[Applause] the reality is that I know war very very
the reality is that I know war very very
the reality is that I know war very very well I have witnessed time and time
well I have witnessed time and time
well I have witnessed time and time again the way that it can destroy a
again the way that it can destroy a
again the way that it can destroy a person’s soul the way that an individual
person’s soul the way that an individual
person’s soul the way that an individual ends up utterly shredded by the lack of
ends up utterly shredded by the lack of
ends up utterly shredded by the lack of comprehension when it comes to how to
comprehension when it comes to how to
comprehension when it comes to how to process their emotions how to cope with
process their emotions how to cope with
process their emotions how to cope with the physical destruction of everything
the physical destruction of everything
the physical destruction of everything that they knew to be real and how a
that they knew to be real and how a
that they knew to be real and how a clause at their mental psyche every
clause at their mental psyche every
clause at their mental psyche every single step of the way and in most cases
single step of the way and in most cases
single step of the way and in most cases it even steals away any shred of dignity
it even steals away any shred of dignity
it even steals away any shred of dignity that may remain I just got back from
that may remain I just got back from
that may remain I just got back from Raqqa city in Syria that had just been
Raqqa city in Syria that had just been
Raqqa city in Syria that had just been liberated by the Syrian democratic
liberated by the Syrian democratic
liberated by the Syrian democratic forces that is the force that is being
forces that is the force that is being
forces that is the force that is being backed by the us-led coalition and it
backed by the us-led coalition and it
backed by the us-led coalition and it was liberated from Isis and despite all
was liberated from Isis and despite all
was liberated from Isis and despite all of the different war zones that I’ve
of the different war zones that I’ve
of the different war zones that I’ve been to there was something that was
been to there was something that was
been to there was something that was especially jarring about Raqqa every
especially jarring about Raqqa every
especially jarring about Raqqa every other place that I’ve been to
other place that I’ve been to
other place that I’ve been to amid the destruction and the devastation
amid the destruction and the devastation
amid the destruction and the devastation you would always find little bits of
you would always find little bits of
you would always find little bits of color whether it was a child’s shoe or a
color whether it was a child’s shoe or a
color whether it was a child’s shoe or a toy or a scrap of a notebook there would
toy or a scrap of a notebook there would
toy or a scrap of a notebook there would be a hint of the lives that used to
be a hint of the lives that used to
be a hint of the lives that used to exist there of the happiness that once
exist there of the happiness that once
exist there of the happiness that once existed within these walls and in Raqqa
existed within these walls and in Raqqa
existed within these walls and in Raqqa there was nothing it was gray and it was
there was nothing it was gray and it was
there was nothing it was gray and it was impossible to imagine how anyone could
impossible to imagine how anyone could
impossible to imagine how anyone could have quite possibly survived and then I
have quite possibly survived and then I
have quite possibly survived and then I met a family who did at one of the
met a family who did at one of the
met a family who did at one of the refugee camps and nezu she was the
refugee camps and nezu she was the
refugee camps and nezu she was the mother and she had seven children and
mother and she had seven children and
mother and she had seven children and she was telling us about how she had to
she was telling us about how she had to
she was telling us about how she had to send out her nine-year-old daughter
send out her nine-year-old daughter
send out her nine-year-old daughter while they were under siege to go and
while they were under siege to go and
while they were under siege to go and get supplies for them her nine-year-old
get supplies for them her nine-year-old
get supplies for them her nine-year-old daughter would go out and siphon with a
daughter would go out and siphon with a
daughter would go out and siphon with a hose fuel from wrecked out cars so that
hose fuel from wrecked out cars so that
hose fuel from wrecked out cars so that she could make bread for the rest of
she could make bread for the rest of
she could make bread for the rest of them and they hid underground in the
them and they hid underground in the
them and they hid underground in the darkness and the final days of the
darkness and the final days of the
darkness and the final days of the battle for
battle for
battle for because they had tried to flee time and
because they had tried to flee time and
because they had tried to flee time and time again they would try to run away
time again they would try to run away
time again they would try to run away and at every single occasion they
and at every single occasion they
and at every single occasion they described how Isis would shoot at them
described how Isis would shoot at them
described how Isis would shoot at them and they would be forced back or even
and they would be forced back or even
and they would be forced back or even stopped them and hold a gun to their
stopped them and hold a gun to their
stopped them and hold a gun to their heads in fact the little five-year-old
heads in fact the little five-year-old
heads in fact the little five-year-old could easily mimic the way that Isis
could easily mimic the way that Isis
could easily mimic the way that Isis would say stay back we’re gonna shoot
would say stay back we’re gonna shoot
would say stay back we’re gonna shoot you and so the nine-year-old went out
you and so the nine-year-old went out
you and so the nine-year-old went out and one day the nine-year-old managed to
and one day the nine-year-old managed to
and one day the nine-year-old managed to find a little piece of meat she begged
find a little piece of meat she begged
find a little piece of meat she begged it off of an Isis fighter and it was so
it off of an Isis fighter and it was so
it off of an Isis fighter and it was so small it would fit in the palm of your
small it would fit in the palm of your
small it would fit in the palm of your hand and this was to feed a family of
hand and this was to feed a family of
hand and this was to feed a family of nine and the other children were so
nine and the other children were so
nine and the other children were so excited you would think that they had
excited you would think that they had
excited you would think that they had just seen the most marvelous gift they
just seen the most marvelous gift they
just seen the most marvelous gift they could possibly imagine
could possibly imagine
could possibly imagine that’s how deprived they were in those
that’s how deprived they were in those
that’s how deprived they were in those moments in those final moments and the
moments in those final moments and the
moments in those final moments and the reason why Naza had to send out her
reason why Naza had to send out her
reason why Naza had to send out her nine-year-old was because she couldn’t
nine-year-old was because she couldn’t
nine-year-old was because she couldn’t send out her 17 year old son Isis was
send out her 17 year old son Isis was
send out her 17 year old son Isis was deliberately conscripted men she
deliberately conscripted men she
deliberately conscripted men she couldn’t send out her fifteen-year-old
couldn’t send out her fifteen-year-old
couldn’t send out her fifteen-year-old daughter because Isis was trying to get
daughter because Isis was trying to get
daughter because Isis was trying to get as many brides as possible and they had
as many brides as possible and they had
as many brides as possible and they had in fact already come after her daughter
in fact already come after her daughter
in fact already come after her daughter but she had somehow found the courage to
but she had somehow found the courage to
but she had somehow found the courage to grab a knife from the kitchen and chase
grab a knife from the kitchen and chase
grab a knife from the kitchen and chase this fighter out of her house but the
this fighter out of her house but the
this fighter out of her house but the fifteen-year-old had to stay hidden and
fifteen-year-old had to stay hidden and
fifteen-year-old had to stay hidden and so she sent out her nine-year-old now of
so she sent out her nine-year-old now of
so she sent out her nine-year-old now of course she her entire family were
course she her entire family were
course she her entire family were incredibly relieved to have survived but
incredibly relieved to have survived but
incredibly relieved to have survived but now they were living in a refugee camp
now they were living in a refugee camp
now they were living in a refugee camp and they literally had nothing Nadja
and they literally had nothing Nadja
and they literally had nothing Nadja actually coincidentally messaged me a
actually coincidentally messaged me a
actually coincidentally messaged me a few days ago and she said you know
few days ago and she said you know
few days ago and she said you know Ottawa it’s been about a week since
Ottawa it’s been about a week since
Ottawa it’s been about a week since you’ve been here
you’ve been here
you’ve been here you know people been seeing the
you know people been seeing the
you know people been seeing the reporting about Rocco we know that
reporting about Rocco we know that
reporting about Rocco we know that there’s been a lot of journalists you
there’s been a lot of journalists you
there’s been a lot of journalists you know what’s going on is anyone gonna
know what’s going on is anyone gonna
know what’s going on is anyone gonna help us what do we do doesn’t the world
help us what do we do doesn’t the world
help us what do we do doesn’t the world care about what’s happening
care about what’s happening
care about what’s happening I could not respond to those questions
I could not respond to those questions
I could not respond to those questions because if I were to try to say
because if I were to try to say
because if I were to try to say something reassuring that would probably
something reassuring that would probably
something reassuring that would probably be a lie and I could not tell her the
be a lie and I could not tell her the
be a lie and I could not tell her the truth that most people turn away when
truth that most people turn away when
truth that most people turn away when they see stories from Syria that there
they see stories from Syria that there
they see stories from Syria that there is an apathy when it comes to a lot of
is an apathy when it comes to a lot of
is an apathy when it comes to a lot of the war zones that are currently out
the war zones that are currently out
the war zones that are currently out there and that politicians and global
there and that politicians and global
there and that politicians and global leaders and the people that could
leaders and the people that could
leaders and the people that could actually impact her life probably don’t
actually impact her life probably don’t
actually impact her life probably don’t really on
really on
really on stand it and maybe even don’t care so I
stand it and maybe even don’t care so I
stand it and maybe even don’t care so I had to say nothing and that’s not the
had to say nothing and that’s not the
had to say nothing and that’s not the first time we as journalists received
first time we as journalists received
first time we as journalists received these kinds of questions from these
these kinds of questions from these
these kinds of questions from these kinds of individuals that have already
kinds of individuals that have already
kinds of individuals that have already been through more than we can ever
been through more than we can ever
been through more than we can ever possibly imagine and so most mornings
possibly imagine and so most mornings
possibly imagine and so most mornings most days in fact I do think that maybe
most days in fact I do think that maybe
most days in fact I do think that maybe the world is better off if our planet
the world is better off if our planet
the world is better off if our planet was just hit by an asteroid because for
was just hit by an asteroid because for
was just hit by an asteroid because for us is journalists we really do feel
us is journalists we really do feel
us is journalists we really do feel especially today that a lot of this
especially today that a lot of this
especially today that a lot of this reporting that we’re doing especially
reporting that we’re doing especially
reporting that we’re doing especially when it comes to the human stories to
when it comes to the human stories to
when it comes to the human stories to the people that are suffering because of
the people that are suffering because of
the people that are suffering because of decisions over which they have no
decisions over which they have no
decisions over which they have no control all of that is happening in a
control all of that is happening in a
control all of that is happening in a dark void in a dark abyss but then I
dark void in a dark abyss but then I
dark void in a dark abyss but then I remember the story of a little boy who
remember the story of a little boy who
remember the story of a little boy who taught me one of the most valuable
taught me one of the most valuable
taught me one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned throughout
lessons I have ever learned throughout
lessons I have ever learned throughout my career this little boy’s name was
my career this little boy’s name was
my career this little boy’s name was Yousef it was Iraq it was 2007 and back
Yousef it was Iraq it was 2007 and back
Yousef it was Iraq it was 2007 and back then Iraq too was no longer really in
then Iraq too was no longer really in
then Iraq too was no longer really in the headlines it was no longer really in
the headlines it was no longer really in
the headlines it was no longer really in the spotlight people were turning away
the spotlight people were turning away
the spotlight people were turning away when they heard stories about Iraq
when they heard stories about Iraq
when they heard stories about Iraq Yousef came to our office our CNN
Yousef came to our office our CNN
Yousef came to our office our CNN Baghdad Bureau and he had been burnt
Baghdad Bureau and he had been burnt
Baghdad Bureau and he had been burnt unknown masked men had doused him in
unknown masked men had doused him in
unknown masked men had doused him in gasoline and set him on fire he was just
gasoline and set him on fire he was just
gasoline and set him on fire he was just five years old by the time he got into
five years old by the time he got into
five years old by the time he got into our office his face had hardened into
our office his face had hardened into
our office his face had hardened into this mask of a scar tissue he couldn’t
this mask of a scar tissue he couldn’t
this mask of a scar tissue he couldn’t open his mouth and he sat in our Baghdad
open his mouth and he sat in our Baghdad
open his mouth and he sat in our Baghdad Bureau eating rice but he had to take
Bureau eating rice but he had to take
Bureau eating rice but he had to take one grain at a time and just shove it
one grain at a time and just shove it
one grain at a time and just shove it between his lips he was so angry but he
between his lips he was so angry but he
between his lips he was so angry but he didn’t know how to process these
didn’t know how to process these
didn’t know how to process these emotions he was just five years old and
emotions he was just five years old and
emotions he was just five years old and so all you could do to really understand
so all you could do to really understand
so all you could do to really understand how tormented this child was was look in
how tormented this child was was look in
how tormented this child was was look in his eyes and he was lashing out at his
his eyes and he was lashing out at his
his eyes and he was lashing out at his sister and his parents didn’t know what
sister and his parents didn’t know what
sister and his parents didn’t know what to do and all we could do for them at
to do and all we could do for them at
to do and all we could do for them at that point was say look we can try to
that point was say look we can try to
that point was say look we can try to tell you her story but we don’t know
tell you her story but we don’t know
tell you her story but we don’t know what’s gonna happen
what’s gonna happen
what’s gonna happen we told Yousef story and the response
we told Yousef story and the response
we told Yousef story and the response was amazing I’m
was amazing I’m
was amazing I’m it came from all over the world people
it came from all over the world people
it came from all over the world people wanted to help it transcended ethnicity
wanted to help it transcended ethnicity
wanted to help it transcended ethnicity nationality religion all sorts of
nationality religion all sorts of
nationality religion all sorts of boundaries people came together to help
boundaries people came together to help
boundaries people came together to help this little boy in an organization in
this little boy in an organization in
this little boy in an organization in Los Angeles ended up agreeing to take on
Los Angeles ended up agreeing to take on
Los Angeles ended up agreeing to take on the case
the case
the case CNN viewers donated hundreds of
CNN viewers donated hundreds of
CNN viewers donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help this family
thousands of dollars to help this family
thousands of dollars to help this family out my best moment of my career was the
out my best moment of my career was the
out my best moment of my career was the moment when I could pick up the phone
moment when I could pick up the phone
moment when I could pick up the phone and tell his parents your little boy is
and tell his parents your little boy is
and tell his parents your little boy is gonna get help
gonna get help
gonna get help and I traveled with them to Los Angeles
and I traveled with them to Los Angeles
and I traveled with them to Los Angeles and I remember seeing Yusef at the beach
and I remember seeing Yusef at the beach
and I remember seeing Yusef at the beach and he was seeing the ocean for the
and he was seeing the ocean for the
and he was seeing the ocean for the first time and he ran towards it
first time and he ran towards it
first time and he ran towards it screaming and laughing and I looked over
screaming and laughing and I looked over
screaming and laughing and I looked over at his parents and they were crying
at his parents and they were crying
at his parents and they were crying because it was the first time they’d
because it was the first time they’d
because it was the first time they’d heard their son laughing a year what
heard their son laughing a year what
heard their son laughing a year what that story taught me was that the
that story taught me was that the
that story taught me was that the kindness and compassion of strangers
kindness and compassion of strangers
kindness and compassion of strangers exists and we may not always see it
exists and we may not always see it
exists and we may not always see it every day but just the power of caring
every day but just the power of caring
every day but just the power of caring and then of doing something about it
and then of doing something about it
and then of doing something about it even if it’s a small donation to one
even if it’s a small donation to one
even if it’s a small donation to one little boy has such a massive profound
little boy has such a massive profound
little boy has such a massive profound impact Yusef today not only wants to be
impact Yusef today not only wants to be
impact Yusef today not only wants to be a doctor to help others the way that he
a doctor to help others the way that he
a doctor to help others the way that he has been helped he doesn’t remember the
has been helped he doesn’t remember the
has been helped he doesn’t remember the attack anymore ten years on this 15 year
attack anymore ten years on this 15 year
attack anymore ten years on this 15 year old boy’s life his first memories of
old boy’s life his first memories of
old boy’s life his first memories of life are not defined by violence they
life are not defined by violence they
life are not defined by violence they are defined by the kindness and
are defined by the kindness and
are defined by the kindness and compassion that he saw afterwards and it
compassion that he saw afterwards and it
compassion that he saw afterwards and it doesn’t need to be large change that can
doesn’t need to be large change that can
doesn’t need to be large change that can impact a person’s life how we react to
impact a person’s life how we react to
impact a person’s life how we react to one another and sometimes the worst of
one another and sometimes the worst of
one another and sometimes the worst of situations can have a lasting impact on
situations can have a lasting impact on
situations can have a lasting impact on our psyche for myself personally about a
our psyche for myself personally about a
our psyche for myself personally about a year ago to date I was in Mosul I was
year ago to date I was in Mosul I was
year ago to date I was in Mosul I was embedded with the Iraqi counterterrorism
embedded with the Iraqi counterterrorism
embedded with the Iraqi counterterrorism force with my cameraman and we were
force with my cameraman and we were
force with my cameraman and we were going in as they were part of their
going in as they were part of their
going in as they were part of their first push to try to retake Mosul from
first push to try to retake Mosul from
first push to try to retake Mosul from Isis and our unit our convoy ended up
Isis and our unit our convoy ended up
Isis and our unit our convoy ended up being ambushed and suicide car bomb came
being ambushed and suicide car bomb came
being ambushed and suicide car bomb came in and took out the back vehicle of the
in and took out the back vehicle of the
in and took out the back vehicle of the convoy the first vehicle when I’ve been
convoy the first vehicle when I’ve been
convoy the first vehicle when I’ve been his massive ball of flames and we were
his massive ball of flames and we were
his massive ball of flames and we were trapped and we ended up seeking shelter
trapped and we ended up seeking shelter
trapped and we ended up seeking shelter in the middle of all of this mad
in the middle of all of this mad
in the middle of all of this mad in civilian homes and we were in one
in civilian homes and we were in one
in civilian homes and we were in one house and the frontline was pretty much
house and the frontline was pretty much
house and the frontline was pretty much the wall of the house the women and
the wall of the house the women and
the wall of the house the women and children were hiding in the back corner
children were hiding in the back corner
children were hiding in the back corner the courtyard of the house was filled
the courtyard of the house was filled
the courtyard of the house was filled with wounded soldiers and streaked with
with wounded soldiers and streaked with
with wounded soldiers and streaked with blood and in the middle of all of this
blood and in the middle of all of this
blood and in the middle of all of this the home owner makes fried eggs
the home owner makes fried eggs
the home owner makes fried eggs for us and for the soldiers because
for us and for the soldiers because
for us and for the soldiers because despite it all we were their guests and
despite it all we were their guests and
despite it all we were their guests and that was the only way that they could
that was the only way that they could
that was the only way that they could also hold on to their humanity and their
also hold on to their humanity and their
also hold on to their humanity and their dignity but for me that whole nightmare
dignity but for me that whole nightmare
dignity but for me that whole nightmare of an ordeal that I was fortunate enough
of an ordeal that I was fortunate enough
of an ordeal that I was fortunate enough to have only lasts for 24 hours was not
to have only lasts for 24 hours was not
to have only lasts for 24 hours was not defined by the fear that I experienced
defined by the fear that I experienced
defined by the fear that I experienced it was defined by the kindness that I
it was defined by the kindness that I
it was defined by the kindness that I saw we know that we cannot stop the wars
saw we know that we cannot stop the wars
saw we know that we cannot stop the wars but we can help to mitigate the
but we can help to mitigate the
but we can help to mitigate the consequences of it on an individual if
consequences of it on an individual if
consequences of it on an individual if not directly alter them small actions in
not directly alter them small actions in
not directly alter them small actions in ways that we react to one another
ways that we react to one another
ways that we react to one another especially people that have suffered
especially people that have suffered
especially people that have suffered violence and trauma has a profound
violence and trauma has a profound
violence and trauma has a profound impact whether it’s a small moment that
impact whether it’s a small moment that
impact whether it’s a small moment that just lasts for a day or even less or
just lasts for a day or even less or
just lasts for a day or even less or whether it’s one that can impact them
whether it’s one that can impact them
whether it’s one that can impact them over and over again over the course of a
over and over again over the course of a
over and over again over the course of a lifetime
lifetime
lifetime I remember about two years ago during
I remember about two years ago during
I remember about two years ago during the big flood of refugees to Europe I
the big flood of refugees to Europe I
the big flood of refugees to Europe I was in Hungary covering the refugee
was in Hungary covering the refugee
was in Hungary covering the refugee crisis and there was that one day when
crisis and there was that one day when
crisis and there was that one day when the refugees who had been waiting at the
the refugees who had been waiting at the
the refugees who had been waiting at the Budapest train station decided that’s it
Budapest train station decided that’s it
Budapest train station decided that’s it we’re gonna walk these are individuals
we’re gonna walk these are individuals
we’re gonna walk these are individuals who had not only seen the worst of the
who had not only seen the worst of the
who had not only seen the worst of the suffering in their own countries the
suffering in their own countries the
suffering in their own countries the worst of the violence possibly
worst of the violence possibly
worst of the violence possibly imaginable had just crossed the
imaginable had just crossed the
imaginable had just crossed the Mediterranean risking their lives
Mediterranean risking their lives
Mediterranean risking their lives risking their children’s lives and then
risking their children’s lives and then
risking their children’s lives and then quite literally carried their children
quite literally carried their children
quite literally carried their children for weeks and suffered every single
for weeks and suffered every single
for weeks and suffered every single humiliation you could possibly imagine
humiliation you could possibly imagine
humiliation you could possibly imagine along every step of the route and as
along every step of the route and as
along every step of the route and as they walked and we were broadcasting
they walked and we were broadcasting
they walked and we were broadcasting live as were other networks about two
live as were other networks about two
live as were other networks about two hours into this walk all of a sudden
hours into this walk all of a sudden
hours into this walk all of a sudden people began showing up with strollers
people began showing up with strollers
people began showing up with strollers the refugees that were around us in that
the refugees that were around us in that
the refugees that were around us in that moment were so overwhelmed at that
moment were so overwhelmed at that
moment were so overwhelmed at that little small Jess
little small Jess
little small Jess sure that they said that they would
sure that they said that they would
sure that they said that they would never forget it and I believe them when
never forget it and I believe them when
never forget it and I believe them when they say that I believe that that is
they say that I believe that that is
they say that I believe that that is going to be one of the key points of a
going to be one of the key points of a
going to be one of the key points of a story that they then tell their children
story that they then tell their children
story that they then tell their children what I now know is that governments will
what I now know is that governments will
what I now know is that governments will continue to fail they will fail but we
continue to fail they will fail but we
continue to fail they will fail but we do not need to fail each other there are
do not need to fail each other there are
do not need to fail each other there are things that we can do on a small scale
things that we can do on a small scale
things that we can do on a small scale every single day we choose how we react
every single day we choose how we react
every single day we choose how we react to one another we cannot turn away from
to one another we cannot turn away from
to one another we cannot turn away from a new story because it might be
a new story because it might be
a new story because it might be disturbing we can actually go out and
disturbing we can actually go out and
disturbing we can actually go out and learn more about the root causes of what
learn more about the root causes of what
learn more about the root causes of what is happening and understand a bit more
is happening and understand a bit more
is happening and understand a bit more about what actually needs to be done to
about what actually needs to be done to
about what actually needs to be done to prevent it we can educate our children
prevent it we can educate our children
prevent it we can educate our children about what’s happening in the world
about what’s happening in the world
about what’s happening in the world around them teach them not to be afraid
around them teach them not to be afraid
around them teach them not to be afraid of someone because they may perceive
of someone because they may perceive
of someone because they may perceive them or misperceive them as being
them or misperceive them as being
them or misperceive them as being different we can teach our children we
different we can teach our children we
different we can teach our children we can teach ourselves and oblige ourselves
can teach ourselves and oblige ourselves
can teach ourselves and oblige ourselves to go out and speak to somebody who
to go out and speak to somebody who
to go out and speak to somebody who might be the new child or the new family
might be the new child or the new family
might be the new child or the new family in town there are little things we can
in town there are little things we can
in town there are little things we can do every single day that have an immense
do every single day that have an immense
do every single day that have an immense and enormous power thank you
”
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