al jazeera america's hard hitting... >> there blocking the door... >> ground breaking... >> truth seeking... >> we have to get out of here... award winning investigative documentary series... special episode ferguson: city under siege only on al jazeera america ♪ >> this is al jazeera america. live from new york city, i'm david chute we a look at today's top stories. sophisticated and well funded secretary defense hagel says the islamic state group pose as threat to the united states, that may surpass pre9/11 al quaida, this is u.s. air strikes continue can to try and roll back islamic state advances in northern iraq. plus, in atlanta. >> today is a mir reclose day. i am thrilled to be alive, to be well, and to

be reyou nateed with my family. >> american doctor and aid worker who were infected in africa with ebola have now released. doctors say they pose no risk are to public health. in ferguson missouri it's now been 48 hours with no fires no shooting and no tier gas, city and federal leaders believe the calm will continue, we will explain why. continue attacking islamic state fighters. the pentagon saying it conducted six air strikes to help kurdish forces in the north, those forces are trying to bolster their control of the dam, the largest in the country. u.s. and eyewitness news orackky officials have long feared for they blow up the dam, the resulting flood waters to the south

would kill hundreds of thousands of people, including baghdad. publish add video showing the beheading of journalist foley. today obama administration officials declared that the threat goes far beyond iraq and syria. all the developments on this story from washington, and this afternoon, deft secretary seems to make big news when he compared the capabilities to the history of al quaida. >> well, certainly, david, in the events over the last 48 hours the drewsome murder on video, there has been a uptick in the rhetoric, and certainly the question now becomes is the rhetoric matching the policy of the administration, and that is to protect lives in places like baghdad. as well as that humanitarian mission to drive the group back off that mountain side, where they beseemed that

religious minority, and does the rhetoric match the air strikes themselves because the rhetoric is getting very hot, the islam mick group, has been justifiably vilified by the president on down over the course of the last couple of days but today we heard chuck hagel and the chief of staff, take it one step further, dempsey for his part says that isis can't be peaten until they are routed from syria, not just iraq, but syria. and chuck headachele took it a step further. >> they are beyond just a terrorist group. they mary ideology, a sophistication of of zoo teenic prowess. they are tremendously well funded. this is beyond anything that we have seen. so we must prepare for everything. and the only way you do that is take a cold hard look at it, and get ready.

>> all right, let's remind everyone, the stated policy administration that they are insisting this remains ^t policy, there will be no combat troops on the drowned, american boots on the drowned, meanwhile, headachele adds that the air strikes have at least stalls the momentum of the state group in iraq. >> mike that remark came in response to a follow up by a pentagon reporter about comparing islamic state to pre9/11 al quaida, and it seems like he is sort of saying yes, they are as dangerous as pre9/11 al quaida, is the perception from the that hagel was going out on a limb, and perhaps speaking out of turn, or if they really believe this, doesn't the policy need to be more aggressive. >> that's right, and again, it is a question of does the rhetoric match the policy, we have heard the comments from chuck hagel and others that would seem to indicate that they have to step it up if the threat is as reel as they

think it is. you add another wrinkle that wasn't brought up during the 9/11 run up to never, and all the reports and investigations that followed, and that is the state department today reports there are some 12,000 foreign fighters from some 50 countries a small number albeit of it americans but many more europeans and the concern can that we have heard time and time again, including again today, is these individuals can two book to their home countries and wreak terror and havoc and murder in those countries as well. so there is an extra added danger here, this of course, comes after that rescue mission which dempsey called said it was executed flawlessly, only problem was that the targets of the rescue the american journalist and steve as well as other unnamed hostages were not there, they came up empty, the raid those two did talk about that quite extensely today as well. >> in washington where there was that river voting news conference, and jarring language from

administration officials about islamic state. on the point that mike was making eric holder has called the rise in foreign fighters one of the more frighten challenges facing law enforcement around the world. the united states believes that thousands of fighters are leaving europe and going into syria along with a growing number of americans. well, roxanne that has more on that. >> david, the u.s. thinks that at least seven ^+thou foreign fighters have gone to syria. >> they say many of those people are are americans. they are getting more and more worried and also concerns about what might happen if and when they come home. the voice james foley heard was his killer's, he said it probably belonged to a man that was british. >>s far too many british citizens. the u.s. says dozens of

americans have stream stood syria to. >> from america. and 22 years old. >> he was one of them, he left behind his chilling message, before he carried out a suicide mission in syria, earlier this year. >> many muslims. >> their motivation vary. >> one of the reason ares that it and be attracted to +t islamic state, is because they don't have any local ties so that they can commit acts of violence against people in ^t region, without any headation, if you like, or any concern that might p a friend of their cause can sin. >> some seeking an identity and purpose, and they find it in what they think is service to islam. as this video shot by vice news in syria shows. >> u.s. says it will push

the u.n. to have international standards. but stopping citizens from traveling there to fight, will be hard. >> they go to a different country, and make their way from the third country to let's say iorack or syria, or wherever they were being assigned to. >> some may still believe in the causes they left for. >> they can do all sorts of damage, not only to tact targets be uh to so called soft targets like shopping centers schools ettle. >> the security experts say english speakers are valuable to the group, because they help the it fooers share their message with the word, like james folly's okiller did, earlier i spoke with the. dr.o. of global post. he was freelancing when he went to syria, he told me why he chose to watch the video of the execution.

>> i felt compelled to watch that video, and i would urge your viewers to please not do that. but that was one of the most difficult things i have ever had to do with somebody that i love and admire. >> jim's captors had demanded about $132.5 million for his release. was that something that you at the global post were looking into because we understand that the u.s. has a policy against giving ransom for it's hostages. >> we were focused on a much smaller amount, that we believed would be sufficient. but the cap can tors never engaged in a real negotiation. of course, we were aware of the fact that it's against the united states law to pay a ransom to a terroristist group. but based on our own research, and our own

communication with the government, the family felt that they could pursue this course of action. >> we have heard and we have heard in different reports that countries in europe, like spain, and france, have offered great sums of money to get their hostages released, so is that something you wish the u.s. would do as well and maybe jim would be here today. >> i think that in light of jim's horrific killing, and in light of the fact that the islamic state has risen to a new level of power, and menace, in the world, that it may well be appropriate for the united states government to consider some change in their policy. you said you watched that

video, and it was very difficult to watch, obviously, what do you feel toward those people who killed him? >> i -- i don't feel hatred. i would imagine that john and dianne foley feel the same way. i pray for them. as i pray for jim. >> he says he can understand why foley went to report in syria, he wanted to tell the story of the people, david, ball bony told me he didn't want james to go back to the region, he had been held captainny 2011, but he loved what he did when he died, that's what phil told me. >> a terrific interview, z a very dripping story about the islamic state, thank you. >> back in the united states, more indications that the tensions in

ferguson missouri are rach are hitting down, last night was one of the quietest since michael drown was killed. and the governor has ordered the national guard to start with withdrawing. robert, there's obeen a lot of talk about the smaller crowd last night. tell us what is planned for this evening. >> david, good afternoon, there isn't a lot of plans for this evening as far as what we have been told. you can can see behind me, there is no one here on the streets. really, there is a small group that has set up speakers. they are going to play music, they were a few minutes ago, and i might add also, that it is about 97 degrees. with really big humidity, so it is hot, we think there's one reason why there's not a lot of protestors coming out tonight. there was big thunderstorms that came through the area, and that sort of drove everyone away, attorney general who was here

yesterday, in st. louis, speaking to officials, and the f, be, i, and trying to make sure the investigation goes smoothly, he flew back to washington, d.c. last night, he made comments earlier today regarding the situation here, let's listen. >> the national outcry we have seen speaks to a sense of mistrust, and mutual can suspension that can take hold between law enforcement and certain communities. one of the people of ferguson to know that i personally understand that misinstruction. this department of justice stands with the people of ferguson. >> now, speaking of the people, many of them will be going through the weekend aanticipating ^t funeral. that will be on monday, so there is still some sadness and grief going on, and clearly people want to see that change, that the attorney general said was coming.

yesterday here in ferguson. david. >> michael, given the governor's ostatement about that change, of having the nard guard essentially step away, what is -- first of all, what the like right now? do you see members still in the area? >> no, there's no national guard that we are seeing there's a few up at the tactical can center, but they are going to be out of here by late night. and as far as police presence, there are some troopers state troopers across the street over there, there's a few up the block here, but it is minimal, but remember, the sun hasn't gone down yet. and tonight there should be some more police presence i'm sure there will be protestors out here, but not in the numbers we saw last week. >> we know in the st. louis media market, there's been wall to wall coverage of every development, esplin what the coverage has been like and what is in the air regarding this special prosecutor, a lot of calls for the special

prosecutor and for the current prosecutor to step away, where is that going? >> exactly, people what they are concerned about here is the fact that the county prosecutor here has deep dies to law enforcement. and shot by a block man, and that's what a lot of the people here is concerned about, that perhaps he is embedded too much and has too much personal history with this, and he will not allow the testified get to the grand jury in the correct can and proper way. so even like last night, we war down in clayton, in front of the prosecutors office, and clergymen -- actually around the country came, to protest the fact that he is still in charge, so to speak. and there's also some strife between the governor and this prosecutor, just yesterday, the prosecutor went on and told the governor to man up and start making decisions,

so politician throwing eggs at each other, and protectors out on the street, but we are are holding this is sort of ^t calm leading into the weekend before his funeral. >> robert ray are live, thank you. coming up later in that hour, we will have more on those calls to the proses cuterses cuter in ferguson to step aside, and we will talk for a lawyer from his family about the investigation. an american aid worker american doctor and an aid work infected with ebola have now been released from the hospital. dr. kent brantley, and nancy right bowl are are free of the virus are and pose no health risk, the experience in treating these two is underscore add great deal about ebola, which in the last five months in west africa, has claimed more than 1300 lives. john tarot has the story. david, there was delight and celebration, as the two american patients

with ebola, were released from hospital. free of the disease, but also a ting of sadness for all those in west africa that won't be getting the same kind of care they have had. >> i am thrilled to be alive, and town reunited with my family. >> it was different last month, when brantley an aid worker arrived ^tpr west africa, wear progress text clothing designed to stop the virus spread. the family his body completely free of the disease that nearly killed him. >> we have determined in conjunction with state

control, that dr. plantly was recovered from the infection, and that he can return are to his family, to his community, and to his life without public health concerns. >> at the same news conference, emery hospital announced the other american aid worker brought to atlanta, nancy right bowl was damaged on tuesday. both brantley, and her receive add drug that is not yet widely available, experts say the virus is still prevalent in west africa, with more than 1300 people dead. >> we need to take this as a grain of salt, even as these individuals have been able to walk out of hospital healthy, the ebola continues to wage on. >> 576 people have died in liberia, 396 in ginny, 374 in sierra leone, and four in nigeria. something that dr. kent brantley is well aware

of. >> please, continue can to pray for the people of west africa, and encouraging those in leadership and influence, to do everything possible. to bring this to an end, thank you. >> and nancy and her husband david have asked for privacy after this affair, but dr. kent plantly says give me some time with my family after not seeing them, then i will be happy to answer media questions. >> john here in new york, thank you. coming up, israeli air strikes today, killed three senior members of hamas, what does that mean for the war over gaza, and ^t possibility of diplomacy. also, back in the united states, bank of oamerica has agreed to shell out $17 billion for it's roll in the great reare session, we will have the details, next. oo oo

the i is ^ ^ ^ the ^ ^ the the ^t t.

^ days after hamas appeared to break a truce, we firing more rockets, an air strike today killed three hamass commanders.

thousands of palestinians then took to the streets to participate in the leaders burial, jane ferguson has the report. >> there have been many funerals this summer, but none quite this big. on thursday thousands attended the burial of three commanders of hamas' military wing. mohammed and rapid al attar are the most senior hamas figures to be killed so far in this conflict. their bodies werery ares through the streets in the south of the gaza strip. crowds of mourners display add show of support for hamas. just a few streets away, the rubble they were pulled from. >> we were sleeping there

were nine missles that hit the building you can can see the destruction hamas responded quickly. >> the assassination of the leaders won't break the will of our people, and won't weaken the resistence, when occupation will pay the price. >> thursday was the second day in a row of hamas commanders being targeted. on wednesday, an attempt on the military commander failed but killed his wife and two children, he is not believed to be in the house when it was pommed. as well as seven sillians in the house at the time. the security forces had already made several attempts on the lives pause they were so senior in the command structure, on the armed wing. now the israeli government will p able to answer critic whose had been asking what had been achieved in this war, by

saying these three are very significant for israel. >> jane ferguson, al jazeera. gaza. >> the group continues to launch rockets into israel, the military says that hamas fired more than one hub rockets at israel today alone. nick chef reinvigorating has more now from jerusalem. >> prime minister trying to crees this moment as tangible proof of what the war has accomplished. he called this exceptional work from the israeli military and the domestic security service spied inside of gaza, and he said this attack prevented future attacks. and they pointed out, all day today, in the israeli media that these three men were particularly responsible for the kidnapping of corporal sha lead in 26, that led to the exchange of more than 1,000 palestinian prisoners so these men had been on the top of the most wanted list for a long time.

now, hamas' response, continues not only what jane mentioned but those rockets, conducted, more than 100 rockets today, more than 300 in the last two days since this last cease fire, expired also, some 12 mortars that hit one of the small jewish communities right along the israeli gaza border, some of those hit a house, and also hit one barn, and also shrapnel hit one civilian and he is severely wounded. now, diplomats who are still working to try to get the two together, admit the two sides are choosing not to talk to each other, and are are choosing to fight instead, but a senior u.s. official says there's always room for diplomacy in the middle east, after the violence, he predicts by next week, they will be backat the table speaking to each other, until then, it seems like nothing will stop this round of violence. back in american aid worker the u.s. justice

department announced today that it has reach add record settlement with bank of america. the bank was accused of misleading investors into buying mortgage backed securities. jen rogers is in tonight, and jen, tell us more about the terms? >> sure, david, this is big news, pause as you said, this is a record settlement. and the u.s. government, and it goes all the way back to the financial crisis and all those sub prime mortgages it sets those charges, pacicly, they bout merrill lynch and country wide, they have been charged with misleading investors into buying these securities this is trying to settle all of that once and for all. it comes with a big cost though, $16.65 billion. $9.7 billion of it will go with straight catch to government coffers that goes for penalties and compensation, then another $7 billion, that goes as relief to consumers that will be in the form of things of loan modifications. so the numbers are big.

it is the biggest settlement amount ever, it follows settlements with jpmorgan and city group, that also settled for billions. >> we know that the justice didn't suspect done chasing aviary's bangers. who is next. >> right, so they can't just breathe a sigh of relief here. some are saying goldman sachs, wells fargo, those are some of the names being thrown around, also maybe some executive, these would be civil charges. and then some other key executives that's what people are focusing on next. >> else is coming up ton? >> sew with have a fun one, if you drive in the city, besides being stuck behind cars forever in traffic, the big complaint is parking. it's such a nightmare, well, some developers are trying to come up with solutions for all of thaws are pulling out our hair looking for parking

but some are saying not fast that's public, you can't can sell it, we are just selling information, so we will have the latest on that. can can prosecutor looking into the killing of michael brown, has released aretives in the police department he is supposed to investigate, but says he will not step aside, a closer look, next. can can to join the islamic state.

tensions in ferguson omissouri appear to be calming down, there were demonstrations today. calling for the prosecutor leading the

investigation into michael brown shooting to be removed from the case. natasha has that part of the story. >> protestors say, 70,000 people from missouri and all over the world have spoken. their message to st. louis county prosecutor withdraw from the michael brown his family multigenerational ties to the st. louis police department will impede his ability to handle the case fairly. his father was st. louis police officer, killed in the line of duty by an african-american man. >> i know the pain of that, is the fact that he was a police officer and killed in the line of duty, had nothing to to

with any of that. what it did to me, and did it effect me, absolutely effected me. is what it did for me, is or to me, was made me i think a fierce advocate for victims of violence. for his part, he has said, he would only step aside if the governor orders him to. our priority would be for the federal government to take over. >> bather say they can't move on, they want the man who shot brown, officer tin wilson to be fired immediately. >> is they want his boss and the mayor to resign because they have shown a failure of leadership in

this time of crisis. is if they do not resign, we call upon the people of ferguson. to immediately to a recall. >> the franked jury is expected to finish hearing testimony by mid october. am al jazeera, clay tobacco missouri. >> joining us from florida darrel parks is an attorney for the brown family, the a managing partner at parks and crump law firm is will + ^ will is is will he said despite all the family connections he can do a fair job, he say regarding his own father, who was killed at the hands of an african-american suspect, that just made him a more fierce advocate, why isn't that enough. >> well, i think actually i reason for the possible conflict, goes more to the statements made by the prosecutor early on fens the above northern

iraq. that were made publicly, is the st. louis county police department. fish those statements regarding the above northern iraqs decision, and the prosecutor taking exception with those things we have concerned as to his ability to p fair and partial fish that they lie at the core. >> remind us what the sames are specifically, that you think crossed the line. >> i think his willingness to comment on the governor taking action, to remove that department, for policing is reare placing its with the highway patrol, saying that he thought the above northern iraqs actions were illegal and improper for doing so. is obviously that's not his decision, the governor made that call, between the governor and the st. louis county police, and the governor and the city of ferguson

police. >> to be fair, even captain ron johnson, the state police captain who was put in charge of keeping the peace, even he was praising the st. louis county police department even when he was brought in to replace them, saying they are the first people he would call if he had a problem at home. well, he had to do that, because he didn't have enough man power to handle the situation. obviously, maybe that they could have been better organizations didn't get a chance to do that, so i won't knock the whole department. in terms of the above northern iraqs action, the the response to it, then his public outcry was probably not the proper response.

why not just let the brand jury do their work, and whats and see what they do, and then if there are questions about what they should have tone, maybe that's the point where you raise the concerns? first of all, he gets to pick is choose. so the decision they come to, will certainly be influenced greatly, and directly, by what is presented to them. next, what if he goes and no bill on the situation? paced on the cases, then it is too late. so the time to raise your objection is early on. sometimes when you studty appellate law, if you don't preserve the error early on, you lose it. so the objection to the process has been voiced

early on, is often in this situation. >> wouldn't that say more about the members of the brand jury than bob -- look, if they are being presented with the thad suggests that mrs. brown was giving himself up, the presenting evidence suggesting that he had enbeiged in an altercation, with officer wilson, if the franked jury looks at all of this and decides on balance, the says it just isn't there for an time, isn't that exactly how the process is supposed to work. >> no, you are being very prom sureses in your questioning. the information that is presented to the brand jury, is selected by the prosecutor. and so he has direct influence as to what this brand jury ultimately decides. so it's not something -- they don't have complete just latitude, the prosecutor has the ability -- for example, the process he can put in third hand information, if he chooses to, any information that he wants to put in front of him he

can to. or lack thereof. >> but it cuts ways he can put in hear say, he can put in leading questions for people ha support the brown family? >> yes, he can. but given what we know, i don't see him giving us the benefit of the doubt uh, when he is actually prosecuting a policeman. >> what to you understand about that meeting and what do you think the impact was? is. >> the meeting with the attorney general was a personal meeting. what the attorney general is our country. how teenly saddened he was and our country is, for the loss of his son. not to be confused with the role that his department has to play. the department of justice is doing what they have to do, they have been

doing so since last week. in moving in a very experience fashion to get to the truth. there is already reason are to be very thorough, but to move with due till jens. >> thank you for having me. >> you are welcome. >> now, to other news around the world, thailand military ruler is set to become the next prime minister, today the military appointed legislature for the post, he was the only candidate, thailand king is expected to enforce the nomination, he has led the country since the army toppled the elected in may, he plans to retire from the army next month. venezuela is trying to track -- trying to crack down on food smuggling into neighboring countries.

in turk ski outgoing prime minister, tapped foreign minister as his successor. he also indicated that he plans to maintain tight control of the government is wants to transform the presidency, he is set to be sworn in on august the 28th. and in serbia, residents of two new buildings in the capitol bell braid have been forced to move out of their homes. it is because they have been exposed to harmful chemicals. simon mcgregor woods it was a major investor in the project. >> soon after the family moves into their brand new apartment, they befan to notice a strange smell. headaches dizziness and sickness soon following. blood tests showed high

level of a tocks chemical call phenol. >> we feel really sick, the we are angry, it's been two months since we signed the contract, nothing has been good, we are renting a new place, and still have are to pay for the old one. >> over half had high levels and other dangerous chemicals in their bodies. the military conducted test is found more residents had high concentration indicating a high level of exposure. most of the apartments were proud by families with young children. >> we are worried about our health, the we don't know what is happening to our homes. will it take to sort out, the when we can move on all the permits were granted but the inspectionsn't the include a chemical analysis of the air

quality. inspectors are now saying they bout the materials on the open market. >> we informed all the relevant thoughs the we are pressing chancers we are incurring huge losses. >> this project has six buildings in all. resident wills eventually be compensate for their losses. simon mcgregor wood, al jazeera. >> back in the united states, their new developments in the beating of a homeless woman by a california police officer, and other news around america. >> the beating took place last minute, and the video shot by a passing driver showing the officer punching and kicking 51-year-old marlene. today that officer daniel andrew was twoed.

a new york woman was tuna court today to face charges over the sexual -- over the abduction and sexual abuse of two amish sisters. >> charged along with her poi friend, proses cuterses cuters say they kidnapped the two from a farm stand near the border. the children turned up the next night, 15-miles from their home, the reported the abuse to police. federal regulators have new rules to prevent abuse of highly addicted painkillers like vivodin. patients will be limited to a 90 day supply, and doctors will no longer be allow pod call in refills. the changes take effect in 45 theys. an act of kindness has gone viral. in saint petersburg florida, workers say a woman drove up at 7:00 a.m. on wednesday, and paid for her iced coffee, then offered to pay for the driver behind her. explained to incoming drivers that their drinked has been paid for, is asks if they wanted to keep paying it

for, 378 people took up the officer, but at 6:00 p.m., the 379th person declined to pay for the next person. >> i think somebody had a bad they. >> maybe. >> no i will take the free coffee. >> bad day, or maybe a no change left, who knows. >> i suppose. >> appreciate it. coming up we will take another look is remember are james foley, we will talk with a friend of the murdered american journalist who was with him just weeks before he was kidnapped in syria.

is concerned over thester growing number of british citizens traveling to iraq in syria to take part in foreign conflicts. the man who killed

american journalist had an accent from southern england where islamic groups have been frying to recruit younger people. phil it anywhere has more now from london. >> the english seaside town of brighton is a far cry from battlefields of iorack, but for the family, the fighting feels close to home. >> this is abdullah, who was killed in syria. >> three young them from the family went to fight in the reare john, they left home without telling anyone to join a rebel group that is a rival of the now notorious islamic state, one son will not be coming back. >> it feels very painful, and difficult. just became 18, two days before he was killed. it was his birthday, is has his whole life in front of him. >> for more than three years the world has watched the conflict in syria, with no clear idea of how to stop the killing. it shocked and angered many, particularly in

muslim communities. but equally, shocking the brutal tactics of some rebel groups like the islamic state. >> that's why many europeans were stunned to see a recruitment drive on social media, by the islamic state group. aimed at muslim men in the west. >> my goodness, living in the west, i know how you feel depressed. the cure for the depression, is you have to. >> for those that monitor these groups there is a real concern that fighters like those of the islamic state group, which is also known as isis could come back battle hardened with new skills, and a frog. >> it is isis is defeated, is forced to return to europe, or the u.k., i think it is conceivable, that especially if britain is america play a role in defeated them, they willle co back to attack the home countries. >> already one western attack has been attributed to the state

group, a former fighter opened fire in a uh jewish museum. all of this has buebacker concerned for the future of his children, both their safety and humanity. >> basically the ideology -- which really had no connection to islam, nor humanity. the bigger worry is they mite get killed there. >> authorities here at britain's intelligence service, m.i. 6, say finding citizens returning from the fighting is iraq, is now one of their main priorities. and with most european passport heeders also having visa free access to the united states, for american homeland security, finding those fighters is also said to be top of their list. phil ittner, al jazeera, london. >> with more on james foal loy who was executed matthew van take, he is an international security analyst film maker and a friend of mr. folly.

mr. vandyke, our condolence to you is the friends and family of jim, first of all, what was jim like. >> he was one of the greatest people i have known. he was a real professional. he loved journalism, he had a real passion for it. he wanted to tell people's stories, is i have never heard anybody say a bad thing about james. when i arrived in syria, working on a film, i met syrian whose asked me if i knew him, because they had met him and liked him a lot, he was a special person. >> when you were in syria, the with james, did he talk much about some of the risks? >> sure. we talked about the risks, james had blood pressure detained in libya, and i had alsoen be imprisoned in libya. is after he left, he had gone pack to continue reporting in libya, and then went on to syria, so he had already experienced some of that.

he was fully aware of it, he was cautious, i wonder if you can paint a picture of what it is like. you don't know if you will ever get out, you don't know what your family is thinking, you feel guilty for your family, you might hear people being tortured in other parts of the prison, and wonder if each night if they are going to come for you. you don't know if you will be executed. it is a horrible experience. it is psychological torture just being in a prison and not knowing what will happen. >> i know in the midst of this grief, there was at least i suppose, some relief to hear for friends the family of james, that there was an effort by the obama administration to send in special ofs forces to try to get him back, what was going through your mind when you heard that? >> it was surprising to me, i did not know that

they had that level of intelligence to even have a theory of where they were. as far as i knew these people had vanished. i wish i had been successful. i wish there was more detail about what went wrong, yet at the same time, i question why they necessarily had to put out that there was a rescue attempt at all, it think it would be more difficult now to try another one. >> speaking of trying another one, there's a lot of discussion about what can be done for journalists stephen satlaf who was pictured in that video earlier this week. what do you know about him, what sort of person is he? >> he is a good friend of mine as well, we had dinner just a few weeks before he went to syria. he also a dedicated seriouses journalist, a fun buy to hang out with. we had talked frequent about syria, is security. is he went, and very quickly, he was just frabbed right after he crossed the border, is he was experienced, he had

been living in libya, been to syria numerous times. the scary thing is if this can happen to james solely, and stephen, it can happen to anybody. >> a lot of americans don't quite understand the sort of the drive that film makers or photographers or journalists have are to go into places that are so dangerous, i wonder if you can try to explain what motivates people like yourself, and james, is is stephen? >> it is a calling. you feel that you are are showing the world what is happening and the effects of war. state fighters hopefully that leads to changes in policy. at the very at least you are documents history. that maybe an neck tates or something that will stay you for years. >> and i just remember at

times as roommates in triply at the hotel, i had i had been in solitary confinement i had not spoken to anybody in half a year, so my conversations in joking around were with james, and getting caught up on all the things that had happened in the past six months. and he was instrumental in sort of my reintegration into interaction with other people. and that's somethingly never forget. he was i hadn't really talked to anybody in so long, and they was a great person to talk to. >> matthew, ben, condolences to you, and we so appreciate your coming on our air and sharing memories with us, thank you. >> thank you. >> we will be back after this.

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he is swimming the entire length of the river from switzerland to the netherlands. am al jazeera joins him on part of the trip, to find out why. >> this is what professor an tree yaz has been up to almost every day for the last four weeks. he is idea of a summer holiday, you see, is a bruling 1200-kilometer journey along the river are ride. on a day like this do you feel it is worth it? >> of course it is, it is for science. >> what the adventure is about. so this is critical for a good ex-logical system. >> the p proker analysis means using expensive

equipment that costs over $130,000. thanks to donations that the stunts have attracted they soon is be able to do the science. the professor and his team are are nearly at the end, and when it is over, they hope to have raised enough money to really find out what human activity is doing to the river are rhine. >> a few decades ago it was heavily polluted. but still the swim has left some people amused. >> i thought when we have seen him this morning crazy boxer honestly. >> i would say respect. he is not crazy, he is just got his mind set on it. >> the team expects to find toxic substances from farming and things like traces antibiotics. in the long term, he aims to two better ways of treating waste water. >> ore rivers and lakes, people don't have clean

water, and i think we borrow the water from nature, so we my philosophy is to give the water back, how we get it the same status. >> so in a few theys an try yeahs will arrive at the mouth of the rhine moving from extreme swimmer to chemistry professor, but the last lap still lies ahead. al jazeera, in north winter germany. >> finally back to another stunt involving water, some members of congress have taken part in that ice bucket challenge for a, wills research, well, they are now being accused of hypocrisy. dozens have posted pictures of themselves. some of the lawmakers are being called out for voting for a bill, that forced the national institutes to cut funding for als research. michigan democratic congressman john dingle has taken note of contradiction, he tweeted house republicans have cut nih funding by

billions, and you thought dumping ice water on your head was cold. i'm david chuter that's the news for this hour, real must be is next. we will see you ben at 8:00. >> $16.7 billion, we'll look at why the case is still far from over. also farmers left high and dry by a lack of rain. we'll show you how that could affect your food supply. plus the race for a better parking spot. there's an app for that, a few