. >> mike lyons understanded policies may be add odds with the u.s. >> these sunni based countries are more concerned fighting against iran and making sure sunnis have a place inside iraq than they care about fighting isis. that's driving their foreign policy. they're not that interested -- >> that and also yemen, and getting assad out of power than fighting isil. >> that's right. they're concerned that what does iraq look like when this is all over? is it going to be dominated by iran, will iraw be this weakened point. turkey for example having troops in the north, they're concerned about the future kurdistan, which is on the table, has to be talked about. that's the next war taking place there, this battle for this group, autonomy of kurdistan and turkey can't have that happen. >> iraq is now accusing turkey of putting ground troops in northern iraq. turkey, the turkish president told al jazeera this morning that they were invited to go in, so that's what kind of cluster we're looking at. is it wise for the u.s. to get more involved in the midst of these sectarian and regional rivalr

i talked to retired army major mike lyons. he warned the fight is not going to be he says. >> it just ex10 waits the time line as to when things get done. this is how it is in that part of the world. you come to understand that things take a lot longer in this particular situation. it's very slow, very deliberate. we're used to fighting wars, conventional war, that kind of conventional war using speed, audacity, shock and we think that that's an advantage in combat. it doesn't look like the iraqis are using that to their advantage, they're slow and deliberate as they take the pace. >> the president has been criticized for his iraqi strategy, being said it is not focused and fast enough. if ramadi falls by the first of the year or middle of january will that change the narrative with regards to the attacks against isil and political resolve back home? >> it shows that the iraqi forces and prime minister are doing the right thing, row restoring that iraqi border. they're going to have to fight in both directions, on the tigress

. >>> our national security contributor mike lyons is with us on set tonight.or ramadi over? >> it's just begun. it could be the beginning of the end of isil inside iraq. but they have to really recapture the city and then hold it. right now the iraqi security forces that are there number between 8 and 12,000, that's the amount that will have to leave there to secure the city, so for them to continue to fight isil throughout iraq, they are going to have to come from other sources. >> when you look a few months ago, it was the iraqi military that fled ramadi. >> yeah, the difference in this battle is new equipment was introduced. an anti tank weapon was given over to the iraqi security forces. >> equipment coming from the united states? >> exactly. and it gave them more confidence in their equipment and leaders, and it looks like it contributed to the battlefield. >> do you feel like isil could step back, regroup, and then relaunch an attack? >> that's the next challenge or measure of effectiveness in determines whether or not they are going to actually do that.

. >>> mike lyons told us earlier on your world this morning that the foreign policy goals of some coalitionmembers may be at odds with what the u.s. hopes to achieve. >> these sunni based countries are more concerned fighting against iran and making sure sunni's have a place inside iraq than they care about fighting isis. that's driving their foreign policy. they're not that interested -- >> that and also yemen, and getting assad out of power than fighting isil. >> that's right. they're concerned that what does iraq look like when this is all over? is it going to be dominated by iran, turkey for example having troops in the north, they're concerned about the future kurdistan, which is on the table, has to be talked about. that's the next war taking place there, this battle for this group, autonomy of kurdistan and turkey can't have that happen. >> iraq is now accusing turkey of putting ground troops in northern iraq, turkey, the turkish president told al jazeera this morning that they were invited to go in, so that's what kind of cluster we're looking at. is it wise for the u.s. to get more

i talked to retired army sergeant mike lyons. he said the fight to regain control of the city is not going to be easy. >> it extends the time line when things will be done. in that part of the world, you come to understand that things take a lot longer in this particular situation. it's very slow, very deliberate. we're used to fighting wars, conventional war, that kind of conventional war using speed, audacity, shock and we think that that's an advantage in combat. it doesn't look like the iraqis are using that to their advantage, they're slow and deliberate as they take the pace. >> the president has been criticized for his iraqi strategy, being said it is not focused and fast enough. if ramadi falls by the first of the year or middle of january will that change the narrative with rewards to the attacks against isil and political resolve back home. >> it shows that the iraqi forces and prime minister are doing the right thing, row storing that iraqi border. they're going to have to fight in both directions, on the tigress andy

. >> mike lyons is with us here on al jazeera, thanks for being with us again. the president's speech slammed by republicans, but shouldn't critics be forced to detail what they want to do if they have a strategy and how much it's going to cost, what we're talking about in terms of money and man power? i wanted to pull up this number. that is what happened last time we went to the middle east, the war in iraq, troops killed in dom bat, $1.7 trillion spent, a lot of people think that is conservative. should those saying they are going to get tough and that we should trust them be forced to provide detail? >> no question. strategy is about ways, means to accomplish ends. the president outlined his strategy of currently combating isis right now. wasn't much of a different before last night. he didn't say anything new to how he wants to approach this. he wants no u.s. forces on the ground, he's going to continue to bomb from the air. he's going to accelerate some other things. i'm assuming that's other intelligence gathering -- >> if he laid out his plans, wouldn't

mark lyons was driving earlier this morning, but we are taking all eyes this morning on south florida for the orange bowl between clemson and oklahoma. mike: brad fralick is there with what head coach tebow sweeney has to say. brad: good morning from south florida. it is gameday the clemson tigers and oklahoma sooners play toda at 4:00 in the orange bowl, a national semi-final game. the winner advances to play in arizona for the national championship.. dabo sweeney says his crew is focused and ready to go. >> this isn't the russell athletic bowl. this is the capitol one orange bowl, final four. everybody earned their way here, and we just spent whatever three weeks studying this film and this is an incredibly talented team. brad: this is the third trip to the orange bowl in five years for the clemson tigers, and this one means just a little bit more. dabo sweeney said they want to make the people print a 15th ticket to see the tigers play this year. if they were to win this one and the national championship game, ever to go five and 0. -- 15 and zero. brad fralick wyff news 4. allyson: thank you. as we count you down to the game, a little