he said, I saved American lives. The bombardment has
stopped and because of that the U.S. lifted sanctions on Turkey, he said. Well Kurds are fleeing the so-called safe zone along the Turkey/Syria
border. Russian troops are now patrolling the area. President Trump says the Kurds are thankful.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Countless lives are now being saved as a result of our negotiation with Turkey, an outcome reach without spilling one drop of American blood.
No injuries, nobody shot, nobody killed. I have just spoken to General Mazloum, a wonderful man, the commander-in-chief of the SDF Kurds, and he
was extremely thankful for what the United States has done, could not have been more thankful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: All right. Well, about the same time not far down the road, the U.S. special envoy for Syria with a very different take. James Jeffrey
telling Congress the Turkish invasion was a disaster for the Kurds with evidence of war crimes committed by Turkish-backed fighters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES JEFFREY, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA: We haven't seen any widespread ethnic cleansing in that area since the Turks have come in.
Many people fled because they're very concerned about these Turkish supported Syrian opposition forces, as are we. We've seen several
incidents which we consider war crimes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, more on that with Nick Paton Walsh just over the border from northeastern Syria in Erbil in Iraq for you shortly. But we begin
with Sam Kiley who was in Mardin in Turkey. And, Sam, Turkey cut a deal with Russia, halts its offensive in Syria, and 7,000 miles away -- as he
has wanted to remind us -- the U.S. President Donald Trump declares it a victory. Is it a victory, that is, and if so, for whom?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly from the perspective of Donald Trump. And I think, Becky, one has to be very
cautious he's always playing to his solid political base ensuring they're behind him. But a lot of them would agree with him that getting out of
Syria on their terms without clashing with Turkey, without recent loss of life for American troops, and getting out of this maelstrom and chaotic
landscape of various, malicious and nations pitted against one another is a good thing.
[10:05:00]
Whether it's a good thing for the very close allies in the SDF that have been alongside the United States and United Kingdom, France and others in
the fight against the so-called Islamic state, it remains to be seen very much so. So far clearly, they are extremely unhappy about it and being
forced out of their homes in many cases or feeling that they have to flee. But this really is a typical move by Donald Trump to try to give the idea
that it was all his idea. Even though this was ultimately a deal between Russia and Turkey and the Assad regime, a very key player here.
Nonetheless, this is what Mr. Trump described his relationship with Mr. Erdogan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Along with President Erdogan of Turkey, a man I've gotten to know very well and a man who loves his country and, in his mind, he's doing the
right thing for his country, and we may be meeting in the very near future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KILEY: Now, Becky, the offer there, potential of a White House meeting. Of course, that kind of honor, diplomatic opportunity has often recently
been dangled controversially in the Ukraine. But to the Turks, this would be a massive breakthrough and that Erdogan is being brought in from the
cold. Bear in mind that the U.S. has had recent sanctions over the operations in Turkey. But longer-term sanctions over -- in the past over
the treatment of American citizens. So that relationship is to be warmed up.
Again, Trump would see that as a victory, but it certainly wouldn't be perceive that way by the people just across the border here in Syria. Who
are now really very vulnerable indeed to the Assad regime and their Russian allies right across a large sway of territory that had been held by the
Kurdish dominated SDF, alongside the United States and other NATO allies. So a radical re-shift of the strategic landscape but for individuals on the
ground leaving them extremely vulnerable -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick, Donald Trump may see Syria as his victory, his special envoy to the country sees Turkey's incursion there quite differently. He
described it as, quote, a tragedy, and that Ankara-backed forces are likely behind several war crimes. Explain if you will.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, at this point it is clear there's an enormous disparity between the great success
that Donald Trump has seen in all of this. He seems oblivious to the geopolitical shift that Sam was talking about. And also the conduct of
these forces on the ground. Now it is baffling, really, and troubling to hear that message of overwhelming positivity from the White House. While
at the same time, you're hearing from his top envoy to Syria, the fact that these Syrian rebels backed by Turkey, in his opinion, are behind war
crimes. Startling, frankly, that that a NATO ally can suggest a proxy for another NATO ally is behind that kind of contact.
We have seen lots of suggestions, videos providing some degree of evidence of pretty appalling conduct on behalf of some of the Syrians rebels doing
fighting on the ground for Turkey. Remember, it's the Turkish military providing artillery and airstrikes and presumably some sort of vague
guiding ground presence. But the majority of the fighting is done by the Syrian rebels.
I should warn you, the package you about to see does contain some graphic images but provides a degree of this growing body of evidence against the
Syrian rebels.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH (voice-over): The gruesome videos keep coming but not just the normal brutality of war. Something, uglier, more radical.
Scenes of the Syrian rebels Turkey is backing abusing here the corpse of dead Syrian Kurdish female and male fighters Tuesday near Tal Abyad. Rebel
leaders said they had arrested and would punish the fighters behind this.
A U.S. official has said these fighters backed by Turkey, are mostly extremists, former ISIS and Al Qaeda and from the start they were accused
of savagery. This is the widely circulated video of the murder of Kurdish activist Hevrin Khalaf, a bodyguard beaten before execution.
We found their vehicle heavily shot up and discarded on the highway.
(on camera): Startling acts of violence like this have made many reassess exactly who Turkey is using to try and execute its goals here in
northeastern Syria.
(voice-over): An autopsy report CNN can't independently verify says the widely traveled activist was dragged by her hair and beaten with a blunt
object on her head before being shot to death.
[10:10:00]
Some of the videos the rebels have posted of themselves add support to the theory that Turkey was in such a hurry to build a militia to fight for them
it did not vet out extremists. It may be now liable for war crimes.
JAMES JEFFREY, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA: We've seen several incidents which we consider war crimes.
MARK ESPER, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: I've seen reports as well. We're trying to monitor them. They are horrible. And if accurate -- and I
assume that they are accurate -- they would be war crimes, as best as I know the law of land warfare.
So I think all those need to be followed up on. I think those responsible should be held accountable. In many cases, it would be the government of
Turkey who should be held accountable for this because we cannot allow those things to happen.
WALSH: Turkey and the rebels have rejected many accusations and often post media of how life has returned to normal under their control and some, with
their behavior here though, posted on the rebels' own Telegram channels, is now distant to ISIS's old videos.
Turkey has loyal rebel forces in Idlib Province, which Western intelligence has said is now unfiltered by Al Qaeda. But it is unclear which units of
rebels Turkey is using.
Will these men stop when Turkey tells them to? Will Turkey tell them to? And what sort of society will they build? Will it have a place for or
reject ISIS?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: In the overwhelming series of questions that this big change inside Syria of the last fortnight leave, the key one is where does this leave
ISIS?
And the most troubling I think thing to realize is that NATO appears they say, that these forces are moderates. They say that a lot of the
accusations of civilian casualties are disinformation and they have denied a lot of the charges against the Syrian rebels acting on their behalf.
But the most troubling conclusion to draw from this, is that it is possible that forces like that -- which one U.S. official said to me, are mostly
extremists -- are now in control and moving around a fair portion of Syrian territory with ISIS still regrouping in a different part of Syria possibly
too. But also, possibly not that far away and we that may up comfortably see these Turkish-backed forces and kind of renewed elements of ISIS in a
common ground, the possible common territory in the months ahead.
You have to bear in mind that while Turkey has always said its been one of the key fighters against extremists, we've seen ourselves, that since 2013
a lot of the jihadists that went into Syria and Iraq to start ISIS and other extremist groups travelled through Turkey. Turkey often criticized
for not doing enough. Another potential moment where radicalism seems to be less of a threat in the mind of the Turkish government than the Kurds at
their southern border -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Sure. Sam, given the clear issues, the clear danger on the ground, we've got a tale of two polls in the U.S., the brand-new CNN poll
shows three-quarters of Americans are concerned about the situation in Syria. However, there's no consensus in the States, it seems, on how to
proceed. A little more than half of those responding thinks the U.S. has a responsibility to remain in Syria. 43 percent do not. Viewers, we want
you to own this conversation. Our question today. Does the U.S. have a responsibility to stay in Syria? Sam, what's your perspective?
KILEY: Well, clearly the Turks have been arguing since the get-go with the collapse of Syria into Civil War, that there should be an internationally
mandated safe zone. Now from their perspective, that also meant a zone that could not be used in their view by Kurdish forces to mount attacks
against Turkey. That is why they've argued that they've gone in and created this buffer zone finally inside Turkey. The proposals from Germany
and others to internationalize that area. The United States has said it would provide air cover to help police it.
Everybody conscious of the difference between perhaps a legitimate concern about having a safe area or demilitarized zone and an area that civilians
could be protected in and a free fire zone in which the Turkish forces, all their proxies could potentially run amok and do a great deal of damage
particularly to the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians. So that is the sort of international context locally.
There is also deep concern -- and the United States has recognized this with an announcement, we understand, reporting from CNN out of the
Pentagon, suggesting that they'll be sending tanks to reinforce the relatively small American force that will remain in control of the southern
oil fields inside Turkey. Because the concern there is that they could end up in the hands once again of the so-called Islamic state. Or indeed,
return to the hands of the Assad regime and provide an important source of funding to his regime at a time when he and his allies have been able to
take over -- or retake a swath of territory without firing a shot -- Becky.
Sam Kiley and Nick Paton Walsh reporting live where it matters. To both of you, thank you.
[10:15:00]
Well, a reminder, Donald Trump says the Kurds are grateful for all that the U.S. has done. But are they really, and if so, why? We'll discuss that
with a representative from the political wing of Kurdish forces that are being pushed out of northern Syria. That coming up in about 20 minutes'
time.
As military tensions linger in Syria, Political ones are ranging into the streets of three countries across our world, Chile, Bolivia, and Lebanon.
All have been paralyzed by protests going on now for days, and there is no end in sight in any of these. In Lebanon and in Chile, the rallies started
over taxes and price hikes. But they grew into a wider discontent over the economy or alleged corruption.
In Bolivia, people took to the streets in the presence of suspected fraud in Sunday's presidential election. Well Lebanon's President addressed his
nation today after more than a week of anti-government rallies. The first reaction on the street is by no means a positive one. Ben Wedeman joining
us from Beirut with more on that. And, Ben, what did Michel Aoun have to say?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michel Aoun in this address on TV -- it was a reported address. He said that -- excuse
me. I'm having interference. I'm sorry. He said that he understood -- he sympathized with the protesters, with their right to demonstrate. But he
also said that people have a right to move around the country. He said that he was in favor of the lifting of secrecy on bank accounts, but there
were no real concrete measures in his speech.
Therefore, the first thing we heard when his speech ended was a chant of khlm, khlm, khlm, which means, all of them, get out. And that has
continued. And today it's been very rainy and therefore not quite as many people on the street.
And it's worth noting that this outbreak in Lebanon which began eight days ago. Since then the banks have been closed since last Thursday.
Universities and schools are closed until further notice. But what is going on in Lebanon is just the beginning of a rather -- the latest part of
a wave that has been sweeping over the Arab world, starting in Algeria and Sudan, now in Lebanon. There's been massive protests in Iraq, and it
appears that this wave is not going to stop here in Lebanon.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WEDEMAN (voice-over): Revolution, they chant. It's now a week since protests broke out across Lebanon. A general strike began Monday. Banks,
schools, and universities are closed, and hundreds of thousands take to the streets, day after day. Lebanon is just the latest country in the Arab
world where the people have said enough to economic stagnation and corruption.
So far this year mass protests have brought down authoritarian regimes in Algeria and Sudan, and others have been shaken by unrest. In Iraq,
security forces killed almost 150 people protesting high unemployment, corruption, and the lack of the most basic public services in an oil-rich
country where the powerful have siphoned off billions.
For the first time in years, Egypt has seen anti-regime protests where the poor are getting poorer and the generals who run the country get richer and
richer. Each country is different but they have a lot in common says activists, Dayna Musidi (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE, ACTIVIST The frustrations of all these people is the same. It's frustration against unemployment, frustration against poverty,
frustration against governmental corruption and governmental impotence. So the frustration across it is the same. And we could argue with the
frustration against neoliberalism, it's a frustration against the kind of capitalism on steroids.
WEDEMAN: From Beirut, it's a pattern.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are (INAUDIBLE) under our circumstances in terms of the dictatorships we live under, whether it is the economic situations
we have to live by. Whether it's unemployment. All the different patterns that we have in the region.
WEDEMAN: Nearly nine years ago the so-called Arab Spring toppled dictators in Egypt, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and sparked the bloody war in Syria.
And with the possible exception of Tunisia, it was an experiment that went terribly wrong.
[10:20:00]
But this time what's different is the focus not on politics but rather economics. The main driver now seems to be anger over the falling
standards of living coupled with the widely held belief that the ruling class elected or otherwise has been on a prolonged looting spree.
(on camera): The veil is slipping, governments and regimes that exploited divisions that stoked fears that enriched themselves and impoverished their
populations, appear to be losing their grips.
(voice-over): What happens in Lebanon may not stay in Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman reporting for you.
Still to come, a severe spike in violence targeting the Palestinian olive harvest has left farmers injured and entire hillsides of olive groves
burned to the ground.
Plus 39 Chinese nationals are dead in England. But if you're in China and you try to find out why, you will see this. The full story is just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We're learning more details about the 39 people found dead in a truck in southeastern England. Essex police -- that is the local forces
there -- have determined that they were Chinese nationals, eight women and 31 men. Police have moved the truck to a secure location about 20 minutes
away from the industrial park where it was found. You see them driving it away here. Authorities say it is meant to maintain the dignity of those
who have lost their lives.
Well the truck's container had traveled to the U.K. from Belgium. Authorities there have launched a human trafficking investigation, and the
U.K. is conducting a murder investigation.
Scott McLean is in Grays in England where this terrible story was uncovered, and David Culver in Beijing. Scott, let me start with you. Is
it any clearer who these victims are or were, and why they were in the back of that truck?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we don't have the answers to those questions, Becky, besides the fact that those 39 are Chinese nationals, 31
of them men, eight women, as you mentioned. And it may be some time before we have more details. Police here in Essex say that they'll have to get
through the autopsy process to determine the cause of death before they can move on to the stage of identification.
Now as you said, Belgium authorities they've opened up their own investigation into who was behind this shipping container and when exactly
those 39 people were loaded onto it. We know from the CEO of the port authority in Zeebrugge in Belgium where this container was originated from.
[10:25:00]
He told local media there that it was unlikely they were loaded on there at the port because this particular container is a refrigeration container and
it is sealed from the outside, completely airtight. Those seals are checked along with the driver transporting the container before it is
actually loaded onto the ship. So it is pretty unlikely at this stage that that is where those people actually boarded.
One other thing to mention, Becky, and that's that this 25-year-old who has been arrested by police, police say that they now have a warrant to hold
him for an additional 24 hours, presumably. That should expire some time overnight though. Bizarrely perhaps, Essex police declined to actually
clarify how long they're able to hold him or when that expires under British law. They can only hold him for up to 96 hours without any charges
and as of right now, there have still been no charges laid -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Scott is in Grays, in England. CNN's coverage of this tragedy in England is being blacked out by Chinese sensors. David, why would China
not want people there to know about this?
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky, we've been monitoring here in Beijing and it's gone out when we have started talking
and keeping a close eye to it. My producer now who is going to be monitoring it as we have this discussion, you and I right now.
But here's the reality. So you have to ask the question, what motivated this. And we know that according to police, these are believed to be
Chinese nationals. So if China is now in the midst of recently celebrating their National Day, for example, and that was a moment Xi Jinping could
tout the progress over the last 70 years that the People's Republic has been in place, you then start to see prosperity coming in, and there's no
question that has been the case. They even talk about eradicating 850 million people from the position of poverty to a lifestyle of somewhat of
comfort.
So then what motivates this? Is it economic? If that's the case, it would put into question what the government here has suggested has been progress.
Is it perhaps an ethnic minority. We've been reporting often on the Uighurs. Is that who were talking about here as potentially being involved
in this. It's unclear. But what we do know is that this is going to be something that while tragic is also going to be questioning the public
relations part of how the Chinese government is going to respond.
And I can tell you now just seeing from my producer, they have indeed blacked out this portion as well. So they're censoring this. This is
trending by the way on Chinese social media, Becky. As they have had had a lot of folks asking, is it really economic reasons that motivated this?
People are questioning that. They're skeptical of it here seeing how good the lifestyle has become for many. And so now they're saying potentially
there's something else behind it and they want to know what exactly might be motivating this. A lot of conspiracy theories are being tossed around
right now on Chinese social media. We will delve into those but that's kind of how it's been portrayed here or at least being inquired about.
ANDERSON: That's fascinating. Scott and David, thank you.
Still ahead on CONNECT THE WORLD, we get back to what is our top story. Russia moves in as U.S. pulls out of Syria. But where does that leave the
Kurds? We'll discuss that after this.
[10:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back. This hour, our big question. Does the U.S. have a responsibility to stay in Syria? U.S. President Trump
congratulating himself on a victory there after pulling U.S. troops out. So we want to know what you think. And so far, the overwhelming response
is, yes, they do. Let us know how you feel about this. And then have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I have just spoken to General Mazloum, a wonderful man, the commander-in-chief of the SDF Kurds, and he was extremely thankful for what
the United States has done, could not have been more thankful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The U.S. President there touting how grateful the Kurdish forces are to the United States for all the country has done for them. But one
has to wonder at this point, are they really thankful? The Syrian Kurds were staunch U.S. allies and partners in the fight against ISIS. That is,
until Donald Trump announced a removal of American troops in northern Syria, leaving the Kurds there to fend for themselves.
Well on Wednesday Mr. Trump claimed it's a, quote, great outcome. But his special envoy for Syria says, Turkish incursion was a tragedy for the Kurds
with war crimes committed by Turkish backed forces.
Bassam Ishak is the representative to the U.S. for the Syrian Democratic Counsel. That is the political wing of the Kurdish forces who fought for
years alongside the United States. Joining us now from Washington, and sir, it's good to have you on board. The head of the force fighting until
now alongside the U.S. and Syria thanking Mr. Trump for his, quote, tireless efforts to stop the Turkey offensive. Do you applaud Donald
Trump's efforts in securing what he calls a victory?
BASSAM ISHAK, SYRIAN DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE TO THE U.S.: Thank you, Becky, for this question. It's a fact on the ground we have
applauded. But there is a fact on the ground that we have about 200 now IDPs who were forced to leave the area that was taken over by Pro Turkey
forces, and these people are not able to go back. Supposedly the agreement between the U.S. and Turkey that people can go back to the area that they
were forced to leave. Unfortunately two people tried to go back yesterday and they were killed by snipers.
Also there are people now who want to go have access to their cotton harvest, but these pro-Turkey forces saying, you have no land here anymore,
get out. So it's not perfect. Also, there has been many killings, many human rights abuses by these pro-Turkey Syrian forces who are acting just
like ISIS actually was acting. And this is in an area that was pretty safe. Where people have been for the last eight, nine years living safely
with no problems. It was no problems for the local people and no problems to Turkey from that region.
ANDERSON: Ankara will disagree with that and they have for many months if not years, certainly many months on the international stage --
ISHAK: I agree with your disagreement.
ANDERSON: -- been speaking about this region.
ISHAK: Yes, it's been like many, many year that this area because (INAUDIBLE) it has been safe to the local residents, yes.
ANDERSON: Now the Kremlin spokesman said that if the Syrians don't withdraw, they will be, quote, steamrolled by the Turkish army. What is
your reaction to that language? You are already suggesting people are having issues on the ground, significant issues on the ground.
ISHAK: Yes, well, according to the Americans and according to what President Trump shared yesterday, that Turkish offense has stopped at this
regional area.
[10:35:00]
So it's not going any further. But according to the Kremlin and to the Russians, that we are under threat as people of northeast of Syria, of
Turkey coming in and consequently they want us to surrender our region to the Syrian regime. So we are now having to make a decision. Do we believe
the Russians or do we believe the Americans? So this is the dilemma that we are facing right now. We don't want to surrender.
ANDERSON: Well let me ask you that question. Who do you believe? Who do you believe? The U.S. or the Russians, simple question.
ISHAK: Yes, well, the Russian and in Afrin -- in March of 2018 they left us to be -- to be an easy target for Turkey to come and occupy Afrin and
then to continue after the occupation with ethnic cleansing where 300,000 residents, mostly Kurds, were forced to leave. And then other Syrians were
brought from the suburbs of Damascus into their place. And the problem we are facing now is about the Turkish threat and what they have expressed
that they want to bring 1 to 2 million Syrian IDPs in Turkey and put them in this region.
ANDERSON: Sure.
ISHAK: So we are having to face the Turkish/Syrian army, which is a radical religious army that is committing human rights abuses just like
ISIS and has actually released ISIS prisoners. And also, we have to face up to the threat of ethnic demographic change and ethnic cleansing. This
is how we're paid for fighting and defeating ISIS.
ANDERSON: We are asking our viewers, sir, does the United States have a responsibility to stay in Syria? So far 80 percent of those who have given
us their view, who are watching this show as you and I speak, 80 percent of the people are telling us that the U.S. does have a responsibility to stay
in Syria. Do you as a Kurd and do your people feel betrayed by the U.S. withdrawal?
ISHAK: Look, I'm from northeast Syria. I'm not a Kurd. I'm a Syriac Christian. But I am working with all the people of northeast Syria as
Syriac's or Arabs or Kurds together and we have worked to protect our region from the extremists. We have succeeded with the help of the U.S.
now. We believe there is a responsibility and interest for the United States not to leave us and to face those religious extremists who are
coming under the wings of Turkey. Yes, there is a moral responsibility. This has been a safe place.
It has given up 11,000 mortar to defeat ISIS. We -- there is a moral responsibility to protect these people. And then there is an interest. If
ISIS is resurrected, who is going to fight it other than us? No one else was willing to -- from all Syrians was willing to fight ISIS. So there is
an interest also to sustain it.
ANDERSON: You are posing some very important questions, sir. Turkey is being accused of war crimes against civilians in Syria. The U.S. envoy for
Syria said that Turkey is responsible, backed up by the Defense Secretary, Mark Esper. Just have a listen to what he told CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ESPER, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: I've seen the reports as well. We are trying to monitor them. They are horrible. And if accurate -- and I
assume that they are accurate -- they would be war crimes as best as I know the law of land warfare. So I think all of those need to be followed up
on. I think those responsible should be held accountable. In many cases it would be the government of Turkey should be held accountable for this
because they cannot allow those things to happen.
ANDERSON: So do you believe war crimes have been committed?
ISHAK: Yes, we have documents and we have videos. And those who committed it actually have boasted about it and posted online. So definitely there
has been war crimes and the U.S. is aware of that. And you know, it's like you're defeating ISIS one way and then you're letting them back in the
other way.
[10:40:00]
Turkey is not holding to its commitment and what it has promised Vice President Pence when he was in Ankara. There are human abuses against all
Syrians there, especially against religious minorities and they had promised to protect the religious minorities. But religious minorities of
all faith have been suffering since these extremists, pro-Turkey forces have captured this region.
ANDERSON: With that, we're going to have to leave it there, sir. But we do very much appreciate your time. Thank you.
ISHAK: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: And when we come back, a video -- you 10 out of 10 do not want to miss. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well here's something you do not see every day and even when you do see it you might not quite believe it. You are looking at none other
than superstar gymnast Simone Biles stepping towards the mound at the start of game to, yes, in the baseball World Series with a full backflip or
whatever that twisty thing was. And then giving the first pitch of the game.
Amanda's with us. I don't really know what all the fuss is about. That's how you and I come in to work every day, isn't it?
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Oh, Becky, it's all the parties paying off, hey. No. Simone Biles has made a career of, you know, making the
most of her moments. And wow, she did that for her team. She may be though hoping to distract from the fact per team are really struggling this
this World Series. They are now two down in the best of seven series to the Washington Nationals, who are really running ride. They're one of the
hottest teams in any sport on the planet right now, looking to win baseball's biggest prize for the first time. We've got news of that and a
very big call for an England couch. Ahead of their, Rugby World Cup semifinals coming your way in "WORLD SPORT" in just a couple of minutes --
Becky.
ANDERSON: Can't wait. Thank you. Taking a break, folks. Back after this.
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:57:00]
DAVIES: There's plenty more sports on our award-winning website. Going have a look at cnn.com/Sports. It's just won best sports website for the
editor and publisher EPI awards. An international contest that has been going for 24 years. So on that high note, it's time to hand back to Becky.
ANDERSON: Thank you. Up next, my international exclusive with a man from the inner circle of Turkey's President as the country rose through Syria
backed up by Russia. That's is straight after this short break. Stay with us.
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[11:00:00]
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