for the fourth weekend in a low, sunshine, low humidity, nice temperatures. a lot of people are going the like it. >> that will be like philly. >> and father's day. >> here's brian williams. . on our broadcast here tonight, under siege in iraq, american evacuations underway as the white house weighs military options and the choice is limited. >> ready or not, violence in the streets as the world cup gets underway in brazil. protesters battle police a thousands of troops are sent in to maintain order. and this is 90, today a former president jumped out of a perfectly good aircraft. the legs don't work like they used to, but that didn't stop 41 the former world war ii aviator from taking a birthday dive. "nightly news" begins now. from nbc news world headquarters in new york, this

is "nbc nightly news" with brian williams. good evening. over a decade after the american invasion after the blood and treasure spent on the battle field, the billions of dollars spent on training and armorments, tonight a heavily armed extremist fighting force in some cases using american arms and vehicles is making lightning speed from city to city across the iraqi countryside and a big part of that country has fallen to their control. they are known as isis which happens to be their goal. after capturing a number of big cities in iraq, they are threatening baghdad while the region scrambles along with much of the rest of the world. just to review here, 4,477 americans were killed in iraq with over 32,000 wounded. over a million americans were deployed, most of them more than once and yet, it's a grave situation there tonight.

our veteran of combat coverage in the iraq war, richard engel is back in iraq tonight to start us off here. richard, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. this is a nightmare scenario that u.s. generals when they were here in iraq never talked about. not only is this country unstable but large parts of the country are falling to a group that is hostile to the government and the united states. some american veterans might be able to recognize their old humvees, given to the iraqi army, some shattered, burned, overs taken over by militants, a group of al qaeda did called isis. today they vow to march on baghdad, they are only 100 miles away and surrounded the biggest oil refinery and iraqi troops trained by u.s., most are

putting their hands up instead of on the trigger. the goal the militants said today, to impose strict islamic sharia law, not just in iraq but syria and beyond. they are lead by a bill tablet that fought in iraq and was in u.s. custody for years. many say he's the true heir to oc osama bin laden. as militants advance, hundreds of thousands of iraqis are fleeing. families loading into cars and looking for safer territory. 13 packed in one car leaving mosul. they heard gunshots near their home and had enough. others were on foot. what is happening to iraq, it's splitting apart into three warring pieces. in the west, the militants are taking over and being joined by

those for saddam hussein and under prien minister that is struggling to survive. and in the north, the curds who long for indeten dense for a century are taking it. today troops seized one out biggest oil refineries. the u.s. invaded and stitched back together with sweat and lives of thousands of american troops is rapidly coming undone. and brian, there is also the issue of american diplomats and contractors who are still in this country. there are several thousand of them here, some of the contractors have already been given evacuation orders, several hundred have begun to evacuate from the air base. the giant u.s. embassy in baghdad if this conflict continues and seems like it will

and will end up in baghdad and in baghdad it could get bloody. baghdad is divided, half of the shiite, the other half sunni and the u.s. embassy is right in the middle. >> richard, of course for you, you're in the back in the country you lived for so many years during the war. you and i were together during the fighting numerous time there is. despite the predictions by yourself and others over the years this kind of thing might happen, can you at some level believe this is taking place right now? >> reporter: i can, actually. i thought this was a distinct possibility and becoming more of a possibility the more exclusion narcoticry the government was becoming. the u.s. is in a hard position. now we're facing the choice do we help prime minister? many are blaming this problem on the government and say had he been more inclusive and worked

with the sunnis, he wouldn't be facing this uprising tearing iraq apart. >> richard engel on the streets of iraq tonight. to the south of where richard is at the white house tonight, two and a half years after the end of the iraq war, the obama administration is weighing military options in iraq, a proposition as limited as air strikes that would be tough for a lot of americans to support. our chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell monitoring developments in the d.c. newsroom tonight and andrea, we heard richard layout the stakes in plane english. >> indeed. the president elected to end the war in iraq met with national security advisors to discuss military actions, if that's the only way to save iraq from i'm moding but president obama ruled out boots on the ground. the event of the islam make militants and collapse of iraqi forces shocked the white house. >> i don't rule out anything

because we do have a stake in making sure that these jihads are not getting a permanent foothold in either iraq. >> reporter: drones are being considered but not sending ground forces back in. >> i know the president of the united states is prepared to make key decisions in short order. >> reporter: how could u.s. intelligence not seen this coming? president bush started the iraq war and famously declared it over 11 years ago. >> ha juror combat operations have ended and the battle of iraq, the united states and allies have prevailed. >> reporter: president obama campaigned on a promise to finally bring the troops home, but once they were gone, the explosion violence in neighboring syria and baghdad created the perfect storm in iraq. >> the president may have learned a lesson just because he

declares conflicts over, does not mean those conflicts are ended. >> terrorists moving in, taking control of western iraq, now they have taken control of mosul. 100 miles from baghdad. what is the president doing? taking a nap. >> reporter: allies need to be consulted. >> they need to come forward with a proposal and bring it to congress and let us debate what we should do. >> reporter: the terror threat from iraqi insurgent could reach to the homeland the fbi told senators today. >> to the american people, i know you're tired of dealing with the middle east but the people that are moving into iraq and holding ground in syria have as part of their agenda not only to drive us out of the mideast but hit our homeland. >> reporter: more brutal. >> they are able to plan and plot attacks not just in the region but potentially against europe and the homeland and that makes them one of the greatest terror threats we see in the world today. >> reporter: many in congress say u.s. military aid should be

conditioned on reforms by iraq's prime minister. vice president biden called maliki today, as richard engel is reporting, there is a sense this may be too little too late to cold the country together, brian? >> andrea, thanks. as we've been saying here, u.s. military options are in a word limited. our pentagon correspondent jim can offer more on that front from the pentagon. jim, good evening. >> reporter: good evening, brian. since the white house is ruling out ground troops, military officials say the only other direct combat direction would be air strikes but defense officials fear that may be the worst of many bad options. the iraqis are asking the u.s. to use man bombers and armed drones to launch air strikes against militant encampments but military officials argue that air strikes won't eliminate the threat and militants could

quickly go under ground or surround themselves with civilians. and for now, the u.s. also has little intelligence to go on conducting only two drone surveillance missions a month over iraq. u.s. military officials also fear that without any american boots on the ground, they would have to rely entirely on the rockies for targeting, and according to one senior defense official, we just don't trust the iraqi government or its military. officials here say tonight that all possible options are now over at the white house waiting rary mcafry.sident obama'sci >>n in audition to being a heavily decorated ranger, he's an nbc news military analyst. general, tell the viewers how bad this is, how bad is this group isis and where do you see

this going? >> well, brian, it's shocking to watch a giant military and police force come apart. there were apparently over 55,000 iraqi police and army up in mosul, city of 2 million people. nobody knows how many fighters there are but let's say there is not more than 9,000. we're watching a giant iraqi security force come apart, thousands of armored vehicles, 400 tanks. we're looking at overhead satellite coverage of the air field with u.s. helicopters still on the ground. it's really shocking. it's going to be a tragedy for the iraqi families, as well as the u.s. forces, 36,000 killed and wounded in that fight. >> what are the u.s. options as you see them? >> they are extremely limited. i mean, obviously, we can provide more intelligence, the cia, a courageous agency will see what is on the ground and we

could fly drones. we could hustle ammunition. at the end of the day, if your army won't fight, it's because they don't trust their incompetent corrupt generals. they don't trust each other. this is an enduring civil war between them. so i don't think we got any options and we would be ill advised to start bombing where we really can't sort out the combatants or understand where the civilian population is. >> in our washington burro tonight, general, thank you, as always. another military story we've been covering here, that guantanamo prisoner swap and tonight u.s. army sergeant bowe bergdahl is in the air on his way back to american soil after over a week in the u.s. military hospital in germany. he'll arrive at brooke army medical center in san antonio to begin the next faphase of his

recovery. there is an investigation to determine the details of how he ended up in enemy hands. a solum ceremony today at dover air force base in delaware, the return of all five u.s. soldiers, all of them members of special forces killed in southern afghanistan this week. apparently, an episode of friendly fire happened while the soldiers were conducting a security operation. still ahead on our broadcast this evening, violence erupts as the world cup gets underway. protesters clashing with police, tear gas in the air and worse, as millions descend on brazil and later, remembering a legend in the entertainment business, a champion of the civil rights movement as well. but with less energy, moodiness, and a low sex drive, i had to do something. i saw my doctor. a blood test showed it was low testosterone, not age. we talked about axiron the only underarm low t treatment that can restore t levels to normal in about two weeks in most men. axiron is not for use in women or anyone younger than 18

or men with prostate or breast cancer. women, especially those who are or who may become pregnant, and children should avoid contact where axiron is applied as unexpected signs of puberty in children or changes in body hair or increased acne in women may occur. report these symptoms to your doctor. tell your doctor about all medical conditions and medications. serious side effects could include increased risk of prostate cancer, worsening prostate symptoms, decreased sperm count, ankle, feet or body swelling, enlarged or painful breasts, problems breathing while sleeping and blood clots in the legs. common side effects include skin redness or irritation where applied, increased red blood cell count, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, and increase in psa. ask your doctor about axiron. so i can reach ally bank 24/7 but there are24/7branches? i'm sorry- i'm just really reluctant to try new things. really? what's wrong with trying new things? you feel that in your muscles? yeah...i do... drink water. it's a long story.

well, not having branches lets us give you great rates and service. i'd like that. experience a new way to bank where no branches = great rates. ally bank. your money needs an ally. finally, the purple pill, the #1 prescribed acid blocking brand. comes without a prescription for frequent heartburn. get complete protection. nexium level protection. [ mathey can see the lightes. eof a single candle.. look after them with centrum silver. multivitamins for your eyes, heart and brain. centrum silver. for the most amazing parts of you. one of the most anticipated events in all of sports around the world got underway in brazil despite concerns for months that brazil wouldn't be ready. world cup soccer started with

pandemonium along the fans and initial chaos and violence in the streets, the games will go on for a month. bill neely was watching it today in sao paluo. >> reporter: some grenades, tear gas and protests, just miles from where brazil's world cup began, police brought demonstrators who were angry at the most extensive soccer tournament ever. this is now how brazil's festival of sports in front of a global audience was meant to start and there is no guarantee it will end here. brazil is struggling to contain the protests as the soccer carnival begins. it's the world's biggest single sports event, fans joining half a million from 32 other countries including the u.s. today's opening ceremony was brazil's chance to dazzle, the highlight a paralyzed man who kicked the first ball.

the scientists who made that happen showed nbc news exclusively the computerized suit the man wore. the patient's brain sending signals through the suit to move his legs. >> you know, the first time the first patient walked here was one of the greatest moments of our lives. >> reporter: the world cup opened in a controversial stadium three lives lost building it. it's roof incomplete, temporary seating needed. the organizers are confident. >> we will have a great world cup in brazil. >> reporter: they are celebrating its start on the international space station. pope francis wished it well today but this tournament has many critics. the soccer authority says this is the worst organized world cup. seven years on and this stadium isn't finished. olympic organizers say the same about the rio games that start in two years or at least they are meant to. on the field at least brazil won

the first game. bill neely, nbc news. we'll be back in a moment with a scare on the set of the new star wars film a big star as been airlifted to the hospital. [ male announcer ] this is kevin.

to prove to you that aleve is the better choice for him, he's agreed to give it up. that's today? [ male announcer ] we'll be with him all day as he goes back to taking tylenol. i was okay, but after lunch my knee started to hurt again. and now i've got to take more pills. ♪ yup. another pill stop. can i get my aleve back yet? ♪ for my pain, i want my aleve. ♪ [ male announcer ] look for the easy-open red arthritis cap. just take a closer look. it works how you want to work. with a fidelity investment professional... or managing your investments on your own. helping you find new ways to plan for retirement. and save on taxes

where you can. so you can invest in the life that you want today. tap into the full power of your fidelity greenline. call or come in today for a free one-on-one review.

the lights will be dimmed on broadway. a lot of things, an american original and well-known and well loved actress for over half a tourry. she died at the age of 81. known for her physical beauty and long life of activism, it was h wildureston ash shakebackth '60s she kacame to know dr. king and worked with him. ruby dee was 91 years old. one of our former presidents turned 90 today and celebrated the only way he knows how, by sky diving so we must be talking about 41 turning 90.

he took to the air with the golden knights and jumped over a perfectly good helicopter, landing on an x at the family compound. after a rough but successful touchdown, he talked about the jump of his granddaughter, jenna bush haggard. >> that was awesome. >> how did it look coming down? good. >> it looked amazing. was it fun? was it great? the landing came in hot. did it hurt? >> i'll be okay. [ laughter ] >> we love you grandpy. this picture caught our eye today, the deck crew on uss george h.w. bush spelling out the significance of the day in living color. president obama's annual physical has been completed. the report is out and even though the president in the modern era traveled with physicians alongside them and enjoy constant medical care, they haven't all been in the shape this president is in as a

doctor pronounced him in excellent health. 180 pounds, cholesterol a tad high, no judgment, tobacco free but chews gum and he's fit. the new movie star wars episode seven, the actor who is 71 reportedly broke his ankle on the set in london and taken to a hospital. the accident involved the door of a spacecraft in the film reportedly controlled by hydraulics. the filming will continue as planned while harrison ford recoup rates. when we come back together, the enduring importance of arlington after a century and a half. she's still the one for you. and cialis for daily use helps you be ready anytime the moment is right. cialis is also the only daily ed tablet approved to treat symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain,

as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long term injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, or any allergic reactions like rash, hives, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing, stop taking cialis and get medical help right away. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use and a free 30-tablet trial. ask your doctor about cialis for daily use smoking with chantix. for 33 years i chose to keep smoking... ...because it was easier to smoke than it was to quit. along with support, chantix (varenicline) is proven to help people quit smoking. it's a non-nicotine pill. chantix reduced the urge for me to smoke. it actually caught me by surprise. some people had changes in behavior, thinking or mood, hostility, agitation, depressed mood and suicidal thoughts or actions while taking or after stopping chantix. if you notice any of these, stop chantix and call your doctor right away. tell your doctor about any history of mental health problems, which could get worse while taking chantix. don't take chantix if you've had a serious

allergic or skin reaction to it. if you develop these, stop chantix and see your doctor right away as some could be life threatening. tell your doctor if you have a history of heart or blood vessel problems, or if you develop new or worse symptoms. get medical help right away if you have symptoms of a heart attack or stroke. use caution when driving or operating machinery. common side effects include nausea, trouble sleeping and unusual dreams. i did not know what it was like to be a non-smoker. but i do now. ask your doctor if chantix is right for you. how much money do you think you'll need when you retire? then we gave each person a ribbon to show how many years that amount might last. i was trying to, like, pull it a little further. [ woman ] got me to 70 years old. i'm going to have to rethink this thing. it's hard to imagine how much we'll need

for a retirement that could last 30 years or more. so maybe we need to approach things differently, if we want to be ready for a longer retirement. ♪ finally here tonight, we started this broadcast talking about u.s. military sacrifice. you could say this nation's monument to sacrifice is arlington national cemetery this weekend the 624 acre complex hallow ground all of it turns 150 years old. our report tonight from nbc's harry smith. >> reporter: early in the morning in a basement barrack

room, members of the army's old guard get ready. every crease must be raise eraz sharp, laying to rest those who have served. sergeant jonathan goodrich understands sacrifice. >> it means everything to me. i have experience with being in units that lost soldiers over seas and to be able to be part of the closure for the family is just wonderful. >> reporter: at arlington, each grave represents a story of service, of honor and on this day, the story of a soldier missing in action. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: private james holmes was captured in a battle field. for 60 years, his family dreamt of his survival and prayed for

his return, yet, there was no news until january, his remains identified. martha price is private holms sister. >> it's indescribable. he is where he deserves to be under the circumstances. i'm proud of the army. i'm proud of the united states. i'm proud of him. ♪ ♪ >> reporter: the old guard knows the stories of those whose funerals think attend. no one here is a stranger. >> so nice. it was beyond everything i ever dreamed of. >> reporter: and that is why arlington is so important, so that those who are buried here can indeed rest in peace. harry smith, nbc news, arlington national cemetery. that's our broadcast on a thursday night with our veterans and thoughts and prayers. thank you for being here with us. i'm brian williams.

we, of course, hope to see you right back here tomorrow evening. harrison ford airlifted to a hospital. the emergency on the set of star wars episode seven now on extra. harrison ford injured. what went wrong in london as he reprises his role as han solo. "extra" with breaking details toda today. new photos, kim kardashian in a tiny bikini in her secret second honeymoon.

where the newlyweds are hiding out. >> before i had my wedding. wendy williams stalked? days after sandra bullocks close call with an obsessed fan. the talk show host is also being terrorized. the comic killed in the tracy morgan crash laid to rest today. >> unable to attend the emotional service as he continues to recover. kerry washington on her new baby and scandal's explosive season 4 return. >> we're counting down the sexiest guys of the world cup. >> now, on "extra" from universal studios hollywood, the entertainment