. >> lieutenant current karcher got both. this officer who is beloved by his soldiers has helped countless people. but food i learned of the firefight west of sadder city and the enormous bomb which shattered karcher's vehicle. he lost both legs. he's fighting for his life. a senior officer who knows karcher well told me to remember, this war continues. host: and martha raddatz joins us from abc studios in washington, d.c. you have posted on your blog on "abc news" an update on colonel karcher. can you tell our viewers how he's doing? guest: he's expected to arrive back in the united states either tomorrow or saturday. his condition is stable but he was in very bad shape for a couple of days. they had a very difficult time stabilizing him. i learned after we filed that report that he could not be airlifted away from the scene. they had to drive him to the combat support hospital because there was a terrible dust storm that day. and some very brave soldiers who drove him there and then when they were leaving they actually hit

and the difference since i was there a few months ago with lieutenant colonel karcher of the optimism that many of those soldiers had about the situation there. so to me it's always been important to go back. i tell you the book that i wrote about is the 2-5 and that battalion and that's the battalion that lieutenant karcher took over. . in fact the original commander of the division, who i wrote about, he lost eight soldiers the first night he took command in 2004. that battalion commander is now a brigade commander. he has been in iraq three times. seeing the same soldiers over and over, year after year and the changes they have made, it is a very important story for me to cover. and, of course, many soldiers are against it. host: next comment from massachusetts, democrats line. >caller: i have all website. i wondered if i could give that out? this has an article on the eve of the war. are you familiar with this? guest: i am sorry. i cannot help you with that. f today -- the british lead us in there. they lied about wmds and the threat of saddam hussein. i do not think people were r

the book that i wrote about is the 2-5 and that battalion and that's the battalion that lieutenant karcher took over. . guest: it is a very important story for me to cover. many of those soldiers and marines are in afghanistan. host: the next call is from massachusetts. caller: i heard recently on the website -- had an article about the treaty on the eve of world war i. the british and the french carved up the middle east. the problems of today -- the british lead us in there. they lied about wmds and the threat of saddam hussein. i do not think people were really afraid of him, except for the british and the united states. we have followed the british line. we should not be screwing around with these countries, like we have been doing. guest: i can just say that it has been debated time and time again about saddam hussein. there is an article in "the washington post." it is a story about what saddam hussein said in his last interview, saying before he was as a -- before he was executed, saying that he was only afraid of the iranians and that is why he kept saying that he had weapons of ma

ve posted on your blog on "abc news" an update on colonel karcher. can you tell our viewers how he's doing? guest: he's expected to arrive back in the united states either tomorrow or saturday. his condition is stable but he was in very bad shape for a couple of days. they had a very difficult time stabilizing him. i learned after we filed that report that he could not be airlifted away from the scene. they had to drive him to the combat support hospital because there was a terrible dust storm that day. and some very brave soldiers who drove him there and then when they were leaving they actually hit a roadside bomb, an e.f.p., those very, very powerful, powerful bombs that can penetrate metal. and there was a sergeant killed. so they delivered their commander to the combat support hospital and then when they were on their way back they were struck by a bomb as well. and it shows you this war as the commander told me, this war depuzz continue. host: well, on that note, in addition to the personal tragedy in these soldiers' lives, what should people u

you have posted on your blog on "abc news" an update on colonel karcher. can you tell our viewers how he's doing? guest: he's expected to arrive back in the united states either tomorrow or saturday. his condition is stable but he was in very bad shape for a couple of days. they had a very difficult time stabilizing him. i learned after we filed that report that he could not be airlifted away from the scene. they had to drive him to the combat support hospital because there was a terrible dust storm that day. and some very brave soldiers who drove him there and then when they were leaving they actually hit a roadside bomb, an e.f.p., those very, very powerful, powerful bombs that can penetrate metal. and there was a sergeant killed. so they delivered their commander to the combat support hospital and then when they were on their way back they were struck by a bomb as well. and it shows you this war as the commander told me, this war depuzz continue. host: well, on that note, in addition to the personal tragedy in these soldiers' lives, what should people u

you have posted on your blog on "abc news" an update on colonel karcher. can you tell our viewers how he's doing? guest: he's expected to arrive back in the united states either tomorrow or saturday. his condition is stable but he was in very bad shape for a couple of days. they had a very difficult time stabilizing him. i learned after we filed that report that he could not be airlifted away from the scene. they had to drive him to the combat support hospital because there was a terrible dust storm that day. and some very brave soldiers who drove him there and then when they were leaving they actually hit a roadside bomb, an e.f.p., those very, very powerful, powerful bombs that can penetrate metal. and there was a sergeant killed. so they delivered their commander to the combat support hospital and then when they were on their way back they were struck by a bomb as well. and it shows you this war as the commander told me, this war depuzz continue. host: well, on that note, in addition to the personal tragedy in these soldiers' lives, what should people u

you have posted on your blog on "abc news" an update on colonel karcher.an you tell our viewers how he's doing? guest: he's expected to arrive back in the united states either tomorrow or saturday. his condition is stable but he was in very bad shape for a couple of days. they had a very difficult time stabilizing him. i learned after we filed that report that he could not be airlifted away from the scene. they had to drive him to the combat support hospital because there was a terrible dust storm that day. and some very brave soldiers who drove him there and then when they were leaving they actually hit a roadside bomb, an e.f.p., those very, very powerful, powerful bombs that can penetrate metal. and there was a sergeant killed. so they delivered their commander to the combat support hospital and then when they were on their way back they were struck by a bomb as well. and it shows you this war as the commander told me, this war depuzz continue. host: well, on that note, in addition to the personal tragedy in these soldiers' lives, what should people und

we don't have a karcher situation. but it does it show the complications for the president as we move from -- is indeed a great president, everything is exciting and new -- to actually getting things done. and that is the problem. the american people like obama more than they like his policies. so you see when you delve into the specifics, for instance, the possibility of a government auction for healthcare. people think that would probably make. last instead of making it that appeared more think the government will hurt care. -- people think that would probably make it last instead of making it better. more think they would hurt care. that you could only downside risk, that you could only get less care, the selection -- disruption, and pay more. the president is aware of this. going back to the town hall, abc in prime time, he has been making the point in numerous events. he made the point, if you have health care and you like it, you can keep it. of course, there is an asterisks in that, which means only if your empl