[applause] >> some brainy mentor there in elwood, illinois.will try to get our signal back in a moment. -- some rainy weather there in elwood, illinois. we will try to get our signal back in a moment. >> we have lost our signal in elwood, ill. because of rainy weather. we will take you back to "washington journal." host: joining us from iraq on this memorial day is major general stephen lanza, t director for strategic efforts in iraq, here to talk about and give us an update on the situation in iraq and the timeline for u.s. reduction in troops. general lanza, thank you for joining us on this memorial day. guest: good afternoon and thanks for having me on your show, bill. host: we'll remind our callers, we'll put up our phone numbers shortly. general lanza joins us from iraq. so a little bit oa delay when you ask your question. general lanza, i wanted to start out with the timeline withdrawal vice president biden last week, in a interview, said that things were on target, the u.s. will reduce to 50,000 troops by this summer. that is a tall ord

president will be, after participating in ceremonies today at the lincoln national veterans cemetery in elwood, illinois. vice president biden here in the washington area at arlington national cemetery. texas, good morning to dolly, independents line. caller: i would like to say this briefly that i am a senior citizen and while there's no reason not to put out great respect for all people in the military, i have a position that is very, very anti-deifying or separating this different groups in our society. all americans are special. all of us are in this experiment of being a democracy together. and even though the military has a particularly unique position in what they do, there is no reason in a democracy to deify a particular group, and that's what i think -- i work with people who have strong military ties in their family. host: right. caller: and they have an attitude -- i'm serious -- they have an attitude that they are better than everybody else, and guess what. they have perks like you wouldn't believe. host: you said they have perks like you wouldn't believe? caller: yes, income. hos