every position possible. i know that i have and i think that they have. i have been for swaps. i have been for eliminating the entire department. i have been the secretary of the education. we have experienced all the possible views on this, but what you do about "no child left behind?" i think you fix it. . .

>> i think perhaps it would be enormously unwise for conservatives or any policy makers not to think comprehensively about the framework of their actions. my experience in things i have done if you want to get something done, you are much more likely to fix no child left

behind than you are to abolish the department of education. your comprehensive attitude might be the latter, but if you want to end two or three years with a result it will be the former. this has been a fascinating opportunity for me. i thank the hudson institute and thank all of you for coming. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2010] [captioning performed by national captioning institute]

>> if i had to put my money on a likely outcome, it would be that peace in iraq and it might be a very harsh peace, is likely ultimately to be imposed once aga again. we have to hope if that does happen, the new ruler, the new dictator, will be a lot more benign than saddam hussein. >> john burns on the future of iraq sunday night on c-span.

>> president obama made a surprise visit to afghanistan where he addressed troops at bagram airfield. he met with the commanding general. rough weather forced him to cancel a scheduled meeting with afghan president hamid karzai. this was the president's second trip to afghanistan as commander in chief. >> how about a hoowa. >> hoowa. >> how about an air assault? >> air assault. >> anybody out here want to say air power?

>> air power. >> and is everybody ready for the main event? >> whew! >> you sure about that? >> yeah! >> here is the deal. a couple of years ago my air assault buddy at the time command major of the 101st airborne division, told me what he looks for in a commander. he listed all the usual qualities you would expect, you know, all the ones. then he added, i also want a commander who is available to our troopers, who is accessible to our troopers and who is approachable. as i thought about it, i realized that in addition to all the qualities we expect in leaders i also look for those specific attributes. and this evening it is my honor

to introduce to you a leader who has demonstrated his concern for each of you, who has already been to the hospital to tend purple hearts of some of our wounded warriors, to meet with a platoon that suffered a tragic loss and who has proven above all he is available, accessible and approachable by flying halfway around the world to be with us tonight. please join me in welcoming the leader who made the tough decision to provide us the resources that have enabled progress here in afghanistan, the president of the united states of america, our command er in chief, president president barack obama.

>> ok. before the president starts, i think you all know the president was on the basketball court a few days ago. now, edit beaten that team four times, he scored on the guy and elbows started flying around. the only explanation we can colonel up with is -- come up with is they forgot who they were playing with. so major hill decided we would give him a t-shirt. well, ok, i got it. it is not the biggest, baddest.

it is an i-staff t-shirt. but then the 43rd commander of the 101st airborne division came up with a manly man t-shirt and no one will mess with you if you wear this, mr. president. >> hello, everybody! i'm sorry, i can't hear you. air assault. [cheers and applause] >> it is great to be back. let me thank the 101st airborne division band. where is the band? give them a big round of applause. thank you. to chief thomas hager and commander and conductor, i gather we had a couple others

play manifest destiny. you don't know how at the sounded. were they pretty good? it is great to be back. i apologize for keeping you up la late, coming on such short notice. but i want to make sure that i could spend a little time this holiday with the men and women of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and that is all of you. [cheers and applause] >> i want to thank general patrae patraeus, not only for the introduction and the t-shirts, but for general patraeus's lifetime of service. this is somebody who has helped change the way we fight wars and win wars in the 21st century. and i'm very grateful that he

agreed to tack command of our efforts here -- take command of our efforts here in afghanistan. he has been an extraordinary warrior on behalf of the american people. thank you, david patraeus. [applause] >> i want to thank all of you outstanding leaders including general john campbell, admiral bill mccraven from the 455th air expeditionary. colonel todd canterbury. your great senior enlisted leaders including scott shroed er -- somewhat roader. chris faris, and command chief craig adams. i also want to acknowledge the outstanding work that our civilians are doing each and every day, starting with carl

eikenberry, all the way through to your senior civilian representative thomas givens and all the civilians who are here. they are fighting alongside you and putting themselves at risk. they are away from their families and we are very, very grateful to them as well. so, give them a big round of applause. i think we have every service here tonight. we have army. >> whew! >> we have navy. >> yeah! >> we have air force. >> yeah! >> i think we have a few marines around, too. >> whew! >> and a lot of folks from the

101st airborne division, the screaming eagles. we are here in afghanistan. you are all -- coast guard? is that what i heard? [laughter] >> here in afghanistan all of you are part of one team serving togeth together, succeeding together, except maybe in next week's army-navy game. as your commander and chief i have to stay neutral on that. we also have some i-staff partners here as well. [laughter] >> when i was here in the spring we had a coalition of 43 nations. now we have a coalition of 49

nations. and this sends a powerful message that the coalition of nation nations that the force of afghanistan is strong and is growing. now, i'm not here to give a long speech. i want to shake many hands as i can. but let me say that at this time of year americans are giving thanks for all the blessings that we have. as we begin this holiday season, there is no place that i would rather be than be here with you. i know it is not easy for all you to be away from home, especially during the holidays. but i know it is hard on your families. they have an empty seat at the dinner table. sometimes during the holiday season that is when you feel the absence of some you love most

acutely. but here is what i want you to know. as president of the united states i have no greater responsibility than keeping the american people secure. i could not meet that responsibili responsibility, we could not protect the american people, we could not enjoy the blessings of our liberty without the extraordinary service that each and everyone of you performs each and every day. so, on behalf of me, on behalf of mesh, malia and sasha, on behalf of more than 300 million america americans, we are here to say thank you. we are here to say thank you for everything that you do. i also want to say thank you to your families back home. so that when you talk to them, you know that they know they are

serving here with you in mind and spirit if not in body. millions of americans give thanks this holiday season just as generations have before when they think about our armed services. you are part of an unbroken line of americans who have given up your comfort, your ease, your convenien convenience, for america's security. it was on another cold december more than 200 years ago a band of patriots helped to found our nation and defeat an empire. from that icy river to the fields of europe, from the islands in the pacific to hills of korea, from the jung manies of -- jungles of vietnam to the deserts of iraq, those who went

before you also found themselves in this season of peace serving in war. they did it for the same reason that all of you do, because the freedom and liberty that we treasure is not simply a birth right. it has to be earned by the sacrifices of generations, generations of patriots, men and women who step forward and say send me. i know somebody has to do it and i'm willing to serve. men and women who are willing to risk all, and some gave all, to keep us safe and to keep us free. in our time in this 21st century, when sole other institutions seem to be shirking their responsibilities, you embraced your responsibilities. you have shown why the united states military remains the most trusted institution in america.

that is the legacy that your generation has forged during this decade of trial. in iraq and here in afghanistan. that's the legacy that you are carrying forward. as general patraeus mentioned, one year ago i ordered additional troops to serve in this country that was the staging ground for the 9/11 attacks. all of those troops are now in place, and thanks to your service we are making important progress. you are protecting your country. you are achieving your objectives. you will succeed in your mission. we said we were going to break the taliban's momentum and that is what you are doing. you are going on the offense, tired of playing defense. targeting their leaders, pushing them out of their strongholds.

today we can be proud that there are fewer areas under taliban control and more afghanistans have a chance to build a more hopeful future. we said a year ago that we are going to build the capacity of the afghan people. that is what you are doing, meeting our recruitment targets, training afghan forces, partnering with toes -- those afghans who want to build a more stable and progresperous afghanistan. i don't need to tell enthusiastic is a tough fight. i just came from the medical unit and saw our wounded warriors, pinned some purple hearts. i just talked to a platoon that lost six of their buddies in a senseless act of violence. this is tough business. progress comes slow.

there are going to be difficult days ahead. progress comes at a high price. so many of you stood before the solemn battle cross, display of boots, rifle, helmet, and said goodbye to a fallen comrade. this year alone nearly 100 members of the 101st have given their last full measure of devotion. there are few days when i don't sign a letter to a military family expressing our nation's gratitude and grief at their profound sacrifice. and in this holiday season our thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost a loved one, the father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister or friend who is not coming home. we know that their memories will never be forgotten and their life is added to the life of our

nati nation. because of the service of the men and women of the united states military, because of the progress you are making, we look forward to a new phase next year, the beginning of a transition to ofg responsibility -- afghan responsibility. as we do, we continue to forge a partnership with the afghan people for the long term. we will never let this country serve as a safe haven for terrorists that will attack the united states of america again. that will never happen. this part of the world is the center of a global effort where we are going to disrupt and dismantle and defeat al qaeda and its extremist allies. that is why you are here. that is why your mission matters so much. that is why you must succeed. because this effort is about the safety of our communities back home and the dignity of the afghan people who don't want to

live in tyranny. even though it is a hallmark of american democracy that we have our arguments back home, we have our debates an elections -- and elections, i can say without hesitation there is no division on one thing, and that is the uniform support of our men and women who are serving in the armed services. [cheers and applause] >> everybody is behind you. everybody back home is behind you, everybody. from nor to south, from east to west. from sea to shining sea the american people are united in support of you and your families. as your commander in chief i also want you to know that we will do whatever it takes to make sure that you have the strategy and resources and equipment and leadership to get this done. you may have noticed during these tougher budget times i took the step of freezing pay

for the federal force. but, because of the service you render, all who wear the uniform of the united states of america are exempt from that action. [cheers and applause] we are going to spare no effort to mac sure your families -- make sure your families have the support they deserve. that is not just to me but top priority for michelle to make sure americans understand the sacrifices that your families are making. as she likes to say, 100% of americans need to be right there supporting you and your famil s families. only 1% are fighting the wars but 100% of us have to be behind you and your families. your generation, the generation of afghanistan and iraq, has met every mission that you have been given. you served tour after tour.

you have earned not just our admiration. you have earned your place in american history alongside those greatest generations. the stories of those who served in these wars are too numerous to tell. but one of my greatest privileges as president is to get to know the stories of those who earned the medal of honor. two months ago i presented the medal to the parents of staff sergeant robert merrill who gave his life here as a member of the green berets. his valor, charging toward some 150 insurgents, saved the lives of nearly two dozen american and afghanistan comrades. last month, we held another ceremony. for the first time in nearly 40 years the recipient of the medal of honor for ongoing conflict was actually able to accept it in person. his name is staff sergeant

salvatore gunta. some of you may have seen his story. i want to tell it again tonight because of what it says not just about our armed forces but what it says about the country we love. three years ago sal and his platoon were on patrol when they were ambushed and two americans lay wounded up ahead. that is when sal and his men counterattacked again and again and again. they were being rained out with fire. but they just kept counterattacking because they wanted to get their two buddies. when he saw one of his teammates wounded and being carried away by insurgents sal rushed in to help his friend despite the bullets, despite the danger. he kept pressing forward. it was an incredibly intense fire fight. by the time it was finished every member of the platoon had shrapnel or a bullet hole in

their gear. five were wounded and two had given their lives. now, sal is a pretty humble guy. so, when he came to the white house he said, you know, i didn't do anything special. he said he was just doing his job. but he didn't do anything that his brothers wouldn't have done for him. if i'm a hero, he said, then every man who stands around me, every woman in the military, every person who defends this count country, is also a hero. and he is right. each of you has your own story. each of you is writing your own chapter in the story of america and the story of american armed forces. each of you has some losses.

each of you has made sacrifices. you come from every conceivable background from big cities and small towns, from every race and favorite and station. you have come together to serve a greater cause, one that matters for the citizens of your country back home and to strangers who live a world away. so, make no mistake, through your service you demonstrate the content of the american character. sal is right, every single one of you is a hero. some people ask whether america's best days lie ahead or whether our greatness stretches back behind us in the stories of those who have gone before. and when i look out at all of you i know the answer to that. you give me hope, you give me inspirati inspiration. your resolve shows that americans will never succumb to

fear. your selfless service shows who we are, who we always will be, united as one people and united as one nation. for you embody and stand up for the values that make us what we are as a people. american is not defined by our borde borders. we are defined by a common creed. this holiday season it is worth remembering that we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights and among these are the right to life, and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. that is what you are fighting for here in afghanistan and that is what you are protecting back home. that belief is more powerful than any adversary. so, we may face a tough enemy in afghanist afghanistan, and we are in a period of tough challenges back

home. but we didn't become the nation that we are because we do what is easy. as americans we have endured and grown stronger and remain the land of the free only because we are home of the brave. and because of you, i know that once more we will prevail. so, thank you, good bless you, and good bless the united states of america. [cheers and applause] >> happy new year. thank you, everybody. good bless you.

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>> next, live, your calls and comments. then president obama and congressional leaders talk about this week's meeting. and later the house debate on extending the bush-era tax

cuts. >> join our three-hour conversation sunday at noon eastern on c-span two and watch previous in-depth programs on booktv.org. >> this morning we'll talk with "wall street journal" reporter about what the federal government is doing to address the u.s. deficit and the future of recommendations of a bipartisan deficit commission. then, scott worden from the u.s. institute of peace discusses president obama's trip to afghanistan. then later, dave leventhal has details about the publicly disclosed personal finances, assets and investments of