[Kimberly Dozier, Cnn Global Affairs Analyst:] Well, it shows that even though ISIS is under siege militarily inside Syria and Iraq, they can still command some of these attacks and inspire far more. They knew that this military confrontation and loss of territory was coming. And U.S. intelligence officials tell us that as far back as two years ago they started deploying operatives to places like Europe, clandestine networks across the African content, and possibly even in the United States. The idea being when they needed to draw attention elsewhere, they would activate these cells or lost communication with these cells they would act on their own to keep is' name in the headlines.
[John Berman, Cnn Anchor:] Bob, the U.S. is supporting efforts in Syria and Iraq to take back territory from ISIS, their so-called caliphate. What does ISIS need with the land? If they can carry out attacks or inspire these attacks around the world even as they're losing ground, we're told by military officials here, what does the land matter to them?
[Bob Baer, Cnn Intelligence & Security Analyst:] In a sense, it doesn't matter much. The caliphate will go away. They need land to have a caliphate. But the problem is these cells, like the cells in Baghdad, it's very easy to make these truck bombs. This thing was devastating. It was 150 dead, hundreds more wounded. The problem is Iraqis have is you can make these things in a big garage. It's very easy. They're very good at it. They make the detonators work. Bangladesh, ISIS-inspired probably. They don't need direct communications, if you can get weapons. The problem is what we're seeing across the world is a backlash, a backlash the fall of Fallujah, Ramadi. This is the politics of despair. People identify with the Sunnis in Iraq and Syria. They're striking out where they can. It's a sign of weakness. On the other hand, they can cause a lot of bloodshed on the other hand.
[Berman:] Fascinating, talk about Iraq, Nic, coming on the heals of what is considered to be a success in Fallujah, the Iraqi forces in Fallujah were able to take back Fallujah from ISIS, yet this terror attack happened in the Iraqi capitol and the prime minister has shoes thrown at him just weeks after he helped retake Fallujah.
[Nic Robertson, Cnn International Diplomatic Editor:] Yeah. What ISIS is doing with this particular attack in Baghdad, it's very pertinent to the Iraq part of the picture for them. They chose a Shia neighborhood. They are Sunni. They're trying to create as much of a sectarian division as absolutely possible. Now, the prime minister is a Shia and he those were Shia people throwing shoes and rocks at him. There are divisions within the Shia community. That there's nothing ISIS would like better than that. Would they would really like is to create a situation in Iraq that is so polarized in a sectarian basis there's no way that a Shia-led government in Baghdad can run the Sunni west of the country. And in their minds, they would be the ones sweeping in to try to take control and manage. There will come a point that the Iraqi government if it can't work with the Sunni tribes in Fallujah and Ramadi and the other places will have a big weakness in the West. ISIS, you know, in their minds is not going away. They're absolutely losing territory. They are lashing out in the ways that they can. But to a degree what we're seeing is the maturation of their ability to use this caliphate that is central to their raise. If they don't have the caliphate, if we can take the land back, then that is a massive, massive blow to themselves. They can no longer call themselves caliphate. But they're lashing out through the maturation of the networks so they've inspired in other parts of the world. That's the dangerous part of this, of course.
[Berman:] Kimberly, what are your military sources telling you right now about future efforts about the so-called capitol of their caliphate and Mosul and Raqqa?
[Dozier:] They're having to work slowly because they're working through partners, but the other thing that they're doing is slowly choking off each area, rather than going directly for them. Preparing the ground it's called so that ISIS by the time they get the full onslaught of Iraqi forces in Mosul or in Raqqa they will be starved out and under pressure and having infighting within their own organization, at least that's the plan. I think what people forget, though, is that ISIS itself has an apocalyptic vision which require is it at some point to lose the town which is about northeast of Aleppo by about 30 miles and that then, according to ISIS'beliefs triggers a victory for them where they go they fight for Jerusalem and then supposedly their caliphate expands. So, what we see as a loss, they're seeing as a signal for future victory.
[Berman:] Nic, Bob, Kimberly, thanks so much. Want to turn to politics right now. And the list of possible running mates for each major candidate right now. Just moments ago, something extraordinary, Donald Trump, the candidate himself, floated several names of possible vice presidential picks. Which one is the most likely? We'll discuss.