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Rep. Carolyn Maloney Talks Ebola Quarantines; Sen. Dan Coates Talks Canada Attack, Securing the Border; Allegations ISIS Used Chlorine Gas; Elizabeth Warren Firing Up Democrats

Aired October 24, 2014 - 13:30   ET

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


WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: What did you learn today that still raises concerns for you?

REP. CAROLYN MALONEY, D-NEW YORK: First and foremost, how do we protect the American people? That's what everyone is looking at. There is a feeling of a professional, let's keep it in Africa and not spread to other nations.

BLITZER: How do you do that?

MALONEY: That's one of the reasons we have 3,000 military personnel leaving for the region to work in that area. But the general testified that they are making people wait 10 days before they come back to America.

BLITZER: These are not just Liberians or -- Africans, but Americans working there?

MALONEY: Exactly. Right. And the questioning was, why not have monitoring in those areas before they come back --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: For 21 days?

MALONEY: For the 21 days. And he testified that it was impossible to have a quarantine in an infected area. Would it be possible? I think there needs to be answers in that direction, how we can prevent it from coming into our country. A ban the professionals believe would be very bad.

BLITZER: Because there are plenty of colleagues who say, just have a travel ban for the time being and don't let anyone come back to the United States who have been in the three West African countries.

MALONEY: The medical experts believe that would cause more danger as they figure out how to go to other places, figure out how to lie and get in. They want to be able to monitor absolutely everyone who comes from these danger zones into America. But the question is, why can't you quarantine over there before coming back to America? Do you have to quarantine in America? I think we have the best medical team in the world. They are looking at these questions and I look forward to seeing what the experts have to say. BLITZER: Do you think someone -- let's say they are not going to

quarantine people for 21 days before they leave for Liberia, for example, and they can fly to New York's Kennedy Airport if they want to. When they get to the United States, should there be a 21-day period where they are either self-quarantined or deliberately quarantined by state or local or federal authorities?

MALONEY: Well, right now, they are self-quarantined.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Not this doctor that just came back. He went bowling in Brooklyn.

MALONEY: Well, he was supposed to be self-quarantining. They will monitor everyone who comes into America for 21 days. It will begin on Monday when everyone who has been in the danger zone will be monitored for 21 days.

BLITZER: Are you confident that this is going to be resolved, worked out or are there going to be more and more cases of Ebola in the United States?

MALONEY: I feel that no one knows what is going to happen. We need to be prepared and we were prepared in New York. And as it evolves we will react to what is happening in the best way possible to protect the American people, our number-one priority.

BLITZER: All right. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, thank you for coming in.

MALONEY: Thank you, Blitz.

BLITZER: Thank you.

MALONEY: Nice to see you. Thank you for having me.

BLITZER: Thank you.

Still ahead, new concerns over border security in the wake of the attack in Ottawa. I'll speak with Dan Coates and talk about the debate to ramp up security along the northern border with Canada.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting from Washington. Let's get a quick check of some of the top stories we're monitoring right now.

Doctors have declared the Dallas nurse Nina Pham clear of the Ebola virus. She's getting a hug of Anthony Fauci of NIH. She was released from the hospital and is getting ready to meet at this hour with President Obama at the Oval Office. He's invited her to come on over.

The CDC, the Centers for Disease Control, has confirmed that New York doctor, Craig Spencer, does, in fact, have Ebola. The first Ebola case in New York. Returned from Guinea a week ago. He was there treating Ebola patients. Right now, Dr. Spencer is isolated at Bellevue Hospital Center in Manhattan and in stable condition.

Also in New York, there's no known link between a hatchet-wielding attacker and Islamic radicalists. Zale Thompson was killed by police after he hit with the hatchet two officers. Both injured officers are still in the hospital. One is in critical but stable condition.

And in Canada, we're seeing new video of the attack in Ottawa. You can see the gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau. He killed a Canadian solider at the Ottawa war memorial on Wednesday. Now officials are looking at links with Islamic radicals here in the United States.

Look at this. And this is a live picture of the procession honoring the Canadian solder. Nathan Cirillo's casket on its way from Ottawa to his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. The Highway of Heroes. You can see the name on the road.

The attack in Ottawa put border agents on alert along the United States/Canadian border.

The Indiana Republican Senator Dan Coates is joining us. He's a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Senator, Coates, thank you for joining us.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: What do we need to know? The lessons learned from what happened this week in Canada that could impact the United States?

SEN. DAN COATES, (R), INDIANA: Well, I think we need to really look at the border security that we have for these two major crises. One is terrorists crossing the border to harm Americans or kill Americans, and the other is Ebola, which can come across the border as we have just seen here. So border security becomes ever more important and we need to assess what we do now in light of the two new threats that escalated, the ISIS recruitment threat, the people coming back armed to kill as Americans, as well as the health care threat.

BLITZER: Is there a connection, based on what you heard, between what happened in Canada, somebody uses their car and drives over two Canadian soldiers, kills one of them, and then on Wednesday, another guy kills a soldier at the war memorial in Ottawa, both of them apparently were inspired, at the minimum, by Islamic radicals?

COATES: No direct connection that we know of so far. We're still investigating and looking into that.

On the other hand, there seems to be just an explosion here of attacks. Whether they are self-motivated, people angry and frustrated, against authorities, whatever it is, ISIS is, of course, motivating this through Internet and social media, the recruiting, and motivating people to take these attacks. And I think it's sort of building here in terms of somebody in their dorm room or in a basement saying, I'm going to go out and do this because I get all of this notoriety, or I'm so angry I could die for this cause or whatever. I think it's something that we have to take very seriously.

BLITZER: Have you gotten any word on this guy with the hatchet in New York who went over four police officers at a subway in Queens and obviously severely injured two of them?

COATES: Not yet. Another lone-wolf attack. But, Wolf, these lone wolves, they are also part of a threat that Americans face, very difficult to track down and difficult to anticipate. We have good ways and means of trying to identify terrorists' planned attacks but for someone coming out of nowhere, no one knows about this, one-on- one, it may be motivated by the social media, may be motivated by YouTube pictures of beheadings and so forth, but it's a threat to Americans as much as terrorism is.

BLITZER: And it may be copy cats, too.

COATES: Lot of copy cats. That's what it's starting to look like.

BLITZER: There's a lot of concern out there that you see these incidents out there and there are other crazy people, for whatever reason, may think they have to do this as well. I assume U.S. law enforcement, the intelligence community are deeply concerned. That's why they're strengthening security precautions, at the Tomb of the Unknowns, for example, at Arlington National Cemetery right here in Washington.

COATES: We're going to see enhanced law enforcement, national security enforcement. But we're a free country and we don't need to hide in our homes and not get up and go to work and go to school and the ball games, and so forth and so on. I think we take a lesson here from Churchill, defiance in the face of adversity. Nevertheless, every American has to be vigilant. We're all in this together. It shouldn't be politicized. But these are two major threats to America and to the world and we all need to work together.

BLITZER: I know you want to tighten border security, especially in the south along the U.S./Mexican border. But what do you want to do about Canada right now? Canada, clearly, arguably the closest ally the U.S. has.

COATES: A great partner. We've worked together on so many things. I think we sit down together now and say, OK, what more can we tighten? What more can we do? Cooperation is essential with our countries around the world in terms of the visa waiver program, which gives people the access without going --

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: Not just Canada, there's 20 or 30 countries.

COATES: That's 20 or 30 countries. And my bill incorporates an assessment in terms of how that works. Now that has major negative consequences for business and travel and so forth. But we're facing a real threat here, two real major threats, and I think we have to look at alternatives and snuff this out before it gets away from us.

BLITZER: Right now, I think these 20 or 30 countries in Europe, you don't need a visa to come to the United States.

COATES: Right.

BLITZER: What you're saying is maybe the U.S. should require they go to the embassy to get a visa from France or Britain or the Netherlands or places like that?

COATES: Getting someone in front of a consulate officer where they can ask more questions rather than giving somebody a free pass has major negative economic consequences. But it may be needed, at least we may need to look at how we can tighten this and how we direct it towards countering terrorism and to counter Ebola.

BLITZER: Do you think it's time for that?

COATES: We're nearing that time, yes.

BLITZER: U.S. travelers who want to go over there, to their embassy and consulates as well.

COATES: I'm not calling for any kind of panic here. On the other hand, we have to go over this very, very aggressively and snuff it out before it gets out of control.

BLITZER: Dan Coates, the Senator from Indiana, thanks very much for being with us.

Still to come, Islamic State militants may be ramping up their means of attack. There are new allegations now of chemical weapons. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: New serious allegations today against the terror group ISIS. New media reports indicate that militants may have used chlorine gas against Iraq security forces. While Secretary of State John Kerry could not confirm the reports today, he did say the U.S. is closely looking into those reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: But I can tell you that we take these allegations very, very seriously. And particularly, the most recent allegations about the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon. Chlorine by itself is not on the chemical weapons list, therefore, it was not among those things removed under the agreement we reached with the Russians and the Syrian regime. But when mixed in certain ways and used in certain ways, it can become a chemical weapon that is prohibited under the Chemical Weapons Agreement.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Let's bring in Ben Wedeman. He's joining us from Baghdad.

Ben, what are you learning about these allegations? BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we

understand this incident took place 50 miles north of Baghdad. It took place last month. This is an area where Sunni tribesmen have been fighting against ISIS pretty much since early in the summer.

Now, according to these reports, 11 soldiers were taken to a nearby hospital showing signs of inhalation of chlorine. They were released the following morning so they weren't severely injured in this attack. But we understand that right before the attack took place, just a few days before the attack took place, ISIS fighters took over a local water purification plant where, of course, chlorine is used. It's used in swimming pools, water purification plants and elsewhere. And that may be the source of the chlorine in this incident.

Chlorine, Wolf, is sort of the poor man's chemical weapon. It's very easy to rig an IED and with, sort of around it, cover it with chlorine and it explodes and can cover a fairly wide area. It's not necessarily quite as effective as, for instance, mustard gas, which Iraq used in the Iran-Iraq War, but it's something that is easily put together, easily rigged. And certainly, there have been other anecdotal accounts of similar bombs being used by ISIS and going back to the time when the Americans were here in Iraq, that some of the insurgents used them as well -- Wolf?

BLITZER: As you well know, the allegations are that the Syrian regime of President Bashar al Assad, his troops, even though they had given up supposedly their chemical weapons stockpiles, they were still using chlorine gas against their rebel opponents. Is that right?

WEDEMAN: Not necessarily chlorine gas but chlorine in the way that it's being used here. It's very easy to obtain, and chlorine in and of itself is not on the list of prohibited chemical weapons. It's not considered in and of itself a chemical weapon. But, yes, it's been used before. And it's something that ISIS certainly wouldn't hesitate to use. And the Syrian regime, given its track record, wouldn't hesitate either. And as the secretary said, it's not part of that list of much more dangerous, highly developed chemical weapons that have been used here in Iraq and allegedly in Syria as well -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Let's not forget in Syria, the past three years, 200,000 people have been killed in this civil war that's been going on. 200,000 people killed and many, many -- hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, refugees in Jordan, turkey and elsewhere in the region.

Thanks very much, Ben Wedeman, for that reporting live from Baghdad.

Less than two weeks to go before the midterm elections. We'll meet a Democrat who is winning some hearts out there with her populous message. There is, Elizabeth Warren. Gloria Borger spent some time with her. Her report is coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Political powerhouses have been on the campaign trail with midterm elections less than two weeks away. The former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, just appeared at an event in Boston to back up the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Martha Coakley.

Also there, another Democrat who's been firing up the base. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has emerged as a party star with a very populist message.

Our chief political analyst, Gloria Borger, looks at what Warren brings to the table.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST (voice-over): She's a Democrat in demand on the campaign trail.

SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN, (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Bid about making sure nobody steals your purse on Main Street or your pension on Wall Street. That's what we believe.

(CHEERING)

BORGER: Rallying the party base in states where the president and his dismal approval rating are not welcome, as in Colorado, with endangered Senator Mark Udall.

WARREN: You, Mark, me, all of us, that's how we're going to build the future. We do this together.

(APPLAUSE)

BORGER: Senator Warren is an unusual Washington phenom, a combination of loyal soldier and inside agitator, a party star who takes on her own party.

WARREN: What the Democrats have to do is be willing to stand up and fight.

(CROSSTALK)

BORGER (on camera): Have they not been?

WARREN: I just think we could use a little more of that. I think we could use a little more of standing up and saying this is what it's about. And I'm willing to do it.

BORGER (voice-over): She's willing, all right, and always has been, complicating her relationship with President Obama, whom she manages to praise just before slinging arrows his way.

WARREN: If President Barack Obama had not been in the White House we would haven't a Consumer Protection Bureau today. This is an agency that has forced the biggest banks in this country to return more than $4 billion directly to people they cheated. And that's been in just three years --

(CROSSTALK) BORGER (on camera): But I hear a "but" coming.

WARREN: Of course there's a "but" coming because there's another half to this. He also chose an economic team and when the going got tough, the economic team chose Wall Street. They protected Wall Street over American families. And that's just something that I think is fundamentally wrong.

BORGER: You've also said in the past that Hillary Clinton is somebody who has likewise protected Wall Street. Do you think she's still too close to Wall Street?

WARREN: I have said I worry about everyone who is too close to Wall Street. When I describe what this race is about, and it's about, who does government work for, I worry everywhere.

BORGER (voice-over): Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Clinton, although Warren has urged her to run. Today, Warren in all about selling her own populous message. And on the road, she comes across loud and clear.

WARREN: When conservatives talk about opportunity, they mean opportunity for the rich to get richer and the powerful to get more power.

BORGER: She's become the liberals' anti-Hillary and the Republicans' poster child for big government run amuck.

WARREN: Barack Obama squared his shoulders, planted his feet and stood firm.

BORGER (on camera): There are some who say you energize Republicans just as much as you energize Democrats because you're left wing liberal populist.

WARREN: Whoa, wait, wait, wait --

(CROSSTALK)

WARREN: Because I believe we should have a higher minimum wage? Because I believe women should access birth control? Because I believe the United States government shouldn't be making tens of billions in profits off the backs of our kids on student loans? Because I believe Social Security shouldn't be privatized? That's what I believe in. That's what I'm throughout fighting for.

BORGER: Does that have an appeal in a red state?

WARREN: You bet. It has an appeal anywhere that there are working people.

BORGER (voice-over): She says that's the winning Democratic agenda for this year and beyond.

(on camera): And you think if Hillary Clinton's the nominee, she can make that case? WARREN: What I care about right now what we're focused on in 2014.

BORGER: That's not a yes.

WARREN: This is the key election, 2014. It's right in front of us and we shouldn't take our eye off the ball.

BORGER: But I didn't get a yes or no to that.

WARREN: I just want to be clear, this is about the 2014 race.

BORGER (voice-over): She is determined not to look beyond. And while her supporters want the 2016 door open, Warren just wants everyone to stop talking about it. Really. Stop.

(on camera): So why not think about running?

WARREN: I'm not running for president.

BORGER: OK.

WARREN: I am not running for president. I am not running for president.

BORGER: But if Hillary didn't run, you might give it a shot?

WARREN: I am not running for president.

BORGER (voice-over): But she is on the run -- to her next state, 15 in all -- campaigning for Democrats at least for now.

Gloria Borger, CNN, Denver, Colorado.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Good report, Gloria. Thanks very much.

This important programming note for our viewers. Make sure to tune in later tonight 9:00 p.m. eastern. CNN will air the debate I hosted between the two U.S. Senate candidates from New Hampshire, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, former Senator Scott Brown. A very, very feisty debate on Ebola, on ISIS, on all sorts of important issues. It's a close race in New Hampshire. It could shift the balance of power in the United States Senate. The debate airs tonight, 9:00 p.m. eastern, right here on CNN.

Before I go, I want to recognize some four-legged heroes. The Secret Service dogs that are being praised for stopping the latest White House fence jumper. There's Jordan and Hurricane. Jordan is the tan dog. Hurricane is the black dog. They are back on the job after a vet gave them a clean bill of health. Both were treated for bruises after the Wednesday night incident at the White House. I want to thank Jordan and Hurricane for doing an excellent job protecting the White House, protecting the American people.

That's it for me. Thanks very much for watching. I'll be back later today, 5:00 p.m. eastern, in "The Situation Room." Lots of news going on. We'll have the latest on what's going on in New York City, that confirmed case of Ebola. Also that hatchet attack on that subway station in Queens. Until then, thanks for watching.

"Newsroom" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, thank you so much. We'll see you on "The Situation Room."

Great to be with all of you on this Friday. I'm Brooke Baldwin.