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Critics Accuse Bush of Using 9/11 Speech to Defend Iraq War; Campaign Trail Heats Up in Rhode Island; Hillary Clinton Likely To Win; Dick Durbin Interview
Aired September 12, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: 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, Democrats and Republicans do battle over the 9/11 speech. Did he use a solemn anniversary to score political points for his party?
It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington, where midterm election tension is growing by the day. This is the last big day the 2006 primary season.
Another Senate moderate fighting for survival. This hour Lincoln Chafee's troubles in Rhode Island. Why are Republicans so eager to keep the party rebel in office?
Plus, Senator Hillary Clinton's primary concern. She's on the ballot today in New York state, but her sites and war chest seem to be dedicated to 2008.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
On this day after his 9/11 anniversary speech, President Bush is keeping a relatively low profile. But his surrogates are trading blows with Democrats what he said last night and why he said it. The president's critics on Capitol Hill accuse him of using a national day of mourning to defend the war in Iraq, just weeks before congressional elections. But Republicans contend it's the Democrats who are politicizing the president's remarks.
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is standing by at the White House.
Let's go to Capitol Hill first. Our congressional correspondent, Andrea Koppel -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, while Democrats use President Bush -- accuse President Bush of using the 9/11 anniversary as a way to jockey for better political position ahead of those November midterms, Republicans accused Democrats of being naive and short-sided.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KOPPEL (voice-over): On the steps of the nation's Capitol, a brief show of bipartisan spirit on 9/11 didn't last long. Immediately after President Bush's primetime speech, Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy issued a scathing critique, saying, "The president should be ashamed of using a national day of mourning to commandeer the airways to give a speech that was designed not to unite the country and commemorate the fallen, but to seek support for a war in Iraq that he has admitted had nothing to do with 9/11."
But Kennedy also used the 9/11 anniversary to draw attention to Iraq. Hours before the president spoke, he sent a letter to his own supporters, criticizing the president's Iraq policy. And today other Democrats, too, jumped on the Bush bashing bandwagon.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: The American people last night deserved better.
KOPPEL: Democratic leader Harry Reid said, "On 9/11 especially, Americans deserved a break from politics."
REID: Sadly, it was a missed opportunity for President Bush, who, obviously was more consumed by staying the course in Iraq and playing election year partisan politics than changing direction for this wonderful country.
KOPPEL: Pennsylvania Republican Rick Santorum fired back at Reid.
SANTORUM: These people have been at war with us for 20 years. And we've chosen to ignore them. And we paid a very high price. And so what's our lesson? Well, if you listen to the Democratic leader, our lesson is let's continue to ignore them! Let's continue to play politics! Let's put domestic politics ahead of the security of this country.
KOPPEL: While House Majority Leader John Boehner went even further, questioning Democrats' patriotism. Speaking to reporters off camera, Boehner said, "I listen to my Democrat friends and I wonder if they are more interested in protecting the terrorists than protecting the American people."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: And the partisan name-calling and criticism over the president's 9/11 speech is certainly not going be the last time these two sides square off between now and November. Now both sides now turning their attention to the next issue of national security on their agenda, and that is port security -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Strong words coming from the Hill from both sides, Andrea. Thank you very much. Andrea Koppel on Capitol Hill.
Let's go to the Bush administration's defense of the president's speech, in response to the so-called name-calling, as his spokesman Tony Snow puts it.
Let's bring in our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, of course the question whether or not there was a political component to the speech -- of course there was. We're less than two months away from midterm elections, congressional elections. Everything is arguably political right now.
Well, President Bush did not mention the words Democrat or Republican, he did not call for any kind of legislation regarding trying detainees or even allowing or asking for the controversial tools to execute this war on terror, secret surveillance. But President Bush, in his primetime address, went to the heart of the political debate, a debate that has divided this country and essentially set the stage for the battle over Congress. And that is the justification of the Iraq war.
Now, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow today was asked on several briefings about this and he said the president went out of his way not to be partisan. He made a distinction between partisan and political, parsing the speech at times, saying it would be remiss if the president did not talk about the Iraq war. And he categorically rejected this notion that the president was using the occasion of 9/11 to score political points.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I told the networks that the president was not going to be calling out Democrats, that he was not going to be making specific legislative proposals, but he was going to take a look backward and forward in the war on terror. I told them what kind of speech he was going to give. And so, no. So you're accusing me of false advertising without having been in on the conversation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Wolf, there were certainly numerous conversations between at least the White House journalists and senior administration officials, being assured over 48 hours before the speech that it certainly was not going to be one that was political. There's a lot of debate over really what that means.
But the bottom line here is the bigger context. The White House, the Bush administration have admittedly been involved in a public relations campaign to try to reframe the debate here, one that says, look, Americans are safer after 9/11, they've learned the lessons of 9/11, and that the war on terror, including the Iraq war, is justified. We expect to hear more of that kind of rhetoric, whether you consider political or not, of course in the months to come -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And, briefly, Suzanne, I know the president always goes out, when he is being critical of the Democrats, in saying I'm not questioning their patriotism or what their motives are. But John Boehner seemed to question the patriotism of Democrats. I also know that Tony Snow was asked whether the president agrees with John Boehner. What did he say?
MALVEAUX: Well, he certainly was asked about that. And the strategy at the White House is that the president, always appearing above the fray, does not attack the patriotism of those who criticize him. That is the same thing that Tony Snow did today saying, look, that is something for the Republicans to fight over with the Democrats.
It is a way of making the president look as if he is dealing with much more important issues, larger issues, if you will. But this is all based on their looking ahead at that two months, making sure that the president's party stays in power.
BLITZER: Only a few hours after all the solemn occasions that we observed yesterday, we see what's happening today here in Washington. Thanks, Suzanne, very much.
At least one outspoken Democrat has another bone to pick with President Bush. Senator Russ Feingold today is urging Mr. Bush to stop using the term "Islamic fascist" to describe al Qaeda terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D), WISCONSIN: We must avoid using misleading and offensive terms that link Islam with those who subvert this great religion or those who distort its teachings to justify terrorist activities. So I call on the president to immediately stop using the phrase "Islamic fascist," a label that doesn't make any sense and certainly doesn't help our effort to fight terrorism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: In THE SITUATION ROOM yesterday, the undersecretary of state, longtime Bush adviser Karen Hughes did acknowledge that there has been serious debate within the Bush administration about using the term "Islamic fascist," but today the State Department defended the term, saying, "Islam is a peaceful religion that has been twisted by terrorism." Karen Hughes telling us yesterday she, however, does not use the phrase "Islamic fascist."
Zain Verjee is joining us now with a closer look at some other important stories making news. Hi, Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Wolf.
Right now, the U.S. is praising a country they've long had nothing but harsh words for: Syria. This after Syrian security officials stopped an attack on the U.S. embassy in Damascus. Four attackers first blasted a car bomb near the embassy, and then stormed it. But Syrian security forces beat back the attackers, killing three of them and capturing the fourth. The Syrian embassy guard was also killed. No Americans were hurt.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says the U.S. appreciates the Syrians protecting the Americans. But a stern reminder, too, from the State Department that Syria is a sponsor of terrorism and has been a haven for terrorists. Meanwhile, Syria, for its part, blames the U.S. for policies in the region that it says fuels terror.
In Iraq, a disturbing find, an extreme sign of the times. A human head with a note reading, quote, "This is the face of those who deal with the U.S. forces" -- that was found today in Baghdad. Just one of sixty bodies that were found dumped across the city. All were apparently shot execution style and all have thought to be victims of fierce battles between Iraq's Sunnis and Shias. We're going to bring you a live report on Iraq in the next hour.
Iran's president hosted the Iraqi prime minister in a meeting today. Iranian news reports say President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expressed support to the prime minister, al-Maliki, reportedly saying Iran supports a united Iraq and will help Iraq become more secure. This is al-Maliki's first visit to Iran since becoming the Iraqi prime minister.
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, officials say that NATO and Afghan troops are pushing full steam ahead in an operation designed to crush the Palestine in Kandahar Province. It's called Operation Medusa and the defeat of the Soviet Union at the hands of forces in Afghanistan is partly to blame for Afghanistan's security, political and economic ills today. That's what U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says. Today Rice said the U.S. is now paying the price for having left Afghanistan on its own after Soviet forces left the country -- Wolf?
BLITZER: Zain, thank you.
Americans are voting in nine states and the District of Columbia today. It's the last major round of primaries before the November elections. Both parties will be watching the results with an eye toward the final battle to control Congress. And certain New York Democrat likely is looking way ahead to 2008. Mary Snow is covering Senator Hillary Clinton's campaign.
First though, our congressional correspondent Dana Bash. She's in Rhode Island, a pivotal GOP Senate primary going on today. She's with the CNN Election Express, that bus behind you. Dana, making its debut on the 2006 campaign trail today. What is the latest in the primary in Rhode Island?
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, this Republican primary is generating a lot of interest, in part, because many see it as the inverse of what happened in neighboring Connecticut. The Democratic primary there, of course, last month between Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont.
Now this is, of course, a moderate senator who represents the state, Senator Chafee, who is facing a challenge from within his own party, from a candidate who says that Senator Chafee simply does not represent the ideals of his party anymore and it's time for a change.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you feeling this morning, senator?
SEN. LINCOLN CHAFEE (R), RHODE ISLAND: Feeling very well, beautiful day.
BASH (voice-over): If there is one Republican the GOP establishment wouldn't mind losing, you'd think it would be Lincoln Chafee.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Tough decision?
CHAFEE: Very easy.
BASH: He opposed to the president's tax cuts and Supreme Court pick. He supports abortion rights and stem cell research, the only Republican senator to vote no on the Iraq war.
CHAFEE: If there is any remorse, it's that I didn't get more people to vote the way I voted.
BASH: Chafee isn't just a Republican who votes against Bush policies. He actually voted against Mr. Bush in 2004. His challenger from the right, Stephen Laffey, says Chafee is out of step with the Republican Party and needs to go.
STEPHEN LAFFEY (R), RHODE ISLAND SEN. CANDIDATE: I call him irrelevant. He is the most irrelevant senator in the United State Senate.
BASH: Chafee is Rhode Island political royalty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have fun at the beach.
BASH: He and his late father John are the only GOP senators elected from this progressive state since the depression. The Laffey challenge is remarkable enough, but what makes this race extraordinary is the support Chafee is getting from the White House and national party. It's not so much they want him to win. They think they need him on the November ballot to keep this seat in Republican hands.
CHAFEE: Mayor Laffey is behind 30 points to the Democrat in most polls and I'm neck and neck.
BASH: So the Senate GOP Campaign Committee is spending more than a million dollars, slamming Laffey, a fellow Republican, with ads like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Laffey raised taxes twice.
BASH: And national party organizers and volunteers are helping Chafee turn out votes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: his race is very close and your vote is extremely important.
BASH: Laffey has outside help, too. He calls Chafee a rhino, Republican in name only. The Conservative Club for Growth's ad blitz included this attack on Chafee.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He opposed the tax cut for you, while he backed the pay raise for politicians.
BASH: Laffey labels himself a reformer, the anti-Chafee and is as rambunctious as Chafee is reserved.
LAFFEY: My opponent has seven years to reform Washington. He's failed. Washington is in the wrong direction and everybody knows it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Now, the national Republican Party has made it very clear that if Mayor Laffey wins tonight, they're out of here. They're going to pull all of their resources out and essentially from their point of view, concede that this will likely turn Democrat in November.
Now, Mayor Laffey says that's just fine with him. If he does win the primary tonight, he's convinced that he can win in November. A lot of people, most people actually see that as a very tough hill to climb.
However, I can tell you that it's five hours now until the polls close, Wolf, and it is very difficult to tell just how this is going to fall because the Republicans make up a very small percentage here, just 10 percent of the vote. But independents, or as they call them here, unaffiliated voters, can vote here and those are the voters that Chafee is really trying to get out, really needs if he wants to win today -- Wolf?
BLITZER: We'll see if he survives this challenge tonight. Dana, tell us a little bit about the CNN Election Express. A lot of our viewers will remember this bus from the 2004 campaign. Talk a little bit about what is behind you.
BASH: Well, you said earlier it's making its debut here in Rhode Island. It's the first foray on the campaign trail in 2006. Myself and my colleagues who are going to be out covering the campaign from now until Election Day will be with this bus, many of us. Wolf, maybe you'll even come out on the trail with us.
BLITZER: I promise I will, love to do it. I loved having the bus the last time around as well. Dana, thank you very much -- Dana on the campaign trail for us.
And on this primary day over in New York state, Senator Hillary Clinton is considered a shoo-in against a virtually unknown Democratic challenger. But she is running hard as though perhaps it were, what? 2008? Let's bring in Mary Snow. She's in New York with more -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, it's a race with very little suspense and many say has lots of consequences far outside New York.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Good morning.
SNOW (voice-over): It's the kind of picture New York Republicans vowed not to allow: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton not breaking a sweat in her bid to be re-elected to the Senate.
FRED DICKER, NEW YORK POST: A year or so ago the Republicans were bragging that they were really going to take on Hillary Clinton. They were going to stop her from becoming the next president, that they were going to give her a race that she couldn't anticipate.
SNOW: A year later, New York Republican challengers K.T. McFarland and John Spencer trail way behind her and the New York GOP has a new goal.
DICKER: It ended up with a hope they have a candidate who could at least maybe do better than 20 percent of the vote and that is even in doubt right now.
SNOW: What is less in doubt is Clinton's Democratic challenger in the state, anti-war candidate Jonathan Tasini has been barely registering double digits in his challenge against Clinton. It hasn't stopped Clinton from campaigning like a candidate in need of votes, running ads heading into primary day and raising millions, currently sitting on $22 million in cash that could be used in later campaigns, even one for president. Asked why she doesn't have more challengers...
CLINTON: I've worked really hard and I hope that New Yorkers know what I've done for the last five and a half years.
SNOW: But it's the years to come that just about everyone but the Clintons are talking about. Being married to the man Democrats see as the top campaign strategist only stokes the speculation. Political observers say New York's race is worrying some segments of the Democratic Party, who think she'd be too polarizing in a general election.
LARRY SABATO, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Democrats who believe she can't win a general election in 2008 are naturally concerned about this. Anything that makes Hillary Clinton stronger heading into 2008 could potentially weaken the Democratic Party's chances to win the presidency.
SNOW: And, Wolf, some political observers say most worried are some moderate Democrats in states -- the south, the rural Midwest and Rocky Mountain states. Wolf?
BLITZER: Mary Snow, thank you. And Mary and Dana, Andrea Koppel, Suzanne Malveaux, they are all part of the best political team on television.
Other primary key contests, by the way today include in Arizona, a House seat left over by retiring moderate Jim Kolbe has attracted money and interest from around the country and it's highlighting ideological battles within the GOP. National party leaders raised eyebrows by endorsing a moderate in today's Republican primary, Steve Huffman over the other conservative, more conservative candidate Randy Graf.
In Maryland, two relatively high profile Democrats are duking it out for their Senate party nomination. Congressman Ben Cardin and former Congressman Kweisi Mfume. The winner will face Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele this fall, who faces only token opposition in today's Republican primary. If Steele wins the seat left open by the retiring Democrat Paul Sarbanes, he'd be the only African-American Republican in the U.S. Senate.
Let's go to Jack Cafferty. He's in New York, he's also part of the best political team on television. I always say that, Jack, because I don't want you to feel left out.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks a lot. I don't feel left out. I was even on that bus back -- when was it? During the convention here in New York a couple of years ago. I'm too tall to be on that bus. The bus is very cramped. I hit my head on that bus.
BLITZER: We've improved the interior.
CAFFERTY: We'll see.
Voters showing up in the polls in Arizona today have to show proof of their identity. Now there's a good idea. The first state- wide election since a new law requiring I.D.s went into effect in 2004. Just yesterday, a federal judge refused to block the law which requires voters to show government-issued picture I.D. or two pieces of other non-photo I.D. and it requires proof of citizenship when people register to vote. Another good idea. Supporters say it will help prevent voter fraud.
Parts of this new law are aimed specifically at illegal aliens. But critics say it could disenfranchise other voters, especially minorities and the elderly. So here is the question. Is Arizona's voter I.D. a good idea? Email your thoughts to CaffertyFile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile.
It's a terrific idea, I think, because there are places in this country where illegal aliens can register to vote and participate in our Democratic process even though they're not citizens of this country and are here illegally. And that is a bad thing -- Wolf.
BLITZER: I think everybody agrees with that, Jack. Thank you very much.
Coming up, much more on the war of words over the president's prime time speech. I'll speak with a top Democrat in Congress, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Plus, Iraq's prime minister publicly embracing Iran's president. Will there be political fallout back here in the U.S.? We will talk about it in today's "Strategy Session".
And escalating violence in Afghanistan. Our Peter Bergen is on the frontlines right now in Afghanistan. He'll join us live in the next hour. Stick around. You're in the SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back.
In the heat, the battle for the new Congress, very little gets barred from partisan scrutiny. Is the president's 9/11 anniversary speech last night fair game for Democrats' attacks?
Joining us now, the number two Democrat in the U.S. Senate, the minority whip Dick Durbin of Illinois.
Note very little, I should have said, gets spared from partisan scrutiny, and I know you're looking closely, as all Democrats are, at what the president said in this prime time address last night. Here is one little excerpt, Senator, of what the president said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are adapting to stay ahead of the enemy and we are carrying out a clear plan to ensure that a democratic Iraq succeeds.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You can't disagree with him on that, that you want a democratic Iraq to succeed, as well.
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D), ILLINOIS: Absolutely. And, you know, Wolf, you have to put it in context. For the last two weeks, starting with Secretary Rumsfeld in Salt Lake City and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Vice President Cheney last Sunday and the president on many occasions, it is very clear that the Republicans view their vulnerability in the November election to be their policy in Iraq. So they've been very forthright in saying, this is a policy to fight terrorism, and they are fighting that political battle.
I was disappointed yesterday. This should have been a day, the fifth anniversary of 9/11 where we set the politics over on the side and really appealed to the American people to remember where we were as a nation five years ago. We were unified. We were nonpartisan. We were determined to fight terrorism.
I thought the references, a few of the references the president made were unfortunate when he brought up the issue of Iraq.
BLITZER: But when the president and his top advisors say that maybe Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11, they acknowledge that now, but since then, Iraq has become the center in this war on terrorism. They point to the words of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al- Zawahiri themselves. He makes a point.
DURBIN: Well, he makes a point, but he overlooks another point. And that is that we have unequivocal, unanimous support for a war in Afghanistan. We were going after not only the Taliban, but the headquarters of al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden personally.
What has happened to that conflict and the four or five years since? Sadly, we haven't executed that successfully. We haven't put in the necessary troops. Al Qaeda membership, from our intelligence agencies' estimates, has gone up from 20,000 on 9/11 five years ago to 50,000 today. That's the wrong way for this to be headed. We believe that, had we taken the resources that were diverted to Iraq and focused on the real enemy, Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda, we would have much different numbers today.
BLITZER: The prime minister of Iraq, Nuri al-Maliki, democratically elected, a close ally to the U.S., himself a Shiite, someone who has spent years in exile, both in Iran and in Syria, today is in Tehran making an official visit, warmly received by a major U.S. foe, the Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
What do you make of this? Is this an unintended consequence? Are you concerned about this, or do you welcome this dialogue between these two neighbors?
DURBIN: Well, of course, you want a peaceful relationship with your neighbors. And if that is what is he seeking, I'm not going to be critical.
But what troubles me is this same government has made statements in the past supporting Hezbollah, a terrorist group that, of course, was working in Lebanon, and now have made statements about Iran that are equally troubling.
Our hope was in Iraq that we would establish a democratic nation whose values would be consistent with our own. And unfortunately, many of the actions and many of the words that have come out of this new Iraqi government are not encouraging.
BLITZER: Republicans seem to be becoming more confident that they can hold on to the Senate and the House in the November elections, in part, because they're focusing in on what has been 2002, 2004 a strong point for them, the overall war on terrorism.
How concerned are you, Senator, that Democrats are not necessarily going to be able to win a majority in either the House or the Senate?
DURBIN: Well, I'm not going to predict an election that's eight weeks away. I've been around this business too long to do that. But I will tell you what we're finding. Overwhelmingly, the people of America want change. They want a new direction.
And when we say, what do you mean by that, they say we have to change the Bush/Cheney policies in Iraq. They are not working, there's no end in sight. They are concerned about the fact we're too dependent on foreign oil.
We aren't helping families to cope with the economic struggles and conflicts that they face over paying for health care, making sure their retirement is there in the future. So there are many issues that will help decide this election.
BLITZER: Senator Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the U.S. Senate. Thanks very much for coming in.
DURBIN: Thank you, Wolf.
BLITZER: And up next, much more on the president's speech and the political fallout. I will ask two experts, J.C. Watts and Bill Press, what is going on.
Plus, are more U.S. troops rather than less needed in Iraq? We'll fin out. All that, coming up. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
In today's "Strategy Session": sparring over the speech. One day after President Bush spoke to the nation on the fifth anniversary of 9/11, some Republicans say he struck all the right tones, while some Democrats say he used the mournful moment for political purposes.
Joining us now, our guests, radio talk show host Bill Press, and CNN political analyst J.C. Watts, a former Republican congressman from Oklahoma.
Guys, thanks very much for coming in.
BILL PRESS, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good to see you. Wolf.
BLITZER: Let me play for you, Bill, another little clip from what the president said last night.
PRESS: Mmm-hmm.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I am often asked why we're in Iraq, when Saddam Hussein was not responsible for the 9/11 attacks. The answer is that the regime of Saddam Hussein was a clear threat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: You -- I think you will agree he was a threat to the United States, but was it worth going to war to remove him?
PRESS: Well, number one, I think the president gave the wrong speech at the wrong moment. I mean, this was another recycled pitch for the war in Iraq, which I think was highly inappropriate on the anniversary of 9/11.
BLITZER: Well, let me press you on that.
PRESS: But...
BLITZER: Is the war in Iraq, what is happening in Iraq, is Iraq, Anbar Province, elsewhere, becoming a training ground for terrorists, al Qaeda terrorists, who could go out from Iraq, all over from Europe, all over the Middle East, and even come to the United States?
PRESS: I think no doubt that it is. And I think there was no connection...
BLITZER: So, it's part of the war on terrorism now?
PRESS: No, no, no. But there was no -- yes, but we have made it. That's the point. That's the point.
BLITZER: But that's the point that the president is saying.
PRESS: No, no, no.
BLITZER: Maybe he had nothing to do with 9/11, but it's now part of the war on terrorism.
PRESS: No, it's not what the war -- that's not...
BLITZER: But is it, today, part of the war on terrorism?
PRESS: We have made it part of the war on terror. It was not part of the war on terror until -- until the war in Iraq.
And the president used his speech last night to justify the war in Iraq. Now, back to this statement, Wolf. I don't agree he was a threat to the United States. He had no navy. He had no air force. Sixty-five percent of his territory was controlled by the U.S. no-fly zones. He was a threat to nobody. Containment was working. Ask the military leaders. They believed it was working -- no need to invade Iraq.
BLITZER: Here was Senator Kennedy's response to what the president said last night: "The president should be ashamed of using a national day of mourning to commandeer the airwaves to give a speech that was designed not to unite the country and commemorate the fallen, but to seek support for a war in Iraq that he has admitted had nothing to do with 9/11.
You acknowledge that Saddam Hussein had no connection to 9/11?
J.C. WATTS, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, Wolf, post-9/11, the decision to go into Iraq was based on intelligence that Ted Kennedy saw, that Bill Press was aware of, that J.C. Watts was aware of...
(CROSSTALK)
WATTS: ... the media was aware of.
The other 14 members on the United Nations Security Council, they were aware of. They all agreed that Iraq was a threat. Let me tell you, the...
BLITZER: But they didn't all agree that it justified going to war.
WATTS: Well, 13 of the 15 did. You had Germany and Russia that backed off, because we later found -- and France, those three -- because we later found out they had financial interests in Iraq. But to -- Bill, to your point...
BLITZER: I'm no so sure about the 13 of the 15 members of the Security Council supported going to war.
WATTS: Twelve of the 13 saw the intelligence. They said they agreed with the resolution. They said, if you don't come clean, there will be consequences.
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: They didn't support the war, though. They did not support the war. They did not believe the intelligence.
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: J.C., don't reinvent history.
WATTS: You are saying that Iraq wasn't a threat because they didn't have an army, didn't have an air force. Those 19 terrorists on 9/11, they didn't have an army. They didn't have an air force. They killed 3,000 American people.
PRESS: And they did not come from...
(CROSSTALK)
WATTS: We're talking about post-9/11, that time frame that was used to frame and determine whether or not Iraq was a threat. It was more than the United Nations -- more than the United States that agreed with the assessment that we made.
BLITZER: Let's let Bill respond.
PRESS: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: Look, there is no direct connection. The president has said this. So, why don't we just all accept it? There is no...
(CROSSTALK)
WATTS: I'm not saying...
(CROSSTALK)
PRESS: My turn, J.C.
No direct connection...
WATTS: I will remind you of that next time I'm speaking. OK.
PRESS: No direct connection between September 11 and the war in Iraq. It was a direct line from ground zero to Afghanistan. It was a huge major detour to Iraq. And the president is still trying to make the case.
And, Wolf, what really, I think, bothers most Americans is that last night -- last week, he gave four speeches, saying, war in Iraq, war in Iraq, war in Iraq. Last night, we had a right to -- we expected something diplomat. We expected something uplifting. Instead, it was another just cut and paste of the old speeches.
BLITZER: Was it inappropriate, the president's speech last night?
WATTS: Well, Wolf, I think it was. And Bill is obviously going to...
BLITZER: It was inappropriate or wasn't?
WATTS: I think it was. And Bill and I...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: You think the president was...
(CROSSTALK)
WATTS: I think it was an appropriate speech last night.
BLITZER: An appropriate? OK. Because I said it was an inappropriate...
WATTS: Oh, no. It was an appropriate.
BLITZER: OK, good.
WATTS: It was not inappropriate.
BLITZER: Good.
WATTS: But, Bill, let me -- and, Wolf, you know this.
Bill, you know this.
It didn't matter what the president said last night. You and I would have been on this show today. You would have been disagreeing with what the president had to say.
PRESS: No. Let me tell you...
WATTS: Bill...
PRESS: No, no.
WATTS: ... war -- by nature, war is political. The president is supportive of going -- he was supportive of that. The Democrats are opposed to it. BLITZER: I think he makes a fair point.
In this political environment, less than two months before an election, anything the president would have said last night would have had partisan ramifications.
PRESS: Here's -- but here is what J.C. said, first of all.
And let me remind you, the president's speech at the National Cathedral after 9/11, magnificent speech, just the right tone. I applauded him. And if he had given that speech last night, I would have been here applauding him.
You're right. War is political. Yesterday was not political. The president made it a political speech about war. That's where he was wrong.
BLITZER: Here's what...
(CROSSTALK)
WATTS: But, Wolf, when the president was at the cathedral and he made -- shared that speech, he articulated the words that he did, that lasted for about two weeks. And you know, Bill, you guys were chomping at the bits to be able to go after the president. So, you didn't want that to last too long.
PRESS: Hey, hey, J.C., don't put words in my mouth, man.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: This is a political season. And it's only going to get hotter between now and November 7.
Guys, thanks very much for coming in.
WATTS: Thank you.
PRESS: All right. Good seeing you.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Up next: controversy over absentee ballots for U.S. troops abroad -- now new efforts to make sure they get them, and they get them counted. Our Internet reporter is standing by to show you "The Situation Online."
Plus: a new twist in California. We're going to show you who is now admitting they downloaded and leaked an embarrassing audio file of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. As all of us remember, absentee ballots were crucial in the battle for the White House back in 2000. And U.S. military personnel stationed around the world complained of difficulties voting by mail. Now that the election season is here once again, the Pentagon is hoping a Web site will make it easier for millions of U.S. troops and their families overseas to vote.
Let's bring in Abbi Tatton. She has the story -- Abbi.
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, the Department of Defense oversees voting for all Americans abroad, military and non- military.
And this updated site aims to educate all those people as to how much of this absentee process can be done online. And it does vary state by state. Some states rely heavily on snail mail, whereas, others, you can use the Internet more and more, like in Iowa, where ballots can be requested online and submitted by e-mail.
Compare and contrast that to somewhere like Wyoming, where the entire -- there is no electronic transmission allowed, and the entire process is by mail.
Now, the parties also maintain Web sites for voters overseas. Both the Democrats and Republicans are urging people at their sites for people living abroad to get these absentee ballots, and referring them back to the Pentagon Web site.
Now, the Department of Defense did try and introduce Internet voting for military personnel in 2004. But that program had to be abandoned, because they couldn't guarantee the security of the voting records -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Abbi, thank you.
On our "Political Radar" this Tuesday, new information about how a controversial audiotape of the California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, became public. The campaign of Schwarzenegger's Democratic challenger now acknowledges it downloaded the tape that captured the governor suggesting Latinos are hot-tempered. Schwarzenegger has apologized for the remark.
Phil Angelides' campaign manager tells the "Sacramento Bee" newspaper that his staff did nothing wrong in downloading the audio file. He says it was posted on the governor's publicly available Web site. But a Schwarzenegger adviser says the files were stored in a part of the site that was password protected -- state authorities now investigating.
President Bush heads to Capitol Hill on Thursday morning to meet with House Republicans in the lead-up to the fall elections. He is expected to talk about his recent calls for Congress to approve military tribunals for terror suspects and to give him the authority to continue his domestic surveillance program -- both measures facing strong criticisms in Congress, including from some Republicans. A new Gallup poll, by the way, shows 39 percent of Americans approve of the way President Bush is doing his job. Averaged together with two other recent surveys, Mr. Bush gets a 41 percent approval rating. All these polls were conducted before the president's 9/11 anniversary speech to the nation last night.
We will be doing some new polling on this in the coming days.
Coming up: Angry conservatives may rule the day in two critical congressional primaries. Our senior political analyst , Bill Schneider, is standing by to show us what is at stake.
And coming up in our next hour here in THE SITUATION ROOM: Are parts of Iraq already a lost cause for U.S. military forces? Details of a sobering new assessment -- we will have the latest from the Pentagon and from Baghdad.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Back now to the last big hurrah of the 2006 primary season. Political analysts are looking for trends and clues about the fall battle for Congress, less than two months away.
Let's bring in our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.
It looks like they're -- an angry streak is out there, Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Oh, that's right, Wolf.
Today's highest-profile primary races involve dissident candidates. And they are Republicans, not Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Meet conservative insurgent Steve Laffey, running in the Rhode Island Republican primary for senator.
LAFFEY: I describe myself as Steve Laffey, who is a populist.
SCHNEIDER: Meet conservative insurgent Randy Graf, running in the Arizona Republican primary for Congress.
RANDY GRAF (R), ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE: I'm certainly happy to be where I am. If that means going against the president on an issue or two...
SCHNEIDER: They're running against the Republican establishment.
LAFFEY: President Bush, the Republican National Committee, the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, they all back Linc Chafee.
SCHNEIDER: Chafee is the incumbent. The Republican Senate Campaign Committee says it will pull out of the Rhode Island campaign is Laffey is the nominee.
In Arizona, the National Republican Committee is running ads for one of Graf's opponent. Graf is unfazed.
GRAF: I just flat disagree with the congressman and our senator and the president on it. And I'm not alone in the Republican Party. I'm disagreeing with them on that particular issue.
SCHNEIDER: That would be illegal immigration, which deeply impacts this Arizona border district.
GRAF: The problem has gotten worse. And it's time that they stand up and fulfill their constitutional responsibility to protect the citizens of this country.
SCHNEIDER: In Rhode Island, Laffey is running on another issue that has conservatives angry.
LAFFEY: Under this administration, and, quite frankly, the Republicans in Congress, they have lost their way on the basic roots. They haven't controlled spending.
SCHNEIDER: The Washington establishment may be controlled by Republicans, but these Republicans are running classic anti- establishment campaigns.
LAFFEY: The last thing the Washington insiders want down in Washington is a reformer like me coming down that way to really bring in true reform.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: Laffey and Graf are both strong contenders. And, if they win, it will send a powerful message. There is a lot of voter discontent out there, and it's not limited to Democrats -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Good point. Thanks very much, Bill Schneider. Bill is part of the best political team on television.
Up next: Is there such a thing as Gulf War illness? A new report offers an answer that may surprise you and may surprise military veterans.
Plus: a new source of pessimism about security in Iraq and a blow to the president's defense of the war. Do military commanders have enough troops and enough cash? It's coming up in our next hour, right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Zain has another quick look at some of the other important stories making news -- Zain.
VERJEE: Wolf, despite Gulf War veterans suffering memory loss, rashes and sleeping difficulties, a new report says that there is no such thing as Gulf War illness. The report, sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs, does say that Gulf War veterans appear to be sicker than other soldiers who did not serve in that war, but the study concludes that there is no one identifiable syndrome that all those soldiers have.
Lost in space today -- a connector bolt that astronauts were working with came free, and it just floated away. Now there is concern about where the bolt landed, and if it might jam up or cause other problems to the equipment. NASA is downplaying the concern. Other than the lost connector bolt, NASA says the space walk on the International Space Station was a success.
And back here on Earth, choking the smoke that's gagging parts of Southern California -- right now, fire crews are trying to beat back a blaze that's already scorched over 30 square miles. Officials fear the blaze could actually jump over an interstate and set its sights on the Angeles National Forest. The fire, which started on Labor Day, has burned over 19,000 acres, and is now about 25 percent contained -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Zain, thank you.
And still to come: Should voters have to show their I.D. before they cast a ballot? Jack Cafferty is riled up about Arizona's new law. Are you?
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's go to New York.
Jack Cafferty has "The Cafferty File."
Hi, Jack.
CAFFERTY: Wolf, voters in Arizona's primary today have to show I.D., government-issued I.D., two pieces, or other non-photo I.D. before they can cast a ballot. The question is: Is Arizona's voter I.D. law a good idea?
Rick writes from Phoenix: "The people here in Arizona love this law and embrace it. Arizona is on the move to strengthen laws against illegal immigration, even if our Congress won't. We can't afford to wait any longer on Congress. John McCain is pathetic on illegal immigration, and he wants to be president. That won't happen."
Dan in Georgia: "Is it a good idea? It's common sense. It's a shame we have to make a law about this. We need to stop being so gullible and touchy-feely as a nation about this illegal immigration issue. This law is just part of a great effort to reel in what we have collectively left flapping in the wind."
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Juan in San Juan, Puerto Rico: "It's a fine idea, as long as it's accompanied by language which clearly says the state government must ensure proof of citizenship can be easily obtained at little or no cost, and establishes heavy fines or incarceration for those who try to prevent citizens from voting by making it harder to obtain such proof."
Jeff writes from Joplin, Missouri: "Considering you have to surrender more forms of I.D. when you are involved in a car accident or stopped for speeding, asking for a valid photo I.D. to pick the nation's leadership seems hardly a moot point. I just moved from Phoenix, after living there for five years. I worked in a kitchen, where several workers had the same Social Security number."
Mike in Georgia: "No. Arizona's voter I.D. law is not a good idea. We're fighting the same kind of thing here in Georgia. These types of laws are right out of the Republican playbook to decrease turnout by groups of people who historically vote Democratic."
And Henry writes: "Cafferty, minutes ago, I got home from voting here in Glendale, Arizona. I had photo I.D., utility bill, and vehicle registration as proof of being eligible or qualified to vote. I think it's a great idea. It didn't bother me at all" -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much -- Jack Cafferty in New York.
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