you i think it is 100% across the force. but a large majority of the force has moved forward. i believe that them causing sectarian problems, the chance of that is much less today than it ever has been before. >> do you consider that a bigger threat than outside influences like al qaeda it? >> what i worry about is it is the political drivers of instability. it is the arab-kurd political issues that might rise tensions. it isinter-shi'ite political issues -- it is inter-shi'ite political issues that could cause tensions. what i have said earlier is we

hope they will resolve those earlier through diplomatic means and not good to violence. that is what they have been doing for the most part. there is no reason for me to think that will not continue, but we watch it very closely. as we watch for those indicators, one of the things we watch carefully is a return to any type of sectarian activity. we will watch if we see an increase in sectarian activities. we will watch if we see those indicators of insurgent groups returning at a higher level. i will continue to talk on almost a daily basis with the minister of defense, minister of interior and the iraqiya operational commanders here to ensure that we understand -- and the iraqi operational commanders here to ensure we understand everything.

>> one of the untold stories during the surge was the special operations unit activities against al qaeda leaders, aided by technical intelligence going after the leadership. will that continue unabated over the next year or will that be turned over to iraqi command forces? >> we have worked this very hard. we have also begun to be transparent in all of our counter-terrorism operations. we have been doing that for several months. we do joint operations with the security forces. we now have an iraqi group that is embedded with our technical and analytic targeters that help

us develop targets. i believe we will be able to continue with these operations jointly. i feel pretty confident about that. >> you lost four soldiers yesterday just as this handover was about to start. are you concerned at all about as there are fewer americans walking around baghdad, they are more attractive target. i should have introduced myself. i am with the ap. >> obviously, we lost four soldiers last night in baghdad. it is always tough when we lose soldiers here. actually, this attack did not happen in the city. it was outside of the city, but what i would say is that is one of the signatures we have to

look at. if we have less movement, will they target specifically u.s. soldiers? we have not seen that yet but we worked very closely with iraqi security force pertinence in order to make sure and limit the risks. -- work closely with iraqi security forces in order to make sure and limit the risks. we will have to work with the government of iraq to insure we are able to adequately protect our soldiers and marines. we will do everything we can to protect them. >> how would you do that? would you pick up the phone and call and i iraqi counterpart and say look at what happened last night -- and call an iraqi counterpart? are we talking about something more formal than >> -- are we talking about something more

formal? >> the brigade commanders will be working the problem locally. if we think it needs something bigger than i will look with the -- i will work with the minister of defense. again, we will work that with them. we have built strong relationships with all of the iraqi leader's over the last several years. we will use this relationships to work out these issues. >> last time you talked to us you were satisfied regarding syria possible -- syria's cooperation in securing its border. do you still have the same assessment regarding syria possible with iraq? >> i don't think i said i was content. i probably said they had done a few things role -- they had done

a few things lately that were encouraging. they have picked a few individuals up who were involved in facilitation. that is very encouraging to me. i am hoping we will be able to work through these issues and assist in continuing to bring down the facilitation that is coming through syria. >> last time you were here he mentioned to you expected a low- level insurgency to continue beyond 2011. i was hoping you could talk more about what does a low-level insurgency look like? >> i think how i feel about that is there will be small cells that are dispersed and not able to coordinate with each other but are still willing to conduct

attacks in order to make their political points, or in order to create local instability in order to gain influence. i think that is probably how i would best describe it. >> do you mean al qaeda? >> they could be al qaeda. they could be shiite extremists. they could be sunni extremists, but i would say they would not be connected, and not have a lot of robust capability but would still potentially conduct some attacks and some activity over time. i think we have to have the iraqi security forces prepared to deal with this type of threat. >> we have time for one more. why don't you close it, andrew? >> i am wondering if you could

tell us something of your personal feelings today. this is your third stint and your the division commander. then you are back as the corps commander, and now as the top commander. s he watched developments today and saw the celebrations -- as you watched developments today, what has been your overall sense and what has been dominating your thoughts? >> i would thank you for the question. i would say that i really look back to 2006 as the -- when i first got here as the corps commander when these sectarian balance was so hot -- when these sectarian violence was so high that it was hard to see a way out. today, it was just another sign that i have a lot of hope that

iraq will be able to move forward as a secure, sovereign iraq. it could be a long-term partner with the u.s. in the middle east who has a democratic government. today gives me more hope towards that, as i see them take on more responsibility, but more importantly, want to take on that responsibility. the iraqi people want their forces to take that on. they want to see us move in the background. they are not ready for us to go yet, but they are ready for us to allow them to attempt to exercise their security responsibilities. to me, that is very encouraging. frankly, the last six months have gone better than i expected. i thought the first six months of implementing the security agreement would be a very

difficult thing, but it has not. we have worked together to continue to move forward under the terms of the security agreement. that is what gives me hope and belief that we can do this now beyond now that we have moved out of the city. but there were still be bonds in the road. there will still be violence here. -- there will still be bumps in the road, but i am encouraged by that. i think the elections coming up will be a big step in accomplishing that. as i look back, i feel more encouraged by what i have seen today. i feel more encouraged by where we are headed. it will take me about 45 days to do a good assessment on where i think we are, and do we have to adjust this in anyway? i expect i will be able to do

that in the middle of august. >> we have reached the end of the time for this. let me just throw back to you one last time to see if you have any final thoughts you would like to share with us. then we will let you get on your way. >> sure, i would just say that today was an extremely important day for iraq. it is psychologically important to them. it is psychologically important that they now have made progress with their security forces, that they have made progress where they can now take charge inside of the city. it is important for us that we understand this and recognize this, and allow them to exercise that authority. it is important for us to fit in our role as it continues to

adjust. it is important for us to maintain our adaptability that we have shown through the last three years and as we continue to change and show our initiative in order to gain improved security here. i expect our leaders will continue to do that. we continue to have the best soldiers, sailors, marines in the world. their sacrifice is incredible. the sacrifices of our families is incredible. as we move into july 4, i ask each of you as you celebrate that you remember all of our soldiers who are deployed around the world and remember their sacrifices. thanks so much for being here. sorry i lost my -- i don't want to be inaccurate on the numbers. if i give you a number it will not be right. is significantly less than what it is today.

it is significantly noticeable on the ground that there are less americans inside of all the cities. i feel confident we are on the right track. thank you very much. have a great fourth of july. thank you. >> thank you for your time and the insight we can only get from the commander. thank you and we look forward to doing this again sometime down the road. >> thank you. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2009] >> if you missed any of today's news conference, we will. again tonight at 8:00 p.m. eastern here on c-span. -- we will airit again -- we will air it again tonight. we will hear from a scholar at the university of hawaii as well as a member of the center for strategic studies. it is held by the woodrow wilson center, and live coverage

begins at 12:30 eastern. and live coverage of today's white house breezing would secretary robert kids -- the white house briefing with secretary robert gibbs. discover an unfamiliar side of our nation's first president as we are live from george washington's mount vernon estate, with author, john furling. join our three-hour conversation sunday. it is part of our three-day holiday weekend starting friday morning on "book tv." >> how is c-span funded? >> donations may be. i have no idea. >> government. >> they get their funding through the taxes. >> a public funding thing. >> how is c-span funded? 30 years ago america's cable companies created c-span as a

public service, a private business initiative. >> last week nicholas sarkozy spoke out against the burka's worn by some muslim women. the president also talked about global climate change and france's economy in this 45- minute address to the french parliament. >> mr. president of the house, mr. president of the senate's, mr. prime minister, hon. members of parliament, as i direct myself to you today i am aware that this is a first in our republican tradition since 1875 the head of state was not

allowed to come speak to parliament. he could only communicate with parliament through notes that were read for him. this rule was set in a climate of distrust when our republic felt weak and threatened. this time is now long gone and our republic is deeply rooted in our country. the time has come to establish between the legislative and executive branches to establish relationships more in accordance with a secure democracy. a secure democracy is not a democracy where everyone is in agreement. it is a democracy where we are able to listen to one another and where we respect one another. if i had wished to speak to you

today, it was to show the importance that i give to the parliament to its role and its work. this, an important time in our history, i am aware of this. it is with the spirit at seriousness that i come before you because our situation is without any precedents. no one can say that they know where the truth lies. i have come to tell you my conclusions from the crisis. i already had the opportunity to speak about france's european policy in the what we wanted in terms of regulation for globalization. i have come to speak to you about the future for france. we do not know when the crisis will end. we need to do everything to ensure it will be as soon as possible. but we need to continue to

support our economic activity and guarantee the stability of our banking system. we need to detect -- we need to protect our weaker citizens. we need to do everything to avoid that the victims of the crisis become marginalized, people who will no longer be able to insert themselves in our society. exclusion is one of the most serious consequences of a crisis. our efforts would be a lack of responsibility. it would not only put in question our recovery, it would also considerably put at risk our future. the idea, according to which we could forge ahead while leaving some french people behind us is an unfair notion. in addition, according to which we could forge ahead well abandoning some of our

neighborhoods is a falsehood. because the crisis would supposedly be overcome at the idea to which we should no longer be concerned of human consequences, that is a dangerous idea. to consider the crises as in parentheses soon-to-be closed, not to behave as to everything would be as it were in the past, to be paid as before with the same criteria and the same methods would be a fateful mistake. nothing will ever be as it once was. the crisis of such a scope requests that we question ourselves. one cannot be a witness of does such a disastrous event without -- cannot be a witness of such a disastrous event.

while forcing us to start fresh by questioning our uncertainties, the crisis makes us more free to mention a new future. since the end of the cold war equalization imposed on us the notion that there was only one way ahead. that there was only one model possible and only a single rationale. so now we find ourselves all together forced to find a new way ahead. i have said a few days ago at the international labour organizations. there are two types of globalization, one that promotes internal growth, at once that try to cocker markets abroad and then there is the globalization -- one that tries to conquer markets abroad and one that contributes to the

development of all. the first type pushes to the extreme the rationale of competitiveness while using all types of dumping. the second type is supported on the increase of productivity and improving well-being. the first one is based on conflict and the second is based on cooperation. we need to move globalization from the first rationale to the second. our crises will contribute to it because the crisis calls for a world where of justice and protection will be stronger. who can believe that the people will be subjected of the

consequences -- they will bear as they did in the past, golden parachutes and incredible gains stemming from speculation. this will be a world where the message of france will be better understood. it will be a world in which france will be in a better position than many others to succeed. the model of domestic growth according to which human progress goes hand in hand with economic progress, that is the model that allows france to obtain its greatest successes. to base its competitive position not on policies sacrificing others, but by trying to increase global productivity through health, education, social protection network, through our quality of life by mobilizing all of our resources,

by successfully complementing public and private activity. that is what france has always strived to do. that is what corresponds best to the french ideals. this is what we are all hoping for above and beyond our differences in opinion. we all love our country. we all share the same fundamental values. we all want everyone of us to have the same rights and obligations. we want all of us to feel respected and have our place in society. the republican model remains our common reference. we all dream of finding a coincidence between our economic needs and our republican dream. this train comes from the time

of the french resistance -- this dream comes from the time of the french resistance. this heritage is a common heritage. we need to remember the 30 years after world war two with nostalgia -- not with nostalgic, -- obtained from france what is best to offer. we can do what our fathers did before us. we can do it in our way and our time. we will not come to the world of the 30 years after world war ii. for 30 years french values went against the grain of those that dominated policies, but this creates circumstances that is favorable to france.

our hope to put economy to the service of man and not the opposite. everything brings us back to this. at a time when it becomes obvious for everyone that economic development can only be sustainable if it respects mankind and nature at a time when the world discovers the limits of the logic based on the market, at a time when we understand we need to regulate our markets and globalization now more than ever the growth model for tomorrow will not be the model of the 30 years after world war ii. the digital revolution will radically transform the patterns of consumption and production, but nonetheless, they will be similar in nature. without fully realizing it, we have given too great a role to

the financial markets and listened to much to those who were using debt themselves for undue speculation. in the new growth model that france hopes for, that france is striving to set up cannot we need to get a greater role to labor and entrepreneurs, inventors come back to those who create -- inventors, to those who create. our scientists and artists -- in terms of articulating private enterprise will once again become considerable assets. this is the reason to try to answer all of our difficult questions. why is the gap so why?

this is a question everybody is asking themselves. why is the gap still wide between our ideals and our social reality? why has this gap continued to grow over the past decade? no one, whatever their political stripe, at no one can refrain from asking themselves this country -- no one can refrain from asking this question? why are our parents are afraid for the future of their children? why is there such a dissatisfaction? there is a deep-rooted dissatisfaction. we need to not only had the courage to ask these questions, but also to answer them. the crisis has put the french model back in -- this model which allows us to absorb shocks is popular, but the crisis

reveals a weakness. to hide our head in the sand while waiting for a to be over would be a serious mistake. nothing goes more against change in the inertia of business as usual, so if we are not able to change today we will not be able to change in the future. we would miss an historic opportunity. the crisis should not only lead us -- we need to question what we are doing ourselves. our future will be decided here and now. how to face our future if we are not assured of our values and where do we stand in terms of equality? i think without realizing we have moved from republican equality to end equalitarian society. this is based on merit and

talent. it gives the same thing to everyone. the republic and proves our living conditions and the equalitarian society is based on the lowest common denominator. our method of integration nylander works in producing equity and -- are method of interrogation no longer works in producing equity. i don't want to go back on the debate and the words of affirmative action. i am aware of this leads to traditions that are different from those of france, but to reach a quality we will need to give more to those who have less. we will have to compensate the handicaps of those who have had less opportunity for success than others, but this should not be based on ethnic criteria. this should be done based on social principles, but it needs to be d