and fox news contributor john bolten. good evening, ambassador. >> good evening. glad to be with you. >> thanks. a lot of criticism of the president's about-face in afghanistan, saying he's now going to keep 10,000 troops there, and far be it from me to be complimentary, but maybe i should be. isn't this a good thing? >> well, it's a lot better than i expected. i really thought the president would follow through on statements he's made now for almost seven years that he was going to have all americans out by the end of his term. not very many staying on, but at least it gives the next president the option of doing something that the president -- our president has not done for the past several years. and that's act effectively, not only against taliban and al qaeda, but against a rising isis presence in afghanistan as well. it's still better to fight the terrorists in afghanistan than to fight them here. >> given the topography and the tribal allegiances in afghanistan, and what history has taught us about that country, wouldn't we have to stay in afghanistan forev

and fox news contributor john bolten. good evening, ambassador. >> good evening. glad to be with you. >> thanks. a lot of criticism of the president's about-face in afghanistan, saying he's now going to keep 10,000 troops there, and far be it from me to be complimentary, but maybe i should be. isn't this a good thing? >> well, it's a lot better than i expected. i really thought the president would follow through on statements he's made now for almost seven years that he was going to have all americans out by the end of his term. not very many staying on, but at least it gives the next president the option of doing something that the president -- our president has not done for the past several years. and that's act effectively, not only against taliban and al qaeda, but against a rising isis presence in afghanistan as well. it's still better to fight the terrorists in afghanistan than to fight them here. >> given the topography and the tribal allegiances in afghanistan, and what history has taught us about that country, wouldn't we have to stay in afghanistan forev

joining us to talk about it, john bolten. and k.t. mcfarland. don't know if there are words to describe what this administration is doing. it has been prescribed for some 40 years, and i don't think this administration gives one whip that it has done so. >> i think you're exactly right. this is a huge set back for the united states. we have no counter strategy to what the russians are up to, and they're aims go well beyond syria. they're selling arms to egypt. they providing sophisticated information to iran. this is a fir bell in the night. i think our adversaries around the world can see this weakness and our allies can, too. i think this is a historic moment, i'm sad to say, a historic moment where power in the middle east is passing from their weak hand. >> and this power shift, and i happen to think he is right, don't you? watching a power shift that will have -- i personally fear horrific consequences. >> particularly in the middle east, and i'm looking at the next 48 to 72 hours. we're now flying in the same air space as the russians are

joining us to john bolten. and k.t. mcfarland.on't know if there are words to describe what this administration is doing. it has been prescribed for some 40 years, and i don't think this administration gives one whip that it has done so. >> i think you're exactly right. this is a huge set back for the united states. we have no counter strategy to what the russians are up to, and they're aims go well beyond syria. they're selling arms to egypt. they providing sophisticated information to iran. this is a fir bell in the nit. i think our adversaries around the world can see this weakness and our allies can, too. i think this is a historic moment, i'm sad to say, a historic moment where power in the middle east is passing from their weak hand. >> and this power shift, and i happen to think he is right, don't you? watching a power shift that will have -- i personally fear horrific consequences. >> particularly in the middle east, and i'm looking at the next 48 to 72 hours. we're now flying in the same air space as the russians are flyi

ambassador john bolten will join us next. >> i hope we can turn the page on this very difficult periodwe have to join together in calling for a convenient end to violence. i brought in some protein to get us moving. i'm new ensure active high protein. i help you recharge with nutritious energy and strength. i'll take that. yeeeeeah! new ensure active high protein. 16 grams of protein and 23 vitamins and minerals. ensure. take life in. at fthe world thinks about pet food,y one wagging tail at a time. with fresh meat and fresh veggies. it's food so fresh, the only preservative we use is the fridge. freshpet. a fresh take on pet food. it's gotten squarer. over the years. brighter. bigger. thinner. even curvier. but what's next? for all binge watchers. movie geeks. sports freaks. x1 from xfinity will change the way you experience tv. >>> welcome back, everybody. police in nashville showing surveillance video of a group of young men with muzzle flashes after forces step up after a killing. the shooting apparently happened during an argument over a dice game and the victwas not a stud and re

stuart: we've lost and humiliated and that was ambassador john bolten the top of the hour.t at 9:00 sharp on this program. the opening bell will ring and wall street trading will get underway again. this is october 1st, the first day of the fourth quarter of the year and ring away the last quarter which was awful. we're expected to open 40, maybe 50 points higher today. that would put the dow around 16-3. it's precisely 9:30. trading last begun. where are we? yeah, we've got some movement. we're up one and now 11, thank goodness. i'm going to say that's a modest start in the fourth quarter of the year and that's a rough third quarter. ashley webster is here and so is cheryl casone and tom horowitz joining us from chicago and scott shellady marooned in chicago, and also on the show. scott, to you first. give me a forecast. are woo he -- are we going to get a better stock? >> i don't think so, as long as the fed stays data dependent and has disappointed month on month and that's why we haven't had the rate hike. i think that the u.s. economy is not doing as well as as others

joining us tomorrow, john bolten will be here along with kevin hassett and tim draper.ext and here is stuart. stuart: that's a great introduction, maria, thanks very much indeed. escalation on two fronts, military and political. good morning, everyone. firstoff, escalation in the south china sea. the financial times reports american warships will challenge china's man made islands. our navy will sale close to them. america is saying we do not recognize your territorial claims and we'll challenge them. hillary clinton comes out with a sharp anti-wall street policy, tax them, fine them, restrict them. as joe biden considers a run,

joining us tomorrow, john bolten will be here along with kevin hassett and tim draper. have a great day. "varney & company" is next and here is stuart. stuart: that's a great introduction, maria, thanks very much indeed. escalation on two fronts, military and political. good morning, everyone. firstoff, escalation in the south china sea. the financial times reports american warships will challenge china's man made islands. our navy will sale close to them. america is saying we do not recognize your territorial claims and we'll challenge them. hillary clinton comes out with a sharp anti-wall street policy, tax them, fine them, restrict them. as joe biden considers a run, hillary takes a sharp left turn. ben carson on the show today, is he the most conservative? he says, yes, i probably am. it's his birthday, so you let him win. if you're vladimir putin you let him win and score seven goals, and he was fully clothed. "varney & company" is about to begin. ♪ >> all right, it's thursday morning. where is that market going to open today? it closed yesterday at 16,900. today,

ambassador john bolten, is the administration beginning to push back a little. carson takes the lead over trump in a national poll. first time we've seen that. next hour on "varney & company." romantic moments can happen spontaneously, so why pause to take a pill? and why stop what you're doing to find a bathroom? with cialis for daily use, you don't have to plan around either. it's the only daily tablet approved to treat erectile dysfunction so you can be ready anytime the moment is right. plus cialis treats the frustrating urinary symptoms of bph, like needing to go frequently, day or night. tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines, and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sex. do not take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain, as it may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. do not drink alcohol in excess. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, get medical help right away for an erection lasting more than four hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss