immigration. we'll show you the old clip making new headlines. wolf blitzer is off. i'm joe johns. you're in "the situation room." we begin with breaking news. american students caught up in the bloody cairo protest are finally on their way out of a nightmare experience in egypt. let's go straight to cnn's senior international correspondent, ben wedeman in cairo. earlier today we heard the three american students would be released on saturday. now we're hearing it's already happened. why? >> what we understand is that yesterday the prosecutors ordered their release but it took for today to get released. they have been released and they are on their way to the airport. they were attending the american university in cairo and according to the egyptian police, they were involved in attacks on security forces during the demonstrations. of course, their lawyers and their parents deny that they could have done that sort of thing and clearly the fact that the egyptians who shadly said that they were going to attack charge them for attacking the police have let them go. joe? >> now, what's the word on the ground there? fill us? >> reporter: every night is it s long here in cryo these days. it is 11:00 p.m. and tahrir square is crowded with tens and thousands of people. some people will spend the tight night here. there was another demonstration, a counter demonstration. people who support the military council here. they say they are the silent majority here in egypt to have watched from their homes and on television as tahrir square has become a political stage in which they are calling for the military to leave power. they are attacking the interior ministry. these are the other egyptians worried about the country's economy, which is in very bad shape since the revolution. they are worried about the lack of law & order in the streets and they want to see the elections go on and they support the government. there are people here in egypt who actually do support this government. joe? >> so you're saying honest disappointment on point of view and not necessarily a counter demonstration that's been put out there by the generals? >> reporter: no, it would appear that it was in fact a sincere demonstration of those egyptians who don't sympathize, don't agree with the tahrir square demonstrations. in the past, of course, under mubarak, staged demonstrations in favor of the government, in favor of the president were quite common but it was clear that these people do sincerely believe that there is another side that they need to be heard, that it's not just tahrir. joe? >> thanks for your reporting, ben. stay safe in cairo. now let's get ted simon on the front. he's the attorney for gregory porter, one of the attorneys for the free students. he's a drexle university student. what do you know about his return to the united states? >> yes. fortunately, we were able to arrange a phone call yesterday as well as today i'm pleased to report that it was a good call. greg demonstrated an unusual calm and a common measured demeanor. i think he really showed and demonstrated a maturity well beyond his 19 years given the extraordinary challenges that he was facing. he's a fine young man. >> has he boarded a plane to the united states or do you know when he's going to do that? >> well, what we do know is that -- and we're extremely thankful and appreciative of, we were able to object to the prosecution's request to extend detention for 15 days and the court ultimately agreed and later agreed not to appeal and we're thankful and appreciative of that and provided an unrestrictive court order. a few steps had to be taken place, hurdles that had to be overcome and that left the opportunity for them to be released from the police station and that's what has happened. >> we've within hearing a variety reports of people, american dissent of people being detained there and facing rough treatment. what kind of treatment has your client gotten? do you know? >> well, i can tell you, i have spoken to my client and he was very he wanted to be very clear to say that he was okay and we certainly communicated that. he was thankful again for all of our efforts and thankful for the unconditional support and we're also very appreciative of the court's ruling that required and issued the order of relief as well as we're thankful to my counterparts in agreeing not to appeal. there's much to be thankful for at this time of year and we've taken all possible steps to secure their release since tuesday and we look forward for all of this to continue in the positive course that this has taken. >> what is next for him? do you think he'll want to return to egypt after this experience? >> you know, these are issues that we have not discussed. he is a very academically-oriented individual, extremely well-read, very interested in international relations and culture and we know for sure his education will continue but where he will continue his studies is something for him to decide. >> i want to try one more time on the issue of whether he's left the country. do you know whether he has left the country or are you just not able to tell us? >> well, i know exactly where he is and he has left the police station. one of the reasons that i was unable to go to your studio, i continue to monitor this with various individuals over in egypt and that's why i'm on the phone. but we're very pleased with the place that he is at now and i'm happy to report that he has left the police station. >> do you know if the united states government has exerted a lot of pressure on this or were they in the background waiting to see how it plays out? >> i would give the highest marks to the counselor officials in cairo. they have demonstrated what they frequently do, appropriate care for americans that have problems abroad. however, they will tell you and i will tell you it's never a substitute for being an advocate or an attorney and the family thought it wise to engage us as well as our counterparts and i think that was all very helpful. but the highest of marks should be given to the state department as well as the counselor's office and council general in cairo for ensuring the care of these young men. >> all right. ted simon, thanks so much. an attorney for gregory porter. when you're able to tell us where your client is, if he's in the air, please get back to us and we'll be checking with. >> you thank you. an official from the mubarak office took office as elections for parliament will begin soon. but after days of demonstrations and dozens of deaths, activists are demanding that the generals give up power now and in a new twist, the white house today is pretty much saying the same thing. let's turn to jill dougherty. >> it really feels like de ja vu. and the u.s. torn once again between the title wave of people power and security. the protesters on tahrir square are calling it last chance friday. and as the blackberry is checked for the latest news on the square, he believes it. >> the next 24-hour period could be crucial for that. >> the first since hosni mubarak is scheduled to take place monday. but the protesters are fed up they want the military to step aside and give real power to the civilian government. the full transfer of power to a civilian government must take place in a just and exclusive manner that responds to the legitimate aspirations of the egyptian people. the obama administration is watching the exploding tensions in egypt with alarm. less than two months ago, secretary of state hillary clinton was praising the military. >> i'd like to recognize the work of the supreme forces which has been an institution of stability and continuity. >> but the violence against demonstrators and the resignation that the egypt civilian government has changed that. >> we condemn the excessive force used by the police and discipline its forces and to protect the universal rights of all egyptians to peacefully express themselves. >> reporter: the white house still wants monday's elections to go forward without violence or intimidation. but he says egypt is in no condition to hold elections right now. he says the obama administration should stop being cautious and come out and say that. >> there's a failure to see that it's the only future and the united states government, as are most governments should support whatever the egyptian people should like to see. >> and now many egyptians are saying, first things first. get rid of military rule, stop it, and then go to elections. the white house seems to think that they can do both. but at this point, of course, it's the egyptian people running this. joe? >> jill, is this impatience on the part of the administration or -- >> egypt is a big country. it's very significant what is going on there and also one big factor is the economy is getting worst and worst. when you see things like that on the street, very few people are going to go and be tourists in egypt and that's where they get a lot of their money. the economy is very, very bad and that just exacerbates things. >> jill doherty at the state department, thanks so much. >> uh-huh. violence erupts at one of the busiest shopping days of the year. fist fights, pepper spray, and shootings on black friday. plus, the football player and the cheerleader. what happened after they collided in an nfl game? 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[ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels. ♪ oh what a relief it is! ♪ to the flu. an accident... to asthma. a new heartbeat... to a heart condition. when you see your doctor, you don't face any medical issue alone. you do it together. at the american medical association, we're committed to preserving that essential partnership between patients and their doctors. because when it comes to your health, you need someone you trust. the ama. protecting the relationship between patients and physicians. an accident doesn't have to slow you down. with better car replacement, available only from liberty mutual insurance, if your car's totaled, we give you the money to buy a car that's one model-year newer... with 15,000 fewer miles on it. there's no other auto insurance product like it. better car replacement, available only from liberty mutual. it's a better policy that gets you a better car. call... or visit one of our local offices today, and we'll provide the coverage you need at the right price. liberty mutual auto insurance -- responsibility. what's your policy? violence is marring black friday's kickoff to the holiday shopping season. lisa sylvester is monitoring that and other stories in "the situation room" right now. lisa? >> hi there, joe. in porter ranch, california, people say 15 people at a walmart store suffered minor injuries when a woman doused them with pepper spray. she reportedly wanted to get an xbox console. and a florida man is under arrest after a breakout at a jewelry counter. the man sus spebpected in t disappearance of a woman in aruba could go free as soon as monday. gee door know's travel companion went missing in august. pulling the christmas tree to the mansion, first lady michelle oem and daughters malia and sasha welcomed to 19-foot tree from wisconsin. and a foot player took down a cheerleader. she's a four-year member of the squad and studying to be a teacher. no harm, no foul. she was okay. and by the way, the cowboys won that 20-19. >> yeah. who -- you know, i've got to say, maybe the cheerleaders ought to start wearing helmets now, huh? >> yeah, that looks like it hurts. >> it's all good. it's all good. you're in washington, d.c. we understand. thanks, lisa. brutally beaten in egypt, a prominent blogger tells us about her horrible assault by riot police. and a boy without a country. the tussle over ju jerusalem takes center stage. g her heart , administering her medication, and just making her comfortable. one night britta told me about a tradition in denmark, "when a person dies," she said, "someone must open the window so the soul can depart." i smiled and squeezed her hand. 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[ laughs ] [ male announcer ] the lexus december to remember sales event is here, but only for a limited time. see your lexus dealer for exclusive lease offers on the 2012 rx 350 and, as a gift from lexus, we'll make your first month's payment. i've tried it. and, as a gift from lexus, but nothing's helped me beat my back pain. then i tried this. it's salonpas. this is the relief i've been looking for. salonpas has 2 powerful pain fighting ingredients that work for up to 12 hours. and my pharmacist told me it's the only otc pain patch approved for sale using the same rigorous clinical testing that's required for prescription pain medications. proven. powerful. safe. salonpas. deficit reducing budget cuts. they are scheduled to take effect in over a year and doctors treating low-income patients could bear the brunt. let's get more with lisa sylvester. >> hi, joe. the supercommittee had a task of coming up with more than a trillion dollars in deficit cuts. these are automatic cuts that will have an impact on the defense industry but it will also affect medicare. >> what's going on with this lady? >> reporter: a neighborhood hospital with a patient base of the elderly and working poor. >> about 70% of the patients that come through our door rely on medicare and medicaid. >> reporter: but payments to hospitals and other medical providers are slated for a 2% cut over the next 9 years starting in 2013. this is after the congressional committee failed to reach a deal on $1.2 tril kren in spending cuts. the doctor says it will have an impact on access to medical care. >> a 2% cut is $1.5 million. we're talking about a margin that is very, very thin for that hospital to survive. $1.5 million pays for a lot of nurses, pays for a the llot of doctors and patients. >> reporter: they estimate a $43 billion cuts in hospitals going forward. >> that comes on top of 155 billion that has already been legislated and cuts that have occurred at state level through medicaid. it means fewer nurses, longer waiting times in emergency departments, and less access to the newest treatments. >> reporter: the cuts will happen unless congress intervenes. the american hospital association is lobbying to stop the scheduled medicare payment cuts but pete with the national taxpayer union argues lawmakers need to make good on the promise to fix the deficit. >> renigging now would almost certainly result in a downgrade of the u.s. credit rating. >> reporter: he says medicare spending is out of control and even with the 2% cut the program's overall budget will continue to grow. but the doctor says other hospitals with more privately insured patients can shift costs around. his facility doesn't have that option. that means tough choices ahead. >> we'd have to make some decisions and unfortunately that would affect patient care. that would affect the elderly patients in this neighborhood, the people that go to work every day, the working core. >> now, doctors could face a double whammy. physicians are slated for a 30% cut under the medicare program on january 1st of next year unless congress acts. congress are you teenly addresses each year but with all of the partisan division and bickering going on, there is a real concern in the medical community that this could become a political football, joe. >> and a political year, too. because you expect the congress and presidential candidates are going to have to weigh in and talk about this. the voters can kind of decide what they want done. >> yeah. and we're going to see this on the defense side, what is going to happen next year. are they going to roll back some of the cuts that have been proposed? same thing with medicare? and you're right. it all happens in the climate of it being an election year, joe. >> congress has tried to do this and every time they run into trouble. coming up, my interview with an egyptian american beaten and assaulted by police in cairo. ni-i-i-ck. oh... i thought those were put out for me. i did it again. no worries, nick. [ sighs ] say, nick, you must be busy this holiday. oh, yeah, with all the great savings we got going on, it's been crazy. ooh, i got to dash away. customers lining up. ♪ [ male announcer ] this holiday, chevy's giving more. ♪ it's 4g, so you can do more faster. so, kathryn, post more youtube videos of your baby acting adorable. baby. on it. matt, ignore me and keep updating your fantasy team. huh? jeff, play a game. turbo-boosting now, sir. dennis, check in everywhere you go on foursquare. that's mayor dennis... of the water cooler. you're the best. liz, rock out to pandora. oh, no i'm an only child. and nick, you shouldn't even be here, you can do everything from the golf course. good? good. [ male announcer ] on at&t, blackberry® torch moves at the speed of 4g. ♪ like a ramen noodle- every-night budget. she thought allstate car insurance was out of her reach. until she heard about the value plan. shop less. get more. make one call to an allstate agent. a well-known egyptian american columnist blogger suffered a brutal beating and sexual assault by police at tahrir square, and said it was like being set upon by a bunch of wild beasts. could you set the view for our viewers, what you were doing in tahrir square and what happened? >> well, on wednesday night i spent a few hours in tahrir square and then decided to go to one of the streets that leads into the square. it was the scene, the frontline between protesters who were trying to protect the square from being invaded as it was last week by security forces and the two sides were kept apart by a small no man's land. i made my way there up until basically the beginning of that no man's land and as the security forces started firing, i took cover with other people in an area right next to that edge of no man's land and i didn't see the riot police had infiltrated on to our side basically. and those around me who could get away got away. they arrested it one guy. i didn't see what happened to him. and they clobbered me because i wasn't able to get out. i was surrounded by four to five riot police who rained down these blows with their big sticks and then they dragged me on to -- into that no man's land that basically leads towards the interior ministry. as they were dragging me, they subjected me to the worst kind of sexual assault that i've ever experienced. their hands were all over my body, groping my breasts, hands in between my legs, so many hands i lost count were put in between my belt and trying to get into my trousers. it was horrendous. they pulled my hair, called me all kinds of curses and dragged me all the way int