tonight. thank you, everyone, for watching. my colleague wolf starts right now. hello, i'm wolf blitzer reporting from washington. capitol hill buzzing with an expected vote byes u.s. senate of the president's plan to train and arm syrian rebels in their effort to try to fight isis. the house approved a bill yesterday. several of the president's key advisors are on capitol hill right now answering questions about the plan. the strategy and the end game. that includes a second day of testimony from secretary of state john kerry. >> we believe that as this global coalition comes together, determined to take on isil, that the organizing principle of the region, which is success breeds success, you're going to begin to see more people say, we're on the side of the moderates, going to be with the moderates,

they'll grow in strength and we can begin, indeed, to isolate isil itself. >> also testifying, the defense secretary chuck hagel who said he has now signed off on this new obama administration strategy. >> as each forces prove their effectiveness on the battlefield we would be prepared to provide increasingly sophisticated types of assistance to the most trusted commanders and capable forces. the goal is not to achieve numerical parity with isil but ensure moderate forces are superior fighters, trained by units. our goal is to undercut isil's recruitment and enable the opposition to add to the pressure isil is facing from the iraqi security forces and the security forces of kurdistan. >> earlier, the deputy national security adviser to the

president laid out the challenge spoke on cnn's "new day" about the expectations of coalition partners. >> in syria, it's tougher, it's longer, it's going to take time to build up the syrian opposition, but we believe it can be done. that's what we're focused on doing. these countries you'll see, secretary of state is going to be hosting a big meeting of the coalition partners over the coming weeks you will see not only these countries signing on, but taking on specific responsibilities including, for example, using their air power. >> about the same time tobey lincoln made that comment we heard the former u.s. ambassador ryan crocker talking ate the possibility of coalition partners stepping up militarily. >> to expect a military lead from them, quite frankly, sir, not any time soon. and i think we are prepared for that. >> we're going to hear more of ambassador ryan crocker's dire assessment in a few minutes. first let's bring in our chief congressional correspondent dana bash keeping an eye on all these

hearings today as well as the house vote yesterday, the house voted to go ahead and approve the president's strategy of arming those moderate syrian rebels. the senate will be voting on this effort later today. it's going to be a very different kind of vote, though, dana. a little complicated, not going to be specifically to arm and train those moderate syrian rebels. >> that's right. because what the house did yesterday that they gave their members the opportunity to have a separate vote to make their positions clear on whether or not they wanted to arm and train the syrian rebels, but when they did that, they tucked it into, they put it as part of a broader very important bill to keep the government running and so that is what is coming over to the senate today. that's what senators are going to vote on. and not a lot of senators, i should say that there are senators in both parties not happy about that. they want to take independent votes on this to show their constituents how they feel and that's something i put to the senate majority leader a short while ago.

>> suspect this an important enough issue to have a separate stand alone vote on so senators can show the american people and constituents where they stand. >> it's a complicated issue, a house has acted, we got the bill last night, and we're going to vote on what they sent us. as senator durbin has indicated this week we had some stunningly important hearings in the form of senator kerry was there and, of course now secretary of state, it was a long and deliberate hearing. i think it was very informative. senator menendez has other hearings scheduled. i think we're in a good position now. i think it's important that we have the ability to arm and train the rebels. the way we're developing an international coalition, i feel comfortable where we are. >> it looks like you're trying to hide this vote for your rank and file. >> yes. >> the yes was him moving on to the next reporter, not answering

that question. in fairness, wolf, to senator reid, he is following a strategy that the white house, the president himself, has been pushing very hard in phone calls all week to capitol hill saying that he wants this authority to arm and train the rebels, doesn't want it to get messed up, doesn't want it to lose, so his idea was to put it into this must pass bill to fund the government. again, you are having -- you can have senators who are going to vote against funding the government. joe manchin, for example, democrat from west virginia, not because he doesn't want to -- not because he wants to shut down the government but because he doesn't like this idea of arming and training the rebels. it's complicating things and, you know, it's not unusual for this kind of legislative game playing to go on, but on this kind of matter, it is maybe a little bit surprising. >> yeah. it's not exactly a profile and courage these senators are showing refusing to allow a simple roll call vote, up or down vote, do you support $500

million to arm and train these moderate syrian rebels. just vote on that, yea or ney, but they're refusing to even do that. they're tying it into shutting down the government or keeping the government operating which is pretty -- i guess it's a pretty awful situation up there. as you point out we should not be surprised. this has happened often in the past. >> if i may add one thing, not just that, then there's a the broader question about authorization for the broader mission, which even senator reid said that they are going to work on an authorization package over the next few weeks, but guess what's happening today? the senate and house, they're leaving. they're going home to campaign. a third of the senate all of the house, to keep their jobs instead of staying here to do the job and work on something that they all say is very important. >> at least they have the guts in the house of representatives to do it the right way. in the senate they're fooling with procedure as they often do and about to leave on recess. thanks very much.

the house vote on the syria funding, it did pass. democrats, though, voted, many democrats voted against the president's plan. in fact, more voted against the plan than republicans in the house. 85 democrats voted against the president, 71 republicans. still, it will be interesting to see what the senate does today. although it's a little bit more complicated as we point out. let's go to capitol hill, the indiana republican senator dan coats standing by. if it was stand-alone vote, would you support the president's proposal to arm and train the moderate syrian rebels? i don't know if you can hear me. let me repeat the question. if there were stand-alone vote, senator, would you support $500 million to arm and train moderate syrian rebels? >> yes, i would, but relucta reluctantly, wolf, because i don't think the strategy is there yet.

but to not vote for it, just means we were a doing nothing. i think over the next few weeks before we return ins december, we've got to straighten this out. the president has to delineate a much better strategy than what he has so far. >> the vote later today to pass the stop gap measure to continue funding the government, what's called a continuing resolution or cr, you will vote yes? >> i will vote yes reluctantly because i think we should have a separate vote so people know where we stand on the particular issue, but that's not the way it's being presented to us by harry reid. >> why are they refusing to let the senate do what the house of representatives do, simply have a vote on that narrow issue on funding and training syrian sflebls. >> i think the president's afraid it's going to kick up a storm or maybe he wouldn't win the vote. i think he would. nevertheless, i think the orders come down from the white house to combine the two and force the vote on keeping the government open as well as supporting the president's plan. >> there's a lot of democrats that want to vote, like joe manchin, for example, democratic senator from west virginia, he

says he's not ready to support that kind of legislation. in other words they don't want to vote to shut down the government. susan collins made that point. a lot of democrats and bunch of republicans will hold their nose and vote for this because they don't want to shut down the government. >> that's true. this has been the situation over this whole last two years. whether it's republicans or democrats, we haven't been allowed to let our yes be yes, and no be no on a particular issue. a lot of votes haven't been able to be taken because the majority leader has not allowed that to happen. >> what do you think about this debate over the considering, at least considering, combat ground forces to destroy isil or isis, whatever you want to call them? >> we're way behind the curve here. the time it will take to train up these free syrian army people is going to put us way behind the curve. we have not yet gotten commitments from muslim nations that they'll support this. ultimately you can't whip this

situation and achieve the goal the president outlined, which i support, and that is to take down isis, you can't achieve that through air power and the plan to train up some free syrian fighters. you have to put boots on the ground. the question is whose boots are we going to put there and can anybody else's boots do the job? that's a big issue for the president to deal with and right now, he's in limbo land. >> because the only boots on the ground, this is our last question, senator, the only boots on the ground i can see are kurdish fighters, maybe elements of the iraqi military which the u.s. trained and funded, turned out to be a disaster, maybe some of the free syrian army rebels. i don't see the neighboring arab countries or turkey or any of the european allies being willing to send troops in there, combat troops on the ground, do you? >> i don't see it yet and i have a real question about whether or not what you mentioned is enough to deal with isis which is rapidly expanding, very

sophisticated, well resourced. they're a fighting army and i'm not sure we have put together the coalition, i'm sure we haven't so far, the coalition that will be able to deal with that. >> i think you're probably right. senator, thanks very much for joining us. >> thank you. >> coming up, scottish voters decide their future today. will they remain a part of the united kingdom or become an independent nation. live to edinburgh where the voting is drawing to a close just a few hours from now. and in australia, police now say they foiled a vicious terror plot. we'll tell you who isis sympathizers allegedly planned to execute in the middle of a public street. stay with us. sweenjoy it all...ry! 'cause red lobster's one and only endless shrimp is now! endless choices! endless variety! kick it up with our spicy new wood-grilled sriracha shrimp and it's back: parmesan crusted shrimp scampi! the year's largest variety of shrimp flavors! so many to explore!

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>> reporter: as the obama administration gathers a coalition to fight against isis a key american ally australia announced it foiled an alleged homegrown terrorist plot that authorities say was linked to the isis militant group. predawn raids across australia's largest city. authorities are calling it the country's biggest ever anti-terror operation. armed with dozens of search warrants, australian security forces detained at least 15 suspects. the australian media reporting disturbing details. the suspects allegedly planned to film the public beheading of a random individual and thends drape the body in the black flag of isis. >> of serious concern right at the heart of our communities we have people that are planning to conduct random attacks and today, we've worked together to make sure that didn't happen. we have, in fact, disrupted that particular attack. >> reporter: among the suspects detained a man named omar john

azawahiri, who appeared briefly in a sydney court charged with a terrorism-related offense. he did not enter a plea. his neighbors shocked a suspected terrorist lived next door. >> i never thought i would see anything like this. >> it's actually quite frightening. my heart is pounding. >> reporter: prime minister tony abbott believes at least 60 australians are fighting alongside isis and other militant groups in the middle east. he's repeatedly voiced fears these australian jihadis could pose a threat if they ever come home. australian intelligence revealed isis was urging homegrown sympathizers to carry out attacks in australia. >> quite direct exhortations were coming from an australian who is apparently quite senior in isil to networks of support back in australia to conduct demonstration killings here in this country. >> reporter: last week australia

raised its threat level to high for the first time in the country's history. warning a terrorist attack is likely. the australian prime minister on thursday, he addressed australian troops about to deploy for what he described as combat operations in iraq. he argued that by fighting against isis the troops would be protecting the iraqi people and by extension, the people of australia. wolf? >> ivan watson reporting for us. what a chilling story that is. a key part of the united states' plan to destroy isis is up for a vote on capitol hill in a few hours. the senate expected to decide whether to approve president obama's request to arm and train moderate syrian rebels to fight isis but it's included in a much bigger piece of legislation designed to fund to keep the government operating. the house gave its okay to the president's plan to arm and train moderate syrian rebels yesterday but more than a third of the house members voted no. many are deeply worried without

combat troops on the ground isis could not potentially be wiped out. that concern was also expressed during a house intelligence hearing today. listen to this. >> if, in fact, this is the greatest threat that the united states has faced, from the islamic state, why in the world are we putting the best army on the shelf in favor of something that will never equal that? >> you couldn't have to use the best military. these people aren't that good. so we shouldn't compare the ones that we're arming and i agree with the decision made by the house yesterday to go forward with arming them. you don't have to compare the people to the u.s. military. they just have to be better than the enemy. >> do you believe this strategy of the president's will ultimately destroy isis? >> i think, ma'am, it is a strategy that is going to evolve over time and as conditions change. i think it is a good start. but as the president has said,

this is a multiyear endeavor. and things are going to look a lot different in six, 12, 18 months than they do now. that's where i would agree with general matus. we have to maintain maximum flexibility to how we respond to an evolving situation. >> let's discuss more now. joining us from orlando, florida, had military analyst, retired lieutenant general mark hurtling. do you agree with general matist, former general, former ambassador to iraq, knows the region well, you have to keep all options on the table. you can't remove that combat ground force option? >> yeah. i do, wolf. both ambassador crocker and general mattists are two great minds in this area. they're stating it like it is. the american people, they want a plan right now. the plan that's emerging is one that's a phased operation with the various sequences to it.

in order to have fighters on the ground now, you have to train them now. and it's still going to take time. you know, the syrian fighters that this bill is attempting to influence with a training mission perhaps in saudi arabia, it's going to take months to get them ready and by that time, the other part of the campaign, the one that is taking place in iraq right now, will be more developed. so this is all part of a sequenced and executable plan and i think it's valid. >> here's the problem that i see and tell me if you agree. these moderate syrian rebels, what's their goal? their goal is to get ready of bashar al assad, the president of syria, and his regime. whatever weapons, training, the u.s. provides to them, their primary focus is to go after the syrian military, the syrian regime, not necessarily isis, certainly al nusra, another terrorist group, which parts of the moderate syrian rebels are aligned with? >> yeah. great point, wolf, but at the

same time, they've got to survive too. what they're seeing in syria when you take a look at what is occurring there, is not only is isis expanding in syria, but pushing the free syrian army which is a more moderate force aside. so it's got to get to the point where the free syrian army survives and they will be fighting isis in terms of the contentional as well as with the syrian government. this plan for a continued effort to make them a more capable force, to give them the leadership they require, is not only going to help them eventually against the syrian government, but it's going to help them in the short term against isis. >> general, thanks very much for joining us. we'll continue this conversation. ukraine's president is here in washington getting a pretty rousing reception on capitol hill. he addressed the joint meeting of the house and the senate. but he wasn't just on capitol hill trying to make some friends. you're going to hear what petro poroshenko wants from the united states.

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independent nation. scotland has been part of the u.k. now for more than 300 years. so far voting is brisk in many parts of the country. the polls close less than four hours from now. recent polls on the issue have shown that it's simply too close to call. with us from edden borrow our chief correspondent christiane m amanpo amanpour. set the scene, we will know whether scotland remains in the u.k. or bolts? >> exactly. i'm here in the capital of scotland in front of the historic edinburgh castle and a sense of destiny being formed today whether through an independent scotland or stay in the union. by the way, whatever it is, there will be massive change because even if the scotts decide no, to independence, they have been offered a massive amount of decentralized power and future control over practically all their own

affairs, about foreign policy and defense policy, and that is something that is probably going to trickle down to the rest of england, wales, et cetera, and see a more federalized state according to those who are promoting this. but yes, it's very exciting. it's very, very -- very, very important because it changes the face of a union that has been very strong for the last 300 years. >> and voting is -- there's a huge turnout, a huge registration. >> yep. >> and people as young as 16, that is right, are eligible to vote? >> yes. for the first time ever people as young as 16 are eligible to vote in scotland. there was something like 97% voter registration. 80% are expect ded to turn out. we'll hear the figures today. it's going to be long before all the results come in. a lot of far flung areas some of which have to be -- have their ballot boxes and papers brought

in from islands off the coast, by helicopter, some might come in by ship and ferry and, you know, the vote count or the chief vote count is going to be up all here in edinburgh at a big hangar designed to bring all the boxes and have all the counting is going to be up all night and we may not know a full result until early tomorrow morning scotland time. >> we're told that unlike here in the united states, there are no exit polls so we're not going to be able to project an outcome right at the -- when the voting is over with at 5:00 p.m. eastern here in the united states, is that right? >> that's absolutely right. not only that, wolf, i'm allowed to talk to you about substantive issues. i cannot broadcast in the united kingdom anywhere on the story because of the broadcast rules that say you cannot, during the hours of polls being open, say anything that might influence a viewer or a voter who might be watching.

we have made -- only been able to say on cnn international the polls are open and that's it. maybe by 10:00 our time we'll have a little more detail. they don't do exit polls. >> 10:00 p.m. your time, 5:00 p.m. our time on the east coast. christian, we will stay in close touch with you, love the background over there of edinburgh. christiane amanpour reporting. going back to capitol hill where a key opponent of president obama's plan to arm syrian rebels why he's against the plan. stay with us. this is holly. her long day of outdoor adventure starts with knee pain. and a choice. take 6 tylenol in a day or just 2 aleve for all day relief. onward!

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welcome back. i'm wolf blitzer reporting from washington. the senate could vote later today on president obama's plan to arm and train syrian rebels in the fight against isis. it will be part of broader legislation to keep the government operating. the house approved a measure yesterday supporting the presidents a plan to arm and train the moderate syrian rebels. even though some senators expect the plan to passes in the democratic controlled senate the president could see some tough challenges, including some very tough challenges from within his own party. the house vote republican congressman trey gowdy of south carolina was among those opposing the syrian amendment joining us from capitol hill. he has a lot going on. also the chairman of the select committee investigating what

happened in benghazi two years ago. we'll get to that in a moment but tell our viewers, why did you vote against this legislation to help these moderate syrian rebels fight the syrian regime of bashar al assad and isis? >> well, wolf, thank you for having me on. i went to great lengths, frankly to try to support the president and talked to lots of my colleagues who served in uniform and almost universally, they expressed skepticism. then i did something else unusual. i listened to almost every word of the senate testimony over the last three days and i don't know who the moderates are in syria. when you say moderate, that doesn't mean you want to educate women. doesn't mean women have the right to vote. moderate means we're not going to cut your head off. i can't support a funding and arming folks if i don't have any clear understanding of who they are. >> you think that $500 million the president is seeking, half a billion dollars, would simply be a waste of u.s. taxpayer

dollars? is that what you're saying? >> i don't want to say that because there were people who looked at this issue seriously and they concluded by voting yes, including some of my closest friends and colleagues. this is a conscience vote and whenever you vote for anything that remotely resembles war you have to follow your conscience. i talked to my colleagues who served, some republicans, some democrats, will this strategy work, who are the moderates, are we going to be successful a year from now, two years from now, and i couldn't get solid answers to that. i concluded that i should vote no. >> those are fair enough questions indeed. any lawmaker should be asking precisely those kind of questions. let's talk about your other role, chairman of the select committee in the house investigating benghazi, four americans including the u.s. ambassador were killed on that day. in your preliminary investigation, hearings now under way, have you come up with a major new headline that we

didn't know before? >> i don't think so. we are still relatively early on and frankly, wolf, if i had a headline i'm not sure i would share it because i take this responsibility very seriously. my job is not to generate ratings for the republican party. my job is not to impact politics. my job is to find out what happened. even if we had a new revelation, i wouldn't necessarily share it at this time anyway. we are in the nay sant stages of this investigation and i want to do it in a way that inspires the trust and confidence of your viewers. >> listen to elijah cummings, i think the ranking democrat on your committee, certainly a member of the committee, he said this, on cnn, i'm going to play a little clip. >> too often over the pasts two years, the congressional investigation into what happened in benghazi has evolved into

unseemly partisanship. we're better than that. >> i want you to respond to him, congressman. >> we are better than that. which is why i said something similar, although not as eloquent as mr. cummings yesterday. these four were neither republican or democrat. i just know they were fellow americans. we ought to have a process worthy of their memory. you saw the hearing yesterday, there were no political shenanigans. there were very good questions asked on both sides of the aisle on a very important topic which is what are we doing to provide safety and security for the existing diplomats we send into harm's way. there are things that can transcend politics. i don't mean to sound naive but there are things. if the death of our four fellow americans can't transcend politics then i'm in the wrong line of work. >> there have been other

diplomats served and killed, military personnel, it's really important to learn from those mistakes that may have been made so they have not repeated down the road and if new recommendations can be made to protect american diplomats serving in dangerous parts of the world it will be worth it when all is said and done. thanks for joining us. >> thank you for having me. >> good luck with the hearings. >> yes, sir. >> a rare joint meeting of congress with ukraine's president as a headliner. hear what he's askings u.s. lawmakers, asking the president of the united states, that's coming up. and negotiating nukes with iran as the deadline gets closer and closer, what do both sides want? we're going to update you on the very latest. veggies you're cool... reworking the menu. mayo, corn dogs...you are so out of here! ahh... the complete balanced nutrition of great tasting ensure. 24 vitamins and minerals. 9 grams of protein... with 30% less sugars than before. ensure, your #1 dr. recommended brand

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20 minutes or so ukraine's president is scheduled to meet with president obama at the white house. petro poroshenko spoke before a joint meeting of the u.s. congress and had some specific questions. erin mcpike is joining us live from the white house. what did the ukrainian president want the united states, the congress, the president to do? >> wolf, president poroshenko offered an impassioned speech saying ukraine is on the forefront of fighting for freedom and democracy and democracies should support each other. in that spirlit he asked the united states for more tangible support in terms of economic and military assistance than they've

given. listen here to his specific request. >> they need more military equipment, lethal and nonlethal, blankets, night vision goggles are also important, but one cannot win the war with blankets. >> so far, the white houses has stuck to only nonlethal aid, equipment and armor, not heavy weaponry. right after that speech, the white house announced a new aid package of $53 million, $46 million is nonlethal aid still, eequipment and armor and another $7 million for humanitarian aid. on top of that poroshenko asked for specific fund for more american investment in ukraine and in response to that, the white house announced they are sending a u.s. delegation to ukraine next week led by commerce secretary penny prittskir to seek more

investment opportunities. it's not what ukraine asked for it's better than a photo op, wolf? >> he asked in his address before congress, erin, for the united states to designate ukraine as a major non-nato ally to give ukraine that status. japan has that status, south korea, israel has that status. any word interest the white house whether the obama administration supports granting that special status, major n non-nato ally to ukraine? >> wolf, i think that's something that's been discussed, but it hasn't been flushed out fully. i do want to point out to you some of our polling just about how much of a concern this is in the united states and that it is on the top of our radar. our latest polling shows that 27% of americans are very concerned about this situation. another 45% have some concern. i want to point out this number to you. there is that cease-fire that began on september 5th. white house press secretary josh

earnest yesterday called that a tenuous cease-fire and 73s% of americans in our polls say they don't trust russia to keep that cease-fire, wolf. >> erin mcpike at the white house, see what happens over at that meeting the president getting ready to welcome the ukrainian president over to the oval office. this note later today i will speak live with president petro poroshenko from the white house, from congress, he's coming here to cnn, i'll speak with him in the situation room, ask him if he's getting what he wants from the united states and if it's enough to help stabilize his country and prevent russia from moving into more parts of ukraine. the interview later today in the situation room, 5:00 p.m. eastern. still ahead, president obama's doubling down on his strategy to fight isis. but a new poll finds more americans disapprove of his approach to terrorism. our political panelsists getting ready to weigh in. also, the nuclear debate with iran. we're taking a closer look at the stakes as negotiators get back to the bargaining table.

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talks are resuming in new york on iran's nuclear programs. negotiators from the united states, iran, five other nations working on what has been an elusive agreement on iran's nuclear future. joining us to talk about what's at stake, mark dougle, director for the foundation of defense of democracy, spent a lot of time studying this issue. what do you think, mark, the deadline for the agreement is late november. originally been earlier, but was extended. is there any reason to believe this deal will get done? >> well, wolf, the u.s. government is working long and hard to figure out if it can accommodate iran's supreme leaders red lines. the question before us is not whether they're going to work hard but sufficiently cave to the supreme leader to accommodate those very red lines. if they're willing to do so, there will be a deal. if not stand tough and get another extension. >> do you have confidence the

u.s., the five other members who are in nonpermanent members, permanent and nonpermanent members, involved in this negotiation, that they will get the deal that you would like? >> wolf, i'm not confident. there has been a systemic erosion of the u.s. negotiating position over the past year. i think we have done a lot to try to accommodate iran's supreme leader. he has just responded with one simple word no. and we continue to try find technical compromises to find this elusive agreement. he knows we want the deal more than he does. >> what is the major sticking point from your perspective? >> well, the major sticking point that's been publicly announced the question of enrichment capacity and really the number of centrifuges that we're willing to allow the iranians to have for a short duration of time. the major sticking point this is a regime committed to having a nuclear weapon. we know that. but we are in the sort of elaborate dance to try to pretend we can actually find a

deal that will sufficiently constrain their nuclear ambit n ambitions. >> as you know, the u.s. and iran right now, they have one thing very much in common. they both hate isis and they both are trying to destroy isis in different ways. how does that potential collaboration or cooperation in this war against isis, factor into the nuclear negotiations? >> wolf, the islamic state of iraq and syria and the islamic republic of iran are really two sides of the same jihadist core and iran really benefits from the rise of extremism in the middle east. i think any kind of collaboration with iran is going to only undermine our negotiating position. the iranians fully understand any cooperation from them will come at a coast. they will take their pound of flesh at the negotiation table and it will only seriously erode our negotiating position which already is tenuous. >> but they have gone after isis on several fronts. they have a lot of influence in

iraq, including iranian republican guard military personnel. they are trying to beat isis right now, right? >> well, >> they are for their own reasons. if that's the case, let them. there's no reason we should be collaborating and cooperating. we're communicating and that's important from a militarial operation perspective. there's no reason to cooperate. they've been partially responsible for the rise of the islamic state. it should not come at a cost at the negotiating table. we have to keep our eyes on the prize which is a good agreement that constrains iran's nuclear weapons capability. >> do you accept the general assessment that the new president is better than ahmadinejad, his predecessor? >> he's better with respect to his desire for maybe a more moderate approach internally

within iran. i think there is unity amongst iran's elite on the question of a nuclear weapon. i think this is a man who is a pragmatist but committed to a nuclear weapon and what that would mean for iran and its regional influence. >> mark, thanks for joining us. we'll watch critical negotiations in the days to come and deadline end of november. i'll be anchoring our coverage at the united nations starting on monday as heads of state come to new york to address the general assembly. the president will address the general assembly on wednesday. we'll have full coverage on cnn throughout the week. still ahead, is president obama tough enough when it comes to isis? our political panel standing about i to sort out the results. an irregular heartbeat

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as president obama digs on in the strategy to fight isis in the middle east, his policies aren't necessarily winning over the public here at home. a new poll finds just 41% approve of how the president is handling the threat of terrorism. 50% disapprove. the numbers are even worse when

it comes to the president's overall handling of foreign policy. results of similar to what a cnn poll found earlier this month. let's bring in our chief political analyst gloria borger and political commentator republican strategist anna. what do you make of the results? >> we have a public that's anxious of what's going on in iraq and siryrisyria. they have seen a president who has vacillated if you go back to last year. they have seen his ambivalence and while they themselves are ambivalent because they support air strikes, they don't like to see a president who looks ambivalent. they want to see a president that is decisive and they don't think he's strong enough even though ironically they agree with what he's doing. >> the other results from "the new york times"/cbs poll is the president's dealing with isis tough enough.

57% say not tough enough. 31% say about right. other questions. sending ground troops into iraq or syria. 55% say they oppose. the president opposes it as you know as well. how's he doing? >> part of the problem is there's been so many mixed messages coming out of the administration. they can't seem to stick to one thing and all talk out of the same page. one day they tell you it's war. one day they tell you it's not war. one day general dempsey tells you there may be a need for boots on the ground while the president is out there constantly saying no boots on the ground. so i think it's very confusing for the american people and it's very confusing for us frankly who are watching it on a daily basis. >> as dick cheney might say, i think this is the new normal because -- >> please don't quote cheney. >> the ambivalence is everywhere. it's in the american public. they see these beheadings and public opinion changed dramatically.

>> that was game changer. you're right. people want a resolute, clear thinking, clear talking commander in chief. >> particularly when they're ambivalent. that's the problem. >> am i right or wrong? i'm frustrated that in the united states senate on an issue as important as war or peace they can't have a specific vote whether to fund and train syrian rebels. they got to put it in part of a bigger piece of legislation whether or not the government will shut down or won't shut down. why can't they have a simple vote? at least in the house they did. >> i think it's because of the election as you know and -- >> are they afraid it wouldn't pass if they let an up and down roll call -- >> i think it's a combination of things. one, the white house doesn't believe it can depend on congress. two, as you saw yesterday, there was a substantial democratic vote against the president. and they got endangered senators

running in red states that they are very concerned about. however, i agree with you. they should have a vote. >> there was bipartisanship in support and bipartisanship in the opposition. i think part of what's happening in the senate is you have both the chair and ranking member, republican ranking member of the senate foreign relations committee who are both telling the administration you need a new use of force authorization. use of military force authorization and you should be getting one. there's a lot of discontent with the white house saying we would welcome one but we don't need one and we're not asking you for one. >> these are -- many of these are same republicans who were saying this is the imperial president. he does everything by executive order. and then when it comes time to vote, a lot of republicans are shying away. mitch mcconnell says he would like a vote. >> you can blame the president all you want for there not being a real vote in the senate but

the senate majority leader should make that decision. he's dodging it. he's not doing the right thing. they'll go on vacation later tonight or tomorrow. >> everyone has their own reasons for dodging it and none of them are good. >> that's it for me. i'll see you at 5:00 p.m. eastern in "the situation room." "newsroom" with brooke baldwin starts right now. all right, wolf. thank you so much. hi, everyone. i'm brooke baldwin. great to be with you on this thursday. let's begin with the president of the united states. president barack obama now has plan on the table to strike syria. the plan, part of the strategy to hit isis inside syria's borders. so far we know the house, house of representatives, has given the green light authorizing the u.s. military to train and equip moderate syrian rebels but so now this is all in the hands of the senate. u.s. secretary of state john kerry and defense secretary chuck hagel making that