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Lou Dobbs Tonight
U.S. Military Bracing For Possible Revenge Attacks Against Troops After Zarqawi's Death; Issues Congress Is Debating; Administration Has Taken Small Steps Toward Addressing Problem Of Stolen Social Security Numbers By Illegal Aliens; Bush Administration May Have Been Happy Michael Brown Took Heat For Response To Hurricane Katrina; Bill Richardson Interview; James Sensenbrenner Interview
Aired June 09, 2006 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KITTY PILGRIM, CNN ANCHOR: President Bush today announced that he cannot consider any U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq at this time. The president says the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a major strike at the heart of al Qaeda, but he says it will not influence his decision on troop levels.
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT, news, debate and opinion for Friday, June 9th.
Sitting in for Lou Dobbs is Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: Good evening, everyone.
President Bush said today that there could be no U.S. troop pullout from Iraq until there is victory in Iraq. The president said this war was not won with the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and he openly disagreed with Iraqi leaders who say their military can control Iraq within 18 months.
Elaine Quijano reports from the White House -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, President Bush said today that he was "thrilled" Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had been brought to justice. At the same time, though, Mr. Bush was still careful in his tone. During an appearance before reporters with the Danish prime minister at Camp David, the president reiterated that U.S. troop levels in Iraq depend on how well the Iraqis are able to secure their country.
He also gave a little bit of preview of his upcoming meeting via video conference next week with the leaders of a Iraq's new government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The prime minister has put forward a strategy as to how to achieve his objectives, which coincide with our objectives, a nation that can sustain itself, govern itself and defend itself. And we want too review all aspects of that strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP) QUIJANO: And today Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, wrote an op-ed in "The Washington Post" essentially outlining a three- pronged strategy for his country focusing on reconstruction, national reconciliation, and security.
A Bush aide says that the meetings next week between U.S. and Iraqi officials are intended to look at how best the U.S. might be able to help the prime minister achieve his objectives. Now, Bush aides do not expect a discussion of time frames for U.S. troop drawdowns. They do expect the talks, though, to include looking at U.S. troop presence and how coalition forces are configured in Iraq -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much.
Elaine Quijano.
Well, the U.S. military today says Zarqawi initially survived the F-16 air assault on his final hideout north of Baghdad. The U.S. Air Force dropped two 500-pound bombs on Zarqawi's safe house near the town of Baquba. Now, despite this fire power, Major General William Caldwell says Zarqawi was still moving when U.S. troops arrived on the scene.
Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, asked about it at today's briefing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Can you gives us the definitive word now? Do you have any information that Zarqawi initially survived the airstrike, that he was alive at any point in the hands of either Iraqi or U.S. forces?
MAJ. GEN. WILLIAM CALDWELL, U.S. ARMY: I'm reading the report. I did not talk specifically to any uniformed person. But according to the report, we did in fact see him alive. There was some kind of movement he had on the stretcher, and he died shortly thereafter.
STARR: Did anyone render medical assistance to him?
CALDWELL: As I was reading the report, they went into the process to provide medical care to him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: And General Caldwell also says Zarqawi appeared to have mumbled something before he died.
Five other people died in the attack, including Zarqawi's spiritual adviser, who unwittingly led U.S. forces to the location.
The FBI crime lab in Quantico, Virginia, tonight is testing DNA samples from Zarqawi and his associates killed in Wednesday's bombing. Now, the FBI is checking this DNA material to make sure it matches another DNA sample they have. The U.S. military has already made a positive fingerprint identification. But officials want to be absolutely certain about the match. And tests are expected back next week.
U.S. troops launched almost 40 raids across Iraq today. These troops are acting on new information gathered from the Zarqawi attack site.
Now, they hope that, by acting fast, they can further dismantle al Qaeda in Iraq. The military says this information is already revealing new clues about the man poised to take the helm of the al Qaeda position in Iraq, Egyptian-born Abu al-Masri.
Now, the U.S. military tonight bracing for possible revenge attacks against our troops after Zarqawi's death. And Baghdad residents still fear for their lives, even with him out of the picture.
John Vause reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The deserted city streets of Baghdad. For four hours at the time of noon prayers, all traffic was banned from the capital and northern city of Baquba. The logic was simple, no cars mean no suicide car bombings.
"It's a healthy security move," said this Baghdad resident. And he was right. While the streets were quiet, so, too, the insurgents.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his fighters often targeted Shiite mosques with car bombs, especially at Friday prayers, the most important and most crowded day of worship. The Iraqi government still fears there will be bloody retaliation for the death of the man known as "The Prince of al Qaeda." And while many Iraqis have celebrated his demise, many others fear it will have little impact on the daily violence.
"I believe nothing will change," says this man. "It's not because of Zarqawi. If they want to improve the security, they should control the militias in the country."
And some have questioned whether al-Zarqawi was as big to the insurgency a as the U.S. claimed.
MARWAN SHEHADEH, VISION RESEARCH INSTITUTE (through translator): From the first moment of the American occupation of Iraq, the Americans had deliberately exaggerated Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's role as an excuse for the continued American presence in Iraq and to link Iraqi resistance to global terror.
VAUSE: Zarqawi's foreign fighters have been only a small part of the overall violence in Iraq. And his brutal tactic, kidnappings, beheadings, and targeting civilians, according to some U.S. assessments, cost him support not only among Iraqis, but within al Qaeda as well. (on camera): The U.S. military expects Zarqawi to be quickly replaced, but his death might just ease some of the tensions between Sunnis and Shiites which have pushed this country to the brink of civil war.
John Vause, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: President Bush issued an ultimatum to Iran during his news conference today with the Danish prime minister. The president said Iran cannot wait indefinitely to respond to the U.S.-backed offer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: We have given the Iranians a limited period of time, you know, weeks, not months, digest a proposal to move forward. And if they choose not to verifiably suspend their program, then there will be action taken in the U.N. Security Council.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: The International Atomic Energy Agency says Iran continues to enrich uranium as recently as this week.
The Palestinian group Hamas today announced that it is resuming attacks on Israel. The military wing of Hamas said it is resuming attacks after Israel killed 10 Palestinian civilians.
Now, this is the largest number of Palestinians killed by Israel in a 24-hour period since December 2004. The Hamas cease-fire with Israel has been in place more than a year.
On Capitol Hill tonight, congressional negotiators are finalizing a massive $94.5 billion spending bill that will help fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will provide almost $66 billion for the war effort. That includes almost $20 billion for rebuilding projects for the Gulf Coast, and it funds President Bush's program to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexican border.
Congress was able to strip out billions of dollars in special projects from the bill. President Bush had initially threatened to veto the bill because of its size.
The chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus tonight is blasting the Democratic leadership of the House for trying to force Congressman William Jefferson off the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Congressman Jefferson is under investigation for allegedly taking tens of thousand of dollars in bribes. He has not been indicted.
Congressional Black Caucus head Congressman Melvin Watt says Jefferson is being unfairly treated because he is black. He says, "When you start taking up rules and applying them to one person without any set of standards, then people will start to ask, well, OK, then why haven't you done that to this person and why haven't you done this to that person? And if the only person you have applied it to is a back member of Congress, then our community will legitimately ask, what in the world are all you doing?"
Now, House Democrats could take a vote on Jefferson's committee status next week.
Congress this week could have debated any number of pressing issues. It could have discussed illegal immigration reform, education reform, rising energy prices, just to name a few.
Lisa Sylvester reports on what Congress chose to focus on instead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Congress will spend only about one-third of the year actually in session. Time is precious. That makes you wonder, why are lawmakers spending an awful lot of hours on things like...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: ... in commending the people of Mongolia on the 800th anniversary of Mongolian statehood, the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of his majesty, King Phumiphon Adunyadet, of Thailand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The 30th anniversary of United States winemakers...
SYLVESTER: The 1976 wine tasting commemoration. There was not one, not two, but three speeches.
REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CALIFORNIA: A wine tasting is a full participation sport available to all over 21.
SYLVESTER: And 40 minutes set aside to cheer the 800th anniversary of Mongolian statehood?
REP. JOE PITTS (R), PENNSYLVANIA: That's why it is altogether appropriate that we recognize the people of Mongolia.
SYLVESTER: Remind me again, where is Mongolia? Only 6,446 miles from Washington.
GARY RUSKIN, CONG. ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT: Although our members of Congress are paid a princely salary, increasingly the business that they do resembles trivial pursuit than anything really important to our country.
REP. SHERWOOD BOEHLERT (R), NEW YORK: Some people might say watching the proceedings of this House, why are they spending time on resolutions like this when there are so many really pressing issues facing the nation. And the answer is very simple. This is a small portion of our legislative week.
SYLVESTER: But Pete Sepp with the National Taxpayers Union isn't buying that.
PETE SEPP, NATIONAL TAXPAYERS UNION: Members of Congress claim that this doesn't take a lot of time, but the problem is, by focusing so much on the symbolic, they don't get to substantive things in time.
SYLVESTER: Consider one out of every six public laws passed by this Congress was for naming a post office.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER: So this Congress still has not solved the illegal immigration crisis or dealt with rising gas prices. But this week, lawmakers did pass a resolution commemorating American craft brewers and managed to name a Vermont post office after 19th a century congressman named Matthew Lyon -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Pressing issues, Lisa. Thanks very much.
Well, that brings us to the subject of tonight's poll. Which of these issues do you believe is the best use of lawmakers' time: resolution on Mongolian statehood, king of Thailand's 60th anniversary, U.S. win at the '76 Paris wine tasting, none of the above?
Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results later in the broadcast.
And coming up next, illegal aliens are stealing Americans' identities to apply for work. And the government has done nothing to stop it, but that could change. We'll have a special report ahead.
And nothing says Philly like cheese steak, but you better say it in English. A live report from Philadelphia coming up.
And the National Guard deploys on our southern border. New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is our guest.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: This program has been reporting on the outrageous theft of Social Security numbers by illegal aliens working in this country. Well today, the Bush administration took two small steps towards addressing the problem.
Casey Wian reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Workers in the United States submit about nine million invalid Social Security numbers to employers each year. It's likely most of them are illegal aliens. The fraud is so bad, the Department of Homeland Security says hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens are using a number made up of all zeroes. That despite the fact it's against the law for an employer to accept an obviously fraudulent number. BUSH: We all agree in Washington that employers must be held to account for the workers they hire. I spoke to the Chamber of Commerce last week and I made it clear that the United States is not going to tolerate employers who violate our immigration laws.
WIAN: Today, DHS proposed new regulations it says are intended to reduce the employment of unauthorized aliens. The first will allow employers to digitize the I-9 forms that are supposed to be used to verify employee eligibility. The idea is to reduce the cost of record keeping and encourage more businesses to comply with the law. The second protects businesses from lawsuits when investigating suspicious identification documents.
DEBORAH MEYERS, MIGRATION POLICY INST.: The government needs to provide employers with a reliable and accurate means of verifying the authorization of their workers, and then the government needs to hold employers responsible for using that system.
WIAN: But both measures fall far short of congressional proposals for a mandatory employee verification system.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: We've got a continue-foot ravine, I'm afraid. We're still jumping just eight feet. Let's get across (ph) there, make this thing work, create a biometric card, create a way that we can coordinate with the Social Security system to identify fraudulent numbers and fraudulent workers and make this system work.
WIAN: The House border security proposal would require employers to participate in a mandatory I.D. system for new hires within two years and for all employees within six. The Senate version only deals with new hires. Both would dramatically increase fines for businesses caught breaking the law.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WIAN: The new Homeland Security regulations are now subject to a 60-day public comment period before they take effect. As for the business lobby, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce wouldn't discuss the proposal, saying they're still studying it -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Well, it's high time. Thanks very much.
Casey Wian.
Well, if you would like to write your elected officials on the issues of illegal immigration and border security, you should go to our Web site, LouDobbs.com. We provide e-mail links to all of the nation's senators and congressmen.
Still to come, new developments tonight in the ongoing blame game over Hurricane Katrina. What the president -- what President Bush really thought about former FEMA director Michael Brown.
Also ahead, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on border security, illegal immigration reform and his own bid for re-election. We'll have that report.
And another border state governor weighs in on the president's plan to put troops on the border. We'll hear from New Mexico's governor, Bill Richardson, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: New revelations tonight about what was happening at the White House while New Orleans was reeling from Hurricane Katrina.
Brian Todd has the story -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, CNN has obtained an e-mail from September 7, 2005, indicating the Bush administration may not have -- or, excuse me, may have been happy that then-FEMA director Michael Brown was taking the heat for the response to Hurricane Katrina.
A high-level White House official close to the president writes an e-mail to Brown, "I did hear of one reference to you at the cabinet meeting yesterday. I wasn't there, but I heard someone commented that the press was sure beating up on Mike Brown to which the president replied, 'I'd rather they beat up on him than me or Chertoff.' Congratulations on doing a great job of diverting hostile fire way from the leader."
Now, Michael Brown, through his attorney, provided this e-mail to CNN on the condition that we redact the name, not revealing the identity of its author. CNN cannot independently verify the authenticity of the e-mail, but it does have the White House EOP.gov designation at the end, signifying Executive Office of the President.
Michael Brown appeared on "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL BROWN, FMR. FEMA DIRECTOR: It could embarrass the president. But frankly, as long as we're going to continue to play this game of every time the administration talks about what worked or didn't work, I'm not going to sit back and continue to take those stabs. I was doing everything I could down there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TODD: We've contacted a White House spokeswoman for reaction to our story. She replied an e-mail, "This is an old rumor that surfaced months ago and we're not commenting on it. The story has already been reported. And I have heard nothing at all that would substantiate it."
That is the end of that comment -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Brian, and sort of reading between the lines on this, what does this tell us about the White House and how it works in crisis mode? Is there something to be learned from this? TODD: I think there is. One historian who has actually written extensively on the response to Katrina, Douglas Brinkley, told me today that, you know, it does kind of corroborate a lot of the information he got that the White House, while they may not have sought to drag Michael Brown through the mud, certainly was happy that he was at least deflecting some criticism from them.
But another analyst, Stephen Wayne, of Georgetown University, really does put it in perspective, saying, look, in situations like that, cabinet secretaries, top aides, it's their job to take the fall for the president. That's the way it's always happened. He even has a great quote: "We have an old saying in Washington, all good news comes from the White House, all bad news comes from the department and agencies."
So that is how it works.
PILGRIM: That's interesting stuff. Thanks very much.
Brian Todd.
Thanks, Brian.
TODD: Sure.
PILGRIM: And Brian will have more details on this White House response to Hurricane Katrina. And you'll hear from Michael Brown. That's coming up on "THE SITUATION ROOM" at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
Well, let's take a look at your thoughts. We love doing this.
Ann in Florida writes, "We shouldn't be upset with the administration for selling our country's assets. I guess running the airlines is just another job that Americans don't want to do."
Muriel in California writes, "It appears that in the near future we will not be a world of nations with leaders and citizens, but a world with corporations with CEOs and stockholders."
And Fran in New York, "First the ports, now the airways. Why don't we just put up the white flag? This is crazy!"
Henry in Texas writes, "I think we should outsource operational control of the White House."
Sharon in Oregon says, "Watching Bush's 'higher power' speech still trying to sell his amnesty bill reminds me of a used car salesman trying to sell a lemon."
And Hank in New Jersey writes, "I know why our president refers to a higher power. It's the almighty dollar. What else could it be?"
Do send us your thoughts -- and you always do, and we love them -- LouDobbs.com. We'll have more of your thoughts later in the broadcast.
Up next, why Arnold Schwarzenegger says the plan to put troops on the border was half-baked. We'll have that report.
Then we'll hear from the head of National Guard, Lieutenant General Steven Blum, and David Grange on the strain on our National Guard.
Also, later, a border showdown of a different kind on Capitol Hill. The author of "Tough House Border Security Bill," Congressman James Sensenbrenner, will join us.
And ordering a cheese steak in Philadelphia, the controversy over one restaurant's English-only policy.
We'll have a live report from Philadelphia coming up.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: If you want a classic Philly cheese steak sandwich from Geno's in South Philadelphia, you have to place the order in English. The owner has posted signs saying, "This is America. When ordering, speak English."
The signs are now causing an uproar. Mary Snow has the story tonight from Philadelphia -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kitty, usually the debate here is over the kind of cheese you'll get with your cheese steak. But now it's taken on a whole new flavor.
The owner here, Joey Vento, says he's taking a stand and willing to become, in his words, the poster boy of the English-only issue. Vento has had the business now for 40 years. He says he decided back in December to put up his "English Only" sign. It came right in the middle of this heated debate over illegal immigration, and that sign is getting a lot of attention.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH VENTO, GENO'S OWNER: I'm a proud American, and I want everybody to speak English. I didn't see anything wrong with that. Now, when you come to Geno's, even though you don't speak English doesn't mean you're not going to get served. You will get served.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Now, Vento says that he's not going to take that sign down. He says he's been getting calls from so many different people and letters of support. But there are also critics who are saying that the real reason for the sign, they believe, is that Vento is targeting the growing population of Mexicans in Philadelphia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA RODRIGUEZ, JUNTOS COMMUNITY OUTREACH: It's a way of saying no Mexicans allowed or no Latino immigrants allowed because, like I said, you know, it's outrageous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNOW: Now, this debate has become so heated, the Anti-Defamation League has weighed in. Also, a city councilman from Philadelphia has asked Vento to take the sign down, saying it's mean-spirited, but he is refusing -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: What about customers who walk in? Are they noticing it much, or is it business as usual, Mary?
SNOW: It certainly is becoming a big issue here, because so many TV trucks are here, and it's been getting so much attention that he's getting a lot of support from his customers. And certainly some debates broke out while we were here during the day.
PILGRIM: Well, make sure to enjoy one of those sandwiches anyway, Mary.
Thanks for that report.
Mary Snow.
The campaign of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for a second term now under way. He's touring the state in a redesigned campaign bus. Television ads will air this weekend.
And John King has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you, Arnold!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We love you!
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Arnold!
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In running for governor, the sequel, the star is trying the kinder, gentler look, and a strikingly consolatory tone.
SCHWARZENEGGER: In the beginning I've rushed things. And I thought that anyone that was in my way that was not agreeing is the enemy. And it was the wrong approach.
We are here, ladies and gentlemen, to clean house.
KING: Remember the first campaign? "The Terminator" promising to shake up Sacramento.
SCHWARZENEGGER: We are here to kick some serious butt!
KING: Not this time around.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I have made mistakes. And I have learned from those mistakes.
KING: This Schwarzenegger bus tour is a re-election campaign kickoff tour. The image makeover, no accident.
Schwarzenegger's own ratings tumbled drastically last year when voters defeated a series of proposals he put on the statewide ballot. Add in a slumping Republican president and rising voter disdain with Congress, and what you get is a tough year for incumbents. And in Schwarzenegger's case, a man who knows his hopes for re-election rest with independents fed up with partisan bickering.
SCHWARZENEGGER: The people are upset about. And so I don't blame them for it. And I think this is why I don't fall into this trap.
KING (on camera): A lot of people think this is the perfect opportunity, given the disgust with politics in general, for a third party presidential candidate in 2008. Is there any way Arnold Schwarzenegger could support a third party candidacy?
SCHWARZENEGGER: It depends on who that is. But, I mean, I think that we can do it in a traditional way with the two parties. But we've got to improve.
KING (voice-over): More conciliatory doesn't mean shy, including criticism of the internal Republican divide in Congress that could block agreement on immigration reform this year.
SCHWARZENEGGER: We've got to secure the borders and we have to put the pressure on the federal government and we have to do everything we can to dissolve this problem this year.
KING: You had some reservations about the president's plan to send in the National Guard.
SCHWARZENEGGER: The idea of sending National Guard to the borders was half-baked. And I told him that. It's an idea that's half-baked. I said let's not rush those things. You can't just go and send, you know, the National Guard to the borders. To do what? For how long are they staying down there? Who is going to pay for it?
KING: Do you think it was half-baked, in your words, because they were rushing it because of the election year political climate?
SCHWARZENEGGER: You know, I don't want to second guess why it was half-baked. I think for them it maybe was baked. But, every governor has their own challenges and has different needs. So, I think what they should have done is, if anything, is talked to us first and say, come to Washington, let's work this out.
KING (voice-over): Back to the bus. This stop a reminder, this is a Republican, who married into the Kennedy clan.
SCHWARZENEGGER: He would have been a Republican.
KING (on camera): Today he probably would be. SCHWARZENEGGER: Absolutely, he would have been.
KING: I bet that goes over well at home.
(voice-over): The movie star turned politician, who knows this time around the angry action script won't sell.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Very interesting Kitty, the governor on the immigration debate, he disagrees with the idea, which the White House now supports, putting a fence or wall across the border with Mexico. He also is not a fan, as he noted there, of the president's plan to put national guard troops on the border, but does side with the president, perhaps the president's most controversial proposal, that temporary guest work, that could lead for million of illegal immigrants to the path to citizenship. So, Governor Schwarzenegger right in the middle of the immigration debate. Will be throughout the campaign year.
PILGRIM: That's really interesting, John, quick question, if the governor was so against the National Guard going to the border, why did he cave? Why did he give in on it?
KING: He finally reached an agreement with the White House. He said the biggest thing for him was who would pay. The White House did enter into an agreement with California and the other border states that the White House would pick up 100 percent of the cost.
So, Governor Schwarzenegger said that was the biggest thing. Also that they would not be two-week deployments. They would go down there for a substantial period of time, so you wouldn't have people going in and out all the time. He also signed a state executive order, saying he would participate in the program through the end of 200, no longer.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, John. There will be a full interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger at 7:00 p.m. tonight. That report, thanks, John King.
President Bush traveled to the border states of New Mexico and Texas this week. The president was pushing his amnesty agenda for illegal aliens, also a plan to deploy 6,000 national guard troops on the boarder. During his trip the president met with New Mexico's governor, Bill Richardson, who remains critical of the president's national guard plan also.
Now, Lou spoke with Governor Richardson, asked him about the need for border security and his meeting with the president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Your hobnobbing with the President of the United States, talking illegal immigration and boarder security. Can you reassure the rest of us that the nation's on the right direction?
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), NEW MEXICO: Well, I was very pleased with the president's speech. We had a little private time together. He said we need 20,000, thousands more at the border. I have always advocated that. This is a training academy that trains air marshals, border patrol. The words he said, his commitment to boarder security, I believe was very much in the right direction.
But he also, Lou, talked about, here's where you and I disagree, the dealing with this issue comprehensively, stronger employer sanctions, stronger ties with Mexico. But also a workable legalization plan that is not amnesty and I believe the president, I was very reassured.
Now, I still have some concern about the National Guard. But when he said and his people said they remain under the direction of the governor, that I can use them for forest fires and other purposes, that it's a short-term duration, I felt reassured.
DOBBS: Well, then, let's talk about the point of which you and I do disagree. And that is, as I have said, and you know, we've talked about this before.
RICHARDSON: Yes.
DOBBS: I've said you can't control, you can't reform immigration if you can't control immigration. You can't control it if you can't secure and control your boarders and your ports, our borders and our ports. Where are we in this? 600 National Guard troops not even on the line with their weapons. With an order to help stop the illegal invasion of this country, some 3 million a year. This look like P.R., to many people.
RICHARDSON: Well, Lou, if you look at the border security bills that are in the Congress, that will pass whether the House or Senate bill passes, there's substantially more funding for more border patrol agents, which we desperately need. And they're being trained well, more equipment, more sensors, aerial equipment. That is happening. Now, that takes a long time, because it requires training. You've got to relocate these individuals.
But I saw, you know, real enthusiasm, good training for these people. And when the Congress finally acts, which you and I have been urging, to pass substantial appropriations to enhance border security, we have taken a step in the right direction. But then we have to do something with those. We've got to do something to prevent those coming in. But then we've dot to do something, Lou, with those that are already here.
DOBBS: Governor Richardson, you have, we appreciate it as always. Good talking with you. We're going to find out very shortly which way the House of Representatives is going to go. The president again calling, of course, on the House to compromise and accept his plan and that of the Senate. It will be an interesting contest of interest, will and representation of the people's will.
As always, Governor Richardson, it's good to have you with us.
RICHARDSON: Thanks, Lou. DOBBS: Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Well, the national guard says it will have 2,500 troop on the border by June 15th. And 6,000 troops on the border by August 15th. And as you just heard, Governor Richardson and other border state governors have expressed concerns about the cost of those additional troops and the strain on the already stretched national guard.
Lou spoke with the Director of the National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Steven Blum and General David Grange about those questions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DOBBS: The great concern that's been expressed by both Governor Schwarzenegger, Governor Richardson and others that the National Guard, some of those troops, have been rotated three, four times, some even five times, I understand into Iraq. Can we really, can we really sustain, in your minds, this kind of additional role for our national guard?
LT. GEN. STEVEN BLUM, U.S. NATIONAL GUARD: Are you asking me, Lou?
DOBBS: I'll ask you first.
BLUM: Yes, sir. The answer is absolutely, yes, we can. And we can do this without degrading our effort in the fight overseas and the global war on terrorism. And without degrading our ability to respond to the upcoming hurricane season. By the way, Lou I have 8,000 more soldiers than I did at this time last year. Remember our discussion about our ability to recruit?
DOBBS: Right.
BLUM: We've succeed in that. We have the most experienced force we've ever had. And we're only going to talk about employing a little less than two percent of the entire National Guard for the border operation. We can do all three of those missions simultaneously and do them well.
DOBBS: General Blum, I wish your can-do attitude permeated Washington, D.C. And all of the branches of government. General Grange?
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Well I believe he's right. I think they can. It's a priority. They have to. I think homeland security comes before all of those other missions, that includes both a terrorist issue in the United States as well as natural disasters. I think part of the issue is, on time, are they mobilized under federal mandate or are some of them working under the title that the governor holds in some type of collaboration? Having mobilized National Guard troops for the United States itself during natural disasters, it is a process that takes a little bit of time. It's not like getting on a C-141 and flying over, let's say, to Kuwait with active duty soldier. It does take a little bit of time through that process.
DOBBS: I want to ask you both two questions. One question each, if I may. I'll ask you both to respond to it. As good generals both, you wouldn't be taking on a mission without an assessment of risk and effectiveness for the mission that's assigned.
General Blum, let me ask you, 6,000 National Guardsmen, presumably armed but in adjunct support roles to our border patrol, will you be able to secure the border with Mexico and end incursions by both the Mexican military, end the crossing of that border by those who are not, not, legal?
BLUM: We're not be sent there to secure the border. The National Guard is being called out in support of, at the request of, the Department of Homeland Security, to aid and assist, to provide military assistance to civilian federal law enforcement. They have the responsibility to secure the border. They have asked for our help.
We will not be doing law enforcement work. We will not be doing border patrol or customs enforcement agent work. We will be doing supporting roles which will enable them to do their work even more effectively than they've been able to do up until now.
DOBBS: General Grange, what do you think it would take to move in and secure the boarder? Because as you said that is a primary role. The General referred to law enforcement. He went on to talk about the border patrol. But the fact is we're not talking about law enforcement, we're talking about protecting this nation's borders, what do you think it would take?
GRANGE: Well, first of all, I agree with the General that the supporting role is very critical, because it does relieve a lot of the law enforcement agencies to do the arrest authority issues that are prevalent. However, I do believe that it's shortchanging this requirement, and it's not just the military requirement. It's all of the federal agencies.
I think if we really are serious about this -- and I don't mean fortifying the border, I mean just securing the border. I think we're little short on both National Guard, law enforcement, and other means. I mean, if we're going to be serious about it let's be robust up front, especially when everybody knows we're going to do this.
And you would think that it would have an influx of people coming across now knowing that. I think it is better have more up front and then phase it down.
DOBBS: General Steven Blum, thanks for being here. We wish you well in ...
BLUM: Thank you, Lou.
DOBBS: ... yet another assignment for an already-stretched but outstanding National Guard. We thank you.
BLUM: Thank you.
DOBBS: General David Grange, as always, good to have you with us.
GRANGE: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Congress last night approved the compromised legislation which includes funding for the 6,000 National Guard troops of the border, 1,000 more border patrol agents along the Mexican border, and detention space for 4,000 illegal aliens.
Now, Former Secretary of State Colin Powell says building a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border won't work. Now, Powell was speaking at a business conference in Mexico City when he said, quote, "the Berlin Wall did not work perfectly and the wall that the Israelis are putting up is not going to work perfectly. So a wall alone is not the answer."
Powell also said any new barriers along the border should include gates so that people are able to cross the border easily.
Still ahead, the border security crisis and the Congressman who made it a priority. James Sensenbrenner tells us why illegal alien amnesty won't survive on Capitol Hill.
And "Heroes." We'll meet the Medal of Honor recipient, Alfred Rascon. He served in Vietnam, returned to the service again after September 11th. We'll have his story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Congressman James Sensenbrenner, the powerful chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, is the author of the tough border security bill that passed the House last year. Now, he will likely be the lead House negotiator when that legislation moves to conference. Lou spoke with him about whether an immigration deal can come out of the conference committee.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: I'm go doing my best to make sure that there is legislation this year, but it's got to be done right. That's secure the border first, enforce the employer sanctions so as to cut of the magnet of more jobs for more illegal immigrants, and then figure out what to do with the 11 million to 12 million illegal immigrants that are already here.
DOBBS: As you well know, Mr. Chairman, what you have just said is absolutely inversed just about everything the Senate has done. Under those circumstances, is it really possible to come up with an intelligent piece of legislation out of conference?
SENSENBRENNER: Well, I hope there is. I agree with you, Lou, that the Senate didn't get it. You know, it's amnesty first, millions of additional visas, and reducing the border security and employer sanctions that's contained in the House bill.
I think that we can get a good conference if the American people tell their senators that the time has come to wake up and not repeat the mistake that Congress did 20 years ago when it passed the Simpson- Mazzoli Bill that failed so miserably that we got the problem as bad as we've got it now.
DOBBS: Is the speaker of the House -- in your discussions, is the speaker of the House, the majority leader, are they aligned with you in and willing to hold the line, if you will, in terms of putting border security first in any of this discussion?
SENSENBRENNER: Absolutely. Both Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Boehner have supported the House position on the border security and employer sanctions legislation. Furthermore, the speaker is repeatedly announced amidst a huge amount of criticism, I might add, that he will not bring a bill to the floor that's opposed by a majority of Republican Congressmen. He's going to be under a tremendous pressure to cave on that. But knowing Denny Hastert the way I do, I doubt that's going to happen.
DOBBS: Congressman Sensenbrenner, in talking with the members of your committee, the House Judiciary Committee, with your colleagues in the Congress who have been going home over the last month or so and hearing from their constituents, is there any doubt in anyone's mind what the will of the people is on this issue in terms of border security, in terms of port security, and how to deal with illegal immigration?
SENSENBRENNER: No, there isn't. And I guess the best example is Congressman Chris Shays of Connecticut, who had 18 town meetings and came back adamantly opposed to any kind of amnesty. He had been making some kind of disturbing comment before he heard from the people, and he's going back to Washington to represent the people in southeastern Connecticut.
DOBBS: How would you characterize the legislation that the Senate passed and the process they used to reach that legislative result?
SENSENBRENNER: I think what they did is they added one thing on top of another to buy votes over there. And this is something that is really an abomination, and that's why it's going to be so difficult to reconcile in the conference.
The senators are going to have to get down to work rather than making all kinds of statements and soundbytes if we are going to get a good, decent, acceptable, and most importantly, workable, immigration and border security bill.
DOBBS: Are you absolutely certain that you will be able to come out of that committee, that conference, with putting border security first, employer sanctions first, to deal with this issue?
SENSENBRENNER: I'm not going to sign a conference report that gives amnesty to illegal immigrants. And I'm not going to sign one that is ineffective in border security and employer sanctions. We did it wrong 20 years ago, over my no vote, I might add.
This country can't afford to do it wrong again because the numbers are going to be that much greater and the impact on our economy and social fabric of having a huge underclass of illegal immigrants is going to be that much more severe.
DOBBS: Congressman James Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, thanks for being here.
SENSENBRENNER: Thanks, Lou.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: The members of the house Senate Conference Committee have yet to be named. The Senate remains at an impasse over a procedural glitch that has delayed the negotiations.
Now here's a reminder to vote in tonight's poll. Which of these issues do you think is the best use of our lawmakers' time? Resolution on Mongolian statehood, king of Thailand's 60th anniversary, U.S. win at the '76 Paris wine tasting, none of the above?
Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results in just a few minutes.
And coming up next, "Heroes." We'll meet a remarkable Medal of Honor recipient who served in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Coming up at top of hour here on CNN, "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer. Wolf, what do you have?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Kitty, the former FEMA director Michael Brown gives CNN an e-mail alleging some very candid comments from President Bush in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Could prove embarrassing for the White House. We're going to show you the e-mail, plus my interview with Michael Brown.
One of most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq has a political bombshell of his own and it could mean trouble for Democratic leaders. We're live on the story.
And from action hero to action governor. How well is Arnold Schwarzenegger handling his current role? A special one-on-one interview with Governor Schwarzenegger, here in "THE SITUATION ROOM." All of that coming up at top of the hour.
PILGRIM: Thanks Wolf, we look forward to it. Now, heroes, which is our weekly tribute to the brave men and women in uniform serving our country. And tonight, the extraordinary story of Alfred Rascon. He earned the medal of honor for courageous service in Vietnam and he returned to military to serve his country again after the attack of September 11.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM (voice-over): Alfred Rascon always wanted to be a paratrooper, so he joined the military right after high school.
ALFRED RASCON, ARMY RESERVE MAJOR (RET.): I wanted to be a paratrooper, I wanted to be a ranger, I wanted to do special forces, I wanted to do everything.
PILGRIM: He became a medic and in May 1965 he was sent to fight in Vietnam.
RASCON: That was a rather rude awakening the fact that people shot at you and the fact that all of a sudden you're involved in combat and you end up seeing very quickly the fact that your friends are going get kill or your friends are going to be injured, or even yourself.
PILGRIM: Less than a year later, Rascon was involved in a brutal firefight.
RASCON: I was wounded in the face, shot in the back, went up my spine, came out of my collarbone. And I think, I think I was hit three, or four times with hand grenades.
PILGRIM: But, despite his injuries, Rascon saved the live of two soldiers that day. He belatedly received the medal of honor for his heroism some 33 years later due to a clerical error. After two tours in Vietnam, he came back and went to work fighting the drug war with the DEA. Then he went on to fight illegal immigrations as a special agent in the anti-smuggling unit. In 2000, Rascon got a call from the White House to be the director of the U.S. Selective Service.
RASCON: It's like Pee Wee ends up moving up to the major leagues.
RASCON: He was working for the President of the United States with a staff and a six-figure salary but he gave it all up.
RASCON: 9/11 came about, and I was a reservist and something kept on gnawing in me, the fact that I wanted to come back and serve again.
PILGRIM: So he volunteered and went back to the combat zone of Afghanistan and Iraq.
RASCON: This is something that was important. I was coming back and I was giving them something and I think they were getting something out me.
PILGRIM: Rascon finally retired from the military in December 2005. But his desire to serve is as strong as ever.
RASCON: I still would have stayed on, but when you reach 60, you have to leave. In fact, I'm hoping that there's a possibility that the army will come back and make an exception and take me back.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Rascon is currently working with the military to see if he can return to active duty. We applaud his efforts and wish him much luck.
Still ahead, more of your thoughts and the results of tonight's poll.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Let's take a look at the results of tonight's poll. We asked which of these issues that Congress has spent time on lately is the best use of their time. And these are all actual issues that they have discussed. One percent said the resolution on Mongolian statehood, one percent said the King of Thailand's 60th anniversary, one percent said the U.S. win at '76 Paris wine tasting and 97 percent said none of the above.
Let's take a look at your thoughts and e-mails. David in Texas writes "President Bush can call it whatever he wants, it is still amnesty and the people are not buying it."
Rob in Texas writes "You are right on the money, I'm just as puzzled as to why guest workers need citizenship. Doesn't the word guest mean they have to leave sometime?"
And Calvin in Alabama writes "The Democrats in Congress are not only stupid but blind. They can not see that big Mack truck coming down the street with 'amnesty' written all over it. They will be amnesty road kill in November."
Ron in California writes "Can you explain to me how the President of the United States can say on the one hand, illegal aliens have earned the right to become citizens of this country merely by being here illegally for five years and then say, this is not amnesty."
Send us your thoughts, LouDobbs@CNN.com. And each of you whose email is read on this broadcast will receive a copy of Lou's book, "Exporting America." Thanks for being with us tonight, please join us Monday.
Among Lou's guests we have Congressman James Oberstar of Minnesota. For all of us here, have a very pleasant weekend and goodnight from New York. THE SITUATION ROOM starts right now with Wolf Blitzer.
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