♪ >> the sport now, here is andy. >> thank you. after qualifying in poll position for sunday's f 1 championship decided in abu dhabi, double points for the first time, the german who is 17 points behind hamilton can overhaul and with a win if hamilton finishes third or lower. after qualifying on saturday, the britain may feel lucky to be

second on the grid after an error-filled session. >> of course, you know, it's only one step, very small step and because this weekend, it's about the championship, not about poll position or anything. so, of course, i was hoping, you know, who knows? after he said he got his perfect lap together. there wasn't anything else in there. it would have been great if somehow there could have been a williams between the two of us action but that can always happen tomorrow. for sure, starting first is a great place to be. it should be a good start. >> i definitely had the best laps but it was a qualifying section. the car was fantastic. so, you know, as nocolas said, it's a special day. >> little messi has broken the spanish premier league scoring lead. the argentinian striker bringing the 251 goal mark in some style. sdworing a hat trick to finish on 253 goals.

>> that's coming in on 289 appearances. well the champion league record earlier on in the month. a straightforward progress to another german league title has continued. they beat hofenhei m-4-nil and are 7 points at the top of the opener. i am robin setting up number 2 for robert levindoski. following the league action on tuesday when they play manchester city. chelsea have also opened up a 7-point lead. this time at the top of the english premier league. black to score his 11th league goal. 2-nil and that was how it finished. chelsea's 12 game unbeaten starts the season now a club record.

quality was high quality high quality. maud the pitch very, very wide with people, creating places to play inside, scored two goals. that. >> here are the results from england. rooney scoring on a 2 on win manchester united at arsenal. up to fourth now. tory got the win for man city as they came up from a goal down to be swanzy. third in the table, newcastell's 5th consecutive league win at home to qpr. henrik stinson will take a share of the lead with the season ending world tour in dubai. rory mcroy, severe suffering 4 shots off of the pace.

stinson surrounded his overnight 2-shot lead with a few shots like that, gave him a round of 68. he is joined at the top of the leader board by spain's rabao s. >> frankly we don't have a lot of inside information. >> we have jamie mcintyre, an expert on all things pentagon. the cabinet is now assembled in the dining room in the white house. do we have a sense as to whether or not haig cycle resigning, or that was he forced out? >> reporter: well, you know, technically he's not being fired. he's resigning.

up actually the president asks fo for your resignation, and then he's forced out. he's serving for president, and if the president loses confidence. he lost confidence in chuck hagel, he asked for the retirement, and he gets it. this seems to be a surprise, even to hagel himself, who was just asked on the charlie rose show on pbs whether he had the confidence of the president, and he said he thought he did. >> should we have been reading the tea leeches differently? --the tea leaves differently? he went to visit the troops last week, and isn't that something that would take place closer to the holidays? 123,478 as a former enlisted

man, he sometimes seemed most comfortable when he was with the troops, and less comfortable defending the administration's policies on capitol hill and even participating in behind closed doors meetings. he was not an articulate spokesman for the policy. he seemed off the page of what the white house was saying, and the midterm elections is the traditional time to reshovel things. the president seems to be willing to go out on his own on some issues and take a more confrontational stance. the idea of picking a republican to be your defense secretary is part of the idea is to keep relations with capitol hill on an even keel, and if chuck hagel was not serving that president, the president may be looking to go in a different direction. >> jamie mcintyre, mike viqueira, please stand by. we're going to go to nick schifrin. we're following breaking news coming out of vienna. >> what is that breaking news?

>> yes, basically the u.s. iran and the u.s. have been talking about a decade about iran's nuclear program. they're going to extend the interim deal once again. the interim deal folks iran's program but at the same time gave iran some sanctions relief. noa lot but some. july 1st is the new deadline. they will try to make historic deal with iran again. but march 1st is actually a deadline where they try to come up with a framework of the deal. so again, talks were supposed to last basically all night but this morning in vienna they decided they were not going to get there, of this they had another extension. >> should this be seen as a set back for the p5+1, or an indication that the task at hand

is just that difficult? >> reporter: the task at hand is difficult, but what you will get especially in congress is hey, look, why are we closer now than a year ago? what makes you think that an extension is even worth it? in response to that secretary of state john kerry, frankly the white house very much wants to keep this ball rolling, continue what they say is progress towards a deal. they have not exactly come out and said what that progress is, but the hints are on the sides lines that they have actually made a deal on some of the minor issues around the core issue, but it's still the core issue that is the problem. what are those core issues? the level of enrichment, the uranium that iran is still allowed to have, and the number of centrifuges that they're allowed to spin and the quality of centrifuges. that remains. on the other side how quickly do you remove sanctions.

iran wants all sanctions removed immediately. the u.s. trying to navigate a skeptical congress wants sanctions lifted intermittently, every few months or even few years. those are still sticking points, and we don't know how the two sides will break impasse over the last few months. >> secretary of chuck hagel is set to resign. briefly before we go to that news conference, nick, the concerns of israel and what is going on in vienna. >> reporter: basically the bottom line, the concerns of all the critics of this deal is that iran does not have to dismantle it's nurl infrastructure. that is to unplug, destroy or get rid of the massive nuclear infrastructure that it has, including some 19,000 centrifuges. that's what israel wants.

that's what critics in congress want. iran having no capacity today or tomorrow to enrich any uranium. that deal is not on the table. no one is talking about that deal any more except for prime minister benjamin netanyahu. privately they're talking about the best deal possible. that means as few centrifuges as possible, as little research and development capacity that iran can have as possible. what kerry's goal has been is 12 months. israel wants multiple years, a number of years for that breakout time. we don't have a detail of how far. >> nick, we'll have to-- >> reporter: what israel continues to do. >> we'll have to interrupt you. i apologize in advance, but this is the president of the united states.

>> president obama: secretary of defense chuck hagel was thanking our troops, and one soldier, a sergeant from ohio, asked him what was the most pertinent question of the day, which was what is your favorite college football team to which chuck replied, born and raised in nebraska. i don't have a choice, i am a strong corn huskers fan. now there was a time when an enlisted soldier might have been reluctant to ask that question of secretary of defense, but chuck hagel has been no ordinary secretary of defense. as the first enlisted combat veteran to serve in that position. he understands our men and women like few others because he stood where they stood. he has been in the dirt, he has been in the mud.

that has established a special bond, and he sees himself in them, and they see themselves in him. their safety, their lives have always been at the center of chuck's service. when i asked chuck to serve as secretary of defense we were entering significant period of transition. the draw down in afghanistan, the need to prepare our forces for future missions, and tough fiscal choices to keep our military strong and ready. of over two years chuck has been an exemplary defense secretary providing a steady hand as we modernize our strategy and budget to meet long-term threats while respond to go immediate challenges like isil and ebola. thanks to chuck our military is on a firmer footing, engaged in these missions and looking ahead to the future. now, last month chuck came to me to discuss the final quarter of

my presidency and determined having guided the department through this transition it was an appropriate time for him to complete his service. let me just say that chuck is and has been a great friend of mine. i've known him, admired him and trusted him for nearly a decade since i was a green behind the ears freshman senator, and we were both on the foreign relations committee. chuck does not make this or any decision lightly. this decision does not come easily to him, but i consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have him by my size fo side for two years, and i'm grateful that he'll stay on until i find a successor. i'll have more opportunity to pay tribute to chuck's life and

service in days ahead, but i will say this, that chuck has served for six decades. he volunteer for vietnam and still carries the scars and shrapnel. as head of uso he made sure that america always honors our troops. as senator he helped to lead the fight for the post 9/11 gi bill which allows veterans to realize their dreams of a college education. as secretary chuck has helped to transition our military and bolster our leadership around the world. during his tenure afghan forces we took the lead in afghanistan. our forces had drawn down, our combat mission ends there next month, and we'll partner with afghans to preserve the gains we had made.

the nato alliance is as strong as it has ever been. we have reassured our allies with our increased presence in central and eastern europe. we've modernized our alliances in asia pacific, updated our data posture and agreed to improved communications between the u.s. and chinese militaries. chuck has been critical to all these accomplishments. meanwhile, chuck has ensured that our military is ready for new missions. today our men and women in uniform are taking the fight against isil in iraq and syria and chuck helped build the international coalition to insure that the world is meeting this threat together. today our forces are helping support the civilian effort in ebola, west africa a reminder that chuck likes to say that america has the greatest force for good in the world. finally, in a very difficult

budgetary environment chuck has never lost sight of key priorities. the readiness of our force, the quality of our life, our troops, and their families. he is has launched new reforms to ensure that even as our military is leaner it remains the strongest in the world, so our troops continue to get the pay, the housing, the healthcare, the child care that they and their families need. reforms that we need congress to now support. at the same time, after the tragedies we have seen chuck helps to lead security in our military installations and stamp out the scourge of sexual assault within the ranks. chuck, i want to thank you on a personal level. we come from different parties, but in accepting this position he send a powerful message, especially to folks in this city when it comes to national security and caring for our troops and families we are all

americans first. when i nominated you for this position you said you would always give me your honest advice and informed counsel, you have. when it mattered most behind closed doors in the oval office you have always given it to me straight. for that i will always be grateful. i recall when i was a nominee in 2008, and i traveled to afghanistan and iraq, chuck hagel accompanied me on that trip along with jack reed. and it's pretty rare at a time when sometimes this town is so politicalized to have a friend whwho was willing to accompany a friend of another party because he understood that whoever ended up he president, that we were unified in what we

see overseas. that's the class and integrity that chuck has always represented. you said that life is only as good as the family you have and the friends you surround yourself with. for that your blessed. we would like to thank your family for the sacrifices they've made as well. i know as reluctant as we are to see you go, they're equally excited to getting a husband and father back. i'm sure the corn huskers are also happy that a fan will be there to cheer them on more often. today the united states of america can proudly claim the strongest military the world has ever known. that's the result of the investments made over many decades, the blood and treasure and sacrifices of generations. as a result of the character and wisdom of those who leave them as well. including the young army sergeant in vietnam who rose to serve as our nation's 24th secretary of defense. on behalf of a grateful nation,

thank you, chuck. [applause] >> thank you. thank you very much. thank you. >> thank you very much. mr. president, thank you, thank you for your generous words, for your friendship, for your support, which i have always valued and will continue to value until my not old but long-time dear friend vice president biden, who i had always admired and respected, and both the president and i have learned an awful lot from the vice president over the years. thank you. and i want to thank the deputy

secretary of defense, bob, and general marty dempsey, who is also here. i want to thank them for being here this morning. i also want to thank you both for your tremendous leadership of the defense department, around what it means to our men and women and families all over the world, and for the honor i've had to serve with each of you, and the privilege it's been in each and every way. i want to thank the entire leadership team at the pentagon, without their support and wise counsel over the last couple of years, our many accomplishments, and the president noted some, i have been part of that, but it's a team. it's these tremendous men and women, as you know, mr. president, who make this happen, and i couldn't be

prouder of them and what we have accomplished over the almost two years that i've had the honor of serving in this position. and as the president noted i have today submitted my resignation as secretary of defense. it's been the greatest privilege of my life, the greatest privilege of my life to lead, and most important to serve, serve with the men and women of the defense department and support their families. i have immensely proud of what we have accomplished during this time. we have prepared ourselves, mr. president has noted, for successful transition in afghanistan. we bolstered enduring alliances and strengthened emerging partnerships while successfully responding to crises around the world. we've launch the important reforms that the president noted, reforms that will prepare

this constitution in challenges that will face us in decades to come. i believe we have set not only this department, the department of defense, but the nation on a stronger course towards security, stability, and prosperity. if i didn't believe that i would not have done this job. as our country prepares to celebrate thanksgiving i want to, you, mr. president, and you, vice president biden, acknowledge what you have done, and how grateful i am for your leadership and friendship and for giving me this opportunity oh serve our country once again. i'll continue to support you, mr. president, and the men and women who defend this country every day, so unselfishly, and their families, what they do for our country. so unselfishly. and as i have said, and as the president has noted i will stay on this job and work just as

hard as i have over the last couple of years, every day, every moment until my successor is nominated. i would like express my thanks to those on capitol hill, their support of me, but more importantly, the support of our troops, their families, and their continued commitment to our national commuter. i would like to thank my international count parts for their friendship and their partnership, and their advice during my time as secretary of defense. their involvement with me and their. partnership with me in so many issues and as we build common interests, it's so incredibly important, and to them i will be forever thankful. finally, i would like to thank my family. my wife, who you have mentioned, mr. president, who is with me

this morning. as she has been with me throughout so many years. and during so many tremendous experiences. and this experience and opportunity and privilege to serve as secretary of defense will be one of those. and my daughter and son. mr. president, again, thank you to you and to all of our team everywhere. as we know, mr. president, mr. vice president, it is a team effort. and that's part of the fun of it. they helped build teams and work together to make things happen for the good of the country and make a better world. for all that i'm immensely grateful, and to all of you, your families, happy thanksgiving. thank you very much. [applause] >> well, there you have it, defense secretary chuck haig. stepping down, announcing his resignation, saying that he will stay on until his replacement

has been named. no replacement has been named yet. the president saying, though, that he is someone who has served this country proudly. he would not go hungry, in case you're concerned. he has a net worth of $5 million money he earned in the tel telecom industry as a civilian. we have jamie mcintyre, mike viqueira, and nick schifrin in israel, and michael shure, our political contributor, is in los angeles, i believe. jamie, i'm going to start with you. how are they going to read this in washington? wais he stepping down or was he pushed out. >> the question is was he jumped, fell or pushed. secretary of defense chuck hagel was pressured to leave his job. what you saw was the polite

kabuki in washington, it was characterized as secretary hagel coming to him talking about his final quarter of his administration, and suggesting this is an appropriate time to end his service. but again if you go back to an interview that secretary hagel gave just last week on pbs to charlie rose, who asked him point blank if he was anticipating any changes, in that interview hagel seemed to give no indication he had any idea that his service was about to come to an end. >> jamie, before i let go, there are cabinet secretaries and then there are huge cabinet posts. how big is the bureaucracy that chuck hagel ran? >> well, running the pentagon is an enormously huge bureaucracy. in fact, it's impossible for one person to actually know what's going on with the 1.4 million people in active service. just the pentagon building

itself has more than 20,000 employees with different services all going in different directions. defense secretary donald rumsfeld, who was also sacked by the president wit within two years to go in his administration, president bush in that case, rumsfeld would get up every morning and know that somewhere in the pentagon someone was doing something that she shouldn't, and he had no way to know who that is. it's like trying to turn an aircraft carrier around, and it's not easily done. and especially if you're not there for a long time. secretary hagels time, less than two years, not enough time to effect any institutional change. >> let's go to the politics now mike viqueira, mike, as always when there is a cabinet secretary that steps down or is replaced somebody is celebrating and somebody is not. who is doing what in washington

this morning? >> well, you know, i thought it was interesting, to follow on what jamie said, despite the indications in his reporting, did he jump or was he pushed? clearly he was pushed, but chuck hagel given full military honors in the state dining room with president obama calling him a class act. he says he has integrity, and the president will always be grateful. part of that, as jamie phrased it, the kabuki in all this, you don't want an acrimonious break up at the time of the rise of isil. a lot of people will be surprised but not necessarily disappointed. this is another indication of the friction that existing between the president's staff here particularly the national security council staff, and staffers and top officials at the pentagon as well. we've heard--we've heard the previousy two secretary of defense who served under the president in this white house

complain of micromanagement, and how political appointees were contacting military brass in uniform directly. they wanted them to cut that out. secretary hagel at a hearing during the rise of isil was struggling to form a policy before the air campaign was announced. chuck hagel got ahead of the white house and said it was the worst threat of its kind, and you could not find an individual in uniform whether brass or otherwise, officer or otherwise, who doesn't think that u.s. troops boots are going to be--combat boots are going to need to be put on the ground in iraq and by extension syria given the mission to degrade and destroy isil. when the chairman of the joint chief of staff sitting next to chuck hagel said recently-- >> mike, i'm going to have to

apologize because we're going take you now live to vienna, this is secretary of state kerry talking about the negotiations between iran and the p 5, and the nuclear situation in iran and how those talks have been extended. this is secretary of state john kerry. >> there is a great deal of waiting, and you have waited with great patience. i want to begin d we have hosted in vienna these negotiations, and we've had many of them now, and they've been gracious and we thank the people of austria for their grace and welcome. my colleagues from the united kingdom and germany,--i want to

thank my colleagues from the united kingdom, germany, russia, france, china, and the e.u. and especially my good friend baro baroness catherine ashton who has done a good job bringing people together and to define the process. let me take a moment to thank a team of people that you don't see right now, but they're closeted up in the suite hotel, a strong, large group of people who spend unbelievable amounts of hours working hard, and if foreign ministers and i come up with an idea, we take the idea to them, and then they work literally through the night into the morning to put it to the test, and see if it can be viable. i want to thank them for their

incredible amount of hard work and their commitment, the expertise, the diligence, the hard work they put in to try to make sure that we try to get this right. i also want to take this opportunity to thank foreign minister of iran. he has worked with purpose and that's what it takes to try to resolve the kind of issues here. finally i want to thank all of you for being patient throughout the process, and bearing with our need the imperative to keep what is discussed in these discussion negotiations exclusively among the negotiators to the greatest degree that we can. i know you understand, and i can tell you through my years in

public life of negotiating that if facts are out there being bandied back and forth in the public domain with specificity, they can often wind up defeating good ideas before they get off the ground. we need to finance to work the way we have been exclusively among the negotiators with respect to the details. now, we have worked long and hard not just over these past days, but for months. in order to achieve a comprehensive agreement that addresses international concerns about iran's nuclear program. this takes time. the stakes are high. the issues are complicated and technical, and each decision affects other decisions. there is always an

inter-relationship, and it deeply affects international security and national interests. it also takes time to do this because we don't want just any agreement. we want the right agreement. time and again from the day that he took office president obama has been crystal clear that we must ensure that iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon--period. this is not specific to one country. it's the policy of many countries in the world to reduce the numbers of nuclear weapons that exist today, and not to allow new ones. we're engaged in that struggle in many places. and the fact is that even russia and the united states, who have the largest number, are working hard to reduce that number. and to reduce the potential of nuclear material being available

to any additional entity in the world. president obama has been just as clear that the best way to do this is through diplomacy. through a comprehensive and durable agreement that all parties can agree to, that all parties are committed to upholding, and whose implementation is not based on trust, but on intensive verification. that is not just because the diplomacy is the preferred course, it is also the most effective course. diplomacy is also difficult. these talks aren't going to suddenly get easier just because we extend them. they are tough. and they've been tough, and they're going to stay tough. if it were easier, if views on both sides were not as deeply as

they are, then we would have reached the final agreement months or even years ago. in these last days in vienna we have made real and substantial progress, and we have seen new ideas surface. that is why we're jointly, the p5+1 nations and iran extending these talks for seven months with the very specific goal of finishing the political agreement of four months, and with the understanding that we will go to work immediately. meet again shortly, and if we can do it sunnier we want to do it sooner. at the end of four months we have not agreed on the major--if we have not agreed on the major elements at that point in time

and we can revisit. it is possible and desirable to create a deeper understanding of what that deal could look like. they have to be worked through. even as the negotiations continue towards the comprehensive deal the world is safer. it is safer than greed on the joint action interim agreement. a year ago iran's nuclear

program was rushing full speed towards larger stock piles of uranium, plutonium weapons grade and shorter break out time. today iran has halted progress on its nuclear program, and it has rolled it back for the first time in a decade. a year ago iran had about enricheds uranium in a form that could quickly be enriched to a weapons-level grade level. today they have zero, none, and they have diluted or converted every ounce that they had. and extended all you rain yum above 5%. a year ago iran was making steady progress on the iraq reactor, which if it had become

operationel would have provided iran an plutonium path to a nuclear weapon. today it is frozen in place. a year ago inspectors had limited access to iran's nuclear program. today i.a.e.a. inspectors have daily access to iran's enrichment facilities and a far deeper understanding of iran's program. they have been able to learn things about iran's centrifuge production, mines and things that are important to building trust. that's how you build trust. that's why iran made the decision to do it. and they've been able to verify that iran is, indeed, living up to its commitments. all of these steps by iran and limited sanctions relief

provided in return are important building blocks for comprehensive agreement, and they begin to build confidence among nations. a year ago we had no idea whether or not real progress could be made through these talks. we only knew that we had a responsibility to try. today we are closer to a deal that would make the entire world, especially our allies and partners of israel and in the gulf, safer and more secure. is it possible that in the end we just want to arrive at a workable agreement? absolutely. we are certainly not going to sit at the negotiating table forever. absent measurable progress. given how far we have come over the past year and particularly

in the last few days this is not certainly the time to get up and walk away. these issues are enormously complex. they require a lot of tough political decisions, and they require very rigorous technical analysis of concepts. it takes time to work through the possible solutions that can effectively accomplish our goals and give leaders of all countries confidence in the decisions they're being asked to make. so our experts will meet again very soon. in fact, we will have a meeting in december, as soon as possible, in order to continue this work, and to drive this process as hard as we can. and as the parties continue to negotiate all of the counter restraints on the nuclear program in iran will remain in

place. now, let me make it clear, our goal in these negotiations is not a mystery. it is not a political goal. it is not an ideological goal. it is a practical goal, a goal of common sense, and it is achievable. the united states and our e.u. and 5 plus 1 partners, a group of nations that don't always see eye to eye, agree unanimously what a viable agreement would look like. first and foremost the viable agreement would have to close off all of the pathways for iran to get material for a nuclear weapon. a viable agreement would have to include a new l off transparency and verification on the expanded access that we've

had. and as these conditions are met a viable agreement would also clude for iran relief from the international nuclear-related sanctions that helped to bring them to the table to negotiate in the first place. and because of the nature of these talks we should not, and i emphasize we will not in the days ahead, discuss the details of the negotiations. we're doing that simply to preserve the space to be able to make the choices that lie ahead. but i can tell you that progress was, indeed, made on some of the most vexing challenges that we face, and we now see the path toward potentially resolving some issues that have been intractable. i want to also emphasize this

agreement, like any agreement regarding security particularly, cannot be based on trust. because trust can't be built overnight. instead, the agreement has to be based on verification, on measures that serve to build confidence over time. i want to make it even further clear to everybody here. we really want this to work. but not at the cost of just anything. we want to reach a comprehensive deal, and we want it to work for everybody. we want the people of iran to get the economic relief that they seek, and to be able to rejoin the international community. we want to terminate the sanctions. yes, we want to terminate the sanctions. which would put in place to get

us to these negotiations, and ultimately to be able to bring about a deal. but the world, and i underscore this, not just the united states, not just the p5+1, the world still has series questions about iran's nuclear program. for the sanctions to be terminated we need iran to take concrete, verifiable steps to answer those questions. that's the bottom line. for my friends in the united states congress with whom i spent almost 30 years in the united states senate, i would say that together we have been through some tough policy deliberations. i had the responsibility of chairing the foreign relations committee when we put the sanctions regime in place that has helped us get this far.

i believe in the constitution and the critical role the senate has to play and the house. we have stayed in close consultation throughout this process, and we will continue to do so, and we look for your support for this extension and for continued talks. >> you're living to secretary of state john kerry discussing the fact that the p5+1 have extended negotiations in vienna until march. nick schifrin has been tracking this since day one. the question is did the talks break down or did the clock run out? >> you well, the clock did not break down. the clock ran out, and they knew it was going to run out. what you heard from kerry were two, not so much contradictory but honest admissions.

the first one being that they made progress. he used the term new ideas and real progress. and this is a first time we heard from him since these talks began, so we shouldn't dismiss that at all. there are a lot of issues on the table. some min minute, some big. even if they do not give us details, it means that they have taken baby steps that kerry can go back to president obama back. and form ministe prime minister can go back to iran with. he admitted there has not been a breakthrough, he admitted that it is possible that we won't arrive in agreement, we won't sit at a table forever. he also said if there is no real progress or path to a final agreement, then we will decide how to proceed. that is not something that you hear from the secretary of state very often when it comes to iran, and so clearly he knows that while they have made

progress clearly they ha haven't jumped over the hurdle of the major problems in this deal, and he's admitting that they may not. >> i want to go to michael shure, our political contributor on al jazeera america. michael, as i was watching the secretary speak, i was reminded of the fact are we looking at a secretary state who could in his tenure end the state department without a significant accomplishment. >> you're always looking at a secretary of state who could end without an accomplish. he is the first secretary of state since the iranian revolution to sit across the table from iran and discuss these issues. if there is something were to happen, there is reason for optimism even though there isn't anything in place, that i that

is in itself, an accomplishment. there are no whispers of his tenure ending right away. he seems to be entrenched for at least seven more months as he watches the agreement and talks take place. by having these talks, by having the p5+1 in 2013-2014, very important stuff. >> was the secretary acknowledging that the political winds in washington have now changed, giving a shout out to the new congress coming in saying give us time. is that how you would interpret that? >> yes, absolutely. that's one of the fears. when you're not working on capitol hill and you're out in the field, the trenches, as it were, of diplomacy, you don't want anything to shift at home that could shift the body of work that you're doing abroad. nothing happens very quickly.

right now a lot of attention focused on secretary hagel, for example, today, as kerry talked about these things. the new congress is going to have plenty to worry about between immigration and confirmations of an attorney general and secretary of defense, they're not going to start meddling with john kerry's framework. if it does come to four months and there is no agreement, and then three more months, you could see a senate foreign relation committee run by republicans coming in and saying what's going on, secretary kerry, we need answers to these questions. that's when that would happen. right now he operates with a bit of autonomy. >> a lot of news to get you caught up on. secretary hagel stepping down. we'll take a brief break and then we'll talk about what that means, and whether isil has played a role in the defense secretary's tenure now ending in washington. we'll be right back.

♪ >> the sport now, here is andy. >> thank you. after qualifying in poll position for sunday's f 1 championship decided in abu dhabi, double points for the

first time, the german who is 17 points behind hamilton can overhaul and with a win if hamilton finishes third or lower. after qualifying on saturday, >> i understands our men and women like few others because he has stood where they stood. he has been in the dirt. he has been in the mud. that's established a special bond. he sees himself in them. they see themselves in him. >> let's go now to our senior washington correspondent mike viqueira who is in washington. the question has to be asked did isil play a role in the defense secretary's decision to step down? >> well certainly in the sense that we've seen th isil rise during the time of secretary hagels time in the department of defense, two years ago in the wake of president obama's re-election victory, and the nomination of chuck hagel, a

republican to run the defense department, it was a time of cut backs. dealing with sequestration and dealing with systems that seemed obsolete, and fights that seem to be eternal between the pentagon and capitol hill. now we have seen the rise of isil. we've seen ukraine become a worldwide problem. we've seen ebola in west africa. we've seen a military reaction to that as well. it's a completely different climate, but you have to look at the big picture here. this is very unusual. we saw president obama's predecessor president bush, the second term, midterm after he was wiped out by democrats, they took over the house of representatives. there goes donald rumsfeld, and he finally left. chuck hagel was drawing down the military. now the situation calls for something different.

mike, thank you. nick schifrin, did this demand in the case of isil? >> what you hear from this region is an echo of what secretary hagel tried to deliver to the white house. jamie and mike were talking about how thisser there is a notion that white house has meddled in the isil situation in iraq. it was echoed by the very allies who the u.s. has signed up in order to fight isil inside of syria. you talk to commanders on the grouped or head of the syrian national coalition, who we sat down with in turkey a couple of weeks ago. everyone says the same thing that none of the u.s. airstrikes designed to defeat and degrade isil and to encourage the u.s.

allies on the ground, the so-called moderate operations. none of those airstrikes were coordinated with the free syrian army. there is a lot of criticism of the pentagon's policy which is really the white house policy and that falls more on president obama rather than secretary hagel. >> nick as always, thank you very much. michael shure in los angeles. the question being posed right now is whether secretary of defense was handed a bad hand, and the situation in the mideast changes by the day. >> a staff member who i spoke with this morning who has spoken to some of his colleagues still in that position are seeing a big difference, that is the foreign community wanted to see assad go. the obama administration made that secondary to fighting isil. the idea that assad was still

there was a real problem for the counterparts that hagel had to work with abroad. that is a big reason--a lot of people, as you look back at his original confirmation hearings, a lot of people said that he never got off on a right foot. that's an intangible but something to look at. >> last words coming from jamie mcintyre in washington, as they were speaking i was thinking that the pentagon 15 years ago was braced for the cold war, then came osama bin laden, that changed the thinking. then sequestration, and then out of nowhere isil. >> here's the bottom line. if president obama was satisfied with the advice and counsel he was getting from secretary of defense chuck hagel he would be on the job. president obama clearly decided that he needed to make a change

at the top. >> secretary of defense chuck hagel is stepping down. he has a net worth of $5 million that he earned in the telecom industry, but he was also a soldier's soldier. he was one of the rare people in washington to lead the men and women in uniform who actually served. also those nuclear talks in vienna extended until july. no agreement because of clock simply reason out. i would remind you that you can check on news stories 24 hours a day at our website www.aljazeera.com where the news never stops. see you then.

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so you don't just stay on top of the news, go deeper and get more perspectives on every issue. al jazeera america. >> nuclear agreements can be reached within months. hello again. i'm martine dennis in doha. also on the program in the middle isil crisis secretary of defense chuck hagel is to resign. floods in