michael o'hanlon, senior fellow at the brookings institution. i am pleased to have them all on the program. i begin with nick burns at stanford. what's happening in iraq and is it such a concern that the vice president had to make a surprise visit? >> iraq is in deep political and economic crisis and the fact the vice president made his first trip in five years, the fact that follows on recent visits by secretary of state john kerry and our secretary of defense ash carter shows the obama administration is acutely concerned about political stability there. they're facing several different crises. there is a political crisis where prime minister al-abadi has not been able to form a cabinet, to actually apont cabinet members because the parliament disagrees. this is due to some of the sectarian and political rivals in the country. there is absolute gridlock in baghdad, the government literally grinding to a halt. second, of course, is the ongoing fight against islamic state which still occupies mosul, the second largest city in the country which st

michael o'hanlon has put his finger on our political role. despite the fact that we have largely left militarily in 2011, we are back in now with special forces. if the political influence of the united states, as a meeting point, as a party that can bring together in conversation the sunni, shia, and kurdish leaders, which is very important in this equation. the second thing i think the administration is trying to do -- you see more activity now in syria. is to make sure we have a combined strategy for syria and iraq. it will be difficult to see both countries reemerge as unitary nationstates. the battle against the islamic state has to take place in both countries. you are seeing more american attention to iraq because we have more historic influence there and, frankly, because we are more welcome there to support the iraqi army. you have to watch the metastasization of the islamic state. this will be handed off by president obama and vice president biden to the next american president. it will be something that is with us for a long time t

michael o'hanlon we welcome new bearing warmly this morning to the institution. it's been acknowledge that the underlying base for long-term american national power and prosperity requires an education system where young individuals that excel in science, technology, engineering and math comes something called s.t.e.m. as noted by scholars here are kings and the metropolitan policy program s.t.e.m. intensive industries produce about 2.7 trillion dollars in added value to our economy and it's about 17% of our gdp. it's a principle driver and productivity, growth and exports from aerospace to renewable s.t.e.m. disciplines will only increase in relevance during the 21st century and given the reality of increasing global connectivity, complexity and economic competitiveness a promotion of s.t.e.m. related skills and knowledge must be recognized as a national priority and a key point we will make with you this morning, an influential group in the policy arena. the current state of s.t.e.m. education in the u.s. clearly underscores the urgency. according to the u.s. d