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Lou Dobbs Tonight
Two Huge Explosions Rock Beirut; Rockets Rain Down on Northern Israel; Pushing for Peace; Iraq Violence on the Rise; Bush Pushes Immigration Reform Plan in Texas; Jeff Sessions Interview; Arizona State Representative Jonathan Paton to Serve in Iraq
Aired August 03, 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: Tonight, the war between Israel and Hezbollah may be on the brink of a major escalation. Two blasts rock Beirut tonight. We'll go live to Lebanon and Israel.
And the top U.S. commander in the Middle East says civil war in Iraq is possible. We'll have a live report from Pentagon and a special report from Baghdad on the rising sectarian violence.
ANNOUNCER: This is LOU DOBBS TONIGHT, news, debate and opinion for Thursday, August 3rd.
Sitting in for Lou Dobbs, Kitty Pilgrim.
PILGRIM: Good evening, everybody.
Hezbollah terrorists today killed 12 Israelis in a deadly new wave of violence. Eight of the Israelis were killed by rockets, the other four Israelis were soldiers and they were killed in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, threatened to strike Tel Aviv if Israel launches new attacks against Beirut. Israel said any attack against Tel Aviv would lead to the destruction of all Lebanon's infrastructure.
John Roberts reports from northern Israel on the fierce fighting in Lebanon.
Paula Hancocks reports from the Israeli city of Akko on today's rocket attacks on Israel.
And Brent Sadler reports from Beirut on two huge explosions in the Lebanese capital tonight.
And we go to Brent Sadler first -- Brent.
BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Yes, Kitty, just a few minutes ago, two more explosions shook the Lebanese capital. Local television reporting that once again the Israeli air force was targeting the southern suburbs of Beirut. That's a Hezbollah stronghold. It is that area on the outskirts of the capital city that has been subject to repeated strikes over this last 22 days of war.
Now, let's get some things cleared up here. This was not an attack on central Beirut, which Hassan Nasrallah, the chief of Hezbollah, said, if the Israelis dropped bombs on central Beirut, not the suburbs, central Beirut, then Hezbollah could fire missiles at Tel Aviv. That's the first time that Hezbollah's leader, Nasrallah, has said that they have the missile capability of reaching some 80 miles from the Lebanese border to strike at that major population center.
A third of Israelis live in Tel Aviv. So a very serious escalation in the war of words there.
Nasrallah has said repeatedly before that he would strike deeper and deeper into Israel. This is the first time he's gone so far as to say publicly that they could have the weapons to do that.
Now, this followed overnight bombing of the suburbs on last night, Wednesday night, and it followed a leaflet drop by the Israeli army by air earlier this day warning residents of four districts of the southern suburbs to evacuate. Reports I'm just getting say that two of those districts the Israelis said people should clear out of were hit in that strike that occurred just a few minutes ago -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much.
Brent Sadler.
Well, Israeli troops tonight are advancing deep into southern Lebanon. At least six Israeli brigades are involved in the offensive.
And John Roberts reports from northern Israel -- John.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN SR. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Kitty.
Israeli defense minister Amir Peretz said today that the Israeli army should (AUDIO GAP) into southern Lebanon. We have been expecting this all week since the Israeli security cabinet turned 180 degrees after saying that they only wanted a limited ground campaign. Now Amir Peretz is telling the Israeli army to prepare to drive all the way up to the Litany River, more than 10 miles deep into Lebanese territory.
We drove along the border today checking out the action in various towns and villages in both the Israeli and the Lebanese side of the border. And we can tell you that we saw all of this armored -- all of this armor, all these armored personnel carriers, all of these tanks moving toward the border. There are many more artillery units that are now positioned just a short distance away from the border, firing those shells into southern Lebanon. , trying to soften up those positions for what appears to be an imminent major ground advance.
We have some pictures that we've obtained exclusively from the Israeli Defense Forces in around the town of Maroun al-Ras, which was the first Lebanese town that was attacked by the Israelis as they advanced across the border. What they say they're doing in there is they're clearing out Hezbollah positions. We saw evidence of fighting still lingering in there. The Israeli army was going house to house, door to door, to try to clear out those remaining buildings, trying to make sure that there are no Hezbollah fighters in there that could ambush them. Also trying to destroy what they can of Hezbollah's infrastructure.
Now, here's the way that it looks like things are going to go. Ehud Olmert said today in an interview that he believes that by next week, the middle of next week, there could be a U.N. resolution and a call for an end to hostilities here in the Middle East.
Israel is pretty much bound to honor any U.N. resolution. However, now we are hearing that a U.N. resolution could come as early as this end of this week.
So, it appears as though the Israeli military, the Israeli Defense Force knows that it has very, very limited time, and they are trying to put as much armor, as many troops and boots on the ground as they can into southern Lebanon to gain as much territory and hold that in preparation for an international stabilization force to come in -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thanks very much, John.
John Roberts.
Well, Israel suffered more fatalities today than any other day of this war. Twelve Israelis were killed, eight of them in rocket attacks on Israel.
And Paula Hancocks reports from the town of Akko, in northern Israel, one of targets of today's Hezbollah's attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Less than one minute after a Katyusha rocket hit, it's carnage. A car less than 10 meters from the point of impact bursts into flames. The wounded lay where they fell, waiting for help.
The man driving this car was hit by pellets packed into the rocket warhead and lost control. Emergency services managed to free him from the wreckage, but he dies on his way to the hospital.
Four more people died at the scene. A father and 14-year-old daughter among the victims.
(on camera): It was late in the afternoon when the air raid siren sounded here in Acre. One of the rockets hit just down the road from here. And then the siren ended, so people started to come out of their houses to see what had happened. And this is when this particular rocket hit.
You can see the point of impact. This was the most deadly rocket. Four people standing nearby were killed. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I hear another explosion. And we go to there, to another explosion, the second one. And we saw a lot of people that lie on the ground not alive.
HANCOCKS: Charlie says he was standing in the street a block away when the rocket hit. He says he could see wounded and the dead lying on the ground.
More fatalities in Tashiha (ph), just five miles from the Lebanese border. Three Arab Bedouins jumped out of their car when the sirens sounded, according to Israeli police, looking for shelter. It was a direct hit.
More than 200 rockets fell across northern Israel on Thursday. More than 260 fell the day before, casting doubt on Israel's claim it has dealt Hezbollah a heavy blow.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Akko, northern Israel.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Tonight, diplomatic efforts to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah are intensifying. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she hopes the United Nations Security Council will pass a resolution to end the conflict within days.
Richard Roth reports from the United Nations -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, as we speak now, they're probably still working on this resolution that some in the Bush administration and in Britain have been promising has been coming for days, but it's more likely to slip into next week.
It now appears that there will be some type of two-stage concept, two resolutions. The first resolution that will call for an end to the fighting, though they're still working on the terminology, cessation of hostilities, or a cease-fire, the general principles for a political framework, and then the idea for an international force to go in.
Condoleezza Rice, U.S. secretary of state, talked to Larry King today about the progress on the resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We're certainly getting close. We're working with the French very closely. We're working with others.
We've wanted very much to see an end to this conflict. We need to end the hostilities in a way, though, that points forward a direction for sustainable peace. And we are working, we've worked with the parties when I was in the region to come up with those principles, with those elements.
We're now working on a Security Council resolution. And hopefully we can get that passed. And I think it will certainly be within days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROTH: The primary talks between the United States and France. There are more consultations here where they show the resolution to the other members of the Security Council. It could be that the international force at the start would be an expansion of the existing week UNIFIL peacekeeping operation that's been there since 1978 -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. Thanks very much.
Richard Roth.
Thanks, Richard.
Well, you can see all of Larry King's interview with Condoleezza Rice on "LARRY KING LIVE" tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
Well, as Richard Roth just reported, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she hopes the Security Council resolution will be reached within days to address the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
In our poll tonight, we'd like to know, do you believe a U.N. resolution will have any effect on the war between Israel and Hezbollah? Yes or no?
Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com. We'll bring you the results a little bit later in the broadcast.
And still ahead, we're live at the Pentagon, where top military officials say the threat of civil war in Iraq is rising. Will our troops be caught in the middle?
President Bush is pushing for illegal alien amnesty on the U.S.- Mexican border. His very own party is pushing for border security first.
We'll have that story.
And we will have much more on the escalating war between Israel and Hezbollah. Tonight, new explosions in Beirut. We'll be live in northern Israel, and we'll also have expert analysis on the conflict from General David Grange.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: In the last few minutes there have been four explosions in southern Beirut. The explosions follow Israeli warnings that residents of some Beirut neighborhoods should flee. Now, Israel has just confirmed there is Israeli aerial activity in the area.
Hezbollah terrorists today fired more than 200 rockets at Israel. Eight Israeli civilians were killed, another four Israelis were killed fighting Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. The Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, today threatened to step up rocket attacks against Israel. He said Hezbollah would attack Tel Aviv if Israel strikes central Beirut.
We'll have much more on the escalating war in the Middle East. And we'll take you live to Beirut and northern Israel coming up.
In Iraq today, insurgents killed two more of our Marines in Al Anbar province, west of Baghdad.
2,582 of our troops have been killed in Iraq.
General John Abizaid today admitted that rising sectarian violence in Iraq could turn into a civil war, but General Abizaid said he's confident a civil war can be avoided.
Barbara Starr reports on today's testimony of General Abizaid and other officials on Capitol Hill.
And Harris Whitbeck reports from Baghdad on a bloody sectarian attack in Iraq that targeted children.
We turn first to Barbara Starr -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kitty, on Capitol Hill today, there was one thing that didn't happen. There was no talk about when the troops are coming home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice over): One day after feeling the heat and agreeing to testify in public, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld would not let his Senate critics use the television cameras to corner him about the war in Iraq.
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: This is not 2002, 2003, 2004, '05, when you appeared before this committee and made many comments and presented, you know, many assurances that have frankly proven to be unfulfilled.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Senator, I don't think that's true. I have never painted a rosy picture. I've been very measured in my words. And you'd have a dickens of a time trying to find instances where I've been excessively optimistic.
STARR: Rumsfeld's generals used the opportunity to sound a warning about the rising violence.
GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, COMMANDER, CENTRAL COMMAND: I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it in Baghdad in particular. And that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could -- could move towards civil war.
GEN. PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Sir, I believe that we do have the possibility of that evolving into a civil war, but that does not have to be a fact. STARR: Some committee members still pressing on the overall strategy and whether there are enough troops.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: Is the situation under control in Ramadi?
ABIZAID: I think the situation in Ramadi is workable.
MCCAIN: And the troops from Ramadi came from Falluja, isn't that correct?
ABIZAID: I can't say, Senator. I know...
MCCAIN: Well, that's my information. What I worry about is we're playing a game of Whack A Mole here. We move troops, it flares up, we move troops there.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: And Kitty, just to be very clear, there was no talk about bringing the troops home any time soon. That was something they hoped to be talking about, but the sectarian violence means there's no plan to bring anybody home any time soon now.
And as for the question of civil war, what General Pace and General Abizaid said was they're worried about it, but they don't think there's civil war right now. And the reason they say that is that they say the Iraqi central government maintains control of the armed forces. So right now it's not what you would call a classic civil war -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: All right. A fine point.
Thanks very much.
Barbara Starr.
Well, at least 12 Iraqis were killed in Iraq today. Eight of them in a gun battle between insurgents and Iraqi security forces near Baghdad.
These killings follow a bomb attack on a soccer field that killed 12 people yesterday. Many of those victims were children.
Harris Whitbeck reports from Baghdad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The mangled remains of bleachers, a bloodied soccer shoe, evidence of the unexpected carnage during an afternoon soccer game in a Shia neighborhood of Baghdad. The game suddenly interrupted when a bomb exploded, killing dozens of players and spectators, including three teenagers. Ali Rashid (ph), 16 years old, survived the attack. His body is freshly scarred from flying shrapnel.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We were having fun and we were so excited during the game. And during halftime I was chatting with my friend Sala (ph), but suddenly a huge explosion through me backwards. And I ran for more than a kilometer, I was so scared.
WHITBECK: A day after the bombing a funeral tent has been erected not far from the field. Teammates and relatives of a stricken spectator mourn his death.
"Sports should be respected and not targeted," says this man. "The victims did nothing to deserve what happened to them."
Outside the tent, two youths, not much older than some of those killed, stand guard against more attacks. It's not unusual for mourning relatives to become targets themselves.
The Iraqi government and the U.S. military hope a new plan to put more American troops onto the streets will go a long way towards curbing the growing sectarian violence.
(on camera): But this is Baghdad, where violence is so random, so endemic, that even going to a soccer game can become a matter of life and death, where even children at play can become the targets of violence they have nothing to do with.
(voice over): In the midst of constant tit-for-tat killings, ordinary Iraqis can only plead for a different life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We should all challenge these difficult circumstances. We should start rebuilding our country. I hope we can live together as we did before.
WHITBECK: A desire that shouldn't be farfetched, but one that seems increasingly difficult to reach.
Harris Whitbeck, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: Our Harris Whitbeck reporting there on just one attack in a war that is killing at least 100 Iraqi civilians each and every day.
Well, tonight, the United States is refusing to discuss the Middle East crisis with Hezbollah's backers, Syria and Iran, but some of our allies are talking to Iran and Syria. We'll have a special report from Damascus.
Also, President Bush went to our southern border today, pushing so-called immigration reform. But other Republicans are taking a very different position. And Hezbollah and Israel continue their deadly attacks. There are new explosions in Beirut tonight. We'll have the very latest on that.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: The president of Iran, one of Hezbollah's strongest supporters, today repeated his call for the destruction of Israel. Now, despite those comments, European diplomats are trying to convince Iran and Syria to support a peace deal to end the war.
Aneesh Raman reports from the Syrian capital of Damascus.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): With the United States unwilling to engage Iran and Syria, the countries which back Hezbollah, the task is falling to the Europeans.
In Damascus Thursday, Spain's foreign minister held talks with Syrian president Bashar Assad. Both again calling for an immediate cease-fire.
MIGUEL ANGEL MORATINOS, SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): I was told they would use all their influence over Hezbollah and other influential parties, that they signaled that there's a need to change the political and military situation of Lebanon. So, yes, they are ready to use their influence over Hezbollah, but ultimately the decision lays with Hezbollah.
RAMAN: Since the start of the crisis, Syria has been downplaying its influence over Hezbollah, saying the resistance movement, as it's referred to here, does not take orders from Damascus. That is something disputed by Israel and the U.S. Both nations label Hezbollah a terrorist group.
As for Iran, the French are trying to engage them. Their foreign ministers met recently in Beirut. But with the Israeli offensive continuing, finding any room for compromise seems to be dwindling.
Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in Malaysia Thursday rallied support for an emergency cease-fire at an emergency meeting of Islamic countries. He also called for Israel to be eliminated.
And as tensions here rise further, Syria and Iran are growing even closer.
BUTHAYNA SHA-ABAN, SYRIAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER: We're trying to find the ways and means to defend ourselves, you know, and to take a stand for ourselves. So Iran and Syria are having that view. We are a very old people, very old civilization, and we can, you know, bring the lives for our people that befits them without really resorting to anyone.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RAMAN: But, Kitty, Syria now finds itself in a difficult position. On one hand, downplaying its relationship with Hezbollah amid international claims it's arming the group. And on the other hand, sourcing that influence over Hezbollah as the reason Syria should be at the table brokering peace -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much.
Aneesh Raman.
Let's take a look now at your thoughts.
Robert in California writes, "It doesn't surprise me that Rumsfeld calls the civil war sectarian violence. His boss called amnesty a path to citizenship."
Linda in Connecticut, "The only unfortunate in this is that Rumsfeld still has a job. If this were the private sector, he would have been fired ages ago."
And Ricky in Arkansas writes, "How to bring Iran's economy to its knees? Send them our government's economic and trade advisers."
Send us your thoughts, LouDobbs.com. And we'll have more of your thoughts a little bit later in the broadcast.
Still ahead, more Israeli soldiers and civilians are dead after a fierce new day of fighting in the Middle East. Israel launching new air attacks on Beirut tonight.
John Roberts will be live in northern Israel with the latest.
Hezbollah today threatened to target Tel Aviv with powerful rockets if Israel attacked Beirut. General David Grange joins me to discuss Hezbollah's new threat.
And the Republican Party leadership is distancing itself from President Bush's illegal alien amnesty plan. Time for Congress to act on this plan is running out. And we'll have a special report.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Israeli forces are launching a new round of strikes on Beirut tonight as troops are advancing deeper into Lebanon. Now, three Israeli soldiers were killed in combat today. The Israeli military is trying to clear Hezbollah terrorists from a buffer zone in southern Lebanon.
John Roberts reports from northern Israel -- John.
ROBERTS: Good evening to you, Kitty.
There's been something in the air for the last couple of days, as we see tanks, troops and more armor headed toward the border. A ramp- up in the ground operation. And today, Israel's defense minister, Amir Peretz, said to the Israeli army, to the Israeli military, be prepared for major operations in southern Lebanon to get those Hezbollah outposts, to destroy Hezbollah infrastructure, and to stop their ability to fire those Katyusha rockets with a push all the way to the Litani River. The Litani River, more than 10 miles into Lebanese territory. It's north of the city of Tyre. So that would be a major escalation in what we have been seeing going on the ground here.
There is increasing urgency here in Israel to expand the ground operations for a couple of reasons. First of all, they believe that a United Nations resolution to end the hostilities is imminent. And as well, they keep, on the Hezbollah side of the border, firing those rockets into northern Israel, some 260 yesterday, 200 today. And a particularly tragic incident in the seaside town of Akko, which is just authority of Haifa.
A rocket fell in there today killing five people. Among the dead, a father and his 14-year-old daughter. The rocket hit the middle of the street. Not the explosion, but those ball bearings that are packed inside killed the driver of a car who crashed into a lamppost.
The wounded and the dying were all over the street. It was really a horrible, horrible situation there.
Further to the east, near the town of Ma'alot, another three people died in a Katyusha rocket attack there.
So, again, the Israeli army, Israeli politicians want to do whatever they can to try to get those rockets, to try to stop Hezbollah from firing them into northern Israel to gain as much territory as they can to pave the way for an international force to come in -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, John.
John Roberts.
Well, as we reported, a new round of explosions rocked Beirut a short time ago.
And Brent Sadler is live in Beirut tonight -- Brent.
SADLER: Kitty, continued air activity over the Lebanese capital. Just over an hour ago we heard the first of two airstrikes again, says the Lebanese army, confirming that the targets hit again were in the southern suburbs of Beirut. That's Hezbollah's stronghold.
Earlier this day, the Israeli army, the IDF, had dropped leaflets by air over the southern suburbs warning residents of four districts, if any are left, to evacuate their homes.
Now, the army is confirming that two of those four districts were hit in the airstrikes we've seen this evening, the second consecutive day that the Israeli Air Force has targeted Hezbollah's main power base in the city -- Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Brent Sadler.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today predicted that the United Nations Security Council will pass a resolution to end the war within days. Now, Secretary Rice outlined her goals in an interview with CNN's Larry King.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, SECRETARY OF STATE: We want Israel and Lebanon to be able to live in peace. And so it's not as if we're on one side or the other here. We're on the side of certain principles, certain kinds of behavior, that we really believe will lead to a peace for both the Lebanese people and for the Israeli people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: You can see all of Larry King's interview with Condoleezza Rice on "LARRY KING LIVE," 9:00 p.m. Eastern tonight.
And joining me now for more on the Middle East conflict and the war in Iraq is General David Grange. And thanks for being with us. Let's start with Iraq, General Grange. Three thousand five hundred troops were headed home, were supposed to be headed home.
They had their deployment extended three to four additional months to stay in Baghdad. Does this tell you that the Iraqi forces are still a long way away from standing on their own?
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Kitty, I don't believe it's the Iraqi military forces. I think the problem is the Iraq police. The Iraqi police, where we have the training problems, the prejudice, corruption, other things that are very difficult that you find in new police forces of new nations -- in this case, a new government for the nation of Iraq. And that takes time to train a police force that serves the people of the state, that people have confidence in, respect and trust.
PILGRIM: All right. You know, the real focus tonight is on Beirut. And we've seen about 200 Lebanese rockets hit Israel tonight. We see activity even now as we speak. What's your assessment of the conflict, General Grange?
GRANGE: Well, you know, the surge in rocket attacks is the Hezbollah's way of saying, you know, you haven't hurt us very bad. And it does have psychological impact besides just the kinetic results of rockets coming into your area.
But the Israelis truly have to clear a buffer zone, at least to the Litani River, to stop and clean out the short-range rocket fire. Now, they're never going to stop all the long-range rocket fire, but much of that can be taken out by other means like from the air.
But the ground troops have to take out the short-range rockets in the immediate buffer zone. And again, that has to be done before any multinational force comes in. Otherwise, conditions won't be set in order for them to perform the mission properly.
PILGRIM: We had Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, saying that they have the capacity to hit Tel Aviv. That would be about 80 miles. What's your assessment of that statement?
GRANGE: I believe he's correct. I believe that Iran has provided him with the means to do that, though it may be limited. I don't doubt that at all. And if you were an Israeli you'd be very concerned, obviously, about this.
And so this is serious business for the state of Israel. And that's why this cease-fire, I believe, a few days away, I don't believe that's going to happen. I think this is weeks away.
PILGRIM: They're talking about multiple options, a cease-fire simultaneous with the deployment of an international force, a cease- fire first, then the deployment of an international force. Do you think while all this activity is going on, these discussions are perhaps obsolete?
GRANGE: I think having the cease-fire prior to the other conditions being met is unrealistic. It is unfair. Not only is it unfair to Israel and Lebanon -- not to Hezbollah. I could give a hoot about the Hezbollah, but to Israel and the Lebanese and also the multinational force that has to go in there.
They have to have conditions before they go in or they're just going to pick up the fight that the Israelis are in right now. All they're going to do is just do the same thing the Israelis are doing, and I'm not sure that the forces will be selected from the participating countries that could handle it.
PILGRIM: General, let's go back to the Iraq situation for just a second. General Abizaid made a statement today at the hearing on Capitol Hill. Let's take a listen to that, and then I have a question for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JOHN ABIZAID, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I've seen it in Baghdad in particular, and that if not stopped, it is possible that Iraq could move towards civil war.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PILGRIM: Now, I know, General Grange, you have considerable expertise in this area and insight. Do you believe that civil war is here or that it's imminent?
GRANGE: I really don't believe it's here. And, again, you know, it all depends on how you define a civil war. But I agree with what General Abizaid said in this regard, and that's why you have this U.S. force being moved down from Mosul down to Baghdad because that is now the main effort. And that's why you have to move troops around. All wars you move troops from one spot to another to what they call way the main effort. And you take risks in other areas. Now, if you have hundreds of thousands of troops that you can put everywhere in the country, then I guess you don't have to worry about that.
But I think the Iraqi military will take up the slack in some of these outlying areas. The U.S. forces will go in there to augment Iraqi military and get the Iraqi police on their feet, which is going to take more than a few weeks. Obviously, that's long-term. But you have to start somewhere and you have to start somewhere with force, and that's why the U.S. forces, more are being put into Baghdad.
PILGRIM: All right. Thanks very much, General David Grange.
Well, the Senate has decided to fund the new border fence after all, and their reversal is a big win for Senator Jeff Sessions. He'll be our guest.
Also tonight, more American soldiers are headed for Iraq. One of them is an elected representative. We'll tell you about a politician whose principles match his politics.
And this hour, Beirut once again under Israeli attack. At least four massive explosions rocked southern Beirut a short while ago. We'll have the very latest on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: President Bush today traveled to the Texas border with Mexico to push his so-called comprehensive immigration reform plan, but this plan is facing new resistance on Capitol Hill, and inside the Republican Party.
Tonight, Suzanne Malveaux reports from Mission, Texas, on the president's speech. And Lisa Sylvester reports from Washington as the clock runs out for immigration reform in Congress. Casey Wian reports from Los Angeles on the Republican leadership's new insistence on border security over immigration reform.
So we begin with Suzanne Malveaux, traveling with the president.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kitty, President Bush was here in Mission, Texas, along the U.S./Mexican border, essentially to show that he still has a dog in this fight when it comes to immigration reform.
Less than 100 days from the Congressional midterm elections and already you see House Republicans, Senate Republicans have been crisscrossing the country to promote their own immigration reform bills. The House, of course, focusing on border security, the Senate a way for illegal immigrants to obtain some sort of earned citizenship.
Now, both of them, of course, members of Congress, trying to set the stage for the next battle over this when they come back from their August recess. Many, however, are questioning whether or not this issue is really going to get resolved before election time.
But President Bush is trying to get key groups to the polls. That is what this is all about, so today, of course, trying to rally the conservative base. He emphasized border security. Also, trying to hold on to Republican business leaders, he highlighted the economic benefits. And then finally, he is also trying to hold on to those gains that Republicans made with Hispanic voters.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I don't like a system that's not working and a system that forces people who want to work in the back of 18 wheelers. I don't like a system that encourages smuggling. I don't like a system that encourages people to walk across the desert to risk their life. I think we need to have a system that is orderly and fair and transparent.
MALVEAUX (on camera): The bottom line, Republicans may not even get their immigration bill, but President Bush wants to make sure that his party does not pay for this issue come midterm elections.
Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Mission, Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PILGRIM: President Bush has insisted for months that Congress pass his so-called comprehensive immigration reform plan, but Congress tonight remains deeply divided on this plan and time to act is running out. Lisa Sylvester reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The White House and House Republicans are still on the outs when it comes to immigration. GOP leaders on Capitol Hill adamantly oppose giving 12 million plus illegal aliens amnesty. President Bush on the Mexican border continuing to push for legislation that combines citizenship for illegal aliens, stepped up border security and the guest worker program.
BUSH: I expect the United States Congress to do its duty and pass comprehensive immigration reform.
SYLVESTER: The president is spending his political capital, even as the window to reach a compromise is closing. The House and Senate have only 15 legislative days left this session.
AMY WALTER, COOK POLITICAL EXPERT: Less and less likely as each day goes by that there will be a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is going to land on his desk before this election. So, it is pretty clear that this now is a battle really over ideology more than it is over a specific piece of legislation.
SYLVESTER: Some Senate Republicans believe the president is tone deaf to their concerns. They're not waiting for final immigration package. They're pushing forward with an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill that provides emergency funding to secure the border now. SEN. JOHNNY ISAKSON (R), GEORGIA: The American people know that in 1986, the last time Congress reformed immigration laws, we granted amnesty and promised border security. We gained amnesty, but we did not secure the border.
SYLVESTER: Reaching a consensus before the election is not entirely out of the question. It's just a real, real long shot at this point.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SYLVESTER: Republicans is working behind the scene to try to strike a compromise. It may include a commitment to secure the border first, then revisit a guest worker program in the future. But House Republicans are still firm. Any compromise that puts illegal aliens in the country on a path to citizenship, that's amnesty. And amnesty, they say, is unacceptable. Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Suzanne, Lisa Sylvester, I'm sorry.
The Republican National Committee tonight appears ready to distance itself from the president's illegal alien amnesty plan, considering a strong new commitment to border security. Casey Wian is live in Los Angeles with the story -- Casey.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kitty, we've learned the Republican National Committee is about to take a much stronger stance on border security. The RNC is holds its annual meeting today and tomorrow in Minneapolis. This morning, a preliminary committee approved a resolution that clearly makes border security a priority, much more important than the president's proposed temporary worker program.
Here is an excerpt of the resolution: "Resolved that the Republican National Committee calls for the immediate securing of our borders with all means available as well as the enforcement of existing immigration laws in the workplace." Randy Pullen (ph), a committee member from Arizona, wrote the new resolution.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RANDY PULLEN, RNC COMMITTEEMAN: I think what it reflects is what's actually been going on in the country which is the populous is becoming much more aware of this issue and they're very concerned about it. Every poll that's done shows that anywhere from 70 percent to 90 percent of Americans believe that something needs to be done about securing our borders and our immigration problem. And this is in response to that position.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIAN: Pullen says the phrase "securing our border with all means available" is an indication that the Republican National Committee favors going beyond the president's temporary deployment of the National Guard to the border. It's clear that Republicans who favor a border security first approach are getting the upper hand over those who want so-called comprehensive immigration reform.
Meanwhile, the resolution passed by an 8-1 vote, with the only dissenting vote favoring an even stronger statement. The resolution is expected to be made official by the RNC tomorrow, Kitty.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much, Casey Wian.
Well, this major reversal, the Senate voted to fund a new fence along the U.S./Mexican border. Last May the Senate approved the concept but refused to pay for it. Public scorn followed that. Yesterday's 94-3 vote provides nearly $2 billion to construct hundreds of miles of fence. Now, Senator Jeff Sessions is a major force behind this. And he joins us from Washington. Thanks for being with us, sir.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: Good to be with you. I thought we did have a good vote on the fence. I was very pleased with that.
PILGRIM: You know, it's interesting, though, because 66 senators switched to a yes vote. Why is that?
SESSIONS: Well, I think they listened to their constituents. I think there was a little easier way to pay for it. It wasn't quite as painful as the original amendment was. But it did look bad because here we had just authorized a fence, then when the Homeland Security Bill came up, the appropriate bill, there was no money in it for the fence.
And I think the American people are already cynical about Congress. They believe we talk the game, but we don't walk the walk. And I thought it was good that we eventually got that passed in a 94-3 vote was, I think, indicates some real change of heart among some in the Senate.
PILGRIM: Senator Sessions, you wrote an op-ed in yesterday's "Washington Times" which we'd like to refer to. It criticizes the Pence-Hutchinson immigration reform proposal. And so we'll bring this up and take some of your points. You criticized the plan on four key points. You say it will allow for a virtually unlimited number of immigrants to come to the United States.
It favors low-skilled workers. It provides more preferences for the eight NAFTA and CAFTA countries over the rest of the world. And it gives no preference for English language or employment skills that help make immigrants a success to our economy. Are you concerned that this sort of a compromise plan may be the way it goes?
SESSIONS: You know, we need a comprehensive reform. I really believe that. We need to throw out this system and develop a new system of immigration that serves America's national interests, our legitimate interests as a nation. And that includes accepting people who have higher skills. It includes allowing people to apply and wait in line based on merit.
We're not doing that. It should reject something like this plan and almost every other plan that says it allows temporary workers, but they get to bring their families, they get to extend, extend, extend for 12, 15, 17 years. By then, nobody can ask those people to leave. Their children are in high school or in college.
So we need to be really realistic and establish a new plan for the future that we can enforce as well as enforcing the border. And we do a good workplace enforcement with a biometric identifier so that people can't commit fraud. And we work the border and we have an honest and fair system of who should be admitted. I think we can make it work. Right now, we are a long way away from that.
PILGRIM: I have to switch topics on you for just a moment. You remember the Armed Services Committee, and today General Abizaid testified before the committee that he thought that Iraq could deteriorate into a civil war. How do you assess the comments and what was said today on Capitol Hill regarding Iraq?
SESSIONS: General Abizaid was very complimentary of the government. He was optimistic in his testimony about how things will go in the future. He pointed out fundamental things like this government is performing, it's working, it's stable. There's no other government in Iraq that's challenging it. The military and the army of Iraq is getting better and better. But the sectarian violence is real.
He said he did not think it would slip into civil war, but he didn't deny that if violence like that were to continue and expand, we could see that danger occur. That's why they decided to shift troops around to Baghdad because that's where the worst problems are occurring. I thought he was open and direct. And I thought it was an excellent hearing.
PILGRIM: Thanks very much Senator Jeff Sessions.
SESSIONS: Thank you.
PILGRIM: A reminder now for you to vote in tonight's poll. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that she hopes the U.N. Security Council resolution will be reached within days to address the hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
Now, in our poll tonight, we would like to know, do you believe a U.N. resolution will have any effect on the war between Israel and Hezbollah? Yes or no? Cast your vote at LouDobbs.com and we'll bring you the results in just a few minutes.
Tonight at least one politician is prepared to put his life on the line in Iraq. We'll tell you about an elected official who is ready for combat. He'll be joining other troops in Iraq. And within the past hour, Israel has launched new air strikes on southern Beirut. We'll have the very latest on that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Coming up at the top of the hour here on CNN is "THE SITUATION ROOM" with Wolf Blitzer -- Wolf. WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Kitty. We're following the breaking news out of Beirut. New explosions rocking the Lebanese capital within the past hour. We're going to take you there live. CNN's Michael Ware is on the scene.
Also, Israel's deadliest day yet. Eight civilians and four soldiers killed in the fighting. We're going to take you live to the front lines, where CNN's senior national correspondent John Roberts is with Israeli forces.
Plus, the hunt for the head of Hezbollah. Is Israel targeting him for assassination? All that coming up right at the top of the hour, Kitty, in "THE SITUATION ROOM."
PILGRIM: Thanks, Wolf.
Well, tonight, we bring you the story of Arizona State Representative Jonathan Paton. He's a strong advocate of U.S. border security and national security, but he's putting his politics on hold to serve our country in Iraq. Bill Tucker reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL TUCKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jonathan Paton grew up in Arizona, in the district he now represents in the state legislature. He's just finishing up his first term and running for reelection. But if he wants to vote in that election, he will have to use an absentee ballot.
State Representative Jonathan Paton is about to depart on a tour of active duty in Iraq. Paton is a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army reserves. He's been a reservist for the past seven years. He volunteered for active duty last year.
JONATHAN PATON, ARIZONA STATE HOUSE: Citizen soldiers do this every day. They juggle their careers and they juggle service to their country. And it's not easy, especially because more of the reserve force is being used today than ever before. But I really felt a debt of gratitude for the country because of everything I've been given as a citizen.
TUCKER: Part of that juggling means leaving his future as a politician in the hands of his campaign workers.
PATON: I'll miss the last 12 days of the primary, and I'll be missing the general, but I think I'm running on my record and I've got a good record to run on. And I think it really fits the values that my district has.
TUCKER: A record which includes a recently enacted state law on illegal alien smuggling, which gives Arizona law enforcement the power to crack down on those who smuggle aliens across the border into the United States. His sponsorship of the legislation was driven by the realities in his district, which includes counties that run along the U.S./Mexico border.
Paton is scheduled to be on active duty for six months.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TUCKER: Jonathan Paton supports the war in Iraq, and he says he's simply backing that support with personal action. Paton is the only politician currently serving to pull active duty in Iraq, Kitty.
PILGRIM: How does he feel about going?
TUCKER: Well, it's very funny. We asked him that question. And he said he's more afraid of going and embarrassing himself and not doing a good job than he is about being shot at, actually.
PILGRIM: When is he leaving?
TUCKER: He leaves this month. He didn't give us a date, but he deploys in the fall.
PILGRIM: He has our best wishes with him. Thanks very much, Bill Tucker.
Still ahead, the results of our poll. More of your e-mail on the subject of congressional pay. One viewer has calculated Congress' day rate, and you won't believe it. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PILGRIM: Now, the results of tonight's poll: 92 percent of you do not believe a U.N. resolution will have any effect on the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Let's take a look at some of your thoughts. And Bonnie in Texas writes: "OK, let's put this into perspective. Congress makes approximately $168,000 a year. They will work 80 days. When you divide that, it comes to $2,100 a day. And in that time, they've done nothing. I am a middle class professional, work 40 hours a week, and don't make a third of that. What's wrong with this scenario?"
And Leslie in Ohio writes: "My professional job has disappeared overseas, and now I work for a low hourly wage. If I don't work, I don't eat. Shouldn't it be the same for Congress?"
And Jan in Idaho write, "I hope the do-nothing Congress does nothing between now and the November elections. They've already done enough damage."
In North Carolina, we hear, "Congress only worked 80 days? That changes my view. They're doing much better than I thought. I doubt that I could do much damage in only 80 days, or they could do that much damage in 80 days."
We love hearing from you. Do send us your thoughts. LouDobbs.com. And each of you whose email is read on this broadcast will receive a copy of Senator Byron Dorgan's book, "Take This Job and Ship It." And thanks for being with us tonight. Please join us tomorrow. For all of us here, thanks for watching. Good night from New York. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts right now with Wolf Blitzer.
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