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Iraq Asks for More U.S. Military Aid; Inside the Saudi War Machine; Loretta Lynch Nomination Mired in Senate; What Nigeria Is Doing to Bring Back Kidnapped Girl. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired April 14, 2015 - 13:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Wolf Blitzer, reporting from Washington.

The fight against ISIS is the main topic of discussion over at the White House. President Obama met this morning with the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi and they spoke about the challenges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've made clear from the outset that ISIL is an enemy and we will make sure that they do not threaten the United States and we will go after them wherever they are. But when we are working with a strong ally and partner like Iraq, it is very important for us to coordinate our activities so that the impression is not that the United States is somehow moving back into Iraq but, rather, that the United States is doing what's ultimately best for the Iraqi people even as we join in fighting a common enemy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining us are White House correspondent, Michelle Kosinski, and joining us in Baghdad, our senior international correspondent, Arwa Damon.

Michelle, the Iraqi prime minister making requests from the Obama administration. Tell us about them.

[13:34:58] MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. That was pretty interesting because it's been clear from what he has told reporters and from others in Iraq have been saying openly, is that they want more U.S. commitments, militarily. Made that abundantly clear, drones, attack helicopters, more U.S. air strikes, ammunition, but we just heard from the White House now and the daily briefing that Iraq did not make specific requests to the White House in this meeting. We know that the desire and you could say even the need for additional assistance is there. Look at what's been going on on the ground. Apparently this meeting was not a time for them to make those specific asks. What happened at the end of the meeting when President Obama was asked directly about that issue by reporters, was that he said, well, in terms of military aid, that's something being worked on and looked at. He did, though, make the commitment to an additional $200 million of humanitarian aid, Wolf, not additional military aid at this point.

BLITZER: $200 million U.S. dollars. What does that mean humanitarian aid to Iraq? Iraq is a relatively wealthy country. They still export a lot of oil. What does the United States want to do with the $200 million it would provide to Iraq?

KOSINSKI: Yeah. I mean you look at that country and how much more still needs to be built up in terms of human rights, infrastructures for civil society. One thing mentioned in the fact sheet the White House put out things like education and culture. So they want to keep the additional offering at this point to the humanitarian segment, but we know that the request and need more military assistance is out there. What we heard the president say was a big balancing act of how much involvement is there going to be militarily. The White House wants the region and Iraq itself to take responsibility but it's not working on all levels and they've been asking behinds the scenes for more and more. The White House just asked Congress for an additional $5 billion to fight ISIS for next year. So even the way the president framed it that's a balance. Look at the other things that came up during this meeting. Looking at Iran's role, balance, balance, balance in so many areas that are needed here -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Let's go to Baghdad. Arwa is standing by.

Tell us a little bit about this balancing act that is going on, because as the Iraqi government Haider al Abadi is asking for more U.S. assistance military assistance, humanitarian assistance. They also have a very strong relationship, Arwa, with Iran right now, right?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They do, Wolf. They always have, ever since the fall of Saddam Hussein took place, that is. And that is pretty much what the prime minister has said to the media right before getting on that plane to Washington. He's very aware of the U.S.'s concerns. He says there's a number of other countries concerned as well, but he says the U.S. needs to take its issues with Iran outside of the Iraqi arena. The prime minister himself has been stuck in a pretty tough position when it comes to trying to balance these various entities whose assistance he needs, but who are not necessarily natural allies. He has the U.S. on the one hand and he does need the U.S.-led coalition air strikes and he needs much more of them. On the other hand he has this massive Shia volunteer army that is being backed buy and large by Iran. Iranian advisors helping them out, Iranian equipment, guns, assisting them on the battlefield. The prime minister has to figure out a way to put this all into some sort of a strategy or at least a working entity that's going to allow him and his government and his country to defeat is -- Wolf?

[13:38:49] BLITZER: Certainly is a complicated situation, but a lot is at stake right now.

Arwa Damon in Baghdad, Michelle Kosinski at the White House, thanks very much. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest military spenders in the world.

Right now, its attention is focused in on the war going on in Yemen. Just ahead, we're going to take you inside the Saudi war machine. This is a rare look. Stand by for that.

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BLITZER: Reuters is reporting that Iran is proposing a four-point peace plan for Yemen. The proposal would include renewed talks and humanitarian aid. The deal is expected to be presented to the United Nations. Iran has been backing Yemen's Houthi rebels who control key parts of the country, including the capital of Sanaa. And now Saudi Arabia's powerful military has joined the fight against the Houthies. In the past few weeks, hundreds have been killed in Saudi air strikes on Houthi positions.

CNN was able to get a rare look inside the Saudi war machine. Our Nic Robertson has more.

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NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More cameras than tanks. For the first time since air strikes began, Saudi Arabia's army is giving access to journalists. For local reporters, the army is a point of national pride.

(SHOUTING)

(GUNFIRE)

ROBERTSON: Big guns --

(GUNFIRE)

ROBERTSON: -- banging out big shells into Yemen. For now, this army standing back to fight.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

[13:44:19] ROBERTSON: "We don't have orders to move forward. Right now, we are in a defensive position. We don't have any order to go on the offensive for now."

When it comes to sustaining the fight, Saudi Arabia has deep pockets. It's the world's third-largest defense spender behind the United States and China. According to the Institute of Strategic Studies, it spends 10 percent of GDP on defense. That's a massive $80.8 billion. The desert kingdom has more than 400,000 servicemen. 225,000 in the army, 125,000 National Guard, 30,000 each in the navy and air force, but is still looking for partners to bolster its coalition. Pakistan recently declined a request for troops.

On the static frontlines that we visited, looking down on to shut-up Yemeni villages a long, drawn out fight is looming.

(on camera): Commanders here say the problem they face in those Yemeni villages is that they can't tell who's a fighter and who's a civilian. They say they all dress the same.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

ROBERTSON (voice-over): "We face threats from armed groups. They use small vehicles mounted with guns. In these mountains they are hard to reach."

On the mountain tops, more fire power is being used, and it seems often. Fresh shell casings liter the ground by this machine gunner. His responsibility, as far as he can see.

But this is a long border. 800 kilometers, 600 miles. Summer, and its scorching heat is coming and, as yet, no sign the enemy is ready to quit.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTSON: We're just getting news about another strike inside Yemen. This time, al Qaeda in Yemen is saying that one of their senior commanders, Ibrahim al Rabaya (ph), a former Guantanamo Bay detainee, somebody they said had 20 years of jihadi experience, a fighter and religious leader within the organization, too, they say that he's been killed in a U.S. air strike, a drone strike, inside Yemen. We're not able to verify what they claim.

However, if that is true, it is significant that al Qaeda is being targeted at this time because we know south of the country al Qaeda has been taking advantage of the instability. They've been takings weapons, taking boats from the navy. They've been expanding their control and influence, training young men, taking control of towns. And the tribes that used to be able to face them down, are not strong enough at the moment.

So this is a potentially significant development, if this is correct, as al Qaeda is claiming, one of its senior leaders killed -- Wolf?

BLITZER: Very excellent reporting as usual.

Nic Robertson, thanks very much.

Other news we're following, it's been months since President Obama nominated Loretta Lynch to be the next attorney general of the United States. Up next, why her nomination is mired in the U.S. Senate, even though she has the votes to get the job.

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[14:51:06] BLITZER: When President Obama nominated Loretta Lynch to be the next attorney general of the United States, he did the nomination months ago. He probably, at that time, had no idea it would take so long to actually get her into the job. After all, she does have enough votes potentially to get the nomination passed, but it hasn't taken this long to get a nominee passed since the Reagan era.

CNN's Chris Frates takes a closer look at what's behind the delay. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OBAMA: -- U.S. attorney, Loretta Lynch.

CHRIS FRATES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been almost six months since President Obama nominated Loretta Lynch as the next attorney general.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Would you raise your hand?

FRATES: Today Lynch is still waiting on Senate confirmation. Republican Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, isn't budging. Monday, Democrats blamed Republicans for the delay.

SEN. HARRY REID, (D-NV), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: The Republican leader said she would receive fair consideration by the Senate. That hasn't happened. Ms. Lynch has a spotless record. No one can question her integrity, her background. There's no question she shouldn't have to wait any longer.

FRATES: The problem isn't with Lynch. Republicans are delaying her confirmation vote to gain leverage in an unrelated fight over abortion funding.

(SHOUTING)

FRATES: Republicans want to ban victims of sex trafficking from using a compensation fund to pay for most abortions. But Democrats argue it would open similar victim compensation funds to new abortion restrictions.

On the Senate floor last month, Democrat Dianne Feinstein and Republican John Cornyn had this powerful exchange.

SEN. JOHN CORNYN, (R), TEXAS: Why is there an objection to processing those amendments and allowing the Senate to work its will? Why can't we vote on it?

SEN. DIANNE FEINSTEIN, (D), CALIFORNIA: Because there are many of us that believe this is one small step for womankind. It's one battle that we can win. And we have had loss after loss after loss.

FRATES: It's an emotional issue with no resolution in sight, leaving Lynch in limbo.

Chris Frates, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BLITZER: Up next, one year and counting since the kidnapping by Boko Haram of more than 200 schoolgirls. What's being done, if anything, to bring them home? Stay with us.

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[13:56:16] BLITZER: In Nigeria, a somber remembrance of a tragic day. Today they are marking one year since the militant terror group Boko Haram shocked the nation, indeed the world when they abducted more than 200 teenage schoolgirls in northeastern Nigeria. At the time, President Goodluck Jonathan promised to bring them home. He failed and lost the recent presidential election. Now the new president is also promising to bring the girls home.

Joining us now is our own Isha Sesay, here in Washington,

Isha, there are a lot of promises. You've written a powerful piece on CNN.com. Hard to believe a year has gone by and the young girls are still missing.

ISHA SESAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Wolf, it's important we stress to viewers that the girls were in their dormitories, in their beds when they were snatched a year ago today by Boko Haram. It's hard to believe that 365 days have gone by and they are still not back, reunited with their loved ones. The world has largely moved away from focusing on this. These are peopled loved ones, people's children. They're not trinkets or something we throw away. These are the lives of 219 girls and the government despite a multitude of promises has not done everything possible to bring them back. That's the feeling, as I talk to people, they feel the government of Goodluck Jonathan has not made it a priority.

BLITZER: Have families given up hope?

SESAY: No, no, they haven't. I spoke to someone prosecute from bring back our girls, the campaign that kept the story alive for the past year. I spoke to them a couple of hours ago. They said they refuse to give up hope. They said in a way it would be easy for the families if they knew their children had passed on. They could find closure, but as long as they believe that their children are alive and there's nothing to kite that these 290 girls are dead, they will ton hope, they will continue to plead and will continue to look to the international community to stand up with them and insist these girls be brought home.

BLITZER: It stories of what Boko Haram does with these school girls.

SESAY: It's horrendous.

BLITZER: It's horrendous. They sell them off for so-called marriages, making them into sex slaves. You know a lot more than I do.

SESAY: Amnesty International released a report a couple of days ago. They stated that 2,000 girls, women and girl, have been taken since 2014, the start of 2014. Girls that have been sold into sexual slave. Girls forced to be importers. These girls essentially have become objects. That's what they are in the hands of Boko Haram. They cease to be of any value. They cease to have any rights. They become what they want them to be.

So we have to understand this is a desperate situation these girls are in. We heard from the Boko Haram leader, end of last year, if you remember. He said the girls had been married off, converted to Islam, and they were never to be found.

BLITZER: 14, 15 year-old girls.

SESAY: 14, 15-year-old girls. Wolf, we have daughters, sisters, nieces. It's important the world remembers that, that these aren't just 219 faceless girls, these are girls who have h hopes and dreams. The world -- who had hopes and dreams. The world should feel same that we've let our gaze drift so far that these girls aren't home.

[11:59:33] BLITZER: I agree.

I urge viewers to read the excellent article you wrote on CNN.com. It's powerful. And it is shocking. It's been a world, and the world has not done enough to bring the girls home.

Thank you very much, Isha.

That's it for me. Thank you very much for watching. I'll be back at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

For international viewers, "Amanpour" is next.

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf Blitzer, thank you so much.