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Dozens in Rubber Boat Saved Off Turkey; Concern of Terrorists Among Refugees; Colin Powell in Favor of Iran Nuclear Deal; Donald Trump Leading in GOP Polls; Is Russia Increasing Military Presence in Syria; Israeli Company Leads in Driverless Cars. Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired September 7, 2015 - 13:30   ET

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


[13:30:00] WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Our senior international correspondent, Ivan Watson, shows us how one group was picked up in a dramatic rescue.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Under the spotlight of a Turkish Coast Guard cutter --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You see the refugees?

WATSON: -- the silhouettes of more than 20 people stranded in a rubber boat. They are desperate, frightened, but tonight, likely saved by volunteers from the Sea Rescue Association who work alongside the Turkish Coast Guard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All together. Wait, wait.

WATSON: Among the passengers rescued, five little children. Just four days after the world was shocked by photograph of a Syrian refugee toddler who drowned at sea, these people have embarked on the exact same perilous journey. They set off from the Turkish resort peninsula in hope of reaching the Greek island of Kos. Instead of drifting at sea with a failed engine, these people will be brought back safely to Turkey.

The beaches below Bodrum's villas and posh resorts, an unlikely launching point for tens of thousands of refugees and migrants willing to risk everything to reach Europe.

Under the light of the crescent moon, we witness another attempt at a crossing.

(on camera): It's after 2:00 a.m. and we've encountered another little rubber dingy loaded with people that are actually paddling in the direction of Greece. It's incredibly overloaded, this little boat. It's an accident waiting to happen.

(voice-over): To make matters worse, some wear heavy backpacks over their life jackets. Before possible disaster strikes, the Coast Guard comes to the rescue. Tonight, they failed to reach Greece but they will live another day.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF: Ivan is joining us now from Bodrum in Turkey.

Ivan, what kind of strains are these boat rescues placing on Coast Guard teams from Turkey? The overall situation is so, so awful.

WATSON: It's substantial. The Turkish government says the number of rescues that they've performed in the first nine months of this year is more than triple the number of migrants and refugees that they performed last year, so that gives you a sense of the surge of the number of people. They say it's more than 48,000 people they've rescued along the coast trying to get to Greece in the last nine months so that's a burden, it costs more, it costs for fuel, patrols that are out at night and this is on top of the existing burden Turkey faces of some nearly two million refugees from both Syria and Iraq that it's been hosting for months and years -- Wolf?

WOLF: It's a terrible, terrible situation.

Good reporting from Ivan as usual.

Thank you.

European leaders are moving to do more to help the influx of refugees but warn they can't keep taking in people at the current pace. Here are the numbers so far. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced his country will take 20,000 Syrian refugees over the next five years. France says it will take in 24,000 more. Germany has promised more than $3 billion to help deal with the migrant crisis.

But even as European Union leaders offered aid, the good will has not extended to Hungary. Police herded hundreds of refugees into a field to wait to be transported to a reception camp, as it's called. Hungary's prime minister is criticizing the E.U. leaders for their quotas, saying he would not allow a flock to pass through his country.

As the pressure grows on the U.S. to take in more refugees, so does the fear that terrorists potentially could be in with some of those refugees. Congressman Peter King has been an outspoken critic on this issue. He's a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, the Intelligence Committee as well. There you see him. He's standing by live. We'll discuss when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:38:35] WOLF: As Europe deals with this huge migrant crisis, you may wonder how the United States fits into the equation. According to the State Department, the spokesman, John Kirby, says the U.S. has taken in 1500 refugees so far. He expects that number to double by the end of the year. The U.S. has allocated $25 million to deal with this issue in Europe and has provided by $4.1 billion in humanitarian assistance since the start of the crisis some four years ago.

While the Department of Homeland Security in Washington is trying to screen refugees, there's still a concern on Capitol Hill about members of terrorist groups entering the U.S. using the refugee admission program.

Let's discuss what's going on with New York Republican Congressman Peter King. He's a member of the House Homeland Security Committee.

You think, Congressman King, that allowing these refugees into the U.S. could potentially allow terrorists to gain entry into the United States as well? Have you seen evidence that ISIS has been trying to do that?

REP. PETER KING, (R), NEW YORK: We had a hearing on this just several months ago in my subcommittee. The clear consensus is that there is a real concern. We have to assume that ISIS or al Qaeda would try to take advantage of this situation.

But let me say up front this is a terrible humanitarian crisis and every effort must be made. But, again, my main obligation and the main obligation of the United States government is to make sure Americans are protected. So we have to have a very thorough vetting process. And when people talk about large numbers coming there, I don't see how we could do that because we have no intelligence on the ground. There's no way of knowing without extensive vetting and investigation who these people are, what their background is.

I think one way we could do it is take refugees already in Jordan because Jordan does have very good intelligence and also worked with them and the relief organizations over there. Maybe take some of them to alleviate the pressure on Jordan. Is it will be difficult, Wolf, all I'm saying is keep our eyes open. I don't want to be on our show a year or two from now explaining why someone who came in under the guise of being a refugee was responsible for something like the Boston Marathon bombing or subway attack in New York.

[13:40:53] WOLF: Having said that, would you be open to more funding to ease the crisis, the refugee crisis that's clearly exploding right now?

KING: Yeah. I certainly would. We have to know what it's going for but the concept of more funding, yes. The world has an obligation, and the U.S. -- we can go back to the Hungarian freedom fighters, Vietnamese boat people where the U.S. did the right thing. We can go back to the Jews in the 1930s where we didn't do the right thing. So we realize there's an obligation when there is a refugee crisis to step up. In the past, we did not have to worry about those refugees being infiltrated by people who carry out attacks in the U.S. I use the example of the Tsarnaev brothers who carried out the Boston Marathon bombing. They were vetted. They had been given in political asylum as refugees and we saw what they did. So I'm willing to say that the overwhelming, maybe 90 percent, 59 percent -- who knows what the number -- a very high percentage of refugees are people who deserve and should receive humanitarian aid but I'm concerned if you get five, 10, 15, 20, whatever the number of terrorists coming in, the damage they could cause, the devastation and this week of 9/11 I'm particularly reminded of that.

WOLF: Let's talk about the Iran deal. You called it fatally flawed. But you did see Colin Powell, the former secretary of state, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, say this. I want you to listen to what he said yesterday on "Meet the Press".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, FORMER CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I think they will find over time if it unfolds the way it is designed to unfold they will seal that they have been made more secure by derailing this Iranian nuclear program.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WOLF: He came out in favor of the president's deal and secretary of state's deal with the Iranians. What do you say to Colin Powell?

KING: Well, I have a great regard for my fellow New Yorker, Secretary of State Colin Powell, but I disagree with him on this. Even if the agreement is fully lived up to, it locks in place an Iranian nuclear infrastructure and even by the president's own acknowledgment within a year or two after the 10 years are up Iran will be able to affect a nuclear embargo, the arms embargo will be off, they will have $150 billion which will go into their economy which they can use to build up their own strength within the country but also the world's leading funder of Hezbollah. So I feel strongly it's a bad deal and I have a disagreement with Secretary Powell, for whom I have the greatest regard otherwise.

WOLF: One final political question before I let you go, Congressman. Donald Trump, how surprised are you by the incredible leads, at least according to the polls, he's generating right now in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida, all these states that have these polls he's doing amazingly well? How surprised are you?

KING: I would have been surprised several months ago. Now when I see the poll numbers I'm not surprised. When I walk down the street and go to a bagel shop, diner, ball game, the first question people have ask me is, what do you think of Donald Trump? He's the only guy that's saying what we believe. So he's definitely tapped into a nerve throughout, so I'm not surprised to see the numbers now. Did I predict this? Not at all.

WOLF: Could you see him getting the Republican presidential nomination?

KING: Yes, I could. The way he's going now and no one seems to be building up a strong opposition to him. Obviously, he's going to have to tone down, but who am I to give advice? I considered running and didn't run. He came in the last minute in June and is on top of the polls so maybe he'll prove us wrong again. The potential is there and if he could fill in the gaps and tone down a bit he could be a very strong contender, yes.

WOLF: Peter King, the Congressman from New York.

Thanks very much, Congressman, for joining us.

KING: Thank you, Wolf. [13:44:53] WOLF: Is Russia increasing its military presence in Syria

right now? That concern real enough to make the Secretary of State John Kerry call his Russian counterpart over the weekend. We'll talk about what's at stake for both sides when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WOLF: Is Russia secretly planning some secret military intervention in Syria? The U.S. gathered evidence of Russia possibly planning to build up its military presence in the civil war, according to a report in "The Los Angeles Times." Over the weekend, John Kerry called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, to express concern about the situation. He issued a strong statement saying, "It could lead to greater loss of innocent life, increased refugee flows, and risk confrontation with anti-ISIS coalition operating in Syria."

Barbara Starr joins us with more.

Barbara, as you know, this phone conversation between Lavrov and the secretary of state, significant development. What exactly are you hearing? What are the Russians suspected of specifically doing in Syria?

[13:50:35] BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we know, Wolf, is that the Obama administration, through the State Department, expressing that concern. And specifically talking about -- I just want to quote this from the State Department statement -- "a possible imminent enhanced Russian military buildup." Imminent and enhanced.

What they're talking about is they're looking for signs that Russia could be moving in troops, aircraft, logistics, supplies. They're going to be looking for any cargo flights coming in to go to air fields in Syria. And, of course, if the Russians want to come in by air through large cargo airplanes, they're going to have to get over flight rights from neighboring countries, looking for any signs that Russian cargo ships, military or civilian Russian cargo ships may be moving through the Mediterranean into Syrian ports, unloading again gear, troops, weapons. These are all of the steps that would be the final steps that the U.S. is going to be looking for through satellites, through surveillance to try and figure out what the Russians are exactly up to.

Right now, officials are saying -- U.S. officials are saying they're seeing what they're calling preparatory steps, but they still don't know with certainty what the Russians' ultimate goal is. One of the big concerns mentioned in that statement, if the Russians were to start flying strike missions, bombing on behalf of Assad, trying to keep him in power, this will complicate the situation greatly. The U.S., the Turks, other coalition aircraft already in the skies over Syria, not something the U.S. wants to see. The U.S. trying to nip this idea in the bud. But I have to tell you right now, Wolf, it is not exactly clear what the Russians may really be up to here.

WOLF: Assad presumably would want more Russian support. They have support from Iran. They have support from Hezbollah in Lebanon. They could use Russian support if Bashar Assad stays in power. We will watch this closely.

Barbara, thanks very much.

STARR: Sure.

BLITZER: Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy confirmed to CNN that a Russian intelligence ship has been spotted in international waters off the coast of Alaska, was seen by a research ship being used by Shell for oil exploration north of the Bering Strait. They said they were aware of the ship's presence and say, "We recognize the rights of sovereign nations to freely navigate in international waters."

So are you ready to drive through high-speed traffic without using your hands or feet? Just ahead, we're going to take you on a test drive and show you how it's being done.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[13:57:20] WOLF: The race is on to develop the first driverless car. One company in Israel now says its technology is leading the pack.

CNN'S Samuel Burke went for a high-speed test drive without using his hands or his feet.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SAMUEL BURKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): CNN put me in the passenger seat of a driverless car. Once, they even let me go behind the wheel, but only in a parking lot.

Now for the first time, I'm actually allowed on the open road in the driver's seat, or is that the driverless seat.

(on camera): Oh, boy, that's a steep hill we're going down.

(voice-over): Consider manufacturers are racing to the finish line, hoping to be first with the first fully autonomous car on the road. Even though they're in close competition, Tesla, Volvo, GM, Audi, BMW and 8 other car companies are all using the technology designed by Israeli company, Mobileye. It rose to prominence with a dashboard camera for everyday cars to alert drivers to potential collisions. Now they're rebooting systems to allow the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel.

(on camera): Tell me what's in this car right now that allows me to do this interview with you? I'm behind the wheel. I have my hands up as you can see. What's actually here that allows this?

AMNON SHASHUA, CHAIRMAN, MOBILEYE: It is powered by a front-facing camera in the development system. In production, there will be multiple cameras to get 360 degrees. What we see here on the monitor is what the processing chip picks up from the visual field. It knows about other cars, knows about people.

BURKE (voice-over): Mobileye says there are two ingredients to the secret sauce of their company's success. First, their algorithms. Dozens of teams in the Jerusalem headquarters obsess over the algorithms so the computer can recognize the difference between a green and red light or a bicycle darting in front of the car.

The other ingredient?

SHASHUA: All the value of the company is in the chip. It has 10 times the power of any chip you can buy on the market.

BURKE (on camera): When we are on the freeway, who is safer, me or your system?

SHASHUA: The robotic system would be better than a human driver. The reason for this kind of technology, at the end of the day, is not to make driving more fun, it is to make driving more safe.

BURKE: I am keeping my hands near the steering wheel, just in case.

(voice-over): Samuel Burke, CNN, Israel.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF: That's pretty amazing stuff.

Thanks very much for watching. I am Wolf Blitzer. I will be back 5:00 p.m. eastern in "The Situation Room."

"Newsroom" with Ana Cabrera starts right now.

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