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Fierce Explosions Rocking Southern Lebanon; Nasrallah Vowing to Strike Back Hard at Expanded Israeli Military in Lebanon; 15 Israel Soldiers Killed in Fighting Today; Lieberman Loses Primary; Georgia Democrat Cynthia McKinney Loses Race to Newcomer
Aired August 09, 2006 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories.
Happening now, breaking news. This Middle East war appearing to be getting even bigger and bloodier.
Right now, fierce explosions rocking southern Lebanon. This, as Israel plans to expand its ground offensive. If Israel can't beat Hezbollah into submission, the goal is to beat Hezbollah to a distance from which it's no longer an immediate threat to northern Israel.
Hezbollah's leader effectively says, bring it on. Hassan Nasrallah says he wants to see an end to the violence, but if there must be a bigger battle Nasrallah vows to turn southern Lebanon into what he calls a graveyard for Israeli troops.
And a controversial American evangelical says god will defend Israel. Pat Robertson met with the Israeli prime minister today. Robertson is describing this war in apocalyptic terms, saying the bible foretells this crisis.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
It appears to be the prelude to a battle that could get even uglier. Israel is pounding south Lebanon right now. We've been watching it live here in THE SITUATION ROOM. It started just a little while ago.
Right now we're hearing booming sounds of shelling and blasts in southern Lebanon. This, after Israel approved a major plan to expand its ground offensive in Lebanon. When that happens, many fear the chaos, the carnage and the casualties on both sides could quickly multiply.
Our reporters are covering every angle in all these fast-moving developments.
Suzanne Malveaux is monitoring the situation, covering the White House.
Our Zain Verjee is in Washington.
Our senior international correspondent, Brent Sadler, is in Beirut.
Let's begin this hour once again with our senior international correspondent, Matthew Chance. He's in northern Israel.
And Matthew, for our viewers who may just be turning in, describe what you've seen for the past hour.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, over the course of the past 60 minutes or so, perhaps longer than that, Wolf, we have been witnessing a ferocious artillery barrage of positions in southern Lebanon, from here on the Israeli side of the border, across into Lebanese territory.
That has been matched by a presence of grand forces as well, with hundreds of Israeli soldiers crossing over from Israel, into southern Lebanon, backed by armored vehicles and tanks, really pounding hard at those Hezbollah strongholds as Israeli forces attempt to push deep from this position on the Israeli-Lebanese border into southern Lebanon.
Now, there's already about 10,000 to 12,000 Israeli troops on the ground there. This action, we understand, is in support of that. But it hasn't been an easy battle at all. The Hezbollah fighters are extremely well dug in.
As we've been reporting, we've been speaking to soldiers who have been coming out of the combat zone. They've been telling us the guerrillas are very well prepared and they are, by no means, an easy enemy to dislodge. And a big concern at the moment is, if that expansion if military operations goes ahead, will it be extremely damaging to the amount of Israeli casualties that will be suffered? Many people here, politicians, soldiers, Israelis, as well, believe that it could be -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Well, what are you hearing from actual troops on the ground? I know you're talking to commanders, as well as rank and file soldiers. How are they dealing with this, now beginning the second month of this war?
CHANCE: Well, I think there was a degree of surprise that this conflict has gone on so long, because I think initially there was an understanding, if not with the military commanders, then at least with ordinary soldiers -- you can here this artillery really pounding as I talk to you, Wolf. There was an understanding that this campaign would only take a few weeks.
They were going to go in, deliver a punishing strike to Hezbollah, and then come out again. But obviously, thing have not turned out that way.
As I mentioned, the resistance on the ground inside southern Lebanon has proved much, much tougher. Soldiers have spoken to me about how they believe the guerrillas are extremely well trained, even the reservists that fought there six years ago, when Israel ended its occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, are saying that they think the Hezbollah guerrillas are much better trained now, much better equipped, and much better prepared for this kind of Israeli military advance.
That's what is really playing on the minds of Israeli soldiers as they push into southern Lebanon in what Israel calls at this stage pinpoint strikes on Hezbollah strongholds, but in what could be over the coming days a more expansive operation to occupy the whole of southern Lebanon once again -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And an indication, Matthew, of how intense the fighting has been on the ground, not very far away from you. We're now getting word from IDF, the Israel Defense Force here in Israel, 30 Israeli soldiers have been evacuated from some of the intense fighting around Bint Jbeil and other places in south Lebanon.
Thirty Israeli soldiers moderately to lightly wounded, according to the IDF, all from battle operations today. The IDF releasing this information only moments ago.
Matthew, thanks very much. We're going to be getting back to you on the scene for us.
Let's get some more insight into what's going on inside Lebanon. For that, we'll turn to our senior international correspondent, Brent Sadler. He's our Beirut bureau chief.
Beirut, what's the latest from there? Excuse me -- Brent, what's the latest from there?
BRENT SADLER, CNN BEIRUT BUREAU CHIEF: Wolf, I've been talking to Lebanese army military sources, as well as United Nations officials, and can give a little bit more of a clearer picture, perhaps, what we're saying along the front as a whole.
I understand from U.N. observers -- and they're still manning some 40 observation posts right in the thick of the fighting there -- and the latest report I get on this side of the firing line is that, Israelis, after putting reinforcements into Metulla, they then pushed out of Metulla with considerable fire power from the air and from the artillery that we've been hearing near Matthew Chance there, and have engaged Hezbollah in a very vicious battle around the Khiam town, which is a very important Hezbollah stronghold.
It's symbolically important to Hezbollah because Khiam was a prison for some 20 years of Israel's occupation here. And many of Hezbollah fighters got locked away in there for many years by Israel's proxy militia at that time, the south Lebanon army.
So, expect a big battle for Khiam and the surrounding villages. I'm told the Israelis are facing fierce resistance from Hezbollah.
And also to add to that, a political source I spoke to earlier today close to Hezbollah said that although the resistance is fighting hard now, they also have depth in numbers. They also have reservists that they could call on to the battle here.
Meanwhile, Wolf, unknown numbers of civilians are still trapped in those danger zones.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER (voice over): On a main road from Beirut to south Lebanon there are very few signs of life. The shop owners are long gone. Unknown numbers of businesses have been abandoned, locked and shuttered.
More than 70 bridges are in ruins across the country. Power lines are damaged. Water pipes are fractured. Israel's campaign to neutralize Hezbollah's rockets ignites more fires and smoke.
About a third of the population in Lebanon once lived in these rolling hills. But after four weeks of war, the conflict has uprooted as many as a million people.
Israel seems to be accelerating the airstrikes and may be preparing to push its army deeper into south Lebanon, attempting military moves that could overwhelm Hezbollah by forcing everyone out. Much of the south is now a no-go area. Emergency aid is blocked.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been given to understand that there's no point in our even applying for clearance for concurrence to travel down to Tyre the next couple of days.
SADLER: Israel drops repeated messages to the embattled Lebanese. "When we caught them," says this young refugees, "they were very warm, very hot, like fire."
The leaflets target Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's chief. "Hassan is playing with fire, and here is Lebanon burning," it reads. "Hassan gambled on your future and you are paying the price."
(on camera): It's becoming evermore difficult and dangerous to reach towns and villages here in south Lebanon. And Israel warns it will blast any vehicle moving south of the Litani River, cutting off the port city of Tyre. And here around the market town of Nabatiyeh, I can hear Israeli warplanes dropping tons of bombs.
(voice over): Diplomatic haggling to end the month-long war brought a speedy return to Beirut of U.S. Middle East envoy David Welsh. He consulted with key officials as the Lebanese capital came under attack for the fourth straight day.
Hezbollah escorted journalists to what they described as civilian areas destroyed by recent strikes. This man says he moved his family out to safety, but chose to remain alone.
"There is no more southern suburbs," he explains. "It's been turned into a football field. But I'm staying, no matter what." More than a selfless act of defiance, say Hezbollah officials, but a strongly-held conviction felt by many here to resist what they call Israeli aggression.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SADLER: Wolf, and the latest information I have on what's happening in the eastern sector that Matthew Chance has been reporting, where there's heavy artillery, is that U.N. officials who are taking latest reports from the area say there is not a multi-front offensive under way. This is an operation that has really been punching out in Metulla, they say, and targeting that Khiam Hezbollah stronghold -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And as we take a look at the live pictures we're getting in right now, Brent, I want to read to you a statement that the Israel Defense Forces has just put out confirming what you've just reported to our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'll read the statement.
"The IDF is operating in the area of El Khiam in southern Lebanon, an area from which Hezbollah have been firing Katyusha rockets at Metulla, Kiryat Shmona, and the Galilee panhandle."
So, once again, the IDF insisting, Brent, that this is a limited operation going after one target in that area of El Khiam, a well- known position, a position that Israeli officials insist is the source of Katyusha rockets coming into northern Israel, and is not necessarily the start of an all-out military offensive, which the Israeli cabinet did approve earlier today.
What's been the reaction specifically to that, Brent, to the potential that this war, which has been very intense, very bloody for a month now, is about to potentially get a whole lot worse?
SADLER: Yes, well the thing that all eyes are going to be on, whether or not the Security Council can come up with a resolution that satisfies all parties. It's looking more and more unlikely that anything will happen soon on that respect.
So what we're seeing now is the Israelis taking this opportunity, according to analysts I'm speaking to, to really hit Hezbollah hard, to try to weaken that Hezbollah force. Let's not forget, they don't operate from fixed strongholds so much. They do defend certain areas very well like Bint Jbeil, like Khiam, very important symbols for the Hezbollah resistance.
These are the places that Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's chief, would often give speeches from. Symbolically, they're importance to the Lebanese resistance, embodied by Hezbollah, is really very high.
But what we're seeing is the Israelis grinding down what they think are key strategic areas ahead of what may well become a much wider offensive. If we look at what's been happening from the latest reports coming out of Tyre, which is on the coastal area to the west, the 11th brigade of the Lebanese army not reporting any further activity, any offensive activity by the Israelis.
So I think we're going to see certainly further action. We're going to see a tightening of the operations against Hezbollah, these ground operations. And I think there's an expectation here, Wolf, that these next 48 hours are indeed going to be crucial.
BLITZER: Brent Sadler, reporting for us from Beirut.
Brent, thank you very much.
And I want to keep these live pictures up. This war unfolding on live television right here in the Middle East. A major Israeli strike going against targets near El Khiam, right across the border from northern Israel in south Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah's leader is vowing to strike back hard against an expanded Israeli military offensive in Lebanon.
Let's bring in CNN's Zain Verjee. She's joining us from Washington with details -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, a defiant stance from the leader of Hezbollah, saying intense Israelis airstrikes are not breaking Hezbollah's military power or its spirits.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE (voice over): Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah says if Israel further invades, his fighters will turn south Lebanon into a graveyard for Israeli forces.
HASSAN NASRALLAH, HEZBOLLAH LEADER (through translator): To the Zionists, you can come anywhere. You can invade, land your airborne forces, and to enter this village or that. And this is not something I said anew, but at any rate, all of this will cost you a high price.
VERJEE: As Israel expands strikes against Hezbollah, Nasrallah went on Lebanese TV to lash out, insisting Hezbollah's rocket power is as strong as ever.
NASRALLAH (through translator): As far as the rocket launching, the resistance is still as effective as it was in the first days.
VERJEE: Along with his military bluster, Nasrallah sought to raise the diplomatic stakes, saying he backs Lebanon's plan to send 15,000 troops to the south. He says that could speed up negotiations at the U.N.
NASRALLAH (through translator): If the government declared its readiness to send the Lebanese army, the 15,000 to be deployed in this area, therefore, this will very much help Lebanon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VERJEE: Nasrallah said the resolution on the table is unfair. He accused the U.S. of doing Israel's bidding. And he warned Israel, get out of Lebanon or the rockets will continue to rain down -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you, Zain.
The White House, meanwhile, says it's opposed to any escalation of the conflict.
Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, is joining us from Crawford, Texas, where the president is vacationing.
Suzanne, what is the latest position coming out of the White House?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we actually saw Press Secretary Tony Snow briefly on camera today, because he is trying to show that President Bush is still involved in this process, that he wants to bring an end to the hostilities through this U.N. Security Council resolution.
Now, Snow refused to characterize negotiations at an impasse, but he did say that there are some differences they still need to bridge. And not to oversimplify, but the difference, essentially, when those Israeli troops would be required to pull out, whether or not that would happen before or after a multinational force goes in. The administration very much sticking to its position.
And the Lebanese government not happy with that at all. The position is that they feel there could be a vacuum, a power vacuum, allowing Hezbollah to rearm, regain strength if those Israeli soldiers pull out prematurely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You have to make sure that you're addressing the root causes of the problem. A power vacuum in southern Lebanon, you have to remember that Hezbollah started this with the firing of rockets. That, of course, followed on crossing over the blue line and kidnapping Israeli soldiers.
So, the escalation is something that we do not want to see. But also, you have to have a resolution that addresses the root cause of Hezbollah, has a practical solution to making sure that the Lebanese government will be able to have military and political control of the south.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Wolf, what's happening now, essentially you have the French who are trying to finesse this language in this resolution to please the Lebanese officials. But according to one person I spoke to, an official, he said, "Look, it's really a game of chicken at this point. Both sides have dug in. And this could be days and days away before we get a resolution, if we get a resolution." -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Suzanne, thank you very much.
We're continuing to follow the breaking news out of the Middle East.
Also coming up, my one-on-one interview with the reverend Pat Robertson. He's here in Jerusalem amid an increasingly violent conflict. You might be surprised what compelled him to come right now.
Also, days of desperate diplomacy, but the United Nations is still unable to agree on a cease-fire resolution. I'll talk about it with Qatar's foreign minister. He's at the United Nations. Qatar, a member of the Security Council, working on it right now.
Plus, more on our top story, a major escalation by Israeli forces along the border with Lebanon. It's happening right now and we're standing by for the latest.
Live from Jerusalem, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're going to have much more coming up on our top story, the military offensive. Israel's cabinet today approving a potentially major expansion of the ground war, authorizing the IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, to go up perhaps as far as the Litani River. That's some 30 kilometers north of the border, and maybe even further as this war enters the second month of some very serious fighting.
And as the diplomatic drama over the crisis here in the Middle East continues, a United Nation's draft resolution to end the conflict could be voted on perhaps as early as tomorrow. But many in the Arab world are criticizing the current proposal. Some Muslims think the resolution favors Israel.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now from the United Nations is Sheik Hamad bin Jassim al Thani, the foreign minister of Qatar.
Foreign Minister, thanks very much for spending a few moments with us.
I can tell you and I can tell our viewers, I've been here in Jerusalem the past few days. Israeli officials at the highest levels are insisting they will not -- repeat, not -- pull out of south Lebanon until they have hard and fast assurances that Hezbollah will never again be able to rain rockets down on northern Israel.
How do you provide those assurances to Israel?
HAMAD BIN JASSIM AL THANI, QATARI FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, I think this will not help the matter and will not help the security of Israel. I said this yesterday in the Security Council, and I say it to the Israelis and to all of our friends.
I think what will help to solve this problem is to make a comprehensive peace and to make a dialogue to -- there is a hostility in the Middle East, and this hostility not only because of this problem, but you know what is happening in Gaza also. And there is accumulated problems, one after the other, which are related to this problem. And in my opinion, we need more than to take -- I don't think they can solve it by military action.
BLITZER: I think that everyone recognizes that down the road, they have to get to all of the root causes and resolve this crisis here in the Middle East. But in the short term, how do you stop the fighting? How do you reassure the Israelis? Because today they've decided they are going to launch a major new military offensive unless they have assurances from the United Nations -- and Qatar is a member of the U.N. Security Council -- unless they have the kind of assurances that this is not going to happen again.
What do you say to Israel?
AL THANI: Well, we are working on this since we came here, and we will have another meeting within a few minutes with the members of the Security Council to discuss how we can give the assurance and how we can make our resolution work. But a resolution doesn't make more problems, especially for the Lebanese government.
What we are worrying, because of the sophisticated structure of the Lebanese political arena, it's very important to know how you deal with the problem and not to pressure the governments of Lebanon more than what they can deliver. Otherwise, they will go to conflicts which will be difficult, and the Lebanese and on the Israeli side. And for that reason, we are trying to find the text (ph) that could work for both sides.
BLITZER: The leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, just delivered a speech once again today, and he urged the Arab residents of Haifa to get out because he says more rockets are coming in.
Do you trust Hassan Nasrallah?
AL THANI: Well, I think he -- once he mentioned about the vessel in the sea, and he did what he said. And I don't want to get to this, because I don't know what they're doing or what they have.
But it's very important not -- you know, both sides now, they want to show that they can continue, taking longer time, and do more damage for each other. I don't think this will lead to the solution.
Everybody thinks that they broke the bone of the other. I think best thing is to sit and to solve this problem. And this problem, it's not only Lebanese problem, I think it is -- there is more broad issue in the Middle East, as you know.
We have, you know, the Syrian-Lebanese, the Israeli-Lebanese, the Israeli and the Palestinians, and also what -- you know, about Iran. All of this is a complicated issue, needs somebody to look at it very carefully, and not just to think that this is only the problem.
BLITZER: As you know, Qatar, being a moderate Arab state, with good relations with the United States, the U.S. military Central Command has a base near Doha, Camp As Sayliyah, and you also know that there's deep concern in Washington that this war that's been going on between Israel and Hezbollah is really a proxy war. That Iran, the Shiite leadership in Iran, through Syria, has been working with Hezbollah to create this crisis that has existed.
How concerned are you that Iran is calling the shots now and creating this crisis?
AL THANI: Well, I don't have information about Iranian involvement or Syrian involvement. Maybe there is, maybe there isn't. I don't want to go to that conclusion, but there is a subject which makes -- always could flare the problems in the Middle East. And the subject is, Israel has to give the rights for the people in Palestine and in Lebanon, according to the international and according to the Security Council resolution.
If we don't do this, always there will be good ground to start new conflicts sometimes. If somebody wants to use it, it could be used, or the people could do it (ph). And I think this would relate to have more terrorism in our region because people think that nothing will be solved unless they're radical.
And that's a big problem. It will challenge all of us if we need to do comprehensive peace.
BLITZER: Is Hassan Nasrallah and Hezbollah in general, as the U.S. alleges, a terrorist organization?
AL THANI: I cannot say this, because, first of all, when we want to call them terrorism, if they do something in the international arena -- in Lebanon, they call them heroes, because they take -- you know, south Lebanon, they liberate part of the land of Lebanon.
So it's different how you can call them terrorism. For me, you know, to call them terrorism, there is certain conditions in the U.N. have to be fulfilled to say this.
BLITZER: Foreign Minister, thank you very much for joining us. Always appreciate speaking with you.
AL THANI: Pleasure, sir.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And coming up, why is religious broadcaster Pat Robertson here in Jerusalem right now? We'll talk about that and the fighting. My one-on-one interview with Pat Robertson, that's coming up.
Also, the latest on a major political story at home. Senator Joe Lieberman now running as an Independent candidate after losing Connecticut's Democratic primary. We'll take a closer look at the fallout and what it could mean for November.
Live from Jerusalem, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're going to continue what's happening along the border between Israel and Lebanon. Breaking news we're reporting on. Major Israeli assault on Hezbollah targets. We'll go back there live shortly.
Amidst all of this death and destruction and devastation, there's this story that's unfolding here in Jerusalem. Does the bible foretell this war here in the Middle East? One American evangelist thinks so. He's flew here to Israel to meet with the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, and to talk about the crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Reverend Robertson, thanks very much for spending a few moments with us.
PAT ROBERTSON, RELIGIOUS BROADCASTER: Sure, Wolf.
BLITZER: It's unusual meeting you here in Jerusalem.
ROBERTSON: It is.
BLITZER: But why did you decide to come at this very sensitive moment to Israel?
ROBERTSON: Wolf, I love Israel. And I wanted to let the Jewish people and people of Israel know that I stood with them.
And I wasn't afraid. I did my show from Metulla. I was up where the Katyushas were falling. And I wanted to let them know that the evangelicals of America love them and we're supporting in this struggle.
BLITZER: I know you've had a chance to meet with the prime minister of Israel...
ROBERTSON: Yes.
BLITZER: ... on this, a day when the Israeli cabinet has made a major decision.
Give our viewers a sense of how your meeting with the prime minister went, what he said to you.
ROBERTSON: Well, I said -- I quoted from Shakespeare. I said, "Some men are born great and others have greatness thrust upon them, and you have come out great. I am so proud of you," of the strength that he's shown.
And he was so calm and relaxed. I said, "You decided now to go fully engaged into this?" He said, "We're going to do it. We're going to move."
And then he also spoke about Nasrallah. He doesn't particularly like him. He said, "He wants to find 72 virgins and we're going to help him."
I said, "Do you know where he is?" He said, "If I know where he was within a few seconds he wouldn't be there."
So he said, basically, he's -- this man is evil and he's going to target him.
BLITZER: Were you impressed by the determination -- this is now entering the second month of this war and clearly things have not necessarily gone as well for the Israelis as they would have hoped for.
PAT ROBERTSON, RELIGIOUS BROADCASTER: Wolf, I was so impressed with the calm nature of the prime minister. You know he showed me a picture of Auschwitz that gate going in and three Israeli jets flying overhead. It was so moving.
We talked about the Oslo Accords and really what a mistake it was to deal with Yasser Arafat. I think he gets it. But he gets it in such a calm fashion. He wasn't rattled, he wasn't frantic. He had this calm peace about him and the determination that he was going to see this thing through to victory.
BLITZER: Now this is a man, Ehud Olmert that you've met with on many earlier occasions.
ROBERTSON: Yes.
BLITZER: A lot of people out there don't understand the relationship between the evangelical community in the United States, religious Christians and Israel. Talk a little bit about the religious aspect of what motivated you to come here now.
ROBERTSON: Well, this is what is so deep. It isn't that this is one more democracy, this isn't some floating battle, I mean permanent battleship in the Mediterranean and all of that thing. We believe firmly that the Jewish people are the people of God. We believe that this nation is the nation of destiny and that somehow we are inextricably linked with the destiny of Israel.
I was taught when I was a little child by my mother the words of God of Abraham, blessed are those that bless you and cursed are those that curse you. And she always said you must bless the Jewish people. And from a little boy I learned that. So this is deep in the DNA if you will of the evangelicals of America.
BLITZER: But is there the whole apocalypse, the whole issue of that, the second coming of Christ. How does Israel and the destruction of Israel fit into that, because you've spoken about that over the years?
ROBERTSON: Well, my feeling is, is that God is going to defend this country and maybe the next thing down the road, if you read the Prophet Ezekiel, the 38th chapter, it is very amazing where he foretells of time when Israel will be under attack by Russia, Iran, Libya and Sudan. And he leaves out Saudi Arabia, he leaves out Jordan. It's remarkable, he leaves out Egypt.
But yet it's down there, when Israel has been gathered together from the nations of the earth and are living at peace in the land of Israel. But this talks of a great victory against the forces who would come against Israel. And the bible is full, the Old Testament, not the new, the old testament is full of references to God's protection for Israel and that's what we feel. We feel that God will fight for the Jewish people.
BLITZER: What about the innocent civilians who are dying in this war in Lebanon?
ROBERTSON: It always grieves me and grieves all of us to see war. But you know, in order to take Omaha Beach, the United States lost 8,000 men to take down Adolph Hitler. It costs to fight terrorism. It costs to fight for freedom. This is one of those thing and unfortunately, we're dealing with an enemy here that hides itself among the civilians, hides these Katyushas rockets in innocent villages, sometimes does not permit the villagers to leave their villages and makes them stay so they're targets.
That kind of thing is barbaric but that's what's being done and regrettably, if a civilian government like the government of Lebanon allows it to happen, then there will be collateral damage. But Israel I think is trying its best to restrain the amount of damage and to target strikes only on military targets.
BLITZER: You remember you caused quite a stir a few months ago when the former prime minister of Israel Ariel Sharon had a stroke. He remains in a coma even as we speak right now. And you suggested, but correct me if I'm wrong, that perhaps God was punishing Sharon for giving up Gaza.
ROBERTSON: You know I was misquoted on that Wolf. It happens and you don't have a chance to call it all back. If you read the tape, the transcript of what I actually said, I talked about my love of this man. I prayed with him, I met with him on a number of occasions. He had a luncheon here for me in my honor.
And I was just pointing out what the Prophet Joel had to say about this being God's land and God looks at it very seriously. And I said woe unto those who would under the pressure of the United States of the United Nations give up God's land. But I didn't say this was God's judgment on this man that I was very fond of. I was misquoted.
BLITZER: Did you raise the issue today with the prime minister additional Israeli withdrawals from the West Bank? Because as you know, he has in the past, in fact he ran on this notion that Israel should return, at least a big chunk of the West Bank to the Palestinians?
ROBERTSON: I drove down from Metula to Tel Aviv last night past the power stations and the other installations and I realized that if the West Bank was given over to Hamas, that there would be no place in Israel safe for any Israeli to live. They would be under the range of rockets, even short range rockets, it would be absolute hell on earth for Israel.
When the prime minister was talking to me, he said what a flawed treaty the Oslo Accords were. Well the Oslo Accords are what gave up a large portion of the territory to Yasser Arafat. And having said that, I didn't think it was necessary for me to guild the lily and get into this other. Because it seemed like he understands that he must protect these people and that's my belief. But did I get into it specifically? No, I didn't.
BLITZER: Do you return to the United States with, what is your major impression based on the days that you've been here?
ROBERTSON: Most of these people are resolute, they are steadfast in the midst of terror, a million refugees. I traveled around and you never know when death will rein on you out of the skies. I was in two instances where I had to seek shelter in an air raid shelter, a bomb shelter, because these Katyusha rockets were coming in.
Nobody knows where they're safe any place in northern Israel. So the fact that they're saying, go to victory, don't quit, don't stop, it's a resolution that I wish we could see a little of that in the United States of America. I'm very proud of Israel in this time of crisis.
BLITZER: Reverend Robertson, thanks very much.
ROBERTSON: Thank you.
BLITZER: And coming up, Hezbollah/Iran connection -- we're taking you live to Tehran, there's new information coming in right now. And how is Israel's battle against Hezbollah similar to the U.S. battle against insurgents in Iraq. Our Brian Todd reports on some of the stark similarities. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're monitoring all of the latest developments in the crisis here in the Middle East, including some surging support in Iran for Hezbollah. CNN's Aneesh Raman has now made his way to Teheran. He's joining us live with more. Aneesh, what are they saying in Iran?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we saw today as there happens almost every day here now, demonstrations where they're chanting "death to America, death to Israel". They burn the American and Israeli flags there as well, posters of Hassan Nasrallah the head of Hezbollah. and interestingly, something similar to what I saw in Syria.
Here, for the first time on posters, Hassan Nasrallah is shown with Iran's former and current supreme leaders. This though, as Iran continues to deny it is supplying any arms to Hezbollah. But just a few days ago Wolf, in an interview conducted by a reformed newspaper here in Tehran. Iran's former envoy to Syria back in 1982 said at that time, Iran was part of some 30 training courses, each with some 300 Hezbollah fighters. That is the firmest link we've gotten within Damascus. Iran maintains today it is doing nothing more than spiritual support for a fellow Shia movement. They call Hezbollah the offspring of the Iranian resistance that took place here -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Aneesh Raman reporting from Iran. We're just getting this note in from the "Reuters" news agency, quoting Israel's channel 10 as saying that members of Iran's revolutionary guard have been found among Hezbollah guerrillas, slain by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. The Israeli television report said that Iranians were identified by papers found on their bodies but gave no further details of how many were discovered. At the same time, there's other breaking news we're following right now.
The "Associated Press," "AFP" and (INAUDIBLE) are now reporting the "Israeli Daily" newspaper, and now we're getting official confirmation from the Israel Defense Forces as well, telling CNN that today, 15 additional Israeli soldiers were killed in combat operations in south Lebanon. This makes it the largest single day of military death for the Israelis since the start of this war.
They're saying that 15 IDF troops were killed in fierce fighting with Hezbollah guerrillas in south Lebanon. We're going to continue to watch both of these stories reported here, that the Israelis have found, supposedly, members of the Iranian revolutionary guard killed in south Lebanon by Israeli forces. And now a new high death toll for Israeli military forces.
The IDF confirming to CNN that 15 Israeli soldiers were killed today in battle in south Lebanon. Fierce fighting continuing. Much more still to come, the fierce battling continuing. Stubborn resistance and a battle that seems without end, at least right now. It's happening between Israel and Hezbollah. But it's also unfolding in Iraq and our Brian Todd standing by to outline some of the similarities in both of these wars.
And in American political news, there's little modesty even in her defeat, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. She's out with some fresh fire and more bizarre words, after voters at her district tell her they don't want her services anymore. Much more on all this coverage right after this.
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BLITZER: Welcome back. We're following all of the latest breaking news here in the Middle East. Two major stories unfolding right now on this a day that the Israeli security cabinet has approved an expansion of the ground offensive in south Lebanon. The IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, now confirming to CNN that on this day 15 Israeli soldiers were killed in fierce fighting in south Lebanon. This, the single worst death toll for Israeli military forces since the start of this war a month ago.
Also, Israel's channel 10 reporting that Israeli forces have killed and found the bodies of members of Iran's revolutionary guard, fighting alongside Hezbollah in south Lebanon, this according to ID, photo ID papers on their bodies. We're watching both of these stories.
Meanwhile, some analysts are pointing out that there are parallels between what Israel is facing in Lebanon and what the United States is facing in Iraq. Let's bring in Brian Todd, he's in Washington with the story. Brian?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the two battle fronts are only about 500 miles apart and the similarities are glaring in the style of fighting and the battle of ideologies. So some experts are asking hasn't anyone learned any lessons?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): Top Israeli officials tell CNN the charge that the shakeup of the combat command is an admission of mistakes is exaggerated and they're confident of their new commitment to open up this ground war and press the attack.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will now expose more and more the results of our activity in Lebanon as we've exposed today. Some of the incredible armament that was caught. Of course prisoners that were caught and a lot of infrastructure that was demolished.
TODD: Hours later their enemy shows equal confidence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will fight you at the front lines, we'll fight you with the bravery and wait for you at every village, at every hill or valley.
TODD: A willingness to fight toe to toe, much like their fellow insurgents virtually next door in Iraq. An Israeli general admitted to us, their army is encountering what he called some of the same tactical challenges U.S. forces are facing in Iraq. American military analysts speak of the tough lessons of Iraq now applied to Lebanon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The insurgent, if it has popular support, has the advantage of terrain. Terrain inside of the city, like Tyre as an example, the neighborhood. It's like gangs in the city.
TODD: Gangs like Muqtada al-Sadr's militias in Iraq. Watching this play out, some analysts are incredulous, saying Israel's repeating the mistakes its American allies made after their first incursions just a couple of borders away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The expectation was that afterwards there would not be a lot of resistance, while in fact you can see that you have Hezbollah's resistance, which will continue if the Israelis get past them. It will continue in the Israeli's rear.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Another parallel, Syria's involvement as a transit point for insurgents and their arms in both conflicts, an equation that analysts say won't change any time soon. With all that, even an Israeli general says the assessment by one cabinet minister that this campaign will take only about 30 more days, may be too optimistic -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Brian, thanks very much. Just want to update you now on what the Israel Defense Forces is telling us. They are now confirming that 15, 1-5, 15 Israeli soldiers killed today in fierce fighting in south Lebanon, 38 Israeli soldiers wounded, 15 dead Israeli soldiers. That's the single worst day of death for the Israeli military since this war started a month ago. Let's go to CNN's Tom Foreman, he's in THE SITUATION ROOM, with some additional perspective on this most recent round of fighting. Tom?
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's an interesting thing Wolf. We're talking about 30 days, less than 30 days ago along this 40 mile border between Israel and Lebanon. Israel thought that through air power and strategic strikes in given areas, they could largely control this swath of land up to the Litani River. Less than 30 days later, it hasn't worked out.
They're bogged down in places like Bint Jbeil and elsewhere. Now they're talking about stepping up the number of troops into this area, pushing much harder to control it. Meanwhile, Hezbollah is now saying it will welcome Lebanese soldiers, which they've previously rejected, about 15,000 of those coming in from the top. Everyone trying to control this area that's smaller than half of New Jersey.
And look what they're trying to control. These are all of the major roads in that area. Tremendous number of them. All being fought for or controlled by about 3,000 Hezbollah, about 15,000 Lebanese soldiers, 10,000 or more Israeli, depending on what we're seeing.
And most importantly, look at this. More than 100 little towns and villages all throughout this area. There has been a struggle over a dozen of them. Now, we're talking about a region with this many places. All of that coming together in one place, it looks like a mess. That's the worry many people in the world have right now, is that it's turning into an even bigger mess -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Tom foreman, thank you very much. I just want to update our viewers, CNN has now confirmed that 15 Israeli soldiers have died in fierce fighting today, this from the Israel Defense Forces. They put that word out. The worst single day of death for the Israeli military since the start of this war.
And one of the major television channels here in Israel, channel 10, now reporting that the IDF, the Israel Defense Forces, has killed members of Iran's revolutionary guard fighting with Hezbollah forces in south Lebanon. They were identified by papers on their bodies. We're watching this story as well. This on a day that the Israeli cabinet has approved a major escalation of the ground offensive in Lebanon.
Also, other important political news we're watching back in the United States. Defeated but defiant, that would be Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney. She's fond of colorful comments but who knew she would use some colorful sound lyrics to describe her dislike of President Bush. And what does that have to do with why she lost the primary anyway? Our Jeanne Moos standing by with a unique look at Cynthia McKinney's last round of bazaar behavior. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
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BLITZER: We're monitoring all of the latest developments here in the Middle East crisis, including one report on a television network here in Israel that Israeli troops have killed members of Iran's revolutionary guard, fighting with Hezbollah forces in south Lebanon. We're watching that. Also the IDF confirming now that 15 Israeli soldiers, 15 killed in action today, fierce fighting in Lebanon. Much more on that coming up.
Meanwhile there's major political news back home. The Connecticut election officials say Senator Joe Lieberman has already filed papers to run as an independent in November after losing the democratic Senate primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont. Our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider standing by in Washington, with a closer look at the fallout. Bill?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, the democrats of Connecticut have spoken, but what exactly did they say?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Here's what Joe Lieberman says about what happened to him in Connecticut.
SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: It was clear to me all along that this -- that if I had an opponent who had money as this one did, they could make this, or would try to make it into a referendum on George Bush and the Iraq war, both of which are intensely unpopular among democrats.
SCHNEIDER: 90 percent of democrats nationwide disapprove of President Bush. 86 percent of democrats oppose the war in Iraq. But anti-war sentiment is not limited to democrats, 60 percent of all Americans say they oppose the war, the highest level yet of anti-war sent many. The candidate who beat Lieberman in the democratic primary says his campaign has a larger message.
NED LAMONT (D), CT SENATE NOMINEE: I think we won because the people want to bring real change to Washington, D.C.
SCHNEIDER: Americans do seem to want change. Most voters say they are anti-incumbent, meaning inclined to vote for challengers, rather than reelect people already in office. Translation, throw the bums out. Exactly the way they felt back in 1994 when they threw the democratic bums out. Lamont wants democrats to be tougher, to stand up to President Bush and aggressively challenge him. Lieberman calls that divisive.
LIEBERMAN: Lamont really represents polarization and partisanship which is the last thing we need more of in Washington.
SCHNEIDER: Lamont's response, blame Bush, not me for dividing the country.
LAMONT: Take the war in Iraq, I think that's way outside of the bipartisan tradition of this country.
SCHNEIDER: Republicans are seizing on the Lamont victory to paint democrats as the party of weakness.
KEN MEHLMAN, CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: As a party that once stood for strength now too often stands for retreat and defeat.
SCHNEIDER: Lamont's response.
LAMONT: As your senator, I'm going to make sure we have the strongest army on the face of this earth, but I also know that America is strongest when we work in concert with our allies, when we stay true to our values and we deal with the rest of the world with respect.
SCHNEIDER: In other words, changing course could make the country stronger.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: The Connecticut primary may set the themes for the 06 mid term. Lamont's message to democrats, embrace change. The republicans response, beware of change. Stay the course -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bill Schneider thank you. The news media, her opponent and the style of her hair. Right now Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney is blaming virtually everything else for her defeat in the Georgia primary last night. She's even summing up her sentiments in a song. Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Most politicians play nice catchy music before their concession speech. But Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney didn't just play music. She sang along to an anti- George Bush song.
REP. CYNTHIA MCKINNEY (D), GEORGIA: Were you a lonely boy. I wish I could sing.
MOOS: It was a flamboyant swan song for a congresswoman best known for tangling with a U.S. capitol police officer at a security checkpoint. And what do you know? Another scuffle broke out on election night. Congresswoman's staff tangled with a cameraman after a boom mike allegedly bumped McKinney's mother. The camera ended up on the ground.
A McKinney aid ended up needing stitches. Same aid who had a run-in with a reporter back in April. He won't be working for a congresswoman much longer. She lost the primary by 18 percentage points to a low key lawyer named Hank Johnson. For her concession, Congresswoman McKinney chose a song by Pink, song that directly addresses President Bush.
Can you imagine any other House member singing this line to the president?
MCKINNEY: You've come a long way from whiskey and cocaine.
MOOS: As for the war in Iraq --
MCKINNEY: We here tonight, say to our commander in chief, sir, no sir.
MOOS: She lambasted the media for ignoring accomplishments such as a job training program.
MCKINNEY: Because they wanted you to focus on my hair.
MOOS: Well, she'll no longer have the press in her hair. And you can bet the press will miss her more than she will miss us.
MCKINNEY: Minimum wage with a baby on the way. Let me tell you about hard work.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And coming up, we'll have more on the breaking news we're following. 15 Israeli soldiers confirmed dead in southern Lebanon today. This is the worst day of death for the Israeli military in this one month of fighting. Much more on that right after this.
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BLITZER: Following a lot of breaking news coming out of the Middle East crisis. The IDF now confirming 15 Israeli soldiers killed in action today. Fierce fighting in south Lebanon. This is the worst day of death for the Israeli military since the start of this war. A lot more coming up in one hour, 7:00 p.m. Eastern in THE SITUATION ROOM. In the meantime, let's go to Lou Dobbs, he's standing by in New York. Lou?
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