host: michael pregent is our guest.e talking about the state of isis. (202) 748-8000 is the number to call for democrats. (202) 748-8001 is the number for republicans. (202) 748-8002 if you are independent. and we have a special line set aside for iraq war veterans at (202) 748-8003. so you are now at the hudson institute. you have spent a lot of time in iraq. how are you on top of what is going on there now? guest: i travel the region every two months. my last trip was in march. i went there ahead of the vermont -- the ramadi offense. to refugee camps in turkey, syrian refugees and iraqi refugees. and they asked two questions. i wanted to talk to people who are not happy with united states and i want to talk to people who say we should do something about it. so you going to a room of military aged men and if you ask if they blame the united states, hands go up. who thinks we should do more? a lot of hands go up. dude try to stay away from talking to state department officials and government officials. a lot of my colle

michael pregent and mike baker will join us shortly on the phone. you have extreme expertise in this area of the world. it will be a while before we know how this shakes out. but from an initial look-see, a lot of experts say this could be good news for america. >> we don't know, it's a fluid situation. i just got off the phone with an inside source before i got on the air and president erdogan has gotten on skype and asked people to go to the streets. and that he's still in power. charles: i have seen the photos of him on the internet on skype. but if someone is on skype, you are not going to get a lot of confidence from the guy in charge and you look out your window and the military has a tank in your front door. >> there are reports his seaside resort is surround by the military. the question becomes within the fractions within the army, who is in charge and what's going on. this is such an important region for the united states that i can't tell you how nervous our hearts are. charles: now as you hear gunfire and shots and maybe the turkish chie