h and general ut austin. this committee is to -- through the extreme ideological and brutal tactics, including the reported development and use of chemical wemsweps, isil has gained control over portions of syria and iraq erasing the borders theen -- between these countries. they have sleighed women and girls and carried out attacks on ethnic minorities and broadcast it on social media to escape the violence of isil, the assad regime and millions have been displaced or fled utside iraq and syria this has added to the sense of urgency regarding the need to secure authority in the region. the military campaign against isil remains complex with no easy answers. while the concolings pushed some out of the area, including he north, retaking of tikrit by iraqi security forces and along sections of turkey, the self-described islamic state continues to hold key cities. the iraq security forces counteroffenses to take back ramadi has struggled in the last few months. t the same time iranian backed shiia militias have

general austin: it is. senator kaine: i don't think go on for years and the chances of success for isil are dimmed, i don't think those are compatible statements. i don't think those are really compatible statements. not recommend a buffer zone at his point in time. >> that is correct sir. >> so the potential battlefield is expanding. and we're actually maybe engaging in some new activity my understanding general austin you indicated we have undertaken air strikes to support trained southeasterns in syria when they have been threatened by almussra. correct? >> that's correct, sir. >> and we are also prepared as a change in policy to undertake air strikes to protect those rian fighters if they fall under threat and attack by the assad regime in >> that's correct. >> now, i tactically completely agree with that. what is the legal predicate for the united states undertaking military action against forces of the assad regime? >> senator, our determination is that as you know very well we can defend against isil

general austin: yes, sir. what the chairman said is isil's future is increasingly dim as more nations join the anti-isil ffort. he further stated that although the fight right now is tactically stalemated with no dramatic gains on either side, iraq will move at the speed of its governance and not at the speed of its military capability. senator nelson: mr. chairman, i have the transcript here in front of the committee. i would like to reinsert this transmit of general dempsey with your permission. senator mccain: absolutely. and along with that we will include the assessments by senator keane, general petraeus, the architect of the surge and all of those who observed this debacle. senator nelson: of course. general, give us your assessment that russia is building up the military base and sending soldiers and weapons into syria to prop up assad. under, i might say, the guise of fighting isis. general austin: sir, we're witnessing a buildup of forces in syria by russia. as you know, they have been there all alon

general austin: it is. senator kaine: i don't think go on for years and the chances of success for isil are dimmed, i don't think those are compatible statements. i don't think those are really compatible statements. it seems like the isil threat is expanding geographically. we talking heavily about iraq and syria. there is isil presence in libya that we are paying attention to. isil presence in afghanistan, disaffected television were pledging allegiance to isil. -- disaffected talibam pledging allegiance. there may be some present in yemen, is that correct? general austin: that is correct sir, there is. >> so the potential battlefield against isil is expanding. we might be engaging in some new activity. my understanding, general austin, we have undertaken airstrikes to support, train syrians in syria, when they have been threatened by al nusra, is that correct? general austin: correct sir. >> and we are prepared to undertake airstrikes to protect those syrian fighters if they fall under threat and attacke

general austin: it is. senator kaine: i don't think go on for years and the chances of success for isil are dimmed, i don't think those are compatible statements. i don't think those are really ompatible statements. it seems like the isil threat is expanding geographically. we are talking about iraq and syria here, but there is isil presence in libya we are paying attention to. there is isil presence in afghanistan largely disaffected taliban who are moving over and claiming allegiance to isil. boko haram has pledged allegiance to isil. not yet threatening the united states as far as i know. there may be some isil presence in yemen, is that correct? general austin: that is correct, sir. there is. senator kaine: the potential battlefield against isil is expanding. and we are actually maybe engaging in some new activity. my understanding, general austin, you indicated, we have undertaken air strikes to support trained syrians in syria when they have been threatened by al miss a, correct? nd we are also prepar

general austin i hope you also to the extent possible given the ongoing review by the inspector general to ask questions involving intelligence assessments with respect to isil. as importantly wait for the investigation before completed before making a judgment i've no doubt you'll take such allegations are serious was as we do in congress and we take them seriously. like senator mccain the committee will be kept apprised of this investigation and be active in terms of the recommendations. let me thank both witnesses further testimony this morning. thank you mr. chairman. >> thank you chair and mccain and ranking member rate as well as members of the committee think given the opportunity opportunity to be here today to give an update on the military aspect of our kinds are isil campaign is a pleasure to be here with general austin. we work closely together everyday on a range of issues so it's nice to be here with him today. as the chairman said it's been just over a year since united states and the coalition of nations began a military campaign against isil tailor made began that campa

>> the secretary has full confidence in general austin. he has served with distinction, as you pointed out. one of the things that the secretary admires is his candor and forthrightness. you saw that on capitol hill, his testimony to the armed services committee. he enjoys the support of secretary carter and this is an effort that clearly has faced challenges. we heard directly from general austin and the undersecretary yesterday. the secretary acknowledged those challenges but he believes general austin can get the job done. reporter: coming at the same issue in a little bit different way. i have been in washington for 21 years covering the hill and the white house and now the pentagon and yesterday's hearing was one of the most brutal hearings i have ever covered. given -- given the fact that both parties said in different waist the train and equip program is a joke, a failure, they used different words and it only spent a portion of the $5 million allocated by congress this year, will the pentagon be seeking more money, figure of $600 m

in the hot seat general lloyd austin head of the central command and christine warmouth. what is the u.s. doing to staunch the flood of refugees leaving syria and overwhelming europe? why not a safe zone in northern syria? press chairman john mccain. >> it's in our best interest to help civilians but i would not recommend a buffer zone at this point in time. >> so everything is really going well? >> no, sir that's not -- >> general austin's overall argument that progress was being made in syria despite what he called slow movement at the tactical level was met with dereiteration. since the general was forced to admit that of the 54 trained fighters only a handful remains. >> can you tell us what the total number of fighters remains? >> it's a small number and the ones in the fight are -- we're talking four or five. >> reporter: four or five fighters after $40 million that was supposed to train more than 5,000. but it's really good training, says the pentagon and another 120 are in the pipeline. >> the forces that we are training while right now are small in number and cle

forces in iraq and general lloyd austin facing tough questions about isis and what the u.s.g to wipe out the terrorist group. jennifer, at this hearing this morning, what happened? >> reporter: jenna, first of all we were not told that the commander general lloyd austin would appear in the hearing called by senate armed services chairman senator john mccain. there was damning revelations about the state of the fight against isis. >> i have been a member of the committee and never heard testimony like this. never. i have never seen a hearing that is divorced from the reality of every outside expert and what you are saying. >> reporter: after the angry outburst, general austin admitted that the syrian train and equipment program has essentially failed. >> it is a small number and the ones that are in the fight is, we are talking 4 or 5. at the pace we are going, we'll not reach the goal that we established for ourselves. >> 4 or 5 syrian opposition who have been trained for millions. they author 500 million to train them to fight isis a year ago, jenna. >> this is the first ti

and this morning, the commander of central command, general lloyd austin, addressed this issue at a hearingtol hill. >> because the allegations are currently under investigation, it would be premature and inappropriate for me to discuss this matter. what i will say is i welcome the d.o.d. i.g.'s oversight and once the investigation is complete, based upon the findings, you can be assured that i will take appropriate actions. >> brown: but general austin drew a sharp rebuke from arizona senator john mccain when he described the u.s. efforts to combat isis. fortunately, amidst all the, amidst the many challenges that exist in iraq and syria, we find opportunities, and we remain confident that our actions in pursuit of these opportunities will continue to produce positive results in the coming days. >> if things aren't going well and we've had quote setbacks, and the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff says it's tactically stalemated and you think everything is going well as pursuing the strategy and tactics on the ground that we are, general austin, i respectfully disagree. i respectfully,

general austin confirmed for the first time today that u.s. special operations troops are working with kurdish forces inside syria as the kurds fight on one side of the many sided syrian civil war. that is not a politically popular thing to admit because the u.s. strategy for intervention in that war has centrally been about keeping u.s. boots off syrian soil. americans in syria is not supposed to be okay. that was the official line until today. until today that the senate hearing when they admitted u.s. boots are on the ground in syria. that's big news. syria, of course, feels impossible it feels like nothing will make it any better but the u.s. government has not been staying out of it entirely. the u.s. government has had military intervention in syria. the u.s. government decide to spend $500 million training vetted syrian rebels to fight against isis. after admitting the u.s. government had boots on the ground, general austin had to admit that even though the u.s. government started this training program for syrian rebels in may and the p

. >> general austin wouldn't comment on the specifics of a pentagon inspector general investigation into complains by centcom intelligence analysts who said they've been pressured to cook the books on the u.s. campaign to defeat isis. >> i will assure you that we will do everything within our power to ensure that the whistle blowers remain protected. and there is no retaliation. >> if we don't have reliable intelligence as policymakers, and if the president doesn't have reliable intelligence, we can't make good policy. this keeps happening. i mean, this goes back to the bay of pigs, vietnam, the iraq war. >> meanwhile, u.s. officials say the russians are setting up a forward operating base in syria. four gunships sat on the tarmac of the airport today. secretary of state john kerry said his russian counterpart offered in their third phone conversation in a week to work together militarily in syria. kerry says he favors talking to the russians. even the pentagon suggested today there may be a role for to play. >> they're just as concerned about foreign fighters just as we are. >> centcom

general austin i hope you also to the extent possible given the ongoing review by the inspector general to ask questions involving intelligence assessments with respect to isil. as importantly wait for the investigation before completed before making a judgment i've no doubt you'll take such allegations are serious wasas we do in congress and we take them seriously. like senator mccain the committee will be kept apprised of this investigation and be active in terms of the recommendations. let me thank both witnesses further testimony this morning. thank you mr. chairman. >> thank you chair and mccain and ranking member rate as well as members of the committee think given the opportunity opportunity to be here today to give an update on the military aspect of our kinds are isil campaign is a pleasure to be here with general austin. we work closely together everyday on a range of issues so it's nice to be here with him today. as the chairman said it's been just over a year since united states and the coalition of nations began a military campaign against isil tailor made began that campai

. >>> the senate armed service committee is hearing from general loyd austin as it is claims analyst manipulated information about being ready in the iraqi state. general austin is expected to get questioned about that as we get word france is preparing strikes against isis this week. we are monitoring the hearing and general austin's testimony and we will bring you all of the breaking news that emerges. >>> you can see the dow is trading higher as investors keep a close eye on a two-day federal reserve meeting to decide if interest rates will rise for the first time in years. we will look at the collapse of lee man brothers coming up and if the united states economy and banking system is better prepared to take a shock like that to the system. >>> a doctor charged in the biggest insurance fraud scam in california history was link today a high profile murder case. what happened there and how it could impact his case now. and deadly flash flooding in utah and the latest on the search to find those missing. and live at the reagan presidential library, what will it take to score points

. >> reporter: hot seat, general lloyd austin head of the u.s. central expand and chris teenl warmouth undersecretary of defense. press committee chairman john mccain. >> it's always in our best interest to help protect civilians but again i would not recommend a buffer zone at this point in time. >> so everything is really going well. >> no, sir, that's not -- >> general austin overall argument that progress is being made in iraq and syria, despite what he called slow movement at the tactical level, was met with dereiteration, especially when the general was forced to admit of the 54 trained fighters, only a handful remains. >> can you tell us what the number of trained fighters remains? >> it's a small number and the ones that are in the fight is -- we're talking four or five. >> four or five fighters after $40 million that was supposed to train more than 5,000. but it's really good training says the pentagon and another 120 are in the pipeline. >> the forces that we are training while right now are small in number and clearly are not going to

general austin, i agree with you that a defeat of isil is not the end of the problems in the middle east. we have got extremism that witnesses have told us may be going on for 50 years. would you agree with that? it does not mean a total victory. there will be another problem as long as this ideology is out there. we need a strategy. an understood strategy bipartisan in this congress with our allies around the world to confront this long-term multidecade threat to the western democratic order. and to try to help protect people in the middle east from this disaster. do we have a strategy of that kind? our allies in the united states and congress and republicans and democrats understand and agree on? ms. wormuth: we have a strategy to defeat isil in the middle east. largely in the middle east but obviously spreading to other areas. there are other dynamics in the middle east that are a part of this. of this. there's the broader conflict that has gone on for decades. the fact that many governments in that region are not very representative and have internal policies that don't give much fre

>> well, general lloyd austin said that he could not talk about the investigation done by the inspector general because it was still under way, but he assured the members of congress that if the investigation finds anything done wrong, that whistle blowers would not be retaliated against and he would take appropriate action. but most of the focus was about the u.s. policy in iraq and syria, and to say that general audience and the deputy faced a accidental senate committee would not catch the at the pointer and tone of disappointment among the members of congress who are questioning about everything of what has gone wrong in iraq and syria. here is an exchange talking about the need, why didn't the united states do more to create a safe zone in northern syria so we all have don't have this refugee flow in europe. just to give a flavor of it of the exchange between chairman senator john mccain and general austin. >> would you support a buffer zone, which would then protect some of these refugees who are being barreled bombed and slaughtered by bashar al-assad. >> i don't see the reports

in the hot seat, general lloyd austin, head of the u.s. central command and christine warment. amongment questions, what is the u.s. doing to staunch the refugees leaving syria and going to europe. why not a safe zone in northern syria. >> >> it's always in our best interest to help protect civilians, but again, i would not recommend a buffer zone at this point in time. >> so everything is really going well. >> nos, that's not -- >> general austin's overall argument that progress is being made in iraq and syria despite what he called slow movement at the tactical level was met with derigs, especially when he was forced to admit that of the 54 syrian trained rebels, only a handful are still on the battlefield. >> can you tell us what the total number of trained fighters remains? >> it's a small number and the ones that are in the fight is -- we're talking four or five. >> four or five fighters, after $40 million that was supposed to train more than 5,000, but it's really good training, says the pentagon and another 120 are in the fight line. >> the forces that we are training wh

general austin went before congress today at acknowledge that this is a more difficult endeavor and we assumed and when you can make changes to the program. but i think it is also time for critics to fess up in this regard as well. they were wrong. >> but we did make this investment because critics pushed him spent i'm not saying that i think general austin to his credit, indicative of the kind of character shown throughout his military career, he sat before the committee, testified under all of any face the music program that is not perform nearly as well as we would've liked. we have not seen that kind of character on display from her critics have suggested this is a recipe for success in syria. overhead, peter. >> you are suggesting the idea was wrong. maybe jackie was too late. why would that be an indictment of the idea? wraps an idea of -- perhaps an indictment of -- >> i was a little bit of hearing that i did hear a lot constructive advice to general austin about how the program could have been more effectively implemented. which are a lot of complaints from people who are disap

>> well, after that was one of the most uncomfortable moments in general austin's career, it's true thats often talked about supporting and aiding and giving vital support to moderate rebels in syria, and it's never really come through. when general petraeus was running the cia, there was a more robust effort to arm, provide support either through the turks and french and limited arms through us, and a lot of that leaked right out into the hands of isis and al nusra in syria. when he began the training program, paltry at best, the concern that mccain raised from the moment they go in, assad regime drops barrel bombs on them. the poor, well-meaning moderate syrian forces that have been seeking support and help from the west are just stuck in a vice and nothing we've done is there to change it and that became very blatantly clear in the testimony yesterday. >> that's not the only scandal this week on the war on isis, if you will. there's been a numerous reports intelligence on the war against isis has been, quote, cooked. how much of a problem do you think this is for the obama administrat

so it's way pastime to react to that failure. >> reporter: general austin again urged patience. >> we said at the outset that the military campaign to counter i.s.i.l. would take time and it will take time. >> reporter: but congress is losing patience and many called for action against syrian president bashar al-assad more directly. shooting down his plains, helping the anti-assad and anti-i.s.i.l. forces. adam tonight at the republican debate the so called undercard debate, senator lindsay graham one of the low level presidential as pyrants, he said what's needed is a regional force with jordan, turkey, the united states making up about 10% of that to go in and in his words pull i.s.i.l. out by the roots. but that is something the obama administration has steadfastly refused to even consider. adam. >> jamie mcintire at the pentagon, thank you. molly o'toole is a politics reporter, at that senate armed services hearing at a. molly, good to have you with us. you had a front row seat. i was wondering what was the mood throughout this lengthy hearing from the senators? >> it was a very t

general lloyd austin, the head of u.s. ntral command gave an update on the military mission to combat isis at a senate the defensediscuss department inspector general investigation that they have skewed intelligence related to isis. john mccain chairs the armed services committee. this is two hours. sen. mccain: well, good morning. we meet today to receive testimony on the united states strategy and military operations to counter isil. i want to thank our witnesses, general austin, for appearing for us today and their continued service to our nation. it's been one year since president obama spoke to the nation about the threat posed by isil and increased military operations against us. many of us believe the goal the president laid out is right. many of us agree with a military strategy to combat isil. with u.s. and coalition training, equipment assistance and air power. one year into the campaign. if you're not winning in this kind of warfare, you are losing. it is accurate that we have conducted thousands of air strikes a

they say that general austin has put forward proposals to deal with some of these issues and that thehite house and the pentagon simply have not yet signed off on them. jake. >> barbara starr for us at the pentagon. thank you so much. we heard a little bit about those frustrations in the republican presidential debates yesterday. the next president, whoever he or she is, will inherit this fight against isis. in the debates last night in the first one senator lindsey graham on south carolina got repeated applause from the crowd for his strategy to fight isis. today he'll talk to me about his rivals who criticized the current plan without bringing up one of their own. my conversation with the senator from south carolina comes up next. >> -- in iraq, then there is nobody left, dana. iflike i love shrimp, red lobster's endless shrimp... ...is kind of a big deal. it's finally back, with as much shrimp as you want, any way you want 'em. one taste of these new pineapple habanero coconut shrimp bites, and i already want more. they even brought back wood-grilled teriyaki shrimp! yeah, you hear

general austin in particular all those they represent for your services of their service and want to speak briefly about the reports of efforts to cook the books and no u.s. acknowledged this him the problem with the ongoing investigations but you have an ongoing challenge as well as the command climate so what steps retaking to confront those challenges on a daily basis? >> i emphasize to all support and is that not my expectation that i get candid and accurate intelligence assessments from my staff. are the also emphasize to my entire command that the welfare of my people is extremely important to me. eyecare brought my people and my expectation is they have a climate conducive to provide for a good healthy sound work retirement. >> cry would have to say as someone who recovery consumes products i was surprised to hear the books are cooked because that does not paint a pretty picture how this campaign is going. moved now to syria as they have to include the air defense systems and battle tanks in addition to life-support systems that continue for a large and continued presence how

. >>> well, an astonishing admission this week by general lloyd austin about just how ineffective the program has been to train syrian rebels to take on isis. incidentally on friday, the pentagon said the number has now jumped from five to nine. we're back with the panel. president obama had a $500 million program to train syrian rebels after spending $40 million, we now have it turns out nine trained syrian rebels in the field, and the administration announced this week they're going to change strategy. is that a good idea? >> uh, i think so, because the chickens are coming home to roost on the current strategy. not just with regard to the battle of isis, but the overall syria policy. here we have an excellent example of what happens in the world in far-flung places at times when the united states is not involved in leading. in syria the united states -- it appeared the president was going to take the lead, he said assad must go, and then he stopped short of that and turned it all over to vladimir putin whose influence is growing and is bound to be malignant. we're seeing on the shor

i know last week general austin was here and was questioned by a number of members of this committee about the training mission. unfortunately, what he had to say suggests to me and others that it has not accomplished what it was supposed to. my recollection is that you advocated for a similar kind of mission early, before it started. i wonder if you have thoughts about what can be done at this point. as it has been operating, it has not been successful. is there any way to right it? gen. petraeus: you cannot abandon it, because anything you want to accomplish in syria has the air forceby on the ground. whether the defeat of the islamic state, or creating a the regimewhich might be able to go to the negotiating table. or for stemming the flow and exit is a refugees from syria that is overflowing european countries. the central issue is that we have to pledge and then take action to support these fighters against anyone who comes at them. whether it is isis, which we want them to fight, or other elements. we have to support them against all of these. we have to enable them to fight th

our witnesses, general austin, for appearing for us today and their continued service to our nation. year since e president obama spoke to the nation about the threat posed by increased military operations against us. belief the goal the president laid out is right. agree with a military strategy to combat isil. with u.s. and coalition training, equipment assistance and air power. into thecome pain. if you're not winning in this warfare, you are losing. it is accurate that we have conducted thousands of air strikes against isil, trucks and s.ghters, bunkers and building his conjures the illusion of success. isis has lost some military margin. isil has consolidated control of territories. it continues to dominate sunni areas in iraq and syria and controls many cities. efforts to retake those appear to have stalled entirely. is expanding globally in fghanistan, yemen, egypt and nigeria and al-shabaab. appearance of success only isil to recruit and grew. isil's 's estimates of power has remained constant. t suggests they were wrong to egin with or isil is replacing realtime.s in officia

general austin is saying we have the right strategy in place.e focused on implementing it as effectively as possible. >> the strategy is flawed. >> this is shocking on both sides by the way. >> interesting to hear assad say you have deal with isis before going forward. i am paraphrasing him. >> trump and rand paul have the bes points on this. let them fight it out. why not let the russians defeat isis? back to the debate now. >> who had the mose to lose in the gop debate? the man with a huge name and campaign pot of cash some might say it was jeb bush. he had a drop in the polls recently. how did jeb do? what do you think? and what about everybody else? who might get a boost or sink in the polls? why do so many people choose aleve? it's the brand more doctors recommend for minor arthritis pain. plus, just two aleve can last all day. you'd need 6 tylenol arthritis to do that. aleve. all day strong. s >>> welcome back to "outnumbered." going into the the second republican debate, former florida governor jeb bush was under a lot of pressure to give

we heard general austin explaining to the senate committee on what is not working so i ask you, why is not working, general, and how should the united states change its strategy in fighting the isis and who can the united states count on? >> that was very difficult testimony and one of the most challenge i have seen with leaders trying to defend a strategy that really is failing and the senators are very much aware of that reality. really, it is something to much a. it is failing because the concept is so flawed. we made a decision not to train the free syrian army in 2011 when clinton and dempsey and petraeus recommended it and we made the decision to train them a number of months ago and we put restrictions on ourselves saying well only train those moderate rebels who are wanting to fight isis. that takes about 95 percent of all of the moderate rebels who are willing to fight isis out of the pool because they are fighting for their neighborhoods. and fighting for their families. assad is what is producing what you did in your previous discussion with rick: all of those migrants. that

you heard general austin, only four, five fighters who are still in the fight and central command admitted friday the u.s.-backed rebels turned over weapons and trucks to an al qaeda-affiliated group, not only did we not know about it for a week, they denied this happen. so, what does this say about our vetting of those rebels? >> first of all, as president obama has said from the first time the issue of training and equipping came up, that this would be very complex. he really grappled with this back in 2012, when the issue was first brought to him. we decided to go forward for a very simple reason, which is, when isil is cleared from a town in the northern part of syria, it's extremely important that the town be held and that isil does not reoccupy it, as soon as the air strike ceases. so, you really need to have ground forces. we have world with kurdish forces. >> it doesn't seem to be working so far, and one of the reasons -- >> totally fair, even more complex than we would have envisioned. we can't lose sight of the fact that this has to be a part of our strategy. and i think it's ver

. >> general austin again urged patience. >> we said at the outset that the military campaign to counter isil will take time. >> but congress is losing patience, and many called for al assad more directly. shooting down his planes, establishing a safe zone, and putting u.s. special forces on the ground to help the anti-assad and anti-isil forces. >> and tony, over at the republican debate tonight, that's exactly the argument that senator lindsey graham is making, and he says that the united states needs to send 20,000 troops into syria and iraq to confront isil directly, and put together a coalition of countries in the region in order to confront isil on the ground. and that's something that the obama administration has steadfastly refused to consider. >> jamie mcintyre with us at the pentagon! >> the butte wildfire burning near sacramento, california, has claimed it's first fatality. a body was found inside of a burned-out house. and progress with the veal fire, which has burned through 70,000 acres. 37% containment has been reported and that fire has claimed one life. >>> the lake coun

the syrian rebels, we trained at about 10 million, a shot now according to general austin haven't done much and of course now we have the -- i suppose isis all over the region and even affecting western europe and the u.s. so this is a very serious issue. putin looks like he has a solution. he's in there to give that solution and obama looks very weak. >> yeah. he is there when the u.s. is not. a point well made. retired colonel bob, thank you so much. david joining me there as well. former state department official. putin in this mind seems to be criticizing the u.s. for not protecting its journalists. >> the death of people, including journals, unfortunately, they do occur in all countries of the world. but if they happen in our country, we do the up most to find the criminals and punish them. >> conservative commentator kurt, so first and foremost, has the u.s. done enough? >> well, you know, we do what we can. we don't negotiate with terrorists. so in terms of how much protect our journalists, we do what we can. but what putin's doing, he's russia's donald trump. whenever someone c

meanwhile, of the $509 provided by the united states to create a army, general austin, the head of centralommand, was asked, how many fighters does this 500 million produce? and he said quite candidly, perhaps four or five. not 400 or 500, but four or five. meanwhile, many of these fighters have turned themselves over to the al qaeda affiliate al nusra. there's something wrong with the american strategy as it is currently in place in iraq and syria, and i think there needs to be a serious rethink and perhaps if there is a road to peace a some kind offer by the iranians, wish -- which the russians are taking for, think the americans need to be at the table for this. there is no point in putting your ego before the suffering of the syrian people. and by ego, i mean all of these great powers trying to vie with each other for who should take leadership in the fight against isis. i think that is an irrelevant issue. the most important issue is how to create some kind of cease-fire in syria and how to drain the swamp that is allowing isis to remain in northern syria and in iraq. amy: and you can

the question is should general austin be held accountable for this or is it a flawed administration policy he's been forced to implement and only doing his best? >> i think both. everyone i've talked to has said for months that you can't win a war with auxiliakxiliaries andi surrogates. you can't run an air campaign without being able to see the targets. and this has been with us thousand since, what, 2013 and nothing's happened. and so the great frustration in this command among those on the staff who i know is that this is a failure of strategy. it's not necessarily a failure of staff work, it's a failure of a flawed strategy. if you don't know where you're going, how do you know how to get there. >> how in the world do you spend $500 million and end up with five guys? >> politics. it it's driven by an administration who wants to put a smily face on a disastrous policy from the beginning. once the political train leaves the station, everybody is of a trade to pull on the brake. everyone if they know this thing has been falling apart for months. >> and you could argue that the train left

let me ask you about your committee armed services and general austin testified this week and he saidthorized by congress and how many fighters have we trained? >> four or five they have said. they have spent $43 million training these syrians. and they have now four or five that are in syria actively working. that's $9 million a recruit. $9 million. >> how does this happen? how does anyone in good conscious? how does the general or president allow this or anybody allow this? >> among other reasons is they are telling them they can only fight against isis and not against bashar assad. bashar assad is the one that has killed 230,000 of their country men and driven millions of them into exile. it's this whole thing about some kind of relationship with iran it's crazy. now we have news that russians are are moving in to syria big time with planes and tanks and ammunition. and they are trying to have some kind of relationship with the united states. the country that's dismembered ukraine and the country that has helped bashar assad stay in power with 230,000 dead? i mean, this is the most

i know last week general austin was here. he got questioned by a number of committees about the training mission. unfortunately, what he had to say about that mission suggests to me, and i think to others on the committee, that it has not accomplished what it was supposed to. and my recollection is you were for a similar project before it started. i wonder if you have thoughts of what can be done at this point? i think as it has been operating, it has not been successful. so what should we be doing? any way to right it? >> first of all, you can't abandon on to other areas? >> you can't abandon it, because anything you want to accomplish in syria has to be enabled by a sunni arab force on the ground, whether it's the defeat of the islamic state or creating a context in which the assad regime might be able to go to the negotiating table, or stemming the flow, the exodus of refugees from syria that is overflowing european countries. >> so how do we make -- >> the central issue is we have to pledge and then take action to support

we know the dni was having discussions with general austin. i think the accusations involved the head of the intelligence operations. again, these are very serious accusations, and i do not want to confirm that they're true at this point in time. if they are, i think it goes right into what the president has been saying for years, that al qaeda is on the run, you know, let's blame it on a video. workplace violence. this whole false narrative that's been spun when at the same time, gretchen, the briefings i get show that this global jihad movement is spreading and getting worse, not better. >> today we mark 14 years, unbelievably, since the 9/11 terror attacks. before the ceremonies began today there was another terror arrest on a plot to kill civilians at a war memorial in missouri. that take-down is another grim reminder of threats we still face from enemies both unknown and known. coming back to the question you raised earlier in the interview. as isis is making and using chemical weapons in iraq and syria and an impending deal with iran cou