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The Situation Room

Can Republicans, Democrats Work Together?

Aired November 10, 2006 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: 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, from bitterness to bipartisanship at the drop of a hat -- it may not be that easy. But President Bush and the Democratic leaders in the Senate promise to try.

Can they find some common ground?

I'll ask the Senate's second ranking Democrat, Dick Durbin.

As Donald Rumsfeld prepares to move out of the Bush administration, key advisers to the former President Bush move back to the White House inner circle.

Would the election have turned out differently if those changes had come sooner?

And post-election taunts and threats from Al Qaeda in Iraq. Mixed in with the insurgents' insults, a chilling vow to bring the violence to America.

I'm Wolf Blitzer.

You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

They're offering an olive branch, but are they going out on a limb when they pledge to work together?

For the second day in a row, President Bush met with Democratic leaders, this time with the team that will control the United States Senate.

But can the two sides really get along?

Let's go live to our White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And, Wolf, it was all smiles once again in the Oval Office today. For the second day in a row. The message was that the elections are over and that Republicans and Democrats can get along.

President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney sat down for about 45 minutes or so with the man set to become the next Senate majority leader, Senator Harry Reid, as well as the number two Democrat in the Senate, Dick Durbin.

After bitterly fought campaigns, both the president and the senators tried to underscore a bipartisan approach.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: My opinion about this is that there is a great opportunity for us to show the country that Republicans and Democrats are equally patriotic and equally concerned about the future and that we can work together.

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: So this has been an excellent discussion. It's -- we talked about issues that are important to our country. The election's over. The only way to move forward is with bipartisanship and openness and to get some results. And we're going to -- we've made a commitment, the four of us here today, that's what we're going to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, of course, the issue that has deeply divided Democrats and Republicans continues to be Iraq. That was the topic of discussion today in the Oval Office. Senator Harry Reid suggesting to the president in person that a bipartisan summit be held on Iraq. Senator Reid afterward said that the president did not reject that idea.

Now, next week, on Monday, Iraq will once again be the focus. President Bush and top administration officials will sit down with members of the Iraq Study Group -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Elaine, thank you.

Elaine Quijano at the White House.

And as the dust settles after this election earthquake, some Republicans are beginning to ask this question -- was Rumsfeld the reason?

Our Brian Todd has been looking into this question.

He's joining us now live with more -- Brian.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Perhaps an inevitable question, Wolf. And some permanent members of the GOP now say the timing of Mr. Rumsfeld's announced departure could not have been worse.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

TODD (voice-over): GOP candidates were still in post-election trauma when they had to absorb this.

BUSH: Secretary Rumsfeld and I agreed that the timing is right for new leadership at the Pentagon.

TODD: But was the timing right for his party? Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich says to the "New York Times": "If the president had replaced Rumsfeld two weeks ago, the Republicans would still control the Senate and they would probably have 10 more House members."

A spokeswoman for long-time Republican Congressman Clay Shaw of Florida, who lost on Tuesday, tells CNN his first impression when he heard of Rumsfeld's departure was that the votes he needed would have been there if Rumsfeld had left earlier.

But she says White House political adviser Karl Rove gave Shaw the same explanation Mr. Bush gave to reporters on Wednesday.

BUSH: I think it sends a bad signal to our troops if they think the commander-in-chief is constantly adjusting tactics and decisions based upon politics.

TODD: But according to Republican strategist Richard Viguerie, a pre-election Rumsfeld exit could have made the difference in the two closest Senate races.

Look at these CNN election night tracking graphics for Montana and Virginia. The deeper the red or blue, the more heavily these districts leaned Republican or Democrat. The faded colors show how close those races were throughout the two states. And in Virginia, Iraq was a key issue.

RICHARD VIGUERIE, AUTHOR, "CONSERVATIVES BETRAYED": They were waiting to hear something from the president that he would not stay the course, that he would change course. And if the president had communicated weeks before the election, instead of the day after, that he would change course in Iraq, George Allen would be the new Senator Elect.

TODD: But others believe Senators Allen and Conrad Burns would not have been helped by that.

KAREN TUMULTY, "TIME" MAGAZINE: George Allen, we also saw, the most accident prone Senate campaign in modern history. And Conrad Burns was really being pulled down by his association with Jack Abramoff.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

TODD: Two top Republican strategists told me the only way a pre- election Rumsfeld removal could have helped GOP candidates is if it was done back in July or August.

But, again, it's worth looking at those margins in Virginia and Montana. George Allen and Conrad Burns each lose by less than 1 percent of the vote. With races so close, a lot of what ifs being uttered today -- Wolf.

BLITZER: There'll be a lot of analysis of this down the road.

Brian, thank you. And while President Bush may face a difficult two years without a majority in Congress, Democrats are getting ready to take control of Capitol Hill.

And joining us now, Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the minority whip, soon to be the majority whip, I take it.

Is that a done deal, Senator?

SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL), INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE: If my colleagues on the Democratic side give me that opportunity next week, and I hope they do.

BLITZER: All right, congratulations to you and your fellow Democrats.

You scored a major, major victory in the United States Senate, as well as the House.

You came to the Oval Office today with Senator Harry Reid. You met with the president and the vice president. I know that on the surface everybody is saying, you know, positive things right now.

But can you really trust this president and vice president over the next two years?

DURBIN: Listen, this is what it comes down to -- we're dependent on one another. We can stop the president's agenda. The president can stop our agenda. And then we both end up empty-handed. He doesn't want to end his presidency on that note. We don't want to take our opportunity in Democratic leadership and have it end that way.

So we both, I think, have an incentive to do the right thing and cooperate, and that's what this meeting was about.

BLITZER: Politically, from the Democratic perspective, if you cooperate and get things done in Washington, Republicans working with Democrats, the executive branch working with the legislative branch, is that better for the Democrats' prospects in 2008 or is it better if there's a continuing food fight?

DURBIN: If we're going to end the cynicism among the American people about their government and whether it can truly help them in their everyday lives, we have to produce. And, of course, we need the president's cooperation. He has the pen to veto or sign a bill.

And so we need to work with him and try to find some common ground.

BLITZER: Put on your political hat for a second.

Would the president and the Republicans have been in better shape if they had fired Rumsfeld, let's say, a month or two ago, as opposed to waiting until the day after the election? DURBIN: Yes. No doubt in my mind. If they would have evidenced some indication of change in policy in Iraq, it might have helped them on election day. But Rumsfeld by himself would not have made the difference. He would have had some impact, but I don't think it would have made a major difference in the outcome.

BLITZER: Well, it could have made a major difference in two states where you narrowly won, Virginia and Montana. Those races were incredibly close. The Democrats won. But if Rumsfeld presumably could have -- would had been fired earlier, maybe the Republican candidates would have won.

DURBIN: Well, it could have helped. That could have been a possibility. There were a lot of other factors in those races, though. You've analyzed them, I'm sure. Both Virginia and Montana had a lot do with the war, but not exclusively. There were many other issues at risk in that race.

BLITZER: Based on what you know right now, will you vote to confirm Robert Gates as the new defense secretary?

DURBIN: I come to that nomination with a positive feeling. He has a record of public service and as former head of the CIA, we know his capacity and his ability.

But I want to hear his responses to some basic questions about the future of our military. We owe it to our soldiers and their families to make sure that we put someone in that secretary's position who's going to make our military stronger and move us toward the day when we come home from Iraq.

BLITZER: So this decision to get rid of Rumsfeld, bring in Robert Gates, is that encouraging to you, that there could be a significant shift in strategy as far as Iraq is concerned?

DURBIN: This is a significant change in leadership in this Bush administration after six years. And the fact that it was announced the day after an election tells me that the president not only read the returns, in terms of the majorities in Congress, but read the feelings of the American people.

BLITZER: Here is the reaction today of the al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Hamza al-Muhajer: "But will the politicians keep their election promises and get the mothers their sons out of the lion's den in Iraq? Will they be able to save the budget, which was depleted in the stupid war? The enemy is incapable of fighting on and has no choice but to run-away."

Here's the question -- has the Democratic victory in Congress emboldened these terrorists?

DURBIN: I don't think so. When you look at what was happening, the carnage in Iraq, and even in Afghanistan, leading up to the election -- we're facing nothing short of a civil war in Iraq. The sectarian violence there is claiming too many American lives. A hundred and four American dead alone in the month of October, one of the deadliest months in the history of that war in recent memory.

So I think that they've been emboldened by their own devices. We have to make sure that they understand they are enemies of the United States. They are a threat to us. We are going to deal with them in an effective way, tough but smart.

BLITZER: Will that include the power of the purse -- withholding funds for the war in Iraq, if necessary, to force the administration to change its policy?

DURBIN: This senator is not going to vote to bargain the lives and safety of our soldiers over this policy debate. I'm going to make sure that I vote for the funds necessary so our troops are safe in the field and come home safely.

But I'm still going to engage in the debate about the policy. I think that's my responsibility and I think that's what the American people were asking for in this last election.

BLITZER: You think these troops will be home by 2008?

DURBIN: I can't say. You know, the president, a few months ago, said he'd leave it to the next president. I hope that isn't the case. I hope we start to bring these troops home soon.

BLITZER: We're almost out of time, Senator.

But what about your colleague from Illinois, Barack Obama?

He said after the election, he's going to seriously consider a run-for the presidency.

What are you telling him?

DURBIN: I'm encouraging him. Anybody who's watched Barack Obama campaign in 30 states -- red and blue states, Republican and Democratic states, 50 different cities, knows that he's an impact player. He's a political phenomenon. He draws crowds the likes of which we've not seen, people who are anxious to hear his message and are inspired by it. We need that in American politics and I hope that he'll be part of this debate, as the presidency -- the election comes up for the next session of the presidency.

BLITZER: Do you think he could beat Senator Clinton in the Democratic primaries?

DURBIN: I won't get into speculation among my colleagues. I'll just tell you that I encourage Barack Obama and his voice to be part of that process.

BLITZER: I'll take that as an endorsement of Barack Obama.

Is that fair?

DURBIN: It is. It's fair.

BLITZER: OK.

Senator Durbin, let me end it as I started it.

Congratulations to you and your fellow Democrats.

Thanks very much for coming in.

DURBIN: Thanks, Wolf.

BLITZER: And there's a sad story just coming in to CNN right now.

Let's check in with Carol once again for details -- Carol.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Wolf. According to the Associated Press, the actor Jack Palance has died. He was 85 or 87, depending on what story you believed. He died in Montecito, California of natural causes surrounded by his family.

Of course, you remember him as Curly or Duke in "The City Slickers" movie. And remember at the Oscars -- he won an Oscar for "City Slickers" -- when he looked down at Billy Crystal and said something I really can't say on television? And then he dropped to the ground and demonstrated how he could still do one-handed pushups at the age of 74.

So he was a much beloved actor. Of course, you also remember him from, what, "Ripley's Believe It Or Not?" He was the evil gunfighter in "Shane." He did so many things.

But, again, Jack Palance has died. This is according to the Associated Press. He died in his home in California surrounded by family. And we believe he was between 85 and 87 years old -- Wolf.

BLITZER: A really great actor. So many of us and so many of our viewers, we grew up watching him on the big screen. A fabulous, fabulous star. And our condolences to his family.

COSTELLO: Yes.

BLITZER: Thanks.

Jack Cafferty is in New York -- you remember Jack Palance, I'm sure, as well.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I remember, as a youngster, going to the movie "Shane" and having disquieting dreams for a period of time thereafter solely because of the compelling performance he put in as the villain in that movie, dressed in black. He was the gunfighter. He was Allen -- was it Allen Ladd's nemesis, I think?

But I just -- that movie shook me up as a kid and it was because of Jack Palance. He was as good as it got.

BLITZER: You're right. CAFFERTY: After the thumping that the Republicans got on Tuesday's election, Karl Rove is going to have to go back to the drawing board or somewhere. Consider this. In addition to winning control of the House and Senate, not a single Democratic incumbent lost. Not one.

Here's more. In addition to the Rumsfeld resignation, Republican sources are telling CNN that the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ken Mehlman, is not going to seek another term as head of the party. He's out in January.

Republican incumbent Senator Lincoln Chafee, the most liberal Republican in the Senate, the only Republican in that chamber who voted against the Iraq war, guess what?

He lost to a Democrat. And now Chafee is saying he's not sure even if he'll remain a Republican.

So the question is this -- what does the Republican Party have to do now in order to regain the confidence of the American voter?

E-mail your thoughts to caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Jack, thank you.

And up ahead, hate on tape -- in a new message, Al Qaeda in Iraq talks about the U.S. mid-term election and says it still thirsts for American blood and makes a chilling terror threat against the White House. We'll have details.

Also, out with the old and in with the older crowd -- are the favorites of President Bush's father the new key men on Iraq, right here in Washington? And will U.S. troops be leaving Iraq in one year?

I'll ask Democratic Senator Elect Ben Cardin of Maryland. He was one of the winners on Tuesday. He's going to be here, right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Iraq's insurgents were closely watching the U.S. election results and today they responded with insults and some chilling new vows of violence.

Could they extend their reach to America and perhaps even all the way to the White House?

And joining us now, our correspondent in Baghdad, Michael Ware -- Michael, thanks very much.

Let's get right to this threat from the al Qaeda leader in Iraq, threatening the United States, taunting President Bush, ridiculing Donald Rumsfeld -- what's going on here?

MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we're seeing, Wolf, is what we all anticipated. We're seeing the insurgency leap upon the propaganda opportunity that the political upheaval of the mid-term elections and, of course, Secretary Rumsfeld's shocking resignation presented to them.

There's a rising tide of triumphalism here by the insurgent groups operating in the country, the powerful militias and now Al Qaeda in Iraq.

First, we saw a politician backed by the anti-American rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr come out and describe all of this as a defeat for American policy.

We then saw the Islamic Army of Iraq come out and describe it as a victory for the insurgency.

Well, today in an audiotape released on the Internet, Al Qaeda in Iraq leader struck the latest rhetorical blow. He called President Bush a lame duck and then charged Secretary Rumsfeld with being a coward, saying al Qaeda has not yet had enough of your blood, and dared him to return to the battlefield. He coupled this taunt with an announcement that he has 12,000 fighters in Iraq that he is now giving to the recently formed Islamic State of Iraq, an al Qaeda-driven body which the organization hopes will be the basis of its international califade (ph).

BLITZER: So when they threaten in this new tape to blow up the White House, is that a serious threat? Are these guys capable of really exporting terrorism beyond Iraq?

WARE: Well, we're certainly already seeing the signs of this and we have been for some time. What I'm hearing here, Wolf, and as the National Intelligence Directorate and other agencies are beginning to accept, and are accepting, is that here in the boiling pot of Iraq, the next generation of al Qaeda is being born. Iraq is now serving much as Afghanistan did in the 1980s under the Soviet occupation. It's where the Jihadists went to blood themselves in battle, to form their organizations. And then the veterans went home and spread Jihad.

We're seeing that now in Iraq. So threats that they want to make about Europe or America, particularly in the wake of September 11. The work of the Afghanistan generation has to be taken seriously.

BLITZER: Michael Ware, thanks very much for coming in.

WARE: My pleasure, Wolf.

BLITZER: And tomorrow is Veterans Day, and Americans across the country will honor the millions of men and women who served in the military.

But today veterans are sharing their stories and memories online.

Let's bring in Jacki Schechner.

She's got some details -- Jacki. JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, World War II veteran Martin Harris Slobdkin (ph) started putting videos of his life and stories about World War II online just a few weeks ago. His first video went up September 27th.

Let's see if we can take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN HARRIS SLOBDKIN: Hello, everyone.

My name is Martin.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHECHNER: And, unfortunately, Martin passed away on October 9th, not long afterward. His wife continues to put videos on YouTube, thanking the community for being so interested in her husband's stories.

And he's one of a number of veterans we're starting to see recording their memories online for posterity.

There's an organized effort underway by the Library of Congress to do just that called the Veterans History Project. It's been in the works since October of 2000. They say they've collected some 45,000 memories in their archive. Thirty-six hundred of those have been digitized and put online. They're constantly collecting these stories. You can listen to audio and video. For example, here's a man named Warren Burke (ph) who served in the Army Air Corps talking about D-Day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WARREN BURKE: As I mentioned before, I was born in 1920, which makes me 86 years old.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHECHNER: Now, in addition to audio and video, they also have photographs. They have memoirs. They also have art work. And you go to the Web site and you can submit anything that you want. They're trying to create the largest collection ever -- Wolf.

BLITZER: What a terrific idea. And it's not only important for historians, it's important for the families, the children, the grandchildren, the great grandchildren, as well.

Jacki, thanks for bringing that to us.

And coming up, advisers to the 41st president advising the 43rd commander-in-chief. President Bush will be getting some war council from some of his father's advisers.

Might that signal a shift in war policy? And confidence lost -- Jack Cafferty wondering this -- if Republicans lost Americans' confidence, what do they need to do to get it back?

Jack with your e-mail.

All that still to come.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: You're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.

Happening now, will making up be hard to do?

President Bush embraces newly empowered Democratic leaders of Congress. Today it was the top two Democrats in the Senate. Senators Harry Reid, Dick Durbin and the president all pledged to put partisanship aside to try to work together.

But can they work together concerning the United Nations ambassador, John Bolton?

The White House hopes he'll be able to stay in that post, although his appointment is set to expire in January. Some Democrats and Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee say they'll oppose Bolton's nomination.

And the passing of an acting giant. The Associated Press reporting that Oscar winning actor Jack Palance has died. He was well known for the movie "City Slickers" and other films. Palance's family says he was 87 years old.

I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Will winds of change blowing in Washington soon reach Iraq?

The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Peter Pace, says he'll meet with the bipartisan Iraq Study Group next week to discuss how to move forward with the war. Key figures from that group who served under the former President Bush are now moving back to the inner circle of this White House.

Is the president's father also offering advice?

Let's turn to CNN's Mary Snow.

She's working this story -- Mary.

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, out this week, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and, some say, Vice President Dick Cheney's influence.

In, a new circle of advisers, who signal a shift in the way things are done.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

ROBERT GATES, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: Mr. President, thank you.

SNOW (voice-over): He's part of the new in crowd on Iraq strategy. But observers say the welcome mat wasn't always out for Robert Gates, President Bush's choice for defense secretary.

Gates served as CIA director under President Bush 41.

DEREK CHOLLET, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Many of those who were part of Bush 41, including the incoming defense secretary, felt as though they had been put on the sidelines over the past few years.

SNOW: On the sidelines, maybe, but close to President Bush 41. Gates is seen here with his former boss just days before he was tapped to replace Donald Rumsfeld. Add that to the fact that another Bush 41 alumnus, former Secretary of State James Baker, now co-chairs the bipartisan Iraq Study Group, working toward a new strategy in Iraq.

TOM DEFRANK, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS": The Baker crowd are the pragmatists. Their attitude is Iraq, for whatever reason, isn't working. We've got to fix this. And I think the Cheney and Rumsfeld wing is basically kind of in the history will prove us right.

SNOW: Some in that Baker crowd were openly critical of the Iraq war plans, notably former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft. Observers say Gates was not as outspoken.

In a 2003 CNN interview, he talked about establishing a new regime in Iraq.

GATES: I think it is going to be, perhaps, somewhat more complicated and difficult than some of the people are saying. But I think it's a manageable task.

SNOW: But had President Bush sought his father's advice before invading Iraq?

He was quoted in 2003 as saying, "He is the wrong father to appeal to in terms of strength. There is a higher father that I appeal to."

But at least one veteran Washington correspondent believes President Bush might now be learning lessons from his father.

DEFRANK: Forty-one has been very cautious about not looking like he was pulling some strings. I think his advice is more welcome than it used to be, for all the obvious reasons.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

SNOW: I'll just point out that President Bush 41's inner circle has fought the Persian Gulf War and managed the collapse of the Soviet empire and the reunification of Germany -- Wolf.

BLITZER: They have a lot of experience.

Thanks, Mary, for that.

My next guest will have some say concerning the war in Iraq. That would be Congressman Ben Cardin. He's now the senator-elect from the state of Maryland. He has won that election, he's joining us now from Baltimore. Congressman, senator-elect, I don't know what to call you, but congratulations.

REP. BEN CARDIN, (D) MARYLAND SENATOR-ELECT: Wolf, thank you very much. It's good to be on your show.

BLITZER: Let's talk, the story that came out, the chairman of the Democratic Party quoted in the "Baltimore Sun," the "Associated Press," saying this, and I want your assessment of what he means, "So we do not have another Michael Steele problem, I just think we have got to do a better job in Maryland four years from now about diversity on the ticket." You ran against a Republican African-American, Michael Steele, he did a very strong campaign. What do you think Howard Dean is referring to here?

CARDIN: Well, we look at the facts in Maryland, you'll see that we have 10 state senators that are African American, all are Democrats. Ike Leggett's going to be the county exec of Montgomery County, an African-American, a Democrat. Jack Johnson is the county exec of Prince Georges County, African-American, a Democrat. The mayor of Baltimore City will become an African American woman when Martin O'Malley becomes governor, a Democrat. So, the Democratic Party has a record of inclusion. Can we do better? Absolutely.

BLITZER: What did you think of the Michael Steele campaign, now that the election is over, you won, what do you think about him?

CARDIN: Well, Michael Steele ran a very competitive campaign, he and I have talked, I have wished him well. I was disappointed that we did not have more time to talk about issues. I think issues is what you should be talking about during a campaign.

BLITZER: He still is the lieutenant governor but he'll be giving up that position. Was this election, as far as Marylanders are concerned, a referendum on President Bush and the war on Iraq?

CARDIN: I think Marylanders were concerned about what was happening in Iraq, Marylanders were concerned about a change in Washington, and they wanted someone who has stood up to President Bush and was willing to challenge his leadership. So I think part of that is true, it was the Iraq war. But they also wanted someone who had experience, someone who knew how to get things done in Washington and I think that also helped my candidacy.

BLITZER: Well you're a veteran of Washington, you've served in the United States House of Representatives for a long time. What do you make of this seeming love fest that's going on between the president and the new Democratic leadership in the House and Senate?

CARDIN: Well I think we have to work together. What I heard from Marylanders, what I heard around my entire state, they want us to get down and do business. They don't want this partisan bickering. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, they want to see results. And you're not going to get results from Washington unless Democrats and Republicans work together.

BLITZER: Now you opposed the war, you voted against that resolution authorizing the war in Iraq and your statements, your position papers you want all U.S. ground troops out of Iraq by the end of next year, the end of 2007. That's only a year or so from now. It's that really doable?

CARDIN: Of course I came up with this plan in June of this year and it has not been implemented. And I don't want a time schedule. What I want to do is start a new plan. And it looks like the president is moving towards a new plan. We need to do that, we need to start redeploying some of our troops, we need to have the Iraqis start to stand up for their own defense and we need to energize the international community politically and diplomatically to negotiate a cease-fire in this now civil war.

BLITZER: How worried are you though that a precipitous U.S. withdrawal could lead to an Afghan like regime, Taliban regime emerging in Iraq, a much bigger country with an enormous amount of oil resources with which they could use that money for some evil doing?

CARDIN: What I'm concerned about is that if we stayed this course and if we don't change, we're going to have -- we're not going to have the right conclusion in Iraq and Americans will continue to die and it's going to continue to cost the taxpayers a lot of money and we're not focusing on the real threat against this country. We need a different policy in Iraq and what I want to see is the president come forward with a different plan. I don't want a time schedule, I don't want us to have a precipitous leaving of our presence in Iraq. What I do want is to have a plan that can work, that starts to bring our troops home.

BLITZER: But when you say you don't want a timetable, you have called for withdrawal of all U.S. ground forces by the end of next year.

CARDIN: No that's not what I said. In June of this year I said that it's reasonable to expect that if we would have started in June, that by the end of 2007 we could have had our combat troops out. And that was based upon military experts as to what a reasonable transition would be. But you need to couple that with a diplomatic and political solution to the civil war. And we haven't even started on that line.

BLITZER: Have you been thinking about committees, what you'd like to do once you come here to Washington? Which committees would you like to be on?

CARDIN: Well, there are great opportunities. I just want to be able to contribute. I've been actively involved in the health care issues, I want to get involved in the energy issues, I want to get involved in dealing with our deficit and I certainly want to get involved in a new plan in Iraq.

BLITZER: One final question congressman before I let you go, is there a Democratic candidate for president you are already leaning toward, looking down the road? We just heard Dick Durbin, the number two Democrat in the Senate say that he likes Barack Obama, his fellow senator from Illinois.

CARDIN: I think I'll reserve that question until at least after I take the oath of office for the senate of the United States.

BLITZER: You know they say that every senator wakes up in the morning, looks in the mirror and sees a future president.

CARDIN: It's a great honor to represent the people of Maryland in the United States Senate and I thank them for giving me this opportunity.

BLITZER: All right, congratulations Congressman, thanks very much. Congressman Ben Cardin, soon to be Senator Ben Cardin from Maryland.

Still to come, more evidence that terrorists are still plotting. A spy agency for one of America's allies says it's tracking dozens of plots intended to cause maximum death and devastation.

And a survivor story you have not yet heard. Comes from the small plane that crashed into that New York apartment building last month. Stay with us, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Stunning revelations today from the head of Britain's domestic spy agency. The MI5 director says authorities have foiled five major terror plots since last year's subway bombings but she says they are now tracking, get this, 30 other plots aimed at causing mass casualties. She says and let me quote now, "That threat is serious, is growing and will be with us for a generation." Let's go live to our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson, he's joining us from the streets of London. Nic?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, it's an indication of just how worried security officials here are that the head of MI5 should make such a statement. She very rarely speaks publicly and she said that those 1600 terror suspects who are actively involved in planning terrorist acts or aiding in planning terrorist acts in this country or abroad are the tip of the iceberg. She says there could be many more people involved. What she's worried about at the moment is that there are many young people joining these organizations and groups, many of them she says have traced their roots and ties back to al Qaeda in Pakistan. She said there are 100,000 people in Britain who sympathize, sympathize with the attackers in the attack last summer that killed 52 people here on the underground and the bus network system here. She said many of those people are moving at an alarming rate from being sympathizers now to activists. And from what we hear from intelligence analysts here, and in the United States, it's a very serious problem that MI5 faces. BLITZER: This director of MI5, we rarely as you correctly point out, ever hear from her, basically her name, Eliza Manningham-Butler, most people don't even know who she is. Why is she going public with this information now?

ROBERTSON: Well there are many interesting reasons. Number one, analysts say, is look, there is a very real threat here and that MI5, doesn't want to see an attack and then see them blamed for not making people aware. In the newspapers in the past week, there's been the face of al Qaeda's most senior convicted criminal in Britain, Duran Borat (ph) who was convicted of wanting to attack financial institutions in the United States. And also next week, there's very likely to be a new raft of legislation put forward in the queen's speech for the opening session of parliament. So there are a lot of reasons to do it now but really is to ring the alarm bells. I talked with a former very senior member of the CIA earlier today, he said to me that she wouldn't do this if she wasn't concerned. He said there's an indication that the situation is getting out of control Wolf.

BLITZER: And briefly Nic, any indication that any of these alleged plots she's talking about also affect the United States, targets here in the United States? Well the former senior official from the CIA I talked to said look, if there is concern like this in Britain, concern that these groups are growing so large in Britain, just last week or earlier this week, Duran Borat (ph) convicted of planning attacks in the United States, this is an indication that whatever is happening here is a threat to the United States. I was in New York last week attending a conference attended by the FBI and Homeland Security, they were trying to recruit young Pakistanis to understand the problem for them and that's what the head of MI5 has been saying here as well Wolf. The solution -- understand the problem.

BLITZER: Nic Robertson reporting for us from London, Nic thank you.

And stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Coming up, the plane crash that killed New York Yankees' pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor could have claimed another victim, the closest witness. Her amazing story of survival. That's coming up next.

And Jack Cafferty is standing by with your e-mail. What does the Republican Party have to do to regain the confidence of the American voter? We'll be right back.

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BLITZER: There was a small plane crash whose aftermath was watched around the world. But one woman personally experienced the crash into a New York apartment building that killed New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor. Today that woman left the hospital with an amazing survival story. Our senior correspondent Allan Chernoff joining us now with more. Allen? ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, imagine this, if you can. Standing in your home when an airplane comes crashing through the window. It actually happened to Ilana Benhuri last month here in Manhattan and today, for the first time she shared her story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHERNOFF (voice-over): When the plane crashed into the Bel- Air high rise last month, Ilana Benhuri was standing near the window of her apartment.

ILANA BENHURI, CRASH SURVIVOR: It threw me up in the air and threw me down, all the debris that came through the window. At first I thought I was dead. I touched myself just to make sure I was alive and then I hit my body and all my skin and flesh came to my hands.

CHERNOFF: Ilana's housekeeper helped her out of the apartment, relying on their will to survive they walked down 40 flights of stairs.

BENHURI: I was screaming. I was screaming for maybe more than, I don't know how long, until I get to the hospital. I could not stop screaming. I was just shocked. I didn't know what it was.

CHERNOFF: Ilana was severely burned below the waist, especially the back of her legs. Friday after surgery skin grafts and a month of recovery, Ilana with the help of her husband, Parviz, finally left the hospital.

(on camera): Part of the miracle of Ilana Benhuri's survival is the simple fact that the back of her apartment building is literally across the street from one of the biggest medical complexes in New York City which includes the city's premier burn center. Within minutes of escaping her building, Benhuri was receiving medical care at New York Hospital.

(voice-over): But because she went to the hospital on her own, city officials didn't realize she was a victim.

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, (R) NEW YORK: Nobody in the building, as far as we can tell, was injured.

CHERNOFF: Even after Benhuri's injury had been publicized, she says no one from New York City or state ever contacted her.

BENHURI: I was disappointed because after the accident, nobody, nobody not even send me a card to make me feel good. Just to wish me a fast recovery.

CHERNOFF: Today, the mayor's office said Mr. Bloomberg and all New Yorkers wish her a full recovery.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

CHERNOFF: Benhuri's attorney says she does not plan to sue New York City but is threatening to sue the FAA if it does not permanently ban small airplanes from flying over Manhattan. Benhuri also intends to sue the estate of Cory Lidle but only for insurance money. She says she's not interested really in compensation, she's just glad to be alive. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, thank you very much Allan for that. What a story. Let's check in with Lou. He's getting ready for his program that begins right at the top of the hour, Lou with a preview. Hi Lou.

LOU DOBBS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi Wolf, thank you. Coming up at 6:00 p.m. eastern here on CNN, tonight we're reporting on the failure of Congress to give working men and women an increase in the minimum wage for a decade. While lawmakers themselves repeatedly gave themselves pay raises. We'll have that special report.

Also, will Democrats defy the will of Congress and scrap plans to build a fence along part of our border with Mexico? One powerful Democratic congressman is already threatening to do away with that fence. We'll have the story.

Congressional Democrats promising a bold series of reforms in their first 100 hours as the majority party on Capitol Hill. And a new spirit of bipartisanship, tonight, Democratic senator-elect Jim Webb joins us to talk about what he expects to accomplish in this new congress. All of that and a great deal more coming up at the top of the hour. Please join us. Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: Thank you, Lou. We certainly will. And up ahead, Jack Cafferty wants to know what the Republicans have to do to regain your confidence. And on this day before Veterans' Day how a grateful nation will honor a fallen hero. You don't want to miss Barbara Starr's powerful report that's coming up. Stay with us, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

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BLITZER: Let's check back with Jack Cafferty for The Cafferty File, Jack?

JACK CAFFERTY: Wolf, the question this hour is what does the Republican Party have to do to regain the confidence of the American voter? Kathy writes from Tucson, "The Republican Party will never get my confidence back. I left the party two years ago after being a Republican for 31 years. I'm now a registered independent, it will take our country generations to recover from the damage the Republican Party has done to it." Jay in Ft. Worth, Texas, "Nothing. The Republicans have done slit their throats. They have killed our middle class, they're quickly trying to take away our civil liberties until the people of the United States stood up and said enough is enough. This lot has ruined what the Republican Party used to stand for."

Dwayne, "To get my confidence again, being a Goldwater Republican, the Republicans should kick the evangelicals to the curb, go back to school, learn what a budget is, quit acting like show horses posing for camera shots, take homeland and border security seriously and start putting the interests of all the American people, especially the middle class, first." Matt in Mesa, Arizona, "Sit down, shut up and wait for the other guys to screw it up. That seemed to be the Democrats' campaign strategy so maybe it could work for the Republicans." And Richard in Springfield, Missouri writes, "As a former lifetime Republican voter who voted straight Democratic in this election, the answer is simple. Just wait until Hillary becomes president. Within one year, I and every one else will be begging for the return of the Republicans." If you didn't see your e-mail here, you can go to cnn.com/caffertyfile and read some more of them online. Wolf?

BLITZER: First she has to become president. So we'll see if that happens.

CAFFERTY: I guess we will.

BLITZER: Jack, thanks very much. Have a good weekend. See you back here on Monday.

Up next, honoring a hero as Veterans Day approaches. A U.S. marine in Iraq made the ultimate sacrifice to save his colleagues. President Bush's words, he showed the world what it means to be a marine. That special report coming up next.

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BLITZER: Flags and flowers, prayers and praise, today President Bush gave a very special marine a very special honor for his heroism and his ultimate sacrifice. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr joining us now with more. Barbara?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, a young hero's story on this Veterans Day.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BUSH: You might say that he was born to be a marine.

STARR (voice-over): On what would have been his 25th birthday, Jason Dunham's parents watched as President Bush told the world how Jason died. In an act of valor for which he will receive the nations highest award, the Medal of Honor. At the dedication of a Marine Corps museum outside Washington, D.C., President Bush recalled the corporal's bravery in Iraq when fellow marines came under attack in April 2004.

BUSH: An insurgent jumped out and grabbed the corporal by the throat. The corporal engaged the enemy in hand to hand combat. At one point he shouted to his fellow marines, no, no, no, watch his hand. Moments later, an enemy grenade rolled out.

STARR: Dunham threw himself on the grenade, using his body to absorb the blast. His helmet and vest shredded, saving the lives of other marines. "Wall Street Journal" reporter Michael Phillips wrote a book about Jason's story and how seriously wounded he was.

MICHAEL PHILLIPS, AUTHOR, "THE GIFT OF VALOR": I thought, you know, he was not going to make it and we have too many other wounded guys we have to deal with, it's just one of the harsh parts of military triage, they put him aside in a room called the expectant ward, a room where he was supposed to die. And they had people sit with him.

STARR: Eight days later Jason died at Bethesda Naval hospital.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

STARR: And Wolf plans are now being made for that ceremony that will give his parents that award, that Medal of Honor. Wolf?

BLITZER: Our heart goes out to that family. Thank you Barbara for bringing this story to us on this day before Veterans Day when we honor all the men and women of the U.S. military. Thanks very much for doing that.

Remember, we're here weekday afternoons from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. eastern, back at 7:00 p.m. eastern. Not tonight though. 7:00 p.m. eastern tonight Lou Dobbs has a special on heroes on this evening before Veterans Day. You're going to want to see that one hour from now. Please be sure to join us this Sunday for "Late Edition", the last word in Sunday talk. Among my guests this Sunday, the White House chief of staff Josh Bolten. Sunday, "Late Edition" airs for two hours, 11:00 a.m. eastern. Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM. "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now and Lou is in New York. Lou?

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