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Length: 6:29
WOLF BLITZER: We're also
watching the Senate floor right now. A vote
anticipated shortly on whether or not the U.S. Senate
will be on record calling for a formal time line for
the withdrawal of combat forces from Iraq.
Republicans seeking now to include an amendment that
would strip that funding bill of any such timeline.
It's going to be a very, very close vote. We're
watching it right now. The vice president, Dick
Cheney, is on the scene in case he needs to break the
tie. He is the president of the U.S. Senate.
Meanwhile, insurgent car bombs killed dozens of
people today in the Iraqi cities of Tal Afar and
Ramadi. Violence claimed six lives in Baghdad, where
a massive security crackdown is underway.
Senator John McCain suggests that crackdown is
already working.
I asked him about that in the last hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BLITZER: Here's what you told Bill Bennett on his
radio show on Monday.
MCCAIN: Yes.
BLITZER: "There are neighborhoods in Baghdad where
you and I could walk through those neighborhoods
today."
MCCAIN: Yes.
BLITZER: "The U.S. is beginning to succeed in Iraq."
You know, everything we hear, that if you leave the
so-called green zone, the international zone, and you
go outside of that secure area, relatively speaking,
you're in trouble if you're an American.
MCCAIN: You know, that's why you ought to catch up on
things, Wolf.
General Petraeus goes out there almost every day in
an unarmed Humvee. I think you ought to catch up. You
see, you are giving the old line of three months ago.
I understand it. We certainly don't get it through
the filter of some of the media.
But I know for a fact of much of the success we're
experiencing, including the ability of Americans in
many parts -- not all, we've got a long, long way to
go, we've only got two of the five brigades there --
to go into some neighborhoods in Baghdad in a secure
fashion.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
BLITZER: Senator John McCain, a Republican
presidential candidate, speaking here in THE
SITUATION ROOM within the past hour.
Let's go live to Baghdad right now.
CNN's Michael Ware is standing by -- Michael, you've
been there, what, for four years. You're walking
around Baghdad on a daily basis.
Has there been this improvement that Senator McCain
is speaking about?
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'd certainly
like to bring Senator McCain up to speed, if he ever
gives me the opportunity. And if I have any
difficulty hearing you right now, Wolf, that's
because of the helicopters circling overhead and the
gun battle that is blazing away just a few blocks
down the road.
Is Baghdad any safer?
Sectarian violence -- one particular type of violence
-- is down. But none of the American generals here on
the ground have anything like Senator McCain's
confidence.
I mean, Senator McCain's credibility now on Iraq,
which has been so solid to this point, has now been
left out hanging to dry.
To suggest that there's any neighborhood in this city
where an American can walk freely is beyond
ludicrous. I'd love Senator McCain to tell me where
that neighborhood is and he and I can go for a
stroll.
And to think that General David Petraeus travels this
city in an unarmed Humvee? I mean in the hour since
Senator McCain has said this, I've spoken to some
military sources and there was laughter down the
line. I mean, certainly, the general travels in a
Humvee. There's multiple Humvees around it, heavily
armed. There's attack helicopters, predator drones,
sniper teams, all sorts of layers of protection.
So, no, Senator McCain is way off base on this one --
Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael, stand by.
There's a development on the floor of the Senate that
we want to go to.
BLITZER: Dana, thanks very much. We're going to stay
on top of the ramifications of this.
But I want to go back to Baghdad right now. CNN's
Michael Ware is on the scene for us, as he has been
for the past four years.
Michael, when Senator McCain says that there are at
least some areas of Baghdad where people can walk
around and -- whether it's General Petraeus, the U.S.
military commander, or others, are there at least
some areas where you could emerge outside of the
Green Zone, the international zone, where people can
go out, go to a coffee shop, go to a restaurant, and
simply take a stroll?
WARE: I can answer this very quickly, Wolf. No. No
way on earth can a westerner, particularly an
American, stroll any street of this capital of more
than five million people.
I mean, if al Qaeda doesn't get wind of you, or if
one of the Sunni insurgent groups don't descend upon
you, or if someone doesn't tip off a Shia militia,
then the nearest criminal gang is just going to see
dollar signs and scoop you up. Honestly, Wolf, you'd
barely last 20 minutes out there.
I don't know what part of Neverland Senator McCain is
talking about when he says we can go strolling in
Baghdad.
BLITZER: What about this vote? The tug-of-war, the
political battle unfolding here in the Senate. The
House of Representatives calling for some sort of
timeline for a withdrawal of combat forces.
How does this play out in Baghdad? What do people
there where you are, Michael, say about this?
WARE: Well, on the ground, it barely passes without a
flicker. Of course, people take note of the domestic
politics back in D.C., in the United States. But
honestly, that seems so far removed from the reality
here on the ground.
People are still dying in the dozens every single
day. There may be a security crackdown, but al
Qaeda's suicide car bombers are still getting
through. And we're finding 20, 30 tortured, executed
bodies on the streets of the capital every morning,
and American troops continue to die every day.
And just this afternoon, we've seen a double suicide
truck bomb attack, followed by a ground infantry
assault by al Qaeda launched against an American
position. Now, that was repelled, but eight American
boys were wounded in the process.
Do you think anyone enduring that is paying attention
to artificial deadlines that are going to get vetoed
by the president? And even if they were to pass
through the legislative process, would only serve al
Qaeda and Iran, America's enemies? No. People are
focusing on the near game -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael Ware reporting for us from Baghdad.
Michael, as usual, thanks very much.