iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war, like afghanistan or iraq. the 2,600 american troops in iraq today largely serve on bases. and, yes, they face risks that come with service in any dangerous environment but they do not have a combat mission. they are focused on training iraqi forces including kurdish forces. as i've said before i'm convinced that the united states should not get dragged back into another prolonged ground war in the middle east. that's not in our national security interest and it's not necessary for us to defeat isil. local forces on the ground who know their countries best are best positioned to take the ground fight to isil and that's what they're doing. at the same time this resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving us the flexibility we need for unforeseen circumstances. for example, if we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of isil leaders, and our partners didn't have the capacity to get them i would be prepared to order our special forces to take action because i will not allow these terrorists to have

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. the 2600 american troops in iraq today largely serve on bases. and, yes, they face the risk that comes with service in any dangerous environment but they do not have a combat mission. they will-r focused on training iraqi forces including kurdish forces. as i've said before, i'm convinced that the united states should not get dragged back into another prolonged ground war in the middle east. that's not in our national security interest and it's not necessary for us to defeat isil. local forces on the ground who know their countries best are best positioned to take the ground fight to isil and that's what they're doing. at the same time this resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving us the flexibility we need for unforeseen circumstances. for example, if we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of isil leaders and our partners didn't have the capacity to get them, i would be prepared to order our special forces to take action because i will not allow these terrorists t

afghanistan and iraq. you would acknowledge that there is a lot of daylight between what's going on now and having 100,000 troops on the ground in iraq or afghanistan as we had at one point in both of those countries. a lot of room for expansion. >> what i would acknowledge is the strategy the president has pursued, in this case against isil, to degrade and destroy them is markedly different than the strategy pursued by the previous administration in iraq. >> i'm trying to get at what's authorized here because it clearly authorized what's growinggoing on now but it would also authorize now based on that language a rather dramatic expansion of the current operation. >> well, i -- >> because we are nowhere near 100,000 ground troops, you know like we were in iraq or afghanistan. >> that's for sure. based on policy decisions made by this commander in chief. >> but this is going to apply to the next commander in chief. hullry clinton, ted cruz, whatever. this will apply to the next president. >> it will. it will. and the president's been very clear about the strategy he has envisioned here and he's been very clear i think about what he beli

they don't want to see us get entangled in another iraq or afghanistan and i understand that, but this is clearly a lot of politics that's getting in the way here. >> even though you may not share our interest in the war on terror you do share our interest in all this frivolous money i would say being spent on things like electric cars that really isn't helping anything. >> absolutely. and i think a good answer here would be to say let's look at market signals. obama we all agree maybe is not doing a lot about terrorism, but if it were a big threat you think it would show up in the stock market indices so i think we can throw at that aside. when you look environmental or global warming threat if it really were the problem that those who say it is is you'd see beach front property in new port beach, california and the hamptons plummeting in value. if you want to compare the two, i think it's pretty easy to say what's the bigger threat. >> by the way the liberal advocates of the global warming theory have this beautiful beach front property on both the east and west coast so they're not

. >> my surgeon said this is the kind of injury that we see coming back from iraq or afghanistan. >>r the months of rehab wright wondered -- >> what is going on with this kind of an accident. >> i started googling. >> way found shocked him. hundreds of storefront crashes every year across the u.s. millions in property damage. people maimed and killed. >> these are real human beings that are being struck every single day. >> more people getting killed in this kind of accident than there were in terrorist accidents in the united states. >> that's rob rider. he and mark started the volunteer storefront safety council after discovering no government agency was tracking these crashes. no one knew how widespread the prob 13 and 2014, rob found media reports of 6,000 storefront crashes. he evident estimates the real number of crashes is more than triple that. >> you're at risk wherever you live work, play, shop, and eat dinner. if you look where you're eating your hamburger there are safer places and less safe places. you need to start paying attention. >> who is crashing into storefronts.

we have not been able to prevail in iraq or afghanistan.is way with syria. because it is in chaos. in floundering now we have congress that has a request to use military force for a president that they have no confidence in and don't trust. >> that scares me the authorization for military force. it says the message to isis that we will be out of there is in three years he will not see significant american forces. and number three we tie the hands of the soldiers that are there so those who are an adviser will wake up to say do i kill him or call my lawyer? lou: and also with the new commander in chief with the three-year plan. good to have you with us. stocks climbing higher yesterday at 20 in nasdaq up a 56. the volume is up 3.seven crude oil is back above $51 a barrel. not doing much to boost retail sales. who shot -- government spending is 8 percent higher than one year ago. listen to my financial report on the sale of radio at work prepared to waive the unexpected he confirmed illegal immigrants will be eligible for billions of dollars

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq.s i've said before, i'm convinced that the united states should not get dragged back into another prolonged ground war in the middle east. that's not in our national security interests and it's not necessary for us to defeat isil. local forces on the ground who now their countries best, our best position to take the ground fight to isil and that's what they are doing. at the same time, this resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving us the flexibility we need for unforeseen circumstances. >> joining us right now, senator joe manchin of west virginia. senator manchin, do you think the united states should be using military force to defeat isil? >> we're going to have to use military force. it's a matter of do we use our own combat troops on the front lines to get bogged down like we did in iraq and afghanistan. not intended to and i appreciate the president for saying he doesn't intend for that to happen but in west virginia we have a little commonsense and we know what the defi

ultimate austrasia head in the scene and would not recognize what is happening in libya or iraq or afghanistan and is utterly confused about syria. in apparently the only enemy they have got to is this one? >> that it is an extension of the don't do anything stupid stuff? instead of the word he used. i think it'd sure for don't do anything. the united states cannot do everything everywhere but sometimes they have to do something somewhere. the constant approach to strategy is with the political issue is hurting us very badly. last week a call for the collapse use of force asking to deny a with he doesn't want to do anyway with ground troops. is a scam and it is vital. lou: take you for being with us. >> police presence is heavier than normal after chinese sales man ran his automobile into the front gate injuring the paramilitary officer while doing so. saying he was delusional and recently refused to leave home for one month fearful of being assassinated. the incident is under investigation. the fact that it was a busy was pure chance. and to look at the rampant assaults of law enforcement in

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. today largely serve or bases. yes, they face the risks that come with service in any dangerous environment. but they do not have a combat mission. >> reporter: president obama is finding out why there has not been a war authorization in congress for 13 years. he is taking heat from all sides. republicans say he doesn't have a plan. democrats who say the president's proposal is too vague. i pressed eded josh earnest on the fuzzy language. he says it's fuzzy. the president has the flexibility to battle isis wherever they are around the world. wolf the congress may want better answers than that. given the fact that this war is already under way and the white house believes they have the authorization built into current law to wage this war, congress really doesn't have much of a motivation to be in any hurry. >> looks like they will have hearings and hearings and hearings and debate. let's see what they do. thanks very much. let's dig deeper. joining us is gloria borger and dana bash. th

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. the 2600 american troops in iraq today, largely serve on bases. and yes, they face the risks that come with service in any dangerous environment. but they do not have a combat mission. they are focused on training iraqi forces including kurdish forces. as i've said before i'm convinced that the united states should not deg dragged back into -- get dragged to another ground war in the middle east. that is not in our national security interest and it is not necessary for us to defeat isil. local forcesond ground who know their countries best are best positioned to take the ground fight to isil and that is what they are doing. at the same time this resolution strikes the necessary balance by giving us the flexibility we need for unforeseen circumstances. for example, if we had actionable intelligence about a gathering of isil leaders, and our partners didn't have the capacity to get them i would be prepared to order our special forces to take action because i will not allow these terrori

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. >> no so-called boots onhe ground, he vows but a plan to face isis for the next three years, as 3,000 u.s. forces are already in iraq but will it work? the aumf calls for a limited role for u.s. troops, allowing for the deployment of special operations forces such as coordinating to air strike targets on the ground, quote enduring offensive combat operations and reveals the 2002 aumf against iraq, but as congressman king noted, not the broad based authorization that began the war in afghanistan. >> i'm concerned about the breadth and vagueness of the ground troop -- of the ground troop language, the limitation against enduring offensive ground combat operations suggesting that all defensive ground combat operations are okay. >> i'm concerned that all he's really talking about is containment over a long period of time, and megan, i don't think we can really toy with isis over a long period of time. i think we need to take them out. >> well, some o points fear the measure could lead to endless wars others worry

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq.give our armed force and coalition the continuity we need tore the next three years. >> president obama doing something that hasn't been done in more than a decade asking congress to vote on war. a war the united states of course has already been fighting against isis for more than six months. better late than never. under the president's three-page proposal the request prohibits enduring offensive ground combat operations a lot of discussion as to what that terms means and allows the military to extend its mission, quote, associated persons or forces against isis against those forces or closely related successor entity. and for months congress has called for a new authorization of this very type. they have it in front of them now but still triggering a lot of controversy. democratic congressman jim hines hooims joins us. to conduct this war without congressional authorization, why is this aumf important? >> i've been troubled like my colleagues have been and fund amountly this is a co

. >> up hill battle, fought in kosovo iraq or afghanistan many are fighting to get back to the u.s. >> many say they were promised citizenship, adam rainey has more from the border. >> former army paratrooper hector still takes pride when he puts on the uniform. he feels like an american even if the u.s. government doesn't see it that way. he puts on his dress blues when he goes out to meet advocates supporting his fight. even if that means wearing his uniform on the streets of mexico, a place he considers a foreign land even though he was born here. he was deported after serving a two year stint in prison for shooting at someone. >> the only way i'm going home is in a box. if we're going to honor our veterans honor them by letting them being with their family. letting them get medical care. the thing that disturbs me the most is being separated from my daughter. love her very much. >> alex misses his kids too. he too served time for driving a truck full of marijuana. aside from missing their families they're missing out on veteran benefits too. jerry lopez does odd jobs to pay the bi

that this was a sacrifice that these guys made, that was no different than if they were in iraq or afghanistanew law required them to prove if if he was working with a terrorist group and he was working with a senior terrorist member and they welcome the decision but stay should have come years ago. and a lawyer for the family said the benefits will bowe a life lierngs though administration sglaesh they tried to throw this under the rug. and many have been struggling mightily and been give an back in the hand by their own government. >> one of the survivors told fox today that when he got the call he broke down in tears because the years of frustration had finally been listed. meagan. >> wow. catherine, thank you. and a number of veterans upset with nbc anchor bryan williams. and the story he told about iraq and how the story has changed after the fire storm. we will walk you through it and why the veterans who were with him say it wasn't true. >>> and olympic medalist undergoing gender reassignment surgery, that's being confirmed in many circles. and a media nightmare. eveloped our most revol

president said in his televised remarks that he doesn't want another ground war that occurred in iraq or afghanistanhing along those lines in mind. what you're saying is trust but verify. you >> right. there are two things wolf. number one, members of congress cannot vote on good intentions. we're voting on what's written on the page of the law. and if that law provides for much broader authority for u.s. combat forces you know we have to take that into account. secondly the fresh authority, the fresh authority for the introduction of combat forces will extend beyond president obama's term. and so that remains a big issue. as i said as long as the 2001 afu is in place, it would allow the u.s. president to put u.s. combat forces a lot of places in the world. we should do what president obama said two years ago, we should begin to reframe that authority as well. >> thank you so much for joining us. >> thank you. thank you, wolf. >>> still to come reporting from the front lines of vietnam, the gulf war, a career which spans five decades. >>> we'll have a look at the life and times of correspondent bob

nobody wants to be in iraq or afghanistan. we don't want to be at war. not our choice, unfortunately. >> well, but now that we still have 10,000 americans there, by releasing these individuals, we are putting them in more danger, are we not? >> well, we are, but 10,000 is a pitifully inadequate force. even though their rules of engagement have expanded, they're not capable of carrying on sustained activities. this is just a fig leaf for the president until he can figure out a way to get even them out. it's a policy of retreat because in large measure, the president believes that it's the american presence in these countries that motivates the terrorists. so his view is a withdrawn less visible america will calm everybody down, and they won't engage in terrorist activities. it's completely backwards, but that's the president's view of the world. >> all right. ambassador john bolton, thanks so much for being with us. >>> and coming up, shocking new audiotapes released. what the pentagon really thought of hillary clinton's rush to go to war in libya. that's

that represents the sacrifice that these guys made was something that was no different than in iraq or afghanistan. >> reporter: new language in the defense budget require to army to consider whether the perpetrator hasan was in contact with or inspired by a foreign terrorist group. hasan e-mailed a figure prior to the shooting. a lawyer for some of the families emphasized the benefits will be a life line after the administration has thrown up blocks to prevent the designation. >> they wanted this swept under the rug for these people many of whom have been struggling mightily since this event took place and since they have been given the back of the hand. >> reporter: the army said the purple heart stripped eligibility criteria prevented from recognizing victims sooner. the secretary of the army said it is appropriate recognition of service and sacrifice. >> more on this with the panel. thank you. >>> up next, why millions of americans may get a nasty tax bill thanks to obamacare. here is what some of our fox affiliates are covering tonight. fox 2 in st. louis where a boy's mother grandmother and

united states senator is free to say let them rot in hell what about our people captured in iraq or afghanistan? >> even if you put the substance of 9/11 case to one side this court is dealing with very complex legal issues. one of the outstanding issues is a temporary restraining order which blocks females guards from bringing 9/11 suspects to the high security courthouse that you see behind me. the question before the court is whether they ought to make the temporary restraining order permanent in deference to the men's deeply held religious beliefs. >> what about our people? does he not know what they do to our people? i am confused by that. thank you very much. >>> turning now to ukraine and a new four way peace summit is in the works this week. this time the united states not invited. german chancellor angela merkel and french president francois hollande and ukrainian president and russian president vladimir putin will gather wednesday with the hopes of restarting a september cease fire days after joe biden and john kerry attended another summit. that meeting failed to produce a deal. secr

a year later that individual is sent to iraq or afghanistan.e walked outside the wire with 12 men who he knew had his back to matter the circumstances. they were fighting for a mission he believed in. he takes the uniform off, he may go back to his home town, but things are not the same. he may reconnect with his friends but they are nothing like the 12 men who had his back . he might get a job. it is nowhere near the same purpose driven job he had in the military. he may get some sort of new identity. he may be a father, a student, anything. it is not going to replace the identity had when he was wearing the uniform of his country. how do you replace that voice? >> what did you learn about that ? >> those relationships become their primary relationships in a way. the struggle for a family and a wife to understand that, and to understand that she is fighting for her husband, like it is an affair almost, with his other family. >> chris was on for two hours of duty. tell me what you learned about him. the pressure, the impact of war on him in con

i guess it means the president hasn't gone headlong back into syria, iraq or afghanistan.s stand the risk of raising the hackles of the american people who do not want to go for a third time into another war in the middle east. >> and you look at that diagram and you see how many of his advisors 19 out of 21 of the advisers are either from george bush one or two. and i want to go to the pragmatic question of how jeb bush will do. and they talk about the shock and awe strategy and steve kornacki was talking about it and flood him with donors and make himself seem inevitable can that work in your view as a strategic matter? >> well it can work. we know that elections nowadays are money -- it is all a money game and i think that he knew this very early on which is why he announced his exploratory committee very early on. i think the challenge is joy, when you look at the cnn poll today and he represents out of the all of the republican candidates more of the same out of anyone else 64% said he represents the old rather than the new, i think that is something making his being

perspective, as i was going through the last -- frankly the last 10 years and i spent five years in iraq or afghanistan, it suddenly occurred to me back -- you mentioned the fixing intel report. it occurred to me that we were basically going after individuals, you know, that sort of the capture-kill that you hear a lot about instead of trying to understand why they were actually doing what they were doing. you know, we sort of went to the where, where are they and let's get them versus understanding why are they there? and i think that we -- we now, i do believe now we have individuals who are really trying to -- trying to understand what it is that we're facing. and it's going to be something that's going to go on for a long time. >> i want to get to your strategy. tell me what the appeal was and why muslim leaders -- >> yeah. >> will say these -- they don't even want to call those members of isis muslims. >> right. >> because that are saying we're muslims and we don't believe any of this. >> they're definite muslims. >> they do believe this. >> that's right. >> and so therefore they are kidnapping re

you know the sacrifice that these guys made was something that was no different than if in iraq or afghanistane perpetrator hassan was cooperating with a foreign terrorist group. hassan exchanged multiple e-mails with a senior al qaeda figure anwar al wa la ki but emphasized it should have come years ago. a lawyer for the family said the benefits will be a lifeline though the administration threw up blocks to prevent the designation. >> they wanted this to be swept under the rug. for these people many of whom have been struggling mightily since this event took place and since they've been given the back of the hand by their own government. >> the army said in a statement the purple heart's strict eligibility criteria had prevented the military from recognizing the victims sooner. one of the survivors told fox today that when he got the call he broke down in tears because the years of frustration had finally been lifted. megyn. >> wow. catherine, thank you. >>> also tonight a number of veterans upset with nbc anchor brian williams. up next, the story he told about his time in iraq and how that

in many respects as you point out that would point out we haven't learned the effects of iraq or afghanistan for that matter. it's a fight fought on ideological fault lines but it's a military fight but not one where american ground forces ought to be carrying the laboring ore. that's why i think this part of the proposal really has to be narrowed. >> how narrow should it be? >> i'd like to see that it should be narrowed that they can use it to train for intelligence purposes for search and rescue but i don't want to see this open the door to another massive occupation or have american troops relieve the burden of these arab nations to fight their own fight. they should be there to support the peshmerga, to support the iraqi special forces. we should not become either a substitute for these nations taking it on themselves or working in league with the iran backed shia militias if they're going to turn this into a sectarian fight. that's not something that we want to be in the middle of. >> should the president also be allowed to send in these specialized troops beyond iraq and beyond syria t

as americans passingly pay attention to this issue, the idea of is there going to be another iraq or afghanistanar with tens of thousands of troops, that's not really on the table at all. but i think what is at issue is loosening up some of the restrictions, really political restrictions rhetorical restrictions that the white house has set out to allow the military to put more trainers on the ground put more folks on the ground to collect intelligence, and to call in air strikes. there's been some, you know more than 2,000 air strikes in iraq and syria, but they amount to kind of pinpricks. if you're going to have a sustained effort you have to go further than that probably. >> all right. defense one's gordon lubold thank you for being here. >>> now three things to know on this thursday. the nation's second largest health insurer is working with investigators to determine who was behind a massive and very sophisticated cyber attack that exposed the private information of more than 80 million clients and employees. anthem says hackers infiltrated its computer network and got access to personal de

than 1% of america to bear an incredible burden. 2.6 million americans have served either in iraq or afghanistan. eddie routh, he served in iraq then went to haiti, where 200,000 civilians were killed during the earthquake. you know when you see war, when you see combat it changes people. frankly, about 80% of the people are fine. in fact i'm a believer of post-traumatic growth. it makes them do great and wonderful things. i'm the first to admit, you know, i was a blue-collar kid from northeastern philadelphia. there's no way i would have been a u.s. congressman at age 33 if it wasn't for my time my two deployments and what west point did for me. but there's 20% of veterans who are falling through the cracks. and we have an ethic in the military that we leave no one behind. that has to be expanded across our country, that we can't leave any of these veterans behind. far too many are. 22 suicides every day. every night, andrea there's 49,000 veterans who are homeless in the streets of america. i mean we have a lot of work to do. >> that is for sure. thank you so much for bringing it back to that.

>> no major invasion like iraq or afghanistan but leaving leeway for further ground operations in some way which we have already seen evolve over time. this started with no boots on the ground whatsoever. fact is there are boots on the ground. now they moved out of the city centers of baghdad, they are out further afield even in anbar. there is talk of them being involved in an assault on mosul and in fact they have been involved in two unfortunately failed rescue operations very risky, to pick up james foley and kayla mueller. he leaves some leeway for that going forward, saying no enduring offensive ground combat operations which means you could have some but they wouldn't be enduring, may not be offensive, et cetera. that leaves leeway going forward. the other place there is leeway is this. geographically because isis though it started in iraq and syria, now has affiliates and supporters in other countries, yemen, libya. this could expand this war beyond where it is now. isis fighters parade through conquered territory with dozens of vehicles in tow but this isn't iraq or syria. it

whether it was answering the nation's call in iraq or afghanistan or answering humanity's call in haitig to alleviate other veterans' suffering. and i think that this day, today, this act, goes a long way to fulfilling what i'm sure was his purpose, which is making a difference in the lives of others. this act will do that. and we at the v.a. are 1,000% committed to making that happen. >> today was an extraordinary day. to see the president sign into law an act that will save lives, that will make a difference that will truly give veterans a fighting chance. you know clay hunt came back from serving his country and had posttraumatic stress and didn't have the advantages that this bill will provide to thousands of others. and it's going to make a difference. >> i think most importantly, what it does is it tells the community that we need you. and as a president mentioned at the end of his remarks, we need all of our veterans. the clay hunt save act louse more behavioral health care providers for our country. it allows us to recruit and retain more behavior health care providers that prov

trying to figure out how to be the town ayers and then we are reaching out and we need to help iraq or afghanistancontrol its borders. last time i checked it is in expeditionary. so we have made attempts to do that whether it is the prt or whether it's the office in the state department this is a response board, so we need to look at kind of a broad effort that we essentially take a stability approach to many of these areas and then we can talk about how do we prioritize. number two is countries like the uae, countries like turkey really need to be the key partners in this and i tried to get that anecdote in the buck. i just can't overstate how powerful that message is coming from the elements that can say and do things toward the ideology whether they are sitting down with a group and really exploiting to them how they are different. so there needs to be a coalition element in the whole of government element in the organization on the joint is across the inter- agency to be able to address it and then there is a political dimension in terms of wrapping their minds around the fact that this is goi

we need to to help either iraq or afghanistan control its borders. last last time i checked the border patrol is an expeditionary. so 1st of all, we have made attempts at doing that, whether it is a prt or whether it is you no, whether it is the state department, the civilian response court. but we need to look at a broader effort that we essentially take the stability approach and then we can talk about how we prioritize. two two is countries like the uae, countries like turkey although not under the government really need to be key partners on this. i try to give an anecdote in the book of i can't -- i mean, i just can't overstate how powerful that messages coming from modern arab elements that can say and do things toward ideology, whether sitting down and really explaining to them how there hitting the ball. we just can't. so there needs to be an arab coalition element all of government element and a reorganization, a joint this across our inter-agency to be able to address it. and then there is a political dimension that you hit on in terms of am

gets a uniform and eventually gets sent to a unit and a year later that individual is sent to iraq or afghanistan and every sing dale for a year he walked outde the wire with 12 member who he knew had his back no matter the circumstance and they were fighting for a mission that he believed in. and he comes home and he takes the uniform off, he might go back to his hometown in omaha, nebraska but things aen't the same, he might reconnect with high school friends but nothing like the 12 men who had his back outside of the wire every single day in iraq, he might get a job but nowhere near the same purpose driven job he had while he was in the military and he may get some so of new identity and they be a father, a student, anything but it is not going to replace th identity he he had when he wasearing the ifo of his countr so how do you replace that void is. >> what did you learn about that when you were writing this?. those relationships become their pry maryland relationship in a way and the struggle for a family and a wife to understand that and to understand that s feels like she is fighting for

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. the 2,600 american troops in iraq today largely serve on bases. yes, they face the risk that come with service in any dangerous environment. they do not have a combat mission. >> reporter: president obama is finding out why there is not a war authorization in congress for 13 months. the president says he doesn't have a plan. the president's proposal is too vague. it was designed to give the president the flexibility he needs. poppy. >> it will be a big debate. jim, thank you. >>> president obama's war resolution notes that the four americans killed in isis captivity, he names them. the most recent is kayla mueller. this morning, there are new details about what she may have endured about her time as a hostage and possibly paired with a male isis fighter. we are learning about the family's efforts to free her. pamela brown has more. >> reporter: good morning, poppy. we have been speaking with the family spokesperson. we learned about the great lengths the mueller family went to get the

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war. like afghanistan or iraq. >> shouldn't have been drinking when i was listening to this. the resolution would expire after three years which obama says is a timetable that announces the mission will be completed after that period. >> it is not a timetable. it is not announcing that the mission is completed at any given period. >> just like i said. meanwhile, airstrikes on isis continue. >> i like how when you are bombing them you can be up in the corner and watch it and laugh to your heart's content. as someone who may be part of boots on the ground even though you may be too old, what do you think of this? >> i just turned 49 so where do we start? >> let me ask you this -- >> isis or isil -- first of all can we just get this right? >> i thought he was pretty strong today. he is our president. do you support what he said? do you think it is wrong? >> listen, we were talking in the green room and a year ago i was on some show and i said there are no other ways to do this but with guys like me with a gun

iraq or syria. it is not the authorization of another ground war like afghanistan or iraq. the 2,600 american troops in iraq today largely serve on bases. yes, they face the risk that come with service in any dangerous environment, but they do not have a combat mission. >> reporter: president obama is finding out there is not a war authorization vote in congress for 13 years. he is taking heat from all sides. republicans say he doesn't have a plan. democrats say the president's proposal is too vague. i press the white house press secretary josh earnest on the fuzzy language. he said that was designed to give the president the flexibility he needs. poppy. >> you bet it will be a big debate on the hill. jim, thank you very much. >>> as the u.s.-led coalition wages war on isis in the air, one of the most intense battle grounds is mosul. the largest city controlled by the terrorists. peshmerga forces are surrounding mosul. our phil black joins me now from northern iraq. what do you think, phil? this is key. whether the kurdish forces can retake mosul. we have heard reports of i

. >> if we don't have inside of iraq or syria or afghanistan the capacity and will of people to fight for themselves then any gains that are made eventually dissipate. this takes longer but it is the right way to do things. >> reporter: the president citing measurable improvement. al qaeda under pressure and a growing coalition helping to fight terror in and throughout the region. all with fewer american boots on the ground. >> and the president talked about in the state of the union address that when he came into office that we had 180,000 troops overseas in iraq and afghanistan. we are down to 15,000. >> reporter: down at a time when critics say the exact opposite should be happening. the threats of isis al qaeda and boko haram all surging. >> i think that the president has set an ambitious and i think under current circumstances unrealistic goal when he talks about our intent being to destroy isis with the means that he has approved so far i think that's an unattainable objective. >> reporter: the president rejected calls from republicans. >> i don't quibble with labels. i think we

figure out how to be town mayors and then you've got we are reaching out, we need to of these iraq or afghanistan control its borders. the last time i checked border patrol was expeditionary. so first of all we need, and we've made attempts at doing that, whether it's a prt or whether it's the office at the state department, civilian response force, but we need to look at kind of a broader effort that we essentially take a civility approach to many of these areas as they we can talk about how do we prioritize one. two is countries like the uae, countries like turkey when not under the erdogan government need to be partners in this and i tried to get the anecdote in the book. i can't, i mean, i just can't overstate how powerful the message is coming from modern arab elements that can say and do things towards the ideology, whether sitting down with a group of mullahs and really explaining to them how this is wrong. there needs to be an arab coalition element, a whole of government element and a reorganization kind of a jointness across our inner agencies for us to be able to address it. and then i