the interesting thing secretary gates said there is he thinks prime minister maliki is also beginning to get concerned. i will tell you, joe, there are many -- i put myself in this category -- who are suspicious of prime minister maliki's own relationship with ahmadinejad and with the iranian regime. i will tell you also, throughout the region, governments in saudi arabia and around that region were also deeply suspicious of maliki's relationship with iran. and so, it remains to be seen whether prime minister maliki has the political will and the courage to try and push back against the iranians who are providing these weapons that kill our soldiers. >> fran townsend, one last question, i think very quickly. the president's giving a major speech on afghanistan on wednesday. how does this fit into the debate over troop withdrawal? >> you know, i actually think they've kept this within the national security council quite separate. i don't think that this really plays into the president's decision really at all in terms of troop levels in afghanistan. the white house has made pretty clea

so it is a difficult issue for maliki. the problem is for them to stay past december 31, there needs to be additional protects, legal protections for our troops. that requires some approval from the parliament and that is the difficult challenge for maliki, could he get parliament to approve something that would allow a train and equip mission to stay past december 31. >> and afghanistan, there seems to be a reopened debate. we were told initially the president might be approving a drawdown of 5,000 support troops from afghanistan, not the combat troops. at the same time, secretary gates doing his farewell tour is re-emphasizing that. yet today, another review, and i'm told this decision could come very quickly, before july 1st, by the president, on the pace of withdrawal and, in fact, there are some within the administration and certainly in congress, democrats and republicans, kerry and lugar, who believe that there is such war fatigue and such disappointing results from hamid karzai that perhaps we should be drawing dow

. -- nouri al-maliki is the prime minister. sometimes it's very confusing for us, there were elections in march and has taken a long time to come to the point of forming a government. i know that the kurds, the arab league, and the united states pushed and said we had to get this thing done. now we are in the process of forming a government, which is supposed to be gathered by the end of december. two wars in iraq. what are the physical conditions in iraq? in baghdad in particular? whether we know it or not, and i don't know that we do, hundreds of thousands of people either lost their lives, iraqis, or maimed, injured or displaced and are now refugees. what is the condition of the country? >> i would take you back further. specifically during the tenure of saddam hussein, people were being executed, there was a state repression on the system. add to that the manipulation of the sanctions regime where the regime and manipulated sanctions so they could keep themselves strong but make the country week and deplete every resource o

he's done everything you can he's flown over several times to baghdad to leave with nouri al maliki government to please please u.s. soldiers day after the deadline at the end of this year the pentagon says they expect the iraqi government will ask them to stay beyond their scheduled december thirty first departure date but with the announced troop withdrawals from iraq and afghanistan the u.s. started actively waging a different kind of warfare what they call and intelligent war one that's waged with drones without sacrificing the lives of their soldiers in countries like pakistan yemen and libya and. many say that's the major shift that happened in military operations under robert gates a shift that some say can only lead to more destruction of. the united states has increased the intensity of the focus on the students and you drone strikes those are not the only vehicles while targeting carries the u.s. has been criticised for killing mostly civilians it's also making us less secure from a policy standpoint we can intervene over the world it just fuels insurgency needs and fuels and i am am

funerals of americans who laid down their lives and in doing so provided people like prime minister maliki the chance to come back from compile, to be elected in that country and -- exile, to be elected in that country and to be a leader. i don't think it's too much to ask for a little gratitude. we're not asking anything in return. i know there was some discussion , wasn't from me, about, gee, maybe you could help us instead of doing deals with china for your oil after we've secured your country and got rid of the tyrant saddam hussein, maybe you could deal with us. i'm not asking for those things. i'm just asking for a little gratitude. for the lives and the treasure that were expended to give people in iraq the freedoms they have today. and i expect people who have become leaders in iraq to keep their word to us because if they can't be trusted, if they won't keep their word, well, they can lock me out of their country all they want to, but we have the power of the purse. i didn't join in the lawsuit against the administration over the war powers, i think it's well intended, the friends

and frankly, based on what i have seen in the last few days, i think prime minister maliki is beginningo get worried as well and take serious these shia extremist groups. >> post bin laden, when they thought they were going to make an attack to retaliate u.s. troops killing bin laden. so far it has not happened. are they too weak to launch a strike against the u.s.? >> first of all, they have been significantly weakened. there's no two ways about it. killing bin laden, he's not the first leader we have killed in al qaeda. and so there have been real successes there. and second, most of their operations that we see do take some time to prepare, and get things ready. so we worry about al qaeda central there on the pakistani, afghan border. and we also worry about al qaeda and the iranian peninsula, and yemen, in north africa, and so this is a threat that in some ways has ma tsa sized. the question is, whether the new leader taking bin laden's place can hold these groups together in some cainkind of a cohesive movement. or do they become more regional terrorists and focus on regional targe

prime minister maliki in iraq expressed an awareness of the problem and incrementally, some steps were taken. we have seen president karzai make the same commitments. words do count but the account for more. -- but deeds count for more. i would start from the assumption that we have partners in the afghan government. that is what i hear in my consultations. we have some affective gubernatorial appointments and the provinces an increasingly effective members of the karzai cabinet. that is a critical part of capacity building and transition. i would see that as a key responsibility to help them develop the capacity. >> i will just say that when i see the reports public and private about where our money has gone and where the corruption is that and when i see karzai talk about the united states as an occupying force, have a real problems. s having american lives shed. my understanding is that for fy 02-10, we spent $172 million it -- on education. that is far from success. what is the united states position and your position on the efforts to alter the un's 1267 list of people associated

they continue to engage prime minister al maliki to emphasize the importance of reaching finality on this issue. the department of defense and other agencies and offices have also undertaken unprecedented levels of coordination and planning for the transition in iraq. dot has an excellent working relationship with the state department, and we are working together at all levels for a successful transition. challenges exist, but rest assured that dod is doing everything it can to buy up the state department achieve success. the coronation in november of last year, the dod embedded an officer to serve as a news on. dod and state have also established an ad hoc group for coordination and synchronization. this group is cochaired at the deputy assistant secretary level and continue to talk about the eight suborned areas including supply chain, medical, facilities, information technology, security, and aviation. additionally, to expeditiously respond, and equipping board was established in early january 2011. the process consists of working people from areas that fee recommendations for the

al- said the ad is foralp maliki to said. that is not cool on like we see in washington -- that is not unlike what we see in washington. this is an important key issue. the politicians in iraq will have to step up to the plate. for the united states to pull out by the end of this year and turn over complete future of that country before they are ready could literally have to feed out of the jaws of victory and we will want to see that. i want to thank the panel and at this point, a woodfield to the gentleman from virginia if he has any additional questions than i do, thank you. >> i do, thank you. you indicated that your understanding of sirp program in iraq was that it was $25 million? >> for f y 12. it was $100 million for f-111. >> perhaps your staff can confirm this. in 2003, the total amount of funding in iraq was $3.89 billion t? >> i will have to get back to on the exact number. we spent a considerable amount of money in iraq. >> more than $25 million? >> yes. >> and try to get at the magnitude is it your testimony, if

unless the prime minister nouri al-maliki asks the u.s. to stay. in april, admiral mike mullen on a visit to iraq explained how withdrawing the troops comes down to physics. how long it takes to move soldiers and equipment. why the pentagon needs a quick decision from the iraqis. >> i think that the timeline is in the next few weeks. >> the white house says there are currently no negotiations with iraqis about u.s. forces staying. >> there are 52 weeks in a year. we are moving along, according to the existing agreements we have. >> two weeks ago, basha supports took to the street demanding all supporters leigh now. >> the great fear in the administration is iraq will fall apart after we leave. the country could unravel in 2012, which, of course, is election year. >> two iraqis that fired the rockets that killed five americans today were killed instantly when one of the rockets backfireed and exploded prematurely. prime minister malia is weighing whether to ask u.s. troops to stay. bret? >> jennifer griffin live at the pentagon. thank you. >>> today

the attacks coincide with prime minister prime minister nuri al-maliki's deadline for iraq cabinet ministers to make reforms be fired. this reform deadline was set at which said that the demonstrations over most basic services lack of freedom in russia. it's unclear whether the attacks occurred because of the reform deadline. interior minister officials say most casualties were iraq's security forces . >> tonight another republican is a the 2012 race president. former senator rick santorum and declared in his home state of pennsylvania that he is running today, with a kiss of all of a lot of his wife, he urged the crowd to join the fight. it is strongly anti-abortion and their darling of social conservatives. he immediately set out for a four day campaign swing cell in an iowa the first-aid on the presidential race calendar of caucuses and primaries . >> chicago public schools man dead for hundreds of millions of dollars but the new ceo says students will see no major changes in the classroom next fall. wgn's muriel clair has the details that outlined in a letter that was sent home to parent

and frankly, based on what i have seen in the last few days, i think prime minister maliki is beginningg to take serious these shia extremist groups. >> let me ask you about al qaeda. what does it say to you post bin laden, when we all thought they were going to make an attack to retaliate against u.s. troops killing osama bin laden, it hasn't happened. as far as i can tell, there's been no real lift in the terror warnings. are they too weak to launch a strike against the u.s.? >> a couple things. first of all, they have been significantly weakened. there's no two ways about it. killing bin laden, he's not the first leader we have killed from al qaeda. we've taken a toll on them particularly the last few year, last several. and so there have been real successes there. and second, most of their operations that we see do take some time to prepare and get things ready. so we worry still about al qaeda central there on the pakistani/afghan border. and we also worry about al qaeda and the iranian peninsula and yem en in north africa, in the maghreb. and so this is a threat that in some ways

after california congressman dana rohrabacher reportedly suggested to iraqi prime minister nuri al malikie of the costs of the war. the u.s. embassy in iraq is dist

presence beyond the december 31 which role does not agree to by president bush and prime minister maliki in the security agreement between our countries. another key decision point is looming in afghanistan. regarding reductions in u.s. forces starting in july. president obama said the other day that, "it is now time to recognize that we have accomplished a big chunk of our mission and that it is time for afghans to take more responsibility." the president has also said that the reductions starting in july to will besignificant -- will be "significant and i just a token gesture -- and not just a token gesture." to assume security responsible for all of afghanistan. i support the so-called transition strategy, which calls for afghan security forces to take more and more of the lead in providing for their countries security. the more that afghan security forces do that, the better the chances of success, because the taliban's biggest nightmare is a large effective afghan army, an enormous party perspective of the afghan people and control of afghanistan security. having security forces in

and these people obviously, they were -- prime minister maliki was insulted that i even asked him to because we're in a financial crisis now and they're soon to be prosperous with our oil money. that tells us a lot about them and it also should give us pause about giving them any more money or leaving our troops there. >> well, at least pause to consider what we expect in return. if we go in there expecting much more than nothing, we're going to be sadly disappointed. >> well, i'm not going to apologize -- he asked me for an apology, said we have insulted them for asking for a payback. and i am not about to ask for any -- or give them any apology. i have nothing to apologize for representing all of the american people who have sacrificed so much to help those people be free, and now they're not grateful at all for it. >> congressman dana rohrabacher from washington. >>> coming up next, an exclusive interview with the secretary of education, who has some tough talk regarding what he expects from america's teachers. >> half the battle's intellectual. half the battle's the heart. you wa

representative rohrabacher, you wonder why maliki might have been insulted. me remind you that the united states army military destroyed the most modern arab country in the middle east, one million people have been killed at least of u.s. military action, four million are refugees internally and externally. madeleine albright says 500,000 children who died from u.s. sanctions is worth it. the city of fallujah has been depleted of uranium, and babies are born with the most hideous birth defects. even to this day, there's only eight hours of electricity in baghdad, and you talk about american sacrifices of maybe 4,000 soldiers and money that has been spent? that's a drop in the bucket, representative rohrabacher, to what iraq -- host: all right, let's hear your response. guest: you're absolutely 100% wrong. you don't know what you're talking about. you're blaming all the deaths that have occurred in iraq on us? on us? the destruction, all these bombs going off are blamed on us? you know, we are there trying to basically be the policemen of that country so they

he also established a relationship of trust with prime minister maliki and his government and he used that to push, prod and courage and support the iraqi is in saving their country. throughout the struggle as they rush the beat to smash into baghdad ryan crocker performed his duties with courage the strategic vision of tactical effectiveness and a relentless work effort that literally almost killed him i commend the president for recognizing there's no better man for the job of investor to afghanistan and ryan crocker. i also commend him for again answering his country's call to service. afghanistan today a new generation of americans both military personnel and civilians is dreading the inspiring next chapter to the history of the great nation. the challenge for all of us in our time of service is to strive to be equal to these zero with fellow americans. and nominating ryan crocker as ambassador to afghanistan the president's chose a man is worthy of the service and sacrifice of those he must lead. i hope all of you will reach a similar judgment voting him out of committee the comm

>> i believe the prime minister of maliki and the iraqi government request that we maintain a presence there that that should be to seriously considered by the president. >> do you think it would be in our interest to do that? >> there are 1000 al qaeda that are still in iraq. we saw the attack was made the other day. it, too, continues to be fragile situation. i believe we should take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that we protect whatever progress we have made their. >> do you know of anyone authority orn the congress or the administration who believes we should send ground troops into libya? >> i have not met anybody at who supports that. >> i have not either. i think all of us -- would be a great mistake. do believe is the proper role congress to restrict the powers of the president ofnited states to act? we were around when there is a vote of cut off of funds. right or wrong, that was the appropriatrole of congress. does it rry you if the congress begins to tell the commander in chief as to exactly what he can and cannot do? >> i believe very strongly that the president

to say and spokes people for maliki, those are the folks that you have to go to. and it's not unlike what we see here on washington when some of the big issues, everybody points the fingers to the others maybe through congress, democrats or republicans but this is an important key issue and the politicians in iraq are going to have to step up to the plate as well because for the united states to pull out by the end of this year and turn over complete , the future of that country before they're ready could literally, you know, have defeat out of the jaws of victory and that's what we don't want to see here, for the united states or for the vacation as well. i want to thank the panel and at this point, i will yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. continually if he has any additional questions? >> i do, mr. chairman, thank you. >> you indicated that your understanding of the program in iraq was that it was $25 million? >> for fy-12, the request. >> and was $100 million, my understanding for fy-11. which we didn't spend all that money. >> am i reading the report r

behind the scenes the administration has been urging the maliki government in baghdad to make that requestrather than later. because if they dork the troop withdraw goes forward. wolf? >> the oil rich iraqi government could start paying for the expenses of maintaining the u.s. troop presence in iraq. just a thought. let me ask you about something else involving leon panetta. we're now hearing that he's in pakistan, that he flew overnight and now he's in islamabad. what is going on. >> well, pam has learned that leon panetta is on the ground inside pakistan. this is his first face-to-face meeting with the counterparts since the raid on osama's compound. he's had telephone communications with them and he's on the ground for a face-to-face meeting to talk about progress and cooperation in the counterterrorism relationship between the u.s. and pakistan. it's a bit of interesting timing. he only has another two or three weeks on the job as cia director, expected to be confirmed as the pentagon chief. and once he takes on that job, you'll see him going back to pakistan again and again, i suspect

presence beyond the december 31 which role does not agree to by president bush and prime minister maliki in the security agreement between our countries. another key decision point is looming in afghanistan. regarding reductions in u.s. forces starting in july. president obama said the other day that, "it is now time to recognize that we have accomplished a big chunk of our mission and that it is time for afghans to take more responsibility." the president has also said that the reductions starting in july to will besignificant -- will be "significant and i just a token gesture -- and not just a token gesture." to assume security responsible for all of afghanistan. i support the so-called transition strategy, which calls for afghan security forces to take more and more of the lead in providing for their countries security. the more that afghan security forces do that, the better the chances of success, because the taliban's biggest nightmare is a large effective afghan army, an enormous party perspective of the afghan people and control of afghanistan security. having security forces in

prime minister maliki in iraq talked about the problem. incrementally some steps were taken. we have seen president karzai make the same commitments. words do count. these killed more. -- these count more. if confirmed, i will start from the assumption that we do have partners in the afghan government. that is what i hear in my consultations. some effective gubernatorial appointments in the provinces. some effective members of the karzai cabinet -- that is a critical part of capacity- building and transition. i would see that as, again, a key responsibility to help them develop the capacity. >> i will just say that when i see the reports, both public and private, about where our money has gone, where the corruption is at -- and when i see karzai talk about the united states as an occupying force, i have real problems having american lives shed, having them continue to be shed. my understanding is that from fiscal year 2002 until 2010 we spent $19 billion on education. that is far from $19 billion of success. what is the united states' position on the efforts to alter under th

presence beyond the december 31 which role does not agree to by president bush and prime minister maliki in the security agreement between our countries. another key decision point is looming in afghanistan. regarding reductions in u.s. forces starting in july. president obama said the other day that, "it is now time to recognize that we have accomplished a big chunk of our mission and that it is time for afghans to take more responsibility." the president has also said that the reductions starting in july to will besignificant -- will be "significant and i just a token gesture -- and not just a token gesture." to assume security responsible for all of afghanistan. i support the so-called transition strategy, which calls for afghan security forces to take more and more of the lead in providing for their countries security. the more that afghan security forces do that, the better the chances of success, because the taliban's biggest nightmare is a large effective afghan army, an enormous party perspective of the afghan people and control of afghanistan security. having security forces in

just returned from iraq with other members to see our military, we further met with prime minister maliki. we discussed the killing of freedom seekers by iraqi authorities. the united states has turned over protection of these people who oppose dictator ahmadinejad to iraq. the prime minister's candid procedure was the dissidents were responsible for their own deaths and the iraqi government was not responsible for their demise. upon requesting to view the camp and talk to witnesses, you would have thought a political i.e.d. went off. that request was denied. it is disturbing that the prime minister refused us access to the iraqian -- iranian dissidents he promised the united states he would protect. what does the iraqi government are to hide? maybe the truth. 35 people are dead and hundreds wounded by this new free democracy in iraq. that's just the way it is. sfroip for what purpose does the gentlelady from texas wish to be recognized? >> to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. johnson: i rise today to recognize the dallas mavericks on winnin

>> i believe the prime minister of maliki and the iraqi government request that we maintain a presence there that that should be to seriously considered by the president. >> do you think it would be in our interest to do that? >> there are 1000 al qaeda that are still in iraq. we saw the attack was made the other day. it, too, continues to be fragile situation. i believe we should take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that we protect whatever progress we have made their. >> do you know of anyone authority or in the congress or the administration who believes we should send ground troops into libya? >> i have not met anybody at who supports that. >> i have not either. i think all of us -- would be a great mistake. do believe is the proper role congress to restrict the powers of the president of united states to act? we were around when there is a vote of cut off of funds. right or wrong, that was the appropriate role of congress. does it worry you if the congress begins to tell the commander in chief as to exactly what he can and cannot do? >> i believe very strongly that the p

i was surprised that prime minister mall key reacted with an emfat -- maliki reacted with an emphatic, no way. even -- later we learned the prime minister ordered the members of congress out of iraq. looks like our questions to him were a political i.e.d. as the date for our military looms ever closer for departure, there are reports he wants our military to stay longer and americans to pay for it. iraq should help pay for the nation americans rebuilt and liberated and that's just the way it is. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from rhode island seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. cicilline: i rise to honor dylan neil of harbor high school and saul. they have shown themselves to be some of the nation's most distinguished graduating high school students. they are two students selected as presidential scholars of more than 3,000 ap lip cants. it recognizes graduating high school senior for academic excellence, artistic endeavors and civic contri

libelieve such a presence is necessary and i encourage the administration to work closely with the maliki government to bring about this outcome to read in afghanistan, the main question is the size and scopeee of the drawdown of force is dran beginning this july. wou pure too i would agree withy gas secretary gates that any to maximize our ability to dhako or the heart of run games of ouf troops in the next fightingi season. i hope director leon panetta ass the secretary defense will support modest reductions and tt take action that would underminn the hard-won gains inafghanista. afghanistan. kno finally, we know that there isno growing opposition to continuent to his involvement in libya. there's already been one which is to attempt to bodying the a president's authority as commander-in-chief and they will hekely be others., t in short the accumulated accumed consequences of the of delay, demonstration's deily, confusion wholesale revolt in congress against the administrationminiss policies.y. although i disagree and disagree strongly at times with aspects of the have fenestration's ad

presence beyond the december 31 which role does not agree to by president bush and prime minister maliki in the security agreement between our countries. another key decision point is looming in afghanistan. regarding reductions in u.s. forces starting in july. president obama said the other day that, "it is now time to recognize that we have accomplished a big chunk of our mission and that it is time for afghans to take more responsibility." the president has also said that the reductions starting in july to will besignificant -- will be "significant and i just a token gesture -- and not just a token gesture." to assume security responsible for all of afghanistan. i support the so-called transition strategy, which calls for afghan security forces to take more and more of the lead in providing for their countries security. the more that afghan security forces do that, the better the chances of success, because the taliban's biggest nightmare is a large effective afghan army, an enormous party perspective of the afghan people and control of afghanistan security. having security forces in

and they said that's for mal -- maliki to say.everybody points to figure at the administration, maybe it's congress or democrat or republicans. but this is an important key issue and the politicians in iraq are going to have to step up to the plate as well. because for the united states to pull out by the end of this year and turn over complete the future of that country before they are ready could literally, you know, have defeat out of the jaws of victory. that's what we don't want to see here, for the united states or for the iraqis as well. i want to thank the panel and at this point, i'll yield to the gentleman from virginia, mr. connolly, if he has not additional questions. >> i do, mr. chairman. thank you. mr. kahl, you indicated in my previous round of questioning that your understanding the cerp program in iraq was $25 million? >> for fy '12, the request. >> for fy '12. >> it was $100 million, my understanding, for fy '11. which we didn't spend all of that money. >> perhaps your staff can confirm this, am i reading the si