the rising tide toward a more popular democracy in iran. it is too early to say what will happen in the region. what is very clear is that we are in a very different sort of middle east than we were five years ago. i believe there is a civil war inside it is long. it appears as if the radical islamists might be on the defensive, might be losing some ground. i am heartened by that. i think that continued american involvement particularly in iraq -- we should sit card connector progress there. i think it will be required for a number of years. host: our guest is retired lieutenant colonel john nagl.

we have a common from twitter based on the first caller. based on the first caller. guest: that is very kind. i was privileged to attend the united states military academy at taxpayer expense and like to think i have given the american people something back for their investment in me, but it was an enormous honor to serve in two words. we continue to be blessed with enormously talented young people who served in our armed forces and who have given far more than the country has frankly your right to ask of them. many of my friends are serving third or even for taurus over there. the war in afghanistan is likely to continue for a number of years. i appreciate the support of this

color and ask him to continue to support soldiers in harm's way even as we speak. host: what is your reaction concern in the comment about oil? guest: this was not all about oil. the invasion in iraq caused great turmoil to the world's oil markets. it is finally beginning to stabilize. the apartment cause for the invasion in 2003 was the concern that saddam hussein had active weapons of mass destruction and fear that he might use them in a pre-emptive commit terrorist manner affiliated with al qaeda. we did not know and he refused to reveal exactly what the status of that program was. we found later he had stopped the program not long after desert storm, the first war in iraq. the intelligence failures -- and there were intelligence failures

leading up to the decision, some policy mistakes -- i think some policy mistakes were made. but it had nothing to do with the soldiers who fought on the front. what everyone thinks of the decision to invade, the responsibility to maintain security and stability continues it and will continue for some time. we cannot play history back. we have to move forward from where we are. host: here are some photographs from the associated press over the past 24 hours. caller: good morning, i am concerned about the mission that we test the american people were told why we're going into iraq and how it changed when failure -- when failure of the first reason for going in came about.

then the other reason was freedom. i am concerned about sending our men and women into harm's way for reasons that cost you who have served our country to go into -- have caused you to go into battle, and they do not even know what they're going to fight for. what was the mission? i am also concerned that when disagreements with the policy of george bush and dick cheney were advanced, they effectively rejected it and they still hung on to ideas that were failures. host: thank you. guest: it is a very heartfelt call and a share your concern.

actions have consequences. the decision to go to war is the most important decision a government makes. decisions like that made under pressure and with imperfect intelligence are rightly, i think, the subject of backward glances and analysis. and i think there will be the fodder for a doctoral dissertations for many years to come. we initially went in i believe because of the fear of wmd's falling into wrong hands or being used intentionally by the regime of saddam hussein. whatever the merits of that, once we had broken come to dump the we had the responsibility to put him back together again. an unstable iraq in the heart of the least allowed -- once we had broken humpty dumpty we had to

put him back together again. that the civilization would have been altogether bad. we are finally for increasing freedom and to a new democracy in iraq. the real priority, the reason my friends and my brother who was just commissioned will continue to be required to serve in iraq is to preserve the stability in give that country a chance to grow in some degree of freedom and to prevent american from again being at risk either from terrorists using iraq as a base or from stability and the instability throughout the region. that responsibility continues regardless of whether one agrees with or not the initial decision to invade iraq. host: this story concerning dick

cheney is felt in several places. this is what he had to say. >> i emiate believer in the leader and i think he is one of the most of the people i have ever worked with all my years in the business. what he says concerns me, that there is still a continuing problem. he is doing what needs to be done in keeping the u.s. commitment to get out of the cities, but it will look like, one might speculate that the insurgents are winning and will launch more tax incentives to get an opportunity. i hope not. i certainly hope the iraqis can do with it. -- and will launch more attacks when they get the opportunity. guest: the general has certainly done a great job.

he is the second in command and is no overall command. i think that general odierno is correct when he expresses concern about possible instability and is concerned about whether iraqi troops can secure the area on their own. well over 100,000 -- 100,000 troops will remain there for some time. we have some safety nets in place as increasingly they assume full sovereignty to take care of their own country. now america will be helping an imperfect democracy, a democratic iraq increasingly to stand on the tongue. host: here is the total of one

of your menus, learning to eat soup with a knife. can you explain? guest: yes, i was privileged at oxford university to study counter-insurgency and a look at the works of lawrence of arabia who said that making war and rebellion is messy and slow, like eating soup with a net. he understood how difficult, grinding but in an insurgency can be. conventional military forces are not very well-prepared to do with that kind of war by nature or training. they have to learn how to do it over time. will we have seen over the past six years in iraq is an american military and prepared to fight this kind of insurgency, but to learn and adapt. those lessons are now applied to the war in afghanistan. into what has been called a global counter-insurgency campaign against al qaeda and its friends.

host: our guest is the retired lieutenant colonel john nagl. caller: i would just like to say that i come from a long line ofgrunts from the war, right down to my brother's in both iraq wars, and i love your analogy of it break humpty dumpty and then putting him back together again. we have the freedom and the united states to say we want to, but like to apologize for the fellow who said you were alive. we also have to do -- who said that you were a liar. we have to do what our commanders tell us to do when you're in the armed forces. i support our troops holy. for my father told me about boosting and the eagle on the

flag of world war ii, and have seen these things and seen that it is almost as if the army are imitating these things. it does not sit well with a lot of people. then again, i do appreciate everything you have done in service for this country. i truly think you. i wanted to call in with a positive comment. host: there is this e-mail from tennessee. guest: let me speak first to a the caller, john. my first gunner -- i'm very fond of him and a grateful to his family. st. augustine said the purpose of a war is to build a better peace, and that is what we return to do in iraq.

the plan was admittedly a imperforate and there were many mistakes made. there were too few troops involved. there were not enough troops to secure iraq after war. there was terrific looting. it has taken a long time to rebuild the military in iraq which we disbanded, one of our most critical mistakes. we almost immediately began to rebuild it again. to the second cholera ,bill, iraq absolutely did not invite american invasion in march 2003, unless you believe it it did by its unwillingness to live up to the terms of u.n. resolutions and disclose its weapons of mass destruction program. that said, they are no increasingly developing a

government and security system that can stand on its own. . . host: if you go online you will be able to download this report that we have a hard copy of -- shaping the future of u.s. relationship with iraq. our guest is john nagl. our last call is from philip, hartford, conn. caller: good morning. i'm glad i got through.

just quickly, i know you are going off the air. host: i will put you on hold for a minute -- we are getting feedback. we will come back to you. one comment -- if it wasn't for the colonel and me and others like us, the loudmouths' who hate america would not have the freedom to spew their hate. guest: i was privileged when i was at west point to have been with them -- talk with a man who had been in vietnam. talking about jane fonda -- asked him about it, and he said i profoundly disagree with what jane fonda did. i would get wounded again to give her the right to do it. the rights to disagree, to express one's opinions, whether in form or correct or not is a wonderful ride that many americans have given their lives for and fought for. i am proud to have contributed in some way to preserving

america's freedom and americans right to disagree. host: philip, we will come back to you. if the volume is down. caller: police officers become policemen, and it is their responsibility to serve. as soldiers, they make the choice, if there is not a draft. that being said, i would like to see perhaps the u.s. government maybe not accepting oil, if that indeed was not their motivation to go there. it is quite evident from a good majority of folks believe that was the reasoning behind the invasion. guest: philip, i am sorry that so many people think that that was in fact the case. if that was the case, it was an

enormously poor decision. the invasion actually increase the global price of oil and decreased world oil supplies and the united states, of course, did not claim any oil for itself and pays a fair market prices. we saw that in the auction yesterday of oil rights in the united states and international oil companies now negotiating with iraq for rights to buy more iraqi oil. the long-term answer is i think increasingly going to be finding other ways to drive our global economy. but for a while, at least, petrochemicals, hydrocarbons will be an important engine of the world economy and we are going to need iraqi oil. our friends around the e world will meet iraqi oil

>> here's a look at our schedule for tonight. at 8:00 eastern, general ray odierno briefs reporters on the latest military operations in that country, including the withdrawal of u.s. troops from baghdad and other huge rural areas. we will have that in its entirety at 8:00 p.m. eastern. the winter of minnesota's said erase is expected to speak shortly. this is a live picture outside mr. franken's home in minneapolis. it comes after his republican challenger conceded the race just a short time ago. here is part of that statement. >> i just had a conversation with al franken, congratulating him on his victory. i told them that is the best job he will ever have, representing

the people of minnesota. the supreme court of minnesota has spoken. i respect its decision, and i will abide by its results. it will move forward. i congratulate our newest united states senator, al franken. just a few words about my legal challenge. yes, i wanted to win. not just myself and my supporters, but so many have worked so hard and put some much into this effort. and for the values i have always fought for. i also thought was important to stand up for votes whose weren't counted like others were. voting is fundamental. it is the essence of democracy. i knew we needed to do everything we could to get it right. i am forever grateful and humbled by the people of

minnesota. i'm even more grateful for their courage, wisdom, and patience of the last few months. it is not nearly as important today as the path we must now all travel together to strengthen our state and our nation. these are challenging times. i have never believed that my service is irreplaceable. we have reached the point with further litigation, -- were further litigation damages our state. the future today is that we have the -- a new united states senator. i congratulate alfred and his victory. he now enjoys the advantage that our current red -- the great ideas, the amazing work ethic, and the historic ability to get -- come together to get things

done will help him greatly as it has me. speaking of which, we should all take a minute to thank the senator for her incredible work and her staff. they have done a great job the last six months. she is an extraordinary public servant. i did not reach this point with a big regrets. i ran the campaign wanted. i conducted the legal challenge to wanted. -- the legal challenge i wanted. we live in a great country and a great state. we can all have confidence that by some that we do not know yet, -- >> going now live to minneapolis, minn., outside mr. frank and's on -- mr. franken's

home. >> we're so thrilled that we can finally celebrate this victory. i am so excited to finally be able to get to work for the people of minnesota. i received a very gracious call from senator coleman a little while ago. he wished me well. i wished him well. we agreed it was time to bring this stayed together. over the last eight months, as the nation has watched this all unfold in this state, minnesota and have earned the right to take pride in the transparency and the integrity of our election officials. but during the same period, minnesota families continue to face challenges.

even though we're thrilled and honored by the faith that minnesota has placed in me, i am also humbled. not just by the closeness of the selection, but by the enormity of irresponsibility that comes with this office. we have a lot of work to do in washington. that is why i signed up for the job in the first place. when we started this campaign way back in february of 2007, i said that americans have never backed away from tough challenges. minnesota has owens led the way. working with our fantastic senior senator, i am going to fight hard to make quality health care accessible and affordable for all minnesota ns. to make sure that kids have an education that prepares them for a twenty first century

economy. to make minnesota at the epicenter of a new renewable energy economy that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil. to restore our standing in the world, and put people to work here at home. to those who worked for me, volunteered for may, voted for me, i cannot tell you how grateful i am. when you win an election is close, you know that not one bit of effort went to waste. and to those who devote their time to senator coleman, i can only imagine how hard these past months has been. whether you voted for me or for senator: or for senator barkely, or you -- or whether you voted it all, i am ready to work for all of you. i am committed to be a voice to

all minnesotans in the u.s. senate. i will be the sixtieth member of the democratic caucus. that is not how i see it. the way i see it, i'm not going to washington to be 60 of the democratic senator, i'm going to be the second senator from the state of minnesota. and that is how i am going to do this job. [applause] i promised to do my best, to work hard, to stand on principle when i believe i must, and yes, to compromise what i believe that that is in the best interest of the people of minnesota. on behalf of frannie, our beautiful kids, let me say thank vote -- let me say thank you to the people of minnesota for your

patience, for your thoughts and prayers, and for giving me the opportunity to work for you in washington. i can't wait to get started. [applause] we will take a few questions. >> when you expect to have -- how difficult is it going to be to come and some much later than everybody else? >> i can't tell you exactly what i will be seated, but i think it will be early next week. coming in in midsession, it will be more difficult i'm sure. i have been trying to keep abreast of what has been going on. i will do the best i can. >> described the moment where norm and coleman called.

knowing you're going to become a u.s. senator. >> it was a very gracious call. he said it was a very hard fought campaign. i said, norm, it could not have been closer. i said to him that we can only imagine what this was like for him and his family. he just said, this is going to be the best job you will ever have. i hope is the best job i ever have. yes, i think it will be. >> when the weight of this was finally off your shoulders -- >> i did not know if it has really sunk in yet. i have to say, it was just a

really nice moment between two people who really fought hard. he could not have been more gracious. that is really what i felt in a moment. this is nice. it is a nice way to end this. >> have you spoken to harry reid or any of the leadership in washington? >> yes. >> [unintelligible] >> i talked to the majority leader. he called after the decision was announced. i'll be on the health and labor pension committee. i am very happy about that. i'll be on indian affairs, which asked for. i will be on aging which dovetails nicely with health, education, and pensions. what i've been doing? we have been doing a lot.

i've been going back and forth from washington. i have a staff in place so i can hit the ground -- if not running, trotting. i have been trying to keep abreast of what is going on in the senate. it is not the same as being there though, i know that. we have also had to raise some money during this period. i have been doing that as well. i have been meeting a lot of people around the state. we have had folks over for dinner that can help with education policy and energy policy. >> how many more people you have the higher? -- do you have to hire? >> you should send it to -- i am not sure exactly.

we're pretty staffed up in washington. ms. peterson is the state director here. we're pretty far along. >> the city and not one to make a big deal of being the sixtieth senator. the fact is, you are. [unintelligible] >> as i said, i see myself more as the second senator from minnesota. i was a day caribou -- i met a guy who just became a citizen. i said, you might know more about our government and how it works than a lot of americans. what were some of the questions? he said