and you go to the dmz and see the fake village that they created. it's spooky and quite terrifying. jamie metzl, we appreciate your insights. now turn you over to brianna keilar right next door in "the situation room." thanks for watching. thanks, jake. happening now breaking news. troops to iraq. a dra mat ek expansion of the u.s.-led war on isis. some 1,500 additional american personnel will be deployed. what role will they play? spy probe. a veteran u.s. diplomat finds herself at the center of a re real-life drama right out of homeland with her security clearance, her home and office searched. what are investigators looking for? bodyguard boot camp. north korea's extreme training program revealed as the man who protected kim jong il for a decade speaks out for the first time. what was the former leader really like? wolf blitzer is on assignment. i'm brianna keilar. you're in "the situation room."

this is cnn breaking news. we're following breaking news. president obama authorizing more troops seeking more money for the u.s.-led war on isis, up to 1,500 more american forces will be deployed to iraq where vast regions of the country are under terrorist control. chris van holland is standing by to talk about this with us along with our correspondents and other guests. cnn chief national security correspondent jim sciutto, give us the latest. >> this is a substantial expansion of the u.s. military presence in iraq. we talk about doubling the number of u.s. troops from about 1,400 with this additional 1,500. in fact, it's ten times the number of military advisers since those first 300 were sent in in june. it's an expansion of where these troops are placed in eiraq. to this point u.s. mill he tear advisers have been confined to here and erbil and baghdad. the pentagon says they will set up two additional operation

centers outside of baghdad in erbil. the locations discussed are one in anbar. one perhaps north of the capital in taji. there are several are more sites in the north, the west, and this central part of iraq where you're going to have u.s. adv e advisers and coalition advisers embedded with with other brigades, nan iraqi and three kurdish forces. they will not be combat troops but with this expansion of where they're going to be based around the country, closer to combat and closer to danger than they've been before. iraqi forces in battle against isis encouraged by recent iraqi successes against the terrorist group including the retaking of a key border crossing with syria. now the president is authorizing another 1,500 troops, doubling the number of u.s. forces on the ground. and the orders will put them closer to the front lines adding two operation centers in more volatile areas beyond baghdad

and erbil. and in several more sites around the country to train iraqi and kurdish brigades. their role is not changing. advise, assist and train, but it is a major expansion of u.s. boots on the ground. to finance the expansion, the president is asking congress for nearly $6 billion to support the fight against isis. including $1.5 billion to train and equip kurdish forces. the president was briefed today. >> we have to make sure our efforts against isil are properly funded, and so there will be an opportunity for secretary of defense hagel to brief us on the progress in our campaign against isil. >> reporter: to date the cost of the air campaign against isis totals more than $700 million. the price tag of more than 800 air strikes and more than 2,000 bombs and rockets. top republicans still not ready

to sign a check sight unseen. >> they say they're going to make a proposal so we'll have appropriations look at it and they're going to present to members so we'll see. >> reporter: speaking to reporters a short time after the white house senior administration officials say that this is not mission creep because they say the mission is not changing. that mission remaining training and advising iraqi forces not a combat role. certainly here you have u.s. military action and forces that have substantially expanded over these last several weeks. and the goals as well. remember, this started as an operation that was meant first to protect u.s. military advisers and embassy personnel in erbil and baghdad as well as the people trapped on mt. sinjar in the north, then expanded to defeating isis. and now in iraq, brianna, greatly expanding the number of troops and their physical presence around the country. if it's not mission creep, it is

certainly mission expansion. >> yeah, and many americans won't see the difference for sure. we want to get more on the breaking news with cnn white house correspondent michelle kosinski. tell us what you're picking up there. >> reporter: senior administration officials told us they're not going to set a cap on the number of troops sent to iraq. that will have to be assessed moving forward. they did say they don't see the need for more on 0 the horizon at least. we know the details of the plan were discussed today. hear at the white house between president obama and congressional leadership. and initially we are hearing some bipartisan support for it. we heard that from the number two democrat in the house. also house speaker john boehner who said he welcomes the plan although he added that normally commander in chief will draw up an authorization for the use of military force, send it over to capitol hill, try to drum up support for it so that it gets passed. he urged the president to do that. the white house says that is what they want to do, that the authorization they've been working under is more than a

decade old. there are two authorizations that pertain to al qaeda and defending iraq from back then. no now the white house actually wants to revise or repeal those authorizations but because those are the ones that exist, it's been kind of legally convenient for the white house to operate under them and work quickly against isis. but they said one of the top orders of business moving forward with this new makeup of congress is to come up with the new authorization, get bipartisan support for it, something more closely tailored to isis, brianna. >> so, michelle, they're saying they don't see the need for more than this amount they want now. but at the same time they said that when they were first talking about having just hundreds of advisers there. so what do they say when there are concerns about mission creep? >> reporter: that's a great question. you heard jim saying the mission hasn't changed. they also expanded on that saying that, look, this is going to be something that is based not on something that we didn't

account for before but they said this is a reaction to progress. i mean, that's their public take on this. they're reacting to the iraqis taking the fight to isis in a more organized way and that the administration now wants to invest, build on that momentum, and with the iraqis take this fight to the next level, bria a brianna. >> thanks, michelle. more now with democratic congressman chris van holland of maryland joining us in the studio. what do you think about this? aren't you worried about if it isn't mission creep by definition because the mission is the same, it's getting much bigger. >> i do worry about it and i support it with a caveat, congress needs to act or revise the earlier resolutions on the book to make it crystal clear that this is only for the purpose of training iraqi and kurdish forces and not allowing these u.s. forces to be engaged in combat in any way. we want to avoid an iraq war 2.0

and this administration request to be separated from the original request to train the syrian rebels in places like saudi arabia. i have very serious concerns about that separate request. that was made previously and will have to be renewed probably before the end of the year. >> do you think congress, this request that may be coming or this plan, will congress do that? will congress take this action? >> well, i'm not sure because you have people like senator mccain who is on record very vocally saying he does not want to restrict the ability of u.s. forces to engage in combat whether it's iraq or syria. >> and on the left you have democrats had who don't want to

touch this. >> democrats certainly want to isis is clear ly a threat. particularly virulent extremist group. so i think you saw a fair amount of support for democrats, for example, the president's action to provide air support to iraqi forces. we believe this is the iraqis' responsibility to take this fight to isis within iraq and push them out. we can provide training and some equipment, but we shouldn't be in that fight as combat. >> so you support this, the idea of limiting the role so it's not a combat role. but hasn't the u.s. done this before, training iraqi troops to try to take on an enemy of the u.s., an enemy of iraq to no avail other than the loss of u.s. lives, thousands of them, and so much money. so many taxpayer dollars.

>> well, i was and am a strong opponent of the war in iraq because we were involved in a combat mission. i didn't think it was our business to be in. president has been successful in piecing together the political underpinings for this. we had to get prime minister maliki out of there. he was ruling iraq not as a iraqi national leader but a shia strongman and that alienated the sunnis and opened the door to isis. now that we have a more united iraqi government there's an opportunity to provide more cohesion with the iraqi forces and their training. still, that is their job. it's not ours and congress needs to make that clear. regardless of who the executive may be. you never know how long this will go on. >> you trust the iraqi government right now? >> i don't trust the iraqi government but i do trust the u.s. military to provide the best training possible and they talked about not having a cap. i think we need to look.

>> if you don't trust the iraqi government then -- but you're saying it's good this political step and they can better govern and be more inclusive when it comes to the military, how do you expect this is any different now training of iraqi forces who when isis came in as a threat many of them laid down their weapons and ran away. >> sure. what i trust the iraqi government to do is recognize that isis is a threat. isis is a mortal threat to the iraqi government. so the issue is not whether they want to get in this fight. the issue is whether they are properly organized and equipped to get in the fate. that's where the u.s. can be helpful and helpful in making it clear our support only comes with the understanding the shia militias who have undermained the ability to try and bring the sunni parts of iraq into a more nationalist unit, more

nationalist unity, that's had not part of this equation. >> why is this happening now? i mean, noticeably three days after an election. >> well, i think it's happening now because you final ly do hav in place the different components of the iraqi government. they only -- >> you don't think this has anything to do with the fact it's after the election instead of before it? >> i'm not sure how this would have played politically actually whether it would have been a plus or a minus. i don't think so. i think you finally have the iraqi government come together. you had a sunni defense minister that was really important to try and achieve that national unity. and now you need to provide the training but, again, i do worry about mission creep. absolutely. and congress needs to act. congress needs to take responsibility one way or the other for its part of the strategy. >> you have can have of dense, it seems, that it will work better this time training iraqi troops. do you think the president will be asking for another military authorization? >> well, he's indicated that he's going to ask for another

authorization. the one on the books that he's operating under now -- >> that we heard michelle talk about. >> that's from 2001. that was the original authorization to go into afghanistan against al qaeda. and that is the way the president has interpreted it is very broad. it would allow the president to send u.s. combat forces not only into iraq but into syria. so that's where the law stands now. i think it's important that congress acts to narrow the authority of the executive so we do not get dragged into another iraq war. >> stay with us. we'll continue this conversation after the break. we'll have more. you're in "the situation room." she inspires you. no question about that.

but your erectile dysfunction - that could be a question of blood flow. cialis tadalafil for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment's right. you can be more confident in your ability to be ready. and the same cialis is the only daily ed tablet approved to treat ed and symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently or urgently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or any allergic reactions like rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a free 30-tablet trial.

[car revving] [car revving] ♪ ♪ [car revving] introducing the first ever 306 horsepower lexus rc coupe. once driven, there's no going back. fifteen percent or more fifon car insurance.d save you everybody knows that. well, did you know certain cartoon characters should never have an energy drink? action! blah-becht-blah- blublublub-blah!!! geico®. introducing the birds of america collection.

fifty stunning, hand-painted plates, commemorating the state birds of our proud nation. blah-becht-blah- blublublub-blah!!! geico®. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance. ring ring! progresso! i can't believe i'm eating bacon and rich creamy cheese before my sister's wedding well it's only 100 calories, so you'll be ready for that dress uh-huh... you don't love the dress? i love my sister... 40 flavors. 100 calories or less. when a pro at any 2014 pga tour event sinks a hole-in-one, quicken loans will pay your mortgage for an entire year. that is how it's done. truly amazing! get in the hole-in-one sweepstakes. enter today at pgatour.com/quickenloans and you could have your mortgage paid for an entire year. ♪

[whispering] this is a woman, hesitating on a life-changing decision. ♪ yeah. at university of phoenix, we... [electronic toy noise] ...we know going back to school is a big decision. that's why we offer students new to college a risk-free period. so you can commit to your education with confidence. get started at riskfreephoenix.com.

president obama authorized the deployment of up to 1,500 additional u.s. forces to iraq to help in the war on isis. the terrorist onslaught was high on the agenda as the president held a lunch meeting with congressional leaders looking for common ground in the new republican-controlled political landscape. cnn chief congressional correspondent dana bash has more on that meeting. what happened? >> reporter: i'm told the house speaker jumped right in saying to the president's face what he said before the cameras yesterday, that john boehner's bigger and more conservative house caucus will probably not let the president get big things done in his last two years in office if he act without congress on immigration. >> i want to thank -- >> reporter: breaking bread

bi-papartisan style in the old family dining room of the white house. the president struck a conciliatory tone for the cameras. >> the american people just want to see work done here in washington. >> reporter: unclear how much that helped the bib lettuce and crusted sea bass go down for republicans. gop sources tell cnn house speaker john boehner warned the president not to use his executive power to start fixing the broken immigration system. boehner telling obama it will hurt chances for immigration legislation and make it hard to get anything done. >> it if more executive actions are taken, that will make it difficult for us to always work together. >> reporter: cnn is told the spirited discussion took up about 30 minutes of the two-hour lunch with the president pushing back telling republicans it is within his power to let some stay legally saying those who are hurting have waited long enough. >> the president has the authority to act by executive order on immigration. it's in the law.

it's also in the precedent of other presidents. >> reporter: the president woke up this morning with strong backing on that from "the new york times" editorial page urging him to help now, do it. take executive action. make it big. cnn has told bipartisan leaders did discuss areas of agreement. >> we shouldn't miss this moment. i think this election sends a message to both parties. >> i am not going to judge ideas based on whether they're democratic or republican. i will be judging them based on whether or not they work. >> reporter: there is good reason to be skeptical. anything can get done. we've heard bipartisan rhetoric before when the president came into office. >> i don't expect 100% agreement from my colleagues. >> reporter: after the 2010 midterm drubbing republicans made the same ill-fated promises. >> there's no particular reason

why we can't find areas of agreement. >> reporter: no reason except the partisan politics that stopped compromise so often before. quarter told there was extensive discussion about the government response to ebola, the fight against isil and the newly elected congress in january to pass a new authorization of military force for the growing mission there. >> it is a long list. thank you so much. let's bring back now chris van holland of maryland. i want to talk to you about immigration, the president making it clear he wants to take unilateral action. do you think that it's a bad -- should he do this considering what -- how voters have spoken at the polls? >> i think, brianna, that what voters said at the polls we should let the process of democracy work and the fastest way to resolve this issue would be for the speaker of the house john boehner to allow the house

to vote on a comprehensive bipartisan bill that's already passed the senate more than a year ago. we heard republicans talk about how harry reid was blocking votes. we haven't even been allowed a vote on that house bill. he could certainly then say the president won't need to move forward on executive action. one way to resolve the issue, speaker boehner refused to even allow a vote in the house. and that bill goes away at the end of this year. when you have a new congress come in, all the work that was done by the senate, it's wiped off the books. you have to start from scratch. >> doesn't it -- i wonder, though, the president saying that, that is something that -- and on the flip side you have republicans saying that they want to repeal obama care but you have president obama saying i'm going to take unilateral action on immigration. that's not a white house saying we want to find common ground.

this does not bode well. >> i guess, bris aanna, just getting back to the vote. i mean, common ground, it seems to me, the principle of cooperation, would mean put it up for a vote, mr. speaker. put it up for a vote. it passed the senate, bipartisan basis. unless the democracy to work a bill, i will use my powers within the extent of the law. >> you say the message from tuesday was let the process work? the fact that so many democrats stayed home and didn't even cast a ballot, do you think that is a message by speaker boehner to put this up for a vote? >> the message is to end the dysfunction in washington. what better way to end the dysfunction on this particular issue than allow democracy to work its will. republicans and democrats alike vote. if boehner wants to vote no, so be it.

>> isn't the message from americans, this is the makeup of congress that we want for our government to come to decisions. should these issues then wait until this -- this new congress, this is the lame duck. this new congress doesn't come in until january. isn't the message that we want these folks to work together. we want this white house to work with a republican senate and a democratic house to answer these questions. >> the message sent was we want the process to work for the country. and one way, in my view, to allow that process to work was allow us to have another vote. that's what the people's house is supposed to do, what it's designed to do. if it's defeated it's defeated. i think it will pass. what's really upsetting is i think speaker boehner doesn't want to bring this to a vote even though it will pass. because it will pass, even though you have a majority

republican house. >> this is a vote on easing restrictions, on some who are in the country illegally. republicans want to obviously have other parts of immigration reform. they're concerned about border security. they don't trust the white house to act the way they want. obviously that's why speaker boehner doesn't want the vote. isn't that within his right as speak he of the majority of the house? >> the senate bill has a huge border security provision. it was so large that people like senator mccain said this is overdone. we have too much fortification of the border. we need to make sure we have absolute border security to the maximum extent possible and then at the same time we provide a pathway for legalization ultimately citizenship. what's happening is in the

intervening 15 months we've seen zero action from the house. i think the president has said he will take executive steps to the extent he's allowed to do it under the law. i do fear they might use the appropriations process to actually shut this down. and that would mean shutting down the government. i hope we can avoid that. the current funding expires december 12. we have to renew that funding and if republicans decide to use that as an opportunity to say we're not going to provide any funding that would allow the president to use executive authority for this purpose, you could have a pretty big confrontation out of the box. i hope that's avoided. >> i want to ask you about obamacare because the supreme court will hear another legal

challenge. this is on tax credits, on the subsidies that a lot of americans under obamacare get to help them pay for health insurance. speaker boehner has said, and we've heard this from the senate majority leader elect, mitch mcconnell, i guess you could say, they want to vote to repeal obamacare. separately this supreme court challenge, that must embolden the speaker from your perfe perspective. >> i don't know what impact this will have on the speaker. clearly the fact that the supreme court took this up raises more uncertainty about the future of the affordable care act. this has to do with the subsidies available through the federal exchanges. not the state exchanges. >> for those states general ly governed by republican governors they're using the federal exchange. >> exactly right. i don't know what impact this will have on the speak erder an senator mcconnell. my guess is they will continue

to do what they just said they will do. they're getting a lot of pressure from their right to start early on to try to repeal and roll back the whole of the affordable care act. so we'll have to see what they do now. >> but the supreme court, if it rules against the subsidies, that would gut obamacare, right? >> it would do severe damage. no doubt about it. that decision will not come for quite some time. and so in the meantime the question is, you know, whether republ republicans decide to go through the show of trying to repeal the affordable care act which the president has been very clear he would veto. >> it could be june and republicans will have months at the helm before then. congressman, thanks so much. really appreciate it. and coming up, north korea's bodyguard boot camp. we'll hear from the man who underwent had this extreme training and wound up protecting kim jong il for a decade. plus, a real-life spy drama straight out of homeland with a veteran u.s. diplomat in the starring role. is something is wrong? >> no, no, the opposite. s?

24/7 it's just i'm a little reluctant to try new things. what's wrong with trying new things? feel that in your muscles? yeah... i do... try a new way to bank, where no branches equals great rates. wow! [ narrator ] on a mission to get richard to his campbell's chunky soup. it's new chunky beer-n-cheese with beef and bacon soup. i love it. and mama loves you. ♪

so ally bank really has no hidden fethat's right. accounts? it's just that i'm worried about you know "hidden things..." ok, why's that? no hidden fees, from the bank where no branches equals great rates.

tension boiling over in jerusalem where violent clashes have broken out after a series of vehicle attacks on pedestrians. cnn's senior international correspondent nic robertson is there and, nic, this is a very key test date today, wasn't it? >> reporter: yeah, absolutely. tensions have been building across the week. you have that vehicle attack killing two people on wednesday. you have today friday prayers at the mosque in the sanctuary temple mount, a key contested area that's been part of this

spike in tensions. today security very high. clashes continuing after nightfall. this one in east jerusalem. palestinian youths burning tires, throwing firecrackers at israeli police. earlier riots reverberating through the neighborhood, a palestinian refugee camp. according to palestinian medical sources at least 30 people were hit by israeli police rubber bullets. this neighborhood home to a member of hamas. the man whose actions this week helped spike tensions when he drove his van into israeli border guards at a jerusalem stop. he was shot and killed at the scene wednesday as he attacked police with an iron bar. friday a second person dying of injuries sustained in that

attack. a 17-year-old israeli religion student. security tight all day. much focusing on the lightning rod of the current violence. the temple mount. the rabbi shot last week for pushing rates for jews to pray there now reported by his family to be regaining consciousness and communicating with them. across the west bank, protests rumbled on. repercussions of the rabbi's shooting, of tensions of al aqsa mosque. apparently unconnected to that chain of discontent, discord among leading palestinian political factions. ten homes of party officials destroyed by becomes in gaza where hamas remains dominant, so far unexplained. and while those underlying

tensions about access to the sanctuary to the temple mount, they remain unresolved and you still have members of the israeli knesset pushing for access to prayers there, this is far from resolved at the moment, brae anna. >> and, nic, things were so intense the prime minister called the king of jordan. >> reporter: the king of jordan withdraw his ambassador from tel aviv the last couple of days over what is seen as the damage when israeli security forces were there earlier in the week. there were protests there. there was damage done. that's why the king of jordan withdraw his ambassador and what prime minister netanyahu was doing today was reassuring the king that nothing will change in the status quo agreement which says that while people of other faiths other than the muslim faith were allowed to go to the al aqsa mosque and pray, others

can go in that area, the temple mount, the noble sanctuary area. they cannot go there to pray. that status quo will remain. that was prime minister benjamin netanyahu's message to king abdullah. this is very tense and does appear the israeli government is trying to really tamp things down right now. >> nick rob e robertson, thank much. still do am come, a spy story that sounds like it's straight out of the hit tv series "homeland." but the woman whose home has been searched by the fbi isn't an actress. she's been a top u.s. diplomat. also, learning to take an ax to the stomach. we have a rare and frightening glimpse at what it takes to get to the top inside north korea's bizarre and brutal military. it's more than the driver. it's more than the car. for lotus f1 team, the competitive edge is the cloud. powered by microsoft dynamics, azure, and office 365,

the team can gain real time insights and instantly share information around the globe. when every millisecond counts, staying competitive begins with the cloud. this is the microsoft cloud. for over 19 million people. [ alex ] transamerica helped provide a lifetime of retirement income. so i can focus on what matters most. [ female announcer ] everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real. transamerica. [ female announcer ] everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real. come from all walks of life. if you have high blood sugar, ask your doctor about farxiga. it's a different kind of medicine that works by removing some sugar from your body. along with diet and exercise, farxiga helps lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. with one pill a day, farxiga helps lower your a1c.

and, although it's not a weight-loss or blood-pressure drug, farxiga may help you lose weight and may even lower blood pressure when used with certain diabetes medicines. do not take if allergic to farxiga or its ingredients. symptoms of a serious allergic reaction include rash, swelling or difficulty breathing or swallowing. if you have any of these symptoms, stop taking farxiga and seek medical help right away. do not take farxiga if you have severe kidney problems, are on dialysis, or have bladder cancer. tell your doctor right away if you have blood or red color in your urine or pain while you urinate. farxiga can cause serious side effects, including dehydration, genital yeast infections in women and men, low blood sugar,kidney problems, and increased bad cholesterol. common side effects include urinary tract infections, changes in urination, and runny nose. ♪do the walk of life ♪yeah, you do the walk of life need to lower your blood sugar? ask your doctor about farxiga

and visit our website to learn how you may be able to get every month free.

sources are telling cnn president obama is expected to announce his choice for the next attorney general soon and it is likely to be an his are toric pick. what does that mean soon? cnn justice reporter evan perez hear to tell us. what are weigh expe expecting? >> reporter: loretta lynch is the expected pick. the president likely to make that announcement when he gets back from his trip to asia. he leaves sunday. she's the first african-american woman to serve in this job and she's a longtime prosecutor inside the justice department, very pop lar popular inside the department. she's not well known not even in new york.

she's done a lot of things including serving in the clinton administration in the same job and since 2010 under president obama. >> so you'd say she's not terribly controversial, right? >> she's not going to be controversial which was frankly a problem with some of the people that the president was looking at includes his former white house counsel. and so -- and tom perez, the labor secretary. now that the president has to deal with a republican congress, this is a safe bet. this is somebody who is coming from outside and doesn't have any of the washington baggage that a lot of cabinet nominees will have. >> she really is going to have her work, assuming it is her, which we expect. she's going to have her work cut out for her. we've had the michael brown shooting in ferguson and there is really a list of other things, right? >> exactly. including helping the president explain some of his decisions, for example, the air strikes in syria. there's the justice department produces the legal rationale for those things, the nsa reforms, and obviously the michael brown

situation. she handles in the 1990s, oversaw prosecution of some police officers in new york involved in brutalizing a haitian immigrant. that case was a huge deal at the time. and so that's going to be a key thing that will help her guide whatever comes out of the justice department in the next few months. >> evan perez, great report. thank you. we also have some new dein a story that sounds like a plot twist from this season of "homeland." a longis time u.s. diplomat considered an expert on pakistan now is part of a federal investigation that could involve spying. here is cnn global affairs correspondent with us now. this is downright weird and pretty fascinating. >> yes, a very well-respected and well-liked person at the state department, a longtime foreign service officer who retired and came back to the state department. she's been working on pakistan for many years, brianna. u.s. officials are being very

tightlipped. it has shocked her colleagues and neighbors who saw the fbi raid her house and office. >> we look forward to achieving great things. >> reporter: she's been a v veteran american diplomat and champion of better ties with pakistan. now robin finds herself part of a counterintelligence investigation shocking her co-workers. >> we are aware of the law enforcement matter. the state department has been co-operating with our law enforcement colleagues on this the matter. >> reporter: fbi agents searched her home and sealed her office at the state department where she was an adviser on pakistan. her contract has not been renewed. such investigations typically involve passing sensitive information to a foreign government. she was married to arnold rafel, u.s. ambassador, when he was killed in 1988 in a mysterious plane crash believed to be an assassination attempt.

>> come on. i can't say no to this. >> reporter: while it may sound like the plot ripped from the tv show "homeland" where the spouse of the u.s. ambassador is accused of spying, officials stress this is an on going investigation and no charges have been filed. >> it can be very crippling t. can compromise collections systems we spent years and millions of dollars building. >> reporter: a spokesman says she has not been told what the investigation is about or whether she's the target, but she is cooperating with authorities. quote, i think ambassador raphel's nearly 40 years of experience at the highest levels of u.s. diplomacy speak for themselves. raphel was an analyst and also served as u.s. ambassador to tunis tunisia. she retired in 2005 but returned to work for richard holbrooke, then secretary of state hillary clinton's adviser for pakistan and afghanistan. >> i'm personally very committed

to this mission because i first came to pakistan in 1975 and worked at the u.s. aid mission. so i've watched this country over the years, and i've watched the relationship and i have a great deal of regard and respect for the people of pakistan. >> reporter: now u.s. officials are saying very little about this investigation, and there is a wide range of potential concerns here. anything from just taking home sensitive documents she shouldn't have to the more serious sharing of classified information with a foreign government. u.s. officials tell our evan perez there is no sealed indictment so clearly investigators don't have enough evidence to bring charges but it's a very serious investigation which officials say is ongoing. >> and so many questions. we'll be following them with you, elise labott. more details on the major breaking news. president obama doubling the number of u.s. troops heading to iraq to help stop eisis. and next a glimpse into the bizarre world of north korea's military elite where breaking

tiles with your head is just one way of toughening you up. a dry mouth can be a common side effect. that's why there's biotene. it comes in oral rinse, spray or gel, so there's moisturizing relief for everyone. biotene, for people who suffer from a dry mouth. into one you'll never forget.

earn triple points when you book with the expedia app. expedia plus rewards. [car revving] [car revving] ♪ ♪ [car revving] introducing the first ever 306 horsepower lexus rc coupe. once driven, there's no going back. shyou see this right? it's 80% confidence and 64% knee brace. that's more... shh... i know that's more than 100%. but that's what winners give. now bicycle kick your old 401(k) into an ira. i know, i know. listen, just get td ameritrade's rollover consultants on the horn. they'll guide you through the whole process.

it's simple. even she could do it. whatever, janet. for all the confidence you need. td ameritrade. you got this. but parallel parking isn't one you do a lof them.ings great. you're either too far from the curb. or too close to other cars... it's just a matter of time until you rip some guy's bumper off. so, here are your choices: take the bus. or get liberty mutual insurance. for drivers with accident forgiveness, liberty mutual won't raise your rates due to your first accident. see car insurance in a whole new light. call liberty mutual insurance.

we're getting a chilling glimpse into north korea. and how kim jong-un is even crueller than kim jong-il. here's cnn's paula happen cox. >> reporter: not for the weak hearted or weak headed. this is boot camp for north korea's military elite.

multitat discipline, strength of body. basic qualifications to protect those at the top. lee was bodyguard to kim jong-il for ten years. he says he went through very similar training. why is this important to be able to break tiles with your head? why does this matter? a hand gun doesn't win a war, he tells me. it's being used to develop loyalty. they train them like this to make them think they can beat the u.s. military. he described what he refers to as the two faces of the former leader. when he's happy, he says, he will give gold bars to people. when he's not, it doesn't matter how loyal you are, he could kill you. his advisers were too scared to

tell him the truth about the country. sometimes they would run away when they saw him coming. to survive, he says, they would flatter him. lee says kim jong-il was cruel. one senior official was sent to a concentration camp for using a private elevator. but he says kim jong-un may be even more brutal. kim jong-un killed his uncle, he says, who even kim jong-il would not kill. as power was handed down, it became crueller. kim jong-un has created loyalty, but it's fake, based on fear. after he was caught trying to escape north korea in 1994, he was sent to a camp and survived five years of starvation and torture. his former bo

paula happen cox, cnn, seoul. breaking news straight ahead. up to 1500 more american troops being deployed to iraq to help the war on isis. we'll get new details. and law enforcement braces for a grand jury decision in the shooting death of michael brown. but it's not just ferguson police concerned about possible violence.

we asked people a question how much money do you think you'll need when you retire? then we gave each person a ribbon to show how many years that amount might last. i was trying to like, pull it a little further got me to 70 years old i'm going to have to rethink this thing it's hard to imagine how much we'll need for a retirement that could last 30 years or more. so maybe we need to approach things differently, if we want to be ready for a longer retirement. ♪ if yand you're talking toevere rheumyour rheumatologiste me, about a biologic... this is humira. this is humira helping to relieve my pain and protect my joints from further damage. this is humira giving me new perspective. doctors have been prescribing humira for ten years. humira works for many adults. it targets and helps to block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to ra symptoms. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers,

including lymphoma, have happened, as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. talk to your doctor and visit humira.com this is humira at work i've got a nice long life ahead. big plans. so when i found out medicare doesn't pay all my medical expenses, i looked at my options. then i got a medicare supplement insurance plan. [ male announcer ] if you're eligible for medicare, you may know it only covers about 80% of your part b medical expenses. the rest is up to you. call now and find out about an aarp medicare supplement insurance plan, insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company.

like all standardized medicare supplement insurance plans, it helps pick up some of what medicare doesn't pay. and could save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. to me, relationships matter. i've been with my doctor for 12 years. now i know i'll be able to stick with him. [ male announcer ] with these types of plans, you'll be able to visit any doctor or hospital that accepts medicare patients. plus, there are no networks, and virtually no referrals needed. so don't wait. call now and request this free decision guide to help you better understand medicare... and which aarp medicare supplement plan might be best for you. there's a wide range to choose from. we love to travel -- and there's so much more to see. so we found a plan that can travel with us. anywhere in the country. [ male announcer ] join the millions of people who have already enrolled in the only medicare supplement insurance plans endorsed by aarp, an organization serving

the needs of people 50 and over for generations. remember, all medicare supplement insurance plans help cover what medicare doesn't pay. and could save you in out-of-pocket medical costs. call now to request your free decision guide. and learn more about the kinds of plans that will be here for you now -- and down the road. i have a lifetime of experience. so i know how important that is.

breaking news. a significant new expansion of the war against isis, with hundreds of addition aal boots the ground in iraq. the pentagon's top spokesman joining us live. the danger of hit and run attacks by lone wolf attacks right here in the u.s. new evidence that officials in this country are worried about a deadly new trend. and ferguson, missouri is bracing for a grand jury decision that could ignite new violence and now police departments across the nation are ready in case the unrest spreads. we want to welcome our viewers in the united states and around the world. wolf blitzer is on assignment. i'm brianna keilar. you're in "the situation room." >> this is cnn breaking news. breaking news this hour. the obama administration is facing new questions about mission creep in the war against isis. the pentagon just outlined a new deployment of up to 1500 troops to advise, assist, and train

iraqi forces and at the same time the cost to taxpayers is climbing. president obama and his war team now are asking congress for nearly $6 billion more to support the anti-terror mission in iraq and syria. in a moment, i'll be talking to the pentagon's top spokesman. he's standing by for us. along with our correspondents and analysts. we're covering all the breaking news on the war against terror. first, though, to our chief national security correspondent jim sciutto. jim? >> reporter: this is a substantial increase in both the number and the foot print of u.s. forces now on the ground in iraq. remember, it started back in june with 300 u.s. military advisers. until today, the number had grown to about 1400. now with the additional 1500 troops, you'll have a total of nearly 3,000. until today, those u.s. military

advisers had been confined to baghdad here and irbil in kurder controlled areas of the north. the u.s. is going to establish two new operation centers, one in anbar province, west of baghdad and one north of baghdad. and a number of other locations around the country where u.s. advisers will be with iraqi and kurdish brigades. again, they will not be combat troops but will argue my be closer to combat and closer to danger. >> jim sciutto, thank you so much. president obama met with congressional leaders shortly before the new troop deployment was revealed publicly. it was his first face-to-face with top republicans after their big midterm election sweep. let's bring in our white house correspondent michelle kosinski. was the war against ice ace major topic of conversation? >> reporter: it did come up.

whenever the president needs congress' approval, we know that the details were discussed. this big meeting between president obama and congressional leadership. initially at least, we are hering some bipartisan support for it. we heard that from the number two democrat in the house. and house speaker john boehner said he welcomed this plan but he said normally the commander in chief will draw up this authorization for the use of military force, send that to capitol hill, help drum up bipartisan support for it so it gets past. the white house says it wants to do that. the authorization that it's been operating under for this is more than a decade old and pertains back to al qaeda and defense of iraq back then. the white house has said it wants to repeal and revise those authorizations, get something more tailored to this fight against isis, but it's been legally convenient for the white house to act quickly against

isis under those authorizations. but they said a first order of business in working with this new makeup of congress is to come up with a new plan. unfortunate hi i don't think that's going to happen until after the lame duck session and they want congress to approve this new funding as soon as possible, brianna, obviously. >> thank you so much, michelle. joining us more to talk about this, the top pentagon spokesman, rear admiral john kirby. thank you for being with us. really appreciate it. if you can speak at first to this concern of 1500 more troops being on the ground, albeit not for combat, for training, there is concern that this is mission creep or just kind of a mission that continues to grow willy-nilly. can you speak to that concern? >> sure. it's not mission creep at all. mission creep is when the mission changes or morphs into something that it didn't start out to be. this is very much in keeping within the missions in iraq that

we've been performing since june, advising and assisting capability to have the iraqi security forces to help them get better in the battle space, and of course, supporting the humanitarian missions. these ald vdvisers are going to doing the exact same thing, just in different places. now, what is a little bit new here is we are going to put trainers in certain sites around iraq and we're still figuring out where those sites are going to be. they're going to be training up to 12 iraqi brigades, and 3 peshmerga training. so that's new, but it's completely within keeping of the mission we've been assigned inside iraq. >> do you hear how there could be concern if it's up to 1500 troops and you don't know where

you our putting them? >> we're doing site surveys right now. we're being a little careful about naming the exact sites right now because the surveys are ongoing and we need to be concerned about force protection, as well. and a good chunk i might add of the personnel that are going to support the trainers and the advisers are force protection personnel. >> are we going to see the number increase again? >> right now, i don't foresee any plans to do that. there's not been a cap or a ceiling put on this. the mission has not changed. but we have grown in size over time. this would nearly double the number we have inside iraq. it's not out of the question the number could go higher, but we don't anticipate changes in the near future. >> isn't that what it was said the last time when it was hundreds of troops being sent? >> what we said we're going to continue to evaluate our

strategy and if the numbers need to change, it will. we talked specifically about that. i would also add that several other coalition member nations have agreed to contribute trainers, hundreds of trainers to the same mission. so it's not just going to be american troops doing the training. we're going to be supported by coalition partners, as well. >> you just heard the report from the white house. michelle was talking about how the white house is saying they want to have the input of congress, and yet we're hearing from top republicans that the first time they heard about this was from reporters. what does that say to this effort to really get some of their input? that doesn't necessarily seem genuine then. >> i can tell you secretary hagel intends to keep a close consultation with congress throughout this process. ky tell you here at the pentagon, we know how important

the oversight rule of congress is and the secretary is committed to making sure that we're available to answer any questions that members of congress might have about this. we know we can't do this without their support in terms of authorization and funding. >> but you have some republicans that are on the president's corner on this. i can speak to how they were informed. they're saying they weren't. so why not? >> again, i can't answer the question on how several of them may have been informed or not. i can tell you we are committed to making sure we're consulting with them as closely as possible throughout this process. we understand the oversight role the congress has and the importance of their authorization going forward. >> what is the timetable here? i think a lot of americans are concerned about isis. they're also very concerned about not being pulled into some sort of protracted conflict and for the role of these troops to

become for combat. what's the timetable for training iraqi forces? >> i think you're going see some of these trainers arrive in the next month or so and it will take a little while for all of them to get there. it's up to 1500. it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to 1500. once we finish the survey and get the facilities in place, it's going to take about two months to get the sites ready and prepared. then another six to seven months to conduct the training of those 12 brigades. so about an 8 to 10-month process is what we're looking at here. >> i think a lot of americans listen to this and say american troops have trained iraqi forces before. why is this different? >> in many ways the training that we'll be doing for iraqi security forces, those brigades, is not all that different from what we had done before. what is different is that when we left in 2011, we left an

iraqi security force that was capable to deal with the threat at the time. when the malaki government took over. they squandered the opportunity that had been given to their security forces. they weren't properly led or resourced, they weren't properly trained. so when isis moved in, we saw four to five iraqi divisions fold and melt away. we weren't responsible for what happened after we left. that was the malaki government's fault completely. so we're going to go back in, and at the request of the iraqi government and start to do more training again. we are very good at this. not just we, but the ocean partners are very good at this. and we believe and we're confident that the resources we're asking for are enough to get this training up and running. >> you have confidence in the new iraqi government to undo the damage of former prime minister nouri al malaki and to ensure

that these iraqi troops are competent once u.s. troops leave? >> prime minister abadi is moving the government in a very healthy direction. we're all clear about the challenges he faces. that said, he's made some important initial decisions. he has revamped the leadership of the iraqi security forces and continues to do that. he's assigned the first iraqi defense minister in five years, and that defense minister has already been out visiting the troops and pledged two goals, one to go on the offense against isil. and the second is to reform the iraqi army. but it's just beginning and we understand that. but the signs are going the right way, and i think we are confident that if we can get the authorization, the funding and resources to do this, this will be a significant enhancement to iraqi security forces and their ability to go against this enemy. i also want to stress that they already are going on the offense. it's not like it's a completely

delappidated army. but they are fighting north of baghdad and they're having some success. it's slow and unsteady, but they are having some success. >> admiral, stand by for just a moment. because we're getting breaking news in right now. we have new information just in to "the situation room." the white house just confirmed what our evan perez reported this morning, brooklyn prosecutor loretta lynch is president obama's choice to replace eric holder in the justice department. we'll be right back. big day? ah, the usual. moved some new cars. hauled a bunch of steel. kept the supermarket shelves stocked. made sure everyone got their latest gadgets. what's up for the next shift? ah, nothing much. just keeping the lights on.

(laugh) nice. doing the big things that move an economy. see you tomorrow, mac. see you tomorrow, sam. just another day at norfolk southern. ♪ when i didn't worry about the hepatitis c in my blood. ♪ when i didn't think twice about where i left my razor. [ male announcer ] hep c is a serious disease. take action now. go to hepc.com or call 1-844-444-hepc to find out how you and your doctor can take the next step towards a cure. because the answers you need, may be closer than they appear. ♪

toasty or frosty? exactly the way you want it ... until boom, it's bedtime! your mattress is a battleground of thwarted desire. enter the sleep number bed. right now save $400 on the c4 mattress set. he's the softy. his sleep number setting is 35. you're the rock, at 60. silent night not so silent? elk bellow sleep number's even got an adjustment for that. give the gift of amazing sleep, only at a sleep number store. where you'll find our lowest price ever on the c4 queen mattress plus 36-month financing. know better sleep with sleep number.

now back to our interview with the pentagon press secretary rear admiral john kirby. up to 1500 more u.s. troops are being deployed in the war against isis. this is separate from training syrian rebels who are supposed to take on isis. when will they be vetted and trained? >> the vetting process hasn't begun. we are working on site surveys as well with that. the saudis are agreed to host the training, as well as the turks. so we're still working out the sites and the facilities at this time. the vetting hasn't started. once it does start, that will be a three to five-month process. but this effort is very important. we talk about the need for indigenous ground forces and

improving iraqi security forces in iraq. we need those forces in syria to take the fight to isil as well. >> are you confident they'll fight isil and not assad? >> i think we are, absolutely. there's three things, one is to go back and defend their own villages and towns. numb two, we want them to go on the offense against isil and many of the opposition groups committed to doing that. but there is a component with respect to the assad regime and we want them to work toward a political settlement inside syria, as well. >> the u.s. is believed to have struck and killed khorasan bombmaker david drugeon. is this true? >> we know there were casualties

as a result of these strikes, but we aren't exactly ready to say who. we are still working through that assessment. >> nick paton walsh is reporting that the strike hit a building with moderate rebels. >> we're working through the assessment as fast as we can. that's certainly not the goal, to cause any casualties among opposition groups, but we have no operational reporting. >> the vetting for syrian rebels and the training still tbd, if the vetting is still in progress. what is the timetable for this entire mission? when will these moderate rebels be operational? >> given the fact that the vetting hasn't begun, and it will take three to five months all by itself, and the training is being set up for 5500 fighters. that could go up the more sites we get, the more capacity we

might get. we're talking between 9 months and 12, once we get the vetting started. it's going to take a little while. we've been very honest about the fact that this mission, both in iraq and in syria, is going to be a lengthy one. >> thank you, rear admiral kirby, thank you for being with us. >> my pleasure. >> i want to bring in a former adviser on iraq to presidents obama and president george bush, as well as james jeffrey, the former u.s. ambassador to iraq. to you first, doug. so you heard rear admiral kirby saying this isn't mission creep, but i think a lot of americans may say okay, maybe it doesn't meet the standard definition of a mission changing, but the troop number is metastecizing. >> that's right. it's the same mission and they

determined they need more people to carry out the mission they've been entrusted to do. >> is it semantics, oh, don't worry, it's still concerning when you're talking about doubling the number of troops. >> it would help if somebody explained to the american people, this is what's happening to release a new number of 1500 on a friday afternoon does give the impression that we're trying to sneak something under the table here. i don't think that's what is happening but it gives that impression. >> does the administration need to be better at explaining this? >> absolutely. this is a very good and important step many the right direction. they shouldn't be defensive and too cautious about this as admiral kirby had to do. the president's given the mission not to train as if we were doing something in south america, he's given the military the mission of destroying isis. it is a very dangerous and serious threat to the entire region, and we have been engaged

in over 600 air strikes in three months. this is part of the operation. we should be very, very upfront and proud of what these people are doing at risk to their lives. >> it's sort of tricky, you have to admit, when you look at what president obama is doing. americans want -- they're worried about isis. they have fatigue when it comes to a war in iraq. so these are kind of two things that the president has to walk between. you can see that it's difficult. how do you think he does that? you're saying he needs to explain this more, he can't be defensive or apologetic. but how does he navigate those tricky issues? >> by being clear on what the american people shouldn't want and can't have, that is hundreds of thousands of american troops on the ground for the better part of a decade in the middle east. that won't work. that's why the american people are sick and tired. but fighting isis, including some boots on the ground, with forward air controllers to make these operations more efficient,

i think they would accept that, including casualties. and we need to move in that direction. >> do you think americans would accept that in casualties? >> i'm going to differ with my old boss here. we should be looking very hard to keep americans out of the direct combat in iraq, if at all possible. i think we need to give the iraqi forces, both the iraqi security forces and the peshmerga, the opportunity to take the fight to isis without u.s. forward air controllers with them. that means u.s. air power would be less effective in helping them. that's just a natural tradeoff. we need to give that a chance to work. american casualties in iraq will be so toxic in our body politic it would put the entire mission at risk. so i would like to see the iraqis solve this themselves with lots of support. >> can the u.s. be successful in this mission without being part of the combat operation?

>> we already are part of the combabat operation. they are already in some danger to some degree. if you put them out in a field with iraqi units, there are in danger from several sides. but if you want to maximize the efficiency of air operations, the president ruled out an american led ground forces operation, i understand that. but this needs to be as efficient and effective as possible. this is a step in the right direction. >> thank you to both of you. just ahead, a series of vehicle attacks on pedestrians is raising new concerns about lone terrorists striking in the u.s. fear of violence far beyond ferguson, missouri when a grand jury decision is revealed in the shooting death of michael brown. creeping up on you... fight back with relief so smooth... ...it's fast. tums smoothies starts dissolving

the instant it touches your tongue ...and neutralizes stomach acid at the source. ♪ tum, tum tum tum... smoothies! only from tums. into one you'll never forget. earn points for every flight and every hotel. expedia plus rewards. when you think aarp, then you don't know "aarp." life reimagined gives you tools and support

to get the career you'll love. find more real possibilities at aarp.org/possibilities. i got this. [thinking] is it that time? the son picks up the check? [thinking] i'm still working. he's retired. i hope he's saving. i hope he saved enough. who matters most to you says the most about you. at massmutual we're owned by our policyowners, and they matter most to us. whether you're just starting your 401(k) or you are ready for retirement, we'll help you get there. ♪ limits are there to be shattered. ♪ barriers are meant to be broken. ♪ lines are drawn to be crossed. ♪ introducing the first ever 467 horsepower rcf coupe from lexus.

once driven, there's no going back. ♪ wouldn't it be great if hiring plumbers, shopping online is as easy as it gets. carpenters and even piano tuners were just as simple? thanks to angie's list, now it is. start shopping online from a list of top-rated providers. visit angieslist.com today.

there is a disturbing new twist in the ongoing terror threat that has law enforcement officials around the world increasingly concerned. cnn's brian todd is working on this story for us. >> reporter: tonight, new indications that some recent attacks, especially those in israel, may be tied to the war on isis. those incidents came just weeks after one isis leader called for lone wolf attacks, including a suggestion to use vehicles.

a van slams into pedestrians at a rail station in jerusalem. a deadly attack praised by hamas. it's one of three recent vehicle attacks in israel. at the canadian parliament, a gunman wielding a long rifle kills a guard, exchanges fire inside the chambers. and a radicalized muslim convert wounds two new york police officers with an ax. the threat of lone wolf attacks appears to be growing, and it's now a top concern of police officials from l.a. to london to new york. >> the threats are growing, they are real, and we are going to have to redouble our efforts, so it's sure that the worst of times do not occur with such frequency that they create an undue fear. >> reporter: but the fear is out there, because it's almost impossible to stop someone planning an attack, where the blueprints are only in their mind. >> this they don't put it out there publicly that it's their

intent, there's no way to know until they do it. >> reporter: these are attacks that don't require a lot of surveillance or specialized training. >> an individual can become a jihadist without learning how to shoot a gun or make a bomb or do anything along those lines. they can drive their car and kill civilians walking down the sidewalk or eating at an outdoor restaurant. >> reporter: u.s. intelligence officials tell cnn the war on isis has been a driving force for lone wolves, increasing the likelihood that attacks cob launched with no warning. an isis spokesman told followers to kill nonbelievers by whatever means possible, a knife, rock, poison or run him over with your car. how can law enforcement and counterterror officials prevent those attacks? experts say they have to keep tabs on people showing changes of behavior and get to those closest to them. >> one of the resources police

have is talking to family members. sometimes tips have come to people that are close to an individual who is radicalized. >> reporter: an expert on radicalization says with isis losing momentum on the battlefields of iraq and syria, we may see fewer people inside north america and europe inspired by isis to launch these attacks. his concern now is that westerners currently fighting with isis on those battlefields may abandon isis and return to the west to launch those attacks here. >> thank you so much. we're joined by cnn security analyst bob baird. cnn counterterrorism analyst phil mudd and cnn national security analyst peter bergen with us in the studio. phil, tell us -- what's going on here? you see these different things happening and there is, of course, this feeling that there's some kind of trend and lone wolf terrorist attacks. is that how you're seeing it?

>> i think there's a couple trends. the first goes back to the initial al qaeda attacks. you have al qaeda that controlled the 911 operation. what they wanted to do is inspire people who never touched or met an al qaeda member to conduct the attacks we're seeing today. so we're seeing what people call leaderless jihad. the second and final thing, i've not seen anything like the magnet of iraq. we've seen terrorist groups in yemen and somalia, where you see a few dozen americans show up. in iraq, we're seeing thousands of europeans and a few hundred north americans show up. that volume might increase the number down the road of homegrowns we get. >> bob, is that what you think we're seeing, leaderless jihad here? >> i absolutely agree with phil. this war has turned into a cause for a lot of people that i never thought would join a jihad, and it is impossible for the fbi to

get inside their heads. they can't arrest these people. they don't have the time for it. so this is going to come out of nowhere, and using cars, for instance, these people are going to be looking at the palestinians and the israelis, and they're going to think it's a good idea and they're going to end up killing a lot of people. why have sophisticated bombs that could be interrupted and found out about? but with a car, what do you do about it? >> we're looking, peter. you have the hatchet attack in queens. you have the shooting at the canadian parliament. the last couple of weeks you've had these car attacks in jerusalem. you're seeing a common threat here. >> there's some good news in here. the attacks, of course, are bad news and tragedies, but there's a natural ceiling what a lone wolf can do. they're not killing thousands of people on a tuesday morning as

al qaeda did. >> isn't it kind of psychic terrorism, too? whether or not if you go to work in a tall building in new york or wait for a subway at a subway stop, the idea that you could be going about the normal business of your day and something could happen, it's frightening. >> new york can be a dangerous place for all sorts of reasons. there's all sorts of whackos in new york. even this hatchet man, he may have had mental issues. we don't know what his actual motivation was. so it is a problem, but it is not a problem which is going to cause us to change our national security policy as we did after 9/11. >> we've seen those two issues happen in other attacks, as well. bob, these lone wolf attacks, you heard in that report the

difficulty of trying to prevent these. it's out there, this is very tough for law enforcement. this is one of the biggest concerns of this white house. have law enforcement made any progress in trying to prevent these? >> they've made tons of progress. they understand it, they can identify people, get on social media and the rest of it. but what concerns me is this fear of isis terrorism in this country is driving us back into the battlefield in iraq and syria. and that possibly could make terrorism worse here if we truly get involved, especially on the side of the government in baghdad, and in the middle of a civil war, there could be blowback for that. but americans are concerned. in this election we saw it there and you're going to see the republicans are going to push for a more aggressive presence in iraq and syria. >> what is the role of social media in all of this?

>> pretty significant for a couple of reasons. first, an emotional reason. when we see images and videos from places like iraq or afghanistan, does are the kinds of real-time images that affect someone who might be mentally deranged. the emotional content is often more psychological content. it will really switch somebody on and let me start thinking about isis. then they see a dead child. the second thing i would say is an affinity. they might see other people out there who share their views and sense that violence is acceptable. that might accelerate an individual himself in contrast to the preinternet, pre-facebook days to say what i'm thinking in terms oh of a violent attack is appropriate, because there's other people out there that think the same thing. >> does social media help authorities track down some of these lone wovls? >> sure. we've seen some of the americans that have gone to syria were active on social media.

it's not illegal for the fbi to be looking at this, and it's a good way to find out what somebody's views are and what people in their own network view as a jihadi point of view. >> peter bergen, thank you so much. phil mudd and bob baird as well, thanks. just ahead, an update on the situation in ferguson, missouri and fears that protests could turn violent again when a critical grand jury decision is announced. that could happen very soon. and police hundreds of miles away from ferguson are on alert. (coffee being poured into a cup.) ♪ save your coffee from the artificial stuff. switch to truvia. great tasting, zero-calorie sweetness from the stevia leaf. live in the same communities that we serve. people here know that our operations

have an impact locally. we're using more natural gas vehicles than ever before. the trucks are reliable, that's good for business. but they also reduce emissions, and that's good for everyone. it makes me feel very good about the future of our company. ♪ with my andi can...m tracfone, order more shaving cream. pay the electric bill. keep towels piping hot. get kids to sit still. play beard styling tunes. learn new razor tricks. hire a pro waxer. post before and after pics. i can do all that with my android from tracfone. 90-day plans start as low as $20. unbeatable nationwide coverage. no contract. for a limited time save $30 on the new lg optimus fuel. now just $49.99. tracfone. do everything for less.

everyone is looking for ways while to cut expenses.s unique, and that's where pg&e's online business energy checkup tool can really help. you can use it to track your actual energy use. find rebates that make equipment upgrades more affordable. even develop a customized energy plan for your company. think of it as a way to take more control over your operating costs. and yet another energy saving opportunity from pg&e. find new ways to save energy and money with pg&e's business energy check-up. a grand jury decision could come at any time on whether to infit the ferguson, missouri police officer who killed michael brown. police in and around ferguson are preparing for the

possibility of renewed violence. police in atlanta and other cities are on alert as well as in case the decision triggers tensions across the country. joining us now, john gaskin, jeffrey toobin, and st. louis county alerman antonio french. john, the concern is this indictment is going to come -- or that the grand jury decision will be announced. are you hearing anything about what that could happen? >> we have heard numerous things, but what we have heard has -- much of what we've heard has come from the prosecuting attorney who said this week that the grand jury is still hearing evidence, and that he expects their decision to be made and announced mid november or possibly at the end of november. so we're expecting something within the next couple of weeks. so between now and then, local

organizations have been gearing up for that. today, a couple of local organizations met with the st. louis county police chief as well as captain ron johnson and a representative of the prosecutor's office along with school superintendents so they can share their frustrations and concerns and what they can do to protect students and businesses. >> jeffrey, one of those community groups in ferguson, the don't shoot coalition, they're asking that protesters be told 48 hours in advance of when this grand jury decision comes down. really so they can get their ducks in a row and try to make sure there isn't any violence. do you think that's going to happen? >> i think it's entirely possible. there's a dilemma here. grand jury proceedings are secret. usually they simply just decide when they're finished with their deliberations. but under unusual circumstances

like this, i think it would certainly be appropriate for the grand jury, the prosecutor supervising it, to give advanced notice of when a decision is going to come down. they're not going to say what it is, but they could say the grand jury will complete its deliberations on such and such a day. and i think that would give everyone a chance to prepare, make sure the community is safe, so i do think it's possible that there might be some advanced notice. it would seem to me to be a very good idea. >> how important is it that notice is given? >> i think it's very important. you're dealing with a situation right now that's not just a criminal investigation but a public safety concern. so anything that the county prosecutor can do to work with community members and leaders to ensure people are safe in the community i think he should. in fact, the county prosecutor at this time is really the only person that has any degree of

control over what is happening and the anxiety that our community is going through. and he should take every step possible to help us all feel the community is going to be safe once this announcement is made. >> you've said all along there needs to be a trial for officer darren wilson. if there isn't, how do you think the community is going to respond? >> i think the county prosecutor has set up the worst case scenario. this case is just too important to possibly be decided in secret behind closed doors. there's been enough witnesses that have come out and there's been some contradictory evidence. so with such confusion, i think the only thing that's going to help ease the short term and long-term problems we have here in the city is a public trial where both sides have an opportunity to present their evidence. but to decide this in any way behind closed doors will make it very hard in the short term and

in the long-term with the healing we have to do. >> if, jeffrey, the grand jury decides not to bring charges against officer wilson, what next? what resource do prosecutors have? >> there is an entirely separate federal investigation. the justice department is doing a criminal and civil investigation. it's much more complicated criminal case if the federal government does it. there may not be the evidence for it. so it is possible that there there is no indictment and officer willon is free to go. but we don't know what's going to happen and i don't think anyone does for sure except those involved with the process. >> gentlemen, thanks so much. we'll continue to talk to you in the coming days. appreciate your input. more news just ahead, but first this impact your world.

these volunteers are preparing for a daunting task. soon, they'll travel from the united states to west africa, to work on the front lines in the fight against ebola. >> we have a mock ebola treatment unit. we're training clinicians who are going to deploy to west africa to treat patients there, how to protect themselves. >> they learn skills like putting on and removing protective equipment, drawing blood, and disposing of hazardous waste. >> every detail could mean a matter of life and death. to you and the people that work around you. >> reporter: dr. folk lee is planning to help medical teams in liberia improve their protocols and hopefully limit infection. >> all the infections of co-workers and death of co-workers, most of them are probably preventable if they had sufficient staffing, the equipment we have here, space,

supplies. >> we're teaching them how the virus is transmitted so that they know how to protect themselves so that they feel safe taking care of patients. >> reporter: the training helps. but the volunteers still face a formidable foe. >> whoever tells you they're not anxious about going to liberia and working in an ebola unit is delusional. it's just a sense of solidarity and wanting to be there for our nonprofit partners who don't have a choice but to stay and work and contribute. (woman) the constipation and belly pain

feel like a knot. how can i ease this pain? (man) when i can't go, it's like bricks piling up. i wish i could find some relief. (announcer) ask your doctor about linzess-- a once-daily capsule for adults with ibs with constipation or chronic idiopathic constipation. linzess is thought to help calm pain-sensing nerves and accelerate bowel movements. it helps you proactively manage your symptoms. do not give linzess to children under 6, and it should not be given to children 6 to 17. it may harm them. don't take linzess if you have a bowel blockage. get immediate help if you develop unusual or severe stomach pain especially with bloody or black stools the most common side effect is diarrhea, sometimes severe.

if it's severe, stop taking linzess and call your doctor right away. other side effects include gas, stomach-area pain and swelling. bottom line, ask your doctor about linzess today. not to be focusing, again, on my moderate my goal was to finally get in shape. to severe chronic plaque psoriasis. so i finally made a decision to talk

to my dermatologist about humira. humira works inside my body to target and help block a specific source of inflammation that contributes to my symptoms. in clinical trials, most adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis saw 75% skin clearance on humira. and the majority of people were clear or almost clear in just 4 months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers, including lymphoma, have happened; as have blood, liver, and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure. before treatment, get tested for tb. tell your doctor if you've been to areas where certain fungal infections are common, and if you've had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have flu-like symptoms or sores. don't start humira if you have an infection. set a new goal today. ask your dermatologist about humira. because with humira clearer skin is possible.

recap tlging this hour's breaking news. the white house confirming, brooklyn prosecutor loretta lynch is the white house replacement for holder. let's talk about that and more with lisa lizza and jeffrey tubin and ana navarro. and so jeff, you know loretta lynch. what do you think of this choice? >> let me be honest about this. i, just, on a personal level am thrilled. in january of 1990, a long time ago, we started practically the same time working in the basement office of brooklyn attorneys doing the most basic cases and i've watched her

career soar over the past 24 years. she's a work horse prosecutor. she's not very well known. she's not even well-known in new york. but she was the u.s. attorney under bill clinton and the u.s. attorney under president obama in the eastern district of new york, which is brooklyn, queens, nassau and suffolk and there were no any questions about her competence and i expect her to sail through for her confirmation hearing. >> and jeffrey tubin will confirm her. do you think republicans will? >> i don't know enough about her? i don't think most republicans know enough about her. but what we do know is she has a very extensive professional record and career. she has gone through confirmation twice before by acclimatation and not by vote so i think the president is sending a good signal by nominating someone that is a true professional and not someone

from his inner circle or political and frankly, brianna, i think even with the little i know about her, i think most republicans will like her better than they like eric holder. so there is two things. we get her and get rid of eric holder. >> that is a pretty low bar. >> that is the understatement of the year. that is a low bar. he has been controversial. let's talk about immigration. both sides digging in. the president is saying i'm planning to take executive action when it comes to relieving some of the restrictions on illegal immigrants. john boehner is saying if he does that, he is poisoning the well. aren't they just sort of poking each other in the eye here? >> i've sort of changed my mind about it a little bit. i came on the other day and said he has to do this because he made a promise. but i wonder if he's setting a bad precedent by using an executive order to basically change how the law enforcement treats a major part of the law.

and think of what a creative republican president could do if this sets a precedent. so i think the white house should move very, very cautiously, take a deep breath and rethink this. there is no doubt, whether i'm right about it or not, it is going to poison the well in congress. congress will say nothing will get done, boehner and the white house didn't have time to get anything done. and once you start off like this and push executive orders like this, the history shows the next party will do it and push it further the next time. >> that is fascinating. i want to ask ana and jeff about that. jeff, is that what you think would happen, there would be -- he pushes a norm and it sort of changes the game on other issues? >> well we'll just have to see what he actually does. >> sure. that's true. >> but remember, the issue is prosecutorial discretion. would this order -- this order

may say there are certain category of crimes, immigration, people whose young parents brought them, that the immigration service will simply not throw out of the country. that strikes me as something well within the president's discretion to do that. and i don't think there is anything constitutional or legally suspect about it. political it is controversial but who is kidding whom? congress had years to pass immigration reform and they didn't do it with a democratic senate, they are certainly not going to do it with a republican senate. >> to me that is part of the argument of why you don't do it. the fact that our political system has not been able to come to an agreement on this issue and when congress fails, then it pushes the executive and the supreme court to step in and do things. but the fact that congress and the white house couldn't agree to me makes it less democratic for the president to go forward with it. >> ana, what does this mean for

republicans? >> let's put this in -- >> go on. >> what it means for the immigration -- what it means for the immigration issue is that i think if we get executive action, we don't get an immigration bill. and i do see an opportunity. anybody that has spoken to mitch mcconnell and john boehner knows both of them want to do it. the pressure from people like the faith community, the business community is very great. it has not gone away. the problem is this -- the president has zero credibility with the hispanic community because he has been making promises on immigration since he was candidate barack obama in 2007. the republicans have even less credibility. so they have even less numbers when it comes to that. the think the president should write it down and show the community what it expects and he is going to do and give them a deadline. give the republicans a deadline to get their act together. >> guys, we'll have to leave it there. we'll see if that happens.

ana navarro, jeffrey tubin and thanks to all of you. you can follow us on twitter. we are at cnn sit room there. thanks for watching. i'm brianna keeler in the situation room. erin burnett "outfront" starts right now. "outfront" tonight, breaking news in the war against isis. president obama doubling the number of american boots on the ground in iraq. plus the fbi raids the home of a senior american diplomat and her job security clearance, all shut down. is she a spy? and seal versus seal. one claims he killed osama bin laden and another seal says the story is a lie. who took down america's most wanted terrorist? let's go "outfront." good evening. i'm erin burnett. and "outfront" on this friday night, the breaking news, the united states doubling the number of troopsth