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U.S. Forces Describe Surviving Iranian Missile Attack; The Importance Of Turkey Amid Middle East Tensions; Trump Claims Soleimani Plitted To Blow Up U.S. Embassies. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired January 13, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:00:44]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The only communication from President Trump so far as this tweet, all is well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We continue to receive word that Iran is standing down.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nobody wants to see this become a more dangerous hotspot.
JAVAD ZARIF, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Do Americans feel more secure? Are Americans welcome today in this region?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think quite to the contrary, we may see an increased risk of war with Iraq.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They will receive a crushing response.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are not looking to start a war with Iran. But we are prepared to finish one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi. This IS CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: For tonight they told U.S. it was fine. It is far from it. It is 7:00 p.m. in Baghdad, 11:00 in the
morning in D.C. and right on 8:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi. In a moment, the fallout from regional heavyweight Turkey and the man some cool Erdogan's
brain. We begin this hour with incredible and exclusive reporting. We hear from U.S. troops about what it was like in the moment says Iranian missiles
hit their Air Base in Iraq last week.
They were stationed at the Al-Assad Airbase. CNN was the first network to reach and report from that base after the attack. Arwa Damon has more on
what happened in this exclusive report. Warning some of the language may be offensive but it captures some of what were terrifying moments for U.S.
troops.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy (BLEEP) good damn. Oh shit, bro (BLEEP)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: American forces are not used to being on the receiving end of this kind of firepower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Another one, another one.
DAMON: They are usually the ones delivering it.
ROLAND SWEETING, SENIOR AIRMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE: I mean, I'm not going to lie, I was scared at the moment. But it happened and it's something that we
were ready for. Ready as can be.
DAMON: Ready for some sort of ground attack by Iran's proxies, ready for mortars and rockets, but this base is not equipped to defend against
ballistic missiles. On any other night, some of the 2-1/2,000 troops and contractors would have been in the area's hit.
LT. COL. TIM GARLAND, U.S. MILITARY: The ballistic missile reporting started to come in a couple hours before the event. And so at that point we
were -- we were really scrambling on, you know, how to protect against that. And so it really came down to dispersion, you know, putting space
between people and then also getting them into hardened bunkers just to -- just to provide that protection.
DAMON: At 11:00 p.m., those who could started to hunker down in bunkers built by their former enemy.
This is a Saddam Hussein era bunker.
LT. COL. STACI COLEMAN, U.S. AIR FORCE: It is. So we felt it would be somewhat safe in here because it was designed to take, you know, some kind
of hit or it was built for, you know, ballistic missiles.
DAMON: At 1:34 a.m., the first missiles hit.
COLEMAN: And these doors, every time one of the missiles hit, the doors would kind of sink in.
DAMON: Dozens of troops were still out in the open, holding their positions to protect the base. There was still the threat of incoming rockets,
mortars and a ground assault. Pilots were still at their stations operating drones.
MIKE PRIDGEON, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER, U.S. ARMY: As I was running -- going across the gravel, I could -- look out to like the eastern sky and I see
this just orange streak. So start sprinting and yelling incoming, getting everybody, kind of a warning. And then it hit. So, yes.
DAMON: Flames swallowed up the drone team's living quarters. Some 30 troops would have been sleeping here had they not been ready. Others rushed around
the base as missiles came down, looking for anyone who may have been injured, checking on the base's defenses.
Along the base perimeter, young soldiers on their first tour fought the instinct to flee and stayed, manning the guard towers.
ERIC KNOWLES, U.S. ARMY: It was definitely scary at first, but we both knew we had a job to do, manning the tower and keeping eyes front. So we had to
do that more than anything, focused on that, try not to focus on everything behind us.
[11:05:04]
DAMON: When one strike hit too close, they vaulted into the back of a truck and held their position there.
It was a night unlike any here had experienced, hunkered down for about two hours, unable to fight back. Some crammed into bunkers that weren't built
to withstand missiles like these.
These kinds of small bunkers exist throughout the base, but they're meant to protect against rockets and mortars. The ballistic missiles that were
fired are about 3,000 times more powerful than that. The blast from this one knocked over a four-ton T-wall. But if that hadn't happened, those who
were sheltering here probably would not have survived.
Come daybreak, fear of finding out who was killed or wounded was eclipsed by the joyous shock that no one was.
It's like what are those reunions like when you kind of see someone who you're close to and you realize that you're both OK?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a warm feeling deep in the heart that all your friends, your family here is OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It just felt like forever since I'd seen my guys. And, you know, there's a lot of hugging and a lot of tears and a lot of -- it's
just -- it's just a great feeling knowing that all your people are OK.
DAMON: And this is where you used to?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, this is my room. A little bit more open floor plan now. But, yes, my bunk was right in the corner right there. And this is my
neighbor up here. Everything's obviously gone. It's -- just happy no one was inside, you know?
DAMON: It's kind of freaky looking at it like this, isn't it?
PRIDGEON: Yes. It's surreal. I'm not bothered looking at it, it's just, you know, it's a reminder the threat still exists.
KIMO KELTZ, SPECIALIST, U.S. ARMY: I think, you know, we have each other. We had each other that night and we'll always. It's a brotherhood that will
never break because of it.
DAMON: Does it change your perspective on life?
COLEMAN: It does. It does. It could, you know, it could be over in a, you know, in an instant. It really does. And it really makes me value mostly my
team.
DAMON: The base is still on high alert. The dining facility is open, but people eat elsewhere to avoid a large crowd gathering.
The military says they are ready for what may come next. Iran's proxies on the ground continue to vow revenge. Even for those who have seen war
before, this was unlike any other battlefield experience. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness that comes with being under ballistic missile
attack, to be at the mercy of the enemy, one that could strike again even if it's not like this.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Al-Assad Air Base, Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Iraq kept proving to be a battlefield for the U.S. and Iran. And those in the neighborhood are worried about fighting spilling into their
countries or getting dragged in themselves. Among them, Turkey, which borders both Iraq and Iran and of course, is a key American ally through
NATO. So it's found itself right in the middle hosting a number of U.S. basis. Turkey's president, also close to the Iranian regime.
Meeting its president as well as Mr. Trump. So it's perhaps no surprise that President Erdogan is calling for restraint from both sides. Ibrahim
Kalin is the chief adviser and spokesman for the Turkish president. He has met with all the big players and officials visiting the region recently
tried to mitigate Iran-U.S. tensions in this image here. You see Mr. Kalin meeting the U.S. special envoy for Syria, James Jeffrey in Istanbul, just
this Saturday.
He joins me now live from (INAUDIBLE) and thank you, sir for joining us. The Trump administration says the killing of Qassem Soleimani was an act of
self-defense. President Trump himself saying that for U.S. embassies were a threat. Let's just have a listen to specifically what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I can reveal that I believe it would have been four embassies. And I think that probably, Baghdad
already started. They were really amazed that we came in with that kind of a force. We came in with very powerful force and drove them out. You know,
that ended almost immediately. But Baghdad certainly would have been the lead but I think it would have been four embassy, could have been military
bases.
Could have been a lot of other things too. But it was eminent and then all of a sudden, he was gone.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: Referring that to Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian Military General. Does Turkey have similar intelligence to back that assertion up? That
intelligence op, sir?
IBRAHIM KALIN, CHIEF ADVISER TO THE TURKISH PRESIDENT: Well, the U.S. has the intelligence that President Trump just shared, we know from our
contacts with the Americans. But you have to see this against the background of this building up of tensions between the United States and
Iran in the region. And we are, of course, very concerned about this escalation. It looks calm at the moment, but I don't think even killing --
either killing Soleimani or attacking U.S. bases in Iraq or other places by Iranians will solve the problem.
It will under delay it or it will just simply more -- make it more complicated. The real issue is that Iraq has turned into a battlefield for
political power, power muscling between United States and Iran and other countries, a lot of proxy forces in the region used by both sides. So that
is the root of the problem there. Of course, we've called for de-escalation not only between the United States and Iran, but also with other regional
powers.
And we have spoken to the Americans, to the Iranians to make sure that the whole region is not swamped in this another cycle of violence and
escalation between the United States and Iran. But I think, as I said that the main issue is that this tension has been building up for a long, long
time. And there are many reasons obviously, probably each side will cite a number of reasons why they're doing all this, but it's the region that is
suffering.
It doesn't help the station in Iraq. It doesn't actually help the fight against ISIS. It doesn't help with efforts to bring peace and stability to
Iraq to Syria, the fight against terrorism and the larger regional issue. So that's why we -- our president has called de-escalation for further
diplomacy, for smart diplomacy.
ANDERSON: Right.
KALIN: -- is one of the very few leaders in the world who can speak to both the leader of the United States and the leader of Iran. And perhaps, you
know, some of our efforts will be needed to make sure that things do not get out of right.
ANDERSON: Right. And that line on de-escalation is echoed across this region by many of the leaders across the area. Do you -- I just want to --
nearly down to one-point hit, the U.S. sees this targeted killing of Qassem Soleimani is reestablishing the element of deterrence. Was the US justified
in taking out Soleimani?
KALIN: They have their own reasons, but as we have seen, it was a provocative act, and it sent actually shockwaves across the region for
those especially who are older, the concern about the very fragile nature of the security architecture in the region, Iraqis were concerned, they
were concern and many others obviously in the region. And if you look at the possible consequences of this, we hope this has come to a halt at the
moment, not to an end, but to hold a maybe a pause.
And let's hope it doesn't get any worse than this. But targeted killings obviously, could be taken up as a legal issue. Doing this in another
country, obviously was an issue for Iraqi sovereignty. But on the other hand, obviously, all these proxies, proxy wars in the region, whether in
Iraq and Syria or in Yemen and other places are also a source of problem. And this undermines whatever is left of public order or state structure in
the region.
But one of the things that our region suffers from is the rise of non-state actors, and they are use or manipulation by various nation states or
countries for their own purposes. The older they have a problem of failing stage of failed states in the region, Iraq is trying to recover from all
that has gone through over the last couple of decades. Syria is obviously is almost destroyed as a country, we are trying to let the political
process move forward.
So when this kind of actions are taken by both sides, they -- you have to look at the larger picture here. It -- really, it doesn't help -- it may
bring some political gains in the short term, but in the long run, it actually puts everybody's security and prosperity at risk.
ANDERSON: Turkey no stranger to proxy wars, not least in Syria and in Libya, we will discuss Libya a little later and Turkey's involvement in
those proxy wars. In certain places criticized by many. I just want to get your thoughts specifically on what we are seeing in the region, post this most recent ratcheting up of efforts
between the U.S. and the Iran, this sort of tit for tat. How concerned are you, sir, about the current tension between the two and its potential for
destabilizing this region?
[11:15:12]
ANDERSON: Explain how you believe that could happen.
KALIN: Well, United States is a powerful country, has a lot of security interests, obviously in the region in the fight against ISIS. We are part
of the coalition against ISIS together with the United States. We would like to stabilize the Iraq, we would like to see the end of violence and
war in Syria, we would like to see a peaceful and just resolution to the Palestinian conflict, we would like to see the end of fighting and
suffering in Yemen.
So on all of this kind of broader goals, we are on the same page. So United States obviously plays an important role. On the other hand, Iran is also
an important player in the region. You cannot ignore or dismiss Iran and plan anything in the region. You have to engage them, we have advocated the
policy of engagement rather than alienation against Iran, whether it's the nuclear program, whether it's the station in Iraq, or in Yemen or other
places.
So you cannot dismiss Iran either. So that's why the messages that have been given so far by President Trump to de-escalate and also by Iranian
officials, that they would like to see an end of this, you know, cycle of violence. So that's a good sign but still more smart diplomacy will be
needed in the days to come.
ANDERSON: Mr. Kalin, is the answer for the U.S. pullets troops from Iraq?
KALIN: They are not pulling out actually, they have spoken to the Iraqis. As far as I know they have SOFA Agreement. They are there to fight against
ISIS even though the Iraqi parliament passed a recommended resolution and send it to the Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi who's a take -- caretaker
prime minister at the moment. But I think they have or they're about to reach some kind of an agreement to continue to fight against ISIS.
We don't want to see obviously ISIS to come back in any form or shape and take advantage of this tension between the United States and Iran. By the
way, I mean, there they claim they they're both against the presence of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and other places, and we support that fight. So we
have to be careful not to let ISIS or al-Qaeda or other terrorist elements, including PKK, and its Syrian branch YPG and others take advantage of this
situation.
So when I say smart diplomacy that really refers to this other elements, may be unintended consequences of such actions which --
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Let's just discuss that. Let's discuss that little further. Turkey is a member nation of NATO. President Trump says he wants the
alliance to be more involved in this region of the Middle East. Let's just have a listen to specifically what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Today, I am going to ask NATO to become much more involved in the Middle East process. Over the last three years under my leadership, our
economy is stronger than ever before and America has achieved energy independence. These historic accomplishment shades our strategic
priorities, we are now the number one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world. We are independent and we do not need Middle East
oil.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And one question is whether he was factually correct in that, but NATO getting involved in the Middle East is the -- is the question I want
to press with you. How would that work and would turkey welcome such a move?
KALIN: Well, our president actually has called for more active role for NATO in the fight against terrorism to protect its members, one of which
obviously is Turkey. And we have suffered from terrorism, from PKK terrorism, YPG terrorism, al-Qaeda, ISIS terrorism. And we have raised this
issue before. So President Trump has a point there. Of course, it doesn't mean that you start sending NATO troops to Iraq, to Syria or other places.
That needs to be, you know, worked out in a -- in a -- in a smart way, in an intelligent way to serve the purposes of the alliance but also protect
the members. When you have a power vacuum anywhere in the world and you have power this equilibrium. Obviously, unintended consequences are bound
to follow. And perhaps NATO can play a role there in the fight against terrorism, helping rebuild Iraq, as security wise, helping the state
institutions strengthen themselves in terms of facing challenges for security for public safety, for border crossings and things like that.
[11:20:01]
KALIN: I think that -- that's an idea. But the main thing is that whether in Iraq or in Syria, if the country is put their self-interest before the
interest of the region and everyone, then we are bound to make similar mistakes. Because we live in an age where none of us is safe. Not single
one of us is safe until all of us are safe. And we have to keep that perspective in mind, if you're going to, you know, want to secure our own
safety as turkey or as the United States or as Iran, we have to take into account the security of other countries, meaning Iraq, meaning Syria,
people in the Yemen and other places and support the state institutions so that this power vacuum doesn't lead to further deterioration of the
station.
ANDERSON: Standby, sir. Standby. Our view is going to have from Ibrahim Kalin in a moment as we discuss not only this, but the other conflicts that
are roiling this region. That being of course Syria and indeed, Libya attend the box. That after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. So we have been speaking about the crisis between the U.S. and Iran with Ibrahim Kalin, the
chief adviser and spokesman to the Turkish president. Turkey an incredibly important regional player. I want to turn our attention though as we have
been discussing the U.S. in Iraq, so we should not forget the other important conflicts happening right now.
Not least that in Libya. Now, Ibrahim, let me just get our viewers up to speed with that warring sides set to meet in Moscow today for talks. This
after Russia and Turkey brokered a ceasefire albeit a fragile one. Here you see the Recep Tayyip Erdogan meeting Libya is internationally recognized
Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Istanbul on Sunday. Sir, Turkey has a very big stake in the game here. Why? What is anchor and strategy in Libya?
KALIN: Well, historically, we have had a very long standing good relations with Libya. Secondly, we are of course very much concerned about political
stability in North Africa. Libya is a key player there. What happens in Libya doesn't stay there. It affects all the neighboring countries,
Algeria, Tunisia, Sudan and others, but also the Mediterranean.
[11:25:08]
KALIN: So the Europeans are concerned, the migration, the flow of weapons and, you know, many other things. Plus, this conflict has been going on for
almost seven, eight years now, like in Syria, and all the international community really has to come together to bring an end to violence there.
And of course, it's a complicated situation, you have all kinds of tribes, political groups, military factions on the ground.
So we have made a number of efforts. We work with the internationally- recognized Government of Libya, the national accord government headed by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj. And even though the Haftar side, which has
violated actually one agreement after another is mainly responsible for all this military violence that's been going on in the country.
We do not, you know, see them as out of the game. That's why our team is in Moscow today.
Our two presidents have called for a ceasefire on January the 8th, and ceasefire became affected as of last night. But of course, the military
details, the lines, the battle line, how to monitor the ceasefire. All those details need to be worked out. That's why they're in Moscow at the
moment. And we just heard from our foreign ministers that Haftar side asked for more time to look at the specific terms of the ceasefire.
And they will take -- I guess, until the morning, and then we hope -- we heard from the Russian side that they will sign up to it. But the Sarraj
side actually sign up to the ceasefire on day one.
ANDERSON: Right. What we have here is once again a country whose future is being considered and broke it in a capital thousands of miles away. You
were an envoy, Ghassan Salame is calling for international monitoring of this ceasefire and he himself calls it fragile in an interview with
Bloomberg on Sunday. He said my quote, "When you have weapons and people with weapons sometimes they have big temptations to use."
This is a conflict where all stakeholders it seems have broken U.S. arm embargoes and have no respect it seems for Libyans, people on the ground.
What is Turkey? What is Turkey going to do to help ensure that this fragile ceasefire provides some sort of blueprint for a peaceful future?
KALIN: Well, we support the U.N. process, the U.N. Special Envoy Ghassan Salame has done a good work so far. We support the Berlin process and
leaders' summit that will be convened by the Germans, German Chancellor Merkel, hopefully next -- this coming Sunday on the 19th and our efforts to
establish the ceasefire before the Berlin Conference will in fact help the agenda and bring an end to this violence.
Obviously, everything is fragile in Libya, not only the ceasefire, but the political process itself, the U.N. process, everything is fragile. So I
mean, let's admit, we are not dealing with a perfect situation. We're trying to bring an end to this conflict where you have so many different
factions, tribes, and of course, international actors, stakeholders and many others. That's why we are talking to everybody, to Americans, to
Italians, the Italian Prime Minister was here just a few hours ago. He left for Egypt now he will hold talks there.
So we are hoping that we will build up this momentum for the U.N. process to move forward. But for this to happen, this ceasefire must be honored.
The hostilities must come to an end. If the fighting continues say tonight, tomorrow, not only the ceasefire will be ineffective but also the U.N.
process. All these diplomatic efforts will go down the drain but more importantly it's the Libyan people who will continue to suffer and -- yes,
this conflict will low cost Libya and everybody else.
ANDERSON: And you make a very good point. Let me put this to you, Mr. Kalin. The European Union is warning Turkey over its involvement in Libya
condemning its decision to send troops to the country. I just want our viewers to hear this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): My European and Egyptian colleagues and I underline the risk of escalation
taking place in Libya, which threatens to destabilize the whole region from Maghreb to Sahel. The agreements conclude between the government of the
National Accord and Turkey deliberately deviate from international law and worsens the situation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: OK. Top officials also say it's outside influence that is making the crisis worse. How does Turkey sending in military experts and military
to Libya? Not hinder the situation, sir?
KALIN: Well, it's actually our efforts -- diplomatic efforts and our support for the National Accord government that has brought a degree of
balance to this conflict.
[11:30:09]
KALIN: And as a result of which we have the ceasefire. We are still working on it. But that was possible only, thanks to our efforts and our
president's efforts. And in fact, our European colleagues tell us this in private conversation is thanks to your efforts that now we have the
ceasefire, even though it's fragile, it's still need -- it's still needs work. But if we look at the facts, the French foreign minister wants to
face the facts I think they should revisit their own support for Haftar who has killed just a few days ago.
14 Military School students unarmed in Libya, and they are not holding Haftar responsible. In fact, they are the ones Egypt and others, providing
all kinds of weapons, airplanes, jet fighters, and militia, Janjaweed Militia for example, from Sudan bringing mercenaries from Chad, from Niger
and from other places. They're the ones who are fueling this conflict. And now they turn around and blame us.
If E.U. wants to be relevant in this conflict, I think they have to appreciate Turkey's efforts to bring an end to this -- to this violence.
Look at the statements by the U.N. In fact, they appreciate what are -- what we are trying to do. There -- we're working with the internationally
recognized Government of Libya. They're supporting a general. God knows where he came from, God knows who's financing him of what we know.
ANDERSON: All right.
KALIN: But -- well, anyway, everybody knows, you know, what's going on there. But our course of action at least has brought a degree of balance
and made the conditions for the ceasefire possible.
ANDERSON: OK. And with that, I've got to take a break. It's the bottom of the hour here in Abu Dhabi. Ibrahim Kalin, always a pleasure. Thank you
very much indeed for joining us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Royal romance turning into a crisis. Almost 100 years ago. Britain's King Edward VIII coming under severe pressure to abdicate the
throne after falling in love with American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Sound familiar? Well, it ought to fast forward to today. Britain's most senior
royals meeting to figure out how to handle a tough family affair of their own. Discussing plans for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan
see in here to take a step back from their royal duties.
CNN's World Correspondent Max Foster, he was sources through the royal court just outside with the meeting is taking place for is it one of the
Queen's private houses. What do we know at this point, Max?
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We don't know whether it's started or not because we know the Duchess in Canada, we don't know which
part of Canada (INAUDIBLE) needs to be up at a reasonable time. So it's early morning and, you know, parts of Canada could just be starting now. We
don't know how long the meeting will last for, we do know that they've got a series of options in front of them put together by palace officials,
government officials, about possible roles going forward.
They're going to sit down, they're gonna thrash them out. Difficulty here is the Sussex is a very clear about what they want. And also the other side
aren't -- are pretty clear they aren't satisfied with that. Is there some common ground, it's going to be interesting to see it all play out. Harry
will be in the room, of course, the Duchess dialing in from Canada. So it's quite an unusual setup to decide something so large.
I'm sure everyone's done their research going into it. They know what they want, is whether or not they can find some constructive middle ground to
work from.
ANDERSON: This is massive, right? So who exactly is to blame for Harry and Megan's decision if anyone -- well, they believe as far as I understand it,
the British tabloids have been vicious towards them and Megan, in particular. Peggy Drexler, Max, a research psychologist and author, wrote
an op ed for CNN on exactly that subject in it. She writes, they ran her out of town and now they are mad, she is leaving.
Are those accusations that she was or has been run out of town fair?
FOSTER: You know, a lot of Meghan in particular has got a huge online support base, and they certainly feel that the royal family didn't support
her and forced her out, they didn't accept her, and that the Duchess simply wouldn't accept that. So therefore, she wants out and she wants to forge
her own career outside the Royal folds. Obviously, within the family, they don't feel that that's the case at all. They very much did support her.
And this just isn't the role for her. She perhaps misunderstood what it mean to join the royal family. It's not a celebrity culture. Yes, they're
famous, but they're not celebrities. They've got public duties. And those duties fall above the individual. And I think that's the -- there is a
clash there. I think actually, Harry is the one trying to bridge all of this because he does understand that public service aspect of it.
And he does want to continue in a royal role. We just don't know how much the Duchess wants to continue. Some suggestion in the papers today that
she's the one that wants out more than Harry.
ANDERSON: Yes. I mean, 2019 was another anisole (INAUDIBLE) it's not like the Queen hasn't had any of those in the past. And now this falling on
bales of LSU late in 2019, facing the royal family. Prince Andrew, of course, stepping back or quite frankly being sacked from his royal duties
over his connection to the convicted sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. How big was that compared to what is going on with Harry and Meghan?
FOSTER: Well, you know, neither of them, I think necessarily damage the core monarchy, which is that direct line of succession because we've seen
in both of those cases, we've seen the Queen and Charles and William lock horns and work together as one cohesive unit. And that's the direct line of
succession on which the monarchy is built. So I think that part of it is strong. But obviously, in terms of family crises, we've had two very big
ones, indeed, is whether or not they can get through this latest one.
Andrew was very compliant effectively, he did step back immediately from a public role, which is what the Queen advised him to having taken soundings
from William and Charles. This is going to be the test about today's meeting. If the Duchess, for example, says, I'm not accepting this new deal
you're presenting today, they're an impasse, and that is a crisis and it could turn into a crisis for the monarchy or the monarch at least.
But she might be left with some sort of -- she might have to choose between what Charles William I feel is right. And what Meghan and Harry feel is
right.
[11:40:01]
FOSTER: And that's going to be a horrible dilemma for her. But ultimately whenever we've seen her in these situations she put service above
everything else. So I suggest that she would probably go with her direct as whatever they view.
ANDERSON: Picture of happier times for Meghan and Prince Harry. Their trip to South Africa late last year. Max was on that trip of course. So, Max,
thank you for that. That's the summit at Sandringham and more on that as we get it. Well, still come this hour. We'll get back to one of our top
stories. Protesters out in the streets once again in Tehran. Anger and grief escalating and spreading it seems after the government admitted to
shooting down a passenger jet. More after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Iran right now dealing with the fallout after acknowledging Saturday that it had mistakenly shot down a Ukrainian passenger jet last
week killing all 176 people on board. The emission, igniting grief outrage, calls for justice in Iran. Anti-government protesters back holding the
streets for a third day today voicing their anger. Some are calling for Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to step down.
CNN's International Diplomatic Editor Nic Robinson has been monitoring that outrage in Iran. Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: And we've heard from military commanders in Iran and political leaders in Iran saying that they
are sorry that they're sad. One military commander even said that he would rather -- he was on the plane the worst day of his life. But this
contraction from leaders isn't what's playing out on the streets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: On the second night of protesting, violence in Iran is escalating and spreading. In Tehran, security forces shoot into crowds of
protesters. People scream, they are shooting at us. Go down. Many people are hit. A woman shouts, my foot, my foot. A man nearby sees her yells, oh,
my god, she was hit. Iran denying it fired at protesters saying it only used tear gas.
Chaos and confusion as crowds rail on Iran's leaders in bitter response to the downing of the Iranian passenger jet last week. The protests spreading
across the country to Kermanshah in western Iran and Northern City of Babel where police arrested protesters loading them into large vans. Clashes
with police were reported in more than a dozen cities. Where chants of death to the supreme leader have become widespread.
[11:45:05]
ROBERTSON: And in contrast to the pro-Soleimani crowds last week, protesters now burning his picture, calling him and the supreme leader
murderers.
These protests, a throw-back to months ago, protesters clashed with police over price hikes. The anger now, the same. Protesters believing the
leadership does not care about people. Could have saved lives by grounding civilian flights the night of their attack on U.S. bases.
In an incredibly rare admission, one of Iran's top commanders apologized for the mistake. Said, he wished he had died on the plane.
But on the streets his apparent contrition seems to count for nothing. The regime intent on crushing these protests despite President Trump's warnings
not to, just as they have in the past.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: And in London today, Becky, Iran's ambassador for the U.K. called in by the British Foreign Secretary to get an opponent to give an --
to give an apology to get an apology from the Iranian ambassador for the arrest. Near one of these protests over the weekend of the British
ambassador in Iran, the British Foreign Secretary saying there is a path of diplomacy selected for Iran.
ANDERSON: He knew what, when, and indeed, you know, what is -- what will happen next with regard this tragic loss of life from those who are on this
plane -- on this plane? I want to just hear a little more from the streets in Iran. Protesters say the government should have known better and should
have been more careful. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): I don't know why they didn't cancel the flights last night. I think the National Security Council
should have made that decision and they did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't think it was right and simple to say sorry and it was just a mistake. It was possible that it was
a mistake of one person, but it was intentional. Nearly 200 people were killed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And there was a point here and we are hearing this from Iranian after Iranian after Iranian condemning the behavior of a regime who they
you see putting a revolutionary ideology ahead of the security and indeed prosperity of its people. The question is, will this tragedy force a
reckoning? Is this as some experts suggest Iran's Chernobyl?
ROBERTSON: it doesn't appear to be happening at the moment. And we can say that because of what we're seeing on the streets that Iran is using the
same tactics and issues before to put down protests that criticize the leadership. The question at the moment has to be how big do these protests
go? And what scale of refreshing to the -- does the Iranian leadership use? What is clear is that people are very focused on the street.
They're not fooled by what they're hearing. In military terms, the only reason to allow civilian passenger jets to continue to fly that night would
have been in military terms to (INAUDIBLE) and hamper any efforts of United States retribution for missiles or sending planes into Iranian airspace.
And their calculation as you -- as you said there that people recognize their leadership cares little for them, a much more about exporting its
revolution and continuing its revolution. So there's no indication yet that they're really changing tactics.
ANDERSON: Nic Robertson is in the house. Our International Diplomatic Editor, thank you. We want to give you a look at some (INAUDIBLE) to the
plane shoot down in Iranian media. Look at this from a government newspaper, no less. The names of those killed, written into the shape of a
plane wing.
Other headlines, urging those responsible for mishandling the tragedy to "One apologize and resign." Going to take a very short break. Back after
this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:51:09]
ANDERSON: It's the middle of the night in the Philippines where the government is urging a total evacuation of almost a half a million people
near the capital. They are warning of a possible explosive eruption from the Taal Volcano. It could happen hours from now or it could happen days
from now. This is a time lapse of the ash plume that's been blowing more than 12 kilometers into the sky.
Well, the ash cloud blanketing parts of the country. It looks a bit like snow, doesn't it? But it is -- it's extremely toxic to those breathing it
in much heavier than snow when mixed with water. The weight alone until it could cause roofs to collapse. We just do not know when the volcano might
unleash its full, destructive power. Well as for now, a state of emergency has been declared in areas around it.
The mountain is set on the island of Luzon next to a lake. It is an extremely populated area and not far from Manila. The ground has been
shaking for days now. Another explosive eruption could even trigger a tsunami. Well, George with CNN Philippines got close to the volcano for us
and filed this report.
GERG CAHILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Taal Volcano is under alert level four. It means a hazardous or dangerous eruption is imminent. The country's
seismologists and scientists are warning of a volcanic tsunami and landslides. The hope of course is this volcanic activity would slow down.
It's been more than 24 hours since Taal started erupting, spewing ash and smoke as high as 100 meters.
It caught many of us including authority by surprise. People made a mad rush to buy facemasks like the one I'm wearing right now until supply ran
out. The initial eruption was team driven, meaning no lava was involved but less than 24 hours later, magma started to come out of the crater.
Residents in the general area had to move to safer grounds covered in ash full. Based on initial numbers, over 16,000 families have been evacuated
and the province of Batangas where the volcano is located is already under a state of calamity.
Ash fall is spreading all over the province, and it has even reached many areas of the Philippines, the Philippine capital, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal.
Classes have been suspended not just in the areas around the volcano, but also in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Public and state sector
employees have been advised to stay home. And also the airport is now partially opened after it was shut down yesterday afternoon.
The last major eruption of the volcano happened in 1977. And in terms of distance, the volcano is about 60 kilometers south of the financial
district of Metro Manila. Taal is very popular tourists spot. It's generally an easy drive to get here from the capital. That's why many of us
often come to visit this part of the country on the weekends to enjoy the Vista. The more adventurous type trick as far as a crater and the lake
around Taal since it is quite the site, once you reach the top and have a field full view of this magnificent gift of nature.
From Talisay, Batangas, Gerg Cahiles, CNN Philippines.
ANDERSON: Well, we do hope that everybody there is safe.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: Listen, I'd love to hear from you and wherever you are in the world do get in touch on Twitter, on Facebook. And that also includes my
revamped Instagram page, that's @Beckycnn. So I get in touch and let us know what's going on in your part of the world. I'm Becky Anderson. That
was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
