christopher hill as a former u.s. ambassador to iraq.served there from april 2009 until august 2010. he serves as a dean at a school of international studies at the university in denver. he is taking your calls and questions. bill is up next on our democratic line from st. louis, missouri. bill, good morning to you. caller: good morning to you. when i look at iraq and afghanistan and libya and syria and yemen and say what we have done to these countries in the , to see this man sit up there and talk -- it just drives me crazy. if anybody is a terrorist and that's part of the world, it is the united states of america. why has this man ever said anything about all the people we have murdered in iraq? we all know it was based on a lie. yet he says there with the that smirk on his face -- host: let christopher hill actually respond. he was over there in iraq and served as our ambassador in thei -- over there. go ahead. guest: i must say i some difficulties with the premise of the question, but let me simply say that obviously the invasion of

ko christopher hill, is action against syria the right thing to do? think the u.s. or anyone should be indifferent to these chemical weapons. not want to respond, but it feels it has to respond. is unlikely to be a un security council resolution. i do not think there is much impediment in terms of the politics in the u.s. i think if there is a perception russia has vetoed u.s. action, i think it is bad for the obama administration and for the u.n. i think if the decision is that assad has used these weapons we will hit him and hit him hard. >> what is the strategic outcome for the u.s. if they do have limited action against the chemical weapons system. is that possible? what does that achieve? inc. it achieves an end to this. conflict. no one in syria knows what their country is going to look like. there does not appear to be any effort from like-minded countries to come together. i think what we will see is a short and sharp attack on assad forces. some people in the middle east would say that is unfair, that we did not have the goods on them. some would say that i

ambassador to iraq christopher hill. he is the dean of the joseph corbell school of international studies at the university of denver. ambassador hill, that line that limbaugh just said, it is just so easy to be cynical now, that is sadly true, that in a situation like this it is as easy as it has ever been to be cynical about the coincidence of this timing. what do you say to the people who are questioning the coincidence of timing here? >> well, with all due respect to those who look for these conspiracy theories, believe me, this is something, when they get intelligence of the kind they've clearly gotten in which they've actually put out to the public, it's a very serious matter. now, the question is when you don't know where the attack is, you don't know how, you don't know when, you tend to go kind of broad in the region. and whether the events of benghazi play a role in that, you know, that may be the case. but certainly i think, you know, an abundance of caution would result in closing these embassies for a few da

ambassador to iraq, christopher hill, and theater katuf former ambassador to syria.nk you for joining us. americans seem to strongly oppose any kind of intervention in syrian's war by some pretty overwhelming numbers. and it only changes a little bit if you add chemical weapons into the mix. there 25% of americans would support intervention, but 46% still oppose it. chris, will popular opposition make the administration think twice about intervening and should it think twice? >> i think the administration is looking at this very carefully, indeed considering a lot of options. it's very clear they don't want to do this. on the other hand that statement today by secretary kerry that's about as strong diplomatic language as i have ever seen when he used the word obscenity in a statement like that. it's clear they will planning to retaliate. but will this be a military step that is punishing people who have used this weapons, or will it be a broader political process? i think it will be the former. i think many people would support a punitive action against people who ha

. >> christopher hill, thank you very much, ambassador hill. thanks for being with us today. >> thank you. >>> a personal note -- all of us here at nbc news lost a very special member of our extended family this weekend. john palmer. network correspondent for most of 40 years, and "today" show news anchor who died saturday after a brief illness. from beirut to washington, he was a dashing and brave war correspondent covering the wars in the middle east for more than a decade until 1979 when he came here to washington to cover the white house. it was here that he met and fell in love with his future wife, nancy. then working for "nightly news" here in the d.c. bureau. over the years john covered five presidents from jimmy carter to george w. bush. he mentored me, countless others. he was always smart and funny and courtly and wise. along the way he spent seven years at the "today" show news anchor desk. this morning bryant gumbel and jane pauley returned to talk about their dear friend. >> john was a gentleman was a capital "g." he was just grac

and christopher hill joins us. will be talking about the recent threats from al qaeda that led to the closure of u.s. embassies in the middle east and africa. and a book of the future of u.s.-russian relations following the announcement president obama has canceled his meeting with vladimir putin.

also christopher hill joins us. the former u.s. ambassador. you will talk about the recent threats from al qaeda. it a look at the future of the u.s./russia relations. also your calls and a look at today's headlines washington journal. congress on its five- week summer recess, we are following members of congress as they hold town hall meetings cole speakingtom to constituents in oklahoma. he is followed by democratic senator white house talking with constituents and a community dinner in pawtucket. right here on c-span. >> it was surrounded my grandmother. very beautiful. my grandfather could not talk to her. all rushed upstairs to do with a hack to do. and left her standing there. she knew her father was up there. went up the steps to the deck. he came running back. d.r father is dea when she heard that, my grandmother fainted right into the arms of the president. he caught her tenderly. >> first latest, influence and image -- first ladies, influence and image. next week and a harrison to eliza johnson. with the rights all this month on 9:00

. >> thank you so much, ambassador christopher hill, with long experience in iraq and the balkans and elsewhere. thanks for being with us today. >>> nbc news chief foreign correspondent richard engel was in syria today talking to residents fearful of the next attack. joining me from the border area in turkey, thanks so much, richard. i don't know if you were able to hear chris hill but he is pointing out the kind of limited retaliatory or punishment attacks being envisioned, cruise missiles or fighter jets launching weapons from outside the air space, are not going to be game changers. this is not going to help the rebels get back any advantage on the ground. but it is punitive because of the presumption now, the assumption by american intelligence, that this was a chemical attack and it did come from the regime. what did you find when you crossed the border and talked to people about their fears? >> first of all, i did hear the interview and it is amazing that we are actually talking about an apparently confirmed use by the syrian government of chemical weapons on a massive scale. le

christopher hill joined the spirit is the former u.s. ambassador to iraq. he will be talking about the recent threats of al qaeda that led to the closure of u.s. embassies in the middle east and africa. and a look at the future of u.s. -russia relations following the announcement that president obama has canceled his meeting next month with russian president vladimir putin. also your calls in today's headlines on "washington journal ," live beginning at 7:00 a.m. eastern here on c-span. and with congress on its five- week summer recess, we are following members that they hold a town hall meetings. today, republican congressman tom cole speaking to constituents and more, oklahoma at 10:35. he is followed by democratic senator sheldon whitehouse talking at a community dinner at 3:00 p.m. eastern right here on c-span. vacation tong for martha's vineyard, president obama traveled to orlando, florida, to does -- to discuss the disabled veterans national convention. talk about the priorities of his and administration, including any the backlog, incentive, and the

and christopher hill joins us. will be talking about the recent threats from al qaeda that led to the closure of u.s. embassies in the middle east and africa. and a book of the future of u.s.-russian relations following the announcement president obama has canceled his meeting with vladimir putin. >> if we'd turn away from the needs of others, we align ourselves with those forces which are bringing about suffering. take advantage of it. >> obesity is nothing short of a public health crisis. >> somebody had their own agenda. >> i think they serve as a window on the path to what was going on with american women. she becomes the chief confidante. the only person you can trust. >> many of the first ladies were writers. a lot of them were journalists. they wrote the books. >> there are more interesting human beings than their husbands. notnly because they are first and foremost defined and limited by political ambition. >> edith roosevelt is one of the unsung heroes. when you go to the white house today, it is edith roo

. >> and a bit of perspective, christopher hill spent more than 30 years with the state department. officials now with the state department say they can't remember closing so many posts because of this kind of terror threat. fredricka? >> how about from the white house. any new comments? >> they're telling cnn they're not going to comment on intelligence in this case, particularly as it relates to a "new york times" report that says some of this intelligence might have come from intercepted electronic communications between senior al qaeda operatives. we talk about the president, what he's doing today. so far it looks like he's following his regular routine, going golfing this morning, camp david later today to celebrate his birthday. the white house is pointing out he's being updated on a regular basis on this threat. has directed his national security team to take all appropriate steps they say to protect the american people. >> all right. emily schmidt, thanks so much. keep us posted from washington. >>> the travel alert will impact americans all over the world for about a month.

ambassador to iraq christopher hill and special envoy for kosoco and p.j. crowley. leon panetta. let's take a listen to him. >> president of the united states is commander in chief has the sponlts to protect our vital national interest. there's no question it's extremely important to our national security. >> how much do you agree with that ambassador hill? is this an issue of credibility and does that translate to being a matter of national security. >> i think there is an issue of credibili credibility. i would rather put the issue on the fact we have a regime that's used h ed chemical weapons. we know they have killed some 1400 people including some 400 children. i think it behooves this government of ours to really take off after this regime with a very strong effort. that said it's very clear that there are many people that do not support military engagement. for those that think we should drop bombs every time there's a problem we need more diplomacy and for the united states to take leadership and work with other countries. what is sorely looking in syria is

we will also be joined by christopher hill, an ambassador to iraq and former assistant secretary of statee topic, the embassy closings you have been hearing about and the threat from al qaeda. we will take up that discussion -- 8:30. about thel talk larger issue of relations with russia. we will take a look at the papers and take your calls and tweets. we will see you then. [captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2013] >> a discussion about the defense department's budget cuts and their impact on military readiness and strategy. former nsa or and officials from the energy industry talk about ways to reject the nation's electric grid from cyber attacks. handsome young officers that were surrounding my grandmother. my grandfather had been trying to talk to her because of the handsome young men. rush to go upstairs to do it they had to do. they left her standing there. grandfather fell in behind her going up to the steps to the deck. when she heard

certainly not based on the information that we're aware of. >> christopher hill, very important storying to us. we really appreciate it. >> no problem. >> we'll continue our conversations about this throughout the morning. >>> but also big news, for fans of the 3d blockbuster "avatar." three, not one, not, two, three sequels are in development. and she's back -- >> yeah, fresh out of rehab, and critics are already tearing apart lindsay lohan's newest film. you want to her do well -- na -- maybe not all of it. next on "new day." vietnam in 1972. [ all ] fort benning, georgia in 1999. [ male announcer ] usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection and because usaa's commitment to serve military members, veterans, and their families is without equal. begin your legacy, get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. "that starts with one of the world's most advancedy," distribution systems," "and one of the most efficient trucking networks," "with safe, experienced drivers." "we work directly w

. >> christopher hill served as u.s.e school of international studies at the university of denver, and james fighter marks is a cnn military analyst and andrew tabler works at the washington institute where he focuses on syria. good morning to all of you, gentlemen. >> good morning. >> ambassador, first to you, at this point grade the obama administration's efforts so far? >> this is a response to the use of chemical weapons that have been banned for almost 100 years, but the administration encountered head winds in this, and there's a broad perception which i share where there has not been enough of political contacts and a diplomatic strategy for dealing with syria. that said and all that criticism said, i think it's important that we respond to the use of chemical weapons. if assad can get away with this in front of the international community, this will happen again and again. i think the administration has to respond and its finding itself in a lonely position. the u.n. has not done anything, and other allies spoke

hill in hale county in west central alabama. fields entangled work for the brothers and partners jay watson and j. christopher did more to live in moundsville. small town red clay and highway miles north of them. we should begin with an outline of those business arrangements between attendance and the land owners whereby burroughs and his wife and their four children live. that's the end of the first introduction. >> you get a real flavor of his writing style there. i want to turn to you, if you would, you know as much about james agee as anyone around. tell us who he was. am i right that he himself had conflict about doing this and about exposing these people to sort of national, ma i don't know, criticism or national, you know, approval, whatever it would be? >> one of the things agee was trying to remedy, is the idea that rural poverty had become, if people living in rural poverty become poster children for the depression, and evans worked for the resettlement administration did his job was to go out and take pictures, propaganda, take pictures of poor people and then go back and show them happy after the

hill and the school. >>> three oklahoma teenagers are now charged in connection with a murder that prosecutors call a thrill killing. 22-year-old christophere was shot to death friday while jogging in duncan. he was from australia and was attending east-central university in oklahoma on a baseball scholarship. his girlfriend is among those paying tribute. >> most people will go to college and try to find who they are on their own like away from parents and all that. but i found it with chris and he really helped me. >> police say one of the suspects told them he and his friends were bored and randomly shot lane for, quote, the fun of it. >>> the democratic national committee is trying to pressure san diego's mayor to resign. the committee plans to vote on a resolution on friday to urge bob filner to leave office. the mayor has been accused of sexually harassing more than a dozen women. filner denies the allegations but admits to disrespecting and intimidating women. >>> 5719. coming up a star is born. the stunning images captured from thousands of light-years away. >> good morning, boys and girls. well, how about that? a couple of local ba

year-old christopher said fewer than five words at his sentencing for felony vehicular manslaughter in a march 20 u.n. 12 death of a 71-year-old man he was struck as the cyclist came down the hill in the castro district. the case generated outrage after he was said to have posted an online tribute to his helmet that cracked in the cross walk collision. >> anybody who has an ounce of empathy for anyone would understand that was an ina propiat post. >> reporter: underwent a plea deal he received 3 years probation, 1,000 hours of community service but no prison time. in court, wei's son spoke on how his father's death devastated the family and he told him please do not squander the second chance you have to become a good and compassionate person and not be the person you were after the post on my father. >> my father taught me to give people a second chance. no matter what happens. >> reporter: assisting the elderly, building low income housing or aiding victims of traumatic head injuries. >> those are the things that we are hoping he would do. you know, to a tone for the life that he has taken. >> he did not address the victim's family but his lawyer told the judge that he would

year-old christopher said fewer than five words at his sentencing for felony vehicular manslaughter in a march 20 u.n. 12 death of a 71-year-old man he was struck as the cyclist came down the hillthe castro district. the case generated outrage after he was said to have posted an online tribute to his helmet that cracked in the cross walk collision. >> anybody who has an ounce of empathy for anyone would understand that was an ina propiat post. >> reporter: underwent a plea deal he received 3 years probation, 1,000 hours of community service but no prison time. in court, wei's son spoke on how his father's death devastated the family and he told him please do not squander the second chance you have to become a good and compassionate person and not be the person you were after the post on my father. >> my father taught me to give people a second chance. no matter what happens. >> reporter: assisting the elderly, building low income housing or aiding victims of traumatic head injuries. >> those are the things that we are hoping he would do. you know, to a tone for the life that he has taken. >> he did not address the victim's family but his lawyer told the judge that he would be w