>> reporter: the football clubs says it will field two separate teams, one made up entirely of south after cans, but for this team the greater prize is a strong commune dee helping each other. you can find out much more on our website at aljazeera.com. a change in a u.s. program to train syrian fighters, and acknowledgment that the original plan was not working. president obama travels to roarsburg, oregon to meet with families of victims of shootings at umpqua community college. >> the water is causing us not to be able to get in the fields to do the harvest. >> and crop concerns how flood waters are taking a toll on

farmers in south carolina. ♪ this is al jazeera america live from new york city. i'm randall pinkston. the obama administration is overhauling its program to train and equip moderate syrian rebels. defense secretary ash carter says the $500 million pentagon effort as failed to produce real results. mike viqueira is live for us in washington. mike, what does the pentagon have to say about the changes? >> reporter: well, good morning to you, randall. it has been brewing for quite sometime there's no question about it. it was a delayed launch of this program, much touted to train the so-called moderate opposition, put them in turkey, saudi arabia, jordan, train them, and then send them back into fight isil forces.

it simply has not worked out. ash carter as you report, randall was in europe. here is how he described the new program. >> i wasn't satisfied with the early efforts in that regard, and so we're looking at different ways to achieve the -- basically the same kind of strategic objective, which is the right one, which is to the -- enable capable, motivated forces on the ground. >> reporter: essentially what this boils down to, randall is the administration is abandoning the effort to train individuals in those outside countries. what the administration now says it wants to focus on fighting units already fighting in syria, give them more equipment and weapons to carry out the fight against isil. >> i heard center mccain say there are two programs. the one we're reporting on, and one run by the cia which is

reportedly still in progress. any word on that in and what was the problem with this one? yeah. >> reporter: yeah, they have bureaucrat very tight lipped about the cia program, an open secret that has been going on for quite sometime. this train and equip program was always aboveboard. it had to be approved in a way -- the appropriation, that $500 million that you spoke of, had to be approved by congress. the cia program, however, to train certain elements within the free syrian army, you are correct. that is said to be somewhat more successful. >> and those are the units being bombed by the russians, right? >> reporter: it's unclear exactly what units are being bombed by the russians. certainly those allied with the united states. yesterday i had an opportunity to ask that very question at the regular daily briefing of the president's spokesman, josh

earnst. he did not dispute the premise -- and i asked him very clearly, are those units being bombed by the russian aircraft, are they being supplied and trained by american forces? he said yes, they were. and so the question then becomes what is the united states going to do to defend those individuals who are essentially allies in a loose interpretation of the team. he simply repeating the talking point that russia is on the wrong path; that it should be fighting isil and not those fighting against the assad regime. >> thank you mike viqueira in washington. russia says it has killed at least 200 fighters in its latest strikes. it said its plane struck the headquarters of one group and killed two isil field commanders. al jazeera's patricia sabga takes a deeper look at that

relationship. >> reporter: russian missiles launched from the caspian sea. the newest dimension in moscow's first military operation outside of the former soviet union in three decades. a campaign that reinforces moscow's only foothold in the middle east. the kremlin's latest move in a broader game of geopolitical chess. >> they don't actually care about syria. they would like to keep assad, but if they thought there was a better deal in crimea, they would be happy to let him flounder in the water. the relationship with the west, and the moment the relationship with the west is entirely dominated by ukraine. >> reporter: efforts to broker a peace deal in ukraine has ground

to stand still, and the situation has pummelled russia's economy. at a time when prices for its primary export, oil, have more than halved. squeezing ordinary russians struggling to cope with inflation. a recent poll suggests only 24% of russians listed improved quality of life as russian president's main achievement. down from 43% in 2009. but a face-saving exit from sanctions has proved illusive for the kremlin. >> i was there for much of the summer, and the russians feel the west is not giving them any off ramps. >> reporter: rush shoo's double down in syria is not without

risk, including mission creep, but with the u.s. refusing to cooperate with russia in syria, a roll back in sanctions could be a long ways away. in an interview in 60 minutes, mr. obama shrugged off the idea that the syrian incursion is a way of challenging the president. >> if you think running your economy into the ground and having to send troops in order to prop up your own ally is leadership, then we have got a different definition of leadership. >> president obama will be in oregon today where he will meet with victims of families of last week's umpqua community

college shooting. but he is expected to stay away from political talk today. gun rights activists are planning a protest. allen schauffler reports. >> reporter: you'll find community strength, support for victims and their families on signs all over this town. at a local tattoo shop, the support takes the form of roseburg strong ink, a body art fund raiser that has put more than $5,000 in a fund for victims. >> i don't think we can really fully understand what is happening yet. everyone is in action mode. everyone has the need to act and participate. >> reporter: at the college, the classroom building where nine people were murdered is still sealed off. near the entrance to the school, flags and flowers on a fence honor the victims. small stones spell out hope, unity, and love on the sidewalk.

but that unity is cracking with the pressure of a presidential visit and angry local reaction to statements by president obama on the day of the shooting. several facebook pages are calling for demonstrations. organizers behind one site tell us they have been overwhelmed by the response. this is haunting and fishing region, and many residents tell us flatly, this is a gun town. the publisher of the weekly roseburg beacon objected to the president's visit. >> what was your reaction, you are watching that speech -- >> that's what caused me to make the statement i made. mr. president you are not welcome here for that purpose and under those circumstances. >> reporter: many say they are honored to have the president here, if his focus is on the families and not politic. the major released a statement making it clear the city will

welcome the president to roseberg and will extend every courtesy. >> i said i'm a republican, i'm a gun rights believer, and i would like to have my president here. ♪ to save a wretch like me >> reporter: chelsea brown helped organize a candle light vigil the night of the shootings. she is in ah of the community spirit people have shown here, and is proud to show off her own roseburg strong tattoo. but the charged debate about gun control and the president's visit is up setting. >> make it wasn't the best time for him to come, make it is, i'm not the one to answer that. >> reporter: it has stirred up quite a storm. >> yeah, and people are angry, people are happy about it. i just see it as this isn't the right time. >> reporter: three people remain hospitalized. the community college is scheduled to reopen on monday.

more danger today in south carolina where residents along the coast are being urged to evacuate. all of the water is moving towards low-lying parts of four counties. georgetown county is expecting floods today. ines ferre is there. >> reporter: it will be weeks and months before some of these areas are cleaned up. here in georgetown you can see some flood waters. over the last few days they had even more. so a lot of these businesses are still recovering from the floods. one of the businesses which is suffering is the farming industry here in south carolina. they have lost more than $300 million over the last few days. >> this is no good. >> reporter: third-generation farmer john began this summer praying for rain, by the end of the season he was praying for it to stop. >> we were already hit hard from a drought earlier in the year, and now the water is causing us

not be able to get into the fields to do the harvest. >> reporter: his peanuts are still underground will they will likely rot in the mud. there's no cotton to pick either. the drenching rains ruined the crop. >> this is a normal bowl of cotton, and this is one that has been effected by the rain and what happened. >> reporter: all types of farming has taken a hit here from corn to soybeans, even live poultry has suffered, and for some low-country farms the situation will get worse as the flood water moves down state. what looks like a lake is actually farmland covered in water. >> the devastation is there. basically agriculture will be shut down for a few weeks until the soil dries. >> reporter: farmers can receive federal money to make up for some of his losses, he says he

is not looking for handouts, but he'll have to dig deep to pull out of this. >> i have crop insurance, but it will not cover all of your losses. >> reporter: while farming is in his blood, at times like this he wishes his sons hadn't followed him into the family business. >> i just think there's an easier way to make a living. >> reporter: you think it will be a tough road for them? >> yes, i do. >> reporter: why so? >> well, just because of -- the weather and different things seem to be more severe now than it used to be. >> reporter: either too wet or too dry, hard to make a living off of the land. the governor of south carolina asking people to heed the warning over the next 24 hours, especially in the low country near the swelling rivers. she is saying to people, look,

we understand this is your property, these are your belongings but if you are asked to evacuate, please go. the city of charmston is urging residents to conservative water because of damage to the infrastructure. coming up, gun control and the presidential election, how the candidates plan to handle the issue, plus -- many auto experts say it is just not believable. volkswagen's explanation of the emissions scandal. ♪

we are following a developing story out of arizona. one person is dead three others hurt following a shooting at a flagstaff campus. >> campus is secure. and classes will go on as scheduled. we are sensitive to the tragedy, and we are asking the faculty to be sensitive to the needs of our students and their families. this is not going to be a normal day at nau. >> the school is confirming that the shooter, a college freshman is in custody. they say he got into a fight with other students, pulled out a gun and opened fire. it was the 46th shooting at a school in the u.s. this year. in the light of so many shooting incidents, some presidential candidates are pushing for aggressive new gun-control laws. but others say there is no need. jonathan betz reports on one of the 2016 campaign's most

divisive issues. >> somebody is outside one of the doors shooting through the door -- >> reporter: when a gunman killed nine people last week, it was the 294th mass shooting so far this year. a stunning number. >> i'm going to talk about this. on a regular basis. and i will politicize it. because our inaction is a political decision that we are making. >> reporter: but how to stop the violence ignites a fierce debate. hillary clinton is now complaining forcefully for gun control. >> how many people have to die before we actually act? before we come together as a nation? >> reporter: she is calling for universal background checks and says she would take executive action if congress doesn't left. >> reporter: the vermont senator comes from a state with a strong

hunting culture. he is arguing for sensible gun-control legislation which presents guns being used by people who shouldn't have them. he is working on a comprehensive package. jeb bush resist any gun control. >> i had this challenge has governor. there is always a crisis, and the impulse is always to do something, and it's not necessarily the right thing to do. >> reporter: bush later clarified and said it's important to protect personal liberty. >> before we start calling for more laws, i think we ought to consider why we don't enforce the laws we have. >> reporter: republican candidates say the focus should be on mental health. >> you are not going to handle it with more gun control, because gun control only works for normal law-abiding citizens. it doesn't work for crazies.

>> reporter: ben carson says the second amendment is sacred and supports the idea of arming teachers. and donald trump says lives could have been saved if there were more guns, not fewer. >> if you had a couple of teachers or somebody with guns in that room, you would have been a hell of a lot better off. >> reporter: it keeps washington at a stand still, while the grim tally of mass shootings continues to rise. swiss officials have approved a u.s. extradition request for one of the fifa officials indicted in a corruption scandal. he is the former general secretary for the cayman island's football association. he was arrested in zurich earlier this year. he was challenging his extradition and has 30 days to appeal the decision to send him to the u.s. federal and state investigators are now looking

into a possible second computer program that could have given false emissions results for volkswagen's diesel cars. the ceo yesterday acknowledged the use of a cheat software. lisa stark reports. >> this hearing -- >> reporter: the head of volkswagen of america faced rare agreement from both sides of the political aisle. anger and disgust. >> vw has betrayed a nation. it's time too clean it up or get off of the road. >> the auto industry has deliberately chosen to create lies. >> vw has admitted to deliberately installing software on many of the vehicles to cheat own missions tests. michael horn offered his quote, sincere apology.

>> we at volkswagen take full responsibility for our actions, and we are working with all of the relevant authorities in a cooperative way. >> reporter: investigations are underway to determine who knew what when. but horn refused to blame the top brass. >> to my understanding this was something individuals did. >> reporter: lawmakers were incredulous. >> vw is trying to get the united states of america to believe these are a couple of rogue engineers? i categorically reject that. >> reporter: nearly half a million vehicles in the u.s. us are affected 11 million worldwide. volkswagen is still working out a fix. some lawmakers called on the company to offer a buyback program. >> the company's word isn't worth a dime. the only thing i want to hear today is exactly how will volkswagen make this right by consumers. >> reporter: vw has almost a cult following, and the anger

was evident from emailed shared. >> vw is the lance armstrong of the industry. how do you sleep at night? how do you call yourself a member of the human race? >> reporter: horn admits he also feels deceived by a company he has worked for, for 25 years. >> this company has to bloody learn and use this opportunity in order to get their about together. >> reporter: after his grilling he again pledged to make things right. >> we want to fix these issues, remedy our customers, and make sure this is never going to happen again. >> reporter: doing that, could take years, and cost the company billions. lisa stark, al jazeera, washington. auto union leaders prepare to vote on a new contract with fiat chrysler, but there are worried the rank and file may not go along.

a look at what the 40,000 members really want.

>> i've been asked to keep my voice down cause we are so close

♪ause we are so close apple is expanding its service to starbucks, kfc, chile's bar and grill. apple pay launched a year ago. leadersover the united auto workers will vote today on a new contract deal with fiat chrysler, all of details have

not been made public yet, but there are reports it includes a pay raise for younger workers. that was a key uaw demand. david ariosto has more. >> reporter: this was once the picture of american auto workers, assembly lines turned out cars at a frenzy's pace to make the united states the world's leading manufacturer of automobiles. in 1950 about 17% of all american worker produced autos or auto parts. today that number is less than 1%. following years of competition that hurt u.s. sales. and yet six years after an $80 billion bailout and mass layoffs the u.s. auto industry is poised for its best sales year in more than a decade. >> we're seeing new investment going on in this country both from the domestics and imports,

so i think there is still a lot of viability as an automotive worker in the u.s. >> reporter: that's especially true in tennessee and mississippi where weaker unions and reduced labor cost has made manufacturing more attractive. >> it has shifted and there's more auto economy in the south than there used to be. >> reporter: and yesterday tait's auto jobs aren't quite they were. an average worker spends more time at work than it did in the past, but the pay has dropped. >> the wage is still higher than a starting wage you would get in retail. it's just not as attractive as it used to be? >> reporter: this week unionized workers threatened to strike unless the italian auto maker offered american workers more

money, better benefits, and did away with the structure that pays senior employees about $9 an hour more for the same work. the threat of a strike almost came to pass here at the plant here in detroit, especially workers were notified that they should pick up their belongings and just walk out the door if a strike came to pass. and it came down to that 11th hour. it would have been the first time the united auto workers union held a strike against an auto maker in the u.s. since 2007. among the reasons that matter, north america has emerged as fiat chrysler's biggest market. >> there is still some chance of a rank and file defeat of the deal. they voted down the first agreement. thank you for joining us. i'm randall pinkston. the news continues next live from london.

you can keep up throughout the day on aljazeera.com. ♪ israeli troops kill at least six palestinians and wound several others as a week of violence spreads to the gaza strip. ♪ hello there, i'm julie mcdonald, this is al jazeera live from london. also coming up. changing strategy, the pentagon, gives up on a training a rebel force. also -- >> these groups have no respect for human life. the u.n. approves plans to give more power to eurn