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Clinton, Bush Undecided on 2016 Run; Senate Intelligence Deciding Whether to Release Torture Report; Retiring Hagel Visits Troops in Afghanistan; William and Kate Visit the U.S.; Obama Treated for Acid Reflux.

Aired December 8, 2014 - 13:30   ET

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


GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Jeb Bush has told people that he will let you know early in the New Year. Now I spoke to someone close to him, who said, it's not like we're going to have a balloon drop. There will be signals. That could be establishing a pack and exploratory committee and hiring staff and that kind of thing.

So I think we'll get an answer in short order within the New Year.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: He has to worry about that base, right?

BORGER: He has to worry about that base and he knows about it and talks about it and it's very clear to me that he wants to let people know, I'm going to lose some primaries but that way I don't have to tack one way and tack back to the middle in order to win a general election because I am who I am.

BLITZER: Gloria, thank you for that.

Be sure to check out Gloria's article, "Hillary and Jeb: How the Deciders Decide." Go to CNN.com and read the article.

The final assessment on Afghanistan. The defense secretary of the United States wrapping up his tenure, Chuck Hagel. What's next for the mission and the out-going Pentagon chief? He speaks with our own Jim Sciutto. This is a CNN exclusive. You will see it and here it. That's coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer.

Josh Earnest, moments ago, spoke about the very controversial decision the Senate Intelligence Committee has to make on whether or not to release a very lengthy report on alleged torture by the United States in the months and years after 9/11. Listen to the White House press secretary.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Obviously, the key question today, we're expecting the CIA torture report to come out this week, how well prepared does the president think that U.S. embassies according to installations are and the potential reaction?

JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Well, we have heard from the committee that they do intend to release the report tomorrow. The timing of the release of the report is something that's always been up to the committee. And this is a decision that they have made. The administration has been, for months, preparing for the release of this report. There are some indications that this -- that the release of the report could lead to a greater risk that is posed to U.S. facilities and individuals all around the world. So the administration has taken the prudent steps to ensure that the proper security precautions are in place at U.S. facilities around the globe.

But that said -- and this is the last key part. That said, the administration strongly supports the release of this declassified summary of the report. The president, on his first or second day in office, issued -- took the steps using executive action to put an end to the tactics that are described in the report. And the president believes that, on principles, it's important to release that report so that people around the world and people here at home understand exactly what transpired. There's going to be limits what could be said, given the classified nature of the program. But because of the scrupulous work of the committee and the administration and the intelligence community, we've declassified that report as much as we can. And we want to be sure that we can release that report, be transparent about it, and be clear about what American values are, and be clear about the fact that the administration believes that, in a way that is consistent with American values, something that this should never happen again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: The White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest saying go ahead -- to the Senate Intelligence Committee -- go ahead and release this report, even though, over the weekend, the secretary of state of the United States, John Kerry, in a personal phone conversation with the chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Dianne Feinstein, he urged her to consider what he called the "broader implications of the timing of the reports release." Obviously, very concerned about a very reaction against the United States in various parts of the world. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Mike Rogers, said yesterday on CNN that there will be violence and deaths if this report is released. And only moments ago, our Barbara Starr reported that thousands of U.S. Marines have been put on a higher state of alert around the world in advance of the anticipated release of this Senate report on behalf of what's called enhanced interrogation techniques or what critics call torture.

Let's bring in our chief national security correspondent, Jim Sciutto, who is joining us from Kuwait. He's traveling with the out-going secretary of defense, Chuck Hagel.

Jim, it looks like there are conflicting messages coming from the Obama administration, concern about the ramifications coming from the secretary of state, John Kerry, although you heard an endorsement of the release of this report by the White House press secretary. I don't know if Chuck Hagel has spoken out about it, but I know based upon what Barbara Starr is reporting, the U.S. military is deeply concerned that there could be attacks against U.S. embassies, Americans, as a result of the release of this report. What are you hearing over there?

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is certainly the focus of defense and military officials, what does it mean for U.S. troops in the field in Afghanistan, where we visited with Secretary Hagel yesterday and the day before, and , of course, Iraq, just across the border here from Kuwait. Their attitude being that there are enough threats to the troops right now and the added protesters and retaliatory attacks, potential, by the release of this report may cause a concern for commanders in the region, and that's why the warning is going out that Barbara Starr described.

And you make a good point, Wolf. If not diametrically opposed messages from the White House and the State Department, certainly one of inference. It seems to be a gentle nudge from Secretary of State John Kerry to Dianne Feinstein, saying, listen, the timing is up to you but please consider all of the things that the U.S. is facing, including the fight against ISIS right across the border, as you make that decision, which seems to be something of a different message from what we heard from Josh Earnest just now.

BLITZER: It certainly does.

I want you to stand by. We'll come back to you in a moment, Jim. I know you had a chance to speak with the secretary of defense. Stand by.

Much more of our special coverage coming up right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: NATO folded up a flag at the headquarters in Afghanistan's capital. The ceremonial move marks the end of the combat mission for the International Security Assistance Force, as it is called. A day earlier, the out-going defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, was there to speak with military leaders.

Jim Sciutto has this CNN exclusive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCIUTTO (voice-over): This is Chuck Hagel's fourth trip to Afghanistan but his last as secretary of defense. We traveled with him to eastern Afghanistan where he met with troops, sharing his own experiences, the first enlisted combat veteran to serve as defense secretary.

SCIUTTO (on camera): Do you think it will be a loss for the defense secretary position to have somebody who didn't have that experience?

CHUCK HAGEL, OUT-GOING SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: That's not for me to decide. Everybody brings to their positions their own set of experiences and strengths. And I believe my set of experiences fit me very well. But that's Chuck Hagel. I don't ever judge anybody else.

SCIUTTO (voice-over): At the end of this month, U.S. forces will give up their combat role for training, advising and assisting Afghan forces, a new mission as the U.S. prepares for a complete withdrawal in two years.

(on camera): The U.S. made considerable investment in blood, treasure and training in assisting forces. We saw how they dissolved with the advance of ISIS. Why are you confident that Afghan forces will perform better?

HAGEL: They want us here. They want us to help them, assist, advise, train. How we left Iraq was totally different. The Iraqi government did not want us there. The Iraqi people did not want us there.

SCIUTTO: It is train, advise and assist. But U.S. forces will still be able to do force protection if there's a threat, the U.S. forces go out and neutralize that threat. And, in addition, you mentioned combat enabling. That speaks to close U.S. air support. How much danger will U.S. troops be in, even as they transition out of an official combat role?

HAGEL: This is totally different from where we've been in the last 13 years, what we have ahead for the next two years. But I think, bottom line, we've got to realize, this is still a war zone. This is still a war. So you put men and women in a war zone, they are still in a war zone.

(GUNFIRE)

SCIUTTO (voice-over): Taliban attacks are down this year from 2013 but secretary Hagel's visit comes during a new wave of Taliban violence in the capital of Kabul.

(on camera): What's the most concerning thing that you've heard from commanders, the thing that scares you the most?

HAGEL: I think this country, first of all, has made tremendous progress where Afghanistan was five years ago, two, three years ago, there's hardly any comparison. But it still has threats, Al Qaeda, Taliban. They have built the Afghan security forces a very strong security force institution. So, yes, still challenges ahead. But I think every sign is that they can do this. But it's still a dangerous place.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Jim Sciutto is joining us once again live from Kuwait city where he's traveling with the secretary of defense.

You also had a chance, Jim, to speak with General James Terry, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, the force designed to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Tell me where this operation from this general's assessment stands right now according to the assessment?

SCIUTTO: Wolf, it was a fairly positive assessment. He said, in his words, operationally, ISIS is probably now on defense, focused on holding territory, rather than gaining back significant portions of new ground. That's one positive. He also said that there was a meeting earlier this month in the region among coalition partners where coalition partners vowed to give 1500 troops to the effort on the ground in Iraq, train, advise and assist, as well as advise those forces in their combat role, matching those 1500 additional troops that President Obama has authorized here.

But one caveat. I asked him how long before Iraqi security forces are capable of significant offensive operations to take back territory from ISIS. His answer was, it's hard to say, years or months, though he said, reasonably, it could happen within months. Still, Wolf, a long way off from really taking back a lot of this territory from ISIS.

BLITZER: Good point.

Jim Sciutto, thanks very much for the reporting.

A reminder, Jim will have a formal sit down, an in-depth interview with the out-going defense secretary, Chuck Hagel, tomorrow. And you'll be able to see it exclusively right here on CNN.

Other news, Prince William and Kate, they are in New York City for a quick visit. The prince also made a side visit here to the White House in Washington. There he is. He had a little chance to meet in the Oval Office with the president of the United States. We're going to update you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: The duke and duchess of Cambridge are in the United States for a whirlwind visit. Their toddler stayed back in the U.K. and Kate is expecting again. William took a side trip to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., a little meeting with the president of the United States over at the White House. They spoke about the illegal wildlife trade.

Max Foster has been following the royals from London. He's back here in the United States.

Max, we saw William visiting the White House. What other big events are on the agenda for both of them today?

MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: It's all about promoting their interests and causes and about promoting British interests. So this morning, I was out with Kate in Harlem. The Youth Development Center very much playing into the sort of things she's interested in. She went inside with some kids from underprivileged background and got involved in a craft session. She really believes strongly, if you can get people who find it difficult to communicate to get involved in art, they can communicate through that and art therapy. So that was a cause that she's hoping to highlight. She gets all the cameras in, of course.

And the reason that William was down in Washington, where you are, is because -- you mentioned it -- this illegal wildlife trade. Ivory, for example. Lots of animals being killed in Africa. But what he's trying to do is attack the customer side of the business, if you like. So he wants China to perhaps do more. He's pointing out China already does a lot in cutting down this trade but wants to talk to the president about that, how we cut down on demand and save these animals in Africa.

This evening, he'll come back to New York, Wolf, and hold a joint event with Hillary Clinton, because she also has a passion about the same issue. She's fighting particularly poachers of elephants in Africa. They will hold a joint event, a joint press conference.

It's amazing really that this young couple can manage to pull in these events, these people. But, they use it to promote their causes and the government uses it really to get them introduced to people they want to do business with.

BLITZER: They will see a little NBA basketball in Brooklyn, too, right?

FOSTER: Absolutely. They will be there tonight. Some concern that some protests are organized there. Not against the royals, but against the authorities organization around the royals, if you like. I'm told nothing will change in terms of their plans. It should be a glamorous moment. Lots of speculation whether they will meet Beyonce and Jay-Z because they are due at the same game. The palace said they haven't arranged a meeting, but if it happens on "courtside," so be it. I think it's up to Beyonce to approach the couple, as opposed to the other way. We'll see what happens.

BLITZER: They can go to the game in Brooklyn. I'm going to see the Washington Wizards and Boston Celtics here in Washington, D.C., if I can. That would be a good game as well.

Thanks very much, Max, for that report.

President Obama says he's fine after being diagnosed and treated for acid reflux. A doctor, who specializes in this condition, standing by live. We're going to talk about what the president needs to know.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: President Obama is now being treated for acid reflux. While meeting this morning with Prince William in the Oval Office, the president said he feels fine. Acid reflux is a very common ailment that's easily treated with diet and over-the-counter medications. But if left undiagnosed and untreated, it can lead to major health problems.

Dr. Kfir Ben-David, the director of bariatric surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine, chief of gastro-esophageal surgery at the University of Florida.

Doctor Ben-David, thanks very much for joining us.

What are the worst case scenarios, if you will, if acid reflux is not taken seriously?

DR. KFIR BEN-DAVID, DIRECTOR OF BARIATRIC SURGERY & CHIEF OF GASTRO- ESOPHAGEAL SURGERY, UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE (voice- over): Wolf, as you know, acid reflux is very common and there are a lot of symptoms. Typical reflux symptoms there could be other symptoms. Some patients develop esophageal reflux. What we know is that it's the number-one reason for esophageal cancer. Other symptoms could be cough, laryngitis, asthma, and other pulmonary issues as well. But the one we worry most about, as physicians, when you have reflux that it could advance to esophageal cancer.

BLITZER: Acid reflux, people refer to it as heart burn, but really if you have it you got to treat it, right?

BEN-DAVID: Correct. There are many reasons why patients have reflux. There are some factors, such as diet, high-fat food, smoking, medication. The mechanism which causes reflux is typically an incompetent sphincter at the end of the esophagus that causes the stomach to reflux back into the esophagus. And, yes, it is recommended that it could be treated. A lot of it could be silent. Patients may not know they have reflux. It's important to treat that.

BLITZER: Can lead to esophageal cancer. They say his exam revealed soft tissue swelling in the posterior throat. And in consultation with a specialist, determined a further evaluation with a routine C.T. scan was prudent. That sounds like a big deal to me.

BEN-DAVID: Yes. Most of the time patients can have reflux from the stomach all the way to the back of the throat. A lot of time patients do have hoarseness, laryngitis, sinus problem. This is an example of what he had.

BLITZER: All right, we'll have to leave it there. We'll continue to monitor the president.

Dr. Kfir Ben-David, thanks very much.

That's it for me. See you at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

For our international viewers, "Amanpour" is next.

For our viewers in North American, "Newsroom" with Brooke Baldwin starts right now.