iraqi kurdistan, we recommend that the u.s. should establish a future of kurdistan project involving u.s. officials, private experts, and iraqi kurds in order to develop a capacity building plan for iraqi as well as its security. so that kurdish issues don't slip between the bureaucratic cracks in washington, we recommend the appointment of a special envoy for kurdish issues, bridging the groep -- gap between euros of eastern affairs, european affairs at the state department. this special envoy would serve as an interagency focal point within the u.s. government. it would also help to coordinate policies between the u.s. and european countries. columbia university invited the cochair of the pyd two young states. that has not been acted upon. you should be issued a visa so that he can come to the united states and attend high-level meetings in washington. nancy spoke about the economic crisis facing iraqi-kurdistan. exacerbatedrisis is by the suspension of oil payments from baghdad, the depressed energy prices in world markets, a

our recommendations to the international community include understanding that iraqi-kurdistan is moving towards independence. work with the kurdistan regional government and iraq and their neighbors to support the development of a transparent road map and timetable for the possible decision by the iraqi kurds to separate from iraq. transparency would enhance stable postindependence relations. we should also provide direct assistance to kurdistans high elected commission so the conduct of any referendum on independence meets international standards and we should dispatch monitors to verify that the ref den sum is free and fair. secondly i want to touch base on the need for a stronger effort against isis in the region. the kurds are key to the fight against isis both in syria and iraq. we were all impressed by the is effort in support of the kurds to defend erbil in 2014 to keep isis from overrunning that city. the international community has an interest in making iraqi kurd disstand a bulwark of stability and a better ally in the fight against isis. isis as we know is well-armed with u.s

role towards iraqi kurdistan, we recommend that the u.s. should establish a future of kurdistan project involving u.s. officials, private experts, and iraqi kurds in order to develop a capacity building plan for iraqi kurdistan's democratic and economic development as well as its security. so that kurdish issues don't slip between the bureaucratic cracks in washington, we recommend the appointment of a special envoy for kurdish issues, bridging the groep -- gap between euros of eastern affairs, european affairs at the state department. this special envoy would serve as an interagency focal point within the u.s. government. it would also help to coordinate policies between the u.s. and european countries. columbia university invited the cochair of the pyd two young states. that has not been acted upon. you should be issued a visa so that he can come to the united states and attend high-level meetings in washington. nancy spoke about the economic crisis facing iraqi-kurdistan. the budget crisis is exacerbated by the suspension of oil payments

the international community has an interest in making iraqi kurdistan a bulkwark of stability. iraq is well armed from u.s. weapons. and the peshmurgs a model. and now first our recommendation for the kurdistan regional government is to strengthen its own ability to take on these tasks. the ministry for affairs should enhance the civilian control of the military and must transform the peshmurga into a professional army by defining salary structures and pay salaries on a regular basis and offering regular pensions and other retirement benefits. it should organize peshmurga from rival parties into unified brigades. and we should -- it should support the ministry efforts to create nonpartisan battalions in which new recruits do not affiliate by political party. recommendations to the international community with respect to the security against isis would be, first, to support a more unified effort in both syria and iraq to defeat isis through cooperation among kurdish groups with the necessary training and equipping to win. copt to review the military needs of the peshmurga as the

but with respect to iraqi kurdistan march towards independence, if it's done correctly the march and emergence of an independent democratic prosperous and stable iraqi kurdistan is a win-win for the region. advancing the interests of the kurds, iraq, the region and the broader international community. i will summarize the key findings into three broad areas and then turn it over to david. i'll talk about the need for the international community to work with and not against iraqi kurds independence. the need for the international community to build a more unified effort to combat isis, and lastly the need for the international committee to help the kurds address the overwhelming refugee crises. now first our recommendations for the national committee to stop blocking the iraqi kurds marched towards independence. if you look back, iraqi kurds have been building a de facto independent state since 1991. and over the 12 years since the 2003 u.s.-led invasion of iraq, the iraqi kurds have sought to work with the central government in baghdad through the last 12 years. but with iraq's colla

role towards iraqi kurdistan, the u.s. should establish a kurdistan project involving u.s. officials, private experts, and iraqi kurds in order to develop a capacity building plan for iraqi kurdistan's democratic and economic development as well as its security. so that kurdish issues don't slip between the bureaucratic cracks in washington we recommend a special envoy for kurdish issues, bridging the gap between the bureaus of european affairs at the state department. this special envoy would serve as inter agency focal point in the u.s. government and help to coordinate policies between the u.s. and european countries. columbia university several years ago invited sally muslim, the co-chair of the pyd to come to the united states. his application was submitted to the u.s. embassy in stockholm. it has not been acted upon. he should be issued a visa so he can come to the united states and attend high-level meetings in washington. >> and you can watch that entire event online at c responsible.org. check the library. the u.s. will halt its military withdrawal from afghanistan

they under performed and they need to do more to protect ethic and religious minorities across iraqi/kurdistan, by providing security and legal guarantees for their self expression. >> i would close, thank you for the comment and wisdom and expertise, no one knows the legality better. in terms of the performance of the forces and the presence of the pkk, none of these issues are easy and none of them are going to go away tomorrow. the kurds are fighting isis right now, they are kind of the pointy end of the spear, they are not perfect and they need more support in our view. i think eventually the international community will come around to giving them that support. i would like to see it happen sooner rather than later. that does not mean there's not questions with the impact on the pkk, how turkey would address that, and nervousesness in iran and others. but the truth is, the most urgent challenge right now is defeating isis, and retaking the territorial integrity of iraq and syria. so long as that's an equation, none of the other issues can move forward and things are going to get worst and

this was a support mission in which they were providing support to the iraqi, the kurdistan regional government and us forces are not in an active combat mission in iraq." " the elite delta force raided the compound to imminent danger of execution. just days before the raid, u-s surveillance spotted mass graves dug and ready inside the compound. today the u-s house voted to eliminate portions of obamacare elements of the law: the individual and that puts in motion a plan to dismantle the law through the budget process. it also defunds planned parenthood for one year. this is the 61st time that house republicans scheduled a vote to scrap all or part of obamacare. calling all star wars fans- "hoth" isn't just an ice planet from "the empire strikes back," it's also a fundraiser for the university of iowa children's hospital. tomorrow marks the second heartland open tournament for henry- which spells out "hoth". it's a chance for players miniatures to win prizes and raise money. james mcdonald created the tournament. his son, henry, was born without a right pulmonary artery. doctors at t

i believe we have a safe haven there, which is iraqi kurdistan. nearly 1.6 ken in million refugees. many of them are christians. and our k.r.g. friends who are providing that safe haven, they are really unequipped to provide for the influx of all those folks. the peshmerga are also fighting with limited resources against an enemy which seems to have an endless supply of weapons and other types of equipment to include many weapons procured through various processes from the united states. whether that's simply picking items up off the ground that have been left behind by other security forces. how important, in your opinion, has the u.s. relationship with the iraqi kurds been for our country and for the d.o.d. over the past quarter of a century? secretary gates: i think it's a very important relationship. i think it's worth noting that the chairman of the joint chiefs is either there right now or just been there. my view is that one of the things we ought to be -- i said this in an interview and i probably was a little more blunt than i should have been, but i the idea of training of

this was a support mission in which they were providing support to the iraqi -- to the kurdistan regional government and u.s. forces north in an active combat mission in iraq, i can say that directly. >> for much of 2015 there has been speculation about whether iraqi forces are ready to retake territory from i.s.i.l. despite the loss of the u.s. special ops member, could be seen as a test run for alarger operation. rosiland jordan, al jazeera, washington. >> the israeli military says a sol hesoldier has been stabbed d palestinian has been shot. u.s. secretary of state says he is cautiously encouraged that tensions between israelis and palestinians can ease. john kerry last held several hours of talks with benjamin netanyahu in germany. he will hold further talks on sat. as the violence continues, israelis are rushing to arm themselves against possible palestinian attacks. encouraging civilians with gun licenses to carry them. >> they say it's never been busier in this shooting range as an israeli settlement in occupied west bank. get cleared for a firearms license unlike other israeli cit

they were providing support to the iraqi - to the kurdistan regional government and u.s. forces are not in active combat in iraq. i can say that directly. >> for much of 2015, there has been speculation about whether iraqi forces are ready to retake territory. thursday's raid could be teen as a test run for a larger operation. >> the u.s. secretary of state says he's cautiously encouraged that tensions between israelis and palestinians can ease. john kerry held several hours of talks with prime minister binyamin netanyahu in germany. despite opt mission, the situation on the streets is the same. on thursday, israeli police shot dead a palestinian who tried to stab people west of jerusalem. kerry will hold talks on saturday. >> if anything, what is happening now is an urgent call to all, with anyone responsibility, and there are many countries that bear responsibilities with respect to this region, to help - to try to resolve these age-hold differences of a frozen conflict. >> as the violence conditions, israelis rush to arm themselves against possible palestinian attacks.

. >>> we begin this hour with that new video from the regional government of iraqi kurdistan that reportedly last week's raid on an isis compound inside iraq. u.s. special forces and kurdish fighters stormed the compound on thursday in a mission to rescue hostages believed to be in danger of execution. a u.s. soldier was killed during the operation. u.s. officials say 70 hostages were freed but not the kurdish captives they were sent in to rescue. for more on this, let's go to the senior correspondent, nick payton walsh live near the syrian border. nick, what can we learn from this video? what does it tell us? >> reporter: welsh as far as we can see, we only have the edited version to corroborate this. it does appear it's from the helmet camera. you see what must surely be one of the kurdish fighters on that mission which was supported by an advise and assist smaller group of u.s. commandos. it doesn't appear to corroborate much of what we've heard. you can see a long stream of what must surely be prisoners emerging. they were in familiar dress. what would potentially be the sunni arabs -- i

i believe we have a safe haven there, which is iraqi kurdistan. they have taken in nearly 1.6 million refugees. many of them are christians. and our k.r.g. friends who are providing that safe haven, they are really unequipped to provide for the influx of all those folks. the peshmerga are also fighting with limited resources against an enemy which seems to have an endless supply of weapons and other types of equipment to include many weapons procured through various processes from the united states. whether that's simply picking items up off the ground that have been left behind by other security forces. how important, in your opinion, has the u.s. relationship with the iraqi kurds been for our country and for the d.o.d. over the past quarter of a century? dr. gates: i think it's a very important relationship. i think it's worth noting that the chairman of the joint chiefs is either there right now or just been there. my view is that one of the things we ought to be -- i said this in an interview and i probably was a little more blunt than i shoul

have his remarks. [ applause ] >>> columbia university is hosting a discussion on the future of iraqi kurdistan by looking at economic and political security. c-span2 biwill have live covera at noon eastern. >>> john kasich will hold a town hall meeting this afternoon. you can see live coverage of that at 12:30 eastern on c-span. the heritage foundation look at the life of margaret thanner live thatcher live 4:00 eastern on c-span. >>> c-span has your coverage of the road to the white house 2016. you will find the candidates, the speeches, the debates and most importantly, your questions. this year, we're taking a road to the white house coverage into classrooms across the country with our student cam contest. giving students the opportunity to discuss what important issues they want to hear the most from the candidates. follow c-span student cam contest and road to the white house coverage 2016 on tv, on the radio and online at cspan.org. >>> the american bar association recently hosted its annual homeland security conference, including dozens of legal and national security analysts. this pane

i believe we have a safe haven there, which is iraqi kurdistan. they have taken in nearly 1.6 million refugees. many of them are christians. and our k.r.g. friends who are providing that safe haven, they are really unequipped to provide for the influx of all those folks. the peshmerga are also fighting with limited resources against an enemy which seems to have an endless supply of weapons and other types of equipment to include many weapons procured through various processes from the united states. whether that's simply picking items up off the ground that have been left behind by other security forces. how important, in your opinion, the peshmerga are also fighting has the u.s. relationship with the iraqi kurds been for our country and for the d.o.d. over the past quarter of a century? dr. gates: i think it's a very important relationship. i think it's worth noting that the chairman of the joint chiefs is either there right now or just been there. my view is that one of the things we ought to be -- i said this in an interview and i probably was

. >> and we are joined now live from the regional capital of iraqi kurdistan.ing toward? >> reporter: well, errol, it's important for the viewers to know that the russians are not attacking the ypg at all. that's because the ypg isn't actually fighting against the regime. in terms of the concerted attack from isis, the ypg does have the advantage of having u.s. and coalition air support, so it's possible they could defend that. the real question here is can the ypg go on the offensive and replicate the successes it's had in kurdish areas in an arab, isis stronghold like raqqa. that is still very much a question. >> and to that question, what about the 50 tons of ammo that the u.s. dropped to help forces there? was that a significant help at all? >> reporter: well, certainly it's a rare demonstration of public support from the u.s. coming out and dropping the 50 tons of ammunition to this new coalition of arab and kurdish forces. from the touring we did across the front lines around the city and other areas, it's clear that really that's not going to be enough.

this was a support mission in which they were providing support for the iraqi -- the cu kurdistan regional government. >> mas graves were discovered in and around the compound, prompting immediate action. 70 prisoners were rescued, 20 iraqi security forces, as well as iraqi civilians and interestingly, isis fighters accused of spying. missing, moufr, were the kurdish captives they were sent in to rescue. >> it's not clear to us exactly who would be there. that's one of the things we're going through right now, the debriefs as to exactly who those folks were. >>> still to come here, russian forces carrying out a dizzying number of missions in syria in just 24 hour ps . vladimir putin reveals a possible change in strategy. >> hurricane patricia is closing in on the mexican shoreline. stay with us. ♪ ♪ the beautiful sound of customers making the most of their united flight. power, wi-fi, and streaming entertainment. that's... seize the journey friendly. ♪ you can't work from home when you're sick. you need real relief. alka-seltzer plus day cold & flu has three cold symptom fighters to reliev

. >> this was a support mission in which they were providing support to the iraqi-- to the kurdistan regional government. and u.s. forces are not in an active combat mission in iraq. karen: wheeler was a father of four with eleven bronze stars. he was one month shy of his 40th birthday. right now the search for "el faro"'s data recorder is underway. the florida-based cargo ship disappeared earlier this month when it encountered hurricane joaquin. members of the search team believe they have about a week to find the recorder before its batteries stop sending signals. they're now at a 100-square-mile search zone near the bahamas. 33 people, including 28 americans, were on board "el faro" when it disappeared. frank: rain and flooding continue to be a major problem in parts of texas. some areas seeing more than 13 inches of rain. it's continuous, washing out streets, flooding parks, and causing chaos. the rain causing plenty of accidents with high water rescues and other problems keeping emergency crews busy. >> we really weren't expecting this much rain. it just kind of came all of a su

this was a support mission, in which they were providing support to the iraqi -- to the kurdistan regional government and u.s. forces are not in an active combat mission in iraq. >> in the days before the raid, u.s. surveillance spotted mass graves dug and ready inside the compound, prompting immediate action. u.s. officials say 70 prisoners were rescued. 20 iraqi security forces, as well as iraqi civilians and interestingly, isis fighters accused of spying, missing however, were the kurdish captives, they were sent into rescue. >> not clear to us exactly who would be there. and so, that's one of the things we're going through right now, the deep recesses exactly who those folks were. >> mark: master sergeant wheeler was part of the delta force, he earned multiple bronze star med has and several other awards for his service and bravery. joshua wheeler was just a month shy of his 40th birthday. we are also learning the terror group isis is raking in big money, thanks to oil sales. iraq and u.s. officials say isis makes up to 50 millions dollars a month, selling crude from oil fields it has

this was a support mission in which they were providing support to the iraqi -- to the kurdistan regionalission in iraq. >> reporter: in the days before the raid, u.s. surveillance spotted mass graves dug and ready inside the compound, prompting immediate action. u.s. officials say that 70 prisoners were rescued, 20 iraqi security forces as well as iraqi civilians and, interestingly, isis fighters accused of spying. missing, however, were the kurdish captives they were sent in to rescue. >> it's not clear to us exactly who would be there, so that's one of the things we're going through now, to debrief who exactly those folks were. >> reporter: there are other more forward roles under consideration for u.s. forces in iraq. for a number of months u.s. officials have said they have the option -- possibly ground controllers who call in air strikes. that does not has not been made. kashlgs you look at an incident like this, it's called a train and assist machine but this is a nighttime raid against a fortified target. the delta force commanders saw their kurdish partners in trouble, they joine

this was a support mission in which they were providing support to the iraqi -- to the kurdistan regional. forces are not in an active combat mission in iraq. >> reporter: in the days before the raid, u.s. surveillance spotted mass graves dug and ready inside the compound, prompting immediate action. u.s. officials say that 70 prisoners were rescued. 20 iraqi security forces as well as iraqi civilians and interestingly, isis fighters accused of spying. missing, however, were the kurdish captives they were sent in to rescue. >> it's not clear to us who exactly would be there. so that's one of the things we're going through right now, the debriefs as to exactly who those folks were. >> reporter: jim sciutto, cnn, washington. >> we turn now to the new attack in the escalating situation between israelis and palestinians. just in the past hour, we got word of a stabbing in south jerusalem. >> the israeli military says the attacker targeted a group of soldiers and stabbed one of them. the soldiers shot the attacker. no word on either person's condition right now. >>> european union foreign poli

kurdistan government. u.s. are not in combat in iraq, i can say that directly. >> reporter: question is whether iraqi forces are ready to retake territory from i.s.i.l. could be seen as a test run for a larger operation. rosiland jordan, al jazeera, washington. >> it is six weeks until a major climate conference in paris and negotiators in germany are trying to agree on a framework deal. it will be a starting point for leaders when they meet next month to come up with a global climate plans. demands were left off, they want richer countries to take the need by cutting emissions and providing clean air technology. countries haven't agreed on a way to compare each nation's targets and achievements. >>> martin kaiser is from greenpeace and he joins us by skype from bonn. tell us what you hope to emerge from these talks and how optimism you are anything tangible will come from it. >> after one week of negotiations here in bonn, it's now much more clear where the political package for decision will land in paris.it will be about helping the most vulnerable countries and the people there adapting to climate change, f

iraqi era. i keep saying the rand mcnally of the middle east has probably seen its day. >> the map tells the story. up here in the north is kurdish area, largely, self-governing called kurdistan the baghdad are shiite, they control a third of the country. one-third of iraq that spills into syria is sunni land. this is where isis has taken control, this is what it has turned into, a de facto islamic state. iraq ends here but only on maps. the border between iraq and syria, drawn arbitrarily by the french and british after world war i, has become meaningless. most inhabit this area and the islamic state controls large swaths of it, as well. so any boots on the ground fight against isis would likely have to be in both iraq and syria. >> this is the aftermath of russia's first air strike in syria. >> another twist, vladimir putin's military has joined the fight. it is now dropping bombs in syria to support its ally bashar al-assad. a chaotic picture. all of which leads back to one question, can we fight isis in iraq when there really is no iraq left. >> at the end of the day we can't put that country together. >> as walk falls apart, the blame game escalates. president bush or pr

kurdistan. i'll address that briefly and then give the microphone to nancy. there's already good security theeration between multinational coalition. we believe security cooperation can be deepened and become more -kurdistanwhen iraqi is an independent state. nancy talked about the establishment of a u.s. base in kurdistan. establishing- that base. the primary goal of the u.s. in the region's counterterrorism. the only group that has shown any capability to fighting isis are the kurds. and we need to cooperate with them more fully in their present form. kurdistan becomes more viable, to find ways of strengthening cooperation. >> i would add to that, iraq of democracys sea in the region. for the united states to have a pocket of stability in the region will be serving our interest. we are going to be there for a long time. these struggles are not going away people have a great friend in turkey, a nato ally, more countries that are close allies and stable in the region is in our u.s. interests. i think explaining to the american public very clearly why that is is a very good suggestion which will take on -- we'll take on and perhaps make it a little bit clear. >> nancy says we have a great friend and ally in turkey.

kurdistan in northern iran. -- in a northern iraq, which for iran. problems he supported the kurds enough to keep them fighting against the iraqis, but never enough for them to triumph and achieve independence. it was a strategy he played throughout the 1960's into the early 1970's. of course, the kurds, and their leader, was kind of an epic man on horseback -- a heroic figure. they are not fooled and understand exactly what the shah is doing. they start to flirt with the idea of making some kind of peace and deal with the iraqis to end the war and help them achieve their objectives. nervous.s the shah how can he keep the war going and maintain the stalemate that paralyzes the iraqis. he has to provide him with a guarantee. i an insurance policy that iran will not sell the amount. only one country can give that kind of guarantee, the united states. andshah asks nixon kissinger to come into the covert war in iraq. with cia to provide money and arms to the kurds, and more importantly to establish contact with the iraqi kurds and express sympathy for their goals. a breakld represent with the policies of all previous administrations who had resisted gett

without so they have a good relationship with the iraqi kurds then by given them their own statement did not want to be seen as the democratic union of kurdistan backed by u.s. weaponry with u.s. forces on the ground the problem is that is the syrian branch of the pkk that is the kurdish workers party we consider that to be a terrorist organization the turks consider it as bad as i says just you understand the "alice in wonderland" nature the first largest army in nato gives support to a group that is the sister of a terrorist organization according to the second largest army meanwhile it is bombing the terrorist organization at the same time that does not exclude the russians and iranians that is how complicated this state of affairs is the the ideology exported from saudi arabia degenerated the bosnian campaign in the balkans we're still dealing with the demons of this the al qaeda ideology from essentially what coal states or countries were doing. it is a verifiable bids people say isis cancer money from the saudis but they don't have to take this home please. he was killed but before that he become so self sufficient by running oilwells ki